Fire Emblem Awakening: I'm Home

[WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS! DO NOT READ ON IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED OR PLAYED THE GAME!]


 There were two choices now: either let Chrom finish Grima or… the second option had higher stakes.
[Name] looked at their other self, the one from the future where Lucina and the other children came from; the future where they had killed Chrom. The reflection of them was kneeling on the back of the Fell Dragon, with little energy to fight or defend them. Before the final battle, Chrom had tried to make [Name] swear that they wouldn’t sacrifice themselves, but his friend and tactician replied that they wouldn’t guarantee that oath; and that lying about it was worse than not facing the problem. Now here they were, the final battle, and the final decision had to be made. The tactician looked at their stoic leader, who held the grand sword Falchion glowing with energy, ready to strike.
[Name] went over [his/her] thoughts about what should happen. Naga herself had said that if Chrom were to be the one to defeat Grima, the dragon would not truly disappear, but it would be kept at bay for another few thousand years at most. [Name] contemplated their second option: they could destroy Grima themselves, erase the dragon from existence, but the end result would be unwise as the goddess suggested. Since [Name] was connected to Grima, erasing the dragon was just like erasing themselves from this world. The only thread of hope that the tactician had was that the bond they created with the Shepherds and the people they met during their journey, was strong enough to bring them back.
[Name] knew they weren’t much of a gambler, and the bet placed before them had higher stakes than anything they had faced. Yet, even though the chances were slim, [Name] had already made up their mind.
“[Name] stand back,” Chrom instructed; lifting Falchion.
Full of remorse, [he/she] stared at the back of their leader, the back that they always saw that was there to protect them, the back that they saw leading their way to victory. Hanging their head, they spoke quietly.
“Chrom… I’m sorry.”
Without glancing back, [Name] stepped towards Grima, not letting Chrom see the sadness on [his/her] face.
“What are you doing?” Grima hissed, gasping in pain.
[Name] looked at the pitiful figure of them, without any drop of remorse.
“For once, I’m glad that you’re me,” [Name] stated and raised their hand that crackled with magic pouring all of their energy into this final attack.
“Fool! If I disappear, so will you!”
I know… [Name] thought with a smile casted onto their face. [He/She] raised their hand towards the sky as their magic crackled loudly in their hand.
“[Name], no! PLEASE STOP!” Chrom yelled, but [he/she] ignored him; they were not going to change their mind. There was a flash of light as [Name]’s magic pierced Grima and the Fell Dragon let out a guttural scream. As the dragon desperately tried to grasp the air for something, they vanished into shadows. [Name] simply looked ahead after the deed was done. [He/She] felt no pain from the blow, but they did feel as if they were slipping away from the world; vanishing slowly.
“[Name]!” Chrom cried and [he/she] turned towards their leader, their body evaporating into shadows.
“[Mother/Father]! What happened?! Where are you going?! Don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me alone again, [Mother/Father]!”
[Name] heard their child, Morgan screaming in the background as [he/she] was being held back by Lucina; who looked on in horror at the tactician. The look of shock and pain on their faces almost felt too much, like it was a cruel joke from the god’s to toy with [Name]’s fate.
“Everything should be alright now, Chrom, everyone. Thank you, thank you for being at my side; and being my most precious friends.”
[Name] raised their hand in a gesture of farewell, trying to hold back tears as they smiled. Their smoky body was being blown away by the winds as the dragon’s body began to descend.
“Let’s meet again in a better life.”
The last thing they saw was Chrom, Morgan and Lucina running up to them. They saw [Name]’s smile as the tactician disappeared, holding only happiness and no regret for their action on their face. The last thing [Name] heard before disappearing were the three screaming out their name before being engulfed by darkness.

The tactician felt their consciousness float in the shadows, feeling tired but their eyes refused to close.
“Why…?” A voice asked and [Name] turned to see the red eyes of Grima. Their bright maliciousness had lost its luster and its voice was now husky and fading.
[Name] looked past the glowing eyes and saw their future self who had killed Chrom. Now that [Name]’s future had been rewritten, all was well… hopefully for Chrom and the others. Grima’s body was fading rapidly, but they still had enough energy to hold themselves up; facing [Name] with pain and anger.
“Why did you do it?”
“If you’re asking why I decided to take you out, it should be obvious since you are me,” the tactician responded, looking at the dragon coolly.
Grima tried to growl, but jolted in pain. “Why do you believe I can understand your fool mind…?”
[Name] sighed and took their time speaking to Grima.
“There are three reasons why I chose to destroy you myself even though it meant my doom as well. One: it’s better to have completely annihilated the Fell Dragon rather than waiting thousands of years for you to reawaken. Two: there is now a future for my friends and the children who came from your timeline for them to live in peacefully. Three: everyone can now live in a world free of having to worry about the Fell Dragon haunting their footsteps waiting to strike them down. For all those three reasons, that’s why I chose to destroy you myself, it was strategically wise.”
Grima finally managed a cruel hysterical laugh that bounced around the darkness, making it sound like hundreds of [Name]’s were laughing.
“‘Wise’, you say? You call this wise? You’re gone now, trapped forever in darkness! Did you really think that if you erased yourself everyone will be happy that the “Fell Dragon Grima” is gone? You are me, that’s something you can’t escape! If you tried to erase that fact by taking yourself down with me, you are mistaken little tactician!”
[Name] felt their body tense up in fear and disgust. Disgust at having their body host such a terrible thing as Grima, and fear from the truth they wanted to hide from. However, they could not let the dragon notice either emotion.
“Whether you think my actions were wise or not, my decision was made and I don’t intend for that change.” [Name] looked at their other self with as much determination as they could muster. “If I can guarantee that there will be a future of peace for the people I love, then erasing you, Grima, for the sake of that future world, it’s the least I can do.”
Grima’s grin seemed to widen for a moment as if it was going to shoot down [Name]’s statement, but then their grin turned to a deep scowl. Their face turned to look upward, their eyes burnt murderously. [Name] followed their gaze and saw a glowing figure floating in the cloak of darkness. Grima tried to grab at the figure, but the more they moved, the more their body began to disintegrate.
“Naga… curse you!”
Everyone is waiting for you, [Name]. The goddess’ voice rang in their head as if she were right next to the tactician.
Their bonds have been proven to be strong, and you can return to that world where your comrades await you.
“Return?” [Name] asked with confusion.
Suddenly voices whispered into the tactician’s skull, voices they recognized. They could identify each voice, their earnest please becoming more and more powerful. Some were strong, some sad, angered, but they were all one thing: hopeful. [He/She] could hear the voices of their comrades calling for them, telling them to return. Tears streaked down [his/her] face, feeling warmth in their chest.
“I-I want… I want to go back…” The tactician turned to the light, where they thought they could see the goddess’ figure briefly, smiling down on them. “I… I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY FRIENDS!”
Well then, come little tactician, it’s time for you to return to the world of light. Everyone is waiting for you. Not much time has passed.
The light began to warmly embrace the tactician, who closed their eyes and waited.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Grima shrieked and summoned their last bit of strength, shooting a blast of purple fire at the figures.
By the time the energy blast hit, the two were gone. The Fell Dragon screamed in agony, frustration, pain and sadness as they vanished into the darkness, never to be seen again.

“Hey, Chrom, they’re not waking up,” a young girl’s voice said.
[Name]’s eyes flickered open for a moment, and closed again as the light burned their eyes.
“Well, what do you propose we do?” A man asked and their images became clearer the more the tactician strained their eyes.
“I-I don’t know!” The girl said, obviously flustered.
Finally [his/her] eyes opened and the two figures smiled down happily.
“Look!” Lissa cried and knelt down towards the figure.
“Are you alright?” Chrom asked and Lissa giggled.
[Name] looked at both of the figures who had fought beside them, and was mildly amused that they remembered them… and that they were already in a very familiar situation like before.
“There are better places to take a nap than on the ground,” Chrom noted and extended his hand. “Give me your hand.”
[Name] lifted their hand and found the mark of Grima was gone, leaving now trace of who they were destined to be. As Chrom heaved his comrade up, he smiled warmly.
“Welcome back.”
Tears fell down [Name]’s eyes and they gingerly placed their hands behind their back.
“Sorry…. You had to look for me again,” they said and smiled back at the two people who had become their first comrades and friends.
The tears kept falling but they let it fall. [Name] was where they belonged, where they were meant to be. Lissa and Chrom cried out happily as they tackled their friend with a hug, crying endless tears. [Name] couldn’t help but join in on the gayety, laughter, crying, and hugging the two in return.
“I’m home,” [he/she] said contently. “I’m finally home.”