Pre-Battle Chrom All these strange travelers... What's happening here?

Lissa Let's ask 'em! Um, excuse me, sir? ...Sir?

Villager

• ..the appointed...time...
• ..to the Dragon's...Table...
• ..our prayers...Grima...

Lissa Riiiiiight... I'll just be backing away slowly then...

Frederick Sire!

Chrom Frederick! Have the scouts returned?

Frederick Yes, milord, and with grim news. Validar has moved to a great altar to Grima known as the Dragon's Table. What's more, it seems all the Grimleal in Plegia are headed there as well. It's as if they're being drawn by some unseen force...

Chrom Any idea what it all means?

Frederick Who can say, sire? They speak only gibberish and plod on as if possessed.

Chrom The cataclysm in Lucina's future... This shows all the signs of leading to it. Damn! This destiny is a stubborn business...

Lucina We cannot give up.

Chrom And we will not. We make for this Dragon's Table, and quickly! Come, everyone!

Start Battle Aversa The Ylisseans have finally caught up to us, milord.

Validar Delay them. But carefully... We must reclaim Robin's power.

Aversa Ah, yes. Don't worry, I'll take extra care with Daddy's special little boy/girl.

Chrom Validar!

Validar Fools! Do you know where you've come?

Chrom Return the Fire Emblem now, and we can end this!

Validar Aaah ha ha ha ha! You would...end this?

Chrom Yes, once and for all.

Validar My dear boy, we already know how this story ends—you and I both! And yet you rush here... Are you so eager to meet the fell dragon yourself? Or perhaps your own fatal destiny—you would have that realized first? Ha ha!

Chrom To hell with your destiny. I'll write a new ending.

Aversa Oh ho ho, so now you believe you can change fate? And here I thought your exalted sister had delusions of grandeur...

Chrom We've done it already.

Aversa Your victory over sad little Gangrel? Or perhaps Walhart's defeat? Those were meant to happen. They were preordained. You are just another fool in motley, capering on the stage!

Lissa But...what about Emmeryn!

Aversa You changed only the method of her death. Either way, she was planted in the ground...

Frederick But that was Gangrel's will... Not yours... Not Validar's...

Aversa You aren't listening. All of this—every word and action—has been orchestrated... Gangrel held the exalt in contempt, yes, so Validar and I used him. In life AND death. The king's demise threw Plegia into chaos. It drove the people to Grima... Now their life force and rancor can be laid before the fell dragon en masse.

Chrom You couldn't mean...

Aversa It is called the Table for a reason, you naive little man. It is where Grima feeds! The Grimleal have gladly offered themselves to him for ages. Even now, they pray for his return... Today the Table overflows with bounty, and their prayers will be answered!

Chrom I will never allow that to happen!

Aversa But it already HAS happened in our future. This moment was set a millennium ago.

Lucina How could anyone give their life willingly to that...thing? That monster!

Chrom I will stop you! I will stop Grima!

Aversa Goodness! Now you're starting to sound like Walhart, the big bully... He intended to destroy Grima as well, you know. ...Our thanks, incidentally, for taking him off the stage for us.

Chrom Rrgh... That's why you gave us your ships and treasure but no soldiers... Get rid of Walhart, but keep the faithful Plegians to set your god's Table...

Validar Aversa, it is time. I must prepare.

Aversa As you command, Master.

Chrom Validar! ...VALIDAR!

>Validar leaves

Aversa Master Validar is not to be disturbed. But fear not, I have brought the Deadlords to keep you entertained. These 12 generals were great warriors in life...and even greater, now, in death! I would introduce them one by one, but well, as you'll see, they're not much for talk. Besides, you'll meet them all soon enough!

VS Aversa Robin Robin I'll never understand minions like you and Excellus. No lives of your own... Living only to serve at the beck and call of your masters. Pathetic.

Aversa Oh? I might say as much about your relationship to the prince... And please, don't lump me in with that half-witted little toad. Excellus was nothing but a pawn on our board. Another actor on our stage. His ambition was our insurance against Walhart's threat. If you had failed, he might have destroyed the empire from the inside. But in the end, he was just another puppet whose strings we had to cut.

Robin Then you've confirmed my theory.

Aversa Yes, I promised him the Plegian throne in exchange for the Emblem... He jumped at the offer! Well, as much as the fat little piggie could jump... Men are all the same. Learn their ambition, and you have them by the— Oho... Well, perhaps Excellus was a bit different in that respect...

Robin Here I thought him the lowest form of slime imaginable, but you win handily...

Aversa Yes, well, we play the roles we're given, Robin, as you'll soon discover.

Robin If we all stand on a great stage, I'll be happy to assist with your exit!

Aversa Oh really now, how amusing... You're so cute when you try to be clever. But Master Validar already considers you stronger and smarter than I... Whatever shall I do if he decides you're more witty as well? Perhaps I'd best kill you before you ripen and become his everything...

Robin Before I "ripen"?

Aversa

• ..Shhh. Nothing to worry your pretty little head over. Focus on our battle, instead! If you truly are as gifted as my master says... There is no need for me to hold back!

Chrom Chrom A final question, witch, before you die—

Aversa Oh? Then perhaps one final answer, boy, before you fail...

Chrom Who is Validar? Why do you follow him?

Aversa He is...a father to me.

Chrom

• ..What?! But... You're Robin's sister?!

Aversa Aha ha ha! You damn fool! Not literally... But he did raise me as if I were his own. Taught me everything... I was a poor orphaned wretch with dirt for food, yet Master Validar took me in. He provided when others would have watched me starve. I would never presume that he loves me... But he is everything I know of love. I would gladly die at his command.

Chrom Even knowing his actions will destroy the world?

Aversa But he IS the world—and it is YOU that would destroy HIM! From where I stand, YOU are the only aggressor here. How Robin lives with the shame, attacking his/her own blood...

Chrom Robin sees beyond himself/herself, to the larger reality. One person's life means nothing in the shadow of millions.

Aversa A sweet sentiment, and easily spoken when you bear no love for the one... But more difficult when the sacrifice was your exalted sister, wasn't it? I don't expect you to see the world through my eyes, Prince. But I won't pretend to understand how things look through yours.

Chrom

• ..Then I suppose there is nothing more to say.

Aversa No, I suppose there isn't.

Normal Aversa Hee hee. Looking for attention? One at a time, love.

Aversa Defeated Aversa Ooh... You play rough... But the ritual has already begun. You are too late! Farewell! Perhaps we shall meet again? Oh, actually...I suppose not! Heh hah!

Post-Battle Chrom Damn! She escaped! Aversa wouldn't leave Validar before he was ready, even with her wounds. His preparations must be complete...

Lucina We have to stop him! My future is upon us!

Chrom We will, Lucina. I swear to you—we will.