After we secured our new Dragon and Mercenary and had a nice relaxing night, we were back on the trail the following morning. While on the road, Prof. Light picked up a magic tome and started learning how to cast spells, while TT started fiddling around with an extra Healing staff.
Professor Light evolved into Valkyire! TwistedTurtwig evolved into Trickster!
The day before we would arrive at the announced location of Vesperia's execution, we received word from CJ's spies. WW and her fellow knights had been imprisoned but were successfully released. Vesperia's execution was also announced to be tomorrow, meaning that we were right in time. I tossed and turned in my sleep that night, dreaming about that Sorcerer again, this time as he talked with a shadowy figure about Vesperia's upcoming death and how destiny would be not be re-written so easily. I awoke in a cold sweat and couldn't get back to sleep.
The day dawned and we made our way to the execution site, a place filled with... even more sand. Geez. How do these people grow crops or anything? We watched in secret as King Spoon led Vesperia up to a tall cliff thing. Just at the right moment, I signaled to Camo who threw an axe several dozen meters hitting the executioner square in the chest. King Spoon and his assistant the lovely Shining Raikou stared on in surprise. Vesperia was safe for now, and that was our signal to advance.
Drac and I formed the vanguard, moving steadily down a diving wall where the sand wasn't as thick. Behind us came Cinesra riding with Light on her horse, and Drohn holding Celever's hand. TT acted as rear guard, scouting for the reinforcements we knew would be coming thanks to the work of CJ's spies. As we worked out way closer to the execution platform, I spotted a familiar face among the enemies.
<Athena> Wait... is that Professor Palutena in a bikini?
<Drohn> Bikini, you say? Oh, yes, I see her now, the dour-looking dark mage with a creepy grin. Nice rack, though.
<Athena> Look, I know this sounds crazy, but I'm pretty sure we can trust her. See if you can get in close to talk to her and see if she'll join in on our side?
<Drohn> Well, last time you recognized someone on the enemy team we ended up hiring a lockpicker with a sweet tooth who's now our back-up healer in a jester outfit, so I think I'll be willing to take your advice again. Celever, let's head out that way.
<Celever> Yay, more friends! ^____^
We halted our advance temporarily as Drohn and Celever crept closer to the location where Palutena was stationed. On their way, they also happened to spot a member of the Yllissean clergy, a War Monk by the name of Libra, who also joined up with us. TT spotted the coming reinforcements, so Drac and I moved back to take care of them and Drohn was able to have a chat with Palutena after luring her to some nearby ruins.
<Drohn> Hey, this might seem kind of sudden, but do you think you might be interested in defecting from Plegia to come join our side?
<Palutena> This isn't just because you like my outfit, is it?
<Drohn> Oh, no, of course not! I'm an engaged man; I hardly even looked more than a little bit. *fingers crossed*
<Palutena> Well, Spoon is kind of a lunatic, and it looks like you guys are winning anyway, and I'm not really sure I quite want to die yet since I still have so many curses and hexes to test on the living... so sure, I'll team up with you... for now.
<Drohn> Thanks! You won't regret it.
<Palunena> But you might... *creepy grin*
<Drohn> O.... kay. I'm going to go back up slowly with the dragon girl now. You stay here and kill those dudes. *runs*
And so Professor Palutena joined our team. Having more offensive magical support was nice, and she was able to sweep out many of the remaining fighters between us and Vesperia's execution cliff. Meanwhile, Drac and I, with some help from Light and Cinesra, managed to take out the remaining reinforcements and we all stormed up to the entrance. Spoon had left one of his generals to guard the gate, but TT and Palutena teamed up to take him down. With the general and the flying reinforcements down, Drohn sent the signal for the next phase of the plan, summing WW and her knights to fly to pick up Vesperia.
<Vesperia> WW! I'm so glad to see you safe and sound. ^_^
<WW> Thanks, your grace, but no time to chat. We need to get you out of here before there's any trouble.
<Spoon> Pegasus Knights! ARGH! They're playing dirty.
<SR> Yes, well, so do I... *chuckle*
Suddenly, a dozen Risen archers appeared out of nowhere, materializing instantly on the cliff. The first one took aim and hit WW square in the chest; her body tumbled off her pegasus and off the cliff to the grounds below. Soon, all of the other knights met the same fate, and Vesperia was left alone again.
<Spoon> AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
<Drohn> How can this be? Where did they come from?
<Spoon> The heavens smiled on me, of course. Now, hand over the Fire Emblem and I'll let your sister go, otherwise those archers can be turned on her just as easily.
<Athena> *whisper* Drohn, you can't trust him!
<Drohn> *angry whisper* Of course I can't! But I also have to save my sister, and some stupid plot device isn't worth losing her over. I'm going to hand it over. Maybe at least it'll distract him enough that we can think of a way to get her out safely.
<Drohn> Alright, Gangrel! I'll hand it over, just let her--
<Vesperia> NO! I won't let you do it.
<Drohn> Sister?
<Vesperia> Plegians, hear my words: war f***ing sucks! You guys ought to know that as well as I do; neither of us were victors after the war my father started, and both of our lands are still desperately trying to recover. If you continue this war, everyone is going to die, your families will starve to death, and both of our lands will still want nothing more than more revenge. Free yourselves from your hate! Cast down your weapons and let everyone live together in peace and harmony and friendship. Do what you must... As I will do. See now that one selfless act has the power to change the world! ^_^
<Drohn> Ohshi- Vesperia, don't you dare...
As everyone watched Vesperia's speech with mouths wide open, Drohn was able to muscle his way through and start running towards her, but it was too late. With her last words and a parting smile to the Plegians who wished for her death, she slowly fell off the edge of the cliff and down to the ravine below, a graceful death.
<Cinesra> *whisper* Did the Exalt really just kill herself in front of everyone?
<Light> *whisper* It's called a "sacrifice", dear.
<Cinesra> *sigh* Such a waste, after we went through all this planning and sand just to save her. Couldn't she have made her speech and then let us whisk her away?
<Spoon> BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Such a beautiful fall. I think I'll go grab her corpse and display it in public, what do you think?
<Drohn> I'll kill you first!
<CJ> We don't have time for this, Drohn! We've managed to secure an escape route, but it won't last long; there are Plegians pouring in from everywhere.
<Drohn> But her body...
<Camo> No time! Let's go before we end up on a spike right next to her. We'll have time to mourn for the dead later when we don't have to worry about joining them.
<Seliph> Ohcrap, I was too late. I guess I couldn't change the future after all...