Dawn's True Destiny

To Depth Underneath Moons ~ Chapter 16

Sonic dashed ahead as Mario pulled out the ice flower and absorbed its power. Marth raised his sword as Sonic kicked against it and then jumped back. Marth attempted to swing his sword but Chrom dashed ahead and slammed his blade against Marth's

"Y-You're all pretty tough, aren't you?!" Marth laughed. The three kept their focus as Ike jumped into the air and slammed his blade against Mario. Mario was sent backward and Sonic took guard as Chrom still stood on the offense. Marth kept a smile on his face as Chrom kept his sword toward his blade. "You're all just heroes... wandering around when you should just give up! Was that system reboot not tiring enough?!"

Chrom replied, "You don't realize... what heroes are made to do." Chrom dashed ahead and kicked Marth back while protecting his back from Ike's blade with falchion on his back.

"HIT HIM!!!" Marth demanded. Ike then hit from underneath and that caused Chrom to fall forward. Sonic rushed over and spin-dashed head first into Marth. He kept running himself into him before Ike jumped over. However, Mario threw a few snowballs at Ike which caused him to fall back. Mario dashed to Sonic's side as Chrom was still on the ground. "You." Chrom looked toward Marth as he dashed over. Quickly, Chrom got up and immediately blocked the attack.

The two started swinging their swords together. Actively clashing blades with each other as they were being pushed to one direction. Sonic and Mario were focused on Ike while Chrom and Marth were between one another. "Constantly fighting us when you are destined to lose. How much longer can you take..." Chrom kept swinging his sword as he grit his teeth. Then he kneed Marth in the stomach and he fell back to gather his breath.

"You..."

"Keep complaining," Chrom raised his sword as Marth took out something from his belt. It appeared to be a syringe. "W-What are you..."

"I would like to introduce the substance of despair since you're all foul creatures who wear masks. Give in and accept the beautiful burning aroma of the land!" Marth laughed. Sonic ran into Marth and that caused him to drop the syringe. Sonic caught it time and Chrom raised his sword again. "God... GET HIM!!!" Ike was still busy fighting Mario however, he was getting overwhelmed very easily. Marth looked over and then back at Sonic and Chrom. Sonic was playfully tossing the syringe and mocking Marth.

Sonic laughed, "You want the syringe Marth? Come and GET IT!!!" Marth stared at him and grit his teeth. He dashed over as Chrom rushed at him as well. They slammed blades against each other. Chrom raised his arm and elbowed Marth in the mouth. He fell back and felt blood coming out.

Marth giggled, "Oh how divine it is to see my own blood." Marth stared at his blood and then put some of it on his sword.

"D-Dude... what the hell?" Sonic asked.

Chrom muttered, "It must be a side effect of the pollution. It rots their brain so much that they become obsessed with the worst imaginable things..." Sonic looked over as Marth smiled again. He continued to hold his insanity look as Chrom started walking toward him. He kept his sword and had a face of determination.

"You're going to approach me with just... that?! HAH! You are just WEAK!!!" Marth laughed. Chrom ran at him and jumped into the air, performing a soaring slash. He landed and kicked Marth away. Sonic dashed over and spin-dashed against him. Mario had made his way back as Ike was also weakened down.

Chrom asked, "Is everything good?"

"Seems like it," Mario replied. Chrom nodded as Marth and Ike gathered with each other.

Ike sighed, "They're quite the strong bunch together... the whole team is seemingly nowhere to be found."

"You're right! Where is everyone else... did they all die from the pollution or get corrupted?" Marth mocked.

Sonic yelled, "That is none of your concern!" Marth looked at Sonic and saw the syringe in his hand. Marth slashed his blade at Sonic, completely catching him off guard and causing him to drop the syringe. Marth grabbed it and jumped back with Marth. "GOD!"

Mario shouted, "DON'T LET HIM TOUCH YOU WITH THAT!!" The three nodded as Mario started throwing more snowballs. Chrom and Sonic had to stay back as they had no way to fight from afar. Mario kept guard of the two as Ike and Marth were proceeding to be pushed back.

"Do we want to make a retreat...?"

"IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT NONSENSE!! WE MUST WIN FOR HIS SAKE!" Marth shouted as he kept his blade in front of him.

Chrom whispered, "For... who?"

"YOU CHROM! YOU ARE A PEASANT TO THIS WORLD AND WILL BE ANNIHILATED IMMEDIATELY!" Marth shouted. Then he threw the syringe directly at Chrom's neck. It struck him perfectly and Chrom fell to the ground. Sonic quickly took out the syringe but it seemed like half of it was used. "Goddamnit... THEY ALWAYS RUIN EVERYTHING!"

Ike replied, "We have to make a retreat. He will not be happy if we die here." Marth stared at Ike and back at the three. Sonic was preparing a spin-dash as they started running off. Mario stopped Sonic after realizing they were gone.

"They're gone..."

"Chrom! Are you alright?!" They walked over to see Chrom but he seemed to be grabbing his neck in pain.

Chrom replied, "I'm alive... Thankfully, but something about my body feels odd... like there is an uncontrollable feeling. The feeling of chaos and... destruction... begging to come out." Chrom kept holding his neck and trying to keep focus on his breathing. Sonic and Mario stared at each other in confusion but neither one had a perfect answer. "What is going... on with me?"

Sonic replied, "We're going to have to wake up Byleth to get you all healed up." Chrom nodded as he finally opened his eyes. "OH SHITTT WE NEED TO ALSO WAKE UP SHUICHI!"

"W-What?"

"It appears the syringe carried the substance that is surrounding the air... and what ultimately infected Marth and Ike..." Mario replied. Chrom looked at the two in worry. Sonic quickly snapped a photo of Chrom so he could look at himself. Chrom did and saw... his left eye had the swirls. The same swirls that were in Marth's and Ike's eyes...

Chrom asked, "W-What the hell?! No! NO!" Chrom grabbed his head as Sonic quickly went inside to wake up Byleth and Shuichi. Mario was keeping Chrom in check as Chrom grabbed his head. "This cannot be happening, no... NO!!!!" Chrom started crying as Mario kept doing his absolute best to calm down Chrom. But nothing was working.

"Okay so there was seat swapping so you're going to be in the third row with Shuichi and Byleth! We're going to hit the road again so we can't stay here for long!" Sonic yelled. Mario nodded as he helped Chrom into the van again. Byleth and Shuichi were both sleepy but they were awake. Chrom sat down in between them as Mario went back into the driver's seat.

"Oh god..." Byleth muttered.

Shuichi replied, "This is... the swirls that are associated with despair... God okay, I just need you to heal Chrom of any wounds as I examine the eye in closer detail." Byleth nodded as he began to heal Chrom. But Chrom was in complete devastation still, afraid of himself and more importantly, afraid of what was going to happen in the future.

Chrom asked, "Am... Am I going to die?"

"No, but if you don't get treated this can get much worse than it is right now..." Shuichi replied. Chrom stared at him and then just started tearing up again.