"...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Grima shouted from the body of his stolen avatar.

Robin looked at Grima resolutely, "For once, I'm glad you and I are the same. Now I can give my life for those I care for."

Grima scowled at the tactician with disdain. "...YOU WOULD...NOT DARE!"

"I would and I will", Robin stated with resolve. "The evils you would visit on this world are unthinkable… In some way, I-we share the blame. It's only right we meet our end together!"

"NOOOOOOO"

With that, Grima's mortal consciousness faded from the world and was greeted by an endless darkness. This was different though, it wasn't the same as the slumber that was inflicted upon him after being defeated by the first exalt. It was… ah, so this is death.

However, he was disturbed from his musing when the man who thwarted his ultimate goal popped into existence beside him.

The tactician and the fell dragon stared at each other for a second in surprise before they both sprung into action. Robin reached for a thoron tome that wasn't there while Grima attempted to obliterate the human with a breath attack.

Grima's attack which should have completely incinerated the human didn't activate, leaving Grima facing the tactician with a gaping and very much harmless maw. Robin on the other hand, was pulling his pockets inside out to find a single one of his tomes that he always kept with him.

Regaining his composure, Grima attempted a more simplistic approach, jamming one of his horns into the spot where Robin stood. Like the breath attack however, it proved ineffective, merely phasing through the shocked tactician.

As Grima whipped his head back in frustration, Robin frantically ran his hands across his torso, expecting it to be gorily impaled.

Grima's many eyes narrowed. "Not death… purgatory it seems. How unfortunate that I must share my fate with a filthy human."

Robin quickly connected the dots. He slightly relaxed his stance but still eyed Grima's draconic form wearily. "You have been defeated Grima. We beat you and humanity is saved from your cruelty."

Knowing that physical violence was a futile endeavor, Grima lowered his enormous head to face the tactician. "You fool, humanity has not been saved by… defeating me. Your vile species has merely damned itself once again."

"What do you mean?" Robin demanded, furrowing his brows. "Don't tell me there's another enemy".

"Another enemy? Ha, you arrogant humans will continue your cycle of self indulgence until the very end. There will always be an enemy as there always has been. Why? Because your species is incapable of learning from their own mistakes."

"Is that what you waged war against us? To end the cycle of conflict?" Robin demanded.

"Fool, I am but the creation of humanity's selfish desires, a reflection of humanity's evil. It was not me who waged war against you, but the human species itself. However, it seems not even your own ugly reflection could shatter the cycle. Perhaps humanity is too cunning and ruthless to ever be defeated."

Robin had no words in response. The two stared at each other in silence.

"Humanity… humans can be terrible, the world… can be terrible, I'll give you that. But isn't that just how life is? Isn't that just how it's supposed to be?"

Grima narrowed his eyes as Robin continued.

"I mean, isn't experiencing sadness, anger, joy, pride, and all the emotions that make us who we are, what makes life worth living?"

Robin was blasted by a snort of air from Grima's massive nostrils. "Perhaps for you humans and your pathetically finite existence. Yet is that not another example of humanity's gluttony? Because of your puny lifespans, you crave to conquer, to lust, to destroy, to feel as much as you can before your pitiful ends. Is that not the embodiment of vanity?"

"Is it so wrong to feel emotion, is it wrong to truly live?" Robin protested.

"I have no interest in telling you what is right or wrong human. I have failed in my purpose, thus the cycle continues", Grima stated resolutely.

Robin put a hand to his chin. "You know, for a dragon who seemed so assured in their victory, you seem a lot less… angry than I expected."

"Such a reaction would be pointless. In this purgatory I cannot make you writhe with agony and I doubt words alone could mentally break you." Grima glared at the infinitely smaller human. "In the end, I was never a herald for change. If this is my fate for failing, then so be it."

"You know, as much as you're a terrible evil being, I wouldn't say you didn't change anything. To be truthful, you inadvertently brought many things that were good. Because of you, we rallied many countries and created bonds that are sure to last. None of these things can ever justify your actions and I don't think I'll ever forgive you for the atrocities you've committed. However without you, I would have never met the shepherds, I would have never met Chrom, and... I would never have known Lucina", Robin admitted, a sad look coming to his face.

"And because of me, you will never see them again. Even in victory, you share the fate of the defeated."

Robin glared at Grima. "Even if I never see them again, I will never regret slaying you with my own two hands. Even if this is as far as I go, I have saved my friends from a terrible fate. You are wrong dragon, I have achieved total victory."

Grima glared back. "Bold words coming from a pitiful martyr. You may have achieved a personal victory, but you shall rot for eternity as a result."

Shrugging, Robin chose to sit down, resting his chin in his palm. "Perhaps, though if this is my fate for succeeding, then so be it."

The two didn't share any more words after that. Sitting silently in the company of the other for what would be many years.

Five Months Later

How many months had it been? Robin was unsure. He had lost count after the first, it was simply impossible to keep track of time whilst stuck in the static environment Robin had been suffering for the last few months.

He glanced at Grima who was staring off into the nothingness that surrounded them. The fell dragon had his body coiled up like a snake while his wings were tucked into his sides. It was an image the grandmaster tactician had never dreamt of seeing.

"Hey dragon", Robin called out.

Grima ignored him, still staring at the void of nothingness.

"Oi, Grima I know you can hear me. I have something important to say."

"What do you want human", Grima grumbled, raising his head for its resting spot atop his snake like body.

"Have you noticed the magical energy?"

Grima laid his head back down on its resting spot. "Of Course I have, it is slowly leaking into our prison even as we speak. Though it is unable to be manifested."

Robin nodded in agreement, he couldn't achieve any results with the magical energy in the air and he doubted it would be any different even if he had a tome. He didn't know what to make of this phenomenon, he'd have to keep investigating. It wasn't like he had anything else to do.

One Week Later

Robin was sitting cross legged with a hand on his chin. He had been studying the magic that inhabited his and the dragon's prison. Relentlessly had he been pondering about it as he idly sat around and occasionally strolled around the blank expanse that surrounded them.

So far, Robin had zero results. No matter how he harnessed the magic, he just couldn't seem to employ it. It was like being able to power up a thoron but not being able to fire it.

Perhaps… maybe... wait. He was thinking about this is the context of how he'd always used magic, offensively and with tomes. Thinking outside of the box, he was used to that.

Robin hadn't ever learned to use magic outside of battle, not like Miriel had. He did read a lot of books though. Admittedly, he didn't read many books about magic. Books on war, history, and tactics usually served him best. Though he also read many novels in his free time. In many of these novels, there were instances of witches and wizards who could fully harness magic with just their desires. Robin quite enjoyed these novels, having a quite vivid imagination to visualize the epic battles.

It felt a little silly to emulate these fictional wizards, but Robin did it anyways. He'd participated in many more embarrassing moments with the shepherds. Once, he'd challenged Lucina to an arm wrestle after getting hammered with the guy shepherds that night. Lucina had won with little effort, much to the humor of the others. What really made the night a sour memory was the fact that Robin had thrown up on Lucina's cape afterwards.

Shaking himself from his reminiscence, he once more channeled the magic. However instead of focusing it for a sole purpose, he let it spread through his body. Then… he felt it. After assimilating with him, the magic felt… primed for a lack of a better word. All he needed to do was give it direction. The magic didn't feel like it could be used for an attack, a concept completely foreign to Robin.

He closed his eyes, molding it, bending it, giving it purpose. Aimlessly did he focus on this and nothing else. An hour passed, and then another. He opened his eyes as the magic was instantly sucked out of the air. He'd done it, he'd manifested the magic into a creation of his own.

In his hand, was none other than a levin sword.

Grima's head whipped around and looked at Robin, then at the sword, then at Robin again. "How did you do that human".

A shit eating grin spread across Robins face. "Magic"

Six Months Later

Robin gracefully swung the levin sword at an imaginary opponent. He'd slice their arm off, hack at their invisible torso, sometimes even go low for the shins before executing a swift beheading. He didn't have a sword style of his own, choosing to incorporate a little bit of everything that had been taught to him by various shepards.

With nothing else to do, Grima chose to watch Robin as he practiced with the levin sword. He had demanded of the human to tell him the secrets of the magic that was constantly seeping into their prison and after much goading, the insufferable man finally told the fell dragon how he spread the magic throughout his body and eventually molded it into reality through his will.

Much to the Grima's chagrin, the dragon was unable to perform this 'creation' magic the human proved capable of performing.

This left Robin to have free reign over what was created within the abyss the two were trapped within.

"Hey Grima", Robin called out, pausing in his practice.

"...What is it human", Grima responded.

Robin put a hand to his chin, his other still holding the levin sword. "If you're a dragon, does that mean you had a mother and a father?"

"You mistake me for a being similar to the divine dragon king."

"Divine dragon king?" Robin asked.

"You fools refer to that idiot as Naga."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Big words coming from a dragon who was just defeated by that 'idiot'."

"You forget human. I have killed the Naga of my time, it is only because of your machinations in yours that I failed. Naga is a fool, she has grown weak by letting humans trample over her kindness. Her charity towards your insufferable species eventually led to her downfall."

"Yes yes, us puny humans are mere parasites that have taken everything from you dragons. I've heard it before Grima. I don't want to hear another one of your rants, so just answer my question", Robin sighed.

Grima's eyes narrowed. "I will sate your curiosity, if only for this pointless conversation to end."

"The closest resemblance I would have to a father would be my creator. In a bid to create the perfect life form, a man named Forneus created me using various materials. One of those materials was the blood of a divine dragon, providing me immense power."

"The blood of a divine dragon? How the hell did he get that?" Robin asked.

"I do not know, it is probable that Forneus appropriated it. Admittedly, the human was a genius, my existence is proof of that. He gave me his blood, linking himself with me. It is through him that I learned of humanity's avarice. I grew stronger and stronger as I discovered my purpose, the downfall of man. However, in his fear, Forneus attempted to destroy me before I could mature to the height of my power", Grima responded.

"I assume you killed him?" Robin questioned.

"Of Course I did. Are you going to brand me with your jargon again?"

Robin shook his head. "No, it's natural that you would retaliate."

"Ho? So we are in agreement for once. Even if he was a heinous man who was a blight to the world, I could sense that the man cared for me. The day I killed him and broke free was the day I resolved myself to my task."

Grima felt slightly liberated to bare his past to the tactician. How… human of the fell dragon, it must be the human blood that ran through him. In all his years, he never had anybody he could call an ally. Sure there were his pawns, but they were merely an extension of his will. As far as he was concerned, it had always just been him.

Five Years Later

"Tactician", Grima called out.

Robin looked from the book he was writing. "What is it Grima".

Grima scrutinized the human who was sitting behind a desk they had created some time ago. "Your appearance is… different from when we were first trapped in this purgatory."

Robin looked his hands, then down at his clothed torso. "You sure?"

"I'm certain human. In the context of your species, you look more physically matured", Grima affirmed.

"Hold on". Robin harnessed the magic that had been gathering since his last creation. In only a few seconds, a full body mirror came into existence besides him. Never had Robin seen himself since the day he killed Grima. As a result, the reflection that greeted him most certainly did not look the same.

The fell dragon's words proved true as Robin indeed appeared older.

"I'm… getting older?" Robin questioned.

Grima swung his head around to see Robin's reflection. "It would seem so human."

"How is this possible?"

Grima raised the joints that connected his wings to his body, giving his best interpretation of a shrug.

Seven Years Later

Robin moved his pawn forwards, safeguarding the knight's approach.

It was an undoubtable fact that he was aging within his purgatory. He now looked like a man at the peak of his adulthood. Robin was unsure if the fact that he may one day die of old age in his prison unstuck from reality was sad or a blessing.

"Move my queen diagonally forwards and left two places", Grima demanded.

In response, Robin picked up the black queen which sat opposite of his own pieces and moved it to the dragon's desired location. The sheer size of the fell dragon prevented him from moving individual chess pieces himself.

Robin gave a smirk as he evaded the black queen's wrath by repositioning his bishop. It had taken years to convince Grima to participate in his 'human frivolities'.

Grima lowered his head further as he intensely scrutinized the board with all six of his eyes. "Take the pawn directly in front of my rook."

Robin instinctually grimaced at the loss, taking his fallen unit from the board. He then proceeded to move his own rook into position, flanking the queen.

"Ha! Move my queen forwards one tile you fool", Grima ordered.

Robin complied whilst tisking. "Who's the fool Grima? By doing that, you left my knight open to attack. Your arrogance will be your downfall!"

All six of Grima's eyes widened as Robin moved his knight forwards two tiles and one to the left, checkmating the dragon. "Damn you human!"

"It seems I win once again Grima", Robin gloated, crossing his arms smugly.

"Why must the game end when the king is slain. The king is a weakling, even a pawn has more combat potential. The queen should lead my forces, she is a far superior unit that does not need to cower behind pawns", Grima grumbled.

"Sadly, that's just not how the game works", Robin stated, shrugging.

"Illogical human game. It is of no matter, reset the board. I will crush you this time."

One Year Later

"You speak as if humanity is the source of all evils committed."

"You misunderstand me, I am aware of all beings' capacity for malice. However it is you humans who refuse to learn from your predecessors mistakes."

"You keep making that point, but it is false. We do learn from our mistakes. Until the die we die, we will keep learning from our mistakes. The reason wars are still fought, and people still suffer is because of the selfish desires of the few".

"Se-"

"Don't start ranting about how selfish humans are Grima", Robin interrupted. "You killed countless good people in your pursuit of human extinction. No matter how noble you saw your goal, in my eyes, it is still a selfish act. You brought ruin to others to sate your own personal desires, not even beings like you are above these primal feelings. That's why there must always be those who will rise to fight for good. The cycle you scorn so heavily is in fact the natural course of life. If you truly want to end the cycle, then you'd have to end all life."

"That's… not my desire.

"Naga is no fool for accepting the cycle of life. Unlike you, she helps guide humanity to a brighter path."

Grima didn't have a response.

Two Years Later

"A group of goblins holding wooden clubs approach from the cave entrance", Robin stated, placing four goblin figurines on the map.

Grima's eyes widened. "But the merchant said there weren't any monsters here."

Robin merely shrugged. "Take your turn".

"...I'm casting chill touch on the closest goblin."

Robin rolled some die onto the table. "Sorry, that's a miss."

Robin moved the goblin figures closer to Grima's player figurine. "The lead goblin takes a swing at your head, let's do a dexterity check".

He once more rolled some die onto the wooden table. "Welp, that's a hit Grima, you're incapacitated now since you still haven't healed from the last battle. Only the second goblin reaches you during this turn and takes a swing at your unconscious body for good measure."

Dice roll*

"It'd be pretty hard for Gobby the goblin to miss a stationary target huh. You're down a failure since you were attacked with zero hp. Good thing is, it's now your turn."

"Roll a death saving throw human".

Robin rolled the die, it was a one. "Terrible luck this playthrough. Looks like Grim the dragonborn is dead."

"NOOOOOOOOOO!"

Five Years Later

"Ho? What did you create this time human", Grima questioned, snatching the picture frame from Robin's hands using the tip of his tail. He carefully wrapped the small end of his tail around the base of the frame, careful not to break it.

"Give that back you idiot!"

Grima gazed upon the image within the frame. It was an older Robin and the exalt girl from his timeline standing side by side. In between them, a younger human stood.

"This… never happened."

Robin glared at Grima. "And why do you think that Grima. Now give it back blasted dragon".

"I… this belongs to you human", Grima admitted, depositing the picture back into Robin's hands.

Robin glared at Grima once more as he placed the picture on his desk.

"I wasn't aware that you were able to create objects that never existed".

The tactician winced at the reminder that the image of him, Lucina, and Morgan was and would never be real. "I can create whatever I can conceptualize."

"I see", Grima responded, no longer in the mood for conversation. The dragon turned away, tucked his wings in, and coiled his long body. Once again, silence reigned supreme between the tactician and the fell dragon.

Ten Years Later

"You know, for the first few years I was holding out hope that my bond with the shepherds would return me to them. After a while, I started hoping that Naga would somehow rescue me. But now? I'm pretty sure that this is it."

"Are you disappointed in your fate?"

Robin sighed. "Truthfully, yes. While I don't regret my decision, it's still disheartening knowing that I will never be able to lead the life I wanted so badly. What's worse, I promised Lucina that I would return back to Ylisse with her. I promised that I'd accompany her not only through times of war, but through times of peace."

"Ah, so not only are you unsatisfied in your own fate, but you are saddened by the disappointment you have brought to the ones you are close to."

"Gee, thanks for being so blunt about it", Robin grumbled, crossing his arms.

"Is it expected that one should make light of a situation that is undoubtedly tragic?" Grima asked.

Once again, Robin sighed. "Not exactly, it's just etiquette that you try not to hammer something that's obviously upsetting someone home."

"Hammering… something home?" Grima questioned, tilting his head to the side.

"You know, sometimes I forget how oblivious you are about the species you sought to exterminate. I might just have to write a dictionary of idioms for you."

Robin paused, looking up at Grima who was looking down at him. "Wait… you know how to read right?"

"Ofcourse I know how to read you worm. You forget that I spent much time within a human vessel, or more specifically, you. While I did not learn your nonsensical jargon, I was fully capable of blending in with you sheep."

Robin merely rolled his eyes as he sat down at his desk. "I'm still going to write a book for you on basic human interaction, it can get irritating talking to you. And you know what the worst part is? Talking to you is pretty much the only thing that keeps me sane in this hell hole".

Many Years Later

Robin lay on the bed he had created some time ago. His face weathered many wrinkles now, no longer was he the young man who fought the living dead on a daily basis.

Neither was Grima the same as he was before. His giant head was resting on the ground next to Robin's bed; six pairs of eyes stared at the tactician's now frail form. The fell dragon would accompany the human for his last moments.

"What a weird feeling. For so long, this purgatory hasn't let me feel anything. But now… it feels like my consciousness is slipping away. I'm about to break free, I know it."

"Perhaps you will see your loved ones again, wherever you're going", Grima suggested.

Robin gave a brittle chuckle. "That's a nice thought."

Grima gazed upon the tactician. The rise and fall of the humans chest became slower and slower.

"Sorry, it looks like you won't have anyone to talk to now", Robin rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "You may not care in the slightest, being an evil dragon and all, but… thank you. While this lifetime we've spent in this purgatory isn't what I wanted at all, it wasn't the worst. I… I guess what I'm trying to say, is that it's been fun."

"..."

Robin exerted the last few drops of energy in his body and turned his head to face Grima's head. "I still don't like what you did to the people of my world and Lucina's. But I've come to understand that you were doing what you thought was the right thing to do. While I can't agree with your goal of human annihilation, I can at least acknowledge your character."

"..."

"What? No last words for your favorite human?" Robin managed to whisper, his lips twitching upwards into his best sarcastic smirk.

"Robin".

The tactician smirk grew into a full blown smile. He would have laughed if he was able to. It was a struggle to keep his eyes open at this point. "What is it Grima."

"...If only all humans were like you Robin. I… was wrong. Humanity does not deserve total annihilation for the actions of the wicked. You were right Robin, balance must be made, and the cycle must continue. It's as you said, there will always be evil in the world, beings like me, who bring ruin to the world. And there will always be good, there will be heroes who rise to fight for the light, heroes like you. If not humans, than dragons, and if not the dragons, then the gods."

Grima closed his eyes. "I don't want to destroy humanity anymore. Now, don't put me in the same boat as Naga, but there is no need for me to hate your species anymore."

"I… I'll miss your company Robin."

This time, Robin did laugh. The sound was slightly strangled, and his body jerked violently, but the tactician laughed nonetheless. It would be his last.

"That's… good… to hear… finally, you stupid dragon."

Robin took one last fulfilling breath. "Goodbye Grima."

"Goodbye Robin."

The two shared their final words as Robin's eyes finally shut for good. A few seconds passed until the tactician popped out of existence, leaving the fell dragon alone for the first time within the abyss of a prison.

Grima looked around at the various objects the human had left behind. His wooden desk still stood where it always did, a half written book about mounted warfare tactics lay upon its surface. The levin sword Robin swung around in his earlier years leaned against the side of the desk. Not forgotten, but unused.

A chess board with all the pieces on their assigned squares lay upon another table. Beneath it, various human games were stacked on top of eachother. He did enjoy that role playing one very much.

The miniature sculpture of the fell dragon himself also stood within his now lonesome prison. Robin had created it for him at his request many years ago.

The dragon sighed, a human habit he accidentally copied from the tactician. Grima stared at the now empty bed for an unknown amount of time. Eventually, he tore his gaze away and found his usual resting spot where he curled his immense body up and folded his wings as he always did. Without anyone to talk to, he resolved himself to spend the rest of his eternity alone.

That's exactly what he did, for precisely one minute.

A searingly bright white light encompassed the formerly black prison, blinding Grima. When he opened his six eyes once more, he wasn't in the prison at all. Natural sunlight showered Grima, making him squint his two eyes.

Wait… two eyes?

"What is this", Grima whispered to himself, looking down at his now human hands. He looked at his arms next, the sleeves of the grimleal coat Robin always wore adorned them. "Impossible".

Grima heard the sound of rushing water deeper into the woods that surrounded him. Hurriedly, he ran to the bank, stumbling along the way. Even though he occupied a human vessel for some time, he had been in his draconic form for much longer.

Collapsing onto his knees, Grima peered into the water's rippling reflection. What greeted him was none other than a face that while looked mature, still held traces of youth in it, it was Robin's face.

Had he inhabited the body of his former vessel again? Grima was unsure. His vessel's consciousness was no more if that was the case.

He felt his own power circulating through him, and unlike his time in purgatory, he felt the pull of his immense magical energy. Similarly, draconic power surged through him, wishing to be unleashed.

A venomous thought crossed his mind. With his renewed power, with Robin gone, he could once again bring humanity to the brink.

Or… not, he had failed already, and he felt little motivation to embark on another genocide. Furthermore, he was being honest when he told Robin that he no longer hated humanity. Now that he had a perfectly good human vessel, he'd much rather lead an inconspicuous life and observe the cycle Robin spoke about so passionately

He was tired of being the fell dragon, for now he'd just be Grima. Yes, that sounded good. Now if he could only figure out where he was.