WHO: Chrom, open to the Not!Shepherds he invited, or anyone else who wants more CR with him.
WHAT: Everyone must face their Calamity selves, and Chrom is one of them. Thankfully he's not so embarrassed that he'd try to do it alone. Sure enough, his greatest insecurity is brought to light: is he truly fit to be the next Exalt of Ylisse?
WHEN: November 13th
WHERE: Palitutu's Laboratory - Aqures Ixen
WARNINGS: Spoilers for the first half of Fire Emblem: Awakening


Chrom stood in the middle of the stark and nearly empty white room. He felt exposed already, and not just because he'd elected not to bring Falchion with him. He'd heard that many Heroes who had undergone the process early had not come away from the experience emotionally unscathed, and that was...worrisome. He was not so arrogant, nor so naive, to think that it would be any easier for him. Kulevi had murmured a series of pep talks into his ear the whole way over, encouraging him to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. Don't argue with the Shadow. Listen to it. Accept it. He could do this.

He was honestly grateful for her support. It did help.

"What job will you be keeping?" the lab Moogle asked as it took his crystal in hand.

"...Santa Claus." He'd thought long and hard about this, and the decision he'd made wasn't an easy one. The Jobs that let him have access to a sword were the ones he was most comfortable equipping. However, given the positive influence that the Santa job had against others around him, as well as the fact that he was not supposed to be engaging his other self in combat, meant that this was probably the most logical choice.

All of the Moogles boggled at him. He wasn't sure if that was because they'd assumed he would have clung to the Paladin job or that his choice was truly foolish, but none of them had anything further to say on the matter.

Clearing his throat, the moogle holding his crystal nodded. "Got it, kupo. Here we go!" The crystal slid into the slot, and a crackle of energy spilled over the room like a great dome of light. He watched silently as a dark figure began to take shape in front of him, smoky features sharpening into a nearly perfect replica of Chrom himself.

But unlike Chrom, his deep blue eyes were violently purple. The armor he wore was stained with dry brown flakes of blood, and his shoulders sagged under the burden of an invisible weight. He looked so tired.

"So you wish to know what you've been repressing. Surely you must have some inclination. You're not quite that dense."

Chrom's brow darkened slightly. He wasn't sure what to make of this mirrored image, nor was he certain what to say. It took him a moment to get accustomed to the sight of himself, so haggard and bloodstained. Had the issue not come up when he'd sparred with Flynn last month, he might not have been able to guess. But the Shadow side of him was right. He did have an inkling about what was about to be said. "I think I know."

The Shadow watched him with heavy lids, frowning. Then he snorted. "That does take away from the satisfaction of seeing the shock all over your dumb face, but let's get this over with. To put it bluntly? You're not fit to rule the halidom. You're probably not even fit to lead this ragtag band of lovable misfits for that matter."

"I..." Chrom faltered. What could he say? There was no sense in denying it, that he didn't feel at ease accepting the title after Emmeryn's death. He exhaled slowly. "I confess that this is an insecurity I've wrestled with for quite some time."

"You're scared of becoming your father, who waged a long and bloody war at the cost of his people."

"I lack the compassion and wisdom of my sister, who loved the Ylissean people as they loved her."

The Shadow remained silent for a long moment, dispassionately regarding the humbled warrior. "...You will lose their trust, and lead them to their deaths, with your ineptitude to lead them in battle, and your hamfisted attempts at diplomacy. You will fail them all."

Now it was Chrom's turn to be silent. The words of his Shadow echoed in his mind, and weighed heavily on his heart. He closed his eyes for a moment, digesting it. He needed a few moments to accept what the Shadow had said -- not as a truth, but a feeling that he'd been carrying for a very long time.