Needless to say, this is a "super-ultra-hyper" alternate universe fic. Like I'm just borrowing the FE cast and some situations to recreate a 'reality show' in the Fire Emblem universe. There's some more tech, though. And nobility is just an useless thing, a charge, but nothing else (they are normal citizens with some "jerarchy") Hope you'll like it.
Big Emblem
Session 1: Aperture
"Good night! Welcome to Big Emblem, the show where 22 youths will live their lives in a Castle, live by television!", a voice greeted the audience, excited. "With you, our hosts, Lord Athos and Lady Louise!!"
At the sound of the claps, the mentioned couple got into the studio, opening a big door at the center of the stage. Athos was wearing a light tunic, while Louise was wearing a pinkish short dress, nothing extravagant.
"Good night, young ones", the millennia old Archsage greeted the audience, both at the studio and at home. "How are you doing, Lady Louise?"
"Fine, thanks, Lord Athos!", the blonde hostess, happily, replied. "And what about you? How do you feel being here"
"Fine, Louise, thanks. It's my duty to look after the children of Roland, you know…"
"Thanks for being here", Louise thanked him, touched. "Welcome everybody to 'Big Emblem', the show that records the lives of 22 people living together at a Castle, without any contact with the outside world. I think it's time to take a look at the rules. What do you think, Archsage?"
"Indeed, Lady Louise. That's a sound idea", Athos replied, agreeing with her.
"Alright", she said, turning back to face the giant screen where a videograph was showing the rules. "To begin with, there will be 22 young people living in an abandoned Castle, halfway between Pherae and Ostia. They will get into the Castle today, and will remain there until they are told the contrary, being this because they want to get out by their expressed opinion, they are disqualified by some reason (attempt of murder, peeping into the other sex baths, poisoning the food, things like that), or because you, the public, decide someone have to leave the Castle, after phoning our "two gold the minute" phone lines, voting for the character you want to kick out from the Castle. Then, they won't have any contact with the outside world, except from our sort of reporter, who you will meet later tonight, or the television each Saturday, to see who will leave the Castle, and to hear the support that strangers and their own family give them"
"They won't be laying down all day, will they?", Athos interrupted Louise, half worried.
"Oh, no. You don't have to fear about that. They'll have to accomplish some tasks, and if they fail, they'll have to accomplish an even greater task, or to repay what they haven't done"
"Oh, I see. Anything else that we are forgetting to tell our audience?"
"I think those are the most important issues"
"Great, so now we'll welcome Lord Elbert and Lady Eleanora of Pherae", Athos said, pointing to the big door at the back of the stage. Right from there, the mentioned nobles came into the set, walking side by side, holding hands and waving at the cameras.
"Welcome", Athos greeted, shacking hands with Lord Elbert.
"Nice to have you here. Thanks for coming", Louise thanked, greeting them and pointing a sofa, were the couple had to sit down for the small interview.
"First of all, thanks for lending us the Castle. It's an important thing from you", Athos thanked, starting the interview.
"Oh, don't mention it", Lord Elbert said, friendly. "It's just an abandoned Castle, and we thought it would be a good thing to lend it to your show. Didn't we, darling?"
"Indeed, honey", Lady Eleanora approved, smiling. "It was a great opportunity to mend it, also"
"An odd start for a show, isn't it?", Louise asked, laughing gently.
"Well, we can say it is", Elbert laughed.
"We'll spoil the audience this way, but they are going to meet our participants in some minutes", Louise introduced the new question. "How do you feel, being some known public figures, knowing that your son, Eliwood, is one of the participants?"
"Oh, it isn't that odd", Elbert said, coolly. "He thought it would be a great idea to join something like that, and as he also wanted to spend a gap year before getting into University, we thought it would be better to support him in this activity. At least, he'll be doing something now, and not laying in a bed for a year"
"Poor your son!", Louise exclaimed, shocked. "You are making a lazy image of him!"
"He's not a good child of Roland…", Athos complained.
"He's not that lazy… Just sometimes", Eleanora said, defending her son.
"Anyway, thanks for coming! Sorry for this short interview, but we don't have much time", Louise apologized, finishing the interview. "Will you stay around?"
"Absolutely", Elbert said, shacking hands with Athos again, laughing.
"Well, and those were Lady Eleanora and Lord Elbert!", Louise exclaimed, while the couple walked to where the audience was sitting, under a round of applause.
"Guess it's time to meet more people, isn't it, Louise?"
"Yes, you are right, Athos! Right here, in this sector of the audience", the blonde haired hostess said, pointing a sector, where Eliwood's parents were sitting. "…we have many relatives of the participants. Right here we have Rebecca's father, the chief of a small village in Pherae. Good night", she greeted the fat, moustached man.
"Good night, Lady Louise", the introduced chief greeted her back.
"How do you feel about your daughter, who's getting into the Castle in a few minutes time?"
"Nervous. I did the most I could to prevent her from joining, but I lost. She still thinks she can find her brother, and especially in a show like this one…", the man sighed, resigned.
"Oh, I'm sorry… We didn't want to saddened you", Louise apologized, sweating.
"You did nothing. I'm ok", the man said, trying to cheer the hostess up.
"Well, do we have any other relative here, Athos?"
"Yes, we have Natalie, Dorcas' wife, here", Athos replied, greeting the brown haired lady sitting in the first line. "How are you doing, young one?"
"Eh… well, thanks", Natalie replied, shyly. "It's just that I can't get used to the idea that Dorcas is getting there just to help me…"
"He applied just to help you?", Louise asked, touched. "Oh, that's what every woman wishes when looking for a man, isn't it, ladies?"
The females in the audience all replied 'yes' at the unison, and Louise could hear Pent's voice, through her hearings, "Louise, am I that bad?!?!?"
Louise laughed, and went on with the interview.
"Well, I have my leg injured since I was little, and he wants to get enough money to pay my treatment, so I can walk properly again", Natalie explained, with tears in her eyes, touched by her own husband's self sacrifice.
"Amusing, isn't it, Athos?"
"Truly, a real descendant of Roland"
"But we are from Bern", Natalie corrected, shyly.
"Oh, well… but you are living here, now, isn't it?"
Natalie nodded.
"Thanks Natalie for being here", Louise greeted her. "We got the news that the Chosen Ones are about to get into the Castle, but that will be shortly. Let's tell the people about the selection process, Athos"
"Well, the producers were really amazed when they realized the big amount of people that applied for the show, so they had to change the first implied amount of 12 people to the actual 22… which is ten more. That shows the success that this show could be, even before starting"
"Yes, Athos, it was really impressive", Louise commented. "I remember those productions sessions, trying to see who would get into and who wouldn't, or who would join the list of replacements… it was a real hard work, exhausting…"
"And what the audience has to know, is that there will be some changes from time to time", Athos reminded her. "There could be a multiple elimination, where more than only one person can get out of the Castle, as well as many other things…"
Louise interrupted him, over-excited.
"Sorry for interrupting you, Archsage", she apologized. "But we are ready to say that the 22 Chosen Ones are about to get into the Castle. Let's get to the Castle, where our 'reporter', our link with them, Alina, is, ready to interview the Chosen Ones before leaving the 'outside world' for some time! Good night, Alina!!"
Now, on the screen, the Castle is showed, and there's plenty of people in its surroundings, with many banners with inscriptions like this ones: "Go Eliwood", "Lyn, marry me!!", "Sacaen pride!", and many others, some quite offensive (you know what I mean =P).
Then, a bownish-reddish haired girl, wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans appears in the screen.
"Hi, Lady Louise! Hi, Lord Athos!", the girl greets back, excited. "Here we are, at the Castle gates, waiting for our participants, who are getting ready in the truck"
"We can see many people there, Alina", Louise noticed, looking at the giant screen at the stage. "How are they living this event there?"
The answer delayed a bit. Slow technology.
"It's really surprising", Alina smiled, happily. "There are many people who just came here because they are curious, and others seem to be hard die fans of some of our guys and gals. I've already found many Eliwood or Lucius fans, but the one that seems to be the most popular character so far is Lyn. There are many people cheering for her here"
"That's cool", Louise said, but now was interrupted by Alina.
"Here they are coming, Lady Louise, Lord Athos!!"
One by one, the twenty-two participants walked through the improvised stage, and stayed there, some smiling nervously at the cameras, others with their already practiced 'bad boy' pose.
"Here they are, those are our people!", Louise exclaimed excited, as the giant screen showed each one of the participants. "Now, they will be getting into the Castle by one, and we'll interview them a bit before doing so. All yours, Alina"
"Thanks, Louise", Alina thanked. "Yes, they are about to get isolated for quite some time. Our first participant is Serra, from Ostia!"
The pink haired cleric walks to where Alina is, playing the 'sexy girl' thing at the camera.
"Hi, Serra. How do you feel being here?", Alina asked, friendly.
"Oh, better than ever. The production sure has some great judgement, as they knew that if I wasn't one of the participants, the show would be a complete waste of time and money. I'm so honored of being here!"
"Aha…", Alina… said, looking at her puzzled. "Well, that was Serra. You can already get going". What she really wanted was to get her out of her sight as soon as possible… "Next is… Wil! Hi, Wil, how do you feel?"
As soon as Alina calls the following person, the others get into the Castle, under some rounds of applause from the public.
"Guess that somewhat nervous", the brown haired boy replied, without losing his smile.
"Tell us why do you wanted to join"
"Guess it was to get some money for my family… Mom, Dad, if you are watching this, I'm ok, don't worry about me!"
"Thanks, Wil. Welcome, Priscilla! What was your reason to join this show?"
"Ah… I'm looking for someone… and I want to do something I've never done before"
"Good luck, then, Priscilla. Next is… Erk! Hi, Erk! Why are you looking so… angry?"
"I've been tricked to get into this", the purplish haired boy replied, resigned.
"Oops… that's not good; anyway, good luck!"
"I hope the audience will kick me out of here in the first round…", he mumbled, while Alina was calling Florina and her sister, Farina.
"And why had you applied, Florina?"
"Ah… well… I wanted to be… with Lady Lyn…", the orchid girl whispered, shyly.
"I see… Good luck, Florina, and don't be so shy, you can overcome it! And you Farina, why 'd you applied?"
"For the money, and to look after my little sister, as Fiora told me to do. Fiora, if you are watching this, you can calm down and rely on me!"
"Woah, impressive!", Alina commented, as the sisters were walking into the gates. "Next, Sain! Why are you here, Sain?"
"Well, for the gals, of course, nice charming reporter", Sain flattered Alina, but she just laughed.
"Thanks, Sain. Welcome, Lucius and Raven!", Alina called the blonde monk, but she turned back and stopped Sain, saying, "Sain, give me that pocket camera. You aren't allowed to get into the Castle with things like this one"
"Oh… I didn't know", he lied, handing it over to Alina, but his hand seemed to be quite reluctant to do that.
"Thanks, Sain. What about you, guys?"
"I have some business to finish", Raven said, quite annoyed.
"I've come to persuade him not to do anything crazy", the monk said.
"Aha", Alina nodded, as they walked away. "Welcome Rebecca and Lowen!"
"Hi!", Rebecca smiled, cheerfully. "Well, I wanted to experience something out of the ordinary"
"I still don't know why I decided to apply", Lowen admitted, under his fringe.
"Oh, well, good luck. And now we have Guy and Karel. What do you expect from this?"
"Blood", Karel said sharply, frightening Alina and worrying the hosts back at the studio. "Training", he corrected then.
"I'll became the best swordman all over Sacae, butI need some training first… and some money to buy my Killing Edges, they are quite expensive lately", Guy explained.
"I… see", Alina said, hoping that the show won't end in a massacre. "You are…?"
"Canas", the purple haired scholar said, helping the disturbed reporter. "And I came here because I wanted a good place where I could practice the ancient arts that you call dark magic. My wife won't let me do it without complaining a lot every day"
"I'm Merlinus, Dame Alina", a 'distinguished' blue haired man –who was starting to lose it- with a moustache introduced himself. "I'm a merchant, and maybe I can get myself known here, and when I can open my own business, I can get clients easier than in the normal ways. I need the money to start it!"
"Ah… thanks for being here", Alina said, somewhat nervously. "God, this is getting even more worrying with the last members…", she thought for herself, while Dorcas and Bartre were walking to her side.
"Hi, I'm Bartre, and I'll show everyone I'm the best fighter in the world!"
"I just got into this to help my Natalie", Dorcas said coldly, almost expressionless.
"Well, here we have the two younger members of our show!", Alina said, introducing Nils and Ninian, while the others were walking their way to the Castle.
"Hi!", Nils greeted cheerfully. Ninian stood behind, looking at the camera shyly.
"Anything to say, guys?"
"Well, no, not really", Nils said. He seemed to be the leading sibling, instead of his elder sibling. "Just happy to be here, and that you accepted our admission"
"We are deeply thankful", Ninian finally said, smiling lightly.
"Thanks, kids", she said, turning to the camera. "And now, last, but not least… Lyn, Hector and Eliwood"
The public there started clapping even more, as the three youths made their way in the stage.
"Well, how do you feel, being here, just before isolating yourselves for quite some time, especially being part of some royal houses?", Alina asked, while the three of them looked for a comfortable place to look at the camera.
"Well, it's strange", Lyn smiled, friendly and cheerfully. "I sure have passed for quite some things lately. Loosing my parents, being reunited with my grandfather, and learning that I'm part of what I used to despise… it's too strange. I guess I want to find the real me here"
"Yes, I know what you have passed. I wish you the best of lucks, Lyn!", Alina agreed, smiling, keeping for herself the circumstances in which she met Lyn. It was too delicate to expose it to the audience, in her opinion. "What about you, Eliwood?"
"Well, guess it's to escape my monotony", the red haired guy replied, searching for the best words. "Gonna try something new"
"And you, Hector?"
"Similar to his", the robust, blue haired boy replied, brusquely. "I'm sick of my everyday life"
"Alina, could you pass me a bit with Hector, please?", Louise asked her reporter quickly, as there wasn't much time before the transmission ended.
"Yes, sure!", Alina said, handing over the microphone to Hector.
"Hi, Hector, it's Lady Louise here!", the blonde hostess greeted, as excited as she was since she appeared in stage. "Well, we could talk to Eliwood's parents, and we know Lyn's grandfather opinion, but we know nothing about your brother's opinion in this! Did he approved of you applying for 'Big Emblem'?"
Hector went a bit pale, and seriously, he replied. "Louise, he doesn't know anything about this. I made my way outside my home while he's still in Akanea"
Louise stayed silent.
"Oops… I made a mistake", she said, then, smiling nervously. "So sorry"
"It's alright…"
"Well, thanks guys for joining!", Alina thanked them, while they were picking their bags. "We have to remind the audience that the last guy or gal that gets out of the Castle will be the winner, and will receive a huge amount of gold"
"How much?", Lord Athos asked.
"A very large amount of gold", Alina said, checking her notes in front of the camera. "Something worth for being isolated for quite some time"
"Thanks for your coverage, Alina!", Louise thanked the brownish-reddish haired gal. "We'll see you next Saturday, when we'll know the first nominees to leave the Castle.
"Alright, thanks, lady Louise and Lord Athos!"
The camera goes back to the studio, where the hosts are. The show's coming to its end.
"Well, people, this was all for tonight. We'll see you in a weeks time, but don't forget that you can see some extracts in this channel every day, or that you can see them at every hour through "Lycian TV", the satellital system leading in Lycia!"
"All for tonight", Lord Athos said. "Good luck, brave children of Roland!"
The show's distinctive music starts playing, and the screen starts fading, turning black…
"How did I do it, Rath?", Alina asked her cameraman once that her part was over and the transmission went on in the studio.
"……………… Fine, I guess", Rath just said, after his never-ending silence.
Alina looked at her saddened, thinking, "Goodness! If it were by his opinions, I would be already dead!"
"Don't worry, Alina", Heath, the other cameraman said, guessing how she was feeling. "You did it pretty well"
"Oh, thank you!"
"Let's get back to the channel. There's nothing else to do here"
"Yes, you are right. We are having our first production session on Monday, aren't we?"
"…………Yes"
"Alright, guys, let's go!"
***
Well, I know that you have read zillions of things like this plot, but this comes with some differences (I think!). I'll try to make it different to the others, so it won't be a rip-off! I know the concept lacks of originality, but... wait and see! Give it an opportunity!
Oh, and Alina is my tactician (hehehe, I can't leave it behind, I just love her! =P). Hope some will read this, although it's not script like written.