Arthur's Note: Hello to all you fellow fans of magic, angels, demons dragons and everything that's cliché but never truly boring. I'm very new to all this but I assure you all that my writing and way of telling a story is not that bad. I haven't played Fire Emblem in a while, much less the mobile spin-off but I did enjoy my first game in the franchise, which miraculously saved said franchise as a whole despite its flaws; Fire Emblem Awakening. Granted it's the only game of the series that I ever played since I stopped using a DS all together but I am a sucker for nostalgia and once it crossed my mind last year I stuck with it, and now I am here among you all. Granted reading fanfictions has been a… let's call it a hobby to kill time for about six years now and I don't get bored of the same stories so easily so once I started reading what fellow fans have been writing about our beloved franchise, some filled me with enjoyment to read, others… disgusted me to the core since it dishonored our beloved characters but this is Fanfiction and everyone is entitled to how they want to perceive fictional worlds so I figured I should get into this myself.
Now before we begin I like to point out that I will start with Fates because while Awakening is better, the fourteenth installment caught my attention the most so I want to start off this way, also while I did enjoy the gameplay, characters and story, I myself like other fans, like say Blazingknight, have complaints about the noticeable flaws that I feel that we as fans need to correct especially since I feel that some of these characters didn't live up to their potential, the prime example being the villains, with that in mind I am going to make a lot of changes to the story to suit my interest, starting with different backstories for some, not because I hated the canon's take on it but because this is my first Fanfiction and I feel like I need the freedom to control the world I am writing how I see fit in a way that I believe may improve it, like the concept of magic, I like the system that Fire Emblem has about Magic but I feel that it may hold my imagination back, I assure you that there will be no OP characters among the heroes, though there will be certain instances where that may not be the case. Feel free to disagree with my changes and tell me if you think I should change something and I will consider, CONSIDER! Complying with your request.
Disclaimer: I know this unbearably cliché but again because this is my first time I will spell it out: I do not own Fire Emblem Fates, or any associated characters, weapons (minus for fanmade weapons), concepts, etc. that are found in this creation of mine.
Without further delay, I give you; Fire Emblem: Deliverer of Birthright
Chapter 1: Wayward Child
"NO, WAIT!" Cried out a Holy King in desperation, trying to punch through a transparent wall of magical energy blocking his path, calling out to the one who built it, who walks further away from him and towards his death. "This is not your burden to bear alone! We can all choose to live!"
His entire body shaking, chocking in his own tears as they stream down his face. And it is not just him in anguish, behind him are his comrades as they stand frozen with shock, just after triumphing over their monstrous foes, only to gaze at another kind of despair, one by one beginning to react in their own display of horror, whether that was looking away, throwing their hands to their faces, or falling to their knees in disbelief. His older and younger sisters who stand beside him both stumble over to their brother with terrified looks on their faces, clutching his back.
Beside him is also his daughter, holding an anguished young girl who is feeling worse than anyone.
"Please, think of what remains of your family. She needs you."
"WE NEED YOU!"
"DADDY, COME BACK!" Cried out his daughter. "You said you never hurt me! You promised!"
His daughter's words actually manage to get him to stop on his tracks and reluctantly turns but only to meet their gazes one last time as he looks at them with a completely defeated expression. It is the look of a man who is already dead. No, it is the look of a man who no longer fears anything and has come to accept the inevitability set before him and is about to put an end to a great depression.
"I know how badly you don't want me to do this but sealing him away isn't victory, it's shoving our problem onto someone else. Far too many people, innocent or otherwise have suffered by the mere thought of this horror's existence, I can't allow anymore to suffer just because my life hangs in the balance. Not even for you." He professed.
"Daddy…"
"I'm so sorry little girl. But this is my Endgame, and I must fulfill it. Look after everyone for me. They are your family now. Always have been. And I know they'll take care of you as well." With those final words, he turns his back on them once again for the final time, his mind becoming so numb that he can no longer even hear the loud voices behind him, focusing only on what's in front of him, what he was supposed to be, the abomination against life that lies before him staring down at him with its sickening six red eyes, only able to do just that, stare with nothing else due to its weaken state. And also before him, struggling to remain on his feet and incapable of defending himself is the human form of this horrid monster, the Avatar. His own shadow.
"So… this is the end of the road… the end for me. And I was so close to perfecting my story too." The Avatar cursed his own luck as he was so sure that his plans were flawless. "This is all wrong. I had it all planned out, so many ideas coursing through my head, limitless possibilities that could've perfected my Endgame. When did I become so indecisive?"
"You are smart, smarter than anyone in this world but it was only a matter of time before you fell to your own ego, our luck was going to run out eventually." He assured the Avatar.
"Yeah… I should've known it was going to end this way. No matter what I do, the green bastard is always there, hunting me, thwarting my dreams. If only I had… No, never mind." The Avatar surrenders to his fate. "Still… it wasn't all bad for me at least, my life was actually most satisfying as I lived it in full, took every path I could take, did what I had to do, and saw it through with little exception. Planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway as best I could. We both did."
"And more. Much more than this, I did it my way. Just the way you like it. My friend." The Fallen Hero finished for him as he raises both Fangs of the King empowered by the pinkish flames of Ignis.
With no more words to say, the Grandmaster of Ylisse, Prince of Plegia, High Deliverer, the Broken Soul; takes his own life and also takes the Wings of Despair, the Breath of Ruin, the Fell Dragon with him. Helplessly, the Dragon God of Death can only watch the same as the rest of the heroes as one of their greatest friends but also their most hated adversary fades to nothing as the evil dragon becomes consume by Ignis and burns away until only its bones remains and it falls from the sky to the ground with the heroes rescued by a divine light.
"Thank you Chrom. For always believing in me. For Everything."
Though despair was strong, tomorrows keep coming and a chance for hope ever present, including for one great continent who has been the subject of such oppression and suffering, now embraces an old light to rise from the ashes, and this chance is found in its newest Empress. Though she is young, she owes it to her father to make things right by stepping up and do what is best for Valm. And there she lies, sitting in her thrown, a unique attire that resembles her father's but with changes to make her stand out from him, now mix with the attire of a Dark Flier. Her beautiful face, once filled with endless joy is now devoid of such emotion, there is only melancholy, and standing before her throne is the Exalt of Ylisse and his once misguided daughter from a ruinous future who have given her father so much happiness and purpose but were also a catalyst of his greatest pain.
"You don't have to do this, you know, Morgan. This burden is too heavy." Chrom insisted, not wanting to see her lose herself to some self-imposed duty.
"Yes, I do, and I'll do it alone." Morgan replied in a tone so callous that it's impossible to believe that this is the same sassy aspiring apprentice tactician, following in the footsteps of her great father in pursuit of glory and adventure.
"No you're not. Valm is not the only one in need of help." Lucina stated.
"Not from you. Never again." Morgan replied coldly to the Future Princess, harboring only resentment and contempt where there was once compassion and admiration.
"Hate me forever if it can ease your pain but don't shut us all out. We're all we got." Lucina pleaded, the emptiness of her voice apparent caused by grief and remorse.
"Right now all I want is to be alone." Morgan turn away from them, no longer seeing them as her friends.
"We'll return to give more aid eventually. Till then, take care, little master." Chrom remarked, giving his farewells as he and Lucina exit the throne room, and once they were gone they expected her to finally shed some tears of the sorrow eating at her but no more tears came out, enough have been shed.
"What are you going to do?" Chrom asked his wayward daughter as the two remain before the closed doors to the throne room.
"I'm not leaving, I can't bear to see her like this and alone, I have to set things right. Somehow." Lucina declared, determination now in her face but still beset with sorrow.
"Everything up to this point will be one of hardship, even if our efforts to restore all the lands wounded by the Great War is done miraculously as soon as we want it so, it'll be a slow progress with her. Including me." Chrom said turning away from her.
"I won't give up. I'll die trying to bring that little girl's smile back, for now I am just a sorry excuse for a shepherd. Nothing more, nothing less." Lucina deemed.
"What about the rest of you?"
"They will also remain with Morgan for as long as they have to for her, but I imagine she'll eventually succeed in encouraging them all to follow their own hearts and leave her to her darkness. Luckily for me, I don't have one anymore."
Chrom is NOT HAPPY to hear his daughter say that but he did not retaliate, neither of them have the energy to argue about anything, all he can offer her is a fatherly hug, of which she is in desperate need of.
"Just promise me you'll stay alive long enough for me to give you more birthdays, I already owe you eleven of them in one go." Chrom pleaded.
"This is not the end, Naga promised, and those of her bloodline never go back on our word." Lucina avowed.
"That's my girl." Chrom's finally smiles as the two separate and the Exalt departs for Ylisse, where the rest of their family awaits, while Lucina remains behind, though first he needs to meet up with his royal retainer and sister who accompanied him on the journey here, and they will have another long journey to get back to their own home country whiles all the Children of an erased Future remain in Valm with the Thirteenth of a better Timeline and Daughter of Hope.
Chrom loses himself to his thoughts as he can only think of his fallen best friend.
"I know you can hear me Robin, wherever you are. Know that I'm never giving up either, even if so many of us have gone their separate ways, we are still together under our banner, I'll keep our family together until you return to share our future as we forge more of it. You will always have a place with the Shepherds. Remember that."
"Always."
Far to the North in a Kingdom of Darkness, hidden behind a fearsome mountain range, lay the Northern Fortress. It served no tactical purpose in the current age of this kingdom, all enemies to the north long since having been absorbed into the empire. It held a scant few people, with only seven consistently staying there. The majority of them lived in service to the young woman who had lived in the Northern Fortress all her life: Lady Corrin, Princess of Nohr and daughter of King Garon of Nohr. On the day her life changed forever, Corrin was dreaming. She slept fitfully, her latest dream more feverish than any she has ever had. The images seemed to slip from her memory as soon as she moved on from them, but subconsciously she still felt the dream was important and scorns herself for letting it slip away.
"Wakey, wakey Corrin."
The call pierced into the sleep of the young Princess, and she slowly began to open her eyes. Still groggy from her fitful sleep, Corrin merely groaned and rolled the bed sheets tighter around herself, and quickly reluctant to awaken and remain asleep.
"Aw, how adorable to see her asleep like an Angel of Nightlight, are you sure we can't let her sleep until dawn? It is almost heartbreaking to wake her up."
The voice of her second caretaker sounds more motherly and mature than usual, almost as if Flora had become a completely different person. Though than again, Corrin doesn't recall Felicia ever sounding so small and childish. Nor as she ever heard her say wakey, wakey.
"Yes we're sure, father has been in a good mood recently, as such we owe it to him to arrive early as he would prefer."
"Well said, as such it's time for you to awaken Corrin, your promise day has arrived."
Okay, now she knows there is something wrong, Jakob and Gunter are definitely different, sounding almost like…
Corrin fully awakens and finds that the people standing beside and surrounding her while she is in her bed are not her two maids, butler and tutor but her siblings, the oldest being a man in his mid-twenties with a strong, stern composure, blonde hair and brown eyes, and clad in heavy black armor with golden ordinates, befitting of a Crown Prince; Xander. Her oldest sister, Camilla, undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in Nohr, wavy dark purple long hair with her left eyes frequently covered, said eyes are dark pink and her body feature is one that has always brought other noble women immense envy. Corrin herself on one occasion and her armor is also befitting of a Princess but at the same time the opposite, black high heals and black armor that cover most of her body except most of her chest and… her underwear is expose. It's upsetting to look at that, and she wears a strange accessory on her head, which resemble cat ears. Her younger brother, Leo, young in his late teens, a year or two younger than Corrin, they never really discuss the age difference between all five royal siblings, only assuring that she is the middle child. His hair color and eyes are the same as Xander, though his hair is more ruffled with a headband. His armor is also almost identical to Xander but he also wears a purple cloak, with his magical tome always in hand. And finally there is the heart of the family and youngest member, our sweet Elise, she looks like she is thirteen or fourteen but she is actually older than her size would suggest. While her hair is the trademark blonde of the Nohrian royalty but her eyes are the same as Camilla, she wears her hair in two large pigtails that goes all the way down to her thighs, the dress she is frequently wearing is dark, the color of Nohr but with a white leather dress with heart symbols and has high boots.
"Wakey, wakey." Elise spoke up again, her usual cheery voice. Unfortunately, the young Princess did not receive a proper hello from her big sister but a yelp as Corrin becomes startled by their presence, signaling the four siblings to give her some space as she gets up, now fully awaken from the shock.
"Well, that's no way to say hello." Leo said amused by her reaction.
"Xander, Camilla, Leo, and Elise. What are you all doing here? It's still dark outside." Corrin muttered as she turns to her window, noticing the lack of sunlight, though light is an odd thing in Nohr.
"Oh, well dawn won't be here for another three hours but time is of the essence, darling." Camilla said with her usual motherly tone.
"What'd talking about?" Corrin asked.
"Great news big sister. The time has finally come for you to leave this smelly fortress and come home with us." Elise announced the big news, leaving Corrin speechless. She's been living in this fortress so long, only ever allowed to leave once, but that was her siblings taking a big risk just to satisfy her and by Gods did she love that day, especially for who they found.
"Really? This is so sudden! I haven't even beaten Xander in our sparring matches once." Corrin said, though overjoy, also concern.
"Yes, that is one disappointment that needs to be address but your warrior prowess is still exceptionally superb when compare to our commanders, mostly thanks to Gunter's training. Plus, father has been in a good mood recently, and I think you can contribute to it by visiting him." Xander explained with a gentle smile on his face.
"You make it sound like he's never in a good mood." Corrin said concern.
"You misunderstand, Little Princess. Our long awaited war against the fool Hoshidans finally draws near and father has been stressing over the predicament. It was only recent that he began to relax."
"Yes, and as his children we have to be there for him, all of us. And we harbor little doubt that watching how far you've come will keep him as such." Camilla continued.
"Aren't you excited. Now we can finally be together always." Elise cheered.
"I am, Elise. This is great, now can you please leave so I can get dress." The Middle Princess requested.
"Aw, I don't have to leave, I be more than happy to clean and change you myself." Camilla offered.
"That's exactly why you need to leave. Go, go, go! Promise I won't be long." Corrin said in a rush as she forces all four of them out as gently as she can and shuts the door behind them.
"Why do you always have to be such a creep when around her Camilla, it's like you enjoy watching her runaway like a baby." Leo lectured, just as bothered by her oldest sister's antics.
"I can't help myself, she's just so cute when she's flustered." Camilla giggled.
"I don't know, she always looks so upset afterwards, no one likes to be treated like a baby, you know." Elise got in next.
"You especially would know that considering that you refuse to act your proper age." Leo begins to lecture her as well.
"I don't need to take any form of insult from someone who can never get his collar right when he decides to dress himself." Elise pouted.
"What?!" The Dark Mage immediately ducked down behind a nearby wall, face red from embarrassment. "Why doesn't anybody ever tell me the things until later?"
Xander laughed lightly. "It would appear somebody got dressed while still half asleep. Ha, don't worry. That sort of thing is what makes you so lovable."
"Absolutely" Camilla agreed. "Even more adorable by your cute headband."
"CUTE?" Leo gasped in shock before turning to his siblings with the most intimidating frown he can muster. "This headband is the most intimidating headpiece in existence!"
"Intimidating?" The remaining three repeat at once, with mix expressions of confusion and pity. In truth the Children of Garon each have their own quirks, maybe not Xander since he can be way too serious for his own good, but Leo is the quirkiest next to Elise.
"Is Leo being macho again, I always love to see that." Corrin said as she finally comes out, wearing her signature silver plated armor and black lining, and a blue cape with a brooch attached to it. Her father had this specially design for her. Matches perfectly well with her long wavy silver hair, red eyes and pointy ears. Yeah? Okay. So maybe Corrin is the one with the biggest quirk.
"Good then. Gunter will also be coming along with us and if you wish we can bring Felicia and Jakob as well, though I imagine Flora would prefer to stay, she's not fond of Krakenburg." Xander said.
"Almost perfect." Corrin smiled.
"But sadly your latest servant will not be joining us, I had him fulfill a certain errand for me as soon as we arrived here and he seemed eager to find something to do so he made no objections except regretting not giving you his byes personally and wishing you luck in Windmire." Xander explained. Corrin is not happy to hear that.
"What?! Xander, he's MINE! You can't just send my servants off on whatever you want, it's not fair." Corrin protested.
"Love and peace sister, you'll see him again very soon." Xander assured her, his arms up for protection.
"Honestly Corrin, your obsession with the new guy is really unsettling." Leo sighed.
"I am not obsess! I be upset if you sent Lilith, Felicia, Flora, Jakob or Gunter off without letting me know as well." Corrin argued.
"We know how much you love your servants, sweetie, but you really need to stop making such a big deal of it, you know we've never allow anything bad to happen to them, we know how badly it would hurt you." Camilla assured her, succeeding in calming Corrin down.
"Alright, alright, I'll take your word for it. So should we depart already or can I have breakfast first." Corrin asked.
"You may feast on the way, I rather return to Father as early as preferable, hence why we've come to visit before dawn and why we were the ones who came and wake you because we knew you'd overreact by the unexpected surprise." Xander explained.
"I did not overreact." Corrin became in denial.
"Yes you did." Elise giggled.
"Let's just go already." Corrin whined.
"Not so fast young lady, you forgot your shoes." Camilla said, noticing that Corrin is bare footed, as usual.
"I'm not putting any shoes on!" Corrin said in defiance.
"Corrin, stop being a cavewoman, and have some class, you're about to set foot in the heart of our kingdom, and father won't stand for cave people. He was very clear the last time he visited that he disapproves of your bare footed fetish." Leo scolded.
"You complain about not understanding why I hate shoes; the real issue is that I don't understand why everyone likes them. They are so tight, hot and uncomfortable, and make such AWFUL sounds when they hit the ground. Not even for father can I endure putting those abhorrent things on." Corrin protested childishly.
"One day Corrin, one day, we'll get you to put shoes on, and you'll thank us a hundredfold." Leo vowed.
"Until then, Jakob will be working extra hard to make sure there's not a single pebble on the ground for you to step on and hurt your remarkably soft feet. I do so myself every time I visit." Camilla added.
"I do not appreciate you two doing that." Corrin hissed.
"As much as I enjoy these… odd discussions with all of you, we should really get going." Xander insisted. "Jakob, Felicia, Flora, if you three would be so kind."
Xander addresses three of Corrin's servants who kept a fair distance from the Royal Siblings, two well dressed maids, close to Corrin's age, one with orange hair, and another with icy blue hair, Felicia and Flora, they don't really look like it but the two are actually twins with Flora the oldest and more competent of the two, while Felicia is the clumsy one, so much in fact that Corrin doesn't understand why she wants to stay a maid so badly when her skills are best suited as a warrior. And then there's the Princess's ever confident butler Jakob, dashing and stoic with hair as white as hers and the most reliable of her servants, but she does wish that he wasn't as overbearing as Camilla, the two treat her like a baby.
"But of course your Highness, leave all the preparation to us." Jakob remarked solemnly.
"We'll be done before you know it." Felicia happily declared as the three begin to work but the moment they took their first step, Felicia trips on nothing and hits her face hard on the floor. "Owie…"
"Felicia." Flora muttered in embarrassment
"There is literally nothing on the floor that could've caused you to fall, you baboon." Jakob lectured harshly.
"See, this is a good example of why I don't wear shoes, I never once tripped in my life." Corrin professed.
"Don't use that dummy as an example, she has issues." Leo protested. "Seriously Felicia, why do you torment yourself in the service industry, we all know that you would serve Corrin much better as a battle commander, your skills are exceptionally gifted."
"But I don't like fighting!" Felicia cried.
"And there lies the problem sweetheart, you got no backbone. But you'll get there, you just need a little push." Camilla insisted.
"Let's just hope the circumstances are happy ones when the time finally comes." Xander added.
It only took a few minutes to gather Corrin's scant few physical belongings. Most of what they had gathered for her were memories, and she could carry them with her no matter where she went. Stepping down the stairs into the ground floor entrance of the tower, Corrin felt as if a huge weight was off her shoulders. Finally, she was free of the tower. Letting out a contented sigh of relief, she didn't notice the petite young woman approaching him from the side until she spoke.
"I hear you can finally leave the fortress now."
Corrin jumped and turned to face her. "Lilith! Don't sneak up on me like that. Yes, isn't it great? I can finally leave this place behind."
Lilith nodded. "I can see that you're happy, Lady Corrin. Gunter has asked me to go with you to the capital, to take care of the horses."
"Glad to hear it! You're one of the few people I'd miss leaving this place behind. There's nobody else I'd rather have along with me."
Xander stepped up to Lilith, who immediately stood to attention.
"Lilith, are the horses ready?"
"Yes milord. Everything is ready, and the horses seem excited for the trip. Corrin always did like to befriend them."
Camilla giggled from across the lobby. "Our Corrin does love animals. Such a kind hearted soul, always taking care of little injured creatures, like that one little raven you once kept for a year."
Corrin's face lit up with embarrassment. Despite being well past the age of maturity, Camilla always seemed to treat her like her little baby sister. She still has Elise for that, dammit.
"I was only being a good Samaritan like Xander always instructed me to be." Corrin shrugged.
"And I'm sure you'll be one to the fullest once you reach Krakenburg." Lilith praised.
"I doubt I'll ever be like Xander, you being a proper example." Corrin shrugged again.
"Oh… Don't use me as an excuse to put someone in a pedestal."
Elise giggled. "Oh, you two always have the silliest conversation."
"You're one to talk, Elise, at least Lilith is more mature."
"What? I can be mature if I want to. I can be the most mature princess ever." Elise objected with her usual adorable pout that is always hard to take her serious.
"We know you can Milady." Lilith giggled
"Come now, everyone, we must be on our way. I hate being away from Laslow since I can hardly trust Peri to keep him away from our maids." Xander insisted.
Corrin nodded but is slightly disappointed that the fun conversation ended. "Yes, let's go."
The party stepped out into the cold and windy courtyard, where a group of horses were already packed with the gear needed for a trip to the capital. Already waiting for them fully mounted is Gunter, an elderly knight fully clad in black armor, who's very presence expresses decades of combat experience since he was once Nohr's Supreme Commander before retiring and settling down here in the fortress as Corrin's combat tutor since he wasn't completely willing to give up the life or service.
"Good to see you're finally ready. I've checked over everything, it seems to be in order." Gunter said solemnly
Xander pulled himself up onto his own horse. "Indeed. Anything else you wish to set in order before we leave?"
"Not in particular Milord."
"I really wish you'll come with us Flora, I hate the thought of you being left here alone, places this big can be quite scary when not crowded." Felicia said to her sister as she climbs on her horse.
"Quit worrying Felicia, I'll be fine and I won't be staying for much longer. I'm just going to get some things cleaned up, afterwards I'll head to Windmire on my own pace. You just focus on Lady Corrin's needs." Flora instructed.
"Okay." Felicia replied, still reluctant.
"Farewell for now, milady. I'll make sure to make it in time to wake you up with my ice style soon." Flora bid her farewells to Corrin.
Corrin wanted to get right off her horse and hug one of her closest (and only) friends, but Xander was already leading the group out onto the road. Her future was before her, and it would not wait until she was ready to leave the past behind. "Thank you. And I'll be waiting in the castle! Just because I don't like the way you Ice Sisters wake me up doesn't mean I won't miss it in an odd sort of way."
Turning away from Flora, she focused on giving her horse down the mountain path.
'Dang… I miss her already.' She mused sadly.
Noticing her sad face, Jakob pulled his horse into stride next to Corrin.
"Feeling alright, Lady Corrin?"
"… Better now. Thank you."
Corrin rode after her family, and away from her old life and towards her fate.
"Still, this feels incomplete, because 'he's' not here to see my big moment… OH SNAP!"
Her cries startled everyone to stop in their tracks and turn to look at the startled Princess.
"Corrin! What's wrong?!" Camilla asked in a panic, she would always overreact herself.
"I forgot my sword!" Corrin shouted as she rushes back to the fortress.
"Oh, for Qliphoth's sake, Corrin it's just one damn sword, there are thousands more back home!" Leo protested.
"Not like this one!" Corrin yelled in argument as she is dead set on getting THAT sword.
"There's always a setback with that woman." Leo made an exasperated sigh. "Four hours tops is how long it's going to take us to get back and how long Father will be waiting and now Corrin will delay us for an extra ten minutes."
"Oh no, she left her new golden sword in the armory yesterday when after training so she'll be here sooner." Felicia explained.
"She has five minutes, otherwise she will truly be in trouble." Xander said sternly. And Miraculously, it only took Corrin two minutes and a half to get back, and now in her right hand a completely gleaming golden longsword, blisteringly sharp, a handle stylized I the shape of a dragon's claw, a hilt and pommel looking like a three fingered claw. And finally there are four slots in the blade closer to the crossguard, almost like they are there to indicate something.
"Okay, now we can go." Corrin said smiling.
"That was remarkably fast." Jakob remarked.
"That's what Flora said. Also I managed to give her a goodbye hug this time, that's a plus and a win." Corrin smiled as the group resume their travel.
"I don't know why, but it's always so exciting to see you with Yeti, big sister." Elise said, staring in awe at the sword.
"It's called the Yato, Elise." Corrin corrected.
"And I keep telling you that you're full of it." Leo interrupted.
"Why do you always have to make such a big deal of the name?" Corrin protested.
"It's simple, sister, the Yato is supposed to be the name of the most powerful weapon in the world. A sword capable of bringing world peace or world destruction, a Godkiller even, wielded only by a warrior of godly willpower who can accept all the world's burden and hate, all in the service of the greater good and forge a greater future. You can barely handle being lectured by Xander when you lose a sparring match without crying." Leo stated.
"I'll have you know that I only trembled when Xander lectured me last week." Corrin hissed like a child.
"Don't let it get to you, Milady, however it is difficult to accept that blade to really be the Sword of Salvation." Gunter said.
"How come?"
"According to legend, in Notre Sagesse, the island located in the southern sea between Nohr and Hoshido, there lies a legendary man known as the Rainbow Sage, said to be immortal and capable of granting great power to those who seek him out, he forged the Yato, along with many other Holy Weapons known as Sacred Treasures and entrusted them to heroes of old to save the world from the ancient war started by the Ancestral Dragons who the kingdoms worship as Gods. The first wielder of Yato singlehandedly stopped the war and founded all the kingdoms of our Continent; Horus, like Nohr to usher in a new world order of peace." Gunter explained the ancient legend. "For centuries the Royal Families of Nohr and Hoshido have sought the Rainbow Sage with the hopes of obtaining his Sacred Treasures, the Yato specifically but all have failed, even King Garon and the late King Sumeragi proved unworthy of passing the trials of the Sevenfold Sanctuary. But the constant failures ended when Prince Xander came before the sanctuary and passed the trial. And a year Later Prince Ryoma of Hoshido also took the trial and succeeded as well."
"Wait, really." Corrin gasped.
"Aye, it was five years ago, I was young and hell bent on proving myself to father after a latest disappointing stunt I pulled during my training. Accompanying me on my reckless attempts to prove my worth were my first retainers Alexander and Sarah, it is thanks to them that I succeeded where our entire family failed, and as a reward the Rainbow Sage presented me with one of the five strongest Sacred Treasures he has ever made to be my own; Siegfried." Xander clamed as he lifted his personal weapon for his siblings to see but the great sword remained in its sheathe. "But it came at a great personal cost as Alexander and Sarah were lost to me. Though the Rainbow Sage is a kind man, his fortress is the home of a devil. The Prize to pay for power, I supposed."
"Oh Xander, I'm so sorry." Corrin said with sadness in her voice for what her older brother had endured.
"It's in the past Little Princess. At any rate, three years later, Leo desired his own Sacred Treasure, unlike Camilla and so against my better judgement, father demanded I take Leo to meet the Sage, the pride he felt when he saw my success consumed him that he wanted both his sons to further our family's seat of power in the world and against all odds, Leo too passed the trials and received the strongest tome in the world; Brynhildr." Xander finished.
"And what a sacred treasure it is." Leo boasted as he places his hands at the top of his spellbook and shows off a fraction of its dark magic. "Which brings us to this debate, you never even been to Notre Sagesse, you haven't earned ultimate power, that pretty sword you have is little more than a birthday gift from your boytoy."
"Piss off, Leo!" Corrin hissed, having enough of Leo's bullying, only to then receive a jar full of gold coins from a frowning Elise.
"Swear jar." She demanded.
"Sorry Elise." Corrin apologized as she puts two gold coins in the jar. Every time someone says a bad word before the little princess, they are expected to put coins in a jar she always keeps with her as an apology. She's not greedy, Garon just expects people to 'pay' off for whatever offense is made in front of his children.
"Is it really so hard to believe that Milady would be worthy of such a gift." Jakob stepped up in defense of his mistress.
"Not at all, I too believe that Lady Corrin is destine for something greater, however it is difficult to believe that any Sacred Treasure would be found anywhere that is not with their maker, and an enchantment is supposed to be placed in the weapons that prevents anyone minus those chosen by the Sage himself can wield them, to anyone else they are just antiques." Gunter explained. "That sword never displayed any special powers and our new compatriot never mentioned where he got it after his ten months of travel to find himself."
"So only Xander and Leo can wield Siegfried and Brynhildr respectively." Corrin concluded.
"Along with any children we may one day have who will carry our sides of the Dusk Bloodline but do not despair, your time to shine will come, and it begins in Krakenburg." Xander assures his sister.
"Hope you're right."
It took four hours as Leo calculated for the Royal Siblings had finally made it to their destination, Corrin looked down from the hill they were on to the vast city below him. The first thing she saw were the walls. They encircled the city and segmented it within, a series of concentric rings cut through by straight walls from the center. Thousands of lights lit up the city in the dark night, casting an eerie glow.
"Gaze upon our Capital, sister, the pinnacles of Nohrian architecture. It functions as a city, but at a moment's notice could be used as a fortress, Windmire. The people who designed it were the greatest minds Nohr had to offer."
Corrin's attention was quickly drawn to the most obvious feature of Windmire: The large crater that sunk deep into the Earth, just off the center of the city.
"Then there's the crowning achievement. Castle Krakenburg. It took huge effort to build such a large castle in the crater, but Nohr did it. That's where father rules from. It's the seat of power for all of Nohr."
Corrin took in the fine-tuned architecture, the bizarre location. She could see the point of building it in such an insane location: It was a stubborn refusal to be halted by anything, not even the landscape. Castle Krakenburg was Nohrian spirit in physical form, and she couldn't help but be impressed. "I saw paintings of it, but… It's so large! How does it stay up on those supports?"
Leo laughed. "I wonder that myself sometimes. Every time I look at it the structure seems impossible, but the more I study it the more I appreciate the founders that built it. Perfectly balanced, structurally sound. The Hoshidans may like to think they are the leaders in architectural beauty, but this far surpasses anything they ever built."
Camilla caught up to the two. "Yes, mostly because it serves a purpose as well. Come, little sister. I'm sure King Garon is waiting to meet you. Let's not linger on these narrow roads any longer. You might get hurt, and I can't have that."
Leo nodded and spurred his horse forward. "Indeed. Trust me, Corrin, if you think it looks good from a distance, just wait until you see it up close…"
The journey through Windmire was much quicker than Corrin was expecting. Swift, straight roads led them to the city center in a matter of minutes, and all the people on the streets immediately parted in front of them. Some even bowed. Once they reached the lip of the crater, they had to dismount their horses, which Lilith took away to a nearby stable. Then came the steps, hundreds upon hundreds, which led them deeper down into the crater. Torches lit the way, and walkways linked across the crater from one side to another. Finally, they descended until they were level with the great castle Krakenburg. Corrin had to agree with Leo: Up close, it was much more impressive. And intimidating. Her father is a man who prioritizes strength, hence why his short visits were always about seeing how strong she has become. It frustrated her not to have an actual relationship with her father but based on everything Xander told her, she can only worry for him instead of being mad at him.
"So… anything I should be looking forward to, or not when I meet father?" Corrin asked Xander
"He will most likely ask you to demonstrate your abilities to him. Depending on how you perform, he will assign your first task accordingly."
"Task?"
"Father often sends us to be his envoys around the kingdom. Enforcing peace, maintaining the border, quelling rebellion. He is not normally unreasonable in his tasks to us. Do not worry, he did not raise you so carefully to throw you aside into an impossible challenge. What he asks will be difficult, but possible."
"You always did call him an honorable man."
"He is but make no mistake, we are at war with Hoshido. Sometimes, that means he must make undesirable decisions. Fear not, though. He always has Nohr's best interests and ours in his heart. Just remember to watch how you speak with him."
The group of royals reached the large entrance to castle Krakenburg. Several servants dressed in hooded robes gripped the doors tightly and pulled them open, slowly. Corrin gaped at the sheer scale of such a place. How had such colossal doors even been brought down here? Honestly everything about this place is downright insane.
"Father, we have arrived with our sister Corrin." Xander announced.
Corrin found herself in a great hall that stretched out before her. Cold stone bricks lines the wall, only lit by the torches on them. None of the sparse natural light above reached down here. And there, standing at the far end, stood King Garon.
He had changed little since Corrin saw him last. Dressed in huge, ornate armor that was equal parts ceremonial and combat ready. A large fur cloak was draped over his shoulders, and Corrin found herself wishing she had brought her own cloak with her. It was cold down in the castle. A simple metal crown adorned his head, which although slightly more balanced than last time still had thick white hair over most of it. His face had remained totally unchanged, greyed and weathered skin with dark eyes gazing out from under a heavy brow. His stance demanded respect, and Corrin felt herself stooping a little lower on instinct. The group walked across the hall towards her as he stood in silence. Even when the group stopped in front of him, he stayed silent, staring directly at Corrin. Finally, he spoke.
"I see you made it here safely, Corrin."
"Y-yes father. Long have I waited to visit you in Castle Krakenburg. Thank you for permitting me to leave the fortress." The Middle Princess spoke up solemnly.
"You have only your own diligence to thank for finally being here. I am told you are now a warrior on par with Xander. You now possess the strength to be an instrument of Nohr's power in the world." A tiny smile flickered on his face. "This is… good, Corrin. Well done."
"Th-thank you father! I'll do my best for you."
Garon's face resumed its stony neutral expression. "I expect nothing less. Corrin, as you know, Nohr is at war with the eastern kingdom of Hoshido."
Xander and Leo had given her a rundown of world politics on the way to Windmire. "Yes, Father. I have heard as much."
Garon continued. "We are the descendants of the ancient dragons who once ruled our world as gods, the Precursors. As inheritors of that divine strength, we conquer those who oppose us with ease. One who learns to wield that power can destroy an entire army of common troops. Xander, Camilla, Leo and Elise have already shown that they possess this power. I expect nothing less from you."
Corrin nodded. A test of manipulating Dragon Veins. She could do this. For the first time since entering the room, she felt some confidence return to her. "I am well aware of your expectations, Father. And I have trained every day to become more like my siblings."
Garon turned around to face a large cabinet behind him. "Hmmm… you show great promise, and though I question the worth of your blade, I trust that you can conquer foes with whatever tool you are presented with."
"Yes, father, I'll use anything at my disposal to bring whatever victory suits the needs of Nohr." Corrin said with such conviction while holding on to the 'Yato' tightly and her voice showed a lot of strength that pleased Xander and Camilla very much and made Elise happy, while Leo remains neutral on the matter.
Garon grinned as he saw Corrin holding her blade perfectly. "Such a bold claim, to be expected of my offspring but I question if you can back it up. I demand a test of strength." He gestured to one of the hooded servants. "Bring out the prisoners!"
The man bowed. "Yes, sire."
Corrin was caught off guard. "Prisoners?"
A door to the side of the hall was opened, and a string of strange looking men and women were brought out in chains. They were Hoshidans, Corrin realized. The guard dragged them out and pulled out a key, handing it to the man who seemed to be their leader. He quickly unlocked his own cuffs and then began on his comrade's. The guard then dumped a sack on the ground with a clang. It was full of their confiscated weapons.
"Father, if these are prisoners, then why are you setting them free?"
"I wish to see you in real combat, not merely in training. These are prisoners from our most recent skirmish in Hoshido. Show me the resolve of your training and bring them to their knees." Garon ordered.
Corrin gasped. "All of them?"
Garon looked back up at the prisoners. "I suppose there is a rather large number of them. Assistance is required, Gunter and Jakob may assist you."
The prisoners at the far end of the hall were now fully freed and arming themselves. Corrin had never fought in real combat in her life, yet the murderous look in the prisoner's eyes confirmed that she would have no choice. Gunter entered from another side door, followed by Jakob.
"Keep calm, Lady Corrin. They are tired from their captivity and have poor quality weapons. We can win this battle." He advised.
Corrin lowered her voice to a whisper. "Doesn't change the fact that this will be difficult, but I don't doubt that we will win either."
"Even the greatest warriors can feel fear, milady but only the greatest can overcome it by fighting on in spite of it. It will never be pleasant but you had best get used to the idea of killing now, lest it catch up with you on a real battlefield."
Corrin grimaced and held Yato out. The opponents were already advancing menacingly, weapons at the ready. She counted five in total- one bearing throwing stars, three with katanas and a sixth brandishing a club. They were outnumbered two to one. Even with Jakob and Gunter, Corrin wasn't sure how she planned to win. She took a tentative step forward and felt a faint twinge of power under her foot.
"There's a Dragon's Vein here." Corrin took another step, and the feeling became stronger, holding out her hand, which promptly became entangled in white light coming from the ground. With a burst of white, Corrin tapped into the dragon vein beneath the ground. The large, ornate statue that was in the middle of the hall was promptly torn apart, throwing rock around the room. When the dust cleared, a glowing half of light was left behind, covering half the width of the hall. Gunter became deeply impress while Jakob gasps.
"Extraordinary! Rarely do we get the chance to see the Royal Family's power at work."
Garon grinned wide. "Heh. Well done."
Gunter aimed his lance forward and set his horse at a trot. "Excellent plan, Milady. Now we can wait in there for them to come to us."
The prisoners at the far end of the room had recovered from their shock. Their leaders, a green haired man dressed in traditional ninja gear and a dark skinned woman in a tribal head dress, advanced ahead of their group.
The woman spoke first. "I am Rinkah! Daughter of the Flame Tribe's honorable chieftain. I would know your name before I end your life, Nohrian scum!"
Corrin fell into step alongside Gunter. "I am Corrin, Princess of Nohr."
The ninja faltered in his step. "Corrin?"
"Have you heard of me?"
He did not respond, instead falling into a combat stance. "I am Kaze, a Ninja of Hoshido. Show me what you can do."
Kaze and Rinkah broke into a sprint, charging at the small party, their own troops right behind them. King Garon sharply waved his hand.
"Corrin! Serve as my will and strike them down!"
Corrin stepped into the silver light, and immediately felt the aches of her long journey fade away. In fact, she felt better than healed. She felt invigorated. Jakob approached behind them, bearing several daggers on his person.
"Milady, I've trained well in the dagger- effective both up close and at range. They are coated with a numbing poison, which should greatly decrease their fighting power."
Corrin watched as the group of Hoshidans grew closer. Mere seconds to combat now. The trio need a combat plan, but she is no tactician, she did receive lessons from Leo in the art of strategy but she could only get the basics, in the end she is more of a frontline kind of girl but that just might do in this battle. "Gunter! Engage Rinkah in combat, keep her busy! I will take the nearest swordsman. Jakob, hit the second nearest Swordsman with a dagger!"
Jakob swiftly obeyed his liege's instruction, hurling two daggers with a swift yet potent swing. It streaked towards its target like a blur and embedded deep into the swordsman's right abdomen and right knee, forcing him to the ground, already rendered incapable of moving and is off the battle.
"I will cut you down!" Gunter shouted. With a battle cry, he launched his horse forward like an arrow, lance poised forward. Rinkah found herself caught off guard by such an attack, but she managed to move to the left just enough for the lance to skim past her eye. Swinging her club in counterattack also missed, and Gunter brought himself around for a second charge.
Corrin had no time to issue any other orders. The swordsman she chose to engage had deft skills with a blade, able to block every strike from Corrin, but in terms of physical strength she is stronger with the swordsman quickly struggling to keep up and she would've bested him if not for Kaze who arrives at the scene in his peripheral vision, distracting her. The swordsman saw an opening and dashed in, the blade stabbing into her shoulder. With a cry of pain, Corrin goes to strike her would be executioner with her fist, her strength that is abnormal for humans into her opponent's back, the blow was so hard that he slumps down, in so much pain that he cannot bring himself to stand up. Jakob was at her side immediately, hurling a dagger at Kaze. The ninja moved in a blur, snatching the dagger out of the air and dropping it onto the floor.
"Milady, are you hurt? Fear not for I will cease all your suffering, Butlers can use staves to heal wounds." Jakob drew the short staff from his waist and held it over Corrin's shoulder. With a soft pulse of green energy, the wound closed itself up. The silver aura around them quickly caused the lingering pain to fade. Jakob stood back up and immediately found himself fighting the third swordsman. The butler stepped back from every swing, not seeing any openings and keenly aware that Kaze was lining up a throw with a shuriken. "Milady! Some help would be greatly appreciated!"
"I'm at your side!" Corrin threw herself while bearing forward, the swordsman turned to face the shout, catching a glimpse of Corrin just before she kicks him in his stomach. The swordsman gasped, dropping his katana down with a clang and falling down, also now in too much pain to get up, Xander may be superior to Corrin in terms of being a warrior but her whole family have noted that Corrin is the most superhuman from the rest of the family, her hits can be quite severe. Jakob got back up onto his knees, hurling a dagger at Kaze. The ninja easily dodged, but it forced him back.
"Thank you, milady. Are you hurt at all?"
"The one that got rescued isn't normally the one to ask who's alright."
Jakob reached down and pulled the shuriken from his leg. "Force of habit. Anyway, I will keep this Hoshidan trickster engaged, it appears that Gunter requires your assistance."
Turning around, Corrin saw that Gunter had been driven well back by the fiery savage. He was visibly panting, well outside of the healing aura, with several large dents on his armor. Rinkah looks much worse for wear as well, bearing a gash on her bare stomach and holding her club much more loosely. Nevertheless, she roared a battle cry and charged forward, club aloft.
To Corrin's amazement, as the club swung towards Gunter it began to glow with fire, slamming into his lance with a burst of flame. His jaw practically dropped when he saw Gunter's lance melt at the point where she hit it, breaking in half and leaving him with a useless stick. Gunter was without a weapon. Corrin sprinted towards her stalwart knight.
"This ends now!"
Before Rinkah could react to the new presence upon her, Corrin swings the Yato horizontally. Rinkah had no way to avoid the blow. It cut across her midriff and right arm, forcing Rinkah to drop her club and clutch her abdomen. Gunter wasted no time, spurring his horse forward in a charge. Rinkah tried to step aside, but still got clipped by the heavily armored war horse running full gallop. She was knocked aside, hurled like a leaf onto the ground where she lay defeated.
Corrin didn't waste time to check on her condition. Quickly turning around, she sees his butler was staying inside the Aura of light, exchanging knives with Kaze. The butler was doing significantly better, aided by the healing Aura, while Kaze was tiring from all the poison in his body. Before he could ask if the butler needed help, Jakob hurled another dagger which embedded itself firmly in Kaze's chest. The ninja let out a gasp, before the poison finally overwhelmed him and he fell down unconscious. Corrin breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Guess I did alright. These guys were tough, weren't they? I really, really hope all Hoshidans aren't this strong."
"Trust me Milady, there are far stronger Hoshidans than these." Gunter assured her.
"Crap…"
"Swear jar!" Elise shouted from a distance, somehow hearing what Corrin said.
"Not now Elise." Garon lectured as he focuses on Corrin while clapping his hands. "Very good, my girl. You do show promise as a warrior but your true potential has not been revealed to me but it will have to be enough for now."
"Thank you father." Corrin vowed down before her father for his praise.
"However, you still show weakness in your ferocity and leadership, for not one of the Hoshidans have been executed." Garon shook his head as he gazes at all the prisoners of war, all still alive and breathing, their wounds threatening but still they cling to life and can make it if they receive treatment now.
"Y-you… you said to strike them down, not out." Corrin muttered, clearly reluctant to take any of their lives, causing Garon to shook his head in disappointment.
"You're still too soft and naïve. I supposed I raised my hopes too high for expecting you to be so willing to do what must be done for Nohr in one day. Very well, I am satisfied with the results nonetheless." Garon said as he turns his attention to his oldest son. "Xander, these fools have outlived their final usefulness in this life, I leave their fates in your capable hands."
"Yes father." Xander replied as he vows at his words before watching his father depart. Corrin sighs not sure how to respond to her father's words, except feel some relief that his lecture wasn't as monstrous as she remembers.
She then focuses her thoughts on her servants, as Gunter and Jakob regroup with her, and Felicia steps into the arena.
"I am so relief that you all made it out of that in one peace." Felicia makes an exasperated sigh of relief to see her friends alright.
"Not my brightest moment in combat but I supposed that Kaze would be considered a fine opponent if he were more open in combat." Jakob said brushing off the struggle he had against the ninja. "But then again, one cannot expect much from a Ninja."
"You have done well for your first time in true combat, Milady but showing mercy as you did today is not good when during times of war, the enemy has good reasons to never offer you the same courtesy." Gunter lectured.
"I know, I know, it's just that…" Corrin began before turning to see the Hoshidans and notices Rinkah try to stand back up on her own, the flame girl is too stubborn to stay down. "I guess I'm not ready for what's to come after all."
"Do not despair, Milady, if upholding your family name is what you desire, than the hardships of the future will harden your resolve, my only hope is that you are absolutely sure that this is what you desire." Jakob gives words of encouragement to his Princess.
"Me too, Jakob, me too."
Once the ordeal was done, the prisoners were all granted a full recovery with the healing magic used by Jakob, Felicia and Elise, afterwards the five Nohrian Siblings take them to a derelict house in the southern district of Windmire, seemingly abandoned, but securely sealed for anyone trying to get in or out, with the five of them standing before the prisoners.
"Listen well. You were all permitted to live only because of my sister's kind heart that has bought your freedom. Remember this mercy presented to you by the Will of Nohr, Hoshidans and begone." Xander commanded them to leave immediately. No words were spoken from any of the Hoshidans with them not wanting to let this chance slip their grasps and they all quickly flee. The only one remaining is Rinkah, the look on her face is a furious one with few words to say before departing.
"I am not some hostage to be freed. You said your name is Corrin? When next we meet I will make you pay for this humiliation!" She vowed.
"Yes, I supposed anyone who takes their warrior pride to heart would consider mercy an offense but if honor serves any form of currency in your life, I suggest you consider the chance to live on for your people the greatest testament to your pride." Corrin said, her words leaving Rinkah briefly baffled but she will not relent.
"I do not need words of encouragement from an enemy. Hoshidan Warriors need no mercy from Nohrians!"
"Then I hope that the next time we meet, things will be more to your liking, just so long as it doesn't involve getting my head bashed open." Corrin replied, not taking her harsh words seriously.
"Softhearted fool." Rinkah hissed before taking her leave.
"Wow, I heard that the people of the Flame Tribe were rude but she's got some issues." Elise pouted over Rinkah's rudeness. "Do you think it was because her daddy didn't give her enough hugs?"
"Whatever the case, I say we should've killed her, no one should throw insults at my sweet Corrin and get away with it." Camilla stated, venom all over her face towards Rinkah.
"Perhaps but when given the chance to offer mercy we should not waste it. Not all enemies may meet their deaths, and father permitted us this opportunity." Xander said kindly.
"Doesn't change the fact that he may not allow it again." Leo sighed also not okay with this decision. "You have better appreciate what we do for you tenfold, Corrin because none of this benefit us at all."
"Not everything we do has to be about personal gain, Leo." Corrin argued.
"I disagree, especially when it comes to Hoshido, they brought this war upon themselves because of their Xenophobia." Leo hissed. "For centuries, we Nohrians have suffered because of our own terrains, our food shortages are constantly low with our inability to yield crop because of little sunlight and harsh weather. We are in desperate need of resources, hence why the royal family have been enlisting the aid of our neighbors since our foundation, using our unsurpassed wealth, talents for magic and equipment to pay for their resources, and receiving pity here and there. It has been our burden for so long but it was all just for survival up until this point but Hoshido has been blessed with resources that they are fill to the brim with it and time and time again they refused to aid Nohr, wanting to keep their riches to themselves. Their stupidity have affected the other nations as well, and father has had enough."
"Hence why we're going to war." Corrin said melancholically while folding her arms, clearly bothered by what predicament her Kingdom is going through.
"Strength Little Princess, one day you'll see that all this carnage was worth it. The ends don't always justify the means but when they do, it's better not to think of the long run." Xander said as he places his hand on her shoulder. "Now come on, father will have words to speak with you regarding all that has happened today."
The Five children of Garon return to castle Krakenburg walking pass the hall that will lead them to their father's personal quarters and they make it there in no time.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to barge in now?" Corrin asked.
"Probably not but if he gets mad he'll quickly forgive us since it's us." Camilla replied.
"Worse words of encouragement ever, where's Jakob." Corrin muttered.
"I don't know why you guys are so worried, he always makes time for me." Elise said as she is about to knock on the door to call their father but stops once the door opens up from the inside.
"Enter, we have things to discuss, Corrin." Garon spoke from within, as he must've overheard his children.
"Of course he heard us somehow." Leo muttered as all five Royal Children of Nohr enter their father's chamber. Said chamber is spare, considering he was a king. An ornate bed and a desk filled with paper of various royal decrees. Her father stood before her and her siblings, hands behind his back.
"Corrin… you basically disobeyed a direct order from your King by using a loophole in my own words to benefit your unwillingness to STRIKE down your enemies. By definition, that is treason, and if you were any other soldier I had you punish for your stupidity. However, I know better than to be swift to those who are in our Kingdom's best interest, and one such interest is that our people need ALL of us, the Royal Family alive and united now more than ever, as such I give you some leeway on this matter. I can hardly blame you for your innocence, myself having had you raised in isolation. Nevertheless, I cannot have a soldier that disobeys my orders. I have devised a task for you to complete, so as to prove your loyalty to me and our family."
"And pray tell what is this task that shall prove that our sister remains loyal to our Kingdom, father." Xander asked, boldly speaking next.
"One I know you would disapprove." Garon said as he turns to a large map of Horus that covers much of one wall. He pointed to the large mountain range that designated the border between Nohr and Hoshido. "There is an abandoned fortress here, perched on the Hoshidan border. I wish to know if it is still serviceable. You will travel to the site and inspect the premises. With some luck, no battle will be required. Do you understand?"
"But father, that's the Bottomless Canyon." Camilla gasped, dread in her voice. "Please reconsider, Corrin cannot be near such a place."
"She's right father, hardly anyone we sent to guard those borders have ever come back alive, that whole place is cursed with unstable Dragon's Veins, mainly where the fort is that activate by themselves and bring harm to any who gets near." Xander added, also against this, not what he hoped for Corrin.
"Cowards! Our Hoshidan enemies have never once allowed such minor inconvenience to hinder their progress there and neither should we." Garon venomously scolded his children's defiance. "Are you not the descendants of the Dusk Dragon Qliphoth, noble God of Darkness who blessed our family with the power to use Dragon Veins to give us more power over the common man. It is our destiny to face danger, embrace it, conquer it, just like anything else that stands in our way."
"Father!" Elise yelped at his harsh words, as all of them are force to stay silent.
"Your need to protect each other is warranted as always, Xander, Camilla, but you two won't always be there to aid your younger siblings and making promises that you will always be there to protect them is the ultimate betrayal because you're not helping them make progress in life, you are holding back their potential." Garon remarked sternly but still offers fatherly wisdom. "It's one thing to bring along our retainers everywhere we go and deem them pieces of our full strength but allowing any of you to go with Corrin on this mission is one training wheel too many."
Corrin nodded hesitantly before she makes her response. "Y-Yes, Father. I won't disappoint you."
"You have better not, you have been blessed by the Precursors more than anyone has ever had before, not since the Founder Kings of the Kingdoms. All the same, I cannot allow any form of failure to occur. Not even for my own blood."
Corrin gulped. "Y… Yes father. It shall be done as you command."
"I am glad. Now, leave me. I was deep in meditation before you interrupted." The King sat down on a stool and closed his eyes.
With no more words to be said the children quickly exit the quarters.
"Gods! His lectures are always so unbearable and they always make it difficult to sleep because that's all you can think about for hours." Leo sighed heavily.
"His word is law, nothing can be said to change his mind, I'm afraid." Xander sighed in defeat, completely against sending Corrin on this mission.
"I say we take our chances and arm Corrin with our very best, your retainers and mine. My precious Selena and Beruka will guarantee Corrin's safety, and your Laslow is no slouch in a fight either, especially Peri, given how much she relishes combat." Camilla said in defiance.
"Offering her our best soldiers is like offering her half our strength, just as father said, Camilla, anything we do will damage her progress as well as our relationship with father." Xander said regrettably.
"Then I'll go there with just Jakob and Gunter, besides it's just to investigate an abandoned fort, once I confirm that its usable or not, we'll leave." Corrin said more optimistic about this whole thing.
"Were it that easy, Little Princess. As you may know, Dragon Veins are special energy points placed in many places around the world left behind by the Precursors to grant the inheritors of their bloodlines the ability to manipulate all the elements, as well as the very environments of the world to our whim, even to create areas with superb healing capabilities. Their magic is mostly depended on the landscape and what can be done to make it by, however the Dragon Veins in the Bottomless Canyon are corrupted, there is this strange force that can be best describe as evil making them activate by themselves for devastating effects on any human who gets near any of them." Xander explained. "The Mages of Hoshido, or Diviners as they prefer to call themselves seem able to avoid them somehow better than our Magic Users so their issues with that place are minimum. You should be able to keep yourself and your servants safe by getting close to the Veins and deactivate them the same way you turn them on but as long as you're nearby they will only stay off for five minutes, maybe less so you need to be extremely cautious and if Hoshidans are occupying the fortress, you run. Do you understand, Corrin, regardless of our need to win this war, it is the greatest foolishness to start a fight somewhere you know victory is a minority."
"I understand Big Brother, I will never jeopardize the lives of my own for any reason." Corrin assured her family.
"I know you mean well darling, but I cannot help myself but feel such dread. Group Hug!" Camilla forces everyone into a heartwarming group hug. Xander and Corrin don't mind, always looking forward to moments like this. Elise is overjoy and giggling as usual, while Leo is just annoyed but does not resist and just smiles.
And there it is, my very first Fanfiction chapter. I don't want to jinx myself but I am pretty confident that I did good for the most part, granted I'm not good at making fighting scenes so there will be complications along the way and it will probably bore a lot of people but I promise that the story itself won't be boring, for the most part with a lot of changes here and there. And as you have read, Garon is more merciful, because I'm changing things up with the villains, making them as sympathetic and relatable as I possibly can for the purpose of making compelling Antivillains, who's main motivation for conquering nations is for Nohr's best interest and nothing more, and the conflict between Nohr and Hoshido will be solely base on Nohr's desperate need for resources and Hoshido's unwillingness to get involve with those they can't trust because I want my story to be as morally gray as possible with no one absolutely good or absolutely evil, something that has always made Fire Emblem's stories so compelling and interesting for me. And I also plan to do the same thing with Iago and Hans because while they will remain the scumbags we love to hate their actions will be driven by motivations they consider justified and I trust you will all feel satisfied with the end results.
The problem with Fates that earned my attention the most is that the first six chapters made it clear from the start which side was good and bad, there was a clear black and white with no real gray line, at such it's obvious which side to pick and the only real reason to choose Conquest is because of the harder chapters, better characters and not wanting to go against Elise of all adorable princesses and the real reason why you pick Revelations is because Corrin's a pussy and everyone can live in the long run, except for Izama and Scarlet. God those deaths were pointless.
But most importantly, I intend to make Corrin less of a nuisance and make sure that she succumbs to the full impact of the depths her choices bring and keep her from her stupidity. Sure, I admire a protagonist who can maintain their good nature under dark situations but Corrin ruins the whole experience because they're such a weak character, but it is because of all that untap potential that I intend to preserve their image as best I can as I am really hoping that my stories become a hit. So leave your comments and tell me what you think and await the next chapters that are coming soon, next week if I'm lucky.
