What Happens to Heroes When Wars Become Peace?

Chapter 1: A Lonely Brother

I don't own Fire Emblem.


I sit quietly waiting for night to come, and my death to ensue. Ike left 4 years ago and I have no one, but my brother.

I wish for an instant that I had someone else. But then I remember who I am. I always was alone and always shall be. For the most part…

I am different. I am Branded. I will not go to Stefan's colony. I have no mother, I have no father and my death will not come soon enough. I have served every duty I was made to. But I live on…

The days are getting long in the Kilvas province. I hide here because no one will find me, but also because of my brother. The ambassador of Serenes gave me a home in the Kilvas province because he stays there for such a small time. He often tells me stories. Some are foolish like the story about the sugar candy mountain in the sky.

I wonder in his truth. He tells me stories of Kilvas, and Phonceisis, how he took down Tibarn once when he challenged him to a duel. He tells me of his father's raising and his mistake of the Blood Pact.

However, the story that troubles me most was his story of his little brother. When, long ago in Kilvas, his father the king had a mysterious concubine, who in turn had a child. This child grew to be a brave raven; however, the dreaded "Blood Pact" just started murdering his people. He then had his top worker, Nealuchi, give the concubine to the King Ashnard in Daein, and in return he would have Ashnard watch over his son as the next heir. When the charter was revoked a prince Naesala was taken to Kilvas, leaving his little brother in Gallia with his mother. Naesala and his father, King Rewoete where the only living nobles in Kilvas and thus when Rewoete died he was king. When he became king he went to Gallia to find his brother, to no avail.

He found his brother however, much later in an unexpected place. As he took on King Ashnard, the man who had kept him alive, he noticed something strange about the supreme General Ike's tactical officer. Soren had a look that reminded him of someone. As Ike landed the final blow, he figured it out. Soren was the boy. Soren simply looked at him with disgust and walked away. And now, after taking on a Goddess, that brother of his was staring at the window waiting for his return.

I watch his children, care for them. Lillia and Fregeand, the heron and the raven, I teach history, science, arts, magic. But most importantly, I teach them of Ike. Ike's courage, Ike's bravery, Ike's power, valor, goodness, I teach it to them dutifully, but I notice something. I notice that I have become obsessed with Ike. I choose not to care though; I simply wish that he would return.

Yet, I suddenly remember, he will never come back; he and Ranulf left to explore unknown land and I have no one, but my brother…

Soren's writings in Stories Of My Life: They Make People Sad, and Dammit They Ought To.