I do not own Fire Emblem or any related characters or ideas. This is, however, an original story with original characters. It takes place on Elibe, just because I was too lazy to come up with names for a continent and all of its territories. However, the fact that it is Elibe does not mean that the Fire Emblem is necessarily the same object that it was in Fire Emblem 7. Anyway, enjoy.

Prologue: From the Dark

The assassin settled into the shadows, silently drumming his hands on the hilt of one of the blood-drenched daggers at his hip. His gaze swept cleanly over the alleyway below, coming to rest on the light flowing through the crack in the back alley doorway. There were voices coming through the gap. Familiar voices. They were too muffled to discern individual words or phrases, but there was no mistaking the identities of the owners… There was no doubt about it. This was the place.

Making sure to stay hidden, the man silently crept closer along the edge of the roof. His footsteps were no louder than those of a deer, and his breathing came slow and steady. He went undetected as he settled into his new hiding place, on the roof and just past the light of the door. The voices were becoming clearer. He listened to the conversation as he waited for his quarry to emerge from the building…

"So this is what he's been planning all along," said one voice. A male voice. "I can't believe it."

"What's more," said another voice, a woman this time. "The plan is already in its final stages. At this point, there's little we can do to stop it, short of going to King Iapetus himself."

"Exactly right. And that's not an option," said a third, which came cool and very serious, with plenty of composure. "We lack the evidence he needs to take serious action, and if we come forward with what we've pieced together as is, we will certainly lose all credibility."

"Effectively defeating any chance we have of putting a stop to all of this," finished the second voice.

"Blast it all!" said the first voice, his tone now angry. "You, the Arcane Protectors… You, of all people should have seen this coming. You should never have let him join you!"

"Quiet, fool!" the woman hissed. "You want someone to hear you?"

"At this point I don't think it much matters who hears us or who knows who we really are," said the man indignantly. "We're all doomed as it is, aren't we?"

"Don't be so quick to give up, Captain," said the woman. "That's why we're here, isn't it?"

"I… suppose so," the captain conceded reluctantly.

"Besides that, it won't do us any good now to whine over what cannot be changed. Or to point fingers."

"Valkyrie is right," came the third voice, its serenity at odds with the growing tension in the room. "We did our duty as part of the Arcane Protectors by letting him join us. What that man did is unforgivable, but that is not why we are here. Let us now discuss what is to be done in the future, not what has happened in the past."

"Yes…" said the captain's voice. "You're right, of course. My sincerest apologies, Sage."

"No worries, Captain," said the one called Sage. "Now, as we are far too short-staffed to really do anything about this without outside assistance, I propose that we bring what we have to the survivors of the slaughter and try to convince them to lend us their strength. Certainly they of all people will be willing to take up arms against the men who laid waste to their homes."

"It seems a viable option," said the woman, known in code as Valkyrie. "However, it does pose a new problem. If we plan to tell them everything we've discovered, we might meet with some resistance."

"What do you mean?" said Sage.

"I mean if we let them know the whole story about that man, including his involvement with the Protectors, they may be slow to trust us."

"Ah, good point. Well, I suppose we could withhold that detail for their benefit."

"They'll have to find out sooner or later," said the woman. "And it will be seen as treacherous when they do."

Sage sighed. "Then for the lives of our countrymen, that's the price that must be paid. I personally see no other course of action we can take."

Silence.

"So it's decided," said Sage after a time. "Captain, may I request that you lend me a small troupe I can disperse to the nearest villages, and supplies for the journey?"

"Not possible, Sage," said the captain. "I'm sorry, but now more than ever, I have to keep the watch on duty. And as of this newest report I feel I may be short staffed as it is. I can give you supplies, but nothing more."

"I understand. I suppose Valkyrie and I will have to scrounge up some more supporters."

"Best find a bodyguard for you, too, Sage," added Valkyrie. "These are dangerous times."

"All right, then," said Sage, with a touch of finality in his voice. "If either of you've nothing to add, I think that about takes care of tonight's business."

"Very well," said the woman's voice, accompanied by the ruffling of standing up. "Thank you, Sage, for this report. Your intelligence network has once again proved more useful than I had initially foreseen."

"I'm happy to hear you say so," said Sage as he, too, stood up and evidently gathered some documents. "As always, I'll keep you informed about what's happening in Etruria, and I'll give you both the time and location for our next meeting later."

"Glad to hear it," said the Captain. "Shall we go?"

"Certainly," said Sage.

Moments later the door opened, and out stepped three people, all of them dressed in hooded brown robes to mask their faces. The assassin gripped his daggers more tightly, but retained his composure.

"You two go on ahead," said Sage, motioning the other two past him. "I have a number of things to check on before I leave."

"All right, but don't stay too late," said the captain. "And be careful. We're depending on you now, Sage. And I've heard strange stories lately on the watch."

A smile from the first, and the other two were gone. Even so, Sage waited afterward for several long heartbeats before removing his hood, revealing short-cut brown hair and almost regal features.

"You can come out now," he said into the darkness, his emerald eyes strong but watchful. "I am alone."

Though tempted to remain in his current position to deter any watching eyes, the assassin leaped silently from the roof and landed on one knee on the ground, daggers in his hands in the blink of an eye.

"I should have known Themesto and his ilk would be sending assassins after me at this point in their plan," said Sage, looking mildly surprised. "But I never would have guessed that they'd send you… Atlas."

"You look well, Isaiah," said the assassin, but his tone was frigid.

"Looks are often deceiving," said the sage, shrugging his shoulders. "You've caused me no small amount of trouble over the past few months."

"I take it you're aware of what he is planning to do," said Atlas, his tone final, yet questioning.

"Keenly," said Isaiah, eyeing the assassin with a piercing glare.

And for a long moment the two stared at one another, neither one so much as moving a muscle. The air seemed to grow colder as the two stood in arctic silence. After a time, Isaiah spoke.

"I suppose your presence here means that my time has come," he said. "Bear in mind I'll not go down without a fight."

"Save your breath," said Atlas, sheathing his bloodstained daggers. "I had a job in the area and thought I'd drop by. Today I come to you as a messenger."

Isaiah's expression changed little, but nevertheless seemed to take on a look of intense interest.

"And what tidings do you bring?" he said cautiously.

"You know what he plans to do, what he aims to accomplish. You, more than anyone should understand how important it is that you get yourself out while you can. There isn't much time."

Isaiah's eyes narrowed. "You came to tell me that? You know my answer already, Atlas. Knowing what I know, there's no way I can turn tail and flee. I cannot abandon my countrymen. Not now. Not while I still draw breath."

Atlas bowed his head as he turned to leave. "Do as you will, I've delivered my message. Fare thee well… Brother."

Isaiah watched as the assassin rounded the corner and vanished from sight, and he stared at the spot where he had been for several long moments before shaking himself from his semi-daze and turning to lock the door.