A/N:

Posted: April 15th, 2016
Last Updated: February 13th, 2019
Views as of Posting: 0
Chapters before AU begins: 6

My first story on Fire Emblem: Fates!

For me, Fire Emblem has changed a lot over the past years. It's actually gotten mostly easier after Radiant Dawn (with the exception of Conquest). However, it's still a series with captivating stories that never fails to entertain.

Except Conquest, apparently.

Here is how I imagined the result of Corrin siding with Nohr. In this story, Corrin is essentially the default male avatar. Instead of having maps of maybe 10-20 units on his army, lead entire armies of soldiers. There will be quite a few plot deviations starting in Chapter 5. They'll appear to be minor at first, but they will snowball into a completely different story.

IMPORTANT: Some chapters may have a higher rating than others. These will be indicated by the A/N before the chapter. This work assumes you have played the first 6 chapters in Fire Emblem: Fates.

Constructive criticism is appreciated. I update irregularly and will occasionally update chapters for grammar.

Let the adventures begin!

Prologue: Scorch Earth (Pegasus Knight, Takumi)

Fwhoosh.

Half a dozen arrows flew toward the Pegasus knight, as she and the Hoshidan scouting patrol soared above the port town. Frantically, her ride swerved leftwards to dodge the barrage, narrowly missing a thin stone pillar. Her Pegasus neighed in panic and began a sharp nosedive, pulling her away from her patrol. One of the snipers' shots struck their mark. The patrol leader raised his naginata upwards, ordering the remaining scouts to retreat. Her comrades watched helplessly as the young knight plummeted from the sky uncontrollably.

"Easy there!" the knight yelled, yanking forcefully on the reins.

Strong wind threatened to push her off as she tried desperately to hold on. The Pegasus managed to pull up just in time, before crashing into a broken wagon on the street. Its feet skid on the street, gradually coming to a full stop. The Hoshidan had safely landed.

The port town of Dia was filled with cries of soldiers and rings of bell towers. Hoshidan troops were advancing from a southern harbor of Dia while Nohrian defenders fortified the northern portion. This once bustling financial district turned into a landscape of carnage. Embers burned on roofs, their tenants fleeing and attempting to avoid the battle. A few hooded looters had broken windows and doors of several houses down an alley, hoping to make a meager profit while their hometown burned around them.

She revealed the locations of the Nohrian archers, but they also knew where she had landed. Returning to the skies and exposing herself would mean suicide. A thin trail of blood dripped from one of her steed's white wings. She pressed her hand against the open cut. Her Pegasus jolted and neighed in protest - not a deep wound, but they were definitely grounded. They would have to advance on-foot.

Clutching her iron naginata, she prompted her mount to advance forward on the cobblestone street. At first, the Pegasus began a sluggish run. The knight pulled gently on its reins. The Pegasus whimpered in protest, but picked up speed. There was absolutely no time to lose. It was either reunite with her patrol, or be cut off by foot soldiers and risk capture. It was well known that Nohrians do not usually spare foes who surrender.

However, her thoughts were quickly interrupted. As the young knight turned a street corner, a tall, purple-haired woman in sleek black armour flashed in her eyes. The woman brandished a matte steel axe. Underneath her was a snarling dragon.

(A wyvern rider.)

"I'm sorry, my dear." The armor-clad lady smiled, "Your little game is over!"

The wyvern rider charged toward the knight. It was only then the Hoshidan saw the dried blood encrusted on her battlement. The Pegasus never had any time to react, as the axe cleaved its master straight in her chest.

She flew off her ride in an instant.

Thud.

The knight fell to the street headfirst. Her naginata rolled out away, out of arm's grasp. Her vision of the clouded sky became blurrier and blurrier, as a concussion impaired all primary senses. Coughing heavily, she rolled over and grimaced, waiting for it all to be over. The tall rider stepped off her snarling wyvern, looming over the fallen knight.

"You poor thing." The purple-haired lady jeered. "You're lucky I've been ordered to spare brigands like yourself."

The Nohrian's lips formed a small sign of a faint grin. She pointed her axe at the knight. The Pegasus knight began crawling backwards, cursing under her breath.

"Now go on, report to your little Hoshidan commander, and tell him to leave my precious little brother alone…"

"Dammit! Why can't we break through?" Takumi cursed vehemently. The archer glared at the Nohrian troops in front of him. "Push forward dammit! At this rate, we won't have enough manpower for next battle…"

For nearly two hours, not a single regiment could rout the Nohrian resistance. Their archers and defenses were seemingly impenetrable. Medical supplies were running out. The morale of his troops was dangerously low. Even though they still possessed material advantage, a victory would mean he would have to wait for more reinforcements. Defending a partially-destroyed town against counterattack was not an option.

Takumi found himself soundly defeated. His final command to his retainers was to destroy all of the remaining ferries in Dia, to prevent a naval invasion of Hoshido. However, no smoke came from the harbor - so even that order might have been aborted.

(I'm sorry, Ryoma, Mother… I couldn't pull through.)

Behind him in the port, Hoshidan lance fighters scrambled into box formations, waiting for their lord's command. Archers drew on their arrows, ready to fire. A squadron of Pegasus knights hovered above them - most of them wounded. Opposing them, a smaller sized Nohrian force held up their shields and formed a thin concave. In between them, stood Takumi and three Nohrian commanders. Out of position and luck, he reluctantly lowered his bow.

"Fate wasn't on your side, Takumi." The Nohrian Prince finally spoke. His very voice made Takumi grimace. "This town will not fall. If you value the lives of your army, order them to retreat immediately."

The two other royals of the Nohrian army, Princess Camilla and Princess Elise, were at his side. They watching Takumi and his troops with piercing suspicion. White fumes rose from the houses behind them. Lancers reloaded a ballista mounted on a guard tower overlooking the entire scene as the standstill continued.

(Corrin, you despicable traitor. I will end your pitiful existence on this world.)

"If you value your lives and your dignity, leave. Now." Corrin repeated.

"They're more valuable than yours ever will be." Takumi snarled, "You don't need to lie anymore, dear brother. Nohrians have never shown any mercy before. This time will be no different."

"I can't comment on the other commanders, but we're not all the same." the Prince retorted, "I'm not as unreasonable. We won't harm those who put down their arms."

Despite his words, the Nohrian commander was still grasping his blade, pointing it towards the ground. He was in no position to give any lecture on trust.

"A liar to the very end, aren't you?" Takumi replied, "You have thrown away all of the trust I held for you the moment your sword drew our blood. I should have known ever since our mother died that you would turn tail and abandon us."

(That's right, Mother... is dead. I will never forgive you.)

"I once thought we were equals, and then you fall to these pathetic depths." he continued, "I wish I could say I was surprised."

It seemed that the last few words got to Corrin. The Prince looked down in silence and clenched his dark longsword. Sensing danger, Takumi reached for his Fujin Yumi. Even though he had suffered a few losses, he still had plenty of fight remaining.

"What a shame that a handsome boy has such a dirty mouth." Camilla broke the silence, "In Nohr, we have very special ways to fix bad manners. Perhaps you would like a demonstration?" She stepped forward and slashed the air in front of her.

"Stop Camilla", Corrin interrupted, "Now isn't the time. Please stand back." The woman stepped back with a disappointed frown.

"It didn't have to be like this." Takumi spat, "You chose to come into our lives and leave them. You can't run away from the consequences forever."

Strangely, he felt a small headache seizing his body. His heart felt heavier with each phrase. Then again, he always felt sick when thinking about the backstabbing scoundrel.

(Right… Corrin is a traitor! He… deceived us all…)

"Mother… all those innocent townspeople… They would all still be alive. They wouldn't have-"

His headache grew increasingly unbearable. The Hoshidan archer fell to his knees. His eyes widened with pain. His body felt numb.

(Corrin…!)

"Argh! Na- no!" Takumi cried. He covered his ears with his hands. The thoughts in his mind were beginning to overwhelming him. Takumi's forehead felt feverish while his arms and feet turned stone cold. Corrin and the rest of his men stared, startled by his reaction.

"Takumi!" the Prince shouted, "What's wrong?!"

"M-my head... the pain is… grah!"

His legs felt weak and it seemed like his entire body was too weak to keep him standing. He could no longer hear the outside world, apart from a few gasps and whispers from the Hoshidans behind him. The foot soldiers around him backed off in horror. Takumi could only recognize the voice whispering to him in his mind growing louder.

(Traitor! Traitor… I will finish…)

"Brother!" Corrin sheathed his blade and walked forwards. However, Takumi swiftly jumped back on his feet. His eyes burned with rekindled ferocity and hatred.

"Stay back, bastard!" Takumi screeched, "Don't give me another reason to despise you."

All thoughts in his head vanished, along with any hesitation to draw his sacred weapon. Against his instinct however, he managed to restrain himself. Time seemed to have slowed down. An image of his mother, Queen Mikoto, appeared faintly in front of him.

The illusion shattered, leaving behind only his former brother standing behind it.

"No. Son of a-" Takumi breathed.

"Brother." Corrin stammered, "Please calm down..."

"Don't you 'brother' me, imbecile! We'll be back, stronger than ever. For every innocent soul you butchered, each one shall be repaid tenfold."

Corrin froze, visibly disturbed by his words. Takumi turned around and touched three fingers to his left arm. The remaining Hoshidan soldiers withdrew their weapons. Slowly, they all began marching eastward, towards a gate leading out of the city. Relieved, The Nohrian army stood down.

The battle was over, and Hoshido was retreating.

"Goodbye, Corrin." Takumi turned back to Corrin "Fate will have it that this is the last time you will see me." He turned and began running towards the southern port, away from his forces.

"Last time? What do you mean?" Corrin yelled, "Hey, wait!" He turned towards his two sisters. Camilla smiled in amusement, and Elise stared at her brother in shock.

"Camilla, fly above Dia and locate any remaining stragglers." The Prince ordered, "Inform them the battle is over. Elise, I need you to begin healing our wounded. Takumi has gone mad and I need to find him before something happens."

"You got it, big brother!" Elise smiled, bouncing joyfully back to the Nohrian concave. Camilla snorted and soared into the sky on her wyvern. For reasons unknown, the Nohrian Prince sprinted hurriedly towards the Hoshidan archer.

Takumi made a turn into the docks and reached the ferries. To his relief, most were on fire, just as he ordered. Losing a battle against Nohr was an upset, but at least he would be able to prevent them from invading his homeland. Oboro and Hinata had not disappointed him. Having confirmation, he would finally be able to return with some good news.

"Takumi!" The Hoshidan archer turned around to find Corrin standing a few feet away, panting. "I'm still your brother! I want… to find another way to finish this war!"

(Crud. Why is he so persistent on keeping up with me? Only an idiot would be stupid enough to follow me here!)

Suddenly, the feeling of possession and craze returned to him. A foreign conscious in his mind brought forth an ingenious plan. An insane plan, but one that could only work on someone like Corrin.

(Actually, I guess I should have expected that from you, huh?)

Takumi bolted towards one of the burning ferries.

"Stop, Takumi!" Corrin shouted helplessly.

His words were futile. The archer took a deep breath and leapt gracefully onto a burning ship. A scorching fire was started from its hull, making the deck incredibly hot but still traversable. The ship bobbed violently from left to right, shaking the deck. Thick white smoke from the barge's storage seeped onto the surface, making it difficult to see past his arms.

Takumi bolted towards the ship's starboard, and pulled out Fujin Yumi. The smoke gave him enough cover for the element of surprise. Burning fumes slowly filled his eyes and nose. He began coughing, but the sound was masked by crackling wood. The searing heat and toxic atmosphere should have rendered him breathless by now, but a strange power channeled within him. A desire to keep his inner flame burning. No heat or smoke is going to stop him. Corrin foolishly isolated himself from his army. There was no better chance than today.

"Hey, where are you? Get off of this ferry!" Corrin shouted.

(Betrayal! I am, betrayal!)

He continued. "You're not thinking straight! I'm dragging you out of there!"

Corrin stumbled onto the ship, reaching out an arm and fumbling in the smoke. Coughing heavily, he squinted his eyes and attempted to regain his composure. Beside him, a large piece of deck caved in, almost throwing him off-balance. His eyes began to water and the atmosphere choked his lungs.

"Corrin, you naive fool." Takumi muttered.

The Nohrian Prince turned to face him. When they locked eyes, his body froze. The only thing he could make out in the smoke was his brother's expressionless face and the arrow from the shining Fujin Yumi.

A/N:

Consider this a preview of the story and my writing style. I hope it intrigues you.

I'm a fairly new writer so expect my writing to evolve as I write more. Please leave a review if you would like to offer feedback or criticism. If you like what you read, follow / favorite for updates.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the ride!