Yay, new stuff. This was written for fic_promptly on dreamwidth. The prompt, which I took soooome liberties with, was "Author's choice, author's choice, "If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone." (The Godfather II)".

And if anybody is wondering if I'll ever update my AU WIP... I don't know when, but I haven't given it up. I just have other stuff to deal with.


"The whole continent, Master?" Riev gasped, but soon a grin spread across his face. The Demon King's vessel stood still next to the Emperor's body, who stared blankly ahead. Riev shuddered in reverence for his master's powers every time he looked at that perfect zombie.

"Yes," the vessel said, his voice an odd mixture between the prince's young voice and something dark and powerful – something inhuman.

"But how will this be done?" Riev rubbed his chin in thought. "Renais and Frelia are powerful nations with a decent army. Rausten will pose no threat. We will overrun them. And Carcino…" He chuckled. "I know someone who could help us there."

"We will not let them defend themselves," the vessel interrupted him and turned. The prince's eyes were clouded, his consciousness suppressed by the Demon King's might for the moment. There was no place for meddling now.

"What is your plan, Master?" Riev asked, bowing his head.

"If anything in human life is certain, then it is that you can kill anyone. Especially your friends." The prince's face twisted into a grin.

"I see, Master," Riev said, chuckling, "Renais will not know what happened until it is too late. Leave the infiltration to me."

The vessel nodded curtly and turned back to the living corpse. Riev bowed deeply again and shuffled out of the room.

###

"Do you think we can do it?" Eirika whispered to her brother. Ephraim turned his gaze from the preparing soldier to his sister. His eyes softened slightly.

"I don't know."

Eirika's brows were furrowed as she stared at the dark trees of the Darkling Woods. "There's nothing we forgot, is there? We have done everything we could to prepare, did we?"

Ephraim nodded and suppressed the urge to stroke her cheek. "We have the weapons of the Eight Heroes. We have our comrades. And we have the Sacred Stone." He took a deep breath. "And if history taught us anything, then it is that the Demon King can be killed." He threw a glance at his sister again; there was a tiny smile tugging at her mouth.

"You want to school me on history?"

Ephraim chuckled, but sobered up quickly. "You can stay here. You–"

"No, Brother." Her gaze was still dark and worried when she looked at him. "I'm with you until the end." She glanced behind her at the preparing army. "We've come so far… I will not stay back now."

Ephraim nodded. "I'll protect you, Sister."

"And I'll protect you."