Author's Note: For some untold reason, I've been playing Suikoden IV quite a bit lately. I guess part of me was trying to figure out what the appeal of this game could be. Certainly it's noted as the worst of the series, but there should have been something more to it. Well, there is, and that is what I'm writing…the game that SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

Much like my AU for Suikoden III, here's an AU story for Suikoden IV. Enjoy.

Oh yeah, I don't own Suikoden, period.

XxX

Suikoden IV: The Island Nations Chronicles

Prologue: Depths of the Heart

Lino en Kuldes, king of the independent island of Obel, stared hard into the depths of the ocean that swelled before him, encompassing all of his vision as he searched the boundless waters for answers. At these moments of absolute uncertainty, he found the oceans could provide that sense of security and assurance that would so often abandon him. A great sense of bitter resolve stirred the bile within him however, as he realized how desperately betrayed that hope for peace had left him now.

For a moment he was lost in his own misery, his doubts feasting on what meager hope may have survived these past several days. Whatever hope he may have possessed was as distant to him now as a long forgotten dream, and in this moment of uncertainty he wondered if he ever possessed such faith.

The tiny fingers of his daughter, squeezing his hand in a gesture of assured comfort drew his mind from his own reclusive search for answers to the shining face of the young princess. Every time his looked upon Flare, he saw his beloved wife through the knowing eyes that were far more mature than any four year old had a right to be.

He suspected, even looking at his daughter now, that she knew that her mother was dieing; suffering from the terrible burn on her left hand. And Flare, his little princess, knew as well, how powerless her father was to stop it from happening. In that moment, the moment of the gentle squeezing of her father's hands, her own attempt to take some of the burden from her father, Lino en Kuldes was no longer a king, but a husband and father, and above all, simply a man who knew that the time was short before he would need to bury his wife.

His breath caught in his throat as he looked his daughter in the eyes, the same, knowing sapphires as his wife, and in that moment, his grief threatened to overtake him. Quickly kneeling to embrace his little princess, he buried his face against her hair and tried desperately to remind himself that he was to be the one who was strong for his children, not the other way around.

The clearing of the throat behind him allowed him a few minutes to reaffirm his resolve before releasing Flare from his embrace as he swiped a thick finger against her rounded cheek. As he turned, his long-time aide Setsu seemed embarrassed at having interrupted the tender moment. "Pardon me your highness," the thin advisor stated, bowing at the waist in both ceremony and apology. "Your queen has called for you."

Nodding to Setsu, Lino singled for the aide to stay with his daughter while he spoke with his wife. He loved the woman more than the breath that filled his lungs, and yet he had come to dread these bedside visits, for they reminded him how little time he would have left with his beloved.

Rapping his knuckles swiftly against the wooden barrier, Lino opened the door and entered the bedchamber. He smiled in an expression that could not quite reach his eyes as he moved to occupy the vacant chair at the Queen's bedside.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked softly, his hands quickly moving to the washing basin on the nightstand and retrieving the moist cloth within as he tended to her forehead in an effort to bring comfort to her fevered skin. His eyes fell upon the still full bowl of gruel that had not been touched. "You haven't touched your meal. You really need to eat to keep up your strength."

"You try eating that and tell me it'll help," she replied, offering a weak smile in light of her jest. Lino hated himself for not being able to match her humor, but little these days could slice through the haze that had become his life. Her small smile faded in response to his sad eyes as she turned her face from his, not wanting the shine in her aqua eyes

Cupping her chin in his fingers he brought her face again to meet his as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her neck, holding her tightly as if afraid to let go, as if her simply being here with him at this moment was all that saved him from drowning.

Somewhere in the distance he heard the sound of thunder, and his mind was slow to recall he did not remember seeing clouds to indicate a storm coming until the burst of fire that tipped the side of his ship, the vessel lurching in response to the assault.

"Wh…what the hell is going on?" Lino demanded, his hands still lingering for some touch with his wife as he stood up. The door burst open as one of his soldiers was brought up short, as if afraid to catch the royal in an intimate embrace. Shaking his head, Lino demanded of the soldier, "Report!"

Coming back to his senses, the seaman snapped a hasty salute before responding. "We're under attack your highness. The pirate Steele has engaged us from the stern. We can only assume he was waiting in ambush in the corals we just passed. Our rudder has already been severely damaged and…" his words were cut off as a second explosion rocked the boat and sent the soldier against the wall.

"Damn that bastard, he's had his way in these waters for too long," Lino spat as he stood from his chair, yet the weak hand of his wife still clung to him, and for a moment he softened. They both knew he had to go, knew it would serve no purpose to remain, but neither wishing to leave. Swooping down on his wife, Lino pressed his lips to hers, drinking her kiss as if he had never tasted anything so sweet before pulling free from her and turning on his heel to direct his troops.

Turning her sorrowed eyes from the door, the dieing woman whispered simply, "Goodbye," before looking at the glowing crest on her left hand.

XxX

Lino stood upon the deck, shouting orders to his men as he tried to maintain calm. He had already ordered Setsu to abandon ship with Flare, and waited for the two soldiers to return with his wife and infant son before deciding whether to fight of flee. The pirate Steele was bloodthirsty and would take great pleasure in holding the royal family hostage for his own, sick gains. He would die before he let that sea slug touch his family.

The last rune cannon had severed the ship's main mast, making escape impossible. With the damage being as significant, Lino was apt to simply abandon ship and hope fate would for once, be kind. It was then that he caught the slow, deliberate steps of the woman he could quickly pick out in a mob. His brow furrowed slightly in confusion until his attention fell on the glowing crest on her delicate, left hand.

"Alana, NOOO!" Lino screamed as he watched his wife turn her attention towards him, a sad smile parting her lips before she raised her arm…and unleashed hell. A scream of unearthly torture ripped through the air as the red-black illumination ripped a pillar of death through the air itself before raining God's divine anger on the approaching pirate vessel. Then, the world went black.

XxX

Lino stirred as he sat up slowly, his hand going to his head and feeling the bandage that had been secured around the throbbing pain that he was sure was bleeding. He was concussed, of that he had no doubt judging by the blurred vision, but the small arms that wrapped tightly around his waist seemed to help focus his attention.

"Your majesty, are you alright?"

"I'm fine Setsu," Lino replied automatically, not even pondering the dull ache in his leg that was growing steadily sharper. After a moment he began surveying the faces of those around him and realizing the rocking of his senses was that of the lifeboat.

"Wh…where's Star?" Lino asked frantically, looking for the bundle that would hold his son. "Where's Alana?"

"Your majesty…we…" but Setsu's words fell silent as Lino turned to see the burning ship, his eyes, heart and spirit overcome with the grief of losing his wife and son.

"ALANA!!!!!!!!"

XxX

Vincent Vingerhut, Duke of Razril, Lord of the Knights of Gaien and beloved ruler of his people surveyed the wreckage of the Obel family's royal flagship from the deck of his own craft. Upon receiving reports of the battle between the Obel forces and the pirate Steele, he had hastened in the preparations of dispatching his knights to see to the survivors. That however, did not mean that he wished to be aboard the same ship as the king. All he needed was a noble commanding and demanding orders upon his ship when his own was fast approaching the gullet of the ocean.

No, Captain Glen and his crew would see to the safety of the royal family, if they were even among the survivors. It would serve him well enough in the future to inform the kind that his knights, on his order, had come to his aid. Surely that would mean something to the strong-willed monarch.

Lord Vingerhut's thoughts were interrupted by the word, "Sire" as the knight's resident magic instructor, Konrad, came rushing to his side. "We've found a survivor in the water sir, floating on a piece of driftwood."

"Well don't be daft man, bring him aboard."

"Uh…but sir," Konrad stated, shuffling from foot to foot. "It appears to be an infant. I've sent Colain to retrieve the child, but we should notify the royal family."

For a moment, Vingerhut's eyes lit with understanding before nodding his head. "Yes, yes, I will see to it. Good job Konrad." As the magic instructor bowed and turned, Vincent called back to him. "Oh, Konrad, it would be best to keep this to ourselves."

Arching an eyebrow in confusion, Konrad tilted his head. "If I may ask your lordship, why is that?"

"We cannot be certain that this child is from the wreckage of the royal flagship. It may well have been a child taken prisoner by the pirates who caused this tragedy. We cannot be sure, and certainly it would do no good to raise people's hopes that a child was found in the ocean, now would it? I will speak to the royal family, but if they assure me that they are all safe and accounted for, then there is nothing more I can do but take the child in."

Believing this a very generous compromise on behalf of the lord of Razril, Konrad turned in preparation for the infant to be brought aboard. Had he stayed a moment longer however, he would have seen the smile part the lord's features that was neither kind nor benevolent. Yes, he would not have leverage, should the need ever arise, to gain the support of Obel. He had no doubt the child belonged to the royal family, for who else would bring an infant aboard a vessel? No, he would use this…it was only a matter of time before this would gain him favor with the nobles, then he would barter a deal for his sole favor.

It was only a matter of time.