Disclaimer: I own nothing.
I have been meaning to write this story ever since I played Fire Emblem back during high school in 2003. However, I have been debating this for the longest time if this was a ridiculous plot. Now, over ten years of thinking, I decided to disregard popular opinion and write out this alternate universe Fire Emblem story. I am starting in Hector's route in the game, skipping Lyn's route, though not completely ignored. We all know what the characters look like, but there is Fire Emblem Wikipedia if you don't know who the characters are. (There are no OC's, with the exception of Matthew's mother, who is deceased and unseen anyways. So, if there is a name you don't recognize, look them up. They are not made up characters.) Anyways, enjoy the story and hope you liked it.
Yours truly,
Tanya Adams 64
Third Son
Part 001
Inside the castle Ostia, the young Hector paced around the war-room, anxious of the events unfolding. It's been over a month since Lord Elbert, the marquess of Pherae, left his home and hasn't been heard from since. His brother, Marquess Uther, forbade Hector of partaking any searches as this wasn't Ostia's affair. However, Hector decided to secretly run away and aid his friend Eliwood's search for Lord Elbert. He sent out Matthew to scout for Eliwood's current location earlier. The spy has been gone for two hours and he was getting impatient.
Suddenly without warning, Hector was startled by the flapping sound of Matthew's red cloak, as the spy appeared behind him from out of no where. The bigger man almost fell over, only to catch his balance at the last minute. Hector glared at Matthew with such an unexpected entrance.
"Don't ever do that again!" Hector snapped, clutching his chest.
"Forgive me, my lord. But I found Sir Eliwood's location." Matthew bowed his head, strategically hiding his amused smirk.
"Where is he?" Hector asked.
"As we speak, he is in Santaruz." Matthew replied.
"Santaruz? What is he doing there?" Hector was surprised to learn this information.
"I have no idea, my lord. From what I know, it must be ur-" Before Matthew could answer, there was a loud crash outside, followed by numerous footsteps.
"The Marquess should be here! Surround the area and dispose those who resist!" A familiar voice boomed throughout the castle.
Both Hector and Matthew ran out the war-room and peaked through a window. Outside the gate was a knight, who stood stationary as the other soldiers infiltrated into rooms and the surrounded the vicinity. It only took a moment for Hector to realize these are soldiers from Laus, a fellow nation in the Lycian League.
"I know that man. Wire, isn't it? What...oh, I see..." Hector grumbled, grabbing his two axes and prepared to defend himself.
"It seems the rumors of Laus Marquess of sending assassins to eliminate you and Lord Uther are true." Matthew said, as he was not surprised. "My sources has never ceased to fail."
"Enough talk! We fight!" Hector rushed off, with Matthew following along.
"My lord, wait! Don't go off by yourself!" Matthew called out.
Once the threat inside the castle was taken care of, it was time to face Wire, who was waiting patiently outside. Hector was surprised how well trained these men are. Even though Laus had a strong military, they were no where close this professional as these soldiers.
"My lord, I manage to eliminate the remaining archers in the castle. Plus, I manage to find a red gem in one of the treasure rooms. What should I do with it?" Matthew held a shiny gem he find in a neglected treasure chest.
Hector waved him off, "We'll discuss the non-important stuff later. I shall deal with this knave first."
Hector kicked opened the doors, almost breaking them off their hinges. Outside, the knight Wire twirled his spear around, looking as he was bored. The young lord had enough of this man's presence.
"You have gall to show up here in the open. You're lucky you're facing me and not my brother; he would have single-handily decimated your men in a matter of minutes." Hector walked up to the knight.
"Such bold words, little boy." Wire chuckled.
"Don't get cocky with me. Though, I admit, that you and your men are nothing like the idiots that Marquess Laus has in his disposal. Too good, too professional—who do you work for?" Hector demanded for answer.
Wire laughed, "That is none of your concern, Little Lord Hector. However, a foolish child running away from home and never to be seen again after his body is hidden in an unmarked grave makes quite a story. Don't you agree?"
Hector shook his head and scoffed, "Never mind. Your luck has ran out anyways."
"Excuse me?"
"You see, I am angry have I ever been and I been itching to take it out on someone. I think you do just fine. Prepare to die!" Hector jumped up the air has he shouted out those words.
His Wolf Beil barely made contact with Wire's armor, who staggered backwards. The knight hissed, trying to stab the lord with his spear. However, the spear barely made a dent on Hector's defenses. Mentally, Wire cursed himself of grabbing such a weak weapon.
Finally, with another mighty swing with his ax, Hector broke the lance in half. Wire was now without any weapons and started to growl in frustration. Only to add the fact he was getting exhausted from all this moving around in heavy armor. With no choice, he took out a Vulnerary, hoping to at least restore enough energy to escape. Unfortunately for the enemy knight, the sack was snatched out of his hand by Matthew's swift movement. Matthew slid away from Wire and tossed the medicine to Hector for later use.
"The damned Ostian spy has returned. Witless fool—I should have killed you when I got the chance." Wire said under his panting. If it weren't for Matthew's speed, his archers would have killed the spy long before the blond could reach Hector. "Damn, I should followed Damian's example of becoming of horse rider instead. Lord Nergal...I have underestimated my enemy..."
"Pathetic..." Hector said, slashing Wire, killing him with a critical blow. The knight fell down, causing the ground to tremble slightly under their feet.
Matthew stiffened after Wire spoke a name he remembers far too well.
Hector put away his ax, using a Vulnerary to replenished his health. He turned to Matthew, who was staring at Wire's lifeless body. Hector could tell something is amiss.
"What is wrong with you? You pale as a sheet." Hector asked, walking up to the stunned thief.
Matthew snapped back into reality, returning to his cheery demeanor. "Forgive me, my lord. I am just making sure this man here stays dead. Knights are rather tricky to defeat. Speaking from experience."
Good thing Hector bought his fib, "That makes sense. Enough idling, we have to meet up with Eliwood right away. I have a bad feeling about the whole situation with Laus. Find Oswin and Serra and meet me at the gate to Santaruz in an hour."
"Yes, my lord." Matthew said and disappeared in a blink of an eye. After that, Hector rushed away from the Ostian castle, hoping to catch up with Eliwood before it was too late.
Five-year-old Matthew looked out the window after hearing a shouting match between two men. It was Brandon Reed, who had enough of Damian's cruelty after hearing that the Paladin ransacked a village along with Brigades unaffiliated with the Black Fang.
"This in beyond unacceptable. Our job was to help those who are in need the most. You're actions stray from our creed! For you're judgment, you are hereby banned! Begone from my sight!" Brandon pulled out his ax, pointing outwards from him.
"You're too damned soft, Reed. That will be your undoing. Mark my words." Damian warned the leader of Black Fang.
"Get out before I change my mind and cut you down." Brandon retorted, gripping tighter the handle of his ax.
Damian spat on Brandon's boots and hopped on his steed. The man finally rode off into the blizzard, hopefully never been seen again. Matthew never liked that man in the first place. Since day one, the little boy had a terrible feeling from his man.
The door opened and Brandon walked in, placing the ax on the floor. Matthew hopped down from the wooden chair, greeting the older man. Brandon gave soft smile, ruffling Matthew's hair.
"You're up early. Where are your brothers?" Brandon asked.
"They're out training." Matthew replied.
"I see...and I see that you're still working on your skills as a thief." Brandon chuckled.
"I'm not a thief." Matthew defended himself.
"Is that so?" Brandon reached out and pulled out a bracelet from Matthew's pocket. "I could of sworn I had this around my wrist just a minute ago."
Matthew looked away, flushing. "It was pretty. That's all."
"It was the only thing left by your mother. Naturally, you would try to steal this from me everyday. I admit, you're getting better at your 'craft'. As much as I wish you never hang around Legault, you did learn a lot from him." Brandon put the bracelet back on his wrist.
"I only learned by spying on him. Legault doesn't even know I exist." Matthew said with a disappointed look.
"Don't worry. Once you're up to his level, he would take notice. At the meantime, help me move around some supplies. There is a new job waiting for us in Bern." Brandon took Matthew by the hand and took him to the supply room for weapon detail.
Matthew finished his flashback as he made his way to Santaruz. Oswin and Serra went on ahead, however, Matthew needed to tie some loose ends before he could leave Ostia. One of them that of leaving a note for Lord Uther, telling him everything in exact detail. As much as Matthew is loyal to Hector, his loyalty towards Lord Uther is much greater. After all, it was Uther who found Matthew when he was a common twelve-year-old Pickpocket in the Port of Badon, unaware of Matthew being a former Black Fang. He decided to sell off the Red Gem he found earlier for War Funds. He wanted to give the jewel to Leila as a gift, but decided against it, as funding for Lord Hector and Lord Eliwood comes first.
During that time, it was when Matthew finally remembered Damian, the man Wire spoke of. He doesn't know nor care how they are exactly related, but he remembered the purple haired Paladin. The man would sometimes give nasty looks towards him and/or his older brothers. He never really spoke to him, which was fine. However, after Wire mentioned his name, Matthew wondered if Damian finally got hired by someone. At first he thought it was the Marquess of Laus, but he hasn't saw him there. Matthew decided to forget the about him and resume his attention on Lord Hector's direction.
To Be Continued...
I tried my best to make it not too shocking of Matthew being a related to the Reeds (I think the title gave that away. Haha.) Bits of pieces of his past are revealed in tiny, non-linear segments (which includes Lyn's route). It will all fall into place why he left the "family business" and became a spy for Ostia. On the side note, I didn't want to waste my time with Wire, as he wasn't that too important of a character. That is why I allow Hector to defeat him quickly.