World of Revelations

'No matter how powerful our foe may seem, we can still win.'

Those words of inspiration were the last Corrin had spoken for almost ten minutes now. She'd been shouting orders, taking on every enemy in sight, but there was no end. The armies of Valla appeared from thin air on this stony platform, threatening to end the lives of his forces, as she and Azura did what they could to prevent Anankos mustering up the power to simply obliterate them.

She had no army of her own, so to speak- despite the fact she had both royal families present, bringing a full army here was impossible.

Nohr's most elite warriors, under command of Xander, were standing tough on the right. Siegfried was both sword and shield to the crown prince, as he pressed on, a moving wall, the dam against the tide. Leo detached from the defensive troops with his retainers, and flanked a group of a few mages that were advancing on the armoured frontline, positioning his unit perfectly to avoid any damage. Camilla and Elise were moving around to harry the enemy, as some of Corrin's less expected Nohrians like Keaton and Nyx did what they could to follow the military tactics. It was a black march of steel and spells, unstoppable and indomitable. To attack them was to die.

And on the left, Ryoma was leading the charge. Hoshidan defences weren't as strong as Nohr, but they made up for it with the speed and skill of legends, as he and the forces at his command rushed the foe without so much as a hint of fear for their lives. Corrin almost shuddered, recalling old Nohrian stories of the demons that Hoshidan warriors could be, under those bright colours. But she knew Ryoma- how he'd toiled to leave Hoshido safe in capable hands before joining her. She knew Hinoka, soaring above, and how long she'd spent training because she thought Corrin was suffering in Nohr. And even as that fleeting thought passed, she saw Takumi and Sakura working to bombard the foe with arrows. With more fighters like Rinkah, Oboro and Kaden advancing, flames and will-o'-the-wisps mixing into the rush of units, it was clear as day how terrifying the 'peaceful' country could be.

But, the fact she knew the people on both sides were good at heart was the reason she was standing here.

"…of silence and blood…" And Azura. The one who made it all possible.

"Azura, the forces should bring down the hands in a moment! Get ready to fight." Corrin ordered, as she held up the Omega Yato like a flaming torch, its power working to make the god before them mortal.

Azura nodded. Corrin almost winced at her. The unexpected son she'd had hadn't left her in a good state for this battle, but she was the only one that could use the pendant…

There was a shouting, as the Nohrian wall of death reached Anankos' hand, raining all manner of damage upon it. Trees and vines were beginning to grow all over it, constricting movement, and then as three, a hero in grey, a bow knight with red hair, and a sorcerer in yellow struck out with incredible conviction, knocking aside the guarded posture of the hand long enough for Xander to charge and impale it, the splatter of divine blood falling into the abyss below.

It wasn't much longer, and the same fate had befallen the other hand, as Ryoma moved as if he were a mirage, never quite where an attack landed, as lightning crashed upon his foe again and again, and then his two retainers moved in- while ninja were not meant for direct combat, the distraction they provided for just a moment was enough. There was a blinding flash as the blade split the dragonskin open, reaching down to the bone.

Anankos lowered his head.

Corrin walked forwards, Azura close behind, bravely keeping her song up.

"CORRIN…"

"Father." Corrin pointed the Yato forwards. "I won't let you go any further. Let there be peace!"

"I DID NOTHING MORE THAN BRING ABOUT WHAT WAS TO COME… DIE, MY DAUGHTER… JOIN ME. HUMANS WILL FORGET YOU, TOO, IN TIME."

"Of course they will! But my family will not be abandoned!"

Corrin charged, as a ball of light began to build in Anankos' mouth. Her fighting style was unorthodox, made explicitly for her, as she bounded into the air and brought the sword down in a wide arc, aiming for one of the eyes on Anankos.

The ball released, easily the size of Corrin. She hesitated, trying to work out which way to dodge. It was coming right for her-

Azura pushed her aside, and the ball of energy hit the floor by Corrin with a blast, knocking them both down. The song wavered, but the pendant continued to glow, as it filled in the lost few words before Azura could resume her chant. Thank goodness for that trick. "Are you alright?" She asked quickly, forcing herself onto her feet, the holy lance repairing the burns on her front.

Corrin nodded.

"Hold fast, sister! We're on our way!"

"We stand together, Corrin!"

The Nohrian and Hoshidan forces were coming back, and Corrin stood again, taking her sword back up.

"NO."

There was a cracking sound, immense. Suddenly, with a burst of power, Anankos pushed, and the large platform was broken into three, rending it impossible for all but the fliers to cross.

"Corrin! Don't give up!" Camilla took to the skies, pursued by Beruka.

"Sky knights, move to Corrin!" Hinoka made a quick formation with Subaki and Reina, but as the fliers closed in on the two Vallite royals, there was a colossal wingbeat. Corrin saw the gust of air send Subaki out of his saddle, while the other riders struggled to regain control of their mounts, fast losing altitude against the gale.

Corrin charged. She was the only one who could fight now. It was all on her.

She attacked. The power of the Omega Yato was bolstering her every action, driving her to fight as hard as she could. She swung, she dodged, she leapt, she sliced!

But Anankos took every blow in stride, never so much as flinching. He simply calmly fired at her, like it didn't matter.

There was her chance! Corrin ran, and holding her sword steady, she curved it along the floor, and struck. It went straight into Anankos, as if he were made of clay.

He lifted his head up, ripping the sword from Corrin's grasp. Suddenly, she realised it. The lazy demeanor he'd held was nothing more than…

A trap.

"Corrin!" Azura pushed her again, but Anankos had learned.

The ball of energy sent Azura to the floor, scorched all over by divine power. There was a gentle breeze, like the sea spray. Corrin was confused for a moment, until she saw the glowing pendant on Azura's chest dissolving into a few glittering, hopeless sparkles.

The song stopped.

"Azura! No!" Corrin held out a hand, willing her sword to fly into it like it had when she found it. It obeyed, and she caught it. She raised it over her head, wreathed in flames and tried to slam it down onto Anankos in desperation, trying anything to defeat him before Azura could die of those wounds.

Her sword stopped firmly.

Corrin froze, as she looked at the cloaked man who had appeared, someone who seemed to be made of water in part, like a Vallite soldier, but far more human, long blue hair running out of his hood. Blue, like Azura's hair. With one hand, he'd caught the Omega Yato- stopped it dead.

"…Is this your true…" Corrin started to whisper, before suddenly, Anankos clenched his hand. Like it was nothing more than a toothpick, he crushed the golden metal in his grip, the fire on the blade dying, and the lights in the four sockets dulling, and becoming empty once again.

Corrin stepped back, holding the useless handle of the Yato.

And then there was a roaring, as the power of a god was unleashed.

Lilith felt it. She could feel it even here, in the astral realm.

Her sister was gone. She dropped the hopes she'd been holding, as it hit her.

Corrin was gone. Not dead, no. Their father was far too fond of his puppets. Death would have been the most merciful outcome.

If Corrin was gone, everyone was gone. All those people, those who had fought so hard to protect this world…

Without them, then this place wasn't safe anymore. And neither was the person she had been assigned to take care of. She hurried through the hallways, for the first time thankful for her astral form, as it let her move faster. She burst into a room with a cot.

Shigure was quiet. Unknowing of the fates of his parents, of his family. But he was wide awake. "Mmm…"

"Hush, hush now Shigure…" Said Lilith, as calmly as she could. "We're just… going to go on a journey." She started scrabbling around for a blanket, or anything that would make sure the infant didn't die of a cold when she left the astral plane.

This was her job now- without a shadow of doubt. Everyone in the army had been overjoyed at Shigure's birth, herself included. But even if she hadn't known this child, she wouldn't just leave him to die.

The armies of Valla would be here soon, after all.

Carrying the bundled infant as closely as she could, Lilith emerged at the Bottomless Canyon. He was crying, as was expected, but unhurt. They were ahead of the army.

Now what?

She couldn't care for him. Both countries were locked in the middle of a war, and she'd appeared in a zone directly between the two countries.

She flew for Hoshido. Less chance of encountering a wyvern patrol in a world where she couldn't use her abilities to do anything. As she looked over the area, she could see from up here the fields the country had been conquered for.

Wait, had it been conquered? She'd been trying to look on at this world, but between helping keep the astral plane safe, and helping raise Shigure… In fact, Corrin had killed Garon, hadn't she? But until then, the attacks on Hoshido had been very one-sided, with feudal lords doing more harm than good to its military might... and the only people with the authority to overrule those lords and put them in line was the royal family.

Who were now dead. Gone? Lilith wasn't sure if Anankos would make puppets of them. Oh, gods, this was all so overwhelming...

She needed to land. She wasn't in any state to fly. Shigure's constant crying was making it impossible to think, and... even if it hadn't, Lilith was lost. In a world where she had no allies, no resources, and not even a face that wouldn't make people worry. There were times being an astral being not tied to any one plane of existence was awesome, but right now she needed to be normal person capable of caring for a baby.

She landed at the base of a tree, carefully placing Shigure on the ground.

She would find a way. She had to.

World of Birthright, one day prior to Ryoma's coronation.

'Smile for me... one last time... before I go...'

It was nothing more than a painful memory. Corrin looked at the dragonstone in his hands. The very same blue as Azura's pendant. There were days he wondered if that were a co-incidence or not...

"Are you quite alright, Lord Corrin?" Jakob walked over, holding a tray with tea on it.

"Just lost in thoughts." Corrin mumbled. It had been a very mixed few months, ever since Garon's death. No matter how he looked at it, his decision to side with Hoshido was the reason that he hadn't stood a chance at convincing Xander to stand down. His own failures had cost Azura, Elise, Xander, Flora... and countless more innocents their lives.

That was something that weighed heavy on him.

Jakob simply nodded in understanding. "I thought you should know, that Ryoma's coronation will begin quite shortly. He said that he'd like to try and use the chance to begin repairing relations to Nohr, now that he's finally brought the provinces back into line."

Corrin nodded. While few daimyo were as malicious as Kotaro, they were, ultimately, just like the nobility of Nohr. Bureaucratic and scheming, constantly vying for a chance to insert themselves into positions of greater power. Ryoma's war tactic of 'Face the entire kingdom of Nohr solo, and charge' might not have presented the prince himself wih any problems, but if you're the leader of a nation then you need to be present to actually lead. Nohr had very nearly been in position to simply raze Shirasagi and everyone in it. And that had created quite the political mess.

Still, that wasn't what was on Corrin's mind. "How is Reina? I... didn't really think about the consequences at the time, but..."

"She's feeling much better today." Jakob said with a smile. "If she were not forbidden by the commander of the sky knights- Hinoka, then by prince Takumi..." He cracked a very small smile. "...Then by crown prince Ryoma, and lastly princess Sakura herself, I'm very sure she'd be training the Kinshi knights today."

Corrin chuckled. "Even Reina can't ignore something once Sakura says it seriously. Not that she ignores things usually."

Jakob offered Corrin a cup of tea, the moment he was sure it was brewed properly. "I'll get everything ready for you to attend the ceremony."

"I couldn't ask for a better butler." Corrin said, before taking a sip. He still wasn't sure how Jakob could make a cup of tea so precisely attuned to his tastes, but he was always going to be grateful for it. Especially in these shaky times. "Oh, but before you go..."

"Yes?"

"I can't think of a name."

World of Conquest, one day prior to Xander's coronation.

'War is monstrous. We are told to make war to support our country, but it's a lie...'

"Ah, Leo!" Corrin turned, setting her quill back into the ink well. "I've been looking at the reports for those new farms we've constructed in the lands we took from Hoshido, and our wheat is growing far better than expected! Xander's going to be relieved."

"That's very welcome news. We can hardly throw a javelin at a food shortage." Leo stated. "Although you should know you've got a visitor."

"A visitor so important the prince of Nohr came to tell me?" A smile spread on Corrin's face.

"...Yes, I suppose so. Camilla wouldn't be happy if I just left him standing outside." Conceded Leo.

Corrin got up, and stretched before walking over to the door. "What would I do without her?"

"End up in a political marriage, I imagine." Leo retorted, as they went along the halls of Krakenburg. Portraits of heroes long past lined the walls, and red carpets below their feet were still as immaculate as they had been when Corrin first lay eyes on the place. If anything, they seemed less ominous, after the morale boost Xander had brought.

"I hope one of those difficult policies he mentioned does away with marriage for politics, really. It never sat well with me."

"Heh, you have quite a convenient way of forgetting that you're courting outside your species." Leo teased.

"Nyx still only comes up to your chin." Countered Corrin. "Still, I really am glad I'm free to choose who I marry. I can handle the paperwork for running these lands, but... I don't think I could handle having to live a lie."

"And that's why you were nearly executed by father a dozen times. Really, I think we all know better at this point." Said Leo dryly. They reached a large door, attended by a pair of guards. On approach, they hoisted the doors open, leaving enough of an archway for someone to quite comfortably lead a cavalry charge along the corridor.

Standing on the other side was the person who had been used to stop a cavalry charge a few times.

"Keaton! It's been too long, how is everyone back at your village? Did you find any new treasures?" Corrin ran forwards, wrapping her arms around the waiting visitor.

Keaton took a step backwards in surprise, arms out. "Woah, hey, I never said I was happy to see..." He relaxed, and hugged back for a second. "Eh, you got me. Everyone's fine, they were all wowed by this weird rock I found over in Hoshido! Wanna see?"

"Of course! But come on in, I want to show you around the castle! Xander's coronation is tomorrow, so it's going to be absolutely bustling with people then. He decided he wanted to try and provide a bit of food for the whole city, to make a point about the new lands."

World of Birthright, eight months after Ryoma's coronation.

"Hinoka?"

She was in a state. "I'm fine!" She staggered over to a chair, as the cut on her leg bled onto a simple wooden floor, in a well-concealed house on a hill, deep in a forest near the border.

"No, your pegasus is fine!" Kaden threw open a box, and grabbed a glass bottle. "What happened? Was it faceless? Nohrians? Bandits?"

Hinoka almost reviled at the bottle she was handed, knowing full well the concoction was going to be like taking a gulp of seawater, but her days training shunted that stupid thought to the very back of her mind, and told her she was bleeding out now, in a village without anyone that could use a staff. She ripped the cork out, and chugged half the concoction. Almost instantly, the wound started to scab over. A temporary fix, but a good one. "No, I don't think so. I was just on a normal patrol, looking out for any hints of trouble, and I saw a town being attacked..."

"What by? I-is the hamlet in danger?"

Hinoka sighed. "I don't know what they were, but we're seen them before. There was a village being attacked by evil spirits, of some kind. They were like the ones Garon was summoning, back in the war."

"But that must mean that Nohr-"

"I'll get a report to Ryoma. Hopefully it's just a rogue mage." Hinoka made to stand up, and her husband rushed over, stopping her.

"You're more beautiful alive, Hinoka. I won't let you fall off your pegasus trying to fly across the country on a whim! I'll run your report over there as fast as I can!" Kaden looked back, as there was some crying in response to the frantic reply. "...Oh, Selkie... I hate to run off and leave her right now, maybe if I gave the message to someone else?"

"..." Hinoka looked over to the far end of the room. "Don't worry, little Selkie, it takes a bit more than an invisible soldier to kill me."

Kaden walked over, picking up the tiny girl, who stopped shouting immediately. "Looks like we were too loud."

"I'll keep her safe while you're gone." Said Hinoka. "Aw, look at that, so young, and already looking better than either of us."

"That's my daughter, alright." Kaden put her back down, inwardly praying she didn't start crying again immediately. "Don't you worry, Hinoka. I'll have the letter to your brother before you can worry."

"Just... you need to be careful. Those invisible soldiers are dangerous." Hinoka said. "You'd better come back safe." She looked at the cut on her leg angrily, as if it she could will the wound to shut. "Okay, just let me write the report up. I'm the only army person here."

World of Conquest, eight months after Xander's coronation.

"Laslow? Is something the matter?" Xander sat up from his bed, as the frantic knock at his door was followed by his retainer simply coming in, gasping for breath. Xander had his sword in hand in half a second, taking his buckler off the wall. "Assassins?"

"No, milord. I've recieved an urgent message from Lord Leo."

"What's the matter?"

"Several towns at the edge of Nohr have been attacked. He thinks it was co-ordinated." Explained Laslow. "The reports we were able to gather say that it was some kind of stealth attack, and the guards didn't realise they were in danger until the enemy were almost on top of them."

"...Ninja?"

"No." Laslow said. "...Apparently these foes, once you could see them, burned with purple flame. We've seen that before."

"..." It took Xander a moment. But some fights couldn't be forgotten. Least of all fights where your adoptive sister died, and then willed herself back to life. "That time in Shirasagi, when Father sat on the Hoshidan throne?"

"I fear it is so."

"I must have an audience with Queen Hinoka, immediately. Damn this timing, Siegbert is barely a month old... Laslow, get Peri ready to travel. I'll explain matters to Charlotte."

"Understood, milord." Laslow left the room, as Xander began to quickly prepare himself to travel. Anankos. He'd hoped that killing Takumi might have ended Anankos by extension, but this, confirmed by Odin, was an attack by his soldiers.

He needed to find away around the curse, and soon.

World of Revelations, ten months after the fall of Corrin.

Anankos looked over the astral sea. Here he stood unopposed, the last of the first dragons, with sight unlimited and power to make all gods tremble.

The scars left by the Omega Yato had healed. The weapon was nothing more than dust on the wind, torn down to its base molecules, scattered. As he had with all those accursed weapons, as he should have in ages past. Forged by another first dragon with limited knowledge! How did he let the insult stand?!

And Anankos looked, across all realities.

He saw a prince in a blue cape, retrieving a sword.

He saw a man in green, next to a priestess in white.

He saw a young man and a girl, holding a sword and a book that glowed with power.

He saw a man in a dark room, surrounded by locked doors.

He saw a boy with flame-red hair, eyes filled with pity.

He saw three nobles, standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

He saw twins on horseback, spearheading a charge.

He saw a hardened warrior holding a sword of gold.

He saw two men receiving the aid of a goddess.

And he saw himself, in two different realities.

First, he saw himself where that fool Garon had somehow allowed Hoshido to infiltrate his castle, and had been struck down. The shock of losing that power had left him weak, practically comatose. Dying, even. A far cry from where he was now, an incarnation of knowledge, with clear purpose- to have his revenge. To be the ruler of all this world. To be with his family eternally.

Second, he saw himself where he had miscalculated. He had thought that striking down Corrin with one blow, swarming the room with his very most powerful troops would be more than enough, impossible to escape, yet it had only served to leave him yet worse than the first version, as the puppet he had given everything to was torn apart. He wasn't going to live much longer there.

He considered his strategy. Eventually, he came to a conclusion. It would be simple enough to absorb the remaining power of his fallen selves. All he would need to do would be to breach the gap between dimensions, an easy feat with the knowledge at his disposal. In fact...

Something stirred within him. Some twisted remnant of affection.

He concentrated on the floor in front of him, gathering energy into one spot, commanding his powers to shape the magic of the world as he desired. After a few short months, it was complete.

"CORRIN, MY DAUGHTER."

The voice echoed throughout the astral plane. A fallen dragon responded, walking up to the gigantic form of Anankos.

"I HAVE CREATED THIS VEIN FOR YOU TO USE."

Corrin looked up blankly, purple flame lapping around her body. There was no consequence to remaining in dragon form at all times these days. She no longer had a mind to lose. She simply did as told, and activated the vein, opening the gateway between worlds.

Author's notes: Okay, here goes nothing. If there's one thing I could never find a good fanfic for, it was Heirs of Fate.

So I'll do my best to provide. You should know the following things: No deeprealms. They were necessary from a gameplay perspective, but if we're writing? No. Also, if I get bored I might put out a few Xenologues that don't follow the story, through the Dragon's Gate. I will reply to EVERY review in the Author's notes, so please don't be afraid to ask questions- you can even flame, because if I can't defend a choice you're criticising, then why am I making that choice?

Lastly here is THE GREAT LIST OF PAIRINGS. Yes, I chose not to pair Elise to anyone. She's underage and you can't convince me otherwise.

Hoshido

Corrin/Reina

Ryoma/Scarlet

Takumi/Oboro

Subaki/Felicia

Saizo/Rinkah

Kaze/Sakura

Hayato/Mozu

Azama/Setsuna

Hinata/Hana

Kaden/Hinoka

Nohr

Corrin/Keaton

Xander/Charlotte

Leo/Nyx

Arthur/Effie

Laslow/Peri

Benny/Beruka

Odin/Selena

Niles/Azura

Jakob/Flora

Silas/Camilla

Keaton/Corrin

Valla

Azura/Niles