"Good evening King Sumeragi. Nohr welcomes you," Garon smirked arrogantly as he started walking towards the Hoshidan king. Even through the dim lighting of the Nohrian streets, Garon could clearly make out King Sumeragi's radiant figure standing firm and steady yards in front of him. Although Sumeragi appeared expressionless, Garon could feel the tension between the Hoshidan King and Nohrian King intensify as he approached. Any person with as many years of experience in Nohrian politics and his own position as the Nohrian King would be able to do the same.
Sumeragi narrowed his eyes as the Nohrian King approached. He could not help but notice the ungraceful, casual manner in which the King walked. Nohrians were known for their pride moreso than their grace; however, Garon strode carelessly, as though he had just single-handily dominated all of his enemies and had nothing to fear. Of course, Sumeragi understood that a King would be more comfortable meeting another from an enemy kingdom in his own territory. Nonetheless, it rubbed the Hoshidan King the wrong way.
It was one of the many things about the sudden peace treaty meeting that had worried Sumeragi. King Garon had been instigating Hoshido at every opportunity prior. Countless brigades had, coincidentally all from Nohrian territories, been terrorizing Hoshidan farm villages near the Nohr-Hoshidan border non-stop. Faceless sightings and attacks grew more common by the day. At least thirty Nohrians were on trial in Hoshidan dungeons for attempted assassinations. The King's children, Prince Ryoma, Prince Takumi, Princess Hinoka, and the infant Princess Sakura were to be protected at all times due to the rumors of assassins sent to retrieve a Hoshidan hostage. Even Queen Mikoto's twins, both whom did not originate from Hoshidan, were under constant surveillance in case of a Nohrian kidnapping. Yet while all of these events were occuring, Nohr suddenly invited the Hoshidan King and Queen to a peace meeting? Something seemed off, Sumeragi thought.
Sumeragi had pondered about not showing up at all. Even a fool could tell something was at play here. However, refusing to meet the Garon could cause confusion and misinterpretation among his people. The last thing Sumeragi wanted was for his people to get the idea that peace talks were off the table. Garon could very well use the King's absence as an excuse for full-blown war.
"I bring warm welcomes from Hoshido as well. I hope you, and your family, are doing well. We hear you are expecting another princess soon?" Perhaps starting the debate with small talk would help ease the tension between the two leaders. It at least comforted him while he stood alone in an unknown darkness that threatened to engulf him.
Garon stopped a few feet away from Sumeragi. His skin was stained a greyish taint and drooped with age. Large dark smears circled his eyes. He had seen better days, Sumeragi thought.
"Hmph, indeed. I have high hopes Princess Elise will serve her family well, as my remaining children have. But enough chit-chat," Garon's gruff voice echoed throughout the vacant streets of Cheve, "we came to discuss the...greivances highlighted in my note to you. I presume you have read it carefully?"
"I have discussed the topics mentioned in your letter with my council thoroughly," Sumeragi held his head high and kept his ground, even face-to-face with the King of Darkness. "We have all come to the same conclusions. Our Light Dragon has blessed us with good fortune and great agriculture. Your Dark dragon has granted Nohr with an abundance of steel and minerals for exceptional weaponary and crafting. You have acknowledged your lack of food, and I will acknowledge my lack of resources. We both have something to gain that we did not prior have by trading."
"So then..." Garon started.
"However," Sumeragi started again, interrupting King Garon, "we do not mean to offend, but we simply do not see a benefit in trading. Weapons and armor would be useful in times of war. However, we do not wish to involve ourselves in the matters of other countries. The Light Dragon has my people blessed us with everything we need," Sumeragi bowed, "please understand."
King Garon's smirk quickly reversed. He no longer held the careless posture he had mere moments ago. It was clear King Garon was growing impatient quickly.
"So are my people to starve, while your people prosper?" Sumeragi winced at the sudden shift in Garon's tone.
"I can offer a certain percentage of our current food inventory as a one-time celebration for our overdue talks of peace," Sumeragi had recited this countless times to nearby hostile kingdoms seeking a portion of Hoshido's wealth, "but we cannot agree to repeated shares of shipments."
Garon gritted his teeth. The negotiation had only just started and things were already looking grim. "And what about my other terms?"
Sumeragi felt his blood boil and his heart drop. He knew it would be brought up during the debate, but he failed to prepare a reply to the King's second demand: a Nohrian royal family member for a Hoshidan royal family member. Garon needed some way to ensure the Hoshidan family kept their promise, after all. "We appreciate the gesture and understand the motivation behind your terms. However, we cannot accept the terms suggested in your note."
Silence ensued between the two Kings for a moment. King Sumeragi stared coldly at the Nohrian King, and the Nohrian King stared back. After a moment, King Garon burst into laughter.
"As expected. I hoped we could come up with something today. I really did." An eery smile formed on Garon's face as he began to approach the Sumeragi. The previously silent streets of Cheve started to liven up. Something was not right. His instincts telling him to run. Right then and there, run out of the secluded alleyway. Retrieve Queen Mikoto and her twin children, and run. Common sense told him to flee; but Sumeragi knew better. For Kings- no, fathers, it is not fight or flee; it is fight or die.
Sumeragi felt his heart pound as he realized Garon stood only inches away from him now. He had adopted the prideful smirk he had before, except intensified. One look at this man would tell you he was out of his mind.
"You refuse to accept my proposals for trade. You refuse my shipment of fine Nohrian steel, claiming weapons and armor will not help you maintain prosperity and peace. Let me ask you this: what is stopping me from using my swords, lances, and bows to take what I need? What is stopping me from raiding your villages for supplies using the armies and men I obtained from obliterating other nations that refused me just as you have?" Garon grinned menacingly. "What is stopping me from striking down your high princes and princesses? Answer me, Sumeragi."
Sumeragi merely stared in response. He would not back down. Not now.
"Hmph. Disappointing." Garon frowned. "Ah well. It was a shame we could not see eye to eye," Garon turned and casually walked away from the Hoshidan King as if nothing had just happened. It almost seemed as though Garon might leave the Hoshidan King alone. Almost. Sumeragi felt his heart freeze as the sounds of armor clashing filled the streets, even after Garon had come to a sudden halt.
"Fire at will", he said it so casually, as if it was an after thought. Not seconds after Garon gave the order, thousands of arrows pierced every inch of Sumeragi's body. Pools of blood poured out of every hole pore in his body. With what little energy he had left, Sumeragi reached for his sword and unsheathed it. Through curtains of arrows, Sumeragi marched towards the Dark King using sheer will.
Garon must have noticed the dying King's persistence, as he ordered his men to seize fire with a single signal from his hand and snickered.
"Can't go peacefully, eh? No matter. This ends now." With a swift blow, Sumeragi's head rolled.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Garon roared angrily, causing a tremor throughout the Chevian palace. His lazy posture shifted, and dust that had piled up from years of vacancy fluttered throughout the throne room. "My instructions were very clear and concise. Queen Mikoto was to be captured alive for public execution. While not preferable, Mikoto's head would have sufficed as well. Yet you tell me she escaped alongside two Hoshidan prisoners AND the Hoshidan tactician?" The aged windows and walls threatened to collapse at the King's wrath.
The two Nohrian assassins assigned to Queen Mikoto shook with terror as they held their head down before King Garon. "Queen Mikoto and the tactician were supposed to be unprotected. It turns out a small unit of Hoshidan ninjas were waiting for us when we arrived."
"I need not hear more. I will take your heads myself". Garon lifted himself from his ebony throne and lifted his axe over his shoulder. He slowly trekked towards the assassin duo. "Any last words?"
"Wait, your highness! Please," the younger of the assassins frantically begged. Puddles of sweat poured down the assassin's face as he looked up towards the executioner. "We failed to retrieve the Queen, but we did find something that might be of interest fer ya'! Two of 'em!"
Garon stopped for a split second before cocking his head in confusion. The deadly look in his dark eyes disappeared for a moment. The assassin could not help but sigh in relief upon noticing the King's interest.
"The kids were with the Hoshidan lady! I mean, not crown prince or the baby one. I dunno who they are. A girl and a boy with strange features." The younger assassin shook nervously as Garon suddenly burst into laughter.
"Take me to them."
AN
Okay so this is the prologue to a story idea I've had forever (and also my first story). This is your typical m!Corrin and f!Corrin are siblings and they choose different routes, except I hope to do something different with it. I want this fic to not only rewrite the (kind of poor) characterization in Fates, but rewrite the story and events that happen within the game. The general story will be mostly the same; the details will not. You can kind of see this in this chapter (i.e. Garon still kidnaps Corrin, but Corrin is not with Sumeragi at the time of his death. I'm also adding some world-building that Fates did not originally have. Whenever I get to those parts). The character dynamic between f!Corrin and m!Corrin will be a major focus too (I had to rewrite Corrin as a character, twice...if that makes sense. I'll be able to show it more in the next chapter where they're actually featured). I hope you guys enjoy the kind of rushed prologue.