Author's Note 1: Sorry to keep you guys waiting!

Chapter 3: Journey Begins

Suffice to say, my stomach was in knots as I walked the halls of Castle Krakenburg the next morning. Father had sent one of his servants to fetch me, saying he had something important to discuss with me. And hearing that made my stomach twist up out of fear that Father knew about my late night escapade. After getting ready, I headed for the throne room, meeting Elise as I did. We decided to walk together, my cute little sister thinking I still hadn't gotten used to the castle.

But alas, not even Elise's beaming presence could ease my stress. While I had made sure that no one was watching me free Rinkah and Kaze, there was always the possibility that a wayward guard. And you can rest assured I was steeling myself for that possibility. However, I must've been doing a flimsy job at hiding my nervousness considering what Elise asked me.

"Are you feeling alright, Ivan?"

"Of course I am. Why would you ask?"

"Because you're sweating. Like a lot."

Well, there was my tell. I quickly wiped the sweat from my brow and came up with some cockamamie excuse about being used to Flora using cold to wake me up. Whether or not Elise bought that, I have no idea, but at the time she seemed to accept my frankly poor excuse.

Soon enough, we reached the front of the throne room door, ready to enter.

"All right, Ivan. I'll see you later." Elise said before walking off.

"Right. See you later...hopefully." I replied, whispering the last word under my breath. I then turned to face the door, taking a deep breath before knocking on the throne room.

"Enter." My father's booming voice commanded. And I did just that, entering the throne room and stopping to bow before the king.

"I trust you slept well last night, correct?" Garron asked.

"Of course, father." I answered, praying to Anankos that he believed it. I looked up but was unable to read my father, as his face was a stone cold as ever.

"Good. Because you will need your faculties in peak condition. I have a mission for you. Should you succeed, I shall grant you your own platoon to command."

'Excellent!' I thought to myself, but kept my face calm and professional as I asked, "What is my mission, father?"

"Four days ago, one of our scouts along the border discovered a platoon of Hoshidan soldiers fortifying themselves within the old watchtower."

"But the Treaty of Victor…" I began to say.

"Yes." Garon interrupted. "It would seem that our neighbors to the east are ignoring our centuries long armistice concerning the Bottomless Canyon. I want to drive them out, and determine if it merely a platoon acting on their own, or on the order of Empress Mikoto herself. Understood?"

"I understand." I replied as I stood up straight. "But if may be so bold as to ask; what troops will I have at my disposal?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot spare you any troops at this moment. I do have one available combatant, but Gunter and Felicia will need to suffice."

"Well, it's not ideal. But then again, one of the main principles of war is that the odds will rarely be in your favor." I stated. And to my surprise, Father actually had a good chuckle.

"I see you've kept up with studies. Let us hope they were not a waste of time. You leave in two hours."

"Yes, my lord." I replied before turning and leaving the throne room. I needed to make sure I had everything I needed, and that Gunther and Felicia did the same. Whether or not father knew of my actions last night was no longer at the forefront of my mind. Rather, it was about the Hoshidans occupying the old watchtower.

Eight-hundred years ago, a massive earthquake nearly tore the continent in two. The result was a massive canyon forming on the border of Nohr and Hoshido. This seemingly bottomless canyon (not the most original name, I'll admit) prevented safe trade between our countries. Not helping, of course, was the ruling egos on both sides of the country, pretty much poisoning future negotiations. However, King Victor of Nohr and Emperor Katagiri of Hoshido managed to agree on one thing.

The border separating the countries was neutral territory. No military presence could be established without declaring an act of war. And if Hoshido was attempting to create a military presence, combined with the endless failures that were our attempts at negotiating rations and territory with our Eastern neighbors, war was a strong possibility.

Sure, we had a few skirmishes before, but it was usually between independent militias attempting to make a name for themselves. And that's what I hoping this was.

Later, after making sure my supplies were stocked and in order, I made my way to throne room. One of the servants informed me that father was escorting my soon-to-be comrade in arms personally, which made me wonder what kind of soldier I'd be fighting beside. However, I was soon joined by my beloved siblings, no doubt there to see me off.

"Darling, are you sure you're going to be ok out there?" Camilla asked, once more playing the part of the doting mother among us. "I don't like this…"

"Camilla, I've told you time and time again; I'm not a child anymore." I explained with a calm smile. "I have to pull my weight, just like you guys."

"You're pretty calm for someone going into a battle with inferior numbers." Leo commented with a hint of concern in his voice.

"Believe me, there's a part of me that's nervous. But being scared is not going help."

"I can't tell if you're being serious or naive." My brother stated.

"That's enough, Leo! Don't be so worried all the time, sheesh." Elise retorted with an adorable pout. "And don't even try to scare Ivan before his first mission!"

In her anger, Elise smacked the back of Leo's head, causing him to falter slightly. It took everything I had not to burst out into laughter.

"Hey? That's not necessary." Leo groaned, rubbing the spot Elise smacked.

"I suppose I'll just have to come along. That way I know Ivan will be safe." Camilla stated. But before I had a chance to once again remind Camilla that I no longer needed to be looked after…

"I'm afraid that's not possible." A man stated. We all turned and saw a black-haired man in black and golden clothing (including a rather gaudy half-mask) walking towards us.

"Why ever not, Iago?" My big sister asked.

"Lady Camilla, King Garon intends this mission to be Ivan's and Ivan's alone." The mask-wearing man explained. "As his top advisor, I have been entrusted with coordinating this mission."

"Well, in that case…" I said before walking up towards Ivan and holding my hand out as a show of goodwill. "...a pleasure to meet you, Iago. I look forward to working with you."

The man looked down at my extended hand, and for a breath second, I could've sworn he sneered before shaking my hand.

"The sentiment is shared. Let us hope Anankos favors you today, my liege." The man said before turning to face Camilla again. "After all, he has already favored your siblings."

Before Camilla had a chance to speak up, we heard the distinct sound of Father's heavy footsteps on cobblestone. We all turned and saw him and another man walking beside him. He was quite the intimidating presence. The only hair on his head was his short light red beard, he had piercing red eyes, and had black purple-outlined armor that matched that of the Berserker class.

"...Milord." He said to me. But much to my shock, Xander spoke out.

"Father, are you mad?!" My eldest brother shouted. "You're sending him out there with Ivan?!"

"You disagree with decision?" Garon asked.

"If I may be so bold, yes." He said before pointing at the bald man. "He is the living embodiment of human sin! He slaughter an entire bar of s! Not to mention the...unforgivable horrors he inflicted upon the barmaids!"

'By the blood of Anankos!' I thought to myself. 'Are we so thinned out that we need to ally ourselves with criminals?"

"I am aware of Hans' crimes, Xander." Father replied. "However, you above all others know how thin our forces are spread. And before he surrendered himself to his baser instincts, Hans was one of our strongest warriors. That being said…"

Father then looked in direction. "...If it looks like he'll jeopardize the mission, you have my full permission to execute him on the spot."

"I understand, Father."

And after Xander pulled me aside, warning me about Hans' savage nature, Gunther, Felicia, Hans, and myself left for our destination. And within three hours, we had reached it.

"So this is it." I said out loud, thunder echoing in the sky above. "The Bottomless Canyon."

And true to form, it lived up to its name. A seemingly endless pit of darkness awaiting anyone unfortunate to fall. The only way pass this was two bridges connecting to the lone plateau.

"Gunther, it can't really be bottomless, can it?" I asked.

"Let the eternal darkness below be your answer." The veteran great knight replied. "Those who fall in never return. I truly despise this place. Something about the land around here just isn't right. The sky here is always dark and foreboding, and lightning strikes all who fly across the sky. This is clearly a place us mortals were never meant to enter. Normally we'd go around…"

"But the captured watchtower lies on the other side." I finished, looking through my own personal telescope. And indeed, there was a force that was attempting to fortify the old watchtower. By my count, I saw four stationed at the tower itself, five guarding the entrance of the second bridge, two patrolling said bridge, and one lone swordsman patrolling the plateau. Twelve in total by my count.

"Alright. So here's the pla…"

"DIE, HOSHIDO PIGS!" Hans screamed out, running across the first bridge.

"Hans, wait!" I shouted. For all the good that did as the bald man truly lived up to his his berserker title and beheaded the lone swordsman in one stroke. Suffused to say, the occupying force was now aware of our presence.

"That's not good." Felicia understated.

"Soldiers of Hoshido! Do not let a single Nohrian live!" I heard who I guessed was the commander shout.

"Bring it on, you cowards! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" Hans screamed before running towards the second bridge.

"Actually this might work." I stated, confusing my knight and maid. "Hans just turned himself into one big target. So while their attention on him, we go after the tower."

"But the bridge is the only way across!" Felicia stated. However, she was not aware of something I noticed when I was observing the enemy. Something only my eyes could see.

"Then I just have to make another way." I stated before pulling out Ganglari. As Hans was deposing of the bridge swordsman in his own bloody way, the three of us reached the southern end of the plateau, the watchtower on the other side. But as we approached, I saw one of the enemy pulled back on a bow string.

"Archer!" I shouted. Immediately, Gunter pulled his stead in front of Felicia and me, blocking the arrows with his shield.

"My lord, if you have a plan, now's the time!" The old knight proclaimed. And I did so, placing my hand upon a patch of land that, in my eyes, gave off an ethereal yellow glow.

"Divine dragon, whose blood runs through my veins!" I began to chant, the veins along my arms glowing dark red as I did. "Allow your descendant to alter this blessed land!"

The glow then flew from the ground and the rock beneath us began to shake. In an instant, a bridge of stone connected the plateau to the other side of canyon.

"A Dragon Vein! Of course!" Felicia shouted in delight.

"Gods! Did you see what just happened to the cliff?" The orange-haired leader of the occupying Hoshidans (who I could get a look at now and saw he had the robes of a ninja) shouted in disbelief. "Who are we dealing with here?"

"You're dealing with Ivan, son of Garon!" I proclaimed before pointing Ganglari in their direction. "Onward!"

Gunther was the first to cross the bridge, blocking the arrows of their lone archer until he impaled him through the stomach. I took on his sword-wielding partner. And even though he managed to land a cut on left hip, I was the victor, slicing across his chest and ending his life. The other swordsman charged, but one quick dagger thrown by Felicia into his head was enough to end him.

"Damn it all!" The ninja in command shouted, his back against the wall as the three of us closed in on us. "I won't stand for this!"

"Don't your life away." I stated with a stern expression. "You're cornered and outnumbered."

"Are you blind? My comrades to the north…"

"Are currently being slaughtered." Gunther stated. The orange-haired ninja turned and saw that indeed, Hans had bloodily dispatched of the bridge guards.

"By the gods." He whispered in horror. And I'll be honest to say I silently agreed with him. The way Hans killed his foes was less like a soldier and more like a wild animal.

"What is your name, ninja?" I asked. The man glared at me before begrudgingly spitting out his name.

"Omozu."

"Omozu, I have an offer for you." I said, holding my sword out in a show of force. With my other hand, I pulled out a bountiful sack of coins that I kept strapped to my belt. "You tell us why you and your men decided to break the accord between our nations, and you get to leave here a much richer man."

The enemy commander thought about his options (when there really weren't any) before speaking up again.

"Very well."

"So why did you invade the border?" I asked. "Are you a militia group?"

"Far from it." He said, much I hoped he would say yes. "We were ordered to establish a frontline base here under the order of General Yuki…"

But that's all he could divulge, as from seemingly out of nowhere, a shuriken flew through the air and stabbed Omozu through the head.

"No!" I shouted. The three of us quickly turned around and began looking for the assailant.

"There he is!" Felicia shouted, pointing southeast. And indeed, I noticed the silhouette of a man in the distance. He tried to flee, but she gave chase, taking off at speeds to rival that of a Hoshidan ninja. For while Felicia was quite clumsy when it came to housework, she was a master in the art of battle.

"He said General." I stated, recalled Omozu's last words.

"And the armor and weapons these soldiers carried are masterfully crafted." Gunther said, inspecting the dead archer. "There's no doubt about it, my lord. This was an act of war."

And as if some demented heavenly being was watching, thunder roared overhead as the veteran said that.

"Then the worse has yet to come." I said with a sigh. There was a tiny part of myself that wanted to lie about this. That my report would say that it was just a lone militia. But I would never allow myself to lie about such an important matter.

"He got away." We turned and saw Felicia had returned from her pursuit. She had a cut on her right cheek, most likely given by our foe.

"Did you make out any important details?" Gunther asked, getting a nod in response.

"He had dark red hair, and was dressed like a Hoshidan military ninja." The blue-eyed maid ordered.

"He must've killed Omozu in an attempt to keep him from delving too much information." The veteran knight reasoned.

"Well, he failed." I stated before facing my bodyguard. "Felicia, return to the capital and tell my father that these were under the orders of a Hoshidan general. All we know about said general is the word Yuki."

"What about you two?" She asked. In response, I just turned and looked towards the deceased Omozu, bile rising in my stomach.

"Someone needs to give these men a proper funeral."

Nodding in understanding, Felicia returned to her horse and took off. Even though I could tell Gunther was still perturbed by this place, he silently agreed with me that these soldiers did deserve a proper funeral. However, as we started to dig the graves, I heard the sound of an axe slicing into flesh and a horse crying out in pain. The two of us quickly turned around and saw that Hans had beheaded Gunther's horse. He swung the axe, causing the blood to fly off it and onto the ground.

"You're next." He said with a savage smile. One look into his eyes was all that I needed to see. Those were not the eyes of a human, but of a monster thirsting for blood. Our blood.

"Prepare to feel my wraith!" I shouted before charging at Hans with Ganglari in hand. I aimed to cut him with a leftward slash, but he was faster than I predicted and parried my blow. It was then Hans who was on the offensive, slashing wildly with his axe and forcing me deflect. With blow, I could feel his strength, my sword the only thing keeping me alive.

However, in the distraction of our duel, Hans failed to notice as Gunther ran in and charged shield first. With a strength far exceeding his age, the great knight slammed the berserker into the side of the old watchtower. Gunther continued to exert force, his shield keeping Hans from moving his arms.

But that was the beginning to the end. Hans spat right into Gunther's eye. In the brief second Gunther was distracted, the madman pushed back. I attempted in run in and help, but Hans quickly threw his axe at me. I deflected the attack, but when I looked back, it was far too late.

Hans had his hands wrapped around Gunther's next. The old man never stopped struggling, about to stab his spear into his foe's stomach. But in an instant, Hans twisted his neck with a sickening snap.

And at that moment, I felt a wave of fear, disbelief, and sorrow the likes of which I had never felt before. Gunther, the man who helped raise me. Who taught me how to ride a horse. Who regaled me with stories of battles he had fought long ago. He was dead.

This was not what I wanted. I was to rise in the ranks, with him at my side. He still had years of fight left within him, despite his age. He was the kind of soldier I aspired to be. A man of great compassion and strength. And in he gone. The last words between us about giving our enemies a burial.

There was no glory in this death! No great last stand! Just an act of senseless violence perpetrated by someone who could barely be called human!

As I stood up, tears running down from my eyes, gripping Ganglari with all of my might, I felt something burning within me. My body started to change. My left mutating and becoming a spear of silver flesh. Silver horns growing from my head and black skin replacing the face.

But my mind paid no attention to this change. My sadness had been replaced by overwhelming rage. And there was only thought running through my mind.

Kill him.

"YOU MONSTER!" I cried out, charging and impaling Hans in the stomach with my spear-arm.

"What?!" Hans cried out, coughing blood as he did. "What kind of...freak...are you?"

"I'LL TEAR OUT YOUR EYES!" I shouted, meaning every single word. However, Hans was still determined to fight me. In an act of pure insanity, he actually impaled himself further along my arm, all to get his hands around my neck. In response, I did what Gunther failed to do, and stabbed Ganglari through thigh. This caused Hans to cry out in pain, his grip around my neck loosening. Keeping up this momentum, I kicked him back, blood flying from his wounds as my arm and sword left his body.

But before I could charge again, Hans (who at this point was running on pure adrenaline and blood lust) lifted Gunther's corpse and tossed it at me. And seeing my dead comrade's lifeless body flying towards me was enough to stun me, and thus prevent me from leaping out of the way. And in my rage, and failed to noticed that my battle with Hans had lead me with my back facing the edge of the canyon.

And so, the force of Gunther's dead body impacting against me was enough to send me over the ledge. My rage had subsided, replaced with horror and disbelief. The mutation my body had one through reversed itself, leaving me as I was, falling to my death with Ganglari at my side.

I can still remember what was going through my mind as I fell. Sadness for both Gunther's death and my failure at avenging it. That I would never see Xander, Camilla, Leo, Elise, Father, Felicia, Jakob, Flora, or Lilith again. That my country would soon be at war, I would not be there to help my people.

My mind then began to reflect on all the things I had yet to do. That I would never have the chance of doing now. I had never lead my own battalion. Never successfully completed a mission. Never hear Father say he was proud of me. Never have Xander and Camilla acknowledge me as their equal. Never having the pleasurably company of a loving woman.

I closed eyes, begrudgingly ready to accept my fate. But then, something wonderful happened.

"My kin, my gods, my blood…" A familiar voice chanted. "Dragons grant me strength! Great Moro, I beseech you!"

I looked up, and to my utter surprise, I saw Lilith, falling towards me while covered in an otherworldly glow. Her body then began to glow, changing until she was a fish-like creature the size of a bird, with blue, red, and white scales, yellow eyes, a crystal orb underneath her, and her maid cap still on her head. In a display of dazzling speed, she flew underneath me and I grabbed onto her in an instant. She then flew upwards until we were high above the canyon.

"Lilith? Is that you?!" I asked, surprise beyond all reason. "What...ARE you?"

"Lord Ivan…" She said, her voice still the same but with an otherworldly echo. "I knew this day would come eventually. This may come as a shock, but I am not a human."

"I think that's pretty obvious!" I shouted. "Are you...a dragon?"

"Yes, this is my true form." She answered. "You've seen it before. Do you remember? The strange bird you rescued in the barn…"

"That...was you…?" I asked in disbelief. I guess since I didn't know any better as a child, I assumed this otherworldly creature before was a bird.

"It was. Once I recovered, I was able to take human form." She then gave me a thankful smile. "You were so kind to me that I decided to remain a human that I might serve you. But now I have used a power that goes beyond the capacity of a human body. I will not be able to return to that form."

"Lilith." I cried out, tears running down my eyes for the second time tonight.

"I don't mind, though. The most important thing to me is that you're safe."

But as if the gods themselves wanted us to die, we were struck by a bolt of lightning, sending us flying down the canyon once more, the cliff quickly getting closer. But Lilith refused to give up and began to chant again.

"First Dragon, I call on you. Grant us access to the astral plane!"

A green portal appeared on the ground, and instead of hitting the dirt, we fell through the portal. In an instant, we were somewhere else. In a beautiful place where the sky was blue with clouds. I found myself standing on the steps overlooking a barren courtyard, with sakura trees being the only thing to break the scenery. A stone wall covered the square except the entrance.

"What just happened?! Where are we?!" I screamed out. Hey, you would be unnerved after all of that too, so don't judge me.

"This is a world parallel to the one in which you live, Lord Ivan." Lilith explained, now floating next to me with her fish-like tail wagging. "It is known as the astral plane. The First Dragons have granted us the power to inhabit this dimension. Under their protection, we are safe here."

"I...you...I need a minute." I said, sitting down as the weight of everything that happened to me came crashing down. I'm pretty sure I was seconds away from a nervous breakdown.

"Oh! Allow me to prepare a place for you to rest." Lilith said, seemingly sensing my oncoming panic attack. She closed her eyes and her veins began to glow. And in the midst of a court, a magnificent tree with a house built on appeared in a flash of light.

"Did...did you just use a Dragon Vein?" I asked.

"Yes. The power of the First Dragons flows freely in this realm. You should know that space and time operate differently here as well."

"Um...Lilith?"

"Yes?"

"This is...a lot to unpack." I said.

"Of course." She said, leading me to the treehouse and showing me the bed within it. More tired than I ever felt before, I flopping onto the mattress and drifted to sleep. I have no memory of what I dreamed that night, and quite frankly, I can't imagine it was anything good.

Sometime later, I woke up and left, finding Lilith waiting for me in the courtyard.

"How are you feeling, Ivan?" She asked.

"A lot better actually." I replied. Although the memory of Gunther's death was still fresh in my mind, I knew I had more important things to worry about concerning the state of affairs between Hoshido and Nohr. "I have so many questions."

"All in good time. For now, some business remains in the other world." The tiny dragon stated, seemingly reading my mind. Bless her heart.

"You're right. I can't relax with the possibility of war knocking at our door."

"Of course." Lilith answered. "There is just one thing you should know before you go back. When I open the portal, you will return to the same location you came from."

"So Hans might still be there." I stated, clenching my fists as I did. "I'm ready."

"Very well. Then I will open the gate."

And in a bright green flash, I was back at the cliffside of the Bottomless Canyon. Quickly, I looked around and saw no sight of Hans. I quickly surmised that he got away, but prayed that he died of blood loss. I also saw that Gunther's body was gone, remembering how it fell into the pit with me. But there was time to grieve later. I had to return to the capital and prepare for war.

"You're mine, Nohrian!"

Or at least of would've if someone didn't hit me in the back of my head, rendering me unconscious.

All in all, that day sucked.

To be continued…

Author's Note 2: Once more, you can see the deviations in my version of the Fates story take root. The conflict between Nohr and Hoshido will be less black and white. And like I said in the last chapter, Ivan will not need rescue from his siblings to bail him out.

Also, Gunther is dead and not coming back...for at least two of the paths.

Please remember to read, favorite, and review! See ya next time!