Italics = Thought
I do not own Fire Emblem.
Cross published on A03
It had been an innocent request. Marc had asked Nyx to look after his niece whilst he and Morgan were in the field with King Corrin. She had assumed that it would be easy. They'd settle down and read books in the library, and the day would be quiet and peaceful.
Unfortunately, Ophelia was twelve, and like most twelve year olds, she needed a proper break every now and then.
This led to the pair walking into the city to go to one of the many eateries spread throughout Grandhaven. Whilst they did look more like sisters (albeit adoptive sisters), Nyx enjoyed the comfortable atmosphere between them.
Ophelia broke away, dashed ahead.
"Slow down, Little Star." She called out. No one quite knew where that nickname had come from, but it had stuck.
Ophelia beamed as she skipped ahead of her, an affectionate smile crossed Nyx's face. The young girl didn't seem to mind that she was a fre-…no, not a freak. Marc made that clear. She was Nyx. She was not a freak.
And she was happy.
Ophelia loved the city, so many people, smells, things! She also loved going out like this, especially with Auntie Nyx. She had such interesting stories to tell (which were eventually complied into a book), and was a good teacher too!
Something caught her eye in a nearby alley. She slowed, and, with typical twelve year old curiosity, went to investigate.
"AUNTIE!"
Hearing Ophelia cry out, Nyx dashed as fast as she could into the alley.
Lying before them both, clearly unconscious, was a blonde man. Nyx noted that, despite the yellow and red colouring, it was plain to see that he was a Dark Mage.
"W-We have to help him, right?"
Looking at the concerned look on the twelve year olds face, Nyx sighed. There was little choice in the matter.
"..Yes, Little Star, we do."
Unimpeded, the Imperial Army marched into the Flame Tribe Settlement, the air filled by the pounding war drums and the feet of countless warriors. Carried in a palanquin, 'Emperor' Takumi wore armour that had once belonged to his father. He wore it proudly, but most, even amongst his own supporters thought it mocking, blatantly disrespecting the much beloved Sumeragi. Resting against him was an ornately decorated Naginata. The shaft was made of a fine, dark wood with gold and jade decoration. The blade shone, almost as though it had never been used, and was sharp enough that it all but sang when it cut through the air. His thoughts turned to his Moth-..Step-mother. Mikoto was still an inspiration to him, even after all these years, and Ryoma's allowance of the growing Nohrian influence was an insult to her memory.
His thoughts were interrupted by the palanquin was lowered to the ground. He glanced out, and was greeted by an empty settlement.
"The cowards have fled before our might. Joyous news." Takumi smiled broadly, and stepped out of his palanquin. "The village is ours!"
"Wrong!"
Stood on her balcony, heavy maul in hand, was Rinkah. Her eyes alight with loathing.
"You should not have come here, Takumi." She declared. "This is your only warning."
Her foe let out a harsh laugh. "You jest. Funny."
The Flame Chief slammed her maul down onto the wooden floor beneath her like a gavel.
As if on cue, a wall of flame tore across the main square, all but cooking the first few ranks of soldiers in their armour, forcing other Hoshidan's to step over the still smoking corpses of their fellows. The Flame Tribe, whilst small in number, were utterly ruthless when dealing with their foes.
Vaulting herself from the balcony, the Flame Chief landed with an almost pained roar. Gripping her maul and pointing it toward Takumi's forces, she let over voice be carried across the square.
"NOW!"
Following this and screaming like a banshee, Rinkah threw herself toward the enemy, soon joined by the rest of her warriors, hidden in the buildings. The Flame Tribe crashed into the Imperialists with fire and iron. Caught off guard, the Hoshidan's fumbled for their weapons, only at the very last second managing to ready their shields.
Mauls crashed against armour, katana and naginata sliced at flesh. The countless voices screaming and shouting mingled into one, creating the awful din only found on a battlefield. To his credit, Takumi didn't let is soldiers do his fighting for him, he was right there with them, slicing a path through the Tribesmen with his naginata. Much like her counterpart, Rinkah and her people fought like demons, seemingly uncaring when their friends fell beside them. They were already dead to them, after all.
Within the wild melee, one warrior engaged the Emperor in combat, smashing his maul against Takumi's naginata. The Emperor strained against his enemies strength. He broke away, and sneered at his foe. He charged again, and, once close enough, swung his weapon and sliced open his foes belly. Thrusting forward, Takumi speared him like a fish. Turning his gaze to her through the crowds, he grinned broadly at Rinkah.
Howling with rage, the Flame Chief collided with the Emperor, knocking him to the ground. She raised her maul over his chest, ready for the killing blow.
Behind her, one of the Imperial Samurai crept towards her, with his blade drawn. Rinkah howled in pain as a katana was thrust through her knee from behind. Around her the world slowly began to quieten. Her attacker held her down, for icing her to watch helplessly as the Imperialist seized the upper hand and soon slaughtered her people.
"You do not have honour!" She snarled as Takumi rose to his feet again.
"Did you expect a fair fight? You are not Hoshidan, therefore honour is not something you are worthy of. You should not have denied our offer, Savage..." Takumi grinned. "You barbarians need the order and peace that only the Hoshidan Empire can bring."
"Just kill me already. Anything's better than putting up with your speeches."
The false Emperor let out a harsh laugh. "Kill you? Why would I simply kill you? You will be made an example of. You denied my glory."
A shocked silence fell over the Imperialists.
"Your Majesty…we can't." Hiro, the leader of the archers protested. "It isn't right.."
His smile fading, Takumi wheeled round and, using his naginata as an axe, promptly decapitated the rebellious commander. Looking around, a wild look in his brown eyes, he soon realised all eyes were on him.
"Anyone else?!" He screeched.
"No." Came a voice that grew ever closer.
Striding across the dead and dying, his once blue hair turned silver by the passage of time, was Yukimura. A faint smile rested on his face. It honestly amazed him that, out of all the children of the traitorous Mikoto, it was Takumi that was the one that had proven the most malleable, the easiest to manipulate into becoming the single greatest success. It had taken nearly three decades, but he could finally fulfil his orders. That wretched incompetent Iago might have been entrusted with Nohr, but he had been entrusted with ensuring the entirety of the great ones plans. He had arranged the 'Peace Summit' with Iago, the kidnapping of Azura, and the cessation of all trade and diplomacy with Nohr. He also had planned to kill Mikoto, but Corrin had beat him to it. Whilst, technically, her death was suicide, it was obvious (at least to those in the know) that she had been tricked into it. Soon enough though, the unending peace of silence would reign, just as the Great One intended.
"No one will question you, O'glorious Emperor."
A look of relief crossed Takumi's face. "Yukimura, thank the Dawn Dragon you're here."
Keeping a smile on his face the Advisor inclined his head. "Where else would I be, my Emperor?"
The Emperor laughed, and walked up to his side. "Nowhere else, of course. You wished to discuss something with me, yes? A new religion that could grant me power and divinity?"
"Correct." Yukimura smiled. "I am always willing to discuss great Anankos, Your Majesty."
Glancing back at Rinkah, Takumi grinned. "Then how would Anankos's Doctrine punish her?"
An unusually cruel grin crossed the advisor's face.
"The method is called haritsuke.."
Historical Logs: Keaton Perrault
Hailing from a Wolfskin village in south-eastern Nohr, Keaton was born into a secret world, unseen by outsiders. Technically speaking, Wolfskin do not have surnames. Rather, they take the name of their birth village, in Keaton's case, Perrault.
Perrault was relatively small compared to other Wolfskin settlements, and often suffered from attacks by larger Settlements. Keaton was young when he came to lead his settlement, even younger than King Corrin was when he wrested Old Valla from the silent Dragon and founded Haven, a mere seventeen years old.
He sired a daughter, Velouria in 2 n.h.c. Two years later, he led his people into the Havenite Peoples. Soon becoming one of the most personable of the Royal Blades, he often brought issues from the commoners to the then King, Corrin I.
About a decade after his death, the treasures he collected over his life became part of a museum dedicated to the court of Corrin I.
Excerpt from the book "A History of Heroes", written by Munakata Kaito, circa year 245 n.h.c.