Chapter 1: A World in Flames

Disclaimer: Fire Emblem is a video game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems, published by Nintendo. I do not own any of the material apart from the original characters I created.

Special thanks to my beta readers Despol12 and ProfSrlojohn.

Magnus was experiencing the biggest disappointment of his life.

After sailing across the ocean for days, all he found was a primitive stone archway. A far cry from the legendary gateway he'd heard. It was supposed to connect to different worlds, enabling people to go wherever they wanted. In fact, many of the exotic artifacts in the black market originated from it. But after seeing it from his own eyes. He was, to put it mildly, skeptical.

"So, this is the Outrealm Gate?" He narrowed his eyes at the red-haired girl.

"Absolutely!" she chirped, "This is the gate of legends. Throughout history, all sorts of famous heroes and great treasures came from it. If you want to go somewhere, just let me know and I'll send you there no problem!"

He circled around the gate. Eager to find any flaws, any evidence to prove this was an obvious scam. But he stopped when he noticed a glowing blue light emerged at its centre. He's seen many things during the War. Yet nothing like that. He wanted to think that was just another clever trick. But he'd come so far already. Everything depended on this mythical gateway.

He clenched his teeth. "Fine. Send me to a world in the middle of some war. I don't care what it's about or who's involved. All I care is that it needs soldiers like me."

She tilted her head. "Why? Haven't you had enough war already?"

He chuckled. "That's none of your business. Anyway, this should be more than enough."

He dropped the sack from his shoulder, revealing a massive pile of coins. They formed a shiny, golden puddle as they poured out. He didn't like giving all his life savings away like this. But it was probably the only way that he could ever have a taste of battle again. Besides, they'd be useless wherever he was going.

Her face brightened as she broke into a grin. But then she muttered, "Well…I don't think that's enough—"

"What?! But that's all I have! What more do you want?!" He pulled out his sword and marched towards her.

"Whoa, calm down, mister! It ain't cheap to maintain this gate! But it doesn't have to be money. Anything valuable would suffice." She pointed at him. "Just give me your armour and sword."

His hand loosened. He could understand why she'd want his plate armour. But he was confused why she'd want his sword. It was an old blade—an army-issued Bastard sword he received when he first enlisted. Its wooden grip was warped in thick, battered leather strips. Small scratches scattered on its dull silver surface. But it remained razor-sharp—he tirelessly made sure of it.

"Do you want my shield too?" He forced a smile.

"Well…"

He pointed his sword at her throat. "Fuck off! Take the gold or else. Your choice."

Her eyes narrowed. "You're driving a hard bargain, mister."

And so a staring contest began. They conjured their fiercest expressions to force the other to yield. Unfortunately, only one of them was at serious risk. After a few minutes of silence, she threw her hands up.

"Fine! We have a deal!"

He smiled as he sheathed his sword. "Good."

She gestured him to follow. When they stood beside the gate, she started to fiddle with some buttons and switches. The glowing blue light flickered and droned. He covered his ears instinctively until the sound disappeared. The gate was now radiating a bright crimson red.

"Alright!" She wiped away the sweats from her forehead. "Just step inside."

Magnus stopped just a few inches away from the sea of crimson and took a deep breath. His goal was finally within his grasp. He reached into the portal. Only to be sucked into it. His body weakened, and his mind faded. Before he completely blacked out, he heard one final word.

"Idiot."

It was obvious that something was amiss. As soon as Magnus stepped out of the portal, he was greeted with a flying axe. It grazed his shoulder plate and smashed into the tree behind him. He quickly pulled out his sword to face his assaulter. To his surprise, it wasn't a person but a creature with violet eyes. Its entire left arm was covered in armour. Unknown liquid leaked out from its pores. And with a rotten smell so hideous that he covered his nose unconsciously. After letting out a terrifying howl, it charged towards him with another axe.

In response, he pulled his sword back. His eyes focused on his target. When he was close enough to see its decaying face, he swung his sword in a wide circle—splitting its head in half. The creature stumbled for a moment, before falling over and turning into dark dust.

But it wasn't over. More howls appeared in the nearby forest—hundreds if not thousands of them. He wanted to be a soldier, not a martyr. After sheathing his sword, he bolted.

Yet no matter how many burnt fields he's passed, they kept up. Like savage beasts hunting for their prey. After a few hours, they began shooting arrows. Some found their marks. He'd had died many times over if it wasn't for the shield on his back.

"Piss off! Don't you guys have better things to do?!" he yelled but received only feral groans.

When he turned around, he found himself heading towards a large, ruined city. The streets were abandoned, and the buildings were either damaged or collapsed. He couldn't help but shudder from the sight. However, he now had a way to lose them.

As soon as he entered the main street, he immediately made a sharp turn and rushed into an alley. They tried to follow, but he scaled a few walls and took more turns. When he's finally lost them temporarily, he dashed into a nearby building and hid. Mere seconds after closing the door, the monstrous groans were outside. He clamped onto his sword as they came closer and closer. But, like a true miracle, the sound faded.

He slid down against the door. His hand still clenched onto his sword. It wasn't until much later when he caught himself mumbling that nonsense again.

"I'm still alive. That's all it matters. I'm still alive. That's all it matters. I'm—"

He let out a deep sigh. There were more pressing matters to worry about. He steadied his legs and inspected the place. Apparently, it used to be a store. Scrape metals, ropes, tools, and all sorts of rubbish were scattered about. He opened a yellowed book close by. The words were somewhat recognizable. But he still promptly threw it away.

"Nope. Still can't read." He chuckled.

Eventually, he found an old but readable map. The front side had two continents with small islands around them. The one on the left was labelled "Valm" while the right "Ylisse". "Ylisse" had three labels: "Ylisse" again on the Southeast, "Regna Ferox" on the North, and "Plegia" on the Southwest. While he was glad to know this world's general geography, he hoped for something more specific. He turned it over and found a local map—titled "Ylisstol".

However, that didn't mean he was at Ylisstol. He went outside the second-floor window and scaled the outer walls. Whenever he made a noise, he'd stop and check the surroundings. Once everything returned to normal, he continued until he reached the roof.

He surveyed around for landmarks. "Let's see… The church is on the left. That tall building on the right… Wait, is that a castle?"

It was, indeed, a castle. It resided on a hill, surrounded by massive walls and towers. A wide metal gate rested in the centre. But no matter how much he squinted, he couldn't tell if the castle was occupied or not.

He sat and weighed his options. On the one hand, it could be filled with those creatures, ready to tear him apart. Not to mention he'd have to pass through the swarm on the streets below.

But on the other hand, he wouldn't survive long if he stayed. He had neither the security nor the supply. After hearing more howls, he decided to go.

Not yet, however. He rechecked the blood-red sky. The sun was already creeping behind the faraway mountains. So, it wouldn't be long before dark. He hurried back inside the building and prepared for what may very well be his last journey.

Magnus wondered why he was gazing at the starless sky. He wouldn't recognize any constellations anyway. Perhaps it was a force of habit. Perhaps it'd be relaxing to see the stars. Or perhaps…

"No," he uttered, "No…"

He sheathed his dagger and stuffed his makeshift hook into his single strap backpack. It would've been easier if he threw away the bags of healing herbs and survival kits. But he'd only feel agitated for the rest of the journey. When he peeked through the broken window, there was no sign of those creatures. When the door squeaked open, still nothing—just some roaring and vivid red-orange lights in the distance. He couldn't even find a single one while he was sneaking towards the castle. A terrifying thought appeared. But he reassured himself it was only speculation.

When he arrived at the castle, he was amazed by how shabby it was. Thick vines scaled up the grey walls through the holes of missing bricks. The gate was so rusty that even a single strike from a battering ram could break it. However, a crumbling castle was still a castle. A secure place he could hide in. He hurled his hook on top of the wall. After several yanks, he climbed up. His plan has worked perfectly. Until he realized the castle wasn't vacant. There were lighted torches on the inner walls. Footprints were all over the courtyard. Most of them were between the inner castle door and the courtyard well. He considered retreat. But he could feel something was about to happen. Something he could only survive if he stayed.

He climbed down the wall. "Well! That wasn't—"

"INTRUDER!" The shout came from a nearby tower.

Dozens of soldiers burst open the inner door and circled him. Magnus couldn't believe what he saw—scraggy soldiers surrounded him with improvised armours and hunting spears. It took them dozens of seconds to form an acceptable encirclement. He now understood why the castle seemed abandoned.

But this could all be a clever deception. He raised his arms up and pleaded, "Wait! I'm just looking for a place to hide! Don't kill me, please!"

Their confused looks plummeted his suspicion. But then a blue hair woman stepped forward. He instinctively knew she was their leader. Apart from striding towards him in complete confidence, her clothes were too fancy for a common soldier. Not to mention the ceremonial sword she was carrying—a longsword with a distinct tear-shaped hole at its cross-guard. While he remained vigilant, he was slightly bemused to find a captain younger than him.

"Who are you?" she asked.

He maintained his demeanour. "My name is Magnus Silver. I'm the only survivor of my village. Those…things killed everyone, took everything from me. I've been running for my life ever since. Please, I just want to live!"

There was a brief silence. He cursed himself for overdoing it. But whether it was skill or luck, it worked.

"I'm sorry for what you've been through." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll be safe here."

"Thank you! Thank you!" He bowed. "How should I call you, my saviour?"

Her face changed. "I'm surprised you don't know. I'm Lucina, Princess of the Halidom of Ylisse."

The hand on his shoulder tightened. "Tell me. Where was your village?"

"It was…a small village. But! If you head North and pass the bridge… And then head East, you—"

"RISEN! THEY'RE HERE!" The watchman's terrified yell interrupted them.

She pulled out her sword. "Gods! Everyone, secure the courtyard! Don't let them breakthrough!"

She let out a battle cry as they charged. Risen were already on top of the walls before they arrived. They jumped down with their weapons drawn, cutting some poor souls in half. The soldiers shouted in unison and pierced them with their spears. Their faces filled with fear and desperation. Lucina was particularly fierce. She stuck down several of them with a single strike, defending herself against multiple Risen simultaneously. When they surrounded her, she simply leapt into the air and impacted the ground with a spinning attack, knocking them backwards. More soldiers headed outside as the battle continued. But their valiant effort mattered little against the unrelenting horde. Amidst all the chaos, stood Magnus with his hand raised.

"Eh, what about me?"

Right on cue, an axe swung to his face. He immediately sidestepped and tripped the Risen. When it tried to turn over, its head was rolling across the ground.

"Oh, don't mind me," he sneered.

With his great helm on, he lunged towards two unsuspected Risen. A quick slash to its back before thrusting his sword into the other one. Three other Risen charged at him. When one of them tried to stab him with its spear, he dodged to the side and cut off its head. He pushed the other Risen away after blocking it, giving him just enough time to evade a strike from another Risen. Before the fallen Risen could recover, its companion was already legless and headless. It delivered a succession of slashes in retaliation. But Magnus parried all of them, before impaling his sword between its eyes.

"Fall back! Fall back to the castle!" Someone screamed from the castle door.

But he, along with some wounded soldiers, was isolated. Magnus didn't care—this wouldn't be his first time. But the soldiers? Their fighting spirits were unwavering. Yet their numbers still dwindled.

Suddenly, the walls were blasted open, crushing both soldiers and Risen alike. When the dust settled, Magnus pushed the stones away and rose to his feet. When he took off his dented helmet, he saw it—a flying eldritch horror with the size of a mountain. Its luminous blood-red eyes stared into his soul. Its unearthly voice pierced his spirit.

"Mankind has fallen!" It let out a deafening cry. "The past cannot be undone! There is no future for mankind!"

The ground trembled as it moved. More and more Risen dropped from the walls. Some even started throwing torches at the castle. Most of his allies were gone. There was no way he could survive.

At least, not on the surface.

He immediately jumped down into the well. He tried to break his fall with his limbs. But it tore some of his skin off. When the ground shook, rocks fell into the well. He submerged as deep as he could, for as long as he could. But some still hit him, bruising his whole body. Up above, the screams and pleas of the soldiers filled the burning courtyard. Then, only the howls remained. Their loyal services were ended in such a fleeting time. But for him, it was going to be a very long night.

"One… Two…. One… Two…"

The scorching heat died down several hours ago. There has been nothing since. No howls. No birds. Not even a single gust of wind. Just silence.

"One… Tw—Shit! Okay… One… Two…"

Drenched, ravenous, and exhausted, Magnus started to suspect that using the gateway wasn't a bright idea. But what choice did he have? He tried to stay. He tried to change. For an entire year even. Yet he still felt restless and lost—this was his only solution.

"One… Two… On—HAGJKSDJ!"

In the end, the grey sky was above him again. The once somewhat pleasing walls were burnt into charred black. Same as the bodies scattered around. The smell of burnt and rotten flesh still lingered in the courtyard.

He spat out the soaked healing herbs and laughed drily. "Huh, barbeque. Cool."

"…I'll be going now, Mother… Father…"

He froze. Not only shouldn't there be any survivors, but he also recognized that voice. He looked at the castle door and saw Lucina exiting, plodding away with her lifeless eyes. She was so lost in her thoughts that she couldn't even hear him limping towards her.

"Excuse me, princess." He attempted a friendlier approach.

Before he knew it, a sword was next to his neck. Her eyes widened in shock. "Magnus? How?!"

"Well, well." He pointed at the well.

He started to worry when she was still holding her sword up.

"That's impossible!" she rebuked, "I barely escaped with my life! Just who are you?!"

"Look." He tried to push away her sword but no luck. "I'm not one of those Risen. I'm just a refugee looking for a haven. If you want to kill me, fine. But the fact I'm still alive should tell you I can handle anything. Please, let me help you."

Her expression remained intense. But her sword has drifted slightly away.

Magnus sighed. "Okay, you don't need to trust me right now. I'll prove it to you. Just give me a chance."

The stalemate lasted for a while. His legs were starting to give way when she finally sheathed her sword.

"Alright. But I'll keep an eye on you," she warned.

He nodded. "My loyalty lies with you, Princess Lucina."

Just a few words, perhaps. But he meant every bit of it.

"Please, call me Lucina."

Magnus raised his eyebrows. She was probably the only royalty who wasn't obsessed with titles. But her observation skill needed further refinement in his mind—she only noticed his wounded leg just then.

"You should get some rest," she commented.

"Is it safe here?"

"No."

"Then let's go."

Apart from the watchful gaze from Lucina, the journey to Mount Prism was quite uneventful. Magnus was more worried about his leg than conversing. But Lucina was eager to explain her plan. Apparently, they were going to save her father, Chrom. His death was the catalyst to all this chaos. The Fell Dragon, Grima became unstoppable and brought destruction to this world. Unfortunately, the only way of stopping him was the Awakening—a ritual that required a shield called the Fire Emblem with all five of its Gemstones. Throughout the years, she and her companions searched desperately. But one Gemstone was gone forever. All hope was lost until the Divine Dragon, Naga advised Lucina that she could send them back in time to prevent Grima's resurrection. Thus saving this world. Her allies would be joining them near the Temple. Or so she'd hoped.

Magnus thought she'd completely lost it. While the flying behemoth back in the castle was real enough, this talk about magic was simply nonsense. Some hogwash you'd hear from a drunkard. But truth or not, she was his captain. And that was all.

When they arrived, he experienced tranquillity for the first time in this world. The vibrant green grasses brushed his knees. Crystal clear water racing down a cascade, forming a relaxing sound. And he swore he caught the scent of fragrant wildflowers nearby.

"We've made it. To our rendezvous…" she announced. They surveyed around and found nothing. No Risen but certainly no allies.

"Nobody's here!" she cried as she dropped to the ground. Magnus moved his hand above her but retracted it at the last moment.

He sighed. "Oh well, so much for—"

A howl sent chills down his spine. More and more Risen gradually rose from the ground.

She wiped away her tears, "Risen! I can't believe it…They've spread this far?!"

Magnus eagerly grabbed his sword. But she stopped him.

"Wait! You're in no condition to fight!"

"Like hell I'd miss a battle." He discarded his walking stick and laboriously unsheathed his sword. "Don't worry. 'Tis but a scratch."

Lucina tried to protest, but a Risen interrupted her. She rolled away and slashed its chest. With a battle cry, she charged towards a group of Risen. Even though they surrounded her, she span and immediately turned them all into black dust. One of them threw an axe. But she promptly caught it and returned it.

Not to be outdone, Magnus sidestepped an attack and disarmed the Risen, literally. Then he swung his sword up and severed its head. When a Risen tried to overpower his block, he changed it into a parry and struck its shoulder. Before it could scream, half of its face was already gone.

"One after another!" she yelled as she swung her sword in a whirlwind of attacks. With her unnatural swordsmanship, Magnus thought they were going to survive. Until he realized she had…stopped. Utterly ignorant of the Risen creeping behind her.

He hobbled as fast as he could. "What the hell are you doing?! Look out!"

He raised his sword to deflect an attack. But the mace still landed on his chest with a loud cracking sound. Something had broken in him. And it wasn't his spirit. When he fell, the Risen continued its attack. But he quickly threw a rock. It landed straight into its eye. While it was distracted, he crawled away as fast as he could. He'd hoped the tall grass would hide him. But it simply followed his blood trail. He threw another rock—dodged. It seemed smug until he hurled his dented helmet. Now it looked furious. It bashed his chest again. And again. And again. Each strike propelled more blood from his mouth. As he watched helplessly, a flying shadow zoomed past them. And a sword pierced through the Risen's torso.

As the dust flew away, a girl with long twin tails and a shoulder shield stood in front of him. She reached out her hand and asked, "Hey, are you al—Oh my God! Help!"

When Magnus opened his eyes again, a group of young soldiers has circled around him. One of them was a horrified Lucina. He realized they must be the allies she's been mentioning.

He laughed weakly. "You guys…so…fucking late…"

A man with a scar over his eye sat next to him. He put down his fancy stave and yelled, "You hear me? You ain't dyin' today! I won't let ya!"

"Yeah…right…"

He raised his stave. A soothing, green aura engulfed Magnus. His bleeding stopped, his pain subsided, and the number of people in front of him halved. He stood up in awe by this miracle.

"Oh, thanks," he said sheepishly, "Let's forget that ever happened."

"It ain't a cure. You watch yourself."

"…Sure."

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

Magnus turned around and found Lucina stomping towards him. He was glad she seemed uninjured. After all, it was his duty to protect her.

He dusted his helmet indifferently. "Look, you were in danger. It's my job to—"

She grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently. "Don't ever do this again! Understand?!"

"Ehm, Lucina? I think he's dying," A girl with pointy ears remarked.

A pale Magnus fell again. "…I'll just lie down for a bit."

"Who is he anyway?" A woman in an enormous armour asked.

Lucina answered, "He's a survivor from the castle."

"Wait, a survivor?!"

Magnus shrugged. "Yeah. I'm kind of good with that."

An introduction was in order. Magnus began by sharing his tragic past. How he braved against all the odds and survived under a well. Most seemed mesmerized by his story. And those who weren't, remained silent. Then it was their turn. They introduced themselves as life-long companions and friends of Lucina's. Their parents had all met a similar fate when they were still young. So, it was up to them to save this dying world. Magnus was uneasy around them. Not only were their mounts strange creatures, but some could also turn into beasts. It was now evident to him that he was in a whole new world.

While it was happening, they had a tearful reunion. Lucina was grateful that they'd appeared. She remarked that they were her source of resolve. There was then a matter of picking a mask. Apparently, the Brand of the Exalt on her eye would attract too much attention. It led to a brief discussion about her fashion sense. Their shared affections and strong bonds reminded Magnus of his old unit. And he hated that.

Suddenly, an earthquake. Rocks started to fall from the Temple. Numerous portals appeared in the sky, raining more and more Risen. They immediately rushed towards them, hungry for blood.

"The Temple!" Owain shouted.

They prepared themselves for another battle. But Lucina stopped them. "No…there's no need to engage. After all, the Temple is about to crumble. Before that happens, we must all charge through."

"Got it! Come on, Lucina!" Inigo yelled, "I'll serve as the rearguard. Please go on ahead!"

Nah gasped, "Understood!"

"I'll help you," Magnus said.

"No." Lucina glared at him. "YOU stay with us."

"But... Sigh, of course."

Lucina reminded them one last time. "Are we clear? Keep the Emblem and the Gemstones out of the enemy's hands. Stop Emmeryn's assassination. And our fate…is certain to change. We'll change it, for sure. With our very own hands!"

They all agreed in unison. As the Temple was falling apart, they ran inside as quickly as they could. Lucina and the others disappeared in a ray of light. But when Magnus approached, a green, pale lady appeared. She blocked his path with a look of disdain. He was wondering why a courtesan was here until she glowered.

"Begone, Outrealmer."

"Wha—"

She pointed at him and blasted him away, straight through the collapsing entrance. The impact caused him to cough out some blood. When he rose back to his feet, he realized his way out has been sealed. But there was little time to think. The ground trembled as the Risen advanced. The calming sound of the waterfall was replaced by legions of heavy footsteps and piercing howls. There was nothing in the air but a rotting smell. He quickly grabbed the shield on his back and rested against a wall. With his broken helmet on, he glared at the unending horde.

"So it begins."

The first one ran straight into his sword. He struck another down while blocking with his shield. An ax-wielding Risen collided with him. But he retaliated by bashing it with the pommel. He made a full swing, decapitating two of them. A Risen thrust its spear. Only to be parried and cut down by a counterattack. His arm quivered when different strikes hit his shield. But he endured and shoved them away. Magnus knew this was the end. So, he didn't care about conserving his energy. With a ferocious cry, he made a rapid chain of attacks. Dozens of bodies fell. Though the little breathing space he'd created was gone before he knew it.

Then something happened. The Risen started to step away from him. But he didn't realize it until a lightning bolt hit him. His muscles tensed as something surged through his body. When he was drooling and twitching on the ground, a hooded child approached him. He closed his tome and kicked Magnus in his stomach.

"Who are you?" His voice was as cold as ice.

"W—Why do—o…you c—care?"

"I know everyone in Lucina's group. In fact, I know everyone in that pathetic castle. But you? I don't know you." He crouched down next to him. "So let me ask again: Who. Are. You?"

"No…body i—important…"

"I'll be the judge of that." The boy opened his tome again. Sparks began to form in his hand.

Magnus wiggled his toes and fingers. His limbs were still stiff but movable. All he needed was more time.

"Y—You know…you still have a lot to learn."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. For one, you REALLY shouldn't be this close to an enemy."

Before he could react, Magnus punched him in his nose. He tried to use the tome again. But Magnus flung it away with his sword. He slashed again, but the boy blocked it with his short blade. They exchanged a few more blows as the Risen surrounded them. Much to Magnus's surprise, they reached a stalemate. The boy was masterful. He countered his every attack, identified his every feint. Even his footwork was solid. But far more concerning, his swordsmanship was eerily familiar.

Magnus pushed him away. "You're pretty good. Who taught you that?"

The boy readjusted his stance. "Shut up!"

He dashed towards Magnus. But it left an opening. Magnus parried his sword to the side before kneeling in his belly. He dropped his sword in pain. But when Magnus raised his sword, a Risen interfered. The others quickly joined in. He fought hopelessly until he noticed the boy took another tome from his bag.

"Oh no you don't!" Magnus disengaged and rushed towards him.

But it was too late. The boy released a gust of wind, propelling him directly onto the Temple wall. A cracking noise again. He flung off his helmet and vomited a large pool of blood. He tried to get up. But it felt as if a building had collapsed on him. All he could do was to watch the boy inching towards him.

"Oh well, I tried..." He sighed.

He relaxed his body. His vision became snow-white before turning into pitch dark.