Disclaimer: This is fanwork based on the manga the Quintessential Quintuplets (Go-Tobun no Hanayome), by Negi Haruba. Its setting, characters and plot belong to its rightful creator. I write this only for fun and as a little writing experiment.

The Northern Expedition

For two decades, Nakano efforts had focused on the southern half of the New Continent. The lands beyond a certain point were terra incognita and the source of many legends.

Indeed, the Futaros, the Raihas and even the Isanaris spoke of lands of perpetual winter, with mountains so high that the snow at the top never melted. There were also tales about secret kingdoms and fabled treasures and relics. It was said that a savage warring horde lorded over territories larger than the Renan Empire and that mysterious people from beyond the ocean had created an advanced civilization in nearby lands.

But no legend captured the attention of the Nakanos like the Altar of Bonfires.

In a remote mountainous area, the local tribes gathered once a year to build a huge wooden altar imbued with magic properties. Once built, they burned it while their people danced around the bonfire, granting them longevity, youth and a wish of their choice.

Of course, Nakano scholars agreed that those were mere superstitions, pagan rituals with no actual power. Although there were many explorers and adventurers salivating at the opportunity of finding the altar, no country would have sponsored an expedition to the North if not for an unexpected event: the arrival of the Maedas.

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The Maeda raiders

Even at its greatest extent, the Renan Empire never conquered the whole Old Continent. While its successors had managed to keep the Nakano dominance more or less intact, there were others who tried to carve their own kingdoms.

To the south, the Takedas were slowly but surely building their power, a sophisticated nation of scholars and traders with imperialistic ambitions. Meanwhile, in the North, a confederation of sailors and raiders had become an increasingly dangerous threat. They were the Maedas, boisterous berserkers who did not accept a 'no' for an answer.

The Maeda homeland was cold and poor, so when resources dwindled, it was common for tribal leaders to organize expeditions to raid and sack their wealthier neighbours. Fearless and bold, they would cross rivers and travel long distances to reach their targets.

For a time, the Ichika Empire had managed to contain their threat. Then, disaster struck.

A rather ambitious warlord who had managed to unite the Maeda confederation under his rule, sailed towards the Ichika capital in the Year 22 with a full party of veteran raiders. The ports and villages in his path were sacked, and, while the capital did not fall, Imperial troops were unable to stop the siege, for the core of the armies was far away, in the frontier. Sensing the Empire's weakness, the Maeda commander demanded a huge ransom and even the hand of the Empress to leave the city alone. In the end, it was the local archbishop of the Miku Church who, talking in the name of Imperial authorities, managed to negotiate an agreement with the voracious warlord and free the city.

While the Maeda chieftain had not managed to get the Empress' hand, he had got a king's ransom and new ideas. By that time, the discovery of the New Continent was not a secret anymore. Why leave the colonization to the Nakanos? Were not the Maedas the best sailors in the world?

In reality, like many other foreign nations of the Old Continent, the Maeda warlord admired the glories of the Renan Empire. And he wanted them for himself.

"The Renas have forgotten how to be warriors, but we have not. We are the Maedas. We rule the waves. If we conquer the lands of Uesugia, the Empress will have no choice but to acquiesce to our conditions."

Of course, neither the Ichika Empire nor the other Nakanos or the Uesugis were going to accept such a plan without a fight.

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A new expedition

Soon, news about the Maedas' plans reached Nakano lands. According to rumours, the Medas were gathering a "Great Heathen Army" to invade the New Continent, steal the power of the legendary Altar of Bonfires, and install their chief warlord as Emperor. Truth be told, they were exaggerations, but the threat was enough for Nakano rulers to agree on a new expedition to the North.

Unsurprisingly, there were problems almost from the beginning.

The Republic of Yotsuba chose speed over quantity and sent a handful of mercenaries to help defend the Northern Futaros against the expected pagan onslaught. Meanwhile, the Church of Miku and the Ichika Empire (both blaming themselves for their inability to stop the Maedas when they had the chance) sponsored a true war fleet to meet their enemies at sea. Finally, the Kingdom of Nino and the Itsuki Commonwealth chose a slower but theoretically safer approach by land from their southern settlements.

However, of these five forces, only the Yotsubans reached their destination on time. A storm delayed the Church's and the Empire's ships, while the Ninians and the Itsukis got lost when traversing the northern forests.

Just when the Kingdom's soldiers and adventurers thought they would never see their home again, they discovered a "new" tribe: the Kintaros.

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The Kintaros

Nino's scholars had already gathered rumours about a "warrior clan" that ruled the North, rumours that they had decided to keep secret from their fellow Nakanos, and were very interested in meeting them. And yes, the first impression was excellent, as the leader of the Ninian forces explained in her letter to the Queen:

"Your Majesty, it is indubitable that these Kintaros are the only people in all the known lands of Uesugia worthy of being called warriors. They may be uncouth and savage, and have little respect for civilized rules or social mores, but there is something appealing in their simple wildness. A superstitious lot, they make charms to protect themselves against evil spirits and also to guarantee safe travels, good luck and easy childbirth, among other things.

According to their legends, they do not have any relationship with the Raihas or the Futaros, and that their founder was the brother of the fabled Isanari. They say that their great khan rules over half the continent and that he would be very interested in establishing an official alliance with our kingdom. After guiding us throughout the forest and before leaving, their ambassadors gave us gifts and letters for Your Majesty. If the Goddess wills it, this may be the beginning of a fruitful relationship."

Unfortunately, they were being deceived. While the Kintaros did emulate the warrior spirit of the original Isanari, the truth was that they were but another offshoot of the dominant Futaro clans. And no, they did not rule over half the continent, but it would take the Kingdom a long time to find out. Until then, the legend of the Kintaros would become a major motivation for Nino to continue the colonization efforts.

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The defeat of the Maedas

When the allied Nakano forces finally reached their destination, they discovered that their help was no longer needed.

Indeed, when the first waves of Medas arrived to the northern shores, the regional lord of the Futaros quickly assembled an army to face the invaders. With their faces covered by ritual masks and with the assistance of the small contingent of Yotsuban mercenaries, the Futaros ambushed the Maeda raiders and sent them back with their tail between their legs. While the Maedas would keep a presence in the New Continent, the phantom of the "Great Heathen Army" was dispelled.

With the crisis over, the Nakano expedition members found themselves disagreeing on what to do next.

The Ichikas and the Mikuists eyed the legend of the Altar of Bonfires. It was close, very close, and while the veracity of its powers was dubious at most, it did not hurt to try. The Yotsubas and the Itsukis, on the other hand, wanted to use that opportunity to explore the new lands. Finally, the Ninians were planning to send an embassy to the Kintaros. But all those projects were set aside when a new threat appeared: a plague from the Old World.

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Outbreak

When the two continents met, there was an exchange of people, ideas and technologies, but also diseases. The Northern Plague was the first major outbreak that ravaged the New Continent, but it would not be the last.

While scientists still debate about which disease caused the outbreak, everyone agrees that the first cases appeared on Raiha Island in the winter of 22-23, and that it travelled north following the Nakano expedition. By the year 30, the Northern Futaros were also hit by the disease, with terrible consequences. Had the Maedas invaded five years later, they would not have met any real opposition.

The Nakanos faced a dilemma. They were not prepared to assist the sick. In fact, the plague was also affecting the Ichikas too. Should they leave? Or should they stay?

"We should have paid more attention to our surroundings. The people of Futarokunia are tough, but it was us who brought them to this point. The Empire will not abandon them", said the Ichika envoy.

"While they were intended for Her Majesty, we are willing to use the charms and medicines we were given to help these people until they get back to their usual selves", said the Nino commander.

"We represent the five heirs of Rena and, more importantly, we represent the Goddess in these pagan lands. The Church is here and will not turn its back on those who need her", said the leader of the Templars.

"It warms our heart that so many of us are willing to aid. Let the people of Uesugisania take our power and get better", said the Yotsuban ambassador.

"We do not know much about the people of this continent, but we want to know more about them, and for them to know more about ourselves we must stay and help them. Together", concluded the Itsuki captain.

It was a small gesture, but it saved many lives.

In the opinion of many scholars today, this, more than the Discovery itself, was the real beginning of the Age of Exploration. An age of cooperation and collaboration, not only among the Nakanos, but also between them and the Uesugi natives. However, it was also the beginning of new, problematic trends. Little by little, the Ichika Empire, the Kingdom of Nino and even the Church of Miku were showing signs of ambition and making plans of their own for the New Continent. The seeds of the Age of Conquest had been planted.

Author's notes:

This chapter is obviously based on "The Legend that Binds" arc (ch. 22-32 of the manga), with the school trip in winter becoming an expedition to the North, but there are also other influences:

-The Maedas are based on the vikings: raids, extortion, boldly assaulting (or trying to assault) enemy capitals, warlords that unite the clans and become kings, and also their own part in America and terms such as the Great Heathen Army.

-That explorers would be gullible enough to believe in the tales of the Altar of Bonfires is not farfetched when thinking of all those expeditions to find El Dorado or the Fountain of Youth.

-More than anything else, diseases were the most terrifying killers in the Americas after the discovery. While it is not that bad here, the 22-32 arc offered the best moment to introduce that concept into this story.

WARNING: This is where the anime ends. If anime-only viewers don't wish to be spoiled (a 2nd season was announced not long ago), they should stop here. Future chapters will spoil many, many things.