Disclaimer: I do not own ASOIAF

This is based on the books instead of the show so Daenerys is still in Meereen while Young Griff has made it to Storm's End and taken that kingdom along with an alliance with the Dorne. Now Jon Snow who has been told his identity has to decide whether to ally with him to destroy the Lannisters as well as the White Walkers and the army of the dead.

It had been a while since Jon Snow had been so nervous. He had been prisoner of the free-folk, confronted a sea of dead being raised and even been killed by his sworn brothers but this was the first time he would be meeting someone who was from the dragon side of his family. The worst part was that he couldn't even tell if his half-brother was real or a fake.

Just the name of this brother brought complicated feelings in his heart. When Sam and Bran had told him of his birth, he had moped for weeks. Rhaegar Targaryen had always been the villain in the North's narrative that he grew up on. Thankfully he was able to meet a few loyalists from Riverlands that at least religiously gave him alternative possibilities to restore the image of his parents even if those ideas were full of holes.

It took his mind off the issue and he could just love his parents for bringing him into the world while ignoring their faults. The name Aegon of this young Griff at the head of the Golden company shattered it thoroughly though. Just what was his mother thinking naming him Aegon when there were so many other names to choose from? It seemed like an extremely petty action against Elia Martell taken specifically to kill even the memory of his supposedly murdered half-brother.

He considered alternatives like him being named to honor or remember his brother but none of those made any logical sense. It painted a picture of his mother as an extremely petty and narcissistic woman that he no longer wanted to think about. Instead he wanted to confirm if this Aegon was real or a pretender after the crown but there was no way to confirm it. He would have to meet this Aegon and hope that Maester Aemon's ability of telling truth from lies had rubbed off on him.

The lad certainly had strong Valyrian bloodline combined with Dornish features although they apparently weren't so rare in Lys and such, he wouldn't know as he had never been anywhere but the North. He wondered whether he should simply go along even if this Young Griff was fake as they needed each other but realized that it would backfire when his Aunt Daenerys would come to Westeros.

The other party was also examining if he was really who he claimed himself to be which was an exercise in futility. He would not have lived this long if he had Rhaegar's nose or chin or any of that horseshit. His Stark bloodline had completely washed out his Valyrian features to the point that he was a copy of Ned and Benjen so there was nothing to find. He intently looked at the other party and asked his questions.

"Are you really son of Elia and Rhaegar?"

"I am."

The answer came back without hesitation. At this moment his basest instincts told him that he wasn't lying. If it was a lie, then the boy himself had been lied to.

"Are you the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar?"

"Don't know. So I've been told recently. Anyway, is your priority the crown or the destruction of Lannisters?"

"Lannisters. Crown is a secondary target but its fine if I can't get it."

"Last question then. What education have you received to be a king?"

After talking for a while, Jon felt as if a cloud had been dispelled and a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Welcome home brother"

"You believe me then?"

Aegon asked with some doubt, probably wondering how it was so easy?

"I believe that you aren't lying to me. That you believe you are a Targaryen and have follow their path and legacy through and through. Elia and most of our ancestors would gladly acknowledge you. Even if you were fake, you have worked so hard to be real that you have become more real than the real thing. If you've been lied to then only the source of those lies is at fault and not you. If you are not real and the real flesh and blood Aegon comes spouting things like rightful claim to the throne rather than the necessary steps, then I would support you over him."

Aegon was speechless. In a world driven by bloodlines, even he believed that they were the only things that mattered.

"Do you think its a matter that can be solved so easily by some spiritual and philosophical ramblings? Do you think you can replace the value of bloodlines just like that?"

"No I don't. When our aunt comes to Westeros, both of us will likely be tested by her Dragons. Its not very reliable though as it would depend more on their mood than our bloodline. Ghost would have likely eaten me if I was a cunt like Joffrey regardless of the strength of my Stark bloodline. This is just my personal opinion though so don't take it as a universal recognition."

Jon took a deep breath to continue.

"You love Elia and Rhaenys with all your heart and want to avenge them, I have no doubt. As long as you have that feeling in your heart, no one has the right to deny your identity. There is no way to prove or disprove it anyway, so get over your doubts and use your education of warfare to think of how we can coordinate to hunt the Lions."