Hello there! How are you all doing? This will be my very first story. Disregarding my last two attempts. (If you were ever there on my profile for under the username, TegamiBachi25, I wrote two stories. One for the Star Wars fandom and the super smash bros fandom on . Both of which I deleted due to my lack of ability to continue said stories and dissatisfaction with them. (I consider the two failed stories thus completely unworthy of the time to consider my first). I can promise you that I will not delete or remove this story at all.
Whether you're reading on fanfiction or ao3 (archive of our own), after a year of planning, brainstorming, and fantasizing, I have finally picked myself up to do this story for you all. Considering a first story when writing in different fandoms and whatnot, I have decided to write my first in the Fire Emblem fandom.
Between brainstorming, I was deciding whether or not to actually write in this among others, considering my knowledge in the fandom is quite little (only have heroes and seen awakening and fates, with the recent and latest game in the series, three houses, sprinkled in in the form of the trailer and gameplay videos). If that's any consolation for me and you guys, then we're in good shape! I consider myself a fan, yet I haven't played any of the games at all. So great right?
Just kidding. If you're wondering why I don't play the games then just to get more knowledge of the series beforehand, it's because I don't own some of the games. (Heroes is on mobile and I do have a sweet iPhone I got for Christmas last year) Yes, I do own a game boy, nintendo ds lite, and 3ds, I can't really get the games. I do own money. I have a credit card. I can go to gamestop or any electronic gaming store. What's stopping me? Parents. That's what. Can't really buy games or anything really when they're monitoring you.
If you're thinking I'm saying it's a bad thing or that I'm even complaining , it is most certainly not! It is actually a good thing, because I just got out of school the past couple months by graduating and going to college. I don't have much experience with credit cards, although I have been learning by my parents, I trust their judgement more than mine. They have more experience after all.
Moving past personal life. Regardless, if you're not feeling confident about this story, especially when it's over games I know not much about and my lack of gameplay experience , I will assure you one thing: the story I am about to write will not be a jumbled mess. Reading and improving over the past years have made me confident about delivering the best quality story to you, even when it's my very first.
But even though I assure you this promise, I may or may not break this at some point. I will try my best to insure that never comes to pass. So that's why I need reviews. Any comment or criticism about the story; even if it's just a little will really help. Not just me. But for you people as readers as well, who want to see the story improve. If you don't have any form of criticism for me and just want to put down a compliment about the story or which parts you liked, then go ahead. I always enjoy seeing what you guys like about the story. Or the characters. Don't like at all or just a little? No one stopping you.
Or maybe you're asking for the next update on the next chapter, in which case, I myself am not certain of update dates or deadlines. I cannot promise that, because my schedule varies time to time. Not to mention a writers worst fear: writers block. The bane of writers and aspiring storytellers existence, and which nobody including myself wishes to face. Combine those two and you got a recipe for... slow updates. Extremely. Will try to counter this but please understand when there's a time for when I last updated the story with a chapter, such as a month ago, it means I'm very busy with my life. Or battling the block demon of writing.
Though, I'm sure you guys understand this too with other authors. We have a life. We can't spend each day writing a fresh new chapter or story for you guys. There are some exceptionally talented people on this site that can do this or by two or even three days sort of thing because of time, effort, and experience. And perhaps tons of free time on their hands. Remember. All people are different. There are those who have time. And those who simply do not. Just be patient and I will try to get the next chapter for you guys out as soon as possible. If I do update within a few weeks or so, it means I do have enough free time and writers block being unable to stand against me. Please don't shout update at us. We understand you guys loving the story and wanting to read what happens next because you're excited so far at the plot and such and want to see what happens next. We understand that, but we cannot update every single day. Again, some people can do that. Most of us can't.
Moving onto the story, the game I have decided on writing in the, as stated before, fire emblem universe will be fates, following the revelations path. Despite me not having the game thus being unable to play it, I have seen videos and enjoyed it, thus being my favorite. I believe I watched enough of the game to get a general understanding of the story and the plot.
This will be a retelling of the game. Some of the events set in revelations will be exactly the same, while others will be different; changed or removed for what events I will put in the story. It also will split off at a certain point, by this. So this can be considered a AU to the story.
Lastly, Fire Emblem, its characters, and its setting are owned by Nintendo and Intelligent System. I do not nor claim ownership of the characters, places, or the games.
Finally, with all that out of the way. Enjoy the story, and let's begin.
~TegamiBachi25 ( fanfic. net, ao3)
Rating: T, but will later become M. Blood/gore, major character death, sexual content.
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Fantasy, Family, Tragedy, Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Humor, Suspense
Summary:
Two siblings must decide what family-what kingdom-they will stay with. Will they follow their birth family, or stay with the ones who raised them? Or, unable to stay with either, chooses neither of them? What path they do take however is filled with nothing but suffering and all isn't what it seems. Corruption, lies, deceit, and manipulation lies on both sides of their kingdoms. As they discover this and more , they realize one thing:
They can trust no one but each other
A retelling of Fire Emblem Fates, following the revelations path
EDIT 1: Cleaned up inconsistency of Ambree's wound when she was able to follow him
How long had he been here? Years? Centuries? It felt longer than that... yes... longer... like a millennia. Yes! A millennia! Something akin to that... or was it actually a millennia? Had it passed by that much? Was it even possible? He didn't know. He never kept track of time, nor put much thought into it. Days to him felt like a week, even though it's equivalent to twenty four hours. Sometimes it felt even shorter. Like only a measly one hour to ten. Years in that case felt like weeks and weeks felt like days. The opposite. He didn't really know why he felt this way, even. Somebody, a person, a friend he had. Yes... his friend merely told him that everybody felt this way when he brought it up for discussion one time when his friend came over and chatted. It was common to think of this. Though he himself knew nobody from there; that place (he just nearly forgotten its name after it was such a long time-was it? He didn't know-he had seen it: Valla. He recalled it after a while ago.) that it was in less extremes than what he saw it as. Differing opinions, he supposed. Though a part of him known as pride led him to believe that he was right in this regard. He never argued about it anyway with the inhabitants of Valla.
He looked around. From his vantage point, he could see nothing but darkness. Black and murky. Everywhere, even as far as the eye can see, was covered in darkness. Bits and pieces of stone and rock floated about at random slowly, decorating the yet still drab sky. He barely remembered the last time light reached here. No light of any sort reached here. The sky was rich full of it: The darkness. It didn't seem like it would ever stop. Not that it annoyed him or provoked any negative feelings out of him. Quite the contrary. He actually liked the darkness. It represented that things must always be hidden. The darkness did well to hide such stuff. Unlike the light, which shone and illuminate it. He wanted it to last forever. Though he knew such things like that are not possible, then as long as he could wish it to be. One could say he's very secretive, which would no doubt be true.
Stepping down from his chair-no, a throne. His footsteps, silent. If there was any audience to bear witness to hear it, they would hear nothing. He wore no shoes, no footwear of any kind; he was barefoot, which added to why his footsteps were silent or gave any noise. Nothing more than the occasional sound of wind rushing by the vicinity they were in. Reaching the bottom of the set of stairs, he pauses, thinking back to fond memories of his friend. His thoughts going back to him inexplicably.
Yes. His friend. The one person he loved and cherished above all else. The man was kind, simply put. No other words could describe him, and if there were, then it would be any similar to kind. Loyal. Generous. Any positive things to say about him. Accepting. Even for what he was.
Now to a lone or any bystanders out witnessing to what he was thinking, what was passing through his mind, who were reading these very thoughts. They would understand the former two words. After all, friends, even a best one or couple, fit those words well or perfectly. They would, however, ask why accepting? Every friend accepts who their other was, no matter what. What could "even for what he is" mean? What could he be that would questions a friend's loyalty just for what he could be?
To answer the questions to that nonexistent bystander or standers, he was a dragon.
Yes. A dragon. The very same mystical beings read in fairytales or stories. The same legends inscribed in poems. Sang and told in songs by bards. Feared by many, for countless tales of their violent and destructive nature. Their predator way of life. By all accounts, dragons should be nothing but stories told and feared and respected by, never to come true or ever exist. One could never put any sort of belief into said beings. How could they, after all? Impossible. Blasphemy. Saying something is true without any proof. With hundreds of sources having theirs, saying otherwise?
Except that it is true in this story. In this very universe, it's true. Dragons, as far as a myth and legend as one wants to believe as much, are very much real in this story spoken of. Beings people thought fake, made up, or what tale they exist in do become very much true in this very story. Alive. Breathing. Sentient. Living amongst humanity since the dawn of time. And he himself, was one.
Wait! If he was a dragon, then how can his footsteps be silent? It shouldn't be. No one should ever associate the word silent with dragon. That word could only be applied to animals who have traits in vein of "silent". A dragon couldn't possibly be silent. But he was. Someone would also question "footsteps?" "Footwear?" A dragon did not wear those clothing. They were entirely bare, wearing absolutely nothing. Only humans wore shoes and footwear. Yet he wasn't human.
To answer those very questions to those who would ask: they would soon find out in due time.
After reaching the bottom of the stairs from the top to where his throne was laid, he goes and walks further on a platform and various hallways. The whole area was like a maze, but he was never lost. He studied the area so many times before that he knew it simply by memory. And the fact is that all pathways led to the sacred throne which he sat upon. There was no reason to get lost either way. He snorted. The idea of the area being a maze and yet all pathways ensured the destination to the throne was not lost on him. He descends another long set of staircase. As he reaches the bottom, he sees a platform that acted as a bottom from the staircase-what people would be stepping on before they even put a foot on the first step. Besides that very platform, was another one. A circular, slightly jagged, hunk of earth and rock and stone. He remembers that very circular platform being there a while ago. Stepping on it, he waits not for a few seconds before the platform he was standing begins to groan and it begins to make a descent down.
As it slowly begins, he once again thinks of his friend. His name was as clear as he could remember since he first met him and when the man introduced himself. Cadros. Yes. King Cadros of Valla. His friend. His dead friend. He did not remember when had they met for the very first time but he does remember him and all the years spent with each other. A sad smile forms on his lips, unseen. Cadros was a friend unlike any other. They had been with each other for years. So many and yet it passed so quickly.
The large jagged piece he was standing on and currently occupying continued to groan and creak, as it went further and further down. Solemnity and grief, the core of sadness; and sorrow and regret and guilt, but he shouldn't feel responsible for his friends death since he wasn't the cause, but he does, because he misses him. He knew it wasn't his fault but yet he does feel it because he knew him and and it hurts. It hurts and the pain; physical. Like a knife being shoved to a persons chest to heart. It was unrelenting and a pain that unlike any other. It nearly brings him to his knees and tears are beginning to form in his eyes. But he manages. He must move past the pain, past Cadros. What done is done. Cadros is gone and won't ever come back.
The pain recedes and fades into nothingness, leaving him blank and cold; a hollow emptiness. The feeling only lasts for a few seconds and then he's no longer thinking about it.
A booming noise echoes throughout the darkness, and the platform he stands on shakes as it reaches the bottom, as if there was an earthquake. Stepping off of it, he walks down the linear but extremely curved road. It wasn't long before he finally reaches the destination.
The area was a wide, hollowed out, and encompassed by a large building, surrounded by many other buildings-interconnected-that were much smaller in size but nevertheless still impressive and big. Gritty and weathered and rust was forming on the metal to where the buildings had any of the material—looking to barely be on its last legs and could fall and topple over any minute—those were what all had in common. Pieces of earth and stone still floated about at random at the sky, but that wasn't what his focus was on currently, it was on the buildings.
From the characteristics of the building, it looked to be what would be called a domino effect: that if one building toppled over, then it would hit another building, which due to the same characteristic, would topple over another and another until it all came crashing down. But it didn't. The buildings have stood up for centuries; he of course remembers them a while ago. A hush of cold wind and air blows over the area, ruffling the dead grass, plants, and what was left of trees. (If was leaves on the trees, or barely any of it so the trees looked naked and picked clean was any indication) And lastly, his clothes.
He swiftly goes up to up on the steps of the building, then cuts through the inside, before proceeding out and turning down the empty road to which it led to. As it led deeper and deeper into the distance, he continues down the path, continuing to what seemed to be forever...
From into the distance. Yes he could see it. He could see it.
If that same person or people who questioned everything before would ask now "what was he talking about? What can he see?" Those questions weren't particularly bad or shown the objective view, it was rather what was the fact. There was nothing but thick fog to be seen, cutting off any view so that only within up to twenty meters can be seen. Squinting did also very little to nothing to help either.
But he was not any person. With a part of his blood of a dragon coursing through his veins, it gave him the ability to see much farther than any normal human. And unlike humans, his vision was just barely obscured by such climate changes such as thick fog or rain, still just retaining his great sight. His senses were also more attuned that way. They told him that this was the right path.
No later did his claim prove right as three figures swiftly and suddenly came out of the trees, landing in front of him. They stared at him, their eyes dead. Their bodies were almost entirely invisible. A dark shadowy mist emitted from them, which a faint outline of their bodies could be seen if one looked close enough. He knew however, whoever did try to see wouldn't even get the chance to. Grey and black colored, made almost unseen by a their bodies, covered them from head to toe. Armor. They were also equipped with various tools. Weapons. The three figures in front of him had knives; kunais. He glanced down at them. They were strapped predominantly to the waists of the figures by a belt. Their weapons were held by holders, fitted snugly as an extra precaution to keep them in place. The middle also had an extra weapon. A short sword. The sharp small weapon was made with steel.
If one were to see this right now, they would wonder who were they and why were they equipped with weapons. Why were they bowing towards him as a servant to king?
The very simple reason they were equipped was to keep any would be intruders out if they ever found out about the place; the one he was currently heading to right now. He knows this; he was the one who made them, after all. It also gave them a foreboding and threatening look. If anyone besides him were to walk down the same path and take his place instead, they would be dead before they ever reach the destination, as these figures would strike down their target with their weapons. A swift strike or two, aiming for a central nervous system part, and that person would be gone as quickly as they arrived. He smirked. It would be a fine sight. He wasn't too worried about the person finding the place he intended to reach if they were to go the same way and find out the same. Only a select few knew about the place he intended to reach anyway, and yet those were almost all gone. But if they did come, somehow, then their stupidity and foolishness costed them their lives, not to mention for his enjoyment in seeing a gruesome sight.
The figure from the left and right went down to one knee, bowing before him. The middle however, took a step towards him until they were only a few feet's apart before the figure went down to one knee with its other companions. It suddenly then spoke:
"My lord."
The voice rang out, dead and emotionless as their blood colored eyes. However, this voice was also feminine. "It", the figure, was "her". He could see the subtle curves of "her" body from the faint outline. The other figures were also another her-female-from the left, and a him-male-from the right. His concern however, was not on the other two figures. It was focused on her, the middle.
He recognizes her. How could he not? He made her. From many years since after Cadros died, she was one of the few who served him the longest ever since. As being the most loyal since Cadros.
He stares silently at her for short moment before speaking. "Ambree."
No any more words than necessary were needed, "Ambree" gives her head a slight tilt; he could see her ash tinted dark hair behind the long hood she wore over that slightly shifted out as she tilted in a nod, and a mask she donned, covering most of her face. Both her and her two companions had black colored markings he saw from their hands and went up their arms, making it stand out completely from the almost invisible but faint body outline they had.
Ambree leads her now three companions continuing the path that he was originally taking, until finally, a gate could be seen at the distance, a large gate that encompassed and spread throughout past the trees and land. As they reached the gate, Ambree signals the group of figures situated at top of the large doors-guards. The two on top then signals a few behind the gate and inside. A trembling groan could be heard from the inside and as two other figures continue to push at a built contraption to open the gate, all four enter, before the two that opened turned the contraption the opposite way and the gates began to shut again, blocking for those inside that would want to see outside.
From then, the four made their way towards. They moved past buildings that were equally as gritty and drab and worn as the buildings he saw earlier when he came down. He could see many more figures now, just like Ambree and her companions. They bore all the same characteristics: red, dead, and emotionless cold eyes, and their bodies barely seen by an outline. Young and old. They just stood and watched as Ambree and the other three made their way past. He knew none of them; their names to him entirely forgotten. It didn't matter either way. There was too much of them to try and remember.
Looking at Ambree for no reason whatsoever, (Maybe he had something he forgotten to say to her? He couldn't remember) He could see her mumble something to her companions. They nodded slightly, then departed, disappearing into the dead buildings alleyways. Now it was just him and Ambree.
As the two continue down for about ten minutes-it felt like an hour-Ambree turns to him and spoke softly, with her dead tone. "We are approaching Gyges, milord."
He nods. Of course like all the places he went past, he remembers Gyges. A large castle. He seen it many times before with Cadros and they had discussed many topics at hand and now a few times again while he was traveling here, conversing with Ambree. Gyges has been his meeting place with Cadros. Ambree and others too.
He was caught off of his reverie as Ambree pauses, looking up. He too looks up. They were here.
Gyges was simply astounding. Placed high upon and above what seemed to be a mix of a mountain and a cliff, many stairs were below from what he and Ambree needed to climb. The building itself was another matter. While it like all the other buildings past retained its gritty worn down nature, it still had an air of majestically left. Flecks of gold, diamond, and other valuable materials, though rusted beyond past and cracked, decorated the otherwise ruined castle.
There was no time to waste. He waited too long for for the meeting between him and Ambree planned. They treaded up the stairs, into the castle, passed by many rooms and doors, before finally he reached the throne, the main room, of the castle of Gyges.
As like the buildings, the throne was rusted and with dust settling into every nook and cranny of the seat. But he didn't care. He took the seat that was facing towards the entrance, and looked at Ambree.
Ambree stood, awaiting for what he had to say, and he did. "Ambree. Have you ever considered how much I appreciate you and your service?"
The sudden question/compliment would've caught most people off guard, leaving them confused and happy and touched for it, but he created Ambree. She gave no indication or any emotion on her face as to how she felt. Her face was entirely blank as her tone. "I serve you, milord. You have done nothing but service to me by allowing me to serve you."
"You have commanded an entire brigade of your soldiers, ordering them. By this, you won many battles, scoring victories against Valla, your former home and the kingdom. Both Cadros and my kingdom." The room suddenly darkened. The presence changed. His tone changed to that of glee and joy, a sickening smile formed on his face.
She nodded, confirming.
If someone were to hear this now, they would feel a chill; a dread sense and feeling of fear, their hearts would stop in their chests, and they would stare at him in horror. What was he talking about? Why was he smiling? Was he enjoying this? Since she was made by him, did that mean he ordered her to attack Valla?! But it was Cadros's kingdom, and he was Cadros's closest friend! Was he the one that murdered or attacked all the people of Valla? He never mentioned them after talking about Cadros.
He continued with slight pause, but perverse glee was formed in him. "I have destroyed the kingdom. Both Cadros's and my kingdom. Your home."
"Yes milord."
"And you've helped hunt down the escaping denizens, the cowards and traitors. Made them all under my rule."
"Yes."
"They all suffered an agonizing death for in part of their betrayal. And I revived them; rebuilt them in my own image."
"That is correct. They were wrong to betray you. To use your trust by King Cadros and then stabbing you in the back."
He stares. "Then after all this time. Since I lasted came and visited. Do pray tell me, Ambree..." His words tighten only ever so slightly. A rushing wind by a broken window, bits of glass, came rushing in, whipping at their clothes, before the wind settles.
"Where is my son and daughter?"
She looks blankly. "Pardon, milord?"
He growls, glaring. His anger was there. Yes. But not growing yet. It soon will be. For now, it was constant, like a steady stream. "Not all of the inhabitants were killed. Some have escaped their fit punishment for betrayal. A queen of the kingdom escaped. Her name is Mikoto. She has left along with my son, Kamui, and my daughter, Corrin. Have any of your soldiers located them since I was gone? Or has there been any word or sight of where they are residing at currently, if not found?" He reminds her. He knew that his son and daughters birth was kept and sworn to secrecy by only a few people, like Mikoto, but it still annoys and angers him regardless.
His reason for the secret, however, is entirely his own. But as of a while ago, he only told Ambree about his children.
Ambree sounds apologetic. Or as much as apologetic as she could sound with her monotone voice and dead stare. He created her, but there was flaws in the mind of his creation, such as forgetting topics. Oh well. He was well aware that they were limited in thinking, which he purposely made. Anyway, she speaks, "Apologies, milord. I have received word from my soldiers that I believe where they may be residing currently, or at some point in the past, is a town located northwest of the Izumo and Mokushu nation. I believe that they are heading up further east to reach the kingdom of Hoshido, if they have not reached and residing there already."
He pauses, thinking over her words. There was minimal time and as of right now, he was busy with multiple demanding tasks. Kamui and Corrin, his children, his legacy, would have to wait, it seems. He could not claim his children as of right now. It wasn't because of the landscape of Hoshido being unknown to him. (He studied the area and its geography as much as the other kingdom, Nohr after Cadros's death by sending our scouts to study the landscape. Hoshido was known for its vast area, much larger than Valla-not as much as its rival country, Nohr, but still impressive nonetheless-and having an abundance of resource in a stark contrast to Nohr's poor geographical landscape and resources.) It was because the soldiers, his army, were too weak as of right now to fight against the Hoshido kingdom. Not to mention he didn't want to waste any resources he amassed over the years. For every soldier struck down, he could take their bodies and rebuild them again, making them undead in a sense. But it took too much energy from him. The magic-pure magic-it required took much from him and he was only able to revive a thousand at a time. He would need to recover, despite his seemingly draconic blood. He easily conquered Valla, but could not do so against Hoshido. Their army was much bigger than Valla, which was another reason why he couldn't. His desire to see the deaths of those inhabitants would have to wait as well. Preparation was the key here.
But first he would validate this claim, to see if his son and daughter were truly in Hoshidian territory and that his children were what they looked like.
"Have you any proof of this?"
A nod. "I led your army and forced of the inhabitants to tell of your children, what they look like. From what I was told, they said there wasn't any children with white hair currently living in the town. But..."
"But what?"
"The owner of the inn in the town have told me as I extracted information from him there were no other inhabitants that checked into the inn that day but three. They wore long robes and clothes, he recalls, as if they did not want to be seen by any. But as they were heading up to their room, he could've sworn he saw one of the child of the two with strands of white hair showing out through the long clothes. They only checked in for a single day before leaving."
He raps a finger against the weathered armrest of the throne. "Did you deal with the inhabitants of the town afterward?"
"Yes milord."
"Thank you." She releases her hold on the man's head, throwing him roughly to the ground. Screams sounded throughout the town as the nearly unconscious man hit the earth, a pained moan escaped from the man's lips.
A man stepped forward, glared up at her, shaking fearfully. "Enough! We have told you where you want those people! Leave us be! W-who do you think you are?! You people are monsters! Attacking our town for no valid reason!" Behind the man, adults, both old and young shouted the same or similar words. Their chants of anger combined into one. But their fear was palpable. Their eyes shown with rage and that same fear.
Children were hiding fearfully in alleyways and inside their homes, peeking out with a small childish curiosity.
The man who stepped forward asked again. "Are you from Nohr? If so, then you are a coward! Hiding behind and working for that bastard king!"
She pauses, before placing a hand over her face. Grabbing a hold of the mask, she takes the offending face wear off, and many of the crowd of people flinched, horrified and shocked. Gasps and squeals from children and adults sounded out as they looked at her face. She had no mask on, and thus it left anybody free to look at her face. Black markings from her pale chalky white skin swirled all around, intricate designs crafted with care. Shoulder length black ashen hair blew slightly in the direction of the wind that passed by the town. Red dead cold eyes stared at the people of the town. A long jagged scar ran across her forehead. There was one that stood out however.
On her right cheek was an intricate design. From near her eye, there was a head of a lizard. No. It looked like a dragon. Looking closer, the townspeople realized it was a dragon. Going slowly down and near her nose and mouth were two arms, clawed hands extended outward. Going down more to near her chin and disappearing into her covered neck was the stomach, rump, and tail.
She spoke slowly, like a chant, speech, and poem, in response to the townspeople. She gave their insults and cries no thought, like it was something that didn't matter to be said, because it was unnecessary to think even for a moment about.
"He is who will rise. He is the one betrayed. He is the one who will rightfully cleanse this world. He is the one rule over every being." She turned to her soldiers on standby, watching the situation without care or thought and gave the signal.
The townspeople only had a second to register her words before they heard a thunking noise. A squelching noise, like foot being stepped into mud, sending the brown waste water everywhere. Every face: young and old. Elderly, adults, children. All the people stared, turning in shock in horror as an object sped past-a whizzing sound of air being sliced-before it it embedded itself into the man's neck.
The same man who spoke earlier.
The look of horror and shock intensified as the crowd watches the man gurgle, red thick crimson spraying out of the man's pierced neck as he chokes on his own lifeblood. The object revealed by its sharp triangular tip connected to a small wooden stick, covered and coated with the man's blood. Bits of skin were stuck to the tip. This was an arrow. And the people of the town saw the soldier who fired it, the being who held the bow, releasing the notch on the string.
All hell broke loose.
The crowd of the town people now nothing more than prey running from their predator, trampled over each other and knocking objects out of the way to escape from them. The soldiers rushed forward the same direction, with Ambree's orders, into the panicking mess of a crowd. Screams and cries-pleads of mercy-ran throughout the once peaceful town as the soldiers speared, thrusted, and cut through the people. Arrows whizzing by, shooting down any stragglers as they attempted to escape.
Those who were hiding in their homes weren't safe from this either. Soldiers barged through doors, kicking down the offending wooden objects. From one, a mother and her daughter. From another, a man, his wife, and his two children. Various families who were trying to hide in their homes, praying that this was a nightmare, trying their best to ignore the crying screams. Children from those families were crying, burying their faces into their parents. Parents who covered their loved ones mouths, hoping that being silent will keep them safe.
But wasn't a nightmare. It was one that came true. Soldiers violently barged in with a blank dead stare on their cold merciless face, walked towards the crying, begging, pleading, and screaming families as they their weapons:swords, axes, and lances; ancient weapons, coated with blood of the outside already, raised to kill...
That day, the town was coated entirely red with the blood of its people.
Good. He was satisfied. The disappointment of not having his children was gone for the time being. Though not in his grasp, he could manage. Hearing the inhabitants of the town butchered like pigs and rid off also made him in a much jovial mood. "Excellent." He then thinks. There shouldn't be anything else left to say, right? He goes through his head, filing away information he already knows and then there is one question he longed to ask ever since the last meeting but forgotten that time, so he asks the question now. "Where is Queen Arete and her daughter Azura?" He needed to know where the princess and her mother, the queen, was now. Not asking for the last time made him anxious and furious so he needed to know where she was. His anger returned. The volcano was bubbling, growing higher and higher. It was not bursting yet however. "The last time you told me, Arete escaped towards the kingdom of Nohr with her daughter. Did you capture and kill them? Your soldiers had them, from what I'm assuming so far. I know for a fact that Nohr has a poor geographical landscape, so it should be no difficult task."
"No milord."
For a moment, there was only silence. A pregnant pause. Then he hisses. "Then where are they? Did you let them escape?"
Ambree didn't sense the rising anger that was building up from within him nor did she notice the faint purple mist coming from him. "Forgive me milord. We did indeed capture them. However, our soldiers were ambushed before we could execute them. The remaining soldiers; those that still lived, attacked our soldiers, giving them ample time to escape."
His hands clenched into fists. "And? You recaptured them?" He didn't want to hear it, but he didn't signal to stop. The volcano was nearing halfway to the top, still bubbling. The purple mist surrounding him whipped up faster and faster, covering his lower body.
"After dealing with the Valla soldiers, our remaining set out to recapture the Queen and princess but they were already gone. Soldiers searched within fifty miles in a perimeter to see where they were hiding, but they found nothing. I'm sorry milo-"
A loud popping, followed by multiple snaps, sounded. Before Ambree could even blink, she was sent flying off her feet into the wall. She slams violently against the wall, the force of it bounces her off, leaving her about to fall, before she was grabbed a hold of and slammed into the wall again.
A gurgling sound escaped from her throat painfully. Like a baby trying to form words, she gurgles out random incoherent sounds.
He looks down at her, utterly furious. The volcano has exploded, sending chunks of heated rock, materials and lava. Like an eruption springing forth. There were no other word to describe what he was feeling right now, except furious. It was the perfect word to describe his feeling.
But his face! Oh! It was like looking into a monster! The face of it was a thing from nightmares. Not just a regular thing from young children's mind when they're sleeping. This was something far worse. If the boogeymen, a forest creature that is nothing more than a tale, myth, and legend, was some creature from the forest then "he" was the definition of something from hell. Satan's creation. Crafted from his perverted desires. Formed from his sick twisted mind.
What Ambree was staring at however, at his face, was truly disgusting. One eye. One large bulbous gold colored slitted eye was staring at her, outlined by red. His neck was elongated, growing several inches and akin to a giraffe, towering above her. A deep black was the color of the neck, which used to be a pale white. Scaly rough skin replaced the skin on his face, and scales formed on the top of his head down to the back of his neck and to the front and sides, nearly covering every inch, with that same disgusting black color. And eyes. If the bulbous large one that covered the face wasn't a nightmarish hell, small numerous eyes covered his neck, making the sight even more disturbing, staring into Ambree as the large one did.
She looks down from the nightmare to see his hand, which was no longer even a hand anymore. From the elbow down, the arm transformed, morphing. Where his hand used to be was a spear. No, not a spear, but something that looked very akin to it. It digs deep and painfully into Ambree's gut. The "spear" formed from his arm to his elbow was connected. He was holding her with his left, his right formed that very same spear like appendage raised above, ready to cut her into pieces. There was no mouth on his face; the bulbous eye nearly covered the entire face, yet he still spoke.
"YOU STUPID, FUCKING, LITTLE BITCH! YOU FUCKING WHORE! YOU AND YOUR STUPID SOLDIERS IDIOCY HAVE GOTTEN AND ALLOWED THAT FUCKING QUEEN AND HER LITTLE SLUT SPAWN TO ESCAPE. " He glares, his eyes filled with murder. And in that very moment, the look in his eyes were what he wanted to do with her. His rage was ten fold. The volcano still spewed hell. He wanted to kill her. Stupid little bitch! He continues to scream. "NOW I CAN'T KILL ARETE AND HER SPAWN! NOW I HAVE TO WAIT!
This was the nightmare. From any monsters that children have heard, by bedtimes stories or tales in order to keep children from being too rebellious, or even when Halloween rolled around in October; parents warning children that if they did something bad, then the monster from the stories will come for them, as a caution, to keep them in order; to nightmares that inexplicably formed when sleeping, none of the children would have ever considered the possibility of him, Satan's pet. As he screamed, an earthquake that nearly shook the castle they were in and the ground was nearly torn apart, as if a crack would form from the ground and mountain beneath the castle and the castle would fall into the earth and stone covered abyss. Purple mist sprung and enveloped all around from his body like a poison gas.. All caused by his rage.
But as he stares murder and rage into her eyes for a while, he couldn't. Screaming curses at her would not help in this situation right now. Nor would even killing. No. She was still of use to him. He didn't want to kill her. Suddenly the volcano stopped erupting. No. It was still spewing out hellish chunks but it was down to a steady stream. The earthquake that was beneath their feet calmed. But The rage and anger was still there, though murder was hidden and cast away for the time being.
Channeling power into his left appendage, it begins to twist and form. The sharpened tip that was in Ambree's stomach too begins to form and morph, as it crushes and tears away at her gut. He smiled as black reddish colored blood spurted out of the deep wound-courtesy of his magic- like a fountain. A pained silent gasp emitted from Ambree's throat. And he spoke softly, the glare he gave her didn't hide any amount of the anger even when it was in a stream, coating his face, body, and clothes. He ignored it.
"Ambree. Ambree. Ambree... You have failed me. You have served in destroying Valla with success, with flying colors. I can easily forgive you for failing to receive my children. But failing to execute the queen and her spawn?" He leans closer, slight tremor in his dangerous tone. "You know I do not tolerate failure a single bit in any part. Because you know what failure means."
He pauses before continuing, not allowing her to respond. "Failure represents the weak. Failure represents how much someone unable to pass a task required of them, because they couldn't be bothered to try, or no matter how simple it was. Failure represents every single thing, down to the smallest, showing your weakness and what you never could be.
That is what failure is. I do not tolerate it. It is for the weak and the pathetic. That's what the people of Valla were. Your people were." He twists his left limb into her until he's satisfied. With a grunt, he channels power into his left limb. A soft squelch can be heard until he removes his bloodied limb from her stomach. The earthquake ended, and the purple mist dissipated. She nearly drops herself to the ground just barely landing in a bowed position, looking up at him. A servant to master.
Ambree clutches the gaping wound in her stomach, trying to stem the flow of blood. The blood, soaking through the gaps through her hand, forming a puddle on the floor. She looks up to her lord. He looks down briefly at her stomach. It was a disgusting mess that still continued to form. He was both satisfied and disappointed.
She was so damn lucky that he didn't force his limb through her gut and just burrowed his way towards, purposely missing her vitals. Otherwise, he would have spilled all the contents her stomach out, ripping them from the inside out. Instead, he just dug deep until his limb hit something hard and sharp; her ribs, and slowly took it out.
Suddenly, he spoke casually, as if about the weather and as if his rage hasn't happened at all. Out of nowhere, his tone changed to one of anger and rage to that of a casual and neutral tone. "Get up, Ambree. I said I do not tolerate weakness. You are showing that right now."
Ambree, painfully and somewhat slowly, managed to rise. More blood splashes. Upon seeing this, one would even wonder how could she with a hole in her stomach. But despite every logical saying, she does.
He turns away, walking from the bloody mess. He looks out of one of the windows that was situated near the throne. He looks outside; the sky still adorned and decorated with earth and stone, which were of course, still floating.
Ambree limps slowly towards him, looking up. Her face was as neutral as ever, not showing any emotion.
Speaking, out of nowhere; suddenly. "Have you ever heard the Prophecy of the Twins of Fates? Ambree?"
Ambree pauses in her slow pacing, looking at him.
"Well?"
She hesitates, thinking, before saying, "It's an old Valla tale. A story made by King Cadros of Valla, soon after him and milord made it and molded it."
He nods, still looking out the window. "Do you know how it goes?"
Once again, he doesn't allow her to speak. Or she allowed him to continue. It doesn't matter.
He intones the tale. "The prophecy, from word; by Cadros, goes as follows: In the darkest hour, in the dying light of our country and others, in when all has given up hope, in greatest despair: two siblings-a brother and a sister-will be born from our kingdom-of the same date, of similar time. And they shall be known as the Twins of Fate. Forging a path that becomes of their own and with each other, they will fight against the darkness that threatens to consume their home. They will save and bring peace and balance to their home."
He looks away from the window and to the empty and unoccupied throne. "Foolish, wouldn't you say? That Cadros has decided to create such a foolish story and tale for children. Cadros always foolishly announced this poetic tale to his kingdom. It was a fatal flaw of him. Always speaking what he did not know." He swiftly turns to Ambree. "Your thoughts?"
"On the story tale, milord?"
A nod.
"Well.." She says. "I do not believe in such a thing, milord."
He was curious. "Oh? Do explain why?"
"It's a tale, milord. King Cadros made it up, as you said. And I do not put much faith in prophecies in anyway. Making your own path? It is something that every living being does."
A satisfied nod. "Good. Of course you know this."
Ambree shifts slightly. "If I may ask this request, milord..."
He swept a hand. "Given."
"Why are you asking me of this? Do you... do you think..." A pause. "That your children are what the prophecy is speaking of... is your children? I do not think so milord."
From the doubtful tones in Ambree's neutral voice, it was clear that she didn't believe in this prophecy. He thought. Well. Of course she didn't. He didn't believe in it much either.
He doesn't say anything for a while, so Ambree took that as a sign to continue. "There are many siblings born in Valla that were twins-brother and sister. Most were just common people, nothing particularly special about them or even joined the army of Valla. Either were born of the same date but slightly off times-one slightly older than the other. One could say they were the prophecy and no one would believe that person, much less consider their words.
That this is the reason why I do not believe in your children being this "Twins of Fate". King Cadros made that tale up, as you said."
Silence. For a while. Then he says, "Would you like to hear another prophetic tale, Ambree?"
She shifts slightly. "May I ask why milord?"
"The tale of this, though this sounds more of a legend or story, intrigued me very much. If you don't want to hear..."
She shakes her head slightly. "I will milord. It is an honor to."
"There is another prophecy I haven't told you about yet. It didn't originate entirely in Valla, nor did Cadros created it. It came from a land and place not from here. It was not Hoshido. It was not Nohr either." He frowns. "I cannot ascertain where did this tale originate from. Perhaps it will come to me later..." He returns to the subject. "But I do remember how it goes: At the height and fall of an empire, there shall be two siblings born-a brother and a sister-from the empire. Free from all chains that binds these two and the path they freely choose, they shall rise from their birthright and and which they were raised in and ascend to the ultimate peak of ancient power-which they were given-where they were born in. Through their victory and ascent, they shall destroy their own birthright through conquest where they were raised. Under their names and rule, they shall rein and expand their empire to different lands until the last sun shines no more. This is the Prophecy of the Rule of Two."
He walks to the throne and sits down on it, sighing. "Of course, this is a tale. Nothing more to believe at all than a myth." He glances. "Your thoughts on it?"
Ambree stares at her lord. She heard the sigh obviously. "You believe in this tale, milord?"
He nods. He already knows what she's thinking, how could he even put much faith into something that stupid and foolish. A tale. "Foolish belief. Yes I know." A wry smile appears on his face. "But just imagine. Take a moment to think: Two siblings; those very two, who has freed themselves from all restrictions reaching their peak, their potential fulfilled. Perfect destiny. Fit to rule over. Imagine it..."
Suddenly, realization, the act of discovering something that is startling or shocking washes over him. It slams into him full force, leaving him breathless. With it, the words, only few, come spilling out of his mouth.
And it's all for my children."
Ambree looks at him and stands up. "Milord?"
But he's not listening. He gets up from the weathered throne and walks out. Ambree watches him leave; a look of questioning but he pays her no heed. He walks past her without a word. He passes many rooms: dusty, dark, old, and drab; Uncaring of the remains of the objects in them. He walks down the many hallways of the broken castle until he reaches it.
The destination where he reaches was a large balcony. Overlooking down the mountains and cliffs and the rest of the blackened land and buildings below, he stares out, smiling. Like with most balconies, a fence like structure prevented one from falling off and over if that person were to come too close near the edge of the balcony. A wonderful sight. And this was where they were meant to rule. His children. Elation and happiness explodes from him. The volcano of anger and rage was replaced entirely by those two positive emotions:
"MY CHILDREN! MEANT TO RULE OVER VALLA! THIS IS THEIR BIRTHPLACE! THIS IS WHERE THEY SHALL RULE OVER! THE PROPHECY OF THE RULE OF TWO! KAMUI AND CORRIN! THEY ARE WHAT THE DAMNABLE PROPHECY WAS SPEAKING OF; RISE AND FALL OF AN EMPIRE, REFERRING TO! THIS NOT A TALE! THIS IS TRUE! MY CHILDREN, PROPHESIED TO RULE OVER AND CONQUER. EXPAND!"
Laughter erupts from the balcony. Pure laughter. As if he found a joke funny that someone told him. It goes on for a while; the volcano still continues to erupt in giant spurts, spewing out its chunks. The earthquake tremors nearly tore and shook the ground apart. A crazed expression on his face. This was a madman, who delved too deep into happiness.
Until he finally stops, the smile still prevalent on his face.
"How could I have not seen this earlier? How could I have not connected the dots? It fits. Everything..." A throaty chuckle escapes his mouth.
Behind him, from the entrance and exit from the castle to balcony, Ambree watched him.
Finally, the volcano ended, the earthquake stilled. He turned back to the entrance
"Ambree."
"Yes, milord?"
"Send the word to the army. Now. They are heading out to the land and beyond the border of The Bottomless Canyon and into Hoshidian and Nohrian territory. Before they leave, give them those orders. They are also to reside nearing the edge of the Canyon until I give the order for them to come back or otherwise I say."
She tilts her head in a nod. "The entire army or..."
He grunts, glancing down at her stomach; the wound almost entirely healed. A wondrous effect of his creation's magic. "Only a few."
She begins to walk away to fulfill this request until she pauses and looks back at him.
He growls at her. "The rest of my plan will be later explained. Now go."
Ambree nods and departs, walking back into the castle and out of it back to the entrance to which they entered in, and all the way down the stairs.
He watches in the distance, looking over the dead buildings and trees, the remains of grass.
They will come, he thinks. Because he was their father. His children deserve everything and more. It was their birthright to rule over this kingdom. Their destiny by the prophecy of the Rule of Two. This was their fate. Their destiny. Their predestined path.
They will come, and if they don't, he'll take them by force. No one would stop him. Not anybody. Not Mikoto. And certainly not Arete or her daughter Azura.
His gaze turns upward at the purple black sky. His thoughts turn to the kingdoms of Hoshido and Nohr while staring at the sky.
They will fall. Hoshido and Nohr will suffer. He would make sure that each living person there. He didn't care who they were. Children, adults, elderly, he did not give a thought to. They would be tortured slowly and painfully. He wanted nothing more than to hear the screams and begs and pleads for mercy rain on over the two kingdoms. He wouldn't give any of them death until he was satisfied with their condition. Arete and her daughter especially. They were a crux to his plans and he had no doubt they would ruin it. His smile, which was on his face for a while now, turned twisted, holding many horrors and horrible actions waiting to be unleashed.
He would make them beg for death the longest.
Then after the kingdoms were gone, after they were nothing more than ashes and ruins; just as he done to Valla, it's army his army, his children will join him in his rule. They will help him expand Valla, conquering and eliminating those that would threaten his rule. Looking out towards the encompassing country, he thinks:
This was what he was always meant to rule over, with his children by his side.
After all, fate ordained it. And fate did not deny what he deserved.
Yeah. So that was the prologue. That took me a couple of weeks to write down. Yeesh. And by the way, school-or rather, college- started for me last week so that was fun. Was hoping to get this out before school but then nope. My lazy ass and procrastination of this story, added with bits of writers block and doses of homework, prevented me from getting this out to you guys. So I got this out after the first week of college. Sorry.
Thoughts so far? Comment them down below.
Also, just before I close this off, I would like to clarify that the prophecy that was spoken of in this chapter is inspired and taken from the Chosen One prophecy and the Prophecy of the Sith'ari from Star Wars, just for those that did not know. Some of the lines from the Star Wars Chosen One and Sith'ari prophecy were also taken for this story's prophecy of the Twins of Fate and The Rule of Two (which the name of latter is also a code the Sith follow in the Star Wars universe. The Rule of Two from Star Wars, or rather: the name, is where I got the title for the Rule of Two prophecy in this story.) Main reason I did this was always because while watching a playthrough of revelations and hearing of Corrin's legendary weapon, Yato, and how the Yato chose Corrin as the one fit to wield it, it made me think that Corrin was always connected to a prophecy of some sorts. Then I was thinking of Star Wars and its prophecies and thought a prophecy foretold before fates could really fit into this retelling of it with the revelations path. You can read about the Star Wars prophecies and where I got inspiration from them in wookiepedia, the official Star Wars wiki. Links:br /
wiki/Chosen_Onebr /
wiki/Sith
(For those who are reading on , you cannot copy these links, so just google "the chosen one" and "sith'ari" and you should be able to find them.
Also, Ambree is an OC I created. She will only appear in this prologue so far and won't appear in any more chapters as of anytime soon. Her role as of right now is limited. For those wondering about her name and why I chose it, it means "A servant to Allah who is the all mighty and all knowing." She is a servant to him, which she considers him all knowing and mighty.
Oh, and for those who are reading on , Corrin is listed as an "OC". This because fanfiction doesn't allow the name of the characters to appear twice, unlike archive of our own, which allowed me to put the same names again, I put Kamui as the "Avatar/Corrin" with Azura and Corrin with "Leo". This is clarifying for anybody who was confused with an actual OC being with Leo.
Anyway. I will see you guys next chapter. Til then.