Hello! Welcome back!

I have a bit of news to everyone who follows my page here on Fanfiction. I'M BACK, BABY!

...for a little while. I did a lot of writing and was without power after Hurricane Irma swept through Florida. I've got updates for Doom: Grimm Tales of Vale, Fire Sword: Fated Incursion, and RWBY: Miranian Wonders. I will continue updating these stories when I can, but the thing is...I'm a human: I can't pump them out all of the time. I've got a plan for all three stories, but my writer's block hit so hard I almost missed a few chapters in order to keep writing. I'll write what I can whenever I can, but if I miss a week of updating something, just know that it's on the way.

I've gone on long enough. Enjoy!

Prince Xander looked out over the battlefield, his steed standing atop the small mountain on the far side of the canyon from the opposing Hoshidan Army. His sights were set on finishing off all opposition before any of the Royals could show up, but his luck hadn't been favorable for him today. Not only did the entire Hoshidan Army prove stronger than he'd expected, but there was a lone warrior who was single-handedly cutting through his troops with no struggle. He turned his glare towards the raging samurai as he held his position in the middle of Xander's Force.

"Nohrian general!" the samurai called out. "You face the High Prince of Hoshido, Ryoma!" The samurai pointed his electrified katana at Xander. "I challenge you to single combat!"

Xander wasn't one to toss aside his honor. "I accept your challenge, 'High Prince'. However, I am no mere general. I am Crown Prince Xander of Nohr!"

With that, Xander rode his steed down the nearly vertical slope before him, rushing towards his challenger with Siegfried drawn and held at the ready. Ryoma rushed forward, his foot soldiers standing back to let him and rush towards Xander. When they finally reached the clearing between them, they came to a halt, their blades clashing against each other's and expelling a shockwave of power across the landscape.

On the Hoshidan side of the valley, Corrin, Azura, Yuuki, Aiko, and Sinon had finally reached the banks of the river, separating themselves from the two royal families through slightly being upstream of them. Sinon looked on in horror as she spotted her friends, Selena, Odin, and Laslow, in combat with other Hoshidan forces. Somehow, she knew they would end this current outbreak in violence, but it wouldn't last long.

Corrin grit his teeth as he saw the early skirmishes across the landscape. "Drat! We're too late."

Yuuki shook her head. "We don't know that! We can still reach the families in the center of the fray before they do anything rash."

Corrin nodded. "Yuuki, Aiko, Sinon, stay close to us. Azura, perhaps we can end their fighting diplomatically."

Azura gave a small smile at him. "We may as well try. There's no harm in talking with them."

Corrin instantly sprinted across the terrain, forcing himself forward with every step. He looked on in determination as Xander and Ryoma clashed their swords against each other in a never ending attempt to force their opponent into either surrender or death. Corrin was unable to hear their conversation as their blades locked every so often, but his only goal was to stop this unnecessary fighting as fast as he could. Finally reaching within speaking range, he slid to a stop, stabbing his sword firmly into the ground between the two princes.

Corrin left the Yato in the ground as he reached out to the two princes with both arms extended. "RYOMA! XANDER! STAND DOWN!"

His abrupt action startled both princes, forcing them to step back in response. Additionally, his retainers, who were right on his trail, almost fainted from shock at his actions. Sinon sped up and reached him swiftly.

She gave him a swift punch to the arm. "Don't you EVER do that again, my lord."

Corrin scratched his head. "Sorry about that, Sinon. I just didn't know what to do."

Xander recognized the two voices, as well as the two retainers rushing towards them. "Corrin! Thank goodness you're alive! You're not hurt, are you?"

Corrin shook his head. "I'm fine, Xander. But… why are you invading Hoshido?"

Xander smirked. "Father says it's time for us to show our true strength. Join us, brother, and we'll end the fighting today. If we conquer Hoshido now, we can avoid unnecessary bloodshed."

Corrin stepped back. "Xander, I… I need a moment."

Ryoma held Raijinto at the ready. "Don't be swayed by his words, Corrin! That man is a Nohrian commander!"

Corrin looked towards his Hoshidan brother. "Ryoma…"

As Corrin contemplated what his two brothers were saying in contrast to his goal, the rest of his siblings, from both families, rushed forward and met with the group. Camilla was the first to see Corrin in the mass of nobility as Leo and Elise rode in behind her.

Camilla cooed at him in her usual manner. "Corrin! My darling, I was so worried about you. Don't ever run off from me like that again."

Yuuki scratched her head at that. "Has she ever called you 'Darling'?"

Corrin shook his head. "Never…"

Leo gave a sly grin to his brother. "Corrin, you have the devil's own luck. I knew we'd find you sooner or later."

Elise beamed at Corrin. "We got our brother back!"

At this, Hinoka glared at the Nohrian royals. "Nohrian scoundrels! First you kidnap him, then you lie to him? Corrin's MY brother, not yours!"

Camilla returned the negative look. "That's where you are mistaken, naive princess. Corrin is my sweet little brother. You may not have him."

Ryoma held up a hand to caution Hinoka away. "Corrin, do not be deceived by their words. You belong to us, in your homeland of Hoshido."

Xander scoffed. "We have loved you as our own and raised you since your youth. Come home, Corrin! We can live as a family just like we did before!"

Ryoma extended his hand in a welcoming gesture. "This way, brother."

Sakura called out to him. "C-Corrin!"

Elise's face fell into a saddened expression. "He's our brother!"

Xander repeated the gesture Ryoma extended. "We're your family."

For Corrin, this moment seemed to last for an eternity. Mentally, he was unprepared to respond to such a conflict. He may have taken a moment or two, but his thoughts whirled by at a lightyear a minute.

On one hand, he thought, I've known my family from Nohr for as long as I can remember. I can't imagine a life without them at my side and I couldn't possibly desert them on a whim. I love them dearly and I know we'd get along well in Nohr. I might be able to turn around Nohr's habits by working from the inside and change the kingdom's mindset over time.

On the other hand, Garon's a Tyrant, one who'll stop at nothing to take down the entire world to get what he wants. My family from Hoshido aren't as familiar to me as I would like, but by siding with them, I could get to know them as well as I know Xander, Camilla, Leo, and Elise. Either way, I'm against Garon, but I would have to fight family on either side.

As he thought this, various images flooded his mind. One was of Takumi, surrounded in a ghastly, violet aura, pulling back an arrow aimed for his head. The second was of Ryoma, thrusting his Raijinto into his abdomen, the lightning from the sword coursing through him. The third was of Xander, swinging his blade into Elise, who dived out in front of him to take the hit for him. The fourth was of Xander, his back against a wall in Nohr's Castle Krakenburg, the life in his eyes draining slowly. The fifth was of Kaze throwing Corrin out of a chasm they both had fallen into before the ninja fell to his own demise below.

The next images started to get more intense for Corrin. The sixth was of Sinon lying in his arms, a scorched hole in her chest as she was coughing up blood. She was smiling at him, her eyes slowly losing life as she said her final speech. Aiko and Yuuki were in the seventh, both having been skewered by lances with Aiko's head rolled away by Hans' axe swing and Yuuki barely able to hold onto her life momentarily. A final image of Flora burning in a violent blizzard was too much to bear. Needless to say, these last three images bore deep into his heart and pierced his soul.

"What am I seeing?" He thought into the void within his mind.

"Possible futures, but only possible ones," a voice responded.

Corrin found himself floating in a void of darkness, surrounded by small lights in the distance. Before him, a white light appeared, revealing the presence of a woman shrouded in light. Her hair was a vibrant green color. She wore white garments and stood taller than him by almost a foot.

Corrin was alarmed by the woman's presence. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled at him. "I am Naga, a dragon who is looking out for you. I ask that you consider what you see very carefully, for your choice spells the fate for, not only yourself, but your friends and family as well."

Corrin sighed. "If only it were that easy. Both choices pit me against one family while I'm forced to lose my friends."

Naga smirked at him. "Oh, but it gets better."

Corrin was surprised by this. "What do you mean?"

Naga crossed her arms. "Before I tell you, you need to stay silent about my presence to you. This is the only time I'll intervene in your path and I must remain unknown for now."

Corrin nodded. "I won't tell anyone, but is there any reason why?"

Naga shook her head. "I can't tell you that for now. In regards to your current situation, ask yourself this: what if you don't choose either side?"

Corrin shook his head. "I'll be on my own."

Naga smiled at him. "Who said anything about being alone?"

The sound of a high-pitched whistling caught his attention. In the brief moment that Corrin had been thinking, Sinon had fired off a whistler arrow to silence the two royal families who were about to resume their prior conflict again.

Sinon frowned at the method she employed. "You eight are absolutely impossible! Don't you think that you're putting a little too much pressure on Corrin?"

Xander frowned at her. "Enlighten us, Sharp-Shot Sinon."

Sinon sighed. "He's been taken by one family before he could remember anything and raised by them as their own while his birth family finally gets a chance to reconnect with him. Trying to pick between them is like choosing whether you'd rather see your kingdom crumble before you or witness your sister's death in a public execution!"

Ryoma nodded. "I understand what you are trying to say, Sinon, but the world isn't that simple."

Corrin crossed his arms. "Ryoma, Xander, I know that you both want me to stay with you, but there's no way I could side with one of you, but not the other. I'm sorry, but maybe we can talk about this peacefully and come to a diplomatic end to this fighting."

Xander's steed stamped twice as the Crown Prince voiced his opinion. "Corrin, I see what you are trying to do, but you ask for the impossible!"

Ryoma readied Raijinto in hand. "For once, I agree! Have at thee, Crown Prince Xander of Nohr!"

Almost immediately, the two were at each other's throats again, leaving Corrin and his retainers with no way left to calm them. "With them so focused on the war, there's nothing I could do to calm them down and end their feud."

Yuuki sighed from behind him. "'Feud' is a bit of an understatement."

"There is one thing you could do," came a voice from their left.

As the five of them looked to the source, a lone ninja rushed towards them. As she sped towards them, her chocolate brown hair fluttered in the wind behind her. She had her shuriken stowed, save for one in her right hand. Undoubtedly, Kagero had something to say.

Corrin was confused by her aid. "Are you helping us fight your own lord?"

Kagero came to a halt about four feet away from him. "No, Prince Corrin. If you wish to calm their rage, you must do so on your own."

Sinon glared at her. "You're not saying we need to fend off against both Xander and Ryoma, are you?"

Kagero shook her head. "Not at all. While I may not be able to offer combat assistance, I can offer a bit of advice. However, the advice will not come without you working for it. Think about who would control the armies should the High Prince fall."

Yuuki caught on. "If the two princes realize their forward commanders have been knocked out, they'd be forced to fall back, albeit temporarily."

Before anyone else could say anything more, Kagero sped off without another word, taking her place next to Saizo in the Hoshidan army. "I hope this works."

Saizo glared at her. "Offering Corrin a choice to betray us? Why would you even consider doing such a thing?"

Kagero smiled at him. "Ryoma can hold his own against the Nohrian leader fairly well, but to protect him entirely, this battle needs to end before many casualties happen."

Saizo crossed his arms. "Have Corrin end the combat without harming our lord? That may have repercussions later on."

Kagero nodded. "It might, but it may also keep Ryoma from falling in battle."

Saizo sighed. "Unorthodox as it may be, I'll let it slide, for now."

Aiko was slightly nervous about having to fight either army. "We know the best of both armies. Do we really have to fight them to halt the conflict?"

Yuuki crossed her arms. "It's not like I'm willing to try dangling a meal in front of them."

Sinon smacked her own forehead with her palm. "Glad to hear you haven't lost your chaotic factor."

Azura shook her head. "I can't think of anything else that would catch their attention."

Corrin shrugged. "I guess we don't really have another option. But how do we take out both forward commanders at once?"

Sinon smirked at him. "Well, there's five of us. Yuuki, Aiko, and I can handle the Hoshidan commander while the two of you tackle the Nohrian commander."

"You mean the FOUR of us!" a voice called out from behind them.

Again, the group turned to see where the voice was coming from. Low and behold, Felicia and Jakob were running across the field towards them, their knives in hand and worry across their faces.

Corrin called out to them as they rushed closer. "Felicia? Jakob? What are you two doing here?"

Felicia looked hurt. "That's a fine greeting! And here we were searching for you after you didn't return from the Bottomless Canyon with the rest of your siblings!"

Jakob cleared his throat. "I suppose this conflict is a result of undesired circumstances, but you can rely on us for support in this fight."

Corrin smiled at them. "Thank you both. I know we can count on you."

Felicia looked towards the Hoshidan army. "I don't quite understand though. Which army are we fighting?"

Sinon sighed. "The short story? We're fighting both. If we disable their forward commanders, we can get the High Princes attentions."

Jakob shook his head. "Just what have you gotten us into milord? I suppose there's nothing we can do about it now." Jakob readied himself for another sprint. "Your enemies are ours and we shall assist you in your fight."

Corrin twirled the Yato, calling out to his retainers. "Let's do this!"

The young prince sprinted forward, Jakob close behind him and Felicia following right behind them. Azura followed suit, holding her staff close at hand. Sinon nodded at the twins, who immediately charged towards the Hoshidan Forward Commander. Sinon set an arrow to the strings of Galesbane, letting it fly across the battlefield and plant itself into the forearm of the commander. He roared out in pain, dropping his katana and grasping his forearm with his hand. He recomposed himself after a second, picking up the katana with his left hand and rushing forward, two ninja tailing him as he rushed towards the twins.

Yuuki winked at Aiko as they quickly approached. They immediately sprinted forward, leaping into the air and creating a whirlwind of steel and pain. The approaching Hoshidan Commander slowed his advance, opting to try defending against the attack instead of begin an offensive assault. The twins quickly slashed at him, sending his katana flying in the process. Aiko quickly ducked back a pace before Yuuki kicked the commander in the head, knocking him on his back, unconscious.

By this point, Corrin's group had swiftly dealt with the Nohrian general and all eyes were on the young prince and his retainers as they stood on the northern fork in the river. "It wasn't easy, but they finally halted their assault," he relented to his friends.

Xander was dumbfounded by his younger brother's actions. "Corrin?! Why would you turn on us this way? Even after all of our time together in Nohr, is this how you repay our kindness and love?"

Yuuki called out to the Nohrian Heir. "All we wanted was to listen to what Corrin had to say, but you couldn't even do that!"

Ryoma sheathed Raijinto. "Why would you turn your back on us, Corrin? How could you betray Hoshido in such a manner?"

Corrin called out in response. "I haven't betrayed anyone! If anything, this was the only way to get your attention!"

Takumi called out to Sinon in particular. "Why would you side with him, Sinon? I thought you were better than this!"

Sinon responded. "Neither family in this conflict is thinking clearly right now! You're both hyped up on adrenaline from the battle, clouding your judgement of the other's intentions!"

Xander turned away from Corrin. "I considered you a part of our family, an integral part of our lives. Spread word to the troops! Corrin has turned traitor to us! Restrain him on sight, but no harm shall befall him!"

Ryoma waited momentarily before he said anything. "I still remember the devastation your kidnapping wrought upon our family. We were crushed, tormented, agonized! For you to toss aside the chance to reconnect is unforgivable." Ryoma looked over to the Hoshidan army. "Relay this message! Corrin is lost to us! If he should find us again, do not hesitate to use force!"

Corrin was out of options. "Why won't you listen to me?"

Azura placed her hand on Corrin's shoulder. "Corrin, it's too late. All we can do now is retreat."

Corrin sighed. "I just wanted them to try and work this out peacefully."

Sinon shook her head. "Another day perhaps, but not now."

With that, the seven of them took off in a northward direction.

Once they had gotten to a safe distance, they came to a stop. Corrin placed his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath from running so far at such a speed.

Azura placed her hand on his shoulder. "Listen Corrin, you'll lose everything if you don't choose a side. It's either Hoshido or Nohr."

Sinon shook her head. "Neither the High Prince of Hoshido or the Crown Prince of Nohr would be happy to have us back. Lord Corrin has made his decision, one that we all will have to live with."

Corrin nodded. "Exactly. If I go the third path, one that sides with neither kingdom, I won't be forced to endure tragedies around every corner. I have family in Nohr, and I have family in Hoshido, but both kingdoms care not for my family within the other. Even if they all curse me, cast me out, brand me as a traitor, I can't simply choose one over the other."

Yuuki crossed her arms. "Do you believe in this decision with all of your heart?"

Corrin smiled. "More than you could imagine."

Yuuki nodded. "I'd say that's good enough for us."

Aiko placed her arm around Yuuki's shoulder. "We'll follow you to the ends of the earth."

Sinon smirked. "Besides, what kind of retainers would we be if we ran off when you go on a path that no one else has traveled before?"

At this time, Lilith appeared in a flash of light. "If I may, Lord Corrin."

Corrin's shoulders relaxed at seeing Lilith. "Right on time, Lilith."

Felicia looked back and forth from Corrin to Lilith to Corrin. "Wait, Lilith? As in OUR Lilith?"

Sinon snapped her fingers. "Right… We didn't tell you about her…."

Lilith smiled at Corrin. "I'm opening the Astral Plane to you, my lord."

As a white light began to shine around them, Jakob was taken aback by this. "What magic is this? And did she say 'Astral Plane'?"

Corrin nodded. "We'll explain this in a moment, Jakob."

With that, they were warped into the Astral Plane. As soon as they were gone, a small portal opened for a split second. From it, a female samurai dressed in white robes with golden armor fell flat onto her back, katana in hand. She sat up, rubbing her head from the fall, before quickly standing up and holding her katana close to her side. She was known as Yuzu, a former Hoshidan, but her skills as a freelancer sellsword were better used in other places.

"I need to find Lord Corrin," she said, rushing immediately towards the nearest village.

Sinon: Okay, time out.

N-Sight: Should I explain where Yuzu is from?

Yuuki: Absolutely.

N-Sight: Fair enough. She's a character that originated in the Japanese-only Fire Emblem 0 (Cipher) card game, she is a Hoshidan swordswoman who aligned herself with Tsubasa's army in Series 4(Archanean forces), Ryoma's army in Series 7(Hoshidan forces), and Chrom's army in Series 8(Ylissean Shepherds). While her inclusion in the games is only in Echoes's DLC, I have a suspicion that she will see some more time in later Fire Emblem games eventually. Her inclusion in the story seemed more fitting as a tribute to her origin.

Sinon: Enough blabbering on. Why didn't you release this last week?

N-Sight: 1) Writer's block, 2) I was up on a weird schedule for YouTube, 3) I was writing other stories that were on Haitus, and 4) I wanted to make a page-wide release. That's about it.

Sinon: It doesn't excuse you.

N-Sight: It's what really happened!

Yuuki: Right...