Italics = Thought

I do not own Fire Emblem.

Cross published on AO3

"Hello again, dearest Daughter."

…..

Selena shivered, and hugged her pillow around her ears, and forced her eyes shut. In her mindscape, she was in a field. Opposite her was a man wearing a familiar cloak , a soft smile on his face.

"You aren't real."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps not believing your dear father has taken up residence in your head is the only way you keep yourself sane." Not-Her-Father replied in a calm, fatherly tone. "Either way, it is nice to talk with you again, sweetie."

"Y-You can't be real…you died! You and Da-"
"I am both. Did you really think that just because I was the Fell Dragon I didn't consider you to be my child?"

"Funnily enough, yes."

"I do not blame you. Not in the least. I would have been more surprised if you didn't, Severa."

"My name is Selena." She insisted.

"You know that isn't your name." Not-Her-Father said kindly. "You were named after your grandmother. The woman who defied Validar and stole her son away from his dark fate. Sadly for her, her sacrifice was for naught in the end."

"Don't talk about-"

"I loved her too, Severa. She was my mother, in a sense, at least. I loved Cordelia too, believe it or not. She was as much my wife as Robin's."

"Y-You don't sound like.."

"Like a Dragon God bent on destroying the world? I wasn't always known as the Fell Dragon you know. Once, I was the Dragon associated with family."

"I don't believe you."

"Ask Naga, the next time you meet. She will confirm what I've just told you." Not-Her-Father said. "Regardless, you can blame the Grimleal for twisting me into the Abomination that nearly destroyed your home."

Selena sighed. "Why are you even here?"

"To protect you, of course. As far as I can tell, you are the last of our line, save for your sister. Nearly two thousand years of history is on your back, I'd see that history preserved."

As much as she tried not to, Selena couldn't help but feel a spike of happiness, which was soon followed by one of sadness.

Whilst that mean that Morgan had survived, Marc hadn't. She adored both of her younger siblings, true, but it was her brother she had always been sweet on, the one who helped her sneak out with her friends. The one who ended up dating her best friend. The one who left her without a goodbye. The one who's betrayal hurt most.

"Ah. You didn't know. I'm sorry."

The voice sounded truthful, genuine. It sounded like her father did when he was telling them bad news.

A single question burned itself into her skull.

"….Was it quick? Marc's.."

"Yes. It was." There was a noticeable amount of hesitation in his voice.

"Good.." Selena knew it was probably a lie, but the thought of Marc dying slowly, alone, was something that she truly didn't want to consider.

She felt warmth surround her, her Not-Father had wrapped his arms around her.

"I know you do not believe me, Severa. But this once, do take some advice from your old man, do not trust this Prince Corrin, or his 'friend'. Dragons are, in essence, merely giant snakes, and there is enough dragon blood in him for this to ring true."

The library of the North Fortress was surprisingly large and contained a variety of different books. Leo loved the private seclusion he could get here, which made him a little jealous of his brother, who probably had read most, if not all of the books here.

He could have spent hours here, trawling through tones collected over decades, possibly centuries:

Tactical theses from across the world and the Outrealms (including a rare copy of The Thesis of Mark ),

The complete Histories of both Nohr and Hoshido,

The story of Anya, Mother of Nohr,

The Plaga Orthen, which dated back to the days of the Nohr Duchy,

Ravenry for beginners,

Somewhat surprisingly, a book labelled The Romance of Alexander and Calla was on his brothers studying table.

"Who knew you were such a romantic brother?" Leo mused. He glanced over the page Corrin was on, and after reading half of the first paragraph, promptly slammed it shut, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "…..Oh….not a romantic…..you sly dog, brother.."

A chill crawled up his back, as someone spoke behind him.

"What are you doing, your highness?"

Leo turned, and sighed with relief. "Flora, it's just you."

The blue haired maid raised an eyebrow. "Hiding something?"

"No." Leo mentally chided himself for answering too quickly.

"Forgive me, your highness, but we both know that's a lie." Flora said pointedly. Leo knew who she really was, and assumed Corrin did too. He knew that Flora and Felicia likely held a deep hatred of Nohr, and since, (and may the Gods forgive him for saying so) Corrin was the most disposable of the family due to his curse, if they killed anyone, it wouldn't impact on the war effort all that much.

But he also knew that the maids wouldn't escape alive if they actually managed to kill Corrin. If they were lucky, Xander would kill them quickly, if they were unlucky and it was Camilla who found them…

Leo shivered. "It's nothing. Just observing my brothers literary tastes these days. History…Military tactics…a-and other topics.."

"He does like to read, it is true." Flora confirmed with a kind smile.

"I meant….Alexander and Calla-"

"Why are you reading such…exotic books, little brother?"

Any colour that was in his face drained away as Camilla's voice filled his ears.

He was doomed.