Italics = Thought

I do not own Fire Emblem.

Cross published on A03

How many nightmares can you endure before you break?

All of Xander's fears had come true.

Father was dead. Dropped dead during court.

Corrin was dead. Murdered by his so-called 'Blood Family'. He had been executed in public, according to Jakob.

Speaking of his brothers' butler….

"Oh you look simply magnificent in that cloak, Your Majesty!" drawled the pale haired woman prostrating herself in court. She wore a dress that even Camilla would have found too extravagant.

"My King, might I introduce me Daughter, Augusta." The barrel chested Noble boomed.

"…Lord Andoca, whilst it is my utmost pleasure to meet your daughter, I fail to see the point in introducing her to this Royal Council, especially due to the topic."

"Of course, of course. But as Prince Corrin is now, regretfully no longer with us, I wished to nominate my daughter as his-"

"His what?" The elderly High Admiral Wainwright queried, and the room fell silent. Beside Gunter, no one in the Military was so widely respected than Arthur Wainwright. "His replacement? Prince Corrin was soon to be Head of the Royal Guard. Is your daughter so well trained, she can take a position intended for a Prince?"

"Well, we can hardly have one of low birth in the position, can we?" Andoca smiled at Wainwright. "The Head of the Royal Guard is a prestigious position. Does it matter if she can fight? She is Noble, so she has the right to lead her lessers."

"The High Admiral poses a point." Grand Marshal Morrison spoke in her usual blunt tone. "The girl isn't a warrior, nor is she a Royal. I'd suggest Sir Laslow, if he didn't flirt with every single woman in the army."

"That unwashed Mercenary?! Ridiculous! It was scandal enough that the King appointed him as a retainer, but having him as Head Royal Guard is out of the question."

"With respect, Father. That is up to the King."

Limping into the room, leaning on a cane, was Jakob.

"YOU!" Lord Andoca spat. "How dare you enter the Royal Council's Solar you useless pile of horseshi-"

"Remember your place, Lord Andoca." Xander cautioned in a harsh tone. "This man was my brother's retainer. He received a great number of injuries whilst returning to the capital with information regarding my brothers' demise."

"He failed our Prince then!" Andoca protested weakly. "Surely you do not mean this affront to our fami- Prince's memory to go unpunished?"

"No, I do not. But I do not intend to kill your son. That is who Jakob is. Any other Father would be proud that their Son has earned a Kings compliment, yet your primary concern is not the Kingdom. Instead, you appear more concerned by your family's standing."

"Your Majesty? If I might suggest something?" Jakob spoke up, locking eyes with his father. "I would suggest that Lord Andoca, and Lady Augusta travel with an entourage to retrieve the Prince's body. If they succeed, maybe my Sister is worthy of the position my Father suggests. If they fail, she clearly is not."

"…Very well."

"Y-Your Majesty! Surely you do not mean to-"

"Succeed, and I will take Lady Augusta as my Captain. Fail and she won't. If you are captured, do not expect rescue. Dismissed."

"My Ki-"

"DISMISSED!"

After the pair left, Xander slumped into his seat.

"High Admiral, Grand Marshal. How soon can you prepare our army?"

"Four days if we push the men, Your Majesty." Morrison said.

"But we'd have to leave the Flagship in the harbour. It is still being checked over."

"I see."

Morrison and Wainwright shared an uneasy look. "May I ask why you inquire, Your Majesty?"

"…I was telling the truth when I agreed that this affront cannot stand." Xander said, standing and walking over to a window.

"….Ready my armies. Nohr marches for war."

How long can one endure before sanity dies?

Mikoto dismissed her guards, and stumbled over to her sons body, laid out in state.

She barely made it over to the table before she collapsed with grief. Sobs rocked her body.

His earlier question fought its way to the forefront of her mind.

The cost laid forgotten as she gave her son the answer he had wanted.

"Valla." Mikoto sobbed, and unbearable pain shot through her. Globs of water dripped from her body as the Curse activated. "I met Anankos in Valla."

The last thing Queen Mikoto heard before the curse of Valla tore her apart filled her ears, and horror filled her heart..

"Thank you Mother."

Will you survive when faced with your own fears?

Selena winced, and collapsed against a wall. Corrin was dead. Camilla was broken. Not even Elise could rouse her from her slump.

He isn't dead you know.

"That's cruel." Selena said aloud. "Even for you."

Have I ever steered you wrong?...I mean, aside from the time I tried to destroy the world.

"…Let me guess, he's headed for Notre Sagasse?"

Most likely. Either way, you'll go there. Either to chase Corrin or to go and be an Eldest Sibling again.

"Why? What is the point? What do you want from me?!"

From you? Dearest daughter, I want nothing from you. I want to train you. Of all my children, you are the sole on to turn against me, and here you stand, the sole one of my children that has beaten me. So no, I don't want anything from you, rather I want something for you.

I want you to become the new Fell Dragon.

Will you break under the weight of realisation?

Takumi caught up with Azura in a side alley. Rumbles of thunder rippled across the sky, matching the mood of the city.

"Azura? What are you doing?" He asked, gently gripping the Fujin Yumi. He wanted to trust her, needed to. He had had a hard time trusting either of them, but Kamui….Corrin was his brother. The Nohrian's had murdered him, all but declaring war.

"I am carrying on with our mission." Azura said simply. "You honestly think our mission is over?"

"Corrin was home." Takumi said. "Your mission was completed the moment he returned."

The archer notched an arrow into Fujin Yumi. "So, tell me…how can you carry on the mission if the mission is complete?"

Shock tore through him as a sneer crossed Azura's face. "You tell me, Princeling."

"If you're planning something more…"

"The boy gets it!"

"But Corrin is dead…you got him -…He's not dea-"

In a blindingly fast motion, Azura dashed toward Takumi, slamming her quarterstaff into his lower leg, knocking him onto his back, she knelt on his chest, keeping him down with her staff. Her sneer hadn't faded. Not one bit.

"My dear paranoid Takumi. It would be you who guessed it. You are right. Corrin is alive." The blunette tilted her head. "Corrin is alive. And he'll be long gone before anyone's the wiser. The war will begin. You Kingdom will fall. Don't be sad though…"

She slipped a hand into her dress, and produced a small, green glass cylinder. She uncorked it with her teeth, and let go of her staff. With one hand, she forced Takumi's mouth open.

"…They'll be too focused on waking you up."

Despite his genuine struggle, Azura forced the bottles contents down the archers' throat.

"Nighty-Night. Sleepy time now, Takumi."

"N-No….."

Darkness filled his vision. The last thing he saw she Azura waltzing off….Corrin, very much alive and unharmed, joined her.

He offered Takumi a jovial wave, and the younger Prince's eyes fell shut.

The old man sighed, and once again read over his journal, barely holding itself together after countless years.

How many nightmares can you endure before you break?

How long can one endure before sanity dies?

Will you survive when faced with your own fears?

Will you break under the weight of realisation…..

That I am alive?

Last verse of the Oath of Genji, circa 5000 B.R.

"….It has been a long time since I've been able to call myself that."

The Rainbow Sage sighed. "Perhaps that is an appropriate cost for my sin. For my betrayal."

"I pray forgive me, Anankos. Forgive me, Old Friend."