Italics = Thought/Past
I do not own Fire Emblem.
Cross published on A03
The figure wore vibrant, flowing green robes with a short, dark green cape with a golden, zig-zagging trim. His eyes glinted red like rubies, and his face was the picture of fury. He was stalking after another figure, a simple, hooded grey robe adorning his body, with light blue hair coming just below his shoulders.
"You cannot be serious!" He thundered at his companion. "We're fighting a war! You and your forces are the deciders! That is your purpose! You cannot shirk your responsibility in this, Anankos!"
"I can, Genji." Anankos said simply as he kept walking. "I will retreat to Valla with King Cadros and his people. We will have no part in your war."
"You babble far too much in the affairs of mortals, boy." Genji snapped. "You are supposedly the Dragon of Wisdom, yet you refuse to add forces to a side and tip the balance in eithers favour."
Anankos's voice turned cold.
"You are our Leader, and yet you sit and do nothing, allowing your children to run rampant across this world. I refuse to take part in madness." Anankos stopped, and turned to look his superior in the eyes. "That, I am sure you will agree, is wise. Wiser still, I am protecting my people."
With that, Anankos stalked away, leaving Genji to stew.
A plan formed in his mind. He sneered.
Yes, that would do nicely.
The Rainbow Sage was awoken by knocking at his bedchamberdoor. His room was fairly humble, with a few small knickknacks about it, a simple, comfortable bed for his old bones took centre stage, and a desk sat by the window.
"Great Sage." The young attendant at the door said, "There are two young people here. They claim to be the children of Anankos, do you wish for me to remove them, or shall I put them through the usual challenges?"
"Hmm..oh, yes. Yes." The elderly sage intoned. "Challenge them. I will see them if they succeed."
"As you say, Great Sage."
"What?"
Their father's voice was level, despite the fact that the air around his home had all but frozen.
"We come with an offer from Lord Corrin." Flora repeated calmly. "He is not dead, and is in fact plotting a revolution against both Nohr and Hoshido."
Kilma raised an eyebrow. "You wish for me to swear loyalty to an unknown? To put my people in the hands of someone I've never met. The same someone that you were both stolen to serve?"
Flora smiled softly. "Yes."
"Why?" Kilma asked with one eyebrow raised. "Why should I?"
"Freedom. The chance to help found a new Kingdom…"
"I must prove our loyalty to the new King Xander." Kilma intoned. "Putting an end to a new enemy should suffice."
"W-What do you mean?" Felicia stammered. "You d-don't mean to kill Corrin, r-right?"
"The Chieftain must sometimes make difficult decisions for the good of the Tribe." Kilma snapped. "If killing your friend is that choice, then that is what we will do."
"What do you mean 'We'?" Flora said, trying to hide the concern in her voice.
"I will not get close enough to the boy to do it, so you and your sister will do so." Kilma said simply. "Do it quickly and painlessly if it bothers you that much."
"No." Flora snapped.
"What?"
"I said 'No'." Flora repeated. "Corrin has been nothing but good to us, and is offering us freedom from Nohr and a place on his new ruling council. Despite that, you want to kill him. Do you think that Xander will thank you for killing his brother?"
"You are a fool girl." Kilma growled. "And you will kill him."
Kilma stalked toward the entrance to his home, and the twins shared a look.
Kilma's hand went for the door, but then a sharp, blinding pain shot through the back of his head. His hands felt like wood as he lifted them to feel the damp sensation.
Realisation hit him the same moment he hit the floor.
"You are right, father." Flora said sadly and her sister removed her blade from their fathers' skull. "Sometimes, we must make difficult decisions….or the good of the tribe."
The pair strode out of the Chieftain's House, and were met by a throng of their people.
"Chieftain Kilma is dead." Flora declared. "He would have led you to your deaths in an attempt to show loyalty to Nohr."
Flora had all but spat the last word, and continued. "Even when offered freedom from Nohr, offered a chance to begin anew…and he threw it away for pride."
"I will admit…we killed him." This, predictably, earned the sisters hate filled yells.
"QUIET!"
The crowd, and Flora, fell into stunned silence as Felicia raised her voice.
"Are you all saying you'd prefer to fight and die in a pointless war or a King that will never visit or thank you?" Felicia asked loudly. "Do you truly think in a war at avenge the Kings brother that we can decline without repercussions?"
"Who is the one making the offer?" Came a voice from the crowd.
"Prince Corrin of Nohr." Flora said firmly. "He faked his death, and has all but started a war between Hoshido and Nohr."
"Hoshido offered us help! Why should we not accept it?!"
"That is simple. If we accept their offer, we will either be the first force Nohr attacks, or our home will be used as a staging area for the Hoshidian army. Our scared home land turning into a bloodbath or a war camp. But Corrin offers us a new home, equal rights and no more hostages."
There was a murmuring of assent. "….Do you trust him? This Corrin?"
"With my life." Flora said firmly.
An elder walked forward. "Very well…I believe you should decide between you both which of you should lead us as Chieftess."
This gave the twins pause. They were twins! How could they decide? How could it be fair?
How could they decide this?
ELSEWHERE…..
The figure settled into a crumbling throne, a broad, toothy grin on his face.
"My children are coming…"
They are coming…
Coming soon…
Soon it ends.
End it
END IT.
LET ME DIE!