Three Stars

Disclaimer: Tibby-san, Writer-of-Worlds, and I do not own Fire Emblem.

Notes: There are things I've taken creative liberty with. You'll see.

FIC START

Chapter 4

"How long are you going to keep pacing like that?"

"Until I figure out exactly what I'm going to do."

"So... you'll be at it a while."

"If I wasn't relying on you to help me with this, I would have no choice but to impale you upon my lance."

"Excuse me for saying this, but I don't particularly care what happens to Fates. This land is doomed no matter how many chosen avatars you have active at one time. However, now that there are two more... I could complete the Shield of Flames here..."

"I hate you."

"Let's not push this too far, Darios."

"Oh, Azura. You're hilarious."

"I borrowed the portals from your world to ensure that all three kingdoms that exist here will not have to suffer..."

"And I allowed you to have two more protagonists for your world simply so I don't have to deal with those inspid twins from my world. If your new heroes can manifest gemstones for the Fire Emblem, I don't care what befalls them! If it helps speed things along, I won't hestitate to put them in the most horrific situations imaginable."

"...Darios!"

"Azura."

"They can't manifest anything without them having their wishes granted."

"Is that so?"

"So. For the Fates of both of our worlds, you should not make the situation any worse."

"Very well. I won't interfere. Yet."

Rynah hated the cold. She hated being cold and being in cold places. So, as she stood there with her loyal butler Jakob at her side, she was overlooking massive fields of snow with this expression of utter disdain. She knew she was going to have to come here. That was in the story. But while she was curled up with her gigantic Xander dakimakura in her bed back home, she wasn't freezing her ass off. "You know... I almost would rather go back into the forest..."

"Would you prefer if I kept you warm?" Jakob asked. "I would do no less, would it satisfy you."

"Oh, please," she said dismissively. "Don't be so charming."

"I was not saying it out of some sense of courtship," Jakob insisted as he blushed brightly. "You are my lady, and I will not hesitate to see all your needs met."

"I'd prefer not to have to do this, but I don't have a choice. I want Father to accept me back into the royal family," Rynah said as she took another step. "Ice Tribe sure lives up to its name."

"You do realize that the closer we get, the colder it will become, right?" he asked. "It's quite refreshing!"

"...so help me, Jakob..."

"You know..." the butler said, "If you want to warm up, we could always run. You'll get there faster, too. I'll take the lead!"

"You seriously aren't going to run-"

And off he went, dashing through the mounds of snow, ignoring the freezing winds. Perhaps he really did enjoy it out here. Rynah watched him, wondering where he could have gotten such spirit when she heard footsteps behind her. She looked back, noticing that two people on horseback had been following her. She could tell it wasn't Xander. Not enough ornamentation on the horse.

"Lady Rynah?" the two horses approached her slowly.

"Who's asking?"

"I've come to help you~" The voice was instantly recognizable. It was Elise. That was great, because no one else on her team so far had a healing staff. "Big sister, you shouldn't go running off without help like that!" She came up must faster than the male that accompanied her. How did such a cheerful girl exist in such a dreary place? People among the fanbase that Rynah interacted with often asked that. Her big, shining eyes, full of adoration and love, hidden under the bangs of her golden yellow hair that she shared with both of her older brothers, only gave her a sense of calm that not many others could successfully manifest within her. It was quite amazing when she stopped to think about it. "I don't care what the rules are... I'm going to help you anyway!"

"Elise, I'm thankful for you coming to help, but... won't you get in trouble?" Rynah asked.

"Don't worry. I paid off my teacher so he won't tell on me!"

"Oh..."

"Lady Rynah," the gray haired horseman said. "I'm glad to see you well."

"Do I... know you?"

Silas shook his head. "I don't think you do," he lied. "I'm Silas. I'm was escorting Lady Elise here, and now I'm going to assist you with your assignment, if you'll have me."

Oh, yeah. That knight guy that was supposed to be the main character's childhood friend or something. She nodded to acknowledge him, but she couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she didn't go by the script of the game... she could very well make different things happen at different times, right? All ready she noticed a few things were different. If she was going to be here until the story was over, then why not test it out?! "Another sword arm is always welcome," Rynah answered. "Silas... Silas... why do I think I've heard that name before?" She shrugged. "Is that a common name in Nohr? Ah well. Welcome aboard, cowlick."

"Um, what?" the cavalier just stared at her blankly. He knew Kamui the best of the three sisters that had lived in the Northern Fortress. He didn't remember Rynah being so... strange.

"Your hair looks like a cowlick, and to prevent you from being confused with any other Silases I might know, that's what I'm going to call you." She watched his expression contort further and did everything she could to hold back her laughter. "We gotta get to the Ice Tribe village, so let's get going. Jakob all ready decided to prance through the snow, so we should do our best to follow him."

"Prance?" Elise asked. Now her expression revealed her confusion. The hell was Rynah on about?

"I honestly don't know what else to call it," she answered. "Move out!"

Arielle blinked a few times once she came to. She had no idea where she was, but she seemed to be all right. She never wanted to go on another ride at an amusement park or a carnival ever again. She stayed on the ground before looking around. Fiora was bent over, holding her stomach.

"This... this is the bottom of the canyon?" Arielle asked.

"I think so," Fiora answered.

"And being here, we're supposed to hide from the Nohrian and Hoshidan forces?"

"I have no idea," the maid answered, trying not to throw up all over herself. It took a moment before she could stand upright. "I hope you're all right at least."

"Nothing is broken," Arielle answered. "I think I'm all right, aside from, y'know, the shock of falling into a canyon."

Soon they heard footsteps nearby. They both quickly gathered themselves up and stood defensively just in case. "You've no need to fear," a lovely female voice said gently as she approached them. "I welcome you to Valla. This... this is the place responsible for what's happening in the world above."

"Valla?" Arielle asked. Oh yeah, she remembered that name. The land that was hidden from both Nohr and Hoshido. She didn't remember a lot of the specifics, but she did remember the name and what it did. Wasn't it run by some dragon or something? She tried to think about it. Usually those other two would be discussing all the intricate political differences between their chosen lands, and throwing insults back and forth all the while.

"Yes."

"So, how is this place responsible? Those two have so many different ideological differences that it's really hard to understand why you'd say that."

"Please follow me. I will explain more on the way."

"Okay, sure."

On her way to find her two older brothers Ryoma and Takumi, Kamui had to prove herself to the Wind Tribe before they'd allow her to pass. She led her small force across the switching platforms, dodging the heavy gusts of wind. It was difficult, but she had to make it through this if she was going to save those two. She thought about it a lot as they fought off the wind tribe's monks. The fact that they were in the game, and it seemed to be following the script almost to a tee. If that was the case, what was the point of taking sides? Yes, when she played the game, she took up the mantle of being a Hoshidan Princess instead of Nohrian. But if this was following the story of the game, then... did that mean she would have to watch Nohrian royals have to die? Was Rynah fighting on the side of Nohr going to take away the exact brothers she went to save now? Even as she stood face to face with Fuga - the master of the monks, she couldn't get it out of her head. She didn't want to see any of her siblings sad due to her decisions...

"Kamui," Fuga said, reaching out to her. "I am honored to meet one of the missing children of Sumeragi. He and I were good friends."

Yeah. In this world, those she wanted to be her sisters so badly actually were. Him saying that only served that much more of a reminder. "Thank you," she replied.

"You are troubled," Fuga said. "I can hear it in your words."

"Yes, but there is nothing I can do about it now," Kamui said.

"There is something you can do about it," Fuga said. "You must gather your courage and do what you believe is right. Whatever you decide, I wish to send our Hayato to assist you."

Hayato stepped up next to Fuga bearing a very serious expression. "Good day."

"You're a... serious tyke, aren't you?" Kamui asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"Do not sell Hayato short," Fuga said with a little laughter while Hayato appeared to be unsatisfied being described that way. "Do not judge him by his youthful appearance. He has mastered many skills that will make him invaluable."

"You'll be glad to have me on your team," Hayato insisted.

Kamui nodded. "I won't refuse your help. Any help we can get right now is appreciated." She motioned for Hayato to follow her, and then she noticed that Kaze was standing behind her. It was hard not to get lost in his gentle demeanor. And that's when she remembered... she was worried about having to take Xander away from Rynah, but... Xander wasn't the only character that could die on this path if she wasn't careful. She looked up at Kaze, wanting to tell him everything, ready to burst into tears. If... if they were not ready to be married...

"Lady Kamui," Kaze said. "Are you all right?"

"Never been better," she answered quickly. "We have to... we have to go!"