"So... like this?"

"Yeah, like that."

"And then we simply cast it out?"

"Yeah, just cast it out as far as you can throw it."

Much to Ananias' surprise, despite Leo's self-admitted lack of experience, he cast his lure quite well. "Like that?" he asked, turning to Ananias as if seeking for approval that Ananias felt that he did not need.

Ananias continued to stare in awe at the lure that Leo had successfully cast into the lake. "Yeah, like that." He turned to the lord. "Have you really never fished before?"

Leo looked towards the lake that they were fishing at with a satisfied smile. "Not a day in my life. I was too wrapped up in my studies to ever entertain such an activity, but after you and I agreed to it, I decided that I would study up on it to make the experience a little bit easier. I'm guessing then that my efforts were not in vain?"

"I'll say," Ananias murmured, baiting his hook and then casting his lure into the lake besides Leo's. "Depending on what you've read, you may actually know more about fishing than I do. All I've ever learned came from my father and even he wasn't exactly a pro when it came to all this."

Leo glanced at Ananias and raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Is that so? But if that was the case, then why did he introduce you to fishing in the first place?"

"Probably as a way to help me cope," Ananias answered. "I spent a lot of my childhood trying to be whatever I thought my family wanted me to be. I ran myself ragged emotionally, mentally, and physically. I guess it got to the point where my father started to seriously worry about my health and well-being, so one day, he got a some fishing equipment, took me to a lake, and then suggested that we learn how to fish. When I asked him why, he just said that it seemed like a relaxing thing we could do together and, well, it just kind of stuck."

Leo nodded thoughtfully. "He did that for you, huh?"

Ananias nodded. "Yeah."

"Is being a part of your family really that difficult?"

Ananias shrugged. "Well, I don't think anyone would ever get away with saying that it's easy, but I think it's kind of obvious that I made it a whole lot harder than it ever had to be. It was all in my head, you know? Still is, to be honest. But that's why I do stuff like this every once in a while. To relax and clear my head a bit. Or, at least, I do it for my dad's sake. Otherwise, he'd probably end up worrying about me."

Leo smiled fondly. "It sounds like you and your dad are very close."

"Well, yeah. I mean, I love my mom and all, but there's only ever going to be one of him, you know? We've got that in common."

"Of course."

The two of them said nothing for a long time, with nothing but the sounds of nature to fill in the long moment of silence. "So, um," Ananias eventually said, "while we're on the subject of dads, if you don't mind me asking... what's King Garon like? As a father, I mean. I can't imagine that it was easy."

Leo sadly chuckled. "No, it never was, but it used to be easier." He smiled fondly. "I still remember the days when he used to play with me and help tutor me in the ways of magic. There were certainly times when I was afraid of him, but I remember loving him and admiring him even more than fearing him back then." His face fell. "But then suddenly, all of that changed. Now, I feel like I'm just afraid of him."

"... do you have any theories? Of, you know, why he changed?"

Leo shook his head. "No, not really. All of the things that troubled him then still trouble him now. Nothing much has really changed and if they have, it's solely because they're reacting to how he's changed."

Ananias uncomfortably cleared his throat. "Um, not to sound insensitive or anything, but do you think that the pressures of being a king in Nohr just sort of... broke him... a little... maybe?"

Leo shook his head. "No. Despite all of the pressures and burdens of ruling, the King Garon I knew would never allow himself to break, for his sake, for his family's sake, and for Nohr's. Whatever changed him is something else entirely, I just know it."

Ananias pondered over this for a moment. "... the whole not-letting-himself-break thing. Can you relate?"

Leo's eyes widened in surprise at such a question. "Huh? Well, yes. I am royalty after all."

"So if you weren't royalty, would the burden of being royalty have broken you by now?"

"Your wording is strange, but I understand what you're getting at." Leo thought long and hard over how he planned to answer. "I suppose the most honest answer I can give is that I wouldn't know. Ever since I was born, I was told what was expected from me, from my mother, from my father, and from others. And while I don't have a particularly high opinion of my mother or 'others', the fact remains that as a crown prince of Nohr, I am not permitted the luxury of breaking. If I did, it would cause a ripple effect that I would have little to no chance of controlling. My family has to be strong. I need to be strong. My parents knew this, which is why they instilled this into me. It's all I've ever known."

"Humph, sounds stressful."

Leo smirked. "This coming from you of all people?"

"Well, yeah. Sounds like a hell you can't escape from."

Leo chuckled. "And the pot calls the kettle black."

"Well, it is. And it's not like I'm saying my hell is any better or anything."

"Really? Because I'd argue that what you said insinuated that you thought your 'hell' was better."

"Well, I guess, but... at least I wasn't really born into it, you know?"

"True, but you admitted that your 'hell' was one of your own making. So, in a sense, I'd say that you are in a worse position than I am."

Ananias sighed. "Look, let's just agree that being in a hell of any kind sucks and that neither of us were exactly born and raised under the best circumstances and just leave it at that, alright?"

Leo smiled. "Agreed."


Author's Note #1: The supports after Leo's will be Keaton, Subaki, and Mozu. Then, I'll finally be able to get to the Warriors supports.

Author's Note #2: The Fire Emblem Warriors poll is up on my profile. Vote for which five characters you want for Ananias to support with from that game the most and, in the end, ten characters will be selected for Ananias to support with, so make your voices heard. Happy voting!

Author's Note #3: As Ananias has no real connection to the Three Houses cast and has no real reason to be there anyway, there will be no Three Houses supports for him. I know that an Anna is in Three Houses, but if we went by that logic, Ananias would have to support with every Fire Emblem character that has ever existed, which would be unrealistic to do, at least for one person. If any of you want to do that yourselves, however, then you have my blessing, it's just that I won't be the one doing it. Sorry.