The Cursed Knight - (ASoIaF with JJK Elements, Daemon!SI)
If there is a god, then he has a deep sense of irony.
To put it bluntly, being reincarnated as the one character I loathed about the House of Dragons was something deeply amusing for whoever set me up into this new lease on life.
Daemon Targaryen, second son of Prince Baelon and young brother of future King Viserys I. The 'King that never was for good reasons', the notorious 'man-whore', the 'King of the Pirates and of Flea Bottom'. If you haven't noticed just now, I had listed a few titles that weren't canon to the plot, but were fairly close to the harsh truth. A man-child, a fanboy of Aegon the Conqueror, a good warrior but shitty husband material (and king at that).
That being said, someone found it funny to drop into the little babe that would become the biggest shite of the land and, admittedly so, I loathed my situation from the very moment I could understand what was up. Under the care and rule of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Westeros was finally 'leaving' the messy times that was the rule of Maegor the Cruel. It has been the case for decades now, for King Jaehaerys was my grandpa, and he was slowly setting up the game for another period of instability.
After all, there is a inkling of truth within the saying 'with each Targaryen, a coin is flipped - madness or greatness' for there was indeed something about us Targs that made us so 'coin-flippingly' difficult to predict: Aegon conquered Westeros, but did not truly reform its rule. A quick look to some old journals, which were still easy to find with how 'close' it was to Aegon's reign compared to canon 'Game of Thrones', highlight how Aegon found out the hard way that ruling over Westeros, regardless of his velvety glove over his massive fire-breathing lizard, the nobles were conniving piece of shits that allowed Maegor to take over Aenys.
The harsh truth is not that Targs were 'bad' in the way many were keen to paint them - we were bad because we were foreign invaders that had the means to fucking kick ass if needed. And, despite that, some still weaved a path to power. At the upcoming stage, with my brother to eventually rise to King due to a series of unfortunate events which split the family in half, two factions were to be looked warily about: the Greens led by the 'Locals' trying to exert dominance over the king and the Blacks which would rally under a more centralist and autocratic domination.
Because it can never be about people - it was about general politics. As if Otto Hightower gave a rat's ass if his grandkid was gonna become king. He just wanted to be the one 'leashing' the king and create a pattern. Likewise, those vying under Rhaenyra were Targ lovers that saw nothing wrong in a strong king/queen in charge.
But then that leaves me in a dilemma: should I pursue a canon path, or carve my own?
Mind you, the second options does present some difficulties that rendered half of my knowledge worthless at best. The issue with going 'AU' on those circumstances has less to do with the way I handled myself and more on the goals. In this wild world where magic is a dying thing that would eventually make a comeback, you either are ambitious through the way of the sword, or through diplomatic means.
The former guarantees you a strong start for a domination, the other allows you to create a solid foundation that could outlast what the previous option could offer.
Looking at Aegon's diaries and what I knew on the matter, the man tried both and fucked up twice over.
In fact, despite what many would say, there is a Targ that is now my ancestor who I looked fondly at due to her unique position through the times she was alive: Visenya.
Sure, many were not as keen to see well of the brutish queen that propped up Maegor's ascent to power, yet her pre-Rhaenys' death feats are nothing to scoff at. She was the one that kept behind to forge the statal system currently in use, and while Rhaenys did tinker with the laws, it was Visenya that eyed with attention the necessity of some important laws that Aegon signed onto.
Even going beyond Rhaenys' death, there is a point to be made over the succession. Do I think Maegor deserved to rule? No. At least, not if it was a matter of attitude for ruling. Maegor was like Daemon as in he loved combat, but worse. A ruler? That wouldn't do. However, Visenya was correct to be angry at her bro-hubby for passing over the son from his first marriage over Rhaenys. It is also true Aenys was picked because his mother died young and it hurt Aegon Deeply.
Thus, there is a reasoning to how far things went and all. And I really didn't blame Visenya for what she did and more blamed her for how she did it all.
Still, I suppose you may be wondering now why I was mentioning Visenya. For, I will be honest, I can tell someone may already be aware that this isn't a mere 'fanboying' session. Oh no, this had to do with a discovery I made after I made it to 16.
To prevent surprises over non canon chances, I had actually followed most of Daemon's life to a T up to 16. I wasn't a bastard of a man, this much I held back from showing off as I really didn't need to piss off people - especially among my family. But that didn't stop me from receiving Dark Sister by grandpa king when I secured a Knighthood.
And as I got to hold and test the mighty Valyrian Sword, gawking over how good of a sword it was compared to my previous one, I also learned that one thing many tended to gloss over Visenya.
Is that a swing? Rhaenys could hit better than that.
I paused, the training spot in the courtyard meant to be empty as I turned around to identify the source of that jab. I looked, I looked, and I frowned.
I chalked it out as a passing lady comparing me to cousin Rhaenys. Which would make a whole lot of sense since at court some people were still displeased with her being passed over as a potential heiress. The Queen that Never Was still had some sway in court but... I was confused as I wasn't Viserys and definitely not anywhere close to be seen as heir with my father still around.
Shrugging, I got back to slashing at the dummy, slacking on purpose as I wanted to test out the full weight of the sword and-
As if you can get anything with that open of a stance.
Okay, someone is really taking the piss at me.
"Who is here?!" I thundered, glaring around for any potential fool trying to provoke my ire. I wasn't an asshole, but I could be one if someone took an active effort in annoying me. It was my little break from not only being given the knigthood and the mighty sword, but also a marriage with Rhea Royce which I wasn't sure how to tackle. Definitely not pissing the Vale this time around, but still... yeah, that was-
No one.
I froze up instinctively as I found no one talking nearby but the voice was close. So close that it felt like she was on my shoulder but... no, I turned to the sword. Was it meant to glow such a darkly light?
No one, but me, of course.
"...Hello Magic Talking Sword."
I heard her scoff.
Of course my family would be growing so dim after my son's passing.
This was all it took for me to connect dots. It was Dark Sister, which had a single known female wielder, this was magic at play, and the mention of a son that died...
"Lady Visenya?"
Oh well, perhaps there is a saving grace out of you. Beyond the notion you can actually tap in my last resort, that is.
...
"What?"
Worry not, there is enough time to explain and even more to teach. After all, it is high time our family is brought back to proper shape!
...
"I am the second son, I am not inheriting-"
Not with that attitude, Daemon!
And this is how I learned that Visenya found a way to possess the sword through dark magic, persist for as long as needed and...
Became my coach in becoming the coolest warrior but also how to bed as many women as I needed to 'reach the top'.
AN
This is not your regular ASoIaF, not when Cursed Energy is involved and Daemon is actually 'sane'.