Author's Note: Knowledge of Fire Emblem is unnecessary for this story. All will be self-explanatory or otherwise explained.

Chapter 1

"Who's next?!" Yang challenged. She clashed her metal gauntlets together, generating an ear-splitting metallic crash. A pair of men entered the ring and dragged her previous opponent away. The half-conscious man was bleeding from the nose and groaning. That was the fate of pretty much everyone who stepped into the ring against Yang. She dominated the tournaments sponsored by her liege Princess Weiss, but this was nothing of the sort. Instead of closely officiated fights held in the castle courtyard, Yang was fighting in the basement of a tavern. She was willing to take on all comers, armed and armored as they pleased, just so long as they were willing to risk their hard-earned cash.

As much as the tavern's owner Junior hated to see his patrons beaten to a pulp, he had to admit that Yang's visits were good for business. Men - and even some women - came from all over the city to see her fight. It helped that the only armor she was was her gauntlets, and the only clothing a few thin shreds of strategically placed cloth. On normal nights Junior struggled to turn a profit. When Yang showed up the combination of coin spent on drinks and a cut of the wagers meant he made as much in one night as he would usually expect in a week.

"Is that all?!" Yang shouted one last challenge. It was late. She was perfectly willing to take on another fight, and collect some more gold, but heading back to the castle to rest in luxury was an attractive prospect. "Pathetic. Junior, where's my gold?" Junior produced a hefty sack of coins. He took 50% of whatever Yang earned but that still left what for most people was a small fortune.

"Hold on just a second." A voice called from the crowd. A quartet of heavily armed and armored men pushed their way through the crowd. "We've got a proposition for you."

Yang recognized the man. Cardin Winchester. He was a small-time mercenary who led a tiny band of miscreants. He was arrogant. Yang had long wanted to punch the smug smile off his face. "Let's hear it." Yang said.

"I bet you can't beat the four of us at once." Cardin said.

"Why should I agree to fight you four?" Yang asked. "That hardly sounds fair."

"If you can beat us, I'll double your take." Cardin said. "If we win, you go home empty handed."

Yang sized up the challengers. Cardin, no problem. She was less familiar with his hangers-on, Russel, Dove and Sky. They had a reputation as brawlers, but they usually fought people much weaker than them. They were scum. Heavily armored scum, but scum nonetheless. She could take them. "Deal." Yang said. "I expect to be paid when I wipe the floor with you." She made her way back into the ring and awaited her challengers.

"You know I'm good for the money." Cardin said. Yang was not so sure, but hey, if that was what it took to kick Cardin's ass, fine. He and his pals entered the ring, immediately spreading out to surround Yang.

Yang was beginning to have second thoughts. Cardin and his pals had played her. They were trained warriors - even if their training was not nearly on the level of hers - not drunken morons. And their weapons were sharp. Yang was wearing pretty much nothing. One good hit and she would have to concede, lest she risk death. To win she was going to have to take out all four without even being touched. At the end of the night, she was fatigued too. A few hours of fighting had surely dulled her a bit.

What was Yang thinking? She was going to kick their asses, no problem. "Give the word Junior." She commanded.

"You sure about this blondie?" Junior asked. He was worried about his prize attraction.

"Just do it." Yang said.

"Okay." Junior sighed. "Ready...set...fight!"

All four opponents immediately lunged forward. Yang was expecting it and dropped to the ground. Cardin and his group ran into each other as Yang ducked out of the way. To avoid injuring one another they threw themselves off balance. Yang spun around on the ground and swept Sky's legs. He slammed down on his back. Yang leapt past him, punching him in the chin on her way. He was done, his jaw broken. Yang now had the three remaining fighters in front of her. Russel threw his daggers. Yang punched one out of the air and side-stepped the other. That put her right in Cardin's path. He brought his mace crashing down but Yang caught it. With a twist he was completely off balance. She lifted him up, spun around and tossed him into Russel. Both crashed to the ground, sliding out of the ring and out of the fight.

But Yang had lost track of Dove. She heard him grunt from behind her and she dive-rolled forward, spinning around to face him. Dove stood there with his sword at the ready, but a flash of yellow caught Yang's attention. It was some of her hair, a bit stuck on the edge of Dove's blade and more settling to the ground between them. "You monster!" Yang screamed. Her gauntlets, legendary weapons - collectively named Ember Celica - infused with magical material, burst into flames in response to the wielder's rage. She charged at Dove, flaming gauntlets at the ready.

"Oh gods I yield!" Dove screamed. He dropped his sword and shielded his face with his arms. Yang pulled up just short of the cowering man. Her anger faded and along with it the flames. Dove was simply too pathetic to be angry at.

"And our winner, Yang Xiao-Long." Junior said with a sigh of relief.

Yang raised her hands in triumph, running around the ring and playing to the cheering crowd. "I'm not done!" Cardin shouted from behind her. He lunged toward her with his mace. Yang was caught off guard and had no chance of blocking the heinous assault.

A chill filled the air and Cardin stopped dead, frozen in place. "You must be more careful." Weiss admonished, pointing her sword - Myrtenaster, a divine weapon that allowed the wielder to use magic without tomes - toward the now frozen Cardin. "What have I told you about letting your emotions get the better of you?"

"P-princess!" Yang exclaimed. She prostrated herself before the royal as did the rest of the crowd.

"You may rise." Weiss said. "And I suggest the rest of you leave. The show's over." The gathered crowd made for the exits. Weiss walked over to Cardin. "As for you…" She tapped her sword against him. He unfroze and dropped to the ground in a heap. "...I have decided to overlook this transgression against my retainer. Do not make me regret my decision."

Cardin groaned and stumbled to his feet. Russel helped him away while Dove dragged Sky out. "What about my gold?" Yang called after them. "Or do you need to be taught another lesson?"

Russel grabbed a pouch off of Cardin's belt. "I swear, it's all we have." He said, terror in his voice.

"Just give me the damn coins." Yang demanded.

Russel tossed the pouch. Weiss intercepted it just before it reached Yang's hands. It was clearly far less than promised. "Leave, now." Weiss commanded. Cardin and his group hurried out as best they could.

"Thanks for the save princess." Yang said. "Last time I turn my back on that asshole."

The expression on Weiss' face showed she was not amused. "What is my retainer doing fighting in this dive?" Weiss asked. "This is far beneath your station. And your state of dress! You look like a cheap whore!"

"I was just trying to make some money..." Yang replied.

"Do I not pay you enough?" Weiss demanded. "Is that it?"

"No, you pay me plenty." Yang said. "It's just a little boring sitting around the castle all day. I mean, it's nice and all, but exciting is not a word I would use to describe it."

"What would your father say if he saw you now?" Weiss pressed.

"Knowing him he'd probably be impressed." Yang laughed.

"Silence!" Weiss shouted. "This is no laughing matter. Is this the kind of example you wish to set for your sister? Brawling with drunks while half-naked? You should be ashamed."

"I'm sorry." Yang said, hanging her head. "You're right. This is unbecoming of a knight."

"You are forgiven." Weiss said. "But do not involve yourself in anything like this ever again, or I will be forced to find a new retainer."

"I'm very sorry Your Majesty, I hate to interrupt, but…" Junior cut in. He was holding the bag of coins Yang had earned.

"Keep it." Weiss said.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty." Junior said, bowing his head.

"You did not let me finish." Weiss said. "No more fights. Only officially sanctioned tournaments are allowed in my realm. I will not turn a blind eye while you support hooliganism."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Junior sighed. His haul from the night was sizable but he would have to go back to just scraping by soon enough. Still, as a royal princess and the Duchess of Chon'sin, Weiss' word was law.

"Now Yang, let us return to the castle." Weiss said. "I grow weary of these...surroundings."

As it turned out, Weiss had not entirely forgiven Yang. There was punishment in store the following day. Normally Yang would spend the day training with her sister and some of the other knights. She was the best unarmed combatant in Chon'sin and passed on those skills to the younger soldiers. Today she would be forced to accompany Weiss as she went about the business of ruling the Duchy. Weiss heard petitioner after petitioner, making decisions and dispensing justice. It was terribly boring. Weiss knew it was driving Yang crazy and that was the point. If Yang transgressed because she was bored, Weiss was going to show her just how boring things could be. Worse still, Yang was forced to wear her full set of plate armor, something she rarely did. It was hot and unpleasant to be in after any stretch of time. Yang normally wore more than she had at the tavern, but not nearly so much. Weiss was very, very good at making a point.

Weiss was also very good at ruling her Duchy. It was all the more remarkable because of her youth and inexperience. The same age as Yang, she had been granted the Duchy by her father, the emperor, only a little over a year before. Legally she was an adult, and as a member of the royal family she was expected to take part in the governance of the empire. Chon'sin had once been an independent kingdom, but war with the empire had seen its absorption and demotion. Weiss' father had prosecuted the war, and the late stages had been rather brutal. Now the original royal family of Chon'sin were all dead. But that was long ago. The emperor had been a young man then. Memories could be surprisingly short.

The people of Chon'sin still held a degree of resentment toward Weiss and her family. Being ruled by a foreign power was humiliating. But Weiss' fair and attentive rule made her popular. There had not been the slightest hint of unrest since she had taken her place as Duchess. It helped that she had been raised there in preparation for one day taking the position, and her government still included a large number of local aristocrats.

Yang was one. Her youth did not stand in the way of her being Weiss' Master of Soldiers, the Duchy's top military advisor and Weiss' effective second-in-command. She was a knight like her father - Taiyang - before her. He was a little too young to have taken part in the war, but his father had backed the empire. When he too threw his support behind the empire his wife - Yang's mother Raven Branwen - left him to join what little resistance to imperial rule remained. Not all memories were short. Then had come a marriage to a knight - Summer Rose - from Rosanne. The union produced Yang's half-sister Ruby but was sadly short lived. Summer died in battle against rebels. It was rumored that she had been sought out and killed by Raven herself. For his part Taiyang did not believe it. Yang and Ruby did not believe it either.

Ruby was a newly minted knight in her own rite. She was still in training but soon she would take her place alongside her sister as one of Weiss' top retainers. Her martial skill made that a given. Having always wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps, it was something she looked forward to. Just being knighted had been a dream come true. She was unconventional - wielding a scythe rather than the traditional sword, axe or lance - but that only made her a more dangerous fighter. Like Yang's, her weapon - Crescent Rose - was imbued with legendary properties, the blade forged from steel said to have been blessed by Naga. It gave its wielder super-human speed the way Yang's gauntlets lent her super-human strength.

The monotony of the day was broken by an unexpected arrival. "Ambassadors from Regna Ferox." Yang announced. A pair entered, a man and a woman. They did not look much like ambassadors, cloaked in rather simple black and white clothing rather than the ornate attire that would be expected. But with Ferox that was not surprising. Diplomacy was not their strong suit, and they often employed soldiers as their ambassadors. The pair did not look like they were Feroxi either, but that too was not a surprise. Ferox had long employed foreigners with exceptional martial skill. The pair approached, bowing before Weiss' throne.

"Welcome to Chon'sin." Weiss said with a bow. "What business do you have with my duchy?" The ambassadors did not respond. "Perhaps you require a translator." Weiss mused.

The ambassadors leapt up and the charade was broken. Both drew swords and lunged at Weiss. Yang was too far away to help, positioned as she was by the door, and Weiss was unarmed. The man swung his sword at Weiss. It was a katana, the traditional sword of Chon'sin. He must have been involved with the resistance. Weiss ducked and the blade struck her throne, cutting through the gilded wood chair. Weiss was off balance and the man was ready to strike again. To her shock the woman stepped between her and the would-be assassin and caught his blade on her own, a wakizashi. "What are you doing?!" The man demanded.

"The right thing." The woman declared. The pair strained against one another.

By now Yang was upon them. She leapt into a punch at the man but he spun around and blocked the strike before ducking out of the way to let the woman's blade slip toward Yang. The woman held up just before contact. The man got behind Yang and kicked her, sending her tumbling into the woman and Weiss. The assassin then turned and ran, bisecting a guard foolish enough to try to stop him. The rest of the soldiers present rushed to Weiss' side. They were unarmed in accordance with court procedure, but they would defend her with their lives.

Yang pinned the woman to the ground. "Who sent you?" She demanded. "Are you with the anti-Schnee resistance?"

"No, I'm an exile." The woman said. "That man, on the other hand, is. But the resistance is not responsible, nor is Regna Ferox. I'll tell you everything if you just release me."

"Yeah right." Yang said. "I'm not falling for that."

"Yang, confiscate her weapon and allow her to speak." Weiss commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Yang sighed. The woman willingly handed over her blade and Yang allowed her to stand.

"Who are you?" Weiss asked.

"Blake Belladonna." The woman replied. "My family fled Chon'sin for Ferox when your father invaded. I am a soldier in the employ of the government-in-exile."

"That makes you my enemy." Weiss warned. "Why would you save me?"

"As much as I would like to see the monarchy restored, I will not support tactics as deplorable as assassination." Blake answered. "And from what I understand you are a just leader."

"You said the resistance did not send you." Weiss said. "Who did?"

"You will not believe me." Blake warned.

"Just tell me." Weiss demanded.

"The emperor." Blake replied. Weiss and the assembled crowd shared an audible gasp.

"That's preposterous." Weiss said. "Why would my father send assassins to kill me?"

"He wishes to start a war with Regna Ferox." Blake explained. "By posing as ambassadors of Ferox and killing his daughter, we were to provide him the justification he needs."

"I refuse to believe you." Weiss said. "You are a liar and an enemy. Take her away."

"I have proof, though I doubt it will sway you." Blake said as a pair of soldiers took hold of her. "In my pocket. I have the orders sent by the emperor." Yang reached into Blake's pocket and pulled out a letter. She handed it to Weiss.

Weiss read it over, becoming visibly distressed as she did so. "No, this is impossible." Weiss said, shaking her head. "There's no way."

"Is that not his handwriting?" Blake asked. "Is that not his seal?"

"It...it is." Weiss admitted. "How can this be?"

"He is an evil man." Blake said. "He values power and control more than his own daughter. Or his wife."

"What do you mean his wife?" Weiss asked.

"Another team of assassins has been sent to kill your mother." Blake replied. "It is his insurance against a failure to kill you."

"Yang!" Weiss shouted. "Have a warning sent to the capital. They must…"

"It's already too late." Blake said. "The attacks were to happen simultaneously. If the plan was successful, your mother is already dead."

"But...I...no...there has to be…" Weiss stammered.

"And now you know too much." Blake said. "Adam, your would-be assassin, will report to the emperor that not only did we fail, that the orders fell into your hands. The emperor will silence you. He cannot risk the truth coming to light." Weiss stared in silence. In an instant her world had been shattered. "You have three choices. You may accept your fate and die. You may go into exile. Or you may fight. Your father must be stopped. The world must not fall under his iron fist."

"I...I refuse to believe this." Weiss said. "Yang, send a Pegasus rider to the capital. Notify them of the assassination attempt and warn them of a possible attempt on the empress' life."

"This course leads to your death." Blake warned. "You must prepare yourself."

"And double my bodyguard." Weiss added. "Put the militia on alert as well."

"If you will have me, I will fight for you." Blake offered. "I know you cannot possibly trust me, but you will need all the help you can get."

"Put her in prison...for now." Weiss ordered. She was beginning to regain her composure. "Let us see how the situation develops."