Introduction

Disclaimer: Fire Emblem and any associated official story elements, characters, items, music, etcetera are the property of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. This is merely a personal interpretation of their work, and is in no way intended for profiteering.

If you want to, you can read this detailed explanation now. Or you can go back to check this in full if you want later, if you get confused by some of my writing and find a need for some referencing. By all means, your choice. If you like the latter option, skip a couple of lines down to the Prologue.

I will give a note of appreciation to mallowboo, an artist from Deviantart. A comic of hers inspired this project, along with a picture of Ike and Marth I happened upon, not sure by whom. Suffice to say, I don't ship that pairing, but that one line in the image will be noticeable in my story.

Recommended for those who have some insight into Fire Emblem lore, including that of the newest game, Awakening. Some plot elements are maybe featured in other fan works, but rest assured I have read nearly no Fire Emblem fan fics before making this, which means any seemingly copied ideas are merely coincidental. Promise.

It will not explain everything a Fire Emblem newcomer wants to know about the series, just so you know. Depending on player choices in the actual game, some characters in this story may or may not be dead. But this is my perspective used, so they all live. Or maybe not? Also, some characters can seem out of place, like if they've joined too early, or are supposed to be gone. I also interpret their pasts and their personalities in my own way. Please bear with me, this is mostly for fun. I just happen to like continuities that make sense, and blah blah-

Eh-hrm... on to the rest.

This Awakening tactician is called Robin, and is male. Default name is because of laziness... and looks are left up to the reader's imagination. He might be more central to the plot in possible follow-ups, since the player avatar's presence is admittedly limited here.

Possible plot holes and mistakes regarding the characters from games I haven't played are expected. Not to mention several regional or translational differences in FE name and country spelling (I spelt Archanea as Akaneia, for example, though the latter may be the correct one... I don't know).

This story contains some battles of a pretty violent nature, but nothing REALLY gory. Instead, it focuses more on one character, and his interactions with others, as well as a lot of personal development. At the very least, I hope you'll have a few good laughs along the way. Though bear with me on some thick melodrama parts, as well. I might change the amount of such text based on what you guys think. Do tell if some parts feel forced! I've written the main body of this in less than three weeks, so... blandness could have happened in many places...

This is my first published fan work EVER, so the beginning chapters might be slow because of my lacking skill when I started. It picks up pace after chapter 2, in my opinion.

Now enjoy, without further boring intro text! Phew...

Fire Emblem: Awakening: A Reason To Exist

Prologue: Unaware

At the end of a long story being told, a fierce hand gesture swept by a young man's face. The person telling this man the story certainly had poetic fervor...

"And finally, on the last strike, the Dark Dragon roared in defeat, not understanding how he was bested by a mere mortal prince. His pride was his downfall, like so many other tyrants across history. And the world knew peace again, for but a short time." The gesturing man finished.

" Splendid!" The listener grinned, and clapped his hands three times. The storytelling man looked proud, yet somewhat embarassed too.

"P-Please, Robin. That was nothing special, really..."

"Those are some pretty fascinating tales you had to share, Marth. Nice of you to take your time in the middle of the night to do so." The man named Robin said, adjusting his seat and putting his hands on the table. Marth and he were sitting on opposite chairs in Robin's tent, discussing their adventures. The whole camp was fairly silent, and it was getting late. A clouded half-moon slowly rose in the starry sky. "Everyone is fighting desperately... against Plegia, the Risen, and what feels like everything else. We're in deep Pegasus dung." Robin jested, recounting several of their current worries. "Glad you're on our side, it evens the odds. I may be the royal army tactician, but without guys like you, I'd have way less chances of pulling us all through."

The once again composed and dignified man in front of him nodded. His finely brushed hair was a deep blue, reaching down a little bit below his ears. He wore a blue cape, which was red on the inside facing his back. Dark blue shoulder pads, a gold-lined blue tunic covering light chain-mail, slim blue trousers... he was a keen admirer of the color. He also wore a plain gold tiara, bestowed upon him by his sister long ago, a certain Princess Elice.

"Likewise, Robin." Marth responded. "I could not let this situation get out of hand. As ruler of Altea, nay, all Akaneia, my presence is required here, lest this crisis reaches my own borders. At this rate, it very well may..." Marth said, and brought a gloved hand up to his chin. "Although, it was on the initiative of Old Hubba that I came along first... I also don't remember how I came to Talys that day, when we first met, you "Shepherds" and I. One moment I was in the royal capital, and the next... shazam! I'm fighting. It doesn't puzzle me too much, though. Gods know I've seen stranger things..."

In Robin's mind, this living legend among them was one of the stranger things. When the tactician's affiliates, the Shepherds of Ylisse, entered a strange gate on an island southwest of Ylisstol, the capital of their kingdom, they had been thrown into a strange world, perhaps another time. The island kingdom of Talys, long gone, stood in all its humble glory before them, and with it also strong warriors of unknown origins. Old Hubba, an absent-minded and slightly perverted old fortuneteller had asked Robin's friend and the Prince of Ylisse, Chrom, to fight against these rogue "spirits". That part only made sense after the fight, when Marth joined them. Contrary to his appearance, the man was long dead, but his memories, looks and battle prowess had before death been recorded on a magical card, known as an Einherjar. This card, along with some others, were given to the Shepherds before they left the so-called Outrealms, and they summoned them when they returned to their encampment. It was hard to make sense of it in the end, even for those with broad, accepting minds.

"Well, even if he's just a spirit, he's very popular in camp. Although the Einherjar do lack a certain element of... awareness. Like their minds are set in one direction. But, Chrom is just happy to have a sparring partner that can knock him down in under a minute. Hard standards, trying to beat one who looks like a young man, but has the knowledge of a full life spent." Robin thought, smirking. "He's certainly no bore, either! Even Vaike was stunned when Marth scarfed down a piece of roast venison in ten seconds, and then stood up for a, heh heh, mighty belch! Although that's cheating, since Marth is a... ghost, kind of..."

Suddenly, Robin felt a twinge of pity. This spirit warrior had no idea all he held dear was long buried by the sands of time. His allies, friends, family. Not that he seemed bothered, or even close to aware of such things. He was simply here, ready to fight for a new cause. Or at least, that was how his quest would start off...

At first, he had seemed cold and unreachable, like he was perpetually focused on one thing only. As the weeks went by, people talked to him, socialized and learned of his past, slowly making him show reaction and emotion. Chrom decided to not summon him back into his calling card, once he'd distinguished himself in several battles. This "spirit" did not seem like just a weapon anymore.

Robin let go of the thought to tell Marth all that. He wouldn't grasp it anyway.

"Well, I'm off to bed. That story tuckered me out... Um, not that it was boring, oh no no! ...You should get some rest as well, my liege."

"No need to be so formal, Robin. You're enough of a friend that I don't need you kissing my boots." Marth waved respectfully with a smirk, and walked off to his tent, whistling a strange tune.

"...Wait, does he even sleep? Wonder why Chrom let him and the other spirits have their own tents..." Robin thought as he himself lay down on his bunk and drifted off into dreams.

They were dreadful. He stood beneath a cliff, looking up at an outcropping of rock forming a narrow walkway above. At its tip stood a blonde woman in green robes, with a crown shaped like an angelic halo, which shone in the sweltering sunshine. After finishing a speech to a large crowd of her enemies, she voluntarily fell, and landed with a crack on the stone ground below. When he woke next morning with a start, sweat in his face, he was glad to get into his robes and go get breakfast as soon as possible. Although some days, spending time with this army was a zany nightmare in itself...