Fuyu No Hana (Fire Emblem Fates)

Chapter 1: "I'm Sorry, Father"

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem Fates or any of it's characters. Some children will have altered appearances to suit their parentage. This is written purely for entertainment, and all harmful comments shall be deleted, or reported if severe enough.

"You should be sorry. Forrest, I told you before. You are not a girl."

Forrest stood there clutching a silk scarf to his chest, looking at the ground. It was a deep shade of blue and shimmering, a beautiful garment but nontheless scourned by Leo.

"You are future king of Nohr. You need to stop these girlish habits." Leo sighed and rubbed his head as if it was tiring enough just looking at his son.

Forrest fought the urge to protest, instead squeezing the scarf tighter.

Ever since Leo brought him back from his Deeprealm, his patronizing personality had been very harsh on him. Forrest wasn't even aware he was king until his aunt Camilla told him. Apparently, his uncle Xander and his other aunt Elise had passed away during war. How? He was never told.

"Yes, Father."

"No Forrest, no Yes Fathers. You need to learn. It's time you were trained properly to wield Brynhildr." Leo's eyes were sharp.

"B-Brynhildr?!"

"Yes. You are the crown prince. You will need to learn it." the king held out the tome.

Forrest was shaking. "Father... I..."

"Don't say you can't. You are my son. Of course you can."

"I... I need to think..." Forrest immediately turned heel and ran. Leo's calls got fainter as he made his way down the corridors.

He closed his chamber door behind him.

Father wants me to learn how to use Brynhildr... but... am I really able to use such a dark power? the thoughts raced through his mind, and he sat down on his bed.

"Forrest?" a small voice piped.

Forrest turned to his door to see young Siegbert. His little blonde curls were messy with bedhead. His big blue eyes blinked in the morning light. He must have woken a while ago.

"Hello Siegbert..." Forrest rubbed his eyes. He was tired. Tired of all of this.

"You know, you shouldn't take it to heart like this." someone else walked in. Soleil, another one of Forrest's cousins, sat down next to him, pushing a loose purple strand out of her eyes. Her hair was some of the messiest in the morning. Then again, it was probably messy from tossing and turning all the time.

"I don't."

"Maybe not the stop-being-such-a-girl part, but Leo hasn't disowned you or anything. He still loves you in the end. He's just... stressed. Being king is a heavy burden. And he's worried about his tome falling in the wrong hands." Soleil fixed her hairband, a present from her deceased father.

"I don't seem like a likely choice. And... that tome can be used to harm people savagely. I'm not ready for that kind of power. I'm just a troubadour."

"Right now. But what about later? Who knows? Maybe some day you'll pick up that tome and you'll just click." Soleil snapped her fingers. "And like that, you could be one of the most amazing mages on the continent!"

"It may be in my bloodline, but so is my mother. What if I'm fated to be more like her?"

"Forrest, you never knew your mother..."

"I know that. And that's what worries me. What if she was cold and stone-hearted? What if she tried some trickery which ended in her executed or banished? Is that why she's gone? Is it?!" the prince blurted out all his questions. Soleil looked thoughtful for a moment. Siegbert had lost interest in their conversation and had been gazing out the window. He jumped at the outburst.

"Forrest, look at me for a second." Soleil's expression was sincere and serious.

"Soleil, this is what-"

"Before he died my father was a great man. And we Nohrian royals had a stereotype of choosing partners for power, not love. But my mother chose a man who could make her laugh, blush and genuinely cared about her. I have faith in who your mother was. And I think you should too. Who knows? Maybe you get this from her." she prodded his chest where his heart was.

"... thank you, Soleil."

"No prob, buddy. Just call up on your ol' big cousin when you need to chat!" Soleil then got up. "I got work to do today. Mind Siegbert, will ya?" Soleil whistled as she strolled out. When her collar moved, you could see her birthmark between her neck and shoulder.

Forrest took a deep breath. Soleil was right. Even if he wasn't ready now, he was still young and had much to learn. Some day he might be sure enough to pick up Brynhildr and use it with pride.

That day was not today, however.

"Forrest." Leo stood in the doorway, making the prince jump ten feet.

"Hello, Father. You startled me."

"Indeed I did..."