Fire Emblem

'Fire Emblem''' is a series of fantasy tactical strategy/role-playing games from the Real World, developed by Intelligent Systems and associated with Nintendo. In particular, it is known as one of the first examples of a turn-based strategy game: the first installment released in Japan on the NES in 1990. Currently it has ten whole games in the series not counting re-makes, a massive fanbase (especially in Japan) and a solid slot in gaming history.

All installments involve a mystical artifact (at least a mention) called the Fire Emblem -- and it takes many forms. A shield, a sword, a medallion, etc. etc.

Interestingly enough, main characters of the franchise debuted outside of Japan even before any releases of games in the western world.

Game Play
Game-play in Fire Emblem involves moving units around a map and triggering automated fights between adjacent units. There are many types of unit, ranging from swordsmen, to mounted knights and magic-users, to bowmen and axemen, and even to units that ride pegasi or dragon-like wyverns... and sometimes, even real dragons and other shapeshifters. There are many different weapons each unit can use, depending on skill level, and the bonuses they impart vary wildly. Units gain experience for an enemy kill, a successful attack, or a successfully dodged attack -- with an exception for healers, who gain experience for healing a target, and specialized tactical units which gain experience using their own skills. This experience is used to raise the level of a unit, and usually 'class-up' into a stronger version of that unit.

In each game, the 'main characters' that the story is focused around are generally called 'Lords' and are of a custom hero-unit type. Usually by the end of the game, the main Lord is among the strongest units in the game... and if this main lord dies, the game is over.

A particular point of note is that even though the main Lords are 'special', almost every character controllable by the player is named... and so are nearly all boss enemies. Units who die... actually die and are usually lost permanently if the player allows them to die in battle -- sometimes influencing the story if they were a major character.

Releases and Timelines
Unlike many video game series, many Fire Emblem games are not sequels -- though some are. When this is not the case, the games take place in completely different worlds and universes. Combining them without claiming to be a crossover (imparting them into the 'same' timeline/continuum) is a charge. The list of releases using original Japanese release date, as of end of 2010, is: Within these games, Fire Emblem 1-3 are sequential, Thracia 776 takes place in the same continent as Genealogy of the Holy War and the same world as Fire Emblem 1-3 but on a different continent, Blazing Sword is a prequel to Sword of Seals, and Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn are sequential.
 * Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Tsurugi/Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light (1990)
 * Fire Emblem Gaiden (1992)
 * Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo/Mystery of the Emblem (1994)
 * Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu/Genealogy of Holy War (1996)
 * Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (1999)
 * Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi/Sword of Seals (2002)
 * Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken/Blazing Sword* (2003)
 * Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004)
 * Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005)
 * Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007)
 * Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon** (2008)
 * Fire Emblem: Shin Monshō no Nazo ~Hikari to Kage no Eiyū/New Mystery of the Emblem*** (2010)

* Called simply 'Fire Emblem' in the western release -- and the first Fire Emblem game released outside of Japan.

** remake of Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Tsurugi.

*** Unreleased outside of Japan

Generally, in Badfic:
Because ALL characters, down to the most minor (except for enemy mooks) are named and often have complex backstories, the list of all the possible shipping pairings for Fire Emblem can be considered astronomically huge. This may lead to shipping wars, arguments, and really terrible interpretations of relationships in enough ways that it would take an incomprehensible entity to fully grasp all of them.

Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Tsurugi/Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light
These installments (also known as Book One) feature Marth, the prince of Altea and his quest in the world of Akaneia/Archanea. His adventures revolve around his exile, and reclaiming his kingdom and rescuing his sister from the evil priest Gharnef... and stopping the newly-resurrected Dark Dragon Medeus.

In Badfic
Because of the original version's age, not much badfic is written about this installment... save when concerning the new remake Shadow Dragon. This game is the first appearance of Marth -- who does happen to be a common Lust Object as far as fangirls are concerned. Part of this is his fame -- he was showcased as a character in Super Smash Brothers: Melee even before his own game saw a western release.

Fire Emblem Gaiden
A literal 'side story' to the original Fire Emblem, this game takes place on a different continent in Akaneia/Archanea, and follows the adventures of two friends, Alm and Celica. Although it bears little on the narrative of the first game, several characters make a repeat appearance.

In Badfic
Virtually nonexistent. As a NES game that never saw a western release, you will be hard pressed to find a fanbrat that even knows this installment exists -- or if you do, one that has played it.

Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo/Mystery of the Emblem
Including a remake of 'Book One,' Mystery of the Emblem also includes a 'Book Two' and is a direct sequel. It once again follows Marth in the wake of his apparent victory over the Dark Dragon Medeus... however, not all is as it seems, for Marth is used by a traitorous ally, Hardin (who has now risen to become Emperor of Archanea), to conquer smaller countries to expand the empire. When Marth discovers this treachery, he becomes a wanted man, and he and his army go on to retrieve the Fire Emblem again and recover the Light Orb, which he uses to defeat and free Hardin, who was under the influence of a Dark Orb. Marth defeats Hardin, but is not able to do so without killing him. Two bonus chapters reveal where the new incarnations of Gharnef and Medeus reside, and Marth defeats them again.

In Badfic
Once again, this installment features the famed Marth... but it is unreleased outside of Japan: in both the original form and in a new re-make for Nintendo DS.

Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu/Genealogy of Holy War
Taking place in the world of Jugdral, this game follows Sigurd of Chalphy -- and later his son Celice. Centuries before the onset of the game, the Dark Lord Loputosu conquered the world and sacrificed many to the Dark God... but was defeated by the Twelve Crusaders. These warriors went on to establish the kingdoms and regions of Jugdral present to the game's events. The game's plot revolves around Sigurd's fights concerning Jugdral politics and a possible return of Loputosu... and eventually Sigurd is framed and killed in a large betrayal staged by his friend, Alvis. His son Celice picks up the story 17 years later as leader of a resistance group, where he must defeat, with the help of his army, the Emperor Alvis, his son Julius, and Manfroy and the Loput Sect as they reign in terror over all of Jugdral.

In Badfic
Virtually nonexistent. This installment has not seen release outside of Japan, and it has not had a remake -- play of it outside of Japan is usually limited to very hardcore fans. Goodfic is scarce. Badfic is scarce. Fic itself is scarce.

Thracia 776
Thracia 776 occurs in the latter half of Genealogy of the Holy War, in the Republic of Manster and the Kingdom of Thracia on the continent of Jugdral. The main character is Leaf, son of the fallen Prince Cuan of Lenster, who journeys to restore the Kingdom of Lenster. It is set as a side story to Genealogy of the Holy War.

In Badfic
ALMOST ENTIRELY nonexistent. Even more obscure than Genealogy of the Holy War, so much so that knowing anything of this game is a badge of hardcore Fire Emblem Fan status on some forums. The casual Suethor player would really, really have to be impressively tenacious to even get interested in it, much less play it, as it is considered the most difficult in the series by far. Also, it's fit snugly into the narrative of two of the chapters of Genealogy of the Holy War (the two games even have some of the same characters show up), so arguably any fanfiction about Thracia fits under Genealogy as well. Practically no fanfiction at all is written about this game.

Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi/Sword of Seals
Starring Roy, this game introduces the world of Elibe, which is under siege by the nation Bern. The sinister King Zephiel, having conquered many nations, sets his sights on the Lycian League and Roy's home of Pherae. Zephiel somehow commands true dragons as part of his army, and in an effort to stop them, Roy ends up mobilizing an army to take King Zephiel and his War Dragon effort down -- with the help of the mysterious Sword of Seals.

In Badfic
Elibe has exposure as a world in fanfiction due to this game's sequel being the first Fire Emblem game released in the western world... as well as the fact that Roy debuted in Super Smash Brothers: Melee and thus has an army of misaimed fans that slaver over that fun beat-em-up appearance rather than his true, canonical one.

Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken/Blazing Sword
This game (a prequel to Sword of Seals) follows three main lords and three stories. The first is Lyn, whose story revolves around reclaiming her father's kingdom from a traitorous baron. The second is Eliwood, who is Roy's father and goes on a quest to find his father and battle Nergal, a dark Shaman who seeks to unleash dragons on the world. Eliwood's friend Hector (who is the father of Lilina, a major character in Sword of Seals) is the third and final lord, whose story is directly parallel to Eliwood's save that the point of view is changed. This game sets up the events of Sword of Seals and also provides a lot of backstory for the world of Elibe.

In Badfic
This was the first Fire Emblem game released to western audiences, and there is a large demographic that still play it even today. In particular, this game allowed the player a slot as a character known as the tactician -- a non-combatant, but the potential for Mary Sues, self-inserts, and continuum abuse is still there. Self-insert fictions in this vein are known as 'Tactician Fics', and while (as with all self-inserts) it is very possible to do them well, they are done unskillfully more often than not.

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Centered around a brother (Ephraim) and a sister (Eirika), this game takes place on the continent of Magvel -- and its storyline is unrelated to any other Fire Emblem game. The game follows these two individually as Eirika flees her kingdom of Renais... but she and her brother later reunite to fight against the Grado empire that invaded their kingdom. The mastermind is the Imperial Prince Lyon -- who was once the friend of Ephraim and Eirika -- who is possessed by the Demon King of legends.

In Badfic
There is a presence, but this game was not as well received and popular as Blazing Sword -- and because of that the badfic-producing demographic usually passes it over in favor of Blazing Sword if it plays a GBA installment at all. Also, possible twincest.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Introducing the world of Tellius, this continuum is home to the swordsman Ike, who was originally employed as part of his father Greil's mercenary group. When the Greil mercenaries come across the surviving princess of Crimea after a coup and invasion made by the army of the country Daein, they are charged with escorting her to safety. Eventually, after Ike takes control of the mercenary group, the Greil mercenaries are employed at the head of the army to not only invade Daein, but also to retake Crimea from the mad king Ashnard, whose atrocity is astounding despite the Daein's people's love and favor. Should they fail, the world will be plunged into war and awake the Fire Emblem -- in this incarnation with enough power to destroy the world itself and dive men berserk with a single touch.

In Badfic
Where to begin. This installment is the first on a fairly contemporary console (GameCube) and the first with full animated video battles. It gained high positive reviews from Nintendo Power, and the exposure it generated caused it to be the first Fire Emblem game for many fans. It has a stellar story, well-fleshed characters, and bonus conversations that cater to every possible fan kink, including yaoi, yuri, shotacon, non-con, shapeshifting, etc. etc.. Not only that, but it introduces a humanoid shapeshifter race called the Laguz (previously, only certain dragons called Manaketes had been shapeshifters) that come in feline, avian, and draconic varieties -- perfect for those who want to create a cat, bird, or dragon girl/boy. Needless to say, most Fire Emblem badfic written today is Tellius-based.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
A direct sequel to Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn picks up in the occupied country of Daein, which is short a king and a lot of morale and order -- hostile occupation troops have caused a Rebellion called the Dawn Brigade to rise. The leader of this brigade, a young light-magic-user named Micaiah, discovers a possible heir to the crown of Daein and goes on to free the country from the occupation... but players in the darkness force the new king to proclaim war on the once-occupying superpower Bengion, and even the Greil mercenaries are caught up in the confrontation. The Fire Emblem is awakened where in the previous game that was prevented, and the goddess Ashera makes the people of Tellius pay for not living peaceably. Only the strongest (and hybrids of race) do not turn to stone, and an army of survivors go to try and talk the angry goddess out of her wrath -- not knowing that another has been manipulating everything from the beginning to achieve the simple destruction of the world for his own end. Literally.

In Badfic
Once again, Tellius badfic is the most widespread continuum in Fire Emblem badfic... and it's not thanks to the main Lord of Radiant Dawn, Micaiah, who is perhaps the most obnoxious Canon Sue in the history of the series. From her past (an orphan, who is a Branded (hybrid of Laguz and Beorc/normal human) and thus cast out as an abomination, is really much older than she looks, and is the rightful empress of Benigion), to her powers as a 'fortune teller' that somehow qualify as a tactician to lead both a rebellion and an army and are never displayed in-game as anything more than entitlement, to her impossible purity, to her Cute Animal Friend who is really the goddess Yune in bird form... the list goes on and on. Did I mention that her name literally means 'the one who resembles God?' Ike, on the other hand, is as popular as always.

Super Smash Brothers
Both Marth and Roy debuted in western countries with the game Super Smash Brothers: Melee. Due to the cracky, unserious nature of the game, the young audience that plays it, and the lack of information about the Fire Emblem series among western audiences, the general bishonen appearance of both characters debuting, and many other factors, Marth and Roy often pick up very stupid characterization in Smash Bros. fanfiction. At best, this is to the point of calling Roy a 'prince' or shipping Marth with anybody... as Marth is actually happily married to the pegasus knight Caeda (formerly translated as Sheeda). At worst, it is a crackfic nightmare of bishie-lust.

As of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Roy left the roster and Ike from Tellius came to fill the gap. Annoyingly enough, despite his exposure among western audiences, he still receives the same treatment from stupid fans.

Missions in this Continuum
Agents Echo Kazul and Kat Daydream (All-Purpose Department)
 * A Ryder's Legacy
 * A Tale of Two Stories
 * Trap for the Heart
 * Adventures in Badslash