Ephraim and Lyon in Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones

Image Credit: Retrieved from https://feheroes.gamepedia.com/Ephraim:_Dynastic_Duo

Ephraim and Lyon are both characters from Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones. Ephraim is one of the two playable protagonists while Lyon is the main antagonist of the game. The two grew up as close childhood friends, alongside Ephraim’s twin sister, Eirika.

Fans have read their relationship to be possibly romantic rather than friendly, and Lyon’s appearance as a long purple-haired character adds to Fire Emblem’s history of coding long purple-haired male characters as gay or bisexual.

Ephraim and Lyon also appear in Fire Emblem Heroes, both as individual units, as well as a special Duo unit where the two fight side by side. This has been taken as further implying possible romance between the two, as seen here.

In a tumblr post by fe-according-to-japan, an analysis of the Japanese dialogue between Lyon and Eirika/Lyon and Ephraim reveals that Lyon doesn’t differ in his feelings towards Eirika or Ephraim. However, the localization has Lyon admit love for Eirika while not doing the same for Ephraim. Ephraim responds the same as well to Lyon, and has romantic paired endings with female characters.

Because of all of this, we have classified both Lyon and Ephraim as Bisexual Implicit.

LGBTQ references in this game series:

Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (1999): Marty and Dagdar

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (2003): Bramimond; Florina and Lyndis; Legault; Lucius and Raven

Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones (2004): Ephraim and Lyon; Joshua and Gerik

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005): Ike and Soren; Jill and Mist; Reyson and Tibarn; Sigrun and Tanith

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007): Elincia and Lucia; Heather; Jill and Mist; Joke about Ike and Sothe; Kyza; Ranulf

Fire Emblem Awakening (2012): Gay Jokes and Queerness; Same-Sex Relationship Hack; The Hubba Tester

Fire Emblem Fates (2015): Forrest; Nina; Romance options; Same-Sex Relationship Hack; Skinshipping; Soleil; The Hubba Tester

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (2017): Leon; Lukas; Queer Readings

Fire Emblem Heroes (2017): Ally Support; Loki; Sharena

Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019-2020): Byleth Pairings and Controversy; Non-Byleth Pairings

See also QRM’s entry for this game series

Citations:

  1. Chicksan. (2019, November 5). Ephraim x Lyon was always canon. Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/204447-fire-emblem-heroes/78137067
  2. Fe-According-To-Japan. (2013, January 13). How does Lyon “love” Eirika and Ephraim? Retrieved from https://fe-according-to-japan.tumblr.com/post/40401524914/how-does-lyon-love-eirika-and-ephraim
  3. PsiYoshi. (2018, November 18). R/fireemblem – Comment by u/PsiYoshi on “Wondering about LGBTQ+ Characters in the series?” Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://www.reddit.com/r/fireemblem/comments/9yd22s/wondering_about_lgbtq_characters_in_the_series/ea0n59u/
  4. Various. (n.d.). Ephraim. Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://fireemblem.fandom.com/wiki/Ephraim
  5. Various. (n.d.). Ephraim: Dynastic Duo. Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://feheroes.gamepedia.com/Ephraim:_Dynastic_Duo
  6. Various. (n.d.). Lyon. Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://fireemblem.fandom.com/wiki/Lyon