未来を選びし者

   Whatever the case may be, Chrom did not have any reason to call it to question, for now. It would be a confusing bridge to cross later. “Hm… perhaps I did mistake you for another… but my clothes! Yes, you have them!” Gesturing to himself, Chrom laughs, awkward as he does. “And I yours, I imagine. Please, tell me that you have the rest of my laundry somewhere? I had set yours to rest within my room…” Though, he was horribly uncertain whether or not that would mean that it was still there. For all Chrom knew, someone could’ve been pulling a prank on the both of them.

   A sigh escapes his lips at the thought; such a prank would only be more of a hassle than it’s even remotely worth. Yet he could not stand any second longer without shoes to grace his feet. How could Corrin walk along barefoot all day? It was beyond uncomfortable! 

   “Perhaps, wherever they are… we could walk to them. And soon… please? Your clothes are incredibly tight.” The more Chrom stands and speaks, the more the differences in their respective figures begin to draw ever clearer. Corrin was far smaller than Chrom by comparison, to an uncomfortable degree at that. 

(And why did he look so disappointed when Corrin asked if they were supposed to know each other? Had he forgotten someone important that he was meant to know again? He hated making people feel bad...)

He shakes his head quickly, shaking off his thoughts to focus on the man before him. "Here, you can have the boots back first! I don't want to wear them anyway. The rest is back in my room!"

He smiles brightly as he holds them out, as if he is proud of himself.

He didn’t want either of them to be sad not finding Corrin. It was soon to happen even if it wasn’t instant! But when food became the forefront of their conversation, things definitely were starting to look up! It’s a shame there were no snacks, but he was hungry. Rolling onto his back again and patting his tummy. It wasn’t rumbling yet, but he could feel it coming! “Me too…we deserve a treat after all of that searching!”

His eyes are also matching the glint she has when he looks at her dragon stone! Pulling himself up and tugging him out from under his shirt with a grin! Tail lashing around excitedly as he seems ready to transform right there and then! “As if they could ever catch us- EEK!” Even if not addressed to him. That ‘Young Lady’ was so similar to his mama’s ‘Young Man’ when he was about to get in trouble that he couldn’t help but flinch!

Head whirling back to stare up at. “Mama!? Wait no! Kana’s Papa!?” Whoops! That definitely wasn’t his mama. But wow…he looks just like her! But with shorter hair. He’s kinda just staring up at Corrin in awe. Even if this wasn’t his mama, he still had an urge to hug onto him. His mama and Kana’s papa could be twins too!!

They do deserve a treat! With Kanna totally on board, she holds her dragonstone up above her head, already looking forward to stretching her wings... but their flawless plan quickly screeches to a halt at the sound of a very familiar voice, along with a hand gently ruffling at her hair. She knows that voice! And she knows that touch! Kana nearly drops her stone, jumping to her feet and whipping around to confirm her suspicions. Her tail almost slaps right into Kanna in her grand rush!

"Papa!" She exclaims it with wide eyes and a huge grin on her face. She doesn't even care that they were just about to get busted. While Kanna gallantly covers for them, she throws herself into Corrin's arms and squeezes with all her might. Although it was her choice to travel the world with Kanna, one she made with a whole lot of serious thinking, she's missed little moments like this more than words can say. It's been so long since she's heard her papa call her that. "We've been looking eeeeeverywhere for you!"

He squints at both kids' dragonstones, eyeing them suspiciously. They had definitely been up to something devious, but he'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Corrin then turns his gaze towards the boy, who had reacted to him like he was familiar. If he was some alternate universe of his Kana, then perhaps his mama was an alternate universe version of Corrin himself.

In that case, he gestures for the boy to come closer, where his Kana had made space for him.

After collecting his other self and running along through the halls of the dorms and the academy. Partially transformed as tails slapped along the walls they ran passed! Though he was careful to not hit anyone. They had one important mission in mind. To find the Corrin that was here! “Do you think it’s gonna be your papa or my mama?” He asked with an excited giggle. Looking up at the sun as they stood in the central courtyard. They had already run around most of the monastery looking high and low for any Corrins around. Even asking some students and other teachers while on the hunt! 

But even with all of that, they still couldn’t find them! “Urururghh…where is maybe my mama or your papa at?” He sighs, flopping right onto the grass to lay in the sun. Stretching out and rolling onto his back, motioning for Kana to lay down next to him! Not even minding if people glance over at him a bit weirdly. Even with the fancy new uniform on, he didn’t think about staining or getting dirty! He didn’t even bother to put his shoes on…but that might be because he just forgot. Shoes were going to have to be a learned habit. 

“Do you have any snacks? Or do we have to find the mess hall? If everything wasn’t inside we could just fly around to everything easy! But did you see how high the ceiling was inside!? Maybe we could fly inside if we wanted! Ah- but we might get in trouble for that.” It was food for thought!

The rest of her clothes are tossed to the side once Kanna bursts in, and the two of them leap and bound through the academy halls, the wind seeming to catch their tails like sails behind them. They're definitely creating a commotion, giggling to each other as they convince each other they'll never get caught in a million years.

But it's not all fun and games! They need to focus! Once some of her energy's out, Kana's laser focused on finding Corrin together. "I have no idea! But I'll be super happy no matter who it is!" But the positive mood doesn't stick around forever- soon, the two of them are growing very impatient. They must've circled the monastery at least three times by now! Completely pooped, Kana joins her brother in the grass with a thump. She doesn't notice any sideways glances either, swishing her tail impatiently at her side. She had started with shoes, but they're flying off into the grass now. She just can't wear shoes at a time like this. "What if they're not even here at all?? We have to find them..."

As he walks, for a second he thinks that he sees a familiar looking tail whisk by. But he quickly discards that idea. He would know if his darling little girl was here! She would have told him that she was coming. Probably. Well...

Fuck, it couldn't be; could it?

He turns quickly on his heel, rushing off in the direction that he had seen the tail going in. The sun glints off an equally familiar looking blue stone as he stops near the grass where two kids are flopped down, a pair of shoes flung aside with all the care of a rambunctious child. That too was a familiar sight, and one that Corrin had done himself more times that he could count. The girl looks familiar, a girl that had been born from his own body. The boy also looks somewhat familiar somehow, in a way that he can't quite place. They seemed to be planning something mischevious.

Unfortunately that meant she now had to consider her answer. A small sigh escaped her, despite her best efforts. But at the end of the day, this was one of her little brothers, and she loved him. Her smile became less forced.

"It almost has been forever," she laughed softly. "I've been busy."

It seems like she needs his smile more than anything else right now.

"We can catch up now. We have all the time in the world." He appreciates the relative ease of Fodlan. That he can see his siblings and dear friends without having to worry if he is spending enough time with them. Or if he should be visiting them more often. He is free to talk to them as much as he wants - or as little in some cases.

When met with the child's eyes, they would greet her with a slight smile, one born from the soft happiness of seeing such a devoted daughter helping her parent move in. In turn, they were met with curt words and annoyed glares, motivating them to carry on with whatever tasks they had.

All morning these bystanders would observe, and the attention and lack of aid was starting to get on Nyx’s nerve, so much so that the next person to appear was her last straw. “That’s it! I am not some exhibit for your viewing pleasure. Make haste lest you yearn to be cursed.“ 

Yet when she faces the bystander, her heart stops and eyes widen. “Corin? This is where the years have landed you?“ Her cheeks rose slightly before she assumes a more neutral stance, arms crossed. “Well I apologize for raising my voice. The physical exhaustion from moving must have taken its toll on my patience." 

There is an awkward silence between the two for a moment as words ball up in her throat. Though her heart regrets requesting aid and burdening a comrade, in her long years, she knows when she is truly beat. “If time is your ally, could you spare a few moments? I haven’t gotten my credentials and permissions squared away with the office so I am not authorized to use magic to help me sort through all my items. I could use the assistance. I will compensate you generously if you choose to accept."

He laughs gently, clearly not mad at her for yelling at him. Traveling this far was stressful and moving this much with her stature couldn’t be easy.

He flexes an arm playfully, smiling brightly at her. “Of course! I’d never abandon a friend in need!”

Everyone he’d known from back home was very dear to him after all, no matter who they were.

It sickened her. It was one thing to rebel against those whom you considered cruel or awful or… whatever the reasoning may have been but to bring innocents into this? To harm those whose families were surely aggrieved by the situation? That held a level of darkness not even her light could pass through. 

She wished to be anywhere but here.

Still, they were in need of her help. Desperately. “Ahem. Should we start by laying out what we know? And after that… we could discuss the possibilities? Or is there a different procedure we should follow?”

Maybe it was the ever loud beating of her heart but she wasn’t quite sure she was making sense. The reason for it seemed obvious to her and with the way her hands trembled just holding the letter, it must be to him too. 

“If it helps, I can fly and look around? It’s as easy as walking for me so I know I won’t get caught or anything.”

Anything that was more useful than just sitting on the information. Patience was a virtue but the victims had barely any time for rest. She wouldn’t doubt they were chained by their fears… praying desperately for help. Any kind of help. Her chest tightened. They needed a way forward, quickly.

What is he supposed to do? He should know, as a king and the commander of an army. He should know what he's supposed to do... right?

He jolts slightly from his thoughts as the girl, his companion, talks to him. She seems just as worried for the victims safety as he does, which eases his heart at least a little bit. He wouldn't want to be stuck with someone who didn't care at least half as much as he did. Their goals seem to be aligned, which is all the better for the people that they were trying to save.

   Of course, he wished that he didn’t have to find out that Corrin was attending the Officer’s Academy via this stupid mishap, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. Chrom sighs as he continues looking for them; surely he would catch a glimpse of his own cape fluttering through the halls. At the very least, Chrom was hopeful that he could get his own shoes back. Being barefoot was awful. 

   As he wanders, Chrom finds his way outside; the discomfort in his lack of shoes causes him to sigh again, but that was fine. Maybe Corrin would be willing to give Chrom his shoes, after all Chrom never remembered Corrin ever wearing shoes of any kind when they briefly fought together. ‘How could that be comfortable?’ he thought to himself. 

   As luck would have it, Chrom spots a figure sporting his own outfit in the distance by the fountain, and Chrom breathes a breath of relief. “Corrin!” He calls out to them, hopeful that they wouldn’t walk away in his outfit before Chrom could catch up. “Wait up! You have my clothes!” Running to catch up, Chrom takes a moment to gather himself. “Gods, man, talk about a reunion… Corrin! Our clothes were swapped! Do you have any idea what may have happened?”

So he sets off, determined to find his belongings and return these clothes to their proper owner. They were a little baggy, but other than that, they still fit reasonably well. Even so, he'd rather they be back with who they belonged to than sticking around with him. They didn't really suit his style anyway.

He's walking about the monastery, boots slung over his shoulder because even if there was a mixup, he'd be damned if he was going to wear these shoes, when he hears someone call out to him. The owner of the clothes maybe? He could only hope.

He turns quickly, a polite smile across his face as he nods a hello to the man talking about... a reunion? He doesn't look familiar, but maybe... nah, that didn't sound right at all.

"Leo! You're here!" If he had a tail in his current form, it would be wagging right now, "Oh I've missed you so much, baby brother!"

"We certainly have." He smiles, though this one is a little sadder, not quite reaching his eyes. He didn't have to choose between his siblings, but he still had lost many people during that time. Of course, he had gained plenty as well. His beloved daughter first and foremost among them. "I can tell you about all the cute things Kana did while I was home!"

He misses her already, but he couldn't have brought her along in good conscience. Not if there was a chance of even a hint of danger. She was still so young, after all.

"It is good to see you as well," she replied, perhaps a little carefully. She set her cup down and tugged at the hem of her sleeve. "Will you join me for tea?"

Something safe, she could only hope. Hinoka loved her brother dearly, but she couldn't so easily chase away the wounds. Even if she had learned in the end the intentions behind the whole campaign. The price to reveal King Garon was too high.

And if sitting down and having a cup of tea or two would help her feel a little happier, then he would sit here all day if he had to. Anything for the people that he loved most in this world.

"It feels like it's been forever," He can't know how long it has been since she has last seen him, but he remembers it being some time for him since he had last been able to see his Hoshidan siblings. Being the ruler of a kingdom - and a loving father to his darling baby daughter - made him a very busy man after all.

The main thing that makes this time around at least tolerable is that a friendly face is by her side coin bag and all. She probably should be a little more freaked out that someone else is also somewhere new ( and that could possibly out her "secret" [ secret to most ] ), but she honestly can't complain. Misery loves company.. or whatever. It's not like she'd be lonely! She is perfectly capable of making new friends! It'd be super easy!

❛ Just so you know.. ❜

The redhead starts with a slight huff, lips quirked ever so slightly at the edges- softening the intent into something far more playful.

❛ If you try to get me to wear something ridiculous like you've done before in your little castle grounds, you will live to regret it by facing my wrath. ❜

Despite her "threat", she still tugs Corrin along by the wrist into the nearest shop she can see that has all kinds of clothing on display in the window before they can enter. Excitement is easily seen as the lass all but skips over to wracks of dresses and blouses, scarlet eyes scanning high and low to search for- what she hopes will be- a stunning new look.

❛ You do know what the ladies like around here, right? ❜

He smiles as kindly as he can at Selena, though he knows she probably only cares about the gold in his coin purse. She's not dragging him around for any other reason than to use his money. He doubts she would have even bothered with him otherwise.

Oh well! He's more than happy to spend time with a friend, no matter their ulterior motives.