FE:Fates Fanfiction Factory

The clearing was quiet with the occasional sound of movement and life in the daylight hours in the forest. A rabbit hopped into the clearing, sniffing the air before hopping forward to search for a tasty morsel in the grasses. A sudden crash sounded, but the rabbit had no time to avoid the dragon that pounced on it from above. A fox hopped off it's back and gave a happy little twirl before becoming a girl again.

“You got it!” Selkie squealed happily, “and you didn't squish it this time!”

“I don't mean to,” Kana sighed, stowing the rabbit in a bag he had been carrying on his horn as a dragon, “I can't help that I'm much bigger than a rabbit,”

“That bear you got the other day sure needed a squish,” Selkie giggled.

“Didn't you knock it out of a tree?” Kana asked. Selkie giggled again and shrugged. Kana relented and laughed along with her.

Selkie suddenly paused, nose upturned ever so slightly, “There is a boar nearby,”

“Mama would love that,” Kana gasped, “That would feed a lot of people,”

Selkie was a fox again in no time and pointed with her nose, nodding her head a few times to show how far it was. Kana transformed in a flurry, suppressing the roar he wanted to let loose as the change overtook him, as not to scare the boar Selkie hopped on his back and he took to the air, Selkie signaling which direction to go and when to dive.

They had figured things out pretty well in terms of communication and teamwork. Selkie rode on Kana's back, leading him to the prey by sliding a claw along his scales or tapping on the base of his wings. When they were in the air, she would bark when the prey was close, but if they were on the ground she would quiet the sound into a huff. Growling meant another predator was nearby, and a whine would signal a human. Kana got to focus on being fast and strong, flying them to the prey and then taking whatever it was down. He also always kept his senses open to predators, protecting Selkie when one got too close. He might not have been as big as his mama, but he was still much bigger than any animal they would find in the forests.

Selkie gave two short barks and a growl. Kana slowed his flight and silently spiraled downwards, looking out over the forest, trying to see what was below. They both caught sight of two young boars and a cougar that had wounded one and was closing in on the second. Kana snorted slightly, questioning their target, but Selkie was already preparing to jump down. Her fur began to shimmer, the product of her kitsune spirit, which once she was older would become will-o-wisps like her father produced in his fox form. Kana dove down after her, but stopped just short of the tree line, looking for a suitable place to touch down. He knew she wanted to have the prey this time, so it was his job to startle the predator long enough for his fox friend to down the second boar. He found a hole in the tree canopy just large enough for him to slip through, but not quite big enough for a stealthy entrance like he wanted. The cougar's ears swiveled towards him until he clamored out of the tree onto the forest floor, causing the cat to turn its entire head at the sound. Kana straightened himself to his full height and unfurled his wings, tipping just his head forward to brandish his branching horns. The big cat twitched its tail, considering it's options until a streak crossed between it and it's initial prey. The cougar yowled and hissed, keeping its body towards Kana but it's head facing the new threat. Selkie, who had the little boar under a clawed paw, bore her teeth and growled, her hackles rising and her fur sparking wildly. Kana added his growl to the mix and stalked forward, aiming to be between the cougar and Selkie. The outnumbered predator gave one more flick of its tail before its ears flattened against its head and it slowly backed away from them. After it had gone far enough without pursuit, it turned quickly and launched itself out of sight.

After both boars had been incapacitated, Selkie turned back into human form, chattering happily as she helped load the two young boars onto Kana's back. After she secured their kills, Kana dipped his head towards her and snorted happily as she threw her arms around his neck. She vocalized the idea of heading back to the castle, to which Kana nodded, motioning for her to climb on his back.

“You sure you can carry me and those boars?” Selkie asked with an unusual note of concern in her voice. Kana nodded, then rustled his wings impatiently.

“I think I'll stay human then,” Selkie chirped, nimbly climbing onto Kana's back, “I'm much lighter this way and then you won't be as tired when we get back and we can play some more!” Kana made a noise of agreement before standing and taking off into the sky.

“Thank you Kana, Selkie,” Corrin smiled at the two children as they excitedly showed her their conquests, “I appreciate you bringing back such good meat,”

“We did roast one of the rabbits already,” Kana admitted, “But we saved the boars for you, mama!”

“That's okay my Kana-bean, you earned it,” Corrin ruffled his hair as she directed the meat be taken to the kitchen for supper that night.

“Kana!” Selkie called up from the ground.

“Mama, are you sure she won't mind,” Kana said up in the treehouse, “Most of the other kids all brush me off cause I'm littler than everyone else,”

“I think you should find out yourself,” Corrin knelt down face to face with her son, “Considering how often I see you two together, I think it will be just fine,”

Kana hugged Corrin before heading for the door, “Thank you, mama!”

“Be back before dark,” Corrin waved.

“I will!” Kana called back just before disappearing down the ladder.

“Come on, I found a great new place we can play!” Selkie tugged Kana's hand before he had touched down on the ground. Kana stumbled, but quickly regained his footing and ran along with her. She led him around the castle wall and past the grove of trees that his mother had sprung from the ground using the ever-present dragon veins. Kana could feel them thrumming, but his mama was the only one allowed to change things in the castle, even his aunts and uncles weren't allowed.

“Now it's just through here,” Selkie pointed to a small hole in the wall, one most people would miss on first glance. They squeezed through one at a time and on the other side, Kana could only gape at what was there.

A wide meadow of flowers stretched out along the castle wall and down the slope of the hill beyond. There were many different colors, as many as in the book of pressed flowers his mama had made from the ones he would bring her when he first joined the army in the castle.

Selkie stood by waiting for him to say something, but her natural impatience soon kicked in, “Kana? What do you think?”

“So pretty,” Kana said airily, “Like you,” he words escaped before he realized it and raised a hand to his mouth.

“Aw, that's really sweet Kana,” Selkie giggled, “But why're you acting weird?”

“I-I,” Kana paused briefly, “Yeah I guess I am acting a bit weird, but it's cause I want to say something to you but I don't know how,”

“You can tell me anything, I'll always listen to you cause we're friends right?” Selkie gave him a lopsided grin, “Let's go sit under that tree while we talk, papa always said that talking is always best done cuddling under a shady tree,” Kana went a bit red at the suggestion but followed her anyway.

Selkie turned to him expectantly as they leaned against the tree together, not cuddling, but close enough, “Okay, Go,”

“I hope you don't wanna stop hanging out with me after,” Kana gulped.

“Why?!” Selkie gasped, “Are you leaving? do you not like hunting together?”

“No, no,” Kana held up his hands, “It's actually the opposite, I want to keep doing all those things with you more, cause I really like you,”

“I like you too Kana,” Selkie chirped, then seeing the hesitant look on his face, it dawned on her, “OH! You mean you LIKE me, like that?”

Kana nodded hopefully before Selkie grabbed him in a hug, “I like you too Kana. As long as we can keep playing,”

“Of course we can, just instead of friends, we can be boyfriend and girlfriend, right?” Kana clarified.

“Yeah, that's even closer than friends, which means you and I will spend even more time together,” Selkie agreed enthusiastically, “A Fox and a Dragon, the unbreakable duo!”

“Now shall we go enjoy this meadow properly?” Kana giggled, jumping up and transforming.

“A ring?” Kana gasped.

“Yeah, it’s not as nice as the one your father gave you, but I made it just for you,” Kiragi said sheepishly.

“Nonsense Kiragi!” Kana took the ring in her hand, it was carved wood patterned with swirls that looked like the wind mingling with what looked like her dragon horn, “it’s lovely, and coming from you it means so much, as long as it means what I think?”

“Geez Kana, do you doubt me that much?” Kiragi winced, “I know our fathers don’t get along, but I was hoping…”

Kana shook her head and grabbed Kiragi around the neck, pulling his face down and kissing his cheek, “I accept, and I’m sure my papa won’t care as long as I’m happy,”

“Are you sure,” Kiragi sighed, “Whenever your father comes into conversation, mine get’s this look on his face,”

“Well, we could always tell them afterward, then they can’t say no!” Kana grinned grabbing Kiragi’s hands in hers. Kiragi smiled, nodding his head as they settled down to have the lunch he had brought in their little secret clearing outside of the castle.

“You sure you shouldn’t ask her dad first?” Shiro shrugged, replacing another weapon on a rack, “You know, like, for her hand, that traditional stuff my dad’s always going on about,”

“I’m pretty sure you’re just saying that because Selkie’s dad isn’t as intimidating as the leader of our entire army,” Kiragi goaded.

“You never know man, he can’t be that bad,” Shiro told him with a sideways look.

“How can that be true when my dad can’t stand to be in the same room?” Kiragi’s shoulders sagged.

Shiro turned and clapped a hand on his shoulder, “Seriously? I think that just has to do with your dad’s personal feelings and less to do with Corrin’s actual personality,”

“You could be right…” Kiragi muttered.

“But Caeldori, I really don’t want to,” Kana groaned, “He’s scary,”

“Uncle Takumi? Scary?” the older girl snorted, “Maybe to the enemies, but he’s actually a really quiet person. You should just go say hello, see for yourself. I think if your mothers can get along, there has to be some measure of support for you two,”

“That’s only because my mother lived in the Hoshidan castle for so long, and I don’t think your uncle likes my mother any more than he likes my father,” Kana pointed out.

“You’re over thinking it!” Caeldori jumped up, “Come on, let’s go together and see,”

“No no no no,” Kana dug her heels in resisting the other’s pull, “Let’s not. Maybe I’ll try talking to his mother first, test the waters,”

“Whatever you want,” Caeldori shook her head, “I have a training session with my parents anyway, We’re practicing flying drills today,”

“I’ve never been so nervous to climb a tree, and this one has stairs,” Kiragi muttered to himself.

“Kiragi!” came his mother’s call, “Where have you been? it’s time for your studies,”

“But mom!” Kiragi tried to point to the treehouse behind him.

“No buts, you promised me,” Oboro gave him a look, “Unless Lord Corrin has specifically asked for you, then you have no excuse,”

“I have something to ask him though,” Kiragi insisted.

“Like you forgot to clean your bow every time I pull out the math book?” Oboro laughed, “Come on now, don’t make it harder than it has to be,”

“Mama, can I talk to you?” Kana approached her mother who had been sitting by the amber pool humming.

“Of course Kana, you know I will listen to you whenever you need me,” Azura patted the space beside her.

What would you say to me if I told you one of the boys loves me?” Kana asked simply.

“I would say, as long as you love him too, then that’s all that matters,” Azura smiled, “But if it were just any boy, I don’t think you would be so roundabout in telling me,”

“I’m afraid you won’t approve Mama,” Kana admitted, “I’m more afraid that Papa won’t either,”

“Now why would you need to be afraid?” Azura asked patiently.

“Because his father doesn’t like either of you,” Kana pulled her knees to her chest, “And I don’t think Papa likes him much either,”

“I cannot think of who that could be, so why don’t you tell me who, and I can tell you whether or not that’s true,” Azura posed.

Kana looked up at her mama and paused, contemplating her response before pulling out the ring, “Lord Takumi is who I mean. His son, Kiragi gave me this ring,”

“That’s a lovely ring Kana,” Azura smiled brightly, “Takumi can be a bit hard-edged sometimes, and he does not feel as close to your father and I as he does to the siblings he grew up with, but he respects your father, otherwise he would have never stayed with us,”

“I heard he stayed because Lady Sakura asked him to,” Kana leaned into Azura, who put an arm around her, “And I heard him and Papa argue a lot,”

“Have you ever seen them argue?” Azura asked.

Kana thought about it, “I haven’t,”

“Would you like to go tell your father?” Azura asked her.

“Not yet, I think I want to go find Kiragi first and talk to him,” Kana gave her mama a hug before standing to leave, “Thank you, mama, I love you,”

“I love you too dear,” Azura said with a wave before returning to her humming.

“Was that so hard?” Oboro asked after Kiragi finished a few of the problems she had laid out.

“No mom,” Kiragi sighed, “Not compared to this other thing,”

“What other thing is that?” Oboro tilted her head in question.

“Ack, I mean nothing, I’m gonna go now,” Kiragi jumped up and turned away.

“You’ve got me curious, but I supposed if you don’t want to tell me that’s fine,” Oboro shrugged, “But if you’re in trouble, I ask that you tell me so I can help you, or tell your father,”

“I can’t tell dad,” Kiragi said a bit too quickly, “I mean, I can, but I don’t know if he would like it,”

Oboro grinned, “I hardly think anything you could do would ever tarnish his opinion of you. Your Father loves you Kiragi, more than you can imagine,”

“I know that,” Kiragi turned back, “I know he loves us, and he loves his family, but that’s it,”

“Putting it like that makes me more curious,” Oboro waved him back to the table. Kiragi hesitated before sitting back down again.

“He doesn’t like Lord Corrin,” Kiragi said bluntly.

Oboro looked surprised, “Where did you get that idea?”

“He hardly ever talks to him, or Lady Azura,” Kiragi told her, “From what I’ve heard, he doesn’t trust them cause they’re from Nohr,”

“Lady Azura has lived with the Hoshidan Royal family for most of her life, and Takumi never really took the time to get to know her, but when Lord Corrin came back and the war started, many things went badly, and he took out his frustrations on the both of them.” Oboro explained, “He has since learned better, and respects Lord Corrin as a commander. Why are you so concerned about their relationship?”

“Uh, that is…” Kiragi stammered, “I suppose I can tell you. I love Kana,”

“That’s wonderful Kiragi,” Oboro brightened, “I don’t see why your father would disapprove,”

A knock came at the door, “Hello?”

Oboro stood to answer it, and revealed Kana on the other side, looking a bit startled, “Hello Kana, Kiragi was just telling me-”

“Come on Kana,” Kiragi jumped up and grabbed Kana by the hand, running out the door saying quickly, “thanksforthetalkmom, gottagonowbye,”

“Kiragi! Why did we have to run?” Kana panted as they stopped.

“Let’s just do it,” Kiragi said to her, “Let’s just go get married and then tell our fathers like you said,”

“Wait what?” Kana gasped, “I was only joking, besides I talked to my mom and it might not go as bad as we think,”

“I did too, but I can’t help but be afraid that they might not see it like we do,” Kiragi looked downcast, “I just want to be with you, and I don’t want anything to get in the way of that,”

Kana pulled him into a hug, “Okay if it means I can get my cheery Kiragi back instead of this gloomy Kiragi, I’ll do it,”

“Let’s ask Lilith to transport us to a town so we can find a priestess to help us,” Kiragi pulled her more gently as they set off to fulfill their plan.

“Where is Kiragi? It’s not like him to miss dinner,” Takumi asked Oboro as she set out the food she had made.

“He might be out with Kana still,” Oboro said nonchalantly, “They’ve been spending a lot of time together lately,”

“I’m happy he get’s along with the other children so well, I was worried he’d inherit being a loner from me,” Takumi sighed.

“Yes, it is very good,” Oboro nodded, “What do you think of Kana?”

“Oh, she’s a good kid, though I’d be a bit worried about her dragon form, with her being so young, I hope Corrin has been teaching her to control it properly,” Takumi shrugged.

“I thought Kana was going to be home, I made her favorite meal,” Corrin muttered as he set the food out for himself and Azura.

“Perhaps she and Kiragi got caught up,” Azura mentioned.

“Takumi’s son?” Corrin perked his ears, “Huh, did he take her on a hunting trip today? I hope they bring back some more boar, it made a great stew last time,”

“Yes he is a talented young man,” Azura nodded, “Kana seems to like him quite a bit,”

“Does she?” Corrin contemplated his wife’s statement, “I wonder why she hasn’t mentioned it to me, she normally tells me everything,”

“Aren’t you two a little young?” the priestess said skeptically.

“We may never get another chance, what with the war,” Kana sighed, putting a bit more sadness in her voice, fluttering her eyes to make it look as if she was holding back tears.

“I suppose, you both are wearing armor,” the priestess looked them over, “I suppose I can’t really deny you if you are sure,”

“Thank you, ma'am, we have a bit of money for your chapel as thanks,” Kiragi passed a bag of gold coins to her, which she gasped at.

She peered into the bag and blinked, “this is more than enough,” then nodded, “Come with me, it won’t be anything fancy, but it will be official,”

Returning to the castle in the astral plane, Kana and Kiragi came face to face with Azura and Oboro. Before they could speak Azura gently held up a hand, effectively silencing them.

“Come with us,” Azura nodded to them.

“We’ve been worried about you both, as have your fathers,” Oboro told them as they walked towards the big tree house.

“Sorry mama,” Kana sighed.

“Mom, why are we going to the tree house, shouldn’t we be headed home?” Kiragi asked.

“You’ll see,” Oboro said simply.

They climbed up to the front door and opened it revealing their father’s speaking in a hushed tone.

“Kiragi, you’re alright, I was worried something had happened,” Takumi was the first to speak, his eyes glancing over his son, looking for any sign of injury, but they stopped when they reached his hand which was clasped with Kana’s.

It was Corrin who spoke next, but his tone was warm, “Kana, do you have something to tell us?”

She gripped Kiragi’s hand harder, then tentatively held up her other hand, which had been hiding clutched in her clothes, “Me and Kiragi are married,”

“What!?” Takumi jumped up exclaiming.

“Calm yourself,” Corrin said gently, laying a hand on the archer’s shoulder, “I doubt that is the reaction they were looking for,”

“Married though, when did that happen?” Takumi lowered his voice.

He looked more concerned than angry, leading Kiragi to speak up, “Just an hour ago,” he admitted, “We didn’t know if you would approve, and so we thought you couldn’t say no if it had already happened,”

“Did you really think we would say no?” Corrin asked crossing his arms.

“I’m sorry Papa, we thought you two not getting along would mean you wouldn’t want us to be together,” Kana explained quietly.

The two men looked at each other for a moment before looking back to their children and then laughed together. Their children gaped in shock at the sight.

“I might have distrusted Corrin at one point, but what gave you the idea that that would ever carry towards Kana?” Takumi asked Kiragi finally.

“I don’t know, I was worried because you never seem to talk to him or Lady Azura,” Kiragi told him.

“We are at war, there isn’t a lot of time to talk between preparing for battle and the battles themselves, I try to split that time between all of my soldiers,” Corrin explained, “But the other royals, Takumi included, I generally get to speak to at strategy meetings, so I feel less need to spend time with them personally,”

“I like to keep to myself,” Takumi shrugged, “As does Lady Azura, so naturally we don’t tend to seek out each others company unless we so happen to be in the same place at the same time,”

Azura nodded, “You see dear, nothing to worry about,” She smiled to Kana.

“I think the only real objection I have is that you both are much too young to be married,” Corrin pointed out, before shaking his head, “But it seems I am too late for that. You both will continue living under our roofs for now, but that being said, that doesn’t mean you have to both be under separate roofs,”

“As if Kiragi really needs a better excuse to spend time in a tree,” Takumi chuckled, “My home is open to you both whenever you please,”

“When this is over, you are getting a proper wedding, with proper clothes,” Oboro chimed in.

“And a proper ceremony,” Azura nodded.

“Will you sing for it, mama?” Kana chirped.

“Of course I will,” Azura smiled.

“For now though, it might be best if you both kept it to yourselves,” Corrin said seriously, “I’m not saying you can’t be together out in the open, just perhaps keep your marriage quiet for now,”

“I have to agree,” Takumi nodded, “But as long as you are happy, I don’t see a problem with it,”

“That was strange, I could have sworn I saw Asugi,” Corrin thought to herself, “But that orange hair was quite strange,” She continued to pick her way through the stalls of the Outrealm market that Anna had mentioned to her. Lilith had had a slight trouble opening the correct portal, but managed to open it for her and Saizo.

“He could have followed me here, but surely Saizo would have noticed,” She muttered under her breath, “Speaking of, I wonder where my husband has gone, he certainly isn't following me anymore,”

“I cannot believe my father-in-law followed me here,” Corrin thought, peering over her shoulder warily, “Surely he trusts his son to keep us safe,” She picked her way through the stalls, feeling eyes on her as she went, but she couldn't pin down her pursuer.

She knew Asugi liked to tail her sometimes, but he was never as serious about it as his father, and often snuck her a kiss before showing himself. Corrin knew for a fact that he had gone to find the, so called, prime ingredients that Anna had promised would be in this particular far reached market.

The merchant had a strange penchant for knowing how to get the most obscure of things, not to mention her habit of disappearing for days on end, claiming only to be sealing a deal elsewhere. Her wares were good though, as were her prices so Corrin couldn't think of any reason to keep her out.

“I could use something to eat, I wonder if there is a food shop nearby,” Corrin said thoughtfully.

“Oh, there's Saizo,” Corrin hummed spotting her husband clearly trailing behind someone coming towards her. She briefly wondered what possible reason he could have for doing so until she really looked at his target.

“She looks just like me,” Corrin gasped, drawing the other woman's attention.

It was true, the two women gaped at the similarity of their appearance, as well as the nearly identical armor they wore.

“How is this possible...” the one pondered.

“Did Anna really mean to send me here?” the other wondered.

“Wait a moment, did you say Anna?”

“I did, she recommended this market to me,”

“She sent me and my husband,”

“My husband is here as well,” The one Corrin cleared her throat, “In fact, I think he's been tailing you, sorry about that,”

“It's nothing I'm not used to, my father-in-law does it to me more often than I'd like,” the other shrugged.

“I'm Corrin,” the first nodded resolving to politeness.

The other gasped behind a hand, “I am Corrin,”

“Weird,” they chimed together.

“I guess this is an outrealm, perhaps you and I are from separate realities that came close enough to meet like this,” the one said thoughtfully.

“It's like a novel, something Leo would find fascinating,” The other chuckled.

“I suppose he would if he wasn't king,” The first Corrin sighed sadly.

“Leo isn't king,” the other said confused, then put a hand to her mouth, “You really are from another reality,”

“It seems so,” the one smiled a bit sadly, “When I found out Mikoto was my mother, I could hardly believe it, but when she died, I couldn't forgive Garon and decided to stay with my Hoshidan siblings,”

“Oh no, you didn't have to fight everyone, did you?” the other gasped in horror.

“I did, and I took no joy in it,” The first closed her eyes, “If not for my husband by my side, I would have never made it through,”

“I didn't side with anyone, I ran away,” the other said offhandedly, “I didn't really find my husband until close to the end of my war, I was much too busy trying to get everyone on the same side,”

“Everyone on the same side,” the first hummed, “I suppose it's nice to know there was a better path, though I can't imagine it was easy, I know for certain Saizo would have kept tabs on everyone,”

“He sure did, myself included,” The other waved glancing over her shoulder.

“It was the same thing for me,” the first chuckled, “I'm glad only one of my sons inherited that stealth,”

“Wait, inherited,” the other blinked, “You're not saying...”

“What do you mean?” the first mirrored the confusion.

“You mentioned your husband was tailing me,” the other stated, “and you have a son who inherited his stealth,”

“Yes, is that strange?” the first inquired.

“So it wasn't my father-in-law following me after all,” the other muttered, “This is rather embarrassing,”

“Father-in-law?” the first caught her muttering, “Oh...OH! Gods, then it was Asugi I saw!”

“Now you said sons, plural, yes?” the other continued.

“Yes, Asugi and Kana,” the first nodded, “But let me get this straight, you married one of the children?”

“He was sweet, literally,” the other squirmed, “Weirdly enough I have a son named Kana,”

“Don't change the subject, I couldn't possibly see any of the children like that, I saw most of them as babies, off to their deep realms, when they started popping out almost grown I was taken aback, but I still saw them as children,” the first argued.

“I didn't, I was too busy managing an army of both nations, trying my best to keep the peace, when the children began coming out of their deep realms, I never gave it a second thought, I didn't really realize Asugi was one of them until Saizo began snooping around me, asking why I was spending so much time with his son,” the other explained.

“Right, different realities,” the first sighed, “I apologize for my rudeness, I think I will excuse myself and go throttle Anna,”

“I sure hope she is a different Anna from mine because she is going to get an earful from me,” the other growled, “I hope you happiness in your world, Sorry for your losses, whoever they were,”

“Thank you,” the first said before leaning in and whispering to the other, “If you ever want to scare off your Saizo, simply try to give him sweets, he hates them,”

“Nina!” Niles called after his daughter as she ran off once again to go play at being an honorable thief.

“You know you could just lock her up and throw away the key, that would fix things,” Zola jeered.

“Would you believe me if I said that that wouldn't necessarily work,” Niles sighed a hand tangling and tightening in his hair, then realizing who it was set his one good eye in a death glare, “like you have any right to speak of my child that way you childless worm,”

“Geez, I wonder where she gets her colorful language from,” Zola skittered back, finding a doorway to duck through as a dagger pinned itself in the wooden frame.

“Maybe I should think a little more carefully when I speak, lest his next dagger finds my throat,” Zola groaned, slumping down the hallway of the fort they had staked out for potential thieves, only to discover the thief's identity as one of their own.

Zola continued muttering to himself, “I think I've proven myself enough for them to trust me, even I know my lot here is much better than on Garon's side, with that snake Iago,” he grimaced to himself and gagged, “Even I wouldn't sink that low, though I'm starting to think he's the one who's really pulling the strings,”

“It's nothing but a minor setback, cross my heart,” a chipper voice came from around a corner.

“I would not call it a setback,” an even voice rang out, “I would call it easing the mission,”

“What?” the first voice rang out questioningly, “But I got some treasure, and I played decoy, wasn't that what you wanted?”

“You are one of them, a black sheep in their midst,” a strange flat cadence made up this voice, “If Ren thinks it is a good idea, then I shall comply,”

“Forget that, I'm out of here,” Nina came dashing out of the door in front of Zola as a cloud of smoke overtook them both. Zola grabbed out at the girl, meaning to lead her away, but through a break in the cloud, he saw the looming form of demon mage Tchlatga.

“Get out of here,” He grunted as he pushed her just as the cloak of the other mage clamped down like a gaping maw on top of him.

“We have the girl,” Ren nodded to a struggling knot in the back of Tchlatga's cloak, “Give up the weapons you looted and we will release her,”

“Dammit Nina,” Niles growled, “She's not part of our army, you leave her out of this!”

“She is just a child, is using a hostage strictly necessary?” Yukimura asked them letting fly a few shuriken.

“We would not have to use a hostage if you would simply return what is rightfully our master's,” the flat voice of the mage floated over the soldiers, but the set of her eyes lent to the credibility of her intent.

“It was treasure, we sold it,” Izana fanned himself with his scroll, “So give us back the child,”

“You may flaunt your beauty, diviner,” Ren growled, “But it is but a mask that hides the ugly lies you tell,”

“Surely you know I'm but a humble human being,” Izana lowered the scrolls, looking down on the pair, “I can lie, I do, but the gods do not lie, and they tell me you are just as ugly within as I am,”

“Just let her go!” Niles snarled, “We really don't have the damned weapons we took,” He nocked an arrow and leveled it with Tchlatga's head.

“If it is a fight you want, I suppose we must get this over with,” Ren was just about to unsheath her sword when a couple arrows sprouted around her, then one found its mark in her shoulder, and another took Tchlatga, causing her to slump within her cape and the shape struggling within to tumble out.

There was a pause in the action as everyone in the room stood stunned. When two more arrows pegged down from an alcove in the wall above them, the spell broke. The pair were captured in turn by Niles to take to the prison for Lord Corrin to decide what to make of them later.

“Nina, come down from there,” Niles called to his daughter.

“Okay dad, I'll come,” she said after appearing to think it over, “There wasn't really much here to take anyway,” she muttered as she turned.

“I heard that!” Niles snapped.

When she had disappeared from the alcove Niles turned to Zola, “How in the hells did you end up in the cloak, and why did they mistake you for a girl?”

“They tried to get her, they used smoke and everything, but they didn't count on anyone else being there,” Zola explained tentatively, trying to read the expression on Niles' face.

“So you put yourself in their path instead?” Niles questioned. Zola only nodded in response.

“I cannot believe I am saying this, especially out loud,” Niles took a moment to glance around at the collection of soldiers who were milling about, “Thank you, consider my distrust a thing of the past,”

“I'm honored, your trust is rather valuable in this army, since you only seem to trust-” Zola was cut off mid sentence by Niles grabbing him by the collar.

“Say one more word and my the Dusk Dragon save you,” he hissed before straightening, “Nina,”

“Hey dad,” Nina walked up, arms crossed, eyes flicking between the men, “By the way, thanks for being a decoy,” she sent a nod to Zola who blinked in surprise at her brash sentiment.

“If I told you to go back to your deep realm, would you go?” Niles crossed his arms to match his daughter, looking to anyone else like they were negotiating.

“If I told you to go flirt with fancy hair over there, would you?” Nina shot back, thrusting a thumb towards Izana.

Niles sniffed, “Point taken, then it is decided, you will come with us, that way I can keep an eye on you,”

“Ugh, fine,” Nina turned surveying the soldiers, “At least there are some choice sights, perhaps I shall let my mind wander, I'll bet there will be plenty of good sights back at camp too, I'll have to find the bathing tents first,”

“Actually there is a hot spring,” Niles mentioned carelessly. Nina's grin grew as Niles expression fell, she dashed off giggling and followed a few of the soldiers who were leaving. One of the soldiers notified Niles that the portal to the astral plane had opened for them to return.

“What was that about?” Zola grumbled.

“I can't have my daughter seeing us be all buddy buddy, or I will never hear the end of it,” Niles groaned, “She has an odd obsession with the relationships men have with each other, and her fantasies often over-exaggerate things,”

“I see vulgarity is genetic,” Izana popped in.

“I'm leaving,” Niles glowered.

“I'm going to have some fun I think,” Izana giggled, glancing towards the door where he had seen Nina peering at them before ducking out as her father approached.

“Fight me!” Selena barked at the man in front of her.

“Do you think we should stop her?” Odin crossed his arms watching from a distance with Laslow.

“Not this time,” Laslow grinned, “I think this could be rather entertaining. Besides, she never really got a chance to spar with her properly, so perhaps Hoshido's most arrogant can serve as an outlet,”

“No one could really be that perfect,” Odin shook his head skeptically.

“Bah, looks like we won't be getting a show after all, there he goes,” Laslow shrugged.

“The stars were not aligned for such an epic battle, the auras of camaraderie overwhelmed those of war!” Odin muttered dramatically.

“I thought I told you to save the theatrics around me,” Laslow grumbled, smacking the mage on the shoulder.

“Sorry, sorry,” Odin chuckled as they went to go find something else to do.

“Stupid overly observant jerk!” Selena muttered as she stomped out of the kitchens.

“I guess she lost another self-inflicted showdown,” Laslow shrugged, “How many do you think that makes,”

“I lost count 3 showdowns ago, but Selena is behind by all of them,” Odin waved dismissively, “I know we said we'd let her work it out, but I think this is going overboard,”

“I don't see the problem here, she's putting all of her energy trying to trounce Subaki, leaving none of it to yell at us,” Laslow grinned.

“Well if she uses too much, Lady Camilla will start to notice, especially if it starts to affect her on the battlefield,” Odin said seriously.

“You worry too much, it seems Subaki has noticed and has taken to chasing after her, cleaning up after her in battle,” Laslow pointed out, “and if you think Lady Camilla hasn't already noticed, you've spent too much time following your little lord around,”

“Hey, Lord Leo is arguably the smartest in the royal family,” Odin frowned.

“Yet he continues to put his clothing on wrong pretty much every day,” Laslow laughed, “I'm beginning to think Niles one eye is a thousand times more observant than yours and Lord Leo's put together,”

“I'll give in that he is extremely observant, sometimes in the most uncomfortable ways,” Odin shuddered, “He once asked me if you and I were secretly lovers, but then not so surreptitiously changed mid-sentence and said brothers”

“He's only somewhat wrong,” Laslow hummed.

“Not the point,” Odin grumbled, “I'm going to go find Selena and see if she needs any help patching up her hands,”

“I guess you aren't so unobservant after all,” Laslow nodded.

“I saw her gazing at what looked like her mother's ring, so I asked if she wanted to talk about it,” Odin relayed with Laslow as they patrolled the grounds of the castle.

“And? I find myself pulling out my mother's ring more often than I'd like to admit,” Laslow rolled his eyes,”

“It wasn't her mother's ring though,” Odin continued, “It was a ring Subaki made for her,”

Laslow halted and blinked, his eyebrows pulling down in confusion, “Correct me if I heard you wrong, but did you just say that Subaki made a ring for her?”

“You heard me,” Odin said flatly.

“We can't let her do this, this is going too far,” Laslow began to run towards Selena's tent, Odin following behind him.

“I'd like to remind you that I suggested we stop their feud lest it goes too far,” Odin remarked. Laslow didn't respond with words but instead with an exasperated groan.

“Oh, it's you guys,” Selena said as she opened her tent to let them in, “Patrol too boring today?”

“No raids tonight if that's what you mean,” Odin shrugged, “We wanted to talk to you about something,”

“I gathered that from the constipated look on Inigo's face,” Selena fell back to their real names easily in private, “Well, spit it out,”

“How can I say this delicately...” Laslow cleared his throat, pausing to think, “I can't. Severa, you're marrying your mother."

Selena burst out laughing, falling back onto her sleeping pallet and holding her stomach.

The men looked at each other and back to her as they waited for her to compose herself, “You think I didn't notice the similarities?” she smiled, “That's why I started trying to beat him in the first place,”

“And as I recall, from you tearing your hair out just three weeks ago, that wasn't going well, but now you're marrying him,” Odin crossed his arms, “I might not be as incredulous as Inigo, but I'm still stumped,”

“I'm marrying him because he isn't my mother,” Selena emphasized, “Owain, he's more like me than her, he's not effortlessly perfect, he actually works as hard as I do. It's his personality and confidence that really differentiates us, I don't have that,”

“You don't get it, he still is basically your mother,” Laslow reiterated the point, “He's a pegasus knight, he wields lances! That obnoxious red hair!”

“so my red hair is obnoxious now is it?” Selena pouted.

“Not what I meant,” Laslow huffed.

“Well, for your information, he rides a pegasus and wields a naginata, not the same as a lance by the way, because he admired his liege's sister, the princess Hinoka,” Selena pointed out, “I don't know how that is the same as my mother, cause she certainly didn't do it because of a royal,”

“Does he make you happy?” Odin asked, his expression giving nothing away.

“In a weird way,” Selena smiled, “He makes me want to keep working hard, making myself better,”

“Would he leave his country for you? You know we have to go back,” Odin asked pointedly.

“I don't know that,” Selena's smiled dropped, “We have time, though I still need to tell him my name,”

“That's fair,” Odin shrugged, “At least Inigo won't have that problem,”

“Hey!” Laslow protested.

“Severa,” Laslow approached his friend, concern painted over his face.

“I've seen that face before, what is it Inigo?” Selena rolled her eyes.

“I might just be seeing ghosts, but I think I saw your mother in town today,” Laslow told her.

“Yes and no,” Selena answered.“What?” Laslow gaped.

“You were not seeing ghosts, but you did see my mother in town,” Selena grinned.

“What!? How?” Laslow sputtered.

“I've missed riling you up,” Selena laughed.

“What have you done to poor Inigo this time,” Odin said approaching the two.

“He thinks he saw my mother,” Selena giggled.

“Yes, that misunderstanding,” Odin sagged, having had this conversation just a day prior.

“It's my daughter, Caeldori. I was honestly surprised when she came back with Subaki from her deep realm,” Selena recounted, “The last time I visited her myself, she was only little, so I figured her resemblance to my mother would fade, but it seems it only increased,”

“And she just so happens to be as naturally talented as her grandmother,” Odin groaned.

“She's giving her father a run for his money, I've had to tell him over and over that he doesn't have to run himself ragged trying to keep up with her,” Selena nodded pensively, “Just like I did with my mother,”

“Unbelievable,” Laslow groaned.

“That's not the only rather uncanny resemblance,” Odin remarked, “I ran into a guy in the marketplace at a sweets stall who I swore was the spitting image of Gaius, candy stuffed pockets and all. Not only that, but I saw someone tailing Lady Corrin the other day and grabbed them thinking they meant her harm, but she looked just like Tharja!”

“That's downright creepy, I know we came from another world, but come on,” Laslow grumbled.

“Perhaps our worlds aren't as different as we thought,” Selena shrugged, “Besides, I'll bet my mother would love to see that her granddaughter is so capable and that her daughter found a man as perfect as she is,”

“We aren't done here yet,” Laslow said soberly, “If we ever want to go back to our mothers, we have to help stamp out the evil of this land,”

“Saizo,” Ryoma summoned, knowing his retainer would appear at the sound of his name without fail.

“Yes Lord Ryoma,” the red-haired ninja appearing just to his right.

“I'd like to make an unusual request,” Ryoma said thoughtfully, “King Xander and his wife will arrive soon, and we will be having a meeting. Usually, my sisters are here, and uh,”

Ryoma was cut short by the door swinging open to reveal Camilla with Beruka just behind her.

“I still don't understand the stuffy formalities you take, but Beruka has already agreed so spit it out already,” Camilla flipped her hair and crossed the room to stand behind her husband, threading her arms around his shoulders and placing her head on one of them.

“Yes darling,” Ryoma sighed, “Can you watch the children tonight, Shiro and Siegbert,”

“I'm forever in your service to do whatever task you deem fit for me to perform,” Saizo bowed his head.

“Then it's settled, Now Beruka dear, make sure you feed them, they're growing boys and the trade agreements will likely take all night,” Camilla straightened, allowing Ryoma to stand from his desk.

“I'm sure you can keep them occupied, and I'm sure little Asugi will enjoy having playmates his age,” Ryoma nodded.

“Saizo, his name is Saizo,” Saizo corrected.

“I know, and he will grow into the name I'm sure,” Ryoma sighed, “But for now, it's a little confusing to me, calling you both Saizo, and Asugi is his second name, so I think it is easier this way,”

“Whatever My Lord wishes,” Saizo said with a note of annoyance in his voice. Ryoma and Camilla left the room, leaving their retainers.

“I know you gave him that name as an honor to your heritage, but it really is confusing,” Beruka told him gently, “Did you not have a nickname growing up to differentiate yourself from your father?”

Saizo looked at her and smiled, pulling his mask from his face as he did, “I did, but only my mother ever called me by that name,”

“And you wouldn't dare tell anyone, even your darling wife,” Beruka did her best impression of Camilla's teasing drawl. They both laughed together, finding ease in each other's presence.

“Mark that down as a secret from another time,” Saizo told her.

The two of them, having led lives full of secrets, many of them soaked in blood, had agreed that they would keep only those secrets from before their marriage. Anything from their past was off limits unless they really wanted to share, no matter how small. Ryoma and Camilla knew of their agreement and supported it, leaving their discretion to themselves.

“We better prepare, if Prince Siegbert is anything like Prince Shiro,” Saizo said going to exit the room.

“Camilla was surprisingly unhelpful on the subject of her nephew,” Beruka nodded, “That can mean one of two things, he is the same, or he is the complete opposite,”

“Then let us hope he has inherited his father's personality,” Saizo nodded.

“Here you are Siegbert, now be good for Saizo and Beruka,” Xander knelt in front of his son, talking to him at eye level, “I want you to remember what I taught you, that if you don't want to do something, try it first, then decide if you want to continue,”

Xander stood after pushing Siegbert towards the other boys who were stacking blocks on top of one another, trying to make as tall of a tower as they could.

“He is shy and has trouble socializing sometimes,” Xander indicated much to Saizo's relief, “If he seems reluctant to do something, encourage him, but if he continues to resist, give him a book to read and he'll sit quietly with it,”

“I will make sure to account for that,” Saizo nodded, “Don't worry Lord Xander, we will keep your son safe,”

“I have no doubt of that,” Xander affirmed and left to go rejoin his wife and the other rulers.

Beruka was seated off to the side eyeing the now teetering tower the boys were working on. She also watched as the blocks finally tipped off to the side, coming down on Shiro's head. Saizo stiffened, waiting for the boy to cry, but instead, the boisterous youth laughed and suggested they try again.

“Children are more durable than you might think,” Beruka grinned, “even the royal ones,”

“Am I wrong in looking out for their well-being,” Saizo grunted.

“Not at all,” Beruka shook her head, “But some things are best left for them to learn on their own,”

“Like things hurt when they fall on you?” Saizo snorted.

“That and axes are sharp,” Beruka suggested.

“We are not giving them axes,” Saizo said flatly.

“Not real ones,” Beruka grinned with a glint in her eye.

“What did you have in mind,” Saizo asked curiously.

“Give me an hour,” Beruka got up and left the playroom.

“Where is mommy going?” Asugi dashed over to Saizo, tugging on his pant leg.

“I'm not entirely sure, but she will be back little one,” Saizo reassured his son, patting his ice blue hair, the one thing he seemed to inherit from his mother, that and his tendency to move silently without so much as trying. Saizo had learned the hard way that silence meant trouble was more likely afoot.

Beruka came back right on the hour with a big box in her arms.

“You missed Shiro trying to balance Saizo on his head,” Saizo told her flatly.

“Wow such a feat for a toddler to lift an adult,” Beruka joked.

“You know what I meant,” Saizo sighed, “Anyhow, Asugi thought it was funny until Shiro's arms got tired and he dropped him,”

“You caught him right?” Beruka glanced quickly at her son, a protective look gracing her face.“You doubt my skills that much,” Saizo said smugly, “Of course I did, don't look at me like that,”

Saizo eyed the box she held as she set it down next to the children, the three of them taking an interest. Shiro bounded up eagerly, Asugi followed suit, and Siegbert came tentatively after the others, peering over Shiro's shoulder.

“Have you boys started your weapon training yet?” Beruka asked them holding the box closed.

“Dad says I have to wait till I'm older,” Shiro rolled his eyes, “Me and Kiragi tried sticks one time, but then our dads yelled at us,”

“Mommy, you told me I needed to be older,” Asugi said with all the accusatory tone a six-year-old could muster. Beruka giggled, a rare sound that Saizo reveled in.

“Father lets me watch,” Siegbert said in his quiet little voice.

“Well, I say it's never too early,” Beruka smiled, “Of course I've modified things a bit for you,”

Beruka finally opened the box revealing cloth covered weapons. There was two swords, a naginata, a few daggers and some disks with shuriken painted on them.

“I will admit, that is clever,” Saizo nodded.

“I padded the smallest training weapons I could find, the swords are actually large daggers,” Beruka smiled watching the boys choose their weapons.

Siegbert was actually the first one to claim a weapon, taking one of the swords. Shiro held both a sword and the naginata, eventually dropping the sword. Asugi contemplated for a few more seconds before grabbing the other sword that Shiro had dropped.

“Now boys, before we start just swinging them around and hitting one another we need to practice swinging them,” Beruka snapped her fingers. She brought out another training weapon, sized to her stature, a wooden axe.

“But our weapons are different!” Shiro called out raising his weapon, “Oh except Asugi and Siegbert,”

Asugi frowned deciding that wouldn't do and went back to the box and grabbed a dagger, “I'm different now too!” he raised his dagger.

“Well, there are basic swings that you can use for anything, you just need to hold your weapon different,” Beruka instructed.

Beruka took care with each of the boys, teaching them how to hold the weapons, and how to swing them. Saizo managed to keep them far enough apart to avoid them hitting each other, as he had vetoed setting them against each other. Saizo brought in training dummies later on when Shiro had decided he really wanted to try hitting something. Siegbert was content swinging his sword slowly and carefully, eventually just doing different things on his own the adults supposed he had picked up from watching his father. Saizo had completely taken over teaching Asugi, showing him different knife strikes.

“Okay Siegbert, Shiro, now hit your dummies as hard as you can,” Beruka ordered. Both boys wound up.

“I think we did well today, but I'm sure our sons-” The door opened and in the doorway with his hand still on the door stood Ryoma, Xander coming up just behind him as Shiro let out a mighty battle cry as he and Siegbert hit the training dummies with muffled thuds.

“Don't just stand there, Xander darling, what's going on?” Charlotte pushed her way into the room with Camilla following her, giving her brother a quick pat on the shoulder. Charlotte paused as she saw what exactly was going on. Her face scrunched in confusion, and she turned from Xander to her little sword-wielding son.

“Beruka, why do the children have weapons?” Camilla was smiling, but it didn't reach her eyes which betrayed her apprehension.

“I knew I'd find you here,” a sigh came from behind, Shigure jolting up to face the new comer.

He paused to run his face with his arm, “What do you want Dwyer?” he said shortly.

Dwyer stepped into the forest clearing holding two steaming cups, “Here,” he push one of them into Shigure's hand before taking a sip of his own.

“What is it?” Shigure asked tentatively.

“Just try it,” Dwyer replied his eyes set on his older brother expectantly. Shigure sighed, then took a sip. His eyes widened, then took a proper drink. He sat down again on the stump he had been sitting on, tears returning to his eyes.

“Thank you,” Shigure sniffed.

“Anything for my brother,” Dwyer's eyes had conveniently closed, looking like he was savoring his tea. “How did you find it?” Shigure asked after re-composing himself.

“I didn't, I made it,” Dwyer shrugged, “Looks like Father's training didn't go to waste after all,”

There was a period of silence as the boys drank their tea. After they finished, Dwyer took both the cups and put them in a padded pouch to protect them until he could return them to their father, Jakob's cabinet.

“Father won't be pleased if he finds those cups missing,” Shigure sniffed.

“They were Mother's cups, so I figured he'd have no place to complain,” Dwyer said flatly, “Not that he won't anyway, nothing I do seems to impress him, so naturally I've given up trying. It's not like I care anyway,”

“You say that, yet you always smile when Mother complimented your tea or your coffee,” Shigure grinned slyly.

“That's because Mother didn't want to make me into a butler,” Dwyer put his face into his hand, his hair falling in his eyes, “Sadly I was never good at singing like you were, so getting out of lessons with Father became impossible,”

“Mother never loved you any less because of it,” Shigure reassured his younger brother, “Father noticed how much you liked to help Mother around the house when she visited, I think he was just trying to help you be better at it, so when we had a real house you could do things for her,”

“That's not how Father sees it,” Dwyer grumbled, “All he sees is a boy who by all accounts is utterly useless and as such has deemed it necessary to use force in giving me purpose, even if it's pointless,”

“You're not useless Dwyer, why you're very talented with your drinks, even more than Father, but outside of that, you do really good work around camp, and you really do care about everyone,” Shigure smiled.

“Nah, I'm just a layabout, like father always says,” Dwyer sighed.

“Well he's wrong,” Shigure insisted, “You made me Mother's tea after all, I didn't even know her recipe,”

“I thought it would make you feel a bit better, I know you always loved her tea,” Dwyer said, “I made it the way she always loved, I even added a bit of honey like she always did,”

“Thank you Dwyer, I feel a bit better,” Shigure nodded to him.

“Now if only I could avoid Father's daily lesson for longer,” Dwyer sank again.

“I think I know how,” Shigure grinned, “Come with me,”

“Are you quite sure?” Yukimura asked again.

“I am,” Shigure nodded.

“Um,” Dwyer paused glancing at the other three gathered at the castle gate.

“If you don't think you can handle a simple scouting mission, perhaps you can go buttle with your father some more,” Niles sneered at the boy. Dwyer knew his father and Niles had a distinct dislike for one another, he could vaguely see why.

“Dwyer, It's only a scouting mission,” Shigure urged, “Corrin is always saying us kids need more real world experience if he's going to let us fight with him,”

“What if I don't want to fight,” Dwyer scowled, “I'd rather be subjected to the ice twins,”

Shigure pondered for a moment, “Remember when we collected you, what you said to father?”

“That I would rather let others do the fighting,” Dwyer grumbled, “Much to his dismay,”

“But you also told him that healing is just as important as fighting,” Shigure recalled, “If you can become a better healer on the field maybe we can prevent anyone else from having to go through what we did,”

“Let's go,” Dwyer said without any remaining hesitation.

“Well then, mount up you two and don't forget your weapons,” Niles nodded.

“Oh, can I ride with you?” Izana addressed Dwyer, “I can give you some killer tips on the way, for healing and great hair,”

“I'll pass,” Dwyer shied away from the diviner.

“Ehehe, good, more targets for the enemy that aren't me-OW!” Zola muttered gleefully until Niles cracked him across the head.

“You put those boys in danger and I will personally assist Niles in finding a way to leave you behind,” Yukimura spoke evenly, but the pinch of his eyebrows betrayed his disdain.

Zola glanced hesitantly from one man to the other and wisely decided to keep his mouth firmly shut.

“Okay, so were going to check out the territory around the forest we're in, so you two keep close, and keep your eyes peeled not just for soldiers, but for faceless too,” Yukimura outlined, then began elaborating on what they were looking for and what to do if engaged by an enemy.

“Tell me, little singer, did you tell Corrin you were joining us?” Izana whispered to Shigure who stiffened, letting out a stammered no after a few moments, “I thought not,”

“You're not going to tell us to stay?” Shigure said after waiting for the lecture on how irresponsible it was to leave without saying anything that his father would have dished out without a second thought.

“Heavens no,” Izana chuckled, “I just thought I'd ask,” the sly grin on Izana's face made Shigure shiver, knowing of the man's talent for foresight, wondered what he must know.

As the scouting party departed with it's two extra members, Jakob was in the mess kitchen preparing Lord Corrin's afternoon tea and some scones to go with it. He tapped his foot impatiently, expecting any moment for his younger son to come sliding through the door pretending he wasn't late on purpose.

Corrin, on the other hand, was on his balcony watching the party leave. He seemed almost pleased that they had picked up a couple extra volunteers, not realizing who they were since his tree house was near the back of the castle, making it easier to protect from invaders which were uncommon, but definitely a concern. Corrin spotted Jakob strutting across the lawn and towards his house and went inside to greet his loyal butler.

His loyal butler came in wearing a poorly disguised scowl and might have been muttering to himself before Corrin had opened the door, “My Lord,” he started before clearing his throat and his expression, “your tea, I also prepared some scones for you to sample if it please you,”“Thank you Jakob, I was getting a bit hungry going over the plan for the next battle,” Corrin nodded, allowing the butler through before shutting the door, “Once the scouting party returns with more information on the lay of the land, then I will have a better idea who's suited to fight here,”

“We all know your siblings will go regardless,” Jakob sniffed, “All of them,” he had been increasingly vigilant around Corrin as of late since the entire Nohrian and Hoshidan Royal families had joined forces.

“As true as that is, they are our best fighters,” Corrin shrugged, “As long as I don't pair them off incorrectly,” He recalled the time he had put Takumi and Camilla on the same team. Needless to say, his young brother did not take Camilla's stifling personality with much grace. But it hadn't been all bad when Corrin had caught Leo in conversation with Takumi discussing how best to avoid his sister's outbursts of love.

“I still don't understand why Lady Azura can't simply tell us where to go,” Jakob said pointedly.

“She doesn't know this land any better than I do,” Corrin's face darkened, “Our mothers couldn't exactly draw us a map, or tell us about our birthplace,”

“It is as you say,” Jakob said cutting the topic short, despite his continual misgivings. He poured the tea into a cup for his prince and set it out with a couple lumps of sugar. One he knew would make it into the tea, the other would be sneakily popped into the mouth of his sweet-toothed liege. It had always been that way as long as Jakob could remember, ever since Jakob had witnessed the Prince get chided for eating the cubes and then complaining his tea wasn't sweet enough. That was back when he was inexperienced and clumsy, but when he had set the saucer down with two lumps instead of just one, the look of glee on Corrin's face had shined.

“I thought Dwyer was going to help you again today? I was looking forward to things being a little cleaner,” Corrin inquired breaking the butler from his reverie

“I thought so too, my Lord,” Jakob scowled again, “I don't know why the boy makes this so difficult,”

“Perhaps he just needed a break,” Corrin shrugged, taking a bite of one of the scones.

“He is lazy,” Jakob muttered, “But he does tend to get things done just to spite me,”

“Well he has to be somewhere, why don't you go see if he's in the stables taking care of his horse, he does care for her, that lucky mare,” Corrin chuckled, “You can always remind him of his lesson,”

“If My Lord insists, I will return, with or without my son,” Jakob turned and bowed before exiting.

“Stay alert boys, this is uncharted territory, don't go running off and getting mauled,” Niles had his bow at the ready, “That goes for you too, Shigure, Dwyer,”

“I suggest we fan out,” Yukimura suggested, “Shigure can fly just above us to get an aerial view, while Dwyer can keep in the middle of the group for quick support should one of us have any unwanted encounters.

“Won't it be hard to see with all these trees?” Zola asked incredulously.

“The worm has a point,” Niles clucked his tongue, “We should keep close as a group on the ground. Shigure, you will still be most useful up above the trees, but it will leave you vulnerable to archers, are you positive you are ready for the risk?”

“I'm ready,” Shigure directed his pegasus up through a break in the canopy and hovered above them. Dwyer looked up nervously, Izana sidled up beside him, “Just keep your staff at the ready and we'll all be fine, have faith in your brother,” Dwyer eyed the Onmyoji but then returned his attention to the rider above them, keeping his eyes peeled.

“Not there!” Jakob burst into the tree house earning startled grunt from his Lord.

“What?” Corrin asked when his butler didn't continue.

“Not what, but who,” he put a hand to his face, “Neither Dwyer nor his horse was in the stables,”

“So perhaps they went for a ride?” Corrin didn't see cause for alarm.

“Shigure's pegasus was also absent,” Jakob added.

“They went for a ride together, maybe their just bonding?” Corrin shrugged turning back to his work. After a few moments, he stiffened.

“My Lord?” Jakob said tentatively.

“That scouting party, the one I left to Niles,” Corrin began, pausing to shoot a nervous glance back to his butler.

“Gods not them again, I don't understand why you continue putting those incompetent, untrustworthy fools together,” Jakob voiced his opinion, “What does that band of miscreants have to do with my sons?”

“I might have seen them leave with two extra bodies,” Corrin started hesitantly, then when Jakob didn't clue in, “A pegasus rider and a troubadour,”

A long moment passed as Jakob processed the meaning of what his liege was suggesting. Corrin swore he could see the man's face drain of color with every second that passed.

“Jakob?” Corrin prompted after waiting patiently for the man to respond.

Jakob snapped out of it and stiffly went to the door, bowed deeply, and then shut the door ever so gently without saying a word before Corrin heard the desperate scrabble of his feet as he ran off.

“That's when she slapped me,” Niles chuckled, having been telling a story on his last attempt at flirting with the women in the camp. No one bothered telling him to stop simply because he'd continue speaking anyway.

Shigure was glad to be up above the trees where he could only barely hear. He knew Niles was a slimy man, but he seemed like he knew what he was doing. At the very least he called up every few minutes to ask if he'd seen anything. All Shigure could see was trees, there wasn't a clearing in sight.

Dwyer down below was having no better luck, there were lots of trees, and plenty of exposed roots. He was glad his horse was sure-footed because as far as he could tell this area was rife with difficult terrain. The stooped mage Zola tripped every few feet it seemed.

“You're a healer, right? Help me,” Zola pleaded, “Let me ride on your horse at the very least,”

“No,” Dwyer replied flatly clutching his staff. This man was a rat, and everyone but Corrin seemed to distrust him. Perhaps the other men with them had a bit of trust for him, a small waiver of it that kept them from tying him up and finding a tree to string him up on.

“Aw come on, this place is so dangerous,” The mage continued to snivel.

“It is not this place that is so dangerous,” Dwyer said coldly, “I think you are simply a danger to yourself. I'll heal you if something serious happens, but until then, you should return to the formation and keep walking, perhaps pay some mind to where you put your feet,”

“Spoken like a true son of our dear butler,” Niles seemed to have finished his story and had fallen back.

“He's not your butler, his only allegiance was to Corrin and -” Dwyer stopped the sentence short.

“To whom?” Niles gave him a probing look, “Do tell,”

“You know very well what the boy meant,” Yukimura joined the group giving Niles a hard look, “I'm aware of your low opinion of the man, but he is not him.”

Niles met the look with an unwavering stare, “I'll keep that in mind,” and turned away, “We should get moving again if we hope to be back by dark,”

“A snake, an old man, a fruit and a traitor!” Jakob gritted his teeth, “Why would they go with those... those pack of fools,”

“Is there something I can help you with?” Xander came up to the butler.

“Er, No My Lord Xander, I was merely searching for my sons,” Jakob straightened himself properly.

“Perhaps they are training with the other children,” Xander suggested.

“I suppose I must rephrase,” Jakob cleared his throat, “I know where they are, just not precisely where, but more so with whom,”

“Who are they with today?” Xander asked politely.

“It seems they have gone out with the scouting party,” Jakob tried to conceal his disgust and failed.

“You don't approve,” Xander nodded, “It's not my place to say, but I think that learning to scout is a fine way for them to help the army,”

“That's not the issue,” Jakob groaned, “Excuse my brashness, but I don't doubt my sons out there as much as I doubt the competency of those they are with,”

“I assure you, They might not seem it, but Corrin can surely attest to their successes,” Xander shrugged.

“I can't say I care,” Jakob huffed, “as far as I'm concerned, they are a pack of dogs. I can't have my sons learning from them,”

“Yukimura is a strategist, I think I'd even let my son learn from him,” Xander pointed out.

“Would you want him to pick up Niles vile speech, or gods help me, Zola's cowardice?”

“Fair point,” Xander conceded, “I wish you luck, I must go ensure the weaponry is well stocked for the next battle,”

“A bunch of birds just sprung out of the trees,” Shigure shouted down, “It's about fifty yards to the south of us,”

“Good eye,” Niles yelled back up, “Keep up there for now, if you see any more movement call, but otherwise be ready for the signal to come down to us!”

Shigure called back his agreement and readied his lance. He kept his eyes on the spot where he had seen the birds come from.

Dwyer was still clutching his staff in one hand, his reins in the other, feeling uneasy. He looked towards Izana who had pulled in closer to the group, where normally he'd be grinning and humming as he walked, now he had a serious expression on his face and was walking lightly, making very little sound. If fact the only sounds came from Zola who couldn't tread lightly to save his life apparently. Dwyer grunted and swung his horse around, grabbing the mage by the collar and dragging him up onto his horse, silencing the mage before he could make some outrageous speech of thanks or complain about how roughly he had been treated. Dwyer could never tell, but he was glad that Zola had at least taken out his tome.

They went towards where Shigure had indicated and made it about 30 yards before Niles made a motion to stop. They all listened carefully

thud

Thud

THUD

A growl became apparent as a hulking disfigured monster stumbled past the line of trees in front of them. The Faceless let out a roar and as it did, the party was made aware of four others, who returned the noise at varying distances.

“Shigure! Get down here and cover your brother!” Niles called as one of the closer faceless stepped out from Dwyer's left where Zola had been stationed. Zola flipped open his tome and cast a spell, which grazed the arm of the monster but didn't slow its advance. Niles had begun planting arrows in the first one they had found while Yukimura was keeping his eyes out for the three other's they could not see, keeping close enough to Niles to provide covering fire.

Shigure swooped down, slashing his spear across the chest of the creature, his pegasus rearing at the last second to add its own kick to the attack. They backed off just in time for the thing to wind up a fist and take a lunging swing at them.

“It's a good thing that they can't use bows huh?” Dwyer grunted.

“Yeah, they might be big, but they sure are slow,” Shigure waited for it to take another swing before diving back in and landing a few more hits.

Another Faceless came into sight, prompting Izana to join the fight alongside the mechanist firing arrows and shuriken from his puppet mount.

It wasn't long before the three that they were fighting were dispatched, melting into the ground as the magic that kept their bodies together fizzled out. The men were given no time to rest though, as two roars were heard just ahead. Instead of waiting it out, the group moved towards the source and found two larger faceless in a small clearing. Shigure wound up to attack right away before the other's could react. He had been counting on slow sluggish movements, but these faceless were better put together, and faster than the others. One of them took a swing that Shigure just barely avoided, only to send him straight into the second monster's fist, sending boy and pegasus flying.

“No!” Dwyer cried, making to run in too, but Izana jumped in front of him.

“If you get hit too, then you can't help him,” he reasoned before sending a spell flying, the spirit tiger pouncing on the faceless and bursting into sparks. Arrows were flying and Zola had jumped off of Dwyer's horse, firing lightning at the monsters too. Dwyer felt a surge of anxiety, he couldn't do anything, he couldn't even go to his brother who was struggling to push himself up. Dwyer saw that all the adults were occupied, and instantly put a heel to his horse, ducking into the trees and going around the clearing until he reached Shigure.

“I'm here to help,” He hopped off his horse, using one charge of his staff on the pegasus and one on his brother before pulling him to his feet.

“Look out!” came a yell, and a fist crashed down in front of them. Shigure snatched up his lance and placed himself in front of Dwyer. Their mounts had fled into the trees behind them.

“Shigure, don't...” Dwyer grabbed the elder's sleeve, tugging.

“I have to,” Shigure broke out of the grip and leaped up to the monster, stabbing its fleshy body before jumping back, rolling to the side to avoid another fist. Dwyer watched as he did this a few times, a couple arrows sprouted out of the monster's back, meaning they had support, but the monster was honed in on the very convenient target in front of it. It wound up with one arm, but then it swung, winding up the other arms to attack again.

“Shigure!” Dwyer called, “Hey monster!” he ran closer, taking a dagger out of his boot, one his father had insisted he keep. He threw the dagger and it missed, but evidently it was enough to peak the creature's interest because now it was charging him.

“Dwyer no!” Shigure dashed after the monster, then overtook it to grab his younger brother and throw him back. He took the brunt of the hit and was also thrown back to where Dwyer lay as well. There was a lot of yelling and someone had finally made their way over to them to fight the monster off.

“That was really stupid you know,” Shigure coughed.

“Are you kidding me!?” Dwyer snapped, “Look at you, your bleeding, your wrist is already swelling and I'll bet 20 silver that you have a concussion,”

“Better me than you,” Shigure grunted.

“Bullshit,” Dwyer crawled a couple feet to retrieve his staff and crawled back to his older brother, “I know you blame yourself for what happened to mother, but it wasn't your fault, I blame myself too, but it isn't my fault either.”

“Turn over,” Dwyer ordered Shigure, “I've seen you training, but if you're just going to throw yourself at the enemies without thinking, what's the point?”

“Take off your gauntlet,” another order, “Even I grew up with with a modicum of self-preservation, and I know we grew up in different deep realms, but seriously, did they teach you anything?”

“They taught me to protect what was important to me,” Shigure whispered. Dwyer stopped his rant short, looking surprised before returning to cleaning out the wound on Shigure's head with supplies from his small healers kit.

“Mother taught me that,” Dwyer said finally, “I didn't get it at first,”

“I think you've got the idea,” Shigure cracked a smile, “Now your reason for sticking to healing, is it really about the importance of healing or is it because you can't wield a dagger like father can?”

“I'm just fine with a dagger,” Dwyer sniffed, “I was just scared I'd hit you,”

“Oh is that it?” Shigure nudged him.

“Yep, that's it,” Dwyer maintained.

Lilith had insisted that the portal would likely spit him out in a different location than the others and that if he went know their return portal would close. So Jakob had taking up sentry at the gate, pacing in front of it gritting his teeth.

“They should have been back already, where are they?” he huffed.

“If they found anything, yes, but they still have half an hour until sundown,” Flora reminded him irritably.

“What if they ran into trouble, what then?” Jakob posed angerly.

“I should have told Lilith to let you go after them,” Flora sighed heavily, “They will be fine, they will take care of each other,”

“Oh I just hope they haven't picked up any of that drivel,” Jakob grumbled.

“you're worried about their social presentation?” Flora gasped, “and here I thought you had changed, but you are the same old rod straight manners-over-all butler,”

“I am worried about their well being,” Jakob scoffed, “the title of ice heart has always belonged to you Flora,”

“Only for you Jakob,” Flora smiled.

“Are you boys okay?” Yukimura approached the two while the others tried to retrieve their mounts.

“I'll live, I have my brother to thank for that,” Shigure was all bandaged up, but Dwyer had insisted he stay lying down, he had even folded his coat into a makeshift cushion for his head.

“I am unharmed,” Dwyer said shortly, then after a second, “Thank Shigure for that. Does anyone need any healing?”

“I think Izana might need some, but the others can wait till we get back, and don't believe Zola when he tells you he brought down the beast, it actually just fell on him after he let off his spell. He could probably use a quick heal too, if you deem it a necessary thing,” Yukimura told him.

“If it will stop him from complaining the whole way back, than yes,” Dwyer sighed, getting up and making his way towards the others, but after a few steps he turned, “Don't let him get up until we're ready to leave,”

“For the last time, I'll stay still, you don't have to set an adult on me,” Shigure argued, but Dwyer had already moved out of hearing range.

“What a caring younger brother,” Yukimura chuckled, “a younger brother's devotion is not one to be toyed with, I have experienced that first hand,”

“If it is anything like my father's is to Lord Corrin, then I imagine not,” Shigure laughed dryly.

“I've come to realize that is a special case,” Yukimura made a face, “I think a better comparison that you might have seen is Prince Corrin and Crown Prince Xander,”

“I think I understand, Lord Corrin would do anything for his brother, any of them really, but especially Xander,” Shigure looked thoughtful, “I want to be like Lord Xander and protect my brother,”

“You did a good job of that, now I think they've got the mounts sorted, and it's time to go,” Yukimura offered a hand to the teenager and with Dwyer's help, got him on his pegasus.

“The portal is opening up, they are back,” Flora alerted. Jakob jumping up and rushing from the guard post to see the arrival. Izana came in first dragging a whining Zola behind him. Next came Niles and Yukimura discussing what to tell Corrin.

Last through was a pegasus and a horse side by side with the two blue haired boys. The pegasus rider noted his father's presence and set down beside him, Dwyer following on his horse.

“Flora take the horse and the pegasus back to the stables and make sure they are properly taken care of,” Flora obeyed Jakobs request without complaint. Shigure and Dwyer stood awkwardly side by side waiting to be reamed out.

Instead they were both caught in a hug, something neither of them had come to expect from their father.

“You're safe,” Jakob said finally, “Shigure, you're hurt,” he drew back scrutinizing the injuries.

“Uh, yeah, Dwyer took care of them as best he could,” Shigure told him.

“Shigure has a concussion,” Dwyer mumbled, head down.

Jakob looked between his sons before sighing, “Let's get you home so I can have a look,” he put a hand on Dwyer's shoulder, “You did a good job with the rest, you will need to recheck those wounds tomorrow though,”

“Wait me?” Dwyer looked up now.

“Yes, you can handle it, I trust you,” Jakob turned to lead them back to their quarters, “If you handled a dagger half as well as you cleaned wounds, you would be a better butler than me,”

“Hah, pretty sure that's already true, me being a better butler, cause I vaguely remember Corrin saying my coffee was better than yours,” Dwyer grinned defiantly.

“I think this calls for a contest, in fact let's get all the royals together for it this time,” Jakob sniffed, “Then I will show you that experience trumps all,”

“It's on,” Dwyer snorted.