#LET HIM BE MORE SUSPICIOUS OF RYOMA AND DISTRUSTING OF HIM

[passports-pls]

I just finished Ishin and I have like, a million and one thoughts on Hijikata and how dirty they did him

[fatesdeepdive]

Entry 6: Dicklips has a Point

Chapter 5: Mother

After a few days in Hoshido, Corrin is finally getting used to the massive emotional baggage that is her backstory. Mikoto invites Corrin to sit on the Hoshidan throne, which is infused with the magic of the First Dragons and destroys magic that alters the body or mind. Mikoto hopes that it will allow Corrin to regain her memories. Before Corrin can sit on the throne and become king of the Westeros or whatever, Mikoto’s strategist Yukimura enters. He looks like a nerd, but I suppose that’s better than being a steampunk MCR cover band dropout like Iago.

The Hoshidan siblings enter and Mikoto tells Corrin that they’re having a ceremony to quash spy rumors and formally reintroduce Corrin into the family. We’re properly introduced to Corrin’s other brother, Takumi. He’s assigned to show Corrin around town and is grumpy about it, because his defining character trait is being a dick. As Takumi and the princesses leave, Ryoma muses that he feels uneasy and predicts that something bad will happen soon.

The gang tours a Hoshidan marketplace. It’s so vibrant, and colorful, and full of life. I haven’t been talking much about this game’s music because I’m not a music guy, but I love the upbeat theme they use for this scene. It feels like something out of Okami and matches Hoshido’s idealized feudal Japan aesthetic perfectly.

Corrin points out that Shirasagi is way better than the Nohrian fort she was held prisoner in for years. Takumi rants that he doesn’t trust Corrin, saying Just don’t get too comfortable…SISTER. I know he’s supposed to come across as a dick, but he has a point. Corrin’s an enemy soldier who invaded Hoshido and killed a dozen people less than a week ago. It doesn’t matter that they share DNA, Corrin should be treated with suspicion.

Takumi also acts suspicious to Azura and says she can’t call him by his first name, which is dumb. What’s she supposed to do, call him Dicklips? Corrin points out that Dicklips is being an idiot and Dicklips tells her to shut up. And really, he is being an idiot. Either hate Corrin for growing up in Nohr, or hate Azura for having Nohrian DNA. Either nature matters, or nurture matters. You can’t have it both ways.

Then again, Azura and Corrin will totally join Nohr and try to destroy Hoshido if we chose the conquest path, so maybe Dicklips has a point.

Corrin tells Sakura that she’s friends with a girl around Sakura’s age, presumably Elise. If the coin flip had gone the other way and I was playing as boy Corrin, Sakura would have asked if Elise is Corrin’s girlfriend. And that’s ridiculous. Can you imagine, Corrin dating their teenage sister? That’s messed up. Good thing that isn’t a thing that happens in this game.

We go to the plaza for the festival. Side note, all shots of Corrin and Mikoto in the festival are positioned so that Corrin’s face is covered by something, like a man wearing an oversized hat, for instance. This is because Corrin is customizable and that means the game can’t show their face. They can show the clearly male body model, but not their face. Awakening had Robin wear a hood to get around this problem, but who needs fashion choices when you can just censor the main character’s face like it’s Austin Powers’s mojo.

While Corrin’s standing next to Mikoto, a weird ghost man wearing a hood walks to the front of the crowd and holds out his arm. Red smoke starts coming off Ganglari and an eye opens up on its hilt, because it is very clearly a cursed sword. Ganglari flies over to the man and he stabs it into the ground, creating a massive purple explosion ball. The sword explodes and Mikoto jumps in front of Corrin to shield her from the shrapnel. As she dies, Mikoto asks Corrin if she’s okay.

Fire Emblem has a lot of dead parent scenes, and I honestly think this is the best. Marcella Lentz-Pope’s scream when Mikoto dies is phenomenal. Mikoto begging Corrin to be alright and dying with a smile on her face is beautiful.

Ryoma cuts down the hooded man but his cloak just falls to the ground, leaving no body. Corrin screams, her hair glowing and her eyes white, physically holding back the pain as waves of energy burst from her body. In a moment, Corrin is gone. In her place is a dragon.

I really like Corrin’s dragon form. It looks so inhuman, more like a machine than a traditional dragon. It really gets across that Corrin has completely lost any semblance of humanity she had as she falls into this pit of despair.

The level proper starts up as an army of dark mages and mercenaries storm into the ruined plaza. Their leader is the ghostly man from before. Interestingly, he’s a swordmaster, a Hoshidan exclusive class that he shares with Ryoma. This level adds Sakura and Azura to our team and gives Corrin an absolutely monstrous boost to her stats, fitting for her rage dragon form.

Sakura

Corrin’s shy, gentle Hoshidan younger sister. She’s a Shrine Maiden (Cleric) and wields healing staves. Her personal skill lowers the damage taken by nearby allies. Her design is fine; I don’t really have any thoughts on it. She seems to be going for this “cute shy healer” personality, which isn’t bad, but Fire Emblem has done it a dozen times before.

Azura

Azura is our Dancer...I mean, Songstress. She sucks at fighting, but allows other units to attack twice, which is really helpful in battle. Her personal skill heals nearby allies at the start of their turns. Her design, despite its bright colors, does a good job conveying how calm and mysterious she is. Azura is an enigma. She clearly knows more than she lets on, but currently seems content to just follow Corrin around.

All of the mercenaries in this chapter wield special, dragon killing swords, which would be a problem, if Corrin didn’t have as much defense as the rest of the party put together. This chapter boils down to letting dragon Corrin smash everyone while Sakura, Azura, and Kaze provide support. Ryoma attempts to take on the ghost man, but is defeated. Then Corrin fucking stomps his translucent ass and saves the day.

Corrin continues rampaging and Azura begins singing LITAA. Her necklace, the one from the title screen, starts glowing. Ryoma runs in to protect Azura, but Azura blasts him away with a pillar of water, which is a thing that she can do apparently.

Dragon Corrin freaks out at the music and slashes Azura across the chest. Azura keeps singing and Corrin attempts to strangle her to death. Azura tells Corrin, Kill me if you want, but do it as yourself, which is a fantastic line that shakes Corrin out of her madness.

Corrin turns back into a human and has a flashback of Garon’s murdering Sumeragi and kidnapping her. Garon says You are my child now and grabs baby Corrin, which is so creepy its comical.

Corrin apologizes to Azura, saying she’s disgusted with herself. Ryoma explains that both royal families have dragon blood, the Nohrians from the Dusk Dragon and the Hoshidans from the Dawn Dragon. Corrin looks out over the destroyed town, a town full of innocent people destroyed by Nohr.

Ryoma points out that, because Garon gave Corrin an evil bomb sword, everything must have been his plan. Cool plan, by the way. Let’s see if I have it straight:

1: Give Corrin a bomb sword.

2: Have her commit an act of war.

3: Have Hans try to murder Corrin.

4: Hope he fails.

5: Hope the Hoshidans bring Corrin to their Queen, instead of imprisoning her for being an enemy soldier.

6: Have ghost soldiers invade Hoshido and take the sword from Corrin.

6: Cursed sword explodes, killing Mikoto and destroying her mind control barrier.

I mean, sure, there are probably simpler ways to kill Mikoto, ways that don’t involve praying that Hans fucks up and fails to kill Corrin. Garon could have, I don’t know, had the ghost soldiers kill Mikoto. Maybe their existence is tied to Ganglari, but that’s never actually stated, and the fact that they stick around and kill people after Ganglari explodes makes that questionable.

You know how, at the end of Naruto, Kishimoto had the villains reveal that they were behind every bad thing that happened in the series, and how it didn’t make sense and was dumb and convoluted? I’m getting Naruto vibes from this chapter.

Takumi blames Corrin for Mikoto’s death. And I mean, he has a point. Corrin’s the one who brought the clearly cursed sword her war criminal father gave her with her. Azura tells Takumi that it’s fine if he doesn’t trust her, but it's wrong for him to distrust Corrin, because Corrin is his blood. And that’s fucking stupid. Fire Emblem is filled with characters with evil relatives. Soren, Guinivere, Edelgard, Robin, the list goes on. Shit, there are evil blood relatives within this game.

Corrin suggests leaving and Yukimura tells her that Mikoto wouldn’t have wanted that and that Mikoyo knew she would die soon. He also mentions that there may be darker forces than Garon at work. Yukimura also points us towards a statue destroyed in the blast, a statue containing Yato, a diving golden sword that is said to be the key to peace. Yato flies up and over to Corrin.

Kaze runs in and reports a massive Nohrian force assembles at the border and the family marches off to war, with Ryoma declaring that he will not show any mercy. Corrin decides to follow Ryoma, in hopes of stopping the war. Azura tells Corrin to calm down, because getting into a fight could cause her to lose control and turn into a dragon again. Spoiler alert, this is literally the only chapter where Corrin loses control, because screw interesting characterization.

Azura gives Corrin her necklace, which turns out to be a dragonstone. Dragonstones and manaketes, people who can turn into dragons, are not new to Fire Emblem. Manaketes are normally uncomfortably young girls. Corrin is the first and currently the only manakete main lord. What’s more, Corrin is unique in their ability to wield both swords and dragonstones. It fits with the duality motif.

The necklace allows Corrin to control her dragon form, which is a bit of a disappointment. Corrin losing control and destroying stuff in this animalistic rage was really interesting characterization that is never seen after this chapter.

Azura decides to follow Corrin, because Corrin makes her feel safe. Apparently.

This chapter was really, really, good. Mikoto’s death was heartbreaking and Corrin going apeshit was some really strong character work. I forgot how absolutely terrifying Corrin’s transformation scene is. That said, this chapter hammers the final nail in the coffin for this story being morally grey. There is absolutely no reason to side with Nohr after this chapter, except for loyalty to the Nohrian royals.

At the start of the next chapter, we’ll choose our side in this war. And, not to tip my hand, but I don’t exactly think it’ll be a hard choice.

[paipayaseeds]

Ryoma simply shook his head in response before he'd give a verbal answer to the concerned maid.

"No. I should be asking you that question."His onyx eyes snapped towards the bear after he finished speaking of the additional motive, his chest tightening only a bit before her turn to gaze up at Kirumi again.

"Once upon a time..to keep a long story short, someone would get nervous, and holding their hand, or finger, was a comfort for them.. You never give yourself a break so, this was a test run really."

As blunt as he was, he didn't mean any harm at the last statement.

_______________

Anya would be grateful for Rantaro's shielding for she swore she felt the urge to faint beginning to burn in her brain, especially with her viciously shivering body.Her body acted as if she'd have the horrible case of the flu. Something that, would be the very last thing to worry about in here in this stupid forsaken place.

She wished she was wrong. She wished that bear was made into a pancake once again.. That that stupid --

"Hey Build a Fuck! Anya isn't everyone! So look at us, dipshit!"

The girl genius hadn't known what came over her. Maybe it'd been the anger from the fucked motive currently given. Maybe she was mentally exhausted from the Bear's Tucker and mental exhaustion was a big HELL NO for Iruma.. Or maybe she was in love --

"Sides! I'm the only hot one here that can bully Anya!So how about you go stuff yourself with tide pods and keel over and combust already?! Screw you AND your motive!"

Miu had to take a breath, yet she still stood proudly with her hands on her hips and a targeted glare down at Monokuma. The bear probably.. Wasn't the only one shocked.

Kaede's mouth had been agape, surprised at how bold Miu had been to insult Monokuma head on--

And her defending(?) Anya out of the blue when she'd just been shaking at the motive not too long ago as well .. What made Miu switch so quick?

Korekiyo would chuckle, admiring the intensity of human emotions.. Absolutely beautiful.

Anya herself would look at Miu, surprised just as much as Kaede had been, but still rather grateful. She couldn't help but give a small smile, a smile slightly weighed by the fear in the air. The inventor caught sight of her smile, her face reddening for a short minute before she'd scoff and look away.

"Do-Don't smile like that at me, nerd! Was just fucking correcting him, alright?!"

"Ah, you didn't call her Grinch T-"

She interrupted the robot, suddenly shaking him.

"Where the hell is the off button -"

Rantaro's eyes widened at Miu's sudden outburst, unsure what to think of it. A part of him had been slightly proud of her for defending Anya, but another part of him found it strange; especially from someone like Miu.

Kaito hadn't been any less confused, actually, a bit irked honestly.

Not irked by Miu(yeah, right), but more irked by the fact he hadn't been the one to say what needed to be said. Whatever! There's no time to be feeling sorry for myself, we need to stop Monokuma-

"Well, whatever. You guys may be all buddy-buddy and flirting with each other now, but soon those teenage hormones will wear off, and you'll eventually make the only logical choice; murder." As quick as he introduced the motive, Monokuma made his leave, seemingly disgruntled and bored with the vibe the entire room was going off.

So he left. And let everyone sit in their stew of 'fuck, this is really happening.'

The air was heavy with distrust, fear, and worst of all; despair. Even Kaito's spirits seemed dampened by it. Even so, the astronaut refused to be completely put out like a kitchen fire, and immediately began thinking of a solution to this garbage. "We don't need to panic about this.. I-I'll do something about it."

Rantaro narrowed his eyes at Kaito in surprise and disbelief; what could he do? Was this just an empty promise to keep everyone from losing it and start killing? Rantaro pursed his lips; he knew Kaito wasn't one to lie... And somehow, that only seemed to elevate his anxiety.

Tenko perked up, "Like a degenerate like you could possibly do anything about this! You probably don't even have a plan!" She accused, pointing her finger at him with a suspicious glare. Kaito gulped, he had been caught. "Of course I do! And... And I'm going to start thinking of one right now!"

Rantaro's shoulders dropped, and he sighed. Figures.

Himiko spoke up in a meek voice, teeth chattering slightly, "W- are we all going to die here...? I- In just two days?" Tenko suddenly started frantically moving her arms back and forth, "No! No, of course not! Because.. Because we'll fight back! Yeah!" Tenko nervously cheered, trying to trick herself into thinking they could go against those machines. She didn't have a choice but to put hopeless determination and belief in her skills. Even if those Exisals could probably destroy them in one swipe, she... she didn't want to think about that. Or else,, wouldn't that just mean it was the end?

She didn't want it to end yet. So she was ready to fight.

Kirumi furrowed her brow at Ryouma, silently wondering why he had cared if she was alright. A prisoner, huh? He sure had a heart of gold... To be worrying about an insignificant maid like her. "I don't need breaks. My needs will always be put after others." She was almost robotic in response, repeating the same motto every time like it was a mantra; almost like a broken record.

[yukiwrites]

Morgan, Being Spied On

Thank you so much for commissioning me again, @xpegasusuniverse! Writing about Saizo being so serious it pisses him off it’s just so much fun aksdlkamsd I hope you like it!

Summary: Since the first day she arrived, Morgan has been under surveilance -- she’s always known that, and actually looked forward to meet her stalker. What she didn’t know, however, was that there was more than ONE person shadowing her. Someone closer than she might think...

Commission info HERE and HERE! 

A long time had passed since Ryoma had given Saizo the clearance to stop stalk- ahem, observing Linfan -- although the girl's story and the nohrian retainers' sloppy cover-ups felt oddly convenient and thought-up on the spot, Linfan had done nothing to spark their distrust.

And Saizo had been observing her every. Single. Move.

From the moment she woke up to the time she went to sleep, Saizo watched -- not once being spotted, though noticed someone else's presence looming around her more than a few times.

Ryoma had given him clearance to stop taking notes on the foreign girl, but Saizo wouldn't give up finding something (even more) suspicious about the girl: he would still follow her day and night until he himself came to the conclusion that she was a safe person to be included into their ragtag army.

During one such mornings, he once again felt another person's presence lurking around, so the ninja decided to be the lurker's lurker instead. He soundlessly jumped not five meters away from Linfan towards another tree, the sudden wind that lifted her hair not really bothering her as she took an unsuspicious afternoon stroll.

"Finally decided to say 'hi', handsome?" Niles' voice greeted Saizo once the ninja arrived at the tree behind the tent Niles was using as a hiding spot.

Saizo sputtered. "Here I was going to say that not all nohrians are trusting fools, but I stand corrected -- you are a fool, alright."

"Hah!" Niles scoffed, turning back to look up to the hovering ninja, still up over a branch. "Stuck-up AND too handsome to grace us with your grumpy face? That's a great impression you're giving there, yeah."

Saizo narrowed his eye to the nohrian retainer, deciding to ignore his remark. "Your Lord didn't order this, yet you follow her still. Do you nohrians have no trust in your coworker's kin?" He lifted his chin.

"Waaaait," Niles licked his lips, leaning on the tent's stretched cloth as he pointed up to the ninja. "One moment you're praising me for not being a trusting fool; in the the other, you're saying I should have had trusted her just 'cause her story is convenient? I think you're just finding an excuse to hate on little old me." He winked, the smirk never leaving his face.

"..." Saizo hardened his chin, though the movement was barely noticeable due to his mask.

That only made Niles' smirk grow. "Oooh, going for the silent treatment, now? I'm game."

"Be silent, you fool. She's coming this way." Saizo gestured with his chin to something beyond the tent Niles was hiding behind of, quickly making his way up to higher branches of the tree.

Startled, Niles held his breath, quickly climbing it as well.

"Don't come here! The tree will bend-" Saizo whispered gravely as Niles made his way to the very same branch the ninja was at.

"Why, such a cold reaction. Let's warm ourselves up, shall we?" The rogue held back a snort at the ninja's open disgust.

"Stay back-" Saizo put one hand over Niles' face, pushing him away as the rogue grabbed the ninja's shoulders closer, their struggle shaking branch and tree alike, making leaves fall right over Linfan's face.

"Huh?" The apprentice tactician looked up, though saw only branches for the tree was too intricate. "Is someone up there-" she started, but immediately gasped. "SAIZO?! IT'S YOU, RIGHT? Ohhhh I'm gonna catch you this time! I have the improved versions of a few masks to try on your face! Get down here!" She clumsily tried to climb, but the nearest branch was much taller than her short stature.

"Pffft!" Niles was about to laugh aloud, but Saizo covered his mouth with one hand. "What a fiasco of a ninja! Your target knows you're after her!" His voice sounded muffled.

"Can it!" Saizo gravely whispered, looking over his own shoulder for somewhere to land safely. "If you've been observing her for as long as I know you have; you know she's been after me from day one. She's got something wrong with her head."

Niles held his stomach, his face almost purple from holding back the laughter. "C-can't disagree, but- bwahaha!"

"Aha! I knew there was someone up there!" Linfan shot her head to the sound, holding the tree trunk with both hands as she lifted one foot towards the closest branch. "I'm getting up there, Saizo! You'll use a few of my masks yet!"

The ninja rolled his eyes and groaned loudly, muffled by Niles' laughter. "Be a failure in your tailing if you want, as for me..." he said in a low voice before jumping out of the tree towards the other side of the tent, landing safely and soundlessly on the ground before disappearing again.

"Hah! Coward!" Niles dried one tear from his eye, quickly following. The tree shook with their jumps, making Linfan fall on her behind.

"Ow ow ow... Huh?" Puzzled, she looked up. "Did he leave? HEEEY, SAIZOOO, DID YOU LEAVE?" She put one hand over her ear so as to listen to his reply, but there was obviously none. "Dang it! I'm gonna catch you yet!" The apprentice tactician sprung herself up, patted the dirt away from her coat and ran in the opposite direction Saizo and Niles gone.

"This is rich!" Niles hollered once Linfan was out of sight. "She has no idea where to look and you're still running away from her! Bwahah!" He bent down in laughter, slapping his own knee.

Saizo dragged one hand down his face, groaning before making his way out of Niles' presence.

But even while still laughing (chuckling or gurgling or whatever that nohrian rogue was doing with his throat), Niles followed Saizo closely, always pointing and bursting into laughter the moment they were within Linfan's earshot.

"You're very loud today, Saizo! With my legendary blood, I can always pinpoint where you are!" Linfan posed dramatically towards the opposite direction of where Saizo and Niles were, making the rogue laugh even louder. "Wait, over there!" She turned on her heel, quickly following the happy sound.

'Happy' was one word for it, alright. Saizo, on his part, was far from being happy. 'Miserable' would be a more suitable word.

"Hey, have you seen Saizo anywhere? I can hear him laughing at me, but I think I missed him around this corner..." Linfan asked left and right, making the people she came in contact with either bend down in laughter or judge the ninja silently.

"Saizo, laughing? Are you really sure you're looking for the right guy?" Someone said, making the ninja finally feel a bit of solace. His image was still intact, after all.

"I'm positive! He's been stalking me since day one!" Morgan would reply, making the person's image of Saizo crumble immediately.

"Oh, um, then, pfft... Have you looked over trees or behind alleys? That's where ninjas hide... uh, usually- pfft..."

"BWAHAHA!" Hearing everything and seeing Saizo's mortified face, Niles would, of course, burst into laughter, feeding even more misunderstandings.

"THERE, SEE?!" Linfan pointed to the general direction of the laughter, making whoever was with her slap their mouths so as not to break down laughing as well.

"This is not me!!" Saizo exploded from his hiding place, making Niles laugh even louder.

Linfan gasped, quickly hopping around, looking inside barrels and whatnot. "TWO SAIZOS?! A laughing one and a grumpy one- KAZE?!"

"GYAHAHA! THIS IS TOO GOOD!"

"Stop this madness, you!" Saizo punched in Niles direction, but although a jokester, Niles was still fast -- he dodged it with his smirk intact. "If you are not here to do your work properly, leave!"

"Why, but this is so much more fun than working! Besides, it's not like I've lost sight of our little bird, anyway -- she's been following us. You, specifically."

Saizo fumed, his forehead turning as red as his fiery hair. "Because of you!!" He pointed, almost piercing Niles' chest with his index finger.

"All the more fun!" Niles shrugged, ready to throw down hands if it came to it.

But the sound of steps approaching made both of them hold their breaths and disappear at the same time, leaving only a memory of the wind from their movements.

"Dang it! I thought I heard voices coming from here!" Linfan panted, quickly making the turn to where her stalkers had been a heartbeat ago. "But now I'm positive! I don't have only one shadow, but two! A grumpy and a happy one!"

Niles snorted from his hiding place, nudging Saizo's shoulder.

The ninja sighed deeply, ready to cut a throat or two at any moment now.

"That means... I need to carry another set of masks!" Morgan pumped herself up, puffing her chest. Niles' smile disappeared. "Get ready, second person shadowing me, I'm gonna have you in a mask yet!"

"Heh," Saizo smirked under his mask, this time pushing Niles away with his shoulder. "What's so funny now, nohrian?"

"... For the record, she still doesn't know it's me." Niles lifted his index, trying to defend himself. That only made Saizo's smirk grow, though invisible under his mask.

"We'll see about that."

Niles went almost pale in the face, though part of him still wanted to laugh at this stupid predicament he found himself into. "You're not planning on telling her-"

"Am I?" Saizo tilted his head to the side, quickly taking a turn and disappearing inside a smokescreen.

Niles quickly got up from his crouching position to follow the ninja, but -- he was nowhere to be seen. Was he allowing Niles to shadow him all this time? "Damn, you're good, handsome. I'll catch you again, just you wait."

"That's my line!" Linfan put her hands akimbo, her chest puffed with pride. "Hey there, Niles!"

"Oh, shit."

[standingintheblushofdawn]

So I called this “Orihime and Romeo” as a working title

This was the first chunk, again and arranged marriage post birthright au, and honestly #bcniles

“The regal Nohrian king sits at his desk and stares over his dark paper work. What is he thinking? His every being-“

“Odin. My head is pounding. I can do without the narration.” Leo grumbled. Odin seemed taken back.

“My apologies, Lord Leo.” Odin said. He put down the tray he’d carried into the room. “I figured you wanted to stay in here and work, so I had your dinner sent up.” Leo muttered a quiet “Thank you” and continued pouring over paper work.  

Odin looked over his liege’s shoulder.

“What is this for?”

“It’s just procedures and the like.  This one is a report on what is left is in our treasury, that one is on upcoming meetings, and the one over there is on various day to day reports of the realm, like crime rates,” Leo paused.  He turned and looked over his shoulder. He counted the retainers in the room. They numbered one.

“Where’s Niles?”

“The one eyed emptier of pockets? Last time he and I were together, we ripped the earth asunder for you my lord.” Odin began his monologue.

Leo gave him a look. Odin cleared his throat. “Last time I saw Niles was when we were doing our assigned tasks. He wandered off.” Odin said sheepishly.

Leo could feel his headache getting worse. “Great.” He replied. “That’s great.”

“It is?” Odin seemed hopeful. He quickly realized his mistake. “Um, I mean, my apologies. I’ll try and locate him.”

Leo picked at his dinner. Despite knowing better he didn’t feel like eating.  As long as Odin was in the room he would at least pretend to be interested in his food. He took a sip of his drink. That sip ended up all over his desk as the window burst open, startling both Leo and Odin. Niles came sailing in the room.

“Did you know,” Niles said as he slid off the windowsill. “It is rather easy to get into this room from outside.”

Leo stared at his now soggy desk.

“…I found Niles.” Odin said.

“Thank you, I would have never have noticed.” Leo threw himself back in his chair.

“Giving up, my lord?” Niles asked. The window was still wide open behind him.

“For the moment.  If this was your way of showing a hole in our security, your point has been proven. Never do that again.”

Niles laughed. “As you wish my lord.” He gave a small mock bow. “We do need to fix this problem though.” His face grew serious.

“We can add it to the growing list of problems we’re facing.”  

There was a knock on the door that prevented Odin or Niles from speaking.

“Leo?” Camilla peered into the room. She surveyed the scene. Niles standing before an open window, Leo at his desk and the soggy papers upon it, and Odin who still held his tome in a battle pose.

Camilla strolled past Odin and paid no mind to Niles.

“If you keep this open,” She said as she strolled up to the window. “You’ll catch a cold.”

Camilla closed the window and locked it.  Niles looked from Leo to Camilla and then shrugged.

“Come on Odin,” He walked towards the door. “Let’s go.”

Odin frowned. “What? Why?”

“Because.” Niles announced. Leo gave Odin a look. Odin followed Niles out of the room with a small huff.

Camilla walked over to Leo’s desk. She sorted through the soggy paperwork.  

“I think these will be salvageable, darling.” She spread them out to help them dry.

“Hopefully.” Leo stood and looked his sister over. Her face seemed thinner lately.

Camilla seemed to be thinking something similar. “Have you been eating enough, Leo?” She put her hands on either side of his face. “You look so worn.” She glanced down at his hardly touched meal.  

She let go of him. “Take better care of yourself.”

Leo sighed. “My first priority is to take care of Nohr.”

Camila crossed her arms. “Then I’ll take care of you. It’ll be like when we were kids.” She smiled but Leo could tell it wasn’t genuine. He sighed. “If it makes you happy.” Camilla hugged him tightly.

“I’ll do everything I can for you, Leo.” She sighed delicately. He hesitantly returned her hug.

After a long while she let go of him.

“Let’s talk a bit, shall we Leo?” She dragged a chair closer to his desk. He sat back down and she sat across from him.

“Tell me, what’s weighing on you?”  Camilla leaned forward in her chair, the picture of smotherly love.

Leo thought.

“I have been considering the alliance, King Ryoma proposed.” He explained.

Camilla tilted her head. “Darling, you know politics better than I do.”

Leo sighed. “I know. That’s the problem. It’s a good alliance. Nohr needs stronger ties to Hoshido if we’re to prosper and not just survive….I just don’t know if I like it.”

Camilla thought. “You’ve always been so smart, Leo. Logical and intelligent, I’ve always been proud of you for that.”

“So I should accept it?”

“I think if that’s what your head is telling you to do, yes. Consider it. I doubt it’s an easy choice for them either.” Camilla had a small smile. “Sending your youngest sister to marry what’s been your lifelong enemy is not something you do lightly.”

so i kept trying to alternate POVs and mirror scenes, so here’s Sakura’s side.

Sakura stared down at her tea. Ryoma waited. 

“You can say no, Sakura.” He said quietly. 

“…But!” Sakura finally looked up and made eye contact with him. Even though Ryoma was dressed as a king, she could still see the brother she knew.  His new role hadn’t changed away his gentle smile or his comforting presence. It was still strange to think of Ryoma as king. But here they sat, with tea between them, in his study to talk about an important matter. 

“You said t-that it would be a good move politically.” She put her cup down. 

He nodded. “It would be an excellent political move.” He admitted. “A marriage between our royal family and theirs would show that we are forgiving and moving past the years of distrust.” He picked up his tea. 

“However,” He admitted and adjusted his grip on his cup. “I am not going to force you into anything. I want my family to be happy, and I feel better with you in Hoshido.” Ryoma did not seem interested in his tea she noticed. 

“If there was an easier way, I wouldn’t have even asked you.” Ryoma sighed. “This war started when Corrin came home. “ Ryoma didn’t hesitate about using their lost sibling’s preferred name. Sakura still found it difficult to say Corrin and not Kamui. “We fought it not just for our countrymen, but to stay together.”

The door to the room slid open. Saizo stood in the doorway. 

“Lord Ryoma,” He growled. “Yukimura wishes to speak with you.”

Sakura stumbled over her words. “I’ll go…” She began to stand and tried to avoid jostling their tray of tea. That would be all she needed right now, to send hot tea all over her brother.

“Sakura, stay here.” It wasn’t quite a command, but she knew better than to keep moving. Ryoma directed his attention towards his retainer. “Saizo, is it important?”

Saizo didn’t falter. “I don’t interrupt you for unimportant matters, my liege.” Saizo crossed his arms. “He says it involves Lady Sakura.”

Ryoma paused. “Send him in.”

Saizo disappeared without a sound.

Sakura sat down again. She was starting to feel slightly sick. 

Yukimura bustled into the room with papers in his arms. He shuffled through them as he entered. 

“Lord Ryoma, I know we already discussed this, but I just don’t think I can recommend this treaty. We should strive for peace, and forgiveness, but perhaps this is going too far. It would be less drastic, but perhaps small strides would be better rather than one large gesture, think of- Lady Sakura!” Yukimura had finally noticed her. He had been absorbed in his notes. 

She smiled sheepishly.  “G-Good afternoon, Yukimura.” 

There was a pause.

“You’ve come here to discuss the exact same thing we were talking about, It seems.” Ryoma mused.

Yukimura frowned. “I see. Lady Sakura, have you given it thought?”

Sakura fumbled. “Um, well I…we’ve only talked about it for a l-little bit, I j-just don’t know… “ She admitted. She was starting to panic. 

“Sakura,” Ryoma soothed. “Look at me.”

She sniffled. Her older brother smiled gently. “I promise, it’s okay.”

Yukimura sighed. “I didn’t want to place such a burden on you, Princess. It is unfair to you, we’ll plan around it.” He adjusted his glasses. “Don’t worry.”

“No!” She cried out. Both her brother and Yukimura looked at her in surprise. 

“I…If It’s for the good of Hoshido, I’ll do it! Brother, you’re doing all you can to fix everything, you too Yukimura…Hinoka, Takumi and Corrin…everyone’s d-doing so much…and Azura she…” Sakura stumbled over her words. “I c-can’t just say no without t-thinking about it.” 

Yukimura’s shoulders sagged. “You’re acting like Lady Mikoto.” He sighed. “Willing to give away so much for just the possibility of peace.” 

She didn’t know how to respond to that. She looked at Ryoma. Ryoma seemed proud of her, but also sad.  

“Let’s talk about it some more before we make a decision. It’ll be good for all of us. We can put it off till tomorrow, is that acceptable? We’ll reach out to King Leo as well. ” Ryoma looked at Yukimura and Sakura.

Yukimura nodded.  “If it’s acceptable with my Lady, “ He said stiffly. 

Sakura rubbed at her eyes and nodded. She was certain she looked braver than she felt. 

Nohr is so stuffy,” Hana grumbled as she pushed one of the layers of heavy pillows off the bed. “Everything feels like its coated in a heavy layer of dust.”

Sakura paced around the room she was sharing with Hana. They were sharing not out of need but out of security.

Their fourth day in Nohr had been another whirlwind of activity. It made Sakura’s head hurt.

Diplomacy in Nohr was hard when her only proper attachment to Nohr was via the already over stressed King Leo. He could not be expected to look out for, or spend every moment keeping track of her.

Sakura was already starting to dread going outside her room. It was hard to keep her head high when suspicious glares followed her through every corridor. Blending in was hard when she walked through the halls wearing a vivid silk furisode, which clashed with the Nohrian Fashion not just in colors, but so drastically in style she was even more self-conscious than normal. Every lord and lady she had met had barely disguised their contempt or their curiosity. She felt like a display item. Taken out for a visit and locked back up when she was no longer needed.

Takumi was in a bad mood. He was holding his tongue but she knew while she was tired, Takumi was angry.  But she was glad to have one of her siblings with her on her first official visit to Nohr as Princess Sakura of Hoshido, fiancée to King Leo of Nohr.

“Ugh and these! What’s the point?” Hana yanked on the thick velvet curtains. “ I’d rather have one of those ugly paintings instead of a window, all we can see is the canyon wall. At least then there’d be color.”

Sakura paused next to the doorway.

“Hana, did you see this?” She asked.

Hana stopped wrestling with the curtains.  “Huh? See what?”

“This.” Sakura said. She held up a folded piece of paper. Hana shook her head.

“Where was it?”

“Under the door frame.” Sakura replied. She sat on the edge of the bed and unfolded it. Hana peered over her shoulder.

“…it’s written in Nohrian?” Hana asked. She frowned.

Sakura nodded. She squinted at the unfamiliar handwriting.

“…Be….wary…?” Sakura frowned. “…no, Beware Ho…Hoshidan …” Sakura froze midsentence.

Beware, Hoshidan. You own no right to our throne, or to our king. Your forces may have killed King Garon, Lord Xander and Lady Elise, but never forget we killed your father and scores of your countrymen. There is no guarantee we will not kill you.

Sakura felt the blood drain from her face.

“Lady Sakura?” Hana peered at her. “What did it…” Sakura looked up and Hana stopped.

“It’s a threat isn’t it?” Hana asked in a forcefully calm voice. Sakura’s only reply was to put the note down.

Hana balled up her fists. “Unbelievable. Unbelievable.” She took the paper and glared.

“Lady Sakura, I’m going to go get Subaki, we’ll go straight to Lord Takumi, and then we’re going straight back to Hoshido.” Hana launched herself to her feet and started to the door.

“Hana, you can’t!” Sakura cried out.

Hana froze.

“They’re threatening your life.” She trembled with anger. “And I heard that pig of a lord earlier. He said all those things about you…I can’t sit back and let them treat you like this!”

Sakura took a deep breath.  “We can, and will, t-tell Subaki. He needs to know but...” Hana’s shoulders slumped.  “The alliance is too important?” She heaved a sigh. “So important you’re going to make me ignore they threatened your life?

Sakura took the threat note and placed it inside the nightstand drawer out of sight.   She forced herself to speak calmly. “W-we’re not going to ignore it.”

It wasn’t until then she realized she was trembling. She should tell Takumi. Hana paused.  

“Lady Sakura, try and go to bed. It’s late, we can discuss it in the morning”

“…Y-you’re right.”

Hana double-checked the locks on the door and the window.

“Rest, Princess.” Hana grabbed her katana. “I won’t let anything harm you. Subaki is only a room over too. You’re exhausted.”

Sakura smiled feebly and mumbled a good night. She shouldn’t have been surprised. Still, it stung.

Leo was still getting used the sound of Sakura’s light footsteps beside him. He would forget she was nearby till a sudden flash of color appeared in the corner of his eyes.  And there she would be, struggling to keep up with his brisk pace.

However, this morning he had not seen his bride to be, or his future brother in law at all.  Leo had skipped the breakfast meeting to deal with some new problems. Most of them having to do with Sakura. Or rather, the problems people had with Sakura.

The engagement was proving to start as many headaches as it was preventing.

“Did you see Princess Sakura yet today ?” Leo asked Niles. Niles tapped a finger thoughtfully against his chin.  Odin was off doing his own duties for Leo, so that left him with just Niles.

“Yes,” He said. “She and her brother have been at the archery range all morning, I slipped through there earlier and they seemed to be quite busy.”

Leo saw them clearly when he approached. Prince Takumi was wielding his divine bow. It’s bowstring glimmered from across the courtyard.  Princess Sakura stood next to her brother and to Leo’s surprise she too was wielding a bow.

They were talking in low voices as he approached.

“I don’t like it.” Prince Takumi said. His face was drawn into a stern line. “The longer we stay here, I like it even less.” An arrow flew from his divine weapon and sunk itself in the dead center of a target.  It would have certainly killed a soldier.

He moved out of the way and allowed his sister to shoot.

“You don’t have to share a target.” Leo remarked sardonically. “We have plenty.”

Sakura’s grip slipped on the arrow. It landed in the grass a few feet away.

Sakura picked it up off the ground.

“Oh! Good m-morning,” She looked white as a ghost.

“Good morning, Princess. Prince Takumi.” Leo crossed his arms.

Takumi nodded his head sharply and turned his attention to his sister. Sakura fumbled with her bow.

“Relax, you’re good at this.” He soothed. “Don’t let anything psyche you out.”

Sakura chewed her bottom lip but nodded. She turned to the target and inhaled.  Leo watched as she notched her bow again and…Leo noticed something odd about where she aimed. The arrow hit much lower on the target. It was easy enough to chalk it up to lack of skill but he couldn’t help but feel it had been a conscious choice.

Takumi smiled at her. “Do you want to get the arrows back before we try again?”

“Oh! Um, sure brother.” Sakura went to fetch the arrows from the target.

Takumi directed his attention to Leo.

“So. Can we help you?” He was clearly not very interested in what Leo had to say.

Leo’s patience was wearing thin.

“Pardon me?” Leo sneered. “You are a guest in my home, I’d think twice about how you’re speaking.”

Takumi bristled. “And you treat your guests so well.” He crossed his arms. “Making threats and leaving us out to dry.” “Threats? I haven’t a clue what you’re speaking of. If there’s been an offense, please educate me.” Leo’s words dripped with sarcasm.

The foreign prince did not seem happy with this reply. “The threats that Sa-“

“Takumi!”

Both of them stopped and stared. Sakura clutched her bow and squared her shoulders.

“Takumi you said you wouldn’t pick a fight.” Sakura’s hurt expression caused Takumi to look shameful.

“Please, I’m sure King Leo didn’t know. He has his hands full, you must understand that.” She looked anxiously from her brother to Leo.

She bowed to Leo. Not just an incline of her head but a full-fledged formal bow.

“I’m sorry, forgive us. B-being away from the others has been stressful and… we really meant no offense.”

“You need not worry…I should also…apologize, I have been a bit preoccupied with my own matters. I… have been a poor host.” Leo said. He looked at Sakura, not Takumi.

Princess Sakura shook her head. “It’s okay, really. I can’t expect you to spend every m-minute taking care of me.” She looked troubled and exhaled. “I have to t-take care of myself.”

Leo looked at Takumi. “You mentioned threats,”

Takumi looked to his sister. She kept her gaze low. He sighed.

Leo looked around. “I think we should discuss this in a more private place.”

There was no one around but their retainers, but Niles’s gaze shifted across the grounds and it made Leo hesitate to discuss anything more important out in public.

What Prince Takumi told him didn’t surprise him, but it didn’t make him any less furious.

“Someone has been threatening Sakura.” Takumi explained. “Threatening letters under her door reminding her of how they murdered our parents, and that she could be next.”

Leo clenched his fists.  Sakura couldn’t meet his eyes.  His blood was boiling. Critiquing him was one thing. He didn’t expect his unexpected succession to go easily, or the declaration of such a permanent alliance with Hoshido. But to threaten not just a foreign diplomat, but the future queen of Nohr in such a way…

“Scum.” He growled and rose from his desk chair. Sakura and Takumi looked at him in confusion.

“Of all the disgusting under handed moves,” Leo snarled. He was pacing now. “As soon as I catch whoever is behind this, I’ll-“

“Stop please…” Sakura’s voice forced him back to reality.  “T-there’s been enough bloodshed…” She said quietly. “I don’t want to be the cause of more.”

Leo exhaled slowly.

“I didn’t want to involve you or Takumi. I’m sorry. I need to rely on myself…” Sakura clasped her hands.

“I told Hana and Subaki…if I let you both handle this for me…it won’t stop…going back home will widen the rift between Hoshido and Nohr…but letting you do this, your h-highness, it’d make things worse here.”

“I don’t care how you want to handle it,” Takumi said in an aggravated tone. “At least allow Oboro and Hinata to guard you, or something. I don’t think you’re safe like this.”  Takumi announced.

Takumi’s gaze flicked to Leo, pressing him to do something.

“How about I add my retainers to your staff?” Leo asked.  “There’s no one I trust more than them. I promise, they would keep you safe.”

Sakura shook her head. “Then there’d be no one to protect either of you.”

Leo pursed his lips. “We’ll have to come to an arrangement. I want to see the notes you’ve been receiving as well, you still have them correct?”

She nodded.  

Leo thought hard. Who could he trust to look out for Sakura besides his own retainers. He sat down behind the desk and leaned forward onto his hands.

Takumi turned to his sister. “Sometimes I think the only thing our family has in common is how stubborn we are.” He sighed.

Sakura smiled for the first time.  “So you admit you’re a little stubborn too, brother?”

Takumi flushed and crossed his arms. “I’m not that stubborn.”

Sakura laughed.

Seeing them interact made Leo think of Elise.

He sat up in his chair.

“Elise.” He said suddenly.  “Why didn’t I…”  

Elise, even in her grave, was helping him find the things he’d missed.

“C-Could…I ask you a question?” Sakura muttered. She kept her eyes down but Leo was getting used to her timid nature at this point.

“That technically was a question.” He countered dryly. Sakura flinched.  Leo moved the conversation forward. “But you may, Princess.”

“…When is your birthday?”

Leo had not expected that question.  He stared at her for a moment. Sakura flushed.

“I-‘m sorry! I hope I didn’t offend I was just curious, so I…”

“It was the 30th of June.” Leo cut her off.  “…why do you ask?”

Sakura fidgeted with the sleeve of her kimono.  “Yukimura said that your arrival may be delayed…and when I visited in the Spring, Princess Camilla mentioned that she was hoping you would be around for your birthday so I presumed t-that you know…” She glanced up.

“It had to be right before I was due to arrive?” Leo asked. Sakura nodded. “You were correct. Camilla delayed my leave by a few days so we could have a celebration. I would have been fine without one, but I suppose it was good for Nohr’s morale to have an excuse to celebrate.” Leo shrugged.

“Do you not like celebrations?” Sakura was looking him in the eye for once he realized. She seemed legitimately curious.  “T-they make me nervous,” She admitted. “I don’t like crowds.”

Leo shrugged. “It depends. I suppose lately I just haven’t felt much like celebrating.” He left it at that.

What little confidence Sakura seemed to have evaporated. She mumbled something he was certain was another apology.

Leo swore inwardly. Being surly to the girl he was going to marry would not make life any easier.   Leo attempted to salvage the conversation. “When I arrived I saw a lot of interesting decorations. Is a festival coming up here as well?”  

“Y-Yes! In a few nights, it’s Tanabata.” Sakura’s reply came very quickly. He had expected her to stumble around for a moment.

Leo stared blankly. “Tan…ey…bata.” He repeated.

She covered her mouth.

He tried to work his mouth around the syllables again.  “Tana…bat…a”

There was a light sound he had never heard before. It took him a moment to realize Princess Sakura was laughing. She had covered her mouth to muffle the tiny sound, but he could still hear her soft laughter.

“Tanabata.” She repeated smoothly. Sakura smiled. For once, there was no hesitation.

Leo thought it was a nice look for her.

“It’s based on a Hoshidan Legend.” She explained.

Leo waited for her to go on. He nodded at her to go ahead. She looked nervous.

There was a silence. Sakura inhaled softly.

“T-the legend goes…

Amongst the first Dragons, there was one whose domain was the heavens above… the stars and all that shined above were his. Including the beautiful river of stars.

Sakura seemed to relax slightly as she recounted the story. The nervous tremors in her voice were still present but they lessened as she got further into the tale.

He had a lovely daughter, by the name of Orihime. She made lovely clothes for all the other dragons. All adored her weavings. However, her father realized she was quite lonely. Orihime spent all of her time weaving on the bank of the river.  With all of her tasks keeping her busy, she would never be able to marry and find love. The thought made the beautiful girl sad.

It seemed like stories, no matter their country of origin, accounted for marriage Leo thought.

“On the other bank of the heavenly river, there lived a cattle herder who was noble and kind. His name was Hikoboshi. Orihime’s father arranged for the two to meet, soon they fell in love and were married.”

“…So how does this relate to the festival?” Leo interrupted, assuming she was done. “

Sakura smiled softly. “There’s a little more to it…

Orihime and Hikoboshi were so in love and happy. They however began to neglect their duties. Orihime didn’t weave, Hikoboshi didn’t tend his cattle…the great dragon’s realm was in disarray. He separated the two and forbade them from meeting. He widened the river and placed Orihime on one side and Hikoboshi on the other.  

“A king should always do what’s best for his realm. You can’t blame him for that.” Leo said flatly.

“No,” Sakura agreed. “He did what was sensible but… it really hurt his daughter…”

Leo thought of his own father’s choices, which were supposedly for the best and fell quiet.

With her beloved gone, Orihime returned to weaving. Hikoboshi returned to his cattle and the realm was restored to its former beauty. Yet Orihime was depressed. She missed her beloved Hikoboshi all the time. Hikoboshi tended his cattle but stared across the wide river looking for his darling Orihime. Her father hated to see the two in such despair…so he made a promise.”

“…That they could see each other again?” Leo guessed.

Sakura giggled. “Are you sure you haven’t heard this story before?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Though I guess some things are universal.”

Sakura was smiling. She fumbled for a second over her words, but Leo hoped it wasn’t over nerves.  Her smile made him think he was right.

If she and Hikoboshi worked dutifully, one night a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month…they could reunite and spend the evening together.

“Ah,” Leo understood now. “The Festival celebrates them reuniting, doesn’t it? Sakura suddenly looked slightly gloomy. “But only if the weather is good.”

Leo was about to retort when he realized why “…if it rains, does the river grow too dangerous to cross?”

It was a simple guess but he wanted to show her he was attempting to engage with the tale. She seemed happy with this.

Orihime found no way to cross on the first night they were supposed to reunite. The river was too deep to cross. Hearing her cries, her father gave her a token of his power to make a bridge. However the bridge was fragile... It will only stay up to support the weight of one of them, and then it falls apart till the next year. If it storms, the waves wash away the bridge and the lovers have to wait a whole year to see each other.”

“He gave them a Dragon’s Vein.”

“Huh?” Sakura titled her head. “Oh…I suppose he did.” She looked thoughtful. “I never t-thought about it.”

Leo shrugged. “It makes the most sense.”

Sakura looked thoughtful. “In s-some versions, a flock of birds carries Orihime across…but this is the version I know.”

“Interesting story. So. What happens at the festival? You never explained.”  He furrowed his brow While the story had been interesting he was more curious about the festivities.

Sakura’s face went red. “Oh! Y-you’re right I was so focused on the story. I’m s-sorry! I um…”

“Princess, please stop apologizing.” Leo sighed. “You did nothing wrong.”

Sakura looked less certain.

“T-thank you for letting me explain.” Sakura bowed her head. “…If you’d like t-to…um…” She smiled. “We could…spend some time together during the festival. If you want to g-go of course!” She stammered. “It’d be a good time to explain… your retainers should come to. I think it’d be….nice.”

Leo’s face suddenly felt warm.

“I..uh…would like to do that, Princess. It sounds like it’d be…nice.” Leo finished lamely.