Spring time for any kingdom was a spectacle no matter where you went. Flowers started to bloom, crops and animals began to multiply by the thousands, and with the change from frigid to warm temperatures was always a welcome change. Everyone and everything seemed brighter and more exciting.
The New Kingdom was no exception.
Larger import income from the newly harvested plants meant taxes became lower then average. So more money for the citizens meant celebrations all around.
Festivals, sales, nightly firework displays became weekly events. Struggling families gave thanks to the gods for another year of survival through the cold season. Travelers came from far and wide both by foot and ship. Children and adults could all be seen moving about and stretching away their winter still joints.
The smiles circulating through out the many plazas made spirits high.
Which in turn meant the royal family also had something to celebrate. Because not only was this the greatest part of the year for their profits, but this was the first year without any war to worry themselves over. There were no more loose ends to tie up, no hateful glances towards the other side, nothing!
True, ever since the joining of their shared lands, all of the siblings had become nearly inseparable as a family. Each had new hope for the future they had paved the way for. They were happy. They were excited. They were one.
All because of Kamui.
The hero that had drawn the godly sword and ended the spiral of their kingdom's demise. The girl who's very name had become like a prayer amongst masses.
The very one who just so happened to be seated before everyone in a large undershirt far to big for her frame, a cup of apple juice in hand, and two wide red eyes. Small hiccups and nervous tears continued to fall as Aqua tried her best to calm the small girl down.
No small girl wasn't even close to fitting enough. Because as of this moment the princess was at least 12 years younger then she had been 10 minutes ago.
Marx, who's left eye was twitching slightly, very calmly held onto the sticky collars of Leon and Takumi's shirts. Both smelt like overwhelming amounts of spices and looked like something out of a horrible children's tale with all the feathers sticking to them, but the Nohr brother didn't care.
He. Was. So. Pissed.
Trying his hardest not to draw his sword and further traumatize the young girl behind him, Marx spoke slowly.
"Im going to ask you both this once. And if the story does not completely explain why Kamui is 5 years old, I swear to the Gods above I will commit such an act that even Garon would have cringed at..."
Both boys looked positively frightened for their lives.
As they should be.
"What. Did. You. Two. Do?"
A beat. Then Leon spoke up.
"Well um-"
15 minutes ago.
"KAAAAMMMUUUUIII!"
From deep within walls of the stone castle came a voice so engulfed with rage, that all of the nearby staff nearly tripped over themselves.
"WHERE IS SHE! KAMUI GET BACK HERE!"
A few worried that an insane murderer had broken into the castle, while others immediately reached for their protective weapons hidden along their bodies. Some even went as far as to drop what they were doing and considered rushing to find the princess. Hoping to protect their master from whoever apparently was coming for her blood.
But the answer to their concern was soon followed by a hysterically laughing princess being chased by her two younger brothers. Each covered head to toe in what could only be...chicken feathers?
Never mind the trail they were leaving behind, once the overwhelming stench of oils and spices followed in suit some even began to gag and turn the other way.
Whatever they were soaked in smelt horrendous, and was likely the adhesive that was giving both boys the appearance of poultry.
No wonder the feathers were sticking so well onto their clothing.
"KAMUI I SWEAR TO THE GODS!"
Takumi's ears surely would have been steaming had they not been coated in fluff and goop.
The princess just kept on running, her bare feet not even slipping once on any of the sharp turns she kept taking.
"It's not my fault you both fell in it! I wasn't even trying to catch either of you!"
Honestly she was telling the truth! the princess HAD actually been trying to catch a fox.
The bastard animal had been rather elusive as of late and it's constant disturbance to the hen house was causing the amount of eggs collected daily to drop. However with every dead bird, Kamui felt her heart cry out for the poor creatures lives more so then the lack of her breakfast.
So she devised the a very easy plan of attack. Lure the beast into a set box trap, which contained a powerful spice remedy that Felicia had recommended, and then release him outside the castle borderline. Simple.
Yes the oils in the trap smelt nasty, but according to the maid, it was full proof. So the princess decided to just roll with it.
However immediately after setting the trap, both of Kamui's younger brothers had appeared. Each babbling on about something relating to a topic she would undoubtably find boring.
The minute the aroma of the bait hit them though, they had reeled back in disgust. Only to trip quite literally over one another and...well directly into the chicken coop itself.
The second they came out drenched in spice and feathered, Kamui couldn't help herself. She laughed and laughed and nearly fell back from the pain in her sides. They both looked like two giant mutant roosters from hell.
Scratch that, two furious and suddenly running towards her roosters from hell.
The half dragon warrior planned her next move like any dignified heir to the throne would.
She hightailed it out of there. All the while making clucking noises and bending her arms in the form of chicken wings.
Present.
"-and we chased her for a while and I grabbed my tomb only to slow her down...but because we were kinda blinded from the oils...I might have misread and accidentally..."
With a small gesture, the blonde directed all their gazes back to Kamui. Who continued to avoid all of their eyes.
"She kinda turned into a child."
5 to be exact. Their uniter of kingdoms, their hero of the future, the person who had lead nearly a dozen full grown armies in her time alive sat before them all.
5 years old.
Marx inhaled, before letting go of the boys shirts and wiping off the excess fluff onto his pants.
"You can't fix her right now?"
"Um yeah huh, the spell lasts for anywhere from 2 hours to...a week."
Everyone nearly collapsed at the information.
This was bad. And getting worse by the second.
Ryoma moved to place a hand on Marx's shoulder.
"You two go clean up. We'll decide how to handle this matter after we all calm down a little. We dont need another...unprofessional scene."
The brothers both nodded in slight apprehension before quietly leaving the room to bathe.
After they were gone everyone turned back to look at their beloved sister.
The poor girl looked as frightened as the rest of them.
Originally when they had seen her, everyone thought it had been a prank that Kamui had gotten Leon in on. But after seeing Takumi and the Nohrian prince looking quite guiltily at the ground, the realization had felt like a punch to the stomach.
Ultimately causing a lot of shouting and a case if the blame game to escalate. Then like a domino effect, the loud arguing caused the little girl to burst into tears. Which effectively silenced them all.
Camilla and Hinoka had been stuck between comforting or sobbing themselves at the now youngest girl's tears. Elise and Sakura had simply gaped, never had they seen Kamui cry. Meanwhile the present additions of Joker, Felicia, Flora, and Aqua had immediately rushed to the girl's side in hopes of getting her to calm down. They fetched her juice and words of comfort, while Flora dashed off to find her clothing that fit.
Marx and Ryoma though had taken the sight the hardest. Kamui had been at this exact age when she had been kidnapped by Garon. This version of their sister crying had been close to the last image Ryoma had ever seen of her, and duplicate of when she met Marx for the first time. Brainwashed into forgetting her real home and content to live by Garon's lie.
Both felt a little queasy from the extent of their flashbacks.
Unlike when she had been this age before though, Kamui was refusing to even utter a single word. She had never been particularly loud as a youngster sure, but this was a whole new level of quiet. She refused to speak to any of them. Not to any of her family, not to the staff, not even to Aqua.
Instead she just sniffled and tried to stop her tears. Still overwhelmed. Their raised voices apparently had startled her badly.
Taking their brief moment of silence as a cue to try speech again, Camilla bent down to the little girl's level. Smiling softly at the memories of their first meeting all those years ago.
"Hello little princess. Do you know who I am?"
The white haired girl wiped at her wet eyes and shook her head side to side. Eyes watering again at her lack of remembrance.
Camilla too looked heart broken by the news.
"Do...do you not recognize any of us?"
The young girl thought hard about the question before shyly pointing to a picture hanging off of the opposing wall.
It was a mural of the late queen who had passed away when protecting Kamui.
Hinoka stepped over to also kneel before the young girl.
"Her? Do you remember that woman?"
The white haired girl blushed a little before moving a finger to her lips. Making a shush motion.
Suddenly though her soft voice rung out.
"Thats momma. She said I'm not suppose to talk to strangers."
All of the room's occupants didn't know whether to feel happy or disheartened. Their sister could speak, but not recall any of them. Just the one person who wasn't there to help.
Sakura and Elise seemed especially saddened by the statement.
Aqua though appeared not at all affected.
In fact she saw it as a chance to continue making sure the girl continued to speak.
"Kamui?"
Red eyes turned to upwards.
The dancer had been sitting beside the young girl for some time now. Protectively keeping a safe distance while making sure she was in arms reach for whatever reason.
"My name is Aqua."
"A...qua?"
"Correct. Now these girls in front of us are Hinoka and Camilla."
The little girl smiled softly when the two woman waved towards her. Keeping in mind not to get too in her face. Right after, the princess leaned over to whisper not so quietly.
"They're both really pretty!"
This got a good chuckle out of everyone present.
"Im sure they appreciate the compliment. Now that big blonde man in the black is Marx."
"Marky?"
The oldest Nohr sibling smiled softly.
"Marky is fine young princess. You may call me whatever you wish."
The white haired girl smiled.
"Those two over their are Sakura and Elise."
Kamui pronounced their names easily and smiled at the two. She was becoming a little more confident after each new name.
Though before the game could continue on, Flora came back in. Holding a small white fluffed up shirt and a black skirt with small matching ballet shoes.
"These were the princess's old clothes I believe. Theyre a little dusty, but im sure they'll fit!"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Felicia and her sister moved to cover and quickly change the princess back into proper attire.
Surprisingly she didnt mind at all. Most likely because she had disliked to large shirt she had awoken in. Though go figure, much like her older form, Kamui wanted nothing to do with the shoes and opted to remain barefoot.
Aqua waited until the maids were finished before she continued.
"The man behind those two is named Ryoma. He's wearing the red armor."
"Crab man?"
Everyone had to forcibly hold back their laughter. Ryoma simply smacked his forehead and mumbled lowly.
"As if Lobster Lord wasn't bad enough..."
The dancer ignored him and pointed to the left of the room.
"I'll introduce you to the other boys later. For now, two over there are Felicia and Flora. The boy is Joker."
All three of the staff bowed in respect. Though Joker and Felicia gave a playful wink at their Lord which got a good laugh from the child and an ear tug from Flora.
"That's everyone! See? Now we all are no longer strangers."
The little girl's face lite up as she gave a genuine smile to all of her new friends.
She had never had so many!
Hopping down to grab the blue haired dancer's hand, the little girl began to laugh.
"Ms. Aqua! Ms. Aqua!"
The performer smiled and gave the girl a charming pat on the head.
"So lively even at this age..."
"Ms. Aqua! Are all these people really my friends?"
The performer nodded.
"They are much more then that Kamui. They are the people who love you the most."
The white haired girl could have melt anyone's heart with the smile she had on.
"I want momma to meet you all! Can we go see her?"
Takumi and Leon, who had just been reentering the room froze in their step.
In doing so they had left the door wide open. Giving plenty of room for the princess to dash directly through it.
"Ill go find her! Wait here!"
Everyone had been so shocked at the question that it took a good long second to pass before they all were on their feet.
"KAMUI WAIT!"