I glided across the plains on the back of my pegasus, Crystal, with the wind flowing through my hair. I had decided to let it grow out a bit over the year or so that had passed since the war. It now fell a bit past my shoulders, a deep scarlet. I was still getting used to everything that had happened. Mother was gone, mysterious old Azura seemed to have disappeared, and Sakura...

Sakura hadn't left or anything, but her bright spirit seemed gone. Not many people had known it to begin with, but Sakura's happy personality that she hid beneath her timid nature had been crushed by the war. I noticed it as soon as it left her, not long after we got home. When she was wrapped in her layers of shyness, there was no small smile left on her face anymore. She didn't even talk to me anymore, my own sister. I didn't know what to do about it.

Now that the war was over and I had my sister Corrin back, life seemed too simple. I had no drive, no real purpose. There was a hole in my heart that needed some sort of passion to fill it. It was a hole I couldn't ignore. The emptiness drove me mad. Really, it had turned out that Sakura wasn't the only one brought down by the war. Even Ryoma seemed a bit more stressed than he had been, although that came with being king. It burdened him.

Riding the air was my escape from all of that, I supposed. But it left me in thought, which was rife with my problems I sought to ignore. My pegasus had been battered by the fires of war as well. Crystal evidently felt an aching in her bones as she flew. Hopefully, though, she would still be long for this world yet. She was one of many things I wasn't ready to lose. I stroked her mane gently, although not enough to distract her. She had to navigate, after all. I was headed home after a visit to Nohr. I hated it there, but all of us Hoshidan nobles took turns visiting the remaining Nohrian royalty, Leo and Camilla. They were still dark, cruel people. I loathed their presence. But as horrible as it was, it was my duty as one of our peacekeepers to stay a night at gloomy old Krakenburg. It was cold, shady and there was always a draft. I would hear Camilla and her husband, Keaton, up most of the night doing, well, whatever it was they did. I didn't really care.

All in all, though, my life was pretty good. So why did it, for some reason, feel like it was falling apart? I thought about talking to Azama and Setsuna, but I knew they wouldn't be able to comfort me. It was nearly time for me to land, though. Crystal slowed, and began her descent as we came upon the capital. It was still another hour before we landed, but it wasn't as if there was much going on up there. I tried to relax my mind and not think too much.

Ryoma had met me at the stable where I touched ground, "Welcome back, sister. How was it?"

I scoffed, "The trip was horrid, as always. I don't know why you ask, the answer will never change. Camilla and Leo are right at the bottom of my I probably wouldn't kill them list. That probably is by no means certain, by the way."

"You're always so grumpy when you return from Nohr," he tied up my steed for me, "Isn't there some optimism to be found in a long trip away from home?"

"There isn't when that trip is to my hell on earth," I grumbled, and tied my hair back. Despite liking its new length, I couldn't stand it in my face.

Ryoma rolled his eyes, "I go there as much as you do, Hinoka. It's really not so bad if you give it a chance. I mean, I despise it too, but couldn't you try to find something good in it?"

He was beginning to get on my nerves, "No. I'm sorry Ryoma, but Nohr is infested with cons and not a pro in sight. I want to get some sleep, since I hardly could there. Goodnight, brother."

I didn't really let him answer, turning away to go to my room. He probably said goodnight, at least, but I couldn't be bothered to listen. I was fairly miserable, and needed some rest. I stormed off to my room in a nasty mood. It really was good luck that I didn't happen upon anyone else on my way to my chambers, because I think they would have invoked my wrath, whoever it might have been.

As soon as my door latched behind me, I made it my first order of business to get out of my rider's clothes. They were comfortable, but I didn't particularly enjoy wearing them for more than a few hours on end. They had too many little pads and layers. It was understandable, since they were made to break my fall should I tumble out of the air upon Crystal. But they grew stiff and bothersome, so I was glad to free myself from them. I slipped into a nightgown and buried myself in my heavy blanket on my bed. For some reason, though it wasn't accurate, this was where I felt the most alone. In my own bed, only a few doors away from my siblings. Not in the open air over an uninhabited stretch of land. My most lonely spot was under the covers. It had always been like that. When I was little, I had to have a large stuffed toy with me in bed. It was a pegasus, modeled after Crystal's mother. I remember it looking a lot like Crystal does now. But I decided a few years ago that I was much too old for that. What I wouldn't give to have it right now...

Hell, if it would help my mood, I didn't care how immature it was. I walked across the room to my closet and pulled the old thing out of the back. It was a bit tattered in places from years of love, but the overall condition of it was surprisingly nice. I squeezed it as tight as I could, and carried it back to bed with me. Although I felt as if I were ten years old, the feeling was very comforting and I was able to fall asleep without a depressing frustration looming over me. That was nice, for a change.