I can't hold myself to not write this part... I hate myself , who lacks self-restraint. Oh well.
Either way, this fic is supposed to be sequel to the fic the Boy Wearing the Queenly Mask, but you only need to read that fic until chapter 4 or 5 to get into this fic's plot. The explanations needed for this part have been covered, and if any chapter on this part needs explanation in the first part, I'll tell you readers at the beginning of the chapter. Well then, here we go!
The king of Nohr, his queen, and his two children are taking a picnic on a nearby forest. Siegbert decided to stay under a tree and read some books, meanwhile his younger sister Fafnir are playing in the forest, chasing small animals and butterflies. Watching his daughter chasing butterfly cheerfully, Xander asked Corrin without looking at her
"Is she truly my daughter?"
"Xander, we talked about this so many times. She is. If it's not you, who else?" Corrin sighed. This is the nth time Xander asked that question. She wondered what must she do to convince him that Fafnir really is his daughter. When his son, Siegbert, bears clear resemblance to him, his daughter Fafnir is , his daughter is a carbon copy of her mother, making it unclear who is the little girl's father.
"But she doesn't resemble me at all." He added. Corrin caress her own chest.
"Xander... Can we... Can we ignore this fact for a while? We're on a picnic today... To let you take a break from your work as the king..."
"Don't change the topic. Tell me, who is the girl's father? " Xander's tone become more pressurizing. Corrin have such hard time handling Xander like this. It was him who told her it's just rumors that she will betray Nohr just like she betrayed Hoshido. Even after these 6 years, the people of Nohr haven't accepted her yet. If her family can't accept her, then who else?
"I beg of you... Please do not take those rumours seriously. I never slept with any man but you. And you see that I'm barely out of Castle Krakenburg these 6 years. "
"So it was one of the male vassals? Or was it Leo when he returned to Nohr?"
The pair continue to bicker, not realizing their daughter went missing and already gone deep to the forest. Neither her parents, or the little girl herself, realized that they have been separated so far. So far that if someone attacked, no one would hear the little girl's screams. And that is exactly what happened.
Still chasing a butterfly, Fafnir, the young princess of Nohr, skipped happily, and then after the butterly fly a bit higher, she stopped chasing it, and realized her parents, brother, and vassal are nowhere to be seen. The little girl cried.
"Mommy, Daddy, Big Bro Sieg, where are you? Jakob, Felicia, Kaze, Dwyer, Midori? Anyone? Am I alone here?"
"Why, yes, cute little one. You are alone now, and it makes my job easier." A woman with blue hair and black clothes answered her. Fafnir feels familiar to her, but she doesn't know who the blue-haired woman is.
"Who are you, aunty?" she asked, still snivelling. The strategist casually ignored her question. Instead, she pointed her tome at the little girl.
"Who am I does not matter. I'm sorry, child. But this is an order from Lord Anankos."
A flash of spell marched into the little girl, and Fafnir barely avoid it. She now realized what is happening. The blue-haired woman wanted her dead. And she is scared. Is there any way for her to survive ? She is just a 3 years old girl, and of course unarmed...
Intense fear forced the little girl to turn into a dragon, with a form similar to her mother but much smaller, and she tried to flee by flying away. Even in her feral state of mind, her bestial instnict told her to save herself from danger.
Arete was annoyed by Fafnir's attempt to flee, but it's not she have run out of cards up her sleeve anyway. She demands the other invisible soldiers to bring a flying mount and she hopped on a dark falcon, chasing the poor young dragon away.
Fafnir keep flying, away from Arete. Away from her family. Away from Nohr. She just followed her instincts, unaware that it separates her from her family even further, thus endangering her more instead. The dragon lowered her flight , close to a river.
Arete keep on attacking Fafnir, but the dragon keeps evading. Until one of her spells hit her wings and the young dragon fell into the river. Thinks the dragon won't survive the fall, Arete returned to Valla along with her invisible troop.
"I wonder if Ouranea also did her job there." Arete muttered to herself. But all the other invisible soldiers lack sapience to reply to her.
"Dad! Look, I caught another rabbit! " Kiragi chirped from quite a distance. Takumi smiled. His son is such a skilled hunter and a cheerful boy, a light to his dark life. Well, mostly. Despite of his business as king, despite of his sorrow for losing his mother and elder siblings, Takumi lived happily in Hoshido with his family. His sister Sakura, his wife Oboro, his son Kiragi, his nephews Shiro and Hisame, and his niece Caeldori. Losing many members of his family makes him loved the remaining members more, as well increased his fear of losing them.
"Don't stray too far! I'll have problem to find you if you did!" Takumi replied as he tidy up his appearance. The young boy cheered again.
"Don't worry, Dad! Our ears are sharper than normal people, I wont' be that far that I can't hear you!"
Takumi giggled again. Kiragi was right. He and his son was born with senses sharper than normal people. For his case, after he sat on his throne and revealed his pointed ears, his senses also become sharper than normal people thanks to his draconic blood. If it really atavism, why it happened twice in a row, that Kiragi was born with pointed ears too? Was it his possession that thickened his dragon blood so that his son was born with awakened dragon gene too? But so far, his dragon gene haven't lied to him yet.
Until now.
In the woods, he saw his late mother Mikoto, who is supposed to be dead. Takumi can't belive his senses. Why she is here? She do not belong to this world anymore... Is it really her?
If he was aware to his surronding, he sould be aware that it's not really her. The Fujin Yumi keeps on vibrating. She is not reflected on the river's surface.
But Takumi doesn't care. All he care is that his mother is in front of him now.
"M... Mother... Is that... Really you ?"
The priestess smiled, and walked closer to the kinshi knight.
"Yes, Takumi. This is me, your mother Mikoto."
"I... I thought you died protecting Kamui, Mother..." Takumi still can't believe his eyes. She is supposed to be dead...
"But now I am here, my son." Mikoto reached out to caress Takumi's cheek. Her hand is cold...
Yet Takumi ignored all the hints that she really is danger to him. The non-stop vibration of the Fujin Yumi, her lack of a reflection on the water's surface, and the lack of warmth in her hand... And his reaction is to drop the divine bow instead.
"You really are beautiful, Takumi. How dashing you are now... I'm so proud of you. I bet women are flocking on you?"
"Mother... You are not angry with me? Ah...And no. I'm married already, Mother." Takumi hold Mikoto's hand who caressed his face. Her hand perhaps lacks warmth, but he will never forget and mistake the gentleness of that hand.
"For what, my dear?Pity I can't be present to bless this lucky girl who managed to be your lifelong partner." Mikoto played with Takumi's ponytail. The crown she used to wear now rested on his head.
"For... For wearing your.. Things. It's not only your cape and crown, which I modified to fit myself... But also... Your personality. I'm scared my people won't accept me for who I am, Mother. So I had to wear your personality like a mask. I'm so sorry, Mother.." Takumi's amber eyes are focused on Mikoto's garnet eyes. With longing eyes of a son who yearned for his mother.
"Why must I? First, you look good in my accessories. I already had a vision where you will rule with my crown instead of Ryoma wearing your father's. Second... I know you're have problems to adjust to your new role as the king. So you have to act like me. Don't worry, one day you will mature naturally into your role and you won't have to wear my personality far, you did a good job as the king of Hoshido. Also... Did you finally unsealed your dragon powers?" This time, Mikoto's hands moved to Takumi's ears. It tickles.
"Ng... Thank you.. Mother. No, It just..Started to broke.. After the war. And it itches. So I tried to sat on the throne and this happened to me. It's been 6 years since the war ended, I do wonder if the seal have been completely broke yet.."
"Is that so... Takumi, be honest with me. Did you miss me?" Mikoto started to hug Takumi. The silverette blushed.
"I... Yes, Mother. I always have a nightmare about your death... But now.. It doesn't matter... That now you're with me... I.. always missed you... Always... " Takumi hugged Mikoto back. How he missed her, his gentle mother. ..
"Did you miss Ryoma and Hinoka too?" Mikoto caressed Takumi's back. This gentleness have to be her, there is no mistaking it.
"Of course I missed them too. They are less closer to me than you, but it doesn't mean their death doesn't left any impact to me.." Takumi's grip on Mikoto tightened. If this is a dream, that the mother he thought is dead is now alive and well, he doesn't want to wake up.
"What about your father? "
"I was too young when Nohr killed Father... But if I ever get the chance to know him better... That would be wonderful." Takumi buried his face on Mikoto's shoulder, completely unaware of the abnormality this "Mikoto" emits.
"So would you be willing to join us?"
Mikoto's last question feels so weird for Takumi. Then he felt a pain at his stomach.
"Ukh... Mother... What was the last question? W..Why are you asking that?"
Takumi looked down to his own torso. A dagger was lodged in his abdomen.
"Mother... Why ? Why are you doing this to me?" Takumi tried to pivot himself on Mikoto's shoulder, as the pain from his abdomen robbed away the strength from his legs. Mikoto answered as she twisted the dagger in Takumi's torso , causing a whelp of pain from the silverette, and he fell to the ground.
"So that was a no? I thought you said you missed me just now..." Mikoto's dissappointed eyes met Takumi's desperate eyes. Desperate for the answer why his own mother tried to kill him.
"Mother... Please... Tell me... Why? Why do you want me to die? Am I... Am I truly the unneeded child? So useless that it's better for me to die? "
Mikoto shook her head, slowly forcing Takumi to lie on his side, and pulled the dagger out of him. Takumi coughed up more blood and tried to cover his abdomen in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding.
"No, my son. Remember when you're not really yourself during the war? Ever wonder what the force behind your possession? Let me answer that question. That force is the lord I serve now, Lord Anankos. You managed to break from his control because you're still alive...But if you died, you will fully fell to Lord Anankos' control. You can join us in Lord Anankos' service... Not only me, but also your father Sumeragi... Your older siblings Ryoma and Hinoka... Forever..."
Suddenly Takumi remembered when Leo said that Garon is just a someone else's puppet and the real Garon have died long ago. The force behind his and Garon's possession back then is the same with the bastard who twisted his mother's mind now, and sending her to kill him. Not to mention this damned thing also have his father and elder siblings as his pawns. Whatever this wicked abomination is, it sure have sickening hobby. This woman is not his mother. This woman is just a phantom that demon create, just to torture him further, because using him as its puppet during the war wasn't enough.
"Speaking of family member, I saw you with a young boy resembling you. I miss it when you were so small and innocent.. Not that you're any less cuter now. Is that boy your son, Takumi? I'm a grandmother now... I'm feeling old...But that clearly wasn't you. Because even in the past, you're not that energetic nor cheerful." Mikoto looks into the direction where Kiragi was last seen, and Takumi's eyes widen in horror.
No. Not Kiragi. Not his beloved son. Not his pure child, not yet tainted by this world.
"Please... Not my son... Kill me if you wish... But please... Spare my son... Kiragi, he.. He did nothing wrong... " Takumi spoke weak and desperately with watery eyes. The current him have no strength to stand, let alone wield the Fujin Yumi. The strength to protect his beloved son Kiragi. It was too late when he realized this woman is not the mother he loved. He already lost the power to protect his family, let alone kingdom.
Mikoto carressed Takumi's head. Takumi wanted her to stop. Or rather, the force behind her to stop playing with her , and making her into such a twisted phantom, that acts so gentle and loving like the original Mikoto but literally stabbed him in the stomach. Is this karma for him, that he twists Mikoto's image to torture Corrin? No... Corrin isn't his only reason to act and dress like Mikoto. His true reason was is insecurity. If so, why...
"You're such a loving father, Takumi... If I remembered, you have always been good with children... I wonder if Sumeragi said that when Garon killed him... When he tried to protect Kamui..."
Another invisible soldier comes, and gives Mikoto her bow. Mikoto takes few steps back, and was aiming to the man that was her son fo 16 years.
"Takumi... It hurts, right? It's okay. I'll end your pain now. And don't worry about your son... The order I receive from Lord Anankos is to eliminate the king of Hoshido, not his family. So I'll spare him... for now."
No. He can't die here. He must live.. For his sister Sakura, who will lost all of her sibling if he died. For his son Kiragi, who, or else, would be an orphan like his cousins Shiro and Hisame if he fell. And for his country Hoshido, who will be ruined without any ruler .
"I... I can't die now... I must live... For Sakura... For Kiragi... For Hoshido..."
He must not die now. But his body won't listen to his will, not with such heavy wound. He can't pivot himself on his knees, let alone stand. How is he going to protect his beloved this way?"
"Don't worry, Takumi. Everyone will fall under Lord Anankos' hands soon ... You will not be alone"
Stop. Stop doing this. Stop playing with Mikoto, whatever this asshole's name is.
He can't take it anymore. Takumi gritted his teeth. His anger towards the force that is controlling Mikoto now, his desperation to protect his beloved family and country, all those emotions mixed in his heart. If only he have the power to protect his beloved people...
He roared, out of desperation , cursing his own uselessness. Without Takumi himself knowing, he had transformed into a dragon.
Granted, for all his denial to Corrin, his dragon form is nothing like hers. His dragon form is serpentine, with feathery wings instead of skin wings like Corrin. His limbs isn't exactly short, but his torso is so long that it makes his limbs looks short. His dragon form also still have mouth and eyes, unlike Corrin. Not to mention, when Corrin's dragon form is white like her hair, Takumi's dragon form is silverish like his hair, and if Corrin's belly is black like her armor, Takumi's is blue like his clothes.. 6 years. It took that long for the seal to be completely broken. Perhaps the seal actually broke sooner, it's just he never felt any emotion so strong that could trigger his transformation.
But even transforming into a dragon didn't really grant him power, even to survive, let alone fight. Takumi tried to stand on his legs, only to fell in pool of his own blood again. Mikoto turned her back.
"It's over... He didn't bring his dragonstone with him, and this forest is far from Castle Shirasagi. Hoshido will lose their king, died in ungraceful feral state... No one will know it's him."
Before Mikoto returned to Valla, she glanced to Takumi for the last time. He still maintained his amber eyes in his dragon form. Looking at her with the same eyes as he had in his human form. He's not angry, he's sad. Sad because he's so useless and can't save or protect his beloved.
But Mikoto still leaves the anguished dragon anyway.
Takumi coughed up some blood again. This time, he grabbed the Fujin Yumi with his tail, and throw it . It landed near his kinshi. Even in his feral state of mind, he still did the thing he have to do as a father to Kiragi. The bird, knowing the message from its master, picked up the magical bow with one of its legs, and flew away.
Kiragi heared his father's scream, which changed into bestial roar in the way. Something must have happened to him. He tried to run to his father, instead Takumi;s kinshi swooped him away from the forest. Then Kiragi smelled some scent of blood. Human blood. Which is very likely to be his father's. But his father have sent his kinshi to take him return to Castle Shirasagi. Perhaps Takumi wanted him to do something in Castle Shirasagi and return later to him. But Kiragi have to be hurry, because not only he does smell human blood from afar, the Fujin Yumi itself is drenched with its wielder's blood.
After the kinshi landed in Castle Shirasagi, Kiragi immediately looks for his aunt Sakura and told her that he heard his father screaming, but in the middle of the scream it changed into a bestial roar and he smelled some human blood. Sakura remembered that Mikoto did confirm Takumi do have the potential to turn into a dragon like Kamui in her letter. Problem is, now Takumi doesn't have his dragonstone. Good thing he transformed in a forest, but still, he will need the dragonstone to return into a human, both his mind and body. Sakura immediately asked of the dragonstone from Orochi , and asked Subaki, her husband, to escort her to where her elder brother is, with her nephew showing the way. Sakura ride Subaki's falicorn, gift from Takumi himself when they were married 6 years ago, and Kiragi rode Takumi's kinshi, back to that forest.
When Kiragi leads Sakura and Subaki to the source of the blood scent, Sakura wasn't surprised that she found a silver dragon instead of a silver-haired young man. She knows both are the same being, that her older brother have awakened his draconic powers. What surprised her however, is the beast's condition.
The dragon can barely move, its wings covered the forest ground weakly, and blood keep running from its torso. One more thing that makes Sakura sure this dragon is indeed Takumi is his eyes. He have the same eyes he had during the war. Sadness covered with anger.
The dragon roared, and Subaki takes a few steps back. Sakura however, aware that wasn't a roar. That was a wail. From whatever sadness causing her brother to make him resort to this form, she must free him. Or at least, comfort him and decrease his burden.
Sakura was scared a bit. This dragon is indeed Takumi, but he wasn't really himself. Then she remembered that her elder brother wasn't really himself either back in the war, but he always back to his original self whenever he's with her.
Remembering all of that, Sakura walked closer to Takumi. He always returned to his senses whenever he's with her... And this time is no different.
"It's dangerous, Sakura! This dragon may be injured, but it's still a dragon!" Subaki warned her. She keep on closing the distance between her and her older brother.
"T-that's more than it... T-this dragon... Is m-my elder brother Takumi... B-back during our war w-with N-Nohr... H-he wasn't really himself either... M-most of the time.. But... W-whenever I' m with him... H-he's himself... It's.. I-it's no different time.."
"Auntie Sakura is right. This dragon really is Dad... I can smell his scent, I see his eyes.. There's no mistaking it!" Kiragi skipped beside Sakura.
Takumi coughed up more blood, and Sakura gently reached out her hands, trying to pet his scaly head.
"Shh... E-elder brother.. I-it's okay... I-it's me,Sakura. R-remember during the war with N-nohr? Y-you always r-return to be yourself w-whenever you're with me. I-it's no different with back then... I-i'm with you. Y-you always calmed me down a-after the war. S-so, it's my turn to calm you down from w-whatever causing you to transform."
"That's right, Dad! You can do it! My dad that I know never gives up! So I can't see why you give up on yourself now!"
Subaki was expecting the dragon to hiss, instead he nuzzled his head to Sakura and Kiragi.
"Sakura... My dearest sister... Kiragi... My beloved son... Is that really you?"
"Dad! You heard us!"
"E-elder brother... You returned to yourself! W-without your dragonstone !" Sakura and Kiragi pet Takumi's scaly head, and his front legs moved to his younger sister and son.
"I..."
The dragonstone in Sakura's hand reacted with the silver dragon, and turning him into a silver-haired young man , and his front legs into arms, that is now hugging his younger sister and son tight.
"I'm sorry... I made you all worry... But, I..."
More cough, more blood. Sakura remembered the wound on Takumi's abdomen. No wonder he can barely move, even as a dragon. His wound is this fatal. He didn't stand on his own, Takumi is pivoting himself to Sakura and Kiragi. His clothes are drenched in his own blood.
"I don't think... I can survive this wound... I am glad... That I can return to be myself... To see and remember my family... In my last seconds..."
Sakura panicked, and she asked Subaki to gently lay Takumi on the ground, with Kiragi holding his father's hand.
"No! Dad, don't say that! You're not going to die!"
"E-elder brother! H-hang in there! I'll heal you!"
"... But it really seems... I'm on my last line ... Heh... Hey, Azura... You died to save me... But I still die young anyway... You're coming to pick me up ?"
Sakura, Subaki and Kiragi's eyes immediately looking to the same direction as Takumi's. A ghost of a blue-haired woman, and her Wolfskin son with the same hair and eye color as his mother. The boy seems to be 14 years old or so. He must have spend quite some time in the Deeprealms...
"No, Takumi. You're not going to die now. Sakura... You can see me too, right? "
The red-haired girl nodded. The weakened silverette just let a small laugh,.
"Heh.. Heheheh... So why are you coming to me now, Azura? To see how worthless am I for you to save?"
"I have a request, Takumi. This is important ... For both Hoshido and Nohr." The ghost ignored the silverette's insult. Yet he continued, despite of his weakened state, and his sister is still trying to heal him.
"If your request is so important... Then why... You never appeared to me before?"
"... Try to focus, Takumi. Try to find another scent of dragon blood other than yours."
Takumi was so sure there is the only shifter dragon other than him is Corrin, and he wanted her to die anyway, so even if she is wounded like him now, he would let her die.
"Azura... You might have died for me... But I still hate you... For your stupid idea... That takes so many from me... Same with Corrin... I still hate her... If she really is ended up here, I'll let her die..."
The ghost casually continued.
"Close, Takumi. Close. It's not really Corrin, but yes, it's someone related to her."
Takumi remembered Corrin's children, her son Siegbert and her daughter Fafnir, who was born with pointed ears like their mother. Like his son Kiragi. No way... Who would attack such young child as them?
"Don't tell me... It's... It's her children ?"
Azura nodded.
"Yes. In fact, it was her second child Princess Fafnir that is stranded here. She was wounded too... And that's why I would ask you to save her. I know you hate us... I and Corrin... But please, Takumi, save her. She is innocent. "
Takumi scoffed. Can't she tell he is really weak to do anything now ?
"I can't even sit... And you asked me to save someone else ? I... I do hate you, yes... But I have standard...Children are innocent... Such is my belief... No matter who the parent is... I'll save them... And after few days , I'll return her to No-"
But Azura cut him off, surprising him.
"No, Takumi. Don't return her to Nohr. "
"W-why ? Do you think I am that low... That I would use her as a hostage? I refuse, Azura... "
"Takumi... This is for Fafnir herself. Please... "
Takumi was exhausted to think. That his own mother stabbed him, that his older siblings and father are also controlled by the demon who controlled him during the war, that Corrin's daughter stranded in Hoshido and should not be returned to her own parents...
"I... I'm exhausted to think, let alone do anything... Kiragi... Locate Princess Fafnir for me. Don't worry... Your aunt have healed me... I'm no longer close to death... Azura... I... I can barely keep my eyes open... We will continue this later... When I reopened my eyes..."
Before Takumi closed his eyes, Azura gave him the final request for the moment.
"Last request for the moment, Takumi. You see how I calmed Corrin with my song? In case you need a songstress, I want you to accept my son Shigure to your court in case you, your son, or Fafnir went feral again."
Ah, yes. Takumi remembered how Azura used her song to tame Corrin. Right, he would need a songstress that now he would have three dragons in his court, including himself. He only said one word before he really closed his eyes.
"... Accepted."
With that, the king of Hoshido succumb to his exhaustion, with his son and sister calling him. But he is not dead. He just need a rest... For all that happened in one day.
Karma is such a bitch. Not only for Takumi, but also for Corrin. You guys will understand at later chapters. Still, there is no way we would kill him this soon, this is just chapter 1. By the way, "Fafnir" is female Kanna's name here. "Kana" sounds too Hoshidan, we think we should get her a more Nohrian-sounding name if Corrin sides with Nohr and give birth to Nohrian Kana. Yeah... Fafnir is a male dragon's name, yet we use it on the female Kanna. So what. Orochi is a male name too originally. As for Female Corrin should have Male Kanna instead of Female Kanna ? We have plans for male Kanna... For the distant finale of this fic that is. Also for Takumi returning to his senses because of Sakura... remember, that actually happened on Birthright route. Our headcanon isn't baseless, you know. Anyway, we thank you if you give us a bit of your time to read our fic!
