AN: Sort of a filler chapter, unfortunately. I think the next chapter will have some more things happening. I just wanted to capture Corrin's feelings of her world crumbling. :^)

Corrin groaned, opening her eyes slowly. The back of her head throbbed, and her body felt sore all over. Everything began to come into focus, and she became aware of her surroundings.

She was lying on a mat made of bamboo, and she was in some sort of wooden hut.. Whatever the structure was, it wasn't new in the least. The old wood was covered in splinters, as if it had survived a battle and was barely standing. She could see snow outside of the window, but nothing else but the white expanse seemed to blanket over the mountain range.

Her nose picked up on the smell of meat cooking, and her stomach growled. She sat up, wincing as the throbbing at the back of her head grew worse.

"Ah, you're awake," a voice said. Corrin looked over to see a face she recognized. "Sorry for the bump on your head." She was stirring something in a large steaming pot, sitting perfectly calmly on the wooden floor. "Quite a contrast from when she was in combat," Corrin thought, remembering the fierceness of the woman that had swung her club around with incredible strength.

"It's you," Corrin said simply, struggling to remember the name that the woman had so proudly yelled out when they had fought. She rubbed the bump on the back of head, wincing slightly. "The one from the Flame Tribe, right?" She looked out the window again at the white expanse. "Where are we?"

"Yes, I am Rinkah," the woman said, seemingly a little offended that the princess had forgotten her name. "We're in a Flame Tribe Village within Hoshido's territory. I'm going to hand you over to the Hoshidan authorities." She took a spoon and tasted the broth was cooking in the pot, licking her lips afterwards.

Corrin's eyebrows furrowed, and she frowned. "I see. I suppose they'll want an explanation for the unprovoked attack… And then they'll probably...execute me…" She pulled her knees in with her arms, looking out the window.

To her surprise, Rinkah chuckled. "I really don't think so."

"Wait, what do you mea-" Corrin was cut off as someone knocked on the door to the hut. "Gods… That's them, isn't it?"

Rinkah nodded, standing up from her cross legged position. "It's time to go."

Outside, a ninja Corrin recognized stood, alone.

"We meet again. Your name is Kaze, right?" she remembered how he had asked for her name before they fought, and had given his in turn. That was… before Jakob had struck him down. She was glad to see that the ninja had healed well.

"Yes. I'm glad that we found you, Princess Corrin." he replied with a gentle smile.

Confusion ran through Corrin's mind. "Glad?" she thought. "You are? Am I missing something?" she asked. First Rinkah saying that she didn't think they would execute her, then Kaze saying that they were glad they found her. Corrin knew for a fact that if her father had captured a Hoshidan princess, he would only be happy about killing her. She shuddered. "Torture?"

"Please come with me. All will be explained," Kaze said simply. Deciding that she didn't have any other options anyways, Corrin nodded.

"Very well."

Their journey was about two days long. Rinkah had stayed behind, saying she would follow them to the Hoshido capital after she was ready to leave. They had kept a brisk pace, the ninja never seeming to tire. Corrin, even with her relentless training in her forretress back in Nohr, had a hard time keeping up as they made their way down the mountain range to the valley beneath.

Kaze hadn't tried to restrain her in any way, but had kept a close eye on her. Corrin thought about what the case for a prisoner would be in Nohr, which would probably be shackled hands, and no freedom to move. They hadn't spoken much on the trip; the few questions Corrin drew up the courage to ask were politely put off with a smile, unless they were about Hoshidan culture.

From what she could understand Hoshido was a peace loving nation, bright and elegant, but strong. They had plenty of sunlight and excellent weather, so food was easy to come by and there was rarely ever crime. Again, a contrast from Nohr. Leo had told her before about the crime that ran through Nohr's streets like the plague. Nohr was barren, he had said, but it was still home. Her stomach churned at the thought of Nohr, and her siblings. She wondered how worried they were about her disappearance.

When the capital was in clear sight, Kaze spoke.

"There it is. Castle Shirasagi." Corrin turned her focus away from the cliff she was scaling down and followed Kaze's gaze. Her breath caught, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight. The castle seemed to shine like gold in the sunlight, tall and proud.

"It's breathtaking," she whispered.

"It always is," Kaze smiled at her. "We don't have much farther to go. We should arrive by noon."

Kaze was right. They arrived a little before noon, and Corrin marveled at the tall structure as they got closer and closer. It must have had at least ten stories, surrounded by beautiful cherry blossom trees. A gentle breeze coasted through, putting Corrin at ease.

The castle was completely open, and Kaze led Corrin through the courtyard and up to the throne room. The throne room was just as beautiful as the outside of the castle. A beautiful white throne sat at the end of the room, but no one sat in it. Instead, a man dressed in entirely red armor stood in front of it. He seemed to be only a few years older than Corrin, and his face was regal. He gave off the aura of someone in authority, but Corrin could've sworn he smiled a little as they walked in. She was now even more confused than before. Kaze stopped at the base of the steps and kneeled.

"Welcome back, Kaze. Good work." His voice was deep, and somehow reminded Corrin of Xander.

"Thank you, Lord Ryoma." A flash of recognition darted through Corrin's mind.

"Did...Did you just say Lord Ryoma?" she asked Kaze, her eyes widening. "Ryoma, high prince of Hoshido…Where have I heard that…?" It certainly wasn't from any of her Nohrian siblings, or any of her retainers back at the the forretress. It was on the brink of her mind, but where…?

"Yes. This is the high prince of Hoshido, Lord Ryoma." Rinkah came up from behind, and Corrin was relieved to see a familiar face, even if it was the fierce woman of the Flame Tribe.

"I understand," Corrin said, and swallowed. Ryoma seemed to be analyzing her, and it was making her slightly uncomfortable. "What are you waiting for? If you're going to execute me, please get on with it."

Ryoma's eyes widened at that, and he shook his head quickly. "No, no, I was just-"

"I cannot believe it is really you…" Corrin turned around to see a woman standing at the entrance of the throne room. She was tall, with long, straight dark hair framing a calm face. She wore the white clothing of a priestess, and a golden crown circled her head. She had her hands over her mouth, tears ready to fall at the edge of her nut-brown eyes. Corrin assumed she was royalty from the crown, but she had no idea who the woman was.

"I'm sorry, do we know each other?" Corrin furrowed her eyebrows.

"Oh, I've missed you so much! Come here, Corrin, my sweet child!" She rushed over, bringing Corrin into her arms.

Corrin tensed, unable to understand what the woman was speaking of. "Your sweet child?!" she exclaimed. "What are you talking about?" She had no idea who this woman was! Garon was her father, and his wife had died long before Corrin had gotten to know her. She must have been lying. There was no other way. "That's not possible…"

Slowly, the woman pulled away, wiping at her eyes and regaining her composure. She kept a hand on Corrin's arm, and Corrin couldn't relax in her touch. "Oh, my poor Corrin. It's… a sad story. When you were very young, you were taken by forces from Nohr. I am your mother, Mikoto. All this time, I didn't know if I'd ever see you aga-"

Corrin pulled her arm away, shaking her head, her eyes wide. She didn't register the look of hurt on her supposed mother's face. "King Garon is my father! None of what you're saying makes sense!" Mikoto stepped forward, and Corrin took a step back.

Ryoma spoke up. "It must be quite a shock, but I assure you that she speaks the truth. I am your older brother, Ryoma."

Corrin shook her head again, falling to her knees and covering her ears, as if her entire world was crumbling. "No, no, no… Xander is my older brother! Leo, Elise, Camilla are all my siblings…"

"Are those the Nohrian royals? They're not your real family," Ryoma said, stepping down the stairs to stand beside Mikoto. He crouched in front of Corrin so he could look her in the eyes. "I still remember the day you were taken. In those days, there was tension between Hoshido and Nohr, but no full-blown war. Not until Garon lured our father, King Sumeragi to Cheve under false pretenses, a supposed peace conference. Ha! His real plan was to murder our father in cold blood. And to make matters even worse… he kidnapped you." His dark brown eyes clouded over, and there was a faraway look in Ryoma's eyes.

Corrin's fists clenched, her bottom lip quivering. "No… That's just not possible…" But a part of Corrin believed what Ryoma was saying to her. She remembered the look on her father's face as he ordered her to kill Rinkah and Kaze. The look of murder in his eyes. Her mind felt like it was grazing the surface of something she knew was important, but had forgotten.

"You really don't remember any of this? Not even a single memory?" Ryoma's face showed genuine concern, the kind of face that Xander would give Corrin if she had worked herself too hard when training. The kind of concern an older brother would give.

Corrin covered her eyes with her hands, bringing her knees up to her face. "No. I only have the vaguest memories of my childhood…" Images flashed through her mind. A blurry man falling to his knees, arrows flying into his body. A hand, reaching out to her. A woman, swimming down to a stone at the bottom of a lake. "There are times when I can sense something, just beneath the surface… A blurry image. Like, a stone, at the bottom of a lake. Shimmering and ethereal. But that's it. Nothing of substance."

Ryoma frowned. "Well, I can't imagine the Nohrian royals would share this much of your past with you. I know this is a lot to take in…" he gave her a sad smile.

A messenger barged into the room, running to kneel in front of the group. "Lord Ryoma! I have an urgent message! We're under attack from the north!"

Ryoma stood, his face hardening. "No! Hinoka and Sakura are in that area right now!"

"Yes, milord. I've been told that they're working to help evacuate the villagers."

"Very well. We'll need to provide support. I'll leave immediately. Corrin, will you come with me? I want you to see the truth with your own eyes." Ryoma was looking at her, and Corrin wasn't sure what to say. He might have wanted her to see the "truth," but she didn't. She felt like everything she had ever known was breaking down around her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Regardless, she nodded bleakly, unable to do anything else. Mikoto gave her a gentle but sad smile, but she said nothing else as Corrin stood.

Ryoma smiled sadly at her. "I know this is hard. But please give us some time to really prove this to you." She nodded again, and he led her out of the room, Kaze and Rinkah following close behind. As they were exiting, a new person passed by them.

Corrin looked up to see deep hazel eyes and silvery gray hair. Her eyes widened as she felt recognition; his face was somehow one she remembered. A bow was slung over his shoulder, his hair tied up, and his body was beaded with sweat.

He stopped in front of them, frowning at her slightly as he wiped the sweat off of his forehead under his bangs. "Ryoma, who's this?"

"Ah, Takumi. I'm sorry, but we don't have time for official introductions right now. We're heading to the north; another attack. This is Corrin. Corrin, this is Takumi, your younger brother."

Takumi's eyes widened and his face seemed to pale, but then his gaze hardened. "I see," he said coldly.

"Um… Hello." Corrin wasn't sure what to say, and the temperature of the atmosphere seemed to drop to the same one as up in the mountains. His face and name seemed so familiar, and so did his demeanor. It contrasted against Ryoma and Mikoto's way of greeting her, with their welcoming attitudes.

"Mother is in the throne room. She can explain everything. Stay here; I'll send a messenger if things don't go as planned." Ryoma walked past Takumi as if nothing was wrong. Corrin supposed there wasn't enough time to say anything about it, nor was there time for more conversation. She followed Ryoma without another word, unable to say anything else.

As they walked away she could feel Takumi's hard gaze on her back, as if she had brought a world of misfortune onto his shoulders.

AN: Updates will be slower because school is starting up again, but it'll probably be an update a week!