VII. Epilogue

March 20: Late Morning

The fort was lively this morning, much like it had been twelve days ago. The halls were bustling with people, Nohrian and Hoshidan both: soldiers, nobles, workers. Busy times. Where everyone had been rushing to unpack then, they were hurrying to escape this place now. Corrin waded patiently through the crowd on his trip to his final stop.

With the help of Felicia and Jakob, he'd packed the rest of his belongings promptly. Only one last thing remained to account for, and only he could fetch it.

Corrin had to squint to pierce the dark room, wishing he had brought a lamp. By the time he had arrived, the armory was practically vacant; most of the visiting soldiers had taken their weapons with them to escort their wards home. Silas, for example, was already waiting for Corrin outside, assuredly with an empty wagon ready for departure.

Corrin needn't have locked the cage that he'd left his only blade behind. No one could lift the sword, much less wield it. But when he had arrived here weeks ago, he had wanted it locked away. Moreover, he'd wanted to leave it in Hoshido. Wanted nothing to do with it, but Ryoma had insisted.

He opened the cage, a frown touching his features as he beheld the Blazing Yato stored within. It shone in its owner's presence, contrasting the tenebrous arsenal.

Corrin's fingers twitched, lingering on the cage rather than reaching for the weapon.

"I hated you." Corrin's expression was pained, but he could not stop staring at the golden blade. "You were forged to be the key to peace in the world, and you chose me. You chose me, gave me my own destiny of choice. Made me the crux of fate. Because of your decision, I was the one to choose Hoshido, the one to win the war for them." He shook his head. "I blamed you… for what happened to them. Xander, Azura, Lilith, Flora… Elise. Because of you, I had to choose between them and what I felt was right."

At last, the prince reached for the blade. It hummed with anticipation at its wielder's touch.

"You looked so different when we first met," Corrin mused. "You didn't glow with this white light. You were… neutral. You were of a time where I was uncertain. Where I thought I could return to Nohr if I believed I must. Perhaps, by hiding you away like this, I thought I could return to that time. I could pretend you lacked the power my Hoshidan family had infused in you."

He hefted the Yato, running his fingers along its smooth blade, and he was there, he could feel the last time he'd wielded the blade like this. He could remember, clear as day, when it had shattered under Garon's malefic strength… until he could feel them fighting alongside him.

"…But it wasn't enough back then, was it," he murmured. "The power of Hoshido was not enough. Only when fueled by the faith of Xander and Elise did you have the might to fell Garon…" He chuckled tiredly, shaking his head. "In the end, only when my family was united could we truly change the world."

Corrin slid the Yato onto his belt—a spot that had lain vacant for far too long.

"And by ignoring the truth, I was insulting their memory."

Corrin turned his back on the cage and strode away.

"There is so much more to be done. Can I trust you to keep my path true, Yato?" The prince chuckled. "But I'm certain you would not have chosen me if you didn't believe. I'll prove yet that I can make a difference. I'll show you."

Corrin left the dim armory behind, entering the light.


-END-


Author's note:

Big thanks to Robotortoise for all of his help with editing and more. :)