A/n Part one of chapter five, or as I call it; the beginning of the actual game . Anyways, hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Five; Mother
Map: Hoshidan Capital
Corrin sat at her desk chair, thinking over the past moth she had spent in Hoshido. Both she and Jakob got along with everyone, except for one person in particular, due to the fact everyone was nice. Even so, Corrin couldn't help worrying about her friends and family back in Nohr, and she still, aside from blurry glimpses of a place clearly not Nohr, she still couldn't remember earlier than waking up in a bed in the Northern Fortress, Xander, Camilla and Leo at her side, and the Nohrian King at the foot of the bed.
She took a deep breath, and dragged her sigh out for as long as she could. She jumped when a soft knock came through the door, "I apologise if I scared you," The young voice replied, "It is just that Queen Mikoto is summoning you."
Corrin stood and slid open the door, "Right, thank you, Shigure."
The blue haired boy smiled happily, "Would you like me to accompany you, Milady?"
She smiled, "Thank you."
He kept his smile as he nodded, "It is my pleasure."
They walked a few steps before Corrin spoke again, "What's the relationship between you and Azura?"
Shigure hesitated for a second, "We may have come from the same country. I, was bought in by the Queens retainers after they investigated smoke in the mountains. They found a burning village and an almost dead me. I was the one who survived."
Corrin nodded, "I see… so, Mother, and thus me, come from a neighbouring country, and Azura knows she comes from another, and everyone believes you come from the same country as her?"
"Correct," Shigure replied after a second.
Corrin nodded, deciding that the boy didn't want to speak about the issue further. They silently walked down the stairs into the throne room, where the Queen waited.
When she saw them, she smiled happily, "Good morning! And thank you, Shigure."
The boy bowed, "It was my pleasure." He straightened his stance and walked away.
Mikoto quickly filled the silence, "You look as if you're feeling better after a while to yourself."
Corrin nodded, returning her Mother's smile, "Yes, as well as I can be. I still have a few questions, but I certainly have a lot of answers now." She bowed her head, "Thank you for giving me the space I needed to think."
The Queen hugged her daughter lightly, "I'm glad to hear you're feeling better." She stepped back, "Though, if you wouldn't mind, I have a small favour to ask."
"What is it?" Corrin asked.
The Queen nodded, walking toward the raised throne, "Would you try sitting on the throne for a moment?"
Corrin frowned, "I'm not even the next in line, why would I sit on the throne?"
The Queen chuckled as she began to explain, "Well… this throne is infused with the power of the First Dragons. It is said those who sit on it regain their true form and mind. I thought-"
"You think I'm under a Nohrian spell?" Corrin asked, hurt.
The Queen shook her head, quickly returning to her daughter, "No! Nothing of the sort. I just believe the King of Nohr sealed you early memories. If so, then the magic may undo those seals."
"I see," Corrin looked to to ground, "Sorry for jumping to conclusions."
Mikoto shook her head, "I don't mean to push you toward something you don't want."
They both turned to a soft knocking at the stairs opposite where Corrin had come from. An elaborately dressed man with green hair and matching glasses walked in, "Excuse me, Lady Mikoto. The ceremony will begin in an hours time."
The Queen nodded, "Thank you, Yukimura." She then turned back to her child, "You probably don't remember him, but this is Yukimura. He is one of our strategists and brightest leaders."
The man smiled as he bowed, "You are too kind, Milady. In truth, I still have much to learn." He straightened up and spoke directly to the Princess, "That said, I am here to help in any way I can, Lady Corrin."
Corrin nodded, "I see, thank you."
"You called for us, Mother?" Ryoma asked as he lead his siblings into the room. Takumi was glaring sourly into space right behind him, with Hinoka angrily glaring at him. Sakura was almost physically shaking between them, despite Azura's clam hand on her shoulder.
The Queen nodded, "Yes, I'd like to make a public announcement about Corrin's return. There have been rumours circulating about spies from Nohr infiltrating the castle," The smile she gave Takumi seemed happy, but carried her annoyance.
The Prince gave a loud 'tisk' and mumbled under his breath.
"So, I wish to quash those rumours once and for all." She turned to the strategist, "The people know of the announcement?"
"Yes, Milady," He bowed his head, "Some people would have already begun gathering at the plaza."
"Excellent," The Queen smiled happily, then she walked over to the eldest Prince, "Will to take Corrin on a tour of the town?"
Ryoma nodded, "Of course."
Mikoto looked around the room, "Wasn't Jakob coming?"
Hinoka stepped in, "He said people might get…" She looked at her younger brother who just rolled his eyes and continued to glare into space, "Seen as he was clearly Nohrian."
Yukimura chuckled, "He certainly isn't wrong. Especially with those rumours going around."
Ryoma shook his head, a small smile on his face as his younger brother growled under his breath, "Very well. Corrin?"
"Right," The albino nodded, walking over to her Hoshidan siblings.
"We're trying to keep Takumi and Hinoka as far away from each other as possible," Ryoma explained, "If it wasn't obvious."
"Not my fault that-" The two in question began.
"Enough!" Ryoma commanded, "Let's go into town." He lead the way out, Takumi following at his heels like he was seemingly ordered to.
Corrin walked between Azura and Sakura, the latter smiling happily, "I can't wait to show you around," She didn't stutter much around her elder sister much anymore, "I think you'll l-love it here."
Corrin smiled happily, "Thank you, I look forward to it."
The streets were filled with wood and cloth stalls, people happily marching from shop front to shop front. The middle of the paved streets were home to small, thin gardens, the main plant being the tree the youngest Hoshidan royal was named after. People cheered and bartered, conversation loud in the air. The people didn't seem too surprised that the royal family was wondering though the streets, though they did give them a little more room and respectful greetings. Corrin spent most of her time staring at the paper lanterns in the fully blooming trees, Azura and Sakura laughing at her astonishment.
"Hey," Ryoma chuckled, "Corrin," He gently threw a wrapped object at her, she barely caught it, "Azura," He threw another, the blue haired woman catching it with a little less fumbling, "Sakura," The young Princess seemed too used to the routine, catching it easily, "And Hinoka, can she catch it?"
The Princess in question caught the object in one hand, smiling triumphantly.
"Show off," Takumi mumbled as he unwrapped his own.
"Um…?" Corrin turned to Azura who giggled.
"Roast potato," She explained, "They are very nice."
"I see," Corrin looked back to the wrapped snack in her hands.
The woman in charge of the stall chuckled, "Is it your first time in town missy?"
Corrin looked up, "Uh, Yes. You could say that."
The woman chuckled again, "Well, you know how to make friends."
Corrin chuckled at that as well, "Thank you," She bowed her head a little, "And thank you," She motioned to the still wrapped food in her hands.
The woman waved her off, "The pleasure is mine!"
Ryoma chuckled, "Have a good day."
Everyone thanked her as they walked past, Corrin finally unwrapping her gift like everyone else had. "This is very good," She took another bite, her siblings chuckling at the surprise in her voice. Well, all of the except for Takumi, who seemed to be banned from talking all together, though it seemed the same rule applied to Hinoka. Corrin didn't want to ask what was going on, just in case either one of them began yelling at each other again. Besides, she still remembered her first meeting with Takumi clearly.
They wondered a little further, then Sakura gasped and ran to the other side of the street.
"S-Sakura!" Corrin called worriedly.
"She probably found her favourite stall," Azura explained as the group of them waited.
Soon, the young girl ran back over with a little box in her hands. She opened it, "Sweet rice dumpling?" She offered.
"I'd love one," Corrin replied, interested by just the word 'sweet'.
Azura chuckled, "So you like sweets too?" She took one as well, "Thank you."
"Thanks sis," Hinoka took the second last one.
Sakura happily took the last of them, marching along smile on her face. Ryoma laughed, "She doesn't share those often."
"I understand why," Corrin replied, so far loving everything about the town.
Royo a nodded, "Alright, we should start heading over to the plaza." He nodded to the centre of town. Everyone agreed and followed him further along.
The Queen was already waiting, talking to the people of the town, her two retainers close by. The purple haired one, the one Corrin had gotten to know as Orochi the 'Fortune Teller' who still believed no lives were lost during the Bottomless Canyon incident, came to meet them, "We're just waiting for more people to come," She explained, "For now, Azura, you should find a place in the crowd," She nodded to a particular place before walking off again.
Azura quickly glanced to where the woman had indicated, "Very well, I shall see you all after the ceremony."
Everyone, except for Takumi, nodded and waved as she walked away, Corrin catching a quick glance of Shigure in in crowd.
The plaza was a massive clear area in the centre of the town, it's main feature a large dragon statue. The Queen turned to see her children, she smiled at them, then quickly finished her conversation before walking over to them. "How was the town?"
Corrin chuckled, "Lively," She replied, "And bright."
The woman nodded, "Good. So, to the announcements." She smiled again.
The five of them lined up in front of the statue, the order; Ryoma, Hinoka, Corrin, Takumi then Sakura, eldest to youngest.
The Queen began calming the crowd, a pit forming in Corrin's stomach. A figure in a black cloak pushed his way to the front of the crowd, the sword gifted to Corrin in their hand.
The blade she left in her room.
Everyone stared in shock as the man embedded the blade into to ground, a spine tingling magic gathering around it. Mikoto screamed an order, people beginning to run as the magic dispersed, a crater left in it's wake was people went flying.
Then, the blade shattered, the obsidian shards flying toward Corrin.
Though, the Queen caught the shards in her back as she protected her daughter. Every noise disappeared from Corrin's ears as she caught her gasping mother.
"You were not hurt?" The Queen spoke to her children, though Corrin wasn't sure where they were, or if they answered, "Tell me you're okay…" her words directed at the child who caught her as blood trailed from her mouth.
"I'm fine," Corrin managed, anger and sadness mixing together in her voice and heart.
"That's…" The Queen smiled once more, "Good." She fell limp, Hinoka's and Sakura's voices filling Corrin's ears as they called both her name and their mothers.
"You there," Ryoma turned to the intruder, drawing his electrified blade. In a second, he cut the thing in half, it's cloak falling to the ground, "Show yourself!"
Corrin was breathing heavily, hyperventilating as she lost control. Purple crawled into the corners of her vision and the same colour flaked off of her as her aura became visible. Hinoka and Sakura backed away as their sister screamed, becoming engulfed in the purple heatless flames, talons and horns forming as she morphed, wings forcing their way through her back. With another screech, she dispersed the magic around her, the tail of the silver and blue dragon shattering the statue behind it as the beast reared onto its hind legs.
In the rubble of the statue, a golden blade sat, sealed away.
