Here is the next chapter that you've probably been waiting for. Remember, I'm making this stuff up as I go along so please try to understand if it's not all that great.
Aside from that, shout out to Noir776 from Austria for their review. I liked your pointers, your comments, thanks for bringing them up. As for your questions mate, I'll try to work them in later chapters if that's okay. And as for your joke. It was cringe worthy. As for your comments about my pairings, if you can think of better pairings, than I encourage you to write your own fanfiction. These are called fanfictions for a reason. One more thing. I don't understand short-hand. No short-hand please! That's all for now. More at chapter end.

P.S. You know the drill, disclaimer: I don't own fire emblem fates. Just plot and OCs.

A Start to the Hols

Soleil finished placing the last of her posters on her wall. She takes a step back to have a better look. It was one of the guest rooms at Castle Krakenburg, lent to her by the royal family. It may not be home, but she made it look like home. With a four poster bed, a vanity mirror, indoor plumbing, a walk-in wardrobe, a warm hearth, and all her kitten posters and plushies, plus her bunny blanket, it was a home away from home.

The best part had to be her neighbors. Sophie on her left, Ophelia on her right, and Siegbert across from her. Thinking of Siegbert brought her back to the events of last week. Soleil personally didn't care what other people fought about her. But it was clear that Siegbert did. And if she had to change her ways for his peace of mind, than so be it. She would do whatever it took to be the best retainer he could ask for, even if it meant putting reigns and bridle on herself.

A yawn escapes her lips, so she decides to take a short nap. In what only felt like seconds her naps interrupted by a rapping on her door. Groaning she rolls onto her back and pulls her pillow over her head. When the rapping doesn't stop she rolls out of bed and sluggishly walks towards the door. Opening it reveals a happy Ophelia.

"Afternoon Sleeping Beauty," she teases. "Did I interrupt your beauty sleep?"

Soleil instantly perks up. "Morning Ophelia. I was simply taking a short nap when... Wait, it's afternoon?!"

Ophelia giggles. "Yes, it is afternoon. You must have been really tired to have lost track of time."

"Tell me about it. I'm still tired." She stifles another yawn making it sound like a kitten's mew. "What's so funny?"

"N-N-Nothing," says Ophelia as she reigns in the giggles. "You simply have the cutest yawns ever."

"Awww, thank you. So, is there a reason for ruining my nap?"

"Actually yes. Me, Sophie and Nina were heading to town for some tea and some shopping. We were wondering if you would-"

"Of course!" Solail interrupts. "How can I say no to tea?"

Ophelia giggles at her friends reaction. "Well than, let's go. The shadows don't wait forever."

The two girls then race off to join their friends. Neither one aware of the ill events that lay in wait.

Soleil smiled gaily as she sipped her tea with her friends. They had been out for some time, as noted by the setting sun. Their time had been spent mostly shopping for clothes, taking only a break for luncheons and another for tea. Though Soleil had her fun, it had also been tiring for her. With so many cute girls walking around town, it had taken all her self-control to keep herself reigned in.

Letting out a tired sigh she reaches in her shopping bag to inspect her new clothes. A couple of skirts (violet and rose pink), a new blouse, a blue dress, and a navy-blue travel cloak. Ophelia had bought herself some new tomes, leggings, and swim wear. Sophie bought an entire wardrobes worth, to replace all the clothes that Avel had destroyed. And Nina had bought herself some new small clothes. She had said something about her old ones becoming too tight.

So here they were at the end of their hunt. Sipping tea, trading stories, telling jokes, and laughing fruity laughs. Having a good time. But good times must come to an end. You see, their parents had a curfew. They must be back before the sun had fully set. So, since the sun was already setting, they figured it was time to head back.

"O well. It was fun while it lasted." laments Ophelia.

"Your saying it." agrees Sophie. "I finally have clothes again. Though I doubt they'll last long around Avel."

"Don't worry flower. If worst comes to worst, you can just borrow some of mine." says Soleil.

"Thanks So- Hey wait! What have I said about you calling me a flower!?" Sophie adds indignant.

Soleil smiles cheeky. "Oops. Sorry."

"Hey, can you all wait for me. I have to use the latrines." says Nina.

"Go ahead cousin. We'll wait for you right here."

Nina was already running for a latrine to use before Ophelia had finished talking. So the rest waited in silence for Nina to come back, but as the time went on and she didn't come back, they were starting to get anxious. They didn't know wether to be worried, or embarrassed. It wasn't till the sun had almost completely set that they decided to go looking for her. But before they could, they saw her racing back around the corner towards them, her pigtails trailing behind her.

Sorry I'm late. I saw a man pick a woman's pocket, so I tailed him and stopped him, and then I had to find the woman that the money belonged to.

Her friends sigh in relief upon hearing she was okay. "Don't do that again Nina, otherwise I will unleash my agents of the darkness upon you till you regret all your life choices and have made you repay with our shared blood."

"Okay, sheesh. And her I thought you of all people would be happy to see me."

"Uh, hey, can we get going? We have a curfew remember? You know we'll get in trouble if we break it." reminds Sophie. Noticing just how short on time they were, they picked up their bags and ran as fast as they could in an attempt to get home on time.

Siegbert had been training all day with Ignatius. Even though it was summer vacation, Ignatius still came by time-to-time for training hanging out. Forrest had been standing by as referee. After their current dual ended in a draw, Ignatius asked Siegbert if he could talk to him about something of importance.

"Forrest, go ahead of us. We will catch up later." Forrest nods before hiking up his skirts and racing for the castle.

"Okay, shoot. What do you want to talk about?"

Ignatius looks to the side, rubbing the back of his head. His face was red. He mumbles something that Siegbert couldn't hear.

"Speak up man, I could not hear you."

"Nina. I... I-I..w-want... I want to t-talk about N-Nina."

"Uh... Okay.? What about her?"

"I...I want to ask her out."

"Why don't you?"

"I don't know how?"

"I don't think there's any rules to follow."

"Do you think she would go out with a guy like me?"

"Why wouldn't she?"

"I'm not very good with people, I'm a coward, and I'm unapproachable."

"Those things can be worked around. Now can you think of any reasons why she would?"

"I-... I don't know."

"Well, what do you like about Nina?"

"W-Well, I... I don't know." Ignatius casts his eyes on the ground. "All I know for certain is that she has a certain Je ne sais pas quoi."

"Ha ha. All too true." Siegbert's face becomes serious. "Though if can't think of a reason as to why you like her, maybe you should get to know her before dating her."

"Okay." Ignatius says somberly. "Okay."

The sound of footsteps grabs their attention. Looking to the training grounds entrance they see Mads walking towards them. "Mads," greets Siegbert. "What brings you here?"

"Have either of you seen Ophelia. She promised to teach me some magic today when she got back from shopping. But I haven't seen her since this morning."

Siegbert looks up at the sky feeling uncertain. Curfew would begin any moment now. It wouldn't be good for the girls to be late. He didn't know whether they should go looking for them, or just wait for them.

Before he can decide, he hears more footsteps, this time from...the Shadow Dragon statue? Out of a door in the base walks out Ophelia, Nina, Sophie, and Soleil. The boys just stare dumbly at the girls.

"Hey Mads," Ophelia greats her brother. "Sorry I didn't teach you any magic today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow. Mind helping your sister with her bags? I have some new tomes that you could read."

At the mention of tomes her brother hastily helps his sister with her few bags, eager to read a new tome. After that Sophie and Nina cox Ignatius into helping them with theirs. He was incredibly shy about it. This left only Siegbert and Soleil.

"You need any help with those?" he asks.

"Oh, no I don't. But thanks for asking."

"De rien."

"How have things been here?"

"Fine enough. I just finished having a heart to heart with Ignatius."

Soleil raises an eyebrow. The corners of her lips curl up. "A heart to heart about what?"

"Believe it or not, Nina."

"Get out!"

"I'm serious. He wants to date her."

"Unbelievable." by now here smile reached her eyes. "What did you tell him."

"I'll tell you on the way to dinner. And maybe you can tell me about that secret passage you girls used to get inside."

At the mention of dinner Soleil's stomach grumbles. She laughs even as her face reddens. "Sure thing, let's go." She then grabs his hand in hers and the two walk out of the training grounds together.

And done. Originally, I had wanted this chapter to have a darker end to it, but I changed my mind half-way through it, with this lighthearted ending being the final result.

However, if you would like to have a darker themed chapter please let me know. Aside from that: read, review, have a nice day.