Nina

Her eyes fluttered open. There was a wooden ceiling above her, and a gentle breeze running past her. She slowly sat up, grunting in pain. Looking down below the sheets covering her, she saw bandages wrapped tightly around her waist. That's right, she realized, the icicle. Nina blinked. And then, she realized that she was feeling this. She held up a hand and wiggled her fingers. She clenched that hand into a fist. She tightened it, feeling her nails dig into her skin. Then, after a few seconds, she relented as tears started to drip down her face. "I'm free…" she whispered.

Someone grunted softly to Nina's side. It was Forrest, who was sitting next to her bed, having fallen asleep. His heavy eyelids began to open. "Nina…?" he said. "Nina, is it…you?"

Nina nodded. "It's me," she said, her soft voice cracking under the emotional torrent that was her mind. Before she knew it, Forrest was hugging her tight, crying into her shoulder.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Forrest said in-between his sobbing. Nina rubbed his head, relishing the feeling of another person. It had been so long since she last touched anything. Maybe this was what Vara felt when she took control. The desire to experience the world, but amplified by the centuries she had spent alone. Suddenly, Nina understood what that woman was thinking. She couldn't help but sympathize.

With help from Forrest, Nina managed to get out of bed and start walking around, using both crutches and his support to stay on her feet. Her reunion with Ophelia had just as many tears shed. The mage's story of how she escaped the jaws of death was filled with obvious embellishments and half-truths, but Nina didn't mind a single one of them. She and Forrest were enraptured by the tale the whole way through. Ophelia had been so brutally injured that she had to rest for all those months in order to even walk, let alone fight. She was wearing far heavier and less revealing clothing than she usually did. She explained it was both for defense she had sorely been lacking back then, as well as to hide the numerous scars she had gained from the incident. She was rather self-conscious about them.

It was only after Nina finally talked to Niles that she realized how woefully unprepared she was to do so. The words they exchanged felt like a blur to her. But the emotions were crystal clear. Back when she was little, she hated her father. But now, she could only embrace him. And though he had no reason to, nothing owed to her, he returned the embrace. She knew that he would never truly see her as a daughter, and he could never really replace her true father, but it was nice to pretend, even if just for that moment.

Takumi

One of his usual headaches hit him as he watched the ceremony. A doctor had told him they were a result of the damage he sustained when he lost his eye, and that they'd probably never truly go away. He could live with that.

"You know," Hinoka said, elbowing his side, "there are so many beautiful women here that would love to spend more time with you."

"Save the teasing for once this is over," Takumi whispered. Hinoka sighed playfully, leaving him alone. They watched as Ryoma knelt in front of the Hoshidan throne with Mikoto standing before him.

"Ryoma, son of Sumeragi. Do you swear to uphold the honor of Hoshido, and to fight for the good of its people?" Mikoto asked.

"I swear," Ryoma said. As the coronation ceremony continued, Takumi scanned the crowd of people who had come to witness Ryoma's ascension to the throne.

"She's not here," Takumi said with a heavy heart. Hinoka nodded, equally solemn about the unfortunate lack of their sister. "Why would she miss this?"

"Trying to understand what Corrin is thinking is something I'm not gonna try and attempt," Hinoka said. The ceremony finally reached its conclusion, with Ryoma donning the royal crown to thunderous applause. He smiled proudly, but his eyes said the same thing his siblings had said. She's not here.

Xander

"It's beautiful," Elise whispered, staring at the new statue in the royal gardens. Upon a newly erected bench was a statue of Leo, crafted out of dark marble. It depicted him lost in thought, perusing a tome that sat in his lap. It was rather small, barely bigger than he was. But Xander and Elise knew he would've preferred it that way. He was never one for the kind of bombast that a large, imposing statue provided. That simply wasn't the man he was.

Elise stepped forward, setting down a bouquet of flowers below the statue. Xander watched her with a soft smile, far gentler than even he thought himself capable of. Elise had been changed by the war. When she killed Camilla, he feared he had lost his little sister forever. But that kind soul was still there. Only now, she had lost her naïve nature, replacing it with a solemn sense of duty. It was a silent oath to do good by the people of Nohr. He knew that together, they could help steer the nation back in the right direction. It wouldn't be easy, but what about their lives ever was?

Walking back to Xander, Elise gave a simple nod, saying, "Let's head back."

Xander nodded back. "Right. We have much to do."

Kana

Neither he nor his sister really had anywhere to go, now that the war was over. So they ended up buying a cottage together, where they started up a shop. Kana would gather supplies and deliver various items while Midori created the medicine and administered treatments. It was a simple life. Neither of them had experienced that in a long time.

Midori had decided not to tell their mother about her identity. She wanted to make something of herself without her connection to Corrin. Kana didn't begrudge her for that. After all, he had given up his life as a warrior. He was content to live a humble life. So the two had similar aspirations, in that way.

One day, while Midori was busy grinding up herbs, someone knocked on the front door. He headed over and opened it, greeted by a hooded woman. She silently handed him an unsealed envelope. "What is this?" he asked, looking down at it.

"A debt repaid," the woman said. "It found its way to me. I'm just returning it to its intended recipient." She turned and walked away, leaving Kana to watch her, confused. Her voice was familiar, but he couldn't pin it to anyone he knew. At least, not off the top of his head. Still standing in the doorway, he opened the envelope and looked at the letter that had been contained within. It wasn't long before he stopped, heading inside.

"Midori?" Kana called out. "Come here. There's something you need to see."

Hey, kiddos.

So, this is probably gonna be weird for you. "My mom is finally talking to me for the first time in my life, and she's doing it through a letter? What a heartless monster!" Well, you deserve to feel that way about me. I know it's probably been tough, not knowing a thing about me. Unless you do know, in which case it's definitely been tough. I just wanna tell you that I didn't leave because of anything you did. I left to protect you.

Truth is, a lot of people want me dead. A lot. And I knew they'd go after you two to get to me. I couldn't risk you two. Just the thought of it was too much for me. So I gave you two up. I put you with people I trust, and I vanished. You can be mad at me. You probably should, honestly. Just…I just want you to know that I did it because I love you. And I'm a really selfish person, so that's saying a lot.

You two probably are having a hard time adjusting to each other, too. I told your father to keep you two together if possible, but if he felt like it was too dangerous, that one of you needed to go live somewhere else. So maybe you two barely know eachother. Maybe you're having a happy reunion. Maybe you're complete strangers. No matter what, you're still siblings. I'm not sure if all that crap about twin bonds is real, but hey, that's for you two to find out, right?

Keep eachother safe. Protect eachother. Because if you have this, it means I'm dead, and that might mean you're in danger too. Don't cry over me. Stay strong, and never give up. The world sucks, and it's gonna throw you more sucker punches than you can count, but if you can get back up and kick the world in the shins, then you'll be the winner. And I'll know that my kids turned out just as spectacular as I had hoped.

Kana, Midori, I love you more than anything. Never forget that.

-Mom

Neither of the twins spoke while reading it. They simply stared at the letter. It was their mother's handwriting, but more important than that was it was their mother's handwriting. It was more refined from the extra years of time she had.

"How did…" Midori muttered in shock. "Who gave this to you?" Kana confessed that he wasn't sure. "Mother…"

Inigo

"Is that everything? Come on, this is a one-way trip." Inigo was dealing with quite a headache as a result of making sure everyone was prepped. Owain was constantly running off to get "just one more tome," and Soleil kept worrying about how the Dragon's Gate was going to mess with her hair.

"You know," Mitama said, one arm wrapped around Asugi, "you don't have to leave."

Soleil shook her head. "I do. There's nothing left here for me." They all knew what she meant.

"Siegbert did a brave thing, sacrificing himself like that," Asugi said. Siegbert was Soleil's only other real tie to this place – the only family she truly knew besides her father.

"Yeah, he did. It was stupid, but it was pretty brave, too. Just like him, I suppose." Soleil brushed some strands of hair out of her face.

Voices from nearby drew their attention. "You do not have to bring that scarf!" Nina shouted at Forrest, who was stuffing his bag as full as he could.

"Yes, I do! It's made with some of the finest materials you can get! Where else will you find such perfect winter wear?" Forrest barely managed to get the scarf to fit in with all of his other things.

Odin laughed. "There's an entire country that inhabits the frigid north. I'm sure you will love their fashion sense." Forrest gasped in delight while Nina urged Odin not to encourage him.

"I'm more excited about all of the different magic they must have!" Ophelia exclaimed. "Oh, I can hardly wait! What complex, rare spells will I find in this new world? Surely, they will be what I need to become a true legend!" Odin beamed with pride at the sight of his daughter's excitement.

Severa rubbed her gut, still aching from her injury. "I'm glad you showed up," she said to Beruka, who stood in front of her. "I honestly wasn't sure if I'd see you again."

"I'm here," Beruka said flatly.

"Yeah. Anyways, um, we're probably gonna get going anytime now. We're already pushing our luck, waiting so long while the gate's been open." Dwyer's words had been true. The Dragon's Gate had reopened, and according to him, it would take them home. It was a dream come true. "Last chance to come with."

Beruka shook her head. "I can't. There's someone I must take care of." She looked over to Kiragi, who was currently engaged in a passionate discussion with Anna about "killer deals." He seemed to think the term was far more literal than she had intended.

Severa smiled. "He's a crazy little bugger. Certainly not what I would've expected from you. I'm surprised he doesn't want to come with us."

"He wants to get to know his father," Beruka explained. "And…I do, as well."

"Ooh," Severa teased, poking Beruka's shoulder. "Does someone have a crush on his highness?"

"I'll cut your arm off."

"Relax, I'm joking!" Severa laughed. Suddenly, Beruka wrapped her arms around her, locking her in the kind of hug that could break ribs. "Beruka, Beruka!" she choked out. "I'm still healing, so—ouch! So go a little easy!"

Beruka held the hug anyways, much to Severa's annoyance. "I'll…" Beruka paused. "I'll miss you, Severa."

Severa smiled sympathetically, patting her friend on the back. "I'll miss you too, Beruka." Beruka's grip loosened up just a little bit, allowing for Severa to comfortably hug her back.

Dwyer whistled loudly. "Come on, everyone! I don't care if you forgot a hairclip or whatever, because we're leaving!" Reluctantly, the two of them broke their hug. Then, Severa did something not even she fully expected. She leaned forward and gave Beruka a quick kiss.

Beruka stood rigid, completely taken aback. Severa simply winked. "See ya around," she said before heading to the open portal. The travelers took one last look at the world around them before stepping into the Dragon's Gate. Only a couple of seconds later, the portal vanished.

Mikhail

A knock on the door was expected. What wasn't expected was for the visitor to not be Corrin. Rather, it was a dark-haired woman who identified herself as a friend of the princess. She asked if she could come in and Mikhail allowed it, wanting to be courteous to his guest.

Lilith brewed a pot of tea which the guest happily accepted. She was fumbling with the cup but thankfully didn't spill. "So," he finally asked, "what brings you here?"

"I…" The woman looked down. "It's a little complicated…"

"Don't worry," Mikhail said. "I'm used to complicated situations." The woman didn't say anything, visibly struggling with her response. Mikhail gently sighed, setting his teacup down on the table in front of him. "It's quite alright, Stella. No need to beat around the bush."

The woman looked up at Mikhail, surprised. "You…you already knew?"

Mikhail smiled. "I knew from the second I saw you. And I must say, you look wonderful for your age. Far better than myself." Stella set down her own teacup, likely worried that her trembling hands would drop it. "Not used to that body, I presume. I suppose spending so many lifetimes in the body of a child will make it hard when you get bigger."

Stella nodded. "And I'm not going to have time to get used to it, either. After the Divine Weapons were destroyed, Brynhildr's power must've finally stopped flowing through me. I'm aging, and rapidly." She took a deep breath. "I have…a week, I think. And that's the best-case scenario. After that, old age will take me."

"I see," Mikhail said. "I'm glad you came to me, Stella."

"You'd think I'd be happy to finally reach my end. And I am. But…I'm also so terribly frightened." Stella's eyes were already watery. "It's been so long that I forgot what getting older even felt like." Mikhail didn't say anything. "And I'm most afraid of not being able to settle things."

"So that's why you're here."

"I know you have no reason to forgive me for what I've done. And I don't expect you to, either. But if I don't say this now, I'll die with too many regrets. So I want you to know that I am so, so sorry. I've never regretted anything more than when I tried to kill Saria. The people I lost, the form I was stuck in, they were punishments for my transgression."

"Stella. There was never anything to forgive." Mikhail's words caught Stella off-guard. "You did what you believed was right. You were a little girl with a great burden."

"You can't really mean that…" Stella clenched her fists. "I did such a horrible thing to you. To Stella. To my family. To so many people!"

"You did. But I don't blame you. Sometimes we simply believe ourselves to be right, and it's not until the dust settles that we understand the true consequences. Besides, even if I blamed you, I wouldn't anymore. Not now that we're all that's left."

Stella nodded. "Once we're gone, that'll be it. The last living remnants of the old world will finally be wiped away." She wiped traces of tears away from her eyes. "We were such fools."

"That we were." Mikhail glanced out the window. "Still, for a bunch of old fools, this isn't a bad way to go. I don't think many people ever get this nice of a view."

Stella chuckled. "I suppose not. It's truly gorgeous."

Mikhail nodded. "Now finish your tea before it gets cold. I wouldn't be able to sleep well if I knew we wasted one of Lilith's delicious brews." Stella nodded, sipping some more tea. Both of them had things they wanted to say, but they knew none of them needed to be said. They simply enjoyed the tranquility around them.

After the War

Charlotte was rewarded for her contributions to Corrin's efforts with a position in Castle Krakenburg as a royal guard. She became rather infamous for wooing many noblemen in the castle, but she never married during her tenure working there. It was only in old age that she found a suitor, but she was happy to spend the rest of her days with him.

Benny served alongside Charlotte as a fellow royal guard. He was known for warding off multiple assassination attempts simply with his intimidating presence. Despite the fear he struck into the hearts of enemies, he never actually took a single life.

Kagero continued to faithfully serve Ryoma for all her life. They say that after the king was taken by old age, she died in her sleep only a day later.

Saizo never married, but that didn't stop him and Kagero from treating Asugi like their son. His fighting style became a staple of Hoshidan combat, influencing generations of ninjas.

Kaze formally resigned from his service to the Hoshidan royal family before vanishing for good. There are countless stories and legends claiming to know what happened to him, but none have ever been verified.

Scarlet was finally able to retire from her life as a soldier. She became a patron of the arts, often running fundraisers to support creative programs. Her sister Layla was the main inspiration, continuing her career as a beloved songstress.

Flora gave birth to a healthy baby boy, raising him with her husband Jakob. They often argued and fought, but their love for one another never once wavered.

Felicia ended her service as a maid and entered the world of motivational speaking, inspiring countless people across the land with her tales of triumphing in spite of her clumsy nature.

Rinkah eventually succeeded her father as the chieftain of the Flame Tribe. She became well known for her skill in diplomacy, even brokering a peace agreement with the Ice Tribe. However, her most important achievement was the sovereignty act, which allowed small nations like her own to declare formal independence from Nohr and Hoshido.

Mozu and Niles's marriage ended up never coming to pass, and the two respectfully split up. Mozu used a generous grant from Hoshido to rebuild her hometown, and Niles continued his life as a vagrant. He preferred to work in Hoshido, since he knew he'd always get a light punishment thanks to his friends in the royal family.

Asugi and Mitama started up a sweets shop in Hoshido, becoming famous around the world for their high-quality candies, unable to be replicated by even the most skilled artisans. Preserved treats made by them still linger to this day, each worth a small fortune. Ironically, most are put in collections rather than eaten, something they surely would have disapproved of.

Few records exist of Beruka and Kiragi after the war, but what is there describes a happy, content life. Though no evidence has even substantiated it, claims still persist that there is a family dedicated entirely to protecting Hoshidan royalty from the shadows. Then again, if that is the case, a lack of proof would only make sense.

Midori and Kana wrote memoirs of their time in their original world, describing what life was like. Though the books were simply projects the two used to keep an account of their childhoods, they became more akin to apocalyptic texts in the eyes of the public, displaying the fall of society that would take place were humanity ever to stray from the path of peace. They eventually came to terms with this, glad that their stories could serve as warnings, if nothing else.

Soon after the war, Hinoka rescinded her royal title, forming a band of mercenaries that quickly gained immense renown. Their courage gained them the nickname of the Dragon's Breath, and they were more than happy to adopt it. Nobody had used the name since, not wanting to dare disrespect the warriors of legend.

Takumi never gained a knack for the more administrative aspects of royal life. However, he was always willing to show off his skills with a bow. It became common for expert marksmen to cover one eye when competing, claiming they could aim just like the prince. Nobody ever quite reached that height, however.

Ryoma helped pick up the pieces after the war, creating numerous programs to ensure a speedy recovery for all nations involved. He stayed in close contact with Xander of Nohr, establishing a precedent of diplomacy between the nations that continues to this day.

Elise set the standard for everything a princess should strive to become, embodying elegance and strength in equal measure. Though she retained her bright demeanor, she had become rather reserved. Her fight for the lower class earned her scorn from the nobility, who claimed she was a princess only fit to wear common rags. She never directly addressed this criticism; however, after her death, a painting was hung up in Castle Krakenburg per orders in her will. The painting, depicting a flower girl walking through the slums of Windmire, was titled "Princess in Rags."

Xander proved to be a controversial king for his time. His radical policies in addition to contempt from true supporters of the previous queen eventually built up to a minor civil war. The war ended in his favor; still, he was never truly appreciated until long after his death. Political scholars now almost all agree that his rule saved Nohr from the brink of ruin and set the stage for his descendants to bring it into a new golden age.

Though no certain record exists of the deaths of Mikhail and Stella, the two unmarked graves outside of his abode are evidence enough for most. Some historians attempted to discover what had happened to Lilith, but as dragons often do, she vanished, eventually existing only in myths and fairy tales.

The group that ventured into the Dragon's Gate consisted of Severa, Inigo, Owain, Ophelia, Forrest, Nina, Anna, Soleil, and Dwyer. Historians can only guess what happened to them, but most prefer to believe they made it home.

Epilogue: The World Goes On

The cries of seagulls could be heard no matter where in the town Azura went. At first, they annoyed her greatly, but she had gotten used to them during her stay. The town was hectic yet peaceful, serving as a bustling hub of commerce thanks to its location at the seashore. The sea was why that peace still existed.

Azura had asked around if anyone had seen a girl with red eyes and cream-colored hair. She had gotten a few answers, but they all led to dead ends. This was the last lead she had as to where Corrin had gone. She refused to believe it was all for nothing. It couldn't be for nothing.

The memory replayed in Azura's mind over and over, refusing to leave her alone. Every time, she would recall waking up in the cold Nohrian streets, looking at familiar faces. They all were scared. She initially thought that she was dying, that they were scared for her. But then she saw Shigure.

He was fading. A strange blue light was covering his body, all emanating from his pendant. She scrambled to her feet and ran over to him. He had refused to let her die. It was the one thing he couldn't allow, he had said to her. So he had absorbed all the power that threatened to kill her into his pendant.

Azura watched Shigure die. He smiled the entire time, telling her repeatedly that it was alright, that he was happy. She had so many things she wished she could have said to him before he left. All they did now was fester in her heart, adding to her regret. Why was she even still here? Corrin was the only person she thought could still answer that question.

It had been weeks since Corrin went missing. She hadn't even left a note. Mikoto begged Azura to find her, and she was more than happy to oblige. She swore she wouldn't return until she found Corrin. And now, with every possible trail run dry, she was despondent.

Azura found herself at the docks. She didn't really know why; it simply felt right. She watched sailors unloading cargo, seagulls attempting to steal food from passersby, children playing tag. The salty air stung her eyes. It was as if the world at large had stopped, and the only thing still left was this trading town. She stared towards the ocean's horizon, wondering if there was even anything past it. Were there other lands out there that had yet to be discovered? Or were they all there was?

Azura sighed. She needed to return to her room at the local inn. It was time to go. She turned around, and suddenly there Corrin was. No fanfare, no shock of recognition. The two stared at eachother, their faces unreadable.

"Hey," Corrin said.

"Hey," Azura said. The world around them continued on, not seeming to recognize the importance of their meeting. "So you're leaving, then."

Corrin looked down. "Don't look at me like that. Please." Azura said nothing. "Yeah, I'm leaving."

"Where?"

"I don't know. Somewhere. Haven't really thought it all out yet. Though I'm sure that doesn't surprise you."

"You never were too great at the big picture."

"I'd say my work in that final battle was pretty good."

Azura nodded. "It was."

There was another long stretch of nothing. Two kids ran between them in the midst of some game. "They miss you," Azura finally said. "I miss you."

Corrin very suddenly spoke. "I saw Sakura."

"…What?"

"I saw Sakura. After I destroyed the Yato, I was nearly dead. I was somewhere else. And there, I saw Sakura. And I promised her I'd look after you guys." Azura said nothing. "I promised her. And look at me. It hasn't even been a month, and I've already run off. I'm pathetic."

"If you believe that," Azura said, "then why won't you come home?"

"There is no 'home,' Azura. Not for me. I don't have a home anywhere. Rinkah and Niles and Mozu all have their own lives now. You all have your own lives. I don't belong in any of them."

"That's not true."

"I don't have a home, and I don't have a family. I don't have anything." Corrin brushed some hair away from her ear, revealing that it was now strangely pointed. "This happened after I turned into that…thing, whatever it was, back in Krakenburg. Back when I destroyed the Yato. I can't even be all human anymore, I guess." She chuckled. "I'm not really anything. I'm not a princess, I'm not a random thief. I'm not entirely Hoshidan. I'm nothing. Might as well be a ghost, really. Ever since that day, I kinda feel like one. I feel like I died."

Azura stayed silent, so Corrin continued. "I don't belong anywhere, or with anyone. No matter where I go, I'll always feel like a part of me is empty."

"And you think leaving will help that?" Azura asked.

"I don't know," Corrin admitted. "But I don't know what else to do."

"Stay," Azura said quietly, taking a step closer to Corrin. "Stay here, with us. With me."

"I can't do that."

"You can." Azura took another step closer. "Corrin, you're right. You aren't entirely a Hoshidan. You aren't entirely a dragon. You aren't entirely anything. But that doesn't mean you have no home. It's quite the opposite, really. The streets of Windmire are your home. Shirasagi is your home. Rinkah and Niles and Mozu are your family. Ryoma and the others are your family."

"Then what are you?" Corrin asked. Azura took another step. They were now only inches away from one another.

"I'm not entirely anything," Azura said. "Just like you." She leaned forward. They both closed their eyes. Corrin had kissed before. She had held people before. She had felt another's breath on her lips, felt the gentle squeeze of a hand on her back. But this was new to her. This was the kiss of someone who loved her in a way different from anyone else. This was someone who Corrin loved just as much. It was a kiss she didn't even realize she so desperately needed until it was given to her.

The world faded away, and for one glorious, beautiful moment, it was just them. Then, then the kiss ended. Azura pulled away. And Corrin found herself wanting to feel that way again. So she leaned in this time, and she gave Azura a kiss, one just as loving and passionate as she had been given.

One the second kiss ended, Azura softly sighed. "Stay with me. Please." Corrin looked into her eyes, the same eyes that had her unable to look away when they first met at that lake, so long ago. It felt like an eternity had passed since then. Corrin wanted to spend the next eternity with Azura. And so she breathed in, closed her eyes, let that last moment of indecision pass. Then, she spoke.

"Okay."