A/N: Quick note. The Corrin here in this fanfic is based on mine from Conquest as such she has silver/white hair and looks much like an albino(but she's not. We'll say it's her dragon blood). I would like to point out, yes, in this story at the time it takes place in she's already at A Rank, close to S Rank with Xander. For those that are screaming, "But Xander is-" I'm stopping you right there! Corrin has ZERO blood relations to the Nohr Royal Siblings and also the FE games take a heavy medieval setting and timeline influence. If you know your history, it was not uncommon for nobility and royalty to wed themselves to blood relatives. *cough* I wouldn't be shipping Corrin x Xander if they were blood kin, like, ew! But they're not related so, fair game~! This takes place some time between/around chapter 18 & 19-ish. Now, please enjoy.

Chapter 1
All Is Not Black & White

~.~.~

The air in the room was thick and heavy with tension as Xander and his half siblings: Camelia, Elise, and Leo all stared down the Hoshidian royal siblings. Both sides by right were the family of the young, beautiful woman that looked like a cornered rabbit as her scarlet eyes gazed between her loved ones from where she sat by the sand blonde crown prince. The young scarlet woman had distinct elven ears and a scar over her left eye. She had her dark, gold rimmed armor on as the famed sacred weapon, Yato sat snuggly in it's sheath on her hip. Normally her long, naturally lightly curly silver hair was always down but today...they noticed what she had done. Today Princess of Corrin had her hair up in a simple but elegant in a very simple but elegant cross-my-heart braid. She had a white Nohrian rose hair clip just over her black hairband instead of her usual black ribbon with an onyx in it. Honestly to Xander, Corrin had the splendor beauty of a Nohrian moonflower field in bloom. It made him blush a bit as he tried to keep him emotions in check.

"Come now, can't we all get along? Just for today?"Corrin instantly spoke up as she offered a warm but clearly nervous smile. Corrin knew if it weren't for the Peace Pact that Izumo had both Xander and Ryoma they'd be at each other's throats. But they wouldn't be able to do that without hurting her in kind.

"Ugh...As much as I hate this. I'll try."grumbled Leo, looking quite irritated by this entire situation and having to save the rather energetic archduke earlier that day. But today was not just a time for everyone to rest. It was his adoptive older sister's birthday after all: June 16th.

"If you wish it so, sweetie I will try and behave. After all, today's our dear Corrin's special day."sighed Camelia but not without shooting a venomous leer at the spunky red head pegasus knight who glared right back.

"Well not exactly how we thought it'd go but...happy twenty first birthday Corrin!"giggled Elise in delight. Yeah they had not expected to run in with the Hoshidian royals and their army and hadn't expected to play rescue mission for Ryoma either. But eh, details smetails right? It was Corrin's special day she could at least try and play niceties with those...Hoshidians.

"Forgive me, dear Corrin I'll try and behave myself if that is what you wish."sighed Xander.

"Hnmph. I'll believe it when I see it."huffed Takumi.

"Takumi!"snapped Hinoka.

"Takumi. Behave, this is neutral ground and I will respect our sister's wishes at least for tonight."rebuked Ryoma swiftly.

"Takumi...c-can't you try and congratulate our big sister?"squeaked Sakura as the Nohrian royals all shot spiteful glares at the ornery archer.

"Hn. Why should I celebrate the traitor? I'll tell you, I don't."hissed Takumi his voice laced with venom.

Corrin looked a little hurt and dejected at her younger brother's words that struck her like his arrows. The reaction from the young princess got an instant reaction out of Camelia and she probably would have decked the arrogant prince then and there if Leo and Elise hadn't stepped in to hold her back. Xander was visibly trembling with fury as it took every ounce of restraint in him not to act as his younger sister had. However his hazel eyes burned with a promise towards Takumi, that the next time they met the younger prince would be in for pain beyond his imagination. "Nobody upsets my Corrin!"he thought. Wait...his Corrin? When did he start thinking like that!?

Corrin could only sweat drop as she sighed. "Please, can't you all behave yourselves!? Even just for tonight here in Izumo? When are you going to learn you can't hurt each other without hurting me as a result!"

Five of the six all looked at her in defeat as they all murmured their apologies to their birthday girl. The Nohrian soldiers all around them at the tables all raised their glasses in cheer for the princess. Wishing her the good graces of the Dusk Dragon's might and protection. Xander though fondly held her close with a gentle smile whispering in her ears as he slipped something out from his pouch. "This is for you my dear, Corrin."

Everyone was curious as they looked at the simply wrapped blue and white gift. Corrin eagerly opened it to reveal a velvet box with the Nohr Kingdom's colors. Now her Hoshidian siblings were curious, genuinely so but it seemed her Nohr family were eagerly awaiting her reaction.

"Oh my. Xander, it's so pretty."Corrin was practically beaming. Looking like a dragon that had hit a hoard of treasure and was dragging it back to her nest. Her petite hands took the object out to reveal a sterling silver necklace with a heart shaped cage locket. Inside she was surprised to see her sapphire dragonstone was inside, only now smaller as it gives off a soft glow like a beating heart. She looked over at Azura who smiled with a nod. "So this is Azura's handy work. That means it's metal from there."she thought. Had Azura simply bend the truth a bit saying the metal that formed this necklace was a rare ore that was almost impossible to find that could hold her dragonstone? Very possible.

"I'm happy you like it. Leo and the girls picked the design while Keaton and Azura helped me carve your stone so it would fit. Some of the others are the ones to weld and shape it with such care."smiled Xander as he took the necklace and put it around Corrin's neck.

"It does look beautiful on you, little sister."grinned Ryoma.

"Practical too."hummed Azura thoughtfully. "This way she will not have to carry such a large dragonstone in her pouch."

"Hnph...well at least it isn't a horrible gift. I was half expecting they'd give you a dagger or something."huffed Hinoka.

"Hinoka!"yelped Corrin clearly flustered. "Th-they're not like that!"

Despite the tension that still hanged in the room they all shared their sincere joy on this special day. A day the fates seemed to have smiled and permitted a peaceful meeting just for the young dragoness. As if it was a reward for all the hardships and trials she has had to endure under King Garon's dark shadow. Corrin then turned her attention over to Ryoma while the rest were still eating their meals as she happily munched away on some chocolate mochi. "Ryoma, I'm so glad you're alright."giggled Corrin in delight. Ryoma said nothing, appearing to be deep in thought.

"Ryoma, is something the matter?"Corrin asked with clear concern as she set an uneaten mochi back on her plate.

"Quiet you! Traitors don't get the honor of speaking to my brother so casually!"snapped Takumi, making poor Corrin flinch.

Leo instantly jumped to his adoptive sister's defense as he slammed his cup quite forcefully onto the table. "So my sister needs your permission to express her concern now does she?"Leo's eyes held clear malice as he sighed. "Hoshidians are by far the worst. I'd drop that attitude if I were you, arrogant fool. After all, we did just saves your sorry excuse for lives today."

"Leo...Takumi—"Corrin tried to get them to stop but the sandy blonde archer was swift to cut her off.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear to you."Takumi rose to his feet and had reached over and grabbed Leo by the collar. Leo simply held his sneer while Corrin and the others tried to pull Takumi away from Leo. "I feel no gratitude for what you've done. Saving us was only the natural thing to do, even for Nohrian scum like you!"

"Oh my...I had no idea that Hoshidian royals were such ungrateful lil' monsters."Camelia had that sadistic, sweet smile on her face once the tow boys sat back down.

The arguing only got worse before Corrin's eyes and in turn it was making her upset. The words both Ryoma and Xander said only made her visibly growl as she slammed her hands on the table as she got to her feet.

"C-Corrin?"

"What's wrong?"

Corrin swiftly proceeded to shove off Camelia, Elise, Hinoka, and Sakura's attempts to get her to calm down and sit back down. However they had not expected to see her pupils become slits like a dragon as her naturally long canines were bared to see as she shouted. "Don't touch me!"

"Corrin..."Hinoka looked stunned.

"Why? WHY!? I asked one thing of you all on this Gods forsaken night to just behave yourselves for a few hours! But no, you can't even honor that single wish of mine! I'M OUT OF HERE, DON'T BOTHER FOLLOWING!"she snarled, clearly very angry and on the verge of tears. "Sisters...Brothers. Excuse me."

They watched as Corrin stormed out of the dining hall all looking guilty. Well, except maybe Takumi. Xander sighed as he locked hazel with brown irises. Silently both looking just as guilty at what had transpired. Their precious little dragoness had made the most simple request for them just for tonight on her special day to get along. They had promised to try and had broken their word to do so. It was no wonder she was so upset as they watched her vanish behind the dining hall's doors. Azura looked over at Xander as her lapis blue eyes held his hazel ones. As if she was silently saying, "What will you do now? You forged this path towards her now will you let her slip away?" to him. With a hiss Xander got to his feet. "Excuse me."

Azura watched as the crown prince of Nohr with haste and purpose gave chase after Corrin. The others moved to follow but she was fast to hum a tune that froze them all to their seats. "I think not. You've all done enough damage tonight, thank you."

"Azura! Release us this instant!"hissed Leo and Takumi.

"No. She's correct."they all looked at Ryoma's defeated expression like he'd grown a second head and wanted to protest.

Azura hummed in delight as she took a content drink from her cup. "Figured it out did you, Ryoma? Good. Let Xander handle Corrin for now as he is the only one at this point that can soothe our dear Corrin."

"What she's talking about Leo?"Elise looked truly confused.

"Ryoma, what is it that A-Azura means...?"Sakura looked equally puzzled.

"I'll tell you later."sighed Leo as he now realized as well. Damn, who would have thought this could happen. Then again...he had seen the way Xander and Corrin had been behaving around each other lately. Especially in the Astral Plains where they didn't need to worry about war or watching their backs for enemies and monsters. He could only smile as his sisters pouted.

"I'll explain to you later, Hinoka and Sakura."sighed Ryoma. "For now lets give Corrin her space. You can try and talk to her again before we leave."

Corrin growled as she stormed over to one of the vineyards that were in full bloom, promising the ripe harvest of grapes and the fine liquor they would no doubt go towards making. As easy as breathing she allowed herself to morph into her dragon form of a medium to large silver and blue dragoness with striking antlers and scarlet eyes that gleamed in the night. Her spiked tail lashed softly as she walked over on knuckled talons before curling up under a wisteria tree. She let out a sad beastly whine as she rested her head on her black talon feet.

He it really been too much to ask?

All she wanted was her selfish desire to enjoy a meal with all of her family tonight on her twenty first birthday. She lifted her head as she heard some rustling of foot steps to see the familiar handsome dark armored clad blonde prince with those wise hazel eyes. With a hiss she turned away and curled back up under the tree as her tail tip twitched. "Corrin?"

"Leave me alone, Xander."her voice boomed in his head.

Now Xander had seen Corrin take this shape before him many times. The first time had been a complete shock to him back when she took Nohr's side that fateful day. Had father known just how potent the little princess's dragon blood was? Had that been why he took her into the family all those years ago? He wasn't sure. He did know the transformation while it got easier with practice it still seemed to appear painful to Xander. Ever since Cheve Leo, Camelia, and Elise told him Corrin was choosing to shift into her elegant draconic form when upset and would go off and hide herself away for a few hours. One such incident had been after an argument with Camelia back in the Astral Plain. Some how he had found her tucked away at the onyx mine. It had taken him over thirty minutes to soothe her and get her to shift back before going to her tree house. Xander sighed as he came up to her and placed his hand gently between her antlers. Her scales were smooth and hard as they gleamed like steel in the moonlight. But there was subtle warmth to the scales as she looked at him with sad scarlet eyes.

"Corrin...I am sincerely sorry. I made a promise but my damn pride made me break it."he whispered.

"I...I just wanted just once to have everyone I love celebrating with me...was that impossible to ask?"Corrin let out a sad dragon's whimper as the voice that echoed in Xander's head was cracking tone of somebody about to cry. "Was it too selfish of me Xander?"

Ouch.

Those words cut Xander's heart like the sharpest of horseslayers as he sighed before sitting down at right by her neck. He silently stroked her smooth scaly skin in hopes to comfort her as her sobs echoed in his head while pitiful animalistic grumbles rolled out her throat. "No, it wasn't too much to ask of us and I think after everything you have the right just to be a bit selfish."Xander gave her an apologetic smile. "If anybody is selfish it would have been all of us tonight. For our selfish pride my dear, Corrin I am so sorry..."

Corrin raised her head to silently look at him for what seemed like eternity. She then bent down to nuzzle Xander with a rumbling purr vibrating through her throat. Carefully she stepped back and before his eyes she was swallowed in a watery glow as she shifted back to her human form. Still clearly in tears she jumped into Xander's arms which startled him briefly before her wrapped his arms around her. It was hard for him to see and hear however as he held her close he looked up to the sky. The moon thin like the sickle shaped talon of a dragon as an ominous shroud of thin cloud weaved themselves across the sky.

Just how much more did Corrin have to suffer?

To Be Continued...