The albino prince of Nohr sat inside a carriage across from Elise. The carriage was being pulled by two horses, with Felicia in control. Leo and Camilla sat in another one, which was being controlled by Lilith. The last carriage was for Xander, and it was pulled by Gunter himself. For the first time since they began their trek to the castle, the carriages were all quiet. Not even the usually chatty and bipolar Elise could brighten the mood. The only noise that could be heard was the sound of the hooves of their horses as they made their way along the path. Corrin, while tightly holding on to his injured hand, stared at a random spot on the floor of the carriage as he recalled the events that had unfolded only moments ago….
"There's no need to run after them. I have everything under control," Leo stated as he, Xander and Camilla approached the group. "I've sent a retainer of mine to handle that business."
"Leo! Camilla! Xander!" Elise cried, running towards her siblings. "I'm so glad you all are here!" She buried her head in Xander's chest. The oldest prince patted her head.
"It is good to know that you and Corrin are alright," Xander said before turning to Gunter, Lilith and Felicia. "It is to my utmost relief that you were here to protect them."
"It is our pleasure, milord," Gunter spoke for them.
Meanwhile, Camilla had quickly enveloped Corrin into a tight hug.
"My poor little brother! You and Elise, had to face some real jerks! It must have been so very scary. It's okay, your big sister is here now. I'll take extra special care of you. No one lays a finger on my precious siblings and gets away with it. I'd skewer them before they'd even get the chance. Oh Corrin!" She gushed, hugging him tighter. However, Corrin was not responding in his usual over exaggerated way. The albino just stood there, motionless. This worried the busty purple haired woman. She pulled away from him, but kept her hands on his shoulders. "Corrin? Dear, whatever is the matter?"
Corrin kept his head down. His snow white bangs covered his eyes. For what seemed like forever, he kept quiet. Then he pushed away from Camilla and took a few steps backwards. He had the attention of everyone when he finally spoke. "You would….skewer them.." He slowly spoke. He balled his fists and looked up at her, with a bit of anger in his eyes. "As if they weren't humans?!"
Camilla was shocked by his outburst. "Corrin-"
He clutched his head. "I don't understand. Why did...did that man, he...he cut me!" He took his injured hand away from his head and stared at it. They were just about to make peace, weren't they? Why did that man feel the need to lunge at him? "He cut me, and laughed about it...and then...but you.. you would also have no trouble hurting someone and laughing about it? What? I don't… I'm not…"
"Corrin, sweetie, I wouldn't harm anyone just because. I would harm someone for hurting you," Camilla replied, still surprised.
"You would harm him for him harming me? But what would that accomplish? Why did he harm me in the first place?" Corrin asked, still staring at his injury. He had confused himself, the word 'harm' had been used too many times in one sentence.
Xander took this moment to speak. Stepping forward, he pushed past Camilla and placed a hand on to Corrin's shoulder. "Little prince," he began. "I have told you countless times that the world is not rainbows and sunshine. There are people who exist in this world who want to do you more harm than good. You just got a little taste of the stories I've so often told you about. Now you understand, don't you?"
"But I don't see why we have to continue the cycle of harming others. W-Whats the point in-"
"Corrin, now is not the time to discuss this," Leo cut in. "We are behind as it is. I told you, as did Xander, that you will have to have a tough shell. Don't you remember all those training sessions? They have been-"
"In preparation for the fight against the nasty Hoshidians. Right," Corrin monotonously replied.
"Then you understand what has to be done about those traitors? Good. Now we must be on our way," Xander, without waiting for a reply from Corrin, turned and nodded his head to Gunter, who in turn expectantly looked at Felicia and Lilith. The two girls began to gather the items bought by the siblings, and readied the horses. The siblings quietly climbed into their respective carriages and continued the journey to the palace...
Corrin continued to stare at the random spot on the floor. He couldn't wrap his mind around what had just happened. He had never been purposely harmed before- he had always been surrounded by people who were kind and cherished him. The only injuries he had ever obtained were from his own mistakes, or from Felicia's clumsiness. True, his siblings, mainly Xander, warned him of the dangers of the world, but Corrin had always thought his words were that of a tall tale, or just things to scare him into being nice to everyone. Even when Xander spoke of the war with Hoshido, Corrin had never exactly taken it seriously. Now that he actually thought about it, he wondered if there were worse things people had done. Was the war more horrific than he originally thought? Just what kind of challenges were his siblings really facing? What else was out there in the world, waiting for him?
Corrin would never say this aloud to his siblings, but after this experience he had become a bit afraid. He was afraid and confused. The prince could see that there were rotten people in the world- however, he didn't understand why. Why did that man cut him? Why did that man call Elise out of her name? Why did Camilla feel so compelled to go after the man and his cronies, and harm them, as if it would solve anything? He placed his hands onto his head once again. A headache was beginning to set in- it had been such a long journey, and they hadn't even reached the castle yet. Just what else was in store?
Corrin? Corriiiin? Hmm?"
"Not now…go away.." Corrin mumbled, trying to go back to sleep.
"Corrin, please? ….Corrin wake up!"
"AGH!" Corrin yelped and instantly sat up.
Pretty blue eyes stared down at him, unblinkingly. Her twin pigtails rustled as a childish giggle escaped her lips. "Come on big brother! It's time to get up!"
Corrin rubbed his red eyes open, trying to gather his bearings. "Time to get up?"
"Yeah! It's time to say hello to father! We've finally reached the castle! And Kamui is here too!" Elise excitedly chirped.
Corrin was instantly wide awake. "What? We're here? Kamui?! Why didn't you tell me sooner, Elise?!" He, gently, pushed past her and made his way out of the carriage. When his feet touched the ground, he looked at his surroundings. To be truthful, the outside wasn't that much different from the fortress- the sky was still coated with a sheet of darkness. The ground was still a bit rough and rouged, and there was still a gloomy feeling to it. However, Corrin's mouth hung wide open at the sight of the castle- it was huge! It was much bigger than his fortress, which he had always thought was pretty big. The albino only recalled ever coming to the castle when he was much younger- he didn't remember it being so big. Then again, there were a lot of things he didn't remember about his past.
"I tried to tell you, but you weren't waking up!" Elise interrupted his thoughts as she exited from the carriage.
"Ahaha...sorry," he apologized sheepishly.
"It has been a very long journey. Corrin, Elise let's go," Xander stated as he, Camilla and Leo exited their carriages as well. Corrin noticed that Camilla wasn't looking at him, and instantly felt guilty. Maybe he had been too harsh with his words? He didn't mean to be rude, he just didn't understand the situation. Maybe Camilla was in the right, maybe she deserved to go after the bandits? Corrin didn't exactly understand what was right or wrong about the situation, but he knew apologizing to Camilla for yelling at her was the right thing to do. As the siblings made their way through the large bridge that connected to the castle, Corrin walked next to Camilla and quietly began a conversation with her.
"H-Hey Camilla," he began. "I'm really sorry about...you know. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. Please don't be mad at me.."
Camilla turned to him and gave him a large smile, which surprised him. "Oh Corrin! Darling, I can never stay mad at you. Why, you're just too precious! I apologize for confusing you dear."
Corrin smiled back. "Apology accepted!" He said cheerfully.
Camilla hugged him, yet again pressing his face into her chest. "I'm so happy that we made up. I can't stand it when anyone of my adorable siblings are mad at me, especially you Corrin!"
"Yay, we're all a family again!" Elise cried cheerfully, clapping her hands.
"Camilla, you're choking him," Leo calmly stated from up ahead, as Corrin's face began to turn blue from a lack of oxygen. "Again."
"Whoops!" Camilla let go of him and grinned.
After Corrin had gathered his bearings, he found himself outside the doors to one of the many rooms inside the castle. Xander knocked on the door.
"Father, we have arrived," he called. Corrin was beginning to feel more and more excited- he wondered if this was all just a crazy dream.
"Enter." A voice stated from behind the doors. Xander pushed open the door, and all the siblings and servants stepped inside, Corrin being the last to enter. What he saw made his heart beat faster.
King Garon, his father, stood at the top of some steps with his arms at his side. He looked as if he were agitated, but didn't he always look like that? Corrin couldn't recall a time in which his father didn't have such a grumpy look on his face. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, facing her siblings, was Corrin's twin sister Kamui. Corrin almost did a double take when he saw her. It had been nearly a year since he was last able to speak to his twin, and she looked as if she had matured so much in that time. Her hair was snow white, and spilled across her shoulders and down her back in waves. Her bangs were held up by a shiny black headband. She was taller than he had remembered- then again, so was he and they were twins. Her eyes were closed, as if she were deep in thought or even sleeping, and her hands were clasped together in front of her. The albino girl was also wearing a short, basic white dress and no shoes.
To the right of Kamui stood a man Corrin knew he could never forget, for he was so serious about his duties that it made him laugh at times- Jakob. He had his hands behind his back, and was wearing the same blank expression he always wore. To the left of Kamui was another person Corrin knew all too well. Flora held the same blank face as Jakob, and her hands were also behind her back. It was a wonder that Flora and Felicia were related- Flora carried herself with such elegance and grace, while Felicia was clumsy and a bit sloppy. They were very opposite, much like Corrin and his sister.
"Kamui! I'm so glad I get to see you again!" Corrin exclaimed and with a smile, he took a few steps forward. He was stopped by Xander's hand on his shoulder. Corrin glanced at him, wondering why he stopped him but Xander only stared ahead at his father. And when Kamui didn't give any indication that she heard him, Corrin looked on in confusion. Was she really asleep? And in father's presence no less? 'She must be really tired to fall asleep while standing up!' He thought to himself.
King Garon cleared his throat, and all eyes were on him. Corrin didn't know why, but all of a sudden the room felt...tense. He listened as Garon opened his mouth to speak.
"I see that you arrived here safely….Corrin."
Strange. It was almost as if the king had forgotten his name. But this was his father, why would his own flesh and blood forget his own name? Corrin banished the thought.
"Yes, father. I've long awaited this moment….to be able to see you, Castle Krakenberg, and Kamui once again," Corrin was mentally proud of himself. Not once did his voice waver.
Garon grunted, his facial expression unchanging. He ignored Corrin's words and continued to speak. "I've been told that you've become an excellent warrior, one almost on par with Xander. I believe that you finally possess the strength to become the perfect instrument of Nohr's power in the world."
The perfect instrument? Like some type of tool? Corrin wasn't too sure of what Garon meant by that.
"But father, is Corrin gonna be okay outside the fortress?" Elise cut in.
"I am also worried about that. Isn't it a bit dangerous for Corrin to leave outside the magical barrier of the fortress?" Camilla added.
Corrin opened his mouth to speak, but Garon beat him to it.
"If Kamui can survive outside the barrier, Corrin can as well. He needs to gain experience somehow- he can't always train with Xander. With that being said, do not question my authority ever again. Know your place, the both of you." Garon's tone became more threatening with those last words- Corrin had never seen Camilla and Elise close their mouths so fast. Even Leo stood stiffer than usual.
"Corrin, as I'm sure you're well aware of, Nohr is at war with Hoshido," Garon continued talking as if nothing had happened. We, of the royal family, are descendents of the ancient gods, the first Dragons. As inheritors of that divine strength, we conquer those who oppose us with ease. One who learns to wield that power can destroy an entire army of common troops. Xander, Camilla and Leo are all powerful already. And Kamui, for another example, has all but mastered this power. You do know of her abilities, correct?"
"Yes father." Corrin knew all too well the special abilities Kamui possessed. Unlike the rest of the family, Kamui could do more with the ancient dragon strength that runs through her veins. At a young age, it was discovered that Kamui had superhuman strength. She could create craters in the ground with just the stomp of her foot. Her fists packed a punch as powerful as a bunch of rocks. She could even create tough scales on her legs and arms to guard herself, which was why she rarely ever wore armor. Corrin recalled that with this power came great fatigue- Kamui's stamina wasn't always the best. He wondered if she had improved on that since he had last seen her.
"Then you know that I have high expectations for you." Garon stated.
"Yes, father. I have been training with my siblings in the hopes that I could become as strong as them."
"Hmph. You need a suitable weapon." All of a sudden, a dark, glowing sword appeared in front of Garon. With a wave of his fingers, the sword flew towards Corrin. The albino prince gazed at it in awe. "Take this sword- it is called Ganglari. It is infused with the magic of another world."
Corrin excitedly grabbed the sword. "Wow, my first real weapon! Cool! Err..I mean, thank you father."
"It's good that you like it." Garon's lips curled up into an almost smile. "Guards! Bring out the prisoners!"
Hello everyone! I know I'm reallly late on updating..I'm real sorry. I hope that people are still interested in this story, because I'm set on completing it! As for when I will next update...only time will tell. Please leave a review, telling me what you think. Also sorry if the ending seemed a bit rushed, but I feel the need to speed up the story a bit. Thank you!