Chapter Seventeen

Panic.

Absolute panic.

Corrin stands still as the woman moves back. He can barely breathe, barely think, and watches as she looks him up and down.

"Well," the woman drawls, "you haven't tried to kill yourself, so that's a great start."

He doesn't want to leave them.

"You're the anomaly," Corrin barks out.

If possible, the woman's smirk widens. "Is that what I'm being called now? Personally, I'd like to think I'm just a traveller."

"You're destroying the script," Corrin snaps, paling as the woman raises her eyebrows. He takes a deep breath and stands straight. "You're ruining the story."

The woman looks crazy, taunting him with a smile and wide eyes. "Really? So you like having your actions controlled by someone else?"

"My boss-"

"Made the script," the woman continues. Her voice changes to pouty, but she keeps smiling. "And it's your job to make sure story continues properly, Corrin." He flinches at his name, and the woman sticks out a hand. "I'm Zinnia, by the way. I'll tell you my Earth name if you tell me yours."

Corrin flinches again, and she lowers her hand back to her side. "I don't remember."

The woman tsks and crosses her arms, leaning back on her feet. "You want to go talk about this in a private place, Corrin?"

The white haired man flinches once again, getting angry. "Yes. And stop saying my name like that."

The black haired woman, Zinnia, shrugs and walks off. "Why? You're not one of the real Corrin's; they're in the Smash Bros tournament right now."

Corrin walks quickly to catch up with her. "How did you-" he cuts off. "Why have you been messing with this path? You have nothing to gain. And why not before?" Why didn't you stop all the death?

Zinnia casts him an unimpressed look. "What do you mean 'path'? I popped in here as soon as the timeline synced up again." She grimaces slightly. "I have some people I gotta look after - completely my fault - so I've got to fix it before I head out again." She casts him a sly look, but Corrin keeps his gaze straight. "You still aren't any stronger. I mean, good for you for not cheating, but make sure you work on getting some levels before the next chapter."

He sputters. "Cheating?"

Zinnia keeps looking at him as they leave the village and enter the thick forest. "You can't see it, can you?"

"What are you talking about?" Corrin demands. She stops, and he does too, throwing his arms out and yelling into the forest. "Why are you here? What have you done to the story? And why am I supposed to bring you in?"

Zinnia just looks at him with a pitying, crazed smile. "You care about this place, or you would have grabbed me the first chance you got."

Corrin shakes in fear, panic, and anger. He can't deny it, though. "I don't want to leave them."

Zinnia's smile softens. "I know that feeling." She scoffs. "Why do you think I'm travelling? I've got people I care about. There's a world waiting for me somewhere."

Corrin pauses, arms lowering as he stares at her. "You said you had people here."

He blinks when her cheeks go a soft red. "Yah… Well, totally my fault. I thought that the body attached to the hand reaching through the portal wanted to come through. So, I pulled… and, well, been trying to find a way to get them back. Then I'll be out of this world again. Until then, you'll just have to put up with me fixing problems."

"No," Corrin spits the word. "You stay out of this, and leave us alone."

Zinnia raises her eyebrows. "Really now, Corrin? I'm going to listen to you, eh?" Her smile grows and her eyes get wide. "Let me tell you something. There is no way I'm ever taking your orders. I finished my script, and ditched out as soon as possible. I'm not going back. Don't do anything stupid, like trying to take me in. Don't let her know I'm here. And don't. Ever. Challenge me."

Corrin blinks, suddenly very pale as he looks at the woman in a new light. "You were one of us."

"Don't you remember?" Zinnia taunts with a sweet smile. "I had an Earth name."

"There's no way back," Corrin stresses. "We can't go to Earth, or we're dead. Forever."

Zinnia's smile grows again. "I'm not going to Earth." She crosses her arms and raises her head to the sky. "We all had a start. What was your world, First?"

First. He hasn't been called that title in a long time. "Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light."

Zinnia laughs loudly. "Oh, wow, you're old!" She pauses to smile. "But I guess timelines and stuff; you're probably not that old, are you?" She waves him off before he can answer. "This world is future-past in comparison to normal time. Just in case you were wondering."

Corrin deadpans. "I have no idea what that means."

Zinnia waves him off again. She blinks, and suddenly her eyes are blue. "I'll explain some other time. You're younger brother's on his way over here. I don't particularly feel like being shot, so a quick word of advice. Spend the rest of today training. Your older sister will be flying and will reach this forest tomorrow morning, if you want to recruit her."

She blinks, and both eyes are red again.

"What-" Corrin starts.

"See you around, Corrin," the woman taunts, throwing him a wink. "I'll run ahead and book you a spot to travel by sea tomorrow."

The leaves crunch behind him and Corrin turns to look. Takumi glares, bow lowering. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was speaking with," Corrin turns back to the woman, but she's gone. "…"

"Come on," Takumi huffs, turning and marching back towards town. "You and that woman can speak later. My sister wants to show me your Deeprealm, thing."

Corrin blinks, and wisely follows after him.