Sand was much thicker to the tiny dancer and worse, she had spilt some of the water. The wet sand became sticky and mud-like, making her journey harder. She had to persist no matter what, knowing she was Corrin's only hope in this dry wasteland.
Finally reaching the water, she refilled the coconut dish. She tried to stay calm but couldn't stop herself from worrying about Corrin.
What if he doesn't wake up? She would be all alone. Her tiny arms quaked at the thought, but she took a deep breath and focused herself. The dish full, she stood and started the journey back to Corrin's side. She avoided retracing her steps, the path now too hazardous, instead approaching Corrin from the other side. Spilling some water in her efforts to scale his head, she nearly slipped on his wet skin. The dish clashed against his teeth, making Azura wince.
That would have been painful if he was awake. She thought. She put all of her energy into raising the dish, sending water cascading into Corrin's mouth.
Corrin suddenly coughed, the force throwing the shrunken songstress to his chest. Landing on her back, she scrambled to her feet only to find the ground tilting to a steep incline. Azura tried to balance at first but decided to jump off Corrin onto the sand below. He coughed again, the tiny woman feeling the force of his chest.
"Corrin!" she shouted, running to his head. He had rolled onto his side to prevent the water entering his lungs. A giant arm suddenly blocked her path, Corrin rolling onto his front. Elevating his torso, he coughed up some of the water.
"A... Azura?" he spluttered.
"I'm here!" Azura yelled, darting round Corrin's arm. She stopped beside his head, her face awash with relief. "Try to stand up, Corrin!" She was keen to get him out of the sun's harsh rays.
Wordlessly, Corrin pushed himself higher. He abruptly stopped, coughing again. His arms gave way and he fell face-down into the sand. Azura stepped forward, wanting to help him somehow, but stopped when she saw his arms moving again. Bringing his knees in this time, he forced himself upright. To Azura it looked like he was a giant emerging from deep below the sand. He stood slowly, still unsteady. He took an uncertain step forward, and then another. Despite his slow movement he still outsped the tiny Azura, the singer running beside him.
At the edge of the water, Corrin fell to his knees. He scooped up water in his hands, bringing it to his face. His lack of co-ordination meant that he dropped most of the liquid, but he still drank much more than his downsized friend had been able to transport. He took a second drink, and a third. Azura smiled up at him, betraying the immense joy she felt upon seeing his revival. He took a fourth scoop and splashed his face with the cool water. Finally, he stood, moving to the refuge of the shade, and threw himself down against the tree.
"Thank you... Azura..." he gasped.
"You're very welcome!" she chirped at him happily, "rest for now. You've done very well."
Slumping against the tree, Corrin drifted off. Azura stood beside his leg, gazing up at his sleeping face. She threw her arms around the side of his hip, giving him the biggest hug she could manage, though he could not feel it.
"Sweet dreams," she whispered.
Sometime later, Corrin woke up. He saw his tiny companion poking around the edge of the pool, but she somehow knew he was awake, giving him her immediate attention.
"Corrin! How are you feeling?" She asked urgently, dashing towards him.
Blinking, Corrin rubbed his head. "Not great, I guess. But I'll be all right, thanks to you."
"Don't mention it," Azura said.
"Time to go?" Corrin asked.
"No," Azura replied firmly, "you're clearly in no state to travel."
There's her stubborn side again. Corrin thought. "But the others..." he feebly protested.
"They've already been without us for quite some time," Azura reasoned, "I'm sure a little longer won't make much difference."
Corrin gave up on the debate at this point, but Azura continued.
"Besides, it's much too hot right now. You would only collapse again. It's best we wait until near dusk, when it should be a bit cooler."
"What?" Corrin seemed to recover a bit, "how do you know it'll even get colder here?"
"The island we were on earlier had nightfall, so it makes sense. It's better we get back later rather than not at all."
"All right, you win..." Corrin conceded.
"Good," Azura hopped over to his side, sitting in the shade below him, "I'm sorry about giving you a hard time, but you have to survive."
"You? Not we?" Corrin questioned.
"Yes. You're much more important than me. You'll be the one to save the world," Azura stated, like it was obvious.
"No," Corrin said, looking down to the tiny woman, "we'll do it together."
Azura returned his gaze. She had long decided she wouldn't live to the end of the conflict, but she couldn't help but believe in Corrin's words.
"All right. I'll be by your side, for as long as I can be," Azura agreed.
Corrin smiled. "I guess that will do for now..."
The sand seemed to shine even brighter than before. Corrin wondered if this was the hottest part of the day, or if it would get hotter still. Even in the shade, he felt the heat a bit. Azura still had plenty of energy, dancing for a while in the shade. She wasn't immune to the heat though, Corrin noticed, as she soon had to stop and head to the pool. He watched the tiny woman drink, like a small bird visiting a puddle. At such a small size, she seemed so magical, so beautiful. He could hardly believe she existed.
As she stood back up Corrin averted his gaze, not wanting to make her feel self-conscious. Looking back after a moment, he saw the tiny woman approaching him.
"How are you feeling now?" she asked.
"Much better," he answered, giving her a smile.
"I'm glad. But we should still wait a bit longer," she smiled back, stepping a bit closer to him.
Corrin watched her tiny form keenly. He had a question he needed to ask. But he didn't know how...
"Um, Azura...?" Corrin began, hesitantly.
"Yes?" Azura asked, a bit confused by his hesitation.
"Well, er… You see..." he trailed off.
Azura grew a little impatient. "What is it?"
Corrin decided to just say it.
"W-ell, you're so small, but... I really want to give you a big hug, but I don't want to crush you."
"Oh, my." Azura's reaction was delayed, but Corrin could see a slight blush on her face. "W-well, I..."
"I'll just... forget about it then..." Corrin mumbled.
"N-no!" Azura walked closer, pointing to the ground just in front of her. "Put your finger here."
Confused, Corrin complied regardless. Placing his index finger right before Azura, it nearly matched the tiny dancer in height. Stepping closer to the digit, Azura wrapped both of her arms round it, imagining that she was hugging Corrin himself. Surprised, Corrin smiled at his shrunken companion's gesture. He brought his thumb down, placing it gently on her back. She didn't flinch, smiling warmly.
"I won't let you go, Azura," he said.
"Yes. I'll stay by your side," she replied.
With only each other for company, the two royals waited for the sun to go down. They talked about many things, had a few naps, and Corrin had to make many trips to the water. But eventually, the sun started to dip below the horizon.
"Shall we go?" Corrin asked.
"Yes," Azura agreed. Part of her wanted to stay here with Corrin forever, but they had many important tasks to do. She allowed herself to be transported to Corrin's shoulder.
"Anything I should know about deserts?" Corrin asked his better-traveled companion.
"They can get very cold at night," Azura told him, settling into her usual seat.
"Not as cold as the snow, I hope," Corrin said, standing up. Equipped with both Azura and the Yato blade, he headed out into the desert.
Another long walk for Corrin. The sun was even lower in the sky, the desert getting darker. It was getting colder now. Corrin didn't mind, but he remembered that Azura didn't do so well at such a small size.
"How are you doing, Azura?" he asked.
"I'm all right," she responded. He did notice her nestling in closer against his neck over time, though. She must be feeling the cold a bit.
Corrin felt nervous. It would be dark soon, and his vision would be limited. He started growing paranoid, worrying he would be ambushed…