The stench of pegasus and horse droppings permeated the air as Severa walked through the stables. Her face scrunched into a grimace at the smell as she covered her nose. Gods, she had forgotten how rancid this smelled and it wasn't just because of the poop. A number of other wretched fumes infiltrated her nostrils from blood, mold, and many others. When was the last time this place was even cleaned?! And that's not even mentioning the animals! Still, there was something oddly nostalgic about the stench of these unkempt stables and everything else really. The chatter of people, the grunts, and neighs of their mounts all echoed through the air. Her eyes wandered about as she saw many soldiers going about their business. Troughs being filled with oats or water or the sight of a brush as it gracefully glided across that white silky hide. For all the things she hated about this place, all these sights, sounds, and smells always seemed to put her at ease.
She used to come here all the time when she was little. At least twice a week, she would wake up early and rush over here with Morgan. Both of them would help take care of their mother's pegasus, Aurora. Feeding, grooming, and cleaning were all things the two girls did. Sometimes they would even fight over who was on poop scooping duty with a game of rock, paper, scissors. Morgan would win most of the time but there were times when Severa was able to pull out a win. Lucina and Cynthia would also show up on occasion and all four of them would laugh and play until they were told to get back on task by their mothers. Severa stopped and breathed an empty sigh.
But now, she was here alone with no pegasus to look after. Not like she cared, it was all a big hassle anyway. She looked down at her right hand where a ring decorated with a large ruby clung to her finger. The gemstone sparkled in her eyes.
"Very good, Severa," Her mother said, "At this rate, you'll be a pro in no time!"
"Thanks, mama" Severa smiled.
Severa looked up at the empty stable. This was the exact one she used to take care of Aurora in. She reached out her hand as if to once again stroke Aurora's snout. Back then, she was too short so Aurora had to lower her head a good distance so she could reach. Her mother would have to lift Morgan for obvious reasons. It was always so comforting to be around Aurora. She was so gentle and kind but also strong and determined. She was the perfect pegasus for her perfect mother.
Severa's hand then slumped to her side as she stared into the empty stable. The early morning breeze brushed through her hair. Her hands tightened into fists as tears began to run down her cheek.
"Don't cry, Severa," Her mother wiped the tears from her eyes, "I'm sure you'll get it eventually. You just have to keep trying that's all."
"Really? Do you really think so?"
"Of course! You're my daughter, after all!" Her mother said with a soft smile.
Severa quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and turned away from the stable. She couldn't bear to look at it anymore. It made her sick.
"Hey, is that Severa?" A nearby voice pulled Severa from her thoughts.
Severa glanced back to see a group of pegasus knights walking past.
"I think it is," Another one spoke up, "What's she doing here? She doesn't have a pegasus."
"Didn't she fail the evaluation exam seven times? Kinda surprising considering who her mother was."
"Yeah, I don't understand how any daughter of Captain Cordelia could mishandle a pegasus that poorly."
"Just goes to show, there's always that one black sheep in the family. Morgan passed hers on the first try, and she was only six years old! Talk about impressive!"
"It's hard to believe that Severa is related to either of them let alone both. It's not like she inherited anything from her father either."
"Definitely, but enough about that. We have other things to worry about right now."
Severa's hands tightened into fists as their mindless chatter echoed off into the distance. Their words lingered in her mind and wrapped around her neck. A part of her wanted to chase them down and just tear them apart. She wanted so desperately to say that they were wrong. But, they weren't wrong. She was nothing compared to them or her father. Not only could she not fly a pegasus straight to save her life, but she also wasn't even good at strategy. She would lose pretty much every game of chess she and her sister played together, much less her own father. All three of them were just so smart, talented, and perfect. She was nothing but a pathetic pile of dog food in comparison. It really was a wonder that she was related to them at all.
She wiped the tears from her eyes. Severa looked down at the ring on her right hand. The only thing she really inherited from either of them. Well, there was also…. She glanced over to her left hand where a faint purple glow began to fade.
Severa shook her head. Why was she thinking about all this now?! Coming here was a mistake. She breathed out a tired sigh before a low whimper tugged at her ear. She glanced back to see a pegasus staring at her from the pen next to Aurora's.
She frowned, "What the hell are you looking at, Huh!?"
The pegasus merely let out a low nicker as its head slumped over its food trough. Drool seemed to drizzle endlessly from its mouth as it stared at the sacks of feed on the other side of the path. The poor thing must be hungry. She scoffed and looked away. It wasn't her problem, some moron forgot to feed her pegasus. She began to walk the other direction only for the pegasus to whimper again. She glanced back and for a moment, simply stood there. She looked into the pegasus's puppy dog-like eyes.
"Ugh fine! I'll feed you!" Severa groaned as she walked over to grab a nearby sack of oats. She walked over to the pegasus as its head perked up at the sight of someone with food coming its way.
"Just don't get the wrong idea, alright!" Severa poured the oats into the food trough. "You just looked so pathetic, that's all!"
The pegasus simply let out a delighted nay and licked her face.
"Eugh! Gross!" She said as she pushed the pegasus away.
She touched her cheek where she was licked. It was so slimy and gross. Some of it even got into her hair. Great, it was gonna take forever to get that out. Why did she ever think this was a good idea?! She grabbed a nearby rag and wiped her face.
She scowled at the pegasus, "Well, I hope you're happy!"
The pegasus didn't respond as it continued to scarf down its breakfast. She really was inhaling that stuff, wasn't she? Poor thing must've been really hungry. Severa breathed a deep sigh. What kind of moron forgets to feed their pegasus?! Whoever it was had better be damn grateful. Gods, why did she even care?! It's not like it was any of her business. It wasn't her job to clean up after some floozy's mess. She looked back at the pegasus and noticed a familiar scar on its right shoulder. It looked like the exact same spot that Snowflake was hit with that arrow. And not to mention the fact that this was right next to Aurora's old pen.
Slowly, the gears in Severa's head began to move. She put her hand to her face and let out an audible groan at the realization.
"That scatterbrained moron!"
Why the hell was she always the one that had to clean up after that idiot?! Shouldn't that be Lucina's job?! They're the ones who are sisters, after all! She breathed a heavy exhausted sigh. Seriously, she was almost as bad as…
"Morgan…" Severa whispered into the wind.
The memory of her sister's smiling face flashed through her head. Her left hand began to glow in a faint purple light.
"Just shut up! What do you know huh?! How could you possibly understand how I feel?! Gods, ever since mom and dad died you've been nothing but a worthless bother!"
"Sev…"
Once again, tears began to drizzle down Severa's face. Gods, what was with her today?! Why did all these memories have to surface now?! She could feel Snowflake's snout brush up against her cheek as she let out a low nicker. Something about it felt warm and familiar. Instantly, memories of Aurora came flooding back as her heart began to plunge into the bottomless abyss below.
"S-Stay away!" She shoved herself away from Snowflake's pen.
Her breaths became ragged and heavy as the two looked at each other. Severa could no longer see Snowflake in front of her. All she saw now was her mother tenderly brushing Aurora's mane. Her mother smiled at her.
"You wanna try, Severa."
"No, just stay away!" Severa shouted as she sprinted for the exit.
Sprinkles of tears splashed behind Severa as she ran towards the courtyard. She just needed to get away from that place. It hurt far too much to stay there. It made her sick. A loud screeching pain then suddenly exploded across her skull. Severa stumbled back as her butt hit the ground.
Gods, what the hell was that?!
"Owwww…" She heard a familiar voice groan.
Someone definitely bumped into her.
"Geez, what kind of moron…" Severa rubbed the fresh new bump on her head.
Now that's definitely gonna leave a mark. Slowly, she opened her eyes and frowned at what she saw.
"Oh, it's you…" She brushed herself and rose to her feet.
She glared down at Cynthia. Gods, she was pathetic. Could she bother where she was going for at least five seconds?! Geez, at this rate, the whole world was gonna know she wears pegasus pattern small clothes.
"Well?" Severa scoffed, "you gonna say something? or just lie there staring at me like some kind of weirdo?"
"Alsolearntocoverupwouldya." She muttered under her breath.
Cynthia shook her head, "Right, sorry," she sprung to her feet.
"Gods, you really are a klutz, you know that?" Severa pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Do you even bother to look where you're going most of the time?"
"Wha-Of course, I do!" Cynthia crossed her arms and frowned, "Maybe you should speak for yourself!"
"Are you some kind of idiot?!" Severa snapped at her, "What makes you think I'd be dumb enough to not notice when I'm about ram into someone?! Geez not only are you a klutz but you're a moron too."
"Like you're one to talk! At least I can fly a pegasus straight! You failed the pegasus knight evaluation exam seven times because you kept crashing into stuff!"
At that moment, something in Severa snapped. The words that left this moron's mouth made her see nothing but red. Magma surged through her veins. Her left hand began to burn with a bright purple glow, but she didn't care. She hardly noticed. All she cared about right now was putting this idiot in the dirt!
Kill her! A voice in her head spoke up.
"You little!" Severa charged forward and sent Cynthia crashing into the ground.
Her glare fixed on the object of her anger as voices pounded in her head. Her left hand nearly pulled her sword from its hilt. However, not even a moment later, she stopped. Tears pooled in Cynthia's eyes as she looked back at Severa with a look akin to that of a scared puppy. For a moment, Morgan's tearstained face flashed over Cynthia.
"Severa…" Cynthia croaked out.
What the hell was she doing?! She really was about to….
Gods, what was wrong with her?! Severa shook her head. "S-Sorry," She reached her hand out to Cynthia.
Cynthia shook her head and bounced to her feet. "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have brought that up." Cynthia smiled and reached out her hand, "Friends?"
Morgan's face once again flashed over Cynthia. Severa's heart sank at the sight. She couldn't bear to look at her face any longer.
"Y-Yeah, whatever" She turned her head away, "J-Just shut up, okay!"
Cynthia frowned and crossed her arms, "Now that was rude."
"Whatever! J-Just leave me alone!" Severa shoved her out of the way and ran off.
She just needed to be alone….
Severa sighed as she made her way up the winding path on the outskirts of the capital.
"Like you're one to talk! At least I can fly a pegasus straight! You failed the pegasus knight evaluation exam seven times because you kept crashing into stuff!"
"It's hard to believe that Severa is related to either of them let alone both. It's not like she inherited anything from her father either."
Those words echoed through her head and gnawed at her heart. Her left hand once again burned with a faint purple glow. They were all the same. They all said the same things. It just wasn't fair! Even when they're dead, her family's shadow of perfection continues to loom over her. She stopped in front of a gate to a small villa at the end of the path. Why should she even care?! They were all dead anyway. She didn't need anyone's approval, least of all theirs. She was fine just the way she was. She didn't need anyone's help. She didn't need anyone by her side. She didn't need anyone to comfort her. She was just fine all by herself.
Severa opened the gate and walked up to the front door. She raised her hand to knock only to stop. What the hell was she knocking for?! She shook her head and placed her hand on the wooden door. Slowly, the door was pushed open to a gaping black void.
"I'm home," Severa said as she stepped inside.
A loud silence echoed into her ears. Of course, it was quiet. What else did she expect?! A random bandit to come and say 'welcome home, dear'? Severa closed the door behind her and was engulfed in darkness. For a moment, she peered into the endless void and felt her chest tighten. She removed her boots, shield, sword, and other pieces of equipment. She placed them on their proper racks and continued inside. There had to be a fire tome or something around here somewhere. It was so dark and cold, not that she wasn't used to it. She clutched her arms and shivered as a cold chill ran down her spine. After some time stumbling around the dark, she found one of her father's old bookshelves. She reached up and grabbed a fire tome. It was worn and beaten but it still looked usable, at least. She walked over to the fireplace and, with a snap of her fingers, set the kindling ablaze. Instantly, the room was filled with a bright warm light that chased away the surrounding darkness. Severa breathed a loud sigh as she slumped to the floor. For several minutes, all she did was lie there with only the sound of the wind and flickering flames to keep her company.
She sat up and looked around the house. Everything was still in their rightful place. Nothing about it had changed. The paintings were still on the wall. The bookshelves were as neat as she left them. None of the furniture was moved or damaged either. It was like the house she always knew growing up. Well, it was almost like the house she knew. She looked up above the fireplace to see the family portrait hung proudly on the wall. There they were. Her mother, father, sister, and herself all smiling brightly without a care in the world. She remembered that day, too. How could she forget? It was her father's birthday, after all. She had to help her mother get Morgan into her dress. She just wouldn't stay still even as the portrait was being made. The dress she wore that day was pretty cute, too. She got really mad when Morgan spilled juice on it later that day. A few tears ran down Severa's face as more memories flooded to the surface.
She tore her eyes away from the painting. The longer she looked at it. The more her heart began to crack. She tried to wipe the tears from away to no avail. Why? Why did they have to leave her?
"Who matters more to you, me, or Chrom?! Why don't you marry him!"
Those words echoed through her head as more tears rushed down her cheeks. Those were the last words she had said to her mother. The last words they exchanged before her mother left on that final mission. The mission she would never return from.
"mama...I'm sorry...I didn't mean it…" Severa sputtered out in between sobs. "Please...just don't leave me again… why did you have to leave me all alone?"