AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thus begins Kamui's episode in Hoshido, which is long enough to be considered Act II. I've got a lot I hope to cover before Mikoto's death in the game's chapter 5, and so for all those chapters of Nohrian exposition recently, now we get a chance to expose some more of Hoshido before we reach the fateful branching point where Act III will kick off. Also, a little mathematics here will reveal that Corrin and Kamui are indeed 20 years old. I plan to reveal (subtly or otherwise) almost every major character's age at some point or another though, so feel free to watch for that if desired. In the meantime, feedback of any kind is welcomed and encouraged. Let me know how I'm doing, so I know if I'm actually improving on the game's sloppy writing or not.
Either way, Happy Reading!

ACT II: THE TWINS UNITED

CHAPTER 17: A Long-Awaited Return

Sing with me a song of Family and Dawn...

Kamui's sleep was rough and patchy, but ultimately she managed to fall asleep and stay asleep long after the noise of the camp had died down. She was not sure how long she stayed asleep or what time it was when she was woken up, but she knew that they had a journey ahead of them, and she wasn't sure how it would go.

Fortunately, there was nothing unusual to report about the trip either. Rinkah only had a few of her women as guards as they went, while the rest of them took a northerly direction, likely towards one of the actual Flame Tribe villages. Kamui figured she might be able to escape, but at the same time, didn't feel like she should. She was lost in enemy territory, and knew that while she could probably just haul it west, that she wouldn't get very far with no food, no water, and no weapons. She was back in her old Nohrian attire again, concealing her scarred body apart from her head and feet. She also didn't really put Hoshidans as the type to torture people, but perhaps she was wrong.

They passed through a snowy mountain pass, and were suddenly faced with a familiar sight. In the distance, the magnificent Castle Shirasagi appeared in view, as did another familiar face to Kamui: the green-haired ninja, Kaze, was waiting for them.

"Kaze," Kamui was the one to speak, "we meet again. I suppose you're here for justice against my actions towards you in Nohr?"

"Not at all;" Kaze began, "In fact… I'm glad to properly meet you, Princess Kamui."

To her surprise, Kaze bowed. Was it because she was a Nohrian princess? Neither he nor Rinkah had bowed even after she had helped them escape from Garon's clutches, and so why was he bowing now?

"Wait… you are?" Kamui tilted her head. "Is there something I missed?"

"It will all be explained, princess." Kaze nodded, "please, come with me."

She figured that she was going to end up being taken to Shirasagi anyways, and so the only thing that really changed was that Kaze had joined the group. Kamui always knew that Hoshido was bright and colorful in contrast to the dark greys of Nohr, but only once she was truly in the dazzlingly colorful city did she become a full believer after seeing it for herself. Sometime between their arrival in the city and the time they reached the castle, Rinkah's bodyguards vanished, leaving just her and Kaze to escort her into the castle. Kamui knew that she was getting all kinds of looks from all kinds of people. That had been what had happened in the surrounding city, and now by the servants of Hoshido's castle. They led her all the way up to the throne room, where she saw half a dozen people who seemed to be anticipating her arrival. Of them, one in particular stood out to her, and both of them gasped upon making eye contact. One of the boys had the same wild, dark purple hair that she did, and looked her age, no less. Was this another example of Hoshidan trickery, or was this something else entirely?

A spiky-haired man dressed in mostly red armor approached Kaze and Rinkah with a smile.

"Welcome back, Kaze." He began, "it was wise of me to trust your brother's plan. And welcome back as well, Princess Rinkah. Good work."

"Thank you, Lord Ryoma," Kaze bowed respectfully, after which there was silence as they both turned back to face Kamui.

"Well… I dunno what you're waiting for," she shrugged one shoulder, "if you're gonna execute me or torture me or whatever else, you might as well get it done and over with."

"That is hardly our intent, Nohrian…" Ryoma began, before motioning behind her, where a well-kept middle-aged woman approached her, her face lighting up with bittersweet awe. Kamui did not recognize her, but it was clear from her attire and the way she carried herself that she was someone important. This was the Queen of Hoshido.

"Kamui…" she whispered, her hands extending. The closer they got to Kamui, they more they began to tremble.

"Are… are you okay?" Kamui looked a bit weirded out. Her voice, however, seemed enough to convince this white-clad woman that she knew Kamui.

"It is you…" she whispered, before gasping, "I cannot believe it is actually you. 15 years I've waited for this day…"

"I'm sorry…" Kamui tilted her head. "Do… do we know each other?"

"I've missed you so much, Kamui, darling!" The queen put her arms around Kamui, embracing her in a very motherly hug. "My sweet, sweet child…"

"Child?" Kamui glanced from the queen towards the purple-haired boy silently staring at her, and then back again. "what are you talking about?"

"So you don't remember then…" the queen sighed, "it is as I feared. Garon must have used some rather strong magic on you if he sealed away your memories and it has lasted over 15 years… It is a tragedy indeed."

"I'm sorry, but I really don't follow." Kamui cocked her head, "What do you mean?"

"I am your mother, Kamui." the queen explained, looking her daughter right in the eye. "My name is Mikoto. You have an older twin brother named Corrin, and that is the man you keep turning your head to see."

Almost as if she had expected this to happen, Mikoto watched as Kamui cocked her head back towards Corrin and then back to her.

"How exactly does that check out?" Kamui glanced towards Corrin, who approached his sister with apprehension.

"Because when you were young… five, if I recall… you were taken from us." He spoke to her, "Mother's been lamenting your disappearance ever since."

"None of us ever thought we would be able to see you again." Mikoto explained, "Even this was all by a stroke of luck."

"Luck for whom?" Kamui tilted her head, "my siblings in Nohr, who have probably returned home only to realize that I wasn't actually ahead of them? My retainers, who I don't even get to know the fates of? Me? Trapped in a foreign land surrounded by people I know next to nothing about who now suddenly claim to be my family after a decade and a half of no contact whatsoever? I don't mean to sound so vehement, but I'm…" she sighed.

"I'm uncomfortable. I feel so very out of place here."

"Of course…" Mikoto sighed. "I did not expect you would acclimate at the drop of a feather… but I am your mother, and not a day has gone by that I have not mourned your absence. You've grown into such a strong, mature woman. It makes a mother proud."

It was clear that Mikoto's passion was genuine here, and it didn't make sense that the Queen of Hoshido would just randomly tell someone they were related unless she was certain of it. Moreover, Corrin's presence made her realize that there was no way she couldn't be somehow related to him. The hair, the eyes, the face, and basically their physical forms. Even their outfits were somewhat similar, although Kamui considered that one more of a coincidence.

Suddenly, her eyes widened, as if having an epiphany.

"How many other siblings do I have here?" she turned to Mikoto.

"There are four in total, barring Corrin," she explained, "Ryoma is the eldest, followed by Hinoka, Takumi, and Sakura. All of them have also longed for your return."

It struck Kamui like the brunt of Camilla's axe during a bad day of training. These were the siblings she had seen in the dream not long ago. Was it a premonition then? Was she destined to come and remain as a member of the Hoshidan courts instead?

No. She could not abandon the brothers and sisters that had always treated her like family, even if they never revealed the truth to her. But then… had she known these people? Was Mikoto telling the truth? Hoshido might not have been as full of adversity as Nohr, but Kamui had learned—especially what with all of the recent events lately—that Hoshido and its people had plenty of treachery and tricks of their own. She wished she could have asked Gunter how he had known Reina, the "She-Devil of Hoshido". She wished now more than ever that she could remember her childhood. She wanted to believe this woman's words, but perhaps this really was just more Hoshidan treachery. She could not deny that she was clearly related to Corrin, but even then, it left a lingering thought in her mind.

"So these are my siblings then?" She asked Corrin, seeing how he would respond.

"And I am your twin brother," he worded his response as if completing a sentence, "To say that I've missed you would be a vicious understatement. Our attempts to retrieve you weren't supposed to be so roundabout… but after so many years of not having you with is, we did the things we did out of desperation."

"But does that justify kidnapping me from the family that treated me like their own flesh and blood for as long as they've known me?" Kamui's defensive speech betrayed that she was not quite comfortable in her new situation yet, "look; I obviously can't just wander on back to Nohr without getting lost a dozen times along the way." she reasoned, "but surely you can understand why I'm a little uncomfortable here, can't you?

"I can indeed," Mikoto sighed, "perhaps it was just a mother's selfish wish to see her child one more time. I apologize, Kamui."

"This isn't a political move, is it?" Kamui had to ask.

"It may promote peace talks, but aside from that, it was actually personal, dear." Mikoto clarified, "I merely wish for you to see both sides of the situation so you can make a clear decision."

Kamui sighed, knowing that she had been beat at her own game. "I think I just need to clear my mind…" she began, "maybe let a few of these emotions out or something."

"By all means, sweetheart," Mikoto replied, "spend as long as you need."

Suddenly, a pair of samurai burst into the room, looking rather winded and alarmed.

"Apologies for disrupting, Milady; Milord," they addressed Mikoto and then Ryoma, "but we have an urgent message: we're under attack in the north!"

"No!" Ryoma growled, "Sakura and Hinoka are out there!"

"Then we go and defend them!" Corrin raised his sword, what are we up against out there?"

"More Faceless again," the samurai replied, "that's the only thing Nohr can send against us while Queen Mikoto's barrier persists."

Kamui glanced at Mikoto, but Mikoto did not respond. The look on her face, however, almost gave Kamui the impression that she was letting the girl take things in at her own rate.

"Even I understand that it'd be unreasonable to ask you to turn against your own countrymen," Corrin pointed out, "but against faceless monsters with no minds of their own who seek for nothing but destruction, I would ask you to ponder the decision a little more."

"No," Kamui shook her head, "I'll join you. It's been awhile since I've had a good fight anyways."

Both Corrin and Ryoma were caught somewhat by surprise at this, but they seemed to have no qualms against it. Kamui didn't mind it either; here, she figured she would be able to show these Hoshidans how a real warrior fought.