(A/N: Alright, first things first. This story takes place after my previous story, Controlled by Fate, and there are mentions to it throughout this story. Alfonse's part of the plot can hopefully be read without needing to read the other story, but Sharena's part is a bit more dependent on the events of it.)

{-Alfonse-}

Four months ago, Zacharias had sent Alfonse a letter. He didn't read it, however, until almost two months later. It took him a month to get a reply from his old friend, and since then they've been sending letters back and forth.

Zacharias wanted him to look into Emblian visitors to Askr…or, specifically, Zacharias's mother—the Emblian empress accused of sharing imperial secrets with Askr, and was sentenced to death in solitude and starvation far below in the palace dungeons a little over eight years ago.

Alfonse's reply had been simple:

'I'll see what I can do. But…might I ask why? If you think something is missing from the story, shouldn't there be records of the trial somewhere in Embla? Or am I completely wrong about this..?'

Admittedly, most information he got about the subject (or really anything relating to do with Embla) was from outdated books and listening to things not much more than rumors. All detailed descriptions of Emblian life told of the time when the two kingdoms worked together; which was not really a reliable source of they were living now. He didn't even realize the odd state of the Emblian royal family until reuniting with Zacharias a year ago, and he knew he still didn't see the full picture. That whole concept was never something he was ever able to completely grasp.

About a week since he sent his letter, Zacharias had answered:

'Believe me, I've tried. Everywhere I look, it's like she'd never existed at all. Veronica's looked in every reasonable place they'd be, the only thing she could find was the note subjecting my mother to death for her betrayal. I know Askr probably got rid of almost all the obvious evidence that they'd ever helped Embla, but it's worth a shot as any.

I don't need you to go on a full-out search to retrace her steps and figure out exactly what she was doing. I just want you to figure out what these "imperial secrets" were all about. If I'm right…they condemned someone who was completely innocent. What she was trying to do only harmed the empire by our father's standards.'

Alfonse had asked how Zacharias figured this out. He had to admit that he also just wanted to kind of feel like Zacharias was still there; reading the letters and hearing his voice in Alfonse's head. It helped him figure out a plan on how he was going to do what he'd been asked.

He waited for Zacharias's letter:

'In short, I've been keeping myself busy over the years. I can tell Veronica doesn't like it but nothing's going to get done if I stay there too long. She's got Xander to keep her company.

But you're an information kind of person. I've looked deep into this mess and found some pretty interesting details. For one, only one Emblian heir ever had kids—even if there's multiple siblings, only one, normally the oldest, continues on the line. The only exception to this was Thrasir's children, but all the grandkids that branched out died off there save for my literally-hundreds-of-greats-grandparents. Something happened that kept the Emblian royal blood from straying to the common folk. You've probably already finished my thought by now with that big brain of yours.

My guess is that my mother knew what that was. Our grandparents's generation was the last time Askr and Embla worked together. That alliance split when your grandfather died and Askr found out Embla had been lying to them about the portals. I know our father wasn't always right in the head, neither was the ruler before him, and, well…you've seen me and Veronica. I think my mother told that to Askr—she had good intentions, but our father saw it as a threat to Embla's power.

I just need you to figure out if I'm right.'

Zacharias seemed pretty confident. Or as confident as he could sound through a letter. Alfonse hoped he was right as he wrote out his latest letter:

'Alright. I'll see if I can help.

If…if it's okay to ask… What do you plan on doing once this is all over? When it's safe for you to be with us again?'

He couldn't get himself to write any more. Alfonse got up from his chair, tucking the letter away to avoid anyone seeing it. He left his room and began looking for Sharena.

Not too long ago, she'd made him promise to tell her when he planned on doing his own thing for a while. She'd never liked it when he'd just randomly disappear, and honestly he really didn't like it when she was mad at him, so they'd struck a deal.

Zacharias had told Alfonse in his first letter to keep their partnership a secret. So far Alfonse had done a pretty good job at doing that; Anna seemed to have forgotten about the letter Zacharias gave him, and Sharena, even though she'd accompanied him to the tree he placed them for Zacharias to find, hasn't questioned him yet about it. He could only hope Sharena wouldn't try to get him to tell her more.

Alfonse found his sister outside. She was having a conversation with a group of Heroes, which included the Summoner, Fauna. He felt a bit bad to interrupt them.

Sharena noticed him without him needing to say anything. "I gotta go, girls." She bounded over to him. "Same as last week?"

He nodded. "Kind of. But I can tell you on the way there."

They began their walk. Sharena made sure they didn't stay silent.

"Me and some of the Heroes are gonna have a sleepover," she announced excitedly. "We're gonna steal cookies from the kitchen, talk about cute stuff, stay up super late, and I even got Fauna to agree to tell us about her boyfriend!" Sharena was practically bouncing. "Well, technically, she just said friend but I'm pretty confident they were dating."

It was nice seeing her happy like this. "That sounds like it'll be fun." He actually had no clue if it did, and she probably knew that. As the Order's castle got further away, he began saying what he wanted to tell her. "I'm going to have to do something on my own for a bit. You're okay with that, right?"

"It's about those letters, isn't it?" Sharena, thankfully, didn't sound very sad. Maybe a little, but it was more understanding. He nodded again. "Then it's fine. Commander Anna's got a list of things we've got to get done, anyways. Most of the time I might not even realize you're not there." There was something to her tone that proved otherwise.

He was glad she understood. "I shouldn't be too long."

Sharena shrugged. "Take as much time as you need. Really I'd be more concerned on what you're going to tell her."

Alfonse sighed. After their more recent quest (the one that had pushed back his reading of Zacharias's letter until two months since receiving it), news came in of a strange boy being seen around Askr and Anna made it clear she didn't want anyone in the Order to be alone outside of the castle gates. It was one reason Sharena had been accompanying Alfonse when he dropped off and picked up the letters. He still didn't know how he was going to excuse his absence to the commander.

"I guess I'll figure it out when I get there."

"You always do!"

(A/N: *gasp* Sharena's being a normal seventeen-year-old girl! Stiiiiiill has the habits, thought process, and mental capacity of a kid, though. So close.)