HAPPY LABOR DAY! And, technically, Happy Birthday to me! To celebrate both, I've released chapter 6 and chapter 7 together. However, I plan on not releasing anything this Friday. Sorry about that in advance, guys.

Before we start, a quick shout out to Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: Your theorizing has proven slightly, inspiring. While I don't plan on exploring Ganglari specifically, we will be bringing up something a little more controversial, and divisive to say the least, within this chapter.

A call back, if you will, to last week. While this is a shorter, exposition-focused chapter, there is another surprise at the end with a more action-centered event.

For now, just sit back, relax, and enjoy.

In a quiet corner of Castle Shirasagi, Corrin had entered an old, abandoned room. There was a beautifully designed rug on the floor with a few old drawings on one side. A bookshelf by the window had a few spare toys and trinkets placed upon it. A puppet-like toy was off in one corner of the room, just barely large enough for a young child to use as a ride by pulling the strings. A small bed was off to one side, seemingly abandoned for years on end.

As Corrin looked around the room curiously, Mikoto stepped in from the open doorway. "I see you've found your old room."

Corrin looked back to her. "I still don't remember anything about living in Hoshido, but I hope that if I am who you say I am, my memories could return eventually."

Mikoto looked around the room. "You may find some crafts that you made when you were little. We couldn't bear to clean up after you were taken. It would have been like giving up on you."

Corrin glanced over to the toy in the corner. "I still don't remember anything."

Mikoto frowned slightly. "Oh?"

Corrin stared into his palms for a moment. "I-I don't know how to respond to these stories about me. I do believe I could be your son… But everyone just feels like a stranger to me. I don't know what to believe anymore."

Mikoto stepped forward. "I understand. You spent your whole childhood in Nohr, most likely sheltered your whole life. It may take time for you to remember anything, if you remember anything at all."

Corrin raised his eyes to his mother's. "Here you are, my real mother, and I can't recall even a single clear image…"

Mikoto placed her hand calmly on his shoulder. "I only hope that someday, maybe, we can all be a family again."

Corrin let his head fall slightly. "I-I hope for that too."

Mikoto stepped back, removing her hand. "If you'd like to take a walk around either in the castle or outside, you'll be safe wherever you go."

Mikoto stepped silently outside of the bedroom, leaving Corrin alone within it. Corrin let his eyes wander around the unused room and its many old keepsakes. He couldn't remember drawing the picture on the floor, but it was similar to an older drawing he did in Nohr. He didn't remember owning the toy in the corner, but he was aware of its name: a Karakuri. He didn't remember the bed, but upon touching it, he did remember the feeling of it.

Corrin was perplexed by his current revelations. He needed some fresh air to think. In light of what Mikoto had suggested, Corrin decided a walk outside was the best idea.

Stepping out of his old room, he came face to face with Aiko. "Woah. Sorry, milord."

Corrin was caught off-guard by Aiko's sudden appearance. "Aiko! What are you doing here?"

Aiko adjusted her gloves slightly. "I was taking a quick walk through the halls. Mikoto let us go wherever and I don't feel like I belong anywhere specific."

Corrin sighed. "As usual, you find yourself useless without a task to do." He smiled at his retainer. "I was about to take a walk outside myself. Care to join me?"

Aiko returned the smile. "I suppose that would be best. Lead the way, my lord."

Corrin tried to stifle a laugh. "Hey, haven't I told you three enough times to call me Corrin?"

Aiko shook her head. "As long as we're on dish duty, that isn't happening."

Corrin frowned. "Well, you aren't on dish duty now, so try loosening up a little."

Aiko sighed. "I'm afraid I've grown accustomed to this war-filled lifestyle."

Corrin became curious as they stepped outside. "How so?"

Aiko didn't want to say anything, but she knew he'd want an answer. "It's a long story and I can't tell all of it."

This made Corrin even more curious. "Well, what can you tell?"

Aiko looked at him intently. "You don't plan on letting this go anytime soon, do you?"

Corrin shook his head. "Undoubtedly."

Aiko sighed. "Another time, perhaps."

At that moment, they both heard melodious singing coming from nearby. Neither recognized the voice, but the tune seemed to call out to them. Corrin felt as if the words were speaking directly to him.

"Do you hear that?" Corrin asked.

"I do," Aiko replied, pointing through the few trees at a lake beyond them. "And it may be coming from over there."

Sure enough, on a small platform that stretched out over the lake, a young woman with sky blue hair was singing a beautiful song. "Yet the waters ever change, flowing like time, the path is, yours to climb."

As the woman finished her song, Corrin stepped closer. The singer turned towards the two and made her way back to the lakeside. As she stepped closer, Corrin could see her features better. She was wearing a white dress with blue ribbons across the front of the dress. She had one leg wrapped in a white sleeve while the other was decorated only with a golden band at her mid-thigh. In her hand, she carried a golden staff, almost a foot taller than she was, adorned with golden ornaments.

She took one final step off of the wooden platform, looking intently into Corrin's eyes. "Good evening," she said, with a voice that only goddesses could possess, Corrin surmised.

Corrin realized he was staring in awe. "Oh, sorry. I just got lost in your singing. There's something about that song that just captivated me…"

The woman nodded. "You must be Prince Corrin."

Corrin nodded. "Yes. And you are…"

The singer smiled. "I am Azura, a former princess of Nohr."

Aiko spoke up. "Former? Hold on, were you kidnapped shortly after Corrin was?"

Azura nodded. "Indeed I was, miss…"

"Aiko," the swordswoman replied. "I'm one of Corrin's retainers."

Azura smiled. "I've been here so long that the Nohrian Royal Family may have forgotten about me entirely. After your capture, I was taken by the Hoshidans, since you were far too heavily guarded and I was much less watched over. I suppose we've both been hostages for most of our lives."

Corrin bore a saddened expression. "I'm so sorry."

Azura shook her head. "Don't be. While I may have been a hostage, Queen Mikoto has let me live a happier life here. The people of Hoshido treat me as one of their own and Queen Mikoto herself has cared for me as if I were her own daughter."

Corrin placed his hand on his chin. "Does she? Hmm…"

Azura looked at him with curiosity. "Did something happen between you and Queen Mikoto?"

Aiko shrugged. "From what I can gather, it's harder for my lord to grasp the whole situation. From his perspective, I wouldn't blame him."

Corrin held out his hand towards his retainer. "While Aiko is right, it's not just that. Queen Mikoto seems perfectly lovely, but I feel no emotional connection to her. Despite all of this, she still loves me. The same goes for the rest of my blood siblings-who I've just met."

Azura smiled. "I get what you mean. Given the situations reversed, and I were to return to Nohr, I suppose that I would feel the same way."

Corrin thought about it. "Would you be able to start a life among strangers there?"

Azura shook her head. "Most likely not. Queen Mikoto cares for others and upholds peace while King Garon cares only for war and never ending violence."

Aiko posed a counter question. "And what if King Garon's violence weren't present. Would you still be able to live a life among strangers you were related to?"

Azura sighed. "I don't know. I couldn't just leave it all behind."

Corrin looked up at the songstress. "I suppose not. I may not know what I'm going to do, but I may find out soon."

Aiko placed her hand on his shoulder. "You know the three of us will be with you, no matter what."

As the day drew to a close, the entire crew found themselves sitting at a royal banquet to celebrate the return of the long-lost-prince. Mikoto was at the head of the table with Ryoma on her right and Hinoka on her left. To Hinoka's left, Takumi sat with Sakura on his left and Azura sitting between him and Hinoka. Corrin was to Ryoma's immediate right with Sinon on his right and the twins, Yuuki and Aiko, on her right. Kagero, Kaze, Rinkah, and the other royals' retainers were seated farther down, but there appeared to be little rhyme or reason to where they sat. The feast itself wasn't anything less than extraordinary, but the tension between certain members brought on some interesting and unsavory conversations, though.

It all started when Saizo offered Corrin a formal apology. "My deepest apologies, Prince Corrin. I was on one side of battle while you were on the other. I regret having to take up arms against you in this manner."

Corrin waved his hand as a sign of no harm. "I forgive you for your actions, but there wasn't any harm done by what you did. If anything, I should be apologizing for attacking your fort on the border."

Saizo bowed slightly. "There's no need for it, Prince Corrin."

Takumi overheard this and grew rather angered by this. "If you should be apologizing, why aren't you?"

Corrin heard his brother's antics. "What was that Takumi?"

Takumi frowned at Corrin. "You heard me. Why aren't you apologizing for your assault?"

Corrin didn't like Takumi's tone, but he responded politely. "I feel as though that encounter was behind us all."

Takumi growled at him. "I've got my eye on you. If you try anything, I'll be the first to know!"

Azura placed her hand on Takumi's shoulder. "Calm down, brother."

That only made the archer angrier. "Who said you could call me that? For all I know, you're just as guilty as he is!"

Corrin returned the frown to Takumi. "Hey, I understand your distaste of my situation, but leave Azura out of this! She's been in Hoshido her whole life! That's clearly grounds for her to be loyal to Hoshido instead of Nohr."

Takumi wasn't too happy about this. "All I'm saying is that neither of you are to be trusted!"

Corrin clenched his fist. "And yet you find it easy to draw up your bow in cruelty when presented with a defenseless Nohrian in your barrier!"

Takumi growled. "It's their own fault for being caught within it! They're just worthless, cruel, evil monsters with no capacity for peace!"

Corrin extended his arm in an explanative gesture. "Because you never are able to speak with the ones who aren't serving King Garon! I've known citizens, knights, servants, even Royals who desire peace as much, if not more so, than you do!"

Takumi began to emit a slightly purple aura behind him. "A likely story from one who lived a sheltered life, one fed by the lies of a nation clouded in darkness and despair!"

Ryoma looked at them both in slight irritation. "I'm stepping in now."

Thankfully, before Ryoma had a chance to address them, Sinon stepped in at that time, rising from her seat swiftly. "THAT'S ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU!" Her voice carried throughout the entire castle.

At this time, you could hear a pin drop. Everyone in the dining hall went silent from the expert sniper's outburst. Takumi's violet aura vanished immediately. The bluenette glared back and forth between Corrin and Takumi.

"Prince Takumi!" she began. "You've been given the opportunity to reunite with your brother. If I were you I'd put my trust in him when he says he's not up to anything. While your barrier may be necessary for you to keep the peace, do not forget that they also instill fear among Hoshido's neighboring lands."

She then turned her attention to Corrin. "My liege, while we are in Hoshido, I would advise that you do not question their necessary precautions against invasions. If you wish to defend yourself, I have no qualms, but do not try picking a childish fight with your own brother."

Now that she had addressed the two offenders, she returned her focus to Takumi. "If you have another problem about it, you had better keep your mouth shut about this!"

Takumi stood in rage at her method of addressing him. "What gives you the right to speak to me in such a manner?!"

Sinon glared at him. "Outside, after dinner, archery competition. I win, you say nothing about your distrust for the rest of our stay here in Hoshido. You win, you may inflict any punishment upon me that you desire."

Corrin placed a hand on Sinon's arm. "Sinon, I appreciate your concern, but you don't have-"

Takumi gleamed at her proposition. "Anything? I want your title!"

Sinon huffed at him. "'Sharp-Shot' would be a title I would gladly relinquish if you can take it!"

"Deal!" Takumi scoffed. "Say goodbye to your title while you still can."

With that, both archers abruptly sat back in their seats. No one brought up the conversation for the rest of the meal, but a slightly negative feeling was in the air now, with a lingering question in the back of Ryoma's mind.

"Should I have stepped in?" he whispered to Queen Mikoto.

Queen Mikoto quietly gave her answer with a smile. "He needs this kind of discipline at some point. Why not learn from someone on his level?"

Out in the courtyard, a standard archery course had been set up. All along the course's perimeter, standing torches had been set up to light the darkened field for both the onlookers and the challengers. Two targets were stationed across the yard, each with standard bullseye patterns as the base with a specialized reticle target above each of them. At the opposite end, the Hoshidan Royal Court was present, most standing to either side of Queen Mikoto, who was accompanied closely by Ryoma and Hinoka as well as their retainers. Sinon and Takumi were standing in front of them with Yukimura, Mikoto's tactical advisor, who had placed an iron bow and six arrows for each of them behind him at a temporary weapons rack.

Yukimura explained the competition's rules for the Royal Court to hear as well as the participants. "The two of you will take your turns firing each of your arrows into the targets positioned at the far side of the courtyard. Takumi, the title challenger, will shoot first. A bullseye is worth ten points, each ring around it is two less points than the one just within it. The reticle target above will fall when shot once, but hitting it with one arrow will count as twenty additional points. Should either of you be found to have cheated, you shall forfeit the match to your opponent. The winner will gain, or retain, the title of 'Sharp-Shot', as well as any additional benefits discussed prior."

Corrin whispered to Aiko to try to clarify something. "What were Takumi's additional benefits?"

Aiko shrugged. "I don't know. She didn't mention anything else about this since dinner."

Yukimura finished up relaying the rules. "Archers! To your posts! I want a clean game!"

Sinon and Takumi both stepped up to their places at their weapon racks. The audience they had assembled grew silent. Takumi raised his iron bow as Sinon merely stood still, merely observing her opponent. Takumi took one arrow in hand and set it to the bow. He drew the bow back, bringing the arrow almost adjacent to his eye. He took a deep breath in, let it out, and loosed the arrow. The shot soared into the bullseye, scoring him the first ten points. He calmly drew another arrow, repeated the process, and continued, scoring four more bullseyes. Finally, when only one arrow remained, he sent it flying into the reticle atop his target, piercing it and knocking it to the ground. Corrin couldn't help but notice that when the reticle target was hit, it fell straight down, rather than following the arrow's trajectory.

Yukimura called out for the court to hear. "Takumi scores 70 points!"

All of the lords, ladies, and other various audience members clapped in awe of Takumi's expertise, but the Hoshidans hadn't expected anything less than perfection. Corrin was rendered speechless by the

Now, it was Sinon's turn. She took up the iron bow immediately, tested its string, listening for the vibration and focusing on the noise of the string. In a moment, her mind had cleared itself of any obstructions. She pulled three arrows from the rack, setting one to the bow, holding the second in her fingertips, but not on the bow, while holding the third with her teeth. She set her sights, took in a deep breath, released it, and fired the arrow. Before the arrow could get even halfway down the field, she pulled the string back, set the second arrow to it, and loosed it again.

It was apparent to all present after this moment that Sinon was a better archer than any they had seen before. The first arrow pierced the reticle target and dropped it from its perch. As the target fell, the second arrow hit dead on, sending both the target and its two arrows into the bullseye on the larger target. Sinon didn't dare stop for anything else, taking the third arrow and loosing it, sending it flying between the first two arrows, splitting the distance between them exactly in half and scoring another bullseye.

The onlookers were astounded by her display, but Sinon wasn't finished just yet. She picked up the last three arrows, placing all on the string and pulling them back, this time with her bow in a horizontal angle. She took in one more deep breath, but didn't let it out. She held it in as she released the last three arrows. They soared through the air, landing another bullseye each, but how they landed came straight from legend, if you could believe it. Sinon's arrows each pierced her first three arrows, splitting each arrow evenly in thirds and scoring another round of perfect shots.

Yukimura was silent for a moment, before shaking his head and calling out Sinon's score. "Sinon scores 180 points!"

The whole court cheered for her accomplishment. To not only beat a master archer at his own game, but to score more than was previously thought possible, was a feat accomplished only by a titan. That titan stood before them, bow in hand, turqouise hair glistening in the moonlight, and cocky smirk plastered on her face.

Sinon looked over at the flabbergasted Prince Takumi. "And you thought I couldn't back up my skill."

Ryoma leaned in towards Queen Mikoto. "Did you know this was going to happen?"

Queen Mikoto giggled. "It is what today's fortunes read."

Ryoma sighed. "Takumi's going to be furious for weeks."

Yuuki was surprised, but she didn't show it much. "I knew she was good: I've seen it. I didn't know she was THIS good."

Corrin watched in awe as Sinon walked up to him. "I guess you can back it up when you need to."

Sinon chuckled at him. "It's what I do best. Trust me, once he hit that target and showed the way they were set up, I knew I could crush him if I took the shots right."

Yuuki shook her head. "Still, you proved your shots were sharper than cheddar, my friend."

Sinon raised her eyebrow. "Was that supposed to be a joke?"

Yuuki stifled a laugh. "No, but it was pretty cheesey, right?"

Corrin rested his index and middle fingers on his forehead. "Never. Do that. Again. Yuuki."

N-Sight: And with that, Sharp-Shot Sinon defends her title!

Sinon: Ugh. That guy's all pride and no respect.

N-Sight: You may find the opposite can be true, given the right amount of time.

Yuuki: So? When are we slaying more monsters?

N-Sight: I guess you guys can't stay still for too long. Don't worry, you've got a fight coming up next chapter.

Yuuki: Sweet!

N-Sight: Although, you'll have to excuse me for a moment. I have to prepare for the inevitable.

Mikoto: Tissues are in the desk, there are eyedrops in the bathroom drawer, and the ice cream has been restocked.

N-Sight: Thanks. Wait, WHAT?! I don't need any of these right now!

Mikoto: But you will need them soon...