Italics = Thought
I do not own Fire Emblem.
Cross published on AO3
Byakuya, as the capital of Hoshido, was a bright, sprawling metropolis, with the imposing yet beautiful Castle Shirasagi located on the sheer sided mountain in its centre. Named after the Founder of the Kingdom and first King, it had taken a century, and the reigns of Shirasagi's Son and Grandson to see it completed.
More importantly, at least to the blue haired girl silently making her way through one of the myriad secret passages, fallen into disuse since King Sumeragi's demise, Castle Shirasagi was the location of the Royal Vault, containing trophies, treasures, relics and charms acquired over the Kingdoms existence. One treasure in particular was the reason she was here.
It wasn't the near mythical battle armour of Yamato IV, nor was it the enchanted Katana of Tsuma Torncloak or the War fan of Queen Houki. What she wanted was inconsequential to the people of Hoshido so much so that she doubted that its absence would be noticed for a while, but to her and Corrin, it was going to be utterly indispensable.
The right half of a Deeprealm Gate Key. She and Corrin had dubbed this one Icarus, and the left one Daedalus, after a Nohrian legend.
The girls name was Azura, and she had spent most of her life as a glorified hostage. Her Aunt had done her best to treat her well, true, but she felt chained, confined. Not once had she been referred to as the Princess she technically was, nor had anyone come looking for her when she ran away.
The time she had found Corrin, or Kamui, as that was his Hoshidian name, although she knew that he preferred Corrin. The Hoshidian Royals had said Corrin was a 'foul Nohrian' name, and had tried, on more than one occasion to make her take up the 'proper' Hoshidian name of Aqua, which she had flat out refused each time. As such, she came to realise she only had one friend in the world. One person other than herself that she could count on, the lost, dark haired prince trapped in Nohr.
They had learnt ravenry in order to communicate, and relay information. Soon it would be time. Soon Corrin would come to Hoshido and set everything in motion, all she needed to do was provide suitable bait.
So, to hide her involvement, outwardly, she played her part as a good, somewhat reserved sister. Inwardly, however, an uncharacteristically sadistic glee had taken root.
She had been abandoned by her family, as had Corrin. Each kidnapped by the others true family and used as pawns to defeat their respective homelands. Soon they could end the charade. Soon, those that had hurt and tried to break them would pay.
Soon the lost Prince of Hoshido and the lost Princess of Nohr would take their revenge, and shake their very world to its foundations.
The sheer fact that they left this highly valuable room guarded by a single soldier was as foolish as it was arrogant in Azura's eyes. The sheer fact that someone would try and steal from the vault likely inconceivable to the high and mighty Hoshidian's. The young guard didn't look all that experienced, and was likely on this posting as a punishment for something or other.
Dispatching him was a simple matter. The poor boy didn't even hear her coming up behind him, and had barely struggled when she slipped her staff around his neck and gave a single, sharp tug. She eased his body to the ground, and swiped his set of keys.
"….I am sorry." She said softly, and with mild sincerity. "Rest well in the afterlife."
She walked to the vault door, twisted the key inside it, and pushed it open, the smell of dust and old parchment filled her nose. It wasn't wholly unpleasant, almost like the library.
Helpfully, the items were each on a plinth with a glass case. Azura strode over to Icarus' case, and after looking it over, smashed her staff down hard onto the top of the glass…shattering it. She quietly picked Icarus up. It appeared to be a simple pale blue gemstone with a bowl shaped indent in one side, and runes, from some long lost language spiralled around it.
A thought occurred to her then.
One dead guard, one broken case. It would be noticed. It would be known what was stolen.
But if every case was smashed, every item stolen.
Yes. That would work.
Her mouth curled into a sneer, and she proceeded to bring her staff down again and again on the cases, glass soon coating the floor, and artefacts that had survived for centuries of war, famine, plague and more, broke, all for the purpose of covering up a theft.
Azura stole away an old crown, and a sword forged in honor of the completion of the Capital. She strode through the passages, and stepped through the tunnel entrance, and was greeted by a sudden blast of cold air.
It never occurred to her how high up the Castle was.
She tossed the crown and dagger off the side of the cliff with only a mere moment of hesitation, before heading up to the Castle she called 'home'.
"You are certain that this contact can be trusted, Azura?" Mikoto asked hurriedly, desperation laced her voice. "It's not a lie?"
Of course, Azura thought as she stood before the Queen and Crown Prince both. There it is. The ever present distrust.
"I am, your grace. He is someone my mother trusted implicitly. The missing Prince, Corrin is being moved from a castle in northern Nohr to the capital. It would appear that Prince Xander himself is leading the group."
"Whilst I am curious as to why you've been in contact with Nohrian filth, I am grateful that you have given us a chance to reunite our family after so very long." Ryoma spoke up, and Azura had to force herself not to frown as she spoke, barely keeping a lid on her annoyance.
"In case you have forgotten, your grace, I am 'Nohrian Filth', and Corrin likely considers himself to be 'Nohrian Filth', do try to remember to hold your tongue if and when he returns."
"You know I do not mean to insult you, Azura." Ryoma said softly. "You've been raised with us, so you are hardly Nohrian.."
"And yet I am, and yet you do." Azura turned on her heel. "I suggest sending as small a force as possible, one that can move in and capture Corrin as quickly and quietly as possible. I have given my advice, so I will be by my pond, should you need me. Good day, your graces."
And without another word, Azura walked out, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips.
The seed of doubt was planted, as was the seed of hope.
The Queen wouldn't even know what would soon strike her beloved kingdom. The kingdom she had chosen over her own son. Over Corrin.
It made her sick. What mother would do that? What true mother would chose power over their own child?!
No. No true mother would. Soon, Mikoto, and all of the Royals who abandoned Corrin, forgot him, would suffer. Blood would flow in the streets, and the mask of perfection would be stripped from Hoshido.
And her kidnappers would suffer for keeping her from her true, loving family…and more importantly:
From her Corrin.