Italics = Thought

I do not own Fire Emblem.

Cross published on A03

By nightfall, Corrin and Azura had left the Capital. It wouldn't take long for someone to discover Takumi and Mikoto's remains, which probably was made up of a puddle of water, a robe and a crown.

And when they found Mikoto, they'd find him missing. Ryoma wasn't a fool. Hot-headed yes, foolish, no. He'd be able to piece together the fact that he was still alive. Azura's absence wouldn't help matters.

They needed to get to shelter, at least for tonight.

The only problem was….

"We are not staying in a tavern." Azura said bluntly. "Whenever we stay at a tavern you start a bar brawl."

"We've only stayed in a tavern twice. A-And the first time was an accident!"

Azura allowed a small, coy grin to form on her face. "And the second?"

"That guy was looking at you funny." Corrin said indignantly. "Besides, I seem to recall that meeting ended in an.…entertaining manner."

This, predictably, earned him a punch to the shoulder.

"Focus. You talk too much for someone who's meant to be dead." Azura frowned.

"Mikoto's the one who's dead, not me."

"Harsh. She was your mother…"

"She was the mother of Kamui. Kamui died with Sumeragi." Corrin snarled. His expression softened to become a sad smile. "She wasn't mine."

"Still harsh. But I understand."

"Thank you…that makes things easier."

They carried on, walking in the night, when a familiar voice filled their ears. The pair turned, warm smiles on their faces. The figure held up a lantern.

"Hello" Azura greeted with genuine happiness

"Fancy seeing you two here." Lilith said, an impish grin on her face. Shigure was awake and alert in her arms.

Once he spotted Azura, he did something that both startled them, and warmed their hearts.

"Mama!"

Takumi was still asleep when he was found by his retainers. They managed to haul him back to the Palace where the royal doctors set to work on trying to wake him up.

The head doctor came to Ryoma late in the evening.

"Head Prince, we've…discovered what is keeping Prince Takumi asleep. It is a rare medicinal poison from Nestra called Abyssleep, in its crystalized form. We're already preparing a letter to our colleagues in Nestra to send us the anti-"

"Forgive me, but how do we not have the antidote already?" Ryoma queried. "It seems foolish that we know of this 'Abyssleep' yet we do not have the antidote."

"Th-That's the strange thing, My Prince. We did have it. I personally ran an inventory three days ago. It was there then, it is not there now." The Doctor explained. "Only myself and the Royal Family have access to our stores."

"Are you implying what I think you are implying?" Ryoma narrowed his gaze. "That one of my family is a traitor?"

"I can only tell you the rules as set down by my predecessors, My Prince. If that is the conclusion you've arrived at, I will neither confirm nor deny it."

A soldier strode in quietly, and walked over to Ryoma. He murmured something into the High Prince's ear that caused him to stand up immediately.

"WHAT?!"

Lilith led them to a tavern on the road, much to Azura's annoyance. However, with Shigure in her arms, she wasn't going to complain about a roof over her head. Plus, introducing her…their son to violence early would likely assist them in the long run. Especially with Stage Two.

But before they entered the tavern, Lilith stopped them.

"Azura? May I have a word with Corrin alone please?" Lilith asked with a hopeful tone.

The blunette's eyes flickered with anger. "May I ask why?"

"I..need to tell him something. It's important. I swear to you, I'm not trying to take him away from you.

"….Two minutes." Azura said, and strode off.

Corrin watched her go, before turning his attention to Lilith. "Must be important if you're not sharing with her.."

"It is.."

Corrin let out a sigh

Lilith looked at him with eyes steadily filling with tears..

"I-I'm your sister…your true b-blood sibling. S-Sorry for keeping it from you..b-but I swore I-"

The girls tearful babbling was cut short, by the first hug Corrin gave her as a brother.

"Shh…shh…It's okay. I forgive you, sister. Now come on. I'm sure Siggy misses his Aunt."

Corrin gave Lilith a broad grin, and strode off.

"Wha-?"

"Come on Lilly! People are waiting!"

Lilith smiled and dried her eyes. She had, in the last ten seconds alone, received what she had wanted almost all her life.

Simple acceptance

She blinked, and hurried after her brother. A noticeable bounce in her step.

"Coming!"

"No! I will not!"

"Camilla please…" Xander pleaded as kindly as he dared. "Someone needs to investigate this group in Notre Sagasse. Elise is too young and Leo is preparing our troops.."

"Why me?! Corrin is gone! Dead! We failed as siblings…" She fell to her knees and let out a wail.

Her blue haired retainer, Beruka, Xander mentally corrected himself, dashed over to gently hug her.

Xander rolled his eyes. He had long since accepted his sister's proclivities. Whilst it didn't bother him, he knew that she couldn't do it forever.

But that was a problem for another day.

"Sister." He said carefully. "I need you to do this. I have sent someone to bring Corrin's body back. Whilst my people do that, Leo will work with the Grand Marshal and prepare our armies for war. Do not assume I do not mourn for our brother. I do. The people do. The people want war. Vengeance. Corrin will be avenged upon the whole Hoshidian Kingdom."

The doors were thrown open, and a royal scout dashed in, and knelt before Xander.

"My King. News from Hoshido."

"Is it about my brother, Scout?"

"No, your Majesty. It is Queen Mikoto. She's dead."

HISTORICAL LOG: ABYSSLEEP

The medicine, known to the world as Abyssleep, is actually a plant grown in the Kingdom of Nestra. The plant in its natural form is called the Grey Mountain Rose. The natural petals, when ingested, cause a deep sleep that one cannot awake from unless the counter agent is ingested.

When the petals are crystalized, however, the sleep is deeper, and a stronger, far less commonly available counteragent is required.

Abyssleep was infamously used in the assassination of King Florian III of Nohr, who was buried alive when doctors mistakenly thought him dead.

It was also used to fake the death of Prince Corrin of Hoshido and Nohr.