"Milady, it will do you no good if you continue to mope like this."

Corrin eyed Jakob's worried look. "I'm not moping."

"Yes, you are. Please, Lady Corrin. You need to let go of the past and move on. It will only hinder your recovery."

If only it was as simple as that. How can one simply forget watching your family fall apart at the seams? How can one forget the hatred in those amber eyes that relentlessly haunted her nightmares? How can one deal with the fact that you were the cause of it all?

Corrin knew it wasn't possible. Silently, she nodded to Jakob and hastily told him that she was going to get some fresh air to help clear her head. She wanted to be alone. She deserved to be alone after all the damage she caused.

Castle Shirasagi was slowly coming back to its former glory on the outside. On the inside, Corrin still felt sick while traveling through the halls. She could remember how many Hoshidan lives she took as she headed towards the throne room. She hadn't the time to mourn or to pay respect for the fallen, corpses kicked aside like common trash as the Nohrian army stormed the castle. She forced the images away from her mind. How many times had she cried over the past few months? Far too many for her to keep track off. She simply couldn't find the joy she once experienced while in Hoshido. It was tainted black by Nohr and the own darkness that encroached on her heart.

She had let it happen. She did this. It was her fault.

Corrin sighed to herself, walking out of the castle and through the repaired streets of the marketplace. It was quiet and deserted and Corrin relished in the silence. She needed to time to think. Even her husband had told her to take some time to herself to sort out the regret she still felt. She loved Kaze dearly and she always appreciated the time they had together. However, she reluctantly admitted she was smothering Kaze with her sorrow and guilt. He needed some time alone every now and then that didn't include his assigned missions.

Months had passed and still she could not get the events of the war out of her mind. Perhaps she was being too naively optimistic again, hoping to forget everything so soon. That was half her problem; that was why she wasn't strong enough to fight against the injustice. She believed there was some good in all people. However, she learned, not everyone was salvageable. Garon, Iago, and Hans were perfect examples of men who were too far gone to be saved.

She wanted to forget, but she couldn't. It felt like it was a crime against all those who were killed by the Nohrian army. Those lost lives deserved to be remembered. Corrin swallowed thickly, remembering Hans's slaughter in Cheve. Scarlet and those poor, innocent villagers didn't deserve such a fate.

The streets were empty due to the still recovering families and businesses that had been damaged during the war. Corrin felt dejected as she looked over the area. The last time she had been to this place, it was a time of celebration and joy. A time when her mother and brother were still alive. In the center of the plaza, a statue of Mikoto was erected in the late queen's honor. Ryoma held his coronation before the people in this square, promising a lasting peace between Hoshido and Nohr. He had sounded so certain, so powerful at the time. Yet, it felt incomplete. Ryoma was a strong individual, but even Corrin realized that he still felt it: heartache for a lost brother that would not get to see and appreciate that peace.

Ryoma never said a word about it and never let his emotions get the better of him, but Corrin knew he still grieved for Takumi and the pain cut deep; possibly deeper than he was letting on. There were times when she saw him pass by the archery range, pausing and looking over the wooden targets as if expecting his brother to be there. He did this in other areas of the castle as well, but it was the worst by the library. He'd lean by the entryway, despondently looking at one particular table that hadn't been touched in months. Dusty books were neatly stacked and bookmarked, a calligraphy brush and a bottle of dried ink pushed off to the side. His eyes were misty with tears that would only be shed in silence and seclusion. He had to be the flawless leader Hoshido needed during its recovery. He couldn't be the same fool that was unable to protect his family and country. He could not fail in his role as Hoshido's new king like he did as an older brother.

He had lost one of his retainers that day during the invasion. Kagero, ever loyal, gave her life for her liege and for the child that Corrin didn't even know she had. When she saw the younger Saizo for the first time, Corrin immediately felt the gnawing shame return to her tenfold. Here was a child that would grow up without knowing the loving touch of a mother and she had been the one to take that away from him. She could see the way it affected him too. He had thrown away the name his father had given him long ago, calling himself "Asugi" from a very early age. He wanted nothing to do with the Saizo name back then and losing his mother only cemented his decision. It disillusioned him to the honor and the duty that came with the name. Corrin knew Saizo, her own brother-in-law, would never forgive her or the Nohrians for killing Kagero. Heck, she would never forgive herself for the numerous repercussions of her choice that fateful day.

Hinoka immersed herself in training. Sometimes Corrin worried that her sister was pushing herself too hard, but Hinoka only responded that had she been "better" then "none of this would have happened". Corrin could only speculate what she meant. At first, she assumed it was her kidnapping and a lack of strength that Hinoka was referring to. That was until Hinoka explained her own "sins", as she so called them. She confessed she hadn't paid as much attention to her brother as she should have. She admitted that she was so caught up in her grief over losing Corrin that she neglected to embrace the love she had for the rest of her family. Hinoka regretted that more than anything, wishing she had done things differently; wishing she had let Takumi know exactly how much he meant to her and the rest of their family. On days when the bottled emotions became too great, Subaki would be there by her side as she wept into his shoulder. He had become the pillar that helped stabilize her chaotic emotions—a perfect one, he would insist—much like how Kaze had become Corrin's.

Sakura still openly cried whenever her brother was mentioned, however accidental or slight it was. It was understandable. She was the most sensitive of her siblings and she had bonded the most with Takumi. Losing him tore her apart on the inside. Thankfully, Elise was a constant source of support for the shy priestess whenever the youngest Nohrian princess visited. The two had become very close friends despite being enemies not so long ago. It helped Sakura deal with her emotional pain, allowing her to experience a happiness close to what existed before the war.

However, that laceration was still healing. Who knew how long it would be until it scabbed over? That scar would always remain and no amount of time would ever make it fade away completely. An undeserved wound that Corrin herself had inflicted upon her family.

"Mother," Corrin spoke to the statue. "I'm sorry…I never meant for any of this to happen. I truly thought I could change things enough so that it wouldn't get this far."

She pulled out a thin sheet of paper that she had folded up. She clutched the letter in her hand, tears spilling from her eyes again. She had found it in his room, untouched and unopened. She hadn't meant to desecrate his memory, but the curiosity became too much for her. So she had read the letter, addressed to him and meant only for him, against her mother's wishes. Once, twice, three times she read it over, wondering if the world wanted to torment her for her choice. It was ironically fitting; the traitorous princess losing the person she was "destined" to be with. It told it all clearly in her mother's delicately beautiful calligraphy.

Yukimura had explained to her that Mikoto possessed the gift of prophecy. This letter was her vision of Takumi's future. Purposefully vague, yet still so specific, it detailed out a single event. A great darkness would threaten to overtake him, yet Mikoto stated that he would not be alone when this evil took hold. All those who cared for him and loved him would be there by his side, helping him through it all. The letter told Takumi to follow his heart if he was ever confused about his feelings, however forbidden he might have believed them to be. She asked for him to embrace those sentiments, fight for them if he ever had to. Never give up, even if things seemed hopeless for him, for there would be an indescribable happiness that would await him at the end of his journey. The ones who would lead him to this destiny were the "Defiled Princess" and the "Exalted Prince".

She went over the potential meanings to the letter, but she could only think of one interpretation. The great darkness was death. The forbidden feelings? Feelings for her, her mind supplied for her. Lady Traitor, the sister he had hated for so long—the sister he had wanted to love—for what she did to their family. Their fight at the Great Wall of Suzanoh came to mind. She could see him, ordering his comrades and retainers to help him protect the country he called home; the kingdom he loved with all his heart and the people he was willing to die for. Oboro and Hinata were there by his side until they could fight no longer.

Takumi fought to erase her from existence; she who was tainted by Nohr and considered too filthy to even be considered a sister—so that made her the Defiled Princess. As for the Exalted Prince, Ryoma's figure came to mind. Takumi always felt inferior to his elder siblings. He truly believed that he had no importance in their lives. Hoshido didn't need a failure of a second prince when it had Ryoma. That mindset is what caused Takumi to give up and let go.

And that happiness? Corrin only saw it in his eyes when he finally accepted her as his sister moments before he fell. Her stomach clenched, throat closed up, as the phantom sensations returned. A single glove slipping through her fingertips, the desire to dive after him pulsing through her body. Corrin shuddered, shaking her head in an effort to keep the memories at bay.

"My dearest brother…" she muttered to herself. "Wherever your soul is resting, I hope you are at peace. Know that you were loved; are still so very loved and dearly missed even now. I'm sorry for causing you so much pain. Forgive me…I couldn't save you."

"Mother? Is that you?"

Corrin stiffened at the voice, swiftly turning on her heel. She spotted the owner not too far away from where she was standing. He looked out of place among the Hoshidan buildings and decorations. His clothes seemed Nohrian: a long purple trenchcoat over a gray shirt and complimentary beige pants. There was a yellow book in his arms and he held it closely as if it was a cherished gift. His eyes were dark brown, yet they were filled with a warmth that made Corrin want to smile. However, the most distinguishing feature on the boy was his hair. A sleek and shiny silver that Corrin had only seen on one person and her heart ached in response to the stimulus. His eyes widened as he took in her appearance.

"HUH!? You're not—!" the boy looked embarrassed. "Sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Corrin tentatively asked.

"Me? I'm Morgan!" he answered with a grin. "Nice to meetcha!"

"Alright…Morgan. Is there a reason why you're here?"

"Um…Not really? To be honest, I'm completely lost," Morgan sheepishly stated. "This looks nothing like where I'm supposed to be and nobody looks familiar."

"Well, that's because you're in the Kingdom of Hoshido."

"Hoshido!? This isn't Ylisse!?"

She raised her eyebrow at the unfamiliar name. "Ylisse?"

"Oh geez!" Morgan exclaimed. "So this is really THE Hoshido? The White Night Kingdom? The ancient Kingdom of the Dawn Dragon?"

"Yes. Why is that—?"

Morgan was ecstatic, but he didn't seem to hear Corrin. "Holy Naga! It's exactly how I pictured it would be! The books do not do it justice! I can't believe Father used to live here! This is so cool!"

"Morgan—"

"After reading so much about it, I always wondered what this place was like. Sure, I'm not where I'm supposed to be and Big Brother is probably worried, but still! Time travel is awesome!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down for a second!" Corrin shouted, frantically waving her arms before she finally gained the elated boy's attention. "What's all this about an Ylisse and time travel?"

"Oh, that? That's easy to explain. My big bro and I are actually from the future. We wanted to go back in time to stop an evil dragon from destroying our world, but it looks like I went a bit too far back. Must've been that anomaly that separated us when we were going through the gate," Morgan explained with a laugh. "But at least I get to see the place where Dad grew up."

Corrin just stared at the kid as he cheerfully giggled some more. She didn't know whether the boy was delusional or telling the truth. Deep down, she wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe in those who seemed trustworthy. Those big brown eyes melted her heart and his attitude was almost as positive as hers was before the war. The fact that he reminded her of her own children in the Deeprealms didn't help her with forming suspicions either. He had Midori's spunk and Kana's adorable innocence, all wrapped up in a silly adolescent she could've sworn was Nohrian.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

Corrin blinked at the serious look on his face. "Uh…I don't know what to say, but I don't think you mean any harm to the kingdom. I'll believe you as long as you don't intend to cause trouble for Hoshido or Nohr."

"Nah, no trouble here. I can't even harm bugs, unless they're roaches. I hate cockroaches. Especially the huge, freakish, flying nightmare-inducing ones that Dad had kill for me because they were THAT gross. Kiragi once found one in my boot that was almost as big as—"

"Right! Point taken!" Corrin awkwardly agreed, interrupting the kid before he could continue his rant. "Morgan? Exactly how far into the future are you from?"

"About four or five millennia, I think?" the kid answered effortlessly, oblivious to Corrin's shocked expression. "Definitely more than one based on what I know about Altea and the Hero-King."

"Five thousand years!? Are you serious!?"

"Yeah! Is time travel cool or what?"

"I think…I need a minute to absorb all this."

"Take your time. Hey, you're free to NOT believe me if you want. I'm sure this all sounds like crazy talk to you anyway."

"But wait…you said your father lived here in Hoshido. How is that possible when you—?"

"Same thing I used to get here, I suppose. He must've entered an Outrealm Gate and ended up in our future. At least that's what I suspect based on what I do know about Father. He did like his secrets and I was always horrible at keeping them. That's probably why he only told my brother about his origins. Eavesdropping can only do so much for you, ya know?"

"Outrealm Gate?"

"You don't know about Outrealm Gates? They're like shimmery columns of light that can teleport you to just about anywhere; and I do mean anywhere! Like other worlds or even alternate timelines!"

She placed a hand to her chin in thought. "From the sounds of things, they must be similar in function to the entrances of the Deeprealms. Are you sure you should be telling me this?"

"I don't see why not. You don't look evil or have any insidious plots concerning dragons as far as I know. Hey, you've listened to me so far without running away, even though it must sound preposterous to you. I think you're trustworthy."

Corrin smiled. "So you came here through an Outrealm Gate?"

"Exactamundo!" Morgan cheered. "But unfortunately, I don't know if the person who helped me is in this timeline or if she's even born yet. I don't think I can go back the same way I came."

"You're stuck here?"

"Not exactly. I've read that these gates can spontaneously show themselves while others stay in place. I'm sure I can find one without too much trouble. It's just a matter of luck if it leads to where and when I want to go."

"What do you plan to do until you find that specific portal?"

A delighted chuckle. "Well, I always wanted to learn more about Hoshido and Nohr. This is the perfect chance to do that! I can travel around while I look for Outrealm Gates!"

"By yourself?"

"No worries! I'm an adult. I can take care of myself."

"Alright. If you say so. Just be careful. There are still rouge Faceless and vengeful soldiers out there. They will attack on sight if given the chance."

"I'll be fine. Thanks for letting me know—Oh!" Morgan started, looking apologetic. "How rude of me. I forgot that I never asked for your name, miss."

"Corrin. My name is Corrin."

"Lady Corrin," Morgan repeated, giving her a quick bow. "Thanks for talking with me. I guess I'll get out of your hair now."

Corrin laughed. "No. Please. Stay in my hair when you return. It was…pleasant talking with you. It eased some of the pain I've been feeling recently."

"Burdens you'd rather not talk about, I presume?"

"Yes."

"Alrighty. I guess I'll see you next time! And I hope things get better for you soon. No one deserves to be alone when they're hurt."

"This kid…" Corrin thought, watching the swish of Morgan's cloak as he practically skipped out of the square. A big grin was plastered on his face. "I hope he achieves what he set out to do. The future…I wonder what it's like? And that dragon he mentioned…I wonder if it's as powerful as that monster Garon turned into?"

Morgan paused, turned around and waved. "We'll meet again, Lady Corrin! Count on it! We're connected now!"

Corrin could only wonder what Morgan meant by that as he began rushing off again. It brought her an odd sort of comfort and she had a feeling that this wouldn't be her last meeting with the strange boy. Other worlds and times. Shimmery columns of light. The idea sparked a bit of a childish curiosity in her soul. However, messing in the affairs of other worlds could prove disastrous. There was no need to intrude upon another world or time unless necessary. Corrin made a mental note to keep that knowledge to herself for the time being.

"Good luck, Morgan," she whispered as his silver hair disappeared in the distance. "I hope you're reunited with your family."

And here we return to see how things are in the Fates universe, which means more angst. WHY IS IT SO EASY TO WRITE SO MUCH ANGST? And Corrin meets her nephew for the first time and he has revealed some interesting information to Corrin. What other shenanigans will Morgan get into? Who knows?

And in other news, my fanfic dream team is coming to life on Fire Emblem Heroes! Female Robin, Chrom, Takumi, Lissa, Frederick, and Olivia along with Female Corrin, Laslow, Odin, and Selena! It's awesome!