"Ryoma, dear? You doing alright?"

He made no reply.

No. He was not doing alright, but he hadn't the heart to tell his wife the truth. Even as Mozu looked at him with those beautiful chestnut-colored eyes that made his soul buzz with a warmth unlike anything he had ever felt before, there was still a hole in his heart that refused to close. It was a distraction, he told himself. Loss was inevitable in war. He needed to move on and be Hoshido's king. But being king meant putting the kingdom above yourself. It meant putting the kingdom above your family, no matter how much you wished it wasn't so.

He wasn't ready. Deep down, he wasn't prepared to let go of Takumi's memory. Everywhere he looked, it felt like his brother's spirit haunted Castle Shirasagi's hallways. Everywhere he went, Ryoma could recall the most mundane memories he had of his brother.

As if to torment him, the world forced him to pass by those areas constantly thanks to his new duties as king. He recalled the days when Takumi shared his recent achievements or an excerpt from a book he had found in the library. He remembered the rooms where Takumi would retreat to whenever he felt like he was burden on others, feeling like he was a mistake that never should have been made or was never meant to be royalty in the first place. He saw where Takumi had taken his first steps, had shot his first arrow from his first bow, and had ridden on Ryoma's shoulders to the training grounds only to fall asleep on his leg after a long day of katana training.

Ryoma had become hyperaware of it and it was slowly suffocating him. The regret and guilt that came with Takumi's demise had brought a newfound clarity to his eyes. He began to see what he missed in the heat of the war: actions he wished he had done differently and mistakes he had willingly made because he was too proud and angry at the time to see the bigger picture. Why was it only when someone was gone that the effect their presence had on others was truly felt?

You should have been more vigilant. You are the eldest. You are the strongest. You were supposed to protect him.

If it weren't for Mozu and baby Shiro providing a much-needed light in his life, Ryoma was certain that such dark thoughts would have completely consumed him by now. He was reminded that there were other people who needed him. All of his siblings were mourning their brother's death, not just him. He had to be the pillar to support them all through the grief and guilt. The past could not be changed. Dwelling on it would do him no good. He had to walk towards the future. It was for the good of Hoshido. All that mattered right now was creating a lasting peace between Hoshido and Nohr. At least that's what he tried to convince himself to believe.

A sizable portion of the Hoshidan people were not pleased with his actions so far as Hoshido's new king. Marrying a commoner—one that had served in the Nohrian army that had raided their kingdom, no less—was the first "insult". Many refused to believe his love for Mozu was sincere. Some even went as far to say that she had bewitched him with her "foul Nohrian magic." They couldn't understand that the sweet-hearted country gal had won him over just by being herself. He loved everything about her, such as her honesty, modesty, and inner strength—and her superb cooking, but he wasn't going to admit that aloud to anyone but her. Despite losing her home and family to Faceless, she persevered and made a name for herself in Corrin's army. Her inner strength was admirable and that was what first drew him to her. It wasn't long before the young brunette began to worm her way into his heart; little interactions and mindful gestures that spoke more than her timid voice ever could with words alone.

She would become a fine queen. All she needed was time to adjust to such drastic changes, just like the Hoshidan people.

The other major issue was the people's reaction to his consent of allowing Corrin, Azura, and some of their Nohrian comrades to stay in the castle. He had done it out of good faith. Ryoma had wanted to strengthen the shaky trust Hoshido had with Nohr and to rekindle the familial spark his family once had with his two sisters. As for the Nohrians, Ryoma was surprised by how amiable King Xander's men were at their core. The selected Nohrians were bringing a bit of warmth back into the cold atmosphere that seemed to drape over his kingdom. Azura's husband would perform uplifting dances for the people, encouraging them to smile and to be strong in such tough times. The pig-tailed mercenary woman had been spending quite a bit of time with Hinata, dragging him along to go shopping with her in an effort to lift his mood—and helping Hoshidan merchants quite a bit with her excessive spending. Corrin's butler, Jakob, had been sharing Nohrian healing techniques with Sakura, recognizing the princess's desire to save as many lives as she could if more fighting broke out among the dissatisfied Hoshidans and battle-loving Nohrians.

Ryoma had hope that this was the beginning of a potential friendship and alliance between the two nations.

Corrin, however, was another story on her own.

His younger sister was still dealing with tremendous guilt over Takumi's death. She had spoken to him on multiple occasions, explaining the struggles she had faced while in Nohr and asking him if there was something more she could have done to change the outcome. It was then he began to understand the precarious position she was placed in for choosing Nohr over Hoshido and cursed himself for being so blinded by rage that he refused to see how the situation had affected her. He knew King Garon was a cruel and heartless man, but he hadn't known that the man was willing to kill his own children if they disobeyed him. Knowing that made his chest clench. How much pressure had the Nohrian royals been under, following every disgusting order their father gave no matter how wrong it was, and for how long? Corrin had been under constant suspicion due to her brief stay in Hoshido, putting her at an even greater risk of being killed. What choice did she have other than obey out of fear of being executed, her dream of ending the war dying along with her? Her desire to change things from the inside would have been for naught and both kingdoms would've lost so much more.

Ryoma could never find any other words to say to her than these: "You followed your heart and did what you believed would bring an end to the war." In the end, she had accomplished what she had set out to do. War did not play favorites and no one ever truly won in the end. It was the best way he could reassure her; to let her know that Takumi's death was not her doing, but caused by Garon's dark ambitions.

It was her choice whether to take his words to heart or not.

"Have at you, foul beast!"

Ryoma jolted upright in his seat, not expecting the shouting voice to come from right outside the room. Mozu looked concerned and Shiro looked more confused than upset by the sudden disruption. The Hoshidan king quickly got to his feet and went to the door, opening it to find an amusing sight.

Laslow had his blade drawn, a look of utmost resentment and determination on his face. Both of his young children, Shigure and Soleil, were hiding behind his legs as if frightened by something. It took Ryoma a few seconds to find what Laslow was pointing his sword at. A large bug—most likely a cockroach—was hiding in a corner and was still as a stone, as if sensing its imminent demise.

"Thought you could get away with it, did you?" declared Laslow. "Tormenting me and my sister wasn't enough? Now your kind decides to target my children too? Not this time, sir! Our first encounter may have ended in my defeat, but I will not be so easily bested this time!"

"Go, Daddy, go! Kill it!" cheered Soleil.

Ryoma couldn't help but form a smirk at such an odd, but heartwarming family moment as Laslow successfully killed the insect. With a satisfied nod, the mercenary sheathed his weapon and knelt down to Shigure and Soleil's level. He gave them a comforting smile, promising to always protect them to the best of his ability before sending them off to find their mother. Laslow then stood up, faced Ryoma's direction and bowed deeply.

"I apologize for the outburst, your Highness," the man said. "I hope I wasn't a bother."

"At ease, Laslow. It wasn't that bad," Ryoma replied as the dancer straightened up. "Honestly, it was a nice distraction."

"I understand, milord. It's not easy to dealing with loss. I would know…"

Ryoma's stomach churned. At that moment, it felt like the gray-haired dancer could see right through him. As if sensing Ryoma's distress, Laslow's expression fell.

"If you would allow me; may I speak with you in private, Lord Ryoma? Trust me when I say it's best not to keep everything inside. I've seen what it does to people."

"…Very well then." There was an awkward silence as the two began making their way through the halls and towards the throne room. "So what was that all about? I didn't think a roach would warrant such alarm."

"Well…let's just say my older sister and I once encountered a roach that looked as if it had crawled out of someone's worst nightmare. Neither of us were brave enough to kill it, but our father saved us in the end."

Ryoma couldn't help but laugh. "Did he now?"

"Seeing Shigure and Soleil being thrust into the same position…It's during little moments like those when I understand what it truly means to be a father. In a way, it brings me closer to the father I never got to know."

"Laslow, I—"

"Do not apologize, Lord Ryoma. Such is the pain that war brings. But I've had plenty of time to mourn. Right now, that is what your family needs. You, on the other hand, are a different story."

The two arrived at the throne room. Laslow opened the massive doors for the Hoshidan king, allowing the man to enter first. Ryoma walked forwards, looking over the throne that had showed everyone the horrid truth about King Garon. It was the only way to convince the Nohrian royals what their father had become. It was the reason King Garon sought war.

It was the reason Takumi was dead.

Ryoma pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.

"Your Highness…" Laslow began hesitantly. "I won't lie and say that I'm good with words. I tend to say all the wrong things when it matters the most. But as flighty as I may seem, I do see things that others don't. I know you're suffering a grave loss. We all understand that. But you're only human. If the weight of the world becomes too much and you have to force yourself to smile…please, whatever you do, do not bottle it all inside."

"I have no choice, Laslow. I will not let my emotions get the better of me. Hoshido needs a strong leader during this trying time. I cannot afford to falter now."

"…Are you sure that's what Hoshido really needs? Or is it just an excuse to push everyone away?" Ryoma turned his head towards the gray-haired man, seeing an unusually serious expression on his face. "Takumi was your brother. Didn't you love him?"

"Of course I did!" Ryoma snapped, white-hot fury coursing through him. "How dare you insinuate otherwise!"

"Well, I think you're just proving Takumi's worst fear by doing whatever you can to stay away from his memory."

"…What?"

"Takumi's greatest fear was that he didn't matter to you; to your family and to all of Hoshido. Even though he's gone, you're still avoiding him and refusing to address the Faceless in the room. If you loved him, why aren't you showing it?"

"Laslow, I—"

"My sister and I lost our father and mother at a young age, but not once did Lucina close herself off. If anything, that loss brought us closer together. Yet, not once have I seen you shed a tear for your brother. Call it duty or a hinderance; it's all just a lie to hide what you really feel inside." Laslow took a step closer, a pleading look in his eyes. "For Naga's sake, Ryoma, let it all out. By closing off your emotions, you'll only make it seem like Takumi didn't matter to you. But I know that's the exact opposite of how you truly feel."

The Hoshidan king lowered his head, his fists trembling a bit as he kept his face impassive. Ryoma was silent, but Laslow could see his words sinking in.

"My father once told me something. He said that showing your tears isn't a weakness. It just means that you've been strong for far too long. It's okay if you need to express yourself in private. Just don't keep everything to yourself. Because if you do, all that pain and sorrow inside you will become too much to bear alone." Laslow gave the other man his best smile, a confident wink to go along with it. "You're not alone and don't force yourself to be. After all, that's what family and friends are for!"

Laslow let out a deep breath, trying to keep his heart rate down. No matter how many times he was within Ryoma's presence, he could never shake off the anxiety of talking to foreign royalty. He was concerned he might've said something that could've made the situation even worse, but what else could he do? He saw what the Hoshidan king was doing and Laslow felt the need to set the man straight. Otherwise Ryoma would've been hiding behind a fake smile, saying he was alright when he most certainly wasn't. It was the same sort of mindset Laslow had when he was younger and still fighting off Risen with the Ylissean army. Chrom had given him an earful about hiding things from others and Laslow had no intention of forgetting that important lesson. He couldn't let Ryoma fall down the same hole and deal with everything alone. He needed to let the man know that there was no need to shoulder all his burdens by himself. He hoped his pep talk—if it could really be called that—sparked a renewed sense of obligation and strength in the Hoshidan king.

What he did not expect was to see Ryoma openly crying, tears finally breaking through the carefully crafted mask. It took Laslow a few seconds to fully process what was happening.

"L-Lord Ryoma!" Laslow sputtered out. "Oh gosh, I said too much, didn't I?"

"No, Laslow," the Hoshidan said quietly, brushing the few stray tears away. "You've said enough. And you are right."

"I am?" the dancer quickly righted himself. "I mean, of course I am! And…what exactly am I right about?"

"It's true…I wasn't there for Takumi when I should have been, and I will always regret that. But while the past cannot be changed, I shouldn't let it hold me back from embracing what I still have. The memories of my brother are all I have left of him…and I should cherish them, not avoid them. I have sworn to create a future where everyone can smile and be at peace. It won't be just for those who are still here, but also for those who are no longer with us. It's the least I can do for those who lost their lives, striving to protect that peace."

The dancer smiled. "I'm sure Lady Mikoto and Takumi both would appreciate that. And I'm confident that Lord Xander will do everything in his power to help you bring about such change."

"Xander…is truly a kind man. You are lucky to have him as your king."

"Indeed we are." Laslow paused for a moment. "Lord Ryoma, would you care to join Azura and I for tea later? I'm sorry for opening such a fresh wound again and I want to help in whatever way I can. Queen Mozu and Prince Shiro are more than welcome to come along as well! Soleil really wants to see your son, judging by how she raves about how cute he is."

"You've done more than enough, Laslow. I would appreciate it."

"Sounds like a plan! How does lunchtime sound?"

Ryoma let out a small laugh. "Isn't this how you usually ask women out for a date?"

"Oh no, sir! I usually give the ladies a nice round of compliments before I go in for the clincher."

"You're a strange man."

"Only in the best of ways!" Laslow laughed. "I'll go let Azura know we're expecting company. Just let me know between now and then if you change your mind."

All too hastily, the dancer left the throne room. Once outside, Laslow let out a long sigh, leaning against the doors before slowly sliding down to the ground. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling conflicted himself.

Father, Mother…what am I supposed to do? Laslow morbidly thought. It's downright painful to see all of the Hoshidan royal family like this. But how am I supposed to tell them that Takumi's still alive and probably married by now? I can't tear that wound open again! Ryoma and Hinoka would kill me! Lady Corrin and my wife might join in too!

"I can't tell them…Not yet."

Ferox was always too cold for Lucina's liking. No matter how many times she neared the frozen borders, she could never get used to the howling winds and biting frost that coated her hair and clothes. It was for the good of Ylisse's future, she told herself. Her discomfort was a small price to pay if she could find a clue towards Gules's whereabouts. It was said that Ferox had last been in possession of one of the Fire Emblem's sacred gemstones, but this was all just rumor and myth that had been passed down in the region for years. No one knew if the rumors were true, but it was all Lucina had and it was reason enough to scour every inch of the barbarian kingdom for the gemstone.

The timeline was slowly but surely unraveling before her eyes. Sure, some things hadn't changed—like Aunt Emmeryn's untimely death—but there were things that were just completely different. And it was all Takumi's fault; she was sure of it. Takumi was not supposed to be here, which meant that Kiragi wasn't supposed to come to this timeline and ruin her mission. As much as she cherished the brief friendship she had with the boy, his presence just made things more complicated. How would the timeline change because Takumi and his future son were here? What purpose did they have with the Shepherds? What connections did they have? Who were they really?

And Naga forbid, why was her father so adamant on helping Takumi? Takumi was a danger to him, but her father didn't seem to realize that. Chrom had always been a trusting individual—a trait that was deemed to be both laudable and a liability—so he always felt the need to defend those he considered a friend. Lucina had no doubt that Chrom would put his life on the line to help Takumi if it was necessary, which was what she was trying to prevent. She couldn't let that happen, no matter what.

Necessary. The word haunted her constantly now. Kiragi's hate-filled words, his sharp glare piercing through to her soul; they always accompanied the word whenever it came up. To do what needed to be done: that was what 'necessary' meant. But how far would she take her actions for the protection of the world; to ensure that her father survived? Would she point her blade at Inigo if it was the only way to protect Chrom? The logical part said she had to if it came to that, but her emotions said she was a monster for even thinking of such a horrendous action. Inigo was her brother and she knew she would never sacrifice her family, even if it caused the end of the world.

But apparently Kiragi knew someone who did do something like that; someone who was willing to destroy kingdoms and families for the sake of peace. Even if peace was achieved, it would be dyed red with blood. Was the peace even worth it if such loses accompanied it? Whoever this "Corrin" person was, Lucina could only harbor the worst feelings towards them. But was she any different? Was she going about her mission the wrong way this entire time? Staying detached only led to the timeline resuming its original course despite her interference. If she was to change her future, she had to take more drastic measures. She had to become more involved if justified change was to come about. There was more she could do without involving the Shepherds. There were other options available to prevent Grima's resurrection. If this was the message Kiragi was trying to give her, she received it loud and clear.

Hence why she was currently in Ferox. Not only was she looking for Gules, but she was looking for any sort of clues about the mysterious archer that had been plaguing her mind for weeks now. So far, she had come up empty. No one knew of Takumi or from where he originally hailed. No one even knew that he was a prince—if Kiragi was telling the truth about that little tidbit. The man simply appeared as if from thin air, found almost frozen in the snow near a deserted forest. There was no explanation as to how he arrived or why he was found in such a critical condition. Some speculated he was a heavenly messenger sent by Naga to help steer the world towards a righteous end. Others believed he was a Plegian spy and a few even thought he was a lost warrior that came from one of the fabled Outrealm Gates that were supposedly located throughout the world. Whatever the case was, Takumi remained a mystery that Lucina was determined to crack.

She trekked through the deep snow, her cloak wrapped tightly around her form as she made her way towards Takumi's point of origin. So far, all she had seen was dead trees and piles of snow. How could anyone end up in such a place, even by accident? It just didn't seem possible. Ferox's walls were too high to scale and under constant surveillance. There was no possible way he could have snuck into the kingdom in the condition he was found in. For Lucina, the theory of him just dropping out of the sky seemed to become more plausible by the minute. Although, a small part of her wished Takumi had frozen to death in those woods. It was by complete chance her mother and Uncle Lon'qu managed to find Takumi. If they hadn't, everything would've been as it was supposed to be. She wouldn't be questioning her mission, the true intentions of a supposed amnesiac, or the words that Kiragi had left her with.

A twig snapped.

The Ylissean princess whipped out Falchion at the noise, all of her senses alert. Her eyes scanned the area, seeing only the drifting snow pass by. Her grip on her sword tightened, heart pounding in her chest. Slowly, she inched forward, step by step, going further into the woods. The silence was overbearing and every slight rushing of the wind made her hair stand on end. Eventually, she came across something strange.

A small flicker of light, shining ethereally against the trunk of a large cedar tree.

Before she could investigate further, she heard a faint swish and a searing pain exploded in her back. She barely had time to let out a cry before two more sharp objects sunk into the tender flesh. She fell to her knees, biting back the scream building in her throat. She put most of her weight on Falchion, using it to keep her upright as she heard two soft crunches of boots landing in snow. Lucina snapped her head upright, spotting a man casually walking up to her. He twirled a spare arrow in his hand, a strangely designed Killer Bow in his other—she could tell by the recognizable razor-sharp arrowhead.

"Well, well…" the man chuckled darkly. "Isn't this a surprise? I wasn't expecting any visitors in this neck of the woods."

"Who are you?" Lucina snapped, forcing herself up despite the pain. She pointed Falchion at the assailant. Now that she got a better look at the guy, she could guess that he was a thief of some sort. He looked shady, with a blue cloak and a black eyepatch that contrasted with his snow-white hair and tan skin.

The man smirked at her, tapping the point of his arrow to his chin as his ice-blue eye looked her over. "I am called Niles. But I suppose you wouldn't really care about that; would you, my dear?"

"Well, Niles…what business do you have with me?"

"I think the better question is why a little lady like you has business in these woods in the first place. Dealing with a broken heart? Thinking of ending it all by taking an eternal nap in one of these plush white piles?"

"I'm not obligated to tell you anything," Lucina scoffed. "You're the one who attacked first."

"Purely self-defense. My kind is—understandably—not welcome no matter where I go," Niles replied, though Lucina couldn't tell if he was being sincere or not. "Though I must commend you. Most people can't take three direct strikes from behind from me."

"I'm not most people," she coolly replied as she lowered her weapon, sensing that the male wasn't going to cause her further harm.

Niles frowned slightly. "I can see that."

"So tell me…why is a scoundrel like you hiding in these woods? Are you a wanted man?"

"With the way you keep interrogating me, you certainly make me out to be one," he said with a dirty smirk. "So what if I am? Are you going to apprehend me? Deal out capital punishment yourself?"

"I don't have the time to deal with the likes of you," Lucina sighed as she dug through her pockets for a vulnerary. "If you are a criminal, that's Ferox's business. I'm just going to ask you a single question. If you don't have the answer I'm looking for, I'll continue my search elsewhere."

"Fine by me. Fire away. Give me your best shot."

"Do you know a man by the name of Takumi?"

Niles went silent, an oddly serious expression on his face compared to the scheming look he had before. He put away both his bow and the spare arrow before crossing his arms. He gave her an inquisitive glare as she began drinking the healing tonic she pulled out. "And what if I do? Why do you want to know?"

"I need to know the truth about him. If he poses a threat to those who took him in, it's up to me to take him out. I won't allow him to hurt them."

"You don't want to do that."

She blinked. "Pardon?"

"Tell me something, my dear. The Takumi you refer to…Is he temperamental? Does he have silver hair and wield a bow without a bowstring? Amber eyes? Dressed in strange garb by your standards?"

"Er, yes. So you do know him?"

"I know…of him. And I also happen to know his family and what they can do when in a rage," Niles explained with a slight grimace. "Trust me when I say you do not want to incur the wrath of Takumi's elder siblings. If Ryoma or Hinoka found out that their brother survived only to hear that you killed him…I honestly can't say how bad the carnage would be. I've seen what Ryoma is capable of when driven by despair…and I wouldn't wish that on anyone but my worst enemies."

Lucina gulped a bit. "Thanks for the warning."

"Although, I must say, this encounter was most stimulating," Niles declared. "It looks like you and I are interested in the same man."

"Why are you looking for Takumi?"

"Let's just say I'm under orders by my superior to find him, dead or alive. It's for his sister Corrin's sake more than anything else."

Lucina paled. There was that familiar name again. So Corrin was Takumi's sister? She was the person willing to kill her family for the sake of peace? She felt her stomach coil, feeling the sudden urge to cry. How could Takumi's own sister do such a thing? Did this Corrin want to finish him off, so she sent Niles to do the dirty work for her? And what did the other two—Ryoma and Hinoka—think of the situation if they were all related? There was so much she didn't know. There were too many questions without answers; and those answers could only be provided by the man in front of her.

"Niles?" Lucina began hesitantly. "Do you think you can tell me more about Takumi? Anything at all?"

"If you can take me to the fluffy bastard, I might indulge you with a juicy tidbit or two."

"I'll take it," she said. "I suppose that makes us partners for the time being."

"I suppose it does. But I'm letting you know now…I don't play nice with strangers."

"I wasn't expecting you to, so I'm going to keep my eye on you."

"Please do, if anything catches your eye," Niles replied. "By the way, I never got your name."

"You may call me Marth."

"Marth? Wouldn't have been my first guess, but I suppose there's a roguish charm to it," Niles then curiously tilted his head. "By the way, Marth…Is everything I say just flying over your pretty little head?"

Lucina blinked. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Oh my god, it is," Niles chuckled. "This is a first for me. I'm going to enjoy this."

It's been four months and two days. Merry (belated) Christmas?

I know. I am a horrendous writer. I love Ryomangst a little too much, if you couldn't tell. I am a horrible person because I like making him suffer—HE MUST SUFFER FOR NOT REACTING TO THE FATES OF THE LITTLE SIBLINGS IN CONQUEST! And Niles is just too amazing to not include in this story. And as of right now, he's not paired with anyone…yet.

So…yeah. All of my word vomit culminated in this because I wanted to get away from Takubin for a bit and focus on what's happening in the world(s) around them. Cause otherwise it'd be a whole chapter of Takubin angsty-fluffy word vomit. Tell me if it's good or bad, because I've been staring at my crappy writing for so long that I can't tell what's good crap vs. bad crap anymore.