I'm back; I hope I didn't take too long. I'm not going to lie; coming up with the title for this chapter was really difficult. Sorry if it feels a bit rambly. I've been having difficulty with motivation. Anyways I hope you enjoy it.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 12: The Folly of Fear

Joker had plotted out every inch of this heist, and everything had been going as planned. He had entered the castle grounds undetected, ghosted his way through the halls up to the treasury, and dodged every guard in the damned castle. The lock to the door hadn't even been that hard to pick; it hadn't even made a noise when he'd opened it.

He eyed up every jewel and treasure, hoping to find something that would without question verify his trickery. Something that would have the castle up in arms for weeks, and in time he would return it.

That's when he picked it out, a strange-looking shield that looked more for fashion than function. The thing was ancient but had been cared for and was by far under the most security. It was no doubt over the top and lame, BUT without doubt, it belonged to the Royal Family.

He scooped it up and was disappointed the longer he looked at it. leave it to the nobles to make something so tacky.

"Thief!" he heard a voice suddenly. Then the unmistakable sound of an unsheathed weapon, "Who are you? and how did you get in here?!"

He jumped and turned around, so sharply he almost fell backward.

Out of all the heists to get caught, it had to be this one, Don't panic. He struggled to manage his heartbeat. I'm not panicking. Not only had he gotten caught on the most essential mission so far, but his mind was laboring to think up a plan.

Her blade's tip was at his throat, her eyes fierce with rage and watching him for even the slightest of movements. Long blue hair cascaded down her shoulders and back. She, without a doubt, would end him if he wasn't careful.

He awkwardly leaned against the pedestal the shield was on in a desperate attempt to look suave. "Come here often?" he said, wearing his slyest smirk.

Her expression went from predatory to unamused. "On second thought, I don't need to know, just" She extended her hand, "give me the emblem, and I'll let you leave with your dignity."

"That's fair" he reluctantly handed over the tacky relic, slightly thankful he wouldn't have to be seen with it but disappointed in losing his prize.

She took it and placed it back before grabbing him by the collar and dragging him along with her as she left the treasury. She pulled him to a nearby balcony before unceremoniously dropping him.

He stood up and dusted his outfit before turning back to the lovely woman who had ruined his run. He adjusted his mask "any chance I can get your name, beautiful?"

She looked him dead in the eye and returned her hand to her blade's hilt. "no,"

"Fair enough" he'll try again later.

"I'm telling the guards," she turned her back to him, "if they see you again, we're tossing you in the dungeon." and walked the way she came.

Alright, security's going to be through the roof tonight. I'll try again tomorrow.

Chrom took a long deep swig of his drink as Bowser entered his office. He downed the bitter drink and tried to steady his resolve.

"You called" The Koopa King plopped himself down on one of the side couches.

I don't have enough alcohol for this. Maybe I won't need it. Chrom turned to meet the other king's gaze. "There was something that I need to ask of you."

Bowser crossed his arms, clearly not enjoying Chrom's stalling.

"Let's say, Ylisse was to get into a war," he tried to look casual "would you be willing to send aid?"

Bowser only smirked, "depends," and Chrom knew what he was going to say next "is my little girl going to need me to protect Ylisse?"

Chrom let out a long sigh he wasn't aware he was holding. "I suppose she would"

Bowser reached a clawed hand out "good, just make sure the wedding takes place before any declaration of war."

"That's the thing" He took the other king's hand awkwardly, his mind elsewhere. "I only know of a possible war due to my Seer's premonitions, so I have no clue when war breaks out."

"Then we better start soon."

Chrom looked away from the other king, "I don't know," he steered blankly out one of the large windows as the weight of the crown on his head seemed to become a little more present. "Have they even properly interacted?"

Bowser only shrugged, and Chrom felt ice in his blood. A terrible realization hit him then. Ever since Bowser had set foot in his castle, he had never once seen Marth and Corrin together. Naga, forbid they were still strangers.

Bowser got up to leave, and no doubt, tell Pyra to make preparations. Chrom's voice was faster than his mind in that instinct. "Wait!" The Koopa King slowly turned around to meet Chrom's gaze, and he knew he couldn't entirely take it back.

"What if we hold a ball" Bowser raised an eyebrow at that, and Chrom continued, "let them get well acquainted so that the wedding doesn't blindside anyone."

Maybe his mind had been racing, or maybe Bowser just didn't know what to say to such a suggestion. "That way, I can show you what a Ylissean party looks like, and-" he got up from his desk and walked over to the other king, "if we're lucky, we won't even need to force the kids to do anything, festivals do help things fall into place,"

He felt so wrong, but he kept talking, "and hey, you might even get to see Marth sweat for a bit when he asks for your blessing" he nudged Bowser with his elbow. Bowser didn't need to agree. His booming laughter was all Chrom needed to know that the Koopa decided.

As the two walked out of Chrom's office, Chrom felt the crown's cold and crushing weight in his very soul. I'm so sorry, Marth.

Corrin had been in the library with Lucina. Her reading lessons had been getting better. After last night's tea, Corrin was excited to spend more time with the other princess. Something felt different between them, but she couldn't quite place her finger on what. She leaned in a little closer to Lucina, trying to see the words on the page, trying to follow along as the other princess read to her.

It was one of those rare days when she had caught both of the Ylissean royals in the library working on their studies. However, it seemed Lucina was more than willing to put her lesson off to help Corrin. Marth, for his part, had his nose deep in a book, Shulk at his side overseeing whatever the prince was engrossed with.

That was until Pyra burst through the double doors with a huge and excited grin on her face. She marched over to the group who, for the most part, had been clustered near each other. "I come bearing news."

This caught the attention of the two princesses while the brash entrance had caught the boys' attention. "The kings have announced a ball tonight!"

Corrin's heart began pounding. A ball? She had heard of them, but while parties often happened in the Koopa Kingdom, it usually ended with everyone in sour moods. Although she supposed they never really were considered balls.

Pyra reached out and excitedly took Corrin's hand, "come, let's get ready." she would guild Corrin away in hopes of finding new outfits for themselves.

She supposed she didn't really have anything too fancy to wear to the party aside from the same dress she had brought with her. Lucina had turned down the offer to buy a new dress insisting she had plenty to choose from.

There was a soft excitement that tightened in her chest as she tied dress after dress, her mind conjuring Lucina's reactions to seeing her in it.

Pyra ever-reliable had helped her choose a lovely silk gown, while it was a lot less frilly than what she was used to. Her heart and Pyra had insisted that it was the one. Pyra thankfully had helped her put it on while she tended to her hair.

She ran the brush through her long silver hair and thought about the Ylissean princess. She had shared so much with her, things she hadn't even told her father. Something she hadn't even properly told Pyra.

She had great faith in the other princess. A yearning in her very core told her to show Lucina everything. Tell her every truth she knew, but then that fear would resurface. The image of shock and horror painted on Lucina's face too.

She tightened her grip on the comb, then shakily put it down. She hadn't seen Lucina in the nightmares yet, and for that, she was thankful. She wasn't sure how her heart would handle it.

Perhaps she should show her anyway. That way, she would know for sure.

Marth leaned against the balcony, watching the collected guests chatted idly. The musicians were keeping the room lively, but he could tell it would only be a matter of time before the First Dance.

There was a small voice in his mind telling him that his father would arrive soon and take Lucina's hand as he always did, and that would be the end of it. Or perhaps Bowser would come and do something similar with his daughter. However, the majority of his mind told him that the task would fall on him and Corrin. His mouth felt dry at the mere thought.

"You look like you're about to puke?" a voice snapped him out of his thoughts "you okay?"

"Ahhh," he jumped at hearing his sister's concerns. He tried to stiffen up and look unaffected by his racing thoughts. "I'm fine."

She tilted her head and leaned to the side to get a better look at him. "You sure?"

"Sure," he tried not to make eye contact. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears, feel it clawing desperately at his chest before his stomach threatened to turn itself inside out. His royal mask hid his growing sickness for the most part.

His sister turned away from him. Then leaned against the balcony, and watched the party as he had been doing. "When do you think Dad's showing up?"

I don't think he will. That sickening bile threatened to crack his mask. "Soon, hopefully, there's tension building."

"Really?' she glanced at him from the corner of her eye, "How do you figure?"

He took one sold inhale as he tried to steady his nerves. "I can just tell" he tried to swallow the lump in his throat as he could hear the chatter thinning. They've started whispering.

"So" he was only half-listening. Maybe I should ask Lucina for the First Dance, then I could excuse myself before- "have you talked to Corrin yet?"

"What!" oh no.

Lucina turned to stare at him, "Don't think I haven't noticed you've been avoiding her" her brows furrowed, her mouth a think line. "You've been damn right rude sometimes."

He could feel that knot in his throat returning. She's not wrong "it's ah."

In a half-growl half-sigh, she said, "You have to apologize eventually" her gaze returned to the party, then he saw the corners of her lids tilt upwards. "in fact."

She raised her arm, "Corrin!" shit "over here" she began waving it in a beckoning motion.

No, his veins were ice in an instant. No, no, no no no, he noticed a small group making their way up the stars spear heeded by the Koopa Princess herself. No!

He broke out into a sprint then and there, catching his sister entirely by surprise. He could feel her hand lash out to catch him, but thankfully her shock had granted him a window to escape.

His mind refused to register the voices calling out to him. He didn't register bumping into someone in his desperate escape. All he knew was he couldn't breathe. He could barely think. His mind was a fog of fear and anxiety. He wasn't sure where in the castle he was. He didn't care. All that mattered was that he was far away from the party.

After his lungs threatened to collapse in on themselves, he chose a random door, threw it open, and tossed it closed behind him. He rushed over to the very corner of the room and hid. He felt like a child again, having to hide amongst bookshelves behind an oversized chair.

He didn't know who's room this was, but it hadn't been used in a very long time. The thick layer of dust covered everything. He sat there in the dark with his knees pressed to his chest. Everything in his dark fog of a mind told him to run farther. His body, however, pleaded in protest, and so he stayed.

His mind had, for the most part, gone quiet. Only the lingering shame of what he had done remanded.

Then he heard the faint sound of the door's rusty hinges. "Marth?" he heard a voice call out to him from the darkness.

"Is he alright?" another voice called out from the hallway. Shulk and Rex. He peeked up and could see the room through the faint light of Shulk's lantern.

While covered in dust as he had expected, the room was covered wall to wall in bookshelves. On the large table by the window sat a mess of maps, some open many closed. Miniature soldiers were stationed in various positions on the map. The bed was no better, covered in books and maps alike. The sheets were half-assedly tossed aside.

Despite being an ancient room, Marth felt safe here, strangely at home. It was a bit messier than his room, but the spirit reamed the same.

"Marth?" Shulk took a step into the room, shining him in the light of the lantern. "There you are."

He'd been caught, "I'm … here" his voice came out as soft as he could manage, and yet it still sounded too loud to his ears.

Shulk said nothing more as he walked into the room and sat himself down beside his prince. Placing the lantern on the nearby table.

"Is he going to be alright?" Rex peeked his head inside the room to see Prince and seer crammed up by a bookshelf. Shulk only nodded, and Rex, to Marth's surprise, stepped in and closed the door behind him before plopping himself in a chair beside the two.

AN/ yikes, it took way too long to finish this chapter, and I'm sorry about that. Just know that this and Chapter 11 were originally meant to be one big chapter, but as I got to the end of the last chapter, I realized it would take far too long to get this chapter out, so I split it in half.

~ (1/27/2022)