I'm going to start this chapter by saying that I was really excited to finish Chapter 13 since I had another art piece in mind. However, midway through chapter 13, my tablet decided it would throw a tantrum, and now I haven't been able to get it to work right. So with luck, I'll get the other art piece done before chapter 16. I have another art piece planned for that one too. Well, I hope you enjoy it.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 14: In Silver Moon-light

Lucina ran a comb through her hair as she stared at the mirror absentmindedly. The ball had ended, and she was about to go to bed. Or at least that's what the maids were told. She was waiting, biding her time until the moon was at its highest.

During their last dance, Corrin had pulled her into a tight hug. Then whispered an invitation into her ear for her and her alone. She waited. Waited until the castle was deathly silent. Then when she was sure it was about the right time.

She tossed a cloak over her shoulders and reached for a lantern. A lovely enchanted one, Shulk had given to her as a gift; her brother had one just like it. She didn't open the shutters; she didn't need to. The pathway was carved into her very soul, but it never hurt to carry a light.

Corrin's invitation was vague, simply asking to meet her in their secret getaway. Her heart was pounding at the thought of meeting Corrin at this hour. She knew that Corrin was nervous when she had asked her. She wasn't sure what was troubling the other princess, but she was thankful nevertheless to spend more time with her.

She ducked her head as she stepped through the hole in the wall. The light of the moon seemed to illuminate every flower on every vine. If the grove had seemed magical in the day, it was breathtaking at night. She never really took notice until it was just her.

She reached the stares and frowned; no one was there. She then heard something, the sound of splashing. She turned in the direction of the small pond and froze where she stood.

Chrom sighed as he sleepily trudged through the doors of his study only to see Bowser waiting there for him. He wasn't a fool; he knew what this was about. Bowser grinned, "The party went well."

Chrom didn't dare look at the other king, "I suppose it did." but as he caught sight of his own reflection on a nearby surface, he couldn't stand to see that either.

"I've heard Corrin was seen dancing with Marth all night," the Koopa King was clearly satisfied with that.

Chrom swallowed. "I heard the same. It seems they've started to get along."

"We're setting the wedding up for next week."

Chrom winced "right."

"I'll tell Pyra, and you start getting everything ready."

Chrom hung his head in shame and got to work on the plans "alright, I'll send this out first thing in the morning."

"Good luck with that" Bowser laughed as he started walking out.

Chrom stared at the paper in front of him. Might as well get started. I won't be able to sleep tonight anyway.

Lucina wasn't quite sure she was breathing; all she was sure of was the rapid pounding of her heart.

Corrin was swimming freely in the small pond, her long silver hair and skin catching all the light from the moon, making her entire being almost glow in its light.

Lucina dropped her lantern.

Corrin turned suddenly, and Lucina couldn't help the noise that came flying out of her mouth. "I'm so sorry I didn't know you were," she turned around suddenly and "had I known you were bathing, I would have-"

A joyous sound met her ears, and shyly, she dared turn around. Corrin had swam up to the bank and was still laughing despite her pinkened cheeks. Lucina was sure her own was the deepest shade of crimson.

"It's fine. I invited you after all." Corrin shyly looked away as she spoke, "actually, I'm really glad you came. I wanted to show you something."

Lucina sat down on the steps and recovered her lantern. "I'm all ears."

Corrin swam back into the middle of the pond at that, and Lucina wondered if her friend had sudden reservations. When Corrin stilled, Lucina watched as the water began to rise slightly as if disturbed by a great and powerful force. It was then that Corrin's body then truly started to glow in a purely magical way.

Suddenly, Corrin was gone in a bright pillar of light, and in her place stood a gigantic creature.

Large silver wings. A body twice the size of any horse she'd ever seen. Large plated scales. A long and powerful tail. And along its long neck was a plated head that hid the creature's entire face with two long and intricate antlers atop its skull.

A Dragon. Judging by how the water gathered and moved around it, She's a water Dragon.

Despite the powerful aura Corrin was emanating, Lucina couldn't help but see the strange otherworldly beauty of this form.

"Lucina," she heard Corrin's voice again, although it had sounded different. "Please say something."

"Oh sorry," she shook her head to clear her thoughts, "it's just-" she ran a hand through her long blue hair, "this was unexpected."

Corrin leaned her draconic head towards Lucina as if trying to stare into her very soul. "Are you scared?"

It was Lucina's turn to tilt her head "well, intimidated, yes, but" she reached her hand out, and Corrin seemed to lean into the touch.

Corrin made a noise unlike a purr as Lucina ran her hand along her faceplate. Lucina couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. "I'm more in awe. I've never seen a real dragon before."

Then in another pillar of light, Corrin was back to her usual self again.

She bolted out of the water, and before Lucina realized what had happened, Corrin was in her arms, gripping her tightly in a huge hug. "You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that."

Lucina could feel the fire returning to her face as she hugged Corrin back, only to realize she wasn't wearing anything.

"Corrin," she finally said in a smiling voice, "you're still wet."

"Oops, sorry" Corrin let her go, and Lucina wasn't quite sure if that was better or worse than having her pressed up against her.

Lucina quickly removed her cloak and helped put it over Corrin's shoulders "so you don't catch a cold."

Corrin chuckled as she pulled the cloak around herself. "Can you do me a favor?" She pointed at a spot by the water's edge. "I put my dress over there. Could you get it for me?"

"Of course" Lucina was quick to go grab the other girl's dress as she tried to steady her own racing heartbeat.

Corrin was beyond beautiful, and if she hadn't been nervous around her after the two had shared a bed, she sure as hell would be now, embarrassed having seen her naked. Corrin is far too friendly for her own good.

She let out a long sigh as she gathered up the long and soft sleeping gown. She returned and was quick to look away as Corrin removed her cloak and redressed herself. Lucina shyly turned around after a second only to see Corrin wringing the water out of her hair.

Lucina found her courage again, despite everything in her soul. "Come, you can properly dry off in my room. I left the fire burning."

Corrin peeked up at her with a bright and luminous smile, "that sounds lovely."

Marth slipped into his room after the castle had gone quiet. He wasn't sure how long he and Shulk had been playing. He knew Rex, after being reassured many times everything was alright, finally returned to the party, probably hoping to steal at least one dance with Lady Pyra. Shulk himself, however, never left his side, much to his surprise.

He wasn't sure what had truly transpired but from what the joyous music mid-way through the night had told him. The First Dance was had, and he wasn't present. He wondered if the kings arrived just in time.

He was a coward. In the end, when he was needed, he ran off into the shadows and needed to be coaxed out like a frightened child. The Hero King he was not, and he would never be at this rate.

He sat at his desk for hours, hoping his work would pull his mind away from his disgraceful behavior. In the end, he blew out the candle and took up a seat at his windowsill. In the darkness of the night, he found his mind a bit clearer amidst the silence.

His hands found his lute without thinking, and as he played his very soul into the melody at his fingers, his mind drifted away.

Corrin, she was a genuinely kind and sweet girl. Any man would rush to take his place. To be the one betrothed to her. And while he had not yet been betrothed to her, he knew that was their Inevitable fate.

It wasn't fair to her. To treat her this way. Yet whenever he was in the same room as her, it was as if he was a child again. The same frightened rabbit among sheepdogs. He pushed himself and prepared himself for the day he would be exalted, and yet the prospect of taking a wife had always lurked in the dark corners of his mind.

Lucina was right; despite his feeling about being betrothed to her, she deserved an apology for his rude behavior. No one deserved to be treated like a plague. He turned his gaze out his window and stared up at the moon. I should apologize to her for everything.

Lucina watched as Corrin ran the comb through her hair for Naga only knows how long. She couldn't keep the smile off her face. Corrin was adorable, and her contented smile was contagious, it seems.

She took a long sip from her tea as she dared break the comfortable silence between them. "So, you've always been able to turn into a dragon, huh?"

"Yes, I'm not quite sure if it's from my father's side or not" she slowed her brush's movements as she considered her words, "I never really knew my mother enough to say it's from her."

Lucina chose not to dwell on Corrin's last statement. "I mean, he is a dragon, to some extent."

Corrin laughed at that and returned to her hair. Lucina smiled at the other princess. Until an unpleasant thought decided to crawl around in the shadows of her mind. "wait."

Corrin stopped brushing her hair and turned to look at the Ylissean Princess.

"Before, when you told me about your nightmares." Her mouth felt dry even remembering the night Corrin had rushed into her room in tears. "the beast chasing you wasn't-" she didn't dare finish that sentence.

"No," Corrin shook her head wildly. "I wasn't chasing myself."

The Koopa's choice of words didn't go unnoticed by the Ylissean Princess, "But?"

Corrin looked away from her then, and Lucina suddenly regretted pushing the matter. "I was the monster."

She didn't hesitate this time. She couldn't dare imagine how terrible those dreams could have been if Corrin was the one hurting her loved ones. In an instant, she was beside the other girl pulling her into a tight embrace.

Corrin returned the hug tenfold, and in the softest voice she could muster, whispered. "Thank you." Lucina didn't miss the slight tremble from the other princess as she clung to her.

She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, and when Corrin inevitably let go, Lucina couldn't help but feel it was too soon, but she let go nevertheless.

"I should be getting to bed" the pink in her cheeks had returned, and Lucina couldn't help but feel her heart begin to race.

"Shall I accompany you?" Lucina couldn't help but smile back as Corrin eagerly nodded.

The two walked back to Corrin's room, and they lingered at the door. Corrin peeked over her shoulder and, before she walked into her room, suddenly turned and gave Lucina one last tight embrace. "Goodnight, Luci."

Lucina returned it, and just before Corrin let go, she gently placed her hand on her forehead. Corrin didn't move as the Ylissean pressed a kiss to her temple. "Sweet dreams, Corrin."

AN/ I'm not going to lie to you guys; writing Lucina's scene was way harder than it needed to be. I fixed it by putting on the OST of the anime that inspired this fic. Then my brain gave me the helpful idea I needed. Originally Lucina was going to find Corrin's dragon form in the lake. I decided to have her see a naked Corrin instead. That fixed everything. Hope you enjoyed it, and with luck, I'll have the art piece for Chapter 13 up by the time this chapter goes up.

~ (2/13/2022)