Just another goofy and fluffy chapter for you.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 21: Under Festival Lights

Corrin wasn't sure how long she slept, but the nightmares had stayed away from her after she woke up last night. She turned on her side to see Lucina starting to stir awake. She couldn't keep the soft smile from her face as she looked at the other princess.

"Corrin?" Lucina blinked slowly, her mind struggling to process everything. "You're up early," she smiled then, and Corrin couldn't hold back the snickers bubbling up in her chest at hearing Lucina slur her words.

"Yes, well …" she snuggled into their blankets, "I was hoping we could go into town today and see the shops before the festival gets too crowded."

Lucina blinked at her slowly, her mind struggling to process her words. Corrin could practically see the gears turning behind her sleep-dulled eyes. "Alright, let me just," her eyes closed, "get ready …."

Then she started snoring quietly, and Corrin couldn't help but laugh. She shook Lucina's shoulder. "Come on, we have to get up now if we want a good breakfast."

Lucina groaned as Corrin got out of bed, as she clung to Corrin's warmth. "Come back."

Corrin laughed as Lucina crawled after her, "I'm going, I'm going."

The two of them managed to get dressed rather quickly. Deciding to leave the inn hoping to find a good breakfast, they left without telling the guys.

As they crossed the road from the inn to the central square, a hooded figure suddenly dropped down before them, seemingly out of nowhere. Lucina's blade was out in an instant before she fully registered who it was.

"Robin?" Corrin placed an arm on Lucina, holding her back. "Where did you come from?"

"Roof." was all Robin said as he righted himself. "Where are you two off too?"

Corrin couldn't help but feel sheepish, "We were going to go into town…."

Robin looked them both over, "Did you tell the others?"

Now Corrin felt really sheepish. "Should we?"

Robin let out a long and clearly exhausted sigh, "Allow me to come with you."

"I have faith in Akira's leadership, but if you two get captured by other thieves or the kings themselves." He pulled down his hood so they could see the look of absolute despair that crossed his face, "I'll be honest, I have no faith that he'll realize you two vanished. I wouldn't put it past him to leave town without you."

Lucina opened her mouth to protest before Corrin cut her off, "He could carry our stuff."

The Ylissean princess chuckled a bit before putting her sword away. "Fine, I suppose we'll allow it this once." Robin only shook his head, but she noticed he was smiling too.

After having Robin pay for breakfast, the three went downtown and darted from store to store, buying this and that. Corrin couldn't help but notice Robin buying quite a large amount of tomes. She considered buying a few for herself and Lucina. Perhaps they could continue Lucina's magic training while they were traveling.

As they browsed the many stores, something in one of the shop windows caught her attention, and she darted inside without thinking.

The young shopkeeper's eyes lit up the second Corrin burst through the door, "You're perfect." She rushed over to her and took Corrin's hand before she even had a chance to open her mouth, "I know just the outfit."

"Oh?" She wasn't here to buy a new dress, but maybe if she did, she wouldn't have to lug that massive heavy cloak around. Perhaps she could even get a smaller one to cover her head and shoulders as it had been getting rather hot lately. "What do you have in mind?"

"I'll go get it." She rushed off into a back door, and not even a moment later, Robin and Lucina entered the store.

"Corrin," the worried look on Lucina's face thankfully melted away the second she saw her safe. "Try not to rush off like that," her cheeks pinkened slightly, "we almost lost you in that crowd."

"Sorry, I just …" Corrin lowered her gaze, a pink hue to her face. Lucina let out a small sigh, a soft smile sprouting as she decided to ease Corrin's nerves.

"So what did you see that had you running off without a word because you couldn't wait to have it?" Lucina teased. Corrin could feel her face heating up.

"N-nothing." the other princess raised an eyebrow at her before deciding to look around to try and find it herself.

As Lucina looked around the many displayed items, Robin leaned over towards Corrin and whispered conspiratorially, "So what did you actually see?" When she didn't answer, Robin followed her line of sight to see Lucina peering at random things. "Was it a gift for … someone we know?"

Her cheeks burned as she whispered a weak, "maybe."

Robin smiled, "just ask her how much it's worth, and I'll keep Lucina busy while you pay for it."

"Thank you, Robin."

The young shopkeeper returned suddenly with a lovely white kimono. It looked so soft and flowy. Corrin lit up in excitement. "It's so pretty."

Robin tilted his head to the side as he analyzed the outfit. "It's a bit long, isn't it?"

Corrin regarded it, taking it in her hands. Unfortunately, after trying it on over her own outfit, it was far longer than any of them had expected. "But it's so soft," she couldn't hide her disappointment.

The shopkeeper looked pensive for a moment before producing a different outfit, "what about this one?"

She held out a dress much like the first but in a light gray hue. It was sleeveless too, and while it did have a deep neckline, it wasn't all that different from her other outfits. "I love it."

She ended up leaving that shop with quite a good outfit. It was just as soft as the first but far more practical. The shopkeep was also kind enough to trade her princess dress for quite a large sum of coins. She had even made up the difference in surprisingly comfortable hip armor, gloves, gauntlets, and the little gift Corrin had set her eye on.

Akira wasn't panicking. Sure, they had lost the princesses, and Robin, the lazy bum, was nowhere in sight, but everything was probably fine. Besides, the rampaging kings had no idea what they looked like, so his life wasn't in actual danger. Right?

Just as he started debating whether Ylisse was worth the risk of returning, the door opened, revealing the missing trio.

"And, where were you guys?" he tried hiding his earlier not-panic.

"I was keeping an eye on the girls," Robin said as he peeked out from behind a mountain of books. "We've been out all morning, and I decided to stock up on supplies."

"Oh," Akira began picking at his untouched breakfast.

"Who's got next watch?" Robin asked as he handed the princess's thair things before tucking his books into his coat.

Before Akira had the chance to register the question, the other three members had already held up their hands in a silent race of screaming "not it" as fast as possible.

He sighed in utter defeat, "Damn it."

"So, with that settled," Robin turned to look at Corrin, who spoke up. "Who's taking us to the festival?"

"Actually," Robin smiled, "Akira can see you from the roof as long as you stay in the main square, so you two are free to have at it and enjoy yourselves." He gave Corrin a conspiratory smile.

"Really?!" Corrin looped her arm around Lucina's, "Come on!" Then dragged her out the door before any of the guys could tell her to stop.

Akira watched as both princesses darted out the door, "Wait!" he chugged down the rest of his coffee. "You could have at least let me finish my breakfast!" they were gone by then, though, and he bolted up towards the roof, his food abandoned on the table.

After a long overdue nap, Robin emerged from one of the empty rooms they had rented and walked downstairs for dinner. Thankfully this was an inn, so he took a seat at the tavern.

He hadn't noticed Cloud and Byleth off to the side, having taken up a table. He was surprised when Byleth waved him over. Taking it as an invitation, he approached and took up the empty seat opposite the two ex-mercenaries.

Robin looked between the two men before asking, "Where's Leven?"

To his horror, the others just shrugged. Robin placed his head in his hand. Someone like Leven left on their own could get them caught at best and cause some massive destruction at worst.

He was dragged out of his thoughts as Byleth placed an ale in front of him. "I'm sure he's fine."

"I'm just …" he was filled with an overwhelming uncertainty about both Leven and the ale. He lightly inched it back towards Byleth. They didn't seem to notice.

He let out a rough sigh, "I … can't pay for this."

Byleth only tossed him a coin as Cloud said, "You need to lighten up."

They aren't wrong, Robin sighed. He wasn't against ale. It's just … glancing at his teammates currently drowning themselves in ale. He hadn't let his guard down since the war. Since the Shepherds disbanded. Since … Since he'd left Chrom's side.

Back then, it all made sense. He couldn't come out of hiding, not now that Chrom was married. He couldn't expect to be welcomed back into his life, his heart, not after what he's done. Or at least that's what he told himself.

He steered deep into his ale, and as the image of Chrom rushed back into his mind, he drank deeply for the first time in many years.

Akira watched the festival lights as the party was in full swing. He tried desperately to keep his composure. As he tried thinking about anything but his empty stomach. The smell of food wafting in his direction was mocking him.

It wasn't fair that he had to sit here and watch the festival while everyone else enjoyed it. He wasn't bitter … okay, maybe he was a little bitter.

He hadn't noticed Lantern tiptoeing over to him. He only registered it when a plate was set on his lap. He jumped and almost spilled it; thankfully, Lantern pulled it away from him before anything could happen.

"La-Leven?" He caught himself. He was so used to secret meetings and code names he almost forgot his name again. "What are you doing here?"

Leven smiled at him and handed him the plate again. Reaching into his bag, he grabbed a bread roll and took a bite before turning his gaze towards the festival.

Akira looked from the food on his lap towards his teammate and smiled. "Thank you." With a timid blush, he asked, "Can I have some of that?"

He gave Akira a bright smile as he tore it in half. Well, it was more like three-fourths. Then with a grin on his face, he held out the smaller one. Akira reached for it regardless, but Leven popped the smaller piece into his mouth before he could take it. Leaving Akira with the larger one.

Akira couldn't help but smile as he dug into his food. Before Leven leaned against him to take a nap.

He let out a fake-defeated sigh. Fine, I'm a little less bitter about it.

Lucina smiled as Corrin dragged her around the festival in the square. She currently had a fruit-filled sweetened roll halfway out of her mouth. Corrin similarly was in a never-ending cycle of hovering over food carts, handing over coins, and popping whatever it was that caught her attention into her mouth. Unfortunately for them, Corrin had found a meed stall and was quite determined to try it.

Thankfully, after one mug for each of them, a gang of bards started to play. Corrin's eyes lit up as the bards let loose into a beautiful and joyous melody. People, especially couples and children, gathered and started to dance not too far from them.

In a rush, Corrin downed her mug. Then, as she set it down, she turned to face the other princess. She cleared her throat, catching Lucina's attention as it had clearly been forced.

Then with a long sweeping motion, she took the edge of her cloak in one hand and gave a deep bow. Her other hand outstretched to Lucina. The playful grin on her face told Lucina precisely what was running through her mind.

Lucina couldn't hold back a laugh as she placed her hand in Corrin's. It really does look rather ridiculous, doesn't it? She downed the rest of her own mead as Corrin pulled her onto the dancefloor.

Corrin's hand fell on her shoulder, and Lucina reflexively rested her hand at the small of Corrin's back. She found herself leading, and while before she had been so scared of stepping out of line before, the music here was nothing like the castle's ball. There was more of a sway to Corrin's hips. A bounce in her own steps.

While before, she looked at Corrin to keep her own nerves from getting the better of her. Now, Lucina couldn't look anywhere but Corrin's shimmering ruby eyes. They would catch the slightest light from every torch and paper lantern. It was as if she was staring into the starry sky during a sunset.

Corrin beamed at her, "I want to dance until the sun rises."

She could feel her face heating up, but she couldn't help but smile. "Me too," She pulled Corrin closer to herself. I never want to forget tonight.

AN/ welp, that was fun. I hope you guys liked it.

~ (7/11/2022)