So initially, the next chapter was supposed to be Chapter 7, but I felt that I should spend more time on this subject.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 6: Twin Flames

Lucina watched as Corrin summoned a small ball of fire. She cradled the small orb of fire within her palms; her eyes fixed on Lucina. "Let's try focusing on something other than the summoning for a bit."

"Hold out your hand."

Lucina looked down at the orb and hesitantly held out her hand. "Like this?"

Corrin then gently placed her hand in Lucina's, "Now try not to think of it as fire."

"I mean, it's kinda hard," Lucina watched the chaotic little ball of destruction, "it being fire and all," however, within Corrin's palms. It looked more like the light from a candle rather than one spawned from the abyss.

"Luci," there was something about the way Corrin said her name that drew Luci's attention away from the orb.

"Here," gently Corrin began to slide out her hand from between the magic and Lucina.

"Try and focus more on what you actually feel and not what you see," Lucina wanted to think about the magic. However, all that consumed her mind was the odd realization that Corrin's hand was very soft.

"Now hold out your other hand" Lucina wouldn't admit that she responded a bit too quickly to Corrin's request, cupping Corrin's hand in her own.

Until Corrin began to slip her other hand away. "Now, just hold it there."

Lucina watched the flame dance and rise slightly before Corrin spoke up again. "try to look at anything but the magic."

To that, Lucina looked up and almost forgot about the magic entirely. The way the light from the setting sun and her little orb played off each other in a way that made Corrin look almost otherworldly.

"That's it," Corrin cheered, pulling Lucina out of her thoughts,

She was forced to remember the orb, and after realizing she had been holding fire for a while, she noticed that it didn't feel like fire; perhaps that was what Corrin meant earlier.

She could feel the weight of it, feel the energy. Whatever it was, it had weight, and if she thought about it, it also seemed weightless. "Weird."

"That's magic for you," Corrin smiled and summoned another one "try and to think about it too much."

"Now that you can properly hold it, try controlling it." Corrin began pulling her flame into different shapes "magic is shapeless, so try and think of it less of whatever you're summoning and more as just magic."

Lucina tried, "I think I have a vague idea of what you mean."

Corrin smiled "and that's alright."

"Well, now that you've managed to get a rough idea, try and toss it at that target over there."

Lucina turned away from Corrin and faced the target. She tried to tighten her grip on the magic without actually closing her hand; she imagined it as a ball and focused on the target. She pulled her arm back and flung it towards the target.

Then in a mess of wood splinters and chunks of ash, the target burst.

Lucina, high off her victory over her magic lesson, turned and pulled Corrin into a tight embrace. The flame Corrin was playing with was tossed skyward in her surprise, bursting into a shower of embers over them.

Corrin returned the hug after recovering from her initial surprise. The two stayed that way until Corrin finally spoke up, "now time to work on your summoning."

Chrom fought back a yawn as Shulk read him his obligations and important notices that he had missed. During his meeting with Bowser, an inevitable hangover, and his recovery.

"Also, His Majesty has informed me that his entourage will be arriving soon." Shulk looked at the quick note Pyra had scribbled into his notes "we should be expecting them in a week or so."

"So soon?" Chrom shook his head, trying to wrap his head around how quickly the rest of his gest's attendants would be getting here. considering they would be crossing the sea. "well, regardless, make sure we are ready for them."

Shulk shook his head. "M- I mean, Pyra assures me we'll never be properly ready but that it's alright."

"Well, that's," Chrom tried to push down the concerning implications, "reassuring."

"Indeed," Shulk sighed and then closed the book he was reading from. "Well, that should wrap up the last of my announcements" he tucked the book under an arm and turned to leave.

"Oh Shulk," Chrom spoke up. His mind had been racing ever since he had decided to pick up the bottle again upon Bowser's arrival. "anything I should know about?"

Shulk turned to face his king, "What do you mean?"

"Have you?" feelings and memories like hidden treasures locked away in the very corners of his mind were being brought to light. The pain that those memories held was overwhelming at times. "Seen anything?"

"A specter of your past," there was this sympathetic look that crossed the Seer's young features, "I think."

"I see" Chrom knew Shulk had added that last part to ease his nerves, "well, thank you, Shulk."

When Shulk had left him alone, he buried his head in his hands. Shulk had seen something; that much was fact. Am I turning into my father? Chrom shook off the thought just as quickly as it had rushed into his mind. He wouldn't force Marth into an arranged marriage; he'll let the lad get to know Bowser's daughter before he would even consider the thought.

He opened a desk drawer and pulled out a simple leather-bound journal. Its simple cover was worn with years of consecutive use. The way the dust had started clinging to proved it had gone years without being opened.

He reached for the clasp, but something stopped him. A shame tightened in his wrist as if a specter was clamping down on it. He shouldn't.

AN/ well, there you go, another magic chapter. Corrin and Luci don't have red tome alts but I thought fire magic would just be easier to work with for this chapter. Also, that stuff with Chrom, well, I'll get into it later, trust me. Anyway, have a nice day and I'll. See you soon.

~ S. Rosey (7/19/21)