My brain apologizes for the slow uploading schedule. Enjoy.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 9: Free Fall

Shulk and Rex walked down one of the garden's many twisting pathways. Rex awkwardly adjusted his shoulder, trying to loosen up what few injuries Summer had given him as he prepared her for the Princess's visit.

Rex turned to Shulk and broke the silence. "Any reason Marth called for both of us?"

"I can't quite say," Shulk sighed. "it's unusual for His Majesty to seek out more than just my company. Perhaps he took a liking to your ..." he made a vague motion as if trying to think on how best to explain what he meant.

"I get ya" Rex shook his head. "Pyra says Corrin likes having me around too, so I can only take a guess as to what ya mean."

Then a soft melody carried on the wind caught the attention of the two young men.

"What's that?" Rex took off at a brisk jog, following the sounds of music.

Shulk recognized that sound anywhere, "Oh dear," and he took off running after Rex. Marth is far more stressed than I could have thought.

The sound of footsteps snapped Marth out of his trance: he lowered his stringed companion, the ballad dying on his lips. He turned to find Rex out of breath and Shulk just behind him in a similar state. "Oh good, you're here."

Rex whipped his head up and, with wide eyes, said, "I didn't know you could sing like that!"

"Uhhh," heat rushed into Marth's face; he had been careless. "can you forget about that … forever."

"But-"

"Please."

Shulk straightened, "Marth is rather shy about his past time," the seer couldn't hold back a smile.

"Shulk" Marth was prepared to die here and now.

The Seer must have known this since he spared the prince any further embarrassment. "So, what was it you needed us for, M'lord?"

"Right well," he struggled to regain his composure. "I need to talk to someone about this" he was tempted to go into the resources of his mind to recover his royal mask. but in the presence of the only people he could consider true friends, he didn't. "I'm all messed up, and I don't know what to do."

Rex plopped himself down beside the prince, a concerned look crossing his features. "We're all ears."

Marth lowered his head, and after trying to gather his thoughts, he picked up the lute again and started strumming to ease his nerves. If he noticed Rex watching on wide-eyed like a child, he made no mention of it. His nerves were far too fried to even try and put up his mask. He sighed after a while. "Am I overthinking this?"

Shulk took a seat to the other side of the prince. "Overthinking what exactly?"

"King Bowser," Marth wasn't sure how to say this, "I think he and my father are plotting an engagement."

Rex scratched his head, a bit confused. "Well, good for them."

"No like," Marth tried not to smirk at that jab before his mood dropped again to the matter of discussion. "they're planning to marry Corrin and me."

"What's wrong with Corrin?"

Marth shook his head. "It's nothing wrong with Corrin," he struggled with his words. "it's more like-"

Shulk thankfully saved him the agony to put it into words. "You're not ready to be betrothed?"

The prince let out a relieved sigh as if a great weight was pulled off his chest "Yeah."

"And you called us here for advice?" Shulk sounded absolutely at a loss as to why he was being asked to help. "not really sure what we could say."

Marth stopped his absentminded strumming and turned to face the seer. "Rex, I understand. He's hopelessly in love with Lady Pyra-" he made a motion to Rex.

"Now hold on a sec-" the boy's face was a deep red; Marth wouldn't be surprised if he fainted then and there out of embarrassment.

Marth returned his attention to the seer. "But Shulk, what about Fiora?"

"Fiora?" Shulk tilted his head to the side. "I'm not too sure what you mean."

Marth fixed the blonde with a deadpan look. "You've got to be kidding me" he shook his head, "I thought you two were dating"

Shulk blushed slightly at that. "What no … she's not into me."

"You're blind," Marth resisted the urge to smack the side of his friend's skull. "or stupid" he shook his head again. "She brings you dinner and tries to make a special meal just for you."

Shulk seemed to redden a bit more. "She doesn't do that for everyone?"

"Fiora?" Rex scratched his head, trying to recall something "isn't that one of the Castle's cooks" then his eyes shone with full recognition "wait! Was she the one who tried to break my arm yesterday"

Marth nodded. "The very same."

"Oh"

Marth couldn't hold back a smug smile. "You're all hopeless" At that, he laughed for the first time since Bowser came to Ylisse. The prince was still unsure how to fix his problem, but it didn't matter at that moment.

Chrom tightened his grip on the racket as he watched Bowser so intensely he had almost forgotten where he stood. If he focused on the other king, he could almost forget he was hundreds of feet off the ground. Stop, No, Don't think about it.

He stared down at the other king and widened his stance. His eyes darting towards the ball headed his way. With one mighty swipe of his weapon, he sent it back towards the Koopa.

He lept this way and that, his racket striking true every time.

Until finally, the ball soared past Bowser, smacking the floor beside him. Another point in Chrom's favor. "You're better than I thought."

Chrom loosened the tension in his shoulders as he huffed out another breath. "Underestimating me was your first mistake" he raised his racket back towards his opponent.

The other king roared out in laughter, "Now that sounds like a challenge."

The Exalt retook his fighting stance. "And if it is?"

Bowser said nothing but his fanged smirk said enough.

This time, when the Koopa King served the ball, he made sure to blast it with his fire breath.

The fireball pulled Chrom out of time.

"Those mages have it out for you" a gloved hand conjured a fireball while the other closed a tome. "Use your blade and toss it my way."

"You're mad."

"If we get this right, you'll be able to counterattack long-range enemies."

"And if I fail?"

"Then we die and lose the war."

"No pressure then."

"Welp, that's what training is for," the orb spiraled and danced, suspended just above his comrade's hand "ready?"

When the ball headed his way, Chrom stood his ground.

His racket met the ball head-on and sent it right back to the other king.

Bowser, while caught off guard, recovered quickly. Soon smoke covered the ship's hull, and the fireball soared back and forth, barely missing the net.

Despite his resolve, his racket wasn't able to take the strain for very long. Another point to Bowser, All be it a cheap one.

The tension was thick for a moment; Bowser must have known it was a cheap victory.

"Well," Chrom tossed his broken racket aside, his hand reaching for a suitable replacement, "what are you waiting for?"

Bowser looked confused but said nothing.

The Exalt unsheathed the blade at his hip. "I've got all I need right here."

Bowser shook his head in amusement "whatever, but if you cut the ball, that's a foul."

Chrom retook his battle stance. "Fine by me."

The match continued, and soon Chrom managed to land another few points ahead of Bowser despite the smoke and danger.

Bowser roared in frustration and reached for something. He raised the cherry high before swallowing it whole. Chrom was slightly confused at first but absolutely bewildered when a second Bowser appeared beside the first. Then with the two in sync completely, Bowser served up another fireball.

This time Chrom's instincts went primal. Back to a gruesome time. Back to when a mistake would lead to death. Back to the war.

Fire spun all around him, and a shout summoned him towards action. A familiar voice that guided him true. Heeding its call, he dove for another strike.

Chrom's head was spinning. It didn't matter where he was. All that mattered was that he survived.

Then as he lashed out again to his left, a familiar silhouette stood, hand outstretched. No doubt guiding his aim. A specter he hadn't seen since those painful times.

The only reason he lived through that war. A face he never expected to see again.

But he wasn't on the airship anymore, where he was, he wasn't sure.

His hearing was muffled. His vision blurred.

Then with one last strike and the specter guiding his aim, all he heard was a resounding crash.

Then suddenly, a hand was gripping his arm. When he turned, he found a mess of red shapes. And a muffled voice calling out to him.

He shook his head, closed his eyes, and tried to relax his breathing.

"Your Highness?" it was Pyra; she was concerned.

Despite the faint ringing in his ears, he fought to still his trembling mussels and turned to see Bowser staring at where his double had been, a look of slight fear as he stared down at the hole in its place.

"Sorry about that," Chrom rubbed at the back of his neck, his senses slowly returning to him as he calmed his breathing. "I suppose the war left quite an impression on me."

"Right," Bowser looked back at the other king, "I keep forgetting you're a veteran."

"Yes, well," Chrom lowered his gaze, the image of what he had hallucinated still lurking at the back of his mind, "so had I, it seems."

Pyra awkwardly patted out a small fire started on the net, "Maybe, we should end the game here?"

"Right."

Chrom stared at the hole and found only a mound of ash. "How about a drink."

Lucina ran her hand along Summer's scales as the wyvern napped softly in the warm sunlight. The dragon nipped at the air a bit but otherwise made no other protest.

Corrin, in the meantime, was tending to her claws, ensuring her friend was being taken proper care of. "I think she's taken a liking to you" The other princess gave her a cheery smile.

"Well," Lucina gave the dragon's nose a gentle pat before getting up to see what Corrin was up to. "she's a lot less hostile at the moment."

Corrin chuckled as she polished Summer's scales. "Oh, she loves you."

Lucina watched the gentle attention Corrin gave the scales. She blushed slightly when the other princess offered her another rag as if asking to help.

Lucina hesitantly took it and followed Corrin's motions to a T. After a while. she wasn't sure if Summer was letting out a low rumbling sound, almost like purring, "Love is a strong word."

Corrin puffer her cheeks out slightly in her best attempt at a pout, "I'll prove it."

"Oh?" Lucina could only raise an eyebrow at her friend.

With a bright smile, she said, "You're taking the reins today," but the Ylissean didn't fail to notice the mischievous glint in her eye.

Summer perked up suddenly, her tail swearing excitably as her newly sharpened claws dug into the dirt. She reminded Lucina of a playful cat, especially when she noticed Summer's eyes dilating. "What!" she stammered out as Corrin smiled back at her with a look, not unlike an excited puppy.

Corrin rushed into Summer's stall to change her dress. She called out, "Trust me, you'll be fine. I'll be with you." The memory of Corrin in her riding attire suddenly resurfaced to the forefront of Lucina's mind.

The heat rushed to her cheeks as she started to tie up her hair in an attempt to distract herself. "I don't know. I have a bad record with mounts, so."

The second Corrin rushed out of the stalls, Lucina's mind shut down. She doesn't remember saddling Summer. She doesn't remember getting on the dragon. She doesn't remember helping Corrin onto the dragon. What she does remember was the way the sunlight shone off Corrin's face, her deep ruby eyes reminding Lucina of the sunset. The deep red of her eyes almost made her cheeks look slightly pink under the soft sunlight.

The weight of the actual reins snapped her out of her blissful fog. "How do I let you con me into this?" she tightened her grip on the leather now in her hands.

Corrin's arms looped around her waist, "That's my little secret."

"How," Lucina could hear the grin on Corrin's face despite not being able to see her. "tap her sides when you wanna take off."

"Alright," The Ylissean princess did as she was told.

She tried to suppress a scream as Summer spread her wings and took off. Corrin hugged her tightly, and Lucina stopped breathing. Her heartbeat seemed so loud to her now. She let her breath out when Summer steadied herself. Spreading her wings out and letting them glide through the air. Corrin may have loosened her grip, but she didn't let her go. The Ylissean wasn't sure if she really wanted her to let go.

With the weight of the other girl at her back and the wind blowing back her hair, Lucina could admit, she really did enjoy this, the whole experience.

"It's absolutely wonderful, Corrin" something was comforting about the other girl holding her like this. It was as if her mere presence made everything feel safe.

She could feel Corrin laugh more than she could hear it, especially the way she hung on to her like this. "I told you Summer liked you."

She tried to fight down a smile, "How do you figure?"

Corrin scooted closer and placed her head on Lucina's shoulder, perhaps so she could hear her better. "She wouldn't have gotten off the ground otherwise."

"Really," she tried to ignore the press of the other girl at her back, "how can you be sure?"

"She refuses to move if anyone but me is in her saddle" Lucina could feel her breath on the back of her neck. She was thankful that Summer didn't require too much attention for a leisurely glide. "It took forever to be able to get her to follow Rex into the stables."

"Really?" she prayed to Naga that Corrin couldn't see the blush on her face.

"Maybe I should let you steer more often." she snuggled into her back again as if to prove her pint.

She should have said no and admitted she was terrified of falling. But with Corrin hugging her like this, she could help but say. "Sounds like fun."

AN/ *muffled screaming*

It took so long to be able to finish this chapter. Originally it was just going to be Chrom's and Lucina's scenes, but when my brain refused to do anything, I added that Marth scene to get started on something since I was so terrified of doing Chrom's scene.

It didn't matter since I ended up taking two months to finish that scene anyway. But thankfully, it's over, and I shouldn't have to worry about anything that intense for another few chapters. Hopefully, the next chapter will be out soon. And prepare yourselves cuz the next one is a ride.

~ (11/8/21)