Hey, guys, I know it's been a while. It's just getting really hard to keep going. However, I will keep going because I love this story and will not give up on it. I'm just not going to be pumping out chapters as fast as I used to. Dealing with massive brain fog and writing is getting really difficult. So again, I apologize for the enormous gap between updates.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 17: The Hunt Begins

Lucina pulled the cloak closer around her shoulders, and Corrin was huddled close to her similarly, fast asleep. The Ylissean kept a tight grip on her blade as she overlooked those five strangers.

The two that allegedly kidnapped her were driving the wagon. The one she assumed was the leader leaned against some of the supplies meanwhile, two absolute strangers sat around them. Of the two, one, the older one, studied a map. None of them kept their masks.

As she studied their faces, she realized that aside from their leader. She had seen them all before.

This is way too weird to be a coincidence.

The green-haired man driving the wagon turned his head to the rest of them, "City Gates!"

At that, the leader sat up and pulled out a bag. Then handed the princesses a fake mustache and a pair of glasses not unlike his own. "Put these on."

"You can't be serious." However, once they made it towards the gate, the gatekeeper turned, spoke to the men driving, and then made his way to the back of the wagon and looked inside.

He made direct eye contact with Lucina and then made a wave. "All clear," then to the driver, "carry on."

Lucina steered up at the ceiling, unable to process the anxiety that would follow knowing her kingdom's guards were this way.

What even is my life?

Chrom clenched the hilt of Falchion tightly. His rage precariously balanced on a thin wire. Bowser, on the other hand, was fuming. The smoke that billowed from the corners of his mouth was only a fraction of the outrage coursing through his veins; no doubt he was too angry to move.

After the castle guard raised back and reported that the grounds were empty, no thieves were found, and to top it off, a calling card had been left on Chrom's desk.

It said nothing new, aside from calling Bowser and him "Prideful Lords whose ignorance has cost them their greatest treasures." Only now did he realize it wasn't any petty threat of robbery. It was a warning that his daughters would be swiped up while he and the guard were busy fighting the other thieves.

Pyra had thankfully arrived and freed the guard and opened up the doorways that had been frozen over. That had been when they had found out about the Princesses' kidnapping.

"Pyra," Bowser finally spoke despite his rage, "call Kamek."

The young woman reached up and removed her earring. She held it out and, by some magic, he didn't know, summoned a small figure near see-through. It was another Koopa, a tiny one. He shared many of Bowser's features, no doubt the son he mentioned when they met.

Then through some sort of magic, "Pyra?" The boy's voice came through as if he was standing in the room. "What's going on?"

"Oh, Junior," Pyra smiled, hiding her surprise, "may we speak to Kamek?"

There was a brief moment where nothing happened. The smaller Koopa crossed his arms in what was clearly a pout.

After one long and pleading look from Pyra, he vanished, and another Koopa took his place. This one was clearly older. He had large glasses and was wearing robes and something akin to a mage's cap.

"Lady Pyra?" he frowned. "did something happen?"

Pyra looked towards Bowser for a moment "we need your assistance …" She returned her gaze to the older Koopa, "immediately."

"What happened?"

Pyra looked worried. "Corrin has been kidnapped."

"What!" Pyra winced as she could hear Bowser Jr., and sure enough, the young prince jumped into view, almost crushing Kamek beneath him.

"Nobody hurts, big sis! Let me at 'em!"

"Young Master, please get off me."

"Come on, Kamek!"

Then the bright light coming out of Pyra's earring vanished.

Marth stood under the arch. The expanse of quiet in this part of the castle was unsettling. The training grounds were never meant to be this peaceful. Slowly he walked inside. Lucina would spend much of her day here, and this was always the best place to find her.

Yesterday wasn't a dream. His sister was gone, and he was powerless to help her.

He sat at one of the benches and steered out at the lifeless space. Maybe if he'd been stronger, he would have been of some use.

A hand was placed on his shoulder, and he turned to face the seer. He'd missed his arrival. They exchanged glances, and Shulk took the spot beside him.

Then Marth rose to his feet, a determined look crossing his features. The prince picked up one of the nearby blades and turned toward the seer.

"Cancel everything I have planned today."

Lucina looked between the three men gathered around the map. She took a deep breath and let it out in a puff. "Who even are you guys?"

"Joker," the leader said as he adjusted his glasses. "Call me Akira."

He pointed, and the man studied the map closely. "That's Grim."

He motioned towards the only man whose name she did know, "that's Lantern."

He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder "the other two are Solder and Ashen."

Corrin let out a yawn as she was woken up from her earlier nap, "that's nice, but what do we actually call you?"

"..."

"You guys don't actually know each other's names do you?" Lucina raised an eyebrow.

"..."

"We do …" Akira awkwardly shifted in his spot.

Grim let out a disappointed puff "the man driving the wagon is Byleth, the green-haired one."

Corrin peeked over the wagon's divider to look at the two men who kidnapped her, now that they didn't wear their masks. "Wait, haven't we seen you somewhere before?"

Byleth only shrugged as Robin continued, "His friend is Cloud."

"You know Akira," he made a half-wave to Joker, "and that's Leven."

"I thought so," Lucina sighed "you're the local blacksmith, aren't you?" the boy nodded.

"Now that we have introductions out of the way," Robin let out a heavy sigh, "what exactly was the plan?"

"You didn't have a plan?" Corrin gave them an amused smile.

"I meant where exactly are you girls headed?" he motioned to the map "we run the risk of getting caught if we run around aimlessly."

"We .. aren't sure," Lucina shifted awkwardly "we just wanted to get out of there."

Robin sighed "what land is allied with your fathers? If we can avoid those, we won't have to worry about an ambush."

"Hyrule has a strong bond with Ylisse."

"And my Dad has basically conquered all of the Mushroom Kingdom."

Leven then motioned to a section of roads that held no marker. "Alliance Territory?"

Robin nodded "that would make a good path to take, but I wouldn't put it past the Exalt to match up the entire continent three times over if he had to."

"What about Fodlan?" That caught the attention of the rest of the group. They looked up at the driver.

Byleth only tilted his head to the side to face them. "It's an island not far from here; it's basically a nation in a bubble."

"In fact," he returned his gaze to the road. "I'm sure I can pull some strings back home to make you guys essentially disappear."

The group five in the back exchange glances before nodding in agreement.

"Then it's decided."

Chrom had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed the immense magical rift in his throne room. He hadn't noticed the two Koopas strolling into his home.

The masked grimleal was what consumed his mind. There was no way that could be Robin. Robin was gone. Right? Even if he was still alive, why would he do this? Why would he work with the dastards who kidnapped his daughter?

He gripped Falchion with white-knuckled frustration. No, there was no way that could be Robin. He'll prove it.

He was yanked out of his rumination by Bowser placing a clawed hand on his shoulder. "Huh?"

A dark and dangerous smirk crossed the other king's face. "Kamek found a lead."

Chrom nodded once, "an alliance then," and extended a hand towards the other king. "We'll bring our daughters back."

Bowser smirked and shook hands with the Exalt. "We'll make 'em pay."

AN/I think my main issue is either motivation or burnout. I think it might be the ladder since I started scribbling up a second story to keep me from getting rusty. And mid-way through the first chapter. Boom! This chapter gets almost completely finished in one go. So if you like my work, keep your eyes peeled. I might release another story soon … or it might already be out. Who knows. I certainly don't. Anyways thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

~ (5/13/22)