If you haven't already figured out, this story will be diverging from canon. Especially when we get to the war. But enjoy!

Dragons were fascinating creatures to Sakura. And from the outlookers in Winterfell, little Sarisa Stark was enamored with them.

As she grew to ages seven and eight, evading the lessons from the Septas, she was typically found huddled in some corner of the keep with her nose shoved in a book. Reading tales of the Targaryens and their conquest across the realm.

Despite constant words from both of her parents about skipping her lessons- they did not do much to detour her on forgoing her readings. After all, Sakura learned early on that a pouty lip and tears were enough to get her way.

"Mother will be upset." A voice broke through the silence as Sakura lifted her head up- nose scrunched as she took in her eldest brothers appearance.

"No she won't" She replied, a little stuck-up in Sakura's opinion. But she had an image to uphold.

Rickon rolled his eyes, crouching down to her level. His hand reached forward, plucking her newest book from her fingers. Sakura scowled, yet she doubted it was all that intimidating to her brother- whose lip twitched to form a smile.

"Yes, yes dear sister. But your lessons are still important." Rickon stared down at her.

Sakura glanced from his face to the book he had stolen from her grasp. "Sewing is important?" She drawled sarcasticly. Rickon shook his head. "Everyone needs clothes-" he paused, giving his next few words a thought. "-and wouldn't it be nice to provide for your future husband and children?"

Sakura's face blanched at his words, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. To her brother, she was sure he thought her merely embarrassed to talk about boys, and relationships. But deep down, Sakura was unsure if she could start another family.

Her whole life had revolved around Sasuke. He was her teammate, her enemy, her lover, and then the father of their child. And her sweet, sweet daughter. Sarada, the light of her world. Ripped from the living much too soon. How could she hold another man, another babe so soon after their deaths? It felt like betrayal.

So she lifted her chin, crossing her arms over her chest. "I won't marry."

Rickon sighed as he heard her speak. "You will marry eventually. Father will make sure to secure you a fine match." He murmurs to her, eyes watching her as if the wrong thing would set her ablaze. But Sakura stood firm in her belief she would not marry. She could see as her brothers walls crumbled, instead he looked at her with exasperation. "What will you do if you do not marry sister? Rot away in this keep?"

She pouted. "I will.." she trailed off, trying to think of something to derail him.

"I will become a knight!" She finished, jutting her chin out even further.

The silence that followed was thick, before Rickon burst into laughter. "A knight? Prey tell, if you can not sit though sewing lessons, how might you fare in swordsmanship?" He mocks, not as unfriendly as one might think.

Upset, Sakura forces herself up from where she sat. Glaring mutely at the crouched form of her brother- then with all the might her young, chakra-less body, shoved Rickon backwards. And with such an awkward position and lack of support, went tumbling back onto the stone floor.

Triumphant, she bends down and plucks her fallen book from the floor and dusting it off.

"Fine, watch and learn brother." She looks down at him through the tip of her nose.

"I'll sew the finest gowns, and slay the biggest of men." She pulled her book against her chest, hugging it as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

Rickon went to stand just as she went to leave. Her head tilted down towards him- with a type of hardened steel that no child should have. "Don't underestimate me."

"NO!" Lysa bellowed, her cry echoing across the courtyard.

Sakura watched as her mother fell knees-first into the snow, her hands quivering up beneath her husbands cold body. Sakura turned her head towards one of her brothers, Bennard, wincing as their mother sobbed.

His hand found her shoulder.

"Grab mother, i'll need to inform Rickon.." He trailed off.

Sakura nodded sharply, trudging through the snow towards her lady mother. As she approached, she willed away her tears - crying would not help her.

"Mother- please. Let's go inside." She urged with a whisper.

With all her years of training, nothing could ever prepare her for the utter look of anguish clouding her mothers face as she turned to regard her. But Lysa nodded, and stood on shaky legs. Sakura offered her hand, gritting her teeth as her mothers fingers gripped her smaller ones with more force than necessary.

They walked side by side towards the keep. The silence deafening.

Moments later, Rickon turned the corner- his eyes wide with disblief. Yet hardened as he took in the two of them. Sakura could feel her mother tremble as she looked at her eldest son.

"Rickon-" Lysa choked on a sob.

"Rest mother. I will handle everything." He spoke.

Sakura looked between the two, opening her mouth to speak. But as Rickon's gaze lowered to hers, she found herself unable to utter anything.

"Sarisa, head to your room. You have lessons with your Septa soon." He addressed her.

Sakura's eyes furrowed, going to retort. But she faltered once again at the sharp shake of her brothers head. With a resigned huff, she spun on her heel. She saw Bennard approach from the corner of her eye, but did not allow for him to catch up- rushing down the hallway.

Her father, no- Sarisa's father was dead.

Tears fell from her eyes.

If she had her chakra, perhaps she could have been there. To save her mother from the grief that clouded her. To save her brother from having to grow up too fast to fill in the vacent position left by their father.

The door to her room slammed shut, and Sakura crumbled to the edge of her bed. Her fingers clutching at the sheets, growing white as her sadness fell into anger.

Sakura wouldn't loose another precious person. Too soon had she lot Sasuke and Sarada. And now her father? The one that helped shape her as she grew to understand this new world? She sobbed as she leaned into the bed.

She couldn't lose another person. She couldn't.