A/N: First off, there's something I had left unspoken, and wish to bring up. Corrin/Yasei did not get her baby/childhood memories back after transforming into a dragon! Secondly, due to the huge lore changes… I've also decided to revamp a number of select Support Conversations. Depending on how much time Yasei spends with a character, there might even be a C-rank before the war starts…

And I wonder who might be the most eligible for that one?

Consort: Hrm… I think that slight sheen of water might point towards something aside from brute strength. That said, I have been making it clear that Nohr has higher Strength on average, while Hoshido has higher Speed.

Remember kids, always stretch before you start doing the more intense maneuvers! *nods* Oh yes, especially since the ointment was placed on her sensitive Wyrmslayer wound! Maybe Kaze's training included some sort of 'Sensitive Skin Care' guide? Imagine him taking some make-up courses.

Ah yes, Corrin's stance for wanting peace has already been made clear! I'm afraid it's a bit too early to share that kind of information… besides, we haven't even gotten to wartime yet.

Antex: Yeah… the Royals (except the Royal Tactician) get enough time to chitter chatter. Yes! The time needed to be extended! She needs more reason to be with her… 'family'.

Right, taking my time, and doing it in stride. This will be the definitive version of Yasei! I've learned quite a lot since 'Thirst for Blood' and as my favorite incarnation of Corrin (Sorry Lupus… Yasei will always get back to the top), I will give her the proper treatment!

Kaze guides me through the halls of Shirasagi with ease, though to me… I might've gotten lost. I only have the Northern Castle's lay-out memorized, and whew… I can remember Krakenburg being one giant maze. I can certainly get the grand scale with so much walking done, but still… couldn't we have spared a bit of this stonework to help out Hoshido? If Hoshido's ore supply is so lacking when compared to Nohr, then wouldn't it make more sense for Shirasagi to not be about the same size as Krakenburg? "Kaze?" I suddenly ask, "We've been walking for a while, and I can't help but think that… maybe Shirasagi could be a little smaller?"

He doesn't show any visual signs of acknowledging that question, but I can sort of… just 'know' that he did. "Hoshido isn't as in demand for ore." The reply is swift, simple, and to the point.

"True, but…" Wait. "Well, most of the houses in Nohr are built with stone. I just realized that I'm unaware of the main components for Hoshidan buildings."

He nods, as subtle as it was, "The villages are mainly a combination of wood and stone. Aside from the capital, the only other places to use stone is Izumo and our port city, Dennabarrow."

I follow along, though… "I've heard of Izumo. My little brother taught me about it!" I smile.

"I'm… sorry? I know you aren't referring to Lord Takumi."

And I frown for a moment. "Leo. Prince Leo. Of Nohr." My face takes a more straight expression, though before any other comment could be made, "Izumo is ruled by Izama, correct? The Duke of Peace?"

Thankfully, he takes the topic change. "It is. I'm afraid I haven't heard much of him specifically, but his city is one of the few neutral territories in all the lands." Wait, if he's the… "I'm afraid negotiations are still out of reach, milady. Even the Duke wouldn't be able to arrange a meeting right now."

He saw right through me. Kaze literally answered a question I hadn't even formed yet! "Kaze? While I do appreciate the swift response... please don't do that again." I warn him. "I would like to be able to get my thoughts out before they're cut off and left behind." Wait, that came out really harsh again.

However, if he was actually offended by it, he is still hiding it very well. "My sincerest apologies, Lady Corrin." A stern reply, and I can even get the hint of emotion behind it.

I take a moment to look around, high ceiling. Carpeted hallways, paintings, lanterns and… oh. Wait, I think I recognize that one. I stop and look up towards a rather built woman, hefting a mace over her shoulder… and a child in the other arm. She's smiling, her chest seems to be puffed up with pride. The child in her arm has a similar darkened skin tone to herself. "Is this Delilah?" I ask.

"Yes, milady. The child is her eldest daughter." He quickly informs me.

I wonder why the eldest daughter left? "Do you know her name?"

"I do not, Milady. Though, I may suggest that Reina or Yukimaru may know. Reina… is well informed and Yukimaru simply keeps up with a lot of information about the Royal line." Kaze is standing beside me. "How is your side, milady?" He suddenly asks.

"It's well, for now at least… I was hoping that ointment would be stronger." I reply, before resuming walking, and Kaze quickly takes the lead. "So, uh… Yukimaru? The Royal Tactician. I don't remember him." Well, I also don't remember anyone else from before my time in Nohr. It's kind of frustrating… but then I see the looks of joy and relief on everyone else who I once 'knew', and that frustration fades away. Who cares if I can't remember them back then? I'm here now, and that makes everyone here happy! "Reina is the leader of the Kinshi Knights, and one of my mother's retainers. Orochi is a skilled Diviner and the other of my mother's retainers…" I list off.

"Kagero actually used to be her first retainer, but she had her reassigned to Lord Ryoma." Kaze smoothly informs me. "Saizo, my brother, is the second of his retainers. Lady Hinoka's retainers are Setsuna and Azama. Lord Takumi's retainers are Oboro and Hinata. Last, but not least, Lady Sakura's retainers are Hana and Subaki."

Well, it's good that everyone has theirs, but… "Does anybody have a personal Maid? Or a Butler?"

He pauses, "I'm unsure why Nohr decided to do that. There are 'Maids', as in the people who just clean… and Nohr has 'Maids', who are also trained extensively in the use of Daggers. Lady Corrin, you spoke of having… 'personal Maids', correct?"

I nod with a brief smile, "I did. Jakob is a devoted Butler, as well as him being one of my retainers. Felicia and Flora are both my Maids, twin sisters from the Ice Tribe." There it is, I can see the slightest of emotion again, at the phrase 'one of my retainers', gods… he really wants to be one of them. I should really ask him, but I'm worried that asking this soon will look weird. I mean, I didn't ask Jakob for years. I had considered asking Felicia or Flora, but that was before Leo taught me the finer points of 'balancing' the skill set out, and having what essentially amounted to two Maids/Butlers isn't a good route to take. So, if a Ninja is basically a Butler with more focus on fighting...

Then again, my little brother is excellent with magic, but he still has a spell-casting retainer. What was his name again? Ugh, I can't remember. Still, my retainers are my choice, and if big brother, uh my Hoshidan one that is, has two Ninjas…

"Milady?" If Kaze didn't ask that, I would've ran right into him. Whoops. "This is the War Room."

"Thank you, Kaze." I approach it and apply a gentle knock.

"May I ask who this is?" Comes the reply.

"Princess Corrin." I place a power behind my words, making my station as 'Princess' known.

"Lady Corrin? Please, come in, then." Awesome! I nod towards Kaze, then carefully open the door. He may have given me permission, but I'm also not going to barge in. Once I enter, the first thing I see is a huge table, and on it is an equally large map of Hoshido and Nohr. There are so many pieces laid out on this map. I recognize these pieces as the ones for strategy. Leo used similar ones in 'Wyvern Wars', a tactical board game we would play from time to time. Granted, I see Pegasi pieces instead of Wyverns, but… I am in Hoshido, after all. Maybe there's… uh, 'Pegasus Patrols'?

"No no." Leo once sighed at me. "Yes, Wyvern riders are weak to arrows, but you can't position your archers here. Look." He 'pulled down' the trees and revealed a set of Samurai. "Your archers will be torn to shreds."

I crossed my arms. "I'm still learning, little brother." Besides, I literally couldn't even see them!

"On a count of thirty-seven to five, in my favor." He not-so-gently reminded me. "Sister, you need to take these lessons more seriously."

I idly push a Mercenary unit around, "Brother, I don't want to lead an army. Why can't I just… you know, fight under someone else's command?"

"Tactics is part of your Royal training, sister." He firmly stated, then proceeded to use his magic to hold the Mercenary unit down. "Every Royal."

I glanced up at him, "Then, you're going to make Elise go through this, too?" Gods, if I've no desire for this, I can only imagine how badly Elise will take to it. "Yeah, but you're clearly better at it. Big Brother is better at it than me, so…" I apply more force to the unit, but I'm also not really trying.

Leo sighs and pinches his brow for a moment. "Sister? You have deep magical potential, you learn faster than most could hope to. You could become a valuable Tacti…"

"If I had to fight, then I don't want to be the one giving orders!" I snapped back. "What if someone got hurt from my word? Trust me, this isn't me just throwing a fit because 'I don't wanna'... Leo." I take a shaky breath, some tears forming as I lean back into the seat. "I'm scared. One wrong order could ruin someone's life… and their family. I'm scared of having that kind of responsibility. Their wife or husband would be waiting at home, wondering why their beloved hasn't returned, then a soldier knocks on their door. For a moment they would be happy, thinking that their love has returned… but all they get is a saddened expression and 'I offer my sincerest condolences, but…'."

I heard the chair move, "Dusk Dragon… even for a moment, give me the gentleness that Camilla has." He muttered as he came closer. "Sister, gods." He simply patted my shoulder. "I hadn't realized you were holding that kind of burden on you." His words are soft and gentle. "But, you need to realize that someone needs to stand up for the people, and Royals…"

I pull away, much to his surprise. "No! That's not how you go about it!" I huff, and even then… I felt something in me, but back then? It was just a foreign urge. Now? I realize it as my inner dragon. "You started it off fine, but then you…"

"I'm not Camilla, sister." He becomes firmer still. "Nor am I Elise. Gods, Corrin. I love you as much as the rest of the family, but you need to get over this constant doting that Camilla and Elise give you! There will be tough decisions in your future, and you need to be able to look your adversary right in the eye and stand your ground!" I look away from him, not wanting... "Or would you rather they take everything from you? Are you going to falter when a bandit raid comes by and takes…"

"Leo, stop!" That was the first time… the first time I knew I was different, why? Because Leo backed down. Not from my words, not because of my stubborn reasoning. No. When I glanced back at him for a half-moment, I saw it in his eyes. It was there for the briefest of moments.

Fear. Fear coming from a rumble within. It was my first growl.

Yukimaru clears his throat, and I close the door. Just a passing memory. "Hello, Yukimaru." I kindly greet him.

I'm awarded with a tired smile. "I am beside myself to see you well again, Lady Corrin." He then proceeds to give me a refined bow, "Truly, after that terrible event, many of us feared the worse. To have survived a Wyrmslayer strike… you are very lucky." The bow ends, and a sadness enters his face… grief. "Her Highness…" His voice has lowered some.

However, I find myself able to hear him. "She saved me." I slowly nod. "I've been gone for nearly two decades, yet she didn't hesitate." I feel myself become a little more down. One of my hands travels to my side and I give that sensitive spot a gentle rub. The cream is still in full effect, and it feels like normal… if it weren't for the bumpy and ridged texture.

"She would have done what any other mother would have, Lady Corrin." A few more moments pass in silence, before he clears his throat once more, "Now then. I feel much better seeing you out and about, I will be able to think much more clearly about the upcoming battle…"

Were this almost any other situation, I might have taken that as a hint to walk out, but that's exactly why I am here! "Actually, that's part of the reason why I'm here, Yukimaru."

He looks at me once more, then adjusts his spectacles, "Ah, well… I didn't want to be so forward, but if you're willing to share information about them."

He… he really thinks I'm going to give up tactics to… exploit? "No! That's not what I meant. Please, hear me out for a moment." His mouth becomes stern, his eyes shine with curiosity, but other than that, he hasn't shown any weakness in his expression or body language. "We can lessen the severity of this, I just… need to reach out to B…" No, not now, "Crown Prince Xander."

"After what has just transpired?! Perhaps you do need some more rest, with all due respect, Lady Corrin." Of course… Kaze warned me.

"You don't understand, with all due respect. The Nohrian Royals, barring Garon, are reasonable. They'll listen."

"Lady Corrin, I won't pretend to know what all they did to you in Nohr, but…"

Oh, that's it. "They treated me with love and care! Like any set of brothers and sisters! I don't understand why you all have such a hard time getting that!"

He takes a breath and calmly replies, "Princess Corrin, they clearly have used 'kindness' as a tool against you, to dampen the severity of their actions as you perceive them. Tell me, did they ever reveal your origins? Were you allowed to walk freely?"

"Th-they visited me often, and… I got gifts, and… excellent teachers…"

"Precisely, and in between those 'visits' and 'gifts', you were left with solitude, probably akin to those fairy tales where a Damsel in Distress is left in a tower, correct?"

I blink my eyes. He… he got it. He summarized my entire relationship with the Nohrian Royals… in under a minute. No! No, wait! That isn't how it is! They… they love me! I grit my teeth, he's wrong! "No, you… you don't know. Don't even think that you understand. They. Love. Me." Sounds begin to drown out, and I can feel it again. The urge. He… he dares say that my Nohrian's sibling love was… fake?!

"Control your dragon, Yasei." The normally soft voice gives me a stern command. "It is very powerful, misusing it will bring naught but chaos. Only your enemies should be witness to that strength."

I take a deep breath. "Lady Corrin?" He asks, adjusting his spectacle with the slightest bit of shake to his hand.

"Perhaps I do need a rest, Yukimaru." I give him a gentle nod, and a sweet smile… That still manages to send him back half a step. What did I do? Did a growl slip by? Or maybe he is still a bit intimidated? What can I say… ah-ha! "Apologies, I'm still adjusting to this new… ability I've founded." There, perfect.

It seems to calm him, at the least. "Of course, Princess Corrin. Do rest well." He resumes looking over the table… and I take my leave.

I sigh as I close the door once more. "That didn't go well, Kaze." I lean against the door for a moment.

"Do you have any other destinations in mind, milady?" He carefully asks.

I take a moment to think, looking from random spot to spot, before settling my eyes on him, "I… want to relax some. Can you take me to the library? The same place where you got that book?"

He quickly nods, "Of course, milady."

A/N: Ah, Yukimaru. Faithful Royal Tactician of Hoshido… who managed to see right through and figure out the kind of treatment Corrin had in Nohr. Corrin simply wanted to attempt to arrange a peace meeting, though it seems she underestimated Yukimaru. Well, just because that didn't go as planned means she'll just give up, right?

Oh, look, we also got a small flashback of Yasei and Leo playing 'Wyvern Wars'!

Anyway, the biggest reason the library is happening in the next chapter is because Yasei will stumble upon a book or two that'll trigger a nice little heritage sequence. Well that, and she'll actually get to meet one of the other Royals.