A/N: Happy Holidays, everyone! This was supposed to be out 20 days ago, but...well, things at work got busy, haha... ^^"
Anyway, to those who celebrate Xmas, here's your early present! And to those who don't, it's still a treat from me. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Stay tuned for the next chapter as Kamui (fem!Corrin) is going to make an appearance. ;)
Disclaimer: Fire Emblem is not a franchise that I own!~ If I did, then ELISE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN ALL ROUTES BECAUSE SHE'S THE MOST PRECIOUS THING IN THIS GAME AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE D- (no I'm not ok, Elise deserves better. #Justice4Elise_nonotyouArthur)
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Emphasis
LOUD NOISES
'Quoting'
Chapter 8
Introducing: Elise! Oh, and the Astral Plane
…
"What the hell, big Brother?" Takumi bitched irritatedly at Corrin. "Why would you spare two of Nohr's royal family members when we could have eliminated them?!"
"Takumi, I already told you: it's senseless brutality. Also, might I remind you again that I grew up with them?" Corrin retorted absentmindedly while wincing as Sakura carefully healed his burnt shoulder wound.
"So?!" The Archer threw his hands up in the air bewilderedly. "They're your enemy now, Brother! You need to get that through your head!"
The Hoshidan royal family plus Azura, Corrin's retainers, and Rinkah stood together after the skirmish catching up. From a distance away, their base camp stood proud with red-and-white rectangular Hoshidan flags while patrolling pegasi and kinshi warriors soared overhead.
Ryoma chimed in from the group's center, his commanding presence keeping everyone engaged and in check. "Corrin, while I understand your sentiment toward the Nohrian royals, you must understand that making sparing your enemy a habit will do no good in the long run. As long as they breathe, they will remain an obstacle in our way."
"I know, Ryoma. It's just…" Corrin sighed after he thanked Sakura for the relief. "Is this really our future? A lifetime of conflict with Nohr?"
"Corrin…I can understand why you are reluctant to fight. If it would make you feel better, you can leave the fighting to me and Ryoma." Azura softly chimed in, her gaze trained worriedly on the albino.
"And me and Hinoka, if need be," Takumi added before grumpily huffing at his brother. "Just don't get in our way when we are about to defeat them, okay?"
Corrin shot the other a sheepish smile, knowing the younger prince was still not over the fact the Manakete stole his victory twice. "No. Burying my head in the sand won't change the reality of the situation. I will stand with you all and the rest of Hoshido." He finished with a resolute nod and a determined gaze, eliciting nods of approval in response from the Hoshidans around him and his loyal retainers.
"Very well," Azura replied, eyeing him with her usual neutral expression. "If this is your chosen path, know that I will support you no matter where you lead."
"Us as well, Lord Corrin. Your retainers are never far." Gunter spoke formally while Felicia nodded at him with a cordial smile.
"Me too." Rinkah turned to Corrin as well, giving him an earnest stare. Her tone offered no chance of refusal. "I've decided. You've proven yourself a capable warrior akin to the Flame Tribe, thus you are worthy enough to command me. I will follow you on behalf of my tribe's efforts in this war while my father and the rest of our soldiers stay to defend Hoshido."
Corrin smiled at his faithful allies and his wonderful siblings. "Thank you, everyone. I know this is the right choice—and this time, I will force it to lead us to peace even if it kills me."
Hinoka frowned at the dramatic statement, concerned for her brother's safety. "While I dislike Nohrians, I can sympathize with your sentiment for peace, Corrin. However, please don't push yourself too hard. I would hate to see something bad happen to you."
"Yeah! Don't go rushing off and leaving us behind." Takumi snarked with arms crossed sassily and a tsundere scowl. "We just got you back, and mother would be devastated if she lost you again, so don't be reckless!"
"I-I can help too, big Brother, with whatever you need." Sakura piped up shyly as she nervously clutched her festal.
Ryoma laughed good-naturedly as he summed up everyone's intentions. "I believe what we are all trying to say is that do not hesitate to fall back on your family, Corrin. We have your back as you have ours."
Corrin smiled at his siblings warmly for their obvious care toward him. "Thank you, my dear family. However, you all need not worry about me. It may have been 20 years, but I have retained every bit of experience I have gained since then. I've already made peace that some things can never be changed, no matter how hard I try. For example, I've run the earlier confrontation scenario with the Nohrian royals through my head countless times, yet the war still broke out in the end."
"Know that it is not your fault, Corrin. We have all seen how much effort you put into avoiding direct war with the Nohrians." Azura reassured him kindly, her golden-yellow eyes shining in seriousness. "It may be just this world's fate to have this war, just as it may be your fate to be stuck at the center of it."
At that, the others lowered their heads as they took a moment to reflect on those words before steeling themselves mentally for the struggles to come.
"Yes, it may very well be." Corrin gravely nodded in agreement. He then added with a quiet murmur mostly directed to himself. "However, this time, I don't intend to idly stand by and play the passive role of fate's puppet. This time, I'm going to take the world by storm…"
…
Upon the return of the Hoshidan retainers from their skirmishes up north, Corrin bid his family good luck and safe travels.
Ryoma was set for Cheve—which his poor overprotective retainers were not yet aware of—convinced even more so how great that plan was now that Corrin had inadvertently backed it up with his future predictions. Hinoka was to remain primarily in Hoshido with their mother, acting as their reserve force and final defense of the castle. Takumi was heading for the southern border of the Bottomless Canyon to aid in the invasion resistance and suppress any Nohrian attempts at converging an ambush force. Lastly, Sakura was bound for Fort Jinya to assist in setting up medical relief due to her expertise in healing ailments. Corrin would be left largely on his own; however, similar to last time, he plans to catch up with Sakura after he finishes setting up the astral plane. The Shrine Maiden should be finished advising healers at the fort by the time he arrives to pick her up.
One last round of goodbyes was said before his Hoshidan family, with gazes full of open affection yet shyly reserved enough not to outright embrace each other, parted ways to fulfill their duty to their homeland.
"And now, we wait." Corrin stretched his joints languidly, gently swaying his body about as he loitered in the same spot near the Hoshidan camp after his siblings had dispersed. At everyone's puzzled expressions, Corrin decided he should probably elaborate. "Ok so, Kaze is currently out and about with Lilith. I am not sure when they will return, but I told them we'll meet at the Plains of Hoshido a week ago. It's best we don't leave this area until they arrive."
"Eh? Milord, you've seen Lilith? Why would she be here?" Felicia tilts her head, blinking in surprise at the mention of her old fortress coworker.
"Who's this 'Lilith'?" Rinkah grunted simply, remaining still in her resting warrior-like stance proudly unlike Corrin, who idled like a 10-year-old with ADHD.
"Lilith was another maid at the Northern Fortress that I trusted. She, Felicia, Flora, Gunter, and Jakob kept me company and ensured I was well taken care of." Corrin explained with a smile, crimson orbs gleaming with affection. "She had secretly followed our party out of Nohr, but I had to send her and Kaze on a secret mission back to Nohr a week ago."
'She's also my sister—'
'SHUT UP, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS.' Corrin snarled internally with a mental tick mark pulsing angrily away. 'I'm still not done processing the fact my sister died for me at the hands of that fuckwad Hans who has a kink for killing every person I ever cared about, so leave me the fuck alone!'
"Oooh, so that's where he went!" Felicia exclaimed in realization with her icy-blue eyes widened, having no clue Corrin was arguing with his own brain. "I was wondering where Kaze was during the battle since he seemed fond of watching over you, Lord Corrin—kind of like Jakob, actually! I thought he was just super good at hiding, but to think he was in Nohr this whole time? Hoshidan Ninjas sure is something else."
"Hm. I was not aware that Lilith was right behind us the whole time. Well, it would answer that nagging feeling of being pursued during the entire trip…" Gunter mused to himself, rubbing his chin with his gauntleted hand.
Rinkah perked up, fiery eyes intrigued even as she maintained her aloof body posture. "Never mind all that. Lord Corrin, you mentioned a secret mission? What secret mission?"
Azura curiously gazed at him while Felicia became excited at the reminder of the secret mission. "Ohh! Yes, yes, can't forget about that. Please do tell us more, milord! It sounds exciting!"
"Well, during the whole fiasco of waking up 20 years in the past, I may have forgotten—just a tiny bit—to, uh, warn you and Flora that Garon is going to hold the Ice Tribe hostage the moment I am deemed a traitor to Nohr…" Corrin grimaced sheepishly as he blurted the last part of his statement in one quick breath. "Sorry…"
"Wh-what?!" Felicia shouted, jaw-dropping at the revelation. "Lord Corrin, he, King Garon is, was going to—how could you forget something so important like that?!"
Corrin ducked behind Azura—who turned to look at him with mildly amused eyes—as he chuckled nervously at the shocked pinkette who was on the verge of angrily scolding him. "Again, sorry, my bad—b-but hey! That's why I sent Kaze across the continent with Lilith to warn Flora of the imminent threat."
"Not that I wish to be a spoilsport, but Corrin, do you think Kaze can make it back within a week, let alone not be intercepted along the way?" Azura questioned with a grave frown, her grip on her iron lance tightening out of worry. "He is incredibly skilled at what he does, but still, it is a difficult task especially with the strict time limit."
"Indeed." Gunter nodded in agreement, an arm casually slung over his faithful mount's neck to somewhat ease the strain on his freshly healed injury. "By my estimate, it would take well over a fortnight for him to make it back even with the wind at his feet and his travels being swift and uneventful…"
"Haha, see, you'd think that—but! That's where my secret weapon comes in handy!" Corrin answered with a mischievous grin as he stepped out from behind Azura when he was sure Felicia wouldn't come huffing at him indignantly.
"Oh? Care to enlighten us further, Lord Corrin?" Gunter asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Sure—when Lilith and Kaze get here, that is." The albino replied cryptically with a sly, smug grin, earning him a pair of unamused looks from both his caretaker and Rinkah.
"My goodness! So many secrets today!" Felicia stated in disbelief, a hand to her forehead while groaning at her lord. "Lord Corrin, you make it hard to keep up with you sometimes. Please, slow down."
The Manakete laughed apologetically. "Peace, Felicia. All will be revealed in due time. In fact, the moment Kaze and Lilith return, I'll show you guys this 'secret weapon' of mine!"
"I will hold you to that promise, Lord Corrin!" Felicia beamed enthusiastically.
Corrin smiled and nodded innocently outwardly while he mischievously snickered like a villain inwardly. 'Oh dear clueless Felicia, if only you knew…not only have I got a secret weapon, but I've also got a 'secret' ally, too. Heheheh….although, now that I think about it, it's taking said 'secret' ally an unusually long time to sneak over here. I hope she's doing okay.'
Gunter's horse suddenly snorted alarmingly before they could linger or move on from the topic.
"Hm?" Gunter was instantly on high alert as he scanned the surroundings for danger before warily following his horse's gaze. He then narrows his eyes and frowns. "Lord Corrin, everyone, be on the lookout. Something approaches."
At that, the group glanced at where the old knight was looking.
…
Somewhere across the plains, a green blur stealthily zoomed by wounded Nohrian forces and the fallen bodies of both kingdoms. He paid them no mind as he focused on returning to his master in time as per his orders.
A girl in an apron dress flies beside him at the same speed, her long bright blue-and-red hair fluttering behind her, yet somehow remaining just as undetected as the Ninja. Kaze chalked it up to her strange, otherworldly magic at work.
The Hoshidan had grown familiar with Lilith's stealthy presence and helpful guidance throughout their trip, and he wouldn't know where he'd be right now if not for her and the astral plane. The mysterious girl had impeccable judgment and senses sharper than even his brother's, which became something he relied on as they traversed through enemy territory. Kaze didn't mean to trust and depend on a stranger as quickly as he had—since the nature of his high-risk secretive occupation couldn't let him afford to give out his trust so easily—yet he could sense the devotion to Corrin within the other which eventually put his suspicions at ease.
The Ninja made a mental note to repay back her aid and show appropriate gratitude for her kindness despite his initial distrust.
"We should be getting close to Lord Corrin. I can sense he is nearby." Lilith called out to the man, her voice clear even as they traveled as swiftly as the wind. "Our journey will soon come to an end."
Kaze nodded, willing his legs to dash faster. Since war had officially broken out, he knew his lord needed him now more than ever. The green-haired man had long since decided he'd serve his original duty to Corrin to the very end, no matter what happened or where his lord ended up. Even though he was never formally recognized as Corrin's retainer, Kaze hoped that the albino prince would still allow him the honor to serve, even if unofficially.
The guilt within wouldn't let him be at peace otherwise.
Suddenly, Lilith gasped, thus instantly putting the Hoshidan warrior on edge.
"Ah, is that…?" Her golden eyes harden as she purses her lips in trepidation. "Careful Kaze, we are being approached. I shall remain your last resort if you can not avoid a direct confrontation." The dragon-fish girl stated before literally fading out of view.
The Ninja steels himself for whoever was coming for him. Unfortunately, he, a Ninja who thrives in shadows and subterfuge, was currently situated out in the open plains with scant few objects to duck behind. The foliage was too short, and the groves of trees were too few and far between. All he could do was survey his surroundings in hopes of spotting the threat first and mentally prepare himself for an encounter.
The thundering steps of hooves rapidly and suddenly erupted from his blind spot before pain exploded across his vision.
"Gah!"
The green-haired man grimaced, barely managing to twist himself in the air to land upright just as the ground beneath him burst into violent dark flames yet again, sending him tumbling once more into the dirt meters away.
Groaning in agony and the fresh burns on his lower legs, Kaze shakily lifted his torso to stare up at his attacker. His gentle grayish-purple eyes widened in horror upon gazing at the visage of a pissed-off Crown Prince of Nohr.
His dark, towering figure atop his equally dark-armored horse painted a picture of might and ruthlessness. His horse let loose a long exhale, its breath kicking up the dust settling around them like a demon from hell breathing out smoke. The wind blew at his locks of gold, fanning the flames of the ignited legendary Siegfried which was currently pointed at Kaze's brow. The rage within his wine-colored eyes burned bright, promising destruction and suffering to those who dared cross him. All in all, he looked like a merciless death knight straight from a nightmare.
The Ninja's heart pounded while his throat went dry from fear. He instinctively knew he was in the presence of someone who far outmatched him in combat prowess. If he was hidden, then perhaps there might've been a sliver of a chance he could best the Nohrian crowned prince, but out here on this vast field, exposed and vulnerable, Kaze knew he was akin to a fish out of water compared to the far more mobile Paladin who could effortlessly chase him down should he attempt to flee. The only comfort he kept reminding himself as his lungs trembled in terror was that Lilith was ready to send him to the astral plane—to safety—at any second if everything went wrong.
For a moment, Xander simply glared down at the other in indiscriminate hatred before recognition lit up in his scornful orbs. "You…you were the one back in the throne room…that Hoshidan Ninja who Corrin took under his wing." His eyes narrowed as he snarled in fury. "What are you doing here?"
Kaze gulped, attempting to lubricate his stunned vocal cords in case he needed to get a response out to the blond. However, the loyal Ninja wasn't about to reveal any mission details to an enemy even if said enemy currently petrified him. His honor and spirit as a servant to the Hoshidan Royal family ran way deeper than his own self-preservation.
Fortunately, Xander didn't expect him to reply anyway as he continued on, almost impatiently.
"Never mind that. What I need from you is information of another kind." He willed Siegfried to blaze even more intensely, showcasing that the Paladin could easily skewer the downed Ninja at any point during this interrogation. "If you wish to prolong your meager existence, then you'd best answer me truthfully: where is Princess Elise?"
Kaze blinked in astonishment at the sudden odd question, gulping around the lump in his throat. "I…do not know."
"Liar." Xander snarled, eyes ablaze in mistrust. Just as he is about to strike Kaze down, the Hoshidan quickly interrupts, panicking.
"No, I truly do not know! She healed my wounds when we last met. Even if she is my enemy, I would not seek her out intentionally! That would go against my own personal code of conduct to maliciously go for someone who showed me kindness first!" Kaze exclaimed, finally getting to his wobbly feet as he slowly stood with his hands up placatingly. "If she is indeed missing, then I shall keep an eye out and ensure she is out of danger. I swear it upon my honor!"
The Paladin seemed to quiet upon hearing the man's honest words. There was a pregnant pause as the Nohrian considered how truthful the other was being before he once again glared down at him vehemently. "...there have been rumors of how far a Hoshidan would go for their honor. While I place no trust in your words, I can be assured by your seriousness when it comes to the sake of your honor." Much to Kaze's immense relief, the blond prince lowered his blade warily as he continued to pin him with his impenetrable glare. "However, make no mistake that this is a spare of mercy. You live only because I will it so. Remember your vow, Hoshidan, or I fear the retribution will leave no one unscathed."
Kaze didn't know what to say to avoid tipping the prince off, so he could only nod respectfully in response. The Ninja could tell the Nohrian was in no mood for useless pleading or chatter.
"Tch, I've wasted enough time here," Xander grunted before, without further ado, he reared up his horse and spurred it into a fast gallop away into the horizon.
Kaze could feel his heart drop as he breathed a silent breath of relief. Lilith appeared hovering beside him, gazing in the direction that the Paladin disappeared to.
"Goodness, I do hope Lady Elise is alright. I've never seen Lord Xander so worked up before." The girl commented with a worried frown and scrunched brows. "That said, I hope you are faring well after such an intense encounter, Kaze."
"I appreciate your concern, Lilith. Do not worry. I am well, if not a bit shaken." The green-haired Ninja shot the other with a reassuring smile before turning to face the direction they were previously heading in with a stern expression. "While I wish no harm onto Princess Elise, it is not my primary task to concern myself over. Let us continue on our way to Lord Corrin."
…
Azura blinked once, twice, and then went, "...is that…a Nohrian being chased by a wild kinshi?"
Indeed, what Corrin's group was currently witnessing was a kinshi aggressively pecking at the behind of a whinnying horse and a screaming blonde girl with pigtails.
Corrin squinted long and hard at this absurd scene, taking a moment to dumbfoundedly process everything along with everyone else before he eventually realized he knew exactly one blonde girl with pigtails who rides a horse.
His 'secret' ally: who, right now, was being terrorized by a bird.
The albino widened his eyes and gasped incredulously. "Is that Elise?! What is she doing getting chased by a kinshi—wait, no…that's Reina's kinshi!"
Indeed, the kinshi with a little distinctive scar over its right eye that Corrin spotted was—without its rider—currently trying to murder a helpless Troubadour and turn her poor horse into minced mystery meat.
"Ahhh! Leave me alone, you big mean bird!" Elise cried as she gripped her staff and reins tightly, she and her horse both complaining tearfully about the mistreatment. "I just wanna find Corrin! Stop bullying meeeee!"
"Oh no! We need to save her!" Felicia cried out, fearing for the princess's life.
"Oh dear…is she the youngest princess of Nohr?" Azura asked worriedly as she stared at the crying Troubadour being hunted by a kinshi, unsure how to save her.
"What is she doing so deep in Hoshidan territory when the battle had long since ended?" Rinkah questioned warily as she sweatdropped, feeling somewhat incredulous that someone could get beaten up by a mount with no rider.
Sensing the albino's swelling panic at the little princess's predicament, Gunter mounted his horse and readied to charge forward. "Your orders, Lord Corrin?"
"Take me to Elise! Everyone, follow me! I'll explain why Elise is here once we save her!" Corrin hastily hopped onto Gunter's horse, with the old knight assisting his swift mount with one arm while spurring the steed into a fast gallop with the other. As they got closer to the chase, Corrin waved both his arms around, trying to flag down the Troubadour. "ELISE! ELISE, OVER HERE! I'M OVER HERE!"
In her blind panic, the terrified girl miraculously heard her brother's familiar voice before she swiveled her head in his direction with a pitiful face. "Ah! Big Brother! Save meeee!"
The Troubadour instantly swerved and charged straight at Corrin. The Hoshido Noble dismounted with a leap while Gunter circled around. He tumble-rolled for a couple of seconds due to the speed at which he dismounted before standing up swiftly. Elise's horse elegantly maneuvered around Corrin like an agile dancer sidestepping around a stage prop before it did a 180 pivot, shuffled near the albino, lowered its head, and began to cower behind Corrin from the kinshi pursuing it.
Corrin glared and stood defensively between the cowering horse and his equally cowering little sister—who had quickly dismounted to cling onto his cape in fright—and a violent kinshi emitting an aura as bloodthirsty as its rider.
"B-big Brother! Please help me get rid of this mean dumb bird! It chased me everywhere when I was only trying to find you!" The petite princess pouted while big, fat, frustrated tears lingered at the corner of her eyes.
"Don't worry, Elise. I've gotcha." Corrin turned his head to smile at his Nohrian sister warmly before turning back and harshly barking at the kinshi. "Hey! She's not food or prey! She's an ally! An ally!"
The overgrown pheasant screeched in displeasure, flapping and hovering menacingly in front of the Hoshido Noble as if it didn't believe him. It seemed like Reina trained it well, for it wasn't convinced that the distinctly Nohrian girl behind him wasn't considered Hoshido's enemy.
"What do you mean you don't believe me? There are prejudiced kinshi's now, too?!" The Manakete groaned in disbelief while literally arguing with an animal, much to Gunter's hidden amusement as the Great Knight trotted up to them. "Ugh, not going to think about that right now…where's your handler, Reina?"
At the mention of its master's name, the kinshi lets out a crisp chirp as if the mere mention of its rider had cheered it up and caused it to turn slightly docile. The golden-hued avian plopped itself on the ground, singular eye still trained on Elise but appearing much more cordial as it clucked at him.
Corrin raised a brow at the bird's cute behavior. 'Huh, like rider like mount: usually terrifying, but at times unexpectedly domestic.'
"Alright, even if you don't believe me, no attacking…okay? Not until Reina comes to get you and orders you to attack. Sounds good?" Corrin stated calmly, having half a mind to wonder bemusedly why he was negotiating with a bird. "Deal? We good?"
Thankfully, the colorful pheasant voiced its agreement by trilling.
'What a fierce yet reasonable creature.' Gunter mused as he trotted near, privately appraising the skills required to train an animal into such a formidable war mount. 'It takes tremendous discipline and training to get one's mount to a certain level of independent decision-making. What a talented rider this bird has…'
Upon seeing that the kinshi wasn't about to peck her eyes out, Elise let out an audible sigh of relief. "Phew…thanks, big Brother! I didn't know how much longer I could run from it."
Corrin turned and patted her head affectionately, crimson orbs soft as he gazed down at his sister. Said sister was presently eyeing the kinshi distrustingly, her cheeks adorably puffed like a kitten ready to square up. A part of him still couldn't believe she had joined him this early into the war. From what he remembered, Elise had always been hesitant yet yearning to side with him, but Leo and Xander held her back and constantly reminded her of her loyalty to Nohr. She was far too kind and far too trusting of both their brothers' words; thus, she only found the courage to deviate from their ideals when she physically saw Corrin again and realized he wasn't as traitorous as they made him out to be.
However, by then it was too late for him to relish in her company for long.
He missed her: the hugs, the laughter, the joy, the fond memories spent playing games throughout their childhood, sharing delicious snacks together, teaming up to tease their siblings, listening to bedtime stories with warm cups of cocoa—those were the little things that made Corrin feel not as lonely and afraid of the darkness as when he first arrived in Nohr. Being around Elise was a reminder of simpler times, and Corrin didn't realize how much he truly valued her companionship—her smile and her innocence—until her light was permanently extinguished.
The Hoshido Noble felt an overwhelming urge to hug her again, so he did.
"Huh?" Elise blinked at the arms that suddenly held her, snapping out of her glaring contest with the kinshi. Her innocent amethyst eyes peered over at the head of fluffy platinum blond locks. "Big Brother…? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, sis," Corrin replied into her hair while embracing her securely. "I'm just glad you're here."
'I'm just glad you're alive.'
"Yeah! I'm here unharmed because it's all thanks to you for stopping the mean birdie, big Brother!" Elise responded cheerfully with a grin that Corrin couldn't see but could hear through her voice. Unable to spot her brother's face from their current position, happy-go-lucky Elise then curiously blinked some more as she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. "Also, what's a 'sis'?"
"It means 'sister', but shortened for convenience." The albino answered evenly, taking in her cherry-sweet scent that subconsciously dispersed his emotional tension.
"Oh! Neat! That's a great word, actually! Sis! Sis sis sis!" Elise giggled and chanted it childishly, unaware of her brother's internal turmoil and the solace she offered him by simply being herself. "Hee hee! I'm gonna use that from now on!" The Troubadour then perked up in realization while still being hugged by Corrin. "But wait! Then what's for brother?"
Corrin chuckled as he finally released her from their long hug and smiled at her pleasantly. "For brother, it's 'bro'."
"'Bro'? Cool! Thanks bro! Bro, bro, bro! Bro-bro!" Elise chanted gleefully some more, enthusiastically using the new terminology uninhibited. "Hee hee hee, this is fun!"
Corrin laughed as he patted her head at her loveable antics.
"Oh, but," Elise suddenly stopped before looking up at Corrin sadly, causing the prince to frown a bit at her downtrodden look. "I don't think I properly apologized to you for not trusting you, big Brother. So…I'm sorry."
Corrin gazed at her tenderly as he resisted cuddling the precious bean before him. "Aww, Elise…it's okay. We're good now that you do believe me. Consider it water under the bridge."
The healer gazed up at him with wonder and amazement. "Woow, the future must have a lot of new words and phrases. What does 'water under the bridge' mean?"
"Not the future, exactly…" The dragon prince grinned sheepishly as he rubbed his neck. "It's more of a…me thing. Oh, but 'water under the bridge' is just another way of saying let bygones be bygones."
"Whoa, my big Brother's out there inventing new sayings! That's amazing!" Elise exclaimed in awe before beaming widely. "And thank you for forgiving me, big Brother! I won't let you down again!"
Corrin felt like he was riding high on dopamine and serotonin and all those extra goodie brain chemicals. Although Hoshido was at war with Nohr—again—things didn't look that bad anymore: his mother was alive and well, the people around him believed and trusted him, and he now had his cheerful little sister by his side to brighten his days. The albino felt unstoppable. Nothing could ruin his glorious mood, and nothing could ruin this wholesome reunion with Elise!
'Don't jinx it, you idiot!' Corrin's brain grouched at him, sounding eerily similar to Takumi's voice for some reason.
Gunter had silently gazed at their reunion with a soft smile. By now, the rest of Corrin's posse had also caught up to them.
"Greetings, Lady Elise! Funny seeing you here." Felicia bowed at the Troubadour with a smile, remaining formal yet treating the princess like a casual friend.
Elise, being the not-so-princess-like princess that she is, happily accepted the informal speech toward her. "Oh, hi Felicia! Don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm on your guy's side now! I've decided to join Corrin on his adventures!"
"Wow, really? That's amazing!" The Maid beamed at their newest addition welcomingly. "I'm glad to have you with us!"
"Aww, thanks!" The blonde replied joyfully. The two girls shared a moment of delighted giggling before a new voice cut in.
"You are…Princess Elise?" Azura stepped forth, expression neutral as a placid pond, yet Corrin could tell she was curious about the young girl.
"Yep, that's me!" Elise grinned at Azura in her usual friendly way. "Who are you? Also, wow, you have really long and pretty blue hair. I wish I could wear my hair like that."
Azura's lips twitched to a small smile at Elise's infectious smile and bubbly attitude. "I am Azura. It's nice to meet you, Elise."
"Hee hee, it's nice to meet you, too!" Elise swayed around happily and carefreely, distracted by the excitement of her meet-and-greet with Corrin's army.
Her gaze landed on the stoic Flame Tribe member next, which startled her enough to sober her up. "Ah! Flame Tribe lady! You're here, too?"
Rinkah raised a nonplussed brow at the blonde girl. "Am I not supposed to be here?"
"N-no, it's not that." The Troubadour glanced down shyly and fiddled with her staff, slightly cowed at the intimidating presence of the woman in front of her. "It's just…the last time we saw each other, you were…"
Understanding where Elise was coming from—as she was likely still a bit unsettled by Rinkah's bloodthirsty charge back at the castle despite healing the Hoshidan at the end—the Oni Savage nodded and tried her best to appear unimposing. "Then: we were enemies. Now: we are allies. Do not linger on the past if we are to move forward together into the future."
"Yeah…you're right!" Elise perked up, seemingly calmed down from her momentary nerves. She beamed, her enthusiastic puppy side revealing itself once more. "Then let's be the bestest of allies and greatest of friends starting now, Rinkah!"
The loner tribalist sweatdropped, eyes going wide in panic at the unexpected 180. "Now, hold on. I didn't say I'd be your fr—"
"Hee hee hee, yaay! We're gonna be the best army force ever!" Elise wiggled in her spot out of pure excitement. Even her horse seemed to finally recover from the scare of being preyed upon by a kinshi as it snorted, bobbed its head back and forth, and shuffled its hooves around as if sensing her jubilant mood and thus began celebrating with her.
This left Rinkah to look on in speechless puzzlement while everyone else watched with amused eyes and serene smiles at the little princess's optimism.
Corrin, chuckling at his sister's shenanigans, suddenly became curious about something. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Elise, but I am curious though…how'd you get Xander and the others to let you leave Nohr anyhow?"
"Oh, that's easy!" Elise turned around to face him, her staff held behind her back while she bounced on her heels in a silly and carefree manner. She tilts her head to the side, closes her eyes happily, and shoots him a bright, innocent grin. "I didn't tell them!"
Corrin's celebratory expression immediately drops to one of sheer dread. "You didn't tell them?!"
…
Meanwhile, in a field (same field, actually) far, far away (not really that far, actually) echoed the frantic cries of a man who was desperately trying to believe his precious little sister wasn't dead lying in a ditch somewhere.
"ELISE! ELISE, WHERE ARE YOU?! ELISE!"
"Almighty Dusk, please! May I find you in good health and spirits!"
"She has got to be here, somewhere! Where could she have gone? SHOUT IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, ELISE!"
"Whichever dastards that dared take you away from us, I will have their limbs torn and their wicked skulls crushed."
"Please…I beg of you to hold on…"
…anyway, that's how Xander's doing. Other than his mini mental breakdown—and his steady descent into the five stages of grief—he'll be fine.
Probably.
…now, back to Corrin!
…
'Oh gods, Xander is going to nuke me in Nestra. I am 100% going to get clapped on sight.' Corrin thought with a pensive sweatdrop. 'At worst, he probably thinks the Hoshidans killed Elise. Even if he sees she's alive and well, he's going to think I kidnapped and brainwashed her—god fucking damn it. I just can't win with this guy, can I?'
Corrin wanted to say something—likely the responsible thing of scolding her for up and leaving their Nohrian siblings without a hint of warning—but it died in his throat when he saw how proud, smug, and delighted Elise was with herself at her daring feat. Said Troubadour was currently posing with her chest puffed up, fists propped on her hips, stance widened slightly, and a confident smile lit on her eager face.
And it dawned on Corrin that for his indecisive and kind-hearted little sister, this act of deviation probably took a great amount of courage for her to go through with it—especially if she couldn't consult or tell anyone about her decision prior. Judging by her lack of retainers, she likely did just go to him alone without support from the rest of their Nohrian family or her friends.
Seeing her here and now: brightly smiling, cordially chatting, and with zero regrets of ditching Nohr for him, Corrin couldn't help but let the scolding die off on his tongue. Instead, he reached a hand out to pat her head, thus immediately earning the blonde's attention.
"Hm? Big bro? What's wrong?" Large curious eyes stared at him as the young princess giggled, "hee hee, you're patting my head again! Are you really that happy that I'm here?"
"Yes, I am." He complimented, tone genuine and crimson eyes soft. "Elise, it must've been so difficult for you to choose…thank you for being brave. You've done well, and I swear I won't make you regret choosing me."
"B-big Brother…" The little girl sniffled, smiling wider before covering the larger hand on her head with both her own. "Thanks, Bro. Truly! Thanks for saying that."
Spotting the small tears, well-hidden yet glistening at the corner of her joyful eyes, Corrin affirmed to himself that consequences could jump off a cliff for all he cared. Xander was future-him's problem now.
'Y'know what? Yeah. Fuck it. Xander and the other's fury of losing Elise is a problem for future-me to deal with. I just can not be bothered right now.'
As he happened to glance over, he noticed Azura's elegantly raised brow, poised in a way as if she was asking, 'are you sure you won't regret this decision?'
He just shot her his usual confident grin and a thumbs-up to answer her silent concerns.
The Songstress sighed, dreading the potential migraines that would no doubt come their way.
…no, she should at least say something about this current predicament, or she'll regret it for the days to come.
"Um, Elise? Will the Nohrian royals not be searching for you if they find out you are missing?"
…
"HANG IN THERE, ELISE! I AM ON MY WAY! I vow on Siegfred's flames that you will be avenged…!"
(...I think we all know who that was.)
…
"...or your retainers, for that matter?" The bluette finished calmly, yet beneath her tranquility was an obvious tilt of concern.
…
"LADY ELISE! Where have you sequestered yourself, Lady Elise?!"
"I can't believe you took your eyes off of her for ONE SECOND, and now she's gone!"
"Ah, you've my sincerest apologies, Effie! T'was not my intention to attract a killer wasp toward my cheeks today! Gods, and just my luck that you were out refueling your body in that crucial moment right as war itself was declared!"
"Ugh, if only I didn't eat my battlefield snack earlier. And my backup snack. And my other backup snack. Then, I wouldn't have had to step aside to refuel!"
"Ifs and buts are just that, my capable comrade of justice. Best not linger on the hypotheticals! Our current primary objective is, of course, to track down Lady Elise!"
"Yeah, that I agree with completely. You have the map, right?"
"Yes, I have it right here!"
"Good. If she isn't on the Nohrian side of the field, then we will search the Hoshidan side unflinchingly. Nothing will stop me from finding her! Hoo-rah!"
"Indeed! Let us join forces during this critical hour and search for our liege together! LADY ELISE! WHERE ART THOU BE HIDING YOUR FAIR FIGURE, OH LADY ELISE?!"
…
"Oh…yeah, hahah, about that…" Elise droned on, twirling the tip of her boot into the dirt as she smiled to herself sheepishly, her amethyst-coloured eyes darted to the side. "I…didn't tell them either…tee hee."
Azura shoots Corrin a stoic, deadpan stare as if telepathically demanding Corrin deal with this properly or so help her she will never sing for him again.
The Manakete sweatdrops at the Songstress's quiet yet threatening presence before clearing his throat awkwardly, wondering how Azura has mastered the art of not letting him get away with things already. "Elise, not to say I don't appreciate your style of getting from point A to point B…but I have to ask…um, you do realize you might end up fighting Xander, Camilla, and Leo if you stick with me, right? And that—um, for all intents and purposes—to the average Nohrian, your actions make it seem like you've been tricked onto the enemy's side?"
"Of course! While it would kinda suck confronting our siblings…" The blonde princess frowns as she glances down at the staff in her hand uncertainly before whipping her head up with a serious look on her face. "Buuut! Like I said, I've made up my mind, big Bro. I don't think you're a traitor at all! I think you're trying your best, and that Xander and everyone else are being plain old silly!"
"Hah, that's one way to put it," Corrin smirked weakly at his sister's overly simplified way of describing his current problems.
"Besides, I bet if I actually told them what I planned to do, they would just lock me up to stop me! Hmph!" The Troubadour puffed up like a kitten again, huffing indignantly from imagining her hypothetical outcome. Then, she deflated as she thought about her retainers, eyes downcast as they filled with guilt. "And…I don't want to drag Effie and Arthur into my own messes. I…they are good people. Great people, even. I know what I'm getting myself into, and…they shouldn't be responsible for suffering the consequences of my own actions."
"Wow…Elise, that's…really thoughtful and mature of you." Corrin murmured softly at her as he patted her head proudly. Every so often, Sakura would surprise him with how resilient and strong she could be despite being way younger than him. He forgot Elise could do that, too, with her moments of maturity and selflessness.
Azura, now placated and satisfied that Elise knew what she was getting herself into, gazed at the younger princess gently. She empathizes with her the burden of choosing a path that was full of hardships, and the desire to not have those close to her be entangled in its strife.
Rinkah stared at Elise with a tad more respect in her fiery gaze than before while Corrin's retainers watched on in respectful silence.
Gunter, who was still mounted on top of his horse, perked up. He straightened himself as he noticed a figure heading toward them from the Hoshidan camp. He squints his eyes slightly to ascertain who it was before alerting the others.
"Hmm, it seems we have a visitor incoming…" The old knight's eyes widened a bit as he finally recognized the feathered gray armor accompanying a head of navy blue hair shining under the rays of the setting sun. "Ah, I believe that it is Miss Reina who approaches us."
Almost everyone turns to see where the Great Knight is gazing while Corrin and Felicia shoot their caretaker astonished looks.
'...Miss Reina?' The albino thought incredulously, eyebrows raised in bewilderment. 'Since when was it Miss Reina?'
'Woaah…I've never heard Mr. Gunter address anyone as 'Miss' before!' Felicia thought in amazement, ice-blue eyes lit up in fascination.
The Kinshi Knight jogs up to them with a breathless chuckle and a friendly smile.
"My goodness, there you are! I was wondering where you flew off to, you naughty thing!" Reina muses as the great bird flutters its wings excitedly as it hopped over to her like a hyper parrot. The pheasant practically purred as it nuzzled its large head against its rider's face affectionately.
"H-hey! Are you the owner of this bird?" Elise called out, scrunching her brows together indignantly.
"Hm?" Reina glanced over to Elise, and if she was surprised to see a small Nohrian girl angrily pouting at her, she didn't show it. "Why, yes. I am."
"Well, your stupid bird bullied me! I was minding my own business, and I got attacked for no reason! It was trying to eat me and my horse earlier!"
"Oh…my goodness, she did that?" Reina gasped before scratching the underside of the purring kinshi's chin. "What a naughty girl! A short flight of respite didn't mean you could go this far out. I can't have you picking off stragglers without me. It would be such a shame to miss out on such fun…to hear their screams of desperation...to see them beg for their life…to spill their precious life fluids upon the earth…"
Upon seeing the Hoshidan's eyes darken in twisted reverie as she commented casually on murdering people, Elise automatically shrunk behind Corrin with a shiver and a gulp, staff held close to her chest once again as she tucked herself close to the Manakete.
"W-whoa…I think I just found either Peri's eternal rival or long lost sister…" The healer muttered under her breath, eyeing Reina with heavy suspicion from under Corrin's cape.
Corrin didn't know who Peri was, but he snickered in amusement at his sister's cute glare aimed at the remorseless Kinshi Knight: attempting to appear defensively intimidating while tucked under his cape like an endearing hamster.
"Peace, Reina. This is Elise, my younger sister that I grew up with in Nohr. She's on our side now, so there's no need for spilling and screaming." He introduced, wrapping his cape around Elise's shoulders in an act of comfort.
"Ah…the youngest princess of Nohr, I presume." Upon hearing Corrin's explanation, the darkness cleared from her eyes like clouds parting to reveal the sun. She gave the Troubadour a kind, warm smile, which was a complete contrast to her previously dubious expression. "Well, if Lord Corrin says you are his ally, then I will accept you as my ally as well. Sorry for frightening you, dear. I can get quite…intense at times, but rest assured, that intensity is only shown on the battlefield when I face off against my enemies."
"U-umm…o-okay. If you say so." Elise sweatdropped at the sudden attitude change and tried to smile back, albeit with more hesitation.
Soon, Reina mounts her kinshi and flies off after giving them her well wishes. Gunter's stare lingers a moment longer, watching her silhouette illuminated by the setting sun retreat into the horizon. It was just a tad longer than one would've taken to watch someone leave, but to those who know him well…
Corrin and Felicia exchange bewildered looks with each other at the odd behavior of their childhood caretaker.
A couple of minutes later, the group—actually just Corrin—heard the silent steps of a Ninja approach them from the west. He turned in time to face Lilith casually walking up to him like she was on an afternoon stroll.
"Lilith! Great timing. You guys made it!" The dragon prince smiled wide at her, welcoming the maid back. He then turned around to look at Gunter's horse. "Well done, both of you. I trust you've accomplished what I asked?"
Gunter raises a skeptical brow at Corrin. "Lord Corrin, why do you speak to—"
"Yes, milord. I have finished the mission."
"—my hor—MY GODS!" The Great Knight violently swiveled to where the additional voice came from, reflexively grasping for his iron lance. His horse whinnied, startled as well by the person that unexpectedly materialized next to it. The equine beast swung its ears back in displeasure as it trotted around to the other side of its rider away from the green-clad person who knelt by its hooves without it noticing. Even Felicia and Elise both jolted and let out little 'eep!'s of surprise. Only Azura and Rinkah, who were more used to the stealthy shenanigans of Hoshidan Ninjas, did not react as liberally as the Nohrians. In fact, they were more entertained by the others' reactions than anything.
"Kaze?!" Gunter exclaimed, disgruntled. The older man then went into full scolding mode as his face grew stern. "Must you not only scare the daylights out of your allies each time you appear, but also put yourself into unnecessary danger?"
The Ninja helplessly blinked, looking befuddled as if he hadn't just jumpscared half the people here. "Ah, I apologize for slipping back into my Ninja habits, Mr. Gunter. However, I don't quite understand how I put myself in unnecessary danger—er, unless you meant you were about to attack me yourself."
Gunter sighed heavily as he put away his spear, reaching over to pet and calm his indignant steed which was glaring over at the green-haired Ninja.
"That, too. There is an old rule of Nohr among those who handle horses to never startle them intentionally. If a perpetrator startles a horse, things generally do not end well—especially for that perpetrator if they are in close proximity to their hooves." The Great Knight explained the common knowledge patiently to the foreigner, feeling like he was back in his fifties again trying to convince bored little ones why it was a bad idea to play tag in the stables. "Kaze, had my horse not recognized you to be an ally, it would have attempted to kick and shatter your bones, or worse, trample you into the earth."
"Hah, yep! They are very dangerous when you surprise them. Believe me…" Felicia laughed nervously, acting like she's never startled a horse with her stewardly duties before—nope, not this gal!
"...o-oh." Kaze sweatdropped, feeling more sheepish than ever to have worried the older gentleman. "I…I apologize then, to both you and your mount. I…ahem, you see, the pegasus of Hoshido are mellow and do not react so much to the presence of Ninja, hence why I assumed horses were the same."
"I assure you that the horses of Nohr, especially warhorses, are not as kind as their feathered kin. Please, do be more careful next time. That is all I ask of you." Gunter sighed again, feeling slightly stressed over the young man's future safety.
Corrin grinned in amusement at his retainers' interaction, glad they are getting along well.
"Woah, Lilith? What are you doing here?" Elise gasped in bewilderment upon seeing the Northern Fortress maid. "Aren't you supposed to be back at the fortress?"
"Oh, Lady Elise! I'm glad you are okay." The bluette frowned in relief. "I thought something ill had happened to you. I am most thankful that is not the case."
"Huh?" Elise cocked her head to the side in bemusement. "Why would you be worried about me, Lilith? We hadn't seen each other since back at the Northern Fortress, so I didn't think you'd heard of me."
"Well, you see…" Lilith held one of her elbows while her other hand went to cup her chin, eyes glancing upward in thought. "I was secretly following Lord Corrin this whole time, milady. Additionally, while we were on our way here, Kaze and I were ambushed by Lord Xander demanding if he had seen you. I went unnoticed, but poor Kaze was not so lucky."
At Corrin's surprised and slightly concerned expression, the Ninja jumped in to elaborate further.
"Worry not, milord," he spoke with a small reassuring smile, "tis but a few scratches and bruises. It will heal on its own."
"Indeed, Lord Xander—despite his foul mood—spared Kaze under the condition that he ensure Lady Elise would be safe if he found her. If not for the slight familiarity already shared between them, he would've skewered Kaze into the earth." Lilith nodded seriously.
Everyone turned to stare at Elise who then shrunk into herself awkwardly.
"Ah…hee hee, sorry. His bad mood maaaay be kind of sort of my fault. I kind of…sort of decided to join you guys without telling anyone first—which, um, included my siblings." She sweatdropped, clasping her staff behind her back, dipping her chin, and smiling apologetically up at Kaze who was close to incredulity. "I'm sorry, Kaze, for making my brother almost beat you up over a misunderstanding."
The Hoshidan man honestly didn't know what to say. Fortunately, he ultimately settled on a gentle smile and quick forgiveness. "I…it is alright, Princess Elise. I am glad to have you as an ally, and that you are safe after all. That is what matters."
"Aww, you're so nice, Kaze!" Elise chirped, bouncing on her toes happily which caused the Ninja's smile to widen slightly. "If you need any healing, I can heal those owchies for you, no problem!"
Seeing that the misunderstandings were now cleared, Corrin beckoned everybody to gather. "Alright everyone, while I do feel a bit bad about causing Xander continued suffering, I know better than to seek him out during his unforgiving moods. We will see him again soon anyway, and he will see that Elise is fine. Furthermore, I want to show you all something before we catch up with the others: the 'secret weapon' that I mentioned before."
Corrin glanced at Lilith, who seemed to immediately understand his intentions. The girl smiled, nodded, and proceeded to hold her hands together in a triangle shape as if she were about to summon something. Before anyone could question Corrin further, a brilliant blue light emerged from the ground between them, generating strings of rainbows from its core.
"Oh! WHOA! What is that light?!" Felicia exclaimed in shock, flinching from the sudden energy burst coming from the ground.
Gunter and Rinkah both grunted and shielded their eyes with an arm reflexively. Elise and Azura gasped and tried valiantly to squint against the brightness. With the panicked neighs of the horses, and a faint pulling sensation, suddenly their world shifted to one they were wholly unfamiliar with.
A vast courtyard of pink cherry blossoms in full bloom greeted their eyes and noses, its sweet, pure fragrance lulling even the most weary-minded to ease. Brilliant sapphire skies dipped in sunset gold stretched as far as the eye could see, with wispy white clouds framing its canvas like the icing on a cake. At its border were Hoshidan-styled bastions surrounding the large area securely with what appears to be a cross-section of Castle Shirasagi's throne room located to the far north. The paved cobblestone paths lead to three exits located in the east, west, and south.
The pleasant spring breeze blew, ruffling the bewildered groups' hair in a welcoming greeting while they examined their surroundings with caution and wonder.
"What just happened?! And, um, where are we?" Felicia breathed out in awe, eyes sparkling as she took in the beautiful scenery. "Are we back at Castle Shirasagi?"
"What sorcery is this?" Rinkah grunted, hand hovering over her club as she scanned the serene area with the tension of a prowling tiger. She glared at Lilith with wary eyes. "What did you do?!"
"This place…" Azura murmured dreamily, feeling a sense of familiarity with the new realm she arrived in. "Hmm…"
"Woaaaah! Those trees are sooo PINK! Waaaah, everything is so pretty and smells so good!" Elise gushed, fists to her chest as she bounced around excitedly, brimming with boundless energy and was more than ready to dash off to explore.
Kaze silently glanced to the side and marveled at where he had basically been living for the past week, admiring its ethereal and peaceful atmosphere.
"Lilith…" Gunter frowned before sighing in dismay, inwardly feeling like, at this point, he really shouldn't be surprised by what these youngsters could do anymore. "I believe you owe us an explanation here regarding where this place is. While you are at it, mind telling some of us any other powers you've been neglecting to mention for the good of a decade, hm? Try not to skimp on the details this time, would you?"
Lilith, in good humor, giggled mischievously at the varied reactions of the new arrivals. "I'm so sorry for startling you all, everyone! Please, allow me to explain…"
…
"Wait, wait, hold up…" Rinkah grumbled, a pinched look of confusion on her face. "So this place is called 'the astral plane', and you're telling me…we're in a completely different realm? As in, a completely different world?"
"Yes, that's correct." Lilith nodded cheerfully, her tail shifting.
"Dragon Veins are littered everywhere, and time flows differently here…specifically, it is much faster here compared to our world, is that right?" Azura added, her tone carefully neutral as usual.
"Yes, that is right." Lilith nodded again happily, her tail wagging.
"...and you can summon portals to this alternate world, at will, at any time and at any location without any repercussions?" Gunter spoke faintly from behind his gauntlet, having quietly facepalmed out of a sense of utter defeat during Lilith's explanation. His and Elise's horses had long since abandoned them to nibble away on the fresh grasses nearby.
"Yes, Mr. Gunter." Lilith nodded and chirped merrily, her tail swishing.
"You…you are a dragon?" Kaze blinked in wonderment, the unanswered mysteries about his travel companion finally making sense. "Well, this certainly cleared some concerns of mine as to how you are so knowledgeable and skilled in magic, not to mention your uncannily sharp senses and ability to remain near impossible to detect whenever you wished."
"Yes. I am an Astral Dragon, to be exact. I'm sorry for not informing you sooner, Kaze." The girl turned to face the green-haired man, smiling sheepishly.
Kaze laughed warmly and waved her off cordially with a shake of his head. "No, I understand. As a Ninja, I would be quite hypocritical if I were to complain about you keeping secrets from me. In fact, if I were carrying such profound information as you, I would have done no different."
Lilith beamed in gratitude, her large fish-like tail that she summoned as a demonstration of her true species now contently swaying around under her skirt.
"So! So! In other words…" Elise chimed in with her own bright grin, eyes sparkling in awe and glee as she continued to exude excitement. "We have a super-duper secret mega special awesome base that we can use whenever, with a super-duper amazing ultra kind powerful dragon who guards it and helps us out?"
Lilith blushed a shy, bashful pink. "Er…Lady Elise, you'll make me red if you continue to heap such praises onto me. All of this—it, it's nothing, really…"
"Hee hee, sorry!" The blonde girl winked playfully at the other. "I guess dragon or not, you're still our same loveable and easily embarrassed Lilith!"
"Oh, Lady Elise, whether I'm a maid or a dragon, you tease me all the same. It's rather reassuring how you treat me no differently regardless of my form, hehe!" The dragon-fish chuckled fondly at the Nohrian princess, a hand covering her mouth politely.
Corrin, who's been watching his allies' reactions in barely concealed amusement, finally piped up. "So, does that explain what my 'secret weapon' is and why it was better to show it than try to describe it?"
His allies nodded in confirmation, some of them still visibly trying to process the bombshell that Corrin was apparently friends with an ancient dragon who granted him access to a whole ass private realm that was also conveniently empty and devoid of other forces.
"Hehe, I'll say!" Felicia, one of the first who had just accepted that this was her life now, replied good-naturedly. She then turned to face Kaze and Lilith, shooting them both a grateful smile. "My word, you two have been quite the busy bees. Lord Corrin told us where and why he sent you for the past fortnight. Thank you, truly, for what you've done for my tribe."
The pinkette bowed deeply at them, causing the two to blink flusteredly in surprise at the Maid's sincere, unadulterated gratitude.
"Felicia…I've known you and Flora for a while now, and believe me when I say that I enjoy both of your companies. I would help the Ice Tribe without hesitation if I had known of King Garon's vile schemes, regardless if Lord Corrin had ordered me to do so." The dragon girl spoke earnestly, reptilian eyes soft as she gazed upon the now teary pinkette.
Kaze nodded next to Lilith, expression gentle as he regarded the now also sniffling pinkette. "It was simply my mission, Felicia. No need for such gratitude. As you are my ally, it was my honor to have assisted your tribe."
"Awwww…" The Maid hiccuped, touched by their selfless actions and kind words. "You guys are the best…! And you, Lord Corrin, thank you for saving mine and Flora's people!"
"You're welcome, Felicia. I would do so again without hesitation." Corrin grinned reassuringly, proud that he's done something right to have made his Maid cry from happiness. He then pivoted back to the others. "Alright! So, just to be perfectly clear, the astral plane is officially our base of operations in-between battles. As Lilith mentioned, call out her name nicely wherever you are if you require her to transport you to and from the realms. Quick note: I will be customizing the area soon, so watch out for buildings falling from the sky and try not to get crushed."
At some of his allies' dumbfounded looks of pure disbelief, the dragon prince chuckled and waved off their incredulous gazes nonchalantly. "Don't worry! You all somehow survived the last time we lived here, so I'm sure you'll be fine this time around, too."
"..."
There was a long pause after that before Rinkah broke it with a deadpan, "...I'm going to find a roof and sleep under there for the night. Do not bother me," before promptly leaving.
"Remember, if you need any tent supplies or other personal effects, they will be available by request at the throne room until a proper location is set up for them!" Lilith helpfully called after Rinkah's retreating form, who gave no indication that she heard her despite not being too far gone yet.
"Oh, might I assist you with handing those camping supplies out?" Felicia, the ever-dutiful maid, asked the Astral Dragon with hopeful eyes.
"Of course! I'd be honored." Lilith giggled at Felicia's 'yaaay!' and small victory hop.
"Okay, then I'm off to go explore now!" Elise chirped giddily to everyone still present, smiling widely to herself. "Ohh man, this place looks so pretty and neat! I can't wait to enjoy my time here!"
"Alright. Have fun, Elise." Corrin waved his sister farewell, an adoring smile plastered on his face yet again at her child-like purity.
"I sure will, big Bro! Hee hee hee, yaaay!" The Nohrian princess flung her arms out as she dashed off jubilantly, long blonde pigtails swinging in the air as she laughed freely.
"...well then." Gunter coughed into his fist after a companionable moment of watching the girl run off. "It seems I shall be in charge of putting away the mounts. Lilith, is there a stable nearby?"
"Yes, Mr. Gunter. I will show you where. It might need just a bit more work as it is unfinished, but nothing that will take long. Felicia, may I count on you to help us with this task as well?" Lilith asked the Ice Tribe member politely despite already knowing Felicia's predictable answer.
"Oh, of course! I'm glad to be of help!" Felicia nodded vigorously, and if she had a tail, it would be wagging back and forth happily.
While Gunter and the two girls went to gather the horses, Azura took this chance to approach Corrin. "Corrin, a word."
"Hm? What's wrong, Azura?" The albino raises a brow at the Songstress in slight concern.
"I know the choice you just made was a difficult one. From here on out, you and your allies will continue down this chosen path. I know you trust that I shall follow you faithfully, but I want to pronounce again that I promise to do everything in my power to help you on your journey. When the time is right, I'd like to speak to you more about our 'hidden enemies'."
The Manakete smiled at her gratefully. "Thank you, Azura. Your kindness and support are very much appreciated, as always. I'll let you know when is a good time for that, alright?"
The bluette mirrored Corrin's warmth back with her own small smile before introvertedly excusing herself—a.k.a. turning around and leaving without a word—to go attend to her own affairs.
As Corrin watched her go, he thought to himself how he shouldn't be complaining about getting sent back in time anymore, and that he should fully embrace this fresh new start instead. He glanced around the vast, barren castle grounds tenderly illuminated by the golden rays of the setting sun, reminiscing how fully decorated and flushed out it once was in his memories. The laughter and camaraderie shared between his family and friends, the grief and comfort experienced within these boundaries among unlikely comrades, and the resolve and solidarity that formed the unbreakable bonds which carried them to a peaceful future…Corrin knew this time around it would be no different, and it would only add to the nostalgia and partiality he has for this plane of existence by the time he saved the world again.
"Alright, I should probably get going and set up some buildings for everyone. Hey, Kaze—" The albino prince swiveled around with a start, just now noticing his green-haired companion had long since departed when no one was paying attention.
Corrin blinked once, twice, before he crossed his arms, shook his head, and grumbled fondly at the other's sneaky habits.
"Ninjas."