Wow! I feel like I've been burning through these chapters lately. I can't tell if I'm super excited or if I'm just making up for lost time. Well next chapter is ready, let's go.
Edit for RariSweti: I'm crying right now you have no idea how happy I am to see you. I post on Fanfiction and get so many scam emails, I genuinely started dreading getting emails. But seeing your name and comments made my week. It's very heartwarming seeing people actually interact with my work. Thank you.
The Prince's Future
Chapter 15: Homecoming
Shulk let out a sigh of relief the second Ylisstol came into view. He was surprised that they had managed to get here so soon. But thankfully they were home now.
"That's Ylisstol?" Shulk heard the girl in the long coat let out a surprised gasp. Three of the kids rushed to a window to peer out and see the quickly approaching city. "The Old Man wasn't kidding." She let out a whistle. "Stories don't do it justice."
"Do you have a place to stay?" Chrom asked as Robin gave him a confused look. Shulk understood to a degree, but they were still strangers.
The girl in the longcoat turned around to stare at them, her expression unreadable. "I mean…I have an uncle we can stay with, he has no idea we're coming but I'm sure he'll appreciate the extra hands."
Chrom made a disapproving noise. "Allow us to formally invite you to our home, while you get in contact with your family."
She gave him an amused smirk. "Sure, but which house is yours, exactly?"
"The big one." Was all Chrom said as the carriage continued down the road. Further and further until it reached the castle gates.
The boy with the goggles began to look frantic, as if he understood what was happening, the girl in the longcoat only shifted slightly. "What are we missing?" she whispered to the young man.
In a hushed and frantic voice he answered, "This is the castle, and that-" he gestured over to Chrom, "must be the Exalt, the King, the big boss of Ylisse!"
She blinked owlishly at the king and his advisor. "Oh."
The carriage came to a stop at the large double doors before they stepped outside, the Exalt led them through the huge doors where the homecoming party was waiting. Shulk felt something in his chest jump at seeing the prince again, he seemed in good health and the relieved shine in his eyes was comforting.
Lucina blinked rapidly "Father, Who are they?"
"Ah, right." Chrom motioned to the strangers they picked off the street. "We picked them up on our way over and they will be staying until they can reconnect with the family they say is living here." his smile then faltered, "Forgive me I don't think I caught your name … any of your names."
"Ah right." The boy with the goggles began to panic but the girl in the longcoat cut him off with a motion of her arm.
She stepped forward and with a practiced flourish. "I am the leader of the Neo-Pha-" the redhead with the staff bonked her on the head.
"We're travelers," the redhead corrected. "From afar."
"Right, well this is my crew, you may call me Valkyrie." she indicated the boy with the goggles, "this is Forge." she gestured to the shorter girl with the pointed ears, "that's Tempest." and then she motioned to the redhead, "and that is Sparkle."
Shulk heard Robin murmur something under his breath, before he spoke up. "You remind me of someone I know."
"Probably a coincidence." she said with a dramatic flourish. Robin only grunted again, clearly something about her seemed to be setting him off.
"Ah Shulk," Chrom piped up. "Can you show our guests around the castle?"
Shulk turned to face the prince who didn't look surprised, instead the prince spoke up. "Go on, I have to step out for a bit." Then in a hushed whisper he added. "Meet me in my room, I'll be back around sunset, we have much to discuss."
Shulk swallowed, and nodded once he met the King's eye again. Lucina took this time to pipe up herself, "right, Father, me and the girls are going into town, is that alright?"
"By all means." Chrom yawned, "Ah and Shulk, we'll have a meeting at a later time about …what you saw." but as he walked upstairs he grabbed Robin by his cravat and dragged him away. "But for now, I'm exhausted."
Shulk turned his attention back to the group of children, "Right then, follow me, please."
Oracle waited for Marth in the garden, the plan was simple. He would take the prince away from the castle for him to process what would happen. He wasn't entirely sure what was running through the Prince's mind; all he had to go off was the stories told to him by the other staff after he came back. So his plan was to see the way Marth would react upon getting the news and go from there.
He was surprised to see the prince in a rather good mood upon his arrival. And when Marth noticed him, the prince smiled.
That didn't feel right, was it?
He searched Marth's gaze and found no difference, in fact he looked relaxed. Oracle took a moment to think. Maybe the change was gradual, maybe Lucina and Lady Corrin had over exaggerated his disappearance.
Something still felt off about the prince, still seeming completely unperturbed by his absence. He shook his head to rid himself of any conspiratorial thoughts that could explain it. "Is everything well?"
Marth blinked up at him, even looking a bit confused. "Yes, everything is fine, why do you ask?"
Oracle tried to hide his growing concern, maybe it hadn't hit yet. "Today we'll be training outside the city, is that alright?"
There was even a hint of excitement in the Prince's gaze. "Lead the way." He began to walk deeper into the woods and the prince rushed to follow him.
Oracle needed to figure this out, but asking Marth felt wrong, maybe somewhere deep down this was what he had expected. That Marth only realized what happened years later, after all, maybe the detachment , or what was left of it, arrived a few hours later after the encounter with the assassins. Perhaps the prince would realize his absence then.
Although something about that train of thought felt like wishful thinking.
Marth was surprised that Oracle had insisted he come out here outside the castle. He had expected that the training was going to continue in the middle of the night by the training grounds. "So what exactly are we going to do this time?"
"We're going to test your instincts." Oracle said as he took a few steps away from the prince. "Most real fights won't be on a perfectly secure flat surface with no obstacles, most of the time it will be at unexpected places. Like these woods." he took up a training sword. "I'm going to hunt you, and you are going to do your best to stay away from me."
"Hunt me?" Marth swallowed a lump in his throat.
"You will use a combination of your instincts and the environment to your advantage." he tossed a training sword at the prince. "Know I will not hurt you but in this training, I want you to pretend I will, because whenever you use what I teach you here, your opponent will not hold back."
Marth nodded. "Anything else?"
"Start running." and so Marth did, he didn't even say goodbye.
Lucina opened the door that led to the restaurant portion of the inn. Zelda and Corrin entered eagerly and when Lucina entered herself she was floored by the sheer amount of customers.
"Are you sure about this place?" Zelda looked around at the crowded space.
"Trust us, this place has the best coffee and curry you've ever tasted." Corrin chirped.
One man ran from table to table, a notebook tucked into the top pocket of his apron, while both pockets closer to the bottom were packed with gold. Then without fanfare he rushed off to their table as they took a seat. "Welcome to the Velvet Rest, what can I get you?"
Lucina only tilted her head to the side. "Three specials, coffee and all."
It was Corrin who cut the tension. "Akira, are you okay?"
Lucina took in Akira's appearance and sure enough it wasn't just the notebook and gold. His glasses were slipping off his face. His eyes were unfocused and carried bags. His hair was far more messy than it's usual frizz, it looked like there was something nesting in it for a second. He gave them a practiced smile. "Everything is fine." But his eyes were still unfocused, Luci wouldn't be surprised if he had no idea who he was talking to.
"No hurry," Corrin eased, "we can wait." that seemed to relieve some of the tension in his shoulders. Before he nodded and rushed off to another table.
They watched him run around like a headless chicken. Rushing from table to table, taking orders, delivering food, then rushing off to another table to pick up the dishes to make room for another customer.
Inevitably the flow of customers thinned and when he delivered them their food his eyes shone with recognition. "Oh hey, when did you guys get here?"
"We've been here for half an hour." Corrin smiled.
"Ah~ well um… you see I was really busy." Akira sighed scratching the back of his neck, subconsciously he started combing his hand through his hair.
"Akira, are you sure you're okay?" Corrin frowned. "You took our order without so much as even trying to flirt or making a big show, are you sick or something?"
Akira looked between the married couple and let out an exasperated sigh. As he pulled up a seat and slumped onto the table. "No." he let out a huff. "I'm exhausted."
"You look it." Zelda frowned. "No offense."
"It's been hell. It wasn't so bad when Robin left, albeit a bit unorganized, " he sighed as he righted himself. "But then Cloud and Byleth just decided to walk off in the middle of the night, said they had to do a thing and they haven't come back, so now it's just me running this place."
"You've been running the inn and restaurant by yourself?" Corrin winced. "You even called everyone by their names, Good God Akira you need to rest now."
"Basically," he groaned. "Leven helps with some of the night shifts when he gets home, mostly so I can sleep but otherwise I've barely gotten any sleep or time to rest."
Lucina frowned. "You know you can close the inn if it's too much trouble for you alone."
"We need the money." Akira rested his chin on his palm. "I haven't been able to get a good job since your wedding, meaning the guild isn't willing to help."
"I'm so sorry." Lucina said with a half serious tone.
"Things have been so hard running this place alone," Akira's eyes looked away as he began to use that flamboyant tone of voice he did while trying to persuade. "If only there was some other member of the Phan-"
"I'm not leaving my wife and title to come help you with your inn." Lucina said flatly.
"Eh it was worth a shot." He sighed dramatically but the smile on his face told her he wasn't upset. "But maybe there is something else-"
"I'm not giving you a tax exception either." She began to drink her coffee.
"Well, it was worth a shot." he leaned back and stretched, the amount of pops they heard was actually a bit concerning.
Zelda took another bite from her food before making a pleased noise. "You know." she dabbed at her face, "the food here is good enough, i'm sure it could keep you afloat with only the restaurant open."
"You really think so?" that seemed to light something in his eyes. "Well I guess if nothing else I can do that."
Zelda studied him for a long time before finally asking. "Are you the crazy bastard that kidnapped Corrin and Lucina last year?"
"What~ Me~ no~" Akira lied. "Why, that was the handsome and incredibly charming leader of the Phantom Thieves, Joker."
"Is that so?" Zelda chuckled, Corrin joining her as Lucina only rolled her eyes.
Marth rushed out from behind his tree darting from one hiding spot to another. He hadn't seen or heard any sign of Oracle and in truth he wasn't sure if that was better or worse. The ex-seer had found him at least three times since this exercise began. But this would have to be the longest time Marth had managed to stay alive.
Marth eased his breathing and concentrated on listening. It was then that he felt something, if he strained his ears he could hear strong and hurried steps rushing through the forests. Gotcha, you won't sneak up on me this time.
He waited and when he heard the footsteps getting closer he jumped out of his hiding spot and rushed away. Unfortunately it seemed Oracle was gaining, and quickly,
Marth tried to jump back into the thicket to avoid the ex-seer when a powerful arm yanked him by the back of his tunic. With one powerful flick he was sent tumbling into the nearby clearing. "Got ya."
The voice that greeted him wasn't Oracle's, it was accented but there was no doubt that it wasn't Oracle. It was too deep and carried so much power behind it Marth struggled to get away.
The man who caught him was gigantic, with spiked brown hair, and a scar running down the side of his face, covering one eye. There was something about his gold eye that some far off part of his brain told him was familiar but he knew for a fact he had never met this man before.
Marth stumbled backward, tightening his grip on his blade. The stranger summoned his own blade, another powerful looking greatsword, this one was also red. He moved to strike him with the flat of if when a blur of red blocked his vision.
"What are you doing here!" he heard Oracle call out, his tone both confused and irritated.
"Shulk?" then the giant backed down. "Oh good I found you."
"Answer the question." Oracle hissed as he put his blade away. "What are you doing here?"
"... looking for the kids." he gave Oracle this apologetic look that made that itch in Marth's brain tingle a little more.
"The kids are here?!" Oracle turned away from the giant and pinched the bridge of his nose. Before, in irritation he asked. "Who, and why?" Then in a huff he added. "And why didn't you stop them?"
"I tried." the big guy pleaded, "and it was exactly who you expect." he sighed, "I just got a tip off and came as fast as I could but before I could stop them they activated the outworld portal and jumped through, so I followed after them to drag them back."
"Of course it would be them." Oracle let out a deep and exhausted sigh. "Oh those kids are in so much trouble when I get my hands on them."
On the outskirts of Ylisstol, a tavern like many others has a bulletin board for bounty hunting pinned to a back wall. Some are, as expected, monsters or criminals. However one bounty is stuck to the back. It carried a hefty reward.
A clawed hand snatched it. Taking in the look of the group on the cover. Three individuals. A big blue haired man, a young blue haired man and a woman. A woman he recognized.
That damned princess. The one with the blue hair, with two different colored eyes. One a deep blue and the other glowing with light from within.
Her and that damned dragon she had following her ruined everything. He will revel in her downfall. "See you at the Spring Festival Blue."
AN/ Wooooo. Know that these chapters are flowing a lot easier than I expected. Can't wait to see you guys in the next chapter. I know you have many questions, but trust that I will answer them in due time. Just enjoy the ride. See you next time. Fun Fact: alternate chapter name was 'kira eepy.
~ (2/22/2025)