2This story is my own interpretation of Fire Emblem If/Fates, based on rough dialogue translations and creative license, meaning that since I started this story in 2015, it will stick with the characters' original Japanese given names, save for Kamui, who I have named Persephone for... reasons. Inspired by authoress imagine . believe , and her FE: Awakening fanfiction "Recto Verso." Feel free to check her out.
Like the game, this story pulls from its three sides: Birthright, Conquest, and Revelations. It's sort of an amalgamation of them all mixed together. However, the ending and scenes will have their own twist that deviates slightly from the game. I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading! Please review and subscribe!
Edit: For anyone who's curious, the song is a rough translation of Aqua's song "If One's Thoughts," or "Hitori Omou" for you Japanese fans. On a side note, after doing an extensive amount of research on Fire Emblem's wikia, I have noticed that when I published this story, it was Marx's (Xander in English) birthday, October 27th. Happy Birthday, Marx! Can't wait to play your game in 2016!
Also, it has come to my attention that Kamui/Corrin resembles more of an albino person in appearance, so I've fixed that.
Chapter 1: One's Thoughts and Dreams
The first startling realization Persephone had that day was that in all her life, she had never known what an ocean looked like. She knew that they must have existed, despite that she couldn't recall ever seeing a body of water bigger than her own bathtub. Philosophers and historians couldn't simply make something that grand up- either that or the castle library needed to be sorely updated and her tutors fired.
However, standing where she was, she had to imagine that this would be what one would look like, the picturesque scene as clear as day. It was very still, for an ocean. The surface hardly moved, save for the ripples that moved from the shifting of her footsteps, the water mirroring the sky to the point where the seafloor chain of underwater volcanoes looked like floating islands from their reflection.
The second realization was that Persephone was not alone. A warm, feminine voice echoed wistfully towards the endless horizon of sea and sky, her song sounding like waves of water gentling crashing and hissing against the sandy banks.
"Swaying and being swayed,
One's thoughts flow,
Like bubbles down the river stream,
That hand will open up the path to tomorrow,
Reaching out to the light,
The un-corruptible golden sword,
Will slash in order to wake,
Those slumbering hopes,
Bringing peace to the world..."
While the song continued, a strange young woman clad in elegant white robes with lace blue ribbons formed from droplets of water next to her. Her long, flowing azure hair seemed to melt and reform as it blew in the wind, the girl gently stepping on the surface of the water as if she were walking on a bed of grass instead of a collection of sea foam. Her gold and blue pendant lifting up as if possessed by a magic spell, floating along as she continued her song.
"A soft light scatters from the crystal,
Vanquishing the dark like a sunrise,
One's thoughts..."
"Who are you?" Persephone asked, interrupting the young woman, who paused abruptly in mid-syllable when she was about a couple of yards away from her. Rather than answer, the woman turned and lifted up a long golden staff and distorted the surface of the ocean with a single droplet of water that fell from its sharp tip. Indiscernible images and colors began swirling around and dispersing like oil mixing with water in the area where it fell before clearing to reveal many familiar faces, including her brothers and sisters. The proud stature and ebony armor glinted with the familial colors of black and royal purple, a stark contrast against her pale skin, white hair, and the neutral tones of silver armor. They stood behind her like they were posing for a family portrait, but when she turned around, Persephone found that she was alone. She was always alone.
Their faces continued to stare up lovingly at her own from the water's reflection, so clear that she could almost reach out and touch them. Unconsciously, her hand traced the outline of Marx's eyes, finding an unnatural warmth in them she had never seen before, causing the image to distorted with continuous ripples until they formed into four new figures. She couldn't make their faces out, but they appeared to be four children, a pair of boys and girls emblazoned with hues of crimson and gold. The eldest, a young man no older than fifteen with long, spiky auburn hair and an argent gaze reached his hand out to her.
"It's good to see you," he smiled kindly.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"You know who we are..." he declared before pointing at her and frowning. "The question is... who are you?"
A startled breathe caught in Persephone's throat. What a ridiculous question, she wanted to scoff but she was suddenly filled with the feeling of inferiority and the urge to run.
Where am I? Who am I?
Bits of black feathers fell from the sky, darkening the bits of ocean they landed in before swelling into large pools of sable that caused the water to grow clouded and murky. A feeling of comfort eased the tightness growing in her chest before Persephone recomposing herself and answered the question, "I... am Lady Persephone, princess of Nohr and third in line for the throne!"
The image abruptly went dark from a bejeweled toe that stepped on the puddle, jangling with gold anklets and toe rings. No longer kneeling on the watery floor, Persephone found the azure woman now held her crimson gaze across from her with bronze eyes filled with sorrow. Her salty tears cascaded down her face, gathering together with enough weight that large droplets would form from her cheek. Right before they struck the water's surface, Persephone heard one final voice whisper.
-
C̷̫͍͖̼̞̦̔̇̾̔͜ͅo̸̟͗͛́͊̈̀̀͊̏̇̐̌͘͠͝r̷̢̡̲͚͚͔̖͍̗̣̝͙̓̇͋̊͛̽̌͗͑͋̔̑͘̚̕͝å̵̛̮͇͔̬̠̟̜̖̯͖̑̈͌́̆͘̚͝͝ͅͅ
The sound was muffled, but it felt so comforting, so familiar... She wanted to walk towards it, but she soon found herself abruptly halted in place, ripped away from the mysterious woman, sinking into the water she had so easily walked upon only moments ago, tugged down into the dark abyss like stone bound to her feet.
"You are my little C̷̫͍͖̼̞̦̔̇̾̔͜ͅo̸̟͗͛́͊̈̀̀͊̏̇̐̌͘͠͝r̷̢̡̲͚͚͔̖͍̗̣̝͙͔̜̘̓̇͋̊͛̽̌͗͑͋̔̑͘̚̕͜͝å̵̧̛̮͇͔̬̠̟̜̖̯͖̞̻͉͖̞͚̑̈͌́̆͘̚͝͝ͅͅͅ,..."
C̷̫͍͖̼̞̦̔̇̾̔͜ͅo̸̟͗͛́͊̈̀̀͊̏̇̐̌͘͠͝r̷̢̡̲͚͚͔̖͍̗̣̝͙͔̜̘̓̇͋̊͛̽̌͗͑͋̔̑͘̚̕͜͝å̵̧̛̮͇͔̬̠̟̜̖̯͖̞̻͉͖̞͚̑̈͌́̆͘̚͝͝ͅͅͅ!
C̸̢̢̬̮̙̯̜̮̥̦͐́̔̏̈̌͜o̸̖̺̒̿̈̾̈́̈́͑͛̋̐̾ŕ̶̡̹͚̙̲̱͕͚͊̏̿̔̇ā̵̰̙̠̦͓̤̇̊̎̽̀̅͊̔̾͝ Where are you, C̷̫͍͖̼̞̦̔̇̾̔͜ͅo̸̟͗͛́͊̈̀̀͊̏̇̐̌͘͠͝r̷̢̡̲͚͚͔̖͍̗̣̝͙͔̜̘̓̇͋̊͛̽̌͗͑͋̔̑͘̚̕͜͝å̵̧̛̮͇͔̬̠̟̜̖̯͖̞̻͉͖̞͚̑̈͌́̆͘̚͝͝ͅͅͅ?!
P̴̛̭͈̒̒̍̐̇̾͆̀̍ͅe̵̡̨̬̻̹͈̒̽͆̑̄̔̕̕̕r̶̛̪̣̬͗͊̌̃ṡ̸̨͈͇̻̩̗̟͉̟͙͒ephone...
...Persephone!
"Lady Persephone, it's morning." Jarred awake from a particularly deep sleep, Persephone placed the voice to belong to her maid Flora, who was trying to get her young mistress up to greet the day. Tired and a little disoriented from her dream, Persephone's eyes grew heavy again and felt herself being pulled back into the sweet seduction of slumber. While it would be considered unprofessional for most lady's maids to even consider, Flora thought it absolutely necessary as she played tug-of-war a bit with Persephone's blanket, attempting to jostle the sheets away from her iron-clad grip. When that didn't work, her younger sister Felicia decided to aid her.
"It's morning! Time to wake up, sleepyhead!" Felicia replied cheerfully as she bounced on the edge of the bed full of zeal, unfazed by her mistress's lack of propriety and cranky mood. So much bright and cheerful feelings so early in the morning, it was positively blinding. Persephone groaned and turned back over in bed, forcibly tugging the covers over her head. The drunkenness of sleep gave her maids more of an edge as the princess's grip eventually gave out, causing Felicia to knock over a vase of Nohrian roses sitting on her nightstand and send it toppling down onto the floor, shattering into a million pieces.
"Milady, I am so sorry!" Felicia cheeks flushed pink with exertion and embarrassment enough to match her hair. "I'll get it cleaned up right away!"
"What have you broken now, you clumsy oaf?" Persephone turned and took a small peek from underneath the sheets to see that her butler was now at her bedside with a clean cloth. Similar to her, Joker wasn't a morning person and judging from the tightness of his jaw, he was in rare form this particular morning. "Look what you've done! Lady Persephone could cut her dainty foot on any one of these shards."
"It was only a vase, Joker. No need to make such a fuss," Flora replied coolly, causing Joker to let out a slight huff.
"I wouldn't fuss if it didn't keep happening." Despite being unskilled at housework, when it came to accidents and random acts of clumsiness, Felicia was a prodigy. One would think that they would have learned not to put all the decorative glassware and porcelain in her vicinity by now. Joker seemed to have a similar thought, shooing the maid away from the pile of broken porcelain at her bedside. "Don't start cleaning it up now, you dolt. You'll only cut yourself on the shards and create more work for me cleaning up all your blood."
Through layers of blankets, Persephone could feel the icy wind her maid was involuntarily creating through her distress. Taking this as her personal wake up call, Persephone relented and let out a soft whine.
"Alright, what is it that... you wanted me up for anyways?" Persephone yawned in mid-sentence, willing herself up to sit up to peer wearily towards the window, which held a dark, overcast sky. "Why'd you wake me up in middle of the night?
"Pardon me, milady," interjected another, a man well into his fifties that donned large black armor. "It's already morning, even if it's still dark outside. You have a special training session today."
She felt a pout of disappointment form on her lips, allowing herself to collapse in her pile of pillows in exhaustion. She had almost forgotten. She had a match planned with her eldest brother Marx. Leave it to Gunter to spoil an opportunity for relaxation. Now she knew she had to get up. Not only was her bodyguard incredibly strict, he was more stubborn than a mule and about as adamant as a diamond. This was why he was an excellent knight, first in his class, though some days she felt like he was her warden, but not today. Today, everything was going to change.
"I've made it my duty to have prepared your weapons for the session ahead of time. I hope they are to your liking," Joker smiled with a gentlemanly bow. She looked at her butler's handwork, her swords sharpened and armor polished. Everything was in tip-top shape as per usual, and it caused her to feel a small twinge of guilt for feeling more obligated to fall back asleep than to admire his craftsmanship. However, the sweet intoxicating drunkenness of sleep still gave her a bit of courage and lack of common sense.
"But I'm still sleepy..." she whined, not looking forward to her training session nearly as much as she had before, since she was still groggy from all the studying last night.
"In that case... Felicia," Flora turned towards her sister, who nodded in confirmation before both of the girls held their hands on both sides of Persephone's head and shot a cold blast of ice onto her temples.
"Ahhh! Stop! T-that's cold! I'm up! I'm up already!" Persephone yelped, bits of ice and snow now stuck in her hair, making it look like she had charged headlong into a snowbank or had a really bad case of dandruff.
"I expect to see you dressed and ready at half-past eight," Gunter stated before leaving to stand guard outside her door while Persephone was lead to a divider by her lady's maids.
"You're so cruel, Flora," Persephone mock cried as the twins began pulling off her nightwear in favor of laying out an outfit more suitable outfit for combat. Contrary to popular belief, Persephone could tell the difference between her twin maids not just by their contrasting hair color. Similar to the color of her hair, which resembled icecaps, Flora had the icier personality between the two sisters.
"It can't be helped, milady," Flora sighed. "After all, we are from the Ice Tribe." She placed a robe on her mistress before stepping back with a bow. "If that is to be all, I shall undress the bedding and add it to the laundry." Turning back to the bed, Flora fell into where she ignored everything and everyone outside of her work. Feeling a bit left out, receiving the cold shoulder from her lady's maid, Persephone moved her attention towards her butler, who stood expectantly outside of her bathing room.
"I've already drawn up a hot bath and started brewing a fresh pot of black tea to help invigorate and stimulate you for your match," Joker declared after finally stashing the broken vase and scattered black and white rose petals in a cloth fashioned sack.
"Thank you, Joker."
"Anytime, milady. I aim to please. Your every wish is my command." Stepping into the steam-filled bath, Persephone shed her robe on the screen that separated her from Joker and contemplated her butler's sudden switch in personality. She always felt that Joker was putting on a mask when he spoke to other people. To everyone else, he was coarse, sharp, and a bit more than rude, not dubbing them as worthy of his time or respect, but when regarding her and her antics, he was soft, cordial, devoted, and patient. Even his compliments seemed to lay it on a bit thick when she was around. He wore different hats for different people, and his two-faced antics made her more than a little worried.
"I wish you would be a little nicer to Felicia. You know she's just trying her best," she spoke through the screen that shielded her privacy.
"I know you mean well, milady, but I'd more likely than be friends with a wyvern than that klutz. With friends like her, who needs enemies?"
"I know but... it would make me feel a lot better if you got along better with her, with everyone in the castle. Maybe then you wouldn't be so lonely."
"I don't feel lonely, milady. I have you." She felt her cheeks grow hot at his resolute declaration, even if he didn't mean it exactly the way he said it. She was unaccustomed to being complimented, especially by strapping young men.
"Still, I would feel better if you had one friend outside of me. It's not fun being all by yourself..." Her eyes lowered as a twinge of loneliness ached through her like an old battle scar.
"...I'm sorry, milady. It was not right of me to cause you such grief, especially over my sake. If it didn't already upset you, I would have asked to be flogged by the Nohrian guard for having put you through such distress," Joker held his hand to his chest, almost like breathing was a great burden. "But if it pleases your Ladyship, I'll try to fit in better with the castle staff."
"Thank you. That's all I ask."
"Now then, is the water temperature to your liking? I can scrub your back, if you'd like."
"N-No, no. It's fine! I-I can do that myself, thanks," Persephone blushed as she quickly immersed herself in the warm blanket of water. She wasn't a child anymore. She was almost eighteen, practically a young woman. While Joker was part of the help, he was a dear old friend and her closest confidante.
It was fine when she was little and he scrubbed her back, but now it just made her feel uncomfortable. He was certainly attractive enough, but it was more over the fact that she was becoming more self-conscious of her own body becoming more lithe and curved, much like that of a woman's, and how men saw it. She was more of a late bloomer than any of her sisters. Her silvery white hair fell past her shoulders, almost falling all the way down her back in long wavy curls, and her chest had not been as... well-endowed as her big sister's. Needless to say, she felt a little left out. Still, better late than never.
While she scrubbed her long locks, she felt her hands go over her pointy ears and immediately shied away in shame. She had grown her hair out to hide them, as she was teased constantly by her younger brother when they were children; he always compared them to a goblin or a troll. Which was why she never put her hair up. If that wasn't enough, she had to be blessed with crimson colored eyes, a major discerning feature that made her different than the rest of her family, as they had either lavender or dark brown eyes.
There were times she wondered if she was even related to them at all. She knew that her father sometimes was a bit more... loose with women in his hey-day, but she was the only one who had red eyes. She'd sometimes look at her father's face only for the sake of searching for something that she could relate to. She had been looking into her mother's origins in secret, although Joker claimed that no records had come up yet. It was one of the things she was determined to do once she left the palace. She wanted to understand.
The dream that plagued her seemed to draw out doubts about her origins. Leon had once told her that dreams were basically the process of information while one slept, and that they often were caused by the mind trying to solve problems subconsciously. Maybe her dream was a sign of her becoming excited about leaving home and going out into the world, trying to figure out who she was outside of her castle. She decided to settle on that for the answer as she came out of her bath and took a sip from her teacup Joker had left for her on a tray, still thoughtful from her musings. After her maid Felicia began placing on her undergarments behind a large screen, Joker began fitting her into her slim-fit plated armor and combat skirt.
"Your big brother sure did a number on your armor in your last training session," Joker remarked as he carefully wrapped and tied Persephone's cape around her like a sash. "I had to buff out quite a few dents and scuffs from your last confrontation."
"Nnn."
"That being said, I hope things go well for you today, milady."
"Nnn."
"...Something troubling you?" he asked, taking notice in his mistress's odd behavior. While he was not a morning person, she was quite the chatter box and often filled the early morning silence with laughter and lovely conversation that made his mornings worth getting up for.
"What makes you say that?"
"I asked if you wanted to wear any armored boots, and you didn't respond."
"Oh," she drew out, pulling out a small chuckle out of her butler. For no discernible reason at all, Persephone had always hated shoes. To her, they felt as confining as the cold stone walls that kept her imprisoned here, so she often went barefoot, and she had fought tooth-and-nail to keep it that way. While she had initially been forced into wearing boots in the beginning, as it was discourteous for nobles or any decent human being to be without footwear, Persephone had proven herself to be more agile when barefoot, and since she never left the castle grounds, there seemed to be no need for shoes. "I'm fine. It's just... I have a lot on my mind."
"Oh...? Like what?"
"Dreams... my dreams, my hopes, nightmares... that sort of thing."
"Is that why you took so long to get up this morning? Because of your dreams?" Joker inquired, pausing slightly in his task of fastening her armor.
"Not dreams, just the same, strange dream," she shrugged as her eyes filled with a wistful look. "A group of strangers claimed to be my siblings, but I had never seen them before... and a young blue haired woman singing..."
"How odd... That's the third time this month you've had this dream," Joker exclaimed, furrowing his brow deep in thought. "Perhaps we ought to inquire a soothsayer about these dreams, or have a witch brew up a potion to aid in your sleeping habits..."
"Um... Lady Persephone," Flora interjected nervously, just getting back to escort her mistress. "Perhaps we can hear more about it later."
"Yes... you're probably right," Persephone conceded with a smile, pushing her thoughts away for a later date. "Thank you for aiding me, Joker. I can never get the armor on right like you do."
"Anytime, milady. If there should be anything you need me for, I am yours to command," he bowed courteously with a warm smile. "And should you find the need to talk some more, I will make myself readily available."
"Thank you, Joker," she smiled warmly, always loving the chance to confide in him. While her lady's maids were employed by her father, Joker was absolutely loyal to her and would keep their conversations held in the strictest confidence.
"Good luck, Lady Persephone! Lord Marx is waiting~!" Felicia cheered as the others led her away to the training ground that lay outside her castle window.
The cold crisp air cut clean through a person's bones, giving a lively, electric feel as blows were exchanged between two swordsman, sparks flinging off their swords like fireworks. A man with short, curly blonde hair proudly rode his black horse towards his opponent, knocking back his sparring partner in succession with such force that dark violet flames licked off his spatha longsword, leaving his opponent panting on the ground.
"Just as I expected from you, Marx," a young dark knight commented from the sidelines. "Even though Princess Percy is all rested up now, she still doesn't stand a chance against Nohr's greatest warrior."
"Thanks for the support, Leon. Your two cents is very charitable," Persephone grumbled sarcastically at her younger brother as she grudgingly pushed herself up from the floor, putting all of her weight onto her broadsword.
"Best to use that sharp wit of yours for other things, Persephone. Is this all you can do?" her elder brother Marx chided, pointing his violet colored blade in her direction. "I'm not satisfied yet. Pick up your blade and face me. Prove to me how capable you are!" Persephone gave him a look of defiance as the two began readying themselves to start again in their respective corners. He rode his horse past her before he subtly leaned in close.
"Are you alright?" he asked in passing in a low whisper, not wanting to let on to the others that he was being more lenient than his usual unyielding persona. "You seem a bit distracted."
"I... I'm fine. I can keep going," she ushered, not wanting to give up so easily. She had worked so hard to get where she was- she had openly challenged Marx to a duel in front of her father -it would be devastating to give up now when she had come so close. It was almost humiliating that he even had to check on her due to her failures. She didn't want to be treated like a little sister, to hold himself back and let her win in order to humor her. She wanted to be treated as an equal. It's all she'd ever wanted. Not only that, by failing herself, she also felt like she was failing Marx, since he was her combat instructor, and that meant that he was a failure through her, and that was the biggest pain of them all. He already had so much to worry about than having to add her problems to the pile.
"You do realize that if you can't land a single hit today, you will never be allowed to leave this place." She almost froze in her stride from this declaration but continued walking. Her stamina wasn't nearly as high as Marx's, and it didn't help that he had actually fought in real combat, but that didn't make her any less skilled as a swordsman.
"I know... I'm... just warming up. I've barely even broken a sweat," she replied proudly, declaring with a sudden burst of confidence that her brother couldn't help but almost smile at her resilience and positivity. It was one of the things he greatly admired about her.
"Then I hope that you can finally come at me with everything you got," he declared, masking all emotion other than determination as he clutched his sword readily.
"Only if you promise to as well," Persephone responded in kind, her face mimicking his expression, only differing from her rival by the fire in her eyes.
"Now then, let's go. Persephone... if you really want to see the outside world, defeat me and begin your own path. Show me the strength of your resolve. I won't go easy on you just because you are my sister. Now, give it your best shot!"
And with that declaration, round two had begun. Persephone tried landing a few more blows, but she always seemed to hesitate at the last second. Even though it was a sparring match, it was against her eldest brother. She couldn't go full out on him, even if angered, because she didn't want to hurt him. Marx seemed to figure this out quickly enough as he managed to parry the next blow with ease before using the force of the blade against her to knock her back and cut her side. She cringed slightly at the wound. He had her covered in several small cuts, scrapes, and bruises, but she had barely put a scratch on him!
"What you lack is killer instinct. Strike me! Like you intend to end my life!" Marx demanded before charging in again with his steed, causing her to move on the defensive. His higher ground made the blows harder to take, but he wasn't completely invincible. There had to be another way to beat him, if she could just get him off that horse! She just had to think.
He's not a my brother! He's not my brother! He's... just another enemy. Another enemy to fight. An enemy I must defeat in order to protect my family!
"Hyaaaaah!" Persephone let out a large battle cry as she began charging with invigorated determination. She began ferociously striking back like a beast, to the point where Marx's war horse was getting nervous. A slight misstep in the footing caused the horse to slip and rear back, knocking Marx off of his mount. When he finally righted himself, he found himself staring at the tip of Persephone's blade, her eyes cold, sharp, and focused from battle.
"Well done, Persephone. You've gotten stronger," Marx grinned, admitting defeat.
"Thanks... I owe it all to you and your training," she smiled as she sheathed her sword and helped him up to his feet. "Are you hurt? He didn't roll over you, did he?"
"Only my pride. Besides, Gaspar wouldn't roll over his master, not unless he didn't want extra oats to eat in his supper tonight," he stated as he brushed off the dirt before looking at his sister with a meaningful glance. "Although, knowing you, I have a feeling that you would somehow sneak them in to him anyways. Are you making a pet out of my war horse, Persephone?"
"Everyone deserves to be spoiled now and again," Persephone admitted, stroking Gaspar slightly on the cheek, the stallion snorting in contentment. It wasn't long before they were joined by a buxom female knight with long lavender hair and a benevolent presence.
"Percy, darling, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? If you're feeling any pain, let me know. I will look after you..." It was then that she pulled Persephone into one of her famous death hugs.
"Ack! Pain! I'm feeling pain! Camilla, stop!" Persephone cried out as her armor creaked from the sheer force of her big sister's hug, her ability to breathe slowly being compromised. Being a revenant knight had not only added to her strength, but her beauty as well, as her breasts somehow appeared larger than the last time she saw her. Then again, she was currently being suffocated by them.
"Ooops! Sorry! You know how I can get. You're just so cute, Percy!" Camilla cooed, squishing the young princess's face in adoration before Persephone managed to pull away.
"It's alright. It's just a scratch."
"Certainly not," she gasped. "I don't know what I would do if Marx had somehow killed you during the fight. Let's get those wounds taken care of. Elise, heal her!" A little girl with long corkscrew curls, no older than fourteen, ran forward and held up a small black rod.
"Sure thing, Big sis!" Elise replied cheerfully as she began pooling healing energy all around the wounded princess. "I'm glad to help out my big sister."
"Marx, you were much too harsh with her!" Camilla scolded the paladin. "She's not one of your training dummies. You're the oldest, you should know better than to pick on your little sister!"
"Honestly, I still think he took it easy on me," Persephone defended, scratching the back of her head with a sheepish smile. "Besides, I asked him to take this seriously. I didn't want him to just hand me the win. I want to be able to fight on my own merit."
"I wish you didn't have to fight. Then you could stay here, and I could have you all to myself," Camilla doted on Persephone, acting like the smothering mother she was before the healing energy finally dissipated.
"All done!" Elise declared.
"Thanks, Elise. I don't know what I did to deserve you. You're always there for me," Persephone replied, patting her baby sister's head with gratitude as her face lit up.
"Ehe! Then, does that make you happy?"
"Of course it does. Since I can't leave the citadel, I always look forward to seeing you. Your smile is like a ray of sunshine that always brightens my day, no matter how bleak."
"Yaaay! That makes me happy too!" Elise glomped onto her, causing Persephone to spin her around.
"Whoa!"
"I love you, Big Sis! You're my most favorite person in the whole world!" she squealed.
"Geez, she's still such a brat..." Leon grumbled, a bit jealous of all the attention she was getting. "You wouldn't have to be healed all the time if you would just stop being such a nuisance, Percy the Pain."
"Better than being Leo the Cowardly Lion," Persephone responded before sticking her tongue out and blowing a raspberry at him.
"Ah, but her innocence... It's a sign that our kingdom can still be changed, Leon," Camilla added.
"True. I think you have what it takes to become a great Nohrian knight," Marx praised, causing Persephone to blush at his admiration and stare down at her feet.
"Oh gods, no! I couldn't. I'm not you, Marx. I'm not crazy strong or talented. I can't even ride a horse into battle without falling off, and forget me trying to hold an amazing sword like Siegfried..."
"You sell yourself short, Persephone," he exclaimed with a frown. "You quickly forget that I was once like you: weak, unskilled, a form needed to be molded. But after lots of hard work and practice, I became the paladin I am today."
"I guess that's true. Thanks, M- heeeeey, wait a second!" Persephone began before she finally caught onto his words. "I thought you said I had what it takes to become a Nohrian knight."
"While you do have the potential, you lack form and grace," Marx replied bluntly, pointing to Persephone's feet. "Your stance was off for most of the match, and you could stand to practice the basics more in sword fighting."
"You tease me..." Persephone pouted, crossing her arms a bit.
"However," he added. "While you are a little rough around the edges, that last move you did really surprised me. You pass my inspection. I expect great things from you, Persephone." Her pout quickly turned into a look of shock and euphoric excitement.
"Yay! Thank you, Marx! I'll be sure not to let you down!" She hugged her brother tightly, something he was a bit unsettled by as it was unexpected, but his demeanor lifted slightly, his cross expression softening to the closest most had ever seen him coming to a real smile before Leon interrupted the moment.
"Geez, it's not like skill with a sword determines everything, you know."
"Heh... You hate losing, don't you, Leon? Still sore from the last match we had?" Marx smirked, taking his brother's silent scowl as a 'yes.' "You have a natural talent for magic. You can excel there."
"...As long as you'll acknowledge me for it," Leon sniffed, crossing his arms.
"Hey, genius?" Persephone smirked.
"Hmph, what is it now? What do you want...?" Leon sneered.
"You're wearing your robe inside out," Persephone pointed out, noticing the seams were sticking out of his dark cape.
"What!?" he yelled. Elise laughed at her brother's sudden outburst as he frantically checked out his cape.
"You're still half-asleep, aren't you?" Marx coughed, stifling a snicker at his little brother's snafu with little to no success.
"Geez, you guys are mean! I'll be back in a minute!" He whined, taking on a similar pout his sister had worn earlier before marching off.
"You make it too easy, Leon!" Persephone called out to him as he pulled his cape up in embarrassment with a grumble.
"Haha... Sorry, sorry. But Leon, that charm of yours is your strong suit," Marx said apologetically, finally regaining his composure.
"Yeah, I guess it is," she observed. "But it's sort of my fault. I kept Leon up all night because I wanted to study extra hard for today."
"Enough already... It's over and done with. Can't be helped," Leon grumbled, his cheeks still tainted red from embarrassment. "Anyways, didn't you have some news to tell Percy, Camilla?"
"Yes. It seems like Father is taking you into the castle," said Camilla.
"Eh? Does that mean..." Persephone drew out before a smile grew on Camilla's face.
"That's right. You're allowed to leave the citadel. Having been caged here all your life... It must have been lonely. You poor thing..." She hugged her sister before stroking her hair. "But the time has finally arrived. Today marks the day of your freedom."
"Big sis, isn't that wonderful?" said Elise.
"Yes... I... I can't believe it," Persephone began tearing up. "At last, I get to leave... Just like my brothers, I will fight for the honor of Nohr!"
"Gods, don't get mushy on us now, Percy," Leon rolled his eyes. "Let's just go to the stables already and check to see if the stable-hand has the horses ready."
Gratefully, Persephone didn't have to walk long, as the stables were right next to the training grounds. She liked to visit their sometimes when she was allowed outside, but she wasn't allowed to go anywhere outside the citadel. Not until now. She could barely contain her excitement as she relayed the information enthusiastically to her friend Lilith.
"Congratulations, Lady Persephone. You're heading out into the world. Under Gunter's direction, I will be accompanying you as well." Persephone thanked her blue haired friend before Marx asked, "Lilith, are the horses ready?"
"Yes, they're ready," Lilith nodded. "The colts, they've really become attached to Lady Persephone. It's because Lady Persephone was always such good friends with them."
"That's right. Percy was always such a kind person," Camilla said nostalgically. "There was this one time when she helped out an injured little bird..."
"Yeah..." Lilith's expression seemed to lose some of its joy, her golden eyes dulling slightly, which did not go unnoticed by Persephone.
"Hey, why the long face?" she asked as she stroked the neck her horse Belfyre, who nipped playfully at his owner's hair. "Not you, Belfyre. I was talking about Lilith."
"No, it's nothing..." Lilith shook her head before fiddling a bit with the end of her long braid, the blue edges of it fading into red low-lights at the bottom.
"Geez, Sephie, you're so dense. She's feeling lonely," Elise pointed out. "She can't hog you all to herself anymore. Right?"
"No, it's not like that..." She stuttered, hating that the youngest princess misunderstood her feelings.
"Anyways, it seems like everything's ready. We shouldn't keep father waiting," Marx declared as he mounted Gaspar, the rest of the Nohrian family following suit, including her butler Joker and her bodyguard Gunter. Finally, after eighteen years, Persephone was leaving this place. Only fate would tell what laid ahead.
