Chapter Text
Prologue: Pact Between Friends
Today was the day. In the hours after dawn, in a small room overlooking the city below, she sat patiently as the girl behind her brushed her light, cherry hair. She fixated her gaze on the city, as if ingraining each rooftop and decoration in her mind. Her hands sat on her lap, holding a stuffed doll. Behind her, a girl of equal age stood with a comb, separating the knots within her mistress’s hair. She always liked the bright color of her hair that outshone her own dull brown. Suddenly, her mistress broke the silence with a heavy sigh. “Mozu?” she asked in her soft, hushed tone.
“Yes, Lady Sakura?”
“What do you think Nohr is like?”
Mozu stopped combing the princess’s hair and her chestnut eyes turned toward the window. Almost every other Hoshidan she met said that Nohr was the complete opposite of their fair country. The mountains blocked the sun, making it bleak and cold. Almost nothing grew except for trees bearing no leaves or fruit. All this and more she had heard, but how could she tell the princess all of this?
“Well…” she started. “I know it’s different…” The princess turned around, looking up at her with a soft smile. “Don’t worry, Lady Sakura. You’ll be great for their kingdom. I mean…you’re so nice and full of sunshine.”
“Hehe…” A soft pink color pressed on her cheeks. “I hope so.” She stood up, dusting and straightening her robes. “And I hope Prince Xander will like me.”
“Of course he will! There’s no reason for him not to.” Sakura reached forward to take Mozu’s hands in hers, giving them a light squeeze.
“Thank you. I don’t know if I could do this without you.” Now it was Mozu’s turn for her cheeks to flush pink.
“O-of course.”
Mozu would never forget Princess Sakura’s kindness when her parents were killed by Nohrian thieves. Only the princess could have seen the look of despair in her eyes each time she delivered the rice each morning to the palace. Eventually, the princess had mustered the courage to ask her what was wrong, and surprisingly, Mozu had told her. Since then, Mozu found new employment as her handmaiden. Now, she was the only one to accompany the princess to her new life in Nohr.
For decades, the two countries were in political unrest, as the advisors called it. Everyone expected full out war in the next year, but Queen Mikoto would never allow it. After months and months of deliberation, finally the two countries signed a peace treaty that would be sealed with marriage. Knowing nothing but his name and status, Sakura would journey to Nohr and marry Crown Prince Xander to solidify peace.
At the gates of Castle Shirasagi, Mozu watched from the carriage as Sakura bid farewell to her family. Her siblings, especially, held her in an embrace for a long period of time. It was the first time she had seen Prince Takumi shed a tear, even if it was only one. The one who took the longest was her best friend and retainer, Hana. The samurai clutched the girl like she was going to fall off a cliff, saying over and over how Sakura had to write each day and tell her the minute her new Nohrian retainers treated her badly. Mozu found herself wiping tears away with her wrist. It was selfish, but she was reminded of her own parents and how she never got the chance to say goodbye. Soon, she swallowed back the lump in her throat, knowing she had to be strong for Sakura’s sake. The princess bowed and made her way to the carriage, wiping some stray tears. Mozu held the door open for her and climbed in with her, sitting opposite of the princess.
Once she closed the door, Sakura spoke with her usual hushed tone. “Mozu…”
“Yes?”
She scooted over on the seat, her head down as she held her hands. This time when she spoke, her voice cracked. “Can you sit with me?” Mozu knew what that meant. Just before the carriage began to move, she sat next to Sakura and wrapped an arm around her. Almost immediately, Sakura put her head on Mozu’s shoulder and hugged her tightly. She let out the sobs she held back in front of her family as Mozu stroked her beautiful hair. She closed her eyes and let tears fall down her cheeks as well.
Nohr’s capital of Windmire would be less than a month away, but the days felt endless. The first couple of days were spent napping out of nothing more than boredom. At the end of the week, Mozu finally showed Sakura some hand games to pass the time. Sakura had a knack for chopsticks. At first, Mozu purposely let down her reflexes, but then quickly amped her game up. Still, Sakura managed to beat her time and time again. She didn’t mind though; it was the first time Sakura had managed a smile in days. Soon, the towns of Hoshido became hamlets, then farmlands, then plain green fields.
Mozu unwrapped the day’s lunch and set the small stool outside. She poured her and Sakura some water and distributed the rice balls and bear jerky among the two. Sakura sat down and looked at the food before her. “Oh! Is this the bear jerky you talked about?”
“Yeah! I figured we could start using the rations I packed.” She sat across from her and put the jerky between her molars. Using the hold of her jaw and pulling her hand away, she tore off a piece of jerky and started chewing. Sakura blinked in surprise and looked down at her own piece. She lifted it to her nose, taking a whiff before doing the same as Mozu. She audibly grunted when she couldn’t tear it off as quick. Mozu watched as Sakura yanked her hand a couple of times before she broke off a piece. The handmaiden could not help but chuckle as Sakura narrowed her eyes, chewing slowly yet loudly. As Mozu continued to munch on her jerky, Sakura’s expression fell sour. She shut her eyes and swallowed audibly before letting out a sigh. “I can take the rest for you,” Mozu said. Sakura nodded quickly, downing half of her water.
“Excuse me, Lady Sakura.” The two turned to the carriage driver who had approached them with a quick bow. “We’re approaching the Nohrian border soon at the Bottomless Canyon. As per custom, Nohrian guards will take over and escort you to the capital.”
“A-alright. Thank you.” Mozu muddled over that statement as she continued to eat with Sakura. Once Sakura had finished one rice ball, she spoke again.
“Why is that?”
“Why is what?”
“Why do the Nohrians have to escort you?”
Sakura took a handkerchief and wiped her fingers with a heavy sigh. “It’s complicated. Mother said it is both out of tradition and out of safety. Since royalty represent their country, there are special rules. That’s why I couldn’t bring Subaki or Hana.”
“Oh…” Mozu tilted her head. “But you were able to bring me?”
“Y-yeah.” She smiled. “There was no reason saying you couldn’t.”
“But your retainers. They’re your bodyguards!” came Mozu.
“Since I will be marrying the prince, they said I need Nohrian retainers.” Sakura looked in the direction they were going. “Also, once I enter Nohrian borders, Nohrians are responsible for my safety. That is why they must take over.”
“I see.” Mozu took a bite of her rice ball, wondering what it would be like to travel with Nohrians. Rather, what Nohr was actually like. Surely, it could not be all of the horror stories she had heard, right? Mozu knew she could probably survive stormy weather and rough terrain, but she worried about Sakura. She didn’t want Sakura to fear her new home, her new life. Hoshido was a land of fertile grass and long, sunny days; if Nohr was the opposite, it would chew poor Sakura up.
After their meal, Mozu packed their picnic up and loaded it back on the trunk of the carriage before rejoining Sakura. Only a couple of more days before they reached the border at the Bottomless Canyon. After closing the door, Mozu noticed Sakura leaning against the window sill, her eyes fixed on the outside. She barely moved apart from her breathing. Clearly, she had something on her mind. “Lady Sakura?”
As the carriage jolted into a start, so did Sakura. “Oh.” She lifted her head and turned back to Mozu. “S-sorry.”
“You looked pretty lost in thought. Everything alright?”
“Oh, yes.” She sat up straight and folded her hands on her lap. “Mozu, before you met me, what did you think of me?”
“Hm?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow. “Think of you?”
“What did you think…think I looked like?”
What a weird question, Mozu thought. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, humming as she dug back into her memories. She never heard much about Princess Sakura’s appearance other than how cute and beautiful she was. “Mostly,” she said. “The folks back home said you were beautiful and kind.”
“A-anything specific?”
“No. I’m sorry, M’Lady...” She waited patiently as Sakura twiddled her thumbs and glanced out the window. Mozu bit her lip, trying to rack her head for a reason why Sakura would be asking her these things. “It’s not like they’re lying,” she said, not sure if it would help.
“N-no, that’s not it.” Sakura frowned, her lips thinning into a line and her eyes turned pleadingly. “M-Mozu…c-can you…” She paused. Mozu waited. She wasn’t sure what to do with the silence.
“Can I…?”
Suddenly, Sakura blurted out quickly, “Can you switch places with me?”
Now the silence was Mozu’s fault. Her jaw and shoulders slackened as Sakura waited with baited breath and puppy eyes. “Mozu?” she asked.
“L-Lady Sakura!” she said, snapping out of her initial confusion and surprise. “Why…why do you want to switch places?”
“I-it won’t be for long, I promise!” She reached forward to take Mozu’s hands. “I’m just…I’m so scared.” Her head dropped as she looked at the floor of the carriage. “I’m scared of Nohr…I don’t know anything about Xander…” She shook her head. “M-more than anything, I want peace. B-but I’m so scared that I don’t know what I’d do. I can’t mess this up.” When she lifted her head, her expression suddenly turned to one of conviction. “If, if you could just meet him first and I see how he really is, then I would know how to do this…”
Mozu felt her heart starting to race. On the one hand, she understood what Sakura was coming from. She had a large responsibility in solidifying peace between the two countries. On the other, impersonating royalty is punishable by…by death! Surely Sakura wasn’t doing this to throw Mozu under the carriage. “Mozu,” said Sakura. “Please…it’s only for a little. I’m sure the Nohrians won’t know what I look like and I promise…I promise that you’ll be okay. I’ll protect you.”
How could she say no to those eyes? She was begging her at this point, all for the sake of peace. Mozu knew she could refuse and talk Sakura out of it, but that would result in her being more nervous and out of her element. After all, she carried the weight of two kingdoms on her shoulders. Her job was to assist and by the gods she will.
“Alright,” Mozu said, her throat tight. “I’ll do it.” There it was. She sealed her fate and that was it. Sakura’s expression lit up and she let out a large sigh of relief, hanging her head.
“Oh thank goodness! Thank you, Mozu…thank you.”
“Please, Princess,” she replied. “I’m only doing what is right.”
“Mozu,” she said sternly. “You have to tell me the minute—the minute!—you feel uncomfortable continuing this, okay? I will make everything right, right there and then. I promise.”
“Thank you,” she said, returning with a warm smile. “I promise I will.”