Chapter Text
Corrin's short life flashed before his eyes.
A life of strife. Of pain. Of never being good enough for the approval he sought. He had tempered himself into a weapon for the mere opportunity to prove himself. An opportunity that took him to the Chasm where he almost lost his life, only to find it anew.
A mother. A whole other family. He was apprehensive, at first. It all seemed too good, too... convenient. But he came to accept it. To accept the praise, the coddling. To accept Mikoto, and her love.
A mother! His very own! And she would always look at him with such emotion. Love, pure adoration, but also a deep fear, as if he could disappear again if she turned around. He didn't quite understand it, but he could clearly understand the sheer joy whenever she gazed at him. When she stretched out her arms for a hug, yet never pulled him in like Camilla did. Like she always left the choice up to him.
What kind of love was it? Corrin couldn't know. He had never known what it was like to be loved so patiently. So quietly, yet so fiercely. Loved enough to jump into harm's way for him.
His vision was obscured by Mikoto's body shielding him completely from the blast of shrapnel. But even then he could hear the carnage around him, the screams of his siblings and the townspeople. His mind was fractured, still trying to process what had just transpired.
A warm red droplet hitting his face grounded him back in reality. The reality of his mother above him, still trying to be the last wall around him. It was the first time Mikoto had wrapped her arms around Corrin without asking for his input.
"Are you hurt?"
He could barely register his own body. He knew he wasn't wounded, at least. But something deep within him had shattered, even if he hadn't noticed yet.
"I'm fine..."
A lie.
"I'm glad... you're okay..."
Mikoto's body went limp. Corrin held her against him on instinct. At least he could protect her from hitting the floor. Blood stained his hands, but he couldn't let go. His siblings ran to him, but he was once again stuck in his own head, muffling their voices into nothing but distant, underwater mumbling.
The last words he ever said to his mother had been a lie. He was not fine. He probably never would be again.
And he would have to carry the weight of that lie for the rest of his life.
Confusion, guilt, and fear soon gave way to unbridled fury. The moment his hands stopped holding his mother's body, they turned into claws that tore through the floor with each step he took. Corrin's now monstrous form lunged forward right as the hooded assailant brought his blade down on Ryoma. One claw blocked the sword, then the other nearly sliced the arm apart. Corrin did not stop to ask for a name, or a motive. They did not matter to him. The man had taken something precious, and now he had to pay. He had to die. Ryoma was pulled back from the fight by Hinoka and Takumi, so that Sakura could at least try to tend to his wounds.
The hooded man kept fighting, but it soon became apparent to him that he was outmatched. A rampaging dragon throwing itself at him with little care for safety was not an opponent to be taken lightly. After one of Corrin's attacks came too close to depriving him of his head, the man decided it was enough, and began to flee. Corrin flapped his wings, ready to give chase, but he suddenly felt his body too heavy to lift it. Behind him, Azura was starting to chant, despite Ryoma's pleas to stay away. As the song continued, Corrin's wrath began to quell. In its wake, the earlier fear, guilt and confusion began to resurface. And those feelings terrified him.
He lashed out, causing Azura to stumble backwards to the ground. One clawed hand pinned her by the throat, but she didn't relent. Her hand rested on his, small and frail in comparison.
"Kill me if you must," she exhaled, a whisper only for him. "But... do it as yourself."
The claw trembled under her hand. She wrapped her fingers around it, holding his pained gaze, meeting him in his grief. Little by little, Corrin pulled away, allowing the song to finally drag him back to his senses.
Wings folded back into his shoulders, fangs retracted into a grimace of sorrow. He was back to himself, no fury to obfuscate the despair anymore. Corrin stayed on top of Azura, his hands resting on each side of her head as he hung his in shame. Azura raised her hand again, resting it on his cheek, and wiped away a tear with her thumb.
"I'm sorry," both whispered at the same time. Neither tried to explain themselves. Neither of them had to.
Soon, they were surrounded again by the Hoshidan siblings. Corrin could tell they were checking on them, but he was unable to form enough coherent thoughts. His entire world was reduced to Azura, her gaze and her presence. He would've found himself blushing if he hadn't been so numb. Eventually, he stood up, trying to ease his siblings' worry. He listened to Takumi's outburst, blaming him for the death of Mikoto. He was not the one who caused the explosion. He was not the one who asked Mikoto to jump in the middle. But she did.
"I wish it had been me instead." Corrin spoke out, just as Azura was about to defend him.
Takumi opened his mouth, then closed it, and simply clenched his fists. Sakura reached out to hold his sleeve, but he pulled away from her, and stormed away without another word.
Corrin kept looking at the floor, repeating the scenario in his head. Hinoka stepped closer and made an attempt to comfort him, telling him it wasn't his fault, but her words could barely reach him. When Corrin finally lifted his head, he looked around the destroyed plaza, and took a deep breath.
"There could be survivors in the rubble." He stated, and began to walk.
Sakura ran to him, determined not to be pushed away. "You'll need a healer in that case." She stuttered. Corrin tried his best to smile at her, but nothing came out. Instead, his palm gently patted her head.
Their combined efforts managed to save an additional three lives.
Hours later, Corrin stood alone in front of the ruined statue at the center of the plaza. He caught a glimpse of something reflecting the sunset's light, and approached. It seemed to be the hilt of a very ornate weapon.
"That would be Yato. Your mother knew it would be revealed today."
Corrin turned to the voice. It was Yukimura, looking solemnly at him. The man stepped closer, and stood beside Corrin.
"What do you mean... she knew?" He asked sheepishly.
"Lady Mikoto had a certain foresight. It's what kept our country safe so far."
Yukimura's answers were informative, detached. Perhaps he was being mindful of the topic, or perhaps that was just how he talked. Corrin had a question bubbling in his head, but he feared cracking before finishing it.
"...did she know?" He choked a sob. Yukimura looked away from him, back at the statue.
"Yes. She had known for a while," he answered plainly. "She didn't know how it would come about, but I was asked not to tell any of it nonetheless."
Corrin suffocated the part of him that wanted to scream. The part that wanted to demand an answer. But Yukimura noticed, somehow.
"Lord Corrin," he began, now finally turning to look him in the eyes. "These few days, Lady Mikoto was the happiest she had ever been in probably a decade and half. I know it's not a comfort to you at the moment, but it's a truth. And I would ask you to hold that truth close to you until the time you can make your peace with it."
Corrin looked at Yukimura, unsure of how to feel about it. If anything, his "truth" only made reality more painful. But perhaps, he thought, that's just what truth does.
"I understand," he said on reflex. Then, he turned his attention to the Yato again.
"The sword will choose its wielder. All of the relics do." Yukimura explained, along with a brief history of legendary weaponry that Corrin couldn't quite catch.
He extended his hand, and the rubble shifted. The golden blade suddenly ripped itself out of the stone, and flew to Corrin's open hand. He balanced it over one arm, testing its weight, surprised at how easily he got accustomed to it.
"...now what?" Corrin asked aloud, sheathing the blade by his hip, where the Ganglari used to be.
"Now we grieve, although the world won't give us the chance. The funeral for Lady Mikoto will need to wait... Nohrian forces were spotted around the border." Yukimura turned his gaze to the castle. "I was here to ask if you would like to join the platoon to intercept them."
"Did you think I'd want to jump into revenge by... slashing some soldiers?" Corrin scoffed, but immediately felt embarrassed for it.
"Not at all." The response was measured, calm. "But the Nohrian Prince Xander was spotted leading the charge. And it's more than likely the other Royal Siblings are accompanying him."
Corrin's chest tightened. He would have to face them already. But he would not accept backing out from it.
"I'll go. Tell me where to meet the platoon."
Yukimura gave instruction, and Corrin followed. At the city gate, he met with Azura and his siblings again. And so they began marching towards the Hoshidan Plains, to meet the invading army.
During the march, Takumi apologized for his earlier words. Corrin forgave him quickly, although he could still not disagree with what he had said. But things were peaceful again. As they advanced, Corrin gave pointers to the other soldiers on what to look out for should they be faced with any of the Nohrian royals, then immediately advised them to avoid such confrontation at all costs.
"You'll die if you do. And it will be far quicker than you think." Corrin warned plainly, to the displeasure of every soldier. Thankfully, Ryoma backed him up, also advising the soldiers not to confront the royals directly.
Night had fallen by the time they reached the plains. A vast open field sprawled in every direction, interrupted only by the river that cut across it as far as the eye could see. On the other side of the river, the Nohrian war party advanced. Their torches and light magic were visible at a distance, and Corrin could clearly make out Xander at the front, and Camilla on her wyvern leading a small squad of fliers. Everyone knew the battle would not begin as soon as the two armies met eyes, although the tension in the air would suggest otherwise. Instead, the two sides would attempt to communicate before launching their attack.
And so, Corrin advanced, along with Ryoma, as Xander separated from his group. The other siblings followed closely behind, but everyone knew the dialogue should be between the Crown Princes. Corrin knew this as well, but he found himself unable to stay away.
"Corrin!" Xander called out to him, relief more than palpable in his voice. The other Nohrians stepped closer, calling out to him as well. "We have been worried sick since you disappeared... I'm so glad to see you again. Come back to us!"
Corrin's stomach dropped. Was this manipulation? A cruel joke?
"Xander." The name felt like blood in his mouth. "The sword Garon gave me was a trap. It exploded, killed a ton of people. It killed my mom... Queen Mikoto."
Corrin's words were carefully measured. He tried his best not to cave in to that same fury that had propelled him earlier. He needed answers this time. A motive. Anything.
"Please... make this make sense," he begged.
"Corrin..." Xander stepped forward, and gave Corrin his usual reassuring smile. "Brother, I'm sure Father has an explanation for all this. He would not just send his child to his death!"
"An explanation?" Corrin spat. "What could possibly justify this!?"
"You dare question our Father? He loved you and raised you, Corrin!" The Nohrian Prince deflected, getting on the defensive now.
"He stole me! You know that I'm not his! You were old enough to know!"
"I..." For the first time, Xander stuttered.
"Loved? Raised? You call that love and nurture?" His voice cracked. Mikoto's smile flashed in his mind for a second. "He starves you and you call him generous! Don't you see!? We're weapons to him! You all just have a better scabbard!!"
"Enough, Corrin!" Now it was Xander who snapped. "I will not tolerate this slander!"
"He never cared for me! Why would a child need to prove himself to his own father!?" Xander flinched, but Corrin went on. "Would he have jumped onto danger for me? I can assure you he wouldn't! He sent me to my death, Xander! And my mother paid for it!!"
Corrin drew his blade. Everyone except Ryoma and Xander held their breath.
"Why do you refuse to see it? Think for yourself for once!!"
Corrin's scream made him freeze. Xander's hand tightened on Siegfried for a second before he drew it and slashed. Corrin was ready to parry, despite knowing from previous sparring matches that he had not once succeeded.
But the blow never came. Instead, a flash of red and white intercepted the attack, and then fell to his side. Ryoma had stepped in and taken the attack, and his wounds from the morning assault were now reopening.
Corrin inhaled sharply. He could hear his heartbeat, but nothing else. It was the same sensation again, being underwater, closed off to the world around him.
No body to hold this time.
Corrin's form had not finished shifting when his claw tore Xander's chestplate to shreds and pierced the flesh beneath. Blood splashed across his face as Xander fell backwards onto the grass. He could hear all the royals rushing to aid the older brothers, but he found himself again unable to really feel what was going on. The armies to the sides began to step closer, in light of this threat that had just neutralized the Nohrian commander. Corrin howled, and a torrent of water surged from the river upwards into the sky. Entire squads of soldiers of either side were forced to pull back, or risk getting caught in the rising stream that had just turned against everyone. The dragon smashed the ground again, and the moon above became swallowed by clouds. Around the plains, heavy rain began to pour, forcing the squad of fliers to land, and making every horse scared to sink their hooves into mud. Panic was beginning to settle among the soldiers, who scrambled to pull away from the river.
"Corrin..." A single voice echoed across the small island he had formed around him.
Azura stepped closer. Xander watched in awe as she approached the massive, raging dragon, without an ounce of fear in her face. Corrin lowered his head, enough to be at eye level with her.
"...okay," she replied, and that was all it took.
The dragon took another step. His wings covered Azura, and she clung to his neck. She looked back at the Hoshidan siblings, and smiled.
"Don't worry. I'm safe with him." She reassured them.
Another flap of Corrin's wings, and he took off. Despite siblings from each side pleading for him to wait, he rose into the clouds, taking Azura with him towards the unknown.
Not a single soldier spoke. They had all just witnessed what they could only describe as the wrath of the heavens. All fighting spirit had been drained, so not a soul argued against the order to retreat when it came.
The Hoshido-Nohr War had just been averted.