Princess Kaiya of Hoshido

Oh, gods, I thought as I opened my eyes the next morning. The ceremony.

Ever since Queen Mikoto had announced it, dread had resided in the pit of my stomach. Telling the Hoshidans that Norton and I were here would be making our royal status official. But I didn't want it to be official. I wanted to be a Nohrian.

What would the others think? The news would reach them quickly. Would they know me well enough to understand that this wasn't what I wanted? Or would they think that I'd betrayed them?

I took a deep breath. The stress of my current situation was making me lose my wits. Of course they wouldn't think I'd betrayed them. Norton and I had gone missing right on the Hoshidan border after a skirmish -- they'd understand that we'd been taken.

There was a knock at the door. "Princess Kaiya?"

"You may enter."

Semyaza pushed the door open, her eyes holding surprised delight. "You're awake early."

"I was thinking about the ceremony."

She crossed to one of my trunks and sifted through the clothing. I looked away. Dressing like the Hoshidans always felt wrong. The garments made my skin itch, and they looked stupid on me.

Semyaza laid down a few kimonos on my blankets, and I got out of bed reluctantly. She examined them, put two away again, and held the final one against me. "I think this will be perfect for the ceremony. Do you like it, my lady?"

It was as if she'd read my mind. The kimono was long and white, with sapphires sewn asymmetrically across the bodice and high collar. A pin shaped like a crystal butterfly hung at the top. It was the most beautiful kimono I had ever seen -- Nohrian ballgown beautiful. It outshone most of my clothing in Castle Krakenburg.

"It's perfect," I murmured.

Semyaza smiled. "Then let's get you dressed, my lady."

Once I was wearing the kimono, she twisted my hair into a bun held together by sticks. As she worked, I scrutinised myself in the mirror. Although I looked nice, I also looked unquestionably Hoshidan -- no trace of Nohr was left. I wondered what Xander would make of it if he could see. Would he say the words I'd always wanted to hear?

You look beautiful, Kass.

Or would he simply frown at the Hoshidan style?

I erased him from the scene again, feeling guilty. Never mind my aesthetics. He and the others would be worried sick about Norton and me. And Gunter.

Bile rose in my throat. They probably thought that Gunter and Hans were still alive and missing with us.

"Is there something on your mind, my lady?" Semyaza asked.

I hesitated. I didn't want the same reaction from her that I'd been given from Ryoma. "I was just worrying about my Nohrian family."

She stayed quiet for a long time, tidying her tools away. Eventually, she said, "They have likely heard the same rumours about your presence in the castle and already know that you're well. So don't concern yourself. You should enjoy what you have been missing for so long." She stepped away and bowed. "I have duties elsewhere, but Queen Mikoto has requested your presence in the throne room before the ceremony begins."

"All right," I said. "Thank you."

She left, and I turned back to the mirror. I was pleasantly surprised that she hadn't dismissed my Nohrian family, but I couldn't follow her advice.

I had never missed the Hoshidans.

***

All of my Hoshidan siblings were waiting in the throne room, but I kept my gaze away from them as I entered. Choosing to stand beside Norton instead, I looked up at the throne and Mikoto.

"Good morning, Kaiya," she said. "If you and Nayoko don't mind, I gathered you all to ask a small favour before the ceremony begins. Would you try sitting on the throne for a moment?"

I wondered if this was supposed to be a Hoshidan attempt at a jest. But her face was serious.

There was a long silence.

"Why would we do that?" Norton asked.

"This throne is infused with the power of the First Dragons," she replied. "It is said that those who sit on it regain their true form and mind. I thought if you sat on the throne, then perhaps --"

"Do you not trust us?" I snapped. "Do you think we're under a Nohrian spell?"

She held up her hands. "It has nothing to do with trust. I just wonder if the Nohrians have been sealing away your early memories with a curse. If so, maybe the Throne of Truth could help bring those lost pieces back."

Norton looked curious. But when he turned to me, I shook my head. This family had brought me here by force, warped my name and physical identity, and subjected me to prejudice about the people I loved more than any others in the world. It seemed that Mikoto was trying to crush out the Nohrian parts of me. So, no, I would not sit on her damn throne and be the way she wanted me to be.

She watched the emotions cross my face. "I'm sorry, Kaiya. I don't mean to push you towards something you don't want."

Someone knocked on the door. A man with green hair tied in a ponytail entered, sliding wire glasses onto his face. "Excuse me, Queen Mikoto. The ceremony is about to begin."

"Thank you," Mikoto said. "Nayoko, Kaiya, this is Yukimura. He's one of our strategists and brightest leaders. We would be lost without him!"

Yukimura smiled. "You are too kind, Your Majesty. In truth, I still have much to learn. That said, I'm here to help in any way I can."

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes, my lady. People are beginning to gather in the plaza."

"Excellent. Nayoko and Kaiya, I've arranged for Azura, Hinoka, Takumi, and Sakura to give you a tour of the plaza. I thought you might want to get to know the area before the speech. Ryoma and I need to speak with Yukimura, but we will meet you soon."

I tried not to feel pleased that Ryoma wouldn't be accompanying us.

"We'd be happy to show them around," Hinoka said. "Thank you, Mother."

***

The plaza was bursting with colour, from the stalls to the people. Their chatter and laughter was so loud that even the paper lanterns bobbed as if the noise had created a breeze, and the scent of spices and hot food mingled with it. I tried sushi, was confronted by a horde of lucky cats, and admired some large fans with pretty birds stitched onto them.

I would have started to enjoy myself if it hadn't been for Takumi. His cold glare followed my every movement -- when he wasn't watching Norton.

Occasionally, when I could feel Takumi's gaze, I turned around and looked him in the eyes. I would always see a flicker of regret and longing before he covered it up with a scowl. He clearly remembered that we'd been close, but he was unwilling to achieve it again. Well, that was fine by me. I wanted nothing to do with yet another Hoshidan who lumped all Nohrians under the same category of evil.

After half an hour of mooching, we stopped at a kimono stall. While Sakura and Azura admired garments in the national colours, I rummaged deeper through the piles, looking for something as beautiful as the outfit I was wearing. Perhaps then I could feel comfortable.

"Kaiya!" Sakura said. I realised that she and Azura were preparing to move on to the next stall, where Norton, Hinoka, and Takumi had already drifted. "They've b-bought a fortune fish!"

I wasn't too sure what a fortune fish was or why it was so exciting, but her sudden burst of energy reminded me of Elise. I couldn't help smiling. "Take me to it!"

We went to the next stall, where the others were crowded around Takumi. He was holding a red paper fish in his hand. As I watched, the head started to move.

"Wow," I murmured. "That's amazing!"

Norton looked up at me, breaking into an uncharacteristically friendly smile.

Hinoka laughed. "A moving head means that you're jealous, Brother."

Takumi grumbled something indistinguishable, his face dark. He slammed the paper fish back down on the counter.

"I want to try!" I said.

Azura handed the fish to me. I placed it on my palm, and both the head and tail moved. I lifted my hand until my nose was almost touching it, staring at the fish in wonder.

Norton laughed.

I startled and looked up at him, my movements so sudden that the fish fluttered to the ground. I hadn't heard him laugh for seven years.

A slow smile spread over my face. At last.

Sakura bent down to retrieve my fish and put it back in my palm. "The head and t-tail moved. That means you're in love."

Hinoka's eyebrows rose. "Who are you in love with, Kaiya?"

My cheeks heated. "I-I..."

"It isn't moving anymore," Norton said.

Thank you.

The others followed his gaze, and Sakura frowned. She lifted the fish from my palm and put it back down again. It still didn't move.

"What does a stationary fish mean?" I asked.

No one said anything.

I looked up. "What?"

"It means 'dead one'," Hinoka said. "But it wasn't doing that a moment ago."

"Perhaps it's not working now." Norton reached across our little circle and took the fish from me. When he put it in his palm, it curled up instantly.

"That means you're passionate." Hinoka grinned. "What are you passionate about?"

"Hoshido."

My stomach sank. I'd noticed how well he was getting along with everyone here, of course. And, given the apparent distaste he held towards our Nohrian siblings, it didn't surprise me. But it was a harsh blow to hear him say that out loud.

He put the fish back in my palm. I watched it, ready to see the head and tail move. But it lay still.

"Well, I'm not dead," I said after a tense silence. "I suppose it just doesn't like me anymore."

"Are you having fun?" Ryoma asked from behind.

I turned around, closing my fingers over the fish. The others gave him cheery greetings, but I remained silent.

He looked at my hands. "What do you have there?"

I passed him the fish.

He smiled instantly. "I used to play with these all the time when I was younger. You always stole them from me, Nayoko, because you wanted to use them."

The others laughed, and Norton looked down to hide his embarrassment.

Ryoma put the fish in his palm, and it curled up. Passionate. Unsurprising for the High Prince of Hoshido.

He handed the fish back to me. It uncurled and lay still. I sighed and pocketed it.

"The ceremony is starting now," he said. "Mother asked me to come and find you."

We followed him back across the plaza. As we walked, Norton fell into step with me and then drew a foot ahead, half crossing my path.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

"That fish is worrying me."

"It's just a paper fish, Norton. It moves randomly."

He didn't reply.

We reached the cleared section of the plaza where Mikoto stood, marked by a dragon statue that was so large it might have been life-sized. Yukimura, Semyaza, and Kaze were with her, waiting for us. We joined them, looking out at the people who'd gathered. Soldiers milled about, keeping them at a safe distance.

Mikoto turned to address the crowd. As she began her explanation of why she'd gathered them, I noticed the people to the north shuffling as someone impatient tried to shove through.

Then I felt Ganglari suddenly release its grip on me.

The person who'd been pushing through the crowd burst out. They were not a person at all, but an empty cloak; a hood drawn over darkness.

I tensed, reaching for my sword as Mikoto's words faltered. I could see the others reacting the same way from the corner of my eye; could see the Hoshidan soldiers starting forwards; could feel the shift in the atmosphere to something magical, something dark, something evil.

The thing reached out, a translucent hand appearing from its sleeve. Ganglari tore free from its sheath and flew to it.

Red magic slipped from the hand and stormed down the blade. The citizens stumbled backwards, crying out in alarm. The Hoshidan soldiers reached out to restrain it.

The magic exploded.

Dirt and stone tore through the sky. Shards of magic erupted with it, shooting towards the dragon statue.

Shooting towards me.

The ground heaved, and the buildings around us began to collapse in a roar of tumbling bricks and tiles. I lost my balance and fell to my knees, helpless to run anywhere.

Norton dropped in front of me, using his back as a shield. He yelled, and I closed my eyes. No! Don't kill my brother!

Then everything stood still, and the world fell silent.

I slowly opened my eyes. Norton was curled around me, unharmed.

He pulled away just as Mikoto fell to her knees. She bent over, and I saw blood blossoming across her back.

"Mother!" Norton cried, catching her by the shoulders.

I stared at her in shock.

"Tell me you're okay," she croaked.

"We're fine."

I crawled forwards so that she could see me, too. Her expression relaxed into a weak smile. "I'm so...glad."

Her head fell against Norton's chest.

"Mother?" I whispered.

Norton shook her shoulders. "Mother!"

But she flopped like a doll in his hands.