Princess Kassandra of Nohr

Camp was silent when we returned. Not a soul was about. Hope rose through my exhaustion, and I looked at Xander.

He arched his eyebrows. Your tent or mine?

I grinned and lifted one shoulder. I don't care.

He stopped next to my tent and lifted the flap. I ducked inside and sat down on my bedroll, and he settled next to me. His gaze scanned my face. "How do you feel?"

"Human," I quipped, but he didn't smile. I let mine fall. "Tired...and scared."

He frowned, stroking a thumb across my cheek. "Your Dragonstone might not have worked in the way you expected, but you should remember that it did work. You didn't attack anyone."

"True." Yet the anger I'd felt had been frightening.

He let his hand fall and turned away, unbuckling his pauldron. I watched as he inspected the shoulder he'd been shot in.

"Is it hurting?" I whispered.

He ran his fingers over the scar, then sighed and left it alone. "It just aches after a long day in my armour. What about your bruises? I never did get to look at them."

"They're long gone. Don't worry."

"Good." He put his hands on my shoulders anyway, checking. When I didn't flinch, his eyes softened. "We haven't done much since that night, have we?"

"No." I cupped his cheek. "I miss you."

We came together softly, even though the touch of our lips ignited a fire. I sensed that Xander's mind was elsewhere.

When we broke apart, he kept his head lowered. I pushed his hair back so that I could look into his eyes. He'd been so pale ever since we'd left Castle Shirasagi, and it was an effort not to worry all the time.

"What is it?" I asked.

He sat back so that he was leaning against the pillows, pulling me along with him. "I'm sorry for accusing Semyaza. But she and Norton looked like they were about to fight. I had to check."

I rested my head against his chest. "I know."

We sat in silence for a while. There was something in the air that told me Semyaza hadn't been his real concern. And then I felt it physically, in the way his grip on me slowly tightened. I looked up. He was staring at the opposite wall of the tent.

"Xander?" I whispered.

He met my gaze. "My apologies. I came here to do more than think."

"You can talk to me about anything. You know that."

"Yes..." He rested his chin on top of my head. "We had to move so quickly after the war came to an end -- I sometimes feel as if I am drowning in the weight of everything. Father's gone, and he was gone for such a long time. Now, once we've defeated Anankos and returned to Nohr, I will have to organise my coronation. Then I'll be King, a role which I have spent my whole life preparing for and yet don't feel ready to face."

"You'll be the best ruler Nohr has ever seen."

"Thank you," he murmured.

"I'm serious." I raised my head. "I spent most of my time in the Northern Fortress wishing that you were the King of Nohr. You were always a king to me." I kissed his cheek. "You were my king."

"Truly?"

"Yes. And now that you are going to be a king, you have more support than ever. Hoshido has finally agreed to trade their supplies with us, and you have me and all of our siblings. We'll do anything we can to support you."

"Thank the gods for that. I'm going to need all the support I can get." He leaned his forehead against mine. "But with you at my side, Kass, it's a little easier to believe that I can face any hardship."

I smiled, lifting my nose to his so that they were touching. I loved us to be as close as this, skin on skin, staring deep into each others' eyes.

I loved it even more when he closed the last millimetre of distance and kissed me again. This time, we let it grow into something more. But even when we lay bare together, we were still gentle. I knew Xander was trying to undo all the secrets that had come between us.

I let him.

***

Xander spent most of the night in my tent. We curled up together and whispered sweet nothings long after we'd come down from our high, before eventually drifting off to sleep. He left sometime while my eyes were still closed.

When the sun had risen, Jakob came around and told us all that it was time to get ready. I was one of the first to emerge, eager to see Xander again. But, surprisingly, I had beaten him.

I sat down by the campfire that was yet to be lit, picking at some of the provisions in my pack for breakfast. My mind was beginning to get used to rising early instead of sleeping in late, but my stomach was not. Still, Gunter had always told me that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. So I ate, staring across camp but not seeing.

"Good morning," Norton said.

I jumped. "Oh! Good morning."

He was standing right beside me, smiling in that teasing way brothers do, although his brow was creased. "My twin radar is ringing."

"I'd forgotten we used to say that in the fortress."

"Well, it's real." He sat down. "Sometimes I know you're upset before I even look at you. Tell me what's wrong."

I sighed and glanced away. "I'm worried about my dragon form. I understand everything you felt when you found out that you could transform now. I'm afraid of hurting everyone."

"Don't be," Norton said firmly. "That's where all of my mistakes began. You don't need to be afraid -- you have the Dragonstone. And it's occurred to me that you haven't actually used it yet. If you try transforming wilfully, it might train your body."

"Even thinking about that terrifies me."

"There's no better time to try it. Azura will be with you in battle to use her song as a last resort if necessary, and Xander will be there, too. You connected with him the first time it happened."

"But Xander is sort of the problem, isn't he?" I knitted my hands together. Strangely, my gentle love with him last night had only firmed my worries this morning. He'd made me look at more than a now -- he'd made me look at the future. I knew I'd be at his side forever.

"I transform when I'm angry," I said, "because I have a hot temper. So does Xander, and I fear it's inevitable that we'll always find something to fight about. With some couples, it happens more often, doesn't it? And I wouldn't mind...but I'm afraid that the next time we argue, I'll transform and hurt him."

Norton rested his chin in his hand. "You know, when I had my first full transformation and I attacked Azura, it was the realisation I was going to kill her that stopped me. I'd only just met her. You have the additional power of love and a Dragonstone on your side." He raised his head. "If you believe in yourself -- and you believe in Xander -- I think you'll take back control."

***

We ate breakfast quickly and packed up camp, then continued travelling through the forest. By the afternoon, we were so deep into it that I hadn't seen the sky for hours. The trees seemed to go on and on, and I wondered if we would ever come out again, or if it was some kind of mystical illusion.

Finally, Elise groaned. "How big is this --"

The trees rustled, and twigs snapped all around us. We pulled up short.

Someone was coming.

Magic flashed between the branches, and a purple bolt shot through the trees. I raised my sword, but the magic suddenly changed direction, snaking in a circle around our group. It swayed and morphed, making the shapes of dozens of shadowy creatures. Demons.

Everyone else drew their weapons, and we fell into a tighter formation. The demons looked at us, and we looked back.

Then a different shape emerged from the trees.

"Mother?" I exclaimed.

Queen Mikoto smiled. She, too, was shadowy; surrounded by a deep purple aura. Her eyes were dark, and the way her mouth moved was all wrong. A chill ran down my spine.

Whatever this was, it wasn't Mother.

Ryoma froze. Hinoka landed her pegasus and lowered her weapon, and Sakura stepped towards the demon.

Takumi yanked his younger sister back, his face livid. "Who are you?"

Mikoto laughed. "I am your mother, of course. And faithful servant to the mighty ruler of this land."

"Servant?" Azura looked faint. "You're under Anankos' control?"

"Everyone who lives in Valla is King Anankos' servant," Mikoto said.  "You all must die. The King has declared it be so."

She raised her hands, and a bow materialised in them.

"Stop!" I said. "Mother, how could you do this to us?"

"Oh, Kaiya." She smiled, levelling her arrow with me. "I've missed you. I've always wanted to take back the time we lost, and now I can. If you surrender to me, we can serve Anankos together...forever."

"Never." Ryoma stepped in front of me. "You're not our mother! Our mother is..."

"Dead and buried?" Mikoto said sweetly. "My body may be, Ryoma, but my soul is here."

She suddenly spun and released her arrow, targeting Camilla. My Nohrian sister urged her wyvern down, but it was plain to see she'd never get out of the way fast enough.

A ball of magic engulfed the arrow a mere metre away from her wyvern, shattering it into pieces. Leo lowered his tome.

"Nohrians," Mikoto hissed. "You think you can play magic games with me?" She flicked her wrist, and the demons charged towards us. "Try your hand at that!"

A demon lunged at me. Xander and Indra stepped forwards before I'd even lifted my sword, and their weapons crashed together. The demon's face was so shadowed by the magic that I couldn't see its expression, but it pulled away from him and tried again with aggressive force.

He blocked, and I swung my sword, stabbing it in the chest. It disintegrated.

But another was suddenly in my face, trying to behead me. Zodiac screamed and shied away, and I crashed straight into another. They were everywhere, and they were endless. Mikoto was still summoning them.

I stabbed the demon beside me, then felt the sting of another blade across my sword arm. Swinging Zodiac around, I turned to look at the demon that was following. I swung again; parried another blow and stabbed. The demon leapt backwards. Then it fluidly transferred its weight and lunged on one foot. It possessed superhuman speed, and the blade slammed into my breastplate.

I nearly flew off Zodiac, but he stepped back with me, keeping me in the saddle. As the demon went to follow, I urged him forwards again and gave it a dose of its own speedy medicine, stabbing it in the chest. Then I threw myself down on Zodiac's neck as a wave of magic barrelled over me.

"Kaiya!" An arrow shot past and disintegrated my attacker, followed closely by Takumi. He glanced up at me, checking I was all right. I stared over his shoulder.

I kicked Zodiac forwards, knocking Takumi to the floor, and killed the demon that had been just about to stab him.

"Sorry." I looked down at him, suddenly nervous.

The next thing I knew, I was being dragged off my horse.

Two shadowy arms locked around my throat from behind, crushing me with all their strength. I felt my foot catch in my stirrup, then suddenly break free. The leather snapped, and the stirrup iron flew over my head, hitting the demon like a projectile. Its grip loosened.

I rammed my sword backwards, aiming for its groin. It dropped me, and I hit the ground with a gasp. Something else thunked into it.

"Kass!" Xander lowered his sword and pulled me to my feet, his expression dark. "Are you all right?"

I nodded, gasping for breath.

Two antlers appeared behind him, impaling another shadow that had been creeping up on us. I looked at Norton, surprised. I hadn't noticed him transforming.

Azura was at his side. "Kass, Nayoko was hoping that you would transform with him. I think the only way we can defeat these things is if you fight as dragons together."

My chest tightened. "I don't... I can't..."

"You have your Dragonstone," she said. "Tune into it the way it's tuned into you, and you might gain better control. I have my song, too."

They were all looking at me expectantly, and the demons were closing in. I was sure there were more of them than when we'd started.

"Okay." I reluctantly took my Dragonstone out. "How do I do it?"

"Think of which form you wish to take, and you will," Azura said simply.

I closed my eyes hesitantly and thought about becoming a dragon.

Nothing.

I cracked one eye open. "Am I doing it wrong?"

"You have to really want it," Azura said. "Do you really want it, Kaiya, or are you too afraid?"

I realised she might have me there.

"I just don't want to hurt anyone," I said. "Maybe --"

An axe came within whiskers of Xander's neck. He spun on his heel, swiftly raising his sword, but there was more than one demon waiting to counterattack.

Suddenly, I wanted to transform.

I was there before I'd even quite realised what was happening, tearing through the demons with my claws. Xander impaled one, but his flank was left exposed to another.

As he realised his mistake, I curled a wing around him like a shield and caught the demon by the neck. My claws dug into its flesh. Blood trickled down my scales. I tightened my grip and yanked upwards until the neck snapped.

I lowered my wing again.

"Thank you, Kass," Xander said, and then he was blocking the attack of another.

Norton came up beside me, blood running down his horns. We looked at each other. Perhaps it was because we were both dragons, or perhaps it was just because we were twins, but I knew what he was thinking.

When the next demons approached, we went at them together.

Norton wrapped his feet around one and pummelled it with his tail. I slashed my claws down another, cutting it open from head to toe and ripping through its chest. We moved on to our next targets: snapping bones, parting muscles and flesh, tearing and crushing.

We killed faster than Mikoto could summon, until at last, there were none left.

She emerged from the trees again. We watched her, uncertain of what would come next.

"Not even a single one of you is dead?" Her eyes narrowed. "What a shame. I suppose I'll just have to call upon them in their hundreds this time."

She raised her hand.

"No!" Sakura cried hoarsely.

We all jumped, and even Mikoto looked startled.

Sakura stepped forwards, tears in her eyes. "Please, Mother."

Mikoto lowered her hands. "Nothing can stop me, little Sakura. But you're right -- I shouldn't summon any more helpers yet." She smiled. "Not until I've got rid of your pesky dragons!"

She strung her bow in one swift movement and raised it towards Norton. As her fingers tightened on the string, I saw my world come to an end.

Lunging forwards, I closed the distance between us and bowed my head.

My horns rammed into Mother's stomach.

She screamed, and I freed myself in a frenzy, frightened of what I'd done. My horns ripped greater wounds in her, and she crumpled to the ground as I straightened.

The desire to transform back was only in my head for a millisecond, and then I was on my human knees beside her. "Mother! Oh, gods. I'm so sorry..."

"Kass, stay back!" Norton appeared at my side and grabbed me under the arms. He dragged me up and tried to pull me away, but the shadows around Mikoto were fading.

"She's safe, Nayoko," Mother murmured, closing her eyes. "I am free."

Norton let me go, and I fell onto the blood-soaked grass. He crouched down beside her. "You're...yourself again?"

Mother opened her eyes, clear of darkness. She smiled weakly. "I am. I'm sorry..." She gasped, lifting a hand to the blood that was flowing from her wounds. "I'm sorry for what I've done. My children...come here."

"I've m-missed you!" Sakura cried, running towards us.

One by one, Ryoma, Hinoka, Takumi, and Azura followed her.

Mother took Sakura's hand. "Oh, my dear Sakura. I had almost forgotten how beautiful you are." She looked up. "Ryoma, Takumi, Hinoka, Azura...I'm glad to see you again. You've fought bravely to get this far. I'm proud to call all of you my children."

"Thank you, Mother," Ryoma said, his voice not quite steady.

Mother moved her hand from Sakura and took his. Then she looked between Norton and me. "Nayoko, Kaiya, listen carefully. I have something very important to tell you before I go. I was born here, in Valla. And you...you are part of the Vallite royal line."

I stared. "Er...what?"

"Arete, the former queen of Valla, was my older sister," Mother said. "Because of the curse, I was never able to speak of it before now. Only Azura remembered. I know this might be difficult to believe, but it's important to remember where you came from.

"The reason why you are both part dragon is that you two are not Sumeragi's children. Long ago, Anankos split into two forms. His soul wandered Valla in human form, separate from the draconic body. I fell in love with him -- he is your father. But he is long gone. Only the other Anankos, the dragon, remains. I fled Valla to Hoshido when he began his reign...where I met Sumeragi."

Norton had turned white. "So I'm not related to the Hoshidans at all?"

Mother smiled sadly. "No. Regardless, they were always your family."

My brother just stared at her, as stunned and unresponsive as he had been the first time we'd met the Hoshidans. The others were staring at us in much the same manner.

Mother turned to me instead, taking my hand. "Kaiya, listen well. You all must go now. A powerful servant of Anankos awaits you further into the island. Do whatever you must to survive. And know that I'm glad we all came together one...last...time..."

Her hand weakened and slid from mine, landing on the grass. Her body faded.

"Mother, don't die!" Sakura howled. "You can't l-leave us again!"

"She's gone, Sakura." Hinoka put her arm around our younger sister. "She's gone."

Takumi put his arm around Sakura's other side, his jaw tight.

I reached out, my hands hovering over the wounds I'd made just before they completely disappeared. Horror and grief rose up inside me, and I started to shake. Tears stung my eyes.

"Don't cry, Kaiya." Ryoma moved into action again, wrapping his arms around me. "In truth, she left us long ago. All you did was free her."

The grass swished, and I looked up. Xander was slowly approaching.

He knelt on the other side of me and bowed his head. "Rest in peace, Queen Mikoto."

Elise came over and sat down beside him. "Yeah. Rest in peace, Queen Mikoto."

Leo knelt beside her and repeated it. Then Camilla. Then my retainers, and then Norton's, and on and on it went until everyone was sitting around us, paying their respects.

Ryoma kept one arm around me and put the other around Azura, so that the whole Hoshidan family, blood or no, was joined together. Azura put a hand down in the space where Mother had been.

"You were always a mother to me," she said thickly. "My second mother."

And then she cried.