The group carefully made their way through the dim street, keeping out a watchful eye. Chrom looked for the signal.

They came to a marketplace. All the stalls were closed, their lanterns out. The place was dark, except for one small light. A jar hung from a stall, fireflies glowing in it like tiny stars.

The signal.

Chrom and Robin gently prised away the fabric closing the stall. Sure enough, a smiling woman bowed at them.

"Princess Sakura." Chrom bowed in return.

"Thank you so very much for agreeing, King Chrom! I cannot express how grateful I am!" Sakura looked ready to burst.

"And I cannot express how glad I am you made it safely to this meeting. This is Robin Emery, my tactician." Chrom gestured at the Plegian, who gave a curtesy. "Princess Sakura, it is an honour."

"I-It's a pleasure, Robin!" Sakura returned the curtesy. She may have been a princess, but she didn't hesitate to return the respect shown. "I have enough disguises for your whole army, hopefully. And no one will recognise you are Ylissean."

"Thank you, Princess." Robin had a good feeling about this. She picked up some of the most beautiful clothing she had ever seen. Floaty fabric with over a million different patterns, including flowers, fireworks, water spirals... but her hands trailed over a red one with darker shades in swirls.

"That would look amazing on you." Gaius's arms rested around her. His voice lowered a bit and he muttered "But I know it would look better on my flo-"

Robin flushed and stopped him. "You're a hopeless flirt." she giggled a little.

"I can't help it."

Cordelia slipped on the yukata. It had been a while since she wore something like this. The warm cloth felt like home. Tharja on the other hand just felt uncomfortable.

"Hoshido has beautiful fashion!" Maribelle exclaimed, twirling.

"Gregor thinks this sort of outfit resembles a dress..." Gregor sighed.

"... I thought Ylisseans dressed oddly." Panne was just confused.

"Chroooom, this is amaaaaazing!" Lissa squealed. She was incredibly enthusiastic about this, and it made Chrom chuckle.

"I'll bring back a little something for Olivia... if that is OK with the princess." the bluehead turned to Sakura.

"O-Of course! It's the very least we can do!" Sakura nodded. The princess scanned her eyes over the Shepherds. So many different people from so many backgrounds...

Then her eyes rested on one Shepherd in particular.

"Princess Sakura, a patrol!" someone called.

"Everyone, be silent and don't move!" Sakura blew out the single lamp she had and covered the stall again.

Hooves of horses and the tink, tink of armour grew louder and faded again as a Nohrian patrol passed by.

"I dunno why we have to do this... not like the Hoshidans are gonna spring at the first chance they get... and they're quite nice, too." a voice muttered.

"They are. But we have to do as the King says." someone else replied.

"Still..."

When the voices and horses were silent, everyone finally breathed.
___

Chrom marvelled at Shirasagi castle. The architecture, the colours, the decor... Ylisstol was big and grand, but this made them feel small in comparison.

Sakura led them to the throne room, where Hinoka sat. Her soft guardian eyes set on the group. Her hair, a vibrant red, had a small tinge of grey in places. Her hands were ungloved, covered in callouses and scars. Her face was battle-hardened, wise and steel-willed. This was like looking at the statue of a warrior from decades ago. The shining crown of Hoshido's queen rested behind her head. Her almost stonelike face gave way to a smile.

"King Chrom. Exalt of Ylisse." she began to speak to the captain. Cordelia watched from near the back of the group. When she had first left Hoshido, her mother had been younger, fiery-spirited, and stubborn. She had been a warrior princess. Now, she was a queen. It was upsetting for Cordelia. Too unfamiliar. If her father had lived to be king, would he have changed this much as well?

"... Caeldori?"

The name echoed through the silent throne room. Cordelia turned her attention. Hinoka was staring at her.

"That's Cordelia, my queen. She's the last of the Ylissean pegasus knights. A very skilled soldier, might I add." Robin noticed Gaius shrink down among the group.

"Caeldori." Hinoka approached Cordelia. "I-Is it..."

"... yes Mother, it's me." Cordelia answered sheepishly.

Several gasps went up. Mainly from Sumia.

"Caeldori..." Hinoka repeated. Tears filled her eyes. A sob escaped her throat.

"M-Mother... please no tears..." Cordelia sniffed.

"Oh Caeldori... I'm just so..."

"What's going on?" Robin blinked. Her answer came in the form of the two redheads crying violently and embracing each other.

"My daughter... princess... you're home..."