The familiar, gray hooded figure was walking up toward him. He couldn't see anything behind the figure—the sky above him and ground beneath him were white. He couldn't even feel his limbs. It felt as if everything had been lost to him but his vision in that moment. He stared straight ahead and watched the figure approach, helpless to do anything else.

"Child of Cadros," the figure said, lips curving gently into a smile, "thank you."

"I'm…" he stuttered. He stopped as soon as the word fell out, however: he had no idea he'd actually be able to speak.

"You saw it, did you not? Through my visions. The tale of dragons and men. Something of an abridged version, but sufficiently detailed, I thought."

"That was you." It wasn't a question. "Anankos. The real you. Before the madness spread. And you communed with Cadros, a human."

"Not just any human. Your ancestor, Shigure. Ancestor to all the royal blood of Valla. You are a curious case, however, in that you resemble him exactly as I remember him, back in his prime. You carry yourself like a true king of Valla."

"So, you say you were the one who created those visions? And, what, you sent them to me, somehow?"

"The memory was within you as well as it was within me. Your mind's eye has seen all that I have seen, albeit from a slightly different perspective."

"But how could I see it? I wasn't there. Why wouldn't Kana be able to see it, as well?"

"As I said, you are a special case, Shigure. Humans have a word for this: 'reincarnation.' I don't know if you really are the spirit of Cadros inhabiting a new body, but you certainly emanate an identical aura."

"Even you don't know, then?"

"I am wise, but not omnipotent. I can see beyond myself and past the bonds of time, but in those images, I see only what is possible. Humans are the ones who shape the future into a sharp line from the discordant array of materials I see."

"I… think I understand. It's a shame. I wish there was another way we could have ended all this without taking your life."

Anankos smiled. "Do not worry after me, child. I have known for a long time that my life would come to an end."

"But you said you could only see future possibilities, not certainties."

"Quite so. In every version of the future, however, I would eventually die. This is something I came to realize would be necessary for the universe to continue. It was a… difficult thing to endure for my conscious mind, and so my madness grew."

"So, the prophecy of your madness was a self-fulfilling one."

"All very theatrical, isn't it? But yes, I did everything I could to struggle against my fate, only to realize that my end had already been decided."

"Is everyone cursed that way? Are all of our attempts to change our lives in vain?"

"Absolutely not. I was maddened by the very thought of death, but a human girl, the daughter of Cadros, told me things that gave me peace—at times, anyway. For me, the idea of losing all my wisdom was too great, but, she told me, to a human, passing on a stable world and a bevvy of knowledge to the next generation was more than enough. Even to those uninterested in or unable to leave a legacy, sometimes the promise of a world of memories to explore and keep was enough.

"I am unable to reproduce in the same manner as humans, and I already know all I need know of the world, so, eventually, I came to think of humans as my children. My knowledge is often too much for humans, however—they are similarly driven mad. Eventually, I had to give up on that project and return to ruminating over my destiny in silence."

"Anankos…" Shigure bowed his head. "I'm sorry. That's terrible. I can't even begin to imagine your pain."

"No, you can't. But that's all right. I don't want you to know my pain. I want you to go on living your lives in the ways that bring you joy, so that you might all find the happiness and fullness of being that I lacked."

"Thank you. We will endeavor to do so."

"May I make a final request of the bloodline of Cadros? Of you, Shigure?"

"Of course."

"You no doubt know the power of the blade wielded by your sister, and the pendant worn by your mother. What you may not know is that these two were assembled in unison."

"If I remember the vision, the Yato was created by the one my parents knew as the Rainbow Sage, right?"

"Indeed. He was a skilled craftsman to whom I lent my knowledge. I sensed the tides of war approaching between dragons and men, and I had these two items forged to be wielded by men that they might be protected—one, an instrument of war, capable of tapping into the ardent desires of human souls united in one purpose to create a blazing icon that would supersede any foe; the other, a piece of jewelry, a human form of 'art,' used to supplant another 'art,' one of song. This piece would be able to calm the heat that boils men's minds when their hearts burn too strong. Like the sea, it would settle their ardor into the gentle rhythms of thoughtfulness again. It had a similar effect on dragons but, regrettably, was not powerful enough to utterly erase our madness."

"Two sides of the same coin. One riles peoples' spirits up to unite them, the other helps them find tranquility and clarity."

"I'm glad you understand. I gave these tools to Valla's royalty, to be guarded as treasures after Cadros's passing. The Fire Emblem was given to their new king, a man with firm determination to rebuild and reshape Valla for humanity, and the other, the pendant, was given to his wife, Cadros's daughter and a fine songstress who tended to the needs of her people and ensured their goodwill. Such was to remain the tradition, but, eventually, the Emblem was taken from Valla by a man who learned of my oncoming madness and wanted the citizens of Valla to flee. In some respects, it is lamentable that they did not follow him."

"As I recall, the Yato ended up being embedded in a statue in Hoshido, didn't it? Was that where the man went?"

"Yes. That man was a distant ancestor of the one you now know as Sumeragi. Hoshido was very different before his arrival—it had become a land of excess and depravity. This man, however, taught them the virtues of respect and conscientiousness. He taught them to honor the blessings of the Dawn Dragon, not merely to indulge in them."

"What of Nohr? Did they ever undergo such a change?"

"No. Nohr has always been the harsh land of subsistence you know. It was only its kings and queens that decided how much light would be shed upon it in its various eras. Ah, but I fear we've diverged from the point—the relics."

"Right, the Yato and the pendant. What of them?"

"When you return, I want you to cast them into the sea, and let no man ever attempt to retrieve them. Their purpose is expended now, and it is too clearly the nature of man to seek power beyond his ken for the simple joy of having it."

"When I 'return?'"

"Anankos and I are going to somewhere different than you, Shigure," he heard another familiar voice say, "You must have realized that."

"F-Father?" Shigure gawked. As if he'd materialized out of nowhere, Corrin was now standing beside Anankos's form.

"I'm impressed," Corrin said, "You and your sister exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds. I had always hoped you two would reunite, but to see you come together with such power… I may not understand all of Anankos's designs, but I think that's the way it was meant to be."

"In this case," Anankos agreed, "In other worlds, your father might have ended the strife himself by slaying the possessed Takumi early, but at the expense of more Hoshidan lives. In still others, he would unite with Hoshido instead and vanquish the possessed King Garon at the height of his power, but at the cost of his Nohrian family. These things are never fully determined until a choice is made."

"Well, that being the case," Corrin continued, "I'm glad I chose to be with Azura, and everything else I did to lead me up to having you as a son, Shigure. Knowing all you went through… you stuck to your guns and did what you felt was right, not willing to betray your convictions for anyone else's sake, but keeping your mind open… You've made me incredibly proud. I bet your mother feels the same. And she's waiting for you."

"Waiting for… Oh, of course. Thank you, father."

"Don't thank me. Just keeping being the amazing man that you are, Shigure. Oh, and tell your mother and your sister that I love them both dearly, and that I'll be watching over them. Especially your sister—if she gets into any trouble, she's going to get an earful. Oh, and please pass along my thanks to Morgan, Inigo, Owain, and Severa, for protecting my family throughout all this. And Jakob, Felicia, Flora, and Gunter, of course. Oh, and all your aunts and uncles. And—"

"It's time for Shigure to return, I think," Anankos declared.

"Right. Sorry. Keep making me proud, son."

"Goodbye, father. Goodbye, Anankos."

Everything in his field of view collapsed into white. Moments later, Shigure felt his eyes opening. The first thing he saw as they opened was his sister's hand being offered to him. He took it and felt himself be pulled up. "Glad to see you're okay," she said, "didn't take you for a heavy sleeper, though."

"Heavy sleeper?" He looked around. All the other children had risen and clustered together with their parents, expressing joy that they had each been saved. "Did we…?" Shigure trailed off, "That is… did we do it, then? Everyone's safe? Anankos is…?"

Kana nodded. "Yep. Somehow, we managed. Though, don't ask me how, exactly. Everyone just fought tooth and nail and, eventually, we got through, I guess."

"Ah, that's right," Shigure mumbled, shaking his head to further stimulate his consciousness, "I had some kind of a dream or a vision… father wanted you to know that he loves you, and that he'll be watching over you."

She blinked. "On any other day, I'd say you probably hit your head pretty hard falling, but, just this once, I have a feeling that you're telling the absolute truth."

"It's kind of hard to believe it's over, isn't it?"

"Definitely. I mean, once we go back, the war's as good as over. It's been the way of things for so long, it'll be weird to adjust to things being like they were before. And, speaking of before… Thank you, Shigure, for believing in me, and joining me. Without you, we wouldn't have stood a chance."

"Oh, I don't know. I think the threads of fate were being pulled in your direction either way."

"Just take the compliment, okay?"

"Very well. How can I refuse my sweet little sister?"

They both laughed a little, but then Kana's expression changed, her eyes suddenly widening: "Ack! What about mom?! I ran right over to you, but I don't know where she is!"

"Lookin' for this?" The pair turned to see Morgan leading Azura over, the blue-haired woman supporting herself on the redhead's shoulder.

"Shigure, Kana," she mewled upon seeing them, lip quivering, "The both of you… what you did… I…"

Kana and Shigure helped their mother off of Morgan's shoulder and both embraced her. She reciprocated, and her fingers dug deeply into both of their backs like she was holding onto them for dear life.

Shigure looked at Morgan over his mother's arms. "Is your family all right, Lady Morgan?" he asked.

"No worries," she said, "we don't go down easy." To emphasize her point, an ash-coated Inigo came forward, carrying a semi-conscious Liam over his shoulder and leading his similarly filthy daughter by the hand.

Kana noticed their presence and turned to whisper in her mother's ear: "Mama, can I let you go for just a second?"

She smiled through her wet eyes and nodded.

Kana drifted out of her mother's grip and stood before Inigo so she could tug on Liam's collar. "Hey," she called, "you alive?"

"Of course," he coughed, "nobody's gonna keep me down."

"Thought so. I just wanted to say, even though I know it wasn't your choice… thanks for being my retainer. In the end, I don't think I could've asked for better."

He managed to raise his head and stare at her gladly smiling face. He turned his head so she couldn't see him and said, "D-Damn right you couldn't!"

"Liam…" his father jostled him on his shoulder.

"Oof!" he grunted. "Er, you're not bad yourself, princess. Maybe I'll… catch ya 'round."

"I'd like that," she replied.

Inigo and Morgan took their children and left Azura, Kana, and Shigure to embrace one another once more. They joined up with Severa, Owain, and their families to express their joy at each other having survived yet another dragon encounter. Their celebrations were undercut, however, by a revelation from King Xander: the group hadn't managed to win the battle without significant casualties.

Shiro found it the hardest to listen to as Xander explained: "We all had our backs to those gates for as long as we could hold out. We listened to the sounds and shouts coming from there, and we wondered if any of us were going to make it, but all of us kept thinking of our children, and we knew we had to push through. We fought for every inch of ground that we maintained, but, eventually, things were starting to look grim, and it seemed like they were going to breach our lines. We couldn't have that happen, and one person realized that better than anyone… When things were at their darkest, Ryoma pushed forward and drew them all toward him. It was… inhuman, what he did. He must have killed a hundred of them by himself, stalling for the rest of us to regain our strength. His wife and his sister pleaded for him to stop, but he refused. He said that to the world beyond us, he was all but dead already. He made me pledge to establish a lasting peace with Hoshido when we succeeded, and… nothing would make me gladder than to honor that promise."

"But… who'll lead Hoshido in his absence?" Elise asked, "Shiro's still too young, isn't he? And he's the oldest of their children…"

"You're forgetting someone, Elise," her brother told her.

"Huh?" Her brother pointed his finger, and she followed it to see Sakura's face lowered to the ground. "Oh, right. Sakura. But… she… To go through all that, and…"

"It's… okay," the oldest remaining princess of Hoshido said, lifting her head, "I… when Hinoka passed, and the first war ended, I pledged to do anything I could to help Hoshido—to never be that useless again. I want to return home and draft a new peace agreement with you, King Xander."

"That might make you both quite unpopular with your respective kingdoms, for the record," Leo added. Severa gave him a little shove for interrupting.

Sakura nodded. "I'm not worried about that. We'll deal with those things as they come. For right now, what's important is that we stop the kind of slaughter that led us here today. Another war like that would devastate our entire world, even without dragons looking to sabotage us underlying everything."

"I agree completely," said Xander, "Now, as always, nothing is more important than securing the safety of all the people of our world.

The king walked toward Sakura, and she met him halfway. They shook each other's hand and nodded. The course of the world had been decided.

~~~ […] ~~~

Sakura—Late Bloom

As promised, following the war, Sakura met with Xander and created a new peace accord between Nohr and Hoshido that would stand the test of time. Sakura's tenure as queen of Hoshido was filled with many an evening of her breaking down into tears at the stress of her role as well as the overwhelming loss of her family. Nevertheless, these momentary lapses were kept private, and she remained a pillar of quiet strength for her country, and helped to nurse the nation's wounds. Neither Saizo nor Asugi took much interest in the governance of their nation, although Saizo was technically the king during Sakura's reign. She kept the memory of all her siblings, Corrin included, close to her heart.

Elise—Nohr's Light

Elise would go down in history as the biggest contributing factor to Nohr's reconstruction after the end of the first war, and as a beloved ambassador to Hoshido following the second. Her cheeriness and willingness to help others made her a household name in both countries, and she helped heal the bitterness of war, allowing families to reconcile and move on to a more peaceable future. Her husband, still officially referred to as "Odin" stayed with her for the rest of her days, and the two never lost their love of theatrics.

Leo—Hand of Darkness

Leo's skills in combat tactics were much less in demand following the war, but his ability as a diplomat was sought after even more than before. His work demanded much from him, allowing him very little time at home with his wife and son, but the family had come to anticipate such an arrangement, and their independence from one another mean that this change was not a devastating one, although it did make their occasional full reunions during holidays that much more joyous.

Camilla—The Dark's Embrace

Not unlike she had done prior to the start of the second war, Camilla spent little time at the castle with the rest of her family, preferring to tour the countryside with her husband and daughter. She never raised a weapon again, following the war, as she proclaimed that even she had developed a strong distaste for killing. Her husband's employment in Nohr's military meant he couldn't do the same, but, fortunately for both of them, Nohr never had another military engagement serious enough to warrant his assistance for the rest of his life. Camilla had a predilection for visiting orphanages and coddling all the young ones for a few hours before taking off again. As she grew older, travelers who crossed paths with her would often salute her, claiming to be those selfsame children, and she would embrace them once more, remarking on how they'd grown. She would never admit it to anyone, but her husband suspected she was trying to fill the void Corrin had left.

Xander—The Lion of Nohr

Leo had been correct. Xander's establishment of a new treaty with Hoshido that refused to impose upon them any significant sanctions did not go over well domestically, but with his siblings' cunning and his own authoritative presence, Xander retained a strong hold on the governance of Nohr, guiding it away from the mistakes of its past long enough to prepare the crown to be passed down to his son. He paid an annual visit to the tomb of King Ryoma, and created a special mausoleum in a graveyard near Castle Krakenburg where Corrin's remains were interred. The site became a historic monument, and engraved on it were words encouraging Nohrians told hold onto their values, but be bold enough to strike out for something greater. Xander himself would be remembered as one of Nohr's greatest kings, leading it out of the great shadow of the Long Night and beyond the scars of another war to reach a long-lasting peace on the other side.

Ophelia—Maiden of Dusk

Ophelia carried on some facsimile of her mother's role after she passed away. Neither Nohrians nor Hoshidans were quite sure what to make of the girl who danced in circles of glittering gems and proclaimed the names of arcane spells in a performance directed at no one in particular, but they seemed to decide that, generally, she was harmless, and a bit fun to watch. Not long after the war, Owain explained to her the significance of the brand that had appeared on her hand, and took her to meet her grandparents. All parties were overjoyed.

Sophie—Steadfast Stumbler

Sophie continued to travel the countryside with her parents, all while honing her knightly skills. Over time, she would part ways with them for longer and longer periods of time to embark on adventures of her own, be they solitary affairs or errands with another. She was forced to become a bit more serious when she became Nohr's eldest princess, and the work was difficult for her, but the commonfolk of Nohr appreciated and related to their scatterbrained, work-worn, wanderlust-filled princess.

Forrest—Quiet Dignity

Forrest did well taking over his father's role after his passing. He never stopped presenting himself in his choice of fashion, and many Nohrians were motivated by his refusal to accept insults that came his way. Forrest became an accomplished political figure all his own, although he never shared his father's aptitude for military matters. Fortunately, he didn't much need such knowledge. Less fortunately, he never got a chance to meet his maternal grandparents, despite his mother's hopes: both of them passed before they got a chance to visit. Severa still showed her son her homeland and introduced him to some of her friends.

Siegbert—A King's Destiny

Despite all his anxieties, Siegbert did eventually take on his father's crown, allowing Xander some much-needed rest in his final years. Siegbert's style of ruling was a considerable adjustment from his father's, but he managed to retain the same kind of determination his father had possessed while acting as king, and so he never lost control of the country. Nohr and Hoshido continued to function in peace with one another following the war and many decades thereafter thanks to his leadership.

Kiragi—Bright Star

When Kiragi returned and healed from the war, he set about on the difficult task of explaining the trickery that had been used to manipulate Hoshidans into accepting the distorted version of his father. He endured violent retribution from some who had been victims of his possessed father's madness, but he suffered these gladly, willing to atone for the difficulties his father had caused. When memory of the war faded, he was treated much better, eventually returning to a proper place in the castle and being well-liked for his joyful, optimistic nature. No one was happier to see his bright future slowly unfold than his mother, who was buried beside her husband many years after the war, saying that she had been waiting to see him for a long time before closing her eyes for good.

Shiro—Broken Prince

Shiro suffered greatly after the loss of his father, but, thankfully, Sakura's rule gave him the time to cope with the tragedy and learn more about the role he was expected to take on as prince. When it was his time to assume the throne, he did so confidently, and did his best to keep Hoshido away from further war with Nohr, despite some persistent urging. He was thought of as more affable and approachable by the citizens of Hoshido than his father, but he never stopped honoring the samurai's code of ethics, just as his father had. Records say that he lived an exceedingly long life, and that he died of heart failure in the middle of a morning training session—"Only King Shiro," Hoshidans would repeat for decades, "could kill King Shiro."

Azura—Silence Shattered

Following Anankos's defeat, Azura looked around at Valla and decided there was only one proper course of action. She met with both Xander and Sakura and officially established the country as an independent nation, ready to be rebuilt. The news was a shock to many in Nohr and Hoshido, but with Anankos vanquished, the curse seemed to have been lifted, and the strange land hidden within the ground was discussed openly and, because of its curious nature, actually built a moderately powerful economy on the basis of tourism. Refugees and deserters the world over came flocking to the mythical land, seeking a chance for a new start, and were welcomed with open arms, so long as they provided for the reconstruction of the once-great kingdom. Over time, Valla replaced other smaller nations such as Izumo and Nestra as the most popular neutral grounds for negotiation between countries, meaning she was frequently visited by Xander, Leo, Elise, Sakura, and all their spouses. Less frequently, Camilla would also stop by and discuss their childhood together, as well as their shared love of Corrin, though the latter sometimes devolved into loud arguments over who loved him more—these were the only occasions on which Azura was known to frequently raise her voice. Azura served as Valla's first acting queen in the decades since her mother and father had been murdered, and, when her time was done, she passed her pendant on to her son with the same set of instructions her mother had given her. When the years grew long and her hair faded to gray, she rejoined her husband and sang softly until she fell silent beside his tomb, a song that none save her and the dead earned the privilege to hear, and which might have been the most beautiful song she ever sang, and then never heard again, making it as splendid and as fleeting as a bubble. A popular legend used to scare children away from the site claims that if you hang around on rainy or windy nights, Azura's voice still carries through the somber graveyard.

Shigure—Mankind's Scion

Shigure aided his mother in her rule for many years until her passing. When he received her pendant, he told her about the vision he'd experienced following Anankos's defeat, and she encouraged him to heed it. After receiving the Omega Yato from Kana, he took both artifacts and purchased a ship to ferry him out to the deepest known part of the ocean. With the crew's help, he attached boulders and heavy metal armor to the items with rope, wire, and all manner of binding before finally casting them off into the waters, never to be seen again. Satisfied that his task was done, Shigure reconnected with his cousins in Hoshido, and established a relationship with his kin in Nohr before returning home. While there, he decided he wasn't interested in a ruling position, leaving that task to his sister, and he roamed unexplored regions of Valla, learning more about the relationship between dragons and humans, as well as the lives and purposes that drove the dragons to this world. He became something of a hermit and, later, a component of folklore, on par with the Rainbow Sage.

Kana—Draconic Heir

Kana had a difficult time adjusting to her role as a Vallite princess—she'd lived in Castle Krakenburg for many years, but had never really counted herself among the royalty. Now, however, she was forced to embrace the responsibility of her heritage. With help from her mother and, occasionally, her brother, as well as her uncle and the rest of her extended family, she became a powerful and much-beloved queen of Valla. Her ability to transform into a dragon was celebrated as proof of her divinity for some, though she continued to insist that dragons should not be revered as deities and that they were as flawed as humans, each with their own virtues and foibles. She is credited with creating an entirely new canon of quasi-religious folklore pertaining to the ways of the dragons, with details provided by her brother. Her father had been the "Moonlight Prince," who brought Nohr back into the light in its darkest hour, but she would later be revered as the "Dragon Empress" and "Maiden of the Gray" for her strong leadership and assistance in mediating political conflicts between Nohr and Hoshido—no matter the circumstances, no one wanted to anger the woman who could turn into a dragon at will. She married somewhat late in life and had several children, who she doted on. Like her, some showed the ability to transform, and all sported the same pale blue hair that would become a sign of Vallite royalty.

~~~ […] ~~~

The young man palmed the yellow fruit, dropping his arm to his side as he squeezed the wedge into his mouth. "I'm just wondering why exactly you called me here. There are plenty of other people who could hear this, ya know?"

"I know, but it's important that you understand in particular, honey," the redheaded woman said, sitting down and stroking back her long hair. "You remember when we went to visit your grandma and grandpa's grave?"

"Sure. Nice little place they had. Seemed like it might get a bit boring out there, but… eh." He shrugged.

"Do you remember what I told you about how your grandpa died?"

"Yeah. Worked to death, basically."

"Sort of. But is wasn't just work. It was war that really broke him down. He wouldn't admit it to anybody, but he took a lot of burdens on his shoulders. Some of them were riding him all the way down into the grave, and they'll stay with him there forever."

"There a point to this?" Liam asked, biting into the lemon wedge and twisting his lips as the sour juice struck his tongue.

"Look at it this way and see if you come to the same conclusion," his mother commanded, "I got to know your grandpa in the middle of a war. Even when that war was over, he was still dealing with the fallout from that war. The time I left was a war with dwindling hope. Then I came here, and I met Corrin after he had just sorted out a war, and then, not more than a decade or so after you were born, what happened?"

"Well, 'war' hardly sounds like a real word now that you've repeated it so much," replied her son.

She rolled her eyes. "Please, be serious. I'm just wondering… is there some kind of curse attached to us? I can't stop thinking about the mark we bear… are we somehow bound to create conflict wherever we go?"

Liam scoffed.

"What's so funny?" his mother demanded.

"You think people fighting is somehow our fault?"

"Liam, I—"

"No, no, no. I heard your piece, now you're gonna listen to mine. War might seem to follow us wherever we go, but that's only 'cause it follows humans wherever they go. Long as there's at least two people left on the planet, someone's gonna want someone dead. As much as it hurts to say, there's never gonna be some utopian world where everybody sits in a circle around a bonfire and sings songs. People make mistakes, they forget the past, and they end up fighting. Then, they realize how dumb they've been, and vow never to do it again. That's practically all of history, if you look at it."

"So, you think we can't do anything about it, either? That's hardly encouraging."

"I didn't say that. We can always try to stop them from making those mistakes, to remind them of the past they're forgetting, but there won't always be people like us, and, even when there are, people will still make mistakes regardless. It's stupid to go beating yourself up because the world won't ever be perfect. You just gotta try your damnedest, and, if that doesn't work, take your lumps and move on."

Morgan creased her brow as she looked at her son. She couldn't believe that he, of all people, was trying to give her philosophical reassurance.

"What's that look for?" He gave her a smirk. "That's a look that says 'I can't believe you, of all people, are trying to give me philosophical reassurance.' Frankly, I'm a little offended. I can be a little poetic if I want."

"You've grown to have such an interesting attitude, Liam. I bet your grandpa would love to chat with you, if he could."

"Heh. I'd like to have a few words with the old man myself."

She smiled. After a moment of silence, she rose from her chair. "C'mon. I'm making some soup. My mom's old recipe."

~~~ […] ~~~

Soleil—A New Light

Soleil traveled the world after the war, and was a favorite at every inn she visited, charming both men and women alike with her sunny disposition and lovable energy. She often invited her parents along, either together or separately when she was headed somewhere nearby. Once or twice, she even managed to drag her brother along to have some fun, although he wasn't know to spend very long at those locations. Soleil never had the chance to meet her maternal grandparents, although she was shone their home and told about them, but she did get an opportunity to meet her grandmother, from with whom she spent the remainder of her time in that country practicing her dances. She never married, although there are spurious claims from people in different parts of the world claiming to be descended from her. She passed through the world a mystery, but an icon.

Inigo—Exalted Destiny

Knowing the fate of his own world, Inigo was content to leave behind his old home in favor of continuing to serve the royal house of Nohr for as long as he could. Having learned of his secret, Xander would frequently engage him about his father and sister, trying to understand how his nation was run, and how it differed from Nohr and Hoshido. When he wasn't helping the royal family, Inigo fell back on his old habits of visiting taverns and chatting up women while acting as a kind of hero-for-hire around the Nohrian countryside where bandits frequently struck. With Xander's permission, he eventually started a small militia that he dubbed "The Shepherds of Dark." Criminal entities mocked this name ruthlessly, but they weren't laughing when the men themselves came knocking on their doors.

Liam—Misanthropic Mastermind

When the war was ended, Liam avoided the military and the political affairs of the country around him like the plague, thankful to never have to engage in that kind of serious work ever again. He continued gambling and took on journeyman's work to make ends meet, never finding any serious success, but always managing to stay afloat. Despite his outward hostility toward most people, he did eventually marry. Several times. Most of his relationships were rocky, at best, and he never quite felt comfortable with anyone he settled down with for very long. He sired a few children and took small comfort in their successes, never quite knowing where he was headed in life. When he was unsure of what else to do, he would visit Kana and regale her with stories of his exploits. It was one of the few occasions on which he was always seen smiling. Stories of the lives his children led and of his passing vary widely: some say one of his sons founded a criminal empire in Nestra, another claims one simply found a quiet life as an inspector in a small town, and still others claim that one went on to leave a legacy as a masterful horse racer. Regarding his death, both popular retellings also refer to his children: in one version, he was killed protecting his daughter from a murderous priest, in the other, he died protecting his son from a grave robber in the Wind Tribe lands.

Morgan—Unforeseen Entity

Morgan was happy to live out the rest of her life quietly among her family. Once a year, she would slip away to visit her parents' graves and consult them both on what to do next. In order to keep the family's finances flowing and sate her need for travel, she eventually fell back into her mother's line of work as a traveling merchant. She took care to never travel too far from home, in case her family had need of her, but she enjoyed the simple life that still managed to give her the surprise and adventure she craved. In the end, she never attempted to conceal her mark, and insisted that her children wear it as a sign of pride. To this day, the six-eyed purple design is a universally recognizable symbol in Nohr, Hoshido, and Valla, and it is respected as a good reason not to irritate its bearer. Thankfully, Morgan never had to lead another group through a war for the rest of her lifetime, and she passed away comfortably, surrounded by her friends and family. Her concern for the fate of the world after her passing lingered, but she was comforted by thoughts of her father, and of her son, both of whom had assured her, in their own way, that her contribution was a success all its own. The world would still have it wars, but she had done what she could to keep it from falling into that trap for the remainder of her lifetime. She hoped others would set out to do the same.

[AN]: Hi, everyone. Thanks for joining along with me for this long journey through the biggest piece I've ever written for this site. It's been really great to see the amount of attention and love this piece has received-it's beyond anything I could've imagined. I've had so much fun getting it out to all of you and seeing your reactions, and just building this whole story was a joy in itself, although I can't say I'm not a little relieved to have it finished. Enough gushing, though. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed, and, in particular, thank you to Cormag Ravenstaff, The Apocryphal One, OkayDokey33, and Antex-The Legendary Zoroark for the sheer volume of the feedback they provided and/or sticking with me since the very beginning. Much love to all of you. I hope everyone who has read all the way to the end enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing it. For now, I bid you adieu.