The Road Not Trekked: The Rising Dark

by SilverShadow1711

Thinking returning home to Nohr would be the end of her troubles was foolishness on Nerr's part. Rebellions, massacres and foreign invasions on both sides of the continent chip away at what little sanity remains to her, but perhaps there is a silver lining amidst the darkest clouds. After all, realizing the darkness holds nothing to fear makes it easier to walk through it...

1. The Rising Dark

A/N- Here it is, the Nohr branch of TRNT. I knew from the second trailer that I would love 'Conquest', and I was abso-freaking-lutely right. Everything is better on the path of Nohr; the characters, the game play, the music. That's not to say it doesn't have it's flaws. It has plenty, PLENTY, though I'm certain other people dislike it for different reasons than I do, so of course, there will still be changes to some plot points and characters. This picks up at the choice which, if you didn't read it, you probably should. You can find it here- www. fanfiction s/ 12111388/ 1/ The- Road- Not- Trekked

Also, given the types of comments I've gotten, it seems wise to add a warning, so here it is- this story contains graphic violence, allusions to war crimes and punishment of those crimes, fantastic racism, characters acting in ways that can be described as OOC at times, Nohr bias, an occasional lack of empathy, characters being called out on things the author wishes were discussed in the game, the avatar stand-in having a worse name than "Corn" and being a big 'ol meanie pants at times, and many more things that don't bother me personally, but that may bother others. I think that covers everything.

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"Everything falls apart; even the people who never frown eventually break down..."

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Ch.1- "The Rising Dark"

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'I know what I must do...' Nerr's thoughts, despite her grim expression, were confident. For the first time since she had left Castle Krakenburg a over fortnight ago, the princess stood up straight, her head held high. There was still so much sorrow within her, but now, there was a sense of pride as well. She was no longer posturing for the enemy; she was showing her family that she was proud of them, of her background. Despite her ruined armor, her tattered clothes and mussed hair, Nerr never felt more like a princess of Nohr than she did as she walked calmly to stand at Xander's side. As she faced the Hoshidan prince, his mouth was ever so slightly agape. Now was the best time to speak, while he was still dazed.

"Ryouma! Withdraw your troops. There will be no invasion today- there need not be anymore senseless death." Shocked by her sudden declaration, Xander sputtered above her.

"Nerr, what are you saying? Father-"

"Be quiet, brother." Her voice was unexpectedly stern, and in hindsight, it would shock her, that she would dare to take such a tone with the crown prince of Nohr. But at present, all she wanted was to end this stand off and go home. "Prince Ryouma, I tell you one last time- your country is in no condition to handle a war. For the good of your people, withdraw your troops." The Hoshidan man shook his head wordlessly, breathing as if he had just run a mile.

"Wh-what are you saying, Nerrida... You don't mean that... You cannot mean that! What sick game are you playing, sister? Return to us!"

"I will not. I'm sorry, Ryouma, but my mind is made up. I will not fight with Hoshido. I must stand with my country, my people. If I must fight, I fight with Nohr." Across the river, there were cries of indignation, shock, disgust... all of those emotions played out on Ryouma's face, so quickly they seemed to blur together.

"How can you say that, Nerrida?! Open your eyes- can you not see how vile those Nohrians are?! You've seen the truth firsthand; how can you still be blind to their lies? These are not humans, they are hateful fiends who wish to trample Hoshido! They murdered our mother in cold blood!" Nerr grit her teeth, feeling a sharp pain build at the base of her skull. She forced her breathing to calm down. This was what she had been studying for years, diplomacy, talking to foreign ambassadors. Sure enough, this was the first time she'd be putting those lessons into application, but still. Though she knew she should've been placating, but the anger she felt still crept into her words.

"I am not blind, Ryouma, and I am not stupid. Unlike you, I understand that the word is not black and white. There is not just evil and good- nothing is that simple. I am not denying that Nohr has done terrible, unforgivable things to your country... And I now know that these are not my siblings by birth... but that doesn't matter! I will not abandon the only family I have ever known just because you claim your cause is more just!" Ryouma took half a step away from her before realizing what he was doing. It was as if she had turned into something disgusting, repellent, by the words she spoke alone.

"You can't do this! How dare you stand with those monsters after what they've done!? Your mother and father were murdered trying to protect you from them! You know their sins now, how can you possibly justify this betrayal?! You are a princess of Hoshido, you are my sister! Do you truly mean to fight with those who stole you away from us?!" When he put it like that, put the truth in such harsh, cruel words, all the guilt Nerr felt as her mother lay dying in her arms was compounded. She felt like a monster, putting her birth family through the pain of losing another family member, so soon. If she were dying, surly they would not be as disgusted with her as this with this, running back into the arms of her captors. But still... Nerr knew her heart. And if she was to live, the only thing that would give her life meaning was fulfilling the duty she'd dreamed of for years, alongside the only people she knew she could love.

"I am sorry, Ryouma. I never wished for this to happen, but regardless of the circumstances that led to it, this is my family. These are the brothers and sisters I grew up with, the people I have loved all my life. To turn my back on them in favor of strangers? Strangers who have proven to me that they do not honor their word, that my happiness and well-being means nothing to them?" She was, of course, only referring to Ryouma and their deceased mother, but given that they were the heads of the household and country, that was all that mattered. Nerr shook her head. "No, I'd rather die." Her Hoshidan brother's face contorted in outrage, but a warm, comforting hand laid on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Xander smiling down at her. He had obeyed her wish for silence the whole time, and seemed pleased with what he had heard.

"You did the right thing, Nerr. You know now that you do not share the same bloodline as the rest of us, but as you have said, that matters not. You have been my beloved sister since the moment I first laid eyes on you. To know that, despite the truth, you would return to us... There are no words to express my happiness, little princess." His smile widened. "Father will be overjoyed as well. He was tormented when he thought you'd died..."

"Are you quite certain of that, Prince Xander?" Ryouma's voice was laced with venom as he spat the words out. "Are these more lies you feed my sister, or are you truly stupid enough to believe such a thing?"

"I will not stand here and be insulted by the likes of you. Explain yourself, Hoshidan, and quickly." The brunette man laughed dryly.

"Surely you've heard. Surely you know of your demon king's attempt to murder Nerrida." His eyes flashing violently, Xander unsheathed his sword, the once unnoticeable aura of dark magic surrounding it now making Nerr nauseous. She leaned against Asmodeus' flank to keep from loosing her balance.

"What lies do you retch about my father, Hoshidan?"

"I have no need for lies, not when the truth is so much crueler. There was an attack in our capital's square, just the other day, an explosion from the sword your father gifted Nerrida with. If my mother hadn't sacrificed herself, your little princess would be dead now, along with the dozens of innocent men, women and children that were there when it happened. If King Garon gave a damn about Nerrida, why would he risk her life just to hurt us?"

Nerr clenched her fists tightly, the uneven surface of her new blade's hilt biting into her palm. She would never be allowed to forget that nightmare, she was sure of it, Ryouma would remind her of it until one of them drew their last breath. He would continue heaping guilt upon her until she returned to Hoshido or else, took her own life just to make it stop. But the latter option would be too disgraceful; she could not leave her brothers and sister with such a legacy, and the former gave her the inkling that the prince would not stop his tormenting of her even then.

"Is this true, Nerr?" Xander sounded uncharacteristically alarmed. "There was an attack in Hoshido while you were there?" Swallowing hard, the young woman nodded.

"Yes, brother. Everything he says is true. But even so, I still don't want to jump to conclusions. I need to hear Father's side of the story. That is why I must return home right away, we must return home. We can not have Nohr tarnished with this ignominy; I must know the truth of this tragedy!"

"I'm afraid that is not an option..." There was faint crackle as Ryouma unsheathed his blade, the kind that came from a wool blanket in winter. He charged at her, so fast, such an economy of movement, that Nerr had less time to blink than react. Instinctively she moved, her body honed to such evasive maneuvers by years of training at Xander and Gunther's hands.

She threw up her own blade, blocking enough of his long, curved sword to avoid any real damage... or so she thought. The flat edge of the steel that grazed her cheek felt like a firebrand, burning her almost as badly as the wyrmslayer had done the other day. Only this was so much worse, for the scorching heat was accompanied with an unimaginable burning that coursed through every nerve in her body. She convulsed violently with an anguished scream as her muscles seized and though the horrid sensation only lasted a second or two at most, it was only through sheer luck and perseverance that she did not collapse. Breathing hard, Nerr tried to focus her swimming, blurred vision on the spiky figure before her.

"Soldiers!" Ryouma shouted to his waiting men. "Kill those Nohrian dogs!" When Nerr could finally see straight, the first thing her gaze fell on was her supposed brother's hateful sneering expression. For one used to being doted on, to be so passionately hated was a horrible experience. "I refuse to let you return to your captors, Nerrida. We will settle this on the battlefield, for as the gods are my witness, if I can't have you as a sister, I'll have you as a trophy!" Nerr gasped, disgusted that someone who claimed to be her family, who was supposed to love her, could even think something so cruel. Honestly, it sounded like something King Garon would say...

"You're mad, Ryouma! Do you truly intend to win me over by admitting I'm worth that little to you? If my heart did not belong to Nohr before, it certainly rests with Nohr now." The prince leveled his sword, which, she noticed, glowed white hot, to her throat.

"The only one mad here is you, sister. To say such things, to throw away your parent's sacrifice as if it means nothing to you... It is your birthright to fight at my side, and you rebuke me! You dare to use the sacred Yatogami against your own kingdom! It is a blessing that Mother is not here to see your betrayal... In her infinite kindness, she may have forgiven you, but I will not!"

With that last outcry, he lashed out at her again, his blade catching her battered breastplate, sending another burning jolt through her, but she had been prepared for it this time. His next blow she easily sidestepped, knocking aside his blade with her own. He was thrown off balance for a moment, and in that instant, Xander charged forward, intending to drive his own blade into the Hoshidan's chest. For the first time, Nerr did not watch the imminent death and feel the overwhelming need to cry out for anyone to stop. Ryouma's words burned too painfully in her ears, in her mind, in her heart. I'll have you as a trophy... Even Leo was not that cold. No, it was clear, this was no brother of hers... She waited for the sickening squelch of skin being pierced and organs being shredded, but it did not come. In it's stead, a shower of sparks from two blades grinding against one another, as well as a cloud of mingled light and dark energy. Xander's expression was almost as hateful as Ryouma's.

"Stand down, prince of Hoshido. I will not allow you to further hurt my sister, with your blade or your words. You have the audacity to call yourself her brother, and yet you say such disgusting, hateful things? You sicken me..."

"Talk down to me once more, and Nohr will lose a prince as well as a princess today. You vile monsters have brainwashed my sister, and I will do whatever it takes to free her from the dark magic you've used to poison her mind." Finding her voice was difficult, considering how tight her throat was, but Nerr forced herself to speak up.

"And if death is the price to 'free me', brother?" Never had she thought it possible to spit that word with such loathing. Ryouma's lips tightened into a thin line.

"...if that is what it takes, then so be it. Better you die with honor now than be branded as a traitor."

"Do you hear yourself, Hoshidan? Do you hear how crazy you sound, or is this all logical to you? Nerr is under no spell as you well know. She chose this of her own free will. She chose us, her real family. Our blood may differ, but our hearts beat in tandem."

"Your hearts know only deceit and betrayal! Nohrians are notorious for their cruel, cowardly ways, and this is no different. But I grow weary of your lies, dastard. We settle this the only way that matters- with steel."

"So be it. There is no point in trying to be diplomatic with savages."

"Gods, no! Xander, stop this! If Prince Ryouma is hell-bent on bloodshed, then it cannot be helped, but I expect better from you! There is no need for this, not here, not now!" Xander glanced down at her, clicking his tongue in a disappointed manner.

"There is need for this, Nerr. Father has ordered we conquer-"

"Oh, spare me! This isn't even about invading Hoshido anymore; if it were, you wouldn't have wasted so much time standing here and yelling at one another like children. This is about one-upping each other, and I will have nothing to do with it. We must return to Nohr at once. Xander, please... There has been enough meaningless death already..." For a moment, it seemed the crown prince would listen to her, would acquiesce this one time, but the sound of hooves on the packed dirt road drew his attention away before he could give her an answer. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed Leo, his ancient tome cradled in the crook of his arm.

"Your stupidity must have some limits, Nerr. You know full well retreat is not an option."

"Gods, Leo! Why would you say that!? Keep your mouth shut- you are not helping!"

"I'm not trying to help you, sister. At least, not with your silly, pacifist ideals. If we retreat, the Hoshidans might get it into their heads that we're afraid of them. Or, what's worse, that we somehow dragged you away against your will. This is our chance to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you chose Nohr of your own volition. For the people to realize that even their princess doesn't believe in their country? Ha, this war will be won before it's even begun."

"Leo is right, dearest." Camilla, once more sitting high in her saddle, flew over to stand (metaphorically) besides her young brother. "We're not the ones in the wrong here, in terms of the war or you. Why should we run away when we are the righteous ones? We will fight for you, and we will win, because we love you more than those filthy savages ever could." Nerr shook her head, stunned into silence. Did they really not understand what she was talking about? Did they even hear her, or was the siren call of glory in battle too much for them to resist? Elise, back atop her own palfrey, trotted up as well, behind her elder siblings, but closer to the forefront than an unarmed child should be.

"You don't have to be scared, big sis! You're not alone anymore. We're all here with you, and everything's going to be A-okay now! Just sit back and let Camilla and Leo and Xander take care of everything- we'll be home in time for dinner!" Their battle lust had even infected Elise, who, for so long, they had been trying to keep away from the killing fields. It was deplorable, but it seemed that resisting the tide accomplished nothing but to exhaust her.

"Gods... is this what you really want? To fight over me- to fight for nothing?"

"They will die for nothing, to be sure." Ryouma had been so quiet, Nerr had almost forgotten he was there. He looked past her, his loathing now directed at her siblings. "If you mean to fight, Nohrian pawns, then fight! Soon, you will be nothing but a stain on my Raijinto... Hinoka! Takumi! Sakura! We will drive these barbarians back once and for all! Are you ready?" The eldest princess of Hoshido had since hopped back into her saddle, one hand on her steed's reins, the other tightly gripping her long, curved halberd, low flames licking it's blade. When she spoke, her voice sounded tight and hoarse, as if she had been crying.

"I was born ready! I'll die before I let some Nohrian scum take Nerrida from us again!" Takumi seemed much less upset. As she met his gaze for the briefest moment, his eyes narrowed, the disgust and hatred there even stronger than Ryouma's.

"There will be no mercy... We will avenge Mother's death, and kill anyone who dares get in out way. Especially traitors..."

"I-I'll help too! I'll d-do my b-best!" Sakura's stuttering made it difficult to understand just what she was saying, but unfortunately, Nerr understood her next, sniffling whisper all too clearly. "P-please, nee-sama... c-come back to us..." The guilt came back, a crushing, unbearable weight, and the Nohrian princess was tempted to call out to the young Hoshidan girl, to tell her it would be alright... But Xander's voice, loud and strong, kept her in place as he called out to the Hoshidan royals as well.

"Fools, all of you, to think we will let you tear our sister away from us once more. You have my pity, but unfortunately, my blade Siegfried knows naught of pity- only triumph. You will rue the day you dared take what is ours. Brother! Sisters! Prepare for battle!" As if on cue, Ryouma charged again, aiming for Nerr. It seemed that he truly intended to kill her if she would not return. Beside her, her brother's destrier reared up on it's hind legs as Xander held his blade aloft. With a crack like lightning, a beam of blood red magic shot from the stone in it's guard. The Hoshidan prince threw himself out of the way, the ground where he had been standing only seconds before a smoking crater, the grass around it scorched. He had been thrown off guard for a but a moment, but it was enough.

Xander took Nerr's hand and with a mighty tug, pulled her atop his steed. It was an odd feeling, as she tried to adjust her position so the saddle was not digging into her thighs. The princess was used to riding with another; most of her experiences on horseback had been with Gunther, more often than not leaning against his back as they trotted around the perimeter of the fortress (technically, they were supposed to be on guard duty, but more often than not, the soothing rhythm lulled her to sleep). But Caractacus was much larger than Asmodeus, and there had been enough space for two people. As she and Xander retreated back towards the river, it was horribly cramped. Nerr tried to hop down, preferring to run on her own feet, but her elder brother held her in place, one arm wrapped around her waist as he guided the reins with his free hand. It seemed the water was much deeper on the Nohrian side, the current so fast it was possible even for a horse to be swept away. There was not much space on the inlet, and it would not take Ryouma long at all to catch up to them.

"What now, Xander?"

"Oh, don't worry about that, darlings; mommy's here!" Camilla had swooped over to where they were, divided by the river. For a moment, Nerr wondered if she intended to fly them over to safety; that would be fine and dandy for the two humans, but what about poor Asmodeus? Fortunately, it seemed the eldest princess had other plans. She landed her wyvern on the opposite bank and raised her hand high. Tendrils of energy surged from the earth, collecting in her open palm. With a brief smile, Camilla directed the accumulated energy to the river. A blast of flames hit the water, but rather than be extinguished as one would expect, the flames grew wider and wider, spreading over the water's surface, sinking into it, all the way down to the riverbed. Within seconds, the water had evaporated, leaving a thick cloud of hot steam. Nerr coughed, finding the moist air hard to breathe. She could barely see a hand in front of her face, but Xander seemed to maneuver well enough. Asmodeus broke into a full gallop as they headed for the cover of the trees that grew near the bank.

"Good work, Camilla. I'd much rather force our enemies to come to us, rather than be trapped at their mercy."

"Think nothing of it, dear brother. I'm not worried about you- I know you can hold your own, but that's precious cargo you're clutching so tightly there." It was true; Xander grip on her waist had grown even tighter. If there was not a sheet of metal between them, it would've been painful. Finally noticing what he was doing, the prince released her, much to her relief, and she finally slid off the saddle. Xander's voice sounded almost sheepish as he spoke.

"Forgive me, sister. I was just worried that dastard would attack you as your back was turned. The Hoshidans are masters of underhanded battle techniques."

"It's fine, Xander." It really wasn't; Ryouma was still heading towards them, and judging by the sound of flapping coming closer, so was Hinoka, Takumi probably hot on their heels. The thought of facing them head on made Nerr sick to her stomach, but it was a necessary evil. Xander nodded, taking her at her word. He would inevitably pry further later, but there was no time for that at present.

"Good. You stay here, where it's safe. I don't trust those savages not to kill you just to make a point. Camilla and I will face them head on." Whipping at their reins, Nerr's eldest siblings took off, where the opposing forces were beginning to collide.

She readjusted her grip on the Yato, taking a moment to make sure her dragonstone was still tucked away safely. She wondered if Azura would try to face her too; she had said she would follow Nerr onto the battlefield, but she seemed to have mysteriously vanished. The Nohrian princess prayed they would not meet; the Hoshidan royals were a wild card, but there was no doubt in her mind that she would rend the songstress to shreds if she so much as breathed on the other woman. As she was trying to calm her breathing, waiting for the inevitable, a pleasantly familiar voice called out to her.

"Milady!" Feeling her heart thud painfully, Nerr turned to see Jakob pushing through the brush to catch up with her. His normally pristine uniform was torn and dusty and there were leaves in his hair, which was coming undone, but as he reached her, his ever-present smile belayed that anything was wrong. "Oh, milady, there you are. I am ecstatic to find you alive and well. I apologize for the delay, and will take whatever reprimand you see fit."

"Repri- what? What are you talking about, what are you doing here? Gods, Jakob, what happened?!" Sighing, the butler bowed deeply, as they they were back in the citadel, not awaiting battle.

"Sincerest apologies, Lady Nerr. I have been searching for you since we got separated at the Chasm. That wretched old man took off with you so fast, I couldn't keep up. When I got to the fort on the other side of the bridge, you weren't there, so I assumed the two of you had already started descending the cliff face. I was about to make my way down when someone ambushed me, Hoshidans no doubt. When I came to, Princess Elise was tending my wounds, and your siblings said that you were nowhere to be found." His normally chipper expression dimmed, and it deems as if a great cloud hung over him. "I-I feared the worst... All this time, I have been berating myself for not properly protecting. I have failed as your retainer-"

"You've failed nothing, Jakob. It's fine. I'm fine." She was lying, of course, she was far from fine, but a small voice in her head told her be kind. Lying was the greatest kindness she could show, and to prove her point, she forced herself to smile. Taking heart from this, Jakob's smile returned as well.

"You are most gracious, milady. I beg you, allow me one more chance to prove myself. This time, I will keep you safe, or I will die trying."

Nerr's heart clenched painfully at those words. Yes, it was a retainer's duty to die for their liege if need be, but the very thought of it made her eyes sting. She did not want another retainer dying because of her. She was about to say as much when a loud neighing broke her train of though. Hinoka was quickly approaching their makeshift stronghold, Takumi sitting in the saddle behind her. Nerr breathed deeply, knowing it was best to face them head on, but hating it all the same. Sighing, she slowly approached the riders, keeping the forest to her back. The pegasus' powerful wings kicked up clouds of dust, choking her.

As she squinted through the haze, she saw Takumi jump down, his bow in hand. At first, she wondered just what she was looking at, for the bow, aside form being strangely carved, was not stringed. Even so, he pulled back on it as if he were firing, despite the fact that he held no arrows either. But before her eyes, the bow glowed faintly. She could just make out a thin line in his fingers, stretching as he pulled them back, a large, deadly-looking arrow materializing from the air as well. Her younger brother's hair and clothes rustled slightly, as if being blown back, and that was when Nerr realized thatwasn't just materializing from the air- it was the air, air made solid. Takumi fired, the strange arrow whizzing past her and hitting one of the trees behind her. With a gust of wind, the trunk exploded as if it had been hit with a ballista.

"Hmph. Can't believe I missed." Takumi's eyes were narrowed to slits, his mouth twisted into a hate-filled grimace. "I guess the shock of my own sister proving herself to be a traitor is throwing me off my game. Don't worry; I'll aim true this time."

"I am not a traitor; if Ryouma had just let me leave-"

"Don't blame my brother for your traitorous ways, Nohrian scum. The only way any of this could've been avoided was if anyone had had any sense and executed you from the start, like we normally do with Nohrians. But I won't make my brother's mistake- I'll take great pleasure in giving you a traitor's death." For a moment, Nerr wondered how the other boy would react if he knew that Ryouma had threatened her with execution at their first meeting, and it was only Empress Mikoto's intervention that stopped him.

But there was no time to think of sad leaps of fate. Takumi was once again readying his arrows, and Nerr knew that this time, he would not miss. Unfortunately for him, the prince underestimated the vigorous training Nohrian soldiers went through. She ran towards him, throwing him off guard, and right before he left fly his arrow, she threw herself to the ground, curling up tightly and rolling. There was a loud blast as his arrow hit another poor tree, but before he could ready another, Nerr was back on her feet, swinging the Yato. It was not as heavy as Ganglari had been and thus, would not do as much damage, but it was easier to maneuver. The flat edge of the blade struck him in the ribs and he stumbled back, doubling over in pain.

"That was a practice blow, Takumi. I can hurt you if I try, but I don't want to do that, so why don't you just go home?" The young prince snarled at her, his eyes manic.

"I don't have a home anymore, thanks to you. You destroyed everything! You killed my mother! And now, I'll kill you!" With faster hands than she expected, Takumi fired his bow once more, to quickly for her to dodge. The arrow hit her full on. But unlike normal arrows, which would've bounced off, or at least been partially blocked by her armor, the enchanted wind seemed to pass straight through the metal, sinking into her flesh as if she wore nothing. Pain ripped through her, and she let out a scream of agony. It was as if a dagger had been driven between her ribs, only much worse. There was no hilt, no shaft with which to pull the projectile out- it felt as if the magic were being absorbed into her body, tearing through her like razors.

Nerr stumbled back, leaning against one of the ravaged trees, making herself a perfect target. Takumi saw this too, and smiled cruelly as he took aim once more. This time would kill her... or it would have, had the ground beneath his feet not started shaking violently. He dropped his bow, the arrow and bowstring fading once more to the air from which they were made, as he tried to keep his balance. It was in vain, however, as razor sharp saplings erupted from the ground, sending clods of earth through the air. Takumi cried out loudly as the branches tore bleeding gashes across his body. It was only by sheer luck that he had not been impaled by the twisting trees, but they'd done enough damage. As they retreated back into the earth, the Hoshidan prince collapsed, breathing hard as he bled out. Leo rode up, looking haughty as ever atop his own destrier. It was strange for Nerr to see that arrogant look not directed at her, and she was grateful for that, because his deep brown eyes were dark with contempt.

"How pitiful. I had hoped that Hoshidan royalty would be a bit more durable than that, but I see I stand corrected. I suggest you take my sister's advice and run back home with your tail between your legs, because I won't miss next time... any vital organs, that is." Takumi coughed in the dust, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he tried to push himself back to his feet.

"You think I'm scared of you, Nohrian dog? I'll kill you all!" He reached for his bow again, and Leo heaved a long-suffering sigh.

"Some people just don't know when they're beat. I see where you get it from, Nerr." Leo raised his hand to direct the flow of magic, his tome glowing faintly in the dusk. Nerr remembered what Leo had said about his magic a while back, that if he wanted to kill someone with it, there'd be nothing left. The thought of such a cruel fate befalling her brother who's only true crime was having her as a sister was painful, but sadly, she knew this was a 'them or us' situation. Takumi would not stop until she was dead, and then he would turn his hatred on the rest of her family, if not all Nohrians. Just as the earth began to shake again, a large white blur swooped down, pulling the archer out of the way just as the vivid foliage began cresting the dirt. Hinoka had saved him, dragging him to safety, though she dropped him back to the ground none too gently.

"What's wrong with you, Takumi? I told you call for help if you were outnumbered! I'm trying to thin out the ranks, and you're trying to get yourself killed!"

"I was doing just fine no my own."

"Not from where I'm standing." Leo called out, in that arrogant, know-it-all tone that drove Nerr crazy. She could only imagine what it was doing to Takumi. "If you're not going to run away, you'd best hide behind your sister's skirt."

"That's it!" Surprisingly, it was Hinoka this time, not her younger brother, who exclaimed. "No Nohrian scum will insult the royal family, no matter how highborn that scum is!" Adjusting the grip on her lance, the flames encircling the blade now roaring, she pulled on the reins, directing her pegasus straight for Leo. "My Ameteratsu will teach you some manners!" He balked slightly, unleashing another magic blow, but it was not nearly as effective as it had been in the past. The snowy beast whinnied in pain as the tops of the tress cut across it's legs, but Hinoka was a skilled rider, and aimed her steed higher, avoiding the majority of the damage. She swooped back down, like a shadow of death, raking her blade across Leo's chest, cinders and sparks showering across him. The younger boy cried out, nearly falling out of his saddle, but managing to hang on.

Had she been facing a Hoshidan warrior, or one of the Faceless monstrosities, Hinoka's attack would've been far more damaging, but it seemed she was still inexperienced when it came to fully armored Nohrians. Unfortunately, this was a bad time for a new learning experience. Whilst she'd watched her brothers battle (with words more than actual fighting, but still), Jakob had dashed over, apologizing profusely as he waved his heal stave over her. The pain in her ribs had died down to a phantom ache, and she was ready to step out into combat once more. Even though Leo's armor protected him, he would get worn down eventually, and his attacks were growing more and more ineffective. Her brother had stepped in to protect her, now she had to return the favor. As Hinoka brought her spear down once more, Nerr dashed out, Jakob fast behind her, swinging her sword hard against the steel shaft. The flames died out as it was knocked aside. Hinoka looked down at her in bafflement, shaking her head in a mindless, subconscious denial.

"Nerrida?! What in all the hells do you think you're doing?! Betraying us for Nohr, raising your blade against your flesh and blood... have you lost your mind?!"

"No, Hinoka; I am far from crazy. I fact, I'm thinking straighter than I have in weeks. Which is why I ask you, just as I asked Takumi, to stand down." The redheaded princess whimpered slightly, as if Nerr's words had physically wounded her.

"This isn't possible..." She muttered to herself, inaudible to everyone but Nerr. "This just... this can't be... They tricked you, didn't they?!" She raised her voice to an almost hysteric scream. "This is- This is some kind of Nohrian brainwashing, they're controlling you!"

"No, sister-"

"Yes! They're turning you against us!" The Nohrian girl winced as her elder sister' voice broke and she dissolved into tears. Leo had been right; the Hoshidans would not believe she hadn't been coerced away or controlled by some dark force unless she proved it to them. It was made all the more painful to raise her sword against someone weeping so miserably over her, but it would have to be done. 'I'm sorry, Hinoka...' She thought as she took aim. 'Better I be dead to you, so you can grieve and move on...' It took a bit of a running leap to reach the other woman, but she was able to get high enough to land a solid blow against the Hoshidan princess. The flat of the blade hit her across the shoulders, knocking her back, off the saddle. There was a loud snap as she hit the ground, like a branch breaking, and Hinoka cried out loud, clutching her arm, which now bent in the wrong place.

"Gods damn it!" She cursed through clenched teeth.

"I'm sorry, Hinoka. But you need to stay down. Don't make Takumi's mistake." With watery eyes the same shade of crimson as Nerr's, the older woman looked up at her, panting from the pain.

"Why are you doing this? Ryouma won't forgive you for this, you know that!" Ice coursed through Nerr's veins at the thought of the prince. His callousness, his hateful words...

"I don't need his forgiveness." While Hinoka's attention was focused on her sister, and distracted by pain, Jakob snuck up behind her, striking her across the back of the head with the hilt of his dagger.

"It's time for you to sleep now, princess." He spat sardonically as she went limp. Meeting Nerr's eyes, he looked down, a bit shamefaced. "Forgive me, milady. I know you don't like excessive violence-"

"It's fine. That's one less soldier for us to worry about. Besides..." She gingerly brushed the back of her own head. While it no longer hurt, the memory of the pain was enough to make her cringe. "Hoshidans could use a taste of their own medicine. Leo." She looked back over to her brother. "Do you see anyone else?" From his saddle, the young prince had a better vantage than she or Jakob. He scanned the battlefield which, though chaotic, did not seem like an all-out war. There were small bands of soldiers from each side entangled in skirmishes, blades flashing and blood soaking into the earth accompanied with battle cries and death screams, but the chaotic scene not nearly as horrible as it could've been. At least, that was what Leo told her.

"I think I see Xander and Camilla."

"Are they alright?"

"They're trying to hold back that Prince Ryouma, I think. Gods, that lunatic is cutting a swathe through our soldiers!" Nerr's fists clenched tightly. He was doing this to get back at her, she knew it. Steeling herself, she pushed past her brother, running towards the open field. The tough grass and sharp stones cut her feet, and the dusty air reeked of blood, but she pushed down her discomfort. She would not let anyone else die for her. There was a thunder of galloping hooves behind her, and she looked over her shoulder to see Leo fast catching up to her, Jakob right behind him.

"What are you doing, Nerr?! Could you be any stupider, running headlong into battle?"

"Lady Nerr, please, slow down! I can't protect you if I can't keep up with you!"

"No! You two stay back; I'm the one he wants!" Nerr shouted at them before turning her attention back to the impending battle. She put on a burst of speed; it wouldn't have been enough to outrun a horse under normal circumstances, but they now had to contend with weaving between the warring soldiers, an easier task on foot than horseback. As she dodged and ducked, Nerr made an effort to knock aside any Hoshidan she ran past. Always with the flat of her blade, never the edge. It should've instilled her with guilt to attack her own countrymen, but it truth, watching the Nohrian lancers, most of whom she knew to be rookies, newly appointed into the knighthood, fall to the ground bloody and screaming, hurt her so much more. Nohr was her country, and so she had an obligation to help the soldiers she connected with in her heart, not the ones her lineage dictated she should.

She stopped short as she came across a clearing, just before the bridge spanning the still dry river. There had been many soldiers there before; the only reason it was a clearing now was because they all lay on the ground, dead and dying, Nohrian and Hoshidan alike. Ryouma and Xander circled one another, their holy swords marred with the blood of their enemies.

"You have breathed your last, prince of Hoshido..." Xander hissed, his voice mingling with the groans of the injured.

"I will not allow a filthy Nohrian to sully my honor!" Ryouma spat, making the first move and charging forward. Xander let loose another darkness charged beam, but this time the Hoshidan prince was ready for it. He sidestepped the blast, never losing momentum. His blade crackled loudly as he drew near, out for blood. It would've been split too, had Nerr not charged forward, pulling out her dragonstone as she did so. She did not know what to do, but fortunately, the draconic blood within her did not need instruction.

As she ran, she felt the power surge within her, not burning hot the way it had the first two times; this time was much calmer, not nearly as painful. Even the transformation itself was not the sheer agony she'd expected it to be. It hurt, to be sure, but was over so quickly, she had no time to dwell on the pain. On all fours now, she ran forward, covering more distance than she thought she could, and throwing the full bulk of her new, massive body against Ryouma. They hit the ground together, a sprawling mass of limbs and wings. Behind her, Xander exclaimed in shock, but she paid him no mind. Trying to get to her feet (made all the harder by how long they were), Nerr stood over her blood brother. As he came to his senses, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Nerrida... how could you?" The princess didn't know how she could communicate to anyone in this form- she didn't even have lips, only a gaping, unhinging jaw. Closing her eyes, she let her head droop, wishing she could convey her thoughts to him.

'I'm sorry, Ryouma, but I have to do what I have to do to protect my family...'

"We are your family!" Her eyes snapped open. He was responding to her, to what she had said... or rather, thought. His face was, strangely, no longer so hateful, misery darkening his features instead. It was strange- she had grown used to seeing the high prince infuriated by something or other. "Do not allow them to fool you a moment longer! There's still time... Repent and come back to your true family, where you belong!" That struck a nerve, a painful one. Repent, as if she had done something wrong... Wrong in not abandoning the people who raised her, wrong in not cutting down the soldiers who'd protected her, the family who loved her... She could just imagine going back to Hoshido- living with Takumi's hateful glares, Hinoka's anti-Nohrian slander... It was hard to imagine Ryouma allowing her any sort of freedom, even to go outside unaccompanied, for fear that she would try to escape (which, to be honest, she would). It sounded no different from her life in Nohr, if only so much worse.

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Ryouma- I AM where I belong. WITH my true family." Grinding his teeth, Ryouma reached for his blade. He could not strike her with it, not at the angle he was laying at, but it appeared he didn't need to. Much like Xander's Sigfried, it seemed the sword was able to discharge it's energy from afar. The ever familiar sensation of being set ablaze from within overtook her, but it was muted this time, as if the pain were being felt through a barrier. It took a moment for her to realize that her scales and tough hide must've been protecting her, and Ryouma seemed to realize it too. Paling as he realized his normal attack wasn't as debilitating as it had been, the samurai rolled out from under her, trying to put distance between himself and the dragon. Gripping his sword, he fixed her with a hard stare.

"I see you won't be dissuaded, Nerrida. It pains me more than you can possibly know-"

"No it doesn't. Don't you lie to me and say 'this hurts me more than it hurts you'..."

"Believe what you will, sister, but I do what is best for my family and my country, so you leave me with no choice but to drag you back to Hoshido by force!"

She was too slow in this large, unwieldy form to dodge, so she braced herself, absorbing the force of his blow. It hurt, though not as much as the wyrmslayer. And now that Ryouma was close, she could strike back. Nerr swung her head, sharp horns cutting through whatever resistance they met- flesh, cloth, even leaving deep gouges on his crimson armor. Groaning in pain, the older man pulled back, but he had no time to so much as blink before another attack knocked him to the ground. A fireball whizzed past Nerr's head, exploding in a blast of flames as it struck the prince's breastplate. He cried out, dropping to one knee as he tried to put out the flames that threatened to engulf him. Dust billowed around them, kicked up by huge, leathery wings. Camilla landed beside her, clutching a fire tome to her bosom.

"That's you, isn't it, dearest? I thought I heard you arguing with that mean man, but when I looked, I didn't know what I was seeing."

"Yes, Camilla. It's me."

"Goodness! This is new. But you're still adorable..." It seemed that only Camilla could make remarks like that on the battlefield and not see anything strange or inappropriate. Nerr wanted to tell her now was not the place or time for coddling, but the smell of burning hair and the increasing groans of pain were too distracting for her to think of anything.

"Camilla, put him out."

"No."

"What? What do you mean, 'no'?"

"This vile miscreant said some very hurtful things to you; being roasted alive will teach him to think before he speaks."

"Camilla, this is madness. Please, put him out!" The older woman sighed, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Oh, my sweet baby Nerr. So innocent, so kind... Okay, I'll let this cur live, but only because I don't want you to be sad." The older princess clenched her hand as if crushing something, and at once, the last remnants of the smoldering flames died out. Ryouma fell to the ground, breathing hard, his clothes burned away in places, revealing blistering skin beneath. Xander approached, looking down at the other prince with thinly veiled contempt.

"It would be best to kill him now, and save ourselves further grief down the road." Closing her eyes, Nerr forced herself to relax. She didn't like this draconic form- everything was too strong; noises, scents, emotions. It felt as if rage would consume her at any moment, rage at the world, the war, everything. As she breathed deeply, she felt her body grow smaller, weaker, but calmer. Standing back on two feet, her hand unclenched around the stone. It seemed to absorb into her when she transformed, restoring her power. She looked up at Xander, the way his own hand tightened around the hilt of his sword not going unnoticed.

"Could you live with yourself after doing such a thing, brother? Could you live with the shame of knowing you killed a man who couldn't fight back, that you took his kingdom by shady means? Why not just forsake your knight's oath and and become an assassin." The blonde prince glared down at her, his brows furrowing tighter.

"You should speak with more respect to the crown prince of Nohr, little princess."

"You should grow accustomed to hearing the truth, brother. You won't always be surrounded by father's sycophants." For a long while he was silent. When finally he spoke, his voice was quieter.

"Your words do ring true, but I find it hard to believe they are coming from my little sister. What happened to you in our absence, Nerr?" She bit the inside of her cheek, knowing she would have to tell him sooner or later. A loud clanking from behind them served as a gratifying distraction, and all three royals turned to see the Hoshidan tactician riding atop the strangest animal Nerr had ever seen. It walked with the herky-jerky movement of a spider, it's jaw opening and closing without stop. Upon second glance, it became clear that it was not an animal at all, but some kind of mechanized gadget. Two swords and an ax were aimed at him, but rather than shout some hateful battle cry, the older man sighed, despondent.

"So here we are. You have returned to us, but with a blade in hand, ready to cut down your own subjects..."

"I would cut down no one if you'd just leave me in peace." Frowning, Yukimura looked past her, his eyes widening behind their dusty lenses as he caught sight of Ryouma.

"Ryouma-sama! What have you monsters done?!"

"Nii-sama?!" For the first time, Nerr noticed that the tactician was not alone. Sitting behind him, Sakura clenched her staff so tight it looked ready to snap in half. She jumped off the oversized puppet, blindly running towards her fallen brother, but Yukimura reached out quickly to pull her back.

"Princess, no, it's dangerous!" Nerr was reminded bitterly of Ryouma shouting those same words to Azura. She's dangerous, that's what they meant. The young princess gasped as tears flowed down her cheeks, dripping onto her now dirty robes.

"B-but I have to d-do something...!" She wailed. The sound of crying set Nerr's teeth on edge, and she looked up at her brother, willing him to do something to stop it. Setting his face as if in stone, Xander lowered his sword.

"You may heal your prince. Heal your soldiers, but take them all back to your country and cease these hostilities at once."

"Yes, alright!"

"Sakura-sama-"

"No!" with a surprising amount of force despite her wet cheeks, Sakura shouted Yukimura down. "Our soldiers are wounded, Ryouma nii-sama is wounded- I don't even know what's happened to Hinoka nee-sama and Takumi nii-sama..."

"They're fine." Nerr supplied, her voice low. "Wounded, but alive."

"See? Nohr's forces keep coming... we can't take them on. Please, Yukimura-san, we have to pull back..." It seemed as if the tactician was having a horrible internal struggle, one that he lost given the way his shoulders slumped.

"You are right, princess. Very well, we concede to your demands, prince of Nohr, provided you allow us to retreat." Xander nodded mutely, moving Asmodeus to the side to allow them access to Ryouma's battered body. Nerr had thought the prince was unconscious, but as Yukimura lifted him onto the puppet mount's back, he groaned deeply. His eyes, glazed in pain, opened a crack and met with hers. His voice was hoarse and tight.

"This... This isn't over... Nerrida..." It seemed he did pass out as Sakura began waving her staff over him, sniffling all the while. As if leading a pack mule, Yukimura steered his automaton back towards the clearing, pausing as he passed Nerr.

"I suppose it is safe to assume you have no intention of returning to Hoshido."

"None whatsoever. Nohr is my home. It's where I belong."

"How very upsetting. It would've broken Mikoto-sama's heart to see this." Sighing deeply, the older man reached under his glasses to wipe away the moisture there. "Then again, knowing Mikoto-sama, she may have just smiled and said, 'It is her path to choose'..."

"You clearly don't know your empress, Sir Yukimura. She'd have said that, then the moment I chose the path that isn't Hoshido, she'd have sent her goons after me, just as she did every time before." He was steely eyed as he looked down at her.

"You will return to Hoshido one day, princess, mark my words. Ryouma-sama will not allow this travesty to stand." Landing her wyvern, Camilla moved to stand beside Nerr, resting a possessive hand on her shoulder.

"You had your chance to win her over. You failed. So I suggest you put these silly notions of getting her back to rest, because Nohrians don't take kindly to people who try and take what's ours. And we generally tend to kill people we don't take kindly to." Given that the elder princess was flexing her fingers around the handle of a very bloody, very heavy ax, it seemed the tactician realized it would be wiser to err on the side of caution.

Sighing deeply, and fixing Nerr with one final, rebuking stare, he took his leave. Sakura's gaze, singular of all her siblings, was not harsh. Though her tears fell thick and heavy, the young girl managed a small, watery smile, before she returned to healing Ryouma's wounds. That smile felt like a punch to the gut, and once the royals were out of sight, Nerr collapsed against Camilla's side, a physical ache in her stomach, along with a growing pain in her head. At once, the older Nohrian woman flew into a panic, and Xander dismounted as well, taking a knee as he approached her, his face a mask of concern.

"Nerr. Are you alright?"

"I... I..." Groaning, the young princess closed her eyes, letting her voice trail off. "It doesn't matter. Is it over?" His brotherly demeanor falling to the side as his hardened-general personal came out, the crown prince once more got to this feet.

"This battle? Yes, the Hoshidans are pulling back. But the war is not over, not by a long shot. In fact, your actions may have just drawn it out even longer. We could've seized the capital easily, Nerr. If we had struck now, there would've been minimal resistance, minimal loss. Now that you've given them a chance to regroup, they can come at us with more troops, blitz attacks- honestly, sister, what were you thinking?" Opening her eyes, and feeling as if she had just been woken from a deep sleep, Nerr fixed her gaze on Xander.

"Why are we doing this, Xander?"

"What?"

"This war, why are we fighting so desperately to conquer Hoshido?"

"Oh no, not this now..." Camilla, who had been stroking Nerr's hair, groaned softly, shaking her head. "Nerr, you know perfectly well what the answer's going to be; you don't need to get all worked up when you're not feeling well."

"I'm never feeling well any more, Camilla. And I want to know from our one-day king why he fights." Xander's eyes were clouded with a strange emotion she couldn't place, one she had never seen her brother exhibit. His voice, however, was the usual stern, chiding tone he often took when she went on her 'why?' tangents.

"I fight for the same reason you fight, Nerr. For the same reason we all fight; it is what the king wishes. And it is not a soldier's place to question." The princess frowned deeply. Her sister was right; that was what she had been expecting him to say. For years, that had been his answers to many questions; why she had to be isolated, why she had to study and train, why she had no control over her life. For years, she had accepted those answers, accepted them because the king was her father, because his reasons must have been just, because everything he did was for the good of the people. But with her small taste for freedom, she was discovering too much evidence to the contrary.

"Spoken like a true loyalist, Xander. And you're right; it's not a soldier's place to question the king's orders. But it is a human's place to question inhumanity."

"What are you talking about, Nerr?"

"I know war is not pleasant. I know people have to get hurt... But not innocent people for no reason! Gods, I almost wish I had let you seize the Hoshidan capital, just so you could see with your own eyes the destruction I bore witness to. Or would you just look upon the corpses of little children with no remorse and declare, 'it is what the king wishes'?"

For a long time, the two siblings stared at each other, neither backing down. Then, slowly, Xander's harsh gaze softened, his stiff posture breaking down just a bit. Sheathing his sword, he reached down and pulled Nerr to her feet. For the first time, she realized that she stood only about a head shorter than him, if not even less. It was strange; for so many years, she'd had to crane her neck to meet his eyes, but now, she could look into their violet depths with no effort. There was turmoil in them, she noticed, and uncertainty. Were those new emotions in the steadfast Nohrian knight, or had they always been there, just hidden from view.

"What happened in Hoshido, Nerr?" Taking a deep breath, Nerr began to talk, narrating what had happened from the time they'd been separated. The entire time, Xander listened in silence, his face mostly impassive, though at times his perpetual frown deepened, like when she talked about the Faceless, or how Hans said their father orchestrated the attack at the border. It was agony, reliving the hell that had been the last two weeks in detail, and at first she had even considered not mentioning Gunther's death, though in the end, she felt it would be prudent to explain what happened, so that when she disemboweled Hans in front of witnesses, no one could say it was unprovoked.

In the end, the only part of the tale she kept to herself was the recollection of her memories, more specifically, that she recalled in horrid detail the way King Garon had executed Emperor Sumeragi. There was a small part of Nerr that believed that Xander would not even listen to such slander against his father. When she was done, the young woman felt hollow, as if she had been purged of every emotion and sensation within her. Closing her eyes, she ran her thumb over the grooves in Yato's hilt, committing the details to memory. Her brother was so quiet for so long that she wondered if he wouldn't just brush off her tale as Hoshidan brainwashing. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her to his chest. Her eyes snapped open in shock, and she looked up tentatively to see that his were closed.

"I'm so sorry, sister. I am so sorry you've had to experience so much hardship with no time to prepare, no time to grieve... I wish I could have been with you, to protect you from these things, or at least to give you comfort and strength."

"You believe me?" It seemed almost too easy, she had convinced herself that she would be brushed off. Pulling back just a bit, though keeping her locked in his embrace, Xander looked down at her.

"Were it anyone else, I would decry your tale as slander and lies." Just as she had assumed. "But I know you, Nerr. And I have never known you to lie, certainly not about something as important as this. I do not understand why these things have happened... but if you say they did, then they did, and I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this." He began muttering to himself that there had to be some explanation, it had to be some sort of misunderstanding, but Nerr didn't care to listen anymore.

She leaned back against Xander's chest, his armor still warm from the setting sun. She was back home, with her family, relatively safe from the Hoshidans but... truly, she felt no better than when she had been in Hoshidan custody. She was no longer a Nohrian princess, for, although she loved her country, she was a Hoshidan by birth. And she could not claim to be a Hoshidan princess, not now she had turned her back on Hoshido in favor of the country she grew up in. She felt as if she had been cast out into the open sea with no shore to swim to. She wished desperately that she could just go back to the Northern Citadel, but quickly remembered that there could be no more happy memories there either.

000

The sun had set by the time all the Hoshidan soldiers had returned to the capital, the many wounded and dead being dragged back by their able-bodied companions. Nerr hadn't seen Takumi or Hinoka being taken back, but that was mostly because she'd had her back turned to the battlefield. On the Nohrian side, many of their troops were wounded as well, but there were not as many casualties. Elise had volunteered to help treat the wounded, and Nerr sent Jakob along to help her, growing weary of his hovering. She appreciated his concern, but she wanted to be alone with her thoughts for a bit- besides, she hadn't broken the news of Gunther's fate to him yet, and wasn't looking forward to his reaction. He would be utterly devastated, she knew that much- the butler was the only person who'd known him as long as she had, after all.

Sighing and drawing her knees to her chest, she rested her head on them. Without thinking, she began humming, and it took a while before she realized she was humming the melody to the song she'd heard Azura sing those times. As she continued humming, under her breath so no one could hear her over the general chatter of the makeshift camp, an odd feeling deja vu struck her. She'd heard that song somewhere before, a long long time ago, or at least, another song with the same melody. Maybe it had been a lullaby- she could just vaguely remember the feeling of being held, but by who? It seemed like a face, or the memory of a face, was forming in her mind, but before she could clearly see who it was, a quiet voice called out to her.

"Nerr..." Opening her eyes, the princess looked around, but no one was paying any attention to her. About to close them again, the voice called out once more, slightly louder, more insistent. "Nerrida!" This time, Nerr recognized it at once, for who else but a Hoshidan would call her that? Or a Nohrian who lived in Hoshido... Getting to her feet, her joints stiff and painful from sitting on the cold ground, Nerr headed towards the edge of the camp. Once the sound of people talking and carrying on faded to a minimum, she was able to see a lone figure standing on the bridge that separated Nohr from Hoshido. Azura's long hair billowed in the growing wind, and judging by her dress, which was still as clean and white as it had been before they'd left the capital, it seemed unlikely that she'd seen any active battle.

"Nerr..."

"Azura. Where have you been hiding?"

"Hinoka... told me to stay back. So... you're really leaving us?" Despite her earlier gratitude, the songstress was once again grating her nerves with that attitude. Leaving us? Her eyes narrowed.

"Yes, Azura. Yes, I'm leaving you, if you're including yourself in the Hoshidan populace. I thought I made that clear a week ago when I tried to leave repeatedly." The other woman shook her head slightly.

"I can't believe you're really doing this. I thought... I thought that was just a fight-or-flight response. I never dreamed you would actually run away from your family-"

"I'm running to my family, let's get that straight, madam." There was silence between them, only the trees rustling in the wind and the faint gurgle of the river as water began trickling down it's slope once more. When it seemed like there was nothing left for either of them to say and Nerr was about to turn and head back to camp, Azura finally opened her mouth once more.

"Are you sure about this, Nerr? Once done, it cannot be undone." And, like she always seemed to, the songstress struck a nerve. Gritting her teeth, Nerr stormed onto the bridge, her anger so evident that the other woman actually took a step back from her.

"Excuse me? What do you mean, it can't be 'undone'? What makes you think I want this to be 'undone'?"

"I only mean-"

"Oh, shut up Azura; I know what you mean! I'm choosing the wrong side, the evil side. I should've stayed stayed in Hoshido, the peaceful, bountiful land where everyone shits rainbows and puppies. I should've sided with my homeland, my true family, and I'm sure you have some big, condescending speech all planned out to tell me that, but you can spare me your sanctimonious drivel. I see you're not returning to your homeland, you've turned your back on your true family. They're right over there!" Nerr jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, where the encampment was still visible.

"Don't you want to see your brothers and sisters; it's been fifteen years. Come on; I'll even introduce you." She reached out to take Azura's hand, but the other woman pulled away quickly, a hint of fear in her eyes. Nerr's face was set in a grim smile. "That's what I thought. And you feel you have any right to judge me..." Azura closed her eyes, looking very uncomfortable at having been called out. Scoffing quietly, Nerr turned away. "Go back to your family, Azura, and keep your judgments to yourself when I go back to mine."

"You know we will meet again, Nerr." The songstress remained where she was, taking no step in either direction. The Nohrian girl- Nohrian by choice, not blood- looked back one last time.

"You'd best pray we don't. I don't want to hurt someone who's done me a kindness, but I will show no mercy to enemies of my country; I've learned the hard way what that leads to." As she continued walking back towards camp, Nerr reached into her armor, pulling out her dragonstone and wrapping her fingers around it. She wondered if Azura would've passed on her mother's gift had she known it would be used against Hoshido. She wouldn't have, of course, but that didn't even bother her. The other woman was only doing what was right for her family, her country; a feeling Nerr knew only too well.

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A/N- Before you go on reading as I hope you do, I have one last thing to note- I have played all three games! I've played 'Revelation', I've played all the DLC- I know the story of the game and all the character's back stories and Freudian excuses inside and out. Some people seem to be under the impression that they need to explain these things to me. This is a fan's wishful interpretation told from the perspective of a character IN the game- there's going to be changes to the plot, Nerr doesn't know all the spoilers you do. Please, do not send reviews that only say, "Azura's not a traitor, she's -every Revelation spoiler-", or, "Ryouma's not a bad guy, he just -insert justification here-". Or, and this seems to be the favorite- "Nerr's a jerk!" Nerr is not Cornflakes- she's not the all-loving hero that every Fire Emblem lord ever has to be all the time. I find Corrin's incorruptible pureness, constant overwhelming niceness and childish mindset flat and unrealistic, and I wished the game gave the player choices so they didn't have to be like that. If you MUST point out how terrible you think she is, then please list reasons (reasons other than, "she's a mean to Azura and the other Hoshidans!"). I value honest critique above all else, but it helps to know why you like or dislike what you do. Thank you very much for reading.