And I'm back. Yeah, I've been pretty busy, writing a fanfiction for English class, test after test after test, and church. I'm sorry of any delays but I have to keep up my deadlines no matter what.
Ch.9: Traitor's Idiot:
Our two idiots, er, heroes finally arrived in Hoshido.
"Milord, Fort Jinya is up ahead. This fort is heavily defended, filled with with Hoshidan soldiers."
"Guess you could say the fort is *fortified*." Jojo laughed.
Everyone just stared at him and ignored him.
"Let's just try to reach out of them." Corrin said.
"Milord, pardon me, but didn't you say that you have been branded as a traitor to both Nohr and Hoshido?"
"Yes, but I feel like the Hoshidans will be more understanding than Nohrians."
"I see, in any case we should be ready for any conflict."
"The old man's right, Corrin." Jojo agreed
"Well, everyone be on guard then."
"Hello?" Corrin called out.
"Well," a voice called out. "You have some nerve showing up here, Lord Traitor." Silence… Yukimura looked at Azura. "The same goes for you Lady Azura. Everyone treated you like a true princess of Hoshido, yet you turned your back on all of us… Pains my heart, but I suppose you never truly thought of this kingdom as your home…"
"Hey, leave Corrin and Azura alone, they-" Corrin interrupted Jojo.
"What he means to say is that it was all a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?! First you betray Hoshido and then Prince Ryoma and Prince Takumi go missing. The fact that these two incidents happened around the same time is very concerning. The fact that the Nohrians have decided to attack without our current leader leads me to believe you had something to do with it. The fact that that child helpped you betray Hoshido is a problem!"
"What?! My brothers are missing?"
"Hmph, you dare call Prince Ryoma and Prince Takumi your siblings? You are truly something else." Yukimura shook his head.
"Listen if I could just-"
"Silence! I won't let you justify your betrayal."
"I'm sorry, but it seems like we may have to fight, Lord Corrin." Gunter said. "Everyone prepare for battle."
"Yukimura… please…"
Corrin felt a hand on his arm. "Corrin, he won't listen." Jojo said. "Come on, get ready."
"You're right." Corrin said. He looked back sadly.
"Corrin, beware he's Hoshido's tactician." Azura said.
"Thank you, Azura."
"The same goes for you, Justin. They have archers."
"Hmm… ranged units, huh?" Jojo pondered. "Corrin, how about we don't be careful?"
"What do you mean?"
Jojo face grew into a smile. "I have a plan."
"Um, Justin, I don't like this plan." Azura said.
"Trust me, he'll be fine." Jojo said proudly. "Easily my best plan yet."
"Justin, it's the first plan you have given us." Azura stated.
"You're right about the first," A smile grew on his face "For you." Jojo said and pulled out a tome. "Let's check up on our bait, shall we?"
Azura felt uncomfortable. "I suppose we should." This child was a strange one. "I just don't think-"
"Then don't. Don't think about it. I'll make sure that nothing goes wrong." Jojo smiled. "Trust me." He peered over the fort's front wall. He saw Corrin stand in the middle with the Yato in his hand.
"Uh, Justin? They seem like they aren't going to attack."
"They'll attack, remain calm." Jojo said. He looked up. The fort was silent all around. No noise other than the wind blew. And then, Corrin heard something. A woosh flew past him. Warning shot… The first shot. The arrows came at Corrin like a storm. His draconic powers arrived late, he couldn't defend himself. He braced for death, arrows were everywhere, he couldn't evade it.
His eyes were closed, but he heard a voice. "Corrin, get back." It was Jojo! "I told ya it would work!" Corrin saw a the arrows stop in midair. "Heh, this worked!" Jojo gloated.
"H-huh?! What?! How?"
"A tome. Stops things. Pretty cool, huh?" Jojo looked up. "And if you apply this, you can… PK Fire!" Jojo's palm turned into a burning ball of crimson as it was launched towards the arrows. The arrows began burning in the air one by one.
"What!?" They heard Yukimura yell.
"Now, Corrin! Go go go!" Jojo ordered.
"Everyone, attack, but show them mercy." Corrin said.
"Good, follow the plan." Jojo said. He wiped his forehead. "I make sure these arrows don't cause a fire, now go!" Little did they know that the "tome" Jojo had was a fake and was using PSI and ESP to hold the arrows in midair. 'I love Telekinesis.' Jojo thought to himself as he watched the arrows burn up. "Okay, that's about it, I think." He looked around. "Now where did those idiots go?" He followed a path. There was no noise around. Strange, but the arrows did take a long time to burn up. 'Did I really take that long to burn up some damn arrows?!' It puzzled Jojo. But, eh, what can you do huh? Plot convenience, right? "Wait, the writer did this on purpose? How cruel." Ahem, anyway, Jojo should go check out what Corrin and the others are doing. "Shut it, I didn't get to attack anything." Despite the fact that he showed off his PSI while making it seem like a tome, Jojo refused to admit that he didn't get his fill today. "Hmph. Well, at least we recruit some people today." He followed the walls. "It's like a maze. Now then, shall we find my commander?"
"Na-nani?!. I don't understand." Yukimura was breathing hard. "We're defeated… Why don't you kill us?"
Corrin looked at Yukimura and shook his head. "There is no need for violence like this. It's completely senseless. I know the way to end it, but I need Hoshido's help."
Yukimura got up and brushed dust off. "Ugh… helping you means turning against Hoshido. And you say I must do this to help Hoshido? I don't believe you. How can I trust someone who has turned against everything I love?"
A diviner spoke up. "Y-yeah! We'll only trust you if you can bring back all the lives you've taken! Return Lady Mikoto, and maybe we'll listen!"
"But we haven't taken any lives." Azura spoke. "Look around you. Queen Mikoto died from an accident in the capital, we didn't kill her purposely and we wouldn't kill anyone now."
The group failed to notice the ninja in the background. "...Hmph. This is the only way… I will sacrifice myself in order to rid of these Nohrian fiends." The ninja held a stick of dynamite. He jumped at Corrin's group. "Gaaaaaaaah! I show you what true- gack!" Saizo dropped his stick of dynamite and the wick stopped burning.
"Seriously?" Jojo said, tome in hand. "Another suicide? What a bother."
Saizo felt like something was heavy around his neck. Almost like a force was levitating his body off the ground. "What is this? I can't move." The feeling around his neck subsided.
"Brother, don't do- Wait… What?" Kaze arrived just in time to stop his brother's suicide. Well, in this case, kink, but don't worry about that. "Um, excuse me, but what's going on?" Kaze asked.
"Brother! I can't move, there's a strange force."
"Tome." Jojo corrected.
"And it's preventing my movement."
"I'm gonna release you now, but don't go lighting a stick of frikin' dynamite to kill us." Jojo warned. "Or else it will be painful, but not deadly."
Saizo was released. "Odd, you spared me." The ninja grunted. "Yet you still deserve to perish. It doesn't matter, it that matters is that you have turned your back at Hoshido."
"Brother, you're wrong. Lord Corrin hasn't turned his back on us." Kaze stood in front of his brother. "Don't be so rash as to think that Lord Corrin isn't trustworthy! Listen, when I was a prisoner in Nohr, he saved me, an enemy! He did so without worrying about what would happen for doing so."
A smol princess appeared behind Kaze. She blushed and scrambled to find her words. "Uh, um, oh… Um. Corrin is a-a very nice per-person. I wouldn't believe that he would betray us. D-don't hurt my Brother!" said the smol Sakura.
"Why are you interfering?" Saizo asked. "This isn't your fight, Brother."
"I mean, he is related to you." Jojo said. "That's a reason to stand up for what's right."
"Quiet, you." Saizo snapped. "This is not your matter either."
"Again, Corrin didn't kill a single person in this fight." Jojo stated. "Yet you choose not to hear our words. Even though we've repeated them already enough."
"H-he's right." Sakura said. "Look!" Her words were true, not a single Hoshidan soldier was killed. Badly bruised, yeah maybe, but not killed. "Why would he show mercy if had truly betrayed Hoshido? Please, just listen to him." The girl plead.
"Hmph. I'll listen to what he has to say then, but only because the princess desires it. I don't trust him yet."
"Thank you, Saizo. Well, our real enemy is not in Nohr or in Hoshido. The enemy is somewhere else… The explosion in Hoshido, the death of my mother… These events weren't set in motion by King Garon. Someone else, a more powerful and ambitious force is manipulating us all.
"Tch, so is that it?" Saizo asked. "An enemy we haven't heard of is the reason for this conflict? Bah, sounds more like the work of an active imagination. Nothing more. Well then, educate us. Who is this mysterious enemy?"
Corrin looked down. "I'm-I'm sorry… I have said too much already. But I can say this: on the day when the skies above Nohr and Hoshido switch colors you will see. Only then will everything be set in motion. If you need proof, meet me at the Bottomless Canyon when the day finally comes."
"Do you think us fools?"
"Of course not," Corrin said. "I just… I'm sorry, but I can't say anything more."
"Well then..." Yukimura turned away from Corrin. "It seems like this was a waste of our time. I've heard enough, so away with you." Yukimura waved his hand to shoo Corrin's gang away.
Sakura turned back as she was lead by Yukimura to safety. She had a feeling in her heart, something that wanted to be with Corrin. She broke free of Yukimura's guide and ran towards Corrin. "Wait, Brother! Please."
"Lady Sakura?!" Yukimura called out.
"Sakura?" Corrin was confused.
"Um… Please… take me…"
"Eh?" Corrin said bug-eyed.
Sakura blushed. "O-oh!" The princess bowed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean, uh… What I wanted to say was take me with you! I'm not very good at fighting, but I'm sure I can help someway."
Now, Corrin was faced with a difficult choice. On one hand…
"Of course!" Jojo budged in. "We'll be glad to have you along."
"Justin!" Corrin gritted his teeth. "I was deciding. You didn't have to burst in like that."
"Listen, mate." Jojo put his hand on Corrin's shoulder. "We're gonna need all the help we can get. It's not much, but she can help. Come on."
Corrin looked at Sakura and then at Justin. "But what if she gets hurt?"
"I'm sure we'll find a way to protect her."
Corrin was unsure, but finally said,"Thank you, Sakura. We'll be glad to have you."
Yukimura overheard the conversation and said,"Lady Sakura, are you sure?!"
The girl nodded. "I'm sorry, Yukimura, but I believe Corrin is telling the truth. We haven't spent much time together, but something about him makes me trust him. Something in his eyes…" She looked at Corrin. "I just know he isn't trying to trick us."
Yukimura was shocked. "Lady Sakura… I didn't expect this. I don't know what to say right now… I've been at your side since the very day you were born, and I can tell when your mind is made up." Yukimura turned away from Sakura. "Just… Just promise me that you'll be careful…" Yukimura walked away.
"Th-thank you, Yukimura." Sakura said.
Kaze put his hand on his brother's shoulder as he saw Corrin's small brigad growing. "Brother, I would like to ask for your understanding." He started walking towards Corrin.
"Kaze!? What are you doing!?" Saizo asked.
"I would like to accompany Lord Corrin on his mission."
Saizo looked away. "It's foolish, if I may say! Though I cannot choose your own path, so do as you wish."
"Thank you, Brother." Kaze smiled at his brother
"But if we meet on the battlefield, we will see which Saizo is better."
"As you wish, Brother." As he turned around to meet his new commander. Kaze bowed. "I will serve you to the best of my ability, Lord Corrin."
"Why, thank you, Sakura and Kaze, for believing in me. Let's head towards our next destination.
And so with two new allies, Corrin, Azura and Jojo head away from the fort.
Corrin felt odd as they passed a nearby lake. "This lake…"
Sakura sensed something wrong from Corrin. "Is something the matter?"
"No, nothing." Corrin said. "It's just that this is the lake where I met Azura." He looked ahead at Jojo and Azura talking. He clenched his fist " So much has happened since then…"
"Corrin…" She said as she too saw the scene.
Corrin laughed and turned to the lake. "I'm sorry, Sakura. There's so much I want to tell you, but I can't. Not here…"
Sakura looked at Corrin. "I know, I have something I want to say as well, but… It's fine. I believe in you." The girl blushed. "I can tell you're carrying a heavy burden, but maybe I can relieve it. Even if I do the littlest things to help you, then I…" She turned away quickly. "Uh… forget it. Thank you for letting me join you. I, uh, I missed you." She bowed and smiled at Corrin.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Jojo said next to Corrin's ear.
"GODS!" Corrin lept in the air. He was breathing hard. "What was that for, Justin?"
"Heh heh, did I scare you?"
"Of course you did!" Corrin said. "You snuck up out of nowhere."
"Welp, sorry boss." Jojo laughed.
"Wait," Corrin stopped and listened around. "Do you hear that?"
"Huh? What do ya mean?"
Corrin hesitated. "Something is coming this way. Is that… a pegasus?" Corrin looked up and saw a horse speeding towards them. "And it's heading straight at us!"
"What?! Ahh!" Sakura covered herself. The pegasus came closer and closer.
Finally, the pegasus landed in front of Sakura. A fabulous man pulled his hair back. "Ah, Lady Sakura. We finally caught up to you, milady."
"Waaah! S-Subaki?" Sakura said.
"Oh, Lady Sakura... Did you even realize that you'd left us behind?" A samurai was riding along side Subaki. "How could you!?" The samurai pouted.
"Hana! Why are the two of you—?"
"We received word from Yukimura. He told us that you left with Lord Corrin." The samurai said.
"Ahhh. Yukimura knew that I would need you two…"
"Heehee... Even if Yukimura hadn't told us...we would have searched day and night to figure out where you were and caught up!
"Indeed. It is our duty to protect you, milady, and nothing will stop us. If you are headed somewhere, then it's only natural that we would go too. We will always support you."
"Thank you very much!" The priestess said.
"Um... Sakura," Corrin said. "Who are these people?"
"Oh! I'm sorry, Corrin." Sakura said. "These are my retainers, Subaki and Hana. They're both very strong and kind; they've p-protected me for years. They'll fight on our side. It'll be helpful to have such reliable friends."
"More power." Jojo whispered.
"Excuse me?" Hana asked. She glared at Jojo.
"Nothing, don't worry about it." Jojo said.
"Hah... We need all the help we can get." Corrin said. "Thank you, both of you."
"Of course. We'll carry out any mission flawlessly." Subaki said.
"To be honest, Lady Sakura will be my top priority, but I'll do my best to help!" Hana said.
"Well then, let's get going then, eh?" Jojo said.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Hana asked.
'Sigh, I am not going to be popular, am I?' Jojo thought. "Well, I'll tell all when we arrive at the mission control."
Sakura and her retainers looked at Jojo. "Lord Corrin," Subaki asked. "Is he mad?"
"Eh?" Jojo asked.
"No, he's just… Odd." Corrin responded.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't think much of it, Justin." Corrin chuckled.
"I swear if the chapter ends right now before I have a comeback, I'll-"
Ha! We cut the kid off, so he'll be mad when we see him in two weeks. Speaking of a mad edge lord, don't think for a second that Sakura and Jojo are getting shipped. Not any time soon, not when I'm dead. He'll have a moe protection from this point forward, that I'll probably explain later, so no funny business. See you in two weeks! ~(._.)~