Chapter Six: The Grand Palace
Also known as Zola-Gets-His-Butt-Kicked
The grand castle of Izumo was stunning, to say the least. The sunset sky lay a backdrop of scarlet against the lush green trees that rose around the castle. Corrin steadied herself as she stared up its full height.
Izumo… I'm here again…
"We're finally here," Azura said. Corrin watched her out of the corner of her eyes, trying to negate the unsettled feeling in her stomach. She'd slept through her illness, heatstroke or not, and after an arduous journey they finally arrived.
"…Kingdom of the Gods, huh…?" Corrin tried not to sigh. "Still remaining neutral despite our kingdoms being at war."
They were welcomed into the palace without a fuss, though no one had heard anything about Ryoma or Takumi, or any battle nearby. Even standing in the posh palace, Corrin couldn't stop fidgeting.
"Are you all right, Milady?" Jakob asked, his ever-watchful eyes catching her wringing her fingers. "Would you like me to fetch you some calming tea?"
Corrin shook her head and swallowed the urge to chew her lip. The last time she'd been here… was with her Nohrian siblings. They'd come here to rest and gather information, only to run into her Hoshidan family. The unexpected reunion… just thinking about it tied Corrin's stomach in knots. The only hope she had was that Ryoma and Takumi would be here.
Corrin, Hinoka, Sakura and Azura were led into a room to meet with the Archduke privately.
"I-Is it normal for us to wait so long?" Corrin blurted out after a period of dreadful silence. Hinoka gave her a sympathetic smile.
"I've heard that Archduke Izana likes to make people wait a few m-minutes," Sakura said. Her eyes were constantly flicking to various paintings and scrolls adjourning the walls. "It's just a bit of formal grandstanding."
That didn't settle the swarm of anxiety churning Corrin's stomach. "Great. As long as he eventually shows up…"
The Archduke of Izumo was exactly how Corrin remembered him. He waltzed up to their group, head held high, an aura of sophisticated silence draped over him. Corrin knew the second he opened his mouth it would shatter.
"Is that the Archduke?" Hinoka whispered. "He looks almost oddly calm…"
"This is actually making me nervous…" Sakura gripped her staff tighter.
"Welcome," Archduke Izana said. "Welcome, welcome! Can I get you anything fizzy or bubbly? Or anything wibbly or wobbly?" The Archduke laughed at his own words, swaying slightly on his feet in some form of strange mannerism.
He was exactly how she remembered him.
"Wh-What?" Sakura gasped.
Hinoka reeled. "He's a little different than I expected…"
Their reactions didn't affect the Archduke at all. "Oh, pardon me, I didn't even introduce myself." He gave them a lopsided bow, grinning all the while. "I'm Archduke Izana! Voted best hair in Izumo five years running! I'm so happy to get some visitors from Hoshido. Now, what kind of weird stuff do y'all like to get into back in the homeland?"
Before anyone could answer, he continued, without stopping for a single breath. "No, never mind, we'll get into all that later. Let's just sit back and relax and put on some slippers for now, right? Am I right?"
Corrin gritted her teeth. Last time the Archduke was just confusing, and she had other things to worry about with both her families being here, but now he grated on her nerves. They were here to get information, to find Ryoma and Takumi, not relax and lay around!
"U-Um, yes. Th-Thank you," Sakura stammered, shifting nervously on her feet.
"Archduke, before we get to the slippers," Corrin began, though hopefully they never would get to the slippers. "We have some important questions for you. Are you aware of a recent battle between Hoshido and Nohr in this area?"
The Archduke laughed at the suggestion. "A recent battle? Ha! Not likely. And I'd be the first to know about it. You know, 'cause I'm the Archduke. Giddyup!"
Corrin narrowed her eyes. The Archduke… huh…? A heavy feeling of familiarity fell over Corrin.
"You're the Archduke? Not Zola, that pathetic dark mage from Nohr?" Corrin said straight up, folding her arms and staring the Archduke down. Ever since he entered their presence she'd had the same strange feeling as the last time she was here. Which meant…
The Archduke blinked at the Princess for just a moment. Hinoka gaped in shock whilst Sakura did her best impression of a frozen pillar.
"Oh ho! Is this one of them jokes from the homeland? Very funny, very funny indeed." The Archduke nodded intently as if Corrin hadn't just insulted him. He looked Sakura and Corrin over with wandering eyes. "Ooh, what do we have here? You looked pretty banged up, little lady! And your friend – the hilarious Corrin, was it? Well, you're looking a bit frazzled as well."
Considering what they'd been through, Corrin didn't doubt that at all.
"Tell you what, I've got something special in mind for the two of you. Deep restorative healing is what I call it. Mends the body and soothes the mind. Whaddaya say?"
"No." Corrin stepped back, holding an arm across Sakura's front protectively. "I don't believe you're the real Archduke."
"B-Big sister?" Sakura squeaked. She shrank behind Corrin, flushing as pink as her hair.
The Archduke stared for a moment before grumbling in frustration. "And here I had an execution chamber all done out for you."
Nohrian troops stormed into the room; mages, and knights atop horses, their weapons drawn.
"Corrin, we're s-surrounded!" Sakura cried, gaping between the Nohrian soldiers.
Corrin hissed through her teeth. "I knew it. Stay behind me, Sakura."
A puff of smoke and the Archduke changed into the gangly, creep-of-a-mage Zola.
Zola cackled, stepping back to join his soldiers. "It's been a while, hasn't it, young Corrin? Though I have no idea how you realised it was me…"
"Where's Izana?" Corrin growled, drawing her Yato. "What have you done with him?"
Zola snorted. "What? Why would you care about that creep? I'm the one who's finally captured the famous Corrin! I'm the one who matters!" He shook his head. "Anyway! Good luck getting out of this!"
Corrin braced for the inevitable fight when one of the cavaliers charged at its ally. A swift swipe from their blade and the soldier collapsed in a heap with a groan. A blur of silver shot across the room. Nohrian soldiers fell left and right, others turning on each other. Shuriken flashed, blades drawn. Magic sizzled in the air.
"What's going on? Are they attacking each other?" Corrin drew a blank, staring wildly at the carnage erupting before them. Who exactly should she be fighting?
Zola shrieked. "No! Idiots! What are you doing?!"
One of the cavaliers pulled back their helmet, revealing a familiar face and short-cut silver hair. "This isn't what I expected from our first trip to Izumo, Corrin!" Silas said and in the same breath clocked the back of his blade on the head of an unlucky Nohrian.
"Silas!"
Jakob was beside Corrin in a heartbeat, standing as tall and proper despite the blood coating his throwing knives. "Are you unharmed, Milady?"
It wasn't just Jakob and Silas. Soon all her allies were fighting amongst them, emerging from the shadows.
"Very impressive, Lady Hinoka," Kaze remarked. He was the one responsible for the aptly thrown shurikens. "You were right on all accounts."
Corrin glanced to Hinoka who nodded in return.
Looks like I wasn't the only one with suspicions…
Azura nodded as well, accepting a naginata passed to her so she could protect herself. "I, too, had my doubts about this. Thank you for acting on your instincts, Hinoka."
"I'm so glad you guys are here!" Sakura sighed in relief.
"How in the world did you suspect anything?" Zola cried. He ducked back further, withdrawing away from the fight. "My Izana disguise was perfect! No matter. Move forth, men. Take them out!"
It wasn't long until the battle swamped many rooms of the palace. Nohrian soldiers poured in from every door, every window, every nook and cranny. The fighting spilled into the garden where Corrin fought back a couple of soldiers before two familiar figures arrived.
"What's going on here?" Hinata asked, twirling his sword in his hand as if it wasn't a deadly weapon. "I thought we were in Izumo! I guess that whole "neutral kingdom" thing isn't working for them anymore." He huffed, glanced around the garden and into the palace. Ornate and probably very expensive vases lay in shattered pieces in the doorway. Windows were broken, doors ajar. The palace wasn't exactly inviting by this stage.
"Do you see Lord Takumi anywhere? I didn't get much info out of those Nohrian soldiers," Hinata asked, shrugging off the two they'd knocked out earlier.
Oboro tsked. "Perhaps that's because you tied them up and gagged them before questioning them!"
"Bah. You would've done the same thing, and you know it," Hinata huffed before turning serious. "I'll tie up as many people as I need to track down Lord Takumi."
"Whatever." Oboro rolled her eyes and swiped an imaginary speck of dust off her clothing. "I just wish you were the one missing." Her eyes turned dreamy. "Then it would just be me and Lord Takumi relaxing in an Izumo sauna…" she sighed whimsically.
Hinata groaned. "Ugh! Keep it to yourself!" He shivered at her dreamy expression. "We've got some work to do, anyway. Maybe these guys can lead us to Lord Takumi."
"You're right. I can't stand these Nohrian scum." Oboro's eyes darkened. A scowl overcame her features, teeth baring in a snarl. "If they've done anything to harm our master… I don't know what I'll do."
"Okay, Okay, get a hold of yourself. If you kill all of them in a bloody rampage, then where will we be?"
The sinister darkness in Oboro's eyes dimmed faintly, though her glare remained. "You're right. I will decimate them with calculated efficiency… but spare a few. Let's go!"
Corrin did a double take, recognising their voices with a spark of hope.
Takumi's retainers! That means–
She bolted over, lowering her sword. "Hinata! Oboro!"
"Die, Nohr scum!" Oboro cried, flinging her pointed naginata at Corrin. It clashed into her Yato with a spark of biting steel.
"Hold! I'm with Hoshido!" Corrin cried, stumbling back on her feet.
"That's Lady Corrin! Don't you know who she is?" Hinata blanched, her name making Oboro straighten.
"Oh! Lord Takumi's sister!" Oboro's glare dissolved into a pretty smile. "It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Oboro, Lord Takumi's retainer." Her smile faltered, Corrin's heart sunk.
That could only mean…
"Have… have you seen him? We can't find him anywhere!" Oboro asked.
Hinata nodded. "We became separated on the battlefield. We're doing everything we can to track him down, but we're running out of ideas."
"I can only tie up so many of those evil jerks before I… just… start to rage!" Oboro growled again, glare returning with a flash of teeth.
Corrin blinked and decided not to mention that she was technically from Nohr. "Right. We could use your assistance tracking him. I only ask that you… temper your zeal for killing Nohrians moderately."
"Of course!" Oboro was all smiles again. "If I keep my thoughts focused on my dear Takumi, I can control myself. I'll do my best to assist you, Lady Corrin."
Hinata nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Lady Corrin. It's big of you to put aside your differences and help us find Takumi. Especially after some of the things he's been saying…"
Corrin's smile froze on her face so she quickly turned away. "Let's get on with it, then. The faster we defeat Zola, the faster we can find Takumi."
They returned to the fight, churning their way through to where Zola was hiding like the coward he was in the throne room. Corrin swallowed back the nagging thoughts that flashed in her mind.
Separated in battle. His own retainers don't know where he is. He should've been here. Just like before. Why wasn't he here? Why wasn't he here–?
A sword flashed before her, a blinding arch of silver that came too fast, too hard, and Corrin flinched, waiting for the inevitable pain and–
Jakob was before her, sword biting down on his arm. The sword cutting through his arm, his flesh and the blood–
Corrin lurched forward. Her mind spun, all she saw was the blood, Jakob's arm, the Nohrian attacking him and then her sword was through his gut. The Nohrian fell with a choked gurgle, Jakob falling to his knees and clutching his bleeding arm.
"Jakob!" Corrin cried, the sight of the wound, the deep gash in his arm, stole her breath. Putrid bile rose in her throat. Chest heaved, knuckles burning white as she clenched her sword tighter. A sliver of rage, a torrent of guilt washed over her.
If I'd been paying attention…
Someone cried for Sakura, for a healer. Corrin staggered on her feet, drawing her sword up as a cackle sounded from the throne room.
"I'm going to enjoy this!" Zola laughed, brandishing his magic tome.
Corrin saw red. She lunged, unaware of anyone backing her up, of the soldiers at Zola's side. Her vision tunnelled on him, that mage, the source of it all. Nohrian soldiers darted before her. She didn't even think. Her arm raised, turning into something unhuman. Skin turned to scales, fingers turned to claws. She cut through their armour like ribbons, their swords like paper. She stormed forward, uncaring if they were unconscious or dead, leaving them discarded in her wake.
A roar that wasn't hers burst from her throat. Experience and rage blended together as she struck, swinging her Yato in an arch and tearing through the tome in Zola's spindly fingers. A slash from her claws and he was on the ground, a whimpering, bleeding mess. Corrin's claws slipped back into fingers. Her rage fizzled. She stood tall, levelling her Yato with Zola's throat.
"Game over, Zola. Now tell us where you're keeping Izana," Corrin commanded. Despite the lingering rage, her sword-arm remained steady.
Zola coughed, spluttering as he lay before her. "No…" he wheezed, spitting at her feet.
Corrin fumed. "You're not in any position to tell me no." Her crimson eyes flashed in anger, sword pressed against his throat and drawing a trickle of blood.
Even still, Zola's grinned. "Oh, my. How naïve you are. What a sheltered life you've lived! I'd rather die than give you anything. Luckily, I won't have to!"
With no time to react, clouds of smoke erupted around them in a thick sheet. The air tasted of ash and carbon and stung Corrin's eyes. She swiped at the cloud, the smoke, but it was too thick to see through.
"No! He's getting away!" Corrin cried, managing to speak in-between splutters for air.
"Bingo!" A jeer from Zola. "Until next time, fools!"
No–
Corrin lunged for his voice. A spark of magic flashed, trees shooting up through the floorboards, creaking, groaning as they sprang to life from nothing. A moment later, the smoke thinned, and Zola stood between thick branches of the newly grown trees.
I know that magic–!
"Leo." His name tumbled from her lips. The scent of magic, that familiar tang and the tingle of power in the air that shot shivers down her arms. He was here.
"Wh-What are you doing? Let me go!" Zola struggled against his confines, groaning and grunting though he could barely move an inch.
Leo stepped forward, expression impassive as he cased his eyes over Zola. Not looking at her, not acknowledging her in the slightest. Corrin's heart twinged. She hadn't realised just how much she had wished to see him again, to fight beside him, to feel and taste the effect of his magic in the air and know he was there, she was safe…
"No." Leo palmed his Brynhildr, regarding Zola as one would a bug they were about to squash.
Why are you here? Do you know about King Garon? About what he is, what he's doing?
Is everyone Okay?
Did you miss me at all?
Corrin swallowed her burning questions and instead asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Ah, Zola." Leo shook his head. The soft bangs of his blond hair swayed with the movement. "You've embarrassed our kingdom for the last time."
A flash of magic, the trees grew thicker, tighter, choking. A moment more and they were gone. His body dropped to the ground, limp and unmoving.
The memory was vivid and jarring. Corrin froze, words catching in her throat.
Zola squirmed. "Milord! Please, you don't mean that... I was just attempting to preserve my dignity."
Leo scoffed and stared down at Zola who shrank into the trees with every word. "Dignity? What would you know about that? You're done here."
"Leo, don't!" Corrin said at once, a cry so sudden that her Nohrian brother turned to her.
No emotion showed in his eyes. His fingers tightened on his Brynhildr as he met her gaze. "Zola is a monster. I'm going to make the world a better place."
Not another death, please–
"H-He's a fellow Nohrian! One of your own. Why would you…?" She knew why. She'd seen it before. The way he executed Zola without blinking, with just a wave of his fingers.
Leo's eyes narrowed, his voice an icy wind. "Why should I listen to a traitor like you? You abandoned us!" His words cut guilt, regret, deeper into her heart. "You have no right to tell me what to do!"
He turned back to Zola, tome raised, fingers primed.
"Leo–!" It was more of a cry, a sob, than a plead, but Leo's fingers stilled. He stood there for a moment, the slightest tremble in his jaw, before he turned on his feet and stalked away.
"Ugh, fine! Keep this pitiful fool if you like him so much," Leo said, making a sound of disgust in his throat. Without turning back, not even a glance, he said, "Goodbye, Corrin. When the time is right, you'll pay for what you've done."
The trees receded, pulling back through the floorboards and dropping a now-unconscious Zola. Corrin lingered for a moment, gaze stuck on Leo's retreating figure. She blinked back the stinging behind her eyes.
Footsteps clambered behind her and she jolted at the noise, swiping away any offending tears.
"I've never seen such a display of power," Hinoka said, her voice dripping with awe.
Jakob grunted in response, making Corrin whirl. His arm was bandaged, the white cloth soaked red. He still managed a smile for Corrin as her expression fell.
"No need to worry, Milady," Jakob said to reassure her. "It is but a scratch. If it came to it, I would walk through fire and ice for you."
It was even harder to bite back tears now. "You idiot…" She stormed up to him, half-inclined to smack him one for good measure, but instead gingerly touched his uninjured arm. "Thank you."
Jakob blinked at her, a look of unmasked shock flashing for a moment, before the gentle smile returned. "The honour is mine."
With the battle over, Archduke Izana was rescued from the holding cells that were surprisingly luxurious. He seemed overly excited to tell them all about the 'party-poopers' who threw him in there, but Hinoka cut to the point.
"Yes, it's despicable for Nohr to take advantage of a neutral realm like this." She gave him a patient smile, though her mouth twitched at the effort. "Archduke Izana, I know you've been confined to a luxuriously appointed cell... But would you happen to know anything about my brothers Ryoma and Takumi?"
Corrin swallowed and set her jaw. He had to know something. Anything. Please…
"Well, I've heard of them! That's something, right?" Archduke Izana said and Corrin could've hit him. Right across those annoying cheeks. "I did overhear that their battle stretched all the way to the Bottomless Canyon. Maybe they just fell in?"
Corrin's heart lurched. She felt sick. Queasy. Like there were too many people in the room. Too much noise, not enough air, there's not enough air–
The Bottomless Canyon. The Bottomless Canyon.
"Gods! No!" Sakura cried, eyes glossing over with tears. Her hand covered her sob, Hinoka gently touching her shoulder.
"Get a hold of yourself, Sakura! Our brothers are not the type to accidentally fall into a canyon. We've got to believe that both of them are alive and healthy." Hinoka's words barely registered in Corrin's ears.
She just went along with whatever they said, nodding, giving one-word answers. Even when Izana read a fortune for them it was all a blur to her. She couldn't remember his words, whether or not it matched up to her memories, all she could think of was the canyon. The sheer cliffs rose up in her mind. The darkness, that void of endless black that threatened to swallow anything and everything that got too close. Anything. Even her brothers.
Corrin stifled a shriek, still lost in thought, when Azura approached her later that evening.
"Corrin, I must speak with you," she said. Her golden eyes searched Corrin's face, as if looking for a cue to speak.
Corrin pulled a smile. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Azura said initially, before pursing her lips. "Well, I don't know, actually... It's about that fortune."
The fortune Corrin couldn't remember. "It was strange, wasn't it?" At least, that's what everyone else said.
Azura nodded. "Yes. Those were the words to a song my mother taught me as a child."
That was new. "Are you certain? Do you remember the meaning behind the lyrics?"
Azura shook her head and sighed. The evening light seemed to brighten the golden hues of her eyes as they trailed off to the horizon. "No. It's an ancient song. But this is what troubles me. The lyrics almost seem to speak directly to you."
Corrin would've thought it was a joke if it was anyone but Azura. "To me? How is that possible?"
"I don't know. The song has always been a bit of a mystery... But I never thought about trying to solve it until now."
Corrin shrugged. "Perhaps it's just a coincidence. Right? I mean, how could someone write a song about me if I hadn't been born?" She turned to Azura, only to see wet tears streaming down her cheeks. Azura choked back a sob with a quiet sniffle.
"A-Azura? What's the matter?" Corrin asked but Azura shook her head and quickly dried her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Azura said through sniffles. "Please, forget about all of this."
"Are you sure?"
Azura nodded.
Corrin chewed her bottom lip and stifled a sigh. "All right, I'll drop it for now. But don't hesitate to come speak with me about anything. At any time. I'm here for you, okay?"
"Thank you, Corrin," was her response before she trotted off to the rest of their group.
They journeyed for miles, even long after the sun had gone, though no one complained due to the sense of urgency that now occupied their waking moments. Everyone was exhausted after-the-fact and glad when they were able to stop for the night in the safety of the Astral Castle.
The day had been long. Draining. Physically and mentally exhausting, especially with the sudden appearance of Leo and what Izana said about Ryoma and Takumi…
It was no wonder Corrin didn't sleep that night.
Next Chapter: Angsty Pineapple.
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