Chapter 8: The Missing Link

In between the warring kingdoms of Nohr and Hoshido lies a wide plain untouched by war. Its lush green fields have nary a drop of blood or metal from battles that never took place here. It is here that a young woman and three members of each of the royal families gathered.

The young lady in white said to the members of the royal family "I called all of you here for one reason only. And I am sure you all know what it is."

A tall red-haired pegasus knight replied "Oh yes. I know what it is. I'll bet there are Nohrian soldiers behind those trees waiting to ambush us."

The young shrine maiden then said "Sis! Please don't say that! We are here for the same reason! If we came here to fight then why are all of us unarmed?!"

"She does have a point" answered the blonde magician. "None of us have any weapons in hand, as per our agreement with Aqua. I may be skilled in magics, but without a tome, I am but a rich commoner on a horse."

"Please, we came here on the grounds of a truce." said the blonde priestess. "Corrin wanted this kind of truce between us both. If she were here, this first step would make her proud."

"But she is not here." replied the purple-haired wyvern rider. "I would do anything to get my precious Corrin back. Even if it means slaughtering those who get in my way."

"Please, Camilla." said Aqua. "There will be no killing on either side today. That will definitely not get us anywhere."

The blonde magician then said "So what's the plan then? Brother Marx never believed Corrin's claims that father is evil. Right now Marx is taking orders from father, and I do not want to know what those orders are."

"I agree with Leo. I may not like father. Elise will surely agree with me on this. But our loyalty is absolute. Father's orders means life or death for all of us." said Camilla.

"I just want to see Corrin again." said Elise as she wiped the tears off her face. "I still believe she is somewhere alive and well."

Aqua smiled and said "We will have to fulfill her dreams in her stead until she returns."

"How would I know that this is not a farce?" said the young archer.

The shrine maiden angrily replied "Takumi! Would you always behave so even now? As we speak Corrin may be fighting for her life trying to get back here!"

"The reunion was short, I know." Takumi said as he soothed the shrine maiden. "I want to trust sister but the timing was just too much of a coincidence. Right after the reunion there was an explosion in Hoshido. Sakura, please understand."

"I do, Takumi. I do." Sakura, on the verge of tears, replied. "But I want sis back more than anything. I am sure you feel the same way as us and her Nohrian siblings, right Hinoka?"

"The day she was kidnapped I vowed to become strong." Hinoka replied with a stern face. "The day I saw her one more time… I knew from the start that was her. Years have passed and she still has that same pair of piercing red eyes that show no fear, pure will, determination, and above all, concern for the well-being of those she fights for."

Everyone smiled upon hearing this and nodded at each other, showing the truce was dead set.

"There is still one big problem we have to get through though." Aqua said. "We must stop Marx and Ryouma from pushing through with this war."

"Brother Ryouma is already talking with Saizou and Kagerou regarding their next move." replied Takumi as he shook his head. "Suzukaze is just one of the few who are more concerned for Corrin than this war."

Camilla added "Marx is doing more or less the same thing. He and father are planning the next stage of the Nohrian invasion. My aides Luna and Belka follow my orders, but I follow father's orders."

The Hoshidan family looked at Camilla suspiciously upon hearing the Nohrian invasion.

"Take this as a warning from me." said Camilla as she calmly smiled back at them. "I do not want to kill you or even hurt you. But when the time comes, I may have no choice. I will try my best to delay this invasion, but orders are absolute."

Hinoka shook her head and said "We have the same code in Hoshido. Ryouma's orders are also absolute. Maybe not as strict as your father's, but definitely absolute. I would hate to do anything to hurt Corrin's sister. I just want her back as much as you do."

"Then may we never meet in the battlefield." replied Camilla with a smile. "I hope the next time we meet is on the same side."

Aqua then said with a bright smile "Then we have an agreement. We will stop this war as much as our power can handle and also continue our search for Corrin."

The royal families then headed homeward as Aqua remained on the plains. She made her way further into the portion of the plains that border Nohr and Hoshido. She came upon a bridge. This is the same bridge she, Corrin, and Felicia came to.

"We were supposed to jump down here." said Aqua as she looked down. "Out of nowhere a bright light shone and a strong wind coming from below pulled us in. I tried my best to hold on to you…But I was weak."

Aqua began to cry as she recalled the events that took place on the bridge. She contained herself and calmed down as she stood up. "I have no choice then but to jump down by myself. Like Hinoka, I must be strong in your absence."

She jumped into the never-ending abyss. With spear in hand she jumped with her arms wide open, as if to fly downwards.

Meanwhile, in the Nohrian royal house, Marx welcomes his siblings back. Camilla, Elise, and Leo did not speak of where they were and their purpose of leaving. They merely said they were trying to search for Corrin and nothing more.

"We will end this war and bring Corrin back." Marx said as he looked at his sword, Siegfried. "Once this war is over, there really will be nothing in our way of searching for Corrin."

"But big brother, what if we can search for Corrin without having to fight Hoshido?" asked Elise.

Marx angrily answered "And have them stab us in the back as we search?! I think not!"

"I will bring her back no matter the cost. If more blood must be spilled, then so be it. If must do this alone, then so be it. Only death will get in my way." said Marx. "What say you?"

Camilla, Elise, and Leo reluctantly replied "Aye. We will fight with you."

Marx approached Elise and said "Please forgive me for my earlier outburst. I am just as shocked and worried for Corrin ever since she disappeared. Silas himself hasn't slept the past few days. He's been asking me and father for permission to leave the grounds to search for her."

"Heh." said Camilla. "I guess they really are childhood friends."

Marx smiled for a moment and said "We sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we march towards West Hoshido. I will explain more tomorrow."

The three other siblings sighed as they returned to their respective chambers.

On Hoshido's side, Ryouma ended the war council on a high note and welcomed his siblings back. They too, did not mention about the meeting on the plains and merely said they were searching for Corrin once more.

"So what have you to say about your search?" Ryouma asked.

Hinoka shook her head and said "Nothing but failure, Ryouma. We really cannot find her. She has to be alive though…"

"Once Nohr is out of the equation, we can confirm that ourselves."

Sakura interrupted "Brother, do we really have to fight them? I'm sure we can try to settle something with them instead of fighting so we can search for Corrin together."

"A truce with the ones who kidnapped her in the first place?!" answered an angered Ryouma "Dishonored twice is something I will never see while I'm alive!"

Sakura immediately cried upon hearing this.

Takumi sighed and said "You really can be harsh at times, Ryouma." He then went to Sakura's side and soothed her.

"My apologies." said Ryouma. "I am just as flustered as you now that Corrin is gone just when he got her back. But we will definitely get her back and this time, she will be safe from any harm."

Hinoka then asked "What do we do then, brother?"

"We wait for Suzukaze and Rinka to come back. I sent them on a scouting mission to observe the movements of the Nohrian army." replied Ryouma. "Once they return, we will formulate a plan."

"Let's get some rest then." said Hinoka. "It has been a tiring day for us all. We can continue this tomorrow."

Meanwhile, in the open fields of Nohr, Suzukaze and Rinka lie hidden while they monitor the movement of the Nohrian army.

"I count maybe a thousand troops." whispered Suzukaze. "How about you, Rinka?"

Rinka answered "I count maybe a thousand flies that I've swatted. Other than that, most of the troops are really on the west side of the fields."

Suzukaze held Rinka's wrist and said "Pray, stop swatting flies. You might make too much of a noise and compromise this mission."

"Pray stop your romantic squabbles and drop your weapons and stay on the ground." a man's voice froze Suzukaze and Rinka.

"Turn around so I may see your faces."

Suzukaze and Rinka turned around to see a man with unruly hair on a horse.

Suzukaze sighed and said "Now the mission is compromised."

"Depends on what your mission is." said the man. "Tell me what it is and I may let you go."

"Are all Nohrians this merciful? I thought your code was till kill first, bury later." said Rinka.

"I may be Nohrian, but not all Nohrians are as you think they are. Now answer my question before my blade shuts you up."

"We were sent here to monitor the movements of your army." answered Rinka.

Suzukaze interrupted "But that is not our real mission."

The man then got down from his horse and said "Lies then? Tell me the truth. Now."

Suzukaze looked at the man's eyes and said "We are also searching for Lady Corrin."

The man's eyes enlarged. He sheathed his sword and said "Let me join you then."

Shocked, Suzukaze and Rinka got up, but did not pick their weapons up. Instead, they asked him "You'd side with enemies?"

He replied "Corrin is a childhood friend of mine." He then picked up Suzukaze's shuriken and Rinka's mace and gave them back. "I would rather die looking for her than die fighting a war she is trying to stop."

Suzukaze and Rinka smiled. The man also smiled as he got back on his horse. He then said "Tell your leader that these men are headed to the west of Hoshido. I will send misinformation to delay the march, but that is all I can do. I must return now."

Suzukaze told him "Thank you for your support. I will see if I can also delay the march. I will do my best not to harm them. However when they arrive, I cannot guarantee my men will show them the mercy we both share."

"I would do the same." replied the man.

The man then galloped towards the Nohrian City and left Suzukaze and Rinka behind.

"So what do we do now?" asked Rinka.

"We go towards where the Nohrian army is going. I have an idea to delay them. You might even like it." answered Suzukaze.

Rinka smiled and said "That is the most interesting thing you have said today."

They headed to the direction the Nohrian army was going. Slowly but surely, the Hoshidan resistance and Nohrian army will clash. It is only a matter of time until the royal families will meet on the field.