Fire Emblem Fates
Chapter 9: Traitor's Punishment
"Whoa, what is this place? It's really funky!" Elise said, as Lilith had transported the group back to the astral plane. "This place makes me feel dizzy."
"It's alright, little one. You'll get used to it soon." Azura comforted Elise, and she snuggled back into Azura's arms.
"Perfect! A heroic team needs the perfect base of operations, and this one functions just fine and dandy." Arthur exclaimed.
"You got anywhere we can train?" Effie asked. "And where is the mess hall?" Jakob led her into the mess hall, where he began to prepare making food for dinner.
"Come Elise. Let me show you something really cool!" Corrin said, and he ran over to the throne with her close behind. "Can you sense the dragon veins flowing throughout the ground. Now focus your energy and create rooms for you and your retainers." Elise did as instructed, and instantly three rooms were created although one was clearly larger than the other's.
"Yay! Arthur come look. I made your house. But the big one is mine!" Elise said happy and she rushed off into her room to organize it.
"Wonderful. Seems Elise and her retainers are quite happy here." Azura said to Corrin.
"Yeah, she seems very happy to be reunited with me and you." Corrin agreed, and later Azura yawned.
"I'm tired, I think I'll head to bed. Wake me up when it's time to march." Azura said and she walked away. Corrin was then surprised when he had a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Arthur. The man was large and quite muscular, and he held a disturbing smile.
"Good day, my fellow hero. I just felt it was about time I properly introduced myself. My name is Arthur, servant to Lady Elise and her protector." Arthur introduced. He held out his hand to be met by Corrin's.
"And I am Corrin. Happy to meet you. It's always fun to meet Elise's friends." Corrin greeted.
"Pardon me for asking this, but what exactly is the plan for the long term? I know we are going to Fort Jinya and are going to convince them, but what exactly are we convincing them of?" Arthur questioned. Corrin opened his mouth to speak, but then remembered the curse.
"Now I know what Azura meant when she said, 'knowledge is a burden'." Corrin thought. "Trust me, you'll know when it is revealed to you Arthur. Have faith on me and Elise." Arthur then scrunched up his face to show his frustration.
"Well, just promise me that you can guarantee Lady Elise's safety." Arthur said, and Corrin promised.
"I promise." With that, Arthur left the duo, a bit more confused than before. Corrin sighed. "Man, this is hard. To keep in the info, when it's just as easy to let it slip and activate the curse. Maybe we should schedule a return to the Bottomless Canyon to show those who do not know yet." Corrin decided.
The next morning, Lilith brought the team back into the 'normal' plane. With the extra manpower, the formation of the team could be more solid. Gunter led the point, with Effie and Arthur not too far behind. Behind them was Elise and Azura, and behind them were the servants and Corrin. They walked for at least an hour, and when Fort Jinya came into view, Elise bubbled with happiness.
"Wow! That is one awesome structure! Reminds me of the castle's back at home!" Elise remarked. Azura smiled and also stated,
"Yes, Fort Jinya is quite a marvelous building. The Hoshidans have many perches for snipers to pick off invaders, and also tall walls to prevent escalation. I've been inside twice before, when Hinoka and Sakura showed me." Elise then showed a sign of sadness.
"Are they your sisters from Hoshido?" Azura then realized her mistake and apologized.
"Sorry, Elise. I should've been more careful with my words. You are my sister, and that is all that matters right. That and convincing the Hoshidans of our cause." This caused Elise to perk back up. They arrived at the bridge between the fort and the forest, and were greeted by a familiar face.
"Yukimura!" Both Azura and Corrin exclaimed. He seemed dissatisfied with his new visitors.
"So, it seems both of the traitors have decided to hightail back home. Guards!" Yukimura ordered. Not before long, they were surrounded by a plethora of Hoshidan warriors, from spear fighters, to samurais and ninjas. Admitting that their troops could not overpower the army surrounding them, Azura laid down her brass naginata, following a repeat from everyone else on the group. They were instantly pinned down and all 8 of them were captured and brought to a jail within the fort.
They were brought inside a dungeon and were thrown inside jail cells. Jakob, Felicia and Arthur were in one cell, Effie and Azura in another and Elise, Gunter and Corrin in the last cell. Yukimura stood at the cell door of Corrin and Elise's cell, waiting for something.
"Where is she, she should be here soon?" Yukimura said, eagerly awaiting the arrival of someone.
"Why don't you just execute us right now? It's clear you hate me and Azura, so why not spare yourself the trouble." Corrin said to Yukimura and he turned his head over to Corrin.
"I sure do hope your executed, Corrin. But I am not in the position to make that call, only Lady Hinoka has the authority, so we are waiting for her." Yukimura explained, giving Corrin a sigh of relief.
"Maybe Hinoka will have enough feelings left for her brother to spare me and my troops. But what about Ryoma? And Takumi? They should have authority to execute me." Corrin thought hopefully.
"I wouldn't be so hopeful, milord. Lady Hinoka has not forgiven you yet for your betrayal. It's also safe to say that the capture of Takumi and Ryoma's disappearance has not helped." Yukimura said.
"So, that's where they are. Missing." Corrin realized. Yukimura then turned to Azura,
"You, I can't believe you, of all people, would betray the country that raised you… that saved you from Nohr." Yukimura said. "I guess all Nohrians are the same, liars and traitors." Elise now got angry.
"Listen, here, you big bully. You took my sister, Azura, from me. If anyone should be getting lectured, it's you." Elise said.
"So, you must be one of the princesses of Nohr. Welcome to Hoshido, my princess. I guess this isn't what Hoshido is known as, laying traps and the like, but I guess you're used to it, right?" Yukimura taunted and made Elise poof her cheeks in anger.
"Hey! I'll have you know that Nohr is the best home I could ask for!" Elise responded, but in the back of her mind, she remembered her father giving Xander the order of killing Corrin.
"Yeah, sure. A dictatorship might seem all nice and dandy for the daughter of the king, but rest assured, I can promise you Lady Elise, your people probably despise you and your family for the oppression Garon provides." Elise then started to tear up, causing Corrin to comfort her.
"Hey, that was cruel, Yukimura. What happened? The Yukimura I met had been a patient and respectful tactician, not one filled with cruel remarks." Corrin said.
"Well, Corrin. You could say the death of your lover pushes you to do the extreme." Yukimura answered. This time, it was Felicia's turn to perk up once she heard this.
"So, you loved my mother?" Corrin asked.
"Yes, far beyond anyone in the royal family knows. I respected Sumeragi too much to make a move on her, but now I realize I will know never get the chance. Thanks, of course, to you." Yukimura said.
"What he said! The death of your lover pushes you to do the extreme. Is that what will happen to me if I help Iago carry out his plan! I don't want that! I can't let that happen." Felicia concluded in her mind.
"But, not to worry. Hinoka will arrive here soon and your rightful punishment will be - ugh!" Yukimura yelled in agony. He immediately fell and before him stood a figure that seemed all too familiar to Corrin and Azura.
"Kaze!" They both screamed, with a mix of delight and fear.
"Shh. I'm here to get you out! Be quiet!" He ordered. They followed the demand and Kaze quickly picked the locks and got them all out. "Quick this way!" They followed him down the hall, seeing a bunch of unconscious bodies along the way.
"Where are we going, Kaze!" Azura asked.
"To meet with the princess. She is eagerly awaiting to see her brother and sister again." Kaze explained. Corrin's stomach dropped and he realized that maybe Kaze was bringing them to Hinoka, so she could kill them herself. Kaze already had the route planned out and had cleared the halls for any Hoshidan guards. All except for one…
"Kaze! What the hell are you doing?!" Kaze immediately turned around, recognizing the voice.
"Saizo…" The fiery red ninja was standing opposite Kaze in the hallway.
"So, brother. Have you too turned traitor to your home and country?" Saizo asked.
"I owe Master Corrin my life. He spared mine when other's thought to slay me. For that, I am loyal to him and will follow him." Kaze responded, surprising Corrin. Saizo then took out a steel shuriken.
"If you wish to turn your back on me, then you are no longer my brother, and I challenge you. Not as brothers, but as enemies. Let's see if fighting against me will change your mind." Saizo said. Kaze responded by taking his own shuriken out. He turned to the party.
"Go, Azura you remember how to get to the stables from here?" Kaze asked and Azura nodded. "Good, then go there. Sakura is awaiting you with your two mounts. I will find my way back to you. Now go!" Kaze ordered and the party took off. Kaze then turned back to face Saizo.
"You knew you would face me, didn't you." Saizo asked.
"Yes." Kaze replied and Saizo grunted. They both took off with immense speed, and sprang at each other, with their steel shurikens at hand. And the two brother's clashed.
"Hurry, this way!" Azura called to the group, as they were busy taking down some guards that had awoken. Effie was able to take down many guards with her immense strength, as well as Jakob and Arthur. "The armory is in there! Take what you can find." She ordered, and Corrin, Gunter, Elise and Felicia went inside to try and regain their weapons. They came out with their weapons and even were able to take a couple of extra swords and lances. Corrin rejoined the fight with his Yato, and tossed Jakob a steel shuriken. Jakob was at first unsure of what to do with this new weapon, but he quickly realized it was not that different from a dagger. They were able to clear that hallway, and they exited into an outdoor area. It was had a fountain and many natural trees and river streams. They awed at the beauty.
"Ox Spirit!" someone called. They turned around to see a red ox charging at them. Most of them dodged it, but Arthur was nailed by it and he hit his head on the wall, knocking him out. Elise rushed over to heal his wounds, while the rest were looking for the attacker. Corrin spotted a woman with purple hair and quite a revealing outfit. She stepped down from the roof and landed gracefully on the ground.
"So, your Corrin? I am Orochi, retainer to the late Lady Mikoto." she said, aiming her remark at the white haired Nohrian prince. "I should've stepped in the second I heard a Nohrian was in the castle. Maybe that way, Queen Mikota could've lived. I guess fate just did not shine in the way of the queen. But it's fine, because fate does not shine well for you either. You will soon find yourself in a situation where one of your closest and dearest comrades turns their back on you." She said, with a weird magical aura surrounding her. "I am merely here to face you before your own party tears itself down."
"You're wrong! No one on my team would ever betray me. You are wrong!" Corrin shouted.
"We'll see. I am very often right, but we shall see." She responded and she took out her scroll once again. "Ox Spirit!" and once again a red ox charged at the group. Corrin flipped over it but he was still rammed by the horns of the beast. He realized that reinforcements would be coming soon and called to his team,
"Go! I got this one. I will join with you when I can, let's meet back at base. Find Sakura and explain to her where I am. Go!" He called, and then he turned to Azura. "Lead them while I'm gone. Lead them to Sakura." She nodded, and Corrin turned to face the purple haired maiden as they left to go down the hall.
"Bold move. To sacrifice yourself so that your group can move onward. I hope it was worth it." Orochi said and she spewed another ox spirit at Corrin. Corrin dodged around it and rushed her. When Corrin successfully passed it, he jumped up and dived straight at the mage, and Orochi, not being fast enough to dodge it, had to block the dive with a quick cast ox spirit. Corrin's Yato blade began to glow a mysterious color, surprising the two combatants. The Yato then created a small energy pulse outwards, separating the two battlers.
Orochi then received a mysterious fortune. The sky was dark orange, and the capital city of Hoshido was burned to the ground. She looked around and saw a white dragon, unleashing his fire across every citizen who managed to escape the initial onslaught. She saw in the distance a young man opposite the dragon, holding a blade that glowed in similar fashion to the yato blade she just saw from Corrin.
"No! Can it be, the fate of the world rests on that traitor! No, this premonition is wrong, it has to be." She concluded. She looked around and saw herself now in a graveyard with the names of people she knew.
Ryoma Hinoka Takumi Sakura Saizo Kagero Hana Azama.
She also saw her own name, and as she began to wonder what she was foreseeing, the man and the dragon struck once again. Orochi this time was able to see the man, Corrin, more clearly. She was immediately knocked out of her trance by a well placed kick in the stomach by Corrin, which crashed her against the wall of the fort. Corrin took this opportunity to escape with his friend's and while she probably could've given chase, she decided to stay and puzzle herself over the future she foresaw.
Two shurikens crashed against each other, both falling to the ground. The two brother's, green and red, were in battle. Kaze was trying to run away from Saizo, and eventually led him outside, where the fiery red ninja quickly pursued.
"Kaze! How dare you betray Hoshido, our family and my trust! You shall pay for this insolent crime." He threw another steel shuriken at his brother and Kaze hid behind a rock so he could respond to Saizo.
"Brother, you know I would never do that. When I see this war, I see lies and deceit. That is why I must leave. Because if not, then Hoshido and Nohr could very well destroy each, and I cannot satisfy myself with the knowledge that I could've done something to stop it. And Corrin is not a traitor. He saved my life and I know he means well, no matter whether you dub him a traitor or not. Sorry brother." Kaze threw on of his shurikens and his brother, stopping short of Saizo and stuck to the ground. The shuriken then released a gas that blinded the red ninja.
"Knockout gas! Well played brother…" Saizo said, and he collapsed onto the ground. Kaze took this opportunity to leave the fort and rejoin his newly freed allies. He jumped over the fort walls and dashed all the way to the stables, where he met Sakura and the rest of them, the black armored knight and the blond curly haired girl now on their horses. Although he strangely saw that Corrin was missing.
"Where is Master Corrin?" Kaze asked calmly.
"He had to stay back and hold off some purple haired mage." a knight wearing pink armor responded.
"We have to go back and find him!" Kaze said. But was stopped by another voice.
"No, I'm right here. Sorry to keep you waiting." They saw Corrin appear from the hall, slightly hurt from his battle.
"B-Big brother!" Sakura said, and rushed over to give her big brother a hug.
"I knew you were innocent. You would never hurt Takumi or Ryoma."
"Thanks Sakura. I knew you would believe in me." Corrin said, happy to have his little sister back.
"Hmph!" someone said behind Corrin. He turned around to see Elise with her big cheeks puffed out, clearly upset that he was hugging Sakura. He let go after a little while, amused at Elise's cute face when she puffed her cheeks.
"We must hurry. No doubt some of the guards have started to regain their consciousness." Kaze warned.
"Yes, we must. Hurry, Effie and Arthur at the rear, Kaze can you lead us to a clearing where we will be safe from them?" Corrin asked, and Kaze nodded. He led them forward, although some of the Nohrians became skeptical of being led by a Hoshidan, but Corrin and Azura convinced them to follow him.
"Uh, guys. I think we're being followed." Arthur stated, looking up at the sky, seeing a pegasus following them.
"Damn, Hinoka made it in time. This is gonna be a hard fight guys, but hold your ground. It's one of them versus our whole team." Corrin ordered. Gunter and Kaze ended their trek forward and followed the rest of the team, turning to face the pegasus knight.
"I can take her down quickly with one dagger throw." Jakob said, getting his dagger out.
"No, wait!" Sakura said, and walked forward to get a closer look at the sky knight and saw brown hair and long red hair dangling from the beast. "No, don't harm them. They're my retainers. They will not harm us unless I tell them to." They waited for the sky knight to land, but before he arrived, a pink women dropped down and landed right in front of Corrin, quickly taking out her katana and holding it to his throat.
"Don't worry, Lady Sakura. We have come to rescue you." the brown haired pink samurai said. "You, I will make you pay for all the pain you have caused Sakura."
"No, Hana. Don't, they're not holding me hostage. I came with them." Sakura reasoned with the samurai.
"Oh, really? Sorry. I still don't like you though." Hana said, targeted at Corrin. The sky knight arrived and introduced himself as Subaki, and Corrin realized that he was building a team to for his cause.
Really Sorry about the delayed chapter here. I got writers block on the Orochi and Corrin fight, I still think I missed something I wanted to add. I really want to increase the production rate of the chapters, but it'll be hard with final exams around the corner. Also, I have just finished watching my first anime, and I won't say which, but I may make a fanfic for that one too, if I can handle writing two stories at once.