Just a heads up, I'm going to not put down opinions on your votes unless absolutely necessary. That way I stay impartial in that regard. So he says while participating in the votes himself. - LyokoDragon15

To InfinityEdge: Sorry bud, the people have spoken. - LyokoDragon15

To Sugouxxx: Um... am I missing a key weapon from the game? I never heard of the finger weapon class... kidding! XD Don't worry, I think I know what you meant, and it's not happening for a while. - LyokoDragon15

To Gerson: While listing off the choices in an order is helpful, we're going to have a separate vote for each destination or decision. So, while appreciated, you only really needed to say the first part. - LyokoDragon15

To Temporal King: Yeah... going to have to remedy that when they see each other again. Sorry about that. Definitely using the idea for Kana's birth being the first merge between Demon and Damon, it's a great one and really touching in my opinion. And, while I'd like to say my piece about your choice, I already said I wasn't going to. Instead, I'll just say you put as much thought and effort into it as usual. Thanks again for the review! - LyokoDragon15

To Siege Master: Thanks for the input! We're trying really hard and hope to keep your interest! - LyokoDragon15

To Demonic Succubus: Yeah, Da/emon turning evil is a big problem in a lot of ways, not all of which are made clear quite yet. All I will say is that it will effectively be a 'Bad End'. - LyokoDragon15

To Darth Raven: Huh... glad to know a lot of you are getting the picture when it comes to thinking out the pros and cons to a choice. Regardless, I think you're getting it quite well that this is kinda like playing an RPG blind, even if those weren't your exact words it's how I'm rationalizing it. - LyokoDragon15

To UlitmateSans: Yes I know, Kana's adorable. Can't wait to write her as a baby and amplify that. Not quite sure when we're doing Sakura and Oboro, but it'll be around the time where Takumi is nearing his peak. Maybe before then, again not too sure. - LyokoDragon15

To Godly345: Thanks again for being the tiebreaker! And the thing with the cockblocking is kinda a shtick that's going to go down in flames as more of the currently female centric officers get in on it. But hey, at least he knows not to impregnate every time, as seen with Flora. But then again, instincts... Anyway, I wouldn't expect Xander any time soon, but it's definitely a thing. As for Lilith... well, we'll get to the problem with that in due time. Until then, hope you're enjoying it so far! - LyokoDragon15

Late at night in the Hoshidan capital, Ryoma stood on one of the high balconies of the royal palace looking out in the expansive city of the capital, taking a moment for himself to forget about the war. Though it was quiet and his mind was somewhat at ease, his thoughts were brought back to Hinoka, who decided to abandon her duty and go searching for Damon again. "Damn it, Hinoka," Ryoma cursed under his breath. "Is finding Damon again really so important to you that you'd abandon us when we needed you most?"

"Hello, my lord," Kagero dropped behind Ryoma and bowed. "I've finished my reconnaissance mission."

"And?" The red clad samurai asked expectantly.

"It's as we feared," the kunoichi sighed heavily. "Takumi is spinning this to make it look like Hinoka was fed up with the queen. Fortunately, she was well known enough for most of the poplulace to know that isn't the case, but he has drawn a few more recruits because of it. Mainly those who are jealous of Damon for the lengths Hinoka is going through to see him again, but still."

"That number will grow quickly as doubt in us grows and fades in Takumi," Ryoma sighed defeatedly. "And with one of our most trusted and powerful gone, his arguments are actually being taken seriously. If we can't stop him on his crusade against us, there won't be enough of us left to deal with Nohr."

"About that..." A deeper voice sighed. Both Ryoma and Kagero's gazes flung over to the side railing where Saizo was climbing up. "I just got back from my own recon mission. Xander and the Nohrian party just fell back to the capital."

"What?!" The prince questioned incredulously.

"Apparently, your brother talked Xander down enough to make him turn back to gather a stronger force," the red haired ninja explained. "He bought us three months, tops. Probably more if he causes enough mayhem on the Nohrain front."

"If he does," Ryoma reminded him. "Keeping his head down could let them stick with the three months, but we still have to deal with Takumi in that time. Him getting here faster may help us, but he'd also have less to offer. My bet's on him taking a few key positions and exploiting what he knows of Nohrian warfare and units to take on Garon."

Saizo's reddish brown eye looked up above Ryoma as he saw something move in the shadows. "Move!" He shouted and pushed the prince away, blocking a heavy sword blow.

Four black, metalic armored knights dropped to the ground carrying two handed swords and charged at Ryoma. The back of their Bassinet knight helmets had a black horse hair tied in a tail fashion. "Invaders?" Kagero questioned and took out her needle. "Are they from Nohr?"

"For the one true King!" The knight with red strands of hair on the back of his helmet yelled out charging at Ryoma.

"I'd take that as no," Saizo growled and backed off before throwing his steel shuriken at one, the explosive tag causing damage to the other three.

"I doubt they're from Takumi either," Ryoma added and drew his Raijinto. "They're too well armed and coordinated for new soldiers."

These knights knew how to move in their armor quite effectively for being seemingly heavy, moving their large swords to crack and splinter the ground when the swords would hit the wooden balcony. Ryoma dodged what would have been a devastating blow and stuck twice, felling the first invader in a fan or gore.

Another knight brought his metallic boot to Ryoma's chest, kicking him back while the remaining knights got in to a wedge like formation to prepare their charge right in to their target's defense. Their mistake was letting their guard down long enough for Kagero to send her needles into their shoulder joints, halting their attack. The knights fell back recovering from Kagero's attack, using their swords and spears as supports for keeping themselves up. The poison in their system's burned, bringing them closer to death's door. "Now!" Ryoma shouted and rushed towards them with Saizo alongside him. The two felled two more knights, leaving one remaining. "You'd best surrender," Ryoma suggested, putting his katana to the survivor's neck.

Though without warning the downed knights immediately fell apart and turned to a shiny black dust, making sure no one could find out about who sent them. "What?!" Kagero shouted surprised. "He just... who would do such a thing?"

The distraction was all the knight needed to smack Ryoma's sword away and break for the railing for an escape. However, he was stopped by an etherial rat plunging into his back, turning into thick ropes that restrained him. "Perhaps we'll find out when we interrogate him," Orochi speculated, pocketing her scroll.

"Thank you, Orochi," Ryoma sighed. "I should not have let my guard down."

"That's fine, but I only came here because I bring rather dark news," the diviner sighed. "My reading has changed. Without Hinoka to help bolster support in us and route Takumi's attempts, that five months we had to prepare turned to four."

"Damn it," Ryoma cursed and picked up the new prisoner. "Maybe getting a bit of information out of our new... guest will give us a bigger time frame."

Saizo was investigating the ashes and saw an unknown symbol among it. "Lord Ryoma..." He called to the Hoshidan prince.

Ryoma sighed and handed the struggling body to Kagero. "Imprison him and ensure he's treated for his wounds," he ordered. After the kunoichi nodded and rushed off, Ryoma made his way to his other retainer. "Yes, Saizo?"

In the ashes was a black insignia with a faded red star that he handed to the Prince. "Have you seen, anyone with this before?" He asked his prince.

"I can't say I have," the samurai mused, looking it over for anything else. "Perhaps this has something to do with Takumi's recent behavior.

'"HAHAHA! You're all doomed, there is no escape!" The captured knight yelled at the group as he struggled against Kagero.

"Oh, hush you zealot!" Kagero snapped and bashed the blunt end of her spare sting shuriken into his head, knocking him out.

"I'm not sure he was referring to Takumi or someone else," Saizo stated. "Either way, we'd best increase the security around the castle, who knows what would have happened if that was Sakura or Queen Mikoto."

"That begs the question... why weren't they attacked?" Ryoma questioned. "Sakura doesn't know how to fight, and Subaki in next to useless without his steed. And mother doesn't have Orochi with her at the moment and those men would have wiped the floor with the detail she has otherwise."

"Perhaps because you're the king pin in our army?" Saizo suggested. "If you go down, we're out our leader in this war and our ace in the hole. Raijinto can only be wielded by you, my lord. Well, maybe Hinoka if she absolutely had to, but she isn't here is she? Maybe this wasn't an attempt to prove Takumi right... maybe someone wanted to cripple Hoshido further and killing Mikoto would disprove most of Takumi's statements."

"You make a good point as usual, Saizo," the prince sighed and headed inside. "Hell, they probably would have at least taken me out of the fights to come if you hadn't been there. And that's just the best case scenario..."

"Big brother!" Sakura shouted, running over to Ryoma with her staff ready. "Are you alright? You weren't hurt too bad, were you?"

"Relax, Sakura," the samurai ordered and started to comfort his younger sister. "We're all fine. Saizo blocked the only really threatening attack for me, and my retainers are easily the nimblest in the castle. However, I'd like you to examine the prisoner Orochi caught for us. He took a beating in our attack and... well, it's easier to interrogate someone when you can threaten them, despite how underhanded it is."

"I understand, brother," Sakura bowed and headed for the prison cells.

"Kagero, make sure Sakura isn't hurt at all," Ryoma ordered. "I'm heading to bed, feel free to do so as well when Sakura is under the watch of her retainers again."

"As you wish," the kunoichi replied and followed the younger princess.

"Perhaps I should follow her instead?" Saizo suggested. "I am the stronger of us."

"True, but Kagero is faster," Ryoma argued. "She'd catch a blow faster than you would."

"Fair enough," the red haired ninja sighed and turned his back to Ryoma. "I'll take first watch over you then. Good night, lord Ryoma." The ninja quickly disappeared after that.

"Good night, Saizo," the samurai echoed, removing his armor and getting under his reinforced covers. "I just pray we all make it out of this alive..."

(Line break)

Damon's eyes slowly opened to see the visage of beauty that was Camilla next to him. Memories of last night flooded him and he couldn't help but kiss the woman next him. "Good morning, Camilla," he whispered and embraced her. "Mother of our child... one of the most beautiful women in Nohr..."

"Oh, Damon," Camilla giggled and kissed her lover back. "So long as we're playing that game... you're easily the most handsome in all of Nohr and Hoshido and father to what is sure to be our adorable and powerful baby girl."

Damon chuckled, hugging Camilla. "You think she's going to look like you?" Damon asked seeing as their child could take the traits of her mother more than him.

"Hmm... I see her having my hair and your eyes when she's born," the lavender haired princess predicted. "After that... she'd probably get some of my figure, but still have your stature." Damon's eyes shifted as a rather upsetting thought went through his mind.

"I'm not going to be able to protect her from her suitors..." Demon complained, worried about his future daughter.

"Relax, my love... she'll definitely be stong enough to fend for herself," Camilla joked. "Although, I can see her wanting to be doted on and protected by us from time to time... after all, that's how you were growing up. I remember how you'd always come to my room when you had a nightmare." Camilla sighed at the memories. "You were so cute."

"Yeah then when I got my room, I think when I was... five, you started to stay there with me every night before heading back to your room," Damon said to Camilla, remembering the Northern Fortress.

"Of course I did," the princess giggled and brought her prince closer to her. "It's a big sister's duty to ensure her little brother is tucked in at night... even if you weren't really my younger sibling by blood, I still liked to dote on you like I would with Elise and Leo... even Xander, when I could get away with it."

"But I was always your favorite," Demon stated cockily.

"I think the child growing in my womb can attest to that," Camilla agreed with a smirk on her face. She stared at Demon for a moment before a pout formed on her lips. "The only problem with that is that I can't fully show you how much I love you until our child is born."

"Well..." Demon cupped her face and kissed his lover again. "It's not like we have to do it that way..."

"Oh, my sweet prince," the lavender haired princess giggled and drew Demon closer, pressing her breasts into his chest. "You're incorrigible, you know that?" A knock on the door interrupted the two.

"Big brother, big sister, are you awake yet?" Elise's muffled voice asked from the other side. "It's about time for breakfast! Then the soldiers and officers wanted to discuss where to go next!"

Demon sighed, removed his arms from Camilla, got up and answered the door. "We'll be out in a moment, Elise," he said with a debonair smile. Elise's slightly pale face turn into an inferno and she immediately looked at her shoes.

"Al-alright, big brother!" She blurted out before running for the dining hall.

"… I'm not the only one who thinks Elise has a crush on me, right?" Demon asked Camilla, who was getting dressed in her armor. "I mean, I don't want to seem like a jerk or overconfident but... it's obvious, isn't it?"

"Damon, darling, It's about as obvious as you are powerful," she stated, finishing with her armor. "Tell me, despite her shyness about matters like that, has she tried anything with you yet?"

"Well... before we resurfaced, Elise and I kissed in the... bath..." Realization hit Damon like a bus. "Well no damn wonder she was blushing from that! I thought it was the heat or something when that happened, but now? It's kind of obvious to me she meant that in a more intimate way than a sibling kiss."

"You're so cute when you're flustered," Camilla sighed and hugged Demon from behind, resting her head on his for a moment. "Now, get dressed stud. We both need to eat."

"Yes Mam..." Demon sighed seeing as he was having a very confusing morning, painful as it may be to see that his mission had little room for breaks and relaxation, he had to always be on the move.

The two arrived in the dining hall decked out in their armor and took their food, Camilla taking a little bit more than usual. "I'm just glad I didn't get morning sickness today," the seductive princess confessed quietly. "Would've caused quite a stir if we announced the baby right before moving out again."

"Elise probably would have wanted to throw you a party," Demon half joked. Knowing Elise, that was actually a very real possibility.

"By the way... I've noticed that Scarlet woman giving you rather flirtatious looks," Camilla observed. "Care to explain?"

"Oh y-yeah... she was?... I mean yes I'll explain... later though." Demon said seeing as a few officers were approaching them.

"We already gathered some of the votes," Selena huffed and dropped a few papers on the table, refusing to meet Demon's gaze. "And we already voted ourselves. Honestly, lady Camilla is the only one who hasn't voted yet."

"Thank you, Selena," Demon smiled at her. "This really helps a lot."

"I told you he'd appreciate it," Beruka deadpanned to Selena.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Selena denied and walked away, trying to ignore the burning in her cheeks.

"… You know, I'm more than willing to let you have some fun with Damon every now and again!" Camilla teased her retainer.

Demon spat out his wine that he snuck in his canteen while Selena fell over on her face. Beruka stopped, a little hurt that Camilla wouldn't even mention her. "T-this wasn't even my idea!" Selena huffed. "Beruka's the one who roped me in to this!"

"Oh?" The princess's gaze fell to her other retainer, a mischievous smirk on her face. "Then by all means, the offer extends to you as well, Beruka. Although, I won't lie. I didn't think you or Selena were naughty enough to take interest in your Lady's lover."

Beruka's face was flushed with red as her cheeks slowly reddened hearing that from Lady Camilla. Selena's face immediately turned a shade of crimson that Scarlet would have wanted on her armor and looked like she was about to pass out.

She's enjoying this... how do I know that? Oh right... I'm in a relationship with her and have literally known her for almost my whole life.

"We-we-we're going to eat now!" Selena excused herself and Beruka after recovering her senses. The mercenary grabbed Beruka's hand and bolted, the assassin too shocked and embarrassed to put up resistance.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Demon asked Camilla, seeing she likes pushing people's buttons and pulling the strings of fate.

"I was only letting them know I was alright with them spending time with you," she proclaimed innocently. "After all, they work so hard... surely you'd be able to relive some of their... frustration, no?"

"… If I didn't know any better, I'd say you get off on this," Demon jabbed.

"Who says I don't?" Camilla countered with a smirk ever-present on her face.

Demon shivered hearing that; even with his hardened spirit and will, he still felt odd when she said that. "I... don't have an argument for that..." He huffed out.

"Good boy," Camilla cooed and patted Demon on his head before returning to her meal.

Demon looked over the votes as he ate, writing something down on a sheet of paper every so often. "So... some troops suggested we liberate a village, some wanted a fort and others wanted to head back to Frigid Oasis to resupply," he told Camilla. She daintily wiped her mouth with a napkin before looking at Demon's notes. "Personally, I just crossed resupplying out since none of the officers wanted that and it'd be a bit selfish to ask for supplies from them again so soon, but..."

Maximus approached his father, sitting right by him on his right while Camilla was already at his left. "Father... Aunt Camilla." Maximus greeted the two, while he began to eat his breakfast.

"Hello, son," Demon replied before going off on his tirade again. "Anyway, it'd be nice to have a few more troops and supplies before we put ourselves at the mercy of Lady Luck."

"If you ask me, she has more of a thing for you than mother if Aunt Felicia's stories are true," Maximus quipped. "Oh, and check this out!" He reached under the neck of his armor and pulled out a light blue stone as well as a red one. "Azura gave me these today! Said they're different elemental dragonstones, fire and ice to be specific. That way I don't have to leave the type of breath I use up to chance."

"Huh..." Demon examined the two stones around his son's neck, an idea forming in his mind.

"Don't think about it dad, Azura said that they only work if breath is an option," Maximus told him. "You're pure fire... well, Azura said she could sense some water in you too but couldn't find a stone for that yet. Hopefully we'll find one near the ocean or a lake."

"Damn," Demon cursed and took his own stone out. "Why's mine green then?"

"She said it was a basic dragonstone, it only focuses on the primary breath instead of if being to chance, his son explained. "Apparently I need these since I'm a perfect half and half. Actually, Azura said there was a high chance of that being a common thing between your kids. She's been in the Dragon Realm for hours looking for some other elements, just in case."

"In case you're wondering, that's about three or four days in there," the woman in question told them as she sat across from Demon with visible bags under her eyes.

"Can't I have one in Red?" Demon complained to Azura, as it would offset his armor's color scheme.

"I could give you a fire one, but I'd rather wait until we find a water for you as well," she sighed tiredly. "Especially since it's likely going to be a default first half to your children's."

"Fine, I guess that's good for now." Demon sighed slamming his gauntlets on the table. Without warning his gauntlets caught on fire. "Shit!" Demon shouted, waving his hands trying to put out the flames. A few quick waves of Azura's hands had enough water in the air to put them out with Demon's mad flailing. "What the Hell was that?!" Demon snapped, not knowing how the gauntlets engulfed in flames.

"Likely some of the... draconic power manifesting itself," Azura yawned. "It's likely a byproduct of your training... so sleepy..." A quick shake from Maximus woke her up enough to continue. "It will calm down and become yours to use like Maximus as we continue... the oni tribe in Hoshido might also be able to help a bit too... you did spare their princess after all."

Demon was trying to think who she was talking about, then he remembered the woman who he let go, on his birthday. "You mean that red and white haired woman?" The prince asked.

"Technically the chieftain's daughter, but it counts enough..." Azura's head made contact with the table, shocking her awake with a yelp.

"Too bad we're in Nohr right now," Maximus sighed, lighting his hands on fire and putting them out just as fast. "Learning how to control this better would go a long way for my combat endurance."

"Why would she help me though?" Demon asked. "Yeah, I spared her. But that doesn't mean she's going to give me the time of day to control this."

"Actually, she's bound by honor and pride to at least try to," Maximus informed him, drawing surprised looks from around the table. "What? You thought I learned to do this on my own? I had plenty of time to read and the Deep Realm I was in had some books on the onis and how they fought. It even went into their culture a bit."

"So... why would she hate me?" Demon asked. "From what I understand they're warriors."

"It was kind of set up while she was a prisoner," Camilla remembered. "Perhaps she saw it as an insult."

"Well... there is another reason," Maximus sighed. "If a noble defeats a high ranking oni, it's basically taking them as their own. There's a process to this that makes it so that it's more of a test to see if one is worthy of being the spouse of the oni in question, so such events like that is the mental equivalent to a forced marriage. So by that logic, it makes sense that she'd hate your guts."

"Oh?" Azura asked with half lidded eyes. "Then what would it mean to release her after like Damon did?"

"… Dad, you poor fool," the spell sword said with a pitying tone.

"What? Wouldn't that be like canceling the ceremony?" Demon asked.

"Actually, that pretty much was saying 'you're not good enough for me,'" his son explained. "So not only did you defeat her and made her your wife, you straight up said she wasn't even worth your time."

Demon spat out his wine again, all over the floor. "WHAT?!" He exclaimed.

"Well it makes much more sense why she'd hate you," Camilla giggled. "Although, it's rather fortunate she isn't." A frightening smile grew on her face. "I might have had to take some rather... drastic measures otherwise."

That's right Camilla warned them after I spared her and Kaze...

"So... when did such a tradition start?" Azura asked.

"Mainly as a way of creating stronger warriors as a whole," Maximus explained. "The theory is that two strong warriors will give birth to an even stronger one. Kind of how like... I need a good example here and I can't think of one, damnit!"

"Perhaps yourself?" Camilla suggested. "You're not as strong as Damon yet, but you seem to have his strength and endurance as well your mother's magical aptitude and speed."

"I have magic too!" Demon shot back seeing as he had the ability to conjure and protect himself from flames, as well as teleport people from one place to another.

"Damon, my sweet prince, let's be honest," the lavender haired woman chided with a smile on her face. "Felicia and Flora are much better with combat magic than you are. Your recent... slip is proof enough of that."

"What about magic?" Felicia asked as she passed the group.

"Damon's a little jealous of you and your sister's magic," Camilla teased her lover.

"Magic just comes to us easier," Felicia comforted her prince. "You're good, but it's like comparing a novice dark mage who was a warrior to someone like Leo. We've had more practice and have a higher aptitude for magic. What brought this on anyway?"

"They were discussing traits I inherited," Maximus answered, finishing off his food after. "They were saying I got mom's magic affinity."

"Oh, Flora? Sure, she's strong, but contrary to popular belief, I'm better at magic than her," Felicia stated, getting a shocked look from Azura and Maximus. "Well, it's more like combat in general. I'm not as good a maid as Flora..."

"Flora, say that again and I swear I'll-"

"What the hell are you wearing?!" Selena shrieked, interrupting Demon and drawing attention to her and Scarlet. The same respected warrior who was currently dressed in what looked like a skimpier version of Flora and Felicia's maid uniform. In reality, she nicked one of theirs for a moment.

"The repercussion of a bet," the blonde stated calmly with a smirk on her face. "I'm dressed like this in camp for a month. Thankfully, my master was merciful enough to let me wear armor in battle."

Demon badly suppressed his snickers for a minute before breaking down and falling off his chair, laughing like a hyena. "Oh gods!" He shouted between his laughter. "I didn't think you'd go for the slutty version! This is freaking rich!"

"You... you had her dress like this?" Camilla asked confusedly. "What kind of bet did you two make?"

Demon kept cackling like a hyena, nearly breathless from the results of the bet. He slammed his hands on the ground, trying to resist the urge to roll around. After taking a moment to calm down slightly, he got up and faced Camilla, still trying to suppress his laughter. "Ok... you know that spar I had with her by the lake?" He asked, getting a few nods from around the table. "Well, the condition for her winning was I had to spend a bit of time with her in the Dragon Realm bath house, while mine was... this. But, in my defense..." He bursted out laughing for a few seconds before managing to compose himself again. "I did not expect her to wear what she is now."

"That makes me wonder..." Camilla stated, a mask of concealed rage covering her face. "Just... what is the relationship between you two, really?"

```fuck```

"Oh, I just wore one a few sizes too small for shits and giggles," Scarlet told the princess with a serious expression on her face. "I'm going to change into something more appropriate before we move out... well, I'll need to make some adjustments to my uniforms first..." The twins glared at the globes of meat on Scarlet's chest in envy, both questioning what the hell they fed girls in Cheve to fill out their maid uniform that much.

"Alright, votes are counted," Maximus sighed, still snickering every now and again. "Looks like we're hitting a village first."

"Shouldn't be too hard for us, especially with the wolfskins backing us," Scarlet stated, now in a better fitting uniform. "Hell, we might even be able to win this one without a fight thanks to them."

"How do you figure?" Elise asked curiously.

"Wolfskins are easily the most feared faction in Nohr next to father," Demon explained while looking over the map for a worthy mark. "The sight of them in an army is enough to make a few green soldiers surrender, if the report Kaze gave me of the troops behavior is true."

"Which is why I think we should attack a fort first," Selena grumbled. "These guys could use the training."

"We'd be painting a target on our backs we can't afford to have though," Beruka argued. "Garon coming down on us in our current state is not an ideal situation. Hell, that'd probably be it for us right there."

"Enough squabbling you two, we already made our choice," Camilla tutted her retainers. "After all, either way we get more troops and supplies. Although, I am worried this will give people a reason to fight back against King Garon..."

"I know what you mean," Maximus agreed. "Cheve is too far for a revolution outside of their resistance. But these people... they're in Garon's playing field and know the land. They take up arms, this war gets a lot bloodier."

"We shouldn't have to worry about that for a while though, right?" Felicia asked. "No matter how strong we look, they're not going to take up arms the moment we liberate one area."

"Maybe not, but all that positive thinking piles up and they might try something," Flora countered.

"All it takes is a spark..." Demon breathed out, adjusting his new helmet and placing it on his head.

"It's a rather wet powder keg though, milord," Kaze added. "Taking a village will definitely give them courage, but I don't think they'll start seriously considering fighting back without your banner without causing a heavy blow to Garon, or a lot of small ones."

"I think what Kaze is trying to say is that he doesn't think anything will happen unless you free a few villages or an entire region," Hinoka elaborated. "We'll definitely be starting something by doing this though."

"Nohr has always been in a state of... well war. We've engaged provincial territories in the now large Kingdom of Nohr, because we are a nation of limited resources; we had to conquer just to survive," Demon informed them. "These were once small independent states with their own cultures, and they were destroyed." Demon continued to explain to them.

"The same will happen to us and all the different races in both Nohr and Hoshido if we don't find a way to stop our true enemy, right?" Keaton asked. "So maybe hitting the villages first before heading for Cheve is the right idea. We get more additions to the pack and then we take on the Alpha."

"We're getting off topic," Arina sighed and stabbed a medical knife into a village near the mountain. "We strike there first, go from there. No use in talking over the what ifs when they can still be prevented. Besides, whether we slaughter the masses or take them in is totally up to our leader. Although, I wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of this pent up power and spilling a bit of blood..."

"Peri likes her," Peri stated with a bloodthirsty grin on her face.

"Alright, we have a destination," Demon snapped before anyone could start anything again. "All of you, finish your prep work and be ready to march in an hour. Same goes to the troops, spread the word." He turned on his heel and walked back to his room to pack up. As he did, Maximus studied the village they marked called Volkern.

"Are you alright, Lord Damon?" Felicia asked. "You seemed a little tense in there."

"I'm fine, it's just... got a bit of a headache with all the bickering is all," he answered, taking off his helmet and rubbing his temples.

"I don't blame you," the pink maid laughed. "Flora and I were about ready to freeze everyone they were getting so annoying."

"Hehe... If you were getting annoyed, I know it was that bad," Demon chuckled. "Well, I don't feel as bad now for snapping at least."

"Say, Lord Damon..." Felicia's voice trailed off and she took a few steps closer to her lover. "Have I... been doing ok?"

Demon blinked a few times as he looked at Felicia, not really sure what she meant by that. "Uh... pardon?" Demon asked Felicia.

"I mean... I know I can be clumsy and I haven't really been doing much fighting as I should," Felicia clarified. "So I was wondering if that's why..." The rest of her sentence was muttered at a volume Demon didn't hear.

Demon cocked his head to the left, just listening to her ramble. "That's why...?" He tried to get her to continue.

Felicia whimpered a bit before she blurted her answer out. "If that's why you've been favoring Flora and the others!" The blush on her face almost started to let off steam she was so warm. "You've been spending so much time with them... I was afraid I was falling into the background like back at the fort..."

"… Uh... I... oh. Oh! Yeah..." Demon finally got what she was saying. "Listen, I've just been really busy, I didn't mean to ignore you or anything... but I'll try to make it up to you, I promise." Demon said to her as he took off his helmet kissing her on the left side of her cheek.

The maid breathed a sigh of relief before continuing. "Actually, that got me on another train of thought... when we finally get to conquering a fort or two, how will we keep a hold of it without a commander? And if you put one of the girls in charge, how are you going to visit them?"

"It's more likely to be one of their personal lieutenants actually, we can't risk anyone important in case we can't get to their location in time."

"So... someone like a retainer or an experienced troop, like a general or wolfssegner?" Felicia questioned. "That can be taken either way... and I'm not sure Selena or Beruka would appreciate that too much."

"I respect Beruka and Selena... as officers on the field, they're more of a hands-on type of warriors, and I'd like to keep them that way." Demon said to Felicia before drinking his water. "Take it as this, I need to choose people who have the experience of Governing territories while we're campaigning across the Nohrian front, and if I can't rely on someone with little to no experience at not just maintaining the territories garrison or commerce, well... I'd just have to fight a quick replacement or we'll be losing a war to policy rather than to dying by the tip of our enemy's blade."

"Alright," Felicia nodded and hugged the man in front of her. "I understand... so more of a local hero type, like a militarized mayor or something of the like... hey, Damon?"

"Yes love?" He asked Felicia, seeing as he was trying to get his mindset straight of maintaining more territories since they plan to expand.

"Well, two things. First of all, do you plan on having some of us govern smaller areas? After this is over I mean."

"Territories cap.. Liberated, will be either left to their own devices. The mayors or elected officials will either maintain the leadership of the area or will replaced leadership managing and/or governing the areas. I won't let the country fall beneath the decline of decadence, which ravage a nation's ideals and morals."

"Good," the pink haired maid smiled. "That makes me happy..."

"However... If things take a turn for the worse..." Demon started to think that the liberation, should it be used against him in any way.

"Actually, I wanted to get to the second thing..." Felicia's face heated up again and she took a deep breath before continuing. "I... can't wait to have your child."

Demon's mind felt like it just cracked hearing that, he dropped his glass of water. "I'm sorry, something crazy just buzzed in my ear, do you mind repeating that?"

"I want to have your child... not now of course, but... I think it'd be nice to sometime soon," Felicia confessed, looking at him with pure love and devotion in her eyes and a blush on her face.

"Right, wait a minute... are you... are you jealous that Flora has one and you don't?" He asked her making sure if that was the case.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit jealous... but I've been thinking about it a lot without factoring in Flora and Maximus," Felicia giggled.

Demon paused for a moment, trying to think of a way to respond, though nothing came to mind hearing that from her. "Hold that thought... MAX!" Demon yelled out for his son.

"Yeah, father?" Maximus poked his head in the room. "Actually I have some research to share when you get the time."

"Son when do we move out to Vokern?" Demon asked his son.

"Actually, about that..." Maximus handed a few papers to Demon.

"Don't tell me they changed the vote... What's this?" Demon asked again looking at the parchment of paper.

"No, it's a bit of history, records and folklore of the area," Maximus explained. "While the legends vary from a thunderbird nest to a stray nue from Hoshido-"

"Legends? Isn't Volkern just a small village with a large silver mine?" Demon cut his son off from explaining the folklore.

"Actually, there's been trouble in the past regarding frequent thunderstorms in the area," the spell sword continued. "While it's probably the silver mines drawing it, there's frequent lighting strikes in the area. Unless you use underground routes or have special equipment to keep from attracting the strikes, you're almost guaranteed to be hit. Hell, the village is under a hill for that very reason."

"W-wait wait, wait! Hold on the letter! Do we even have schematics or layout design to this village?" Demon asked him, seeing as he didn't know what he was walking in to.

"I did pull up some records of the development and renovations with the help of mother and Kaze, even drew a rough idea of the layout with Aunt Hinoka's help." Maximus handed Demon another parchment.

"Can I see it?" He asked not wanting any more surprises. Demon took the parchment and read the map, his eyes widening by the second. "T-this isn't a village... fuck this isn't even a town! This is a city!" Demon looked at his son before looking at the layout of the area. "Are you telling me we have to march right in on this location and remove the garrison in this city, not village... City?"

"Well, that's just the upper layer," Maximus explained. "It's not the village, that's the hub for silver trade and the mines."

"Oh My Gods...son please stop... are you telling me that something is bigger underneath this all?" He asked with his heart practically banging through his chest plate.

"Actually, Camilla managed to mark down the guard barracks, some of the patrol routes and the village itself." The second generation dragon handed his father a third parchment with a smaller picture on it. "This is the actual village."

"Mmhmm... Now son, I know you inherited my tactical mind...so answer me this do you honestly believe they never change their patrol rosters and routes? They could have these soldiers armed to the teeth on certain areas where that would be dangerous for attacking. This is a city we're talking about, I thought it was a village with a silver mine... But the Silver deposists are that big, then we're in trouble..." Demon was practically grinding his teeth, not counting the amount of soldiers he could lose by the end of this assault, if they even succeeded in liberating Volkern.

"Father, did you read the notes on the silver mine?" Maximus pointed to a few scribbles on the second sheet. "Most of them are the cannon fodder you'd expect for slave drivers, almost negligible to wolfskin hides."

"Son, trust me when I say this... this is Nohr we're talking about, Silver is a valuable trade item, I don't think Garon would just let his silver mine be... Unguarded like that." He was worried about the defenses.

"And that's where the village comes in," Maximus explained, pointing to the third sheet. "the bulk of the stronger men live in a separate area-"

"City..." Demon corrected reminding him of the size.

"Right... anyway, they live in a more comfortable building than the men and women of the area in the residential district. If we take out the guards on the mining and shipping level fast enough and capture or kill anyone before they send for help, we can catch them off guard and ambush the patrols and collecteers in the residential area. After that, it's a quick sweep through the barracks."

"Boy we're screwed if we mess this up..." Demon banged his head on the table a few times, startling Felicia.

"Yes... and we have four people who could pull the first part easily."

"Never mind the experience or strength... we're outnumbered. The numbers on these sheets, assuming they're still valid, put us at... One to twenty... that's putting it mildly." Demon remembered the size of his current force.

"Which is why this is going to be an assassination run for the first two parts." Maximus whistled and a grunt brought in a few pairs of ragged clothing, one male and two female. "Here's what I'm thinking. You, mom and Aunt Felicia infiltrate masquerading as workers, picking off some of the secluded men in the mines. Beruka and Kaze handle the groups in the shipping area, opening up for the wolfskins, masking their tails as belts, to take the residential patrols. After that, the rest of us attack the barracks."

"Question...?" Demon said to his to son, seeing one flaw in his plan.

"Is it that you can't use a knife as effectively or are you worried about finding bodies?"

"… Son, your mother, aunt and I are clearly wanted... the moment they see us, they'll know." He stated.

"And you thought I didn't think of that?" Maximus signaled for someone else to come in, this time Camilla. "Aunt Camilla is going to make sure you three are unrecognizable by the time she's done with you. She said she's done both minor and major infiltration missions for Garon, and has had to mask her appearance to keep from blowing her cover."

"And surely, you remember my track record?" Camilla questioned.

"Oh Dear Gods, no..." Demon panicked for a moment. "Make up is for girls! Blood and guts is for men!" Demon declared.

"Let me ask you, sweet Damon..." The lavender haired women giggled before beginning her tirade. "How often have I been covered in blood? Or Peri? Or Hinoka, Scarlet and my retainers? And what about father? You think he looks bad now, just remember what he looks like without his morning... enhancements?"

"Please let me have a least some dignity," He whined to Camilla seeing that infiltration seemed like a stupid idea. "I mean no offense, but no matter how good you are, there's always my eyes. They're a dead giveaway, as well as my scars."

"A little blush and some blindman's glasses and no one will tell the difference," Camilla laughed, taking out her supplies. "Now then... Flora, come here if you would?" The blue haired maid was in the room in moments.

"Yes, Lady Camilla?" She asked, confused by Damon's horrified expression and her son and Felicia's amused expressions. "Is there something you need?"

"I need to prepare you three for an infiltration job." Camilla waved to the clothes and makeup on the table. "If you wouldn't mind stripping down with Damon and your sister, I need to get started."

"Good luck, dad," Maximus chuckled on his way out, averting his eyes from his stripping aunt and mother. "You're going to need it where you're going."

"Max, you son of a... wait... damn it!" Demon cursed, realizing that insult wouldn't really work on him without insulting Flora.

"Relax, my sweet," Camilla cooed and took out the first appliance, a few different powders with different colored skin tones. "This will only take... a few hours." She started to giggle manically at an increasing rate, unnerving the three prisoners to her whims.

"Damon... just how serious is she about this?" Felicia asked.

"Very..." Demon swallowed, seeing Camilla approach. "Now... my sweet prince, I need you to get out of that apparell..." Camilla said, holding cloth and thread.

"Um... before we start this, I just want to say I'm not comfortable with foursomes yet," Flora stated nervously. "And... if possible, I'd like to keep fake scars to a minimum."

"Oh sweetie, like this is with consent..." Demon said nervously as Camilla drew even closer.

"Oh, don't worry," Camilla said assumingly, painting over Flora's skin with a brush. "I promise not to tease... too much."

"Lies!" Demon hissed, seeing Camilla was a master of seduction, with that tactic no less.

"Well... maybe not with these two." Camilla eyed Demon hungrily before returning to her work, a gasp escaping Flora's lips as the brush glided over a nipple of her breasts, the skin around it now a shad of light brown. "Oh hush you, it's just a brush... I'm sure you can attest to Damon being much better."

Keep it together... it's just a brush going over her skin...

Demon stepped back for a moment. "I'm going to get a drink..." Demon moved over to his satchel, pulling out his flask.

"No you don't," Felicia objected, grabbing his wrist with an icy vice. "We are not going through this... sensual torture without you. You're as much a victim of this as we are, and I refuse to let you squirm out of it. You wanted to repay me, right? You can start by staying put."

"Felicia, I rather not have my ears tortured by the noises you two will make..." Demon was worried about that being put in to an effect.

"Please, Damon, by all means..." Camilla intentionally brought the brush over Flora's other breast, this time getting a moan out of her. "Enjoy it. I'd like to be... thorough in my covering anyway. After all, I'm sure some of them don't wear undergarments..."

"See what I mean?... She enjoys this all too much..." Demon told the two, seeing Camilla at work.

"Which is why you're staying," Flora growled, struggling to hold back a yelp as the brush went down her spine.

"You know, now that I see you both without your uniforms... Felicia seems to be the more toned of you two," Camilla teased. "Must be from all that fighting she does... oh well. I'm sure a few... sessions with Damon will get you to look similar to your sister again."

"Lady Camilla... please..." Flora whimpered, shuddering as the brush ran up her inner thighs. "Not in front of Lord Damon..."

"…..." Demon remained dead silent as his face turned from a light red to draining of all colors.

"Oh, what's the harm?" Camilla asked, grabbing Flora's rump. "I'm sure it makes you all the more... comfortable to Damon. Besides, I've heard it happens to all mothers."

Damon's inner battle of controlling his inner Demon was nearing its limit.

*THUD*

Demon fell to the ground, knocked out from inner turmoil and arousal. "Oh dear," Camilla giggled, glancing over to his prone form. "It seems I went a bit too far with him. Oh well, I've finished with you... might as well start with sweet Damon next." She grinned savagely as she changed her tone and brush, eying the bulge in his undergarments. "Best start with the troublemaker..."

It took a few hours for Demon to regain consciousness, and in that time Felicia was on the floor panting, her skin now a light bronze color and her hair a pitch black, though the glasses on his face made the room seem a tad darker. "Huh...?" He looked himself over, finding himself covered in a dark brown substance. "She already finished?"

"Yes, sweet Damon, I finished," Camilla confirmed, putting the last of her supplies away.

"… What sick perversions have you subjugated your retainers to before?" Demon asked, holding no doubts that she has disguised them before.

"Oh trust me... I went easy on you three," Camilla replied eerily and tossed the three their clothes. "Now then, dress up, all of you. Maximus has us ready to move out and wanted to be moving in about... ten minutes?"

"How long will these disguises hold up?" Demon asked Camilla.

"Hm... assuming you don't do anything stupid and get completely drenched or cut... about twenty four hours."

"What if the slave holders... wash us down before making us work?" He asked worried about the facility and how it handles it's labors.

"Please, what would be the point of doing that beforehand?" Camilla questioned. "It'd make far more sense to do such things coming out. Actually, I'm pretty sure I made that a rule during my visit there... so there should be nothing to worry about. That being said, make sure you get all the guards in there, I won't be able to apply a fresh coat after you enter the mining area."

"…... mmmmm..." Demon groaned as he believed this would never work, if this somehow got all messed up, he'd turn in to his dragon form and start throwing himself into harm's way.

"Oh, by the way... The tunnels won't be able to support the massive shock transforming will cause, so only do it if you feel like digging your way out of the rubble and risk killing literally everyone, including the twins," Camilla warned him before leaving the room.

"Wonderful, so what am I exactly going to be doing besides, digging and being whipped like a red headed stepchi-" Demon stopped seeing Selena peek in to the room.

"So... we'd best get dressed, right Damon?" Felicia asked and pulled the dress over her head, being careful not to smudge the disguise and totally oblivious to the red head peaking in.

"… I'd be mad at you... but I feel like pitying you more for once," Selena mumbled, a blush growing on her face. "No one should have to go through that... hell Camilla calls a disguise preparation." She turned on her heel and left the doorway, trying to maintain her composure after remembering her sessions with Camilla and seeing Demon nude at the same time. It was difficult to say the least.

"That could have gone far worse," Flora sighed, brushing her dark brown hair over the neckline of her dress. "But I'm assuming it was that bad if she decided to pity you of all things."

"…. Ughahudahsdauuh." Demon started to have an internal combustion as he was trying to wrap his head around this crazy event.

"Don't worry Damon, we're here for you," Flora and Felicia soothed, hugging their lord.

"Why couldn't someone else have done this..." He complained getting up off the floor.

"Actually... I'm pretty sure Maximus was going to conscript someone else into doing this, but you're the only one with a sturdy miner build and experience with a knife," Felicia told him, pulling a shirt over his head while Flora pulled up his trousers.

"Who said I was experienced with knives?" Demon asked Felicia.

"Camilla, Elise, Scarlet, Kaze and Camilla's retainers," Flora listed.

Demon pulled out his Yato blade. "Because this looks like a knife..." Demon retorted.

"They said you had training for a bit," Flora added. "Well... With Scarlet and Beruka, it was more of a guess, and Selena agreed with Beruka to get out of it. Besides that, Maximus wanted you with us since you'd know if anything... unseemly were to happen to us."

"…. They're going to get punished for this later..." Demon said seeing as they just wanted to throw him into it because that was the easiest solution.

"After experiencing that, I don't blame them," Flora stated, blushing at the statements Camilla made. "Who does she think she is, humiliating me like that? …Like the same won't happen to her and Felicia when they have a child..."

"Honestly, I think she'd just embrace it as sex appeal," Felicia retorted. "And I'm standing right here, sis!"

Demon looked down in his trousers seeing she got him literally everywhere.

She even got me there... you have no bounds Camilla..

"Yeah... she did the same to us too... or as far as she could go in our case," Flora admitted with a blush. "She even used small brushes when the bigger ones risked getting... inside us."

Now I really feel bad for Beruka and Selena.. .something tells me Camilla used them as practice...

"Alright, you two ready?" Demon asked, shaking off his embarrassment. Getting an affirmative nod from both of the maids, he pushed the door open and started heading out. "Alright then, let's find the others and head out." The confused looks that Demon's troops gave him when he took position in front of them spoke volumes of how effective Camilla's disguise was. "Before any of you ask, yes, I'm your leader. Assuming Maximus has briefed you all of the plan, we can start as long as there are no questions."

"Um... I'd ask about scent, but since there are no wolfskins in Garon's army it doesn't matter too much," Arina sighed in her usual bored tone of voice.

"Anything else?" Demon asked. Being met with silence, he turned around and gave the command to start. "Forward march, Liberators!"

"Wow... big sis did a great job!" Elise mused as she rode up to the three disguised heroes. "Guess the rumors are true about her talents. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you weren't my brother at all!"

"Technically, I'm still not your brother by blood..." Demon sighed, reminding Elise.

"It's the thought that counts!" she objected. 'Just like how Hinoka sees you as her little brother, or how you still think of Garon as your father!"

"Heh, guessed I'm not the only one who had to dress up," Scarlet teased, now clad in her usual combat armor. "Have to say though, none of my men or I could ever hope to compare to what Camilla did."

Please don't rub it in...

"Huh... I guess that Nohrian skank isn't good for nothing anyway," Hinoka muttered under her breath.

"Peri knew it was you, Damon!" The bloodthristy noble declared. "She wasn't fooled for a second! But, Peri will admit, Lady Camilla did a great job."

"I'm pretty sure the only reason Peri recognized you is because she isn't all there," Keaton joked, nudging Demon's side. He immediately held his hands up in surrender the moment she pointed her spear at him.

"Care to say that to Peri's face?" She asked with a dangerous smile on her face.

"Oh calm down, child," Reina chided. "I may want to kill as much as you do, but at least I don't wave my weapon around in the faces of my allies all the time."

"What was that pirate face?" Peri asked, pointing out the X in the middle of the kinshi rider's face.

"Please, is that the best you could come up with?" Reina taunted. "I think jesters have come up with better insults."

"Both of you calm down at once!" Kaze ordered.

"Stay out of it, ninja!" The both of them shouted at Kaze.

"No, he's right," Demon growled. "Peri, stop threatening the soldiers, and you... Reina was it? Why are you even here?"

"I was ordered to bring Hinoka back to Hoshido," she answered, immediately putting Demon on the defensive. "However, I found that there are more... worthwhile pursuits here. Bringing back a childish princess can wait." Hinoka had to bite her tongue to keep from responding to Reina's words. At least not while her precious little brother, Damon, was annoyed.

"And that would be?" Demon questioned, pushing for a motive.

A rapturous look came over Reina's face as she answered. "To kill all who stand in the way of such powerful creatures like you and your son. Those powerful forms you can take on... all the lives you could end in a single breath... such glorious potential cannot be put to waste!"

Hinoka sighed and had her pegasus trot to Demon's unoccupied side. "Yeah... the reason she was sent after me is because she's the only one who could stand a chance of bringing me in, other than one of Sakura's retainers... hell, she was to supposed to supervise me in the fort Ryoma was sending me to before I made my escape."

"Wait... you ran away to find me?" Demon asked the red haired pegasus rider.

"W-well, I already told you my reason!" Hinoka retorted. "And now, since I can't bring you with me, I've decided to make sure you get through this with as little injury as possible! Speaking of..." Her mood went from mildly embarrassed to saddened. "How are your... you know..." She pointed to a few places on her torso.

Demon blinked a couple time hearing that from her. "How are my what?" He asked her utterly confused.

"I didn't want to seem rude, sorry," she apologized before continuing. "The scars... from the river? Are they healing alright? I was honestly scared you died for a while before realizing... You're my brother. You wouldn't go down that easily!"

"Oh... yeah, I've been recovering just fine... you don't need to worry about that." Demon said patting Hinoka on the head. He had to stretch a bit to do so, but he did it.

"Good," she laughed before looking behind her, her eyes locking on Azura. "And Azura. How's she been, being back in her homeland after all this time?"

"Adjusting, though I think she'll do fine, seeing she has a calm demeanor most of the time... though I believe that's just because she masks her feelings." Demon was worried for Azura, seeing that she was conflicted with Damon turning in to something dark and twisted.

"I'm not surprised," Hinoka sighed. "This is the first time she'll be seeing war to my knowledge... same goes for Sakura too, now that I think about it." A pit formed in her stomach and she let out another heavy sigh. "I hope they're all right... Hey, Damon? Should I... go back to Hoshido?"

"What? N-No, I don't want to see you get wrapped up in Takumi's twisted little game, I want you here with me..." Demon said to Hinoka, grabbing her hands and holding them as they walked.

The Hoshidan princess couldn't keep a smile off her face and pulled Demon onto her steed and into a hug. "Thanks, little bro... I don't think I'd be sound of mind either way to be honest... at least with you, I can find some comfort."

I ain't little... what's up with them calling me brother?! This kink better end, or it's going to make those kind of nights weird unless I can figure out how to ignore it...

"Volkern province, dead ahead!" The scout shouted, causing the force to halt.

"Alright, all troops to the outcrop I pointed out in my presentation!" Maximus ordered. "Father, mother and aunt Felicia, come here for a second." He handed the three of them a set of knives each. "These knives were made with the Volkern area in mind. Sharp enough to kill, sturdy enough to last a good few scrapes and, most importantly, won't bring down the wrath of the gods on your heads." Maximus chuckled at his joke before adopting a serious look again. "Auntie, mother, help father conceal them on the way there. Father should remember the entrances enough to get you inside. But, just in case, Kaze and Beruka will tail you from a ways behind, they memorized the map if you need help."

"We'll be taking out the guards at the entrances before joining you inside, so be careful my lord," the green haired ninja warned before disappearing.

"Don't worry too much... we'll try to be quick," Beruka reassured them in her usual deadpan before jumping into one of the trees littering the plain.

"Well... this is it," Felicia said uncertainly. "So... lead the way, lord Damon."

"We're in your hands, master," Flora bowed and gave him a smile.

"Are you two sure you can handle this?" Demon asked them. "I don't want to see either of you hurt."

"Maids and butlers are like bards in a way," Flora chuckled. "We may be good at what people associate our name with, but we specialize in assassination and spying as well."

"This will be our first time in a mine... but, it can't be that hard, right?" Felicia asked, back to her optimistic self.

"Alright girls," the prince sighed and pointed to a rocky outcrop. "Right over there should be an entrance inside. Let's get moving."

"Yes, Damon!" The twin maids agreed in synch and started to follow their lover. Within minutes, the three were close enough to see the wooden overhang that marked the entrance into the mines, the construct attached to a rather large rock spire. A guard was sitting underneath, reading a red covered book with a spear leaning against a metal door.

"There's the entrance," Demon confirmed. "Alright you two... how do we sell our act to get in? With the clothes we were given, we need to act somewhat poor, but what else?"

"Um... we could act sick?" Felicia suggested.

"No, they wouldn't want sickness spreading in such an enclosed area," Flora rebutted. "I think feigning starvation is a better idea. It will make us seem more grateful to be taken on in exchange for something to eat."

"We're in Nohr, food is hard to come by as is," Felicia argued. "Hmm... no, injury would make us less desirable... wait, I know!" Demon and Flora looked at her curiously before the third in their party made her final suggestion. "How about we lie and say Flora and I think we're pregnant, and the three of us are looking to make some coin and find a place to live before we give birth?"

Demon shook off the shock from her suggestion before adding his own. "Well... it's either that or say our village got trashed by raiders and faceless."

"As much as I don't like the pregnancy lie, it could work," Flora sighed. "Although, Damon's idea is just as good. I don't know..."

"What do you want to do, Damon?" The younger maid asked. "We'll follow whatever plan you say to."

"….Okay... uh, there is also another option which I am totally against..." Demon said to the two.

"We're listening," the two told him.

"To gain access to the city, if he asks for payment... I think you might have to show him some skin... " Demon mumbled out.

"No!" Flora shouted. "Not happening!"

"We're only yours, Damon!" Felicia agreed. "I don't want to flash myself for some stranger!"

"But if he asks for payment to get in, we have no coin," Flora sighed. "… Fine. I'll do it, but only if he asks for payment!"

"Agreed," Felicia said firmly, surprising the both of them. "We're sisters, Flora. I wasn't there for you when Garon took everything from you... but never again. If you go through with this, I will too!"

"Felicia..." Flora gasped. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes, but she froze them and flicked them away before they could ruin the makeup. "Thank you." She embraced her younger sister and turned to Demon. "Alright, master... what's our cover story going to be? Pregnancy or forcec out of town?"

"Refugees?" Demon suggested.

"Then it's decided," Flora agreed, along with a nod from her sister. "Alright, master, lead the way."

The three walked over to the entrance, startling the guard and causing him to grab his spear. "Halt!" He ordered, the three freezing in their place. "You're at the entrance to the silver mining village Volkern! State your business!"

"We're refugees, sir," Felicia stated in her most pitiful voice. "Bandits torn apart our village and now we have nowhere to go! And my brother, sister and I heard that they give homes and food to the workers here... please, have mercy on us and let us pass!"

The solder couldn't help but feel the tug on his heartstrings as Felicia sobbed. "Fine, fine! Just stop crying and let me open the gates!" The guard pulled a key from his belt and undid the lock on the door. "Alright, just see the quartermaster and get your picks, you'll be starting as soon as you get them."

"Bless you, kind sir," Flora bowed, an arm under her fake sobbing sister. The three rushed in and down the staircase. "Very nice acting, sister. Perhaps you should try for a play when this is all over."

"Oh, don't exaggerate Flora," Felicia giggled. "You could've done just as good as me!"

"Pat yourselves on the back later, we're near the end of the case," Demon told the two. The three almost had their breath taken away, and not just by the impressive stone columns that reached the top of the cavernous hub of the mine. Many of the workers were deathly thin and bruised, some of them wearing a cast, an eye patch or even missing a limb on their way in. All of them wore rags, and it was a small miracle that there were no children among them... although, it looked close in quite a few cases. "Holy shit..."

"How are these people still alive?" Felicia gasped in a hushed whisper. "Look at them all! It's a miracle some these people are alive!"

Demon's red demonic eyes looked at their body signatures, trying to detect heart beats. "….. No it's not... they're dead."

"What?" Flora asked.

"These are undead thralls, magic is keeping them alive, the ore their mining isn't silver... the silver is even lower from the look at the mine deposits," He informed them recognizing the crystals.

"Are all of them undead?" Felicia asked nervously, feeling a little sick. "Some of these workers... they barely look like they're in their teens!"

"Where do you think War criminals, rebels and invaders get sent?" Demon asked the two.

"… This isn't a mine," Flora stated, icy in her tone and covering her hands. "This is a prison... no. At least there they'd get food and rest. This... this is a torture facility."

"Damon... we need to liberate this place," Felicia stated firmly. "What's going on here... It's wrong!"

"They don't trust the living to mine something this important, magic can do a lot of things in Nohr, turn dead crops back to life, cure ailments, turn copper in to gold." Demon informed them.

"But necromancy?!" Felicia almost shouted, tears forming in her eyes.

"In the most extreme cases, they do this to research them to figure out how to survive the grips of disease and death... sure it's horrible, but a lot of things have been done in history to discover medicine..." It was cruel, but to a point, it did have meaning.

"These people... they're not being experimented on though," Flora argued as they made their way to the quartermaster. "Damon... we need to put them to rest. If not for the sake of morality than to at least give these souls a peaceful death."

"I agree... but first we need to locate the Silver mine, that was our objective." Demon said to Flora and Felicia.

"Who the hell are you?" A gruff voice asked the three as they arrived at the quartermaster's area, halting their conversation. "New workers for the mine? Or just freeloaders?"

"Greetings Quartermaster, Uh... me and my sisters are looking for the Silver Mine for work. " Demon stated to the quartermaster.

"Silver, eh?" The turned around and grabbed three pickaxes and dropped them at their feet. "Take a right from here and go straight. Left is the other mine. But you need special permission to go there."

"That tunnel that leads further down in to the city?" Demon asked the Quartermaster.

"Yeah, but you need to drop off a certain amount of silver ore before you can go in," he growled. "Thirty pieces to be precise."

"Thirty pieces?!" Flora gasped. "That's... that's insane!"

"I don't make the rules, I just dole out the gear," the man shrugged.

"What if we hauled the cart shipment of the Finite crystals so your thralls don't have to waste the trip."

"… How the hell do you know about that?" The quartermaster questioned, narrowing his eyes at Demon.

"It's not as if it's a secret. Everyone has heard the rumors, my cousin worked in the imperial palace..." Demon forged a story.

"… Fine, I'll buy that," the quartermaster begrudgingly accepted. "But you stay away from the crystal mines! And the thralls! You wanna push carts, you can do it in the silver mine and help some poor sod out. But that only halves your quota."

"Very well," Felicia agreed. "Alright brother, sister. Let's get to work." She hauled the pickaxe over her shoulder and headed for the silver mine, Demon and Flora following shortly after.

"From what I recall, the mine goes in a full circle and has a ton of unstable break offs," Demon informed the twins. "Flora and Felicia, you head left and take the guards out as you go. I'll break right and do the same. If you need to get rid of the bodies, throw them under some dirt and ore in the carts or down an abandoned shaft."

"Are you sure you can do this, Damon?" The older maid asked with worry in her eyes.

"You've never really been one for stealth," The younger maid agreed, subconsciously rubbing the palm of Demon's hand.

"Hey, I'm your master," the prince joked, patting the two on the head. "Have a bit of faith in me."

The plan seemed simple enough, though the three knew if they messed up they'd have the entire garrison on them within a few short minutes.

"You there, Quarter Master!" A black knight with a red plume on his helmet, yelled to the quartermaster.

"Ye-yes sir?" He responded nervously.

"Reports have come to our knowledge, saying that the rebels of Nohr are planning to infiltrate Volkern city. I hope you are on the lookout for suspicious activity, as the infiltrator is a Prince." The knight informed the Quatermaster.

"Nobody royal looking came through here," he replied. "Just the usual street trash."

Felicia, Flora, and Demon hid behind a corner after hearing the conversation ensue between the two.

Gods Damn it! Who is he and how did they know?!

"Alright girls, let's do this and be quick about it," Demon whispered, darting into the mine. "And remember, look like you're working if you hear footsteps behind you!" Demon was glad for the dim torchlight and natural vison that came with being dragonkin. Otherwise, he'd be stumbling around like a blind man. He finally found a target, a burly man with a sword on his hip. Demon took a shaky breath and drew one of the knives in his clothes. After saying a silent prayer, he leapt at the guard and plunged the blade into his throat, covering his mouth to muffle the scream. Demon didn't let go until the man in his grasp stopped moving and his breath went still. Wiping off the knife and tossing the guard into a shaft, Demon stalked around for his next target.

Things were going well. He killed almost five guards and nobody was ever the wiser... except maybe the miners, but he was saving them so they kept quiet. Demon estimated himself to be just before the halfway mark before a bellowing voice boomed down the hall. "Come on out you kur!" Demon immediately jumped down an abandoned shaft and looked behind him. It was the black knight from earlier. "I know you're in here! Skulking in the dark, like a rat. Who put you up to this, rat? Hoshido? Cheve?"He turned down the corridor Demon went down and started to search behind the jutting rocks. "Or was it that vile poison, Damon?"

Demon hid himself in a crevice in the wall and pulled some old wood over it. As the thudding grew closer, his heart rate picked up and his breath grew unsteady. The knight finally came into his field of vision, carrying a wicked axe in his hands. "I know you're in here, little rat..." He looked inside a rusty minecart before turning his sights to a nearby rock. "You can't hide forever..."He growled in frustration before changing tactics.

"You were supposed to die at the bottomless pit you pathetic whelp... " The knight growled looking around the cavern. "But somehow you survived..." Demon's blood started to boil. Whoever this bastard was, he worked for Valla. Hell, he might have been a general judging by the decoration.

"Then you survived that attempt on your life in Hoshido... you crawled back up like a rat that just won't die..." He finally continued down the corridor, his heavy armor making each footprint echo. Demon didn't dare move until he couldn't hear his bootfalls.

"Then when you decided to act like an idiot and choose neither side... you should've died there... My lord is surprised how stubborn you are... " Demon pushed the taunting echos out of his head as he carefully removed the boards in front of him and bolted.

"Damn it," he growled. "He's going to tip off the others if I don't do something!" He noticed a rotting support beam next to him as he ran and grinned. "Hello opportunity."

"Then you found out the secret of Valla... oh if you only knew what our Lord has in store for you... but it'll be far too late."

"That's enough of your shit," Demon growled again as he exited that shaft and threw one of his knives. Lady Luck was merciful, as the blade knocked the support beam askew and started a cave in down the abandoned shaft. Rocks fell and the miners scattered from the area, too frightened by the threat of being crushed to remember Demon throwing the knife.

*FZZZT!*

Demon was hit with a red arrow on the back of his shoulder as a skinny, armored female archer knotched another arrow to the bow, drawing it's string preparing to fire again. "Hold still..." She warned him. "Or then next one will be in your throat."

"Nnngh... So... he wasn't alone," Demon chuckled. "Looks like I was sloppy."

"Aye, it would seem so," she agreed as she drew closer, keeping her bow trained on her prisoner. "Now... you're going to follow me out of here and-"

*SHLUNK!"

Blood leaked from her mouth and she released her arrow, the shot going wide as the corpse fell to the ground with a knife in the back of its throat. "Damon!" Felicia sobbed and launched herself at her lover with tears in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around him, taking care not to hit the arrow in him. "Oh gods... we almost lost you again..."

The wound started to form glowing red veins that spread down to his chest, Demon quickly pulled the arrow out instead pushing it through tearing in to his flesh. "What the Hell?!" Demon exclaimed seeing the veins beginning to spread. "Was there poison in that thing?!"

Flora wasted no time in nicking his chest with a knife and removing the arrow. "Felicia, help me suck this stuff out!" She ordered, placing her lips to a cut.

The veins immediately traveled upwards to Demon's neck and then finally around his eyes showing him a flash of some sort of image... it was a black marble throne. He didn't recognize it, but he had the haunting feeling that he wasn't alone.

"Th̭ͬe͌͌ré̻ ̯̎you̟̾ ̴̪͍a̲͌r̍ͅe̦̍.̼̽.̹.̆̓.̼͞"

Demon spun around and drew and went for a knife, only to find himself disarmed in a second. "This is only a hallucination," he mumbled to himself and closed his eyes. "A side effect of the poison in that arrow..."

"I̾̌tͣ ̷̖mͣ̃ͪa̖̍tt͞e̻̥r̨̞͡ș̢̒ ͌n̥̽ôṯ ̾w̯̰͜hå̀t̿ ̪ýou̼ b̺̩eͩ͝l̝ͅị͋̊e͟v͒e...̭̣ͦ.ͧWͥha̬͆͝t ̐̇̕eͩͣveͤ͌ȑ ͜yͭ́oū̑ ͍͂thͧink ̱ͮy̷͂oͬu͓ͪ͠'l͚͒͂l̦͢ ̩̓͠ac̠ͤ͢čo̷͈m̰͢p̞li̠̬̒ś̆h,̹̻̖ ̩͐ͥy̽̆̾ou̶͖'rͫ͋͘e̽ ̵ͫgo̓͏͞ing̉ ̓t̛̋͢oͬ̓ ̢̼͆f͂̒͏aį͝l̓.͖̖..ͦ"

"You're wrong!" Demon shouted. "I'm only just getting started! Besides, the hard part's over... once my... no. I'm not telling you my plans!" The dragon prince started to hyperventilate as eldritch whispers echoed in his head, promises of pleasure and pain alike corroding his sanity.

*Dad, wake up... fight!*

Damon woke up with a loud gasp and started coughing. "Thank gods!" Kaze sighed in relief. "Everyone, he's woken up!" Damon's officers swarmed the room, all of them with a worried expression on their faces.

"Damon sweetie, are you alright?"

"You damn prince! Don't scare us like that!"

"Peri was so worried..."

"Dad, I was about to drag your soul back from wherever it went and kick your ass for leaving mom and I again..."

"Big brother, you're ok now right?"

Damon leaned over to the side of him and threw up a black substance, coughing and gagging from the experience. "Everyone, give him some space!" Azura shouted. "He's sick! That poison might not be fully out of him yet.

"Wh-where are we?" Damon asked rubbing his eyes as the room was still blurry.

"We're in the barracks of Volkern," Scarlet stated, wiping tears from her eyes. "The rest of the operation went off without a hitch. You've been out for almost a day now. If Flora and Felicia hadn't been sucking out poison... We're not sure if you'd still be here."

"… Wait, did you liberate the city under the mine?"

"That we did," Hinoka said somberly. "Hell, you needing to get better spurred us even more."

"How long was I out for?" Damon asked seeing how that was even possible.

"Must still be delirious," Beruka sighed. "Scarlet already said a day."

Damon's eyes widened. "Who... who the hell lead the effort?"

"That'd be me," Maximus raised his hand. "Rallied the troops and assaulted them as soon as the wolfskins did their work."

"A day... That seems... impossible." Damon said to the others. Capturing a city is no small effort, maybe the barracks but a whole city.

"Well, we haven't seen sunlight in a while," Elise admitted. "It might've been two... maybe three?"

"Gave us quite a fright, leader," Keaton chuckled and slapped Damon on the back, taking care not to hit the healing wound. "Don't think I've seen Arina get as angry as she did either. Hell, she's still working off enough energy to turn back to normal."

Damon groaned as he got up from the bed, moving his right hand over the scar on his face. "Flora and Felicia... how're they doing?"

"They're fine," Kaze assured him. "They've been resting in the bed side yours for a while now." Damon looked over to the sleeping maids and noticed the disguises had worn off, leaving them in their regular colors. So was he now that he thought about it.

N̨̬̞̓̆Oͭ҉̞ ̝ͧ͗̀̂È͝S̭C̺͉̭̰͍̣ͣ͛̅Ă͐͞P͔Ẻ̵̛̛̘̞̥͎͍̣͔͇͈

Damon gasped and clutched his head again. "No... get out!" Everyone looked hurt at his words except Scarlet and Azura.

"I wouldn't take offense to it, people," the blonde wyvern rider assured them. "The poison's probably making him hear things."

S҉͖͎͇̾҉U̸̫̎F̼̟̦ͥF̸͇E͖̱͌̎͠R͚̞ͭͫ̐

"Shut up!" Damon shouted. He turned to bash his head on the wall but was stopped by Kaze and Camilla

"Somebody, get something to make him sick!" Kaze shouted. Elise immediately started to rummage through the cupboards, looking for such a medicine.

"Give me a second!" She called over her shoulder

Y͕̬ͥ̓͌̍O͖̞ͧͣUR̢̢̛̮̯ͪ̔͜͢ WͭȎ̡̼͈̹̦̲̾͐R̠̦̀ͫ̌̿ͭ̍L̟D̪̲͓̉̇͌ ̍̄͘W̷̫͈̬̒I̭̼̣̫ͥ̉͋̐̈́͠L̑L͍̈͆ͬ ̮ͭͬ̓ͣ̋̓ͦ͜B͙̙͎̥ͩͨË́ ̡̘͕̖̟̼ͪ͊ͣM͓̼ͩ̏ͨͥ͊̒̌̍IN͏̲͙̱̲̋̏̽͡E̛̓!

"Found it!" Elise shoved a pill into Damon's throat as he let out a pained scream, the small pill going straight down. The man was deadly quiet for a moment before going for the bucket again, throwing up the black ichor for three minutes before normal vomit came out. He stopped shortly after.

"Glad we had extra buckets," Keaton said to the group. "Don't want to know if that stuff can get through skin too."

"What kind of insidious poisons did they brew to do this to you?" Peri growled. "Peri will burn every herb she sees that could have done this."

"… I don't know... I saw a throne... it was black as night, there was this swirling vortex behind the throne... that's all I saw." Damon said to them.

"Rest for now, Damon," Hinoka soothed, sitting him on the bed. "You're sick."

"I can't... I don't want to go back to that place..." Damon worried, fearing the voice would return.

"I have never seen him so shaken up," Camilla stated, moving herself on Damon's bed hugging his body.

"The poison's gone, so the visions probably stopped," Kaze rationalized. "But I doubt they were pleasant if he's this out of it."

Selena started to blush as an idea formed in her mind. She crawled in on the other side of the bed and embraced the terrified prince. "If you need a voice to listen to... then listen to ours. The people who care for you," she soothed. "Everyone in this room cares for you, Damon. We wouldn't be here otherwise. If it keeps haunting you, just listen to us."

Damon's fangs started to replace his teeth as his mind was comprehending what he just saw, the fear gripped his mind further dividing himself from his darker personality. Azura could see what was happening to him and started to hum, the necklace beginning to glow as she did. Slowly, the breach in his mind started to mend and his features returned to normal. "Damon... don't worry," Camilla cooed and brought one of his hands to her stomach. "Remember... you have so much to be happy for and look forward to."

To look weak in front of my friends...

Tears dotted Damon's eyes as he buried his face into Camilla, just like when he was little. But he refused to cry. He had to keep fighting through it. Only the weak and feeble cry. The strong fight through the pain.

How pathetic am I?

"It's about time you broke that dam of yours," Scarlet sighed, taking a seat on the bed as well. "Sure talking helps, but sometimes you just need to let it all out sometimes, leader. Hell, I was a minute ago."

"I'm certainly not going to judge," Elise comforted Damon. "I'm not afraid to admit it, I was crying the whole time you were recovering, big brother."

"… Me too," Hinoka testified. "I was scared... no, terrified that I was going to lose you again."

"For once, we agree on something," Camilla agreed, running a hand on Damon's head.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't crying," Maximus said. "Mom and auntie were the whole time they weren't helping with your recovery."

"Peri would actually be feeling really guilty if she wasn't," the childish woman admitted.

"You've become a dear friend to me these past weeks, my lord," Kaze declared. "I'm not afraid to say I shed some tears on your behalf."

"I shed a few tears as well," Azura stated. "You're someone dear to me Damon. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."

Everyone sans Damon looked expectantly at Beruka and Selena. The red haired mercenary sighed before confessing. "Fine, I was crying for a bit too, happy?"

"I... think I was crying," said Beruka unsurely. "I felt so crushed when I heard Damon might die again... no. I know I cried, this time and the last. I don't think there was any other reaction; just tears."

"OK, when Beruka cries, you know it's alright to every now and again," Selena persisted. "Just cry for a few minutes, you stubborn prince! Otherwise we're going to assume you think you're better than us!"

"I do remember a point on Damon that always made him tear up," Camilla suggested with a grim smirk on her face. "I always did wonder what would happen if I hit it while he was already like that..."

"Big brother, you and I both know she's being serious," Elise warned him. "Just... let it out for a little bit... if not for yourself, then for us."

Damon choked out a sob, trying his best to keep the tears at bay. It was fruitless effort in the end though. With all the heartfelt emotion in the room, the trauma and his recent experience, he couldn't help but let the tears flow. It was like a dam burst from behind his eyes so much water started pouring out. He actually started to dampen Camilla's shoulder a little bit.

"Don't worry, my dear prince," Camilla soothed, bringing Damon closer to her. "After all... it'd be best if our child knew her father was able to cry every now and again, no?"

"I'm sorry... what?" Maximus questioned Camilla. "Did I hear you just say what I think you said?"

"Whoops! Cat's out of the bag now," Camilla giggled before turning to the group. "Everyone... I'm pregnant with Damon's child. And it's a girl!"

Everyone reacted to the news as followed. Kaze, Elise and Keaton were congratulating the pair on the bundle of joy that was on the way. Reina was wondering just how strong the new baby would be when it was older while Peri was conflicted with being happy and strangely (on her part) sad. Selena and Beruka were blushing and questioning when the hell that could've happened when they weren't looking. Flora and Felicia woke up and were informed, then joined in with Kaze, Elise and Keaton. Scarlet blushed and placed a hand on her own stomach and Hinoka was seething with both jealousy and anger but pushed it aside to be happy for Damon. And finally, while Azura was wondering what kind of dragonstone the child would use and, subconsciously, wondered if she'd have a child of her own someday with the man, Maximus was having a crisis on how he was related to his new sibling since his father was Camilla's step brother.

"Hey... you guys," Damon interrupted the festivities with a smile on his face. "Thanks... I really needed that. But, as much as I hate to kill the mood, I need to know how many we lost in the assault."

"Oh... right," Maximus sighed. "Forty eight of our human troops were killed taking the barracks, two wolfskins were killed taking the streets. Poisoned blades got them when the knights defended themselves. Actually, that's what brought on Arina's beastform in the first place. All fifty got a proper burial yesterday."

"Damn... can't believe we lost that many," the prince cursed.

"On the contrary Damon, we were lucky to keep the numbers that low," Scarlet informed her lover while tugging on the fabric of the maid uniform's neck. "If we didn't have Elise with us, the casualties would be much higher."

"Really?" The dragon prince raised an eyebrow and pat Elise on the head. "Well, great job Elise. You've made me proud to be your surrogate brother." Damon forgot to stop mentioning Elise as his sister, seeing as he would not want that habit to be carried on when they'd eventually click.

The blond girl blushed heavily, twirling a lock of hair other than one of her drills around her finger. "It-it was nothing, big brother," she stammered, a lustful look in her eye. "But it makes me happy to hear you say that." 'Gods damn it, I'd try for you now if there weren't so many people here, big brother!'

"So... how about we take the rest of today and tomorrow to recruit forces and recover," he suggested, trying to get the look Elise gave him out of his head. At least until she stopped calling him her brother.

"Sounds good to me," Maximus nodded. "Scarlet, you, Camilla and Azura are first for recruitment duty. All of you are better with people than the rest of us and father's recovering. Keaton, you and Arina can try to appeal to the thugs of the area and get them on our side. You're tough enough to take care of yourselves if things go south anyway. I'll figure out a schedule for tomorrow, but I'm getting some sleep and painting in tonight. Father, you just take the day off."

"But-"

"You were poisoned and shot today," Selena interrupted him. "And I swear to gods, I'll knock you out if I catch you training or trying to recruit tomorrow. Got it?"

"Yes... mam..." Damon relented seeing as Selena was deadly serious.

"Now everyone out, father needs to sleep," Maximus ordered, waving everyone out. Flora and Felicia stopped by Damon's bed before leaving, the two smiling down on him.

"Alright... get some sleep, love," Felicia purred and kissed Damon, then moved so her sister could do the same. "We'll be sure to bring you breakfast tomorrow, ok?"

"Alright girls... I'll try," Damon sighed. "I'll see you in the-" A vial landed in Damon's lap, filled with the usual sedative.

"Not sure if it's a bright idea with the poison and all, but it's your call," Scarlet smiled. "Need to buy some more while we're here..." She went to her room, smiling at the thought of having time to see if she was pregnant tomorrow as well.

"… You did get it all out..." Maximus reminded him. "So it may help a bit."

"Just... scream if you feel like it's hurting you," Flora sighed and dragged her sister out with her. "We love you, Damon." The twins and Maximus left, leaving Damon in the dark with the vial.

"Whelp... down the hatch," Damon said nervously, swallowing the potion in one go. He immediately felt the effects and passed out within minutes.

Elise cracked the door open and peeked in, making sure Damon wasn't awake before sneaking in. She placed the bottle on the nightstand next to the bed and checked Damon's pulse. "Still alive," she muttered to herself. "Good..." She pecked Damon on the lips and felt a shock go through her body. "Oooh... maybe there's still some poison in his system." She stripped down to her underwear and crawled into bed with him, a blush growing on her cheeks all the while. "I'll just stay the night to make sure he's fine. That should sate anyone who asks." She couldn't help but kiss her step brother again, relishing in the tingle this time. "I have to stop doing this... I was almost caught last time."

"… Mmmmph," Damon groaned and started to squirm in his covers.

"Don't worry, big brother," Elise whispered, embracing the object of her affections. "You're little sister's right here with you... relax..." Damon let out a sigh of relief and calmed down, wrapping his arms around Elise on instinct. "Little sister's always here to help you when you're feeling sad..." She couldn't help but squirm from the high she got from her own words. "Your... shameful little sister..." Her breath quickened but she calmed herself down rather quickly. "No, Elise! You promised yourself... he'd be awake and willing for your first time." She closed her eyes and kissed Damon one more time before getting comfortable. "I love you, Damon... my big brother..." Her soft breathing soon joined Damon's as the two fell into a deep sleep.

Commander: Damon

Officers: Camilla, Felicia, Selena, Beruka, Scarlet, Azura, Elise, Lilith, Peri, Arina, Maximus, Kaze, Keaton

Troops: 615/ Wolfskins: 70/ Total: 685

Liberated/Allied areas: Frigid Oasis area, Mount Garou (Wolfskin Tribe), Volkern area

Corruption: Low

Losses/Gains from Battles-

Frigid Oasis: None/ 35 Humans

Mount Garou: 70 Humans/ 70 wolfskins

Volkern: 48 Humans, 2 wolfskins/ unknown

And that's a wrap! We hope you enjoyed this chapter, things seem to be picking up for Damon now that he has a capital sized city under his control. Anyways leave a review, because we need them to see how we're doing and what we need to do to improve on our previous works.

-Starknight'Renegade-

-Thank You-

Sorry if the chapter wasn't completely what you expected. I mean, it was a settlement, just not as small as a village like as advertised. Anyway, Damon finally let himself have a good cry, there were minimal casualties, and there'll be an unknown variable to the people to fill in the gap. Could be a gain like last time, could be none. It can go either way considering the state of the people... or lack of thereof in some of the miner's case. Anyway, didn't bother with putting in the Finite crystal mine since the thrall are basically fleshy robots and don't need supervision, so no busting my hump about that! Other than that, I think we covered up any plot holes, so tell us if you found some and what you did and didn't like about the chapter.

-LyokoDragon15-

-Hope you enjoyed-