(A few days later, Corrin, Azura, Sakura, and Hinoka are all standing near a bed in the Hoshidan palace, having just arrived back from the Wind Tribe. Mikoto is lying on the bed)
Hinoka: Mother! I'm glad to see you're okay.
Mikoto: How have things been going for you, Hinoka?
Hinoka: I was at the Wind Tribe making an alliance for the war. It all started so suddenly... We've been scrambling to pull together a force to fight back against Nohr. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up.
Mikoto: Worry not, Hinoka. I'm happy to see you safe after the attack.
Hinoka: Thank you, Mother.
Mikoto: What has happened so far in the war?
Corrin: Not much. We made an alliance with Chief Fuga of the Wind Tribe. Sakura and I decided to go to Izumo to maybe gain help there. As of now, the Nohrians have us vastly outnumbered.
Hinoka: But we'll be able to stop them. I promise.
Mikoto: I wish it didn't have to be this way... I will never forgive Nohr for their crimes against Hoshido, but I still had wishes to end the war peacefully. It seems that won't be happening now.
Corrin: It'll be okay. No need to worry, Mother.
Sakura: Do you need anything of us?
Mikoto: Can you tell me where Takumi and Ryoma are? I haven't seen them since I woke up.
Azura: Takumi was working to defend the border of Hoshido. Ryoma left for the Nohrian territory Cheve after receiving a letter that they needed reinforcements.
Corrin: Why would he be going to Nohrian territory though?
Azura: Cheve was once an independent nation that rested on the far northern border of Nohr. It was well-known for its fighters, who could easily contend with the best of Pheuyura. However, when Nohr began its invasions, Cheve was swallowed early on. Ever since then, Chevois rebels have been hostile towards Nohr, trying to eliminate the soldiers occupying the country. My guess is that once they heard of the war's start, they sent a messenger to Hoshido to ask for assistance in fighting against Nohr in exchange for military strength.
Corrin: How long has the occupation been going on?
Sakura: It began a long time ago. I believe that it was when our grandfather was in power. That was when tensions between Nohr and Hoshido really began. I think Nohr invaded Cheve not long after.
Mikoto: That wasn't the only place Nohr invaded...
Corrin: What do you mean?
Mikoto: Oh, it isn't important. Thank you for visiting me. You have things to do, yes?
Sakura: We don't want to leave you just yet though... We just got back...
Mikoto: War is brutal, I'm afraid. Nohr won't be waiting for you to finish things here. Izumo awaits you.
Hinoka: Thank you again for seeing us, Mother.
Azura: I'm going to stay with her for a little bit longer. I'll catch up to you all soon enough.
Corrin: Alright. We'll see you then. Farewell, Mother. I hope you start feeling better soon.
Mikoto: Thank you, Corrin.
(A few days later, the group arrives in Izumo. Corrin, Sakura, Hinoka, and Kaze enter the palace of Izumo, which is completely empty)
Corrin: So this is Izumo...
Sakura: It's rather strange that it's so quiet here... The Izumite king is known far and wide for his lavish parties and festive outlook on life. Izumo is a country of fun in a way, even if it's also known for its close connection with the spirits of the dragon gods of old... I came here a few times on diplomatic visits with Mother... It's never been so empty...
Kaze: Even if it is empty, we can be glad that Izumo is regularly neutral in battle. We shouldn't have to face any sort of battle while here.
Hinoka: Come on, let's look around. It's strange that there's no one around. Do you think the Nohrians have already arrived?
Corrin: I don't know...
Sakura: Something is wrong. We need to see what's going on around here.
(The four begin to explore the Izumite palace. Scene transitions to a few minutes later following the search. Corrin, Sakura, and Kaze are all gathered together)
Corrin: I didn't see anything...
Sakura: There weren't any bodies though... That's good... It looks like no battle has taken place...
(A large blast of fire appears and nearly hits Sakura. Kaze jumps in front of her and blocks the attack)
Sakura: Ah-!
Kaze: Lady Sakura, are you alright?
Sakura: I-I'm fine... What was that?
Iago: It was just me.
(Iago appears onscreen)
Corrin: Iago!
Sakura: Huh? Who is that?
Corrin: I don't know much about him, but he seems to be the tactician of King Garon back in Nohr.
Iago: They don't need to know anything about me, you little brat, and neither do you! King Garon has sent me to claim the life of the traitor who left behind Nohr for the enemy. I'll never understand you. We raised you, and you still turn back and decide to destroy us?
Corrin: I cannot forgive your country's crimes against Hoshido! My choice was the right one!
Iago: Keep telling yourself that... It matters not. Your life will be ended here!
(The battle begins. Unlike the chapter in the game, your playable units start at the very top of the map where Zola is in the original design. The objective is to break through at the bottom where Oboro, Hinoka, and Hinata enter with Corrin. Iago is positioned in the middle where the playable units begin in the official chapter, though he is locked in. He does not move and is very high level, unable to be attacked due to his position. Note: Hinoka cannot be deployed at the start of the map. At the start of turn two, Oboro and Hinata appear at the bottom of the screen with Hinoka. All of them are automatically playable)
Hinoka: It looks like the place wasn't as deserted as we thought...
Oboro: I'm glad that we found you before things could go too far south, Lady Hinoka!
Hinata: It's a shame we didn't have any luck in locating Lord Takumi...
Hinoka: What happened to Takumi? Is he okay?
Oboro: We can explain later. For now, it's time to deal with this Nohrian scum!
(Corrin talks to Oboro)
Oboro: Ah! You must be Lord Corrin, yes?
Corrin: Yes, I am. How did you know?
Oboro: I've heard about you from Lord Takumi and Lady Hinoka. I'm your brother's retainer. My name is Oboro.
Corrin: It's nice to meet you, Oboro.
Oboro: As to you. Do you happen to know where Lord Takumi is?
Corrin: I'm afraid not. Is he missing?
Oboro: Yes... I can explain it more later. For now, it's time to take care of this Nohrian scum!
(Corrin talks to Hinata)
Hinata: Aha! So you're the famous Lord Corrin!
Corrin: Do we know each other?
Hinata: The name's Hinata. I'm Lord Takumi's retainer. I heard that you were back in Hoshido.
Corrin: It's nice to meet you, Hinata.
Hinata: Perhaps we should continue this conversation a bit later. We can't have ourselves getting killed at a crucial moment like this.
Corrin: I agree.
(After the battle)
Corrin: And that about takes care of things... I don't feel good about running, but I don't think we had much of an option. They were surrounding us so quickly. It didn't even feel natural.
(Iago appears)
Iago: You're lucky that we have to make an exit here. Be warned, young noble. Even if you have survived today, it won't last long. That much I promise you.
(Iago warps away)
Corrin: I wonder what could make him leave in such a hurry... He doesn't seem like the type to turn tail and run like that...
Leo: Perhaps I had something to do with it.
(Leo enters)
Corrin: Leo!
Leo: Hello, Corrin. Good to see you're still working with the enemy.
Corrin: Leo, please listen to me. I don't want to fight you. We can end this peacefully! Nohr and Hoshido can become allies with just a little bit of diplomacy!
Leo: I have nothing to say to a traitor like you. By leaving, you have ripped our family to shreds. I cannot stand to forgive that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way.
Corrin: Why did you come here? Can you at least answer me that?
Leo: Xander told me to. He suspected Iago was up to something, and it appears he was right.
Corrin: Xander...
Leo: Goodbye, Corrin. I hope you enjoy your new family.
(Leo exits)
Corrin: Leo, I...
Sakura: Wh-What was that about?
Corrin: I think he's still mad that I left Nohr... He's a logical young man, but he can let his emotions get the better of him at times. I suspect that he'll calm down soon. At the very least, I hope he does...
Hinoka: He must still care about you if he came back to help you fight off that invasion.
Corrin: That's true... Xander sent him, which means that he must have been worried too... I wish I could get through to them...
Oboro: Excuse me... If you don't mind my butting in, I believe we have other business to attend to.
Hinata: Yeah! Lord Takumi's gone missing!
Hinoka: Missing? Takumi?
Hinata: Yeah! We were fighting off a faction of Nohrian troops at the border. All of a sudden, he disappeared! Oboro and I were forced away from the scene of the fight after getting surrounded, so we had to come down here since it was the closest place we could recover!
Oboro: It was quite the fight too. There seemed to be dozens upon dozens of Nohrians. Their leader was a man with an axe who kept screaming about how excited he was to spill Hoshidan blood.
Corrin: Sounds like Hans...
Hinoka: Regardless of who it was, we need to find Takumi. Someone around here has to have some information about him. Takumi is not the type of man to just go missing. There has to be something else at play here.
Sakura: Hey, guys! The Izumite people are coming out!
(Izana appears)
Izana: I must thank you for saving us! I do need to ask though, who are you?
Corrin: Oh! I'm Corrin. This is Sakura and Hinoka. We're from the Hoshidan royal family.
Sakura: You're Archduke Izana, yes? You rule over Izumo.
Izana: Right you are!
Corrin: Then you're just the person we needed to see! If you don't mind my asking, we're here to see if you'd be willing to ally with us in the war against Nohr.
Izana: Hm... Well, it seems like Nohr already thinks of us as the enemy after today.
Sakura: What happened before we arrived?
Izana: They attacked the palace and locked us all up! Luckily, nobody died. You fought them too, didn't you?
Corrin: Yes, we did.
Izana: Then you're friends to me! I don't know if Izumo will be able to supply you with any fighters as of now though. We'll need to fix up what happened here today for a little while.
Corrin: That is completely understandable. Any contribution, now or in the future, is much appreciated.
Izana: I'll give you what I can in the future! However, there is something I can give you now. You were looking for a lost companion, correct?
Corrin: As a matter of fact, yes, we were. If the words Oboro and Hinata are to be believed, it seems that our brother, Takumi, has gone missing...
Sakura: We have to go and find him...!
Izana: I might be able to help you with that. While Izumo might throw fancy parties like no other, I have a few extra abilities that can be used to your advantage. I can see things from the past, present, and future. I could probably figure out where your brother went.
Corrin: Really? That's amazing! Thank you so much!
Izana: This is called the land of gods for a reason! We Izumites have very close ties with the three royal dragons that once roamed this land.
Corrin: That's right... So you can contact Akiri, Yugare, and Anankos?
Izana: In a way, yes. While our gods have left behind Pheuyura since the continent was founded, Izumites have a chance of being born with the power to communicate with them. Of course, Anankos has been lost from us for a long time...
Hinoka: I heard that something had happened to him, but I can't say for sure what it was.
Corrin: What could have happened? I've only ever heard Anankos' name. I'm afraid I don't know the details.
Izana: Back in the olden days when Pheuyura was new, there were three gods that looked over the land. There was Akiri, who founded Hoshido, Yugare, the patron dragon of Nohr, and Anankos, the older brother of the two. Anankos always kept the peace, but he's gone missing, so it's impossible to communicate with him. Nobody's been able to contact him in fifty years or so. Maybe it has to do with the fall of his kingdom.
Corrin: His kingdom?
Hinoka: You heard before that there were nine countries on Pheuyura. That's not entirely true. There was one another one, but it has since fallen to Nohrian invasion. That happened roughly fifteen years ago. I've heard that the land is completely abandoned now. All the people have died. Not even the Nohrians have stuck around.
Corrin: I understand...
Izana: Anyways, it's time for our fortune reading! May Akiri grant us her blessing!
(A few minutes pass before Izana speaks again. He has been holding a crystal ball in silence while communicating with the gods)
Izana: Okay! I've figured it out! Your brother is near Mokushu! I don't know why he's all the way over there, but that's where he is!
Hinoka: That's quite the distance from the border... Why is he there? He should be heading back to Shirasagi if he's retreating.
Izana: I don't know for sure. I get the feeling something bad has happened or will happen though.
Corrin: Then let's get going. He could be in danger. Thank you for your help, Archduke Izana.
Izana: My pleasure! I'll see you all later!
(The party leaves the Izumite palace)
Hinoka: I'm hoping the encounter in Mokushu will be peaceful. It should be, at the very least. I can't imagine Mokushu would be against us in the war.
Corrin: I hope Takumi is alright... I'm worried about him...
Sakura: We won't know for sure until we reach Mokushu...
Corrin: You're right. Let's get going.
I finally got the formatting to work. Neat.
-Digital
