Review Time:
Red Server: I have this one specific scene planned out for Zola, but his final fate is not yet planned out. : P
P.T Piranha - I'm glad I did it justice then! I think you're referring to Greed/Fu fighting Wrath first before Scar finished the job? I'm a big FMA buff, so no spoilers for me!
Marionmario - Indeed!
3-E-Student - I had to settle for a middle option, since it'd be counterproductive to somehow warp Corrin to the Wind Tribe village. Sequence broke a little.
TheHolyBlade - :)
Guest - Ah, touche!
Random guy - Again, a little plot shortcutting on my part for the Fuga thing. Funny you should mention the fate of the tribes, because they ARE at play, and I've got a few ideas coming up...especially with the lost Earth Tribe...
DewPoint Pen - Honestly, I'm touched. There's this part of me that frets over every detail and thinks I could be doing a lot better...but still, thank you so much!
TriforceWisdom64 - I am indeed guilty of that in some parts. And thanks for the corrections.
Chapter 37 – One Night in Izumo
"Chief, chief! You have to come quick!"
Fuga opened his eyes. His meditation would have to be later, and so he quickly moved to a tent where one of the Wind Tribe's diviners was gathered at a crystal ball.
"What seems to be the trouble? Has Hayato sent a message?"
"It's coming from Izumo, Chief Fuga."
"What?!"
The image on the crystal ball turned into Izana's cheerful face. "Hey hey, Chief Fuga! I know it's getting late but can we sneak a quick chat?"
"If you're contacting my tribe than Hayato must be with you."
"Indeed," said the boy, who squeezed in next to the Archduke. "Rinkah helped me get here."
The chief silently gestured for everyone but the diviner using the ball to leave. He sat down, legs crossed. "You have something to tell me, don't you, Lord Izana?"
"Bingo! Okay so….there's this invisible army…"
"Hey! Fuga doesn't have time for the puppet show!" Hayato argued. "Put those down!"
"Don't be so rude to the Archduke, Hayato. Lord Izana, my apologies."
"Aww it's all good! Can't show you the full set on this screen anyways…."
XXXXXX
"You were saying, about an army?"
Izana nodded. "Hoshido and Nohr have gone to war, but the Queen was killed by soldiers from Vanilla, this realm that exists at the border, in the Bottomless Canyon. Worst of all, the king of Nohr has been possessed into making it worse!"
"Quite the bold claim to make. I respect you and your power, Archduke, but a simple tale is not enough."
"Well….." Hayato crossed his arms. "What if I told you that the Yato is involved?"
Fuga narrowed his eyes. "Who, is using such a sacred blade?"
At that cue, Corrin came into the room and sat down, a little uneasy. "Uh….that would be me. Hayato kept saying you had to know."
"You must be Corrin." his look relaxed somewhat. "It's a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it was under better circumstances. Rinkah told me you spared her life in Nohr."
"Yes sir."
Hayato nudged him. "You need to bow, you know."
"Hayato! I sent you out for a reason! You represent the Wind Tribe in this conflict." Fuga looked Corrin over. "Did you know of the blade's history when you grabbed it?"
"Uhh…."
Izana laughed. "Oh, my main girl Anna stole it for him."
"Anna…? The name sounds so foreign, yet so familiar."
"That's me!" the merchant exclaimed, coming in to nudge Hayato out of the crystal ball's view. "I'm just a gal helping the hero, your windness."
"Hero?" Fuga echoed. "So you DO know of the tale."
"Not really, I just stole it because it looked valuable," Anna replied casually. At that, the chief looked appalled, but he cleared his throat to explain:
"The Yato is the key to opening the seal of flames. With it, you-"
"WHOA WHOA WHOA!" Anna snatched the blade and held it up. "This thing is the Fire Emblem?!"
Izana and Fuga looked equally shocked.
"How do you know what that is?!"
"You said seal of flames. I've been in this biz long enough to know those are ALWAYS tied to the Fire Emblem." Anna looked to Corrin. "Did I not mention I was looking for that, too? 'Cause the hero needs that."
"Who ARE you?!" Hayato demanded.
"Explain yourself, Anna," Fuga said. The crystal ball was starting to static up a bit, which meant that there wasn't too much time to run it all through.
XXXXX
"-and that's where we are now, Chief!"
Fuga had sat in silence for the whole tale, from Vanilla to Mokushu's attack to an abridged Anna history lesson. By the strain on the channeler's face, his advice would have to be to the point.
"Corrin, the Wind Tribe has your support, but for now, I must stay here. After what you've been through, I sense the sincerity in your voice. But if you and this…Anna, want more answers, you must see the wise one at Notre Sagesse."
"Anna is part of something greater, isn't she?" Izana asked. "You think the Rainbow Sage will know?"
"I swear on it. If you could find a way to get there without Hoshido or Nohr knowing…then that would be best."
"Thank you for the advice, Chief Fuga." Corrin bowed his head. "I'm glad someone's willing to listen in all this."
"No need to thank me, but for now, I suggest you follow through with your goals and use the Yato to do them. May fortune shine down on you all."
"Thanks again, Fuga!" Izana shouted, just before the line went dead. The diviner collapsed in over exhaustion. Fuga sighed.
So…there is a greater evil threatening our world. Your kin have a lot of work to do, Sumeragi.
The fallen king knew more of the situation that his friend would know. In fact, he was one of the Silent Dragon soldiers seeing the world through Gunter's eyes. He, Mikoto, Arete, and Ikona.
"Lord Anankos!" Anthony shouted, running into the room. "That sorcerer Iago has brought through another devotee!"
The Silent Dragon, still in its stone face form, held the same expression when the late Queen of Nohr, Katerina….stepped into the room.
"HYDRA HAS CHOSEN WELL, I SEE. MEET YOUR NEW ALLY, EVERYONE."
"Hello." Katerina's voice was as soft and gentle as anyone who knew her could claim. Like the others, she too bore the mark of Anankos, bowing before her new master.
"AND THERE WILL ONLY BE MORE. BUT….MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN. THE MORE THE BOY IS ALLOWED TO RUN AROUND AT WILL, THE MORE PROBLEMS MY EMPIRE WILL FACE."
The servants all had the same hollow look in their faces. Sure there were all corpses revived, but much like the land of Valla, they were a shadow of their former selves. All once beloved people to Hoshido and Nohr.
"What if the others cure the vassal, my king?" Arete asked.
"FEAR NOT. BY THE TIME THEY DO….IT WILL BE TOO LATE."
Now that it was after dinner, the members of Corrin's/Anna's party were getting ready to turn in for the night. Both Shura and Saizo needed their rest before they could progress.
Gunter was patrolling the halls when his ears caught something.
"We're going to the Rainbow Sage? But how?"
He looked into the crack of the door, where Sakura was talking to Hana.
"I don't know. Maybe Lord Izana has a way."
"Lady Sakura, shouldn't take a detour to find your brothers for the cause?"
THE SAGE KNOWS ALL. YOU BEING AT NOTRE SAGESSE WILL BE IMPORTANT, VASSAL.
"Yes….ma-"
Gunter suddenly clutched his forehead in pain, kneeling over. His body had been trying to fight the possession this entire time, but the Silent Dragon was a difficult matter.
NO! YOU OBEY ME, GUNTER! JUST LIKE THE BODY OF THE KING YOU DESPISE!
The knight's teeth were grinding. His head was flooding with the memories of Garon's anger, and how Gunter had stumbled upon his murdered wife and son. But they were getting hazier and hazier.
OBEY ME!
"I….."
DESTROY THE PENDANT!
"Gunter?" Sakura slid the door open. "A-Are you alright?"
"Yes…." he composed himself, albeit with difficulty. "Just some indigestion, Lady Sakura. Where's Lady Azura? I wish to speak with her."
"Oh, um…d-down the hall, I think."
"Thank you."
Hana watched the knight's brisk pace with slight suspicion. "What's he up to?"
"Hana, I thought we promised to trust people from Nohr! Felicia, Jakob, Flora…we're all in this together!"
"I am, Sakura! He's just giving me the creeps…."
"You still up, Anna?"
"Hmm….?" the merchant was ready to hit the hay for the night when she saw that Mozu was standing by the doorway. "Hey Mozu! What's up?"
The farmgirl laid down her sleeping bag on the floor. "Just…been thinking."
"What about?" Anna asked, propping herself on her elbows. "What a cutie I am?"
"Aw don't tease me like that." Mozu was smiling. "Just how far we've come with this….whole adventure. I never thought I'd be fighting in a war against some invisible folks."
"Yeah…"
"What's with the long face?"
"We really haven't gotten far with our business, huh? Once we got captured in Nohr the whole thing came apart." Anna sighed. "Sorry, Mozu."
"Why are you apologizing to me, Anna? Sure it's scary but I'm fightin' for something. My mother. All of the people back home. Everyone….a victim in all this."
Aw you're so cute Mozu. I wouldn't trade you for a boy like Donny anyday! "Think you'll be able to handle what's to come?"
"Sure do! Miss Reina showed me some pointers with the naginata earlier. I'll fight until the end!"
Anna giggled. "You're the best partner in the world, Mozu. After all of this…we should rebrand ourselves! Crops….bounty hunters…maybe traveling musicals of our adventure?"
"You're….you're not gonna leave?"
"What?"
Mozu looked away, now anxious for even bringing it up. "When….when the war is over, Anna. Don't you go back home to your sisters? Away from all of….us?"
"…."
"Anna?"
"I….I've never thought about that, Mozu. See the original plan-" Anna made air quotes. "-was to sell crops for a while until the hero came along, but you see where THAT went. Anyways…I like it here."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Ace is making her own destiny! I don't have to get confused for another Anna or something. And aside from the constant captures and everyone blaming ME, it's a pretty nice place."
"Then you'll stay?"
"Mozu, aren't we friends? Even if I was gonna leave I wouldn't leave you in the dust." she nuzzled the farmgirl's hair. "You can't spell Anna without Mozume!"
"Hey, who told you my full name?" came the teasing reply. "I only shortened it to stand out a little more."
"That right?"
"Yeah, it's more of a boy's name. Thought I told you that. Mother uses it too, remember?"
"Mother!" Anna got to her feet. "You know which room Azura is in?"
XXXXX
Gunter was about to open the door when Anna slid in front of him. "'Scuse me, chief! I've gotta have a quick girl-girl chat."
"What….? Anna, my business is urgent."
"You'll get your time, Greyhair!" Anna bopped his nose and waltzed right in.
"…..."
XXXXX
Inside, Azura was watching the moon from the window. She didn't turn around when she heard Anna come in. "Who is it?"
"Geez, Azura, what if I was a burglar? Your gold would be gone before you asked." Anna sat down next to the singer. "Whatcha thinkin' about?"
"Our quest. It's great that we've gained more allies, but the fight is far from over…."
"Hahaha, well it turns out things are a LITTLE more complicated now."
Azura turned. "What do you mean?"
"How to phrase this…." Anna tapped her lip. "So okay, when I found Zola, Setsuna and Azama were with me, and uh…some of those invisible guys attacked."
"That's bad. More of them are going to flood this world…"
"Yeah uh, and your mother kinda came by just to taunt me," said the merchant, who was eying the door. "-the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess!"
"…..surely you jest," Azura said, getting into Anna's face. Her voice was soft, but firm. "Are you certain you saw Queen Arete?"
"Honey, she told me Anankos has his eye on me. What does that tell you?"
Outside the door, Gunter cursed and shuffled off.
"….no…"
"A-Azura, it's not so bad! Maybe I really was mistaken!"
"Anna, I've known you for several days. You're prone to lying, but never to me," she replied. "It's worse than I figured. Anankos has usurped the body of…my own mother…." she looked down at her pendant.
"She gave you that….?"
"…..it's just a test. Just a test…." mumbled Azura, who wasn't looking at Anna. "My mother has been dead for years. I won't let myself be fooled by any tricks from the Silent Dragon…"
"Azura!"
She looked up, only to have Anna grab her cheeks and pull her close, that their noses were touching. "I brought you the hero, so it's only fair I promise to turn your mother back!"
"That's….sweet, but how do you propose to beat his magic…?"
"An Anna worries about the how later, honey. Consider it my #1 guarantee! You've already lost Mikoto, so why should you suffer twice?"
"…Anna…."
"I know the pain of losing a mother to a curse," Anna said. "It hurts."
The two stared into each other's eyes for a few moments. Then, just as Anna was about to pull away, Azura closed her eyes and kissed her.
"Hmpphph?!"
"I'm sorry!" Azura blushed and immediately stepped back. "I….m-maybe we should turn in for the night…."
"Hahahaha...I'll s-see you in the morning, princess. Sweet dreams!"
But while Anna sounded pretty casual and nonchalant about it, there was no mistaking the matching blush on her own cheeks. She quickly left the room, shouting out for Mozu.
"Whoo! What a day, guys! I guess we can sleep here for the night."
Elise's "Operation Familia" had yielded no results thus far, even after another day of travel, but she was still guarded well by her loyal retainers. What did she even have to fear?
"Sure thing, milady! But uh….I think it's starting to rain."
BOOM
"And now it is."
Elise and her horse sat under a dead tree while Arthur and Effie held up leaves to keep her dry.
"Oh….well, we just need to find some shelter! Like a bear cave, or something!"
"Capital idea, Lady Elise! Effie, can you hunt more food for us?"
"You got it!" replied the armored knight, but when she picked her lance up, her well-trained eyes saw a bunch of figures in the stormy distance. "Uh…..this doesn't look so good…."
XXXXX
"I hate rain!" Kaden moped, his ears sagging. "It's going to get my fur all murky tomorrow!" He, Keaton, and Layla had continued their travels. The singer luckily had a hood with her new cloak.
"Aww quit whining." Keaton sniffed the air. "Hmm….there's some other guys around."
"What? H-Hunters?"
"Stay behind us, Layla. Could be an ambush."
Both beastmen held their stones close as they advanced. When they reached the clearing…
"Oh no!"
A mercenary troop was there, armed to the teeth. And from the looks of it, they had cornered the princess of Nohr and her two companions.
XXXXX
"W-Who are you?" Elise asked. "W-We're not looking for a fight…"
"Sorry, Princess Elise." Zhara's sword was already out. "But I've got a big payment resting on you bringing you back to the castle."
"She's not going anywhere! You'll have to get through us first, villain!" Arthur declared.
"Yeah! Arthur, you take the one on the right, and I'll handle the 30 on the left!"
"That's fine with me. Iago said I'm allowed to kill the both of you as long as the princess comes back alive."
Elise gulped.
"Psst, milady. Take your mount and flee," the fighter urged. "Your safety means a hundred times more than our own lives!"
"No! I won't let you two get killed just because of me! That's….that's an order!"
The mercenaries were getting closer, and Zhara was glaring at the three of them. "They made their choice. Kill them."
"They're in trouble!" Layla whispered. "But we'd be no match for all of them….can either of you distract them?"
"And go where?" Kaden asked. But Keaton sniffed the air again and licked his lips.
"Smells like a bustling town not too far. Some ways south."
"Please! That's the princess of Nohr! We can't just let her die!" Layla pleaded. But the two beastmen nodded and quickly transformed. When the first merc swung his sword at Effie, Keaton's mighty form smashed him down.
"What the hell is that, boss?!"
"Run, Princess! NOW!" he shouted, picking up a tree and throwing it at the band. Elise, Arthur, and Effie ran for the hills, but one archer was taking aim, right at their heads. Kaden rolled into him.
"A wolfskin and kitsune…."
"Correction! We're Kaden and Keaton!"
"I thought we agreed MY name was first!"
"Alphabetical order! Don't be such a baby!"
"I'd be happy to make some rugs. After them!" Zhara commanded. The pack ran forward, but luckily the two had enough speed to gain the distance. Keaton threw another tree to slow them down.
"Wow! You guys came at just the right time!"
"Thank us later!" Layla shouted, who was running besides Elise's group. "We have to lose them!"
Kaze was quietly patrolling the halls when he heard Orochi's voice. Upon inspection, he found her fanning the (still) resting Saizo.
"Fufufufu….feeling any better, Saizo? You'd better give your thanks to Lord Izana for saving your life!"
Brother….
"…..yeah…"
Orochi hummed. "I wonder what Kagero's reaction will be to this? You playing soldier and almost dying?"
"Don't mention her, Orochi. I get it. I….have dishonored Hoshido."
"Aw, don't be like that. I'm the one that's the traitor, remember?"
"Brother, can you see me?" Kaze asked, stepping closer. Saizo flinched, and tried as best he could to avoid meeting his twin's gaze. "Please, I am not angry."
"I knocked you out, Kaze. Instead of being honest about…..our father's death."
"Yes, I've heard. Kotaro killed him, when all of these years….I thought he merely perished in the line of duty." Kaze closed his eyes, silently mourning him.
"I had no right to keep it a secret from you, brother," Saizo quietly replied. "I let my anger and grief consume my thought."
"I'm just relieved your breath is still with us."
"...I can't face Lord Ryoma or Kagero. I have disgraced myself. Can you forgive this foolish ninja for his failures?"
"Only if you forgive mine, brother." Kaze leaned down. "I was both a prisoner to Nohr and a witness to Lord Corrin's kidnapping."
"..!" Saizo turned his head. "Then the shame lasted for years….I suppose we're both in disgrace."
Kaze smiled. "We can be in disgrace together. To seek a path of peace and end this war."
"Yes…..I know the story now. Orochi….filled me in."
"Aww, this is so cute!" Orochi beamed. "A wonderful moment between brothers! I'll gladly join in the disgrace!"
"Hahaha…."
"Orochi, thank you for watching over him." Kaze bowed. "Brother, can you excuse me for a second? I wish to speak to Lord Corrin."
"What about?" the prince asked. He had entered the room to check up on Saizo.
"Ah…..milord, I haven't a chance to thank you for all you've done. You've spared my life, and I must repay your kindness in turn."
Corrin blinked. "Uh…..sure…? You were there when I was kidnapped at Cheve?"
"I was a young child, but yes." Kaze cleared his throat. "For now, my loyalty is to you. I'll gladly support your cause, Lord Corrin. Is that alright?"
"Sounds good to me, Kaze. But uh…..no need to work yourself too hard or anything."
"You're so modest, milord," said the ninja with a new smile. Orochi laughed and put the fan down.
"I suppose this is our formal apology for having Hoshido accuse you in Lady Mikoto's death, milord. Let's work hard to win! Or something like that. You know, hero, those cheesy speeches." She laughed harder.
"Ah ha….t-thanks…." But Corrin was able to muster a smile of his own.
But Scarlet had anything but. Rinkah found her sitting down, with a slight disheartened expression.
"Hey…what's happened to you, Scarlet? The last time we talked, we were in Tirando."
"Long story short, the Nohrian army found out about our rebels….and attacked Cheve. They helped me to escape to Hoshido, and then Princess Sakura healed me up."
"O-Oh…." The oni cursed under her breath. "Listen…..I think I owe you an apology. Kaze and I….we got captured-"
"I've heard," came Scarlet's teasing reply. "Glad you're not missing any major organs."
"-and in the heat of the moment….I….spoke too much." Rinkah got to her knees and lowered her head, the shame growing. "I'm sorry. I've ruined everything for you."
"No, you didn't. We Chevois just underestimated our opponent. You're my friend, so I don't want you to pity yourself. Get up."
Rinkah obliged. "Are you sure?"
"I've got other stuff to worry about. Helping me out was the Ice Tribe chief, Kilma."
The oni felt her blood heat up instinctively but she looked confused. "He….he was captured?"
"I don't know. All I know is that his daughters are traveling with us. And they haven't seen him in ages."
"D-Daughters?!" Rinkah looked to the door.
XXXXX
"Psst, Flora. Are you up?"
"….I was." Flora turned over in her cot. "Felicia, I-"
"-I'm sorry for yelling at you!" her twin exclaimed. "I was just being stupid!"
"No, I was. I had no right to criticize your maid skills."
"But it's true!" Felicia cried out, getting up. "I am bad at being a maid!"
"Don't humor me, you CAN do well if you try hard enough. The important thing is that we're together now." Flora stood up as well. "I just hope you can understand that we don't have the same ambition now."
"….you wanted to kill the king for what he did to our tribe," her sister whispered. "Now…now that we know that's not really Garon….what does that mean for you?"
Flora didn't miss a beat: "I want Hydra dead. Nothing has changed, sister. A tyrannical king still put our home into hell." She put a hand to her burnt scar. "And it won't end until he does."
"Then I'll keep fighting too," Felicia replied. "I…I want to see Father again, Flora."
"So do I. Will you continue being a maid, when this is over?"
"Would…would Father hate me if I wanted to?"
"Felicia, he raised us and loves us both dearly. There's no way, on the Frost God's name, that he would ever hate you."
"Are…..are you sure?"
"I promise. And I fully support your pursuing of Jakob."
"Wha-WHAT?!" Felicia turned beet red. "What are you talking about?!"
"Well, you've been in love with him for years, haven't you?"
"Huh? N-No…..but….m-maybe I do like him….n-now.."
At that, the reality of the situation soon sunk into Flora's head, and she burst out laughing. Oh gods, I really AM an idiot. I've let my jealousy made me think of something so wrong!
"What's so f-funny?! Flora!"
"Ha, ha….I'm sorry, I just remembered a funny joke," she lied. But her recent feelings for Corrin were anything but.
In the courtyard, Gunter was holding his head in severe pain. Anankos's command was relentless, and the smallest thing seemed to take him away from the command – even if his body was trying, so desperately to end it.
"Sir Gunter? You shouldn't be out here this late."
"W-What?"
Reina was there, grooming Yuugiri. "Yes, I was about to turn in for the night myself. You look troubled. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"N-No." Gunter cleared his throat. "Thank you, Reina, but I was just grappling with some indigestion."
"A very rare case of indigestion then, to be affecting your head," she teased. She set the brush down. "We haven't had a chance to discuss things after our battle in Nohr."
"What about?"
"I've given a lot of thought about you said. What retainer and soldier would I be if I were to gamble with my life so wantonly? Queen Mikoto would be upset with me."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. I even visited my mother, something I haven't done in 20 years. There's so much more to life than raw battles. Don't you agree?"
Gunter hmm'd. "I suppose, but here we are again, in the throes of war. More battles await on the horizon. At least you have something to fight for."
"What? Don't you?"
The pain was getting almost unbearable, but the knight forced himself to answer:
"My wife, and son….sadly, they are no longer with me. All the fighting this old bat does these days is for instructional purposes."
Reina frowned. "My condolences, Gunter. I feel my own father's days are numbered. Was it illness?"
"Ye-no! I mean….hnnnngh. I need to retire for the night. I'll s-speak to you tomorrow, Reina."
"Um….sure. Have a good night…..?" she and Yuugiri watched him head back into the castle.
Dia was under its diligent night patrol. Supplies had been funneled the whole day, and General Daniela was still advancing at sea. Of course, the rain was making it hard to keep watch.
"Any signs, rookie?!" barked a paladin.
"N-No, sir!" Silas was looking out for pegasus flyers. "But I'll stay on guard!"
"You do that…." he muttered, passing by Charlotte and Benny. They had been assigned to stand watch at the town's entrance. The latter was fine, but the former:
"I'm getting soaked, Benny! They didn't even bother to give us a raincoat?!"
"You want to borrow my armor, then?"
"That won't keep me dry, you know!"
"I'm sure Miss Nyx is suffering as well…."
She actually wasn't. She was just trying to keep her books dry while she hid under an old roof. But she was the first to spot:
"Halt! This town is for Nohrian soldiers only! Not…not some pets!"
Elise, Effie, Arthur, Keaton, Kaden, and Layla.
"But we need to hide!" Layla begged. "Ruffians are chasing us! Don't you see that your princess is fleeing as well?"
"Princess?!" Charlotte looked Elise over. "Wait, WHAT?!"
"Keaton, what are you doing here?" Nyx asked, stepping right past the blonde-haired fighter. "What sort of trouble have you gotten into?"
"Hey! That's not how friends say hello, you know! Just let us crash in an inn or something!"
"My fur is SOAKED!" Kaden interjected.
"Uh, maybe we should ask why the princess is here…in Dia….?" Benny asked nervously. "Do you bring orders from the king?"
"Wha…? No, I'm actually ru….I mean, yes! The king wanted me to go to Dia to get a boat!"
"Say yes, Benny! the princess has two single brothers!"
"Princess Elise!" Silas galloped over. "If you want a boat, then you'll need to follow me. Er…all of you!" he cleared his throat loudly, motioning at the paladin circling his rounds.
The group quickly ran off, but their movements were being tracked…
XXXXX
Inside a small warehouse, the travelers were finally able to wring the water out of their clothes.
"Princess Elise, you came here of your own accord, didn't you? King Garon wouldn't send you off in wartime with just your retainers, a wolfskin, a kitsune, and a dancer," said Nyx.
"What?! Nuh-uh!"
"Then why aren't you looking me in the eyes?"
"It's a long story. You guys, uh….aren't gonna tell the rest of the army we're here, right?" Effie asked.
"You must have your own reasons. And if you're being hunted, and it's better we don't draw too much attention…." Silas looked at the window. "At the very least you all should stay here until the rain stops."
"That sounds like a fine idea, friend!" Arthur put his hand out to shake. "My humble thanks for keeping Lady Elise dry and toasty."
Introductions were briefly exchanged.
"So when did you get some more friends, Nyx?" Keaton smirked. "Missed me already, I see."
"Do you want me to hex you?" the mage huffed.
Inwardly, Layla was cheering: nobody told Elise or these soldiers what the "terrorist" looked like! However, the riposte was short-lived when the group heard a creaking sound.
"Uh….what's that noise?"
The noise of Lloyd, Llewelyn, and their brothers coming in and cornering them.
"Look at this, bros….our lucky day!"
Elise looked to Effie, who looked to Arthur, who looked to Silas, who looked to Char-you get the drift. When the last set of eyes turned to Layla (just as the brothers grinned and readied their axes), the dancer described the situation accurately.
"Oh goddamn it."
XXXXX
"H-Hey! There's a boat departing from the docks!" someone shouted. Paladins and cavaliers scrambled to the pier, but it was too late: the pirates had stolen it.
"Thanks for the boat, Nohr! We're gonna have a fun time with it!"
"Stop! Only members of the Nohrian army are authorized to leave! After them!"
"Uh uh uh! Anyone gets close-"
Lloyd moved Elise into view. She was tied up, her mouth ducktaped, and she was flailing around as best she could. Next to her, the brothers had restrained the others, which involved beatings for Keaton, Kaden, Effie, Silas, and Arthur.
"-your princess won't be so happy."
"Princess Elise?! Intercept that ship!"
Tom lit the fuses in quick succession, firing cannonballs across Dia. Buildings exploded, people were screaming, and officers were trying to take control of the bedlam.
"So long, suckers! Let's go to the sage, bros!"
"YEAH!"
"You little-" Charlotte spat out her gag, and had a few choice words for the berserker bros:"-when I get out of these ropes, I'm going to rip off ALL of your [censored] [censored] and JAM them so far down your [censored] that you'll [censored] for a [censored] MONTH!"
"…."
"…."
"Man, for a chick with big tits she sure puts all of the stock in her mouth! Smack her again, Lloyd!"
Elsewhere...a herd of Faceless and Stoneborn had reached one of their access points: a cavern with searing temperatures and flames only controlled by the Dragon Veins there.
Otherwise known as the Burning Falls.
From his vantage point, Leo looked from them to the map of Hoshido. "So, they're not done inspecting them quite yet, Niles?"
"Not quite. Should be ready to go by the morning if milord commands it."
"That isn't my only concern. I have no idea what Daniela's progress at sea is quite yet. I'd like to coordinate the attacks so that they line up."
"Sure thing, Lord Leo~" Niles stepped out of the tent to smack Odin in the back of the head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You're still keeping a tight lip, friend. I've been watching you ever since we set off with our orders. You certainly don't want to fight in this war."
"Leave me alone…"
"Sorry, but I'm like an itch you just can't scratch," Niles replied. "You have to say something now, Owain, before you're in too deep."
"…"
"Talk to him right now. No one should interrupt you."
Odin narrowed his eyes in concentration and with a DARK entrance, began to speak.
XXXXX
"Lord Leo, I have to come clean."
"What….?" Leo looked up from his notes. "What are you talking about?"
Odin ripped his outfit just enough to show him the Brand of the Exalt. "Everything you know….everything you know about me is a lie."
"….?"
"My name is Owain, not Odin. And I came into your service from another world. Worst of all, it's all tied to the canyon you're so interested in."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. And it's not just me! Selena and Laslow….they have the same story! I cannot keep this a secret anymore from you!"
"Are you sure this isn't one of your dramatic tales?"
But Odin showed how dead serious he was by pulling the prince closer by his shoulders. "It's no tale, I'm afraid. This saga is the story of my life."
"Okay….." Leo released himself. "Shall I question as to why you're telling me this now?"
"Because! Anna's declaration at the plaza proves that-"
"-Start from the beginning," he commanded.
"Y-Yes."
XXXXXX
"And when he brought us here….we went to Nohr specifically to protect the prince."
Leo looked to Niles, who only shrugged. "He told you this before me, Niles?"
"Just the real name part. That I had to force it out of him."
"It's all true, damn it!" Odin slammed the table. "I know I have a habit of making things up, but I swear to you….every word is true!"
"Then why wasn't this information disclosed when you first started serving me?"
"Uh….well, circumstances were a little more complicated then."
Leo glared at him. "Do you know how much could've been avoided if you revealed yourself before this even happened?! It proves Nohr's innocence in the death of Queen Mikoto. And were you expecting just to leave a note when it came time for you to leave?"
"Lord Leo, I-"
"Where does your loyalty lie, Odin? Or shall I say, Owain? Because I'm not *quite* sure if I could trust someone who spouts that they're from another world, and keep secrets from their lord."
"Have I not proven my dedication despite everything else?"
"What does that matter, if you yourself claim to have noble blood?" Leo pushed the map off the table. "Do you want me to stop my role, as a high prince of Nohr, to go alerting everyone else of the invisible soldiers?"
"Not at all! But….." Odin lowered his head. "I've just faced too much war. I didn't think my duty would come at odds with my own past, but….."
"But nothing. I need time to process all of this. I suggest you leave my sight for now."
"…yes."
When he left, Niles picked up the map. "Sorry. I wanted him to tell you."
"You're lucky I'm not questioning you, Niles. Do you know what this means? My brother, sister, and I really have invested our trust into total strangers. We were fooled. And now I'm the fool for not investigating what Anna was talking about."
"Strangers….even still, you all came to trust your lives with them. That's a big step."
"Don't downplay this."
"What are you thinking of doing, milord?"
"Father gave me specific orders," Leo replied. "You weren't there, but Xander paid a painful price for questioning him. And I suspect Corrin would be sentenced to death if Father were to get a hold of him. I….I'm not sure what I could do."
"You know I'd follow you wherever you wanted to go."
"…..I know. I….I just don't want to look at Odin for now."
"…"
"Nevertheless….." Leo sighed. "I have to make sure Xander knows."
FIN
Ending notes: I...I am not 100% satisfied on this, but I didn't want to skip ahead too far. I have a specific path in mind. In case you're confused, Xander and Leo don't know their sisters left yet. And I have a shorthand way to get Anna's group to Notre Sagesse (what? this is Izana we're talking about) without it being too convenient (it probably will be) Then they'll cross paths with Elise and the others, and bam! More cogs for the machine.
We're almost at the 1 year mark for this story, and either chapter 39 or 40 (I need to map out the events) will focus on Anna's origin. So aside from that, I humbly thank everyone that's bothered to check out my (crap :D) story. Catch you in the next one!