Chapter 5: Long gone Friendship
The Royal Siblings and their Retainers return to Shirasagi, along with Kaze, Rinkah, Robin and a still unconscious Corrin, each of them exhausted, glooming the bright mood that the castle frequently brings to all who enter, despite their victory. Yukimura entered as well, before shutting the doors behind them.
"The Nohrian forces have retreated back into the Bottomless Canyon. We have diviners on constant standby and have begun to reinforce several key points on our border. Overall, I would say that from a strategic perspective the battle went rather well."
"Rather well? We were the ones who suffered the most losses." Rinkah objected.
"How many casualties exactly, Yukimura?" Ryoma asked.
The Tactician hesitated before answering. "Probably seventy five percent of our soldiers were either killed or died of their injuries. More than half of the survivors are injured in some way. The majority was because of Lady Corrin losing control and rampaging on both sides, Nohr suffered the least losses because they kept using the Grimm as meat shields to hold her off while they focus on those she wasn't attacking. Eye witnesses even reported that Prince Leo had one of the Manticores attack Corrin to lure her into attacking our healers."
"That sounds like Leo, no sense in feeling guilty about sacrificing your units when they aren't even alive to begin with and you are a true believer that the ends justify the means." Robin said, familiar with Leo's combat prowess as one of Nohr's top Tacticians.
"Our Sky Knights have been devastated as well, while their own Fliers have only been cut down by less than half." Hinoka added. "Devils. All of them."
"Strength my siblings, my friends, our forces in Suzanoh may be down but our army is still strong, maybe stronger." Ryoma said before briefly looking at Robin, no doubt everyone thinking the same thing over the fact that their new turncoat ally is ridiculously strong, being able to use up so much magic reserve in the two massive battles that happen today, even holding his own against Corrin's Dragon Form. His assistance should be able to turn the tide of war in their favor against the Grimm at least, a whole bunch of people did notice him nearly lift the foot of a Goliath of all giant Grimm and even vaporize it with one spell, it takes a lot of magic to take out the bigger ones, so much magic.
"Nohr may have the advantages thanks to their endless swarm of demons but regarding their main army we still have time to prepare." Yukimura suggested.
"That may be true but it's still no reason to rest Yukimura, I must tend to our soldiers and ease their troubles." Ryoma declined. "After what had unfolded with Corrin's rampage, seeds of doubt will spread that may complicate our newfound dynamic. Something some of you already feel towards her. Takumi, Saizo."
"You really want to bring this up now!" Takumi protested, not in the mood for another lecture from his siblings, but Ryoma will not let him get out of this like all those other times as he harshly grabs Takumi's right arm and pulls him over to him.
"You will listen to me and not speak a word!" Ryoma's voice filled with fury, silencing Takumi and everyone in the vicinity. "Corrin is our sister, and you brother, nearly crossed a line! You have every right to be furious and want to scream out what your heart feels for the horrors that have happened to us but holding her responsible like she was in on it of her own volition will not be tolerated by neither I nor mother! Of all the times for you to be your usual brash, impulsive, insubordinate and out of control self it had to be at the worse time imaginable! You could've compelled Corrin to runaway back to our worst enemies! This! Will! Not! Stand! You will honor our father and focus your wrath only on those who choose to be our enemies and not the ones who stand with us!"
The lecturing is halted as they hear a set of doors open and see both Mikoto and Azura enter the scene both relief to see all of them safe.
"This discussion is far from over." Ryoma warned lowly for Mikoto not to hear as he releases a now distraught Takumi. He's used to being lectured by his family for being reckless but it has never occurred in front of their subordinates, who can do nothing but remain quiet and try not to look troubled as their queen approaches and bow before her.
"You're all okay." Mikoto said with joy as she goes and gives Sakura a tight and warming hug that the youngest Princess really needed after the horror she had endured to help her people.
"Today was a victory, however the losses were unbearable, we can no longer stay on the defensive." Ryoma said, addressing his stepmother.
"I feared as much, what happen to Corrin." Mikoto asked with worry as she walks to her, placing her hand on her face while Robin is still carrying her.
"She's alright and needs rest over anything else. Robin, can you please take her to her room, you both have earned a moment's rest." Ryoma requested.
"Of course. Excuse us, your Grace." Robin said politely as he escorts Corrin away.
"What exactly happened out there, Ryoma?" Mikoto asked now with dread.
"What we both feared the most. You were right, mother, Corrin has been blessed by the Precursors more than anyone in our family has since the foundation of Hoshido. Corrin can transform into a dragon." Ryoma informed, making Mikoto gasps in horror.
"What…"
"In spite of everything that has transpired today, Corrin still loves the Nohrian Royal Family dearly and being forced to choose between us and them was her breaking point and transformed, which corrupted her desire to bring peace to both kingdoms by bringing devastation to both armies. There was no discrimination in her killings, only Robin was able to help her see reason but it was her out of control power that gave us a fighting chance by eliminating all the Grimm." Ryoma continued. Mikoto does not take the news well as she sits down on a nearby chair and places both her hands on her head.
"How many were lost to this madness?"
"Of the ten thousand brave men and women that we could bring forth in time, barely two thousand are left. We've never fought the Grimm in an all-out assault before, we were fools to think poorly of demons." Hinoka tighten her fists in frustration for her carelessness, and despite her best efforts, if not for the shock of Robin and Corrin earning everyone's attention while he managed to calm her sister down, she would've lost to Camilla. Her Dusk Counterpart is the stronger of the two, something Ryoma and Takumi will have a harder time admitting as well as they didn't fair too well against Xander and Leo either. "No one will argue that Corrin is largely to blame for our losses, the Nohrians were the lucky ones even though they lost."
"When word gets out no one will stand for her returning. All those people had families that they were fighting for too, not just their fellow comrades in arms and now they're lost to them." Mikoto muttered now distraught. "How can I calm the anguish of all those grieving families and keep them from hating and harming Corrin?"
"You can't, mother, Corrin will have to earn their trust, for now all that can be done is keep those we can trust at her side until then. And while we both would prefer to keep her out of this mess, I am confident that she will want to fight, this is too personal for her to remain in the sidelines." Ryoma continued.
"Dire moments, indeed." Azura said sadly.
"I can't think about this now, Suzanoh still needs our undivided attention." Mikoto tries to brush it off.
Robin takes his Princess to her room and gently places her on her bed, once that is done and he closes the door, Robin finally collapses from exhaustion, the constant overuse of his magic was more than he could bear. So many powerful spells in just a short time, he cannot fathom why he bothered to keep his composure in front of everyone, they would've definitely helped him after what he had accomplished for them. Breathing heavily he crawls to Corrin's bed, lying down on the floor next to her.
"Well… I guess this is it. The choice has been made, there's no turning back now." Robin muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Xander and the rest will no doubt still be adamant about getting you back and will focus their wrath on me instead due to what I've done, so that's something at least for you anyway. Getting involved in a war between two superpower nations that have a profound influence on not just Horus was not in the plan but I guess I'll have to hold off on my plans for a while longer. Still… I got you back Cor, so hang in there. We'll get through this together, somehow."
He knows Corrin can make no replies but he still feels the need to say these things to her and assure her in a way that he's not going anywhere. Yet.
Three days passed after the first true battle of this war and Hoshido is doing its best to maintain order, word of what had happen in Suzanoh and Kurosaki spread and so many are in a panic, knowing that nothing can keep Nohr from sending the Grimm everywhere with their Sorcerers freed to travel in their homes unopposed and it did not take long for them to gather their forces and resume their assaults, Grimm have been spotted nearly everywhere in the White Night Kingdom, but the actual Nohrians themselves, they've been keeping a low profile and have not been spotted yet. Whatever they are plotting, it's nothing good.
And for three days, Corrin and Robin have not been seen, both still resting with the Princess only now awakening from her long slumber with the first thing she sees upon awakening is Mikoto, who is sitting next to her, patiently waiting for the past few days for her to awaken.
"Corrin? Thank Sephiroth." Mikoto said warmly, relief to see her finally up.
"Where am I?" Corrin asked still tired.
"Home, where you belong." Her mother said as she moves in to kiss her on her forehead. "I'm so relief to see you are well."
"I'm not well at all, I'm dead inside." Corrin corrected, still tormented by what had transpired.
"That's understandable considering what you went through but find solace Corrin for you are safe now." Her mother assured her.
"How is everyone else?" Corrin asked.
"Your older siblings are out fighting off the hordes of Grimm that now infest our lands while your younger siblings and Azura are at Fort Jinya that is currently acting as a makeshift hospital helping the wounded of the battles going on everywhere." Mikoto explained.
"I wasn't talking about them, I'm sure those four made it out scot free." Corrin corrected with Mikoto requiring a few seconds to realize what she is referring to.
"Oh… I was… so sure that you would've blacked out upon awakening to your true potential." Mikoto dreaded this conversation.
"How many did I…"
"Stop! Corrin, please don't do this to yourself!" Mikoto pleaded as she lifts her daughter up to give her a tight hug. "My precious child, my sorrow burns as much as you do, please believe me. Longed have I wanted to tell you of your untapped potential, find a way to help you achieve balance with your humanity and dragonic selves somehow but there just wasn't enough time but now there is, sweetheart. We can start all over again."
"But… all those people had families too."
"Their pain is our pain, you're too selfless to not want to bear the burden of their sorrow, and I love you for that even more but Corrin, even Dragons have their moments of weakness and you need to learn when to close your heart to the suffering around you and not give in to the grip of failure."
"I don't think I have a heart anymore." Corrin muttered with her tears resurfacing.
"Let it all out Corrin, pain should not be kept buried, it will only hurt you more." Mikoto assured her that it is okay and while hesitant, the Princess began to properly cry, all her grief and regret out in the open as she cries loudly in her mother's arms after so long apart.
Did she do the right thing? Siding with Hoshido and turning against Nohr? She's not ready to hear the answer, worse, accepting that she made her choice while not thinking clearly and that it was all a spur of the moment.
After half an hour, mother and daughter exit the room and begin walking through the corridors with Mikoto holding her daughter close, as she is still not well but refused to remain in her room all day, wanting to get out, and eventually walk to the royal garden where Robin is, standing before the cherry blossom tree.
"Robin." Corrin calls out to him who quickly notices them walking closer and she goes to hug him tightly. "Thank you. For staying with me." She said with such relief. Robin can tell she has been crying for a while due to how red the rims of her eyes are, something she sorely needed.
"Don't mention it." He replied warmly but does not hug her back.
"I've been so caught up with everything that has happened that I never got the chance to properly thank you for all that you've done, Sir Robin, you are a true friend to Hoshido." Mikoto said with gratitude to the White Mage.
"I'm just paying off a debt I owe." Robin shrugged.
"What are you talking about, I'm the one who owes you more than I can bear to admit." Corrin argued.
"I see things differently." Robin gives a sheepish smile, causing Corrin to pout while playfully punching him in his shoulder, which still hurt but not enough for him to complain. "Now that you're almost all better, what's next."
"I want to go to Fort Jinya, I need to see the state of the war so far. I know the both of you want to keep me out for this as much as possible but we both know that I can't ignore what's going on." Corrin declared.
"I figured as much." Robin sighed, knowing how pointless it is to urge her to reconsider, something Mikoto also understands.
"I best come as well, I'm not too comfortable being away from Sakura this long and Takumi hasn't been himself lately." Mikoto said, sounding concern as she's noticed that Takumi has been more melancholic and his two retainers are working extra hard to please him, granted Hinata and Oboro especially always seem overzealous to her stepson but something's changed, not that she has noticed, more worried about Corrin. Mikoto also fails to notice Robin rolling his eyes at the mention of the young Prince, because apparently she doesn't know yet of the harsh words Ryoma snapped at Takumi, even though Azura already knows about it. Child Neglection happens wherever you go it seems. Corrin becomes sore at the mention of her stepbrother, still ticked off by his attitude and the fact that he was the only one unconcern by her emotional breakdown.
"At any rate, Corrin before we set off there is one thing we need to address, as you know it is tradition for each member of the royal families to have two Royal Retainers at their beck and call, you've already met them, Ryoma has Saizo and Kagero, Hinoka has Azama and Setsuna, Takumi has Oboro and Hinata, Sakura has Subaki and Hana and I have Reina and Orochi but you're one Retainer short."
"One Retainer short? But I don't have any left." Corrin muttered, her bitter thoughts returning to that wretched day when she lost Jakob, Felicia and Gunter.
"So I've heard, but given your chemistry, Robin has agreed to be an official member of our Royal Guard at Ryoma's request, as such he is requested to serve directly to the Royal Family as your Retainer, if you will have him." Mikoto continued.
"Yes!" Corrin replied rather quick as she pulls Robin closer to her.
"Saw that coming." Mikoto smiled. "And about your second Retainer, I have one in mind that Ryoma and I harbor no doubt will also serve you well. Kaze, if you will."
By her word the ninja Kaze arrives at the scene, seemingly coming out of the cherry blossom tree and lies on his knees between the Queen and Princess.
"I'm at your service, your Grace." He replied with the highest respect.
"Kaze comes from the same clan of ninja like his twin brother Saizo, long have their family served Sumeragi's well for about five generations now and Kaze long served as a royal guard member but has never pledged an allegiance to a single lord, or lady, acting mostly solo or working alongside those assign to him by usually either Ryoma or Hinoka. His loyalty is unconditional like his brother but is much kinder and more tolerable to talk to. I trust no one else to remain at your side in our dire times." Mikoto said.
"P-Please, your Grace, I have yet to perform a single feat to earn such faith." Kaze muttered, not sure how to take such praise.
"Well… if you trust him this much, then he has mine, though I tend to make a poor impression with newcomers so baby steps are in order." Corrin said accepting Kaze.
"Worry not for me, Milady, for I hereby vow to serve you faithfully and tend to your every need, no matter how dire or tedious until my time of dying." Kaze vowed solemnly.
"I'll be looking forward to it, provided we agree to work extra hard to avoid that last part." Corrin replied.
"That be most appreciative for Saizo." Mikoto smiled before turning to Robin. "Robin, in the short time that we've known you, you have provided much for my family, and Hoshido, and now I must ask more of you. Look after my child until this is all over. Both of you."
"I'll do what I must to the best of my abilities, your Grace." Robin gives a respectful bow.
"I just hope we don't run into another crisis where I end up transforming into… that thing again. I don't think I can handle another breakdown." Corrin muttered, fearful of becoming a dragon again. She then turns to Robin, remembering that he was the one who changed her back. "How did you changed me back?"
"With this." Robin introduces to her the same stone he used to make her human again. "It's called a Dragonstone, according to really old text I found and read during my time in Izumo I learned that in ancient times, while some dragons like the Precursors chose to keep themselves from degenerating by abandoning their bodies and ascend as spirits the none-divine dragons created these stones to diminish their powers and take on human forms to keep themselves sane. This subspecies of both human and dragon called themselves Manaketes."
"I've never heard of these Manaketes." Mikoto said most confused and intrigued.
"One of many legends lost to the ages, especially since they seemed to have all died off or chose to keep themselves hidden from human societies all together. At any rate, when I met the Rainbow Sage, he gave me the Dragonstone, he seemed certain that the current generation of Nohrian and Hoshidan Royalty would be the strongest to date." Robin continued.
"As in, one of us could actually turn into a dragon. Does the Rainbow Sage know about me?" Corrin wondered.
"He was being vague in his explanation when he instructed me to hold on to this and give to whoever can transform. But what he was very cleared about is that he wanted you to have the Yato, didn't say why, though." Robin explained.
"Well, that would've been nice to know months ago." Corrin hissed.
"An immortal sage with connections to ancient dragon gods wants to give the ultimate weapon to a Princess locked in a fortress with zero understanding of the world. Sure, that would've made you more calm and collective when you finally got out." Robin replied sarcastically.
"Okay, I see your point." Corrin muttered as she takes the Dragonstone into her hands. "So this thing is supposed to keep me under control?"
"As long as you hold on to it, you can change into a dragon with your humanity in control, change without it, and we have a feral beast to slay and bear in mind that while you are in full control of yourself you won't be as powerful as you are feral, so don't go facing danger without a plan." Robin advised.
"I rather not transform at all." Corrin muttered.
"Please, Milady, don't let what happened that faithful day weigh you down, we all saw what you were going through, I and many others don't hold it against you, and in spite of the calamity it was your power that saved Suzanoh from the first wave of Nohr's onslaught." Kaze said wanting to reassure his new master but Corrin stays silent.
"Come, let's not dwell on dark thoughts, we must be off." Mikoto said as the four of them make their way to Fort Jinya but first come across Reina.
"Ah, your Grace, and where my you be off to today?" She asked her Queen while bowing.
"To Fort Jinya, to visit my children and see what I can do to the injured station there. I don't feel comfortable leaving the Capital and have the citizens worry but everything in here is stable for the moment so I rather be where I am truly needed." Mikoto explained.
"Wherever you go I must follow, Milady, I can't accept any objections." Reina said, adamant on following her mistress.
"Do as you will, my friend." Mikoto replied.
"Where's your other retainer?" Corrin asked.
"I asked her to assist your older brother in his pursuit of Grimm, as our strongest Diviner and head of the rest of them, I feel more comfortable with her at his side." Mikoto explained.
It did not take long to reach the fort that is outside of the Capital half a mile away. And what a grand fortress it is, the kind of place you expect to find soldiers preparing for war but the numbers are few due to the Hoshidan Army stretched thin. On the way inside they meet up with Azura first.
"Azura, how are you?" Mikoto greeted the Songstress.
"Lady Mikoto, this is an unexpected surprise." Azura smiled at the arrival of the newcomers. "I am pleased to see you back on your feet, Corrin."
"Yeah, I'm fine all things considered." Corrin's smile is genuine but hints of sadness remain that Azura can see easily.
"Where are Takumi and Sakura?" Mikoto asked.
"Inside, doing all they can. Poor Sakura has been working herself hard and overusing all our healing rods to help those in need but we could only afford few maidens to assist with the fort." Azura explained.
"I feared as much." Mikoto sighed as they enter the fort and once inside the main thing they find are many injured soldiers and citizens from the destroyed towns and villages closest to Suzanoh who've suffered from the constant Grimm attacks.
"With how short staff we are the best we've been able to do is make sure everyone's injuries are none threatening with very few we managed to heal completely and of course those we did managed to heal entirely have agreed to stay and help as best they can." Azura explained mostly to Corrin since the rest should know already.
"That's good." Corrin said as she examines more of the places and notices one or more soldiers looking at her with wary, some even glaring, while some of the citizens are instead afraid, no doubt that word of her rampage spread across much, if not all of Hoshido. She expected this and doubts that everyone will trust her after all the lives she took. However, she also suspects that there are plenty who do appreciate her being at their side due to her dragon powers giving them a major advantage, though as she is now that means very little to her. Noticing her distress, Kaze places his hand on her shoulder and encourages her to look forward, mostly because the group finally find Sakura and Takumi, both carrying boxes with medicines to pass to doctors for other injured, and Hana and Subaki are right behind them.
"Takumi, Sakura." Mikoto called out to the siblings who are quick to respond to her call.
"Mother, hello." Sakura smiled blissfully, the four walking to them and the next thing she notices is Corrin up and about. "Big sister! Are you okay?"
"Hey… Sakura, I'm alright." Corrin replied softly, accepting the hug the youngest Princess gives her while ignoring Takumi, who does the same. Calling them her siblings still feels wrong but she can't bring herself to reject them either.
"Lady Corrin, it's a pleasure to see you again, we are pleased to see you are of sound mind as well." Subaki greeted respectfully.
"I'm more of a constant working progress but I'll get there." Corrin replied with a genuine smile, embracing Sakura briefly before they separate.
"Ah, always striving to be better than yesterday, you are truly Lady Sakura's big sister." Subaki praised.
"No kidding, I hope we can be fast friends." Hana said kindly.
"I hope so as well." Corrin replied.
"It's a relief you're all here because we're really short staffed." Sakura said.
"I had the impression that there were more Maidens and Monks here helping put the soldiers back into fighting shape at least." Robin said examining more of the place, in particular the nearby soldiers lying down on medical cots.
"There were more yesterday but high-level Grimm like the Goliaths and Fafnirs have been spotted all-over, making a real mess wherever they go." Takumi explained. "Sure, Grimm have managed to break through the border in large packs before but they seem stronger and more resilient than usual. Our Diviners are being overworked in summoning so many spirits to combat them but they're existence are short-lived like most spells so the casualties are growing and the healers are more needed out there than here."
"It was no doubt because of my barrier, it was design to make enemies of Hoshido docile, though the Grimm have no will of their own, my magic could still affect them to a certain degree that their strength would diminish while inside." Mikoto concluded.
"The fights against them always seem more enjoyable when I faced them in the Bottomless Canyon." Reina said reminiscing on more thrilling conflicts against the Grimm.
"I wish I could do more for these people but we're running out of healing rods." Sakura said feeling like a failure. Poor girl really needs to work on her self-esteem, she's already doing the work of ten healers. Corrin is certain that if she was the only healer in this fort and managed to get everyone back into top condition all on her own and in one day, she still feel insignificant.
"Why not use the two Dragon Veins here and see if they can make healing grounds." Robin asked, earning him surprise glances from everyone in the conversation, minus for Corrin.
"What are you talking about, there are no Dragon Veins in Fort Jinya." Takumi protested, sounding like it should be the most obvious thing ever.
"Yes there is, you're just not sensing them right." Corrin said confirming Robin's words.
"What, you know something I don't." Takumi dared.
"Follow me, you idiot." Corrin hissed as she heads outside with the group curiously following the Princess and she makes her way to the training grounds located in the Fort and stands at the center, where the Dragon Vein lies and she quickly gets to work on activating it, already feeling the radiant white light course through her, surprising everyone else, minus Robin.
"You have got to be kidding me." Takumi gasped as they watch the ground glow with a dim green light and just standing on it radiates them with a blissful feeling of healing magic at work.
"Incredible." Mikoto spoke in awe at what Corrin had done.
"This damn fort has been standing guard of our Capital for three hundred years and not once have anyone made mention of this being here." Takumi protested just as awestruck.
"Dragon Veins are just focal points for massive amounts of mana mixed together into one energy source, some are harder to spot then most for various reasons, two of them being that they haven't been used in so long and have gone dormant while the other is that they aren't as strong as the rest and have less energy to sense, who normally only those with Dragon Blood can pull off." Robin explained. "Though, those of the Dusk Dragon Bloodline never had this issue because their keen senses have always been subhuman when it comes to locating them, I'm guessing those of the Dawn Dragon Bloodline aren't as keen."
"What's your excuse then?" Takumi questioned.
"Well, as you no doubt saw three days ago, I am VERY gifted when it comes to magic and channeling mana through my body for a variety of effects. Tracking external mana is second nature." Robin explained.
"Sensing Divine Magic takes more than being a true prodigy or veteran of the Mystic Arts." Azura claimed suspiciously. "You're something else entirely."
"I guess he and I are equals in that department because my tutors in Nohr seemed convinced that I'm abnormal by the standards of those with dragon blood." Corrin said walking to the group.
"So we've noticed." Takumi grumbled in irritation.
"Truly remarkable, Lady Corrin. With this Healing Ground, and hopefully the other one for the same effect, we should be able to heal everyone in no time." Kaze praised in amazement.
"You're amazing, big sister." Sakura cheered with relief.
"Well done, sweetheart." Mikoto smiled at her daughter with pride, making Corrin look away with her cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Let's just get the people in here and back on their feet properly." She shrugged.
"Lord Takumi! Lord Takumi!" Hinata cried out to his Prince with Oboro and Rinkah and surprisingly Saizo and Orochi beside him as they rush to the training ground. "We got trouble." The Samurai began before tripping on something and slips down, his head falling flap on the training grounds, leaving everyone briefly baffled.
"What a moron." Rinkah hissed, with Oboro looking away in embarrassment, however, Takumi, who should be the most embarrass of all as the actions of his retainers reflects back to him because being royalty has way too many downsides, is more concern for the fool and helps him back on his feet.
"Hey, the fall wasn't as painful this time." Hinata smiled as he felt nothing when he hit his face thanks to the healing magic of the Dragon Vein.
"Focus." Takumi insisted.
"Saizo, Orochi…What happened to you? You're both wounded!" Mikoto asked with concern for the retainers, only now noticing their wounds as the two step closer and begin to feel the healing effects of the Dragon Vein, to their surprise but Mikoto is more concern about another matter. "You're both supposed to be with Ryoma, what happened?"
"Please… forgive us, my Queen." Saizo begged with a heavy voice filled with shame as he and an equally shameful Orochi bow before Mikoto, their heads focus on the ground. "We were with Lord Ryoma hunting down a Fafnir nearing the borders of Izumo when we were ambushed by more Grimm. They had a trap waiting for us and in the carnage we got separated from the High Prince. Now we don't know where he is."
"What…?" The Queen gasped in horror, along with everyone.
"Are you both kidding us!" Takumi protested in disbelief.
"No! No, no, no, no…" Sakura starts to become quickly hysterical with the possible loss of her eldest brother.
"Lady Sakura, please take a deep breath." Kaze pleaded with the Princess, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Saizo, Orochi… Please tell me you're joking."
"Yes, I'm well known for my japes, aren't I?" Saizo scoffed at his brother for even thinking he would joke when regarding to the wellbeing of his master. "I blame myself. I should have been at Lord Ryoma's side every step of the way. Even Kagero is missing as well."
"We got more troubles than that, Nohrian forces are approaching Fort Jinya!" Hinata informed, bringing more bad news and alarming everyone.
"Seriously? We've barely been here ten minutes." Corrin protested.
"Not really their problem and they haven't wasted any time surrounding us, these two were lucky to make it inside unnoticed by them." Rinkah added. "But there's no sign of Grimm among them so we might have a chance unless they are just messing with us."
"I can't believe they'd attack at a time like this… We're using most of the fort as a makeshift hospital, there's no military target here! Finding big brother should be our main concern but now…" Sakura cried, already having enough of this madness.
"Don't worry, milady. I can handle this." Hana assured her master confidently.
"With my help, of course. If you'd like, Lady Sakura, you may remain with the wounded while we resolve this." Subaki added, each of the Retainers and Rinkah seem confident that they can hold off whatever comes their way that isn't Grimm.
"I'll consider it. Thank you. Both of you." Sakura said reluctant to just sit in the sidelines and not be beside everyone.
"Well then. I guess we'll be getting to know each other much better while feeling rushed." Corrin said.
"Nothing like a life-or-death situation to cut right through the small talk." Takumi added, eager to fight.
"You said it, Milord, and I'm always ready to slice open Nohrian Scum." Oboro remarked, with Hinata nodding in agreement.
"We sure could use a strategist at a time like this, too bad Yukimura is all the way back in Suzanoh." Mikoto muttered, not completely liking their options.
"Robin is the only Tactician we need." Corrin boasted confidently.
"Hey now, let's not get everyone's hopes up." Robin said not sure about that option.
"I'll tell you what you shouldn't fill anyone with; doubt. And you're the best out of everyone here." Corrin persisted with her boast.
"We'll take what we can get, and there aren't that many able soldiers here to guard the fort against so many enemy troops, we're everyone here's best chance." Takumi claimed.
"It's settled then, lead the way Robin." Mikoto declared, making the White Mage sigh, not feeling confident about it for some reason.
'It was a hard enough decision to allow myself to get caught in a war of such scales for just one friend, but leading an army? I don't…'
"As Lady Sakura's lead retainer, it will be my pleasure to take your orders." Hana declared gleefully, bringing Robin out of his negative thoughts.
"And as Lady Sakura's supervising retainer, I, too, welcome your leadership." Subaki also declared before making a small laugh that sounded perfect, which made it so weird at the same time.
"Supervising retainer? That's not a thing." Hana argued.
"Well, neither is a lead retainer. I don't remember you getting a promotion." Subaki said sternly.
"Lady Sakura and I have been best friends since childhood! I've ALWAYS been her lead retainer." Hana shouted.
"I'm not sure this is the time or place for such a discussion, but… I believe my results on the battlefield speak for themselves."
"Oh, so is that why you neglect all your nonbattle duties? Is that why I'm the one maintaining all of your gear and scouting the enemy?"
The two Retainers are silenced by Reina who grabs both of them by the backs of their heads and rams them both by their foreheads, making them shout in pain and now have minor headaches.
"You are in the presence of her Majesty and her children. Knock it off or prepare for the spear." Reina lectured, though the smug look on her face indicates that she is being playful about it. Sakura can only moan in embarrassment from the argument of her Retainers, as if she wasn't feeling stress enough.
"As enlightening as this all is, I rather be somewhere else." Corrin sighed. While she enjoys that most of them can remain upbeat even at a time like this, she wants to get this over with. "Take me to the front Robin, I want to talk to their leader first."
Robin complies and takes the Princess to the entrance/exit of Fort Jinya through flight and once there, they are welcomed by a platoon of cavaliers and four Dark Mages at the front, and while in the air, they saw no Grimm like Rinkah said, maybe they're hiding out somewhere or there really aren't any. If it's the latter, they probably know the status of this fort and don't see a point in using such force to capture a place filled with injured people. Overconfidence with merit, and considerate since they have a fair amount of soldiers, exactly fifty in total which should be more than enough for them.
Once they reach the ground, the white duo are greeted by the Cavalier in the middle of the rest, a man in his early twenties, perhaps one year older than Corrin with the unruliest hair Corrin has ever seen that is grey in color and wears sleek black armor.
"Ho, Corrin! Is that really you?" The young knight called out to the Princess.
"Who's asking?" Corrin asked as demanding and stern as she could muster, the high pitch of her tone seem a tiny bit excessive.
"Yes, that's the voice I remember! It really is you!" The Knight confirmed with a genuine smile.
"Please, drop the act. We don't know each other." Corrin insisted.
"You honestly don't remember? It's me, Silas! We were best friends as children." He introduced himself, now hurt in his eyes and a bit of desperation. The name Silas does seem familiar to Robin as he's heard Felicia and Jakob mention him before.
"Silas? Silas?" Corrin repeated that name, trying to remember as she's definitely heard it before, and his face is very familiar. She does not notice as the rest of the group make it to them.
"Corrin, please be careful. This could be a trap of some sort." Azura warned, the Hoshidans keeping their guard up, assuming the worse, however Corrin ignores her, still trying to remember.
"Silas… Silas…" She then makes a very exaggerated gasp that concerns all of them, while she finally remembers. "SILAS! My Silas!"
"So you do remember me!" Silas smiled at her response.
"It's been so long! You'd finally become a Knight like you always wanted." Corrin asked incredulously.
"A Knight of the Royal Guard." Silas corrected with pride before getting sad. "It's been too long, Milady. I never imagined we'd reunite under these circumstances. I became a knight in hopes of seeing you again, after all."
"Silas…" The Treacherous Princess muttered not sure on what to say on that matter.
"But it's not too late, you can still come back home. In spite of your past actions, Queen Arete has ordered you be captured alive. There's still a chance to fix things." Silas said anxiously, wishing not to fight Corrin.
"Mother…" Corrin whispered with sadness, remembering her Nohrian mother very fondly.
"Corrin is home, you fool!" Mikoto snapped spitefully at Silas while wrapping her arms around her returned daughter defensively and defiantly. Something that Corrin did not appreciate right now.
"Please, let me speak for myself." Corrin pleaded with her as she gently removes her mother's arms off and refocuses on Silas. "I'm sorry Silas, but I've made my choice, I can't go back to Nohr, not now when I don't belong there anymore." She declared, disappointing Silas.
"Has it really come to this, friendships destroyed and divided by two nations with only the clash of blades and spilled blood remaining?" He asked bitterly.
"I'm not ready to answer that but what I do know for sure is that every land your army takes from Hoshido I will take back no matter the cost to my wellbeing." Corrin avowed, bringing a smile to Mikoto and Sakura while Takumi remains neutral. The only ones not being fooled are Robin and Azura who can tell how affected she is by this, given her apparent attachment to Silas. The Cavalier on the other hand becomes hardened in his resolve, seeing no other way but to take Corrin by force.
"So be it then, by order of my King and Queen, I take this fortress under the rule of Nohr and you, Princess Corrin are coming back home with us no matter what it takes." He declared, with his forces readying to attack.
"It's going to take a brigade of Grimm for you to even set one foot in here, pal!" Takumi finally spoke up in defiance, readying to fire at Silas with his Fujin Yumi.
"There are no Grimm among my troops, Hoshidan Prince, so perhaps you may now prove to be a proper challenge for me." Silas said more boastfully to match Takumi's tough talk.
"His demeanor changed from sad to straight up Takumi." Sakura said, showing concern for Silas, mainly because of his history with Corrin.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The Prince in question demanded, offended by his baby sister's surprising rude comment, causing a few snickers in the group.
"S-S-So… Sorry!" Sakura cried in embarrassment.
"Commence the assault." Silas ordered as his troops charge. And in a panic, Mikoto unleashes her magic and creates a barrier around Fort Jinya, nothing like the one she put above her whole kingdom and it's visible with an aquamarine glow with the Nohrian Mages quickly firing magical bolts of energy, that the barrier manages to block but its glow becomes dimmer upon impact, indicating that it's largely weak.
"Take the barrier down!" Silas commanded, with his mages wasting no time in unleashing their power the barrier quickly dropping.
"I won't be able to hold them off for much longer, that Blight Nohr's Dragon spread is affecting all manner of Magic meant for protections that Hoshidans create." Mikoto breathed heavily as trying to cast a spell that shouldn't be done in infested areas can do a lot of physical damage to a caster. Orochi and Azura each place their hand on the Queen and help her move as the group falls back away from the Nohrians and retreat to the Training Grounds.
"Any bright idea would be appreciated, Robin." Corrin said in a rush.
"I counted exactly fifty troop members outside while in the air. Nineteen in the front, sixteen on our right and fifteen on the left. No Wyvern Knights among them so we have the aerial advantage with Reina and Subaki but there's a chance that reinforcements will arrive soon so caution is vital, and there are four archers on the right side, there are more mages on the right, while the left have knights and Fighters with at least two of the former possessing javelins, and I bet they have astonishing aim, same with the front with three of them, as well as axe and lance wielders." Robin calculated. "They're more prepare for an aerial assault but without one of their own they have to make it through the walls which seem thick enough to resist sufficient magical attacks to buy us time to lay counterattacks."
"Someone's been taking archery and ninja classes to improve their eyesight." Reina commented, impressed so far with Robin's perception, as is everyone else.
"As such we're going to divide and conquer, we're a smaller group and its risky but we need to keep their attention on us and not those inside the fort, which shouldn't be impossible since we're no pushovers, the majority are Royal Retainers and we didn't just get chosen just because we're in good terms with the royals, followed by the heir to a tribe of fierce warriors." Robin began, earning a lot of nods of approval and pride from his allies. "Takumi, you take the ones in the left with Hinata, Oboro, Rinkah and Subaki. I've seen how Subaki fights back in Kurosaki, his Pegasus was the fastest from Hinoka's unit and his swings with the naginata are swift that it's difficult to parry against him. Keep their attention away from him to give him a chance to strike down from above. With the Fujin Yumi and your proficiency as a Sniper, I'm sure you'll have an easier time"
"Fine." Takumi replied with no objections, neither did the rest.
"Expect perfection, and you will not be disappointed." Subaki swore with a perfect smile that is both charming but creepy, to Robin and Corrin at least.
"We'll hold you to that. Reina will take the right group with Kaze, Hana, Saizo, Orochi and Azura. You six will no doubt have a harder time, but with Kaze and Saizo I'm sure you'll pull through and Reina easily has the most battle experience among you, if looks could kill that is, and she'll be your aerial support, and while it's very risky I would like for her to go in first to get everyone's attention away from Kaze and Saizo long enough for them to strike by surprise and make things easier, a Kinshi is faster than a Pegasus and Wyvern after all so she should be fine." Robin continued. "Azura uses a naginata so I assume she knows her way around a fight against at least swordsmen, however she's your trump card because of her pendant which can make those she targets with her singing docile, like with Mikoto's Grand Barrier, as she was able to kill the Blight Dragon back in Suzanoh, so she's the one you need to cover long enough for her to affect the enemy troops and make them easier targets."
"That's barbaric, taking down enemies who have no will to fight." Hana said somewhat bothered with this side of the plan, none more than Azura.
"What are you complaining about, those raging dogs brought this war upon themselves so we should treat them as such." Saizo lectured seeing no fault in this part of the plan.
"I never said I was a great tactician and I never said you should shoot to kill but we got a makeshift hospital to defend so if you have a problem with this, then don't aim to kill, incapacitate and hold them as prisoners of war." Robin suggested, making his tactic more humane.
"Yes, I like that, let's go with that." Corrin replied hastily.
"Hey, you never mentioned me or my skills." Hana protested to Robin.
"I've never seen you fight; I can only assume that you're an expert swordswoman because of your position in the Royal Guard. Same with Orochi as a top-tier Diviner." Robin apologized.
"Darn right I am."
"What about those in the front?" Corrin asked, regarding Silas.
"That's where things get complicated. You and I will deal with them." Robin ordered, worrying Corrin.
"Just the two of you? That is incredibly risky and will put Lady Corrin in danger against so many enemies at once." Kaze objected to this part.
"Corrin's only concern is their Leader, Silas, I'll deal with the rest of the knights and mages myself." Robin declared.
"Okay, now this is you being reckless." Corrin is next to object.
"No, this is you being a worrywart but trust me when I say I can handle myself just fine." The newly appointed Tactician assured his Mistress.
"Wait, what about me? I want to help too." Sakura remarked.
"Your healing magic could come in handy to recover those injured but we need more than that from you." Robin said.
"We have Rescue Rods that she can use, they are perfect for pulling out those back inside the fort if they are in a position where they can't pull back on their own." Azura suggested.
"Excellent. It will be difficult for her to help all three sides, much less heal everyone so we better activate the last Dragon Vein to ensure we have the upper hand in health. For now Sakura can remain with Reina's group since they have the highest risk of damage because of the larger number of Dark Mages." Robin concluded. "I ask for any objections but I rather not keep the Queen in her stressful position."
"No… don't mind me, I'm very resilient when it comes to… magic overuse…" Mikoto insisted, keeping up a strong face but she's not fooling anyone.
"Alright everyone, break!" Corrin declared as everyone splits up, getting into position as fast as they can, Robin and Corrin being the last one as they first go to activate the last Dragon Vein of Fort Jinya before making it to the front, just as Mikoto turns off her barrier due to exhaustion, and so the battle begins and Takumi delivers the first kill, achieving a perfect headshot to one of the archers.
"Feel the sting of decades worth of hellish hate, Hellspawns!" Takumi yelled out as he jumps off the fort's walls and goes left while shooting another holy arrow that the Nohrians barely managed to avoid.
"It's one of Hoshido's two Princes! Get him!" The Paladin leading this group shouted recognizing Takumi and as the hothead Prince expected, the Nohrians cannot resist the chance to hunt down a higher up of Hoshido and focus their attention on him, ignoring the wall, mainly due to Takumi constantly shooting arrows their way, while succeeding in avoiding every shot thrown at him, giving his team the chance to sneak in undetected for the moment.
"Time to burn!" Rinkah shouted as her club infuses with her fire magic and strikes at one of the Cavaliers, burning his face while the force knocks him and his mount to the ground.
Oboro and Hinata move in next, getting the drop on a Knight and a Fighter respectively, Oboro having an easier time than Hinata, as she moved in faster and stabs her Steel Naginata on the Knight's right abdomen, making him drop his sword and pins him to the ground before removing her spear and then stabs him on his forehead, mercilessly while showing off her demonic glare that she is known so well for. The Fighter Hinata faces is lucky enough to notice the Samurai and parry his first strike and the two begin to clash with their sword and axe briefly before Hinata gets a fatal blow as he seemingly trips to the floor after barely dodging a horizontal slash from the axe but it was done on purpose to lure him closer and Hinata can finish him off by stabbing his katana through his neck.
Rinkah makes the biggest impact in the assault, already slaughtering three of the knights and two of the remaining Archers but one of the Fighters is better than the rest and holds his own, briefly pushing her to her knees before she can get the upper hand thanks to Oboro getting in close and slicing open the back of his neck, allowing Rinkah the chance to push him away from her.
Focusing on those in front of her, Oboro fails to notice a knight throwing a javelin at her but she is saved by Takumi, who noticed the danger from his distance and shot the javelin away with his holy arrow before shooting down the knight who threw it in retaliation. His heroic nearly cost him as the last remaining archer shoots a silver arrow at him that while it did not hit him directly but the Fujin Yumi off his hands, leaving him defenseless as the Paladin leader rushes forward with the aim to maim him, with Takumi managing to avoid the first hit by jumping out of the way, though the rush he is in, left him falling to the ground. There is still one archer left and the two remaining fighters look like they can make mighty throws with their axes that will instantly kill a Pegasus but he's desperate.
"SUBAKI!" The Prince roared and almost immediately, the Pegasus Knight rushes to the scene with incredible speed from his Pegasus, first charging towards the Paladin assaulting the Prince and makes a mighty swing that the Paladin barely manages to parry and the force from Subaki knocks him off his mount. The Pegasus Knight then moves forward to assist his other allies, making short work of the last archer himself without him having a chance to land a hit. Subaki and the rest can make short work of the rest without Takumi as he deals with the Paladin himself who charges at the Prince on foot and Takumi does the same.
"Milord!" Hinata shouted as he throws his Katana for Takumi to use as he can already tell that his stubborn master plans to deal with the Paladin without his bow, said Prince graciously catches the sword in midair while running and soon clashes with the Paladin.
At the same time that this is all happening, Reina's group also moves in to face their Nohrian targets, with the Kinshi Knight going in first, rather recklessly as she is seemingly about to ram through the Dark Mages, forcing them to try and strike her down first, only for her to quickly go skyward, all of them missing their target. Reina picks up her bow and fires two arrows at once that hits the tomes of two Dark Mages, dropping them on the ground with arrows on them, rendering them useless. And the distraction of these two allowed the Ninja Brothers to strike, shooting their shuriken simultaneously on their necks, leaving them to their slow deaths.
Saizo and Kaze then split up, throwing their Shurikens at the Mages, and forcing them to attack them with their dark magic attacks that the duo are able to easily evade, and only few of the Dark Mages notice Orochi and Hana rush towards them, the Diviner raising one of her scrolls and summons a Tiger Spirit, sending to maul one of them, while also electrocuting the body.
Hana manages to strike at another Dark Mage before he could fire a spell, cutting open a gash on his chest, spilling a lot of blood on the ground as he falls down. One of the only none magic users among these Nohrians, a Mercenary rushes to Hana with the aim to decapitate her but Hana sees it coming and avoids it by making a high jump while back flipping behind the mercenary and literally stabs him in the back upon landing.
"Time for you Hoshidan dogs to burn!" One of the Dark Mages shouted with him and a female partner preparing to unleash two powerful fire spells at the Ninja Brothers who've regroup to face one Berserker but are stopped by Reina as she lands her Kinshi on top of them, their heads cracking open by both the landing and the weight of the Kinshi as it also grabs them with its feet. Afterwards the Knight jumps off her sky mount to charge against the Berserker, the two brothers back away to let her have him to herself as the two briefly clash with intense ferocity but the spear user is superior as Reina effortlessly chops off both the Berserker's arms, making him scream in agony before she puts him out of his misery by stabbing him through his mouth.
"Ah, how glorious. I can't think of anything more relishing than the sweet embrace of death, and right now she hungers for all of you." Reina said feeling radiant and completely blood mad, scaring the remaining Mages, and her comrades, in all honesty, minus Saizo. How does a peacekeeper like Mikoto put up with someone who craves war as her bodyguard, is one of the biggest wonders of Hoshido.
"You freaking psychopath!" The Sorcerer in the group shouted enraged as he prepares a powerful spell but requires time to cast it while the remaining dark mages form a protective circle around him to buy him time as they fire a barrage of magic against the Hoshidans, who are forced to try and evade all the random attacks, not having much time to make a counter attack. In the panic, Hana trips while also dropping her sword in the process and about to get hit by a fireball, to her fortune, Kaze makes it to her in time and manages to get her out of the way, doing so unfortunately left him open to get hit from the fireball but he too is rescued as he is instantly warped away from the spot and is now at the top of the fort's wall beside Sakura who used her Rescue Rod to get him out of the danger in time.
"Milady! I am in your debt." Kaze said with immense gratitude.
"D-Don't mention it." The youngest Princess said timidly as usual.
"I have just about enough of this! It's high time or all of you to burn" The Sorcerer yelled, about to cast his powerful fire spell. "Now! Rex…"
"~You are the Ocean's gray waves…~" Azura finally steps up and sings, her song reaching the remaining seven dark mages and quickly makes them docile, the Sorcerer in particular, loses the will to use his spell as his flames are extinguished. This battle is all but won.
The Remaining Nohrians in the front lead by Silas are left to face off with their Treacherous Princess with only her Tactician to back her up.
"You really mean to face us with just one Mage to back you up, Corrin?" Silas questioned. "He may be strong but I expect more from someone mentored by Nohr's greatest Battle Commander, Gunter."
"I be more worry about your own, because like it or not, this Fort will not fall." Corrin continued as she raises her sword to challenge the Cavalier.
"Very well, onward!" Silas ordered as his troops charge in but it is Robin who makes the first move, summoning his tome and creates a large firewall to block the entrance behind them as the Whiteheads meet their foes head on.
"Celica's Gale!" Robin called out a wind spell, with flurries of pink-colored wind surrounding three knights and one of the Dark Mages and bombard them by engulfing them momentarily before dissipating, blowing them far from their unit, once they crash into the ground they remain down, already out.
Corrin and Silas clash with their swords while the latter remains on his mount and has an advantage over her despite her higher strength. Silas swings his blade faster and harder, though he does not want to harm her he can't hold back otherwise he'll put everything in jeopardy, though Corrin does well to avoid, performing a summersault to dodge the slash as she makes her own attack and thrusts the Yato on to Silas' horse.
"I think not!" The Cavalier countered with a faster swing to parry her holy sword, and then he makes his steed quickly move away from Corrin, with her chasing after him, picking up a lance from one of the knights Robin knocked down and with great strength, throws it towards Silas, that while it does catch up to him, the Knight shows no fear as he jumps off his steed to catch the spear while making a flip before landing and throws the spear back at her. Corrin barely managed to evade the spear herself as she turns right and falls to the ground, and as if it wasn't bad enough, the moment she gets back up Silas comes in and kicks her in the face, forcing her back to the ground.
"I'm so sorry, old friend, but you have left me no choice, and the Throne's orders are absolute." Silas said while Corrin quickly gets back up, ignoring the pain.
"Don't be sorry, there's nothing to apologize about, it's all on me." She muttered raising her sword to confront him one on one. And the two clash with their swords, Corrin at first has the upper hand, each blow she delivers making Silas lose his grip on his sword but the Knight stands strong and acts quicker, going to grab her sword arm with his free arm to trap her, holding her tightly by her bicep near the under pits tightly to prevent movement. Corrin shouts in pain as Silas slightly raises her arm like attempting to break it but instead Silas uses his hand that holds his sword, flicks his wrist and uses the sword's pommel to hit her temple instead of the blade, forcing her on the ground again. That should've knocked her out, or at least give her a concussion, regardless, Corrin does not relent and swings the Yato horizontally but from her position it is easy for Silas to block with his sword.
"You're as stubborn as ever." Silas commented as Corrin gets back up, the two locked in a stalemate, the Princess only using one hand while Silas is forced to use both. "Most don't put up much of a fight with a concussion to deal with at the same time."
"Well… it was only recently that I learned that I'm not like most." Corrin stated.
"I know. I was there in Kurosaki when the truth of your birth was revealed and you turned into that Dragon." Silas explained. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all that but for the sake of familiarity, your home is with us in Nohr!"
"I wish I could agree with you Silas, but after all the darkness I had to endured…" Corrin began as she prepares to punch Silas with her left fist but unbeknownst to her, the hand changes again into that monstrous mouth hand like it did back in the Bottomless Canyon. "I am in need of some Light!" As she goes to deliver her punch, Silas managed to leap out of the way as he noticed the change in her arm first, with said monster fist only an inch away from hitting him, but the Knight does end up falling down.
Corrin is just as shocked as Silas, falling to her knees, drops her sword and holds on to her left forearm with her right hand and struggles to change her arm back to normal, due to strongly resenting her dragonic powers.
"No… NO!" Corrin cried out as her arm remains in its current state with the mouth opening by itself and from it, it fires a beam of dark energy at Silas that he is able to dodge but the blast hits the wall of Fort Jinya, obliterating half of it entirely.
"The blood of the Gods flowing through your veins truly is astonishing." Silas gasped, still at awe by the power his childhood friend wields but still harbors doubts about something. "But is this gift truly that of the Hoshidan God?"
Robin faces the remaining members of Silas' troops on his own, releasing three magic spheres to blast three cavaliers down at once, then summons four more spheres around him as he spins to reflect two lightning strikes from Dark Mages, then counters by creating a magic circle below one of the dark mages that releases a shockwave that blows her and two other knights into the air likely sixty feet high and once they land back down, they don't get back up. Afterwards he turns the those that remains and fires six more magic spheres that gather above them and merge together into one bigger sphere and crash down on them, blowing the rest of them to the ground, finishing things up on his end and none are dead as Corrin would prefer.
Robin turns his attention back to Corrin once he hears the damage she had done to Fort Jinya and notices her struggle to keep herself human.
"Corrin, your Dragonstone! It's your only chance!" He shouted at her, reminding her that he gave her the only means to stay in control and quickly reaches out to it with her right hand. "Focus your thoughts on it and your desire to stay human, it will do the rest." The Princess does as instructed, her said desires overflowing in her thoughts and the Dragonstones shines in a brilliant blue light that spreads and covers up the beastly arm, returning it to normal, while also coursing Corrin with a blissful sensation that restores her wayward mind, breathing a sigh of relief.
Once that is done, the White Mage creates ropes of white magic to wrap around a distracted Silas and pulls him away from Corrin and pins him down right next to his defeated comrades.
"Stand down, Silas, you and your forces are done, this fort is currently under the protection of Hoshido's Royal Guard, you never stood a chance." Robin advised him.
"Dammit… how could I have been so careless." Silas cursed himself for this defeat, seeing no way for victory with his comrades down for the count and him alone against the white duo now. Corrin makes her way to Robin.
"You okay?" He asked her.
"I am now, but only by half." Corrin said at first only focus on her Dragonstone, something she will NEVER go anywhere without at her side from now on, before turning to Silas. "It's over Silas."
"Go on then. Kill me." Silas demanded.
"Never!" Corrin declined loudly and with some authority, confusing Silas. "I may lack foresight for the most parts but what I know for sure is that being stronger than my opponent doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to be the winner without skill, and it was easy to tell that you're the better swordsman of the two of us. You were holding back during our fight, even though you didn't hesitate to try and take this fortress by force."
"I guess I'm not much of a knight after all, considering that I didn't have the heart to fight you with my all and risk hurting you further." Silas admitted shamefully.
"Silas…"
"Do with me what you will old friend, I yield." Silas submitted.
"I can't allow him to be taken captive, especially if ninjas of all soldiers are the ones watching them." Corrin said reluctant to allow Silas to be a prisoner of war for Hoshido.
"We let them go they perhaps won't make it very far, unless one of them has a Warp Tome that I can use to take them back to a place in Nohr I am familiar with." Robin replied.
"Wait, you're letting us go?" Silas asked incredulously.
"I may have turned against my home but I won't kill anyone if I can avoid it." Corrin stated firmly.
"That's a noble quality to have regarding a view of the world, Corrin, but in war that will only bring you more harm." Silas advised.
"Perhaps, but I'll stand by for what I believe in, for however long I can pull it off." Corrin shrugged while Robin searches for the belongings and tomes among the four Dark Mages for the one he seeks and spots the Tome he is looking for.
"Got it, this is definitely a warp tome but I damaged it quite a lot during the fight, if it is used once again it will be completely unusable in the long run." Robin said examining the damage spellbook and prepares to channel what power it has left to send all nineteen Nohrians back to their home.
"Where are you sending them?" Corrin asked.
"Somewhere I know they'll be treated kindly and restored back to full health." Robin assured her. "No point in trying to look for the others, Takumi obviously has a no mercy policy and Saizo and Reina are radiating with bloodlust so these nineteen are surely the only ones remaining.
"I know."
"Wait! Before you send us away, tell me why, Corrin. What was it that made you leave us behind for Hoshido, knowing full well why we have to take these lands for our people? I need to know." Silas pleaded with Corrin for the truth, the hurt in his eyes more eminent. Corrin stays silent for a few seconds as the whirlpool of emotions become weighted by anger and sadness, the words that come out of her mouth based on what she has come to believe.
"I can't give you all the details because of how much it hurts but… someone, the biggest suspect being Garon planned for me to be kidnapped by the Hoshidans without my consent by setting me up in the Bottomless Canyon where a horrible being was waiting to put an equal horror in me and when Nohr's army was ready to invade that thing would come out of me, with I none the wiser and could've killed just to assassinate the Hoshidan Royals and take down Queen Mikoto's Barrier so that Nohr could take advantage of the situation and spread their demons everywhere with disturbances to a minimum."
"What…?" Silas gasped in shock over this news, none the wiser about the circumstances regarding why they were able to invade Hoshido only recently as Corrin expected, and judging by the expressions of the other Nohrians who've heard this as well they are just as surprise by the length their King took to start this war. Silas for one is in denial of such a heartless tactic. "No… no, no, no! The King is wrathful but he's not a monster! You are being deceived, Corrin! Something else is going on that you're just not seeing."
"I hope that's true and that I am able to find it but it will be under my terms as I end this war my way." Corrin said sounding adamant with her words.
"Then I pray to Qliphoth that when we next meet, your resolve will be worth all this anguish you've wrought. Scourge of Nohr." Silas said more firmly himself, remaining faithful to his King.
"Goodbye Silas, I hope… you'll one day find it in your heart to forgive me. Same with my mother, brothers and sisters back home." Corrin bid her farewells as Robin cast the warp spell and sends the Nohrians back to their Kingdom.
With the fight over, Corrin can now try to relax, taking a heavy sigh as she walks back to the fort but due to the stress she nearly loses her balance that Robin has to hold on to her.
"Am I to assume that we'll begin the search for Ryoma immediately." Robin asked the bigger question, not bothering with asking about her health.
"Let's consult with the others first." Corrin shrugged as they regroup with the others who've made their way back to Queen Mikoto inside with the injured as they begin to take them to the Dragon Veins inside.
"Corrin, I'm not surprised to see you are well." Mikoto said deeply pleased, not taking the frown on her daughter's face into consideration that something is wrong.
"A flawless victory against those parasites of shadows." Oboro said smugly regarding their fight against the Nohrians.
"Yeah, the fight went almost too well, I forgot that Yukimura wasn't the one who came up with the plan." Hinata cheered. "Nice going Robin, you're pretty good in this whole planning thing."
"This was a conflict against chumps in over their heads, better to be safe than sorry when I say that we should continue to overestimate the enemy and never let our guards down." Robin warned.
"I know, I know, I'm just saying, you're pretty awesome. Still though, with all that mojo you have in you, I think you could've taken on all of today's attack force on your own." Hinata pointed out.
"I can't pull off as much magic as I used before, my body is still recovering from all the mana I used up."
"Ah, the missteps of Magic Overuse, it will take time before you can be considered one of our trump cards against the main force of our enemies." Orochi said, understanding his predicament.
"Now we can focus on finding Lord Ryoma, I will atone for my failure by bringing him back home safely." Saizo vowed.
"Yes, we were forced to retreat because of our injuries and came here to get backup, and thanks to Lady Corrin, we're prepped and ready to go." Orochi cheered.
"Do not push yourselves, you two. You're bodies have been through enough." Mikoto said concern for their wellbeing in spite of their failure to protect her stepson. "Ryoma is powerful so long as he has Raijinto so there's no need to rush ourselves into a trap instead of a solution."
"We know, and regardless of how we feel, we must focus our efforts on Fort Jinya and ready it for another invasion. Nohr is everywhere now." Azura pointed out.
"Yes, I'm afraid if we head out now we'll only cause more harm to ourselves." Kaze said regrettably.
"Dammit all!" Saizo cursed.
"Ryoma." Takumi muttered with much concern for his big brother, with Sakura being the most concerned of the group, her worries getting her to shed tears with her two retainers reassuring her that the High Prince is alright.
"If that's how it is then rest up. We're heading out where he was last seen once we and everyone else is in better shape and perfectly secured." Corrin ordered as she heads back inside the fort. "I need to catch my breath and have breakfast already."
"Most people remain outside when they're doing the former." Takumi reminded her.
"I ain't like most people." Corrin countered tiresomely.
"You know Orochi can warp you back to Shirasagi if you want a proper rest and meal." Mikoto suggested.
"I'm perfectly fine with any kind of bed, thanks for the offer either way, Milady." Corrin shrugged, ignoring, or unaware of the impact her final words meant for her mother.
"M-Milady?" Mikoto gasped, dishearten.
'Oh dear.' Robin, Azura and Kaze muttered in their thoughts at once, not so surprise by this newer pressing issue.
It's been almost a month since I started this story and already having 12 favorites, 24 followers and 12 reviews, I'm feeling rather proud of myself and feel lucky to have made a good first impression for a beginner, though I must confess that I was expecting more reviews at least than the former two. I don't mean to sound petty or ungrateful, I am neither and I just felt like getting that out.
Anyway, I'm very proud of this chapter, granted I doubt it's my best but I enjoyed writing it. I admit I went too far when I wrote that harsh scolding to Takumi but given his reaction to the thought of another Dragon coming out of Corrin really is a cause for concern so reasonably no one should hold it against him but since this is their conflicted lost sister, Ryoma isn't going to think twice on who to side with in this scenario. So The second Prince has more of a reason to resent Corrin but he has standards so he won't lash out when they have bigger fish to fry. I didn't allow Silas to join Corrin because it never seemed right to me for him to go against his Kingdom over the word of a friend he hasn't seen in years. Same with Kaze in Conquest, these two are my most favorites in Fates and their loyalty for those they care for is something I admire but the notion that they would betray their respective countries for Corrin is something I can't accept so Silas will remain with his people all the way through. In regard to Azura's abilities, I'm well aware on how they work but I will also make some changes to suit my taste on her role in my story. This is the first time I ever wrote an actual scene with a full blown strategy so I had to think more than twice when writing this but I like to think I did alright, the obvious flaws were done on purpose to raise the stakes and make sure everyone had something to do.