Deliverer of Birthright

by romeoraiden

My First Story. Two Nations. One desperate enough to bring a terrible war, the other more concern for themselves, and at the center, a sheltered Princess is forced to make difficult choices for the good of all. In her quest to do what's right many will stand with her and many more will oppose, throwing her in a state of despair. And from the chaos a Fallen Hero will rise again.

16. Chapter 16: Darkness Within

*Chapter 16: Darkness Within

"What have we got here?" Said a snarky looking man who looks like a mercenary standing guard of a cave located a mile away in a forest from Cyrkensia as two other mercenaries come in holding two people hostage with bags on their heads and hands behind their back while handcuffed with chains. "These are the two wise-asses who made contact?"

"Yep, and whatever they're promising has the boss all intrigued so we best not keep him waiting." One of the two men replied.

"Alright, better hurry this up then, the boss is planning on heading out soon." The Guard said as the two mercenaries enter and drag in the other two and after a long walk, the two ''captives'' are forced to take a seat on chairs beside each other. Once that is done the bags are removed from their heads, revealing the pair to be Robin and Azura. They look at their surroundings and see that they are in a rundown looking living room of a large house, probably an old mansion built in the forest that has long since been abandoned. Dawn has risen so they can see clearly enough without trouble.

"This is dignifying." Azura muttered sarcastically, not liking the latest scenario they're trapped in.

"It's not so bad, beats breaking and entering into the house of a well-respected dancer to hide out with an injured man." Robin replied sarcastically himself.

"Injured Realmwalker, you mean?" Azura corrected.

"Realmwalker? Is that what you're going to call me from now on?" He asked. "I mean, I've been called a lot of things in my less than healthy line of work but that one is the most accurate I've ever had."

"Unhealthy is also a perfect word to describe you considering the mountain of trouble you're in." Azura said annoyed.

"Hey, I got us out of Cyrkensia in one peace, didn't I? It's not my fault you didn't get any sleep last night." Robin argued, earning himself a scowl from the Songstress. "Okay, fine, it technically is but I warned you that you'd be in for a doozy but I gave you a Sleepless Spell as well as myself to not suffer from that sort of fatigue so you have no room to complain about that one."

"There is a lot to be desired in this scenario you put us in, Robin, expecting me to keep quiet about your past is another thing entirely." Azura protested stoically.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there." He shrugged.

"You mean get pummeled into that bridge when Corrin learns you don't have a memory loss because she is no longer stable."

"Wow! Wow! You really are Nohrian because that is just sassy in all the wrong levels." Robin muttered.

"Hate to interrupt this romance spasm but I believe it's about time we get down to business." Said a man entering the scene while carrying a chair with him that he places in front of the two to sit down to speak with them better. Said man is none other than the leader of the Black Bulls, Shura. "Who goes first, though considering our previous misadventures I say introductions are off the table, eh, Robin?"

"I'm just surprised you would come in with such a lackluster entrance unlike the last few times." Robin shrugged.

"Why do you two make it sound like you've known each other before we met back in Aikawa?" Azura questioned.

"Yeah, sorry about that but Shura and I have made a deal of sorts long before the Aikawa incident, I just didn't say anything because… well, I'm new to this whole Hoshidan Royal Guard duty and he's a known criminal so I didn't want to walk on thinner ice with you guys than I already have been." Robin confessed.

"Well, you're just full of surprises aren't you." Azura scoffed.

"You two have a lot of making up to do." Shura joked in amusement. "One of the rooms here is still in good condition."

"That won't be necessary. Anyhow, you seem to have made yourself comfortable upon coming back to the West, we arrived last night." Robin said, wanting the subject changed.

"Really, I've arrived three days ago." Shura retorted smugly. "I've warned you I was mighty resourceful so that makes me the winner of our little bet."

"We never agreed to that." Robin proclaimed. "We need your help; we've been separated from our allies and I'm low on magic power and any moment now I'm going to drop from magic overuse."

"Shocker, that's what you get after the stunt you pulled in the Opera House." Shura replied. "Nestra may not be well equipped with the Audio Magic the Nohrians have to maintain a perfect form of communication across the country but word still gets around fast, especially for us Black Bulls since we have plenty of eyes and ears around the criminal underworld."

"And that's why I made contact with those in Cyrkensia I knew would lead me to a higher up." Robin said.

"I be lying if I said I'm not tempted to help considering how close you are to one of the Hoshidan Royals but in my experience, unless they're desperate or scum themselves, Nobles don't last long as acquaintances." Shura said skeptically.

"True, but you can trust Corrin, and I did help you out for free during that heist in Macarath. I could've turned you in but I didn't because I knew what they do to Black Bulls in Nohrian prisons." Robin reminded him.

"You sure did." Shura said, rubbing his chin, contemplating on what to do on this matter. "What is it you want that you think I can supply exactly and what would be my compensation for helping wanted war criminals of Nohr. You know that the Royals are itching to get their claws on you after basically kidnapping their third Princess. The reward for your head is awfully tempting."

"A Warp Tome for our use, I know you have plenty, as well as a Weisslogia Gem." Robin requested.

"Whoa! Whoa! Slow down there, Prince Charming. I know I owe you big time but what you're asking is worth a fortune, and I can only be persuaded to give the tome for free." Shura declined.

"You sure like to drive a hard bargain, but this meeting hasn't even started yet." Robin sighed, seeing this coming.

"Don't look so gloomy, you knew this conversation was heading this way and if you were bold enough to come here and ask for help than it can only mean that you have something worthwhile, or at the very least are willing to do a few favors for me." Shura concluded.

"Basically, take your pick." Robin replied.

"I'm thinking both." Shura decided.

"Of course you would." Robin said sarcastically.

"First thing's first, there's someone else I would like you to meet that would be very interested in doing business with you, and I believe you've met her before." Shura said.

"And who's she?" Robin questioned.

"Why, darling, ask and you shall receive." Spoke a mischievous tone of a woman entering the scene, a very attractive woman with long crimson hair wrapped in a ponytail, wearing a unique version of the uniforms worn by female Outlaws. A familiar face to both Robin and Azura.

"Anna." Robin sighed in annoyance, familiar with this woman.

"The Secretive Merchant." Azura uttered.

"I'm glad to know how my reputation proceeds me, though I'm pretty sure you're referring to one of my sisters in Hoshido." The Outlaw replied with one of the brightest smiles she can muster. "So, you must be the amnesiac Mage Fighter, Robin. You're quite the talk here in the West, especially after defecting to Hoshido's militia."

"I was never a part of the Nohrian Army, I lived with one of their Princesses but I was more a poor butler than a soldier. I don't know how many times I have to explain this to you Annas." Robin muttered. "Your family never makes things easy for me."

"Now, now, wipe that frown off your face, darling, it doesn't suit you. And it's just like Shura said, we may owe you but we didn't last this long in this lifestyle by being stupidly trustworthy." Anna winked at him.

"I figured as much." Robin sighed, deciding to appeal more to Shura and Anna's greed. "Alright, I'm a man who always wants to pay his debts more so than collecting them. Name your prize."

"So many things, you know how we Annas are. However…" Anna began as she started to get more serious and, surprisingly concern. "I don't know how deep your ties with the Hoshidan Royals are exactly but I like to think you have your way around helping those who you set your sights on, so maybe you can find someone for me."

"Someone needs saving and your connections aren't cutting it." Robin surmised.

"Shocking, I know but ever since the death of King Sumeragi, the criminal underworld has been growing more unpredictable, very slowly sure, but the corruption is starting to show and everyone is too focus on Nohr to notice, and whoever these new players are and going after our properties ain't your usual lunatics, murderers and psychopaths. They aim for keeps and literally bathe in blood." Shura said, actually sounding fearful of something.

"I know nothing about any unknowns. Any clues?" Robin asked.

"Not sure but the level of violence that broke out in Izumo resembled some other attacks we've been hearing all over in the bleaker corners of the continent." Shura explained, earning surprise glances from Robin and Azura, making them greatly concern as those attacks must be because of the Sins.

"They've been around that long." Azura muttered horrified.

"Dammit." Robin cursed their luck as the threat of the Seven is becoming ever more present and they've only dealt with three of them and the damaged they've done by one of them is the kind expected of an army, and now they learned that they've been in Horus for likely almost thirteen years. "Alright, and this someone who you want me to find, you sure they're alive?"

"I sure hope so. Lord knows I've nearly exhausted all my contacts trying to find her." Anna said, showing more worry.

---

Lilith rushes towards the corridor where Mozu was left and hopefully is still safe until they get there before they can escape, which of course it's easier said and done with the Apathies in hot pursuit and their attempts to stop her with their magical screams to force her into becoming more docile, which seem to work as Lilith is slowing down that the skeletal beasts are able to catch up to her, but the little dragon persists and summons more glass weapons to strike at the Apathies but only manage to hit one of them, their reflexes are inhumane but even then, all she managed to do was knock one of the two wall crawling in the ceiling to fall to the ground, while rolling but the ridiculously tall beast is able to get on its feet way too quick and continues its pursuit, while Lilith manages to go faster. They're almost there but are halted again, this time by a Creep bursting out of the ground, and collides with Lilith's barrier, and while not strong enough to break it, the impact does halt the Astral Dragon, allowing the Apathies to catch up with her again and use their screams some more, affecting Lilith more and more, until she can barely keep her eyes open and her barrier's decreasing slightly but not enough for the Grimm to penetrate it but enough for Zero, as he and Leo catch up to them via warp tome and he quickly fires an anti-magic arrow that one shot from it is all it took to shatter her barrier.

Lilith and Corrin get surrounded by the Apathy, stretching their arms to restrain the two. Lilith is too ''exhausted'' to do anything but Corrin seems to still have some fight left in her as she tries to force the Apathies off her but their grip is tighter than their skinny appearance makes them out to be.

"You always did suck in playing tag with Elise." Leo joked.

The Apathy holding Corrin by her left gets impaled by a Blessed Lance, with its holy properties, immediately kills the Grimm and reduces it into miasma, and everyone in the vicinity is surprised to see that the one who did it is Mozu, who too went against Corrin's orders. Corrin seized this opportunity as she grabs Yato and uses it to slay the other Apathy holding her.

"Why doesn't anyone listen to me anymore." Corrin muttered as she goes to take on the remaining five Apathies and Creep but is halted by their screams, forcing her to her knees again but still she proceeds and tries to attack, only to be attacked by the Creep who rams her to a wall, making her drop Yato again as she uses both her arms to push the ugly thing off her. As frightening as all this is, Mozu remains remarkably valiant, and without thinking clearly rushes forward and impales another of the Apathies with her lance, their screams unable to affect her.

"What?!" Leo gasped.

Another of the Apathies attempts to kill the young girl with its claws but Corrin counters, summoning her dragonic lance-like arm to block the claws and then impales that Apathy as well to the other wall. Leo retaliates against his former sister's continued defiance, by summoning a tree from below her, violently pinning her to the ceiling, which causes her to cough out a bit of blood.

"The Apathies have no effect on that girl." Zero said intrigued.

"Ridiculous." Leo scoffed at this, and in an act of villainy, the Nohrian Prince fires a sphere of dark magic at Mozume for her interference with both Corrin and Lilith currently powerless to stop it nor is the Villager fast enough to avoid it and gets blasted but to the further surprise of everyone, as soon as the dark magic attack hit Mozu, it fades away just as fast, with her completely unharmed and just confuse.

"It can't be…" Leo uttered. The Creep goes to attack her next with Mozu unable to stop it from taking a bite out of her left arm but the moment it did touch her, the Creep, implodes entirely, knocking the remaining Apathy away from her, and also entirely destroying the tree pinning Corrin to the ceiling, dropping her back on the floor.

"She's invulnerable to Dark Magic in general." Zero said more surprised.

"A feat like that should not be possible except… for THOSE people." Leo cursed, realizing the problem.

"But that means…" Lilith whispered, coming only with one conclusion as to how this is possible, same as Leo, and in a last attempt to escape from the Dark Crusader's grasps, the Astral Dragon reverts back to her human form and slams her Dragonstone with as much force as she can muster on the ground, not to break it, instead to summon multiple blades of glass from the ground, walls and ceiling on their assailant.

"Milord!" Zero cried out as he pulls his Prince away from the danger zone since Leo has no time to make a warp to escape, luckily the remaining Apathy are able to assist, grab Leo and Zero and pull them away from the blades that don't go very far and there aren't as many that came from the ceiling and so they escaped by wall crawling.

"Let's go, this won't hold them for long at all." Lilith shouted as the three girls escape for the moment.

"Run as far into the Light as you can, Corrin but there is nowhere Nohr's Darkness can't reach. Not anymore!" Leo declared.

Corrin, Lilith and Mozu make their way to a garrison currently used as a battlefield with the Chevians against Nohrians but there are no Grimm here at least, and the Chevians seem to be the ones winning with only a Nohrian Ranger left standing that swiftly kills three soldiers with his Killer Axe, and then stops a hammer swung at him by grabbing the Chevian Fighter's wrist and prepares to cut him down next but Corrin stops him by snatching Mozu's lance from her and throws the weapon directly at the axe with enough force to force the Ranger to drop it, allowing the Fighter to fight back, releasing his arm from his grasps and slams the hammer at his face, knocking him down for the count.

"Don't let up, we have to keep on fighting!" The Commander of these soldiers roared as they have to keep going before noticing Corrin, Lilith and Mozu approaching him and recognizes them as his Hoshidan allies. "You three?"

"We don't have much time, tell us, where is the Dragon Vein that summons the Great Wall?" Lilith asked the Commander with haste.

"Excuse me?"

"There's no time, I found a way to turn it back on." Lilith declared.

"You do?" Corrin asked shocked. "How?"

"I'll explain when we get there." Lilith said while holding on to Mozu's hand tightly.

"Right this way!" The Commander replied as he will lead them to where the Dragon Vein is, more motivated by desperation than trust.

---

Back outside, the battle continues to rage on with things so far in Nohr's favor even though the Hoshidans remain headstrong and refusing to back down.

Oboro yells violently as she confronts the craze looking Paladin of Crown Prince Xander with lances, since Peri manages to recover her Killer Lance from earlier, and they seem evenly matched for the most part but Oboro is clearly the better spear fighter, since her class specializes solely in lance combat, while Peri was trained to know how to wield both a lance and a sword so while she clearly has skills wielding both, learning to master two weapons requires extra time and Oboro has the impression that Peri is one of those kinds of people that don't bother to organize their training regimen to mastering one weapon at a time, given her childish attitude. Peri is, however, resourceful as she fights using both Killer Lance and Killing Edge. Oboro manages to get behind Peri and aims for her legs, of which the blue-haired dame counters by stabbing her sword on the ground behind her at the nick of time for Oboro's Spear to hit the blade instead. Peri then swings her lance for the Spear Master's neck, which Oboro avoids, and Peri proceeds by pulling her Killing Edge from the ground to quickly strike her, but Oboro evades by backflipping far enough away, not that it stops Peri who continues her assault by throwing her spear that Oboro barely blocks in time, leaving her visibly wide open for another attack that she can't avoid.

"Die now." Peri cheered as she goes forward with her sword, not knowing that Oboro is still capable of making a counterattack that should give an advantage to completely disarm her. However, Peri is not the only one to think she has a chance to kill her as an arrow is fired directly at her from her right that she notices in time to halt her charge and back away in time to avoid the arrow that looks like the ones fired by the Fujin Yumi but significantly weaker, and Peri gives a quick glance to see that the ones who fired were both Takumi and Sakura, using the Sacred Treasure since the former is still unable to use both arms, with Sakura holding the bow with one hand and Takumi using his only good hand to pull the string to fire and the shot seemed almost precise that Peri was completely lucky that she even noticed.

Oboro goes forward anyway, swinging her naginata hard enough to make Peri drops her sword, and in retaliation, Peri kicks the weapon from Oboro's arms with enough force as well, leaving them both without a weapon for a moment, but that means little to the ''Demon Lady'' as she pins Peri to the ground and proceeds to punch her senselessly.

"How do you like it when the tables have turned, bitch!" Oboro roared violently, her demonic glare ever present.

"I-is that really who my sister in law is going to be one day?" Sakura asked, always frighten when Oboro behaves like this.

"Is now really the time for that." Takumi hissed, more irritated with his sister than embarrassed. The Prince is pulled out of this annoying predicament when they notice Oboro cease her brutality, with a mortified expression on her face because Peri stabs her by her stomach with a Silver Dagger she kept hidden until now.

"It's only fun when I do it!" Peri shouted as she pushes the Spear Master off her and leaves her lying on the ground, trying to cover her wound as the dagger went too deep, with her pretty much defeated.

"Oboro!" Takumi cried in horror with Hinata rushing to her aid, only to be stopped by Laslow who arrives at the scene, leaving Odin to handle the other Retainers.

"Now, now, I know this looks bad but it's rude to interrupt a catfight, especially one of two beastly ladies." Laslow insisted.

"Shut up and get out of my way!" Hinata growled as he goes forward and clashes swords with the Nohrian Mercenary, who turns his sword into a bow and fires an arrow that while the Samurai is able to parry, Laslow is given the chance to slip past Hinata and kick him in the back and knock him to the ground, and later shoots another arrow at Sakura but only to knock the Fujin Yumi off her hand.

"Shit!" Takumi cursed.

"Can't have any more of that." Laslow smiled innocently.

"I'm feeling stabby." Peri giggled childishly but also with hints of malice, getting on top of the Spear Master as she desires to stab Oboro some more with her dagger.

"No, bad Peri! Prince Leo wants as many of the Hoshidans here captured if possible, and that one's down for now so no bludgeoning anyone to death." Laslow sounded like he is lecturing a spoiled brat.

"AH! First Lord Xander, Leo and now you! I hate you all!" Peri cried indignantly as she begrudgingly leaves Oboro alone.

"Times up, Prince Takumi, for your little sister's sake I'd surrender if I were you." Laslow advised.

"Shut up! This battle is not over! I refuse to ever lose to Nohrian Scum!" Takumi snapped in defiance.

"And what makes you think you can win, you stupid pineapple head?" Peri dared mockingly.

"Oh, now you've gone and done it!"

---

"It should be right here." The Commander said as he escorted the trio into the same war room where they reunited with Ryoma.

"Not where I expect to find a Dragon Vein but whatever." Corrin muttered while Lilith walks to the center of the room, gets on her knees and places her hand on the floor, doing so reveals the Dragon Vein in a very dim and weak white glow and only now is Corrin able to feel it as she couldn't earlier.

"This is it." Lilith said.

"I've never felt a dragon vein so weak before." Corrin said, gazing at the vein.

"This dark magic is unlike anything I have ever felt, almost as if it's from the Outrealms." Lilith muttered before turning to Mozu. "Come here Mozu."

"Me?" Mozu questioned in confusion.

"You're our best chance at purging this corruption from this Dragon Vein." Lilith revealed, to Mozu and Corrin's confusion.

"What? How?" Corrin asked perplexed.

"There's no time to explain." Lilith said as she grabs Mozu's hand and pulls her closer to the Dragon Vein, gets her on her knees and places both her hands on the Vein and in doing so, the Dragon Vein starts to glow even brighter, not as bright as it should but better than it was seconds ago. "Now listen very carefully, Mozume. I know you're confused right now and even more so, scared, and that's alright but you need to be valorous. Okay. What you have to do is simple and focus your thoughts on the Dragon Vein, desire to unleash its power, your blood will do the rest."

"I don't really get it but… okay." Mozu complied, doing as instructed, not just because she was told to but because of something else, ever since she first set foot on Cheve she felt like something was calling her, a force that's both ominous, yet familiar and blissful, even though she's never been here before, or rarely ever stepped outside of her village. In almost no time at all, the Dragon Vein's white light shines even brighter, spreading a surge of energy all across the room.

"This feels slightly different than the other veins we activated." Corrin said.

"It's supposed to be different." Lilith said as Mozu is actually doing it, she's purging Selena's corruption.

---

The Nohrians are nearly done ceasing total control over the Rebels' base of operation and soon they can proceed with the rest of Cheve.

"Dammit, where is that Dragon Vein?! I can't even sense it's divine magic." Leo cursed, mainly focus on finding Corrin, and as of this moment, Mozu primarily.

"Selena and Beruka were the ones who discovered its whereabouts but neither bothered to mentioned where it is since there was really no point in its current state." Zero reminded.

"Well, it's biting at us now." Leo scoffed. "We have got to find them before it's… before it's…" The Dark Prince suddenly felt off somehow, and it didn't take long for Zero to notice as his master is starting to lose his balance and trips.

"Whoa there." Zero quickly catches Leo and tries to keep him on his feet but then Leo begins to cough a lot, a clear sign that he's beginning to feel a lot of pain, forcing him to place him down to lean on a wall, and that's when he now has trouble breathing. "HEY! What's wrong?!"

Zero then turns around and notices the Grimm beside him screeched suddenly and turn completely into miasma, like what happens when they are killed, further worsening the situation.

"What's going on?!" Zero shouted, now unaware of the Chevian archers approaching them and waste no time in shooting at them, once they recognize Leo as the faces of the Nohrian Royal Family is almost common knowledge across the West of Horus, but the duo are saved by the arrival of unmounted Rod Knights who create a barrier around the two for their safety and later fire magic attacks at the archers to finish them off.

"What's wrong with the Prince?" One of the Knights asked in a panic, once they see their Prince's current state.

"I don't know but start healing him!" Zero demanded, in which the rod knights quickly do so. "What's the status of the Grimm?"

"We just passed by a platoon of them on our way here, and they just faded away, as if they have been killed." A Female Knight explained, panic in her voice. "What is going on, Sir Zero?"

"I hate to say it, but I think our treacherous Princess has found a way to turn the Great Wall back on." Zero cursed.

"Right you are." Replied Lilith who shows up before them, alarming the knights to prepare and shoot her.

"Hold your fire!" Zero ordered.

"It's over Nohrians, the Great Wall was made fueled with the power of the God of Earth who holds a strong resentment towards your god, as such anything of sacred dark relation inside of it, like the Grimm, will die, and that includes any one of the Dusk Bloodline." Lilith revealed.

"Well, congratulations, little traitor, no sense in trying to get him out of here since we can't even perform Warp Magic inside the wall as well." Zero scoffed.

"No, the Great Wall is yet to reach full power, in its current state Warp Tomes are useable but you only have ten minutes before escorting Prince Leo and Princess Camilla to safety is no longer plausible. Your choice." Lilith explained, giving them a heads up for them to escape before they lose two of the Royal Family.

"Zero…" Leo barely whispered, getting his Retainer and Knights to turn to him. "Don't… you dare do… anything stupid."

"As you wish, Milord." Zero sighed as it falls on him to make the order, even though Leo is still stubborn enough to do that himself but Zero has enough influence to control their soldiers when the higher-ups are out of commission. "This attack is a failure, light the Red Flare outside."

"WHAT DID I JUST…" Leo snapped at his Retainer but stops once he begins to cough again and this time with blood coming out of his mouth.

"Yeah, that's not good. LET'S GO!" Zero ordered the Rod Knight with a Warp Tome hysterically preparing the spell while the others run away to warn the others that they have to fall back.

---

"Lady Camilla…?" Selena uttered as she and Beruka see Camilla cease her assault on a soon to be finished Hinoka lying on the ground bested and falls on her knees coughing out blood. "Oh, shit!"

"What in the…" Hinoka muttered, confused before taking this chance to escape while the two Retainers rush to Camilla's side.

"All the Grimm are dying." Ryoma said surprised as he witnesses Nohr's Demons fade away all the sudden, though as relief as he is by this, he would very much like to know why, and he gets his answers by a bright light above as the sky is glowing in azure color that brightens the ground with twice the sunlight of dawn for three seconds before returning to normal.

"The Great Wall!" Scarlet gasped with immense relief.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Selena protested in disbelief. She and Beruka then turn to their right and see a red flare be fired upwards and it is bright enough for everyone to see, especially the Nohrians.

"The signal to retreat." Beruka uttered. "But we can't break through the barrier."

"Let's regroup with the others before we can think about escaping." Selena said as she helps Camilla climb on to Beruka's Wyvern.

"Where do you think you're going!" Saizo hissed as he attempts to stop them from escaping.

"Anywhere we wish, asshole! Forseti!" Selena shouted as she summons a powerful horizontal tornado spell from Morgenstern that blows Ryoma, his retainers, Scarlet and Hinoka far away from the trio, giving them more than enough time to flee but Beruka's Wyvern cannot carry all three women as it's not big enough and so Selena has to flee in some other way which is through the use of her wind magic to propel herself to the air, seemingly flying and at speeds almost faster than a wyvern.

"I liked that tome better when it was on our side." Hinoka cursed.

---

"Retreat!" Peri cried in horror upon seeing the red flare. "No fair! We can't lose again!"

"Nothing that can be done about it now, partner." Laslow said while turning to his left and seeing Odin rushing to their side, in the same manner that Selena just performed with wind magic.

"You are in safe hands with me my comrades!" Odin yelled as he performs a wind spell to create two tornados that surround, Laslow and Peri that propels them to the air beside the Warlock as he next places all three of them in a large air bubble that he uses to keep them afloat and fly away towards where the Nohrians are gathering because even though they can no longer take over Cheve without the Grimm and are trapped in the Dukedom they were instructed by Camilla to gather together should they need to fall back under the promise they could find a way out together.

"Well… this is quite the turn of events." Takumi smiled relief.

"I-Is this… Corrin's doing?" Sakura wondered.

---

"You got lucky, kid but next time there will be no one to help you. Kohga will be avenged!" Hans hissed as he reluctantly retreats with his men and flees from Kaze who doesn't bother to go after him, and just sighs over the ordeal he just went through.

---

The Nohrians regroup near the northeast of the Great Wall where Zero is waiting with a large portal conjured by Mages behind him.

"Alright everyone, into the portal, chop-chop!" Zero ordered.

"Wait, we can still use Warp Tomes?" Selena questioned.

"This pesky barrier is not at full power yet, but as it is now it will kill any Grimm or member of our Royal Family that's inside and it be risky to go and take Cheve with the wall active and our masters in danger of dying so it's back to the drawing board in Windmire." Zero said as the Nohrians waste no time in getting inside, Selena and Beruka being the first since they are carrying a nearly dead Camilla.

---

"HA, look at them run away without their precious demons. Cowards!" Scarlet laughed in triumphed. "I knew my faith in you wasn't misplaced, Ryoma."

"I always do my best to keep my promises, though I get the feeling that the gratitude belongs to Corrin." Ryoma smiled, while sighing in relief over their accomplishment.

---

"Gawds Dammit!" Selena roared angrily as she slices a box in two with her sword as she and the rest of the army retreated back to the barracks of Windmire. "I can't believe the whole thing ended as a bust!"

"You said that breaking that spell, any spell from your tome was impossible!" Beruka berated her while tending to a still incapacitated Camilla while the healers begin working on her.

"Don't you dare put the blame on me! My curse was foolproof!" Selena argued.

"Against anything Hoshido could've pulled, perhaps." Leo mumbled as he walks to me with his comrades, dismissing the healers tending to him. "Corrin has acquired someone very special who could restore the Great Wall to full strength regardless of what we could inflict. You all did wonderfully, we simply overestimated Corrin's incompetence."

"I've been telling you that for years." Camilla replied weakly, feeling better. "This whole thing was just a minor setback, nothing more."

"The wicked have won the day but victory may yet be ours, my friends." Odin declared.

"For once, Odin, we are at an agreement. Cheve may have survived our first onslaught but our moles are everywhere and remain in the dark in case the attack was a bust and will continue to discreetly sabotage anymore of their attempts to fight back, though with the Great Wall intact we have no way to contact them but it is of little concern." Leo said confidently. "One way or another, Hoshido is all alone in our chaos."

"I can have another go and make sure that stupid wall stays demolish and in pieces for sure next time." Selena offered.

"I'm sure you can but that can wait, Corrin will be up to something else and we better focus on them, for now, the Chevians are cornered sheep waiting to be feasted by the wolves." Leo commented, unknowingly making Selena, Odin and Laslow feel more awkward then they have ever felt in their lives.

"Right…"

---

"That was the biggest close call and dumbest of lucky breaks I've ever had in my life." Hana muttered relief as the Hoshidans return to the underground base to rest and heal their wounds after winning the previous battle. "Would've been more satisfying if I had bested that idiot mage in swordplay but a win is a win."

"The Dawn Dragon smiled upon us this day in our efforts to aid the people of his son, it seems." Subaki smiled.

"The Chevians sure are throwing a ruckus over this achievement." Hayato said hearing the people outside cheering in celebration over the battle won.

"Can you blame them, today was a great victory, not only did we prove that the Nohrians aren't infallible but that we can really count on Hoshido to help us win." Scarlet smirked.

"Glad we made you happy, Scarlet but there's still the matter that the Nohrians did manage to breach into your base and caused a lot of damage and almost a decent amount of casualties." Hinoka said based on what they were informed of once they returned.

"Yeah, that took a bite out of my soul, add those deaths to the list of people Nohr is going to pay in blood for." The Wyvern Lord replied with a small hint of venom in her voice. "Our chances to earn the people's trust may have increased but it also became increasingly easier to break now that we can confirm that there are moles among us. It's always been difficult to trust anyone with all this strife and now we are at a race against time to solve this problem because there's no way we're going to aid you guys in stopping Nohr if my people are busy aiming at each other's throats."

"Not yet, I believe I may have a solution that will allow us to snuff out the moles in Cheve and restore order to the Dukedom in our favor." Saizo offered.

"If so, then I shall leave it in your capable hands, Saizo." Ryoma replied to his most trusted soldier.

"Hey, ah, I hate to change subjects but I am super curious, how were you able to get the Great Wall back up." Hayato asked.

"You can thank Mozu for that, she restored it." Corrin revealed.

"She can use Dragon Veins? How?!" Takumi asked largely amazed.

"Shouldn't it be obvious; she has Dragon Blood coursing through her veins." Lilith explained.

"If that's true then why didn't you say so earlier?" Kaze asked.

"I had a feeling the first time I laid eyes on her but I just wasn't sure, something about her bloodline that made it hard to discern anything with certainty but it was clear from the start that she is special." Lilith explained. "But then I saw her withstand the dark magic of the Apathy Grimm and even Brynhildr with no harm to herself and then I was sure of what she really is."

"Hey, you're making it sound like I'm some kind of freak." Mozu argued.

"She means it in a good way, punk, don't go getting upset over something so stupid." Rinkah lectured. "You've been all sorts of weird ever since Corrin adopted you out of pity and you're stronger and faster than any little village brat should be and when Corrin rescued Hinoka from a Nuckelavee, you were more afraid of its appearance rather than it's Terror Scream, meaning your resistance to dark magic is unnatural. Also, my own dragon blood has been getting boiling up ever since I first laid eyes on you, as if it's trying to tell me something."

"I've been feeling something as well, though it was more like something clicking in my head here and there, like a sense of familiarity." Takumi added.

"I didn't feel anything." Hinoka stated with Corrin, Sakura and Hayato also feeling nothing from Mozu the same way as Takumi and Rinkah.

"Well, The Blaze Dragon and Stone Dragon are the sons of the Dawn Dragon so it makes sense that both your bloodlines would see each other as kindred spirits." Lilith explained.

"Kindred." Sakura repeated.

"I'm… an Earth Demigoddess?" Mozu muttered in realization.

"The Earth Tribe lingers on!" Scarlet gasped in shock. This is a huge deal for all of Cheve, for the Earth Tribe are the founders of the Dukedom, and a key subject of their resentment for Nohr, just one of them still being around is a real miracle. Scarlet rushes to the door to the room and checks to see if anyone is eavesdropping on the conversation before closing the door tight.

"What are the chances that we would be so blessed to have found her." Hinata laughed exasperatedly.

"Now that's what I call the hand of Fate at work." Hayato mused.

"My, oh my, good call in adopting her, Lady Corrin." Azama praised playfully.

"I didn't… I didn't know what she really was." Corrin mumbled.

"No way in hell can this information be passed along. If the Moles find out they won't think twice about killing her to keep the Great Wall from ever being cursed again when the Nohrians give it another shot." Scarlet said adamantly about keeping Mozu safe.

"But… I can't bend earth like Rinkah can summon fire or Hayato can control the wind, I couldn't even protect my parents." Mozu said, overwhelmed by this revelation.

"Not all of the Elemental Tribes were known for controlling the element they were named after, the Earth Tribe were instead known for their strength, breaking solid stone and bending steel with ease, running faster than any animal, hardening their skin so densely that they can take any hit no matter how fatal, surviving a fall of a thousand miles and having complete immunity to dark magic, and more importantly, being able to activate Dragon Veins as well." Ryoma explained.

"And young Mozu is remarkably strong as she demonstrated a few times and is fast enough to outrun a deadly predator like a Necrodragon." Subaki noted.

"A Necrodragon!" Ryoma and Scarlet uttered at once. They didn't tell them everything during the reunion.

"Later…" Takumi replied.

"Well Mozu, you certainly proved your worth to us, and sure moved up in the world." Orochi chuckled.

"I got a target on my head!" Mozu protested.

"And that's how you know you stepped up."

"Playful facts about life aside, we should really head back to Hoshido, I have a feeling that Nohr is about to get more savage." Hinoka said.

"Before we do, now is the time to see the Rainbow Sage once again. Lady Lilith, is it possible for you to mark Notre Sagesse the same way you did in here?" Ryoma said addressing the Astra Dragon.

"Yes, and the Deeprealm that will lead us there is a paradise in comparison to the Dead Zone so it will be a safe journey this time." Lilith assured.

"Either way we're not letting you go alone this time, don't want to risk any more mad dragons tailing you back to us. At the very least take someone with you." Hinoka declared.

"I'll go, I kind of like this whole dimension-hopping thing." Hinata volunteered.

"You'll do." Lilith replied.

"We should also contact Lady Mikoto and let her know of our progress." Reina suggested, with all of them agreeing.

---

The people of Hoshido are having it hard, with those among the lesser cities and villages being forced to evacuate and seek shelter in the major cities like the Capital, with their lands being constantly attacked by the men and beasts of their rival nation, and their army stretched too thin that there's not enough time to evacuate all of them with few of the cities being forced to hold out and wait while they are being protected with whatever military that can be spared for them, one of these unlucky cities is Karakura as the town had once again been victimize by Nohr but this time the Grimm are fewer and they had mostly Warlocks to content to. Tragically, the Nohrians still won, wiping out Karakura's defenses and ceasing control but have become considerably exhausted but still able to maintain control of the town and when one of the townsfolk decided to take up arms against them, the Warlocks did not hesitate to make an example of them for their defiance against Nohr.

Just when all hope seemed lost, more of the Hoshidan Army arrived to help the survivors, eliminate the Nohrians and heal all the wounded, and there sure are a lot. Leading these forces is none other than Queen Mikoto, despite the protest of her advisors, refused to remain idly by when all this is happening and is taking it upon herself to aid those she can, with Yukimura not far behind as her main supporter since her main retainers are aiding her children. And despite having magic at the level of an Onmyoji, she is sorely lacking in any skill to use offensive magic, as such she is actually more of a Priestess like Sakura, and the best one Hoshido has by far, with her personal Pursuer always close when she leaves the safety of Suzanoh.

"That seems to be the last of them, Milady, the survivors of Karakura are now truly saved." Yukimura informed as Mikoto finishes healing up both a woman and her son at the same time.

"Good, not much left but to hurry back then." Mikoto sighed, a little tired since she has been overworking herself, this isn't the first settlement she visited and aided, having been at it for four days now and it certainly won't be the last if things continue the way they are. "Any sign of more danger yet?"

"So far nothing, Grimm sightings have been minimum in this area lately but that could very much spell just as much trouble." Yukimura calculated.

"We'll have to make do, though I sure hope there isn't any more to do and that whatever surprises that come next have better be good ones, otherwise I'm gonna have a stroke." Mikoto muttered, wanting some good news right about now.

"Mother!" The two of them turn to see all of Mikoto's children, minus for Corrin suddenly appear behind them all the sudden.

"Oh, my children!" Mikoto cheered happily as she rushes to give them all a tight hug, something she desperately needed for a while.

"Ah, Milady, I don't think it's really them." Yukimura warned but not because he views them as a threat.

"Wait, mother, we're not really here, we're using…" Ryoma tried to explain to her but it is too late and as soon as she wraps her arms around her children, she phases through them because their astral projections and she hits her face on the snow.

"This is going to become a trend with her." Takumi muttered.

"Yep." Hinoka agreed.

"Right… Astral Projection from Corrin's dragon friend, not really here. My bad." Mikoto mused as she gets back up and dust the snow from her face and kimono and meet with her family but notices that Corrin, Azura and Robin are absent this time. "Where's Corrin and Azura?"

"A lot's happened." Takumi responded weakly.

"That's kind of what we should expect when there's a war but you know you need to be specific with me when it comes to all of you." Mikoto insisted. And soon enough, Mikoto and Yukimura are informed once again of their progress, and again, they give nothing good, especially with what just happened in Cyrkensia and the revelation that Corrin has been under the influence of Wrath for some time.

"Oh Sephiroth, you children are going to be the death of me." Yukimura sighed while rubbing the tip of his nose.

"Azura… and my poor baby…" Mikoto becomes horrified, holding on to her head while looking away from her children. "You have to bring her back, Ryoma, Corrin can no longer be a part of this madness."

"More than anything I want to drag Corrin back to Shirasagi where it's the safest for now, however we cannot." Ryoma regrettably defies his mother and queen.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mikoto demanded, turning back to face him, surprising all four of them as they have rarely seen her show hints of anger, unlike Yukimura who is more accustomed and knows how badly this is going to turn out if Ryoma is serious.

"We need more power if we are to truly stand a chance against Nohr's ungodly might and the Seven Deadly Sins, as well as turn your barrier back on, and so we need to awaken the true power of Yato, we must meet with the Rainbow Sage again." Ryoma declared.

"Have you lost all sense of reasoning, Ryoma! Each time you entered that accursed Sanctuary you drew closer to death and now you want to put all your siblings through that again, Corrin especially!" Mikoto's own temper begins to rise. It seems that Corrin didn't inherit her temper from the Nohrians or Wrath after all.

"It'll just be me and her this time, the Rainbow Sage, for all his apathy and disinterest in the wellbeing of Horus, will understand our plight, and we already have his greatest creations, he won't put us through his horrid trials again." Ryoma assured.

"You don't know that!"

"I'm sorry mother, you can't change my mind on this one, we need all the help we can get and we can't afford to go soft, even towards our own." Ryoma deemed adamantly.

'I've noticed.' Takumi scoffed, still bitter about his latest scolding.

"Dammit Ryoma, why did you had to inherit your father's stubbornness." Mikoto cursed, regarding how sore this whole thing turned out.

"C-Can we… p-please not… a-a-argue." Sakura pleaded. "There are… d-demons everywhere."

"Guys, she's right can we not do this crap!" Hinoka protested.

The debate is interrupted by a fireball fired from above that comes crashing at the walls of Karakura, tearing it apart and alarming everyone to look to the sky and gaze upon a Fafnir soaring through the night sky and attacking.

"A Fafnir!" Ryoma gasped.

"Of course things were going to go south on me." Mikoto sighed, as if she doesn't have enough to deal with, and readies her bow.

"You have to flee mother, even we have trouble fighting this beast." Ryoma demanded as the siblings can only curse their inability to aid their mother since they aren't physically here.

"Relax you five, I have the rest of the Royal Guard with me and Yukimura has already planned for this sort of thing." Mikoto said unconcern as said Royal Guard arrive on time to guard their Queen as the Fafnir seems to be looking directly at her.

"Naturally, you children just focus on your task and have the Yato ready to awaken and make the barrier operational again." Yukimura said overconfident.

"Alright, please stay safe until we return." Ryoma replied as Lilith cancels out the projections.

"I have not planned for a sudden Fafnir attack." Yukimura confessed, overly concern in reality over this next battle.

"Crapbaskets."

---

"Yukimura didn't really plan for that attack, has he?" Takumi asked, judging by how Yukimura himself seemed surprised by the Fafnir's arrival.

"Yep. Gods Dammit." Hinoka cursed over the misfortunes everyone around them is having.

---

"Protect the Queen at all cost!" The Commander of the Royal Guard ordered the soldiers to fire all they can at the wyvern-like Grimm, but the mighty beast is fast for its size and evades every shot thrown at it, and it makes its move as from its body, in particular, the belly, exudes black, incredibly viscous tar-like substances that upon hitting the ground take the form of smaller Grimm, like Creeps, Beowolves, Ursai and Boarbatusks that attack the Hoshidans.

The Fafnir summons more Grimm, a few more who morph while still in the air, becoming Manticores and Lancers who quickly put them at a disadvantage being attack both by land and the air with few Sky Knights to support them, and the smaller ones are just diversions, giving the Fafnir a better shot at his main target. The Grimm may seem for the most parts mindless without their human masters to guide them but some have shown to display intelligence, however this is actually the result of Nohrians giving certain Grimm instructions to follow through with strategies while there are no Nohrians around, meaning that there are Loyalists watching from afar who had planned for an ambush, knowing the Queen would come.

The Fafnir fires its mighty fire breath towards the Queen being escorted away but with really no way out. And just at the nick of time, someone comes flying towards the deadly flames and with a swing of twin swords clad in lightning, the flames are countered by a mighty blast of electricity that blows them away and creates an explosion above all of them. The savior then makes a swift and clean cut to the Fafnir's right-wing by the arm, causing it to crash down.

"Robin!" Mikoto gasped, quickly recognizing that the rescuer is indeed Robin.

"~You are the Ocean's gray waves…~" The familiar voice of Azura is next heard as she sings her magical song, somehow able to use the power that comes with it even though she no longer has her pendant but the same light it channels is now coming from her right hand, only much brighter, and as she continues to sing, her magic spreads to all the Grimm who cannot withstand the song, exactly like the Blight Dragon and dissolve just the same, except for the Fafnir who is more resilient and releases another fire breath but Robin gets in the way and takes the hit with his Levin Swords by creating a lightning barrier that blocks the flames long enough for the Grimm Dragon to be killed by Azura's song.

As soon as she stops, the Songstress takes a deep breath, feeling exhausted from using her power to such an extent.

"Azura!" Mikoto cried in relief as she rushes to her and forces into a tight embrace that the former cannot really comply due to how tired she is. "Are you okay?! I thought… I thought I lost you."

"It's… wonderful to see you as well, Lady Mikoto." Azura replied kindly, though there are hints of pain in her voice that Mikoto didn't pick up on due to still feeling confused after seeing her real mother again.

"A pleasure to see you unharmed, your Grace." Robin greeted as he gently flies down beside the two women and fellow tactician.

"How did you two escape, Ryoma and the others told us the Nohrians got you both?" Mikoto asked.

"Good, they made it to Cheve quicker than I expected." Robin said relieved. "It was a close call but I managed to take us out of the Opera House and later Cyrkensia with the aid of the Black Bulls as I discovered a way to contact them months ago and scored a deal with their leader to supply us with what I needed, like a Warp Tome to leave Nestra but when I tried to warp us into Cheve I could only take the two of us as far as their borders and couldn't enter, most likely because of the Stone Dragon's Great Wall, so we decided to come back to Hoshido to look for you, under the hope that you were contacted by Corrin, and my first stop was Shirasagi where we learned you were heading here."

"Well, at least there aren't too many bad surprises today. I'm glad you're both okay but I wish you'd arrived sooner, I just finished talking with Ryoma and the others. Corrin is devastated, believing you were killed and Azura captured." Mikoto explained.

"A pain I will mend soon. Did they mentioned where she and the others might be heading off to." Robin asked.

"Notre Sagesse, Ryoma is adamant about harnessing the Yato's power in spite of my protests." Mikoto revealed irritated.

"It was inevitable and we truly need the Yato now more than ever, we're close to gaining all the necessary power to beat the might of the Grimm." Azura assured.

"Not close enough, but we'll get there, now it's time for you to return home, your Grace." Robin said now holding his newly acquired Warp Tome.

"You can't seriously mean to warp every one of our soldiers and citizens of Karakura to Shirasagi do you? You'll exhaust your Magic entirely, or worse." Yukimura said incredulously.

"I managed to gain some fairly decent amount thanks to the Black Bulls, and even if it's not enough I'm gonna have to keep going forward for all our sakes, we can't stay here for much longer in case more Grimm show up." Robin warned.

"Crapbaskets, you're stubborn…" Mikoto uttered.

'Quite the son in law I'm getting right here.' Mikoto mused. 'Still, why do all the women in my family keep chasing after men with a death wish?'

"You have no idea." Azura sighed.

"Oh, you say that too." Robin replied surprised by what Mikoto first said.

"Huh…"

"Milady!" A Ninja steps forward and bows to give a report. "Scouts have reported a few Dark Mages that were likely the ones who sent the Fafnir after us hiding in the mountains. Once intercepted only a few of them got away while the rest have been apprehended."

"Are there any Loyalists among them?" Mikoto asked.

"We can't affirm that yet. The brand is only visible when it's power is being used."

"Fingers cross that we're finally lucky." Mikoto said. "Bring them all in, it's time to return to the Capital."

Exactly twelve Nohrians have been apprehended and are being rounded up and taken to Karakura where Robin will begin to warp everyone back to Suzanoh. Before he does however, Robin notices that two among the new prisoners of war don't seem like they belong in any squad.

"Unhand me this instant, you miscreants!" One stubborn and rude Butler demanded furiously.

"Not the hair, not the hair!" A sad Maid cried out.

"Naga's Grace…"

---

"We're back!" Hinata cheered as he and Lilith return from the Deeprealm located in Notre Sagesse and they've only been gone for probably four seconds and they look like they just came back from a vacation, completely soothed and relaxed.

"You two look like you just came back from a long trip." Hana noted.

"We were, one minute here is a whole year in that Deeprealm and as I said, it's a paradise over there so we couldn't help ourselves and stayed for a while." Lilith explained most satisfied.

"How long is a while?" Takumi questioned.

"How long is 28 days?" Hinata asked rhetorically and playfully.

"Seriously." Takumi and Oboro groaned.

"I'm sorry but I haven't had a real vacation in months and I had Time itself backing me up, it was a win-win scenario. And you always say we should never let those opportunities slide, Lord Takumi."

"Does that mean you two are banging now." Azama asked out of the blue, causing the Samurai and Astral Dragon in question to become completely flustered and shocked at the question, getting a lot of chuckles from the rest of the group.

"Nobody dare respond to that!" Takumi protested.

"If you say yes I'm cutting your balls." Hana warned.

"Nothing happened, and if there was, what do you guys care?" Hinata muttered, still blushing.

"Don't even get us started on your track record with women." Orochi laughed in amusement.

"I'm still here." Lilith muttered in embarrassment.

"All of you please, can we not get off the real topic and focus. So long as you two did your part in marking the island for us, whatever your businesses are, it is nobody else's concerns." Ryoma said next, still trying to wrap his head around all of this. The Seven Deadly Sins are real, Astral Dragons are real (not that he really doubted the latter), other worlds exist (that he certainly did), and that his recently returned sister has been infected by one of the Sins to succumb to unnatural rage, almost all of his comrades have commented on how lucky they were that Corrin was able to stay calm for as long as she did, something that they believe Robin contributed the most. That last part stung like nothing he's faced so far. Corrin was in so much pain, is still in so much pain ever since she was forced to make that horrible choice and during all that, Ryoma was completely absent when she needs him the most, just as he was absent for most of her life, and now here he is, dragging her along to awaken her weapon's power to push deeper into this war.

"Life is full of wonders and horrors, my son, you are more likely to fail more times than succeeding at anything, but out of all things you will succeed and fail at, looking after our family is the one thing I am confident you will triumph at. Being a family man has always been my greatest pride, and now it's your turn."

His father's final words to him before he ran off to hold off the Nohrians attacking their family in Cyrkensia to buy them time to escape come running back into his thoughts. He said those words as if he knew he wasn't coming back, he truly must've known how serious the circumstances were to say that. Ryoma hasn't felt like much of an older brother in a while, many would assure him that he has more important responsibilities as the High Prince and is doing the right thing by making his priorities so, however, that doesn't change the fact that his heart lies with the former. Watching Corrin like this, so sad and lost, like any minute she is ready to give up on everything, completely contradicting what he had originally thought of her the day they saw each other again for the first time in years, despite the anger and distress she went through in the Bottomless Canyon, Ryoma could tell that she was, or wanted to be an outstanding girl, lusting for adventure and thrill, motivated by a curious nature to learn more. It made sense giving that she had been imprisoned in a dark fortress for so long. All of that seems to be gone now, and Ryoma couldn't prevent it.

Things haven't been easy for his other siblings as well who have been pushing themselves to their very limits for the sake of Hoshido as a whole. Now more than ever he must use all of his strength to protect them and make sure they can work through this together and alive. Admittedly, he hasn't been fair to Takumi as well, though he's had it coming for a long time, Ryoma feels guilty for the way he's been treating him but the oldest of the five siblings can't bring himself to apologize, at least not yet. There are other matters that they both have to concern themselves with.

"We'll be entrusting you to look after your people for now but trust that we will be back to assist you, Scarlet." Ryoma instructed her.

"Don't worry about me, good luck out there." She replied with concern, based on everything she learned of Notre Sagesse, that place is a death sentence, and even though Ryoma has already entered the Sanctuary twice, he harbors no sort of overconfidence, meaning that he has second thoughts about returning there if it wasn't for the circumstances presented before them.

"Hold a moment, you may have told mother that we won't be going along this time around but I didn't agree to anything." Hinoka stepped up, adamantly. "Wherever Corrin goes, I will follow!"

"Of c-course." Sakura replied next, not wanting to be separated from her siblings again.

"We didn't come all this way just to finally meet your girlfriend, after all, and besides, I ain't afraid of the Sage as the rest of you, just frustrated." Takumi said.

"Until all threats have been silenced we won't be leaving your side again, Milord." Saizo swore, speaking for both himself and Kagero.

"My life is Lady Corrin's for as long as I draw breath." Kaze vowed.

"Very well, not like I can really stop you all once you set your minds on something." Ryoma replied with a wider smile and then turns to Corrin. "Are you ready Corrin?" She responded with a silent nod, but that is not good enough for her stepbrother. "I need to hear you say it, Corrin. If there were any other options I would gladly keep you as far away from the Sevenfold Sanctuary as possible, however, you have to go and for that you have to get your head in gear. Don't let Robin's sacrifices go to waste."

Corrin grits her teeth in response to his words but thankfully, it seems to have a positive effect on her, and hopefully will cause her to speak with a little more enthusiasm. To Ryoma's confusion, Corrin instead turns her gaze to Scarlet and speaks with her instead.

"Scarlet. Can I ask you a personal question?" Corrin asked.

"That technically was a question, and I'm not sure about that personal part but okay." Scarlet replied.

"The name of the knights your father killed, what were their names?" She asked abruptly, catching everyone off guard by what she could mean by asking that.

"Okay! Now that's cutting in too deep, don't you think." Scarlet snapped, not liking where this is going.

"Corrin, what is the meaning of this?" Ryoma demanded, not sure he himself likes where Corrin is going with this.

"I know, I know, I'm overstepping my bounds with this but I need to know their names, or at the very least the name of the Great Knight who killed your father." Corrin insisted calmly.

"I feel completely obligated in declining to answer that, it was a very dark chapter in my life after all, same for my Ma and little brothers." Scarlet protested.

"Okay, okay. I'm going to keep things in a calm and concise manner then." Corrin said, taking a deep breath before speaking again but completely opposite from a calm and concise manner. "ANSWER MY GOD DAMN QUESTION BEFORE I TURN INTO A DRAGON AND EAT YOU STARTING FROM YOUR ASS!"

"WHOA!" Everyone just gasped in shock by her sudden outburst and downright wrath.

"S-She's infected again! Lilith do something!" Sakura begged but Lilith makes no replies and remains silent and watching since she knows why Corrin made such a question, overhearing Leo's cruel revelation to further disheartened Corrin over her betrayal.

"Archaean's Bane! It was Gunter, okay! The old son of a bitch's name was Gunter! But I don't remember the other three!" Scarlet cried.

Corrin sighs and calms down after receiving an answer and remains quiet for a bit.

"Corrin, exactly why would you want to even know something so traumatizing and go as far as to threaten Scarlet?" Ryoma demanded again, his patience becoming thinner by the second. Corrin weakly chuckles in response.

"Well, brother, the thing is that I'm thriving my patience thin is all, Wrath aside, I've had a lot of steam to blow for a long time and it's not just Nohr that has earned my own anger." Corrin replied.

"Her weak smile is alarming me for some reason." Hayato uttered nervously, that fighting a horde of Grimm seems more favorable than being near Corrin right now.

The next thing that happens no one sees coming as Corrin sucker punches Scarlet, knocking her hard to the ground.

"Scarlet!" Ryoma cried, rushing to her aid.

"AH! Bitch!" Scarlet snapped at the sudden assault.

"Let's go, Lilith, I need some more sleep." Corrin ordered emotionlessly to her fellow dragon.

"Yes ma'am." Lilith muttered as she warps everyone, minus Scarlet to the Astral Plane, leaving the Chevian Wyvern Lord on the ground.

"Getting sucker-punched out of the blue by someone from Ryoma's family in the first meeting. Talk about a rocky start." She muttered.

---

"If anyone but Ryoma needs me, I'll be in my treehouse resting." Corrin said again emotionlessly, walking straight to her treehouse.

"You're not going anywhere until you explain yourself, young lady." Ryoma yelled as she walks after her but is stopped by Lilith who gets in his way.

"Lord Ryoma, halt for a moment, please. I know Corrin's actions was completely uncalled for and downright insane but believe me that was the nicest thing she could've done in that scenario considering how personal this was to her." Lilith pleaded with him to leave her alone.

"In what sense was that her being nice?!" Ryoma asked.

"Didn't she tell you; Gunter is the name of one of our friends that traveled with her to the Bottomless Canyon and was killed by the Sin of Wrath." Lilith revealed, getting Ryoma to calm down, now realizing the true gravity of the situation and Corrin's feelings.

"I see now." Ryoma sighed.

"Right, the actual Nohrian father figure. That… that really complicates things." Hinoka muttered, while also having a lot of concern for Corrin. She knows that for them it's been a few days since what happened in the Opera House but chronologically it's only been one night and she's been bombarded too many times already.

"Well… if the young lady wants to rest, then I suggest we all do the same. Tonight was fun yet again but even I have my limits." Reina spoke up next as she takes her leave as well, though something is amiss.

"Did that seemed, I don't know, like un-Reina-like to anyone else?" Setsuna said, noticing something off.

"Nah, the old hag is just having one of her rare moments where she really just wants to relax and not talk about how much she loves death, don't mind her." Orochi shrugged. "Though just in case, I better tag along."

"Right, we'll be in the hot spring." Hinata replied.

"You've vacationed long enough." Takumi lectured.

"Aww, come on, Milord, you know I love hot springs, and there weren't any in that Deeprealm."

"Reina…" Orochi spoke up to her partner with a more concern tone and expression, while the Kinshi Knight in question suddenly collapses to her knees, once she is far enough from the rest of the group.

"This whole time… he's been dead, and I never knew…" She mumbled in a saddened tone, her face obscured by her hair.

"Oh, Reina, I'm so sorry." Orochi sniffed a bit, not liking to see her partner be like this and comforts her as best she can.

---

A whole day passes by in the Astral Plane with everyone fully rested and ready to go out to the real world again, though Ryoma still needs time to adjust to this bizarre lifestyle.

"You're sure that only twenty-four minutes have passed outside of this place?" Ryoma asked his allies to verify.

"Correct, Milord, we wouldn't have believed it ourselves if we hadn't experienced this fractured flow of time ourselves, as far as the rest of the world is concern, last night was the longest of our lives." Kagero explained.

"It's not fractured, the Astral Plane just moves much slower than the one you're used to." Lilith corrected.

"It feels pretty fractured to me and disgustingly convenient." Takumi objected.

"I'm gonna need way more time to wrap my head around this whole Astral thing." Ryoma admitted, with a cheeky smile.

"I take offense to that smile." Lilith commented.

"Well, I'm ready so let's go and do this already." Corrin commanded, and Lilith opens the portal that will take them to Notre Sagesse and land right next to the narrow path that will lead them to the top of a mountain where the Sevenfold Sanctuary resides.

"That's the Sevenfold Sanctuary." Corrin said in awe, staring at the large sanctuary at the top.

"Yes, once there we may end up facing a great challenge, however, I am hoping it won't come to that for you." Ryoma said.

"Couldn't you have brought us in closer to save us the trouble of walking this accursed narrow path?" Hana protested to Hinata and Lilith.

"I'm sorry, but this is as far as I can go." Lilith said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Takumi questioned.

"I can't explain it but there is something up there, maybe it's all the Sacred Treasures, maybe it's the Rainbow Sage himself but something up there unnerves me, with all of my instincts telling me to stay away." Lilith explained.

"I feel something too up there, but it's the complete opposite for me." Corrin said narrowing his eyes. "I think… I think the Rainbow Sage is calling out to me to meet him."

"Really?" Ryoma asked really curious, same with the rest of them.

"Robin said that the Sage gave him the Yato to give to me before he even met me to boot. I like to say that I scoff at the idea of Destiny but all my instincts are telling me that this meeting is predestined, somehow."

"All the more reason for you to rise to the occasion, sister, and no matter what happens, never forget that we are at your side." Ryoma declared.

"Our steeds will be no good up there so we have to leave them behind." Hinoka said as hers and Subaki's Pegasi and Reina's Kinshi won't be of much help in the Sanctuary.

"Mozu and I will watch out for them in the Astral Plane." Lilith said as she warps all three animals and Mozu back into her home. The newly discovered Demigoddess wanted to come along but they all agreed that it's best she doesn't get involved into a death trap the rest are willingly walking into, it's already bad enough they're bringing Sakura along, the Princess is so stubborn. "See you in five days, hopefully, I'll be helping Mozu become more familiar with her powers with all I know of the Earth Tribe in the meantime."

"Okay… I can do this; I can do this." Corrin kept repeating those same words in her head over and over again, trying to remain upbeat for this important task ahead of her. "I can do this; I can do this…"

"I can't do this… I can't do this." Corrin takes back her words as she becomes exhausted after fifty minutes of walking, they've been tramping up and they still aren't close to the top. It's like the Eternal Stairway all over again, and again Corrin feels ready to stumble.

"You are really out of shape." Ryoma noted, surprise by watching Corrin look ready to give up this soon.

"She's a working progress, even though she's a skilled as our more prominent Samurais." Hinoka explained.

"Why do… important people always have to live in such huge places that are hard to reach?" Corrin muttered.

"Well, considering all the holy weapons the Sage carries with him, he obviously feels the need to test all who seek him out. This right here is a small test of endurance." Kaze stated.

"Small?" Corrin repeated.

"You'll understand if we do end up having to fight, though once we reach the top we should take at least a five-minute break." Takumi suggested.

"Only five minutes…?" Sakura mumbled, ready to give up as she has not improved in endurance since the Eternal Stairway.

"Always pushing yourself when you don't have to, Sakura." Ryoma chuckled. "Don't hesitate to ask to be carried by someone if you need to rest now."

"No… I can do this." Sakura insisted as she tries to go the distance but doesn't look like she'll make it.

"Quit being stubborn, Sakura, you're a Priestess, meaning you heal first and you're only means of combat is shooting from a distance only." Hinoka lectured, having quite enough of watching her baby sister push herself too far just because she feels left out by her superior siblings, and with impressive strength begins to carry her by placing her on top of her.

"H-Hinoka!" Sakura gasped.

"Just relax and let me do the walking." Hinoka insisted.

"But I'm heavy!"

"Well then if my legs get tired quicker you better boost up your diet." Hinoka joked and purposely at Sakura's expense.

"Aww, I wanted to carry Sakura." Hana objected.

"I could use someone to carry me for a bit." Corrin requested sarcastically, Kaze, however, takes her seriously and begins to carry her in the same fashion Hinoka is doing for Sakura.

"As you wish, Milady." He vowed.

"I was joking Kaze! Put me down." Corrin demanded in embarrassment. "Seriously, I think I've gained a little weight in the previous week."

"Nonsense Milady, I've kept a close eye on your diet and you've actually lost five pounds, compliments of Lilith." Kaze assured her with a smile.

"I didn't think anyone beside Jakob and Camilla could be this overbearing." She muttered.

"Good to see you're getting some of your spirit back, Corrin." Ryoma smiled.

They eventually make it to the top of the mountain and take that five-minute break Takumi suggested before entering the Sevenfold Sanctuary, though the likes of Corrin and Sakura requested a few more minutes but went ignored. Once inside, they are amazed by everything around them, it all feels quiet and relaxing, not unlike the two times that Ryoma, Saizo and Kagero have been here, but that just unnerves them even more than before.

"This place feels completely magical." Hayato noted, feeling a huge amount of Mana in the air.

"Yeah, literally everything here shows signs of something otherworldly." Rinkah added.

"Yet, at the same time there is an air of familiarity for us of Hoshido, and of Nohr." Ryoma noted as they examine the design of the main hall alone, the whole place's appearance feels like a hybrid of Nohrian and Hoshidan architecture, designs that Corrin recognizes from her time in Krakenburg and Shirasagi.

"It feels like I'm back in Windmire or Suzanoh."

"Yes, the Rainbow Sage is entirely familiar with both Kingdoms more than even the current Royals of both, his knowledge is vast and he seems to favor the two Superpowers." Ryoma said.

"Strange how he managed to mend both cultures together." Hinoka said still feeling like all of this is surreal.

"It's beautiful." Sakura said awe inspire by the Sage's Architecture, the mere thought that both nations would become one in perfect harmony.

"It's like this place was made just for me." Corrin whispered. Once she accepted that she belongs in Hoshido, she began desiring to unite both Kingdoms under one banner. This right here is exactly what she wants now more than anything, a place, a dream where she can unite both families. But it's just that, a dream.

"There isn't much the Nohrians can do right, but their taste in fashion is interesting, I'll give them that." Oboro begrudgingly admitted as she focuses on the Nohrian half of this place.

"This all makes me wonder if perhaps the Rainbow Sage is of both Hoshidan and Nohrian parentage like little Mozu." Subaki wondered.

"Could be, there have been many half-breeds that have left a huge mark on Horus in recent years, but the Rainbow Sage, in particular, is nothing more than mysterious as there's a lot about him that doesn't add up." Orochi said.

"What, like the fact that he's immortal?" Kagero asked.

"That's the biggest mystery, one mixed together with another question; is he even human?" Saizo added.

"I was afraid to ask the first time I was given the honor of speaking to him, and as my curiosity grows, so does my fears." Ryoma said. "All who enter should fear and submit to the owner of this sacred place."

"No pressure or anything." Corrin muttered.

"Hey, I d-didn't notice that portrait the last time we were here." Sakura said noticing one large portrait to their left, one that shows warriors of both Nohrians and Hoshidans standing side by side and on the edge of a chasm staring down into darkness with a monster they are about to fight. A Monster that resembles a demonic version of a dragon but it's hard for them to make out, what's really disturbing is the large spherical object that it carries on its mouth with three red glowing eyes on it that feel authentic unlike the rest of the sphere that's metallic and are likely its actual eyes since it's lacking any on its face since there's not much of one.

"That was certainly not there the first time we traveled here." Kaze said as he recalled a completely different portrait on this wall the last time they were here and it was far more impressive than this one.

"A Demon that possesses the form of a dragon." Hayato noted intrigued.

"It looks more like it's a Dragon that has the traits of a Demon to me." Setsuna retorted.

"It could be that all Dragons become something akin to Demons when they Degenerate." Azama suggested.

"Makes sense, Dragons don't just lose their minds when they Degenerate, they lose everything that made them who they once were, their appearance may be no exception." Rinkah added.

Corrin's thoughts become buried at the thought over that possibility. She's already gone feral twice and her rampages were the stuff of horrors, if she were to completely degenerate, would she truly become a demon?

"Still, why the change in portraits, the previous one looked way more fascinating." Kagero wondered.

"And how would you know of what's better or not when it comes to drawings when everything you draw is meant to give children nightmares until they turn forty." Azama rudely remarked, earning him a punch to the face by the irritated female ninja, knocking the monk on to the floor. No one said anything, much less lecture Kagero about her unprofessional act since it is something that they all wish they could do to the disrespectful Great Master daily. Rude Bastard.

"That man at the center, does that sword look familiar?" Hinoka asked, returning the subject back to the portrait and pointing at a man at the center of the people facing the ugly monster, the design of his attire looks to be of neither Nohr nor Hoshido but what really catches their attention is the amazing looking sword on his left hand, it strongly resembles the Yato but with a significantly different design. The crossguard is wider, all four slots on the blade are illuminating in crimson red, the blade itself now has a fiery design for the tip while the sides of the blade have rotating razor edges (similar to a chainsaw, not that any of them know what that is) and the aura of the blade has become multi-colored red and yellow.

"Amazing, it's like the Sword of Salvation has the capability to enter transformations of sorts." Hana said, fascinated by the design.

"The slots are all glowing as if they signify the amount of power the Yato is releasing." Saizo examined.

"Out of all the Sacred Treasure the Sage has created, only five have ever stood the test of time across history and they are the Five Great Sacred Treasures; the most obvious is the Yato, followed by Raijinto and Fujin Yumi who belonged with Hoshido's Royals." Kaze commented.

"Then there's Siegfried and Brynhildr who are currently in the possession of Nohr's Royals." Rinkah added.

"And the Rainbow Sage just so happened to come across worthy candidates of both Royal Families to wield them in the short span of a decade." Ryoma concluded suspiciously.

"W-What could it all mean? Did he want us to come to this conclusion upon seeing this portrait?" Sakura muttered nervously as all of this seems so strange for them to figure all this out so suddenly.

"That is most likely the case, the old man is clearly playing a dangerous game and using us as his chest pieces, the real question is, who is he playing against." Ryoma narrowed his eyes.

"Okay… coming here was biting off more than I could chew." Corrin took a deep breath and takes a few steps away from the portrait, suddenly regretting coming here. "Deep breaths, Corrin, deep breaths."

"Are you having anxiety now of all times." Rinkah questioned.

"Maybe I am. I don't expect you guys to understand but I am not a strong, independent Princess who don't need no man, and I just lost my emotional crutch so you'll forgive me if seeing all this is making me second guess myself." Corrin mumbled.

"Well isn't that lovely, another Sakura to babysit." Azama mocked.

"I WILL FUCK YOU UP!" Hana warned in outraged towards the Monk.

"All of you shut up! And put yourselves in her position before you start to judge." Hinoka hissed.

"Remember Corrin, we're here for you with whatever you may need." Ryoma said gently, sympathizing with her anxiety as he extends his hand to her. "I know exactly how you're feeling right now, the Rainbow Sage's presence can be overwhelming at first but truly there's nothing to fear, and even if there is, just remain by my side and we'll face whatever comes next together. I swear it."

"Okay… Alright… I'll try harder." Corrin mumbled, lifting her spirit as she moves in to accept Ryoma's hand this time, not like before.

"MILADY!" Suddenly and without warning, Kaze rushes to Corrin at top speed, extending his right hand at her chest to push her on to the ground, just as an arrow made of menacing purple energy and shadow is fired where Corrin was standing and instead hits Kaze, piercing through his right arm and severing it from the Ninja's body, exactly the forearm and hand. Leaving all of them horrified as Kaze falls to the ground, quickly bleeding out.

"KAZE!" Corrin, Hinoka and Saizo cried out to him with Sakura frantically rushing to his aid.
The worse is yet to come as they also look to see who fired the arrow and it is none other than Takumi, who has been standing still in the entrance of the Sanctuary, his face focus on the ground, none of them have even notice that he didn't follow them inside, they've been so caught off with the hall.

"TAKUMI! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Ryoma roared in a mixture of both intense rage and horror.
In response, Takumi's entire body begins to surge with purple flames, the same flames that Envy's soldiers possess, and also similarly, for a full second, Takumi's presence vanishes from their sight, yet the flames remain to show that he is still there before coming back to their view.

"M-Milord…" Oboro uttered, more horrified than anyone. Somehow, deep down, she knew this would happen.

"Mine…" Takumi spoke with his voice completely distorted, while also sounding both masculine and feminine, like someone else is speaking at the same time as him. "… Mine." They could hear the second voice better now and confirm that it's definitely the same as the Sin of Envy, even worse when he reveals his face, showing that his eyes are the same as Envy.

"EvErYtHinG HeRE! ALL MINE!" Speaking like a possessed man, Takumi points his Fujin Yumi at them, corrupted by whatever is happening to him with its green holy glow the string had replace with a dark purple that reeks of pure evil, creating another arrow as he pulls the string, aiming to kill his own siblings and comrades.

---

Holy Hell, quite a lot has happened in this chapter. I would like to apologize to those who don't like reading chapters that have too many different things added in one go, it's an issue I don't like myself but I couldn't help it since I wanted to get the Cheve part of the story over with, though I will try to add more lore on it in due time, hopefully. Robin and Azura will reunite with the others next chapter, the latter has acquired an alternative to use her song that I'll get into next time and like in canon Birthright and Conquest, Takumi has gone ape shit. I couldn't resist and had this planned from the start. The Revelation with Mozu was my excuse over her Aptitude Skill since she can be overpowered if given the investment so there you have it. Till next time.