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.

25. Chapter 25: March into Darkness

Chapter 25: March into Darkness

The War had resumed from its short stalemate. Hoshido's attempts on Cheve to be where they can begin their march had proven successful as they were able to find the moles in the country with minor delay and with fewer objections, the army gathers in the Dukedom and march ahead to Nohr's borders with High Prince Ryoma leading the way and his siblings closed by and while there was much opposition as expected from the Nohrians, the Army of Light's tactics and raw power proved superior so far as they go forth into the Heart of Darkness.

A mighty Nevermore comes crashing down on Hoshidan ground units, blocking their path and brings carnage upon them, killing a few soldiers before it could be brought down by two titan size Light Soldiers that pin it to the ground and cut down, allowing the other Hoshidans to proceed in their march.

"Don't let them get away! Purge these dogs from our soil!" Howled a Great Knight Commander leading a large squadron that has been chasing a company of Samurais, Archers, Spear Fighters and Diviners led by Takumi for sixteen minutes now heading for a recently abandoned fort from a previous battle and have so far been able to elude them, even with Grimm aerial support.

"They're gaining on us!" One of the Archers cried out shooting her last arrow barely hitting a Paladin by the shoulder that knocks him off his horse.

"Don't quit on me now, we're almost there!" Takumi shouted as they near their destination. At the same time, two more hoshidan companies can be seen from the north and east heading to the same fort also being chased by Nohrians with Takumi coming from the south. "That's more than I was assured but it'll do and they don't have wyvern knights either at least."

"General, the Hoshidans seem to be heading for Fort Craig!" A Cavalier blurted out to his commander.

"I can see that, you idiot! It'll make a fitting new graveyard for these bigger fools." The Great Knight smirked as he watches the Hoshidans regroup at the front doors of the fort with him and his allies closing in.

"Is this everyone?" Takumi asked with haste.

"Yeah, but the real question is if this crazy idea is really going to work or did we just come here to die." Rinkah hissed as the Nohrians are here a lot quicker and thankfully, the ground begins to shake violently with the area the Nohrians are standing on beginning to fall apart with all of them falling down below, screaming, and crashing into what used to be underground tunnels now out in the open with many of the soldiers having been buried under the rubble while the Hoshidans are the ones left standing, unharmed just like the fort by what's happened, leaving only the startled Grimm who are later blown out from the sky by a series of magical beams fired right out from basically every angle from the fort that take out all but one Nevermore that tries to attack Takumi's forces, only for it to have its head cut off by a swift slice from Raijinto as Ryoma flies above with Scarlet on her wyvern with the knight in question laughing with delight.

"I can't believe that actually worked." She roared.

"Should've been easier said than done but it sounded so simple and it worked in actuality all the same." Ryoma mused, impressed himself. What's more, he is wearing a new set of armor more befitting of a Supreme Commander that greatly resembles the one his father was known for wearing, now looking even more like him.

"That was more fun to watch." Takumi said relief.

"His ideas definitely aren't boring." Rinkah replied.

Upon ceasing control of the border walls that separates Nohr and Cheve, the Hoshidans merely received more opposition from Nohr, struggling to fight off an army led by one of Nohr's veteran generals with a reputation that rivaled that of Gunter, General Cesare who has put up a good fight until now.

Similar to Mokushu, there are a series of underground tunnels around Nohr but only in certain lands and not all in the kingdom that Robin and Jakob are aware of and understand fairly well with the former choosing to strategically use them to set up ambushes against the Nohrians. There was much debate over this plan, especially because Nohr would surely want to use the same tactics, being more familiar with them but ultimately they went along with his plan which has proven to work flawlessly once they ceased controls of the tunnels, removing the Nohrians they encountered inside, set up a schedule, picking the time and place, and before anyone knew it the threat of the old general ends with him buried alongside his troops. The combined army of Hoshido, Oldstrong and Cheve can now proceed further into Nohr and once word gets out that Cesare was killed in action, Nohr will either lose morale or become bolder in their assaults, regardless, they are in control now.

---

"Die, traitor!" Howled a furious Wyvern Knight that attacks Corrin, though the Hoshidan Princess is easily able to block his axe using the Icarus Cloud, allowing her to easily stab his wyvern's wings, causing it to lose altitude with both falling to the ground with Corrin watching with an unreadable expression before being forced to fight off two more wyvern knights. Roughly two miles away from Takumi and Ryoma, Corrin is engaging in an aerial battle alongside Hinoka as they lead the Sky Knights, Light Soldiers and Chevian Wyvern Riders against a squadron of Nohrian Wyvern Knights, Ravagers, Manticores, Lancers, Griffons, Sea Feilong and at least one Fafnir and the fight is stuck in a stalemate so far with the outcome unclear.

"Kill the Scourge!" Another Knight shouted in outrage, trying to get to Corrin from behind while she was distracted cleaving a Ravager in two, and later dealing with six more, though none are given the chance as Corrin unleashes Noble Yato's power, firing a large Elwind attack that blows them all away.

"I will not be acknowledged by that name!" Corrin shouted with disgust by that alias she has been given and fires another horizontal tornado attack that destroys every Grimm it touches with the exception of the Fafnir that holds on strongly and counterattacks with a firebreath that greatly overpowers Corrin and she narrowly evades the fire herself and the Dark Dragon continues its attack as it catches Corrin by its mouth and tries to munch on her. Pouring all her strength and the aid of the Icarus Cloud, Corrin avoids being eaten, holding the upper jaw with just her left hand and prepares to fire another attack right through the Grimm's throat, though at the same time the Grimm makes the risky choice to fire another firebreath while she is still inside, though neither are given the chance to fire as Hinoka comes to the rescue alongside another Falcon Knight, jumping off their Pegasi, landing on the Fafnir's back and with both their respective Blessed Lances, stab the Fafnir's wings, leaving large gashes on them that give the Grimm pain, losing control and altitude, knocking all three women off it as it falls down to the ground and they are nearly five thousand meters high up so it may not survive the fall.

"Corrin, are you alright?!" Hinoka cried out to her while she was gracefully saved by her Pegasus, same with the other dame.

"A lot better since I didn't go through with triggering a magic explosion by mixing holy wind with dark fire." Corrin replied sarcastically.

"Good thing you have your big sister to watch your back then." Hinoka smirked.

"Miladies, the signal." A Kinshi Knight called out to the two as they look down and see a blue-colored flare be fired from the ground below to the west.

"That's our cue. EVERYONE TO ME!" Hinoka howled to all Sky Knights to fall back and follow the Princesses to where the blue flare was fired and the Nohrians blindly followed them by how frustrated they are. The Wyverns are easy enough to outpace since Pegasi and Kinshi are naturally faster but the Grimm are a different matter as they are gaining on them, forcing some of the Basaras and Corrin to remain in the back and hold them back while successfully making it look like they are retreating, causing some of the more brash Wyvern Knights to feel more confident, which will be their undoing.

"Here goes nothing!" Corrin shouted as they reach the ground where there are many Snipers and Onmyoji waiting and unleash a mighty barrage of arrows and magic that accurately hit the Nohrians without harming any of their comrades. Another strategy of Robin's that worked wonderfully.

"Oh Gods… I thought I saw my life flashing before my eyes." A Chevian cried in complete bewilderment after going through that, even shedding a few tears from the fright.

"I can't believe I let you Hoshidans talk us into doing that." Another muttered.

"Aww, come on, everything turned out fantastic." A Kinshi Knight mused, sounding almost as excitable as Reina would in such a predicament.

"That could've been the biggest shortcoming stunt I would've had in my entire life." Hinoka sighed, nowhere near close to having a heart attack as some of her soldiers but still too relief to had made it out all the same.

"You're the one who consented to Robin's plan and besides, Reina's squadron pulled it off with flying colors as well." Corrin said brushing off the fright quicker than the others.

"It's Reina. Of course crazy stunts are going to work out her way." Hinoka shrugged. "What about you, how's the flying cloud working for you?"

"I'm loving it! Beats the hell out of using wings that don't work for you." Corrin said feeling giddy about having a cloud help her fly. It's so surreal but so is everything else happening to her. "Granted flying like this did feel bizarre at first but Robin makes a fine instructor."

"Yeah, I bet it was his instructions that got you to learn fast." Hinoka mused.

Nohr's aerial units are as tenacious, if not even more so than their ground forces, numbering around six thousand beasts, fighting them off has proven to be insurmountable at times but thankfully they were still able to tear them asunder as Robin devised several unorthodox tactics that Nohr's Tacticians could not see coming and what was left of the hostiles in the skies retreated to the heartland of Nohr. After three weeks of grueling combat, Hoshido pretty much has control of nearly half of Nohr's southwest region with heavier casualties on Nohr's side than themselves. Hardly a steppingstone compared to their true objective but enough to send a strong message that they are not to be underestimated and it's all or nothing now, either one side surrenders or they are beaten into submission a thousandfold. Corrin truly did not want it to come to this but alas she's more accepting now on how it has to be this way, at least more than she initially was when the march began, she can only wonder how Azura is feeling.

---

The Army of Light is fortunate to score themselves two days of rest, taking camp in another Nohrian fort they've taken for themselves and it's likely that they'll get another two more.

"Here comes the last shot!" Takumi shouted as he uses one of many test dummies Lilith made for him to practice his shooting and unsurprisingly he hit nearly all of them, though nearly is not good enough for him but at least he's in a better spirit than before. "Only 90 out of 100 today. Pathetic. Guess I'd better re-rack."

"N-No, you've been at it all day, you need to rest." Sakura pleaded with him to call it a day.

"I've rested long enough. Besides, I'm all better now. We're fighting Nohrians now, not Devils. I'll pull through." Takumi insisted that he's fine.

"Even still, you should stop for now. It's lunchtime and you and Hana faint from skipping food for training more times than you get bullseyes." Sakura did not relent, actually sounding demanding while not stuttering for a change.

"Geez, you're not pulling any punches for a change." Takumi mused.

"S-S-So-Sorry. I didn't…" Sakura goes back to stuttering.

"Calm down, I didn't mean it as a bad thing. In any case, you win, I'll call it a day." He surrendered. "Who's cooking today?"

"Mozu volunteered to be our main chef." Sakura explained.

"Mozu? Haven't seen her, or Corrin in over a week now. They doing alright?"

"Big sister is fine but I don't know about Mozu, last I heard of her she was reassigned to Reina's unit. I hope she hasn't been bullied again. It's happened twice already." Sakura said worried for their friend.

"Infighting in any unit led by Reina is impossible, everyone's too afraid to cross her and she's too protective of the younger soldiers so I'm sure she's fine. Still, the only way to know for sure is if we see her ourselves." Takumi said.

---

"Pardon me, Milady. My team and I have finished scouting the surrounding area." Kaze introduced himself as he walks into Corrin's tent while she is having her dinner with only Robin to accompany her since the dining tent is full and typically too loud, and while she would very much prefer to be a part of a loud crowd, she's been desiring more peace and quiet the more she feels exhausted and Robin is not one for such things so it's just them now and because everyone is still feeling jumpy by an inevitable ambush that could occur, especially with the risk of Void Travelers and Apathies appearing any moment now, everyone's been unable to change to more casual and comfortable clothing, at least until it's time to rest just to stay ready for anything, so no one will be too quick to assume they're having a dinner date since the white duo remain dressed for another battle. Speaking of sleeping the night, the night patrols are heavily fortified by Light Soldiers, though because of their shining bodies it can be difficult to sleep so they have to dim the lights as much as possible.

"Oh, Kaze, welcome back. I was beginning to worry for you guys with how long you've been out there, it's almost sunset." Corrin smiled relief to see her retainer back safely.

"A thousand apologies for worrying you." Kaze said with a respectful bow.

"How does it look out there? It's been strangely quiet lately and Nohrians aren't known for their silence." Corrin asked, feeling unnerved by how much they've all had to themselves.

"That would be because the enemy forces are staying on the defense, the loss of three of their high-ranking commanders such as General Cesare seems to have struck a huge blow on them as Sir Robin predicted. Despite being fully aware of our current location, they turn to focus more on blocking all paths to Windmire and the rest of the other cities. Even the back roads and trails. They are being quite thorough. There are thousands of troops massing." Kaze informed.

"As expected, however, as things stand we still have a chance to force our way through." Corrin concluded.

"Yes, with the Light Soldiers as our vanguards, we have avoided massive casualties on our part, only losing soldiers when engaging their superior troopers which haven't been occurring so much lately with them saving their stronger forces to preferably defend the cities." Kaze added. "Though I wouldn't recommend just marching in, even with massive forces, the slightest ounce of overestimation could be costly beyond measure."

"Naturally and given our current location I assume there is one area that the Nohrians haven't bothered to block from us." Robin spoke up next.

"Yes, judging by the way they are stationed, they've left a not so obvious path for us to walk freely into Mount Garou." Kaze said, looking annoyed.

"The Land of the Werewolves." Corrin muttered.

"How predictable." Robin sighed, annoyed himself. "Even with the Grimm, Nohr's army dares not set foot in that land for very good reason. No way our Chevian allies would be willing to go either, they are taught to fear and hate Lycans due to a brutal skirmish that occurred three hundred years ago."

"The Battle at the Impassable Peak. A tragic story that resulted in a hellish fight between the Duke and Lycan Chief of the time that created an everlasting rivalry between the two people. We're at a loss here." Kaze said troubled.

"For now." Robin said, confident in finding a way out of this.

"Thanks for the report, Kaze, you should go get something to eat. Mozu's cooking again." Corrin insisted.

"I would enjoy that very much." Kaze vowed before departing the tent.

"So, we were bound to hit a barricade that's actually sturdy at some point or another." Corrin said as she continues to eat.

"True, but nothing is ever as impassable as it seems at first glance, I made it out of that place before after all." Robin pointed out.

"Yeah, but you were alone before, I don't see how we can get a whole army through without picking a fight with innocent creatures." Corrin said worriedly.

"We don't have to blast our way through anything. The nearest city to us is Macarath." Robin began. "There's a secret pathway that we can use to reach the city undetected if we can get enough troops behind the barricade we can launch a surprise attack that would allow the rest of our troops to enter with lesser resistance." Robin suggested.

"That sounds good on paper like your other bizarre strategies but there is still the matter if the Nohrians, especially Leo or Iago know about this pathway you speak of." Corrin replied.

"They know about it but trust me, I can make this work as well."

"It's not that I don't trust you but that I can't fathom why you think you don't already have it." Corrin replied a little smugly.

"Force of habit I guess, even though my plans haven't failed us yet, doesn't mean they won't eventually. Everyone else seems to think so." Robin said, referring to the many soldiers reluctant to listen to someone who is still an outsider to Hoshido despite earning so much prestigious trust from the Royal Family, the only reason they have listened so far is because of Corrin's adamant faith and saying no to anything Ryoma says is no easy task.

"Like Mikoto said, baby steps. It's not like we didn't expect this. One thing I learned easily from Leo is that in every army, like societies, too many want to be at the top and can't stand those who get up there easily while the rest have to work themselves to the bone. I'm not fond of nepotism, ironic since I have a royal status but I was raised to be more a soldier so it doesn't really count for me." Corrin mused.

"Maybe not the way you may think but I'll get by one way or another." Robin said as he finishes his meal.

"I got to say, this all feels way more natural for you than it is for me. I mean, the way you talk and tolerate the slightest inch of insubordination, it's like I've been living with a born and bred Supreme Commander this whole time." Corrin said in awe by how Robin has been handling his position as Major General and Top Tactician. She now holds the rank of Lieutenant General along with Hinoka, a position she strongly protested since the best she can do is lead a hunting party, and that's being generous. Ryoma is a born leader so being the High General seems easy for him but he's still so young so he may be putting off more than he bargained for as well, and she can say the same about Hinoka, and Takumi who's also a Major General, they seem more competent as well and the soldiers are extremely devoted to them, Corrin can tell easily but she can't help but see the self-doubt they clearly feel. But Robin? He makes it look so easy, its laughable that she is struggling at all with his presence and constant support. "I have no idea how you do it and honestly, I'm a little scared to find out now."

"Yeah, I supposed it must be unnerving for me to hold my own so well but I guess carnage is more of a nuisance in comparison to what it means to you." Robin mused, looking like he is reminiscing something from the past, or trying to in Corrin's point of view. "But alas, my past is a minority and it best stay that way, the future is thrusting itself upon us, after all."

"I know but I wish the future could slow down a nut." Corrin sighed.

"Time flies when you're having fun or trying to savor moments like peace but feel like an eternity when we struggle, sometimes the best way to slow it down is by force." Robin advised.

"And we haven't been forceful enough?" Corrin questioned.

"You're still Nohrian at heart, does all this seem enough to get you to back down?" He replied smugly.

"Yes, because then you be my enemy and I might as well cut my throat open with Yato." Corrin replied now more sour, causing Robin to chuckle.

---

"Goodness! Blessings to this Icarus, these boxes are heavier than I thought." Azura said carrying a heavy box full of weapons. She volunteered to relocate some of the storage to another tend since the one she's in right now will be used to hold other supplies and somehow she managed to get to be the one to move it all by herself, luckily she has the Icarus Ring which helps with much of it but sadly, it can't get any bigger to carry more without the other ring and instead of leaving the last box behind to pick up later she decided to carry it herself while the cloud follows with the rest, and sadly Azura's thin body really isn't doing her any favors.

"Azura? There you are, it's not like you to miss dinner. What are you doing carrying all of those weapons by yourself?" Ryoma asked as he went looking for her after not showing up for dinner and is very surprised to see her carry so much, he could've sworn he requested the Wind Tribalists to deal with the armory. Granted, the crazy part is the magic cloud following her but at this point, he has become indifferent to Robin's tools.

"It's really not as troublesome as it looks." Azura shrugged.

"I beg to differ, if you can't throw a javelin accurately than you really shouldn't force your body to this kind of thing. Let me help you with that." Ryoma said as he takes the box from her hands. "Wow! this one is heavy! Why don't you carry one of the lighter boxes and leave this one with the rest?"

"They all feel to have the same weight." Azura muttered.

"Well, that's not surprising anymore. Lilith has been working overtime making so many weapons for the new army." Ryoma mused as they carry all the supplies to their newly appointed tent.

"Thanks, Ryoma." Azura said.

"You and Corrin really need to learn to ask for help some more, you're both biting off more than you can chew as of late. I know you're used to taking care of things alone and Robin's ring has certainly made you more advantageous but all the same, unity is key in any group, you know." Ryoma advised.

"I'm sorry. I just got carried away is all. You know I hate bothering people." Azura shrugged.

"It's not really a bother if everyone is doing things like this more often around camp. And you know I'd be glad to help you. I'm here for you anytime. Really." Ryoma offered.

"Thanks, Ryoma. Now, please, will you stop worrying about me? Excuse me, I have to go and see Subaki about something." Azura bids farewell and leaves in a hurry.

"Azura, hold on a moment." He pleaded but she already flew off. "Hmm. I really thought she'd warm up to me one day. I've got to try something else."

"Trouble in the family?" Scarlet asked as she walks in on him.

"You could say that. Azura has always been harder to reach than most. She's stoic by nature and was never one to express herself but there's always more to it than that." Ryoma said.

"Well as the oldest sibling in a family myself I can tell you that when the young ones don't want to talk about their problems, it can take a lot to get them to open up when they're not used to it. Archaean knows my middle brother has been a shut-in since dad died or at least tries to." Scarlet said.

"Perhaps, though Azura's scars may well cut deeper than just loss given her background."

"Okay, yeah, she definitely has bigger issues than most. To that end, you either try to push the matter without being actually forceful or wait for that golden opportunity, which may very well be one of many dark days to come." Scarlet added.

"The former then. Thanks for trying to help with my dilemma, Scarlet, though we should really get to patrolling." Ryoma smiled.

"You want to stay on guard duty again?"

"I trust my eyes more than that of mere constructs."

"True that, though won't your babysitters protests some more again?"

"Saizo and Kagero are always raising their opinions on whatever I do, the key is to make them worry for my enemies more for standing against me in the first place." Ryoma said with amusement, causing her to laugh a bit.

"Ha! Well, in that case, let's hope some Nohrian morons do make themselves more the fool then." She smirked.

---

"Everyone in camp has been talking my ear off today…" Mozu sighed to herself trying to catch a break after helping make dinner and lies down behind a tree. She has been working herself hard all weak and it only got challenging when she helped a soldier that had a nasty head cold and she offered a medicine she is familiar with in her village that helped out in no time and from then on a lot happened.

"Oh, Mozu! I'm so sorry…" Subaki arrived to greet her looking very apologetic.

"Subaki? What are you apologizing about?" Mozu asked confused.

"I heard that people were literally lining up to ask you questions today. That's totally my fault. I kept going on about how knowledgeable you are. I didn't mean to go on and on, but I couldn't help myself." He explained guiltily.

"Well that explains today, I suppose." She muttered.

"I'm sorry. I really didn't think word would spread so quickly. Was it a problem?" He asked.

"Well I've been very busy, but I always like to help folks." She shrugged.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. I was feeling guilty for talking about you so much but you should know that I did so to put you on a more respectable pedestal." Subaki said.

"Huh?"

"Come now, my friend, I may have been busy with another unit lately but I've heard the rumors how you were basically harassed by other soldiers of ours for your Nohrian heritage until Scarlet got involved and left those men without teeth since you didn't want to fight back and hurt them even worse." Subaki mentioned. "It's why you were transferred to Reina's squadron, no one under her command has the courage to act with insubordination less they are ''taught'' to be more discipline so you've been safer."

"Right… that." Mozu uttered, recalling how troubling being the daughter of a former Nohrian soldier really is and how Aikawa and the other Anti-Nohr Zones are really treated as such.

"I didn't think that simply being around well-behaved soldiers would be enough to make you feel safe so I and Hinata started talking more about you in hopes to get others to see you at a lighter note, and it clearly worked but that only led to more trouble." Subaki muttered.

"Well, at least the insults have stopped for now but becoming popular won't change things in its entirety, you know." Mozu noted.

"I'm not well versed with unpopularity, I'm afraid." Subaki shrugged.

"Still though, I am thankful for all you and the others have been doing for me. I got to confess, I misjudged you. I thought you would be competitive and jealous. I heard that you want people to think you're perfect or something. But it seems like you really just care about learning and helping people." Mozu smiled with gratitude and this got the famed Falcon Knight to chuckle.

"Well now, I would be lying to say that I'm not a little bit jealous. But the wealth of knowledge you possess is wildly valuable. I am grateful to have met you, even though the circumstances were so undesirable." Subaki smiled back.

"Me too. And who knows, maybe people think you're perfect because you can look beyond yourself, Subaki. You're a really good person."

"Now, now, there's no need for flattery. Thank you for teaching me so much, Mozu."

"Of course, I am always happy to help." Mozu smile becomes more bright.

---

"This is unacceptable!" Iago cursed with venom, slamming a fist into a table containing a map of Nohr as he is in a war tent discussing the war efforts and the recent defeats they've been suffering to stop Hoshido's march. Beside him is Leo for being a great tactician as well, Xander as the acting general in the fight, and while Camilla is absent, Selena was tasked to attend these meetings since she has proven to be very well versed in tactics as well. "Even Cesare failed to stop them. How could they have known about our plans to use the underground tunnels to collapse on them and use it for their own gain, much less gain control over them in the first place? Their spy network shouldn't be this competent."

"Doesn't matter, we may have lost much of our southwest region and full control over Cheve for that matter but we still got time to hold them off and our enchantments have been successful in nullifying their warp scrolls." Xander said.

"All well and good if they hadn't erected their own spell to make our warp tomes unusable so we're both locked to more primitive methods of travel which indeed have slowed down their progress but we've lost too many to the slaughter and there might not be enough time to safely deploy the Apathies to their immediate location. They keep moving around and their tactics have proven to be too unpredictable to really fight back against." Leo noted.

"Not for the last three days, they've been resting west of Mount Garou, hence why we covered all pathways in this direction." Selena spoke up next, not hesitating to use the authority she has been given in this council to speak her mind freely.

"With the death of their previous High General, High Prince Ryoma has taken the role of leader of this army with his siblings acting as generals as well, Corrin included and considering the disaster we dealt to Shirasagi, his pride won't suffer to let Windmire remain in perfect conditions any longer so they'll want to strike at our heart most of all." Xander said.

"Naturally, the filthy mud bloods. However, our barricades are superior to anything they have at the moment, even with their new super-soldiers, forcing their way through will be risky since either one will buy us the necessary time we need to completely surround them like lions in a cage." Iago surmised. "The only path we left purposely unguarded is the route to the Werewolf den."

"Which they won't fall for. Everyone fears going up against the Lycans in their own turf, the Chevians themselves who have joined them won't stand to be anywhere near those beasts." Selena countered. "Our biggest issue is Robin, who is their top tactician now, making these insane yet almost flawless strategies who we know has been to Mount Garou and is the only one so far that we know of that has actually made it out alive so the Hoshidans are too well cautious. Trying to reach Macarath has to be their next objective if they want to proceed."

"Indeed, the rode to Macarath is the fastest way to our Capital, any other route will only delay them further to our benefit but with the city being the most guarded at the moment, it won't be easy at all to get through, especially in the sky since the Grimm have nearly limitless stamina to stay airborne for days, there are no underground tunnels in that region and the ground units are well equipped to hold off the holy vanguards this time. However, it is possible for just a handful of skilled ninjas to sneak their way past all this. Our Dread Fighters are dutiful in espionage but they're short in numbers and stretched too thin." Leo calculated. "And among them, there's Lilith who I doubt any spell we use besides my Brynhildr can negate her power to create portals across dimensions."

"There is only one way they can possibly hope to take and make their way through our blockade and that particular path is not well known, even to the Marquis of Macarath." Xander said.

They remain silent for a few moments as they contemplate what to do next, Selena included as she knows that Robin will be able to sneak in with the least amount of casualties to his new army and is torn about saying anything before she ultimately makes her choice.

"They already know about the Cobra's Path." Selena confessed.

"What? How is this possible?" Xander asked confused.

"Robin was there in Palace Macarath during that filthy mess Lord Volker started with the new maids in the palace months ago and he volunteered to get the supplies for dinner when they almost ran out in the Northern Fortress. When Volker tried to escape from his punishment, Lady Elise told Robin that he would try to flee the city through the Cobra's Path and that's how he caught him in time." Selena explained.

"Dammit, Elise. That's twice now you've helped that worm." Leo whispered to himself in exasperation. "Could he be bold enough to use the Cobra's Path to make his way through, despite the fact that we know about it ourselves?"

"How should I know! I've never conversed with him. I only know that the Princess told him because I was in the immediate vicinity and couldn't stop myself from eavesdropping." Selena snorted.

"Well, in that case, we know what we must do next." Iago said, already a nefarious plot seeding in his dark mind.

---

"The Cobra's Path?" Ryoma repeated as all the generals gather in a war tent to discuss their next plan first thing when noon started the next day.

"Yeah, there is a cliff west of Macarath and within it, there is a cave of sorts that can lead to the city, and we're very close to it from our position. This path is not wildly known since the cave is not that noticeable with one side being covered up by trees and the other by large boulders too big to push and block either side, from my knowledge only a handful of people know about it, such as the Royal Family, including Elise who would on occasions use it to reach the Blackgrace Forest all the faster, the only forest in Nohr that is truly lushes and beautiful." Robin explained.

"Blackgrace? We're near that place and control much of it now, don't we?" Corrin asked as she always wanted to go there based on all the tales Elise told her about but even now she couldn't find the time.

"Yes, Milady." Jakob affirmed.

"If the Royals know about it than they have to think to at least want to put a few guards on it." Hinoka said.

"Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't bother with dealing with it at all so it is often ignored altogether but with how close we are to Macarath and the city being our fastest route to reach Windmire they've no doubt paid too much attention to it by now." Robin continued. "Of course, this should be enough prove to not use it but considering that we only have to make sure Lilith makes it through we can divert all attention to us to give her the chance to make a portal and to allow our army to warp passed the Barricades undisturbed with the Astral Plane's power."

"I thought we agreed not to expose Lilith too much in the war effort, much less expose her abilities to the army." Scarlet said. "Couldn't we just disrupt the barricade from the inside to blast our way in much easier."

"I thought of that at first but despite our promising numbers I rather not risk any large scale fights if it can be avoided, and Lilith has already agreed to the plan." Robin said.

"It does sound beneficial but risky all the same considering that this will drive the soldiers in the barricades to march after us now that we'll be behind them." Ryoma said expressing doubts.

"That is the biggest risk we'll be facing but luckily there is an alternative that could surely buy us more time while we march." Robin suggested.

"As always we have to be given time to think it over and put it into a vote but it is promising like the others." Ryoma said. "We may very well have more time to ourselves to continue trying to perfect this plan while also readying backups in case we decide not to use it."

"Of course." Robin replied neutrally as the group would continue to discuss more regarding other matters like the security of the camp.

"It's really starting to unnerve me how quiet this week has been with them remaining on standby." Corrin said concern.

"A classic tactic to fool the enemy into becoming either unfocused or confident into making a mistake, and it seems to have started taking effect with some of the soldiers." Robin said as he has noticed a few soldiers becoming restless from all the quiet.

"I've noticed much the same as well, if we don't move out soon, we'll run the risk of being in more trouble than we are already." Azura said.

"But every path left to take is more dangerous than the last." Sakura said, also joining the meeting to learn from her older siblings and contribute more. "Is this Cobra's Path really safe? Why is it even called that? Because the path is so curved?"

"No, it's called that because it's full of cobras." Robin revealed, getting odd looks from almost everyone.

"Cobras!" Takumi uttered, looking a bit frightened but none more than Sakura. "Seriously, I hate serpents, why the hell would someone like Princess Elise even go through that cave so frequently."

"Most people are afraid of snakes but Elise loves them." Corrin revealed.

"You're kidding." Sakura mumbled.

"I wish I were. She even has a King Cobra for a pet in her room. She named him Vicky." Corrin explained with a neutral expression.

"Of course she would." Takumi muttered. "Is the king cobra magically enchanted to be obedient?"

"No, she raised the cobra herself to be harmless."

"How?!"

"Have you seen Elise." Corrin countered.

"I don't think you understand the nature of predators."

"And I don't think you understand how unorthodox my foster family is."

"Point taken."

"She brought him to the fortress once to introduce me, I was scared of snakes myself at the time but after a while Vicky got me to see them in a new light." Corrin continued.

"So, then the rumor about Elise once being kidnapped because of a snake was true?" Kaze asked.

"Sadly yes, about three and a half years ago before Corrin and I met, a group of enemies of Nohr's Royal Family wanted to kidnap Elise for ransom and to prove a point to King Garon and they captured her by using a powerful tome that allows one to shapeshift into animals and one of their mages turn into a garden snake to sneak into a garden in Windmire that Elise often visits and everyone in the Capital knows that their youngest Princess adores snake so when she noticed the newly arrived snake that was unusually pretty she went to pet it and when she least expected it, the snake lured her to where she would be taken without anyone noticing and Effie and Arthur were asked to stay in Krakenburg to help with a new training regimen and the guards left to watch her were actually working for these fiends so it was an easy job." Robin explained one of the saddest tales in the Royal Family's recent history. "Elise would be rescued five days later but not by the Royals who were on their tale but three foreigners who learned of the crisis and reached her first, who are Odin, Laslow and Selena."

"Why was I never told of this?!" Corrin yelled in horror. She did find it strange how Elise hadn't visited her for seven days in that exact month and Gunter had also been absent during that time period but Elise didn't look the least bit traumatized when she saw her again and told her that she was merely helping Arete provide medical aid to a village that suffered another bandit attack. Why did they lie? That smile felt so real.

"The less you knew about what is going on in the outside world the less reason for you to want to storm out, I guess. Felicia, Flora, Lilith and I didn't learn about the incident until a year later from Zero." Jakob explained. "It explains why Xander, Leo and Camilla are so fond of the trio even though they are more trouble than they're worth. Elise seems particularly close to that blonde buffoon."

"Well if we're going with the sneaking in plan you can count me out of it. I ain't going to no serpent infested cave." Takumi declined.

"Oh no, brother, if we're really going to do it you're gonna have to come along." Hinoka said.

"What?! You've been all over my arse trying to keep me out of the battles so far and now that I want to back down you want me to come along. Make up your mind." Takumi protested.

"A task like this one requires all capable hands and you're our best bowman so if there's a trap we'll most certainly need your cover fire." Hinoka explained.

"I see very little flaws in that." Robin replied.

"You guys suck." Takumi protested.

"Will the possible fighting lead to a skirmish in the city?" Corrin asked.

"If we are unfortunate enough only the west edge of Macarath." Robin assured her.

"The only question is what should we come to expect of the ambush and where do we go if or when we do manage to cross?" Azura pointed out.

"I suggest the Woods of Forlorn. It's dangerous to be sure but the least guarded location in the Heartland of Nohr." Kaze stepped up.

"Dangerous is an understatement, it is a deathly forest to anyone venturing into with a canopy so thick, light cannot enter it." Jakob objected.

"Not to mention that there's also the Black Witch of the Forest to content to." Felicia added.

"The Black Witch is real?" Corrin asked. For years, she has heard stories about a powerful sorceress who lives in a secluded abandon mansion in Forlorn scaring off anyone who gets near. So powerful is her magic that King Garon forbade anyone from challenging her, not wanting to sacrifice any soldiers as many such as Gunter believes that the cost of apprehending the Black Witch would be too great, she pretty much owns all of Forlorn with many claiming that Garon submitted to the Witch's desire to be forever alone. Whenever Gunter would tell of a tale of his youth he would have a couple of things to say about the witch and would vaguely hint that he knew her personally but Corrin never caught on to his hints, though many more like Camilla and Arete expressed doubts that she even exist as no one ever claimed to have even seen her face.

"Yeah, she's real, I saw her once, vaguely, she was hiding in a fog made by her dark magic but I know it was her." Felicia claimed. "I know my way around that place pretty well. Flora and I used to camp in there in the summers. Between the two of us, we had every nook and cranny mapped out. We once got too close to the mansion where she lives to confirm if she's real or not even though my father warned us not to get any closer but we did so anyway and she spotted us and scared us off. She was really scary; it was like she wasn't even human. Oh… wait, what if she's really a demon like the Seven."

"She's not, she's just antisocial." Robin said, sounding like he knows her.

"You've seen and spoken with the Black Witch?" Felicia uttered.

"Yeah, investigated the forest in my travels trying to catch a glimpse of her darkness, saw through her demonic disguise and bravado after an unnecessary skirmish. Nyx is just a sad old lady that is in dire need of a family, or at least some friends but she's too ashamed of herself to come back to the world." Robin explained feeling sympathetic for the Witch.

"Why am I not surprised that you've conversed with the most infamous person in Nohr, barring Garon." Corrin sighed.

"I've told you I've been practically everywhere."

"Regardless, the woods would, in fact, make an excellent place to hide out but with so many soldiers at our disposal we can only stand to be there for a very short period." Ryoma said.

"That is unless we had more help, if you're acquainted enough with this Nyx lady, you think she be willing to help us in making our stay in Forlorn more secured and as long as we need to make up a better strategy." Corrin asked Robin.

"It's worth a shot but Nyx has been alone for far too long and is not one to accept change so swiftly if we do manage to gain her support we risk making her a target for Nohr as well." Robin said. "Plus, while she has nothing against Hoshido, she is not so fond of ''Light-Dwellers'' either."

"It's either Forlorn or we take our chances with Niflheim and that icy land will be very challenging." Saizo said. It will take a while before this meeting can be adjourned.

---

"Okay, this one will do nicely." Hayato said as he picks up an iron naginata off from the new long tent Azura and Ryoma left all the weapons and he is now dressed in the uniform meant for Basaras. Despite getting a very harsh but well-deserved scolding from his father about his actions, he was still allowed to enter the battlefield alongside the seven hundred Wind Tribe warriors chosen to partake in the war effort so long as he remains under their supervision, any act of insubordination or acting under his own accord and its back to Oldstrong, granted that may no longer be possible given how deep they are in enemy territory but Hayato is not holding his breath as his father always seems to have his way one way or another.

"Hayato." Hinata greeted as he and Hana pass by. "Haven't seen you for five days now, how you been?"

"Well, you know, aside from being partially house arrest, or in this case tent arrest and being constantly watched by my dad's men and pretty much doom to never have free will again until I'm old enough to marry, I am as good as I can be. At least I'm allowed to be part of the action." Hayato muttered, trying to stay positive over the amount of trouble he's in and will continue to be after he returns home.

"Well, that alone proves that Chief Fuga is the coolest dad ever. Whenever I got grounded my dad wouldn't even let me look into a window, much less try to escape my boredom by having a ball to throw at a wall to bounce back at me repeatedly." Hinata said. "Three hours of boredom was the key factor of my punishment."

"Mine wouldn't even let me hold on to my blade to stare at and keep me focus. Time flies a lot for me when I'm marveling at a gorgeous blade." Hana added.

"Speaking of gorgeous blades, I hear that you and that new sword have been inseparable ever since you got it." Hayato said, noting how Hana has Alondite with her at all times and has been using it ever since Robin gave it to her, never letting it out of her sight, she even sleeps with it beside her. Granted, Ryoma and Takumi do the same thing with their Sacred Treasures and Corrin had been doing it herself with Yato recently but the latter does it because she grows more and more nervous the longer she remains in Nohr as an enemy of her former home and that any moment her foster family or Dread Fighters sent by them is going to come and claim her head when she least expected it, while her brothers do it to avoid Holy Withdraws. Still don't know what that means.

"Oh, it's the best thing that I have ever been given. This sword is now my second greatest reason for living!" Hana replied with a glorified giddy, holding the Holy Sword with both hands upwards. "I can still hear the cries of our enemies as I unleash divine judgment upon them with the might of the greatest hero that ever existed and feel his radiance guiding me to endless victories. It's amazing!"

Undoubtedly, having both Ragnell and Alondite in their arsenal has done significant wonders for them, though Hana would be lying if she didn't have issues at first, after all, she'd never held a Storm Sword before in her life, being able to fire shockwaves, half empowered by the wielder's own physical strength is nothing short of stressful but the young swordswoman is nothing if not tenacious as she got the hang of it after a week of training with Robin who seems already well-versed with such weapons and before they knew it, Nohrians left and right were falling at her feet more so than they do by Ryoma and Raijinto.

"I'll show that stupid High Prince not to let me bathe in my birthright by outshining him with a real weapon of divine power." Hana smirked.

"And every night I swear that she's doing something else with it." Hinata mumbled in a whisper.

"You do realize that you're gonna have to return that back to Robin, right?" Hayato reminded her.

"Ignore him, precious, they're all just jealous of our love." Hana said, holding on to the blade more tightly.

"Anyways, what's with the spear and uniform, you're with the Basaras now?" Hinata asked.

"Pretty much."

"Then where's your black pegasus, you guys belong in the air?"

"Did you forget already that I can fly on my own without one." Hayato reminded again.

"Yeah, for about fifteen minutes at a time before you have to rest up for an hour, and since Black Pegasi are known to mostly reside in deserts and Oldstrong being the only place where they thrive in Horus, you Wind Tribalists hold the largest amount of warriors who are official Basaras who have mounts. Black bastards don't like to be mounted by people who have no talent for magic so it be wise to have one yourself." Hinata stated. "Did that sound racist? If so I apologize."

"Well, I never really learned how to ride one and animals and I don't get along if the constant snoring Rukia, Yuzu and Killua kept giving me were any indication." Hayato said.

"Well, that simply won't do, you should ask Subaki for training in the Astral Plane. We can't afford for any of our soldiers to have too many exploitable weaknesses." Hana suggested.

"I'll consider it, for now, I'll stick to magic and a few tricks with a spear." Hayato said as he has some skill for a spearman, helping Mozu with her training a bit. "Speaking of redheads in the sky, have you seen Hinoka, I caught a glimpse of her a few times with Corrin but whenever I got close she would try to distance herself. I get why she's behaving as such but it's still pretty bothersome."

"Well, duh, she's still holding a ton of self-loathing after what happened in your village, and even though the Wind Chieftain said that her punishment will be held off until the war ends, your people aren't making it easier for her to make up for her mistakes." Hinata reminded.

"True, I be lying if I said I still wasn't largely upset about it myself but I already have it carved into my head that the Nohrians messed with her mind but alas, forgive and forget seldom intertwine." Hayato noted.

"Well, I don't like it, it's upsetting the dynamic that this united army is supposed to represent, and Robin can't stress enough how this will put everyone in jeopardy if a crisis occurs where Lady Hinoka will find herself separated from her squad and the only ones left to help her are Wind Tribalists who are super uncooperative in surviving together and end up getting themselves killed because of it." Hana protested.

"Well, what do you expect me to do, my dad and I can't control how our people feel. We lost a lot of allies in that skirmish, regardless of the misunderstanding." Hayato said. "And let's be real if the situation were reverse your soldiers would be the ones unwilling to cooperate with us Wind Tribalists. It's all a matter of who shot first and the antagonism can begin. How else did you think nations become enemies in the first place besides greed and wrath being prime motivators."

"What a mess we have ourselves now. It's only been three weeks but it feels like a lot longer with all the tension alone." Hana muttered.

"Look at it this way, it's like my father loves to say, bonds are quickly forged when in the heat of battle and your will to live urges you to trust those at your side." Hayato advised.

"Funny, my dad used to say something similar, and Robin too, funnier enough." Hinata said.

---

"Oh gods…" Corrin mumbled as she walks her way through the Cobra's Path alongside her siblings and their retainers, minus for Robin who is absent and the cave lives up to its name as there are cobras everywhere, it's very unnerving even to those who aren't really afraid of snakes to be surrounded by so many, their menacing, predatory gazes constantly on them as well as crawling around everywhere. Seriously, how does someone like Elise stand to come here so often, she has a Warp Tome that can take her pretty much everywhere for Heaven's sake? Sakura, who's practically her counterpart in Corrin's eyes behaves accordingly and is visibly scared, holding on to Takumi for protection who himself is scared but is putting a lot of effort to be brave for her sake.

They had ultimately agreed to Robin's plan and will risk walking into the trap that no doubt awaits them to ensure Lilith is safely moved around Macarath, though there lies the problem as the Astral Dragon is nowhere with them.

"Stay strong Lady Sakura, Lord Takumi, serpents smell fear, it gives them the confidence to strike any time they wish so just stay calm and keep showing them you are armed and ready." Subaki advised.

"I am not scared! I am not a pussy." Takumi muttered, lying to himself while he extends his Fujin Yumi to show off to the serpents as the animals are actually keeping their distance from them, they seem to be able to sense the danger the Sacred Treasures represent and feel obviously threaten by them, so they may not attack, not that it's making Sakura and Felicia any comfortable.

"Yeah, guys, I am really starting to have second thoughts about this, what if the Nohrians decide to bombard this place with us in it?" Hinata suggested.

"If that were the case they would've done it by now, we didn't even try to be discreet about coming here, and that was intentional, though we have the means to escape immediately if that happens." Kaze said.

"Still, it is quite unnerving for things to be this smooth." Jakob noted.

"Guess the imminent death happens as soon as we exit this place. Kind of a poor taste for a change." Kagero said.

"It definitely won't be anything pleasant." Hinoka said.

"I just hope the others don't get ambushed while we are away, our location was compromised days ago." Ryoma said.

"Our defenses hold up strongly so I'm sure they'll be fine until we're done. It's Robin's part of the plan that has me concern." Corrin said. "Xander was spotted leading the barricade himself recently and I am not too big on letting those two fight again."

"I wasn't paying too much attention to that fight, being so preoccupied with Leo but from what little I've seen, Xander wasn't doing a whole lot of good against Robin, even when he was basically half-dead in the Opera House and only had the upper hand due to double-teaming with her stepmom." Takumi said.

"Indeed but Xander wasn't as cautious and disciplined as his famed fighting style demanded due to being under Wrath's influence to a degree, no doubt even our Tactician will still have a hard time against the Crown Prince of Darkness." Hinoka said.

"That is if he even has the time to tell what's real and whatnot." Ryoma scoffed, he clearly doesn't like talking about Xander.

"HOLD, Villains!" Just as they are nearing the exit, their path is now blocked by the Dark Swordsman Odin, his arms folded, a much more serious but still comical demeanor and on his right lies a sword impaled on the ground, probably a substitute since he no longer has Ragnell, though this one is also unlike any weapon of Nohr they have ever seen, just as unique and refine. "Your crimes shall not go unpunished anymore."

"Leo's fool. Perfect!" Takumi said with more enthusiasm since his archrival can't be far behind if his right-hand man is here, he even leaves Sakura behind to step up in the front despite her still shaken by the cobras, at least she'll always have Hana and Subaki.

"So you've come as it was foretold by the High Deliverer's all-wise and wrathful protégé. Then your defeat is also preordained!" Odin declared brazenly.

"High Deliverer?" Ryoma repeated. "That's what the Seven called Robin."

"What?" Corrin muttered.

"Whatever, you fool. Stand in our way or bring this whole cave down on us, I don't care. Just quit being such a thorn on our side." Takumi demanded.

"AHA! So the Wind God's Avatar returns to again try in vain to remove the stain on his honor brought upon him by the Dark Crusader. I admire your thirst for power." Odin challenged as he raises his new blade to point at his adversaries as it surges with identical dark-red aura Siegfried generates. "Though the Power of Radiance is lost to me, the might of Missiletainn will purge all evil that hides in the Light."

"No radiance for you, indeed, well let's see how you like it when the tables have turned, jester." Hana said next as she shows off Alondite, to Odin's immediate shock.

"ALONDITE! But how?!" Odin gasped.

"Wait, if he knows about the sword…" Corrin began.

"Would you get on with it already, Odin!" Zero shouted from behind Odin but the Rogue is nowhere in sight.

"Oh, right…" Odin uttered as he stabs Missiletainn on the ground, causing the dark magic it possesses to spread and begin to tear the cave apart.

"Called it!" Hinata shouted.

"Here goes nothing!" Corrin said as she and Ryoma use the power of their swords together to form a barrier around all their comrades and themselves that protects them from being crushed by the cave-in and with the Icarus Ring they speed out of there in time but only to find themselves surrounded by several Nohrians and Grimm as well, what's more, they are also trapped inside a magic seal dome like the one Iago used to trap them in Kyoto but not city-wide.

"You are more pathetically predictable than I dared imagine." Leo declared as he enters the field, leading this ambush, alongside his retainers.

"A Cloud of Icarus." Odin mumbled, as he recognizes the magic of that cloud and even catches a glimpse of the ring Corrin has on her finger.

"Well, it seems you're the one with the Devil's luck because this is just fantastic." Takumi declared.

"Indeed I do because this is a fine catch. I must admit, I respect fellow acting commanders who know the best way to lead their troops is to fight alongside them but you lots take it to a whole new level. The Hoshidan Royals all together with nearly all their best troops falling into my trap and ready to serve as my tickets to victory. This is truly the most abysmal thing I have ever witnessed, though considering who you keep with you, I can't really be surprised." Leo mocked, referring mostly to Corrin.

"Buzz off, Leo." Corrin hissed.

"I must commend you myself for trying to catch us all like this but we will not be held in chains on this day." Ryoma said.

"Don't be so sure, High Prince." Leo smirked as something happens as the Hoshidans besides Corrin and Sakura start to feel dizzy.

"I'm… feeling really hot…" Felicia uttered as the temperature in the vicinity feels like it's spicing up but Corrin feels no such heat.

"I feel like a deadman all a sudden but Robin is not here to make me feel as such." Jakob hissed.

"I think we're being poisoned with magic." Setsuna said.

"It must be this dome." Saizo cursed.

"Too little too late for that." Leo said. "Anyone who opposes Nohr will meet their just deaths within this magic dome. Think of it as a Dark Counterpart of your Queen's Barrier of Concord. Still a prototype, though. A little unwise to use it now since its still one of a kind but I decided it needed a field test."

"Now who's being pathetic, we've all been magically enchanted to be vastly resistant to poisons and dark magic to an extent." Takumi boasted.

"I'm aware but in spite of that there is only so much Anima-based power can hold up against the darkness, the longer you're all here the more your protections will be reduced to cinders. This newly made venom is flammable to the skin once it takes full effect." Leo added, making Felicia and Sakura more scared.

"My, someone's feeling a little spicy today." Azama laughed it off instead of feeling intimidated.

"Well, you might want to go back to the drawing board because I feel as cool as I was in the Blackgrace Forest." Corrin said, not being affected by the magical poison.

"Hmm. So your connection to Nohr hasn't been completely severed, I see… that is quite surprising. This only goes to show you were meant to side with us. You chose wrong, Sister. You chose the light and left those who love you most to rot in the dark, traitor!" Leo cursed with the previous venom he held before in Cheve towards her, on which Corrin makes no response to it and just holds her sword tightly, more ready for what comes next. "And thankfully, father has given me the all-clear to make you bleed, so there's no escape this time. All who dare challenge Nohr will drown in Darkness because I will it so. Hoshidans, who have spent all their days in the light, can't survive without… wait, where is she?" He uttered as he now realizes something.

"Lost your tongue for once?" Corrin asked with weak sarcasm.

"Don't play the bigger fool with me, Corrin? Where's Lilith? I know she's an Astral Dragon and of her power. The only reason why you would risk coming through this path with these exact people has to be to escort her safely pass our barricades to make sure she can open up a gateway for all your soldiers to get past us without a fight." Leo protested. "No way you could've flown her through the sky with how heavily defended it is either."

'Oh, good. He must not know about her shapeshifting ability. Not exactly a common power, too rare to even be talked about.' Corrin thought.

"Guess you're not as smart as I painted you out to be, Leo. You may have robbed us of our ability to warp and limit our aerial space but you can't strip us of all our opportunities." Corrin smirked back at him.

"You're the only imbecile here, Corrin. Just as you've always been. You know most armies would at least try to make a more convincing attempt to use a secret passage with something more basic." Leo lectured.

"You mean creating a diversion someplace else to bring less attention here? Again, you're not as smart as you think, Leo because we already knew that either you or Iago would be the ones to make sure this ambush would work out, leaving Xander to be the main defense for Macarath, as usual, because that's what you're really good at, letting Big Brother do all the real work." Corrin stepped up and mocks her younger foster brother back, getting a rise out of him.

"Oh, so the little princess has an actual bite to her after all, though your insults could use a bit more creativity and… wait a second." Zero tried to make a more insulting taunt towards Corrin before immediately realizing something.

"Well… this is embarrassing. The Royals were the real distraction, after all, to keep you and your brother separated from the real agenda." Odin mumbled.

"Well, well, my compliments to Robin for having a working brain in contrasts to yours, Corrin. Too bad he won't be able to see you again. A pity too, mother was just starting to overlook your previous adultery and be more accepting of him in your future. I'll miss the friendly rivalry." Leo said as he uses the power of Brynhildr, causing the ground around him to shake violently.

"OH! NOW you approve! Because you can finally kill us both! Real mature!" Corrin cried with indignity.

"Corrin, you idiot, MOVE!" Takumi shouted as the Nohrians and Grimm make their attack and the Hoshidans get into their defensive positions, Corrin and Jakob facing off against a Grimm she has never encountered before that resembles a large centipede coming out of the ground like a Creep and Void Traveler can, with a long, black segmented body. Each segment has a pair of clawed legs and is covered by a protective shell. The head has no eyes but possesses large jaws. Inside the jaws, it has four small claws.

"A Centinel. Watch the ground Milady." Jakob warned as they fight on the defensive.

"Sabyrs! Oh, I am not a cat person." Felicia muttered as she and Kaze have to confront large predatory cats resembling sabertooth cats, possessing large canines with which they can deliver a powerful bite. They possess small bone plates on their shoulders and hips, ribs on their sides and spines coming from their backs. Their black skin appears to be somewhat frozen and has white patches. They also have bony tails.

"Remain by my side!" Kaze pleaded as he supports her in fending them off.

"Round Three, Fool!" Hana challenged as she charges against Odin on her own with both their swords clashing.

"Seriously, what are you doing with Alondite?!" Odin questioned, still caught off by this shocking development.

"That's really none of your business, except that I'm totally going to beat you this time!" Hana declared as she pushes the Blonde Swordsman Mage back as they begin to clash some more with their blades, while she has gotten used to the weight of the Holy Sword rather quickly and can swing it almost as if it's an iron katana, but like in their previous fights, Odin remains able to keep up with slightly quicker swings. Harnessing power from Missiletainn, Odin releases a dark shockwave that blasts the Samurai off him, though Hana graciously backflips to safety and fights back with a shockwave of her own from Alondite that triggers an explosion from Odin's that brings harm to those around, and thankfully for Hana, it's none of her allies.

"Watch it, Odin!" Zero yelled as he gets knocked to the ground, luckier than the two Beowolves that were beside him.

"Oops, sorry there, Zero." Odin uttered, embarrass as he proceeds with his fight. "Arcwind!" He summons a powerful tornado towards Hana that she faces head-on and attempts to destroy it using Alondite that manages to do the trick, albeit partially as the spell is still operational with half-strength that still causes Hana trouble, sending her nearly crashing into a boulder but is able to slow herself by stabbing the sword on the floor to slow her crash.

"The tables have turned, Sorcerer! I'm the Swordmaster that'll purge your foul magic once and for all." Hana declared.

"Ah, I admire your warrior spirit. Perhaps you may prove to be a worthy wielder of a Blade of Radiance. Come and let me test your mantle. Though if you are only able to defeat me because of the blade than you are no Swordmaster. It's not the sword that makes the master after all." Odin challenged.

"Finally, something comes out of your mouth I can understand and agree with." Hana replied.

---

"You're Highness, Lord Leo has set the trap and captured the Hoshidans who snuck their way into the Cobra's Path." A Warlock called as he steps before Xander and Iago as the ones temporarily leading the barricade that stands between the Hoshidans and ever closer to the Dark Capital.

"As planned. Are there any Seers inside to allow us to see the battle going on in there?" Xander asked.

"I'm afraid not, sire, Lord Leo didn't bring any with him, mainly because the number of them has been decreasing day by day from our attempts to locate the Hoshidan base of operations."

"How troubling. In that case have the dome surrounded, on the off chance that Leo is somehow defeated and the barrier broken we'll have to fortify his defenses to ensure they can be captured." Iago instructed

"At once!" The Warlock bowed and began to give the order.

"Even though they have been caught, there is still the risk of them trying to barge their way through here, which begs the question, why haven't they at least send Light Soldiers here to cause a commotion?" Xander wondered as there is not a single trace of enemies insight from their position, the place is completely at peace and under control. "They surely wouldn't gamble everything on Lilith."

"We can ask them personally once Lord Leo apprehends Corrin. What's more, we've amassed the number of Grimm we need to capture and execute the enemy Hoshidans in their current camp. Void Travelers are in range, the only forces left that can still use their Warp Magic. We'll surround them with Apathies, leave them vulnerable to our swift assault finally, ending this pitiful game." Iago smirked, confident that things will work out this time.

"I wouldn't be so confident in this plan." Laslow said wanting to share his opinion on the matter.

"What's this. You question my strategy, boy?" Iago questioned.

"I don't mean to step out of line, Sir Iago, but your tactics, though effective have always relied on both deception and brute force. While you have earned us many victories when Nohr was locked in a stalemate with Hoshido prior to the War, things may not go over so well for us, after all, Hoshidans have always relied more on being overcautious, dragging things out until we are in their field of advantage and catch us off guard." Laslow explained. "As things stand, they've become largely accustomed and adapted to our brutality that they may not fall for nearly everything we throw at them as they have demonstrated."

"Well, isn't this lovely, the man who can't keep his pants up thinks he knows better about preparing for war." Iago said, visibly annoyed by Laslow's words, even if he does admit he holds some merit.

"I'm just saying that we need to think more outside the box for a change, step things up and be more unorthodox. Which is why I cannot fathom why Selena was transferred elsewhere when her expertise is more needed here." Laslow pointed out.

"No arguing, you two!" Xander raised his tone. "Your words shall not go unnoticed Laslow and I thank you for your contribution as always. Especially since I feel the same, Selena has proven invaluable in keeping a foothold thus far. I wish father wouldn't have sent her away at such short notice."

"Blame your sister for that, lately his Majesty has found it difficult to trust Lady Camilla to act accordingly and competently so both her retainers are to remain with her at all times to ensure she doesn't make any mistakes in guarding the border to Niflheim. Even though we kept them in check, Chief Kilma's rage and need for vengeance are becoming more unpleasant." Iago said. "With this in mind, Hoshido's growing presence will no doubt motivate them to restart their rebellion, foolish as it is given how we toppled their previous attempt."

"Do not remind me of Camilla's insecurities, Iago. I know she can still be trusted for Nohr's best interest, even if father will not." Xander said adamantly.

"Believe what you will but I for one…" Iago is left silent upon noticing a hawk come flying down and lands on a tree branch near them and strangely enough, the Dark Tactician finds himself caught off by it.

"You for one what, Iago?" Xander questioned over the tactician's sudden silence. The snake is never one to shy away from speaking his mind but Iago ignores him, focusing on the hawk as there is something about it that feels off. The Hawk in question spares him a quick glance before flying away and its eyes… they were the same as…

"STOP THAT BIRD!" Iago demanded as he fires a dark spell at the hawk to blast it down but the spell is shut down by a fireball coming from above, tearing it down and allowing the hawk to escape.

"Lord Xander! Above us!" A Soldier cried out as all forces raise their weapons up as they all see Robin flying above them alone, looking ready for a fight.

"He was not there before!" A Wyvern Knight said as he and a few others just came back down from scouting the sky.

"Forget him, follow that hawk and bring it to me." Iago instructed to a Sphinx near him that obeys and goes to fulfil his assignment and instructs two Nevermores to follow it.

'That was sloppy on her part but she'll be fine.' Robin thought before turning his attention to the Nohrians below, mainly Iago.

"One Tactician short out of three?" He said, not seeing Selena among them as he was informed by ninjas that managed to bring information that Camilla's redhead retainer was partaking in the war council for over a week now, her own talents for tactics helping both stalling and thwarting Hoshido's advance to an extent that Robin did not account for, which makes this all the easier. "That was a mistake."

"I wouldn't act so cocky if I were you!" Xander hissed, readying his sword for a second round with Robin.

"What, did you actually come here alone? Foolish! Regardless of how strong you are, you can't stand up to all our troops on your own." Iago boasted that their forces can apprehend or kill him, preferably capture him to blackmail at least Corrin into surrendering.

"Trust me, you're the ones who are foolish." Robin said as he quickly crash lands on his feet into the ground, the stump he causes produces a minor shockwave that intimidates the lot of them, in particularly Laslow. "You've all fallen into my trap."

"Trap, you say? Boast all you like, My men, including myself will stump out anything Hoshido throws at us. You will not be permitted to set one FOOT into our Capital ever again." Xander declared.

"If Hoshido can't hurt you, Xander, then I advise you to be very cautious, otherwise you'll be stepping into your own blades." Robin said before the ground surrounding him begins to shine in a luminous green light that courses with great power.

"What is he up to?" Iago cursed as he and the rest of the Nohrians prepare for the worse, though none are more alarmed than Xander.

"A Dragon Vein? You activated it?" Xander gasped, as Robin landed on a Dragon Vein that he just began to use for himself.

"Remember! Don't step on your own blades as you gaze into my nightmares." Robin warned as the skies that hardly had any clouds today like any rare day in Nohr started darkening by clouds that feel different from the ones the Nohrians are used to with purple lightning bolts sparkling everywhere.

"What… what have you…" Laslow uttered as the dark clouds are familiar to him. Ceasing the chance by all of them being distracted like this, Robin rushes them with all the speed he can muster, grabbing both Laslow and Iago and flying them away from the barricade and straight for Macarath.

"Laslow!" Xander cried out but cannot do anything to help him as they all become caught off by the loud thundering roar of a great beast.

"W-W-What… what is that?" Peri uttered in incredible horror as they all look up to the sky and gaze upon an impossibly large black monster hidden within the clouds, almost insectoid like a centipede with six raven-like wings though the head seems dragonic enough with massive horns and multiple sharp teeth, each almost the size of two-story houses and finally six intimidating red glowing eyes.

"What new devilry is this?" Xander cursed. And as the giant beast howls so loud that it should've caused all their ears to implode, they are then besieged by another army heading towards them that almost look like walking corpses wearing masks.

---

Robin makes it to Macarath still dragging Laslow and Iago along and is heading for the personal villa of Garon and Arete.

"Unhand me this instance, you Hoshidan Dog!" Iago demanded as he tries to cast a spell but is having difficulty with how fast they are going that it's a struggle just to hold on to his tome.

"You and I have a prior engagement. And as for you." Robin said turning to Laslow as he stops for a brief moment and throws the Retainer through a window and falls into a spa.

"Hey, you can't just…" Laslow began coming out of the water but halts upon hearing the shock screams of startled ladies and looks to see that he is surrounded by a lot of them in this spa.

"Oh, well hello ladies." He spoke up with his charming persona, suddenly forgetting that he has a job to go back to.

Robin throws Iago through another window and crashes into one of the corridors of the targeted villa. The Dark Tactician groans as he forces himself on his feet as he confronts Robin alone.

"So what, I was your target all along. I'm flattered." Iago smirked.

"You won't feel that way in a few moments." Robin said as he channels magic around himself. "The Seven, Iago. No use hiding your unholy allegiance to them anymore."

Iago laughs in response. "My, how bold you've become. And to think that you're the harmless maggot Corrin kept around in the fortress as her concubine, finally grew a spine." He mocked. Despite his talents with a blade while sparring with Corrin and assisting in hunting bandits, Robin never really seemed like anything special to the Nohrians until the Battle in Kurosaki where he revealed the magical prowess that he managed to keep hidden even from Leo, Arete and Iago whose own magical talents should've clued them in but Robin was completely under their radar and three steps ahead.

"You'd made a mockery of me for the last time and I will enjoy bathing in your suffering." Iago declared, unwilling to heed Robin's demands and get straight into the fighting. "What to do is the real question, do I tear you apart myself or do I finally get under the good grace of my King's true children by delivering them to you, we both know how badly Camilla wants to turn you into Wyvern food and it's not the first time she's done it with style so yours will be a special case, indeed."

"Your stubbornness is almost impressive, for an Acolyte of Evil but your machinations are no match for mine." Robin declared, not sounding prideful but boastful enough to annoy Iago.

"Oh, that's right, you're Hoshido's new Top Tactician as well as one of the two acting Major Generals of the army Hoshido send, alongside Prince Takumi. How desperate we have left them to actually consider seeking the help of a runaway princess's incubus." Iago continued to mock. "I only hope you'll be more entertaining than that four-eyed piece of garbage."

"Think of me what you will but at least I don't walk around hiding behind a mask to keep the scars of the past concealed forever." Robin talked back, seeking to hit a nerve as Iago's smirk loosens a bit.

"Oh?" He mused.

"Iago. I know about Shion." Robin confessed, but that didn't trigger anything from Iago since he did confess the reason for his actions back in Kyoto. "I know where you come from, I've seen what remains of your hometown, I know how you lost your family. Your reasoning is understandable. But this, collaborating with demons, putting that monster inside Corrin. How is destroying an entire nation supposed to make the pain go away, especially when the one who's actually responsible is already dead and you've practically given up your soul?"

"Well, isn't this just lovely. Gonna give me a moral pep talk on how revenge is a foolish desire and maybe lecture me how it won't bring my family back while you're add it." Iago hissed with annoyance. "Let's skip the childishness and talk like men already. I'm not going to burn Hoshido to ashes and leave nothing left of a single shred of their bloodlines because of some petty need for closure, or some ridiculous belief that it will bring them back! I'm doing this because I like it and I have nothing left to lose since, as you said, my soul doesn't belong to me anymore! It's all or nothing now." Iago declared as he prepares to fight Robin and cast his first spell.

"Have it your way?" Robin hissed as he prepares for this fight. It is better if he's the one to finish Iago off instead of Corrin anyway.

"Struggle as much as you like, it changes nothing, you will never reach Valla." Iago declared.

"Valla? Is that the name of the place the Seven are hiding?" Robin questioned. "Well, that's a start so it'll…" Robin cannot even process his next words as a huge thud is heard and felt within his body, something in him cracked. Quickly he falls to his knees, gasping for air and is now in a lot of pain.

"No… not now." He cursed as he's felt pain like this before but at the same time there's something else going on.

"Oh dear, that totally slipped my mouth, you weren't supposed to have said that out loud." Iago laughed sinisterly, referring to the word Valla that Robin concludes is the cause of this.

"What's happening?" Robin growled, struggling so hard to just stay on his knees and for a split second, his body turned invisible, while also covered by the same pinkish flames as the Veiled Warriors, causing Robin to gasps in horror.

"Oh dear, this is inconceivable. You're actually resisting the curse." Iago said looking perplexed but still compose enough. "I was warned that you would be a deadly foe but this is more than I dared imagine. No matter, not even a Dragon can live through the curse of a God."

"Iago!" Robin growled as he refuses to let this get the better of him, even as his body completely becomes like the minions of the Seven Deadly Sins.

"Now I see why Corrin has had so many wet dreams about you, you're just as irritating to put up with." Iago sighed, having enough of seeing his latest nemesis in such a pitiful state. "Fine, I'll send you to your new master myself. Your death will surely strip Corrin of what remains of her fighting spirit! Ginnungagap!"

In mere moments a mighty explosion bursts out of the beautiful villa where the Royal Family would come to on occasions and destroying a large chunk of it.

---

The three Grimm sent to capture the Hawk that caught Iago's eyes are in hot pursuit of the animal despite being surprisingly faster than any hawk reasonably should, undoubtedly being magical and are close to capturing it until the Sphinx gets decapitated by an unseen force that catches the attention of the Nevermores enough to cease their chase of the Hawk for a moment to find out what happened to their leader and in its place they see Scarlet on her Wyvern alongside Mozu who appear out of the blue.

"Oh, why did you have to do that, we were perfectly invisible." Mozu muttered.

"Not like I had a choice given how close they were to Lilith. But don't get all worked up little goddess. Nevermores aren't weak but they got Lancer-luck. We totally got this in the bag and she's far enough away." Scarlet smirked.

---

The fight going on for Corrin and her siblings against Leo is a brutal one as the Dark Prince's machinations have the Hoshidan Royals and Elites trap under his mercy, such as Ryoma who gets separated from Raijinto by a Beringel who sucker punches him and then pins him to a boulder with the High Prince/General left struggling at the Grimm's mercy until Kagero rushes in and tries to stab the beast in the face with a shuriken but at best the gash she gave it around its neck instead wasn't enough to kill it but just force it to release Ryoma and knock Kagero to the ground, causing her to be the demonic gorilla's next victim as he rushes to get a bite at her face but Saizo steps in, protecting his partner by using his right arm to get bitten instead. The Red Ninja groans in pain at the black beast's attempts to crush his bones while he stands his ground to keep it away with the armor around his forearm providing decent defense. Kagero, still under the Beringel's clutches, desperately reaches for a weapon but terribly realizes that her last shuriken was dropped far away when she got knocked down and can't reach it.

"Kagero!" Jakob yelled out to her as he throws her a knife for her to use that she graciously catches and quickly she thrusts the dagger deep into the Beringel's eye, causing the monster to cry out as it releases its hold on Saizo and backs away as he falls to his knees with his bleeding arm. This does not stop the stubborn monster as it tries to attack again, only to be cut down by a vengeful Ryoma who recovered his lightning blade in time.

"Dammit! We were warned that this would be the hardest part but he really should've been more specific when he said that dealing with Prince Leo was going to be our toughest challenge yet." Ryoma hissed as the unnatural venom this dome is producing is starting to get to him with his skin burning up.

"Hey, I'm not complaining." Hinoka argued as she cuts down two Great Knights at once.

"And I can still fight." Saizo declared as he forces himself to fight on, shurikens on both his good arm and injured one.

"And I think you're insane but I know that better than anyone." Kagero protested.

"Welcome to my Clan." Kaze half-joked.

"Could use a little help here!" Takumi shouted as he fires a powerful arrow at Leo who channels power from his tome to make a barrier strong enough to not only block it but also deflect it as the holy arrow goes towards Corrin as she finishes off a Centinel and notices the arrow on time and shields herself with Yato that absorbs the wind that forms it.

"Sorry!" Takumi muttered. Corrin makes no response and instead slams Yato on the ground and releases a ferocious whirlwind that looks to be more composed of Fujin Yumi's wind magic than the sword itself that goes straight for Leo that manages to destroy his barrier, knocking the Dark Crusader to the ground.

"Never mind, I stand justified." Takumi uttered, now proud.

"Oh, shut up, you idiot!" Leo growled, forcing himself back up. "Bring her down!"

In response to the order, Zero sneaks behind Corrin and shoots three poisonous arrows at her that Jakob stops by stepping between them on time and parries all three with one dagger in hand, however, Zero's quickdraw is almost abnormal, immediately firing one more arrow before the former Nohrian butler had time to counter and gets shot in the right shoulder and protruding to his back as Jakob groans and falls with a panicked Corrin holding on to him.

"Jakob!" She cried.

"Blast, I was aiming for his head, must be getting sloppy." Zero cursed himself despite having a satisfied grin, though his bad aim is the result of a bit of blood covering his remaining good eye since he has an open wound on his forehead that he did not have time to wash off with the rush he's in so it's fortunate he could hit anything intentionally at all.

"You asshole!" Corrin yelled as she fires a wind attack at Zero who cannot evade in time but doesn't have to as a Sabyr swoops in and drags him to safety. While at it, Zero takes the chance to try another lucky shot and fires an arrow through the wrist of Corrin's sword hand, dropping the Yato and both mistress and servant fall down with advanced venom quickly spreading through their veins.

"Never mind, I'm still pretty good." The Adventurer praised himself.

"Why do I suck at winning?" Corrin mumbled.

"Don't worry, Milady, the poison will be a minority for you in a sec." Jakob uttered, mustering all his strength to remove the poison from her with his staff.

"What about you…?"

"My condition is minuscule." He insisted with a very convincing face, one could argue that he is almost immune to at least regular poison and this advance one is just proving a challenge.

"I'm coming!" Felicia cried as she reaches the two and starts using her own magic while Kaze stands on guard from the incoming Grimm.

"Corrin!" Sakura cried as she rushes to her side but is caught by large vines of Leo's dark magic that also capture Subaki, Oboro and Setsuna, who are quickly saved by Ryoma swiftly cutting them, unfortunately, Leo makes more much quicker that still manage to snag Sakura and pull her to the Dark Crusader's side.

"This battle has gone on long enough!" Leo shouted as all the fighting temporarily ceases with the capture of the youngest princess.

"Dammit!" Takumi cursed as he attempts to try and free her.

"Put the bow down, or the girl gets it!" Leo warned menacingly, though to Corrin at least, his grip on Sakura isn't so tight as she could get away if she wasn't so scared and any of them succeed in distracting Leo, though knowing him this is likely intentional since he should already have a good understanding of Sakura's character so any restraints period is unnecessary.

"Hurt her and you DIE painfully." Ryoma threatened.

"Oh, like you weren't already planning on doing so regardless, you barbarian." Leo hissed. "I won't let Hoshido go near any of my cities. I'm ending this now!" He declared as he uses his magic to reinforce the dome trapping them all in to have the toxic air it generates to spread quicker with all of Hoshido's enemies with the exception of Corrin and strangely Sakura to overheat with their skins starting to show steam coming out, bringing them great pain.

"Lord Leo, stop! You mustn't force the Poison Flame to spread any quicker, the dome is still a prototype and will collapse if you continue and we need the Hoshidan Royals alive." Odin warned.

"I KNOW!" Leo snapped. "Reluctant as I am to endanger a newly forged spell from going extinct before it has a chance to bloom into the world, so to speak, these people will receive no quarter from us. For they have none left to give."

"Oh… get over yourself!" Takumi hissed, trying to muster the strength to keep fighting but if Ryoma can't then he sorely can't either.

"Leo…" Corrin growled, back on her feet and swearing to muster whatever she can to stop her former brother.

"Struggle all you want, for it matters not that you have the blessing of the Ancients you'll still fall all the same." Leo declared.

"We'll see." Corrin said as she attempts to fight in an unexpected way as she picks up a Silence Rod that Felicia was carrying and Jakob's Recover Staff as they start to glow with their magics activating at once.

"What?!" Leo gasped in shock. Corrin's never been able to use magic tools based on white magic before, she was trained to be a Ranger, not a Troubadour. A shining light sparks from both magic items that spread across the entire dome, from the Silence Rod, the dark replica of the Barrier of Concord is dispelled in its entirety and from the Recover Staff, she heals the burned skins of her siblings and comrades to a significant extent, not enough to heal them entirely but enough for them to keep on fighting, not that they should now that they are free.

"Amazing…" Sakura uttered in awe at Corrin's latest display of power.

"Impossible! No one can wield such magic with flying colors and even if you have started to train to use them, there hasn't been enough time for you to achieve such proficiency." Leo uttered.

"Well… I guess you could say I had big help." Corrin shrugged.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Corrin?!" Leo demanded.

"Whoa! Even you're swearing now. That's a first." Corrin gasped, genuinely shocked. "Guess I have some influence on you after all. Or was it that creep Zero? I don't even remember when I started swearing."

"Can we leave now? I'm sure that we bought Robin and Lilith the time they need." Sakura asked, and surprisingly without stuttering her sentence again. She's getting better.

"Yes, definitely." Ryoma said as he uses Raijinto to move at lightning speed, reaching Sakura and Leo in the blink of an eye, sucker punches Leo and takes his sister to safety.

"Why didn't you do that before?" Corrin questioned.

"Would you take any chances with a Dark Mage like Leo?" He countered.

"Touché."

"If you think you're getting out of this in one peace you have another thing coming." Leo hissed as his remaining soldiers surround the Hoshidans again and with the dome gone, the soldiers standing outside the dome enter the fight upon seeing it fade.

"Yeah, as we are now, fighting any longer will lead to our defeat but like Sakura said, our part of the plan is surely over with. Better luck next time, little brother." Corrin said as she stabs the Noble Yato on the ground and before anyone knew it a great gust of wind like a geyser erupts from the ground without really making a hole that covers up all the Hoshidans from the view of the Nohrians for two seconds and just like that they were gone.

"What…" Leo gasped.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." Zero growled over their latest failure. Odin, on the other hand, is too preoccupied with something else to be as somber as everyone else over this seeming loss.

'One person using two magic conduits at once. Especially with tomes, such a thing shouldn't be possible. The only person I know who can perform such a feet is Morgan and last time I saw her she was the one with ownership of Alondite. So how did Robin and the Hoshidans get their hands on it.' He mused, trying to figure out this impossible mystery. 'What's more, the ring Corrin has with her is definitely an Icarus, Robin must've given it to her for her own protection but out of the two, I can't believe he would give her THAT one. He guards and holds on to it so tightly to his heart that he almost killed Vaike in a blind rage in front of everyone after he took it just to mess with him. Is he truly the uncle I know or just another version of him? No, he definitely knew me as the same Owain he fought alongside, so why?'

---

"There's too many of them!" A knight cried as Xander and his men continue to fight off the horde of undead Robin wrought upon them with no clear end to them.

"DIE! DIE! DIE!" Peri roared, stumping her way through any who dared get near her Prince, while said Prince effortlessly cuts down the foes himself but they have been at this for quite a while that even he is showing a small sign of fatigue.

"This can't go on any longer." Xander sighed as he notices how tired his soldiers are getting. He takes the chance to spare a glance at the hideous monster up above in the sky that has remained there, looking down upon them with disdain but that's about all it's been doing. "Why does it just lie there?"

"They're all over me!" A Berserker screamed in terror as he gets pin to the ground by four monsters.

"I… I can't." an Exhausted Sorceress falls to her knees.

"HEY! What is wrong with you bastards! HELP US!" Another soldier screamed in outraged at the Grimm who for the first time are doing nothing to help the Nohrians, and are just standing still, observing the carnage happening and those that do step up are acting just as strange and are actually getting between them from fighting the monsters and aren't really following orders.

"They're being disobedient, and the ones who are getting between both sides from fighting only behave this way when breaking up infighting." Xander surmised until realization dawns on him.

"Remember! Don't step on your own blades as you gaze into my nightmares." Robin's words finally manage to sink into Xander's head.

"Nightmares…? Damn! Stand down! STAND DOWN! ALL OF YOU CEASE FIRE!" Xander commanded with great haste to his soldiers. "These monsters are not real! They are an illusion." The Crown Prince then begins to channel power from Siegfried with a red aura also generating from himself that is absorbed into the sword that he releases, firing a shockwave that causes all the monsters, including the giant one in the sky to vanish instantaneously and the sky returns to how it was before.

"Huh?!" Peri uttered in confusion.

"What the… where did they all go?"

"Was it all just an illusion?"

"They were never real. Robin cast a seemingly deathly spell to fool us all, it's why the Grimm behaved the way they did, they saw no enemies to fight against, all they saw was their wards aiming their weapons at either nothing or each other." Xander growled as he sees that plenty among them have been recently wounded and they were caused by Nohrian weapons and spells and there are some deaths among them. He then goes towards where the Dragon Vein Robin used and examines it. "This Vein is designed to amplify a Mage's magic power to a significant extent, enough for something like casting such a convincing illusion that even our seasoned warlocks would be fooled by such deception. However, Leo, Iago, Selena and perhaps Odin as well would've surely been able to see through it regardless."

"We've been played!" Peri cried in outraged

"DAMMIT!" Xander cursed as he punches the ground. "One Tactician short out of three. This was his true aim. To make sure the brains of this operation would not act in unison long enough for them to find another way passed us. But then where did Lilith go?"

---

The Strike Force that Iago mentioned would attack the current Hoshidan base of operation has already begun as numerous Void Travelers burst out from the ground, either outside of the camp or within and from them come out Nohrians and Grimm to surround them, aerial forces also come in with haste to make sure all attempts to escape are impossible. Among them are a fair amount of Apathies who immediately release their slothful screams to cause all their targets to become incapable of attacking, and the soldiers and beasts alike march in to strike at their enemies without mercy! Except… there are no enemies around.

"Where the hell is everyone?!" The Acting Commander demanded as there is literally no one in sight. No Hoshidans, no Chevians or Wind Tribalists.

"It's all clear here." A Soldier reported.

"All clear here as well." Another said.

"They're all gone. Not a single trace of them." A Warlock said after coming out of the tent where the war meetings took place with two Beowolves at his side.

"This is ridiculous! They couldn't have just warped out of here. Neither they nor we can use that magic since they set foot on our soil." The Commander said. "Where could they have gone unnoticed."

"The only place that they could've gone without us even remotely not noticing would be the road to Mount Garou." Someone else said.

"That's even more ludicrous. There are so many weapons lying around here, I just got back from a tent that serves as an armory and it's completely full, it doesn't seem like anything has been taken. The only things that seem to be missing are personal belongings and the food and water they eat."

"This region doesn't even have underground tunnels for them to use and their army is too large to travel anywhere without notice."

"Keep searching. There has to be a clue, anything that will lead us to their-" It happened in an instant that no one could've seen it coming as the entire camp erupted in a massive explosion, engulfing everyone caught in it and partially damaging those who were far away enough. The former camp of the Army of Light has been rigged to be destroyed once everyone has been evacuated and the Nohrians arrived, leaving no trace of where they could've escaped to.

---

"YAHOO! Those morons never even saw us coming!" Scarlet cheered as the mission was successful and they manage to get all their soldiers to safety and are now in the Woods of Forlorn, and Gods, this place is so awfully gloomy and ugly, dead trees, frightening atmosphere, scary swamps, everything looks like this place is solely used to dump bodies and other foul activities. Regardless, they are just grateful to have made it passed the barricades in one peace and that everything went even more smoothly than they expected.

"Hope the morons who showed up to ambush us enjoy Muspelheim Fire because there's plenty more where that came from in Hell." Rinkah smirked as the camp exploding was her doing. It's not often she gets a chance to make a bomb of what she considers hellfire of that scale but she had plenty of time to set it up for the unwelcome guests.

"You're the Queen of Hellfire, you crazy girl, you." Azama praised.

"I'm so relief everything turned out alright." Mozu sighed in relief.

"I know, I'm pretty sure my side were the only ones who received any real opposition." Corrin said as she and her group meet up with the others.

"Something that wretch totally did on purpose." Jakob hissed as Felicia finishes curing the poison in him.

"Oh, get over yourself, Jakob." Felicia lectured.

"Don't talk back to me!"

"How about you two? Any potential risks?" Ryoma asked Scarlet and Mozu who were the only ones assigned to guard Lilith while they were covered in an invisibility tome they stole from a Nohrian in a previous battle that hid them as well as suppressed the sounds Scarlet's Wyvern made. Though the spell seemed imperfect that only three living beings at a time could use it so Lilith had to travel via shapeshifting into a hawk.

"Only a Sphinx and two Nevermores but hardly an issue. They aren't weak but like I said Grimm just have Lancer-Luck." Scarlet shrugged as they didn't stand much of a chance against the two.

"Don't know what that means." Mozu said.

"It's a really old joke based on a Chevian folklore about a Spearman who was unnaturally strong for a man despite not hailing from the Earth Tribe and his use with a lance was unlike any Spear Master but had terrible luck and lost more times than he actually won a fight and it stayed that way until his death." Ryoma explained. "It's actually a hilarious tale. With great sadness of course, but hilarious nonetheless."

"Poor Cú Chulainn. At least he died preserving Cheve's honor, and our amusement." Scarlet chuckled.

"But we're using spears." Mozu pointed out about herself and Scarlet.

"Irrelevant." She shrugged.

"And didn't you once told me that Cú Chulainn is your ancestor?" Ryoma added.

"Aw, c'mon. Nothing's going to happen to me that'll be just as bad as him." She insisted.

"Please, turn that frown upside down, Hana, everything worked out spectacularly." Subaki insisted to his grumpy partner.

"No, things did not go spectacularly, Subaki! My fight ended in a draw! That's not a victory, that's Fate making fun of me and telling me I'm worthless!" Hana protested as her fight with Odin ended prematurely again. "I will not let this stand!"

"It's okay, Hana, I'm sure next time will be different." Sakura said, encouraging her retainer for a change.

"Hope the ride was worth it." Corrin said to Lilith.

"Yeah, Iago spotted me but it meant little in the grand scheme of Robin." Lilith assured her.

"Was it really necessary to leave all our equipment behind like that?" Azura asked.

"Why not, we can always make more in the Astral Plane, hence why I insisted you not bother with transferring all those weapons as you did." Lilith said. "But then again, you and Corrin have a bad habit of wanting to handle things yourselves more often when you do enough on the frontline."

"How is that a bad habit." Corrin and Azura questioned at once.

"I wouldn't complain, a mistress that can take care of herself sets my mind at ease more." Kaze smiled.

"Though I will admit, the fight against Leo would've gone a lot smoother if you had been there, Azura." Corrin said.

"Are you sure you want to hear my song again, I thought you wanted it out of your system." The Songstress said nonchalantly. She found out that Corrin and Robin don't like to hear Lost in Thoughts All Alone and she took it a little too personally because of the sentimental value it holds for her.

"Are we seriously going to bicker over something so stupid." Corrin muttered. "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, you know."

"Hmph." Azura hissed a bit too harshly.

"You were amazing out there, sister." Sakura praised Corrin over what she did to stop Leo.

"I know, I've never seen anyone use two staves at a time before, much less use one so proficiently in such a short amount of time." Takumi said as Corrin has shown the new ability to use staves and rods before they made their march, a feat that surprised all of them and disappointed Mikoto since Corrin doesn't need the training she wanted to teach her between mother and daughter and according to Corrin herself it's nothing she developed overnight as she suspects that her new feats, such as her better use of Yato is because of Morgan as she did something to her while she was getting her out of the Shadow Realm as she blessed her with a new set of skills, a spell that Robin is familiar with and suspects that such magic was used on the Princess.

"Like I said, it has nothing to do with me being a prodigy but getting a huge help." Corrin said.

"And what a help it has been, our thanks to your shadowy savior." Ryoma smiled.

"Good, everything worked out as expected." Said the voice of their Tactician as Robin too arrives to meet up with everyone and looks like he's recovered from Iago's strange curse and bested the Dark Tactician.

"Rob, you made it back too." Corrin smiled with joy as she walks to him and when she's close enough she notes that he looks worn out. "Are you okay, I've never seen you look so tired before?" She asked while placing her hands on his face.

"Just tired, The illusion magic wasn't hard to pull off but messing with so many minds gave me a serious headache that it's hard to stand up straight." He lied but with how easy it is to notice that he can't keep his footing and needs to lie down to rest, Corrin believes him easily.

"That's what you get for being dumber than me, you idiot." Corrin scolded as she punches him in the shoulder, which really hurt this time. "Now lie down to be treated and don't start making excuses to keep working."

"Yes, ma'am." He complies as they all gather with their army and prepare to set up their new camp in this grimly forest.

Little does anyone realize that Robin is far from okay and without nobody noticing, his right arm is covered by pink flames again, though he manages to force it away, the pain it causes still lingers.

'This is different. Completely different.' He cursed as whatever this curse is, it's not done with him yet.

---

Well, that's it for this chapter, the war is now taking place in Nohrian soil. We are nearing the end of this story finally. How many chapters left you may be wondering. Not a clue, I haven't thought that part thoroughly enough but I can promise that the climax will be enjoyable still. Hoshido draws closer to Windmire and Nohr's defeat is imminent now as well as with Robin's ties with the Awakening Trio. Also, Ryoma will be dressed up in the High Prince Class from Warriors, keep that in mind as well. I was disappointed that the Dark Fliers, or Raven Knights as I prefer to call them since they DON'T actually use dark magic like the inconsistent Dark Knights, were only DLC in Fates and from now on let's say that they and the Basaras are one and the same to even the fliers of both armies with a magical unit. I know that black pegasi don't blend too well with Hoshido's design, at least that's how I see it since they blend better with Nohr but let's add that to the reasons why hoshidan basaras "don't" really use them.