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.

26. Chapter 26: Moments of Peace

Chapter 26: Moments of Peace

"Is this the place?" Corrin asked as she, Robin, Azura, Felicia and her siblings arrive at a seemingly abandoned mansion within The Woods of Forlorn where the Black Witch herself should reside in.

They now have come to meet the infamous Sorceress who lives in this dark place, with the hopes to have her consent to let their army stay here for the time being. Nohr will no doubt become more tenacious in their efforts to stump out the invaders and it's only a matter of time before they find them again, while these treacherous woods are big enough to hide their numbers it will be for a very limited amount of time but hopefully Nyx can help fix that with her magic.

"Yep, this is the place." Felicia affirmed, familiar with this area even though it's been years since she was last here with her family.

"Gee, this place is about as gloomy as the shallow end of Hi-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." Hinoka warned Takumi as he was apparently going to make a comparison that would insult her.

"I wasn't going to make THAT comparison! Anyway, she must really like the Grimm, based on these sculptures, and they seem more renowned when compared to the real ones." Takumi noted, gazing upon several sculpted statues of Grimm located around the mansion, a few in the courtyard and front yard.

"They are perfect replicas of those monsters, did the Witch made them herself?" Ryoma asked.

"She wouldn't say much on them when I asked the first time but judging by a certain painting I caught a glimpse of during my first visit, of which I rather not disclose too much that looked recently made and incomplete, I can safely say that she is an artist of a sort with great talent, though magical in nature, I'm sure she made them herself." Robin said.

"They are indeed impressive but for the matter at hands, are we certain that she is even in here." Hinoka asked. Corrin discretely averts her gaze from the Grimm statues, feeling wary from seeing them.

"I'm sure, I can sense her darkness, it's really faint but I see her." Robin assured. "And she obviously knows we're here but the fact that she hasn't done anything like all those other times is most curious."

"So do we go in or wait for her to come?" Corrin asked.

"Neither is recommendable but the latter would slow things up so I better go and see her." Robin surmised.

"On your own? Yeah, that won't fly with me, if she's trouble you may need backup." Corrin objected.

"I assure you that Nyx is not as hostile as the rumors make her out to be, she just wants to be alone." Robin replied.

"Then there will be no harm done if it's just the two of us." Corrin countered.

"Just make sure to hurry it up, our men are already getting restless and understandably nervous the longer we stay here without more reassurance that we'll be safe." Ryoma said.

"You do well to relax yourself, this won't take long." Robin said as the White duo enter the mansion unopposed and the place looks even gloomier than it is outside with all the torches everywhere adding to its creep value with Corrin getting increasingly uncomfortable.

"This place feels bigger than on the outside so getting lost is highly probable, so best to stay together." Robin advised her.

"Yeah, no need to tell me twice." Corrin said remaining by his side as they walk the stairs up where Nyx is in and as they do so, Corrin gasps upon seeing an Apathy waiting for them standing by the right of the stairs and on reflexes, readies her holy blade to destroy it.

"Whoa! Whoa! Relax!" Robin stops her from causing a ruckus. "It's just another statue that looks more realistic and colorful than the ones outside." He assured her as said Apathy remains ever still and silent unlike the real deal and Robin convinces her more by touching it, briefly holding it by its long jaw.

Corrin sighs, trying to calm herself but Robin can see that she's still un edge.

"You always look so unfocused and troubled whenever you are near these creatures. I know that Grimm aren't exactly the most likable things in the world but out of everyone in Hoshido you have the least experience to detest them." Robin said, wanting to address this matter for a while, concern by how unedge she is ever since she first learned about the Grimm.

"It's nothing. I just don't like them is all, a sentiment as you said is shared by many." Corrin lied and turns away from him, only to feel more down once she sees a portrait on a wall that seems completely Nohrian, depicting an ancient Nohrian King, behind him are many of his knights and commoners and in front of him is an army of the Creatures of Grimm who seem to be bowing before their King with the exception of an Alpha Beowolf. The Nohrian King extends his arm to the Alpha, with the Beowolf's hand above his with both holding a purple orb that vaguely resembles the depiction of a soul that Izana once showed her. In the upper right corner of the portrait there is the large head of a Dark Dragon, no doubt Qliphoth, watching the event unfold with his blessing. Could this be a depiction of the day when the Dusk Dragon first bestowed upon his army to his human descendants to protect the Kingdom?

"It's easy to tell when you're feeling down, Cor. You carry the weight of your emotions on your shoulders for all to see even when you mask your face. It's best that you get a hold of yourself and not break anything from the powerful mage we are trying to get under her good grace." Robin said. "The Grimm attacking you the first time you saw them affected you more than you even realized.?"

"I…" Corrin uttered, taking a deep breath before speaking her mind. "We… during my long life trapped inside that fortress I found solace in many things, the history books and novels in my personal library, the company of my retainers who've always been more my friends than servants, Gunter who was more a father than Garon, but more so a grandfather to all, my… mother and siblings whenever they found the time to visit. But the one thing that I found myself really connecting with during my time there were the Books of Noble Shadows. For so long, the teachings of the God of Nohr have given me hope and clarity that no matter how bleak things got, I would always find my way through any obstacles without Light in my life. That I could find strength and conviction to overcome any hardship wherever I go. But when I laid eyes on those things and learned what they are, something in me just shattered." She muttered. "I didn't even know they even existed until I was forced into Hoshido and now all this."

"I know it's silly for those who walk in the Light for someone to look at the Darkness with anything but contempt, the Dusk Dragon is a force of destruction, as is the nature of Dragons but for those who truly look, they know that Qliphoth is ultimately Just. Even though I am not of Nohrian heritage, I was their Princess for a long time, I swore on the Oath to the Throne of Shadows, to the Dark Lord that everything I did from that point forward would be all for the good of Nohr. That Oath is broken now but even before that they attacked me. I was their Princess… and they tried to kill me." She uttered as the events of that day have really affected her. "Why… what was it about me that they found disloyal. I prayed every day and night. I strove to be the best Nohrian Champion I could be. What was I doing wrong that made them deem me a threat before I even left in the first place?"

"Corrin." Robin whispered not sure what to say but hold her close as they hug one another for comfort for a few moments. She doesn't shed a tear like he thought she would but the sadness is undeniable.

"I don't have any of the answers you desire so much but what I do know for sure is the here and now. And that is that you are still loved and are surrounded by those who want what's best for you." He said wanting to keep her at ease.

"I don't mean to sound cliché but I speak the truth, I understand if this doesn't make you any better but I just want to be perfectly clear that as bad as things are and are going to get, you won't be alone." He said with more confirmation.

"Robin…" Corrin whispered.

"Now, I may not be devout like you but I know that you still hold the noble teachings of the Dusk Dragon to heart, so look at it like this, Qliphoth's ideals are not so different from that of the Dawn Dragon and you originally belong to Hoshido and if the Brothers still hold compassion for one another than I don't really think that Qliphoth would want to see the Kingdom he created bring carnage upon his brother's so…" Robin took a few seconds of contemplation before saying his next words because he really needs to tread carefully, religion was never his subject of expertise and he doesn't want to come off as manipulative. "… What if the attack was a sign."

"A Sign?" Corrin questioned weakly, trying to process what Robin may be suggesting. "The Dark Lord wanted me to fight for the Bright Lord?"

"Now, I know it sounds insane but…"

"Makes perfect sense to me. What an interesting pair you two are." The pair turn around to where the source of this new voice is and find themselves facing the Apathy statue, with the head turning by itself to face them and the eyes emanate a purple glow. "If I didn't know any better I say I'm gazing upon real life versions of Romeo & Juliet. Makes me wonder if things will end the same way."

"The Witch?" Corrin questioned.

"Nyx. Possessing and using inanimate objects as Familiars is a fine trick as usual." Robin said, knowing this is the one they've come seeking for help.

"Robin. It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow soul enslaved by the cruel hands of Destiny, but my, you look deader than last time. The Light must really disagree with you." Nyx spoke from the statue and notices something off about him. Her voice is clearly feminine, though it's echoing with every word that makes her sound demonic, ironically even more demonic than the voices of the Seven, which does wonders for her ability to intimidate, made even more so that she is using the imitation of an Apathy to speak. "I'm surprise that I got the chance to see you again, I thought for sure you were long gone when you said you were heading to Mount Garou to get that accursed thing. However, you brought more company this time."

"I'm sorry, Nyx, I would've never have come here if I had any other options." Robin said apologetically.

"Clearly. I see that you have switched allegiance, like the rumors have said, which means that this is the Mistress you spoke of that you serve. The Wayward Daughter of Sephiroth who knows the Darkness better. Or did, anyway." Nyx said, turning her gaze at Corrin before returning to Robin. "Why did you come? Surely it's not to drag me into your war. Because if so, then you both will be leaving with only half of yourselves still intact."

"We… we did not come to make any foolish requests, Old One. We seek only a temporary shelter while we make preparations to find a better temporary haven to move forward to Windmire." Corrin said next, all the while never letting go of Robin for two key reasons, the main one is because she covets his embrace and the other is because she really can't stand the sight of the Apathy above all other Grimm and feels the most intimidated by it.

"How annoying, you're Hoshidan alright." Nyx hissed, clearly harboring a level of disdain than Robin previously assured her before, though then again she may have simply not have been as open by her hostility when they first met, and why would she, Robin's not from Horus. "You Light-Dwellers never learn, for all you're talks about peace and staying self-contain you sure take more than you need. Why should I care if your Kingdom drowns in Darkness?" She asked as she turns away from them while also waving them off with the statue's unnerving long arm.

'Why does everyone keep saying that?' Corrin uttered.

"All we're asking is for time. Let our army stay here long enough to come up with a plan and a new location to seek shelter." Robin proposed. "Three days tops."

"For a Deadman you carry far too many lives on your shoulder, I'm feeling a little tempted to show empathy, but too little gets us nowhere, does it?" Nyx replied with an obvious reluctance to help.

"Please, Nyx, we just want this war to end. And if we are stopped from reaching Garon than it may end in what may very well be the worst outcome." Corrin pleaded.

"The worst outcome for whom, pray tell, I'm curious." Nyx asked rhetorically. "I no longer have any love for Nohr but there's nothing in it for me to aid Hoshido. Both sibling nations are parasites that plague the rest of the world, consumed by old traditions and hypocritical notions of right and wrong, wasting lives for ultimately nothing and cowering from their Destinies. Longing for fantasies and bygone days and endlessly tarnishing the name of their Founder Deities while using their names to justify their crimes. Like the rest of the pointless race of humanity that have infested Solheim since the beginning."

"And what Destiny pray tell are they supposed to follow if you seem to know better despite hiding alone and behind the rundown walls of an old house in the middle of a swamp?" Corrin questioned, feeling agitated by her, despite deeming her words as truth.

"As usual, so short sighted and cursed to never rise above it." Nyx sighed with more annoyance, though she then next turns back to the white duo and walks closer, particularly Corrin, and having something with the face of the skull creature tempts Corrin to break the thing but Robin picks up on it and eases her nerves enough not to make an affront against Nyx. "How odd, despite opposing him, you remind me of him in many ways."

"Garon?" Corrin asked but the Witch makes no response and walks away, standing in the same spot the statue previously was.

"Three days, no more. I already have a barrier prepared to cover off the entirety of the Woods of Forlorn that will keep all Nohrians and other unwelcome nuisances away. If you're not gone by then, I'll finish you off myself." Nyx made up her mind on giving them this but this seems more like a whim than kindness. "And your army better not set foot on my home, much less be near me again."

"Thank you, Nyx." Robin smiled but the Witch made no more responses as her magic on the statue has vanished.

"She was interesting, and in a strange way she sounded like a little girl." Corrin noted.

"You'd be surprised by how odd immortals actually are." Robin half-joked as they head back outside to meet up with the others.

"Well?" Ryoma asked.

"She's agreed to let us stay long enough to find another path to tread." Robin explained. "Provided that we stay away from her, she's even erected a powerful barrier that will keep the Nohrians away to prevent conflict in her property."

"Will she be able to hold such punishment if they realize we're here?" Azura asked.

"I'm sure, her magic is the result of centuries of studying the dark arts, Nohr will need a lot of Anti-Magic to penetrate her craft and because of our spell by the time they amass enough to do so we'll be long gone. We best set up camp now." Robin assured them.

"Good then." Ryoma nodding satisfied as the royals go to meet up with the others. He then notices Corrin's look of contemplation. "Something on your mind, Corrin?"

"A lot of things, as you should know, but being inside that mansion brought up a lot of dark thoughts that have been bugging me for weeks, though right now I'm curious about something else Nyx briefly mentioned. Something called Solheim."

"Solheim? That's a name I have not heard in a long time. It is what our continent used to be called before it was renamed Horus." Ryoma explained.

"Really, this is the second time I hear the name and the first time I hear of its meaning." Corrin said intrigued.

"That's not surprising, not many remember that when these lands were under the constant presence of the Gods that the Dawn Dragon dubbed their Divine Territory Solheim but when the Precursor War happened and the Heroes of Old were forced to stand against their corrupted lords, humanity was granted sovereignty of Solheim which was later renamed after your Predecessor, the first wielder of Yato." Azura explained.

"Really, sounds like he was egotistical, Hydra did call him a hypocritical fool, so I think it makes sense." Corrin said intrigued by this knowledge.

"Hydra?" Takumi asked.

"That's what the Rainbow Sage called himself." Corrin revealed.

"Oh, so he does have a name. Sounds aquatic." Hinoka noted.

"Yeah." Corrin nodded in agreement.

"When exactly was the first time that you heard the name of Solheim?" Sakura asked curious.

"In the Shadow Realm. My… darker half brought it up while she was blowing a tantrum and beating me up. But if she really was the part of me that I've been repressing then how could any part of me know the name?" She wondered.

"Perhaps it has something to do with your dragonic-self. Regardless of the true reason on why you have this power, there's no denying that your true strength is connected to the Precursors so maybe your true form has a consciousness and knowledge of its own that spans centuries." Ryoma suggested.

"Lilith brought up a similar theory about how I have no recollection on how things went down when father was killed but it's all speculation unless we find a way for me to remember." Corrin said.

"Right now I'm more interested in getting ourselves comfortable because there is much to do." Ryoma said.

"I don't know how are we supposed to do that, I mean look at this place, it's all one big fat disgusting dump." Takumi uttered as they walk around the Forlorn Woods, and it is truly difficult to work around here. The trees formed such a dense canopy that even in the high afternoon sun, the shadows cast it into perpetual twilight, they can barely see more than fifty meters in front of them. Gnarled roots and bumpy ridges keep stalling their process to an agonizing crawl, and the constant feeling that they are being watched kept everyone's nerves on high alert.

Regardless, as soon as they began, it ultimately took them a couple of hours to set up camp, using their magics they cut a path to give them a more open field for Lilith to create more tents and equipment to relax and they could still create light to shine enough of their path but even still, no amount of measurements they make seems to be enough to keep everyone calm, the insidious appearance of these woods feel like they can sicken the soul.

"Honestly, many of the forests and landscapes we've scoured around Nohr aren't winning any environment contests anytime but the amount of pain I get from just seeing all this is just damaging to the eye." Azama complained.

"Yeah, for once I'm with the douchebag, the place is already dead so why not just burn it all to the ground already." Oboro said.

"Well, now you know why it's called Forlorn." Jakob stated.

"Believe it or not, Forlorn is sacred ground to the Dusk Faithful because this ugly place is where the body of the Dusk Dragon was left behind when Qliphoth ascended as a pure heavenly spirit, kind of like how the Land of the Kitsunes are sacred to Hoshido because that place is where the Dawn Dragon did the same thing after the Great War ended." Corrin explained. "Though, like you guys, the worshippers don't really come here to offer prayers."

"Well, yeah, because the Kitsune Hamlet is inhabited by Kitsunes who last time I check like humans coming into their territory about as much as Wolfskins do, which creates a lot of conflict because since it was OUR ancestors who buried the God of Light's physical remains and made the place holy grounds to begin with and yet those miserable beasts are constantly denying us our rights to be there!" Takumi protested. "I get that every religion and cult has their own interpretation of what is divine and holy but the Dusk Faithful is a legit religion that works intertwined with the other sections of the Church with no piece of evidence of any of them being considered a cults if you ignore the damn fanatics and yet this ugly place has all the telltale signs of cultists. And you're telling us that the physical remains of the God of Darkness was buried here?"

"Geez, at least the remains of Sephiroth's magic in his corpse made the Kitsune's home eternally lushes and beautiful." Subaki noted. "Whatever happened to Kaden anyway after the Opera House."

"Good question, really hope he made it back home safely." Hinoka said.

"Oh yeah, he is, I was curious and concern for his wellbeing so Robin and I went to Kitsune's Hamlet to see if he was okay way before we made this march." Corrin said. "It was nice to see Kaden again and that he was okay and he seemed happy to see us too, though we didn't really have a chance to apologize about taking advantage of him or catch up when he out of the blue gave us a very friendly head start about leaving before the other Kitsunes swarmed over us for trespassing and wishing us luck on bringing peace back to the rest of the continent. Man those guys are crazy but heavens, they're gorgeous to gaze upon."

"Yeah, they are beautiful, especially baby kitsunes." Sakura smiled blushing, reminiscing the time she caught a family of Kitsunes having what she believes is a picnic in a cherry blossom forest that she and Hinoka were passing by once and she couldn't help but marble at the younger ones but Hinoka did pull her away because it was rude to stare and did not want to risk starting a possible fight.

"Well, the Beast Clans are all unique, it is kind of sad that only two types of them exist in Horus." Robin said.

"I say it was good on their part because places like Canta are much more befitting of their lifestyles. The Wolves and the Foxes stay because they've been here since Nohr and Hoshido began and Horus still went by Solheim." Ryoma said.

"Gods, I wish they've kept that name. Hearing it is just so awe inspiring." Corrin said, feeling giddy just hearing that name.

"Don't we all. But in all seriousness, where exactly are we supposed to go from here? Three days isn't exactly a good amount of time to find a new place to go to." Takumi asked. "We're close to Demon's Falls, the only thing left keeping us from reaching Windmire."

"Oh yeah, the Demon's Falls, the most notorious volcano in Horus, among the lot of them in my region that are noisy and spewing magma constantly, that one has always earn a bad rap." Rinkah said. "My Grandpa said that that one is a bad omen personified."

"Yeah, Xander told me about it once, before the Precursor War began, the Dusk Dragon hid himself within it back when it was mistaken for a mountain since it isn't common knowledge what volcanoes, let alone lava actually is and when it finally erupted, the wise God had truly ''fallen to darkness'' and the War began." Corrin said, contemplating about the volcano. "It was so frightening when I saw it the first time, a waterfall that actually spews fire, I can only imagine how terrified the ancestors of Nohr reacted upon seeing it the first time because no one in those times actually set foot on Muspelheim due to the terrible relationship Qliphoth has with his two nephews, though I imagine that everyone has a similar reaction upon seeing it for the first time."

"It certainly left me speechless when I visited Muspelheim for the first time, a land actually made of fire. I was a little embarrass by how clueless I was about volcanoes and I still cannot fathom how anyone could hope to live there without the blessing of the God of Fire." Ryoma said recalling the day he first met Rinkah and her family when he tried to enlist their aid in the inevitable war.

"I can't really give you lots any sound advice on that since I was born in such heat that I don't even feel so much as a sting when I take a dip on magma." Rinkah said as those with the magic of Iblis are completely invulnerable to the heat of magma that they can actually swim on it.

"People normally avoid the fire waterfall, or… rather lava-fall and burning river and head further west towards the end of the river where there is a safe passage to the Capital and the other nations in the West of Horus." Felicia said. "Though recently a great bridge was created over the river that is immune to the heat and allows a safe and quicker passage to Windmire."

"Both sides are always heavily guarded, even before the War started and now that we're so close they'll be nigh-impenetrable for us to make it to the Capital." Kaze noted.

"I know but there is one solution left that I'm positive they won't be able to account for without Iago in the state I left him." Robin said. He told them about his confrontation with the Dark Tactician but obviously not everything and how their fight destroyed Garon's villa, though he is not sure himself that he's dead, he did left him buried under all the rubble. The look in Corrin's eye when she heard this was a mixture of relief that the perpetrator of her suffering may finally be gone but also resentment that she could not be the one to kill him but Robin was adamant that she should not had faced him and later Ryoma agreed with the notion.

"How can you be so sure that Leo and Selena won't be able to see us coming again?" Takumi asked.

"For one, Leo's father is Garon, who last time I check is not one to greet failure with a warm embrace so I imagine that Leo and even Xander will be put under a lot of pressure that they'll overlook some things that will benefit us." Robin said, noticing the sadness in Corrin's face upon mentioning that but presses onward. "And Selena, who I am more concern about will be busy babysitting Camilla. Where else could she be if not in Macarath where she could've jeopardized everything."

"Music to my ears." Hinoka smirked satisfied. "So short sighted that even her own father can't trust her to act on her own anymore. You think it would've taken us a whole month or more to make it this far but it feels like Nohr is becoming more divided the more we march forward."

"Exactly how we predicted they would react with their precious demons being overpowered at every turn. Winning feels ever closer but is still too far away to celebrate." Kaze said, having higher hopes for their campaign like the rest. "Right now we should-"

Everyone is then caught by surprise as they hear a loud thud a few yards away that sounds like the ringing sound of a bell imploding and crashing violently into the ground and a bright white light showing them the location that is west of the camp and they rush there as quickly as possible and find several of their men knocked on the floor and hurt with others going to help them.

"What happened?! Are we under attack? Have the Nohrians managed to get in!" Ryoma asked in high alert.

"Terribly sorry General, there is no enemy around we were just having issues with this demon statue." Scarlet said trying to defuse the situation and pointing to the source of the problem, which is a large statue of a dark dragon that looks really old and rusty, probably centuries old.

"That's not a demon, that's an ancient and authentic interpretation of the Dusk Dragon built to honor him after he ascended." Corrin corrected.

"Which has all the designs that the blasted thing belongs in Hell because that creepy extra face and mouth with sharp teeth on its chest is really freaking us out so we contemplated about smashing it, which we decided to do but then it… I don't know, I guess it fought back or something." Scarlet said.

"And I told you to leave it alone, the statue has been magically enchanted to absorb and rebound all damage inflicted to it, that feels like the Black Witch's magic, hence it belongs to her now." Lilith said, also present and gave them a fair warning not to touch it the first time. "We are intruders here that have only now been promoted to her guess, we cannot afford to go around messing with her stuff."

"Gods, you almost gave me a heart attack." Ryoma sighed. "You heard the lady everyone. I know how you all feel about anything related to Nohr, I share your distaste but our camp is far enough away that this thing shouldn't even so much as prove to be a nuisance so let's all pretend it doesn't exist and focus on ourselves some more until we finally get out of here."

Everyone agreed and headed back to camp, though Corrin stayed behind with the statue with just her retainers beside her.

"Nuisance, he says." Corrin hissed at Ryoma's words while pouting a bit and focuses her attention on the statue of the god she still reveres.

"Well, in all fairness, Lady Corrin, this dragon does look, well… ''hellish''." Kaze said kindly.

"Hmph." Corrin scoffed at his words and not bothering to look at the Ninja.

"This is the only time I am ever going to give you a ''friendly'' advise if you want to call it that." Jakob said.

"We would never call it that." Kaze, Robin, Felicia and Lilith replied at once.

"But Lady Corrin is a devout follower and you do not want to mess with a princess and her faith who knows her way with a sword and skinning a man alive." Jakob gave a fair warning.

"Aww, Jakob, don't go making it sound like I'm some craze fanatic." Corrin whined.

"I wouldn't think of it as an insult you're Highness, I think it is awe inspiring how devoted you are to everything you hold dear in your heart." Jakob insisted.

"I appreciated it more if you had some of my favorite tea before spewing what others would consider nonsense." Corrin pouted.

"Right away, you're Grace." Jakob smiled, and like the wind he is off to prepare tea for his mistress.

"One day, I'm going to get the drop on him and see how much of his childishness will drive him to his own grave." Robin swore.

"Yeah, if you don't end up in your own grave first." Corrin retorted.

"You're hilarious." Robin rolled his eyes as the rest of them head back as well.

Hours later, they confirm that the Black Witch did indeed erected a protection massive enough to block off anyone from coming in and is sturdy enough to keep the Nohrians from coming in with brute force and is also invisible, helping everyone relax more.

As the evening arrives with the sun soon setting, Corrin returns to the sighting where the Qliphoth statue lies and for the most part she is all alone. While everyone is still feeling unsafe enough to leave sentinels everywhere, this area is all but forgotten for the time being, which is good for Corrin as she really wants to be alone right now, her thoughts returning to the conversation she previously had with Robin about her feelings towards the Grimm and what was done to her faith that has been damaged and yet Corrin cannot bring herself to let go.

She stares at the statue of the Dark God, and to an outsider, it looks like nothing more than a monster, an abomination against humanity but to those who pay attention and look for the truth it is a different kind of hope, a hope that the Forsaken Princess has held on to for so long that she cannot accept it to all be a lie. All those years in the fortress, trapped, forbidden to ever leave, even as she was met with a kind response with no malice as she was denied again and again, whenever her family and friends weren't enough to sooth her frustrations and sadness, she found solace in the face of this Dragon, this God that just by reading the books of ''his word'' she found no fear in darkness but euphoria, to the point that she seemed to be more devoted than the Royal Family that are supposed to be his human descendants, and ever since that day when she first laid eyes on the monsters her god created to protect the nation he founded all she can asked herself is Why.

Why was her faith not strong enough to be accepted by the Darkness? Was it because she strongly disapprove of the decision to invade Hoshido for resources? That can't be, Garon's actions to invade other nations is a violations to the tenets of Faith the Dusk Faithful have stood for centuries. Gunter even mentioned that Garon and the Bishop of the Dusk Faithful have been in conflict with each other because of his warmongering but because of how hungry everyone is these debates went on deaf ears for good reason and from what she's learned the Grimm are even more protective of the truly devout. If so why was she the exception?

Corrin gets closer to the statue and gets on her knees before the Dusk Dragon. She closes her eyes and has a deep sigh before finally speaking.

"To see a world in a grain of sand and Heaven in a wild flower, hold in Infinity in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour." She speaks a quote of her favorite poems before then opening her eyes and residing the words of the Faithful's prayers. "In a World without Light, cursed not the Darkness but embrace it. Even with no end in sight, Despair holds no sway upon us. For Qliphoth is always there. Knows all. Sees all. We are connected by our vices and desires not to do evil but to learn and be more than what we originally were. To remain bind to those we love even in Death. To remain strong when we have no inner strength left to move on from past failures. And as Darkness consumes us, the Dusk will guide us. The Dusk protect us so that we may protect others, and we shall rise to meet the Light again, with new fire in our hearts. Burning and free to forge our own future without exemption or regret."

Her sadness becomes visible as she stares intently at the Dusk Dragon's eyes. "I know I have no right to stand before your presence after what I've done. I've spilled blood on your soil not for Nohr's benefit but to contribute to its further ruin. I made up my mind and I will take on the path the Rainbow Sage has set out for me, the destiny I trust now is mine to tread. I will dethrone Garon." She confessed, releasing all the courage she can muster to fulfill her duty, however there is still great sadness in her. "The Rainbow Sage spoke about the Infinite Cycle between Peace and Chaos and that no matter what we do, wars are forever and we just have to deal with it and fight to assert Peace's dominance but yet still I ask myself, why me? Why do I have to be a part of any of this. Why must I fight my family?"

"The answer is supposed to be simple but there's no one that can help me." She muttered as she lowers her head again to stare at the floor. "We've done our best to avoid any and all Nohrian cities from getting involved in our crossfires, stood to the landscapes and grassy fields, or lack thereof, but I heard the whispers, kept an eye on for any and all signs of the consequences the fights may have on the people, and we've made the whole thing even worse. In just the first day of the march we've caused the commoners to become hungrier with much more food and investments going to the armies, and the more we move forward the more the blade goes to their human forces for not being as competent as your monsters that there's been a lot of infighting and bickering among themselves for their efforts not bearing any fruit and if what Robin said is true, Xander and the others are being put through so much pressure from Garon to put a stop to us already. But what's really getting to me is what people are saying about me."

"Something that was always on the back of my head that I didn't want to be true turned out to be the case, that up until I made my choice, nobody in Nohr knew I existed. I was another Princess that they had no idea they had, I'm thankful that I don't know yet what their initial reaction to my revelation was but what they're saying about me is crawling over my flesh like fire ants. A Scourge? Is that all I really am to them? Does no one sympathize with my plight? What was done to me, what Garon wanted me to do? Are you the same?" She asked as she again stares up at her God.

"That day, I had no idea what I was even saying but I know that whatever my feelings drove me to this was because how they… how you made me feel." She more or less accused the Dusk Dragon. "Why did they attack me? I was their Princess, your soldier and they cast me aside. Why? Was it because I gave Mikoto a chance to prove themselves, the Light reached out and I grabbed it. Was that why I was deemed a traitor. Or was Robin right, was this your plan all along, that I should fight on behalf of Sephiroth? I mean, it makes some sense but why would you want Nohr to lose? The Kingdom has been falling apart ever since your Divine Trees were destroyed, Nohr's entire environment revolves around as little sunlight as possible but without your magic there's no food to grow and the other nations can't seem to get it through their heads that this is the way it has to be. Relying on the strength of others to survive and now that it's come to war, they lose, everyone is doomed. How could you want that?"

As usual there was no response but the Princess continues.

"If Garon is the one who's really in the wrong then why did YOU allow the Grimm to return to this world? To terrorize Hoshido when their purpose is just to protect Nohr from invaders. Maybe I'm just more naive than I realized, I haven't put much thought into what Leo has told me in Cheve about them knowing what the Commoners are going through. I'm acting out from my own limited experience of poverty, which wasn't much, all those days I went hungry in the fort were so short-lived I don't really know at all what they were going through, what even Elise was going through, and yet she would always smile like nothing was wrong, as if I was the little sister being sheltered from the truth."

"I'm not Nohrian anymore, just another… "Scourge" on their lives that won't stop tormenting them. But it won't stay like this forever. Like the Rainbow Sage said, if Hoshido wins then Nohr has to submit to our demands, we can provide them with food again to keep the Kingdom from falling apart. My mother can be reasoned with and coming here has caused a change in Ryoma and Hinoka at least that won't bring too many arguments, I've seen it. It'll be a long and arduous task but it's better than this, all the slaughter, depriving so many of their friends and loved ones." She argued. "It's pointless, coming to you after all this time, begging for your forgiveness when I can have none of it, but at the very least, I beg for your understanding. Give me that at least."

Again, there was no response.

---

In the Dining Tent, Robin starts to cough violently after taking a bite out of a rice ball and sputters it on the floor.

"Huh?" Felicia uttered in confusion and sadness since that was her rice ball Robin ate.

"Th-there was a lump of salt in the middle, Felicia." Robin shuttered as he quickly drinks a glass of water.

"Huh? Aren't you supposed to put salt in salted rice balls?" She cried.

"No, I think you've got the wrong idea. You're just supposed to sprinkle it on the outside." Ryoma explained as he was going to eat another rice ball Felicia made but thankfully Robin ate one first so he immediately puts it back on its plate.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry. I've failed for a second time." She sobbed.

"No, don't worry. It's the thought that counts. Everyone makes mistakes." Ryoma said trying to defuse the situation.

"That's what he said last week when she had the "ingenious" idea to mix chocolate with rice and practically poisoned him." Saizo hissed, sitting on a table behind Ryoma.

"Funny coincidence that it was a rice ball that started his own distaste for chocolate." Kagero said.

"Oh, of all the nonsense in the world, Felicia, cease your experiments with foreign dishes and focus on Nohrian cuisines, just because you're not an ideal maid doesn't mean you don't have your moments." Jakob lectured irritated at her partner's latest failure.

"Okay." Felicia mumbled.

"You think you would've learned your lesson after your first attempt. Rice balls mixed with chocolate! Seriously, I thought it was another of Robin's abominations until I learn that Lord Ryoma wasn't dead after the first bite." Jakob continued to scold.

"How about for my next recipe I pour antivenom in the soup for you. Maybe that'll finally wash off the cobra stuck in your throat." Robin scoffed at the butler.

"It died when you forced me to eat your wretched carrot stew!" Jakob spatted.

"I'm starting to question how Corrin's stayed alive with you three for her aids, but then I remember that she also has Kaze so I'm at peace again." Ryoma mused.

"It's been a bumpy couple of days." Kaze smiled while sitting next to Felicia.

"Did someone ask for carrot stew?" Mozu asked as she comes in with carrot stew to put on the table.

"Finally, someone who understands the importance of a perfectly good meal." Jakob praised. "Lady Sakura continues to sing your praises."

"Shut up, Jakob." Robin hissed. "Anyway, Kaze you still up for the thing tomorrow."

"Of course, anything to make Lady Corrin's day all the smoother." Kaze said as the two agreed to help Corrin with some errands that she wanted to do herself for the army but she really has no skills for them so they'll do it themselves before she even tries. She won't be happy but she rarely is these days.

"It had better be spotless, if it's for Lady Corrin's sake then you fools better not make any mistakes." Jakob demanded.

"How are we supposed to be spotless in any way, we're surrounded by swamps?" Robin protested.

"You're utterly hopeless." The Butler scoffed.

"Well, at least you four aren't my retainers, because you actually do things right!" Hinoka again protested at her two lazy retainers who are strangely nowhere in sight. "Speaking of which, has anyone seen Setsuna?"

"I believe she volunteered for the current shift to guard the east side of the camp." Robin explained.

"What?! But that's where we found those pits, she'll blindly walk right into any of them!" Hinoka protested.

"Well, that represents a problem but I'm sure the other sentries can help her back up." Takumi said.

"We should sent someone else just to be sure." Oboro suggested, and for the most part they all agree.

"Well, I'm not going, I'm already tired as is with everything else that needs to be done so one of you can go fetch her." Hinoka humped, leaving everyone in silent contemplation on who should go check on the feckless archer.

"Not it!" Robin declined rapidly.

"Not it!" Followed by Kaze.

"Not it!" Followed by Felicia.

"Not it!" Followed by Mozu.

"Not it!" Followed by Takumi, Oboro and Hinata at once.

"Not it!" Followed by Hayato and Rinkah at once.

"Not it!" Followed by Ryoma.

"Not it!" Followed by Saizo and Kagero at once.

"You're it!" All of them said at once, pointing at Jakob who was the only one not quick to respond.

"You all can just go straight to Hell!" Jakob yelled.

"Quit complaining and go Joker. Cor likes Setsuna and would be devastated to hear that anything bad happened to her. We, as her faithful servants can't have that now, can we." Robin taunted the Butler, who groan with fury but ultimately relented and went to see Setsuna.

"Is it wrong that I don't feel bad for him." Kaze mused.

"Kaze! You actually wish someone misfortune, the nerve of you." Hinoka teased, which got a chuckle from everyone. "Guess Corrin is rubbing off on you."

"Maybe a little." He noted.

Everyone soon dispersed after eating for each of their tasks or anything else they please, such as Ryoma who plans to have a short stroll around camp before having some training and then resting up for the night. That is if he can actually tell time with how much darkness there is around them in spite of the Light Soldiers providing a clear path for everyone. He stops upon noticing Azura walking by and judging by the stare she's giving him, is heading right for him.

"Hello, Azura." Ryoma greeted and decides to continue where they left off. They haven't really spoken after she practically ran off on him. "Do you have a minute?"

"Yes. Actually, I've been looking for you." She replied.

"Oh? You took our conversation to heart? So what can I help you with?" He smiled, happy to have this chance.

"Nothing! I just heard that you've been talking about me behind my back." Azura accused, not really looking upset, since she's always showing a neutral expression that it's really hard to tell.

"Did you?" He said, now feeling awkward because she made it sound worse than it really is. "Uh… well, that was a bit of a misunderstanding."

"Was it?! Are you saying that you weren't talking about me?" She questioned and Ryoma clears his throat before responding.

"Well, I WAS talking about you, but not like that." Ryoma tried to clarify.

"All right, Ryoma! Which is it?"

"The truth is, I was asking our friends for some advice. I want us to be closer. I thought my fellow soldiers might have some suggestions on approaching you." Ryoma confessed as he really doesn't know how to really approach his sort of, kind of adoptive sister. They have conversed many times but she either comes to him or someone starts a conversation and either of them get involve but as he started to realize a while back, he never once reached out to talk to her first before, heck he didn't even know what her hobbies were besides that she likes to sing until he asked Sakura, Hinoka and Takumi about it.

It stung how little he actually knows her considering how long they've lived together. Corrin spent less time with her and yet she already knows a lot about Azura and he has noticed that she seems to be more comfortable around Robin than she's ever shown to anyone to the point that many among the army is starting to think there's something going on between them.

There really better not be, he already has enough to deal with and Mikoto does not need to add more fuel to fantasize about a flame war.

"Oh, my. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to give you such a hard time." Azura said now looking apologetic.

"That's all right. I should've come to you instead." He sighed, blaming himself for this dilemma. "Please, forgive me."

"There's no need to apologize. You can make it up to me by doing me a favor." She declared.

"Of course! Anything you ask!" Ryoma said, hoping to fix things with her finally.

"Will you stop fussing over me?" She asked, which really caught Ryoma off guard. "Corrin should be your priority now!"

"What does Corrin have to do with this?" He asked confused.

"Though it wasn't always the case, you have long treated me like I belonged in Hoshido. But we both know I was never supposed to be there with all of you. Corrin is your family!"

"You can't be serious, Azura! There's room enough for both you and Corrin." Ryoma argued, not able to believe what he's hearing.

"I truly did find happiness with all of you. You and Queen Mikoto made sure of that. But now you should focus on making Corrin feel welcome instead, at least when this is all over because like me when I first arrived, she's still struggling feeling at home there." Azura said sadly as she walks away from her "brother".

"Azura, wait!" Ryoma wanted to walk after her but he's so lost in thought now that he doesn't even know where to begin to make her realize that she's wrong to think this way. "Is this why she's been avoiding me? damn, I should've done more and realized the problem sooner."

As Azura continue to walk, not wanting to let what just happened get to her, she notices Robin head to the latest tent for the War Council and decides to follow him.

"Hey, Azura, you okay, you seem more down than you're typically stoic demeanor?" Robin asked, noticing her following him.

"I'll tell you later." She shrugged as they enter the tent.

This did not leave a good impact on Ryoma who just snaps.

"Gods dammit!" Ryoma shouted as he grabs a nearby box and angrily throws it on the floor, smashing it to bits with the contexts lying on the ground, startling all nearby to see the usually composed and powerful High General lash out all the sudden.

"Whoa, there, Ryo. You okay? You look like someone crossed you for the last time." Scarlet said as she steps forward to check on the Prince. "And since neither Saizo nor Kagero are around that's an even worse sign than it already is."

"You are more or less spot on the current issue I am facing but it's more close to home that it doesn't really need to resort to actually cleaving someone over it." Ryoma sighed, trying to calm himself.

"If you got hit close to home than someone deserves to be split in two." Scarlet countered.

"Not while he's still useful." Ryoma groaned. "I have to go, there's one last card left to play before I really let this get to me at the worst possible moment."

"Okay, now you're definitely scaring me." Scarlet muttered.

"Pray I can fix this in time." Ryoma mumbled as he goes to the one person he didn't think he would ever visit for advise on anything.

"First Corrin and now Azura turning to Robin for support instead of me has been aching at my soul for far too long and I can't afford to be victimize by the Sin of Envy like poor Takumi went through. That's why you're my only hope now." Ryoma abandoned all matter of dignity he has as a man and prince to do this but here he is, in the tent of Azama of all people with the hope that he can find the right way to reach out to Azura.

"My, oh my. This is a pleasant surprise." Azama chuckled, enjoying this more than he should. "Shall we begin."

All the while Saizo and Kagero arrive at the nick of time, their heads visible from the tent's entrance, worry and dread in their faces.

"I can't believe our Lord has come to him of all scums for moral support?" Kagero muttered, vastly worried, rushing here as soon as they learned of Ryoma's sudden outburst.

"Dammit, I can't believe how useless I am right now." Saizo cursed his incompetence.

---

"I've fallen into a pit… again." Setsuna sighed as she DID get herself trapped in one of the pits and is now lying down there not sure how to get out.

"Hah, it looks like you're having fun in there, Setsuna." Jakob said as he arrives to find her just as he expected.

"Hi, Jakob… Does this really look that fun to you? I wasn't sure. But if you think so…" She asked clueless as ever on what to think of her typical predicament.

"From where I'm standing, it's plenty funny, anyway." Jakob said amused by watching the royal archer like this.

"Funny things are entertaining… Entertainment is fun… As I think about it, I feel like I'm starting to enjoy myself." She smiled, somehow finding this as funny as Jakob, with said man giving her a shook of his head as he continues to chuckle.

Honestly, how did this fool ever become a retainer to such a great princess? Her questionable prowess that rivals Takumi aside, her presence is no more than another example of the futility of nepotism that nobles worldwide continue to do instead of selecting actual people that know how to do their jobs, the cycle of incompetence continues ever more. At least Hinoka's siblings turned out more fortunate.

"Hah. You should stay in that hole, then. No one is going to make you get out." Jakob insisted as he really doesn't want to help her.

"Ah, that sounds nice. I think I will stay." She happily complied.

"Listen, give a shout if you think you're going to starve to death or something. Someone other than me will come along and rescue you." He instructed.

"OK…"

"So long, Setsuna."

"Bye, Jakob."

With that Jakob leaves Setsuna alone as the airhead is left humming to keep herself entertain. Though Jakob doesn't go far as he is caught off by an annoyed Corrin.

"Ah, Lady Corrin, an honor as always to see you, shall I go and fetch you dinner. I'm pretty sure the sun will actually be setting now." He asked with the usual hospitality that he gives only to her.

"Jakob, go fetch a rope, we're not leaving her down there." She ordered.

"Yes, I know." He sighed. He really should've seen this coming. "But wait, you can fly now, you can just use dumbass's cloud to pick her up."

"You mean Robin?" Corrin asked.

"Dumbass!" Jakob corrected.

"Whatever, you left her down there, you get her out." Corrin demanded.

"Yes, Highness." Jakob sighed, even he can't deny that he has this coming as he goes for a rope.

"Hang in there a little longer Setsuna, we'll get you out." Corrin called to her and will be staying to keep her company.

"Oh, thank you, Lady Corrin. I'm starting to think that being stuck in a pit might not be as fun as I thought." Setsuna smiled gratefully.

"Yeah, I think I speak with absolute certainty that only creeps like holes." Corrin rolled her eyes.

"They most certainly like to dig them." Setsuna replied, thinking she's referring to the Grimm Creeps.

---

"Hey Wrath! Where are you?!" Yelled out the Sin of Greed as she walks through a large corridor that indeed belongs to a castle that once held great tranquility and beauty that now lies in ruins as she searches for her malicious brother for a bothersome five minutes now but he's hard to find despite being such a loudmouth with explosive tendencies. "Where the fuck is he? How hard can it be to find a half-naked molten hunk of walking horse shit, or at least I think that's what his gross skin is made of."

Eventually she reaches another corridor with the temperature rapidly heating up unlike the rest of the castle that's colder.

"Finally!" She hissed as she heads for the door that feels the hottest that could easily melt human skin like butter but she's a demon so this level of heat is nothing to her and she kicks the door open, making it fly inside the room that instantaneously turns to ash once it hits Wrath, sleeping on a bed that's on fire. In fact the whole room is on fire because of the fire demon's heat but strangely, it does not spread beyond said room.

"Unbelievable, what right do you have to call Sloth lazy when you've been the most Anti-Warmongering as of late." Greed growled as she enters the hellish room, unopposed by the flames. "Wake up, Wrath!" She demanded as she punches him in the chest with enough force that should wake him up and make him groan in pain, or rather more than that as her punch creates a shockwave that makes all the flames extinguish from the room and the bed to crumble apart but still Wrath remains soundly asleep.

"Oh, Satan give me strength. I'm surrounded by useless babies." Greed groaned as she gets on her knees to try and wake him again. "Wake up Wrath! Wrath! Wrath! Wrath! Wrath! Wrath!" She repeated with each punch she delivered to him but nothing works.

"Anger! Anger! Anger! Anger! Anger! Rage! Rage! Rage! Rage!" She continues now comically with his other aliases. "Piss! Piss! Piss! Wrathy! Wrathy! Wrathy! Wrathy! Wra-"

"WHAT?!" The Evil Demon finally awakes and explodes with anger and rage, literally as Greed is blown out of the room, the entirety of the corridor now destroyed and she now lies under the burned wreckage of another room. The volatile Demon walks towards his sister, now completely, well… wrathful and covered in fire.

"What do you want, you infernal woman! Can't even a Devil have a chance to rest in peace!" Wrath demanded, moments away from reducing his own sister to cinders.

"I just came to let you know how are things going in the war above." Greed groaned annoyed but used to her brother's tantrums.

"You made such a big fuzz over something like that?!" Wrath hissed.

"I'm doing what you asked me to do! You specifically told me to come find you and notify you immediately if anything worth our attention would pop up in the Twilight War!" Greed shouted. "Because of Hydra's protection we can't trace them naturally, much less corrupt those who've been near Corrin for now so we have to resort to my other methods."

"Well maybe I don't remember that!" Wrath said and turned away from her.

"You little brat! Don't forget that Pride put me in charge of all of you while he's away searching for Lust." Greed warned.

"Lust is still missing? Damn what poor soul have they gotten themselves this time." Wrath said very confuse and extremely curious regarding the absence of his missing sibling. "Any who, what is it you really got from me?"

"You're little pet, the human you made a pact with screwed up big time and got himself bested by the Hoshidans." Greed informed.

"Iago? How can this be?" He asked, honestly startled by this news.

"He got stupidly cocky and ended up facing Robin alone and we all know how that was always going to turn out. He's still alive but he's buried under debris and he doesn't have much time left before he dies of his injuries." Greed continued.

"I see, how unexpected. I honestly thought he be more cautious than this." Wrath said disappointed.

"I can't believe you actually had any faith in that freak. He's just as unbalanced, if not worse than his psycho sister, his magic is typical for a Sorcerer and his tactics always have enough holes that can be exploited. Frankly, I'm starstruck that he lasted this long." Greed scoffed. "There's more, Iago managed to easily trick Robin into speaking Valla outside the borders and was struck by the curse but get this, it didn't work, he managed to fight it off."

"Preposterous! The curse of this world is absolute, all in Solheim who lack Vallite blood that dares speak the name of the Forgotten Kingdom are doom to eternal servitude after death. That is the twisted law that mad beast spent years perfecting when he enchanted the continent." Wrath protested.

"I know how the dark spell works as well as you do but I know what I saw, but it doesn't seem he escaped unscathed, his magic power remains superb but his soul has been further damaged. If he wasn't at risk of dying before he's certainly at risk now." Greed informed. "However this is likely more to do with the fact that the curse has grown weaker over the centuries, if the information we gathered is accurate it used to be that merely knowing this place exists would also cause those who are not blood descendant from here to succumb to his madness but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore."

"Again he manages to impress, as expected of one who achieved so much to be acknowledged and respected not just by the Divine Dragon Clan but even Alfaðör himself." Wrath said most pleased.

"If there was ever any doubt it's all affirmed now, we always knew Nohr was finally going to lose the moment Corrin and Robin stood against them, and your methods have been a waste of time as expected." Greed stated.

"No, no, not yet, I still have one last card to play. Nohr losing like this is not satisfying enough for me. Anankos's child must truly suffer if she's to win this war." Wrath said plotting another comeback.

"You've fried your brain cells again? Literally, I might add. Pride was very strict that we are not to meddle with Horus affairs again." Greed lectured.

"He SAID that we are not to interfere directly with the humans, he never said to try and spread our influence to one or two at a time to shift things to our liking." Wrath corrected smugly.

"You of all people know the consequences of exploiting loopholes in Pride's words, especially when we make them up." Greed lectured.

"Whatever, now listen up there's another warlock in Nohr who I've had my eye on for a while that has acquired information that can benefit us." Wrath began. "But he's a coward with delusions of grandeur, so I need you to persuade him to be more avaricious with his ambitions and help get what he needs."

"YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" Greed snapped in outrage at the nerve Wrath has. "I'm in charge of what goes on here in Gyges! The position of leader is finally mine! MINE! MINE! MINE! MIINNNEEEE!"

"Do what I say or I'm telling everyone that it's actually you're fault and not Envy that Ike learned of our existence in the first place during the Great War!" Wrath threatened, getting his sister to change her tone.

"You wouldn't!" She gasped in horror. "How could you have known?"

"Oh, I've known for millennia, I simply chose to keep it in my pocket for when I needed to blackmail you." Wrath smirked sinisterly. "You done goofed and ruined us, dear sister, and framing poor Envy to get the heat off you. For shame."

"But… it was an accident. I didn't know who he was at the time and thought he was just some mercenary who was lucky enough to be entrusted with two Sacred Treasures." Greed mumbled apologetic about exposing them but not about framing her twin to avoid being punished severely and getting constantly looked down upon as the black sheep of the family.

"Well, this is your chance to make up for it by making sure the descendants of our previous enemies get the injustice they deserve. ALL of them!" Wrath sneered with pure malice now in his tone.

---

With great fury and strength, Garon roars and cleaves a table in two with his axe. Garon and Arete had just been informed by Xander and Leo who communicate with them via a Seer of what had transpired, that the Hoshidan Army have managed to breach the barricade guarding Macarath and are growing ever closer to Windmire and Iago being nowhere to be found and is presumably taken by the enemy.

"This is UNACCEPTABLE!" Garon howled unable to accept this recent failure. "You two had your orders and you could not even accomplish something so simple! And you don't even know where they could've escaped."

"The magic they have at their disposal is more unpredictable than we suspected. There's no way we could've prepared for their trickery." Xander tried to explained the situation more clearly but that is in of itself pointless. He and Leo try to stay focus while delivering the news to their father and king, which compared to last time is significantly better but it is likely more to do with the fact that they are not standing beside Garon at this very moment, a significant change to be sure. Beside the two Princes only Peri and Zero are with them with Laslow and Odin elsewhere for whatever reason.

"With an army their size, that has ludicrously and hardly decreased in numbers mind you, could not have simply just vanished out of nowhere, especially since both sides have stripped one another of such magics and, there's nowhere that they can hide in with so many men. Find them and overlook nothing." Garon commanded. "Send several scouts to investigate the Woods of Forlorn."

"The Witch's territory?" Xander questioned. "That place is too dangerous, no men or Grimm alike we sent to retake it has ever been successful. The Witch has ceased total control of the ancient power that dwells deep within that land, enabling her near-limitless magic. Going there would be a death sentence."

"Exactly, and where better to look. If they only managed to make it pass Macarath then that is the logical next path to take and if so then they need time to plan their next path." Garon stated. "They could backtrack to Niflheim and gain an easy alliance with the Ice Tribe or they could go for Demon's Falls in a risky but beneficial course of action given their strength."

"We've already come up with these conclusions but even still…" Leo said.

"… Have you now?" Garon sternly interrupted his youngest son. "And yet both of you come here and instead of results you give me more excuses and headaches. Is that what I assigned you to do because I remember my orders differently."

"No, that's not…" Leo began again.

"Silence!" Garon commanded, with both sons complying. "Since we have no idea where Iago might be, we can only assume that he was apprehended by the Hoshidans and knowing him and his toxic mouth he no doubt got himself killed by Corrin's hands."

"Shocker." Arete muttered nonchalantly, not concern about that.

"Them backtracking is exactly what we need them to do, take advantage of Corrin's foolish friendship with Kilma's daughters." Garon declared.

"W-Wait, hold on. You can't be serious about this." Xander protested, knowing where he is going with this.

"I am. Send word to Camilla, all forces guarding the Niflheim border are to attack in two days time. We will set the Chiefdom of Ice ablaze and before we do we will try to make contact with the Hoshidans to make sure they catch wind of this first and when they head out and they WILL try to protect the Ice Tribe, they will be crush by both our might and that of Nestra who are finally ready and now mobilize to our aid and wreak vengeance on Hoshido."

"We will do no such thing, Father!" Xander countered in defiance. "This war is between us and the Hoshidans and those who have already chosen to involve themselves in the bloodshed. There is no need to drag anyone el…"

Garon would hear no more of this but he won't let his words make a point anymore. As he turns his right hand into a fist it surges with darkness, the Seers response to this as the King gives it a mental command to lift two of its tentacles and quickly extends them towards Peri and Zero before the Princes could react and wraps them around the necks of the retainers, strangling them hard enough to restrain but not to suffocate them.

"Zero!" Leo gasped.

"PERI!" Xander yelled, ready to use Siegfried to free them.

"My sons." Garon called to them again but with a calmer and dare anyone say at this moment, fatherly tone that easily did the trick as the Crown Prince stops himself from helping his comrades but he does so begrudgingly, his hand still holding his sword, arms shaking from the stress of his own inaction and helplessly watching as his retainer and friend is forced to her knees, same with Zero as the Seer tightens its grips on them. Leo is even worse as he quickly drops Brynhildr the moment his father started using that accursed tone that always gets to them.

"Even when you were younger than Elise you've both shown great promise as two of royal blood, especially you, Xander. No, you have shown that you could be more than the petty ideals and hypocrisy of nobility, and when you ascended to be a commander of your own army, a spark came to all our people, a spark that has not been seen in Nohr for many, many years. As if it is not just any Prince they are seeing riding on a great steed leading them to battle but a god in human flesh." Garon said, stating a common rumor among the masses regarding their future king. "They probably will never realize it but there is some truth to this nonsense, after all, you were the one who was blessed with the power to summon the Grimm back into this world when you failed to rescue Azura from the Hoshidans."

Xander makes no response to these previous factors.

"There is no doubt that you will grow to be a superior king than I and will be remembered across the rest of time as the Ruler who recreated the Golden Age of Qliphoth for Nohr." Garon continued. "And despite your defeats, they still cling to the hope you've created with adamant faith, something few kings can manage to pull off when in the face of imminent danger. However, what you revel in as a Knight of Nohr and Prince of Darkness makes you ignorant still. You are lacking one important factor that is needed in order to be the True King. Do you know what that is yet?"

"No father." Xander answered bluntly but not necessarily being disrespectful but the fact that he does not bother to turn around to face his father brings Garon irritation.

"Would you like me to teach you finally." He asked as he makes the Seer tighten its grip on the retainers.

"That's enough." Arete had enough as she steps forward and places her hand on top of the Seer before them, taking control of the other one, forcing it to release Peri and Zero. The Two retainer start coughing and try to breathe again with Xander and Leo finally mustering the will to go to them and try helping.

"Xander, you're all out of options to make more excuses and we no longer have the moral high ground, if we ever had it to begin with. Cease your poor habit to hold back and do as your father tells you. You know what's at stake if we lose." Arete warned.

"Yes, mother." Xander complied, no longer willing to argue.

"You two are expected to be there as well to aid your sister. Enemies deserve no quarter. Kill them all, and let the Darkness consume all." Garon said before their image vanishes from the Seer, ending the communication.

Silence comes to the tent with not one of the four within sure on what to say except try to work out the new frustrations that they now have, with Leo being the first to snap as he attacks the Grimm before him in outrage, releasing a low growl from his lungs and fires a shockwave to destroy the small servant.

"Asshole." Zero cursed under a low breath.

---

"Fearmongering our troops has never yielded promising results, let alone applying so much pressure on children." Arete scolded Garon for his behavior upon their sons.

"Fat lot of good your cuddling has done for them to bring results in this war." Garon scoffed as they begin to argue over pretty much everything going on.

"Right, because rubbing their past shortcomings in their faces in front of their faithful subordinates while suffocating them was doing them wonders." Arete argued. "All you're doing is scaring them and all this pressure is only going to cause them to make more mistakes and fail."

"They're already failing!" Garon snapped at her. "I entrusted them with the burden that this family has been charged with doing since the Kingdom's foundation and in every time our enemies dared to cross us we've toppled them like the useless fools they truly are and now all of that is being tarnished! So many of our finest have been burned to the ground and those vermin have tainted our soils for too long already."

"If losing our winning streak bothers you so damn much I suggest you quit sending ''dogs'' to do your dirty work and stain your own hands. Not like you ever bothered to wash the blood." Arete hissed.

"Hmph. I go out there, I won't hesitate to cut down that runaway lizard. You can't accept that." Garon shrugged, referring to having no hesitation about killing Corrin. After that he burst out of the room they are in, heading off elsewhere, Arete doing the same but walks off in the opposite direction, equally frustrated.

Unbeknownst to both Majesties, Elise was eavesdropping from the door outside as soon as she heard her father break something again while she was passing by and manage to back away just before her father slammed the door open and could hit her.

"Why…" She sobbed, the stress that seems to be happening everywhere is getting to her as well with her heart no longer able to bear it. "Why Corrin… how could you let this happen to us?"

"Oh boy, this is a fine mess." Elise sad thoughts shift to her left as she notices a small man hiding behind a suit of armor and by how close he is, he likely overheard the argument. "As things stand now I can't afford to wait."

"The weird guy that Leo and Iago are always bullying." Elise noted as she has seen this Warlock before. Zola, she thinks his name is. There is something off about him as his eyes are gleaming with a dark green glow and a sinister smirk forms on his face.

"With Iago gone, it seems it's up to me to set things right but first I have to get my hands on Odin, Laslow and Selena." Zola declared while talking to himself out loud that Elise could hear him and he walks away, apparently never noticing that Elise was even nearby.

"What… what's he up to." Elise wondered, not liking what he could mean due to everything else.

"Follow him." A dark voice whispers in her ears that nearly startled her but a dark sensation began to course through her with her eyes briefly glowing red and instinctively, she does follow Zola.

---

"Iago is gone?" Camilla repeated as she has just been informed of what has transpired in Macarath and the failure of her brothers to stop the Hoshidans from advancing.

"Yes, Milady, your brothers are alright as expected but one can only imagine how the King will react to this." A Wyvern Knight who is delivering this information said and he looks just as unnerve as anyone would regarding King Garon's rage. "With the loss of another General, I'm not liking our odds in this war."

"You're worrying too much, darling. Iago was a snake who overstated his welcome, we can still turn things around as long as we have Leo." Camilla said, not too concern over Iago's demise, as she never liked the Sorcerer despite never questioning his loyalty to her family and commitment to Nohr. Even if he'd never been so cold to Corrin there was so much about him that made her want to cleave his head open with her axe.

"Even still, this whole thing is a right mess. I can't believe I was forced all the way here when I was needed in the barricade." Selena hissed as she was not happy about her new orders to guard the Niflheim borders with Camilla and Beruka. "I totally could've stop them right in their tracks."

"Oh, I love your vote of confidence, dearie but I would very much prefer you remain at my side. You feel the same way, don't you?" Camilla said in her usual motherly but seductive tone, making Selena startle a bit, not really wanting to answer that with how awkward she always makes her feel but knows that it's worse to decline answering or saying something offensive.

"W-Well… of course, Milady, you know I detest being away from you." Selena stated with honesty that hides nervousness and somewhat of the contrary. "But you also know I love being a part of the action and not being able to do much of anything and being stuck here guarding a frozen land is just so boring. You agree, don't you, Beruka?"

"No targets to eliminate on sight? Yes, boring." The stoic Rider replied with pure apathy that its difficult to discern if she's being sarcastic or serious.

"I hate how you make me wish I was stuck with Odin more and more." Selena hissed.

"Now, now, dearies, I'm sure we'll have more things to do soon enough, given how things seem to be heating up that not even the Ice of a Goddess can keep us from burning." Camilla said, just as eager as her more tenacious soldiers for the coming battles to come.

"You might get you're wish, Milady." Another Knight shows up and gives a quick bow to the Princess. "We just received word from the Crown Prince."

"Called it." Camilla smiled. "What is it now?"

"You'll have to speak with him yourself for further detail but to summarize it a bit. The King has given direct orders that all forces guarding the Niflheim border are to attack the Ice Tribe to bait the Hoshidan forces into ceasing their march upon the Capital."

That order gave pause to Camilla and her redhead retainer, trying to better process it.

"You're kidding, right?" Selena protested. "That's suicide. Those frozen junkies are masters of ice magic and their territory is an icy wasteland, we can't fight them at their homefield in a full on assault, at least not with our current forces who are equip only to keep them inside Niflheim."

"It seems Corrin has forced Father's hand." Camilla frowned. "Naughtier and naughtier with each passing day, dear sister. It's what I get for letting that Incubus seduce you for so long but no matter. Flora's head placed on my wall will help you see the truth at last."

---

"Ryoma, may I ask why you are blocking the way out of the tent?" Azura asked as she returned to her tent to pick up a souvenir Takumi left here by mistake when he and Hinoka paid a visit to help her set things up and when she realized he left it she went to get it for him but then Ryoma came in, knowing what she was doing unannounced seconds later and is standing tall, blocking her path outside. "May I get by?"

"No, I'm afraid I will not be moving. At least, not until you hear me out." Ryoma said firmly.

"What do you mean?" She asked confused.

"You know exactly why; I could hardly sleep at all last night after what you said yesterday and I won't let things stand as you left them. We are talking this out once and for all." Ryoma demanded.

"I told you not to waste your time on me. You've found Corrin."

"Why don't you understand? You've always been your own person! You may be here because Corrin was kidnapped, but you're not a replacement. If you'll give me a chance, I'd like to be close with Corrin and you." Ryoma insisted.

"Really?" Azura muttered.

"I know that…" Ryoma began trying to find the correct words to say as his thoughts return to last night and the advice he got from Azama.

"Well since I have permission to be blunt about it, I'll say it as it is. Your problem, you're Highness is that you've spent so long molding yourself into the perfect warrior and war veteran to fight off the Kingdom's enemies that you've lost touch with people. Sure, sure, you have a way with words to charm others under your authority, everyone respects their Warrior Prince and next King but no one really knows the man swinging the holy sword. You say you want to protect those you love and be a beacon of hope and safety to all Hoshidans, words that hold truth, even I can't make fun of that and find admiration but humans can't be nurtured and protected by a man who has a way with words as well as know how to use a sword but by a fellow human who speaks with the heart, which is completely different from inner strength."

"Think of it this way, you've known about Takumi's insecurities for about long enough to consult him about it and reach and understanding through the meanings of strength, camaraderie and duty as Princes and brothers but instead you chose to surround him with subordinates of unwavering loyalty to look after him and help him feel good about himself and amass a popularity of his own with the masses while you focus on supervising the army with the other generals and finding the sister who for a long time now we thought was either dead from suffering so long or was molded into our enemy. Your situation was understandable but ultimately, you've only made yourself the fool as you had no idea how much everyone else was affected by your actions and not just Corrin's loss and never actually tried to reach out to the siblings you still had at your side. Takumi ultimately brought his misfortunes upon himself but you have been against him long enough no matter what he did, and that says little about how rocky your relation with the "sibling" in question really is because even Takumi who was the most hostile towards her has had a good relationship with her for four years now. Interesting story, those two have."

"… When you first came into our lives it was under undesirables circumstances, Yukimura was out of line when he made that course of action, Hinoka and I didn't even acknowledged you're existence and Takumi was always struggling not to make a scene against you, mother alone was the only one keeping you safe but that couldn't make up for how scared and alone you've felt for so long." Ryoma confessed. "In time everyone began to open up to you and they all truly meant it when they said you belong with us, and I have seen how happy you became because of it but even though I truly felt ashamed of what you've been going through, I realized too late that I never really made the same real effort everyone else did and because of that I am truly sorry, Azura."

"Ryoma…" Azura mumbled, shaking a bit from his words.

"I know that now of all times is not the time to connect like this but I just want to make it clear, that I'm your brother too and that I'm here for you… always."

"Oh… I…" Azura mumbled, overwhelmed by his words, her trembling becoming more noticeable and tears shed from her eyes, though she quickly brushed them off her face to maintain her composure. "I'm so relieved! I'm afraid I've grown pretty attached to all of you."

"Good. I hope you'll continue to lean on us a little more… well, especially me." Ryoma said with a very sincere smile. "The less you spent with him the better."

"What was that last part?" She asked as he whispered those last words.

"That I just remembered I have to go see Takumi later but he can wait a little while longer." Ryoma lied but also spoke truth as he really does plan on seeing Takumi next.

"If you insist." She bought it.

"No. I want you to promise me that you'll ask for help when you need it." Ryoma stated.

"I'm guessing you're going to stand there blocking the exit until I say yes." She sighed while keeping her smile.

"You should stand still like a statue to block her path until she says yes. You're used to it given you're poor hobbies." Azama's words again pop into his head.

"I don't really want to but it's not a bad idea." Ryoma replied.

"All right. Yes. When I need something, I'll come find you. I promise." Azura assured him.

"Excellent. I'll be waiting." Ryoma sighed with relief. "And not to push my luck or overstep here but I hope I'm your first option and not anyone else."

"Is there something else I should know about?" She asked now confused.

"I admit I may be a bit desperate to make up for lost time, all these struggles and pain have made me realized how short our lives truly are is all." He totally lied. Granted, he meant the words he said but he realized this years ago and found a way to cope with these thoughts. He really can't believe Robin is still bothering him this much, he's the one who asked him to continue to look after Corrin and aid his other siblings in the first place.

"Lastly, and I know this is going to rile you up the most, which I'm looking forward to, you need to accept the fact that Corrin is a woman now and her hormones are going to make the decisions more often than not. Let her be young, go stupid and crazy and if she gets pregnant too soon, well that's on her, at least you might have better luck as an uncle than a big brother. And about Azura's own attachment to the new guy…"

'THAT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!' Ryoma seethed in his thoughts.

'Guess it's a good thing I let Robin talk me into giving Ryoma a chance. I bet it was him who tipped him off on where I am and doing.' Azura mused with delight.

"Is it possible to die of suspense? Because I feel like this is one of those moments." Saizo groaned, as he and Kagero are hiding in the tent next door, alongside them are also Robin, Hinoka and Kaze.

"It's just your concerns, Saizo, deep breaths." Kagero insisted, more relief that Ryoma got all this off his chest.

"Figures, despite all that bravado, our future King is just a softy more concern with family matters." Robin mused as he had a feeling things would turn out this way and did good on his part to convince Azura to not torment herself on such negative thoughts.

"His heart is one of gold forced to harden to fulfil his calling but even he needs time to relax and be a person." Kaze smiled.

"No kidding, Ryoma can be such a hypocrite that he ends up biting off more than he can chew. I had a feeling he would eventually do something completely asinine like turning to Azama for help." Hinoka said relief that her siblings are finally connecting.

"Oh, but you kept him around all these years not just because he was a master with a spear?" Robin noted.

"He's better than people realize. Anyway, thanks for your part in this, Robin. I know we've been asking way too much lately." Hinoka said with gratitude.

"Don't sweat it, I'm just doing what I was asked to and keeping everyone together." Robin shrugged, no stranger to this kind of work.

Soon enough, the person who this tent belongs to arrives to relax after fulfilling his tasks and is startled by the people in here.

"What are you people doing here?!"

---

"So let me get this straight, you were walking in a straight line to your new post in the north side of camp, when you happen to stumble upon another pit, deeper than the one you fell into yesterday but instead of moving passed it, you decided that… whatever and walk straight to it and fell anyway?" Jakob asked as he and Corrin were informed by Sakura that Setsuna fell into another hole and once they got her out she tells them what happened.

"Well, when you say it like that it sounds kind of dumb." Setsuna said with pure naiveté.

"That's because it is dumb, you absolute baboon!" Jakob lectured not able to process how this woman functions, she is the epidemy of airheadedness, and he is sure he made that word up.

"Based on how you describe it and how Sakura saw it, it looked like you fell there on purpose." Corrin said concern.

"Maybe, staying stuck in a pit isn't so good but falling down into one has a pretty nice feeling to it." Setsuna said.

"I wish you'd stop doing that, you're always making Hinoka worry." Sakura pleaded with the airhead to be more careful.

"Why are there even so many pits in this forest, did someone actually believe they could find treasure here?" Corrin questioned.

"I think the real question is what are we to do with this useless excuse of a retainer, she's wasting precious time as is even when there is no real cause for concern." Jakob stated.

"Yeah, you're right on that. Listen Setsuna, I think it's best for everyone and yourself that you no longer work on sentry duty from now on and just stay with the others within the camp, it would keep all of us at ease and spare Hinoka more headaches." Corrin insisted to the Archer.

"Okay…" Setsuna complied but she almost look disappointed as she walks away back to camp.

"Geez, Hinoka was right, having such a silver plated life has made her unable to appreciate anything that she's so desperate for excitement she has little qualms about endangering herself." Corrin muttered.

"So that's her problem. At least she's certainly interesting to a degree." Jakob noted.

"Well, she'll be safer until we finally head out tomorrow." Corrin sighed. "You mind checking out the others for me, Jakob, I already have enough to do as is."

"But of course, Milady, and if you would allow it, I would take care of all tasks in your stead." Jakob insisted.

"As much as I would like to relax some more I would rather do anything to get my mind off of what awaits us when we leave this place, even if it's just for a short while." Corrin bemused. Jakob bows and goes to do as he was asked while Corrin goes elsewhere with Sakura following. "Any idea where the others are, I haven't seen Ryoma or Hinoka today yet."

"Can't say that I have, all I know is that Ryoma has been upset about something since yesterday but I'm sure he's all better now. He never stays upset for too long." Sakura explained.

"Good for him." Corrin said as they continue walking until she gives Sakura another glance and notes that she looks to be contemplating about something. "Something on your mind, Sakura?"

"Oh… m-me? No, I-I… I'm alright." She insisted but Corrin knows she's lying. As awful as this war is, it's made a sliver of improvement for the youngest princess who's been stuttering less and less, as she's been pushing herself to be braver to help everyone and has certainly showed new resolve, none are prouder than Hana and Subaki, with the former actually shedding tears of joy by her new valorous attitude. She even frightened Azama a bit when he was bullying her and got angry enough to break a rod in two with her bare hands, healing items aren't made of weak material that would make them breakable by such puny and delicate hands, otherwise they would never work. She only goes back to her shy nature when she makes a comment she didn't mean to say or is lying about something.

"I know it's not my place to pry in anything to do with others and you have your reasons as well as two dutiful retainers that can do that for you but you know that I can be of some use, if only a minuscule." Corrin insisted, wanting to show support for her youngest sister, just like she used to do for Elise whenever she got the chance, though she never really needed her for anything either and that always bothered Corrin. Hopefully things will be different with Sakura.

"It's just that… actually, I've had something on my mind that I can't quite make sense of and well… you're really the only person I can talk about it." Sakura confessed.

"Really?" Corrin replied, actually glad to hear it but does her best to contain the joy she feels from it. Got to keep some level of decorum when assisting her minors when they need help, as Xander, and even Garon would tell her.

"I… wanted to talk to you about someone, it's Prince Leo." Sakura said, making her big sister widen her eyes at this sudden development.

"Leo? Why the sudden interest in the enemy royalty you know next to nothing about?" She asked, deeply confused.

"He's been an enigma to me ever since we made that risky attack in the Opera House. I've always heard the tales of the Nohrian Royalty; how the Crown Prince Xander is so strong, kind and majestic, as if people are staring at a god. The beautiful but vicious Princess Camilla who soars through the sky with the wrath of a true dragon. The young prodigy of combat, Prince Leo, who has no equal in the dark arts and has the brain to manipulate nearly any battle to shift into his favor. And the innocent and brave Princess Elise who purges all malice with her smile and can heal any wound." Sakura monologued a bit. "All of them are much loved by their people and held on pedestals with grace and compassion but to their enemies, they're archfiends, who won't hesitate to crush all who stand in their way and their own notion of justice. Never letting any opportunity to win slip their grasps ever."

"And you don't think that's the case now?" Corrin wondered.

"Do you recall what happened in the final moments of that battle when we escaped the Opera House?" Sakura asked nervously.

"All I remember was the rage and pain I felt when we were forced to leave Robin and Azura behind." Corrin commented bitterly on that hateful night. "Though I eventually learned from Xander that during my rampage I cause Leo to fall into some hole I created."

"Well, what you clearly don't know is that it's also because of me that Leo fell." Sakura revealed. "When you lost control you made a mighty shockwave that created a large hole in the pool that sucked all the water and boats in it, and Princess Elise and I were the only ones alive unlucky enough to be sucked into the current while everyone tried to reach us, Leo made it first and he managed to save his sister and threw her into the graceful hands of Odin for her safety but while he was add it, he also saved me and allowed himself to fall while he was without his Sacred Treasure at the time."

"He did?" Corrin uttered, genuinely surprised by this revelation.

"I know he is the most outspoken about hating Hoshido based on the rumors, and that he was the one who made you attack our healers during the Battle at Kurosaki when you transformed for the first time. His determination to improve Nohr's livelihood will not deter him from getting results no matter how vicious he has to be and yet, he still saved me when he could've taken me hostage then and along with Azura, putting all of you in more turmoil. Sure Robin would've gotten me out of it but still." Sakura said now looking confuse by this. "And when we fought him again using ourselves as bait during the previous battle, I wasn't affected by his new dark magic, my body was fine and kind of cold as the temperature was rather low and we both know it's not because of the same reason you weren't affected, he must've decided to spare me from the effects, and when he took me hostage his restraint on me was very loose that I could've walked away if I wanted, I was just to scare to move. Why am I receiving his mercy."

"I'm just as confuse as you are. Sure, Leo is not an awful person that he would let innocence die but you're a Princess of an enemy nation his is fighting against, and I am annoyingly aware of his animosity towards Hoshido, I swear at times he was the only one in my Nohrian Family who actually hates Hoshido, while the others, even Garon seemed barely just aggravated by us at best." Corrin said. "You should be the last person he would be swayed not to show his hostility towards but I guess I don't know my little brother as well as I thought I did. Nothing makes sense anymore but in spite of that, I can't help but feel happy to learn about this. It must mean that Garon's bad influence isn't absolute and maybe there is hope yet."

"For you and them, you mean?" Sakura asked.

"No, I know better than anyone now that there's no fixing what I've damaged, there's nowhere in Nohr where I am welcomed anymore, my hopes here are all shattered by my own hands." Corrin said bitterly again. "Regardless, I still want to make life better here, the safest way to avoid fighting all together is with a compromise between both sibling nations. I know that the others will see it as silly, petty even but extinction can't be the answer, and I know that in some way you feel the same way, as does Ryoma and mother."

"If that is what you want, I promise to support you in any way I can. I confess that I don't like Nohr either, not to the same extent as Takumi but enough to not forgive them for the pain they've caused, and… for father but if they too are capable of showing compassion like Queen Arete and mercy like Prince Leo then maybe there is a way for both kingdoms to understand each other." Sakura smiled.

"You continue to surprise me Sakura. To call Arete compassionate after what you witnessed in the Attack on Suzanoh and what she did to mother." Corrin said, caught off.

"It was horrifying what she did but when I looked at the Queen of Nohr in the eye, I didn't see a monster but a woman who's been through a lot of pain and never found the chance to actually express herself, the same bitterness mother would have whenever your birthday came around and you weren't around to celebrate it." Sakura explained. "What we did to Azura was wrong and I know she was more hurt than I was when she saw her mother behaved like that."

"Sakura… thank you. It means the world to me to hear you say that." Corrin smiled with so much relief in her blooming inside finally. "Forgiveness is never easy but understanding is always the most important step to take that everyone always seems to skip more often than not. What awaits us will be unfriendly days but I know we can overcome them if we can just try to see the point of view of others and perhaps that might be enough to make the next dawn all the brighter."

"Yes, sister, I promise to make that possible, for you." Sakura said with more enthusiasm that makes Corrin sigh.

'And here I was hoping to help her out with something and she ends up being the one doing the helping. Some big sister I turned out to be in the end.'

---

Robin sighs as he is back in the war tent making preparations for the next march and is at a limb here on what to do next. Of course he would hit a roadblock so close to the final destination; Windmire. He examine the terrain between Demon's Falls and the Capital before for tactical purpose during his travels, mostly for the fun of it and he has a good enough understanding on the dangers and safety paths to tread but up until this war started, hardly anyone would want to be stationed anywhere near a lake of magma but it is now and with them drawing closer actually made things worse with improving upon the already fortify defenses, as such there is only one way they can make it to Windmire with all their lives intact.

"So many options, too little time to decide with one thing that won't stop coming into the surface of my thoughts." Robin whispered to himself as he ultimately comes up with what he deems to be the best course of action. "Better call the others in, it's gonna take some real mojo for what comes nex-what the hell!" He uttered as he feels a sudden presence behind him that's not friendly, quickly calling forth a Levin Sword from Morgenstern and swings it down on this enigma, now pointing his blade right at the nose of the unflinching Warlock Zola.

"Hello again, Robin." The Dark Mage greeted with a sickening snicker.

"Zola!" The Tactician uttered, familiar with this lowly subordinate of Iago but never engaged in conversation until now. How did he even get here? Robin then moves his sword further into Zola's face and as he expected, it phase right through him like a mist.

"Obviously I'm not really here, what you see is just an illusion." Zola said.

"I figured as much but how you manage to get your magic through Nyx's barrier is what really has me curious." Robin said.

"Oh, his Majesty concluded that this would be the best place for you lots to be after he was told Lord Xander and Lord Leo couldn't find you, and as for how I was able to temporary bypass the Witch's superior magic? Well let's just say we all have our toys." Zola chuckled.

"If that is the case then what purpose do you serve coming here to greet me, we both know neither Garon nor Arete even know you exist and your superior officer is dead." Robin concluded.

"Simple, I've come here to accept you're surrender." Zola smirked, looking triumphant, like he's already won, while Robin can only look at him incredulously, not able to process his words, even with his brilliant intellect.

"Okay, I'll play along. Or else what?" He asked, knowing he won't like the answer.

"Oh, I am most delighted that you would ask me. I'll show you." Zola said as he reveals an item he carries in his hand, which looks like a really ancient looking black lantern made of iron, perhaps, it has several markings carved into it that look like pentagrams and other occult symbols that serve as holes for the light to come out of it but there doesn't seem to be anything within it that would create light until light does come out of it, proving that it's a magic item that illuminates the whole tent.

Robin then finds himself in another location that happens to be Demon's Falls and now stands in the great large bridge built six years ago.

"A Magic Tool that enables Thought Projection to this magnitude, how fascinating. So this is where you really are." Robin said, examining his surroundings and it's as heavily fortified as he expected with armed guards everywhere.

"Yep, though I wasn't assigned to guard the bridge, I came here of my own volition." Zola said.

"Which means this visit is unsanctioned and no one important knows you're here." Robin concluded. "You can't possibly believe that you stand a chance of gaining anything on your own without some serious trump card off your sleeves."

"Funny you should say so because I happen to have THREE trump cards off my sleeves." Zola chuckled with emphasis on three with six guards stepping forward behind Robin as he turns to face them and becomes shock to see who they are holding captive. Laslow, Odin and Selena, on their knees and in chains.

"What is this? I don't appreciate any sick games, Zola?" Robin demanded, though careful not to express the overwhelming fear he is feeling right now.

"Like you, these three are guilty of committing high treason against the Throne of Shadows and the Royal Family who have placed great trust in them to serve our great nation, and as such they will be dealt with accordingly." Zola said as he walks towards the trio.

"Treason? Surely you jest, these three earned the trust of the royals better than I have and are even hailed as heroes for rescuing Princess Elise from certain danger and even if that's true why bring them here and not Garon to be judged?" Robin questioned, fainting indifference for the plight they are going through.

"Oh, you know the answer better than me, Uncle Robin." Zola smirked, relishing in watching Robin no longer able to hide his façade.

"Oh no…"

"Oh yes. These three know everything about you yet refused to disclose anything to their masters who yearn for your head. They aren't much for conversation while in chains, especially blondie here of all people but against my magic, their thoughts are very unwilling to lie. Isn't that right, Inigo? Owain? And how could we forget your favorite, Severa?" Zola chuckled as he places his hand on top of the redhead and a knife around her neck. The fact that he knows their real names proves that he knows the truth, or at least enough of it to suddenly become the biggest threat yet to Robin.

"Wait! Zola!" Robin cried, while the Warlock laughs with delight.

"Oh, yes! Finally! Recognition! How I have waited for a moment like this, to think I would have the opportunity to have someone so feared and hated as you in all of Nohr to be left to beg before me." Zola sneered. "My moment of success is near. Now listen carefully, if you want to save these children you have to give up the two Princesses you're keeping to yourself to me at the top of the volcano where I'll be waiting. I won't bother with you bringing the other royals since I imagine it's going to take a lot of effort to fight this entire army just to escape with Corrin and Azura. And you have until tomorrow to get here. I here you're really fast."

"Zola, you…" Robin growled as the composure he's held for so long ever since coming to Horus is finally gone, and only rage and resentment now remain on his face against the wretched dark mage.

"Hey now… don't go showing such a sad look there, my friend. It's unbecoming of you to show such negativity." Laslow insisted, still finding the energy to be so smooth even in a situation like this.

"Indeed, it is the duty of all true heroes to maintain a smile among the masses to keep hope alive, and you yet again have been charged with such a responsibility." Odin boasted, thinking almost the same as his longtime friend.

"Inigo, Owain." Robin muttered, at a loss after so long on what to do.

"Don't even think of submitting to the demands of this freak, you hear me. I'll never forgive you and kick your ass if you do." Selena said next, at first scuffing at him in a manner he is too familiar with before she gives him a sincere and familial smile, to assure him that they'll be okay.

"Hey, you three be quiet! Don't you dare make a mockery out of me or I'll leave you with a few scars!" Zola warned, agitated, putting the knife closer to Selena, though she simply rolls her eyes in annoyance, not taking him seriously at all. "I only need you three alive so it doesn't matter either way if I decide to make an example of you."

"SEVERA!" Robin cried out to her but by then Zola's spell faded and he found himself again in the war tent alone, his thought bursting with emotion on what to do next. And it only gets worse as Corrin comes barging in, looking terrified herself.

"Robin! Things just took a turn for the worse." She cried with dread in her eyes.

"What is it?" He asked worried.

"An envoy of Garon showed up outside Nyx's barrier. They know where we are and has issued a warning. They're going after Niflheim. Flora's in danger!"

---

"Iago… Iago… Awaken already." The sinister voice of Wrath whispers into the ear of the wounded Tactician who lies badly wounded and defeated after his battle with Robin. There he lies buried under the rubble of Palace Macarath that was left in utter ruin by the brutal fight. His golden mask that covered half of his face is gone now, revealing that horrid burned mark covering his face and leaves him with only one eye that was likely wrought upon him by the great fire that destroyed Shion.

He thought he had Robin beaten but he was caught off guard by his resilience to the curse he became afflicted with and did not hold back. He's lucky to have survived this long, using all his magic power to close his wounds and stop the bleeding, he's been out cold too long, a miraculous feat in its own right to say the least but ultimately serves to stall death long enough for help to arrive but because of all the commotion and confusion, none of his allies have arrived to help until now.

"My, what a pitiful state you have been left in. It's what you get for being cocky but that's what I like about you, and why I simply can't let you die just yet. We still have so much fun left to enjoy." Wrath chuckled, as he can't wait for what comes next. "So get up and let's welcome chaos. Let your rage fuel your desire to live and the flames that'll burn this world give you knew power!"

With that command, the Dark Tactician awakens with the same demonic eye as the Seven.

---

And… Cliffhanger! The gig is up and Robin has been backed into a corner with no clear way in sight yet. Iago is still alive with Wrath at it again. What to do, what to do? Ryoma's supports with Azura is one of my favorites in Fates, granted I think all her supports are fantastic but that's just me and I have been waiting to use them for this scene. I really love this chapter and I hope you all feel the same, though the next one will be even better. I hope I think you may know why.

Well that's it for this month, also bear in mind that I may start to rewrite a few chapters since my latest chapters has pretty much been retconning the lore I initially established for this story. I really think things through starting out, especially in regards to how I will reveal Robin's backstory. I'm thinking of making a prequel story. Could be more fun with how better my writing has gotten.