AUTHOR'S NOTES: And here's the promised bonus chapter to make up for my vacation absence... and boy is this a bonus chapter. Act III kicks off, and we reach the fateful turning point where a decision must be made: Defend Hoshido, Fight with Nohr, or Refuse to Choose a Side. I've already hinted that this is a story based on Revelations, but while that choice might be clear, the way things go down is going to be considerably different when all is said and done. Since this chapter marks the point where characters get formally "recruited" into Corrin's army, any time a character joins the group, I'll add their name and a short bio (and the character's age in this story) to the bottom of the chapter they are recruited in, as well as what class (or classes) the character will generally behave in or as. It should also be noted that the "large amount of Corrin time" I've been promising folks for a while starts now, so feel free to drop me feedback. Either way, I've rambled enough. Update Schedule is back to twice a week now.
Happy Reading!

ACT III: THE CHOICE IS MADE

CHAPTER 36: The Path is Yours

Sing with me a song of A Thorn in You...

The final preparations for the rendezvous were put into place the following morning, but it seemed that news between Nohr and Hoshido travelled fast, for the Nohrians had offered their condolences for Hoshido's loss. Perhaps this would be a peaceful meeting after all. Kamui would return to Nohr and help them reshape it without having to tear Hoshido apart in the meantime.

"Milord," Kagero approached Ryoma, "we have reports of Nohrian activity to the west as well. There seem to be small contingents of troops nearby, but for what purpose I am unsure."

"Do you suppose it is a trap?" Ryoma turned to his retainers.

"I'd bring some of our own, just to be safe," Saizo warned, "If Nohr truly means no harm from this meeting, then it'd simply be us taking the same precautions that they did."

In the meantime, Kamui was in her room tidying things up for the last time (at least for a while). When Camilla walked in, it only took her a few seconds to realize that Kamui was not herself.

"Tell me what's wrong, baby sister," she sat down on the bed beside Kamui.

"Take a guess," Kamui sighed as she leaned against Camilla's shoulder, "I miss Xander, Leo, and Elise, but I also really like it here—much more than I thought I would. Mother's wish of having us all united is something that I yearn for more than ever, it seems."

"To be honest, I've found a lot here that I really enjoy as well," Camilla admitted.

"Like Ryoma?" Kamui couldn't help but take the stab.

"Well of course," Camilla laughed, "but also others. Your sister Sakura is also a little darling, and that Hinoka girl is adorable and doesn't seem to realize it."

"Hinoka… adorable," Kamui cracked a smile, "that's a couple of words I never thought I'd see in the same sentence together."

"Well, it's true," Camilla asserted, "and even Takumi has his heart in the right place even if he doesn't always know how to say it. He has a really nice retainer too."

"She's the one that made that black kimono for you yesterday right? That girl who hates Nohr for whatever her reasons are?"

"That's the one. Momma Camilla will help her straight that out though."

"It's almost like you're getting along better with them than I am!"

"Maybe I am!" Camilla joked, "it may have something to do with me going out and talking with them instead of locking myself in my room."

"Touché" Kamui quipped.

"I cheered you up though, didn't I?" Camilla kissed Kamui's forehead.

"Aye… that you did." Kamui conceded. "Thank you."

The journey towards the border was not overly eventful, but Ryoma had heeded Kagero's warning and taken a few small contingents of troops to deploy in case the Nohrians were trying anything. Hopefully they would not have to become public. Kagero seemed pacified by this action, though Corrin noticed she was looking around a lot as if for something.

Sooner or later, however, Kaze and Saizo returned from scouting ahead to report that the Nohrians were on their own. Only Xander, Leo, Elise, and some of their retainers had shown up at the designated meeting point, though true to Kagero's word, there were small contingents of troops not far off in the distance. Thus, Hoshido reciprocated while Ryoma, Camilla, Corrin, and the remainder of the Hoshidan royals and retainers went to meet the Nohrians.

"Prince Ryoma," Xander greeted him, "I offer our condolences for your loss."

"Thank you, Prince Xander," Ryoma sighed, "Many of my countrymen accuse Nohr of the deed, but I refuse to accept it as truth unless there is evidence uncovered."

"I have heard such rumors," Xander frowned, "as well as some indicating that Hoshido did this in an attempt to frame Nohr. However, I will offer you the same courtesy. Nohr will not accuse Hoshido of this crime, and should it be a traitorous Nohrian, we will weed them out just as we did with Zola."

"Whatever the case," Camilla stepped forward, "We're here, big brother, and most importantly, we are safe. Has there been any progress with Father?"

"None, unfortunately," Xander sighed, "He instructed us to bring a few divisions of troops with us, and we had no choice to oblige."

Ryoma and Corrin both looked vindicated in heeding Kagero's words.

"However," he continued, "they are stationed not far behind us and will not resort to hostilities while under my watch. It was more a formality than anything."

"It is acceptable," Ryoma reasoned, "for Hoshido did the same after we learned of this. It was more of a precaution, but they will not attack unless we are threatened. I see that Nohr has remained on the side of reason and prevented hostilities."

"Understood," Xander nodded, "Now, we have returned to pick up our sisters, and with that we can leave this field without shedding any blood."

"Aye," Kamui nodded as she and Camilla stepped towards the Nohrians. Kamui turned back towards Hoshido and waved.

"I wish to return someday," she promised, "but I feel like I cannot leave my family in Nohr to deal with the issues that plague King Garon and our country on their own. Someday… someday after all of that is done and over with, I vow upon my mother's grave… I will see Hoshido and Nohr and their associated families united."

"I still hate to see you go," Hinoka sighed, looking a little watery-eyed. "I spent all this time hunting for you only to bring you back however briefly…"

"I know, Hinoka…" Kamui sighed. "I'm a woman of passion. The drive to see Hoshido again is my drive to cleanse Nohr—and I will see it through."

A more sentimental parting was interrupted however, with Yukimura of all people calling out.

"Kagero, what in blazes…!?"

Kagero had just shoved past Corrin, Yukimura, Azura, and Ryoma and jumped between the royals form Hoshido and Nohr, a manic glint in her eyes.

"And here I thought that impersonating that batty Archduke was hard…" she cackled, "WHOO, this one's a doozy that takes the cake. Sorry to break up the runion, folks, but I'm on special orders here!"

"KAGERO!" Ryoma barked, although Xander knew exactly what was on.

"ON WHOSE ORDERS, ZOLA!?" he roared, giving the culprit's identity away.

"Not Garon's!" he cackled, still in Kagero's form. "Don't worry, your ninja friend is safely in Mokushu… no one's going to hurt her there!"

Camilla had already drawn her sword, while Xander, Ryoma, and Corrin responded a split-second later, but it was too late. Kagero clapped her hands together and vanished, and a deep red shockwave emanated from her epicenter, passing through everyone on the field. It shook most of them, although even little Sakura kept her footing.

"TO ARMS!" Ryoma pulled out a war horn, "Kill every last Nohrian you see!"

"RYOMA!" Corrin barked. "Have you gone mad!?"

"Leave none alive." he glared at Corrin, and that's when he saw it. Ryoma's eyes were shimmering red. "Starting with you."

He slashed at Corrin, who barely evaded it.

"To war!" Xander retaliated with a deeper war horn of his own, and soon the Nohrian troops were in view just as the Hoshidans were, "slay every last Hoshidan you see."

"Will you give me the honour?" Kamui asked, cocking her head from Xander to Corrin. Corrin's eyes met Kamui's and he saw that she, as well as all four of the Nohrian royals, had the same red eyes and Ryoma had. He turned towards Hinoka and Takumi, and saw that their eyes matched as well.

"What kind of sorcery…" he began, before dodging Hinoka's spear.

"By not fighting the Nohrians…" she warned, "you're betraying your own kin."

"No!" Corrin defended himself surprisingly well, "Hinoka have you lost your mind!?"

"It seems they have," Azura warned as the two of them attempted to flee, "The pendants you and I are wearing must have kept us from being hit with the curse." Corrin glanced down at the silver pendant around his neck, which carried a pale blue stone.

"How do you know?" he asked, before blocking a series of vicious swings from Kamui, while Azura helped parry them.

"I don't…" she admitted, a little fancy footwork keeping her out of Kamui's range, "and we don't have time to dispel this right now. We need to get out of here."

As they fled, a pink-haired woman clad in black and white raced towards them, while Kamui was distracted by a particularly strong Hoshidan fireball. Corrin squinted, and realized that the frilly uniform coupled with the thigh-high stockings and fancy boots belonged to one of those Nohrian maids. Naturally, considering the state of the battlefield, which had erupted into nearly an all-out war, Corrin suspected hostility. However, as soon as she was close enough to see faces, the woman immediately surrounded.

"Whoa!" she held her hands up, "P-Please don't kill me, sir!"

"Who are you?" Corrin tilted his head, glancing around to make sure that no one was coming for them just yet (it seemed the fire had distracted Kamui for the time).

"I'm Felicia!" the maid exclaimed, "one of Kamui's retainers. I… I thought you were her from a distance. The clothes, the hair… do you know where she is?"

"She's trying to kill us," Corrin exclaimed, "seems we've got a sorcerer that's trying to make everyone lose their minds out here."

"I was wondering why everyone was fighting." Felicia heaved a sigh as she caught her breath, "so, um… whose side are you on? Everyone looks so worked up over there."

"The short version," Corrin sighed, "is that they're all out against us."

"What!?" Felicia gawked, "what did you do to make them all mad, uhh…." she stammered for a moment, hoping for Corrin to give his name.

"Corrin," he luckily obliged, "and I don't know. But we're no match for them in this state."

"We need to get across the river!" Azura warned, "I think Kamui's back on our trail!"

She was, and behind her were the Nohrians and the Hoshidans. Their movements were forming a V and would likely converge near the river, which formed a Y-shape the farther away from Xander and Ryoma they got.

"I can help!" she offered, "I'll freeze the river to give us some easy crossing… just as long as I don't slip or something!"

"That… would be wonderful!" Corrin shouted as they raced towards the river. Kamui was gaining on them, but Felicia was swift in turn. With a few deft hand movements, she froze them a bridge across the river. Corrin and Azura glided across with relative ease, but Felicia, true to her word, slipped up near the end.

"Whoa!" She gasped, and ended up gawking even louder as she felt an even stranger phenomenon. Right as her foot gave way and went skyward, she felt a hand seize her ankle, and using Felicia's momentum, Corrin swung her around, seized her other ankle, and landed the maid on his shoulders.

"Stay close," he almost chuckled at the close save, "they'd probably kill you just as quickly as they'd off us."

As soon as they crossed the river, Felicia turned around and melted her icy bridge, causing the others to pause. However, what really stopped them (for Kamui was about to dive right in), was a small voice screaming.

"STOP!" it bellowed. Everyone froze, and noticed Sakura standing alone.

"Her eyes!" Corrin gasped. "They're… not red?"

"That charm Izana gave her…" Azura gasped, "Perhaps it really did let her keep a level head. It must have had a ward against this very curse."

"Seems convenient…" Felicia held onto Corrin's shoulders to keep from tumbling off. "I wonder if that Izana guy knew about it beforehand or something…"

"Corrin!" Sakura shouted, "RUN!"

"Sakura!" he exclaimed, "We can save you!"

"No!" she shouted back, "I can stop them!" She didn't even wait for his argument. Her eyes flickered green as she put her foot down. The ground below them rumbled, and the river began to sink deeper and deeper, separating the Hoshidans on one side, and the Nohrians on the other, with Corrin, Azura, and Felicia in the triangular section of the "Y". As the ground and water levels dropped, a pair of swordmasters lunged across, barely making it.

"I… have no idea what in oblivion is going on over here," the man exclaimed, "but I apologize for leaving your side, Lord Corrin." it was Roku, and at his side was Zenzi.

"We need to leave!" Zenzi exclaimed, "I don't think Lady Sakura's abyss will last forever!"

Corrin glanced back at them. Thankfully it did not seem that Ryoma, Hinoka, or Takumi were trying to hurt Sakura, but it was clear they were looking for way around the ravine.

"And I know where we need to go," Azura began, "just trust me and follow me."

"I don't think we have much choice." Corrin responded. "Let's go."

AFTERTHOUGHTS: It's just worth pointing out here that no, Zola is not the villain here as much as just a schmuck carrying out orders and channelling magic from a higher power. How long he impersonated Kagero is anyone's guess, but I felt that Iago-style possession/control made a lot more sense than the royals on both sides acting like Anakin Skywalker with their "if you're not with me... then you're AGAINST ME!" nonsense. Nevermind that the avatar is not fighting against you; clearly if s/he's not fighting with you against your enemy then s/he HAS to be your enemy, right? So yeah. That's my shot at the game's writing's cringey-logic, and so there will be more to recruiting the royals than simply asking really nicely and hoping they'll drop the Idiot Ball sooner rather than later.
Also, it should just be pointed out that there is a reason Sakura was not possessed, and it's the same reason Corrin and Azura were not possessed. To be exact, it was foreshadowed and vaguely hinted at in Chapter 29. Also, unlike in my Hunger Games story, The characters recruited will not be posted in every chapter; just the chapter they are recruited/join up in. That said, I hope you've enjoyed the story thus far, and thanks for reading!

CHARACTERS RECRUITED:

Corrin: A prince raised in Hoshido who grew up with a distrust of Nohr after her twin sister was abducted at a young age. A somewhat idealistic pacifist at heart, he prefers tactical or diplomatic approaches to avoid combat if possible. The Dawn Dragon Incarnate, he can change into a dragon and wield the sacred blade, the Dawn Yato, and his leadership skills have him well-liked by most of the army. Has the most hidden potential. Born on 19 July (Age 20)
Classes: Mechanist/Hoshido Noble

Azura: A princess raised in Hoshido after being taken hostage in exchange for Kamui. Kind and wise, but very secretive about her emotions as well as general information pertaining to herself. Her songs help her allies on the battlefield and are mesmerizing either way. A restless sleeper, she often takes walks with no destination in particular, softly singing as she goes. The one with the loveliest hair. Born on 3 March (Age 21)
Classes: Songstress/Valla Noble

Felicia: One of Kamui's retainers from the Ice Tribe, along with her sister, Flora. A hard worker and skilled combatant, but clumsy and prone to breaking things, which upsets her. Despite this, she is alarmingly deft with knives, and keeps far more of them on her person than she should. Her destructive habits tend to make her a deadly force on the battlefield, but also rather reckless when around fragile objects. The least pickiest eater. Born on 19 February (Age 21)
Classes: Maid/Hero

Zenzi: An elegant and graceful master of the sword whose origins remain a mystery. Always looking out for others, she is also an incredibly talented dancer, which many find surprising due to how shy and introverted she is. Despite her stage fright, she is unparalleled in her craft and swiftly earned the trust and admiration of the people of Hoshido for it, where she now serves as one of Corrin's retainers. The most mesmerizing singer. Born on 20 August (Age 20)
Classes: Swordmaster/Dancer

Roku: A swordsman originating from lands unknown, he wasted no time in earning the approval of many Hoshidans for his skill with the blade, where he now serves as one of Corrin's retainers. While cool and calm around most people, the very sight of most women turns him beet red and causes him to inch away. He is much more aware of things than he lets on about, and masks this knowledge under short, curt speech patterns. The deftest potato peeler. Born on 10 October (Age 22)
Classes: Swordmaster/Assassin