AUTHOR'S NOTES: So with NaNoWriMo going on, I'm temporarily reducing the update frequency of this story to once a week (Mondays) for the time being. After November ends and December begins, I will attempt to resume the twice-a-week schedule as soon as possible. Thanks for bearing with me on that. Anyhoo, this is a breather chapter before Team Corrin starts hitting Hoshido, and we get to see a bit more about how our friends Roku and Zenzi feel about Hoshido and the current state of their lives.
Happy Reading!

CHAPTER 40: The Battle Plan

Sing with me a song of Tactics and Schemes…

Corrin and Kamui had a lengthy exchange, and since it wasn't exactly private, they were soon joined by Gunter, Felicia, Roku, Zenzi, and Jakob. Azura was mysteriously absent, but the twins both seemed to agree that she was aware of much more than she let on about, and that she generally asked questions on the rare occasions she had them.

"So what I want to know is this," Corrin asserted, "While you were possessed, you spoke of Father and of someone called "The Exalted One". Who are they? Which father are you referring to, on that note?"

"I can't say much because of the curse obviously," Kamui explained bluntly, "but apparently the great dragon god… you-know-who… is our father. It explains so much. Think about it—was Sumeragi a dragon? Was Garon a dragon? Are Hinoka or Ryoma dragons? Are Camilla and Xander dragons? For that matter, why are you called the Dawn Dragon and me the Dusk Dragon? That's no coincidence, brother."

"Then who was Sumeragi…" Corrin looked a little shaken.

"Perhaps he was just a good man who adopted you the way Camilla and my other Nohrian siblings adopted me," Kamui smirked, "but that doesn't matter now. What matters is that a woman known only as The Exalted One is pulling serious strings behind you-know-who, and she's pulling those strings from you-know-where."

"I take it that's the same thing that's possessing people?" Corrin frowned.

"That's what possessed me," Kamui shrugged, "and I don't really remember much of went down on the battlefield. What happened?"

"Kagero, who turned out to be Zola, sent a shockwave of some sort through the field, and afterwards, all of your siblings and mine had red eyes, including you." Corrin explained, "The only one who avoided it besides you and I was Sakura. She's the reason Azura and my retainers were able to escape from there. We ran into your friend Felicia there, and she followed us to the canyon. We only pulled Jakob and Gunter out of the mess a few minutes before we found you."

"Then we need a plan," Kamui declared, "and you know me; I'm not much of a strategist. If you want a good solid fighter though, I'm your girl."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying if anyone's going to lead this little holy crusade of ours, it's going to be you. I have the full loyalty of Jakob, Felicia, and Gunter; you've got Roku, Zenzi, and Azura, and you're more a leader. I'm more a warrior. While I'm clearly the superior fighter, you're better at tactics and keeping people alive. That's what's going to matter the most by the time we get to the bottom of this and stop the Exalted One."

"That reminds me," Corrin raised his eyebrow, "sister, do you or Azura know anything about who this might be? Because I'm at a loss."

"Azura probably knows everything and isn't telling is jack squat," Kamui shrugged a shoulder, "but on a more serious note; no, I don't know anything about her except her title. I didn't even see her at all while I was you-know-where."

She paused, "also—did you say that Zola was impersonating Kagero?"

"He was, which means the real Kagero is in trouble somewhere. I wish to find her as soon as possible if we can."

"Hey," Kamui nudged him, "you're the leader, boss. If you want to drop everything and find Kagero, we'll drop everything and find Kagero."

"As much as I might like to do that, it would probably be more crucial to our efforts to find Sakura first and go from there. You might not like my idea, Kamui, but I think we should start in Hoshido."

"I'll bite," Kamui tilted her head, "but I want to know your reasoning."

"Barring the fact that Sakura needs our help the most considering that she's going against her other three siblings," Corrin began, "If there are sorcerers in Nohr like Zola or whoever he's working for still running around, they could reverse a lot of the damage we do right away, and then we've just wasted our time. If we can get the forces of Hoshido and have an extra force to stop whatever else tries interloping when we move to free Nohr, I feel like that would work to our best advantage."

Kamui did not respond, but seemed mixed between distrusting and mulling it over.

"I can understand your conflict, sister," Corrin sighed, "and you have full reason not to trust me because of it. I am simply trying to minimize as many casualties as possible in a war that is inevitable."

"I can understand that," Kamui shook her head, "but it has even me a little bit worried. I will cooperate with you fully, brother; but on one condition."

"Let's hear it," Corrin fanned his hands out, "we can probably figure something out as long as it's not too unreasonable or something."

"At the earliest convenience," Kamui began, "I want to find and confront Camilla." Kamui explained, "Not only is she a powerful and formidable ally who would have absolute loyalty to us because of her loyalty to me, but she is also one of the most powerful and dangerous individuals in Nohr. That's something we want on our side as soon as possible—or at least not on our enemy's side."

Corrin paused, and even Gunter turned to look at Kamui.

"There's more to it than that though, isn't there, Lady Kamui?"

"You know me too well, Gunter," Kamui sighed, "aye; it's a kind of emotional attachment. She's been with me almost my whole life, and with me knowing what's happening to her, it's tearing me apart inside, Corrin."

"I'll see what I can do," Corrin took Kamui's hands. "The problem is that you know as much about what's going on as I do, and so this is going to be something of a blind plunge for both of us. Still… if she means that much to you, I'll try and plan our tactics around that if at all possible. Emotional health is important to a fighter's well-being. If their mind is weighed down by stressful matters, it can be detrimental to their performance."

Kamui thought back immediately to the dual she had had with Xander and Camilla where they had almost literally mopped the floor with her blood. She had been so unfocused because of that weird dream she had had, but now that she was seeing events unfold around her, the dream made sense, but so did Corrin's words.

"Right then," Kamui nodded, before turning to Felicia and Jakob. "You two—especially you, Jakob: Treat any commands by my brother Corrin as commands from me. If there is anything that truly sounds questionable, you may bring it before me before proceeding. Gunter, you probably already realized this too, but the same applies."

"I-I'll do my best!" Felicia promised. "Corrin's motives and intentions s-seem pretty righteous to me though, so hopefully we don't have that problem."

"Well," Jakob's response was a little more curt, "if milady orders it, then I will heed your instruction, Lord Corrin. Do not make me regret that decision."

"I owe Lord Corrin and his crew my life," Gunter admitted, "if Kamui trusts him, then that's all the more reason for me to do the same. You should keep that in mind, Jakob."

"My loyalty is not in question," Jakob reaffirmed, "I simply stated that I would follow Lord Corrin's orders as long as they did not jeopardize Lady Kamui."

"He knows what he's doing," Roku asserted. "Zenzi and I have worked with him for years."

"There's a lot at stake though," Zenzi frowned, "I-I don't think this is the time to make enemies." She clung to Roku a moment later, gripping his arm as if to tell him that there was something really heavy on her mind that she'd trust him to listen to. Were it anyone else, Roku might have pushed them away, but he had worked with Zenzi for long enough that she was one of the few women he didn't seem to fear.

"I agree," Kamui stated in support, "there's too much riding on our success. Corrin and I are not enemies, and as of immediately, neither are Hoshido and Nohr! We know who the common enemy is; we know who needs to be stopped and who needs to be destroyed. We'll find out whoever this 'Exalted One' is, and we'll put her to rest at the end of a blade!"

"Then it's settled," Corrin declared, "for now, everyone rest up. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, by the which time I will have a plan laid out for what to do."

With that, everyone dispersed, while Roku turned to Zenzi once they were out of everyone else's earshot. "What do you need?" he grunted.

"I-I feel like this alliance is shaky," Zenzi mumbled. "And it reminds me of the final days back home. I don't want that to happen to these people here."

"I don't want that to happen either." Roku sighed, "I've heard the fantasy stories of the other timelines… ours was not so lucky. My wife, my daughter…"

"Roku…" Zenzi put her arms around him and sighed on his shoulder, "That's why we came here though, isn't it? We'll live better lives in Hoshido and Nohr than we will in Ylisse or Ferox."

"I hope so," Roku sighed, "because I have no intention of returning to the destitute world I left."

"You're not?" Zenzi pulled back and looked at him.

"I have nothing there but you and Arozza," he reasoned, "and I have both of you here. We should support Lady Kamui's attempts at freeing Princess Camilla. If Arozza is one of her retainers, then we'll find her if we find Camilla."

"I don't really want to go back either," Zenzi whimpered, "I… I guess I just feel a little more confident in saying it now that I know you feel the same way."

"Again, I've heard stories of those other timelines," Roku shook her head, "but even if they are true, I have no interest in them. If I am living in another time with my wife and child, then I should not interfere. That is their family, and this is mine."

"I-I understand." Zenzi sighed, "I still miss them too though. I guess I kind of feel envious of myself in some other time if Gaius and Inigo are still alive there."

"Severa…" Roku actually cracked a half-smile, "I was pretty sure she'd drive me into the ground with her stubbornness and abrasiveness. And yet now… I'd give anything just to hold her in my arms again. That was the last time I saw her…"

"Gods, but that was so terrible to witness!" Zenzi's eyes watered as she remembered the scene. Lon'qu had returned with Severa's lifeless corpse. Olivia had been one of the few to witness it, for she was one of the only survivors. Those days were behind them now.

"I won't pretend I was oblivious to your own agony, Zenzi," Roku took her hand, "but you know me. I'm not one to speak much to people—especially not women."

"You've made quite the exception for me thus far," Zenzi smiled sweetly, "or is Zenzi easier to interact with than Olivia?"

"Yes and no," Roku closed his eyes, "We bonded before as allies, and I had no desire to get much closer or personal with a married woman. Now though… with both of us widowed and childless as we are… I suppose that I opened up more."

"Perhaps it's for the better that we are here then," Zenzi sighed, "perhaps Lon'qu and Olivia are no more. Maybe it's time for Roku and Zenzi to remain permanent."

"I am not above making this name change permanent," Roku nodded, "The new life I've started is happier than the one I left behind."

"To be honest, I've wanted to remain Zenzi for months now," Zenzi admitted. "We can start fresh; become Hoshidans instead of cling to a past where nothing waits for us."

"As long as I can do it with you at my side…" Roku smirked, "then I'll follow you into this new life at your side. Let's remain vigilant; stab our enemies, and liberate our friends."

"Of course!" Zenzi jumped excitedly, "one step at a time, Roku. One step at a time…"

Roku and Zenzi headed back inside the castle proper to get some actual rest, and while they did not speak of this turning point in their lives to anyone else, they both knew that this was a bold endeavor that would hopefully improve their morale from here on out.