A/N: Behold, the most angst-free chapter in here. Like, literally almost nothing bad happens here.

No nightmares… I am thanking the gods that no nightmares have hit me for the rest of the march to Izumo. Phoenix's voice has also been silent. The land itself seems separated from the rest of Hoshido, while the rest did have a sense of peace… Izumo's peaceful atmosphere was different, kind of like how my Dragonstone feels different from Keaton's old Beaststone. Hoshidans and Nohrians lived here together, but the second I brought that up to a small group they laughed, "In Izumo, one is not 'Hoshidan', 'Nohrian', or even 'Shifter', you are a citizen of Izumo. Everyone who lives here is tired of the constant fighting, so we gave up our relations to those old titles and became peacekeepers." The 'Hoshidan' of the group informs me.

The 'Nohrian' nods, "Izumo has this… radiance that keeps everyone calm. I mean, I was a skilled swordmaster… well, I still am, but now I spend my time harvesting crops, and only take up my blade if a group of troublemakers dare to interrupt the peace treaty here. The same goes for everyone else who can fight." He smiles, "In Izumo, everyone is family."

"Wow, this seems almost too good to be true." I smile. Yet honesty drips off of everyone here, a sincere truth when every other person speaks the same general line.

"I love this place!" Raven remarks.

Sakura nods, "Yes, I would love to visit here again."

"There is a certain… enjoyment when a neutral group can maintain its code of peacefulness so well." Hadronix agrees, "I know a few factions who would approve of this place."

"And this peace has held for as long as this city stood." Ryoma nods.

"Ah, High Prince Ryoma, Princess Sakura, and Princess Yasei." A man in simple robes walks up to us, "Allow me to welcome you to Izumo, Duke Izana awaits you in our home." I startle, ' Our home?' He bows, "Prince Takumi has already arrived a mere two days earlier."

Despite the peacefulness, I find myself tensing at the Archer's name, I take a breath, 'Peace meeting, everyone is calm here.' I nod, "Then let us meet Duke Izana."

He smiles, "Right this way, if you don't mind." He leads us towards the rather small castle on top of a small mountain, it is barely bigger than a dozen houses, the fort at Notre Sagre would dwarf it, I doubt even two of Duke Izana's castle would fill it up, "If you get the chance, do stop by this certain restaurant." He gestures towards a well-kept building, it has a sign on top reading 'A Slice of Peace', "This is Izana's preferred spot to eat."

...huh…

The first thing that greets me when we enter is a lingering smell of an incense, 'Lavender, my favorite.' I smile and I feel some weight being lifted off of me. My hair color has grown slightly darker than Lavender over the years, but it is still my favorite color by far. A shame my eyes aren't still the same color as my hair, 'Red as the raw meat I prefer to eat' . "This is the perfect place to meditate." Raven comments. "Aysa would love this place."

I tilt my head at her, "This is the first time I heard 'Aysa'. Who is she?"

She jumps in place from the sudden attention, "Oh! She's the instructor that offered me those meditation, yoga, and Monk classes… I'm sorry, I thought I told you her name then." She sheepishly smiles.

"Welcome, welcome!" A man walks in, his hair nearly radiating, like it is producing its own light… he is dressed in a… 'bathrobe!?' "I am so excited that you all have made it to this wonderful meeting! I look forward to a day of peace, serenity…" He pauses for dramatic effect, "and fried food!"

"It is good to see you again, Duke Izana." Ryoma greets.

'Wait, he is Izana?' Gods, Ryoma isn't joking when he said the man is different. "Ryoma! The red warrior, wielder of Raijinto, the High Prince of Hoshido, it is wonderful to see you again." His expression turns slightly mournful, "My sincerest condolences for both your mother and sister… and I might have taken the liberty of readying a parting rite for them." He smiles.

"I… thank you." He stammers, "This war has not given any of us a time to properly honor them."

"But!" He exclaims, "First we need to prepare for the feast! And while we wait for the rest of the Izumo guests, feel free to partake in the library, hot springs, massages, hair treatments, skin treatments, baths, pools, incense rooms, meditation center, yoga class, physical therapy, mental therapy, and my personal favorite, the hair treatments!"

'That's a long list of services.' "Wait, you said hair treatments twice." I point out.

He laughs, "Oh, whoops." He runs a hand through his hair, "I do have a record to keep, did you know that I am voted 'best hair' for seven years now? The hair stylist here is truly divine, if I didn't know any better, I would say there is a First Dragon of Hair Treatment, and that is him!" He bows, "Now, I am going get some hair treatment, should you have any needs or questions for me." He gasps, "Oh right, please, hand our lovely attendant here your wonderful, but dreadful pointy weapons, can't have those ruining the atmosphere!" He then skips off.

A man stands to the side, 'How is he going to carry all of our weapons?' One by one he handles each weapon, carrying them all like they weigh nothing. Saizo and Kagero appear for a few moments and hand them their shurikens and swords. 'I bet they still have some on them…'

"I feel naked without my bow." Hadronix comments, though I sense a very small amount of deceit, 'She probably has more shoved into those bottomless pockets of hers.'

Ryoma laughs, "Don't worry, the weapons will be locked up tightly, he will return them when we depart."

Raven turns towards Sakura, "Let's go to the meditation center first!"

"Then the hot springs!" She nods, the two walking off, while listing off literally every service.

"I am going to search for our brother." Ryoma states. 'Our brother…' I roll my eyes.

That just leaves Keaton, Hadronix, and me. "As much as this place appeals to me," The Hunter starts, "My peace is best achieved in a workshop filled with mechanical contraptions and oil. Oh, speaking of." She walks up to me and places a small device right behind one of my ears, "Your Noise-Isolating Micro Machines." She places another one on the other side, then repeats the process for Keaton.

"So… what now?" The Wolfskin fidgets.

I smile, "The Lavender incense room!" I grab Keaton and practically start dragging him, giggling along the way. I glance back at Hadronix, who shrugs and follows.

"Mmm… Lavender…" I sprawl out on the floor, with the most content looking expression on my face, "Cuddle with me, Keaton!" I feel the warmth of his fur on me, "...paradise." I mutter, even as he struggles to stay still, 'He needs time to adapt' . Hadronix laughs.

"I can tell what your favorite scent is." She comments, sitting cross-legged a few inches from me.

"Once upon a time, my hair and eye color matched Lavender perfectly." I smile.

"Ah…" She slowly nods.

"What about you, what's your favorite scent?" I lift my head to look at her for a moment.

She smirks, "Depends on my mood. But it is a toss-up between nature, like trees and plants, or something that reminds me of my workshops, like gas and oil."

I raise an eyebrow, "Gas and oil? That doesn't sound too pleasant."

She shrugs, "It didn't at first, but I worked with it so much that it just… grew on me. Figuratively and literally. Sometimes I didn't bother washing after a day in the workshop just to keep the smell."

I scrunch my face, "...ew… you went to bed sweaty and sticky?"

She shakes her head, "I didn't go to bed like that, I mean I just spent the rest of the day like that." She laughs, "I would ruin my bed if I did that."

I lie my head back down and take a deep breath. 'Sweet, sweet serenity…' I fell asleep wrapped in Keaton's arms.

I woke up to someone who isn't Keaton nudging me. "Elise says wake up!" My eyes practically shot open.

"Elise!" I exclaim as I see her face looming over me. "Where's Keaton?" I get up and look around.

"Huh? Oh, I saw him wandering around, said he got bored." I roll my eyes, 'He's still not a fan of human traditions… will he ever be?' She giggles. "But hey, Sis, gods am I glad to see you!" Her face saddens, "After you disappeared during the battle, I…"

"Sh…" I reach and wipe some tears away, "I'm alright, you're here, I'm here." I kiss her, "Who else made it?"

Her mood dampens a bit more, "We lost several more before the Hoshidans won…" She looks away, "Peri and Laslow died… as well as Benny and Charlotte." She sighs, "All we are missing is… well, big brother Leo and his retainers." She frowns. "I'm so worried for him, we still haven't received any letters from him."

"It's been months now, hasn't it?" She nods, "Maybe he is just caught up in his work? You know how he gets when he tackles a problem he can't understand."

"I know… but it's been months, surely he would notice that and send something our way. If it was just a week or two, then it wouldn't bother me." She pauses, "Oh! I noticed a few new people with you, what was their names, not Sakura or Ryoma… or their retainers."

I look around, oh, Hadronix left earlier as well, "H… Hunter was in here, Monk is with Sakura probably." I pause, "They are my retainers, actually."

"Ooo, fancy." She winks as her good mood finally returns, "Jakob is doing… something." That explains why my Butler isn't looking over every inch of me, "Big brother Xander and Ryoma were in the main room… basically brooding at each other, it's kind of funny to see, really." She giggles, "Especially when their eyebrows start furrowing."

I try to contain some laughter at that mental image, "Have you seen Takumi?" I tense up, 'Gods, I hope I don't come across him before this peace meeting.'

"He was leaning on a tree outside with his retainers, then left the second he saw me… so, I don't know where he is now." She smiles, "Speaking of retainers, Selena and Camilla are in the pool swimming laps… Big sister may be hiding it well… but I can tell that losing her Wyvern and Beruka is hurting her a lot."

I shudder, "Too many have died…"

She nods, "I know… anyway, Phoenix is in the library reading."

I shiver at the mention of Phoenix. "I can help you, I just want you to do a few things for me…" It just got cold in here. "Anyone else?"

She shoots me a concerned look, but resumes regardless, "And I am here with you! Lavender was always your favorite, so when Izama brought it up, I just knew you would be in here!"

I giggle, "You know me so well." I pause, then gasp, "Hey… Elise."

"Hm?" She hums.

"I don't suppose… you, Keaton, and I could sit down together and, I don't know… get a list of names for babies drawn up?" I smile.

Elise tilts her head, "Why would…" Then her eyes widen, "Are you?" I nod. "Oh my gods! That's… yaaay!" She leaps into a hug, giggling the entire way. "Big sis is having children!" She detaches herself.

The door opens and Hadronix enters, she is carrying a half-eaten apple in one hand, and a slab of meat in the other. She takes a bite of the apple, "Goof, I fee Elife founf you." She does a whistle that starts high-pitched, but slowly goes down. She then just carelessly tosses the meat up… and this purple furred wolf pops out of nowhere and snags it in mid air, she takes another bite of the apple, "Goof boy, Yufi…" She turns towards me, "Of courfe, I woulfn't leaf you alone."

Elise giggles, "Would you please swallow your food before talking?"

She looks at the apple, swallows, looks at my sister, then takes another bite, "Nofe… An affaffin won't waif for you fo finif and neifer will I!" She smiles.

"Um…?" I sigh, "I don't suppose you mind repeating that?"

"An assassin won't wait for you to finish and neither will I!" She takes another bite and it is gone, she looks around before placing the core in her… pocket, 'Of course it would go in there… what doesn't go in there?' "So, you're Princess Elise… I'm Hunter, the recently appointed retainer to your not-blood sister, Princess Yasei." She bows.

"All right." Elise nods. "And no need to be so formal with me."

I tilt my head, "I've been meaning to ask, how do all of these things fit in your pocket?"

"Would you like the long explanation, or the short answer?" She smirks.

"Considering how you keep losing me on the explanations, let's do the short answer."

"Magic." She shrugs with a straight face.

"...I can guess that much, alright the long explanation."

She smirks again, "It's magic, deal with it." She giggles and I narrow my eyes, "Look, Yasei, I am not a magic expert, I cannot even cast a simple fireball. I let the mages work their 'magic' and use their enchanted items, while I worry about what the next thing I invent is."

"She has a good point, sister." Elise nods, "You don't hear people walking around asking how healing magic works."

This feast is really something else, there is variety, but it somehow stays simple. There is also the distinct lack of anything spicy or sour. "While I do appreciate a bit of 'bite' every now and then, I don't see it as peaceful food." Izana explains, "Especially when it is time for it to exit…" A few choke on some food and water from that comment. The tables are long and narrow, sure it causes it to take up more room overall, but it means more people can sit closer to each other… well that, and it means you actually have to work together to get food passed over.

Hadronix and Raven are on either of my sides. Jakob is beside Hadronix. Keaton is directly across from me. Elise is on his left and Camilla is on the Wolfskin's right. Sakura is beside Raven, and her two retainers are to the right of her as well. Ryoma and Xander has one seat between them, occupied by Saizo. And Takumi… he is with his two retainers… and Phoenix on the far end of the table. The prince and tactician are in a deep discussion. I can sense tension from the Tactician's part. 'She's probably giving him a piece of her mind.'

Izana sits at the head of the table… and all that remains are eight empty seats. I know that three are for Leo and his retainers, but if Izama planned this recently, then why have three for Hinoka and her retainers? I actually decide to bring that up to him.

"Oh," He laughs, "Our honored Lady Yasei, they are here. In spirit, but I assure you that they are here."

"And the other two seats?"

"The spirit of your late mother Mikoto, and King Garon." He sighs, "A shame he couldn't make it, but I feel the need to at least imagine everyone is here."

"Hinoka…" I mutter, "And Leo…" A dead sister, 'Stop considering them family!' and a brother who just vanished, 'A brother who wants my mate gone' . My mood drops with that.

Then the Duke taps his utensils on the table, "Now now, turn that frown upside-down!" He nearly sings, "I don't want to see sorrow in here, you just might make me cry…" He makes an exaggerated sorrowful voice.

Then I giggle at his antics and he smiles, "You're right, we're here for a good time." Laughter follows suit from nearly everyone. Hadronix does two short sharp whistles, which I have associated as Ruinad's call, then tosses some food over her shoulder and I barely manage to get a glimpse of Ruinad before he disappears as soon as he came into sight. "Do all of your pets turn invisible?"

She shakes her head, "Not naturally, no. Ruinad and Yumigami can, but Bethy can't."

"I thought you said his name is Yufi."

She raises an eyebrow at me, "I was also talking with my mouth full."

I sheepishly smile, "Right… and what about Bethy where is he at?"

She shakes her head, "She… and she is… picky when it comes to showing herself."

"Will we get to see her?"

Her smirk returns, "Next time we camp, I'll show you." The high pitch whistle that drops follows, which is the purple-furred wolf's call, she tosses some more food over and Yumi...gami? Catches it.

"Are you going to feed Bethy?" I ask as I glance around

She giggles, "None of them actually need to eat, it is done for bonding. Ruinad is a spirit, after all. Yumi has been corrupted by Void magic and one of the side effects is he generates his own nourishment. Bethy… she might snag a mouse or something every now and then, but she doesn't bother with anything I throw her way." She pauses as a somber expression comes across her face, but leaves just as fast.

"...Huh… weird." I nod, 'Like a lot of things you two do…'

"Who is ready for dessert!" Izama announces. "We have a scrumptious chocolate cake, a very berry pie, and some of the finest fruit-flavored wine."

"Ooo, chocolate!" Elise giggles.

"Fruits always sound good to me." I nod.

I am so full… I have never ate so much in my life! Izama has given us a few hours to get over the worst of the after-feasting bloating before starting the actual peace meeting. Raven and Hadronix seems to be handling it the best. "How are you two still moving?"

"We d-didn't give in to gl-gluttony." Raven smiles. "It is unhealthy to in-indulge oneself in e-excess."

"We are also Pandarens, and Pandarens can keep on eating!" She pulls out a dumpling from her pocket and pops it in, "Life fo."

"So that is what you are, Pandarens… what do they look like?"

"You'fe se… Oof!" Raven nudges Hadronix with her elbow.

"Ancestors, Sis…" She smiles and rolls her eyes, "Imagine a b-bear walking on two legs, just… not as large. Our fur is also orange-red with dark stripes."

"I'll show us off later." I nod and lie down. A quick nap will do me some good. 'Whew, by the gods I ate way too much…' A burp escapes me then I hear Hadronix laugh as I flush red, and I can barely make out Raven giggling. 'These two are really something else…'