Author's note:I want to thank all the people who favor my story and I hope you continue to like it. It you want any changes let me know and I will be happy to fix it or add things. Well then, I hope you enjoy chapter 4 of my story.

Chapter 4 - The Assignment

I stared at the beautiful woodlands that I was walking through with complete and utter awe. The brilliant yellow sun that was never found in Nohr shone over the leaves making them sparkle. When I reached out to touch them I smiled as their warmth entered my pale and cool skin.

"Who am I exactly?" I asked myself as a gust of wind blew past me, tickling me playfully almost like a child playing a game. "And where do I belong."

As if trying to help me find my answer, some of the trees parted ways and allowed a clear path to be seen. I traveled on this path until I came to a fork in the road. I looked at the two paths that were before me. To the right was a path leading to a path bathed into the left was a path engulfed in darkness. I kept looking to the left and to the right, over and over I kept looking to the left and to the right I couldn't stop. And trying to decide which one was the better option to head towards was not helping. The two paths were like night and day, winter and summer, cold and hot, trying to pick between them was like trying to choose between family members.

"Where does your loyalty lie? Your blood...or bond?"

I gasped when I heard a mysterious voice talking to me. I was unable to locate the owner of the voice but I also didn't understand what it was trying to say. But then I just realized something. That voice, THAT same voice, was the same voice that Stephanie and I heard in that same dream we had before we came here. I wonder what that voice wants this time. Where does my loyalty lie? It intrigued me and despite how much my head was spinning from this whole fiasco. I looked at the path that was reaching for the light and the other path that was descending into darkness. I felt my entire body freeze, and my mind spinning immensely. I woke up with a gasp only to find myself back in my bedroom. It was still early morning and its means that I woke up very early (as usual). I was feeling refreshed and ready to take on today, but I had second thoughts.

"Why am I feeling so uneasy. today?" I asked myself as I started to get dress.

"Hey Sapphire, what's up?"

I turned around and saw Orion floating around, with a bright smile on his face.

"Hey, Orion." I didn't feel like smiling back.

"...You still worried about what's coming aren't you?" Orion frowned.

Before I could answer him, we were interrupted when a soldier can running.

"Mylady you are to report to the Royal throne room immediately."

"What?" I said obviously confused.

"King Garon orders your presence in the throne room." The soldier continued then he walked off to return to his post. There was one thought entered our minds.

"It's time Sapphire...it's time."

Orion went with me to the throne room to meet with father. I looked around the throne room, it was a dark and eerie place. The throne itself was a dark ominous throne, and sit on it was my father. And this rooms suits him perfectly. I once again found myself staring at those cold dead eyes on the zombie-like face of a father.

"Well...Sapphire. You disobeyed an order from the king" father said sternly with a crossed look on his face. "Normally, a crime so serious would result in death."

"Yes..." I tilted my head downward in shame.

"However, you are my daughter. I have no wish for you to die in such a manner" father spoke in a less angry tone but still stern. "Sapphire there is one last task I would like you to partake in if you can complete it. I will make an exception and pardon your crime."

"Really? What task is it?"

"Along our borders lies the territory of Hoshido...as of right now, it is but ruins an abandoned fortress" father explain thoroughly. "You are to head there, you're not expected to do battle, I only ask you to scout the area. Understood, my child? If you happen to disappoint me..."

"Yes, sire I understand perfectly" I replied with a straight face. But I knew what was going to really occur at the abandoned fortress. And I wasn't looking forward to it.

After that, I gathered my Nohrian siblings in the throne room and told them what I had to do to clear my name. They weren't exactly happy about what I had to do.

"I'm worried...are you really going to be okay? It's just you, Opal and Diamanda." Camilla said with a worried look on her face with concerning eyes.

"Don't worry sister I'll be fine" I tried to reassure her. "There's no need to worry, Opal and Diamanda have my back."

"You're being rather carefree, considering it's a direct order from father" Leo said unsatisfied with my attitude. "With that attitude, I can't exactly expect you to come back unscathed."

"Leo..."

"Stop that... You're being such a worrywart Leo!" Elise said so cheerfully. And then slapped him on the back hard if I might add.

"Elise you're too optimistic," Leo said feeling some pain from the slap.

"Ah... I honestly can't help but feel the same way" Camilla said sounding even more concerned. "Maybe I should go with you"

"No no that won't do it all." A strange voice said behind our backs, we all turned around to see who it was. A man with half a mask on his face walks towards us and I know exactly who it was, we all did. And I wasn't too fond of him.

"Iago...what exactly do you mean?" Camilla snapped back at him with the cross look on her face.

"This mission is a trial meant for Princess Sapphire" Iago stated. "Princess Sapphire will be tested to see if she holds the qualities of being a Nohrian princess, it would be utterly pointless if you all went."

"Understood! I will complete this task without fail" I said with a determined look on my face.

"Don't leave just yet" another voice came out of nowhere, we turned around behind us to the other side to see who that was. It was father, walking with in a strange bald man, and I knew who that was to and I wasn't too fond of him either.

"Father?"

"You will be taking this man along with you" father stated.

We all stared at the man who father had brought, and none of us had a smile on our face, we all weren't too happy that father brought him along.

"This man is Hans," Father said. "As you can see this man is our powerhouse, he's a fine soldier who I want you to take along with your task."

"Thank you father" I happily replied.

Xander wasn't exactly happy with this, he walked up to me and told

"Sapphire, this man Hans. Watch out for him."

"Huh? What do you mean brother?" I asked.

"He was a criminal who committed countless misdeeds such as pillages and murders," Xander stated with a cross look on his face. "I arrested him many years ago. Well, father might somehow succeed in converting this ruffian into a soldier, you must remember never let your guard down around him."

I knew exactly what Xander meant, but Xander didn't know what exactly his words would mean in the near future. And I pray he never finds out. Well, I got myself ready to go and I prepared myself to face what was waiting for me at that abanded fortress. I said goodbye to my Nohrian siblings and they all wished me luck. Then we headed out on way to the fortress. The fortress is right in the middle of something called the Infinite Chasm. It's literally a border between Nohr and Hoshido, to be honest, I'm not exactly a big fan of this place. It's was dark and dreary just like Nohr, also it was a sheer drop to the bottom not to mention there was I don't know exactly how to say it, but the bridges were like really really old. It was like they could break at any second and I didn't exactly feel safe walking on them. None of us did exactly. Well, we got to the fortress and I said that we should scout the area. What we expected to find it was just an old fortress in ruin and rocks, trees, bugs, and probably some skeletons. Nothing could prepare us for what was coming next. We found ourselves in a Hoshidian ambush, and we got ambushed by ninjas, ironically I was not a big fan of ninjas. When they saw us, they attack, we tried to fall back but it was too late, so we had to stay and fight and to be honest wasn't looking forward to it. Gunther and Hans rushed through them all attacking one by one. They were pretty good, but the ninjas were fast and sneaky that's how they are usually when you think about it. They were getting attacked shurikans and other ninja weapons. And I was about to be attacked by a ton of flying ninja stars. I knew that I would be history if I took them out one by one, even if Gunther and Hans kept defending me. So I decided to do the smart thing(besides running away) and that would be to take out the commander. So I dodge some of the attacks, and I admit I did get cut here and there. But I manage to pull through and found myself face to face this the Hoshidan commander, and he did not look happy. I got ready in a attack stance and he was glaring at me with murderous eyes. There was no doubt in my mind that me wanted to kill me. We both stared at each other for a while, then he threw some ninja stars at me and I jump before they could hit me. We were locked in combat, but then Gunther came in and save me, and he skewered the ninja with his spear. I was very relieved that this fight was finally over. But then I just realized that it wasn't over quite yet. When we finally seize the fortress there was another squadron of ninjas that just came. And the leader of them had one eye, red hair, and a mask that covered his nose and mouth. And he wasn't too happy with what I had done.

"My my, look at what we have here," the stranger said.

"This is not good, not now, I was hoping I could avoid him," I thought while I was biting my lip.

"I am Saizo, a ninja of Hoshido. I'll be taking you life now." He said calmly yet cocky. (And yet terrifying)

"Ugh, I let my guard down to soon!" I said frustrated.

"It ends here!" Saizo yelled as he rushed towards me, with his weapons in hand.

"I'm screwed," I thought.

Then I heard another voice, but this time from behind me. " I won't allow it!"

Then when Saizo was about to attack me, someone blocked the attack. Saizo what surprised of who could have blocked his attack then he saw who it was.

"You're?!"

"Made it just in time. Glad to see your okay Sapphire!"

It was Xander, and he had a big smile on his face, which I could tell he was relieved to see me alive. But Xander didn't come alone.

"Xander!" I was really happy to see him. Because I was really afraid.

"You have quite the bad luck, don't you sister" Leo showed up and criticized my bad luck.

"Are you okay Sapphire? I was worried sick!" Camilla panicked.

Then Elise showed up "if sister Sapphire died. I would be so sad"

"Thank you...you guys," I said with a smile across my face.

"Ah...! You're hurt, Sapphire...who did this to you?" Camilla sounded very upset and worried.

"I just fine, Sister," I said to ease her pain and to be honest I actually was fine.

"Know don't you worry my darling, I'll kill everyone who harmed you, hehe just you watch," Camilla said with a delightful yeah devious smile and I was very afraid by that.

Camilla went ballistic and killed some of the ninjas and Hoshidan soldiers. I was in on how skilled Camilla was.

"THAT'S the 'warrior-like' Camilla," I said utterly shocked at what I saw.

Elise heard me and said "oh that's right, you've never seen sister Camilla on the battlefield before, have you? She's awesome isn't she hehe!"

I admitted my big sister Camilla was quite an amazing fighter and even though she was merciless in battle I had to admire her skill.

"Tch" Saizo quietly cursed his predicament. But then we had another visitor but the visitor was not on our side.

"I have arrived, Saizo, what is the situation," The ninja lady said to Saizo.

"The mission was a failure. We underestimated these guys" Saizo said to the ninja lady. "Kagero are you the only backup they sent?"

"Negative. Lord Ryoma and the main troops will be arriving here shortly" Kagerou replied to Saizo question with a smile.

"Oh...Lord Ryoma, you say? Well then this battle is as good as ours" Saizou said.

Xander was talking Leo. "Enemy reinforcements will be arriving here shortly," Xander said to Leo immediately.

"I see...what do you want us to do next brother?" Leo asked

"We've already completed our mission. There's no need to remain here and risk any unnecessary losses." Xander said to Leo, then he told me to go back home to Nohr with Gunther. And that they will catch up with us when they can. I understood the condition and I left with Gunther and Joker. The three of us left in a hurry because we didn't want to be caught in the middle of this. I was happy that I successfully completed the task father had told me to complete and I was hoping that he would forgive my crime and accept me as a daughter once again. We made ourselves to the castle and we were very relieved that it was all over. Through all the hustle and bustle that today has brought, I still had that dream in my mind and I couldn't get it out. I had a very uneasy feeling about this and yet I knew the decision that I had to make that would change my life forever, was coming up soon, and I have no idea if I'm prepared to make that choice. When the training session was over, we all went to my room and we all fell asleep, and I was wondering as I dozed off, if I was going to have that dream again. it didn't matter which dream it was, no matter how many times it changes, the meaning doesn't change and I knew the true meaning of the dream, and to be honest I wasn't looking forward to this whatsoever.

I woke up and decided to for a walk. I knew what was coming my way...a part of me wanted to go run, run away and don't look back. But my conscience tells me to stay. I leave the Northern Citadel and continue to wander off. The I hear a voice behind me.

"Hey, there's a Nohrian soldier!"

"Sapphire! Look out!" Orion cried out.

Before I could ready myself. I was hit on the back of my head. Though a single thought entered my mind: "This-this isn't suppose to happen, well then, is this-is this how I get taken to Hoshido?"