Okay this took me a bit longer than I had wanted to get out... I blame Fates, it's TOO Addicting!
Anyway I think it's time to see just what happens next in this story don't you?
Oh, right, quick heads up for Heroes: Camilla has beaten out Hinoka by 5 times more support and right now it's Cordelia vs Camilla with Camilla winning even still... I've made the right call again it seems XD
[[]]
It really didn't take as long as I thought it would to reach Izumo.
"So that's Izumo's central palace." Corrin said looking at the large structure in the middle of Izumo.
"Yes. Izumo has long been known as the kingdom of the gods. It only makes sense that the center of its power would radiate peace." Azura said as she stood next to Corrin, "While all the other kingdoms quarrel, it maintains a neutral stance. I'm glad we made it here safely. Let's go find the archduke."
"How hard can the guy be to find?" I asked shrugging my shoulders, 'We'll He is imprisoned by that Nohrian Dark Mage Zola, who is likely to come meet us by the front gate of the small village up ahead.' I thought.
Sure enough 'Izana was indeed waiting for us by the front gates, and honestly I was focused a bit more on what I was gonna do about this guy and the Nohrians... And that Ice Bomb he has that would freeze the town over.
Pretty soon Gunter stepped forward and busted Zola's disguise.
"Zola." Camilla demanded with surprising authority causing me to jump, "Where is the real Archduke Izana?"
"I'm afraid it's off to jail for him—the clink, the slammer, the cooler!" Zola said as if Camilla didn't mean anything. "Oooh, cooler! That reminds me—it's time to make use of King Garon's ice bomb! Everyone, fire! ...Hehe, fire the ice bomb..." Zola chuckled as he held up a white orb.
"Get ready everyone!" Corrin shouted.
At that moment something I didn't expect happened, a crossbow bolt shot right through Zola's wrist, not quite in the middle, but enough that it caused him enough pain to drop the ice bomb.
"Oh sh-" A Norhian Mercenary that was next to Zola cried out before the Ice bomb malfunctioned and turned the poor guy into a Mercenary Ice Sculpture.
Ignoring that we all turned to the source of the bolt, and sure enough Merida was there with an Arbalest in one of her hands and was aimed at Zola.
"Coward, hiding behind a disguise, then you try to hide behind a wall of ice?" Merdia sighed as she put the crossbow away, "Let me give you a real reason to want to hide." Merdia growled as she held up her steel poleaxe.
Zola gulped and ran off with Merdia starting to run after him as well, only for her to stop next to me and look at me, "Hey, Crimean, gimme a hand with this bastard." Merdia said.
"Yes Ma'am." I quickly and followed her as she ran.
It really didn't take long for us to reach the other corner of the village, where Zola and his bodyguards are, and his two Dark Mages guards stepped in front of us, both with the same stats.
[Dark Mage Lvl 8]
[HP: 20/20, Mag: 11, Def:6]
[Weapon- Thunder: MT-5]
I ran up to one of the Dark Mage's and stabbed her- Sorry, HIM (These Dark Mages all look female with those helmets on, the only reason I know they are males is the fact their chest is nearly bare) With my Iron Lance dealing 16 damage to him.
Merdia then simply walked next to the other Dark Mage menacingly, and stared him down, this cause both mages to hesitate.
I took this moment to stab the mage I had before to finish him off.
[+27 EXP]
"Gwaah!" The other Dark Mage cried out as his now lifeless body flew over Zola.
The Mercenary gulped and lifted his sword to charge us.
I stepped in front of him and stabbed once, dealing 12 damage to him and causing him to stumble back, which let me stab again to finish him off.
[+27 EXP]
[Level up!]
[+1 HP]
[+1 STR]
[+1 SPD]
[+1 DEF]
Zola finally managed to snap out of his terror and managed to cast his Nosferatu at Merdia, which actually managed to cause her damage due to her low RES, if only 2 damage.
"Guh." Merdia gasped before she stared at Zola, whom I'm guessing is currently wishing he wore the brown pants today.
Merdia put away her Steel Pole axe and instead chose to pull out a Silver poleaxe... Yeah he's screwed.
A single swing was more than enough to put Zola in critical condition and send him flying.
After that Zola got up and scrambled away into Izana's castle, Merdia close behind.
"Where's Zola?" Corrin shouted out as she and the rest of the group were close behind her, the only one who hadn't seemed to level up were Gunter and Camilla surprisingly.
"Running into Izana's castle with a beyond pissed Reaver on his tail." I said.
Camilla shuddered at the thought and we soon ran into the castle.
Inside we cornered Zola at the door to the great hall, with Merdia closing in on him.
Corrin pointed her Wind Edge at Zola as she, Sakura, Camilla and I stood around Merdia, "We've won. You can't escape now, Zola. Tell us where the archduke is!" Corrin demanded.
Zola smirked on the other hand as I stepped closer to Sakura, "HA! You really think it'd be that easy? What a naive little girl you are. I always have an escape plan!" Zola announced.
"What are you-?" Corrin started before Zola lunged toward Sakura.
I jumped in front of Sakura with my lance forward but that proved to be unnecessary as Merdia's free hand shot out and grabbed Zola by the neck, lifting him off the ground and held him in front of her.
"What was your big escape plan? Holding a hostage?" Merdia asked, "Gods you're a waste of a man."
Zola gasped for air as he gripped Merdia's hand hoping for escape.
However it was futile as a very familiar tree burst up behind him, killing him with one of the branches.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Zola cried out in pain before falling limp in Merdia's grip, who in turn let the man drop.
"That magic..."Corrin said.
"Leo!" Camilla cried out as she urged her Wyvern to turn around.
"You were the lowest of the low, Zola... Planning to hide behind hostages- you disgraced the entire Nohrian army." Leo said as he entered the building on his horse.
"You think Izana would accept a horse and an undead wyvern in his place?" I whispered to Sakura.
"I-I'm not sure." Sakura said.
"I knew it! I knew it was you, Leo!" Corrin cried out happily.
"It's good to see you again little brother." Camilla said as she dismounted her wyvern.
"Camilla..." Leo sighed, "At least I can tell Elise you're still alive."
"Leo... Will you join us?" Corrin pleaded to her brother, "We could use your aid in the battle ahead. I don't plan to fight with Nohr, I've learned of a dire truth..."
Leo looked to Corrin skeptically, "What are you talking about?" Leo asked.
"After I refused to side with Hoshido or Nohr, I learned that King Garon... He is being manipulated by someone." Corrin explained.
Leo's eyes went wide, "What? How do you know this?" Leo demanded.
"Listen carefully. He didn't want to start a war with Hoshido." Corrin started, "He's being controlled by our real enemy, someone hiding behind the scenes. This invisible foe is who we should really be after!"
"I see. Well then, tell me who is pulling the strings. Name the manipulator!" Leo demanded.
Corrin sighed and looked down, "I'm sorry Leo, I can't." Corrin said, "He's a powerful mage that has a spell over his name, anyone who say's it he'll find and kill almost instantly."
Leo closed his eyes and was silent for a minute, it was definitely a lot longer than if Corrin had simply said she couldn't.
"Unsurprising." Leo said suddenly, " I don't know why I wasted time listening to your ramblings."
"WHAT!?" I shouted, "Buddy what the hell!? She's your gods damned sister, capable of turning into a DRAGON!"
"She's a traitor. I don't want to hear excuses." Leo said.
"LEO!" Camilla shouted causing everyone to jump, she was suddenly next to Leo and she pulled him off his horse with surprising force, causing him to drop his tome, "I never want you to call Corrin a traitor like that again, I've traveled with her all this time and I can tell you there is definitely something going on around here.
Leo started to look left and right, as if trying to find an escape route, "B-but you were captured by that woman." Leo said, "Why are you with Corrin?"
"Because if I returned to father he would have me killed Leo." Camilla shouted shaking him a bit, "What kind of Father would have his own daughter sentenced to death? In fact, that bastard Iago tried to turn the Wind Tribe on us not even a few days ago!"
I swear I could see Leo paling as Camilla shouted.
Camilla then dropped her brother, "Go tell Elise I'm fine, and if you see my retainers let them know that too." Camilla said turning around.
Leo's breath was rather shaky before he scrambled for his tome, "T-The real Archduke is inside that hall there." Leo said, "Along with the Hoshidan prince Takumi."
"I think I'll wait outside." I said turning around, "I do not like dealing with that guy, and I barely know him."
"Same." Merdia said.
"I think it might be easier to talk to him without any Nohrian's in the room." Camilla said as she left, Leo riding past her as fast as his horse could go.
[]
The three of us stepped outside as I breathed a sigh of relaxation.
"Lady Camilla!" A female voice shouted, causing everyone to look up.
Flying toward us was a grey colored wyvern with two people on it, Beruka and Selena A.K.A. Severa, daughter of Cordelia of Ylisse... wonder who her father is?
As soon as the Wyvern touched down Selena jumped off and ran over to Camilla, "Thank the gods you're safe Lady Camilla, Elise was so worried about you."
Camilla smiled and patted Selena on the shoulder, "I'm fine Selena, Merdia made sure not to kill me or injure me too much."
"Merdia?" Beruka asked, to which I hiked a thumb over at the Reaver.
Selena and Beruka looked at Merdia, who had her Silver Poleaxe still on her shoulder as she started down the steps back to the village. Selena stance tensed, I could tell that she could tell how powerful Merida was.
Beruka on the other hand and already gripped her axe and was ready to attack.
"Beruka stop." Camilla said, causing the assassin on a Wyvern to look at Camilla.
"She attacked you Lady Camilla." Beruka said as explanation.
"And she beat her while outnumbered." I pointed out, "What exactly gives you the idea you can take her on?"
Berkua blinked and looked back at Merdia, "Then I'll just get stronger then." Beruka said.
'Good luck with that.' I thought as I turned around hearing footsteps.
Sure enough Corrin was walking out with a confused expression, alongside Azura, Hinata the Samurai and a rather over ecstatic guy in my opinion, Oboro the fashion loving Spear Fighter of a woman, Sakura, oh and Takumi... And Izana?
'Wait, wasn't Izana supposed to have exchanged his life for a message from the gods?' I thought.
"Ah, Irwin." Azura said, "Izana has a question I think you might be able to answer."
"Huh?" I asked completely confused and looked at the white haired archduke.
"Yes, while I was going to convene with the gods about what Princess Corrin had to do next something... unexpected happen." Izana said, "A small orange songbird flew in though an open window and landed on my finger, I then heard a voice claiming to be a goddess saying she'd give me the same message the gods would have given me without the price of my life, when I asked who she was she told me to ask the Branded One."
My eyes widened, "Yune..." I breathed.
"Who?" Hinata asked walking up to us.
"Yune, one of Tellius's two goddesses." I explained, "She's the Goddess of Chaos and in truth she's actually more benign to Beorc, Laguz, and Branded like myself than Ashera, Goddess of Order."
"I see." Izana mused, "Now that is interesting, but still the message makes no sense."
"What was the message?" Camilla asked.
"Wait, are we traveling with Nohrians?" Oboro asked as her face turned into a grimace, which was actually pretty intimidating in person I gotta admit, "Why?"
"Because it's either go with my little sister, or die by my fathers orders." Camilla explained.
"What?" Takumi asked, "Your own father would kill you just because that Reaver girl knocked you senseless?"
"Pretty much." Selena said, "And wherever Lady Camilla goes Beruka and I are going as her retainers."
"Great..." Takumi groaned.
"I'm gonna have to get over this quick then." Oboro muttered.
"The message was 'Go see the Dragon'." Corrin said returning to the original subject.
"Hmm..." Camilla hummed.
"Oy, that could be any number of dragons." I muttered, "Heck it could even be a Goldoan that somehow arrived in this place."
"Goldoan?" Selena asked.
"The Dragon shifting race of Laguz back in Tellius." I said, acting like I was waving off the question.
But Selena spoke quietly enough that I almost didn't hear her, "So the Manakete's aren't the only dragon shifters out there." Selena whispered to herself.
"Let's head out then." Corrin said, "Perhaps if we can find Ryoma he might have an answer."
[[]]
Okay I'm gonna be honest, this took way too long to write.
I originally was trying to memorize what enemies appeared in the level and where, but after spending so freaking long doing so I just said screw it and this is what came out.
Anyway next one's gonna be a Support building chapter at the Astral Plane so yay for my brain.
See you all later.
