A/N:
Posted: July 6th, 2016
Last Updated: February 15th, 2019
Views as of Posting: 994
Chapters before AU begins: 3
Finally back from vacation. We're leaving the canon timeline soon!
Apologies for those who read the last chapter in the first 2 days after its release. My word processor malfunctioned and many hilarious typos got added in. Grammar will be greatly improved from this point onward.
We have our first "lucky" male to pair up. Please see A/N at the end.
Chapter 2 Updates:
- Grammatical corrections
All changes are purely stylistic and do not impact the story. Efforts will be made to minimize these types of updates in the future.
Now, onto the story…
Chapter 3: The Eastern Kingdom (Sakura, Corrin, Sumeragi)
"W-we need some more wraps here!"
The pink-haired shrine maiden called out to the other healers as they tended to their new patients. The new arrivals just came in this morning, wounded in a border skirmish two days ago. Supplies and their energy were both running low. Inside Fort Jinya, the maidens had scrapped together a makeshift hospital.
The large center building was circular in shape. Though it had a pointy and defined roof, the interior had a dome-like ceiling in the middle. Several beds were dragged from the soldier's quarters and placed in the fort's massive lobby. Only around twenty guards were currently stationed at the fort - the rest were temporarily recalled to the north to reinforce several villages.
"Sakura, the commander is awake now." One of the healers called to the shrine maiden. Relieved, she let her subordinate help with her current patient. Sakura hurried into a separate room, where the wounded ninja laid on the bed.
"Ah, Lady Sakura." The ninja groaned. "Thank you for your assistance."
"It's m-my job." She replied, pressing lightly on his bandaged wounds on his stomach. He had lost quite a bit of blood on the way here and he suffered muscle tearing in his leg. "What's your name?"
"Commander Omozu,"
The ninja started another coughing fit. Sakura reached for her few remaining concoctions on a table next to his bed and pressed her hand gently against his head.
Fever and weakened breathing.
She prompted the wounded man to open his mouth as she poured some of the liquid down his throat. Omozu winced. "You know, you maidens can heal our wounds immediately in battle. Why're we still stuck here with cuts and bruises?"
"B-because your wounds are older." Sakura said nervously, "If you were in battle, I could heal your slashes immediately, but they're not fresh anymore-"
"How does that make a difference?" The ninja lifted his head.
"Once the grace period's over, we h-have to wait for it to heal naturally." Sakura explained, "If we do it now, your wound might get infected…"
"Ah, fine then, whatever." Omozu sunk his head back into the pillow.
Sakura glowered as she peeled some of the wraps off his wound. The soldier who patched him up on the road did a shoddy job with covering the slash. There was a bit of dirt underneath the wrap, and the cuts into his stomach looked barely mended. Staves could heal wounds, but infections required another type of festal they were short on.
"How's everyone else doing?" Omozu asked.
"They're fine." Sakura sighed, "About two-thirds of the tr-troops came in wounded. The Pegasus knights are all fine, but some of the archers were seriously hurt."
"How many made it back?" The ninja sighed.
"H-huh?" She thought for a second, "Err… last time we checked there were hundred and twenty from the detachment."
"What?" Omozu tried to sit up but midway he winced in pain and flopped back down to his bed, "That's almost everyone! I saw bodies on the battlefield…"
Sakura quickly readjusted his pillow and looked around for a different bottle. She found the correct one and poured the cold liquid onto her hands. She then applied the mixture onto the wound from the partially removed wrap.
"N-no, they withdrew." She said, "The samurai managed to recover the wounded on the battlefield before they returned."
"Amazing." Omozu mused. "I knew reinforcements were on their way, but they still had plenty of time to finish us off."
"Maybe they decided to spare your army?"
"Huh, that Corrin fellow…"
Having finished cleaning the wound, Sakura reapplied the wrap and rubbed her hands with a cleaning herb. There was nothing more she could do for the commander except for pray for his swift recovery. The shrine maiden had no idea why he did not bring any healers at the abandoned fortress. They could have probably turned the tide of the battle with their support.
"S-so, what happened?" Sakura sat down next to her patient.
"Oh right, I have to write that damn report." Omozu coughed again, "Long story short, their commander outmaneuvered our archers and we lost our momentum."
"In the Bottomless Canyon?" The maiden asked in disbelief, "How did they do it? Wyverns?"
"Their commander used this metaphysical power to make a stone bridge from one of the pillars." The ninja said, "He touched the ground and –poof- there it appeared."
(Metaphysical power? Did he run into a Nohrian royal?)
"He touched something in the ground and a bridge rose from nowhere?"
"Yes." Omozu replied, "Witchcraft I tell you. I think he might be a dark mage…"
Before Sakura had another word in, a young female samurai came rushing towards her from another room. The commander breathed and closed his eyes while the maiden turned her attention to the soldier.
"Lady Sakura!" The brunette warrior bowed, "Lady Hinoka awaits you."
"Hana! Tell her I'll be right there!" Sakura responded.
"Eh, you can go milady." Omozu said. "You can read my report later."
Sakura quickly followed her retainer into the makeshift hospital. A few groans emanated from the wounded soldiers, but none were coughing heavily. They had marched for two days on foot and had carried their seriously-wounded by wagon. It was a miracle everyone was recovering, though the room's rancid smell would take ages to disappear. She and Hana reached the door, where a tall redhead awaited them. Lady Hinoka had returned from her patrol.
"Hey, sis!" The older Princess waved. "How is everything here?"
"Hi Hinoka." Sakura panted. "Everything is fine. We're a bit low on supplies, but most of these soldiers should be out soon." Hana quickly bowed in front of the two princesses. Hinoka returned the bow before looking around.
Hinoka folded her arms, "Where's your other retainer? That Tsubaki fellow?"
"He's out picking some herbs for me." Sakura answered.
The wind picked up as cold air blew into the fortification. Hana ordered the guards to close the gatess. Hinoka's Pegasus neighed in protest on the outside. The Princess quickly dismissed herself to move her mount into the stable.
"Hey, Tsubaki should be back by now." Hana whispered, "Didn't he leave a really long time ago?"
"Yeah." Sakura shivered, "I hope he's fine. Some herbs are hard to find…"
"Lady Sakura, your assistance please!" Someone inside the main room called.
Anxious, Sakura rushed towards the fortresses' prized chests to fetch her bloom festal. She and Hana rushed to the source of the call. A soldier had begun wheezing violently. An assistant had already restrained the man so he would not hurt himself as he flailed aimlessly.
The poor soldier somehow agitated his chest wound and started to lose blood again. Sakura could tell he was seriously close to succumbing. The shrine maiden took a deep breath and summoned her rod's power.
Her festal began to glow brightly as she held it over the soldier's wound. In an instant, the long grisly cuts began to close, leaving behind only scars and dried blood on his skin. The soldier stopped thrashing about and started to slow down his breathing. Eventually, he closed his eyes and his hands rested at his side.
"I would have intervened earlier if he wasn't at risk for infection…" Sakura said to herself for reassurance, "H-he'll be fine…" She nodded at the healer, who left for some water.
"Great work, Lady Sakura!" Hana commented, "I'm glad I serve such a talented leader!"
"O-oh it was nothing." Sakura said sheepishly, "It's just my job."
She looked over the hospital. The healthier soldiers and Pegasus knights in the mess hall discussed the battle, and how they were going to extract their revenge. For a group of people who helped move their wounded comrades for a day and two nights, they were eager to return.
Just beside them were some healers, slumped up against the wall. It was a long time since her medical team had to take care of so many soldiers. Sakura's bloom festal glowed dimly, revealing its diminishing power. There was no guarantee she could help the next soldier who fell into a critical condition.
(I just hope Tsubaki returns with those herbs soon…)
"In the white light, a hand reaches through..."
Corrin slumped up against the door, entranced by the gentle singing voice. His hands gradually lowered itself down the wood, stroking its texture. The door felt unusually smooth, even lacking a simple knob. He felt as if the vocal pleasantness was sweeping him away, until he realized the door was actually slowly opening, and his feet were actually sliding.
"Ah?"
He had completely forgotten about his room having a sliding door. Snapping out of the trance, the prince scrambled to reorient himself and grabbed the wall.
Witnessing the unsightly slip-up was a young female with light blue hair in a long white dress. She had stopped singing after noticing the prince awkwardly trying to regain balance. Corrin stood up quickly and leaned his arm against the wall.
"Uh, hey there!" He said, as smoothly as he could.
The girl tilted her head. "Hello. I haven't seen you here before."
"I'm Co-," Corrin stammered, "-Mui, Kamui, hah. Pleased to meet you."
"Hello, Kamui?" The girl said, "My name is Azura."
Azura. Corrin examined the singer in front of him. She seemed to be a high ranking member of the castle. Her clothes and necklace were too elegant for a maid yet not embroidered enough for a courtesan. Her long hair was exceptionally done well.
She held her hands together like a well-mannered hostess, but it gave off an impression more timid than polite. Given her voice, she appeared to be an entertainer for the Hoshidan Court, or perhaps even a-
"Hmm." Azura said, "I hope you're not just going to stand there and stare…"
"So-sorry!" Corrin replied quickly, "Just, admiring the architecture!"
She giggled. "Oh? I'm architecture?"
(That didn't go very well.)
"No, this!" Corrin laughed nervously. He walked past Azura and pointed towards the wall behind her. "Look at this wall. Beautifully crafted and reinforced with wood. Truly inspirational work. A testament to Hoshido's architects."
Corrin wiped his forehead, hoping his false enthusiasm would be enough to convince her. Azura's face held a blank expression as she briefly inspected the wall before turning back towards him.
"Huh." She said, "Anyways, can I help you with something?"
"I'm sorry to bother you." Corrin stuttered, "I just got lost in your singing. There's something about that song that captivates me…"
"I see."
Silence again.
There was not really anything meaningful to talk about. His initial stumbling have already knocked the words out of his mouth. The only girls he frequently talked to at the Northern Fortress were his sisters and Felicia. This one had a different aura about her.
"So Azura, what are you doing here?" Corrin asked cautiously. "You don't seem like a Hoshidan royal."
"I'm a former Princess of Nohr." Azura continued.
"Former Princess? I don't understand." Corrin paused, "Surely I would have heard of you. I grew up with the Nohrian royal family…"
"I'm afraid I've been here a long time," She said.
She held the golden necklace in her hands and looked at it. Corrin's spirits immediately lifted. He wasn't the only person captured by Hoshido and living within their castle. If they worked together, they could have an easier time escaping.
"Good morning, Kamui. Azura"
The bellowing voice came from behind him. Standing a few feet away and waving at the two characters in the hall was Ryoma, who was out of his armor for once and wrapped in red Hoshidan garment. Corrin frowned.
"Morning Ryoma." Azura waved.
"We're having breakfast. Come on down." The high prince said before walking away down the hall. Azura and Corrin watched him leave.
"Wait." Corrin said, "Tell me more about you being a Nohrian Princess."
"After you were taken by the Nohrians, the Hoshidan forces retaliated." Azura whispered, "They tried desperately to get you back, but they failed again and again. However, I wasn't as heavily guarded. Some ninjas easily kidnapped me."
Corrin grimaced at the thought of what Saizo did when he 'kidnapped' others. Frankly, He found his own abduction from Hoshido difficult to believe. Azura offered some sort of validation, but it wasn't enough to go on. Her yellow-greenish eyes grew dim as she tried recalling the details of her story.
"Those… Hoshidan filth." Corrin huffed, "I'm so sorry."
"No, it's okay." Azura shook her head, "I suppose we've both been hostages for most of our lives. I may technically be a hostage but I've lived a happy life."
"Really?" The prince asked incredulously.
The princess nodded. "The 'filth' of Hoshido have accepted me as one of their own. Even Queen Mikoto herself treats me as if I were her daughter."
"Does she? Hmm…"
Growing up without a mother, Azura's comment did not quite connect with Corrin. Then again, life at Castle Shirasagi did appear very agreeable - spacious rooms, kind staff, and a lighter atmosphere than Castle Krakenburg. Any child taken here would have been happy they were kidnapped.
"Shall we grab breakfast?" Azura yawned.
"Ah… yes!" Corrin replied quickly.
As the former Princess of Nohr walked down the hallway, he followed her closely. Corrin caught a small smirk on Azura's face as she turned the corner. Corrin's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He wanted to know more about the mysterious singer, yet he could barely start a proper conversation. Then again, the future would not stop surprising him.
They reached a large room with a large circular table in the middle. Three people were already sitting on the ground. Sitting the furthest from the door was Queen Mikoto, followed by Prince Ryoma. Finally, a grey-haired male Corrin never met before was drinking odd soup.
"Hello Azura, Kamui." Queen Mikoto greeted warmly, "I see you two have already met each other."
(And I probably have already weirded her out…)
"Come take a seat." Ryoma beckoned him forward with his hand.
Corrin pointed at the table, "Uh, in Nohr, we have an invention called a chair."
The three were sitting on what best could be described as a fancy mat, using chopsticks to eat their food. In front of them was peculiar soup, colored rice, and assorted vegetables. Azura grinned at his comment while the grey-haired male rolled his eyes.
"Alright." Ryoma responded, "I shall get you a chair"
"Ah no, that's fine." Corrin scratched the back of his head.
Azura walked forward towards the table and sat down at other side of Queen Mikoto. Corrin quickly noted how they were sitting and sat down next to the grey-haired stranger. The young man shifted slightly away and paid him no attention.
Mikoto leaned forward slightly. "Kamui, this is Takumi, your younger brother." She turned his attention to the stranger, who pretended to not hear his name.
"Hello." Corrin greeted, "I assume Mikoto told you about me already?"
"Hmph." Takumi put down his chopsticks and glanced at the prince.
"Friendly…" Corrin murmured to himself silently.
The food did look enticing. Potatoes and some unknown vegetables were sliced in front of them. The rice smelled fresh and the soup was curiously mostly clear. There were definitely enough to give everyone a hearty portion. Corrin picked up a pair of chopsticks and began poking at his bowl of rice.
Ryoma turned towards Takumi. "So, how was the village garrison?"
"Dull." Takumi said, "Townspeople didn't seem to care about the border scuffle, and honestly, I couldn't tell them any meaningful details."
"Right." Ryoma sighed, "With Omozu wounded, we won't have a proper report of the attack without having the scribe."
Corrin had picked up some rice, but upon hearing the high prince's news he lost his grip and bit his tongue. The rice fell back into the bowl and his hands turned cold.
"Kamui, are you alright?" Mikoto asked concernedly.
"Yes, yes." Corrin said, "Just learning how to use these… things." The queen smiled encouragingly and returned to drinking her soup.
(So they don't know who lead the Nohrian forces yet.)
"Saizo was with him, wasn't he?" Azura asked.
"He's remaining at guard near the border." Ryoma answered.
Corrin continued poking at his rice with the chopsticks. Rinkah and Kaze didn't inform Ryoma in Saizo's place. They probably avoided mentioning the ninja's activities at all, in fear of exposing his "interrogation" incident. Whatever the reason, he accepted it as a blessing.
Corrin tilted his head. "Where is Omozu now?"
"If I remember correctly, his troops should stop at Fort Jinya on the way back, where Sakura and Hinoka are stationed." Ryoma said.
"When I find out who did this," Takumi tightened his hand into a fist, "they will wish they were never born."
Ryoma nodded in agreement while Queen Mikoto frowned. Corrin nervously moved on to drinking the odd soup. It was actually quite palatable, though it would have been better without the fact his "younger brother" giving him a death threat. There was only relief in the fact Omozu was still alive - he was the only person who could convince everyone that the attack was not intentional.
With that hope, he put his worries aside. The Hoshidan royal family started discussing other topics he didn't quite understand. The rest of the breakfast ended up with him cautiously drinking his soup, with Takumi glaring at him suspiciously from one side, and Azura gazing with sympathy from the other.
[...]
After breakfast, Corrin instinctually reached for his dishes to wash them but two servants had beat them to it. Both held suspicious expressions as the Nohrian Prince left the room. Ryoma and Takumi had departed while Azura was still finishing her tea at the table. Once again, it was only him and Queen Mikoto standing in the throne room.
"You didn't seem very well this morning." Queen Mikoto noted.
"I'm sorry Queen Mikoto." Corrin said, "I just don't feel like we're family yet."
"I don't blame you."
The Queen walked behind the large golden throne and opened up a compartment hidden at its back. After reaching inside for a few seconds, she finally produced a spherical silver object. It was approximately the size of half a cabbage head.
"Perhaps this will help." She said while gazing at the object in her two hands.
Corrin stared blankly. "What is it?"
"This is the Orb of Memories." Queen Mikoto explained, "An artifact that digs through your past. Not only can this amazing sphere store your memories, but it can also make you remember things long forgotten."
The ball glowed dimly as it was being held, reacting like a dragon vein. The queen closed her eyes and the orb began changing color. Slowly, the silver orb turned into a deep shade of scarlet. Corrin watched in awe.
"I meant to give this to you yesterday, but you were too exhausted." she explained.
"That thing can help me remember the past?" The prince pointed at the artifact.
Queen Mikoto nodded, "Yes, please help yourself."
(What a powerful artifact.)
She held out the orb towards the prince. Corrin reluctantly stepped forward and seized it from her hands. Just as when he was at the Bottomless Canyon, the Prince felt his energy drain through his hands and into the artifact's glow. His blood began pulsating again, though it was nowhere near as intense as the previous time. The orb grew brighter and brighter, until Corrin's pupils started to hurt.
"Close your eyes." She commented.
Corrin obeyed immediately. At first, his vision was completely black and nothing was out of the ordinary. The weight of the Orb of Memories disappeared from his hands, giving the sensation of him holding nothing but air. The blackness of his vision began to turn scarlet red as well. After a brief moment, the color disappeared, replaced with an extraordinary sight in his mind.
[Many Years Before]
The wise Hoshidan king looked upon the land of Cheve. The rain had only just stop, leaving the air around the township cold yet heavy. A column of samurai followed close behind him. The royal's white armor glistened as he awaited the arrival of the Nohrian delegation. Not long after, a large patrol of soldiers emerged from the town's main entrance. King Sumeragi straightened his back at the sight.
Beside the Hoshidan ruler was his son, young Kamui. The boy's white hair was carefully groomed, much to his protest. He scratched behind one of his pointy ears and glanced in amazement at the neighboring settlement.
"Cool! This is what the Nohrian royal army looks like!" Kamui exclaimed.
"Indeed." Sumeragi whispered, "A respectable nation."
As the Nohrians approached, it became apparent their own king was leading the patrol. The dark ruler bore a dark red cape and golden crown. Despite lacking armor that rivalled Sumeragi's, his attire brought along a similar audacity of power. His black and purple robes were the definition of Nohr itself: dark and furtive, yet regal and affluent.
(King Garon of Nohr)
Behind him were many soldiers equipped with lances and bows - an unusual selection for the royal guards. Garon and his patrol stopped a few feet in front of Sumeragi's forces. Both forces stood still, awaiting their next commands. The Hoshidan samurai preemptively drew their katana blades.
"King Garon." The Hoshidan king spoke first.
"King Sumeragi." Garon greeted back, "Welcome to Cheve."
His left hand closed into a fist and dropped to his side. The Nohrians backed off, either hitting the back end of their lances into the ground or lowering their bows. Sumeragi turned to his own men and nodded. They slowly sheathed their swords.
"Woah…" Kamui stared at the Nohrian ruler.
"Why hello there." Garon smirked at the boy. "Precious child."
He stepped forward towards the boy but Sumeragi stepped forward and held an arm in front of his son. The Hoshidan king narrowed his eyes.
"I can't help but wonder why you didn't bring Prince Xander." He said.
"My apologies." Garon bowed, "He is currently sick and under the care of his servants."
"I wish him a speedy recovery." Sumeragi sighed.
"Then let us get started on the proceedings."
The Nohrian guards raised their weapons and began making their way into the center of the city, followed by King Garon himself. Sumeragi waited for a safe distance between their forces before allowing his son and escort to follow on foot. Soon, they found themselves in the oddly deserted town square.
The garrison directed them towards the town hall. The Hoshidans tried to stay guard next to the main entrance, but Nohrian soldiers were already stationed there. Sumeragi nodded to his patrol leader and they positioned themselves next to the windows of the town hall. With all of the guards in place, the king reluctantly entered the building alone.
[…]
"Absolutely unacceptable."
King Garon slammed his fist onto the wooden table. Not even five minutes into the proceedings and the two royal had already reached an impasse. The room was well-lit but the windows were closed. Silhouettes of the Nohrian and Hoshidan soldiers outside were occasionally seen as they paced back in forth.
His son was still guarded by the samurai patrol. Garon had asked earlier for negotiations with Sumeragi alone. No fellow princes or advisors; just the two old and resourceful kings. Yet as wise as they were, they created several roadblocks to the current treaty.
"All we are asking for is a relocation of that particular settlement." Sumeragi exasperated, "It's too close to the border."
"That fortress is fine where it is." Garon retorted, "Are you trying to relinquish Nohrian influence over the area?"
"Of course not." Sumeragi gritted his teeth, "I'm saying it's making our magistrates upset. We'll relocate our two fortifications from the south as well. See? Here"
The Hoshidan King crossed his arms and tugged at his moustache. This offer was fair to both sides - demilitarizing the regions closest to the border will make skirmishes unfeasible and the border less volatile. Only a fool would turn it down. Garon rested his head on one of his arms and groaned softly. The groan dragged on, dissolving into a deep chuckle.
"King Garon, are you alright?" Sumeragi asked with surprise.
"Of course." He replied, "Now, I'll have you see the demands of Nohr."
(Finally, some progress)
The Nohrian ruler pulled an envelope from inside his robe and presented it to Sumeragi. He quickly opened it up to read the document inside. It was the most bizarre document he had ever laid eyes on.
Nohrian forces must be permitted to lodge in Hoshidan villages for at least a fortnight. No Hoshidan can slander the Nohrian royal family. The Kingdom of Hoshido must provide a bounty of a thousand bags of rice annually to the Kingdom of Nohr.
The list continued on.
"This must be a joke." Sumeragi responded, "Where are the real terms?"
"Those are our terms." Garon grunted, "After we crush your pathetic country."
Sumeragi blinked and opened his mouth, but he could not utter a word. This was not a negotiation neither an ultimatum. It was straight up intimidation.
"Don't bother speaking." He continued, "I knew how you would react."
Garon put his hand to his lips and whistled loudly. The silhouettes on the thin curtains suddenly disappeared as the guards outside scrambled. Seconds later, the sound of swords clashing came outside. The Nohrians struck the Hoshidan escort, catching them off guard. The streets were filled with guards shouting from both sides.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sumeragi exclaimed furiously as he stood up. Garon calmly bent over and reached at a compartment hidden under the table. When he came back up, his hand held a giant axe and he showed a devious grin.
(This was never meant to be a peace treaty at all.)
"Goodbye, King Sumeragi." He said.
Garon swung the axe down on the Hoshidan, but he quickly dodged the hefty blow. Sumeragi leapt from his chair and started bolting towards the door. Outside, two Nohrian guards were ready to strike him down.
Sumeragi was able to sidestep the first guard. When the second one tried to stab him with a polearm, the Hoshidan king used his elbow to block the attack. He ran passed both attackers and outside the town hall. Garon's laughter echoed in the passageway behind him.
Outside, samurai were fighting against several lancer reinforcements. Sumeragi was initially unconcerned with his protection, as his patrol was larger than Garon's. However, many soldiers emerged to join the ambush, hidden inside townhouses since the beginning. While the samurai were beating back their foes, more came from a street to their right. Sumeragi ran frantically towards his column.
"Milord, you must leave this area immediately!" The patrol leader shouted from next to the carriage. He tossed Sumeragi his sacred blade. He caught it in the air and turned towards the Nohrian reinforcements.
"Where's my son!?" The King shouted.
"He was separated from the patrol and taken that way!" The samurai pointed at an alley. Just in his view, a five-man patrol was running down the street. One of them grabbed the hand of a white-haired boy who was running with them.
"Hold them off!" Sumeragi shouted, "I'm not leaving without my son!"
"Milord, wait!" The samurai shouted.
His words did not go through. Sumeragi had already dashed his way into the alley, leaving behind his escort. Adrenaline coursed through his veins and his vision became shaky. He caught up to the Nohrian soldiers before they made a turn into another alleyway.
(I cannot allow Kamui to fall into their hands!)
The Nohrians turned at the sound of his running and drew their blades. Sumeragi threw out a battle cry as he continued sprinting forward at incredible speed. Using his sacred Astra technique, he quickly struck the first two guards with blinding speed, before they could even react.
"Fiends!" He screeched.
Two other soldiers lunged at the King with their swords. Sumeragi parried one of them quickly and kicked the heel of the other, tripping the swordsman up. The King's sword stabbed into the back of the fallen soldier. The other had sheathed his sword and got up to run away.
The final Nohrian had ran a fair distance away from the fight. He dragged along Kamui, who was struggling to keep up. Sumeragi gave close chase. The young boy suddenly threw himself onto the ground and the soldier lost his grip. The Nohrian decided to ditch the boy and retreat into another street. Kamui fell onto the streets and slid a bit on the ground. His face was horribly scratched.
"Kamui, are you ok?" Sumeragi sheathed his sword and ran up to him.
His son had a few bruises and his shirt was torn up, but no blood was on him. He could still run and they could still escape.
"F-father…" Corrin murmured, still lying on the ground. "Behind y-"
"King Sumeragi."
The malicious voice boomed from behind them. The King turned around, seeing the Nohrian ruler smiling. The clouds had gotten darker, as if the entire universe was objecting to his presence. A large group of archers was behind him. He was not going to make it back to his patrol after all.
(I- It's over…)
Corrin shuddered at the sight. Sumeragi clenched his teeth and pulled out his holy sword again. On the other side, Garon's face scrunched in amusement. The archers have finished priming their bows and took aim at the Hoshidan King.
"Fire at will." Garon ordered. In a brutal rehearsed attack, the archers fired their arrows. The projectiles whizzed past the king in a huge volley, and towards the lone Sumeragi. He braced for impact.
An arrow struck Sumeragi in his chest. Another in his arm. Another on his thigh. Pain pulsed throughout his body with each impalement, and the arrows did not stop coming. He had lost full control of himself. He moaned as his chest convulsed painfully. The king fell to his feet, his armor compromised and with wood sticking out of every limb.
"I'm disappointed in you, Sumeragi." Garon laughed, "That wasn't even my finest trap."
The Nohrian ruler walked forward and pulled out his massive sword. His red cape blew in the wind. Without hesitation, he swung downward his defeated enemy, slicing open his chest. Sumeragi screamed in pain and fell to the ground immediately.
Corrin curled himself into a ball, trembling at the sight. He put his arm over his vision as Garon slashed with his sword. When he looked back, his father was on the ground, motionless. The army of archers stood silently as they stared at him.
"You poor thing. Orphaned… at such a tender young age."
He pulled out his hand, reaching for Corrin's body. The young Prince closed his eyes in fear, hoping for the whole world to disappear. He saw nothing again, except black. The black slowly reverted back into a deep shade of red.
"You are my child now."
Corrin opened his eyes as the scarlet faded back into reality. He felt the weight of the orb on his hands again. Blinking in horror at his past memories, he dropped the sphere. It hit the carpet with a loud sound and rolled slowly to the queen's side.
"Kamui?" Queen Mikoto exclaimed, "Are you alright?" She quickly picked up the Orb of Memories and stared at her son.
"I… I finally remember!" The prince breathed, "I remember…"
The lost memories were ingrained in his mind, as if he saw them yesterday. The buildings of Cheve. The determination of the samurai. King Garon's presence. His father's pursuit. The sudden fighting. His father's death.
"My real father-?"
"So you remember that day." Queen Mikoto sighed. She walked to the back of the throne to put back the Orb of Memories. Corrin fell to his knees as a small headache accompanied the influx of information. He felt like he could remember more, but his mind was grasping at empty straws.
"Please, Kamui" Queen Mikoto returned to Corrin's side, "Please tell me what you saw." Corrin stood back up and turned to his mother.
"I was with my father on a patrol and he went into the town hall with King Garon." He recalled, "I heard a whistle and suddenly the Nohrian guards lunged at the Hoshidans. In the confusion, a group of soldiers took me away. My father tried to rescue me but then-" He paused. "But then…"
He could not bring himself to say it. The man's body lying on the ground was too horrifying to recall. King Sumeragi's blood pooled onto the floor.
(How could I forget such a grotesque tragedy?)
"It's okay." Queen Mikoto said, "It must have been horrible having to see what happened so many years ago. I'm sorry that's what the orb made you remember."
"It's fine." Corrin replied, "You were right. I would have been completely overwhelmed yesterday."
"And now?" The queen asked.
"I want to know more." The prince grimaced, "I know I might not like it, but I want to see when we were a family."
He wanted to know what kind of a mother Queen Mikoto was when he was still a part of the Hoshidan royal family. He wanted to see how he and his father spent time together in the castle, and how he played with Ryoma and the other siblings.
"We'll do that tomorrow." The Queen shook her head, "You are exhausted."
"I see." Corrin admitted. He had forgotten how much power was needed to activate a dragon vein.
Queen Mikoto wiped her eyes. "You will learn everything." Her voice started to crack like yesterday. "Your father would be joyful to learn that you have returned."
"Queen Mikoto…"
"You may have forgotten about the time I was your mother, but I never stopped loving you when you were gone." She continued, "So please, don't focus too much on the past. As long as we're together, we can start anew. We can create new, happier memories. That's all I ever wanted for you as a mother."
Corrin walked up to his crying mother and slowly embraced her. Queen Mikoto wrapped her arms around her son and held him tight. Her clothes had a smell that became more familiar to him than ever before. He could finally believe he had found his Hoshidan family at last.
"Mother." Corrin murmured, "I am so happy to see you again."
"Me too, Kamui." Queen Mikoto sobbed. "Welcome home."
Sakura and Hinoka walked down the aisles of wounded Hoshidans. Most of them had fallen asleep while others were staring at the ceiling in silence. One of the shrine maidens uncovered a mild fever befalling a small group of soldiers. The less injured samurai assisted in quarantining the sick.
Hana volunteered to keep watch at the fort's entrance for visitors. Midday was the garrison's favorite time of day, because that was when the local villagers delivered food as thanks for their protection. After working an exhausting morning, it was no wonder she would want to be the first one to get her hands on a meal.
"Geez, these archers are beat up bad." Hinoka said after surveying her aisle.
"Yeah… Various stab wounds. Abrasions. Mild nausea." Sakura exhaled.
"Hey, the Pegasus knights are all in good shape though!" Her sister beamed, "Just as expected of our best warriors."
(That's… more likely because they arrived late to the fight.)
After making another cold compress for Omozu, the two sisters decided to take a break to join Hana outside. The warm noon sun radiated the grasslands beyond. Yet another cloudless afternoon greeted Fort Jinya.
"Lady Sakura, Hinoka!" Hana called as she saw them walk towards her, "Good timing. Look who's back!"
The samurai pointed at the sky. Surely enough, a Pegasus knight descended into view. The red-haired knight steered his mount into a gentle landing next to Sakura. Tied to his steed was a large basket filled with herbs to the rim. The tall knight jumped off his Pegasus and ran towards them.
"Welcome back, Tsubaki!" Hinoka exclaimed.
"Pfft. Why were you late?" Hana scoffed. Tsubaki kneeled in front of his master quickly before turning back to his fellow retainer.
"These herbs were harder to find then you think." He responded while smiling, "Of course, Lady Sakura deserves only the best batch."
"O-oh, thanks Tsubaki. It's just what we needed…" Sakura said.
Tsubaki was a skilled Pegasus knight in the army who earned the recommendation of Hinoka. He and Hana always got into the pettiest of arguments if she didn't intervene. Ever since he became her retainer, he had always been a competent worker who could not accept anything less than perfection.
"Milady." Tsubaki said, "I bring bad news."
"What?" Sakura froze, "Bad news? What's wrong?"
Tsubaki cleared his throat. "While searching for the herbs, I came across a large group of maybe two to three hundred Faceless in a field north-west of here."
Sakura froze at the news.
(Faceless? This deep into Hoshidan territory?)
"That's concerning." Hinoka said, "How close are they?"
"Quite a distance away." Tsubaki replied, "They're travelling in random directions as well. I'm guessing they probably won't make it here anytime soon."
"So in other words, we are pretty safe then." Hinoka concluded.
Safe was not reassuring enough. Fort Jinya's garrison was already miniscule to begin with. Many of the soldiers were still wounded to some extent, and could not be expected to fight effectively. Should the Faceless find this location, there would be terrible consequences. Especially if there are over three hundred of them…
"Don't worry, Lady Sakura!" Hana piped, "Even if they do make it here, I won't allow them to make it past this gate."
"Me neither of course." Tsubaki jumped in, "Those spuds-for-brains Faceless won't stand a chance against us."
Sakura looked at her two retainers. "U-uh, that's good."
She always put her absolute trust in Hana and Tsubaki, but could they return that trust? She was always a shrine maiden - not exactly a talented commander like Ryoma or Hinoka. Omozu was still in bad condition too.
"Leave it to me, sis." Hinoka turned to Sakura, "I know exactly how to eviscerate those abominations."
"Alright then," She said in relief, "Please tell us what to do."
"Great. We first need to contact Castle Shirasagi for reinforcements, just in case."
"A good idea." Tsubaki nodded.
"And you will be the one who does it." Hinoka pointed at Sakura's retainer.
"Hey what?" He exclaimed, "Why me?"
"You actually saw army of Faceless." Hinoka explained, "You would be able to provide them with the most accurate information."
Fort Jinya was only a few hours away from Castle Shirasagi by foot, and only an hour by Pegasus. If they managed to move a bigger army into the fort by evening, then they could wait for Omozu's forces to recover before hunting down the Faceless. They only need wait a few days longer.
"But, what about Lady Sakura?" Tsubaki asked, "I can't just leave her here."
"No, it's fine Tsubaki." Sakura said timidly, "W-we need those reinforcements…"
"Certainly then milady, you can depend on me." The Pegasus knight grinned.
He returned to his steed and began unloading the herbs in preparation for the long flight. Hana went off to help him unload while Hinoka crossed her arms, deep in thought. Sakura tilted her head and waited for the next order.
"Alright, no need to panic." Hinoka spoke confidently, "We need to come up with a defense strategy in the meantime."
"Y-yes." Sakura agreed.
(She is so calm. Is this how real leaders face danger?)
"Sakura, how many are fit to fight?"
"Er." The shrine maiden thought hard about what Omozu told him and her record of all of the wounded. "We have, um, twenty samurai from the garrison and another forty from Omozu's forces. There are the two patrols of Pegasus knights… and I think twenty archers. The rest are too wounded to fight…"
Hinoka thought deep about the numbers in her head and stared at the gate leading into Fort Jinya. She took her lance and started drawing circles and lines into the soft dirt next to the path. Sakura watched at her side in fascination. Just after Tsubaki had taken off to the Capital, Hana ran back to the two Princesses.
"Right, a hundred of us against about three hundred of them." Hinoka stared at the lines and scratches on the ground.
"Even if they reach Fort Jinya, we've encountered worse before." Hana smiled, "It's going to be a piece of cake."
Sakura watched as her older sister and Hana discussed their plans. The shrine maiden's head began to spin. Her sister and retainers were so much more powerful than she was, she couldn't help but feel like deadweight.
But, in face of all dangers she still had a job to do - her job was to help keep everyone alive. Even if they the Faceless somehow found them, Hinoka and Hana were tough warriors. She was probably getting worried for nothing.
(We're going to be fine… right?)
Corrin and Ryoma walked together down the castle's courtyard. Lunch was delicious if not exotic and every day, Castle Shirasagi got more and more exciting to explore. The Prince started to feel guilt that he was not training or helping around the castle to make up for his warm reception.
"Tell me more about Father." Corrin said as they walked passed the small pond.
"Sumeragi was a great administrator." Ryoma replied, "A master of the sword and even a talented poet."
"Wow, he sounds amazing."
The visions returned. King Sumeragi's face turned from relief to despair as his eyes turned from him to King Garon. His memories at Nohr must have been an elaborate lie. But no matter how hard he believe, it just did not feel like a lie.
"Yes, he unfortunately left us the day you were captured." Ryoma mused, "You were one of his favorites, you know."
"Was I?" Corrin asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I remember how jealous I was that you were going to Cheve." Ryoma laughed, "Then he told me King Garon asked for you specifically to come."
That part confused Corrin when he still had the Orb of Memories. Sumeragi should have brought his eldest son and heir to the throne to the peace treaty. For some reason, it turned out to be him instead, and he was the one taken away as a result.
"Tell me, Kamui." The crown prince continued, "How was Nohr?"
"Oh, uh, Fath- King Garon was a very tough figure." Corrin stammered, "I was locked away in the Northern Fortress to train until I was 'ready'."
"Were you lonely?" Ryoma asked.
"Sometimes. Gunter and the Nohrian royal siblings came to visit as often as possible. Felicia, Jakob, and Flora were also very kind."
"You must miss them." Ryoma said.
"I guess I do…"
Ryoma stopped in his tracks on the path and stared into Corrin's eyes. The Prince swallowed as he got the close-up of his new older brother's face. Without his armor, Ryoma's physique was somehow even more intimidating.
His voice turned low and serious. "Kamui. I know this is difficult to believe, but they are trying to deceive you. We are your true family."
"True family." Corrin repeated. The words felt foreign to him.
(I guess I never really knew what it was like to truly be part of a family.)
"You belong with us." Ryoma said, putting his arm on Corrin's shoulder. "You don't understand how destroyed we felt when you and Father were taken away from us."
"Thanks Ryoma," Corrin replied, "I'll be sure to remember."
Ryoma stared at the prince with an unconvinced expression. Corrin wondered if his message did not get through. First Azura, and then Ryoma; there was no end to his tongue-tied mouth today.
"He must be very special to you." Ryoma said at last.
"Who?"
"Prince Xander."
"Yes…" Corrin admitted, "We trained a lot in the Northern Fortress. He taught me everything I know about sword-fighting."
"Interesting. The Crown Prince of Nohr has taught you how to fight."
He was not the only one. Gunter helped teach him battlefield tactics as well. Camilla and Elise often kept him company every time they visited. Leo to some extent also paid him some visits, before Corrin got sick of always losing at chess against him.
Those few happy faces were the only ones who were family to him in the past. To throw them all away along with Felicia and the others would feel absolutely horrible. Yet, that was exactly what Ryoma wanted him to do.
"Very well." Ryoma said, "I challenge you to a duel, Kamui."
"Eh? A duel?"
The request caught Corrin off-guard. Rinkah's blows to his head was long gone but he did not expect to fight another Hoshidan while he was in the castle. Ryoma's intense eyes told him that he should not turn down this challenge.
"You want to duel me?" Corrin asked.
"I want to see what you already learned." Ryoma said, "And as long as you're here, I have some of my own moves to teach you."
It became evident Ryoma was willing to do whatever it takes to replace the Xander in his mind. It would be just like another duel with his older brother. If anything, his suggestion brought back more memories of his times in the Northern Fortress.
"Positive. We have practice katana in the armory." He pointed at a more isolated part of the castle next to the courtyard.
"Oh, I'm not good with katana blades." Corrin said sheepishly, "The weight is balanced differently, so can I just use Ganglari?"
"If you are talking about your black longsword, I guess." Ryoma stroked his chin, "Let's head back to the castle."
The two quickly entered the side door into the main hall of the castle. There, Ganglari was partially wrapped with a cloth and was sitting on a chest in the far corner of the armory. The room had several weapons he had never seen before.
There were bows taller than his entire body and several colorful clubs. On stands there were standard katana designs and steel naginata, and there were many more shurikens. All were neatly labeled and organized on shelves, next to scattered body armor and helmets.
"Go on." Ryoma pointed at Ganglari, "Pick it up."
Corrin carefully undid the wrapping and grasped the blade in his arm. The purple glint it usually gave off was completely exhausted. Whatever it was before, it turned back into a completely normal Nohrian sword.
Ryoma took a quick look at the katana and picked up a slim one made of iron from the stand. He pointed it forward and flipped it a few times to inspect its quality. Finally, he took off its sheath.
"You're not using your own sword?" Corrin asked. Xander always used his mighty Siegfried in battle, even in training.
"I don't need it." The High Prince said, "Come on, let's get return to the courtyard. I expect you to show me your best."
"You'll get it." Corrin nodded. It has been a long time since his last duel with Xander. It was time to show Ryoma what he was made of.
[…]
"Gah!"
Corrin cried as Ganglari was easily struck away from his hand. One lightning fast slash separated the Prince from his longsword as he stumbled sideways. Ryoma jumped back and prepared for another strike.
"That's your best?" The high prince grunted, "Or are you intentionally feigning a weakness?"
The white-haired Prince panted and recovered his sword while his foe waited. The impromptu duel was quickly turning into an embarrassment. Xander mostly fought him on the horse. Even in the battle near the abandoned fortress, none of the samurai he faced had the same dexterity as Ryoma.
"Come at me again." Ryoma sighed, holding up his katana. Corrin tightened his grip on Ganglari and charged. It felt just like his training with Xander. His training partner smiled and prepared for his next move.
"Ryoma!"
A voice came from the castle door, interrupting the fight. Corrin stopped his run, skidding his boots on the ground. Ryoma straightened his back and withdrew his slim katana. The two Princes turned to see Takumi walking towards them.
"Yes, Takumi?" Ryoma turned to his younger brother.
"Tsubaki has returned to the castle." He replied, "You must return to our mother's court immediately."
"Understood. Come with us Kamui." Ryoma and Takumi quickly paced towards the castle. Corrin pointed Ganglari towards the ground as he ran to catch up. The three rushed towards the hallways.
They made their way towards the center rooms of the castle. The royals ended up in the large room just outside of the throne room. There, a sleek man with long red hair and gray armor was standing with Queen Mikoto. Azura stood next to them as well, listening to his report.
"Ryoma, Takumi, I'm glad you're here." The man said.
Ryoma nodded "Hello Tsubaki. What news do you bring?"
"We have discovered a large group of Faceless in a field not far from Fort Jinya." The man explained, "Lady Sakura and Hinoka are requesting reinforcements."
"Reinforcements?" Ryoma hissed, "How many Faceless are there?"
"Three hundred, or maybe less" He replied, "They definitely outnumber the garrison and Omozu's forces. The good news is that those dumb bastards probably won't find the fort in the first place."
"It's still best to take precautions however." Takumi reasoned.
The Faceless - Large and powerful beasts that terrorized the border. Though Corrin never saw one in action before, he heard they decimated towns on both sides of the border and appeared in hordes.
"Unfortunately, there's more unsettling news." Lady Mikoto said, "A scout reported another horde near the Flame Tribe's settlement. This is very troubling."
"That means we must divide what forces we have to deal with both of them." Ryoma commented, "Nohr has the audacity to launch two attacks at once."
The red-haired man butted in. "If it is any reassurance, the ones near Fort Jinya are just wandering around aimlessly, so there is no immediate rush there."
Sakura and Hinoka were at the fort, along with Omozu. Those were the two remaining siblings Corrin had yet to meet. The prince thought hard, but to no avail. Those names still didn't trigger anything in his memories.
"Alright, then we should split our forces accordingly." Ryoma crossed his arms, "I can take Suzukaze and my forces to the Flame Tribe and Takumi can lead the three archer platoons stationed here to Fort Jinya."
"Sounds like a plan." Takumi rolled up his sleeves.
"Wait a second." Corrin said. "I want to fight as well." His two brothers stared at him.
He thought were two motivations at play there. One was to help make up for their border skirmish that injured Omozu's forces in the first place. The second was to prove to Ryoma and Takumi that he could be trusted as a good person.
"Huh." Takumi spat, "Really? You? I don't think so."
"No Takumi." Ryoma intervened, "I think he should come. I want Kamui to see the truth with his own eyes."
(What do you mean, truth?)
"Mother, what do you think?" Takumi turned to Lady Mikoto and Azura, who stayed silent since Ryoma took command. Azura blinked as the queen stared at Corrin with concern.
"Well, do you think he is ready to fight so soon?" Lady Mikoto asked.
"He's got some areas to work on, but he'll manage." Ryoma replied. The young prince's face flushed a light red.
"Very well." She turned back to Corrin, "You are capable of making your own choice, Kamui. I shall leave it to you."
"What will you choose?" Azura asked out of nowhere.
Her question seemed innocent enough but her tone made it sound ominous, as if he can never go back on his decision. Corrin looked down at his boots while the rest of the people in the room waited for a response.
"I'll go." He said at last.
"Fine." Takumi hissed, "Then you're coming with me."
"Eh?"
Corrin was surprised at his sudden demand. Takumi was the only one who didn't welcome him back with open arms. He would be the last person to want him tagging along towards Fort Jinya.
"It's settled." Ryoma said, "Kaze and I shall head northbound while Takumi, Tsubaki, and Kamui shall head towards Fort Jinya. I'll get the armies ready."
"Understood." The man bowed.
Ryoma and Tsubaki went their separate ways. Lady Mikoto and Azura gazed at Corrin. While Mother held her usual calm demeanor, Azura's face remained inexpressive. The Prince stared back until Takumi tugged at his arm impatiently.
Takumi led the Nohrian prince back towards the path leading to the armory. As Corrin followed him, the corner of his eye caught Queen Mikoto's smile slowly turn into a frown. He turned away to see the path ahead.
(We were just reunited yesterday. There is no way you are losing me that easily!)
At least, that was what he wanted to believe.
Takumi assembled Corrin and his regiment to march towards Fort Jinya with great timeliness. The Pegasus knight decided to tag along with them rather than return alone. The fifty-strong column of archers walked in a disciplined file. Most were requisitioned off the castle's guard, and they chattered in annoyance at their sudden departure. Corrin, Tsubaki, and Takumi were in front. For most of the trek, his younger brother barely said a word to him.
At the very least, Corrin felt good getting being reunited with his armor. The Hoshidan servants were thorough in cleaning the muck that once stained it. They even found a way to patch up the slit the arrow impaling his leg created, several days ago.
"We are almost there." The retainer pointed at the road that went behind the hill ahead. He was riding the Pegasus on the ground, as its wings were worn out from the repeated flying.
"Great." Corrin said, "Thanks, Ts- Su-Zubaki?"
The Pegasus knight stifled a chuckle while Takumi rolled his eyes and scratched his forehead.
"It's Tsubaki." He clarified, "But you can just call me Subaki if that's easier. That's actually my official name in the army so the Southern Hoshidans can pronounce it."
"I'll keep that in mind." Corrin said, trying to move past the situation quickly.
The three continued leading the column until they were almost at the top of the hill. Clouds started to accumulate and there were only a few more hours before dark left. Corrin swore he heard Subaki's stomach growl more than a few times.
"You, we need you in the rear." Takumi ordered, "Make sure our forces don't fall behind."
Subaki stepped off the path to wait for the rest of the army to advance past him. Corrin moved in closer to the middle of the path next to Takumi, but the archer moved away slightly in response.
"What's wrong?" Corrin grumbled. Takumi's decision to include him on the patrol started to confuse the young Knight, as the Hoshidan was purposely distancing himself. It was starting to become an annoyance.
"I don't trust you." Takumi confessed, starting into his eyes, "You are here so I can keep a closer eye on your activities. Ryoma would have let his guard down."
"I vow I will help protect your people." Corrin said with an assertive voice.
(I guess it's natural for the Hoshidans to still be a bit cautious around me.)
"You better." Takumi hissed, "One wrong move and you'll have sixty arrows sticking out your back, before you can even run."
Corrin closed his mouth in protest and looked towards the sky. He expected some people to be suspicious, but Takumi was going overboard. It would take a lot of weeks before he could earn everyone's trust. As they reached the hilltop, horrible sounds and sights greeted them.
They saw the many plains ahead. The road they were using led towards the fortress in the middle of the grassland. Before the two Princes was a huge throng of supernatural beings. Their bodies were husky, Sgrey and barely resembled that of humans. They have made their way through the fields, and the few closest to Fort Jinya's gates were fighting with the samurai at the gates.
The rest of the patrol stopped and formed a line to survey the situation. Subaki was the last one to run forward. His eyes opened wide with distress.
"Lady Sakura!" He exclaimed, "That's impossible. How could the Faceless find this place and arrive so quickly?"
"That's a mystery worth solving later." Takumi said, "We're just in time to save them."
"This is bad." Corrin said frantically, "Our forces were supposed to meet up with the garrison. We'll be done for if those… things… come too close."
The Faceless had dispersed across the field and were beginning to form a semicircle to partially surround the fort. Corrin watched in horror as the creatures with masks for heads were beginning to pick up their speed.
"Archers!" Takumi shouted, trying to maintain his composure. "No coordinated volleys! Single target-and-shoot for now!"
With that command, the column began pulling arrows out of their quivers. Takumi himself crossed his fingers. They began to glow blue as he tugged on his longbow's string. As he pulled back, the light had stretched along where his fingers moved, until it formed an arrow made of a blue essence. Corrin's eyes darted back to the Faceless army.
Those creatures were definitely powerful. Their swings look powerful enough to knock people off their feet. They would have to fight carefully to prevent casualties, yet they had to be quick or else the garrison would fall. If they got too close, the archers wouldn't stand a chance. They weren't meant to fight away from the samurai or ninjas.
(This situation is all too familiar!)
"Pair up into your assigned groups of two." Takumi commanded, "Spread out and keep your distance. Go!"
With their orders, the archers went with their predetermined partners and extended themselves across the hill. Corrin was amazed at the coordination as the archers quickly found their vantages.
"What shall we do, milord?" Subaki exclaimed, "Our archers are out of position."
"Tsubaki, you fly yourself into the fort and tell Sakura we're here." Takumi pointed at the gate with his bow, "Help them defend the fort while we thin the numbers."
"Will do." Subaki responded.
The Pegasus knight tugged on the reins and his steed neighed before running and taking off into a low flight. As he flew above the Faceless, Corrin turned to Takumi and awaited his command. The commander shot his bow into the crowd, hitting one of the Faceless at the back of their head several yards away. The monster moaned before stumbling onto the ground. The other fiend around them stopped in confusion before continuing their advance.
"We need to go closer and split them up." Takumi observed, "Kamui, you're pairing up with me. While I go save everyone, you keep those scum off my back."
"Wait bu-"
Takumi had already made his way down the hill at the front of his archers. A group of Faceless had inevitably noticed the Hoshidan reinforcements and started moving uphill. Corrin gulped as he saw the lumbering giants make their way towards them.
"Guess I have no choice." He muttered to himself.
The prince drew out Ganglari and moved down the hill. The archers had stopped shooting into the crowd and began focusing on point-range shooting. Takumi was at the front of all of them, pointing his sacred bow at the Faceless. Corrin quickly joined his side and unsheathed Ganglari. He was the only one with a sword.
"Remember." Takumi muttered as he primed another shot, "One wrong move and you're dead. Get ready to cut them down."
Corrin got into an attack stance. The Faceless were approaching at a faster speed than he expected. The archers were also panicking, but most held their position and continued shooting. Corrin's shoulders tensed. Xander and Gunter's training had prepared him for these types of situations.
He was going to use his strength to save the army he fought at the border. He had been waiting to redeem himself. As the young Prince stared into the eyes of the invaders, he recalled his mother's wish of creating new, happier memories with him. It was a wish he intended to fulfill.
"Let's do this."
A/N: Thanks for reading!
Our first person to be paired up is: Arthur! The poll can be found on my profile page. They close July 18th, 2016.
Reviews on how to improve are always welcome. If you like what you read, follow / favorite for updates. Don't forget to vote, friends of justice!