Chapter 7; Summoner Guardian

After the battle with the Nohr army, Corrin was given command of a small team of warriors. That team was Gavin, Azura, Kaze, Rinkah, and Jakob, who may be from Nohr, but was allowed to follow Corrin because of his loyalty towards Corrin. They didn't have any orders yet, so Azura took Corrin and her team to Fort Jinya, a fort that was close to where the battle was. Once they reach the main gate, Gavin said to Azura. "So this is Fort Jinya?"

"Yes. Sakura is already here, tending to wounded soldiers and citizens. Let's go and help her."

"By all means." Corrin said before they all walked inside. Deep inside the fort were a lot of wounded soldiers and citizens. Sakura was helping with the wounded, then she noticed Corrin and her team. Sakura walked over to Corrin and said. "Corrin! Thank you for coming!"

"Is everything OK, Sakura? I'm here to help." Corrin said before Gavin said. "Don't forget about us."

"Thanks, we're really short staffed." Sakura said before a samurai woman and a male sky knight. The samurai woman was the first to speak to Corrin. "Hello, Lady Corrin. I'm Hana. Lady Sakura has told me all about you."

"And I'm Subaki. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Corrin." The male sky knight said to Corrin. Corrin then said to Hana and Subaki. "Nice to meet both of you. I'm afraid you probably know a lot more about me than I know about either of you."

"That's OK, Corrin. I'm sure you'll be fast friends in no time. Hana and Subaki are my retainers, always close at hand and ready to help." Sakura said and then Corrin said. "Ah, I see. Well, we should have plenty of time to relax and get to know—"

"Corrin, we've got trouble!" Azura yelled to them after she looked out the window. "Seriously? We haven't been here for five minutes." Corrin said and then Gavin said. "You must have jinxed us. But what's wrong?"

"The Nohrian soldiers haven't wasted any time surrounding us." Azura said and then Corrin said. "Unbelievable."

"I can't believe they'd attack at a time like this… We're using most of the fort as a makeshift hospital, there's no military target here! Why can't they just leave us alone?" Sakura said before Hana said to her. "Don't worry, milady. I can handle this."

"With my help, of course. If you'd like, Lady Sakura, you may remain with the wounded while we resolve this." Subaki said to Sakura. Sakura then said to them. "I'll consider it. Thank you. Both of you."

"Well then. I guess we'll be getting to know each other in a hurry. Nothing like a life-or-death situation to cut right through the small talk." Corrin said as she, Gavin, and Azura pulled out their deck boxes. "Henshin!" Corrin, Gavin, and Azura said and then turned into Dawn, G-Wing, and Waves. Hana then said to Dawn. "As you command, Lady Corrin! As Lady Sakura's lead retainer, it will be my pleasure to take your orders."

"And as Lady Sakura's supervising retainer. I, too, welcome your leadership." Subaki said and then Hana said to Subaki. "Supervising retainer? That's not a thing."

"Well, neither is lead retainer. I don't remember you getting a promotion."

"Lady Sakura and I have been best friends since childhood! I've ALWAYS been her lead retainer."

"I'm not sure this is the time or place for such discussion, but… I believe my results on the battlefield speak for themselves."

"Oh, so is that why you neglect all non battle duties? Is that why I'm the one maintaining all of our gear and scouting the enemy?"

"Stop fighting, and HELP!" G-Wing said and Dawn, Sakura, Hana, and Subaki turned to see Corrin's team fighting some of the Nohr soldiers that had already entered the fort. G-Wing was then stabbed in the leg and fell down. Dawn, Hana and Subaki then attacked the Nohr soldier, pushing them away from G-Wing, Sakura and the wounded. As Sakura healed G-Wing, she said to him. "Sorry about them."

"It's fine." G-Wing said and then Sakura finished healing him. Sakura then helped G-Wing up and the energy that turned Corrin into Dawn and Azura into Waves surrounded Sakura.

Outside, Dawn and the others pushed the Nohr soldiers outside and they joined up with the commander, a cavalier knight with black armor and gray hair. Dawn then said to the commander. "Who are you, and why are you attack this place?"

"That's the voice… I remember. IS it really you Corrin."

"You know me?"

"Yes, it's me, Silas! We were best friends as children."

"I don't remember much, I'm afraid." Dawn said, and then Waves said to Dawn. "Corrin, be careful. This could be a trap of some sort."

"I promise that I am telling the truth. However, it seems we are destined to clash swords regardless of our past…" Silas said and then the soldiers attacked again. "Summon Sea Lancer." Waves Fin said and then she used her lance to keep the battle outside, and the proved to be a easy thing. There were two reasons for that. The Nohr soldiers were expecting weak and injured Hoshido soldiers, so they were caught off guard by Dawn and her team. And the other was that Silas stop giving the soldiers commands, so they were very disorganized. Hana and Subaki were doing well, until a hidden group of archers got ready to fire at them. Dawn noticed them and said. "Hana, Subaki! Watch out!" Hana and Subaki heard Dawn, but it was too late. The archers fired at them and they couldn't put their guards up in time.

"Summon Turtlegon." A voice said and then a green turtle shell appeared in the air and blocked the arrows from hitting Hana and Subaki. Once the arrows stopped, white dragon legs and head then popped out of the shell and let out a let roar scaring the archers. Dawn then said to Waves as she blocked an attack with Yato. "Did you summon that?"

"No, I did not." Waves said as she killed a Nohr soldier. G-Wing then appeared and killed the one attacking Dawn with his Griffin Saber. G-Wing then said to Dawn. "You guys ok?"

"Yeah, but did you summoned the that?"

"Guardian summoned that."

"Who's Guardian?" Waves said, and G-Wing pointed to a woman who had white robe with patches of green armor, a small green shield with a turtle shell theme on her left hand, a green helmet that also had a turtle shell theme with a red visor for the eye holes, and her belt had a green deck boxes with a white image of a dragon head coming out of a turtle shell. Guardian then walked over to Hana and Subaki. "Are you two ok?" Guardian said and her voice was Sakura. That surprised everyone, and an archer, who got over his fear, was going to take a shot at her. Guardian noticed the arrow and blocked it with her shield.

She then pulled out a card from her deck and placed it into her shield, and her shield said. "Summon Shell Bow." Then a bow that had a green turtle shell theme and white bow string appeared in her hands, and arrows appeared on her back. Guardian then fired an arrow at the archer, it didn't kill the archer, but wounded him. Hana was then able to go for the kill. Guardian, Hana and Subaki were able to deal with the archers, and Turtlegon protected them from any attacks. Dawn said to G-Wing as they fought off Nohr soldiers. "How did Sakura turn into a Summoner?"

"I don't know how, but there's some kind of energy in me. That can turn anyone with royal blood into a Summoner."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Waves said as they were getting close to Silas. "I have a theory, but I didn't know if it was true or not until Sakura helped me up after I got stabbed and she healed me."

"But how is she fighting like that?" Dawn said as she killed another solider. G-Wing then said to Dawn as he blocked and kicked a solider away. "I'm guessing it is the Deck Beast that is helping her fight. Just like how I fought you back at the castle. Plus the training Takumi gave her." G-Wing then found an opening and used that opening to attack Silas. Silas blocked G-Wing's sword with a lance and he said to G-Wing. "Don't take this personally. I'm just following orders from King Garon…"

"I understand, but I won't just lay down and die." G-Wing said, as they kept fighting, with them each getting a few good hits. Dawn then attacked Silas. Silas didn't raise his weapon, but took the attack. Silas fell and what remained of the Nohr soldier fled to Nohr. Dawn pointed her sword at Silas and Silas said. "Go on. Kill me."

"No. This isn't right." Dawn said as she pulled her sword away from Silas. Silas then said to Dawn. "What are you waiting for?"

"You seemed hesitant to attack us, even as you led your army into battle. Why were you holding back? Because we were friends? Aren't you here on King Garon's orders? Did you even intend to defeat us?" Dawn said and Silas looked away. G-Wing then pointed his sword at Silas and said. "Answer the questions?"

"Corrin… some things are more important than following orders." Silas said and then G-Wing put his sword closer and said. "You're going to need to be clearer than that, or I will finish you off."

"Gavin, what are you doing?" Dawn said to G-Wing and G-Wing said. "Sorry, I know it's too much, but I want to know why he didn't raise his weapon against you?"

"Because of the oath I made long ago. An oath I value far more than my own life." Silas said before looking at Corrin and then said. "I still can't believe you don't remember. We used to play together. You always said how badly you wanted to see the world… So one day I made us a picnic and snuck you out for a few hours to explore. I even packed your favorite meal: surf and turf! I knew taking you beyond the walls was forbidden, but… I also knew how much it would mean to you. The guards tried to execute me when we returned, but you wouldn't let them do it."

"Gods! That does ring a bell…" Dawn said as she remembered Silas. G-Wing then turned to Dawn and said. "So you do know him?"

"Yes, we are childhood friends. He helped me explore outside the walls that bound me. But I haven't seen him in so long, I forgot his name and he looks a little different than when he was younger." Dawn said as she undid her transformation. The others did the same and then Corrin said to Silas. "Silas, I have a proposal for you. You say you would sacrifice your own life for mine?"

"Indeed."

"Very well. Then join forces with me. I know you're a knight of Nohr… and you may not believe what I'm about to say… But King Garon has gone absolutely mad! He gave me a cursed sword and sent me off to be captured by the Hoshidans. Knowing, of course, that I would be brought before my mother. She was killed when the sword exploded. I would have been, too…"

"I… I don't believe it…"

"It's all part of his grand plan to escalate this conflict into a full-blown war. I can't forgive his actions against Hoshido. And I will never return to Nohr." Corrin said and Silas didn't say anything. Corrin then said to him. "You must think I'm manipulating you."

"No, Corrin… I believe you. You've spared my life twice now. I have no reason to doubt your story."

"Then you will join us?"

"Yes. Perhaps together we can bring peace to this world someday."

"That is my aim, Silas. I promise that I will never deviate from the cause."

"I can't believe this is happening!" Silas said before Gavin helped him up and said. "It is. Welcome to the team."

"Lady Sakura, we've got bad news." Saizo, the ninja from the canyon, said as he and another woman appeared. "This is an emergency!" The woman said and they all turned around. Sakura then said to them. "Saizo, Orochi… What happened to you? You're both wounded!"

"Our wounds are nothing, But as for Lord Ryoma and Lord Takumi–" The woman, Orochi said to Sakura before Sakura stopped her and said. "What?! What happened to them?"

"They're missing! Last anyone saw them, they were headed to Izumo. It's possible they were captured on route. I hate to think of the alternative…" Orochi said and this caused Sakura to fear the worst too. Gavin then said to them as Kaze and Corrin tried to calm her down. "Then why are we just standing around here? Lets head over to Izumo, we might find clues on what happened to them, or run into them if we go there."

"Agreed. Everyone gets what you need and treats your wounds. We are leaving for Izumo soon." Corrin said and everyone went back into the fort to get the supplies they needed for the journey. Corrin was going to follow them, but Orochi stopped her and said. "Pardon me, but you must be Lady Corrin, yes?" Corrin nodded her head yes and then Orochi said. "I'm Orochi. I used to serve as a diviner for Lady Mikoto. It seems it would serve a common purpose for our armies to join forces. Our tactician, Yukimura, is readying the troops to march to Izumo. Time is of the essence! Will you join us in search of Lord Ryoma and Lord Takumi?"

"Yes, of course. We'll support you in any way that we can."

"Thank you, Lady Corrin."

"I'm coming with you." Sakura said to Corrin and held her deck box. Corrin then said to Sakura. "I'm so sorry, Sakura. But…"

"Corrin… Sakura just lost her mother, and now her brothers are missing. It's understandable that she would want to accompany us. With my help, I believe we can provide adequate protection…" Azura said to Corrin. Corrin then remembered what Eclipse and Gavin said to her and then said to Sakura. "Very well. I won't try to stop you, Sakura. I just hope you understand the risks."

"Thank you, Corrin. I do." Sakura said and soon they left, but Saizo was keeping an eye on Silas and Jakob, because while they were loyal to Corrin, he believed they were spies because they were from Nohr. Kaze, who was Saizo's brother, knew what Saizo was thinking, but hoped that one day he would put trust into Corrin's judgment, as he had.