Chapter 7; Into The Unspeakable World

After the battle with Eclipse, and escaping from both armies. Corrin, Gavin, Azura and Jakob were, for the moment, safe in the Plains of Hoshido. "Have you two considered what our next move will be?" Jakob said to Corrin and Azura. And then Gavin said to them. "Yeah, we don't want to be here for too much longer."

"Indeed. And since both Nohr and Hoshido are against us; we don't have many friends right now." Jakob said and then Corrin said. "Hmm… it seems like we should lay low for a little bit."

"Then… I know a place where no one will find us. We should be safe there." Azura said and then Corrin said to her. "Really?"

"Yes. And once we get there, I have much to tell you. Things I heard from my mother… and the truth about this world…" Azura said and then they followed her to the Bottomless Canyon. Corrin looked at the canyon and said to Azura. "This is the Bottomless Canyon where we lost Gunter. You don't mean for us to hide out here, do you?"

"That's exactly what I mean. We'll jump into the canyon."

"Wait just a minute! If we jump from here, we'll all die. No one will ever find us, that's for sure, but we'll be ghosts!" Jakob said and then Azura said to them. "Don't worry. You won't die if you jump. You have to trust me."

"Azura… You'll tell us more of what you know after we jump into the canyon, right?" Corrin said to Azura and Azura said to Corrin. "Yes, if that's what you wish."

"...Then we have no choice." Corrin said and then Jakob said to Corrin. "Are you certain about this, milady?!"

"Yes. Everything will be fine. I trust Azura."

"Thank you, Corrin. I'll go first and wait for you to follow." Azura said as she walked to the bridge. "All right. I'll be behind you." Corrin said as she followed Azura. Gavin followed them and said to Jakob. "Are you coming Jakob?"

"...If my mistress is going, then I'll need to find the courage. I would give up my life if my lady commanded, after all. It should be an easy thing to follow her anywhere, even…" Jakob said before joining them. Then they all went down the canyon and avoided any of the rocks that were sticking out. Soon everyone blacked out and when they woke up they found themselves somewhere with floating islands and the buildings and structures in the area were in ruins. Corrin then said to Azura. "...Ugh. Is this… the bottom of the canyon?"

"And why are we ok after a jump like that?" Gavin said to Azura and Azura said to them. "Thank goodness. I said you'd be alright, didn't I? Jakob, how do you feel?"

"I'm fine, of course. I'm relieved to see Lady Corrin is unhurt as well." Jakob said getting up. Corrin then said to Azura. "So… Where are we? This place looks like it's definitely seen better days…"

"...This is the kingdom of Valla. It's responsible for the war between Hoshido and Nohr."

"Responsible? How?" Corrin said and Azura went silent. "Azura? What's wrong?" Gavin said and then Azura said. "Follow me. If we linger here, we'll be spotted." Azura then took them to a cave network. Once they were inside, Azura said to them. "...We should be safe here."

"Ok. So now will you tell us what is going on?" Gavin said and then Azura said to them. "As I was saying… The throne of Valla is occupied by King Anankos. Before his arrival, this land was peaceful, and between Hoshido and Nohr. All was well until Anankos killed our king and took the throne for himself."

"So the Bottomless Canyon is where Valla used to be?" Gavin said and then Azura said. "Yes."

"Pardon me, but I have never heard of Valla before today." Jakob said and then Azura said. "Anankos erased Valla from the memory of everyone and all records after he took the kingdom."

"What was Valla like before Anankos?" Corrin said to Azura and then Azura said. "It was once bountiful farmlands, but they were devastated and replaced by wastelands and graveyards."

"He destroyed an entire kingdom?! For no reason at all?" Corrin said and then Azura said. "...Yes. And he isn't finished. He wishes to lay waste to the entire world. First Valla, then Nohr and Hoshido. Even now, he's the hidden influence that quietly forces Nohr and Hoshido to fight. King Garon's invasion is the result of Anankos's subtle manipulations."

"That's horrible! But… if it's true, then maybe we can stop this war by defeating Anankos! We need to get back up above and explain this to everyone! If we can get Nohr and Hoshido to work together with—" Corrin said, but Azura stopped her and said. "I'm sorry, but you can't. You mustn't talk about Valla to anyone when you're beyond its borders."

"Then what will happen?" Gavin said and then Azura said. "A curse will be triggered and it will cause your body to dissolve and disappear. That's what happened to my mother… To Arete, the former queen of Valla."

"What? Your mother was a queen in Valla, not Nohr? Then, that makes you…" Corrin said and then Azura said. "Yes… I am a Vallite princess. The king that Anankos murdered… He was my father."

"No! And you were forced to flee?" Corrin said and then Azura said. "Yes… But I wasn't able to tell anyone about this before. Because of that curse… Even if I wanted to talk, I couldn't. I was trapped, no matter how much I missed my parents. I had to keep it all bottled up inside… Until now."

"Azura…" Corrin said and then Azura said. "Listen, Corrin. I'm sorry to say this, but… Now that you've chosen this path, you'll know exactly what I've been feeling. No matter how much you want someone to understand what's happening… No matter how much you want to tell them the truth… You won't be able to tell them. You need to prepare yourself for that. I can't even express how painful it is to know the truth and not be able to say it."

"...All right. I understand." Corrin said and then the entice to the cave was sealed with a magic circle. Gavin looked at the circle and said. "What just happened?"

"A trap." Azura said before Corrin said. "Wait really?"

"Yes… There are enemies approaching a rather large number of enemies. Corrin, we'll need to deal with this threat before we can continue."

"OK!" Corrin said as she, Gavin, and Azura pulled out their deck boxes. "Henshin!" All of them said and turned into their Summoner forms. "Summon Tail Blade, Griffin Saber, Sea Lancer!" Aurora's Yato, G-Wing griffin head, and Waves fin said as each one of them pulled out their Weapon Cards. They then went through the caves, and while the caves gave off every little light, the Vallite soldiers were waiting in the big open to attack them. The Vallite soldiers had warriors from both Nohr and Hoshido, but they were not very visible. "Wait, are these guys just like the guys from the explosion?" G-Wing said blocking a sword attack. Waves then said to them as she and Jakob killed a few more. "Yes. This is more of Anankos magic." Aurora then killed the one attacking G-Wing and said. "So Anankos was the one who killed Mother."

"Yes, I'm sorry." Waves said as she killed another one. Aurora then said to Waves as they fought off another group of Vallite soldiers. "It's not your fault Azura. What the–?"

"What is it Corrin?" G-Wing said and then Aurora said, looking at a knight, one that was actually visible. "Is there something wrong with my eyes? Could that knight be…" Aurora then walked over to the knight and it was Gunter. Gunter pointed his weapon at Aurora and said. "Who are you?" Aurora removed her helmet and Gunter saw that it was Corrin. "Lady Corrin!" Gunter yelled, pulling his weapon away from Aurora and Aurora said to him. "Gunter! Is that really you?! And you're alive?!"

"I am. I lost consciousness as I fell, and when I awoke, I was here. I have no idea how I survived such a fall… But I swear on my blade I'm no ghost. My arms and legs are as sturdy as ever."

"It's good to see you in one piece, Gunter. I'm so glad we found you."

"I would love to celebrate, milady, but it appears we don't have time right now… These foes are truly challenging. I'll help you fend them off!" Gunter said as he joined the fight. Aurora put her helmet back on and joined the fight too and with Gunter help the Vallite soldiers were now outmatch.

As they got closer to the cave exit, a squad of Vallite soldiers led by, to their surprise, a Summoner. The Summoner was dark purple with yellow spots with a heavy knight theme armor and the deck box was purple with a yellow image of a lizard and what looks like a lizard head on the Summoner's left shoulder. G-Wing said as he, Aurora, Waves, Jakob, and Gunter pointed their weapons at the squad. "Who are you?"

"I am Summoner Salamurder, and by the command of my Lady Eclipse. I've been ordered to kill you all." Salamurder said as he pulled out a Weapon and Element Card. G-Wing then said to Aurora. "Eclipse is from Valla and leads the Valla Summoners?"

"Looks like it." Aurora said before Salamurder pulled out the tongue of the lizard and placed the cards on the tongue. Salamurder then let go of the tongue and the cards went into the mouth. The lizard head then said. "Summon Poison Lizard Sword." Then a sword that is purple with yellow spots and cone shaped above the handle and it was dripping some kind of poison. Salamurder caught the sword and attacked them.

As the others attacked the squad, Aurora battled Salamurder and it wasn't going well. You see Aurora was able to block Salamurder attacks, but the poison from his blade hit Aurora and started to hurt Aurora. Once the poison caused enough damage to Aurora, Salamurder charged at Aurora at full force. "Summon Steel Feathers." G-Wing griffin head said after G-Wing killed his opponent and blocked the attack with his Guard Card. It worked, but G-Wing was seriously poisoned. "Get out of the way Gavin." Aurora said as she pulled out her Calling and Final Attack Card. "Summon Rolfgon Final Attack!" Then Rolfgon and they did their Final Attack. G-Wing got out of the way and the Final Attack hit Salamurder. Salamurder couldn't block it in time and exploded. Once the explosion was over the only thing left of Salamurder was the fragments of his deck box.

After Waves, Gunter, and Jakob finished the last Vallite soldiers, they were able to get out of the caves. Once they were out of the caves, the Summoners returned to normal and Jakob healed Corrin and Gavin from Salamurder poison. Corrin said to Gunter after she was feeling better. "Gunter, it's so good to see you safe and sound!"

"I'm glad to see you too, Lady Corrin… After I fell, I truly thought I'd never see your face again. It seems you've grown stronger while we've been apart, as well…"

"So you aren't dead, old man. Can you give me back the time I wasted grieving over your demise?" Jakob said to Gunter. Gunter then said to Jakob. "Hmph… You haven't changed. It wouldn't hurt you to be kinder. But, why are you all here?"

"I brought them." Azura said to Gunter and Gunter said to Azura. "And who are you?"

"My name is Azura. If I said I was the princess kidnapped from Nohr as a child… would you understand?"

"Ah! Yes, I remember when you were little. I apologize for my failure to protect you from the Hoshidan kidnappers…"

"There is no need to apologize, really… It doesn't matter at the moment. I'd rather learn how you've survived here. You are quite the knight to have avoided meeting a terrible fate."

"You seem familiar with this place, Lady Azura. Where are we exactly?"

"This is Valla, an invisible kingdom tied to the world by the Bottomless Canyon. It is ruled by Anankos, who wishes to destroy the entire world. So long as he remains on the Vallite throne, the world will not know peace."

"Listen up, gramps. I'm only going to warn you once. If you talk about any of this while not in Valla, a curse will dissolve you!" Jakob said to Gunter and then Gunter said. "What?! Is that possible?"

"It seems so." Gavin said to Gunter and then Corrin said to Gunter. "Also, I've… made enemies of both Hoshido and Nohr, Gunter. I couldn't bring myself to side against either of them, so both turned on me. Whenever we meet next, it will be a difficult fight. Will you stand with me?"

"Of course, Lady Corrin. I shall always remain at your side."

"Thank you, Gunter."

"I feel like I must be in a dream, surviving being attacked and falling so far… Though I have to admit… Hans was a disappointment. He barely left a scratch."

"Ah, that reminds me: Hans said something strange. He claimed he was following King Garon's orders by attacking you."

"I'm embarrassed to admit this, but… King Garon despises me."

"Despises you? Why?"

"After being honored for valor in battle, I was granted an audience with King Garon. He offered me dragon's blood; accepting would require absolute loyalty to the king. It would have meant becoming his most trusted retainer, the highest of positions. However, it also would have meant leaving my homeland, my wife, and my child. I turned him down. I wanted to live a normal life. I begged for his understanding. I will never forget his resentment… his rage."

"I didn't know…" Corrin said before more Vallite soldiers appeared and the commander said to them with a female voice. "Leave now… You should not be here."

"What the– Who are you?!" Corrin said as everyone got ready to fight again. The woman then said to them. "I am a mage of Valla… You were warned. Vallite warriors, eliminate them."

"This is bad… I don't think we're strong enough to defeat them. Let's retreat to the other world!" Azura said and Corrin agreed. Then Azura led all of them to the exit, and then in a flash they were back at the Bottomless Canyon. "Phew… It looks like we've made it back." Corrin said to everyone. Gavin then said to Azura. "Who was that woman down there? She said she was a mage…"

"...When dawn turns to dusk. When dusk turns to dawn. Then the door will spawn."

"Huh? Is that a poem, Azura?" Corrin said to Azura and then Azura said. "My mother… She said those words to me a long time ago. She said that when dawn turns to dusk, dusk turns to dawn… The pass in the Bottomless Canyon opens or closes."

"When the dawn turns… Hmm… Oh, I get it." Gunter said and then Gavin said to Gunter. "What is it?"

"Once every few decades, the skies above Nohr and Hoshido will reverse. If I remember right, that should happen a few months from now." Gunter said and then Azura said. "Yes. I'm sure that's the sign that the pass down there has opened or closed. Since we're obviously able to travel there now, it will close next time. Once it closes, it will stay that way for decades. We won't be able to get there… We don't have much time."

"I see. Then, we'll need both kingdoms to stop fighting each other and help us. If we had Xander and Ryoma, there's no way we'd lose." Corrin said and then Gavin said to Corrin. "Yeah, but how can we convince them? We can't tell them the truth."

"We'll just have to find another way. It's the only chance we have. Now that I know there is a common enemy for both countries to fight… I think we can save Nohr and Hoshido. All I can do is believe in myself and try to convince others to join us."

"Corrin… I suppose you're right. I felt so powerless on my own, but together we might be able to pull something off! Nothing will change if we stay here. Let's return to Hoshido first. I feel like they might be more willing to listen to us." Azura said and Corrin agreed with her and they all went to Hoshido, hoping to gain allies before the pass closed for another decade.