Chapter 30: Chaotic Waters

Author's notes: Hello everyone! This has been a massive hiatus, almost a full year, and I didn't see it coming. Another story just completely took over my inspiration. But with that story finished, I'm back on this one! As of now, my objective will be at least chapter a month, each a similar length to this one.

Now, onto answering the reviews, a tradition I have no intention to drop.

VGBlackwing: This isn't going to be Birthright, I can already tell you this. Plot armor is the strongest armor for sure, thought I'll be trying to not have it too thick or obvious.

TheHolyBlade: The reunion approaches! And not just in story, like I said I'm going to kick the writing gear into action. And I'm always glad to see I do a good job with Leo. He has layers.

HiroRanger: You gave me an honest to god nightmare of Patches and Anna meeting, with the first kicking you down and the second making you cough all the money you have to sell you a way out.

Kazuka747: I headcanon that the way we as player read the object descriptions would be, for the character himself, something like sensing the imprint that the Souls of others have left on the object. So yeah, in a sense it's like a form psychometry. Because of that, of speaking with NPC in ways the game don't let you, and because Lora had a lot of time to think during her quest, she has gathered almost all of the big puzzle pieces of the lore. That's one of the reason she decided to completely abandon the idea of Linking the Fire.

Artful Longer: Glad you liked the story! Azura is somewhat fatalistic, which is why she doesn't hold her own safety and desires quite as high as those of Corrin. But she doesn't do meek, oh no, she prefers malicious compliance and I will show it. The reunion of Lora and Corrin is soon, quite soon. And yeah, Revelation is more or less where this is going. Support Events... Hum. Maybe. I do have a lot of them for Lora in my drawers. Maybe I'll release them. Not as part of the main story, but some sort of in-between or "what-if" perhaps. I'll see.

Imperial Warlord: Thanks for you continued support. The adopted mother-daughter meeting is soon!

Lighywheighy: Oh, she is dead and buried... but that doesn't mean she is gone for good. There is someone actively messing with the souls of the dead in Fire Emblem Fates after all...

pt1oef: Once again a massive thanks for beta-reading the story. And Corrin has been impacted by Lora quite a bit already, and the story will make it more obvious as it goes on.

hi ace50: Glad this story has pulled you in. Lora has impacted the story, though less than you and some would have expected, yes. That's partly because I didn't want her to rock the boat too massively, and also because sometimes one person doesn't make that much of a difference. Lastly, understanding she can change things for good, and being willing to enact those changes, is part of her character progression. Because, well... I hope I made obvious she isn't convinced her last big, world impacting decision (not linking the Fire and basically running away), to have been the most noble or correct one.

Once again, a big sorry for the long wait you had to endure, and I hope knowing the schedule will be regular from now on will help. Also, I hope you'll all like the chapter! As always, please leave a review if you liked it, or if there is something you want to critize. I read them all, they motivate me, and I always answer!

Happy reading!

Corrin POV

The wind howled in the princess' ears, its cold caress reaching even through her smooth scales as she caught up an ascending current. She stretched her wings to their full extent, the leathery limbs catching the moving mass of air. Her tail wagged to the right inclination, the helpful wind helping her cruise effortlessly for a looked down on the few blankets of clouds masking the land below. She was hungry, thirsty and exhausted. Flying was physically taxing despite how easily her draconic instincts helped, even though she relied on the powerful winds far above. Being on the constant lookout for pursuers and onlookers was also mentally exhausting. Thrice already she avoided the vigilant patrols of pegasi and kinshi by dipping in the clouds, or laying low on the ground in her human form.

A gruelling journey made of restless days and nights, sleeping only a couple of hours at a time. Motivated by the certitude her time was limited, supported by the pulsating warmth and energy periodically flowing from Azura's pendant on her chest. From the second day onward, on the edge of dawn and at dusk, she would feel rejuvenated. It was Azura's song and dance, Corrin was persuaded. All the way from Castle Shirasagi, even in her fragile position, she still found a way to grant her support. And as the sun was rising behind her and warming her back, Corrin knew, in her bones, that today was the day. The day she needed to foil the dark future her visions have shown.

Leaving the ascending current, she descended in the clouds. The princess quickly emerged to witness the entire land below, basking in sunlight. Ignoring the tickling of misty water, her eyes glazed at the beautiful sight, seeking significant geographical features. There. Further on the horizon, the blue waters of the Yellow River rolled and sparkled in the morning. And close to its bed, sprawled the camp of a small army. Ryoma's forces, growing more and more distinct as she flew closer. Around two thousand soldiers if the surface an Hoshidan army occupied was relatively the same as their Nohrian counterpart, perhaps a bit more… the Nohrian army. Corrin accelerated, flapping her wings as she noticed the innumerable tents and banners on the hills above the western side of the river. Nohrian banners. So many banners. Each of them representing a unit led by a captain. Ten, twenty… Maybe forty thousand soldiers. The near totality of Nohr's army was here. Ryoma stood no chance, not even with the river acting as natural obstacle. And with Xander commanding the army, the river would not help for long.

She could feel the thrum of the Dragon Vein below, the pulsating current mirroring that of the water. Whoever would obtain control of it would decide if this would be a retreat or a slaughter… and she already knew how it would end if she did nothing. Closing her wings, Corrin dived towards the larger square in the middle of the Hoshidan camp, where the largest tent could be seen. She flew past two Pegasi riders and ignored their surprised shouts, squarely focused on her flight. More shouts came from below as more soldiers noticed her approach, indistinct in the whistling wind even with her improved hearing. Just when the tent's side opened and she recognized the spiky hair of her older brother, Corrin deployed her wings and slowed her descent. Now she could see Ryoma's eyes. Recognition stilled the hand gripping Raijinto as she landed before him on her four legs.

"At ease!" Her older brother shouted his men.

When Corrin was sure no one would make a move, she changed back to her human form. The world lost some of its luster, her hearing dulled, many scents vanished, the air grew colder and the world larger as she looked at her confused Hoshidan brother.

"Corrin, why are you here? You should be at the castle!"

"I've come here to stop this war from happening."

His eyes looked her up and down, frowning at the sight of the pendant, yet what inscribed shock upon his face was the golden sword by her side.

"The Yato? No, it can't be. You wouldn't have?…"

"It is. You've held it before, right?" Corrin stood firm on her feet against her brother's worried question before taking the sword from her hip, handing it over. "Look closer."

Taken aback by her confidence, Ryoma almost snatched the weapon from her and held it suspiciously, then reverently. Corrin's ears twitched from the many murmurs around as she carefully watched the soldier's reactions.

"It is the Yato." Confirmed her brother with disbelief, the soldiers growing even more agitated at those words.

Corrin opened her hand. The golden blade isntantly escaped Ryoma's grip and returned to her, as natural an extension as her own dragon claws.

"It has chosen me."

"… So it seems." Ryoma said reluctantly, unable to deny how the legendary weapon obeyed her. Now he looked at his younger sister differently, as if he was finally taking her seriously, and his mouth turned into a disapproving frown.

"Corrin, what have you done? This is no mere blade, not even the Raijinto is more precious than it. And you have brought this sacred relic at our enemies' doorstep! Did you also take Azura's pendant, or did you make her an accomplice to this madness?"

"She chose to help me. I'm sorry, Ryoma, but I couldn't stay back at the castle and do nothing."

"You are a princess of Hoshido, Corrin! Your place is in the safety of the castle, rallying our people. Did you consider for even an instant how we would all feel if anything happened to you again? When Queen Mikoto just left us?"

Corrin winced at the accusation, the fantom faces of Hinoka, Sakura and Takumi contorted with tears and horror surging from the depths of the fears she nursed ever since she made her decision. Ryoma was right, but she wouldn't back down anymore.

"I'm going to stop this senseless war. I know Xander—the Nohrian Crown Prince will be here, I'm sure if I can speak to him, I'll be able to make him see reason. I can prevent this all from…"

"Don't tell me you still hold the delusion thatyou can reason with these savages?" Ryoma crossed her gaze, as if he could somehow decipher her apparently incomprehensible motives within. "Nohr has started this war years ago when they assassinated our father. They have resumed it when they assassinated Queen Mikoto! How can you be so naïve to think that they would listen after attacking our people so brazenly?"

"They didn't kill Mother! Ryoma, I know…"

"Enough." The High Prince cut Corrin's speech authoritatively and gestured to his men. "It is obvious you are still fooled by their manipulations. I can't let you risk your life and the Yato because of a childish tantrum. Soldiers, take my sister back to safety."

Emboldened by princely order, a few of the samurai stepped forward. Corrin was about to speak when she heard something else. Soft as feathers and light as dew, steps so much like those of Kaze. Before Saizo could approach too closely Corrin's instincts took over and she deployed her dragon wing with a powerful flap. Their sudden appearance and air pressure stopped Ryoma's men in their tracks, and even his shinobi paused at the display, staring with a single calculated eye.

Ryoma closed his fist on the Raijinto's handle. "Corrin, don't force me to…"

"I saw your death, Ryoma!" Corrin's rebuke visibly unbalanced her brother, who stared at her with incredulity. "I know what you're going to try. You want to flood the Yellow River and drown as much of Nohr's army as you can before retreating. It won't work! Xander is here, and he can use the Dragon Vein too! He'll dry the river to force to fight a losing battle. I've seen it, Orochi saw it! If you fight here, you'll die today with all your men, that's why I came all this way!"

She breathed in deeply. Blood was rushing in her head as a panicked cacophony of voices erupted all around. Orochi was known for accurately predicting disasters, even among those who had little trust or knowledge in soothsaying. Corrin hoped the Hoshidan soldiers panic would play in her favor and force Ryoma to reconsider. She didn't want to do this, but her brother's stubbornness made it all so difficult, she was sure he still didn't believe her. She understood why he didn't want to, but it was too important. Glancing at Saizo, she couldn't decipher anything on his masked face. Someone crossed through the soldiers, so lightly and quickly that she almost missed the approach until Kagero knelt respectfully beside Ryoma.

"Lady Corrin, is it true? Did Orochi truly foresee such vision?" Kagero didn't seem intent on following her fellow retainer into another attempt, but Corrin was all too aware how quickly she could move to lower her guard.

"She made me draw cards to confirm. Lacquered black ones, with creepy…"

Horns flared in two powerful sounds. Corrin didn't need to recall her countless lessons in military signals to recognize this particular call: The battle just started. From the hills descended a tide of men and Corrin's heart sank when she recognized the giant bows most of them wielded. They were followed by pikemen to discourage land and sky cavalry, a core of heavily armored infantry marching behind. Tremor rumbled from within the grounds as someone took control of the Dragon Vein, and the river started to slowly decrease in width and height.

"Everyone, remember your orders! Hold back the Nohrians at all costs!"

Ryoma's command relayed through his officers, the soldiers taking their positions as quickly as possible to give their prince time to use his sacred power. With a powerful shout, her eldest brother tried to wrestle control from the one manipulating it on the Nohrian side. For an instant Corrin hoped it would be enough, even as her own senses tugged her mind toward the inevitability of her vision. The river was still drying up. Soon the Nohrian army would be able to cross the once mighty natural obstacle. Even from their high ground and easily defensible position, the Hoshidans were simply too few to match their foe.

Without hesitation, Corrin added her own pull to the Dragon Vein. The conflicting control over the blood of the land caused the river to briefly swell and roar as the water diminished less and less… so much slower than before, and yet it wasn't enough. The both of them failed to push back Xander's influence over the river. Because they weren't in the right place, suddenly understood Corrin. The Dragon Vein was too deep from their position, they lost too much power reaching it first before activating it. Xander must be situating right on a greater affluent near the surface, where his own influence was magnified tenfold despite being farther from the river itself!

Corrin's ears picked up the sound of the giant arrows right before they started to crash upon the Hoshidan's hastily constructed fortifications. Some of them broke halfway through the wooden palisades and wounded the men hurdled behind, as their much smaller bows whose range couldn't compete. Only the Sky Knights on their Pegasi would have been able to harass the opponent, but the sheer number of giant bow archers and those armed with classical bows to cover their comrades would make it a suicide. The Hoshidans were well and truly on the backfoot.

"Damnit. Everything is as you said." Bitterly said Ryoma, voice strained by the effort. "Saizo, bring my sister to the Sky Knigts. She must return safe and sound."

"At once, Lord Ryoma." Said his retainer.

"Back off, Saizo." Commanded Corrin with all the authority she could muster. "Ryoma, let me help…"

"Look around you, Corrin!" Snapped Ryoma. "The time for peace is gone, and I would never be able to face our siblings should I let you join this battle. You will listen and return to Castle Shirasagi, even if I must have my retainers bring you back kicking and screaming!"

Corrin racked her brain for anything that could salvage the situation. She was too late, the battle already started, and even if Ryoma heeded her words and left so many would still die! She had to be able to do something! The Dragon Vein was here, pulsating, calling, a tumultuous song harkening to the commands of Xander. If only she could flood the river, his forces would be forced to retreat and Ryoma could make his escape, but how, finding another affluent, no, it would take too long, she didn't know where they were, she would have to be right on the middle of…

"… I'm sorry, Ryoma. Make sure everyone retreats safely." Corrin flexed her wings, heeding to the call of her blood.

"Corrin, no!"

The pendant pulsed. A torrent of water surrounded Corrin as she jumped in the air, completing the transformation and avoiding the shinobis trying to restrain her. Flapping her wings hurriedly she flew above the camp, zigzagging left and right as she could to avoid the rain of arrows exchanged from both sides. She wasn't confidant in the solidity of her scales against the giant arrows, and there were a lot of them! Rolling left and right the princess adjusted her altitude to station as close as possible to the middle of the river. The Dragon Vein followed the current closely, restraining it under Xander's influence. Corrin bit right into it with her mind, tasting the familiar power. She lashed out against Xander's grip, . A few small arrows grazed against her breast and she redoubled her efforts. Something else joined in, a weaker and distant power. Ryoma! With his brief help and a roar Corrin tore the Dragon Vein free, releasing the flood contained far away.

The rumbling of great water started to shake the ground and Corrin strafed downward to avoid a volley of giant arrows. She had to claw the Vein tightly. Prevent Xander from taking it back and undoing her efforts. Neither Leo nor Camilla were present to assist their older brother, her vision would have shown it, he was alone against her superior hold. If only—a bolt almost slipped between two scales and broke against the base of her neck. The princess hissed and flew higher as the Nohrian archers started to focus on her. If she ever went too far away from the river her control would weaken, if she lost her hold the water would recede before reaching the battlefield. More arrows whistled… from above and onto the Norhians! Closing her wings to flip on herself Corrin witnessed the Sky Knights harassing the bowmen with projectiles. Did Ryoma command them to help? In any case their presence relieved her immensely by forcing the soldiers to focus elsewhere. Yet the water was still so far away—movements from the hills. A troop of wyvern knights took flight, most of them advancing in formation toward the Sky Knights and a few others moving straight in her direction.

Corrin dived closer to the river before they could reach her position and roared in defiance as the winged lizards approaching, their riders brandishing axes and spears menacingly. With a flap of wings the dragon suddenly ascended above the Nohrians and struck one of them with her tail. Blindsided by her speed the knight let out a pained cry and fell from his mount and into the water below. Before the rest could react Corrin dropped on another and with vicious claws destroyed the saddle to send him down. None of them would die from the fall, they were too close from the water, she hoped they would swim safely but she couldn't let it distract her. Retreating to avoid the mount's wild trashing she followed her instinct and the pendant pulsed from within her chest when she opened her jaw to release a torrential breath of water at another prey, sending both mount and rider plummeting. She lunged and rolled under another flier to avoid her foes' spears and claws, looking around as the sound of feathery wings reached her ears. The Sky Knights!

"Hold these dogs back! For Hoshido!" Bellowed one on her Pegasi, naginata cleaving through a wyvern's wing and forming a screen between the princess and the enemy fliers and arrows.

Corrin focused on the Dragon Vein to ignore the bloodshed, releasing as much power as she could within the coming flood. The entire plain between the hills would disappear beneath the water, but it was the only way she had to force the Nohrian army to stop! Horns sounded again from the Nohrian side, and the remaining wyvern riders left fell back hurriedly.

"They are retreating! Watch out for their archers!"

Yet despite the Pegasi rider's shout, few to no projectiles were sent their way, the Nohrian infantry seemingly retreating as well while keeping a suppressing fire on their Hoshidan counterparts. Corrin circled higher, watching, listening… a wyvern departed from the hills. Larger than most of its kind, a solitary rider upon its back. The princess stared intensely, a terrible premonition creeping down her scaled spine as the lone figure drew an arrow, on a weapon even larger than the great bows of the Nohrian soldiers down on the ground. The projectile flew faster and further than Corrin thought possible directly, the Pegasi dispersing to avoid it… the arrow exploded in a deflagration of pure force mid-air, the stench of blood, torn flesh and feathers carrying dolorous cries and neighs from those caught inside.

"Demon! It's the demon of Nohr—" Another arrow exploded and Corrin ducked to avoid it, watching helplessly the remnants of the Pegasi leader fall down the riverside.

The Sky Knights lost cohesion at the brutality and swiftness of the deadly barrage. They all flew away to avoid being caught and finding themselves forced to fight the wyvern knights circling their position. Yet as the arrows were released one by one Corrin discerned a pattern weaved between the shots, each of them clearing space between her and her escort until she was all alone above the river, the Pegasi Knights and their Nohrian counterparts locked in deadly stalemate and leaving the one riding the massive wyvern to approach Corrin unimpeded. Someone of whom she already deduced the identity, her bestial instincts snarling at the dangerous creature upon the winged lizard…

"Corrin! Let go of the Dragon Vein!" Lora's voice pierced through the cacophony of the battlefield, fully focused on the young princess. Somehow, the Queen of Nohr was still able to recognize her.

Time was on Corrin's side. The more she could stall, the more the flood would approach. If she could hold just a bit longer, no one would be able to stop the water. Just a bit longer, she thought. A bit longer.

"I do not want to hurt you, little princess! Stand down!"

Corrin roared in defiance, circling with the wyvern around each other. She was not stopping. She will not let this war start here. She will never allow her families to start killing each other. The pendant within her chest pulsed again, a steady flow of strength rising. Azura was dancing for her, far away. She would not fail. Not even against Mother.

"… So be it."

The great bow disappeared from Lora's hands, replaced by a small white and red talisman. Swirling waters surrounded Corrin and she soared higher, hoping to knock both mount and rider down with the same aquatic breath. Before she could release it lightning appeared between the Queen's fingers, forming a small bow and arrow entirely made of crackling electricity. The first arrow dispersed a large part of the water surrounding the princess and she released her water breath at the same time the second was shot. Corrin howled as the lightning bolt broke through her scales, almost losing her grip on the Dragon Vein in the process. The sheer mass of the wyvern meanwhile allowed it to resist the pressure of the water attack, with Lora somehow entirely unfazed and another magical arrow notched to the lightning bow. Drawing in the pendant's support Corrin once again surrounded herself in water and dived directly on her foe, antlers first. A shot pierced her right wing and she barely maintained her course through the pain, she roared as another tore through the plates of her back and fried the flesh beneath.

The wyvern howled too, as the dragon collided with it like a ballista bolt and toppled it. They started struggling against each other, the wyvern's claws and fangs scratching against her scales and drawing blood when they met the spots lightning left vulnerable. But Corrin was on top, her own claws ploughing through the lizard's hide easily, even if Lora was hanging to the mount but she wouldn't be able to strike using the damned bow. Just a little more, a few moments more—Thunder. A stake of pure lightning and blinding light burst from the Queen's hand, and from almost upside down, in a motion so quick that it seemed time stopped, she rammed the stake into Corrin's flank. The world turned white; her mind briefly dissolved into indescribable suffering. Falling. She was falling. The wind whistled as her body retracted, shrinking back to her human form, her vision blurred by tears and shock, the pendant's blue light and magic barely keeping her conscious.

"No!"

A massive dark shape covered her view. Impacts, multiple muffled impacts upon scaled flesh reached her ears right before the wyvern let out a cry of agony. A hand caught her arm… Sunlight. Warmth seeped through her flesh, her wounds, chasing the pain, cooling the burns and clearing her mind. Her vision unclouded, her eyes blinked to see Lora falling with her towards the waters below, the luminous sunlight slowly fading from the talisman she held.

"Corrin! Breath!" Lora was grasping her arm tightly, forcing a small silver ring engraved in the shape of a cat upon her finger as they fell together towards the river below.

The river! Corrin felt it. She lost control of the river. But… it was still masterless. And in that instant of perfect clarity, wincing in pain as Lora harshly and hurriedly positioned the princess above her, placing herself as a shield against the coming impact upon the rapidly approaching surface, Corrin drew upon the last of the strength she had left. Azura's pendant shone with renewed intensity, a cerulean star briefly eclipsing the golden sun, and Corrin called the flood. The wave taller than many ramparts erupted. It spilled over the riverbank many times over, swallowing everything on its path.

They fell right into the wave… She felt no impact. As if she had entered a pool, the water swallowed her almost peacefully. Yet in the very next second the raging current tossed her around, shaking her like a weightless ragdoll and almost pulling the breath out of her lungs, the weight of metal dragging her, dragging them down, Lora was still clutching her arm, flailing around with a panicked expression she never saw before. Her mind whispered she should be panicking as well, that she had no idea where up and down even where, that she was already out of breath… and yet… something was here… something… familiar… Lulled by the strange sensation, entranced by the light of Azura's pendant, in the perfect silence beneath the blue waves, Corrin closed her eyes…

Ryoma POV

The High Prince of Hoshido tried to steel himself, leaning on the venerable tree overlooking the hill he last climbed. Yet, his mind was only able to replay to last few moments of the battle in his mind. The Sky Knights broken apart by the Nohrian demon. Corrin facing it alone, isolated. Corrin falling before the queen of Nohr's malevolent might. Falling down, a volley of arrows meeting her course. The sheer luck, the miracle from heaven leading the monstruous mount of the Nohrian, who had descended to finish off its prey, dying to the projectiles shot by its own side. And then, the wave. The flood he felt coming kilometers away finally reached the battlefield. Even from where he was, having run away as fast as his legs could carry, he witnessed the tsunami cover the entirety of the plains in a matter of minutes, a small, too small part of the Nohrian army taken away by the manifestation of the land's wrath. Some of his own men who held the line had been carried away as well, but they were lightly equipped, unlike the steel and silver clad butchers of Nohr. If the flood didn't break their bodies, then they would be able to swim back to the shores south.

The sheer scope of Corrin's power still astonished him. At best, he would have made the river so wide crossing it would have been impossible for the heavy army of Nohr. His sister drowned the entire valley in a single swoop. And yet, Ryoma's pride was tainted by shame. Shame, and a furious sense of failure. His young sister fell in the waters, the furious currents were still carrying her far away. Corrin put herself in mortal peril, sacrificed herself to save the lives of as many of their people as she could. To save his own life. He would have died today, fighting an enemy far more prepared than he thought. For all the naivete she displayed, the innocent idealism of her words, she proved him wrong in assuming her resolve to put it into action was mere childish tantrum. And here he was. Running away, his sister once more lost, and yet her action was the only thing that saved something of this disastrous day.

"Lord Ryoma, the surviving Sky Knights reported no pursuers." His faithful Saizo reported after appearing by his side. "We await your orders."

His orders… Ryoma looked at his retainers, the two shinobis waiting patiently. Had everything gone as expected, his forces would reinforce the closest fortress while he returned to take command of the larger samurai force that gathered in the meantime. But the sheer size of the enemy army and the disappearance of Corrin changed things.

"Kagero, follow the Yellow River south." Corrin couldn't have possibly died. He would not believe anything of the sort, not until he saw it with his own eyes. "Should you find the Nohrian queen alive with my sister in her clutches, save her at any cost. If by any chance, Corrin is free and her mistaken feelings had the demon alive but harmless, deal the fatal blow."

"As you wish, Lord Ryoma." Acquiesced the kunoichi.

Ryoma would accept Corrin hating him gladly if it meant the death of the monster leading the army of Nohr. Those pillagers and murderers deserved neither mercy nor remorse.

"Saizo, you will meet with my siblings. Takumi first: tell him he will take command of the Hoshidan army in my absence, and to defend our land as best as he can. Afterward, find Hinoka and tell her to gather our allies in the South personally, as quickly as possible."

"Your absence?" Repeated Kagero sceptically, her question making Saizo's only eye squint.

"Nohr has sent their entire army against us. They have never fielded so many of their own men in a single place before, and thus, we can strike them in a way they cannot prepare for." The eldest prince hummed thoughtfully, the new idea solidifying in his mind. "A few years ago, the Nohrian conquered Cheve. If rumors are to be believed, the country have never accepted Nohrian rule. A small push could turn it to open rebellion. Especially if the army of Nohr was gone, and a prince of Hoshido came to bring them assistance."

His hand cupped the handle of the Rainjinto, the blade cackling as if giving its accord. There would be no honorable battle for these Nohrian scums. Lord Zenma was right: it was time to bring the fight to the enemy's own lands.

Xander POV

Within the large tent where strategies and command were planned, hidden from the views of all, Xander held his head in his hands. A disaster. This entire battle had been a disaster, one nothing could have prepared him for. How could have everything gone wrong so quickly? He had been positioned right at the epicentre of the Dragon Vein's affluent. Within an hour at most, the river would have dried and his army achieved an easy victory over the meager forces Hoshido mustered in haste. He easily took control of the Dragon Vein despite the surprise of an opposite force attempting to overcome him, one of the Hoshidans princes most likely. Then, the dragon appeared from the enemy camp, a completely different creature from the wyverns of Nohr. It wrestled control of the Vein despite Xander's best efforts, avoiding arrows and defeating his flying soldiers with terrifying ease. That was the time the Queen decided to intervene, telling him to withdraw his troops. Speaking what thought to be madness.

"Hold back your forces. I will bring Corrin back."

Xander didn't believe Lora's words at first. How could that thing be Corrin? Why would his little sister even be on the frontlines? Doubt creeped into him, a traitorous whisper of logic and cynicism. Of course Corrin would oppose them. She found her true family. Her true home. Of course she would defend Hoshido from the army invading it. Another part of him vehemently denied the very possibility of that creature being the same as the sister he knew. What could have been done to her to have her become such a beast? Only mere legends told of those who could take on the traits of the Ancient Dragons. Legends of those bearing fangs, growing claws, sprouting scales. It was all legends, old tales, myths only good for children. Even those who believed in them understood they were most likely the result of maddening experiments of black magic and alchemy, of fools trying to achieve an impossible transformation.

And yet… when the wounded beast fell, when its shape turned into an all too familiar figure, one he recognized even from far away, Xander had been forced to acknowledge it. And before he could recover and focus, order his troops to advance while he returned to the plan, some glory hungry soldiers decided to fire at his little sister! If the Queen hadn't sacrificed her mount to intercept the arrows, Corrin would have been dead. So shocked by this sight he lost track of his mission, forgot the Dragon Vein he was supposed to take back in control. In mere moments, the situation changed from salvageable to catastrophic as someone he hoped was the Hoshidan prince, but his heart knew was his sister, achieved unleashing the full might of the Yellow River. Just closing his eyes was enough for the sight to return, burn in his mind like by red hot iron. A wave so high it could drown a fort, swallowing the plains and the men who didn't retreat far enough. Had he not ordered them to fall back at all…

"Milord. May I come in?"

Laslow. For a moment, he thought to simply shoo the retainer away. But logic prevailed. He had to be cool-headed in this crisis, and listen to everything he needed to. Doing otherwise would doom what was left of the entire invasion, and he pushed back the inner whispers asking him if that was not exactly what he hoped would happen.

"How many?" Xander asked, looking at the war map.

"We are still counting, Milord, but... I'd say four to five hundred lost, perhaps less if they're just stranded and not drowned. Though, the plains are completely impracticable by now." A small number next to the size of his army, no more than what he had expected to lose in this very battle. But to think his own sister would be responsible… "There are no traces of the Queen or Lady Corrin either. With that wave, they could be anywhere between here and a fishnet near the sea. Permission to lead a search party for them both, Milord."

Looking up, Xander saw there were no traces of levity on his retainer's face. If anything, he sounded far more affected than expected.

"Permission refused. I need you here with me." More than ever, in fact. Even though he had been the supposed leader of the army, the presence of Lora had greatly eased everything thus far. Without her, he would have to keep a far tighter grip on everything.

"Milord, please. I'm used to search and rescue. In fact, I'm quite sure no one here will do better than me in that situation. Let me take care of this for you."

Perhaps his worry was not for the Queen, Xander realized, but for Corrin. Laslow did have a good sort of friendship with the little princess. One he made sure was not born of ill-placed attraction, but perhaps stronger than he thought on his retainer's part. And Laslow was more than skilled enough to take the lead of such expedition. Still…

"Denied. A search party will be sent, but you will stay with me. This is an order." He added, seeing the frown on his retainer's face. "Send words to the generals to come here. And Iago, as well."

"… As you command, Milord." Complied Laslow with a strained bow.

This war would not end quickly nor easily. The plans would have to be discarded and drawn anew. And if someone, anyone could survive this and bring Corrin back, thought Xander, it would be Lora. All he could do was play his part and put his faith in the Queen to accomplish a miracle…

Lora POV

She awoke sprawled on the ground, cold, drenched, unable to breath. Honed reflexes kicked in and Lora rolled on her side. She coughed again and again, until her throat dried and all the water left her lungs. Alive. She was alive, somewhere… The beat of another Soul. Corrin. Lora jumped to her feet, eyes darting and scanning her surroundings, all thoughts of her own discomfort secondary. She caught sight of white hair, the familiar armor of the boreal dancer. The Queen jumped to the side of her little girl, turned her up and checked the pulse. Beating, but irregular, her beathing too quick. Not drowning, she was surprisingly dry. No broken bones she could feel, the Cat Ring and Lora's body protected her enough from the fall. But elsewhere… splintered and broken armor plates barely concealed the charred wound left by the lightning stake in her flank. Smaller, shallower wounds were on the back and right arm, where the lightning arrows struck the dragon's wing and spine. Lora's lightning. She did this, and the emergency miracle she used during the fall barely did anything.

She brought up the sunlight talisman quickly, focusing, praying, pledging her little princess to be safe and whole. The Fire answered, the orange of embers glowing upon her skin, and bountiful sunlight dawned upon them. The greatest healing miracle filled the air with warmth, with care, with life. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, Corrin's flesh returning to a healthy color, burns fading and resorbing. The heartbeat stabilized, the breathing became regular, turning into the softer inspiration of sleep. Lora kept Corrin close, holding her in her arms to give all the warmth the body of a Lord could provide. Her eyes fell upon the golden sword at the little princess' side, the gleaming pendant on her neck. The weapon was curious, but Lora barely paid it attention. Why was Corrin holding Azura's pendant? Did anything happen to Azura? Or was it a gift?… Lora didn't know. There was so much she didn't know. And she wasn't sure Corrin would be willing to tell her…

Lora looked further than her immediate surroundings, trying to recognize her location. She remembered the shape of the lands, from a map perhaps, but well nonetheless. Wherever they were in the south, she should be able to find a clue. There was little vegetation around, some trees here and there, but barely anything impeding vision. Finding their location should be but the simplest task. Yet despite her knowledge of the realm she now called home, no map she has seen boasted such a geography.

"Where have we travelled?" Lora whispered, to herself and her sleeping princess.

The land and sky mingled haphazardly, with seemingly little rhyme or reason. The large band of earth they stood on abruptly ended on a giant cliff rising for hundreds of meters, where ruins of some civilisation held horizontally as if gravity followed no central guide but the inclination itself. Islands of various size floated amidst large clouds, some as small as a village and others looking as vast as a province, either straight, tilted or entirely upside down. Lora even noticed a small stream in one such patch of soil, sticking to the ground instead of falling as it should normally be. All of this… a shiver crawled down her neck, as she was reminded of the one place where the laws of nature and land gave up in a reminiscing patchwork of ruins. The Kiln of the First Flame. And despite looking verdant and potentially full of life, the same eerie silence impregnated their location.

"One step at a time." Lora decided, falling back on familiar habits.

Slowly, gently, she laid down Corrin before quickly gathering enough woods to craft a bonfire, one she infused with the pyromancy of Warmth. A peculiar pyromancy a Mound Maker offered her in the darkness of the ruined Anor Londo, reward for helping to slay the mimics chasing him. A gentle flame slowly closing wounds and lifting exhaustion, one that brought comfort to many solitary nights, a comfort she hoped would alleviate the sleep of her little princess. All that was left to Lora was to stand guard, and wait…