Antex: I write as I can, and it seems my mind either wants to do 'Vanity' or 'Her Birthright'. I'm also very glad I'm writing again, because I sorely missed it.

Well, wouldn't you like to know? I'd hint it, but why hint it, when you can read it for yourself... this chapter! That's right! A 'big' chapter! (Disclaimer: It's 'big' in my standards)

Vallite: Purotekutā no Kyōdai ai (Protector of Sibling Love) [Corrin's Naginata] | Hoshizora Seiza (Starry Constellation) [Lilith's Mother] | Jiyū (Freedom) [Lathna's F!Pegasus] | Kanpeki (Perfection) [Subaki's M!Pegasus] | Shi no Mirai (Tides of the Future) [Izana's Crystal Ball] | Kuronikurā (Chronicler) [Forgotten Dragon God of Records/Time-Keeping] | Fuka-sa No Kage (Depths of Shadow) [Afterlife for the Damned] | Todoku No Hikari (Reaches of Light) [Afterlife for the Blessed] | Mizumare (Waterborn)

Hoshidan: Baranotsubomi (Rosebud) [Elise's Mare]

Nohrian: Katáktisi (Conquest) [Xander's Stallion] | Ouranós Trómos (Skyterror) [Camilla's M!Wyvern] | Μαύρο άλογο/Alastor (Dark Horse) [Leo's Stallion]

Common: Firechaser [Hinoka's F!Pegasus] | Lavender [Silas's Mare]

It was a two day detour, but one I figured was worth it. If Leo was truly attacking and burning down farmland, he had to be stopped. No exceptions. Losing such large sections of farmland would do more than cutting off food, it would also drop morale and confidence with the Hoshidan citizens. If we can't stop Nohr from attacking our innocents, then how can they expect us to win the war?

"But something doesn't feel right about this. Attacking the enemy's food and water is a valid tactic in terms of warfare, but this soon? Desperation is the only reason for an attack on supplies this soon. Nohr isn't that lacking in food. Sure, there were times where even Royalty seemed to be lacking, but even those times weren't that bad."

The sound of wingbeats snap me from my thoughts, Subaki lands first, followed by Hinoka. "Reporting, Commander." Subaki dips his head. "Nohrian military North-West of Sunsoaked Farm."

"An even split of Mages and Archers, only a few Calvary. Prince Leo is in the rear." Hinoka confirms. "The Calvary are being led by a well-armored man in Black Nohrian Steel."

"And what are you planning, Brother? You don't do brute-force assaults, there is always a secondary force, another plan. I… am going to need to bait him."

"Orders?" Subaki asks.

"Ah, a question, if I may?" Jakob speaks up. "For Lady Hinoka and Sir Subaki, that is."

"Go ahead." I allow it.

"This 'well-armored man in Black Nohrian Steel'. This will sound strange, but is he young? Silver-grey hair that looks as if it hasn't been brushed properly?"

"Uh…?" Hinoka looks to Subaki.

"That is correct." Subaki confirms.

Jakob smiles, "Ah, then Ser Silas has finally been promoted to his long-desired Knighthood!"

Felicia also smiles, "How wonder…" She then frowns, "Oh wait, that's not good…"

I tilt my head. "Jakob, your liege has memory issues."

"Ah, my apologies. Silas is a childhood friend of yours, or was rather. After he snuck out with you for a picnic, he was expelled from the Northern Castle, about a month after he was removed, you ceased talking… nay, worrying about him…"

"Uh, now that you bring that up, Jakob… that was about the time Lady Corrin started having moments of memory loss." Felicia says.

"...He was a friend?" I ask.

"He swore that he would obtain Knighthood solely for the purpose of being able to return to you." Jakob confirms. "Sadly, it seems he's swept up in the Nohrian forces."

"He swore he would get Knighthood to return to me." I echo. "Silas is to be given mercy for this battle."

"And Lord Leo?" Jakob boldly asks.

"..." I pause, then breathe, "He's disowned me, Jakob, he made his stance clear. Take him as a prisoner if possible, but don't risk your lives over it."

"...Azura." I turn to the Songstress and my Second-in-Command.

"Yes?" She asks in kind.

"Take Sakura, her retainers, Ignis, Lilith, Lathna, Rinkah, and Jakob. You will split off from my group and flank the Calvary, try to draw out some of those Mages, too. The rest of you are with me, we'll be leading the charge… Rinkah!" I suddenly exclaim, "Got a question."

"Uh-huh?" She responds.

"Your Fire Tribe powers… I'm assuming you can manipulate fire?"

"If you're asking me to stop fires, the answer is no." She huffs.

"Can you harness them?" I clarified.

"To an extent, yes. I can, in fact, stand in the fire for a time and charge my weapons with it."

"On Azura's team, focus on your targets. When they start burning the farm, use it against them." I told her. "Otherwise, heed her orders. Lilith."

"Wh-When?!" Sakura gasps. "Sister!"

"Sakura, if we focus solely on preventing the farm from burning, Leo will employ another strategy to take us down. This will be a delicate balancing act, we have to protect the farm and repel the enemy. If we focus too much on one, the other will soon overwhelm us. Now then, Lilith."

Lilith gives me a slight glare, but she smiles, "Yes?"

"Can you carve another Rune?"

"At the expense of the Astral Realm, yes."

"Good, hang back and act like you're carving a Rune."

"...What?" She bares her fangs. "Then why not just…"

"I am your Commander, and I am well versed in Tactics, and I know Leo." I frown at her, "Channel magic, do the rituals, it will cause Leo to send some soldiers after you."

"And lure them into a trap…" Azura speaks up.

I snap my fingers, "Exactly. Leo is not one to disregard a rising threat, and he will be scouring the battlefield for any 'tricks'. Azura? Since you spoke up, you got a trap in mind?"

"You can count on me."

"Good." I nod, "Hinoka, Felicia, Mizumare, Kaze, Setsuna, Azama. Let's move."

"Um… and m-me, Lady Corrin?" Mozu shyly brings up.

"She's had no taste of real battle yet, sending her in would be suicide." I muse, before shaking my head and answering with, "If you can find time, aid the villagers and farmers. I'm not having you fight until I am certain you can hold your own."

"...o-okay." She slowly nods, backing off.

"What's our plan?" Hinoka asks.

"Ours is straightforward. Leo won't know how many I have under my command. We have to seem smaller than we actually are."

"It will be done, milady." Kaze speaks.

"H-How!" Felicia gasps.

"Appear confident. We are the force that will stop him."

"Your wish is my command." Mizumare speaks.

"You sure it'll work?" Hinoka asks.

"I know him better than anyone else here." I speak with confidence, then cross my arms, "I'm more worried about your retainers than anything."

"They can handle themselves in battle." Hinoka assures me.

"Our first big battle… weeeee…" Setsuna drawls out.

"Going against a Royal one-on-one so early? Are you certain this is wise?" Azama asks.

"Azama. We have a sound plan, four Royals, and…"

"Hm? And how many Divine Weapons?" He quips. "We'll be plant food in no time."

I simply look at Hinoka, and she shrugs.

"How can she put up with them?!"

Sunsoaked Farm… several acres of agriculture, about three barns worth of working animals alone, not to mention the livestock that's solely raised to be slaughtered. A farm so large, that even the one-fourth of it that is owned by Izumo is enough to sustain the masses.

If this is truly Leo's target, he can easily send Hoshido reeling in terms of food. Still, I can hardly believe he's striking at the food so early. Yet…

"No, I have to discard the notion of 'honor' with him. The reason his attacks on the farm have been so damn successful is because it's such a 'low-blow'. Hoshido was clearly expecting a fair fight, so the soldiers were sent to either Forts, Cities, or to the front lines. Villages and farms were left with scarce defenses, making them easy targets if a Royal happened to stay behind and lay low."

Damn it! I should've known this would happen! I… I know Leo, he holds no reserves for war.

"You lost again, Wild Child." Leo once smirked after another game of Wyverns and War. "You are too conservative. Your notion of Honor will get you killed one day."

"And you are far too willing to cut ties, so when your war is won, you will be left with misery." I countered, angered. "Who wants to rule a nation where everyone hates their king?"

"Watch your tongue, sister. I may be younger than you, but you are still my student."

"My point is proven."

"Milady." Kaze speaks. "Are you well?" He lowers his voice.

"...No." I reply softly, but I steel myself. "Not that I have a choice."

"A choice? For?" He sounds confused.

I shake my head, "We're moving out. If we wait too long, Leo will likely deduce that I'm setting up a flank. To arms!" With a rallying cry sent out, pride in our veins, and being readied… we charge.

I hear a similar call from the other side, and unlike ours, there's a tremble to the ground, horses. As we pass by the farm's perimeter, I can see them… him.

Indeed, a young man, a soft face, yet fierce eyes. His hair looks like it defies any conventional means of brushing, his armor had been recently crafted… or cared for to a level that even Subaki would envy.

Neither Leo nor his retainers are in this force, which causes my blood to still for a moment. "Lilith…" I focus on the squad at hand. Azura is a good leader, and she has Lilith and Sakura on her side.

"Squad! Split and surround them!" The man, Silas if Jakob is right, orders.

"Setsuna, Mizumare, aim at range. Hinoka, hit and fly. Kaze and Felicia, cover each other." I shoot a glare at 'Silas', he startles, looking at me for a moment.

Leader a Leader. His horse neighs as he goes straight for me, I ready Purotekutā no Kyōdai ai. He swings his sword, the added momentum of his horse's speed manages to break through my initial charge, and unlike my standard Nohrian Noble armor that I wore, the Spear Fighter garb, while woven and forged from the best materials, is simply not made to withstand any direct blow. I'm only glad that it hits my shoulder and not that.

His eyes narrow while we're at this close range, he briefly tilts his head as he pulls his sword back for another…

"That's right, the Dragon transformation changed me… if we were childhood friends, then there's no way he would recognize me now…"

I take a breath as I nimbly dodge the next blow. Nohrians Endure, Hoshidans Dodge. "Silas?" I ask.

His sword stops dead next swing. He blinks his eyes. "C-Corrin?! But…" He shakes his head, "You look…" He remains tense, probably stuck somewhere between his orders and his friend. "No, Prince Leo said you were dead, alongside Queen Mikoto."

"And now… he's lying about my fate?" No, I shouldn't be surprised. 'All is fair in war'.

"Yes Silas, it's me. Princess Corrin. I… didn't die, because Mother stood in front of the explosion and saved my life." I reply, his sword lowers, so I also sheathe my Naginata. "I… see you finally managed to get Knighthood." A small smile, yet remorseful.

"Eight long years of drilling myself to lengths I never thought I could do…" His voice grows smaller for a moment, "All because I wanted to show you the Starlit Hill for a picnic and star-gazing…" He looks away.

There's still a battle.

"Silas, I don't want to fight you…"

"And neither do I." He's still conflicted, no calls for standing down, his sword is still in his hand.

"Then fight with me?" I ask, "There's a war, Silas, and fleeing won't change that."

"...Squad! Stand Down!" He calls out, and his portion of Nohrian Soldiers cease, except that…

"Lord Leo! Ser Silas has backstabbed…!" One of his soldiers starts, but is cut down by Kaze, though given the brief respite from chaos, finds time to catch his falling body, lie his down, and close his eyes.

I smile at Silas, "Thank you."

"...No, thank you. Though, I'll need to ask what happened since I forced away." Silas responds. "But, you're right. The war will be here whether we want it or not." He extends a hand, "Care to ride into battle?"

"Together." I nod, taking his hand and getting on his horse, who makes no protest. "What's his name?"

"To be fair, I am lighter than most women."

"Ah… her. Lavender is a mare." He corrects, rearing and, "Squad! We're to flank Lord Leo!"

"Lavender?!" I mentally exclaim, and he must've read my mind, because he chuckles soon after.

"How could I forget? Uh, it's still your favorite scent, right?" He asks.

"Focus, you." I huff, but there's good humor in my tone. "Azura and the others have already gathered his attention, but we won't be able to flank him. I know he's waiting for me…"

Of course, the battle is far from over. Little-Big brother Leo will have some tricks left to play…

This isn't good, they're struggling. To her credit, Azura is commanding them well, but… Lord Leo seems to remain one step ahead of her. "Hinoka, support Subaki and Lathna. Kaze, with Lilith. Mizumare, with me. Setsuna and Azama, with Azura. Go!" I call out, leading myself and Mizumare towards Lord Leo, who barely takes the time to acknowledge me, a single glance. "Mizumare… aid the others."

She takes a single look, and dashes off.

"And so the traitor reveals herself." He casually says as he summons another blast of Brynhildr at my troops. He then sighs, "Why?"

There is a faint ring of power around him, and I note that there is now a sigil in his armor. "Protective Rune, barrier… no, it's a Warding Rune, yet it's less powerful than it should be…"

And yet, I can't tell him the truth. Still, given it all, should… "And now you remain silent?" He would've attacked me by now, he should have. A tinge of regret lines his eyes. Not for the farms, no, I know it's for me. Me being on the opposite side.

"Because I can't abandon my family." I tell him, "I…"

He scoffs, "Your family is dead, Corrin." Something's off about his tone, and I can't tell what. "Do you deny this? Mikoto and Sumeragi… gah, why am I even bothering."

He's stalling? No, there's something else. "Your move." I ask in the same manner as we would in Wyverns and War, "Four Royals to one, eight retainers to two. This isn't like you."

He chuckles, but the humor soon fades. "Aren't you going to ask about your family?"

Nohrian family, he means. There is sarcasm in that question, but… "Big sister? Is she okay?"

Another scoff, "And you still have the audacity to call us family. But no, she is not." His horse neighs, "Her collarbone and shoulder were shattered to bits, she only survived due to how she landed… and her shoulderguard. Elise healed the worst of it, but even her staff was unable to knit all of the bone back together."

"Wh...what? No no, that's right. Falling from a Wyvern or Pegasus is one of the greatest threats, and considering that Lathna knocked her off, Camilla is nothing less than blessed by the Dusk Dragon to have survived that."

"Big sister…"

"It's war." He waves off. "And I'll ask this once… Princess Corrin, return to Nohr."

"...Call off your troops and surrender, Prince Leo, and I'll assure that you remain safe during the war." I counter.

"I see…"

"Your move."

"No, I believe it's your move."

I sigh… and ready my Naginata. He readies Brynhildr. I move in… and then realize why his Warding Rune felt so weak. "It's tuned so it lets me in, but keeps other people out… he planned on dueling me." I grin, sharp teeth on full display, "And I'll oblige."

Brynhildr is a potent Divine Weapon, but unlike the rest, suffers from delay. It's roughly a half a second, a small enough amount of time that most would get caught up in the magical branches before they'd notice. I feel that pulse growing in front of me, I weave to the side, narrowingly avoiding being shredded. I then swing my Naginata, catching Leo on the side.

Clang.

I hear steel on steel… his sword. He'd drawn it at the last moment, a chill filled the air. His sword, Icebreaker. "You are unskilled in that blade." He 'politely' informs me.

"And you are holding back." Back, adjust grip, slightly turn, slash. His horse grunts.

"As are you." He too, slashes, but it's not the blade itself that hits me, it's a wave of cold that feels like it's frosting over my body… the ground alights with magic and I'm unable to get away from the sprouted Brynhildr. "Why? Are you afraid you'll kill me?"

"...Yes." I admit, "Because you are well unaware of what I have in me." Block, slash, stab. Leo displays his knowledge of Naginatas.

Frost, tree, I suffer another scrape from Brynhildr's branches. "..."

I counter with landing several slashes. Tree, ice, slash, jab. We continue making small hits at each other. Blood starts to spill. Blood… the Dragon in me growls. No! Leo is family! I refuse to give in, I don't need that spike in power.

Leo raises an eyebrow as he blocks another hit.

"I can't land a decent hit… he knows naginatas inside and out, and I'm still new to them. But…"

I also know Leo. He would…

"You fool! That was the most insensible, irrational set of attacks I've ever seen in my life! If you did that in a real fight, you'd die!" Fuga's words echo harshly in my head…

But I also know Leo. I know that when he sees something he doesn't expect at all, he hesitates.

I back off, well out of Naginata distance. Breath. Leo tilts his head slightly, I move in. Brynhildr pulses in the ground…

And I pray to the Dawn Dragon that Hinoka really had this thing forged out of top-tier materials.

The second I feel the Brynhildr ready to sprout, I jam the blade of the Naginata into the ground… and I use it as a pole-vault. The speed of which Brynhildr comes out sends me soaring into the air, I pull out my Naginata as I go up. "Can't hit me with Brynhildr up here, and all he has is his Icebreaker."

His eyes widen… and he smirks. He readies Icebreaker. The wind rushes by me as I bring my Naginata down with the added power of falling.

He rears his horse, quickly changing his position… but I just summon my wings and do the same. As I close in, I bring my Naginata in for a slash, one that he was unable to block. My Naginata cuts deep, a single slash across his chest.

Blood pours freely from his wound, a lot of blood. He falls off of his horse. "Sakura!" I call out as his Warding Rune fails. "Brother…" I called him…

After I remove Icebreaker and Brynhildr from his person.

"Ngh… took you, long enough." Leo grunts.

"What?"

"Wyverns and War… you never won a battle against me, so… I guess I was cocky here." He chuckles. Sakura is soon over and he heals him. "Damn it…"

I wave Sakura off, "Round up the rest of his troops. Heal the ones that didn't die, then have them tied up and sent to Shirasagi. The ones that died… give them a proper burial."

"O-Okay…" She steps away.

"And your answer?" I ask him.

"What answer?" He looks at me, sees the kindness in my eyes. "No! Damn it, Corrin, we are on opposite sides of the war!"

"You lost, and I'm offering you protection. Do you really want death so badly?"

"We are…"

"Family." I cut him off. "Answer me." I pull him to a stand. "We can use you on our side, Leo."

"You… fool!"

I keep going, unflinching, "You and I both know that we all want to see this through to the end. You want to be with me."

"What are you…?"

"Leo. I may have been sheltered in, but I'm not stupid. I'm as much as a woman as Camilla is, and I know you pine for me."

He scoffs, a slight flush, "And that's why you spared me?"

"I spared you because you are family, and I'm trying to convince you to change sides because I know you are being a stubborn mule again. Face it, Leo. Nohr won't win. You even admitted that Hoshido has a superior food source, which in turn allows them to train better."

"I'm a Prince of Nohr! I cannot…"

"...And I'm a Princess of Valla, but you don't see me switching sides." I quietly tell him. "Well, this is the first time I'm actually trying this. Let's see how well this 'curse' holds up."

"...Valla? What nonsense do you speak?!"

"My mother was born Vallite, my father is Anankos the Silent. I am half-Manakete… and a Demi-Goddess."

He laughs, "That is… insane. Now, why are we even bothering with this. Are you not going to put me in chains? You won, I lost."

Not even a shred of belief in his face. "I'm not going to throw you into a jail cell, unless you remain this stubborn. Leo, please. Take up arms for Hoshido. We can reduce the bloodshed by at least four-fold. With you by my side, we can easily convince Camilla and Elise to change their stance. And perhaps with all four of us, we can convince even Xander's brick-thick head." I add that last part with humor.

"Just…"

"Damn it, Leo." I huff. "Don't do this to me." He hesitates, I groan. "Azura! Round up Prince Leo's retainers, take their weapons, armor, and put them in our convoy, give them Commoner's clothing, shackle them, then send them to different prisons!" I call back. "Leo! Little-big brother!" I return to him, staring with a fierce gaze, my eyes are a searing red.

"Corrin…"

"What is your answer."

"I gave you my answer."

"It's not the answer I'm wanting to hear."

He takes a breath, "Corrin, this is war. You aren't going to get what you want just by asking." I let out a growl. Then he smirks, "Your move."

"Wait… no, he's just playing games now. The battle is over. His troops are down and he's disarmed. Did I miss something?" My mind quickly wracks over the events. "It did feel too easy… even if he was cocky, he wouldn't have gone down so fast. What did I miss?" I take a random sniff… "Wait, he took that blow head on, he wouldn't have done that unless…" I focus on the blood in the air.

My blood is very clear, it's powerful, teeming with magic and 'Dragon'. Then there is Leo's, faint yet also pulsing with Magic and Dragon, due to him being a Royal, but… there's a third scent of blood. And it's…

"Ah!" I gasp as realization hits me… as well as a hidden sword that Leo just produced.

Leo jerks the sword upward and stands… he reaches into the gash I made in his armor and pulls out a plastic bag, dripping with the animal blood. "That's why he took the hit… it wasn't because I actually caught him off-guard, it was to lower my guard!"

"This… is war, Corrin." He snears. "Whether you like it or not. And it seems this… 'Hoshidan Pride' has just cost you your first, and final duel." The sword is dragged up further, losing too much blood, and his damned Ward is preventing outside help. "A shame, I was hoping for more." He yanks his sword out, and I fall forward. "You may have won this battle, but at what cost? Your army's morale will plummet, the cost to bring you back from the brink of death will set your funds back for weeks… of course, not to mention the loss in farmland."

"Father…" I try to push myself up, but my arms are already losing their feeling.

"Μαύρο άλογο." He calls for his horse. A dozen voices are calling for my name, but my hearing is growing too dull to tell them apart. "Halt! You will either let me leave… or I will end her now!"

Arguing in my ranks, I can just barely tell that one of them is Hinoka, given her shouting, but soon, Leo and Alastor gallop off.

"Si…" Healing magic, Sakura?

"Cor-"

"Sis!"

"Commander!"

"My Liege!"

"Hold on!"

"Don't you dare die on me!"

"My Yasei…"

"Heal her!"

"I-I'm trying!" The words are slowly dying down, all I can hear is my own slowing heartbeat at this rate.

"Poison." I groan. "It wasn't enough to be a surprise blade… but coated, too." Ngh… "Little… big… brother." Consciousness soon fades to black. Too weak, too tired… but, not dead.

A/N: There are a great many things I can say at this point, and while I would normally highlight the 'big' moments… all I truly have in store is one, single question:

Was this a suitable Royal-to-Royal battle? No wait, let me clarify that, was this a suitable Leo-to-Corrin battle? Keeping in mind Leo's preference for planning, rather than a straight one-on-one duel like Xander would be more keen to.