A/N: It's time… there has been Canon Divergence before, but this chapter?
This is where the canon of Birthright gets yeeted out of the window. This is Mokushu… Part 1 of 2.
Antex: Can't have Fire Emblem without Supports!
"I don't like you." -Rinkah. (Proceed to have a fiery brawl) "Alright, you're hot." C-Support!
Then it's a good thing Anankos is willing to divulge the time and resources for Gunter! Which in turn ridden a lingering burden on Yasei... who then further her relationship with Felicia. Should I call it a relationship? Hrm...
I will likely include that conversation, because I do need to weave in more Supports, even if they are 'small' like the ones presented in that chapter.
Hana! Always looking out for her liege, and not in the *creepy* way.
Awakening has been even further confirmed. So... what is the Awakening cast doing here, hm?
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) | Wasure rareta kuni (Land of the Forgotten) [The Void. The place where only Shattered Spirits and Fractured Souls go to]
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]
Two days of rest, two days of Sakura personally treated to my wounds, and I'm more or less fully recovered… of course with the outlier being this damn Wyrmslayer Wound. Still, I managed to sleep incredibly well last night, both with Felicia's confirmation of her accepting my… possessive attitude, and perhaps more importantly… Gunter is alive!
I'm still going to tear Hans to shreds as if he were killed, though.
"Hopefully Kaze's mission went well…" Mizumare hasn't returned, which means that Kaze is not captured, though… I should have told her to report back, anyway.
"Orders?" Azura asks me. "You… weren't available last night."
"Huh? Oh right." I shake my head. "So, let me explain the situation, why I sent Kaze out, then get to the plan."
"Mokushu is largely a neutral territory for Ninjas. The only Clan that has affiliation with anyone else is… was the Saizo Clan, lead by Saizo the fourth, who is the father of Saizo the fifth, Kaze's brother. Saizo the fourth was assassinated by one within his clan, a man named Kotaro. He now rules as Daimyo, which essentially is King, however… Saizo the fourth was a well-respected Ninja, and his death did not sit well with the other Clans, but for whatever reason, they never actually overthrew him."
"I set Kaze out in an attempt to rally the other Clans. They are to be informed that a part of the Hoshidan Army is en route, and he asked for aid. If they comply, they are to simply follow along with whatever 'demands' are made from the Nohrians at the time. Once we arrive and the Nohrian-allied Ninjas attack, then they turn their blades and fight for us."
"There is a chance that Nohr makes it there second, but I highly doubt that Kotaru will align with us, so if we happen to get there first, then we will simply take him down and rally all of the Ninjas." I finish off.
"...A sound plan." Azura nods, "Hoshido was wise to make you the Commander."
"...You think so? I'm aware not everyone… agrees with my tactics." I admit, a bit quieter.
"Not everyone can see a battlefield as clearly as a Tactician can. Hana, for instance, values honor, so she would consider a more upfront approach. Subaki and Lady Hinoka both have preferred fighting in the air, so they would be more comfortable with pre-mission scouting. Kaze and the other Ninjas would have a better time sneaking around the upcoming battle and lying out traps, perhaps even digging out to strike from hidden points… and I can't help but notice, but when you plan for battles, you are more focused around gaining allies and applying complex strategies."
"I'm trying to minimize casualties on all sides of the war. The more we can rally, the more we can spare, and the easier the long-term will be. But, I know not everyone can be recruited, Azura. Kotaru is an example."
"And if I may ask, how do you know? Saizo the fourth could have been planning a devious act, for all we know."
I was about to retaliate… but she's also right. I'm going off the idea that Kaze's father was an honorable man, and that his death was unjust. I don't know… Kaze doesn't know what exactly went down in Mokushu. "Just because a situation is improbable, doesn't mean we ignore it." Ah, Leo's words once more…
"My apologies, I didn't mean to question your leadership, Commander Corrin, I only brought it up to assure that you are seeing this battle from other viewpoints. You needn't lead and plan alone. While the rest of us may not be specialized in tactics, they may be able to provide a suggestion."
"Right, right… thank you for reminding me." I nod.
"I'm only doing my duties, Commander. I must instead thank you for allowing me this position." A gentle smile. "Now, the rest of the battle plan?"
"Of course!"
The forests of Mokushu hold a vastly different aura to any other area I've been in so far. It feels as if someone or something could pop out at any moment, in addition to the feeling of being watched, but to the credit of who primarily lives here, both of those statements are equally as plausible. Mizumare has yet to return, so I can safely assume that the negotiations went well…
But this feeling of unease has yet to settle.
The threat of traps is low, since I assigned Subaki and Jakob to quietly scour ahead. I've already seen quite a few cut ropes and dropped blades, so I know they're doing their job well.
Purotekutā no Kyōdai ai is gripped tightly in my hands, my body remains tense for a potential encounter, but I've refrained from honing in on my Draconic Senses. It'd be no good to use up my energy now, only to get ambushed later.
My blood craves action, the feeling of crushed bodies and… I blink. There it is again. The anger, the desire for harm. My ears twitch.
And I have a feeling that this… lust for battle isn't something I'm supposed to be feeling.
Crunch
A twig snaps and a figure appears. Hooded, but no Ninja. I feel a faint aura, something foreboding. The figure nods, smiling. Some black hair covers part of their face, as if it is a secondary hood.
And now I have the feeling this person isn't here to chat. They extend a hand, incanting a spell. I feel the tingle of Dark Magic, but it's not a spell I've read about.
"PAY ATTENTION TO ME!" A voice exclaims, slamming the hooded figure to the ground in a full-blown tackle. A Knight in bright-yellow painted armor lifts the figure up, "Move, get out!" He tells us. "There is a…"
"Damnation: Cripple!" The Figure somehow manages to speak through the man's iron grip and he falls to his knees. "Risen! Kill that one!" The Figure… she points to me.
From the ground rises a number of corpses. Purple in skin color, eyes burning a bright, glowing red, mouths stitched shut. They remind me eerily of Faceless, but they are far smaller… likely more nimble.
"...Hey, hey! That's the same kind of sticky magic the Nohrians at the Fort had!" Lathna informs us.
"Stick with each other! Pair up! One defensive, one offensive!" I order. "Two with the healers!"
I slash at an upcoming risen corpse, but unlike the ones at Fort Jinya, this one remains standing after a strike, a deep-purple-black blood spilling from its wound.
The Figure begins a spell anew. "Lilith!" I call out.
The Yellow-Knight remains keeled over, whatever Dark Magic she casted has him completely defenseless… "So why hasn't she just killed him, yet?" I block an incoming blow, but take a scrape on the side from another. I lunge forward with my Naginata, only to have it blocked. "Trees are too dense, the Naginata wielders are going to have trouble." More blood spills after my failed hit. I take my partial-shifted form, forming a Sword and Maw combination with my hands, a helmet soon covers my face. My Dragonstone pulses, and I can sense the water within it slowly depleting.
"Ruin!" The Hooded woman speaks, as the ground below us turns black and Dark Magic spikes erupt from the ground.
"What kind of Dark Magic is this?! Leo never used anything like it!"
"...As you wish, milady." I can scarcely overhear Ignis speaking.
"Corrin, I can weaken the effects of this Mage, but…" Azura soon speaks up, gracefully dodging several attacks, seeming to prefer the Defensive. "It will leave me vulnerable."
I could order a defensive formation, but that Mage has access to something that can affect an area. If we're bundled together like that, it would make us easy targets. A single spike could potentially hit two or more!
Lilith walks up to me, smacking a risen corpse with a hand, yet causing it to stumble backwards as if she slammed a Mace at him. "I can weaken her." She declares. "I just need to get close."
A highly aggressive move. If Lilith charges in, she's leaving herself open to other attacks.
A million scenarios pass in my head, but I'm unable to act them all out. We don't have the time! "Focus on the corpses! Lilith…"
Her eyes light up with power, and she moves forward.
I slash at an incoming risen corpse, my summoned sword biting a bit deeper than my naginata, I then follow up with my Formed Maw while it's staggered, crunching through bone and sinew with ease. I smile as the blood spills.
"More, more more!" My mind reels back to when I first transformed, of how the scent of blood excited me, of when I only wanted more combatants. I feel the urge to shift completely but I overcome it with a tactical standpoint. "If I shift here, the trees will be a much larger burden." Another slash…
A cry of pain, I pinpoint the sound as… "Lady Sakura!" Hana screeches.
"Hidden Archer!" Subaki announces.
My eyes scan the forests… and I see him. Dull-orange hair, a bandana wrapped around his head… a stick of sorts held in his mouth.
"That's… the one that almost killed Reina!"
"You!" Hinoka acts first, breaking formation, something beyond just fire in her eyes. Murder, anger.
"Welp, guess she's going to die." Azama quips.
"Hinoka! Wait!" She's not stopping… shit. I go after her. "Azura, lead in my stead!" I tell her. "It's a trap, there's no way this is a coincidence, and we're about to run straight into it."
My Dragon grows steadily more angered. "And we'll demolish any trap they have laid."
Despite being a few steps ahead of us, the assassin seems to vanish, but now that we're so close, I can see why. A faint Teleportation Rune. "You won't get away this time!" Hinoka pursues.
I hold no hesitation and follow.
When our senses come to, we're in a land of ruin. Around us is a castle of sorts, barely maintained. Bricks crumble, scorched, or just outright destroyed. "Where…?" I start off.
"Is he?!" Hinoka snarls.
I feel my Draconic blood boil, it's enough to make my head spin a bit. I feel power… a lot of it. My sense hone without my prompting, I feel my skin harden, if slightly… closer to scales. I feel… closer to my Dragon form. "We'll find him." I assure her.
"...Sister?" She asks, slightly stunned, but then nods. "For Reina." There's high adoration in her tone.
I smell that Hinoka considers Reina more than just a teacher… and influence. A friend, a close friend. "Probably the one who aided her in her Sky Knight training."
None of that matters in the moment. Only the rage of being so close to Reina's would-be murderer. Of the blood that will be spilt. He bravely shows his face again, appearing from a corner with a smirk. Corpses rise from the ground without a single verbal command. Instead of a bow, he pulls out his sword.
"Father…" I mentally whisper. "I am Yasei, a demi-goddess… daughter to the Silent Dragon, Anankos. I will not fall here. Bless me with more power, I am ready… to be closer to what I'm supposed to be."
A small flash of light, and I can feel more Lavender hair dye burning off, my natural deep-blue shining true, but there's a faint flow. I take hold of my Dragonstone. "Support me, Sister." I tell her. I focus on my Dragonstone. She nods.
The corpses are sent to me. He specifically wants me dead. That hooded figure wanted me dead. I have a feeling this is part of the army that is fighting my father.
The transformation is painful again, not so much from the stretching muscles or cracking bones, but the surge of power that comes with it. I can do more. My Draconic body grows larger than it had last time. My claws are sharper, horns are longer, my scales reinforced, my tail gains a small mace-like ending.
My claws are my Swords, my Horns are my Lances, and my Tail is my Mace.
The first wave of corpses are sent at me, and I effortlessly tear through three, while Hinoka musters the strength to kill two. "You will pay for what you've done to Reina!" She exclaims, making progress forward despite the numbers. Every rage-fueled strike downs at least one of these Corpses and severely injures another.
While each of my hits disposes of at least three. What once was fueled only by rage is now bloodlust. I want more still, like a babe crying for attention. I… am born to conquer, to rule. I am, I am…
I rear my front up and slam into the ground, [Tidal Wave]. I utter in Vallite, and once a spell that almost drains all my water comes with little issue. The first few are obliterated, more are sent into the air. I leap upwards and slash them down before they can reach the ground. When I land, more water is sent skyward… but this is no normal rainfall. Each drop tears into the purple-skin of these attackers.
The Orange-Hair assassin loses his prideful smirk, whatever 'clever' trap was planned did not account for the power of a Demi-Goddess with a lust for battle.
A single swipe of my tail sends several corpse heads flying. I ram my horns into another, claws… all the while, they can barely get passed my scales.
Even my Wyrmslayer wound definitely remains closed.
"Your scales… they can't be! You're too young to obtain that power!" A new voice enters the area, young-sounding, far off on the other side. A woman with a robe that sports an eerie design of three eyes on each collar. "I… I have to end this, now!" She exclaims, pulling out a Tome that sports the design of some sort of Dragon and yet just looking at it, not knowing what it is, I feel a distinct, palpable fear similar to a… Wyrmslayer. "Naga's Fury!" She commands through her Tome, and what seems like a Wind spell rushes to me.
"NO!" I hear my father's voice ring in my head, and an ethereal wing appears before me, blocking most of the spell, but the remainder still manages to cut through, scarring the front of me almost instantly.
"SISTER!" Hinoka charges forward, still too reckless! "YOU WON'T TAKE HER FROM ME!" She brandishes her Naginata, a small spark of power around her… a faint, fiery aura, her footsteps seem to make the ground she stepped on smoke. "I REFUSE TO LOSE HER AGAIN!" She leaps, twice the distance of a single corpse, bounding over two and bringing her Naginata down closer to the fashion of brute strength, rather than the grace she tends to show.
The orange hair man is closer to the enraged Hinoka, who brings down her Naginata with such force that the Sword he uses to block just breaks in half, and yet her blow continues into his skull.
"...Damn it!" The younger woman swears, readying another spell, seeming to risk wanting to kill me, despite my big sister being so close… except…
No.
Even with my grievous chest wound and blood pouring by the cup, I charge forward. "Hinoka! Don't!" I order her.
She doesn't listen… I… I…
"Forgive me." I take a breath, forming up my rage, my anger… my magic. "HALT!" A wave of magic erupts, filled with my Draconic power. A power so formidable that even the young woman freezes in fear. Every Corpse ceases to move.
Hinoka nearly collapses. I rush to her, scooping her up with my hand. I can hear her heart racing faster than it has any right to, her eyes are wide, her body stiff with fear… the fear I forced into her. I move back to that Teleportation Rune, it alights and we are transported out of this trap… but not before, "Naga's Fury!" I feel a searing pain on my left wing.
...Hinoka killed that Assassin, but at what cost? Two more Wyrmslayer-esque wounds on me? And… how much is she going to hate me for that?
I grit my teeth, end the transformation and stand. "Father…" I plead. "I need it quicker. The strength to sustain Wyrmslayer. This enemy… the war."
Hinoka blinks her eyes, the magical fear subsiding, and as I had feared, she looks at me with wide eyes and shakily asks, "What… did you do?" Her lips tremble, her will falters. This is not the big sister who had just charged head-first into a death trap to keep me safe.
"...I kept you from killing yourself." I said sharply. "Hinoka, I am your Commander. I ordered you not to chase that man, but you did!"
She grabs her Naginata and shakily stands, then falls. "No… what did… the Nohrians do to you?! Corrin, my… my little sister, she'd… she'd never do that!" She shouts, a fire returning, and she looks angrily at me. "T-Takumi was right to worry, but… I didn't think it was this bad!"
...What? How did this come to 'The Nohrians'? "They didn't do anything to me! This is…" This is what? Me? This is me?
"Bullshit!" Hinoka is on the verge of tears, and I… finally realize. This… was something she was keeping pent inside, because she doesn't know how to express her own emotions. "Corrin! Nobody just 'gets' a complete physical and mental adjustment like you did! Those… those Nohrians did something to you, and… that has to be why you are going out of your way to spare them!" She accuses.
"Hinoka I…"
"I hate to say this, Corrin, but… for the sake of your own good… I'm taking command." Hinoka declares.
"...What! Hinoka you…"
"I may not be a Tactician, but I'm not having my little sister get herself killed or the safety of Hoshido risked because…"
"Get myself killed! And what were you doing earlier?!"
"Protecting you as a big sister should!"
"I can defend myself, Hinoka! Besides, it was Reina's name on your lips, not mine!" Tears…
We both fall silent, Hinoka breathes. "As my right as the older sibling, I will be taking command of the army." She reaffirms. "There has been no written document stating you are in charge, sister. And you won't be getting command until I, Ryoma, or Yukimaru approve of it." She sheathes her Naginata. "I'm sorry, but this is for your own good. You'll thank me later. Now come on, get up."
I grit my teeth, but say nothing. I'm too angered. Anything at this point will just be false words derived from emotion.
"Commander Corrin, she…" Azura starts.
"Azura, stand down." Hinoka firmly speaks, causing the Songstress to startle. "Report."
Azura looks to me, and I nod. "Princess Hinoka."
"Commander Hinoka." A hush falls over the rest.
"Big… sister?" Sakura asks.
"Corrin needs treatment, Sakura. Do what you need to. Sedatives if she tries to resist."
"Hinoka!" I retort.
"Big sisters…?" Sakura seems overwhelmed. "What…?"
I look away, and just go to her. "Let's go, Sakura." I tell her.
"Commander Hinoka, the hooded woman managed to get away even after Lilith had successfully 'drained'..."
"Drained?" Hinoka cuts her off, her brows furrowed.
"She placed a hand on her body and began siphoning power from her, not much unlike Nosferatu." Azura explains.
Hinoka tightens her fists. "We should have went with your plan, then… Azura, you're keeping your station for now." She takes a moment and raises her voice. "Listen up! By my right as the elder sibling, I am now Commander of this army! Azura will remain Second-in-Command!" She pauses, "Now, let's get everyone healed up so we can keep moving! The Nohrians are likely at the Ninja's homes by now!" She tilts her head at Azura, "With me, we got plans to discuss."
"By the gods sister… what… is this magic?" Sakura asks me as my armor comes off. Gone is the flushing and stammering, she has a critically injured patient.
"It… was a Tome, light-green, a design of a Dragon on the cover. It… had the same feeling as a Wyrmslayer. I took the first head-on, the second clipped my wing." I explain.
"You… took it… head on? Then… how are you alive?" She asks, skeptical.
"I saw Father." Wait…
"F-Father…?" She asks, "He… came back to protect you!" She… is smiling as she takes out a Festal and starts healing me. "I… I read about such miracles! Sometimes… when a person passes on, their spirit stays behind to watch over those that they love, and… and there have been reports where people were in situations where they should, by all accounts, have died, but they claim a Spirit had came to safeguard them!" She clears her throat, and the next word comes out soothing, calm, [Yokai]. She speaks, "That's what they call them, benevolent spirits."
"...right." Whew, close one. I then sigh.
"You and…?" She follows up, growing more somber.
"Hinoka charged off because she saw the one who almost killed Reina, we followed him into a Teleportation Rune. It was a trap. We managed to get out, but we got into an argument, too. I… said things I shouldn't have." I tell her.
Sakura just nods, applying a lot of healing magic. "Well, there is good news…" She says. "It seems… Father's spirit had negated the otherwise lethal effects of the Wyrmslayer. It… it still cut far deeper than other spells, but you won't have scars like from the Wyrmslayer." She informs me.
Yet she doesn't look happy. "Sister?"
"...Spirits… aren't immortal, sister. If… if father truly took so much damage, if… he takes too much." She hesitates, biting her lip.
"...Yes?"
"Spirits… either descend to [Fuka-Sa No Kage] or ascend to [Todoku No Hikari]. When there, they live the rest of their lives, either in agony or paradise. However, the spirits that choose to remain… they are not immortal. If… if Father's spirit takes too much damage in your stead… any of our steads, he spirit will… shatter. He will… cease to exist, completely. It is said a shattered spirit goes to the [Wasure rareta kuni], a place that is arguably worse than Fuka-Sa No Kage. In this land… these broken spirits remain fragmented, living forever separated from their own parts."
"...Is there no way to reverse this?!" I exclaim.
She shakes her head, "That's why there's so few spirits who are willing to take this risk. It is one of the most honorable things they can do, but unlike many other traditions, only torture awaits those who perish during this duty. But…" She trails off. "That is also why Hoshido has the Day of the Fractured. It's… a festival made solely to celebrate and thank the spirits who partake in this duty. Our thanks and prayers are sent to them." She grips her Festal, nodding over her work. "You might feel a bit tired if we need to fight, but otherwise… you are healed."
I bow, "Thank you… for both healing me, and informing me of what happened."
[I don't like this.] Lilith flatly tells Lathna in Vallite.
[That hooded mage…]
[No, sister. I… can scarcely believe she was able to gain such a power boost from father without snapping, but…]
[I am concerned for her well-being, too.] Lathna nods.
[It's not just that, but whatever happened there, it damaged her relationship with Hinoka… and Hinoka is not suited to lead.] Lilith hums.
[You could Enchant her…]
[No, the damage is done. If Hinoka suddenly changes her mind, suspicion will rise, but I can't help…]
[Lady Lilith?]
[You felt it, or rather… the lack of it.]
Lathna slowly nods, [The Curse… it somehow diminished, but it returned just as strong right before I heard Hinoka and Lady Yasei arguing.]
[Either the enemy is controlling the Vallite Curse, which would be logical, because restricting the ability to spread information would allow them to move more quietly, or…]
[Lady Azura?]
[Lady Azura.] The two nod, glancing over to…
[That was quite the risk, milady.] Ignis quietly whispers in Vallite.
[I simply needed the proof, I think it was worth it. Yasei lusts for power, if she truly lead the army, she would become a tyrant. All of this 'Family' talk is a facade.] Azura states.
[That power boost…]
[Is far beyond any possible estimation I could conceive. She could easily surpass us with a few more of those, and with Anankos's power to overcome the Curse, he could supply it to her.] Azura looks around.
[What shall we do now?] He glances over, locking eyes with… then looking away.
[Remain in favor of the army. As long as I can keep my bonds strong, any notion of attacking us would make them the enemy. We are the 'Hoshidans', they are the 'Nohrians'.]
[I have bonded with Subaki and Sakura.] Ignis reports.
[I have Hana and Setsuna.] Azura follows up. [The problem with her supporters is that most of them are retainers or her Nohrian family. Rinkah is the only non-Retainer ally she has. It will be far easier to keep her as a standard Soldier at this point.]
[When should we…?]
"Hey!" Commander Hinoka calls out. "Heads up, we got a battle on our hands… and hostages on the line!" A short pause. "Kaze, Mizumare, Orochi, and someone who 'Wants Kotaru to Pay' are all held captive! Azura, Hana, and Azama. With me, we're forming a plan!"