[color=00a651]"Hey now bad thinkin' like that ain't gonna win us this skirmish. We gotta stand strong for everyone!"[/color] Millow said proudly with a smile. [color=00a651]"Still wish we didn't need to hurt no one but with things like they are back home...can't blame people for being edgy, and pushy with these Hoshidans. You know I never seen the sun so bright it's rather pretty ain't it? Oh I'm sorry I'm mouthing up a storm and you're just sitting there listening to me gawk at things I don't even fully get. Look let's just think positive alright?"[/color] Milow still kept his optimistic view as best he could trying to keep his upbeat attitude. Xander was at the front of the line, far up front shouted, [color=92278f]"We're going to be nearing the border soon! Men and women of Nohr prepare yourselves for the Hoshidans! They will fight for every inch of land! But don't falter and do not surrender!"[/color] Xander said with his usual monotone but fierce voice he kept perfect calm as the soldiers in front cheered. They were the vanguard after all they got the honor to fight side by side with Xander no matter the outcome. [color=92278f]"Today we will prove once and for all that we shall not back down from Hoshido and their false pride! Nohr will push back their finest soldiers, destroy their hope, and reclaim our lost prince! They will pay for kidnapping one our royal princes! We are the greatest nation in the world. Our swords will shatter their shields, our arrows will break their wills, our magic will smash against them and rend their lives! Together with me soldiers of Nohr! I will do my best to lead you to victory! Now forward!"[/color] Xander's men blew a horn in the air and it reverberated around the Nohrian forces. It was a hollow and depressing sound but it signified that they had reached their destination. Xander looked around at his men his all too familiar frown plastered on his face. His intentions were simple and clear: He was going to rescue his brother and bring him back home. If he was with Hoshido however he was bound to have known the truth by now. He was not his brother by blood or any other means. It didn't matter to Xander one bit. Corrin for all of his naivete for all of his faults was Xander's brother blood or not. He was intent on doing all he could to save him even if Corrin didn't want to be saved. Elise and Camilla stood behind him ready to aid him at the moment's call. Leo was also nearby commanding the units Xander had left him in charge of. Xander knew Leo was the finest commander in all of Nohr his strategies unparalleled and his magic strong. He knew victory was going to be theirs. [color=92278f]They bask in their own hollowness in the sun and take for granted their wealth. Fear not their blades and spears for you are the finest soldiers in the land! Prove your strength and destroy the enemy! For King Garon! For your families! For NOHR!"[/color] Xander called out as the front lines soldiers all rushed out towards an open field. There was a line of Hoshidan soldiers already there waiting for them. ===== Saito of Hoshido, a samurai under the command of Prince Ryoma and one of his veteran commanders, was addressing his men when he was cut short as he heard the call of a proud and noble Hoshidan horn sounding the incoming Nohrian invasion. [color=f26522]"So it starts then? I'm sorry I must cut this brief discussion short. Prepare for your first true taste of war. Prince Xander's men are not to be trifled with."[/color] Saito said coolly as he marched forward towards Ryoma who stood at the front of the line of his men. Samurai, Ninja, and other forces prepared themselves. Yukimura himself at Ryoma's side as he prepared to address the troops one last time. [color=ed1c24]"Men I make this clear and simple: Nohr will not stop here. The men of Nohr have cowardly sent waves of faceless after us and brought ruin and destruction to our capital itself. Hundreds of Hoshidans have known loss to Garon's cowardly tactics! BUT NO MORE! We have lost a queen, our beloved Queen Mikoto, but today we have a new prince at our side! My countrymen I ask of you only one thing: To defend your families! Hoshido must not and will not fall to those monsters! They are the ones who would let the world burn for their own selfish gains, and let civilians die for their damnable schemes! LET US SHOW THEM THE TRUE MIGHTY OF OUR NATION! Do not falter but do not worry if you fall in battle we will not forget you! Do not fear the darkness for the light banishes the dark with it's presence! ONWARD!"[/color] Ryoma said unleashing Raijinto from it's sheath as he himself led the troops towards the river. [youtube]https://youtu.be/algL-KWrQww[/youtube] ===== Audric looked back at the woman who he had warned just moments ago. He felt a calm soothing feeling wash over him like a cool fountain of water. His energy replenished to a degree and he could move on his own. One way or another he supposed he owed this woman an explanation. [color=0072bc]"Miss my name is Audric. I am the heir to the mayoral district of Cyrkensia. I am out here on my own volition. In good concious I must warn you I believe Prince Ryoma and Xander are going to clash soon. I think it will be nearby. This is a direct route into Hoshido and Xander is leading Nohr's armies to attack Ryoma's forces. Please good miss I beg of you if you do not wish harm upon yourself to get as far away from here as possible. Please. There's a temple to the clerics of the Sun Dragon nearby to the north. I will not tell you what you can and can't do. But I don't believe a woman like yourself would be fit to go into the situation I'm forcing myself into."[/color] Audric said with a calm politeness but a firm edge to his voice. He wanted to make sure he got across that he was completely serious. [color=0072bc]"If you come to my city, and be it that the gods intend I survive, I will repay you for your kindness. Fair well and good luck be with you."[/color] Audric said as suddenly a horn blew in the distance. Audric's body tensed up and he ran forward once more. Audric huffed and nearly collapsed on his knees once more as he finally arrived his brow dripping with sweat. He could even feel it accumulating inside of his armor. [color=0072bc]"Am...Am I on time? This can't be the wrong place I know it can't be!"[/color] Audric said his grey hair clinging to his head as he shook off his exhaustion. He had fought in worse conditions before like in that bog that one time in Cheve where he chased those bandits down. He couldn't believe that he had missed his chance or he made an awful mistake. Ryoma, Crown Prince of Hoshido...where were you!? He had to get to him before things got out of hand! If he could reach him maybe he could- Audric was cut off as he felt a hollow feeling deep inside of his gut he shook his head. [color=0072bc]"No...NO! Damn it!"[/color] Audric roared as he looked up at the sky and saw the start of the Nohrian assault. He saw the man in front and he couldn't tell if he was happy....or extremely disappointed. "Xander...I thought you were better than this! Why are you here!? Son of a dastard! But wait....maybe-" Audric's hopes were dashed rather quickly once more as he heard a counter horn bellow and soon enough he heard the sound of a march. Audric had failed...failed miserably he couldn't stop it and all of his efforts were ruined! He watched the initial clash Nohr had the upper hand but Xander quickly ordered a charged which was met by a man in bright red armor. Even from the distance Audric was at he could tell that man was not wielding a normal blade. It must have been Prince Ryoma...it had to have been him! He was too far out of ear shot to actually hear the man shout but he probably guess the jest of it. But he must admit Ryoma must've been far above him as a warrior but Audric knew the fighting prowess of the Nohrian Crown Prince all too well. [color=0072bc]"Nolan....Keith....brothers. Peoples of Hoshido, and Nohr. I'm sorry I wish I could've done more."[/color] Audric said giving up he felt the will drain out of him as he fell to his knees. To make matter worse...he saw Hoshidan reinforcements....Audric shook his head at the futility of it but then the thought came to him of what his brothers would say of the young Nestran Noble if they saw him pitying his own failure like this. What would his retainers think? Audric growled and roused himself from his state and went forward. If he could make them listen he would. ==== The cavalier forces charged at the rear lines of Ryoma's first division and unexpectedly the cavaliers Richards, and Clay were shot in the arms by arrows aimed by snipers from Hoshido. However the initial clash was far from over the Paladin in charge of Ansgar's unit was more than capable he slew a oni-savage and a samurai with two clean blade slashes and the noble cavalier was more than capable as he easily engaged in combat with two paired up Hoshidan Spearmen. It seemed that the ground soldiers nearby where being slaughtered though. Millow stood back with his men in a defensive line as he and his fellow conscripts let the enemy samurai break themselves upon a makeshift spear wall. The actual professional soldiers were busy desperately trying to fend off Ryoma's assault. The battle had begun and it had entered a quickly bloody start.