Traitor's Brand: Difference between revisions

{{Quote|I don't want your apologies. I want you to atone for your crimes. Guards! Capture the traitors!|Yukimura, branding Corrin a traitor and ordering his guards to capture him/her.}}

'''Traitor's Brand''' (Japanese: {{hl|裏切りの汚名|Omei no uragiri}} ''Stigma of Treachery'') is the eighth chapter of the ''Revelation'' campaign in {{FE14}}.  In this chapter, [[Corrin]] takes his/her first steps at convincing the [[Hoshido|Hoshidans]] that [[Nohr]] is not their true enemy, and in doing so ends up in a skirmish led by [[Yukimura]]. Although Yukimura's subordinates don't believe Corrin, his/her pleas do not completely fall on deaf ears, as a [[Sakura|sibling]] from Hoshido and a [[Kaze|valuable potential ally]] believes in him/her and joins his/her army.

[[Gunter]] tells [[Corrin]] and [[Azura]] that Fort Jinya is straight ahead, and states that the area is sure to be well defended by [[Hoshido|Hoshidan]] soldiers; Corrin states that the group should try to reach out to the Hoshidans, after which Gunter brings up that Corrin has been branded as a traitor and thus the soldiers have likely been ordered to attack him/her on sight. [[Azura]] tells Corrin that he/she should not forget about the [[Valla|Vallite]] curse, and thus they can't tell the Hoshidans anything about what they learned in Valla; Corrin states that they have to find some way to talk to the Hoshidans, stating that nobody wants the war to continue forever and surely some of them will listen, and if he/she speaks from his/her heart, he/she is certain everyone in Hoshido will understand their plight.

At the steps of Fort Jinya, Corrin notes the group's arrival and notes how it appears to have been abandoned by the Hoshidan forces given how the scene is quiet; [[Yukimura]] approaches Corrin and tells him/her how he/she has some nerve showing his/her face around the area--then tells Azura the same goes for her. Yukimura states that Azura was raised like any other Hoshidan princess yet had no trouble turning her back on Hoshido when it suited her, and accuses Azura of never truly thinking Hoshido as her home; Corrin tells Yukimura that he's wrong, as they haven't betrayed Hoshido--then states that he/she is not the enemy, and neither is [[Nohr]], after which Yukimura states he won't let Corrin justify his/her betrayal. Corrin tries to plead to Yukimura, after which Gunter states that they didn't expect their task to be easy, and that the situation is quite unfortunate yet they should prepare themselves for battle anyway; Corrin again asks Yukimura to hear him/her out, to which Yukimura states he does not have time to listen to Corrin's "poisonous words", going on to accuse Corrin of abandoning his/her friends and family, stating that he wouldn't be surprised if he/she helped Nohr capture [[Takumi]], and also states that [[Ryoma]] has also gone missing. Corrin reacts upon hearing about Takumi and Ryoma, after which Yukimura calls out Corrin for even thinking himself/herself as a member of the Hoshidan royal family, and that Hoshido's best and bravest have fallen ill due to Corrin; Corrin attempts to apologize, but Yukimura states that he doesn't want his/her apologies, he wants Corrin to atone for his/her crimes. Yukimura calls out the guards to attempt to capture Corrin's group, to which Corrin again pleads for Yukimura to listen to him/her, stating that their real enemy is elsewhere; [[preparations]] take place at this point, after which the battle begins.

Once the battle ends, [[Yukimura]] asks Corrin why he/she hasn't yet killed him and doesn't understand why, to which Corrin states that they don't need to continue senseless violence and he/she knows how to end it but he/she needs Yukimura's help; Yukimura states that helping Corrin would mean turning against Hoshido and asks how helping Corrin would help the Hoshidan cause, stating that he doesn't believe Corrin and asks how he can trust someone who has turned against everything he loves. [[Orochi]] states that she'll only trust Corrin if he/she can revive all of the lives [[Mother|Corrin has taken]], and that maybe she'll listen if [[Mikoto]] is returned to life; [[Saizo]] states that there is no other way, and that he'll sacrifice his life to rid the land of Nohrian fiends, [[Pyrotechnics|engulfing himself in fire]] and stating he'll show Corrin what true dedication and loyalty means. Gunter calls for the rest of the group to get back, noting that Saizo intends to sacrifice himself in attacking Corrin's group, with Corrin asking Saizo to stop; Saizo states that he believes in Hoshido and he'll stop Corrin even if it costs him his life, after which [[Kaze]] suddenly appears and tells Saizo that he's wrong as he rushes himself and [[Sakura]] onto the scene.

As Kaze and Sakura get between Saizo and Corrin, Sakura tells Saizo to not hurt Corrin, after which Corrin finally notices Kaze's and Sakura's arrival; Saizo asks Kaze and Sakura why they're interfering, stating that Corrin's group deserve their fate for turning against Hoshido, after which Kaze tells Saizo not to be so rash and states that Corrin is trustworthy--it was Corrin who helped Kaze escape when he was a [[Gift of Ganglari|prisoner in Nohr]], and Corrin did so even though they were on opposite sides at the time and without worrying about what would happen as a result of that action. Sakura adds that Corrin is a very kind person, and notes that this battle resulted in no casualties thus far, stating that Corrin would not do that if he/she had truly betrayed Hoshido, then asks Saizo to listen to reason, after which Saizo calms down and stops emitting flames; Saizo states that he still doesn't trust Corrin, but he's willing to listen to what he/she has to say, after which Corrin states that their real enemy is not in Nohr nor hidden in Hoshido, but lies somewhere else entirely--the explosion in the capital plaza and Mikoto's death weren't set in motion by [[Garon]], but a powerful force lies somewhere else and is manipulating everyone. Saizo, thinking Corrin's explanation is the work of an active imagination, asks Corrin to elaborate on his/her points, to which Corrin states that he/she can't say much--then states that a day will come when the skies above Hoshido and Nohr will switch colors and anyone who wants proof of Corrin telling the truth to meet him/her at the [[Bottomless Canyon]]; Saizo asks Corrin if he/she thinks of him as a fool, to which Corrin denies but states that he/she can't say more.

Yukimura declares the exchange as a waste of time and forces Corrin to leave, only for Sakura to stop him/her. Sakura asks Corrin to take her with him/her, stating that she's [[Shrine Maiden|not very good at fighting]], but she's sure she can [[Rod|find a way to help]]; as Yukimura starts to questions Sakura's action, Sakura states that she believes Corrin is telling the truth, and she can tell by the look in his/her eyes that he/she isn't trying to trick them.  Yukimura states that he didn't expect Sakura to do what she did and states that he doesn't know what to say in the moment, and having been by her side since she was born, he can tell her mind is made up, and he won't try to stop her provided she promises to be careful, to which Sakura thanks him; Kaze then asks Saizo for his understanding and also states that he'd like to accompany Corrin on his/her mission, to which Saizo states that he may do as he wishes. Corrin thanks Sakura and Kaze for believing in him, then calls for the group to start heading for their next destination; Corrin, Sakura, Kaze, and Gunter leave the fort.

We cut to Corrin and Sakura standing at the shores of a [[Hoshido (chapter)|familiar lake]], with Corrin stating it to be the lake where he/she first met Azura and notes that a lot has happened in the short time since; Corrin apologizes to Sakura for being unable to explain everything he/she wants to explain to her, after which Sakura states that she believes in Corrin and can tell that he/she is carrying a very heavy burden and wants to be able to do even the smallest things to help him/her.

''(Cutscene:  "Shy Sakura")'' Sakura thanks Corrin for letting her join up with him/her and states that she's missed him/her; as she states that she hopes she can help, Sakura starts to get flustered.

Corrin asks Sakura if she hears something, then notes a [[pegasus]] flying straight towards them, spooking Sakura in the process; [[Subaki]] tells Sakura that he and someone else have finally caught up with her, again spooking Sakura. [[Hana]] asks Sakura if she realized she had left her and Subaki behind, after which Sakura asks Hana why she and Subaki are there; Hana states that they received word from Yukimura, who told them Sakura had left with Corrin, after which Sakura deduces that Yukimura knew she would need Subaki and Hana. Hana states that, even if Yukimura hadn't tipped them off, she and Subaki would have searched day and night to figure out where Sakura was and caught up to her anyway, after which Subaki states that it is their duty to protect Sakura and nothing would stop them--stating that it's only natural for them to go where Sakura goes, Subaki states that he and Hana will always support her, to which Sakura thanks him and Hana. Corrin asks who Hana and Subaki are, to which Sakura introduces them as her retainers, two very strong and kind people who have protected her for years, noting that they'll fight with them and it'll be helpful for them to have reliable friends on the team; Corrin states that he/she needs all the help he/she can get and thanks Subaki and Hana, to which Subaki states that they'll carry out any mission flawlessly, with Hana adding that she'll do her best to help even though Sakura is her top priority.