Combat Doctrine
Robin's got the army getting set to take on anything in this world or any others. However, due to his over-arcing strategem being magic heavy, Lucina is having trouble adapting, especially with her wanting to be with her husband to be, Robin, but he's there to help. (Even if she blasts holes in walls with uncontrolled spells).
The wall exploded- flames fell from the sky, setting the grass on fire, torching an area far away from the training dummy that was supposed to be Lucina's target. "Ugh..! I… can't do this!" She exclaimed tossing her tome to the ground, as castle attendants ran to douse the fire. "…I never learned magic."
"Lucina!" Robin exclaimed as he ran to her, seeing her flopped down on to the ground. "What's wrong!?"
"What does it look like? I failed at this again..!" Lucina said, clearly frustrated.
"Well, from what I can see- your accuracy was off, but your cast certainly had potency." Robin said, reaching his hand down to pick Lucina up. "You can get used to it. I know it might be hard on you— you've always followed your father's fighting style— and even with the powers granted to him by a dread scroll, he couldn't even come close to properly using it."
"But… every time I try to cast even a basic 'Fire' spell, this happens. Either it doesn't work, I blow something unintended up… or it blows up in my face, Robin."
"You're not burned today though…" Robin said, with a smile, holding Lucina's hand. "That's good— you're definitely improving— when I heard the explosion, I thought I might have to spend the week in the healer's tent with you again, not that spending time with you is bad or anything, it's just… I'd rather not have to spend it with you suffering, no I'd rather spend it with a smile on our faces."
She shook her head swiftly, looking at Robin's face. "I'm fine but…" she said, cringing as memories came back to her. Earlier, when Robin's plan had first been drafted up- she volunteered to be his vanguard, but that required she learned magic- and her first attempt ended disastrously- she set herself ablaze, and had to spend days in the infirmary, even though Robin was quick to come to her aid with his staff- a skill he had been practicing, using the Rescue Staves bought from Ferox.
"Look- if you don't want to learn magic, I can come up with a different plan. There's others who could use your talent for swordsmanship, or I could be the one facing the enemy in battle. You're a master at using a lance already— I've seen you face your father, and you've cut down risen at my side with it…"
"Robin… I don't want to work with anyone else— I want to be with you on the battlefield- I want to make sure you're safe… I couldn't bear losing you." She said, her grip on his hand tightening, and her cheeks turning a slight red tint.
"Well.. hmm… perhaps I could think of a different plan. It's just this—"
"No, Robin. Your plan is good enough, and everyone else is adapting quite nicely, even father's skill at archery has become impressive… It's just I'm having trouble with getting used to using magic, that's all."
"Lucina- I know you want to help, but, if you can't do this, I've got to plan around it. It's my responsibility as tactician of this army to adjust plans when necessary and to make sure we're capable of handling any challenge we face. And I certainly don't want to lose you either. I love you- and nothing will change that."
"Thank you, Robin, I love you too, and that's why… why I must be able to do this. For your sake." She nodded, taking hold of her tome and looking at the training dummy.
"Well, if you're that determined, let's try working at this together— we'll be together on the battlefield, after all."
"Right." Lucina smiled, as Robin picked up his own tome, letting go of her hand.
"Magical theory may be a bit difficult to grasp, but once you get the hang of it…" Robin said, "it shouldn't be too hard." He said, narrowing his eyes, "Gehennam!" his hands swung forward as he held the Elfire tome open, and a blast of flame erupted around the training dummy. "It works sorta like throwing a javelin in a way. Think you're throwing the spell— the movement involved- eyes, hands everything. It's all important. You want your spell to go where it's needed…"
"I know that much, but…" Lucina said, "Fauillae!" She called out, mimicking Robin's movements, but casting a different spell- just a basic fire tome, which flung an incandescent ball of flame from her hands, straight towards her target, although she missed, and the blast of fire exploded on the ground, searing the grass.
"…See, although you still missed, you can do this." Robin said with a smile. "Let's keep at it— although I think we should be using wind tomes. They're a bit less destructive, and a bit closer to the spells we'll actually be using in real battle— are you alright with that? Or do you still want to work with these excess fire tomes?"
"No- you're right. We're going to be using those books that you're having the armorers work like crazy to get ready right- the ones we bought off that Einherjar… Celica was her name?"
"Yes." Robin said, "so, I think we might be better off using Wind over fire, although outside of dark, the basic anima are all essentially the same, and even dark follows similar rules in terms of magical theory. Although the training for dark is a bit more intense, since it doesn't only use the reagent provided by our tomes- and cuts into the souls of the unprepared. Even those who are prepared to use it can face dire consequences… of course that doesn't matter…"
Lucina smiled and turned back, "…before you run off to get a different practice tome…" she raised her hand, opening her fire tome one more time, and flinging a blast of fire, striking her target. "I wanted to try one more time."
Robin smiled, as the flames faded from the spell. "Perfect, Lucina… just remember, though, if we're sticking to this plan, you're going to have to be able to control magic from your pegasus… so it might be a bit harder." He said, before turning towards the castle and walking off.
"Robin… I hope you understand how bad I want this to work. Your aim- to make us the best in all worlds, I admire it… and I'll do anything to keep you safe. You mean everything to me… my one greatest wish to save this world is so that I can spend the rest of my days at your side." Lucina said to herself, hurling another fireball at the training dummy, with less than spectacular results. "…I truly do love you, so I want to do everything I can…"
"Lucina, I'm going to be here for you, for your father, and for everyone- and we must win. That's why I need everyone to be at their best. I can't risk losing anyone. Especially not you, my princess- the one who I want to keep alive the most, but also the one who I need to rely on the most as well." Robin said, looking at the pile of tomes, and laughing at them, "Morgan…" he said, realizing that Morgan had decided, on a whim to play a game of tome stackers while he wasn't in the room. "Another reason why I need you to be your best, Lucina. Our daughter needs her mother… so even if I have to be your shield, I can't have you die. So, we'll keep at this, but if I need to adjust my plan, I will, because, Lucina, I love you... so any time, you can rely on me, just as I rely on you."
Author's Note: Loosely based on an actual strategy. (Namely having Lucina lead the charge with Vantage/Luna/Aether/Galeforce/Limit Breaker, with Robin running support (Tomefaire/Aggessor/Hit+20/Dual Guard+/Limit Breaker... and Celica's all around... melts thru Apo enemies, so yeah.)