Robin leaped off Nowi's back with the grace of a cat, cloak unfurling behind her like the Ylissean banners. Her face was shadowed with the hood of her cloak but Chrom was certain, beyond certain, that it was really the tactician. The manakete, Nowi, gave a low grunt to which the tactician responded with a slight nod. It was a silent exchange but Chrom understood it. The divine dragon will guard them as Robin organizes the Shepherds back and plans out their counterattack. Satisfied, the tactician walked toward them and Chrom's breath hitched as she stopped a few feet before him.
"You all look like a mess." Was the tactician's casual greeting as she surveyed their dysfunctional army. It was as if she was simply stating what the weather would be and they were not locked in a losing battle a while ago.
"Thanks." Chrom grumbled. A bit slighted with the uninhibited tone in her voice. "We had better days."
Chrom swore he saw a glimpse of a smile under the hood. A smile that would looked amused to a stranger but actually meant I'm planning how to commit mass murder in the next seconds if you were acquainted enough with the tactician and her brilliant, if not eccentric, apocalyptic plots.
"Robin!" The younger royal hopped off Frederick's steed and stumbled toward the half-vampire with teary eyes. "Thank the gods you're here! We were so worried! You didn't answer to Miriel's magical calls and the Plegians have those…those big things! Ylisse is in trouble. We don't know what do! I-"
"Lissa! Lissa! Breathe!" Robin placed her hands on the princess' shoulders to pacify her. "I am here, okay? I didn't go anywhere. Just ran into trouble on my way here. If it weren't for Nowi…"
The dragon growled that seemed in some way disapproving. Robin shot Nowi a warning look, one that say Drop it. Nowi looked a little miffed at that as she transformed back into her human form and jogged to the tactician's side. The silent exchange between the two didn't go unnoticed to the other Shepherds.
A gasp elicited from the princess' mouth as realization struck her. "Robin!" The tactician almost jumped at Lissa's sudden outburst. "Y-You're here! It's daylight and you're here! You need to go back or you'll get hurt-"
Those words seemed to revive the Shepherds back to life. Some of them started toward her while some were looking around for something to provide cover her up. Chrom has advanced forward and was hastily trying to detach his cloak to protect her from the sun.
Of course. Robin scolded herself. They didn't know.
The protectiveness of the Shepherds made her heart swell in warmth and joy. It was imprudent of her. The Shepherds has trusted their fate on her hands, yet here she was, unable to trust them a secret nowhere comparable to their lives. She felt foolish yet the fear was there, clinging and gnawing at her with its cold grasp.
She gently pushed away Chrom's offering hand and his cloak and shook her head. "I'm fine." She reassured them, though it seemed directed more to herself. "There's no need to worry."
"What are you saying, Robin?" Chrom protested, offering his cape again. "You might be a half-vampire, but you can't last long under the sun! How long have you've been out?"
"Five hours, give or take." Despite the hollow feeling in her chest, Robin managed to crack a smile. Her lips quirked at their expressions that range from disbelief, surprise, shock, and the customary What in Naga's name are you talking about? She casually shrugged. "I've been in the festival all along. Didn't anyone notice me?"
"W-What?" Chrom sputtered. "You were in the festival? Then, that means…y-you…" He tried his hardest to preserve the last shred of his dignity by not hiding and whimpering behind Frederick, though the embarrassment on his face was clear as day. He became aware of his outfit, albeit missing the ears and the majority of the cape during battle.
"Oh, yes." Robin smirked. She was enjoying this. "I've seen it. Nice ears and tail, by the way, love the little details."
"I planned that." Lissa grinned. "Glad you love it, Robin."
Robin chuckled then, remembered that they were in the battlefield. It was a miracle that the Plegians haven't attacked them while they were having a casual conversation. It seemed that they were busy gathering their ranks back to order after that powerful magical assault a few minutes ago. Robin pushed down the guilt in her chest and decided that now will be the best time to eliminate the rest.
"We'll continue this later." Robin said as she regarded the Shepherds. "The Plegians are in a state of confusion. We'll take advantage of that." She began putting out orders. "Miriel and Ricken, you'll attend with me. I need to borrow your magical energy to take down the ballistae. Nowi, we'll need to destroy the remaining onagers. The rest of you will engage the enemy but steer clear of the machines. I don't guarantee your safety if you stay near. Any questions?"
Ricken raised his hand reluctantly. "Er, what exactly are we doing?"
Robin flexed her fingers as she smiled wolfishly. "My favorite." Sparks flew off her fingers. "Thunder magic."
Chrom pulled Lissa at his side as a searing bolt of lightning crackled over their heads and struck down multiple onagers as spread out into a wide arc with a flick of its caster's hand. Chunks of wood exploded into the air, raining down on those unfortunate enough to be at their paths. Barrels of Greek fire near the burning machineries detonated, crawling and burning the neighboring ballistae. Within minutes that the Shepherds stepped back to the battlefield, chaos has sowed itself in the enemy lines as the table turned into their favor. Plegians have started to scatter away from their ranks as they scrambled away from the inferno. The Shepherds surged forward, blocking and taking down anyone who tries to flee. Some of them were more honorable to fight back despite the impending doom on their way.
Chrom ducked from a swipe from a lancer and kicked on his heels, driving Falchion point-blank to the Plegian's chest. Blood gurgled from his mouth and he slumped forward as Chrom pulled the divine sword off. The smell of ozone still hung in the air but the potent magic has accomplished its one purpose. It only took one powerful attack for a disastrous chain reaction to occur and Chrom knew who to thank afterward. From the backlines, the two mages have joined the hunt. The enemy numbers dwindled into less than an eighth as the Shepherds hemmed them into the raging inferno. The enemy general was none too happy as Chrom faced him for a dance of death.
"Wretched Ylisseans!" He snarled, brandishing his axe. "I'll cut off your head and present your royal head to our king on a silver platter!"
Chrom whirled Falchion in his hand. His eyes fixed on the enemy. "I'd like to see you try. Your mad king will meet the end of my sword after you!"
"DIE!"
The general roared as he surged forward and swung his axe for the kill. Chrom kicked on his heels and introduced the divine sword. The blades of their weapons clashed and sparks flew as the wielders sought to undermine the other. Chrom dug the soles of his boots on the grounds and clenched his jaw as pushed forward. A wicked grin crawled on the general's bloodied face as he fought back. Chrom was barely unaware of the glint of metal coming up to him from behind.
"Not on my watch!"
Metal clanged behind him like music in his ears. Chrom glimpsed a flap of purple behind him as the tactician took her place back to his side. The mercenary growled in anger as he tried to overpower the tactician. His broadsword caught between the jagged edges of Robin's Levin sword. Tapping on the remaining magic from her reserves, she directed her magic to her sword. The mercenary yelped in surprised and staggered back as electricity coursed through his skin. Robin took this as an opportunity and stepped forward, bringing down her sword in a wide arc. Flesh tore deep upon contact and the enemy fell down with a sickening thud. Behind her, the prince roared as he drove Falchion to the general's chest for the final blow.
Robin wiped her hand against her brow as the battle slowly died down around them. The enemy count waned to single digits as Sully and Vaike made swift work of the last of the Plegians. The fire still burns as the charred remains of the great machineries crumbled to ash. Lissa and Maribelle wormed their way to check on injuries as the Shepherds slowly congregated together. Only a handful got the worse injuries and were attended immediately by the princess and the heir of Themis. A Ylissean cavalier rode toward them with a report that the battle inside has come to a close and the subjugation of remaining traitors was successful. Relief washed over the Shepherds as the adrenaline of the battle died down. Robin silently thanked Naga as her eyes flickered to the sky for any sign from Phila's squadron. She has released a magical flare of blue to tell them that the battle has ended with Ylisse emerging victorious.