A/N:

I'm confident, and I'm riding high. Wow... Hey, I can see Ylisstol from here! Pffaha! Eh... I need something to make me feel good about myself after starting up a playthrough in Lunatic +. Sigh... Anyway, this chapter came a lot easier to me than some of my past works. I guess I'm just becoming more comfortable with the fandom and my description. I feel good. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did, writing it. :D Word Count (1,167)


Chapter 11:

A training room in a great Plegian fortress. Light filtered in through the open windows, striking the purples of the Mark of Grima, which covered the banners decorating the hall. The stone surfaces of the walls and floor had seen great abuse from those testing their capabilities during training. Though, it was one of the more well-kept rooms nowadays.

A Grimleal sorcerer ran for cover as a burst of flames crashed behind him, leaving a scorch on the ground where he had once stood. It wasn't the most powerful of blasts, but any strike could still cause great injury if one was not careful. Caution was key, especially against one of fell blood. The man gathered his dark power, a certain aura becoming visible as he drew closer to gaining the power needed for this spell.

Noticing this, Plegia's dark lord, the former princess of Ylisse, Lucina, realized she had little time to react. The blast-radius of such a spell would be much too great for her to escape unscathed. Evasion wasn't much of an option here, a skilled sorcerer such as her opponent would be able to lead his shot with little effort. Her options were to take this spell full-force, disrupt him in time, or counter. The former was rather unfavorable, and the latter was unwise against someone of her opponent's magical abilities. A strike before full power was the wisest choice, but she would have to move quickly.

Fire was a simple enough spell, not as fast as Wind, which she feared she might need, but something so basic still held its uses. She didn't have the time to gather up much power, but she didn't need the full effects of the spell right now. The sorcerer was almost ready, and any launch would be devastating for Lucina. Her eyes darting around for any opening, the former princess finally found a target. The heat focused in her arms, moving through her wrist, before she let out a simple flick of her hand to launch the spell forth.

The flames traveled the distance between the two warriors, finding its target at the feet of the sorcerer, to send embers and ash up to the man's face. The man cried out, staggering back as he tried to brush his face clear. The energy around him had dissipated, showing there was no more threat of such a harsh attack.

The corners of Lucina's lips tugged upward at the result of her attack. A dirty trick, but it got her out of imminent danger, 'survival of the fittest' being what their world was now. Lucina couldn't rest on her laurels here, she had to finish him. Now, with more time at her disposal, the former princess recited the incantation, gathering all the energy she could. With her opponent finally having regained his former composure, Lucina unleashed her power, letting out a great shout: "Fire!" Flames erupted from her fingertips, racing across the hall to its target.

The flames burst upon impact with their target, knocking the man back to the ground. He cried in anguish, finding his own clothes ignite as well. Lucina stood back, watching as the man writhed about, desperate to extinguish the flames.

"You did well," a male voice said, approaching the fallen princess. Lucina shifted her attention to the one who had been watching. A man of what seemed to be his late teens or early twenties. His dark hair and eyes, a great contrast to his pale skin. He wore a simple, yet very well kept, white shirt, as well as darker trousers and black boots. Lucina grew to know this man very well. A second cousin of hers. Yet another one of fell blood, though he often expressed how he wished to be a child of Grima's chosen vessel, such as his cousin.

"William." Lucina acknowledged. She took one more glance at the man she had defeated. Healers now rushed in to carry the badly burned man away. These matches never ended well for both parties, not since Lucina joined her mother. "It could have gone better."

"Never pleased with yourself, are you?" He said, crossing his arms. "You have improved significantly over these years. Are you not satisfied?"

Lucina drew her attention back to her cousin. He always held the same smug look on his face. She was surprised he lasted so long; though, he was quite the capable fighter in his own right. Someone gifted with both physical and magical abilities. "Why should I be?" She asked.

William shifted uncomfortably after Lucina's question. "W-Well… You can handle yourself a lot better than many of our other leaders. Y-You're unmatched amongst our Grimleal warriors with a blade, and-"

"With a blade." She followed up. "Not with spells. Even with the blade, there are still others much better than I. I wouldn't have failed against that prince and his friends if I were truly the warrior Grima wants me to be. I'm a disappointment."

"Well, did you really expect it to be so easy to crush the Ylisseans?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "If so, that's where you went wrong."

Lucina's eyes narrowed as she let out a small growl. "Why haven't your missions been successful then? Oh, that's right, the Grimleal won't let you lead."

"Hmph." He crossed his arms, a smirk appearing on his face after a small while. "At least I'm more proficient with spells. You must have difficulty because of your father then. Not to mention your exalted blood. Your mother was some sort of disappointment."

"Even though Grima chose her as vessel?" She retorted. "You should be lucky Master Grima isn't here."

A robed Grimleal of his later years approached the two, causing them to silence. "Yes, he should." The man said in his gruff voice. The man eyed the cousins, causing both of them to shrink under his gaze. "Just because you share fell blood doesn't mean you can use that as an excuse to slack off!" The man proceeded to grab William's collar, dragging him toward the exit. "Now, you, get back in your armor!" He yelled, tossing the lad forward. "And you!" He called, turning his attention toward Lucina.

Lucina stood up bolt right upon hearing herself called. "Yes, sir!"

The man stormed over toward the former princess, her heart practically leaping out of her chest at this point. "You're being called to the Table." He said, his volume having dropped a considerable amount.

Lucina's eyes widened upon hearing this. Huh? "What am I needed for?" She asked, still taken aback by the news.

The robed man glanced around, turning his attention once more to the current topic. "Grima has returned to the Table." He whispered. "No one knows what for, but you, to be called for… You should leave as soon as possible."

"I understand." Lucina stated before darting off to gather her possessions. If Grima called for her, the last thing she should do was to make her lord wait.


A/N:

And, and... how was it? Hehe. Sorry if I sound hyper and expectant, it may be all the sugar speaking, hint: I got a lot of it recently and have very little self control around that stuff... XD

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. As I said before, I'm finally settling into writing for this fandom and all, and it's a good feeling. Be sure to drop a review on by. They would be nice.

This is Squish, bidding you all a good day! :D