(A/N: All right, I have another status update for you guys. Starting Monday (September 7th), my updates might come later in the day. For the most part, I've been updating in the mornings—however, after the 7th, it might come closer to the evening. Unless I get really busy, the update schedule should still be Mon/Wed/Fri unless otherwise noted.)

When Lucina agreed to train with Marth, she didn't quite expect the latter to fight so viciously—nor did she expect Kjelle to play both sides, encouraging them instead of joining the match herself.

Marth had immediately opted to spar, and Lucina had accepted without fully realizing how strong the mercenary was. She liked to think she was good at endurance—better at fighting continuously with a sword than Morgan was, at least—but it didn't take too long for her to tire.

"You almost had her!" Kjelle said, sounding half annoyed and half encouraging. An odd combination, yet one Lucina had been expecting.

"Is there any way I can request a break?" Lucina asked Marth. "I need to regain my breath."

"Falter once and you're as good as dead in a real battle," Marth replied. It was still surprising to hear her talk—although so far it's mostly just been taunts. "You're holding back!"

"You both are, if my guess is accurate," Kjelle pointed out. "Lucina isn't exactly trained for whatever it is you're trying to do—if her training is like mine, it's just to incapacitate thieves and such, not kill a person. You seem like you're genuinely trying to get on her bad side, but you're also avoiding certain areas; the ones she has trouble defending. I'm not sure how you know where Lucina's defenses are and aren't, but you're avoiding the weak points on purpose."

"I will admit, I have my reasons to incur ill favor with the exalt," Marth said quietly, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to admit it.

"Why?" Lucina asked. She let herself lower her blade—if Kjelle was true, Marth wouldn't attack her while she was vulnerable. "You're Ylissean as well. Your general disposition and outward appearance is similar to that of my father, in more than one way. And I'd guess that if Malin knew the royal family, you would too. So why admit to wanting them to dislike you for some reason?"

"I have a mission," Marth explained simply. "I found it best to cut off ties. I could've prevented that when we met, if I hadn't gone to help. Malin thought you were village children lost in the forest, so I came with him; and here we are now."

"Reassuring," Kjelle muttered. "But if you wanted to go somewhere, why not leave on good terms?"

"…However I thought of it in the past, I have no true family here, save Malin," Marth said. "Even that is questionable, depending on the person. I once had a friend…he believed with all he had that the people here could not replace those we lost. It seems I have since adopted that way of thinking. I still look up to Chrom, in a sense, but there's no need to worry him about one more person; he already has a kingdom to look after. I've always found myself in a similar position, never once able to just consider myself and those closest to me."

"And yet you travel with only your brother," Lucina said. "Why is that, if you're willing to share?"

"The people I worry for are those I cannot see daily," Marth replied. "I came here with friends, you see…many of them have long disappeared. Lucina, I trust you recall me saying that everything I own and wear are, or is made out of, things that were gifted to me? Those would be from the same friends who came with me. We all served in the army, going from a hopeless war to one we might actually win…but Malin and I are the only ones left from that group."

"This might be a rude way to continue the conversation," Lucina began, "But you still aren't willing to take off your mask, are you? Aside from my curiosity, if you truly do intend on leaving on bad terms with my father, don't you think it might be best for me to know exactly what you look like? Then I can describe every last detail to both my parents, and they know exactly who they're on bad terms with."

"I still can't," Marth said simply.

"You'll admit to wanting the Ylissean royals to see you in a bad light, but you won't take off your mask?" Kjelle asked. "If that isn't a bit weak, I don't know what is."

Marth let out a small hissing sound. "If you're so curious, surely you're ready to continue training? Both of you at once. Defeat me, and I'll tell you who I am—but if I win, you're to never bring up the topic again."

"Two against one?" Lucina said. "That's a bit unfair, isn't it?"

"No, actually," Marth replied simply. She had been training with a lance earlier, but she was in the process of replacing it with a sword. "I'm not one to give away secrets, so I won't hold back this time." She held her sword up, conviction clear in her voice as she said, "Now get a weapon, and fight!"

She wasted no time in attacking the otherwise-unprepared Lucina and Kjelle. Kjelle went for the lance Marth had discarded, while Lucina held up the sword she already had. Marth wasn't holding back this time; Lucina, whom Marth spent most of her effort attacking, could only dodge and defend. Kjelle couldn't even do much damage, never being able to catch Marth off guard.

They kept up a relatively defensive stance, but Marth didn't allow them much chances to attack. She was used to fighting—that much was clear. It must've been anywhere between ten minutes to an hour when Lucina was about to yield, bearing a few cuts from when she failed to defend, when Malin entered the area.

"Basilio says it's about time for dinner, so— Uh, Marth? Why are you trying to kill Lucina?"

Marth stopped her relentless attacks for a moment, which gave Lucina just enough time to point her sword in a could-be fatal position.

"An admired effort," Marth began, patting the armor she wore, "But most of these are manakete scales. It would've been near impossible to cut through that." She lowered her sword and turned to Malin. "And if you must know, Brother, I can explain it later. For now, I'll see you at the dining hall."

Once she left, Malin went over to Lucina. "Are you okay?" He looked her over a bit, frowning. "…I take that back; you're bleeding."

Kjelle turned her attention to Lucina as well. "Oh, yeah. You don't have armor like I do—not to the same extent, at least—so you look pretty bad. There should be some bandages around here; let's get the cuts tended to, so then no one freaks out when they see you. And by 'no one,' I mean Morgan."

"It's not that bad," Lucina protested. "I'm still standing, at least."

"I have literally seen esteemed soldiers die from paper cuts," Malin replied, beginning a search for medical supplies. "Granted, it was the open wound that caused the problem, but still. How'd you get Marth so ticked off she took all her stress out on you?"

"I tried asking her to remove her mask," Lucina explained. "She was rough with training, but worse when she was actually fighting."

Malin found the bandages and Kjelle got a sort of ointment, both returning to Lucina and spending the next several moments tending to the cuts. "Well, try not to do it again, okay?" Malin said. "I'll talk to her. I guess she's a bit jealous, but regardless of the circumstances, she shouldn't have lashed out like that. For now, I apologize on her behalf."

Lucina nodded, waiting for them to finish up before saying, "You said earlier that it was almost dinnertime. Let's not keep the others waiting."

Malin gestured for Lucina and Kjelle to follow him, leading the way to the dining hall where Basilio, Flavia, Lon'qu, Marth, and the rest of the Mini Shepherds were waiting.