Final Classes (and select quotes) for Franchouchou:

"What do I do? What do I do?" Sakura - Pegasus Knight

"You wanna die?" Saki - Grappler

"Let's give it our all." Ai - Assassin

"If you're sure about this…" Junko - Bishop

"The time has come." Yugiri - Dancer

"Go go Lily!" Lily - Mage

"Gragh?" Tae - Warrior

Third-Person POV

"Your Highness, you do not seem...well." Dedue tells the prince as they and the other students who have chosen to stay and fight have all been gathered in the reception hall.

Dimitri chuckles deliriously, "Unwell, you say? What's gotten into you? Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm so happy I can hardly contain myself. My father, my stepmother, my dear friends? They want her head. They want her life! They've whispered as much to me. And the chance to answer their pleas has arrived, at long last!"

"... Dimitri…", Sakura couldn't bear to even look at him.

"Don't lose control out there." Byleth told the Blue Lions House Leader.

Dimitri continues to laugh, "I'm always in control, Professor! And I'll stay in control until I have the pleasure of killing that woman!"

"With all do respect… Your Highness, it's not smart to act rashly. We're all in this together, so try to stay focused on more than just her." Ai explained to Dimitri.

"Of course, of course! But don't mistake my intentions. Edelgard will die by my hand, and mine alone." The Faerghus Prince cracks his knuckles with bad intentions in his mind, "Let's move, Professor. Even if it costs me my life, I won't rest until I've crushed her skull in my bare hands!"

"Eeee!" Lily held onto Yugiri, scared of Dimitri's creepy smile.

"Hey now Your Royalness, don't start the fight without us!" Claude, Saki, and the rest of the Golden Deer arrive to join the fray, "The academy will be destroyed if we don't fight, so we're gonna need everyone's help with this."

"Same here." Yuri and the other Ashen Wolves enter as well, "If a war breaks out, Abyss has no choice but to get involved. We have no alternative."

"Master Yuri… we are grateful for your assistance." Yugiri thanks the underground leader.

"Alright, Franchouchou, Deer, Lions, Wolves… uh, Eagles?" Saki begins.

"I'm pretty sure we stopped being Eagles when we joined this class." Linhardt told her.

"Yes our allegiances have shifted, we are ready to fight with you. No matter which class we had originally been loyal towards. " Petra agreed.

"Oh right, whatever, let's just kick some ass and send these bastards packing! I ain't losing to the Empire's princess, or emperor, I don't care! She's going down!"

Saki raised her fist to the sky, Balthus, Ashe, Annette, Tae, Lily, Raphael, & Caspar did the same.

"And Sakura." Saki walked up to her eggheaded friend, "Remember what I said. Don't let Dimitri hurt anyone on our side."

Sakura nodded as she looked to the crazed prince, slapping her cheeks to regain focus on the battle ahead.

"We'll make sure of it. Now everyone, let us be off. Fight until we can't anymore, use every skill we have learned thus far against our enemy. We have forged new bonds, new friendships, because of our days of learning at this academy. Time to repay our debt." Ai stepped in front of everyone, right next to Byleth.

"Well said, Ai. It is truly an honor to have taught each and every one of you. I thank you for accepting me and allowing me to learn from you as well. You have my protection during this skirmish, I won't let a single one of you fall." Byleth stated as he led them all towards the battlefield outside the monastery, the students all clamoring.

This was their biggest fight yet. And they knew that they should not hold back.

Lady Rhea stands near the entrance to the monastery, as the Knights of Seiros and the students of the Officers Academy took their positions and awaited the arrival of the Empire.

Loud roars echoed across the battlefield as their enemy finally approached, soldiers gripping their weapons tight. A grand amount of fear had built up inside a few students, yet victory would be near impossible if they simply chose to run from it all.

"Dear Goddess… Please, protect us all…" Marianne prayed as always, prompting Junko to do the same, "Guide us to victory, assure that we all make it out of this alright."

Byleth, Ai, Dimitri, and Dedue stood at the center, watching as the Imperial Army descended upon Garreg Mach.

"Report! The enemy has taken the entrances where the reinforcements were heading!" A knight informs them.

"What do you see?" Byleth asked Ai as she observed the invaders.

"Two… no three winged demonic beasts. Two commanders at the east and west strongholds, Hubert and The Death Knight… and that's all I could spot so far."

"We must retake those strongholds in order for our reinforcements to get through." Dedue says.

"Right, have Lysithea, Linhardt, Cyril, Lily and Yugiri go towards the Death Knight. Ashe, Junko, Caspar, Balthus and Saki towards Hubert. Constance and Ingrid will handle the soldiers in the sky, and for the archers that could strike them down, Felix, Petra, Tae, and Yuri will handle them." Byleth strategizes.

"What about the rest?" Dimitri asked his professor, ceasing his bloodlust for just a moment.

"There's bound to be plenty of reinforcements coming from the center area, so we must leave some students here to defend Lady Rhea with the knights. Ai, you, Dorothea, Flayn, Hapi, Annette, Hilda, Ignatz, and Bernadetta will stay here and Dimitri, you and Dedue, as well as the remaining students are heading straight for the head."

"The head? You must mean…" Ai assumes.

"Where Edelgard herself leads her army…. Perfect…." Dimitri smiles.

"Those coming with us are Sylvain, Leonie, Lorenz, Raphael, Claude, Mercedes, Marianne, and Sakura. Now then, look over each other, and make sure not a single student falls. And protect the Archbishop, do you understand?" Byleth asks Ai and she nodded her head.

"Let's make it out of this alive, Professor." She tells him.

"The D-Death Knight? Lily's not sure about this…" The young mage shuddered.

"Lady Lily, if you are afraid, then I swear to protect you from that armored reaper." Yugiri assured her as she unsheathed her Wo Dao.

"No! Lily will protect you, Big Sis Yugiri!" Lily's left hand glows with magic.

"Aww, their relationship is adorable, isn't it?" Lysithea conversed with Cyril, "Hm? Oh yeah, it is. It reminds me a bit of me and Lady Rhea…"

Linhardt yawns, "Ugh, this is going to be terrible, I can tell. Yet there is no other option, unfortunately… if anything we'll get the chance to try out the Warp spell to retreat,."

"Hey, all that practicing has left me with only one usage of it for today! And we're saving that for if we have to send these girls home!" Lysithea told him.

"Right, although you need to avoid using it yourself then. Don't choke and use it when we approach The Death Knight." Linhardt responded.

"Hey, don't underestimate Lysithea. She's also been helping me learn how to read so I could do my chores!" Cyril defended her.

"Yeah! We can count on Lysithea for this, right? She might have something to take him out!" Lily does the same for her friend.

"Aw thanks… and yes actually, I believe I have something to combat him. I just learned it this week with the professor's assistance. It's a truly powerful spell." Lysithea explains.

"Ah, then I look forward to seeing how you'll use it against our opponent, Lady Lysithea." Yugiri gives a reassuring smile.

"S-stop you guys…" Lysithea blushes.

"Oh, brother…" Linhardt sighs.

"So, we have some monsters, a couple of goons, and a guy named Hubert? Heh, piece of cake." Balthus smirks.

"I still love the way you think, big guy. Let's kick Hubert's creepy ass back to whatever hole he crawled out of!" Saki grinned proudly.

"Don't underestimate our opponents, they may have some strategies we might be unable to counter." Junko warned them.

"Sheesh, way to be a pessimistic floof-head." Saki snarked.

"Now now, no need for insults.", Ashe says atop his wyvern, "Working together will allow victory to be more clear. Right, Caspar?... Caspar?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I'm just praying to the Goddess that my father doesn't show up. I don't think any of us could beat him in a fight! Especially one like this!" The grappler worries.

"Don't worry pal, if I see your pops here, then I'll be sure to take him on for you! The King of Grappling accepts all challengers who come his way…" Balthus cracks his knuckles.

"Count me in! I want to see how strong he is, he can't be that tough!" Saki's smile gets bigger.

"The Imperial Army has never lost a battle with him around, we won't stand a chance guys! Come on!" Caspar told his fellow brawlers.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Balthus and Saki just laugh it off.

"We've… certainly been placed in a meatheaded group…" Junko shakes her head.

Ashe nods, "Indeed… hopefully we'll be alright out here. And we could clear the way for the reinforcements."

"A battle to remember indeed…" Felix says as he sees faraway Imperial soldiers coming up.

"Let us remove them from the battlefield swiftly." Petra got out her Brave Sword.

"Hm, taking out the archers quickly before they could eliminate our air fighters is the best course of action. How do you all feel about letting this young lady run wild?" Yuri points his Rapier at Tae, who scratches her ear with her foot.

"Ragh?" Tae tilts her head at her teammates like how a dog would.

"Seriously? That's almost as bad as allowing the boar to do what he pleases. Although with much more biting, admittedly." Felix raises an eyebrow at the idea.

"You have to admit that she would make things go quicker. Just as long as we keep her safe." Yuri insists.

"Well, that strategy is um, how you say… unorthodox. However, being triumphant over the Empire would require strategies that are unorthodox."

"Tch, whatever, just don't leave her to me, I need to cut down Imperial scum and I don't want to babysit a dog girl." Felix scoffs.

"Grrrr…." Tae growls at him.

"Oh no Felix, you wouldn't want to make her angry. Just look at what happened to Claude at the Battle of the Eagle and Lion." Yuri smirks.

"Gragh! Rah!" Tae gurgles in agreement as Felix looks away and Petra giggled.

"Bernadetta, please, stay focused alright?" Ai tells the recluse.

"I can't… this battle is the most likely thing that'll kill me. Just… why did Edelgard even want a war?" Bernie shudders.

"Bern, we have no idea, and even if we did, there's no way to talk her out of this." Dorothea walks up to her friend.

"Yeah, we just… have to try and fight her. Even if it's scary…" Annette says to her next.

"Fight Edelgard? She's way too strong for me, and she's got an army too. I actually agree with Bernie on this one!" Hilda states.

"I do as well, but it looks like we're stuck until the Empire destroys the monastery, or they lose. Man this whole thing is a pain in the neck…"

"Hapi, Hilda! We're trying to help Bernie, not have her be content with her fear!" Annette scolded them.

"Yes, agreeing with her outlook would surely make her unable to provide assistance." Flayn agreed.

"None of this is helping at all!" Bernadetta shouted.

Ai, just sighed, she's got her work cut out for her, "Ignatz, your input?"

"Me? Well… while I do agree that this upcoming fight may be difficult, I refuse to just let this monastery fall. Bernadetta, standing up and fighting is our only option, or else people will get hurt because of the Empire. You don't want that, do you?" He asked his fellow artist.

"No but… it's all too much to take in. And what if… we fail to protect this place? I don't think I could face anyone if I let them down here, especially since we're defending Lady Rhea!"

Ai listened along with Bernie's words before deciding to step up to her, "Even if we end up losing, we have to try anyway. Do what we can to defend the monastery, keep each other alive, and set back the Imperial Forces at least. The possibility of failure is strong, but… we shouldn't see failures and mistakes as bad things.

Bernadetta's eyes widened as she listened to Ai's words, "We should use them to better ourselves and become greater individuals then we were before. Learning from those experiences always helps with whatever we end up facing next. So, let's fight on, failure or not."

"... (sighs) Okay. I'll do it." Bernadetta grabs Ai's hand and she is pulled up.

"Dang, quite the speech, though it did feel like it dragged a bit." Hapi critiqued.

"Why do I feel like fighting now after hearing that? That girl's persuasive." Hilda smiles.

"Well said Ai!"

"Couldn't have done it better myself!"

"You're really good at this!"

"How wonderful you are at motivation!"

The others kept complimenting the former Iron Frill center until they heard the roars of the beasts get louder.

"I appreciate the compliments, but we need to prepare." Ai told them as the magic users took their spots at the specific ballistas.

Ai drew her bow as Lady Rhea walked out with the knights, "May the Goddess bless you all for your hard work you have done. And for your defense of the monastery."

"Our pleasure, Lady Rhea." Ai tells her.

"There she is…" Dimitri looks ahead to see Edelgard as well as Randolf and Ladislava next to her.

"Don't go rushing in just yet, there are many foes ahead that will surely slow you down." Byleth told the Prince.

"Tch… it doesn't matter how many there are, they will not get in the way of my vengeance…" Dimitri responded.

"You have a plan for dealing with them, Professor?" Leonie asked.

"Cavaliers, warriors, as well as fortress and armored knights…. Defending the Emperor is their top priority it seems…" Lorenz observes the crowd ahead.

"I'll take care of 'em professor, you know how bulky I am, right?" Raphael volunteered.

"I shall do the same, as well as defeating those bishops that could heal their wounded." Dedue said.

"Good on ya big guys, those green haired commanders near Edelgard look tougher though. I think I'll go for the cavalier lady, looks like the type with a lot of pride."

"Alright, that leaves the warrior and the other cavaliers. How about I step in for this Professor?" Sylvain suggested.

"Very well, Leonie and Lorenz will accompany you." Byleth told him.

"Okay maybe never mind if Lorenz is coming with." Sylvain refused.

"I beg your pardon?" The purple-haired noble says, offended.

"This guy is responsible for scaring away a girl I was with, I'm not working with him."

"Ha! That is due to your incompetent ways of drawing in women, no fault of mine!" Lorenz scoffs.

"Okay, I'm stopping this before you two hurt each other before the enemy does." Leonie drags the two of them by the ear away.

"Dimitri and I will head towards Edelgard, Mercedes, keep an eye out on the three that just left. Marianne, Sakura, you'll be our adjustants for our fight." Byleth told the remaining girls.

"I won't let you down, Professor!" Mercie saluted.

"I'll… do my best!" Marianne said, determined.

"Mhm!" Sakura nodded.

"Don't push yourself too hard if you're still unsure." Byleth told the egghead.

"Me? No, I'll get through this. Here they come…" Sakura gulped and pointed towards the army charging towards them.

"We're ready. Dimitri?" Byleth turned to the Blue Lions house leader.

"... I'll comply. HRAGH!" Dimitri led the way as his teacher and their adjustants went ahead, their allies doing the same in their battles as well.

The fight was underway, as bodies of both the Knights and Imperial army fell one by one through each encounter. Weapons clashed, spells were unleashed, arrows flew, blood was spilled.

"Gurk!" Saki is knocked against the wall by the wing of one of the large Demonic Beasts in their path. Blood falling down her forehead as she wiped it off.

"Ugh… gonna need a bit more muscle!" Caspar shouts as Junko heals up Saki.

"Just a second!" The Showa Idol tells him.

Balthus and Caspar are holding down one wing of the beast each, struggling to keep it down for too long. Ashe is busy dodging arrows from a nearby archer before rushing in to strike him down.

"Ah, finally! Now you're history bird-brain! HYAH!" Saki lands a large kick to the skull of the Winged Demonic Beast, and it collapses to the ground.

"Huff, huff, yeah! One down!..." Caspar cheers before his expression darkens when he sees two more, along with Hubert.

"And unfortunately the only one you'll be able to defeat today. Ha ha ha ha… There will be no mercy!" Hubert unleashes Banshee Θ upon the recovering group, and they are barely able to dodge.

"Everyone, let us steel ourselves." Ashe tells his companions as they nodded and charged ahead.

Yugiri slices through the Imperial soldiers in her path before giving Lily another turn to blast an armored knight.

"Bolganone! Yah!" The young zombie girl sets her enemies aflame.

"Just how can this much power be contained in such a small body… maybe it comes from that star accessory on her head?" Linhardt ponders.

"I… don't think that's it. There he is! Professor Jeritza, the Death Knight!" Cyril points.

"Hmph… here we go." Lysithea steps forward to face him.

"Stay cautious, Lady Ordelia. It would not be preferable for you to fall." Yugiri told her.

"You can do it, Lysithea!" Lily cheered.

"Yeah you can!" Cyril did as well.

"... You are not the one I was waiting for. Where is your professor?" The Death Knight asks.

"He volunteered me to be your opponent, sorry to have disappointed you. However I won't hold back." Lysithea's hands glowed with dark magic.

"So be it. On a battlefield this chaotic, it would not have been the most opportunistic place to kill him. This fight is but a sideshow... to the ravaging of the sacred place that is Garreg Mach…" He ends his speech before unleashing Death Γ, prompting the young warlock to dodge.

"Tah!" Lysithea uses Swarm Ζ, yet the reaper cuts away the spell with his scythe.

"Lysithea, let us know if you need help!" Cyril calls out to his companion as he gets healed.

"Hm… if the spell she's planning on using is what I think it is… then she has a shot. As long as she could get it to hit accurately." Linhardt deduces.

"Ah, yes. A powerful attack that could defeat the Death Knight would prove meaningless if it fails to connect with its target. Perhaps… a distraction could provide assistance?" Yugiri suggests.

"... Lily will do it! It's time to be brave!" Lily just dashed towards the duel between the Death Knight and Lysithea.

"Wait, what is she doing?! She's gonna get hurt!" Cyril stands back up and tries to chase after the younger girl.

Yugiri stops Cyril... By slapping him, "Have faith in Lady Lily. She has the heart to ensure it will go as planned. Figuratively, as well as literally." The courtesan smiles.

"But… but… ow…" Cyril rubs his cheek.

"Need me to heal that too? I don't have infinite uses, you know?" Linhardt snarked.

"Ack!" Sakura has been grounded by a nearby archer and had to make an early landing.

She hides behind a stone wall, although part of it was shattered earlier on in the battle by an enemy soldier. The idol takes a breather, exhausted even though the battle is not even halfway done. There was absolute chaos around her, yells and deathly screams, including those of beasts soaring through the skies above.

There was no time to rest.

"Hah!"

"Gyeeeep!"

A warrior appears out of nowhere and slashes at Sakura with his axe, cutting her right arm.

"Surrender to the Adrestian Empire, or have your blood be spilled!" He demanded her.

"I… can't!" She refuses.

"Then it's time to di—AGH!" He is then stabbed in the back by a newcomer.

The figure steps out of the shade, his orange hair giving away who it was.

"F-Ferdinand?!" Sakura lets out.

"Yes, Ferdinand von Aegir. Although my nobility may only seem like a simple title, my noble heart still beats. I will stop this battle, and I will stop Edelgard, no matter what it may take." Ferdinand holds his hand to his chest and clutches it.

Sakura smiles, seeing him like this after what had happened to him.

"Ugh, could you just shut up go and fight already? We've already managed to take down most of the archers." Felix steps up to the two of them.

"You have?! How did you do that so fast?" Sakura asked.

"It turns out your beastly friend is useful when steered in the right direction." Felix points to Tae tackling a dark mage leading to Petra stabbing him.

"What a… unique strategy. Well then, let us demonstrate what we could accomplish in this battle, shall we Sakura?" Ferdinand asks her, determined.

"Yeah, let's go!" Sakura pumped her fists.

"Hmph…" Felix grunted as he left.

Sakura hopped atop her pegasus and Ferdinand followed on his steed. As she soared into the air, she glanced over towards the edge of the battlefield, and saw Edelgard staring back at her. Her look just shook Sakura, as it was unexpected, as the girl then paused to see Dimitri tearing through the Imperial army, one by one. Her mind went back to the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, when the two house leaders last fought. Would this be their last fight? Or just another out of many…

Those questioned stayed in her head before the Imperial reinforcements arrived in the form of other pegasus knights.

Sakura then had another question in her head, "Why me?"

END OF CHAPTER 39

Okay so it turns out this is gonna need a two parter. But trust me in saying that next time is the FINAL chapter of White Clouds. I promise you that I'll do my best to end this off strong. See you all next time on the finale!