Title: Mission Battles
A/N: For the Garreg Mach Yearbook, I got to write four different snippets. It was a fun challenge trying to cram everything into a drabble.
Summary: Out of all of her class activities, Hilda hated missions and battles the most. It was nearly impossible to worm her way out of those.
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Mission Battles
Out of all the school activities she was forced to do, Hilda disliked the missions and mock battles the most. With the others, she could get away with appealing her classmates into helping her, whether it was Marianne in the library or Raphael with the stables or some other poor, hapless soul who crossed her path. As long as it was done, no one was the wiser.
On the battlefield, she wasn't quite as lucky. No one could protect her the entire time and her charms were entirely wasted on the enemy. It wasn't like they'd stop fighting her just because she asked.
Or maybe, if she—no, no, it was best to banish that thought. Hilda gripped her axe as she studied the battlefield before her. Just ahead of her was a bandit and unfortunately, there was no ally in sight to protect her. She was going to have to cut this one down herself. "I don't suppose you'd back down?"
The bandit roared in response, charging at her.
"Step back!" Ferdinand quickly dashed ahead of her, his sword gleaming in the sunlight as he slashed down on her foe. With two quick strikes, the bandit was down and her rescuer looked at her triumphantly over his shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yes! Thanks so much!" Hilda clasped one of his hands and gave him a soft smile. She stood corrected—she could absolutely charm her way through a battle, as long as it was one of those rare cross-house battles.
"No problem." Ferdinand smiled brightly, before looking over his shoulder at Edelgard. "As you can see, I have struck down another enemy. That brings my count to higher than yours, does it not?"
"We're in the middle of battle, Ferdinand," Edelgard warned, axe clenched tightly in her hands. "We're not competing."
"Considering how one-sided it is, I could hardly call it a competition." Ferdinand sniped, trying to pick a fight as usual.
Judging by Edelgard's weary expression, his taunts still didn't work. Determining that Hilda was safe enough, Ferdinand once more returned to Edelgard's side, no doubt challenging her once again. It was impressive how he didn't give up. A little sad, but impressive.
If he wasn't going to give up, neither would she. There was bound to be another sucke—noble man willing to lay his life for a damsel in dress. Catching sight of a flash of red, Hilda smiled. "Oh, Sylvain!" she called out, batting her eyes.
Perhaps she could charm her way out of fighting too.