Eirika promised her brother she'd practice sparring more before she was assigned another mission. Ephraim saw her trip and nearly fall when lunging with her sword, and he had had to rescue her from an enemy soldier's lance. She had insisted on continuing to fight with the Order of Heroes, and Ephraim was trying not to be overprotective, so a compromise was made. Eirika would practice sparring until he wouldn't have to worry so much about her safety.

A few duels with focus on footwork every day. That's all I ask, he'd said. She recollected that thought as she entered the collisseum.

Before entering the main arena, she took a sparring sword with her. She turned to leave, but looked back, and saw that many of the wooden poles, sticks, and axes were still in the armory. It was strange to see so many, as most were usually taken by now, but it shouldn't matter, she thought, so she continued out to the pit.

Among those fighting, she saw a lone young man with brown hair, and clothes that were nice enough, but gave away his status as a villager/commonfolk. She typically preferred to spar with other nobles, but he didn't look intimidating, so she introduced herself.

"Hello. Looking for a sparring partner?" she asked.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I am. Name's Tobin by the way."

"Eirika," she said, smiling, "cute name."

"Cute, huh?" he said, also smiling. "Well, I'm not just cute. Come at me!"

The two traded blows, with Eirika edging him out fairly easily. Tobin struggled to keep up, but made sure Eirika couldn't gain too much ground.

"You fight more aggressively than I guessed you would," Tobin remarked.

"Why's that? Was it because I'm a princess?"

"You're a princess?!" he proclaimed.

"Why's that such a shock?" she asked, frustrated.

"N-no reason, milady…" he said.

His rhythm fell apart. Eirika quickly took the chance he'd left her in his confused state and knocked him to the ground.

"And now you're not putting up a fight," she complained.

Tobin stood back up, readily. He wasn't ready to lose. He swung wide, aiming to catch her off guard, when she thought she'd won. It didn't work, but it did get Eirika's attention. Suddenly he put her on the defensive, edging closer to victory with every swipe.

After a few more duels, they'd tired themselves out.

"I feel stronger," she said to Tobin.

"Me too," he agreed.

"I was so immersed in our fight that I failed to see we're the last ones fighting out here," she noted.

Tobin looked around. She was right- they were alone.

"Where is everybody?" he added, unhelpfully.

As if on queue, motion was heard from the other side of the arena. They turned and looked, and there they saw Commander Anna, who was riding… Alfonse? She was mounted on his back, and she held reins in her hands that she used to control him without much verbage. Behind her were other pairs- Ayra riding on Kliff, and Fiora riding on Donnel, among others.

"That looks fun. Want to see what's going on?" Eirika asked.

Tobin nodded and followed. The pair walked to them and listened in to Anna.

"Today's a training day for our jockeys and mounts, so just ride around and practice as necessary. Get into races, or jousts, or endurance tests! Really make the most of your time here, everybody!" Anna instructed to everybody.

She then dismissed the crowd to roam around the arena, and the two duelists watched Ayra taking the exhausted-looking Kliff around for loops, and saw Fiora teaching Donnel to dash for her.

"Hello, Princess Eirika," Anna said, turning Alfonse so she could face them.

"What is this? Is it an event of some sort?" Eirika asked.

"Oh, this is our new program, since we're low on horses and pegasi. There are jockeys and there are their mounts. Are you interested?" Anna said.

"Yes," she said, "and I'd like Tobin here to be my mount."

"Woah, hold on!" Tobin said, his face turning red. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am," she replied, all too certain for Tobin. "I think you'd make a cute horse for me, don't you think?"

Tobin failed to respond.

Anna succeeded, though. "Well, normally you're assigned a mount, but we can make exceptions as long as your ranks line up."

"Hold on," Tobin said. "I don't think I want to be a mount. Can you give me more time to decide?"

"Ugh, Tobin," Eirika said.

Anna came to Eirika's aid. "Eirika, what's your rank here?"

"A," she responded.

Anna turned to the boy. "And Tobin, yours?"

"C," he said dejectedly.

Anna made eye contact and said, "As a jockey, Eirika is allowed to ride whoever she wants as long as she outranks them."

"Hold on," Tobin begged.

"Sorry, Tobin, but the rules are the rules. You heard it from her."

"But… that's not fair," he replied.

"I've got an idea," Eirika said, "How about we stake it on one more duel? If you win, I'll let you be. But if I win, Tobin, then you've got to be my mount!"

"Uhh," Tobin thought.

Anna commented, "I'd take the challenge, Tobin, seeing as she outranks you. She didn't have to offer to get her way."

"O-okay, done," he agreed, "one more duel to decide this."

"Are you ready?" Eirika said, training sword in hand.

Tobin calmed his nerves. Just gotta win this. "Ready!"

The two clashed, and Tobin was not ready for Eirika's extra aggression. Her full force told him that he was to be conquered by her, here and now. He was still tired from their previous matches, but she had seemed to keep her stamina. His resolve allowed him to keep fighting- he parried and deflected her advances, and she couldn't keep up the assault forever. The two were now unable to gain any ground on each other. But a sneaky move from Eirika knocked Tobin to the ground.

"I win! You know what that means," she cheered.

"B-best two out of three!" he pleaded.

"Okay, sure," she said, then immediately, she added, "starting now!"

Tobin was unable to get up before he was thwacked with a sparring weapon once more.

"That's two, and I outrank you anyways," Eirika instructed. "Now it's time for some riding."

"Okay," Tobin agreed. A deal was a deal. He'd had his shot, and now it was time to follow orders.

"Stay here, Tobin. Anna!" Eirika called, as she jogged over to where the Commander was.

With Eirika, Anna rode Alfonse back towards Tobin. He sighed as he watched Alfonse surrendering control to Anna, knowing that momentarily, he'd be in the same position.

"So Anna tells me that you're to follow my orders and directions from now on, got it Tobin?" she asked.

Tobin nodded his head.

Eirika looked at Anna. Anna beckoned for her to continue.

"Tobin, get on your hands and knees. I want to mount."

Tobin complied, and got in the same position that he saw Alfonse in underneath Anna.

Anna handed some gear to Eirika. "Open your mouth, Tobin, I'm going to put this bit in, so that I have reins."

"Do you have to?" he complained.

"Tobin, orders!" she chastised.

"Yes, Eirika," he said, opening his mouth and clamping down once she'd left a wooden bit in it.

He felt her pull the reins up over his head as she stood by his sides. She laid something across him- when he turned to look, he saw that they were stirrups for her feet.

"Are you ready, Tobin? I'll try and be gentle since we're new to this," she said.

Tobin nodded. Following that, he felt her as she squatted down, and took a seat on about where his ribcage was. It wasn't exactly a comfortable spot for her to sit, but he couldn't complain with his mouth full of wood.

"Now, giddy-up, Tobin," she said.

Tobin set off to a slow pace.

"Good, good… now, turn!" she commanded, tugging the reins to the right.

Tobin followed her guidance, and carried her to the right.

"I knew you would make a good choice," she applauded, "you're nice and smooth to ride. I like riding you much more than I do horses!"

Tobin grunted from the weight on his back. She was soft- the skin that touched him was pillowy, and it was clear from her butt and thighs that she was indeed a princess, but she had added clothes and armor, and Tobin's arms weren't exactly bulky.

"Okay, now stop," she said, pulling the reins back.

Tobin's head lifted back with the motion, and Eirika's waist tensed up on top of him. Then he felt her relax, her butt sinking onto his back again. She flicked the reins.

"When I flick the reins, that means 'mush', okay Tobin?"

Tobin set off again, carrying the princess on top of him. Her butt was nice and soft, and her thighs were pillowy too. He could see her knees on each side of his head, and he looked at her left knee while trotting.

"Eyes forward, you're starting to turn!" she said. Tobin set his eyes ahead.

She took him to the edge of the arena, and pulled the reins to the right. Tobin recognized the cue, and he turned where she was steering him.

"Very good! You're learning so well!" she said, "I'm having fun, Tobin, so thank you for losing that duel to me. Hehe."

Tobin hid a scoff at her jest. He'd lost his say in the matter, and wondered if he should feel emasculated by her complete dominance of him. It became clear to him that he was no longer in control- she was. Whatever she needed from him, he'd have to give her.

"Let's see if you can go faster, okay?" she asked. "Let's get lined up."

She steered him to the edge of the pit, around the other riders. When she pulled back, he stopped, and she turned him around.

"Hmm…" she said. "What should be the signal for 'faster', I wonder… Oh, how about this?"

Tobin felt his midsection being kicked on both sides.

"Does that work?" she asked.

Tobin considered how to respond. He didn't like the sensation, but he couldn't come up with anything, and his mouth was full, so he thought on it before being interrupted by Eirika.

"Let's just try it out, okay? I think it should do quite nicely. Hyah!" she yelled, thwipping the reins so that Tobin would begin again.

Then, she kicked his sides. He sped up to the best of his ability.

"Okay, good," she said. "Keep it up!"

She kicked him again.

"Try going a bit faster!"

Tobin lurched forward with every step, going as fast as he could with the added weight. Eirika didn't respond, and he didn't want to be kicked again, so he pushed himself to go faster and faster.

"Okay, this is a good pace! Keep going, reach it end!"

Tobin muscled his way forward, his rider enjoying the newfound speed. All he had to do was reach the other side, right? Once he reached the other side, he stopped.

"Tired out, are you?" she asked. "Well, I did ride you pretty fast. You can take a minute to breathe."

Tobin lowered his head and breathed. Eirika waited patiently on top of him.

"You're comfortable to sit on, so take your time before we keep going. I'm glad I picked you, Tobin."

Tobin rested, gathering up his strength as long as Eirika allowed him to. After two minutes, Eirika spoke.

"Are you ready, Tobin? I would like to get practicing if you are."

He nodded, and the reins were cracked once more. She allowed him to trot forward at a comfortable pace for a while before she began to steer and kick, learning to control her mount's motions with each cue. She rode him towards the center of the arena, where Anna rode atop Alfonse.

Anna looked at them and said, "Looks like somebody lost a duel. How has the riding been?"

"It has been well!" Eirika said. "Tobin is nice and obedient, and most comfortable to ride. I'm having fun."

"Good to hear, Eirika," Anna responded.

"How is riding Alfonse?" she asked.

"Oh, he bickers about it, but he's quite good at it once he follows instructions," she explained. "To be honest, I look forward to riding him whenever I lead our training sessions. Makes me glad I sold all the horses and pegasi, not just for the treasury, but for this fun too!"

"Oh, is that why we're doing this?" Eirika inquired. "Well, no matter the reason, I'm quite enjoying this exercise. How much longer do we have left?"

"Oh? How much longer?" Anna responded. "Well, as long as you want. Tobin there is yours. He's to follow your orders for as long as you want him."

"Really? That's wonderful news! Hear that, Tobin? I get to keep you!" she cheered, bouncing once on top of him. "Oh!" she added, leaning towards Anna, "can I take him out of here?"

"Of course, that's the purpose. You're to ride Tobin as your personal mount now that he's been assigned to you. Wherever you need to go, you can ride him, even outside the grounds."

"Oh, excellent! Well, Tobin, are we done training? I want to go to somewhere different!"

Tobin looked Alfonse in the eyes, and the pair shared a mutual feeling of exhaustion. But momentarily, Eirika was saying goodbye to Anna, and rode Tobin out of the colosseum.

"Fresh air, Tobin. Where to? Carry me somewhere!" she said, cracking the reins once more.

Tobin started along the path, with Eirika riding on his back.

"This is so nice. Don't you agree, Tobin?"

Tobin ignored her question.

"Not everybody gets to serve a princess, you know," she reminded. Then she kicked."Faster! To the field!"

After dashing along the stone path, Tobin was exhausted. At least the field Eirika went to had cool grass and soil beneath him, but he'd already been worn out.

"Getting tired, Tobin? You're slowing down."

He nodded in response.

"Okay, we're going to work on that, but you can go a little slower if you want to."

He took the chance to relax well. He walked through the field, wherever Eirika guided him, without complaint. The grass was high, and it was in Tobin's face, so it was up to Eirika to be the eyes and determine their route. Eirika offered praise here and there, reinforcing her control over him with positive support.

"Oh, I forgot, I need to visit my brother. Let's find him," she said. "Okay, Tobin, back to the grounds!"

Eirika made her way back through the field. The stone path was unwelcoming, but Eirika rode him onto it anyways.

After some searching, she found Ephraim.

"Sister, what are you doing, and who is that?" he asked.

"This is Tobin, and he's my mount! Anna set up a program so that we can ride again."

"Ah, I see," he said. "Is he satisfactory? If you need a stronger one, there's always me."

"No, brother, I'm quite happy with Tobin, but you should see about the program yourself!"

"I don't think I will. I don't need to ride anybody. I'm fine enough on my own two feet."

"Well, won't you at least say thank you to Anna for me?" Eirika asked. "Today has been so much fun, thanks to her. And guess what? Tobin's mine to keep."

"How's that?"

"Here's how it works. I've joined her program as a jockey. Since I outrank him, I can ride him. if I want to. He's to follow my orders and serve as my mount as long as I want him to."

"Does he want to?"

"Of course he does! Besides, he lost a duel, and we agreed he'd let me ride him if I won."

"Ah, so you've been dueling," Ephraim said. "Very good for practice. Thank you, sister."

"Of course, brother. Now go thank Anna for me! She's in the colosseum."

With that, the twins waved and parted ways.

"I suppose that's enough riding for today," she said. "You must be tired. I'm going to dismount, okay?"

He felt Eirika's weight shift, and her butt lifted off of him. He stood up and removed the bit from his mouth.

"How do you feel?" Eirika said.

"Tired, and Eirika, I don't know if… I don't know if I can do this."

"Of course you can!" she affirmed. "You were great today."

"Well, I thought the duel would just mean today…"

"Me too," Eirika said, "but now I'm even more glad I won!"

"Yeah…"

"Don't forget, you're to follow my orders first and foremost. Understand?"

"Yes, Princess Eirika."

"You can call me Eirika. I think that's okay."

"Alright, Eirika."

"Tomorrow I have a mission, and it's a long one. I'll need to ride, so meet me here in the morning, okay Tobin?"

"Sure," he said, unsure.

"Good. Then get some rest! I'll want to ride a bit faster, so make sure you prepare yourself. Goodbye for now, Tobin!"