Chapter 17-Duel

I saw Raquelle glance at her sister slouched miserably over the balcony railing and then at me with amazement. True to form she yelled out, "Revy, Lady Mimi, you're both alive! Milady, um, I think you walked out the wrong door by mistake."

I was in no mood for her playful jab, and I simply sighed deeply.

Prince Chrom looked openly astonished and spat out, "Mimi, you're okay! How in Naga's name did you survive?"

Lissa took a step forward and started to sniffle, "See, big brother. I had faith that she and Revy were still with us."

I bowed with a miserable expression on my face. "My apologies Chrom. Revelia and I were ambushed and held captive by Casval and his hired gang using us as a bargaining chip for Xolette. However, Kasrin intercepted the ransom note and rescued us. I owed him my life, so he asked me to serve as King Marth's Tactician for one battle."

"Mistress," Bhavin called out in despair. He tried to move towards me but both Ronna and Siffra had to restrain my sweet Priest.

The Prince looked dejected, but then his blue eyes lit up with renewed fire, "Robin."

The flaxen-haired blond stood by her liege's side with concern in her brown eyes, "Yes Chrom?"

"This is your greatest test yet. Can you best Marth, the Irregulars, and the leader of the Arrowhead Scouts?"

She and I locked eyes and I mouthed my apologies to her silently. She gave Chrom a brief smile, "I will…I promise."

Chrom gave a sharp gaze to Marth, who was still in the shadows of the sunlight streaming in through the great hall's oculus. "Marth! I have a question before we start."

The Hero King remained stoically silent, and ignored the overture.

"Hmph! Then our swords can speak for us." He glanced at me briefly and looked unhappy, "I'm so sorry Mimi. I must vanquish you."

"Apologies, Your Highness." I bowed respectfully as my hands shook and a horrible knot formed in my stomach as I unwillingly followed down my twisted parents' path of treachery, "I know I am committing an unforgivable act of treason. T-take my head after this is over i-if it will please you."

By this time Chrom has drawn out his ancestral sword steeped in Naga's bloodline. It was long, straight, and infamously sharp, and it traced its lineage two millennia back to the days of the true Hero King. Upon the rise of the Exalt's and the foundation of Ylisse several centuries back, it had been completely reforged from the simple design to a more powerful design that more effectively tied the user to the divine dragon. The modifications included a wider blade, a circular guard with an open teardrop-shaped void, and maroon grip; changes aided by the intervention of the legendary Manakete and Naga Priestess Tiki.

Still in the deep gloom of the shadows, a stone-faced Marth dramatically drew out his own Falchion replica…except it somehow wasn't a copy.

My mouth fell open as I sensed the same sort of power emanating from the Hero King's blade as the Prince's. That was patently impossible, as Archivist Mitsuji had once told me that only Ylissean royals could handle the sacred blade. "H-how…," I stammered softly. Then I realized with a shudder why Marth had just warned me off spilling my guts to my allies about my knowledge of the future. Based on the Irregulars coming from a ruined world twenty or so years hence, I could only conclude Marth didn't want me to reveal that Chrom was fighting his own son, and by extension Iniabi was sparring off against his older brother.

Oh Gods no.

Chrom scowled as the leaders emerged into the center of the arena covered by the tan, ivory, and black spiral mosaic. "How…dare you. Where did you get that blade? There's no possible way-"

His angry tirade was cut off by Marth roaring as he charged my Prince and the two Falchions clashing with a reverberating clang. Everyone else from participants to spectators simply gawked at the insane sight of the two nobles using overly dramatic sword strikes, athletic flips, and uttering war cries as they dueled…with exactly the same style.

Chrom fell back to Robin's side as he panted out of breath at his rival's ability to match his ferocious blows, "Where…where did you learn to fight like that?"

Marth panted as well and growled in what sounded like anger, "My father!"

"Holy plop," Kasrin muttered as he unsheathed his own rapier that suddenly made me glance down at my own slender blade. Oh it just figured. In the desolate future, Kasrin must have retrieved the scarred Mimika's shattered bladetip after she blew herself up, and made his own reforged version of my family sword. He met my gaze and humbly smiled behind his opaque glasses, "I wanted to honor you milady."

Robin, as if reading her liege's mind barked out, "No lethal blows…disabling strikes only."

Marth whipped his sword down and gave the nod.

It was on.

…

Before anyone could mount the Calvary charge or loose a single arrow, the double doors behind the Shepards were kicked open by a desperate horse. To everyone's surprise, a Bay-hued Pegasus with my chambermaid on his back rode past the stunned Scouts and across the atrium towards an astonished Revellia twenty feet above our heads. Dia, you fool, I cursed under my breath.

"Ha ha! What a brat!" By my side, Lily laughed gleefully and put me into a playful headlock as she ruffled up my dark hair, "Turn that frown upside down, Mimi!"

Dia waved brightly up to the balcony, "Sir Revellia! Serendipity wanted his mistress."

Revy sobbed with joy and have a brief prayer of thanks to Naga I presumed. She then vaulted off the balcony onto her still bandaged mount and trotted over to stand behind me.

I pulled away from my Lamia stalker and raged on both nincompoops, "Dia and Revelia. What in Naga's name do you think you're doing?"

My maid looked at me with shimmering brown eyes, "My place is at your side, milady. I love you."

I fumed, "I love you too you idiot! Go back to Chrom's side, now."

"No, milady. I must serve you first. Your fate is my fate."

I growled in utter helpless fury, "Sir Revellia, as you obviously decided to ignore a direct order, go on back to Raquelle and the Scouts."

"N-n-no m-milady. I must use my healing talents, whether you a-approve or not." Her hands were quavering under my fiery glare, but she did not relent. "P-punish me later as you so choose."

Marth sighed at the unnecessary drama, "If we may?"

"Ah! Y-yes of course!" I furiously waved at Revy and Dia to stay at the back ranks.

The Pegasus Knights, Cavaliers, and flying beastkin roared as they charged. Just after they took off, the first arrow shots criss-crossed the room.

Raquelle's arrow would have likely hit my leg if not for Lily blocking the green-feathered missile with her tail. She winced at the blow but flashed me a pained smile.

Regulus' return shot was aimed at Lissa's casting arm, but Kellam blocked it with his massive knight's shield. He winced as I realized Reg's insanely strong drawstring power had skewered the poor lad's arm.

Virion's arrow hit Heart's chest armor and even if it penetrated into her flesh she didn't visibly react.

Several of the warriors violently met in the atrium. Sully ran into Mika with Zeno on her back and the Manakete was stabbed in the side with her longsword. She was quickly met by a counterblow of thrown daggers and flame breath sent the red-armored Cavalier flying as her brown mount reared.

Sumia came in from above and stabbed Mika's left wing through causing the poor beastkin to crash into the ground. Suddenly a three-tailed fox yipped and vaulted off the walls and bit into Sumia's shoulder, distracting the sweet Pegasus Knight.

Stahl roared as he swiped at the Kitsune, but Jezebel scowled as she bodily flipped his steed atop the hapless Green armored knight, pinning him to the ground and stunning him

Chrom reengaged Marth with Robin using her flame tome. The two Warriors pounded on each other mercilessly, both ending up with slash wounds and torn clothing.

Iniabi used his thunder tone to zap the fox beastkin in midair, causing her to yelp and collapse roughly into the stone ground.

Revellia trotted over to Mika and healed up most of her damage.

Lissa teamed with Siffra revived up the dazed Sully. The dismounted warrior threw off her helmet, flashed a skewed grin to her Princess and then chased the Astrologer Moon with a cackle.

"No, not again," the outmatched Mage wailed as he ran for his life.

Luckily for him, Therion caught Sully's blade and grimaced as they dueled.

Sumia readied another charge as Sakuya swooped in with a breathtaking grace and dismounted her with a hard blow that dented her chestplate and broke off the Irregular's lancehead. Sumia groaned and collapsed facedown.

Sakuya caught a replacement lance tossed to her by Nobuna, only to have Sonya's Pegasus kick her off the saddle and drop ten feet onto the floor. She smiled weakly at her best friend, "I messed up, Buya."

"You bitch," Nobuya screamed as she threw her short sword through Aysel's wing, forcing the Pegasus to land. Sonya cursed and charged the Myrmidon, but a blast of searing white light from Moon's fingertip blinded and seared the White-haired Knight. Reg heartlessly shot the blinded girl in her lance arm, forcing her to retreat.

Mika circled the room and after Ronna and Virion shot her in the flanks, turned her flame weapon on them. Virion gasped and fainted dramatically as Ronna loosed another arrow at the Manakete, nicking her neck.

An enraged Zeno landed atop Ronna knocking her to the ground and knocking her out with a blow to the head. He wobbled to his feet and patted the Blue-green dragon on her forehead, "We got this, squirt!"

An inrush of Xolette's flame struck the Manakete's side as she used her wings to shield her father. Sorry…Zeno, she apologized before collapsing into the thief pinning him to the wall and taking him out of the battle.

This wasn't going to plan…going to horse plop was more like it.

A visibly distraught Siff engaged me with her sword and I barely parried. Lily growled and body slammed her horse Butternut, knocking both rider and mount over. Frederick smashed into the irate lamia before she could seriously injure Siffra, causing her to gasp from her belly wound and use her tail to cave in the powerful knight's shield.

Dia threw her flechettes at Sir Frederick, wounding his right arm, but not slowing down his righteous fury. He used his mailed fish to punch the young girl in her stomach, making her topple and curl up into a ball.

I was furious but too busy engaged with my Cavalier Siffra to respond.

Bhavin healed up Stahl, allowing him to pick up his sword and charge Jezebel. The scornful Lamia took the slashing blow and punched the poor Cavalier in the chest, sending him sprawling again.

"Fool," Jezzy muttered before a spear caught her in the side. She gasped as somehow Sir Kellam had somehow snuck all the way over to our lines without being noticed.

Heart raged as she shot fire darts in quick succession into the stoic knight's back, "Dastard! That's a real woman, and I'll end you before you take her life!" She jumped on his back and tried to stab him repeatedly in the side with a dagger, but the plate armor only managed to cause the blade to fracture. She roared and as he stuck her shoulder with his spear she simply winced and headbutted him with a deep thunk sound.

Both of them staggered into each other as Moon's blazing white light spell singed their armor and hair. Moon gasped in horror as his friendly fire felled both friend and foe.

Iniabi unexpectedly whapped Moon upside the head with the flat of Stahl's sword, sending the unlucky Mage to the ground. Wait, how could a Mage use a sword without reclassing? That meant he was secretly a Tactician like Robin and me.

Revy rode over and healed Sakuya, allowing the graceful maiden to rise again.

Raq drew a bead on me and loosed an arrow at my sword arm, but Kasrin took the blow in his hip. He groaned as he fell to one knee, "Ow." The archer quickly sent another arrow my way, but Revy took the blow in his shoulder, and collapsed against me.

I groaned as both Siff and I stopped fighting.

Raquelle cried out in shock, and slumped on her knees with a look of utter horror, her face as pale as fresh snow.

All the remaining warriors stopped and gawked as Chrom staggered back with blood running down his side.

With red ribbons of blood staining her yellow-white locks, Robin cursed and sent Marth flying with a fireball to the face. He groaned in pain, "Victory for you…not that I'm surprised." The crash of the armored Hero King had caused everyone left standing to watch in amazement.

I weakly leaned into Kasrin, and the Myrmidon kindly propped me up.

The battle was over.

Khan Flavia's booming voice echoed across the massive hall, "Khan Basilio, you smelly ogre! Do you yield to my champion, Prince Chrom?"

Basilio scowled then erupted into a hearty laugh, "Yah, you got us good, you rear end of a mare! Now that was a battle!"

"Gods, Revy…Revy!" Raquelle left her bow behind and rushed to her sister's side in deep shock, "Sis! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Revy smiled as she hugged Raq tenderly, "Its okay, big sis. In the end…I…mattered."

Princess Lissa extracted the arrow and healed up the green-haired Pegasus Knight. "There ya go! Good as new."

Chrom spat out blood and blinked as he realized that the defeated Marth was nowhere to be seen. "Great work Robin. Let's make sure everyone is healed up."

A few minutes later the Irregulars, Shepards, Scouts and sellswords were all healed up, and Dia clung fast to my side, softly crying over my welfare. Both Siff and Vanny had cried on my shoulder and given me emotional hugs.

The three secret daughters bowed to the Terrible trio and then fell in line behind to Kasrin. The fox beastkin Kayda gave me a short bow before silently joining her allies. Both lamia sisters looked over to me and Jezzy gently squeezed my shoulder and chuckled as she pushed me into Lily's arms. The impish redhead kissed both of my cheeks with a cute blush.

Kasrin bowed, "Naga smile on your countenance, Your Highness. Good luck." He turned on his heel and left with his Irregulars through the doorway that we had used to enter the room. I noticed with slight amusement that Heart elected to leave with Kasrin's forces. She likely felt indebted to Jezebel considering that the Lamia had bested her in battle.

Therion sighed and gave a deep bow of respect, "I would like to fight for you milady."

I clasped his shoulder, "Granted, provided Chrom doesn't imprison or execute me. Speak to Sir Aabis in Ylisstol if he is made leader."

"Yes ma'am."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, "Milady if you must, not ma'am."

"Yes, milady."

Moon sighed as he straightened up, "I'm so sorry I tried to kill you. I guess my fortune was wrong; it was my destiny to aid you."

"Welcome aboard, Mister Moon."

"Thanks, milady."

I leant down and kissed Dia's head. With my maid and tailed by Raq and Revy we all approached the newly healed up Chrom.

He looked over to me without a trace of malice, "I know you were forced. Well fought. If I didn't have Robin at my side, the Shepards and Scouts might well have lost"

I contritely got on my knees, and pleaded, "If it will s-satisfy you, you may have my head, Prince Chrom. I betrayed your family yet again."

Dia stood in front of me her arms shaking madly, "Your H-highness, if she dies, I will die with her."

Revy knelt as well, "My life is forfeit if you wish, milord."

Raquelle looked appalled, "Sis, no!"

The Pegasus knight smiled up to her elder sister, "I a-aided and abetted the enemy, big sister. I deserve no less-"

Chrom finally lost his patience and snapped, "Oh shut up, all of you! If you're all so eager for martyrdom, toss away your lives against Plegia if you are so insistent."

Robin chuckled behind her hand, "My guess is that Chrom actually sees you as his extended family; one that just had a nasty fight." She winked to the Prince, "We only need to make up, right Chrom?"

He blushed faintly in embarrassment, "Yeah, what Robin said. I need your heads firmly on your shoulders, Mimi, Revy and Dia. Got it? You fought like lions, so I know you'll be dependable comrades in arms." He sheathed his sword after cleaning off the blood with his tattered cape, "And before you ask about your punishment, all I will say is get back to work, my friends." He scoffed and exited the room with Robin, Lissa, and Frederick in tow to meet up with the newly crowned Khan Flavia.

I gently hugged Revy, Raq, and Dia and we all softly sobbed at our Prince's undeserved clemency.