Theme 17: Vengeance

Themes 16 through 18 are one connected storyline.

There were no words to describe how Robin felt. The only one that even came close was Confused. All the tactician felt was pure, unhindered confusion. He looked down at himself, covered head to toe in swamp water and frogs. His cloak and undershirt were soaked, not to mention his hair was matted and wet from the rushing water.

His fists clenched and teeth clenched, he muttered one name:

"Lissa…"

It had been such a simple prank, yet the tactician, the tactician of the Shepherds of Ylisse, had fallen for it. A bucket of water and frogs perched atop a slightly open door, so when it was opened the bucket would fall onto the poor soul's head who has opened the door. It was the oldest trick in the book, how did he not notice it?

The next thought that hit Robin's mind was 'How did Lissa pull it off'? She was much too short to put the bucket on top of the door. Speaking of the bucket, now that Robin took a good look at it, he realized it wasn't a bucket at all. It was more of a misshapen, bronze cooking pot. Where did Lissa get such a thing?

But there was no time to dwell on the past, only time to plan for vengeance. Robin had pranked her before, and he could do it again. All he needed was a few worms. A change of clothes and a bath wouldn't hurt, either.

"... Anyways Maribelle, I'll talk to you tomorrow. I've got to catch up on my beauty sleep, y'know?" The sprightly blonde princess waved goodbye to her friend, who returned the gesture.

"Six o'clock sharp! Do not forget, my dear!" The coach door closed, and after a crack of the reigns, Maribelle's carriage left Ylisstol for the day.

Lissa covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a loud yawn. She hadn't realized how tired she was. She certainly had a long day: Getting the pot from Donny, asking Tharja for spare frogs, having Ricken help her get more frogs, asking Vaike for help carrying the pot of frogs and swamp water, and ordering Frederick to set the pot on top of the door. The only thing that Lissa didn't get to do that day was to see Robin's priceless reaction of her genius prank. However sad she may be, Lissa forced herself to stay away from that area in order to not give it away. If she was around when Robin found the trap, he would have known that Lissa did it for sure.

"Welp, that was enough fun for the day… I need to go to bed early tonight or I'll miss teatime with Maribelle tomorrow morning." Lissa said to no one in particular. Walking down the castle's halls, she found her room and immediately collapsed on her bed, exhausted from a long day of fun. Closing her eyes, the princess let herself fall into the soft, plush mattress. Her mattress was softer than she remembered, almost engulfing Lissa in its comfort. It was almost as if it moved on its own. Almost as if it wriggled.

Lissa opened up her eyes, and immediately jumped out of bed. Without realizing it, she had fallen onto a bed full of gross, slimy, disgusting snakes. She couldn't help but scream out in surprise, shaking herself free of a few snakes still clinging to her.

A knock at her door startled the princess even further, but upon opening the door she discovered that there was no one outside. The only thing she saw was a small sheet of white parchment with eight words on it.

"The prankster becomes the pranked. Yours truly, Robin" Lissa read the note aloud, before crumpling the paper in her hand. After the brief moment of anger, she calmed down. Maybe she had overreacted. She should have expected payback.

Or maybe, it was the the thought of the Prank War growing much, much more interesting.