Three Winds of Fodlan

Time for the all important mock battle. Now I noticed that a few people were none to happy with me knocking Anna out of the running to be with Robin but my reasoning is that, if he was not interested in Awakening Anna, and Three Houses Anna is pretty much identical, there is no way it makes sense in any form for him to suddenly have a thing for Three Houses Anna. I am sorry if you are upset by this still but I just did not see a way to pull off the pairing without it being contrived. Still I hope all continue to read and enjoy this fic as I put my all into it.

Chapter 6: White Clouds: Clashing Wind Storms

It was the day before the mock battle and the three Houses were meeting with their professors separately to plan out how they wanted to run the battle. All three teachers were handed a map of the battlefield and each House was assigned a starting area. Each teacher had plenty of time to study the map before calling their House in order to devise base strategies to share with their students who would be tasked with finding a way to improve upon them.

-Zephyr of the Golden Deer-

"Time for us to begin our strategies." Robin announced when his students arrived at the same riverbank that their assessment had taken place. "As you can see we start to the south, meaning we don't have easy access to forest cover." Robin said as he pointed to the bottom of the map that held the insignia of the Golden Deer. His finger then moved to the north-east where the Black Eagle insignia was. "This is where The Black Eagles will be and over to the west is the Blue Lions." Robin then pointed to the Blue Lion insignia. "The Blue Lions have the benefit of forest cover and barricades."

"So what do you propose we do?" Ignatz asked, a little worried. "We are sitting ducks in that position."

"Not quite." Lysithea said as she looked over the map before she noticed Leonie nod her head.

"I see it. We might not have forest cover but the House that does is lacking in range. If we can keep the Black Eagles off of us, we can drive the Blue Lions out of the forest and use our ranged skills to take them out." Leonie said, getting a nod from Robin. "However this means that we have to deal with The Black Eagles who also excel at range with their mages."

"They will more than likely run out of spells before we run out of arrows." Claude said with a smirk. "Besides, if we are stealthy enough, we can send a small party to pincer them using the small patch of trees to the west."

"Not to be the rude one but we must also consider that both the Blue Lions and the Black Eagles have thought of us performing these plans." Lorenz interjected.

"You are right, that we have to worry about that." Robin said with a nod. "Byleth has been a mercenary for years and her father is a well decorated Knight-Captain while Mark is a war veteran as well as a tactician, much like myself. That said, if we try too hard to think of every possible plan, we could spread ourselves thin. A hunter who pursues two rabbits, catches neither."

"Teach is right. We have the makings of some good plans here so it would be better to build upon them instead of trying to come up with others." Claude said. "Besides once we take care of the students, we still have to take care of the professor."

"Actually we talked this one out with Seteth." Robin said. "The mock battle will just be the students. We teachers are sitting out. However once the battle is over, the teachers will have an exhibition match so that all of you can see what you could possibly become if you study hard. The teacher of the winning House is also allowed to bring any students who were not eliminated and still capable of fighting to the match."

"Okay so that will make things more interesting." Claude said.

"Good thing I'll just be-" Hilda began before Robin gave her a level look before smiling. Somehow, to Hilda, that smile was the most terrifying sight.

"You will be fighting and I do hope you give your all." Robin said, using the same smiling technique he had seen Frederick and Cherche employ.

-Black Eagle Gale-

Mark was taking a more silent approach with his House. He was inspecting the practice daggers that were made for him so that he could fight as he was used to while Hubert and Edelgard were thinking up strategies with help from their friends. For the most part the Black Eagles were going with the idea that they use their superior magic to hold the line and waif for either the Blue Lion or Golden Deer to mess up. Mark was not interjecting so that they could figure out the problems on their own for the time being. He had ideas, but it was his job to encourage them to better themselves.

"Wait, what about Bernadetta? She's a really good archer so why are we not using her?" Dorothea finally asked Edelgard and Hubert. "Instead we are just relying on myself, Linhardt and Hubert."

"Well where would you have us put her?" Hubert asked, a superior smile on his face. Dorothea looked at the map and thought for a moment before she pointed to the trees to the west.

"I think we should put her and Petra here. This way they can watch out for attacks by the Golden Deer trying to sneak through the trees." Dorothea said remembering an opera that had a scene involving a large force being taken out by a small force using a pincer attack. Hubert and Edelgard looked at each other for a moment before nodding.

"That's a great idea." Edelgard said. "While it might divide us a little, it will stop pincer attacks and keep our flanks protected." Edelgard then looked at Mark who was just smiling at the fact that Edelgard had learned to be wary of her back due to him.

-Blue Lions' Whirlwind-

"You sure that's the tactic you wish to use?" Ingrid asked Dmitri, who nodded resolutely.

"Yes. We need to charge down the Black Eagles before attacking the Golden Deer. We lack range so this is our best option." Dmitri said simply.

"Leave it to a boar to want to charge." Felix muttered under his breath. Byleth just observed wondering if they would be able to adapt well in the field should this plan fail. She just shrugged and prepared herself for her own battle.

-Three Winds of Fodlan-

The students were gathered around Jeralt who was to be the officiator of the mock battle. Behind him were both Seteth and Rhea. "Okay. The rules for the battle are the same as the ones your teachers gave you for the assessments. If you are hit three times you are out. If you are out and try to continue to fight, you will be punished by the head of your House, so no cheating. Also your House is disqualified if the leader is defeated." Jeralt said sternly. "Other than that, head to your assigned areas and await the start." The Houses separated and headed to their respective starting areas, armed with their practice weaponry. It was a tense five minutes before finally, "Begin!"

Music: Fire Emblem Warriors OST - Road Taken

"Form up and fire!" Claude ordered as he and the other archers began to pelt the forest with the Blue Lions as well as the direction of the Black Eagles with arrows. They were actually altering fire, one half of them fires then the second half. This would ensure that they were always attacking. Every few volleys, Lysithea would fire a Miasma Δ at either direction. This continued for a few moments before a Thunder sent by Dorothea narrowly missed Claude.

"Barely missed." Dorothea muttered before she barely caught sight of Ingrid, Sylvain, and Dimitri rushing towards her with spears. "The Blue Lions are charging!" Dorothea tried to dodge them but Ingrid grazed her. The songstress gripped her side but was able to recover quick enough to repay the favor with a Thunder to Ingrid's back. However before Dorothea could celebrate, Felix arrived and struck her twice, eliminating her.

"A head on attack? Should have predicted this." Edelgard cursed herself. "Dmitri is not not known for subtlety." She rushed up to the prince, her axe at the ready as Hubert covered her with a few Miasma Δ so that she could not be interrupted. Caspar also rushed up and struck Ingrid, who was still recovering from the Thunder, before also striking Ingrid with a kick. Mark took out Caspar quickly but was able to impart a little knowledge to him, that he could use the momentum from his axe to increase the power of punches and kicks. With Ingrid out, Caspar rushed to help out Edelgard but he was stopped by Dedue. The Duscur male lifted his own axe and brought it down upon Caspar who barely blocked in time.

"Sorry big guy, but I won't go down easy again!" Caspar yelled out before he jumped back and dropped his axe before picking up Ingrid's abandoned spear. Dedue was surprised by Caspar's furious strikes that blended stabs, sweeps, and unarmed strikes. Deduce was more of a wall and less of a dodge tank so he was not accustomed to moving out of the way of so many quick strikes. This gave Linhardt the opening he needed to hit Dedue with a Nosfteratu, which opened up the large young man to Caspar's assault, taking him out.

Edelgard was fighting both Sylvain and Dmitri, and somehow keeping the both of them at bay. Maybe she had grown used to Mark's speed but the princess was able to follow both males' attacks with little effort, almost like they were moving slowly. "Is that all the speed you can muster?" Edelgard asked.

"Says the girl who's striking like lightning. What sort of insane training is Mark putting you through?" Sylvain asked as he tried to push Edelgard back.

"Nothing special. You try to follow the movements of a man who is practically married to the wind and not learn to adapt." Edelgard said before she heard a sound she learned to dread, the sound of the wind moving quickly. Edelgard broke off her attack just in time to avoid a Wind spell from Annette. However as this conflict between the Blue Lions and Black Eagles occured, The Golden Deer were marching forward, seeing the ensuing chaos.

"This is our chance!" Claude announced before he was taken by surprise when Petra leaped out of the western trees and rushed him down, Bernadetta providing covering fire. "A flank attack!"

"Is too late!" Petra announced as she eliminated Lorenz who tried to intercept her, as well as Raphael. Bernadetta was able to take out Leonie before she could attack Petra. Claude dodged Petra's strikes but the island princess was quick and well trained. He could see now how she was able to land a single strike on Mark. Claude continued to dodge before he was saved by Lysithea, who blocked Petra with a sword.

"We won't fall so easily." Lysithea said, her eyes narrowed before using her left hand to his Petra with a Miasma Δ at point blank. Petra backed away as Lysithea entered a sword stance. "You got lucky to get past us, but you have no chance." Claude was a little shocked to see Lysithea take a melee approach but remembered that Robin saw some sort of potential in her before he used his Ignis.

"Formidable. I am honored in facing you." Petra said as she took her own stance. Claude readied a shot but his arrow was knocked out of his hand by a shot from Bernadetta who was still providing covering fire.

"Seems like all of our planning meant nothing." Claude chuckled before Lysithea and Petra clashed. It was clear that this was a significant drain on Lysithea, since she had just recently started to hold a sword, but Petra had to be wary of Lysithea's spells. Meanwhile Hilda was trying to lead a foray into the forest to attack Bernadetta, but the girl was showing her true skills as an archer and keeping everyone at bay.

"J-just stay back!" Bernadetta yelled out as she fired more arrows.

"We have to get closer!" Hilda said before she was struck by Ferdinand. "Ouch. I thought you guys were too busy with the Blue Lions."

"They are going at us hard but we can spare at least one of us to protect our own from you." Ferdinand said before sweeping Hilda's legs and tripping her before a well placed arrow hit her on the way down. "Bernadetta, you can cease fire. You need to conserve your arrows." The covering fire stopped as Ferdinand turned to face Ignatz and Marianne.

Sylvain pulled back from his fight with Edelgard to get around her to assist Annette with taking out Linhardt and Hubert. All three mages were running out of energy to use spells and this would be the perfect chance for Sylvain to put the odds in their favor. He rushed by Caspar and Felix before he struck Linhardt with the end of his spear in three quick strikes.

"It appears that even the best laid plans are subject to failure." Hubert muttered before he could feel Mark's smile in the back of his head. The thought of Mark knowing the perfect plan to escape this situation infuriated Hubert to no end. Hubert raised his hand to Annette and unleashed a spell he had been saving. The wind using redhead was suddenly blasted by a Mire B and subsequently knocked out. Hubert turned to use this spell on Sylvain but exhaustion caught up with Hubert and he became light headed and fell. Sylvain tapped him three times to eliminate him.

"Couldn't see his own limits." Sylvain said to himself before he turned around to help out Dmitri. However before he could reach Dmitri, he saw Edelgard strike Dmitri in the shin before kneeing him in the stomach and bringing her axe down on his shoulder.

"Blue Lions have been eliminated!" Jeralt shouted over the battlefield. The Blue Lions still standing were less than pleased being eliminated early but knew that if they had come up with a more stable plan of action it would have been different.

"Damn, that's not good." Claude said as he and Lysithea were still fending off Petra. Lysithea was looking winded but she showed no signs of giving up. As Petra geared up from another assault, Claude was able to wing her with an arrow which gave Lysithea the opening to take down the island princess with two swift sword strikes. "That was too close."

"Don't drop your guard yet." Lysithea said as she saw Edelgard heading straight for them. The albino mage knew she had enough energy for one more spell and figured now was the time to use. When Edelgard was right on top of her, Lysithea unleashed Swarm Z. Edelgard was now being surrounded by insects made of magic. As the white haired princess tried to shake them off and avoid being stung, Claude lined up a trio of arrows and unleashed them, eliminating both Edelgard and the Black Eagles.

End Music

"The Golden Deer take the mock battle! All students retreat from the battlefield for ten minutes. After a quick respite, the Heads of your Houses will take to the field for an exhibition match. Any Golden Deer who feel up for it may take the field alongside Robin." Jeralt announced. As the students left the field, Mark sat on the dais that was the starting area of the Black Eagles. He was a little excited for this battle truth be told. Mark began to meditate in order to calm himself. He had no idea if any of the Golden Deer were going to help Robin but he knew he had to be ready for that possibility. Robin strode onto the field and awaited the moment of truth while Byleth leaned against a tree, practice sword and axe ready on either side of her. When the wait was over only Claude and Lysithea took to the field alongside their teacher.

"The rules for this match is to fight until you are no longer able. Students who are participating are out in three hits or when they are unconscious as before for the sake of their safety. All sides ready?" Jeralt announced as Seteth and Rhea watched intently.

"This will be most interesting to see. All three are said to fight in unique ways." Seteth said, his expression as stern as ever. Rhea only nodded in agreement as she wanted to see this unfold. When all three sides were in the clearing and ready Jeralt looked back at the two of them before nodding.

"Begin!"

Music: Demetori - Desire Drive ~ Desire Dream posted by vicildur on Youtube

Claude wasted no time, firing arrows at Mark who blocked them with his knives before Gale Stepping out of the way. Meanwhile Lysithea stayed on guard as Byleth slowly walked up. "I must congratulate your students." Byleth said.

"Thank you, but you can stop right there." Robin said unleashing a Fire spell. Byleth dodged out of the way before rushing towards the High Deliverer and his students. Robin cast a Wind spell to slow Byleth down but the graceful mercenary jumped over the attack but while she was in midair, Mark appeared and kicked her.

"Hope I didn't interrupt." Mark said before disappearing again this time to appear behind Claude. "Time for the lordling to go to sleep." Mark was about to strike with a knockout chop but he was interrupted by Lysithea trying to hit with her sword. Mark shook his head before he disappeared.

"Nice save." Claude nodded at Lysithea before he aimed at Byleth who was now engaged in melee combat with Robin. Claude waited for the perfect moment and unleashed the arrow right as Byleth lifted her axe to strike Robin as he blocked her sword. The arrow hit the handle, causing Byleth to lose her grip on the weapon for a moment, allowing Robin to push Byleth back.

"Thoron!" Robin casted as the beam of lightning magic grazed Byleth who was thrown back by the attack. "The grace of a dancer combined with the might of a warrior. Reminds me of a certain philanderer I know." Robin muttered as he remembered Olivia's son Inigo and their spars. This caused Robin to widen his eyes as he now knew how best to combat Byleth. If Robin could keep the rhythm of the battle too hectic for Byleth, she could not use her dancer like grace to evade him forever. "Sorry Byleth but it's time to tip the scales. Blárraven!" Robin unleashed his unique spells and guided it to constantly hunt down Byleth. The added irregular tempo was a surprise to Byleth as she was able to dodge less and less. Soon she was right in Robin's crosshairs but right as he was about to crash the full might of his spell into her, Mark appeared below him and kicked him right in the jaw, disrupting the spell and sending Robin into the air for a moment, allowing Mark to perform a wind reinforced cross slash and send Robin flying back ten feet.

"I think you forgot about the assassin in your midst." Mark chuckled before Gale Stepping out of the way of Byleth's thrown axe, causing it to hit Claude, knocking him out. "You are all thinking in lines while I am thinking in curves." Mark said before slamming Lysithea into the ground. As Mark walked away he began to hear buzzing and turned around to see Lysithea unleashing a Swarm Z at him. "Time for a combat art. Howling Hunter!" Mark performed a parallel slash that unleashed a large wolf made of wind that blasted through the spell and slammed right into Lysithea, knocking her out. "So much potential in that one."

"I agree." Robin said as he smirked due to Mark not seeing the trap Lysithea helped him lay. Mark looked down and saw he was right in the middle of a spell circle right as Robin cast Ruin. The Legendary Tactician was engulfed by the spell but no one heard him scream in pain or anything. When the spell came down, they saw Mark had taken damage but most of it was just his clothes being torn up and a few cuts and scuffs on his exposed skin, the wind that protected him was swirling like a storm.

"Too bad Robin but magic is not something I'm terribly afraid of." Mark said before he blocked Byleth who had rushed him down. While the two were deadlocked, Robin focused for a moment before he activated Ignis and rushed the two, unleashing the power of his unique ability when he struck both of his opponents in a single strike. Mark jumped back, really feeling that strike, his eyes locked onto robin as a wolf does to his prey. Byleth reeled back, the prolonged battle and all of her injuries getting to her. These two men were truly her toughest opponents and that caused her to smile.

"I have to admit...this is fun." Byleth said as she entered her stance. Both men knew she was on her last legs but had to respect her drive. Robin was a magical one man arsenal and Mark was akin to a divine beast in battle. Both had fought wars, tyrants, and odds no man could hope to survive and yet Byleth was keeping up with them.

"I must agree." Mark chuckled as he entered his own stance, the wind causing his cloak to billow. Robin merely nodded as he began to swiped at Robin who floated backward and pointed two fingers at the sky and then swiftly dropped his arm down in a chopping motion.

"Mjӧlnir!" Robin roared as a giant bolt of lightning crashed down on the two others before creating a dom of lightning magic that engulfed them. Byleth flew out unconscious, no match for the high tier Lightning magic at her level of exhaustion. When the dome dissipated, Mark was standing but he was definitely affected by the attack.

"Damn...now that's what I call a….spell." Mark said before darkness took him and he fell.

End Music

Everyone stared at the destruction that was wrought at the hands of the trio. Manuela ran out to check on the trio. "The match is over. The winner is Robin Zephyr!" Jeralt announced to the applause of the Golden Deer. The other Houses joined in too as they were all impressed by the skills put on display by all three teachers.

"To think he lost." Hubert sniffed at Mark's loss but saw Edelgard shake her head.

"I think he knows there's going to be another match. He was more interested in gathering intelligence. Besides take a closer look." Edelgard said as Hubert focused on Robin and Mark. Robin looked exhausted, that last spell taking a lot out of him while Mark recovered quickly enough to already be up. "If Mark had any real designs on winning, he may very well have." Hubert once again felt outsmarted by The Legendary Tactician but he had his grudging respect. Meanwhile the Blue Lions were rushing the field to check on Byleth.

"Damn, that was such a cool battle." Sylvain said as Byleth slowly came to. The magic caused her to feel a little paralyzed but she just drank some medicine that would help that pass. For now she just had to endure the embarrassment of using Manuela's lap as a pillow, despite her constant attempts to move.

"Take notes from it. Robin used his magic to own the tempo of the battle while Mark used his skills to strike at the best opportunity. Honor is all well and good but it is better to take a hit to your honor and survive to redeem yourself then to die needlessly over it." Byleth instructed her students. Robin smiled as he limped his way to the Golden Deer.

"Damn, Teach, you really held back against us huh?" Claude asked as most could not talk after such a huge display of magic.

"Do any of you think you would be a match for that spell?" Robin asked with a smirk. "Still I am impressed with both you and Lysithea. You really helped wear Mark down, even forcing him to use a combat art. Well done." Robin patted Lysithea's head causing her to get flustered and complain that she wasn't a child.

"Well the best part is yet to come. There's a huge feast tonight." Claude said as Robin's stomach began to rumble. "Sounds like you could eat."

-Three Winds of Fodlan-

Done and done. I do hope you enjoyed this battle and excuse the fact I used a Touhou Project song instead of just doing Fire Emblem songs only but I enjoy them both. I will use songs from other series sparingly. But with that I think we have come to a close. And always remember.

Sometimes the only difference between good and evil is perspective