A Summoner's Journey

Grand Hero Battle: Xander

Team for this chapter: Robin, Tharja, Olivia and Priscilla

It was time.

I've faced Xander many times before alongside my heroes. But now, it was finally time to fight him one on one. Our victory can earn us Xander's power. If his power is the same as when we fought all those months ago, I know for sure he would be an invaluable addition to the Askrian army. I strategized long with my tacticians in the war room and we decided to pick Robin, Tharja, Olivia and Priscilla. Oh, I forgot to mention earlier that I summoned a 4 star Tharja not too long ago. She insisted on following Robin into this fight and we agreed, not wanting to pick a fight with the Plegian dark mage. I chose Olivia because we actually needed the dance support this time. Unlike with Zephiel's Grand Hero Battle, Xander's location had very little room between me and the enemy team. I needed Olivia to reinvigorate my mages as much as possible. Finally, Priscilla was just there to provide healing support and spread panic through the enemy ranks. Good old reliable Priscilla. Minutes later, we were set to leave, yet a felt a cold chill of wind bristling behind my back as I faced the portal to the World of Conquest. Something ominous is going to happen. Something… sad.

"Is there something wrong Lucian?" Priscilla asked.

"N-no, nothing. Come on, let's go" I led my heroes into the World of Conquest.

"No! You're not allowed to leave this room. I'm going to face Corrin alone. Is that clear?!" Xander suddenly shouted, tense as he paced the room, his Siegfried locked in its sheath in Xander's hand. His retainers, Peri and Laslow looked down in defeat as they couldn't convince their liege to have Nohrian soldiers back him up.

"I hear footsteps. I'm afraid we're out of time" Xander looked grim as he got onto his black horse and left the room he was in. Peri and Laslow both stared at each other, knowing what they have to do.

As Xander headed out to meet his adversaries, he was surprised to find an unfamiliar group of people waiting in front of a blue portal. Clearly, this wasn't the Hoshidan army. They were assassins.

"You there! Who are you and what are you doing in Castle Krakenburg?" Xander called. I didn't respond and silently urged my heroes to get into position.

"Hmph, you won't answer? Fine then. I will defeat you assassins myself. Prepare yourself!" Xander grasped the hilt of his Siegfried and unclenched it from its sheath, the dark purple gem on the hilt radiating purple waves of terror. Before we could attack, Peri and Laslow's voices rang through the room.

"Lord Xander! Is everything alright?!" the cavalier and swordsman rushed in, bringing a small troop of Nohrian soldiers with them. I spotted a foreign Halberdier alongside a Nohrian Strategist, Hero and Maid.

"You two! I told you to stay out of this!" Xander commanded with an edge of anger in his voice "What are you doing here?"

"Milord, take a good look at our opponents here. They aren't the Hoshidan army" Laslow explained "We will stay out of your fight with Corrin, but we will NOT allow you to die by these foreign men!"

"Yeah! We don't want you to die! Let us deal with the killing!" Peri cheered, raising her Killer Lance into the air "We'll take care of these people for you!"

"Peri, Laslow…" Xander relaxed and his stiff expression loosened "Thank you. But I won't be sitting back. I will fight with you!"

"Understood!" Laslow and Peri prepared to fight as Xander gave his battalion the command to attack.

"Hold your ground everyone! They are coming in all at once!" I called and my units went into a defensive formation. The Halberdier came towards us first, brandishing a Silver Lance. Robin easily knocked him down with Blarraven and shattered his spear with Lancebreaker. Xander galloped forward quickly, followed behind by Peri. Laslow's Rally Speed must of boosted his speed because Xander managed a hard stab to Robin's shoulder before the tactician could attack. Robin stepped back, but was stabbed again by Peri.

"Tharja! Take out Xander!" I commanded and the dark mage began murmuring the incantation for Rauðrblade, sending glowing red blades to attack Xander. Xander retaliated with a dark bolt of energy from Siegfried, but Tharja darted away quickly. Meanwhile, Robin was enduring attacks from Peri, while getting constantly healed by Priscilla. Eventually, Robin blasted her backwards with his Ignis, orange flames pulsing off Robin's body like an aura.

"Here's how it's done!" Robin unleashed a flood of flaming ravens onto the field, bombarding Xander, Peri and the maid with intensely powerful magic. Peri shielded Xander and took the brunt of the attack, falling instantly while the maid was incredibly weakened. The Strategist galloped forward, launching a blast of Gronnwolf towards Robin, but Olivia danced for the tactician and allowed him to escape. The dancer dashed forward, Silver Sword in hand and cut down the Strategist before quickly retreating. Tharja dueled with the sword-wielding Hero, narrowly dodging his Killing Edge swings because of Darting Blow.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Tharja laughed maniacally as she blasted the Hero down with a Moonbow-powered Rauðrblade. Xander managed to regain his footing and charged at Robin, his Siegfried glowing with hot red light.

"Down on your knees!" Xander shouted as he slammed the sword into Robin's side, making it erupt in a bright flashing light. Robin staggered away from the attack, clearly blinded by the light. Xander managed two more hits on the tactician, only living because of Triangle Adept. Robin eventually regained his sight and fell back towards us. Priscilla healed Robin up and Olivia danced for the tactician while Tharja distracted Xander. When Robin was ready to go, he advanced on Xander, opening his Blarraven. Before he could close the distance however, Xander landed a lucky hit on Tharja, sending her to the ground with a large gaping wound on her chest.

"No!" Robin quickly rushed forward and took Xander's finishing blow while Olivia danced for Tharja to get away. While Priscilla healed Tharja's wounds, Robin faced down the crown prince of Nohr, his tome ready.

"Checkmate!" Robin glowed with orange fiery light and blasted a stream of flaming ravens towards Xander. Xander countered with a blast of dark energy from his sword, blocking the ravens with his Blazing Light-infused blade.

"You're right where I want you!" Xander galloped forward after Robin's attack ended and brought down his Blazing Light Siegfried onto the tactician, but Robin wouldn't allow it.

"You're right where I want YOU!" Robin blasted Xander in the face with Elthunder, then fired a cloud of Blarraven as Xander staggered away.

"GAHHHH!" Xander couldn't resist the magic much longer and got blasted off his horse, the divine blade Siegfried flying into the air. As it landed and planted itself into the floor, I knew the fight was over.

After Tharja announced that she killed Laslow thanks to Olivia's dancing, Xander reappeared without his Siegfried. I quickly explained to him the situation in Askr.

"Well, this is a sudden revelation" Xander took the news more calmly than I thought he would "So you're saying that once we leave through the portal, another Xander would take my place to fight Corrin and the Hoshidans?"

"Based on what me and Robin know of, yes" I replied, glancing at Xander's Silver Sword. He's going to need a bit of investment to reach his full power "Rest assured. Once we leave, it'll be like this battle never happened"

"I place my faith in you then" Xander smiled "You remind me of one of my own siblings actually. Corrin himself"

"Oh? In what way?" I asked, taken aback by the comparison.

"You are both charismatic leaders with the ability to inspire others to join you" Xander acknowledged "That look in your eyes tell me you're telling the truth about all of this. From our duel alone, I can tell you aren't lying. Thus, I place my trust in you"

"Oh, thank you Prince Xander" I was pretty shocked by his words, but took it in good faith "Glad to have you on my side"

"Glad to be of service to you. Allow me to formally introduce myself" Xander straightened his posture "I am Xander, crown prince of Nohr and the wielder of the divine blade Siegfried. I hope to see you mete out justice"

Coming back to Askr, I found another notice in my mailbox. Opening it up, it was a notification for ANOTHER Voting Gauntlet. This time, it was Male Mages vs Female Mages, with Robin, Leo, Merric and Henry representing the males and Tharja, Julia, Sanaki and Linde as the female mages. I groaned, not wanting to do another Voting Gauntlet, but it was for the feathers. I was getting close to 20 thousand feathers and I planned to use it on Xander.

"It won't be long before Saria sends me another letter huh…" I murmured under my breath as I looked through the box for more mail. I decided to join Team Julia this time around, as I've grown fond of the young Jugdali mage after fighting and learning about her. She was afraid to disclose details about her past to me though, only confining in Seliph, so I had to earn her trust a little more. Heading to the Voting Gauntlet with her would be a good time to do that. There wasn't anything else to pick up from the mail, so I left to the library for some reading.

Later into the night…

Xander walked down the hallway, leaving his steed in the stables nearby the castle. It was long after dinnertime and Xander finally had the comfort of rest after a long while. Xander blinked the sleep out of his eyes. Once he hit the pillow, he'll be out. But a familiar voice called behind him. A voice that Xander tried to avoid.

"Prince Xander"

"Prince Ryoma"

Xander turned and faced the red armored samurai, who was crossing his arms. The two princes silently stared at each, making no effort to reach for their weapons. Both of them understood that Nohr and Hoshido weren't enemies here.

"Prince Ryoma. Surprised to see you here" Xander began. He didn't want to end the night on an awkward note.

"Yes, I was summoned here by Lucian" Ryoma was tense. Xander can see it. He was ready to reach for his weapon should Xander attack.

"Did you want to ask me something?" Xander tried to lighten the air around them, but said air couldn't be cut with a knife.

"If you would like, I want you to meet me outside by the lake" Ryoma said "I want to ask you a few questions regarding Nohr"

"I see then. I will come on one condition" Xander said, making Ryoma raise an eyebrow.

"I want you to come without your Raijinto"

"And how can I trust you to not sneak along a knife?"

"Prince Ryoma, please relax. I will not resort to such an underhanded tactic of fighting"

"I can see through your lies like they were thin air. You Nohrians LIVE on underhanded tactics to win!" Ryoma growled.

"I intend to prove you wrong then" Xander said sternly "I will accompany you to the lake and will leave my Silver Sword in my room. Search me if you so wish, but I will not bring any weapons"

"Hmph, very well. I will hold you to your words then" Ryoma stared Xander in the eye "I will see you there"

"Very well"

A few minutes later, Xander found Ryoma gazing out to a dark lake in the night. Crickets sung as Xander walked, his heavier Paladin armor making audible noises in the night. Ryoma turned, his arms still crossed and posture still tense.

"Prince Ryoma, I'd like for you to loosen your guard" Xander said calmly as he approached "Hoshido and Nohr aren't enemies here. We have no reason to fight, therefore we have no reason to be hostile"

"I came here for one purpose and just need one talk" Ryoma said sternly "What caused Nohr to attack Hoshido?"

"If you asked me that question before, I wouldn't have the time to explain" Xander answered "But now I have all the time in the world to tell"

After Xander explained, Ryoma's slightly loosened up, his arms becoming uncrossed and his tense air disappearing.

"So you invaded Hoshido to raid our supplies?" Ryoma asked "Why didn't Nohr just ask us to provide aid?"

"My father did, but your father either didn't hear or refused" Xander replied "We were sinking further and further into poverty. Even the royalty couldn't sustain themselves comfortably"

"I can't believe my own father would refuse giving aid to someone…" Ryoma muttered "It's hard to believe, but please, continue"

"Father grew increasingly frustrated as the years went on" Xander continued "His own mistresses were fighting among each other for the position of queen of Nohr. Their own children were dragged into this civil war. Including me"

"..." Ryoma gestured for Xander to continue.

"Many of my potential half brothers and sisters were killed, either assassinated or poisoned by the other children" Xander said absently "I met a couple and all of them didn't want to fight, but were forced to by their parents. Seeing this, my father snapped"

"What did he do?"

"He declared that he'll go to war with Hoshido to raid their supplies, cursing them for hoarding all of it while Nohr stayed in poverty" Xander replied "So that's why Prince Ryoma. That's why we declared war on Hoshido. Your own selfishness was about to collapse a kingdom on top of itself. We had no choice!"

"I… see" Ryoma was slightly shaken up by the tale. It was hard to believe on paper, but the passion in Xander's words spoke the truth. They weren't simply invading because they wanted to. They invaded in order for them to live. For their citizens to live.

"I need time to think about this. Thank you for the insight Prince Xander" Ryoma said, giving Xander a small smile.

"I hope this will make you reconsider your choices if we go back to our worlds" Xander replied "But while we're here, I hope to be able to be friends with you. Corrin HAS painted us to be similar people after all"

"Well, you aren't wrong" Ryoma began walking back to Askr castle, crunching twigs along the way "We can talk later tomorrow. Let's see if Corrin is right about us"

"Very well Prince Ryoma"

As the two princes left, the Corrin twins came out from behind a tree, grinning to each other as their missions both ended in success.

And that's Xander's Grand Hero Battle! I modified the battle a little to take place before Xander's chapter in Birthright to make it a little more interesting. I also incorporated Olivia's Dance more into the battle since a review on Zephiel's GHB pointed out that Jeorge mentioned Olivia's dance, but it wasn't used at all (thank you for pointing that out). This chapter's "Later into the night" segment focuses on Xander and Ryoma discussing what was the true purpose behind the war between Hoshido and Nohr. I hope you enjoyed some Fates lore building. Anyway, coming up next is the Male Mages vs Female Mages Voting Gauntlet along with Chapter 11: Rite of Shadows. As always, thank you so much for the favorites, follows and reviews. Until next time, fellow summoners!

Also I completely take back my word on the World of Shadows chapter, where I said that Alm was the worst Falchion lord. His refinement is INSANE. I wish I had an Alm now...