'I don't like it.'

'And you have made the fact well clear to us.'

Chrom sighed at the amnesiacs complaint, Robin seeming not to notice the tone as he continued.

'Whoever heard of agreeing to meet representatives of a hostile power and allowing them to choose the place? It's madness, utter madness.'

Chrom rolled his eyes as he had been listening to the man complain about the situation for a while now.

'Mark my words, we arrive and we'll be attacked by an army that has used the strategic advantage we've gifted them to encircle us.'

It was Sully that could no longer stand it and interrupted.

'Stop being such a wuss! How can you even know that will happen?'

Robin turned in the saddle to look at Sully directly.

'Because anyone who is ruthless enough to want victory in as short a time as possible would not let up a chance to take the enemies royal family captive when the opportunity presents itself.'

Robins words came out with such frankness, in such a matter of fact tone and with such finality that nobody saw the sense in arguing with him and an uncomfortable silence fell on the group. After a few moments it was Robin who broke it.

'I'm glad your duke Themis and lady Phila had the good sense to hammer out a plan in case and that you were sensible enough to leave that boy behind.'

'Ricken? Yes, he's still a bit too young.'

Chrom nodded in agreement. Robin however shook his head.

'Young? Hardly. You will find plenty his age who have already been in combat. No the problem with the boy is that he wants to be a hero and heroes tend to get themselves and their allies killed.'

The silence that fell this time was just as heavy as the previous, but was broken quickly enough by Sully stating.

'I never thought I'd see the day where we meet someone who makes Frederick look cheerful.'

That got a laugh from most everyone, Frederick included.

'Oh and her luminescence actually came!'

There was no need for anyone to confirm it for Robin, the man who had just spoken was no doubt the king of Plegia, Gangrel "The Mad". He nearly pranced around the outcrop he stood on, surrounded by what had to be officials and bodyguards. After a cursory glance in his direction Robin shifted his attention to the area. A winding mountain pass with many caves and valleys, all of which could serve to hide a number of armed men and as the Plegians had chosen the location they would have had ample time to do so. Grinding his teeth at the poor situation he gripped the lance tightly as he turned his helmed head to the smaller cavalcade consisting of the Ylissian royals Frederick, Stahl and Sully as the Exalt Emmeryn spoke.

'As you requested, your Grace. Shall we now discuss why?'

'Oh yes! Yes we shall! And you will find there is much to be talked about.'

Gangrel cackled as he came to a halt.

'Shall I tell you? Or should someone else? Aversa! Why don't you explain to the infidel what and how?'

The called on woman tilted her head to the king and turned to the Yllisians, her voice carrying over the ground well.

'One of our patrols encountered a force of Yllisians within our borders, when challenged they attacked. The righteous, naturally, triumphed and as we had taken prisoners we sent a delegation to discuss their return only for them to come under attack as well! Fleeing they were pursued well into Plegia itself before your vassals withdrew.'

'You lying hag!'

Chrom snarled, hand instinctively moving to his sword. As Aversa pursed her lips into a thin line Gangrel cackled.

'What a temper! Please control your mad dog, Exalt, lest you wish for another incident!'

'Chrom.'

The prince, still scowling, let his hand drop from the hilt at his sisters reproach, she than turned back to the Plegians.

'Your version differs somewhat from how we have been informed. But may we ask for evidence that the Lady Themis is safe before we discuss the issue further?'

Still grinning Gangrel turned to his attendants.

'Who?'

'The prisoner, master. The one taken recently?'

One of them spoke up, clarifying as he saw the look of confusion of his kings face. Gangrel nodded enthusiastically as if remembering.

'Ah yes! The noisy brat! Yes, bring her out to the open, let her exaltness see the transgressor.'

Perhaps unsurprisingly Maribelle was first heard and only later seen, all eyes shifting to the scene as two burly men half dragged, half lead the noblewoman with pained looks on their faces all the while as Maribelle hurled abuse at them, if Robin could hear individual words he would have been impressed by how eloquent the abuse was. Lissa however was not impressed as she primarily noticed the simple fact that her friend looked as if she had not escaped abuse herself.

'Maribelle!'

She chocked, Maribelle pausing her tirade about the Plegians ancestry at the sound, her eyes opening wide as she saw who spoke.

'Lissa?'

The sound of Gangrel's laugh sounded again.

'And there we have the guilty party herself! What with the amount of harm she has caused my land it would be only fitting for us to punish her, severely. And if she were also to confess to being a spy? Well one can only imagine how much that would damage our already strained relations.'

'You lying sack of…'

Emmeryn interrupted her brother, resting a hand on his shoulder as she spoke.

'Surely there is no need for hostages, king Gangrel. What is it that you would ask of us?'

Gangrel stopped pacing, turning to the Ylissians with a suddenly serious expression on his face.

'Oh, I am glad we got to this part. I want the Fire Emblem. Always have and yet year after year my birthday comes and goes and I receive no such gift from Ylisse. Give the emblem to me and we shall agree that part of the debt is cleared.'

The declaration was met with a collective hiss of the Yllisians, and a raised eyebrow from Robin as he wondered what the fuss was about. Emmeryn shook her head slowly.

'The emblem is Ylisse's crown treasure and serves no other purpose than the salvation of mankind should the need arise, why would you desire it?'

'Desire? The only desire that every noble hearted Plegian has, the complete and utter extermination of the Yllisian race!'

He cackled even before he finished the answer, the surrounding Plegains joining their king in his merriment for the first time even as the Yllisians recoiled at the declaration. Robin, meanwhile, was scanning the surrounding area, looking for any hints at where the enemy may have readied their trap as well as looking for his own. When he saw something that he had not planned for, however, he silently cursed and turned back the cavaliers surrounding him.

'Prepare to advance. Bugler, you know what to do.'

There was a muttered chorus of confirmation even as Maribelles voice was heard.

'You're grace, you mustn't! I'd rather die than serve…'

She got no further as one of the Plegians holding her shifted his grip so as to dig his fingers into a nerve cluster, silencing the girl and forcing her to her knees. Causing a fresh wave of cries from the Yllisians.

'Maribelle!'

'Gangrel! Cease this at once!'

The king frowned and rolled his shoulders before turning to the assembled lords, speaking as he waved a dismissive hand at the Ylissians.

'I tire of this. Kill them all.'

There was a chorus of confirmations before the assembled lords moved to do as ordered and in the next second much happened.

The woman referred to as Aversa turned and signalled to the soldiers guarding Maribelle. As one kept a hold on the noble the other drew a curved bladed dagger and, grabbing a fistful of hair, yanked her head up to expose her neck. Robin lifted his lance, kicked back his spurs and bellowed the others to follow him. All over the canyon shouts were heard in response to the sound of drums as dozens of Plegians poured from their hiding spots, some within a few yards of Emmeryn and her party.

After that things only seemed to pick up speed as the Plegian, moving to slit Maribelles throat, was violently torn from his feet, twirled around his own axis and sent to the ground hard, accompanied by the sound of breaking bones. Chrom was among the Plegian in a moment, Falchion shattered the first soldiers skull in a powerful downward blow, Sully and Stahl not far behind as Frederick ushered Emmeryn away from the fighting. And as Robins charge scattered the first group of Plegians the sound of a bugle sounding a call cut over the noise.

And above all the noise you could hear Gangrel laughing.

Maribelle wanted to face her death with dignity yet could not help but wince as she felt a man push her to her knees, another yanking her head up to expose her neck for the dagger held in his other.

She began a prayer, expecting it to be her last only to find that perhaps god did answer the occasional prayer.

She felt a sharp pain at her head, as if the Plegian yanked out a fistful of hair and opened her eyes in time to see the man land with a crack a foot away. The Plegian holding her down pushed her aside and moved to draw a weapon only for himself to be torn from his feet and thrown to the ground with bone breaking force. Surprised and dazed Maribelle pushed herself up, saw her saviour and could not help her surprise.

'Ricken?'

'Hello Maribelle! I mean Miss Themis, I'll have these bonds cut in a moment.'

She shook her head at the unexpected, though welcome intervention only to see the need to interrupt the youths efforts.

'Watch out!'

Ricken turned to find several Plegians closing the distance between them and even as he fumbled to get a spell out, ignoring the wave of pain and nausea that accompanied the action, he saw he would be too late. And yet salvation came again as, seemingly out of nowhere a man at arms smashed his shield into the lead Plegians skull, sending the man to the ground in a tangled heap. The next Plegian tried to stop but his momentum carried him forward straight into the axe swing that tore the mans arm near off and sent him screaming to the ground. The third did stop and even deflected the first axe blow aimed at him but the shield took him in the gut, doubling him over and leaving him wide open for the next axe blow to fall, the helmet held firm but the man wearing it fell to the ground, stunned and the next blow ended his life.

'You two alright?'

'Kellam?'

The man at arms nodded his helmeted head as he moved up to them, setting the axe aside long enough to pull his dagger free, passing it to Ricken who understood and was soon sawing at Maribelles bonds.

'I'm certain you weren't supposed to be here Ricken, I mean I'm sure Robin would have mentioned if he had you doing the same job I am and he didn't.'

The last of the bonds came away and Maribelle couldn't help but wince as the feeling started to return to her hands. Rubbing them she looked at Kellam questioningly.

'Robin? The vagabond Chrom dragged in?'

Kellam nodded.

'That's the one. Only Chrom nominated him our tactician while on the road to Ferox so he's something like third in command now.'

Even as he spoke he shifted his weight to face a number of Plegians that were moving towards them.

'I'd suggest keeping further questions till after we've escaped. Stay low and stay behind me you two.'

Maribelle nodded though Ricken puffed his cheeks in annoyance.

'I can fight!'

'I've noticed now stay behind me.'

The Plegians were now within a few yards of the group but rather than close the distance they slowed down before turning and running away, the cause being heralded by a dull thudding before a group of armoured horsemen rode past and at the running Plegians as another, smaller group peeled away towards the three, two riderless horses among them.

'Milady! Are you unharmed?'

One of them, wearing the colours of the Duke of Themis, asked as he reined in. Maribelle responded, pulling herself into the saddle of the offered palfrey. As another man at arms offered a horse to Kellam he grabbed Ricken by the cloak and, Ricken protesting throughout the operation, hoisted him onto it before jumping into the saddle himself.

Further on the sound of men and bestial pain sounded over the din of metal striking metal.

'No! This is not how it was supposed to be!'

Gangrel snarled as he observed the drama unfolding. While most of his retainers shied back, trying not to draw attention to themselves with their king in a foul mood Aversa, a smile as if she knew a joke she would not share with anyone, purred.

'Now, now your grace. Calm down.'

'Calm down?'

Gangrel turned his attention to the woman sneer forming on his mouth.

'Why should I "calm down"? What part of this debacle would inspire me to calm down? The emblem is still not in my hands, the hostage is escaped and the Exalt is still alive!'

'True.'

Aversa, smile still in place, conceded.

'But we yet outnumber them and not all our forces have entered the fray.'

As if on cue the air shook with a roar and shadows passed overhead. Looking up Gangrel slowly smiled at the sight.

'Ah. I had forgotten about them.'

The Plegian hit the ground hard and as he tried to push himself up he was shoved down again, the spear pushing through the leather vest and pinning the man to the ground before it was withdrawn with a sickening sound.

Chrom glanced quickly around and confirmed that the man Stahl had just dispatched had been the last Plegian in the area, the others dead or dying on the ground or fleeing from the Ylissians.

Now that the rush of combat was over it was time for fear to start clawing up from the edges of his mind and the Prince quickly looked back and breathed with relief to see his sisters safe, the shattered bodies of two Plegians evidence of Frederick fulfilling his task. With one fear aside he turned to the other and nodded when he saw the group riding towards him and met them partway.

'Are you alright, Maribelle?'

No sooner was the question out of his mouth than he regretted asking one to which the answer was so obvious. Maribelle however seemed not to mind as she offered a smile.

'Nothing my lord should concern himself with.'

'I'm glad.'

He nodded and looked around the men at arms before asking.

'Where is Kellam?'

'Over here, my lord.'

The voice came from just his side causing the prince to start as he turned to look at the man, wondering how he had missed him, especially since he had been sharing a horse with Ricken. Seems the amnesiac was not being rude when he had said Kellam could reach Maribelle with the Plegians being none the wiser.

'Where is Robin?'

'Last we saw him he was still chasing some Plegians.'

Chrom nodded.

'Right. I suppose we should do as agreed and pull back. Oh and Ricken, we're going to have to have a discussion about the importance of doing as told.'

Seeing the youth's expression fade to near crestfallen Chrom couldn't help a faint smile and leaned in to rest a hand on the boys shoulder.

'Thank you for saving Maribelle.'

Rickens face immediately lit up but before anything else could be said a call of warning was heard and eyes looked around for the cause before looking up as a roar sounded and a heavy, dull sound reminiscent of sails flapping in a strong wind.

A wyvern sailed at the mounted group, sending horses scattering in fear but the wyverns rider had found his target and he forced his mount straight for it. Dust billowed round and sounds of agony were heard. The wyvern looked around briefly before moving towards the horse, back broken, desperately trying to escape the flying predator. The drake pinned the unfortunate animal to the ground with a taloned foot, ignoring the rider as it kicked and pulled in an attempt to get the wyvern to go after the intended target.

It had only been thanks to long years of practice that Chrom had managed to pull his feet free from the stirrups even as the Wyvern knocked his mount to the ground. The fall still knocked the breath from the prince, his vision going white than black before slowly going back to normal. With a groan he got to his feet and spying Falchion moved to retrieve it even as the wyvern finally obeyed its master and turned back to the prince.

It lounged, jaws snapping just short as Chrom rolled, picked up his family's ancestral blade, turned on his heels and struck. Falchion supposedly had belonged to the legendary king Marth before, several centuries later, being passed on to the first exalt. A legendary weapon that never lost its edge and a blade that all drakes feared. Though many questioned whether the sword was indeed that old nobody ever questioned its qualities.

The blade met no opposition and Chrom swiftly pulled it back into a guard position, the Wyvern rider already signalling his mount to attack when slowly the beasts head seemed to simply fall off its body, blood spraying from its neck as the realization that it was dead sunk in and the massive torso hit the ground, the rider falling from his saddle. He rose to his knees and seeing the prince moving to him lifted an arm, perhaps in a gesture of surrender? It didn't matter as Falchion fell, adding human blood to that of the wyvern.

Elsewhere other wyvern riders had attacked the Yllisians and after initial success began falling as their enemies numbers began to tell. Sully and Stahl accounting for one and Ricken managing to knock to down long enough for the remaining soldiers to hack the beasts and their riders to pieces. The youth had wanted to attack another but on seeing how the exertion was straining him Kellam and Maribelle forced him to stop.

Two of the Plegians had peeled away from their formation and aimed directly at the Exalt. One did not reach the group as a blue fletched arrow slammed into the soft skin of the drakes armpit, stopping the animal as it landed, roaring in a mixture of pain and anger. As the rider struggled to regain control another arrow sprouted in the mans neck. With its rider dying and under a hail of arrows the wyvern decided not to stay and fled the fight.

The other found its path barred. Frederick bellowing a challenge as he thrust out with his lance, the Wyvern peeled away, landing and snarling a response to the challenge. Even as the rider made his mount turn the knight wasted no time in charging, his destrier proving why a horse bred and trained for war cost so much more than any other as it was seemingly unconcerned about rushing a close relative of the dragons.

The wyvern snapped at Frederick, hitting only air as the knight wheeled his mount to the side before driving his lance into the creature. The wyvern cried out in bestial pain, most of the weapon disappeared into its body and attempted to flee the one who had caused the wound but after a single attempt to fly fell to the ground with a heavy thud as its strength left it. The rider managed to cling to the saddle but failed to react in time to Frederick, axe now in hand, as he crushed the helmet and the skull it was meant to protect.

Despite their casualties the wyvern riders maintained their momentum, several horses and men suffering grievous injuries under the attacks and for a moment it seemed that the fortune of battle could still swing in the Plegians way when, suddenly, the remaining riders took the sky and left the battered Ylissians in control of the field, it did not take long to see why.

The Ylissian horsemen that had previously separated from the main force now returned, their gore spattered armour testimony to a hard fight. Robin peeled away from the group and approached the Shepards, standing in his stirrups looking for Chrom. On seeing him he rode up to the prince, a man at arms not far behind leading a riderless horse, the bloodied saddle answering what the original riders fate had been.

'Mount up! We have to move before we're overwhelmed.'

'How? We're winning the fight.'

Chrom answered, even as he mounted the offered horse.

'You recall my saying their would be an army waiting for us here? It would seem I was not being pessimistic and there are now further Plegians moving towards us.'

No sooner were the words out of his mouth and one of the men at arms called a warning, pointing to the distance where a large force of mounted Plegians had just covered the hill and were moving towards them, Robin cursed.

'Whoresons must have pushed their horses hard. Chrom if you could take about ten of our number and join your sisters with Maribelle? The rest of us will form a rear guard for you.'

The prince shook his helmeted head.

'You can't expect me to hide behind others.'

'I expect you to get your sisters and Lady Themis to safety before leading the Ylissian armies to war with Plegia, the rest of us will make sure that happens.'

By the look of it Chrom wanted to argue further but stopped himself, sighing heavily and nodding with reluctance.

'What about Ricken?'

'So that was Ricken?'

Underneath his helm Robins eyebrow went up as the identity of the unexpected person on the field was confirmed.

'Take him with you. Say he's protecting the exalt or something if it will make him feel better.'

The prince issued his orders quickly enough but before leaving paused before gripping Robins arm.

'Make sure you lot get back.'

The amnesiac nodded as he returned the grip. That done the designated riders left to join the Exalt as the remainder hung back, eyeing the fast approaching Plegians with a steadfastness born from fatalism. Robin however looked over the rear guard before spotting who he was looking for.

'Sully!'

'Yeah?'

'Take half the men and form up at that tree. When we pull back you'll charge the Plegians, give us time to regroup further on and than you pull back behind us. Rinse and repeat until they start fearing us more than they do their commanders.'

A predatory grin spread across Sully's face as she nodded.

'Hell yeah, let's get on with it!'

Robin couldn't help but grin at the enthusiasm as he turned to regard those left with him. In a smooth motion he drew his blade.

'On my command!'

He paused before sweeping his blade down, towards the Plegian horsemen.

'Advance!'

The Ylissians advanced at a walk, gradually picking up speed to a trot in contrast to the Plegians who had their blood boiling at the prospect of chasing down a battered and outnumbered enemy and the promise of rich rewards for the capture of the Exalt who seemed so close. As such their line had fallen apart as better horses forced their way forward while others lagged behind as opposed to the Ylissians who maintained their lines as they gradually built up speed to a gallop when, about thirty yards from the enemy they charged.

Those Plegians that had forced ahead were cut down in a heartbeat as several Ylissians cut at individual horsemen before they slammed into the larger mass of Plegians, tired horses being knocked on their rump under the force of the charge and Plegians being thrown from the saddle under the force of the blows.

Robin hacked and knocked aside his opponents weapons as he tore through their ranks, content to leave the actual killing to those behind him as instead he concentrated on pushing on, sowing as much confusion in the enemy ranks as he could and, hopefully, causing panic. He was to be disappointed.

Gradually his charged slowed before stopping entirely as the press of bodies became too great. A shape in the dust came at him and the man lifted his shield high to deflect the axe meant for him, thrusting his blade in response drawing a scream as he felt resistance. Twist and pull the blade free he lashed out at another shape, the impact of his blade on another's shield felt all the way up his arm but there is no time to worry as another shape looms in the dust and he is barely in time to deflect the spear point, the enemy disappearing in the press before he can counter.

Robin hacked and slashed his way free of the press of bodies before lifting his arm up and bellowing.

'With me! Back! Back!'

"I should invest in a whistle", he thought as he forced his way free of the press, others joining him, "and a bugler, one who will stick close to me and not disappear the moment I take my eyes off of him", he thought. Looking back he saw most of those who charged with him were now following him away, the Plegians in pursuit. "I should have brought infantry" he thought, "so the horsemen could regroup behind them".

"No, I couldn't." He continued his internal dialogue as he looked to see the remainder of the Ylissian horsemen waiting in formation. "We came to negotiate and the exalt did not wish to bring more men than was said in the message, and in such small numbers it is better to have cavalry than infantry."

Sully gave an order and the cavaliers started moving forward, Robin and the others Passing through the gaps between individual riders while offering salutes to those they passed.

"Could I have done better? Surely I could have." Robin continued his train of thoughts, looking back to see the Ylissians close ranks as the distance between them and the Plegians shortened. The Plegian horsemen either lost their nerve or someone amongst their number regained their sense as their riders slowed, returning to something resembling a formation just as Sully's riders slammed into them.

"Man is not god, he can never do perfectly, but it is no excuse to not do your absolute best." Robin continued thinking as he slowed down, others doing likewise. "I have to learn and make sure not to commit the same mistakes again." Some five hundred yards from the fight he wheeled around and stopped, patting his mounts neck as he observed the fight.

The Plegians faltered under the onslaught and were pulling back, some outright running. Robin was pleased to see Sully had the good sense not to pursue but to wheel round and make for his position. Even as he watched another group of Plegian riders, this one much more careful to maintain formation, was closing the distance, the riders from the first group having to peel around their flanks. Even further, behind them Robin could see infantry quick marching to join their cavalry. Silently judging the distance he finally lifted his sword arm and bellowed.

'On my command!'

Chrom couldn't help looking back as the sound of combat echoed in the valley. He was too far away to make much detail in the dust cloud kicked up by dozens of horses, he was not the only one as others would likewise occasionally turn in the saddle to look back to the fight.

'Are they going to be ok?'

Lissa asked nobody in particular, it was Virion who answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

'From what I recall all possible precautions had been taken.'

He paused, letting a heavy sigh escape as his eyes took a distant look to them.

'But war is a most fickle mistress and one can never be certain of her affection.'

A heavy silence followed the statement as nervous glances were cast again towards the distant melee. Perhaps surprisingly it was Frederick who broke the mood.

'Than it would seem, sir, that this mistress has chosen to smile at us.'

Raised eyebrows met the statement before eyes moved to follow the knights gaze and, on seeing it several grins appeared as they realized what it meant.

Robin stood in his stirrups before delivering the overhead blow, his blade smashing into his opponents weapon with teeth rattling force, the Plegian recoiled under the blow, his horse stumbling under the unexpected motion. Robin shifted his grip on his weapon and stabbed down, the tempered steel point punching through the mail vest and sank deep into flesh, blood spurting from the wound in a geyser, turning into red mud as it mixed with the dust in the air, staining everything in the vicinity. Pulling the weapon free he swerved in the saddle, just deflecting the overhead axe meant for his back. Before he could retaliate his horse moved suddenly, meaning that instead of smashing into the back of his head the mace got a glancing blow of his shoulder that still sent waves of pain through him. Turning the gasp of pain into an angry snarl the man turned to deal with the attacker only to find him already disappearing in the press of combatants.

Momentarily free of enemies he stood in his stirrups to get a better view of the battle and to see whether Sully had pulled back far enough for him to order to break off, he saw something better.

The Ylissian pegasus knights just lowered their flight and slammed into the flanks of the Plegian horsemen. He saw the Plegians buckled under the assault, hesitate and than, as if by some unanimous agreement they broke and fled the attack, the knights pursuing them.

A ragged cheer rose from the Ylissians horsemen and Robin allowed himself a silent breath of relief at the timely arrival. A quick glance at the sun revealed that it had not been all that long since the fight had started, meaning that the Pegasi had heard the call when it was given at the start of hostilities and made good speed, he had simply underestimated the ferocity with which the Plegians would hit them. With a sigh he stood in his stirrups to look around, Sully had obviously decided to rejoin the fight and was moving forward while the Plegians hesitated to charge and as such met the winged knights charge as a static group, many of them being knocked over by the force of the charge. Yes, Robin decided, there would be no better moment.

'On my command! Advance!'

He gave the order, his voice now well on its way to being hoarse. The remaining cavaliers reformed the lines and followed the pegasi towards their enemy as Sully's group followed behind.

On tired mounts the Plegians could not outpace the Ylissians and many were caught, stabbed in the back or, outpaced, struck from the front as the knights continued their charge and the mixed mass of soldiers, horse and pegasi slammed into the Plegian infantry just forming up for battle. Bestial screams of pain mixed with those of human cries and shouted oaths and curses. Steel rendered flesh and shattered bone and soon the first ranks of the Plegian infantry had turned into a tangled mass of dead and dying. Phila showed great control and soon gave the order to break off the attack, just in time for the confused and battered Plegians to be charged by Robins horsemen.

On tired horses and tired themselves the charge had little power behind it but the Plegian infantry were likewise in poor form and the charge only added to their misery. Officers desperately tried to pull men back into formation even as they cavalry barreled into them, sending men to the ground screaming under iron shod hooves and steel swung down with savage force, rendering flesh and shattering bone. It seemed that almost immediately after the horsemen wheeled round and broke contact and when the infantry saw it was only to make room for the next wave with the Pegasus riders forming on their flanks their nerve broke and they ran.

The Ylissian horse rode on their backs, cutting down infantry with a savage joy known only to cavalry who get to cut down scattered and panicked infantry, driving them straight into the next infantry formation. Their officers hesitated a brief moment before giving their archers the order to shoot, injuring many of their country men as well as a number of Ylissians in the process, it was too little too late and the panicked mass of infantry ran into the formation with cavalry hot on their necks, turning the disciplined ranks into a panicked mass of tangled bodies, Ylissians pushing onward, cutting down anyone in their way while some Plegians desperately fought back others simply looked for a way to escape the onslaught but when the pegasi charged the flanks, driving into the mass of infantry those still fighting, as if by magic, broke and ran, the Ylissians following.

Standing in his stirrups, Robin looked on all this and realized that all of the Plegians were running and as the mass of men ran, dropping their weapons as they did, and he realized there were no further Plegians marching at them, nor any location in which they could leave a force strong enough to reverse the fortunes with an ambush he realized a simple fact, making him sit down with a weary sigh of relief.

They had won.

Just to clarify something here. Back in the first years of the Fire Emblem franchise there were a number of ideas that survived longer or shorter periods of time, one of them was that instead of using tomes and staves certain units simply learned new spells as they leveled and "paid" for the usage of magic with hp. I loved this system despite the problems it caused and I shall therefore reintroduce it. It also makes for a handy explanation as to why the entire army isn't made of mages.