AN: Happy Friday, friends! And welcome to another episode of Angst Ocean!
As opposed to the title of this series, we are having a light hearted episode today, filled with teenagers bruising each other with slightly pointy weapons and very dangerous magic! So prepare yourselves and bask in the sunshine of Nobody Crying because the next chapter is already fully outlined and we are diving RIGHT back into that salty deep blue of children's tears!
The votes for the Mock Battle winners have been added together from both Fanfiction and Archive comments, and we have a winner!
If anyone is dissatisfied with the winner, remember there's always the Battle of Eagle and Lion!
Okay! So I'm rushing and can't respond to reviews, BUUUT I'll answer them next week! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter VI: The Mock Battle
Dimitri woke up freezing.
He had always loved the cold; it reminded him of the sharp, crisp, chill of Fhirdiad and worked to lessen his home sickness.
However this cold was different from the comforting frigidity of Faerghus. It was eerie and foreboding, it was the kind of cold that seeped deep into your bones and froze the blood in your veins until it hurt.
It didn't matter that the sun was shining giddily from behind his window or that he was tucked tightly within his blanket, Dimitri still shivered like a newborn foal and he didn't understand why.
Unless...unless the Goddess was punishing him, forcing him to feel the frigid winds that had battered his body last night when...
When he almost...
Dimitri hugged the blanket tighter to his body and shivered again at the memory of a faraway grassy ground that nearly claimed his soul—that *would've* claimed his soul had El not been there.
Or...maybe it had. Maybe he was dead. Maybe he was but a corpse and—no that made little sense. He hardly believed Edelgard would give words of encouragement to a corpse.
"If the...ghosts of your family is what you fight for, then you mustn't give into despair and forget. Never. You must fight and never surrender."
Dimitri clenched those words in a vice like mental grip and held them close to his heart. He couldn't throw his life away again, not when his family was counting on him.
With the shivering subsided, all that remained in his head was Edelgard's frown and the scars on her hand and the little observation of how tempting it was to throw one's life away.
Dimitri had practically scooped out his innards and given it to her on a silver platter and yet she hadn't revealed so much as her favourite hobby to him in the two weeks they had been together at the Monastery.
Was he doing something wrong? And if so what did he have to do to find El again?
Dimitri sighed and rolled over to his side to get up. It didn't matter, he supposed. Edelgard would tell what she wanted in her own time.
As he sat up, he came face to face with a tray full of food balanced neatly atop a wooden stole.
Confused, Dimitri swept his gaze across the french toast, hash browns, and orange juice that decorated the neat silver tray. Next to the juice was a note that Dimitri picked up with curious frown.
Your Highness,
I insist you stay in bed today.
—Dedue
Dimitri laughed quietly to himself as he placed the note down and proceeded to eat the breakfast Dedue had left for him. It was lukewarm at best and of course he couldn't taste a thing, but just the thought of Dedue going through all the trouble for his sake made Dimitri imagine he could.
Perhaps his retainer was right. After last night's...ordeal he didn't feel all too comfortable facing the outside world.
A loud knock startled the fork from Dimitri's fingers and he choked on the hash browns he had been finishing up.
"Boar!" an annoyed voice barked from outside. "Hurry up, you're late."
Dimitri wiped his mouth with the back of his fist before calling, "Actually, Felix I think—"
"If we loose the mock battle because of your lazy ass I'm going to kill you!"
The mock battle. Goddess he had nearly forgotten! Dimitri chugged the rest of the orange juice down his throat before he pushed the now empty tray and stool away from him and rushed to put on his uniform.
Minutes later, Dimitri had ran to the Blue Lions homeroom in a disheveled mess and staggered to a stop as he crashed into a nearby desk.
"Prince Dimitri, how lovely of you to join us!" Professor Hanneman said with a quirked eyebrow and an amused smile from the front of the classroom.
Dimitri flushed and stood up straight before bowing lightly. "Apologies, Professor."
"Oh, don't worry too much! The Professor was just giving us a description of our mock battlefield!" Mercedes said over her shoulder with a kind smile from the front row.
"Nevertheless, I will try harder to be on time," Dimitri said as he stood up straight once more.
Hanneman nodded. "That would be appreciated, Dimitri. Please, take a seat."
Dimitri sat beside Dedue and squeezed his shoulder, murmuring a quick "thank you" for his little morning gift. The stoic Dedue gave a smile before returning to the chalkboard.
"Now!" Hanneman said, chalk in hand as he strode around the classroom. "It must be noted that the Black Eagles and Golden Deer are formidable forces to be taken seriously."
Sylvain snorted. His legs were lounging on his desk as he leaned on the back legs of his chair. "'Formidable forces'? Come on, Professor! You actually think we can't take them?"
Ashe turned to Sylvain with a frown. "It won't do to underestimate our opponents, Sylvain."
"Agreed, Ashe," Hanneman said, pointing the chalk at him. "You all may be from a kingdom best known for its exceptional knights but the other houses have a great variety of powerful students as well. I would hope that you all do not underestimate them."
Dimitri sucked in a sharp breath when he saw Lambert standing silently by the blackboard as Hanneman then went on to explain which houses specialized in what type of combat and made suggestions as to who would do well to fight them.
"Of course, the final decision of who gets to fight is up to your House Leader. Dimitri, if you please?"
Dimitri didn't hear. Too panicked to think or say or do a thing as Lambert stalked closer.
Was he mad? But he couldn't be mad! Lambert had lead him to the window, it was him who had told him he could rest permanently!
Dimitri quaked and looked up at his father as he towered over him, peering down at him with cold glassy eyes.
"I was doing what you asked," Dimitri whispered and Lambert narrowed his eyes. Dimitri braced himself for a rant. "Y-you told me to. Father, please don't be angry I—"
Something jabbed him in the skull and Dimitri swivelled around to find Felix with his quill poised to strike again.
"Pay attention, Boar," He growled.
Dimitri gasped and turned back to the front of the class. Lambert was gone abc everyone was staring at him.
"His Highness should rest," Dedue said, gripping Dimitri's shoulder with a frown. "I fear he is ill equipped to fight as of now."
"I agree with the Dog. If the Boar Prince keeps zoning off into la-la land he won't be able to give proper orders and we'll certainly loose."
"And more importantly it's a bad idea to do stuff when you're weak and tired; you could get hurt!" Annette added. "You should take a nap, Dimitri."
Dimitri shook his head and shrugged off Dedue's hand. "No. I can't let anyone—I won't let anyone down."
"You're not letting a single soul down by taking care of yourself, Your Highness," Ingrid said gently. "Please, we'll win the battle for you."
"No, no, no," Hanneman said adjusting his monocle and holding up an authoritative finger. "The rules clearly state the House Leader must be on field."
Dimitri got up quickly before the argument could continue and he walked purposely towards the front of the classroom, surveying everyone.
Nearly every face with the exception of Felix and Dedue were alight with eagerness and Dimitri sighed softly for the second time that day. No matter who he chose to fill the three fighting slots, someone would be left disappointed.
Goddess, did he have to choose? Dimitri quickly shook the childish thought away though, he was going to be a king soon; he needed to be decisive—
A sharp shriek pierced the air and all eyes turned to the open doors of the Blue Lions homeroom as a young man Dimitri recognized as Edelgard's retainer carried a sulking violet haired girl over his shoulder.
"Erm...alright. Anyway," Dimitri said as the attention returned to him. "How about...Felix, Dedue, and—" Dimitri looked thoughtful at the five other possible fighters.
It would be helpful to work with someone he knew—however it would also be good to even out the variety with an archer or a magic user.
But at the moment...at the moment he didn't think he wanted the company of mere acquaintances.
"Ah...Ingrid. Would you like to fight?"
Ingrid got up and bowed with a smile. "I'd be honoured."
"Woooow. Ouch," Sylvain said teasingly.
Dimitri flinched. "I'm sorry, Sylvain it's just—"
"Meh, didn't feel like fighting anyway. I'm a much better cheerleader!"
Still, Dimitri tried not to feel guilty as the remaining unchosen students who were not Sylvain all shrank slightly in disappointment.
"Never fret, friends!" Hanneman said with a warm smile. "You'll all be able to prove yourselves during your monthly missions and of course, we mustn't forget the Battle of Eagle and Lion! Anyway, now that we're set, I suggest you four start practicing."
-o0o-
"Now, students. I really don't want things to go down like they did last year, okay?" Manuela said to the Black Eagles that morning (thankfully sober this time). "The Black Eagles suffered the most embarrassing defeat since...well ever! You kids are gonna have to pick up where they failed, yeah?"
Edelgard watched Manuela raptly as she exclaimed the other houses and the layout of the land. But even then she found her thoughts occasionally drift to the previous night—a sobbing broken prince haunted by the deaths of his loved ones. A sobbing broken prince that would have thrown his life away if she hadn't caught him. She remembered the pulse in his wrist where she had grabbed him; slow and unafraid.
Resigned.
Her hand unconsciously touched the dagger at her hip before she jerked it back as if it it were molten.
Honestly, she was wasting brain cells.
Manuela clapped her hands together and pointed them towards Edelgard. "Alright, sweetie. Pick out the winning—where's Bernadetta?"
"Uh...I tried getting her, Professor but she wouldn't get out of her room," Caspar supplied helplessly.
Manuela dragged a tired hand down her face before reaching for her flask and saying, "Somebody get that child."
Hubert sighed heavily and stalked out of the classroom and seconds later, a loud high-pitched shriek could be heard, followed by Hubert walking back into the classroom with a sulking Bernadetta over his shoulder.
He then grabbed her by the waist and plopped her down in her assigned seat.
"Oh why do I have to be here?" Bernadetta whined as she shrank into her seat.
"Because we are needing your presence so we can win," Petra said, patting the girl's hunched shoulder. Bernadetta simply sighed despondently and covered her face with a book.
"Do at least try to care, Bernadetta," Hubert drawled irritably.
"Now that we are all together, we can finally get going with putting together our winning team!" Manuela said. "Edelgard?"
The princess stood up before striding to the front of the classroom, hands clasped behind her.
Edelgard didn't known much about the members of this year's Black Eagle house—between Arundel, brewing wars, the fact she hadn't exactly spoken to them during the Feast or...ever, and now the curious case of Dimitri, her classmates were far from her mind and she knew nothing of them other than the barest bones of their personality. Otherwise she had not the slightest clue as to what their fighting capabilities were or how they handled particular situations in battle.
This posed a problem. Still, she put her trust in the little she knew and semi-blind intuition.
"Alright," Edelgard said slowly. "Hubert, Ferdinand—"
"Aha! Yes! Watch, Edelgard, watch as I bring this class to victory! Lady Rhea will rue the day she chose you to lead the Black Eagle house!"
Edelgard inhaled a sharp irritated breath before turning to—"Dorothea."
"A chance to charm the boys? Count me in!" Dorothea chirped.
"Alrighty, it's settled!" Manuela said cheerfully. "Students, practice your forms with each other, we are not loosing."
-o0o-
"The Blue Lions and Black Eagles will be difficult opponents," Byleth stated cooly as she circled the Golden Deer house. The nine of them were on the mock battlefield with a rather chilly wind almost spurring a shiver from its victims—either that or it was a sign to Claude that keeping the top-half of his uniform unbuttoned was impractical.
It was a sign he ignored, however; he looked too fine.
"Their fighters are exceptional and from what I've seen of you and the other houses, more heavily trained than you all—except for Claude. And Lysithea, I'm not knowledgeable with magic but you seem fairly talented."
"Well, actually Professor Byleth, I was trained by your father," Leonie said smugly.
"For two weeks if I remember right," Byleth nodded. "Still, you can be better."
Claude grinned and Lysithea straightened up, puffing her chest out in pride while Leonie scowled and Lorenz scoffed.
"There's hardly anything special about Claude," He sneered in disdain.
Claude rolled his eyes. "Aaaaand here we go."
"So what he can shoot a few arrows? There are millions who can! How many do you know who can figure out a tea's flavour from its scent? Hmm?"
"That's nice, Lorenz," Byleth said, staring at him with that eerie gaze. "How will that help you in the battlefield?"
Lorenz laughed and whipped his head back. "Well! I'm delighted you asked, Professor! My wonderful nose is not the only heightened sense I have! I have fantastic reflexes!"
Byleth tilted her head to the side and blinked slowly. "Is that so?"
Claude had a hard time telling if she was taunting him or being genuinely curious—Byleth's face was even more carefully guarded and nonchalant than Edelgard's.
It was something that made him burn with curiosity.
"Indeed! You know I once—"
Byleth punched Lorenz directly in the throat and he crumbled to the ground with a cry of pain and a whimper.
"Oh. You were joking," Byleth mused thoughtfully as the Golden Deer with the exception of Ignatz and Marianne burst out laughing. "I'll make a mental note of that."
"That—that wasn't fair! I wasn't ready!" Lorenz wheezed as he rubbed his throat pitifully.
Lysithea rolled her eyes dramatically. "Lorenz, the definition of 'good reflexes' is that you don't need to be ready, you just are."
"Exactly," Byleth pointed at Lysithea and nodded. The little midget beamed before Byleth circled the class again.
"By graduation, I want all of you to learn proper reflexes. To start that off you need to be fully aware of your surroundings and be prepared to react on a moment's notice."
Byleth stopped in front of Claude and he mentally prepared himself for a punch or a kick, not wanting to suffer Lorenz's embarrassing fate.
Instead, Byleth kicked backward and her sharp heel connected with Hilda's stomach.
"Ow! Professooooor!" She whined as she clutched her stomach and staggered backwards.
"Now then," Byleth said, stepping back and gesturing to Claude. "Choose the fighters."
"You got it, Teach!" Claude grinned and stepped to the front of the class. "Let's see, Hilda—"
"Claude! Do you actually expect me to fight? My stomach is bruised!" Hilda cried, still clutching her stomach and bending forward a bit.
"Sorry, Hilda. You're a super strong fighter! It'd be dumb of me not to get you out there! Anyway, Lysithea you seem pretty good with magic aaaand Ignatz! How about it buddy?"
"Me?" Ignatz cried at the same time Lorenz snapped "Him?"
"Yes, him, Lorenz. He's a damn good archer," Claude said, crossing his arms. "That and I'm worried about your good reflexes throwing away the match."
Lorenz bristled and pointed an angry finger at Claude. "It's your shoddy choice of fighters that will throw away this match, Claude!"
"Who are you calling shoddy?" Lysithea demanded with a glare while Hilda said, "Nah, he's right, I'm no good! Choose someone else, Claude."
"Guys. Trust me, I know what I'm doing! Just you wait; come this afternoon we'll be mopping the grass with haughty noble butt!"
-o0o-
Dimitri's ghosts didn't usually visit him in the day, but they wouldn't stop following him around today.
They followed during lunch, they followed when he was training with the others, and they followed him now as he walked onto the mock battlefield, leaving bloodied footprints in their wake.
"Boar," Felix said, jabbing Dimitri in the arm as they waited at the ready in the open field. "Keep your head in the game."
Dimitri nodded stiffly and sank into a battle stance. "Yes, of course. I know."
"Good." Felix turned back to the House armies before them. Dimitri noticed the large bruise on his right cheek and a grin found its way onto his face.
"Edelgard left quite a bruise, Felix!"
Felix gave Dimitri a sharp glare. "Shut. Up."
"That's where you got it from?" Ingrid said as she came up between the boys. An impish glint sparkled in her vivid green eyes as she said, "I knew you were lying when you said it was a training accident! Wait 'till Sylvain hear's this!"
"Sylvain won't hear this!" Felix snapped as Ingrid ignored him and turned her amused gaze to Dimitri. "What'd the big jerk do this time?"
"He called her a dog."
"Goddess! Seriously, Felix?"
"Ugh," Felix rolled his eyes and stormed ahead.
The two watched his retreating back before Ingrid said, "What kind of argument lead him to him saying that?"
"Ah...well Felix was calling me his usual nicknames and Edelgard wasn't overly fond of it. She made that verbally—and physically—very clear," Dimitri replied.
"I've seen the two of you talking a lot but I would have never imagined in such a short space of time she would defend you so surely," Ingrid mused before smiling and patting Dimitri's shoulder. "But I'm glad Sylvain's advice is paying off and you two are becoming friends."
Was that what they were now? At this point they knew each other for two weeks, and had exchanged a fair amount of words. Not to mention they'd each saved each other once. Did that make two people friends?
Dimitri liked to think so—but he also knew despite the fleeting smiles she gave him and the light banter and the defence, and good advice, despite the fact that it was her hand that had pulled him from a possible demise, there was a distinct line Edelgard had placed between them. And Dimitri didn't want to overstep and accidentally push her away.
"We'll see, Ingrid," Dimitri said, eyes finding the Black Eagles leader talking with her chosen fighters. "We'll see."
-o0o-
"Students!" Jeralt boomed as he rode into the centre of the field atop a large horse. "This year's mock battle is about to begin!"
There were cheers that echoed around the field from both the competing students and the ones egging on their classmates from the sidelines.
Jeralt then held up his hand, silencing the voices almost immediately. Edelgard found herself rather impressed with his commanding presence—it was no wonder he became a leader of his band of mercenaries.
"You all know the rules, but I'm going to repeat them because I want a clean, fair, match." Jeralt rightfully directed a pointed glare to the Golden Deer house before continuing. "Full activation of your Crest is prohibited, as well as head shots. I see a single glowing hand, or arrow aimed at the eye, your team is disqualified. No ifs, ands, or buts about it."
"A team only wins if every student not in their house cannot stand, looses consciousness, or surrenders—that includes the House Professors who will join the offensive only if they are first attacked first or once all the students in their respective house have been defeated. There will be healers and knights everywhere prepared to escort you off the field if you are defeated. Questions?"
Claude rose his hand.
"Riegan?"
"Is non-lethal poison also prohibited?"
Edelgard rolled her eyes. What kind of question was that? Of course poison would be unfair!
Jeralt raised his eyebrows and turned his mount to face the Golden Deer properly. "That a confession, kid?"
Claude smiles lazily and rocked back and forth on his heels. "I dunno! Mayyybe?"
"You better be joking," Felix snapped from Blue Lions side.
"I second that sentiment," Hubert said darkly.
Claude held up his hands in surrender. "Relax, I was only asking! I didn't actually spike your food, my fellow peers."
"Wait just a moment! Who said anything about spiking food?!" Ferdinand exclaimed, clutching his stomach as his eyes darted to all the students.
"Whoops! Guess I let that slip! Maybe. Who knows?" Claude grinned mischievously as a ripple of unease radiated off the Black Eagles and Blue Lions students.
"Don't listen to him," Edelgard said firmly. "He's trying to set us on edge." But even as she said that she warily poked her stomach to see if it was settled properly.
Jeralt sighed heavily. "It's...not in the official rule book—"
"Okay, cool!" Claude chirped and gave the captain a wink. "Thanks for the reassurance, Captain!"
Jeralt paused to give Byleth a look and she simply shrugged.
"Any...other questions?"
There was a unanimous silence.
Jeralt nodded and held up a horn. "Alright then! This battle starts..." a deep breath later, he blew heavily and a deep brass sound resonated throughout the field.
The houses all ran to different areas of the field while their benched counterparts cheered their team class on.
"Dorothea, Hubert, you three take the Blue Lions; thanks to your magic you'll have a long range advantage. From what I've seen, they only have melee weapons."
Dorothea gave a wink and a quick salute before saying, "Come on, Hubie! Word is those Blue Lion boys have some seriously good genes! Can't wait to get a close look for myself!"
Hubert rolled his eyes as he and the brunette ran off in the direction the Blue Lions ran off to.
"Ferdinand, with me," Edelgard said, turning to the strawberry-blonde boy and rolling her eyes when she saw he was rubbing his stomach queasily.
"I think he did poison our lunch," He said worriedly. "Oh the mortification! Imagine me loosing control of my bowels on the battlefield!"
"It's all in your head, Ferdinand, goodness!" Edelgard huffed before turning to Manuela as she stood patiently atop a magic healing tile. "Professor Manuela, we'll be going after the Golden Deer and they have two archers. Do you think you can offer healing support from here?"
"Aye, aye, Sweetie!" Manuela said with a bright grin. "My magic can't reach too far though so be careful."
Edelgard nodded in agreement before she and Ferdinand took off towards the Golden Deer's direction.
-o0o-
"They're sending only one after us," Felix said as an attractive brunette ran towards them. A slow sideways smirk spread across his face as he took out his sword. "Cocky."
"Observe her lack weapons. It's seems she is a mage." Hanneman said pensively as he rubbed his chin.
"I see. In that case Ingrid, Felix, engage her; you're the fastest of all of us," Dimitri said. "Dedue and I will aide you if you need it."
Ingrid nodded firmly while Felix scoffed. "We won't need it."
Ingrid gave Felix a sideways glance and a teasing smirk. "Look who's cocky now?"
Felix didn't bother answering as the two charged towards their assailant.
"I believe it would be beneficial to go for the Golden Deer these students are occupied with your friends, Your Highness," Dedue commented.
Dimitri shook his head. "No. That would be reckless, we'll eliminate the Black Eagles first before focusing on our other opponents."
"Well, well! The rumours were true!" Dimitri heard the brunette say as the three classes met each other midway. "Hello, Handsome! Hello, Ingrid!"
Dimitri watched curiously as Ingrid gave a companionable smile and nod. "Dorothea. Long time no see!"
"Hey, tell you what; once we defeat you and your hot guy-friends, how about we go on a shopping spree? You can even bring this cute one over here!" Dorothea flashed Felix a wink and he dramatically rolled his eyes in response. "Can we get on with this?" He demanded.
Ingrid sank into a fighting position and rose her training lance. "Sorry, Dorothea; we won't be loosing today. I'll take you up on that shopping spree, though."
Dorothea's hands sparked with electricity and she grinned. "We'll see about that, dearest Ingrid."
Bolts of lightning shot from her fingertips and the two Lions jumped out of its path.
Dimitri's eyes widened as it struck a tree and cracked its wood.
"Goddess! Full Crest activation isn't allowed but that is?!"
"I've been saying that for years!" Hanneman cried as Dorothea sent bolts after bolts of lightning clawing for his two teammates.
Ingrid was jumping, leaping, and rolling out of the way while Felix seemed to be in a dangerous dance that reminded him very much of Edelgard's fighting style.
Dimitri clenched his lance tight enough to hold his secure but not enough to snap it. "Dedue, we must—"
"Your Highness!" Dedue exclaimed suddenly and shoved Dimitri to the ground just as an indigo orb soared through the air and slammed into Dedue, sending him crashing down.
Dimitri gasped and scrambled to his feet. He swung his lance blindly and the weapon was caught in the fist of Edelgard's smirking retainer.
"Hello, Prince Dimitri," he said as he held up his other hand and blasted another violet orb towards his chest.
The spell felt like solid marble, and at point blank range it was absolute agony. Dimitri cried out pain and hit the grass hard, but he quickly regained his bearings and rolled over to dodge another blast that created a crater in the ground and blackened the verdant green.
"Oh, very good, Dimitri! Not many people can get up after such a close encounter with Miasma! And Hubert, such masterful spell work; I've never seen it cast so fast!" Hanneman praised as Dimitri got to his feet, arm wrapped around his stomach and wincing as he breathed in.
Dimitri expected the retainer to attack again but instead he tossed lance his back to him. "Let's have a bit fun shall we—"
Hubert stopped abruptly narrowed his visible eye before he quickly leapt out of the way of Dedue's swing. He landed on the wood of a tree and pushed off with a vicious grin and glowing purple fists.
Dimitri lunged forward and rammed his shoulder into Hubert with enough force to knock him off course and send both boys sprawling.
"Bah!" Hubert growled irritably and threw Dimitri off him.
"Your Highness!" Dedue called and tossed Dimitri his lance. The prince caught it just in time to block a kick from Hubert. Simultaneously, Dedue charged again and Hubert jumped over the downward attack.
"Keep up the offensive, Dedue!" Dimitri exclaimed as he attempted to attack Hubert with powerful blows.
Outnumbered, Hubert was stuck dodging and putting up quick shields with a frustrated scowl on his face. With a loud way cry, Dedue managed to finally land a blow that slammed into Hubert's stomach.
The retainer gasped and crashed against another tree while Dimitri aimed a stab for his chest. Hubert held up his hands and a glowing magical shield stopped the weapon in its place.
Dimitri narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth in determination, pressing the blunt edged lance against the barrier until it cracked and splintered.
"Such strength without the full force of your Crest. Intriguing," Hubert grunted, a bead of sweat gliding from his brow.
Dimitri let a smile grace his face. "And you are a fantastic fighter without one."
Hubert could only return a smirk and mutter a "Hmph," before the barrier shattered and Dimitri's lance had harshly stabbed the retainer.
Hubert groaned and doubled over with a spluttering cough. "Next..." cough. "time," he muttered as he lay on the ground.
Dimitri gave a respectful nod as a nearby knight and healers came running to claim him. Dimitri and Dedue turned their attention back to Ingrid, Felix and Dorothea just as the blonde tumbled to the ground and forced herself back up even as her muscles spasmed.
"You could just surrender, Ingrid," Dorothea smiled in a syrupy manner as she stalked towards the foursome with her entire body laced in ropes of dangerous lightning.
Ingrid seemed about to say something but ended up collapsing back down on shaking muscles. "S-sorry Your Highness," she groaned as healers helped her into a stretcher.
"It's alright, Ingrid. We'll win this," Dimitri said as he and Dedue stepped forward to aide Felix, but held out his hand. "No. I have an idea."
Seconds later, Felix charged forward, ducked another lightning bolt and slashed at Dorothea with what Dimitri recognized was extremely wide and imprecise.
Not surprisingly, Dorothea dodged easily but had landed in front of a thick tree route. Felix smirked and slashed again, this time with a properly timed and precise swing.
Dorothea's next dodge had her tripping on the root and she gasped and yelped as the sharp blow slammed into her stomach and sent her crashing against a tree. Her attempt to push up and retaliate was stopped as she saw three different weapons pointed threateningly at her face.
She attempted to spark her fingers again, but the magic quickly dissipated and died.
"Well damn! Looks like I'm done," Dorothea smiled good naturally before pulling out a white flag from her skirt pocket and waved it high in the air.
"Aha! Well done, students!" Hanneman clapped gleefully.
"Oh, no need to rub it in, Professor Hanneman," Dorothea said as a nearby Knight of Seiros escorted her away. She turned to look over her shoulder and called. "'Bye, Handsome One and Handsome Two!" She then locked eyes with Dimitri gave him a sultry wink. "Your Highness."
Dimitri coughed and quickly averted his eyes, feeling an unwanted flush creep into his cheeks. Dorothea laughed and wiggled her fingers in farewell while Felix frowned and elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ah!"He hissed and cringed. "What was that for, Felix?"
"I'm doing Ingrid's job," he said cooly as Dimitri gingerly rubbed the sore area of his chest where Hubert's spell had hit him.
"I do not think this is the time to be fighting each other," Dedue suggested.
Dimitri nodded. "Agreed. We should focus our attention on the other students."
-o0o-
"These Deer are *extremely* allusive," Ferdinand muttered as he poked random bushes and swept his lance in an arc each time he and Edelgard turned a corner through a thicket of trees. "Where are they hiding?"
"We'll find them," Edelgard said confidently. "They're going to have to fight eventual—"
A ting, ting of a bell rang and the two Eagles spun around to see Hubert being escorted off the field with the aide of two healers.
"Hubert! But—already?" Edelgard exclaimed with wide eyes. A second ting, ting sounded and one of the Blue Lions was carried off. A second bell chime showed a smiling Dorothea being lead off the field as well.
"But—impossible! We lost two in under five minutes!" Ferdinand cried. "Edelgard, your friend Dimitri and his allies are either exceptionally powerful or Hubert and Dorothea were having an off day!"
Edelgard shook her head with frustration. "No, Hubert doesn't have 'off days' he's always impeccable! We must have underestimated—did you just say 'friend'?"
Ferdinand tilted his head to the side. "Aren't you and The Prince friends? I mean he always talks about you with his retainer and I've seen you hold conversations with each other...and once or twice he visited your room—"
Edelgard frowned back. "No."
"Huh. Well, sorry for assum—AH!" Ferdinand screamed as an arrow pelted against his lance arm.
Edelgard gasped and spun around in search of the attacker before her eyes landed on a green haired boy standing there and quickly attempting to nock another arrow in his bow.
Edelgard dashed forward, brandishing her axe and preparing to swing once she was in range.
The boy squeaked and began running, dodging between trees and attempting to bend back branches in Edelgard's face.
Edelgard perused the boy purposefully, ducking under the branches he pulled back and leaping under vines and roots.
The boy then stopped abruptly and turned to face her, face flushed red from running. Stopping was a mistake on the boy's part. And continuing to run forwards was a mistake on Edelgard's.
A vine just before the boy was drawn taught by unseen students and Edelgard tripped over it white a surprised squeak. She tumbled and rolled forward, crashing face forward into a tree and flopping onto her back.
Through her dazed vision, she could see multiple Miasma orbs floating right above her and hovering. Blinking the dizziness from her eyes, she could see a young girl with a shock of white hair walk forward with her glowing violet hands held up.
Edelgard inhaled sharply at the alabaster locks and felt a pang of empathy. Could she too be—?
"It would be in your best interest to surrender," The girl said as Edelgard forced all expression from her face. Still, the pang of empathy only increased when she heard just how young her voice sounded.
Edelgard's eyes landed on her fallen axe atop the tree's root and just before her heel. "Unfortunately, I'm not the surrendering type," she replied, as she kicked the axe upwards with her toe and kicked it forward with another kick from her heel.
It hit the girl right where Edelgard wanted it to—across the shoulder. It wasn't enough to cause her to stumble or even leave a bruise but she stumbled backwards and her concentration on the Miasmas was canceled.
Edelgard quickly rolled backwards and stopped in a crouch just in time to dodge an arrow courtesy of the archer boy. It bounced off a tree trunk as Edelgard lunged off the ground and twirled away from another Miasma blast from the girl.
The girl was about to cast another Miasma when with a cry of surprise she went flying and smacked her head on the bough of the tree Edelgard had fallen against.
"Lysithea!" The archer boy cried as the girl crumpled unconscious to the grass with a wooden lance sticking up from her back momentarily before gravity coaxed it down.
"Aha! Let this be known, Edelgard. I, Ferdinand von Aiger, succeeded where you have failed!"
Edelgard rolled her eyes and moved out of the way as healers carried Lysithea's body away. "I hardly failed. You simply finished her off before I could defeat her, that's all."
"So you say—!" Ferdinand's smug grin immediately shifted to a scowl as he stepped forward and held up his lance horizontally. Another blunt arrow from the archer boy bounced off it.
"Ha! You can't surprise me a second time archer child. For I am Ferdinand—!"
A girl with pink pigtails spun from behind a tree and smacked Ferdinand's kneecaps heavily.
Ferdinand yowled in pain and collapsed to the ground in a heap. "OW! My knees, what did you do to my knees?!"
"Psh. 'Can't surprise me' huh? Well that was a lie," The girl snickered before turning her attention to Edelgard.
"Hilda! What were you doing all along?" The archer boy cried indignantly. "A little help would've been great!"
Hilda rolled her eyes. "Sorry but I thought you could handle it! A little thanks would be nice for taking out one of the only two Eagles standing though, Ignatz."
Ignatz sighed and shook his head before levelling an arrow at Edelgard's back.
"Ferdinand..." Edelgard hissed.
"I can't get up! My legs are like rubber!"
"Yeah that's 'cause they kinda are temporarily!" Hilda chirped.
Edelgard blinked in surprise and staggered backwards. "What?"
Hilda grinned and twirled her axe. "Crest of Gonreil, baby!" She cheered before crouching, touching the ground and jumping inhumanly high into the air. Edelgard watched wide eyed as the ground she had been previously standing on wobbled like disturbed gelatine.
Hilda turned in the air and dived back down like a vibrant shooting star, axe gripped tight and determined grin on her face. Sucking in a sharp breath, Edelgard backflipped out of her path at the last second and landed just in time to block another arrow from Ignatz with her axe.
Hilda landed in a one handed hand stand and the ground momentarily sank under her weight before she flipped back to her feet and rushed towards Edelgard.
Gritting her teeth, Edelgard's axe met with Hilda's and she pushed back and ducked under yet another arrow from Ignatz. When she stood straight to block Hilda once more, she found her axe drooping and squishing uselessly in her hand.
This Crest was painfully obnoxious.
Edelgard leapt away from Hilda's axe and the girl cried out as her forward momentum sent her sprawling to the ground. Edelgard sighed in relief as he axe regained its shape, but her relief was short lived as Hilda swept her feet from under her with a kick.
Edelgard grunted as she crashed down for a frustrating second time and quickly rolled to her feet to avoid an axe attack meant for her ribs.
The princess took off running, using her own Crest to the fullest advantage it could give her without actually activating it as she nimbly and swiftly traversed through the woods. With a Crest like Hilda's, she needed to be more pragmatic about how she could defeat her seeing as how melee combat was clearly not working.
"Ugh, Edelgard! Why are you making me chase you?" Hilda whined from behind her before the distinct sounds of someone giving chase could be heard.
Edelgard hoped Hilda that the thick amount of trees and the Crest enhanced speed in which Edelgard was running would dissuade Hilda from jumping after her.
It seemed Hilda knew that jumping at such high speed with so many branches in the way was dangerous, thankfully.
Edelgard ran until Hilda could not be heard other than the sound of, "UGH where did you go?! Come. Back!"
Edelgard then let out a surprised gasp and skidded to a stop, pebbles tumbled down the rocky ridge before her and plopped to the rocks beneath. It wasn't far enough to kill her, and she would break her arm at worst—something a healer could easily fix.
The edges of her lips tilted upwards. Perfect.
Edelgard jumped into the nearest tree and crouched within its canopy of spring coloured leaves, waiting for Hilda to appear.
About a minute later, a panting Hilda ran past. Before she could notice the ridge and stop though, Edelgard had gripped the bough tightly in two hands and swung from it, kicking Hilda in the back and sending her screamingly tumbling down the ridge.
When Hilda fell to the earth, she yelled a loud "OW!" as she facepalmed the dirt. Edelgard cringed at the sound of a broken nose and the awkward way her arm twisted. Perhaps that was a little too extreme.
"Oh, whoops!" Hilda said, raising her head with a pained grin. "Looks like I'm out!" The light heartedness in her voice lessened Edelgard's guilt considerably as healers immediately came forward and helped Hilda into a stretcher. As she was carted away she yelled, "I'll be cheering for you, Ignatz!"
Edelgard heard a puffing Ignatz coming from behind, but he didn't have enough time to reassess the situation before Edelgard had spun around and sent a hard hitting blow to his ribs.
He cried out and slumped against a tree.
Two Deer down, just Claude and Professor Byleth left. Then—somehow—she'd defeat the Lions single handedly.
-o0o-
"Well, this is getting tense," Jeralt said atop a high ridge to his fellow faculty members and injured/surrendered/on the bench students—basically nobody in particular.
All of them watched the final students in the battle—The three House Leaders.
"I agree! Ooh I'm at the edge of my seat!" Annette beamed as she jumped up and down with clasped hands.
"But...you are not on a seat. You are standing," a Petra said with a confused frown.
"It's a figure of speech, Petra. Annette here is just excited," Dorothea explained simply.
"Oh! I have understandings now. I too am at the edge of my seat!"
"Who do you all think will win?" An eager Flayn asked.
"I say my Lions are preforming very well!" Hanneman said from nearby, getting his previously broken arm (courtesy of Edelgard who jumped from a tree and slammed her axe on it) healed by Manuela who had left the match due to a concussion (caused by a splutteringly apologizing Dimitri who knocked her against a rock jutting from the ground). "Dimitri will certainly win this match for us."
Manuela snorted. "Please. Edelgard singlehandedly defeated three students! One of which was Felix!"
Hanneman hummed and nodded slowly. "Yes, it is true that defeating Mr. Fraldarius was an impressive act. A Major Crest and a talent for swords and he fell..."
"It wasn't singlehandedly at all!" Felix snapped with an angry scowl. "I would've had her if that damned Claude hadn't tripped me up—literally!"
"Hey, don't be too bummed, buddy!" Sylvain said, patting Felix on the shoulder. "You did good! Plus, now you can try some of Mercedes's treats before everyone eats them!"
Mercedes blushed. "Oh, I'm sure they're not that great..."
"Don't sell yourself short, Mercie!" Annette said as she took another cookie from the basket.
A cookie that got stuck in her throat as she and her fellow Lions yelled out in glee after Dimitri took down Edelgard. The Black Eagles groaned and muttered in dismay in contrast and the Golden Deer watched eagerly as Claude alternated from shooting arrows to dodging.
"Yeah! Go, Claude!" Raphael boomed and he and his other peers began to chant, "Fear the Deer! Fear the Deer!"
Claude stopped to give his classmates a grin and a salute before ducking under another blow from Dimitri.
"Come on Boar take him out!" Felix barked.
"You can do it, Your Highness!" Ingrid called.
"Ooooh I can't watch!" Ashe cried and covered his eyes.
"Ashe, no! Pay attention or you'll miss everything!" Annette said and attempted to pry his hands from his face.
"There is no fear. His Highness will not loose," Dedue said.
"Cocky, aren't we?" Lorenz drawled. "Please, Claude will be the victor."
"Is that so, mister Claude-is-Nothing-Special?" Leonie asked with crossed arms.
"Psh. Compared to The Prince and his horrible haircut and stiff technique, Claude is something special."
"Oh, look in the mirror you big jerk!" Annette exclaimed with her hands on her hips and Lorenz rounded on her with a glare. "My hair is perfectly fine, thank you very much! And so is my technique!"
"And your reflexes too, right, Lorenz?" Lysithea snickered as a bell tingled.
All eyes were quickly drawn to the field as Claude, pinned under Dimitri's metal boot held up his white flag.
The Blue Lions cheered again and the Golden Deer shrank in disappointment.
"Ashe, open your eyes, Dimitri took down Claude!" Annette said excitedly.
"Yes, but we didn't loose yet; Professor Byleth is extremely strong!" Ignatz said confidently.
Felix snorted and smirked out at the field. "The Mercenary? She's nothing."
"I just hope he doesn't get hurt," Marrianne said quietly from the back.
Byleth and Dimitri circled one another, weapons drawn. Dimitri's eyes were narrowed while Byleth's were wide open and blank as always.
And they charged at each other, weapons clashing as the two came close and came apart, again and again like a dance with weapons.
Byleth broke the dance stabbed Dimitri in his ribs and Dimitri cried out in pain as he clutched his still sore chest.
"Oh, come on, Dimitri!" Mercedes exclaimed, clasping her hands so tight they turned white.
Byleth watched as he stumbled back, panting for breath. He wiped sweat from his brow before his gaze on Byleth turned molten.
Felix grinned and everyone turned to him curiously at his reaction.
"What? What's he doing?" Caspar asked.
Felix crossed his arms and leaned back slightly as if wanting to soak the entire scene up. "Winning."
With a war cry that bounced across every tree in the vicinity, Dimitri charged forward. Byleth charged a well to meet him and that's when the prince plunged his lance in the dirt and catapulted forward, kicking a surprised Byleth in the face and sending her down with a thud.
-o0o-
AN: Nobody:
Me: TrEe
There shall be less tree crashing next chapter guys! XD
Hilda's Crest was inspired by rubber because laziness plus cheerful personality equals rubber. Trust me.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed!
Fantasy Fan OUT!