Please bear with me; I'm bad at fight scenes. I just realized that my summary still said I was on hiatus for the two months I've been posting. I feel really dumb. Sorry for the confusion.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 16: The Phantom Thieves

Lucina adjusted the sword at her back. She turned to Corrin, who awkwardly pulled the skirt of her dress down to hide her travel equipment. "Is it noticeable?"

Lucina smiled as she lightly pushed the small lump of Corrin's coin purse down out of view. "Not really." while Corrin had smiled, then nervously, she turned towards Lucina's magic lantern that rested on the windowsill.

She began fidgeting with a random object she scooped up from Luci's desk. This didn't escape the princess's notice, "Is something wrong, Corrin?"

"Umm no," the other girl looked away, still fidgeting, "not really." The Ylissean reached out gently, taking the object out of Corrin's hands.

Lucina sighed, "It's too late to turn back now." However, the look on Corrin's face was starting to tug at her heart.

Returning the comb to her desk, she took the other princess's hands, interlocking their fingers and holding Corrin's gaze with her own. "It'll be okay."

Corrin leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Lucina's. "I know it will," but the waver in her voice betrayed her words. Corrin, after a moment, closed her eyes and listened. Lucina was almost sure she could hear their hearts beating as one.

The two stood there for a moment, and Corrin slowly opened her eyes again, and there was something that lingered in those deep ruby pools, something that pulled her mind closer. "Lucina?"

Corrin had leaned upwards, and Lucina had leaned closer to match her. "Hmm?"

"I uhh" Corrin's cheeks pinkened, "can I uh?"

In that instant, she heard noise from her balcony, drawing the girls' attention away from each other "they're here."

Chrom unsheathed Falchion, strapped at his hip, hidden just out of sight by his Exalt robes.

"Steal our greatest treasure?" He heard Bowser's booming laughter at his right. "Big talk coming from a bunch of kids."

The man in the white mask smirked at that; he took another step forwards, but the plegian at his side held up his arm to stop him. The man in the dark mask glanced over in Chrom's direction and then back at his leader.

He rolled his eyes and called over his shoulder, "Lantern, watch the door." to his dark masked companion; he only shrugged and made a dash for Bowser.

The man in a dark robe pulled out a lightning-shaped blade from his coat, a Levin sword. A dangerous weapon, magical in nature, Chrom had been on the other side of those things throughout the war. However, he'd only run into one other enemy who used such a blade, but he was dead now, Chrom saw to that himself.

Chrom rushed forward as the phantom thief raised his blade to guard the incoming attack. Another swipe was countered and then another.

The thief, spinning and countering his every thrust and slash.

Even if his old enemy had somehow survived the war, he wouldn't be able to move as swiftly as his current foe.

Chrom thrust a kick outwards. His assailant, however, saw it coming and sidestepped. Then took his chance.

Three slashes and a step forward. Somehow he knew this pattern. He countered beat for beat. He knew this rhythm intimately.

The rest of the room was meaningless. All he needed was a ten-foot square. It seemed that's all the thief needed too. As just when they were about to reach the edge of this invisible arena, he would spin around and leap back into the middle of their tiny battlefield.

He sidestepped the Levin sword's overhead swing and brought the flat of his blade to the man's back. But he rolled out the way.

He rushed forwards, but the thief countered with a swipe of his arm. Sending a gust of wind his way. For a second, he was knocked off his balance.

The thief reached up and adjusted his mask. Then stood right again.

This time he had a tome in his other hand. If he had a tome this whole time, why didn't he use it before? He rushed at Chrom again, but the Exalt was ready for him.

Chrom met his blade with his own. He wasn't entirely pushing back, although the Plegian pushed against Falchion with all his strength. He wasn't quite as strong as Chrom, it seemed.

So close to his enemy, Chrom could peek into the Grimleal mask. He could see his foe's eyes then, deep and dangerous dark brown hollows. The Levin sword crackled with magical energy adding a faint glow between them. When the blade sparked, Chrom saw bottomless pools of gold, cunning, mischievous, and all too familiar.

Impossible. Chrom pushed back fully, forcing the thief to roll out of the way. A crew trick by Naga. There was a bitter taste crawling in the back of his throat.

He tightened his grip on Falchion. He'd unmask this foe and put an end to the pain whispering in the depths of his mind and heart.

Marth darted up the stairs, Shulk and Pyra at his heels. He held tight to the rapier in his hands. The castle was in absolute chaos, and Shulk had said he saw something in this wing of the castle. Marth had feared it came from Lucina's room.

He shoved open the large and abused wooden door only to see two strangers standing by the balcony door. Corrin was trapped by one of them. Everyone looked surprised to see them.

The blonde in a white mask pulled out a massive blade. Marth was surprised he managed to get into the room. His colleague, with a strange demon mask, put his sword to Corrin's neck.

Lucina had her blade out in an instant; Marth wasn't even sure if she already had it out or not. He tightened his grip and rushed in, "Let her go."

"Don't move," the one with Corrin said. He pulled her closer to him, the blade, a clear warning. Corrin's eyes were massive.

"Don't hurt her," Lucina called, and she was the first to lower her blade, not quite letting it go. Marth had never heard his sister sound so small, "please."

"Put your weapons down and come quietly," the blonde in the white mask said, taking a few steps closer, "and we won't need to."

Marth took a single step forwards, "You're mad." only for Lucina to raise her arm to stop him from going further.

She shot him a dark glare, and he, too, lowered his rapier, then turned back to the two intruders. "Do I have your word?"

"Lucina!"

While neither said anything, the man in the demon mask gave a single but unmistakable nod.

Lucina then put her sword away, and Marth was about to stop her when she shot him another glare. "Don't do anything drastic," her eyes seemed to say.

The spiky-haired man then took her by the arm. He pulled away her sheathed weapon before tying her hands.

Marth would have rushed forwards if Corrin wasn't still at sword point. They brought Lucina over towards Corrin and the other thief. Only then did they pull the blade away from Corrin's neck.

The second she is let go, Corrin clung to Lucina's tunic. Marth could see she was a mess of nerves. The prince made to rush in, but the thief lifted his blade again, and Pyra gripped his arm.

Corrin hadn't seen the warning, and Lucina had slipped her tied arms over her to keep her close. She seemed less frightened then, tucked under the Ylissean's chin as she was.

The thief in the demon mask pushed the two of them towards the balcony. Then the man with the massive blade put it away, and with strength that shouldn't have surprised Marth heaved both girls into his arms and leaped off the balcony with them.

The green-haired man in the demon mask remained and reached into his coat as Marth rushed in after the girls. Suddenly a strong force at his back shoved him to the ground. He turned his face to the side to see Shulk pinning him there, the seer's gaze locked on something in the wall.

The Prince followed his line of sight to see an arrow embedded into the stone. It would have killed him without a doubt.

Pyra was already in the room when Marth was brought to his feet. She stared off the balcony, and Marth rushed to meet her, but there was no one there when he did.

There was no way those two could make off with the princesses that fast, "we have to tell the Kings."

Lantern watched from the balcony. The door he had been ordered to keep closed was barricaded. So he leaned against the railing watching the two separate spectacles.

Joker leaped off a random table, casting his grappling hook onto the chandelier and flying over the enormous fire-spitting dragon turtle's head. The boss had this handled.

Meanwhile, Grim seemed to be almost dancing with his enemy. They were matched step for step, strike for strike. It was strange he wasn't going to lie. After all, watching the door was usually what Grim liked to do. He preferred to stay out of the fray as much as possible.

A small noise caught dragged him out of his thoughts. He turned around to see a young man a few years younger than him standing at the top of his blockade. His weird-looking outfit no doubt made for extreme weather, allowing him to climb up the magical ice without issue.

He leaped down and pulled a blade off his back. Lantern didn't have time to think, so he raised his left hand.

The mark on its back glowed brightly before he cast the magic outwards. There was only one spell that would mess this up for him and another that would annoy his team, but he didn't have time to consider the harm.

The magic drifted outwards, and as the spark made contact with his would-be attacker, he fainted suddenly. He then began to snore faintly, murmuring "Lady Pyra" every now and then.

Lantern blinked and then turned his gaze towards the back of his left hand. It worked.

He then turned his gaze back towards his two friends. Grim still seemed to be doing fine. On the other hand, Joker seemed to be diving and rolling out of the way of fire breath and flying dropkicks that were just plain impressive.

Then the dragon retreated into his turtle shell and began to spin rapidly. Lantern didn't need to know what would happen next. Without question, it would hurt if the large spikes were anything to be believed.

He leaped off the second floor, gripping onto the long decorative blue draperies that dangled over the side of the railing. Thankfully it gave, and he was lowered to the ground instead of having to let go or fall on his face. "Joker!" He called out as he rushed over to their leader.

Joker raised an eyebrow as Lantern darted in front of him and raised his palm up, calling forth the magic within him again.

Please do something cool this time, he begged of the mark on his hand. The magic gathered and glowed and suddenly burst forth.

Kaclang!

Fiddlesticks!

Joker watched as Lantern darted in front of him and raised his marked hand towards their enemy. Before he even had the chance to stop him, his comrade was already a metal statue.

A thunderous Klang rang throughout the room, followed by a rapid clanging as the beast spun rapidly. Had Lantern not been made of metal … Joker shuddered to think about it.

Joker smiled nervously; nevertheless, thankful to Lantern's rescue, he wasn't sure he would have been able to endure a powerful hit like that.

He lightly patted the back of Lantern's head, "thank you."

He gathered his own magic into his palm. He leaped up and snapped his fingers, "Eiha."

Black and purple flames spiraled around the giant, stopping the rampaging turtle in his tracks. He darted out with his knife making sure to annoy but not damage too badly.

The beast sneered, and suddenly smoke oozed out of his mouth. Joker took the warning. As the giant let loose a tirade of flames, Joker managed to slide in behind Lantern again. "No, really, thank you."

He felt the heat die down, and thankfully at that moment, Lantern's spell wore off. Releasing him from his petrified state. He turned to Joker, he didn't say anything, but the pout spoke volumes.

Joker only flashed Lantern his best smile as his friend unclipped his shield from his back.

Suddenly an arrow soared into the room and embedded itself into one of the stone pillars. "That's our cue" Joker smirked as he grabbed Lantern's arm and made a mad dash towards the window.

Grim turned away from his duel, pushing the blue-haired King back before making a break for their entrance. He was the first to leap out the window with the wind underfoot.

The king made to follow him, but Joker wasn't going to let them get caught now. Joker reached for his mask Lantern thankfully held his shield in front of it to protect his face.

He called forth his power, and suddenly, his shadow melted and twisted, bursting forth from the ground into a pillar of blue fire.

"Eigaon!" With a snap of his fingers, he summoned forth a pillar of dark fire, stopping the kings from following them.

He took Lantern into his arms, then leaped out the window, spreading his wings, the two gliding off into the dark expanse of castle grounds. Grim having already secured their escape.

When the three entered the city, Joker split ways with the two. He needed to leave one final calling card before he left. He rushed through the many winding pathways of the Dragon's Claw and left his message embedded into the wood of the scoreboard.

He headed towards the waiting wagon with his final words left for all to see. The rest of his band awaiting him. The carriage took off at a steady trot upon his arrival.

AN/ Finally finished. This is just a quick reminder that another art piece will be posted alongside this chapter's release. Fun fact, I had always intended this story to be a romantic adventure. The first thought of this story was "lesbian run away fic." Anyways I hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day.

~ (3/11/2022)