(A/N: So, to encourage guest reviews, if you're on fanfiction, know that if you ask questions or leave comments, I will do my best to respond to those comments here in the author's notes. If you're on AO3, I can respond directly even to guests :).
So, I have been asked by Alan Wake: who is the intended spouse of the Lelouch in this story? Is it a fire emblem character or a CG character?
At this time, I am writing with romantic ambiguity while allowing Lelouch to have moments with all of the potential spouses available to him, which is why the poll has 29 choices lmao. Ultimately, the narrative will be the deciding factor. I have my leans, but I am also an unbiased writer that will probably not be making my decision until the final end of the game, in typical Fire Emblem fashion.
Note that characters that have had the most chemistry with him will get preferential treatment—use your own shipping goggles. I ain't naming names :P—but I can always be persuaded to try and write more scenes into the narrative according to fan interest. Fire Emblem is a game all about building your support system and relying on others, a sentiment that Lelouch and Edelgard both struggle with.
All of the moments I've had Lelouch incur over the course of the narrative have been through a lens of author interest, but not anything truly definitive. I will reveal my own ideas midway through phase 3 when Lelouch's love life starts to take more narrative shape and fewer choices are available.
That said, I do have pairings in mind outside of Lelouch that will take away from potential spouses he regularly interacts with. For this very reason, I may delay putting up the new poll until after the chapter including the paralogue Falling Short of Heaven is released. If you don't realize why that's important, you should go check on who are the required characters in that paralogue and draw your own conclusions ;P.
But, I've blathered on long enough. Without further ado, *snaps fingers*
~Track: Blue Skies and a Battle~
Let's dance!)
After taking the first score for the Golden Deer, Claude reloaded his rifle and started launching shots at other members of the Black Eagles, the only enemy color in his vicinity. A few mages then began barraging his location with spells and Claude fell back behind a few Leicesterian mages of his own. "Shoot anyone wearing red!" he chimed into comms, hopping backwards in a zig zag pattern. "Edelgard's our primary focus! How's our flank look? Lysithea? Lorenz? Any sign of the Green Pheasants?"
"At our current position? No. Shall we move forward to engage?" Lorenz asked.
"Proceed with caution. You and Professor Manuela are leading my rear guard," Claude said and then uttered. "Whoa! Sec!" He took the opportunity to fire at an unsuspecting Adrestian mage that had been staggered by one of his own. "Dang, I wish I didn't have to hold off on using the Saffron Chimera. Pushing to talk when you're a rifleman is tough."
"Then leave battle preparations to me!" Manuela exclaimed. "I taught the lessons you excelled in, after all. I know a thing or two about battle."
"I'm counting on you to lead our northern force, Professor. Give 'em hell!" Claude exclaimed as he then took aim and fired at another mage, scoring three wins for himself for the Golden Deer.
Manuela then took out a Levin Sword, a sword imbued with magic shaped like a lightning bolt. "Oh believe me, I shall," she declared. She then led forces forward, the Golden Deer spotting the Green Pheasants. The Pheasants saw the Deer approach, their quicker draw on their rifles, catching some mages off guard and knocking them out of the battle. However, Manuela was far fleeter of foot and charged straight in, scoring some wins for the Golden Deer.
"I'll hang back and guard the rear as a pivot, like we planned," Lysithea said. "Cover Professor Manuela."
"Elegantly," Lorenz stated took out a mighty look silver energy lance. He then charged forward into a group of sword wielding Green Pheasants. "Don't you know who I am?" He asked and proceeded to mop the floor with them with fluid sweeping motions and letting loose ice magic from off his lance, sending them flying.
While score was not kept, vitals were shown on the big stadium screens around the field. These screens showed Claude watching the Green Pheasants drop in size but not as quickly the Golden Deer as a good thing. That meant he could focus on the battle in front of him. Insofar, he was the only heavy hitter of either army in this scrap.
"West River mark due south, and flank southwest to west and back east! East Dune, the exact opposite and then fall back facing the enemy, covering West River!" Claude directed, calling out squad names.
That was when the first shakeup of the battle began. Claude could see a bright red flame as a single unit charged through the carnage and chaos, ripping through Claude's forward unit of lancers and swordsmen like tissue paper. And he was shouting like a madman.
"COME ON! I'LL TAKE YOU ALL ON!" Caspar von Bergliez was leading a one man assault into Golden Deer territory, ripping through foes with sheer might and grit alone. Claude didn't get dissuaded by this. He had the perfect counter to Caspar after all.
Caspar's assault was immediately cut short by an energy axe landing right where he was about to charge. Its wielder very calmly, and with a smile, approached him, slapping her axe handle into her free hand.
"Hey, Caspar. Having fun?" Hilda asked.
"Oh, hey Hilda! Haven't seen you since you dragged my butt to the infirmary after that scrap the other week," Caspar remarked with a smile.
"Oh! I remember that! And then you got into another fight a few days later!" she giggled.
"Ahaha, right I remember. But man, look at you swinging around that axe like it's paper. You're uh…you're not thinking of coming at me with that thing, are you? I mean, I don't want to hurt you if I can help it."
"You? Hurt me? Ha! Good one, Caspar." Hilda's eyes said it all. She'd locked in. "Maybe if this was before the incident with the Leviathan I would've asked you to make it look good. But I'm a new woman now. Prepare yourself."
Caspar growled. "Well…okay! Just remember YOU ASKED FOR THIS!" He then charged forward. "RRRRRRRAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGH!"
Sparks flew as Hilda and Caspar swung his axe at Hilda, matching the blocking power of her own. Hilda was grunting as she blocked. "Gotta say, nngh, you've got quite the arm."
"Been training my whole life!" Caspar shouted. "What about YOU?!" He took a hefty too handed swing and sent her flying back. Hilda's feet tore up soil and grass as she had to take a moment to catch her breath.
"Me? Honestly, I'm pretty lazy. Never really had much reason to try or to train cause I wanted a simple, easy life. But these days…" she said as she gripped her axe tightly. "I'M MOTIVATED!"
Hilda slammed forward with speed and swiftness Caspar wasn't expecting. She actually managed to slice right into his energy armor dealing a heavy chunk of damage to his energy gauge—the gauge used to measure a student's viability in the battle. Once it was empty, the student was out, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Caspar panted. Pain transferred on a one to one with these suits. Hilda would have split his chest right open just now without it.
"ALL RIGHT! IF THAT'S HOW IT'S GONNA BE, THEN THAT'S HOW IT'S GONNA BE!" Caspar activated his HLKMF crystal. The kid didn't know the meaning of the word restraint. The Inferno of Justice was now on the battlefield, the first HLKMF to be activated.
Hanging back further into Adrestian held territory, Hubert looked on with interest. "Hmm, no restraint. This will be interesting. I doubt he can win, but it's simply a matter of whether or not he'll put up a fight. That's why we let him charge forward." Hubert looked at Hilda. He and Edelgard didn't have enough information on what she was capable of now that she claimed to stop being lazy. This would be a good indicator on what they were dealing with, and if they could handle it.
With the Inferno of Justice's sharpened energy gauntlets, Caspar charged straight towards Hilda. Hilda didn't try meeting it head on. Instead she dodged left. At first, Hubert just thought she was frightened, but it was apparent that she was, in actuality studying Caspar.
Hubert thought to get involved by giving Caspar some help, especially since Hilda's back was to him. A powerful cheap shot on her this early would be a boon. However, two things stopped him. One, Hubert wanted absolutely zero smoke with Hilda Valentine Goneril, not with Edelgard currently poised to about to be fighting Britannia and Byleth with her. Apart from Ferdinand, the Black Eagles couldn't readily spare another well mustered tank if Hubert got in trouble. The second was that Claude's West Lake and East Dune units were now coming into effect. Hubert, paired with Monica, had their own job to keep these units from taking out their forward vanguard. However, as Hubert slung spells at Claude's unit, shouting out orders as a field commander under Edelgard's command, he kept one eye on Hilda, just in case.
Caspar was too simpleminded to realize Hilda wasn't fighting back not because she was intimidated but because she was actually looking for an opening. Yes, Hilda actually presently had the audacity to try taking on an experienced HLKMF user without using her Queen Bahamut.
"COME ON! FIGHT ME!" Caspar demanded, trying to keep Hilda in close quarters. He threw a few good thrusts with his fists, the claws on the Inferno of Justice acting as his weapon of choice. He missed the first few times, but the fifth strike took some strands of hair. Hilda struck back with her axe but the superior might of an HLKMF against a foot soldier saw Caspar grab it with his bare hands, stopping her in her tracks. Caspar then reared back his arm, his gauntlet aiming for her face. He was told that the energy suits would prevent fatal damage, so he was free to treat the battle like live combat.
However, Hilda did not give Caspar the freedom to find out how well the energy armors held up to strikes to the head. Instead, she activated her crest at the last possible second. Then, with crazy strength hurled Caspar off her axe towards the Golden Deer. The force of the toss was so much that Caspar could hear the wind rushing past his ears and he fell on his back hard enough to feel it.
"Ohhhhhh, did I do that?" Hilda asked, still acting all maidenly. "Sorry, guess I don't know my own strength."
"You kidding me? That was awesome!" Caspar shouted, getting to his feet. "I knew it! I knew you liked a good fight, Hilda!"
"Haha, me? Noooo, you've got me confused with someone else." She giggled. "Well," she said, holding her thumb and forefinger close together, "Maybe just a smidge. I'm a new type of woman now. You'll be good practice for the big leagues."
"Practice?! Hey! Don't think you're just gonna roll me over like a common infantryman! I'm Inferno Caspar! Prepare to taste fiery justice!"
"Yeaaaaaah, no one calls you that. A for effort though," Hilda said and then activated Rose Gold Queen Bahamut DX-90. As the eyes of the unit glowed and Hilda swung the energy claws of her beast's arms downward, she declared, "Let's dance!"
While this was going on, the Golden Deer were pushing further north into Pheasant territory, Professor Manuela leading the charge with her Levin Sword. Then her armor took a rifle shot to the chest. The shooter? Kaname Ohgi.
"Hey there, Professor Manuela. Didn't expect to see you on the frontlines," Ohgi remarked.
"Oh, don't you know? I'm a do it yourself type of woman. I don't suppose you'd like to see evidence of that after this whole affair is over with?" she asked, winking.
Ohgi's cheeks flushed. "Th-this is a battlefield!" He then gasped as Manuela swept forward with her sword.
"Best keep on your toes, Professor," Manuela chuckled, forcing Ohgi to take out an energy katana to battle her Levin Sword. "Wouldn't want you to break a leg."
Tamaki fired off a shot from his rifle, noticing Ohgi in trouble, but Manuela used a free hand to project a barrier to her side, blocking the cartridge shots. Tamaki then noticed Lorenz's unit approaching. A forward phalanx provided excellent momentum for the Golden Deer, only for a Green Pheasant rifle squadron to back Tamaki up.
"All's fair in love and war professor," Manuela said with a whimsical smile. "I'm not just a pretty face, you know. Perhaps you need to see it for yourself!" She then activated her HLKMF. What spawned was a stoney looking ancient western roman crusader, targe shield and all. Manuela kept her Levin sword clutched in her beautiful fingers. Wings adorned her helmet and her frame's boots. Then, with a note sung from her maidenly voice, a shockwave of electrifying proportions zapped nearby enemies, Ohgi included. This was the power of Manuela's HLKMF. Codename: Radiant Diva.
"Damn, I thought she was a pushover!" Tamaki shouted. "The hell do we do?" He watched Lorenz engage one on one with Sugiyama, who was giving him a run for his money.
"We don't fold, that's what. We've got problems with the Blue Lions to our north too. We really got the short end of the stick it feels like," Ohgi complained, calmly. "But, I'm not giving up. Pivot your unit between the fronts."
"Yeah, sure, but what about you?"
"Me? Don't count me out, Tamaki," Ohgi told him and took out his HLKMF crystal. "I know exactly what I'm doing." Activating the crystal, Ohgi's HLKMF perfectly resembled a samurai of yore, with a face mask over the kabuto. With missile launchers in his non-dominant wrist, Ohgi fired back against Manuela's attacks, forcing her to get some distance as the missiles exploded against a barrier she produced. Readying himself not with an energy sword, but with a hard light Naginata, Ohgi was ready to fight using his customized HLKMF. Codename: Uesugi.
"Well this will be a nice change of pace," Manuela remarked, standing with her sword perpendicular to her abdomen, her non-dominant arm carrying an energy shield in front of her. Her guard was relaxed. "I'm so used to picking a fight with Hannemann that it'll be a nice opening act."
"Sorry, Professor Manuela, but I don't consider myself a bit part in somebody else's performance. Like my own teacher once told me: We're all the main characters of our own untold stories." He then blazed forward, weapon clashing with Manuela's.
The skirmish between the Golden Deer and the Green Pheasants was now in full force.
As per Lelouch's plan, Akito, Ayano and Yuri were to act as forward scouts northeast, east and southeast of the Ashen Wolves' initial position. Yuri, as the calmest and most cautious, had the most important task of watching for any opportunity to pick off stragglers amidst the battlefield between the Eagle and the Deer, and also to keep prying eyes away from the real Zero's location. Of course, that last part was a detail known only between Lelouch and Yuri.
Of course, to ensure that it wasn't obvious that Lelouch and Yuri were cooperating, Lelouch led a small forward scouting team where he knew Yuri would be. Face to face, he and Yuri met on the field of battle.
"Miasma Delta!" Lelouch shouted, slinging a spell at Yuri's face.
"Well, I can see niceties don't apply where you're concerned Lelouch," Yuri quipped.
"This is a battlefield," Lelouch replied.
"Too true," Yuri remarked. "Well then, don't take this personally!" Yuri zoomed in towards Lelouch, but the young exiled prince had brought the proper counter to a speedy fighter like Yuri. In the time between Yuri's charge and Lelouch's location, a new fighter jumped in to defend Lelouch.
This fighter stood in a very heavily armored HLKMF of brightly hued silver with the Adrestian Coat of Arms on the shield. However, the joint armor was colored deep crimson red. A halberd that also bore a flag on the blunt end, and had a very sharp spear point extending off the axe blade, was carried in the right hand.
"Fear not, Lelouch. Per Edelgard's instructions, I shall be your shield!" Ferdinand exclaimed from behind the helmet. Since Conrad Tower, Ferdinand had added a Tank Captain certification to his HLKMF. Now, it was sturdier than ever. New codename: The Aegir Wall.
Two guns opened up on the shield of Ferdinand's frame, forcing Yuri to leap to one side before they inevitably fired. Mid death-defying leap, Yuri activated his new upgrade to the Savage Mockingbird. This was a sleek design of barely purple hued chrome with blades running up and down the arms. The helmet was less knightly and more resembled and assassin's hood. New codename: Silver Trickster.
"Activating cloaking parameters," Yuri said and Ferdinand watched Yuri vanish from view in chunks until he was completely invisible.
"He disappeared!" Ferdinand shouted, only to take a sword slash to the back. "Aagh!"
Ferdinand could hear Yuri taunting him over comms. "What's the matter? Can't hit what you can't see?"
"Do not think such basic tactics will deter a knight of the Empire. Blaze Luminous!" Ferdinand surrounded himself in a perfectly spherical shield, made up of many smaller hexagonal energy shields, blocking any and all attempts to damage him.
"And how do you plan to hit me from behind a shield?" Yuri asked. "Even your own weapon is blocked off.
"My shield is not for myself but for others," Ferdinand stated. "I may not be able to see you, but my allies shall. Right, Lelouch?" Ferdinand received no response. "Lelouch?"
Ferdinand looked around, but Lelouch was nowhere to be found.
"Sounds like you've been ditched, a sacrifice to your noble Emperor," Yuri quipped. "Cutting Gale!"
Ferdinand's shield was slammed into from the left by three consecutive blasts of wind magic. The shield vibrated and shook, but it held firm.
"I wonder what will run out first," Yuri responded. "My magic or your shield." He crouched, readying a blade behind himself, magic charging in his palm as he lowered it towards the ground. His location was known only to himself. "Shall we find out?"
Ferdinand was less bothered by Yuri and more by Lelouch. "Edelgard! Lelouch has left my position and isn't answering comms!"
"What's your situation?"
"I've engaged Yuri Leclerc. I've got his attention held southwest of the center of the battlefield," Ferdinand stated as his Blaze Luminous took a hit. A soldier fighting alongside him was then invisbly cut down by Yuri. "He's turned invisible with the aid of his Hard Light Knightmare Frame."
"So switch to radar sense and find him!" Edelgard berated.
"Oh…r-right!" Ferdinand exclaimed and pulled Yuri up on his radar. The Sakuradite radiation given off by a frame, HL or otherwise would be picked up on radar.
"Honestly," Edelgard grumbled at Ferdinand's incompetence. "As for Lelouch, he's probably gone to scout the front lines and can't be bothered to deal with you shouting in his ear. Hold the line and keep an eye out for Britannian forces. Until the Britannians have made it across the river, I am remiss to directly engage with Zero and the Ashen Wolves. If we commit too many men to our northern flank, Claude will wipe us out. Too few, and we're just offering free points to the enemy. Hold the line for as long as you can. I'll send Clara and Rolo to support you."
"Understood," Ferdinand responded and ended the conversation, dispelling his Blaze Luminous and using his shield to catch Yuri unawares as he tried to slice up one of Ferdinand's allies. Yuri was tossed back, taking a pretty hefty blow to his energy reserves.
Still invisible, Yuri chatted over proximity comms. "You move quickly for a lumbering tin can." He tried to surprise attack Ferdinand but he was caught at the last second by Ferdinand's shield. He quickly evaded out of the way.
"I am the future Prime Minister of Adrestia. I am as skilled as I am strong. Head of the Ashen Wolves, Yuri Leclerc! I, Ferdinand von Aegir, shall not let you pass!"
As Yuri was caught in a skirmish with Ferdinand, Akito was moving further eastward, following Zero's instructions. He'd already gone as far north as he was supposed to and was now engaging in the second phase of his scouting mission: pick off anyone that looked weak among the Blue Lions. He got a couple of targets, but then got shot at. Dodging the shots, he managed to get far enough away to be out of non-sniper range, but still close enough to see his attacker.
Leila spotted him down her crosshairs, now able to see Akito standing there with his twin swords at the ready. Leila then took a shot near Akito but deliberately pulled to not shoot him. Her intent was clear. She respected and admired Akito enough not to directly engage, but that to come any closer or hurt any more of her classmates and she'd open fire.
Akito got the message and radioed to Yuri. "P1 to R1. Enemy spotted. Some hostiles down but I'll get overwhelmed if I make any more progress, I'll be circling clockwise towards K1's location."
"Roger that, P1," Yuri responded. "Over and out."
Akito took one last look at Leila and then retreated backwards, leaving her staring at where he'd been.
Akito…
"Leila!" Dimitri radioed. "How goes the western flank?"
"Western flank clear, your highness. One hostile spotted. We lost two troops, but the hostile has retreated. One of Zero's."
Dimitri growled. "As long as our flank is clear, hold your position and keep an eye out for Britannians. I'm sending aid your way for the inevitable. Do not pursue."
"Understood."
Leila let out a sigh of relief. She didn't have to pursue Akito. That was good. Even if this was a battlefield, even if they were enemies, nobody had to make them fight. She would pursue other targets. At least for now. She just prayed to the Goddess, mock battle or live, she would never have to shoot Akito.
As Akito retreated from the Blue Lions' western flank, half their force was proceeding south to engage the Green Pheasants. The Pheasants was prepared for the incoming attack, having been positioned between the Lions and the Deer.
Tamaki, in particular, had a handle on the front line. "Let's see you Faerghusian scrubs handle Japanese pride!" He shouted, slam firing his cartridge rifle from the hip, taking out blue lion after blue lion.
Letting his gun cool down before it overheated, Tamaki grinned, "Come on, any of you kids got some teeth to you? It's like shooting targets at a gallery."
"How about me?"
Tamaki almost felt his blood run cold as his newest foe appeared over his shoulder, nearly smashing their lance deep into his shoulder, but only hitting dirt. Tamaki dodged, raising his rifle and fired, but the cartridge was deflected. No damage.
Then Tamaki saw the glowing red lance made of bone. He swallowed. Arriving to the front lines was Ingrid Brandl Galatea.
"You boast Japanese pride? Show me what you can do!" Ingrid shouted and then proceeded to take Tamaki on without her Royal Alicorn. Armed with only Luin and steeled determination, Ingrid took the Japanese freedom fighter head on. Tamaki, realizing the fight had taken a turn for close quarters, drew his energy katana to match Ingrid's lance.
Tamaki darted forward, taking Ingrid on as she swiftly stood her ground, taking calculated steps backward, feeling the weight of Tamaki's strikes against the pole of her new lance. Then, taking a pretty hefty step backwards, she thrust forward. Tamaki, off-balance, barely had the chance to dodge. A Green Pheasant then took a shot at Ingrid, but was then picked off by a Blue Lion gunner.
Shots from rifles and blasts of magic darted around Ingrid and Tamaki, making it a little less comfortable than a straight up one on one. And while Ingrid seemed to be having an easy time of it dodging shots left and right—and deflecting a few—Tamaki seemed to be having the devil's luck as it were as none of the shots were going anywhere near him. This gave him a slight edge as he hopped over a cartridge blast fired from a gunner prone on the ground, letting him score a direct hit on Ingrid. The slash got her from shoulder to hip.
Ingrid tanked the slash, barely flinching.
"Uh…isn't this the part where you fall over? Or like…get disqualified?" Tamaki asked.
"Disqualification occurs when the special armor we're all wearing hits zero." Ingrid showed him the band on her arm, tapping it with her fingers of her other hand. Her battery level was still in the 90s. "I barely felt a thing."
Tamaki swallowed. He suddenly felt like he didn't have this. Backing away from Ingrid, the blond took to the offensive. With sweeping, two-handed swings of her lance, Tamaki was now in much more danger of taking a hero's relic to the face than he was getting shot or blasted. Still, Tamaki had taken martial arts. He could bend and weave with the rest of them.
"You move well," Ingrid complimented. "I commend your resilience."
"Heh, you're not so bad yourself for a Faerghusian noblewoman," Tamaki remarked, leaping backward from a horizontal swing. "How about after this we crack one open? Non-alcoholic for you of course."
"Your tone suggests you're not taking this seriously," Ingrid remarked and twirled Luin so that the tip faced the grass beneath her feet. She was standing still but on high alert, aware of crosshairs and spellcaster hands aimed at her. If anyone tried anything while she was catching her breath, their attacks would not land.
"And you are?" Tamaki questioned.
"More perceptive than I gave you credit for," Ingrid stated. "Indeed. Neither of us have used our Hard Light Knightmare Frame. But I feel as if I could best you even if you used yours. You're skilled, I'll grant you that, but if earlier was your best strike, I have nothing to worry about."
"Oh yeah?! Is that how you see me?!" Tamaki shouted. "I'll make you regret those words! HLKMF! Let's go!"
A sphere of red energy circulated around Tamaki before exploding outward, revealing him in an HLKMF with a bulky, curved back and guns for claws. The helmet had cat-like features. Codename: Akatogeneko. Roman translation: Red Thorn Cat. "What do you think? Pretty cool, right?" Tamaki boasted and aimed one of the bulky arms and its four wrist-mounted guns at Ingrid. "Let's see you dodge all of this."
Tamaki opened fire, the barrage of shots sounding like a jammed gatling gun. Ingrid took only a calm breath. And then…her body glowed green, Crest of Daphnel appearing on the back of her right hand, before flaring burning orange in synergy with Luin.
Don't get discouraged, remember your training, Ingrid thought and began running to her right, Tamaki's left. Tamaki followed her with both of his guns, firing to try and tag her but Ingrid was agile enough to duck around and under the shots.
The guns are concentrated. That means as long as you stay out of the firing range, you're safe, she thought. She dropped flat and rolled along the ground. She broke into the Green Pheasant's ranks, the enemy too confused to attack her, for fear of hitting the ally behind her. This let Ingrid sweep her lance into the necks of several foes, scoring points for the Blue Lions and making a tight counterclockwise parabola towards Tamaki.
Because the guns are on the arms, he'll have to move position to aim at me if I get right in front of him.
Ingrid dropped to her knees, momentum carrying her forward along the grass. She then dropped flat, rolled and popped up high, each movement one step ahead of Tamaki's reflexes.
"Dammit! Hold still, will you?!" Tamaki shouted.
Distance…ten meters, Ingrid thought, getting closer, seven meters…
Tamaki upped the rate of fire. If he could just take down Ingrid, one of the stronger Blue Lions, he'd be a legend, even if the Green Pheasants lost the war, the battle of taking down Ingrid would be something to smile about.
That tunnel vision was about to cost him greatly.
Five meters, Ingrid thought as she was now in between Tamaki's arms, watching him pivot backwards, exposing his left side of his body to focus one arm entirely on her.
Now!
As Ingrid leapt into the air, Luin lit aflame, accompanied by red energy. "BURNIIING!" Ingrid shouted.
Tamaki aimed his gun up to fire at her, but he was too slow on the draw. The bulk of Akatogeneko and his own inferior reflexes meant that, even as he was pulling the trigger, gravity was already pulling Ingrid down.
"QUAKE!"
Ingrid slammed Luin down into the grass and caused a lava-like stalagmite to erupt at an angle from the ground and towards Tamaki. The stalagmite was accompanied by red lightning, signifying the critical strike phenomenon. The molten fragment was shooting out really fast and right into Tamaki's frame.
Tamaki gasped. "You've gotta be kidding meeeeeeeeee!"
BOOM!
The explosion detonated the Red Thorn Cat and sent Tamaki flying onto his back. It then felt very difficult to move. With tremendous effort, he looked at the battery meter on his right arm. 0%. The armors were designed to be very heavy to lock the prone fighter in place while providing the same defense even while powered up to simulate a corpse until a staff member could, at a safer moment, cart the body off the battlefield.
He lowered his arm. "DAMMIT! Can't I do something cool for once in my life?" he complained.
Ingrid stepped on him, pointing Luin in his face. "Be thankful this is not real battle. If I'd heard your shout on a real battlefield, I'd have pierced your neck just now. If you're upset by your lack of impact, redouble your training from the ground up. That makes a warrior." Ingrid then turned around and darted back into the fray.
Tamaki smirked and then laughed. "Heh. Hahahahahahaha! What a gal! Ingrid Brandl Galatea, huh? Man, this generation is full of scary kids, Ohgi."
With Tamaki the first well-known name among the more prominent combatants to be taken out, the Green Pheasants knew they were at a disadvantage. Fortunately, for all their low morale, at least they weren't in the warpath of the Violet Tigers. No sooner had Tamaki been taken out that Cornelia's forces were finishing crossing the river and into the territory of the Ashen Wolves.
"Uh, incoming!" Balthus shouted. "Hey, Zero! What do we…" Balthus turned only to see neither hide nor hair of Zero. He did, however, see C.C. sitting on a crate. "Uh…where's Zero?"
"Scheming, where else?" C.C. responded, filing her nails.
"How can you be so calm?" Balthus shouted, pointing at the Britannian army approaching. "They're gonna be here soon and we're basically sitting ducks! I can go in there, but like…you know, there's a lot of them. And it's Britannia! And last I checked Holst is up in the booth running commentary, not down here to have my back."
"Sounds to me then that Holst is your better half o' cowardly King of Grappling."
"Okay, first of all! Nobody calls me cowardly!" Balthus snapped. "Second of all! I…uh…um…"
"B, calm down," Hapi said. "Zero ran off a little while ago. Since we know that was a fake Zero, they likely went to go switch with the real Zero somewhere on the battlefield."
"You see which way he went?" Balthus asked.
Hapi shook her head. "Hey, Coco! Anytime now, you know?"
Constance stood in the sunny battlefield, watching Britannia approach. "Is there any point? One woman cannot conquer an army."
"Coco! Come on!" Hapi shouted. "I know you're the other you right now, but focus! What would Zero say if he was here?"
"Zero's mistake was giving this task to one as ill suited to it as I," Constance said in pure defeatism.
Suddenly a paper bag was shoved over her head by Ryo.
"AH! How dare you? Who dares?" Constance, now her usual self, demanded to know.
"Constance! You're letting the group down by not getting a grip! I don't know what kind of trauma you've been through, but right now we need! Your! Help! So quit feeling like a damn sad sack and blast some god damn Britannians with your god damn Bolting like! Zero! Asked!"
Constance stopped thrashing.
"I'm going to take off the bag now," Ryo told her. "Do your damn job." Ryo took the bag off and, while Constance's mood immediately shifted, his point had at least gotten across.
"I shall try. Pity our enemies that they were defeated for one as worthless as I."
Across the landscape, Cornelia, Marrybell and company were not ready for Boltings to start dropping on their heads like a meteor shower.
"Don't break formation!" Cornelia shouted. "Fracture your units! Advance in smaller groups! Tank Captains! Cover your mages! Paladins! Form an offensive wall!"
"Yes, your highness!"
"Glinda Knights! Hold your positions! We don't have visual on the enemy!" Marrybell shouted.
"Yes, your highness!"
Oldrin knew better than to question Marrybell's orders. While yes, the Lancelot Avalon could in all likelihood blitz whatever spell caster was raining down these Boltings, Marrybell could not account for a trap waiting for whatever soldier was foolish or brave enough to stop this attack.
"Sister, I presume you have a countermeasure?" Marrybell asked Cornelia.
"I do. Anya! Activate the Mordred and scout forward! If you can take out the enemy without getting locked down, do it!" Cornelia shouted. "Alpha and Bravo squadrons, spread out from the main force and pincer the enemy from the flanks!"
"Yes, your highness!" The squadrons declared.
"Engaging," Anya uttered quietly. She activated the Mordred.
"Bogey incoming dead ahead!" Ayano declared from her forward scout position. "Britannian side!"
"What type?" Yukiya radioed back.
"Looks bulky!"
"Well all right then," Balthus remarked, rolling his shoulders. "Sounds like it's time for the Stalwart King of Grappling to make his return to the Field of the Eagle and Lion!"
Balthus charged forward, nearly missing a strike with Vajra Mutshi and the activated Heavy Thunder King. Anya had pulled back at the last second.
"Retreating," she remarked. "This one is strong."
"Define strong." She'd left a private comm open with Cornelia just in case.
Anya gazed at her foe all around and spoke only two words. "Hero's Relic."
"Must be Balthus von Albrecht. Can you outmaneuver him?" Cornelia asked.
Anya tried to shake past Balthus, but he kept getting in her way.
"Negative. Enemy understands the situation," she responded.
"Understood," Cornelia responded and turned towards Marrybell. "Anya's assault has her stalled and we're going to take heavy losses if this keeps up."
"What do you recommend?" Marrybell asked.
"Marrybell, don't misunderstand the situation here. Much as Britannia's victory is vital, that victory will come at your ability to command, not mine. I am ever much a general on this battlefield as you are. I have my own way to run things, but I had my moment in the sun and continue to prove myself. Everyone back home needs to know what you can do," Cornelia told her.
"But…what if I mess up. What if we fail and the Glinda Knights get disbanded because of my poor leadership?" Marrybell questioned.
Both Oldrin and Cornelia put a reassuring hand on Marrybell's shoulder. They said nothing. They simply smiled.
Touched, Marrybell wiped at tear from her eye. She then found her resolve. "Glinda Knights! Sortie! The target is Balthus von Albrecht! Oldrin! Support Anya! Leonhardt! Tink! Left flank! Sokkia! Marika! Right flank! Objective: make sure Anya get can get to the enemy mage slinging Bolting spells at us!"
"Yes, your highness!" Every member of the Glinda Knights sprung to action.
"Only activate your Hard Light Knightmare Frames if you have to," Marrybell told them. "We want to save them for as long as possible!"
"I'll at least use mine!" Oldrin declared, activating the Lancelot Avalon. "Everyone do what you can! Formation Lambda!"
That meant a star formation with Oldrin bringing up the fifth point. They'd practiced this maneuver time and again.
"More incoming hostiles!" Yukiya declared, sounding desperate.
"Oh dear, that's quite a few enemies. We will soon be outnumbered," Constance responded bluntly.
"Dammit, where the hell is Zero, abandoning us when we need him the most?!" Ryo shouted.
Where was Zero? South of their position, sneaking across the battlefield and slinging pre-loaded spell charges in the wrists of the uniform they were wearing. And then, Zero and Lelouch came face to face.
Zero radioed to Yukiya. "Is it ready?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Up in the booth, Holst and Alois were absolutely floored when the Neverland Mk. II suddenly rose up from the surrounding landscape and took position over the battlefield, raining gunfire down from its auxiliary cannons down on Cornelia and Marrybell's forces.
"What in the blazes is that thing?!" Alois shouted. "Isn't this some kind of rule violation?"
Shamir began laughing.
"You sound as if you know what's going on, Miss Shamir, please enlighten us," Holst requested.
"That thing would happen to be the Neverland Mk. II, a flying warship designed by the Ashen Wolves in their spare time, a personal transport vessel, if you will," she said, sounding proud.
"I thought this was supposed to be personnel versus personnel. Are you sure the Ashen Wolves shouldn't be disqualified over using an airship in a battle like this?" Alois asked.
"This was cleared by Seteth a few days ago," Shamir remarked. "I brought the idea and the paperwork to his attention."
"Oh?! The director himself had a hand in this?" Alois asked, shocked.
Shamir nodded. "I believe his exact words were: If they could somehow remote control an entire airship to strike the battlefield, I'll allow it. A battlefield has no defined rules after all."
Alois looked directly into the camera, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "Well, folks, you heard it here live. For the first time ever, the Battle of the Eagle and Lion will be supporting airship warfare!"
On the ground, Diethard could barely contain his own elation. "Put those cameras on that airship now!" he shouted. He then aimed his own personal digital camera at the Neverland. "Zero you marvelous unconventional genius! This battle is sure to be one for the history books, mock or no!"
"Is that…the Neverland?" Rhea questioned, wide-eyed.
"Unbelievable, Zero actually pulled it off?!" Seteth gasped.
"Seteth, this is your doing?" Rhea sounded more bewildered than upset.
Seteth groaned. "Shamir…came to me a few days ago, asking if the Neverland, if remote controlled, would be…permissible as a weapon of war in the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. Speaking objectively and pragmatically, I stated that if one could remote control an airship, it shouldn't be seen as an illegal action. The Battle of the Eagle and Lion is a celebration of the ingenuity of warfare as well as one of its most glorious battles. I honestly didn't think Zero could actually pull it off. No, perhaps he was ready to do this the moment Shamir asked. You can be angry at me all you want, your grace. The fault is entirely my own."
"Do not be mistaken, I'm not angry, Seteth. Frightened would be a more appropriate term, but angry, no." She stared at the Neverland. Zero…what aren't you willing to do to secure the future you've carved for yourself in blood?
"Lady Rhea, I don't mean to sound alarmed, but what are we going to do if that thing falls on the civilians?"
"Rest assured, were that to happen, I shall ensure it does not," Rhea stated. "Are we clear?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes. Understood."
With all eyes on the airship, Lelouch smirked. He radioed Yuri. "How's my flank?"
"Covered. You about ready?"
"Begin Operation Switcheroo," Lelouch stated.
"Got it!" Yuri declared.
Yuri peeled away from Ferdinand and began dropping smoke bombs to conceal and confuse the Black Eagles heading north towards the Ashen Wolves position.
"Smokescreen!" Bernadetta screeched.
"Calm down!" Edelgard shouted. "Rear guard fall back! Front guard, hold your position! Petra! You're in the front! What in the name of the Goddess is happening up there? Ferdinand! Are you all right?"
"Visibility is drastically cut," Petra radioed. "But no hostiles have appeared."
"I've lost sight of the enemy!" Ferdinand declared in a slight panic.
"Lelouch, respond!" Edelgard shouted. "Lelouch!" Her heart raced. If they lost Lelouch this soon, they were screwed.
She didn't have to say anything. The moment Lelouch refused to answer, Byleth was already charging headfirst into the fray.
"Professor, wait! It could be a trap!" Edelgard called after her.
Trap? So what? Set one trap. Set a thousand. Byleth was treating this mock battle like a real one and in a live combat zone, if Lelouch was in danger, she would move mountains to see her younger brother figure safe.
With the thick wall of smoke, Yuri had no idea this was happening so he couldn't report it to Lelouch.
Edelgard, however, was radioing Petra. "Petra, cover the Professor, don't let her do anything too reckless."
"Understood!" Petra declared and zoomed to meet up with Byleth's position. "I shall be heading for Ferdinand's location. We are bounding to be meeting somewhere in the middle."
Fortunately for Lelouch, the smokescreen was only one half of his plan, Yukiya had a full birds eye' view of everything the Neverland's guns could see and was now raining fire down upon not just the Violet Tigers, but also the Black Eagles, scoring points against a few soldiers that just weren't quite fast enough to dodge.
Lelouch grinned internally. Everyone's attention will be glued to the Neverland and with neither mine nor Zero's hard light Knightmare Frame activated, no one has any idea of my exact location, nor that Zero and I are face to face. By the time they find us, it'll be too late.
"I thank you for going this long undetected," Lelouch said to the person masquerading as Zero. "You have my sincerest thanks." He bowed gallantly.
Zero reached up for their helmet, taking it off, revealing one Sayoko Shinozaki. "It is no problem at all, Master Lelouch. I am grateful to serve you in any way I can."
"Did you bring what you were supposed to?" Lelouch asked her.
Sayoko nodded. "Beneath this uniform is one matching the Black Eagles uniform in your size? I have also brought cosmetics and a wig to perfectly masquerade as you."
"Then change, quickly. I'll do the same."
Byleth raced headfirst into the smoke, her sensibilities quickly overwhelmed by Yuri firing at her with Cutting Gale within the smoke. Without activating the Forgotten Saint, she didn't have the ability to sense him on radar like Ferdinand did.
However, her combat skills were still top notch. Yuri's attacks were also barely doing anything to her battery. The intent was clear: keep. Her. Busy.
Byleth was having none of this nonsense and let loose the Sword of the Creator to try and tag Yuri in a wide area. Unknowingly, she nearly got him in all the smoke, even with his invisibility.
Damn, that's one sharp intuition. "Zero? You done yet?"
"Almost," Lelouch responded back, having switched outfits with Sayoko. The maid was putting the finishing touches on her disguise. "Use those magic wristbands I devised for you well," Lelouch told her as he went for the finishing touch on his own outfit: his helmet. "They contain a preloaded limited number of charges for all of my spells. Six Banshees. Twelve miasmas. Eight Mires. Use them well and carefully."
"I have studied your battle plans carefully. I shall be as convincing to her imperial majesty as I can," Sayoko responded.
"Good. Now fix your voice."
"Ah, of course," Sayoko stated and put a voice changer on the inside of her gum. "How do I sound?"
"Perfect. No one will think you aren't me if you keep up the act perfectly," Lelouch told her. "Now then," he put the helmet on. "I have a battle to win." He immediately aimed a Miasma at Sayoko. "Let's make this convincing!"
However, as soon as he let loose the spell, Yuri's smokescreen was essentially blown away by a powerful sword slash. Byleth had arrived.
"Are you okay?!" She shouted, showing way more emotion than she normally did.
"I'm fine. Thank you. I got separated from everyone else. It's that invisible Knightmare. It cut my forward guard down like it was nothing," "Lelouch" explained and then pointed at Zero. "And then he showed up."
Byleth tempered her grip on the Sword of the Creator. "Zero."
"Well met, Professor Eisner. It is an honor to see you this close in live combat. But I'm afraid I haven't the time to deal with you." Raising his fingers to the sky, Zero snapped his fingers and a missile salvo unloaded from the Neverland Mk. II all anti-personnel missiles headed right for Byleth. "Until we meet again," with a whip of shadow, Zero hoisted himself into the air and pulled himself towards an incoming missile, leaping backwards over it and tumbling through the air into free fall.
Byleth, now more preoccupied with the incoming missiles, wondered how she was going to handle it. It took her seconds to devise a strategy. The Ashen Demon was, to the whole world about to debut that she was more than just a swordsman now, but a sorcerer too.
As the missiles converged on her, Byleth held her hand downward, fiery magic gathering around her palm. Then, turning her hand up and towards the missiles, Byleth channeled magic power through her Crest of Flames.
"Bolganone!" Byleth shouted as a cataclysm of fire erupted from her palm, consuming all of the missiles in a single blast. The resulting heat also blew away the smoke, ending the smokescreen.
"That blast of fire…was that the Professor? That Bolganone was enormous," Dorothea remarked, startled.
"Leave it to our professor to be a cut above the rest! This is no time to be idling though," Edelgard stated. She made to open comms, but Byleth beat her to it.
"Lelouch is safe. Zero got away though," Byleth said.
"I advise cautious pursuit," "Lelouch" radioed back. "If we leave the Ashen Wolves idle, they'll score points on the Violet Tigers while we're idling." "He" looked up at the Neverland. "We just need to do something about that airship."
"Got an idea?" Byleth asked him.
"Working on it," "Lelouch" responded.
Of course, Lelouch wasn't the only one that saw the Neverland as an eyesore. The Violet Tigers did as well and Cornelia had had just about enough of its presence. Equipping the Scathach, she armed herself with one of its red lances. Wordlessly, she hurled it like a ballistic missile up and through the center of the ship and caused it to explode in a burst of red lightning, causing the whole ship to simply explode.
Yukiya gasped.
Ryo was more vocal about his displeasure. "Oh! That's just great! That's exactly what we needed!"
"Worry not!" A reassuring, distorted voice echoed. "For the Neverland Mk. II has served its purpose this battle. We needn't concern ourselves with machines, only flesh and blood!"
"Zero!" Hapi exclaimed. "I knew you'd come through for us!"
Ryo let out a sigh of relief.
C.C. smirked.
"What took you so long?" Kallen snapped at him.
"Apologies. I didn't mean for the situation to get so dire, but we'll get through this. However, as we speak, Lelouch and Byleth Eisner make for our southern flank."
"Oh, yeah, that's just great. Took your sweet time and now we're surrounded! We aren't totally screwed at all!" Hapi shouted, freaking out.
"Hapi, what is today's objective?" Zero shouted over her.
"Uh…to score the point KOs?" She asked, not sure.
"Exactly. And thanks to Constance and the Neverland, we're bound to have scored quite a few already. We can take a moment to recollect ourselves. Our camp, if you want to call it that, is meaningless to us. This battle is all about nomadic movement and keeping your army active, not staying passively in territory," Zero told her. He then radioed to even his forward scouts. "All units break from your current location and make for the center of the battlefield! We'll take control of the turret guns at the small fort there and hold a defensive perimeter."
"Oh that's even better, surround us on all sides!" Hapi exclaimed sarcastically.
"…No, that's actually the best thing we can do," Yukiya realized.
"It…is?" Hapi didn't sound convinced.
"We're a small unit," Yukiya realized. "We're not worth a lot of points. The armies are going to be busy fighting each other. Meanwhile we, low priority targets, can swoop in and finish off the injured, stealing points from the other houses."
"Precisely," Zero stated. "Now let's move, we haven't a minute to waste!"
Zero and the Ashen Wolves barreled forward, only to be cut off by Leonhardt and Tink.
"Where you goin, Zero? Party's just starting," Leonhardt asked. He and Tink immediately activated the Venerable Lion and the Tin Giant.
"Q1," Zero stated calmly.
Grasping hold of both men with her telekinesis, C.C. flung them both far and away from her, allowing the Ashen Wolves to keep moving.
"Shouldn't we double tap and finish them off?" Kallen questioned.
"We haven't the time," Zero stated. "Those were members of the Glinda Knights! P3! Pull back already! We've retreated!"
"Yeah, working on it!" Balthus exclaimed and threw one heavy handed punch at Anya to get her to back off, only to get his frame's arm nearly lopped off by Oldrin's incoming Lancelot Avalon. "Oh come on! Gimme a break!"
Oldrin put pressure on Balthus as he got out of the way, trying to retreat backwards, only to get fired upon by Sokkia. Marika then zoomed forward to take a grazing shot, but she was immediately intercepted…by Petra in the Hard Light Huntress.
"Get out of the way!" Marika shouted.
"There are being zero allegiances except to one's house upon this battlefield!" Petra shouted. "And today, the Eagle shall be feasting upon Tiger flesh."
Byleth and "Lelouch" both formed up behind her. Sayoko had even borrowed Lelouch's Skull Beetle frame, having already activated it for her own use.
Oldrin and the other Glinda Knights formed up as Ferdinand and a few more Black Eagles came up in support. The main force of both the Violet Tigers and the Black Eagles formed up as the burning remains of the Neverland Mk. II made their surroundings catch fire.
"Get me a chopper on Zero, and make sure to get ground units to film that blazing inferno!" Diethard shouted at his crew. "I don't want to miss even a second of this! The Ashen Demon live on camera, dancing amidst the smoke and flames!"
"So, we meet on the field of battle yet again," Shez said, meeting Byleth's gaze.
"It'll end just like last time," Byleth told her bluntly.
"Grrrr, we'll see about that!" Shez shouted. "I'll show you just how strong I've become!"
"Then by all means, challenge me." Byleth held the Sword of the Creator in a relaxed position down by her foot. "I'm ready when you are."
Marrybell and Cornelia made it to the front, as did Edelgard, Rolo and Clara.
"Edelgard," Marrybell stated, meeting her gaze.
"Marrybell," Edelgard remarked, staring her down.
"I see you've split your army," Marrybell noticed.
"I have the Ashen Demon. That makes up for it," Edelgard boasted calmly, but confidently.
"We'll see," Marrybell stated.
As Marrybell and Edelgard prepared to engage, Zero's forces were making it to the center of the battlefield to secure the turrets, only to be met with an adversary Zero all but expected would be making the same move. "Well, well, well, Empress Kaguya. I thought I might find you here."
Kaguya's forces all aimed weapons at Zero.
"If you ally with me for the moment, I'll take care not to aim at your forces," Zero said as C.C., Kallen, Ryo and Yuri all aimed weapons back.
"In a real war, I might take you up on that offer, but today it's all about who gets the credit, not a shared victory. I will have to pass," Kaguya responded, pulling out a rifle of her own.
"An unwise decision," Zero said and took aim with his magic, matching the trajectory of her rifle barrel.
South of the Wolves' location, the Golden Deer and the Black Eagles were continuing to engage. Monica was leading an squadron of mages against a squadron of Claude's riflemen and women. With clerics on standby, Monica's unit might've been lacking in DPS, but they made up for it with survivability.
As that was going on, Hubert was busy snapping his fingers in a multitude of spots around his person, blasting targets away with his dark magic, scoring points left and right for the Black Eagles. Claude mirrored this, shooting targets as he reloaded while on the move. Eventually, he and Hubert were in each other's direct line of sight.
Claude, the faster of the two, shot first. Hubert, not quite slow enough to be caught off guard, had enough time to counter with a magic blast. However, the attack obscured his vision and Claude was already moving to Hubert's flank. Firing again, this time he got a direct hit on Hubert's arm. The pain seethed. Hubert shielded his tagged shoulder with a cloak he'd brought to blunt magic and rifle shots as he scurried backwards across the battlefield, raining suppressive fire. Claude, quick on the trigger, kept reloading and firing, scoring a couple more hits on Hubert, gaining a decisive advantage. However, the trickster was about to become the tricked.
"Bolganone!"
In pursuit of Hubert, Claude had walked right into Monica's line of sight. Stung by the fire magic and dazed from the impact, Claude staggered, allowing Hubert to get a clear shot at him.
"To think one such as you would fall for such a tired tactic. I'm disappointed," Hubert taunted. "Mire Beta!" A deluge of dark magic rushed towards Claude. If this one collided, it would hurt.
However, Hubert's dark deluge was instantly countered by a barrage of magical arrows, countering and nearly overpowering Hubert's own strike. Rolling up in her wheelchair, perpendicular to Claude and Hubert's position, arm outstretched, was Nunnally. The magic spell had been hers: the arrows of light, Sagittae.
"And you should know, Hubert," Claude remarked with a grin. "A genius like me never fights alone."
"Hmmm," Hubert remarked, talking to himself, "Lelouch will be quite upset if I batter his sister too badly." Hubert channeled copious amounts of magic power. "But what he and Lady Edelgard don't know won't hurt them. Mire Beta!"
"Sagittae!"
Nunnally and Hubert's spells perfectly countered each other.
"Hmm, for a blind girl, she has impeccable intuition. I'll need to be careful," Hubert remarked to himself. Claude then nearly shot him in his other shoulder. He barely had a chance to dodge. More shots came from further back, courtesy of Leonie at the rear guard, bringing in a cavalry of swift moving HLKMFs.
"I see, buying time to deploy a strong wave of allies," Hubert muttered. "No matter. Squads three, four and five, move in! Linhardt! You had best be awake!"
"Ugh, such a slave driver," Linhardt responded over comms, "But I hear you loud and clear."
Hubert then radioed to Edelgard. "Claude leads a strong force on the eastern offensive. I spot him, Leonie, Hilda and even Nunnally is here, proving quite the challenging foe for someone without legs or sight."
No response.
"Lady Edelgard?"
"Ah, you probably won't be hearing from her imperial highness any time soon," Linhardt remarked. "She appears to be getting into quite the stare down with the Violet Tigers."
"Wonderful. Then I suppose we had best hold the line as best we can," Hubert remarked. "Bring your finest bishop squadron, Linhardt. And no slacking!"
"Yes, yes. I hear you," Linhardt remarked.
If Adrestia had one thing going for it above all other nations, it was their copious amounts of adept mages. In contrast, the Golden Deer was a lot better with rifle units. Today, it would be a question of both quality and quantity and Monica, Hubert and Claude all knew it.
Meanwhile, the tipping point would be how well Caspar could hold Hilda's attention. The two were still slamming energy axes against each other, Caspar screaming all the while like a madman.
How on earth do his vocal chords not hurt? Hubert wondered.
"COME OOOOOOOOOON! LET'S GOOOOOOOOO!"
Hilda did not seem to be engaging in Caspar's same level of over the top shouting. Claude could tell as he danced around the battlefield, taking potshots at Hubert and other members of the Black Eagles where he could. Hilda was laser focused.
Come on, Hilda. A guy like that should be nothing to you, what are you waiting for? Claude thought.
But if anyone knew the answer to that, only Hilda knew.
With Ingrid on the offensive, the Blue Lions were now encroaching on Green Pheasant territory. Kaguya had left a force behind to hold the position when she went to secure the turrets. Ingrid even saw some familiar faces.
"Felix. Ashe."
"Ingrid, figured you'd be leading the charge," Felix remarked. "Where's the boar?"
"Right here, Felix," Dimitri responded, stepping forward from the chaos.
"Hmmm, so you've made it this far already, have you? Well, the Green Pheasants are no pushovers, especially since I'm one of them."
"In that case," Dimitri said, taking a ready stance. "I'll be interested in seeing how your foreign training has helped you."
"Don't talk to me like a human. Show me the violence you crave like the beast you are!"
Felix and Dimitri then rushed in and began clanging weapons against each other.
Ingrid sighed. "Men," she exhaled through grit teeth. She then had to pivot sharply to deflect a cartridge shot from Ashe. "Ambushing me? I thought you better than that, Ashe."
"Ahaha, well the battle won't start if you're not paying attention. I had a feeling you'd at least deflect it." He took out an energy axe. "I'm sorry I didn't stay with the Blue Lions for too long. After what happened with Lonato, I…"
"There's no need to apologize, Ashe. No one blames you, least of all me. This is a battlefield and we've all made our choices." She brandished Luin. "Show me what you can do!"
In the standoff at the western side of the battlefield, things were quiet. The blockade between the Black Eagles and the Violet Tigers was silent in contrast to the eastern side chaos. The only thing that could be heard was crackling flames and strong winds.
"Princess Cornelia, I am honored to meet you in the field of battle," Edelgard remarked.
"I am flattered by your honest praise, Princess Edelgard. But you address the wrong commander. Marrybell is leading our troops today," Cornelia stated.
"Perhaps, but that is not how history will tell it. For it isn't Marrybell mel Britannia that's a household name, is it? It isn't Marrybell mel Britannia who wins wars for Britannia and strikes fear into the hearts of small territories across the Atlantic. No, the name on every newspaper and every news station is Cornelia li Britannia, the Goddess of the Battlefield. Your younger sister stands in your shadow and when my forces clobber yours today, that will be all she ever will be."
"Don't you dare disrespect Mary!" Oldrin snapped. "After all we did for you and Monica!"
Edelgard shook her head. "I merely speak the truth."
"I could say similar to you, Edelgard. Do you think when you win today it will be thanks to your efforts, or the strength of the Ashen Demon."
"I was planning to crush Britannia with or without the Professor at my side this year," Edelgard stated. "But compared to me, Marrybell, you're unfit to lead a nation. Your older sister, the one you're still learning from day in and day out is twice the ruler of your own nation you will ever be."
"Enough!" Cornelia barked. "You can stand here and call your opinions truths however you wish, but you will bite your tongue when you disrespect my family in front of me."
"Then by all means, shut me up." Edelgard equipped her Immovable Duchess HLKMF. "You're the one I'm most interested in fighting anyway."
"Is that a problem for you, Marrybell?" Cornelia asked, re-equipping the Scathach.
"Take her out," Marrybell stated coldly.
With a commanding swing of her axe, Edelgard declared, "FOR ADRESTIA!"
Her troops charged in, shouting.
"FOR BRITANNIA!" Marrybell shouted. Her troops did the same.
Instantly sparks flew as the battlefield became even more violent and chaotic than the tussle between the Eagles and the Deer.
Edelgard and Cornelia instantly clashed axe to lance, Cornelia's lower jaw hidden by the face mask of her frame. Edelgard, for her part, had her entire head hidden.
"Bold to leave your face-unguarded," Edelgard claimed, grunting as she used her axe to pin Cornelia's lance. "Your eyesight will give away your every move!"
Edelgard's overconfidence was met with Cornelia using her free hand to make another lance and impaling it straight through Edelgard's shield.
"It's not the handicap you think it is," Cornelia remarked, pulling her lance swiftly out of Edelgard's shield as the heiress expended energy to repair the shield. "The Scathach was not my frame's original name or appearance. I evolved this way, and I stand by the design." Cornelia flexed the fingers in her right hand, dismissing her lance, and then shot a Thoron blast out of nowhere. "My enemies don't call me the Witch of Britannia for the sheer novelty of it." She fired another one, pushing Edelgard back as she took a sweeping strike at the teenage Adrestian. Edelgard blocked, but Cornelia now had her on the defensive.
Of course, Edelgard swiftly came out of a passive stance and met Cornelia at an even reach, energy axe deflecting her lance multiple times before she slammed her shield into the grass and fired two cannon blasts from the armaments poking out of it. Cornelia leapt over it and wrapped a length of chain around her arm. She hurled the weapon down at Edelgard. Edelgard hurled her axe on its own chain up at Cornelia. The weapons deflected each other as Cornelia spun downward, surprising Edelgard as she switched her lances out for a blade, letting gravity drag her in close.
But this was no ordinary blade, like Manuela, Cornelia had a strong enough aptitude for magic that she was quite adept at using a Levin Sword. The blade sparked with lightning magic. Edelgard's crest of Seiros surged with energy as she gained a boost of adrenaline, swinging her axe with a heavy overhand swing at Cornelia's exposed shoulder.
The explosion had Byleth give only a passing concern to her house's leader before turning her attention back to Oldrin who was stepping over the collapsed body of a knocked out Black Eagle. Twin swords were held in her hand and she was staring seriously at Byleth.
"Professor…I know we've gone our separate ways, but I learned a lot from you. I've studied under Cornelia's guidance. I'd like to show you…how strong I've become!" Oldrin shouted.
Byleth said nothing. She simply raised the Sword of the Creator to meet Oldrin head on. The two danced twin swords to single sword. Byleth's extended reach thanks to the Sword of the Creator's ability to snake around the battlefield made it easy for her to keep Oldrin at a distance, at least at first. However, Oldrin was far too swift to be held at bay and made it into Byleth's close range.
Byleth quickly showed that she was adept at using her free hand even when it wasn't imbued with magic. Oldrin took what she saw was an opening by swinging at Byleth's chest. Byleth grabbed her forearm, pushing it aside to knock Oldrin off-balance and then elbowed her in the face, stepping on her foot to completely take her off-balance.
"Allow me to demonstrate!" Byleth declared proudly and began taking several sword whippings at the now defenseless Oldrin, red lightning sparking. A critical strike had occurred. Oldrin staggered, clearly hurt badly by the blow. She took a moment to catch her breath, but with Byleth Eisner there was no such thing as mercy. However, before she could follow up on the opening she gave Oldrin, she had to quickly evade left. If she hadn't Shez would've delivered a harsh leaping strike to her back. Shez then slid along the ground and raised her blade, meeting Byleth's.
"Sorry, but this is my fight," Shez said with a cocky grin. "And I hope you weren't expecting backup."
Out of Byleth's peripheral vision, she could see Shez had made mincemeat of Byleth's personal rearguard. Shez then went on the offensive. Her experience as a merc shined here. With Byleth's heart racing from the adrenaline, she was not expecting for Shez to strike so boldly. Of course, for Byleth, after enough parries and blocks, she was more than ready to get back at Shez on even footing. The Sword of the Creator caught Shez's twin blades in a lock as she then prepared to cast a spell.
That was when Oldrin re-entered the fray, taking a swing at Byleth's neck and forcing her to abandon the pressure she was putting on Shez.
"Our fight," Oldrin said, standing next to Shez.
"You think we can take her together?" Shez wondered aloud.
"Better than trying to best her one on one. And, for the record, there's no one else in the Violet Tigers I would trust more to fight at my side, Shez," Oldrin told her.
"Wow, really? What about Mary?"
"Mary is someone I have to protect. She's good, but she's not you. I like your style. Your strong and brave and you don't let anything stop you. It's like…I don't have to worry about you because I know you can handle yourself." Oldrin went for her HLKMF crystal. The Lancelot Avalon was back in action. "And I know you absolutely have my back."
"Ha! You know, in some ways, I feel the same." Shez said and activated the Leviathan of Destiny. "I'm counting on you, Oz. Don't let me down."
"I won't."
Byleth nodded. "You do stand a good chance at defeating me if you fight me together. If that's the case…" Byleth activated the power of the Forgotten Saint. "Sorry, but I'll be going all out."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Shez said and activated Arval's power within her. "That way there's no excuse when you have to get carted off the battlefield before me."
Byleth nodded as she amassed several flying swords her HLKMF was known for producing. "Let the lesson begin!"
As Shez and Oldrin took their bout with Byleth to the next level, Cornelia was busy crossing weapons with Edelgard, the two equally injured after their mutual exchange of blows.
"I must say, in a way, I wish I could see your eyes behind that helmet," Cornelia told Edelgard. "However, also, in a way, I know I don't have to. I can feel your ambition from your every swing. You remind me…of someone very dear to me, Princess Edelgard."
"I…do?" Edelgard asked, keeping her guard up in case Cornelia was attempting to flatter her to buy time or sucker punch her.
"Your ambition is well-documented. Your aim is to reconfigure Adrestia from the ground up. Many reporters quote you saying that you are Adrestia's future. I had a younger brother like you once. Well…half-brother," Cornelia said, shaking her head. "But…that was the past. We're in the here and now."
Edelgard clutched at her chest. Although she couldn't feel her locket beneath her frame. She knew it was there. "I used to think the past was something to be discarded, to be ignored. But…I know differently now. The past can be used to motivate you, to spur you to greater achievements than you ever thought possible." Bolstered by her Crest of Seiros, Edelgard charged forward with her axe, meeting Cornelia's energy weapon with her own. The two clashed blades with steeled gazes and unwavering determination.
And then, Edelgard triggered the critical strike phenomenon. "I will strike you down!"
Cornelia was able to withstand the blow by blocking it, but she was staggered back by the sheer force. Of course, the second princess didn't let that stop her. She too, in turn, also triggered the critical strike phenomenon.
"Yield!" Cornelia shouted. Generating one of her lances, she slammed it towards Edelgard, shattering her shield. Edelgard leapt back and made a new one. She and Cornelia stared each other down. Evenly matched, so it seemed.
Marrybell noticed this.
"I understand how you feel, Princess Marrybell, to live in the shadow of another, to not be given consideration. But do not be discouraged."
Marrybell looked to see Ferdinand von Aegir nearby.
"You would give a pep talk to your enemy, Ferdinand? You are certainly a strange noble."
"Warfare or no, this is still a mock battle. We are guaranteed to be friends tomorrow even though we are enemies today. Others may choose to sour relationships in the name of glory, but I shall not."
He and Marrybell peaceably gazed at the brutal battle between Cornelia and Edelgard.
"You're not her and I am not Edelgard. We're carve our own paths for our own respective countries," Ferdinand told her.
Marrybell smiled. "You know, when you're right, you're right." She turned around and activated the Saintly Witch. "How about whoever wins our little bout has to take the other's last name."
"Wait, are you being serious?" Ferdinand asked, taken off-guard by the proposal, only to scream like a little girl when he had to dodge Marrybell's drill missiles.
"Good reflexes. Maybe you aren't fit to be my husband. But no, that wasn't a serious proposal." Marrybell readied several armaments. "Oldrin is the only person I love."
"I see. Joke or no, I did seriously consider your offer. So, if you change your mind on being serious, I will give you an honest answer."
Marrybell blinked, dumbfounded even. He…he's an idiot, she remarked internally and flatly.
Ferdinand activated the Aegir Wall. "In warfare, it is customary to introduce yourself to the enemy."
"No. No, it isn't. That's an easy way to get assassins sent after you. Besides, we know each other."
Ferdinand took a half-step back, "Y-You wound me, my lady. I am merely following tradition as was customary upon the battlefield of our common ancestors."
"Yeah, you can do that. I'll concentrate on rolling you over," Marrybell said and unloaded a salvo of drill missiles, artillery shells and laser blasts, bombarding Ferdinand with everything she could in a short time span.
Yet Ferdinand came out of the assault no worse for wear, the Blaze Luminous shielding at its finest. "If you're done conducting warfare your way, allow me to conduct it in mine. I! AM FERDINAND!" He gripped his lance and wound a length of chain around his arm. "VON!" He hurled it at Marrybell, breaking one of the arms of her Saintly Witch. "AEGIR!" He then pulled it back to his grip.
Marrybell expended energy to repair her arm while Ferdinand winded back his weapon. She smirked, relenting. "Fine. Have it your way, you spoiled child." She steeled her nerves, psyching herself up. "I am Marrybell mel Britannia, Princess of Britannia and 88th in line of the throne! On my honor for my country, you will be brought to heel!"
"For the future!" Edelgard shouted.
"For the Empire!" Marrybell cried.
"For the revolution!" Zero yelled.
"For our honor!" Kaguya declared.
"For my friends!" Claude decreed.
"For my people!" Dimitri bellowed.
Then, unknowingly at the same time, all six declared, "I! Shall not lose!"
(A/N: And that'll wrap up the first chapter of this arc. …We are only a tenth of the way through my notes. Don't expect each chapter to be a constant. Some will be longer, others will be shorter. I know I'm jumping around a lot but there is a lot to cover and I have methods to my madness. Bets! Place your bets!
NOTE: We at Draconic Hero Studios cannot offer compensation for bets placed without asking for private information from consumers of our products. Do not take request for wagers as a serious request and do not sue.
Next time, we continue the chaos with more blood to be spilled, more carnage to be enjoyed, and more battles to be waged. Stay tuned, you will want to follow it as it comes out every step of the way :D
And, until then, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic! Ja ne!
SPECIAL THANKS to my Patrons ShawnH, Nier 99, and Wizard Aro. Without the support of you and all of the rest of you reading this, none of this would be possible! If you'd like to support my work, consider subscribing. Feel free to also leave a comment, write a review, or just say hey.
I do hope I can turn fanfiction into a job if possible, or at least to help me scrape by while I look for a new one, as I am presently unemployed. Please don't forget to share this fic with others as awareness not only drives more traffic to it, but enriches the lives of others. Plus, the larger the fanbase I have, the better my novel coming out later this year will sell! Hate to plug, but I gotta eat, and I will see you all next time!)