ANNA: “Welcome back to the beach here at the scenic Eastern Palace for Round 2 of the Tourney of Shells! Starting us off today is longtime champion Lon’qu and Isolde of Ylisse in the swords bracket! Will Lon’qu move on to the finals to defend his title, or will he be bested by this lovely lady? I, for one, am eager to find out.”

EMM: “I always feel so proud whenever we have two of our own fighting in a match. A Shepherd and native Ylissean! This should be a very good fight, I’m sure.”

CHROM: “It’s not a tournament unless Lon’qu faces an unknown woman... Wait. I think I heard someone say that before. Did I just plagarise the man himself, or was it somebody else?”

Lon’qu First Strike: 14

Isolde Defense: 16

Lon’qu darts forward as soon as the match begins but falters at the last second, grimacing as he peers at Isolde’s face. Old phobias coming to light?

Isolde First Strike: 7

Lon’qu Defense: NAT 1

FAVOR BONUS: 3

Isolde has no such feelings in return and jabs her sword at his side. Lon’qu finally manages to steel himself enough to move so that she can’t get a second attack in.

Lon’qu: 0

Isolde: 1

EMM: “Well, Sir Lon’qu has definitely been getting better at fighting women since the first tourney. He didn’t flinch as much as he used to!”

Lon’qu Second Strike: 11

Isolde Defense: 5

Ashamed of letting his weakness win Isolde a point, Lon’qu spins around on his foot, disgusing where his next blow will be aimed at, scoring a point on the arm as his opponent attempts to block.

Isolde Second Strike: 16

Lon’qu Defense: 2

The feroxi warrior needs a moment to catch his breath from that display, which is also Isolde needs to smack him against the head with the flat of her blade.

Lon’qu: 1

Isolde: 2

CHROM: “Lon’qu’s trying to catch up, but Isolde is formidable in her own right, taking that lead right back. Our Feroxi swordsman is going to need to build up his defence.”

Lon’qu Third Strike: 9

Isolde Defense: 4

LION’S PAW Bonus: 10

Head a blur from the unusual strike, Lon’qu lunges in but trips to the side, dizzy.

Isolde Third Strike: 4

Lon’qu Defense: 5

Isolde believes that she sees an opening, but Lon’qu has enough battle experience to be able to recover quickly; he brings his blade parralel to his body, blocking the blow.

Lon’qu: 1

Isolde: 2

EMM: “Isolde has the lead for now, but I wonder if she’ll keep it. Lon’qu is notorious for managing unlikely victories.”

Lon’qu Fourth Strike: 17

Isolde Defense: 6

Rather than sweep, Lon’qu pushes his blade towards Isolde, making it nigh impossible to block his next blow when her own sword is practically against her chest. He steps past her, weapon slashing the arm.

Isolde Fourth Strike: 19

Lon’qu Defense: 15

Having overextended, Lon’qu is in a bad position; Isolde tags his back with little difficulty.

Lon’qu: 2

Isolde: 3

CHROM: “Another point to Isolde... Has Lon’qu’s tournament luck finally ran out?”

Lon’qu Fifth Strike: 12

Isolde Defense: 4

Sweat drops from Lon’qu’s brow; likely he has realised time is nearly up, and he is behind. He ducks down, and slashes across Isolde’s thighs.

Isolde Fifth Strike: 6

Lon’qu Defense: 17

Isolde had swung her blade in that exact moment however, did not seem to expect the height change and merely skims a strand of Lon’qu’s hair; not enough for a point.

Lon’qu Coral Bonus Strike: 11

Isolde Defense: 6

Putting all of his strength into his back foot, Lon’qu jumps up and passes forward, placing his blade flat against Isolde’s collar bones and pushing her back.

Lon’qu: 4

Isolde: 3

CHROM: “What a match! Isolde kept the lead nearly the entire time, only to have it stolen at the end.”

EMM: “Part of me is surprised, but Lon’qu always does so well in the tourneys, that I should have expected this. Congratulations, Lon’qu!”

fifty ways to kiss someone.   send me a 💏 and i will randomize a number in order for my muse to kiss yours… (not accepting)

32. …to wake yours up.

       Ryoma wakes at the same time every morning – earlier than many people might find sane, but he digresses. Of course, he doesn’t argue against sleeping in, but he rather enjoys being awake and enjoying the quiet morning birdsong and the routine of his meditation in solitude.

      Recently, however, he’s had some company.

      After tidying up his futon and getting dressed, Ryoma pads through the halls of Castle Shirasagi, seeking out Orochi’s room. He doesn’t expect her to be awake yet, so he does his best to slide her door open as quietly as possible.

      As anticipated, she’s still fast asleep, blanket pulled over her shoulders. The sight makes him smile as he walks over, kneeling down beside her and tucking a lock of hair away from her face before pressing a kiss to her cheek.

      “Wake up, Orochi. We’ll be late.”

She knew the instant she returned that something had gone wrong.

It was in the worried looks of the house's usual residents and guests when she pushed through the door. In the stillness and the quiet that hung over the place. In the lack of her twin's presence, usually a sure thing when she returned from a particularly long sojourn into the bush.

Something had gone wrong on her sister's mission, and the worry had begun to gnaw at her the second she'd realized it.

But it wasn't until she had actually pushed into the room and fallen to her knees beside her sister's futon that she truly began to feel panic bloom in her chest.

"Lina? Lina, can you hear me?"

Wrapped hands found her sister's bandaged one, taking it between them and squeezing it gently, mindful of the pain that the action might cause should she let her anxiety get out of hand.

"I'm here. I'm here with you, OK?"

ANNA: “The last axe match of the day! The hours are flying by so quickly, I can hardly keep up with it all! Lady Yvette of Rosanne will be facing off against Princess Lachesis of Nordion... Despite their delicate appearances, it seems these two have some skill with an axe-- I’m looking forward to seeing a graceful display!”

EMM: “A Rosannean competitor, how wonderful. I’m sure Sir Virion and Lady Cherche are cheering them on in the crowd.”

CHROM: “And for Lachesis, Nanna and... Ah. I did learn her brother’s name once but... Diarmuid! That was it! I’m sure they’ll be cheering her on. Perhaps Eldigan is lurking around as well?”

Yvette First Strike: 13

Lachesis Defense: 12

Yvette makes the first move of the match, rushing forward and swinging her ax in a long, upward motion. She catches Lachesis on the shoulder, scoring the first hit of the match.

Lachesis First Strike: NAT 20

Yvette Defense: 3

BONUS STRIKE: 3

Yvette Defense: 19

Lachesis retaliates with a huge swing, catching Yvette with the flat of his ax and sending her stumbling back. He swings again, nearly catching her for a second time, but Yvette dodges out of the way.

Yvette: 1 Lachesis: 1

EMM: “A strong beginning for them both!”

Yvette Second Strike: 11

Lachesis Defense: 11

Axes clash with equal force, pushing both competitors back with a grunt.

Lachesis Second Strike: 4

LION’S PAW Bonus: NAT 20

Yvette Defense: 2

Bonus Strike: 14

Yvette Defense: 6

Lachesis is quicker to recover, and manages an upward cut on her opponent. She refuses to give Yvette room to get away, and brings it back down again with gravity assisting, smashing into the Rosannean’s shoulder.

Yvette: 1 Lachesis: 3

CHROM: “I get the feeling Yvette’s going to be sore tomorrow... Let’s hope she can push past it for now though.”

Yvette Third Strike: 19

Lachesis Defense: NAT 1

FAVOR BONUS: 2

Thankfully it wasn’t Yvette’s weapon arm that took the brunt of the previous blow. Having been forced low by her assault on Yvette, Lachesis leaves herself open to a vicious strike at her side, conceding a point.

Lachesis Third Strike: 6

Yvette Defense: 11

Lachesis attempts to stop the gap from closing but unfortunately, she is still reeling from the last blow. Her grip falters, and she misses.

Yvette: 2 Lachesis: 3

CHROM: “I know the weapons are blunted, but this still looks terrifying to an outsider. Remind me not to pick a fight with either of them if it isn’t necessary.”

Yvette Fourth Strike: 15

Lachesis Defense: 3

Yvette backs off slightly, seeming to go on the defensive. At the last second however, when she is just about to be out of range, her axe is suddenly swung in the direction of Lachesis’ other side. Her opponent is too slow to react, and has now been tagged harshly on several parts of her body.

Lachesis Fourth Strike: 4

Yvette Defense: 15

Lachesis is forced to keel over and catch her breath, not getting very far in her swing. Soon after, she looks up with a new determination.

Yvette: 3 Lachesis: 3

CHROM: “Lachesis had such a great lead, but Yvette is taking the slow and steady approach in catching up. The consistancy seems to be doing her well, but can she secure that final point?”

Yvette Fifth Strike: 9

Lachesis Defense: 11

Yvette feints up, but really swings for her opponent’s stomach. Lachesis is too focused to fall for it however, and deflects her blade to the side.

Lachesis Fifth Strike: 17

Yvette Defense: 15

Axe briefly out of the way, Yvette is open to Lachesis’ next blow. After a few false attempts earlier in the match, she has finally recovered enough to surge forwards and slash her opponent’s chest.

Yvette CORAL Bonus Strike: 7

Lachesis Defense: 17

Yvette seems well aware that she has one chance to bring this to a tiebreaker. With all her strength, she goes for a wide swing but Lachesis steps back, out of range.

Yvette: 3 Lachesis: 4

EMM: “This was such a close one, but it is Lady Lachesis who wins!”

CHROM: “Lachesis was right to secure such a lead at the beginning. Yvette did well in catching up, and our Nordion princess really did need that safety net. We’ll be seeing the latter in the next round.”

TOURNEY OF SHELLS: FISHING CONTEST.

@alispun ( YVETTE )

Yvette has been given three pieces of bait! She casts her line, and…

Her first catch is a medium ice dragonfish, scoring 6 points!

Her second catch is a large fire dragonfish, scoring 5 points!

Yvette’s final catch is a small divine dragonfish, scoring 6 points!

TOURNEY OF SHELLS: FISHING CONTEST.

@alispun ( NATHANIEL )

Nathaniel has been given three pieces of bait! He casts his line, and…

His first catch is a medium earth dragonfish, scoring 3 points!

His second catch is the fish of the divine dragon king, scoring 15 points! As this was the final one in the pond, it has been removed. None are left.

Nathaniel’s final catch is a medium earth dragonfish, scoring 3 points!

TOURNEY OF SHELLS: FISHING CONTEST.

@alispun ( ISOLDE )

Isolde has been given three pieces of bait! She casts her line, and…

Her first catch is a medium ice dragonfish, scoring 5 points!

Her second catch is a large earth dragonfish, scoring 4 points!

Isolde’s final catch is a small divine dragonfish, scoring 6 points!

ANNA: “The first round of the... First round... Has gone off without a hitch, which brings us back to swords to do it all again! Please welcome Sir Eliwood of Pherae and Dame Isolde of Ylisse to the arena! They’re both said to be skilled swordspeople, but only one redhead can move on today. ... I should have entered swords, if Prince Chrom was allowed into the jousts.”

EMM: “Oh, we have legends of Sir Eliwood, don’t we, Chrom? You always remember the old stories best, but I think this should be an interesting match.”

CHROM: "Eliwood’s story isn’t exactly my expertise, but that isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy them. I was always a fan of Hector... I mean, good luck Eliwood. And Isolde.”

Isolde First Strike: 7

Eliwood Defense: NAT 20

Bonus Hit: 5

Isolde Defense: 12

Isolde makes the first move, surging forward for a strike, but Eliwood masterfully parries and makes a move to counter. While he doesn’t get the hit, he does give Isolde a run for her money, showing his true skill.

Eliwood First Strike: 8

Isolde Defense: 11

Isolde is on the lookout after Eliwood’s attempted counter. She stays on her toes, so when Eliwood swings his blade towards her shoulders, she blocks it and pushes him back to maintain some distance.

Isolde: 0 Eliwood: 0

CHROM: “A nice counterattack attempt, but neither competitor leaves any sort of opening. Who will give first?”

Isolde Second Strike: 17

Eliwood Defense: 14

This time, as Isolde moves in to hit, she gains the upper hand. She swings up, which Eliwood easily dodges, but then brings her sword back down, catching his shoulder and scoring a point.

Eliwood Second Strike: 13

Isolde Defense: 11

Eliwood takes advantage of Isolde’s stance after her strike and brings the flat of his blade around, hitting her side and scoring a point as well.

Isolde: 1 Eliwood: 1

EMM: “The match is a stalemate still!”

Isolde Third Strike: 11

Eliwood Defense: 3

Lion’s Paw Bonus: 11

Isolde lunges in for a strike, and she nearly gets Eliwood off guard, but he brings his sword up to block her. Their blades lock and they both push apart after the loud, metallic clang resonates in the air.

Eliwood Third Strike: 12

Isolde Defense: 15

Eliwood gets some space after the clash of blades and moves back in at an angle, hoping to get a flanking maneuver on Isolde. But she dodges his strike, and the two seem to be well matched.

Isolde: 1 Eliwood: 1

CHROM: "Evenly matched it seems. Will this get far enough to need a sudden death strike?”

Isolde Fourth Strike: 4

Lion’s Paw Bonus: 16

Eliwood Defense: 13

Isolde knows the match is almost over and is determined to break the tie. She makes quick footwork over the sand and makes a low strike, smacking the blunt of her sword against Eliwood’s side.

Eliwood Fourth Strike: NAT 1

FAVOR BONUS: 10

Isolde Defense: 12

Isolde’s hit knocks the wind out of Eliwood and he has to recover. But he doesn’t leave himself open for attack. The lord makes a wide strike, knowing he will miss, but keeping Isolde at bay while he catches his breath once more.

Isolde: 2 Eliwood: 1

CHROM: "Finally, Isolde takes the lead! But there’s a reason Eliwood is a legendary hero - can she defend her advantageous position?”

Isolde Fifth Strike: 14

Eliwood Defense: 8

The match is coming to an end and Isolde has the lead, but not by much. She makes another lunging strike, and before Eliwood can dodge, she gets a hit on his shoulder.

Eliwood Fifth Strike: 9

Isolde Defense: 7

Right before the bells chime the end of the match, Eliwood swings his blade and brings it hard against Isolde’s side. He scores the last point of the match, and the crowd breaks into applause.

Isolde: 3 Eliwood: 2 

EMM: “What a close match! That one had us all on the edge of our seats.”

CHROM: "They concede a point each which whilst exciting, doesn’t switch the tides. Our winner is Isolde!”