Mikoto was already climbing onto the saddle when Fugaku finally caught up, vaguely protesting to her newborn ritual. His warnings fell on deaf ears. If it were any other matter, she would have obeyed her lord husband --- but not for this, not even for him.

Fugaku got to ask for heirs, Fugaku got to name them, and Mikoto was the one who had to fight a battle on the birthing-bed. All she wanted in return for her part was...

“Sasuke’s nine days old,” she breathed, carefully tugging the harness round Itachi’s body, “I was only three nights out the womb when my mother took me.”

ANNA: “Our third round of axes brings us back to Fodlan, where we will have a battle of the... Eagle and Deer? Is that a thing? In any case, stepping into one half of the arena is the Imperial Princess of the Adrestian Empire and leader of the Black Eagle house, Edelgard! On the other, we have Raphael Kirsten of the Leicester Alliance, and a member of the Golden Deer house! I’ve heard many things about the Golden Deer from my sister in Fodlan... Apparently, the deer are to be feared? Let’s see if that holds up today.”

EMM: “Some more Fodlan competitors! Oh my, is that young man trying to bench press audience members as a warm-up?”

CHROM: “Raphael, put that one down. The rules state you can’t bench press more than three audience members at a time.”

Edelgard First Strike: 9

Raphael Defense: NAT 20

Raphael Bonus Strike: 19

Edelgard Defense: 4

Seemingly energised from his unique warm up, he effortlessly blocks Edelgard’s opening attack. Not only that, he forces both of their axes to the side, leaving Edelgard open for him to immediately come back with a strike across the chest.

Raphael First Strike: 6

Edelgard Defense: 3

Stumbling back from Raphael’s sheer strength, the princess is unable to raise her guard in time to protect from a blow lowered to the thigh.

Edelgard: 0 Raphael: 2

EMM: “A very strong start from Raphael. His warm-ups seem to have paid off.”

Edelgard Second Strike: 10

Raphael Defense: 9

Edelgard’s brow furrows, unwilling to allow Raphael to keep such a strong lead. With his axe still low, she is able to dart forward and slash his arm.

Raphael Second Strike: NAT 20

Edelgard Defense: 7

Raphael Bonus Strike: 3

Edelgard Defense: 18

Edelgard is too close: in his next movement, Raphael raises his axe arm to remove her from him, but in the motion slams the weapon into the side of her head. He looks guilty, but attempts to get a second strike in anyway. Though disorientated, Edelgard blocks with the blade of her axe, seemingly out of pure survival instinct.

Edelgard: 1 Raphael: 3

CHROM: “Our first true headshot of the tournament! We’ve had jaws and chins so far, but this was different... I’m surprised Edelgard is still standing after a blow like that.”

Edelgard Third Strike: NAT 1

Lion’s Paw Bonus: 14

Raphael Defense: 14

Edelgard aims low but then scoops her blade in an upward motion, attempting to get inside Raphael’s guard. She must still be dizzy however, as she doesn’t get close enough and catches his own axe instead.

Raphael Third Strike: 18

Edelgard Defense: NAT 1

FAVOR BONUS: 17

Raphael pushes her blade down and catches her hip with the handle of his weapon, netting himself another point.

Edelgard: 1 Raphael: 4

CHROM: “Another point to Raphael. Edelgard seems to finally be recovering, however - but what about her score?”

Edelgard Fourth Strike: 4

Raphael Defense: 12

Edelgard pulls her axe towards herself and then out again, aiming at the shoudlder. However, despite having given herself a better angle, the overall movement proves too slow as Raphael is able to repel it.

Raphael Fourth Strike: 2

Catch of the Day LION’S PAW Bonus: 16

Edelgard Defense: 12

With an almighty roar, Raphael charges forward and rams the thankfully blunt, top edge of his axe into Edelgard’s stomach, pushing her back.

Edelgard: 1 Raphael: 5

CHROM: "This doesn’t look good for Edelgard.”

Edelgard Fifth Strike: 13

Raphael Defense: 7

Springing back into action, the princess shoves the handle of her axe into Raphael’s chin from below.

Raphael Fifth Strike: 11

FAVOR BONUS: 16

Edelgard Defense: 11

By reflex Raphael retaliates. Despite feeling bad for the headblow he dealt earlier, his instant response seems to be to strike whatever he can reach and unfortunately for Edelgard, this happens to be the side of her head again. She doesn’t even have time to shriek before being knocked unconcaious.

Edelgard: 2 Raphael: 6

EMM: “My goodness, is Her Majesty alright? We’ll need to call a cleric.”

CHROM: “I think in the distance, I can hear Hubert screaming for far different reasons than his own match. This time, it seems to be bloody murder...”

“Let us get ready to take chances and win!”

Captain: Lilina (revermause)

First Mate: Grima ( @metuereofnoctis )

Crew Member 1: Tobin ( @fatedcomrades )

Crew Member 2: Kaze ( @valorandgold )

Crew Member 3: Valter ( @bloodthirstymoonstone )

Crew Member 4: Lon'qu ( @solitaryblade )      

Crew Member 5: Fergus ( @cavaliant )

Crew Member 6: Joelle ( @worldwide-coalesce )

Crew Member 7: Raigh ( @sireneia )

Crew Member 8: Linus ( @herousanimarum )

“THAT’S MY DAUGHTER RIGHT THERE! NO ONE TRY ANYTHING FUNNY OR ELSE!!”

“Ahaha, already got your own pirate crew to lead, eh? You’ll do great out there!”

Hector had only recently come to this world. Upon asking where his daughter was, a few heroes helpfully pointed him in her direction. The only thing on his mind was how happy he was to see her. When he finally does, he expected her to laugh a bit and for them to happily tour the beach as father and daughter. 

Although she does her utmost to mask her emotions, he knows her too well to be fooled. Upon seeing his face, something profoundly changed in her expression. There was grief, and a flash of pain. Lilina likely guessed what her face had looked like, because she hides it by embracing him. His arms envelop her, just as easily as they always did. But, his grip is gentle and he means it to be soothing. 

Whatever she’s been through must’ve been horrible. Hector knew that his daughter had the habit of putting on a brave face. But, the harder she tried, meant the worse her suffering. As they hugged, he leans down to plant a kiss on the top of her head. His beard mingles with her hair, and he kisses her softly. Then, he stands up straight, and pulls her close. 

“You can tell me,” he says, his deep voice impossibly soft. “I know how you are, Lilina.”

   that voice is... familiar. you can’t quite place it, but the feelings of grief and nostalgia it’s stirring up within you in equal measure is enough to determine it’s someone you haven’t seen in a very long time at least. someone you... miss dearly. you turn on your heel, ready to reassure the lady, and whatever you’re about to say dies on your throat. your eyes widen. and it all comes back to you. 

   ( you’d forgotten her voice, it had been so long. something in you cracks at that. a sharp, painful little crack, that makes you wish the eliwood of your time were here despite being bedridden. )

   god, she’s even more radiant than you remembered. the portrait in the castle doesn’t do her justice. and she’s here, she’s alive, and you want to close the distance and hug her so tightly in case she vanishes on you all over again.

“moth--”

   you clap a hand over your mouth. mother... doesn’t know who you are. she hasn’t had you yet... from her perspective. you’d been warned askr could be like this. you could meet younger versions of your parents or even lord hector and lady lyndis, but to them you might as well be a stranger, or their only knowledge of you would be a mewling infant. your heart sinks and you suddenly feel very alone, but you force a smile anyways. 

   you don’t want mother to ever see you sad. 

“my lady,“ you correct yourself smoothly, bowing to her. you could tell her who you really are, but you don’t wish to overwhelm her. “you would be surprised at how often i get that. it’s quite alright, though! it’s an honour to be compared favourably to lord eliwood. were you looking for him? i could help you track him down.”

Ah thank you!! Sadly we had to disband but your offer is very appreciated!! 

Send me a word and my muse will reveal a memory that has to do with it.

     A home is a difficult thing to keep over thousands of years, but there is one place Augustus recalls when he hears that word. 

     On the Aventine hill, in ancient times, he owned a beautiful villa. The walls were frescoed in brilliant colours, covered in vines. The gardens were lush and filled with exotic flowers. Water flowed clean and free through fountains and baths. Still, this is not the first thing he remembers when he thinks of “home”. 

     It is of the hearth. Sitting by the fire on cool autumn evenings. Drinking wine and feeling a rare moment of peace. He remembers watching his daughter, his Julia, working at her loom and telling him of her day at the Portico. He remembers laughing when she got frustrated and took a knife to her work. 

“Arm...wrestling?”

The concept was foreign to him. He knew of what it was. But to face PRINCE SHIRO of all people, that was a challenge best left unaccepted. Siegbert was no weakling, he had honed his body just as his father had at his age. Brains. Brawn. He was the prince that would someday aspire to be the great king his own father was.

But still...Prince Shiro. That man was like a solid block of meat. His muscles seemed to have muscles. And Siegbert had paid witness to the other prince challenging others to the game of arm wrestling. It never ended pretty for the opponent.