Chapter 3

The voyage to Plegia was quite calm. As bad as the preceding days had been, Weiss would have expected the trip to be stormy, but the weather had been ideal. Favorable winds even accelerated the trip and they arrived a day early. In Plegia there was no need to hide who they were. Plegia and Valm were not at war, at least not at the moment, but they were not on friendly terms either. That meant Weiss would have little to fear from her father. Being his enemy might even help. Valm and Plegia had gone to war a few times during the reign of Weiss' father and Valm had won every time. Plegia was always on the lookout for ways to strike back, to get some level of revenge for the repeated and humiliating defeats.

That was not to say Weiss wanted Plegian help. Plegia was a strange country. Most of the world worshiped Naga, a benevolent dragon that protected humanity from its malevolent fellows. Plegians worshiped Grima, an evil dragon that had attempted to destroy the world on more than one occasion. Grima had initially been sealed away by Naga, but it was briefly revived and then finally killed some time ago. Still the Plegians held onto their religion. They hated the worshipers of Naga, basically the entire rest of the world, and the rest of the world treated them with disgust. While some Plegians might be willing to support Weiss in her bid to defeat her father, she knew well the price of their help would be too high to countenance.

Regna Ferox was only a short journey from their port of arrival, so the group immediately set off, hoping to get out of Plegia as quickly as possible. Even were they able to do that without confrontation, getting into Ferox would not be easy. A wall lined the border between the nations and was closely guarded by forces from Ferox. Anyone attempting to enter the country was treated with extreme suspicion and Weiss was the daughter of the man who had just declared war on them. She would either need to be one heck of a smooth talker or there was going to be quite a battle. Unlike most other nations, Regna Ferox's conflict with Plegia was not religious. Ferox was mostly irreligious. The problem was Plegia frequently started border skirmishes and attempted to intrigue in Feroxi politics.

"Gods this country is unpleasant." Weiss complained as the group trudged through the Plegian desert. "Why anyone would want to live here is beyond me."

"Maybe that's why they're always trying to invade their neighbors." Blake suggested. "They probably don't want to live here."

"Experiencing these conditions does certainly inspire some sympathy for the poor souls forced to endure it." Weiss admitted. "I just hope Ferox is more...temperate."

"It's better, but much colder." Blake said. She had lived there for most of her life as many exiles from Chon'sin had.

"I'll take cold right now." Yang groaned. She was basically being cooked in her plate armor but it was too dangerous to take it off. In Plegia, as in most of the world, the roads were not safe. Highwaymen and other heavily armed criminals were always on the lookout for targets.

"We should have brought more water." Ruby said. Even in her lighter leather armor she was still sweltering.

"A little suffering is good for you." Blake said. She wore no armor, as was custom in Chon'sin. Their warriors valued mobility over protection. "Especially you princess."

"Yeah, I get it." Weiss said. She wore little armor, just some plate on her left arm and leg. "You think I'm soft just because I was born into royalty. Well, my life hasn't been as easy as you think."

"I'm sure it beat growing up an orphan." Blake countered.

"Settle down guys, this isn't a contest." Yang said. "I'm sure we've all had our rough patches. Arguing about it isn't going to help anyone."

"Yeah!" Ruby said. "We're all on the same side. We should be friends!"

"Me, friends with a Schnee?" Blake laughed. "That'll be the day."

"Right back at you." Weiss snapped.

Yang spotted something ahead near a rock outcrop. "Down!" She shouted, simultaneously leaping in front of Weiss. An arrow glanced off her chest plate and deflected away. Ahead two more armed men stepped out from behind the rocks to join the archer that had fired on them. Behind them four more came out from their hiding spots in dead ground on either side of the road. It was an ambush.

"What do we have here?" One of the attackers stepped forward carrying a cudgel. He had bright red hair tucked beneath a hat and wore make-up around his eye. "It seems some travelers have wandered into the wrong part of Plegia."

"Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?" Weiss challenged.

The man squinted and took a few more steps forward. "Now that you mention it, you look a lot like Princess Weiss of Valm." He said. "Could it really be?"

"It is." Weiss replied.

"Well then, that changes everything." The man said. "You'll bring in quite the ransom. That's money to retire on. Alright boys, keep the princess alive, kill the rest."

The attackers had the group surrounded and closed in with weapons drawn. The group readied their own weapons, forming a circle facing out at the closing ring of enemies. "Well this took a turn." Yang sighed. "Let's teach these idiots a lesson."

Weiss stabbed Myrtenaster into the sand and a wall of ice erupted from the ground to surround the quartet. At a loss, one of the attackers approached and tried hitting the wall with his sword. His strikes began making progress when, gauntlets flaming, Yang burst through the ice and punched him straight in the face. He tumbled back unconscious as Yang turned on the man beside him. Yang punched a sword strike away then uppercutted the man in the jaw hard enough to lift him off the ground.

On the opposite side Ruby came leaping over the top of the ice wall. Spinning in the air she brought the blunt side of her scythe slamming down on an attacker's head before he could react. She turned as another attacked, ducked beneath his slash, then hooked her blade on the back of his greaves. With a tug she pulled his legs out from under him and he slammed down on his back. Ruby swung her weapon around and bashed him in the face with the blunt edge to knock him out.

Blake suddenly appeared behind the archer. Unbeknownst to her enemies, or even her allies for that matter, her legendary weapon Gambol Shroud allowed her to move unseen while leaving an illusion of her behind. A quick punch to the back of the head knocked out the archer. The swordsman guarding him lunged at Blake but she sidestepped the attack and got inside his range. She grabbed his arm, lifting and twisting until it dislocated. She then grabbed him behind the head and flipped him to the ground. A kick to the side of the head left him unconscious.

The leader of the attackers was now the only one left standing. He backed away as the four closed in on him. "Neo, now would be a good time." He said. A diminutive woman leapt out from behind a rock, landing between the leader and the group. She crossed her rapier over her chest and bowed, holding the position. Yang charged forward and punched her in the head with all her might. Neo, and the bandit leader besides, shattered like glass, just an illusion. They were gone.

"Damnit!" Yang shouted. "I wanted to finish them off."

"It's just as well." Weiss said. "I think we got our point across."

"What should we do about them?" Ruby asked.

"Just leave them." Weiss said. "Hopefully they've learned their lesson."

As the group began to depart, one of the bandits, feigning unconsciousness, jumped up and leapt at Ruby. Blake slid in the way and plunged her blade through the man's chest. "I guess not." She said. With a push the man slid off the blade and fell dead in the sand.

"Gods, you killed him!" Ruby exclaimed.

"I sure did." Blake said. "And he would have killed you if I hadn't."

"But...did you really have to?" Ruby pressed.

"Is it that big a deal?" Blake asked. "The man was filth, preying on the weak. His death no doubt makes the world a better place."

"You're a soldier." Weiss said. "Killing people is something you do."

"I get it...it's just that...I've never killed anyone." Ruby said.

"It's hard but, it's something you have to come to terms with." Yang said. "It's kill or be killed in this world."

"But you've never killed anyone." Ruby said.

"Well...about that." Yang said. "Remember the semifinals of the last tournament? They dragged my opponent out of the ring. He wasn't just unconscious. It wasn't intentional, but it's just something that happens."

"That was a rather unfortunate incident." Weiss said. "But he was not the first to fall in a tournament and he will surely not be the last."

"I don't know if I can do this." Ruby sighed.

"Ruby, whether we like it or not, we're at war." Weiss said. "Many more will die before this is over. It is our duty to save those we can. Beyond that we must do what is necessary to keep ourselves alive, so we can do what is right for the peace of this world."

"Yes, many people will die in this war." Blake said. "But many more would suffer should the emperor complete his conquest. We'll avoid bloodshed when possible, but there will be times when there are no other options."

"I guess...I guess I'll just have to live with it." Ruby said.

It only took a few days for the group to reach the border with Ferox and the giant wall that separated it from Plegia. The desert had given way to a more temperate forest but the surroundings were no more friendly. The wall was patrolled by Feroxi soldiers and the gate was sealed. Weiss boldly approached at the head of her small group, walking straight up to the gate. "Who dares approach this fortification?" A voice called from atop the rampart.

"Weiss Schnee, princess of Valm, Duchess of Chon'sin." She replied.

"Yeah, sure, and I'm the Khan." The voice called back. A heavily armored man, apparently the commander of the section of wall, looked down at the group.

"I bear my signet." Weiss said. "Take a look if you don't believe me."

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't have my soldiers slaughter your little band." The commander challenged. "If you are who you say you are, and that in itself is a big if, you are an enemy of Ferox."

"No, my father is an enemy of Ferox." Weiss countered. "And I am an enemy of him. I wish to assist Regna Ferox in defeating him."

The commander disappeared behind the wall and no reply came for some time. Several minutes later the gate opened. The commander stood at the head of a phalanx of soldiers. "Let's see this signet." The commander said. He took a few steps away from his soldiers and Weiss took a few steps ahead of her retainers. She showed him her two rings, one for the imperial seal and one for her personal seal. The personal one would have been too obscure for him to recognize, but there was no mistaking the imperial seal. "Well Your Majesty, it seems you are either who you say you are or a master forger."

"Will you allow us entry?" Weiss asked.

"Not just yet." The commander replied. "There is a village near here, renown for producing first-rate warriors. I know of two currently residing there. I will arrange to have them brought here. You will select two champions from your group to represent you and fight against them. Standard tournament rules apply. If you best them, you will have proven your worth and be admitted, then taken under guard to the capital. If you fail, you will not be welcome in Ferox. We do not tolerate weakness."

"You have a deal sir." Weiss said.

"Very good." The commander said. "Until the appointed time you may share our camp."

"Thank you for the hospitality." Weiss said, turning on the charm. "You have my sincere gratitude."

"You might be less thankful when you see who you have to fight." The commander warned.

The following day it was time to fight. A makeshift ring had been set up near the wall, marked with chalk and cleared of any debris. The commander of the garrison was already waiting there when the group arrived, all armed and ready. "So princess, who are your champions?" The commander asked.

"I will be represented by my retainer Yang...and myself." Weiss replied. She and Yang stepped into the ring. Yang moved toward the center while Weiss remained on the periphery.

"Fighting on your own behalf?" The commander said. "Gutsy. I think I like you."

"Who are we going to beat?" Yang asked.

"Confident, I like you too." The commander laughed. "Two warriors much like yourselves. Foreigners who fight for their right to remain in Ferox." The commander swept his arm toward a group of tightly clustered soldiers. As they parted a man and a woman stepped through and into the ring. The man was unarmored, dressed in a style not very different from that popular in Chon'sin. He carried a tome, and was clearly some sort of mage. He was tall and thin, and had long black hair streaked with pink. The woman was heavily armored like Yang and carried a gigantic hammer. She was short with shockingly red hair. "Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie."

"Hold on a second, what happens to them if they lose?" Ruby asked.

"They will be banished from the realm." The commander replied. "They have yet to prove themselves worthy of a place in Ferox but their training here has been extensive. Now is their chance to show it has been worthwhile."

"That seems unnecessarily cruel." Ruby said.

"It is our way." The commander shrugged. "Now, I trust you all know the rules. I shall act as judge for this combat. Are you ready?"

"Ready." Weiss said calmly.

"Oh yeah." Yang said, punching her gauntlets together as they burst into flames.

"Let's do it!" Nora exclaimed. Ren just nodded.

"Then...begin!" The commander shouted.

For a moment the combatants did not engage. "I'll take the heavy." Yang said. "Just keep the magic boy away from me."

"Of course." Weiss said.

With that Yang charged at Nora. Nora rushed toward Yang. Just before colliding Nora spun around, whipping her hammer horizontally around her body. Yang cocked her right arm and punched, meeting Nora's attack. The thunderous blow pushed both fighters back as a shockwave pulsed from Nora's hammer. It was obviously no ordinary hammer or Yang's punch would have obliterated it. Nora spun with her new momentum, doing a complete turn before coming to a stop. Yang charged back at her, slid under a wild swing, and delivered a punch to Nora's chest plate that sent her tumbling back.

Meanwhile Weiss circled around the edge of the ring, Myrtenaster in her left hand, keeping the blade pointed at Ren. Ren too circled so that the pair moved toward each other, leaving Yang and Nora out of their line of fire. Weiss stopped and with a flick of her wrist blasted a stream of fire toward Ren. Ren calmly opened his tome, raised his hand a spoke a spell. A gust of wind pulsed from his hand, fanning the flames and blowing them back towards Weiss. She was forced to dive away, singed but mostly alright.

Trading magical attacks with Ren was not going to work for Weiss so she charged straight at him. "Nora!" Ren called. Nora disengaged from Yang and rushed into Weiss' path. Weiss could not fight the heavily armored warrior head-on and slid to a stop. Yang came rushing in to continue her fight with Nora but the pursuit was too reckless. Nora wound up and unleashed an underhand swing of her hammer that caught Yang full-force in the torso. Another explosive shockwave sent Yang hurtling skyward. Free to act for the moment, Ren cast another spell and lightning erupted from his fingers, arcing into the airborne Yang.

Nora watched as Yang tumbled through the air, on the receiving end of Ren's shocking attack. Weiss saw her opening. She jabbed Myrtenaster into the ground at Nora's feet and a column of ice shot up to engulf Nora, leaving her frozen in place. Ren kept hitting Yang with electricity until she slammed to the ground. She lay there motionless. "Out!" The commander called. "Out!" By his judgement, both Yang and Nora were eliminated from the fight to prevent their further injury.

Ren turned his electric attack on Weiss but she countered with one of her own. Current from the tip of Myrtenaster and Ren's fingers arced through the air, meeting in a ball of ever-growing energy. It was finally too much and the ball exploded in a blinding flash. Using it as a distraction Weiss rushed forward, lowered her armored shoulder and slammed into Ren. The mage tumbled to the ground, rolling to a stop on his back. Weiss rushed toward him and put her blade to his throat. She waited for a decision. "I yield." Ren said.

"Stop!" The commander shouted. "Yang and Princess Weiss of Valm are the victors."

Weiss headed to check on the still prone Yang. As she passed Nora she tapped the frozen warrior with her blade, freeing her from the icy snare. Nora dropped to the ground in a daze as Weiss continued on. She knelt at Yang's side. "Are you alright?" She asked.

"I hate hammers." Yang groaned. "And mages."

"I'll take that as a yes." Weiss said with a smile.

Blake and Ruby rushed into the ring. "Yay!" Ruby exclaimed. "We did it!"

"What do you mean we?" Blake asked. "We just watched."

"We're all on the same team here." Ruby said. "We're all winners."

"Not them." Weiss said, looking back at her opponents.

Nora knelt on the ground crying as Ren stood beside her with a hand on her shoulder. "Where will we go?" Nora sobbed. "We don't even have a home to go back to."

"It'll be alright." Ren assured her. "We'll figure something out."

"I just don't…" Nora cried, the rest of her words garbled. Ren did his best to soothe her but was obviously not the man for the task.

"I'm very sorry, but you two must leave, immediately." The commander said. "We made a deal."

"They will be doing nothing of the sort." Weiss said. She walked up to the group. "You both showed impressive skill." Nora looked up at her, still crying. Ren barely seemed to notice Weiss' existence. "I would like to hire you as my retainers. Come fight with me, and when this war is over I will see to it that you can settle wherever you please."

"R-really?" Nora stammered. "You're serious?"

"I am." Weiss said. She offered her hand. Nora took it and Weiss pulled her to her feet. "Well, what is your reply?"

"Of course we'll do it!" Nora exclaimed. "Right Ren?!" Ren nodded. "This is so exciting! We get to go on an adventure and we finally get to have a home! A real home!"

"I'm afraid having a home is dependent on our winning this war." Weiss sighed. "That goes for all of us."

"Oh, we'll win!" Nora said. "No doubt about it!"

"I like her enthusiasm but I think she's a bit too optimistic...and manic." Yang said. "Your Majesty, are you sure we should take them on?"

"I don't know." Weiss said with a devious smile. "Perhaps another demonstration of their abilities is in order. Or was one round enough for you?"

"Point taken." Yang said, holding up her hands. "Welcome aboard."

"Hooray!" Ruby exclaimed. "New friends!"

"I didn't come here to make friends." Blake said. "But they will make valuable additions to our force."

"Now that we've got this settled it's time we left for the capital." Weiss said. "We have important business to attend to."

"A detachment of my soldiers will see to your safe passage." The commander said. "Though judging by that fight I'd say you don't need the help. Still, a promise is a promise."

"Thank you." Weiss said. "I will put in a good word with your superiors. Let us proceed."