Robin and Chrom vs. Lucina and...?

The time for training had come to an end. Just as they once had before, Chrom and Robin would meet Lucina in the Ferox arena. Of course, at that time, it had been for the fate of a kingdom and humanity… this time, the only thing at stake was dignity.

Robin kept repeating this to herself while working to keep her expression and body language calm and avoid psyching out her ally. Soon enough, the arena began to transform: two gigantic sculptures of burly gladiators arose from the ground, each handling the platforms above on which combat could be conducted. This shift meant their enemies had arrived.

Even though Robin had expected Lucina, she was still as surprised as she’d been the first time she’d seen “the Hero-King Marth” remove the mask. That was because this Lucina look nothing like the one she knew: rather than Chrom’s blue hair, this Lucina’s was closer to a dark grey, and her outfit was purple. Nonetheless, there was unmistakable recognition on her face when her eyes met Chrom’s. “Father!” she called, beginning to run to him.

“Lucina, wait,” another voice called, one that belonged to no one Robin had ever heard. Yet, it sounded familiar… almost familiar enough to belong to family. The mystery guest didn’t keep Robin in suspense. He appeared in a ring of teleportation much like any other combatant. However, Robin couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Looking at the mystery partner was like looking into a mirror. He wore the same robe. He carried the same tome. He even wielded a Levin Sword, impossible as it was to believe. With his hood up and his mouth shut, he was indeed completely identical. He didn’t keep it up long, though, pulling down his shroud to reveal short white hair. The two could easily have been twins.

“Robin? It’s Father! He’s in this world! To think… I would be reunited a second time…” Lucina cried, becoming emotional as she took a few more shaky steps towards Chrom.

The female Robin frowned deeply, trying to take stock of the situation. The newcomer was just too confusing. She would think of him as the Impostor for now, in order to untangle her thoughts. The Impostor was strange enough, but… who was this Lucina? She clearly wasn’t the Lucina Robin knew, and she hadn’t arrived the same as Robin and Chrom. Yet, she knew Chrom and saw him as a father…

“Lucina, understand. That isn’t your father,” the Impostor warned her, keeping his sword at the ready. “On this battlefield, anything can happen, and we have to remain careful. If he’s your father, where has he been? Why hasn’t he sought you out since arriving? Think carefully. Ask him a question only he would know.”

Lucina gulped, then turned to Chrom, still a good distance from him. “… Mother? Is she here?” Lucina asked cautiously and perhaps desperately. “Have you seen her, Father?”

Chrom gulped, looking unsure of how to answer. Guile and deceit weren’t his forte, though, so he answered honestly. “Um, Lucina…? Your mother isn’t here. Only Robin and I have found each other.” He thought he had perhaps seen some others he knew while observing other matches, but only fleeting glimpses… and the question of whether his sister, Lissa, was here was one he didn’t want to think about. Not under these conditions.

“Robin, you two had already found each other?” Lucina asked the Impostor, clearly confused.

“This Chrom isn’t talking about me,” he informed her, looking calm as someone who knew an answer everyone else was still figuring out. “He’s talking about… you, isn’t he, Tactician?” The man spoke now to his double, who had been keeping silent.

Robin knew that the “disguise” Chrom had given her was more of a good sentiment and a good-luck-charm than anything, but still, she wanted to hold onto it. She couldn’t respond without revealing her gender in her voice.

“Really…? All right, that’s quite enough, Tactician,” the Impostor spoke coldly, raising his tome. “You’re hiding your gender, aren’t you? In your position, I’d be doing the same, but you’re not hiding that card well. Let’s set aside the games.”

Frowning, Robin removed her hood, revealing her side pigtails and her intense glare. “Chrom,” she began, “This is serious. I fear this confrontation will not be like the others we’ve faced.”

Chrom drew his sword, looking tense. He knew she wasn’t referring to only the points they’d raised before. “I feel the gods at work in this outcome,” he agreed. “Could there really be such a skillful doppelganger, though? Lucina even wields the Falchion…”

“I advise you not to think of her as Lucina,” Robin told him, readying her tome. “In this situation, we’re at a disadvantage. I don’t have time to discuss all the reasons why. That said, the Shepherds are used to fighting at a disadvantage.” She gave Chrom a smile she hoped was more confident than she felt.

“Hold!” Chrom shouted to the others, who were now unsheathing their own weapons. “Why should we fight at all? Aren’t we allies on the same side? If the gods have gathered us, is it truly just to have at each other in petty combat?!”

Robin bit her lip. In a two-on-two match, this was the worst possible situation. The enemy tactician was obviously cool-headed, and unlike her own bravado put on for show, she could tell it was genuine. He could make the first strike at any time. Robin had to do something to ensure she didn’t end up fighting one-on-one…