"According to your agreement, if a knight was unable to duel for 'whatever' reason, the Princess would take my place," Hero smiled.

"J-Just a moment! Let me talk to my knight," I told Sierra as she nodded.

"Hero, you can't quit on me now!" I whined.

"You've worked so hard--, this is your chance!" I whispered.

"You are right, Princess. It's a chance. But not one I'm willing to take," he smiled.

"But why?! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!" I said in disbelief.

"Right again, Princess. If I defeat Duke Everheart then I rise the ranks and gain fame. And if I lose, nothing changes. But, you, Princess, lose. There'll be other chances for me, and I'll work hard for them. After everything you've done for us, I won't let you lose this chance," he whispered back.

"It's a gift. And I don't take no for an answer. Win, Princess. This honor is yours to take," he said, putting his forehead on mine.

"Only if you promise to be the best knight ever," I giggled and gave him a hug.

"Oh, I don't need to promise, with the Princess. That. Is my destiny," he smiled.

"Sierra," I called.

"Hero is unable to fight. I'm taking his place," I smirked.

Sierra returned my smirked and announced it.

"Hero Gates is unable to duel, Princess Snow shall be taking his place," she announced as the bleachers went crazy with cheers.

"That's cheating, Snowflake," Father complained.

"I said that if a knight was unable to duel for 'whatever' reason. That, of course, can include the reason being, he simply doesn't want to," I smiled as father marched over to Duke Everheart to take his place.

-------------------

"I'm warning you, my daughter is as tricky as she is strong," Victor warned.

"Like I said. I'm going to duel. I'll uphold my end of the deal and you'll uphold yours," the Duke said in a cold tone.

"Listen to me, I'll still duel your son, just let me take your place!" Victor begged.

"If I lose to the girl my son might not be interested in you anymore," the Duke glanced at the Princess who was already in position.

"Oh no, not another follower on my daughter's tail. I'll let you duel if you promise not to let your son get anywhere near my daughter," Victor said threateningly.

The Duke shrugged, "If I win then so be it,"

"No, no, no! You have to agree, win or lose!" Victor exclaimed.

"Princess," the Duke called, calmly as she came closer.

"Your father is being quite pesky. Remind him what happens if he forces me to withdraw," the Duke said plainly.

"Is my father having trouble?" Snow giggled.

"If you force the Duke to withdraw just to take his place then you're cheating father. You lose." Snow explained.

"You signed a magic pact, if you do this then it will react. Not only will your magic be sealed for 3 months, if you break our secondary agreement and refuse to take me to Slade an additional 9 months will be added to make it a full year," she added as the Duke stifled a laugh.

"You actually agreed to that?" the Duke asked tauntingly.

"Not a word from you, Benjamin," Victor growled.

"I do as I please," he said bored.

The Duke did do as he pleased. Not even King Lennon can control the whims of the Duke.

The Duke was loyal no doubt, but if he wanted something badly enough, he had it. Much like his best friend, Duchess Bellatrix Ascot.

"If this is all. Are you ready to duel, Duke Everheart?" Snow smiled.

Victor shook his head slowly as the Duke smiled amused by Victor's behavior.

The Duke knew better than to underestimate children. After all, his own son could take on full grown beastmen twice his size at 6.

"Excuse us a minute if you please, Princess. And Ben is fine," he smiled gently as she backed off.

"Alrighty, uncle Benny," she waved.

The Duke was slightly shocked.

"She's... Just like Bell... Isn't she?" the Duke asked in intrest.

"Don't look at her. She's attracting too much attention on her own, I don't want you to be added to the list," Victor growled.

"The girl's a light in a world of moths. Looking at all her little... What did you call them? Followers? You can tell, she's special," the Duke laughed.

"You don't need me to tell you that. If you insist on dueling, then make sure you win. If we really do have a tie breaker, you'll see just how 'special' she is," Victor said worriedly.

His daughter had an extreme talent in magic. She could be on par with him. And if two major sources of power would clash seriously then... Like Snow said. It would be catastrophic.

"I'll do my best," the Duke said seriously.

The Duke got into position.

"Show your bestial form," Caleb signaled.

The Duke stared Intently at the nine tailed princess. He never once thought of taking her lightly as she grinned a fox like grin.

He could only feel her confidence. She was neither nervous or afraid.

Which in turn, made him nervous.

"Start!"

The Duke stayed still. Waiting for her to make the first move.

Snow was amused and he flinched. Why? Why was she amused?

She rushed at him as he got ready to block.

He searched for where she was going to strike.

He saw that she was getting ready to strike his leg and lowered his sword, ready for a counter strike.

But before their swords even came in contact, Snow jumped unto the Duke's shoulders and slit his throat.

The Duke held his throat in disbelief. The wound was already healed but the blood he lost was a good amount.

It was over before he even started.

"The point goes to Princess Snow," Sierra announced but everyone was too shocked to make a sound.

"I--," the Duke started.

"I failed... That blow... It seems that I... I'm not undefeated anymore..." the Duke laughed.

"Oh, Princess. You're quite the little monster, now aren't you," the Duke grinned.

"Oh, don't say that, uncle Benny, it was just a stroke of luck is all," she smiled.

"I warned you, Ben. You've humiliated yourself," Victor sighed.

The Duke was exhilarated. He hadn't been defeated in awhile.

"Ah, it seems so. Please, visit if you have the time, Princess. I'd love to spar with you again," the Duke smiled.

"Of course, uncle Benny. But I suggest you clear the field now," Snow said seriously.

"It looks like it really has to come down to you and me Snowflake," Victor sighed.

Sierra, Caleb, Arian and Hero backed away to the bleachers as the father daughter pair went to get more space.

"Are you ready to hear the rules of the final duel, father?" she asked as he nodded.

"There are none," she said, a whip appearing in her hand as Victor narrowly doged her attack.

"Be careful what you wish for, Snowflake," he warned, summoning a bow and arrow as he shot at her three arrows at a time.

"Aerial!" Snow summoned to attack her father from behind.

"Carrie! Perona!" Victor summoned his own wind spirit to counter Aerial and his ice spirit to help the attack on Snow.

Snow and Victor refused to close their distance as they both summoned all nine Spirits.

"This is going nowhere, Snow!" Victor shouted over the clash.

"You first, father!" she shouted back as all the spirits dissappeared.

With a whistle, Nightmare came thundering in to help his master in battle.

"Tsk," Victor tsked in annoyance.

Victor pulled out a sun stone so that Nightmare couldn't come anywhere near him.

"So you've prepared well, father," Snow glared as Nightmare retreated.

"Never had I the intention of going easy on you, Snow," he smiled.

"Then it's probably time I pulled another trick out of my sleeve," she grinned.

She pulled out one of her secret weapons. Something she had never told her parents she had.

"Alistair, lend me your strength!" she called as her armor changed from the normal silver to black steel armor with a golden trim. Even her blue eyes gave off a golden glint.

From the bleachers, Lennon was gushing.

"She has a black lion familiar! She has a black lion familiar! Oh my gosh--, go, Snow!" Lennon cheered, stealing pom poms from Renèe as Renèe complained.

"Father... You're embarrassing me," Leonard deadpanned.

"Pretend you don't know him, son," Claudia said, pretending like she didn't know who Lennon was.

"Yes, mother..."

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