[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]Her jaw clenching with tension, Aurelie dreamed of war.

Rumors had been circulating for months about a ruthless warlord out of Kanto named declan walsh who seemed intent on subjugating every region in the world. At the same time, an ambitious neighboring baroness who looked hauntingly similar to dahlia goode had raised an army and moved to occupy some rich lands belonging to Count Lefevre, which she'd been coveting or years. She made it clear that nothing but outright force would dislodge her or her army.

With no other choice, Aurelie's father assembled his own army on the vast plains outside the city. His daughter, now one of his foremost knights, rode to battle against the baroness atop her Rapidash, both of them clad in shining steel armor. To no one's surprise, the warlord also invited himself to the conflict, no doubt hoping to wreak more havoc and carnage to destroy both armies.

As the army's esteemed general, Aurelie's younger brother sat tall in his own saddle, issuing orders and watching as they were obeyed with swift efficiency. Riding to the forefront of the army, he drew in a deep breath and loosed it in a thunderous shout. "Forward, Anistar!"

Roaring in answer, with Aurelie's voice among them, the army advanced.

A storm of arrows from the baroness' archers rained down to meet them, but their armor and shields were well-made, of course, and the arrows did little harm. Under the cover of the arrows, both enemy infantries surged forward to engage theirs and each other's. In the distance, Walsh's archers began shooting into the melee, wounding friends and foes alike.

Blood began to flow in rivers of red as the armies met in the center of the battlefield. Amidst the milling chaos, Aurelie and the rest of the cavalry charged. Both opposing armies gave way as she plunged into their ranks and broke through their lines, driving fiercely toward the baroness and warlords' banners.

Strangely, she felt utterly calm and invulnerable as she wheeled her Rapidash around in a circle. She swung her sword tirelessly, laying about her on both sides with sweeping, skillful strokes that dented enemy helms and snapped their swords. Behind her, Aurelie heard the sound of horns and a distant, triumphant cry: "The General! He's captured the baroness! He's forcing her to surrender!"

The victory fired Aurelie's blood, inspiring her. Raising her sword skyward, she rose in her stirrups and howled out a challenge. "Walsh! Walsh! Come and meet me!"

When Walsh recklessly rode forth to answer her challenge, her Rapidash unleashed a blazing FLAME CHARGE, causing his Glastrier to stagger backward. Taking advantage, Aurelie lit into him with a fury, her sword feeling feather-light in her hand as it bit and slashed at him with snake-like speed. The man snarled and howled at Aurelie like a madman or a raging beast, his armor streaked with mud and gore.

Finally, her sword darting forward like a tongue of flame, Aurelie stabbed sharply at an exposed gap in Walsh's armor. Her sword pierced through into his yielding flesh, and she leaned forward to drive the blade deep with both hands, burying it nearly to the hilt. Walsh cried out once, a sound of astonishment and rage, and then slid to the ground limply, dark blood leaking from the gap in his armor.

A gasp rippled across the battlefield as the shock of his death spread through his army, filling them with disbelief and panic. Dismounting, Aurelie swiftly lopped off Walsh's head with a single stroke. After that, the battle turned into a rout, with the baroness' army surrendering and the warlord's army fleeing.

Aurelie smiled wearily and sank to the ground, regarding the decapitated head of Walsh still gripped in her fist. "I've defeated you," she whispered, staring into those lifeless eyes. "Your reign is over. And if another tyrant like you rises to power...I'll defeat them too."

[attr="class","cred"]VEL OF PIXEL PERFECT