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Fado's children are his pride and joy, but the endeavor of choosing partner pokemon for them was a nightmare. Royal tradition states that he must at least appear to take his nobles' opinions into consideration—he actually has to consider how the common people of Renais will feel about their future representatives—and they are supposed to be something which evolves, to grow alongside his son and daughter. Fado himself cannot entertain any pokemon which may not be able to protect his twins in the future.
Twins. Another headache. Does he get them the same pokemon? Does that send the wrong message? Dare he get them different ones and risk seeming to favor one over the other? If they are different they would have to at least compliment each other. Necessary in part to present a united front; partially because deny it as they might, the twins enjoy coordinating their things.
King Fado's is saved from his turmoil by Sir Felton. The royal night presents two Ralts, a boy and a girl, for royal consideration. Fado makes a note to ask young Forde what gift his father might appreciate for his upcoming anniversary.
Ephraim, for his tenth birthday, receives a Ralts with a blue ribbon tied around his horn. Eirika, as her birthday gift, receives a Ralts with a pink ribbon tied around her horn. Ephraim proudly declares that he and his Ralts will be the strongest battlers in Magvel. The blue ribboned Ralts ignores this in favor of trying to play with Ephraim's bracelet. Eirika pats her Ralts on the head and proclaims they will be best friends, and the pink ribboned Ralts headbutts her in the ribs from enthusiasm.
Something about the blue ribboned Ralts is that he loves to explore. He likes to wander, and meet new people, and especially loves finding shiny things. This is not very conductive to long hours spent in the training yard. The only things that glitter there are other people's weapons. Ephraim has to awkwardly return a lot of daggers.
Ralts frequently finds himself getting into other peoples' things. He takes coins and rocks and other bits he finds on the ground to show off. He hides from anyone taller than King Fado. Ephraim frequently complains about finding random junk in his pockets every time he turns around, and Eirika laughs at him. She suggests he work on his vigilance.
Something about the pink ribboned Ralts is that she has seemingly endless energy. She loves noise and adrenaline, and is always seeking out fights to watch. This does not make for peaceful study sessions or walks through town. Eirika strongly considers carrying around vulneraries for the strangers Ralts keeps headbutting.
Ralts frequently finds herself watching the knights spar with their weapons, or watching the other knights spar with their pokemon. Morning, afternoon, evening, the time of day didn't seem to matter at all, Ralts charged headfirst at anything she found even slightly interesting, be it a passing Rookidee or hardened battler. Eirika laments that she might never know a peaceful day again, and Ephraim mock-scolds her. He tells her that disregarding her partner's interests isn't very kind.
Ephraim is still surprised when Eirika approaches him about learning the sword. The pink ribboned Ralts is thrilled.
When the twins meet Lyon and his Skorupi, they are followed by two Kirlias. Lyon knows them all for only three weeks before he presents the obvious solution.
"Why don't you just trade partners?"
"You can't trade partners," they say. "Can you?"
Eirika's Kirlia continues to wear a pink ribbon, as always. He brings Eirika pretty things he finds on the ground, and she delights in telling him what it is. They are both menaces when together in town. Lyon kind of regrets his suggestion when he's hit by two pairs of wide, pleading eyes whenever Eirika asks for something.
Ephraim's Kirlia continues to wear a blue ribbon, as ever. She throws herself into training as eagerly as Ephraim. The clash of steel never frightens her, and Lyon certainly regrets everything now that there are two obstinate fighters refusing to come inside instead of Ephraim alone. Ephraim battles so often with his new partner that Kirlia evolves into Gardevoir before the twins leave Grado.
Grado attacks. Renais falls. Sir Seth spirits away the princess and her Kirlia on the back of his Arcanine. When Valter arrives on the back of his Hydreigon, he's only barely chased away with close combat. Both Arcanine and Seth come away damaged by the Moonstone's hyper beam. Eirika doesn't sleep very well that night, preoccupied by the pain on Seth's face, only distracted by Kirlia's distressed fidgeting.
That night, they huddle closer together than their stations dictate. Arcanine's warmth blankets them all. Kirlia forgoes boundaries entirely and lays his head on Seth's shoulder in comfort, though for Seth or Kirlia himself is unclear. Seth, hesitant, reaches for Kirlia's hand. It's still a long night.
Before they set out for Carcino properly, Eirika takes her company to examine the Tower of Valni, and despairs at the monsters they find there. The silver lining is that after clearing the first floor Eirika finds a very shiny stone under some rubble. She smiles wanly, calling Kirlia over to see. Everything in the world feels upside down, but she can count on her partner, and his love for shiny things, at least, hasn't changed. Kirlia looks a bit battered, pink ribbon hanging on by a thread, but he still coos loudly at the stone. Eirika's smile comes much more easily at Kirlia's excitement. She hands the stone over to her pokemon...and can scarcely believe her eyes when he begins to evolve. Kirlia brightens, drawing the attention of the others, and Eirika is forced to blink against the light.
Eirika didn't know Kirlias could evolve into anything other than Gardevoir. He looks very fierce, with scythe-like arms and a blade master's stance. Then, he looks up at her with wide, happy eyes, and Eirika sets aside her shock to eagerly congratulate her partner. Eirika is not the only one, several people coming up to look at her partner. Seth looks over him appraisingly, while Ross immediately challenges her to a battle. Lute even has a kind word to say.
"A Gallade, excellent at physical fighting and psychic abilities. Very nice. Although..."
"Go on, Lute, what is it?"
"I thought your pokemon was female, Princess. Only male Kirlia become Gallade, though. Was our village misinformed?"
"Ummm." Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Seth slowly turn toward her. He raises his eyebrow ever so slightly, and Eirika quickly looks down. Her eyes land on pink ribbon.
She wonders if Lyon would laugh at her. She strengthens her resolve to end this war as quickly as possible, so that she might tell him about this.