Another Astra

Astra stared down at the ashes below, an unreadable expression on her face. Fred could not tell whether she was shocked by what she saw or not. Her gaze fixed on a familiar figure riding up to the castle. "That's me!" she exclaimed. "This world's me, just back from the Northern Caves it seems. Looks like we'll have some explaining to do."

She sounded awful calm about it, Fred noted. "Perhaps, perhaps she's familiar with the concept of these other worlds, as you are? We could go down and explain ourselves."

Astra shook her head. "If I thought that would work, I would have done so with Belinda. I never believed it myself until I felt that bizzare falling sensation prior to landing here, it was exactly as the scholars who descibed it to me said. Even then I was not entirely sure. It was only Belinda's hair that proved it to me. I recognized that bedroom as hers the moment we landed, and she looks the same in every detail- except that in our world, her hair colour matches mine. The condition of the city is further proof."

"Well then, perhaps I should go down and try to distract her before she reaches the castle, she's still far off enough for me to intercept. You can think of something in the meantime." Fred suggested.

Astra was willing to try Fred's suggestion, and soon enough, Fred found himself outside the castle running (as fast as he could with his armour on) shouting "Princess Astra!" at the top of his lungs. Sure enough, the Astra of this world slowed.

"Princess Astra, I-" Fred soon found he had no idea what he was going to say, but it wasn't likely to matter. Astra cut him off.

"Lord Fredrick D'Honaire!" Astra said, startled, and quickly dismounted.

Fredrick, Fred thought, Not Frederigo. Another difference. "Princess I-" he was cut off by the drawing of steel.

Lifting her sword, Astra practically spat, "I remember you dishonouring me last time. A duel, right now. Or are you not a big enough man to draw a blade on a woman?" she smirked.

Well she was certainly making it easy for him to keep her occupied. But what would his Astra say about him fighting her duplicate? And what had happened between the other Fred and this Astra? Likely a personal thing, Belinda would have recognized him otherwise. This Astra didn't seem like she would be very open to reason. But, if he ran, there was nowhere to go but the castle, where he was trying to keep her from. All the rubble seemed like it would either collapse on him or just would not make for good hiding. Sighing, he loosed his blade from his sheath.

1. But first, let's check on our Astra for a bit, shall we?
2. Sword fight between Fred and Astra!

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