A/N: I kinda suck…this btw, is the new and improved beta-ed version!!! Please review!!

The Complications of Friendship

Chapter 1

A Rude Awakening

The desert sun beat down mercilessly upon the heads of Princess Eirika's army. Despite the sweltering heat, each and every one of the rag tag band of soldiers were fighting valiantly against the bane of the Grado oppression. They had already taken Jehanna, but that would stop there, and no longer would Grado do as it pleased. The generals, Caellach and Valter manned their forts, commanding their two armies to demolish Eirika's.

Splitting her already tiny militia into various groups, she sent a couple after each of the Kings on the proverbial chessboard, while she herself took some troops to lend assistance to the villagers in the south. Trudging off, each section made their way towards their assigned destinations. However, not everyone was in such damper dispositions, despite the heat and the fact they their movement was basically rent in half due to the thick sands. The one assembly that was consigned to Valter's downfall was apparently in high spirits, full of the mercenary troupe's younger and more optimistic members. Franz, Renais' up and coming Knight-sergeant, talked quietly with the Grado recruit, Amelia. Neimi, their group's only archer, tagged along behind the blond lancer girl, while at the same time, trying hard to ignore Colm as he spouted insults at her. Leading the petite faction was a lone swordswoman, her magenta head bent and eyes closed in meditation as she walked slowly with her Shamshir in hand. Even with her eyes fully closed, she still managed to stay exactly 3 meters in front of the others. Even being able to sense other's movements without her sight, she wasn't expecting it when something tackled her from above…

Usually, Marisa was the most calm and collected member in the entirety of Eirika's army, complete with an indifferent air about her. Some would say that she was the coolest character, but in truth…which a certain Frelian princess found out was, that Marisa was nothing more than an excellent swordswoman with poor conversation skills. Now, hanging off the deadly Crimson Flash was said princess, princess Tana of Frelia, the only one who could pull a surprise attack on Marisa and not expect to get her head cut off… Currently, the adventurous young Pegasus knight tried her luck.

"…Tana…I can't walk." Marisa was as monotonous as always, her eyes still trained on the sea of sand in front of her.

Behind her, Tana giggled at her friend's response, hugging Marisa closer from the rear. "I know that. But it's gotten so lonely up there without anyone to talk to!" Now, the swordswoman looked far beyond uncomfortable, and something akin to a blush stained her cheeks. Meanwhile, further behind the pair, Amelia, known as one of the few people who could laugh at Marisa without getting dismembered, was laughing…at Marisa.

Putting on her cold façade, Marisa collected her thoughts, gently removing Tana's arms from around her shoulders. "Princess Tana. Please refrain from committing such acts in the middle of a battlefield… If you're lonely…talk to Amelia…or Neimi…" The pink haired mercenary was avoiding Tana's gaze now, walking on ahead by herself.

Tana giggled quietly and rolled her eyes as she watched Marisa's retreating back for a minute before she decided that the battlefield was indeed not social time… She dejectedly signaled her Pegasus, Achaeus, to trot by her side. Marisa and Tana walked in silence for the rest of the way.

Suddenly, Marisa paused and drew her sword. Tana, walking behind her, could see the pink haired woman tense visibly. Wondering what type of situation they were in, she asked. "Marisa…Marisa, What's wrong?"

The swordsmaster was all business, her ears perked up and she summed up her thoughts into two words. "They're coming." Everyone in their little group heard those two words and they immediately took up their stances, glancing around in search of the enemy the battle-honed Marisa warned them of. Louder this time, she yelled to her comrades. "To the east, Wyverns approach us!"

And sure enough, a dark reddish cloud appeared over the horizon, darkening the sky with their murky and foreboding forms. As they neared, the company could see from the beginning that their meager numbers weren't enough to fend off the draconic beasts, as four or five dozen Wyvern riders were headed their way. Not once had Marisa ever doubted her ability, but this time, they were too badly outnumbered. The group armed themselves quickly, and Tana mounted her Pegasus, ready to take off into the sky once they engaged their enemy. Neimi notched an arrow to her large steel contraption and let the shafts of death fly forward. Having airborne opponents, Neimi was suited as their best offense against them. After landing a dire hit on two wyverns, the rest started to make hasty dives towards the ground, making it harder for Neimi to hit her mark, and now wasn't a time to run out of arrows due to randomly aiming to hit something.

Abruptly, the Wyverns had appeared again, flying low to the ground in a sort of battle formation towards Marisa and her group. Acting quickly, Neimi fired off a few more arrows from her spot situation behind Colm, who had his long daggers drawn and poised to defend his childhood friend, who he had to admit, was pretty good with a bow of any sort... As Wyverns launched themselves at the Renais' army, Tana took off into the air to deal with those coming at them, her speed and preciseness helped her lance find its home in her enemies' hearts. Down below, Marisa and the others fended off the riders from a disadvantage, since they were situated on the ground against aerial attacks. Using her carefully practiced skill, Marisa tried out her new technique, one she had learned from a friend of hers who was a famed assassin of that variety… Focusing her energy, the outline of her body could be seen flickering unstably as she disappeared and reappeared rapidly, whether on ground or in mid air, making quick work of her enemy, killing at least a dozen riders. Some could call it a kind of enchantment, magic that allowed one to bring death to all those around her. Marisa panted slightly, wiping the sweat from her brow as she stilled herself, flinging the coat of grime from her sword as all manner of blood, bone and flesh rained down around her, though not spilling a single drop upon her clothes. Though it took quite a lot out of her, it was a macabre trump card she loved to put into practice in situations like these.

As one suddenly dove at Amelia from above, she quickly thrust upwards at the open-mouthed monstrosity, her lance digging itself deep into the creature's oral orifice, spilling blood out onto her already bright red armor. Mount incapacitated, the wyvern's rider jumped off and hefted his spear menacingly, but a steel shaft suddenly found its way into the man's skull. Amelia chanced a quick look as she met Neimi's wink, returning the gesture. Both girls had, however, felt the recoil as they witnessed the loss of yet another after life. But this was war, and the purpose of war, no matter how justified, was to kill one another.

On his steed, Franz stayed his ground, slaying Wyvern left and right, in his hand he weld a Wyrmslayer, a special blade intended for use against these winged creatures. The mercenary Marisa, in the meanwhile, was quite enjoying herself, dancing across the sands in a blur, her deadly Shamshir slashing through her enemies easily. Moving so quickly, she was really naught but a Crimson Flash on the desert grounds, as she leapt up to deal the strokes of the killing arts. Dismembering Grado soldier after Grado Soldier, she couldn't help but come to the conclusion that there was no end to the flocks of Wyverns, as reinforcements arrived upon the hour. Not to mention that their casualties were not quite slim. She herself sported a couple of broken ribs while getting run over by a Wyvern. Neimi had almost run out of arrows, containing only 30 shots left, Colm's waning protection being the only thing standing between her and a rider's lance head. Franz and Amelia had both suffered extensive injuries, broken bones and deep gashes, and with all the continuous combat that had been carrying on over the past couple of hours, their small party wouldn't last too much longer against the seemingly endless stream of Wyvern Riders and Wyvern knights.

Sliding backwards, Marisa took in a painful breath and clutched her mid section. Having taken another hit to the same place, she could feel the blood filling her mouth and running down the side of her chin. Spitting out the coppery liquid, she hefted up her sword with her left hand and charged into combat once again, her sword tip meeting the shaft of a lance. A scream suddenly echoed out, fear seeping into Marisa's mind, clouding it with concern as she recognized the voice as the Princess Tana's. Forgoing all the rules she learned as a seasoned swordswoman, she glanced in the direction where the cry erupted, and in that split second, Marisa felt her eyes widen, as she watched the spear run through the blue princess' shoulder.

It was almost too overdue as Marisa turned her eyes back onto her opponent and dodged, a second too late as she felt the searing pain of the lance's jagged spearhead rip through the side of her head. The mercenary reeled back, pushed back by the force of the spear's thrust. She clutched her head in an attempt to stop the fierce bleeding, but the flow of blood gushed out inexorably, like water, as it streamed down the side of her face and onto the golden sands, turning them a revolting black. Before long, the whole side of her face was covered in her blood, marring her pale skin and filled her sight with a thick film of blood. She couldn't see out of one eye now and her head was filled with thundering pain, threatening to explode. Collapsing to the ground, her mind cried out in refusal, but her body couldn't take it much longer. She was going to die here. Marisa could tell the Wyvern rider was coming towards her to deal the finishing blow.

"Marisa!" She looked up slightly to see her blurry savior; a blood splattered angel, Tana on her Pegasus had come to save her. Tana hurriedly dispatched the rider and rushed to Marisa's side, calling frantically for medical aid. Nearly tumbling off her Pegasus, Tana knelt beside the fallen and bloody Marisa, holding her. "Marisa! Please hang in there! Help is coming. They'll save you for sure! You'll be fine!" The princess' voice was close to hysterical and she was… crying. Frantically wiping her tears away, she cradled her friend in her arms.

Marisa, still in a muddled battle frame of mind, asked, her strength barely holding up. "B-but…Tana…What are you d-doing…? We're open targets for those W-Wyverns… We'll both be killed…"

Tana shook her head. "Our allies are here to help u-us! See! There's Gerik and Joshua even. Even Ephraim's back and my brother's there, covering for us too! They've come to help us…It'll all be over soon…so...please, I beg you…don't die!"

Straining to open her eyes, she saw that what Tana spoke was the truth. Her close companions, Gerik and Joshua were there. Looking up at Tana, Marisa gave her a sincere smile, one she hadn't shown for so long now. "I-I'm sorry…Tana…Why am I so weak…? I-I can't... M-my eyes feel heavy beyond imagination and I sense a cold chill even in this b-blistering heat... I-I'm glad to have b-been your friend, Tana... Forgive me." The mercenary's eyes closed as her head lolled to one side, but Marisa could still half hear Tana's desperate cries, and her frantic pleas for L'Arachel to make use of her magic. Afterwards, she no longer heard her voice, and finally, drifted off into a black nothingness…

A pair of pale pink eyes snapped open in the empty tent, the darkness suffocating her already cluttered senses. The drop in temperature and lack of light and commotion outside signaled the fact that night had already fallen. Sitting up painstakingly, she winced. Touching a hand to her head, she felt the blood seep through the carefully wound bandages, making a mess of her clean hands. Not only that, her head of magenta hair was matted in her own blood, something that told her that her dream had not been just a dream after all. As images rushed back to her, the swordswoman could feel the hot tears sting the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall. She was worthless. The undefeated Crimson Flash had been dishonored, and she had let down so many people. She herself had to be so shamefully protected by others, while she should've been the one to fill that role, as a fighter, a sort of protector… Anger and disappointment attacked her in a violent barrage, her tears ever so slightly spilling over. The sensation of having let her emotions get the better of her washed over the forlorn woman, and she seethed, unable to forgive herself for her idiocy.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as Marisa heard the rustling of the tent flap. Her keen eyes darted towards the entrance, catching sight of Princess Tana's slender form. As the blue haired princess entered the tent, she smiled brightly at Marisa, and made her way toward the cot. "Marisa! I-I'm so glad that you've recovered." The mercenary gave a small word of confirmation, but something seemed amiss in Tana's voice, Marisa noted. It lacked her usual tone of enthusiasm. Tana suddenly stopped in her tracks, head lowered, as her shoulders started shaking. Her fists were clenched tightly at her sides and Marisa could hear her soft sobs puncture the silence in the tent. The swordswoman wanted to comfort her friend but could do naught much, as she herself was wallowing in her self pity.

"T-Tana…"

Walking towards her once again, the princess took a seat the end of Marisa's cot. She raised her head and wiped the tears away hastily as she looked up at Marisa with a weak smile. "I just…thought I was going to lose you…" The statement alone surprised Marisa, and she stared, wide eyed and speechless at Tana. "T-there was so much blood. It spilled out like a fountain! I didn't know what to do. You're… very… important to me, Marisa…I treasure our friendship immeasurably…" The young princess flung herself at Marisa, burying her head into the mercenary's shoulder. With the impact and shock Tana's sudden contact created, they both fell backwards onto the cot.

Marisa's face flared a deep red, an uncomfortable heat coursing through her body. The mercenary looked down at her friend, who was embracing her tightly as they lay there. Marisa could feel the tears Tana shed soak through her top, and sympathy, an alien feeling filled Marisa's consciousness. Tana had obviously gone through some traumatic feelings, and it was her duty, as her friend to comfort her in this time of need, even though Marisa, at the moment, felt terribly awkward.

"Marisa…Are we…f-friends…?" A muffled voice asked.

Tana's question was followed by a pregnant pause as the person in question blinked twice, wondering where on earth this query suddenly popped out of. Sighing, she had to provide an answer to reveal that the heartless killer, Marisa, was really in fact, just a normal person inside, if not more. "Tana...If we weren't friends, I'd wonder what you could mean to me to cause me to worry so much for your well being…When you were injured in battle earlier…I-it hurt me as well…It felt as if someone had ripped a hole in my chest, and I could feel the ache my heart let out…" Tana listened intently, wanting to hear Marisa's thoughts and surprisingly…this was the most she'd heard her say for weeks.

Marisa continued on, taking in a deep breath, "I…I know my personality isn't the most warming, but I…c-c-care for…you…I-I also want to protect you from harm, and when I'm not able to…I feel that I've let you down as well as myself…" The swordswoman blushed to the tips of her ears. In her mind, she mentally reprimanded herself for acting so childishly like this. Friends? On the battlefield? That would just hinder things…These are all lies…lies…nothing but…lies…

The swordswoman nearly let out an uncharacteristic yelp as Tana snuggled closer to her, resting her head on Marisa's pillow as she lay half on top of the flustered mercenary, spreading the thin covers over both of them. Letting out a delightful laugh, Tana winked and explained, though a half hearted attempt at making sense… "The nights are cold in the desert and wouldn't it be better if both of us shared our body heat?"

Now, the stoic sword wielder felt even more unpleasant than before, Tana, having pressed up right against her, her chest rubbing up against Marisa's side… Cheeks aflame with embarrassment, she tried to reason with the princess, who had miraculously recovered from her slum of heartbreaking melancholy. "Ahh…P-Princess Tana, w-would you please r-reconsider your d-decision….? This is…uh…improper conduct on the battlefield, and w-what if we are discovered in this compromising position? What would the rest of the army assume? Your brother especially! In addition…this closeness feels quite…erm…t-too close…"

Tana stifled her laughter, finding amusement in Marisa's flustered state. Pouting, she tried to convince Marisa of her valid reasons. "Ma-ri-sa! Please! I beg of you, please let me stay…My tent is on the other side of the encampment and I don't think Amelia would appreciate it if I slept in her cot. Oh…well, I suppose I could sleep on the ground then…"

Marisa was faced with a terrible predicament, but she could never let the princess sleep on the ground like a filthy beggar. "Ah, that's not necessary! Y-you can…spend the night…here…with me…"

The princess smirked triumphantly and hugged Marisa even closer, bidding her a good night. Marisa replied with a weak 'Good night', and tried to relax her tense body, despite having the source of her problem lying beside her. As the tired mercenary settled down, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, wondering to herself, how Tana could still hold such a sweet fragrance after a day of sweat, blood and tears out in the blistering desert. She drifted off to sleep; a rare smile graced her lips.