Chapter 1: Nocturnal Fight (Pt.1)

It was a clear, breezy night outside The Dawn Brigade camp. A lone figure stood in the grass looking far at something…

"Oh, shoot…they're coming." muttered the green-haired thief as he swiftly ran towards Micaiah's tent to inform her of the attack that was coming.

"Micaiah! We have comp- aw my god….!"

"Sothe, you pervert! Can't you see that I'm about to go to sleep?!" yelled Micaiah as she threw a book at him. "Get out!"

She immediately pushed him out and shut the tent flap angrily.

"Ugh! Micaiah! There's people coming! Enemies and-"

"WHAT?!" exclaimed Micaiah as she suddenly lifted the tent flap up.

"It's true. Although I don't know where they're from, they-"

"Oh, no…it looks like Begnion troops and…and…General-"

"Ike. Yeah, I know. Stop interrupting me."

"I'm sorry…" sighed Micaiah with her head down.

"…are you just gonna stand here and get us killed or what?"

Oh, shoot…" muttered Micaiah as she went back in the tent. "Sothe! Wake everyone up! Get ready for battle!"

"Micaiah, are you okay?" asked Sothe.

"Just do it." she replied in a stern voice.

"Whatever…" he sighed as he dashed off to find the others.

* * * * * *

"Hmm…what's all this commotion…?" said a sleepy blonde-haired archer as he went to go check outside. "Aaah!"

"Leonardo! Prepare yourself. Troops are on their way here." Sothe said quickly as he ran off somewhere else.

"War…? This late?" murmured Leonardo as he picked up his bow and arrows.

* * * * * *

"Is everyone here?" said Micaiah as she quickly scanned her army.

"You sure you wanna fight? What's the freakin' point in this? People will die or something." said Nolan with a serious look.

"I wish I could not, but I'm afraid we have no choice…we have to do this for Daein" she replied.

"…very well then." said Nolan walking away.

Micaiah's army stood still in silence, but it lasted no more than a second when an arrow whizzed past Sothe's face.

"Sothe!" shouted Micaiah.

"No, Micaiah, stay in the back lines!" said Sothe as he rushed in to attack.

He quickly took out a knife and threw it at the red-haired sniper who had shot the arrow. The sniper dodged it and nocked an arrow to his bow.

"Ha! Pathetic!" exclaimed Shinon as he released the arrow.

"Erg…"mumbled Sothe as he felt a light scratch on his right shoulder while trying to dodge it.

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, unsure of what to do, Edward ran towards a bush with Leonardo behind him.

"Edward, what are you doing?" asked Leonardo as he caught up.

"I really don't know okay! It's just-"

"Look out!" exclaimed Leonardo as a javelin whipped past them and crashed into the bush.

"Leave it to me!" said Edward as he readied his sword.

"Don't over do it…" started Leonardo.

"Yeah, yeah I know!" replied Edward as he charged toward the green-haired halberdier.

Nephenee widened her eyes she blocked Edward's wild sword swings.

"Ugh…!" She winced as an arrow hit her in the shoulder.

"Edward! Aim!" said Leonardo as he prepared another arrow.

"Hah!" Edward lifted his sword up at his tired opponent.

"No…" whispered Nephenee as she struggled to get back up.

"Wait! Edward! Duck!" yelled Leonardo.

There was a suddenly a strong gust of wind that swooped by them. Struggling to stand, Edward heard the beating of large wings and saw that a dragonlord in black rescued Nephenee.

"Sorry, not today kids!" said Haar as he started to fly off.

Leonardo launched a couple arrows at the fleeing dragon, but then sighed as he realized the dragonlord was out of range.

"Jeez…well that wasn't fair." said Edward.

"…"

* * * * * *

Ilyana sighed quietly. "…There's nothing to do I guess, and Zihark and Aran are just killing them all…"

She gazed silently in front of her. "…I'm hungry…"

* * * * * *

Zihark had just finished off his last guy until he heard a high-pitched scream.

"Hm? Isn't that…Ilyana?" Zihark rushed up a hill and saw a Lance Paladin towering over Ilyana as she frantically prepared spells.

"Thiunder!" shouted Ilyana as she brought down a bolt at the paladinm but he easily dodged it. Before the paladin could lift his lance again, there was a swift movement. Zihark watched coldly as the paladin fell.

"Thanks Zihark…" sighed Ilyana. "Uh-"

"Let me guess: food"

Er…yeeeaa…." Suddenly, Ilyana found herself with a sandwich on her lap.

"No problem." said Zihark as he walked away.

* * * * * *

"…oh shoot, my bowstring broke." muttered Leonardo as he walked with Edward along the forest edge.

"Well, then fix it." Edward muttered back.

"I just did."

"Whatever…"sighed Edward.

They continued walking deep in the dark forest, now surrounded by tall trees. Suddenly there was a flash.

"Wah!" Edward leaped out of the way in surprise as well as Leonardo. "Whoa! What was that?"

"Lightning…There's a magic user nearby." replied Leonardo.

"Oh, crap…"

A second later, they saw a burst of flame come toward them. The two barely evaded it.

"Jeez…this guy's good." said Edward tightening the grip on the hilt of his sword.

At last, they saw a sage in black quietly casting spells. Leonardo immediately released an arrow towards their opponent, but it was suddenly blown away by a large gale made by the sage. The strong wind went through the arrow and came to them.

"!!!" Edward noticed a light thump behind him. He swung around and his eyes widened in fear.

"No! Leonardo!" cried Edward as he rushed to his friend's side.

"E-everything…black…If only…" Leonardo said softly as he released his bow.

"No…don't die, don't die!" said Edward frantically. "I won't know…what to do."

Soren had a stoical gaze at the scene. There was a flicker of something in his eyes but that lasted no more than a heartbeat.

"Soren!" said a nearby voice." Soren turned his head to see Rhys appear in the clearing. "Rhys…"

"Is everything al-" Rhys widened his eyed at the fallen sniper and the blank-faced sword master. "By the goddess, what did you do…?"

"They are enemies. Nothing more…" replied Soren starting another spell.

"Damn it…" said Edward as he slowly got up and lowered his sword.

"…?" Soren still continued casting.

"No..! Soren!" shouted Rhys as he grabbed Soren's hand that was right about to release magic.

"What are you doing?!"

"You can't just attack a defenseless person!" explained Rhys taking out his staff.

"Hmph…you're too nice." said Soren closing his book.

That's…a heal staff isn't it…?, thought Edward narrowing his eyes. Looks similar to Laura's…

"Do not be afraid…I'm only here to aid you." said Rhys as he noticed Edward's face.

"Why would you help us…an enemy?" asked Edward suspiciously eyeing Rhys as he knelt beside Leonardo.

"No one deserves to die because of war…" replied Rhys in a sad tone as his staff started to glow.

"Should we report this to Ike?" asked Soren.

"Er…probably not." replied Rhys

"Pff…just hope he doesn't care."

A second later, Rhys stood up again and turned to Edward.

"For now, your friend has escaped death. The rest is on his own." explained Rhys with a friendly smile. "This staff isn't really that strong to tell you the truth…ehehe."

Soren just rolled his eyes.

"Um…thanks?" said Edward.

"Your welcome. May you be safe!" said Rhys. "Then…Soren, let us go." A couple minutes later, the sage and bishop were out of sight.

"Whoa…those people were weird." mumbled Edward to himself. Suddenly he noticed a small movement from the corner of his eye.

"Leonardo!"

* * * * * *

End of Chapter 1.