Rebirth Part I – Fleeing Crimea

So. I've been thinking about writing this for nearly two years now. And now, finally, I have. I feel happily exhausted. I just want to point out a few things though:

- FE of course isn't mine in any way.

- No surprise if you've read the summary, you'll know this contains slash in the shape of Kieran/Rhys later on. Consider yourselves warned.

- I have done my best about continuity with the game's timeline. However, I've worked with my memory and quick notes I took ages ago while playing. Maybe sometimes I forgot things; maybe I simply decided to make them different.

- This focuses mainly on Rhys, and then sometimes on Boyd or Marcia. It starts with Gallia because that's when Marcia joins.

(- If Marcia's Pegasus has an official name, I don't wanna know. I like 'Fooney'. Therefore he shall be named 'Fooney' in my writings!)

- Last but not least, this is dedicated to my dear friend Lord Ma, who has always encouraged me to see this project through. This is for you, I hope you'll like it!

That being said, please enjoy, and please take a second to review, you'll make my day!

Gallia

It had started with one battle, and then quickly escalated to a full-blown war.

For the Greil Mercenaries, it had started as a chance encounter, and had even more quickly escalated into a matter of life and death, for themselves and for their country. They had left their hideout chased by the Daein army, and had even been chased so far as Gallia, the land of the laguz beast tribes. It was as though the fighting barely ever stopped, their pursuers being right at their backs.

The battles were generally quick, but tiring nonetheless, and they were heavily sapping the party's strength and morale. But still, they fought valiantly, knowing that each and every one of them was like a family member who would gladly lay their life on the line for another.

Rhys sighed as he looked back at the beach. Thankfully, they hadn't suffered any losses – and most importantly, both Mist and Rolf were uninjured. Those two had given everyone grey hair, himself included, but he could understand their desire to fight alongside them, their friends, their family. He couldn't have denied them that either, had he been in Ike's stead.

Lethe and Mordecai, he had quickly learned, were trustworthy and incredibly reliable in battle. Yet even as their group grew in size he couldn't help but miss Gatrie and Shinon. He had been unsurprised, but disappointed still to see them both leave; although he hadn't given up hoping that they would come around in the future.

Meanwhile, he was bound to have his hands full until Mist would be able to heal deeper wounds. Boyd was a specimen in his own. He had even tried not to be gentle when he healed him, so that maybe it would push him to fight more carefully, but even that hadn't worked. "Please try to be more careful," he would repeat monotonously every time he healed him.

And Boyd would always reply, "If you're worried about coming to the frontlines, you know I'd die before I let anything happen to you!" And he said so while sporting an easy grin.

So he could never be annoyed at him quite long enough. And this, he most definitely did not want to inflict upon Mist. (Besides, Ike would surely see it as flirting from Boyd's part.)

Presently, Boyd was busy messing up Rolf's hair – this being his way to be affectionate, he knew – while Oscar smiled at them, giving his youngest brother some valuable battle advice.

The laguz were discussing plans with Ike, Ranulf having joined them, and that's when he paid attention to their newest 'recruit'.

Well, honestly, he paid attention because quite suddenly a Pegasus was trying to get to the bread that he carried in his bag. "Wha—"

"Hey! Fooney! That's a bad, bad Pegasus! Stop sniffing the nice Priest!" its rider ordered as she tugged firmly on its reigns. The Pegasus immediately pulled back, neighing slightly as if trying to explain itself.

"I don't wanna know!" the pink-haired woman replied decisively. She then turned back to Rhys and grinned sheepishly at him. "Well…what can I say? He likes you!" she offered.

Rhys chuckled and looked at them both dubiously. "Thanks?"

"I'm Marcia! This obviously is Fooney. He's not so bad-behaved generally," she assured him.

"It's alright…I'm Rhys, the resident healer. Are you or…Fooney wounded?" he asked amicably, still trying to pull his bag behind himself in case the Pegasus decided that he'd rather have a good scolding and a full stomach instead of peace and an empty stomach.

Marcia beamed in pride at this. "Pah! You think these brigands can match our speed so as to wound us?" she asked as she puffed her chest. She then sighed as she scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "Well, actually one of them did…but it wasn't so bad, I used a vulnerary. Thanks for the offer though, I'll keep my eyes pealed out for you on the battlefield!" she replied brightly.

Rhys nodded back at her and instantly he knew that between her, Mia and Boyd, the trip was bound to be more than lively. Well, nothing like a good laugh to forget about a war, right?

Right.

Prisoner Release

Their next big battle had been their hit. Ranulf had told them of a fort used as a temporary prison for Crimean soldiers, and quite understandably, Ike had agreed with him that any extra sword, or lance, or axe, or bow – or tome, Soren had added frigidly – would be gladly welcome.

Volke the enigmatic thief had been a precious help, and by the battle's end they'd gained a few more allies, who, after they'd be properly rested to recover from their captivity would surely prove to be great additions to their forces.

He was tending to one of them – a young lancer name Nephenee who'd had a bad injury on her leg – when Marcia landed by him, handing him a vulnerary or two that she had probably found around. "Wait 'till you meet the new nutcase!" she told him with a shake of her head.

Rhys smiled at her indulgently as he made sure his patient's leg would properly recover. "What did he do to earn this reputation so early on?" he asked with mild curiosity.

Marcia giggled to herself as though she were remembering it before she shrugged. "Believe me; he's a whacko," she assured him. She then turned to Nephenee and smiled amicably. "Hey there! I'm Marcia!" she said with a mock military wave.

The young girl blushed slightly as she nodded timidly. "Nephenee."

Marcia paled at this. "Oh no!" she said as she grabbed the girl's hands. "I'm sorry! You must thing I'm a horrible person, coming here to badmouth someone who just underwent a terrible trial – one you underwent as well, as it stands! I'm sorry, I am, but really! Meet him! Talk to him! He's a nut-head!" she assured him.

Rhys chuckled at the poor girl's pleading look to his face. "Marcia, now she thinks you're the nut-head," he said patiently as he gently pulled her back.

"But Rhys!" she started as she turned to him. "It's true! He's a Royal Knight, and Brom – that's the other new guy, a good fellow if I ever met one – said that he'd been going on and on about torture and how he would resist it and gladly die and all that!" she explained until she ran out of breath.

Rhys and Nephenee shared a look before he set back to checking her leg. "You should be fine, now," he told her with a smile as he helped her up.

She smiled at him and picked up her lance before she stopped, looking at Marcia like she was crazy.

Indeed, Marcia was doing discreet gestures to let them know that the very subject of their discussion, the Crazy Royal Knight, was coming their way. "Ike probably sent him to you to make sure his head's still intact!" she whispered audibly.

Rhys smiled patiently and turned to greet this new recruit – and he would lie if he said that Marcia hadn't piqued his curiosity to the highest level.

The Crazy Royal Knight first turned to Marcia and Nephenee, as gallantry would have it, and promptly saluted them. "Good evening, my ladies! Crimean Royal Knight Fifth Platoon Captain Kieran salutes you and your courage!" he said boastfully.

Marcia sent the other two a look that clearly said 'told you so' before nodding back at him. Nephenee however nodded shyly as she obviously wasn't used to being addressed so formally.

Kieran then turned to Rhys and promptly fell silent. In fact, he became still as a statue. He didn't blink, didn't say anything, and it almost looked like he wasn't even breathing.

"Did he…die?" Nephenee asked in worry as she looked at him.

Marcia's eyes bulged out of her head as she passed a hand in front of her eyes. "No way!" she muttered. "Hey, Nut-head!" she yelled in his ear. "Get back here!"

It seemed to do the trick as Kieran blinked and then blushed almost as red as his armor. He then promptly excused himself profusely. "Ah! These foul men must have done something to me while I was unconscious!—not that I was for a long time, of course!" And on and on he rambled.

Rhys was almost tempted to agree with Marcia, but what held him back was that he found this man most…interesting. And dare he say it—adorable, in a way. "Are you injured?" he asked him as he interrupted his tirade gently.

Kieran waved an arm about in dismissal. "Pah! As if they could harm me, Crimean Royal Knight—"

"You're bleeding," Nephenee interrupted him with a frown as she pointed to his back. "You don't feel it?" she asked him.

He seemed honestly surprised to see a wound on his body. "My! I'll be! I didn't even notice! 'Tis surely but a scratch!"

Marcia gave Rhys a long, meaningful look and mouthed 'whacko' at this.

This time, Rhys had to agree with her as he raised his staff and healed the man. "There you go, Kieran! And please do try to be more careful in the future!" Was he going to have to say this on regular basis to someone other than Boyd, now? Sigh.

"Anything to keep a frown off your face!" the petulant Knight promised brightly. "And what is my savior's name?"

"Savior? Didn't he just say it was a scratch?" Marcia muttered to Fooney.

Rhys sent her an amused glance as yet again, she had 'muttered' audibly. "I'm Rhys. We've also got Mist around who can heal, but if your wounds are big, you'd best come to me!"

"Always!" Kieran promised before he saluted them proudly and went back to better equip himself.

There was silence for a moment before Marcia spoke with a frown. "Is it just me or did that guy just prove himself to be a complete nut-head?"

Nephenee and Rhys once more shared a look before nodding slowly.

"Well, at least he's a relatively harmless nut-head," Rhys said with a shrug as he watched the man sling an axe around, barely missing someone's head. "…or so I hope."

Their army sure was becoming livelier every day.

Blood Runs Red

Their stay in Gallia had been a short one, at least compared to the strenuous journey that had led them there. Now their next strenuous journey would take them to Begnion, the mighty Theocratic Empire, and its capital of Sienne. And sadly, their route would take them back through the occupied Crimea to Toha port.

None of the men were particularly happy about this. No one was looking forward to seeing what the occupation had done to their country. Small port towns like Toha were bound to have suffered from bandits and pirates as well, since the Royal Guard was no longer present to maintain order. Militias had probably been formed by the townspeople, but it was unlikely that they would be very efficient – and maybe the occupation forces wouldn't allow them to be anyway.

The travel to Toha had been quiet, in that spirit. And when they finally reached the outskirts, Ranulf introduced Ike to Nasir, the man who would take them to Begnion. But quickly things had escalated into worse, and they had had to fight their way though the town itself to reach their ship. The town militia had even gotten involved, and while Ike's orders were to steer clear of them, some stubborn ones made that particularly hard to do.

Well, one of them joined up with them, a blue-haired swordsman named Zihark who apparently had a liking for Laguz – and Marcia.

And to Rhys' relief and Marcia's great surprise, Kieran could fight. He swung his axe with deadly force at any who came his way, and he opened the way quite efficiently with Ike and Boyd, Nephenee at his side, making up for her lack of pure strength with deadly accuracy. Soren, Ilyana and Rolf finished off those who needed finishing off behind them, while the others formed the rear. Meanwhile Marcia and Oscar rode around the houses, telling people to remain inside, and doing their best to render unconscious any member of the militia they came upon while promising many deaths to any Daein soldier to cross their path.

Even with their combined efforts it took them some time to get through, particularly as they had to be very careful about guarding Elincia. But finally after a heated battle they managed to escape onto the boat, and as they set sail many looked at the Crimean coast longingly, knowing it would be a long time before they would see it once more.

Yet again, thanks to Soren's brilliant tactics, no lives had been lost to their small group, and it was only to make sure of this that Rhys and Mist went around each and every warrior to check for injuries.

And had been almost unsurprised to find Kieran regaling Rolf with tales of his exploits – and of Oscar's 'cowardly actions', of course.

"Rhys!" Rolf exclaimed as he latched himself onto his waist. "You know, before we boarded the boat Kieran had a javelin sticking out of his side! But he didn't even notice! Isn't he amazing?" he asked excitedly.

Rhys wanted to reply but Boyd beat him to it.

"Wouldn't it be amazing if you grew a brain?" he asked with a frown as he thumped his head. "You almost gave me a heart attack, today! Twice!"

Rolf pouted as he looked down. "You're a party-pooper," he muttered.

"Twice, Rolf. That's twice too many," Boyd repeated seriously as he yanked him by his suspenders and carried him away.

Rhys smiled at them before remembering what Rolf had said. "You had a javelin sticking out of you?" he asked worriedly as he turned to the man.

But Kieran was once again in a complete trance, unmoving. "…"

"…" Where was Marcia when you needed her? He didn't really feel like yelling.

This time Kieran snapped out of it on his own though. "I should be no cause for your worry! I am just fine—"

"You're still bleeding," Rhys noted with a frown as he stepped closer, raising his staff.

Kieran's breath caught in his throat as he looked at the pale blue glow the spell cast on the healer's face. The dancing shadows mesmerized him, and although he had seen it many times before, suddenly the light coming from the heal staff appeared otherworldly.

"There, all good," the Priest replied as he pulled back, smiling at him. He then looked behind him as Marcia called his name. "Take care of yourself, Kieran," he told the horseman before leaving his side.

Kieran sighed as he watched him go before turning back to the sea, smiling in satisfaction.

Marcia raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. "He is a nut-head," she declared as Rhys joined her. "But he can fight," she conceded. "I'd hate to be on his receiving end!"

Rhys smiled at her as he looked back at him. He was a nut-head; he had to admit Marcia was right on that. But still…

He was an adorable nut-head.

A Strange Land

If there was one thing that Rhys had quickly learned about traveling by sea, it was that it felt horribly long and boring compared to traveling by land, where you had to move.

Also, he'd have never thought that so many people would get seasick. And for once, he hadn't been part of the sick ones, too! (Yay!) But during the first few days, he and Mist had had their hands full of sick soldiers. Not to mention that the horses were uneasy, too.

Marcia and her Pegasus were the only exception, for as she said, "The clouds and the waves share the same rhythm!"

The first part of their voyage to Begnion was uneventful except for that. There had been this one pirate ship near the beginning, but it had quickly been sent to the bottom of the ocean. The men and the beasts were feeling anxious to feel the ground once more, and to get back into battle, for they felt they were all losing their edge, and daily sparring matches and practices only served to lift their spirits for a little moment.

This is why it was with horror mixed with anticipation that they received the news of Kilvas pirates raiding their ship.

They had fought almost savagely to defend their ship, Marcia being even reckless in occasions as her Pegasus could take her out to meet the crows before they were in range.

Unexpectedly, they had also received the help of a Daein Wyvern Rider, a young woman named Jill who had seemingly followed them from Toha.

They made quick work of the pirates, but left their ship stranded on a foreign coast.

"This can't be Begnion yet," Ike muttered to himself with a frown as he stepped down. Marcia made to follow him but Fooney refused to fly closer to the coast.

Indeed, soon they saw and heard, from the ship, that they had been stranded in Goldoa, the land of the Dragons. People were almost afraid to breathe, lest they displease the mighty laguz who inhabited these isolated lands. And many held their breath as the great Dragons shifted and put their ship back in the sea, of a safer route. When Ike got back on board, he looked as though he had merely conversed with regular townspeople, while nearly everyone else was dying to ask him more about these laguz.

And so the ship's travel to Begnion began anew, with many passengers eager to return to Crimea just to tell tales of their brief incursion in Goldoa. And, of course, their great battle against the Kilvas pirates.

Rhys shook his head in exasperation as Kieran proudly showed the wounds the crows' beaks had left him with. It was with a sense of automatism that he walked to him, steadied him, healed him, and then lectured him about coming to see him straight away instead of parading around dripping blood on the ship.

This just further convinced Rhys of what a completely idiotic, unconscious, adorable nut-head Kieran was.

A Guiding Wind

The crossing continued on, with the biggest source of entertainment having occurred a day or so after the Goldoan incident. Nasir had found a young boy who had smuggled himself aboard. Ike of course was too gentle to throw him overboard, and it seemed like the boy – Sothe, as he had introduced himself – had some talents (politely meaning he was a thief). Still, Nasir punished him for being a stow-away on his ship by giving him extra chores and personally making sure they were done properly.

Rhys soon learned that Sothe was a nice enough boy, although he didn't talk much and generally kept to himself. He'd been occasionally seasick, when he was too tired from his chores, and that was when Rhys took pity on him and nursed him to health despite his protests.

They were nearing Begnion when they got caught up in their next battle, yet again involving Kilvas crows. This time however they weren't alone; they neared a Begnion ship that was caught between the Shipless Pirates on one side, and an unmarked ship on the other. It was hard business avoiding their beaks and maneuvering on three boats at the same time, and yet again Marcia and Jill proved to be valuable assets as they could somewhat counterbalance the ravens' freedom of movement. A detachment of Begnion Pegasus Knights helped them in their task. Volke and Sothe's nimble hands and discretion had also allowed them to quickly board the other ship – and the boy later admitted that what drove him was the hope that Nasir would cut him some slack, which he did, eventually.

The cavaliers were the ones with the most difficulty, but after a short moment they adapted easily, and the restlessness that had been bottling up fully unleashed itself upon their enemies. Kieran seemed even wilder than usual, and even Oscar was agitated.

During the battle, Boyd and Rhys noted with immense joy that Gatrie was on the Begnion ship. He was quick to reunite with them and fight alongside them, like old times. His employer, a young Knight named Astrid, also lent them her bow, and Rolf, although he was glad to see Gatrie, soon took her as a rival.

As they all united their strength, it wasn't long until they'd opened a path for Ike to defeat the enemy commander, and victory was theirs.

The Begnion ship's healer had fallen victim to the pirates, and so Mist and Rhys found themselves with a great number of wounded to heal – although they first made sure that their friends were alright.

Ike was discussing with the Begnion Holy Guard and a young girl – who they later learned, with much surprise, was the Apostle – on the Begnion ship, so meanwhile everyone busied themselves.

Jill and Marcia joined up with the Guards to chase down the crows, and on the ships, people – like Volke – searched the corpses for valuables. Boyd and Nephenee were helping to carry the wounded, while Gatrie and Brom, aided by the cavaliers, carried off the dead to the unmarked ship.

Boyd looked up as the Pegasus returned to the ship, pausing as he noticed one of the riders. In a daze, he walked to Rhys and very nearly forgot to be careful with the injured man he was carrying.

"What happened to you?" the healer asked with a raised eyebrow as he checked the man's injuries.

The axe-man looked at him with a grin as he almost giggled. "I have just seen…"

Rhys waited patiently for the end as he healed the man, wiping some sweat off his brows with his sleeve. "Yes?"

"The most…" Boyd smiled at this as he sighed contentedly. "Beautiful woman I have ever seen!" he declared brightly. "She was so—she looked so—! Ah! I need to find out who she is!" he exclaimed before leaving in search of this beauty.

Mist looked at him as though he were crazy before she dismissed it with a shrug. "Must be his hormones…" she muttered. Well, they would learn this very evening, from a bumpy-headed Boyd, that this beauty's name was Tanith, and that she was deputy commander of the Begnion Holy Guard. (And she was also the only person to make Marcia cringe in fear.)

They looked up as they heard Rolf's laughter to see him perched on Gatrie's back. Rhys smiled at this.

"It's good to have you back, Gatrie!" Mist exclaimed with an easy smile.

"Are you back?" Rhys asked with a raised eyebrow.

Gatrie laughed as he nodded heartily, Rolf shaking slightly from this. "Yeah. Life without the lot of you – it was boring, you see! Then that idiot Shinon went off to sulk his own way – and well, you see how it's ended up for me!" he explained as he crossed his arms over his chest, although his armor made it difficult – and as usual the gesture made him look more amusing that imposing.

"Where is Shinon anyway? Do you have any idea?" Oscar asked him with a smile as he stopped next to them.

Gatrie shook his head with a sigh. "You know him – stubborn as a mule! Wouldn't tell me anything! Bah! He's probably somewhere being sulky and miserable! He'll get around soon, you'll see!" he assured them. "Truth is, I know he missed this as much as I did – would die before he admits it though! But you know him – too proud for his own good! – you'd have to kill him or something to make him come back!" he exclaimed before he burst out laughing.

Mist looked at him in horror at this.

"Kill him? What are you, crazy?" Rolf exclaimed. "Uncle Shinon's really not that bad, you know!"

"Ha ha! I was just kidding, you know! I like the guy!" Gatrie assured the boy as he protected himself from the punches he received from him. "Besides, even if you did kill him – I bet ya anything he'd just stand back up and yell at you before walking off to sulk on his own!"

Oscar chuckled as he had to concede this point to Gatrie. "I know someone else who wouldn't die if you killed him!"

Rhys looked up at him in worry about this. "Kieran? Is he alright?"

Oscar raised an eyebrow at him but nodded. "You know how he is. He'll live!" he assured him.

"I had to shove a vulnerary down his throat, but he'll live!" Mia piped up as she looked at them with her hands on her hips. She then grinned from ear to ear as she leaned closer. "You know what? The kid hiding on our ship? That's the Apostle!" she told them conspicuously.

They all opened round eyes at this and looked at her dubiously. "Are you sure?" Mist asked her with a frown.

"Jeepers, I know what I heard!" Mia assured them.

"So that's it right?" Rolf asked excitedly. "We saved their butts, they'll help Princess Elincia for sure now, won't they?"

Oscar smiled at him as he helped him down from Gatrie's shoulders. "Nothing's ever that easy in politics, Rolf," he replied seriously. "This gives us some sort of leverage, I suppose, but let's not forget what the Apostle stands for, nor that we have no legitimate rights as citizens of a conquered country."

"Party-pooper," Mia accused him as she stuck out her tongue at him. "Come on Rolf, let's check them out!" she said brightly as she turned around, her hand resting proudly on the hilt of her sword.

"Ha ha ha! At least nothing dampens their spirits!" Gatrie said happily as he followed them. "Hey, cute young lady, the one with the smile and the sword, I don't believe we've been properly introduced!"

Mist sighed as she watched him, lightly dusting off her dress as she got up. "He's asking to be emasculated," she said with shake of her head.

Rhys raised an eyebrow at this. "Where'd you get that wicked mouth, young lady?" he asked with an amused smile.

Mist grinned at him before dashing off after Mia and Rolf.

"They grow up quickly, don't they?"

Oscar turned to him with a tired look, suddenly appearing much older as his body language clearly screamed, "You're telling me?"

All in all, it had been quite the day and suddenly going back to land and on to Begnion sounded boring to them.

Until Mist offered to help to cook this night and nearly everyone decided that they never wanted to have anything else to with boats and waves.

TBC

(Note this is a complete story. I'll be posting the next chapters shortly as I wanted to edit them a bit, namely making it chaptered for readers' convenience.)