Pigheaded Chapter 1, a fire emblem fanfic

Ok, well hello there! IkeXSanaki might be a bit of a strange pairing, but I like it. Sanaki's not that much younger than he is, maybe two or three years. She's also mature enough to make up for it, and I think they're cute together. So there! Also, I thought this song suits them.

Don't own anything!

She's cold and she's cruel
But she knows what she's doin'

"What was your name again? Ike, was it? Well, let me tell you this." Apostle Sanaki stared angrily up at Ike, somehow managing to convey the feeling of looking down. "The future of your princess and your home country may just depend on your behaviour. So if you want Benion's help, I suggest you learn to hold your tongue!" She stormed off.

Ike stared indignantly after her. "Where does she get off acting like that?" he asked out loud.

"Ike!" Titania hissed. When he looked over, she said, "Sanaki is the Apostle. She gets off acting pretty much however she wants, and if we want her help, we have to be respectful. You don't have to like her, just don't say it out loud!"

She pushed me in the pool
At our last school reunion

"Good," said Sanaki. She gave a small, triumphant smile. "I'm glad you managed that. I will have him incarcerated when the Holy Guard find him." She looked at the group. "Oh, and if you could not say anything about this."

"She treats us like her own private troops!" Ike said, angry again.

She laughs at my dreams
But I dream about her laughter

"You knew all along!" said Ike.

Sanaki smiled thinly. "You're more perceptive than I had originally thought. I suspected it, yes. But I could not tell the Holy guard, they're to obvious. So you and your group were the perfect people to send. It's wrong, and it's against the law. I can't exactly let them get away with that." Her smile grew. Then, she looked around. "I have things to do. I will call on you again, Ike."

And she was gone. Ike looked around the room for a moment, then left.

Strange as it seems
She's the one I'm after

"I'm so sorry," she said. Gone was her regal posture and aloof voice. She stood before the last surviving Herons as a human, and Ike realized she was older than he had thought. Perhaps only a couple of years younger than himself. "I know the atrocity my people have inflicted upon you and your forest can never be fully healed. I only wish I could have been there to try and stop them." She fell to her knees before the Heron Prince.

"Sanaki!" hissed one of her guard. "What are you doing?"

Reyson's face softened, and he helped her to her feet. "It's alright. You weren't even born then. What can be broken can be repaired."

"Thank you," said Sanaki.

'cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep coming back for more
She's just the girl I'm looking for.

"Begnion will assist you," Sanaki said to Elincia.

"Thank you," Elincia said, smiling, full of gratitude.

"However, there is one problem," Sanaki continued. "One matter that must be dealt with. Who will lead this army?"

"Ike will, if he doesn't mind," said Elincia.

"Of course I will," said Ike.

"But," said Sanaki, "That's exactly what can't happen. Ike is a commoner, and Begnion cannot entrust our army to a nameless mercenary."

She can't keep a secret
For more than an hour
She runs on 100 proof attitude power

Elincia looked at Ike, worried.

"However, we can deal with that, can't we?" put in Sanaki. "Elincia, you can make Ike a lord. Then there is no problem."

"What?" said Ike. "I am no noble!" He refused to give up his freedom, the thing he valued most in the world, to appease this girl's conscience!

"You don't have to," said Elincia. She hung her head. There was no way she would force Ike, but she didn't know if she could find a general like him.

Sanaki interrupted. "You would give up on her so easily, just on the basis of a poorly formed grudge against the nobility?"

"Fine," said Ike. "I'll do it."

"Elincia," said Sanaki.

Elincia nodded. "Please give me your sword," she said.

And the more she ignores me
The more I adore her

Sanaki swept out of the room without a word. Ike sighed, exasperated. That girl and her temper! But then again, she was more of a young woman now. She had grown a lot since they last met, but she said he had stayed exactly the same. He was glad of that, he hadn't wanted to change much.

What can I do?
I'd do anything for her

The rest of the group, gathered to discuss tactics, stared at him silently. He knew what they all wanted him to do. With another sigh, this one of resignation, he followed the hot-tempered young empress out of the room. Perhaps he could get her to calm down, and she'd come back and finish the discussion.

Ike looked at the package. What was he supposed to do with this? It was Sanaki's birthday, and he'd put a lot of effort into it. He had been so glad he was in Beignion in time to give it to her.

I suppose I'll take it to her, Ike thought. She's not that far away.

He walked down the street and to the Empress' palace. The guard stopped him.

"I'm Ike," he said. "Sanaki's friend. I have this package for her."

After a long time of trying to prove that he was who he said he was, the guard let him in. He walked down the hallway, wondering where Sanaki was. He saw an old man in the corridor, and asked him. The old man gave him some confused directions, then said, "Last I heard she was in her room."

Great, thought Ike. Sanaki's room. The only room in this entire castle that I don't know how to get to!

He wandered down the halls, looking for Sanaki's room. Finally, he saw a small door, covered by a curtain. There was a guard outside of it.

And when she sees it's me
On her caller ID
She won't pick up the phone
She'd rather be alone.

"Halt!" said the man. "This is the Empress's room. State your business or leave."

"I have this for her. I've been trying to get it to her before her birthday is over, so I would like to give it to her."

"The Empress is seeing no one at the moment. Come back later."

Ike slapped his forehead. He walked up to the door and knocked. "Sanaki," he said.

Suddenly, a voice through the door came, "Who is it? I said I didn't want to see anyone!"

"Sanaki, it's me," said Ike. "I've got something for you."

"The Empress is NOT seeing anyone right now!" the guard said firmly.

Suddenly, the door opened. "What is all that racket?" she said. "I'm trying to-" Her words were cut off, and she stared, shocked. "Ike?"

"Sanaki?"

But I can't give up just yet
Cause every word she's ever said
Is still ringin' in my head
Still ringin' in my head.

Sanaki looked incredibly different. She wore a simple red and blue dress instead of her robes. One hand was holding a brush which was halfway through her hair, the back of which was usually tucked up under her robes. Her shoes had been replaced by a pair of blue sandals. Ike decided he'd never seen anyone as striking.

Sanaki regained some of her poise. "If you must know, I am getting ready for my birthday party. What are you doing here?"

"I - I came to give you this," said Ike. He held out the package.

"What is it?"

"Your birthday present."

Sanaki looked surprised. "You got me a birthday present?"

Ike nodded. "I didn't know you were having a birthday party," he said.

"Oh," she said. "I always do. It's kind of expected. You... you can come if you like. Just give me a second." She disappeared into her room.

The guard looked, amazed, at Ike. "You," he said, "Are the luckiest person I've ever seen. If that had been anyone else, she would have killed them! She must really like you."

That made him smile.

She's cold and she's cruel
But she knows what she's doin'

When Sanaki came out of her room, she was her old self. "Coming?" she asked, starting off down the hallway. Ike followed quickly. Now this was the Sanaki he was used to. With his much longer legs, he caught up with her easily and kept pace.

As the two walked down the hallway, they passed a pair of old ladies. Both scrutinized Ike. "What a cute couple those two make," one said. "Sanaki was always so small for her age. I never thought she would find someone like that."

"Ah, she's in good hands now," said the other.

Knows just what to say
So my whole day is ruined

Ike looked at Sanaki. She was shocked into silence again. Then she blushed slightly. Ike felt his own cheeks burn a bit.

"Those ladies and their silly gossip," Sanaki said, regaining her confidence once again. "Come on, the room is just around the corner."

Ike followed Sanaki into a large room set with tables. All the nobles and some of the Holy Guard were there, eating and talking.

A few looked over when Ike and Sanaki walked in. Ike realized he was still carrying her present. "So, what do I do with this?" he asked her.

"On the table would be fine," she said, pointing to a table with some gifts on it. He did so, then looked around.

"Ike!" called Sanaki. She patted the seat of the chair beside her. "Come sit over here." He walked over and sat down. There was food on the tables. All of it looked and smelled delicious, and Ike suddenly realized he was hungry.

"Help yourself," said Sanaki. She herself reached for a plate and put some of its contents on her own. "Aren't you hungry?"

"Very," said Ike. He took some of what he thought was potatoes. It was indeed potatoes, but they were spiced with something he did not recognise. They were wonderful.

"Those are my favourite," said Sanaki, pointing at the potatoes. "Do you like them?"

"Definitely," he said.

Cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more,

The meal ended, and the tables were carried away by a platoon of people. Ike noticed some of the guests helping, so he joined in himself.

When the tables were carried away to one corner of the room, some music started to play. Immediately, many of the people paired off and began to dance. Others stood by the walls, with drinks, chatting. Ike talked to Sanaki, telling her about how all the people she had known were and what they were doing now. She in return told him about life as the Empress. After a while, she began to relax. She laughed, made him laugh as well with her witty observations.

Oh, I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for.

The party went on awhile. Sanaki opened the gifts people had given her, and graciously thanked each of them. When she opened Ike's parcel, she smiled. He had gotten her a shawl in her favourite colour, blue, with small, sparkling emerald coloured beads along the edges.

"It's lovely, Ike," she said. "Where did you get it?"

"I made it," said Ike. "Mist helped me with the weaving."

"You made this yourself?" She said. "that's... so kind of you. Thank you!" She tied the shawl around her shoulders, laughed. "It even matches my dress."

"Empress Sanaki," said one of her guard, smiling. "It is your turn to dance."

"Sigrun, you always do this to me," Sanaki moaned, half laughing. "Must I?"

"Yes," Sigrun said. "It is your birthday, after all."

Sanaki sighed. She turned to Ike. "It is the last song, and every year, Sigrun makes me dance the last dance. Do you mind? I mean, just as friends."

Ike looked at her, not quite sure what she was suggesting. "Do I mind what?"

"Dancing with me."

"Sure," said Ike. "Why not. But I warn you, I don't dance."

"Oh, that's alright," said Sanaki. "Neither do I."

Just the girl I'm lookin' for

The two walked out together to the centre of the floor. They looked at each other for a moment, both embarrassed.

"Well," said Sanaki. She trailed off. Then the musicians in the corner started to play, and the two began to dance. After a moment, Ike figured out that dancing was not so unlike sword fighting, or at least, it required the coordination and the ability to anticipate the other's movements. Ike found the girl he was dancing with was a whole different Sanaki. He didn't mind so much, though. He liked her both ways.

Just the girl
I'm lookin' for

The party was soon over, and Ike prepared to leave. Sanaki stopped him in the hall. "Wait," she said. "when you said 'leave'... where are you going?"

"To see somewhere new," Ike said.

"You're leaving the continent?" she asked.

"That's right," Ike said. Sanaki looked down. "What's wrong?" Ike asked.

"I will miss you," she said. She reached up and quickly hugged him.

"And I will miss you," he replied, "But I doubt it will be forever. I'll come back."

"If I wasn't empress," Sanaki said, "I would come with you."

"If you weren't empress," said Ike, "I'd have asked you to come."

She's just the girl
I'm lookin' for

"But that cannot be," said Sanaki. She adopted her old self again. "For I most certainly am empress, and there is no one to give Beignion to. Ah well, We will surely see each other again."

"Of course," said Ike. "I'll visit you the moment I get back."

"Do you need to go now, or will you stay the night?" Sanaki asked.

"I'll stay the night if you like," said Ike.

The two walked outside, sat down on a bench outside the palace. They looked up at the moon, and talked a long time. Both felt weariness begin to weigh down their limbs.

"Sanaki," said Ike, when he got no answer to his question. He looked over at his friend to see her leaning her head on the bench, fast asleep.

Just the girl
I'm lookin' for

Ike walked silently through the palace, carrying the sleeping Sanaki. This time, no one stopped him. The shawl he had made her slipped off her shoulders, so he carried it over one arm.

The guard on her room opened the door and pointed to her bed. Ike pulled the purple canopy aside and lay her down on the bed. He pulled her blue shawl around her, then covered her in her soft blankets. He turned around and began to leave.

Sanaki woke as someone set her down on her bed, but she didn't move except to crack open one eyelid. She saw it was Ike. As he left, she realized she wouldn't be seeing him for a long time. Ike was never one to wait until late morning to set off.

"Goodbye, Ike," she whispered.

Ike looked over. Sanaki was sitting up on her bed, looking at him. He smiled.

"Goodbye, Sanaki."

Just the girl I'm lookin' for