Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem. Or any of the characters.

Chapter 1: Band of Mercenaries

The sunrise slowly lit the sky up, dying the clouds light orange and yellow. The sight was truly a spectacle.

A lone Pegasus Rider flew up and over the beauty, searching on the ground for her friend, too busy to take it in. "Lyn...Where are you?" Florina whispered to herself. Her light-purple locks rested on her shoulders while her blue eyes stayed glued to the earth surface.

Suddenly, Florina spotted a village. She tugged the reins of her Pegasi and directed it downward, straight toward the village. The ground slowly zoomed into her face. The feeling would sicken rookie Pegasus Knights, and although Florina had been practicing for a while, her stomach slightly churned. She closed her eyes to try to make the feeling go away, and the next thing she knew, she was on the ground, right next to a red faced man.

"You just landed that beast on my foot!"

"Wha...D-did I?...I'm s-sorry..." Florina slowly tried to back away from the man. He was obviously a bandit, and she knew that apologizing wouldn't get her anywhere. Her effort was in vain, however, as she knocked right into another one.

"Wait right there, little lady! What are you going to do to apologize? Huh?"

Florina stammered as she looked into the mad bandit's eyes. "I...Uh...That is, I..."

The one behind Florina spoke up. "Hey, she's quite a catch, eh, buddy? I bet the boss'd give us a pretty penny for her."

Florina began to sweat and become even more nervous than she was before. "Yeah. She roughed me up a bit, so I figure fair's fair. It's no more'n she deserves."

She could barely speak. "I...I..."

"What are we gonna do with the flying mule?

That comment sparked something inside of Florina. "Don't you dare touch her!"

The one behind her poked her with the hilt of a sword. "What? You just watch your mouth, girlie!"

Florina then gave up hope. "Do what you will with me, just...Let her go. Please, I beg of you."

The anger in the first smaller bandit's face slowly faded away, now displaying the emotion of cruelty. "Ha ha ha! Silly twit! Pegasi can only be found in Ilia. They're rare beasts, worth more than you by far! We can sell it for a mountain of gold. Let it go? HA!"

Tears in Florina's eyes began to well up. "No, you can't..."

"C'mon! Let's move!"

Before they put another foot down, Florina heard Lyn. "Florina? Is that you, Florina?"

Relief surged into Florina's weak body. She dashed over to her best friend. "Ah! Lyn!"

"Florina! What are you doing in a place such as this?"

"Lyn! Is it really you? I...I..." her eyes got watery again as she hid behind Lyn.

"Come now, no crying!"

"I'm sorry."

A young cavalier with burnt orange hair rode up to Lyn's side, glancing cautiously at Florina. He was tall, and had red armor with gold trimmings suited on his body. "You are acquaintances?"

"She's my friend. This is Florina, a Pegasus knight in training from Ilia. She's a little uncomfortable around men. Tell me, Florina, what happened here?" Lyn spoke soft and calmly to her.

Florina sighed. "Well...um...When I heard that you had left...I decided to follow you. Then I saw this village...I flew down to ask if they had news of you. I didn't see these two, and...well..."

Lyn asked the next question hesitantly. "Did your Pegasus land on them?"

Florina shot a quick, scared glance at the men. "Well, I...A little..."

"Aha! You heard her! She admits her fault! She stepped on my friend, and now she's got to pay!"

"Did you apologize, Florina?" Lyn asked.

"Yes. I told them I was sorry many times over. They just wouldn't listen..."

"Don't cry. It's all right."

Florina dug her face into the back of Lyn's shoulder. "Lyn..."

The blue haired, stern-eyed woman turned toward the bandits with hatred glazing her beautiful eyes. "Listen, she's obviously sorry. Can't we just let this pass? You don't appear to be injured or anything."

They wouldn't give up. "No chance. The girl goes with us-by force if need be!"

"Hey! C'mon out now, boys! The men are fair game, but don't put a scratch on the girls!"

Suddenly, another cavalier rode up to Lyn. This one had lighter brown hair, brown eyes, a purple headband, and green armor with gold trimmings. "Lady Lyndis! Enemies in the Northeast and direct east! Ryan wants requests we defeat the curs!"

Lyn turned to another man who approached. Florina felt overwhelmed by all the boys here. Especially the way the new cavalier was looking at her. "Okay, Sain. Ryan! We've got to fight back!"

"Okay, Lady Lyndis. As you command. First, I want you to go to that village due north, warn all that bandits have invaded the eastern towns."

Florina piped up. "Lyn...I..."

"You're a Pegasus knight, aren't you? You can fight, can't you?"

"...Yes!"

Lyn turned back to Ryan. "Listen carefully, Ryan. We're facing bandits. They're underlings, but we can't take them to lightly. Let's clear them out of here. The layout around here might make it difficult to fight. The same holds true for our foe, too. If we use these walls just so, they may ensure out victory."

Florina looked at Ryan, who wielded no weapon. "Lyn...Who's that?"

"This is Ryan. He's still an apprentice, but he's my tactician." With that, Lyn ran off into

Florina nodded. "Oh, I see...Uh...Ryan? I'm pleased to meet you."

Ryan nodded back. "Well met, Miss Florina. Hold on, I'll give you orders in a moment. First," he turned to the two cavaliers and Florina walked over to get on her Pegasus. "Kent, Sain, block off that pass that leads straight into here." As Kent and Sain rode forward, Lyn returned with a tall, almost cheerful man with flaming red hair.

"Ryan, this is Wil. He's an archer, and offered to help our cause and to protect his village."

The tactician looked at Wil. "Pleased to meet you, Wil. I'll have you begin right away. Head due north until you come to the stone barrier. One of our own spotted a mercenary there, on the opposite side. I want you to let loose a few arrows, show them who's boss."

"No problem, Ryan!"

Florina rode up as an injured cry came from the opposite side of Wil. "Florina...Ah, yes. Go finish off the mercenary on the farthest side of the wall."

"Yes...Of course." Florina took to the sky, but flew low. She first went west, then north past Wil's village , and then back east. The mercenary had been hit by an arrow, and he was trying to pull it out of himself. Florina shuddered. "An archer must be nearby..."

She hesitantly flew downward, taking her lance out of the sheath on her Pegasi. Before the mercenary could scream, the lance had buried itself deep with his chest. Florina closed her eyes and yanked her weapon out, then brought her Pegasus up on the wall.

As she was about to call out to Ryan, she spotted the bow. "Lyn! What should I do? There's an archer!!!"

Lyn froze. "What? Where!?" Then she saw their new companion. "Oh, that's Wil."

The boy smiled up at her. "Hi! You're one of Lyn's friends?"

Florina barely felt relieved. "Um..."

Wil stopped grinning and looked concerned. "What...What is it? Are you unwell?"

Lyn spoke "I'm sorry, Wil. Her name is Florina. She's timid around men, and you...you've got a bow."
Wil's face brightened up, and his cheerful smile came back. "Oh! I see! You must be a Pegasus knight! I apologize for frightening you, but I do understand your fear of bows."

"I...um...I'm sorry...Even looking...at a...bow...frightens me ever so much..."

As Wil spoke the next sentence, she knew he was being sincere. "Of course, I understand. But you should really only fear enemy's archers, not your own."

Florina nodded. "Yes...Of course..."

Ryan then told Wil and Lyn to go back up Kent and Sain, and called Florina over to him. "Florina! I need you to go back north and try to clear the path for Sain and Lyn. There's only a mercenary or two, nothing you can't handle."

Florina accepted her small mission and flew back north. In about 10 minutes, she spotted a mercenary sharpening his blade on a rock. She flew down and hurled the lance into his back. The sword wielder slumped to the ground and a pool of blood began forming around him. Florina flew over to yank out her weapon, then landed on the wall.

"I don't see anything else out there."

Then her Pegasus began to neigh loudly, and finally snort. "Easy boy, easy..." Florina said, soothing her gentle friend. "Good boy..."

That's when Florina spotted the swordsman charging west. Directly at her.

"Oh...! Eeeeek!" Florina closed her eyes, but heard the sword fall to the ground. She eased them open to see the one they called Sain sheath a bloody lance. She stared blankly at him.

"Thank me later, my delicate rose!" Sain smiled and winked before riding back east to meet with Lyn and Wil. Florina stood, stock still. Her life had just been saved. Slowly, she jumped on to her Pegasus and floated over to where the battle was ending.

Wil had let loose quite a few arrows on the man that poor Florina had landed on, and Kent was dealing the final blow. This is all my fault she thought to herself. If I wasn't here, those lives would not have had to be wasted...She hopped off her friend and walked over to Lyn.

Lyn sighed heavily as she sheathed her sword. "Finally that's taken care of."

Florina hurriedly walked over to Lyn. "Lyn!"

Lyn looked at Florina, with a bit of confusion across her face. "Florina...Why did you follow me? It's so dangerous."

Florina saw everyone's eyes turn to her, and she blushed. "Do you remember the knighting ceremony of the Pegasus Knights of Ilia?"

"Yes, you join a band of freelance soldiers to further your training. Is that what brought you here, Florina?"

"Uh-huh. I wanted to talk to you before I set out. But when I went to Sacae, I heard that you had left with some strangers, and..."

Lyn giggled. "You were worried for me? Thank you, but I'm more worried about you."

"Me?"

Lyn looked at her and smiled comfortingly. "Listen, most mercenaries are men, right? Bands of men? I can't imagine you being at all comfortable around them."

Florina bowed her head and found herself with wet eyes for another time that morning. "I know, I know. It's just...I've always dreamt of being a Pegasus knight. I imagined I would just...work it out. Somehow. After today, I'm not so sure. Maybe I should just...give up..."

Lyn hugged Florina tightly. "Florina...Don't cry..."

Sain was cleaning his sword, but suddenly walked over to the two girls. "Yes! There's no reason to give up your dream!"

Lyn let go of her embrace and turned toward him. "Hm?"

Florina looked at her savior and blushed even redder than before. This cavalier didn't want to let her be. "Lovely Florina! I have the most brilliant idea!"

Kent groaned. "Sain!"

Sain looked her in the eye and grinned widely. "You should come with us! With the addition of Wil here, we're a fine group of soldiers, and freelance to boot."

Wil turned around with a look of surprise on his face. "Wait, did you just include me?"

Sain nodded, not taking his eyes off Florina's face. "Of course! We were destined to meet here! It's fate! Come now, Lyndis's band of mercenaries is a good training group as you will find anywhere."

Kent hit Sain upside the head. "Sain...This is no joking matter!"

Florina took her chance to get away from Sain as the two quarreled. "Lyndis? Um, Lyn? Mercenaries?"

"I can give you details later. This is all a bit rushed. However, Sain is right." She rolled her eyes at the thought. "Will you come with us, Florina?"

Florina beamed. "Travel with you, Lyn? Truly? I would be so...so happy!"

Sain had returned, and this time he stood directly in front of Florina. "Fantastic! Beauteous Florina! I am a knight of Caelin. My name is Sain..."

Florina screeched as he got too close. This man was really scaring her. "Eeek! Say back! Don't get so close."

Sain grinned. "Ah...Beautiful, and yet so modest!"

Tell me what you think of it so far. If the reviews are alright, I'll continue my fic. Thanks for reading chapter 1.