This one set just almost as the same time as Radiant Dawn timeline, it would be about how the story would shifted if Ike had joined up with the Dawn Brigade.

Please enjoy.

PS. This fic is based on another Ike/Micaiah fic of mine, so the story is quite similiar but I've rewritten all chapters hence I upload new one instead.

"Then I'm off, Rolf. Tell Mist and the others for me that I wouldn't be in Crimea for a while." A teen figured said to the green haired boy before opened the door.

"Where are you going? You just came back from Melior, did something happen?" Rolf asked the man.

"Not quite, but Elincia asked me for a favor." The man replied.

"Okay. Then you better take care of yourself, you're so reckless sometimes that always make us worry, Ike"

"Thanks, make sure you keep Mist safe while I'm away, ok?" Ike patted the archer's head and smiled.

The Archer nodded and waved his hand as Ike left the mercenary fort with his horse.

Ike's POV.

Hmm…I wonder what made Elincia worried so much that she wanted me to do this in secret. She could have Geoffrey, Lucia or Bastion do this mission instead of me. Actually wouldn't Bastion know something, he was always one to bring news that one wouldn't know about.

To be honest, I would prefer to stay away from Daein, after all what happened 3 years ago. It's like venturing back into enemy territory even though we won the last war and everything is at peace. I really wish this peace would last so we don't have to fight or kill someone again just for the sake of being a soldier for a country.

As I rode towards Daein's border, I got chill coming down my spine, I hope it was just my imagination, but it won't hurt to get on alert I guess. It's like venturing into an unknown territory and it's still daytime, I would still have advantage if a fight happened.

When I reached the lookout, it smells of blood, I could see the Begnion guards in the lookout were already dead, their corpses were badly tore up and scavenged like a vicious beast had bitten them to dead.

Looks like my feeling wasn't all for nothing, I should keep my guard up and slip away before anyone saw me, I'm not here for this.

"Grrrr" When I heard the voice I looked around, I saw three tigers with their eyes going red, I saw red liquid dripping down from their mouth, it must be those guards' blood, damn…did those soldiers died because they just got bad luck? that they just happened to run into Feral Ones?

Where did these Feral Tiger laguzs come from. I thought that we freed all of them since the mad king's war.

Without Reyson or Leanne, I can't help them…so that leave me with no choice I guess, I need to be quick and careful against these feral ones.

I've always hated to fight a tiger, one tiger alone is bad enough but three? Speaking about luck, seems like I just run into a bad one today.

I took the advantage of the horse's speed to swiftly take out one of the tigers. The good things when fighting feral one is they never plan their attacks, well…even though when they're not feral they would still attack head on without a strategy, but still the feral ones are easier to predict theirs movement.

One of the Tiger leaped itself toward me, I thrust the first tiger that leaped at me. It lied down on ground lifeless, but when I turned around I about to swing my sword into the last one, it bit on my arm, the sword flew out of my hand.

I punched into the Tiger's face, forcing him to release his grip on me before I rolled down from the horse, trying to reach my sword but before I could reach it, I felt a strong force crashing on me, the tiger hurled itself from the ground and crashed me into the ground, pinning me down to the ground.

I knew that claws were meant to be sharp but not this sharp until it dig onto my shoulders, it was more painful than getting a cut by any weapons.

I tried to kick it away but it didn't move an inch, and guess what? It turned to bit my right legs that kicked it, now I really feel so helpless.

Before the tiger was about to make it next move, I saw a light gathering in the sky, it was the light magic.

The light gathered into one and strike down the tiger at the head in one blow.

"Are you all right?" I heard a girl voice asking behind me. I slowly get up with those now wounded body.

"Yeah, it's just a scratch but if you hadn't come then I don't know what will happen to me, thanks, I owe you one." I tried to get up but the strength left my legs and I fell down to the ground again.

"Hey, you're badly wounded, wait here. I'll go call my friends. They should be around here somewhere."

"I'll be fine on my own, please don't worry about me." I stopped the girl with my blood stained hand.

"No, you're not! Now wait here!" Somehow she reminded me of Mist, there was something inside her that made me feel…calm.

I better get away, if she knew who am I, no one could tell what's going to happen.

I hold up my hand and blow a whistle, calling my horse. Good things the medicine I brought was still intact on the horse, I took the vulnerary and applied to my wounds, at least it help me ease the pain.

I couldn't stop the bleeding, was it because of those feral ones? It feels different from 3 years ago, is this what Elincia wanted me to find out? No, not probably. If it was Laguz matter, Elincia would have mention either Tibarn or someone else from the Laguz tribe.

I need some rest…before I can go further.

End of Ike's POV

"And, where is this badly wounded man of yours?" A browned haired boy asked the girl.

"He was right here, I think he walked away somewhere…" The girl said, her face full of worry.

"Hey, don't make that face. I didn't say I don't believe you. You go back first, I'll find him for you. Wait for me till tomorrow, If I don't get back by tomorrow, we'll meet up at the next point, like usual." The girl nodded and left.

The boy sighed, and shake his head. "Now, where to start looking for that man…from what I've heard, he's in his late teen with blue haired and a green bandana." The boy looked around the place carefully, trying to see any hints that could lead him to the man.

The boys couldn't find anything noticeable until he follow the path deeper into the forest, there he found a blood trail, Edward followed the blood trail which finally led his way to the blue haired teen.

He saw the figure he was looking for, resting, with his horse besides him. The boy try to walk as slowly as possible as to not startle the horse and if the horse was startled and the teen woke up too, then it would be a mess.

"So…this is the one that she said…blue haired with green bandana. These wounds are serious." The boy felt pity on him. "Hmm? Why his wounds still bleeding even though it's slow, it looks like that he already applied a vulnerary to it too."

The boy tended to Ike's wounds with the medicine that the silver haired girl gave him before they parted way.

The boy began treating the arms first then his leg and lastly the face. Then he began to take off the cloak and the shirt, revealing more of the wounds.

"He should be okay now, I hope. If he doesn't push himself." The boy continued to tend Ike's wound then he wrapped the bandage around those wounds. Then he used the clothes to cover Ike's body to give him some warmth.

"I should set the camp here and wait for tomorrow, it looks like the sun is setting down soon. I think he should be safe while I go gather the firewood and other supplies why I had the chance." The boy left Ike alone and go to gather the firewood.

"Somehow…he looked familiar…I wonder if I have seen him before somewhere…but where was it."

Ike began to open his eyes, the sounds from the wood cracking at the campfire woke him up. When his eyes were finally open, he saw the starry sky, it was already dark, and he tried to get up. "That hurts…" Ike growled out as the pain comes to him.

When Ike fully awake, he was surprised to found his hands tied by his own cloak

"You should count yourself lucky this time. Normal person wouldn't get up from the wounds like that so early." The boy's voice surprised Ike.

"What do you want with me?" While Ike asked the boy he tried to untie the cloak that's wrapping around his wrists and arms.

"I wouldn't struggle if I were you, Ike, hero of the Crimea." The boy picked up his sword and pointed it to Ike's throat.

"When I saw you lied down there at the root of the tree, I thought something was familiar with your face…when I put try to think about it, I remember who you are."

"What do you mean you remember, I have never seen your face before." Ike said and glared back at his captor, trying to shake off his captor's judgment.

"When you came into Daein two years ago, I was in a military school. I never went to the front line but I saw your face once, when you and your friends were fighting in Nevassa. That's why I remember your face, because you were the general." The boy continued to explain.

"Then what do you want with me…revenge?" Ike said with his voice hardened.

"Revenge? What do I gain by revenge? Even if I kill you, it wouldn't change anything." The boy's word pierced through the hero's heart. He once seeks revenge for his father and even though he finally achieved it, but all he felt was emptiness. He himself wasn't sure of the hollow feeling that's been eating him inside, he wasn't sure either what the cause was.

"So answer me, what are you doing in Daein? If I don't feel satisfy with your answer. I'll cut your throat right here, if you're here to make me and my friends suffer, I'll kill you right now." The boy's word sent the chill down the hero's spine.

Ike didn't know how to comply with the boy answer. Would the boy even believe him even if he told him the truth? He was here on Elincia's request, to find something that he didn't even know if it even exists or not, to find out what the Senators were doing behind Sanaki's back.

"You want me to go to Daein? Are you kidding me, Elincia…" Ike said while he walks around trying to calm himself down, even if it was Elincia who is asking him. He would rather stay away from that country even though it was his parent's birth country.

"I'm not kidding, Sir Ike. Empress Sanaki sent her messenger to me to send someone to investigate in Daein because the senators doing something in Daein but she wasn't sure what they are up to."

"So it's those Senators again?" Ike let out a heavy sighed, he never likes the senate or politics to begin with.

"We cannot do anything…formally. So I want you to go investigate what's going on and what they are currently scheming but please be careful, you're not getting welcome there for sure…"

And this was how Ike ended up in Daein.

"I…I just want to see how Daein is in peaceful times…" Ike finally replied to the boy.

"That's not satisfying…" The boy held his sword up high preparing to strike at Ike.

"I'm serious, Daein was my parent's birthplace…and I really want to see what's going on… I want to take a look at the country that my parents used to live in when it's peaceful."

The boy let out a chuckle before he lower his sword. "You were really a person that everyone spoke about. You're so honest that it's easy to tell if you're lying or not." The boy untied Ike's hand and give him back his sword.

"Are you sure about this? I might make a jump on you."

"I wouldn't do so with that wound of yours, besides you're not that kind of a person." The boy smiled and looked at Ike.

"You're not curios as why I'm here, in Daein?" Ike asked, he really met a weird swordsman today. Ike was expecting something else if he were to meet up with Daein's countrymen

"Let's say, a fortune teller said that someone would be coming, to help us liberate Daein's from Begnion's tyranny."

"A fortune teller?" Ike asked, is this boy so superstitious as to believe in something from a fortune teller, and him out of all person on Tellius to help liberate Daein?

"Well, she didn't exactly say it's you, she just have a dream that a Hero from foreign country will be coming to help his parent's birth country freed from the oppression."

"And you believe it to be me? Someone who crushed Daein 3 years ago coming back to help liberate it? And doesn't this sound so specific and so coincidence?"

"We have been believing her all along, and she was always correct. Besides you said you were from here originally, so it matched the description she told us. You don't need to worry about it, you'll see when the time comes."

Ike wasn't one to believe in Fate and coincidence, he always felt that he can overcome anything if he did his best and try to change it, he won't let fate to decide his life and what's going to happen, he always set out to carve his own path and his future.

"Still, you're sure about not having a revenge on me, with all what I've done."

"If I kill you then what next? Someone that holds you dear would probably come after me, then when is this chain of hatred going to end." The boy replied.

"Ok, I'll stop this question right here, thanks. I was…expecting something else if I were to meet someone here, by the way what's your name."

"It's Edward, you can call me Eddie or Ed though, all of my friends usually call me that."

"Thanks, Edward." Ike smiled and they both shake their hands.

"Oh, before I forgot, I bring some foods for us while you were out cold, let's talk while we dig into our dinner."

"Sure, I really appreciate for what you done for me, Edward."

"It's not like that we want war in the first place. King Ashnard was to blame…the villagers didn't get mad at you either so don't worry but I doubt those who served the military during the war would feel the same though so you might need to be careful around them."

Edward started talking again, he warned Ike, as much as he having been going around the country helping people out, there's still the remnants of military who lost their pride because of war.

"So how things are going on in Daein currently? It doesn't sound like everything is going smoothly for your daily lives. You said Begnion is oppressing you and I'm going to help you liberate it?"

The flames from the firewood begins to burn more fiercely as Ike was asking the boy about the current situtation.

Edward explained to Ike, what happened after they lost the war and Crimea handed over the right to rule the land to Begnion, how Begnion's armies were sending all child and elder to labor camp, how they oppress the poor and how they killed everyone who oppose the rules they enforce on the villagers.

Edward told Ike about himself and his friends, how they were helping out the poor by stealing from Begnion's supplies and handed it over to the poor, and how they became a Dawn Brigade that people is talking about.

"I really want to help you, Edward…but I don't think I can do anything, not from my current position." Ike said before finishing up his dinner.

"Don't worry, what the fortune teller said is always on spot, you will be able to help us eventually. But doesn't it would also depend on your true objective, what you're really here in Daein." Edward's word make Ike felt a little bit chilled down his spine, in the end, Edward know what was true and what wasn't true from Ike's word after all.

"Well…I can't really tell you, sorry."

"It's ok, I'm sure you have your own reasons, besides as I said, I believed in the fortune teller, that's enough for me to trust you."

After listening to what Edward said, now Ike really wanted to meet this fortune teller of his, how could a mere fortune teller make them follower her this strongly.

But what really bothers Ike is that he wanted to contact the Begnion's occupation forces first, he wouldn't want to find out later that he's been aiding criminals. But still if this is what is happening in Daein right now, he would be gladly to help Edward out, and so Ike decided to go along with Edward for now.

Ike thought back to what Elincia said, Sanaki wanted to know what's happening in Daein...If Sanaki didn't know what's going on, then this is the best opportunity to find out.

"Okay, I'll help out whatever I can." Ike said and smiled. "Or at least I'll tag along with you for now."

"It's getting late, let's get some sleep before we meet up with my friends tomorrow." The Myrmidon went to sleep on the root of the tree leaving Ike alone around the fire.

"Turns out it's my lucky day, huh?" Ike looked towards the myrmidon. He walked up to the boy and used his cape to cover the boy's body. Then he slept afterwards.

The next morning.

"Are you sure about letting your horse go like that?" Edward asked.

"Yeah, she can survive in the wild, it's better for her that way. I just received her recently and it would be difficult to bring her around with us for now."

"If that's what you want, then I can't say anything."

"So where are you going next?" Ike asked the boy.

"Just follow me, and be quiet" The myrmidon leaded the way, deeper into the forest, where there's a abandoned house in the middle of the forest. "Leo, open up! It's me Eddie." Another boy shown up after the door was opened.

"So you're back. Micaiah's not with you?" The yellow haired asked his browned hair friend. "And who's that?" Ike saw the yellow haired boy finger twitched, it seems like he was ready to grab his collar at any time.

"Err, long story short, it was the one Micaiah told us. But let's leave this at another time, I thought Micaiah was supposed to be here before us."

"No, she hasn't returned yet, do you think she ran into trouble?"

"Well, it could be but wouldn't-

*Chirp* The bird's voice got the boys attention, it landed on Edward's head as it chirping hardly.

"That's her bird…but Micaiah is not with it…something must have happened." Leonardo said, trying to figuring out what the bird is trying to tell them.

"Hey, Yune. Where's Micaiah? She's not with you?" Edward took the turmeric colored bird into his hand, and try to talk with the bird.

Yune took her wings and fly around before flying outside, as if she's trying to guide the boys. "Let's followed her, she's a smart bird, she'll know what to do." Edward rushed after Yune as soon as he finished speaking with Ike and Leonardo following him closely.

"Who's this Micaiah, Edward?" Ike asked as they following Yune

"The girl who helped you and told me to find you, the silver haired girl who uses light magic."

"Oh, her…"

The bird lead the group to a building looked like a fort, which Begnion's soldiers were patrolling around, security looks tighter than usual. Yune flew ahead inside the fort through the window.

"Micaiah, should be in there." Leonardo said. "I'll distract the guards, can you two go inside and help her while I distract them?"

"No, let me go. You guys stayed here and distracted them, it would be safer for you guys that way." Ike said.

The yellow haired boy shook his head. "I will not leave someone I don't know to go inside and help Micaiah, how about you distract them for us instead?" Leonardo said.

"Wait, Leo. You think you'll make it?" Ike nodded at the myrmidon question. "Then let's do what he said, Leo. We'll know if he's really the one."

"Bu-" Before Leonardo protested, Edward give him a mindful look that he, at least know what he's saying.

"So, we will be distracting them and we will meet up back at the house, you remember the path? The prison should be at the basement of this Fort." Since they have been coming together with Leo so far, Edward was careful as to not say Ike's name yet, to avoid making things complicated.

"Yes, don't worry. I'm ready whenever you guys are." The boys looked at each other before they started the plan.

Between where they are and the Fort, there was a later long clear field, making it hard to hide so they have to went separated way.

When they are in position, Leonardo pull his bowstrings carefully and aim, when he released his arrow, it pierce into the neck on one of the patrol, Edward ran out to taunt them before both of them distract both of them to another directions.

Ike took a heavy breath, helping someone he's indebted to, at least for now, it doesn't seem to be aiding criminal, for now, Ike told himself.

"Okay, time to get to work I guess." Ike ran and step himself onto the big stone before he make a high leap over the fort's wall, he rolled himself as he land to soften the landing. "Argh, I guess I shouldn't go hard like usual, not with these wounds."

"Hey, who are you!" Before the patrol could make any commotion, Ike slit his throat and ran into the Fort. He quickly dispatched any soldiers he found along the way, seems like more than half of them went out to chase Edward and Leonardo, does the Dawn Brigade that problematic to the Begnion's Occupation force? Ike could only wondered.

Ike ran down the stairs, a few soldiers along the way that he killed them in one blow. "Micaiah, where are you!" Ike shouted.

"Over here!" Micaiah replied to his shout.

"Micaiah!" Ike used his sword to break down the lock and the door afterwards. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, that should be my question, what about your wound?" The girl asked

"Err, I'm fine. You should worry about yourself, anyway, I've come to get you. Let's go, your friends are waiting." Ike held out his hand which Micaiah instantly took without any hesitation, she made Ike wondered how in the world, Micaiah just took his hand instantly like that, a stranger's hand.

Ike trailed back the way where he came in, but Micaiah heard something and that's when she realized it was ancient incantations. "Ike, mages!"

Ike jumped sideway, avoiding the thunderbolt that struck down from above, he grab the javelins from the ground and threw them toward the mages, piercing their heart clean.

When they reached the exit, there was no hostile left to stand in their path, somehow it was easier than Ike thought. They ran out of the fort, back to the path that lead to the meeting point.

Just as they thought they were safe from pursuers, a rumbling sound was heard, something like a sling being released.

They saw the boulder launched toward their position, Ike took Micaiah in his arms before he started running, just as he was about to feel relief that the stone missed them, a light was formed above the stone, right above their position and break the boulder down into pieces, like a shrapnel raining on them.

Ike put the light mage down before he used his body to cover Micaiah from harm, some stone hit him hard, some sharp pieces cut him up, he never saw someone this desperate to take back their prisoner, it was as if they didn't care if their prisoner could die or not.

"Are you okay? You're starting to look so pale." Micaiah asked as she tried to wipe Ike's blood dripping down from his head.

"Yeah, I'm still good to go. Just a few worries…." Ike breathed heavily as replied. "You helped me back then, I need to return the favor." Ike stood up

The sound of the soldiers shouting came from the way of the fort, running towards them like a hunter hunting for his prey.

Ike brought himself up and once again, took Micaiah into his arms before he quickly rushed back into the thick forest. Slowly, the blood dripped down from his head because of the impact from the rocks earlier.

They managed to lose their pursuers but Ike doesn't look like he can continue on running. "Ike, let's take a rest, you can't push yourself, not with those wounds!"

"It's okay, besides, how do you know my name. I'm sure I haven't gave you my name." Ike said as he put Micaiah down and he slowly take a deep breath.

"Yune told me about you." That's when Ike realized the little bird on Micaiah's shoulder.

"Heh, Smart little bird, huh?" Ike kept breathing harder.

"You're not fine at all. It'll be just a second, close your eyes…I will tend it."

Ike did as the girl told him too, he close his eyes. Then he felt a warm light engulfed around his forehead that made the pain gone.

"What did you do?" Ike asked, it was the first time for him to see someone use healing spell without a staff.

"It's a special magic that should make you feel better." Micaiah said and looked away, secretly breathing heavily herself. "Let's take a rest, we can continue after you feel better."

They both stayed quiet for a while, not knowing what to say.

"Hey, if you don't mind, what you did back then, I never heard of someone healing without a staff, that's almost like a miracle."

"I would rather not talk about it, if you don't mind."

"Okay, then I won't press onto this matter." Ike reassured her with his honest smile but without that smile Micaiah knew that Ike will keep his promises, after all, to Micaiah, she has always been hearing about Ike for sometimes from someone else.

"So you remember when you met me that time? Sorry if I look so pathetic back then." Ike laughed.

"You're not, Ike, What are yo-"

"Micaiah!" A familiar voice called out to her.

"Edward! Leonardo!" Micaiah waved her hand as she saw her friends running up to her.

"Thank Ashera you're safe, you're not hurt anywhere right? I'm sorry for leaving you alone and got you captured like that." Edward said as he hugged Micaiah.

"Yeah, I'm not. Thanks to Ike. Hey Edward, come here a little bit while Ike's resting, I need to ask you something."

The pair walked away, leaving Leonardo and Ike together. "Thanks, Ike, for saving her."

"No, it's my thanks. She saved me when I was in trouble. Wait, you know my name?"

"Well, Ed already filled me in on who are you and what's going on around you." Leonardo said before he sat next to Ike.

"So you believe in the fortune teller too? About me coming here and stuff." Ike asked as he's trying relax his body, cooling down.

"Micaiah has never been wrong in her fortune-telling, we all believed in her." Leonardo replied

"Wait, so this fortune teller I have been hearing from Edward is Micaiah herself?" Leonardo nodded. "I see…"

"Do you question our sanity? I wouldn't surprise if I were in your position. But I'll tell you one thing, don't worry about it. You'll find your answer if you stay with Micaiah, everyone was drawn to Micaiah somehow besides, you can ask Micaiah a few things and you will know why we trusted you."

One after another, they seemed to leave more question more than answer to his curiosity. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about us turning hostile to you. Oh…" Leonardo turned around to see Ike fell asleep, with his current condition, it was a miracle he could pull through those feats.

"We're back, how's Ike? Oh…he's sleeping." Micaiah softly touched his face before smiled gently. "You're really the man Sothe said you were."

"So what are we going to do next? Going back to the forest hideout or we moved on?" Leonardo asked as he stood up.

"Let's go to the next one, this hideout is risky now."

"But we won't be able to carry him all the way to our next hideout." Leonardo said

"Don't worry, leave it to me." Edward blew a whistle, and soon, a chestnut horse ran up slowly walked up to them.

"Whose horse is this?" Micaiah asked.

"It's Ike, his horse is very tamed. I played around with him when I found him, he's very loyal too. I noticed he followed us even though Ike already freed him."

Edward and Leonardo slowly took Ike onto the horseback before Edward rode on behind Ike. "I hope she can hold us both, Ike's pretty heavy. Anyway, let's meet up at the next hideout, stay safe you two."

"Same to you, Edward." The myrmidon rode the horse towards the forest exit. "Let's us go back and gather what we need from the hideout before we follow them. I need my tome."

"Sure, let's go."

I hope you guys enjoyed it, it was one of the old ideas that I exploded in my mind back when I FE 10 launched. I couldn't stop shipping them together.