Okay, I wrote this one in 3 period. Jan to Feb, March to around half of May and this October (2011 ) So I'm pretty sure it will give a different feelings of how I write since you continue to read it. Also I'm not a native so my grammar could be off, if someone points out for me, I would appreciate it.

Disclaimer : I don't fire emblem. That's all, please enjoy the story.

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

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

"Well, not quite. Queen Elincia wanted me to do a favor for her." The man replied.

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

After Rolf finished his speech, Ike left the mercenary fort with his items and ride on a white steed given to him by Elincia.

Ike's POV.

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.

Well, to be honest, I wouldn't mind it at all. If I don't have to set foot in Daein for this. It was like walking into an enemy territory even though I've beaten Ashnard but I still feel uncomfortable.

But after all what happened 2 years ago, right now it's so peaceful and calmly that I wish that a day like this will continue forever.

As I rode the horse towards Daein's border, I felt like something threatening coming my way, you could say that I was too worried…but that was how I felt.

But getting on high alert will tire me down for sure, besides I think that nothing will happen in the daytime but when the nightfall comes, that's a different story

When I reached the lookout, the Begnion guards in the lookout were already dead. Their corpses were badly tore up and scavenge like a vicious beast had bitten them to die before they did something else.

Looks like my feeling wasn't all for nothing. But I would rather pass this path in a hurry than looking into the matter as why this happen.

"Grrrr" When I heard the voice I looked around, I saw three tiger laguzs, with the rim of their eye has a red color.

A red liquid dripped down from their mouth, it must be those guards' blood, damn…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 war.

Without Reyson or Leanne, I can't help them…so that's leaving me to put them at ease by taking their lives.

I've always hated to fight a tiger, one tiger alone is worse enough but this…in pack. Thing couldn't get worse.

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

But it's still different from the feral ones. These guys would just run after you straightforwardly, making it's easier to read theirs movement.

I thrust the first tiger that leaped at me. It lied down on ground lifeless, but when I turned around I find that another bit at the horse's leg. I stabbed my sword before I fell from the horse, leaving one of them.

I ran back to get my sword that was left in that tiger's heart.

But before my hand could reach it, I felt a strong force crashing on me, it was the last tiger. It hurled itself from the ground and crashed me.

The worst thing after it tackled me was it pinned me down to the ground.

I known that claws were meant to be sharp but not this sharp until it smack me on the face with its paw. Then it bit both of my arms, it was more painful than getting a cut by any weapons.

I tried to kick it away but to no avail, 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. Maybe this is how the Daein's soldiers felt when fighting with them?

Before I could think of something else, I saw the tiger averted my eyes from me. Then 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 limped arms of mine.

"Yeah…it's just a scratch but if you hadn't come then I don't know what will happen to me…thanks."

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

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

"No, you're not! Now wait here!" She gave me the same feeling as Mist, this persistent. The girl ran towards some direction, away from me.

Well, I guessed she wouldn't care about me and would leave me right away if she knows who I am.

I looked around for my horse, after I saw it. I went to take the first aids that I brought with me. I applied the vulnerary to my wounds, at least it help me ease the pain.

I couldn't stop the bleeding, something fishy about those feral ones. Is this what Elincia wanted me to find out? No, not probably. If it was laguz matter, things wouldn't be quiet like this.

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…really…" The girl said and made the worry face.

"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 something comes up and I don't get back by tomorrow, I'll go meet you at the next point."

The girl nodded and head back first.

"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.

He's trying to find a blood trail, since if the teen that the girl told him had been injured then there must be a blood trail.

But instead of the blood, the boy found some footprint instead. The boy followed the footsteps which finally leads his way to find a blue haired teen resting..

"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, 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 in his bags.

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…if he didn't get any more wound or into any fight" 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. I think he should be safe while I go gather the firewood."

The boy left Ike alone and go to gather the firewood

"Somehow…he looked familiar…I wonder if I have seen him before somewhere…maybe I should think about it tonight."

Ike began to open his eyes, when his eyes are finally open. He saw the starry night sky. He felt a little bit cold.

"Ouch…that hurts…" Ike growled out as the pain comes to him.

When Ike fully awake, he was surprised to found himself shirtless and his hands were tied by his cloak

"You should count yourself lucky this time. Normal person shouldn't get up from the wound 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 feel familiar with your face…when I put my mind to think about it, I finally 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.

"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 when you and your friends were fighting in Nevassa. That's how I know you. 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 solve anything." The boy's word pierced through the hero's heart. He once seeks revenge for his father and he thinks that he finally achieved his goal.

"What are you doing in Daein in the first place? Answer me, if I don't feel satisfy with your answer. I'll still cut your throat." The boy's word sent the chill down the hero's spine.

Ike didn't know how to comply with the boy answer. If it wasn't because of Elincia he wouldn't even come near here, not even a little bit.

"You want me to go to Daein? You must be 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 stays out of that country.

"I'm not kidding, sir Ike. Empress Sanaki sent a messenger to me to send someone to investigate in Daein because the senators doing something in Daein."

"So this is about politics 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 how senators are up to. Please be careful, you're not getting welcome there for sure…"

And this is how Ike ended up in Daein.

"I…I just want to see what's happening in Daein…" Ike finally replied to the boy.

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

But soon Ike found the sword that about to slash him up besides him, stabbing down into the ground.

And he found that the cloak tied his hands, removed.

"What…is the meaning of this…are you going to let me go just like this?" Ike was lost in

"I told you didn't I? Revenge won't get anything back, even 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.

"But aren't you angry at me or anything? I destroyed Daein three years ago…" Ike untied his own legs and sat opposite of the boy.

"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. We always make decision based on reason." The boy's words got to Ike, it impressed him.

"You said that you came here to see what's happening in Daein right? Then can I ask you something?" Ike nodded his head to the boy request.

"What do you want to ask me?" The myrmidon thrown the swordsman shirt to his lap and told him to wear it.

"I already washed it for you, now wear it before you get a cold." Ike did as the boy told him to.

The flames from the firewood begins to burn more fiercely before the boy asked Ike.

"I want you to help me…help me and my friends get Daein back from Begnion's clutch."

Ike was surprised to hear this request coming from the boy and especially the question was pointed at him to answer.

"Right now, Begnion is causing trouble in Daein…They gain every able man and teenagers to work in a camp…and they treat the villagers like a dog." Edward said angrily but his face shown sadness.

Ike really wanted to help them but he wanted to ask the Begnion's occupation forces first. He didn't want to find out later that he's been aiding criminals.

But if this is what is happening in Daein right now, he won't forgive those soldiers that treat the villagers like that.

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 that but in his mind, there's still a conflict.

"Okay, then let's eat our dinner. I've hunted a deer when you were resting." The boy gave Ike the deer's meat.

Then they enjoyed the dinner together, the grilled meats from the deer were delicious.

"Are you really sure that I won't leave you halfway?" Ike asked the boy.

"You're not that kind of person. I know from your eyes." The boy begin to reveal another of his persona, it was cheerful like a normal teen would be.

"Uhh…what should I call you? I don't know your name." Ike asked for the boy's name.

"The name is Edward, although you could call me Eddie." The boy gave his name to Ike.

"Thanks, Edward…"

"Still I can't say for everyone that they don't want to take theirs revenge at you so you better keep low profile for yourself. But anyway, I'm so tired…I'm going to sleep first."

With that said, Edward went to sleep on the root of the tree leaving Ike sat alone around the fire.

"I was lucky today, 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.

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

"Just follow me, don't stay too far behind or you'll get lose." The boy leaded the way into the thick forest where there's a house.

"Leo, open up! It's me Eddie." Another boy shown up after the door was opened.

"So you're back. So this is the guy that Micaiah was talking about? Wait…Where is Micaiah?" The yellow haired asked the brown one.

"I thought that she had returned here already because I tell her to return to the hideout first without me." Edward said.

*Chirp* The bird voice got the boys attention, it landed on Ike's shoulder instead of the two boys.

"That's her bird…but Micaiah is not with it…something must have happened." The yellow haired pointed out.

"Maybe it can lead us to where she is before it part with her." Edward said.

The group used the bird to lead them, since it's the only clue they have at the moment

Ike felt familiar with the path that the bird is leading him, maybe it was one of the paths that he crossed during the last war. But last time he had someone guided him…well someone that is able to guide through words not flying.

The bird lead the group to a building looked like a fort, which Begnion's soldiers were full of the fort, patrolling the fort.

"I can infiltrate alone. You guys stayed here." Ike said.

The yellow haired boy shook his head. "What are you saying! We've come this far and you tell us to wait here? Not a chance!" Leonardo said.

"You think that you can go inside, unseen?" Ike asked the yellow haired boy.

"And what about you? You think you can?" Leonardo asked sarcastically.

"Of course, those are non-experienced soldiers." Ike smirked.

"What are you-"

"Stop it Leo, he can do it." Edward stopped his friend. Then Leo kept his mouth shut tight, he would trust his friend than to trust the outsider's word. Only this time though

"Thanks."

"You can thank me later, come back safely with her then you can thank me." Edward said

Ike nodded and left the thick dense of the forest. Even though he was confident that he can come out safe. He would rather prefer to go in silently as much as he could.

The bird flew after him, somehow it made him remembered this building's structure. The more he ran near the building the more familiar he felt about it.

The prison was at the base level of this fort. "Hey, who are you!" A group of the patrol soldiers found Ike while he was about to go downstairs.

Ike took out his sword and quickly finished off the patrols. With this, his time to rescue Micaiah has been shortened. With this he had to hasten his actions.

"Micaiah, where are you!" Ike cried out.

He heard a voice of something hitting against iron. He ran over to where the sound originated, he saw the girl, hands tied together and mouth being kept tight by a ragged of cloth.

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

"Y-yeah, who are you?" The girl asked

"Let's worry about that later, I've come here to help you. Trust me" Micaiah closed her eyes for a brief moment then she replied that she trusted him.

Ike trailed back the way where he came in. But the guard bodies disappeared. Ike noticed it and increased his wariness for the ambush or trap.

When Micaiah heard ancient incantations, she warned Ike that there're mages chanting their spells.

Ike nodded and took Micaiah's warning into his account.

When they're about to reach the exit, a clicking sound was heard. Ike realized that it was the trap, the old trick one that is.

A numerous pike stabbed out of the floor and arrows sprung out from the holes in the wall.

Ike used to face the pike traps or anything related that will stabbed out from the floor he was able to avoid it, but he never finds anyone who would lay two simultaneous traps.

The arrows managed to struck themselves into Ike's legs and arm, although they are ordinary arrows, it still hurt Ike.

But that two weren't the last traps that had been laid in the hallway; another sound was heard beneath the ground that Ike landed.

A rumbling sound was heard then the door behind was blocked by a stone, leaving them only one way to go.

"Are you all right? I can heal you…" Ike put Micaiah down before he pulled out the arrows carefully while Micaiah said.

"Nah, it's all right. I can still fight, these wounds are nothing compared to the wounds that I received when I was fighting or training." Ike assured the girl that he's all right and they need to move on, fast.

Ike was feeling uneasy, because by now everyone in the fort should know that their prisoner is missing and with the sound of those traps, normally the guards should come after them by now.

"Are you okay? You're starting to look so pale." Micaiah asked.

"Yeah, I'm still good to go. Just a few worries…." Ike replied.

Ike led the way to the exit, everything was too quiet. They haven't faced anything else except those traps; Ike thought maybe they thought that those traps will be able to stop them.

They ran out of the fort but as soon as they got away in an amount of distance, a sound of catapult launching its ammo, the boulder, flying in the same way as the pair.

Then just as the boulder was looking to fly pass the pair, a lightning that was formed with magic of the mages, stroke down unto the boulder, crushing it into pieces and turn those pieces into a fragment of rocks.

"Micaiah, look out!" The swordsman used his body as a cover for the light mage. The swordsman took most of the rocks that fell from the sky.

"Are you all right!" The light mage asked the swordsman who shielded her from the fragments of rock.

"I-I'm all right, let's go on. If we stop, they might catch up to us." The sound of the soldiers shouting came from the way of the fort, running towards them like a hunter hunting his prey.

Ike brought himself up and ran along with Micaiah, slowly, the blood flown down from his head because of the impact from the rocks earlier.

They managed to escape by the wood near the fort, and that's where they managed to lose their pursuers. They hid behind the rock after they had made sure that the Begnion Soldiers are gone, they came out of the hiding.

"We should be safe now, let me tend the wound from your head." Micaiah said.

"I'll be fine, we should find your friends first. They should be around here." While Ike said blood slowly dripped down from his forehead.

"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 because he never knew someone can heal without a staff.

"It's a secret…that I don't want to tell anyone…" Micaiah said and looked away.

"Okay, then I won't ask about it again." Ike reassured her with his honest smile but without that smile Micaiah still known that he will keep what he said.

"So what's your name, mine is Micaiah. But you seemed to know it beforehand. And I don't think I told you when I found you there"

Micaiah's tone of voice may sound harsh but her face never made anyone felt like it was a threat.

"My name is Ike. So you remember when you met me that time?" Ike slowly leaned his back onto the tree since he wanted to take a rest now. He had been pushing his limits all along.

"Would you mind if I rest a little before we continue this subject? I'm so tired…right now." Ike's eyes got a little flickering and his face looked a little bit pale.

"Then let's go to my hideout, it would be a lot safer there. My friends should be waiting for me there too."

What Micaiah said caught Ike's attention, he completely forgot about the two boys that were waiting. So Ike had to tell Micaiah what happened briefly.

"So that's what happened…I'll go look for them, you can get some rest here."

"No, it would be safer if I go with you, the Begnion soldiers should still be searching for us." Ike used his sword sheathe to getting up but Micaiah slowly shoved him back down.

"No, you're staying here. I'll be fine…I know that I will be fine. Believe me." Micaiah told Ike to look into her eyes whether she is saying the truth or just pretend.

Ike pouted back that this isn't just a matter of trust or believing especially when the one who said it just got captured back there. But Micaiah just replied that she known she will be fine, someone will come to rescue her, in her dream.

"You believed what you dream? That's so risky." Ike commented on the girl's reply.

"Anyway, you're staying here while I go search for them." Micaiah said in a commanding tone.

"I don't think you need to anymore, they're coming…over there" Ike pointed back toward the girl direction.

The boys ran up to the silver-haired girl and the yellow haired one talked to her, with a smile. While the others walked up to the blue haired swordsman.

"Thanks, for bringing her back to us." Ike used his smiled as his replied that it's nothing at all and it was his pleasure to help those in needs.

"Let's relaxed later, right now we need to go somewhere else. Somewhere that's safer than here. This is too close to the Begnion forces." Micaiah said.

"Ike, is that fine with you?" Micaiah turned to ask and Ike nodded his head.

"Yeah…" This time Edward helped him to get up. "Are you going to tell them? About me…"

"I already told Leo about you…I have to tell him because…I did something terribly…in the past" Edward's face filled with sadness, frustration and guilty.

Ike could only watch the boy in silent as he didn't know what to say to him. Without knowing anything, it's better to keep quiet.

They walked for a several minutes and then they heard something fell down to the ground when they turned to look where the sound originated. It appeared to be Ike, lying unconscious on the ground.

"Ike!" Everyone shouted and ran up to him, worrying. Micaiah looked at him in a sad way like something set in her mind, that she must do it for him.

I kinda used half of the idea from one of my fanfiction. It's not the same though, just Ike going to Daein with the same reason...I just wanted to point out if someone curious...

So if this one made you enjoy when you read...I would be feeling great...that someone did really enjoy it.