Author's Note: This story did a bit better than I was expecting traffic-wise! Thanks for you guy's support thus far. We're nowhere close to finished however, so let's get right to it.

Chapter 2: Flight and Pursuit

"Battles rarely go exactly as one plans them to," Ike's father had told him once. "One must always be ready to adapt to rapidly changing situations. Always be aware of the field and make changes accordingly." Ike took a moment to survey the field of battle. The Daein troops had positioned themselves right in between him and where he needed to get his people. Thus far, Ike and company had managed to cut themselves a path through the enemy, but he knew that things could turn sour in an instant. As he was thinking this, one of the Daein cavaliers rode forth to challenge him. From the looks of it, he was more decorated and seasoned than the foes Ike had faced thus far. He surmized him to be the enemy captain.

"Are you the leader of this company?" the enemy asked.

"I am," Ike responded confidently.

"You are the ones who freed the prisoners from our castle, were you not?" came the reply.

"Hmm...word travels fast I suppose," Ike thought. "And if we were?"

"Hmm...It appears my assessment was slightly inaccurate," the enemy commander said, contemplating. "I believed it to be the work of Crimean soldier who had briefly regained their morale."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Ike answered. "We're nothing but a simple company of mercenaries."

"Ha!" The Daein cavalier sneered. "Would you by chance...be the same mercenaries giving succor to Princess Elincia?"

"This guy knows too much..." Ike concluded. "Enough talk. Move or die." The enemy swung his sword at Ike, but Ike nimbly dodged and delivered a counter-attack that left the enemy commander reeling. Unfortunately for the enemy, his extended dialogue with Ike had given Ike's companions ample time to approach and surround him. After a brief struggle, the enemy collapsed. "Everyone! Make haste for the harbor! We're breaking their lines!" Ike called triumphantly. What happened next, however, caused an icy fist to close around Ike's heart. Emerging from one of the building to the east...

It was him.

The Black Knight.

"Ah!" Ike exclaimed. "It's him!" For a moment, Ike was left motionless. Not now. Not now not now not now. ANYTIME but now. Half of Ike wanted to charge straight towards the ebon-clad abomination, to plunge his sword as deeply into the hellspawn as he could, ripping off that helmet and stare straight into his eyes as his life bled away. He knew, however, that as he was now there was no realistic possibility that he could win. The Knight would simply scoff at his boyish foolishness and run him through in much the same manner as he had his father. Ike's duty, to his companions, his sister,
and his father told him he must live to fight another day.

"Quickly everyone, this way!" Ike called. With their leader fallen, the rest of the Daein troops fell into disarray, and breaking through their remaing lines and making their way onboard Nasir's vessel proved to be a challenge to which the Greil mercenaries were equal.

Of course. OF COURSE. Jill had sat patiently as ordered, being a good little girl whilst the Crimean cowards had fled from their forces. After witnessing the vagabonds piling into a ship and weighing anchor, she rushed back to Commander Harr with all due speed.

"Commander Haar!" she cried. "Let us pursue the enemy ship! They're friends of the sub-humans! We cannot allow them to escape!" Haar, as was customary, answered her with a huge yawn.

"That was a good nap...Well, looks like the fighting's over," he said, giving the surrounding area a once-over. "Form up, it's time to withdraw."

"Commander!" Jill insisted. They were so close...SO CLOSE...

"Listen to me Jill," Haar said. "We're scheduled to return home tomorrow. If you were injured in a place like this, your lord father would not be pleased."

"It's because of my father tha I must not return home empty-handed. I...I must have somethign to show him! Please-"

"Simmer down, girl," Haar interrupted. "The Black Knight has ordered us to withdraw. Would you ignore HIS word?"

"Th-that..." Jill stammered.

"Would be sucidie," Haar finished. "Correct. So let's move out!"

"My best chance...and I...I couldn't..."

"Blast," was all she was able bite out under her breath, her rage at the whole situation almost tangible. By the Goddess she had been so CLOSE to her goal, curse it all. There had to be something she could do...

As Ike and the others got settled aboard the ship, a familiar voice called out to him. "My lord Ike! How wonderful!" Princess Elincia dashed over to him. "I didn't think you were going to make it..."

"I'm sorry to have worried you," Ike replied.

"Oh no, I'm just happy to see you well. So very...happy." Ike looked off into the distance, not really focusing on her words. "My lord Ike? Is something amiss?"

"What? Oh no, I was just...thinking..." Ike turned away from her. "I apologize Princess, but might I have a moment to myself?"

"Oh! Of course..." Elincia started to walk away. "But if you have need of anything, please, do not hesitate to ask. I shall do everything in my power to assist you."

"I appreciate that," Ike said, and he meant it. Though he doubted there would be much she could do to assist him at that moment. He had been there, the Black Knight. Ike knew that if the Knight had decided to come after his troop that there wouldn't have been anything he could've done to stop him. So why hadn't he stepped in to stop their flight? Could it somehow be a part of Daein's machinations? Doubtful, from what he'd seen of the Daein army, their modus operandai was to crush all resistance with the maximum force possible. No, it had to be part of the Black Knight's personal agenda that prevented his interference. Whatever it was, however, he was relieved to be on the ocean and on his way. As fearsome as he was, he was fairly certain the Black Knight couldn't just appear before him out here at sea. At least, he hoped so.

She knew what she was doing was going against everything she knew she should do. Every rational part of her brain was screaming at her to turn back, to give up this foolish pursuit. But there was something in her that drove her forward, that made her refuse to give up. Her honor, that's what. And she'd be dead before she sacrificed her honor. The route she'd laid out for herself to pursue the enemy was a treacherous one, skirting up the coastlines of both Crimea and Gallia. She knew her wyvern would be hard-pressed to keep up with their ship, but at the same time, she also knew there was no turning back once she started. She would be counted a deserter and a coward if she came back with anything less than the heads of the Crimean cowards she'd chosen to pursue. But she knew she'd never get another opporitunity to prove her worth if she'd been forced to return to her father. He'd have taken her back into his unit, coddled her, and she'd have never achieved anything.

And that simply wasn't acceptable.

It was going to be rough. The lands she'd be traveling through were going to be infested with sub-humans for sure. She and her wyvern were going to have to survive on a fish-heavy diet for the next month or two, she knew. Growing up in Daein, she'd never really acquired much of a taste for seafood, but it couldn't be helped. A minor sacrifice to make in face of what she was up against. Curse those Crimeans, the cowards. Putting her through such a trial. It would make her victory over the vermin all the sweeter when she finally caught up to them.

A month, perhaps two.

A small price to pay. She would catch them if it was the last thing she did. Jill Fizzart, Wyvern Rider of Daein.

Let the hunt begin.

The ship had been at sea for about a month now. After the first week or so Ike had accepted the fact that there would indeed be no pursuit from Daein, and had relaxed a bit. Life onboard a ship was something that had taken some getting used to, to be certain. The constant movement to and fro, the smell of the salty sea air...all these things had been so new to him. Since then, though, he'd had ample opporitunity to consider everything that had happened that day in Toha. The people, their hatred for Ranulf the moment they'd discovered he was a laguz...he had been taken aback by their behavior. Did beorc hatred for the laguz really run that deep?

"Ike?" a gentle voice asked, snapping him out of his reverie. "Ike?"

"Oh, Mist," Ike answered, acknowledging his sister's presence.

"What's bothering you?" She inquired, concern filling her tone. "You've been moping about ever since we came aboard."

"I'm...just a little seasick," he lied.

"Seasick?" Mist repeated, indignant. "You're such a bad liar. You never even get regular sick. You're not the type to get seasick!"

"Really, it's nothing," Ike insisted.

"Come on, talk to me," she pleaded. "You've been doing so much lately. I just wnat the chance to help you for a change."

"Well...all right," Ike conceded. "I'll tell you what's been bothering me...it's that incident back in Toha."

"Go on."

"When everyone dsicovered Ranulf was a laguz, all those people-they changed, just like that." Ike explained. "Up until that instant, they'd seemed like such kind and decent people. I just...I had no idea beorc prejudice against the laguz was so strong. Why do they hate them so much? How are we so different, Ranulf and I?"

"I have to say, at first, I was scared too." Mist answered. "When I saw how they could change...they can do tings that we hu-" she paused, correcting herself. "I mean, we beorc can't do. They're not like us..."

"Mist, you can't honestly feel that-"

"It's different now!" Mist interrupted. "Everyone's so nice. But, you know, that's because of the time we've all spent together. I've seen how the are; I've gotten to know them. That's why I've change." She looked down, then back up at her brother. "I'm not scared or nervous around them, but other people don't get that chance. I think that's why they're frightened."

"Maybe you're right..." Ike said, considering her words. "Maybe people like me are the odd ones, the people who accept others as they are."

"I wish more people were like that...I mean, no one really wants to fight, do they? Doesn't everyone WANT peace? I guess it's just hard to put all of those fears behind us."

"Your right. It is very hard," a voice agreed from behind her.

"Nasir!" Mist said sternly. "What's the big idea, eavesdropping on us like that?"

"How do you find sailing?" The ship's captain asked, ignoring her protest. "Have you gotten sick at all?"

"We're fine," Ike answered. But answer a question for me, would you? Why are you here? Why do you associate with the laguz?"

"Why?" Nasir replied. "Besides the obvious financial benefits, I suppose I do so because I am one."

"What?" Mist was taken aback. "No you're not a laguz! I don't see a tail or anything!"

"Because I've chosen to live among beorc, I've take certain steps to make sure I'm not recognized," he explained. I've had to change my attire, my feeding habits...I've done many things."

"Why would you do that?" Ike asked.

"Laguz cannot survive in isolation, nor can beorc. If both races are to thrive, they must learn to coexist," Nasir answered. "I have spent many years searching for a way to make this happen."

"You think that laguz and beorc can live together? After everything you must have seen? I'm impressed."

"Ike, you will never truly understand a matter unless you look at it from each party's perspective. As you say, the laguz are indeed now persecuted by the beorc, But long ago, these roles were reversed."

Ike paused, considering his words for a moment. "Whatever happened in the past does not justify what we do to the laguz now," he concluded.

"That is the thinking of an honest man," Nasir said. "Keep things simple and pure. I like that. Still, the strength of your conviction comes from your youth and your innocence. Trust me: it will be tested. When your journey is over, how will you be changed? I pray your conviction is not lost to despair."

"Talking to you is hard work," Ike quipped, growing weary of this heavy conversation.

"Someday, you'll understand," Nasir explained. "For now, my role is simply to deliver you safely to Begnion. Ranulf has paid me quite handsomely with money from the king of Gallia himself, and I will not let him down."

"We're out of our element here at sea, so you're all we have to depend on. Thanks for all of your help."

"I will do what I am able." Nasir said, and with that, took his leave. Nasir had given Ike much to consider about beorc-laguz relations. He was obviously speaking with the perspective of someone who had far more experience in such manners than he did. Ike surmised that he would have a lot more work to do and things to consider before this journey reached its conclusion. Well, at least the group wouldn't have to worry about Daein pursuit out here at sea. There was that to take solace in at least.

Jill Fizzart, on the other hand, hadn't fared as well in the month since decided to pursue the mercenary company. Her plan had been going well enough, she'd been finding secluded spots here and there to rest, there were plenty of fish to eat, and the weather had been agreeable enough. The one thing she hadn't counted on, however, was the sheer monotony of this pursuit. There had been nothing but ocean in front of and behind her for weeks, aside from the end of the day when she'd fly over and find a pace ashore to rest for the evening. Her wyvern was a hearty beast, certainly. but there was no way it could continue at this pace for much longer. She concluded that the beast had sensed her strength of resolve, however, and despite its obvious fatigue kept pushing itself as hard as it would go.

Every now and then she thought she'd catch glimpses of the beorc ship on the horizon, but it had turned out to be her imagination each time. By her estimation, however, she WAS gaining ground on them. If she could keep up the pace, she'd have caught up to them within the next few days. And then, oh then. She'd lay her vengeance upon them with a fury Tellius had never witnessed. Goddess help those poor Crimeans.

Whew! And with that, I shal conclude this chapter. Thanks again for the support guys, your reviews and such are always appreciated.