If I owned Fire Emblem, I wouldn't be using a fanfiction site would I?

Chapter Two- Farewell Arrow

The sniper took long steps, easily keeping pace with his companion. A woman whom he liked, not in any significant way, for he did not see himself as one of those fools who fell in love, but he liked her enough to wish that she would not go. Despite the fact he was by and large a sarcastic and uncaring man, he would have to admit that he did have an attachment to the purple haired swordmaster, her bright and cheery demeanour was a pleasant and amusing contrast to his own, but… She had changed since Ike left. He hated Ike, but he wished he was here, just so he would be able to see her smile every morning when either she or Ike woke everyone up as they cried out in pain after yet another pointless duel.

He really wished that things would be different, but ah well. He looked to her, and noticed that at least she had that familiar spring in her step back. Mia had always been a weird one, and she certainly had divided opinion. Ike had hated her when he left the mercenaries (Why? The bow user neither knew nor cared), and yet when he rejoined them the two were inseparable… He could not think of a time when they were not together… Not that he took much notice until after the Mad King's War, when the sub humans and the other wastes of space left. He remembered vividly how she had made so much effort to win him around, and not just him; she made so much effort to make everyone like her. Frankly, when he looked back it made him a little sick.

It did not take them long to reach their destination, a small port town. It had been the last place Ike had been seen.

"So this is it" Mia spoke up, sounding uncharacteristically glum.

"You wanted to go" Shinon replied "It's all on you… Have you even though about what you are going to do now?"

Mia looked to the sea "I have… I am going to do what he did… Buy a boat… A small boat… Load it with all I can and just… Sail… It sounds, beautiful..."

Shinon gritted his teeth. Some things he did love about this girl, but some things he could not stand. Her romantic idealism, even now, when for months she had been regretting her inaction over Ike, she managed to act as if the whole world had a rose tint to it. Some people were jealous of this optimism. It made the pink haired archer want to be sick. "You have a lot to do then" he decided upon, forgoing any detailed response.

"I do… Thank you" the girl smiled, and jumped at Shinon, taking him in a massive hug "It means a lot that you did this for me… Say goodbye to everyone for me" a couple of tears came to her eyes.

"You cry and I leave" Shinon responded, masking the fact that he was a little uncomfortable with the physical contact, whilst also maintaining his image. He smiled, and realising he needn't keep up appearances, gently took her into a hug "Do you need anything?" he asked, although he causally looked about to make sure nobody he knew was within earshot. Nobody was allowed to know he cared about anyone but himself, he was only letting Mia know as she was leaving the known world.

"I am good" Mia sniffed, wiping a couple of tears from her face, before letting go. She took a couple of steps back "I guess you won't see me again, will you?" she said, her voice trembling, although she put on a fake smile.

"It's been fun… Tell anyone I was nice to you though, and I'll find you, and make you regret it" the sniper winked, and turned away.

"Thank you for everything" Mia called after him, at which Shinon winced in pain. He knew he would never see her again.

However, he knew he had to do something for her. He had barely got to the end of the street when he realised what he needed to do. He headed straight to the nearest inn. He walked up to the bar, looking around with nervousness. This was new to him… He did not ask for help, and he had never tried to help another. He was not even sure if it would work. "I need a Fireman" he asked, looking at the barman.

The barman nodded "If you fancy a drink alone, away from it all we do have a private room free out back" he said, not changing his motions at all.

"I would appreciate it" Shinon replied, cottoning on.

The barman kicked the wall, and then showed Shinon through to the back. The room was dark, damp and small… A single candle sat in the middle, at a table around which three chairs stood. To anyone looking in it would be obvious that this room had some kind of underhand and dark purpose… Although a flicker of light showed that along the walls barrels were lined, making this less of a room and more of a storage cupboard. If he could get him to help though…

"Why are you doing this?" Shinon asked himself out loud as the barman left, closing the door behind him "Why do you care about what happens to her? This is a waste of time… She's going off the edge of the map…" he heard a noise, and his reflexes kicked in, he shifted all his weight to his back foot, and had his hands on his bow, with the other drawing an arrow. He scanned the room, looking for the source of the noise.

"You are jumpy" a voice floated though the air, a voice which belonged to the man walking from the shadows: Volke.