Of Dawn and Mercenaries
Description: This is a pretty long one. The pairing is Zihark x Ilyana, but it goes over numerous Zihark friendships, the main one being with Edward. In case the first part didn't imply it enough, yes, all flashbacks (in italics) take place in part 4. Team setup is standard, Zihark is on Tibarn's team and Edward and Ilyana are on Micaiah's team. Other implied friendships are Zihark/Elincia and Zihark/Leonardo.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem, Intelligent Systems or Nintendo. Anyone who accuses me of saying I do gets tornadowned.
abc -Sword Saints- cba
aa
Every single fluid motion could be observed by the one who was watching him. No longer a mere swordmaster, he had become a true saint of blades. Every single thrust, slash and parry... they seemed to flow with his body like the wind and the waves.
Sky-blue hair adorned his head; his robes were of the same color. The sword he bore was a simple training sword, but even it was beautifully decorated. His foe was a youth with short brown hair and robes of scarlet and crimson. It was nothing more than a friendly spar, but it had already attracted some attention.
Finally admitting
defeat, the youth backed off, panting. "...You got me today,
Zihark. You win this time." "...Haah..."
Evidently, the trueblade himself had become rather worn out.
"...Yeah, I suppose so. Still, Edward... you're a vicious
opponent when you want to be. I'm glad you're on my side!"
"...Hah!" The boy grinned. "You're still a lot better than me... though I bet if I took you on with Caladbolg, I'd definitely win!"
He closed his eyes. "...Next time, let's use real swords. If... we ever see each other again."
"I'll be looking forward to it," the youth commented. "And I'm sure we'll see each other again. You just keep fighting as hard as you can! If you don't live through this, I'll come back to get ya!"
aa
That day had been clear and beautiful. Snow was falling on the ground, and had already blanketed the landscape with a sheet of glittering, reflective white. That had been their last spar... to this day, he wondered if his new-found rival was still alive.
"...Zihark, I..."
He suddenly became aware of a presence. He smiled, admiring the delicate little ring on her finger. "...Is there something the matter, Ilyana? If there is, then I will take care of it for you."
"You... were reminiscing, weren't you?" she said quietly. "I'm... sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"Please, don't worry about it," he replied. "...Is Erika asleep?"
She nodded. "Yes... I put her to bed..."
"...Alright, then, I'll tell you my problem," he said. "...It's Edward. I haven't seen him since... since before the whole mess with Ashera started. I've been sorely missing a sparring partner... but more than anything, I'm worried that he's..."
"Don't worry about that, Zihark," she said, smiling at him. "He's definitely still alive somewhere. If he has sword skills to match yours, I don't see how he wouldn't be alive today."
"Mm... still, it kind of worries me. I know I haven't asked this of you in a long time, but could you...?"
A light nod was her response. "...Of course. I'll... do anything you want."
aa
However tight he clutched to the pegasus, he could hardly stay on. The queen of Crimea had been right... pegasi really didn't like men. Of course, another reason may have been because of the severe wound he had sustained...
A bloody gash had been carved across his shoulder, as well as numerous smaller cuts on other parts of his body. She had said that his wounds needed to be treated immediately, so she was taking him from the site of the battle. He didn't doubt her healing prowess either...
As he looked down, however hesitant he was, he saw and heard the sights and sounds of war. Not too far off, the king of hawks had engaged a pair of wyvern knights in an aerial dogfight. On the ground, the peculiar sounds of dark magic and the clashing of swords against spears indicated the king of Daein and the queen's bodyguard fighting their way through. He found it much easier to hold to the reins now... the pegasus had stopped thrashing and trying to throw him off.
"...Queen Elincia,
I..." "Please... Zihark, you mustn't speak. I need
to get you to a safer place."
Clutching the wound on his shoulder, he grimaced. His promise would be broken if he didn't live through this... but as excruciating as the pain was, he was about to give up. The promise of a better future was all that kept him going. Peeling his hand away only for a moment, he stared at his bloodied hand. Inwardly, he wondered why she couldn't have given him on-site treatment.
He felt a sinking feeling, and realized immediately that he was descending. The pegasus landed gracefully in a quiet area not far from the battle, but far enough that it would be safe. She carried him off of the pegasus and onto the ground, laying him down and beginning first aid.
"...Thank you,
Queen Elincia. I... I'm truly unsure if I would've had any motivation
to live any longer."
"Don't say things
like that, Zihark. We all need you around. You're among our
strongest... and besides, don't you have a vow to fulfill?" If
he hadn't already lost so much blood, he would've blushed. "...Yes,
I suppose you're correct." Quietly, in a voice that he hoped she
would not hear, he said to himself, "...Ilyana... I'm coming for
you. At the Tower of Guidance... I will surely be there by your side
once again. Please, do not worry... I am still alive. I would never
dream of leaving you behind... ever."
aa
"...Zihark, you were... trembling just now..."
"...I'm sorry, Ilyana. Think nothing of it. I'm just reminiscing."
"Zihark, did you... almost get killed on the battlefield?"
"Several times, actually. But one time, I was carried off by Queen Elincia... She saved my life. I owe her one."
"...Hah... I always did like her..."
He smiled, brushing a strand of her long, iridescent lavender hair aside. "Trust me... there's a lot to like about that woman."
aa
No matter how far they traversed, the tower simply seemed endless. Every floor they came across was littered with enemies... and these enemies were only getting stronger as they ascended. They would stop to rest periodically, but that was it... they couldn't afford the time to waste on anything else.
Only a small pack had actually come into the tower. He feared that his sparring companion had been left behind... but thought it was a foolish fear. He sat down, breathing a sigh of relief that they had finally reached a break point.
"Zihark." Dressed
in robes and armor of sky-blue was a young marksman who was standing
above the resting trueblade. He kneeled, feeling as if he had an
obligation to cheer up his elder.
"...Yes,
Leonardo?" "I merely thought... you'd like to talk
to someone." "Please, don't worry about it. You have
to watch Laura's back, don't you? I'll be fine." "She's
okay right now," the boy said. "...She's resting. Soren is
watching her."
"...Alright, then. I suppose I have a question of my own to ask you."
"Hm?" "...Is
Edward... still alive?" The bow-user frowned slightly.
"...I'll be honest, I don't know. He kind of... ran off
somewhere. But last I checked... yes, he was still alive. He went
with my team. You know I never take my eyes off that boy. Sometimes
he's as reckless as he is stupid."
"I get what you
mean," the elder of the two said with a laugh. "Well, I'm
glad to hear he's still alive. Wouldn't want him to die... he's a
particularly close friend." "...Yes, I understand
that. You... think of him as a little brother, don't you? I feel much
the same way." "You hit it right there. He's like
that pesky little brother... but I still love him, because... he's
like my family to me."
As he stood, the
marksman's cape fluttered slightly. "...Well, I guess you'll be
alright, now. I figured that'd be what you needed, a nice talk. And
reassurance that your sparring partner was still alive." "...Yeah.
I'll talk to you next time, Leonardo." "See you,
Zihark..."
aa
She lifted her head. She had heard a distinct noise from outside.
"...Zihark, I... hate to interrupt this, but... we have company."
"It's alright, Ilyana. We can snuggle later."
He stood, stepping outside the room, hand-in-hand with her. The knock on the door was heard again.
When he opened the door, he was surprised.
A robe of scarlet and a sword of beautifully inscribed gold were the first things he noticed. Though he could hardly recognize the young man who stood before him, he understood who it was soon enough. He had never before seen those greyish-emerald eyes on anyone else. Brown hair of the same length as his own was on the man's head, and one hand was sitting anxiously on his hip.
"...Hey, Zihark. It's been a while."
Impressed with how much the person's voice had changed, he remembered the time when he was fighting nothing but a boy. "...Yes, it has been a while... Edward."
abcba
Author's Note: Apparently, in the Japanese version of Radiant Dawn, the Trueblade class was translated as "Sword Saint". So that's where it came from. And if you don't want to think along that mindset, think Karel. ;)
