Nothing new. Enjoy.

Again I don't own anything besides the idea of combing these two games together to form this story.

Chapter 3: New Acquaintances

They had searched for their comrades for a few hours until dusk fell on them. Although Soren's attention wasn't fully on searching for their missing allies, his mind was still on their new found ally, Colette. He could rule out her being a Daein spy, but did that mean that he trusted her? Of course not. In fact the last battle only stimulated more questions and doubt.

That moment on the bridge I noticed that there is something different about her. She's definitely not a laguz. Could she be like me, having cursed blood? He thought as he looked over at Colette. No, her presence isn't the same as us Branded. But she's not human either. So what could she be? Then there's that final attack. It couldn't have been a critical hit. The amount of damage she inflicted before and the amount on that final attack just doesn't add up. There's just no way that a critical hit from her could cause that much damage.

"Are you all right Soren? You look a little out of it," Colette asked him.

He turned his head to look at her only to find that she was right in his face. He was startled and stumbled away. "I was fine until know," He grumbled as he walked away.

"Don't worry, Soren acts that way towards everybody," He could hear Oscar tell her.

After a little bit, Ike asked Colette "Do you hear anything by any chance?"

Colette shook her head "I'm sorry."

And then there's her abnormal hearing.

Ike looked around him, and then gave a heavy sigh, "They're not here either…"

"Ike, pursuing them any farther may be dangerous. I think it would be best if we returned to Gallia for now," Soren suggested. He could see that Ike was about to protest so he added, "It's possible the commander may have followed another road into Gallia. It's something we should consider."

"…You're right. Getting killed looking for them would waste everything they accomplished by breaking away."

Just then Titania ran up to them "Ike, there's a fort over there. Just now, for a moment only… I thought I saw someone. Shall we investigate?" she asked.

"What? Really? Yes, let's go take a look," he said with hope in his eyes.

The group walked into the fort only to find it empty.

"It seems as though this place has been abandoned for a long time," Soren observed.

"There's no one here…Hm. I could've sworn I saw a silhouette, but…"

Colette didn't hear the rest of the conversation. She kept hearing clanking armor and metal scraping the floor. In the back of her mind she was wondering why she couldn't hear this from outside.

"Um…I think we just walked into a trap," She said out loud.

Just as soon as she said that a soldier came into view and shouted. "Here they are! I've found the Crimean mercenaries! Surround them!" Within seconds they were surrounded by Daein soldiers. Ike cursed and then they all got in to their formation.

They were slowly making their way up the hall, slicing any enemy in their path. As they passed one of the rooms Colette saw a girl with purple hair and dressed in orange, fighting a few of the Daein. She had just horizontally sliced through one of them when two more swordsmen came up behind her.

"Look out!" Colette shouted as she ran toward her. The girl turned around to see who shouted, then saw her attackers. She brought her sword around and was able to stab one of them. Colette got beside the girl and threw one of her chakrams "Ray Thrust!" Her chakram hit the swordsman in the head knocking him unconscious.

"Are you all right?" Colette asked as she saw that the young woman fell to her knees.

"Yeah, I'm just exhausted," She sighed.

"Colette! You really shouldn't be wondering around by yourself." Ike said as he came into view. "Hello, who do we have here?" he asked when he saw the young woman.

The young woman stood up, "I'm Mia. I'm a mercenary, hired by Crimea to bolster the army's numbers," Mia explained with pride.

"Please to meet you Mia, I'm Colette, and this is Ike he's a mercenary too. But what are you doing in a place like this?" Colette asked.

Mia got red in the face then put her hands on her hip. "I…got careless and was captured. They were about to send me to a prison camp when this guy named Greil saved me."

"You've seen my father? Where?" Ike asked with new hope in his eyes.

"Just a little bit north of here. Not too far away, though."

"Ike! That means Mr. Greil and the others must be safe!" Colette cheered.

"He's safe…" Ike sighed with relief.

"So who exactly are you guys?" Mia asked.

"We're the Greil Mercenaries. As you see, we're fighting against Daein," Ike explained.

"Huh…You're taking on a whole Daein battalion with these numbers? Nice. That settles it then!" Mia announced.

"Settles what?"

"The battle. I'm coming in on your side. You don't mind, do you?"

"That's fine with me, but…I don't know if you'll get paid just because I let you fight."

"We'll worry about the details later! Great, so that's all taken care of. What next, boss man?"

"Just try and stay alive right now, come on." Ike than ran back to the fight in the hall.

Mia and Colette were about to follow but Colette stopped and said, "Just to make it official Mia, welcome to the group."

Mia smiled, "Thanks Colette!"

As they returned to the rest of the group Ike quickly informed everyone that they had a new comrade. They continued up the hall, killing enemies left and right; in front and behind; there seemed to be no end to them. They came close to the other end of the fort when more Daein came out of a doorway, followed by a scary, green hair woman on a horse. As the other soldiers saw her they all stopped fighting and directed their attention to the scary woman.

She began to laugh, "…Found you at last. You provided more entertainment than I thought you would."

Ike then ran up a little bit and shouted, "Who are you?"

"Me?" The scary woman gestured to herself. "I'm General Petrine, and my arrival marks your doom. Lament your fortune, dear children, for all hope is lost. You will not leave this place alive," She threaten.

"Petrine…Of the Four Riders?" Soren questioned.

"Do you know her, Soren?" Ike turned around and asked.

"She may be one of the four generals who are King Daein's most trusted confidants. She is said to wield a flame lance of terrible arcane might," He explained.

Petrine began to laugh again, "…You've heard of me? Why, I'm flattered. I'll try to make this easy on all of you. Give me the princess now! If I roast the girl along with you curs, I won't be able to present her head to His Majesty."

Colette then ran up next to Ike "Hasn't princess Elincia suffered enough! You've taken her country, her family, her people, and now you want to take her life!" Colette brought out her chakrams out. "I won't let you do something so terrible!"

"You insolent girl! You think that your words will sway me? I will kill you all without guilt!" Petrine shouted at her.

Ike brought his sword in front of Colette and said, "You have no reason to harm any of us, the princess is safely in Gallia."

Petrine then grew more furious at this. "What! You expect me to believe that some sale-swords like yourselves were able to get past my troops!" She then charged at Ike and Colette on her horse as she screamed, "Die!"

Colette pushed Ike's sword away from her and got in front of him. She yelled "Damage Guard!" A strange green light surrounded Colette creating a shield. Petrine's swung her lance at her causing Damage Guard to brake and slicing Colette's right arm. She was thrown backwards making both her and Ike to fall on the ground. Petrine was about to finish them off when she suddenly veered backwards, dogging an arrow.

Three figures then emerged out of one of the hall ways. "Sorry we're late." It was Greil!

"Father!" Ike shouted who was still on the ground with Colette.

Greil turned to his son looking angry. "What're you doing back here you dumb pup?"

"We got the princess safely in to Gallia. When you didn't rejoin us, we decided to look for you. The mission wouldn't be complete until you returned," he answered as he got up and then helped Colette up.

"…What am I to do with you?" Greil sighed, but he couldn't suppress his smile. "Still, you did well. Good work, Ike."

"Ha! Ignoring me proves you've got more guts than common sense," Petrine said interrupting them. She looked over Greil. "I was expecting some sell-sword to make it this far without a scratch."

"You know you really shouldn't underestimate you opponent. How's about me and you have our own battle without anyone getting in the way."

"Very well. You may even be strong enough for His Majesty." She then pointed to one of the soldiers and ordered "I'm leaving you in charge here. Don't let even one of these Crimean vermin escape!"

Greil looked at Shinon and Gatrie "I'll distract the woman. You two get Ike and the others and get out of here now!"

"Got it!" Shinon nodded.

"But, Commander! We can't leave you here on your own!" Argued Gatrie.

"Idiot!" Shinon hit him upside the head, "That woman's no threat to the commander. All right? Come on! Let's go!" he said as he walked away.

"Move it! We'll regroup in Gallia!" Greil shouted.

Petrine and Greil then went further in the fort. Once they were gone the Daein soldiers went back to fighting position. The rest of the mercenaries got together to take care of the last of the Daein.

Rhys walked up next to Colette and said "Colette you bleeding, let me heal your arm."

Colette looked down at her arm and indeed it was bleeding. The sleeve was soaked in blood. She winced when she squeezed it but then smiled. "I-it actually hurts! I can't believe it. I'm so happy." She said with disbelief and was laughing. Everyone was staring at her, even the Daein.

Shinon looked at Boyed and asked "So I guess you all ruled out spy for her, right?"

"Y-yeah."

"So what about brain damage?"

The battle was about over. There was only one left, a mage named Balmer. He was surrounded. He backed up; sweat was dripping down his face. He shouted, "I will not fail, you hear me!" He then opened his tome and was about to cast, but Soren was faster. He used his wind spell to knock Balmer into a wall. Ike then ran up and ended his life.

"I have to find my father," Ike said as he looked at everyone.

They nodded; they didn't want to leave without their commander either. Titania then shot down the hall followed by everyone else. They found him in a big room crossing blades with Petrine.

"Titania! Is my father…?"

"Don't worry," Titania cut him off, "Commander Greil's the better fighter. He'll be fine."

Finally, Petrine backed away and said, "Who are you man? You look like a common sell-sword, but you fight like a demon!"

"What's wrong? Ready to surrender?" Greil taunted

"And admit defeat? Me? Don't be absurd…"

Just then a soldier walked and yelled. Shortly he was followed by several others.

"Blast. Enemy reinforcements!" Ike cursed under his breath. "Father! Let's get out of here!" He shouted.

"…Looks like I've got no choice." Greil ran back with the rest of his mercenaries and were about get out of there but all the exits were blocked by the enemy.

"Damn it, where did all these Daein come from?" Boyd shouted angrily.

Petrine, yet again, began to laugh. "Oh how the tides have turned." She then put on her evil face. "All troops, attack! Kill them. Kill them all!"

"Hm…Looks like our luck has run out." Greil sighed.

"Father!"

Greil put his hand on Ike's shoulder. "You have to survive this, Ike. I'm not going to lose you, not in this place. Are you ready?"

Reluctantly he answered "Yes Commander."

No! I won't let anyone die. Colette then began to bring Judgment upon them. But she was interrupted by a loud roar. "What was that?" She asked.

"B-b-beast! Gallian beast soldiers!" One of the soldiers shouted "R-r-run! We're going to be torn to shreds!" Why are they so frightened?

The Daein began to run for the exits but Petrine stopped them. "Stand your ground, all of you! Don't panic! I will personally slaughter the first man to turn his back on the enemy!" The majority of them ran away anyway.

They could hear screams down one of the hallways. Then a small group returned shaking and pointing down the hallway. In a flash, several giant feline came in. The blue cat then transformed into human form.

Colette couldn't take her eyes off them. Titania saw her bewilderment and told her "Those are the laguz."

Gebal Castle

Swish. Swoosh. Stab. That was all you could hear at Gebal Castle for Lloyd couldn't sit still. He was in a corner practicing with his twin blades. Presea and Kyza were both siting in chairs across from each other; staring at each other with expressionless faces.

"Will you sit down," Kyza told the teen clearly annoyed.

"Please Lloyd, you making me nerves," Presea looked at him.

Lloyd stopped and looked at them. "How can you just sit there and act so calm while our friends could be in danger." He slammed his fist into the wall. "Damn it! I should be out there looking for them, not here doing anything."

"I know how you feel. But there's nothing we can do now, except to believe in them, after all, they are all stronger then they look," Presea reassured him.

Lloyd nodded. "You're right, I'm sorry." I just feel so useless, just like when Colette lost her heart.

Suddenly Kyzastood up and said, "Their back."

Presea quickly stood up and Lloyd sheathed his blades.

Ranulf and two other laguz returned followed by a large group of people. One Lloyd immediately recognized. "Colette!" He cried.

"Lloyd, Presea!" She ran toward Lloyd and he caught her in his arms.

"Colette, are you alright?" Presea asked seeing Colette's red sleeve. Lloyd let go of her and looked at her sleeve.

She smiled, "Yes, and it actually hurt." Lloyd and Presea just smiled, happy that Colette was back to normal. Well as normal as a teenager with angel wings and super hearing could be. Colette looked around the room and then asked, "Where are the others?"

Lloyd looked at Presea, and then said, "We were hoping that they would be with you."

Ranulf then stepped up. "Yeah, about that; your friends aren't Daein, are they?"

Lloyd was about to ask what a Daein was but Colette answered the question for him, "Don't worry, they're not."

"Well then, I think it's safe to say that your friends aren't in Gallia. The only beorcs that were in Gallia are you lot and those Deains." Ranulf looked at the group of people that came in with Colette. "We'll return when the king calls for you." He motion for Kyza to come. Kyza followed but nodded toward Lloyd and Presea before he left. Once the laguz left there was an awkward silence between the two groups.

Ike was the first to speak, "So Colette are these your friends that you were taking about?"

She smiled, "Yep, these two are my friends. This is Lloyd and Presea." She then introduced the people that came in with her. "They're the Greil Mercenaries. If it wasn't for them I probably wouldn't have found you two."

Lloyd walked up toward Ike and brought his hand out. "Thanks for looking out for her."

"It wasn't a problem," Ike accepted his hand and shook.

Somewhere out in the desert

Raine Sage somehow wondered into a desert. She knew it wasn't in Triet desert, the land marks didn't match up. But where in all the worlds was she! Finally after hours of walking around the desert she heard a cry and quickly ran toward the source.

When she got there she saw two people wielding axes, a tiger laying on the ground bleeding, and a young boy with red hair kneeling over the tiger. "No, Muarim! Please, you can't die!" The young one cried.

One of the axe wielders grabbed the boy to move him away from the green tiger, ignoring his protest. The other one walked up toward the bleeding tiger. "You ignorant kid! You'll learn not to mingle with these savage beasts."

Without thinking Raine ran closer and shouted, "Barrier!" casting the spell around the tiger. After she realized what she had done, she smiled. Looks like Lloyd's habit of interfering in others affairs have rubbed off on me. Normally I wouldn't have gotten involved in situations like this. She looked at the young boy; he had stopped squirming in the man's grip and was looking at her with disbelief.

The one who was about to finish off the green tiger shouted; "What the hell do you think you're doing!" He then began to charge at her. She sighed, then brought her staff around and hit him in the head. The man went flying back toward his companion. He sat up and rubbed his face while his companion was shaking.

"Well, are you going to leave or will this have to continue this," she threaten.

The two axe men immediately ran away. Once they were out of sight she turned around to see that the boy was standing in front of the tiger, acting as its shield. "Relax," She said, "I'm a healer. I can help you friend." The boy, very slowly, began to move out of the way. Raine then knelt next to the tiger and began casting her healing spell. "My name is Raine Sage." She said to try and distract the boy.

"I…I'm Tormod. He's Muarim," He managed to say. "Will he be alright?"

She nodded "He should be alright." But as soon as she said that, the tiger's appearance shifted to humanoid form with a tail and cat ears. Now he was a sturdy man with green hair and a white bandana. She fell backwards from the shock.

"I guess this is your first time seeing a laguz, huh?" Tormad asked her, she just nodded.

Muarim began to move then sat up. "Are you all right Little One?" he asked when he saw Tormod.

"You bet!" Tormod reassured him looking happy. Then he glanced at Raine; "But we wouldn't have been if this lady hadn't had come along," He admitted.

"Is that so…thank you Miss."

"You're welcome," She said finally on her feet again. So there must be resentment against these laguz. Is there anywhere in all the worlds that discrimination doesn't exist?

Once Muarim had enough strength to walk they took Raine to their base and explained to her that they were working on freeing all the laguz slaves in this Begnion place. But when they got there, nothing could prepare them for Raine in her ruin mode. Not even the king of Goldoa could stop her and her lust for investigating the ancient ruin.

Finally, I got Raine in the story! I thought it would be funny to put her in a place with ruins and people that didn't know her. Evil right? Poor Tormod and Muarim, don't know what they got themselves into. Again tell me if you have an idea for a Z-skite. Thanks for the reveiws!