CHAPTER 4 PEOPLE!!!!!

Mark: You're loud.

Shade: Told you he was loud.

Shut up you two.

"talking"

'thinking'

'varies'

Chapter 4: Arrival

Mark and the newly dubbed 'Ike's Mercenaries' were off to Ostia to receive some cash for Ike. Mark continued to smirk from the last sentence he said, and the others began to worry, especially Ike.

"Karel," Ike asked silently, "What is he planning?" Karel sighed; he had no idea what Mark was planning either.

Ruins,

Jaffar woke up with a splitting head ache, the only thing he could remember was his wyvern bucking and him falling. "Ow…damn this hurts." He sat for a minute before he turned to see his wyvern asleep under a tree, which sparked a memory, "SHIT! I NEED TO FIND MARK!"

Trail,

Mia, being he usual, un-rash self, challenged Karel, of all people, to a duel. Karel sighed and accepted; he was no longer a blood crazed killing fool, Mark taught him two words, 'self control.' Mark took this time to look at the books Mist gave him; he read up on the cat, tiger, hawk, raven, lion, heron, and dragon laguz. The book of legends and myths proved much more valuable.

'Legendary Laguz, sounds dangerous and exciting, my kind of subject. Let's see… Hatari Wolf tribe…extinct? They don't know? Karel and I visited Hatari a few months ago, hell we even met their queen. What was her name again...Nailah was it? Anyway where was I? Gallia depths…hidden chamber…key…Mani Katti- wait WHAT!' Mark read the last passage slowly and carefully, 'Gallia is said to contain a hidden cave where four legendary laguz are said to sleep, awaiting the day the sacred key known as the Mani Katti awakens them from their slumber…' Mark closed the book. "You've got to be F'in with me God."

Mark watched the battle between Mia and Karel, Mia was good, but was starting to slow down, Karel was tired as well, but it didn't show.

"HEY DOWN THERE!!!!!" Everyone nearly jumped out of their skin when someone yelled from the sky. Mark looked up and smiled, "Jaffar you crap bag, how the hell are ya!" Jaffar lowered his wyvern and landed with a smirk. "Miss me Mark?" Mark gave Jaffar a return smirk, "You need something, or did the bounty hunters chase you all the way over here?" Jaffar began to inform them of the invitation and the party; Mark however frowned, "There goes my plan to…" his smirked appeared again, "Jaffar, we'll be there, tell no one." Jaffar looked at him confused, "I have a sweet plan that has been changed to involve the self proclaimed ladies man."

"You mean Hector or…Sain." Mark started to suppress a laugh, "Alright, but don't be too late" with that he took off. "Gather round me everyone," said Mark proudly, "I have a plan."

Dread Isle,

The Black Knight wasn't easy to impress, but he was impressed. Within a few short days, Drake's army went from three to three thousand. "I hate to be a barer of bad news master Drake," said Ephidel, "but this isn't sufficient enough to take even a small army." Drake remained seated in a golden chair with red leather, "I am aware of that, that is why wait for my seed to grow. Years ago I spread a seed of my darkness to one man in particular, his name was Lekain; my darkness corrupted him, and he had Begnions apostle killed and blamed the herons, driving them to near extinction." "That was you?" the Black Knight questioned, "Yes Black Knight, it was me."

Ostia one week later,

The party had started a few hours ago, but the only one not having fun was Lyn. Jaffar said he didn't see, or hear anything about Mark and Karel. Florina walked up to her friend, "Come on Lyn, I'm sure he's fine, knowing him he'll show up at the last second, invited or not. He's probably-" the door to the ball room burst open and a guard was panting out of breath, "Lord…Hector…Mark…outside…bandits." Everyone heard those few words and ran for the door, Lyn made it out first to see Mark, Karel, and a girl with purple hair tied together being watched by a dead serious looking archer.

"Looks like the guard told you guys about your friend," said their assumed leader, "sorry, but I want ten thousand for his freedom, or heads start rolling." Lyn was outraged, but couldn't do a thing. "So how about it?" Hector was visibly pissed off, "Mark…WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!?!?!?!" Mark gave his signature smirk and answered with "It's a long story." The leader stepped forward.

"I'll put it simple, he swindled us, killed three of our men, but most important…he made out with my SISTER!!!!" There were a couple of gasps and murmurs, but Lyn looked hurt in so many ways. "Dude for the last time, she was choking and I used CPR, I WASN'T KISSING HER!!!" the leader smirked.

"Say all you want, it won't work, and just to show you I mean it, this little wench goes first." He approached the purple haired girl when a voice rang out, "HOW COULD YOU?!" It was Sain, "I know ladies go first, but show her some more respect than tha-"

"NOW!"

Karel cut through the ropes and Mark threw two bags at the leader who cut them open at an angle that spewed the water in the bag all over Sain.

…

"HAHA!!!!!! THAT WAS TOO PERFECT!!"

"You were right Mark; he IS easy to fool, HAHA."

No one said a thing as Mark and the group who were obviously not bandits laughed at Sain's state. "What the hell just happened?" Hector couldn't put two and two together. Mark stood up and brushed the dirt off his cloak, "Hector, Lyn, Eliwood, everyone, this is Ike, leader of the Greil mercenaries, but I prefer Ike's mercenaries." No one responded, "To put it simply, Jaffar did tell me, and I had Ike help Karel and I get back here." Mark finished his story without interruption.

"Well Mark," said Eliwood, "Good to have you back."

"It's good to be back, now let's get this party started."

I am so mean sometimes.

Mark: I am such a genius.

Shade: No kidding, I'd hate to have you fight against me.

R&R, sorry Sain fans, but I couldn't resist.