FIRE EMBLEM: THE ELEMENT MAGES
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem.
Chapter 7: Two Stray Dogs and the Last Chapter on the Road to Goldoa
It turned out that Holly would be fine in a few days. But she couldn't walk on her leg. The gash was deep. But, Alycia decided Holly would regain use of her leg eventually. The only bad thing is that they would have to stay in the town for longer than they'd have liked. Alycia was looking for work as a medic. As the new Greil mercenaries did not have such, Ike accepted the offer Alycia proposed. She would stay with the group for a few months unpaid so she could prove her skills to the group. After that she would be paid. Ike decided it would be wise to have a medic around. After all, Holly may have died if Alycia had not been there.
On one of the last days Alycia forced Holly to stay in bed, two mercenaries strode into town. Being a small town, our heroes noticed. Ike was drinking lemonade on the balcony with Mat, Chii, and Chris when he saw the figures walking into the town. Ike squinted at the figures, the rising sun at their backs. Ike stood and went back into the building. Chii watched the figures draw closer and saw Ike step outside and confront them. The mood of the conversation below did not seem hostile. Chii's interest was piqued so he went downstairs to see what was going on. Ike was now sitting at a table in the dining room with the two men. Chii walked into the room and sat down in a chair at the table.
"Hey, Chii this is Shinon and Gatrie. They were members of the Greil mercenaries. They left before you, your sister, and Furu joined. Guys, this is Chii. He was part of the group before the massacre. His sister, Holly, her friend, Furu and Chii were out on a little mission we'd sent them on, so they were spared. I was quite happy to find that they were safe." Ike said solemnly.
"So, what are you two doing here?" Chii asked.
"We could ask the same question of you." Shinon said quite bluntly. Chii studied the man. He was of medium height. An archer, with long red hair tied back. He had a slightly disgruntled look about him.
"Oh, come on, Shinon. This is the main road to Goldoa." The other man, Gatrie, said, with a disapproving look on his face. A knight, this man was taller than Shinon, and wider as well. This was partially due to the blue armor that he wore. His blonde hair was sticking up and he had a kind disposition. Chii sighed and stood. He excused himself and left the room. He walked back up to the veranda where Chris and Mat were chatting and sipping their lemonades.
"So who were they?" Mat asked when Chii sat in his chair once more.
"Some people Ike knew." Chii remarked.
"Oh." Mat sighed.
"It's been getting really warm during the day recently." Chris sighed. Chii sighed.
"I'm bored." Mat sighed.
"Yea." Chii replied. Cody strolled out the door sighing.
"I'm bored." He complained.
"Shut up." Chris sighed.
"Stop treating me like a prisoner!" Cody exclaimed.
"Shut up." Mat sighed.
"I'm serious, you all treat me like I'm being held captive." Cody sighed.
"You are being held captive and shut up." Chii sighed. Cody sighed and sat upon the floor.
"Well, you could at least give me some lemonade." Cody said.
"Fine. You can have some." Chii said.
"But it's downstairs." Mat finished. Cody stood up and stalked off.
"What a retard." Chris sighed.
"Could you pour me some more?" Mat handed Chii his glass.
"Sure." Chii poured lemonade into the glass and returned it. The pitcher was set down next to three clean, empty glasses. Cody stomped back outside.
"Old woman Pinako said that you guys have it up here!" He said, angrily.
"We do." Chii said. "Want some?" Cody sighed and nodded. Chris poured him a glass and handed it to him.
"Thanks." Cody muttered, sitting down on the floor.
"You can sit in the chair… You're not a dog." Mat sighed. Cody stood and sat in the vacant chair.
Inside, Furu, Alycia, and Chibi were chatting in low voices. Holly was sleeping happily in her bed.
"Have you seen the way he looks at her?" Alycia smiled.
"No, I, unlike some, do not spend my time watching Ike." Furu replied.
"Well, he always looks at her when she talks, like he has nothing else to do in the world then look at her." Alycia smiled.
"Hey, you know I have noticed that I can be talking to him yet he's looking at her." Chibi replied.
"I'm telling you, we're going to see some romance here." Alycia almost giggled.
"Right." Furu laughed and wondered over to a portrait that was hanging on the wall.
"What in the world are you talking about?" Holly sat up and ruffled her hair. She yawned.
"Nothing." Alycia smiled.
"I heard you say purple and white painting smocks."1 Holly said, looking confused.
"You must have been dreaming." Furu said, walking over to Holly's bed and giving Holly a hug.
"Oh well." Holly sighed. "You're sure I can't go outside?" Holly whined.
"No." Alycia sighed. "You can't."
"That stinks." Holly huffed.
"It'll be ok." Furu sighed and smiled at her friend. There was a knock at the door. Alycia stood and answered it. It was Ike.
"Can I come in?" He asked kindly.
"Erm…" Alycia hesitantly turned her head to be sure Holly was covered and none of the girls' unmentionables were lying about. She nodded when she saw all was in order. She opened the door and Ike entered, bowing politely to all the females in the room.
"Hello, Ike." Chibi said.
"Hi." Furu sighed, moving away from Holly and going to brood by the painting again.
"Hello." Holly sighed.
"Greetings." Ike replied. "So, Alycia, are we getting out of here any time soon?" Ike chuckled slightly.
"Tomorrow." Alycia replied.
"Heeey. If I'm so close to being able to travel, then why can't I at least go outside and sit on the porch?" Holly whined. Alycia smiled.
"The village idiot is out there." Furu sighed. The whole room seemed to fill with an uncomfortable silence after Furu had said her bit. Holly sighed.
Ike strolled out onto the porch and leaned against the rail as his chair had been taken. Everyone was silent. None of them had said a word since Cody came out to sit with them. The front door below closed and the two men strolled out.
"Hey." Ike called. Gatrie looked up.
"Hey." He called back.
"Would you guys be interested in rejoining the group?" Ike asked.
"NO." Shinon practically yelled.
"Well, then how about a duel?" Ike shouted.
"What?" Shinon asked, now somewhat confused.
"A duel! If I win, you rejoin. If you win I'll never bother you again."
"Sure! Anything to get rid of you." Shinon replied in an insulting tone.
"It's settled then! Stay put and I'll come to you." Ike said rather cheerfully (notice that Ike completely missed the insult). With this, Ike jumped off the roof and landed unnervingly close to his opponent.
"Remember your promise! When I beat you, you guys have to leave us alone forever." Shinon said seriously.
"Yep. Fine, fine." Ike said impatiently. "You want to start or should I?" Ike asked, now becoming serious. Shinon's answer was an arrow, which Ike dodged easily. "I see how it is!" Ike said jokingly. With this he ran forward and beat Shinon across the head with the flat of his sword. This was followed by about thirty seconds of obscenity from Shinon.
"I'm serious about this fight!" Shinon called angrily.
"So am I." Ike said, all of a sudden deadly serious. From the porch above, Chii said,
"It's scary how fast his moods can change…" They fought silently for several minutes until Ike slashed Shinon across the shin with his sword. This caused more obscenity. They continued until Ike finally brought Shinon down with a good kick to the inside of his knee.
"Ow…" Shinon sighed forlornly.
"Had enough yet?" Ike said cheerfully.
"NO!" Shinon shouted and got to his feet. He promptly fell over because of his previous shin wound. "YOU PLANNED THIS!" he said, fully screaming now.
"You made a bet." Ike said tauntingly.
"…" Shinon was completely silent now. He looked as if he might start crying. "FINE!" he said.
Early the next morning, Ike awoke everyone and they reluctantly set out down the road to Goldoa. Shinon mumbled to himself for nearly an hour before he shut up entirely and the merry conversation that the group was used to began.
