I've always been one to say I hate drama. And I really do, but what do I have to go do? Stir the pot when I should have just left it alone. Oh well, the past is behind us. I apologize to everyone who had to get mixed up in my mess or got caught in the crossfire, and a special thanks to Araceli L and MessengerofDreams for standing by me the entire time! :)
Now, lets get to the story! Don't forget to check my deviantART!
Chapter Seven
"This is ridiculous! We'll never find her!" Marth grumbled. It had been almost a full week since he and Ike had joined together and they were no closer to finding the Sky Dancer than they were the first day. The cloudscape was constantly shifting and moving, one could fall asleep next to a cloud forest and wake up with it completely flattened. This made it nearly impossible to know for sure where they had searched and where they hadn't.
"Oh, don't give me that. It's only been a few days. Patience, my friend. It took me about three months to catch her the first time!" Ike said calmly.
"Three months!" Marth threw his hands in the air, his eyes wide. At this rate, he'd return to Altea an old man. He slumped his shoulders and huffed, "What's the use?"
Ike rolled his eyes good-naturedly and nudged the younger man with his elbow. "Go on like that and we'll never find her for sure. Now stop acting like a whiny baby and pull yourself together. We just gotta keep looking, that's all."
Marth pretended to sigh and drag his feet, but he couldn't help but grin. For the thousandth time he thought to himself how lucky he was to have run-well, crashed was more like it, into Ike. He cringed slightly at the sight of the shadow of a bruise that still lingered under Ike's left eye from where his boot heel had landed. In the few short days they had spent together, Marth felt closer to him than he had to anyone in his life. Sure, back in Altea he had had many friends, but he knew that more than a few of them only associated with him because of his status. He had never before felt this type of brotherly bond with another human being. He never had to worry about saying anything compromising, Ike was always armed with a witty retort.
Ike stopped and looked back at his disgruntled companion. "Tell you what, let's give the hunting a break for awhile. We'll do something else."
Marth raised one eyebrow. "Like what?"
A sly grin broke out on Ike's face. Throwing down his pack, he yanked his golden sword, Ragnell, from the loop in his belt and pointed it at Marth. "Arm yourself or die!"
In a flash, Marth unsheathed Falchion with a flourish, the two blades met with a clash. "You'll never defeat me!"
Marth soon realized that one of his first assumptions about Ike was indeed correct. Ike yielded Ragnell with one hand, swinging in powerful strokes that looked as if he were barely trying. Although Ike had the might, Marth had the speed. He quickly dodged and parried the blows, running around the bigger man who was much slower and clumsier with his footing.
Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. He kicked off the ground and flipped, swinging his sword, right over Ike's head! Marth landed neatly behind him as Ike twisted around, a lock of deep blue hair falling in front of his face. Ike froze. He then pointed at Marth with his free hand with daggers in his eyes, "Now you're dead!"
Ike roared as he sprinted towards the younger as fast as he possibly could. Marth yelled, cowering playfully, but then his head whipped to one side. He held a finger to his lips as he stared hard at the tall swirls of cloud a few yards away. He slipped Falchion into it's scabbard and shoved Ike's arm. Laughing, he nearly shouted, "Alright, you got me this time. Let's make camp here tonight."
Ike looked at his confusedly, but shrugged and laid Ragnell on the ground. As he knelt down and began unrolling a blanket, Marth leaned on his shoulder. A barely audible breath floated to Ike's ear, "Did you hear that?"
Without looking at him, Ike shrugged and shook his head just a fraction. Before Marth could say anything else, there it was again! A tiny tinkling giggle, the sound of wind chimes on a spring evening. His eyes widened excitedly as he glanced at Marth, he dipped down his chin in a nod.
The Sky Dancer was near.
Ike glanced at the sword still clenched in Marth's grip and made a slashing motion with his hand. Marth dropped it to the ground and stood at full height. The elder looked up at him and said, a little louder than normal, "Why don't you look for some dinner for us?"
Marth smiled and turned towards the cloud forest. He held his breath, hoping she hadn't disappeared already. He stepped into the shady area, his cloak fading to a mysterious blue-gray. A few feet in, a movement caught his eye. She was not but two yards away from him! He moved toward the disturbance quickly. Another ethereal laugh seemed to echo all around him. Marth began running, he couldn't lose her! He gasped when he caught sight of a ripple of white fabric.
The Altean sprinted as hard as he could, closing the distance between them. She was right there! Marth lunged forward, arms outstretched. He couldn't help but laugh aloud as his arms wrapped around her waist. He was going home!
He gasped for air as the Sky Dancer struggled to loosen his grip. Abruptly, she stopped and twisted around. Marth's breath caught in his chest, her face only inches from his. She was even more stunningly beautiful than any of the pictures the lord had given him.
Tilting her head back to let that cascade of auburn hair brush his arm, she reached up and stroked his jaw with her smooth, elegant hand. Marth's heart sped up as the bewitching woman leaned closer to him still. She laid her cheek gently against his and whispered, her lips nearly brushing his ear, "Let me go, Marth."
As if in a daze, Marth's arms slackened. The Sky Dancer gingerly pushed herself away from him. She turned and ran, looking back at him and laughing. All he could do was stand and stare.
Just as she was about to disappear from sight, she unexpectedly collapsed to the ground. Marth blinked hard and shook his head. Ike stood over her unconscious body, he looked up at Marth and waved the butterfly net he held in his fist, grinning. It appeared that Ike had hit her over the head with it.
"And that, my friend, is how you catch a Sky Dancer!"
They did it! They did it! They brought her back to the lord who held up the end of his bargain and sent Marth home, he also paid Ike enough to live happily ever after for the rest of his life! Then they all became best friends and never had another problem ever again!
The END
Juuuust kidding! You guys should know me better than that! ;)
