This chapter will primarily be a flashback filler chapter. This'll cover the ending of FE7, and what happens with Mark. Hopefully, you guys will like it. We'll be back to the regular story soon enough, trust me. This is needed.
Disclaimer: I do not and most likely never will own Fire Emblem.
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Mark slowly looked up, and smiled. Hector and Lyn were arguing again. Nergal had just been defeated, and the army was saying their goodbyes. Sain stood off to one side, sneaking up on Florina, who was talking with Ninian. Beside her stood Eliwood, smiling. Wil was trying to convince Dart to come with him and Rebecca, back to Pherae, and then to Caelin. Farina was pulling him the other way, however, claiming something about "needing to speak to him, alone". Fiora was fussing over a particular nasty wound of Kent's. Mark's breath hitched when he saw Raven draw his blade, while glaring at Hector. Priscialla gasped, and put a hand to her mouth. Heath put his arm around her, while Matthew tried to move in front of Hector, who shooed him off. Raven stared at the Ostian Lord, then glanced at his blade. The Hero walked over to Hector, and cleaned some blood off of his blade on Hector's torn cloak. Hector started, and moved to punch Raven, but Raven held up his hands, then kneeled. Hector froze. The Knight Lord suddenly laughed, and leaned down, pulling Raven back up. Hector then set Armads down, and shook Raven's hand.
"For what happened to your family..." Hector began, but Raven cut him off.
"It was a mistake. An error that you have already paid for. I... heard about your brother." Hector looked away, and grunted.
"You and your Monk friend should report for duty first thing tomorrow morning." Raven tilted his head to the side, wordlessly asking his question.
"I don't want my bodyguards to be late, and I hear you need a steady job." Raven glanced over at Priscilla, who smiled. The Hero chuckled, then began to outright laugh.
"He's finally free of his burden." Mark started, and turned around to see who had spoken. It was Nino, Jaffar right behind her.
"As is he." Mark said, nodding his head to Jaffar, who actually smiled slightly.
"Yes." His cold tones rang. Nino smiled broadly, and gripped Jaffar's hand.
"We're going to follow Canas, and try to find out if he's really my uncle!" Mark smiled.
"I wish you two the best of luck." Jaffar nodded, and Nino hugged Mark, before taking off. Canas had already said his farewells, and was moving off to go home to his wife, children and mother. Mark watched all of them, talking, arguing, and having a good time. And yet, he was alone. Almost everyone in the army had found someone. But... who was there for the Tactician? Florina's scream startled him, and he whirled around, just in time to see Lyn smack Sain upside the head, while Florina blushed.
"S-s-sorry, S-sain..." Sain grinned roguishly.
"Think nothing of it, oh beautiful Lilac of my eye." Florina smiled, but Lyn smacked Sain again.
"Stop flirting with Florina! You know she's afraid of men!" Florina giggled as Sain raised his hands in defense.
"I'm merely trying to help her work out that fear!" Mark shook his head.
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Mark watched as Fargus' ship sailed off into the distance. It was really time to part ways. Hector, Oswin, Raven, Lucius, Priscilla, Matthew and Serra(with Erk in tow), would head for Ostia. Eliwood, Ninian, Marcus, Lowen, Isadora and Harken would leave for Pherae. Heath and Vaida would head for Bern, though Heath would soon fly to Ostia, for Priscilla. Farina and Dart had disappeared. As had Renault. Pent and Louise would go back to Nabata with Hawkeye. Nino and Jaffar had followed Canas, and Bartre and Karla were going to Sacae with Karel, Rath and Guy. Kent, Fiora, Sain, Florina, Wil, Rebecca, Wallace and Lyn would leave for Caelin. Mark watched in remorse as the entire army broke up, saying their goodbyes to each other as they did so. Wil shot an arrow high into the sky, and Hyperion, Heath's Wyvern, caught it in his claws. The Wyvern let ought its dirge-like call, signaling a farewell to all. Mark mounted his horse, and followed after the remnants of Lyndis' Legion.
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Mark watched as she rode off, a lone tear trickling down his face. She was riding off to Sacae, and from there? She might not even have known. Lady Lyndis of Caelin, had left. Mark wondered with slight jealousy if she was going to Rath, or Hector, or some other guy. He shook his head. Even if she was, it wasn't any of his business. He was just the Tactician. At least she had said goodbye. Sain put his hand on Mark's shoulder, causing the teen to jump. Mark looked up at Sain.
"Lord Hausen is dead." Sain said, causing Mark to look back across the fields to Lyn.
"That's why she's leaving." Sain continued. "She doesn't want to live here, as Marquess. She wants to have freedom." From the distance, they saw another horse riding after her. Its rider wore blue armor, and was shouting at the top of his lungs at Lyn.
"I don't think she'll be free much longer if Hector has his way." Mark stated, watching Lyn urge her horse on.
"Mayhaps not," Sain began, turning around. "But she will be happy. And that's more than what she would have been with you, or I." Mark watched Sain walk back towards Caelin, and sighed. Sain was right.
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Mark grinned widely as Kent sat down on his new throne, as Steward of Caelin. Sain stood by him, showing off the honors that had been added to his armor as Commander of the Caelin Knights. Florina had somehow gained the gumption to start a Caelin Pegasus Knight Squadron, and stood to Sain's right, nervously looking around. Wil had become Subcommander of the Caelin Knights under Wallace's teaching, and stood on Kent's left. Mark had been offered the position of Caelin Tactician, but had politely turned Kent down. It was time to move on. He had trained someone else to replace him, and would now continue on his path, to further his knowledge of strategies and become a Master Tactician. Mark noticed that no one was looking his direction, and snuck off, hoping to leave quietly. Lyn saw him, however, and followed him.
"I guess this is goodbye then." Mark spun, and saw Lyn, her hands held together behind her.
"Yes, Lady Ostia." Mark said, smiling. Lyn frowned.
"That's not my title yet." She held out her arm, and Mark hugged her. "Besides, you know how I feel about titles." Mark smiled.
"I remember." He rubbed his shoulder, and she smacked it. They laughed, and then he looked away.
"So..." She began, looking down at her shoe. "You're really leaving Lycia?" Mark nodded.
"I'm leaving Elibe. I heard of another continent, known as Magvel. I plan on going there." Lyn smiled.
"Then thank you, for everything, Mark. We couldn't have rescued my grandfather, or defeated Nergal without you." Mark shook his head.
"All I did was boss everyone around. Hector could have done that." Lyn laughed, then embraced Mark again.
"Goodbye Mark. Travel safely." Mark nodded, and mounted his horse.
"Goodbye, Lyn."
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Mark slowly opened his eyes, looking up at Eirika's worried face.
"Mark! Are you all right?" Mark nodded.
"I believe so..." Mark suddenly saw a Mogall appear behind Eirika, and he pulled out a Fire Tome. He chanted the words, and raised his arms to cast the magic. Nothing. No Fireball, not even a spark. Mark flew backwards as the Mogall's magic struck him. Eirika cut the fiend down to size, and turned back to Mark. Mark stood up, and tried to cast Fire again. Still nothing. Mark tried one last time, then dropped the book. He pulled out a flux, and found that he couldn't remember how to cast it. He dropped the book into his bag, and tried again with Lightning. Yet again, nothing. Mark dropped the book, shocked. Eirika rushed over to him.
"What's wrong, Mark?" Mark shook visibly.
"I can't cast magic!"
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Author's Notes: Muahahaha! Yet another cliffhanger! What has Lyon done to Mark? Why can't he cast Magic? What is going on? Who ate my cookie? Also, a surprise for War readers tonight! Check and see! And keep checking, because it could be laaaate….
-Raptor, out.
