Aww. Mark's dreaming about a girl. Who? I won't say. I like teasing people.

Chapter 9: Reunion

It was three days before Mark finally woke up. The first thing he saw was white. Then his brain cells, or what was left of them, kicked in and he realized that he was looking into the light of the chandelier. Groaning and looking away, he saw that he was in Castle Pherae's infirmary. He got up and shifted his joints to get them used to motion again. He felt he had died and just woken up again.

Then the memories started to flood him. The arrow piercing him and his lords were in trouble. He looked down and noticed his ring. They were supposed to have gotten this ring should anything happen to him. His friends were in trouble… or worse…

At that moment, the doors opened to let Hector in. Mark was filled with happiness. So much in fact, that he literally jumped into Hector's arms and gave him a hug that dented his armor. Lyn and Eliwood stepped in and it was just too much for Mark. He was in heaven. His friends were here, he was happily awake from his slumber. Wait, did he just say that he was in heaven? That was it. It explained everything. Why he was still conscious, how he got his ring back, why he can see his friends here. He was in heaven. They had all died. At this point Mark just broke down and was crying.

"Wow, he seemed upset when he saw you guys. Do you think that he was happy that he saw beauty, me, and when he saw something not so beautiful, such as you guys, he just can't bear the ugliness?" asked Hector jokingly.

Whether he was joking or not he was still punished. Lyn promptly walked up to him and smacked him across the back of his head before going back to Mark. By now, Mark was up again and has calmed himself. He took a deep breath before barraging them with his questions such as why they didn't take his ring and so on and so forth.

Eventually, after everything was sorted out, Mark took a second to let everything sink in. He stood up, excused himself, went outside to the balcony, and screamed for all he was worth. He then came back in, took a sip of tea, and acted like nothing has happened. Yeah, this was Mark alright.

After he satisfied his curiosity for the moment, the others started to ask him questions.

"Where were you Mark?"

"Hmm, I don't know. It was someplace dark."

"What did you do?"

"I don't know. I don't think I've done anything."

"Okay then, how did you transform into a wolf."

"I don't— hey! I never transformed into a wolf. What gave you that idea?"

The others looked guiltily at Mark. Lyn gathered her courage and spoke gently, "Mark, you transformed into a wolf, the one that we fought against twice. We just left out some detail in the explanation. We didn't want to shock you incase you didn't know. We're sorry."

Mark stared at them wide-eyed. They had to be kidding. But they were his friends. They wouldn't joke on something like this. No, this was the truth. The lords, seeing Mark troubled by the news, exited quietly to give him time to think.

By the time they got back, which was several hours later, they saw the balcony doors were open and Mark was nowhere in sight. Saddened by the thought that Mark abandoned them, they decided to move on. After all, they did agree that Mark was to be given his choice. He still didn't take back the dagger though.

For three more days, they were moping around. Some had to get their wounds healed. Mark would have done it. He would have made sure that they got professional help as soon as possible. He was changed now though, why should he matter? But he did.

On the fourth day after his disappearance, they decided to send Matthew out to find him if he was still in town though it was highly doubtful. He was out for almost an entire day and when he came back, he was beaming with happiness. "Mark is just outside of Pherae. He's been helping the people who comes there and was wondering what was taking you guys so long. He also gave me this." Matthew opened his hand to reveal Mark's ring. The black gem at the top looked darker than usual but when Lyn took it, the aura dispersed.

Matthew recounted what happened when he met up with Mark.

Flashback

"Yo! Mark! Are you here?"

"Quit shouting, my hearing isn't that bad." Mark looked up and noticed Matthew. "Is that really you Matthew?"

"Mark, you old dog. No pun intended. Where have you been?"

"For these four days? I've been living out here, helping people who come by. I've been waiting for when Eliwood and the others would set out again. Is something wrong? I can always go back."

"No, no, nothing's wrong at all. They're just getting their check ups and some have to be healed."

"Ah, well that's a relief. I thought that they've already left when I was sleeping but the villager told me that they haven't left yet." Mark shivered as a wind pass by. "Well, come on in Matthew, the owners just rented me this place but they're away to visit some relatives. Come and have some tea and biscuits."

"Well, don't mind if I do." Thus began the long conversation of Mark and Matthew. Mark couldn't tell much because he can't remember much, but Matthew was still his chatty self and told all about their adventures so far. In the end, Mark gave Matthew his ring and told him to take it back to Eliwood and the others. They rightfully deserve it. For some reason, he felt safer if it was with them.

End Flashback

The lords looked at Matthew with awe as he was still basking in his own glory that he found Mark. Eliwood spoke first.

"He gave back the ring?"

Then Lyn said, "He's been waiting for us?"

And of course Hector had to add his comment, "You got tea and biscuits without us and you didn't bring back any?"

All of them stared at Hector now. The most pointless detail just had to be picked out by him. Eliwood thought for a second before speaking up, "Actually guys, I agree with Hector. You had tea and biscuits and didn't save us any?"

Matthew was looking rather uncomfortable now as Hector and Eliwood were looking at him hungrily. "Err, well I've done what I was needed to. Remember, Matthew the Magnificent is always there to help those in need." Matthew struck a heroic pose and jumped out the window. He then crashed in the balcony below; muttered "Ow" picked himself up and limped off.

The others shook their heads and planed what they were going to do next. Their best course was to pick up Mark and continue to hunt the mysterious group. Mark evidently had something to do with them and it would be safer to have him with them.

That night, Lyn got another vision. It wasn't possible. Mark wasn't there but somehow, it happened.

Flash

The supposed leader was with Tarin and Tamara. He spoke first.

"Oh dear, Mark seemed to have messed up. Do you suppose that his other self knows?"

Tarin spoke against it, "It can't be, Mark can't get those memories back by himself. It must be a coincident."

"Hmm," thought Tamara, "Well remember what that book said, "There is no coincident, only Hitsuzen."

"Tamara, you actually listen to a book? And a picture book no less."

"Hey! Don't diss the book. It hasn't done anything to you and it can't fight back."

"Now, now ladies. Let's calm down for a minute. There is still plenty of time. Even if Mark did mess it up this time, whether by accident or purposely, we still have plenty of time. After all, this may be to our advantage after all."

He looked at Tamara. "Tamara, go to the new port, Port Tortuga. Go and destroy all of the evidence. It can be used to turn Mark against us. If the other group knows about it, they'll most likely go after it and turn Mark into an abomination. He'll fight against us, his friends."

"You got it boss. I'm on my way." With that she exited.

"Tarin, go and see if the preparations are done. It won't be as good if Mark isn't there to help them, but check anyway. There can be no mistakes."

"It is done."

End Flash

Lyn woke up to see the sun shining. It wasn't a good omen. Still, she had some idea of where to go. Next stop, Port Tortuga.

Mark liked open areas now for obvious reasons.