Author's Notes:

Hehe, thanks for the Reviews! Here's the Replies...

DarkLink313:

You're not an idiot... just a tad bit of an oddball. Oh, and just the record, I'm going to include the "implication" of a lemon in here sometime later. Don't worry, "Lost Hearts" will be back on track once I lose my touch with this one. Which is almost ready...

But anyways, I'll take a stab at it. From what you said, I think I'll like it. I did read the first chapter and reviewed it but then I got caught up in Exam Preparations. Sorry about that...

Houyoku:

Kent, in my opinion, is more of the stiff guy who'd rather be manly than do basic life skills. Therefore, it is fitting to have the Crimson Shield being incapable to applying survival skills in the field. The old man... expect a twist.

Ed, the Master Tactician:

I agree. The "QuickEdit" thing is a pain. I'm thinking of sending a e-mail of protest to the admins soon. In fact, I just did it! () Yay for me!

The Story Master 125:

Yeesh, you're making me blush! This is only me writing when I'm totally unmotivated!

Chapter 3: Forgotten Dreams

Dragging her feet as she slowly walked up the gangplank, Lyn glanced briefly at the sea before her. Here she was, in in the Port of Badon, ready to start her life all over.

Why had she come here? This she doesn't know. Some force, perhaps from the gods themselves, compelled her to come here. her mind and soul didn't understand why but her spirit and feet understood.

There was something to be atoned for...

By coming to the Port of Badon, she had awaited a sign. At first, she had decided to stay at the local inn for a sign. But no sooner than the ocean breeze had swept into her mind, that strange force from the heavens compelled her to follow it.

And now, here she was. Lyndis of the Lorca Tribe, heroine of the Morph War, standing before the ocean.

But to where?

Another breeze swept through her soul, cleansing her thoughts of any doubts. Yes, it was a good day to go sailing.

As she looked about the deck, which was somewhat oddly clear of any living life, Lyn had one thought return from the refuse it was swept into.

(Rath... why did you leave me so?) she sadly thought.

Several days ago, just right after she had left the Company, Lyn took a horse to a familiar deserted fort in Kathelet. There, she treaded through the empty halls, grimacing and tasting those familiar and still painful sights of death against the Black Fang.

She had reached the highest part of the deserted fort when she decided to take one last look at the open country between the fort and the woods. Such beauty...

Raising her Mani Katti sword, Lyn looked unwaverlingly at the sharpened edge. Running her soft left hand on it, she grimaced when the faintest press caused some of her warm blood to appear in a thin read line on the palm of her hand. Letting go, she let some of her own blood to spill upon the cold stone floor. There, the blood of the Sacae mixed with the blood she had spilt at this same place a year ago.

But looking at the crimson sunset, Lyn shut her eyes and removed her left hand from the hilt. Twisting her right wrist, the Mani Katti sword gleamed in the fading sun. With the blade barely seperated from her neck by a fraction of air, Lyn could feel the cold edge of the sword.

Perhaps she can atone for the deaths she caused...

Drawing her sword arm back, Lyn steeled herself to slice at her own pure throat. Her arm, steadily shaking, resisted all the mental commands she gave. Biting her lower lip, Lyn ordered her right arm to do it. Her arm still refused.

But at the last minute, a brief thought stopped her hand from slicing her pure throat to spill her rich red blood. She had cast away her weapon since, vowing never to raise a weapon against anyone.

Even in self-defense.
Before she had left the Company mere days ago, she had stopped by Florina's tent after the cooking incident.

"Florina," Lyn said as she pressed a letter packet into the sleepy Falcon Knight's hands. "Will you take this letter and deliver it to its destination?"

"S-s-sure," Florina said as she yawned. It was barely dawn and Lyn could see that Florina had spent the night thinking about somebody. "Who's it for?"

Standing there without moving, Lyn shook her head. "I'd rather not say. Just fly out to the Sacae and you'll find him." Hefting her travel pack, Lyn left through the tent flaps.

Lyn had merely moved several yards toward where the horses were corraled when she heard a familiar voice call out.

"Lyn, wait up!" Florina called in the glow of the slowly rising sun.

Turning around with her hands shielding her eyes from the sun, the Blade Lord found herself bowled over by the normally taciturn Ilian Knight.

"P-p-please! Don't leave!" Florina sobbed into Lyn's tunic. "W-w-what'll I do, w-w-without y-y-you?" The Falcon Knight collapsed onto the dew-covered grass in tears.

"Florina," Lyn said softly as she knelt right next to her dear friend. "I must do this. If I had a choice, I would return to the Sacae with you. But hear me out. I must return to the Dread Isle."

"T-t-the Dread Isle? Y-y-you've lost it, Lyn!" Florina then went into another fit of sobs. "N-n-now you're, g-g-going to leave me here, all alone?"

"You're not going to be alone, Florina," Lyn said in the same soft tone. "You've got your sisters once again."

Then, a mischeivous grin danced onto Lyn's face. "The last I heard from Eliwood, Hector seems to be completely enamored with you." At that, Florina suddenly stopped crying.

"R-r-really? I-i-it can't be..." Florina's mind completely drifted away. "A lord of Lycia, enamored? With me?"

"Dry up those tears, Florina," Lyn said encouragingly as she helped her dear friend up. "It's not right for someone as pretty as you to spoil her own face for a lord. Think of it, Florina. You and Hector, bonded in holy matrimony."
Shaking her head at the memory that was several days old, Lyn felt slightly guilty. It was true that Hector liked Florina but the Great Lord can't seem to make up his mind which of the three Falcon Knight sisters to marry.

'I tell you, Lyn,' the future Lord of Ostia grumbled once over the dinner table. 'I can't decide which of these women to court. Uther told me to settle down soon, seeing that he's falling ill too many times. I've told him my mind's made up before we left but... I can't!'

'Just close your eyes and pick one, Hector,' Eliwood quickly responded as he speared a bit of steak on his fork. 'At least you've got a bit of a choice. Look at me. I'm courting Ninian and I'm a bit unsure of her origins. Has there ever been another Lord in Lycia who's courted a Dancer?'

'Meh... who cares? As long as... you know.' The young Lord of Ostia raised his eyebrows knowingly several times. 'You get my drift, Eliwood?'

'Eh...' the young Lord of Pherae sat there with his fork halfway to his mouth. 'I'm not sure what you're trying to say but I think I know what you mean.'

'Hm... you men are such pigs,' Lyn herself said as she sipped some ale. 'Always thinking of those piggish thoughts. It's a wonder why you men aren't pigs at all!'

'Heh, what's wrong with that?' Hector jokingly grinned. Placing his fingers on his ears and scrunching up his nose, Hector began to mimic a pig.

'Oink! Oink! Oink!' he snorted as he rolled his eyes.

(What a lucky guy... at least he's got someone to be with.) Lyn thought bitterly as she bit her lower lip. (I do hope I can atone for what I've done.)

Stopping for a moment, Lyn dropped her travel pack onto the wooden deck. All she had brought along apart from the clothes on her back were several small items in the relatively light pack she brought. Inside were another change of clothes, a small kit for wilderness survival, a pouch of gold, some food rations and other memorabilia from her journey.

Looking back at the ship, Lyn continued her trudge up the slope. Reaching the top, a familiar grizzled face greeted her.

"Welcome aboard, Lady Lyndis," Farghus the captain said cheerfully. "I'd be obliged to take you to any destination on the open seas. Providing that we don't sail off the edge of the world, of course."

"Is there-" Lyn said as she reached toward her pouch of gold.

"A fee? No, no, heavens no! Ever since you and your friends helped the crew out of that spot of trouble a while back, my crew will never take any payment from you. Not on tiny piece of gold will leave your hands while you're aboard my ship. Not one piece!" Farghus then whistled for a crew member.

A young ruddy and sun-burned man came running up from the mess hall. He was wearing a red kerchief on his head with a blue and white striped shirt. With aquiline eyes, akin to those of an hawk, Lyn though this specimen of a man looked rather attractive. Underneath the kerchief was a bit of green hair.

"This is Garth, Dart's, or maybe I should say Dan's, best shipmate. He'll show you to your room. Don't hesitate to ask a crew member about the ship. I'll swear it upon my own honor that they'll not touch a single hair on you. Now, if you'll need me, I'll be either at the helm of the ship or in my cabin."

Watching Farghus limping off to the back of the ship, Lyn smiled shyly at Garth the Pirate. Likewise, the Pirate smiled back, faintly.

"Well," Garth said gruffly as a breeze suddenly whipped up. "I guess I'll show you about the ship." The Pirate turned around and gestured for Lyn to follow him.

After several minutes of random conversation, Lyn found herself walking beside him, Lyn couldn't help but admire the Pirate's green hair beneath the kerchief.

(Perhaps these wave riders are more than just gruff drunkards.)
After several hard days of searching, Florina was glad to see the last remains of a camp. Flying lower, the Pegasus Knight found more and more evidence of a recent meeting. Touching down, Florina patted the nose of her Pegasus gently.

"Thank you," she whispered to it. The winged horse neighed gladly in reply and flapped toward the nearest patch of grass.

Placing her hands on her knees, Florina examined the remains of a recent meeting.

A bit of ash was scattered, possibly by a fight. There was a scuffle as Florina could tell. Judging from the size of the boots, a duel happened. One was older than the other, perhaps in his forties. The younger, probably in his late teens, was hasty from the way his boots scuffed the rich dark earth.

Following the trail that the pair of feet left, Florina finally stood up. Looking at the trail, Florina couldn't believe it.

There was a dead body...

Sairn: Gasp Can you believe it?! A DEAD BODY?! OMG!!!

Fiora: Meh, your guess is as good as mine...

Sairn: WHO IS IT?!

Fiora: I dunno, read the next chapter (if Kingkazul400 gets his lazy ass in gear)

Sairn: Heh, does that mean you like me? ()

Fiora: ... ... ... ... No.

Sairn: WAH!!!! cries in a corner

Fiora: As always, Kingkazul400 wishes for a review so that he becomes "highly motivated" just like the Marines are always "highly motivated".

R & R, PEOPLE!