I'm back again!

Guy: NO!

Matthew: Whatever…

FireEdge: Ooh!!! Lots of reviews! Yay!

Guy: Crap, reviews usually mean: "Pain in the $$ for Guy!"

Matthew: Or extreme pain with various objects! :) I love hitting you!

Guy: I don't… --

Reviews:

Ed, the Master Tactician: Hey, looks like your wish has been answered, Matthew! Ed here was kind enough to give us a beautiful Regal Blade… to hit Guy with!!! And thanks for reviewing!

Matthew: YAY!!!

Starts chasing Guy, eventually hitting him hard… with the sharp end, so now he's covered in bandages

Guy: Xx;;

Inferno-Hero: Wow, your muses are crazier than mine… anyway, thanks for your review!

Nevian: Yeah… but if I get this many reviews per chapter than no way in hell would I be lazy!

Ragnarok: I see you like my other muse! He is quite cute isn't he? Thanks for the compliment!

LOLFun: Well, the repeating the game's words thing was an intentional thing. Sorry if you don't like it.

The Story Master 125 (x4): HOLY SHIT! 4 times! You know, you could have just reviewed once, for all the chapters in chapter 4, but… It does add to my reviews! :)

Lord Cynic: Yes, I do go overboard with the muses, don't I? But that's my way of "expressing" myself! Thanks for reviewing!

FireEdge: I don't know if you'd noticed, but I decided to make the reviewers names italic, much easier to read, eh?

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem.

Stray Arrow Chapter 5

            Traveling quickly, they soon arrived at the Black Fang's hideout. After studying the layout, Elfaiya almost smiled.

            "This place is completely to our advantage! Our battle should end fast." Peering about, Elfaiya spotted something. "If my eyes don't deceive me, then I think I see a treasure chest past that wall."

            "Did someone say treasure?" Matthew's eyes lit up. "If you do not mind, Elfaiya, please send me over there. With one or two "escorts," if you please?"

            "All right, Rath and Dorcas take Matthew and cover that area." She instructed. "Lyn, Kent, Sain, Nils. Go through that hallway in the middle. Florina, Erk, Lucius and Wil take the hall to the right. Get rid of those enemies behind the wall! Serra, hang back a bit and see who needs to be healed more, then go and help them out." Giving the tactician a quick nod, they all headed off in the direction they were assigned to.

            With a flick of her wrist, Florina sent her javelin plunging into the soldier's body. Nearby, she could hear the sounds of lightning and fire and the whizzes of arrows told her that Wil was close by. Standing up in her stirrups to peer over the wall, she saw that the enemies were quickly being defeated. Knowing that her comrades could handle them, she flew further down the dark corridor. There she found a couple of cavaliers. Switching to her iron lance, she took them down in a matter of minutes. I think I'm finally getting better! It's hardly any effort to take down minor enemies anymore! But I mustn't get too overconfident I suppose… She smiled to herself then flew on. After reaching an intersection, she decided to wait for the others. Soon the sounds of light footfalls could be heard in the passage behind her. Turning in her saddle, a figure approached her. Getting closer, she smiled slightly. It was none other than Wil.

            Panting slightly from the battle, he returned her smile. For a moment they just stared at each other. The world around them seemed to freeze. Leaving them drifting by themselves, just them. No one else. Wil couldn't do anything but gaze at the pegasus knight with glazed eyes. Her orchid locks fell about her perfect face. Those aquamarine eyes shined with a light that wasn't there the first the first time that he had met her. He almost had to resist the urge to lift her off her mount and hold her in his arms. Like him, Florina's eyes were stuck on the young man. She admired his strong lithe physique. How his hair almost fell into his soft kind eyes. The cute smile that she loved so much. How there could be any man more perfect, she didn't know.

            Suddenly the sounds of yelling and pounding footsteps woke them from their reverie. Erk and Lucius, red-faced and wheezing they came up to them.

            "The wall—was—breached!" Erk panted between breaths. His cloak was slightly charred, from the other mages spells no doubt. Lucius was too in a bit of disarray.

            "How did that happen?" Wil asked confused. "I thought, we had that wall under control?!"

            "We did." Lucius replied flatly. "But then reinforcements came through. They had this very well planned out. They sent in a rush of forces when we were exhausted." Erk nodded in agreement.

            "But there's no point in turning back. We'd be killed. Better to head forward and see if we can catch up to Elfaiya or… Serra…" He said the last word with a bit of difficulty.

            "Yes, that's a good plan…" Wil nodded. Florina let out a silent sigh. She was hoping to be alone with Wil a bit longer. But duty called. Together they quickly ran down the length of the hall.

            "What in Saint Elimine happened to you?!" Cried Serra in shock as she held out her staff to heal them. "You look like you've been through hell and back!"

            "Something like that…" Muttered Erk. Elfaiya shook her head.

            "I didn't think they were that smart. Shouldn't have underestimated them. I forgot that we weren't dealing with ordinary bandits. Sorry 'bout that."

            "It was nothing, Elfaiya." Lucius replied gently. Florina nodded.

            "Yes, I shouldn't have left too early. But it looked like the enemy was defeated."

            "Well, no sense in worrying. We should focus on defeating their leader before even more reinforcements come." Suggested Wil.

            "Yes, we should. Go on and join the others. I've already sent Lyn and them up ahead." Eventually catching up to the others, they saw that they were already deep in battle with the leader. Beyard, he was a blond haired man with determined eyes. Rath had taken Wil's spot as archer for he was busy firing at the man. Dorcas hung a bit back, because of the weapon triangle. He was holding a new axe. It looked sharper and heavier than his old one. Kent and Sain were on either side of him, taking turns at striking him with their lances. Lyn turned around at the sight of them.

            "Oh, Florina! Good you're all here! Your aid will do well to take this man down. He seems determined not to die."

            "Not to worry, milady, magic will take him down in a moment." Erk nodded. Opening his anima book he lifted his hand and chanted. A fireball appeared and he hurled it at the enemy. Florina was still amazed at the affects magic had on most units with lower resistance. Taking them down almost instantly. I'm sure glad that I have a higher resistance than most. She glanced at Wil. But Wil doesn't. I hope he won't one day fall at the hands of magic…

            Despite all their efforts, the man wasn't dead. Though he was obviously defeated.

            "We won't kill you if you tell us why you've been chasing Ninian and Nils." Demanded Lyn. Beyard smiled almost insanely. He gave a weak laugh.

            "Failure is death!" With that he collapsed. From her spot at the back, Florina let out a strangled gasp. She bit her lip. Though she had seen countless enemies fall, she still could not stand someone throwing away their life that way. She didn't need Kent saying that the man had poisoned himself to know. Tears welled in her eyes. She almost felt sorry for the man. He felt like a failure. She did too, sometimes… though she never really considered killing herself for it… Florina felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning her head, she saw Wil. No one can see me… She thought to herself as she buried her face into his chest, sobbing. His hands wrapped around her comfortingly. Everyone was too busy to notice them. Or so they thought. But while Lyn talked to Ninian and Nils about the Ninian's ring, and everyone else listened. Elfaiya stood a bit further back in the shadows, smiling.

FireEdge: Aww… They love each other!

Guy: Duh, wasn't that kind of the main idea of this fic?!

FireEdge: Yup. Still can't believe I actually wrote that.

Guy: Yeah, considering you don't have any feelings!!!

Matthew: Yes she does. If she didn't have feelings would she laugh if I did… this?!

Whams Guy with a 10k hammer

Guy: Xx;;

FireEdge: Hahahaha! Loser! XD

Kirby: Poyo!

Holds up sign

Sign: Please review!

FireEdge