BloodyCrystal: Well, folks, as promised, here is the first of three companion pieces to my one-shot, Nightmare. These will all be one-shots, although of varying lengths. To understand, you will have to read the background before the fic begins. As I warned in Nightmare, I will use the pairing that originally inspired me to write these one-shots, so no flames for not using the pair that you wanted/saw. Please note: this is the girl's nightmare. The next one-shot will be the boy's dream, and the third is when their companions "find out".

Background: The tactician is a girl named Lani. She is about the same age as Lyn (i.e.: 18-19). This takes place any time in Eliwood or Hector's campaign after Heath joins, but before Ninian's death. The main pairing will be Heath/Lani (tactician). You have been warned.

A/N (cont.): Before anyone asks what basis I have for a Heath/Tactician pairing, I refer them to the chapter where you first meet/hear of Linus and Lloyd. If you pick Heath to fight in that chapter, he speaks to the tactician of being a deserter from Bern, but how he is still a little glad to be there, and how he hopes to one day be able to return. I think that his little speech is an indication that it's possible for a romance to bloom between him and the tactician, if only because he doesn't seem the type to tell just anyone all of those feelings. So sue me-please, don't take this literally-; I'm an optimist about things like that. I have never seen a pairing like this before, so I can claim originality. I also claim originality with the idea, but that might not be true. T.T

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the game. But I do own Lani and, as far as I know, the plot.


Wave upon wave broke over her back. Her fists clenched into tightly curled balls, digging into the soft flesh of her stomach. Sand pressed in around her, muffling the girl's quiet sobs. The heat pressed down, the sun's rays making the image shimmer, as if it were only a mirage.

The pressure was unbearable. She could barely breathe, and when she managed to, it was with deep, gasping breaths that sounded loud in this quiet place. The only other sound was the crash of the waves against a broken body.

All at once, the scene morphed. The girl was still there, but now she was chained to a pillar that stretched upwards for miles. Tears coursed freely down her face as cruel-sounding laughter permeated the air about her.

She whimpered as hands appeared out of nowhere, hands that slapped and cut, pinched and grabbed, burned and caressed the girl's body.

She shrunk in on herself, trying to escape an invisible tormenter, but still the hands came, still they penetrated.

They all prided her on iron control and willpower, calmness and a quiet strength, but it was gone in this hellhole, swept away by terror at a cruel, evil presence.

She could scream and cry without anyone but dream-sendings there to see. But those dream-sendings were more than enough.

They went on and on, growing bolder the more she screamed and cried.

Somewhere inside of the girl, a voice kept chanting, over and over, it's not real, it's a just a dream, I'll wake up, and I'll be fine…

Suddenly, she saw the face of her oppressor, and she screamed loud and long and hard.

Then, there was only darkness.


BloodyCrystal: Well? What did you think? Please tell me something, I love getting reviews and comments. And no, you don't get to know who tormented her; that's my little secret. I promise I'll have the next one up soon, okay? Okay.