Hi everyone, just saying a few things. Um, please keep in mind, this is my first story. And seeing page long reviews of how my story is bad really depresses me. If you do have suggestions, can you please word them a bit nicer, I'm sorry. I am kinda sensitive. All right, enough about me and let's get to the reason why you are here.

After speaking with the village magistrate, Eliwood and company set their sights on Laus. The road from Pherae to Laus passes through Santaruz. Eliwood suspects his missing father must have visited Santaruz en route to Ostia. Eliwood arranges a meeting with the local ruling lord to see what he can learn.

At Santaruz Castle...

The marquess anxiously looked at the odd man in the dark robes ahead of him and spoke.

"What? Eliwood is here?"

The man, nodded with shimmering golden eyes. "Yes, his colleagues and he sat camp on a hill south of us. He seeks permission to enter Santaruz. He wishes an audience of you."

The marquess spoke in a sympathetic tone, remembering moments he and young Eliwood have had in the past. "Do you think he's come to ask of his father? If that's the reason... I wouldn't know what to say."

The man simply replied. "Say nothing, and send him on his way."

The marquess replied, "Yes... I know Eliwood well. His father and I are old friends. I have no children of my own; I've always adored Eliwood... I don't think I could look him in the eye and lie. I could not."

"Then if that will happen, we must chase him away. If you don't speak, you can't lie, can you?"

"Wait!" The marquess felt worry sinking into his heart. "Do you mean to harm Eliwood?"

"Not harm. A scratch or two will leave no scars. He will run home and end his adventure. He knows he's all Pherae has left..."

With that the mysterious man left the marquess. The marquess sighed as his guilt began to eat away at his insides.

To our travelers...

Sion looked on aimlessly as several trees passed him by as he continued to ride with Marcus and Lowen. He had sorely missed riding on a horse and now, that was exactly what he was doing. His drifting began to take him to thoughts and memories of Lyn. He then began to think about the Black Fang. All of a sudden, his scar began to cause him pain. Eliwood, becoming concerned, asked him.

"Are you OK? You seem to be in pain."

Sion smiled to cover up his pain. "Ah, it's nothing Eliwood. Pay me no heed."

Marcus, listening to Sion and disregarding him, said.

"Instead of entering Laus with such little people, I suggest we ask Marquess Santaruz for his assistance. It is a good plan."

Eliwood thought for a moment. "True. I'm pleased to have you with us. Lord Helman... I've known him since I was a child. I'm sure he will help."

Sion whirled around as soon as heard a twig snapping. Sion, knowing that by the sound of the twig, someone was there. "Someone is following us!" Sion shouted.

Marcus jumped in front of Eliwood. "Lord Eliwood! Beware!"

With this, a fat man jumped out at the travelers and laughed. Rebecca, frightened at the sight of another bandit, hid behind Lowen.

He sneered. "Noble sirs, alms for a poor villager?"

Marcus scoffed. "Poor villager? You look nothing like an honest man."

Lowen, noticing the tightening grip of Rebecca, cleared his throat as he shouted. "Clear the road, quickly!"

"Step quickly? Hah. Good advice, maybe you're the ones who should heed it!"

"What?" Lowen gasped, wondering what this ruffian could mean.

The man continued. "Someone wants the boy dead. A shame if you ask me, but he will die here. Today." He then turned to the bordering woods and mountains.

"C'mon boys! Earn your keep and fight!"

Bartre gazed on in wonder as the numbers seemed to rise exponentially. Dorcas sighed as he put his hand on Sion's shoulder.

"Here we go again, eh, Sion?" As he rolled his eyes

Sion grinned and laughed. "Yup, just like with Lyn. It almost makes me feel reenergized. Kinda funny, don't you think?"

Dorcas nodded. "Just like old times... Seems out fates are bound."

Sion thought a moment, remembering Natalie back at the fortress. "Oh, wait a moment! Your Natalie, how is she?"

"Natalie? Oh, she's still in Pherae. I'm working for you again, so she isn't worried. She was actually quite pleased and sends greetings."

Sion nodded. "Hah, very good. Now, your first task is to make mincemeat out of that bandit with the lance."

"Yes sir." Dorcas said as he rushed out, taking Bartre into battle.

Dorcas threw his hand axe into the skull of an unsuspecting bandit while Bartre hacked into his side. They all began to clear out the bandits one by one.

On the other side of the battle...

"Hmm. A fight... You! Soldier! Are you just going to stand there and watch?" A built tall, dark blue-haired man yelled to a soldier. The soldier turned around and glared. "What occurs here is no affair of a meddling foreign lordling like you!"

"I believe I'm going to have to disagree with you. You are trying to kill my friend! The man screamed in anger.

"Wha" The soldier began, but was silenced by the anger of the man and his Wolf Beil.

All of a sudden, Serra stepped from behind the man as she looked at the soldier's carcass on the grass. She squealed.

"Ewww! That's terrible! I loathe violence!" Then Matthew turned up and congratulated the lord for his kill.

"Nicely done!" Matthew was interrupted by a knight who went up to the axe-wielding lord.

He spoke in a deep voice, "I wish you wouldn't condone to violence as a first reaction..."

"Oswin!" The man yelled in an irritated tone as his anger and worry rose. "Chide me later, Oswin! First, we deal with the bandits! We NEED to help Eliwood!"

"A convenient excuse for more violence it seems..." Oswin muttered.

"Oswin!" He growled. Oswin surrendered and joined the fight. The lord then turned to Matthew and Serra. He spoke to Matthew.

"Matthew, go and hide with Serra."

If Matthew's mouth had dropped even an inch lower, he would have been eating dirt. "What! With Serra..."

Serra screamed. "No! I'm going with you!" she said to the lord.

He screamed back at her, losing his already shortened temper. "You are not! You'll slow me down!"

"How rude!" Serra pouted.

He growled. "Oswin, we take our leave now."

"Yes, Lord Hector." Oswin answered as he followed Hector into battle.

Hector, still angered from before rushed into the fray with a bellow so loud, it made many of the soldiers avert their gaze. Hector cut off the first person's head, then cut into another person's chest and fought his way through, leaving whoever he left behind to Oswin. As soon as he saw a familiar red-headed noble, he ran desperately to save his friend.

"Eliwood!" Hector threw is arms around his friend, squeezing him in a bear hug. "Are you all right?"

Eliwood laughed. "I won't be if you keep squeezing me like that! But now's not"

Hector interrupted. "Later! We need to take care of these louts!" He then let go of Eliwood and ran off.

Eliwood shook his head laughing, knowing that his friend was always impatient and crude at times. As he watched Hector get involved in the fight, he noticed Zagan, the man who had led the attack on him, waiting atop a hill. Sion also saw the opportunity, and shouted.

"Rebecca, I want you to shoot that man on top the hill. He won't be able to stay up there from the pain. He'll stumble and fall, rolling down the hill. Eliwood, as soon as he finishes rolling down, Eliwood, you finish him off."

Eliwood and Rebecca and nodded as Sion ran off to go fight with the others. Rebecca pulled her bow taut as she aimed. Zagan fell and tumbled down, just as expected and Eliwood ran up to him. Eliwood, looked at him for a moment and shut his eyes as he stabbed him in the forehead. Zagan screamed, and then died. Eliwood, not looking at the carcass, left with Rebecca and finally finished off the remaining bandits hiding behind the hills and mountains.

Hector grinned. "That's all of them." Exhausted, he sat down on a rock as everyone gathered around Eliwood and Hector.

Eliwood grinned as he crossed his arms. "What I want to know is where did you come from?"

Hector scoffed, and sarcastically spoke. "Well met, Eliwood."

Eliwood disregarded him. "What are you doing here?" He asked again.

Hector, opening his mouth, placed his fingertips on his breastplate as he spoke. "You wound me!"

Eliwood, asked. "How do I wound you, Hector?"

"If your father went missing, why didn't you send me word?" Hector asked.

Eliwood sighed and sat next to him, trying to explain to his proud friend. "Your brother was just recently named Marquess Ostia. He will be busy setting up his court castle. Won't he need your support?"

Hector replied. "He isn't weak. He can handle it on his own. He knew exactly what I was up to and let me go without a fight."

Eliwood put his arm across his shoulder. "Well then, it would be rude to effuse such company! I'm so happy to see you."

Eliwood beamed as soon as he saw Oswin arrive. "Oswin, it is nice to see you again, my friend."

"Eliwood, well met.

"Its been far too long, Oswin!" Marcus sternly spoke as Oswin laughed.

"Lord Hector! Why didn't you tell me the fighting was done?" Serra screamed. Sion, noticing Serra at this point, gulped, fearing the worst: her seeing him.

Matthew came in, out of breath. "I apologize for the interruption. I couldn't restrain her any longer!" He rested his hands on his knees as he panted.

Hector sighed. "These are my companions, Eliwood. One may have hoped for better, but..."

"Hey!" Serra shrieked.

Hector rolled his eyes and hung his head.

"That was uncalled for! I can't believe you said that!" Serra continued. Then turned to Matthew. "Matthew, did you hear what he said about you?"

Sion just stared dumbstruck at Serra. Dear Lord... that girl hasn't changed one bit. Saint Elimine, save me... Sion thought to himself as his mouth gaped open.

"Me? He was talking about you!" Matthew creamed in frustration as he pointed at Serra.

Hector stood up. "The noisy one is Serra. She's actually a cleric, although she could be quite a chatterbox."

"Pleased to meet you." Serra curtsied.

Sion grinned at the sight of Matthew, his friend back during Lyn's trouble at Caelin. Hector pointed.

"That's Matthew. He does a lot of... sneaking around."

Matthew tried to compensate Eliwood's suspicions.

"Um... I can open things quite easily. I've got nimble hands"

Sion crossed his arms and grinned. And Matthew's got himself in trouble...

Eliwood spoke apprehensively. "A thief's work."

Hector grinned. "Don't let it bother you. I feel this trip will be harder that you think. If you want to live, just accept help the way it comes, OK?"

Eliwood looked into Hector's face, pondering. "Do you know something I don't?"

Hector shook his head. "Only rumors. They say a league of assassins have been lurking around in Lycia. Experienced bounty hunters... and mercenaries are disappearing day by day."

Sion's eyes widened in alarm as he felt a sinking feeling in his heart, followed by a growing pain in his scar again...

Eliwood, deep in thought now, put his hand to his chin and began to think. "You just reminded me. One of the bandits said that someone was watching me, and wants me dead."

Hector frowned. "That's disturbing news. When I came here, a captain of the guard just was just watching the fight when we came here. A Santaruz knight would just watch a lord in trouble? I think he expected your demise."

Eliwood nodded, then turned to Sion and asked. "What do you think?"

Sion frowned as he looked down at the floor.

"This is just all too wary for me. Your father goes missing, and the way he went, he had to have passed here. These people would know about Lord Elbert, and we are greeted by people trying to kill us. That man said he wanted you dead..."

Eliwood sighed, hoping that the case wasn't true. "Something also may have happened to Lord Helman. I don't understand. I don't think he would want to hurt any of us though..." He looked in the direction of Castle Santaruz.

"We must go to the castle!" Eliwood shouted.

Hector poked Sion in the chest. "Who is this?"

"Oh, that's Sion. I needed his tactical aid to help me find my father."

Hector smiled. "Oh, I see. So this is the genius who directed that battle?"

"Yes, Lord Hector." Sion nodded.

Hector raised his hand. "Just call me Hector. You know... you're awfully young. I've never seen a tactician so young. Most of them are old geezers hardened by war."

"Hector!" Eliwood scolded. "That's no way to talk about our elders."

Eliwood tried to defend Sion. "We have only received sound advice, he has my trust."

Hector ruffled Sion's hair. "What a privilege. I'll get to see your skills firsthand. Well met, Sion."

"Same to you, Hector." Sion beamed as he shook hands with Hector. All of a sudden, Matthew leaped onto Sion's shoulders.

"Whoa!" He cried as he began to wobble around. He then looked up at Matthew as he looked down at him.

"Hello!" He smiled as he jumped off of Sion's shoulders. Matthew then slapped Sion in the back. "How have you been, Sion?"

"Eh. Nothing new. I've just been wandering around fighting and training to be a better tactician the past year. Then I met up with one of the Pheraen Knights and ended up helping Eliwood. And I guess we'll be traveling again. Good to see a friend of mine." Sion smiled at Matthew. "And what have you been up to the past year You do know that Eliwood knows about you now."

"Ah yeah, my secret's revealed. Yes, it's true. I'm a spy and Eliwood knows. My being a thief was just a disguise. I have been serving House Ostia. Well, Sion, here's to our mutual survival."

Matthew shook hands with Sion, laughing, then walked off. Sion smiled as he watched, but then froze in total terror as he heard a loud, recognizable squeal.

"Eeeeeeee!"

No... Oh, no... Why now? Sion thought to himself. Oh well, better now then later... I guess. Sion thought to himself as Serra ran his way.

"Sion! Is it really you? It's been far, far too long!"

Sion forced a sincere smile as he weakly waved to Serra.

"Hi Serra..." He said. Sion screamed as Serra ran up to him and tossed her arms around him in a giant hug, knocking him over on his back.

"Ack... Serra... I- I can't breathe!"

Serra, completely ignoring Sion, began to speak nonstop. "You missed me, didn't you? Of course you did."

Sion began to gasp for air, but Serra only brought him closer and tighter to her. He began to struggle even harder and harder to escape her grasp.

"Ooooohh! I knew it! And guess what? I'll be helping you just like before! Aren't you lucky!"

"Serra! For goodness sakes! Let the poor man go!" Matthew cried, noticing how Sion slowly stopped struggling and lay motionless as he slumped into her arms.

"Um, Sion?" Serra asked. "I said, 'Aren't you lucky!'" There was no response. Serra let go of Sion and watched as he fell to the grass. "Sion?" Serra poked Sion, and watched in puzzlement as he only stood still.

Hector stood in awe as he stared incredulously at Serra's feat. He lifted a trembling finger at Serra.

"Did Serra just snap his neck?" Hector asked.

Matthew began to break into hysterical fits of laughter as soon as he realized what had happened to him.

"Ha ha ha ha! I think she actually suffocated Sion unconscious!"

Serra gasped as she flung her hands to cover her mouth. "Aw, poor Sion!"

Oswin grabbed Serra's hand. "Come now young lady, I think you've had enough excitement for one day. Help me set up camp."

Hector, still dumbstruck, stared as Oswin dragged the struggling Serra. He then turned to Eliwood and asked.

"Tell me, was this the tactician you met back in Caelin, who helped stop Lord Lundgren?"

Eliwood nodded.

Hector scratched his head. "Tell me, how is such a lady able to knock a man of war unconscious?"

Eliwood shrugged as he watched Matthew and Rebecca try and revive Sion.

After Sion came to, he sat up. He looked at Serra and Oswin set up camp and sighed.

"Gee, lucky me." Sion muttered as Serra kept complaining to Oswin as she began to set up the blankets.

Sion looked at his charts to confirm the group's next destination, snickering as no one was able to restrain Serra the first day.

"Matthew?" Sion asked.

"Yes?"

"Please, don't ever let Serra hug me again." Sion joked.