Fire Emblem and any of its original characters and original storyline do NOT belong to me.

Dias of All Final Thank you for your kind words! -hug- I'll try my best to be original! XD

Fire Fanatic: Yeah I'm pretty confident in this one compared to others even though my writing style is, well, nothing compared to all those great writers out there. XD –sniff- THANK YOU! -hug-

OniKiDD: Hpapy to see taht not a lot of poplee one sees a pblerom with my slenplig and gmramar! -hug- I'll try my bset to keep udaetps gniog! -smile- XD XD XD

Sorceress Sakura: Tactician stories kick butt! XD Thank you -hug-

Lordmaquareion People do really strange things to hide away their pain. XD I guess that was Lyn's weird attempt to hide it… though she didn't succeed XD. Maybe being alone for 6 months she thought no one would care. 6 months being alone could really have an impact on someone. Possibilities are endless, they are. Hope this chap is even better than the last one. X3 That is, if you can understand my sloppy way of writing, haha. XD

Nyelle: Ehehe, yeah, grammar isn't really my strong point, lol. Well, I learn from my mistakes, so we'll see how much I improve as the story progresses, eh? -smile-

Batta was clearly a man of brute strength.

With his colossal ax slung over his shoulder like it weighed nothing, he posed an intimidating appearance.

His hair was greasy and was a very dark dirty blond supported by an olive green bandana (which the darker tint portion in his hair was from dirt and filth - indicating he had not had a decent bath for many days, or weeks... or even months) and clothes that looked like he had sported God knows how long. He was muscular, needless to say. His steel cold blue eyes sneered at Lyn's humble small home, with every intention to destroy it.

His other three lackeys stood behind him.

They all had the same properties as him their leader - dirty, filthy, smelly and menacing. Rhanu was the tallest out of the four, not to mention the skinniest and scrawniest. In addition to his height and strength, instead of having a great mammoth ax, he held in hand two smaller (yet still considerably large) axes than his comrades.

Across from him was Jaen, who stood slightly smaller than Batta. His whole face was strangely distorted - his nose higher than it was supposed to be, his eyes too close together, some teeth knocked out of place, his chin too big... yes, you get the picture.

Just in front of him stood Rels; the shortest and chubbiest one of the gang. He did not look muscular (more like a giant butterball of fat with clothes) but he did seem to possess great strength. Both him and Jaen wielded large battle axes.

Lyn stood up without hesitation, glaring irately out the window. Mark stood behind Lyn hesitantly, glancing at her face hoping for an answer that wasn't there. Lyn didn't look at Mark; her eyes were fixed on Batta, fumed with shock and considerable hasting anger.

"What a pretty fetching one you are!" Batta exclaimed, followed by a derisive whistle, "Pity you are going to die today, Lorca wench."

"What makes you speak such words?" Lyn tried to keep herself together and speak loudly and calm, "It may be the opposite way around." The four men laughed, provoking Lyn much to her indignant disgust.

Batta then had a sluggish grin on his face, "I hear you Lorca filth love nature," he took grip on his ax, "allow me to present to you, a gift from me and the boys."

Batta took hold of his colossal ax, and (almost effortlessly, to Mark's surprise... which made him gulp) hurled it towards one of the few older trees that survived the storm. The ax twirled in the air and with an almost soft sound it sliced right through the tree with a perfect clean-cut. In a matter of seconds the tree let out a great moan before it collapsed onto the ground. Lyn and Mark could feel the short-lived tremor.

Beyond belief and shock, Lyn and Mark stood there motionlessly; somewhat stoical but clearly appalled. Batta's men starting laughing and sneering when the ax, like a boomerang, flew back into his hands with a perfect catch.

Lyn was wide-eyed. No matter how many times she had heard and seen how cruel ruffians could be, she was always constantly surprised. These men were the type that couldn't are less about nature, or anything else. These men... heartless, cruel, foul, they cared nothing but themselves. What fueled their amusement was to see others in pain and misery, or killing and stealing for sheer delight.

Lyn couldn't take it. Her heart was beating; her eyes were full of rage. They had insulted her - her tribe, the Lorca, the people she had loved so much. Such dishonor... such recklessness! These men could never possibly know what she had been through, the torment and guilt that she could have saved her people, somehow.

I won't let them get away with it, she thought while clenching her fist. Not a second wasted she hastily snatched her iron sword from the corner, and was about to unsheathe it as she swung open the door –

A hand took hers, holding her back. "Wait," Mark tried to think of something to say, "W-what are you doing!" He felt foolish. He already knew the answer –

He halted stiffly from Lyn's livid glare, though she did not mean to look so sharp at him. She snatched back her hand, "I will not let those ruffians speak garbage of my people." She said resolutely, yet intensely impatient. "Besides, I bet on my life they are planning to raid the local villages near here. Best I stop them now."

Ignoring Mark, she stomped out the door.

"You can't just trot in there and think you can take them all just because you think you can, Lyn!" Mark warned severely, "I don't think it's a good idea to…"

Lyn ignored him, irritated.

Mark wanted to hinder her somehow, but there was no turning back for that girl. Her intentions were good, but she still wasn't using her head. He'd admit that Lyn was a decent fighter, but she had never fought – as far as he knew – in a real battle on her own. Through his experience, amateurs rarely won (without losing limbs, or even their life) against a band of well experienced ruffians.

He watched Lyn approached Batta the Beast's gang just up the slope of the hill.

He started weighing the advantages and disadvantages;

She was fast, had quick reflexes, and her chances of getting hit were minimal. She has a chance, he repeated in his mind again. It was the number of bandits that slightly concerned him. Lyn was fast, but is she fast enough to dodge four (five including Rhanu's additional ax) axes swinging at her in all directions at once? Not to mention these were no normal ruffians; they also have their own experience.

However, her emotion was a disadvantage during the battlefield, and somehow he painfully knew that by heart. People could do reckless things in battle if their intent was just to hurt the other, completely wiping out the reality that they were endangering their own lives. And for what? Revenge? And when they realize that they are losing, it is not until then when it is too late to act.

It was too early to judge, Mark reminded himself. By watching the first thirty seconds of the battle, he should be able to tell if Lyn had a chance or now. Though it was doubtful that Lyn would get out of this battle without injuries…

He had suddenly realized that the bright azure sky was slowly being blanketed by grey clouds, though no rain poured down it was enough to make the atmosphere miserable. Mark sighed, glancing from the sky to Lyn. He would have to see for himself first off-hand her skills in true combat.

"This will be interesting…" Batta said with a dirty look on his face, "I'm going to enjoy this one."

"You'll regret saying those words, trash." Lyn spat. A gust of delicate wind swept against Lyn's back, as though the spirits of the Lorca were urging her to go. She then started to run towards them.

"Heh, you talk big." Batta ridiculed. He gestured his men when she was close enough, "Get her, boys!"

The next instant Lyn drew her iron sword while the three lackeys charging towards her with their massive axes. Their blades were still stained with rusting blood, enough to make an average person sick.

She didn't seem to have any trouble at first. Her strength invigorated by her rile, she was beyond determined to teach these crooks a lesson. With her blade practically carving the wind, the bandits just barely deftly dodged. Rhanu and Rels were already bearing fine minor incisions in their skin from Lyn's fast-paced moves.

As for Lyns endurance, she moved, jumped, ducked, and swayed with ease every time an ax veered at her. This did not seem to be a problem for her, though she did make a few slips here and there which could cost her life if she didn't think fast to get out of the way. Her dazzled looks from every swing revealed that this was her true first fight.

Mark's eyes were observing with extreme accuracy. So far Rhanu had the highest chances of striking Lyn - though they were not high enough to entirely worry him, and as for Rels… well, he was short, fat and slow and chances were lowest, while Jaen stood somewhere in the midpoint… though they all did pose a potentially dangerous blow at Lyn if she were to be hit. But that wasn't the case at the moment.

Lyn had attempted many times to lacerate them down directly… Mark was impatient that Lyn did not realize that was not the way to win. She just kept on repeating and repeating direct blows at them – and they kept blocking with ease.

These men were doubled in size compared to her, and their strength was far greater than Lyn's and when a direct hit was brought to them, they could just easily block it. Not to mention those axes were pretty big and could guard a good portion of their body. She would never win to hit them directly. Lyn would have to catch them off guard somehow or find a weakness.

Mark watched Lyn get hit after she tried to hit them directly for the millionth time. It wasn't severe, but it was unfortunately her sword arm. It was just deep enough for Lyn to feel a sting, and blood ooze down her arm. The three men laughed at her.

"Heh, little girl thought she could take on the big boys that easy." Jaen snickered. Lyn started to back away slowly as the three of them started to gang up on her.

"You gonna give up, or what Lorca filfth?" Rels spat at the name. Then that fumed her anger profoundly once more. She refused to lose. Thus, once again, her strength was fueled by her resentful incense and determination, though she was besieged.

Batta shook his head, "The girls got a bit of a punch in her." He admitted. But she was just like all the other lasses; she was easy to lure out by insults and taunting, then in the end they realize that they cannot win, and somehow mess up due to their desperate fear

Pah, women. Batta snickered. They are too emotional.

Lyn was starting to struggle.

She needs help. Mark concluded. But he couldn't use a weapon. How could he help?

Then he noticed something in Rhanu - every time he swung his two axes at Lyn, he winced on his left side though it was hard to use his left arm. It must have been from their most recent encounter, and he was injured and still had not recovered. That is his weak point, Mark concluded; his left arm has to accumulate more strength to swing his ax than his right, making it acquire more effort (though it may not look it) and slightly more time to hurl; if he were to tire, it would be his left arm first, which was starting to already become conspicuous.

Lyn could take advantage of this. If she could just somehow manage to approach Rhanu in an angle from his left, Rhanu's reaction would not be fast with his arm to swipe at her. That was when Lyn could take the kill.

But how to tell her this? Mark puzzled, his plan suddenly faltered. If he yelled it out, Rhanu, Rels and Jaen would hear. No doubt Rels or Jaen would cover Rhanu's left side and stumped Lyn from the perfect advantage.

Wait. He thought, remembering the small charms he had found yesterday in his belt pockets. He searched into his pocket, pulling out a handful of bead-like pins that were shapes of different things, like stars, insects, designs, symbols; it looked like small beads for a child's necklace.

Yesterday Lyn picked up a tiny lady-bug like bead from the pile, claiming it was cute. Mark then told her to keep it. He slowly started to remember to use of these bead pins.

Amongst the beads, was one palm-sized dragon pendant. He picked up the pendant, and looked at it. Its rich silver glistened, the tiny gems within it sparkling from all angles, bearing out its delicate beauty. Within the center was a large deep, crimson gem.

Then it came to him… not quite all, but enough for him to know how to use it.

He prayed Lyn was wearing her lady-bug pin bead.

"Bah this is getting rather annoying!" Jaen growled every time Lyn dodged his attack. This time, Lyn was nearly hit with a double critical from both Rels and Jaen. Luckily she dodged but this caused her to lose here balance and fall.

Lyn groaned in ache, looked up and saw Rhanu's two axes aiming down to plunge her. She reacted and rolled, and Rhanu ended up walloping the ground in her place.

"Gaaah, stay still will yeah?" Rhanu requested dumbly.

Lyn stood back onto her feet, her breathing starting to grow heavy. These bandits were tougher than she thought. She narrowed her eyes, angry for sorely underestimating them. She felt her bones quivering, and she grasped the slash on her sword arm. It was starting to ache and her muscles started to get numb and strain.

Batta grinned from the distance. She is getting tired. It would just be a matter of time before she succumbs to fatigue. A woman can't last that long in battle like this…

Rhanu, Rels, and Jaen started to walk towards her slowly once again in attempt to gang on her. She backed away, biting her lip.

"Lyn…?"

Lyn blinked. She looked around, but Mark was no where to be seen. Was she imagining things? She probably lost too much blood. Yeah, that's it…

Lyn stood her ground, ignoring the voice, and about to make another lunge –

"Lyn, can you hear me?"

"…Mark?" She called half-mindedly, at a loss. "…Is that you?"

"Good. You can hear me."

"What… how… where are you?"

"I'm still where you left me."

Lyn glanced over at the house, wide-eyed seeing Mark still at the window–

Mark suddenly yelled, "Lyn, look out!"

Distracted, Lyn looked forward. She barely dodged Rels wild swing.

"Never get distracted from what you're doing." Mark warned severely. "You want to die, then do so." Lyn couldn't help but notice how suddenly strong his voice was; how he suddenly sounded so serious, so… valiant. It was quite a difference, considering she assumed Mark to be the shy and silent type.

"The pin I gave you, you're wearing it, aren't you?" Mark asked. Lyn had pinned the lady-bug bead to her upper collar of her shirt, clearly visible under her chin. Lyn was surprised,

"What does –"

"Can't explain now. Just listen to me for now," be went silent, then breathed in, "I've got some tactics you might want to follow."

Without a moments hesitation Mark explained quickly to Lyn about Rhanu's weak left side. Lyn had begun to discern this (while at the same time daunted Mark could make out these kinds of things) and Mark started to formulate a plan, and notified it to Lyn.

She managed to swiftly miss Rels and Jaens' combining attacks, and parried with her sword. With Rhanu right in front of her, she pretended this time she was going to thrust her blade straight into him from the front. She expected him to swing his blade at her straight – and he did so, which ultimately hit the ground once again as she evasively sidestepped. Turning sharply (with the support of Rhanu's head; she gripped his hair and turned on her heels) she seized her blade, and thrust the sword into Rhanu's thigh.

He gave out a mighty cry, dropping his two axes and fell onto his hands and knees. Lyn slightly jumped. Not only had Mark's plan worked like a charm, but she had just injured someone for the first time – drawing much blood from an enemy, just like that from a simple move. Not that she would back down, though, she reminded herself. It was still her first time, remember.

Batta blinked from the distance. She actually hit one of her men, and took him down with one hit! All this time… perhaps it was just an act to catch them off guard? Batta shook his head.

No, she was struggling earlier. She couldn't have…

His eyes scanned down the slight slope, trying to figure out how Lyn suddenly formulated something professional like that.

Lyn suddenly felt more confident with Mark by her side.

"What next?" Lyn said to her lady-bug pin bead.

"Just a minute." Mark replied. Like Lyn had any minute to spare. Axes were coming at her at almost all directions and Rels and Jaen were getting angrier. She was getting tired gradually, and dodging was becoming more challenging.

It hit him; Jaens eyes were watering out a sea of tears. Of course! With a face like that, (he just had to laugh a little) no doubt he had been hit on the face to a point it impaired his vision, making them sensitive to some extension. And Rels was fat and slow to some point.

His brilliant mind once again started to devise a plan, and he quickly told it to Lyn. Lyn was surprised at first, but obeyed. It's a long shot. She thought to herself, suddenly giving run.

Rels and Jaen blinked, looking at eachother in bewilderment.

"Oy! Where you think you going, runnin away 'ike that? Come 'er!" Rels barked. Then they started to give chase.

Batta watched absurdly. What is she doing?

Yes, she was running away from them – just fast enough, however, to leave behind the struggling fat Rels who was now meters behind, panting and wheezing, wishing he had lost weight when he had the chance a few months ago.

Not even six minutes of running, he collapsed onto his back, breathless. His giant ax toppled beside him.

Batta widened his eyes when he caught up, "What on earth do you think you are doing you giant load of useless lard!" He squealed like a schoolgirl, pointing at the running Lyn frantically. "GET THE GIRL!"

Rels opened his beady little eyes in tiny slits, "But I'm tired, boss…"

"GAH!" Batta cursed, slapping his forehead. "You're so useless!"

Rels frowned, "Sorry, boss…"

Batta's eye twitched when he heard snoring from Rels.

Lyn realized that Jaen was all hers. She stopped sharply and turned around, running right towards Jaen. Jaen was caught off guard, not expecting Lyn to charge right at him. He raised his ax, but it was too late. Lyn used her blade to knock the ax right out of his hands, sending it flying.

Jaen blinked, taking a few seconds to realize that his weapon was gone when he dumbly looked at his hand. He looked up, gulping when Lyn held her blade less than an inch away from his neck.

"Well?" Lyn commented penetratingly.

Jaen suddenly burst into tears, "I don't want to die! Mercy! Mercy! Please! Please!" Lyn glared at him. This was quite a surprise. She thought he would put up a better fight than this, but… it seemed if he was alone and without a weapon, he was no stronger than a fearful child.

"Swear to me you will never come back to Sacae Plains." Lyn eyed him sharply.

Jaen sniffed, "B-but –"

"SWEAR IT." She snapped; bringing the blade close enough to touch his skin.

"O-okay! I swears… I swears!" Jaen bawled.

Lyn gave a steady glare; a thought suddenly came upon her. When her tribe members wanted, no begged, for mercy, did they ever show them mercy? She gripped her hilt, gnashing her teeth angrily. Why show mercy now? Why let them get away with it now?

"Lyn, Batta is coming!"

Lyn jerked her head, widening her eyes as a flash of silver nearly hit her head in which she narrowly leaped out of the way. Batta suddenly dived down, growling that he missed Lyn the first time, and dropped to his knees and swung the ax in hopes to chop off Lyn's feet.

Lyn, thank goodness, leaped out of the way.

Batta looked down at Jaen over his shoulder, "Useless fool."

"B-boss… but…"

"Get out of my sight!" He stomped the ground, sending the smaller man scampering. He turned around, cracking his knuckles. "I can take care of this girl myself."

Uh-oh. Mark thought. A big disadvantage rained down on Lyn. Batta was at full strength – she was now weak, tired, sore, even fatigue. He narrowed his eyes in disgust. It was terrible for a leader to sit by and watch until the opponent was weakened, then go for the kill from there. At the same time, watch while your men take the beating and do nothing about it until the end.

"Mark! What now!" Came Lyn's worried voice.

Mark bit his lip.

Batta was not tired. He swung his ax with ease; he was not hurt, nor did he have any weakness. His larger body housed much more stamina than Lyn's, so she would tire first; not that she was not already starting to tire. She was injured, he was not. How, then, could Lyn possibly get out of this alive?

Marks heart raced when Lyn fell to the ground; only managing to just nimbly miss Batta's brutal swings. Even one hit from his ferocious veers, Lyn would be done for. Mark bit his lip harder. What can she do? What does she have that he does not? What advantage?

Maybe, it's not what Lyn has, but around her… of course!

He started to look around her. There were no forests to protect her. She was far away from her small house and there were no other optional weapons around her she could use; unless she had super strength to throw trees.

Damn it. Mark had to think fast. His eyes started to dodge all over the place. Nothing – just

the plains… full of grass, flowers… fallen trees…

He looked up at the grey sky… then at the Bern Mountains. Then it clicked in his mind when he glanced at Lyn's sword. He had a plan.

"Lyn." Mark spoke. Lyn was beyond relief to hear his voice, at that second just missing Batta. She lost balance, and fell onto her hands and knees, coughing and panting. She wouldn't last long.

"Fight with the Bern Mountains behind you."

Lyn was outraged, "What!"

"Fight with the Bern Mountains behind you," Mark repeated critically, "Just last for about five more minutes and it'll happen. Keep angling your sword at Batta's face."

That sounded crazy. But crazy was better than nothing, and Lyn had no choice but to obey if she wanted to live.

It was then when Batta swung at Lyn… and managed to slash just about half an inch into her thigh when she attempted to elude him. Lyn let out a silent held-in cry, gritting her teeth. She toppled onto the ground, her sword tossed a few feet from her… but behind him.

She looked at her hand, seeing her own blood. It was the strangest feeling.

Mark jumped, "Lyn!" Damn it all! Mark leaped onto his feet, snatching a spare dagger Lyn had kept secretly in the cupboard and raced outside.

Batta grinned at Lyn triumphantly, "You know, I never thought that you would last this long. I must say, I am impressed." He aimed his ax down at Lyn. Lyn tried to back away. She was breathing heavily; her heart was pounding like drums in her ears. But she remembered what Mark had said.

The Bern Mountains were right in front of her, and her sword was behind Batta. If she could only…

"Pah, Pitiful." Batta spat at her with a sluggish grin. "I was hoping you would last longer, but I enjoy slaughtering Lorca wenches anyway –"

He began to swing down. Mark suddenly approached, aiming the dagger -

Lyn shut her eyes tightly, breathing in. She dared herself to miss Batta's diving ax by leaping forward.

She did so.

…Thank God he missed… only by mere millimeters.

Batta blinked, stunned.

Lyn grabbed her blade, and she soon realized what Mark had meant when he said to fight with the Bern Mountains behind her.

The clouds had suddenly dispersed – a clearing of blue sky had formed. The suns rays plunged down gracefully right from the Bern Mountain tops, gleaming down right at Batta. Lyn angled her blade with the sunrays, reflecting Batta in the eyes which ultimately blinded him and caused him to cover his eyes with one hand and wince backward.

She took this opportunity to stab him right through his stomach.

Batta let out an agonizing scream, dropping his ax, and fell onto his knees. He grasped his stomach, while at the same time blood poured from his wound, and mouth.

Lyn watched shakily.

Batta started coughing out blood, gagging and whimpering. Lyn stood there for a few solid seconds, while Mark stood by meters away frozen stiff, lowering his superfluous dagger. He looked into her eyes, and saw pity concealed with hate. It was her first time to take a life… or nearly take a life.

He sympathized how that felt. You would feel like a murderer the first time.

"…Why…" Batta murmured through his gnashed teeth, "…Just get it over with… kill me… now…" More blood trailed down his mouth, progressing down his neck.

Lyn stared, her blade now steady right at Batta's neck. She then caught eye to eye with Mark, who just stood there with the small dagger in his hands he was going to throw at Batta earlier, but never did. She looked away, then at Batta.

Her hate was unquenched – she hated him beyond words. She wanted him to die…

…But not by her hand.

Slowly, she took back her blade. Batta looked up at her, shock and fear in his eyes.

"…Why…?"

"I'm not a murderer like you." Lyn said coolly. Rels, Jaen and a limping Rhanu came from behind with unsure looks, exchanging glances and looking at Lyn. They wondered who and where Mark came from.

She nodded at them, as though giving them permission to take Batta. They all looked at her but they knew what she meant. Without a word, they managed to take (a rather squeamish) Batta and made their way out of the plains to the nearest local village.

There was a stillness in the air when they were out of sight, and Lyn collapsed onto her knees. Mark ran beside her, bending down to her.

"Lyn…" He whispered. He was surprised to find her smiling, in tears. She looked up to him, and he smiled back.

Lyn looked into Mark's amber and amethyst eyes.

Beside her sat not just an ordinary man… but a tactician.

I'm alive! Well, that came out rather… cheesy and dragging, no? XD I'm not an 'outstanding' writer like some peps in so that adds to it… Of course, I learn from my mistakes, so hopefully the next battle (with Kent and Sain –glomp-) will be more exciting… and make more sense haha XD Sorry if that really didn't make any sense though… I accidentally deleted this and I had to re-write it again… and I put less effort and got impatient… ehehehe… so things changed and came out rushed. I'll rewrite it when I finish this story… -nervous grin-

Friendly critique welcomed. Flames I shall laugh at.

Gwah… and about the 'bead' thing… hmm… well, there will be an explanation about it, don't worry your socks off. I believe the explanation to what they are will be when we meet Lucius if I planned this right… (WEEE LUCIUS!) then again, I always change my plans… blah… Hopefully this won't become so AU, hahaha… -backs away very slowly-

Well, I have an excuse for being late. I meant to put this up DAYS ago, but my computer is one piece of shit. I type in and it flippin says it can't find the site! ARG! For the love of god I can't even get google! No better trying to get to so chances are I'll be a slower to update (not too slow… hopefully –grin-) plus homework and school is piling on me… and I'm failing math real badly now… ;; but eh I'll keep going if peps want me too.

-hugs readers-

I'm a lonely person. Reviews make me all bubbly inside XD You really should see me freak out when I get a review… X3 it gives my life meaning XD

Anyway, luv y'all! -glomp-