Disclaimer: I still don't own Fire Emblem.

The Horizon: Blue Promise

Chapter One

Wil, however, continued to look up at Lyn, his face full of disbelief.

"You would leave the Lyndis' Legion?"

One year later...

"Happy birthday, Hector!" Eliwood, a year older and still as good a friend to Hector as ever, stood before the scowling axe-wielder. The blue-haired man shook his head. Eliwood smiled kindly. "I'm glad you invited everyone."

Hector glared. "I would've invited no one if you hadn't been on me to have a party."

Eliwood smiled brightly. "You wound me to my very soul," He said, passing Hector a wrapped gift as he swept into the dancing hall behind his friend.

"Do you want me to take that, milord?" Matthew appeared at Hector's elbow, smiling brightly, "Oh, yes, and happy birthday."

Furiously, Hector thrust the gift into Matthew's open arms. The spy raised an eyebrow. Hector glared daggers at him. The thief shrugged it off and started off; saying over his shoulder, "See you, my dear lord!"

Hector leaned against the marble doorway into the grand ballroom of the Ostian palace, sighing. He closed his eyes, thinking 'Man, I hate that guy sometimes...'

"Hello Hector!"

He jumped, nearly hitting his head against the short doorframe. A few voices laughed. Hector opened his eyes. Lyndis stood before him, long blood-red dress falling elegantly to the floor around her feet, one hand on her hip. A gold pendant hung from her neck and her green hair was done up with hair sticks into a bun atop her head. Behind her stood Kent, the Crimson Sword, done up in a red suit and Sain, the Green Lance, in a matching suit in green. Florina, the skittish sky-rider, stood behind them in a long, pure-white ball gown, lilacs woven into her wavy hair, silver bangles ordaining her pale arms. Next to her was Wil, the archer, his suit of a simple blue.

Lyn smiled. "Happy birthday," She passed him a gift, whispering to him, "Watch out for the ceiling, big guy."

Hector turned to make a rude retort, but Kent said his hellos and passed the Lord of Ostia his gift. The others followed suit.

"Want me to take those?" Serra stood at the nearly buried Hector's side in a mere moment. Her pink hair was let down; it flowed over her light-purple dressed shoulders and cascaded down her back. She held out white-gloved hands, taking a peek into the room. Hector piled gifts into the distracted cleric's arms. Serra caught sight of what she'd been looking for- a royal-blue clad Erk- and giggled, before walked off to place the gifts elsewhere.

Hector hit his head against the doorway, one eye peering into the hall. Lyn stood surrounded by noble men, her face a vibrant red. Eliwood and Ninian (Who was dressed in a flowing blue-green gown) waltzed across the dance floor, their eyes never leaving each other. The pegasus sisters leaned against the wall, Florina fiddling with her bracelets, Fiora, in a gown tinted a very light sea green, stood stiffly, watching her siblings, and Farina smoothing her tinted sky blue gown. Serra had found her way into the hall and now stood chatting with Erk, Lord Pent (In a deep blue), and Lady Louise (In a sweeping light pink gown). Sain flirted with the noble ladies, while Kent kept an eye on Lyn. The young mage, Nino, spun around, making her frilly, spring green dress twirl around her. The Angel of Death, a cold, silent man called Jaffar, stood watching her, the closest thing he could get to a smile spread across his face. Rebecca, the Wildflower, walked with her childhood friend, Wil, her multicolored skirts swishing around her as she moved. Her brother, Dart, a pirate without memory of his time with his sister, walked with them, his burly arms covered in a watery-blue suit. Isadora, lady knight, and Harken, another knight of Phaere danced, their blue-and-white garments spinning with them. Priscilla, the healer, stood with her brother, Raven, in their matching, dark-purple attire. Lucius, the monk and good friend of Raven, stood with them, his white monk's habit falling to his feet. Guy, Sacrean swordsman, watched the small group, trying to figure if he wanted to join them or not as he played with the sleeve of his green dinner suit.

"Lord Hector?" For a second time, Hector jumped. Oswin stood before him, holding a card. His simple black suit was very Oswin-y, Hector thought, taking the card. Something fell out (A small panting).

"Your brother," Oswin now referred to Uther only as 'Your brother', "Would've wanted you to have her."

Lyndis sighed. She had just escaped the many noblemen intent upon courting her, and was now hiding in a corner near the punch. Florina and Sain had detached themselves from siblings and females to check on her.

"Are you having fun, Lyn?" Florina's voice wavered slightly; she was worried about her friend. For her sake, Lyn forced a smile.

"Yeah!" The overly-peppy voice was not her own. "This is great, isn't it?"

Both Florina and Sain looked relived. "Very good, o beauteous Lady Lyndis! It would bring your dear Sain much woe to see you unhappy!"

Lyn nodded and grimly held up a pitcher. "Punch?" Asked the cheerful voice.

Florina sipped her punch idly, her eyes scanning the hall. Her sisters had left her; Fiora had gone to chat with Kent and Farina had hunted down Dart, Wil, and Rebecca to talk. Her eyes fell upon Fiora and Kent. Her older sister was now talking with both Kent and Sain. Florina blushed. How did her sister manage to be so bold? How did she talk with the men? How did she talk with Sain?

A slow, romantic tune started up. A bit away, Farina forcefully pulled Dart away from his group and a blushing Kent asked Fiora dance. The two archers began to waltz.

Sain walked over.

Florina felt her heat rate increase. What should she do? She tried to catch her sisters' eyes, but they both gazed into the eyes of their dance partners. Lyn was huffily spooning out punch to the Hurricane, Legalut.

"O heavenly angel of the sky," Sain had reached her, and he now held out his hand, "By what cruel fate do you stand alone?"

Florina didn't answer. She just looked into his eyes, her heart racing at a rate she thought dangerous. And a corner of her mind whispered, 'Why do you stand alone, Florina?' She didn't know what made her do it.

She took his hand.

Rebecca was dancing.

She was 16, yet this was the first time she had ever danced with a man. She knew it was pathetic. The man was Wil. She had known him since they were both in diapers; a safe first dance.

He was 17. Rebecca wasn't sure if that made him a man. In the public eye, Wil was probably a man. But his eyes danced with a child-like glow, and she knew that inside, Wil was not a man. He was probably still 12 years old in there. The boy in front of her had not had parents since he was young. He had not been scolded, he had not been repressed. There had been no rules or curfews or duties or family honor.

Rebecca frowned slightly. Wil smiled goofily.

"Hey," He whispered, "Wanna have some fun?"

She didn't have time to ask what he meant. He barreled over to Louise and Pent.

"Mind if we cut in?"

A few minutes later, Wil was looking up at Lady Louise, Rebecca was feeling awkward as she tangoed with Lord Pent, and Rebecca was sure that Wil was still very much a boy.

Hector stared oddly at the picture. His head swam with memories of his older brother, of the ocean, of the journey. He walked quietly across the floor.

"Punch?" Lyndis smiled sardonically, holding out the pitcher. Her hair sticks had been removed, leaving her green hair tumbling down her back.

Hector shook his head.

Lyn's eye narrowed. "You okay?"

Hector looked up, glaring at her. Lyn winced. "Ouch..." She mumbled, "Okay, okay... What's that?"

"Noth-!" She cut him off, snatching the picture from his hands.

"Oh."

It was a beautiful painting- a true masterpiece, the strokes were clean, the colors were clear. It was Hector- but a younger Hector, only about 8 or 9- and a younger, unscarred Uther, standing upon the docks of a nearby port before a huge, three-masted ship. 'Quiet Deception' was written in thick letters upon the starboard side.

Hector carefully slipped the picture from Lyn's grasp. He looked for a minute at the picture, Lyn just standing there, her arm slumping to her side.

"Well," Hector finally spoke, "Let's go."

"Hmm?" Lyn looked at him oddly. Hector raised an eyebrow.

"I did make a promise."

The horse Ostia lent Lyn was beautiful. A bay mare, her eyes were keen and blue. As she mounted, sitting side-saddle so not to destroy the dress, Lyn grinned. Hector attempted to mount a gray gelding, falling onto the ground.

"Lady Lyndis?"

Lyn turned. Gathered in the open doorway of the barn, Kent, Sain, Florina, and Wil stared at her with open eyes.

"Where are you going?" It was Florina who spoke. Her voice wavered; it appeared she was about to cry.

Lyn turned to Hector, looking for help, but he was too busy cursing, his face covered in horse dung. Her eyes returning to her friends, she sighed. She'd told them about the promise Hector made her; they just didn't believe it would ever happen.

"The horizon."

Florina began to cry. Kent frowned, and Sain turned to Florina, informing her that she was not beautiful when she cried. Wil, however, continued to look up at Lyn, his face full of disbelief.

"You would leave the Lyndis' Legion?"

Hector wiped horse dung of his face as Lyn dismounted, running over to hug the Legion in turn. "No," She said, "Never."

The five wound themselves into a group hug.

Hector turned to yell for more horses, but Matthew, Serra, and Oswin were already there. The look on their faces was plainly pleading.

"...Alright," He mumbled, trying not to let on that he was touched, "Just don't expect me to hug you."

They hugged him.

A/N: There ya go! xX Don't worry, more people are coming on the boat. Like Nino, Jaff-Jaff, Priscilla, Raven, Lucius, Guy, Rebecca, Erk, Pent, Louise, Dart, Farina, Fiora...