Along for the Ride Chapter 3, a fire emblem fanfic

Happy birthday to me. Yay. Next chapter up. Thanks for the reviews.

...I really can't think of anything else to say...

-SalehOnasi

I own nothing. Well, nothing in fire emblem at least. As far as you know...

"Very well… I understand. It is very dangerous… here, take this gold. You can head back to Bulgar and find an inn. Thank you for your help, Saleh. May our paths cross again."

Lyn gave a sad smile and pulled Saleh into a quick hug. Then, turning, she strode towards where the cavaliers were waiting, her horse in tow. With a wave goodbye, Lyn rode off down the road, headed for Lycia, and the peril it held.

Saleh shook his head as he strode through the streets of Bulgar. The sun was starting to set, and he needed to get to a tavern. Even so, he still could not shake his reservations about abandon- separating from Lyn while it was apparent she was still in danger. She has escorts now. Kent and Sain were superb in the battle, and she has a new hope now. She'll be fine. Still locked in his mental struggle, Saleh entered one of the taverns lining the street. I need a drink.

It was noisy inside. There was the sound of glasses clinking, chairs creaking, and drunkards belting out ditties. He settled into one of the wooden stools, and waved down the bartender, a gruff looking man. "Something strong." The man gave a knowing look and headed into the back. Saleh sighed and gazed around the room. The ambiance was nice; it diverted his thoughts. There was a clunk in front of him, and he saw that the bartender had returned.

"Someone ordered ya a drink. Said he knew ya." Saleh took the offered glass and raised it to his lips, casting about for the familiar face. Upon taking a sip, however, he gagged and spewed the concoction back into the mug. As he coughed, he heard someone settle into the chair next to him.

"Long time, no see Saleh. Waddya do to your arm?"

Saleh looked up. "Sykes! You jerk, you could have just said hello!"

"Which is funnier?" The sandy-haired man smirked at him, ignoring his glare. "It's been what, two years? Three?"

"Two. So, how did you do up in Illia?"

"Pretty good, I'd say. Lot's of nice girls up there, too. Self supporting, beautiful, overall a really great bunch."

"Well, you haven't changed that much, I guess. Say, how's Reiken? You two were working together, weren't you?"

Sykes' grin faded. "He's dead."

"Oh."

Sykes shrugged. "Well, what can I say? We're mercs, through and through. One of these days, you're gonna up and die. In the end, we- hold on." His customary smirk returning, Sykes rose and walked over to a table where a young women with long black hair was having a drink. Saleh couldn't hear what was being exchanged, but he got a pretty good idea of the gist of the conversation.

Sykes returned, rubbing his cheek. "Ow. Is my face red?" Saleh nodded. "Huh. Just trying to be social. Anyways, how about that arm? It looks pretty recent to me."

Sykes stretched and leaned back. Only a few people were left in the tavern, most having retired to their rooms. "So, you just left them?"

"Well, what do you expect me to do? If I'd gone with them, I'd be risking my neck and slowing them down."

"One question: was she pretty?"

Saleh shoved him off the stool with his good arm. Sykes climbed back up, still grinning. "I'll take that as a yes?"

"Sykes, she just helped me out. It's not like I was getting involved with her."

"Did you want to?"

"Oh, come off-"

"Hear me out." Saleh blinked, surprised. Sykes' grin was replaced by a somber, serious look. "You know, when Reiken died, he took an arrow to the chest. He was still alive for a few minutes afterwards. You know what he told me before he died? How much he regretted not taking more chances. He felt as though he never did enough with his life, and death caught up with him all the same." He stared Saleh in the eye. "So here's the deal: in my opinion, you're running away. The thing is, even if you play it safe, you're gonna kick the bucket sooner or later. What will matter then is how much you did with your time, not how much of it you had. You've gotta seize the moment, live life to the fullest."

Saleh sighed and stared into his empty glass. "Sykes, I already told you-"

"Hey, it's not me you've got to convince. It's yourself. If, deep down, you think you ought to be with your Sacaen girlfriend on her little quest, you should be. No regrets, no looking back."

"…I'm going to let the girlfriend comment slide for now."

Sykes shrugged. "Sleep on it. I'm staying in this tavern, they probably still have room. Just ask Mick over there for a room- I'll cover it." He rose and walked to the stairs before turning around. "And if you need anything-"

"I'm fine, thanks though."

"Anytime."

Saleh turned and resumed staring into his glass. What did he want? To survive?

Or to live?

He waved at the bartender. "Hey Mick, I'm gonna need another drink over here, and keep them coming."

Saleh groaned. He didn't feel so great. He wasn't sure just how many drinks it had taken for him to reach a state where he could make a decision, but he was pretty sure it was over ten.

He stepped out of the tavern, rubbing his eyes, and looked around. The bustle of the streets was back. He scanned the crowd, and found who he was looking for.

"…if we could get together sometime, I was thinking that maybe I could show you-first hand." Sykes' companion, the same raven-haired girl from the night before, blushed. Saleh shook his head. At least he hadn't changed. Pushing his way after the pair, he called out, "Hey! Loverboy! Could I talk to you for a moment?"

Sykes turned around. "Hey, there you are. Thought you'd be retching back in the tavern." He turned to the white-clad women next to him. "Say, if I'm around tonight, let's get together, 'kay?" Without waiting for a response, Sykes ambled over towards Saleh. "Soooo… here to admit I'm right?"

"Sort of. On technicality. I mean… maybe I should have stayed. But, well, it's in the past now. I figure I'll just get on with my life. A wasted opportunity, but, well…like you said, don't look back, right?"

"Have I ever told you how much of a pain you are?"

"You're welcome." Sykes pulled himself over his warhorse. "Say, you need help getting on? We're gonna need to hurry to catch up with your liason."

Saleh looked at his mount, a grey from the local stables, that Sykes had purchased. He rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. I think I can get on a horse with one arm. Watch." Taking a running start, he jumped up, catching one food in the stirrup and swinging one leg over the horse, promptly followed by the rest of his body to settle in the dust and hay.

Sykes trotted his mount around and looked down. "Careful, now, dear. We don't want you breaking the other arm, now, do we?"

"Shut up. Just shut up."

Saleh glared at Sykes. The blonde-haired man was riding in circles around him in full paladin gear. "Cut that out, you look like an armored vulture."

"Yeah, circling the weak and helpless, waiting to dive in for the kill."

Saleh gritted his teeth. "Hey, look, just drop it, okay?"

Sykes ceased his routine and settled in beside him. "Okay, okay, no need to yell. Just trying to make some conversation."

The two friends fell silent for while. The stillness of the plains was broken only by the steady beat of their horses' hooves.

"Why did I agree to this?"

Sykes turned. "I didn't have an assignment, and you, in humble submission in acknowledgement of my superior intellect, accepted my gracious offer of a horse to catch up with you beloved-"

"Okay, second thought, new question. How much fun are you having with this?"

"Lot's. Though you know what would be more fun?"

"Let me get back to you on that."

Another long silence. They continued in their steady progress, moving down the seemingly endless road, until they came to a fork in the path. "Huh. Looks like a little shrine thingy on the left branch. Think your girlfriend went that way?"

"She might have, and if my arm was better, I'd run you through with your lance."

"That's them, alright."

Saleh and Sykes stood atop a hill overlooking a shrine. They could see a skirmish, the distinctive red and green blurs of Kent and Sain moving in tandem against what appeared to be a band of local brigands, with a blue-green streak darting about, leaving the bandits bleeding behind it.

Quickly riding down, the two riders met an old women midway as she watched the skirmish unfold. "What's going on here?" Saleh asked. The women turned, surprised by the new arrivals. "O-oh! Are you here to help? Those ruffians, they're desecrating the shrine of the Manni Katti! Those good people down there are helping, but there are more bandits inside with the priest, and-"

"Breath," Sykes interjected, "We'll take care of it. Try to keep up, Saleh!" Pulling his helmet from his saddlebag, he strapped his lance back onto his horse and drew his axe. "You go meet up with your girl, I'll handle the bandits inside." With a cry of exhilaration, he threw himself down the hill at full tilt, headed for the rear of the shrine. Saleh shook his head, and started down towards the entrance at a more moderate pace.

He saw Lyn and the cavaliers had reached the entryway, and the last few bandits outside were faltering, obviously having not expected to end up facing any actual opposition. He leaned his horse forward, trying to catch up- it wouldn't do for them to come face-to-face with Sykes and attack him. Dispatching the last brigand, the trio entered the shrine, Saleh a short ways behind. He pulled his horse to a stop, and-carefully- lowered himself down. He then ran into the building to find Lyn and the cavaliers facing a group of brigands. In the center was a man armed with a sword, a contrast to the others. "Hey, Lyn! Lyn!"

The sacaen girl turned. "Saleh? What are you doing-" a loud crash interrupted them.

The side wall of the shrine, decrepit from exposure to weather and time, exploded. Through the dust, Sykes rushed in, rearing up his horse. The flailing hooves caught one bandit, too shocked to move, dropping him like a stone. Coming down, Sykes' axe lashed out, smashing in the head of a second. The third bandit began backing up from the new threat, only to be met with Kent's blade, thrusting through his back.

Sykes dismounted and grinned. "How's that for shock and awe, huh?" He laughed, slinging his axe over his back. "So, who…"

The laugh died on his lips. Sykes' face turned downwards, where the tip of a blade protruded from his chest. The paladin's armor, designed to shrug off glancing blows during a charge, had failed to protect its wearer from a stab to the back. The tip disappeared, jerking Sykes back as he fell to his knees, still staring at his chest. The sword-equipped bandit smirked, raising his blade above his head.

"I am Glass! This is the fate of any who stand before me! Flee, fools, or die like this dog!"

There was silence for a moment, then Saleh let out a howl of rage. Seizing the sword from Kent's hand, he charged forward, thinking of nothing but avenging his friend. Shock registered for a moment on Glass' face before Saleh slammed into, ramming him against the wall, ignoring the sharp pain from his injured arm. Bringing the sword, held in his left hand, to bear, he gave clumsy stroke to cleave the head from Glass' shoulders. The bandit, shocked by the initial assault, recovered in time to duck as the ill-aimed blow glanced off the wall. Snatching his own blade from the ground, the swordsman turned to intercept the next strike, knocking aside Saleh's weapon and forcing him to leap back to avoid the counterattack. He pressed the attack, driving forward, using his sword as a club to knock aside the blade grasped in Saleh's off hand. Saleh continued to backpedal, his swordplay awkward and unfamiliar to himself as he attempted to use his left hand to battle. He stumbled, and Glass' subsequent attack knocked Saleh's weapon to the side, where it clattered in the dust made by Sykes' entry.

"Ha! I am Glass! My swordsmanship is peerless. It seems you'll go the same way as your-" He was silenced by the blade that scythed through his neck. His head fell to the ground, followed by his body. Lyn stood over him, bloodied sword in hand. Saleh pushed himself from the ground, and rushed to Sykes' side.

"Sykes! Hey!"

The paladin turned his pallor face to Saleh. "I… think I missed one…"

Saleh gave a small smile. "Don't worry about it, we can't all be perfect like me. Are you okay?"

"No… he got me good. I don't think…" He trailed off.

Saleh shook his head. "No, no, there's probably a healer here, you'll be-"

"Shut up. Have you thought about your life recently?"

Saleh blinked. "What? This is hardly-"

"I have." Sykes reached up and grabbed the collar of Saleh's cloak and pulled him closer. He cracked a smile. "No regrets." The light faded from his eyes.

Saleh could only stare. Sykes had always been the best fighter of the two when they set out to make their living as mercenaries, and coupled with his attitude, Saleh had always thought that he would never die, never be bested. The zeal Sykes had for life alone was more powerful than most men. His left hand trembled as he reached over and closed his friend's eyes.

He stood and closed his eyes. Death… it was the shadow of a mercenary. It was always there. But it had never before seemed so close.

No regrets.

Wow, Sykes didn't last very long. Ah, well, he fulfilled his purpose.

And for the record, I actually do have the storyline all planned out now, I just need to actually find the time and will to type it.

-SalehOnasi