Chapter 13: The Leader
Firedude: Ready for more already are we? Well be careful what you wish for.
FireemblemPRO: I suppose it's time for Eliwood's appearance within the next two chapters. It's cool that you forgot some take your time.
Biggoron: Thank you for your compliment sir. I'm proud to have a good story.
Zeek72: Yes, yes I suppose he should've been hurt more.
Wolf from the hidden flames: (Gasps for air) Ok I get that you're happy! You may realize that most views show Serra as an annoying person. It was just another view. Don't worry romance will be soon. Yes Alderoffe is gone… or is he?
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire emblem or any of its characters. I own Chikage, Alderoffe, Shadow, Quill, Onimaru, Inomaru, Yuan, Vren, Dopple Ganger, Girfu, and Alicia. Kota, Gustaph, Mystic, Tyrana, and Zega Verdan all belong to friends and fans.
Firedude: Ready? On with the show!
The next morning they had all packed up and were on the road. Everyone that was with Mark's army or with Gustaph's army was traveling together. But it was obviously going to be a long three weeks. A large majority of them had massive hangovers and some people weren't getting along. Jaffar was still mad at Karel for falling on Nino, and Mark and Lyn were mad at Tyrana. They woke up in the same bed in their underwear. Lyn was panicking and shouting things like "If I'm pregnant you're dead!" and "I knew I should've drank so much!" Tyrana admitted that she put the two of them in the same bed. They soon beat her without mercy. She was laughing the whole time!
A week has passed and they set up camp in the Bern Mountains. The group became more on guard, because of the chance of bandit raids. Lyn noticed that Mark was becoming really tense and seemed to be in a trance. "Hey Mark are you ok?" Mark's trance stopped and he almost yelled at Lyn. "What? Of course I'm fine! Why would you think so?" Lyn seemed frightened by Mark's sudden outburst. Mark saw this and immediately felt bad. "I'm sorry Lyn it's just that-."
"Hey Mark!" They looked behind them to see Guy running towards them. "That guy Zega wants to speak with you." Mark nodded and followed Guy into the back of the camp. Zega was talking with Matthew and Marco and then bowed towards Mark when he came up to him. "I presume that you are the one that they call Mark?"
"That is correct. What exactly do you need?"
"I heard that you are the leader of this team?"
"I suppose that-."
"Hey wait a minute!" Inomaru ran up to Mark and poked him in the chest. "What makes you think that you're leader?"
"Well I just-."
"Gustaph had just as much right as you to take over!"
"Yes he does but-."
"But nothing!" Inomaru grabbed Mark by the collar and dragged him back towards Gustaph's tent. Mark waved towards Zega. "Sorry I guess our conversation will have to wait." Zega nodded and continued to speak with Marco and Matthew. Inomaru dragged Mark into Gustaph's tent and pushed him towards Gustaph. "Hey boss, Mark thinks that he can run things at camp better than you!" Mark turned towards Inomaru. "What's wrong with you? I never said that! No one stood up to take control so I did!" Gustaph laughed. "He's right Inomaru. However I do believe that there may be people here who are more willing to follow me than you.
Mark and Gustaph walked outside. Everyone gathered at the middle of the camp. Gustaph raised his arms and spoke out. "Listen up! There has been a dispute on who should be leading our army! Some believe that it should be Mark and others believe it should be me! So we are to decide here! We are to duel! The winner shall lead us all!" The crowd all nodded and agreed. "So what say you Mark?" Mark smiled and shook hands with Gustaph. "I'm up for a little challenge." Gustaph smiled and spoke out to the crowd. "We will fight in fifteen minutes!"
Mark sat in his tent looking over the weapons he had. Lyn walked into the tent and gave Mark a glare. "I can't believe that you're going through with this!"
"Well someone has to lead our army." Replied Mark as he continued to look over his weapons. "That's not the point! This is the legendary Gustaph! If you're not careful he could kill you during this fight!"
"Well I'm the legendary Mark and he could die if he's not careful. So it's nice to know that you think that geezer can beat me." Lyn blushed and opened her mouth to apologize, but Mark had already taken two slim swords and left.
Inomaru and Onimaru were helping Gustaph get his armor on inside of his tent. "I can't believe that tactician actually thinks he can fight you!" Gustaph laughed at how flustered Inomaru had gotten over this. "Maybe he is more qualified than me. I am getting on in my years, and you saw for yourself how I lost to Alderoffe." Gustaph looked over his kryss before walking outside to meet Mark.
Gustaph and Mark stood ten yards away from each other. Inomaru stood in between them. "Alright we are holding a fight between Mark and Gustaph to see who should lead us. Please keep your distance everyone. First one to land a decent hit wins!" Inomaru jumped out of the way as Gustaph let out a battle cry and ran towards Mark. "Third eye!" A purple circle appeared on Mark's head. Gustaph slashed at Mark who blocked with one sword and swung with the other. Gustaph jumped backwards and watched Mark carefully. Mark used his third eye to look into the future. He saw Gustaph slamming his fist into the ground to create a fissure. He stopped his prediction in time to see it for himself. He jumped to the side and then jumped into the fissure. Gustaph jumped down too where it was too dark for any spectators to see. There was the clashing of swords and cries of battle. They both jumped out unscathed. Mark was not able to figure out a flaw in Gustaph's defenses yet. Not even with the third eye am I able to locate a weakness. Gustaph charged towards Mark and jumped into the air. "Meteor strike!" He caught fire and went plummeting towards Mark who couldn't get out of the way in time. It made a direct hit and Mark disintegrated. Everyone gasped at the site. Tyrana was speechless and Lyn began to cry.
Gustaph stood up and looked at the remains, but then he felt something tap his back. "I win." Gustaph turned to see Mark there completely unscathed. "But how did you-?"
"My third eye doesn't just allow me to see things, but I can make other people see illusions."
"But I felt it, and that was no illusion it was a solid form!" Mark laughed at how the legendary Gustaph was acting. "I can create a solid clone, but it takes energy." Gustaph laughed and shook hands with Mark. "Very impressive Mark." He turned towards the crowd of spectators. "I now declare Mark as ruler of this army." Everyone clapped except for Mark who walked away into his tent.
Mark sat in his tent drinking whiskey for celebration. He sat and looked at the portrait that was there and raised his cup. Would you be proud of me if you were still alive brother? Mark took a big swig before Tyrana came rushing into his tent. "Mark! Bandits are attacking our camp!" Mark stood up, took Zantetzugen, and walked outside. Bandits had surrounded the perimeter of the camp. He saw that they had a tight flawless formation. Bandits are not this organized... it has to be her.
"Come out Alicia! I know that you're here!" Mark's army looked at him then at the figure that appeared on top of the nearby hill. She was a berserker which was a pretty unusual profession for a woman. She wore a green tank top with matching pants and armor. She had long straight brown hair and she had a serious expression on her face. "Hello Mark, long time no see." Pent nudged Mark and whispered to him. "You know this girl Mark?" Mark nodded and spoke aloud. "We… worked together in the past." Alicia jumped off the hill and looked straight ahead at Mark. Mark realized that she held a large red axe. "How the hell did you get hell blazer?"
"How did you get Zantetzugen?" Mark grunted and pointed at her with it. "Be gone witch we have no business with you nor should you with us." She laughed and slammed Hell Blazer into the ground. "You're the same as all ways. You know what I want. I want what everyone else on the continent has heard about. The seven mythical weapons." Everyone was stunned by what they had heard. Pent stepped forward and called up to her. "What are you saying? How did people find out about them?"
"The merchant Girfu has been going around from town to town announcing the finals of his little tournament. He told everyone from here to Ostia about the prize being the air peircer. He also promised that some of the contestants will be using their own weapons. Now everyone wants them so they can be powerful and rule the world. I personally think their all stupid, but it's their own life their throwing away by doing it. Even Eliwood and Hector are coming here to give you all and escort to make sure that you make it there alive. So if you'd be so kind to give me your weapons we'll be on our way."
Mark remained silent for a minute before looking back towards Alicia. "No dice wench." Alicia was obviously annoyed and pointed Hell Blazer at Mark. "We out number you five to one. Only a fool would go into a fight with these odds!"
"Then call me a fool. Besides at least my soldiers aren't dirty honor less thieves." Alicia was now even more annoyed. "That's it! I offered a way that you would be able to escape this, but I guess you're just as stubborn as ever! Bandits kill them all!"
Firedude: Sorry I know short chapter. Review please, if you must flame then go ahead.