R.K.'s birthday countdown: 1 day

Bold is emphasis

'This is a thought'

And no, I don't own Fire Emblem…so unfortunate…

11 HOURS

IKE

Meanwhile, back in the dinning tent, everyone stood in silence. Rolf and Shinon were getting up as the young Sniper patted his head.

"Rolf, are you okay?" Shinon asked helping the boy to his feet. Rolf was only able to nod. The Marksman grabbed his apprentice by the shoulder and pushed him towards his brothers.

"Ike…?" Titania was grabbing his arm.

He kept staring at Boyd, "I'm fine…"

"Damn those idiots…" Soren said loudly. "I wish I could just kill them and be done with their pathetic lives…" Rolf turned to stare at him, "…what are you looking at, lap dog?"

"Forget it, Rolf." Shinon said as Rolf had stopped.

"Ike, you should've killed the older idiot…"

"Enough!" Tibarn said loudly before Ike could answer. Ike and Soren turned to stare at the Hawk King.

"NO!" Shinon yelled.

"Rolf!" Oscar yelled at the same time.

Ike turned and was barely able to see how Rolf was already pointing an arrow at Soren. Rolf fired and the Vanguard pushed Soren to the side. The arrow hit the mage in the arm, tearing his sleeve, as blood began to pour out of the cut.

"Soren!?" Ike grabbed his friend, only to be pushed back. Suddenly, a flash of green appeared in the tent.

"Soren!" Ike yelled as he turned and saw how Rolf had jumped away. The sniper was pulling out another arrow when an angry Boyd and an even angrier Oscar had run to get their kid brother. Another flash of green made the tent lighten up and the arrow was launched causing more than one to duck.

"Stop it!" someone yelled to them although Ike had no time to find out whom. He simply pushed Soren behind him as another arrow was launched.

"Dammit, Rolf!" Ike yelled as he turned, able to see that the Sniper was being carried away by Oscar and that Shinon also had his bow out.

"Don't yell at my brother!" Boyd screamed angrily. Shinon had another arrow ready.

Ike frowned, letting go of Soren, and just as he was about to attack Boyd, there were already a bunch of people jumping on top of him. Then, it went from white to black.

***

"Ike, are you okay?" he heard a soft voice ask him.

Ike groaned. "No…" slowly, he began to sit up. "What happened?"

"I wasn't actually there…but from what I heard, Micaiah launched a magic attack on a bunch of you."

Ike was opening his eyes and a pair of familiar blue eyes stared at him. "Michaiah…? She…what…?" Ike was now shaking his head.

"Apparently she got so fed up with what was going on that she took matters into her own hand…and then she got into a huge word fight with Tibarn but at least no one got that hurt."

He was silent for a few moments until he turned to stare at his sister. "How are you, Mist?"

She lowered her head as her brother stood up to embrace her tightly. The poor girl started to tremble and Ike hugged her even tighter.

"I'm okay…"

"No you are not."

There was a long silence before she was able to speak again. "I hate him so much, Ike. I really do. But at the same time, I still love him…" Mist sobbed as tears were pouring out of her eyes. Ike held back a sigh. "Why did he do this to me? He swore he loved me."

"I'm sorry I couldn't prevent this from happening to you."

The siblings hugged each other tighter.

A distance away, a very angry Soren was prancing around. Ike stared at his arm and was able to see that the cut was no longer there.

"We should've killed them." The mage said.

"I really did think about doing exactly that." He said as he sat down on his bed. "And I probably would've had I not hit Rolf."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I shouldn't have. I wanted to hurt Boyd and him only. No others."

"So? It was that dog's fault he got hit. If he can't take a hit, he shouldn't have jumped in!"

Mist couldn't help but stare at Soren. Sure, she was mad at Boyd but there was no reason for her to be mad at Rolf or Oscar. They hadn't done anything bad to her, yet.

"You did the same thing, Soren. You jumped in to side with me."

Soren glared at him, "I fail to see the connection…"

"Ike?"

Mist's grip got tighter and her gaze dropped as both men turned to stare at Oscar. He had let himself inside the tent.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be defending your annoying…"

"What is it, Oscar?" Ike interrupted, trying to avoid Sorens glare.

"I'm here to apologize on behalf of my brothers."

Ike shrugged, "Then I guess I should too, seeing how it was my fault."

"No it wasn't, Ike!" Soren yelled out.

"I also ask you, Soren, for an apology. Rolf was out of place to attack you."

"He also apologizes for attacking Rolf." Ike said quicky, before Soren could speak.

Oscar nodded, "Now that things are clear, I'll leave."

"Oscar, wait." Ike said as he stood up. Mist was wiping off her tears. Oscar had stopped to turn around. "There's something else I would like to discuss with you…"

"What?"

"Boyd isn't going back to the fort."

Mist looked away from Oscar and hunched a little.

Oscar tried not look at her. "He won't. We've already made our decision. Once this war is over, we won't have anything to do with the Mercenaries."

"Finally!" Soren said loudly as he raised his hands in the air.

Just as Oscar was about to walk out, Mist stood up, "Oscar, wait please."

Ike grabbed her hand as Oscar stared at her.

"Brother, I'm going to bed. But don't worry, Oscar will accompany me, right?"

Oscar simply nodded.

"Mist, are you sure?"

She nodded and kissed her brother on the cheek, "Good night…" she said softly as she and Oscar walked out.

Ike frowned as he saw his sister leave. He didn't quite understand why she had wanted Oscar to take her but he simply shrugged it off. Suddenly a not-so-good thought came to his mind. "Soren," he began as the mage turned to stare at him, "do you think Elincia has chosen Boyd over Geoffrey? Is that why he has no problem with leaving the Greil Mercenaries?"

Soren frowned, "Why do you care?"

"It's Elincia I'm concerned about. I still love you, you know."

"And you've already let her go."

"But I can win her back."

"Not if Boyd has somehow managed to win her over already. But then again, it doesn't take much to make a dim-witted woman like Elincia fall in love."

"Don't call her that."

"She should be called a lot of things a lot meaner."

"You don't know her."

"But I know why you left her. She really isn't that special to begin with."

Ike was silent. 'You're wrong, Soren. She truly is.'

"Ike?" Soren was staring at him, frowning.

Ike looked at him. "What if I convince her to abdicate the throne of Crimea? That way, we could be together."

"She won't do it. She doesn't love you anymore."

"I could always win her back."

"But Ike! She didn't do it the first time, why would she now?"

"I never asked her too…" Ike suddenly smiled as he convinced himself that he should try, "I'm going to bed, now."

"But Ike…!"

"Good night, Soren."

MIST

"I'm sorry you had to witness all that, Mist."

She sniffed. "It's all my fault. If only I had been able to keep quiet."

"It's not something anyone would be able to hold back for much."

"Look at what I have done? I've ruined everyone's evening. And with you and Rolf leaving…I…"

Oscar sighed, "I doubt you want to know but my brother had already made up his mind about leaving. He said he wanted you to be happy and that he was afraid that you wouldn't be if he was around."

"Are you and Rolf leaving to stay together?"

"Yes." He said silently.

They reached her tent and before she stepped in, Mist turned to face Oscar once more. "Is he leaving to be with Elincia…?" she asked softly.

Oscar hugged her. "No. He doesn't love the Queen."

Mist nodded, "Thank you, Oscar and good night."

"Good night."

R.K.: Don't worry, I'll finish this story before the 23rd. So stop harassing me : )