Sorry for the very overdue update. Stuff kept getting in the way...so...yeah.

Anyway, glad that you enjoyed it. Please don't die though, if you do, you can't keep reading. Well, if you do, then at least it will be a happy death.

Yes, I do admit that I borrowed the poem and glyphs from the 4th Grade Cluefinders game. I'm actually surprised that someone played that game besides me. If you look at chapters, most of them made some kind of reference to things not in this Fire Emblem game.

Chapter 18: The Neglected

Marius appeared in a large circular room. Screens filled every wall and there were personnel stationed at every screen. Marius walked pass them and towards a door which led to a long corridor with many more doors. Some of these doors led to rooms and some led to identical hallways with even more doors.

Marius knew exactly where he was going and headed there as fast as humanly possible while still keeping an air of discretion and respect around him. He ended up in front of a large door exactly like all the other doors. This one was different however, because inside was him.

After taking a deep breath and exhaling softly, he opened the door. Inside was Methuselah, or whoever he was at the moment, standing over a table. Tamara and Tarin were standing at opposite ends of the table as well. It was really who was on the table that concerned Marius. After all this time, he was finally going to be reunited with his brother.

"I can sense him in there, but getting him out is a whole other matter," said Mimir, or one of his counterparts.

"Do it anyway, I want to speak to him," Marius replied without looking at him.

Mimir looked at him for several seconds before nodding and focusing his power. An eerie light surrounded him and transferred to Mark. It faded away and Mark mumbled something as if he was talking in his sleep.

Mark's eyes opened to see the faces of his captors. Immediately, he tried to roll off the table and take a defensive stance. Unfortunately, being ill efficient at any physical activity made it extremely hard for him to do so and he ended up on the ground because Memoria, or someone else, stepped back to avoid being rolled under.

After getting his wind back rather quickly, he jumped up and placed his back towards the wall and edged towards the door.

"I don't know how you got me here and I don't want to know, but I do know that I'm getting out soon enough."

"I think there's something wrong with him," said Tarin, not that Mark knew who she was at the moment. He felt something like a large weight placed back on him. His hand also felt significantly heavier. He looked down fearing for the worst of what could have happened.

"What the-! How did I get this back?!" He shouted to them, murder burning in his eyes, not that he could have done much at the moment.

Tamara sighed and looked at the rest of them. "Let me talk to him, he doesn't have a clue on what's happening."

Mark looked indignant. "HEY!!! I have lots of clues…just not that many answers."

"See what I mean, it's getting to his head." The others nodded and Tamara proceeded to grab Mark by the scruff of his cloak and dragged him into another room, easily overpowering him despite his protests.

Marius sighed. If anyone can get through to Mark, it would probably be Tamara. After all, she shares a special bond with him that no other can match, a soul bond…or at least half a bond.

It was nearly an hour before Mark came out again; looking tired and his clothes seemed slightly ruffled. Both his cheeks were red. Marius smiled, if things fall into place like it was supposed to happen in the past, then everything would be alright.

Tamara came out behind him with a satisfied smirk. "Everything's going to go according to plans by my calculation," she whispered to him. He could always tell when Tamara lied, her voice becomes too happy or chipper, but at the moment, she wasn't lying and that gave him hope for his brother.

"So you remember everything then Mark?" he asked.

"No," Mark said without looking him in the eye. "I'm recovering small bits and pieces here and there from time to time. Perhaps if you showed me around to see the others, I'll be able to recover more."

"Hmmm…" Marius looked at Mark critically. Oh well, you can't rush recovery. "Sure! I'll take you to see Tarin, she's in charge of the troops in your absence. I know how much you like to tinker with strategy so you'll get to see the finest fighters in existence."

"Great!"

In the Pyramid

Eliwood looked around at his surroundings. It's been a long walk since that fork, but luckily it was a straight path, too straight. There was nothing but a long corridor, a red carpet with gold fringes, and small torches lighting several feet in front of him before disappearing into the darkness.

That wasn't the problem. The problem was that there was no sign that the hallway was going to end anytime soon. This wasn't going to work, there has to be some secret that will get him to the end faster. Getting him to the end at this point would count as fast enough.

Walking and thinking for several more minutes, Eliwood stumbled in his mind on a memory of Mark.

Flashback

"Eliwood, come here for a moment."

"Yes, did you need something Mark?"

"No I just want to tell you something important."

"Well I'm all ears."

"No you have hands and feet and a head to put those ears on. Besides if you were all ears, then how will you produce an heir to help carry on the blood line?"

"M-Mark!"

"I know, I know, I'm just joking. Anyway, I'll make this short. Remember that going forward is not always the best option. There are times when it would be wiser to turn around and walk away from what you think is your destination."

"But how will I know when to turn around?"

"Beats me. My suggestion is that if you don't try, then you'll never know."

"Thanks for the advice, even if it doesn't make much sense."

"Few good advices actually do."

"True."

End Flashback

Eliwood sighed. Trust Mark to give him cryptic advices that somehow always seem to fall into place and him remembering it exactly when he needs to. There was nothing left to do but to turn around.

"No…It can't be!" he said in a shocked whisper. After turning around, he found himself facing the same door he used to get in. "YOU MEAN ALL THIS TIME I COULD'VE JUST TURNED AROUND!!!" he screamed, not caring who heard him.

After ranting and throwing a tantrum and shouting obscenities, Eliwood grabbed the handle and wretched the door open.

Inside was a circular room with pillars lining the edge. The center was a circular rug with colorful, yet meaningless (to Eliwood anyway) patterns. On the rug was a strange…thing.

Thing was the only way to describe it. The general shape of the main portion was like a cone with the flat face curved outwards. It looked half organic and half inorganic. There was a glass like covering, a little more than half way up, that resembled a small dome, like a window or a windshield. Small, round, jewel like stones also dotted the body. It had no other limbs that Eliwood could see, but surrounding it were thirteen small plates, no bigger that one's palm, that looked to be made from the same stuff used to make the thing. Each plate also had a small jewel.

Eliwood cautiously walked closer towards it. When he got near enough, he saw through the window like face of the thing. Inside were several thin tentacle-like appendages. Trying to get a closer look, he walked nearer and saw the inside glowed with a soft blue aura. He quickly jumped back and drew his rapier.

The central body rose off the ground several inches and the plates rose to form a circle around the middle of the body. It slowly turned to face Eliwood. It paused, and then it struck out with the plates.

Eliwood jumped backwards to avoid collision with the plates. While the plates weren't moving very fast, they provided great protection. Every time Eliwood lunged for a strike, a plate would come down and block him. The plates themselves weren't all that strong. Actually, they would get sent flying with just one hit, but because there were so many of them, and that they were so persistent, it made damaging the body that much more difficult.

Several minutes later, Eliwood was bushed. Between dodging, attempting to attack, and trying to find an opening, he barely had time to catch his breath. He took several steps back to distance himself from his opponent and see if he can find a weakness. What he saw gave him an idea.

Whenever he tries to attack, the thirteen plates would form the same pattern, a plate in the center and the other twelve plates made a ring that floated either clockwise or counterclockwise around the center one. He'll have to hit all of them before they get a chance to regroup and block him again.

He rushed forward. This was it, if he doesn't make it this time, then there was little chance he was going to later with his energy reserves depleted. Mark had a hypothesis. When a life is endangered or near the verge of ending, the vessel automatically tries everything it can to sustain the life, even if it's just for mere seconds. Well, hopefully he's right and all of the attacks hit.

Eliwood came forward and thrust his rapier towards the center plate. It was sent flying. Not waiting for the others to move, he pulled back and hit another one, and repeated until he knocked all of them away. He took a step back and focused what was left of his energy. He dashed forward and rammed the rapier into window like dome. It shattered easily and the body fell to the ground. The strange thing was that it remained upright, perfectly balanced on its point.

Eliwood took several well deserved breaths. He noticed the plates moving again and took a stance ready to block them if necessary. It turns out that it wasn't because the plates arranged themselves on the ground to form something that looks like stairs. They led up to the demolished window dome on the main body.

Eliwood looked at it and walked closer. It wouldn't really hurt to take a closer look. At this rate, he probably wouldn't be finding Mark any time soon. He took one gulp and walked up the plates and into the central body.

With a blinding flash, he found himself in a really strange open field. Everything seems to have been blurred slightly. Either that or he needs to start getting some glasses.

He saw a small boy with brown hair running across the field. The boy turned around and Eliwood gaped. IT WAS MARK! Only he was a lot shorter than the Mark he knew. Still, he could tell by those bright shining eyes anywhere.

"Mark! Where've you been?" called out Eliwood.

Mark paid no attention to him. "Mark! Where've you been?" a harsher voice called out from behind Eliwood. Eliwood spun around to see a plump old man. Eliwood felt something weird through his spine, and when he looked down, he saw that Mark had just ran right through him.

"I'm sorry, Master. It's just that it's so bright and colorful out here," said Mark with a happy smile.

The man was obviously not impressed. "Interesting. When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you."

Eliwood was starting to like this man less and less. "Hey! You could be a bit kinder when talking to Mark, ya' know!" he shouted. The man didn't bother responding to Eliwood.

"Come on Mark. I did as I was asked, now come back and resume your training."

"Yes sir," said Mark dejectedly.

Mark walked off with the guy and Eliwood was left in the field. There was another flash and Eliwood saw that he was in a sparsely furnished room. The objects that stood out against everything else, probably because there was nothing else, were the many racks of weapons.

Mark was standing in the middle of the room wielding a fencing sword. His opponent was another person using the same type of weapon. Mark wasn't attacking though, he was only blocking and parrying. Mark was holding his own pretty good, until he made a small slip up and was slashed on the forearm. Mark fell to the ground on one knee and dropped his sword.

Eliwood rushed over to see if Mark was alright. His arm was bleeding profusely, but his sparring opponent didn't seem to notice. In fact, he seems to want to continue fighting against Mark. Eliwood stepped between them and drew his own sword, ready to parry any attacks if he needs to.

When the opponent raised his sword for a downward strike, Eliwood held his horizontally to block it. Instead of blocking it, the sword went through his sword and him. Mark simply rolled to the side and took up the sword he dropped in his left hand.

"Next time, cut diagonally so that it gives me less room to dodge," Mark said in a raspy but higher-than-thou voice.

Eliwood was amused after he got over the shock that he was still alive. It seems like Mark was sarcastic even when he was little. While Eliwood was amused, his opponent seemed less than impressed. He pressed down on Mark even harder.

By the time they were done, Mark was covered in cuts and several bruises where his partner kicked him when he was down. Eliwood tried, but he couldn't stop him. For some reason, he kept going through everything.

There was another flash and Eliwood found himself in a small room, no bigger than a closet. It was dark, dank, and covered with mildew. He found a small figure sitting beside him.

"I wish that someone would talk to me," Mark whispered.

"I'll talk to you," replied Eliwood.

Mark turned his head around and tried to look through the darkness. "Great, now I'm going crazy. This does not bode well."

"You're not…okay maybe you are," said Eliwood unsurely.

"Great, now my mind's made a subconscious that agrees that I'm crazy. What next?"

Eliwood was confused. Wasn't Mark supposed to not see or hear him? Oh well, at least he can comfort Mark this way. But what can he say?

"Don't worry, one day you'll be free to go wherever you feel like going. And you'll have all the friends you wish for."

"Don't toy around with my feelings conscious. Underneath this rough exterior lies a puddle of self esteem and sensitivity."

Eliwood sighed. He wished he could have said more to make Mark feel better. This gloomy Mark was starting to get to him. Mark was energetic, happy, angry, anything with intense emotion that will drive him, and everyone around him, further towards their goals. This depressed Mark that sound like he's given up all hope does not do well for Eliwood's expectations.

Before Eliwood could say anything else, another flash took him some place else. He found himself in a prison like room. Mark was still there and there seemed to be a little more lighting in the room. It still didn't keep away the feeling of darkness, dankness, or the mildew. Eliwood looked down and saw a small dish of water and a quarter loaf of bread that hadn't looked as if it's been touched yet.

The door opened and a large man walked in. He was tall, wore overalls, no shirt, and a black mask that covered everything except his eyes. He walked over to Mark and pulled him up by his arm. Mark's body was limp. His eyes seemed glazed over, a sign that he wasn't registering what was happening.

Eliwood followed where the man was taking Mark. They entered a large room that Eliwood recognized from some of the darker dungeons he's been in. They were in some kind of torture room.

The Tormentor, the big guy that dragged Mark out, strung him up so that he was eye level with him. This was several feet off the ground because the guy's bigger than Hector and Mark wasn't even ten yet.

"Now then. Are you going to talk, or are we going to have to force you," he said sadistically.

Mark groaned slightly.

"Oh, cat's got you're tongue eh? No problem, I've got another cat that can loosen it." He pulled out a whip that ended in nine cords, the Cat of Nine Tails.

He brought the whip down and it struck Mark nine times. Mark's eyes widened in pain and he snapped out of his daze. His screams pierced he air as he screamed from each assault.

Eliwood again tried to help his friend, but like before, he couldn't touch anything. Eliwood looked at his friend trying to find some way to help him. He couldn't. He watched as the Tormentor put Mark through several painful trials, including rubbing pepper on his wounds. By the time they stopped, Mark's eyes were glazed over again and his breathing was soft.

The Tormentor dragged Mark back to his cell and threw him unceremoniously to the ground. Then he shut the door and locked it and walked away as if nothing had happened.

Eliwood didn't follow Mark into the cell. He wanted to find out more about these shady characters who were abusing Mark. He followed the Tormentor until he came through another door.

"How was he this time Mr. Tormentor?" a tall man with a mustache and a long nose asked.

"Hehehe! The kid's stronger than you thought. Didn't give up any info this time."

This piqued the long nosed man's interest. "Really?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "What tortures did you do this time?"

"Every single one of them that didn't permanently damaged him. Just like you said sir," the Tormentor chuckled snidely.

"Yes…so he's completely broken?" He asked hopefully.

"Maybe…maybe not…but most probable. Not many can stand such punishment without losing their minds. I heard him talking to himself the other day."

Eliwood felt his blood run cold. These guys were torturing him to teach him something?! Pain tolerance?! How to not give information when tortured?!

"Well, if all goes according to plan, he'll be ours soon enough. It's his destiny since he was born after all." With that, the long nosed man left.

Eliwood looked on in horror. This has been going on since Mark's birth?! He was tortured to fulfill some sick twisted destiny?! Where were his parents? Surely they wouldn't let their own child take place in such activities. Where was his brother? While his brother maybe against Eliwood, and vice versa, Marius or Martin or whoever he was proved time and again that he will be there for Mark. So why not now?

With one final flash, Eliwood was sent back to the room with the thing with plates. It faded away leaving behind a small key. Eliwood picked it up and noticed a door ahead of him. The key fitted and he door opened. Eliwood continued on with a renewed flame for his friend. Mark hates pity, so he'll offer comfort instead where Lyn can't.

This chapter's kinda dark and moody. Oh well, it sets up the scene for the next two chapters I guess. The next two should be updated at the same time if all goes according to plan. Not much to say here really. Guess where the ideas from this chapter came from.