I do not own any of the characters, they belong to Nintendo. (Sorry the first two chapters are so short. The third will be longer, I promise.)

The sun was high in the sky as Ike talked with Rhys. He shook his head sadly and looked him in the eye.

"Ike, there isn't anything I can do for you unless you want me to beat you over the head with a stick. You have a guilty conscious. Listen, I know it's been rough for you but you need to move past it. Meet new people, make a life. You're more of an empty spirit than you are a young man. Those circles around your eyes make you look like a vampire. My suggestion, go out and find a girl, go live your life, and get some more sun," Rhys said before shooing Ike out of the infirmary.

Ike stumbled out and heard the door shut. He sighed and began to walk through the camp, it was moderate in size. To the east were the sleeping cabins, most held at least six people but they hadn't been full in a long time. To the north were the infirmary and the armory. The west held the mess hall where they ate every meal. The south led to the stables, two stables; one for horses and one for wyvern (similar to dragons but much smaller, having beaked mouths, and some even being poisonous). It had shrunk since the war had ended but it didn't bother them much, it was less crowded and the thought of an ambush was preposterous. They had fallen back into their routine as mercenaries and their life held a sense of normalcy again.

As he wandered he thought of Rhys' words. It was true, he wasn't like other men his age but he had good reason, did he not? At the same time a part of him was telling him to press on and live his life to the fullest but keep his friends in his memories. Another part was louder, screaming in grief and drowning out the words of the other. He shook his head to clear it and almost ran straight into Shinon, just barely stopping himself.

"Watch it," Shinon growled.

Ike stared him in the eye and stepped aside, respecting Shinon through gritted teeth. Before Shinon passed he paused and turned to Ike.

"You remember the petite girl who helped with the war? Small but skilled with knives?" he asked.

Ike nodded.

"She's coming to visit, I just got her letter. I don't know when she'll be here but if you see her find me," he said in an almost challenging voice.

Ike just nodded and proceeded to the forest. He remembered the girl, her name had only come to his ears a few times but it was unusual enough that he remembered. Her name was Sheik and she refused to wear armor, battling with nothing but a seemingly never ending supply of knives. Some were long and used for slashing and others for throwing. She was quick and lethal but only in combat. If someone raised their voice to loudly, like his father, she would visibly steel her nerves and tense. Ike was sure he was the only who had noticed, Sheik was someone you could easily miss. He wondered how Shinon had come across someone like her but brushed the thought away, Shinon had a sketchy past. He found his favorite clearing, it had once held a large tree that had been cut down and now a large stump was left along with a large opening where the warm sun could stream in. It was always peaceful and tranquil here, it was his retreat. He sat on the stump and relaxed, a breeze blew over head, shaking the weak branches. He stretched out his body and laid comfortably on the stump, the shaking branches creating a soft lullaby.

(Sheik)

Sheik walked through the woods, the birds singing softly as she passed. She smiled at them and remembered the garden back at the castle where her family spent hours talking and playing. She let out a sad sigh and looked around her, it was a peaceful and quiet. This almost worried her but she tried to wipe the thoughts away, though, as hard as she tried to wipe them away it always left an ever present smudge. She wasn't used to things being peaceful, it usually meant something awful was about to happen. As she drew closer to the camp she noticed the birds begin to fade suggesting a human presence. She pulled one of her long black knives out and tensed, she wasn't going to be taken so easily again. She approached a large clearing and stopped, a man was asleep on a large stump. She cursed quietly. Now she understood her uneasy feeling. Something awful had happened. She had come across Ike.

His blue hair and large sword were unmistakable. She sheathed her knife and stared at him for a moment. He had grown up a bit and gained some more muscle. His hair was shorter as well. She remembered the last time she had seen him. He had been surrounded by a group of people his age, his friends. They were chattering about the battle they had just won. She had formed a dislike for him at that moment; he was like Link, always the hero. She had seen him fight his hardest but she was never sure if it had been for their cause or for the approval of his father.

She shook her head and continued on her way, then a voice from behind stopped her cold.

(Ike)

Ike stirred and looked around wondering what had awakened him and wondering when he had fallen asleep. He sighed and saw a small figure at the edges of the clearing. The figure was wear a cloak but the hood was down, a long braid cascaded down the figures back. It almost looked like a spear tip was tied at the tip of the twisted chocolate brown hair. He knew who it was and called out. The figure stopped then whipped around as he approached, a knife suddenly at his neck. He glared at Sheik. Her clear blue eyes rolled and she released him.

"Don't do that again," she spat.

Great. She was like Shinon and hated him for no valid reason. He stepped back to give her some space.

"Shinon told me to bring you to camp if I saw you," he said.

Something flashed in her eyes. He wasn't sure what but it quickly passed and she turned her back to him again,

"I know the way."

He watched as she walked in the direction of the camp. He followed at a distance, trying to obey Shinon as best as he could. Now he understood why Sheik and Shinon got along; they were both stubborn and thick headed. Made sense to him. As they walked she didn't even give him a glance but pressed on, her shoulders squared and her chin high. She had matured since he had last seen her, she looked more like a woman than a teenager although she was still younger than him. As they entered camp Ike came up next to her.

"Try his cabin first," Ike said then continued on his way.

(Sheik)

Sheik rolled her eyes again. Of course she would try his cabin first, where else would he be when he waited for her? She watched him go, he glanced his cobalt blue eyes back at her once more then took a right to the mess hall. She grunted and walked to Shinon's cabin, or Shinon and Gatrie's cabin more specifically. She hoped Gatrie was gone and she and Shinon could talk in peace. She knocked on the door and, to her dismay, Gatrie answered. He didn't recognize her and smiled a dazzling white smile.

"Hey there. I'm—"

He was cut short when Shinon came from behind and punched him in the side.

"It doesn't surprise me you don't remember her Gatrie. You remember being told the story at least. This was the girl you gave a drunken kiss then I beat the shit out of you."

"Ah, Sheik. Long time no see, how come?"

She stared at him and shook her head sadly, "Gatrie, there are many people that disappoint me in this world but you have accomplished to make me lose all hope for humanity."

"You know and I know that I am not that bad," he said with a wink.

She sighed and looked at Shinon, "Is there anywhere we can talk, alone?"

Shinon nodded and pushed past the six foot four, blonde, and blue eyed man who was flirting with his eyes at Sheik. She shuddered and Shinon put his arm around her in a brotherly manner and they walked to the woods. Shinon's red/pink (mostly pink) hair had grown longer but he still kept it in a tie and refused to cut it. They walked in silence for a moment, allowing each of them to collect their thoughts. Before either of them could talk she thought of Ike and how he had seemed so different in his personality. He didn't spit a sharp retort at her, he hadn't stormed away in anger and he had even glanced back at her to make sure she was… okay, she supposed. His physical appearance had changed as she had observed before but only when he was in front of her did she notice the dark rings around his eyes and his weary gaze. He looked so unlike himself. Or maybe this was him, he had just grown up.

She looked over at Shinon and waited for him to start. He didn't, he was looking at her and then his gaze traveled down to her arms. A silent question passed and she shook her head.

"No, Shinon, I haven't been," she said irritably. What she didn't say was that she hadn't recently. It had been a few months but it had been a few months since she and Link had talked, which escalated into yelling, then into fighting. She had kicked him in the jaw and then sprinted, not in any specific direction, just away from him. Then she had done her usual ritual when family fought, she had cut. It didn't matter how deep; it would never be as deep as the wounds in her heart. It didn't matter if she died; she would come back every time. Letting out a breath she told him everything, feeling ton after ton of garbage unload from her chest. He walked along side her, listening as she unloaded. He just sighed when she told him about her 'ritual'.

When she was finished he shook his head, angry. Though as angry as he was he kept his voice level, for her sake.

"Sheik, you have got to stop. Stop your cutting, stop letting fear rule your life, stop running. Just stay here, no, I don't mean forever. I just want you to stay for a few months. Relax, no one here is going to hurt you, I'll make sure of that. Greil, he's not a bad guy, he'll take you in. Just for a little bit, Sheik, please," he pleaded rather than asked.

Sheik was about to tell him no when she looked into his light blue eyes and hesitated. His eyes were usually stone cold but now they seemed to be melting. Letting out a sigh she nodded. What else did she have left to do? Her family and enemies knew nothing of the camp and wouldn't be looking for her anytime soon. A few side jobs to demonstrate her skill and some extra money would be nice. Things were calm around here anyway. She knew better though, calm always led to chaos when she was around.