A/N: Ah? See? I got it up! Do enjoy this rather... uneventful? No, not dull... I don't know. Enjoy anyway!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters (except those I have named before) the belong to Nintendo.

(Sheik)

No. No. NO. Sheik sprinted towards where Ike had fallen, the man she had killed had fallen on top of Ike's limp body. She could see a scarlet puddle forming around them.

(Ike)

Well, shit, he thought. The dead man and his armor both weighed a ton, he squirmed a bit, with no luck. A shadow casted over him, making him pause. It was a familiar figure with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes.

"So, what are you waiting for? Perfect time to end all this, eh?" Ike said.

"Kill you? Please, I was the one that saved you," Link spat.

Ike's smirk vanished. He scrunched his eyebrows, trying to make sense of what just happened.

"Why would you save-"

"Just this once!" He snapped quickly, he glanced around and nodded at Ike, "Keep her safe, that's all you owe me. A life for a life."

Then he was gone. He didn't pause to try and process his words, he knew what he meant. Instead he continued to wiggle, trying to break free. He could already feel his lungs limiting each break he took.

"Ike?"

"Hey Sheik, a little help? I think your knife hilt is stabbing into my gut. Just a little," he said.

Sheik rolled her eyes and shook her head then inspected the large body carefully. She shook her head again.

"Ike, there's no way I can lift this off of you. The body's too heavy but…" She trialed off, pointing to the body with a loose hand before nodding to herself and running off.

"Sheik? Sheik!" Ike called.

(Sheik)

Sheik ignored his calls and searched the mercenaries for someone who would help Ike with no questions asked. Where was… Well, there was Gatrie. As much as she hated him, she was going to have to suck it up and talk to him. She found him fighting another heavily clad soldier. Sheik snuck in quickly behind him, jumped on his back, and slit his throat. The soldier fell forward, in front of Gatrie. She looked up and managed a pained smile.

"Damn. Well then," he grumbled.

"Yeah, you're welcome. Ike needs your help, he's stuck underneath a body," she said quickly.

"I swear you can't leave him out of your sight for ten minutes! Fine, I'll go help the poor bastard."

Sheik nodded and ran back to Ike, Gatrie's armor clicking behind her.

(Ike)

He looked up at the blue sky and just listened. The sound of metal against metal, the metallic ring if it. The sound of men in agony, the brutality of war was not favored by many. Only those who had lost their minds. A face came into view, then a dazzling smile. So, Sheik had managed to find Gatrie, an interesting choice for her.

"So, even in his last moments this guy wanted to get it on," Gatrie laughed.

"Hah hah, shut it Gatrie. Just it get him off me."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it."

Ike felt the weight of the man gradually lessen until Gatrie threw the body to the side. He offered Ike a hand, which he gladly accepted.

"Try not to get too intimate with any other dead bodies, alright?"

"I don't know if he'll be able to control himself, Gatrie," Sheik said biting her bottom lip and looking Ike over.

"Watch him for me then, would ya?"

"I'll try."

Ike looked back and forth between them and shook his head, smiling. Gatrie laughed, high fived Sheik, and jogged away into the fray.

"I thought you hated him."

"Gatrie? Most of the time but he can be fun, like just now."

"You're one hell of a puzzle Sheik."

Sheik shrugged and ran off, taking out a knife as she jumped another soldier. Ike quickly scanned the area, looking for Link but he had seemed to vanish. Strange. He thought of what Link had said, he hadn't seemed like the bastard Ike had seen so many times. He seemed to actually care for his sister. Ike jumped back as a spear slashed past his throat. He stepped in, his arm swung, extending Ragnell in a quick motion. Blood poured out of the man's now open stomach, as he fell to the ground his arms wrapped around his torso. Ike stepped away, searching for Sheik in the mass of bodies but her masked face never came to view. Determined to find her, he took off in the direction she had run off too, cutting down those who got in way.

(Sheik)

She watched as another man fell, his hands instinctively wrapping around his throat. She looked up, expecting another man to take his place, instead she saw a man screaming, his whole body aflame. Through his screams she caught only a single word: demon. Armageddon came running past the flaming man, flames blasting from his open maw as he had his sights on another fleeing soldier. She froze. Looking back at the man now, he was still screaming only he was withering on the ground. She remembered seeing charred bodies wearing Hyrulean armor, their faces contorted with the ugly face of pain and fear. A sudden sharp pain dragged her from her memories, the pain extending from one shoulder blade to the other. Turning, she saw a soldier running, looking back at her with a smirk.

Blood ran down her back, the flowing quickening as she watched the man, too much in a daze to make any movement. He came to a stop far ahead of her, he open his mouth to shout something only for his voice to be drowned out by the sound of a vicious snarl. Armageddon sprinted towards the man, flames dancing from the sides of his mouth. He pounced on the man, shooting out a jet of flames on the man's face. He screamed until he could no longer make a sound, and then withered in pain as the other man had. His body twisting and untwisting until it moved no more. When no man stood to challenge him, Armageddon trotted towards Sheik, his tongue lolling out to the side. He was once again the silly, goofy dog she was used to. She glanced past him to the charred bodies, her eyes unable to escape the sight. She felt a hand on her shoulder, making her jump.

"Wow, it's just me."

It was Ike, one of the few people she put trust in, even then it was a small amount but more than she did in most. She knew he could probably feel her shaking under his hand. Armageddon sat on the ground, looking up at her with big brown eyes. Only moments before, in his rage, they had been black. He sniffed her leg and whined, he knew there was something wrong.

(Ike)

He glanced at her back again, the blood soaking through her clothes.

"Sheik, I think we should get to Rhys, your back is… worse for wear."

She didn't respond.

"C'mon, Shinon is probably worried sick about you."

Silence.

Ike sighed. If that was the way she going to play it…

(Sheik)

She felt his hand shift to the middle of her back and slide so his forearm was against her. Then his other arm was under legs. He was carrying her.

"Ike! What the hell are you doing?!"

"You wouldn't move, so I moved you. You're shoulders are bleeding more than you would think," he answered nonchalantly.

She tried to wiggle out of his grip only to feel the cut burn.

"I can walk just fine Ike, he cut my back, not my tendons."

"Well, lucky you."

"You're not going to carry me all the way there."

"We'll see about that."

She let out a huff. Well, wasn't this just great? Shinon wasn't going to flip shit, nope. Not at all. Since Ike wasn't going to give up, she was going to make him wish he did.

(Ike)

They were almost to the infirmary, the Hyruleans had retreated thanks to Armageddon and it was about the twentieth time Sheik had blown in his ear. He looked down at Sheik, who just waved at him.

"How long are you going to keep doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"That."

"What?"

"That."

"What?!"

"You're a real fighter aren't you?"

"What?! Just say it Ike!"

He looked down at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine."

There was a moment of silence before they both started laughing.

"Alright, alright, I'll put you down."

"Oh, gee thanks."

"Look how convenient it is? You only have to walk three more steps to it."

She gave him a long look. He smiled at her. She rolled her eyes. He laughed. Rhys came out and looked at them, looking each of them over.

"Are you two done flirting or is someone hurt?"

"Rhys, we're not like that-"

"That's what they all say. Sheik, are you hurt?"

"It's just a scratch."

"I asked if you were hurt, not what it was."

"Yes, I am hurt."

"Okay, come here then. Ike, go find your father, he might need your help."

He nodded and looked one last time at Sheik, before dipping his head and walking back to where he had last glimpsed his father. Armageddon trotted happily behind him, watching his master closely. When he got to the battle worn scene he found Titania helping the others put together a pile of the deceased enemy.

"Hey, Titania, have you seen-"

"Greil? Yeah, he went to the mess hall muttering something about pie. I'm not totally sure I heard him right. You're dog, Armageddon, he's a great help in battle. Keep him around," she said as she tossed another body to the side.

"Great, thanks, I plan on it. I was also wondering if we lost anyone."

"Not that I can see. Unless Rhys losses someone, which doesn't seem likely."

Ike nodded and walked towards the mess hall, knowing Titania had indeed heard him right. Mist was a better cook than she had been a few years back, especially her pies. They were better than Oscar's. Mist didn't cook that often though but when she did she always made a cherry pie for Greil, it was like an unspoken agreement. Something told him Greil had been finishing it off before everyone was up and ready but the battle had interrupted him. It was a poor idea to try and get between a man and his pie.

"Goddamn it!"

Ike took a deep breath before opening the door and confronting his father. He watched as Greil passed back and forth beside one of the tables, his yellow cape flowing behind him.

"Father?"

"Can you believe this bullshit?! The f*ckers came in and took the whole tin! Why in hell would they-"

"Or you're looking at the wrong table?"

"Ike, I know which table I was sitting at."

"I also know what a half eaten cherry pie looks like."

Greil turned to look at the table to his right, the one Ike was pointing to.

"Oh," was all he said.

Ike nodded, "Rhys said I should check on you to see if you were all right, or if you needed anything, I can see he was right."

"You say that like I would have run after the bastards for eating my pie," he said as he sat down and picked up his fork.

"Or been in a mood until Mist made you another, then held a grudge against them," Ike said as he sat across from him.

"One or the other," he said through a mouthful of pie.

Ike smiled and chuckled, though he knew what was said was true it was still funny his father could be a great man, known for more than many would guess, and still have a strange knack for pie. Everyone had their own quirks though. He sighed and rubbed his neck, feeling Armageddon curl up on his feet.

"You feeling alright Ike?"

"Yeah, just a little wiped out," he didn't meet his father's eyes.

"Ike-"

"Don't worry about me. You have a whole camp to take care of, these recent battles couldn't have been easy to manage either."

"Don't try and change the subject. Just because I have to look out for those who choose to join, it does not excuse the fact that you are my son. Maybe I haven't been the most attentive father but I damn well won't let my son fall apart in front of me."

"Again."

"What?"

"You mean you won't watch your son fall apart again."

There was a long silence.

"Ike, I wanted to help, I tried to help. Everyone did, but you wouldn't accept our help. No, you didn't want our help."

"That's not-"

"Then what was it? Do you know how that made me feel as a parent? As a father? To know your son was being eaten up on the inside and not being able to do a thing because he won't talk to you?"

Ike could feel Greil's eyes burning into him, the sound in his voice stabbing into his heart. Was this same feeling he felt when Ike hadn't wanted to be around anyone? Not even his father? Not even his sister?

"I didn't know you had felt that way."

"No, you didn't, because you never wanted to talk. I tried, but you wouldn't give anyone the time of day."

"I'm sorry."

"No Ike, no. I'm sorry."

Greil stood, put a hand on his shoulder, and walked away.

(Sheik)

"Really, Rhys, it's nothing," she persisted.

"Calm down Sheik, I'm just going to patch this up."

"I don't need any of your magic fix-it-up procedures."

"Fine, fine, you win. I'll just bandage it."

"No."

"Clean it out?"

"….Fine."

Rhys smile at her, "You're actually letting me help you? Well, this is the first."

"Hurry, I might change my mind."

He chuckled and grabbed a bucket of water and a cloth. She winced a bit as the cool cloth came into contact with her skin.

"So, why is it that I see Ike here so much?" She asked.

"What? Besides the fact that he's a hard headed young man that will do anything for anyone?"

"Yeah, besides that."

"Well, for some odd reason he comes to me for advice," he said.

"Oh please, don't be modest Rhys. Everyone comes to for advice, even Greil," Shinon said from across the room.

"Thanks to that I could spread more gossip than a teenage girl out for revenge. If I wanted to that is," he muttered.

"He needs a lot of advice then," Sheik muttered back.

"Well, he's been kind of lost these past couple months. You've done more for him by being here than I have after years of hour long conversations with that man."

Sheik didn't say anything, she just let him finish cleaning out the wound, then thanked him and asked for some bandages to use.

"Take care of him just as he takes care of you," Rhys whispered to her as he handed the bandages over. She gave an absent minded nod and walked over to the door.

"Yeah Sheik, he needs a good girl in his life."

She ignored Midna's comment. Midna sat next to Shinon, watching over him since she heard he was hurt. Shinon grunted and shook his head at her words. He still wasn't fond of Ike. Sheik exited and made her way to her cabin. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone at the moment, not even Oscar. She got into her cabin, closed the door, removed her shirt and began to dress her wound.

What was Rhys talking about? Sure Ike had gotten her out some tough situations since she'd been here but he was no knight in shining armor, nor would he ever be. She didn't plan on anyone being her white knight. She had had enough of knights since Zelgius had shown up. Why should she, or would she, ever take care of Ike? She wasn't obligated to it. What had Ike been telling Rhys? She grunted and put her shirt back on. It didn't matter if it was barely morning, unless they planned to attack again, she wasn't coming out of her cabin.

(Ike)

"Oscar, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah, Ike, what's up?"

"Have you seen Mist anywhere?"

"She went to go chew out Boyd for picking on Rolf. Why?"

"I need to speak with her."

Oscar nodded and smiled at him, "Go find her, she'd love to talk to you."

Ike sighed, "I hope."

Ike nodded his thanks and headed towards Boyd's cabin, hearing Mist's voice as he neared the cabin.

"I don't know why you have to be such a jackass sometimes! He's still just a kid and all you can do is nag him about not being a frontiersman?! You have some nerve, or just a hell of a lot of ego," she spat.

"Wow, wow, Mist, calm down. It was just some brotherly teasing. Might I add you look really nice in that skirt…" Boyd's voice trailed off.

Ike leaned in the door way and glared at Boyd.

"What did you just say to my sister?"

"Oh damn, not you too."

"Ike?" Mist turned to look at her brother, her eyes wide.

"Unless I've had some sort of recent name change, yes, I am Ike. Now, what was it you said about my sister, Boyd?"

"Oh please, we're both adults here. Your sister has been flirting with me for months."

"What?! Are you stupid?!" She screeched.

"No, he's not your average stupid. He's a special kind of stupid. Boyd, don't flirt with my sister again, not unless you want to end up like Kieran did. C'mon Mist, I need to talk to you."

Ike closed the door behind them and started to head towards the woods. Mist started humming next to him.

"Is that one of the songs Father taught you?"

"Yeah, he said it was the last one he could he remember, he only taught to me a few weeks ago. When the battles started to become more frequent."

"What's it called?"

"'Brother, Tell Me of the Battle'."

"I see why now seemed like a good time for a song like that."

"Let's not talk about it. Why'd you want to talk?"

"Father and I spoke after the battle, it went a little sour but he told me some stuff I don't think anyone else had the guts to tell me. Mist, after The Massacre, remember how everyone tried to keep from falling into depression?"

"And you did anyway."

"Yeah. How did that make you feel? Me falling into depression after everything you had done?"

"It wasn't just what I had done. It was that everyone had tried to save you, tried to save you from yourself. Even Shinon was upset, he drank after he talked to you. It was the feeling that we had failed you that hurt the most. I felt that whatever I could offer you as a sister, wasn't good enough. It didn't seem to matter what I said or did, you never came back to us, to me. Some nights it seemed like Father would break out into tears just talking about you, it hurt him to know you were there but you weren't all at the same time. After some time passed and you picked yourself up a little, he just got angry. To this day I don't know if he was angry with you, or himself.

"Though, since you've started hanging out with that Sheik girl, I've noticed you seem happier, the dark circles are almost gone. I'm glad that you're slowly coming back to us again, so is Father. I just can't believe it took you five years, but better than never."

"Thanks, Mist."

"For what?"

"Being honest."

"There's something else. Father's mood went kind of sour. It was progressive, he just kind of plummeted."

"When?"

"The day you brought Armageddon from the forest. He won't tell me why though."

"You confronted him about it?"

"We come from a blunt family, Ike, I thought I might join in," She said sarcastically.

"You are the cryptic one of the family. Maybe you're adopted."

"A prime example."

"I try."

She rolled her eyes. Then looked at him, making them pause their walk.

"What's wrong, Mist?"

"Were you serious about kicking Boyd's ass if he flirted with me again?"

"Dead serious. Why? You don't like him, do you?"

"Hell no! I was just thinking about when I really found the one… you have to flirt to get their attention but I don't want you beating up every guy that comes in a three foot radius of me."

"Three feet is too close, how about five and we have a deal?"

"Ike!"

He laughed, "I'm only kidding. I won't, just the ones I know are no good for you, like Boyd and Kieran."

"Alright. I see your point."

She started walking, signaling they could continue.

(Sheik)

She could hear the rain making a gentle yet rapid beat on her roof. Greil had come by and told her more recruits were pouring in each day and she may have to bunk with someone. He seemed a little distracted though, not that it mattered, it was just a simple observation. She had observed more than that though. She was closing the door when she had noticed a shadow. The owner hadn't been trying to hide himself; he wanted her to see it. She wasn't surprised of his appearance; it just bothered her he had waited so long. What was he planning this time? Her blood still ran cold, colder than the rain. This was a perfect time for him to strike. He had his two targets in his sight. They weren't oceans apart like they were supposed to be. They were miles apart now.

It wasn't just the shadow that had spooked her and his delayed timing. It was what he had said that made her run to the deepest parts of her mind. Eight simple words spoken from one man:

"I know you fear the fire, little girl."

She always knew she couldn't stay in one place too long, she had been trying to Shinon, trying to tell Ike, but they wouldn't listen. Now they would have to pay the price for her mistake. There was another beat added to the rain; someone knocked on the door. She looked at the door for a while, unsure whether or not she should answer it. She wasn't in the mood to speak to anyone, they would be greeted by silence anyway.

She opened the door and was greeted by a wet Zelgius. He smiled at her apologetically.

"Hey, Sheik, I thought I might tell you I'm leaving."

"What?"

"I can't stay. I've… I've made too many enemies, I can't have them coming and attacking camp. I also needed to get something off my chest."

She sighed and opened the door wider. He walked it and nodded his thanks.

"What is it?" She asked.

"The whole time I was gone I couldn't stay focused on the mission. I kept thinking of you. Before you say anything I already know. I wouldn't want to you to be with me either. I mean I do but I know you deserve better than me. I like you, a lot, but I respect you too much to ever let you be with a guy like me."

"Zelgius… You're right but what makes you think I deserve better? You're a good guy and some girl will be lucky to have you, just not me. I hope you find everything you're looking for out there, just stay safe. Okay?"

"Okay. Good bye Sheik, try not to get carted off by some grease bag, okay?"

"I'll try. Maybe we'll see each other someday? Have a game of rock paper scissors?"

He smirked, "Yeah, someday."

Then he let himself out.

He never answered her question though. What made him think she deserved better?

(Ike)

Maybe a walk wasn't such a great idea, at least Mist didn't think so. She'd groaned as the first drops landed on her head. He promised to meet her back at camp, but he wanted to enjoy. She'd called him crazy then ran off. Surprisingly, Armageddon was still at his side, clearly not enjoying the rain but still with him. He chuckled.

"Boy, why don't you go find Sheik?"

He whined in response.

"It's alright. I'll meet you there."

He barked and ran towards camp, looking back at Ike one last time.

"One hell of a dog."

Ike turned to see Zelgius mounted on a black horse.

"Zelgius? What are you doing?"

"Came looking for you. I wasn't going to leave without saying good bye to you."

"You're leaving?"

"Don't get the wrong idea. I can't stay here any longer. All those nightmares I had, the memories of the Black Knight, I didn't know how many enemies I had made. A lot of them know my real identity. I don't want to endanger the camp, not with those kinds of people chasing after me. I'm sorry, Ike. I really am."

"There's nothing you could have done to make up for your actions. I'm sorry too Zelgius, I'm sorry you'll never be able to live a normal life."

"Take care of yourself, maybe Sheik while you're at it."

"Sheik?"

"I- well, the Black Knight, already tried to whisk her away, make sure no else tries."

"That's why she has Shinon."

"The more the merrier. I should go. Bye Ike, watch yourself out there."

"You too."

Then he galloped away. Ike shook his head. He knew Zelgius wouldn't have stayed. He was never meant to stay in one place to long. He wasn't a bad guy, he was just always looking for the next best thing, though sometimes he looked in the wrong place.

(Sheik)

Rain, knocking, and now, scratching. What was next? Pecking? She opened the door and was tackled by a large hellhound. Just the usual now. She guessed Ike had sent him, otherwise he never left his side. With her face efficiently covered in saliva, she closed the door and sat on the bed. Armageddon curling up on her legs, she sighed and petted his head. She loved the mutt, she just wished it didn't mean the death of someone she thought of as a friend.

"It's not your fault," she murmured to him.

He opened one eye and looked at her, he whined.

"Shhh. There must be another way. I know there hast to be. I've known Death longer than most, I know he's escapable. No deal is without holes."

He wagged his tail and closed his eye again, snuggling closer to her. No, she wouldn't let Ike die.

Brother, Tell Me of the Battle

Brother, tell me of the battle,

How the soldiers fought and fell;

Tell me of the weary marches,

She who loves will listen well.

Brother, draw thee close beside me,

Lay your head upon my breast,

While you're telling of the battle,

Let your fevered forehead rest.

Brother, tell me of the battle,

For they said your life was over;

They all told me you had fallen,

That I'd never see you more.

Oh, I've been so sad and lonely,

Filled with my breast has been with pain,

Since they said my dearest brother I should never see again.

Brother, tell me of the battle,

I can bear to hear it now;

Lay your head upon my bosom,

Let me soothe your fevered brow.

Tell me, are badly wounded?

Did we win the deadly fight?

Did the victory crown our banner?

Did you put the foe to flight?