All I have to say now is Sorry Rajaion!

Chapter 13: Sudden Farewells

Just out on the outskirts of Melior the camps of the Liberation Army waited in anticipation for the following morning. At dawn they will march either to their deaths or victory. No matter the outcome this long drawn out war will finally come to an end. Everyone hoped that the odds would be in their favor.

Tomorrow the sun will set on a blood-filled battlefield.

Or that had been the plan.

All the beorc and laguz had been prepping for the battle that was to come until a lone Deain messenger of peace marched on their door steps. This man bore a letter from the king himself. This one little piece of paper brought disaster with it, particularly to the higher ups.

"Look, this is obviously a trap," Titania argued.

"No doubt," Soren agreed. "But if they are even considering such a move then it must mean that they don't have the forces to counter us. We out number them."

"So you're suggesting we spring the trap," Raine inquired.

Soren nodded, "That's precisely it. If they think we'll honestly fall for it then it'll be to our advantage."

"I agree," Ike said. "Besides a one-on-one fight with the Mad King himself might work out for us especially if I can kill him before the rest of his army break this so-called truce."

"More than likely the Deain king will have similar armor as the Black Knight," Regal commented.

"But that's why Ike has that holy sword and we're ready to jump in with our artes to take out that mad king once in for all!" Lloyd exclaimed.

Raine didn't look convinced. "But there is still the problem that its Ashnard Ike will be facing alone. No offence Ike, but I doubt your strength will be enough to best the Mad-King of Deain."

Nobody said anything for a while. No one wanted to admit it but the Deain king was probably on a whole other level than any of them. The stories they heard about him on the battlefield was all too terrifying. Ashnard, with his great sword, flying down to cut his enemy in half.

Flying? Lloyd remembered all the stories the soldiers had told him. Asnard always fought on a wyvern! What would make this fight any different? "I've got an idea," Lloyd announced. Everyone turned their attention to him wondering what the red swordsmen could be thinking. "Ashnard fights on a mount, so if he's going to have a wyvern fight with him why shouldn't we have a second person fighting?"

"Even if he doesn't allow us two he would have to give up his mount," Soren said out loud. He pounded on Lloyd's suggestion. "If that's the case it could still work out. We just need to make sure we attack first before they do if things start to go wrong. But who are you suggesting be the second one?"

"Well I'll do it," Lloyd said eagerly.

"But Lloyd, only our artes work against that armor. You won't be able to fight like that the whole time," Presea told him.

"Maybe not," Kratos said. "The Eternal Sword is basically the power of Origin. Being the king of all summon spirits, it should be enough to pierce the blessed armor." He held up the two material blades. "These blades still hold Origin's power, it should be enough."

"I'm just surprised Lloyd was the one that came up with this idea," Genis teased.

/~/~/

The Liberation Army marched into the courtyard the next morning to see the Deain army lined against the castle. Standing in the center was Ashnard and behind him was the black wyvern he always rode. The Deain king looked a lot bigger then Lloyd imagined and he also understood why he was called "Mad-King", he truly looked insane.

Before Ike and Lloyd walked forward, Lloyd looked back at his friends.

"Good luck Lloyd!" Colette smiled at him.

"Kick his ass," Zelos cheered.

"So your Gawain's son, huh?" Ashnard eyed Ike. "You don't look like much. But at least you have enough gull to accept my challenge. But why do you bring another with you? I asked you to fight me one on one. "

"He is Lloyd Irving, he is to be my seconded if you interned to fight on your mount," Ike answered

The Mad-King looked back at his wyvern, and then laughed. "Very well. I suppose my pet will get two snacks rather than one. Let us see what the two of you are made of." He climbed onto the back of the beast and wyvern let out a blood thirsty roar before charging right to the two young swordsmen before either of them could draw their weapons.

Possibly because of the red its jaws tried to close its great fangs around Lloyd but he managed to roll out of the way in time. He could hear a few of his friends shout out to him but he ignored them as his primary goal was to stay alive for the next five seconds. The wyvern continued to claw its way toward him snapping at him each time he felt the creature's snout against his back.

He was about to wonder where Ike was until he heard metal on metal. Ike must have somehow managed to leap onto the mount and was now in a dual with Ashnard, he didn't dare look back to check. But it seems their opponents were set by unspoken agreement. Ike would fight the Mad-King while Lloyd distracted the wyvern.

Suddenly, Lloyd was lifted off his feet. He panicked when he realized that one of the wyvern's teeth got snagged on one of his suspenders. It swung its head violently to try and loosen Lloyd. Obviously the beast couldn't eat him the way he was now. Everything was a blur as he was thrashed around, he felt like he was going to be sick. Then there was a snap as Lloyd was sent hurtling to the ground.

A cry escaped his throat before crashing into the ground, knocking his breath out. It took some time for him to regain his bearings but when he did he finally drew his twin blades out ready for his opponent even though his ears were still ringing.

Lloyd finally got a good look at the situation. Ike was indeed on top of the mount battling with Ashnard; both of them must have excellent balance if they were still staying on after all the movement the wyvern has been doing. Their footwork was careful along the beast's spine. They also seemed to be evenly matched.

But right now Lloyd needed focus on his opponent who was staring down at him. Its head lunged at him, mouth wide open, but this time he was ready. He placed his feet firmly to the ground and brought both material blades up, cutting deep into the wyvern's gums.

Lloyd realized too late that what he had just done was a mistake because the wyvern reared both its head and body as it roared in pain. This caused Ike to stumble off the mount while Ashnard managed to grasp hold of the reins. Once the wyvern was on all fours again the Mad-King grinned as he was about to thrust his blade down that would surly end Ike's life.

But Lloyd wouldn't let that happen. He charged right for Ashnard. He jumped into the air, Exsphere glowing bight as he was about to attack. But he wasn't high enough; his attack would not hit the king.

Just then, for a split second, the wyvern looked at Lloyd and he saw intelligence in its eyes, not madness like its master's. It almost seemed human. Most surprising was that it dropped to its belly, allowing Lloyd's attack to hit Ashnard. "Beast!" He shouted as his attack knocked Ashnard right off his mount.

The only thing was that Lloyd fell on top the beast and his blue blade became embedded into its scaled skin causing the wyvern to cry out. It then jumped up into the air and began to fly. Lloyd didn't dare let go of either blades' hilts. But as the wyvern began doing air tricks to try and knock Lloyd off he gained the courage to climb up, especially since he could fell the blade was coming lose.

Somehow he managed to sheath his other blade and grab one of the creature's spikes. As the air and gravity was working hard to make him drop the ground far below his body brushed against the other spikes, cutting into his sides. But he only tightened his grip and focused on that instead of the pain. He quickly let go of the hilt and reached up for the saddle. Pulling himself up he made it to the saddle and held on for dear life to the reins. How the hell am I going to get down from here? He wondered as he looked down nervously. He had no clue as to how to fly this beast. It would be far too dangerous for Colette or his dad to fly up and save him and he wasn't sure if he could pull off the same trick he did when he germinated the Great Seed. What was he going to do?

At that moment Lloyd began to hear battle cries below. He took a closer look at the ground. Both of the armies were fighting! That bastard Ashnard must have signaled his troops to attack! Lloyd thought bitterly. Distantly he saw other wyvern riders battling it out with the Pegasus Knights. Though he couldn't see them, he could hear the howls of laguz. Though everyone was fighting it seems everyone was leaving a large circle for Ike and Ashnard to dual it out.

This was bad, if this kept up then that crazy, dark god thingy would be released! What was it Ashnard planned to accomplish by releasing it? He had to end this, and fast. But how?

Almost like the wyvern was answering his question, it dived down and began circling around the duelers. Not low enough though, if Lloyd was to jump off now he would probably break a leg if he was lucky. Ike wasn't doing much better than Lloyd. Half his face was bloodied and so was his right leg. It was then he got an idea. So he wedged his foot on the blade in the wyvern's stomach and kicked with all his might, he didn't dare lean over. One hit and the blade went tumbling to the ground. "Heads up Ike!" Lloyd yelled to the top of his lungs to be heard over the fighting.

Ike looked just in time to catch the blue blade and immediately began fighting like he had trained his whole life with two blades. He'd seen Ike practice with two swords and had even spared with him. Ike's attacks turned quick and fast as he swiped at the king. Both blades were cutting through the king's blessed armor to his dismay but he kept fighting.

Suddenly, Lloyd's body jerked upward as the wyvern flew up, high above the castle. Damn it! He needed to get down there and help, now! He looked around frantically for an answer. And it was right there in front of him.

It was going to be risky, no doubt. But he knew that he couldn't guide this thing down to the ground so if he couldn't do that maybe he could glide it down. Would this plan work?

By chance Lloyd looked up and really began to doubt his plan. Looking at him was the wyvern, again with those human eyes. That's when the sick recognition hit him. This thing…it's a laguz! But there wasn't an Exsphere on it, so what happened to it? He couldn't go with his plan knowing it would take this poor victim's life.

Suddenly its muzzle moved and Lloyd could have sworn it was talking. "Please," it begged in a weak voice. "Kill me."

He felt his throat tighten; taking an innocent life was something he couldn't do. But as he thought about the life this poor soul had to endure because of whatever the bastard king did and made him do, maybe death would be a blessing. There was no guarantee it could return to the life it had before. But that wouldn't stop Lloyd from trying.

After all this is over he'll get the professor to see if she can do the same thing she did with the governor-general's wife.

Wrapping his leg around the reins, Lloyd steadied himself as he drew his sword. He lifted his sword above his head as he aimed at its left wing. "I'm sorry," he told the wyvern. "But I am going to set you free." Then with all his strength he plunged the blade down into the creature's left wing.

This caused the creature to jerk around do to the pain it must have been in, but it could no longer move its wing. They began to fall much quicker than Lloyd had anticipated regardless of how much the other wing was flapping.

Lloyd's sword seemed to tearing though the wing like it was paper so he had one hand one the hilt and the other clinging to the saddle. Though the ground was coming quickly Lloyd was able to tell that they were going to land right on top of Ike and Ashnard. Uh-oh!

He braced himself for the crash but it wasn't enough. Once they hit the ground Lloyd was thrown off, landing on his right arm. There was a horrible snap as pain vibrated though his whole body. Lloyd rolled to his side and gently touched his forearm. It was broken, he could fell some of his bones were out of place.

But there was still a battle going on. He hoped he landed on the king but he high doubted it, it would be far too easy for it to end like this.

As he stood up he winced as his arm fell painfully to his side. Next to him he heard the wyvern growl weakly, its whole body must have shattered on impact. Since its head was on the other side Lloyd took the chance and patted the creature's stomach. "Thank you," he told it though he doubted it understood him anymore.

"Lloyd!" He heard Ike shout. Looking behind him he saw Ike slightly limping toward him. "That was some stunt you pulled, I honestly didn't think you'd survive that fall," he said as he handed Lloyd his sword back.

"Well that makes two of us."

"At least you took down one; now all that's left is Ashnard and this war will be over."

Looking back at the broken creature Lloyd said, "We need to save this thing."

"Did you hit your head when you fell?" Ike asked looking worried.

Probably. "Listen, I think this was a laguz once."

Ike looked like Lloyd did when he realized it. "Does it have an Exsphere?"

"No, but the king must have done something to warp this poor guy."

"Right you are," Ashnard's voice said as a large shadow covered them. Standing on top the dying creature was the Mad-King, all the blood, which Lloyd assumed to be his and not Ike's, seemed to suit him. "This pathetic excuse for a mount was once one of the dragon tribe. I figured he'd make a fine beast to serve my deeds for total war. In the end he was just as useless as all my others generals."

Lloyd pointed his sword at him. "You sick bastard!"

"Come down here and let's finish this once and for all king of Deain!" Ike demanded.

A laugh escaped Ashnard's throat, like they had just said something funny. "I think I'll wait a moment on that. It won't be long now until the dark god is awakens, that is something I will not miss."

"Like hell!" Lloyd shouted.

Suddenly the wyvern stirred and lifted its uninjured wing, knocking the king right to the ground. He quickly recovered and held his sword at the ready.

The three of them circled around one another as they got some space between them and the warped laguz. It was Ike who attacked first with a strong attack but the king easily deflected it. Lloyd went next; he certainly wasn't use to fighting with one sword let alone with one hand. But his attacked missed, Ashnard had swerved out of the way and Lloyd almost lost his balance.

No matter how many times to two of them hit the Mad-King it didn't seem to bother him regardless of all the injuries he received. "My, it has been far too long since I had such worthy opponents," Ashnard laughed as he knocked Lloyd to the ground.

Then just when Ashnard was about to strike at Lloyd saw a familiar fireball spell hit the king square in the chest. Lloyd didn't need to look to know that it was Genis who gave them this opening.

"Ike! Now's are chance!" Lloyd yelled as dashed for Ashnard.

Before Ashnard could get a grasp of the situation, both Ike and Lloyd had stabbed him in the chest. His eyes were wide as blood was running down his mouth. "This…this can't be happening. I…I was so…close…"

The Mad-King's corpse began to slump, Ike kicked it away from there blades and shouted for all to hear. "Soldiers of Deain, your king is dead! Deain has lost this war!"

It took only a moment for the word to spread to everyone and to realize his words. Many cried out, "How could this be?" But all of them surrendered their weapons. Those on the winning side began cheering.

It was finally over. The king was dead, the dark god wasn't released, and this year long war was finally over. They have won.

All of his friends came rushing toward them. In the lead was Colette who came running toward him and hugged Lloyd so hard that it was causing him more pain in his broken arm. "Lloyd! I was so worried but you and Ike did it!" But she let go of him when she saw him wincing. "I'm sorry, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he reassured her as he cradled his arm. "I should probably have the professor take a look at this, huh?" He looked to his half-elven friend and couldn't help but grin. "Thanks Genis. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't helped when you did."

"It only seemed fair since the whole time Ashnard had archers and mages attacking the two of you from a far," he explained.

"Those little bastards got annoying real quick," Zelos complained. "We ran all over the place killing them, but everyone we cut down three more popped up in their place."

"But it's all over now," Ike told them. "I don't know how I could ever begin to thank all of you. Every one of you has done so much for this army. All I can do right now is say thank you."

"I'm sure you would have done the same thing if it were the other way around," Lloyd said.

Suddenly, Ena appeared out of nowhere and ran straight for the wyvern and wrapped her arms around its neck.

"Ena, wait. That thing might still be dangerous!" Ike shouted after her.

"We should go ahead and put that thing out of its misery," Regal suggested.

"No, we can't! That thing is a laguz," Lloyd explained.

"A laguz you say," Reyson repeated. He and Leanne began speaking in the ancient language for a short while and then looked to Ike. "Will you allow us to try something; I believe Leanne and I can return this soul to its original form."

Ike nodded, "Go ahead."

The heron siblings stepped closer and began to sing the same thing when they restored their forest.

Their beautiful notes filled the courtyard, soothing everyone to silence. But something was wrong with Lloyd's material blade, it was glowing. He could also see the other blade that had land a distance away also glowing. Then a bright light flooded his eyes, it was his Exsphere. And not just him but everyone else's stones were doing the same thing.

Soon the white light was all Lloyd saw before he blacked out.