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I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING (besides the story)

Chapter 3: Departure Into the Forest

It was 4:15 am, and Prince Marth and Roy were in Eliwood's room, door slightly ajar, only a small flame lighting the room. "Now...are you two sure that he can help us?" Eliwood asked as the young prince bounced on the bed.

"I'm positive Master Eliwood. Aiku is a really strong swordsman, and a really good friend of mine and Roy's. He'd definitely be willing to help us." the young prince assured him as he looked at his son, who nodded I'm return.

"And when do you plan on being back. I can't keep telling your father that you keeping doing work in the village from dawn to dusk." Eliwood question as the young prince thought. I get to the cave where we were before would take about a day and a half, and that's not including finding an elf. Then to get him out would take, hopefully no less than half a day.

"About half a week. Is that okay Father?" the duke of Pherae replied as his father nodded and the three stood up.

"I don't think there's much more to discuss. I wish the two of you the best of luck!" Eliwood smiled as he hugged his son, then the young prince before opening a window on the ground level of the castle.

"Thank you Master Eliwood...and don't worry, I'll find someone who can help against Zephiel." the prince smiled as he slide off the window sill and waited for Roy to come down.

"Alright Father...I'll be back soon." he smiled as Eliwood nodded and watched his son slide down the window sill, closing the window behind them.

By the time the two royals had made it to the woods, it was about 10:00 am. "Roi-kun? Are you sure you know where we're going?" Marth finally asked as they both stopped and rested by a stream.

"Positive. We just need to get to the end of the forest, and then we'll be in the clearing." Roy sighed as he looked at Marth, who looked at him with questionable eyes. "What? Don't tell me that you're doubting me."

"What? No, I'm not. It's just that...Is it bad to be worried? I think I want to go back." the blue-haired prince whispered as Roy walked up to him.

"Why? Don't you want to get Ike back?" he asked.

"I do...It's just that...I'm scared. What if I get caught? Then what? There are just too many things that can go wrong." he sighed as he sat down, his back against a tree stump. Roy sighed, he knew what his friend was going through. His country was in an unwinnable war. "Listen Marth," he started as he sat down next to him.

"What is it?"

"Fear...is tough. It catches you when you don't want it to, and it stays. It doesn't go away. You have to be stronger than it." he smiled as he leaned his head against the stump. "What do you think Ike would say?"

"Same thing. And...you're right. I have to be stronger than fear. Fear should make you try harder, not cower away." the prince sighed as he stood. "Alright. We should get going. The faster we get there, the faster we can fix all this mess." Marth smiled as Roy nodded as they walked off.

It was the middle of the afternoon when the two royals had reached a clearing in the woods. They had both sat on two tree stumps by each other and rested. "So Marth...About when we get there,"

"Aiku already told me. I know how dangerous it is. But I'll be fine." he smiled shyly as Roy continued to look at him, doubt in his eyes as he thought about the worlds the mercenary told him, "...it was something that had the power to drain a person of his choice in a matter of minutes." He thought long and hard on the mercenary's words. He knew Marth had to be careful, and that he would have to protect him from this so-called thing.

"Roi-kun? Are you okay? Your just ignoring me now." the prince asked as his midnight blue eyebrows knitted together.

"What? I'm fine...It's nothing." he sighed as he gave Marth his full attention, dismissing Ike's statement until later.

"Alright. So, it's about the middle of the afternoon. I don't where the closest elven village is, so we might need an extra day." Marth sighed as Roy groaned.

"It's your father we're talking about."

"Well, yeah but...I promised Father to find someone who could help you guys since he wouldn't. We already have my small army, but with Ike fighting with us, it'll be super easy. Plus...he's been in there way too long when he was just trying to save me, and...I'll feel regretful if I just let him...rot there!" he continued, his voice gradually getting higher.

"Well, what do you want to do then?" the Young Lion asked as the blue-haired prince shrugged and slumped on the trunk.

"We need to save him, that's that! It's...how we do it that's making me uncertain though."

"What do you mean?"

"Elves aren't...the nicest creatures to live."

"Marusu...I think you have the elves wrong. It's what the human is like, you know...attitude wise. Don't think I didn't do my research before we set out to find one." he smiled as Marth laughed to himself.

"And just to be clear...we are not capturing it. We want to make it come out of its free will to help us."

"Right. Elves are ruthless, so we want to show that we're not hurting it," Roy started as he stood. "Now c'mon. We've been resting for too long."

It was dark by the time they had reached yet another thick portion of the forest. "Do you think we should rest here?" Roy asked as the young prince nodded and gathered some sticks from around the trees and placed them on the forest floor. "How are we to make the fire?"

"Easy. It's Blazing Sword time!" Roy smiled as the tip of his sword produced a small flame, but quickly dispersed when they heard the rustle of a nearby bush. "What was that?" Roy asked as he quickly turned away from the sticks on the ground, sword out and ready.

"I don't know, but be on guard." Marth growled as he unsheathed his sword and held it out in front of him and slowly approached the bush, Roy following close behind. He quickly moved the bush out of the way before stumbling back and gasping.

"Marusu! What is it?!" Roy asked as he quickly did the same, but continued to look. In front of them about five feet away was a huge purplish-brown animal that resembled a bear, hovered about a young male no older than Marth. "We have to help him!" Roy cried as he jumped from behind the bush and slashed at the bear before he had a chance to attack the unconscious boy.

"Roi-kun, wait!" the young prince cried as he ran behind him and stood next to him. "Make sure this...thing doesn't hurt me or him." Marth commanded as Roy nodded as the tip of his sword spiraled with flames. He slowly walked towards the bear, tip of his sword in front of him. "Alright. Don't want to get burned? Then back away and leave us alone." he coaxed as the bear stopped before compressing into dark mist before Roy's eyes. "Wh-What the...What was that? It just disappeared." he sighed aloud before turning back to Marth, who had the boy in his hands, a purple sword and a shield on the ground by his feet.

"That was fast. Can you grab that sword and shield? We're taking him back with us."

"Alright." Roy smiled as he grabbed the sword and shield after sheathing his own. What was that thing? I have a bad feeling about this. Zephiel may be after something else now...but I need to stay alert now. Anything could be lurking in the shadows, and I need to be prepared.

That concludes this chapter! I hope u guys enjoyed!

See u guys l8tr!