Hey all again. Chapter two is out. I'm surprised I was able to get this done this soon. I suppose when the muse comes it comes full force.

Once again, I don't own any Fire Emblem characters or rights to it. The only original character in this Chapter will be Ikyna.

Rating and Reviewing is always appreciated as always.

-Punjabigrownbg

Chapter 2

The once peaceful early morning was suddenly filled with the clanks and pounding of wooden swords. The young teenage boy clashed with no success against the older, and clearly more experienced man. His youthful face was dripping with sweat and his blue hair stuck to his moist forehead.

Ike was having a hard time believing that he was working so hard but his father barely seemed to putting in any effort.

Not far off on a dead tree stump the girl the same age as Ike sat with wrapped attention at the practice battle before her. It was more than obvious that Ike was at a great disadvantage, but she couldn't help rooting for him anyway. On the other hand, it didn't seem right to root against her father.

Ikyna crossed her arms and scrunched her face as she pondered the conflict she faced. "Big brother or dad?" she whispered to herself.

A short yelp pulled her from her daydream. Ike had fallen flat on his back somehow. She noticed her dad standing above him with his sparring sword slung over his shoulder and a small smile dancing on his lips. "Well Ike, have you had enough yet?"

Ike only grunted in return and charged back at his amused father. "Yah."

Thwack! Thwack! The thin pieces of wood pounded against each other repeatedly. Ikyna leaned forward on the stump as the final outcome of the fight was becoming more obvious.

The cerulean haired youth grunted with each swing but was making no headway against his battle savvy dad. "Its no use it seems." Ikyna said with a sigh.

"Ike! Ike!"

Ikyna turned her attention to the recognized voice coming down the forest path. She saw her younger sister's small body running towards them and happily waving as she called towards Ike.

Greil's once serious face softened at the arrival of his youngest. "Ah, Mist. There you are." He turned his attention towards her with a smile. Ike saw the opportunity, "Yah!" he cried as he gave a desperate charge.

It proved futile as the older man easily evaded the blow and landed a harsh strike on his son's back.

Ikyna winced at the pounding sound the wooden sword made against her twin. He slid on his stomach a few feet and passed out with a pained grunt.

"Oh no Ike!" Mist gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. "Are you okay? She said and ran to his side.

Ikyna stood up and shook her head, "I suppose it can't be helped." She walked over to her father with both hands on the back of her head, "Holding back isn't apparently one of your strong points huh pops?"

Greil moved towards his daughter, his gold colored cape swayed with each step. "What would he learn from that?"

She merely responded with a shake of her head and a grin, "Nothing I suppose."

Her broad shouldered father finally made his way all the way to her with one hand on his hip and the other still holding the sword. "Just admit it."

"Admit what?" she innocently responded while looking at her father's short light brown hair and sharp nose and chin.

"Were you rooting for your brother?""

Ikyna chuckled nervously, "Of course not, what girl would ever not take her father's side?"

Greil let out a deep laugh and placed his free head on top of his child's head to ruffle her wavy teal hair. "Hey!" she complained while reaching for his arm to stop him.

He laughed again as his daughter's face scowled at him and her aqua eyes squinted in a false anger. It amazed and almost haunted him when he realized how much she looked like his beloved Elena. A dull pain pinched in his chest as the memories came back. Greil began to slowly stroke his Ikyna's forehead with his thumb absently and entertain the thoughts of his lost wife.

"Pops?" Ikyna questioned softly.

The older mercenary shook his head slightly to regain his focus. "No it's nothing Sprouts." He said, referring to her by the family nickname. She tilted her head, not fully sure what had happened.

Greil cleared his throat and tried to change the subject, "It's good that you support your brother, he'll need a companion like you for when the time comes."

"What time?" Ikyna was feeling more confused by the discussion. She noticed her father was staring off past her. He must have been deep in thought she concluded.

"No it's nothing." He responded with a soft smile.

Big blue eyes watched his face intently for her father to continue, but apparently that part of the discussion was over. "Well," she began as she tried to fill the silence that was slowly creeping over them again, "the truth is father, I was actually hoping for a tie."

A sweet smile spread from each corner of her face. "I don't really like having to take sides."

Greil lifted his hands off her head, "Well life isn't always that easy, sometimes you have to pick sides."

Ikyna frowned, not liking her father's reality blast, "Please father leave me in my fantasy world where there is always a middle ground. I don't think I'd like to break up the family just yet."

"Fair enough." He agreed.

"Oh Ike, your finally awake. It's about time."

Both the father and daughter turned around to Mist. She was knealing next to Ike tending to him.

"So, shall we go check on your brother that you…weren't rooting for." He grinned and placed an arm around her shoulder.

"Indeed." She replied back with an equally broad smile.

There you go. From this point on I'll be jumping between the Greil mercenaries and Phoenicis.

I'll try to keep the transitions as smooth as possible.

-Punjabigrownbg