Prologue - Mercenaries

A crack went up as the swords connected once more, breaking the silence every few moments. Two men steadily parried each other, the older man obviously the better as he began to gain ground. Despite the vigorous exercise, the older man wasn't even breathing hard as he skillfully fought back.

The younger man, on the other hand, was putting his whole effort into it, his breaths becoming laborious. Try as he might, his backward motion sped up as a sword swipe knocked him back onto the ground. Though he dropped his sword, it only fell next to him within easy reach.

The older man grinned good-naturedly as he pointed the sword at the prone figure. "Had enough Ike?"

The young man, Ike, took a moment to get his breath before pushing himself up into a quick slash. The older man easily parried the blow, giving a deep chortle at the boy's persistence. Even as Ike's arms wearied from using the heavy wooden sword, he managed to continue. Today was the day, he had vowed. He would get a hit on the other man no matter what.

He was starting to let himself get tapped by the older man's sword again, when they were both interrupted by a shout. "Dad! Ike!"

They both stopped to look up the path. A young girl was running toward them, her light brown hair sweeping around her shoulders and her customary blue ribbon flapping around her neck.

"Oh, it's Mist," the older man stated, smiling as she approached them. Mist was Ike's only sibling, younger than him by a few years.

The older man, his father, was watching his sister and had stopped paying attention to him for a moment. This was it; this was the moment. Ike knew it was slightly dirty, but they had been acting as if it was a real fight, and his father had told him to never turn his back on an enemy.

Launching forward at the man's back, Ike gave out a battle cry, expecting to hit him square on. By the time the man smoothly slid out of the wooden sword's path, he realized his error at over committing. Unable to turn or correct, he could only berate himself as the man's sword slapped soundly on his back.

A lance of agony shot up his spine as he continued to sail through the air toward the ground. The pain was quickly swallowed up by blackness as he passed out. Mist's voice echoed in his ears as if from a deep tunnel.

"Ike? Ike!"

Ike struggled to open his eyes. He was in a small room, light shining in through an open window. Sitting next to his bed was a kindly looking woman with violet hair. Seeing him awake, she smiled at him and placed her hand on his forehead.

Mother? Ike thought, confused.

But even as he realized that, the image began to fade. His mother began to sing a soft song she had used to sing all the time. However, the more he became aware, the quicker it faded until he blinked and found himself staring at the clear blue sky.

A dream, Ike realized, saddened.

However, he could still hear the song, or at least the melody of it. Confused, he glanced around and saw Mist nearby in the clearing picking flowers. She was humming the old song to herself as she searched through the wild flowers.

"Mist…that song…" Ike murmured.

Mist gasped and looked up. "Ike, you're awake!" Then she smiled, and Ike gulped at how closely she resembled his recent dream of his mother, despite their different hair color. "Are you alright?" she asked, coming over to him.

Taking the offered hand, he got up quickly, though he bit his tongue to stop a groan. His back would probably be bruised for a few days. Though blunt and wooden, the practice swords could still pack a punch.

"…Yeah, I'll be fine," Ike answered. If he expected to be a mercenary, he would have to deal with more than a few bruises.

"So, the sleeping prince awakens!" Ike looked up to see his father, Greil, step away from a tree and come over.

"Father, I can't believe you would do this! I know these are practice swords, but they can still injure someone badly! You have no right to be so rough on Ike!" Mist said, stepping up to defend Ike.

Greil simply frowned and shook his head. "If this is too much for the boy, he'll never make it as a mercenary.

"But-"

"You don't have to worry, Mist. I said I was fine, really," Ike injected, partly to save his own pride. He couldn't have his sister babying his fighting skills. "Besides, Dad's right," he added.

"That's it, you'd better be fine. Now grab your sword and get ready!" Greil replied.

Mist looked at them stunned. "What?! Don't tell me you're going to do it again! You're-"

Ike shook his head. "Just until I land a single blow. I'm not giving up until I can get one good hit in on Father," Ike answered firmly as he walked over to pick up his sword. He paused, though, before standing back up as pain went through his sore back. He might be fine, but he could do without the stretching for a bit.

Greil looked at him appraisingly for a moment, before smiling widely. "It looks like you got some strong resolve today, Ike. But it takes more than a strong will and stubbornness to…hm?"

Ike followed his father's stare to see the last person his wanted to see at the moment come running down the path. Well, maybe second-to-last, but still. The boy running up to him was none other than Boyd, his friend and rival for a while now. Boyd was his age and besides hair, they could pass off as brothers. While Ike had navy blue hair, Boyd had dark green, but both wore it in a short, messy style. Their similar styles was only another part of their rivalry.

"Aha! I knew I'd find you here!" Boyd shouted, huffing as he jogged up to them.

"Hey, Boyd. What brings you here?" Mist asked.

Boyd shook his head as he caught his breath, though it didn't take him but a moment. "Nothing special. But you said you were going to get the boss for lunch and you never came back. I was picked to come check up on you."

"Oh, sorry!" Mist apologized. "I got caught up with Ike and my father."

"It's nothing. Besides," Boyd replied as he glanced slyly at the swords Ike and Greil held, "I figured I'd get a good laugh watching Ike get worked over by the boss." Turning his attention to Ike, he continued. "You…look fine. What happened?"

Ike cringed, wondering if his pain was that obvious. "Nothing at all," he replied tersely. "I'm sorry to disappoint you."

Boyd held up his hands in mock apology, but Mist then spoke up. "You actually just missed it. He was out cold just a minute ago."

"Mist!"

Mist laughed and playfully dodged around behind their father.

Greil spoke up, interrupting their playful banter. "You came at just the right time, Boyd. You can be Ike's sparring partner."

"What? Me? And a sword?" Boyd questioned.

Greil nodded seriously. "I'm beginning to think it would be better if he sparred with someone closer to his own skill. It would be valuable experience."

Ike was silent for a moment, but he saw his father's reasoning. Besides, getting the best of Boyd would definitely make his day. "…I understand. Thanks for your help, Boyd."

Boyd looked from Greil to Ike and back, but gave in anyway. "Hmph! I don't know about this 'closer to his skill' business, but I'm ready!" he announced, taking the proffered wooden sword. He stepped away and swung it a few times, though he swings resembled an axe more than a sword. "Alright, I'm ready! Let's go!"

Mist and Greil stepped away under the shade of a tree to watch the fight. Ike moved to a few yards away from Boyd and got ready. He felt much better with the moment's rest from fighting his father, and he wasn't about to let Boyd show him up.

Starting off the match, Ike lunged forward and swung at Boyd, this time keeping himself from committing too much into it. As he predicted, Boyd stepped forward and whacked his sword away, but he didn't predict Boyd slamming into him with his body, almost throwing him onto his backside.

"You can do it, Ike! Boyd's got nothing! Take him out!" Mist called out from the sidelines, cheering her brother on.

Boyd scoffed, glancing over at their audience. "Nothing!? I don't have nothing. Er, I mean, I have…I mean…."

Ike couldn't help but grin as he rapped him lightly on the shoulder, instantly bringing Boyd back to attention. Boyd jumped back, ready to fight. Ike studied his stance intently; Boyd really was treating the sword as more of an axe, even in the way he held it. If that was true, Boyd would be relying more on power and speed, instead of skill and finesse. Once he came to that conclusion, Ike quickly came up with a plan.

Ike came forward and took a swipe at Boyd, careful to keep it wide and controlled. Boyd knocked it aside and took the opportunity, making a large overhead swing right at Ike's head. Ike quickly brought his blade up and caught the end of the stroke near his hilt. With a twist of the wrist, Ike forced Boyd's sword to slide to the side and brought his own weapon right into Boyd's ribs twice in rapid succession. Then, to add to it, he rotating himself to slam right into Boyd like Boyd had done to him earlier.

The result was a pleasing thump as Boyd landed sprawling onto the grass, his sword on the ground next to him. Boyd grimaced up at him as he held his aching side. "That…that wasn't too bad, I guess."

"You're such a sore loser, Boyd," Mist called out to him.

"Shut your trap!" Boyd snapped.

Greil stepped in to end it. "Good work, Boyd. That's enough." He picked up the sword as Boyd got up and dusted himself off. "Your swordsmanship was decent enough, Ike. Don't forget how it felt. It won't always be this easy."

Ike nodded. Boyd wasn't a swordsman, so it didn't tell much of Ike's skill. "I know," he replied.

Greil nodded backed, twirling the sword around to get a better grip. "Now that you're done warming up, it's time for you to face me again."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Ike replied, stepping back a few paces. His back hurt a little from the exertion with Boyd, but Ike thought he was starting to get used to it.

"Are you sure you can keep going?" Mist asked as the two got ready.

Ike nodded as he watched his father's stance. Unlike Boyd, his father was in a perfect position to defend from any direction, as well as to attack at any. He wouldn't be able to exploit inexperience here.

Ike hesitated for another moment when his father decided to speak up. "Come on, boy! You going to give me a challenge this time around?" he called. Ike didn't answer, but simply prepared himself, recognizing the taunt that usually got him too hot-headed.

Greil took the initiative and charged. Ike focused on making short, even blocks, giving a step back occasionally. Pain lanced up his back as he kept twisting, but he fought it off with a grimace and kept going. After Greil's initial attack wore off, they broke apart. Ike realized he had not taken a blow in their short engagement, but he knew if he didn't take the initiative this time, it wouldn't last long.

Deciding to attack head-on, Ike closed in with his father again, the wooden clanking filling the air once more. Putting his all into it, Ike silently listed off his forms as swung. Starting…high…side…hanging…. Then it was there. Ike's eyes caught the opening and without hesitating, he took it. Ike drove his sword up and across Greil's chest, sidestepping to avoid the predicted blow that thumped down beside him.

Both combatants stopped, Ike taking a moment to realize he had landed a blow.

"Ike! You were great!" Mist called, running up to them.

Ike paused however. Despite having land a hit, he didn't feel the exuberance he had expected. Something had felt…off. That opening…. "Father, you were holding back, weren't you?" Ike accused, crossing his arms.

Mist looked confused as she looked up at her father. "What? Is that true?"

Greil nodded slowly, a smile appearing on his face. "If you could tell the difference, that means you're improving, Ike. That was a good fight." Greil clapped his large hand down on Ike's shoulder.

"You know, I wasn't giving it my all either," Boyd said.

"That is such a lie," Mist said.

"No really. Just wait. If Ike and I were to really ever fight, I would come out on top, especially if I have my axe," Boyd retorted.

"Sure," Mist replied innocently as she rolled her eyes.

Ike turned from their banter to his father. "So, Father, does that mean you finally admit that I'm ready?"

"What? To join the company? To take on a job and become a mercenary?" Greil asked, though he knew that was what Ike meant.

"Yeah. I mean, Boyd's already out there on the battlefield," Ike pointed out. He had asked before, more than once, but this time he was insistent. If there was one thing he wanted more than anything, it was to be a mercenary. He had to be one, he told himself. "I'm ready. I'm tired of being a trainee."

Boyd shook his head at his reasoning. "Listen, the difference between you and me is that I'm a professional."

"A professional who just got beat," Mist pointed out playfully.

Boyd stuttered for a moment before replying, "That was just random chance! Random chance I tell you!" Mist simply laughed and ran back up the path shouting something else at Boyd as he chased her.

Ike waited beside his father as Greil thought about it for another moment. "You've got a point Ike…. Alright. Tomorrow will be your first day as a full-fledged mercenary, then."

"Really?" Ike asked, instantly regretting questioning his father's decision.

Greil only nodded, though. "But!" he interjected. "If I think it's too much, you're back to trainee status. You'd better work hard."

Ike nodded. "No problem. Just watch. I'll catch up to everyone in no time."

"We'll see," Greil replied turning to head up the path. "We'd better be heading back to the fort. Everyone's waiting. Besides," he added, a glint in his eyes, "Oscar's cooking dinner tonight, and we wouldn't want to miss that."

Ike grinned, his stomach already growling from the missed breakfast. Shouting thanks, he ran ahead to catching up to Mist and Boyd, who were still chasing each other all over the place. Ike's grin only grew wider as he took in the familiar scene. This was why he wanted to be a mercenary. Because their group was not just some hired hands, but they were all a big family. Now he would become one of them proper. Soon, he'd be fighting right alongside them, working to earn his keep at the base. Now, he was a true mercenary.

Author's Note: Hello all to my first story, at least on FanFiction. If you haven't figured it out, this is my novelization of Fire Emblem - Path of Radiance. I am doing a realistic, complete story line of the game, including supports, hidden information, etc. As such, there will be little that will differ from the game itself. Case in point, this prologue only differed with Boyd using a practice sword instead of axe (I always wondered why Boyd was just carrying around a practice axe in the actual game). This will be updated weekly on Thursdays promptly. Until next Thursday, R&R!