Disclaimer: I don't own anything mentioned here.

Past the Ocean

Prologue

"I know that," She argued hotly, "But what's past the ocean?"

Tomorrow, they would see the shores of Dread Isle, Lyndis thought as she sat quietly on the deck, her green hair flicking around her face in the wind. The others were below deck, most of them asleep. Smiling lightly, she stood and walked evenly to the bow, her dress flapping around her knees. Lyn leaned forward ever so slightly, just to see the water beneath the ship, and found herself falling towards the water.

"Ah-!" She let of a half-scream, flailing on one foot at the edge of the long pole, waving her arms as if trying to swim through mid-air.

A warm hand grabbed hers and pulled her back to the deck.

"Oof! Dangit, woman, you're heavy!" The gruff voice of Hector yelled as Lyn toppled onto him. Lyn yelped, her face turning a slight red as she jumped off the blue-haired man. He stood grumbling. "Isn't there a thanks in order?" Hector said crossly. Lyn glared, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I was perfectly fine," She said dryly, glaring at him. Hector scowled. "You just wanted to hold my hand, didn't you, pervert?"

"Ha! Don't hold your breath."

"Brute!"

"Madwoman!"

The lord and lady stood, upon the deck of the ship taking them to almost certain doom, and screamed at each other. This went on for a few minutes, before Hector broke off, scowling angrily at the Swordmadian before him.

"Fine, believe what you want."

Lyn smiled proudly and walked to the edge of the ship, leaning over the rail to look at the horizon, her eyes claming as she breathed the sea air. Hector stood for a moment, perplexed by how fast she could go from a madwoman to a maidenly lady-of-the-court, before taking a few tentative steps forward to stand next to her, his brows still knotted upon his forehead.

"I wonder what's out there..." She spoke as much to herself as him, "Beyond the horizon?"

"Dread Isle, I guess," Lyn jumped at bit at the sound of his voice, and he braced himself for her to begin yelling again. Instead she merely looked once again out to sea.

"I mean past that."

"Ocean again, I'd think." She scowled at him.

"And after that?"

"More ocean," Hector looked oddly at the girl beside him. She turned to face him, a fire burning in her eyes.

"I know that," She argued hotly, "But what's past the ocean?"

He opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out, and somewhere in a corner of his mind he found himself asking 'What is past the ocean?'.

"I don't suppose anyone knows," He found himself saying. Lyn didn't answer, merely looked across the great blue beyond. The two stood there for a moment, Lyn leaning on the rail to gaze at the water and Hector standing awkwardly, his great arms at his sides.

Lyn unclipped the Mani Katti from her belt, laying it on the deck beside her. In all her Sacrean quickness she stood upon the rail in a matter of seconds. She raised her hands above her head... And dove. She had perfect form, her back arched beautifully, green ponytail flying, coming up from beneath the waves after she hit the water. Laughing, Lyn waved to Hector. "Come on in!" She cried up to him, "The water's great!"

Hector stared down at his soaking wet acquaintance and shook his head vaguely. "You're insane!" He walked away from the side.

Lyn frowned, until Hector reappeared at the rail, climbing onto to it clumsily and diving gracelessly into the water below. Surfacing next to Lyn, the soggy man flashed a smile. "You're lucky I am, too."

She splashed him. He splashed her back. Laughing, the two found themselves engaged in a splashing match as the red sun rose quietly over the watery horizon.

"I think I'll go there someday."

Hector blinked. Lyn had stopped splashing, and was now trending water and gazing at the rising sun. She looked at him.

"Past the ocean, I mean."

He swam over to her and began to roughly trend water. "How?'

"In a boat, I guess."

Hector was silent for a moment, before saying, "I'd go with you, if you asked me."

Lyn didn't even turn. "...Okay then. Promise?"

Hector nodded. "Promise."

---------------------------------------------

Eliwood stood upon the deck, his cape flapping in the light breeze that rippled the water. He stared down at his two friends in the clear water, shaking his head disbelievingly.

"Lord Eliwood?"

He turned. One of Fargus' crewmen, Dart, stood behind him, looking oddly down at Lyn and Hector.

"Should we send a rope down for 'em?"

Eliwood shook his head. "Nah," He said, turning. He glanced over his shoulder at the two once more, "They could use the exercise."

-------------------------------------------------

A/N : I know, they're slightly out-of-character. The title is Latin. It means 'Go with me.' There will be more chapters. The parings will be Lyn x Hector, Eliwood x Ninian, Nino x Jaffar, Erk x Serra, Florina x Sain, Wil x Rebecca, Priscilla x Guy... And some others, if anyone can think of any for me.