You're very good at doing serious, or at least mostly serious, things too. I enjoyed it a lot, and I think the descriptions 'n stuff were very good. It made me feel like Aran on the battlefield...as corny as that sounds...
If your Ike isn't screwed, you have elixirs and Mist is raised to a considerable level then...you shouldn't be having any problems, unless you somehow used up every healing staff. You can just heal Ike over and over until he activates Aether.