The airship had just taken off from the ground in Rabanastre where it was kept in the aerodome at the westgate. Penelo just boarded the ship with the boy who had been her best friend since childhood. He just returned from taking it for a ride and together, they were about to visit some old friends. They hadn't seen them in a while since the war between Dalmasca and the Archadian Empire ended. Penelo watched as Vaan flew the airship, trying to explain to her how to operate it. Vaan was someone who had no common sense, but when it came to airships and sky pirating, he knew it all. For a long time, she known he was obsessed with it, and now here he is. These days, Penelo started growing tired of Vaan's obsession with sky pirating.

His platinum blond hair shined in the sunlight along with his glowing blue eyes. He was fairly tanned, and slightly taller than her. While Penelo listened to him, she fiddled with one of her braided pigtails. Penelo had each blond pigtail tied with flowers. She wore an armband, as well as a white Dalmascan shirt and red pants. She was a person who worried, and she was always a good person. She did not have much a particular interest in airships, but she would often help with fly the ship as Vaan's partner or assistant. As he finished off talking about skystones, she started a new conversation.

"So Vaan, I can't wait to see Larsa, can't you?" asked Penelo.

"Yeah, I can hardly wait, its been a year. I wonder what that kid and Basch have been up to." Vaan and Penelo were visiting Larsa and Basch in Archadia. One year earlier, after the war between Dalmasca and the Empire of Archadia ended. Basch made a promise to his deceased brother, Noah, to protect they new Archadian Emperor Lord Larsa. Larsa was as young as thirteen years old, but he was very mature- a lot more mature than the eighteen-year-old Vaan.

One year ago, Penelo and Vaan were inferiors living in Rabanastre, a royal city in the Dalmasca Region of Ivalice. They ran errands for a shop owner bangaa named Migelo in order to make money. Penelo met Vaan when both of them were twelve years old. That year, both of his parents died from a plague, while hers were safe. Her parents took in Vaan and his older brother Reks. When the war came a few years later, Penelo's parents died and Reks when to fight in the war for Dalmasca. Reks died from the war, and Vaan tried to accept it, but it continued to upset him. He never really liked to talk about it.

After landing in Archadia, Vaan and Penelo unloaded their airship and went to the empire to see the two. There were two guards of the imperial army guarding the entrance.

"What is your errand here?" asked one of them.

"We came he to see Lord Larsa." Answered Penelo.

"We will not allow anyone to see the great emperor today, especially if they're peasants!" Yelled the other imperial.

"But we know the kid." Argued Vaan.

One of them grabbed his arm. "Hey!" yelled Vaan.

"The great emperor is no kid!" screamed one of the stubborn guards.

"Let them through. They are my friends." Said a voice. It was a voice with a British accent Penelo immediately recognized.

"Larsa!" said Penelo with excitement. The imperial groaned and let go of Vaan's arm in a throwing motion.

"That's better." Said Vaan rubbing his arm in relief. Larsa stepped forward to the two with Basch following behind him. Basch appeared to being wearing the same armor his twin brother once wore when he served in protecting Larsa. Before Noah had died, he made Basch promise to protect Lord Larsa with his life.

"Well nice to see you again." Greeted Basch. He didn't sound any different from the previous year. He still sounded like his 36- no 37-year-old self. He had not grown much either.

"Come." Said Larsa. The two and Basch followed Larsa to the back garden, where he sipped his tea. Penelo looked at Larsa and felt herself blushing. She was staring at him, trying to look for changes in his appearance. He looked like his old self, fairly short, dark hair that fell right before his shoulders, and slightly tan. He was still dressed in his Archadian clothes. She stared into his hazel eyes and then his soft lips……..

She felt Vaan elbow her. "Checking out the mini imperial, huh?"

Penelo jumped then punched Vaan back on his shoulder "Well I hadn't seen him for a year, so I'm "seeing" him now!"

"Heh. Heh." Chuckled Vaan. He put both his hand behind his head as he walked.

Penelo moved her thoughts to Larsa again. Though she was 18 years old and he was 13, she could not deny the fact she was in love with him now. One year ago, when Ba'gamman, a bangaa that rivaled with one of her friends, had released her from her abduction, she ran out of the Lhusu Mines crying. Lhusu mines were located in the sky city of Bhujerba, which can only be reached by airship.

She expected Vaan to be the first one to her rescue at a certain point, but he seemed to have never showed up, but she was distraught about him. An Archadian Judge named Ghis along with a few imperials and the Bhujerban Marquis caught her running out of the mines in despair and she had to stay with them for a little time. A few moments later, she saw a young boy dressed like an Archadian walk up and started talking with them. They scolded at him for wandering off alone and scolded at Penelo for talking back to them about her side of the story.

Larsa, saying he will not travel unaccompanied any longer, asked the Marquis if his estate would hold another guest. When the Marquis answered with a yes, Larsa took Penelo's hand and led her away with him.

The first words he ever said to her were, "Thank you, Penelo."

"Sure…." She replied. And he led her to the estate where he was staying in Bhujerba. He made the promise to take care of her.

She was surprised how he knew her name and suddenly started holding her hand when they just met. While they were at the estate, Larsa had explained to her the situation and that Vaan, in fact had come to rescue her. She was happy for him to be fine. Larsa telling her he was the brother of Vayne Carudas Solidor, the son of the Archadian emperor, had made her fear him. Larsa convinced her to trust him, though she was afraid to. She eventually did, and she doesn't regret it at all.

She knew Larsa thought his brother Vayne as a heartfelt role model, until he found out that it was he that killed their father. Larsa also was able to stand up to him and help them fight Vayne, even if he was shaking in fear. Journeying for a certain amount of time with Larsa helped her know him better, and later, she fell in love with him.

She thought she was in love with Vaan before all of this happened. Vaan was the one of the closest guys to her, and she was in love with him before, even though he caused trouble and always needing to get lectured by her. Now she only thought of him and a friend, and someone whose airship she would continue to help with.

Larsa led them into his tea garden.

"Wowwww…….." Vaan said. He was gaping at the scenery.

"Its beautiful." Commented Penelo.

"Nothing special once you learn the hardness of serving royalty." Said Basch, removing his helmet. Basch had cut his dark blond hair the way Noah had it. They looked exactly the same now, with the exception of his scar across his forehead.

Larsa pulled out a chair, "after you Penelo." Penelo blushed and replied with a "yes." Adding a fast nod. Larsa gave her a gentle smile. Penelo's eyes lit and noticed how much more of gentlemen he was. She had been writing him letters several times now and then, and he replied to all of them. Penelo smiled at the thought.

Vaan started talking about his new airship he recently received. Basch poured tea for the guests at the table. Penelo sipped it as she stared at Larsa.

Larsa started a new conversation, "So everyone is going to Lady Ashe's coronation next month?"

"Yeah." Replied Vaan. "It's going to be nice to see her again, we hadn't seen her for a long while."

"Well, of course, she's going to be the queen of Dalmasca now, so she will be busier than she already is."

"Like she isn't full of her head already." Everyone glared a Vaan. "What?" he asked. The other three started laughing, knowing he was the one with no common sense.

"You never changed one bit Vaan." Said Basch with a chuckle. Vaan scratched his head. The four of them continued to share laughs together, and Penelo enjoyed every moment of it, especially since it was with Larsa.

After some thorough thinking, she finally decided to tell Larsa that she was in love with him. She just did not know how he was going to react.

After everyone finished their tea, Vaan and Basch left, talking about the good times the group had together a year ago.

Penelo smiled. She was finally alone with Larsa and would be able to freely confess to her. He heart started beating fast and she looked down and fiddled with one of her braided pigtails.

Larsa, sitting right across from her from the small and fancy table looked up and asked, "Penelo, would you like anymore tea?"

"No thanks." She replied nervously.

"Is something wrong?" asked Larsa

Penelo sighed. "Larsa, I really have gotten to know you and-" she felt the adrenaline running through her. "I really like you."

"I like you too, Penelo." He replied nicely.

"No! I mean I love you!" She shouted it out fast. Larsa's eyes opened wide and he looked down for a second and fiddled with his teacup. Penelo turned red, and waited for a reply.

Larsa looked up and breathed out in a soft voice, "Penelo, I am really sorry………"