Just a little one shot, from a silent but saddening part of the game.

-
It was over...it was all finished, finally. How long had they known each other? Maybe a few weeks at most? It felt like forever. They'd traveled half of the world, doomed and saved it, sacrificed so much. They'd known sadness, regret, despair, happiness and joy, all in this short month. So why? They'd accomplished everything they all set out to do, why did it all feel so empty now?

Matthew, Tyrell and Karis had found the Roc's Feather then come so far for, thought now it seemed unimportant in light of everything else that had happened. They had all, together, stopped the Grave Eclipse, saved countless lives, but she couldn't...even do the one thing she'd been trying to all along.

As she sat on the throne, wearing the new crown about her small brow, a silent tear fell from her eyes as the name returned to her lips. "Volechek..." She whispered, remembering her brother fondly. Life had not been terribly kind to them in the early years, but before this whole adventure. Before Luna Tower and the Tuaparang, before everything. Those days were peaceful, sure her brother was busy trying to hold his country together against their enemies, but he always had a warm smile for his dear sister, and the days were full of light.

She'd been running so hard for these few weeks that she hadn't had time for the sorrow of everything to catch up with her. Sure Belinsk was safe now, but the toll on it's people had been immeasurable. And their king, their powerful, wise and kind king...he was gone. All that was left was her, a little girl who wanted nothing more then to just hide away and forget that this burden was hers. This stupid piece of metal!

She plucked the crown from her brow and nearly threw it across the room, but her hand hesitated. This...was the kingdom both her and her brother loved. It was her duty, to them and to him, to protect and guide it as well as she could...But what about her happiness? Was she doomed to sacrifice everything in the name of her people and her country? Didn't she have a right to be happy too? She placed the crown down of the armrest of the throne with a heavy sigh. She still didn't wear the garments of her new position, she wanted to act like she was just their traveling companion, just for one more day...A smile graced her lips as she remembered it fondly. Walking down the long paths, laughing with Karis while Eoleo and Amiti argued over the legitimacy of his profession. Sailing on the majestic boat and feeling the wind flow through her hair from the Crow's Nest, while watching little Rief try to not get sick. She remembered thinking it funny that a Mercury Adept would get seasick. How Tyrell would always bite off more then he could chew, and then usually get reprimanded by Karis. They were such fond memories...but some would always stick out stronger in her heart.

Matthew...the first time she saw into his heart. All she saw was warmth, she'd assumed from the embrace of mother earth's power flowing through him. But it was different, there was a warmth that came from him even when she wasn't using Spirit Sense. When she'd nearly fainted outside of Belinsk Castle when she had the vision of the Opera House, his arms where there, holding on to her shoulders and anchoring her to the real world. When she wanted to fall down and cry over the burden, all it took was his knowing glance and the sorrow in his eyes to give her the strength to push it aside. She knew they were close, they all were, but then...

It went beyond that, she had a connection with him most mortals could only dream of. She'd touched his soul, she knew it. For a few brief moments, they were completly unified. It was an odd feeling, as if she could feel what he felt, and her own feelings. She was having trouble determining what was what, though. She know she felt something pure, something strong, was it love? Was she in love with him, was he in love with her? She'd never felt it before, and she'd rarely had the chance to look him in the eyes after that. Once Volechek had...protected her she'd fallen apart. She wasn't sure how long she lay there, crying into Matthew's chest as he held her. The next thing she remembered they were on the Endless Wall, marveling over the now clear skies. At that site, her heart had lifted, but now she felt it falling again as the reality of how everything would be changed forever finally hit her.

She snapped herself from her daze, realizing quickly what time it was. She was supposed to be seeing everyone off! In a panic, she left her crown sitting on the throne. If they were to see her, it wasn't going to be as Queen Czamaral, it would be as Sveta. That was who she'd been on the journey, that was who she was to them. And that was the only version of her she actually liked, the real her.

Oh what she would give to be Sveta forever.

-
Sveta was oddly quiet through the goodbyes. She shared a hug with Karis, as the good friends they were, laughed at Tyrell when he made a fool of himself, as they were all quite used to, and displayed some disdain when Eoleo mentioned picking up his old man's slack. Still, they were all her friends, and that was all there was to it. She was a Queen, Amiti was a Prince, Himi was a Princess herself, and one could call Eoleo a 'King of the Seas'. She wasn't the only royalty here, half of her companions were so! This thought brightened her smile, even though they were all so different, they all had lives to go back to. They all had work to be done, and reconstruction to aide with. Finally Karis spoke up.

"The longer we stay here, the harder it is to leave. Let's go home." She said, and Matthew turned with a nod. And so, the three said their farewells and turned from the city, starting down the path.

H-He can't go...not like this...! Sveta ran forward, she wanted to cry out, but her voice was stuck in her throat. What could she do, what could she say? Matthew and his friends turned around, and he smiled. He waved to her. That was it, that was all she could do. She could be happy for him, she wouldn't make him worry about her. She raised her arm and waved it strongly, stopping for but a moment to wipe a wayward tear from her eyes. No, she couldn't cry. She was a queen, she had to be strong for her friends so they wouldn't worry.

No, that was wrong. She was Sveta, she would not let her friends be worried about her. She would be strong and capable herself, because she was who she was. Not because she was the queen. And as Matthew waved back she could have sworn she saw a glitter from his eye.

As they turned around again, Matthew rubbed his sleeve across his eye for a moment, but didn't look back. If he had to look at her again, he felt like he wouldn't be able to leave. And the two who for one brief moment had been one felt their minds unite again.

I won't cry, not until we meet again...