Here it is, guys! My first definite multi-chapter fic. Before we get started, I just kind of want to go into the background. If you've played FE6, you're aware that it doesn't provide paired endings for anyone who isn't Roy. So after reading Ray and Sophia's supports and individual endings, it kind of led to me being inspired and... Ta-da, I guess.
Oh, right. I call Raigh Ray despire his localized name being released. I hope that isn't an issue. "^_^
And the rating may raise at some point? It's not for certain though, so we'll wait and see~. I hope you enjoy!
It's been ages since she has left the city.
A slight smile tugs at Sophia's lips as she kneels in the sand beside her companions. The grains scratch her ankles slightly as she shifts to watch the two of them better. Idoun's brows are creased as Fae pushes some sand together into a mound, the girl's multi-coloured gaze not leaving Fae's working hands for a moment. An excited giggle bubbles from Fae's throat as she picks up a rock, placing it atop of the mound.
"Look, Idoun!" Fae chirps as she arranges smaller pebbles around the creation. "Fae made a castle!"
"A... Castle?" Idoun's voice is near silent as she repeats Fae, her multi-coloured gaze flicking to the 'castle'. Sophia doesn't say anything at all, taking a scoop of sand into her hand subconsciously. Her violet gaze drifts towards Idoun, watching the other girl as Idoun runs her hands along the side of Fae's work. Sophia hasn't been monitoring Idoun's progress very closely, but the Elder claims that she has come quite a long way in the past three years. Not too long ago, Fae had been boasting about seeing the former Dark Dragon laugh. ... It's good to see the young manakete smile. As though reading Sophia's mind, Fae looks over at her, shooting her a delighted grin before turning back to Idoun to explain castles.
Maybe Sophia could afford to come out here more... After all, she has mainly just been reading those old tomes knocking about... Spending more time with Fae and Idoun couldn't really hurt.
Her eyelids drift closed to shield her violet eyes as Fae excitedly chatters to Idoun, and Sophia allows the sand that she's holding to slip through her fingers. Three years since peace has come to rule Elibe... Out here in Arcadia, not even bandits can terrorize the people. It really is the ideal home...
"Hey!" Fae sings, standing abruptly and showering sand on both Idoun and Sophia. "Fae hears footsteps! Out there..." She points to the desert laid out before her, grinning at Idoun before adding, "Do you think it's Roy? Maybe he came to visit us again!" Sophia smiles at Fae's enthusiasm, dusting off her dress as she also stands.
"Maybe... We could go investigate, if you'd like..." Sophia tells her softly. For a moment, telling the Elder occurs to her, but she decides against it soon afterwards - after all, she does happen to have a Flux tome on her, if the approaching footsteps do belong to someone who hopes to do them harm.
... Why anyone like that would be coming to Arcadia now is beyond Sophia, but the Elder would prefer it if they were careful. Fae's probably right, though; it probably is just Roy. Few people know of Arcadia's location, so Sophia can't imagine who else it would be.
"Yeah! Let's do that!" Fae chirps excitedly, helping Idoun come to her feet. Sophia follows the two as Fae skips through the sand, moving slowly as to keep pace with the shaky Idoun. "We're getting closer to them! Fae can tell!" Sophia nods, glancing over at Idoun worriedly. Idoun doesn't express any sign of having heard, but Sophia decides that she must have. After all, Idoun seems to listen to everything that Fae says.
"Sophia, Idoun! Fae sees a shape! They're approaching..." Fae purses her lips, peering into the distance. "Fae's eyes hurt..." she mumbles as the wind buffets the grains into her eyes. Sophia nods agreeably, shielding her own face from the relentless sandstorm. Idoun seems unaffected, and Sophia tries not to feel too envious.
Peering through her fingers, Sophia is able to identify the silhouette of a figure drifting towards them. Although she isn't able to tell for sure, the figure looks about Roy's size... Something about the strong strides seems oddly familiar, and Sophia frowns slightly. Something about this event seems shockingly important, but she hasn't seen into the future for a while now. So what could...
Five minutes later, the figure manages to come a decent bit closer. Sophia still can't make out individual features, but she is able to identify that a black cloak protects the figure from the desert's storm. Fae's smile also falters somewhat, and the small manakete slips her hand into Sophia's. Idoun's gaze flicks to Fae, and she takes a small step back as though to mirror Fae's hesitation.
"Hey!" the voice that somehow makes it to them despite the wind is oddly familiar, but the maturity and deepness of the voice is not something that Sophia can recognize. The figure makes a couple more strides, and Sophia's shoulders go rigid.
The figure has green hair.
Her mouth forms into an 'o' as the 'stranger' closes the space between him and their group, his mossy green eyes grazing over them. Once his gaze reaches Sophia, Ray's eyes widen as well, and he clings to the tome that he has tucked beneath his arm for support.
"Ah," is all that he manages to say, and Sophia finds herself staring back at him. Idoun does nothing but stand behind them, and Fae narrows her eyes at the teen before them.
"Fae doesn't recognize you!" the manakete informs him, oblivious to the shock swallowing both Sophia and Ray whole. "How'd you get here?"
Fae does have a point, though - Ray has definitely grown over the past three years. His hair is kept in practically the same fashion, but he has grown; he has to look down at Sophia now, when back in the war, she had been a few inches taller. Obviously, the clothes he wore three years ago have become too small, although the black cloak he wears prevents Sophia from finding out what he has begun to wear in their place. His jaw is stronger than it was back then, and Sophia glances away upon realizing just how long she has been staring at him.
But still... This is not the thirteen year old that she had developed a crush on three years ago.
"I walked here, obviously," Ray snaps in response to Fae, finally taking his eyes off of Sophia. Fae's frown deepens, and she slips her hand out of Sophia's to place both palms on her hips.
"Fae isn't stupid! She means how did you know that you could reach Arcadia here?" Sophia says nothing, watching Ray warily as he glowers at the small girl.
"I've been here before, obviously. For someone who lives so long, you have a teeny tiny memory span." Ray spares a quick glance in Sophia's direction that he seems to think that she missed, but Sophia is very aware of every movement he makes, from the way that his fingers loosen their grip on his tome and how his other hand curls and uncurls from a fist every few seconds.
"Rude! Really rude!" Fae crosses her arms, looking up at Sophia. "Isn't he rude, Sophia? We should banish him with your dark magic! Puu puu!" Sophia blushes, shifting uncomfortably. He really hasn't changed, even if he looks older.
"He's... Not," Sophia tells Fae softly, staring at the sandy ground in embarrassment. Fae blinks, turning to look at Sophia in surprise.
"What? Fae's confused, Sophia!" Glancing between Ray and Sophia, Fae adds, "Do you know him, Sophia?"
"Yes..." Sophia whispers, her violet gaze flicking up from the ground to shyly look at Ray. "He fought... With us..."
"Good," Ray says briskly, "At least you remember me." Sophia does not say anything in response, her gaze drifting back to the ground. Fae beams, staring at Ray with eyes that are nearly sparkling with excitement.
"Ah! Then you must be Sophia's friend!" Fae's smile doesn't waver, even as she adds, "Fae still doesn't remember your name, though."
Friends? Was that what they were? It's true that Sophia had been fond of him, but... Friendship? The fondness she had felt for Ray had not been the same fondness she felt for Fae, and it's obvious that he was much more comfortable with Lugh or Chad than he was with her. But Sophia doesn't bother protesting, as it seems that Fae has returned to her ordinary self now.
"My name is Ray," the greenet grumbles, shooting Sophia another quick glance. "I've been looking for Arcadia for a while."
Despite her mental protests, Sophia feels her heartbeat quicken. Had Ray been looking for her? Their goodbyes after the war had been brief, as Chad had impatiently called for the boy, but perhaps her feelings hadn't been as one-sided as she had thought. Perhaps...
"Why? Did you want to play with Sophia?" Fae asks innocently, although Sophia is not oblivious to the crimson hue that paints Ray's cheeks.
"No! It's just she had access to tomes that I didn't," Ray spits defiantly, and Sophia fights off the feeling of disappointment. "Tomes that I've wanted to study." Ray looks back at Sophia, keeping his mossy gaze on her rather than quickly glancing away. "So? Are you interested?"
Is she? Honestly, she wants to. She wants to be able to talk to him desperately and find out just how much he has grown in these past years. She wants to know what he has been doing, how his brother has been (Have they talked since the war ended?)...
Sophia's mouth parts slightly to speak, but Fae interjects before Sophia can even begin to reply, "No way! Sophia is going to play more with Fae and Idoun! We're gonna make more castles, and... And..."
Ray raises his eyebrows and Sophia shifts uncomfortably. The desert winds continue to embrace the four of them as an awkward silence joins the embrace, making the air even more stifling than usual. Idoun blinks some sand out of her green eye, but shows no sign of discomfort despite that. Fae's frown at Ray doesn't waver.
Biting her lip, Sophia decides to try again. Her hand grips her tome so tightly that her knuckles turn white as she murmurs, "You could come to Arcadia... And we could study there until you're satisfied..." She doesn't want to let him go just because Fae needs her here. She wants to be able to help him and talk to him and just be with him.
Fae turns to Sophia to take in her expression before whirling back to Ray. "Yeah! That would work! That would work!" Ray groans, pinching the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb.
"I suppose," the green-haired teen mutters gruffly, narrowing his eyes at Sophia. "I suppose that that could work."
Sophia doesn't even have time to respond before Fae's arms have found their way around her waist, causing her to lose her breath for a moment as the small manakete chants, "Yay, yay! Sophia's going to stay with us and her friend will join us in our play time and, and..." Sophia catches a slight smile tugging at the corners of Idoun's lips as the former Dark Dragon listens to Fae continue to prattle on, but she doesn't have time to fully register it before a loud cough interrupts her thoughts. She turns to look at Ray, whose gaze darts to the side now that he has her attention.
"It's good to see you again," the dark mage mutters and his reddening cheeks are hidden by the whirling sands. Sophia allows a small smile of her own, cocking her head to the side slightly.
"You too," she whispers, but just as she can't see his cheeks due to the sand, her words are carried away by the storm before they can reach him.