Forgotten Nostalgia

reviews:

Faroush: Thanks! Actually, I didn't intend it to mirror the Valkyrie Profile prologue, but I guess it just came out that way.

Iseria Dweller: Yay, cookie! *num num num*

NancyKisa: I really want to write more on Rufus's perspective. I 3 Rufus/Alicia (Almia) too. :3

FM ( ): Thanks. Hmmm, maybe.

Animangame02freak: Sorry for the wait. Had a bit of writer's block with this one.

hihazuki: Why, yes. It is a love triangle you are detecting indeed. ;]

a/n: Just to clear up a few things, from what I interpreted from the ending of VP2, because of the crimes Lezard committed in VP2, I interpreted that the "for these sins, you will pay with your soul" meant that Lezard that he would not be reincarnated again following his death, so I'm assuming the child Lezard you see in the epilogue is the "original" Lezard Valeth (before he causes the events of VP1 and travels back in time to VP2). So, that's the Lezard I intentionally put in this fanfic. This isn't the Lenneth-obsessing Lezard we all know. With Alicia reincarnated into this new timeline, well… Lezard has other things on his mind. This fanfic might grow troubling for me because I haven't really played the first game before (only a tiny bit), so I'm afraid somewhere along the line I'll get writer's block because of that. I might have to do a little more research on the first game to get a feel of that environment… Of course, I can tweak things here and there since the events of VP2 affected the events of VP1.

Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria © Square Enix

They would leave the day before her eighteenth birthday.

That was three days from now, and Almia Averle and her childhood friend Lezard Valeth had things that needed to be done before then. They would reach another town and buy clothes that no one would recognize them in. They would buy food and supplies to last them their journey, however long that would take. If they still had enough money, Lezard would buy a horse to make traveling easier for Almia, who would obviously have trouble due to her inexperience of the outside world.

Lezard had it all planned out, and Almia listened carefully and nodded at everything he said. Some things she understood, some things she didn't. Almia didn't know where they were going, but she trusted Lezard and she knew that wherever he would take her, it would be a place that they could both be together. But for now, they would have to plan in secret while resuming what normal lives they had in Coriander. They could not spend too much time together or too less time together, and they could not be too absent from their respective families. When discussing their plans, they had to be clandestine and speak in words that would not draw attention or suspicion.

Once they leave Coriander and it would be just the two of them, Almia knew things would get better just because Lezard would be with her.

As each day passed by, Almia felt like she kept seeing things. The rustle of the trees made her spin around in paranoia each and every time, and she could have sworn she was being watched. It bothered her, but she never told anyone, especially not Lezard.

I'm just seeing things. That's all, she tried to convince herself, but failed in doing so.

Freya's footsteps echoed in the hall as she made her way into the throne room, her long, blond hair flowing behind her. Her movements were precise and careful, almost as though she was calculating even the littlest of details of her actions. She knew that Rufus would react accordingly when it came to the human girl Almia Averle—the reincarnated Princess of Dipan, Alicia. To hold ties to that mortal realm displayed a sign of weakness, and Freya could not allow that. She could not allow that former host of her beloved king Odin to ruin Odin's good name. Rufus's attachment to the girl would become an obstacle, even when he knew such an attachment should never exist—well-aware of what fate had in store for the girl.

The two long doors opened before her, and she floated into the next room. When Freya opened her eyes, a slight wariness spread across her face as she approached the empty throne in front of her with a stern gaze. Even now, he chooses to betray the hand of fate. Freya grimly chuckled. She looked above with knowing eyes.

"Be wary of your actions, Rufus…," she murmured. "To defy fate is a dangerous game that even you cannot hope to achieve."

Two days had past, and Almia and Lezard were strolling through the forest not too far from Coriander. Almia stared up at the afternoon sky with a bittersweet expression on her face she did not expect to have.

I'll never see this sky again… will I?

Today was the day they would leave. Tonight.

"I'm sorry," Almia said aloud without even realizing it until the two words escaped her lips.

Lezard stared at the girl, longer than he had planned to. She met his gaze. Silence fell briefly between them. "For what?" Lezard finally asked and paused before adding with a forced chuckle. "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts…"

Almia's eyes widened, realizing what her words had implicated. "Oh no, it's not like that!" she quickly reassured in a hushed voice as she waved her hands. "I meant, I'm sorry that you're postponing your studies because of me. I know how much it means to you," she explained hesitantly. Almia sighed and rubbed her arm uncomfortably. "W-We… could always wait, you know? Until the holidays so your studies can be complete, and then—"

"—If we wait that long, then you'll be married and trapped here. It'll be too late."

"Too late for what… Lezard?"

But Lezard shoved his hands in his pockets and said nothing.

"Lezard?" Almia repeated, but received no answer in return. She didn't press the notion further. She didn't mind if Lezard kept secrets from her, but she only wished he could trust her just as much as she trusted him.

It was then that Almia noticed that Lezard hadn't brought any books with him on their walk. It was strange to see him without it, but she didn't mention it to Lezard. Almia assumed he had already packed his books away for their journey since they were leaving tonight. She wondered how many books Lezard would take with him. The idea of Lezard bringing bags and bags full of books made Almia giggle.

Lezard looked at Almia with half confusion and half amusement. He did not know why Almia had just giggled, but it made him smile just to hear it.

Almia glanced at Lezard and their eyes met. Quickly, she avoided his gaze and stopped walking. Lezard noticed this did the same.

"Almia?" Lezard asked as he walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulder. "What is it?"

Almia stared at the ground. "Please, tell me. Why are you doing this, Lezard?" she whispered so that it was only audible to Lezard's ears. "I'm really glad. But… You'll sacrifice so much for me… I know we're childhood friends, but I don't really understand why you're going through great lengths for this…"

Lezard tilted his head as one of his hands slid from Almia's shoulder, trailing her neck until he clasped her cheek. Almia shivered slightly, but it was to be expected. No one had ever touched her like that before, but Lezard had somewhat expected that she'd feel comfortable if it was him—who was closer to her than any other boy or anyone in general—who touched her like that.

The abrupt gesture made Almia look up to see Lezard's face. "Lezard…?"

"Why… you ask? Why am I doing this? Shouldn't this be obvious… Mia?" Lezard murmured as slowly leaned in towards Almia.

He was careful with her and watched if she would accept him or reject him. Almia was trembling, but she wasn't pulling closer or pulling away. She was just nervous, Lezard concluded. He could even feel her heartbeat racing by the touch of her flushed cheeks. Their foreheads pressed, and their lips were only inches away from each other.

"Say no, or push me away if this isn't what you want…"

Almia rapidly batted her eyes. She had never expected this to happen. This is what he meant by 'too late'…, she realized. If I was married, then…

Lezard was her childhood friend. Her best friend. Her only friend. He was her source of joy and her source of comfort. Whenever he was gone, it saddened her. Whenever he returned, she was overjoyed. Lezard was the closest person to her.

Say no, or push me away if this isn't what you want…

Lezard had just given her as choice, but was this the path they were supposed to take? Was this the path she wanted? Almia paused.

But this was the least she could do for him. It could possibly be the only thing she could do for him. She closed her eyes and waited. Before Lezard could press any further, another gust of wind—a much stronger wind than before—and the rustle of the trees caused Almia to turn away from him and wrapped her arms around herself. She realized then that it wasn't the cold that bothered her or wind this time. It was something else that stopped her from a moment she could not allow to pass any longer than it had been.

Lezard automatically drew back, just as he had promised. "I'm sorry," he muttered as his hands fell to his side.

Almia shook her head to reassure him that he wasn't at fault, but she couldn't dare to even look at him. She couldn't let whatever that was going to happen to continue. She wasn't sure why, but she just couldn't.

"Lezard, I…," Almia began, but stopped.

She wanted to explain, to say something, but what could she say? I'm sorry? That would only give Lezard a fresh wound. Almia lowered her gaze to the grass by her boots, and silence fell between them.

Lezard turned half way around and scratched his head. To say he felt embarrassed was an understatement. He felt humiliated. He had basically opened himself to the one person closest to him, only to get rejected so easily and so painfully. He balled a fist, but soon relaxed his hand. Lezard could not blame Almia. For as long as they could remember, they had been friends. He had crossed the line, and she was startled by it. It was that simple. He would not pressure her, but he would not give up on her either. Lezard knew that he was the closest person to Almia, and the only person in her heart. That would be enough for him for now.

He sighed. "Forgive me. I hope this… minor transgression… will not change your mind. I'll meet you by the Weeping Lily Meadow at midnight," Lezard finally said and walked past her towards Coriander. "Coming?"

Almia glanced over her shoulder and could have sworn she saw something.

"Mia?" Lezard asked again, this time more gently, in case he had upset her. He turned around to find Almia staring at the forest. He stared at her. Lezard was curious by her silence, but was bothered by the distant look in her eyes. He frowned. It was only recently that he began losing her attention. He tried to ignore it. "Are you all right?"

Almia turned and stared at Lezard. She quietly nodded and followed him. This had to be her imagination or her mind playing tricks on her. Anything but madness, she had hoped with a shudder. She had heard terrible rumors about how mad people were treated. One infamous rumor was that of a princess who was locked away in a castle because she was hearing voices.

The thought of herself being mad—or other people thinking she had gone mad—had given Almia an eerily familiar feeling.

A shrouded figure watched as Almia Averle and her childhood friend Lezard left the forest along the outskirts of Coriander in silence. He stood within the depths of the woods and hidden away from sight as he watched the pale, blond haired girl intently until she disappeared from his sight. Even then, he stood there, lingering in the forest for a while longer. He listened to the trees rustle and stir. The man flexed his hand slightly, a surge of power curling into his fingertips. He covered his head with the hood of his cloak and took his leave.

Right where the cloaked man once stood laid a single weeping lily.

[rxr!]