Hey guys! Thanks for reading. I know I uploaded chapter one, like...yesterday, but when I have inspiration these days, I seize upon it. So... Here you go!
To say the trip from Altamira to the mainland was "stressful" was to make a gross understatement. Not for the first time since their shared life began, Regal found himself sorely missing the rheairds. Granted, trusting one such contraption with the safety of his wife and unborn child would have been a feat for him in itself, considering he had no control over it and had to simply let her pilot it on her own – which, he would readily admit, spoke more to his overprotective nerves than it did her skills. She was better with magitechnology than he, or anyone else he knew, would ever be. Still, ships he trusted; ancient flying machines less so. At least she would have been more comfortable, though. They were definitely both glad when they reached their destination, and though there was some land travel required, they had purposefully left with a day to spare, that there might be some time for her to rest.
As it turned out, they weren't the only ones.
"See? I told you we'd be fine. You never believe me."
"Only because you're usually wrong. Besides, we only got here because I was the one navigating. You wanted to go in the completely opposite direction."
"Well, I mean, the world is round, so...he was kind of right!"
"Yeah!"
"Oh brother."
As Regal came down the stairs of the inn, a trio of familiar voices and the youths to whom they belonged were passing through the door. Lloyd, Colette, and Genis entered the inn, grins on two faces and a good-natured exasperation worn by his young brother-in-law.
"While that is true," mused Regal, resuming his descent, "taking the more...scenic route might have deprived us of your company, and I somehow doubt Neil or His Majesty would have been much impressed if the saviors of the world were absent."
The youthful faces turned his way just as he stepped off the final stair, and Colette was the first to greet him – in her way. She gasped and clasped her hands before her in excitement. "Regal!" she squealed. "You're here!" When she tried to trot toward him, she very characteristically tripped, rendering the hug somewhat of an accident. Still. Undaunted, she giggled after he had caught and steadied her while the other two followed.
"Man, Regal, it's good to see you!" was Lloyd's slightly tamer hello as he linked his hands behind his head and grinned from ear to ear. He looked around, though, and blinked. "Don't tell me the professor didn't come."
"Yeah, where's Raine?" asked Genis, putting his hands on his hips.
Regal chuckled and glanced back toward the stairs with a vague gesture. "She came, but the trip here was hard on her. She's resting."
Colette beamed again. "I'm so excited to see her! How far along is she now?"
"Six months."
"Whoa!" Lloyd looked positively astounded. "Then, like, couldn't the baby come any day?"
There was a loud smack as Genis hit his forehead with his palm, but after blinking himself at the young man's appalling levels of ignorance, Regal cleared his throat and corrected, "Not for another three months, actually, give or take."
"You're such a moron," the young half-elf snorted while Colette giggled again.
"Some things really do never change," mused a weary voice from the landing. Regal, with everyone else in the room, turned to look at the speaker, and he automatically came to the steps and offered a hand to help her as she slowly came the rest of the way down. She still looked tired, but at least she seemed to be feeling a bit better.
"Professor!" greeted an exuberant Colette, coming forward. She did seem to think twice about the hug she was about to seek and took a quick, shuffling step back and putting her hands out a little to hover between them as if her old mentor might break. And while Regal knew Raine was getting more than sick of his treating her like a delicate treasure, he couldn't help but note the hidden relief in her face. He turned his own to hide the private amusement, though he was also glad for the girl's restraint. Meanwhile, Genis came up more sedately to share a bit of a side embrace with his sister.
"I'm so glad you came." Colette clasped her hands before her and beamed after the siblings had separated. "Are you okay? Do you feel okay? Are you excited?" she gushed.
With the patience of someone with a great deal of experience handling this bubbly young lady, Raine assured her (and probably him, he thought when she glanced at him), "I'm fine. As for excitement, we still have a ways to go. Right now, it's one day at a time – and today, we have something else to think about."
While it was technically true and the event for which any of them were there was exciting, a quiet father-to-be mused to himself that even this would be hard pressed to compare with the expected child. But, alas, his wife was correct: This was immediate, and the other still had a ways to go. He supposed he could give attention where it was due.
"Has everyone arrived?" he asked, resting one hand idly against Raine's back now that she was at his side.
"I think we saw Zelos on the way in," offered Lloyd, glancing over his shoulder. "He looked pretty busy talking to some people, though. They weren't even girls, either, so we figured it might've been important."
"We just got here, too." Genis interlaced his fingers and plopped his hands down on top of his head.
"Oh, I can't wait to see everyone else!" Colette was all but buzzing, and not a one of them was going to take that from her. This was everything she had ever hoped for, and really, while the rest of them (sans perhaps Lloyd) were a little more reined in, it was everything any of them could have hoped for when they reunited the worlds in the first place. It had been a long, hard-fought road to get Sylvarant and Tethe'alla to the bargaining table, and there had only been two foreseeable outcomes: peace and cooperation, or all-out war. Thankfully, reason had prevailed on both sides, and even if many still held reservations about their sister country, this was a remarkable step.
"I know." Lloyd was grinning again. "It's been so long since we've all been together. This'll be great!"
"I agree."
Yet another familiar voice joined the conversation, and everyone turned toward the door to see Sheena, newly arrived and smiling herself. Colette squealed, and Lloyd and Genis both exclaimed their own greetings while the former chosen ran to tackle Mizuho's chief.
"Whoa! Hi Colette," she laughed, returning the exuberant hug. When she was released, Sheena flicked a hand toward the rest of the group. "Hey guys. Good to see everyone – and look at you two."
Regal dipped his head as she planted her hands on her hips and turned her attention toward the expecting couple. His smile was easy, and out of sight, his fingers poked playfully into his lover's spine. He knew the fawning was one thing she hadn't been looking forward to on this trip.
"You're, what, five months? Six?"
"Six," Raine supplied evenly after a subtle look his way, which he quite cheekily pretended not to notice.
"Well, you look great! I can't wait to meet Baby Bryant. You two are gonna be the cutest parents. Excited? Nervous?"
The father of "Baby Bryant" smoothly stepped in this time to field the question he knew Raine would get tired of answering. "I would say both are quite appropriate."
Sheena tilted her head this way, then that. "Yeah, that sounds about right... But hey, Raine's already done it once, right? And I'll bet you're a natural-born daddy."
He arched one eyebrow. "We'll see, I suppose," he mused.
Conversation went from there after they had all taken up seats at the nearby tables. Lloyd had countless stories to tell about his travels, some entertaining and others that made a few people around the table cringe for various reasons. Colette and Sheena each had their own stories to tell, updates on Iselia and Mizuho, and Genis talked a bit about Palmacosta and the academy. The parents-to-be mostly played quiet spectators. After all, company business probably wasn't the most interesting topic for most of those present. There was the inevitable turn to the baby and colors and names and questions and more cooing, but thankfully for the mother, at least, there were enough other subjects to keep people distracted once the craze died down, especially after Presea and Zelos had both finally joined in.
"This is gonna be quite the party," Tethe'alla's chosen announced, scooting back enough to prop his feet up on the table in front of Sheena, who promptly pulled a faceand shoved them a little further out of her face. "All the who's who of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla in one place. Not to mention us~."
"This day isn't about us, though." This was quiet Presea, sitting with her hands folded neatly in her lap. But even though it was smaller than most, there was a smile on even her face. Regal was glad to see it. Now that time was no longer leaving her behind, she was becoming quite a pretty young lady. Something he was quite sure, when he caught the furtive glances, didn't go unnoticed by the youngest of their troupe.
"It's much bigger," he agreed, keeping his observations to himself.
"Sure, sure, but you gotta admit, things would be dull without us. No offense to the bumpkins among us, but Sylvarant big-wigs aren't exactly superstar material."
"Like you?" snorted Sheena.
Zelos linked his hands behind his head. "Exactly."
"Having both chosen in attendance is certainly a powerful statement." This was Raine's musing as she leaned back and shifted. He glanced toward her, questioning with his eyes, but she shook her head almost imperceptibly, and he settled his hand behind her back again.
"I'm just excited that everyone's here," Lloyd declared. "We worked really hard for this. Man, I can't wait to see the treaty signed!"
Genis rolled his eyes in good humor. "You're going to be so bored," he predicted, but the boy leaned forward on the table and beamed. "But it is pretty exciting. I'm glad we have the chance to see it ourselves. It's kind of fun being the 'Heroes of Regeneration,' huh?"
"It's also quite a responsibility," Regal pointed out. "Having the weight of the world on one's shoulders is no small burden. We should be humbled."
"And careful," added Raine. "Hero worship can easily warp. Sylvarant and Tethe'alla both need to learn how to stand on their own without us cleaning up their messes. Or taking the blame for them."
It was unfortunate, but it was true. They were all squarely in the public eye now, and that was all well and good until someone decided they needed a scapegoat. If the relationship between the sister countries ever strained, it would be far too easy to point fingers at the people responsible for reuniting the worlds in the first place. It wouldn't matter what the alternative would have been in that case. Like she said, they needed to treat their positions and influence with care.
"Ah, come on." Zelos sat back up and stretched. "This isn't the time for doom and gloom. Tomorrow's going to be a blast, and you, Lady Bryant, should appreciate being part of history as it's made."
"History was already made when the worlds were reunited."
"Anyway," laughed Sheena, rising to her feet. "I'm beat. I think I'm gonna go ahead and turn in."
"Me too, actually." Genis twisted this way, then that, stretching out his back, and then followed the summoner's example.
One by one, they started to disperse up the stairs. They were close to the Tower ruins, but there would still be a bit of a trek the following day for everyone. After coming just this far from the four corners of the world, all of them were tired and ready for a good night's sleep. Regal was, and he knew, from watching her try to smother yawns, that Raine was ready to give up. So they, too, said goodnight and left just Zelos and Colette still in conversation.
The next morning saw everyone rise early—even Lloyd, miraculously enough. He didn't exactly look the chipper lad from the night before, but he was up, and that was really all any of them could hope for. It was actually nice that they could make the trip to the ruins together, grouped into several Sylvaranti carriages sent specially for them. There was more reminiscing, more chatting (though his partner was even less talkative this morning and wasn't feeling well, if he read that grimace correctly). Still, as they got closer and finally came to a halt, excitement buzzed through the air again.
After he had climbed from the vehicle and helped Raine down as well, Regal turned to behold the tents lined up around mossy shards of the fallen Tower. People bustled about, both Sylvaranti and Tethe'allans, all preparing, setting up. There was food being set out on both sides, and local children ran free. He could see musicians, dancers, there were streamers strewn about, and right there in the middle, between the camps, a large piece of rubble had been turned into a table. There at that table would be signed the most important treaty in the history of the world.
There was a certain weight in the air, as if the very mana held its breath in wait. Certainly, this promised to be an occasion.
Genis, Colette and Lloyd trotted off fairly promptly to go find Neil, and Zelos was pulled away by Princess Hilda. Sheena, as the chief of neutral Mizuho, had her own duties to attend to, and Presea offered her assistance. That left just the two eldest to wander the scene and take it in. That was all right; he would much rather present company than getting caught up with the court. Undoubtedly they would have to make an appearance to His Majesty, but at least for now, they could just enjoy the sight on their own time.
As he had predicted, there were several half-elves present, one of whom being Harley—not surprising. He did note that most of them appeared to be part of the Sylvaranti camp, though. Also, unfortunately, not surprising. While he had no doubt plenty of Tethe'allan half-elves had vested interest, things in Sylvarant's sister country were still...complicated. But everything was turning around now, and all they could do was keep going.
"I wonder if this is how Mithos felt when the first treaty was being signed," Regal mused after a few moments of wandering.
"Maybe, though in his case, a war had already ravaged the world. He was desperate."
"True enough. Here, there seems to be more-" Quickly, he stepped out of the way of a young boy flying across the grass. "Joy," he finished with a chuckle, slipping his arm habitually around her waist when they came back together.
Raine hummed softly and allowed herself to lean a little into his side. She opened her mouth to say something—but never got the chance.
A ripple shot through the air as if it were liquid, stirring the grass and trees with an eerie rustle. With it came a horrific lurch of his stomach, and he staggered with a strangled sound. Beside him, Raine dropped straight to the ground despite his clumsy efforts to catch her. His heart pounded in his ears, and there was a nervous murmur through the entirety of the gathering. The other half-elves present had collapsed, as well, but all of his attention was split between panicking over his wife and figuring out what had just happened.
"What the hell was that?" came Sheena's breathless voice as she trotted toward them, looking pale herself.
He shook his head, propping Raine's torso up with one arm while the others, sans Colette and Genis, gravitated their way as well.
"Good question." Even Zelos looked grim and ill. "Where-"
Several variously-colored flashes cut off the chosen as all around Sheena, the Summon Spirits appeared. From Undine and the Sylph to Maxwell and Origin himself, the immortal beings hovered in a semi-circle around their pact-maker. And every single one of them with a remotely emotive face was stoney-eyed—and scared. Another chill ran down his spine to see it.
"Pact-maker Sheena," Origin hailed, two arms folded tightly across his chest. "Disaster is once ore upon us."
