A little while later, Jessalina approaches Ike. "Ready to go?"
"Where?"
"The castle. Duh."
Ike stands up, and takes her hands.
Jessalina gasps. "Ike?"
Ike puts her hair down, and throws the ponytail cloth on the ground. He pushes the strands of her face behind her ears.
Jessalina feels uncomfortable as Ike's hand skims her cheek.
Ike brings her hand do his lips and kisses it.
Jessalina blushes. When she realizes what's happening, she knocks Ike out with the hilt of her dagger.
Ike falls to the ground.
Jessalina starts breathing hard.
Andaella speaks. "Did he try to advance on you?"
Jessalina drops to the ground. "I don't know!" Tears start trickling down her face. "I want my family! Is that so much to ask for!?" Jessalina sobs.
Andaella rubs her hair. "Please don't cry, Jess. I want you happy."
She lifts her head. "I want to go."
"The castle?"
"Yeah."
Andaella uses a piece of cloth, and wipes a tear going down Jessalina' s face. "I'll get Ike up."
Jessalina picks up the dark red strip of cloth on the ground. She puts it in her hair as a headband. She packs up all her equipment, and swings her bag over her shoulder. She looks at Andaella.
Andaella is getting Ike up. "Ike!" Andaella shakes his head. "Ike! Get up!" She slaps his head. "Come on!"
No response.
Andaella gets mad. She sticks her finger in his ear.
Ike jumps up. "Ah!"
Andaella falls of him.
Ike shakes his head, and coughs. He gasps. "Jessalina!" He looks at her.
Jessalina is looking down, eyes closed.
Ike rushes to her. "I'm sorry." He put his arms around her.
Jessalina puts her face on his chest, and cries.
Ike closes his eyes. "Something zapped me in the back. I couldn't control myself."
Jessalina keeps crying.
Ike smooths her hair. "Come on. Let's get to the castle."
Jessalina lifts herself, and shakes her head yes.
Ike puts an arm around her. "I'll help you."
Jessalina smiles. "Thanks."
Andaella's asleep again. They start walking down the path to the castle. For a while, Ike and Jessalina are silent, the awkward air between them.
''So, Jessalina. How long has it been since you got here?" Ike asks.
"Only today." She answers.
"Oh. I'm guessing you don't really know around this forest."
"No. I don't."
Ike looks at her. Her head is down, and she's holding her arms. "What's the matter?" Ike asks.
Jessalina sniffs. "Everything. I want my family! I don't know where they are! I'm scared!" The tears come again.
Ike catches her as her legs fail to hold her upright. "Hey. Calm down."
Jessalina' s tears soften.
Ike wipes tears that continue to go down her face. "Listen. I can cry over so many things. But you have to be strong, and fight for what matters most."
Jessalina closes her eyes. "Ike? Has anyone ever told you, that you are a good man?"
"Many times. But not by a person who I only met that day."
"Well, you're a nice man." Ike smiles. "I think you're a nice lady."
"Thanks. Not a lot of people say that about me."
Ike puts her back against him. "I couldn't imagine."
Jessalina laughs. She stops when Ike's face gets closer to hers. Jessalina steps away from him, causing him to stumble a bit.
He regains his balance. "Whatever you thought I was doing, I wasn't. I was doing it for a sign of courtesy and respect."
Jessalina doesn't answer. That's her one fear. She'll like someone, but she'll find out some way to ruin it.
They keep walking.
In a couple hours, they arrive at the castle.
Jessalina looks at her outfit. "I don't have a dress to wear!"
"Don't worry. Just have Andaella whip up something."
Jessalina wakes Andaella up. "Hey, Andaella?"
"What? I was trying to get some beauty sleep." Andaella gripes.
"We're at the castle."
Andaella's fully awake. ''The castle? You guys need outfits!" Andaella waves her hand.
Ike is in a suit complete with a bowtie. "Now, Ike, go catch up with your friends inside. It's gonna take a little bit for Jessa."
Ike nods, and goes inside, and Jessalina's eyes follow him inside.
Andaella squeals. "Aw! Your first dance!"
Jessalina cringes at the word 'dance'. "Not entirely."
"Not entirely?"
"When I was younger in school, we hosted a dance. A guy had asked me to it, so when we were about to dance, and he went to the bathroom, and the next thing I know, I'm sitting on the bleachers, a book in my hands."
"Wow. That must've been hard."
"It was.''
"Well, you're in Mageria, and this one will be better." Andaella goes over ideas in her head.
Jessalina crosses her arms, waiting.
"Oh! I know!" Andaella waves her hand. Jessalina looks at the dress that has appeared on her body. It's a full princess ballgown, lavender and sky blue. She has on silver open toe heels, and a silver charm bracelets.
Andaella gasps. "You...look...sooooo beautiful!"
Jessalina blushes. "Andaella!"
"It's true! I can't pull off that purple. In fact, I can't pull off any purple."
"Thanks."
Andaella waves her hand, and her own outfit changes. Her demon side had a long skinny blood-red dress with black boots. Her angel side had a long white ballgown and white heels.
"You look better than me, Andaella!"
"You're just saying that." Andaella flies beside her. "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
"Wait!" Andaella waver a finger in a U shape, and Jessalina has on pink lipstick.
Andaella goes back beside her.
Jessalina opens the door. She's immediately drowned in rock music. Lots of people here are dancing, and others are in the back talking to each other.
She walks in, and the guards shut the doors. Everyone glances at her, then goes back to doing to what they were doing.
Jessalina's stomach rumbles. She goes to the snack table, to see what's to eat.
A few crowds away from Jessalina, Ike stood, talking to some people.
One of the people pointed and snickered. "Who's the girl with the purple dress?"
Ike looks. Jessalina is admiring her necklace over by the wall. He stares at her.
One person knocks him. "Hey! Ike! Mageria to Ike!"
Ike shifts his attention to the group. "Yeah?"
"You obviously know her."
"I do. She's actually a knew hero. She's starting out though."
"I thought you said you wouldn't join anyone else on adventures."
"I'm helping her."
Jessalina walks to Ike. "There you are."
"Hey, Jess."
Ike gestures toward her. "Guys, this is Jessalina."
"You called her 'Jess'. Are you two dating?"
"No!" They answered at the same time.
The group laughs.
Ike continues. "As I've said, she's a new hero."
Jessalina scans the group. They look familiar.
"I found her in the Edgewood Forest. She was battling a giant arachno."
"Was she having trouble?" A guy asks.
"A little."
They laugh. Jessalina tries to laugh, but she only gets embarrassed.
Ike sees he's probably accidentally hurt her feelings. He quickly changes the subject to life. "So, Defalters, how has life been?"
Jessalina tries to piece together why the group looks so familiar.
"It's been pretty good." One answers.
"Good. I actually met a traveling blacksmith."
"Whoa! Who is it?"
"Jessalina." They look at her, mouths open.
A boy pipes up, "The girl who had trouble defeating a level one?"
The group starts laughing.
Ike looks at Jessalina. She's hurt.
Ike takes her arm, and leads her away. He brings her to the back wall. "Don't get so sad."
"They're heroes?"
"Okay. Here's the deal with the Defalters. They saved, well, everything and everybody because the made sure a crystal was destroyed, but found out the fairy leading them was evil. After defeating her, the crystal wasn't destroyed. They're arrogant, and full of themselves. But, Ringabell is the most level headed one, surprisingly."
"Wait. Did you say 'Ringabell'?"
"Yeah?"
"Bravely Default! That's why they looked familiar."
"Yeah. You haven't introduced yourself to the royals yet." Ike leads her to the royals. "King, queen."
They look at him.
The queen lifts her head. "Ike! Wonderful to see you, Dear."
Jessalina gasps. The queen in her vision looks exactly like this one.
"Oh. And who's your friend?" The queen asks.
"Jessalina." Ike answers.
Jessalina does a small curtsy, but keeps her eyes on the queen.
"Ike, dear, tell us what you did today." The queen says.
"I met a traveling blacksmith."
The queen smiles. "Who was that?"
"My friend."
The queen looks at Jessalina. "You?"
"Hm? Oh! Yes, ma'm."
"Oh! I love your manners!"
"Thank you."
The queen looks at the king. He's falling asleep. The queen taps his arm. "Take an interest in your son's life."
The king kinda waves, and falls back asleep.
Jessalina looks at Ike in shock. "Son?"
"They legally adopted me. Even though I'm never home."
"That makes you a prince!"
"Please don't call me 'Prince Ike'. If it's one name I'll hate, it's that one."
"Alright."
Their attention is back on royalty.
The queen is staring at Jessalina. "You. Girl. Have we met before?"
"I don't think so. But I did drink some Vision Water Ike accidentally gave me, and someone that exactly looks like you was in there acting the bad guy. Or girl in this case."
The queen looks at her concerned. "Ike, I suggest you bring your friend to dance. Okay? Okay."
Ike looks at her, then back at Jessalina. "Um, okay? Let's go then."
Jessalina follows Ike to the back, away from the king a queen's gaze.
Someone's walking towards them.
Ike grabs Jessalina.
"What are you doing?"
"Pretend you're in love with me. I'll have to do the same." Ike says.
Jessalina puts on a madly-in-love face, and puts it closer to Ike's face. Ike strokes her cheek.
The person approaches them. "Ike! You won your bet! I feel proud."
"Yeah." Ike answers dreamily.
"Who's the lucky girl?"
"Jessalina."
Jessalina giggles. "Can you show me how you slam your sword into the ground? I love it when you do that."
Ike smiles, and says, "Anything for you."
The man leaves.
Ike lets go of Jessalina.
Jessalina fixes her face.
"That may have been the most embarrassing thing I've ever done." Ike says.
"Pretending you like me?"
"No. Not at all. Pretending I'm stupid-in-love."
"Oh. Me too, Ike."
A song comes on. It's slow, and people are getting partners to dance with.
"You know, Jessalina. It would be nice to have a dance with you." Ike says, holding out his hand.
Jessalina grabs it, and she's pulled closer to him. He leads her to the dance floor.
The song starts.
Ike puts a hand on her side, and with his other hand, he holds hers. Her other hand is on his shoulder. "Enjoying yourself, Miss Jessalina?" Ike asks.
"Yes. I am."
"You don't sound like it." Ike observes, as he twirls her around.
"I am, believe me. I just...I miss my family, that's all."
"That's not thoroughly convincing. You're going to have to try harder to lie."
Jessalina trips over her feet.
Ike catches her.
"Sorry. I am really clumsy." Jessalina apologizes.
"Apology accepted."
They continued dancing. The song started to slow down, signalling it was almost over. As the last note played, Jessalina was totally relaxed and pleased.
Ike's face went closer. This was the moment they both wanted.
Suddenly, the speakers cut out, and a loud crashing sound was heard.
A female cackled. "Hate to crash the party!"
Jessalina looked at the woman. She gasps. "Ike, it's the woman in my vis-" Her eyesight blurs into a blue haze color. She sees the woman swipe her fingernails into Ike, and Ike dies.
Her eyesight is normal, and she gasps. "Ike! Get down!" She warns.
He almost to slow to react, when Jessalina pulls him to the floor.
"Whoa!"
The woman misses. "Blast!"
The castle is pandemonium. Everyone's yelling, and running away. The guards hold the doors open, as people run.
"The royals!'' Ike runs to the thrones.
When Jessalina catches up to him, it's too late. The king sits on the throne, mouth foaming like he drank some heavy poison.
And the queen is now where to be found.
Ike rushes to the king. The king's mouth has stopped foamed production. He is now officially dead.
Ike's hands are on his mouth. He sinks to the floor.
Jessalina gets down. "Ike." She says gently. She puts her head on his shoulder.
Ike is crying silent tears. The worst of them all. "I didn't know him well, but he was a good man."
Jessalina feels her own tears coming.
The woman laughs. "Oh, dear Ike. It's a shame you couldn't save him. You just weren't fast enough. Or smart enough."
Jessalina hears Ike yell, and he backflips, sword in his hand. He's trying everything to at least scratch the woman. "Take it back!" He yells.
She's blocking it with a shield. "I thought this would be more fun." The woman sprouts giant demon wings, and flies through the ceiling.
Ike quickly runs to a shocked Jessalina, and covers her.
The castle's about to collapse.
