Once they parted ways with the Nopon merchant, Pandoria and Zeke could only stare in amazement at the lively city before them. They stood at the gates, watching as the lives of citizens unfolded before them. Back and forth people argued over prices increasing at merchants stalls while others walked in and out of buildings with documents in hand. Soldiers stood protectively in front of a few headquarters while merchants invited newcomers to browse the exotic wears of the Titan.

Some refugees stood in a line, awaiting their share of food and money for the week. Despite the hardships, the soldiers handing out the food were very fair and polite. A few more thuggish men with Blades at their sides were smoking in the isolated corners of the town square. Stairs ascended up towards the capital's center, where the queen herself resided behind massive protected doors. The buildings were very quaint and held a certain folksy charm to them.

They ascended the first set of steps, gazing at the square below. Nearby an artist painted gracefully, trying to capture the massive beauty of the port, the swelling waters and the blooming saffronia trees. "I never really understood art…" Pandoria admitted, trying to watch the artist work, "It never really touched me that deeply. I hope that I like going to this theater."

"At least the art there is moving!" Zeke shrugged.

"You know what…it's gonna sound really silly." She placed her hands together in front of her stomach, moving her hips side to side.

"What is it?"

"My bag's so heavy because I brought a ton of books…and I've already gone through them. Some of them twice…" She blushed a bit, "I know it's suuppperr stereotypical. Chick with glasses likes to read. Har har har."

"I think it's very endearing." Zeke admitted, "I favor the texture of certain kind of clothing myself. I'm extremely fond of making things from fur myself, and silk! So there you have it!" He posed dramatically, gazing out to the distance. "I like that you read. I've seen you curled up with Turters, using the light of your body to turn page after page just before bedtime. It's…a welcome sight to return to after a long day of working hard."

"My prince…" Pandoria felt herself lost in his words, her lips quivering a bit trying to either smile or pout.

"Come on, let's go see what all the riff-raff about this theater is."

"We should try to eat first at least!" She placed her hands on her hips defensively, "Can't watch a play on an empty stomach now can we?"

"Alright fine!" He chuckled, throwing his hands up in the air. She did the same and the two chuckled at one another.

Not to the prince's surprise, Pandoria ordered a plate with a sandwich. Said sandwich was piled as high as it could with meat and cheese. Zeke regardless, ordered a salad. "Appetite's a bit low…" He admitted, he was beginning to feel nervous. For a while now, he caught himself staring more and more at Pandoria's dainty gloved fingers, wanting to intertwine them with his own. He felt compelled even to be as close to her as possible. He swallowed his food hard, finding his heart racing when she glanced up at him after taking a massive bite from her food. Seeing the way the meat was hanging from the bread and her teeth was more than adorable.

He shakily picked up his glass and gulped down his drink, but something went wrong. He caught her green eyes and began to cough violently. "My prince!" She darted up, slapping him between the shoulders. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Went down the wrong pipe, that's all!" He dismissed, lightly swatting her away. She huffed, crossing her arms, "You worried me there!"

"It's alright! Nothing a good sink wash won't fix!"

He moseyed over to a more private area, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. He sighed gently, clutching his fist. "I…I have to tell her…"

Just as if the Architect had answered his prayers, he overheard a conversation at a nearby table. Two girls were giggling softly, one showing off a ring. "So he finally told you huh?"

"Yeah! He brought me to the Saffronia tree by the lake and everything."

"How romantic! They say if you tell someone how you really feel under that tree, it's fate that you'll be happy together forever!"

"I sure hope so!"

As the two women laughed, Zeke felt his face change from creamy to ruby red within seconds, and a new determination welled up inside him. "That's it! I'll take Pandoria to the tree! Tonight, after the play is over! And I'll…tell her…" He gulped, nodding to himself, "You can do this Zeke! Do it for her!"

He moseyed back to the table with a strut of confidence, Pandoria cocked an eyebrow at him, "Well it looks like you had a good time in the bathroom…do anything unsightly?"

"Nothing of the sort!" He chuckled, not even letting her embarrassing joke upset him. He laughed louder and deeper than usual, and the Blade cocked her head.

"You're acting sort of strangely my prince."

"That seems to be a norm for me!" He pointed to the theater and held his Blade to his side, "Are you ready for an unforgettable night Pandy?"

She adjusted her glasses and smirked, "Of course!"

The play tickets were purchased, and within the hour the two sat in a crowded hall facing the tiny stage. Despite its size, the theater itself was organized and beautifully designed. The play involved telling of the Aegis, Adamm and the fall of the great continents.

During the halftime, while Pandoria was complimenting the set pieces she glanced to Zeke, "Were you around when all that happened?"

"No…why do you ask?"

"You just say all the time how you and your family were related to Adamm, you idolize the man so much one would assume you're in love with him." She chuckled, "I was just curious…to see something like that happen would be so…mind-blowing. It's a shame that Mor Ardain will soon collapse…that's gonna be in our lifetime I assume."

"Yeah…majestic but scary." Zeke pondered the reality, "And watching those people flee…that won't be a pretty sight."

"Well, it's not happening now." Pandoria shrugged, "Come on, let's finish this thing."

He gently slid his hand next to hers when they sat down, and she paused for a moment feeling his fingers. Carefully, and cautiously she interlaced their fingers together and rested her head upon her Drivers shoulders…barely able to watch the rest of the play without being distracted by the loud sound of his heartbeat.

The two walked outside, after a massive standing ovation, to the city lit up by the glow of ether blooms. The sky was dark, but flora glowed in lanterns and there was a shower of petals falling like rain in the air. Pandoria clutched the arm of her prince, who froze at her touch but still welcomed it.

The two walked up the stairs leading to the gates of the city, as Zeke tried to figure out a slick way to move towards the Saffronia tree across the lake. He spotted the Titan ships, then glanced at the water itself, face distant with thought. They continued to ascend until they stood at the very top of the city. Two massive intricately designed gate doors stood before them and a long line of stairs with chutes of water on either side descended below them.

Pandoria let go of her Driver for a moment to watch two children playing hopscotch. One of the parents had a Blade who was tossing a ball back and forth between the third child involved. She was fascinated by the whole thing, distracted by the fact that the child threw the ball far too hard and far too angled in her direction. Zeke panicked, only seeing the Blade's ball flying at her and for a moment thought she was being attacked.

"Pandoria!" He shouted, catching her in his arms as he leapt. But they leapt in the wrong direction, and started to slide along the water's current. Pandoria screamed, clutching his chest as they descended far too quickly for him to prepare to move away. The stairs ended, and the water stopped but fell into an abyss where the bridge had fallen into the lake below. "Hold on tightly!"

Their bodies flew into the air for a moment, and landed once more on yet another chute that continued to take them down. Soon the surface of the water was at eye-level, and then it was consumed by two massive cavern walls. They finally hit the end, flying into the semi-circular pond.

Pandoria sank in, holding her hands up to her Driver. Zeke chased after her, and caught her under the water. He spotted a nearby pocket for air, and the two gasped as they surfaced. They appeared to be in a chamber of sorts, surrounded by semi-circular walls lined with mosaic tiles. A ramp led them up onto the dry land, and welcoming to the area were two pillars of blue fire.

Zeke and Pandoria were stunned as a massive ether-heavy garden full of life before them stretched from one wall to another. Massive crystals jut out from the ground, and everything was organized and beautiful. A tunnel of trees opened up to ponds of water collected in heavily decorated pools. A few benches were also dotted around.

"This place is amazing…" Pandoria clutched close to her sopping wet Driver. He wrung a little of the water from his clothing before giving up, staring at the gardens before them.

"Impeccible…someone really built all this down here. I wonder why it's so well hidden."

"Nobody's here right now…hopefully it's not hard to get back out."

"Well…why don't we stay here for a moment?"

The two walked hand in hand moving around from sight to sight. Pandoria tried to touch a crystal, but almost became frozen with its excess ether energy. Zeke touched the soft textures of a strange plant covered in soft fuzzy silk. As night was born, the Driver took his Blade's hands in his own and looked straight into her eyes.

"Pandoria! I need to talk to you about something. And I think, this would be a good place to do so." They stood at the end of the garden, where all the splendor was visible. The blue flames flickered softly for a moment as Pandoria blinked, feeling herself a bit nervous at his tone. "Whatever you'd like my prince."

"We've…been partners for quite some time now eh?"

"Just about five years now…" Pandoria chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, "Nothing to sneeze at I guess."

"You…are quite a lovely Blade…no a lovely woman Pandoria."

She paused her smiling, and stared at him mesmerized. Her eyebrows lifted with surprise.

"You…just have a great smile. And a hearty appetite, a nice laugh and you're just so fun to be around. I am…just so happy you became my Blade and that…well…" He felt himself at a loss for words.

Pandoria jumped up, clutching his neck into a hug. The two embraced tightly for a moment, and Pandoria felt herself shaking. She placed her mouth next his ear, "I love you!"

Zeke gasped, feeling his heart nearly explode with emotion. He lifted her up into a tighter embrace, but was still gentle enough to caress her. "I…love you too Pandoria!" He felt tears sting the corners of his eye, as she lifted up his eyepatch to get a good look at him.

The two lovingly placed their foreheads together, both smiling endlessly. Zeke closed his eyes, and Pandoria welcomed his lips onto hers.

It tasted so welcoming, and warm after five years of waiting. His lips were soft, and his skin smelled sweet. Zeke could feel her ether flowing in her lips, the shock of it buzzing in his skull and through his teeth. His fingers had managed to caress her cheeks, her hands wrapped tightly around his abdomen. Even after the kiss, Zeke continued to place smooch after smooch all on her cheeks, forehead and neck as she giggled and squealed.

"I don't care if Indoline doesn't approve of Blades loving their Drivers." Zeke told softly, "From now on, I'll always be there for you."

"You were to begin with silly." She nuzzled his chest softly, beaming with joy.

They fell asleep eventually on the park bench, wrapped together tightly in a loving embrace both with wide grins slapped upon their faces.