When Zeke finally stirred awake from his sleep, he groggily felt around for his Blade. She wasn't there. His eye shot open, glancing around the enclosed garden. "Pandy?" He called out, with no answer.
There was no sign of her noticeable. He bolted from the bench and started to investigate while trying to keep himself calm.
He noticed her tail wiggling from a nearby corner. He cocked his head, trying to get a better look at where she was. He followed the soft glow of her body and found himself in a room nearby the entrance pond. It was secluded, the walls looking as if they were ancient.
She stood, her body seemed limp and shoulders dropped. She clutched at the side of her skirt, rubbing the fabric of it between her palms. Her noticed her tail twitching, and grabbed at it, wringing it slightly. She said nothing to Zeke, her eyes looked pained.
He stared at her, eyebrows crossed with confusion. Turters popped out from his pocket, and crawled from his arm to her shoulder as the two connected. "Pandy? What's wrong?"
"This wall…it crumbled away while you were sleeping but it woke me up. I went to go investigate it and…" She shakily pointed at the wall.
He squinted, trying to make out the shape. There were ancient drawings, detailed within them were the images of a lost civilization. From what it appeared as, it was once prosperous and flourishing…people were happy, crops grew and the land was fertile. But a powerful Driver awoke a Blade…a Blade that looked exactly like his own. And together they scoured the land, taking the prosperity for themselves. He used storms to bring chaos and mayhem to the people of the Titan.
The likeness of the painting to Pandoria was uncanny, Zeke found himself shivering.
"Zeke…" Pandy whimpered as she clutched Turters into her palms, "That…that was me. I don't remember it…but that was me!"
The prince stared at her, trying to think of something to say, "Pandoria…that could have been lifetimes ago."
"I hurt people! I might have killed people!" She stomped, holding herself tightly. "That's…I could never…"
Zeke pouted, and stepped closer. He parted her hair from her ears, and held her cheek. She glanced to him, her glasses nearly slipping from her nose. "Listen…Blades favor the Driver. If anyone with a shred of hatred in them would to resonate with a core crystal, the Blade inside…no matter what…would be just like them. But if a hero of justice were to awaken them, they could become a unstoppable force of good!"
She showed off a very small smile, but it was better than that sour frown. Pandoria touched his fingers with her free hand softly, "Zeke…"
"The you I know, the Pandoria I resonated with is a wonderful, kind and funny lady. I know you would never intentionally hurt someone. And the Pandoria standing here right now, that's the one I love." He pressed his lips to her forehead and the softness of his mouth made her melt again. She felt tears enter the corners of her eyes, and shoved her face into his chest. He clutched at her tightly, rubbing her back trying to provide even a sliver of comfort.
After her tears passed and she calmed down, Zeke posed towards the entrance of the secret gardens, "We probably should see what's going on top wise. I like this place as much as the next guy but, I need my sunshine too."
"Alright my prince…I'll miss this place though."
"We'll always come back here…if ever you need anything." He promised.
The two returned to the surface, quickly drying off as best as they could and found their way back into Fonsa Myma.
As Zeke passed a bulletin board, he paused for a moment and glanced at it once more. Among wanted signs and advertisements, there was a loud poster that showcased a grand ballroom. Pandoria leaned in and stared at it as well, squealing a bit. "Ahh! How romantic!"
"What? What is?" He nervously asked, trying to cover the words but she slapped his hand out of the way. She almost tore the paper off but instead pointed to it forcefully, "The Midsummer's Ball, held at the grand palace! The holy gates open and welcome visitors! I've always wanted to go to a dance, I've read so much about them. Watching women in beautiful uniform dance in their flowing silky dresses, while their strapping partners guide them along. So awesome…" She sighed romantically.
Zeke could feel the lump growing in his throat, staring at the price per person. They had saved up enough…but it was all they had.
"But…we don't have nice outfits do we?" She stared at their outlandish clothing and puffed her cheeks up with frustration.
"Well…if you want to go. We're gonna have to work for it. I can get the tickets now, no biggie but we'll need money to buy some fabric. I can sew you a wonderful dress!"
"You…could?" She cocked her head and shrugged, "Well I'm not gonna argue with that logic. Let's do this!"
So without stopping for three days straight the two took on missions many involving stopping illegal Blade and Core Crystal trade. Zeke was more than happy to assist in this matter, he was starting to grow a certain distaste for these bandits.
He was finishing up one of the final missions, ready to collect his pay as he stomped on a few of the makeshift tents they had placed up. The legal forces had come in to assist with the arrests of a few charred and nearly paralyzed bandits.
"Sir, can we have your name?" They asked.
"You may call me the Bringer of Chaos, the Shining Eye of Justice!" Zeke posed, and Pandy puffed out her chest and posed next to him, "Without the help of my beautiful Blade…Serenity I could have never done the job!"
The officer shook his hand and Pandoria snorted a bit with laughter as they left, "Really? Serenity? That's the best you could come up with?"
"What? I'm not good at these things!"
"Your name isn't even Zeke, you shouldn't worry. Nobody's gonna find out that you're a prince of a kingdom that likes to hide. Especially not here. Now if you were say…an official from Mor Ardain…then maybe that would be an issue." She shrugged.
"I suppose you're right."
After securing a safe room to sew in, Zeke bought the materials needed for the dresses and his own suit, and worked tirelessly into the next few days. Heavy bags started to set around his eye as he sewed, and cursed the machine and repaired it. Pandoria was starting to grow concern at her Driver, who refused to let her come into the hotel room while he worked. The prince only came out to eat or use the restroom, sneaking in a sly kiss and hug to her as he returned to his work.
Into the afternoon of the second day, he emerged and panted…looking almost as if he had triumphed over some difficult obstacle. "It's…finished." He wheezed, falling onto the floor and promptly falling asleep.
She dared not look into the closet, but instead tucked her prince under the covers of their bed curling up next to him. Turters' foot was what woke him up the next day, alongside the smell of brewing coffee. He wiped the drool from his cheek and coughed a bit before rising. Pandoria stepped up to him, and he nearly felt his breath leave him.
The dress he had fashioned mimicked her regular clothing, it was stylized ball gown, where the top was pin-striped with black and purple, exposing the length of her arms but covered her light-bulb like shoulders. It had a modest dip to the front, barely passing her neck, and the length of it was layer upon layer of purple, blue and pink in a circular poof around her. "Pandoria…it looks so lovely on you."
"You're the one that made it…" She blushed, smoothing out a few of the layers, "I didn't know you could even do stuff like this."
"Yeah! It's…a bit of a secret hobby." He admitted while placing Turters back into his spot safely. "My pa never really enjoyed the idea of me knowing how to fashion clothing…he told me it wasn't a very manly thing to do but I always snuck to the seamstress and she would teach me tips and tricks. Little did the old fart know I was making half of his pantaloons and most of them got torn!"
Pandoria snickered softly, and his heart felt full. "But what about your boutonniere? Don't you need one of those?"
"Nah. I'll be okay. If anything I can use Turters!" He took the suit out, and placed Turters on the front, posing him gently. The two laughed together and he stared at her for a moment. She looked down, making a soft pause at the face that her core crystal was covered up. The poofs of the shoulders also covered her glowing arm sockets, "Why this?"
"Ah…Pandy…I don't want you to be ashamed. But this is for our protection. I've come to find out something…" He crossed his arms, and sighed, "The Indoline forces, they've been rampant lately. They're specifically targeting those who have Blades…and cracking down on unidentified ones or ones who are using them against the wishes of the Pratorium. There are incredibly strict rules regarding a Driver and their Blade…"
"So they don't want Drivers and Blades to be together? How can that be? That's the closest connection you can have with another living being, sharing the ether of them!" She clenched her fists tightly, eyebrows knitting, "That's just…not fair! You should be able to love whoever you want!"
"I know Pandoria…and I understand. But please, I want this to keep being a thing. You and me. I promise my feelings for you haven't changed. But for now, we need to be safe."
She sighed gently, "Alright. Well, let's just go have a good time together!"
"Ah…your tail though…" He winced, realizing it was still wiggling about underneath her dress.
"Easy fix!" She winced slightly and pulled it hard. It came loose, and she tossed it onto the bed. Zeke felt his stomach sink seeing this, leaping back a bit.
"What in the world?"
"I could have done that at any time, but only I can remove it!" She adjusted her glasses.
"Doesn't….doesn't that hurt?"
"Nah, it's just like plucking a hair." She shrugged it off.
"Let's…not forget about that before we leave then…" He gulped hard, trying not to stare at it.
A massive crowd had built up in front of the holy gates of Fonsa Myma, people of all sorts of races and colors collectively chattering. There were all kinds of beautiful women in fancy dresses, some long and simple others complex and full of accessories. There were a few Blades there, but they kept their distance from Drivers as the watchful eyes of a few Indoline uniforms stared them down.
Pandoria was growing more and more excited, and her shoulders started to glow a bit more with each passing moment. Zeke whistled gently as he tugged at the fabric of her dress, nudging her a little. She calmed down, and the light dimmed. The gates opened and she clapped softly, bouncing while she clutched onto her Driver's arm.
The stairs led up to the Grand Palace, where the leader of Uraya stood and shook the hands of the visitors. A smaller boy was standing next to her, with a robotic like Blade at his side. He was wearing the robes and symbol of Mor Ardain, looking pleased as he watched the crowd move along. "Pandy…look…that's the Emperor of Mor Ardain."
"What? No shitting?"
"Watch your mouth, we're around regality."
She eyed the boy, who gave her a tiny glance at first but more of his focus was on Zeke. The prince had styled his hair in a very fanciful manner, one where he might not be recognizable to many but he still bore the eyepatch. After Zeke was welcomed by the queen he hurried inside.
Mosaic tiles lined the floors, fountains of enormous sizes spewed out colorful patterns and the light fixtures were heavily decorated and sparkled within. A regal orchestra was strumming along, servants hustled about with plates of food and drink for guests.
"This brings me back to the posh parties my father always attempted to throw…something always went wrong."
"Just don't step on any toes and we'll be fine." Pandoria huffed slightly towards him. As Zeke turned to get a better view of a garden nearby, he ran straight into the side of a butler carrying a plate of hors d'oeuvres. The prince panicked and helped to clean the mess while his Blade groaned, covering her face with her hands.
The night went on without much havoc. Zeke danced perfectly alongside his Blade, but when given to another partner per tradition, he often stepped on toes and stumbled. Many grumbled and let him return to Pandoria without question. He always would provide a cheesy grin, to the point where she thought he was doing this on purpose.
As the night was nearly coming to a close, one of the men dancing along with Pandoria was trying to twirl her along to the beat of the song. He noticed her relcutancy to this and grumbled, "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm just not good at this."
"Well come on I'll show you!"
She yelped as he turned her arm upwards, and some of the material from her shoulder draped in a way where her light fixtures were exposed. The Gormotti man sharply gasped, and backed away. "A Blade…but you were…" He stared to Zeke and felt himself panic a little, running off.
Pandoria felt her heart sink, as the Gormotti man was on a straight path flying towards the Indoline soldiers. She rushed to Zeke's side and tugged him away, "We have to go!"
"Pandy? What's wrong?"
"Someone found out!" She panicked, trying to weave them through the crowd. A few people started to stare at them, whispering gently. "We have to go now Zeke!"
He could hear the desperation in her voice, even over the loud music. The room began to spin almost as he hurriedly chugged through the crowd and back out the front door. They began to bolt down the stairs, Pandoria tripping slightly in her heels. Zeke noticed a few people beginning to line up against the windows, and plucked her up carrying her like a bride. She clutched onto his neck as he nearly leaped down each flight of steps, back to their hotel. They quickly gathered their things, and headed to the Titan's ship dock.
The guard protecting them was fast asleep…Pandoria reattached her tail and started working the key slot of one of the smaller, quicker boats. She slammed on the controls, and without hesitation the ship started and began to head out the exit of Uraya's side. Lucky for both of them, the beastly Titan was above sea level and into the night they sailed.
Once out of range, Pandoria grabbed her knees. A few tears fell, and then flowed. She silently sniffled in her dress.
Zeke knelt next to her, touching her shoulder softly. "Pandy…"
"Why?" She muttered, "Why do you have such awful luck?" She snapped her head back up at him, her face a sad mixture of anger and sorrow.
"Pandoria…I…" He tried to make some excuse, tried to be funny, tried to seek the answer deep down inside himself but couldn't muster anything. He just felt his legs fail him as he sat on the floor with her, ache and disappointment deep within him.
"I…I'm sorry."
She wrapped her hands around his waist, and remained silent. For a moment they sat together, both in their overly dressed outfits. Zeke huffed as he tore off his jacket and ripped the shirt. "What are you doing?" She gasped as he tossed out the uniform.
"Good riddance!" He panted, wiping his hands and digging through their things for his usual jacket. He placed it back on and removed Turters from the inner pocket, smiling at her.
She held their pet and glanced up to him. Frustrated, she stood and made him turn around. She removed her dress, quickly placing her usual clothing back on before tossing it out into the Cloud Sea. "Yeah…good riddance…" She distantly gaze to him and sighed, "Gosh…you are a piece of work sometimes my prince. I can't stay mad at you."
"Well especially for something that's not inherently my fault either!" He pointed out with an air of haughtiness.
"Don't you get like that with me!" She twisted his ear a bit and he winced, bending under the pressure of the pain.
She let go and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He returned the hug and held her shoulder, looking out to the distance. The long body of Mor Ardain's humanoid form wading through the Cloud Sea was sombering back and forth. It moved in an endless Circle, always peering forward. "Well, I suppose there's a place free from Indol. Perhaps we can find some respite there."
"I guess so." She shrugged. "Why not? As long as I've got you, I know we'll be okay."
He chuckled softly, "You're right about that."