Forever Strong

A/N: People like my story! I HAVE A LIFE! YESSH! ...Whoa, now I really need a life...

"I dunno... are you sure?"

"Have I ever led you astray?"

"Hmm... wrong question."

"Well, it's legal, if that's what you mean." Zelos shrugged. "When I was little, I often saw people, mostly half-elves then, doing it there."

Sheena grimaced. "You do mean bathing there... right?"

He smiled, recalling the memory. "...Mostly."

Before Zelos had the opportunity to relive any pleasant, at best, memories from his childhood when he saw who-knows what, Sheena hastily managed seven words. "You! Over there! In the forest. Now!"

Zelos did as he was told with that line from the Tower of Salvation, the one line she had specifically told him never again to say. "Hehehehehehe... Roger!"

However, Sheena was starting to have fleeting thoughts about skinny-dipping next to the Grand Tethe'allan Bridge. For starters, it didn't sound that appealing, needless to say.

"What if somebody sees me?" She wondered aloud, and inadvertently, loud enough so that Zelos heard.

He laughed. "Duh! Smile and wave!" Sheena didn't find it funny though, she was at her wits end. "ZELOS! FOREST, NOW!"

First person: Zelos

Man, what's taking her so long? I understand women usually tend to take longer than guys with this sorta thing, but it's getting unreasonable. It's been twenty minutes just for her to wash herself and her clothes, most others I would be okay with taking this long, but Sheena's not one to be feminine. Not saying she, she's not sexy, though. Hehehe.

Maybe I should go check on her...! She could've been eaten by a giant squid!

Listen to me, giant squids! I'm just trying to think up an excuse to take a peek at her...

...Actually, it would've been more of a monster fish or something...

Okay! I'm just going to sit in this tree and, uh, throw stuff at any passer-by! Hmm... no rocks in the tree, I'm not getting down. No acorns; you can't throw leaves; I need all the stuff in my pack... Well, I guess taking a nap wouldn't hurt. 'Sides, she'll scream if she's in trouble. ...Right?

For only the second in her life, she agreed with Zelos. Treading in the ocean, even naked; well, especially naked; felt beyond relaxing. In spite of herself, she let content sigh escape her lips, and allowed herself to become lost among the cheerful cries of the gulls. Amidst the bliss, she even did something she did only when se was around those she truly felt comfortable. With a quick couple twirls of her wrist, her hair gently cascaded down her back in a blur of shimmering black, the tips barely receding into the water, casting the most insignificant of ripples.

For once, she felt truly at peace...

That was her problem. Currently, she didn't have the time sit back and enjoy the new world, not just yet. If she couldn't deliver this message to Iselia that the people of Tethe'alla mean no harm, hundreds, possibly thousands could die at her leisure. Such was something she could not bare, not after her first dangerous encounter with Volt. The shrieks of terror as the sky unmercifully rained pillars of lightning onto her village and people still haunted her today.

Even looking into the eyes of her friends, or anyone for that matter, always reminded her of the inane stares given by those who perished with their eyes open, only to see their souls wafted off to oblivion, it was a struggle she must endure. She told no one of that secret, save for Corrine, of course.

She opened her eyes to the dancing of the sun's rays across every inch of her body, and reluctantly swam back to shore.

'Hmph, well this is awkward. 'Loudmouth' Zelos hasn't uttered a word since he entered the forest. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing...

Eer, scratch that, both of them are bad, for me at least. Option one: He's spying on me. I'm still in the water now, so that's okay, I guess. Option two: He's in trouble! I can't let him stay in that forest any longer, for my own sake if nothing else! I don't want anyone more to die because of me!' Taking a leap of faith with her second option, she dashed out of the water and put on her semi-dry garb.

She only fumbled once when she put the 'stupid thing' on backward. 'The clothes from Mizuho are a little intricate, but worth it once you get it on. (She says as she throws her ribbon into the sand out of frustration and runs off.)'

"Zelos! Zelos!"

Zelos awoke groggily, standing over him was a squirrel. It gave a couple flicks of its fluffy tail and scampered off. He sat up leaning against the trunk for balance and support. "Did I hear Sheena calling just a second ago...?" He considered his options: Take a peek and get slapped; take a peek and save her; or stay put and sleep.

As tempting as the last one seemed, more than ever now after just waking up, he decided to go with taking a peek. For better, or for worse, he moved aside some branches blocking his view of the beach. His eyes scanned the entire beach line for any signs of Sheena. His blood ran cold when all he spotted was her pink ribbon, sprinkled with sand.

He leapt out of the tree and bolted towards the beach. "Sheena! Sheena!" He then stopped and turned back to the forest. He heard something rustle in the bushes. Now in full hero mode, Zelos knelt low to the ground, sword hilt in hand. He focused all his energy and thought on the rustling shrubbery prepared for anything.

...Well, almost.

Sheena, who decided instead to ask a passer-by near the bridge if they had seen or heard her traveling companion, spotted the figure in pink, red, and brown much to her reprieve. She thanked the traveler for their assistance anyhow, and headed in his direction at a quiet sprint.

The wind produced an animal-like to howl, somehow, it managed to deceive Zelos into believing that the howl derived inside the bush. This was it, do or die. With a battle cry he dove violently into the bushes, hacking and slashing at anything and everything in his way.

Sheena stood a few feet away and observed the scene with a blank stare. "Zelos..." she spoke with some concern lacing her words. "Why, oh why, are you attacking a bush?"

He stopped, blinked, and turned to face her. "Hey! You're okay!" he astounded gleefully, resisting the urge to run up and embrace her.

"Uuh, well, yeah. A-are you?"

He rubbed the back of his head and explained his situation with a sheepish grin. "Well, at least we were saved from some stupid, hackneyed circumstance of searching for each other when really we had just switched places." He added afterwards.

Sheena nodded her agreement. "You can go ahead, now. Just don't take too long."

"Yeah, you're one to talk."

She ignored his remark and set off for the forest, and after a few minutes, resisted an unfamiliar urge to sneak a quick look.

Dear Corrine,

This day is just getting weirder and weirder. Maybe it's because I walked under that ladder this morning... No, wait, that's for back luck? Well, either way, don't get me wrong, it's not as if I don't like traveling with him, but at the same time, I kinda wish I was alone. For starters, it might keep me strong hearted, or so I would hope.

I really wish you were here right now. You would've liked it now. Though, it's arguable with you because the half-elves aren't to be discriminated against (meaning they're free) and since half-elves were the one who experimented on you... Well, I like it here, anyway.

I just heard Zelos yell something... hang on...

Ugh, what a weirdo. He was waving merrily to some travelers passing the bridge in his birthday suit.

After this, I know I'll never be normal again. I'll miss you, sanity!