A/N: Sorry it's... kinda short. And yay for OC's!

"Hello Zelos," said the beautiful stranger, nodding her head politely. Looking up, she nodded again. "Sebastian. Could you please help make my fiancée at least somewhat presentable?"

"Of course, Miss Epiphany," Sebastian answered. "Come now, Master Zelos. Your tailors recently had you fitted for-" he started, but Zelos stood up and shook his fist angrily.

"Now hold on a second, Pip!" he said, shoving past Lloyd and the others to tower over 'Miss Epiphany'. "You may have found some clever way to get me to marry you, but you aren't my wife yet! If I want to walk around half-naked by the Goddess, I shall do so!"

The edge of her lip curled slightly upwards, but otherwise her expression was blank when she said: "Of course." She looked up at Zelos, face demure but her coal-black eyes intense. "But could you please start up a fire? The sun might still be warm but we get nothing but cold winds in this house. The only exception, of course, being your indoor pool area, which is almost always heated." She let her gaze travel down, to where one could still se the hot pink bikini Zelos was wearing under his pants.

Zelos's eye twitched. "Sebastian," he said, not looking away from his fiancée. "Start up a fire. We wouldn't want Miss Epiphany catching a cold." But before Sebastian could even move, Zelos got impatient, lifted his hand, and said, "Fireball!"

The logs in the fireplace began crackling immediately.

"You are so considerate, darling," she murmured. "Really." Then she leaned a little to the side, examining the ninja, the swordsman, the healer, and the Ex-Chosen. "Are these your friends that you always talk about, Zelos?"

Baring his teeth in a very scary grin, he said, "Would you like me to introduce you?"

The raven-haired beauty fluttered her eyelashes. "It would please me to no end, dear heart."

When Zelos turned around, he saw that not one of his companions could look him in the eye. Raine began coughing, one hand to her mouth, and Lloyd followed suit, finding the wall next to him very fascinating. Colette and Sheena made no attempt to hide their giggles, however. You are DEAD, Zelos mouthed to Sheena, who couldn't keep a straight face. Out loud, he said, "The woman in orange would be Raine Sage, a schoolteacher from Iselia and one very skilled in the healing arts. Next to her are Lloyd Irving, the Eternal Swordsman, and Colette Brunel, his fiancée and the Ex-Chosen of Sylvarant."

"Oh, my," she said. "I feel quite honored to be in the same room as such daring individuals. And who is this lovely young lady?" she asked, floating past Zelos to stand before Sheena. Sheena felt a bit put out that the stunning noblewoman was actually taller than her by an inch. She hated looking up at people, but when you were a ninja, it paid to be small.

"Sheena Fujibayashi," Sheena said. "Chief of Mizuho."

"And one of the legendary heroes," the woman added, smiling softly. Looking up, so as to address all of the heroes, she said, "And I am Pandora Epiphany, one with no great accomplishments to boast of. It is a pleasure to meet you all." Turning her intense eyes upon Lloyd, she held out her hand.

"Pleasure's all mine, Miss Epiphany," Lloyd said, shaking the offered hand energetically with both of his.

"Lloyd," Zelos fairly moaned, "You moron!"

Lloyd stopped shaking her hand. "Um?" he said.

"You were supposed to kiss it," Pandora whispered conspiratorially, smiling.

"Oh!" Lloyd turned red and quickly pecking the offered hand. "Right. Sorry."

"You really are a backwater hick!" Zelos said, shaking his head in amazement.

"Zelos!" Pandora said sharply, for the first time actually having a strong emotion show in her voice. "Is that any way to treat the hero of both worlds, not to mention your friend?" She turned back to Lloyd, curtsying. "Please forgive his rudeness."

"Not my fault it's true," Zelos said, shrugging.

"Yeah, and we're all already used to the fact that he's a rude, stupid Ex-Chosen," Lloyd said, cheerfully.

"Hey!"

"Still," Pandora mused, once more being subdued and mellow. "Such a thing would not be allowed if we were in my house. People follow rules there." She turned her head, looking over her shoulder at Zelos, who bared his scary grin again. Making a small noise of disdain, she continued, "In any case, allow me to apologize for him, Mr. Irving."

"Aw, call me Lloyd!" Lloyd said. "After all, we're going to be close friends if you're marrying Zelos, right?"

Pandora smiled. "Of course."

"Ahem," Raine said, suddenly feeling a bit left out of the conversation. "This might seem a bit forward, Miss Epiphany," she said, "But I couldn't help but notice your last name was very.. unique. Could you happen to be related to-"

"Charles Epiphany?" Pandora finished. "Yes. He's my father."

"Then I'd say you have accomplished something!" Raine smiled. "Being one of the first half-elven nobility in Meltokio."

Pandora shrugged, lightly. "That was no feat of mine. My father is the one who became nobility. I just happen to be his daughter. I haven't done anything worthwhile, like preaching about equality or helping rebuild a ruined town. Nothing that would warrant, say, building a statue of me in the town square."

Sheena, Lloyd, and Raine all looked at the floor, their faces turning red.

"W-Well the people of Luin simply wanted a way to express their thanks," Sheena spoke up. "We really didn't do anything."

"The amount of money you donated was staggering," Pandora answered. "I don't think I could be quite so selfless, myself." After a moment's pause her eyes swiveled to meet Colette's. Colette almost took a step backwards, as if thrown back by the black energy in Pandora's eyes. "And you, Ex-Chosen of Sylvarant?" she asked. "What have you been doing, now that the worlds are as safe as one could hope for?"

Colette tried to take a moment to gather herself, being much more timid than the eagle-eyed noblewoman staring at her. "Ah, em..." she said, her face turning red. "Lloyd and I are gathering all the Ex-Spheres so they won't make anyone suffer anymore," she said at last.

"Like the ones you all wear?" She smiled at the expressions on their faces. "I would very much like to stay and chat, but my father is expecting me for dinner. Perhaps tomorrow you all could come and enjoy tea with me?"

"I have..." Raine started, but then reconsidered. She actually had nothing to do, since none of the ninjas of Mizuho had contacted Sheena yet. There would be no use in just flying around randomly on her Rheiards, would there? "I have... no other plans made," she said in the end.

"I'm with her," Sheena said, indicating Raine with a nod of her head. "We're kind of on our own journey together."

"I'm sure the Ex-Sphere hunt could be postponed till after tomorrow!" Lloyd said eagerly. "What do ya say, Colette? Doesn't it sound fun?"

"..Yeah," Colette said quietly.

"It appears we are late, Regal," said a monotone voice from the doorway.

"Why does everyone have to surprise me by just walking in here without knocking?" Zelos yelled, trying to calm his pounding heart.

"Maybe you should start locking it..? Just a thought." Sheena snickered.

"Grrrr!"

"More guests?" Pandora asked.

"Yeah," Zelos growled. "Regal Bryant and Presea Combatir. This is-"

"We have already met," Regal said. He bowed and kissed her hand. "How is your father's business doing, Miss Epiphany?"

"Very well, or else I wouldn't be here, Duke. I'm not a noble because of extreme love for half-elves in Meltokio," she answered.

"Well he knows what to do cause he's a duke..." Lloyd muttered, and Colette patted his arm sympathetically. Louder, he said, "Hey Regal! Hey Presea! Long time no see." He grinned as Colette donned her angel wings, neatly zooming over the surprised head of Pandora to peck Regal on the cheek, then dropping to the floor and bending down to do the same to Presea.

"How come only noble ladies get their hands kissed?" she demanded, teasing. Regal tried his best to look admonished and bent, kissing her hand as well.

"I'll pass," Raine said dryly.

"Ditto," sighed Sheena. "I get enough of that kind of treatment at home."

"That's an interesting talent, Colette," Pandora noted, seeming to almost glide in her fine dress that hid her feet. "I should very much like all of you to stop for a visit sometime. Zelos, you can come if you wish. It won't matter if you choose to or not-" Zelos shuddered at the malicious joy in her demure smile only he could see "-Since I see you almost every day, regardless. Until next time, my love." She blew him a kiss and floated out of the room, her golden-collared (and mute, apparently) servants following her out, and closing the massive doors behind her.

Regal slowly turned to Zelos. "My love?" he echoed, looking as though he had swallowed something unpleasant. "Please don't tell me you've somehow managed to get Miss Epiphany on your list of flames. She's a respectable girl, you know."

"Oh no, Regal," Lloyd butt in before Zelos could answer. "It's much more interesting than that."

"Yeah," Sheena said. "She's his fiancée."

Regal's eyes widened. "You don't say?" His expression turned murderous and he walked to Zelos, looming over the redhead and beginning to cross his arms, lest he be tempted to use them for violence. "I had heard the rumors, of course, but-"

"OK, well, everything you heard in the rumors is a lie!" Zelos said angrily, swiping a shirt from Sebastian, who had gone to fetch one earlier when Pandora had ordered him to. He knew his master well enough to know that he would follow Pandora's advice only when she was gone from the premise. Buttoning up the shirt, his face turning an uncharacteristic shade of red, he continued, "Because if you think that I would stoop that low, and if you think that I would ever do something like that to a girl, then you've obviously got the wrong impression of me!"

He stopped, biting his lip. "You all can stay here for the night if you wish, there are plenty of rooms," he said at last, realizing only Regal knew what he was talking about. "I want to be alone." Then he stormed off, Sebastian trailing after him like a duckling after it's mother.

A/N: Score for the "WSIR&SFPK" or "Who Should Interrupt Raine & Sheena's First Passionate Kiss".

Yuan: 1

Genis AND Yuan: 1