Chapter 3: True Happiness

Like she thought, she got such a telling off from Tataru before she was even over the threshold of the Annex that one would think that she had committed a terrible crime in the time she had been gone. Their secretary, turned crafter, scolded her for a few good minutes before she seemed to realize that she should have expected this and shook her head.

"I know that it's not easy for you to be locked up here, and I don't blame you for wanting to get some air," she said once she caught her breath and calmed down. "But please, no more excursions like that for right now. Or, at least tell one of us before you feel the need to escape again. I promise once your injuries are cleared then you can go back out as often as you want. But until then, don't do anything to make them worse."

The adventurer nodded, now feeling bad that she made them worry needlessly. So much so that she didn't argue when the twins guided her back to her room—though they seemed to realize that their constant fretting may have been part to blame as they agreed to keep the window open and let her sit at the table inside of lying in bed to eat her lunch.

She could tell that they were trying their best to be compromising to this idea as possible, and they seem to be glad that she was feeling well enough to be up instead of forced to lay abed. So, while she could see that they were very watchful of her every movement, they did try to draw the attention onto more information they learned from their allies. The most recent one was from Maxima, who was checking in on them and asking how they were fairing of late—while also informing them of some of the changes happening over there.

"Things are going well for the moment and the Garlean people are slowly starting to come together," Alisaie explained while she helped herself to more tea. "Most of what's left of their army are now trying to return home after they learned of the state that it's in. I think that it may take a while for them to decide what to do from here, they still have such a mess to clean up. But I think that if we remain open with them, we may be able to come to more of an understanding."

Alphinaud nodded in agreement, stating, "According to Maxima, having been Quintus second in command, they have elected Jullus as a temporary leader for what remains of their army in Garlemald for the time being. At least until other members from the other provinces return to help with the rebuilding effort."

He sighed as he swirled his drink around absent-mindedly as he thought of all the changes that were still to come for them.

"They have such a long way to go," he commented as he remembered the ruins of the city. "They will basically have to rebuild their entire city, their entire government, nay their entire way of life from the ground up. Though they have some support, it won't be forever and they will have to be ready to walk this road towards an uncertain future. I wonder what they will become from here on out?"

"Well, as far as everyone is aware, Nerva and the rest of the royal family were killed off during the war or afterwards by tempered civilians. At the very least, no one has found any trace of them yet," Alisaie said as she finished shoving an entire cookie into her mouth and dusted off her hands. "So I guess we don't need to worry about anyone taking over and continuing their quest to conquer the rest of the world?"

It seemed fair to assume that. Even if all that remained of their army joined together, most of it had been conscripts who had either deserted and fled or were killed. They were less than half the army they had been before and so the odds of them taking on the Grand Company of Eorzea or the Far Eastern Alliance was slim to none, especially since their home was nothing more than rubble at this point.

They discussed more of the other nations that had been forced under their rule and it seemed that many were keen to win their freedoms back and tensions were now very strained as the different sides tried to work out what to do from here.

"Didn't Garlemald used to be a small republic?" the adventurer asked softly as Alphinaud brought her daily medicines.

Before they united as a nation, the disparate and weak Garlean tribes were force from their homes by the other races due to their inability to use magick. They managed to eke out a living in the frozen north until the Republic was formed… which lasted for many years… at least that was what she had been told before.

"Yes, before Solus—or I guess Emet-Selch—took over and discovered magitek," Alphinaud confirmed, smiling at her disgusted expression when she looked at her many different medicines. "It could be that they will return to such a form of government—though I think that they will benefit from having someone take charge of everything during the initial process until the idea truly settles in. That will take time though. And yes, I know that it's not the tastiest, but remember that these were made to help you recover, not for your indulgence."

She just glared at him as she took the first of the many bottles.

"If it makes you feel better, this should be the final day for some of them," he reassured her as she pinched her nose and quickly downed the vial in one go before coughing and shivering in disgust. "You will have to suffer through a couple more days for some of the others, such as the one for pain, but it's not forever, my friend."

"Yes, so take it or gods help me I will make sure to force it down your throat," Alisaie warned, "And don't think that I won't."

The adventurer laughed at Alisaie's threat before gripping her ribs in a wince—now realizing that she may have overdid it today. Immediately, she realized what she did and tried to play it off, but it was too late for her younger friends were now suddenly filled with worry and rising from their seats.

"I'm fine," she reassured them with a hint more force than was necessary, but their overprotectiveness was only stressing her out worse than before. "There is no need to worry, I'm healing faster than they thought I would be."

"Saying that you're healing faster than they thought doesn't mean recovered," Alisaie retorted, realizing that lunch was over with anyway and pointed her back to bed.

"I understand," she sighed, moving anyway just to keep the fighting down. "But if I don't start at least moving about then I will never get better. Even Y'shtola agreed to that last night."

"It's just that we don't want to take any chances of a relapse and risk any of your wounds from reopening before that comes," Alphinaud reasoned, trying to keep the peace between the two of them. "This… it's just… we should all be celebrating such a joyous occasion. But… it doesn't feel right with you hurt so badly. You didn't deserve all this pain and I just… wish that I could take this away."

"Yeah, you may not remember it because of the blood loss but we can clearly recall the state that you were in by the time you finally returned to us on board the Ragnarok," Alisaie hissed before looking away.

The adventurer sighed, really wishing that they stop bringing that up, but as she watched, she realized that Alisaie was trembling all over. It looked like she wanted to say something but was afraid of giving her voice to what it was and was instead holding herself back.

She had suspected that this was part of the problem and couldn't stand it any longer. She rather that Alisaie come out and tell her what was hurting her so badly and risk her temper than risking it festering inside until she exploded.

"Alisaie," she said as she sat back down on the bed and watched as the girl twisted her hands about and the hem of her sleeves frayed before her eyes. "You're right in that I don't remember much of what happened, and if you wish to tell me off for all that, you have every right to do so. But this dancing around isn't going to help so please… just come out and say it. If you are angry at me, then fine. Yell and scream at me… I don't care. Just stop avoiding this."

Alisaie threw her a sharp look; before she suddenly began to pace around the room, cracking her knuckles together, looking ready to flip the table over as she tried to find the right words to say. The adventurer was sure that it was just the calm before the storm… the final moments before the volcano erupted.

Alphinaud could sense the danger as well and was trying to be the mediator between them, but the adventurer silenced him with just a firm look. Even if Alisaie completely snapped and destroyed the room, it would be worth it if she could just get her to come out and say what was on her mind rather than continue to avoid their conversations as she had been. She just watched on calmly as Alisaie finally stopped pacing and turned back to her.

"Why?" the girl asked suddenly. "Why were you willing to stay and fight Meteion all alone?"

The adventurer looked on, watching how Alisaie was now breathing hard, looking ready to start throwing something.

"Well?" Alisaie demanded again hotly. "I saw what happened, remember? You looked me in the eyes while you pushed that gods-damned button and next thing we know we're teleported away from you! Do you have any idea how terrifying that was?! Not for us, but for you? I thought that we were in this together! That we were friends and comrades! That we would fight Meteion together?!"

"Alisaie," she began softly but Alisaie was having none of that.

"No, don't take that tone with me," Alisaie snapped back. "Do you know how I felt when I saw all that?! Seeing you down there and knowing that you were going to do something noble once more and leave yourself completely alone?! Sure, that madman Zenos showed up later, but you didn't know he would be there! And that bothers me even more that he had more power to get through to you while we could only sit back and pray! Regardless, whether he showed up or not isn't the important thing here! The fact is that you were willing to fight Meteion all alone! Why do that to yourself?!"

Alisaie was breathing hard like a bull, looking like it was taking every last ounce of patience and calm she had to not lose it completely. Alphinaud looked from one to the other, wondering what he could say to defuse the problem but the adventurer's expression didn't change.

"And then… and then you go and pick a fight with Zenos?" Alisaie demanded furiously. "What then? You were ready to die out there somewhere in the Great Expanse without us ever being able to find you or even discover what happened?"

"I'll admit that it was selfish of me to want to finish things off with Zenos once and for all. But if you expect me to regret removing you from the field at the last moment, then you are mistaken. Tell me, what other options were there?" she asked Alisaie, her tone still calm. "You were all caught up in Meteion's last attack and I knew that if something wasn't done then I would have lost you all. And I couldn't…?"

She couldn't go through that again. She had only gotten her friends back and she could not bear the idea of watching them disappear in front of her again… this time for good.

She closed her eyes again for a moment. It felt good to let go… to vent all that knot of anxiety that was tied up inside her. To be allowed to be wild and cast aside that stoic mask she always wears… she didn't even notice her injuries at first as she battled with Zenos. But that was something that she would bare.

She looked back to the twins and said honestly, "I don't think I could have been able to handle seeing you all disappear again. I don't regret what I did. If I had to go back and do it all over again, I know I would push that button once more even if I knew you would hate me for it. I'm only sorry that it hurt you so much."

Alisaie was trembling as the winds from Garlemald had swept over them at that precise moment. She was taking deep breaths before she gasped out, "It's just… I get that… but… do you have any idea just what we felt when we found you?"

Alisaie couldn't bring herself to look at her friend this time. She turned her head away as she fought the tears, using her bangs to cover her eyes. But she couldn't forget it… she just couldn't.

In quick succession, images of her friend lying on the ground and bleeding to death suddenly flashed in her mind. She remembered how pale and cold she had been… how there had been so much blood lost that it was practically black, how dull her eyes were even after she finally woke up? Gods, she didn't want to remember that. She had seen her hurt before, but never had she ever seen her that close to death.

Alisaie also remembered how she once came to this very room one night and begged that she take better care of herself, because she really should. She wasn't invincible and despite the many miracles she performed where it was easy to forget that, one little mistake and suddenly one of people that was closest to her heart would be gone forever.

This last adventure just showed her how real a reality that could be.

Alisaie chanced to look at the adventurer and the linen shirt that the woman was wearing showed a little bit of her shoulder—where she could just make out the scar creeping past the collar. It was still red and angry against her skin and Alisaie could still remember the hot blood that seeped over her hands as she tried to stop the bleeding.

She may be recovering well, but Alisaie got a chance to look at the many wounds that covered her body… some of which have already scarred and will be carried for the rest of her life.

Alisaie's hands were now shaking so badly that she had to curl them up into fists as she tried to push all those emotions to the side. But when she looked into her dear friend's eyes, quiet as always, waiting for her to vent all that was inside her… something just snapped. Alisaie marched right over to her and grabbed her friend by the shoulders, as if she was getting ready to shake her. Alphinaud stood from his seat, ready to stop her, but their adventurer friend just held up a hand to stop him once more, never taking her eyes off Alisaie as the two looked at each other long and hard.

Alisaie was breathing hard through her teeth, the sound close to a growl, her emotions were rolling about inside her like a violent storm.

They stood there like that for a few tense minutes… wondering what was going to happen…?

And then… it was as if all the fight had left her and Alisaie just shut her eyes in defeat. She became limp before she slowly sank to the floor. Her hands left her friend's shoulders and slid down her arms and just held on as the younger girl collapsed to her knees. Both of them could only stare as Alisaie, trembling all over, laid across the adventurer's lap and pressed her face against her stomach—being mindful of her wounds—and wrapped her arms around her waist as she began to sob openly.

Alphinaud looked to their friend, who was just as startled as he was at Alisaie's sudden tears but she didn't push her away. On the contrary, she gently wrapped her arms around Alisaie with such tenderness that it took his breath away. She placed one hand on the back of the girl's head and the other between her shoulder blades as she held her tightly.

Alisaie didn't care how she looked at that moment as her hands clung desperately to her friend, her fists balling the fabric of her clothes tightly as if she were a child who had awoken from a terrible nightmare. She clung on tightly, terrified that she would be ripped away and her friend would vanish from her life… forever.

The very idea of not having her friend here with them was gut wrenching. Panic and pain flooded her heart at such a thought and she had to fight the urge to get up and run from the room. The idea of those strong arms that could wield weapons with such grace that it was beauty in motion suddenly lying cold and lifeless…?

It took some time before Alisaie was able to regain enough control to be able to speak again. But her face was still pressed against her friend's shirt so it was slightly muffled when she did finally calm her tears enough to talk.

"I just… I never felt more scared in my life," Alisaie stated slowly. "The only other time was when grandfather left us to go to Eorzea. The night that Dalamud fell, we were at the Studium and were able to keep track of what was going on through the telescope… I remember seeing the red moon fall and crack open before it hit the ground… but we didn't find out until later that he… that grandfather was…?"

Her voice trailed off as Alphinaud looked away, his face also holding onto grief as he remembered that day when he read out the letter from Urianger. The shock was so great that he didn't believe the words, as if it hadn't settled in yet. It wasn't until later that night when he picked up his grimoire, the final gift that grandfather gave to him, did it all hit him at once and he broke down and sobbed as hard as Alisaie was right now.

"It was just like that day… only it was even worse because I was there… and I couldn't think of anything to do to help you," Alisaie mumbled. "I was there, doing my best to heal you—to bring you back… but I didn't know if it would be enough. None of us knew. And more than once you stopped breathing entirely… and then your heart stopped at one point! And we thought for sure…?"

"Alisaie…" the adventurer whispered gently and the girl stopped at that as she slowly raised her head, her red and tear-filled eyes looking up at their dear friend as she gave her such a sad smile, her hands carefully running through those white locks.

"I'm sorry," she whispered but Alisaie was shaking her head.

"No, please… I can't bear hearing you say that," she sobbed in a choked voice. "I… don't apologize. If anything, we should be the ones apologizing to you!"

"For what…?" she asked in confusion.

"For not being able to protect you," Alisaie cried as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Because you don't seem interested in looking after yourself—always thinking about everyone else—Alphinaud and I both agreed that it's our duty to protect and look after you! A fine job that we're doing though…?"

"Alisaie—?!" Alphinaud gasped at that as their friend looked at him with startled surprise, and he looked away with a red face.

"Well, it's true! Someone has to since you won't!" Alisaie retorted, her voice rising again in anger. "This was something we decided after Zenos took over your body that day! Just another one of the many cruel, heartless things that bastard did to you for no reason but to torment you! I couldn't stand it! Especially after what Fandaniel told us what they did to you!"

Their friend just continued to hug her and rubbed her back as Alphinaud watched on, looking a little misty-eyed as well. It wasn't as if it didn't affect him either, but Alisaie had been right up close by the time they realized what was going on and then to see that horrible creature emerge from her body—?

"The worst part is that we didn't have time to try and console you about it either," he added as the adventurer looked over at him, Alisaie still crying into her lap. "I could only imagine how traumatic that would have been… but with time running out to stop them, we… just had to postpone. And that only made everything feel so much worse. Like we were neglecting you—telling you to just bear with the pain until later…?"

"We didn't have time," she reminded him.

"I know that!" he said loudly before he lowered his head and muttered a bit more quietly. "It's just… we feel that we could have said something to let you know that we were there for you. You are always there for us, making sure that we were safe… and yet when it really counted, we moved straight on towards the next battle without even making sure that you were properly cared for. I can't imagine just how horrible it must have been. We didn't even stop to tell you to rest before rushing off towards the Tower of Babil. And then after that…? When you decided to go alone after the two of them to the moon…?"

He wrapped his arms around him tightly, as if desperate for a hug, and shook his head.

"When you decided to give chase after Zenos and Fandaniel on your own… it was as if a knife had been struck into my heart," he confessed miserably. "Once again, we were forcing you to carry on the burden in our stead. And what happens? You're forced to face against Zodiark of all begins? And even afterwards… we don't have time to care for you… I wasn't even able to break away from my duties back at the camp with helping the Tempered fast enough to arrive with the others to treat your wounds—as I'm sure that you must have had!"

"And since then it has just been one thing after another. If it had been the other way around, I know that you would have made us sit back and rest for a time, offered a shoulder to cry on or a sympathetic ear to listen to our woes," Alisaie went on, resting her cheek against her friend's front and closing her eyes as her tears soaked the fabric. "Seeing you so badly hurt only showed us just how spectacularly we failed you. I just… can't go through that again."

"Alisaie," she whispered softly and Alisaie instinctively leaned her head into her friend's gentle touch as her fingers continued to run through her hair. But now that she was speaking, she found that she couldn't bring herself to stop.

"It was as if there was a weight upon my soul that I couldn't remove when I first heard of grandfather's fate," she muttered quietly, her hands still shaking slightly. "I felt that there was no one else out there I could really talk to—someone who really understood me like he did. So I never did… I never bothered to speak of it. I was… so angry for a long time. And when we met…? Especially after you agreed to help me solve the mysteries of the calamity… I don't know. It was like I was cut free of that weight—of that anger. I still mourn for him and it hurts like the seven hells, but I felt that I could get back up again and finally start to move forward. With you around, I felt that nothing was impossible anymore and that I could do and be anything I wanted. I was even able to make peace with my annoying, stick-in-the-mud brother here and let me tell you that that was not something that I thought could happen… at least not so soon."

She heard him give a sharp intact of breath but she continued on as she hugged her friend a little tighter and confessed, "But that moment at Ultima Thule has just haunted me since then."

That kind look in their friend's eyes as spoke up to her while being tossed about in Meteion's attack—though she knew she could not physically hear the words over the wind she knew what they were.

'It will be alright.'

No… it wasn't alright. Not one bit of this was alright.

"I just keep seeing it…" Alisaie whimpered, her voice hitching violently so that it was difficult to make out anything clearly. "You… staying behind… your face as you smiled up to me and pushing that button before everything faded around us? That could have been my final memory of seeing you alive! I have nightmares about it now… when I saw you lying there… I don't know I… I just felt like… like I was broken and bleeding out from the pain. Like I was the one who was lying there with those wounds. That's how bad it hurt to see you like that and I know that it was because we just weren't strong enough to stand with you at the very end when it really counted."

She sobbed openly at that until her friend hugged her a little tighter as well. Alphinaud was now shaking out of the corner of her eyes, looking like he was close to breaking down completely. She wondered if he had felt the exact same way she did at that moment.

"I'm sorry," their friend just whispered softly and sadly. "I never meant to hurt you like that."

"Shut up! Don't say you're sorry! I just want you to open your eyes and realize that you are loved! By so many people out there!" Alisaie cried out, her temper flaring up again. "When we reached out to all our friends and allies? Everyone who came to help us… you knew just about each and every single person there personally. They weren't here just to help the Scions, they wanted to help you. Because they care about you… if that doesn't tell you how much you are loved by so many and by so much then I don't know what else to do to convince you! What were we to tell them if we came back and told them that you were gone?!"

The adventurer stared down at her and Alisaie saw tears in her own eyes as well.

"I know… I've always known," she told her sadly, her fingers gently brushing over her ear in a tender way. "But, tell me… how is what I did any different than what you two and the others did to get me that far? When you sacrificed yourselves one by one…? Until I was left alone?"

Alisaie looked back down and muttered, "That's different."

"Only because it was you," she countered softly. "What did you expect me to tell your parents if I returned alone?"

"It was for the sake of the world and you know it!" Alisaie retorted back.

"It was the last thing that either of us wanted, but what other options were there?" Alphinaud gasped, his face contorted with guilt that threatened to tear him apart. "Just thinking about how painful that would have been breaks my heart, but I didn't know what else to do. I know that nothing I say will justify the pain I had to put you through but…?"

But she didn't let him finish as she removed one of her arms from around Alisaie's shoulders and held it out for him instead. He instantly took her hand in both of his own as he began to shake, the guilt now seeping through with tears.

"Be honest, both of you," she asked softly, "If it had been the other way around… if you had the choice I had… and was given the chance to push that button to teleport me away… if you thought you could save me, you would have done the exact same thing, wouldn't you?"

Alisaie bit her lip and knew she could not argue with that.

"Listen," she went on when she did not get an answer, knowing that there was nothing she could have said to convince her otherwise. "I know that what I did was dangerous and reckless. But I couldn't stand the thought of losing you a second time. I knew what I was doing and I had no promises of being able to return alive. But know this much… that I would never leave either of you willingly."

Alisaie let out a strangled sob. What was she supposed to say to all that?

"You both mean so much to me," she confessed softly. "You and all the Scions… are everything to me. I came to Eorzea alone with nothing but the clothes on my back. Not even family waiting for my return. Just an orphaned nobody who comes from who knows where? So of course I found myself drawn to you all. I had to protect you… all of you. I did what I had to."

Before she came to Eorzea, she didn't know what that would be like to ever have a family who cared. Her mind drifted to the image of a woman in white with beautiful blue eyes that radiated nothing but compassion and understanding. At least, for a time, she understood the joys of being loved by a mother… and she thought of all her other friends, and of House Fortemps who had all but adopted her behind her back without ever realizing it.

She then carefully pulled Alisaie away from her so that she could pull her up onto the bed next to her and embrace her properly. Meanwhile, Alphinaud had gotten up and went straight to the kitchen set to clean up, his eyes were very red and he was trying to keep his sobs under control.

She didn't say anything about it as she carefully wiped the tears away from Alisaie's cheeks. Once everything settled in, Alisaie melted against her and rested her head against her chest as she asked, rather angrily, "But what about us? We want to be able to protect you too! Why won't you give us that chance?!"

"You already do a fine job of that," she said with an ironic smile. "Otherwise how else would I take care of myself? You know what my life is like daily? I'm on call at every moment of every day with no days off… constantly rushing off into fights and getting hurt, barely any sleep—in fact it's not uncommon for me to be up all night and outdoors, wearing the worst kind of clothes for the climate because it's more practical… just a typical life for a Warrior of Light."

"Please don't say something like that," Alphinaud begged, his breathing ragged as he tried to keep his voice steady—and failing completely. "We… we can't take it. A world without you in it…?"

"I'm going to die someday?" she reminded them softly. "Not even you two can prevent that."

"Not anytime soon though," Alisaie muttered firmly. "Not until you reach a ripe old age, you hear me?"

Their friend just smiled sadly at them, wishing that she could agree with them.

"Just… just promise me that you won't do something like that again?" Alisaie pleaded though she like it when their friend didn't immediately agree. She had paused in her soothing motions and seemed to become tense at such a thought. Alisaie pulled her head away to glare up at her as she gazed back sadly.

"I can't make such a promise this time," she told her honestly. "Remember what you once said to me? Making promises you have no way of keeping is not a kindness… it's a lie. We both know that if I was given that same choice, I would do it all over again. If anything, I should be making you promise me not to sacrifice yourselves like that again."

"We can't…?" Alphinaud began before realizing what she meant and looked away again as he wiped at his nose. "I… see."

"No, I refuse to accept this," Alisaie growled out, her hands shaking as she tried to pull away. But she wasn't given the choice for she was pulled against her friend even harder and held there tightly.

"Instead," the adventurer suggested, "How about this promise? That if you can promise me that you won't offer yourselves up to clear the way for me again… I swear that I will do all in my power to stick around. It's all I can really promise you both because I can't swear not to ever risk my life again."

"You… really think something like this can happen to us again?" Alisaie asked fretfully, the idea of facing that nightmare again frightened her to the core and her hands clenched on her clothes a little tighter.

"Maybe not travelling to another star and facing against the embodiment of despair, but knowing my luck, a new threat will be around the corner for me," she said and Alisaie let out a shaky laugh before shutting her eyes and leaning into her caring embrace.

Alisaie was aware of how overprotective she had been lately, but she just couldn't help it. They had all been through so much together and the very idea that she could lose someone so brave and strong…? She just remembered wishing, praying, that she could just take her place after seeing how hurt and broken her body was. To take away the pain that she had been in and to live for all their sakes.

But deep down she knew that she was completely right. She knew that should another threat come to this star, then their friend—their hero—would be the first to step up in defense of the world. She could still picture it… seeing how she walked across the frozen wasteland of Garlemald, under a burning sky, without a trace of fear. How in the face of all the blasphemies that they were struggling with, she just walked right in as if she were in control of the situation… while she, herself, was on the ground after having just embarrassed herself after her beating from the horde.

"Aren't you ever going to slow down?" she asked and their friend just let out a laugh at the very thought.

"I suppose I could, but then what would I do in my free time?" she asked her with a smile in her voice and happy tears still shining in her eyes, moving so that she was resting her back against the headboard again and Alisaie moved so that she was more lying down with her, still keeping her arms around her middle, handling her as gently as if she were made of glass.

"You're gonna have to retire someday from adventuring," Alphinaud pointed out as he splashed the water onto his face.

"You're right," she nodded in agreement and thought it all over. "I'll retire… a day after I die."

This time, it was Alisaie who let out a shaky laugh now and felt as if a great heavy weight that had been tying her heart down for the last few days had magically left her.

"Then I guess I will have to work twice as hard to protect you from now on," she promised as she breathed in deeply her floral scent… even after days of being locked up in this room, their friend still smelled of fresh air as if she had just come in off the road from another grand adventure.

Alphinaud seemed to still be struggling with his emotions and mumbled that he would be back after getting more tea to calm them down. She nodded him off, though they both knew it was just so that Alphinaud could regain control of his own emotions before he broke down completely as well.

When it was just the two of them, Alisaie leaned her head against her friend's chest and she could just feel the gentle thump of her heart beating. Such a sound brought an unexpected respite to her and all of the stress she had been feeling seemed to slip a little further away.

Alisaie felt safe and warm here and couldn't think of another place she would rather be at this moment. Her eyelids grew very heavy as her friend began to hum a soft tune to herself, and had undone her long braid and was tenderly running her fingers through it to straighten out the tangles and knots that had been there. Alisaie felt so tired and comfortable here as she focused on her friend's deep breaths—proof that she was alive and still with them.

"Do you need anything?" she asked suddenly and Alisaie shook her head.

"Just stay here like this, please," she pleaded, nuzzling against her like an overgrown cat. "I'll… I'll get up as soon as Alphinaud returns."

It just wasn't fair… not one bit was fair!

This was the reason she agreed to Alphinaud's stupid plan to sacrifice themselves to begin with. Instead, she was forced, once again, to fight alone and was hurt for all her troubles. Even though she was alive and with them at this moment why did it feel that she was denied a happy ending? She bore that incredible, unimaginable burden and succeeded in getting them all home. She wanted to see her friend have the happy ending that she has long since earned and deserved. Though she had no idea what that would even look like.

"It's alright," the adventurer told her gently, as if she knew exactly what she had been thinking about. "I know that you both are here for me. And that's enough."

"I'm going to be making your life very difficult in making sure that you're taking care of yourself," Alisaie threatened, finally closing her eyes. "You'll probably be sick of me soon enough."

The adventurer chuckled at that threat, realizing that the girl was starting to drift off.

"I could never get tired of you," she promised and Alisaie felt the last shred of anxiety leave her when she finished with, "Don't ever feel that you are a burden. You two could never be that… not to me. And don't ever be afraid to tell me how you feel either… as long as I'm here, I'll always be there to offer a shoulder to cry on."

Alisaie nodded, truly believing every word she said. Perhaps it was just due to lack of sleep and her tiredness, or just the relief she felt having gotten all that off her chest—she muttered, "We love you. We all love you so much. Don't ever forget that."

She felt her friend pause there and her breathing hitched for just a second before she felt a soft pressure on the top of her head where a chaste kiss had been placed.

"As I love you all," she whispered back before Alisaie finally blacked out.

Alphinaud had retreated from the room, having almost been reduced to tears like his sister. He just needed a moment… a moment away to regain control of his emotions before something inside him broke. He retreated back to his own room and had to double over, breathing hard to keep himself from sobbing like a baby.

He just… it hurt so much that he couldn't stand to unleash it all at once while she had enough to handle.

So instead, he focused upon his task of making another pot of tea. Though that was easier said than done for his hands shook so much that he ended up breaking one of the cups and he had to lean over his table in an attempt to get them to stop trembling.

It took some time, but eventually he was able to calm down enough that he could finish his task and return to the room with the tray.

When he returned, he was surprised at what he saw. He saw them both lying in bed with Alisaie's head fast asleep against the adventurer's chest as said friend gently rubbed her back in a soothing way. It was such a touching sight that he couldn't help but stare at it until she looked up and smiled at him.

After taking several more deep breaths, he entered and set the tray down on the table. After that, he began to clean up from after their meal, not really knowing what else to say—for Alisaie had done a good job of voicing all his emotions as well. No one else spoke as they enjoyed this slightly awkwards silence as he went about gathering the dishes and washed them in the sink off to the side. By the time that he was finished and everything was cleaned up, she finally spoke.

"She must be so tired," she said.

"I'm not surprised," Alphinaud agreed. "I know that she had trouble sleeping the last few days. I think that she really needed a way to vent all her feelings."

"Yes, almost as much as you," she pointed out and he froze.

"I'll be fine," he insisted, despite feeling like he wanted to drop right then and there.

She was silent again for a few minutes as he neatly stacked the dishes and remembered their initial reason for coming here and turned back to the books that had been tossed rather haphazardly to the side.

"Thancred told me that you were looking for some reading material, though that you were very specific on what," he said helpfully as he began to pick them up and stack them in accordance to size. Books were comfortable… safe… he was able to be in control of himself whenever books were involved and he was gladdened for that. "So, you're planning on going to all these places?"

"Eventually," she confirmed. "Though I think that I'll stick around Eorzea for a time. Mayhaps for a couple moons…? I have a lot to do."

He looked up in surprise as she went on, "There are sightings of powerful Blasphemies stalking about and I feel that the other nations could use all the help they can get in getting rid of them. There are also no shortage of monsters all over, not just Blasphemies, and I suppose on my free time I could help out in culling those. Maybe get around to helping around the Studium with their recent facets…?"

"Gods, you really don't sleep do you?" he asked with an incredulously smile.

"I'm also interested in those weapons of yours," she added with a nod to the nouliths that were still upon his back and he was surprised by that.

"You really think that you'll have time for…? Right, I forget who I'm talking to," he said with an incredulous shake of his head before he brought the books over to the bedside table and took his seat next to her again. His eyes turned to his slumbering sister, who was so deep in slumber that she was completely dead to the rest of the world. He suspected nothing short of another Calamity could wake her up right now… and he envied her. He wished he could let go and relax right now, looking so peaceful in their friend's arms, content to have been able to speak of some of their pent up frustrations like that before she exploded.

"What is it?" she asked, noticing his silence.

"I saw what you did there," he stated and she arched an eyebrow at him and he elaborated, "You got her to vent everything by directing all her negative feelings onto yourself. Like you always do." He then added under his breath, "No matter how bad they are."

"What are you talking about?" she asked him, not liking the sudden grim tone he was using.

He didn't want to answer her, but memories suddenly came back to him and he shifted uncomfortably as they began to play themselves over in his mind.

*Memory*

Alphinaud couldn't stop himself from grinning as he looked to his old school. It had been so long since he last stepped foot here and the moment he was over the threshold, many memories came flooding back… both good… and bad. The last time that he was here, he was that little lordling who believed himself to be a master of the debating room.

What a fool he had been.

Still, his soul seemed to instantly be soothes the moment he walked in through those doors with his friends. Nothing had changed… it was so nostalgic to be able to walk these halls again that it was as if he was still a student and he was getting ready to go to his next class. In fact, he suspected that should the bell ring he would be jumping up to head off to study.

He gave his head a shake and reminded himself what they were here for… though, he suddenly remembered how difficult it was to track Scholarch Montichaigne down, especially during the middle of the day?

They decided it was for the best to split up and begin their search, which he was happy to assist with… at least until he was spotted.

He was recognized instantly and he was almost mobbed by a group of students whom he could vaguely recall were always there to support him. He froze in terror on the spot as they called their friends and came running. He did his best to try and ward them off, reassuring them that he was just here for a visit and asking if they knew where the Scholarch was. Of course, they weren't listening and soon he was surrounded.

It took several long minutes of trying to tell them as politely as he could that he was here on important business before they finally seemed to realize that he wasn't here just for a social call. He had to promise that he would tell them more of his experiences since leaving the Studium to get most of them to leave—which they eventually did. After another ten minutes of exhausted efforts, only three students were left—though even thy looked ready to leave.

He let out a sigh of relief.

Gods, how had he been able to handle them all before?

He was wishing for the bell to ring and signal them all to go to class when he heard one of the few remaining students speak up.

"Hey, who's that girl?" he heard him ask his friend, pointing to the other side of the hall where Alphinaud instinctively looked up to see that they were pointing to a familiar figure. Their Champion of Eorzea was speaking with a few other of his former classmates—though it seemed that she was unknowingly drawing attention to herself.

"Don't know, never seen her before," another of his former classmates muttered back.

"She can't be a new student?"

"No, but look," a third, this time a girl, spoke up and pointed to the sword his friend was carrying at her hip. "Why does she have a weapon? Is she some sort of sellsword?"

"Could be… or maybe she's a new Gleaner? Some of them have to carry weapons to protect themselves when they head out?" the second classmate suggested.

"Don't look like it to me," the girl said rather sourly, looking her over from a distance. "That there is armor you don't see on any Gleaner. Must be someone's hired muscle. Wonder if someone is getting the shakedown here?"

"Shame, she looks cute too," the other commented.

"Is there a problem?" Alphinaud cut in wearily, not liking the sudden tones they were using when talking about his friend. "She's with me, in case you were wondering. And rest assure that she is a very reasonable person and not here to pick a fight with anyone just because she's carrying a weapon for protection."

"Oh, so she's the Scion's pet we've heard so much about?" they asked eagerly. "That one who does all the fighting for you guys? Must be useful to have someone like that do all the heavy-lifting!"

They laughed as a surge of anger flared up inside him. Pet? A pet? Did they think she was some sort of familiar to be bossed about or ordered to serve? He felt his hand curl up into a fist as he focused on his breathing.

"No," he said in a disapproving tone which caused their laughter to die down instantly. "Rather, she is a trusted and dear friend as well as a colleague of mine." His face was hard as he tried his best to remain calm and sensible. "And while I admit that my skills are nowhere near up to her level, I am proud to say we have fought side by side more times than I can count."

"Whoa! Hey, sorry, we didn't mean to offend," one of them stated worriedly as the girl rolled her eyes.

"Please," she said, "Even if what you say is true, she's just the brawn. I'm sure that you're the real brains behind the Scions, right? She just follows your orders?"

She batted her eyelashes at him as she said that, clearly thinking she was trying to flatter him. Instead, all he felt right then was the urge to curse like a Lominsan sailor. She seemed to realize that she said the wrong thing when he glared back at her, finally noticing his shaking fist.

But when he spoke it was of complete composure.

"I am not some field commander ordering people about like pieces on a board that only I can see," he spoke up, his head raised high and all business-like. "At least… not anymore. I am rather ashamed to have ever thought like that… even for a moment. Take my advice and don't look down upon others, least your own hubris be your downfall. As for my dear friend here, I daresay she will be more than able to match wits with any of you and still come out the winner. So leave her be if you don't wish to humiliate yourselves."

"But… but…?" the girl stuttered, completely taken aback by his cold tone as he shook his head.

"That is all I will say on the matter. And just so you know, I speak of this all from experience. I learned just as much from getting to know her as I did from studying here," he said firmly before turning on his heel and leaving them behind with rather startled expressions. He didn't care, he just felt outraged that they would think of her like that.

He didn't say a word about what he overheard to any of the others—they had more important things to worry about than petty rumors.

But if that had been hard to hear before in his own homeland of Sharlayan… it was far worse when they visited Garlemald.

Once Lord Quintus informed his men of who she was, he could remember the hushed whispers of shock and fear coming from the few soldiers. Some were even backing away from her as if she were some caged beast ready to attack. How quickly word of the Champion of Eorzea had come to Garlemald… and instantly there was a different mood throughout the rest of Tertium.

He had been allowed to walk among the people here, to try and get to know them and how they may be able to help them. When they first arrived, it was as if a cloud of gloom and hopelessness hung over them all… but once word got out of who was here among them, the people were suddenly jumping at shadows as if they thought that there were ghosts hiding around every corner.

The fear and hatred they felt for her was almost frightening in its intensity.

"That's what they say," he heard one of them mutter to a friend, "The Beast of Eorzea is actually here."

"What? Why? Don't tell me that those savage Eorzeans set her loose to finish us off?"

"Don't they keep her on a short leash?"

"Yeah, but what better time for them to finish us off than when we're down?"

"So how come she hasn't tried killing us all yet? It's not like we can defend ourselves?"

"Do you want her to?"

The voices continued for the rest of the day as he tried to speak with the people. But the echoes of those feared whispered did not die down:

"Why would Lord Quintus ever allow her here? Why doesn't he order his men to try and attack her?"

"And risk more of us getting slaughtered? The barbaric savage who slew countless of our own countrymen? You think they stand a chance?"

"Did he at least collar her? I would feel better if he had?"

"No, which is terrifying. Though not surprising. I doubt that it would work on a monster like her anyway."

The fact that he and Alisaie were also Scions and from the Alliance hardly seemed to matter. They just looked on at their friend as if she were some sort of Angel of Death come for their souls.

He hated it. He knew the truth and he hated every single vile word they spoke of her. But he held his tongue as they went on with their mission.

*End of Memory*

He had relived what he had heard from those experiences to her… but she didn't react at all to what he overheard. She just gazed at him with that slight head tilt that he knew so well, as if she were wondering why he was bringing this all up now.

"You seem to be willing to put yourself in the position of a 'bad guy' for the sake of others," he reasoned. "Like before? You took all the blame that Alisaie was feeling onto yourself just to help her. But… what about you? Who is there to help you carry such burdens?"

She didn't answer as she looked on and he looked down, his hands curled into fists on his knees.

"You are the bravest, most kind-hearted person I ever had the honor of meeting," he told her truthfully. "And yet to hear you so easily cast yourself down if the situation calls for it. Why don't you get angry? Yell? Tell them off? Why do you just… put up with it all?"

"Well, they don't think that way now, do they?" she asked. "At least, not as much."

He shook his head and retorted, "That's not an answer. You've always been like this… even when you were suffering and in tears you just…?"

He closed his eyes as he remembered the moment that they brought down Hydaelyn… how she faded… and their champion… Hydaelyn's—or perhaps Venat's—champion wept once the battle was over. He could think of nothing he could do to help ease his friend's pain… just that his heart broke apart for her. He couldn't imagine the bond that the two of them had… both before her journey onto the past and after… but there was nothing he could think of to say to comfort her. After all she had done for him, he was completely useless to aid her… though that wouldn't be the first time…?

"I feel that this upsets you more than it does me," she said quietly, not realizing what he was thinking of.

"Of course it upsets me," he stated, still attempting to keep his voice calm and low so not to wake up his sister. "I just… I hate that I can't seem to help you when it matters most. Not only that, I hated that they looked down upon you like that because… because that's how I used to be."

And that was the core of what was bothering him so much at this moment.

He once looked down upon everyone else around him. He was the grandson of the famous Louisoix after all… there had not been a soul who could defeat him in the debating room. He would use whatever he had available to him to save this broken realm. The Crystal Braves, the Alliance Leaders, the Scions, even the Warrior of Light…? They were all beneath him.

"I'll have my trusty Warrior of Light box the ears of all concerned…"

He wished he could go back and slap himself for ever saying such things. Speaking of her like she was just a highly useful tool to his schemes… like she was his prized piece in a game that he could move wherever he wished.

It wasn't until that moment he felt the Crystal Braves blade at his neck did he question his own abilities and his arrogance. Not until he had been granted sanctuary by a dear friend, giving him time to let it all sink in, did he realize what a fool he had been. Even after taking refuge inside the Falling Snows, he could do naught but look at the ground in self-pity. It had been his fault… all his fault… had he just thought it through… to spot the rot that had crept into the Braves before it was too late…?

"Alphinaud," she said softly and he looked up, his eyes still red from the tears that fought to break free of him once more. "You are not that person anymore."

And there she was again trying to soothe his fears and pain. Trying to reach out and help him when he could not do the same for her. He didn't deserve such a friend…?

But…?

When he looked up to her, saw her eyes filled with concern, her hand halfway reached out to him, he could not help but grasp it with both his own for a second time as he shook with muffled sobs.

He couldn't let go of her friendship. As selfish as it was, he could not bring himself to ever let go even when he knew that he didn't deserve it. She meant so much to him that the idea of giving it up was akin to cutting off his own arm.

"I look back and remember how I acted," he confessed, "How I had this idea in my mind of what I needed to be and what I had to do. What I thought was to be right… and somehow I believed that I was the only one who understood the woes of the realm and that I had to be the one to change it all. What I thought was wisdom was merely nothing more than aggressive arrogance."

She just let him cling desperately on as if she were the sole lifeline he had left and let him exhaust what storm of emotions were churning inside him.

"I just… I'm so angry with myself I can't stand it when I think back," he mumbled.

"It's alright," she reassured him quietly. "That is all over with now."

He bit his lower lip as he thought back to a question that had long since plagued his mind.

"Do you remember after the Bloody Banquet?" he asked her, "While we were—?" he didn't want to admit to 'hiding', "…at Camp Dragonhead? There is something that I would ask and would very much like it if you were honest. Don't worry about my feelings or how I will react. I want brutal honesty no matter how hard it is to hear."

She was taken aback by his words, but she nodded once, silently reassuring him that she would not lie. He took a deep breath and asked, "Looking back at my—behavior back then… I regret many things. But what I regret the most is how I treated you… as if you were my servant at my beck and call. I never once thought about letting you have a moment of rest… or even asked if you wanted to waste your time helping me with something I could have easily solved on my own. We were supposed to be colleagues, equals. But I treated you as little more than my 'trusty Warrior of Light'. Little more than a tool for my own selfish goals."

He shut his eyes, guilt rolling around inside him so that he actually felt a bit sick.

"What I want to know… is why… did you stay with me after everything that happened?" he asked. "After everything I put you through? I know I didn't deserve your kindness back then and I have worked hard to be someone worthy of it since then… and I'm proud of myself for coming so far. But I just have to know… why?"

Whatever her answer was, he was prepared for the worst. Did she remain out of pity? Or was it because she had nowhere else to go? Did she resent him even if she never brought it up? He couldn't see how she couldn't hate him for back then.

She didn't answer him right away, which concerned him.

"Please… just answer me this one thing," he said, still pulling her hand towards him so that he held it over his heart and waited. "I need to know why you chose to stay with me after all the harm I had done. Why?"

"You are upset that I did?" she asked. "Do you wish that I had left?"

"No, that's not what I meant at all!" he said quickly, opening his eyes only to realized she was still smiling, gently teasing him.

"I never said it because I thought my answer obvious," she told him kindly. "I couldn't imagine leaving you alone… especially then when you were at your lowest point."

He looked at her as she gazed back.

"I couldn't just leave Eorzea until we got things settled," she reminded him. "We were all that was left and I just couldn't see myself giving up that easily. But more so than that… I couldn't leave you in that state. I couldn't bring myself to leave even if I hated you. Which I don't. I wasn't happy with what happened, but I blame the Braves more than you."

He blinked as she sighed.

"You cried, remember?" she reminded him gently and he turned red at the memory as he slowly sniffled and cried, trying to keep it all in.

"And it's ok, you don't need to hide them from me," she reassured him. "I guess I just can't resist seeing tears. I knew… I knew as soon as I saw you start to cry that I couldn't leave you to go on alone. I had to stay until we at least found the others. And we did. We accomplished much since that day… and so rest assured that there was nowhere else I rather have been than right there with you."

He almost couldn't handle it. He was breathing hard as her words were as a salve for a terrible wound.

"It's alright," she told him kindly. "I know that you never meant for that to happen. Besides, you aren't that naïve boy anymore. You proved that when we were still back at Ultima Thule so clearly when you were willing to sacrifice everything to open up a path for me, remember?"

He turned red as that memory also came back to him.

"A path where she finds happiness at journey's end…"

"I meant it," he said, his eyes flickering towards Alisaie for a moment before correcting, "We both meant it. The pain that you had to bear at that moment, the full weight of all that… I can scarcely imagine how heavy it had to have been. And I have to apologize. You, of all people deserve to be happy. You deserve all the happiness in the world."

He looked up, and felt the tears falling down his cheeks openly and strangely he didn't feel embarrassed of them this time.

"When we were forced to make you go on alone, I feared that it would be too much for you. That kind of pressure… that would break most people," he declared. "I wouldn't wish such a burden on my worst foe… but, a dear friend? That made it all the worse."

With tear-filled eyes, he watched how she pulled her arm from his hands, only to hold it out to him entirely, silently encouraging him to join them in a hug. He hesitated, but realizing that he needed this, he moved so that he laid down on the edge of the bed, resting his head against her shoulder, almost bumping into his sister as their friend wrapped the one arm that wasn't holding Alisaie, around his shoulders and held him close.

She didn't speak as she let him cry… he was quiet about it but he cried his heart out almost as long as Alisaie did. It continued on for some time even as the sky behind them slowly began to darken as they headed towards twilight.

Finally, when his tears were all but spent and her shirt was soaked through, she spoke up.

"What got me the most was that you were more concerned with my happiness more than your possible fate," she reminded him, gently pulling him closer. "What would you have done had I not been able to find a way to bring you all back?"

"I guess… nothing?" he asked and she sniggered, something he couldn't stop himself from sharing, realizing how obvious that answer was.

"True," she sighed, resting her head against his own. "But… though it hurt… I can't… I don't know how to describe how it made me feel to hear those words. I just hope that we never have to do that again."

He nodded, leaning into her warm embrace and feeling better almost instantly. Neither of them said much as they sat there in silence, listening to the chirping birds outside and watched as the sunlight reflected upon the many items scattered about the room.

Damn, she did it again, didn't she? Somehow everything she did seemed to make everything feel better? Happier…?

But that was when he wondered something.

"I know that we wished for you to be happy… but… what does happiness mean for you?" he asked curiously. "How would you describe it?"

"Hmmm," she hummed at the question, as if she never really thought about it. Finally, she decided upon answering with what sounded like a riddle more than anything else. "I guess… it's all the little things."

He turned his head slightly to look at her and she smiled at the confusion in his face.

"Can you do me a favor?" she asked him suddenly and he nodded at once.

"Of course," he said at once, ready to do just about anything she asked. She looked to the books that still were left upon the bedside table and asked, "Can you read to me?"

He just stared at her, at first believing that she was teasing him again. But she just smiled and nodded her head down at the sleeping Alisaie still curled up happily in her arms like an overgrown cat.

"It's hard to do so right now," she reasoned and he had to bite back the surge of laughter that threatened to break free.

"Alright," he agreed, as he twisted around and picked up one of the books at random. Once he settled back against her warm embrace he flipped it open to the first chapter and began to read out loud of some of the far off places that they had yet to explore in this wide world.

There were still so many things left unsaid, but the moment that he began reading to her, all of them seemed to have been understood. Alphinaud smiled as he felt truly content for the first time in a long, long time.

"You sure they're still here? It's gotten pretty late," Y'shtola asked curiously as she, Krile, and Tataru walked through the Annex to the room at the end of the hall.

"I hadn't seen either of them leave since they brought her back earlier," Tataru stated worriedly, "After her little escape, I can't help but I want to check to be on the safe side."

"While I can't say I'm happy about this, I can't say I blame her for feeling cooped up," Krile muttered guiltily. She knew she would have to discuss things with her decision to help Zenos with her sooner or later, but had hoped that they could postpone that until she was well again. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt just to make sure. It wouldn't be the first time that we stayed up late with her only to realize that we lost track of the time."

Once they were outside the adventurer's room, Y'shtola knocked but there was no answer.

Now really worried, Tataru carefully cracked the door open just to get a look inside. The second she saw inside the room, she seemed to melt and cooed lovingly, "Awwww."

Now knowing that they had to see this, Krile and Y'shtola quietly moved past her and pushed the door open a little more to see what it was that got her attention. And suddenly they were both smiling as well.

"Isn't that the sweetest?" Krile asked with a grin.

The Warrior of Light was fast asleep on the bed, lying on her side with Alphinaud curled up near the very edge of the bed with his head near the nape of her neck and holding onto one of her hands. As for Alisaie, she was sandwiched right between the two of them, snuggled up close against the adventurer, whose other hand that wasn't holding onto Alphinaud was wrapped protectively around the younger girl. Their expressions were that of complete at ease and peace as if they were all dreaming of pleasant things. A weak light upon the nightstand next to the bed glowed with a warm glow while a few scattered books laid upon the floor as if it just happened to slip out when they fell asleep.

"Oh, it's adorable," Tataru whispered happily.

"I think it best if we let them sleep then," Krile said beaming as Y'shtola quietly tip-toed into the room so that she could turn off the light and close the window. It was already rather chilly in the room from the night air so she also decided to also pull up the blanket at the foot of the bed for them. She knew better than any how cold Sharlayan could get at night and wanted to make sure that they didn't get themselves sick.

"You look like a mother tucking her children into bed after a long day," Tataru giggled after watching how tenderly Y'shtola tucked the blanket around the three of them after they shut the door behind them.

"Sometimes I feel like it," she retorted with a smirk. "Mayhaps my time spent with the Night's Blessed brought that side out of me."

"For their sakes, I say that we pretend that we didn't see anything… or use it as the base for some really cute teasing in the future. Whatever comes first. But either way, I think that she's well on the way to recovery," Krile stated with a quietly happy tone. "I think that was the best medicine she needed."

Tataru nodded in agreement—unable to stop beaming with happiness at the sight of the three of them together.

They left them to continue to dream of more distant lands and future adventures that were waiting for on the morrow. A mutual understanding seemed to have awakened in each of the Scion's minds. While this was the ending of one incredible journey… it seemed that this was just the ending of the first tale for the adventurer. No one said anything else about it, but it was as if they could sense it coming… that they just somehow knew that more adventures were waiting for them around the next corner. The path that had been set before her by the gods was now over. And now, with the waning moon at their backs—the sun was about to rise beyond that beloved horizon.

(Oh, they are just too precious. I love how the character development with these two have really grown throughout the story since ARR. And I felt that there were a lot of unsaid emotions with them that really needed to be said. I can't imagine future expansions without the two of them here and I can't wait to see what happens. For whatever else happens, these three are closer than friends, they're like family and it only make sense that they started this journey together… and they end this first adventure together as well!)