Nope, I don't own Camelot, Golden Sun, or Nintendo. I wish I did.
Chapter Six: Sheba's Story
Sometimes, things end. Journeys come to a close. Adventures stop, and quests are completed. And when people die, they die. It causes sadness, but when that's gone it's gone. It's over. When a person dies, they die.
Sometimes, it's not that easy.
Sheba woke, completely refreshed. The dream she had been having moments before she had awoke lost in the infinite folds of the mind, she happy and refreshed.
Finishing her daily routine, (Breakfast, shower, dress) she stepped outside, ready to face the world, perhaps a little more eagerly than normal. But first, she planned to find Ivan. They had agreed to meet at the new fountain, and he was to bring the picnic basket.
It was Sheba's first date.
Sheba was dressed for the occasion. She was wearing small purple shoes, that were both practical for a picnic, but stylish enough she felt Ivan wouldn't be able to not notice. She wore a long yellow dress, stunning in its simplicity. It just so happened to be strapless. Maybe Ivan would notice. Around her neck hung a single pear-shaped ruby, topped with a small diamond. From her ears hung small but noticeable earrings, amethyst rocks in the shape of a small tornado. Her now-long, blonde was left free, hanging on her back, shining in the sunlight. She wore a light fragrance of an autumn breeze. Overall, she looked far more breath-taking than she had when they had lit Mars lighthouse.
Of course, she was still Sheba, and had been incredibly surprised when Ivan had asked her out. Sure, she wasn't ugly, even she knew that. But she was no jewel, at least, not in her opinion. Apparently, she and Ivan didn't quite agree on that.
Stepping into the street, down the road, and to the plaza, Sheba encountered only about a dozen of people. Every one of them turned their heads to look at her, and she began to feel a little shy. She was used to people staring at her. After all, saving the world didn't leave much room for anonymity. Nevertheless, she had never been looked at like this. She felt as though everyone appreciated her more, simply for gracing their town with her beauty. She kept walking.
Finally arriving at the agreed-upon and sacred-meeting-place just barely in time, Sheba looked around. Ivan wasn't even here yet! That dunce! He was late for their date! Sheba began fuming. She knew that he knew never to cross her! What was he thinking?
Just as she decided to go find him, and give him a piece of her mind, she spotted him making for her through the crowd, looking like…well, looking like Ivan.
But, he didn't just look like Ivan. He looked like Ivan V.2.0. A much improved Ivan, who had been preparing for this for a very long time. He was wearing new boots, all shiny-an-black. He was wearing dark brown slacks, nice and creased, and a medium-sized leather belt. He wore burgundy tunic, with neat beige trim. He had even tamed his hair back for the occasion. To top it all off, he had brought flowers. And these weren't just flowers. They wereflowers. They were, all 25, long-stemmed pink roses, the most beautiful you could find, no matter what continent you went to.
Ivan walked to Sheba, savoring every step. After all, how long had he been dreaming of this chance? How long had he been planning it? Well, it'd been a long time. And now, it was finally happening! Ivan, with Sheba! Not Felix, but Ivan! He found that impossible to believe. But it was happening!
Finally, Ivan had found his way through the crowd to her. Sheba stood up and, nearly tripping and falling flat on her rump, she greeted her date with a peck on the lips.
Looking partially embarrassed, but thoroughly proud of himself at the moment, Ivan stated the obvious, telling her, "These are for you."
Sheba nearly giggled. She really did. In fact, the only thing thatstopped her from giggling was that she remembered that she wasn't the kind of girl that giggled. Nevertheless, she accepted them with a big great smile, and said "Thank you". They set off, hand-in-hand, to…well, wherever Ivan had planned. He had told Sheba that he'd found a spectacular place for their date, but had refused to tell her where it was. He hadn't wanted to spoil the surprise, after all.
Struggling past the crowd into an alley, then onto a less crowded street and from there, out of town, the couple walked slowly, obviously cherishing the time they had together.
Ivan led her across a few fields, and into the forest. From there, they walked easily, for the path was smooth, and it had been long enough since the last rain for the ground to dry.
Ivan led Sheba around for about half an hour, on occasion traveling in circles. As soon as Sheba caught on, and was about to ask whether or not Ivan had gotten them lost, he smiled at her and urged her up the hill in front of them. As she started to climb, she wondered why they couldn't have gone around. It was a rather large hill.
She got her answer when she reached the top of the plateau, and that was just what it was. Tall, but flat on top, this hill stood high above all the trees around it, allowing for a great view stretching, quite possibly, five miles from where they stood. Sheba swore she could see chimney smoke from town. Ivan chortled.
They stood admiring the view, arm in arm. Eventually, Ivan remembered the picnic.
"Hey, you hungry"
"Hungry? I'm starved!" She said, eliciting a small laugh – disguised as a cough – from Ivan.
"Well, it's a good thing I brought this picnic basket then, hmm?" He said as he crouched down and rifled through the small basket, looking for the blanket to set the food on.
Sheba plopped down on the blanket, and with a ravenous effort akin to that of a Mars Djinni, she grabbed a slab of bread, a mug of coffee, and began to fill her stomach.
Ivan, obviously the more refined of the two, sat down with his legs crossed like pretzels. He reached into the basket and found a bottle of water, and his own bread. Cleanly cracking his bread in half, he took a small bite from one end. He washed it down with a gulp of water. Lather, rinse, repeat.
They talked abut a lot of things. Half of it was about food. Sheba really loved food. Apparently, she was a rather skilled cook. One might hope, with the gusto with which she was eating. Ivan had packed a lot of extra food. Sheba had eaten half of it.
The other subjects they spoke of drifted from dogs, to cats, to birds, to flying ships, to regular ships, to different places, to old friends in different places. From friends in different places, to friends passed on.
By friends passed on, there is of course only one person of whom they spoke of. They spoke of Isaac, and of course, they spoke of the others.
"Isaac…I miss him."
"So do I Sheba. Everyone misses him. He was a great person."
"Have you heard about…About what Felix has been doing?"
"You mean slaughtering people?" Ivan said with disdain. "Yeah, I've heard."
"I can't believe that he'd ever do that. He was always so kind, and brave…"
"Yeah, well…With some people, you can never really know them, you know?"
"I can't believe Jenna. She's become a regular little whorelette!"
"I think she loved him. Well, I know she loved him. She never said it, but I know she did. I didn't even have to read her mind."
"I feel so sorry for her."
"She doesn't. At least, not from 1-to-1," by which he referred to the hours the inn's tavern was open.
"Have you heard from Garet?"
"Not a damn thing. Last I heard, he had some hair-brained get-rich-quick scheme planned."
"What about Mia? And Piers?"
That jolted Ivan's memory. "That reminds me," he said, restating what I just wrote. "That's why I was late. They sent a carrier pigeon. They're on their way here. Apparently, the letter finally found its way to them."
"You mean Mia is coming back? That's good." She couldn't think of anything else to say. She was happy that Mia was returning. They had always been close. But, she knew that her visit wouldn't be all fun and games.
Regretting the turn the conversation had taken, Ivan said, "Hey, did you hear about the new bakery that's going to be put in down the street from my house? It's supposed to be run by Briggs. Apparently, he's trying to make an honest living, away from the sea.
From there, the conversation spanned across cakes, and fudge, and cookies, and tarts, and pirates. Overall, it was a terrific first date. Sheba had never felt happier. The only time Ivan had been happier, was when he had discovered that he'd had a sister.
Returning to New Vale, the new couple laughed and held hands and basically had whatever fun they could. Ivan walked with her to her door, and there, they said their goodbyes. As she opened her door, and as she was passing through the frame, Ivan worked up his courage. He tapped here shoulder, and when she turned around, he kissed her, full on the lips. Surprised, but pleasantly so, she returned his kiss with more passion than when she had given Garet a knot on his head for trying to sell her new puppy, which she had found shortly after Vale' recovery began.
Pulling away, tremendously reluctant about doing so, Ivan said goodbye for real. Waiting until she closed her door, Ivan walked into the street, and began his short walk home.
Leaning against her door, Sheba let the air she had trapped in her lungs escape. All in one day, she had turned heads, had her first date, and had experienced her first kiss. Overall, it had been a good day.