Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note:

-/-/-/-

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."

-Santago (The Alchemist)

-/-/-/-

"I lost twelve men because of your information."

"I told you they were on the train."
"You told me that it was a woman and two conmen. There wasn't supposed to be a fight."

His fists clench on his knees. "She's lived in Mizuho most of her life. Of course she would know how to fight."

"You failed to mention that."
"I thought it obvious."
"Apparently not. Where are they now?"

"In Palmacosta. I believe they're trying to get a ship to take them to Sybak."

"Good. I've had to be cautious so far, but if they return to Tethe'alla, caution will no longer be necessary."

-/-/-/-

Zelos knocks on Sheena's door before going in—it's more of a warning than asking for permission. She looks up from a book that, the last time Zelos had seen it, had been sitting in the inn's common room. Sheena eyes the package in folded over his arm cautiously.

"It's only a dress." Zelos reassures her, holding it up for her inspection.

"A dress?" Sheena dog-ears the page and comes to stand in front of him. She takes the skirt in hand and holds it up. "More like a circus tent."

Zelos rolls his eyes. "Just put it on."

"Well I can't very well change while you're in here, now can I?"

"Well, you could."

"Out." But it isn't an angry tone. More exasperated than anything.

When Zelos goes downstairs to sit and wait with Regal, the older man simply says, "I assume it went well?"

"Why'd you assume that?"

"I didn't hear any yelling." Corrine, resting quite comfortably on the arm of the couch, snickered.

"You have so much faith in us, don't you?"

"Oh absolutely."

They don't hear the footsteps coming down the stairs. "Guys?"

Both turn to look at Sheena.

"You look wonderful." Regal tells her, getting to his feet.

Zelos is slower to rise, still taking her in. The dress is dark violet with thin spaghetti straps. There was some beading just beneath the bodice and the skirt fell loosely around her calves. She'd combed out her dark hair and left it loose. Zelos hadn't known that her hair was slightly wavy or that it fell to just above her shoulder blades.

Sheena did a little spin to fully show off the dress. It feels strange to not be wearing breeches, but, somehow, Zelos had gotten the right size.

"Now you just have to dance in it." Zelos says. He doesn't say that he thinks she looks beautiful.

Regal glances between them before saying, "Since you're so adept at it, you can teach her."

They both stare at him. "What?"

"Unfortunately, I've two left feet. And I don't see the problem, Zelos. You're a perfectly good dancer."

Regal hears Zelos mutter "Sneaky bastard." before one of his hands goes to her waist, the other taking her right hand. Her left hand goes to his shoulder and at first, it's halting and slow as Regal counts out the rhythm.

"One-two-three, one-two-three…"

They move across the lobby and, slowly, Zelos can feel Sheena start to relax. "Don't look at your feet." He tells ter.

"Why?"

"Because once you start worrying about them so much, you're going to end up on the floor."

Sheena smiled. "Speaking from experience?"

"Heh. Oh yeah. I've never really been a dancing person." Zelos says as he spins her out and brings her back in smoothly.

"Well, it's impossible to tell."

Zelos smirked at her. "Is that a compliment, darling?"

"Don't let it go to your head."

Zelos chuckles. "No, never." He hesitates before adding, "That dress looks good on you, by the way."

Her smile is different this time, softer somehow. "Is that a compliment. Wilder?"

"If it makes you feel better."

"Oh, so you do care." Sheena's foot gets caught underneath the rug and she's flying forward. Zelos manages to keep her upright, but she has to do a weird hop-walk bracing herself on him to get her foot free.

When she's standing upright and turns to comment that, clearly, his lessons on grace hadn't worked, she finds herself falling silent because they're in very close proximity. She can feel his warm breath and he can count her eyelashes.

Zelos is tempted to kiss her. He is, but he swallows hard and takes a step back and walks away.

-/-/-/-

Outside the ship, a winter storm, one of the worst of the year, was raging. Lightning flashed through black clouds, charging the air with the acrid smell of sulfur. The water heaved and tossed, whitecaps bubbling on the surface. The wind howled and whistled and thunder seemed to shake their very bones.

"So much for a peaceful ride to Tethe'alla, huh?" Sheena said quietly. If it had just been the storm, she could have slept through it, but combined with the violent tossing of the ship, it was near impossible.

Zelos, who'd drawn the short straw and didn't get a bunk, looked up at her. "I still think the crew is crazy for trying to go through a storm like this at all."

Sheena gripped one of the bedposts to keep her balance as the ship suddenly tipped. "I'm with you on that one. How Regal's managing to sleep through this, I'll never know."

"Altamira is on the coast. I'm sure there are plenty of storms like this one."

It made sense. "How much further do you think it is?"

"Another couple of hours because of the storm."

"Fantastic." The ship teetered and something rolled out of one of Zelos' bags. Sheena managed to grab it before it went under the bunks. "Hey, what's this?"

"Just a trinket."

"Odd choice of trinket." Sheena said, gently jingling the small bell. "Is it from Tethe'alla? From before you left?"

"…Yeah. I found it when I was a kid and I thought it was an interesting windchime, so…"

"What, you stole a piece of it? Besides, it doesn't seem like a part of a windchime to me."

Zelos tensed. "Oh really? What's it seem like to you then?"

Sheena shrugged, studying it. "I don't know. Something…like a secret almost. Like something to be shared."

"You realize that what you said is entirely contradictory, right?" Zelos said, fighting the memories. She'd had a lucky guess, that was all.

Sheena tossed the bell back to him, which he caught without a problem. "Shut up!"

Zelos smirked at her and slipped the bell into his pocket. He knows all the scratches and dents on the bell, knows them after turning it over and over in his hands. ("You're too quiet. Stomp your feet when you walk or something." A grin. "That wouldn't be very ladylike, now would it?")

"Who is this first cousin of the Alesandre's anyway? Weren't they wiped out?"

"First cousin on the grandmother's side. The old lady married into the Alesandres."

"How do you know all this?" When Zelos opens his mouth, Sheena holds up a hand. "And don't say that it's because you make it your business to know. We don't need to revisit that."
"It was part of my education."

"And what kind of education was that?"
"Politics. The grandmother marrying in was a big scandal back in the day. She was the bastard daughter of a minor baron. No one could believe that she hadn't somehow tricked your grandfather into marrying her. A lot of people thought it was blackmail."

Sheena mulled it over quietly. "It's really just that crazy to them isn't it?"
"What?"

"That people might actually want to marry outside their station for love rather than money or position."

Zelos shrugged. "That's Meltokio for you."
"Is that where you're from?" Sheena asked curiously. Zelos didn't have a trace of an accent, nothing to hint at where he'd started life.

"Born and raised."

"Why'd you leave?"

"The Pope wasn't very pleased with me so I left before he could make me disappear against my will. That was ten years ago."

"What's happened with the King? He used to be a good one, but somehow…"

"No one knows exactly how the Pope got into power. There's probably some scandal in there too. Maybe the Pope's been blackmailing or poisoning the King. The King doesn't come out in public anymore and the princess usually takes over his public duties."

"What happened to the Queen?"

"She went riding one day with the family and her horse suddenly spooked and went over a cliff." From the way Zelos was looking at her, Sheena could see that it had been no accident.

"So who's this first cousin?"

"Marissa Lottingdale. She was widowed during the Purges, her husband having gone to help put out the fires. A burning beam fell on him. She's been living in Sybak ever since and when the Lady Alesandre stays in Sybak during winter, she stays with her."

"More of your 'education'?"

"If you could call it that. Since I doubt we're going to be getting any sleep," Zelos shifted, legs beginning to fall asleep. "Where was Uncle Hadjas from?"

"Triet."

"And his wife, Zarra?"

"A nomad tribe."

"Good memory."

"For some lessons, if I couldn't memorize the information, I had to go without food until I could." And sometimes, Kuchinawa would be right across from her, just as hungry.

"I'd call it harsh, but it's better than getting beat with a wooden sword."

"Your swordmaster?"

"Mmhm. If I ever let my guard down, he'd hit me once for the opening and once more for even having an opening."

"But you don't let your guard down in a fight now, do you?" Sheena smiled. She'd gotten a similar treatment.

"Not at all. Enough bruised bellies taught me that."

Sheena chuckled and fished the pack of cards out of her pack, wavering a bit as the ship rocked. "C'mon. Let's play a few rounds. Nothing better to do anyway."
Zelos caught the cardboard box that she'd thrown at him and began shuffling the cards. "So long as you don't cheat."

"Same to you."

-/-/-/-

"You sure I can do this?" Sheena said, nervously twisting her hands in the dress skirt.

"Absolutely." Zelos replied, untangling one of her hands and clasping it between his to tug her up the garden path. "You know this information, remember? And if you don't by now, there is no way I'm buying you dinner."

Sheena couldn't help but chuckle at that,(If I couldn't memorize the information, I went without food until I could) some of her nervousness easing. "If you say so."

The woman who answers the door is petite, with light brown hair cut fashionably short to frame a heart-shaped face and it made her green eyes stand out. Her clothes were simple, yet clearly of high quality.

Regal steps forward and smiles. "Lady Marissa. It's wonderful to see you in good health."
Marissa seemed surprised. "Duke Bryant. It has been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Duke?" Sheena mouths and Zelos pats her hand, a warning not to bring it up and that they would tell her later.

"It has indeed. I wonder if you could spare a few moments of your time?"

"Oh, of course. Where are my manners? Come in, come in." Marissa stared at Zelos as he walked by. "Chosen? Is that you?"

Zelos' smile is plastered on because he felt Sheena's hand tighten almost to the point of pain. "You know I'm not really the Chosen anymore, Marissa."

"Zelos, then. Either way, the last I saw you, you were, what, ten, eleven years old? It's wonderfully strange to see you as a mature adult." Sheena snorted at that. "I'm missing something funny…"

Sheena couldn't stop the smile from spreading on her face. "Sorry, but the last thing I ever expected anyone to call him is mature."

Marissa laughed. "Then that means he hasn't changed. And you are…?"

Zelos and Regal glanced at each other. Moment of truth. "May I present the Lady Shera Alesandre."

Marissa's eyes widened and she circled Sheena carefully, reminding her of when she'd first met Zelos. (What, were you a vulture in another life?) "She certainly looks like Shera. But so did many of the others. Where were you born?"

"At the Alesandre summer home."

"Correct. And how does Shera like her tea?"

"Two sugars."

And so the questions went on, ranging from Shera's opinions on the weather to obscure family occurrences. Finally, Marissa looked Sheena in the eye. "My last question and forgive me if it's a bit impertinent—how did you escape from the Purge?"

Zelos rubbed the bridge of his nose. How could he have forgotten that vital piece of information? And he was the only one with that information too!

Sheena looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap. "There was a boy…a boy who visited the house a lot. He…opened a wall. And he led me through it, but…then all I can remember is a lot of flames." Zelos raised his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. Sheena chuckled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. It must sound pretty crazy. Walls opening and such."
Regal looked at Marissa. "Is she an Alesandre?"

"Well, child, you did answer every question."

Regal smiled at Sheena as he hugged her loosely before stepping away. He wasn't much of a person for physical affection, but Sheena made it easy. "You did it! Marissa, when do we see the Lady?"

"…I'm afraid you don't."
All three of them looked at Marissa, who suddenly seemed very interested in the plates of crackers and cheese that she'd brought out to snack on. "Pardon?"

"The Lady simply won't allow it. She says she cannot bear seeing all of the false Sheras anymore."

"But Marissa, can't you think of someway for her to have a brief interview with the Lady? Please?"

Marissa looked at them. She'd known Regal since he'd studied at a Sybak University before he;d gone home to Altamira to join the King's Guards. He was a good friend and she'd become close friends with Alicia over the years as well thanks to him. And Zelos, she'd known him since he was a child. She knew as well as they did that the Pope's Purge had had their lives as collateral damage, which was why she hadn't turned them in on sight when she'd seen them at her door even though there was a price on both their heads.

And this girl, if she truly was Shera or not, was charming and her smile infectious.

"Well, there is the ballet tonight. The Fine Arts students put on a wonderful ballet twice a year. The Lady and I love the ballet. We never miss it. And if, by complete chance of course, you also happened to want to see the ballet, perhaps we would see you there."

"Well I would hope we did." Regal told her. "I would hate to miss a chance to catch up."

Marissa looked at Sheena. "This will sound very forward of me—it runs in the family you understand—but…do you have something else to wear? The ballet is very formal" Sheena shook her head. Marissa eyed her. "Well, you're a bit…curvier…than I am, but I might have a thing or two that'll fit. Come with me." As the men made to automatically walk with them, Marissa turned towards them. "This is female stuff. Stay here and smoke cigars and sip brandy or something."
Regal chuckled. The woman hadn't changed a bit.

-/-/-/-

"I really can't accept this." Sheena said, stepping out.

Marissa waves away her protests. "Of course you can. Even if you're not Shera-" Seeing the look on her face, Marissa smiled. "I've seen many girls come in and out of here, hoping to convince me. Now don't get me wrong, you're the best so far, but until the Lady says so, I'm going to have trouble believing you. So, even if you aren't her, call it a favor to some friends."

"You've known them a long time?"

"Since before the Purge."

"Why did the Purge happen? No one seems to know."
Marissa let out a deep breath. "It's not a nice story."

"They usually aren't."

"Twelve years, the Pope got his hold over the King somehow. Now, for whatever reason, he doesn't trust those with magic. Elves, half-elves, anyone. That included summoners." Sheena stiffens. Grandpa had explained her powers to her when the magic had first found its way to the surface. He'd told her that she was the last summoner, though he made it seem like they'd simply died out. "The Alesandres, they were a long line of summoners. Not that they really had pacts with the Summon Spirits recently. There were no wars and therefore no reason for it. But they respected the Summon Spirits, worshipped them like the Pope does the Goddess Martel. But apparently, their magic was too much of a threat to his rule, so he ordered the family killed. He made it look like an accident. An electric fire, they said. A tragedy, but an accident. Shera and her grandmother were the only ones to survive."

"How did the Lady survive?"
"She'd been working in the garden when it happened. She wanted to go in after her family, but some bystanders held her back, said that she'd only get killed herself."

"He killed half-elves and elves too, didn't he?"

"Half-elves and dwarves mostly. He recognized the elves as still having some valuable resources that he could use, so he left them alone."
"Why don't the elves do anything? He's massacring their own people!"
"The elves don't recognize half-elves as their people. Neither do they recognize the elves who've gone out to live among humans."

"They're selfish cowards." Sheena could think of a few cruder words to describe them, but right now, they failed her.

Marissa sighed and nodded. "The Lady is of much the same opinion. She's been trying to convince the elves to recognize the half-elves as their citizens so that they'd be able to declare war on the Pope, but they refuse. They say it's not their problem."

"It'll be their problem before long if they keep ignoring things like this."

"You have a better grasp of politics than you let on."

Sheena smiled. "You can blame Wilder for that."

"I'm not surprised. Even if he never wanted to be the Chosen, he always was good at dealing with people. Perhaps not emotion-wise, but with politics and business relationships, he was good."

Thinking of how the entire con, Sheena said, "That he is."

"Are you involved with him?" Seeing Sheena's confusion, Marissa added, "Romantically, I mean."

Sheena snorted as she went back behind the changing screen. "When the sun shines in Hell."

"He seemed very protective of you. I've only ever seen him like that with his sister."
"Yeah, no that's happening. I'm not looking for romance." She said as she slipped on another dress.

Marissa smiled mysteriously. She'd said much the same with her husband. "You might find one day, that that'll change."

"Uh-huh. Okay, I can't even breathe in this dress." Sheena said.

"One day, you might end up kissing a man you can't breathe without and you'll find that breathing isn't really a priority."

"So, what, you're saying that my prince'll come someday?"

"Hardly. Most men aren't princes." Marissa smiled as Sheena came out from behind the screen. "That one. Definitely that one."

Sheena twisted this way and that so she could see herself in the mirror, the dress' skirts swishing around her legs. "I think so too."

-/-/-/-

"Hey."

Zelos glanced back, surprised to see her on the roof. Then again, Sheena seemed rather fond of high places. "Hey yourself."

Sheena sat by him and offered him a mug of coffee, which he took gratefully. It wasn't snowing in Sybak, not just yet, but that didn't mean that it wasn't cold. "You owe me dinner."

Zelos glanced at her. "What?"

The corner of her mouth lifted in a grin. "I memorized it all, didn't you hear? You owe me dinner."

"How's after the ballet sound? To celebrate?"

"Sounds good." Sheena leaned back on one hand. "So…Chosen, huh?"

Zelos winced. "I'd hoped you'd forgotten about that."

"I thought you didn't agree with the Pope's rule?"

"I don't."

"But you're the Chosen."
"Was. Was the Chosen. I gave it up."

"How come?"

"My sister has elven blood." Sheena stared at him. "She's my half-sister. My dad was lovers with a half-elven woman and she had Seles. The Pope threatened to kill Seles as part of the Purge if I didn't step down."

"Were you a problem?"

"I was speaking out against him."

"And here I thought you were prejudiced against half-elves."

Red everywhere. On the snow, staining blonde hair, darkening an already red dress. "I am. But the Pope crossed a line."

"At least you know you're prejudiced."

Zelos was quiet for a moment. "A half-elf murdered my mother."

Sheena looked stricken. "I'm sorry."

"Wasn't your fault."

"No. Doesn't mean that I wish it didn't happen."

"I don't see why. You never knew my mother." It's a lie, Zelos knows. She'd met his mother. She'd gotten into mischief with him and they'd both stood and accepted Mylene's scolding.

Sheena shrugged. "Call me a bleeding heart."

"You're a bleeding heart."

Sheena stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Anyone ever tell you that there's such a thing as being too literal, Zelos?"

She'd called him Zelos. It wasn't the first time, but this felt…different somehow. "I'm sure people have. I tend to ignore them."

"That explains so much."

A comfortable silence stretches out between them as they stare out at Sybak. It's a quiet town at night, nothing like Mektokio. "A toast." Zelos says finally, holding up his mug.

"To what?"

"To the future."

Sheena smiled and clinked her mug against his. "To the future."