Sleeping out in the Mosphoran Highwaste was something that only someone who had been through the area would ever attempt. Elementals were notorious for wandering through the area. While they wouldn't attack unprovoked, a carelessly cast magic spell drew them in faster than anything in Ivalice. Most of the elementals here were fire types and just about every traveler that went through here saw one at least once and often said that the experience was an odd one at best.
It was an Elemental that woke up Penelo early the next morning. She had gotten up before Ashe and was watching her sleep as she started a fire to keep herself warm. She hadn't noticed the Elemental in the area and had lit the fire with the spell that bore the same name. The next thing she saw was a moving ball of pure elemental fire and she picked her Katana up off the ground. She knew fighting this thing alone was going to be draining but she had learned how years ago.
She swiped her sword at it and connected with a solid core that the Elemental was based around. She didn't stop there, knowing that waiting to see what the Elemental would do could get her and Ashe hurt. She blocked a Fira spell the Elemental cast and cast her own spell. She hated how long it took to cast it every time she used it but it was one of the most unparalleled spells she had ever learned. She felt the exhaustion of magical energy leave her as the glyphs for the spell called Scathe formed in front of her launching pure energy at the Elemental who vanished on impact.
Penelo breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the Elemental was gone. While they were now quite a bit easier to deal with, she still remembered how hard it had been to fight one the first time she had ever seen one. She looked over to where Ashe had been sleeping and noticed she was gone. Puzzled she turned back around and saw the young woman standing in front of her. It was odd how quietly she had done that.
Ashe blushed and said, "I watched you fight that Elemental. You protected me even though I wasn't awake. You didn't do it because you felt like you had to, you wanted to. Well that and to defend yourself."
Ashe walked up to Penelo and gave her a soft kiss. It was similar to the one they had shared last night but this time there was a lot more sureness in Ashe's kiss. She knew that she loved Penelo and that this trip was her only real chance to give this relationship a try.
Penelo blushed at the compliment more than the kiss. The way Ashe was toward her was so different from the way Vann treated her. Here there was something more than just friendship. There was a real desire to be closer that the two of them shared.
AS they walked a storm came up and it began to rain. Not hard but a rather soft rain that was almost unusual for Mosphoran Highwaste. Penelo looked up at the sky for a moment as they walked. Ashe wondered what she was doing and softly asked, "What is it Penelo?"
"Oh it's nothing. I just miss the rain that's all. It hardly ever rains in Rabanastre. I just like the way it feels." Penelo said as she closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of the rain.
Ashe smiled and watched quietly as they walked. Since that morning they hadn't seen any monsters, which was nice so this moment was just quiet and oddly calm. Was this what she had been looking for? Just these quiet moments away from everything with no one else there but Penelo or was there something more she still wanted?
The rain still fell as they reached the area where all the caravans usually spent the night. It was odd to see the place so empty, even the sightseers that would wander up into the area seemed to be gone. Maybe it was the weather that was doing it or maybe there was something going on in Nalbina that day that had attracted everyone's attention and had emptied the roads of any travelers. Either way it seemed odd to both Penelo and Ashe that there would be no one here. They looked at each other, silently asking the unspoken question hanging in the air between them. Penelo shrugged and kept walking. Better to not think about it too much and just keep on moving.
The rain didn't lighten up or get any harder as the day went on. Penelo's smile from having enjoyed the rain was now gone and replaced by a look that simply said all she wanted to be was dry. Ashe felt the same way and knew that it was going to be a good long while before all of her gear dried out.
The rain here had a habit of not stopping once it got gong. Even as light as it was it always kept up and soaked anything that had the misfortune of walking through the Highwaste when it rained. This particular storm was one that was going to last for days and Ashe figured they would be in the Salikawood by that evening or early the next morning. It just meant that they would have to suffer being wet for a while.
Penelo looked over at Ashe as they walked and quietly said, "Ashe, about us. I...this is kind of awkward to get my head around to say the right words. Why is this so hard to say? All I want to say is that I love you but when I try to make it heartfelt and all that I just can't bring myself to say it. It's like the words just stick in my mouth you know?"
Ashe smiled and said, "I know that feeling all too well. If it I helps you any I could always say it first. I love you Penelo."
Penelo blushed at this and whispered, "I love you too Ashe. I just wish I could..."
"You just wish you could say it with confidence. It will take time Penelo. Even I'm scared to say it out loud." Ashe said as she gave Penelo a gentle hug.
Penelo returned the hug with a gentle kiss. She let it linger for just long enough for the two of them to let it grow a bit more passionate before letting it go. She couldn't help but wonder what more Ashe was going to want from her in the future but Penelo knew that she was really willing to do anything for the woman standing in front of her smiling and looking lovingly at her.
It was these moments that made Ashe realize just how loving Penelo could be, but when she saw the young woman tearing through enemies that years ago had given her so much trouble she could clearly see just how much they both had changed. Neither one of them needed each other for protection yet they still enjoyed each other's company. No, it was more than that. Ashe knew the reason Penelo was still travelling with her after the first day and all of her talking about wanting to be with her was that Penelo shared her feelings and thought about her in the same way. It was so odd though to think about what would have been different had she said something about this when they had been together earlier.
She wondered if she had confessed back then if Penelo would have accepted her love for her. She had a feeling that it would have entirely depended on when she had suggested the idea. Any earlier than the incidents that had happened around Mt. Buromisace and Ashe knew she would have been taking a shot in the dark unlike now when Penelo had had time to think over her feelings for her.
The Salikawood loomed large in front of them as they reached the only way into the mystical forest. A wooden walkway stretched over a vast gorge into the woods, a sight that still scared Ashe. She had always been scared by some of the places they had been to in Ivalice but this one particular walkway scared her even more than walking the halls of the Necrohol of Nabudis had.
Penelo gently took a hold of Ashe's hand and said, "Come on Ashe. After this forest we'll be where we want to be and without any worries or cares. Just a couple of days here in the Salikawood and then we'll be out on the Phon Coast and enjoying the sunshine."
Ashe smiled and nodded as she laced her fingers through Penelo's and walked across the bridge into the Salikawood. She had a feeling that their adventure was going to get a lot more interesting and serious as time went on. There was just this nagging feeling in the back of her mind though that put her a little on edge. She tried to shake it off as just pointless worrying but she couldn't help it.
Deep in Archades a lone soldier dressed in armor walked into a dark room and quietly said, "You called for me my Lord?"
From in the depths of the dark room a voice came back, deep and full of power. "I did. You are my loyal knight and you have never failed me. I want you to do one thing for me."
"Yes my Lord?"
The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the hall as the lord walked toward his knight. His face was still hidden by the shadow of his hood as he smiled down at his knight who was looking up at him. "Capture and bring me Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca."
"It shall be done my Lord." The knight said as he got up and left the hall. He knew what needed to be done and set out to do it without question. After all, he had never failed his Lord.
At the very beginning of the forest Penelo felt a chill run down her spine. She shrugged it off, think it was only caused by how wet she was from the rain. She smiled at Ashe and quietly said, "A good fire will dry us out and make sleeping actually comfortable tonight. I'd rather get one going here on the edge of the wood rather than inside it."
Ashe nodded in agreement and the two of them collected some fire wood and got a fire going. Ashe enjoyed the warmth it gave as she felt it drying her clothing. She leaned against Penelo and let out a contented sigh.
"Feels god to be away from all the worries of the city isn't it?" Penelo asked as she held Ashe close to her.
Ashe nodded and said, "I had forgotten how simple and carefree adventuring was. I do miss the company of Balthier, Fran, Basch and Vaan though. But having you is more than enough. Besides, you were the only one of the group I really liked."
Penelo giggled and said, "Vaan's going to go nuts when I tell him about this."
Ashe smiled and said, "I was actually surprised that the two of you never got together."
"He's always been an older brother to me. It never really occurred to me to think of him in any way but that. Esides, once I figured out that I liked girls, and one very pretty one in particular, I up and told Vaan that there could never be anything between him and I. He took it with a smile saying he knew that and knew I'd be better off going after someone I could genuinely love." Penelo paused and smiled as she spoke. "He did say to bring home someone respectable. I think you fit that description quite nicely."
Ashe smiled and gave Penelo a hug. "I would hope that I would." She paused to give Penelo a quick kiss before saying, "Well I've dried out. We should get going a bit further before nightfall. The Salikawood is not kind to it's guests and the less time we spend here the better."
Penelo nodded and got up. She helped Ashe to her feet and the two of them pushed a bit deeper into the Salikawood as the sun set. Penelo hoped that this time through here would be a bit more forgiving than it had been the first time.
(Author's note: Well this one is quite a bit longer in the making than I had planned for. Writer's block multiple times, vacations, losing track of time, lack of sleep, the usual suspects, all of them are to blame but I hope that you don't give up on this story. I do intend to finish it even if it is taking longer than I had hoped. Read and enjoy [and maybe drop me a review so I know how I'm doing] It's all about the reader's enjoyment and I hope I meet that goal.)
Shinobi of the Onyx Sands