Chapter 2: A Romantic Start

Later that day, Aribeth was given time to rest in her room. It was small, but cozy. The walls were painted bright pink, and the windows were tinted green and blue, forming the sky and a grassy field. There was a red door which had a sign reading, "Hers", making it the bathroom. There was a mini-mini chandelier hanging from the ceiling, which is the only means of illumination during the night.

She lied on the bed reminiscing on what happened that morning. She stared at the bright pink ceiling thinking about what Guile said earlier.

"Will you join us? Will you be with me?" theses words kept repeating in her head.

"Was he serious? Will I be with him?" she thought.

She turned to the left and stared at the tinted window, slowly closing her eyes.

"Am I in love? Or is this still infatuation?" She said to herself. She finally closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Meanwhile, a few miles away, Guile and Al met near the entrance of culvert. The sun was about to set, which painted the sky reddish orange. The sweet scent of daisies filled the air, which attracted lovers to go watch the sunset. Few pairs have arrived, bringing blankets and baskets, maybe containing a packed dinner, each of them sitting down as they watch the sunset.

Al was standing on the bridge looking disappointed. His robe was slowly turning orange because the sun's color. His royal blue eyes were gleaming orange as he stared at the water. As Guile was approaching, he slowly turned facing him.

"You ditched me you asshole!" Al complained. He raised his hand and summoned a fireball between his fingers. He attempted to throw the fireball but he stopped when he saw Guile smiling and his eyes looking empty.

"What the hell are you smiling at?!" He shouted as he put out the fireball hovering from his palm.

"I found her Al. I finally found her." Guile said. He slowly approached Al and stood next to him on the bridge. His purple vest was starting to turn orange, and so were his pants. He slowly turned his back and rested on the railing of the bridge.

"Found who?" Al said puzzled.

"My future girlfriend…wait, scratch that. My future wife." He said smiling.

"Oh boy, here we go again." Al interrupted.

"No! This time it's serious!" Guile said, trying to convince Al.

"No, this time it's serious!" Al said mockingly.

"You're like this every time! You see a cute girl; you flirt a little, and boom! You say she's the one." Al said with a nagging tone.

"Will you stop? You're just like my mom! This time it's different. I didn't flirt, she did! But then, we looked in each others eyes, and I felt…" Guile said. He couldn't find the right term to describe what he felt with Aribeth.

"In love?" Al asked.

"Yeah, I think that's it." Guile agreed.

"What's her name?" Al said with a calm tone.

"I didn't ask her. She ran off." Guile said.

"Maybe she was afraid of you!" Al said jokingly.

"Shut up! It's your fault. You called us and she ran off." Guile snapped.

"Whatever dude." Al said with a laid back tone, as he was walking away.

"I'm gonna go back to the inn. I'm tired." Al said.

"Wait! How many signed up?" Guile asked.

"Umm…about 50, 60 tops." Al said unsurely.

"Wow, that's a lot." Guile said, surprised.

"Yeah, well! I'm gonna hit the sack, see you in the inn!" Al said while turning away and walking to the city's gate.

"Yeah whatever." Guile said as he turned to look at the sunset.

As Guile bid a good whatever to Al, Aribeth was waking up.

"What time is it?" Aribeth whispered. She reached under her bed and pulled out a box. The box was full of girly stuff, ribbons, clips, clasps, rouges. Her underwear was separate in another box also in the bigger box. She dug through all her junk and pulled out a watch.

"6:59? Good, I'm early." She got up, rubbed her eyes and went through her bathroom door to take a shower. After an hour, she finally got out of the bathroom. She just took a shower. She was holding a towel in her right hand, while the other was tightly holding another towel which was wrapped around her. She threw the towel in her right hand and let go of the other towel

(The rest of this filth is censored)

She then wore her high priest uniform; it was rose colored and smelled sweet. She buttoned her cuffs and tied her hair into a ponytail. She picked up the watch lying on her bed and read it.

"8:43, still on track." She picked up her small pink bag in the box and put a spare uniform, a towel, a case of powder and perfume. She opened the main door and went out. She walked down the hallway. The hallway's wall has an orange finish and has mahogany moldings. The floor was covered with a long red carpet. At the end of the hall was a mahogany door with a golden doorknob. Aribeth knocked on the door 2 times.

"Come in." a shrill voice inside called out.

She slowly opened the door revealing the contents of the room. The room was painted yellow, and the moldings had a golden finish. It was big. At the end of the room, an old nun was sitting behind her desk. The floor was covered with beige tiles with a marble finish. A round green carpet partly covered the floor. It was decorated with artistic finishes. Aribeth slowly approached the nun and nodded.

"Good evening Mother Superior." She greeted with a cheerful voice.

"Good evening to you too my child." She replied with a shrill and tired voice.

"So, you have a new assignment for me?" Aribeth asked eagerly.

"Yes my child, your next assignment is to safely transport the "heaven's tear" here." She replied weakly.

"Mother Superior, are you well?" Aribeth asked sympathetically.

"Yes I'm fine. My child, I am not long for this world, when I pass on to the next world, you are to take my place, if ever you pass the final test. coughs You'd better go my child, darkness is upon us." She said sickly.

"Yes Mother Superior." She replied sadly.

Aribeth turned her back slowly as tears fell from her eyes. She bit her lip as she walked out the door.

"Mother Superior…" Aribeth whispered as she closed the door behind her.

"I have to be strong for her." She said to herself. She paused for a while as she reminisced of the time she talked to her about a personal thing.

"Mother Superior, why didn't you marry?" She asked sweetly.

"To be frank Aribeth I never found my love, that's why I became a Mother Superior, and I also took a vow of celibacy." She replied.

"So…if I become a Mother Superior, I can't marry?" Aribeth asked playfully. This question made Mother Superior chuckle.

"Yes my child, this is where all high priests end up whenever they never find love. You either become a Mother Superior or a High Bishop." She replied with a chuckle. This was the only time Aribeth talked to the Mother Superior casually.

"Guile…" Aribeth said to herself. "What should I do?" she thought.

Aribeth bolted out the hallway and went out the front door. When she got out the Prontera church, she massaged her forehead for a while and continued walking.

The sky was dark as ebony. Stars softly lit the evening skies which were like a million candles from afar. The moon was full and served as a light in the dark sky.

"Live alone die alone. I don't want that, but Mother Superior." She thought. "Oh well, what God planned for me, I shall accept."

As she walked down the paved street she noticed the lamp posts equally aligned away from each other.

"The guy who designed this place must be really god." She said as she glanced at every post she saw. It's now 9:30, by this time, some the residents of Prontera head to bed, but some stay up to sell, train, brag or date. The particular street Aribeth is walking on is a y- shaped one. It was empty, just some lamp posts, and several trees. At the end of the cobble-stone street, she noticed a man in purple resting on a lamp-post. She squinted to make out his face, it was Guile. She stopped a while and turned the other way. She went to the intersection and took the other route, but before she did, she looked back to see if Guile was still there, but he was gone. She continued walking the other street thought the laps posts there were very far apart.

"I can do this." She said to herself. She suddenly felt something run past her. She thought it was Guile so she ignored it. At the end of the street, there was a lamp post. It suddenly shook and fell to the ground. This panicked her because it fell on its own. She stopped walking trying to hear what's happening.

"Who's there?" she called out, but no one answered. Suddenly, the lamp post opposite the other post fell on its own too, and then the other, then the other, well you get the picture. What ever it was it was coming for her.

"S-stop!" she shouted cowardly. She was near a lamp post, she stared at it and it paralyzed her with fear. The other post near the post she was standing next to fell. With her last ounce of courage, she pulled out a blue gem stone from her bag and cast M.E.

"MAGNUS EXORCISMUS!" she shouted. Immediately, the area around her lit up. It formed a big circle around her.

"Show yourself demon!" She shouted courageously. "That won't affect me babe."

"Guile?" Aribeth asked, as she peered into the darkness.

"Yup!" He replied.

"But how..?" Aribeth asked.

"Screwdriver." Guile interrupted

"Why did…" she asked.

"You didn't tell me your name." Guile once again interrupted. He then walked into the A.O.E. the4 M.E. created.

"Hi." He greeted Aribeth with a smirk on his face. He walked closer to her with his hands behind his head.

"Good evening…"she replied puzzled.

"Okay, I'm sorry I scared you, but I just can't get you out of my head." He said as he crouched pulling his head down.

The A.O.E. glow of the M.E. dimmed and disappeared. Aribeth couldn't leave him because of what he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"I dunno, I just can't…" he said weakly. Aribeth came closer to him and offered her hand.

"Stand up. I can't leave you like this, and I have to go." She said. He took her hand and stood up, but when he did, he pulled her colder to him and hugged her waist as he looked into her eyes. He rested his forehead on hers as he closed his eyes.

"I missed you…" he said softly. Aribeth hugged his waist as well, her hands rising to his shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulder as they stood under the light of the lamp post. Aribeth soon realized she was hugging him and shoved him away.

"What are you doing?!" Aribeth shouted, surprised.

"Y-you didn't want to…?" Guile said looking puzzled.

"I do…I don't…I mean…" Aribeth stuttered.

"I understand I must've been too forward. I'm sorry." Guile said. He looked down disappointed. Aribeth felt sorry for him because he was really hurt with what she just did.

"Aribeth. Tylmerande, Aribeth" she said.

"What?" Guile said looking up to her face.

"My name…is Aribeth." She said as she offered a handshake. Guile reached for her hand and shook it.

"Uh…Guile. Guile Dranshed." He replied as he was shaking her hand. He caressed her hand with his other hand.

"I guess this is the only part I can touch." He said jokingly. Aribeth giggled.

"So, where you headed?" Guile asked.

"To Father Yosuke." She said as she took her hand back.

"Oh…may I escort you?" he said smiling.

"No, don't bother, I can manage." She said smiling.

"You know I won't let you go alone. So whether you like or not, I'm coming with you." He snapped.

"Why bother asking if you're just going to do the opposite?" She said jokingly. Guile took it seriously and got embarrassed. Aribeth felt sorry for him again, and he took his hand.

"Let's go." She said as she ran. Guile's face lighted up with joy as he felt her hand. He pulled her hand and carried her as he ran.

"WHAT THE?!" she shouted.

"We'll get there faster." He said.

"WHAT IF I FALL?!" she shrieked.

"Fall?" he said with a smirk. He jumped on the house next to them.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" she argued.

"You'd better hold tight if don't wanna fall!!" he said smiling. He hopped from rooftop to another, simultaneously; Aribeth was hugging Guile's neck tighter with every hop he made.

When they were near the city's boundary wall he stopped on a rooftop.

"Aribeth, I want you to see this." He said softly. Aribeth slowly opened her eyes and saw the wall.

"NO! PUT ME DOWN! THE ROOFTOPS WERE FUN BUT THIS IS TOO FAR!!" she protested.

"Don't worry, I won't drop you." He said menacingly as he jumped.

"GUILE!!!" Aribeth shouted as he jumped over the wall. For a brief moment, Aribeth looked at Guile seeing how happy he is. His eyes were shimmering with joy. The wind blew through his hair. His smile was nothing but remarkable. She closed her eyes when she felt they were about to land.

Guile lost balance and he knew they were going to crash, so, he pulled Aribeth closer and hugged her as he turned his back so he could absorb the blow and not hurt Aribeth.

"GUILE DON'T DO IT!!" Aribeth shouted. Guile went into a tree which lessened the impact, then landed into a bush.

Aribeth opened her eyes to see if Guile was okay.

"Guile, are you okay?" Aribeth said with a weak voice. Guile groaned a little but stopped.

Aribeth was directly on top of Guile. Her arms were resting on his chest. Her hair was flowing down on the side of his face. Her legs were alternately in between his legs. Guile, on the other hand, has his arms around her waist. He was staring directly into her eyes. The distance between their lips was roughly 5 inches away.

"I'm okay…you?" Guile asked sympathetically.

"I'm fine. You broke my fall." Aribeth replied weakly.

"No I didn't, the tree and bush did." He said jokingly. Aribeth giggled then stopped. They were both under Cupid's spell again, like the first time. Aribeth lowered her head and rested on his shoulder.

"Let's not move a while." Aribeth said lovingly.

"Okay." Guile replied softly. A "nothing to be said" kind of silence had them. Aribeth closed her eyes as she moved her hands to his shoulders. Guile moved his arms higher to her back.

"Will you join us? Will you be with me?" Guile whispered softly. Aribeth opened her eyes slowly and thought it over.

"I'll think about it." She whispered weakly. Aribeth used Guile as leverage to stand up.

"Kill me now…" Guile said as Aribeth stood up.

"What? No!" Aribeth protested.

"…just kill me now…" Guile said sadly.

"Why do you want to die?" Aribeth asked angrily.

"Because I'd rather die than not have you." Guile said weakly. These words touched her heart and made her fall for him. She took his hands and pulled him up, but he was limping.

"Stand up or I won't be with you." Aribeth threatened. Guile couldn't believe his ears, so he sat up.

"What did you say?" Guile asked, puzzled.

"I said stand up or I won't be with you." Aribeth said smiling. Guile slowly stood up, brushed his pants with a serious look in his face.

"Say again?" Guile requested as he walked closer to her.

"Whatever!" Aribeth shouted and walked away. Guile followed her smiling.

"Did you say, what I think you said?" Guile said smiling.

"I don't like to repeat myself Guile." Aribeth said with a cold voice as she walked. Guile used Chase Walk and went in front of her then revealed himself. Aribeth bumped on him and stared at him.

"What are you doing?" Aribeth asked angrily.

"Don't be mad…" Guile said pouting. Aribeth crossed her arms and looked the other way.

"Move." Aribeth said calmly. Guile hugged her and whispered, "Thank you…my princess…" Aribeth smiled and hugged him back.

"Aribeth?" A voice from afar called out. They immediately let go of each other.

"Who is that Aribeth?" Aribeth finally recognized the voice, it was Father Yosuke.

"Father!!" Aribeth said, surprised.

"Is this you're…?" Fr. Youske asked.

"Uh…sort of…" Aribeth replied hesitantly.

"What do you mean sort of?" Fr. Yosuke asked diligently.

"This is Guile, Father." Aribeth said.

"Guile? The G.M. of Storm riders?" the priest asked.

"Err…yeah…" Guile replied softly.

"Well it's good to see Aribeth with a man." Father said jokingly. Guile and the priest laughed while Aribeth was embarrassed.

"I'm sorry my princess…" Guile said as he knelt down.

"Princess?" the priest said.

"Just give me the Heaven's Tear Father." Aribeth said.

"Why are getting snappy? I just questioned your "pet names" "Father Yosuke teased.

"Heaven's Tear?" Guile asked.

"It's an important gem that can only be made by the combined powers of 7 royal champions, 7 superior high priests and 7 blessed paladins." Father Yosuke explained.

"What's it for?" Guile asked.

"It's used to cure any serious ailment, like cancer, stage 5 infections you name it." Aribeth said.

"Well where is it?" Guile asked.

"It's confidential, only those of the holy order may know." Father Yosuke said.

"Okay, okay, I get the picture. I'm leaving. I'll wait for you tomorrow beside the fountain." Guile said as he walked away.

"Okay Father, where is it?" Aribeth asked.

"Follow me." The priest replied.