Tales of Vesperia: Royal Engagement

Chapter 2: Stirring Emotions

After hearing the news given to them by Ioder and Flynn, Yuri and Estelle remained alone together on the balcony outside Estelle's room. Everyone else had went off for their own accord to give the two some time to think it over. The only one who stayed behind was Repede, laying down by Estelle's bed side.

"Still can't get over the idea Estelle?" Yuri asked. Estelle sighed.

"No. It's very hard to take lightly. I mean...the peace between the empire and guilds...falls to us...our wedding." Estelle said. Yuri nodded, looking out at the clear blue sky.

"Heh. That Flynn. I bet he never expected this coming, did he?" Yuri thought. He suddenly noticed Estelle taking a seat nearby.

"So...what do you think we should do Estelle? I mean...you're a princess. And me, heh, I'm just a regular guy who used to live in the lower quarter. Wonder what gave those weirdos on the council the idea that us marrying would be the only way to save the peace between empire and guilds." Yuri said. Estelle glanced on at Yuri as he took the other chair nearby.

"Well, I...I wouldn't say that it is not ENTIRELY a bad idea. But still...to bring it up like that...so...so suddenly." Estelle said. Yuri looked on at Estelle, suddenly noticing her hands on the table. They were quivering frantically as their grip to one another tightened.

"Estelle..." Yuri muttered. Estelle then started to leak small tears from her eyes. Before Yuri could notice, she started wiping the tears from her eyes. Repede glanced on at Estelle quietly.

"Well, like Flynn said, we don't have to give him an answer right away. He said we could tell him tomorrow what we felt of this whole ordeal. Okay?" Yuri asked. Estelle nodded as Yuri stood up, picking up his sword as well.

"Okay then. I'm gonna go round up the others and tell them what's going on. Okay?" Yuri asked. Estelle nodded again, watching him walking out with Repede soon joining him. As soon as the door closed, Estelle started breaking out in tears.

"Yuri...how...how could I say no?" Estelle sniffled. Soon, memories of their adventure together started to flood Estelle's mind. She remembered all the times she would worry or fret over Yuri's safety and how friendly and kind he was to her. Her hands began quivering again.

"What would you say...Yuri?" Estelle thought, continuing to shed tears.

~ Tales of Vesperia ~

Back out in the city streets, Yuri and Repede found Karol and Raven sitting on a bench inbetween the two quarters. People passed by without much contact as chatter filled the air. Karol quickly glanced over once he heard Yuri coming.

"Oh. Yuri, there you are." Karol said. Raven glanced at Yuri as Karol got up and walked towards him. He stopped a few inches from Yuri and looked up at him.

"Hmm? What's going on Captain Karol? Don't tell me I kept you waiting for very long." Yuri said. Karol lightly shook his head.

"No. It's not that. We were just wondering...what life would be like if you and Estelle really got married." Karol said. Yuri continued glancing on at Karol, asking exactly what he meant.

"Well, hmm...I guess I'm talking about our guild." Karol said "What do you think would happen to Brave Vesperia if we didn't have you around?" Raven smirked.

"Yeah mister lucky. I highly doubt the council would vote in favor of having you and the misses coming to Dahngrest with us after your little matrimony." Raven said. Yuri sighed.

"Oh. That." Yuri said. Repede glanced up at his master curiously. He then gave a bark, catching Yuri's attention.

"Don't worry Repede. If Estelle and I DO get married, and I'm not saying we ARE yet, I wouldn't forget you pal." Yuri said, patting Repede's head. Yuri then glanced over at Raven and Karol.

"What? Judy's got nothing to say about this? Where is she?" Yuri asked.

"Huh? Oh. Judith went back to check on Ba'ul. But believe me...was her face red when we all left." Karol said. Raven winked with a grin.

"Yeah. Guess old Judy had quite a "thing" for ya Yuri. But don't worry. I'll bet the gal just needs some time to cool off. Besides, with you and Estelle, that leaves her open for another lucky candidate...ME!" Raven laughed. Yuri sighed.

"Really old man? Sure your "mysterious charms" won't scare her off?" Yuri asked. Raven huffed, quickly turning his smile to a frown.

"You don't have to be MEAN to an old man like me, do ya?" Raven asked. Yuri and Karol both chuckled, making Raven turn with a huff. But before long, Yuri felt a swat at his head from behind.

"Dow! Hey! Wh...What...?" Yuri exclaimed, turning to find Rita holding her spell book.

"Oh. Rita, it's you. I THOUGHT that blow to the head felt familiar." Yuri said. Suddenly, Rita's hand began twitching as she grabbed Yuri by his coat and pulled him close.

"Whoa! Whoa! Easy there tiger! What's wrong?" Yuri asked. He looked on at Rita's eyes, seeing her angriest scowl yet.

"Listen to me very closely. If you...even THINK...of making Estelle cry...because of this, I will NEVER forgive you. You'll be cursed forever more with the worst possible life imaginable! I'll personally make sure you are sent to the gates of Hades when I'm through with you!" Rita exclaimed, growing louder with every sentence. She then shoved Yuri away and turned her back to him, crossing her arms. Karol chuckled.

"I guess that was Rita's way of saying not to blow things with Estelle Yuri." Karol said. But suddenly, Rita struck Karol bluntly in the head with her book.

"Hey! I don't need YOU translating what I say. I'm sure he got the message on the first try." Rita said. Karol groaned, rubbing the bump on his head. Yuri smirked.

"Yeah. Yeah. Don't worry. If there's one thing I know I'm not gonna do, it's make Estelle upset." Yuri said. Rita glared over her shoulder at him before turning away again.

"Yeah. That's right. You BETTER not." Rita said. The others looked on as Yuri was heading back down towards the lower quarter.

"Huh? Hey Yuri. Where ya going?" Karol asked.

"Me? I'm just wanna think about something for a bit. Maybe catch a quick snooze or something." Yuri said. Raven continued watching as Yuri walked off, leaving Karol and Rita behind. Raven could easily understand what Yuri meant.

"Go ahead kid. I can tell this is going to take a while." Raven muttered.

~ Tales of Vesperia ~

A while later in the lower quarter, Yuri was back in his old room with Repede patiently nearby. Yuri had stopped to think about how his actions led to so many things and how it may someday come back to affect his life with Estelle should they be married. But the longer he thought about it, the more he felt that a nap would do him good. But inside his dream was no better. Inside his dream, he stood alone in a darkened field with flames engulfing him.

"Huh? Hey...what the?" Yuri asked. Suddenly, many voices were heard laughing at Yuri. He turned towards the sound but saw nothing but pitch black darkness beyond the fire. Suddenly, he saw faint ghostly images of Barbos and Ragou.

Heh heh. What's the matter kid? Don't ya know where you are? You finally made it. Welcome to hell Yuri Lowell.

Indeed. Now then...since you were the one who sent all of us to this place, this is where we shall take our vengeance on you for what you did to us!

Yuri groaned, preparing to draw his sword. But he soon realized his sword was nowhere around. Barbos and Ragou laughed wickedly as, soon after, Cumore's ghostly image appeared.

Come now Yuri. Don't you realize? In this place, only the most heartless survive. And we should know...how much of a beast you truly are!

"St...Stay back! I'm not like you! You're all just idiots who could never learn what right and wrong mean!" Yuri exclaimed. But they only continued to laugh as they approached Yuri. He groaned and started backing away.

"If you think...I'm afraid of you, you're WAY wrong. Got me? I know this isn't real." Yuri said. Suddenly, he heard a scream and turned around, seeing an invisible force holding Estelle by the throat.

"Estelle! No!" Yuri exclaimed. Another voice soon started laughing, one too familiar to Yuri. In an instant, the ghost of Zagi appeared, clutching one hand on Estelle's throat. He wore his mechanical arm on his right side, bearing the same facial features as to when Yuri finished him on the Tarqaron.

Dah ha ha ha ha! Well, well Yuri! Looks like you brought somebody along for the ride as well! Good! Too bad that means SHE gets to suffer this eternity along with you! This is gonna be FUN!

Yuri gasped as he saw Estelle reaching out for him.

"Y...Yuri! Help!" Estelle cried. Yuri hurried to grab Estelle's hand, but he missed and started falling down into the darkness. Everyone above continued to laugh, watching as Yuri fell.

"No! Estelle! ESTELLE!" Yuri exclaimed. As he felt nothing but darkness surrounding him, he quickly was awoken from his nightmare, sweat racing down his face.

"Estelle!" Yuri cried. Shortly after awakening, he quickly looked around him.

"Wait. This is...my room..." he muttered. Repede soon barked, catching Yuri's attention.

"Phew. It's...It's okay Repede. Just a nightmare...that's all." Yuri said, rubbing the dog's head. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Yuri took a glance as he saw Raven entering.

"Hey there kid. Just came to see how ya were doing." Raven said. Yuri sighed, sitting upright in bed and wiping the sweat from his face.

"W...What do you want old man?" Yuri asked. Raven smirked.

"Listen Yuri. Earlier before, I had a pretty good idea what you were thinking about before ya came down here. You were thinking that if ya really go through with this...this wedding with the princess, you don't wanna end up dragging her down to hell like all of your enemies claim you're gonna wind up someday." Raven said. Yuri huffed.

"Guess you're smarter than I thought." Yuri said. Raven chuckled, patting Yuri's shoulder.

"Heh. Believe me. I can tell when someone is having a hard time dealing with their past. But...if I can tell one thing for sure, if ya got a nice gal like Estelle watching out for ya and caring for you, along with us I'll remind ya, there's no way you'll wind up in hell like Barbos or Zagi." Raven said. Yuri fell silent afterwards, glaring on at Raven.

"Trust me. You're gonna be just fine. You'll be together...in peace." Raven said. Repede glanced up at Yuri, who sighed shortly after.

"Thanks Raven. Somehow, you know when to perk somebody up." Yuri said. Raven smirked, saying he'd let Yuri be now and walked off. Yuri and Repede then turned to one another.

"If Raven is sure of it...then there's only one thing to say to Estelle. You ready pal?" Yuri asked. Repede barked. Yuri smirked and was soon out the door with Repede. He strolled up towards the royal quarter, stopped inbetween when he found Estelle standing by herself, looking up at the stars in the sky.

"Estelle?" Yuri asked.

"Oh. Yuri." Estelle replied. Yuri slowly walked over to Estelle's side, glancing up at the sky. They both could see it, Brave Vesperia was shining brightly in the sky. Repede merely ruffed and sat at Yuri's side.

"Look. Isn't that the star you named our guild after?" Yuri asked. Estelle nodded.

"It's so beautiful tonight. I thought I'd just come out and look at the sky...clear my mind a bit." Estelle said. Yuri nodded, quietly glancing at Estelle without her notice. When Estelle noticed, Yuri was already looking on at her.

"Estelle? About what we talked about earlier..." Yuri muttered. Suddenly, Estelle slipped her arm around his.

"Y...Yuri? I...I...I don't know how to word this, but...I..." Estelle muttered. Yuri slowly turned towards her until they both faced each other. He lightly took her hand.

"It's okay. I think I know what you want to say. And...I do too." Yuri said. Estelle lightly gasped.

"Do? Do what?" Estelle asked "I didn't even say anything." Yuri smirked.

"I'm talking about what you were gonna say." Yuri said. Suddenly, he slowly dropped to one knee, still holding Estelle's hand gently. Estelle began to blush, watching as Yuri looked up at her.

"Princess Estellise...will you marry me?" Yuri asked. Estelle lightly gasped, turning bright red as tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly dropped to her knees and hugged Yuri tightly. He smirked and hugged her back, hearing her lightly sniffling.

"Yuri! Th...Thank you!" Estelle cried. As Yuri comforted her, they were watched from afar by Rita and the others. Karol couldn't help but cry, as did Rita. But when Karol noticed, Rita groaned and struck him down with a blow to the head. Raven smirked as he and Judith looked on at Yuri and Estelle. Repede was the only one to notice the others watching.

TO BE CONTINUED...