DISCLAIMER: I do not own Tales copyright or the characters; I am merely a fan who enjoys writing about them. All rights belong to Namco; character designs (c) Kosuke Fujishima.
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~St. Albert's Day Redux~
Part Two
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The sun had just risen when Tear awoke the next morning. Early, as was her habit. Dressing in the attire Peony had dubbed "Cool Chick" (minus the gloves), she felt content as she silently stole down the curved staircase, socks making no sound upon the tiled floors.
Few others in the manor were awake at this time, instead choosing to wander Morpheus' realm a bit longer; she had seen a few servants, but it looked like she had even beat Jade this morning (a rare occurance, indeed!).
She entered the parlor; as expected, Kratos was at the window, preparing to watch the sunrise. A peaceful expression graced his features. After some moments, she joined him, and they both enjoyed the morning's beauty in silence.
At length, the sun rose a little higher, and the others slowly started joining them: Jade appeared with a mug in one hand and a book in the other (apparently Tear hadn't beat him after all). He had elected not to wear his uniform, much as she had, but was in the outfit Peony had dubbed "Battle Master". Jozette (wearing only the black dress from her uniform, along with the green leggings and green under-sleeves of it), and then Regal came in, followed closely by Anise and Florian, who curled up on the loveseat together, eliciting a slight coo from from Tear (they were just so cute!). But she stopped when she saw Jade smirking at her. Kratos had no such qualms about smiling at the two. Eventually he took up a chair, himself, nodding at Colette as she came in and sat near the fireplace. Tear joined her; neither Luke, Lloyd, nor Zelos were up.
"Typical Luke," Tear commented, amused. Colette giggled.
"Lloyd too," she reminded her friend, and Tear laughed.
"That's true."
One more hour passed before Lloyd, Luke, and Zelos decided to grace the others with their presence (Zelos' words, not those of the other two). They were the last three to arrive; Guy had told his friends that he would be spending the day with Noelle, and they had already left for his manor (to which Zelos and Jade both made note, thoughts of blackmail and verbal torment distributed equally between them).
"Luke...would you...join me outside in a bit?" Tear asked, as she stood up.
"Huh? Sure," Luke smiled, also standing up.
"Heheh, you kids play nice now," Zelos smirked. Tear frowned disapprovingly at him and Luke shot him a glare.
"Shut up. I'm not the one who had to clean a library."
Zelos just shrugged, Genis snickered, and even though Jade's face was hidden behind his book, they knew a very proud smirk was on his face. Luke and Tear left then, leaving Zelos to finish his drink and Sheena to wonder just what Luke was talking about. There was no way Zelos would do domestic work, was there? Well, she supposed he cooked sometimes, but still...
By and by, Genis stood. "Sis, may I...uh...take a walk around town with..." Genis whispered, indicating Presea, who had just finished her meal. Raine nodded. They had seen enough of the town with Jade yesterday for her feel confident in its layout. Genis wouldn't get lost, and Presea wouldn't let him get into trouble.
"Still, be careful," she said. "And be back here by four o' clock." Genis grinned, then turned and asked the pink-haired girl to come walk with him. She agreed with a smile, and the two scampered off. Similarly, Florian and Anise also disappeared, followed by Colette and Lloyd. Eventually, Kratos stood and went outside. Raine went into the parlor, and Regal adjourned to the library. Finally, Sheena stood and left with a redheaded Chosen following her out. The Colonel headed to the basement.
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"Where are we going, Asch?" Natalia asked, as her fiancé lead her down the street, toward the land-entrance to Grand Chokmah.
"You'll see," Asch grinned. "I've got a whole day planned for you."
Natalia wondered what it could be. Asch had told her to dress for traveling, so she'd put on the duds that Anise had dubbed "Adventurous Princess", only with long pants instead of the shorts, at Asch's insistence. He was dressed similarly to his fiancée, wearing a pair of denim pants, and an off-white long-sleeved shirt with red stitching on the sleeves and front pockets, brown boots, and a brown wide-brimmed hat. Such things were most commonly worn in the more rural Engeve, but they weren't unseen in the rest of Malkuth, even trendy Grand Chokmah. This had not, however, stopped Luke from making fun of Asch on the way out:
"Roping cattle today, Asch?"
"Hey, Necromancer," Asch had replied, earning a deer-in-headlights look from Luke. Jade had adjusted his glasses in malevolent interest. "I know someone who'd like to be a participant in your next experiment..." the elder redhead had said slyly.
"Really?" Jade had said, almost giddy. "Do go on. It's so hard to find willing test subjects these days..."
"Oh, I didn't say he'd be willing..."
"Oh, I see. Well, the unwilling kinds are always the most fun!"
That had been the end of that. Asch looked back and squeezed his fiancée's hand warmly, and she responded with a kind smile of her own. Whatever else he had planned, nothing could compare with having him here, with her.
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Noelle was content as Guy took her by the hand and led her behind the Curtiss manor. No shaking or trembling was to be found, and his smile was warm.
"This way!" he said cheerfully.
It was faster to reach things by boat in Grand Chokmah; as such, many of the nobles had their own private docks and fontech boats for getting around, and Jade's manor was no different: behind the manor a ways were small docks made of whitewashed stone. Guy had brought his own fonboat there the previous day, and this was where he guided Noelle.
"Watch your step," he said, taking ahold of both her hands, and helping her step off the stone dock and into the water vessel. A chilly breeze was in the air, but her pilot's jacket well-protected her from the chill. It was otherwise quite beautiful, and she was delighted to be spending it with Guy. She settled down into the passenger seat as he revved up the boat.
"Ready?" he grinned, and she nodded. "Let's go!"
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St. Albert's Day was surprisingly hard this year. She had been prepared to feel sad, melancholy even, but she had been hoping that, two-and-a-half years after Aslan's death, she might be able to be less mournful than she was today. She was not, and the theme of the day didn't help. All around her, there were happy couples spending time with one another, thereby reinforcing the fact that she was no longer a part of a pair.
She walked along slowly, over one of the city's bridges, bouquet in hand. Looking toward the ocean a little ways, however, she did catch sight of one couple that truly made her smile: Count Gailardia on his boat with Noelle. Warm happiness for her cousin rose inside her; he had lost so much, and she was glad that he had found someone as kind as Noelle.
And then they disappeared into the distance. She was once again alone with her thoughts, though even the good memories were still too painful to dwell on for very long. She continued on her way to the cemetery; she had come to visit Aslan.
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Colette and Lloyd had taken off to the port. Watching the water was relaxing, the ships were amazing (to Lloyd, especially), and of course, the chilly air made snuggling that much warmer.
"It's nice to be able to just sit together like this," Lloyd said. "We haven't been able to spend a lot of time together since we got here, have we? Just you and me, I mean."
"I like our new friends, but it's nice to just be by ourselves for a little while," Colette agreed.
"Yeah."
The two continued to talk. Some distance away, Kratos smiled as he watched his son and Colette happily sitting together; before closing his eyes and lapsing into another memory of his beloved Anna.
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Unlike most of the others, who'd gone out for the day, Luke and Tear had opted to stay around the manor. They began with a walk in the garden; the air was crisp and held the scent of the sea.
"We haven't been alone like this in a long time," Luke mused, spread out on the grass. "Even before Lloyd and the others came..."
"Our duties carry us all over the place," Tear replied, "it's not surprising we have little time for each other...but it's good to be here now."
"Yeah." A few more minutes past, then Luke spoke again. "Hey, Tear."
"Hmm?"
He poked her. "You're it!" He was off like a shot, and it took Tear a minute to register what had happened.
"Ugh...Luke!"
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Asch and Natalia had walked quite a ways, through the entrance itself about two miles outside of the city, closer to the Theor Forest that bordered Grand Chokmah. Natalia had never been this way before, and she was very curious as to what Asch had up his sleeve. At last, he stopped; a large building stood in front of them. Like the buildings inside Grand Chokmah, it consisted of white brick and a blue roof; unlike anything else, there were strong fences made of chains extending to its side, and in front of those stretched a trench filled with water, some fifteen feet wide, keeping the creatures within separate from the rest of the city. A small stone bridge led over the water and to the front door of the building.
"Pack dragons?" Natalia asked, watching the large reptiles on the other side. "What do we need pack dragons for?" "Pack dragon" was a common term for the wingless breed of wyvern that stood on their two hind legs; instead of wings, they had two smaller forelegs for catching prey. Like all dragon species, they were intelligent and strong. They were also more tame than many of the other species, making them an excellent choice for work animals. Pack dragons were used for a variety of purposes, anything from pulling wagons to plowing fields to riding. They were quite as loyal as a dog, when a human took the time to properly forge a bond; take care of the dragon, and the dragon would take of its human.
That said, they could still breathe fire and inflict deadly wounds if not careful. Keeping them behind such a fence with a moat was definitely a good idea. Nevertheless, the dragons seemed friendly enough; as the royal pair crossed the bridge, a few of the more curious members of the pack came over to the fence, chirruping at their visitors.
"You'll see," Asch said again, a hint of mischievousness entering his voice. He opened the door to their main office and walked in. The man at the counter looked up as they entered; he had blond hair in a short ponytail and was wearing a crisp blue shirt and black-rimmed glasses.
"Ah, Asch," the man greeted him. "And this is the lovely lady you spoke of yesterday, I take it? "
"Yes sir," Asch said. There was an obvious pride in his voice, but it was a tender pride, one of a man who is in complete awe and respect of the person who has his love. "Mr Dasdel, this is my fiancée, Natalia - Natalia, this is the manager, Mr Dasdel."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Natalia shook the owner's hand, and he led the two through the office's other door. A sign above it issued a cautionary statement, warning of the dragons that lay ahead and that the office was not responsible for any who trespassed without the escort of an employee. Mr Dasdel led them just outside the office, where a pair of dragons were already saddled and harnessed.
"These are Pino and Acha," Mr Dasdel said. "They're two of our most reliable lizards, so you shouldn't have a problem with either of them. Both of you know how to ride?" he asked, and both Asch and Natalia nodded. She hadn't had a chance to ride a dragon in a long time, so this was exciting.
"How about the other thing?" Asch asked, and Mr Dasdel smiled.
"Quite safe, I assure you," he said. "I'll bring it out now."
"Asch?" Natalia turned to her fiancé, who was grinning. "Asch, what have you planned?"
"Oh...not much," he said, putting his arms around her waist and pulling her in for a quick kiss. "Just you, me, two lizards and a picnic basket." As if on cue, Mr. Dasdel reappeared with the previously mentioned basket in hand.
"Didn't want to risk anyone else getting into it or spoiling the surprise," Asch explained to her questioning look, "so I asked Mr Dasdel if he'd mind hiding it in their office icebox. Thanks, by the way."
"Not at all, Your Highnesses," Mr Dasdel nodded. "Have fun!"
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The library was much nicer to sit in now, Raine thought absentmindedly, as she settled down in her customary spot by the coffee table. Everything was dust-free and organized once again. Zelos had actually done a very good job.
She leaned on one of the sofa arms with a book in her lap. Luke and Tear were outside in the garden, Lloyd and Colette had taken off toward the port. The others had disappeared some time ago to their own activities. Even Kratos and Regal were absent. The silence would have been nice, except her mind seemed determined to dwell on more unpleasant experiences.
St Albert's Day, a day of love. That's what Anise had called it yesterday, as she passionately described how Fleil Albert had proposed to Yulia Jue, sweeping her into his arms under the starlit skies of Aramis Spring and asking her to be his forever...and then Anise had pointed to Tear and asked when Luke would do something similar, and if she thought it would be up to Albert's brilliance when it did. The older girl had blushed and said that many silly legends had sprung up around her ancestors, that nobody knew how Albert had proposed or where. As for Luke, she was content just to have him back.
(Anise had smirked devilishly; Tear was as red as her boyfriend's hair and this was exactly what Anise wanted. She had proceeded to tease Tear relentlessly, Natalia occasionally joining in.)
Raine chuckled at the memory, and then sighed again, thinking of her home world. A similar holiday as this was in place on Sylvarant, but it had been a long time since she'd celebrated it; she had little reason to. But try as she might, her thoughts could not help but wander back to the man she'd once given everything to and more...only to have him cast her aside once he learned what she was.
No secrets, he'd said. And she'd believed him. Hah.
She'd settled down in the library to do more research, in hopes in hopes of diverting her attention elsewhere, but such an effort proved futile. It was too quiet; there were no distractions, and a distraction was exactly what she needed. She sighed again, staring into nothing.
"There's plenty of other books in the library, you know," came the accented voice, and Raine started. She turned her head, and sure enough, there stood Jade in the doorway (how did he do that?!), tea in hand and customary grin firmly in place. Although, today the expression seemed more genuine, instead of a mask to hide behind.
"Oh, hello, Colonel," she greeted. "Enjoying the quiet, I take it?"
"Well, with eighteen guests sharing one's home, silence is a rare but not wholly unwelcome commodity." He sat down on one of the sofas, crossing his legs.
She smiled. "I can imagine, especially if one is used to living alone."
"Indeed. And what of yourself?"
"Me? What do you mean?"
"Why, Miss Raine, all the others are either enjoying themselves or relaxing, but here you are with a book on Sentience Theory in your lap...perhaps you are missing someone back home and looking for a distraction?"
She had to hand it to him, he was incredibly perceptive. He hadn't guessed her true reason, but he'd still realized what she was doing.
"No," she responded at last. She paused, thinking of the best way to put it. "I simply have no reason to concern myself with such a holiday," she finally answered, looking away.
"I see," he said, understanding exactly what she meant. "Well, I haven't either. As a rule, I try to spend St Albert's Day away from Grand Chokmah."
"Did you also have a run-in with a heartbreaker?"
"Well, I suppose...yes and no," he replied, leaving her to wonder again. "It's a rather long story-"
A knock at the library door interrupted him. Jade grinned at her in annoyance and said, "Well, it seems it's about to explain itself, how nice. Come in," he called at the door, and his butler, Cole, entered.
"Sir, His Majesty requests to see you at the palace."
"Of course he does," Jade said pleasantly. "Tell His Majesty's messenger I'll be along shortly."
"Of course." Cole bowed and left the room.
"Do you not want to see the Emperor?" Raine asked.
"It's nothing, he's just bored and looking for some entertainment," the Colonel answered, slipping on his shoes. "This happens every year - hence why I've taken to accepting assignments that will keep me away from home at this time. Although this is somewhat of a first; usually it's he who comes to visit me."
"Hmm?"
"His Majesty was separated from his love long ago; since then, this holiday has been nothing but trouble for it reminds him of what he can never have. Normally he comes over to my office, but since the manor is greater in distance from the palace than the base, he's decided to have me do the walking instead."
And obviously, he drove Jade crazy the entire time. She didn't really blame him; Peony was a good person but he could be quite a handful. She tilted her head at the soldier. "Would you like me to come along? Perhaps with two of us, he might be more, ah, manageable."
Jade thought for a moment, then shrugged. "It's certainly a thought, if you wish to join me," he responded, then smirked. "By all means, perhaps you and he can empathize with one another..."
She rolled her eyes and groaned. He really was obnoxious.
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Across town, a raven-haired girl was energetically bouncing along toward the park, her green-haired companion following at a slightly slower pace.
The park was a pretty area - pathways spidered through trees and benches and grassy little clearings, the edges bordered with railings made of Grand Chokmah's trademark white stone. It was perfect for strolling through - or sometimes picnicking when it was warmer - or simply sitting and enjoying the view. The park faced the city's interior rather than the vast ocean, but that hardly made a difference in Grand Chokmah, where the interior was as much ocean water as stone.
A gentle breeze was blowing as they reached their destination. Anise immediately moved to jump up and stand on one of the stone railings. "It's so nice out here!" she remarked happily, letting the wind tousle her hair. Florian chuckled at the girl's enthusiasm; the day was fine, indeed.
"Be careful," he added, coming up to the railing himself. "You don't want to fall."
"Oh boo, Florian - I'll be just fine," she insisted, with all the confidence a perky 16-year-old could muster. "You on the other hand..." She took a step along the rail, and as she moved to gesture how clumsy Florian would be whilst on a railing...
"Aaah!"
"Anise!"
Swiftly, the boy reached out and caught her, thereby preventing a rather troublesome event. Anise breathed a sigh of relief; falling off a railing was no fun, and she hadn't really wanted to get wet today. She turned to thank him...then blushed as she realized he'd just saved her, like something out of a cheesy romance novel. The blush deepened - on both of them - when they realized just how close their faces were. Burnt amber met emerald irises, and her breath hitched as he leaned in...
Slip.
"Aaaahhh, aaaahhh, aaaahhh!"
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It was nearing lunch by the time Genis and Presea returned to the manor. As they entered the foyer, the pink-haired girl turned to her escort. "Thank you, Genis," she smiled, "it was nice to walk with you."
"It was nice to walk with you, too," he nodded, "Hey, can you wait here a second? I have to get something." She tilted her head to one side, confused; nevertheless she nodded. Genis hurried up the stairs; when he returned there was a small package in his hand, which he then held out to her.
"What's this?"
"A present," Genis responded (thereafter mentally kicking himself for such a Lloyd-like response...no duh, it was a present!).
Presea giggled a little. They sat down on the stairs, and Presea began gently unwrapping the gift; Genis crossing his fingers. It wasn't exactly a typical-
"A...joke book?" she smiled. Genis nodded.
"Well, jokes are great for makin' someone laugh, right?" Genis said. "This had some good ones, from what I read of it."
She stared down at the little book contently. It was somewhat silly, true, but a good gift nonetheless, and she was happy with it. "I like it," she grinned at him. "Actually, I have something for you, too. Just a minute." She departed, returning mere moments later with a white box, which she handed to Genis - now it was his turn to be curious. Lifting the lid, a surprised expression appeared on his face.
"Aselia: A Planet Existing on Shifted Dimensions," he read.
"It's a history of our world, but from Auldrant's perspective," she explained. "They're only theoretical discussions, and they probably aren't all accurate, but I thought you would find it interesting just the same."
He nodded. "It's great," he said, smiling brightly. "Thanks!"
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It was ten minutes from the Curtiss manor to Blue Palace by boat. With the tiny detail of Raine's hydrophobia, however, Jade had elected to walk instead, which turned it into a forty-five minute hike across town. This, of course, had the added bonus of irritating Peony, who was doubtless wondering where they were.
"You're not going to get in trouble?"
"Well, it certainly wouldn't do to have you passing out on the way there, would it?" he asked cheerfully, and she scowled.
"So that's why you didn't mind my coming along," she said irritably.
"No no, you did have a valid suggestion," he replied, unconcerned. "There just so happens to be other advantages to the situation."
In another five minutes, they were at the palace gates, and the soldiers saluted Jade as he approached. They strode inside and Jade went straight for Peony's chamber. Raine still couldn't understand how he lived in that pigpen he dared call a room, but she supposed that as far as monarchs went, Malkuth certainly could do a lot worse. He genuinely cared for his citizens...but then, she could say the same about the Kimlascan Royal Trio, as well. Auldrant was quite lucky in that way. King Tethe'alla cared for his people, but he was nowhere near as hands-on as this planet's nobility were.
Emperor Peony was at the window when they entered, staring out over the sea and waterfalls.
"About time you got here!" Peony declared as he heard the door close. "I've been looking for your boat for forty minutes! Just where the heck have...you...ohhh." He had finally deigned to turn around, and a devious smirk was crawling across his face. "I see."
Raine tilted her head blankly. Usually she could pick up on what he was going on about, but not this time. What brought on that smug look of his?
"Begging your pardon, Your Majesty," Jade drawled with a smirk of his own, "but Miss Raine is not fond of boats. Rather than have one of our dear otherworldly guests faint on the way here" - she glared at him again - "I thought perhaps we should simply walk." He was interrupted by the sound of Peony laughing. A lot.
"Well," Peony choked out, in-between his cachinnating, "Well well well...this does change the game, quite a bit! Who'd have thought it?"
"Excuse me, Your Majesty, but perhaps you could enlighten us on just what you find so amusing," Jade said, annoyed. He could not think of a single reason why Peony would be in such hysterics, even less that it would have to do with him or his companion-
Wait.
"Okay okay okay," Peony said, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes as his laughter finally abated, "I'm gonna letcha off the hook this time - you've given me plenty of entertainment for today. You go and take the lady to a nice restaurant or something, 'kay? My treat!"
Jade was silent for about three seconds - three glorious seconds - as he struggled to think of an appropriate response. Raine, meantime, was turning red with indignation.
It was a beautiful thought, really. Indignation was indeed a very tempting response.
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Anise and Florian sloshed along between Lloyd and Colette. The ride on the aquaducts had been quite the adventure, but the raven-haired girl could pass on ever doing it again.
Especially when fully dressed.
And most especially when the water was cold!
The big romantic moment she'd so dreamed of - ruined. All those moments in the books were just stupid! The next time she wanted such a thing, she definitely wasn't sitting atop a railing! She was just about to experience one of a girl's most memorable moments - her first kiss - she just had to lean back.
And lose balance - again. And somehow manage to pull Florian in with her. And then get sucked into the aquaducts that ran about the city!
The two had been jetted all over the city, and were flowing rapidly toward the Palace waterfall - the biggest in all Grand Chokmah - when, fortunately, Lloyd and Colette had appeared from the sky and rescued them (the Aselian pair's angelic senses had easily picked up their cries, as well as who it was and where it was coming from), thereby preventing an even larger catastrophe. For this Anise was sincerely grateful, but her mood was nonetheless sour.
Florian beside her wasn't nearly so gloomy - the ducts had been cold, but they sure were fun!
Looking at Lloyd and Colette, Anise did suppose it wasn't quite as bad as it could have been - she'd caught a glimpse of Jade and the Professor (both looking quite annoyed) marching away from the palace. It could have been the soldier to find them; as it was, he'd have a field day if he ever heard about the Daathic pair's little joyride.
They entered through the rear of the manor so as not to attract unwarranted attention - the last thing Anise needed was Zelos or Luke laughing at her - and the younger pair hastily went off to their rooms for warm showers and fresh clothes. Lloyd and Colette, seeing that their job was done, left to snare a little more alone time.
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She had already spent some time in front of the headstone; thinking, wondering, remembering. It was painful, sure enough, but she couldn't help thinking about him.
There was a bench not far from the grave, bordered by well-trimmed bushes and pleasant flowers. It was quiet, a good place for solitude and reflection. Here, hidden away from prying eyes and soldiers' duties, she allowed herself the indulgence of tears. She felt so silly - she was a soldier, used to dealing with the deaths of her comrades, people close to her; two years later, and she was still grieving over Aslan. He wouldn't want to see her like this.
"General Cecille?" a deep voice asked.
Startled, she looked up quickly, brushing away tears. Standing some feet away - where the walk branched from the main path - stood a blue-haired duke, one Regal Bryant to be exact. The muscular man was looking at her with a concerned expression. "Are you alright?" he was asking now, drawing her from her thoughts.
"O-oh...Duke Bryant...yes, of course," she responded, after a moment's pause.
"Are you certain?"
Was she certain? And would she ever be alright? She didn't know. Every so often the pain would surge up, just as sharp as on that awful, awful day...she thought she would be alright today, that she could visit without it hurting so much. She was wrong on that count.
"It's been two years since his passing," she finally answered, "but..."
". . . . but the pain is still sharp," Regal said. It was a feeling he was all too familiar with.
". . . . What...brings you to such a place?" she finally asked him.
"There is a small garden over there which reminds me of the sanctuary in Altamira," he answered. "I cannot personally visit her, but I thought this would be appropriate on such a day."
"I see." She knew from the others that Regal had lost his own love several years ago; though she was still somewhat upset with herself, at the very least, she knew he would understand and could take comfort in that fact. He would not judge her.
"Even after sixteen years, the pain of losing Alicia is still sharp," he finally said, as though reading her thoughts, "and I doubt it will ever go away. It may dull, but..."
At length, he came and sat next to her. He had also learned from Guy of Jozette's tragic loss two years ago. Regal had no one to blame for his loss but himself, but this woman...this woman was an innocent victim - soldier or not - and she did not deserve what had happened. The least he could do, as someone who shared the same pain, was offer a listening ear, and raise her spirits if he could.
"Tell me," he began, "what was this man like?"
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Lloyd and Colette had deserted to the kitchen. Whilst Colette was busy rummaging through the icebox for something sweet to eat, Lloyd had hastily snuck into the room he'd been carving gifts in the day before. When he returned - package in hand - there were some snacks on the table...as well as a small red box.
"Happy St. Albert's Day, Lloyd," Colette smiled.
He chuckled. "Happy St. Albert's Day to you, too," he grinned, "and this here is for you." He handed her the package, and took his own from the table. "Go ahead and open it."
"Okay." Inside was the "dog" figurine Lloyd had worked on; in fact, it was a figure of Noishe. Colette, quite naturally, adored it, and she threw her arms around Lloyd in thanks, before picking up the box on the table.
"This one is for you," she said; he took it and tore off the paper with as much enthusiasm as someone half his age. He grinned: inside was a charm made from a fonstone fragment, with the engraving of a majestic Garuda bird they had seen on the plains.
"They're said to be a symbol of strength and perseverance," Colette said. "They remind me of you."
"Strength and perseverance, huh?" he smiled. "Yeah, we could use a little of both back home." He hugged her, "Thanks, Colette."
She simply nodded, and cheerfully returned the gesture.
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It hadn't really taken long for Tear to catch Luke - she was faster than he, and she knew him well, which made it rather easy to sneak up behind him and tag him. This game of tag/hide-and-seek continued for a few more rounds, before they both grew hungry and retreated inside to lunch (which, thanks to Tear, was delicious). They had just finished when Luke called Tear into the library (much more pleasant thanks to Zelos' hard work).
"Hmm? Luke, what is it?"
"I, uh...c-close your eyes for a sec, k? And hold out your hand."
"Huh, why do I need to-"
"Please?" he asked again. She did as he said, and felt a small something placed in her hand. "Okay, you can open them again. Thanks."
Tear gasped as she looked at her hand; in her palm was a beautiful selenia, or rather, a selenia charm...
"Happy St. Albert's Day, Tear," Luke grinned. She smiled as she continued to admire the little carving. The workmanship was amazing; at first glance, it looked like the genuine flower - had its color been more blue, rather than white-beige, she almost wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
"Luke, it's beautiful...I've never seen anything like it! But...where on Auldrant did you find such a fine charm?"
"I had Lloyd make it, actually," he admitted. "Selenias are your favorites, and they're sort of our flower anyway, so...I thought that would be a good-" He was cut off by Tear giving him a hug, followed by a peck on the cheek.
"Luke, I love it. Thank you," she smiled. "And give my compliments to Lloyd." She let go of the redhead, "And now, it's your turn."
"My turn?" She nodded, instructing him to stay put, that she'd be back in a few moments. Chuckling, he nodded. True to her word, she soon returned - there was a long package in her hand, and a smaller one.
"Alright. Open the little one first."
Luke did as he was instructed; it was a brand-new capacity core, one he'd had his eye on the other day (he chuckled; how like her to get something practical!).
"Now," she stated, and there was a twinkle in her eye, "open this one."
It was Luke's turn to gasp as a very familiar weapon was uncovered. "I-isn't that ...Master Van's sword?" (As if he really needed to ask.) But Tear shook her head.
"No - it's yours now," she said with a smile. "I don't use swords, and I have many other things from Van...besides, I think this holds more sentiment for you than me." She was probably right; he was, after all, the one to whom Van had taught the sword, and despite the later betrayal, the memories of training were still happy ones for Luke. But then a thought occurred to him.
"But what about Asch? Shouldn't he-"
"I already spoke with him," she smiled. "He agreed that you should have it as well." Asch had long since lost his attachment to Van, having only stayed with him because at the time, there was no other option. Luke should have the sword.
"Tear...thank you," he smiled, "this means...a lot." He embraced her tightly, drawing her to him for a tender kiss.
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"What a brazen thing to say!"
"Indeed."
"Making assumptions like that, the nerve of that man!"
"His Majesty never did have much tact when it comes to gossip, particularly gossip about me. I'm not surprised he hasn't seen how foolish it makes him look," Jade sighed, then shrugged. "Oh well, might we not take advantage of this opportunity?" Jade asked. "There are many fine restaurants, after all, and it isn't often His Majesty offers to foot the bill..."
"Why should we?" she asked, still indignant. "That will only feed his...presumptuous...pigheaded claims. Do you really want to add fuel to the fire?"
"Raine, his claims have already been fed well to bursting point. He's going to think what he wants now and neither you nor I can do anything to prove otherwise at the moment, short of murdering one another," he said pleasantly. "Even then, I'm not sure it would work. He would probably twist it around as some sort of tragic romance and morbid expression of eternal love. I rather object to having my reputation butchered in such a way, don't you?"
His sense of humor was an odd one, indeed. "I suppose you're right." She sighed in exasperation. She wanted to do something, get her hands dirty. Furthering her knowledge never ceased to cheer her up. Jade's library was impressive, of course, and there were libraries in the palace (though that was the last place she wanted to be), but she had already tried reading and they'd seen how that had worked out.
"There are no academies like Sybak around here, is there?" she asked him then. The people there usually allowed her to make use of the facilities, having connections to Zelos and all. But Jade drew a blank.
"Sybak?" he queried, adjusting his glasses.
"It's a university town on Aselia, entirely devoted to science and furthering technology," she explained. "You would like it, I think. It's similar to Belkend here, though it revolves around mana, not fonons. I need to...figure something out, or put something together. I need to do something."
"...I see." He thought for a moment, then grinned. "Well, Belkend's rather far and our pilot is out with her boyfriend, but perhaps I can provide a substitute. At the very least, there wouldn't be so many bothersome rules to follow."
She looked at him curiously, interest piqued. "What do you mean?"
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"Asch, today has been absolutely wonderful - the picnic, the outing - thank you," Natalia sighed contentedly, snuggling into his side.
"I'm glad you've enjoyed it, Natalia," Asch replied, pulling her closer. "I'm really glad you've enjoyed it.
He had taken her through the Theor Forest to its northern edge; a trail was hidden there, leading down a hill and to a small, sunny cove. Asch had learned of this place from Guy, who had learned of it from Peony, and it was the Emperor who had given the redheaded noble directions. Peony still came there on occasion, and they could see why: it was a beautiful place, with clear blue water and warm sands, trees and bushes tapering off to the small beach.
Breakfast had been so late that they weren't hungry when they arrived (thank-you Luke and Zelos), so they had set the basket on a high rock to prevent the dragons from getting at it, then changed into their swimsuits and made for the ocean. Asch, it turned out, was very fond of the bathing suit that Natalia had received from the Emperor. His swimsuit - also a gift from Peony - was identical to his brother's, save the designs on his trunks were silver instead of gold.
Unlike Luke, Asch did not wear a towel on his head.
They played in the ocean for quite some time, and even the dragons had joined them for a spell. They wouldn't go into the water very deep, of course - only halfway up their calves - but Natalia had giggled as Asch used a thick branch to play tug-of-war with one of the pack lizards (and was subsequently yanked flat on his face, when the dragon grew bored of the game), then one of the dragons had splashed her with its tail (that had turned into a new game).
It was mid-afternoon, now; they had long since finished their meal and were lying in contented silence upon the blanket, watching as the dragons chased each other across the sand; Asch using his rolled-up pants as a pillow, and Natalia resting her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She could still hardly believe it, that he was here with her...so many nights after his death, she had awoken in tears, calling for him. Sometimes she still did...and then she was able to see him and touch him, caress him and hold him in her arms, each breath he took affirming that he was real, and not a phantom of her mind's creation.
"Three months," Asch sighed, finally breaking the tranquil silence. "Three more months until our wedding. Until you're officially my Lady Fabre."
"More like you will be my Lord Kimlasca-Lanvaldear," Natalia replied teasingly (she was technically right, though...since she was second-in-line to the throne, and he third, technically he would be her 'Lord Kimlasca'. "Truthfully, three months isn't so long, Asch."
"It is for me," he declared, looking at her. "It can't come fast enough."
"You flatter me by saying so," Natalia said, but her voice sounded hollow.
"Hey," he said, giving her a squeeze, "Are you alright? You sound strange."
"...I'm fine," she replied, but her voice hitched, betraying her melancholy. Asch was here with her, she repeated to herself again, and Jade had said the boys were out of danger (much to the soldier's own great disbelief, though not to his disappointment).
"Natalia?" Asch gently sat them both up, and noted with concern that she was close to crying. "Hey?" he said, cupping her cheek in his hand. "What's bothering you?"
"It's just...I...thought that I had lost you forever, that I would never see you again..." she said, voice heavy with emotion. "After Eldrant, the Colonel explained the phenomena of Dissonance and the Big Bang, saying that you and Luke had already been in the throes of it...I think he was trying to prepare us, that if either of you did come back, you wouldn't be quite the same person." The tears spilled over as she spoke, and Asch wiped them away with his thumb. "So many nights I awoke, dreaming of you...of your death, of your return, sometimes even now. I can still...I can still hardly believe it now, that you're here again with me.
"So you see," she said, clasping to the hand holding her, "this is enough. Just having you here with me...that is all and more than I could have hoped for. I love you, Asch."
Asch's expression softened even more as she spoke, and at her words he drew her back to him for a kiss, holding her body tightly to his.
"I love you too, Natalia," he said, and his own voice was somewhat rougher as he did so. "Always."
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Anise felt better after a warm shower and a change of clothes, though she was still miffed (and embarrassed) about the previous incident. She was just finishing brushing her hair when there was a knock on her door.
"Come in."
"...Anise?"
"...Florian?" She was surprised as the green-haired boy strode in. There was a small pink box in his hand, tied with a purple ribbon. "Happy St. Albert's Day, Anise!"
It was with even more surprise that she undid the ribbon - no, ribbons; there were two - noting that they were of satin, and rather fancier than the average dress-up-your-present variety (in fact, they looked remarkably like...hair ribbons?!). And inside the box, sat a necklace - a pretty pink jewel, edged in silver, strung on a delicate chain (also of silver). She looked up at him, quickly rubbing her eyes; why did she feel like she was going to cry?
"The ribbons are for your hair, too," Florian added. "...Do you like it?"
But words weren't really needed, for Anise was already hugging him tightly. She surprised herself as she realized, it really wasn't the gifts themselves - not even the necklace, which looked somewhat expensive - but that he'd thought of her. There were plenty of other girls in Daath, but he had thought of her. "Florian...thank you," she said quietly, relaxing in his embrace. They stayed like that a few moments longer, before she pulled away and announced cheerfully, "I have something for you, too!"
She ran to her closet, then looked back. "Close your eyes," she ordered, and he did so, a mere few seconds later hearing the command to open them again. In her hands, she held a brand-new staff. It was very similar to his older one - same basic shape, but it was slightly longer and thicker - heavier - and made of a more durable metal than before; altogether, it was a very good gift.
"There's also beef stew waiting in the icebox downstairs," Anise added, smiling as Florian's eyes lit up. The staff was grand, but Anise's stew was his favorite!
"C'mon, c'mon!" he said excitedly, grabbing her hand and tugging her, "let's go eat!" She smiled and shook her head in silent laughter, allowing him to drag her along.
"Happy St. Albert's Day, Florian."
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She had forgotten what it was like to be the sole company of another person; particularly, a man.
"I must say, General," Regal addressed the blonde woman before him, "your culinary tastes are impeccable. I have never had anything quite like this, but it is quite delicious."
"Chesedonian food sometimes mixes unexpected flavors, but it's never failed to satisfy me," Jozette agreed. "I'm pleased you like it, as well."
The two of them had talked for quite awhile in the cemetery's little arbor, before a clock chimed two and they realized they were hungry. At Regal's suggestion, they had headed toward the center of the city to take lunch in one of the many fine restaurants, and at Jozette's suggestion, they had gone to a small Chesedonian-fare restaurant. There was nothing quite like it on Aselia, and Regal was thoroughly enjoying it.
"Aslan was very fond of Chesedonian food, also," Jozette smiled. "It was he that introduced me to this restaurant, actually..." She frowned again.
"It must seem very awkward to you," she said.
"Not at all," Regal answered, once again proving more than understanding. "I think he was lucky to have someone as devoted as you. Speaking as a man who has lost the dearest part of his heart, I think your Aslan would be proud of you, would be proud that he was once able to call you his. I was always in awe of my Alicia's strength of character; I am sure that is how your Aslan thought of you."
Jozette couldn't help but blush a little at his words. She hoped he was right. "Alicia sounds like she was a wonderful person, too," she said. She must have been, to call a man as kind-hearted as Regal her own. The blue-haired duke nodded at Jozette's assessment.
"She was very wonderful," Regal smiled fondly at the thought of his lost love. "Far better than I deserved, let me assure you."
"No, you sell yourself short," Jozette replied immediately, genuinely. "Speaking as a woman who has lost the dearest part of her heart, she would have been in disbelief at having so devoted an admirer, and considered herself far too unworthy. She would have loved you with everything she had, and...touched...to see her memory honored with such tenderness."
Regal could not help the solemnity that came over him at Jozette's words, nor the slight blush that rose to his own cheeks. He coughed, too.
"General, you flatter me too much-"
"Oh...please," she said, "call me Jozette."
"...As you wish," he replied, after a pause. "But you must consent to address me by my given name as well. Call me Regal."
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Zelos and Sheena arrived back at the Curtiss manor at dusk, the sun just beginning to sink behind the clouds. The day had been filled with their usual as they'd wandered about the city: bickering, teasing, taunting, a few dozen smacks to the Chosen's arm - the exact sort of things they did whenever they were together. It was inevitable.
They went inside the parlor, which was surprisingly empty for this time of day (usually everyone had gathered in it by now) to relax a bit after their day of fun. Sheena eventually meandered over to the window to watch the sun set, a smile on her face. Zelos stood behind her, also enjoying the scene (though for much different reasons). The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, casting an ethereal glow on the city with its fading rays.
"...Hey, Sheena," Zelos' voice asked, once only a sliver of orange remained.
"Hmm?" She turned to him, seeing that his smirk was still well in place.
"Step into the kitchen for a sec, k?" he grinned, "I have something ya just gotta see."
"What is it..." she said suspiciously. Zelos having something to show her...the idea wasn't exactly promising. Reluctantly, she followed the redhead into the kitchen, wondering what he could possibly want - and then decided that perhaps it would be better if she didn't think about it.
"Zelos?" She came in to see that he was holding a basket in his hands, with two roses on top. Gingerly, Zelos held the basket out to her, an almost shy smile on his face.
"This is for you," he said, and she took it carefully. Lifting the towel inside...
"P-pocky?" Indeed, inside the basket was pocky, pocky, and more pocky: several different flavors, all of which Sheena loved. In one corner, there was also a toy stuffed fox, a representative of her dear Corrine.
"Zelos, I...I don't even know what to say..." Or what to think, she mentally added; this was completely unexpected...
"Happy St. Albert's Day, Sheena," he said with a smile. She looked full into his face, and he seemed...genuine. This couldn't have been easy; there was no place on Auldrant to buy pocky, so it must have been difficult to get it for her...
Suddenly, the pieces fell into place: Jade asking for the recipe the day before, then Anise's vigorous labor in the kitchen that same evening...and this morning, the comment from Luke about Zelos cleaning the library, and what she'd observed (repeatedly) of the Colonel's very impressive skills of manipulation. Sheena smiled warmly at the redhead before her, warmer than she had ever before, at least at him.
"Zelos..." She was silent for a minute, thinking. She'd never expected to receive anything today - much less from the ex-Chosen - and she had not thought to get him anything...
But wait, there was one thing...
"I, um, I have something for you, too," she finally said, "Just...hang on a sec..." She hurried out of the dining room and rushed upstairs. She returned - looking no different, but for a small brush of pink on her lips.
Slowly, almost shyly, she approached him. Reaching up, she gently pressed her lips to his in a kiss that left even the Great Zelos Wilder speechless.
After several moments - some of the most blissful that Zelos had ever experienced - she pulled away, and planted another kiss on his cheek, leaving a pink lipstick mark on his face for all to see.
"Visible proof of your gift," she said with a smirk, "since we both know no one will believe you otherwise." Zelos smiled contentedly as he wrapped his arms around her; those were the best presents he had received in a very long time.
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Slowly, rest of the couples who'd been absent for the day slipped in.
Luke and Tear strode in and sat on a couch, Lloyd and Colette came from outside. Zelos and Sheena were already in the parlor - Luke and Lloyd looking in shock over the lipstick mark imprinted on the Chosen's cheek (no way that was Sheena's, was it?) - and Anise and Florian cheerfully occupied a sofa; Genis and Presea were busy laughing over her joke book in the corner.
Soon after the servants lit the fireplace, Regal and Jozette came into the room, exchanging smiles meant only for one another. Asch and Natalia had entered just as the sun was setting, Asch sporting a new sword scabbard (Natalia's gift - it paled in comparison to what he had given her, but he insisted it was wanted all the same). Finally, Jade and Raine ascended from the basement, obviously coming from his lab, which evoked hoots of laughter from Zelos and Anise until the Colonel turned and grinned sweetly at the two, asking if they would like to help in his next experiment.
They shut up.
All-in-all, the day was a happy one, whether for friends or those in a deeper relationship. They would never forget this cheerful day.
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The sun had set, the stars were twinkling now as the moon cast a pale glow over the city. Two figures were lying side-by-side atop the Albiore, watching the stars.
A short joyride in Guy's boat had been followed by a delicious breakfast of Noelle's choice, prepared by none other than Count Gardios himself. The afternoon had alternated between talking, a little something here and there, and a joyride in the Albiore, piloted by Noelle, and then a flying lesson for Guy. All-in-all, the day had been one of happy memories and both people were quite satisfied with how it had turned out.
"Guy," Noelle finally broke the tranquil silence, "thank you for today. It was so nice."
"Of course, Noelle," the noble smiled. "I really liked getting to spend the whole day with you, and I'm glad you enjoyed it, too."
"Guy?"
"Hmm?"
She turned on her side to face him. "Would you follow me inside really quick? I have something for you, too."
"You gave me the flying lesson!" Guy laughed.
"Yeah, but I do that anyway. This is...special."
Guy laughed again. "Okay. Sure, let's go inside for a bit."
Noelle led him to one of the lounges, then darted down the little hallway. When she returned, she held a package: one about the size and shape of a book. Guy looked at it curiously, as she nervously held it out to him.
"I...really hope you like it, Guy," she said, looking away. She'd worked very hard to put it together, but now that the moment was there, she wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Maybe he wouldn't want to be reminded of-
"A photo album?" Guy opened it up slowly...and froze. Before him was a picture of his sister, Mary. In her lap, sat none other than himself, barely four years old at time of the photograph. Confused, the Guy of the present looked toward Noelle, who only smiled, and nodded, imploring him to continue.
There were several more photos in the album...Mary reading in the library...a young Guy playing in the garden...Pere in front of the manor, there were even a few with Van...and a single, precious picture of Count and Countess Gardios, standing in front of the mantle with their family.
"Noelle...but...these are..." His eyes grew misty at the sight; his family, so long dead. How could she have possibly obtained these? Everything had been lost in the fall, hadn't it? (Or were these replicated?)
Noelle was still nervous. "Tear still has some of Van's old things from Hod," she explained. "Between she, the Fabres, and Emperor Peony, we were able to find these for you...I...I wasn't sure I should. But when I think of Grandpa Iemon and how he's not..." - she choked up at the memory of her grandfather, whom had defended their little group and was killed by Legretta in the process - "how he's not here anymore, and think about my parents...but I at least have pictures. I have the memories. So I thought that maybe, even a little rememberance for you..."
"Noelle..." His eyes were misty as he looked at her, and a gentle smile was on his face; her own stance had relaxed again, now that she realized he had been touched by the present. He only wished he could give her something as memorable and sweet...she had given him so much in just those few photographs...
But...he could give her something memorable...could he? She had only been wanting it, longing for it, for as long as they had been courting...
He could do it, he would do it. He would not let his phobia get in the way of their happiness, not anymore.
Slowly, but with determination, Guy placed his hands on Noelle's shoulders and turned her full toward him, much to her surprise and concern. He smiled, to let her know he was okay, even though his hand trembled as it ran itself tenderly through her hair.
"Guy?" Noelle looked at him, worried now. This wasn't why she had given him the book! "No no, you don't have to do this...I don't want you to push yourself...I can wait until you're more comfortable...this isn't...this isn't why I gave you the book-"
"I want to," Guy responded, a little huskily. His hand was shaking, but his eyes and voice were sincere. "You gave me a gift from your heart, Noelle. So let me give you one in return. I want to."
She almost held her breath as slowly, hesitantly, his arms came around her, pulling her closer as his lips met hers in a gentle kiss; almost instinctively, her arms wound about his back as she returned the gesture, both willing the kiss to deepen just a little more.
"Guy..." she whispered.
"Happy St. Albert's Day, Noelle."
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.:Part Two End:.
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SORRY SORRY SO SORRY for all the delays! I've switched jobs recently, so I've been rather stressed-out, plus I have school and other obligations! I tried so hard to post this on time, too...but only a day late (after pushing it back, and pushing it back...*ducks in shame*). Blame Asch and Natalia as far as character-related troubles go. Seriously, they were harder to write for than Jade. JADE.
But, I hope the wait was worth it and that you enjoyed it. There will be a third part, but not until much, much later. Consider the story complete for now :) In the meantime, please leave a review and let me know how I did and/or how you liked it; these are great because they help me improve my writing, too.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
- Asch is warmer because he's learned a LOT of things since the events of the game. Luke's group has accepted him as one of their own. And he has always let his guard down around Natalia.
- By the time Ratatosk rolls around, Presea has indeed gained her emotions back and now loves to laugh.
- A Garuda is one of those big eagle-like monsters you fight (I think near Sheridan, if not, it's a similar monster). So basically, Lloyd's an eagle XP I made up the "strength and perseverance" thing, but I think it fits - birds have to learn to fly, after all, and they gotta have both to do so ;)
- I realize that it may seem, initially, out of character for our witty Necromancer to struggle to come up with a response for anything...unless his opponent is Peony, who in-game is one of the few people not only able to trade barbs with Jade, but sometimes even come out on top. See the Rappig sidequest for a beautiful demonstration of this and how wonderfully uncomfortable he makes our canny colonel ^^
Thank you all for reading! Until next time~MoonlightTyger