The Invitation

Vaan and Penelo were out on their next mark, hunting a wildebeest. The man at the Sandsea Bar said that their mark was out in the Dalmascan Easternsand, not too far from Rabanastre, and needed t be killed so that he can travel to the oasis on the other side. Sure it was not as fun when they had their friends with them but it was still nice, and the money they were going to get wasn't bad as well. Still, it was nice now that they didn't have the Archadian Empire breathing down their necks all the time.

Vaan slashed at the monster again with his sword. The wound was fatal and the beast crumbled to the ground dead. He and Penelo cheered as the beast fell to them.

"Not bad Vaan! Looks like you still got it in you!" Penelo cheered.

"Thanks Pen! I thought I had us their for a sec, but nice job with the fire spell!"

After traveling around for so long, they have gotten pretty used to fighting monsters. If they had not decided to follow Ashe on her quest to restore the Kingdom of Dalmasca, there'd be no way they could have taken on the wildebeest as easily as they did. Vaan's swordsman skills had improved greatly during their journey and Penelo could easily defend herself with a dagger and magic. Penelo never would have thought that she'd be able to learn healing magicks and attack spells, and was all in all very grateful that she got to travel along with everybody.

Penelo looked down on the ground and noticed her shadow's length. "Yeah, well we should head back, its already starting to get late."

The two walked back across the coarse sands of the Dalmascan Easternsand to the capital of Rabanastre, their shadows casting long dark lines in front of them.

"I still can't believe that its been two years now Vaan, I mean, Rabanastre's finally been restored to its former state, before the Empire invaded."

"Eh what you say?"

"Never mind." Penelo shook her head at Vaan's density. Sure they lived together and treated each other like siblings but she lately she felt that the two were starting to grow apart. Then her thoughts wondered to another boy.

"I wonder how much Larsa has changed in the two years?"

"Eh, he's probably sitting in his throne reading over various papers, I'm sure he's alright. It's not like he'll suddenly jump off the balcony or something!" Vaan joked.

Penelo was flabbergasted at that comment. "Hey! That's not funny!"

"Sorry Pen. Its just that kid has a habit of working to hard."

"You're right Vaan. I really hope he is not overworking."

As the two entered into the East Entrance of the city, with its finely decorated stones and neat pavement, they started to wonder where their friends Balthier and Fran were. The capital would not even be here had it been for those two.

Two years ago, there was a great battle that took place in the Rabanastre's air space. On one side were the the combined forces of the Rozzarian Empire and the Resistance lead by Marquis Halim Ondore IV, then Princess Ashe's uncle. Their combined forces were a formidable group, with several dozen airships and carriers. On the opposite side were the Archadian forces lead by Vayne Solidor. They would have been a good match up, but the Empire had the Sky Fortress Bahamut at their disposal which fired deadly beams of energy powered by magiscite that could destroy entire ships with a single blast.

After the group's battle with Vayne, the Bahamut started losing power and was about to fall right on top of Ashe's beloved city. However a certain sky pirate and his sidekick decided to do a little tinkering to the Bahamut and get enough power to the glossair rings to make one final lift away from the city.

Ashe, as well as everyone else, was more than grateful to them. Penelo began to think that Ashe had a thing for the sky pirate. She and Vaan were the caretakers of Balthier's airship, The Straul, for a while, that is, until he came to 'steal' it back. He left a note and a ring that he took from Ashe, and told the blonde sky pirate pair to give it back to her.

As the two walked through the imposing eastern gate and into the main plaza of Rabanastre, the two discussed visiting Larsa in Archades. Their last mark did snag them a respectable sum. And it was nearly two years since they last saw him. They had barely reached the entrance of Migelo's sundries when a Bangaa came out the door.

Migelo called to the two of them and beckoned them to come over. "I have just received a letter for you two. You should read it right away. I think you'll be pleased."

Penelo, her eyes ever watchful noticed the wax seal on the back. It was the seal of the Archadian Empire, the two intertwining snakes. Right away her heart left into her throat and practically grabbed the letter from Migelo, who was startled, but not surprised at this action.

Vaan, however was a little more slow on the uptake. "Hey Penelo what's gotten into you?"

"Hello Vaan! Have a look at the seal!" She said thrusting the letter out with the seal facing him. "Hey, I've seen this before its..."

"The seal of Archadia, also Larsa's symbol!" And without another word she tore the envelop open with her knife that she kept on her belt, and unfolded the letter. There in very neat and elegant handwriting was indeed a letter from Larsa Solidor to the two reading the letter.

To My Friends Penelo and Vaan,

I bid you greetings from Archadia. I hope everything is going well and I wish that the two of you are in good health. I am slightly embarrassed that I almost missed by fourteenth birthday. Our friend Basch was kind enough to remind me a few days ago. If it would please you Masters Penelo and Vaan, it would be my wish, as well as Basch's if you two would join me for my birthday party in two weeks time. The crown on my head grows ever heavier with the burden of ruling the Empire. It would please me if you came and stayed a while, a week perhaps. It certainly would be a welcomed change of pace around here. Basch has expressed concern that I should not sit at my desk the whole day and should take some time off and enjoy myself. Please send your reply at your convenience, and I hope to see you here in Archadia.

Yours Truly,

Larsa Ferrinas Solidor

Penelo could hardly believe this. She was bursting with excitement to visit Larsa. The two was invited by Larsa himself to stay with him for a week, and for his birthday party.

"Vaan! We've been invited to Larsa's fourteenth birthday party! We have to go!" Penelo exclaimed.

"Whoa slow down their Penelo! I'm fine with it too but..."

Migelo finished Vaan's thought for him. "If you think that I am going to hold the two of you back, you're wrong. I'd say I can give you two a week off. Besides, His Majesty would be very disappointed if the two of you didn't show up," the Bangaa said with a short laugh.

Penelo set about writing a reply right away, telling Larsa that the two of them would be coming in a few days. Vaan was arguably just as excited to visit Archades again.

Their travels two years ago took them all the way north to find the necescite that Doctor Cid was studying. When they entered Archades, Vaan was 'gaping like a fish out of water." Sure it was the empire, but he was still amazed at the immense copper skyscrapers and airhships that zipped back and forth. Vaan had secretly wanted to really check the city out, but of course they had more pressing matters at the time.

"I wait to see Larsa again!" Penelo kept saying to no one in particular. As she wrote the reply. Then she started thinking about the one little daunting task that was going to be for her, the hardest challenge yet.

What are we going to give an emperor that has a third of the world under his jurisdiction?

Sorry about the long delay! I've been really busy. I finally got a chance to work on this!

Please read and review!