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Dear Larsa,

We received your letter and would be glad to come to Archadia for your birthday party. I was so excited to hear from you! How have you been? I hope your work hasn't been too stressful. It's too bad we could not keep in touch more, but I'm sure you're very busy. We have been busy ourselves sort of. Vaan and I have been doing more hunts and marks as of late. I actually don't mind fighting monsters like that, but it's just not the same without you and the others. The money isn't too bad though. We'll be coming in a week's time. Hope you are well!

Yours truly,

Penelo and Vaan

P.S. Please send Judge Gabranth our regards as well.

The young emperor finished reading the letter and placed the letter back down on his desk. Larsa was still working the day he said he would be meeting Vaan and Penelo. He already read Penelo's letter several times and knew it by heart. He enjoyed reading it because he could faintly hear Penelo's sweet voice and Vaan's hearty laughter when he glanced over the words. It was also one, if not the only piece of paper on his desk that did not bore him. Ashe, newly crowned Queen of Dalmasca, had sent him several letters before and since her coronation asking him for advice on administrative and diplomatic issues.

Larsa and Basch had a small laugh when they read her letters. When Larsa asked what was so funny, Basch pointed out that Ashe was seven years Larsa's senior but was still asking him for advice. As nice as it was to hear from her, not once has Ashe wrote anything besides asking for advice and counsel. That wasn't to say that Larsa didn't mind sharing his advice for another head of state, but it seemed that she was more distant to him than before.

So after going through stacks of paper of different bills and proposals, permits and work reports, reading something purely for fun at the end of the day brightened Larsa's otherwise boring days. He was just about to start again on another pile of papers when a guard came up to him to announce the arrival of Judge Magister Gabranth.

The doors of the office opened and Basch, posing as Gabranth, strode into the office and bowed to Larsa. "My Lord, it is nearly time. Shall we leave to meet our two guests?"

Larsa looked up at the clock and almost jumped out of his seat. Vaan and Penelo would be arriving within the hour, and he wanted to meet them personally. "Very well then. I was just about done." Larsa stood up and followed the older man out of the room, down the long corridor and down an elevator to Larsa's private aircab, which would take them to the Aerodrome.

Penelo couldn't sit still for more than five minutes in her seat. Vaan however wasn't as restless as she was.

"C'mon Penelo, stop fidgeting so much, people will think you're weird or something."

"And you're not? I just can't wait to see Larsa that's all! You cannot be excited are you?"

"I suppose." Vaan said half-heartedly.

Penelo frowned and turned her head towards the window. Flying in an airship like this to Archadia was a first for the two. Before she and Vaan got caught up with Ashe and the others, they were simple peasants and hardly thought much about the outside world. Vaan was always saying how he would one day save up enough money to buy himself an airship and become a sky pirate. Penelo was appalled at first but later became his partner and navigator in the skies.

After almost half the afternoon, the airship finally touched down in the Archades Aerodrome. Larsa and Gabranth were already waiting for them when the two stepped out from the aircab. The two blondes were very surprised that Larsa came to meet them. Then again, he was a proper gentleman. Larsa was standing with a calm smile on his face and was dressed in his violet state robes complete with the golden circlet, and Basch was standing beside him in his full suit of armor with his helmet under his arm. As people started filing out of the aircab, the two received a lot of stares from them obviously wondering what in the name of Ivalice is the Emperor and his bodyguard doing here.

"How have you been Larsa?" It's been a while!" And without thinking she ran up to him and hugged him close.

"It's a pleasure to see you again too Miss Penelo and Master Vaan, I trust you two have been well, not causing too much trouble I hope?"

"Oh no, we haven't been making any too serious trips."

"Oh good, it would displease me if one of the air patrol ships found your ship to their liking. Would you mind letting go of me now Penelo?" Larsa said.

"Oops! Hehe, sorry about that," Penelo apologized and let Larsa go.

"Pardon me, would you like help with your baggage?" Basch offered to Penelo.

"Sure!" And with that, Basch took the larger of Penelo's two bags and the four of them walked out of the Aerodrome still immersed in conversation as they boarded Larsa's private airship.

As the ship took off, Penelo looked over at Larsa and Basch and studied a little more carefully how much they changed in the past two years. Basch looked more or less the same as they remembered him last. He looked a little more well-fed and muscular as well, no doubt due to his training and better lifestyle. He has his shoulder-length hair cut like what his brother had before he passed away and looked much more dignified than before.

Physical change was more evident with Larsa. Although it wasn't long since they last saw him, Penelo and even Vaan could see the beginnings of puberty and the stress of ruling a country of vast proportions have done to his face. His face still had a hint of boyishness, but for the most part was more mature. He had a more prominent chin, and already the slightest age lines already formed. He still had his jet black hair neatly combed neatly to his shoulders and his blue eyes still had that vivid shine and gaze as before.

"So what's been going on here, I hope being Emperor hasn't been too stressful." Penelo asked him.

Larsa sighed and said, "You have no idea. The first year and a half was a nightmare."

"You don't want to talk about it?" Vaan asked.

"I really do not wish to bore you two with the Empire's political squabbles and affairs." Larsa said politely.

"How have you been Basch? We haven't received a single letter from you for a while." Vaan inquired. Penelo thought this would be a good time to put the spotlight on Basch instead of Larsa for a change.

Basch readjusted his helmet in his arm and began, "It has definitely been more peaceful although somewhat less eventful than when Emperor Gramis was still on the throne. I've been doing more paperwork myself and there have been less focus on the military since His Majesty Larsa has taken the throne."

The four of them chatted some more about what each others have been doing since Ashe's coronation. They also had some fun discussing where Fran and Balthier might be and what adventures they were on at the moment. Once, Larsa had even contemplated that the two sky pirates of the Strahl were off in some distant land playing diplomats, earning a round of hearty laughter from the others. Before long, the aircab pulled up in front of Larsa's estate.

The estate was very different than anything the two sky pirates had seen before even though they traveled all over the world. Unlike most buildings which were built on the ground level, Larsa's estate was built on top of one of the many bronze-colored skyscrapers. It was built with an odd mix of Galtean architecture, combined with the more modern architecture of the city. From what Penelo could see, it was very large and looked very much like a manor home.

"I hope you two enjoy it here." Larsa said as they crossed from the main landing platform to Larsa's home.

The Solidor's Estate was as every bit as grand as the palace in Rabanastre. The main walk was decorated with statues of family members, one she noted was Vayne. She turned her head away quickly and continued on. Her eyes moved next to the gardens which had several different types of flowers and several working fountains.

The interior was just as impressive as the outside. The main entrance hall had a polished granite surface and the ceilings were covered with endless mosaics depicting various scenes from what she presumed was the empire's history and triumphs. Penelo wished that she had at least another two sets of eyes. There was so much to take in this home that she thought she would faint from turning her head in every which way trying to take everything in at once.

Larsa noticed this and placed a hand on her arm telling her that he would gladly give her a tour of his home if he had time. Penelo couldn't help but smile as Larsa led the way to their rooms. She had been flattered numerous times before by several would be suitors, a feat she found embarrassing even.

But there was something about Larsa that she liked, and it wasn't because of the circlet that he wore on his head. Although she was five years his senior, Larsa seemed just as mature, if not more so than she. He was very accommodating and very polite to her especially.

He was as every bit different from Vaan as could possibly be. When the three of them traveled for some time, she noticed the contrast between the two the more they traveled together. One of the most fun times she had to admit was when the seven of them were traveling from Jahara to Mt. Bur-Omisace. When the group camped out under the stars several times, they would share various stories to entertain the rest of the group. She remembered laughing when Vaan tried to teach Larsa about the wonderful subtleties and rules of the underground. Vaan was doing all these crude signs and signals and sayings that Larsa had tried to imitate, although poorly. She would often complain about Vaan's rude behavior and table manners, while Larsa commented that it was one of the qualities that he liked about Vaan.

"Here we are Penelo and Vaan. I hope the rooms are to your liking." Larsa said has he opened the door and showed Penelo her sleeping chambers. While Basch helped Vaan unpack his things in the room next door.

"Would you like something to drink? Tea or juice perhaps?" Larsa offered.

"Oh, some tea please and um......would you join me as well?" Penelo asked quietly. The last part of her sentence she didn't intend but somehow came to her.

Again Larsa smiled and nodded and said, "Very well, then, I'll be back shortly." And with that he left Penelo in her room. She took a look around just to take it all in before collapsing on the bed, which she found very comfortable.

This was certainly turning out to be a wonderful week. I can't believe the two of us are staying with the Emperor of Archadia!


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A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I've been really busy with my other projects!