Yggdrasil's Ace

Author Notes: It's been too long...so as such my workaholic mind is saying upload upload and upload so here we go. Last time Ace was held hostage on two separate occasions to the point where she cursed her existence(again) so time to see what happened, I do not own Dragon Quest.

Chapter 15

3rd P.O.V

"Aren't you a little too old to be taking a nap?" It would be nice if she could actually nap, sadly it just wasn't meant to be. Especially now that a certain blue haired rogue came in to interrupt it. She couldn't help but open one eye to see Erik's amused expression. "No." He snorted at her blunt tone.

Unoffended as he took off his boots and removed his bag. "I take it things went well with the girls?" Her face immediately went into the pillow. Releasing a muffled yet agonizing groan. "I've never missed pants so much as I have now."

The thief couldn't say he was surprised as he sat down next to her, his eyes taking in the new dress she was wearing. It looked good on her. Really good. "I'll bet-but this is nice." The silver bracelets that decorated her ankles and wrists were new as well.

Standing out against the deep purple fabric. Though the white-lined scars also stood out. "Only thing out of what felt like hundreds of outfits that had something to actually cover me. I couldn't wait to get away." With a sigh she sat up from the bed.

Feeling as exhausted as she probably looked. She had been laying down. Doing her utmost to avoid the harsh sun that was trying to break into her room in the hopes of relaxing her fried nerves. It wasn't working very well unfortunately despite the hours that had undoubtedly ticked on.

A slim calloused hand pushed the hair out of her face, revealed glittering silver-blue eyes staring back. He could feel the heat and tension pouring off her in waves. "So what did you do while I was being dragged around? Certainly hoped you had a far better time than I did."

Despite the slight harshness in her words, she smiled. Showing that she wasn't truly mad at him. But he still winced, his hand stilling in his feather light brushes. He couldn't help giving her an apologetic grimace.

Of course she would remind him of how he so kindly abandoned her. Not like she needed him or anything when held hostage by two intimidating blonde maidens. She would probably hold it over him for awhile.

"Not much on my end i'm afraid. Listened to the gossip, checked out the armory to see what I could dig up. Only thing about the branch I heard is the one in the Sultan's palace." Sadly that was all she had managed to scrounge up as well between everything.

At least they knew it did actually exist. "Well at least it confirms Noah's story...he did mention waking up there." None of it was new. And it didn't help the fact they had to go there. "It's probably a royal treasure...perhaps it's time I do another heist?"

Ace took note of the twitching wavy fingers, chuckling as he grinned. "Let's leave that as a last resort shall we? The last thing we want is for you to end up back in prison." He moved back, scowling playfully as he huffed.

"No faith in me? You dare not believe in my abilities to swipe any treasure?" Her eyes crinkled as she held in her laugh, he was doing a wonderful job of taking away her stress and worries. His dramatic gasp and heartbroken expression would give those in the theatrics business a run for their money.

"Last I recall dear thief...that the last time you tried to take claim of a royal treasure you were locked away." She was desperately attempting to hide her smile with her hand, not that it did any good with how he was grinning right next to her.

Giving her shoulder a slight nudge away. "You seem to misunderstand...I Chose to get captured. As there was a damsel in need of my assistance-took her sweet damn time to arrive though." That statement made the both of them pause from their playing around.

Erik's expression especially turning somber as the words sunk in. "Erik..." Immediately he shook his head. He was still shooting her a grin, but it was more forced, far less sincere. It made her want to ask all the more.

"You...did you truly wait around for me? You mentioned the seer told you I would be down there. How long did you wait?" Curse his damn mouth, he didn't mean for it to slip. And now that the fun mood shifted, he was stuck in a position he couldn't really get out of.

With him struggling to meet her gaze. He couldn't tell her to fuck off and mind her business... not when she was looking at him like Cobblestone was destroyed all over again. "I-I'm not going to answer that. Just drop it ok?"

Her eyes told him that no, it most certainly was not ok. Quite easily he could see her piece things together even without him saying anything. It was painful to watch as her face shifted into horror as she sat there.

"I...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry-" All too easily he wraps his arms around her. Pulling her close, needing to desperately stop her before her mind goes too far with assumptions and guilt. "Stop that. You didn't do anything wrong." She didn't.

Plain and simple. "I was cocky that was all ok? I didn't actually let myself get caught." That much he could say was true. Him and Derk had split up, and he let the guards chase him away from his partner-but that was it.

He had eventually been outnumbered and out maneuvered, leading to his sentence. "But you were still down there...waiting. For what had to be at least months. You mentioned taking that long to dig out that hole."

He tightened his hold on her a tad, hating how unpredictable her memory was. There were a few things she needed him to clarify on-but it seemed she clung to details she really didn't need to. Or rather what he didn't want her to.

And he couldn't even bother telling her that there was no other way for him to get out. She wasn't a fool. Even in her battered state she saw how easily and quickly he was able to knock out the guard and take the keys.

He could've left at any point his heart desired it. However he decided to wait it out. Purposely take the long route to escape to see if the seer's words were true. Erik says that he wasn't one to believe in fate or the Goddess's blessings, but he took a chance on her arrival.

"I'd do it all over again Ace. So long as I got to meet you." And he was happy to say it was well worth it. That chance paid off in spades. "Still...you shouldn't have had to have gone through that. Not for me." She didn't see it that way.

Wasn't understanding how much better his life has been because of her. "Listen to me." He let go of her back only to grasp at her cheeks, forcing their gazes to meet no matter how badly she wanted to look away.

"I'm not going to lie. It was shitty being in that cell, but my life before that was far worse. Meeting you has been the best thing i've experienced in YEARS. So don't be sorry for what I went through. I chose it-and I would do it all over again if need be."

So what if he had to look over his shoulder for Hendrik and his knights. He would've been doing that anyways with or without her. "But the guards..." At least now he could say he had a purpose now.

Something to keep him going when his thoughts drifted. "I see Hendrik and those guards again they'll be finding a knife in their backs before they can say 'darkspawn!' It's nothing new for me Ace-don't over think things."

She couldn't promise that. And she couldn't stop the few tears that fell down her face...but found herself once again grateful he was in her life. "Thank you. I can only hope someday I can pay you back for everything you've done." His breath hitches as she tilts her head, worried.

But he closes his eyes with a small smile. "There...there is something I can think of, but let's worry about you and this huge quest we're on first alright?" Immediately he watches her frown, clearly not willing to wait or pick her needs over his.

So he stops her, not in the mood to argue. "What I'll ask you is a big deal to me Ace. It's from a past I'd rather not remember...give me time. Let me worry about your Luminary weirdness for a bit."

Just like that the tension ebbed away as she sighed. Reluctantly letting the subject go, for now. "A bit' he says...something tells me we'll be dealing with a lot more weird than the tockles and visions." Though she did pout, ignoring the snickering man in front of her.

Luminary weirdness indeed. "Sounds like an adventure~" The two share a smile. Before both flinch at the sounds of screaming beyond their room. "What in all of Erdrea?" Together the two of them step out, making their way into the main lobby.

Girls were shrieking their hearts out that made the pair immediately regret ever leaving their room. "Ohhhh Prince Faris~" Already Ace was more than eager to leave. "Over here your majesty! Good luck with the Sand National."

However now that her and Erik were there, it proved to be far harder leave as they're separated. "Erik!?" Each lost to the sea of bumbling attention seeking woman. Now she would admit that the Gallopolis heir was attractive.

She could see why so many young girls and women were throwing themselves towards the floor to get his attention. "Ace!" But frankly...there was only one place in her heart and it belonged to the thief who stole it. Not that he was even aware of it...sadly. "Ohhh he's coming this way!"

Several of the ladies around her were pushing and shoving. Practically frothing at the opportunity to have him notice them. Ace was frowning as she tried getting out of there, she could feel herself feeling nauseous with the overwhelming noise.

Suddenly that intense sensation of a piercing gaze came back and she was frozen. As was everyone else since the damn royal himself showed up in front of her. "Ah there you are! I have been searching everywhere for you my dear angel." Everyone found themselves staring at the prince as he goes to one knee.

His hands gently taking hers. "Huh!?" Erik WAS going to stab this pathetic excuse for a prince. The atmosphere turned viscous as Ace flustered from all the attention on her. "Ex-excuse me?" The young man shot her a flashing smile as he placed a gentle-chaste kiss to the back of her hand.

And that was when the rogue began moving again. Harshly shoving people out of his way with not so much of an apology. "Please-I request you come with me. There is something I desperately need to discuss with you."

It was like Faris was adding fuel to the fire as many heated glares were sent Ace's way. Not curbing her anxiety in the slightest. "I...uh..." Her tongue was tied as she couldn't form words. This was the worst possible scenario.

Between being flustered with the prince, having an audience to his advances and just in general not being one to say no(even if she wants to) it felt as if someone sealed her voice. The most she could do was shake her head as his highness tried tugging her away.

"She doesn't appreciate being man handled your majesty. I suggest you let her go." Ace couldn't help breathing out a sigh of relief as her favorite thief forced himself in-between the two. His fingers gripping around the man's wrist, adding pressure so he'd release the girl.

And he did, with a wince. But he quickly hid his pain, forcing a large grin to take its place.

to be continued

Author Notes: And so begins the nightmare that started this whole series of dragon quest 11 stories...it's a whole thing and that man is to blame. Though, I have no idea if it was a blessing or curse to write lol.

Anyways, we're ending things here. Next time we go further into the chaos and see what Faris has entailed for our heroes. Ahem, but uh yeah. Everyone thank you for reading the story. Would appreciate it immensely for any favs/follows/reviews that pop up. Tchao for now!