Gentlemen (and possible theoretical Ladies), there has been a sad dearth of Tales of Vesperia fanfiction. I, for one, will not stand for it.
Disclaimer: This one claims no credit for the hard work and ideas of Namco Tales Division Ltd. Neither Symphonia nor Vesperia will be, or ever have been, mine. This one wishes merely to tell a story in another's world without the threat of lawsuits.
Warning for the Uninitiated: If, somehow, you've managed to play any of the three games (Symphonia, DotNW, and Vesperia) without getting that magical EX New Game, this story will contain Spoilers! So finish them first, then come read this. Or, you know, read anyway if you don't care. Whatever.
- - -
The Ruined Tower in the City of Shade, TARQUARON-ASPIO
A lot can happen in two years, Rita Mordio thought to herself as she tightened a gasket, but if you told me this was coming... boom! Fireball to the face. Heh. A small smirk crossed her face at the thought. Our beautiful Terca Lumireis, a land without Blastia. Pull the other one, it's got bells on. She primed the engine with her spare hand, a satisfying purr coming from the repaired mechanism. But now, in this age where anything seems possibleû a choking cough as the prop came to lifeû The sky's the limit.
---
ExplorerBean presents
---
The red-and-white biplane soared from the hanger, and Rita let out a whoop of joy. She banked left as one of the ruined spires got a little too close for comfort, then threw the throttle open and contemplated the skies ahead. Back when she'd discovered the formula for levitation, she'd realized she was born to fly. Levitation was nothing to the wind rushing past her goggles and through her hair, the thrill of riding what those narrow-minded fools dared call a ôrattling death trap,ö designed and built with only her own ingenuity.
---
a By Lantern Light Production
---
A flock of Scissorbeaks howled in outrage as she screamed past, and she laughed again at their undignified squawking as they crashed into each other, pulled off course by her slip-stream. Who were they to challenge her, the Queen of the skies! A quick check of the compass showed she was going the right way, and she pulled up through a layer of fluffy clouds. The sun shone clear, the air was light and heady, and the whole world was laid out before her. It was a beautiful future that Terca Lumireis was headed towards, and she would be its herald.
---
Tales of the Radiant Land
---
Log 1: Wings
The City of Blossoms, HALURE
Curled protectively in the boughs of the great tree at the center of town, Estellise Sidos Heaurassein (Estelle to her friends) heiress to the throne of His Imperial Majesty Ioder VII, (at least until he got around to having children), skritched furiously at the manuscript on her lap. The blossoms were falling again, and several petals had become caught in her long pink hair or stuck to her dress. She left off her writing as a particularly mischievous petal landed on her nose and tickled her into sneezing delicately. The petal then drifted down to the papers on the portable lap desk. She frowned cutely at it, and brushed it off, returning her attention to the draft. It was almost done, her labor of love for the past year and a half: The Fall of the Second Age of Magic. Her own book, a recollection and memoir of the journeys of the guild Brave Vesperia. From the ex-Imperial Knight Yuri Lowell's initial quest to find the thief of a lower quarter aqua blastia's core to the defeat of the Adephagos, world eater of legend, it was all between those two covers. Or it would be, if she could figure out how to end the thing!
ôAnd they lived happily ever after? No no no, too trite. Ummm... I can't use a summary of what we've done since... Ugh! This would be easier if we were already dead!ö
ôThat's kinda morbid.ö
ôUwaah!ö The unexpected voice nearly startled her from her perch, and she juggled her inkwell, pen, and manuscript for a few moments, trying to keep any from falling. ôYuri!!ö
ôI thought I'd find you up here,ö Yuri continued. Estelle turned around to face him. He was hanging upside down from a branch, his knees hooked firmly over it. His black hat was held in one hand to keep it from falling off his head, and the black leather armor he wore left only his eyes uncovered.
He didn't change, which means he only just got back, she thought. He came to see me first! A small part of her exclaimed, disproportionately happy at that small fact. ôHow did the mission go? The recruits giving Karol any trouble?ö she asked.
ôHeh, as if. He went all Cap'n Karol on 'em: 'This guild saved the world once! You've got a lot to live up to!' When he was done, they were all fired up and raring to go. By the time we'd actually gotten to the Quoi Woods, this one kid, Simon, actually wet himself out of excitement. But first Eggbear, and bam! Cap'n's yelling 'Hey, quit retreating!' and it's just me 'n him.ö Yuri swung himself up, did a one handed vault, and landed flawlessly on the same branch as Estelle. ôKids these days.ö
Estelle giggled into her hand. ôCareful, or you'll start sounding like Raven,ö she ribbed him.
ôThe Old Man? Ha! I think I've got a few years before I'm as crotchety as him!ö He stretched a bit and settled into a crosslegged position with the Blazor Edge Abyssion tucked into his left knee and resting against his right shoulder. ôSo what's got you held up?ö
ôHow does our story end?ö
The questioned sobered him. ôIt doesn't,ö he replied. ôIt just keeps going, as long as we've got a path to tread with our own two feet.ö
Estelle considered it, and inspiration hit her. She took the last two papers she'd written on and threw them away. She then took the one before those and scratched out half its contents before writing in a single line. ô...And as the sword lent its power to the equation, the beam pierced the adephagos and turned it to mana,ö she read. ôThe gathered spirits flew to the four corners of the lands, and Duke fled with them. Brave Vesperia stood victorious. And the world moved on.ö She looked up from her work and beamed at Yuri. ôIt's done! It's really done, Yuri!ö
Yuri smiled back. ôThe book, maybe.ö
- - -
Circa 50 000 Years Later
The Former Imperial City, MELTOKIO
ôThis is a terrible idea.ö
ôThat's what I told you! Why limit yourse-ö
ôShut up, Zelos. This is the best idea he's ever had. Hold still, let me fix your sash-ö
ôBut she can't really have meant it, she's the Chosen, and I'm really not smart enough for her, and-ö
ôLloyd Irving!ö Genis gripped him by the shoulders and stared up straight into his eyes. ôYou are going to enter that church. You are going to wait patiently at the altar for the most beautiful woman you have ever known to walk up the aisle. You are going to say I do. Then, you are going to live happily ever after and have many. Wonderful. Children.ö
Lloyd gulped. Genis sounded way too much like his sister.
- - -
In the end, it happened exactly like Genis said it would. Lloyd, standing in his best formal clothes (incidentally the same suit he'd worn to Zelos's party all that time ago), fidgeted at the alter until the Church of Martel's finest organist started up, and the doors swung open to reveal a vision in white.
ôColette..ö he breathed. The Sylvaranti Chosen of Mana was wearing a traditional white wedding gown and veil. Her blonde hair had been done up into two 'cinnamon bun' curls on the sides of her head, and faintly shone under the light streaming in the chapel's windows. She'd never looked more beautiful to him.
There was a small moment of panic as Paul, serving as ring-bearer, fumbled for the case in his pockets before remembering he'd tucked it into his sleeve so he wouldn't lose it in his pockets, and another, longer one as Colette tripped over her own dress. There were no further mishaps as she made her way, though, and soon enough they were holding hands.
ôà Do you, Lloyd Irving, take this woman in the eyes of Martel, to have and to hold her, to love and to cherish her, as long as you both shall live?ö Yuan recited.
ôI do.ö His voice came out remarkably strong for how weak he was feeling in his knees.
ôAnd do you, Chosen Colette Brunel, take this man in the eyes of Martel, to have and to hold him, to love and to cherish him, as long as you both shall live?ö Yuan's eyes were no longer focused on them. Lloyd could tell he was thinking of his own lost bride-to-be.
ôI do.ö Oh thank the spirits she'd said yes. Lloyd had been unreasonably worried, and he nearly sagged in relief, even though it really never had been in doubt.
ôThen I pronounce you husband and wife. May Martel watch over you, guide you, and protect you. You may kiss the bride.ö
Lloyd lifted Colette's veil, and she stretched up, and there was a flash of light as their ethereal wings extended. The crowd went wild.
- - -
ô...So, of course, as soon as it came out they were actually engaged, there really was no other choice but to make him Pope. Truth be told it's a real load off my shoulders, y'know? I mean, he's already what, four thousand? Kinda cut down on the power struggles when the bishops realized he was going to outlive them.ö Zelos gestured widely with his champagne flute. He and Regal were standing in the palace ballroom in Meltokio, the only place in the entire city large enough to hold the wedding reception. One of the Chosen of Martel getting married, hoax that the entire religion might have been, was a very big deal, and nobody who considered themselves anybody was willing to miss it. And of course, the Heroes of Regeneration had to put in an appearance, even if they hadn't already known Lloyd and Colette. Zelos had been gussied up in an actual tuxedo instead of his coat with the lapels, and Regal was in the blue suit and khaki slacks he often wore at the office. A long time ago, Alicia had said that it made him look rather swashbuckling.
ôTruly. Stability is exactly what this world needs, with the downfall of the Vanguard and the resurgence of monsters. There is a power vacuum now, and someone must fill it before the next would-be warlord comes along. In fact, I had an idea I was hoping you could-ö Regal cut himself off as he felt a tug on the sleeve of his suit. He looked down, and Presea's eyes bored into his very soul.
ôNo talking shop.ö
Regal cleared his throat. ôHmm. Perhaps another time, Zelos.ö He turned back to Presea. Her pink bridesmaid's gown wasn't the most undignified thing she'd ever worn (there was the mascot costume to consider), but it came a close second or third. All of the bridesmaids were decked out in frills and ruffles that looked difficult to move around in, and he knew for a fact that Sheena was the only one who enjoyed pink, though only in small quantities. Still, apparently none of them had been able to say 'no' to Colette. He offered the young-looking woman his arm. ôShall we dance?ö
Zelos watched them go. The room was filled to capacity, but someone had apparently squeezed out space on the parquet, because there were at least thirty couples dancing on the floor. Specifically on the floor, because Lloyd and Colette were literally waltzing on air, lost in each other's eyes and the music, luminescent white wings beating in time. ôShowoffs,ö he muttered. An idea struck him, and he grinned impulsively. Now, where was she? This was going to be fun...
- - -
Sheena Fujibayashi, leader of the village of Mizuho, glanced at the glass in her hand, trying to remember how many she'd had. She couldn't, which was probably a bad sign, but wasn't this supposed to be a day of celebration? And besides, she wasn't nearly as bad off as Raine.
ôSho I says, sho I says, 'is tha a Dupley-Ringfiel' mana transhriber, or, or are you happy to shee me?'ö The esteemed Raine ôRefillö Sage, heroine of world regeneration, was deep in her cups. She broke down into a fit of giggles as she reached the punchline, but the Mayor of Iselia on her left didn't seem nearly as amused. On the other hand the Elven ambassador on her right, who was sloshed to an equal or greater extent, guffawed heartily. He also appeared highly appreciative of the dÚcolletage of Raine's dress. Sheena was trying to decide whether to make an example of him or to turn back to her drink when she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Zelos, and he looked entirely too pleased with himself.
ôCare to dance?ö He asked nonchalantly, but the wicked gleam in his eye gave him away.
ôZelos Wilder, what are you planning?ö She asked in a playful tone, but she was instantly suspicious.
ôWon't know unless you play along, sweetcheeks.ö The wink he gave her was absolutely salacious, but the wine was buzzing in her ear for her to forgive him, just this once. She took his extended hand, and he led her to one of the balconies overlooking the rest of the room. ôNow, just summon Sylph and we can get started.ö
ôStarted with what?ö
ôLeveling the playing field, of course,ö he nodded out to where Lloyd and Colette were dancing. Sheena realized with a start that they were on eye-level. ôNow, I've got the whole 'Chosen' thing going on, but I figure you're going to need a little help with the flying.ö
Sheena opened her mouth to berate him for such a stupid idea, then closed it. What the hell, night for celebration, right? She muttered the long incantation she rarely used to gain the power of the Summon Spirit of Air, deciding that this needed a little more finesse that the battlefield shortcut she normally incanted. ôMessenger of the sky that wanders the three Worlds, by right as the pact maker I command thee. Come forth, Sylph!ö The three Spirits coalesced beside her. ôI ask a boon: the power of flight; for this night only, a portion of your power.ö The Spirits nodded as one, then disappeared into a glowing mist of mana residue. A feeling of weightlessness and freedom took hold of her, and she wondered for a brief instant why she'd never done this before.
A pair of orange wings, otherwise identical to Colette's, appeared from the back of Zelos' jacket. ôC'mon, let's go.ö
- - -
Genis Sage sighed as he swirled the juice in his cup. Apparently, even though he was old enough to save the world (twice!), he still wasn't old enough to drink. Not even being the Best Man at the wedding got him a drop. Instead he watched from one of the tables as Regal guided Presea around the dance floor. That should have been him out there. Instead it was Regal earning one of Presea's rare smiles. Regal who actually got her to laugh at some inane comment. Regal, holding her close. It was the closest he'd ever come to hating the man.
Looking around him, everyone was with somebody. Raine was over there, still laughing with the Elven Ambassador. He wondered if the ambassador was really able to put aside his kind's prejudice against half-elves, or whether he was just too drunk to notice Raine's true nature. Regal and Presea on the dance floor, of course, and there to the left, Emil and Marta. The young avatar of Ratatosk seemed to be whispering something in the lady's ear- nope, nevermind. Genis turned his head away at the flash of pink, blushing. Those two...! She was shameless and he was incorrigible, and together they weren't fit to be in polite company. He turned his eyes up, to the happy couple. Yep, there they were. He doubted that Lloyd and Colette even realized they were flying. But wait, that was Zelos and Sheena up there, too! Since when could Sheena fly? As that pair passed overhead, he came to two mind shattering revelations:
1: He could see up Sheena's dress.
2: Why the hell wasn't she wearing any panties!?
Face as red as his juice, he hurriedly tossed the cup away. He was getting out of this madhouse.
- - -
The first half, I'm pretty sure of chapter 1. So, tell me what you think! Comments, criticism, questions, tomatoes; fire away!
This chapter will be available where prose goes to die after it is complete.
Disclaimer: This one claims no credit for the hard work and ideas of Namco Tales Division Ltd. Neither Symphonia nor Vesperia will be, or ever have been, mine. This one wishes merely to tell a story in another's world without the threat of lawsuits.
Warning for the Uninitiated: If, somehow, you've managed to play any of the three games (Symphonia, DotNW, and Vesperia) without getting that magical EX New Game, this story will contain Spoilers! So finish them first, then come read this. Or, you know, read anyway if you don't care. Whatever.
- - -
The Ruined Tower in the City of Shade, TARQUARON-ASPIO
A lot can happen in two years, Rita Mordio thought to herself as she tightened a gasket, but if you told me this was coming... boom! Fireball to the face. Heh. A small smirk crossed her face at the thought. Our beautiful Terca Lumireis, a land without Blastia. Pull the other one, it's got bells on. She primed the engine with her spare hand, a satisfying purr coming from the repaired mechanism. But now, in this age where anything seems possibleû a choking cough as the prop came to lifeû The sky's the limit.
---
ExplorerBean presents
---
The red-and-white biplane soared from the hanger, and Rita let out a whoop of joy. She banked left as one of the ruined spires got a little too close for comfort, then threw the throttle open and contemplated the skies ahead. Back when she'd discovered the formula for levitation, she'd realized she was born to fly. Levitation was nothing to the wind rushing past her goggles and through her hair, the thrill of riding what those narrow-minded fools dared call a ôrattling death trap,ö designed and built with only her own ingenuity.
---
a By Lantern Light Production
---
A flock of Scissorbeaks howled in outrage as she screamed past, and she laughed again at their undignified squawking as they crashed into each other, pulled off course by her slip-stream. Who were they to challenge her, the Queen of the skies! A quick check of the compass showed she was going the right way, and she pulled up through a layer of fluffy clouds. The sun shone clear, the air was light and heady, and the whole world was laid out before her. It was a beautiful future that Terca Lumireis was headed towards, and she would be its herald.
---
Tales of the Radiant Land
---
Log 1: Wings
The City of Blossoms, HALURE
Curled protectively in the boughs of the great tree at the center of town, Estellise Sidos Heaurassein (Estelle to her friends) heiress to the throne of His Imperial Majesty Ioder VII, (at least until he got around to having children), skritched furiously at the manuscript on her lap. The blossoms were falling again, and several petals had become caught in her long pink hair or stuck to her dress. She left off her writing as a particularly mischievous petal landed on her nose and tickled her into sneezing delicately. The petal then drifted down to the papers on the portable lap desk. She frowned cutely at it, and brushed it off, returning her attention to the draft. It was almost done, her labor of love for the past year and a half: The Fall of the Second Age of Magic. Her own book, a recollection and memoir of the journeys of the guild Brave Vesperia. From the ex-Imperial Knight Yuri Lowell's initial quest to find the thief of a lower quarter aqua blastia's core to the defeat of the Adephagos, world eater of legend, it was all between those two covers. Or it would be, if she could figure out how to end the thing!
ôAnd they lived happily ever after? No no no, too trite. Ummm... I can't use a summary of what we've done since... Ugh! This would be easier if we were already dead!ö
ôThat's kinda morbid.ö
ôUwaah!ö The unexpected voice nearly startled her from her perch, and she juggled her inkwell, pen, and manuscript for a few moments, trying to keep any from falling. ôYuri!!ö
ôI thought I'd find you up here,ö Yuri continued. Estelle turned around to face him. He was hanging upside down from a branch, his knees hooked firmly over it. His black hat was held in one hand to keep it from falling off his head, and the black leather armor he wore left only his eyes uncovered.
He didn't change, which means he only just got back, she thought. He came to see me first! A small part of her exclaimed, disproportionately happy at that small fact. ôHow did the mission go? The recruits giving Karol any trouble?ö she asked.
ôHeh, as if. He went all Cap'n Karol on 'em: 'This guild saved the world once! You've got a lot to live up to!' When he was done, they were all fired up and raring to go. By the time we'd actually gotten to the Quoi Woods, this one kid, Simon, actually wet himself out of excitement. But first Eggbear, and bam! Cap'n's yelling 'Hey, quit retreating!' and it's just me 'n him.ö Yuri swung himself up, did a one handed vault, and landed flawlessly on the same branch as Estelle. ôKids these days.ö
Estelle giggled into her hand. ôCareful, or you'll start sounding like Raven,ö she ribbed him.
ôThe Old Man? Ha! I think I've got a few years before I'm as crotchety as him!ö He stretched a bit and settled into a crosslegged position with the Blazor Edge Abyssion tucked into his left knee and resting against his right shoulder. ôSo what's got you held up?ö
ôHow does our story end?ö
The questioned sobered him. ôIt doesn't,ö he replied. ôIt just keeps going, as long as we've got a path to tread with our own two feet.ö
Estelle considered it, and inspiration hit her. She took the last two papers she'd written on and threw them away. She then took the one before those and scratched out half its contents before writing in a single line. ô...And as the sword lent its power to the equation, the beam pierced the adephagos and turned it to mana,ö she read. ôThe gathered spirits flew to the four corners of the lands, and Duke fled with them. Brave Vesperia stood victorious. And the world moved on.ö She looked up from her work and beamed at Yuri. ôIt's done! It's really done, Yuri!ö
Yuri smiled back. ôThe book, maybe.ö
- - -
Circa 50 000 Years Later
The Former Imperial City, MELTOKIO
ôThis is a terrible idea.ö
ôThat's what I told you! Why limit yourse-ö
ôShut up, Zelos. This is the best idea he's ever had. Hold still, let me fix your sash-ö
ôBut she can't really have meant it, she's the Chosen, and I'm really not smart enough for her, and-ö
ôLloyd Irving!ö Genis gripped him by the shoulders and stared up straight into his eyes. ôYou are going to enter that church. You are going to wait patiently at the altar for the most beautiful woman you have ever known to walk up the aisle. You are going to say I do. Then, you are going to live happily ever after and have many. Wonderful. Children.ö
Lloyd gulped. Genis sounded way too much like his sister.
- - -
In the end, it happened exactly like Genis said it would. Lloyd, standing in his best formal clothes (incidentally the same suit he'd worn to Zelos's party all that time ago), fidgeted at the alter until the Church of Martel's finest organist started up, and the doors swung open to reveal a vision in white.
ôColette..ö he breathed. The Sylvaranti Chosen of Mana was wearing a traditional white wedding gown and veil. Her blonde hair had been done up into two 'cinnamon bun' curls on the sides of her head, and faintly shone under the light streaming in the chapel's windows. She'd never looked more beautiful to him.
There was a small moment of panic as Paul, serving as ring-bearer, fumbled for the case in his pockets before remembering he'd tucked it into his sleeve so he wouldn't lose it in his pockets, and another, longer one as Colette tripped over her own dress. There were no further mishaps as she made her way, though, and soon enough they were holding hands.
ôà Do you, Lloyd Irving, take this woman in the eyes of Martel, to have and to hold her, to love and to cherish her, as long as you both shall live?ö Yuan recited.
ôI do.ö His voice came out remarkably strong for how weak he was feeling in his knees.
ôAnd do you, Chosen Colette Brunel, take this man in the eyes of Martel, to have and to hold him, to love and to cherish him, as long as you both shall live?ö Yuan's eyes were no longer focused on them. Lloyd could tell he was thinking of his own lost bride-to-be.
ôI do.ö Oh thank the spirits she'd said yes. Lloyd had been unreasonably worried, and he nearly sagged in relief, even though it really never had been in doubt.
ôThen I pronounce you husband and wife. May Martel watch over you, guide you, and protect you. You may kiss the bride.ö
Lloyd lifted Colette's veil, and she stretched up, and there was a flash of light as their ethereal wings extended. The crowd went wild.
- - -
ô...So, of course, as soon as it came out they were actually engaged, there really was no other choice but to make him Pope. Truth be told it's a real load off my shoulders, y'know? I mean, he's already what, four thousand? Kinda cut down on the power struggles when the bishops realized he was going to outlive them.ö Zelos gestured widely with his champagne flute. He and Regal were standing in the palace ballroom in Meltokio, the only place in the entire city large enough to hold the wedding reception. One of the Chosen of Martel getting married, hoax that the entire religion might have been, was a very big deal, and nobody who considered themselves anybody was willing to miss it. And of course, the Heroes of Regeneration had to put in an appearance, even if they hadn't already known Lloyd and Colette. Zelos had been gussied up in an actual tuxedo instead of his coat with the lapels, and Regal was in the blue suit and khaki slacks he often wore at the office. A long time ago, Alicia had said that it made him look rather swashbuckling.
ôTruly. Stability is exactly what this world needs, with the downfall of the Vanguard and the resurgence of monsters. There is a power vacuum now, and someone must fill it before the next would-be warlord comes along. In fact, I had an idea I was hoping you could-ö Regal cut himself off as he felt a tug on the sleeve of his suit. He looked down, and Presea's eyes bored into his very soul.
ôNo talking shop.ö
Regal cleared his throat. ôHmm. Perhaps another time, Zelos.ö He turned back to Presea. Her pink bridesmaid's gown wasn't the most undignified thing she'd ever worn (there was the mascot costume to consider), but it came a close second or third. All of the bridesmaids were decked out in frills and ruffles that looked difficult to move around in, and he knew for a fact that Sheena was the only one who enjoyed pink, though only in small quantities. Still, apparently none of them had been able to say 'no' to Colette. He offered the young-looking woman his arm. ôShall we dance?ö
Zelos watched them go. The room was filled to capacity, but someone had apparently squeezed out space on the parquet, because there were at least thirty couples dancing on the floor. Specifically on the floor, because Lloyd and Colette were literally waltzing on air, lost in each other's eyes and the music, luminescent white wings beating in time. ôShowoffs,ö he muttered. An idea struck him, and he grinned impulsively. Now, where was she? This was going to be fun...
- - -
Sheena Fujibayashi, leader of the village of Mizuho, glanced at the glass in her hand, trying to remember how many she'd had. She couldn't, which was probably a bad sign, but wasn't this supposed to be a day of celebration? And besides, she wasn't nearly as bad off as Raine.
ôSho I says, sho I says, 'is tha a Dupley-Ringfiel' mana transhriber, or, or are you happy to shee me?'ö The esteemed Raine ôRefillö Sage, heroine of world regeneration, was deep in her cups. She broke down into a fit of giggles as she reached the punchline, but the Mayor of Iselia on her left didn't seem nearly as amused. On the other hand the Elven ambassador on her right, who was sloshed to an equal or greater extent, guffawed heartily. He also appeared highly appreciative of the dÚcolletage of Raine's dress. Sheena was trying to decide whether to make an example of him or to turn back to her drink when she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Zelos, and he looked entirely too pleased with himself.
ôCare to dance?ö He asked nonchalantly, but the wicked gleam in his eye gave him away.
ôZelos Wilder, what are you planning?ö She asked in a playful tone, but she was instantly suspicious.
ôWon't know unless you play along, sweetcheeks.ö The wink he gave her was absolutely salacious, but the wine was buzzing in her ear for her to forgive him, just this once. She took his extended hand, and he led her to one of the balconies overlooking the rest of the room. ôNow, just summon Sylph and we can get started.ö
ôStarted with what?ö
ôLeveling the playing field, of course,ö he nodded out to where Lloyd and Colette were dancing. Sheena realized with a start that they were on eye-level. ôNow, I've got the whole 'Chosen' thing going on, but I figure you're going to need a little help with the flying.ö
Sheena opened her mouth to berate him for such a stupid idea, then closed it. What the hell, night for celebration, right? She muttered the long incantation she rarely used to gain the power of the Summon Spirit of Air, deciding that this needed a little more finesse that the battlefield shortcut she normally incanted. ôMessenger of the sky that wanders the three Worlds, by right as the pact maker I command thee. Come forth, Sylph!ö The three Spirits coalesced beside her. ôI ask a boon: the power of flight; for this night only, a portion of your power.ö The Spirits nodded as one, then disappeared into a glowing mist of mana residue. A feeling of weightlessness and freedom took hold of her, and she wondered for a brief instant why she'd never done this before.
A pair of orange wings, otherwise identical to Colette's, appeared from the back of Zelos' jacket. ôC'mon, let's go.ö
- - -
Genis Sage sighed as he swirled the juice in his cup. Apparently, even though he was old enough to save the world (twice!), he still wasn't old enough to drink. Not even being the Best Man at the wedding got him a drop. Instead he watched from one of the tables as Regal guided Presea around the dance floor. That should have been him out there. Instead it was Regal earning one of Presea's rare smiles. Regal who actually got her to laugh at some inane comment. Regal, holding her close. It was the closest he'd ever come to hating the man.
Looking around him, everyone was with somebody. Raine was over there, still laughing with the Elven Ambassador. He wondered if the ambassador was really able to put aside his kind's prejudice against half-elves, or whether he was just too drunk to notice Raine's true nature. Regal and Presea on the dance floor, of course, and there to the left, Emil and Marta. The young avatar of Ratatosk seemed to be whispering something in the lady's ear- nope, nevermind. Genis turned his head away at the flash of pink, blushing. Those two...! She was shameless and he was incorrigible, and together they weren't fit to be in polite company. He turned his eyes up, to the happy couple. Yep, there they were. He doubted that Lloyd and Colette even realized they were flying. But wait, that was Zelos and Sheena up there, too! Since when could Sheena fly? As that pair passed overhead, he came to two mind shattering revelations:
1: He could see up Sheena's dress.
2: Why the hell wasn't she wearing any panties!?
Face as red as his juice, he hurriedly tossed the cup away. He was getting out of this madhouse.
- - -
The first half, I'm pretty sure of chapter 1. So, tell me what you think! Comments, criticism, questions, tomatoes; fire away!
This chapter will be available where prose goes to die after it is complete.