you wonderful you

"I'm glad I met you." "And I you."

They stand at the railing, overlooking the sea that is no longer definitively endless but is so definitely boundless, and a reflective silence falls. To play with the logic, perhaps if Fiora hadn't been looking for Shulk she would indeed have found him. But, that's just impertinence. Even the non-existent passage of fate would declare it that now, in this reborn world, Fiora will still always find Shulk. Will always end up with Shulk. Right?

Seagulls flit in the distance. A bird flies. Flies away, away, away, weightless even when it alights to perch, so graceful. Melia, to her knowledge, was the only bird left, more or less. The only one who didn't fly away. Isn't that odd?

It's been six months since Fiora had last seen her. Six months since she'd lost everything, from relatives to subjects to friends, and still she stood here so steady. Oh, there was just something Fiora couldn't put her finger on that she loved about the moment. Was it the peace, the serenity, the easy reticence of it all?

After the silence had stretched on just a few beats too long, Melia cleared her throat. She did it gracefully, always gracefully, and in her disquietude she was perhaps lacking a little bit of driving purpose, but truest honesty will always serve, however. "Aren't you going to go down and sit with the rest?"

"I could ask you the same question," Fiora returned with a smile. "But the answer is no. I'd like to stay up here with you for a while longer, if that's alright."

Odd again, but this time occurring to Melia's mind. The Fiora she had heard so much about, and even, of course, the Fiora she'd fought alongside, might not have even asked. Not that she'd have bullied her way into it, but she was so incredibly determined - the perfect mix of courage, and daring, and zeal, even with a little rashness thrown into the mix. And she wasn't jaded either, like her brother could be.

There was...much to be learned. Still, it seemed. And, then, there always had been.

"You're...quieter, Fiora." Implicitly: yes, it is.

"Ah." Her eyes crinkled. "Maybe I am. And, maybe I learned that from you."

"Oh, did you, now?" Very strange, that Melia was the one to be teasing.

"I...yes." Without further puzzling, Fiora moved forward and placed her hand next to Melia's on the smooth, round wood. The feel of natural, human-friendly textures was still so unfamiliar, since the only place with which she'd been able to feel normally over all those weeks had been her face, and, well, it hadn't been often that they'd all just sat around and touched faces.

So, in that vein, she'd have been perfectly content to continue standing next to Melia, in the tenuous anticipation of it all. Just standing on her own two legs, without weighing on anyone or anything (besides the railing, of course, but you know that's not what she means), just being able to do that, was a blessing. And yet, she wanted something more.

Maybe that was what she admired so much about Melia. Not only was the other girl so independent, not just of mind but of soul, but she was passionate within that spirit. It is not enough just to be, you have to do. And Melia...when she wanted something, she would go after it. Even in a world with a cruel god, she would always accept no less than her best, or that of those around her.

You could always rely on Melia. That much Fiora was sure of. If there was something more to be said here, she would say it.

Sure enough, when the last flocks had dissipated, up she spoke. "I said I wasn't thinking about anything in particular, but I truly am glad to have connected with you in particular."

"Me?" Fiora's unoccupied hand instinctively went up to twirl loosely in her hair, but of course it wasn't there anymore. The old habits were simply too old. The old patterns may not always hold.

"Of course." Melia still wasn't looking at Fiora, so Fiora tried not to look at Melia, and suddenly she felt so alone. "I'm glad you're going to stay for a bit. I wouldn't want to lose you."

"Lose me?" Fiora repeated, again incredulous. Now Melia turned her way. "Not that I want you to feel pressured to remain here with me, or anything. It's just that-"

"No, it's alright, Melia. I know exactly what you mean." The princess's hand, gloved and elegant, was there on the railing too, and in that moment they were mirrored, like the most perfect imperfect reflections. It was so simple, so reassuring, so right to slip her own atop, and if Fiora held on a little tighter than was necessary, well, she knew - somehow, oh, somehow - that Melia wouldn't mind.

Soon, the sedate swirling rush of the waters was the only sound they could hear; even Reyn's shouts from the dock below had ceased to reach them. Does it remind you of Eryth Sea, Fiora was about to ask, and then thought better of it. That was...that was the thing, wasn't it?

"How long are you going to stay, Melia?" She didn't mean here in the rebuilt colony, because there wasn't really anywhere else to go, but...didn't she?

If Melia knew more directly where the question was pointing, she made no sign. "As long as I need, I suppose. Why?"

"Just wondering how long I get to keep you for." Ah, there was the mischief.

"Oh. I imagine that will be quite a while. Certainly long enough?"

"Mmm...I'll let you know. Deal?" As she offered it, Fiora gave another squeeze to Melia's hand.

Melia grinned. "Deal, Fiora." After all, even among the High Entia, it's finders keepers, and losers weepers, right? And Melia...well, she just didn't really feel like crying anymore. Didn't want to, and didn't need to.

Another passage of beats lingered on, and brought with it the faintest, gentlest gust of wind. Closing her eyes, Fiora leaned back and into it. "Ahhh...the breeze in Outlook Park always feels so good. You know, I've never felt it on my shoulders like this."

Melia hadn't stopped smiling, but her amusement escorted itself back in at the thought that she hadn't either. She wasn't now, but wasn't there time for that? Oh, so much time? "Indeed. It is most wonderful."

"You're wonderful," Fiora shot back without thinking, then caught herself: "Oh, gosh, sorry. That's awfully forward of me, wouldn't you say?"

"Not at all, Fiora. Not if it's true."