Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The toll of the bells continued to ring, pulling Noah out of his trance. He could’ve sworn the sky behind the clock tower was looking ominous and other worldly, and yet no one else seemed to be in shock at such a sight. Were his eyes playing tricks on him? The large flock of doves scattering before him, fully snapping Noah back to reality as if a curtain was lifted, returning the sky to normal, his senses reattuning with the sounds of the crowd, the smell of the nearby vendors and stalls but most of all his sight returning to focus.

“Noah!” a voice rang out grabbing his attention, “What are you doing man? They’ll start the fireworks without us!”

Noah snapped his head around to see Lanz, one of his best friends calling for him alongside Eunie and Joren

“Get a move on already, or all the good spots`ll be taken,” Eunie shouted on

“Exactly! So c`mon, move it!” Joren, the final of the trio, blurted out piecing together what Noah was doing before conking out.

“Sorry! I zoned out for a sec. I'm coming!” Was it really a second he thought to himself. He swore what felt like a brief moment, had lasted several lifetimes with the blurred images he could not piece together in his mind. The trio had already begun rushing off as the fireworks had started their loud and bright appearance, leaving Noah to try to catch up and make sense of what was causing this weird sensation.

The confusion he felt mere moments ago gone as the sound of a flute playing caught his full attention bringing that feeling of distortion back into him. And yet despite feelings of being lost or unsure of the previous experience, the tune from the instrument felt comforting, like a voice of a parent welcoming their child back home.

Yet turning into the direction of the music, he couldn’t see anyone playing. Whatever this was, it was causing Noah to feel every possible type of sad and happy emotion possible all at once. This unquenchable desire to find the source and find out just why, why did this tune make him feel this way. But enough soaking in what he was feeling and hearing he thought, finally pushing his body to investigate leading him away from where most of the crowd was heading to witness the firework display near Alcamoth Castle.

The curiosity gripped Noah, every step felt like an eternity, the process itself dragging on trying to skirt past the last few people in the way. The moment his body laid beneath the archway leading into the small park was when he could put the creator of the melody into frame.

A young girl that looked more or less his age, her hair and small ears that adorned the top of her head glistened as white as the pale moon, her flute looking similar to his own though white and adorned with gold highlights. This girl looked familiar, he thought, but where from? He hadn’t seen a Gormotti like her before outside of the occasional appearances or art featuring Queen Nia.

Almost as if on time with his thoughts ending was the girl's melody dying down, “That was a beautiful song.” Noah spoke softly, in awe at both the girl and melody.

“Oh, thank you,” her head and eyes jolted to where the voice came from, “ I honestly didn’t expect anyone to still be here at this time, what with the fireworks for the celebration going on… wait I didn't distract you from going to see the show did I?”

“N-no…I mean I was meant to be heading there with my friends but hearing you play that song something just clicked and made me want to check it out. The song, it felt like I had heard it before.” A wave of confusion began once again clouding his memories with the addition of a small headache accompanying it. Where though, where had he heard this before, where does he know this girl from and why was it now giving this discomfort to even try to think.

“Are you okay?” the Gormotti girl noticed something was wrong seeing him wince in slight pain, something compelled her to want to help him immediately. It just felt right to her for some reason, “here take a seat.” The lightest of touch on Noah’s shoulder, a simple gesture, gave way for her to start experiencing what he had just felt.

“I’m Noah,” introducing himself as he sat next to the space she was occupying before, the slight headache subsiding as fast as it had occurred.

“Mio, it’s nice to meet you,” Mio responded whilst placing her flute on her lap once seated again herself, returning the smile she noticed on Noah’s face back at him. This boy, he looked like someone important to her but how she thought and why did she get a headache just from a simple touch. “I should be a bit more surprised than I currently am that you say you recognised the song, I actually only just came up with it.”

“Really? Well it was lovely regardless, it gave me a sense of… home for some reason.”

Mio’s eyes beamed at the compliment clasping her hands together , “I’m so glad you love it! I don’t suppose you happen to play as well?” she voiced out enthusiastically, hoping that he was someone that also was like her.

“Hmmmm yeah I have a similar flute to yours actually, just in black instead of white. I uh, I don’t have it with me though, my friends wanted one night where we focused on the festival together, rather than me wondering about practising,” Noah scratched his head at the answer, letting out a nervous laugh in the process. “But maybe another time we could play together?”

“I’d really like that, you’re the first person I've met that plays outside of my instructor back home.”

“Same here! We could meet up tomorrow o-or well later since I forgot it’s past midnight now duh… if you’re free of course? Maybe around midday?”

Mio giggled at him, stumbling all of a sudden, “Sure! I..”

“Noah you around here somewhere still?” The loud voice of Lanz echoed close by.

“Sounds like they’re looking for you, I’m sorry again for holding you from them.”

“No, don't be! It was my choice after all and I had fun!

The reassured smile Noah gave Mio helped ease any nerves she felt about distracting him from his friends, then again anything negative she was feeling just vanished being with him, “I’ll see you later then!”

“See you!” Even though he was standing ready to get going, something just gnawed at him for the desire to stay longer. The feeling seemed reminiscent of whenever he’d leave his parents for a while wanting to stay or return as soon as possible. But why, he thought after finally gaining the strength in his legs to move to where he came from.

Back under the entrance archway he could see two of his friends had arrived back looking for him, “Noah there you are, for sparks sake where’d you run off too?” Lanz fired out upon noticing him walking to the two of them.

“Sorry, I got distracted and a bit lost is all.” not a total lie to be fair to them.

“Distracted huh? There’s usually not much that distracts you Noah,” Eunie raised an eyebrow at him whilst Lanz pulled him in with one arm around him, “Musta been something big to keep you away from us.”

“You don’t have your flute with ya so that cant have been it.”

“Ohhhhhh I bet you got a girlfriend or something haven’t ya,” Eunie teased leaving Noah beginning to be bright faced.

“Holed up Eunie we’re 12 years old here and besides, if Noah did have one we WOULD know don’t ya think?”

“You two c’mon, I’ll explain it to you all later, yeah?” Noah attempted to escape the grip held on him before either of the two could see any hint of red on him.

Mio stood by watching the trio leave smiling with a glow of faint pink at the encounter she had, watching them leave until they were both out of sight and their voices inaudible. Maybe her stay here in New Alcamoth wouldn’t be as boring or bad as she originally had thought.

Noah could barely get a wink of sleep that night, the excitement of meeting someone that played the same instrument as him made him feel less alone in his hobby and interest. That girl felt special when he talked to her too, the question as to why still haunting his thinking mind. Pushing the weird feelings and whatever else was plaguing his mind during and before their meeting with the weird sky or headache aside , he really wanted to see this girl again. Luckily he managed to avoid talking about her to his friends, but he really wanted to talk about her with someone. Maybe Mum or Dad he thought, surely they must be up already.

A quick rush to the door and halfway downstairs, there he could see his mother already preparing breakfast, “Someone’s eager to be up early this morning.” as if already catching him without looking.

“I couldn’t sleep at all last night.”

“Oh? That’s unlike you, usually you’re a bit on the lazier side like me haha,” the blonde turned to greet her son with her usual big smile he loved seeing in the morning.

“Dad not up yet?” Noah’s question became slightly muffled during his hug with her.

“He’s at the castle early unfortunately, final preparations and all that for that new academy.”

“Oh… then could I talk to you about something Mum?”

“Of course! You can always talk to me about anything! How about I finish with food for the morning and you can talk to me whilst we eat just the two of us, sound good?”
Noah nodded, moving to do what he would usually do if he was up early enough with helping prepare the table for their meal before seating himself.

The only bit of dread he felt telling about his encounter was if she would also tease him like his friends did albeit this time the person would be knowing the reason. The sound of plates clanging onto the table helped knock him out of any start of spiralling thoughts of regret for wanting to speak about this, “So what did you want to talk about Noah?” The blonde was sitting next to him now, her attention fully onto her precious son.

“Okay, so last night we were on our way to the fireworks and we ran past the clock tower as it was about to hit midnight and… I had this weird thing? It was like a dream that lasted a second, when I looked up at the tower but then the next it wasn’t there. It was like there was another world in the sky or something.”

The blonde chuckled, “It’s a good thing you’re telling me this, your father would get all panicky thinking you were ending up like he did with the weird dreams and visions.”

Noah remembered the stories they used to tell him as a kid, about their adventures in their old world way before he was born in this new world. But he was for sure not worried about it being that all. If anything the blonde noticed this too, seeing how he was eager to continue on.

“Afterwards I tried catching up with Lanz and the others but I heard someone playing a flute. Someone that wasn’t me mum!”
Hearing that he saw someone else had an interest in something as niche as his warmed her heart
“I talked to her for a little while and everything as well, we’re going to meet up later again this time with my flute too!”

She chuckled, hoping it would alleviate the wanting to tear up at this news, “a girl huh, what’s her name?”

“Mio, she’s a Gormotti too… wait mum please don’t tease me about this, I didn't even tell my friends last night and they still did that.” Noah’s face stooped slightly remembering how he wouldn’t hear the end of it from Lanz or Eunie.

“Oh no! No my darling, I'm sorry, I’m just interested, I promise!” She reached for his head, giving him a small comforting head rub, “Though this does mean I’ll have to talk to you about these kinds of things soon since I don’t want you being as bad or oblivious as your father was when he was your age. If it wasn’t for your uncle Dunban also helping tell him what he needed to do he’d probably be just as bad still to this day.”

Noah could only shake his head at the statement, though joined his mother in amusement at the situation and learned how clueless his dad was at one point. “Thanks mum. I’m a bit worried now though.”

“How so?”

“Worried about my confidence in my flute skills, what if I sound too amateurish or mess up?”

“You’ll be absolutely fine, remember everyone makes mistakes but also that it’s the nerves talking. You’ll ace it hanging out with her, I'm sure of it!”

Noah looked at his mothers face, that reassurance was welcome to him. Now he had to hope whatever happened last night and the weird jumble his mind was going through didn’t appear again.

But sure enough later that day, there she was as he entered the park. The two acknowledged each other's presence with a smile, flutes in hand. All his fears washed away at the mere sight of her.

Chapter Text

“There was that dream again,” Mio spoke aloud, her eyes slowly opening to the curtain dulled light of the morning sun. While a lot of the dreams would change every night, there was one factor in them that always remained the same, the people in them. One looked like either an older version of herself or a younger version of her mother. And the other person, a young man that she swore looked like an older version of the boy she met several days ago.

A coincidence maybe that these dreams all started the same time she met Noah, was there a reason for this she pondered. Either way, it always involved them fighting something, or someone together. Then by the end, sometimes there they were playing their flutes together in a similar melody to the one she played that night, seeing lights of red fade to blue as the melody progressed.

Maybe it was the amount of time she had been spending around him, with them meeting up daily for the past six days to hang out or practice the flute together. Despite the repetitiveness of these dreams and the confusion it kept bringing her even during the day when the afterthoughts would linger, it would all fade when she was hanging out with him.

Two light knocks on the wooden door stopped her, interrupting her thoughts, “Come in.”

As the door opened, she recognised the messy brown hair that appeared first “Morning Kiddo, knew you'd be awake already,” her fathers voice returned back to her, closing the distance between the two upon entering the room and giving the girl a long embrace upon reaching her bed.

“Morning Dad! I thought you were meant to be back earlier?” Mio’s face glowed with joy seeing her dad again after over a week of not being together. Rex had a special gentleness whenever it came to Mio in particular. Whether it was due to her being the first of the three kids he had, or just due to her being the one closest to him, no one was sure.

“Well your uncle Zeke decided to pull his usual stunt of bad luck and hurt himself doing something silly, so me and Gramps had to fly most of the night to get here on time after getting him back home.”

Mio giggled, she had heard of Zeke’s bad luck back before and during the time her parents had spent travelling together. He and Pandoria always brought a humorous vibe with them whenever they visited her or the rest of the family. “Gramps is here? Can we go see him before we have to go to that ceremony today?”

“Haha, of course! Good thing your Mothers with Melia till then, it’ll make sneaking out to meet him easier as long as we are back on time of course, I won’t hear the end of it if we get there way too late.” Rex rubbed the back of his head, nervously remembering the days of getting scolded by anyone he travelled with.

“I’m sure if I say it was my fault we were late she will understand!”

“You know she’ll always forgive you that’s why. I unfortunately don't have that luck sweet pea.” laughter filled the room between the two knowing full well the dynamic their family had shaped into, “anyway how has being here for the past week been? Having a good time I hope?”

“It’s been great actually! I actually made a friend here!”

Rex looked proudly at the young girl, ruffling her hair and ears, “Well I'm glad you're doing well on the trip, how about I make something for us to eat and we can go see Gramps before we have to go?” Mio nodded, the excitement building up to see Gramps again was reaching the same levels she had for meeting Noah during the week. “Oh also,” Rex continued whilst reaching for the door, “I need your help choosing something.”

Mio looked puzzled at him, “What do you need help with Dad?”

“I need to choose what to use for that whole sparring business I gotta do later, but I’m stumped on which to choose. So I thought you’d like to choose for me If you want?”

“What can you choose from?”

“Well we have your Mother’s sword, Pyra’s or Mythra’s swords.”

Mio placed a finger on her lip, pondering the hard decision of the choices given to her, “Hmmmmm, can I have a think about it?”

Rex shook his head slightly knowing that would've been the answer given to him, “Haha, of course! Anyway, you best get ready, I’ll shout when grubs ready!”

Mio smiled as her Father closed the door on his way out. Even though she wanted to see Noah today again which wasn't looking in her favour, at least she had a lot going on to keep her occupied till she could hang out with the boy. Seeing her dad again and soon seeing Gramps was enough to help make the day seem more interesting for her.

---

Noah sat silently observing the crowds of people entering the new academy's arena, the hectic amounts of people seemed further away with how empty and quiet the section he was at. The setting helped pull him into his thoughts, as much he wanted to be here he’d also like to be spending time doing something else. “Noah,” he heard faintly. Was he beginning to have those weird dreams again?

He squinted his eyes to try to focus, “Noah you okay there?” A hand laid on his right shoulder jolting him out of the daydream like trance, “sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, you look lost in thought. Something on your mind?”

Turning his head to see his Mother smiling with slight concern for him, “Oh uh no, sorry I was daydreaming.” Noah chuckled, returning the smile back to her

“Okay,” her fingers pressed into his shoulder slightly, “you’ll let me know if something’s bothering you won’t you?”

“Of course, I will!”

She probably knew what was really on his mind. While Fiora could easily guess that he wanted to visit his new friend, there seemed to be something else plaguing him. The look in his eyes at times looked as if he was lost or confused about something. “You can go find and sit with Lanz and the rest if you want, you know? that or you can head back home. Just because both your brothers didn't want to come, doesn't mean you had to do the opposite.”

Noah had contemplated the idea before being asked, but at the same time being able to sit with where the queens were going to be, where his aunt Melia or sister Eunie would be alongside his family with prime seats to see his dad in the opening day sparring match was just as good for him to want to stay. “Nah it’s okay Mum, thanks though!”

“How are two of my favourite people doing then,” a voice spoke up, filling the silence, the pair turning to behind their seats to see their doting father/husband kneeling behind their chairs, arms crossed on the backrests.

“Hey love, we were just chatting,” Fiora responded, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “Don’t suppose you know where everyone else is, do you? Feels weird just us up here in the royal section when we aren’t royalty.”

“Melia and Eunie are just talking with Nia and Dromarch when I last spoke to them a short while ago, seems like Rex is running late to Nia’s annoyance,” Shulk chuckled, knowing full well how Rex was even after all these years. “He was meant to be the one to bring their daughter since Nia was busy, but I bet he overslept… oh actually that reminds me we should introduce you to her Noah!”

Fiora agreed with the idea, “We haven’t seen her since she was born have we? she’s roughly your age Noah, nearly a year or so older than you if I’m remembering right Shulk?”
“Yep, oh and you’ll love this, Nia was telling me she also plays the flute like you do! Someone else to practice with.”

Fiora pressed her hand onto her forehead, the slight shock at putting the pieces together of what Shulk just spoke about and remembering what Noah said about his new friend the other day. Shulk recognised it in her demeanour, leaving Noah looking just as lost as he did moments ago.

“Something wrong Fiora?”

“I think we won’t be needing to do introductions.” Fiora’s face smile grew, letting out a giggle as she turned her eyes to the still confused Noah. Now she knew Noah would be even happier that he decided to stay with them for the event today, silently vowing not to tease him about it. Though she could see it in his eyes that he may be nearly piecing in together like she did.

“Okay I’m super lost now, I’m not missing out on some joke am I?”

“Shulk, did Nia happen to say what their daughter's name was by chance?”

“Uhh yeah, their daughter's name was Mio...” Shulk paused for a moment, noticing the surprised look light up on Noah’s face. He too, like his mother, had now put it together. “why?”

Fiora could have sworn there was a light shade of pink on her sons face as Noah turned away from them for a moment, “Well the other night at the New Year festival, Noah happened to meet and make a new friend who also played the flute and was a Gormotti girl with the same name.”

Shulk finally got where this was all leading now, as usual being the slow one when it came to these kinds of conversations. “I see, now I get it! Wait, how come I didn’t know about this the other night?”

Fiora shook her head, she did love it when he was flustered like this, “You’ve been busy this week and it just slipped our minds, right Noah?” winking at him as Noah turned to face her.

“Uhh yeah, sorry Dad. I was going to tell you but I kept forgetting!”

Shulk’s look turned from the confusion he had to his usual happy parental look at his Son, leading a hand to his shoulder.

---

The first to arrive had been Eunie surprisingly, seemingly bored of waiting for the rest. "Hey," her greeting was straight to the point, her tone matching the emptiness in her head as she stood in front of the trio arms folded. Fiora was the first to ask how the brunette was doing, the answer clear by her demeanor as her eyes rolled with a tut escaping her lips, "swear, it got so boring listening to them all. They really expect me to learn to be as dull as that one day? snuff that."

Fiora's face deflated at the use of words used. Yet she understood her well. Eunie felt relaxed with her extended family to talk about such matters, relating more to their more normal life over the unfortunate life of being related to royalty. But the faint sound of footsteps drew the fours attention to the entrance behind them and off of the matter at hand. Melia and Nia approached, wearing their usual attire they used for formal events or massive public events such as these.

“Auntie Melia!” Noah shouted, catching the eyes of the three.

“It’s good to see you Noah! You’re looking taller aren’t you!" Melia welcomed the boy with open arms, "growing into a fine young man!” Melia had always ensured to maintain a close connection with her nephew, Shulk and Fiora were always grateful for how she would do anything possible for him.

Though sometimes they’d notice there was always some form of sadness behind her eyes when she was with him and only him of their kids. That twinkle of sadness only showed if it was Noah, a question none wanted to ask but persisted in the back of their mind.

“I’m sorry where are my manners,” Melia spoke, interrupting the moment and gesturing to the other regally dress lady beside her, “Noah, I'd like you to meet Nia.”

Noah bowed before her, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Queen Nia!”

Her feline like smile showed at the cute manner the young boy presented himself in. Something about it felt awfully familiar to him though, almost a mirror reflection of how the girl he met recently had smiled. “No need to be formal with me Noah, Nia works just fine! Just act as you do around the rest,” Nia chimed back, though people chose her to help lead the start of the new world, she still would prefer people she was close to or knew to treat her on equal level. While she hated the title quite a bit, it did allow her to choose to still be herself and not hide behind a mask, becoming an inspiration to so many blades, flesh eaters and others from the people that originated from Alrest.

Noah relaxed at the response, turning to see his parents smiling back at him whilst waving at Nia.

“You’ll be needing this for today Shulk,” Melia spoke, dispersing the silence whilst raising up a grey case she had brought with her.

Shulk approached taking the case one hand at a time from her. Placing it down beside him to reveal its contents, his Monado Replica EX. “It’s been a while since I’ve even thought about this let alone think I’d have to use it again.”

Noah looked in awe at his father’s weapon, he had heard and seen pictures of Shulk wielding the weapon or the odd schematics whenever he wandered into the workshop Shulk spent his time in, but this was the first he had ever seen it in person.

Shulk saw the look in his son, eyeing up the weapon he held in the palm of both hands, “Want to try holding it?” He gestured, kneeling down to be on the same level as him.
The boy held the handle with both hands, raising it slightly off of his dad's hands, “It’s lighter than I thought but..” Noah had a hint of struggling to hold the weapon alongside his surprise at thinking it would be much heavier than it appeared.

Shulk chuckled, taking the Monado back into his hands, spinning it around with ease, “Can’t be too heavy, or else it wouldn’t be good to fight with it.”

“Sorry we’re late,” exclaimed a voice from behind where the trio had come from pulling the entourage's attention, “we kinda lost track of time.”

Noah could barely see the man standing behind the two queens, “Lemme guess, you went to take her to see Gramps since you had to rush here on him this morning,” Nia shook her head knowing all too well what Rex was like at this point. His lateness only ever had one consistency when it came as to the reasoning behind it, and every single one involved him wanting to do something for his daughter. “You know you could always do that after and not be lacking in punctuality.”

“At least it is for a just cause though my Lady,” the voice of her loyal companion interjected, arriving last to the scene side by side with Mio.

“Always to the defence as long as it’s to do with her isn’t it Dromarch,” Nia sighed, turning her attention to her little girl smiling widely at the altercation. “How’s my pumpkin today anyway?” Nia knelt bringing the mini her into a loving embrace.

“Well I got to see Gramps again after so long so it’s been a great start so far… I’m sorry if that made us a bit late.”

Nia chuckled, nodding slightly to play it off before any unease set in, “It’s alright, I don’t mind one bit. Just seems your Da can’t take the slight joke every time it happens it seems.” Rex chucked his arms in the air at the statement, shaking his head in a playful act of disbelief.

Melia was the next to catch Mio’s attention, the two smiling at each other exchanging small greetings. Just past the sides of the queen's regal dress however, she could spot that trademark jet black ponytail she had seen numerous times that week. His eyes were already eagerly watching the entrance since hearing she was going to be here today too. Then their eyes finally met, able to see the other past the adult sized obstacles.

“Hey Noah, fancy seeing you here!” Mio greeted gleefully at him, her smile wide enough to show her small fangs.

Noah’s excitement was hard to contain, the two’s energy rose as they closed the distance, almost forgetting everyone else around them. The look Melia had earlier reappeared on her face seeing the two interact as they did. Said same look was also reflected on Nia, smiling with a tinge of sadness behind it. That sadness caused her eyes to begin welling up slightly. Melia turned, noticing Nia had the same thoughts she did in this moment, faintly smiling back at her.

Rex’s focus changed from smiling at his little girl upon noticing Nia’s emotions after glancing at her briefly to his side, slight concern beginning to form, “Nia you okay?” he spoke softly cupping his right hand on her cheek.

“W-what, no I’m fine I promise.”

“Nia... I’ve seen that look before.”

Nia let out a small sigh, he knew her too well at this point, “I… can we talk about it later?”

Rex simply nodded, returning back to his usual happy go getter attitude. That look always did cheer up Nia when she needed it, reminding her of the times he was like that consistently during their Alrest travels.

Noah gestured for his friend to follow him, bringing her over to his parents and sister, "this is Mio, the friend I mentioned to you!” Noah spoke gleefully, waving his arm to introduce her.

“It’s nice to properly re-meet you Mio! We’ve actually known you since you were just a baby, but you won’t remember us at all,” Fiora responded, returning the same joy back to them. “I’m Fiora and this is Shulk, we’ve been friends with your parents for ages funnily enough, though we rarely are able to see each other these past few years.”

“It’s nice to meet you both again then!” Mio looked fondly at the two blondes, both reminded her of her own parents slightly. The duo had the same kindness in their personalities as them and especially Shulk with how he had a weapon similar to one of Rex’s.

"And this is my sister, Eunie. She's Melia's daughter, and to confuse things more, my dads her dad."

Eunie nodded back to the two, almost in shock at how unphased Mio looked at the answer given about her parentage. Thought a growing smirk formed on her face in a flash, as she figured out the reason he had disappeared that night. "So, she was why you left us behind the other night huh?"
The fluster on the boy made her laugh internally, a repeat occurance of the dynamic the two had.

Before she could push any further for now, she silenced herself as one more person joined the fray. “Mio, I don’t suppose you’ve decided on that question have you?”

Oops she thought, the question her dad asked her that morning slipped her mind. Finger placed on her lip as her answer quickly brewed, “Hmmm, would it be cheating if you used both Pyra's and Mythra's? I can’t decide between them two.”

Rex laughed, "surprised you didn't say your mothers." She was as indecisive as he was when it came to these small things. “If that’s okay with you Shulk? Wouldn’t wanna disappoint the kids now do we?”

“Fine by me Rex,” Shulk nodded back, “either way it’ll be good to see you in action again. See how much you’ve grown since our first time we battled.”

“Well we have to show the newbies a thing or three out there if we’re meant to be helping train them.” Rex’s comment garnered a laugh from the bunch, “It’s good to see you again and to see how old Noah and Eunie are now. Feels like yesterday these lot were smaller.”

“You know what they say, kids don’t stay kids for long,” Fiora replied, "you should see the others and how much they've grown too." Their conversation was to be cut short however, Fiora's eyes noticed behind Rex that the rest had begun to be seated ready for the opening speech, “Best we all get seated ourselves it seems.”

“Don’t wanna get hit again for being late twice today, I’ll see you down there then Shulk.” The two nodded to each other before turning to Mio, “coming? Or do you wanna sit here with Noah and the rest?”

Mio eyes lit up at being able to sit with her friend, “I’d like to sit here if that’s okay please?”

Rex caressed her head, giving her an affirming smile before shuffling over to sit near Nia and Dromarch. Nia knew that she’d want to sit close by upon knowing Noah was here, especially when she was told all about her new friend the other day. Regardless of what she knew, glancing over at the two youngsters smiling and being carefree was all she could ask for in this world. Melia felt the same swirl of comfort and somberness inside her core. Yet the two needed to steel their resolve, focus on the two now reunited sat laughing together and keep prying eyes from seeing tears form in their own.

---

The event as a whole was widely enjoyed by the crowd from the joint speech from both queens to showing off that the new academy instructors that would tutor from time to time were going to be the heroes of their old worlds. Having the Heir to the Monado and the Driver of the Aegis engage in a friendly sparring match with each other was the right motivation needed for both morale and wanting people to see what the best could do so they too could follow in their footsteps to help defend the new world.

Seeing both their fathers fight gave them some food for thought on what they wanted to do. Luckily they both had the same idea, vowing that once they turned fifteen and sixteen respectively, they would join the academy together. It just felt right to her to want to do this and most importantly do this journey with Noah.

“Something on your mind Mio?” Nia’s voice rang out.

Her eyes wandered from her food up to her mothers eyes, “I uh… I wanted to ask you both something.” Her words caught both parent’s attention, “Would I be able to join that academy when I turn sixteen? Me and Noah thought we could join it together and I’d really like to do so!”

Rex and Nia peered to each other, the former smiling before manifesting a small chuckle. The latter had an amused look on her face, one that broadcasted how obvious those words were. “If that’s what you want to do, then of course. You know we will always support you with what you want to do.” Nia was the first to speak up, having a gut feeling this was another thing coming.

Knowing that the day was coming on what Mio would want to do regarding her future, accelerated further by her meeting with the boy, made them pause for a moment. Sure it scared them both if it ended up being something such as the proposed idea with that type of idea, but they were ready to face any fears like this head on together. They were prepared to get started and if needed be leaving the details and arrangements to sort after. She came first no matter what.

“I see me and Shulk left that good of an impression huh,” Rex sarcastically spoke with a dry laugh following suit before his tone fliped a complete 180, “but I’m glad you’ve decided on what you’d like to do, you’ll do well I’m sure of it.”

Mio felt relieved, she knew what they were like being both super protective but also very understanding parents. That ease always made life easy for her to be open with her thoughts and feelings to them.

She would of course like to even ask if maybe she could do her studies here beforehand too. If someone told her a week ago if she wanted to move to New Alcamoth or anywhere new, they’d have sounded crazy. But it felt right to be here now, meeting Noah changed that perspective for her and brought more confidence in herself. She felt safe, she felt at home, drawn by something that confused the mind.
“Something else bothering you still Mio?” Questioned Nia, seeing her pupils flicker in whichever direction possible.

“I uhhh no, it’s okay! I was thinking of something else but I shouldn’t overstep with what I want.”

“I think I know what it is, you were hoping you could still come here to see Noah and the rest right?” Rex guessed nearly spot on.

“Well look at you not being clueless on this type of subject any more.” Nia teased with her smug look, “we can organise time to come here whenever you want, or better yet since your Da will be here frequently you could always visit and stay with him on those occasions. How does that sound?”

Her face lit back up again, reeling in the luck that her parents would go through these lengths to do something as simple as what seemed to her a silly request to visit a new friend.

“Works for me, plus I’m sure there’s room with Melia in the castle if I’m too busy so we can ask her tomorrow before we leave.”

“Thanks Mum, Dad, I’m sorry if I’m asking too much with this, but it’s what I really want to do!”

The couple shook their heads almost in unison at the words, “Don’t be silly, there comes a time where people want to do something important or fun and they shouldn’t have to hold back on it just because someone else said no,” Nia reached with her free arm to Mio, giving her resting arm a gentle rub. “Why don’t you head off, I’m sure you don’t want to be sat here listening to our boring conversations do you?”

Mio giggled before beginning to clear her side of the table, taking her cleaning away then returning to give the two a short hug. “Love you both.”

“Love you too kiddo,” Rex spoke softly
“Love you pumpkin,” replied Nia

The two watched Mio carry the book she had been reading recently with her to the temporary accomadation. The happy look they had continued even when they turned to glance at each after Mio was out of eyesight.

“That reminds me," Rex's grumbly voice turned soft, "you want to talk about what was wrong earlier Nia?”

She sighed heavily, completely forgetting about the whole thing, “Ah right… would should move somewhere a bit more private first though.”

Rex's demeanor faded immediately,“Why? Is it about Mio?”

“Not just her… it’s a long story… about them both.”

"Both? As in her and that boy?"

The look in her eye giving confirmation to his question, a puff of air exhaled as he inched closer ready to listen.

Chapter Text

One more day till they both started at the academy, one more day till they could start on the promise they made together nearly two and a half years ago during that week they first met. Mio was sitting outside of Alcamoth Castle taking in the view of it and the town once again under the midday sun, a place she would be officially living in for the next few years and no longer here on the temporary visits she’d partake in to see Noah.

Here she was waiting to see said boy, wanting to meet each other ahead of their first day. Her impatience was growing, what could be taking him so long she thought, “He did say noon right?” The crowds going to and from Alcamoth’s entrance were luckily not as populated today, so the moment she saw his signature raven ponytail was when the wait was finally over.

A smile grew as she waved him down to where she was, he was with someone else she noticed the moment he handed off whatever he was holding to them before running over.
“Hey Mio!” Noah shouted, still closing the distance between them.

This was the first time they had seen each other physically outside of letters in nearly 10 months. Instantly noticing how much taller he had gotten when he was mere steps away from her. The difference is even more noticeable when the two leapt straight into hug.

They held each other longer than one would consider to be necessary for mere friends, but neither wanted to let go just yet. In their heads it just felt natural, it felt great. Eventually backing off slightly, looking at each other gleefully at their reunion. “It’s so good to see you again Noah! You’ve grown a little I see.” She spoke first teasingly.

Noah let out a small chuckle at the slight understatement whilst a tinge of pink creped up on his cheeks, “So have you! You look amazing.. a-as always!” Mio’s face now matched his own at the compliment. Things felt different in their minds seeing each other, some intense, unknown feeling they hadn’t experienced before. All they both knew regarding this feeling is that being in each other's presence felt addictively good.

“Ahem,” two coughs rang them out of the moment, “Not interrupting anything am I?”

Mio didn’t recognise the man looming over Noah rivalling his own height difference, he chuckled as he turned to face the man he was with mere moments ago, “Sorry uncle, I didn’t mean to just dump that with you,” he pointed nervously at the case Reyn had slung over his shoulder. “This is Mio, I’ve told you about her before, She’s starting tomorrow as well! Mio, this is my Uncle Reyn, he’s the head instructor at the academy and my parent’s best friend!”

“Pleasure to meet ya Mio! You’re Nia and Rex’s kid right? He talks about you all the time when he is here to help with teaching.”

“I am! It’s nice to meet you too Reyn , if I may use that?” Mio looked slightly nervous now knowing he was going to be their main instructor.
“Works fine for me! I’m not one on fancy titles.”

“I don’t think instructor or head teacher Reyn is that fancy uncle,” the three laughed, easing any nervousness about how to address him now that popped into her mind.

“Anyway, I’ll take this and leave it at yours for ya. I’ll see you both tomorrow for the opening ceremony.” Reyn waved his free hand, already beginning to move before he even finished speaking. The two saying their goodbyes in unison.
Her interest piqued at what possibly could have been in the case, “What’s that he’s taking back then?”

“Oh, it’s a sword my dad and his friend Ritu have been working on as a gift for me! They’ve been working on it for a while, dad knew I’d want a similar sword to what he used. Riku was doing some last minute things to it hence being a bit late,” Mio giggled at finding out what the contents were, “what are you laughing at?” Noah looked puzzled now at how a sword of all things would garner this reaction.

“Funnily enough my Mum did the same. She got two blades made similar to the ones she used when she was with Dromarch the moment we got home after we first met years ago! But also it’s quite cute your dad did that for you!” the two giggled, looking deeply at each other. Mio broke the brief moment of silence first, “would you want to go get something to eat? I skipped out on breakfast to finish unpacking this morning and I’m sure Taion, Sena or Miyabi will plead with us to help them unpack if we stick around and they find us.”

“Leaving them to fend for themselves are we now? Doesn’t seem very you does it.”
“H-hey it’s not my fault I got up way too early, I did it so I could meet you early” Mio pouted. “Besides if we did help them we wouldn’t be able to catch up properly together would we,” She continued, lightly prodding his head with a tap of her finger.

Noah played off the touch, rubbing his head, “Suppose that works out better, I can meet them tomorrow then alongside my friends all at once… but uhh let’s go eat!” He gestured his arm in the direction away from the castle, he knew a nice spot to visit that would afford the perfect place to catch up at.

“I need your help with something by the way,” Noah turned his head to face her as the pair began to walk, “My hair, it’s getting kinda long. Do you… like it long or do you think short would look better?”

Noah stared in thought, she looked great in either but that wouldn’t be the best answer and not helpful in the slightest. It sounded like something his father would say and then get scolded by his mother for being indecisive. “I like both to be honest… but I think you'd look pretty with short! Something about it feels like the right choice.” His face was one of anxiousness in hoping the answer was to her satisfaction.

To his relief, her reaction was quick to change from a neutral, pursed lip to a wide smile, “scared me in thinking I wasn't getting a straight answer. Thanks Noah!”

---

“Well look at you with your fancy new sword,” Lanz called out upon spotting Noah pacing towards them, turning Eunie and Joren from their conversation to see the commotion. There he was meeting up with his childhood friends just as their first day was soon to begin. The sword his father and Riku had worked on slung on his back, branded in red just like Shulk’s looked. “Well you gonna show us it or what?”

Noah complied, extending out the sword one hand on the base whilst the other lay beneath the bottom of the blade itself. The three now see the blue fluorescent lights adorning the circular centre and the golden middle that surround the red. “That is pretty cool looking, you’ll stand out for sure with that!” Joren exclaimed in awe.

“Or impress someone I bet, “Eunie added with a smug face.

“If by impressing someone you mean everyone Eunie, who the hell is Noah specifically wanting to impress if not us.” Lanz fired back.

“You snuffing idiot, did you really forget?”

“Forget what?”

“I- Ugh you two finally are gonna meet his Gormotti friend remember?”

“Yeah, and?”

“Joren please tell me you at least know what I’m leading to here?

“Haven’t a clue Eunie,” Joren responded.

“Sparks sake, Noah how did we befriend these two bloody losers. Anyways, where are they? I’d assumed you’d have brought them here with you”

Noah laughed seeing her get flustered over the failed attempt to tease him with the group’s support, “let’s head inside, they’re probably waiting for us before the first assembly.” The three looked confused, them they thought?

Noah led the way, slinging his sword onto his back. Eunie was beside him sparking up a different conversation whilst the other two boys hung back slightly and were still confused about what on earth Eunie was even getting at in the previous conversation. The main lobby of the academy held nothing back with its décor to the point it felt like a full blown history museum. The opening view was grand, featuring two twenty foot tall humanoid statues, one was more natural looking whilst the other was shaped more mechanical.

The sight of the two made for a spectacular entrance alongside many other pieces scattered around them, the main attraction was not far behind the looming figures. There stood two swords crossed against each other. One looked similar to his fathers own sword but much sleeker in nature, the other he recognised as one of the swords used by Rex all that time ago.

Each object in the room had plaques detailing the name and history of each piece, everything laid out in a way to inform students of their past, and inspire them for their future with the knowledge and training provided here. Shifting past the crowds leading to the sword statues, there he could finally glance at their objective, standing in front of them talking to several people and gesturing herself in a manner as if she was explaining something to them. His heart was pounding again just like it was yesterday the closer he got especially with his sister and friends lurking right next to him.
Eunie was the only one to notice the smile on his face once she saw where his eyes glanced at, the other two loosely behind them taking in the sights in awe. She could tell the happiness in him was different to the one she would usually see from all their time growing up together. Whether he understood it or not regarding the difference of said happiness was one thing, but Eunie already could tell.

They could hear the end of whatever topic Mio was talking about once they were close enough, not wanting to interrupt that they were here with how engrossed she was in the discussion. Once he noticed an opening, he laid a hand on her shoulder, “giving them the grand tour are we?”

Her head turned to face the voice, smiling the whole way knowing who it was, “just telling them everything you taught me of course!” Her gaze shifted to see the handle on his back peaking out, “is that what your uncle was carrying yesterday I see?”

Noah released his hand, turning his back to fully show off the weapon, “pretty cool right? I see you got yours ready too?” he responded, turning back to see the two ringed blades dangling from her hips. “We’ll have to give them a test later. But your hair. It suits you perfectly!”

Mio blushed slightly at the compliment, her own heart pacing upwards in speed. Only Eunie could see their reactions, yet another piece of evidence she needed.

The two ended up too engrossed in their own bubble so suddenly to remember Eunie and Mio’s three friends stood silently watching the whole interaction.
Eunie had a smug look on her face the whole time, “Well, you gonna introduce us all then dorks?” The comment left the two flustered, scrambling to mentally compose themselves briefly.

“Oh yes, let me introduce my friends from back home! This is Taion, Sena and Miyabi!” Mio gestured with an open palm at each of the three standing opposite them.

The moment Mio had stopped speaking, the flame haired girl of the three pushed forward directly to her side, “Noah right? Mimi has told us all about you! It’s so good to finally meet you!” Sena was overly enthusiastic about the meeting, totally natural for the four knowing how much Mio was like a sister to her. Mio’s face crept a slight flush at the comment at the mention of her talking about him in any way shape or form.

“It’s great to meet you all! This is my sister Eunie, and uhhh,” Noah motioned to Eunie first, but any attempt to place the other two boys in the frame met with failure. “They seemed to have disappeared somewhere despite being right behind us.”

“Snuff em, they probably got too interested in something else knowing them, bunch of sparking idiots,” Eunie shrugged, her words sounding to the new acquaintances as if she has had to deal with this before. “Anyway nice to meet ya!”

“Certainly have a way with words don’t you,” spoke the only other young man there, adjusting his glasses and taking a few steps closer in the process.

“I’ve got more where that came from if that’s what you’re after,” Eunie smirked, folding her arms. Noah grimaced at how outgoing Eunie usually was even with new people, the others were too taken aback by the tone she used to convey both her foul mouth and playfulness all in the span of a few seconds.

“Yo, sorry we’re a tad late. We got caught up on some cool looking stuff they have here.” There was Lanz’s voice now dispelling what they were caught up in. “Anyway, it’s nice to meet yo-” Lanz was cut off by several senior instructors walking by notifying people to begin moving to the theatre room for their opening day introductory assembly, “Sparks sake.”

The group began moving, following the crowd of other students all heading in the same direction. Each of them all forming a small section within them, making small talk along the way. Eunie strode alongside Lanz and Joren at the front, chastising them for mucking around somewhere else when they could’ve done that on another occasion. Lagging slightly behind, Taion, Sena and Miyabi were all continuing what they were learning about from Mio beforehand, herself and Noah sandwiched between the two trios happily making remarks on how good it will be once everyone settled in well with how large their friend group here was going to be.

The theatre room itself was just as spacious as the main hall was, easily able to hold several hundred people more than the roughly 200 or so new students starting today. As it was with most teens their age, the back sections were filled out quickly enough leaving them looking for accommodation near the front and right by where several instructors were standing on the raised platform.
The main figure standing talking near the centre was one most of the group recognised, the schools head instructor Reyn. His head was just in the right direction to see his nephew and friends at the corner of his eye, giving them a quick static wave to them. The eight of them slowly managed to seat themselves all together in the second row from the front.

“I assume that is the head instructor, do you happen to know him judging from his more relaxed welcoming demeanour just then?” Taion asked, his analytical mind already connecting the way someone of his stature reacted to them.

“Yeah, he’s also Noah’s uncle and his parent’s best friend,” Mio answered, facing the questioner first before turning to her side and smiling back at Noah sitting next to her.

“Unbelievable, you must already have an edge by coming here growing up with someone like that?”

Noah laughed at the obviousness that would entail from being close to Reyn, “I haven’t actually done a whole lot to be honest, some stuff he’s taught me here and there or what my parents and my Uncle Dunban taught me really.”

Taion was thoroughly enjoying learning that their new friend was just like Mio and so closely linked to their world's heroes. Having not one but two have similar histories and backgrounds like this surely was going to be entertaining and invaluable for him.

The excitement was the same for pretty much everyone else in that room especially during Reyn’s introductory speech. All the newcomers learn when in the academic year they would be having either of the heroes doing training days with or any other big figures who would do some work with them.

But something was off during the lecture for Noah, did the people behind Reyn somehow magically change outfits to an all black entourage within a blink of an eye… and why were they carrying flutes he thought? No one but Mio and him really played the instrument. His older brother Crys stopped playing a few years back too. He surely would’ve heard that more people had picked up an interest in learning something as unique as this.

Mio glanced to her side to see the boy staring intensely forward, a single tear rolling down his face catching her full attention, “Noah, are you okay?” She whispered, placing a hand onto his knee.

The small touch of comfort forced him to blink, the figures he saw all returning back to normal in their grey, brown and green attire. “I'm fine, just too engrossed to blink is all,” he softly responded brandishing a small smile back to her whilst wiping the side of his face.

Most people wouldn’t think much of the small exchange that occurred between the two, but Eunie's eyes saw all.

---

For most of their day proceeding the morning's events were filled with getting to know the place they’d be spending the next 3 years of their lives learning and growing, seeing the classes vary from military like topics to the odd few they’d have been doing in school beforehand. As intriguing as the classes were, the main part they were looking forward to was what would occupy the remainder of their day, the physical training.

A handful of other students had also brought their own weapons to study with outside of Mio and Noah, the rest had the opportunity to try out a variety of blades and other weapons. It felt like a wave of nostalgia for the two when they saw Sena, Lanz and Eunie use the blades that looked perfect for them, two heavy like weapons for the fitness buffs and a staff looking one for Eunie.

“All right, class fall in,” Shouted one of the instructors. The group all lined up alongside a few dozen others in their class, “I know it’s the first day and all that and now you’ve done a little bit of solo training, I want you to find a partner and team up as we will be doing some team exercises. But first, you and your partner will be testing each other, learn from that before I pair each team off against the other for today’s exercise.”

The moment the instructor fell silent the class erupted with murmurs, each person trying to either find a partner or attempting to socialise enough to pair up with someone. Sena knew who she really wanted to pair up with the moment she heard the words , “Mimi wanna team… up?” her face fell with slight disappointment noticing she was already conversing with Noah, her ears still picked up what Sena called out.

“Oh sorry Sena, I just asked Noah,” her face gave a sheepish look back.
“I’ll partner up with ya Sena,” Lanz spoke up, extending his hand out into a fist bump as he got closer to her, “let’s show them what the power houses can do!”

Sena connected her fist with his, her mood cheering right back up, “yeah let’s do it!”

They all split off into their respective duos, Taion and Eunie joined up leaving Joren and Miyabi to team up despite looking very unprepared for the coming session. Mio and Noah were both quick to get straight into training with each other, their movements seemingly fluid and natural as if they had done this far longer than initially thought by their friends.

Their prowess and skill being shown off garnered the attention of some of the instructors watching by the sidelines. Reyn was amongst those watching, looking on proudly at his the boy he treated like family, amazed that his skill seemed far better than when he had last taught him personally.

His sword movements were swift and refined, leaving little to work with for an opponent to find an opening. Her agility and quick reflexes allowed for her to dodge elegantly and maintain pressure on her opponent. If it were any other partner they had teamed up with, then they for sure would look way out of league with the rest of the class. Neither knew where this skill came from, to each other though, the styles of the other mirrored almost like they did in their dreams.

When it came to them in their team building with the two practising against another two paired up students came another story. Some instructors looked with pride, seeing such bright potential this early on they knew would push their teaching to higher greats. The odd few glared in annoyance, thinking they were either showing off or trying too hard to live up to their parents reputations. Those looks were in the eyes of some students too, their age causing their annoyance to flair up harder at losing to them.

Now it was Lanz and Sena’s turn to go up against them, their own teamwork being the first to last longer against the leading couple. Lanz reminded Reyn heavily of himself with the way he lugged around a giant greatsword like weapon and his steadfast defence against strong attacks, to him it was like a younger Shulk and himself were duking it out.

Their match’s intensity caught other student’s attention off of their own, while it looked as if Lanz and Sena were on the defence constantly, their tactic of Lanz taking the brunt of the hits allowing Sena to gain moments to strike back was working in splitting the rival pair away for even a brief moment. The strategy was sound at first, but Mio and Noah adapted quickly, their communication was brief but they were in sync with their ideas on besting their friends.

Seeing the two switch weapons in the midst of rushing them stunned the power duo, it was like they had learnt their respective other's weapon instantly and knew that this change would confuse them both. Now was their shot, Mio wielding Noah’s sword and he using her dual moonblades made them unpredictable for the next set of attacks, finally drawing the match to a close when Lanz’s defence couldn’t hold out any longer.

“Damn Mimi, how’d you learn to do that!” Sena was amazed at her best friend even though they lost on their first day. All this did was light more of a spark in the girl to want to be just as strong as Mio even further.

“I… I’m not sure, but it just felt as if we’d done it before.” Mio responded, looking at Noah , his face all but agreed.

The sound of clapping rang out, most of the students cheering at the spectacle they witnessed and the rush of excitement it brought them. Their main instructor looked proud, seeing such raw talent on display impressed him. They even garnered some of the final year students' attention who were training in the nearby section, much to the dismay of their own instructor threatening to force them to do a ridiculous amount of laps as punishment for not focusing. Noah turned to see his uncle smiling and nodding at him, giving him a thumbs up.

“Now that was teamwork,” their instructor blared out, “This has to be the finest first year match I’ve seen since teaching here, the four of you should be proud.” His face turned to view most of the class after visually praising the four, “I know there’s still twenty minutes of the day left but I’d say you all fought hard and learned quite a bit today. I will see you all back here tomorrow, dismissed!”

The class all giddily excited at being able to either head home or to their dorms early on their first day. “You lot were bloody excellent that’s for sure,” Eunie commented upon approaching.

“We aim to please Eunie, you should know me by now,” Lanz retorted back, causing her to burst out laughing.

“You? Haha you’re having a laugh there Lanz.”

“Yeah yeah laugh it up feather brains, don’t come crying to me when I come out on top over you.”

“That a bet?”

“Bet, whoever finishes top of the class out of us two has to do whatever the other says for the day. Deal?”

“Deal,” Eunie and Lanz looked each other dead in the eye, fist bumping on their bet. The rest shook their heads at the interaction, Noah and Joren facepalming at yet another ridiculous bet the two hotheads had just dunk themselves into.

“What will you all be doing now then for the day, Mio?” Noah asked the group, though his gaze and direction turned, it mostly warranted to look as if he was speaking only to Mio.

“I’m actually showing these three around the place today, they needed the tour after all.” Mio winked, calling back to yesterday, “I’m gonna show them all the places you showed me so they knew where to go for what!” You could join us if you all like?”

Noah looked to his three friends, slowly turning his head back with his answer, “Sure we’d lo-”

“Actually I got business with Noah, remember?” Eunie interrupted him, casually resting an arm over his shoulder and snaking the back of his neck.

“We… we do? Owww.” her right hand had jabbed into his side.

Joren and Lanz looked confused at the ordeal, not knowing what the hell was going on. “Big family meal, Fiora made sure he got home early.”

How she was getting away so far with this lie was unbelievable to him, but either way he had no choice to go along with it lest he be beaten by her. Mio looked slightly disappointed at him having other plans for the day, even if she could tell Eunie and potentially the other two wanted him for something else. “How about we show you some other areas tomorrow?” Noah spoke.

Mio nodded with a tinge of disappointment in her eyes, looking back at the other three agreeing with the plan, “Looking forward to it,” her smile shone back at him, “We’ll see you in the morning then!” Her heart sank a little at having to end their day together already. Noah's did too, if Eunie paid slightly any more attention to him she’d have noticed and felt him tense up slightly before drooping his shoulders slightly.

The four shouted their goodbyes back, Mio turning around to wave one last goodbye specifically to Noah.

“So what’s going on Euni-”

“Alright I need you two to make yourself sparse sharpish,” Eunie cut Lanz off immediately once the others were out of range leaving him even more stunned and confused, “I'm sure you both can go find something to do.”

“What? What the bloody hell is going on Eunie?”

“I already told you what’s going on, now clean out your sparking ears and go.”
Eunie shooed them away with her free hand, the two boys utterly confused at what the hell they heard and just had to witness both throwing their arms in the air walking away.

“Okay now you, shut it. I’ll explain on the way.” Eunie softened her voice, but her actions still had a hint of aggressiveness, forcing him to move ahead of her at first.

Noah could do naught but remain silent, that air of mystery remaining until they were off the academy grounds and back onto the streets of the town. “Eunie, are you going to finally explain what this is about?” He looked slightly worried about what was going to happen.

She moved to be at his side, joining the same pace he was walking, “Yeah this is about wanting to ask you about your little thing going on.”

He let out a large sigh, he knew now what this was about, “Eunie, I know what you’re wanting to talk about and things are fine.”

“Fine? FINE? Noah my bestest buddy and brother in the whole world, you are completely smitten for crying out loud. Please tell me you aren’t that oblivious are you? You can't be like dad I swear.” Now he had to listen to her rant on, her voice raising and lowering in intervals, “I hope the spark you aren’t, because if you can’t tell the difference between being happy when you’re with us and being happy when you are with her then boy do I need to whack you around that head of yours.”

“Eunie, I’m not that oblivious... I hope.” She looked relieved at that answer, thank god he didn’t seem to be as bad as the other two boys she thought. “I’m just figuring things out, if that makes sense. I’m still don’t fully understand what I’m feeling, it’s all… weird.”

Her feet dashed to bring her body to stop in front of him, staring straight at him, “No I completely get it… sorry I feel bad for sounding too pushy.” Noah waved her words off as she slapped her head, “I just saw how happy you looked and how you acted around her all day. I want to make sure you continue to be like that ya know? I’ve seen those times when you were down when she couldn’t visit over the years, so with the support you showed me in everything, I wanted to make sure I could return it.”

“Thanks Eunie, don’t beat yourself up though. You’re doing a fine job at being supportive, don’t tell yourself anything less.”

“I’m meant to be helping you here, not the other way round. But promise me if you want help with figuring this out that you’ll talk to me… Lanz and Joren might be a bit too out of their league with this kinda thing.”

“I will, and I promise I’ll figure out what this is sooner rather than later.”

Hearing another promise for help jogged his mind back into action, he’s heard this before. His brain shook him into action at the memory that sounded familiar to this as he began running, “wait, where are you going?”

“I need to keep another promise!” He shouted back, waving the back of his arm at her.

His feet kept up the sprint all the way to his new destination, home. The closer he got to his house the easier it was to see the figure inside near the street facing window, perfect he thought. He swung the door open and shut as fast as he could with more force than necessary, now out of breath panting for the adrenaline was slowing down. Using the last little bit of it to hastily get to the living room. “Hey Noah! You’re home earlier than I thought? What’s with all the ruckus?” There she stood, his mother, the person he needed to speak to the most right now.

“Sorry Mum, is Dad home?”

“No, he won’t be back till later. I just got home myself. If you'd like to go get something to eat together, you can talk to me about your first day? Unless you need to speak to him about something?”

“Okay, uhm I need to speak to you… in private.” Fiora’s face turned to concern at hearing the words. “It’s about what we talked about years ago… I want to call in on that talk you’d help have with me.”

Her eyes widened as did her smile, oh how she longed for the day and here it finally was. “Sit, we’re gonna need some tea.”

Chapter Text

Another tiring morning had gone by full of training and learning leaving it time for them all to refill their fuel for the afternoon. As usual Lanz and Joren were the first to get there and find themselves with their food and an area to grab for the rest of the group to eventually join them. Lanz was already stuffing himself with as much as he could down the moment he was seated, gorging himself on the heavily protein rich meal he thoroughly enjoyed getting daily before even another person had joined them let alone gotten their own grub.

“Do you really have to eat that much meat every time, it’s as if it was your last meal you’re ever going to have in your life?” Taion was the first to arrive after them, hovering to their side with either a concerned look or one of disgust, the two unsure which it was. “More so, how in the blazes do you even get to have that much in terms of portions? Actually no, don’t say I’m asking questions I really don’t want answers to”
Taion silenced himself upon sitting down, leaving one space between him and the two, beginning to idly stir at the tea he had brought with him.

“Hey guys what’s up!” Sena called out, leading herself and Miyabi to them, shuffling around the remainder of the obstacles and tables in their way. “Soooooo everyone enjoy the new training regime we did today?” She was never one for being the first to spark up a conversation, but with the people currently at the table and Lanz too busy filling the black hole of the stomach he had someone had to have done it.

The two girls fully seated themselves across from Taion before anyone else finally spoke up, “it was quite fun, definitely helped with getting better with healing in the moment, “Joren was the first to respond, “I must say Taion, your Mondo never ceases to amaze me with what you can do with it in every session!”

Taion let off a smile at the compliment that was barely seen past the cup hovering around his face, “I appreciate the compliment,” finally speaking after taking another sip.

“Sena, we should go over those manoeuvres later. I’ve be dying to try out something all day since coming up with it,” Lanz finally spoke, still having remnants of the meal littering his face.

“Oh? I'm excited to see now!”

“Using Lanz’s ideas? Sounds like a dangerous idea Sena,” another voice now joined the table, Eunie’s.

“Shut up feather brain, my plans work just as well as yours or Taion’s does.”

“Whatever you say,” Eunie spoke, seating herself in the free space between Lanz and Taion, “if you think your plans gonna work you should try see if you can beat us.”

Lanz just shook his head at the suggestion, if he wanted to see if his plan worked there was only one group he would try it and finally get a win on, “well If it works, then I can just beat the ones that are better than us and get closer to winning that bet.”

She let out a dry, sarcastic laugh at the statement slapping her knee, “if that’s what you think go ahead, but I doubt you are gonna beat those two anytime soon just saying.”

“We’ll see about that, don't you worry, It’ll happen soon. My plan to separate them long enough for me and Sena to get the win will work this time.” Lanz straightened his back, arms crossed now puffing his upper body even more.

“Yeah good luck with that in general let alone on the field,” Sena was the first to recoil a response at the idea, Lanz’s mood dropped in disappointment at the betrayal leaving the mouth of his partner.

“Sena c'mon not you too, you’re meant to have my back here.”

“If you want your answer on whether the idea will work, you simply have to look behind you and towards the queue,” Taion chimed in.

Lanz looked perplexed at what was just said, scrunching the left side of his face at how that would satisfy an answer. But low and behold as he shuffled and twisted his body to peer behind him, there he could see them lining up together chatting away without a care in the world. “Okay,” he spoke after absorbing in the sight for a few moments trying to understand the meaning of them simply being there, “what does that mean at all to being able to beat them?”

Most of the table sighed, Eunie’s mouth remained shut knowing full well it was going to have to be spelled out to the man who despite knowing how to handle people and being the most honest person, did not understand this one specific entanglement at all. “Lanz you do realise Mio and Noah are practically joined at the hip right?” Sena gave a puzzled look, did Lanz not see it at all or did he simply not care?

“I’d say they are actually joined at the hip Sena,” Miyabi chimed in with a soft giggle.

“Yeah I know that, they’ve literally been partners since day one.”

“Lanz I swear to… what they are getting at, is they are too into each other to lose to you and to be separated at all.” Eunie was one sentence away from tearing her feathered head apart.

“Wait, what? As in…”

“YES,” erupted from the group in unison.

Lanz looked like the cogs in his brain had begun to malfunction, his face darting around with confusion, “I… how long has this been a thing?”

“It’s been a ‘thing’ for ages, has it seriously only just clicked for you?” Taion was the one to attempt to reconstruct poor Lanz’s mind. He could do naught but shake his head at this, he’s one of Noah’s best friends and while he’s great at handling other types of socialisation or people’s feelings, this was just as alien as something could be to him.

“How long have you all known then? No one thought to bring this up sooner because I for sure did not see the signs?”

Everyone’s reactions to Lanz and his short sightedness made them want to either chuck something at him or gouge out their eyeballs. Eunie looked awfully close pulling her lower eyelids down. Miyabi was the first to recount how long this affair had been known for, “I've known for months at this point, it was when I started learning the flute with them.”

---

Case of Miyabi:

It had barely been a month into their academy days, the four of them had begun to settle in extremely well with their living arrangements and adjusting to the big move. The fact they had so much independence at this age was both mind boggling and scary for the bunch. Their main issues always came on what to do outside of their study and training days being in a new place to call home. Most of the time it would either consist of following Mio around for the day or lounging about with their days off. Sena and Mio were the only ones with something consistent to attend to, the former having workout sessions with her opposite and the latter off hanging out with their pony-tailed acquaintance.

Miyabi however had decided now was the perfect time to pick up the same thing Mio did as a hobby. Her curiosity into it peaked when they first met not long after Mio first returned from New Alcamoth over two years ago, the two sparking up a friendship very easily which warmed her heart with her struggles of having friends that were as like minded as the bunch she was now familiar with.

When she learned her friend was going to come study here was when she made her decision to also join and try finding a role in her life that would suit her best. She needed a goal, and now something to tide her in the lonely free hours they had. A few days before heading off was where the brunette asked to get said instrument made for her, ordering it to look like Mio’s own white and gold accented flute. There it now lay on her bed ready to be learnt, ready to be used even as an excuse to spend more time with the Gormotti girl outside of classes.

Her courage to start learning perked up that day, grabbing the flute and beginning her small journey to where Mio was staying in the castle itself. Miyabi arrived at the perfect time, seeing Mio leave her room mere feet in front of her. “Morning Miyabi!”

“Morning Mio! Are you off somewhere?” Miyabi’s nervousness perked up, had she caught her at a bad time?

“I was just going to meet Noah for some flute practice, why what’s up?”

“I actually wanted to ask if you could teach me,”Miyabi raised her instrument up to their eye level, happy at the coincidence that unfolded.

“Oh, well why don’t you join us then? I’m sure Noah won’t mind plus then you have two people helping you learn?”

“S-sure, only if I’m not intruding!” Miyabi’s smile perked up a little, internally processing that she would be able to learn with not just Mio but Noah too but the small lingering disappointment hung in the back of her mind in wanting to just hang out with her closest friend alone.

“Noah won’t mind at all! C’mon, let's go!”

The journey was longer than she thought, the small talk between the two occupied the walk with the usual openness the two had with each other on topics from the castle to one of the more secluded gardens the luxurious space had to offer. It would all seem too much to be real that she was in such a place, but then again she thought, being friends and knowing two people close to royalty helped. The gardens itself were lush and filled to the brim with its colourful and vibrant greenery, the silence only filled with nature here was a far cry from where she would go outside that was usually bustling and brim with the sounds of civilisation.

Noah was already there waiting, the three exchanging their greetings and explaining why Miyabi wanted to join them today. Noah was more than happy to help the young girl indulge and learn in the hobby he and Mio shared. Miyabi definitely felt she was getting a good hang of the beginning steps quite quickly, especially watching the two play she could see any intricacies in their movements and the fluidity of their fingers. Though that wasn’t the only thing her eyes could keenly spot, the way the two would glance at each other as they played simultaneously, the way they would playfully move along with each other in a way too much for what she knew of a platonic friendship… oh she thought startling herself out of her own practice, I see.

___

“So you could tell just from how they were playing the flute together? That just sounds like them when we see them together, “Lanz spoke out after hearing Miyabi tell her tale.

“It was painfully obvious Lanz, you’d have to be blind to not see what I saw then and every time I’d practice with them after that there was this spark you could just feel by being there,” her voice protested the questioning nature of Lanz’s statement, looking slightly annoyed at now thinking she was looking too deep into the moments she witnessed. I am not going crazy, she thought angrily.

“Okay Lanz,” Spoke the tactician adjusting his glasses into frame,”how about every time something happens in training they go to each other first and force themselves to be the one to look after the other even though me and Eunie are the healers.”

___

Case of Taion

The training that day had been remarkably more difficult than their past few days, the instructor turning up the intensity of the schedule by having them perform bigger team exercises against each other. The eight of them were currently up against another team that was coordinating extremely effective at keeping them pinned down at their base, grounding their heavy hitters who they knew were their strongest asset in the moment from making any advances.

The frustration was setting in hard on each person one at a time, the pure anger in Lanz was fuelling his steadfast defence blocking one of the routes leading to them with support from Eunie, Joran and Miyabi at his flank. Taion kept his tactical eyes on the prize, a potential blind spot for Noah, Mio and Sena to capitalise on and turn the match into their win, he just needed the right moment to spring up with their main focus being on crushing Lanz’s indomitable defence.

“Right get ready, our time to strike is about to be upon us,” Taion spoke softly, gesturing to where the weakness in the opposition was about to surface. The three nodded, preparing themselves to execute their push on his signal. Mere moments later and there it was, Taion raised his clenched hand up. The opening of his hand a second later was all that was needed, the three beginning their swift push on their left flank.

He kept his out for a few more seconds but there was something off he noticed as he began shifting his body to regroup with the defenders, the opening now looked off putting, “crap.” Slightly off to the side now peering out of the cover where the attackers were coming from a looming presence of a usually large teen wielding something Sena would use was about to pounce on the bait, “you three, watch out it’s a trap!” He shouted with all he could hoping it would be in time for them to register.

The order caught them mostly off guard, Mio had begun to hear the movement pick up just before he shouted, but the error in timing was just enough for Noah to get caught up in a direct blow. The heavy hammer knocked him back several feet, crashing his body into the nearby small wall letting out a cry in pain that swelled in his arm that took the brunt of the hit.

“Noah!” Mio shouted, the shocked voice hit the others to wander their attention for a brief moment at what had happened, “Sena, let’s get him,” her voice turning unusually bitter getting ready to return the attack onto the aggressor.

“Stop this instant,” another voice now shouting into frame causing everyone there to freeze in place at the commanding nature of the tone, “you there, what did I say about no bodily contact when attacking.”

The young man stood there speechless, his face dropped from a cocky smirk to one of fear, “S-sorry sir I forgot.”

“Forgot? FORGOT! My office, NOW!” Mio tried her hardest to not laugh at the sight of this burly teen now looking as if he was about to soil himself at the threatening presence of their instructor, “The rest of you, training’s over for the day, dismissed.”

Mio was the first to rush right over to Noah’s side the moment the instructors words ended, Taion began his small trek to the two as well rushing into his role. “Noah, are you okay?”

Noah grimaced in the pain he was beginning to feel, holding his temple in place, “My head is pounding, but my left arm took the brunt of it.” Within an instant, she was already undoing his sleeve and beginning to see the bruising flare up.

“Hold on, I’ll do a bit of healing arts to it and then I’ll take you to the infirmary.” Her face was downtrodden, the sight of seeing him hurt left her feeling the same pain mentally.

“Mio, is he alright?” Taion spoke slightly out of breath still taking in what just happened. Upon adjusting his head slightly he noticed the same marks Mio was attending to, “here let me look at those.”

“No I’ve got this Taion thanks.”

“It’s my speciality, I-”

“It’s nothing serious Taion, I’ve got this. You taught me the basics, yes? So let me do this.” Taion was taken slightly aback at the sound of her being this agitated and protective. All he could do was rub the back of his head at the exchange, feeling slightly useless in not being able to fulfil his duty no matter how small the incident was. “Feel ready to move?” Mio softly spoke, gaining a nod from Noah once she used up her limit on healing knowledge.

Taion was still frozen in place, even as Mio had begun to lift Noah up on his right side to lean on her. Sena slowly drifted to his side as the two began their slow slog back to the main building, “is he okay?” Sena asked.

“He… he should be fine, Mio has it covered.”

Sena looked at him slightly confused, the dejection in his voice sounded as if he was the one hurt and not Noah, “are you okay then? You sound beat up.”

“Other than my plan failing, I’m just shocked. I’m usually the healer, or Eunie for that matter, but I was told to not do anything.” Taion’s eyes wander aimlessly in thought, still processing the words.

“Well you did teach Mimi how to do healing since she asked, plus it makes sense. It was Noah in that situation after all”

“Makes sense? I don’t…” then it clicked, why she wanted him to teach her some basic healing arts, why she would force herself to be the one to heal in a situation like this and that every time she forced herself to do so was when, “huh, you’re right… it does make sense, Sena.”

___

“So just because she is the one to help him when he gets hurt doesn’t mean anything either, they are a team, WE are a team and she would do anything fo-.”

“Lanz, really? They are all obvious points” Joran interrupted him from finishing his sentence.

“I mean it’s hardly convincing to me, if it was something actually romantic or they outright said it then I’d believe it.” Lanz spoke again, leaning further back into his chair.

“Do you remember the other weekend when Noah couldn’t join us two for that event that was going on.”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Well…”

___

Case of Joran

The last day of the academy week was always a slow one in anticipation of the upcoming weekend, it was almost as if they padded the boring classes to then in the eyes of some of them. The snooze fest was at its end now though, with the group beginning their way outside the bustling entrance to leave.

Joran spotted Noah by himself for a moment, pushing himself past several people to approach him as soon as possible. “Hey Noah, Lanz and I are going to that event they got going on at the castle to show off all the new gizmos. Want to come with us?”

“Oh unfortunately I’m visiting Colony 9 this weekend,” a weak laugh accompanied his explanation, “it’s been a planned trip for a while with family to visit some people there. I’m really sorry Joran.” Noah replied looking as apologetic as possible hoping not to upset him.

“It’s alright, maybe next time we can go!” Joran simply smiled back, not sensing how nervous Noah seemed to be at the question he asked, “I’ll see you when you get back then!” With that Joran had already begun rushing back over to where Lanz was, informing him of the situation. Noah didn’t have enough time to register a goodbye back, raising his hand weakly as if to wave at nothing now. Relief though at the fact his lie hadn’t been caught on.

Joren was up early that day, his excitement was high for seeing the wonders of the new technology and weapons that were going to be on show today for them to see. The heat in the morning however he detested, of all the days to be up early and it was on the hottest day so far he thought. Lanz surely was up by this point doing his early morning workout, even on days off his loyalty to his regime was unwavering. It wouldn’t have been a surprise if he was training with Sena when he got to where Lanz did his routine, the two sharing that spark to stay physically fit as possible.

What did surprise him was the behinds of two people he saw making their way down the street he turned onto. Strange he thought, Noah said he was heading to Colony 9 today with family, yet he was leaving with Mio towards the town's entrance. The walk to Colony 9 from here wasn’t a long one, yet it looked like he was carrying something but he couldn’t quite tell what its content could possibly be.

Joran ignored the sight, beginning to pace himself back to his day at hand though the thoughts on where the two were going remain prevalent in his head. If he was going to visit family, wouldn’t he be going with his parents? As luck would have it he soon would be able to put his racing mind to some rest, he could ask the person up ahead, the blonde that seemed to be struggling slightly with whatever he was carrying. “Morning Shulk, need a hand?”

“Oh, morning Joran! I’ve got this thanks!” Joran nodded his response back, he still couldn’t get over after all the years of knowing Noah that he was able to have such a laid back conversation whenever with someone as well known as Shulk, “heading to the event soon I take it?”

“I’m just on my way to meet Lanz before we head to it in fact. I heard Noah couldn’t make it as he was going to Colony 9 today? I saw him leaving not long ago with Mio to visit family or something?”

“With Mio? Huh, I could've sworn Fiora said she and him were going there to visit Sharla, Juju and the rest.” Joran could see Shulk was just as confused as he was with his face scrunching up in thought. “Odd, I know she was preparing some food to take with them too this morning… huh.”

“What’s up?”

“I probably have an idea now that you’ve told me that, but I’ll have to speak to Fiora to be sure.”

“You don’t think they’re on a date or something?” Joran wouldn’t have put it past them, he noticed the odd behaviour Noah exhibited. At first he thought maybe it was something going on with Eunie with how they would split off at times and have long conversations, but the way he was around Eunie was the same with the other girls minus the one in question.

Shulk laughed at the idea, knowing full well it’s gotta be the answer, “you know what knowing the fact Fiora was roped into whatever is happening, it most certainly could be.”

___

“See, if even Noah’s parents know about it then it is true Lanz, “Joran ended his recounts of how he figured out what was going on.

“Okay maybe I see it. What about you Sena, let’s hear your story.”

“There’s not much to tell, I’ve known since the start.” Sena looked smug at the group, everyone minus Eunie snapping their heads at the flame haired girl in disbelief. “I don’t know why you’re all looking like I would have some story to tell, I’ve known Mimi the longest and I can tell what’s on her mind most of the time.”

“So that’s it? You just knew from day one?” Taion was still dumbfounded on how he was beaten in figuring this topic out by his other best friend.

“Duh, I’ve had an inkling since they were sending letters. Besides when I confronted her about it on the day we all started she kinda just told me and fessed up... Eunie, you’ve been awfully quiet this whole conversation, I assume you knew from the beginning too but with Noah?” All eyes were on the High Entia girl now.

Eunie just sat there, arms resting behind her head and her eyes glued shut with her signature smirk laying on her face, “Damn right I’ve known since day one, you could practically read it on the poor guy's face. Besides, I was originally joined to his hip as his favourite sibling.”

“No way you’ve known that long Eunie, since when did you know a thing or two about romance.” Lanz glared at her, a disappointed look as to say why didn’t you tell me this earlier sat on his expression.

Taion was the next to speak, moving faster than Eunie could with her response, “Fascinating, seems you really do have an eye for details as well Eunie.”

“I can show you more details if you’d like Taion,” her right eye opened to glance at the tactician to her side causing him to nervously look away as swiftly as possible. “So do you believe us yet muscle brains?” Her expression all but now starred down the taller boy,

Lanz sighed hard, dropping his head in shame and being this blind, “I concede, you all make valuable points. I will pay more attention to this budding sap story going on… wait a sec I’ve got an idea for us all.” How he flipped his mind a complete 180 degrees on the topic baffled the group, though now he agreed that there was something there they could finally stop preparing to slap it into his meat headed brain till it stuck. “New bet, when do you think they’ll finally tell us they’re dating or better yet how they’ll do it to confess.”

The mood on the table flipped from looking like an interrogation to their lively and rowdy one, all of them placing their bets on the potential day or date they will finally be able to nip this in the bud. Eunie and Sena had the most sensible options of it’ll happen within the next two weeks, Taion using his smarts warranted a strategic look to it assuming it would be another date like event or maybe on the holiday dedicated to love despite how cheesy and cliché it sounded to him and the table. Miyabi didn’t bet, wanting to just sit back and enjoy the ride the group was in but to let her enjoy the build up between the two even more. Lanz and Joran both bet it’ll be by the end of the week.

“Lanz, you know you’re gonna lose right?” Eunie spoke the moment he finished with his suggestion.

“Why’s that?”

“Because the week ends in two days, you muppet.”

“Oh… well that’s more than enough time just you watch I’ll win this easy.” Lanz swiftly moved to view behind him, scanning to see if he could see the two lovebirds waiting on their food, “Huh I’m surprised they haven’t joined us already, any idea where they’ve gone?”

“They’ve got a secret place they spend alone together sometimes,” Sena giggled knowing another secret of the two, of course they had a spot just for the two of them Lanz thought.

Chapter Text

The bright and vast colours of twilight blanketed most of Mio’s vision at first, peering off onto the endless horizon that lay before her connecting sky to sea, the sun barely staying afloat between the two edging slowly away. She’s never seen a view like this before, but yet it feels like something her eyes witnessed long ago. That sense of familiarity was made apparent the moment she peered directly to the man standing next to her, the boy she liked.

Now the confusion was really setting in, she’s never had a moment like this with him… yet. The closest being when they watched the sunset together on their visit to Noah’s birthplace of Colony 9, but there was more than just him there when they witnessed the sceptical. The heat began to rise on her checks, feeling hotter than the lingering suns blaze with how close she stood to him and the fact the mood had an air of something more.
She could see his mouth moving, but the words he was speaking seemed to be naught but empty air, what could he be saying she wondered. Her left arm began to to raise itself slightly, something she wasn't even remotely in control of, her hand beginning to be interwoven with his own. Her heart rate began to spiral but if by instinct and with the help of his free hand laying on her cheek she pulled herself closer to him as her eyes slid shut, the soft sensation of her lips pressed against his sent tingles throughout her body.

What felt like an eternity passed, but once her eyes opened she was greeted by something completely different, the darkness covered room's ceiling. Her chest still pounding as she lay there silently taking in the moment, a dream she pondered, but yet it felt so real. Mio placed her index finger onto her lips, still feeling the faint trace of the moment as her emotions rose further. Now her thoughts betrayed her, the fact that she was dreaming of doing what she wanted to do to him in person now prevailing her sleep as if to curse her for not moving forward with what she wanted and yearned to do.

Maybe today is the day she should finally progress with what was being shied away from for the past few weeks. Anything to live that blissful moment in the real world, day to day outside of the realm of dreams. “Okay, today’s the day,” she spoke aloud with a massive grin on her face. Now she was both extremely happy and anxious at the thought of having to finally force herself to go through with it. It was time she confronted her feelings that had steadily been growing all this time.

---

The thoughts hindered her brain that morning, concentration fixated on the dream rather than the classes themselves. The feelings got worse whenever Noah was within her vicinity, which was tough as he’s always with her, sat next to her in class and he’s her training partner. Whenever he looked at her or conversed with her, her mind would just wander to his lips and force her face to light up a fierce red, now needing to snap away before he saw.

Noah was usually perceptive when it came to reading people’s faces, something must be bothering him she thought sliding her eyes in his direction after he resumed his own studies, could he be thinking the same thing? Did she do something wrong? The girl's mind now running through all the ways her anxiety could get to her by overthinking what could be on his mind.
“Hey Mimi, are you okay?”

Sena’s voice sprung into her void of thoughts, completely absent from being in line with Sena for their lunch, “sorry Sena, I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

Mio let out a soft sigh, rubbing her temple slightly to ease her mental anguish, “do you want to talk about it? I assume it might be about Noah since he seems to be in the same absent mindedness as you are… you didn’t get into a fight did you?” Sena gasped at the thought, it was far too absurd for it to be that however.

“W-what… no! It’s kinda embarrassing, but I’ve noticed he’s been distant as if his mind just wasn’t with him today.” Her hands frantically didn’t know where to place themselves as they shook in front of her.

Sena hummed at hearing the cause was embarrassing, “Sooooo go on, tell me.”

Mio’s face now glowed like the ribbon in her hair bringing Sena’s smirking glare more onto her, “You can’t tell anyone okay I think I’d literally die if you told anyone this.” Sena nudged closer, nodding at her before leaning her head closer to Mio’s own. The Gormotti’s hand cupping her ear slightly bringing her voice into a gentler tone, “I had a dream last night where I kissed Noah.”

“YOU WHAT?” Sena recoiled as her voice failed to contain what her ears had just registered, the others in the queue glaring at the commotion as Mio slapped her face with both hands feeling like her body wanted to sink into the floor. “I’m sorry, that caught me way off guard,” the flame haired girl returned to the closeness they had mere moments ago along with the softer tone.

“Gee Sena, you make it sound like I actually did but it was just a dream.”

“Yeah but this has to mean something right? Like c’mon we know how much you like him and well not to drop everyone into this but the rest all know you like each other anyways so-”

“Wait what?” Mio’s eye’s snapped wide open, “You, you all know?”

“Yeah you both make it super obvious. I bet this dream happened because we saw that couple kissing in the park yesterday. You should’ve seen how flustered you both looked after haha.” Sena snapped her face to a more neutral tone, placing her arm around the older girl's back, “but seriously Mimi you should tell him.”

Mio sighed, “I plan to today at some point, it’s just tough because I wonder what’s on his mind and I don’t want to make it weird if it’s something serious.”

“Mimi, you’ve got this. He likes you too so there’s no need to worry about it! Just go for it”

She felt reassured with the words Sena was saying, deep down she knew this was mutual and that there was no need to doubt herself over it. “I will Sena, after classes and training of course… back to what you said, how did you all figure it out? Was it actually that obvious?”

Sena simply laughed at the question, “Oh Mimi, I’ll tell you just how painfully obvious it was to everyone except Lanz.”

---

Training that afternoon went as unpredictable as the morning had gone, her mind still racing with the emotions from the ever prominent dream. It was causing the one thing that hadn’t happened to either of them since starting as partners, they were not on form and it was obvious to everyone now. Whatever rut Noah was in must have been as bad as her own she thought noticing his late reaction times to certain attacks or faltering at simple decisions.

It didn’t help that Eunie was giving her weird looks on and off the field either, ever since lunch she would catch the girl smirking or giggling at her sometimes with Sena… “of course you told her, ugh god damn it Sena,” she mumbled to herself.

When their instructor pulled the pair away for a moment to speak privately about their performance she was expecting a stern lecture, but then again being the star pupils and luckily having one of the few that wouldn’t berate them into an endless amount of exercise as punishment was music to their ears. Thankfully all the two got was a talk on if they needed to speak their minds should something bother them this much. “Also Mio, your father wants to speak to you. He wants your opinion on any adjustments you may feel would befit your classmates for his classes this week whilst he’s here.” the older lady spoke out just as the two began to slowly drift back.

“Oh, okay,” was all she could muster in response, “I’ll see you afterwards Noah?”

“Of course! Say hi from me would you?” He sounded like his normal self then, but she could see the pink rising after she spoke his name.

“He’s at the entrance, should still be waiting there for you.”

Mio began her stroll through the academy, giving her time to absorb more of her thoughts and questions she asked herself. Oh how she wanted the day to come closer to ending so she could finally talk to him properly about all of this. It was agonising having to go back and forth in the depths of her mind, the day dragging its heels along, the talk with Sena all just made her yearn to make that scene a reality in the waking world.
“You seem quite lost there Mio,” a voice snapped her attention back, “you nearly walked right past me without batting an eye.”

“Sorry dad, I… it’s been a long day, It’s good to finally see you again.” Mio was quick to close the gap between the two with a hug, something she hadn’t been able to do with him for months. “How are you and mum doing?”

“We’re good, it’s tough not having you around but as long as you’re doing okay then we’re happy. She’ll be coming over next month for a good while, so it won’t be long till we’re all together, well not just her of course but the whole family.” Mio chuckled at the answer, if she wasn’t already emotionally preparing herself for the next few hours she’d have been even happier at the piece of information. “So wanna talk about what’s up?”

“Huh? Oh I was told you wanted to speak to me, get a bit more info on what the class is like before your teaching sessions?”

“Heh nah I used that as an excuse to see you earlier, I already got something that’ll be right up people’s alley anyway. So, gold for your thoughts?”

How should she even tell her own father about the whole ordeal of the day, sure he would listen and probably laugh at how silly the distractions were at being able to just come out with it. An idea sprung up, the perfect question to help her own approach, “actually I was wondering, how did you tell mum you liked her? Or did she tell you first?”

Rex let out a nervous chuckle at the question in hand, “ahh now that… is an interesting question to have on your mind my sweet girl. One I think would be even more embarrassing that what is truly on your brain to be asking such a thing.”

“That bad huh?” her giggle reminded him so much of Nia, he really didn’t want to share his own answer but how could he say no to her.

“My own was not the best in the moment, though we were in a heated battle. Your mother on the other hand, hers was from the heart.” Rex gestured to the seating beside them that loomed underneath the sword statues they were standing below, “she was struggling with being burdened by her past and forging her own path forward, overtime travelling with us helped her be more open. We were searching for the third Aegis sword at the time when she was finally able to tell us more about her past. It helped her in the end to accept her true self and well let’s just say it went fine after that yeah.”

Rex grimaced at the thought of telling her what he said in the moment, if his suspicion on why she was asking were correct then she surely wouldn’t want to hear how he reacted at first. “You don’t have to say, I guess I just wanted to hear it since it worked out well for you in the end. Well aside from the fact our family dynamic consists of me essentially having two other mother-like figures, a mum and a dad etcetera.”

“Well I never would’ve guessed it would have ended up this way but oh well. Anyway I think I know why you’re asking, I assume you're planning on telling Noah.”

Mio gasped, “How did..?

“We aren’t as blind as you think we might have been Mio . It wasn't hard to guess either,” He interjected leaving her stunned at yet again how good either of her parents were at knowing what went through her mind. “Either way I’m glad it’s him. After all he’s a lot like his parents and they’re good people.” The sound of crowded footsteps gaining traction caught the pair's attention away from each other, “you know what you need to do, so, go do it yeah?”

His arm and hand circled her back gently , another set of reassurance now added into her distracted mind to push through to the end. Mio gently smiled back at him in response, the moment beginning to fade as her eyes spied several of the first set of leaving students notice who was here loitering beside her, “seems you’re drawing a crowd, think I should leave you to it.”

“You’d leave me to suffer huh,” a pause let out between them longer than should’ve occurred she thought. His smirk perked up first, “I'll see you for grub tonight then?”

Mio nodded, wrapping her arms around him for one last hug, “I best go find the rest anyway, but I’ll be back before it gets late.”

“Take your time, and Mio,” Rex pulled one of her hands latched around him into his own, “you’ve got this.”

“I know… oh I nearly forgot, Noah said hi!” she gave a little wave after springing up and away from her as he chuckled to himself at the sight.

Now the crowds were really picking up, what was once a growing group of students wanting to begin the free part of their days now lead to them gawking at their temporary teacher casually lounging about. Mio could hear the faint whispers and murmurs she zigzagged past them all, the sound of those few that still didn’t know hers and his relation to each other or wishing to be just like him. The attention was a little more than she was used to but the distraction helped in the moment until she spied the tallest of their group.

“Oh hey Lanz, Noah not with you?”

“Huh, oh he’s still at the training grounds I think. Something about wanting to do a little more for the day. Maybe you could get him to take a break, yeah?”

Mio giggled with her small fanged smile, “I’m sure I can get him to stop for the day, thanks Lanz!”

With that information she picked up her pace, leaving Lanz to simply shake his head at the situation, muttering something even Mio’s ears couldn’t pick up. But lo and behold the moment she stepped out into the late afternoon breeze there he was alone practising his usual sword movement he would fall into daily. Even when he was deep into the flow of it, he could still sense her creeping up behind him, “hey, how was your dad?”

“He’s good, we were just talking over some things.” Mio fumbled with her fingers clasped together, his own attention fully drawn to her laying his sword onto his back.

“So…” in unison they both began to speak. “You first Mio.”

“I wanted to talk to you actually, how about the usual spot?”

“I was about to suggest the very same thing actually.”

The cooler air felt negated on their skin at how hot they were beginning to feel internally, with them now being alone and heading to the spot they would frequent alone. Just off to the side of the training grounds stood a tower that overlooked the cliff face it was built on, giving it a good view of the edge of the town, the castle and even most of Colony 9 in the slight distance it was located.

The edge where the two sat was always quiet after classes and training, most people would leave for the day with the occasional few staying behind to get in that extra practice. Luckily for them this was the one day none of their friends had stayed behind leaving it near like a ghost town. The towering presence was always adjacent to their backs, giving them support as they would sit against it to peer over the vast and open view they could achieve from the angle seeing such landmarks as the old Bionis head poking over Colony 9.

“I uh, I’m sorry for today by the way.” Noah was the first to speak. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

“No need, I've had a lot on my mind as well to be honest. Would you want to talk about it?”

Noah pondered for a moment, as if trying to process too much at once with how his face creased up, “this is going to sound weird, but do you ever get dreams or memories that feel as if they’re real.”

Mio looked shocked at hearing him say that aloud, was he really saying he felt similar things running through his own mind? If so, what did he dream of, did he… oh no, she blushed with a proceeding gulp, did he have the same dream she did the previous night. “I do actually,” was all she could muster in the moment.

“It’s weird, they feel more like something I should be remembering rather than just one off dreams as if it was my own past. It’s odd though, because I don't recall any of it happening, especially since in them we looked older.”

“We?”

“Oh sorry, yeah usually it’s the two of us. Sometimes the rest would be there too, but you were there the most. Usually it was us fighting against something, or all of us at a camp with these weird symbols on us.”

The descriptions were painfully close to her own, too much to be a simple coincidence she thought but how? “Funny, they sound exactly like mine to the detail. If the others heard this they really would say we were connected.” The small laugh helped break the slight uneasiness of the topic. “How long have you been having them?”

The boy drew his gaze away from her briefly looking into the distance, “since… since the day we met.”

Mio looked shocked, “No way, that’s when… mine started.” Noah turned his head to meet hers again, his own shock now appearing.

“I wonder what it all means.”

“I do have to ask, did you, uh, have any new dreams lately?” Mio asked with as much willpower as possible to begin talking about the one thing plaguing her mind still.

“Last night actually,” if she didn’t notice any clearly past her own attempts to avert her gaze she swore she could spy his face beginning to change. “What about you?”

“Same, but I… it was rather embarrassing.” Oh how she wanted to sink her head in her hands in that moment, whatever was stopping her from doing so and keeping her laser focus on his face was too strong.

Noah could see her eyes darting expressingly fast at what she was thinking of, he was sure she would be seeing the same in him as he realised what exactly it must have been. “I think… I think I know what the dream was Mio,” her eyes widened now at the words, both of their chest racing faster. His hand now laid resting on top of her own.

Her free hand now cupping his check and vice versa, the entire moment feeling nearly like a replay of the nightly memory. Their urge to meet halfway was mutual, gaining traction the moment of his hands connection, both closing the air between them agonisingly slowly. And then the moment hit them both, the softness and gentleness their lips felt on each other was the exact same feeling as the dream. The relaxing feeling of it eased their bodies tension allowing them to enjoy the kiss more.

What felt like a lifetime passed in the small time they held each other’s lips, the break away felt disappointing to them but the need for air hit harder. The pair's eyes stared softly at each other in the narrow gap they held away from each other, “This better not be another dream,” she whispered. “I’ve been wanting to do that for so long.”

“I hope not either. There’s nothing more I wanted than to have this moment become real.” The smile the two gave each other expressed conveyed their feelings to each other whilst their words were stuck in limbo. Noah released their hands from their connection, leaving one of his arms to snake around her back before pulling her closer to his side as the side of their heads drifted onto each other.

“Not to ruin the moment,” Noah was the first to speak in the euphoric moment the two were still having, “but we should really find the others before they start looking for us.”

Mio hummed at the thought of them finding them out like this and being over enthusiastic at finally reaching the point they now reached in their relationship. “They can wait a little longer, besides,” her voice paused, turning her face to his, “they already know we like each other so.”

“They do?” Noah looked more nervous now than he did having their first kiss, “I only told Eunie about this and she’s not one to go blabbering on about something in confidence.”

The gormotti girl nodded her head, “I only told Sena too, the rest figured it out or so Sena told me. But enough about them for now.” Mio grasped his own face, slowly luring it down to her own, “for now I just want to do this again.”

Chapter Text

The happiness that flooded the two from the day before was felt as intensely as it was then once they saw each other the first time that morning. They hadn’t told anyone what had happened still, nor even with their respective confidants who were close to the situation. The urge to just want to drop everything for some time to themselves was intense, a completely different mood to their thought filled minds over their previous overthinking and anxiety ridden one near twenty four hours before.

Luck would befall them however in granting that wish once they learned what their next set of lessons would be, ones set by Driver of the Aegis himself for their year group. A field mission of sorts was announced, they were all to learn field skills useful to survival whilst also helping the city guard on one of their own at reducing a build up of Volff’s in the area. A simple and manageable task for the class to deal with and learn from.

Once all were packed and ready for their excursion which included their camping gear, they were on the road away from town leading to the ever green fields of the plains beyond the walls. Being stuck near the front however was agonising with dozens of eyes glued at their back. The only moments they could sneak past anyone getting ideas on their closeness was anything they could whisper to each other when drowned out by the other students raving conversations. Noah’s nervousness being further exasperated by the sheer manner that the girl he cares deeply for father was several feet in front of them at the spearhead of the entourage. Panic setting in even further once he noticed the older man slowing his pace to drift next to the two, “You two seem a lot brighter today, excited to get some real action I bet.”

An easy enough question for them to answer and hide their secret intentions, “uhh yeah, it’ll be good to actually have to put what we learnt into practice. Can’t learn from mistakes unless you’re in a proper battle,” Noah spoke anxiously trying not to show any obvious hints in his demeanour.

“True, though if I had to guess I bet it’s something else hmmm?” Rex turned his head now side by side with the duo giving a knowing smirk that left the two wide eyed. “C`mon really? After what we talked about yesterday Mio? You really think the change in tone you’ve got today would go unnoticed by me?”

“Wait uhh what conversation exactly?” Noah waited with fated breath at this revelation.

“I may have not so subtly hinted at wanting to tell you what we talked about by asking my dad of his own experience on handling said situation.” Mio, embarrassed from answering, tilted her head away to hide her glowing face.

Noah was at a loss for words, looking aimlessly at the two for any of them to say something. Rex simply laughed at how easy it seemed to put them both into the state they were in, “you should see your faces, it's an adorable sight. Anyway I’m glad things seem to be going well for you both, so keep it that way yeah?”

“I’m quite shocked honestly, I heard most fathers would be a bit more reactive to something like this?” Noah spoke as his worries now began to slowly fade.

“I’m not like most, besides even if I did Nia wouldn’t let me live it down.” Rex smiled contently into the distance in front of them, Nia’s long conversation dragged itself into his mind from those years ago learning about the two teens next to him. “She really did know that they were going to get together huh,” he mumbled to himself.

“Did you say something dad?”

“No, don’t mind me. Just your mothers words echoing away on what she’d say if she found out is all. Anyone else know then or just dear old dad with his keen intuition?”

The two lovebirds looked at each other at the question knowing full well that they hadn't expected to comment already on something of this nature, “no one knows yet, we uhhh, we are kinda still figuring things out so…” Noah rubbed the back of his head unsure if that was the correct answer to give.

“Yeah, it’s all so new we need to talk more about it first.” Mio added in, giving the boy some relief at the similar answer she had.

“Understandable, I’m glad you’re taking your time,” Rex glanced back to see countless eyes staring back at him, “I’ll drop it in case someone hears what we are on about then.”

The glaring eyes staring at the whole exchange the most came from the ones closest to the whole ordeal, Eunie and Sena, both trying to figure out what the conversation could be about. The fact that one day they were both a flustered, absent minded mess and the next they were back to normal triggered the alarm bells of something happening and it’s gotta be what they’re thinking. They so desperately wanted to know and be proud of them that they may have graduated from having to tiptoe around the other to speak to the pair in their respective secret time to now acting upon the advice the unique girls had given the pair. “Wait till they tell us?” Eunie spoke, not even averting her gaze forward.

“Yep.”

“Wait till who tells us what,” Lanz chimed in, catching the tail end of the two’s unspoken dialogue that finally brought audible thoughts.

“You’ll see ya spoon, and you’ve lost the bet.”

---

The rest of the morning and into the afternoon went uneventful for the students, most were just thrilled to be adventuring now they were free for the first time with the taste of the outside world. Eventually stumbling on an area deemed suitable for such a large number to set up their camps for the coming night and allow a brief respite of rest before tackling the combat side of the learning experience.

Soon enough they would all be facing their first combat experience where it would feel truly real, feel the true danger. Luckily they were also accompanied by several guards and not just the Driver of the Aegis for protection especially due to their young age. Once their survival skills were done being put to the test for the first time, they were to be led to the last known sightings of the horde of feral animals.

Thirty more minutes of vigorous hiking off the beaten trail until there they were, near the hornets nest. Now they’d be split up into smaller and manageable groups to make sure it was something everyone could learn from and not leave those willing to take the initiative. Rex himself led a set of students including half their friend group to one area, the experience and abilities that Noah and Mio had possessed at this point were more than adequate to help some guards with their bunch of trainees.

The fight itself seemed all too easy, sure their skill helped but after hacking at the first few and leaving openings for the less initiated to take chances, something seemed off. It was like fear had taken over the wolf-like creature's senses, their movements even more frantic. Their only clue onto what was causing this came clearer as each second passed, the rumbling of loud footsteps from atop the nearby cliff. The height difference between the den they were in and the top of the sheer stone wall obscure any potential ideas on what it could be until it was too late. Only something as massive as what was approaching them could be able to get noticed as it glared down at its potential victims.

“That’s one big Gogol,” one student shouted in pure fear.

“That’s no ordinary one, quick everyone retreat we’ll cover you,” Noah instinctively ordered. The space occupied by their group had now been taken over from the leaping monstrosity. As the fleeing students rushed one way, several guards did their best to push the other and halt any progress the monster could make on them to no avail, wounding three in an instant.

Rex was slightly less occupied with showing the young ones where to run as he witnessed the sheer strength that was on display, a new panic in his mind seeing Noah, Mio and their friends converging together to try to do something. “Mio, all of you run now I’ve got this, get the rest back to camp.”

“We can distract it, you get the rest out before more get hurt,” Mio shouted in response.

Rex hated that he had to look after the many and the idea of leaving his inexperienced child to help them out infuriated him. The sight of the injured guards limping away made it clear that the students needed him more than ever if other senior members were too hurt to do anything. “Titans foot, you best run the moment we are out of here.” Rex gritted his teeth at the fact they wanted to serve as bait for the time being, a bad idea he knew wouldn’t play out well without someone like him.

The sheer size of the beast was gnawing heavily at the teens minds, Lanz and Sena were able to contain the blows with their own might. The pressure being felt on their strongest two this early on was noticeable to the rest, they needed to come up with something fast. There were maybe a dozen other students left to leave that Noah could spot with a quick glance after avoiding a swing of an arm. Another moment to look to his right and there was the spark needed for an idea, “listen up, you all run for the exit. I’ll lead it down that narrow path. It’ll give the rest time to regroup and lead it away from hurting anyone else.”

“That’s suicide Noah, we aren’t leaving you alone!” Eunie protested at the absurdity of the notion.

“We’ll do this together Noah,” Mio added.

Eunie groaned hard knowing full well that arguing this would get nowhere fast, at least he wouldn’t be alone she thought. “Sparks sake, you two best get back safe. Alright you lot, get ready to move it!”

The two rushed their attacks moving the aggravation fully onto them both. Noah’s position was shifted to view the people behind the giant instead of them, now able to see that all who were left were his friends. The observation dulled his concentration long enough to not notice he was tackled to the ground, “keep focused Noah, that swing would’ve hurt,” Mio gave him a concerned look whilst lifting him onto his feet. “You lot go, we’ve got this!”

The rest threw nods in their direction as the two whipped their bodies into a sprint making for the narrow passage Noah had originally spotted. The brute also in full charge began to struggle with the tightness giving the two more distance. After nearly a minute of continuous running and weaving, the two could see the space beginning to widen. The closer they got the more of the horizon they could see, the full understanding of where they ended up was nearly too late as they barely scraped by not falling off the cliff edge they now stood at. “We’ve gotta jump,” Noah spoke panicking after snapping back to see they had mere seconds to do something or else. Grabbing each other's hands first before they took the leap of faith into the river below them, the giant's swiping arm was mere inches from collision when they were mid-air.

A few seconds of falling occurred before hitting the blue surface, their luck intact that the river had a soft flow to it. The two still holding hands as they hid under the surface looking through the clear blue to still see a glaring face angrily glaring down to find its prey. Their bodies desire for breaths began to surge the moment it had finally scampered off, now safe to emerge as their breaths shot into sharp gasps.``That was too close for my liking,” Noah was the first to recover his voice, now slowly turning to the Gormotti with concern washing over him, “you okay Mio?”

“Yeah I’m okay, you?”

“Fine enough, I’m just glad we got out of there. The shoreline there looks safe.” Noah pointed out with his free hand, the other still glued to Mio. Arriving at the shoreline they could begin to take in the peace that the lush green and serene feeling the area brought, adding to the peace they needed right now. A soft smile grew on the both of them, how they thought they would go from running for their lives to help the others out to something the complete opposite of the ordeal a few minutes ago amazed them.

“We should check the area first, then get a fire going to dry our clothes before we catch a cold or something.”

“Agreed, I don’t hear anything so far which could be a good sign,” Mio responded, her ears fidgeting as if they had a mind of their own. Noah began to slide off his jacket as the pair walked together, “Noah you’re hurt!” As the red sleeve on his right arm slid off his arm, she spied another kind of red to replace it from the forming of a cut on his upper arm.

“Huh? Oh I didn’t even notice?” Noah looked unfazed by the small inconvenience.

“We should be safe anyway, let’s get set up and get that checked out. I know we should do a better sweep of the area but we’ll be fine.” Mio spotted a small cave a short distance down river they could use, leading them both to it with haste. Once seated with their newfound shelter she began cleaning the cut with what she mustered with their limited supplies. All they had were their weapons, their water canteens, pouches with some medical or tools used for survival and they had each other.

“I don’t even know how I got this,”Noah spoke softly as she began to slowly wash off the red staining his skin.
“Probably when I pushed you out of the way,” Mio cursed silently to herself, “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

Noah raised his free hand, placing it on top of the one the girls laid on his arm, “no need to apologise Mio. You helped me out when I needed it. Besides, you could never hurt me,” his face heated up at what he just blurted out, saying something like that felt even more natural now after yesterday.

Mio shook her head and scoffed at the statement as her face now was left in a state of embarrassment, “getting soppy are we? I think I enjoy seeing this side of you.”

“Do you now, “his voice came out teasingly, their eyes meeting each other. “It took all this just to get some alone time huh.”

“Shut up,” was all she could say as their heads inched closer, reuniting their lips finally. Oh how they had yearned for this all day, how much enjoyment and emotion it brought them after the day prior. “Feels good to finally do that again.”

“Yeah, though we should really get started on that fire. We can rest up proper then.”

“Soppy and a tease, are we now Noah?”

“Only for you.”

“Whatever you say, let me finish using what I can to bandage that cut up first.”

Once his arm had been patched up, the two gathered as much burnable material as possible. The slight chill of the early autumn season was beginning to feel harsher when mixed with their damp clothes. Thankfully they knew some basics when it came to working with very little to create such basic things for survival, especially since at this rate if they didn’t they were surely going to miss some lessons back at camp.

It took no time at all for them to get a fire going, the warmth lifting their spirits back up and beginning to cure their temperatures. The teens sat close to each other, their bodies instinctively pulling them close side by side for the extra comfort and warmth. This was the perfect opportunity for them to discuss their feelings they had held off talking about further from yesterday, they were going to be here for a while after all so what better time they thought. “I wanted to ask you about yesterday, or well rather the whole thing,” Mio let out her words first.

“Sure, I wanted to talk about it more too and we don’t have to worry about anyone listening right now so… what’s on your mind?”If it wasn’t for the fact they repeated their actions again not that long ago the idea of talking about it scared him a little, his thinking being that maybe she regretted it which surely could not be the answer to the anxiety induced question his mind had to ask.

“I guess we never talk about what this is, have we? Like does this mean we are dating? Or do we take it slower than that? Sorry I actually have no clue about this part,” her nervous giggle gave away just how much thought she was putting into this with the questions on offer.

“Well I’m not sure either, all I know is I would like that but I would like to do it in a nice way. I asked my mother how theirs went a while ago and she told me they never even asked it just happened.”

“Huh, that’s actually kinda cool. I wanted to do something too rather than the boring old way I’ve heard so much about… wait, I have a great idea.”

“Oh? And that is?”

“I say we swap flutes when we are back at camp! Plus it’s like a piece of us is always with the other!” her blush was uncontainable at the idea she had sprung up, the uniqueness of the way to signify their commitment to one another sounded even more adorable the more she repeated it internally.

“Alright let's do that!” Noah smiled widely, stoking the fire in front of him. The fiery warmth continues to mix with their own continuously building up with their closeness. The pair enjoyed the silence that fell upon them, the moment with no one else brought its own comfort. “I suppose we should head out soon, don’t you think Mi- oh.” His words falling on deaf ears, chuckling at noticing the girl had fallen asleep with her softly breathing onto his shoulder. He inched closer, laying a small peck on her head smiling deeply at the sight.

---

Mio’s senses began stirring back alive, a soft groan humming out as her eyes slowly opened. Whatever her head laid on felt completely different to the feeling she was sure she had her head on before falling asleep. Now jolting up in a slight panic, slightly knocking off the red jacket that had been placed over her torso that gained her attention. The disorientation soon dissipated once her eyes caught the entrance to the cave, there he stood observing the immediate area, “hey,” her words still sounding groggy and half asleep.

The words caught his attention immediately, happily smiling towards her, “hey, sleep well?”

“Yeah, how long was I out?”

“Not long, but we’ll need to get moving. We have maybe a couple of hours before the sun sets.” Noah brought forth his observations of the passage of time he kept track of to her, now kneeling down beside her.

“Okay, sorry I fell asleep, I didn’t realise I was that tired from all that excitement.”

“Don’t be, it's fine! Besides, “Noah bit the side of his lip, “you looked pretty… pretty peaceful when you slept. Yeah.”

Mio giggled at his stutter, “you’re losing your edge on that soppy side of yours all of a sudden?”

“For now. Anyways, ready?” Noah extended his arm out, reaching for her.

“Yeah,” Mio answered, grabbing his hand with one of her own whilst the other latched onto his jacket now barely holding onto her torso. “You know they’re gonna gossip about this right?”

Noah shrugged at the obvious statement as her body was now up against his, “the more I think about it, the more I think we should just outright say something.”

“I suppose we have figured things out now, we could just tease them and let them figure it out too?”

“Quite evil of you to think so, but then again they do have a bet going on so let’s make it painful for them.”

Mio smirked, letting go of his hand as she guided his jacket back onto him, “it’s a plan then.”

The early twilight was beginning to settle in as the two began their journey back, the golden glow bringing a tad bit more warmth to them as it hit their backs following the river. The cliff from where the fell from extended far and wide alongside the riverbank, providing no clear way up early on. The casual conversations kept the two occupied whilst constantly on alert for both a path forward and any more beasts.

Eventually the start of an incline formed providing them the start they needed to begin their ascent back. The way forward was narrow, with them both taking extra caution as to not make a repeat of earlier, joking how they could go for a dip again when it was a warmer time of year. Once they reached the top they could see the spectacle that was the view of the plains nearby, the sun kissed land beginning to glow gold over green. “Kinda reminds me of that dream,” Mio thought to herself, if only they had time maybe they could’ve recreated it.
The trek now took them above where they originally had fought the Volff's, one wouldn’t be able to tell anything happened here with how it was transformed from a frantic mess mere hours ago to a quiet, stone encased hole in the ground. Being higher up this time gave them a quicker route back to where the rest would be located, the elevation also suitable in case the hulking behemoth reared its head again.

Once they were finally closer to camp however they could begin hearing a ruckus that sounded all too familiar, the giant was back. “Looks like it found them, damn it,” Noah grimaced, annoyed that his idea only bought them time and not guaranteed safety. Getting closer they could see Rex leading the fight, single handling keeping it as far as possible from those in fear of the beast. Their friends there by his side as well doing what they could, their combined efforts could be seen when the duo noticed some injuries the Gogol had suffered.

“Ready to jump in?” Mio asked, hands laying on her butterfly blades.

Noah raised his blade up, “let's finish this, leap onto its back and we can end this!”
The two nodded, both beginning to sprint, weapons ready. Sena was the first to notice when the two were in the air, her voice shouting with glee at the sight bringing in the rest to notice the two. Rex had a proud look in his eye alongside the relief he felt at seeing them both alive.

The two landed hard on the Gogol’s back, both making as many swipes as possible with their weapons weakening the creature even further. The searing pain it felt flung the two backwards, grabbing hold of each other as their entangled bodies rolled once hitting the floor. Now was the perfect opportunity as the rest made their next set of attacks, causing the titan to collapse from its wounds. The silence that followed stood there for a short while, the group eventually began their cheering after regaining their energy. Rex is the first to rush off around the now large obstacle to find the fallen two.

“You okay?” Mio whispered, still laying on top of him.

“Yeah, luckily no injuries this time huh! How about you?”

“All good, I’m just glad you’re not hurt this time,” her words still spoke sweetly and softly, oh how she wanted to kiss him yet again. Thankfully she began to move aside to help get them both back up as she heard her fathers voice shout for the two, how embarrassing it could have gotten if she did give in to that urge and have to listen to her dad tease them let alone if the others saw them in that position. “You two alright?” Rex rushed his little girl first, hugging her tightly.

“We’re fine, you know I can handle myself.” Mio tutted.

“I believed in you, I can also be worried at the same time ya know? Unless it’s illegal for a dad to worry about their child now?”

Mio flicked his shoulder, pulling away from him, “I’ll tell mum to make it illegal.”

The two laughed, Rex moved to hold her shoulder shaking his head, “I’m sure she'd agree to anything you asked.” his eyes drifted to look at the younger boy now stood behind his daughter nodding at him.

“Mimi!” a familiar voice shouted, drawing their attention away, “I’m so glad you’re both okay!” Sena leaped into her best friend, the rest of their entourage right behind them. Them all making their remarks about being thankful the couple were alive and teasing how of course the two were the ones to do such a dumb idea.

Rex pulled Noah to his side as the rest began conversing on their way back to the camp, “I’m glad you had each other to look out for one another,” his tone was sombre, giving a slight hint in Noah’s mind on what might be coming. “Don’t worry I’m not giving some weird talk. I just wanted to say I’m glad it was you.”

“Glad? I don’t follow sir?”

Rex fell into a laugh, he has missed seeing such obliviousness,” I’m glad that it’s you she likes enough to want to be with.” Noah felt embarrassed but grateful at hearing the words. “So tell me, what happened after you two lead that thing away anyway?”

---

Morning had rolled around after a heavy night's sleep, being able to eat finally and the exhaustion of the day took its toll on Noah the moment his head lay rested in his tent. His eyes staring blankly at the fabric roof overhead, thinking back of the day before. A quick glance around he could not spy anyone else in here with him, how late into the morning must it be he questioned to himself.

His answer would come shortly it seemed, hearing the sound of someone shuffling outside getting ever closer. A beam of light illuminating from the opening of the tent’s entrance, “morning, I see you’re finally up.”
That voice, that sweet voice he loved to hear, “morning Mio.”

“I brought you something to eat, you’ve been out cold since yesterday evening.”
Mio moved to sit herself on the ground beside him, leaving the plate she had brought for him at his side and resting a free hand gently onto his forehead. Her hand trailed down past his shoulder to his hand as he rose himself up into a seating position, moving the plate of food before him onto his lap. “You know, we forgot to do something when we got back sleepyhead.”

Noah scoffed, “sorry I was going to find you first thing but it seemed I needed that sleep. But I didn’t forget,” he reached for his small sack to his side he brought with him, lifting out from within his black plated flute. Mio smiled at the sight, bringing hers out from within her jacket. They laid them out with both hands in front of one another, using the pause to stare into each other's eyes as they darted around in their gaze.

One hand from each releases their hold from their own to the others, gently releasing their other hand once their grasp is held tight pulling it back towards them. “So, it’s official then.”

“Not just yet,” Mio replied leaning in to kiss him, “now it is.” Their faces continued to stay bright at the moment, Noah fidgeting with his food every now and then. “I should let you finish eating and get changed, we’re heading back soon.”

“I’ll meet you outside shortly,” just as he finished speaking a searing pain rushed his head, he hadn’t had a headache like this in a while especially with how fast the onset was. Luckily Mio was already out of view as it occurred, not wanting to worry the girl at such a minor inconvenience. But even as he changed clothing, the lingering after effects were still causing some throbbing, why of all times did they have to return right now.

Standing back up after buckling his boots felt like the ground shook slightly under him, needing to force himself to push past the dizzy spell and out of the cover of the tent slinging his pack onto his shoulder. The breeze helps wash some relief into him, eyeing up the commotion of everyone beginning to pack their things away. To his right he could see her, happily conversing with her father. Instinctively, he unclipped the newfound symbolic instrument, his heart pounding at the sight of it as his gaze flickered from both the girl and what he held.

But that headache, it hit again. “Why,” he thought what could be causing this. As fast as his hand rushed to his head they were already slouching back down at the sight he now saw. “Who… wait,” Noah struggled with his words, his eyes straining. “you look just like…”

A thud into his back snapped his attention away, dropping the flute from his grip, “Oops sorry there.” He was speechless still, no words wanted to leave his throat even as he turned back and noticed whatever he saw was no longer there. Noah let out a long deflated sigh, kneeling down to retrieve his precious possession. His hand softly gripped one end of the instrument as a voice seemingly out of nowhere sent shivers down his spine.

“Pick it up.”

Panic set in his voice, “Who…” and yet as he whisked his full face to his side there was nothing there, almost as if the wind was what carried the voice.
“Hey, you alright?” The sound of that new voice calmed his headache at least, but his heart felt lost with weariness, “you looked as if you saw a ghost.”

To his side stood Mio and Rex, both having wandered over to him without him noticing, “oh, yeah I’m okay just groggy I guess.” The two had seen the whole thing, their eyes saw the actions of someone that was afraid of whatever it was they saw. Choosing to believe him in that his mind was sleeplessly playing tricks on him after a long day.

Then again Rex thought, it probably wasn’t the only thing playing on the poor boy's mind noticing full well he wasn’t holding his own black flute, just as he could see Mio not having hers. “Here,” Rex spoke up, lifting his hand down to pull the lost boy to his feet, “need any help with packing your tent?”

“N-no I’m good, thank you!”

“I’ll help you, c’mon.” Mio pulled him forward with her hand on his shoulder, leaving the older fellow to roll his eyes. Just who was that man with the long hair and gold armour and why didn’t anyone else see him?
They weren’t the only ones paying attention however, the two girls acting like vultures observing their prey stood not too far away.

“Notice how they have the others flute,” the bird haired girl called out.

“Yep, oh they are so dating now.” the other girl recognisable by her flame hair, raising her fist to her side.

“Looks like we won the bet Sena,” Eunie brought her hand up too, bumping their knuckles together in solidarity, “now it’s time for the others to cough up their end of the bargain.”

Chapter Text

There he stood in front of him yet again, blackened sword inches from his face as the golden doppelganger glared deep within his soul. What had he done to be tortured by this person Noah thought, the man who was a mirror of him continuing to haunt him. “Who are you? Why do you look like me?” Noah shouted.

“You feel the anguish? Crippling despair?”His body tensed, unable to move. Even if he wanted to, he could feel himself bound to the floor he knelt on. How he got here he still wasn’t sure, the place yet again held the blurred lines of unfamiliarity and familiarity. His heart accelerated, finding the blade no longer in his view, but to his side following the movements of its wielder. “Your luck well and truly, came to an end.”

The woosh of the sword swinging towards his neck jolted him awake into a panic, eyes adjusting to where he was, “you okay?” a calming voice spoke out to him. That mixture of the music to his ears and his eyes unblurring to see the girl's face directly in front of him calmed the nerves, realising now that he had fallen asleep on her lap.

“Y-yeah, just a bad dream.”

Mio’s face was one of concern, her mouth lopsided with her eyes darting across his face. Her hand brushing the strands of hair away from his eyes, “you want to talk about it? It sounded quite bad?”

“Was I sleep talking the whole way?”

“Not for most of it, just the last minute or so.”

Noah sighed, of course she had to hear the worst part of what he just went through. But seeing her face move to a smile, he could feel the lingering pain wash away. “The nightmares started a month ago, back on that day we returned from that field trip.” Noah blinked rapidly a few times before shutting his eyes completely, “it’s a different nightmare usually, but one thing in it always remains the same. This person who looks just like me, he keeps taunting me and I don’t know why.”

“Like an evil version of you?”

“Yeah, the weirdest thing is and it’s going to sound bizarre but I feel I know him.”

Mio could tell where he was going with this even if one would want to laugh off with an obvious joke to make at the sentence, “you think it’s like those other dreams, the ones that we both somehow had?

“Possibly, have you had anything like this?” Mio shook her head at the question, cupping one of her free hands into both of his that laid on his stomach. The sigh he let out and the look he gave out spoke to her that he wanted to say more on it once he collected his thoughts. Until then the two stared at each other longingly in silence in the empty garden of Alcamoth they enjoyed frequenting away from the crowded centres.

“Look at what the lovebirds are up to,” and there went the silence they were enjoying, hearing the loud muscle head shout out closely followed by the rest. The two groaned simultaneously, chuckling at each other softly.
“We didn’t mean to disturb you Mimi, I’m really sorry,” Sena apologetically continued on, nudging her elbow hard into the taller man’s side.

“It’s fine, no need to apologise! What’s up?”

“We’re off to go for lunch and wondered if you both wanted to come with? I figured you’d be here but I personally didn’t want to bother either of you unlike the rest”

“C’mon you two, Lanz and the rest are paying since they are finally keeping their end of the bet they lost.” Eunie chimed in before beginning to smirk, “that is unless you’re both too busy eating each other's faces off.”

The two grew embarrassingly red fast at the statement, “n-no we’ll come join you.” Noah groaned, his head flailing back onto the girl's lap as he saw Mio laying a head onto her face covering one of her eyes. “We can talk about it more later if you still need to think more about it?”

“Yeah, I need to process it some more first,” his words spoke softer, beginning to raise himself up as they used each other's weight to help each other to the ground, “for now let’s see what we can get out of them for food.”

---

“Hey Mio, could we ask you something?” Eunie spoke in a raised voice as most of the group were making their way to the training grounds.

“Of course what’s up?” As Mio turned her head she noticed the group had stopped in their tracks looking at her with a gloomy expression.

“Is something up with Noah?” Her eyes widened at the question, was there something she was missing for them to ask such a question unless… “he’s acting a bit off lately and some of us swear he’s been talking to himself more than someone should be doing.”

Hearing the others notice that he had been struggling was worrying, it had barely been a few days since she fully saw his nightmare first hand and even discussed anything to do with it. Part of her wasn’t sure what to say due to feeling like it would be wrong to fully disclose what the issue was. “Ah, he’s been struggling with nightmares a lot lately and losing sleep over it has been stressing him out.”

Taion shuffled forward with his arms crossed, “I see. Has he been doing or taking anything to help him? I’ve got some recommendations that might assist with that.”

“He’s been having some tea his mother makes, but hasn’t really helped unfortunately.”

Taion hummed to himself, his mouth moved as if to begin speaking before being cut off by loud mouth Eunie, “I’m sure it’s nothing a bit of PDA or alone time could fix,” her voice spoke teasingly along with her wink to the Gormotti.

Mio’s face filled with confusion at the word, “PDA?”

“Ugh, public displays of affection. Ya know, couple stuff?”
Her mouth went o-shaped as her cheeks followed in blending itself to the colour of her lips, the girls of the group giggled at seeing her flushed. “C’mon don’t tell me you haven't tried that to see if it helped him.”

“I,” Mio paused pursing her lips, “I'm keeping my mouth shut.” She spun her body back around pouting slightly, though annoyed at hearing them suggest such a thing it wasn’t like she already was doing just that and knowing it worked.

“Oh, I think poor Mimi has already been doing such a thing,” Sena was the next to butt in rushing to her side with her arm now over Mio’s shoulder, the Gormotti sighed in response to the touch.

“I’m sure Mio doesn’t need you all bombarding her with this before we have our big battle test shortly,” Taion swooped in trying to save the girl.

“Why not let them keep at it, get her all riled up and rearing for when we thrash the other team for those top marks,” Lanz spoke all fired up, pushing a fist into his palm before receiving a death glare from the girl in question. That look nerved him as it was something he had only seen once but this time it was directed toward him as if the devil themselves were now piercing his soul.

“I’d be careful of what you wish for Lanz, Mio throws a very, VERY mean punch,” Miyabi giggled fondly at remembering the time she noticed Mio’s unbridled strength first hand, especially since it was against someone of Lanz’s similar structure. “Plus both her parents are going to be watching, I’m sure she is going to do her best even without us all teasing her.”

Lanz threw his arms up at the conversation grunting at the response, as long as they did their best shortly he didn’t mind even if the issue of Noah potentially not being on form was still putting him off. Though there was no further time to discuss ways of helping the boy as the group began passing the entrance to the training arena. They all could see a good chunk of students and people had come here to watch their major battle exam for the start of the second half of their first year. The main section caught their attention at seeing both Queens sat watching them enter waving them on, Mio waved back with more vigour upon seeing both her parents.

A little further ahead of them stood Noah inspecting his weapon as he conversed with a blue Nopon next to him. The group barely able to make out what they were talking about as they grew closer, “thanks Riku, I’m sure the fine tune should stop whatever was causing the issue to go away.”

“With pleasure, Riku always happy to help.” Noah nodded back to him, the two noticing they were about to be joined with the rest as he smiled in the direction of Mio. “Riku take leave, good luck Noah!”

Some of the group looked on at seeing the Nopon waddle away, not knowing who that was or what was going on. Noah picked up on the confusion, “that was Riku, he works with my Dad. He’s the one that helped make this sword for me. I’ll have to introduce the rest of you to him one day. Anyway, is everyone ready to pass with top marks then or what?”

Most of the group cheered back, nodding their readiness to do what they had worked so hard for and to see if they were ready for the payback they were going to inflict on the other team that they had waited for months to participate in.

“Noah, are you sure you’re okay? We’ve noticed you’ve been off your game a bit,” Lanz was the first to ask the hard question the rest were dreading asking even with the smiles they were giving.

“I’m fine, I won't let whatever is going on get in the way of my performance.” Noah tried speaking with as much reassurance as possible.

He felt a hand lay now on his shoulder, turning slightly to see Mio smile and nod at him once his attention was firmly on her. The feeling of comfort started at seeing her and feeling her, more than enough to help him focus for the moment and the hope to use it as fuel to last the duration of the test.

But it wasn’t enough, during the battle he could feel it creep up on him, he could hear the whispers in his ear with each clash of blades whether his own or the others. The ongoing fighting in front of him felt like it was moving in slow motion as his senses became blurred. The fighting of his friends against the opposing team inching as close as they can with their weapons to victory.

His head rotated to view each of his friends either struggling or putting on a major offence, and then his view laid upon the one thing he didn’t want to see right now, that armoured figure slowly and menacingly walking towards him. He froze in fear, shuddering under his gasp and clinging to his head as the pain began to dwell from there. Mio heard his cries of pain, forcing her to quickly put more pressure on the foe she was engaged in combat with, knocking them as far back as possible into the direction of a teammate before rushing to his aid.

He could feel her hand on his upper arm, but whatever she was saying was muffled under the anguish and state his mind entered. The steps grew louder as he heard the malicious laugh of his own voice, “well don’t you look smug with my woman on your arm.”

His face soured with anger at the voice, “do I look smug to you, get out of my head.” Noah’s voice shouted outwardly leaving Mio confused as to what he was saying or what it was in response to. Her instinct to his reaction had her drop the other moonblade in her hand moving to nearly block his view as both hands on his shoulders.

“What else would you call it, huh?” Noah clenched his teeth, his anger rising at hearing such nonsense at a time like this. The only thing he noticed through his deathly glare at him was seeing the same anger rise in them as the others eyes were fixed on something else, fixated on Mio. His laughter now matched his unhinged look the longer the pause went, “Noah, my long shadow. You have stolen her away from me, I will extinguish you and take her back!”

With sword raised he rushed the two, “Mio watch out,” Noah shouted as he leapt forward clashing blades with someone entirely different. His eyes widened at seeing someone from the opposing side to be in front of him, noticing that he was now out of the trance. But the rage built up was still there, enough to source more strength than usual to push harder and send the boy he locked swords with flying backwards. This stunned him, snapping truly back to reality and leaving him breathless and in slight panic.

Mio too was surprised at what had just happened, calling out to him to try once again to see if he was okay. The sound of a whistle screeched out as she stood once again next to him signalling the end of the match. He looked sadly at her, scared of allowing himself to succumb to his pain and nearly forcefully hurting someone. Whatever the judge was saying seemed distant as he focused entirely on feeling her hand once more helping to calm him down, his eyes on the verge of welling up.

Their friends weren’t the only ones that had a look of worry about the boy as they moved towards their direction, whilst they were confused at what must have happened another onlooker was more concerned about something entirely different. Something only another Gormotti could have heard.

“Nia, are you okay? You look like you have seen a ghost?” Melia softly spoke to the girl sitting next to her. The words also catching Rex sat on the opposite side of her as he too now looked concerned.

“It’s something I heard, something Noah was saying when we saw him look hurt.” The look Nia returned to Melia upon her face becoming visible to her spoke more than enough at first glance, Melia’s face widening in disbelief. “I need to speak to Mio, see if she knows any more about what ails him. If what I suspect is true, then we need to tell them Melia. We’ll need to tell them everything.”

The queen nodded, her expression shifting to something serious, “We’ll need to do this together, invite them to the castle for dinner tomorrow and let Noah know to extend the invitation to Shulk and Fiora. They deserve to know as well.”

---

It had been a long while since the three had come together for something as personal as dinner with Melia in the castle, finding little opportunity to do such a large family gathering with their busy schedules of royal life and early parenting. When Noah mentioned they had been invited alongside Nia and her family they were instantly onboard with the idea, though on the way there they teased the idea to their son on how it was them setting up a meeting for the couples family to talk and gossip about the young love.

Passing the few guards left and there they were outside of the Imperial Villa, edging closer to the door leading inside as it flung open, “ah good you’re here. Was wondering when you would finally arrive.”

“Didn't think you were joining us Eunie?" Fiora replied to the brunette.

“Nah, I'm off somewhere. Been told to leave you all to it. The others are here so I'll see you around.”

Eunie waved the three off, the three tradin gher space making their way inside. Across the room they could see the other three conversing with Melia sat by the dining set they had which overlooked a good chunk of the town below. Their attention snapping to the newcomers making their way over to them. Noah’s mouth perked up quickly on his approach to the only vacant seat next to his partner, saying his greetings in the process to everyone.

His parents seated themselves to the side next to them on the circular table, Shulk already entered into a conversation with the three leaving Fiora’s attention to the teens. They didn’t notice the dotting mothers eyes at first, but her face would have said it all at the happiness she felt seeing the two the way they were now, “how’s the academy going then Mio?” Fiora broke herself out of the momentary trance, the two turning slightly to meet her eyes, smile unbroken.

“It’s going well, thanks! It’s been a wonderful few months here.”

“I’m glad it’s working out for you! You should come visit us soon, you’re always welcome to stop over whenever you like!”

Mio laughed slightly at the offer, “I'll take you up on that, next week maybe?”

“Sounds like a plan! I’m looking forward to it!” Their small talk came to an end just as the other conversation had begun to die down.

Melia glanced at Nia gaining a nod of approval, “there’s something we wanted to talk to you all about. More specifically, involving you two,” hers and Nia’s eyes were the first to look at the young couple, Rex glanced down at first before shifting his attention as well, whilst the two blondes looked confused. A dinner just to talk about the teenagers they thought looking back at each other, they haven’t done anything dumb they hope.

“This is something that will take a while to explain, but until recently we didn’t feel as if we needed to talk about this,” Nia began her explanation. “We thought maybe telling you this when you were older would be better but seeing what we saw and what I heard, me and Melia discussed that now was appropriate.” Noah could guess what they had meant, his mind had been getting more dangerous to himself lately after all and more and more people had voiced their concerns. He was also sure Nia would have asked Mio too, “Before we get to the main issue, I guess some back story to it would be right.”

The two explained everything, all that had transpired without their knowledge when the worlds merged, how an entire world of events had occurred and they knew nothing of the sorts had happened. Hearing about the vicious cycle of the world of Aionios was painful to think about from the constant fighting to the ten year life span of the cycle of rebirth. The explanation of how it came to be through Moebius, those from the Bionis being reminded of it being similar to Zanza and his disciples with how they forced a world into a repeating cycle.

The answer they wanted most as they heard the recalling was how the two fit into this, the shock hitting the rest of the table minus Rex when they heard that they were part of this cycle. “So they both had to go through all that as well? That’s just…” Fiora found the pain too much to continue speaking about.

“In a sense they did yes, though at first we assumed they never would know about this. But judging from the fact you both have had similar dreams and those nightmares Noah is having, I think they are somehow subconsciously remembering it all.”

Melia’s chuckling caught Nia out of her dialogue, “the more I think about it, the more this makes total sense, you two being together. You two were special cases in that world.”

“Special cases? How so?” Noah questioned, shuffling his perplexed look around the table.

The queens glanced at each other, smirking at what they knew was about to happen once they spoke, “in every life you had in that world, no matter what or where you were you would both find each other like you were destined to be together.” The two blushed heavily at the statement, unable to look at each other for a few moments, the rest observing the sight with smiles. “Seems to me soulmates do exist,” Nia continued with a massive grin.

A question lingered in the raven haired boys parents minds, there was definitely more to this. The look went unnoticed in the eyes of both queens. “There is more to what happened to you there however. The visions or nightmares you’ve been seeing lately, are of a man called N. He was a version of you as a Moebius.” The confirmation from Melia made him unsure of how to feel, hearing that in this world that should never have existed he once became evil, had an evil twin or whatever it meant he confusingly thought. “N did unspeakable things to people, the slaughter he participated in... his only care was that he wanted to spend an eternity outside of the ten year cycle with the one thing he cared most about, the one person he loved… and so another Moebius was born once Z granted his wish, M, a Moebius of you Mio.”

It was Mio’s turn to be in the same mental thoughts Noah was currently in, but something was a bit off with the telling of events in her head. “Wait,” Mio spoke up, “if I also had a version like Noah, then how come I’m not seeing something similar to him?”

The question showed the noticeable perplexity on the two regal ladies, they too couldn’t fully determine why. “If I had to guess, I would say it’s how M felt about the whole ordeal. She never really fell down the path N did. She was saddened by what had transpired with no real desire to want to hurt or punish the world.”

“My guess would be something more than that,” Melia shuttered her eyes for a moment before opening them back into the direction of the two.” I think seeing what you are and remembering what you have of him has to do with what your mind is thinking and feeling.” Most people there could get a small sense of what Melia might have been implying with her train of thinking at the mere start of her guess, “I would say your mind is manifesting this as a projection of anxiety you feel with regards to your emotions for one another. You care deeply for her, and with your mind remembering the despair N felt, your feelings and all your past selves' lives are stirring together.”

Noah felt his stomach turn at the idea, she wasn’t wrong he thought. He cared deeply for Mio, he knew he’d do anything for her and even this early on that he loved her. It made sense to him with these feelings that he was scared, he always cared too much for his own good sometimes. Yet before he could further his train of thought, that warmth that pulled him out of it like usual as he felt his hand now in the palms of the one next to him underneath the table. His head turned to meet hers nodding back at him before both returned their attention to the rest, “is there a way to stop these nightmares?” Mio questioned.

Melia’s stern look to them hadn’t wavered this whole time still, knowing that she couldn’t help in this regard, “unfortunately there’s nothing we can do in a practical sense. This is something you must conquer yourself but not alone. All of us here, your family and friends will be invaluable in finding the strength you need to no longer suffer.”

Her words rang true, after all the pain always subsided whenever they were together or at most lessened. The goal seemed obtainable to him, anything to return his aching mind back away from the fleeting thoughts of anguish and one day to put these nightmares to rest. He was ready to take as long as possible, that glance into her eyes told the same story of working through this each day as it came.

“But that aside, I suppose if we told you some of the stories of what happened there it would take your mind off of it further yes?” Melia’s smile grew into a grin as her head turned to face Nia, her response beginning to form the same expression. “Food should be here shortly as well.”

“You’re gonna embarrass them right away aren’t you,” Rex rolled his eyes, noticing how Nia was on the verge of laughing. “I hope you lot are ready to hear some of this because titan’s foot I wasn’t,” he sighed, shaking his head.

“Wait, you already know?” Mio looked stunned at her father to her side, “how long have you known all this?”

“Your mother told me everything the night you decided to study here years ago, especially since well, you two met each other again I guess at this point.”

“So that day we went on the expedition, you didn’t guess at all about us. You already knew it was going to happen?” Noah was the next to question the man.

Rex scoffed into a chuckle, not able to get another word out before the other Gormotti interrupted him, “enough about him, I’m sure you're dying to know more. And I know the perfect one to start with.” Nia held her tongue as several servants brought in the start of their dinner finally, the clanking of stainless steel and ceramic drowning out the odd little small talk going on between the small groups around the table. A couple of minutes passed before near silence befell the group leaving nothing but the sound of them all preparing to finally eat. Now she saw an even more perfect opportunity to mention the first detail she knew would garner the biggest reaction from them all. “Where were we, ah yes about some of your past lives.” Her eyes shifted to the blonde pair next, “Shulk, Fiora did you two know that you were both technically grandparents at one point.”

Shulk spat his drink at the words, Fiora was too stunned to continue eating what was currently occupying her mouth. Rex swayed his head back and forth slightly nodding in preperation. The two targets of the information were left utterly flustered at hearing such a thing, Mio had her hands covering her eyes whilst Noah had a hand resting on his temple mouth agape.

“I see you already want them to die of embarrassment Nia,” Melia joked

“I may have taken my teasing a bit too far but it was kinda worth it. Let’s talk more about that story after some others instead. I’m sure the other tales of their everlasting love will also do the trick.”

---

The rest of the evening was spent hearing more about their other lives and the endless gushing about anything cute they did mixed with the times they had a child. The two now have a chance to discuss the dinner event slightly as Noah escorted her down the near silent halls of the castle.

“It’s still kinda wild to even think about what they told us, don’t you think?” Mio broke the silence first.

Noah titled his head slightly to his side, the side of his mouth lifting up, “yeah I don’t know how to put into words if I’m honest.”

Mio’s hand clenched further on the hand of Noah she was already holding, “my hearts still kinda racing about what they said about us. I wonder if a lot of what they said will happen in our future.” The thought of what she was wanting to say next made her move closer to his side, bridging the gap still walking hand in hand, “I didn’t really think much about fate or destiny before, but I’m glad that even after all of that we still found each other.”

“Seems we really were meant to be huh,” Noah smirked

“I’m not sure if you’re joking or being your soppy self,” Mio jokingly scoffed.

Mio’s expression dropped slightly noticing that their short walk to her room was just about over upon seeing the door mere feet away. Noah shuffled in front of her obscuring the view, keeping her hand held in his, “hey, I’m glad okay. It’s scary how true some of the things they said were true though.”

“Oh, and which of these things is true?” Mio raised her eyebrows staring deeply into his eyes.

“How much I care about you and that I…”

Mio noticed his eyes break to peer behind her, the widening of his eyes giving the obvious signs as if something else had caught his attention. The expression gave it away at what it was that could cause such a break in focus this intensely, even now catching the start of his breathing picking up slightly along with being more audible. “Hey, look at me,” Mio swung her free arm to catch and pull his free hand alongside the one already trapped within her own upwards, “he can’t hurt you remember, you won’t end up like him.”

The golden armoured silhouette stood there in the distance taunting him, the words she was speaking slowly seeped into him. Then with a brief closure of his eyes and one long breath inhaled and brought back out, reopening them now showed no signs of the phantom menace. With the small distraction now not plaguing him, he was able to refocus onto those soft golden eyes and notice the comfort being regained from the sight of them. “Focus on me, what were you going to say? Think only of that and not what your mind wants you to see.”

Noah blinked rapidly at the instructions, internally working on reducing the tension he felt as he did. A huff of air blew away as his composure now rebuilt itself to where it was mere minutes ago. “Sorry, thanks for that, It definitely helped. I guess that’s why he showed up huh, with what I was about to utter.”

“Which was?” Mio’s eyes relaxed, the side of her lips lifting up now seeing him return back to his usual self.

“What I was going to say, was when they mentioned how our other selves were in love. I realise that’s the word I want to use to describe my feelings. Kinda ruined the moment with my mind playing tricks huh.”

Her face heated up at hearing that one word, yet all she could do was look at him wide eyed as he acted his usual way. “No you didn’t ruin it, the fact that our feelings are enough to make you feel better means so much to me.”

“Still not the way I would’ve liked to say I love you but tonight made me just want to say it.”

“Noah, hearing you say it no matter how much it means a lot. I love you too so don’t over stress yourself about not getting to be soppier about it because if I’m sure about one thing is you’ll be doing that… a lot.”

Noah chuckled as he shifted his head forward resting his own forehead against hers, gleefully looking at her hearing her say the same back even with the teasing being thrown at him, “I’m glad to hear it, even if our future is kind of predictable now.” The two laughed at the statement, if they weren’t together before tonight then hearing their inescapable path of ending up with each other would’ve made an even more interesting way for them to start dating let alone confessing a major milestone she thought. “I should let you go before I leave my parents waiting too long.”

He released one of his hands from her clench, raising it to lay onto the side of her face. His eyes darted at every little feature of her face, the rush of euphoria of being this close continuing to drown out the ever fleeting thoughts of his mirror image. “That and I’m sure we could do without Sena or Miyabi catching us and adding onto the embarrassment we’ve endured tonight.”

“Very true, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

Mio closed the small gap left between the bottom half of their faces, laying her lips on his for a second before pulling back, “of course, wonder how we should explain this to everyone.”

Noah leaned his head back letting off a single chuckle, “I suppose we’ll have to figure that out before we meet up with them.”

“I’m sure we could just wing it, but go, don’t go keeping them waiting longer.” Mio tilted her head with a smile as Noah staggered the beginning of his walk, unable to control his own lips moving upward. A few steps away later and he already flipped his posture 180 degrees, walking backwards to view the girl beginning to enter her own room. Their faces never changed as each inched away from the view of the other, Noah thanking himself mentally the moment she was out of view and the door shut at keeping him away from ruining the end of the moment. The bliss overload was more than enough to keep him going for the night, the walk back running into no physical manifestations of himself. Knowing she was the one for him and the one to feel comfort away from N returned that overgrown smile onto his face well into the night.

Chapter Text

Noah awoke to the echoing sound of the early morning gulls lurching overhead. A long groan being let out at being awoken to such an obnoxious sound. Upon peering outside his tent, his head dropped once his eyes began to notice the sun was still barely ready to make its ascent past the horizon.

The small breeze hitting his face helped his body adjust to being awake, his eyes leaving the groggy state they were in and calming his mood from the sudden interruption to his sleep. The boy turned back into the tent, carefully grabbing his jacket so as to not disturb the still sleeping Lanz and Eunie that were with him. He knew he should be waking them up and not letting them stay asleep, but the need for some time by himself dawned heavily on him for some reason feeling the draw the cliff edge a few metres from their camp.

An overturned log helped make for a great seat that viewed over the coast below, the crash of the waves felt serene to him. He closed his eyes to the sound, beginning to think to himself when, “Noah.”

He sighed, “of all the times you decide to come back and it’s on this day of all days.” Opening his eyes and looking to his side, there he was. After so many months of silence from him and of course HE would torment him.

“I’ve come to see, are you ready?” N’s voice taunted his very soul.

“Ready for what?”

“Ready to show me your answer.”

“My answer? Oh, I see. You want me to prove something to you don’t you? Something I’ve been trying to prove for so long. Prove to you and more so to myself that the fear I carry no longer needs to exist.”

“Correct, so tell me.”

Noah hummed at the repeated question, “lucky for you N, I’ve got plenty to use as my answer.”

Again with those damn nightmares causing his mind to relentlessly torment him in his sleep. For three years they wouldn’t give up, now he lay there awoken from his restlessness and tossing and turning, thinking is what he is doing not good enough to lessen their frequency? Three years of trying and working on this and yet they still felt as bad as they did the day he showed up.

The comfort that helped make them ease away he could now feel beginning to wrap around him as he felt arms slither across him. Sifting his eyes from the ceiling to his side and there she was tangling up with him, almost as if sensing he needed her support even if she stayed softly in the realm of sleep. To see his Mio peacefully beside him always brought joy in every moment especially just after waking up.

To think it was their graduation later on and yet he couldn’t look forward to it with the mess racking his brain. Yet as he laid his hands on hers wrapped around him, he felt calm, smiling at her soft expression. He may not have been able to think about the day ahead, but yet again by holding onto her and having her in mind he could look on to the future, past the pains of what he had held in the back of his mind.

-

“Oi, Noah you there?”

Eunie’s voice rang clearly, yet he couldn’t help but hyper-fixate on potentially having just seen… him. “Jeez Noah do I have to get Lanz to come shake you back to your senses or better yet maybe get Mio to do so, though I’m sure you’d enjoy that more.”

“Ah,” Noah’s eyes widened finally, “sorry Eunie it’s just…”

“You’re seeing that dude I’m guessing?”

“Yeah…”

The high Entia girl sighed at the confirmation, seating herself next to him cross-armed, “ya know you could do more to get him out of your mind than just sat here looking sorry for yourself.”

“I know, I haven’t had a moment to collect myself with how busy graduation has been, especially now we’re here at the party.”

“Here I thought you’d be more interested in preparing to be spending your time with Mio than being mister sulky over here waiting for her.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got what we’ll be doing covered.”

Eunie blissfully sighed at him, resting hand under her chin, “Seeing you two together and how happy you’ve been, makes me glad it all worked out for you both. Then again when you both told us about that whole other lives crap I’m inclined to side with the notion of you being soulmates. Just think now you’ve graduated, of all the things you two can do together as adults.”

“I don’t like where that train of thought is going when it’s coming from you Eunie.”

“Fine fine, just remember to make me the best aunt out of us when that day comes.”

Noah gulped heavily at what she had to say, the smirk he received back from her not helping him process the teasing this girl was always doing. He needed to push that specific thought out of his mind for now, he was still a bit too young and naive to be thinking THAT far. “Enough about my love life, the real question should be how do you plan on telling him?”

“Telling who what?” The girl tried to be oblivious to the obviousness of what he was hinting at.

“The one who’s got your feathers in a ruffle lately, a certain boy we happen to be mutual friends with.”

“Y-yeah so what about him?”

“Are you going to dance with him, maybe even help his oblivious self out by telling you how you feel for each other?”

“This is payback for all the teasing I did with you and Mio isn’t it… UGH, better you than that big dolt teasing me I guess.”

“Sorry Eunie had to pay you back, but no I’m just supporting you the way you did me with Mio that’s all.”

“Yeah course, maybe I need to see how the evening plays out I s`pose.”

“Well if you need a wingman or two, you know me and Mio will be more than happy with that regard.”

Eunie scoffed at her best friend realising how he really turned this around into it being about her than him.

“I'm glad my personal life was all you needed to cheer up. Thanks Noah for the encouragement.” A smirk propped onto her face noticing a certain figure approaching from behind Noah, himself catching a raised eyebrow piqued his interest in what she spotted.

Turning his head to spot the girl left him stunned with the sight of the white dress she was wearing for the party. The small gasp that escaped him left her glowing red from his wordless compliment, Eunie snickered at the dopey sight of Noah in his entranced look.

“You look absolutely amazing,” a dumbstruck Noah mouthed.

“Drop dead gorgeous I’d say.” Eunie echoed with a similar endearing sentiment.

Mio’s eyes twinkled at the comments from the two,“Thank you both! So, what are you two up to then?”

“Getting him outta his head.”

“Oh? And did you manage to accomplish that”

“I did, with the only way I know how. by talking about you of course. He’s a simple man after all, talk about his lovely soulmate and he’s right as rain.”

Mio dropped her head, “We aren’t going to live that down telling you all about that huh.”

“Nope, but,” Eunie stood, beginning to walk away. “I can make it even worse for you both, I told Noah to make sure I get dibs on being the best aunt when you both you know what eventually.”

“Y-you what?” The Gormotti girls mouth dropped in shocked, looking at Noah to see his own reaction was one of clearly wanting to never hear words again.

“You should see your faces ha, later lovebirds”

Eunie waved the back of her hand off as she wandered away from the two leaving them groaning further at the joke. “We need to get her back for that, you know that right?”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure we can continue to get under her skin if we bring up Taion to her. After all,” Noah paused, pulling her hand gently towards him leading her to seat herself onto his lap, “we just repay them by doing all the things she did to us before we got together.”

“I’m sure Taion wouldn’t be able to survive such an amount of teasing, he’d probably panic and ask her out without no hesitation and without him preparing as he does for everything. I can already hear him now, `I’ve not made the necessary arrangements for something like this, what does this mean?`” Mio mocked Taion’s voice in her best impression she could muster, leaving her loving man laughing at how it would be something so along the lines of what he would say.

“It would be cute to see, but also I would feel bad if we forced his hand like that.”

“Maybe we tease just Eunie then, that shouldn’t be too hard.” Noah rocked his head at the suggestion, “what about you though, are you doing okay? From what Eunie said I assume it’s him?”

The arm Noah had wrapped around her tightened slightly at hearing those words, “yeah, today’s been kinda bad for it and I’m trying to make sure it doesn’t ruin the day.”

Mio frowned seeing him so downtrodden, placing a hand onto his face.“I’m sorry, I know this morning you had a pretty bad nightmare.”

His face shifted into shock, “I thought you were still asleep when that woke me up, I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

Mio hummed as she shook her head, that reassuring smile told him he didn’t have to worry about such a thing, “course not, not now and not ever.” Out of the corner of her eye she managed to glimpse the sight of more and more people showing up inside the nearby hall, “c’mon, let’s head inside and forget about him. Seems it’s about to start so I hope you’ve got your dancing moves ready. I’ve been dying to see if you’ve been putting in that practice” Mio leapt off of him grinning ear to ear extending her hand to help him up.

“Hey Mio,” the boy called out while being pulled up landing with their faces inches from each other.

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

Mio grinned at those words, kissing his soft lips in response before whispering the same back to him, “I love you.”

“That was the day we could properly start our lives,” Noah warmly remarked over one of his favourite memories, “sure you were a pain that day, but becoming adults and being in control fully of what we could do together. It was freeing.”

N looked unfazed at the first part of his answer, still glaring deep into Noah’s eyes, “not good enough for you? Okay then, how about this story.”

There he stood gazing at the pile of boxes that were stacked across the room, an eyelid slightly drooping as he mentally came to grips that once all of those had been unpacked and organised that the entire move was over and he would have created a home for himself and Mio.

“You look more scared staring at those boxes than you did with that horde of Arachno’s last week,” Mio spoke, watching him from the doorway to his side, snapping him back to reality.

“I was more thinking of how it’s finally happening, well more so once the mountains of boxes are done. It’s exciting!” Noah exclaimed.

Mio returned the smile that now shone onto Noah’s face, placing an arm behind his back, “I’m glad we were able to still get a place like this so quickly. Then again I guess it helped both our families contribute to it.”

Noah hummed in response, tilting his head and placing a brisk kiss onto her forehead, “suppose we should actually get to unpacking and then we can enjoy our own space properly.”

“Yeah, you wanna start with those there and I’ll start with these?” Mio responded, directing his attention with her hand. Noah simply smiled in response, nodding back as he shuffled the few steps over to the nearest box. The first box he held in his hands was light, a quick peek inside showed it was filled with more ornamental items best left for the end. The second box that was beneath it however was heavier as he grunted in surprise to which Mio raised her eyebrow and lip slightly at the sight.

“What exactly do you have in here?” Noah groaned.

“Oh that’ll be all the books and such they told me I had to take. You’ll probably find some fun reading in the pile for later since my dad got carried away buying multiple copies when he was younger for some reason he won’t seem to explain.”

Once the hefty box had been given the space needed to unload, its contents became more clear. Each book looked more interesting as he read each cover, Salvaging Made Easy, Addam’s Love and War. The History of Alrest stood out with how the most of the ones he saw of how recently published it was especially with the difference in quality of the covers. More and more were shelved to the side of him as the bottom of the container was now within reach. The lone book that now lay there seemed the most odd of the collection being veiled in white.

Mio’s eyes lit up as she saw what had caused his movements to stop, how he now held a familiar white cover in his clutches, “hey uhh you can leave that one with me,” she blurted out rushing as fast as she could as her face begun to creep a hot flush at the findings.

His eyes adjusted to her own, her reaction instantly told him what he needed to know about what was now in his hands, “keeping something secret are we?” his voice rang teasingly.

“I… that's just my diary and,” her voice trailed off, unsure what to say at the discovery.”

Noah chuckled at the sight, his smile helping her regain some composure, “I wouldn’t dare read it without your permission Mio, or even if you never wanted me to see it at all.”

“I wrote some pretty embarrassing things in there, maybe I’ll show you sometime when I don’t feel I’d die from the embarrassment.”

“I bet it’s full of your loving and endearing thoughts about a certain someone!”

Her eyes rolled at the comment as she gently tapped his head with the book. The mixture of her sighing and her attention moving back to her original task helped to keep her blush in check. Though she knew he was dead on with his assumption, it’s not like she had ever hidden that she had a diary all these years, even looking at what her teenage self had written was enough to make her cringe at times let alone eventually showing him those same text.

Getting through several more boxes and organising them helped forget the ordeal and keep them pushed aside for a further time, how fortunate she was there was nothing else that she had brought along with her that would have forced herself to out anything else that was meant for her eyes only for now.

The sentiments of her last pieces of moving pile caught the boy's eyes as she had begun picking one thing after another, though knee deep in thought she couldn’t hear what he was saying as the picture now held in her hand created an intense smile. A hand propped up onto her shoulder, “earth to Mio, did you hear what I said?”

“huh? Oh sorry I’ve been lost in my own world for a while, what did you say?”

Noah shook his head with his signature half lopsided smirk, “I was saying I’ve finished the rest over there and asked if you need any help before I need to head back to grab the last of my stuff.” His eyes settled onto the picture frame in her hands, “it still amuses me just how large your family is ya know?”

Mio let out a laugh, hearing that for so many years was always amusing to the girl, “well it makes for interesting discussions. I mean how else do you say well this is my Mum, my Dad, my other mother holding my sister next to us and my other, other mother holding my brother next to them. Not to mention that the titan in the back is my grandpa, and then don’t get me started on the aunts and uncles.”

He let out a small hum at hearing her recite her family web once again, “I still would like to meet the rest of them soon, outside of Nia and Rex I’ve only ever met Pyra on our graduation day.”

Mio placed her free hand on top of his own, spinning her head to face him with her mouth perked up, “you’ll get the chance soon enough! Why don’t you go grab the rest of your things before it gets too late, besides, I need to go grab some things for later anyway!”

“Yes ma’am,” he softly replied, the near whisper creating a tingling sensation delaying her reaction to the kiss he laid upon her. “I’ll see you soon then.” the touch of their connected hands lingered as he began drifting his way to the door.

-

By the time he had returned to his childhood home, gathered the last of his things and was ready to leave for the last time, it had gotten quite late as the sun had begun to near fade from the sky seeing the glimmers of gold through the windows as he strode downstairs. His eyes connected with the green of his mothers upon landing firmly on the ground floor. Those eyes that were filled with a mix of pride and a tinge of sadness.

A rush of arms surrounded him the moment his last set of belongings were set firmly on the nearby table, “I still can’t believe this is it,” Fiora muttered now resting a hand onto his cheek.

Noah noticed his father shake his head at the sight upon his own approach to the two, “it’s not like he’s going forever. You live what, maybe five or more minutes walk away from us now? Besides, I'm sure we’ll visit each other as often as possible.”

“I know, it’s just seeing him so grown up it feels like it was yesterday you were still a teenager. Now look at you, twenty years old and have nearly your entire life sorted out. Two years from your graduation and you’re here doing well within the queens guard, having your own place and not to mention we don’t have to worry about your love life ever.”

Noah scoffed, rolling his eyes at the jokingly loving gesture coming out of his mothers mouth, “always finding a way to tease me aren’t you mum.”

“At least you can take it, unlike your father where it flies right over his head.”

“Hey, I’m right here you know?” Shulk looked wide eyed hearing such a statement.

“That aside, with the pace you’ve been growing I half expect the next thing will be getting married soon I bet.”

Oh how he wanted to tease her back on that thought, if she knew what he had in store he would be here all night listening to her gushing or giving her talks she used to do early on in his relationship. “Well, I’m sure that’ll happen sooner or later, you’ll be the first to know when it does of course!”

“You better!” Her voice was sharp in tone as the two hugged once more, “now you best get

going, I’m sure we shouldn’t be keeping her waiting for you for any longer than we have.”

A slight scoff he voiced out before laying a quick kiss onto her forehead. His attention pulled towards his father seeing a soft expression looking back at him. The moment the two were in their own embrace, Shulk moved his head closer to his ear,“good luck,” he muttered.

Noah nodded as he leaned away letting a small huff of air to calm himself before taking several steps back to return his focus on his original task as his hands now contained the last of his possessions once again. The two doting parents looked warmly at the sight of him leaving for the last time, waiting until his back was to the two before Fiora had a burning question she needed to get out, “what were you being so sneaky about huh?” Fiora side eyed her husband as the two still waved off their son together.

Shulk chuckled at the question wrapping his free arm around her, “oh you’ll have to wait and see my dear.”

-

His walk to his now new home was a nice and peaceful one helping to once again break up the busy schedules occurring between homes with his walk passing him through the town square under the lingering twilight hours. The setting felt as if he had been blasted back eight years to that fateful day. The square was a lot quieter than it was this time, smaller crowds moving in and out filled the area compared to the hustle and bustle that was the festival and firework filled day like it was back then or every year on that specific day.

And then there all of a sudden was that sound, a sound all too familiar to him and how he had to flash his eyes rapidly to think he really was in the present and wasn’t a daydream materialising, the same tune he had heard on that day coming from the same direction.

Moving to that same small garden to the side and lo and behold the only person he expected to be there playing that song, sat in the exact same seat she was sat in the day they met… or found each other again as the thoughts of the information they learnt years ago swirled back into his head.

“Reminiscing are we?” Noah blurted out, catching her attention with her usual adoring smile.

“I ended up walking past here on the way home and well, I just felt like I was back to that day eight years ago.”

Noah placed himself beside her in the vacant seat laying his stuff to the side before placing an arm around her. Mio laid her head on his shoulder in response, feeling the extra warmth needed on the chilly autumn evening, “doesn’t feel that long ago does it? my mum was just saying something similar funnily enough. Well more so how she can’t believe how fast I’ve grown up.

A small hum vibrated across his shoulder in response, “sounds like my dad earlier, except add in tons of sobbing over how he has to see one of his children finally leave home.” Noah chuckled at the thought of witnessing that, of all the people he expected him to not be one of the first to hit the waterworks.

“If he’s like that now, imagine his reaction later down the line like when you get married.”

“Oh?” Mio tilted her head to view his face, still laying against him, “already thinking of the next step huh.”

“I uhh,” his voice stumbled to find his words at the remark yet his mind knew exactly what he needed to say, “maybe?” His expression grimaced at the word he vocalised, tensing up instantly at the panic setting in.

Mio gasped slightly at what he said, but the expression she could read left her only wanting to laugh at how nervous he clearly had gotten at the simple question, “you can relax ya know? Eight years later and you’re acting as if you wouldn’t have known the answer already.” Noah rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, even in his own thought process he couldn’t rationalise why this moment felt more nerve wracking than how easy it was confessing his feelings five years ago. Mio let out a small huff of air at seeing the movement in his eyes in the silence that formed, “you can stop overthinking if I say I’ve thought about it as well.”

His mouth parted open as Mio reached for a pocket inside her jacket, her hand retracting back as pinched between her fingers revealed a silver ring encrusted with red and blue jewels. He scrambled in return to his own pocket, his face beaming back at her showcasing a similar ring adorned with gold, “looks like you beat me to it as usual.”

“Well it didn’t help that you nearly found out when you found my diary, I hid it in there and completely forgot to take it out before packing up.”

“I see, well then. At least our answers match, though now I kinda don’t know what to say since I had some kind of a plan for originally doing this.”

“I’m sure you can use whatever you were going to say on the big day. Besides I think this is quite fitting us both proposing like this. It’s like when we exchanged flutes!” Mio spoke reminiscently of how her emotions now matched the exact time they did that too.

“So it is. I’m sure if either of our parents found out they’d be falling over themselves especially after the whole previous lives over dinner ordeal.”

“Hey, I know for a fact you also loved finding out about that and their teasing of being soulmates… now give me your bloody hand already will you.”

Noah’s lips shifted to a half smirk, his right arm pulling away freeing his hand to switch the ring into the other as his left hand was yanked slightly by Mio towards herself. Within mere moments he could feel her ring slide onto his finger with a small amount of resistance at the size difference between his ring finger and the ring itself.

When it came to put his own onto her hand it glided effortlessly onto her slim and soft finger. The two laid their hands next to each other gleefully, taking in the sight of how their respective hands now adorned a symbol of their love for one another.

“I love you so much,” Noah softly murmured.

“I love you so much too.”

“Now that, that was one of my favourites. That day we had a place to call our own, the day we told each other that we should show even more of a commitment we have and always had to each other. So tell me N, still not satisfied?” Noah spoke assertively, knowing full well regardless of how the other reacts, that it was a damn good answer.

Noah sighed, still seeing the same reaction he had before this story was retold, “fine then. How about one of the best days of my life, THAT I hope satisfies you.”

Oh how unreal this felt for him staring fiercely at the reflection of himself, the tall mirror in front of him showing off the stylish suit he now wore to mark the occasion that had landed upon the current day. According to his aunt Melia, the outfit he had gotten made had been pretty similar looking to something worn in the other world by himself, an eerie coincidence he thought but at least it wasn’t one of the negative coincidences that could have happened.

The nerves were beginning to present themselves, only staved off by the excitement looming over him. If he looked like this then he couldn’t contain the joy in thinking what his beloved could be wearing. The sound of the door opening jolted him out of beginning to day dream, through the reflection spotting his parents approaching him with bright smiles.

“Look at you, so dashingly handsome in that outfit,” Fiora gushed, adjusting part of the back of his outfit.

“To think how much Melia helped with all this, I’m not surprised at how much she’d also help you for the costs of getting that made too,” Shulk added on.

“She went all out, that's for sure, hell she’s even officiating the whole ceremony. The perks of being the nephew and both of you being in her queens guard huh.”

Noah turned to finally face the two, fully seeing what they had worn for the day, “just another thing we are glad works in our favour. That reminds me, you never fully told me about your wedding, did you not have something like this or did Melia ever help for yours too?”

“Oh no, ours was small, we didn’t want to have something like this as we really didn’t see the need. But it makes more sense that this would be a bit more expensive and bigger when you consider who’s related to who on both sides.”

“This is also a combination of traditions for this ceremony too,” Shulk interjected, “Alrest traditions with our own from the time of the Bionis will make this a very rare spectacle. That reminds me, marrying Mio, does that make you a prince due to Nia then or?”

The boy chuckled at the question, something he hadn’t had to answer yet, “no, Mio doesn’t want any royal titles or anything of the sort like how Aizel and Talia have theirs for being Melia’s kids. Besides, theirs isn’t a traditional royalty like ours.”

“Wanting to live a normal life huh, where have I heard that before,” Fiora smiled suggestively to her partner at her side.

“Well you know what they say like father like uh… soon to be daughter in law?” Shulk nervously laughed, scratching the side of his face with a finger at what sounded funny in his head. The two giggled slightly at the remark however, relieving him before some embarrassment had the chance to kick in.

“So what’s going to be different then if you’re mixing both together for the wedding?” Fiora returned the conversation back to Noah.

“The first part will be following their ceremonies. So instead of both the bride and groom walking together to the altar like how we do it here, one of the two is already in the room waiting as someone of the others choice, usually a family member walks them down the aisle… that’s where you come into it mum, I also have to have someone up there on my side and wanted you to be the one if you don’t mind dad?”

Shulk shook his head, a reassuring smile forming to know that he didn’t have to feel bad for having to pick one or the other. “I see,” Fiora looked puzzled still after putting some of what he had asked her before and just now together, “but what do you need me up there for?”

“That’s where our side comes into play, usually the one that officiates the wedding wraps that ceremonial ribbon around the two’s hands, we wanted you and for her it will be Rex to do it instead.”

Oh how Fiora wanted to cry at the sound of something so sweet, letting out a puff of air to steady her nerves to save the tears for later, “Noah I… I’m honoured, this all sounds so romantic and amazing I’m even more excited now. I’d hug you but I’ll start bawling my eyes out if I do.”

The door behind them opened once more, interrupting the sweet moment, the three turning to see the tall Machina man pacing himself towards them, “you ready Noah?”

The young man nodded, “Yeah, one last quick check and we can be off.” Lanz rolled his eyes at the response once Noah turned to face the mirror one last time. His face turned to one of annoyance and fear at something different, the reflection looking back at him now, not him in the moment but the other him. “No,” Noah muttered under his breath as his face scowled slightly before softening it up as much as he could, “not today.”

“You say something pal?” Lanz’s voice didn’t register right away to him as the reflection looked pensively back at him.

He took the few seconds of silence following the concern to compose himself, shutting his eyes and breathing one hard breath, “no, it’s nothing. Let's go.” That hand on his shoulder from Lanz helped immensely as he turned back towards him, that look of approval from him made happiness return fully.

Their walk from the room they were loaned in the castle to where the ceremony would be was to be a short one, but more than enough time for him to dispel the lingering of what he saw staring back at him. He had gotten better lately at holding him back and keeping him as far as possible from causing him any form of distress. The journey to acceptance and making peace with this weird inner demon had already gone on for so long that even now, at 22 he was still struggling with it even if it wasn’t as hard on him as it was when they started seven years ago.

Passing the door leading to the main gardens where it had been transformed into a sight that felt more fitting for royalty than themselves, breathed some fresh into him, though the panic would now be displaced at the sight of the small gathering they had here to see the wedding. Wanting close friends and family only was easy for him with his side seating his uncle Dunban, Reyn, Sharla and their three kids alongside her brother Juju, Riki, Oka and all their littlepon, Riku and his best friends Eunie and Joren. Seeing the other section made him laugh internally at just how big Mio’s family and family friends were.

He had only met a fraction of them before this day and oh how he knew how he would have to listen to them all individually at the party afterwards. The only ones he recognised were that of Mio’s sister and brother who sat beside Pyra and Mythra. Sena, Miyabi and Taion were deep into conversation with the Nopon he assumed was the famous Manana. Though he could not see a sign of Nia, his only guess was in the most obvious place to be at this moment of time.

His thinking would have to be interrupted now his presence was known to the crowd, those looks from those he didn’t know crawled under his skin slightly gulping slightly. The closer to the front he got the more he could begin to calm himself. “You can relax Noah,” a voice spoke out as he and his mother stood together at the front, leaving the two men to find their seats.

“Ah, Aunt Melia, sorry. It’s my first time seeing a lot of those close to Mio’s parents.”

Melia looked amused to hear how he had allowed something small to make him worry so much, “It’s quite alright to feel that way, I’m sure your mother and I can speak from experience here that once she arrives you will forget every negative feeling you have currently.” The knowing smile the two ladies gave each other warmed his heart at hearing the reassurance. “If it’s the worry of meeting them properly later then that too should be put aside, they act exactly as our friends do and would not bear any harm to you.”

“If you made it past Mythra then you’ll make it past the rest. Luckily you had it easy with Nia too so chin up!” Fiora sweetly spoke, lifting his chin up with the length of her finger underneath it.

“It seems your wait will not be a long one either dear nephew,” Melia stared past the two, seeing Nia joining with the rest. Noah cleared his throat as he turned now facing the rest, the little thumbs up Nia gave him allowed him to hum a small laugh but most of all was the last little thing he needed to clear his mind… and there she was turning the corner with her father holding her arm.

The sound of people shuffling to their feet turning to see the young lady drowned out the beginning melody forming from the piano being played. The sheer sight of her stunned him, the white dress with red accents adorned around it amplifying her beauty sent his heart spiralling and leaving him speechless. Oh how glad he was that no one could see his expression at the sight, all save for Mio who now was looking back at him and him alone. Seeing her face quickly rush to a bright smile at seeing him in his outfit and the dumbfounded face he was making at her. How both their faces matched the red of accents on her dress the closer she got to him, how he felt he could breathe again when she was finally standing in front of him.

Melia began to gesture to the adoring crowd behind them to be seated, the two too fixated on each other to notice or pay attention to the noise of them all moving. “Thank you all for gathering here to bear witness to the ceremony of matrimony between the two you see before you, Mio and Noah. Before we continue, Fiora, Rex, could you please bind their hands with this ribbon.”

The two parents inched closer to the soon to be weds, helping each other wrap neatly the red ribbon provided around their hands as they lay them on top of each other ensuring their left hands were kept visible at the top. As the two smiled at their children before returning to their seats, they could see a near broken Rex as the man looked ready to start crying on the spot. The pair tried to contain their laughter as Melia began to speak once more.

“The union between you both is not just a connection of love, but it also represents the hopes and dreams of our two worlds now united as one. Gone are the struggles of the old world as the love you have for one another shows what is to come in this new world. I have known you both for many years and have seen the genuine compassion you have grow ever deeply for the other. Your love transcends the life you have now as well however. Not just from your past but to the future. Many would use the word soulmates,” Melia took a quick glance at Nia, seeing the Gormotti laugh behind her hand leaving most of the rest of the crowd unaware to the full extent as to why she was laughing bewilderedly.

She would be joined by Eunie in the jokey nature they had behind the word, also snickering before being nudged by Lanz to give it a rest. The lovers meanwhile trying to refrain from their own forms of laughter.

“But I’m sure many others can also attest to the pureness of your hearts later on. Now, please turn to each other. Under the laws and traditions of our world, these are vows you will take and make to each other for the rest of your lives. Noah, do you take Mio to be your beloved wife?”

“I do.”

Mio, do you take Noah to be your beloved husband?”

“I do.”

“Now, please repeat to each other the lines I say together. I solemnly swear to love one another unconditionally.”

“I solemnly swear to love one another unconditionally.”

“To love even in sickness and in health.”

“To love even in sickness and in health.”

“Through the better and through the worst.”

“Through the better and through the worst.”

“Until death do us part.”

“Until death do us part.”

“Before I officiate and declare, I believe you wanted to exchange these rings you made for each other for this day.” Melia pulled from the table behind her a soft looking box containing two unique rings the other had made to join with the set they had gotten for their proposal. The queen helped un tie the two’s hands allowing them to grab their respective rings for the other gently gliding them and connecting them to their first rings. “As queen and the officiate of this ceremony, I declare you both husband and wife. Congratulations you two!”

Their family and friends erupted into cheers at the closing words, wildly shouting out their happiness for the two as they looked at each other, still taking in that they were now bound together in another way. That longing stare for the other broke as they finally kissed, earning loud whistles from a certain pair of two of his three childhood friends. Once parted, they turned to face the rest, seeing the vividly wild expressions everyone had. Shulk was their comforting Fiora as the latter cried.

Though none had it as bad as the teasing Rex was getting for blabbering at the sight of her. Mio scoffed into a laughter seeing Nia trying not to burst into a menacing laugh while her brother and his mother Mythra held no expense at the poor man.

“It still feels so weird,” Mio spoke first turning back to her new husband, “I don’t think this day could’ve gone any more perfect… also you look absolutely handsome might I say.”

“Oh please, you look beautiful in that dress.”

“Now now you two,” Melia surprised the two with her voice peering behind them holding their shoulders gently, “I’m sure you can both argue about who looked better later. Now go make your way to the throne room, I’ve had it set out for us all for the day. Besides, I think you’ll need a few minutes alone before I send the rest over, you will need to be ready for everyone wanting to individually congratulate you.”

“Thanks aunt Melia, we’ll see you shortly.” Noah raised his hand for Mio to latch on to, leading the two down past everyone.

“I love you Noah,” Mio gently spoke once they were a decent distance from the rest.

“I love you too, my lovely wife.”

Noah opened his eyes back to the early glow of the sun on the horizon, humming to himself at the recounting of a memory that warmed his entire being. His head spun slowly to his side to still see N sat there staring at him, but his expression shifted slightly. It all but seemed from early observations that the dark patches around his eyes were softly blurring away, “I hope… I hope those answers finally satisfy you. That they show you and myself that there’s nothing to be afraid of for our future.”

The apparition continued to stare blankly at him, the anxiety building within Noah stirred until… a faint smile glimmered back at him catching him off guard. N held out his hand, a single nod in confirmation to his words, “they do. Your eyes, they show me the happiness that brims from within you.” Noah was still stunned by the change of expression and those words, after years of seeing him haunt him he now looked content. Returning the gesture, Noah reached out back to him as his emotions settled into peacefulness. When it appeared their hands had connected, N closed his eyes still smiling. As he did the same, his mind began to feel quieter and free from the connection he held to the man.

This moment wasn’t to last as a new voice entered the void, “seeing your invisible doppelganger again are we?”

Noah scoffed, “yeah, except I think that’s the last time I ever will.” The boy turned his head to the voice opening his eyes to see the taller man stood over him, “morning to you too though Lanz.”

“You could have woken us up when you did ya know? You do realise we are on a deadline here right? I’d have thought you out of all of us would be wanting us to rush back, we don’t have the luxury of lounging about here.” Lanz’s voice rang stern with a tinge of annoyance.

“S-sorry, I would’ve felt selfish if I forced us all to push on. I don’t want to overwork you and Eunie for my sake.”

“Noah for sparks sake, we both knew what we were getting into with this. Now stop mopping up here and get ready sharpish otherwise it won’t be me that kills you when we get back.”

“Yes sir,” Noah sheepishly responded, not being used to this level of seriousness from him. Standing up, he began to follow behind Lanz on the short distance from their camp. After several steps he stopped in his tracks to look back at where he was sitting expecting him to be looking back at him and yet, nothing was there. He wasn’t imagining it then, it seemed he may have finally ended his nightmares. Though with one gone he could surely hear another arising in the demanding tone of Lanz returning back at him for being stood there gawking at nothingness.

Once finally back on the road, their journey pushed on another few hours as they now bordered midday under the sun's heat upon the outskirts of New Alcamoth's walls. Noah walked deep in thought as Eunie and Lanz lagged slightly behind, stuck in their own conversation. He couldn’t make out what they were saying, too absentmindedly on the events that happened in the morning and what was to come.

The trio were barely past the gates as they were rushed by their fellow tactician, “you sure took your time didn’t you. You need to hurry now!”

Noah was stunned at hearing Taion’s words, the adrenaline now rushing into his system as he looked back at the two trying to hurry him on. The boy dropped what he was carrying, save for his sword on his side, beginning to enter a full sprint the moment he could. The three watched on in silent cheer, though Eunie couldn’t help but tease her partner, finally ruffling his hair. Lanz looked away for a second seeing the two together, letting out a groan before rolling his eyes and muttering something inaudible for the two to make out.

It took what usually was a five minute walk from the town's entrance to the hospital two minutes of continuous sprinting for Noah to reach. Barely outside the main entrance to the building and he could feel fatigue crashing hard into him as his pants for breath increased as he stopped himself briefly. He needed to compose himself but he was so close to his goal, that willpower alone helped him move again even if at a walking pace this time.

Once inside and gathering the relevant information he needed from one of the nurses, he made his way to the next floor. Each step up coincided with the pounding in his chest. Now reaching the flat ground of the next floor he could finally feel the anticipation ready to burst, and yet as he started down the hallway there was that noise that turned that anticipation into unfounded happiness. The moment he opened the door he could feel his heart melt at the sight of what was causing the wailing noise.

There Mio laid looking back at him with a wide smile, holding the source of their feelings. Noah broke out of the trance he was in, unfreezing himself from where he was standing to move and seat himself beside her on the bed. “Mio I… I’m so sorry I was late.” he could feel himself on the verge of tears from the sight now next to him but also from the pain of not being here earlier.

Mio grabbed one of his hands, adjusting her other to amend for the reduced support of the baby she cradled, “Noah it’s fine, I told you to go anyway. All that matters is you’re here now.” A small kiss on his cheek helped relieve some of the pressure that pain had brought. With that pain gone he could focus his attention onto the thing he should have kept sight of first, even if the blurriness forming in his eyes made it hard to see the small form of their child.

The hand that was once held by his beloved now moved to wrap around her back, his other now helped her hold their little joy. That first touch broke him fully into tears even as he heard the small coo emanating from them. Maybe it was fate he thought to himself, that on such a day like this was when he finally moved past his nightmares so their new hope and dreams could replace them right in front of him.

“Today has been an emotional ride that’s for sure,” Mio turned her attention away to focus on the boy's voice as he began to bite his lip. “I remembered some of our best memories which meant getting rid of that pain, now to seeing this little one finally I…”

Hearing the break in his voice, she shifted her head to lay on his shoulder, leading him to lay on her head, “so what you said there, he’s gone?”

“Yeah, maybe it was one final test. Makes sense it would happen today.”

“Now you can focus on everything else, you’ll have to now we’ll be busy with this one.”

“You’re right as always. I love you, both of you.”

The girl raised her head off of him now looking deep into his eyes, wearing that blissful smile on both their faces, “we love you too dear. I’m sure you want to hold them yourself.”

Noah gulped as somehow more excitement built up with him, seeing Mio adjust her arms to allow him to exchange their hold on the child. Once in his arms for the first time he began to break once again, the sight of seeing her husband so happy and free made her join in with the waterworks, laying once again on him.