Legacy of Darkness

Ashe and Ariel were walking around the old palace in Inchaya, that had long since become a tourist attraction, Roisin was with them, but was busy looking at the weapon's section.

"I love this place, it feels so different to Disceath and Ishtall" She smiled.

"Yeah, even though I can track my heritage back to this city, it feels so different to what Aranei has become" Ariel nodded. She then looked in Roisin's direction and scanned the room.

"What is it?" Ashe asked, noticing that Ariel had become distracted.

"That whole thing, with that guy, the night we arrived here, it has me on edge" Ariel sighed. Ashe held Ariel's hand.

"I love how protective you are of Roisin" Ashe smiled, Ariel looked back at Ashe and smiled. "I'm also protective of you" Ariel smirked as she brushed Ashe's hair away from her face and kissed her.

"Of course" Ashe winked, as she turned to look at Roisin.

"I dunno, I just feel sorry for Ros, after everything she's been through, and I feel kind of like her big sister, I just wanna keep her safe, you know?" Ariel asked.

"I know what you mean, she puts on a strong front, but..." Ashe sighed. Roisin looked over and waved, Ashe and Ariel waved back.

Ashe turned to Ariel and smiled.

"It's been a good few years we've known each other..." Ashe began. "You've always been there for me, to carry me through the dark, keeping a clear head and your mind on the task..." She continued.

"What is this?" Ariel scratched her head. Ashe went down on one knee and pulled out a ring. Ariel gasped, and Roisin cheered.

"Will you swear to become my eternal partner?" Ashe asked, the other tourists in the room began to take notice and kept silent as everyone awaited the reply. Roisin was jumping up and down excitedly.

"Of course I will" Ariel smiled gently, as she took Ashe's hand and lifted her to her feet, then hugged her. The onlookers erupted into applause and Roisin ran over and joined in with the hug.

"I'm so glad it went to plan!" Roisin smiled.

"Oh... hey Ros" Ariel laughed. "You was in on this?" She asked. Roisin nodded.

"Ashe told me last night, I told her I'd come, for emotional support!" Roisin explained, Ariel and Ashe let Roisin join in with the group hug.

"I'm so glad you said yes, Ariel" Ashe smiled.

"There isn't an alternate universe in existence where I would have ever dreamed of saying no" Ariel smiled.

The three carried on chatting for a while, before heading to the park, where Lotte was waiting with a picnic. The birds where chirping in the air and the petals from the cherry blossom trees fell down around the park.

"Hey lovebirds!" Lotte smiled.

"You knew too!?" Ariel gasped.

"Of course I did, it's why I spent all morning preparing this picnic for us all" Lotte smiled.

"You guys!" Ariel cheered. Anya and Wes also arrived from the opposite direction, holding hands.

"Celebration time is it?" Wes smiled.

"Congratulations both of you!" Anya smiled. "I'm so happy for you both!" She added.

"I guess you all knew" Ariel chuckled.

"Yep, you were the last to know" Ashe laughed as she planted a kiss on Ariel's cheek and sat down on the picnic blanket. The others also sat down and began to eat.

"It's nice to have good news for a change" Roisin smiled.

"It's proof that no matter how dark the clouds may be, the sun will always return to shine brighter" Anya nodded.

"I'll toast to that, Anya" Lotte smiled, as she pulled a bottle of champagne out of the picnic hamper, followed by several plastic champagne flutes. "You'll have to forgive me for not getting glass flutes, they were pretty expensive" Lotte laughed.

"I can't wait til you guys make it official!" Wes smiled. Everyone now had their champagne, and lifted it in the air.

"To Ashe and Ariel!" Everyone cheered, as they all clinked the plastic glasses together, and laughed. They spent the next few hours talking away and eating the food slowly. Eventually as the sun began to set, the others left one by one to go back to the inn.

Eventually all that remained was Ashe and Ariel. Ariel stood up and helped Ashe to her feet too, the sky was now orange from the setting sun. The two of them headed down to the docks, to the waters edge and looked out to sea, and held each other's hands tightly.

"Days like these... they help you remember why we fight" Ashe said softly, as the sea breeze blew past them.

"I always know why I fight" Ariel smiled. "I fight for you, and the others" She added.

"Of course, I do too, one day, when all this is over, we will all have to get a nice quiet village to live in, just us. We can spend the rest of our days living in peace" Ashe nodded.

"Sounds nice" Ariel smiled, but felt a tinge of sadness, knowing that such a future was a long time away. She looked down and sighed, Ashe pulled Ariel closer to her and hugged her tightly.

"We can do this, together" Ashe smiled. The two remained at the docks until the sky had gone dark and the stars had come out in the sky above.