Rydia

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She trudged slowly home thinking, somewhat longingly, of the site she had witnessed the day before. Oh, how happy they seemed! Cecil and Rosa's wedding was the buzz of the Blue Planet. Anyone who was anyone attended the spiritual union of the king and queen of the world's most powerful kingdom. And Rydia was one of the lucky guests, along with the other chosen heroes.

Rydia let out a deep sigh as she stood outside Queen Asura's chamber--if the basement of the library could really be called a chamber. It was good to be home. It always felt good to be back among the creatures in the Land of the Summoned Monsters. They understood her, especially Queen Asura. Yet, happy as she was to be back after her short visit to Baron, she couldn't shake this feeling…this unsettling desire…something she would rather not acknowledge. Well, maybe her surrogate mother wouldn't notice.

Yeah right! Queen Asura noticed a change in Rydia immediately. She greeted her daughter fondly. "Oh Rydia, you are home so soon. Not that it is a bad thing. I rather missed you!"

True, Rydia was not really her daughter, but who really needed to know that. She loved the beautiful child like one of her own. She reached out for a hug, and Rydia fell into her tentacle-like arms. Sensing her child's distress, she held her. She held her until an annoying damp spot on her shoulder forced her to let go.

"Why, what is it little one? Did something happen? The wedding went all right didn't it?" Asura stroked Rydia's long, emerald green hair waiting for her to calm down and speak.

Drying her eyes on the sleeve of her dress, Rydia finally felt able to talk. "Oh Asura, the wedding was beautiful. I saw all of my friends, well, all of them except Kain. He was off on some mysterious quest, something about building up his Dragoon capabilities. But, the ceremony was beautiful. The castle was alive with music, color, and laughter. Cecil and Rosa look so happy together, and I just know that with the two of them reigning together, Baron will continue to be a great power."

Something didn't fit. If all was so wonderful in the overworld, why was this child crying on her shoulder? Asura had to know! "It sounds terrific. I do hope you sent the newlyweds my and Leviathan's regards."

"Of course I did. They were ever so grateful for the gift!" Secretly Rydia chuckled. What in the world were her friends going to do with a collection of rodent tails? Sure, the rat's tail once had a purpose, but now what were they to do with an assortment of them? "In fact, Rosa claimed she would put it on display in the entry to the castle." She actually claimed she was going to hide it in the dungeon along with the thirty-three sets of china, sixteen silver tea sets, and fifty-one blenders that her friends and family sent her. They just didn't quite understand that the new queen doesn't have to worry about cooking anymore!

"Well that is lovely! I am so glad that our small gift was so appreciated." She hesitated, afraid to send the girl into tears once more. "And how are your other friends. You mentioned Kain was not there, but what about Cid, the twins, Edward and…"

Rydia abruptly cut her off. I am getting somewhere, thought Asura. I knew it had to do with that self-absorbed, pain-in-the-butt, yet strangely attractive, Eblanian king!

"Oh they are all doing so well! Cid is back in Baron helping to redesign the airship fleet. Of course in this time of peace the world doesn't need them, but Cid just needs something to keep him occupied." She giggled. "I think he just likes an excuse to order the young engineers around. He always tells me how headstrong and stupid they are and how they are lacking the control and skill of a superior craftsman!

"And the twins are growing up so fast! I guess they had a lot of studying and whatnot to catch up with after the stone incident, but the Elder told me that they finished all of what they were behind in and are still ahead of any of his other students. They are such bright children, and oh how they make me laugh!

"Edward too, is doing well. Things have been difficult for him since losing Anna, but I think he is getting back into the dating scene. He brought a girl to the wedding. Her name is Shyla, and she is the daughter of the Damcyan court musician.

"Yang was there too, with his wife. They…" She rambled on aimlessly about the reparations at Fabul and some other stuff that Asura soon lost track of.

She had to know. This was ridiculous. "And Edge?" Queen Asura cut off Rydia's update.

The sparkle in Rydia's dark eyes disappeared. Her body tensed and a long moment of silence followed Queen Asura's question.

"Uh, he was there," was all she could muster before the tears came again.

"Oh, my child. Hush," crooned Asura. She again held the girl as she cried. "I am so sorry. I never should have pushed the issue. I should have known."

"He, he wouldn't talk to me," sobbed Rydia. "I don't know what I did to him, but I went to say hello, and he just stared at me. Then he turned the other way, refusing to even look at me." She mopped her face with her sleeve, a look of defiance crossing her face. "He's such a jerk!" she shouted before a fresh set of tears rushed from her eyes.

Asura knew all too well that this would happen. Just days before the wedding she had received a note from Eblan's chamberlain. It seemed that the young king had been somewhat reclusive and moody, definitely not his snotty self since the defeat of Zeromus. He came home to a great celebration in his honor, and all he wanted to do was hide in his room. When the chamberlain approached him, Edge only tried to send him away. He sat brooding in the window as the chamberlain told him about the many lovely ladies downstairs just waiting to meet his highness. Edge still just sat, fiddling with something. Before the chamberlain left the room, he caught a glimpse of what Edge was holding. It was a lock of green hair.

"Rydia, look at me child." She looked up, tears still running down her cheeks. "Edge does not hate you, and he is not mad at you. You are young as is he, and you both have much to learn about your emotions." Asura stopped knowing that her next words were likely to upset Rydia further. However, she knew she had to say them. "What you must do now is calm down and think rationally. Don't be angry with him. Just be honest with yourself. Why are you so upset? How do you really feel about the young ninja?"

Immediately Rydia lost eye contact with the queen. She stared at the floor, obviously not wanting to be there at that very moment. Queen Asura stared knowingly at her child. "I think we both know the answer." She left Rydia alone to think…and cry.