I tried to write Alterdea. I love Alternis, he needs more love. But for some reason, this just happened. Ah well. Enjoy. (Spoilers for all of Bravely Default but not for Bravely Second)

It was instantaneous

He remembered her as loud.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, tackled Alternis to the ground on their first meeting, a battle cry ripping from her throat.

Alternis had stared at her with wide fearful eyes, too scared despite (or maybe because of?) his years on the streets with far worse enemies. He had simply lain there, trembling slightly, as Edea had proclaimed her victory.

Braev had once more come to his rescue, picking Edea up off of him and scolding her lightly, whilst he remained frozen on the floor.

"I'm sorry!" Edea announced, at her father's prompting. "My name is Edea Lee! What's yours?"

Her loud voice made him flinch again, to his shame, and Braev seemed torn between chiding his child or comforting Alternis.

Alternis summoned his courage. She was younger than him, and in no way hostile. The problem was he could barely speak three words. Language was not needed on the streets. At least no language involving words. Disputes were settled with fists and knives and blood. 'Negotiation' was an unfamiliar thing to Alternis.

"I-I'm...Alternis," his voice shook like a leaf, and the words hung quiet in the air next to Edea's booming ones, but the message had gotten across.

"That's a cool name!" Edea exclaimed, and then looked up to her father. "Is Ally going to be by brother?"

Alternis could only guess that he was the 'Ally' creature she spoke of, and the rushed nickname made him wince.

"I suppose so," Braev agreed. "Of course, if Alternis agrees,"

Alternis's gaze shot up to meet his. Was he offering his home? A family? Alternis had nothing to give him in return. He was a waste of space, a useless pile of trash, and it was nothing short of a miracle that Braev had taken pity on him the previous day.

He hadn't been expecting...he wasn't ready for...

What would they do to him if he refused? Cast him out into the Eternian cold? Kill him?

What would they do to him if he stayed?"

Confused and lost, Alternis's eyes flit to Edea's. She stared at him with obvious curiosity and awe. There was no malicious intent that he could see in those eyes of hers.

Mutely, he nodded.

-/-/-/-/-/-/

He remembered her being the one teaching him how to read.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, opened up a children's book next to him. She pointed to the words, sounding the familiar vowels out onto her tongue.

Alternis felt like a hopeless idiot but followed, mimicking the noises she made, flushing as she praised him with a childish coo.

He flinched when she wrapped her arms around him, but settled as soon as his mind calmed, perceiving no threat.

It felt nice even. Safe.

There was warmth in those eyes of her.

In a whisper, he read.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

He remembered her being his first sparring partner.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, had gotten a sword the same year as he had. Despite his age, he hadn't been given one until he turned twelve, and became more or less fully fluent in reading and writing. His personality started to show through, his fierce dedication and penchant for journal writing marked him as more of an individual than just another kid in the slum.

Alternis had held the wooden sword with a sweaty grip, and had clumsily blocked Edea's equally messy thrusts. They were a mess, the two of them, inexperienced, and overeager. Alternis still hadn't grown back the strength a child such as he should have had, and because of this, Edea was almost more powerful than him, five years his junior.

As she knocked his sword out of his hands with a triumphant battle cry, he looked up into her eyes.

He saw blazing determination and relief.

Quietly, he congratulated her.

-/-/-/-/-/-/

He remembers her being his only friend.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, seemed to radiate this aura of friendliness wherever she went. People flocked to her, and she was always the centre of a new posse, surrounded by smiles and laughter.

There was no room for him.

But yet, when lunch was over, and the group separated into their respective stations, she always found him, always came over and talked and smiled. It would stir a feeling of companionship within him, and he could understand why everyone surrounded her, feeding off her positivity.

He saw cheerfulness in those eyes of hers.

Softly, he opened up to her.

-/-/-/-/-/-/

He remembers her going on her first mission.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, was a prodigy with the blade, a worthy addition to the Sky Knight's squadron. She was to be assigned to Ominas Crowe, a man of suspicious intent and a truly pathetic manner of speech.

Alternis didn't fear him hurting Edea. He feared Edea hurting him.

Barras and Holly were also going to Caldisla, to find the vestal, the evil one. The vestals intended to awaken the crystals. The Grand Marshal had told him, again and again, that they had to be stopped.

Alternis felt useless in Eternia, a member of the council of six in theory, but in reality just the Grand Marshal's most willing servant. His heart ached for Edea, and as he stared into her eyes, he sees a mixture of excitement and worry tumble inside of them.

Clearly, he wished her luck.

-/-/-/-/-/-/

He remembers thinking that she'd been taken prisoner.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, had worried him, terrified him to the point of inability, traumatised him to the point of no return.

If Edea, taught by Nobanstu Kamiizumi couldn't defeat the vestal...what hope did they have? If the vestal discovered that Edea was the Grand Marshal's daughter she would most definitely hold her hostage as leverage against him.

With permission from the Grand Marshal, Alternis set out on his airship alone. His eyes spied the Eschalot, an old Eternian airship in the distance. As he neared, he saw a girl matching the description of the vestal.

And Edea.

He jumped into the deck, and his heart broke as the truth was revealed to him, as she glared at him.

The boy Tiz lay at his feet, helpless. It would take only one strike to end his life. The vestal was right in front of him, and it would be so easy to capture her.

But his eyes fell on Edea again, and he felt his resolve waver at what he saw. He didn't care anymore if the Grand Marshal cast him out for his incompetence and disobedience. He didn't care if Victor and Victoria mocked him, if his mistake brought upon the end of Luxendarc.

He could not harm Edea. He would not harm Edea.

There was hatred in those eyes of hers.

Loudly, he cursed her.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

He remembered her being the last one to die.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, is beautiful even in death, and falls with a sort of grace that Alternis cannot command, and she landed with the softest of thumps on the deck, dead as soon as she hit the ground.

She stained the floor with her blood, dark crimson mixing in with Agnés's and Tiz's. He was standing in their blood, hands reaching down to cradle Edea's body, even as the monster, the evil one who had performed such a deed watched on with amusement.

He lifted her into his arms, and she, five years his junior, weighed little despite her armour. He cradled her for a second, like a babe, and then dared to stare at her emotional, expressive, vibrant blue eyes one last time.

They were glassy, empty, emotionless.

There was nothing in those eyes of her.

He screamed.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

He remembered her as being the greatest human being he had ever known.

Edea Lee, five years his junior, looked at him over her cup of tea. "Ringabel, why are you staring at me like that?"

He had a generic flirtatious answer on his lips, but he swallowed it, deciding to tell her the indisputable truth.

Alternis, and he couldn't hide it any longer, could he? Alternis was who he was, and what he was remembering.

"I remember you," he said finally, and it hurt to see Edea's confusion, of how she had forgotten the time they had spent together as children.

Or not. She had been friends with a different Alternis of a different world, who was probably a far more honourable man than he could ever be. She didn't know him.

Edea smiled hesitantly, more cautious than usual. The topic of conversation was unstable, worrying, uncomfortable. Still though, it looked like she was willing to pursue it just a little further.

"Tell me about it,"

Mutely, he nodded.

And from loud to soft and everywhere in between, he told the woman he loved when he loved her, and the emotion in her eyes brought him more joy than anything he had ever seen in his life

There was happiness in those eyes of hers.

And to Ringabel, to Alternis, he couldn't care less about whether she returned his feelings. All he needed to know was that she was happy, and that her eyes continued to glow with soft light of life.

it's kind of Alternis/Edea...lol.