Stones in our Hearts
New Hope
By Tai Hua

Author's Note:Alright guys, this is my first story here so please go easy on me. On another note, I would like to THANK PasifikStar (if you haven't heard of her than check my Favorite Author in my profile. TRUST ME, read her stories!!! They are awesome!!!) for all she has done for me. It's because of her, that I even started to write this story, so I hope you all enjoy it and stick with me to the end.


"Princess, we must hurry." The young blonde knight whispered.

"Just a minute longer." The princess pleaded.

As if on cue, the teenage looking assassin with brown hair to her shoulders walked in.

"Quistis, the enemy is coming. They will be here in any minutes. Please tell the princess to hurry." She whispered to her friend.

"Rinoa, it's time to go now." Quistis said.

The young woman finally stood up from where she was kneeing down, praying to her mother. She was wearing blue jeans with a white sweater to conceal that she was the princess. The brown eyed girl turned to the Priest and as she spoke she pulled a lock of her bangs out of her eyes and behind her ear.

"Sorry, if I have caused too much trouble."

"You know better than to worry about us, Rinoa. You must hurry now, they will be here any second." Watts replied.

"I can't thank you and Zone enough for everything you have done, but I must take my leave now. I hope our path will cross again."

"Come and visit…" before Watts could finish, the front door of the church blasted open.

BANG! Zone came limping in holding his right arm. "The enemy is here. Princess, you must go now."

Rinoa hurried and ran to Zone, aiding him to stay up. "Zone, are you alright? Here let me help you with that." Rinoa quickly place Zone on the chair and cast a highly powerful cure magic.

"Curaga!" she yelled as white crystals form around his arms than brushed into sparkling dust.

"There that should stop the bleeding for now." She turned to Watts and asked "Is there a back exit to this place?"

"Actually, yes there is, through there." Watts pointed to the back of the church. "Seifer, go and see what you can do to help out. Selphie and I will take Rinoa out from the back. We will meet you at the HIDING Spot." The blonde assassin yelled. Dressed in black short length down to her upper knees and a white tank top, she grabbed the princess hand and practically dragging her out toward the back door.

"Selphie, its time to go!" she yelled over her shoulders.

Before Quistis could open the door, the all too familiar blonde Holy Knight stopped her in her tracks.

Quistis glared at the knight for stopping her. "Now isn't the time Seifer!" she yelled.

Seifer just reached out and grabbed her hand and slipped a note in it. With that the knight turned and kissed the all mighty assassin on her forehead and headed for the front door with his Hyperion drawn.

Quistis just stood there as she felt her whole face burning red. Rinoa and Selphie tried to hold their giggles as they started heading for the door.

Seifer headed for the front door, wearing his constant smirk, as he knowingly knew that he made her blush. *Time to take care of business.* Suddenly front door flew open.


Outside, the rain was coming down hard as it hit the steps of the church. There stood a series of knights, thieves and chemists waiting for the princess.

"Where is the princess?!" One of the Knights shouted.

He was dressed in a long white sleeved thermal, on top of that was his chest plate with a Red Cross on the center, long white pants with brown battle boots, and finally a red cape flying wildly with the wind. He spoke, "If you want the Princess, you have to go through me first!" Seifer pulled his Hyperion up and in front of him.

"Ahaha, you think you could handle all of us at once?" Another knight shouted.

"Do you even know who I am? You stupid merchants willing to take on any damn job you can find without knowing who you are dealing with. I am the Seifer Almasy of the glorious Holy Knights!" As his lips slightly pulling upwards into a smirk, Seifer sprung forward. "NO MERCY!!!" he yelled as fiery of red flames came bursting from the ground into the air.

Before any of them could even take a step from their spot, Seifer was behind them all with his Hyperion dripping blood on the tip. One by one they fell as Seifer's weapon had pierced through their armors and into their hearts.

"THE SEIFER ALMASY?!" one of them said with his final breathe, than falling to the floor.

Seifer whistled as black horse came running from the cattle. He slowly put his weapon back into its holder and pulled himself onto the black horse. With one gentle kick, the horse front legs lifted up and it sprung forward away from the church. *Time to make haste…I hope they are all right* he thought.


Back at the Castle that laid above the clouds. In the Royal chamber, there were many seats surrounding a long rectangular table. All the seats were occupied with men and women.

"News travels fast that the merchants that you hired fail in kidnapping the Princess." One of the men spoke.

"Never hire merchants to do a MAN'S JOB." Another blurred out.

"Well do you know anyone better for the job, Professor HOJO?" the woman in the center of the room asked calmly.

The Professor, wearing a white lab coat, fixed his glasses and smiled devilishly. "Actually, now that you have asked, I got the perfect someone for the job." He snapped his finger and his servant came.

"Yes, Professor?" asked the servant

"Get me the Dark Knight!" With that, the Professor turned his head to the man in the middle. "You will be quite pleased, Adel."

"It isn't who I think it is, is it?" Adel asked.

"I'm glad you know who I am speaking of Adel." Hojo asked with a smile.

"I don't care who the hell he is! As long as he gets the job done in kidnapping the Princess. She is our key to finding the HOLY STONES." The man in the corner shouted out.

"Kuja, you need to RELAX." Professor Hojo said coolly.

"Yes, you do need to relax yourself, MONKEY BOY!" there was a voice from the deepest shadows of the royal chamber.

The Dark Knight took a step forward as his green emerald eyes glared out brightly. Long white hair went down all the way to his back. The Dark Knight was dressed in all black and a reflection of a long blade he was holding could be seen off the wall as he walked toward the table.

Adel smiled knowing full well of who it was.

"I am glad to see that I could please you, Adel." The evil professor spoke.

Kuja on the other hand, had a pale face, as all the color in it had drained. Those green eyes are upon him and he struggled to keep a still.

"You…you're that Knight that wiped out the entire Deling Castle. Then…then you must be…" Kuja gasped as the name couldn't leave his mouth.

"..." he said nothing but smirk.

"Hello, Sephiroth…" Hojo stated.


"Thanks, you guys." She said as they were in a cavern deep, within the forest.

"Rinoa, for the last time, its ok. What are friends for, right?" Selphie replied.

For the past hour as they finally reached the HIDING spot, Rinoa has been saying sorry for spending so much time at the church. Selphie and Quistis kept saying that it was ok. Finally deciding to change the subject, Selphie said something that just got all their attention.

"So Quistis, why are you pacing back and forth so much?" Selphie stated as she winked and Rinoa started to giggle.

"I am not pacing back and forth." The blonde mumbled.

"On come on Quisty, we KNOW you are worrying about your knight in shining armor."

"Yeah Quistis, you did burn up as he kissed you on your forehead?" Rinoa added.

"Also, you still holding that note that he handed to you."

Quistis looked down at the note and looked down at it.

"Be careful my darning… I will see you again, I promise."

She could feel her whole face blushed up again as she read the note.

"I am not worrying about Seifer." She growled.

Rinoa and Selphie just looked at each other and started to laugh some more.

*Oh HYNE, how did I ever get stuck with them…* she thought to herself.

Then suddenly the entrance of the cavern slowly cracked open. A tall muscular man walked in. Rinoa and Selphie quickly suppressed their giggles as he walked in.

"What's all this laughing about without me here?" Seifer asked as he was soaking wet from the downpour of the rain.

"NOTHING!" Quistis nearly shouted as she jumped back from not believing that it came out that loud.

Selphie came from the back and brought out a towel and handed to Seifer.

"Well, I'm glad to see someone cares." He stated as he was glaring at Quistis who hadn't even said hi since he walked in.

Surprisingly Rinoa grabbed Selphie from where she was standing and dragged her into the kitchen.

Quistis finally took the chance and looked up at the Holy Knight that stood in from of her.

"What took you so LONG?! You know that we were worried that something might happen to you?"

"So you do care?!" he added.

"What do you mean so I do care? Of course I do care. If I didn't than we wouldn't have anyone here doing the dirty work for us." She stated with a grin.

Seifer just dropped his mouth in disbelief that she just said that.

"Dinner's ready!!!" there was a scream from the kitchen.


"WHAT?!" he growled as he looked on at his friend in horror. "What do you mean we have to find the Princess?" the brunette asked as he was lying on his bed with maps scattered everywhere.

"Well, that's what he just told me." the red head pointed to the Ninja who had a tattoo on the side of his face.

"Zell, what is the meaning of this?"

"Well those are the King's orders." Zell simply stated. "The king said that we must find Princess Rinoa of Deling because she holds the key to something that could destroy the world. He also wants us to bring her back so that he could talk to her. Supposedly, your father and the princess's father were very good friends."

"He's not my father!" the brunette hissed.

"Well Squall, he is the King of Esther and you are the Prince of Esther, not to mention Captain of the Esther Holy Knights. That, I pretty much think, makes you heir to the throne and HIS son." The red haired man with a cowboy hat stated.

"Shut up, IRVINE." Squall snapped "How the hell are we supposed to find her if we don't even know where to look."

"Your father…I mean…Laguna said she should be located somewhere in the south forest of Deling castle."

"And how does he know that?" Squall questioned

"He received a letter from her."

"When do we leave, Zell?"

"As soon as possible. Word was said to be that the whole castle was destroyed by an unknown force. Laguna thinks it has something to do with the Holy Stones. So he wants us to as soon as we can."

"Holy Stones? I thought those were just legends." Irvine resorted.

"Legend or not someone is after them." Zell stated.

"Than we will leave at the break of light. Gather the soldiers Irvine." Squall hissed.

"Did I forget to mention that he wants this to be a special mission? He just wants me, you and Irvine to go."

*OH HYNE!* Squall threw his hands up into the air. "Fine! Just be ready by the break of light."


Two weeks later…

"I'm so happy you guys." Rinoa said. As she looked at her two best friends.

"Well, I would be happy coming home after 5 years, too, Rinoa." Selphie stated.

It hadn't been easy for the three girls going through Assassin Schooling and all. At the age of 13, Rinoa, Selphie and Quistis all had decided that they could use the extra skills in times of the War. They were hoping that when they returned with their new found skills that would help them soon aid. Rinoa having left her parents, whom were the King and Queen of Deling Castle at a young age was very excited to see them again.

"Do you guys hear that?" Quistis asked as she stopped her horse on its tracks.

"Hear what Quisty?" Rinoa added.

The trio turned around and saw a knight coming from afar. Selphie hopped off her horse and drew her Strange Vision out as the on coming knight approached them.

"Selphie wait." Rinoa said, as the knight stopped in front of the girls.

"Seifer, is that you?"

"Princess…? Is…that really you?" the blonde gasped out.

"Its really nice to see you again, Seifer! How long has it been?"

Seifer jumped off his horse and he hugged the princess.

"5 years Princess. I bit too long don't you think?"

"Selphie." He said as he shook her hand.

"Quisty…?" he added

"Don't call me that, its QUISTIS!" the blonde woman growled.

"I see you still the same as always. But I know you missed me, Quisty." Seifer said with a cocky grin.

Quistis and Seifer had been at each other throats since they were little kids. Seifer always had a thing for Quistis, but she would always be fighting with him.

"I would love to stay and talk but I must hurry."

"Hurry? Why?" Rinoa asked with a blank expression on her face.

"If you are returning to the castle now, than you must have heard the news?"

"NEWS?! What news?"

"The castle is being attack. They've been fighting a war for the past months against some unknown force. Isn't that the reason for your return?" He stated as he hopped back onto his horse.

"WHAT!" she yelled out "We have to hurry."

Within seconds the young assassin had jumped onto her horse and kicked its rear with a little force. The horse shrieked and lifted its front legs and dash front. She was than follow by her two best friends and the Knight.

As she reached the top of the hills, smoke could be seen from various parts of the castle. Thousands of soldiers were fighting. Some looked tired as others were wounded and just barely getting by.

"No…this can't be happening…" she bit the bottom of her lips as she felt a tear sliding down her cheek. "Mother, Father, I hope you guys are alright. I'm coming to save you."

Before she could moved Selphie's horse was in front of hers already. The short assassin had already had taken off flying as she saw the tear on her best friend's cheek dropped.

"Rinoa, I promise, I will make whoever did this pay!" She yelled over her shoulders.

They had ignored all the fighting and went straight to the Royal chamber. Rinoa ran toward the door and pushed it open. All the colors in her face were drain as she saw a man dressed in all black holding a katana with blood dripping at the end of it. Soldiers were everywhere, lying died. In front of the man there were two people lying there, struggling as their lives slowly slipped away from them.

"Get the HELL away from them, you BASTARD!" Rinoa screamed all the top of her lungs.

Green eyes laid upon the young girl as he turned his body to greed her. His long white hair went down to his back as a smirk appeared onto his face.

"Welcome home, Princess Rinoa." He said was a devilish voice.

"I won't tell you again, HOLY!"

A huge body of white light came blasting out toward the man as Rinoa focus her energy into the spell. The man stood his ground as he places his hand in front of him. The spell came flying at him as it was pierced in half by his hand and reflected to the corners of the chamber.

"You're weak spells are no match for me." He stated sternly

"Rin...Rinny...you finally came home…" the woman struggle to say.

"MOMMY!" Rinoa said as her eyes were no longer focus on the man in front of her but on her dying parents.

The white haired man took this opportunity and dashed forward with his katana ready to attack the princess.

"Rinoa! Look out!" a voice came from behind her.

Rinoa body couldn't move as she just stood there with tears flowing down her eyes as she looked at her parents. Suddenly she felt a push and she fell forward hitting the floor. A gunblade was in her place as it reflected the katana that was threatening to kill her.

"Selphie, Quistis get in here NOW!" Seifer said as his eyes were now set on a pair of green ones in front of him.

Selphie and Quistis came running in as they saw Rinoa crawling toward her parents.

In the process of running to aid Rinoa two shadows from the dark corner appeared in front of them.

"Shadow Demons…" Quistis mumbled to herself.

"I don't care what they ARE! I HAVE to help Rinoa." Selphie yelled. She drew her nunchaku and attacked the demons.

"The princess was lucky that she had you to protect her." He said with a grin. "My, my, my, aren't you that Holy Knight? What's his name…Ah yes, I remember now. Seifer Almasy. I have heard about you."

"Well, I'm glad to know that I am known. But I truly am sorry that it isn't by someone who will have to die by my blade." Seifer said casually as he wore his famous smirk.

"I wouldn't be too cocky now, little boy."

"I have every reason to be…you're nobody."

Seifer raised his gunblade up and flew forward.

"Mommy, Daddy, are you guys alright?" Rinoa said as she held their hands dripping with blood.

"Rinny…Is my little princess finally home?" her mother gasped out. "I'm so glad to be alive…even just for a moment, so I can see you before I leave..."

"Mommy, NO!!! Hold on let me cure you."

"Its useless Rinoa...We aren't going to make it. You need to get out of here. They are after the HOLY STONES…" her father mumbled.

"Ho…Holy Stones?!" she asked still sobbing.

"Yes, there are only 5 Holy Stones made in the world. Our family happens to have come upon 1 of them. Rumors have it that Sorcerer Adel has one, the Loire's family has one somewhere and the others were no where to be found. Please Rinoa, you must go…fa…far from here. I love you…Julia and Rin…"

"Daddy…"

Rinoa could feel the tears coming as the grip that she had on her father's hand slowly started to loosen up. Before she even knew he was gone. He went to a better place and she knew it. She turned her eyes as they were red to the last thing that was her True family.

"Mommy, please don't go…" she pleased.

"Rinoa, you must listen to your father's last words…We only want the best for you. We're truly sorry that things aren't the way we wanted them to be for your return. We were really looking forward to it, to be able to spend time with our daughter again. Rinoa, my little princess, you are so beautiful now." Julia said as she coped her hand against your daughter's face. Rinoa placed her hands over her mothers. Julia pulled back a strain of hair that was in Rinoa's eyes and looked into them… "You made me more proud than any mother can ever be. I know you will be a fine Queen and sorry if I wasn't the best mother you could have…"

Julia's hand dropped from Rinoa face, as her body was lying there lifeless. Rinoa heard Seifer scream "No mercy!" as she pulled her parent's bodies closer to her, hugging them for the last time. Suddenly a greenish looking stone fell from her mother dress rolling in front of Rinoa. She stared at it as it started to glow in front of her eyes. Tears still flowing Rinoa picked up and stone and scream as white light start coming for all corners of the chamber.

Seifer and the man dressed in all black were dueling it out. But it seems that all of Seifer's attacks were being easily block. Even as he did his strongest attack No Mercy. The man who was definitely more skillful just deflected it off with a turn of his wrist. Before either of them could move again white light flooded the room.

Selphie and Quistis, who were battling with the Shadow Demons, stopped in their assault as they heard Rinoa scream.

"HOLY ANGEL FLARE!" she yelled.

Rinoa was sitting at the top of the hills with her eyes closes. She was dressed in long black jeans with a white sweat that her mother had given as a welcome home gift. My Little Princess was sewed on in the front. A tear slide down her cheeks as she just had a flashback of the horrible incident that happen just 2 months ago. Ever since than, everyone has been after them. All for the Holy Stone that she keeps with her all the time. She remember the first thing that she felt as the power of the stone and her body welding together as one. Wings had came out from her back and she cast an spell that was no where to be found but in ancient text books. All she remember was after the spell was cast, the white haired man disappeared and she just dropped to the floor. If it hadn't been for Quistis, Selphie and Seifer would have never made it out of the castle. They flee and came here to this nice and quiet place in the forest where she would hide out for the time being. She had wrote a letter to King Laguna Loire in hopes that she would be able to get his help. She explained her situation and her current location to him. That was a month and a half ago. She knew letters took long to get from one point to the other these days but she didn't know that it was taking THIS long. She was beginning to lose hope.

Rinoa heard footsteps coming from behind her but she didn't turn around. The stars were clearly visible in the sky so Rinoa knew it was around 8, the time they usually have dinner.

"I'll be there in a min. Quistis." Rinoa said.

The footsteps seemed to be getting closer and closer. Rinoa turned her head and repeated it again.

"Quistis, I know its dinner time…." Her eyes went wide as she saw a pair of green eyes greeting her.

"Hello Princess, I believe we have met before…"


"Where's Rinoa?" Quistis asked as she was putting the folks and plates on the table.

"I thought you went to go get her." Seifer said.

Quistis and Seifer just stared at each other as the heard something in the kitchen. Quistis and Seifer both came running in.

In the kitchen was Selphie, she had dropped a pot of soup on the floor. Her eyes were set on something outside.

"Selphie, what's wrong?" the Quistis questioned

The blonde who had notice Selphie staring outside looked out and his eyes went wide. "Shit…" he hissed.

Seifer had ran out of the kitchen, into the living room and out the back door holding his gunblade.

Quistis finally looked outside to where both Selphie and Seifer and looked and saw a man walking up the hill towards Rinoa.

*He looks familiar.* she thought to herself. *Shit, isn't that the man who killed Rinoa's parents?* "Selphie, lets GO!"


Outside the trio had finally reached the forest south of Deling's Castle. It had been two weeks since they had left Esther. The trip took longer than they wanted due to the thunder storm, but thanks to Squall being Captain of the Holy Knights they were able to get someone to take them across the ocean without problems. From there they reached the shores of Deling's Castle and had got some horses.

"We're finally here."

Squall, who was dressed in black leather pants with a tight white thermal under his chest plate. His chest plate had a certain design engraved in it, a face of a Lion.

*We would of gotten here sooner if Laguna hadn't drawn out the map.* He thought to himself. "Yeah, we're finally here, Zell."

"I see smoke up the hills." Irvine said as he was looking through his Exeter's scope.

"Well than, lets go." Squall stated.


Rinoa felt her heart started to beat faster as she stared into the eyes of the man who had destroyed her kingdom and her family. Her eyes started to lose its soft look with each ticking second that passed.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, I'm sure you know what I want. If you cherish your life than you will hand it over."

Rinoa stood up and looked into his green eyes. She heard a voices coming from behind her. She knew it was her friends, but she never took her eyes off of her enemy.

Seifer, Quistis and Selphie finally reached the top of the hill. They all stopped behind Rinoa as they looked into the same eyes they saw at the castle two months ago.

"Are you ok, Rinoa?" Selphie asked

"Yeah, I'm fine Selphie."

"Ah…I see that your friends are here. Let me introduce you to some of mines." The white haired man snapped his fingers.

As the 4 looked around them they saw figures slowly surrounding them.

*Shadow demons…* Quistis thought to herself. "Be careful guys, they're shadow demons."

"Shit, there are at least a hundred of them." hissed Seifer.

"Now you see that resisting is not an opinion. Just give me the stone and I will let you go feel."

"NEVER will I give you the Holy Stone that belongs to my family." Rinoa screamed.

Seifer had launched forward at his enemy but he disappeared to the top of the hill.

"What the hell, where did he go?" the blonde was in shock.

They were now surrounded by at least hundreds of shadow demons that were now only several yards from them.

"Quistis, Selphie time to put our Assassin's skills to work."

With that the three girls started casting multiples spells.

"PROTECT, SHELL, HASTE, REGEN." The three screamed

Seifer felt the spells being cast on him as the demons started their assault. He stayed close to the girls as he knew they would be in trouble if they separated.

"We must stay close!" He barked.

"We could be in trouble." Quistis blurred.

Before any of them could respond, a spell was cast by one of the demons came flying toward them. It landed right in the middle of them as it sent them flying in different directions. Seifer, Quistis, and Selphie all had landed together and Rinoa flew in the opposite direction.

"Rinoa!" Selphie scream.

She tired to aid her friend but there were demons everywhere.

"We have to help her, Seifer." Quistis said.

Seifer, who was already in the process of trying to make his way through, screamed over his shoulder. "I know, what do you think I'm doing?"

Rinoa had landed, back first, onto the ground. She felt the pain rush through her body. She tired to get up but the pain was too much for her to bear. She looked up in terror as one of the demons was right above her. The demon swung its claws down toward her.

Rinoa closed her eyes for a spilt second. *Is this the end for me?* she thought as she was preparing herself for the worst. As she open it she saw the demon claws had stopped inches from her face. She looked at the demon and saw a gunblade stabbed into his heart.

*Seifer?* she thought but as she looked a little bit farther she saw the man who owned the Gunblade. *Oh...Hyne…* she felt her entire face blush up as she finally was able to get a good look at his face.

He looked at her and extended his hand down offering to help her up. "Are you alright?"