Yay! Ok this is a story Collab between me and Blue Persuasion. We've, so far, had alot of fun writing it!
Disclaimer: Neither of us own Star Ocean. However Blue owns Amanda. I own Amaya, Miyoko and Kitani. NO STEALING THEM!
You can check our DA's Accounts (Blue Persuasion and AleuTheLunarWolf)
Twilight's first star was the only company for the lean shadow stalking
the mansion just outside of the castle. Silently the figure peered into each ground window of the large home. Amanda stopped at the large sheets of glass leading into a large sitting room. Her eyes danced across the open space before her. The lights that burned within made the occupants radiant with
detail. If one of them were to look her way, they would only see the
night.
She searched the group who had gathered for an after dinner chat. She knew some of them; she had met them one time before. She didn't know their names so she quickly dismissed them. They weren't important. She was only there to find one person. Her most favoritest person in the whole world!
She covered her mouth to catch her gleeful chuckle. There he was! Right
there standing in the doorway and she could barely contain her excitement.
"There you are Alby," she whispered. "This is going to be such fun!"
Little did she know that she was being watched. As she stalked, she was being stalked.
The silver gleam in Amaya's eyes told she was curious. She slinked forward trying not to make a sound as she approached the girl obviously stalking Albel... Wait a minute this girl looked like Albel as well.
She snorted lightly and padded forward, as her black fur swayed softly. Small tips were made as her paws struck the ground. "Alby? You know Albel?" She asked.
Amanda turned sharply around. "Yeah! I'm Amanda Nox! Alby's sister!" she said happily.
At this time Amaya's eyes went wide. "Albel has a sister?! He never told me... I'm Amaya Taini by the way. I traveled with Albel."
"Ooooh so you know Albel too!" She said as she jumped forward and patted Amaya on the head. "You're so fluffy!"
Amaya's ear shot back. "Yeah..." She muttered. "So why are you stalking him?"
"You didn't know?" Amanda asked. Amaya shrugged. "It's Albel's birthday! I want to throw him a BIG surprise party!" She smiled.
The wolf smirked. "Really now?" Oh this would be fun...
"Hey Amaya!" A voice called.
Amaya snorted. Fayt had the worst timing. She had thought he was off with Maria. Thinking back she remembered seeing Maria with Miyoko earlier. That fox never left her side.
Before Amaya could wonder more on the where a bouts of Maria, Amanda quickly ducked into the bushes under the window.
Amaya eyed her curiously. "What are you doing?"
"Shush. If Alby finds out I'm here then he'll just run away like he did the last time."
"Run away…" Amaya smirked. This was only getting better and better. "I'm sure Fayt can keep a secret. He might even be able to help."
"Really?" Amanda asked in a childishly innocent fashion. She crawled from under the bush just as Fayt rounded the corner.
"Amaya. There you are," Fayt said with a smile. "I was looking for you… Who? Is that Amanda?"
"You know her? You knew Albel had a sister and you never told me?" Amaya faked a hurt voice.
Fayt giggled guiltily as he scratched his head. "Well yeah, but Albel doesn't talk much about her and if you mention her to him he…sort of loses it."
Amanda stood up and smiled hugely. "He just can't handle how much I mean to
him!"
Amaya shook her head. "Well Fayt, here's the story. Albel's birthday is coming up and we want to do something special for him."
"But he can't know!" Amanda emphasized. "He can't know I'm here either. So, is there anything he likes?"
"There's always Nel," Amaya replied almost darkly. Albel didn't stand a chance now.
"Oh, you mean the pretty red head from Aquaria. He wrote about her in his diary!"
"Albel has a diary?" Amaya and Fayt asked in unison.
Amanda nodded. "Yep! He keeps it near him so nobody reads it."
"I'm listening..." Amaya grinned evilly.
Fayt blinked. "Maybe we can ask the others for help?" He said shrugging.
"Good idea! The more the merrier!" Amanda said. "But how do we get Nel?"
"Get Nel? Oh boy, this sounds like trouble."
Amanda gave him a sharp look that caused him to close his mouth so fast his teeth clamped with a loud pop.
"I think Mirage, Sophia and Maria can help with that." Amaya said. She turned to Fayt. "Sophia's your friend and Maria is your..."
Fayt quickly tried to shut her muzzle. "Ahahaha!" He laughed nervously as his face flushed red.
Amanda giggled as Amaya growled at him and tore her muzzle away. "I'll go talk to Kitani and Miyoko. They could convince Maria and Sophia. In the mean time, Fayt you go get Cliff... Amanda you can..."
"Start planning!" She perked.
"Yeah yeah..." She said turning around and padded off toward the castle.
Amanda smirked and took off to start planning. Fayt stood there clueless for a minute before shrugging and heading off to find Cliff.
Amaya found Miyoko and Kitani with Maria and Sophia who seemed to be having a stare down. "Hey can I talk to Kitani and Miyoko for a minute?" She asked. Maria and Sophia didn't even seen to notice her, but the white lioness cub and the three tailed white fox padded out to the hall.
"Did either of you know Albel had a sister?" Amaya asked.
"Uhhh... No..." Miyoko said with a confused look.
Kitani jumped up. "He does?" She smiled happily that Albel at least had some family left.
As the three padded their way down the hall Kitani hummed tunefully. "Albel's got a sister. Albel's got a sister."
Miyoko gave Kitani a small snort and turned to Amaya. "So, what are you planning?"
Amaya smirked. "Amanda, Albel's sister told me that his birthday is coming up. We need to find out how to get Nel."
"Nel? What do you mean 'get Nel'?" Kitani asked.
Before Amaya could answer Amanda nearly collided with the group. All three of the furry ones maintained their balance, but Amanda landed hard on her rump.
"Ouchie!"
"Sorry," Kitani said going immediately to the girl's side.
"Maybe you should watch where you are going," Miyoko snorted.
Amanda surprised all of them with a cheerful squeal. "Such pretty fluffies! I love fluffies!" Amanda proceeded to throw her arms around Kitani who was closest.
"Are you sure this is Albel's sister?" Miyoko asked. "She looks like him, but she's nothing like him."
"Yep, that's her," Amaya answered.
Amanda loosened her grip on Kitani just in time for the cub to escape the risk of choking to death. "I have a great idea!" she exclaimed. There was a look of pure evil in her eyes.
Amaya hesitated. "And that is?"
"I'm going to see the Queen. Maybe she can help. She can tell Nel that there's a mission. I love surprises and this is sure to surprise Nel too. Nel won't know what's going on until the party and she'll be there by order of the Queen!"
"And you think you can enlist the help of the Queen?" Miyoko asked.
"I have my ways." Amanda got up and brushed pass the three. A gleam was in her eyes.
The three watched as Amanda stopped briefly to observe Maria and Sophia. First Amanda waved her hand in front of Maria's face and then in from of Sophia's. Neither girl gave her an ounce of attention. Amanda giggled.
"Well, nice to meet you Statue Girls! I'm Amanda Nox!" She bowed and then skipped cheerfully right between the two girls and towards the Queen's chamber.
Both girls blinked.
"Amanda?" Maria asked.
"Nox?" Sophia asked.
Amaya, Kitani and Miyoko couldn't help but to laugh when both girls fell from confusion.
Kitani smiled "Yeah yeah! That was Albels sister!" she said.
Sophia looked at the white lion cub confused. "Albel's... sister? Wait he has a sister?!" Her eyes became big... if they could get any bigger then they were.
Maria blinked. "So what's up with all this?" She asked.
"Well Albel's birthday is coming up soon and Amanda wants to throw him a party. We wanted to know if you would help. Fayt was going to get Cliff." Miyoko said.
Sophia squealed. "A party! I'll help!" She said as Kitani jumped up happily.
"I guess I will." Maria said as Miyoko smiled and curled her three white tails around her small paws.
Amaya smiled. "Good. I'll go see how Fayt's doing. Try to distract Albel." She said as the large wolf padded off.
Meanwhile Albel was walking down the halls away from his room in the castle. His long braids flowed behind him as he snorted.
"Boring day." He sneered. His ruby red eyes looked around and were soon met by emerald green ones. "Zelpher..." He muttered.
"Nox..." Nel muttered back. Both seemed to be in a silent stare down much like Maria and Sophia where in. Speaking of which, the two girls and the creatures with them were peering at them from behind a wall.
At that time Clair came walking down. "Oh Nel. The Queen wishes to speak to you... Hello Albel" Clair silently cursed at the Captain. The two broke their stare.
"Yes right away." Nel said as she walked around Albel and followed Clair to the Audience Chamber.
Kitani padded out and sat in front of Albel staring at him with her sapphire blue eyes. "Hi Albel" Her tail tipped with black stared up at him as her black hair tuff settled between her eyes.
"Hmph." Albel said, but he was met by another creature. Miyoko's soft blue eyes stared up at him. "What do you two want?"
Kitani glanced back as the two girls came from behind the wall. Albel eyed the girls. He could tell by the way Sophia rocked back and forth on her heels and how Maria held her lips a little firmer than normal that something was going on. Somehow the girls had banded together and sought him out. He pondered briefly if he should just leave, but simple curiosity kept him there.
The two girls were up to something and he knew it was in his best interest to find out what.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard Fayt had found Cliff looking thoughtfully at a bundle of wildflowers.
"Err…Cliff? What are you doing?"
The blonde shook his head slightly. "Um, nothing. Just had a…ah, never mind."
"Okay…look, there's something I need your help with."
Cliff took on a macho pose and smiled. "Sure. What's up?"
Fayt looked at the flowers again. "I'll tell you what. You tell me what's up with those flowers and I'll let you in on the secret."
Cliff blushed a soft pink. "I was…look, you can't tell a soul."
Fayt crossed his fingers over his chest. "Cross my heart." Curiosity was killing him.
"Okay. Look, I was just wondering if Mirage would like those or not."
"Mirage? Do you think she's the type to like flowers?"
"Hey kid, she is a female. Chicks love stuff like that. But I'm worried she would think I was calling her dainty and that would only provoke her to beat me up to prove she's not."
Fayt rested his head in his hand. How could someone so tough be scared of someone much smaller than him? Then again, he'd seen Mirage pummel Cliff before and she was a force to be reckoned with.
"Well, anyway. I just heard that Albel's birthday is coming up."
"Birthday?" Cliff asked raising an eyebrow. "How'd you find that out?"
"Yeah, about that. All this is hush-hush. Amanda's back."
Cliff quickly did a 360, checking to be sure the girl wasn't stalking him. The last time he had turned his back on her she had jumped him from behind.
"Look Fayt, get your bags and we'll be off this rock before she finds us."
Fayt placed both his hands on his hips. "You're starting to sound like Albel. Really? What's with you two being scared of a 15 year old girl?"
"She's a demon!"
"Hiya Cliff!" Amaya spoke from behind mimicking Amanda.
Cliff jumped three feet and landed in a heap on the ground. He looked at her and growled. "DON'T DO THAT!"
Amaya snickered. "So Fayt, how's it coming?"
Fayt scratched his head. "Uh yeah I think I got Cliff" He said glancing up in the trees. Amaya smirked at the man.
"For someone who supposed to be macho, I sure scared the hell out of you." She said sitting down.
"I wasn't scared I was... startled..." Cliff said.
"Yeah... right... Anyways. Amanda got the Queen to send Nel on a mission... Maria, Kitani, Sophia and Miyoko are going to try and distract him." She said.
Cliff looked at her curiously. "Really now? So you want my help?" He asked. Fayt nodded.
"Can you get Mirage to help as well?" Fayt asked. Cliff nodded.
"Oh yeah Amaya you're female..." Cliff suddenly said.
Amaya snorted. "You just noticed." The wolf voiced her annoyance.
"Do you think Mirage will like those flowers?" He asked.
"Maybe... but then again I'm not human..."
"Neither is she."
"But she's a humanoid... I'm not... Ask Maria or Sophia..." With that Amaya stalked away, leading the way for Fayt to follow her.
Cliff stood there for a moment before walking off to find Mirage. Meanwhile Maria, Sophia, Kitani and Miyoko where whispering about how they'd distract Albel when Amanda appeared.
"Hiya! It's the Statue Girls!" She said as Maria and Sophia glared at her.
Albel, who was still pondering on how to deal with the group, and had not noticed the conversations between themselves, perked at the sound of a familiar voice. Amanda quickly ducked behind a corner to conceal herself.
"Wha…what was that!" Albel demanded.
Sophia put on an innocent face. "What was what?"
"Are you feeling well, Albel?" Maria asked. "Maybe you should lie down."
Kitani shifted slightly to the side. She hadn't noticed from her position that Amanda was hiding and therefore everyone else was trying to cover the fact she was there.
"But, don't ya think Albel would like to see his little sister?"
"S…s…sister…" Albel's eyes glossed over with a blank stare.
Sophia treaded close to the swordsman and peered up into his blank eyes. "That's odd."
"Sophia, do you think it's wise to get that close to him. He doesn't look like himself."
Sophia nodded to Maria and stepped back. "Albel…are you okay?"
Miyoko shot Kitani a disapproving look. "I don't think we should mention Amanda around him."
Suddenly Albel screamed and took off running down the hall.
"What was that about?" Maria asked.
"He just loves me soooooooo much he can't help himself!" Amanda skipped from behind the corner.
"Do you think we should go after him?"
Everyone stopped and looked at Sophia. One by one they nodded; each more curious as to what was going on with Albel than concerned for his well being.
"Well, you can chase Alby. I need to find…um…I don't remember his name. He's big and blonde."
"Cliff?" Miyoko asked cynically.
"YEAH! That's him!" Amanda smiled widely at the group. "I'm off! Good luck catching him. Alby is so good at hide-and-seek."
They watched as the young Nox skipped happily down the hall.
"I'm still finding it hard to see her related to Albel," Maria commented when the girl was out of range.
About that time Cliff strolled up the hall. "Hey guys! Anyone seen Mirage?"
Kitani pounced up to the Klausian. "Nope! But Amanda is looking for you."
By this time the group of girls was not surprised when Cliff screamed much like Albel had and ran off. It would seem that Amanda had quite an effect on guys.
"Maybe we should split up," Maria piped up. "Sophia, you and Kitani go look for Cliff. Miyoko and I will go after Albel."
"I guess that leaves me and Fayt to look for Amanda," Amaya said walking up with Fayt.
"Do we have to look for her?"
"Stop whining and let's get going," Amaya responded leading the way for Fayt.
Sophia and Maria exchanged an amused look. It would seem that Fayt wasn't fond of the girl either. Things were definitely getting interesting to say the least.
Albel was sprinting like hell down the hall. "Amanda..." He muttered narrowing his eyes and shifted them from side to side. He came to a stop at his room and looked around to make sure no one was watching.
Maria peered around the corner with Miyoko sitting on shoulder. The small fox jumped down from her shoulder and snuck forward trying not to alert the man, but that was hard. She noticed him barge into his room and slam the door. At the sound of the door, Maria met with Miyoko in the hall.
Miyoko listened carefully to his mind. She had psychic powers which allowed her to listen to other people's thoughts.
Albel sat down on his bed, his red eyes wide open. He repeated "Amanda" several times in which Miyoko and Maria began to get worried. Meanwhile Sophia was chasing Cliff down the hall. Cliff skittered around the corner only to meet Kitani standing in his way.
He took a big leap over the cub, but she shot some fire at him since her element was fire. That set both his crotch and butt on fire. This made him run faster, out to the garden to the river.
Sophia and Kitani came from the castle giggling. "Cliff's all wet!" Kitani said jumping onto Sophia's shoulder.
Cliff glared at the girls. "I'm going to find Mirage..." He stomped off wet as Sophia and Kitani followed him quietly.
Amanda, in the mean time, was looking at a room when Amaya and Fayt appeared.
"Oh Fayt! Amaya! Do you think this room would be good?" She said.
"I'm fine with it." Amaya said looking with Fayt. He shrugged.
Amanda giggled. "This will be so much fun!"
That's it for now! We'll get working on chapter 2!