Ok I was debating whether to put this in the Final Fantasy XIII or the Final Fantasy Versus XIII category and decided to put it in the Versus XIII category. Why? Why not?! No but seriously, because although this fic will have Lightning and Noctis in it, it will be set in the world of Versus. So that's why… also I haven't actually decided on a name for the fic yet so… any ideas?

Favisor – (dude with the scar over his eye.)

Vidal – (Shotgun guy.) – Courtesy of EchihaEna. (Thank you.)

Quinn – (Glasses guy. – means "intelligent")

Noctis slumped in the back of the car, his head resting on his fist as the lights sped past, one after the other.

"Cheer up Noct," said Quinn who was driving the car. Noctis just glanced up and grimaced. Quinn laughed, "C'mon it's not that bad! It's not every day that you get to meet a pretty girl!"

"Alright, for a start," began Noctis, sitting up, "it IS that bad. But you're right about one thing. It's not every day that your parents decide to spring a surprise marriage in you."

"You're right," chuckled Quinn, "A – Because my parents are dead, and B – They were never really into surprises anyway!" he smiled at his own joke.

Noctis was not amused, however. "Don't try and play the pity card. I'm not in the mood!" his eyes glinted with a hint of red. Quinn, seeing this, decided to shut up.

They continued along the road for a while before Noctis spoke again. "Quinn?"

"Hmm?"

"Did they tell you her name?"

"You don't even know her name?!" asked Quinn, wide-eyed.

"No. do you?"

"Yeah right! Sorry Noct but your parents know you better than that! They know you'd ask me."

"Yeah, I know. Just thought I'd check anyway."

"Look on the bright side."

"What's that?"

"We're here. A few hours and it'll all be over…"

X X X

"Ok, you get out and I'll go park the car."

"I've got a better idea." Quinn looked worried at this. "You get out and I'll go park the car!"

"But…"

A few seconds later Quinn was left standing at the foot of the palace steps, the car speeding away, tyres smoking. He tried to spot Noctis' parents through the multitude of smartly dressed bureaucrats accompanied by stunningly beautiful women. Eventually he saw Noctis' parents at the top of the steps, welcoming all of the guests to the ball. He made his way up the stairs with heavy feet. Eventually he came to meet Noctis' parents, both of whom had quizzical expressions on their faces.

His father stood tall, his hair greying but his yellow eyes showing strength and determination. His mother a few years younger, had jet black hair, a slender figure and deep blue eyes. Whilst Noctis' father was dressed in a charcoal designer suit, his mother was dressed in a silk, crimson dress.

"Where is Noctis?"

Quinn fiddled with his tie nervously and smiled half-heartedly. "Erm… Gone to park the car?"

X X X

Noctis smiled slightly as he drove the car up to the highest level of the car park. The higher I park the longer it'll take to walk down he thought smugly.

He climbed out, locked the door and walked towards the stairs before he stopped. How much he'd love to get back in the car and go for a drive. He'd actually turned around before he stopped again. No. he couldn't do that to his parents. Or Quinn for that matter. He had probably already got him into enough trouble through him letting Noctis go and park the car. Not that he had much choice in the matter. With a sigh he turned back around and headed for the stairs, ignoring the lift.

X X X

Noctis' dad was frantically scanning the room when he noticed Noctis slip through the door, glancing around distastefully. He knew his son hated events such as these but what could he do? It was all part of being a prince. As he made his way through the throng of people he took two drinks off a tray, thanking the waiter as he did so. Just because he was rich and important, didn't mean he couldn't use his manners. That was one lesson that he was pretty sure he had taught Noctis. Even if all of the others had failed.

As he reached Noctis, he saw him glancing around at all of the guests. His father hid a smile as he handed him one of the drinks.

"Who is it?" Noctis asked straight away, as if trying to catch his father off-guard.

"Noctis, we've spoken about this-"

"if by that you mean you said, "Oh yeah, by the way Noctis, you're getting married! Happy Birthday!" then yeah, we've spoken about it."

His father just sighed. "It's a custom, Noctis. You get to see your future wife in about an hour. Surely you can wait that long?"

When he didn't get a reply again he just sighed again. "I'll see you later son, I've got to go and do the whole meet and greet crap." Noctis' dad hated the social side of being rich and Important as much as Noctis did. He just wished that Noctis didn't. He walked away leaving Noctis alone to ponder upon what the night would bring. He had never liked surprises.

Just as Noctis was thinking of doing a runner again Quinn turned up. "For god's sake Noctis! You're gonna get me bloody sacked one of these days!"

"I'd keep paying you to drive me around anyway."

"That's not the point!"

"Well what is?" Noctis asked, turning his attention back to Quinn.

"A… well… Oh, I don't know!" he exclaimed. "But it really doesn't pay to piss of the ruling family. And before you-"

"Who's that?"

"What?"

"Who's that?"

"Oh well, it's nice to see you're taking the blindest bit of notice."

"Quinn! Who's that?"

Quinn turned around, searching for who Noctis was talking about. Across the room he spotted a beautiful young woman talking to an elderly man with long grey hair. Quinn was about to make a joke about Noctis not getting his hopes up when he realised that he wasn't taking any notice. He stood, staring at the young woman. She had voluminous, strawberry pink hair which fell down her back and full red lips which, at that moment were formed into a smile, displaying perfect white teeth. She wore a graceful black dress that showed her slender figure.

Quinn made a whistling noise as he waved his hand in front of Noctis' face. "Hello? Anybody there? Planet Earth to Noctis!"

He frowned as Noctis completely ignored him and started walking towards the woman.

"Whoa!" said Quinn as he stepped in front of Noctis, blocking his way, "Big no, no! Where do you think you're going?"

"Move!" grunted Noctis in reply as he frantically tried to push past. The woman seemed to be coming to the end of her conversation with the old man and was moving on. "Move," repeated Noctis, shoving Quinn to the side, causing a few people nearby to stare. As he dashed towards the doorway where the woman had disappeared he was oblivious to the mutterings of the crowd around him. As he ran around the corner he ran straight into a slightly smaller woman coming the other way, knocking her down to the ground. He saw that the other woman was nowhere nearby and knelt down to help her up. The first thing that he noticed was that she, too, was extremely pretty.

"I'm very sorry," mumbled Noctis sincerely. "I didn't see you."

"that's ok" she replied in a soft voice," I wasn't watching where I was going either." She stood up with the help of Noctis and brushed herself down. She was wearing a light cream dress. "My name's Stella," she said, holding out her hand. Noctis took it, "Noctis," he said simply.

"Ahh, the prince!" she said with a smile.

Noctis grunted in reply. "sorry again," he said as he saw Vidal rushing towards him.

"no problem," she replied with a smile. She watched him walk away then sighed. "so, he doesn't remember me after all…"

X X X

"Noctis!"

Noctis spun around at the sound of his name being called. "bloody hell, mate. I've been looking for you for ages!" gasped Vidal, jogging up to him.

"What's wrong?" asked Noctis.

"What's wrong?! What's right, more like! You were supposed to meet your mum and dad, like ten minutes ago you fool! What have you been doing?"

"Have you seen her?"

"Who?!" asked Vidal, clearly exasperated at this point.

"Never mind."

Just as they were about to leave, someone came up to them. "excuse me?" Noctis turned around to see a small, red haired girl in a pink dress. "I was wondering if you'd seen my friend? Black dress? Strawberry pink hair? Goes by the name of -"

"Noctis!! For Christ's sake! Get a bloody move on!"

Vidal marched over and grabbed Noctis by the arm. "Wait!" cried Noctis turning around to look for the girl but she had already gone.

X X X

"There you are Noctis!" cried his mother as he walked into the room, accompanied by Vidal

They had been waiting in the room with Noctis' parents for around ten minutes when there was a soft knock at the door. A servant entered, "they will be here shortly sir." Noctis' father thanked him and the servant left. Shortly after there was another knock and Favisor, Quinn and Vidal were ushered in. Vidal winked at Noctis as he took his seat by the fireplace.

A few minutes later there was another knock. "They are here."

Noctis stepped forward to stand next to his mother. He wiped a bead of sweat away from his forehead and heard Vidal stifle a chuckle. He made a mental note to hit him next time he saw him.

Hahahaha! I am soo evil!! Is it Lightning? Is it Stella? Is it Vanille? Or is it a servant?! You're gonna have to wait to find out!

I'd usually take this as an opportunity to sat a big wholehearted thank you to everyone who has reviewed but as this is the first chapter - that's kinda not possible! I would like to say thank you to EVERYONE over at the FF13 forums for the support, laughs,serious discussions and for just being there! You guys are the best!

Thanks to Yuki (Lightning and Noctis – or whatever you're penname is at the moment, you change it so often!) for all of the her this story probably wouldn't be here. So if you don't like it blame her, not me! .

Thanks to EchihaEna for letting me use the name Vidal for the shot-gun guy. and again for the support.

Thanks to Anime, stardrag, and Cassie(who, between them, hold the title for the most talkative people EVER!) for… well… being talkative! Their stories are amazing and so if you haven't read them I refuse to speak to you until you go and read them. Now.

Thanks to SunflowerWielder, WhimsicalWalrus and ff7versus7ff for the reviews that help me to update. If you're reading this and wondering what the hell I'm talking about then go and find them, read their stories and REVIEW!

Phew that was a right rambling session! Until next time… (P.S. please review!)

Qwerty91

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