Disclaimer: Damn do I wish I had rights to Final Fantasy anything! That would kick! But I don't so don't sue my butt!

Do you need a disclaimer for final fantasy 11? I guess so...what ever. Yeah. So this is my second fanfic story to be published. Making a name for myself I guess. Hope you guys like it. It's set 20 years after the game but every thing's basically the same. Enjoy! Ska chan.

ps- if you see a dash after a sentence that means time change or pov switch. but I don't think there's going to be a pov switch cause this is a first person! froosh and away-

Prologue

What have I done? Why did I have to be so foolish? All of this because of me. What have I cost my country? Hell, it's not even my country. I wrapped a hand around the red jewel hanging around my neck, trying to take comfort in it. What's happened to him? Has she gotten to him? Is he safe? Star Sybil, keep him safe, I beg you.

I rested my head against the cold stone wall.It's always cold in this accursed castle. Almost like a constant reminder that my sister rules it. Like it's really hers to rule. She should have left me in Windurst. Then there would still be peace between the nations and I wouldn't be in this damp, horrible, cold cell. Putting me in a dungeon like this is a story to be told by a bard. But then, this is my story. A story of a love that should not have been. A story of corruption in power.Of deceit and jealousy. A story that will probably never escape these stone walls. But if you are reading this then it has escaped the same fate I have. So I will tell you, my friend, of my story. For even if I never leave this place, perhaps my tale will. For you, I will start from the beginning. The very beginning.

Chapter One

I was young when I left my mother's arm. So young, in fact, that I don't remember my mother's face. I have only stories and pictures to of her to remind me. It was a clear night, so Panaa says, when the transfer happened. Panaa waited all night. The cries of war could be heard from the small clearing she sat in. She stood as my mother stepped silently from the other side of the field, a small bundle in her arms. "Were you followed" Panaa asked, bowing slowly. My mother shook her head and wiped her cheeks and eyes. "Majesty, this must be done. Orccish scouts know our country has weakened with your disappearance. They suspect your pregnancy. Trion and the rest of the country need you! They haven't seen you sine the third month! San d'Oria is weak! You will see your Lennia again! I swear this to you."

"I know Panaa. Thank you" Catriona whispered. She opened the top of the bundle and kissed my forehead for the last time. Pulling an elaborately sheathed dagger from her belt, she handed the weapon to her mithran friend. "Give this to her when she reaches the proper age." Panaa stared at her in amazement. "Yes I know it's the dagger Trion gave me on our wedding day. He'll understand. Tell her nothing of her heritage or her link to the throne until the time is right. Promise me this Panaa."

"Of course my lady. I give you my word. She will never know of her royalty until she is ready." She bowed again. A noisy cry came from the bushes and Catriona thrust me into Panaa's arms. Another cry came and my mother's eyes widened in fear. "My lady! You must return to town! Go" She raised a hand and cast sneak on my mother.

Tears ran down Catriona's cheeks as she whispered a prayer for me. She turned and bolted back to Selbina as fast as her elvaan legs could take her. More occish shouts came and Panaa ran to the small smuggler's ship about to leave for Mhaura. I never saw my mother again.

We entered a secret port of Mhaura at the crack of dawn. There we stayed for two days before venturing the canyon. A few friends of Panaa escorted us us back to Windurst Woods where a new life and family awaited me. I grew up with Panaa's daughter, Ohja, as I would a sister and together we studied the Mithra ways.

I grew to appreciate magick as any would living in a house of mages. But becoming a mage didn't suit me and I instead took up thievery. Odd, I know, that an elvaan would take up the art of stealing and I was raised mithran. Yes, I will never be as fast or good at mithran sport or even their jobs. But, it seems, that growing and living with a different race changes you. I'm not as tall as an average Elvaan but I'm much faster than normal Elvaans and I can dodge most things with ease.

I lived a typical life in Windurst. Doing missions and quests seemed to consume my life as it does to many. Panaa would scold me for not taking better care of myself when I came home from a hard mission but in the end she would sit me down and heal my wounds. I grew levels quickly and people remembered my name. It may have been from doing so many quests or it may have been the fact I dress as any Mithra would. Humes and Galka would stop their quarrels to try and catch my eye. I could smile from embarrassment of the attention. My "mother" used to say it was because of my amethyst eyes and raven hair. But after a while you figure out it's because "revealing" separates on an elvaan girl. But I never minded the stares enough to change myself.

I was about a month and a half away from reaching eighteen, the time to come into womanhood drawing ever closer, when my life started to really open it's eyes to the world around me. I was in Buburimu Peninsula training when I was attacked by a Goblin Mugger. I was already missing a fourth of my health when it slashed through my cotton dogi ad into my arm. I cried out for help but no one came. I ran to Mhaura and the stupid beast followed.

It lashed out as we ran and slit my dagger arm again. I yelled again and ran faster. It got my leg and I hit the ground. I shouted for help and pulled out my Mercenary's dagger. It swung and I rolled to the left, mixing sand with my bloody arm. I jumped up and rammed my dagger into the goblin's arm. The monster barely noticed.

Blood was soaking my dogi and spilling in and over my glove, making it hard to grasp my salvation. I cut across the thing's cheek and it howled. I dodged it's next few moves and started running again. I held my dirty arm, trying to stop the bleeding.

I saw Mhaura's gate on the horizon and yelled as loud as I could. I felt wind against my thigh and saw a newly made huge gash in my subligar. A silver streak flew by and bit into my flesh. No! The Goblin Tinkerer fell in line with the Mugger and stabbed at me. He missed and I ran into a dead end. I gasped as a new Weaver appeared out of no where and growled, casting stone. Rocks flew past the goblins and me and smashed against us. The Tinkerer swung and opened my glove.

The other goblins swung and I dodged. I yelled for aid again and jumped over the Mugger's squat form escaped a certain K.O. It smacked it's dagger into my foot as I sailed over head. I landed on the sore foot hard but continued to run to the gate. I felt rusting metal across my damaged kimono and warm blood ooze from my stomach.

Purple clouded my vision for a moment and I knew I was poisoned. I screamed for help. Blue and white circles swept across my body. I began panting and slowed my pace. I could feel the toxins in my blood stream. Poison and Dia? I'm never going to make it to the gate.

I heard one of the goblins scream. I looked back and saw the Goblin Weaver defeated. I scanned the hills for some other adventurer but found no one. I heard another scream and a bomb explode, missing me. I glanced back to find a smoking crater where the Tinkerer had been.

The Mugger had two arrows protruding form it's right shoulder. I stumbled and it smashed it's dagger into my gushing arm. I raised my dagger and weakly scratched it's armour. I could feel my blood pooling around me as darkness came to the edges of my vision. I took in shallow breathes as the goblin raised it's dagger for the final stab. A streak of silver went though it's stomach.

It stopped and gurgled for a moment. The Mugger dropped it's weapon and fell in half into my pool, splashing me with my own tainted blood. I dimly watched it's black blood mixing with my own. Something came to my lips and antidote drizzled down my throat. I opened my eyes and a warm smile entered my forever dimming vision. "You are safe now" my smiling savior whispered. –

So that's chapter one. They should get bigger as I go. They always do. Thanks for reading! Ska the Ninja!