Chapter 1 Opening Duel
King Loire furrowed his brows as he watched his two sons duel in the courtyard. Seifer, being the older of the two and of better build certainly ad the upper hand, but he daren't underestimate his other son either.
Squall lunged heavily and sidestepped Seifer's furious swipe, narrowly missing him by inches. "Surely you can do better, brother dear?" Seifer smirked as Squall wiped the sweat from his brow. "I'm not finished yet!"
"If they're not careful, they're going to hurt each other," A laughing voice caught King Loire's attention. His loyal Royal SeeD Knight, Sir Irvine Kinneas was leaning against the Gothic pillars, amusedly watching the duel. "Barbaric really, dueling,"
"Yes, but it is honor they're fighting for, unlike you, Kinneas," King Loire grinned. "I've never seen you duel with any of your fellow Knights since you became a Royal Knight."
"Dueling is unnecessary," Irvine grinned. "I'm just wasting human lives." True enough, that King Loire had to acknowledge. Irvine was a Knight not for his swordsmanship, but for his extraordinary sniper skills. He had an inhuman range, able to snap off a bird's wing in mid-flight. For that and that reason only, no Knight would dare face him in a duel even if the reward was a million gil.
"AAH!!!"
King Loire swung around, alarmed, just in time to catch Squall slash upwards and catch Seifer on the forehead, grazing him slightly. It was apparent who started it though, because Squall sported a similar wound too. Before the two can inflict further damage, Irvine stepped forward and fired a shot right in between them, stopping them then and there. "Enough!!" King Loire boomed. "Both of you report to the Physician, now!!"
"A fine day this is turning out," King Loire muttered as he watched his two sons meekly turned tail and disappeared. "I received word that Emperor Caraway has waged war on the principality of Timber; and Balamb has agreed to aid Timber through their army. If there is to be war in the Galbadia continent, I fear we might have to act to protect peace in the world," he sighed heavily.
Irvine nodded. "The Knights are always ready, Your Highness. Galbadia might be on a warpath... if it is so, then we will do all we can to protect Eshtar."
"I know..." King Loire frowned. "I'm just afraid if we will suffer like we did... in Balamb."
Irvine sighed. He knew how hard it was for Esthar in the battle... "We'll protect our people, King Loire."
King Loire nodded vaguely, but Irvine knew what he was thinking...
"Some Knight you are," The Physician, Kadowaki scowled. Squall rubbed the bridge of his nose where the bandage concealed the wound. It was just a flesh wound, but it would leave a scar. It made him rather angry. How could he, a Knight be injured by his brother? A brother who's a Knight, but his pride made it hurt worse. Kadowaki shook his head. "You'd better take it easy there,"
Seifer had long gone. Squall suspected that wound would fade to a scar too, and he almost wanted to smirk at what people might say later on - brothers have mirror scars. He sighed and got out of bed. Seifer wasn't really his brother, but he never was inclined to think anything else. He, Squall Leonhart Was the true heir to King Loire, but Seifer was a half-brother; a foundling found in the woods. He never said anything, however, because in all the years he'd grown up with Seifer, he really did regard him as a true brother; even if Seifer could be quite aggravating at times. Besides, Seifer was the only one he could duel with; nobody else used a gunblade. And the Commander of SeeD Knights will only duel with the best.
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Quistis rushed through the undergrowth, dragging the distraught princess behind her. Bombs exploded around them, rendering them vulnerable to the enemy. "Please hurry, princess!" Quistis yelled.
Rinoa bit her lip as a thorn grazed her arm. How long had they been running? She can't believe her father would do such a thing... "Quistis, where are we going?!"
"To the west eastern shore," Quistis replied, not stopping once to take a breather. She ran so fast Rinoa was sure she knew exactly where the shore was. "And?"
"There's a ship there, to Esthar."
"Esthar?!" Rinoa was alarmed. "That's Father's enemy! Why are we going to Esthar?!"
Quistis finally stopped and looked at Rinoa sharply in the eye, making her catch her breath. That look was so penetrating, it was as if she could actually see...
"Eshtar would shelter you." She said at last. "I am a SeeD Knight, and I will plead for the Commander to grant me protection. There is no other place for you to go, my lady."
Rinoa nodded. Quistis continued as several monsters flew over head. "Trackers!"
"Not for long," Quistis growled. She could hear the sea... they were very close. "Can you see the ship?"
"I see the mast..."
"Good." Quistis dug her hells in the ground, making her stop. "Go, princess! I will catch you later!" Quistis took out her whip and looked upwards to the sky. Several trackers were circling, waiting for any sign of life. Rinoa was horrified. "But I can't - Leave you?!"
"Hurry, I'll distract them," Quistis pointed to the ship. "Please go, princess! We don't have time!"
Hitching up her skirts, Rinoa tore through the undergrowth as fast as she could. Once Quistis was sure she was far enough, she listened again. And then without warning she lashed out with her whip and hit a tracker bird right in the head, killing it. More trackers heard the hit and came, cawing madly. Quistis grit her teeth. Time for some firepower... "Fira!!" She threw a fire spell and heard the screams as her spell hit home. But more an more trackers were coming; she didn't have much time to run to the ship. Without waiting a second longer, she sprinted in the direction of the shore, hoping against hope that there would be no more trackers.
"The Knight!!" A voice from above roared and Quistis realized the tracker birds were used for transport as well. And there were many more coming...
"Quistis, hurry!" She heard Rinoa screaming, and that gave her added stamina. She ran to the sea, hearing the wet sand crunch under her boots. The sound of a metal chain; an anchor! Soon her feet hit water and she began running as fast as she could, all the while listening for the trackers. A loud bang told her the ship had opened fire, and several trackers were hit.
"Hurry, there's a ladder to the left of you!" Rinoa cried. Quistis grit her teeth and found the ladder, and soon she was sprawled on the deck, breathless, drenched, but very much alive. She dimly heard Rinoa fuss over her, but she wasn't thinking of that now.
Esthar.
"Why is Father doing this?" Rinoa was whimpering. "It must be that woman... I know it must be her..."
"Save your strength, Princess," Quistis shakily got to her feet. There are some truths that are better kept underground, she added silently. Caraway is not as benign as you think he is.
Author's note: It was an idea that popped into my head without warning... review please?
King Loire furrowed his brows as he watched his two sons duel in the courtyard. Seifer, being the older of the two and of better build certainly ad the upper hand, but he daren't underestimate his other son either.
Squall lunged heavily and sidestepped Seifer's furious swipe, narrowly missing him by inches. "Surely you can do better, brother dear?" Seifer smirked as Squall wiped the sweat from his brow. "I'm not finished yet!"
"If they're not careful, they're going to hurt each other," A laughing voice caught King Loire's attention. His loyal Royal SeeD Knight, Sir Irvine Kinneas was leaning against the Gothic pillars, amusedly watching the duel. "Barbaric really, dueling,"
"Yes, but it is honor they're fighting for, unlike you, Kinneas," King Loire grinned. "I've never seen you duel with any of your fellow Knights since you became a Royal Knight."
"Dueling is unnecessary," Irvine grinned. "I'm just wasting human lives." True enough, that King Loire had to acknowledge. Irvine was a Knight not for his swordsmanship, but for his extraordinary sniper skills. He had an inhuman range, able to snap off a bird's wing in mid-flight. For that and that reason only, no Knight would dare face him in a duel even if the reward was a million gil.
"AAH!!!"
King Loire swung around, alarmed, just in time to catch Squall slash upwards and catch Seifer on the forehead, grazing him slightly. It was apparent who started it though, because Squall sported a similar wound too. Before the two can inflict further damage, Irvine stepped forward and fired a shot right in between them, stopping them then and there. "Enough!!" King Loire boomed. "Both of you report to the Physician, now!!"
"A fine day this is turning out," King Loire muttered as he watched his two sons meekly turned tail and disappeared. "I received word that Emperor Caraway has waged war on the principality of Timber; and Balamb has agreed to aid Timber through their army. If there is to be war in the Galbadia continent, I fear we might have to act to protect peace in the world," he sighed heavily.
Irvine nodded. "The Knights are always ready, Your Highness. Galbadia might be on a warpath... if it is so, then we will do all we can to protect Eshtar."
"I know..." King Loire frowned. "I'm just afraid if we will suffer like we did... in Balamb."
Irvine sighed. He knew how hard it was for Esthar in the battle... "We'll protect our people, King Loire."
King Loire nodded vaguely, but Irvine knew what he was thinking...
"Some Knight you are," The Physician, Kadowaki scowled. Squall rubbed the bridge of his nose where the bandage concealed the wound. It was just a flesh wound, but it would leave a scar. It made him rather angry. How could he, a Knight be injured by his brother? A brother who's a Knight, but his pride made it hurt worse. Kadowaki shook his head. "You'd better take it easy there,"
Seifer had long gone. Squall suspected that wound would fade to a scar too, and he almost wanted to smirk at what people might say later on - brothers have mirror scars. He sighed and got out of bed. Seifer wasn't really his brother, but he never was inclined to think anything else. He, Squall Leonhart Was the true heir to King Loire, but Seifer was a half-brother; a foundling found in the woods. He never said anything, however, because in all the years he'd grown up with Seifer, he really did regard him as a true brother; even if Seifer could be quite aggravating at times. Besides, Seifer was the only one he could duel with; nobody else used a gunblade. And the Commander of SeeD Knights will only duel with the best.
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Quistis rushed through the undergrowth, dragging the distraught princess behind her. Bombs exploded around them, rendering them vulnerable to the enemy. "Please hurry, princess!" Quistis yelled.
Rinoa bit her lip as a thorn grazed her arm. How long had they been running? She can't believe her father would do such a thing... "Quistis, where are we going?!"
"To the west eastern shore," Quistis replied, not stopping once to take a breather. She ran so fast Rinoa was sure she knew exactly where the shore was. "And?"
"There's a ship there, to Esthar."
"Esthar?!" Rinoa was alarmed. "That's Father's enemy! Why are we going to Esthar?!"
Quistis finally stopped and looked at Rinoa sharply in the eye, making her catch her breath. That look was so penetrating, it was as if she could actually see...
"Eshtar would shelter you." She said at last. "I am a SeeD Knight, and I will plead for the Commander to grant me protection. There is no other place for you to go, my lady."
Rinoa nodded. Quistis continued as several monsters flew over head. "Trackers!"
"Not for long," Quistis growled. She could hear the sea... they were very close. "Can you see the ship?"
"I see the mast..."
"Good." Quistis dug her hells in the ground, making her stop. "Go, princess! I will catch you later!" Quistis took out her whip and looked upwards to the sky. Several trackers were circling, waiting for any sign of life. Rinoa was horrified. "But I can't - Leave you?!"
"Hurry, I'll distract them," Quistis pointed to the ship. "Please go, princess! We don't have time!"
Hitching up her skirts, Rinoa tore through the undergrowth as fast as she could. Once Quistis was sure she was far enough, she listened again. And then without warning she lashed out with her whip and hit a tracker bird right in the head, killing it. More trackers heard the hit and came, cawing madly. Quistis grit her teeth. Time for some firepower... "Fira!!" She threw a fire spell and heard the screams as her spell hit home. But more an more trackers were coming; she didn't have much time to run to the ship. Without waiting a second longer, she sprinted in the direction of the shore, hoping against hope that there would be no more trackers.
"The Knight!!" A voice from above roared and Quistis realized the tracker birds were used for transport as well. And there were many more coming...
"Quistis, hurry!" She heard Rinoa screaming, and that gave her added stamina. She ran to the sea, hearing the wet sand crunch under her boots. The sound of a metal chain; an anchor! Soon her feet hit water and she began running as fast as she could, all the while listening for the trackers. A loud bang told her the ship had opened fire, and several trackers were hit.
"Hurry, there's a ladder to the left of you!" Rinoa cried. Quistis grit her teeth and found the ladder, and soon she was sprawled on the deck, breathless, drenched, but very much alive. She dimly heard Rinoa fuss over her, but she wasn't thinking of that now.
Esthar.
"Why is Father doing this?" Rinoa was whimpering. "It must be that woman... I know it must be her..."
"Save your strength, Princess," Quistis shakily got to her feet. There are some truths that are better kept underground, she added silently. Caraway is not as benign as you think he is.
Author's note: It was an idea that popped into my head without warning... review please?