Disclaimer: All things pertaining to FFVIII does not belong to me. However, I own my OC Jamaila and anything else unrecognisable … Pretty much.
Author's Note: Hey, it's Ash again! And for those of you waiting for updates from my other fics – rest assured, I'll be getting to them: but this idea just had to be typed up. You understand … don't you??
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"True loyalty is about speaking openly about what you think is right, and what you think is wrong." Commander Ferid Falenas - Suikoden V
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For The Love Of Gaia … !
Chapter 1: True Loyalty
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Galbadia Castle – Outside
"Come on, don't be such a Chicken-Wuss!" The blonde boy cried, and his foot found its way to the soccer ball, which was hit with such force that the said object was flung over the castle wall.
"See? Now look what you've done!" The so-called 'Chicken-Wuss' shouted back, as he had turned around to watch the other blonde's shot. "Now, you're going to be in trouble, Seifer!"
The boy called Seifer just shrugged carelessly. "No worries. I'm sure the maid or someone will just throw it back to us." However, at that instant, a bellow could be heard from inside the castle.
"SEIFER ANUBIS ALMASY! What have you done this time?!"
The other boys had their eyes widened: possibly in fear that the King would have them reprimanded, and opted to go back to their respectable homes, whilst thinking of excuses.
"Sorry, Seif, my parents said that …"
"I've got a project that I need to finish off …"
After the youngsters scarpered, that just left Seifer and Zell: the latter with his eyebrows closely knitted together, and lips slightly parted, eyes on Seifer's expression. The said blonde had no evident expression on his face that showed fear or even awareness. On the contrary, he seemed indifferent about it, although his face wore a scowl and he shouted back to his father. "Coming!"
Without looking back at Zell, Seifer made his way inside the castle, passing through the corridors until he reached his father's room. A middle-aged blonde haired man was reclined in one of the many armchairs located there: his pose domineering and tyrannical. The man seated was none other than Sir Josef Kratos Almasy, ruler of the Galbadia Kingdom for only a year. This obviously meant that his son Seifer was the Prince and the heir to the throne. However, suffice to say, his son's behaviour was far from princely.
The King looked critically at his son. "Well?"
Seifer did nothing else but decide to play dumb. After all, his father's continuous 'speeches' did nothing to entertain him. In fact, the young Almasy found them so tedious, that at times, he even felt compelled to do what he had said just to shut him up.
Although, that so-called 'instinct' lasted only a second before he just sighed and simply asked. "'Well' what?"
"What, in the name of Eden, did you do this time, Seifer?"
He actually called me 'Seifer' … I'm touched.
Rotating his eyes around, Seifer decided to make up another 'possibly satisfactory' excuse whilst mentally listing them all in his head.
Possibly Satisfactory Excuse Number 1: I found a dog who wanted to play 'Fetch' …Nah, he'd just tell me to discard it somewhere, or give it to some poor couple who can't reproduce.
Possibly Satisfactory Excuse Number 2: A meteor fell down upon the earth, which threatened to destroy the castle … Nah, he'd just tell me to find refuge somewhere. That, or have stood in front of the meteor's path, screaming 'Kill me, kill me!'
Possibly Satisfactory Excuse Number 3: I didn't do anything! Chicken - Er, Zell - did it! … Now, come to think of it, I doubt that Father even remembers who the hell Dincht even is …
With a sigh, Seifer kept his gaze on his father's face, careful to not show any unease he felt of being 'put to the spot'.
Okay, I officially have run out of Possibly Satisfactory Excuses … Although 'Number 3' sounded pretty cool …Not to mention that Chicken-Wuss would have taken all the blame.
… Ah, screw it.
" … I was playing soccer, but the ball didn't like me, and ended up going over the castle walls."
Raising an eyebrow at his impertinent son, Josef questioned him further: his voice containing a hint of irritation. "And, why exactly were you playing soccer in the gardens?"
Seifer shrugged carelessly. "… Because I was bored?" Yeah, that and the fact that it's a garden, where kids usually go outside and play sports, like - oh, I don't know - soccer?!
Josef sighed in annoyance, and then rose out of his seat. The authority he had over the kingdom was majestically presented just by the way he stood. Suffice to say, but the kingdom seemed to be at peace for the last 12 months: ever since the Almasy lineage had power over the throne.
"Seifer, you are a prince. It is one of the - no, the most - important purposes of the Almasy family to -"
Seifer rolled his eyes mentally at his father's constant speeches about the Almasy family line.
Oh, Hyne: there he goes again …
"- have been ruling the throne for a long time now, and would hate to see -"
Yawn, how much more boring could this get?
"- you understand?"
Seifer, now awoken from his thoughts, looked at his father blankly. "Say what?"
The older man glared at his son - who folded his arms. "I was referring to our 'true purpose'. You understand about that, don't you?"
Not wanting his father to shout at his lack of concentration - and, I so do not want to hear him going on about it again - Seifer simply waved a hand in dismissal, much to his father's anger.
"Yeah, don't worry. I heard you loud and clear, Dad."
"Very good. Now, I want you to go up to your room and study. And, don't come down today: I've got some very important guests coming, and I would hate for them to be perturbed by your antics."
Gee, you make me feel so loved, old man. However, not wanting to argue - yet - Seifer quickly bowed - which was a start - to his father, and then made his way upstairs.
... What the hell did he mean by 'true purpose'?
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Centra Castle - Kitchens
"Come, come. We must make haste! Ze Queen and the Princess will be arriving soon!" The frantic Head Chef bellowed: his arms waving around wildly, whilst others moved, cooked, and began to test different dishes. "Vat vould zey say if zere is no food prepared for zem?! Oh, vat to do, vat to do?!"
Even the simple act of someone pushing open the door from the other side caused the Head Chef to go in a panic.
"Oh, non: I am so sorry, Your Majesty!" He wailed. "I should have made you un excellente dish: oh, I am sorry! So sorry - !"
"Hey, Patrice: If you were really sorry, you'd be giving me a big dish of chocolate fudge cake right about now", came the male voice.
Patrice raised himself up from his bowing position and called out. "Iz it you, Kinneas?"
"You got it," was the grinning reply, as the figure dubbed 'Kinneas' entered. Dark green eyes shone with over-confidence and his burgundy-colored tresses cascaded down his back: held back in a ponytail. He was dressed in the traditional 'Centran Knights' uniform: which was mainly black in color, save for the steel-rusted armor plate worn on the upper body, as well as steel-capped boots.
Visibly relaxing, the chef placed a large hand on his chest, and let out a sigh. "Oh, thank ze heavens: I thought it was Her Majesty the Queen!"
Gesturing behind him with his right thumb, Irvine spoke. "Nah, she's currently with the Princess now. But," he added, and grinned. "- She could come in here any-"
"Quick! Everyone, prepare your dishes for Her Majesty the Queen, and Her Highness the Princess!"
"H-hey, Patrice! I was just -"
But, the Head Chef had already made his way to the inner kitchens, hoping to take charge of all the ruckus in the kitchens. Which left a very awkward Irvine.
Man … That guy obviously doesn't know the difference between jokes and the truth.
… But, hey: he's truly loyal to the Queen and Princess. Which reminds me …
Where's her room again?
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A/N: And that ends the chapter! Sorry for the lack of words, but think of this as a sort of - prologue!
Some Further Notes:
: All the chapters would include a quote, saying, or phrase that would also be the title of the chapter, as well as the last quote said in the chapter. (If you didn't get that, no worries! Just forget I wrote it!) :
: I was pretty unsure as to what sport Seifer should have been playing at the start, but because of my brother's obsession with it, I decided on soccer. (Keep in mind that it was just for fun: he's not going to be some professional footballer, or anything.) :
: The names that I made up were mostly obtained from the website "". :
: 'Anubis' is the Greek form of the Egyptian name 'Anpu', which means 'Royal Child.' I found that fitting to Seifer, since he is the 'Prince' in this fic. :
: 'Josef' is the German, Scandavian and Czech form of 'Joseph', which means 'He Will Add'. Truthfully, I didn't give King Almasy that name because I found it fitting: I had read it in a fic, and simply thought it was a nice name. (I can't remember the name of the fic, though.) :
: 'Kratos' means "Power" in Greek, which has always been my impression of Sir Almasy: powerful and tyrannical. :
: 'Patrice' is simply the French form of the Roman name 'Patricius', which means 'nobleman' in Latin. And, he is kind of noble … isn't he? :
And, lastly, don't forget to R&R, please!
Ash XX