a/n: I originally planned my one-shot, "Defining Thy Loss", to be, well, a one-shot fanfic. But since its ending felt like a cliffie--a good one, I hope--I decided to take a nap then, eat some bbq fries then, play Crisis Core on PSP then, check for any possible new Versus info then, do my summer 'job' of (groan) washing the dishes at home then, take another nap then FINALLY, write a sequel! *celebrates* :D Thank you for all the lovely reviews, guys. :D I hope you guys will enjoy this [two-part] sequel. Warangel88 and SilverIceDragon03, I dedicate this chapter to the both of you. I hope you'll like it.
**New Character names:
Shotgun guy- Gael
Scarfaced guy- Lucas
Disclaimer: FF Versus 13 is owned by those guys hogging up all the info we crave for. -cough- SquareEnix -cough-
O
"CHASING THE END"
Invisible Push
-ロルデスちゃん (rorudesu-chan)-
O
O
O
Thwack! The sound of the club hitting the golf ball echoed across the field of lush green. A boy with black hair slicked backward to perfection, trailed his hit hovering past the red flag. He cursed. His loss was a turn granted to the next player who patted his club over his shoulder in anxiety. The boy looked to his side and grinned at his companion whose stare seemed to reach miles farther than where his golf ball had landed.
"Sometimes, I just don't know my own strength," the boy said, laughing. He expected a reply from his companion, the Prince Noctis, who was dressed in his usual black golfing attire. But when he did receive his reply, it was nothing more than an inaudible 'yeah'.
The boy sighed. "Aw c'mon Noct, buddy! It's not your fault she still doesn't want to talk to you."
"Lucas," his companion replied, transferring his stare to him. "It is my fault."
"But do you know why?" Lucas asked, standing beside him in front of their golf cart.
"Not exactly. And that's the problem."
Thwack! Another sound of a golf club smacking the white ball reverberated in the air. But this time, the one who hit the ball didn't curse. As he trailed it under the bright light of the early morning sun, he realized that he got a hole in one. Noctis and Lucas shifted their attention to Gael who was running toward them in delight. With a victorious smile, the blonde boy waved his club like a sword in the air.
"Ha!" Gael slowed down in his tracks. "That was a point ahead of you, Lucas. Let's see you beat that."
"Yeah, yeah," Lucas smirked, glancing to his right. "Your turn, Noct."
Noctis looked at his club, gazed straight ahead and turned to his friends. "I think I'm going to have to call it a day."
"What?" Gael exclaimed, disappointed. "But we only got started!"
"Sorry. I wasn't suddenly in the mood to play."
"Aw man! And I was already making it ahead of Lucas!" Gael insisted. "Don't tell me this is about my sister again."
"It is about your sister again," Lucas replied for Noctis who was spearing his club back into his golf bag.
"Woah. Wait. Hold on." said Gael, approaching the prince. "So let me get this straight."
Noctis shoved his hand into his pants and pulled the cart keys out. He was about to get himself in the driver's seat when Lucas blocked him with his arm.
Gael began enumerating with his fingers. "You got rid of that bastard who tried to take over this kingdom, you stole back your family's fortune, you're one with your people again and you're about to become King in just a few days!"
"But," Lucas added.
"But," Gael heavily sighed. "My sister still won't give a damn about you."
Lucas shook his head in disappointment. "Stella's probably the type to hold onto grudges."
"Jeez." Gael whirled his green eyes, placing a hand on the back of his head. "I thought you guys were okay already. You were helping each other out while you were fighting Marius, right?"
"That was a momentary ceasefire between us, Gael." informed Noctis. "According to her, setting aside our 'personal' conflict was the right thing to do so we could defeat Marius."
"But getting back with you wasn't the right thing?" Lucas asked.
"Apparently so." Noctis replied.
Feeling that the talk about that 'thing' between him and her was over, Noctis brushed Lucas' arm away that was blocking his entry into the cart. He sat himself on the driver's seat, thrust the key into the slot but did not turn on the engine yet. He placed a feet on top of the gas pedal and a hand over the steering wheel.
"You still love her?" Lucas leaned with his back on the cart.
"She's my life's greatest conquest," Noctis said softly. "Without her, I'm nothing."
"Poetic," Gael commented.
"You've gotta win her back, Noct." Lucas said. "Any plans?"
"I'm still thinking about it."
"Well," Gael patted his golf club over a shoulder. "You better think fast. Because she's leaving for Tenebrae tonight."
The prince snapped his head to the side. "What?"
"The government and the people need her, so she says." Gael wagged his hands in the air. "But you didn't hear this from me!"
"What're you going to do now, Noct?" Lucas asked.
"I don't know."
Noctis frowned and rested his forehead on the wheel. Stella said it so herself. He had lost her the moment he decided to give it all up—his kingdom, his fortune and his title. But he did get it all back. Except there was a price that had to be paid: her.
He knew that even if he was able to think of the smartest and most flawless plan possible to win her again, there was no way that Stella would simply come back running into his arms. She was a shrewd person. She didn't like the idea of someone trying to fool her once more. Yet that isn't what Noctis would want her to think at all. But knowing Stella, Noctis had to try harder than he has ever done in his whole life. But if she didn't believe him, what would become of him then?
It was the only question that hindered the prince from making his move to get Stella back.
"Hey," a voice pulled him from his train of troubled thoughts. Noctis lifted his head from the wheel and glanced where the voice had come from.
"I let you have her, didn't I?"
Gael glanced at Lucas who was looking at the prince with intense-filled eyes. He then shifted his attention to Noctis who seemed to be getting his much needed wake up call.
"Don't make me regret what I did, Noct." A hand grabbed Noctis by his collar. "Did you forget what you promised to me before?"
"I…" Noctis grimaced at the tightening grip.
"You said that you would never, ever let go of her. Because once you do… she's mine."
Noctis' eyebrows crossed. "Then go get her, Lucas. She's all yours."
"What?" Lucas stared in disbelief. Meanwhile, Gael felt himself almost vomit, hearing the two boys fighting over his sister. He was certain that things would soon get mushy and sappy.
"Stella doesn't want anything to do with me anymore," Noctis continued. "She said it so herself. I lost her."
"Saying that just means you don't love her."
"That's not true." Noctis sharply replied.
"Then go after her! She's leaving tonight, Noct. She's leaving for good." The boy held a fist in the air, ready to strike any moment Noctis said anything that would make him lose Stella all the more.
"Nothing is going to work anymore." Noctis replied in frustration. "Let's face it. It's all over."
The word, 'over', angered Lucas. He couldn't help but want to knock his sense back to him, literally. However, he chose not to fight. He loved Stella too, even before Noctis recognized his feelings for her. But he valued their friendship more than the girl that he was willing to help him get her back any way possible—even if it tore him up deep inside.
Noctis thought that he'd end up home with a bruise somewhere on his face. But as Lucas roughly pushed him away, he realized that his best friend was just trying to help him get back on his feet. He wished that Stella had chosen Lucas over him. He was quite certain that she would've been much happier if she did. He wouldn't hurt her. Or at least, not in the way that he does.
Gael trailed his scar faced companion with his eyes. "Hey, where are you going?"
Lucas kept his silence and without turning around, he shrugged in reply with a wave of his club in the air.
The Fleuret son returned his attention on the prince who remained seated inside his golf cart. Hearing its engine roar to life, he approached.
"So, uh, you're really done with her?"
Noctis brought his hands over the wheel and kept his look straight ahead. "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you and your sister, Gael. I won't be a bother anymore."
"It's not really me you should apologize to. It's her." Gael smirked. Realizing that their morning golf game was over, he tossed his club onto the grass, leaving it for any caddy to pick up later. He jumped inside the cart and settled himself behind the driver's seat.
Gael laughed, making Noctis curious about what was hilarious at the moment.
"I just can't believe that my sister was actually right," the blonde replied. "And I always thought that she was wrong."
Noctis didn't bother questioning what Gael meant by his words. Instead, he stepped on the gas pedal and the cart rode forward.
"You do give up easily, Noct." Gael remarked. "You really don't deserve to be called 'king'. Heck, you can't even reclaim what you love most in this world! I mean, if it was Marius in your place, he would've—"
The cart halted in a sudden screech. Gael would've been thrown outside the vehicle if he hadn't grasped on the leather hold that dangled above him. Noctis looked over his shoulder. Enough was definitely, enough.
"What could Marius possibly ever do that I can't?"
"Well, what do you think?"
"Nothing."
"Exactly that," the blonde smirked. His little plan was a success after all.
Noctis pressed one foot on the other pedal. He backed the vehicle an inch before maneuvering the wheel to the other direction.
Now he finally got what had made Stella upset at him for so long. She wasn't mad when he let his problems run loose instead by heating things up with her in the bar. She wasn't angered either when he accused her of planning to sleep with Marius to retrieve everything he had lost. Stella chose to stay away from him because of this particular bad habit that he kept committing, not just to her but to everyone else around him.
"So you have a plan now?" Noctis heard from behind him.
The prince nodded. "I'm in dire need of your assistance. If that's alright."
"Sure. But when you do get back with her, spare me this time from your make out sessions. Please." Gael emphasized his 'please' as his palms clasped together.
Noctis smirked in full agreement. "Let's make a tiny detour first."
He tried his best. He really did. But Lucas felt like beating himself up for not being able to knock his best friend back to reality—whether it was through literal means or otherwise. How could he not know that what he was about to really lose was the best that he could ever have in his life? Lucas hoped that there was still some way he could help Noctis. Anything for his dear best friend who had always stood by him through the ups and the downs.
Making his way across the course's green field, Lucas suddenly raised his head in wonder. He looked around for that voice that repeatedly said his name in haste. It grew louder as he saw a golf cart driving toward him in the distance.
"Hey!" Gael exclaimed as soon as they got close. "Hop in! We got work to do!"
A huge wide grin flashed across Lucas' face. The heavens must've heard his little plea. His attention settled on Noctis who seemed to have finally returned as the best friend he had always known and admired. The prince smiled back as he parked the cart beside him. Without any second thoughts, Lucas jumped inside the vehicle to join them in their plot to win Stella back for sure.
O
O
O
Reviews are always loved!! And of course, any suggestions to improve my writing. Thank you! :D