Author's Note: Just so you know, I don't plan on having this fic anywhere near as long as Two Tail...moving on.
It was only until a few hours later when Tifanira finally emerged from her quarters, a heart wrenching feeling taking hold in her chest. Something was terribly wrong, but what, Tifanira was unsure. But one thing was certain, it involved her sister. This made Tifanira break into a run, letting the feeling in her chest lead her.
"Princess!?" a voice called, startled by her running form and giving chase due to his curiosity. But she paid him no mind, her long legs eating up the distance between her and her sister. She didn't even use the stairs; she just jumped over the railings to the floors below.
"Aerith...?" She panted, her speed slowing to a halt to peer out one of the many windows.
There she was, huddled against the willow from before, weeping due to unknown causes. Tifa was at a loss of what to do. It wasn't like Aerith to cry at all. Normally, if something was bothering her, she'd just brush it off and seek out the companionship of her sister. The only times she'd cry, if at all, was when she'd lost, or was losing, a friend. But even then, such anguish was never as strong as it was now.
"Princess what's..." Cloud was struck dumb at the sight. Tifanira was standing tall, a sense of being torn surrounding her form as tears cascaded down her cheeks unknown to the owner. But down below, Princess Aerith was also crying, as if her tears were what caused Tifanira's sorrow. But now was not the time to dwell; the light of the sun was nearly gone and the shadows seemed to grow longer by the second.
Tifa no longer thought; she just did. She opened the window, cast an aero spell and, using the powerful wind, she then glided down the remaining three stories, Cloud close behind, but using his own aero spell. And, just as they landed, the shadows had grown to an eerie length.
"Aerith." Aerith bolted upright at her sister's voice. "Aerith, look out!!" Tifa cried. Just then, a shadow removed itself from the ground and launched itself at the eldest princess. The shapeless mass wreathed and morphed into a spire, slicing through the air with nary a sound.
But it would not reach her. Using the trunk of the tree, Aerith kicked off of it and launched herself into a backwards arch high over the earth, an aero spell whirling at her palms, so that when they touched the soil, Aerith was able to propel herself back into the air and back onto her feet at her sister's side. Her eyes no longer held the sorrow that had previously claimed her, now they held a calculating gleam, searching for her assailant.
"You okay?" Tifa inquired, taking a more defensive position as Aerith nodded. "You?" Tifa glanced at Cloud for a fraction of a second. He, too, nodded as he took a fighter's stance, placing himself in front of the two princesses.
Both turned to face each other, Aerith and Tifa chuckling to themselves before turning, so that there would be no surprise attacks from the rear. Then they waited.
They waited, unmoving, and unwavering, their guard never dropping. Nothing could deter them. Not the howling winds, nor the rustling bushes. They were merely distractions from the assailant, whom danced within the shifting shadows.
"Damn it." Cloud swore, his glowing eyes searching for the silhouette that seemed to taunt him, entering and exiting his vision as if beckoning him. "Where are your guards?"
"Probably guarding the dining hall since dinner should be starting soon." Aerith replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"We don't have time for this." Tifa hissed vehemently, infuriated that they were being attacked on the palace grounds today of all days. She then stood tall, dropping her arms and bringing her feet together to look more presentable, princess like. "Let's head inside to warn the guards." within an instant Aerith's eyes were on her. The glowing emerald made eerie due to their disembodied appearance. This made Tifa wink.
"Okay Tifa." Aerith finally agreed, smiling kindly before she started walking toward the palace, only to be struck down by another shadow spire; the dark mass piercing her heart.
Red and Blue flames raced toward the spire, lighting up the garden and forcing a high pitched shriek to be ripped from the object embedded in a human shaped clay doll, the earthen hands grasping the spire, soulless eyes staring at nothing, but seeing everything.
"Aerith, Now!!" Tifa bellowed before tackling Cloud to the ground and covering his body with hers, only to be flipped over and pressed to the ground as a wave of luminescent light radiated from Aerith's form. The surge of holy creating winds that bent forced even the trees to bend at her power. Then, all was quiet.
"Aren't you going to inform the guards of what happened?" Cloud inquired, noting how the two princesses aided each other in making themselves presentable for dinner. Tifa just waved him off nonchalantly, fixing Aerith's hair with practiced precision.
"She will, when she feels the time is right." Aerith answered in her sister's defense, knowing that was the truth.
"Prince Cloud, would you be so kind as to give me a moment alone with my sister." Tifa requested, giving him her full attention as she spoke. But, in her eyes, was defiance. As if she was daring him to say no.
Cloud's desire to say no, to take on her challenge, was evident. He no longer felt himself or the princesses were in danger, but he would feel guilty if he left them alone after the attack. What should he do? "...I'll wait for you at the stairs. That should be far enough so I won't hear you, but close enough in case anything else happens." Cloud then stalked off to the stairs, leaving no room for Tifa to argue against the compromise.
Once he was out of ear shot Tifa turned to her sister. "What's wrong? I never see you cry?" Tifa inquired with a soft voice, not wishing to scare her sister or to let Cloud know of their discussion.
That's when Aerith broke down, tears pouring from her eyes in torrents. Her knees were weak, her head hurt, her vision was blurred, she had no choice to rely on her sister to keep her standing. "I've been betrothed... They're sending me away." she whimpered. "I don't want to marry him, I don't even know him!" she cried miserably, a little louder then she intended.
"Shhh, it's okay, I'm here." Tifa held her older sister tighter, rubbing her back in a motherly fashion.
"But you saw him! Zacharaiah is a lecher! How can I marry him!?" She shouted the last bit, her knees giving out as Tifa press her head to her generous bosom.
"Zack's not so bad." Cloud interrupted, startling the two girls and making them face him. "I'm sorry to overhear, but it's true. Sure he's a lecher and his wondering eyes and...somewhat loose personality have gotten him in trouble on many occasions, but if there's one thing I can guarantee about my brother is that he keeps his oaths and he'll treat you with utmost respect. I promise." Cloud knelt before the two and bowed his right hand over his heart and his left bent in front of him as he bowed his head.
This seemed to calm Aerith, but only slightly. But it did stop her tears from falling.
"Besides, if he pulls anything funny, I'm sure your sister and I would put him in his place." Cloud's words madr Aerith chuckle as Tifa nodded her head with one of her patented grins, the one that clearly stated that she could kick anyone's ass.
"I'll do that any day." Tifa proclaimed, wiping her sister's tears with her thumb. "Look at us, we're going to be filthy at dinner." she chuckled before all three made a face at the upcoming lecture on tardiness and cleanliness. Oh joy...
It was almost funny how the three tried to slip in to the dining hall, hand in hand and trying to hide each other's stains. It almost worked too, but one of the maids, whom seemed to have a personal vendetta against one or both of the princesses ratted them out.
"Goodness me! How did your clothes get so dirty!?" the blonde maid exclaimed with mock concern.
"Aerith!? Tifanira!? What on earth!?" the queen stared at them, clearly appalled and embarrassed by their state of dress.
"Solaris Cloud!?" The King Solaris glared at his youngest, fearing the worst of his son.
Zack merely hid his grinned, though his behavior was somewhat subdued due to the news. He was also upset about the wedding arrangements.
The three teens looked at each other, each at a loss of words as to what they should do, but it was Tifa that spoke.
"It's my fault" The Queen Lunaris gave her a look. "I was wandering the gardens with my sister when Cloud came to get us for supper; I guess I lost my footing and fell, pulling both down with me." Tifa even managed to look embarrassed.
"That's so unlike you, you're usually so graceful." King Lunaris looked at his daughter with concern.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention." Tifa curtsied
"I'm also to blame." Both Aerith and Cloud chimed in, not willing for Tifa to take all the blame.
"I wasn't looking where I was going and tripped. When Tifa tried to catch me I knocked her off balance so when Cloud tried to catch us we both pulled him down." Aerith finished, ignoring Tifa's look.
"So in essence, you were all clumsy." Zack summarized, but you could see in his eyes that he didn't buy it.
"We're sorry." All three bowed.
"No need to worry, these things happen, now sit so that we may eat." King Lunaris smiled kindly, filling all those who saw it with warmth.
Without another word the three took their seats to eat.
The princes and princesses were then sent off to have dessert and to "get better acquainted" in Aerith's parlor. A random guard trailing behind to "protect the princesses' chastity", but as soon as they were out of the ear shot of the parents the guard left.
"Later princesses" the guard waved before parting ways with them.
"Later Yu." they waved back before entering Aerith's wing.
"So what really happened?" Zack demanded once the door was closed.
"Nothing." Tifa waved him off before whistling loudly, summoning Twilight. She then claimed one of the beanies on the floor as her own. Cloud joined her on its pair as Twilight came in through the doggie door.
"Cloud?"
"Nothing to concern yourself with." was all he said as he watched Tifa play with a deck of playing cards. "Anyone up for a game of poker?" Tifa only grinned.
"And I thought I was bad at gambling." Zack taunted, earning a pinch on his arm from Aerith, whom lost...again. "Ow! It was a joke!" Zack whimpered, attempting to be cute. "If you should be pinching anyone, you should be pinching him!" Zack pointed with a cheesy grin. "This was Cloud's idea."
"For once we agree." Aerith turned a half hearted scowl at the blonde.
Cloud just feigned ignorance, his eyes never leaving Tifa's in a battle of wills. He was thoroughly enjoying himself, the victories going back and forth between the two.
"Can we play something else!?" Aerith whined since she lost again.
"I'd take 'go fish' over this; we have yet to win at all." Zack added.
"...Fine..." Tifa pouted, she wanted to break the tie between her and Cloud, but she was getting bored, besides, they weren't even gambling anything. "How about cheat (BS)?"
"I don't see the difference, but okay." Cloud agreed, scowling at their score board of wins. 3 to 3, lovely.
"Fine with me, maybe I'll actually win a round." Zack stated while Aerith nodded in agreement.
"Don't you wish?" Cloud murmured under his breath, making Tifa chuckle.
"What was that little brother?" Zack leaned forward comically, with his hand behind his ear so he could hear better.
"I said not on your life!" Cloud challenged
"Oh, it's on." Zach was never one to back down from a challenge, no matter how small.
"Pshaw, as if either of you could beat my Tif." Aerith boasted
"How about a wager then?" Tifa started as she shuffled the deck. "If we Aerith or I win, whichever of you loses first gets to take us shopping, your treat." Tifa and Aerith shared a glance, a look of smugness blooming on their faces.
"Fine, but if I win, I get a kiss from both of you." Zack decided before all looked at Cloud expectantly.
Cloud thought for a moment, stroking Twilight's fur as he did so. He really didn't know what to as for as a prize, he really didn't know much about them or this kingdom aside from what he's been told. That's it! "If I win, you can give me the grand tour of the village."
"Sounds fair to me, let's do this."
"It's been a pleasure doing business with you." Aerith and Tifa giggled in unison.
"You tricked me!" Zack pointed and accusatory finger at Aerith.
"'Tricked' is such a harsh term, I'd much prefer 'predicted your reactions'" Aerith twirled some of her hair around her finger.
"How's this, since we both lost I'll help you out." Cloud offered.
"And since we're so nice, we'll still give you guys that tour."
Author's Note: As far as I'm concerned, they had cards and games like BS, in fact, I had half the mind to have them play clue! Next chapter will have more cloti in it, I promise, especially since they're the main pairing in this fic.