A/N: First off: Gah! Wonderful! Such lovely reviews! And people are already showing an interest in this story! I'm so relieved! Second of all: This is the update before my upcoming exam so...well, good luck to myself heh heh. But seriously, once the exam is over, I can write to my hearts content (and ponder over M.A.'s next chapter. Writer's block sucks ass)

Thirdly, I have two anon. reviews. As per usual, I always make a habit of trying to reply to everyone who's reviewed (because what the hell, it feels more personal) so, I shall reply here. faye, this is for you, an essay to reply to your essay:
I don't know why but I always liked Cloud before he finds out that he's not really who he thinks he was (that being a First Class SOLDIER) and I always found how he seemed to throw the title around so casually as borderline bragging. Then his self-esteem goes for a downward spiral and he becomes the hero with self-worth issues that we all come to know and love. For the character of Cloud in this story, I based it on how we were introduced to Cloud (in my mind's eye) in FF7, just out of personal preference. But, you'll see that I follow the same path of the Cloud we all know and love later on. Character development and AU is a beautiful thing, innit?
Leon less of an asshole? Don't be so sure. If you read up on the knights of yore (e.g. King Arthur and his round table), you'll notice that the tales tell of chivalry (e.g. Defeating a knight, taking him to your castle to tea and discussing his ransom (not quite but you get my drift) and rescuing damsels in distress). I've based that side of Leon on that, but I've also used some other historical references (aka Vikings!) So...read this chapter and you shall see.
Yes, I realise I cut a major chunk out of the battle but it was for simplicity's sake and to speed up the action. I will try to keep most details of battle within from now on, but if it's getting tedious, I won't go to great extents like Homer had with the Illiad, Virgil with the Aeneid and a few other war epics from the classics (I study Classical Civilisations heh heh). Oh, as for the resigning to death thing, well that'll be explained here.
Your other questions: Give it time, they will be answered. I'm one of those writer's that start vague and elaborate as I go along. Otherwise known as: "A writer who goes off the top of her head and never really truly plans where she's going because she knows all too well that she'll go on a tangent during the middle that won't fit with the ending". (raises hands up in surrender) I confess that I am one of those.
Other than showing you how my mind works (and what a lengthy reply that was (phew)), I accept your challenge! I solemnly swear to make this better as I go along, even if it means doing lots of research (which any good writer worth his/her/it's salt should do if they are writing something with a historical background) And as for the recommendation, I shall read it (big grin). Thank you for the long critique. I look forward to hearing from you again :-)
And to chibi: Thank you! (big grin) I shall do my best!

OK, that's all from me! Much love and please review so I can better the story!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All I own is the storyline! If I did own Cloud Strife, I would be doing all sorts of things to him. Same with Leon if he didn't have such a scary attitude.

Panic. That was the one word that could express young Prince Roxas' current mindset. He was panicking because he was riding back to Hollow Bastion as fast as Oblivion's legs could carry him under the cover of night but he had a group of five of those barbaric enemies following him with all haste, foremost among them being that redhead that had terrified Roxas. His laughter brought chills down Roxas' spine, knowing that this was all a game to him. A game that would only end when either Roxas was caught or he had managed to escape to the safety of the castle walls.

Well, he planned on getting back home whether this barbarian liked it or not. He took a detour, knowing it would be far easier to lose the group through the forest than it would riding through the plains. Of course, Oblivion was not going to have it, not when the easiest path was through the plains.

"Oblivion!" he yelled, "This way!"

Oblivion reared up, clearly having other plans despite being pulled quite painfully by the reigns. Roxas would not let up though, the desperation to escape being the driving force to his decision. The next thing Roxas knew, he was falling down onto his back onto the hard ground, watching Oblivion gallop away. Roxas looked around frantically, seeing the forest standing there watching him like stone-faced spectators, seeing the events but doing nothing to help. Roxas picked himself up hastily, running straight for the trees. If he could hide there and make his way to Hollow Bastion, he would get there by the morning light. However, Roxas had never ventured into the forest. Where he expected it to have clear pathways like those of the royal hunting forests, this one was wild and grew as it pleased, a maze of gnarled roots and oaks and leaves and danger. For now, Roxas could only despair later and think of hiding away now. The barbarian with red hair was getting ever closer.

Axel was quite the unusual fellow. Kind and merciful as a friend, he was also the perfect warrior. He craved for blood, he used all sorts of tactics for intimidation and, if all else failed, he had been relied on to find 'holes' in the enemy ranks. His methods varied from just picking away and spotting a weakness or, in the case of a siege, sneaking over the walls at night and going around the walls to search for weak points. If there was also one thing he loved, it was the chase in a hunt. Didn't matter if it was a would-be-prisoner or something for the cooking pot, Axel loved the chase before the kill.

This was no different. He saw what he liked. He was going to have it regardless.

"You two. Follow the horse. The rest of you, follow me!"

Roxas sat fearfully in the hollow of an old oak, his mind going through the reasons why he had sneaked out to fight.

To start off with, Roxas, as the youngest prince and the one who 'would not amount to anything', had wanted to prove himself to everyone in Hollow Bastion that he was not some pretty thing that would come out for ceremonies or be used as a marriage tool towards peace. No; he wanted to prove that he could amount to something, and what better way to prove himself than to fight in this war over land. He would be a hero. Or at least, that was the plan that had gone pear-shaped when Cloud and the other commanders failed to notice the third party that was coming up from the rear.

Cloud…if he had been killed, that meant Roxas was the new heir to the throne. He gulped. That was indeed a hefty burden to bear but again, it was a way to prove himself to his people.

But at what cost? His brother was now presumably dead. The very brother who had faith in Roxas, who didn't treat him as if he was useless and who vowed that he would protect no matter what, he was gone. Roxas curled up tighter. So much for proving himself. He would've gotten more attention from his father and the courtiers but now he was without a friend to rely on.

"Cloud…I'm sorry…" he whimpered.

Axel looked around the forest. So his little accolade wanted to play hide and seek? Well, he would comply. Just added more entertainment for his amusement. He jumped off his sorrel horse, a colt that he called Flame, and tied his reigns to a branch so that the colt wouldn't run away. Flame whinnied, reaching to eat oak leaves but unable to reach. Axel smirked at him, giving the colt a firm pat on his neck.

"No acorns," he whispered.

He took a few cautious steps into the forest, chakrams resting on his hips. His eyes darted from place to place, taking in his surroundings and watching or listening for signs of his haul's movements.

Roxas tried to keep his breath light when he heard footsteps crunching dead leaves underfoot. His heart thumped and knocked at his ribs, his mind now only thinking of ways of escape. He had to get away from this man. For the sake of Hollow Bastion, he must not be captured. Poking his head out very slightly, his heart sunk to the pit of his stomach when he saw that it was the red haired warrior that was after him. He gulped quietly, now even more frantic to run away.

The warrior's back was turned. If he could just…yes, that would work. Taking a few deep silent breaths, he clambered carefully out of his hiding place, crawling away to where even more trees grew in a tight cluster. He froze when his knee broke a twig loudly, face pale and eyes wide.

Axel turned when he heard the sharp snap of a twig breaking. He turned swiftly, seeing the golden haired, pale skinned and sapphire eyed prize that Axel had chased for hours. A large toothy grin spread across his features. "Found you."

The boy picked himself up and started running as fast as he could to the trees. Axel rolled his eyes but followed suite. The boy was quick, he could give him that but Axel had longer strides and more endurance from hunting and fighting. This blue eyed hare was not going to escape. "Stop running! You're only going to tire yourself!"

Roxas knew that. He put a hand where a small dagger was. His father, once a great warrior in his day, had told him that there was nothing more humiliating and dishonourable than being captured by your enemies. The only way to salvage your honour was by death. Other than that, having a dagger on your person can prove to be an effective weapon against your pursuer if he got to close to you. He unsheathed it, seeing the cold metal glitter in the little light that managed to come through the leafy canopy above. The prince swivelled on his heel, dagger ready to gut his hunter.

Axel saw the movement and recognized it. So he was getting desperate. Well, if he was going to use weapons then he didn't see why he shouldn't use one himself. He grabbed one of his chakrams and kept it behind him, watching the boy lunge. He twisted his body quickly, grabbing the boy by his wrist and pulling him in so that the boy's back collided into his chest, a point of his chakram at his neck and the hand with the dagger tightly held into a crushing grip.

"Unhand me!" the boy yelled. "Let me go!"

"Just so you can run away again?" Axel asked, amused. "Not likely." He squeezed the boy's wrist tighter, forcing him to let the dagger go. "A hunter doesn't let go of his catch."

"I'm not some prize!" the boy struggled, trying to get out of Axel's grip.

"Actually, you are," Axel grinned, taking the chakram away from his throat and throwing him over his shoulder. "I rode all the way and found you here, hence I have earned you."

"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go or you'll suffer the consequences!" the boy screamed, hitting and bashing Axel's back with curled fists. It didn't affect him that much. Axel was used to capturing unwilling prisoners and spoils of war. In this case, the boy was a spoil since he wasn't willing to let him suffer a prisoner's fate.

He was much too pretty to look at, Axel had thought.

Cloud panted heavily, whole body exhausted, a wound from Leon's sword bleeding heavily. Leon sat on a pile of animal skins and silken pillows from Wutai, observing the fallen prince.

He is indeed a striking boy, the king thought. A striking boy who needs to be tamed.

Cloud looked at him with one startling sapphire coloured eye, glaring at him.

"I admire your resilience but watching you fight on like this is rather tiresome," Leon stated, leaning back into his seat. "Will you not just lie back and relax?"

"I will not surrender to the likes of you," Cloud growled.

Leon sighed. Alright, he would admit that he did force the young prince to watch the prisoners, his own men, get beheaded but to his credit he did save that silver haired one –what was the name Cloud had cried? Riki? No, Riku, that was it. Anyway, he thought this Riku would make a good gift to his little brother back at home. The boy was always looking for new 'friends' and the silver haired boy looked only about a year older than him. Yes, so in reality, keeping him alive benefited him. Much like keeping Cloud, despite his complaints of not being killed to salvage his honour -something that Leon snorted at; since when did war ever have honour- would benefit him for the mere reason to use as a tool in the upcoming siege. After all, might as well keep something precious to buy a way into something.

"Anything else we should do my liege?" the man next to him asked. He was a short man, not really built for battle, but his deep inquisitive indigo eyes showed a spark of intelligence that Leon appreciated. The steel-haired man turned to him, awaiting his word.

"I think we've done enough. I'm sure our 'guest' has some answers for us."

Cloud tried to stand up and charge at him but he was stopped by a well timed push from one of Leon's guards. The king sighed, shaking his head. "Tiresome indeed." He stood up and walked over to the prince, stormy eyes looking at him as coldly as a hawk would eye its prey. "So, Cloud-"

"Use the proper title," Cloud growled. He was given a swift kick for his insolence.

"Cloud," the king started again, grabbing the blond by his hair and forcing their eyes to meet, "tell me, how many men who can fight in your city?"

"I will never tell."

Leon couldn't help but smirk at that answer. "Weak as you are, you still remain insolent." He pushed Cloud's head to the rugs that covered the tent floor, keeping him there. "I will ask again: How many fighting men are there in your city?" Cloud remained silent, refusing to give answers. The king quirked an eyebrow. "You are making this more difficult on yourself by refusing to talk, you do know that?"

Cloud grunted, a deep hatred in his sapphire eyes. Leon's face was cold and emotionless, eyes like the merciless hawk. "You are trying my patience Cloud."

"What happened to the chivalry?" Cloud grumbled.

"The time called for it. Now, you are my prisoner. I can do whatever the hell I want with you."

Cloud struggled to raise his head. "You're acting against the code of chivalry."

"That code is a whimsical piece of nonsense," Leon muttered. "Do you honestly expect captors to offer a warm meal and ale to their prisoners? Or for kings not to resort to cowardly tactics and unnecessary means for ridiculous reasons?" He pushed Cloud's head harder into the floor, earning himself a wince from the blond. "Those ideals, Cloud, do not and will not exist. I can only guess that your father suggested that war is an honourable thing. Well I will tell you this: it's not. It never has and it never will. So do some growing up boy." He let him go, watching the boy's reaction. Cloud hardly stirred, that glare still in his eyes.

"Now…answer my questions and maybe I'll show some 'chivalry'," Leon said, eyes still hard and cold as stone. "How many fighting men inside your city? How many gates inside? How long do the watchmen stay on duty until they change? What are the defences like?"

Cloud looked away, refusing to answer him. Partly out of sheer pride as a countryman of this kingdom, partly because he just didn't know. Leon waited for a while. "Bring him up."

The guards forced the fallen prince to a kneeling position, making him look straight at Leon, their callous hands scratching the surface of Cloud's smooth skin.

"Are you going to continue to be stubborn or will I have to use methods I only reserve for common soldiers and thieves?" Leon asked lowly, eyes unwavering, face stern. In reality, he was looking at the boy's figure. Slender with slight muscles, pale pearl skin completely unmarked save for the wound Leon had recently given him during the mass execution. He wondered what the boy looked like under that blood stained navy tunic of his. But he kept such thoughts hidden. Right now, getting answers was the first priority.

"Do what you will. I have no answers to give you," Cloud said in a strangled growl, sapphire eyes still shining that hatred towards him.

"Zexion."

"My liege," the man behind him bowed, though Leon was not facing him.

"Fetch the whip."

"Right away." The man called Zexion passed the king, his guards and the prisoner, bowing quickly before leaving the tent and disappearing into the tents of the enemy camp. Leon stood up and walked back to his bearskins and pillows, watching the boy intently.

"How old are you boy?" Leon asked. The way the boy acted was like that of some greenhorn fop but in another way he was sort of childish. Much like how a child would try to be like an adult but find that the world of an adult was not all it seemed to be. Of course, Leon was not exactly going to go easy if this boy was still merely a child by their standards. He was just curious.

The boy frowned, looking away. Leon read those eyes. Stubborn, yet they were contemplating over whether he should answer or not. He then sighed. "Seventeen."

So he was just a boy. Leon let an inkling of a smirk settle on his usually stern face. "So your king sends children to fight his wars."

That got the young prince fired up. He struggled within his restraints. "My father was a great warrior and he still can make battle plans! I gladly agreed to his plans!"

Leon looked a little doubtful. "Your father is entering his sixtieth summer is he not?"

"Little difference! He will still find a way to crush you!"

Leon rolled his eyes and gave him a passive stare. "You have such faith in a coward."

"What?! Take that back!"

"I will not." Leon looked at him once more. "Look at the facts. Your father was a 'great warrior' as you put it. He is near sixty, and that is very old. I'm surprised he has even managed to live this long with all those ghosts haunting him. Getting back to my point, he is near sixty, an old age. I very much doubt he has much power over the running of his own kingdom. No; I think your little land is being run by his so-called advisors and servants." He sat up, looking at the ever-stubborn blond. "I bet he didn't even make the plans to send his precious lamb to the slaughter. More than likely, it would be whoever commands the military of your country for him." The cold smirk returned to his features. "So maybe, just maybe, I am doing some of your countrymen a favour. I bet you are so blinded by wealth and power that you have not even see the conditions your 'loyal' subjects have to live with."

"And you know your own?"

"Yes," Leon nodded. "I saw the turmoil my people were in when I first took on the responsibility of kingship. I found the means to solve it."

"What? By conquering other kingdoms?" Cloud snorted. The guards at either side of him where itching to hit the whelp but a look from their king restrained them.

"I had my reasons for invading those places. A little prince who was never groomed to rule a kingdom wouldn't understand."

Cloud struggled once again to break free from his restraints, but found himself unable to. Zexion came back, a red haired warrior following him.

"Ah Axel. You've come back from your chase." Cloud noticed the change of language. Leon seemed to talk to Axel so…informally, as if they were equals.

"Aye," Axel grinned, patting the now motionless back of his catch. "He was a tough one to catch but definitely worth it."

The two men walked past Cloud…and Cloud's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Thrown over the redhead's shoulder like some sack was his brother. For a moment, the prince didn't know what to do or think. Roxas had...sneaked away to fight. He could've been killed! And now…here he was. A prize of some barbarian. Cloud struggled again, only this time with more fire and force. Leon noticed it.

"Oh? It looks like our honoured guest recognizes your quarry."

"Does he now," the red haired warrior grinned, turning around and taking Roxas off his shoulder and laying him down on the floor. "Tell me who he is, O 'prince'."

Cloud knew that this warrior was mocking him. Well, he was second on his 'to kill' list, Leon topmost on it. He kept mute, not wanting to put his little brother in danger. Leon sighed. "You must forgive him. He has his moments when he forgets he has a tongue." Cloud shot him a death glare. Leon looked at him, unaffected but his eyes almost sent him a challenge to dare talk back to him. Cloud's lips remained firmly shut. He had seen that whip Leon had spoken of briefly. The black cord was something that he did not want to ever to be on the receiving end of. Leon came over, taking out a small knife from the cord belt that went around his tunic. "Well Cloud, if you don't know who he is, then I guess he's of no use to us." Axel didn't seem perturbed by the idea. Leon brought the knife down to slit Roxas' throat. Cloud gasped, closing his eyes tightly. Leon stopped, bringing the knife away.

"You're reactions give away too much Cloud. He must be very important to you for you to give such an action."

Cloud didn't respond or look at Leon, his eyes wavering, a deep panic having set into his mind. If Roxas was killed…it would've been his fault…like the deaths of all his men. Leon grabbed him by his hair again, forcing him to look at him. "Now, I want you to tell me who he is, otherwise I might just let your people identify him when we reach the city walls." Cloud could even dream of what Leon had planned for Hollow Bastion. "Well? What's it to be Cloud?"

Cloud's eyes were downcast. He had been beaten…twice. Physically and mentally, Leon had come out the victor. He took a deep breath, knowing that now, for the sake of his brother's life, he had to give in. "He is my brother, Roxas."

Leon's brow raised up in surprise, looking back to the knocked out boy. "My, your culture does send boys to their graves early."

"He wasn't even supposed to be here! I don't care what you do to me but please, don't hurt him! Do not let him get dragged into this!"

"You are not exactly in a position to demand such a request," the once silent Zexion spoke once more. "Prince Roxas is now our captive as are you. We can treat him however we please."

"Correction," Axel cut in. "He is my captive. I shall decide what he can and can't do." Zexion gave him a hard look. Axel grinned back like a cat that had eaten the prize canary and found a way into the best milk pail too. Leon ignored them, raising a hand to stop their fore coming squabble.

"Both of you leave for the night, and take the boy with you. I will further question Cloud." He stood up and took the whip from Zexion, who bowed respectfully and left. Axel grabbed his new prize and bowed too, giving Cloud a taunting glance before going on his merry way out, whistling a little. That left Cloud, the guards and the one who held the whip, the invader king, Leon.

"Now Cloud…how many men left in your city?"

Cloud looked away, keeping his ignorance. Faster than he could've expected it, he felt a sharp stinging crack against his tunic, tearing it and leaving a red mark on the pale skin underneath. The prince winced loudly, screwing his eyes shut at having never felt this kind of pain before.

"Every time you refuse to answer, I will add another lash to the amount I had given to you previously. For that question, I will take it as ignorance. After all, you were never expected to rule Hollow Bastion." Leon just felt like adding insult to injury. To be truthful, Leon only very rarely got the chance to torture his captives both physically and mentally but Cloud…he was an interesting boy. Whether it was out of sheer spirit or sheer ignorance, the boy seemed to refuse to surrender even if the consequences were dire. No matter. He could send one of Zexion's scouts to sneak into the city and scour for answers if he could get none here. "My next question: how many gates are there?"

Cloud didn't speak. Two whippings, a loud pained cry, more tears on his tunic and marks on his skin. If this kept up, Leon was going to see what the boy looked like underneath faster than he expected.

"I will ask again: how many?"

Cloud's cries echoed throughout the camp amidst the crackling of funeral pyres to commerate the camp's fallen comrades, their well-natured insults to the dead and celebratory merry-making that their fallen were going to Paradise and the shovelling of a pit for their enemy's headless bodies.