Mel: Hellos again!
Figgy: Oh dear.
Mel: Here is the second preview, this one is a FreyaxFratley scene.
Figgy: (waves FreyaxFratley flag) whoooo!
Mel: Yes alright! (bonks)
Figgy: Anyhoo, this scene takes place after the game finishes-
Mel: And after the first preview scene-
Figgy: So sit back and reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeead!


Final Fantasy IX-2 Destiny Calls

Previews

Preview 2

Freya and Fratley

"Are you still reading that?" a voice called out from the bottom of the staircase. Freya looked up from her book and immediately squinted her eyes as the sun shone into them through the window. The library in Cleyra was small, but it was cosy and secluded. The main floor was large, with many bookcases littered around, but there were other staircases leading to upper floors. The most secluded of the floors was the very top, which was in the form of a hexagonal tower. A huge window loomed over one wall, emphasizing the light blue paint. Freya's favourite spot in this room had always been the windowsill; more than once she had fallen asleep while reading.

Freya jumped down from the windowsill and trotted over to the railing over the stairs, yawning slightly from her discomfort. She peered down to see Fratley gazing up at her.

"Yes I am, and I'm going to continue to until I work out an answer!" she pouted, then chuckled as Fratley gave an impatient sigh. She walked back to her sunbeam as she heard him coming up the stairs. He looked along the bookshelf and selected a thick blue volume in silver print: The Stiltzkin Journal.

"May I?" he gestured towards the empty space on the windowsill next to Freya. Freya nodded absent-mindedly; her attention was on the text in her book once more. She had been reading the book for a while now and still could not find any information on a secret vault. She sighed and tossed the book onto the side table next to the window.

She looked out the window to see the hustle and bustle of the Cleyran market. Every one day of the week, the merchants of Cleyra would set up stalls and sell various items, be it weapons, medicine, exotic fruits and spices, or even books and clothes. She had taken a look around one week and found a new dress or two, her favourite being a red casual number with an emblem of a dragon on the back, curling round the skirt towards the floor. It had cost her quite a lot of money, at least 13000 Gil, but it had been worth it.

Today, however, she wore her everyday red waistcoat and long sleeved light blue shirt, with maroon trousers. She watched the young children run about and harass their mothers and smiled; partly because she must have been like that once, and partly because if it weren't for her, they wouldn't have been here.

She glanced away for a moment and her eyes settled on Fratley, who was immersed in the book he was reading. He always had a slight frown whenever he read something. Must have been from all those Daguerreo books. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed the way the light danced in his clear blue eyes. They sparkled intensely as the flittered across the pages…

Freya snapped her eyes open with a jolt as she realised she was falling asleep again. Damn, she thought, better go back to the cathedral.

She slipped down from the windowsill, and replaced the book back onto the shelf it originally came from. She then stretched and turned towards the staircase.

"Where're you going?" she heard Fratley ask. She spun round to look at him.

"Only back to the cathedral. My eyes are getting tired." She explained. Fratley nodded and returned to his book, and Freya started down the stairs and then walked out of the library doors into the sunny glare of Cleyra.

The sand was warm and snug against her feet as she walked across the path upwards. The constant sound of the trickle of water accompanied her towards the cathedral, as well as the returned howl of the gigantic sandstorm.

The cathedral stood proud and strong, as if it had never been knocked down by an Eidolon. Freya stood for a moment and gazed up at it, a frown on her face.

"Did I do this?" she asked herself softly. "Did I? Why was it so easy?"

After a slight pause and a sigh, she walked into the huge structure, towards her room. After all, it's more comfortable sleeping in a bed than a windowsill.

About an hour later, Fratley had finished the chapter he had been reading, and was starting to look cross-eyed at the page he was at. Deciding to come back and read it later, he dropped down from the windowsill and returned the book in its original place. He left the library and looked around the marketplace, stepping aside to let a group of children continue their game of Tag.

"Hello there, Sir Fratley!" an elderly merchant called out, grabbing his attention. "Been working hard?"

"No, we haven't had any major jobs so far." Fratley replied, walking up to the stall. There was an assortment of jewellery and headscarves as well as hair decorations. Gems and glitter shone at him in the desert sun.

"Like any of these?" the merchant joked. "Want a sapphire hair tie for your lovely long hair?"

Fratley laughed sarcastically, as he picked up a hair tie with green sequins and stones. He stared at it for a moment, as if remembering that precious moment on the windowsill, with Freya looking out of the window, the sun emphasizing the emerald colour of her eyes…

"Sir Fratley, I believe green won't suit you very well," the merchant remarked at his choice. Fratley snapped out of his trance.

"Oh, er, no…it's not for me…it's for someone else," he said. "How much?"

"250 Gil."

Fratley exchanged the money and pocketed the hair tie, then bid farewell to the merchant as he started towards the cathedral.

After the trek upwards, Fratley looked around for Freya, but could only see mothers and children, Oracles and Maidens. He spotted the High Priest standing near a bronze statue.

"Greetings again, Sir Knight." He solemnly bowed slightly.

"Hello again," Fratley returned the half-bow, "would you be able to tell me where Freya is right now?"

"Lady Freya returned to her chamber about an hour ago." The High Priest replied, gesturing towards the door leading to the cathedral chambers. Fratley nodded, half-bowed again, and wandered down the corridor, stopping at Freya's room.

"Freya?" he called out, tapping on the door. He listened carefully but could not hear a reply or any noise. He called out and tapped again, but there was still no answer. Wondering if she was simply ignoring him, he slowly opened the door, preparing himself in case she threw a book at him again. The scene that was revealed to him made him give a small gasp as he held his breath.

The sunlight shone through the medium sized window onto the bed, where Freya was lying, eyes closed in a deep sleep. Her chest rose and fell in rhythm with her breaths. One arm lay on the covers above her torso, her right arm was resting beside her head, in a reclining position.

Fratley crept in and walked over to the bed slowly, as if transfixed and drawn to it. He realised that his mouth was half open, and he closed it as he sat on the bed, eyes always on her sleeping face. He noted how the sunlight glittered in her hair, as if a million moonbeams shone in the warmth of the afternoon sun. He gulped and noticed that his mouth had run dry, and his heart was pounding against his chest. Perhaps it was because she looked so beautiful and innocent in her sleep, with that peaceful expression on hr face, or maybe his heart was yearning for something.

There was no mistake in that he had fallen for her. Because he was completely and utterly in love with her sparkling eyes, her mystical silver hair, her childish attitude and chatter, her beautiful smile and laugh that lit up a thousand lights around her face to illuminate her features, like how she would raise an eyebrow when acting sarcastic or unconvinced, or when she thought he was nuts; how her eyes would widen in childish glee whenever something good happened.

He raised a hand and touched her cheek gently, feeling its softness and warmth. Fratley sighed as he watches this angel sleep and found himself uttering the same words again:

"I wish, how I wish I could remember you." Then he might know her even better, and love her more for her personality and less for her elegant yet childish charm. Fratley smiled as he whispered, "I know you said nothing romantic happened between us in the past, but I'm sure that there must have been one point where I wanted to be with you…"

He felt a sudden movement and knew that she was awake as he right hand closed over his that was on her cheek, and her eyes fluttered open.

"F…Fratley?" she whispered sleepily. Fratley smiled down at her.

"Hey," he said. "Sorry I woke you up."

Freya shook her head. "No, its okay, I've been sleeping for a while anyway…" she removed her hand from his as she got up. He replaced his hand back in his lap, and felt the hair tie from inside the pocket. He reached in for it, saying, "I got you a present, at the market. I hope you like it." He put the trinket into her outstretched hand, and watched her shocked and delighted expression as she saw what it was.

"Oh, Fratley, it's beautiful…it's the same colour as my eyes…" Freya whispered. She immediately started to put it in her hair, pulling up the silver strands into a ponytail. "It's perfect," she murmured, a deep blush coming over her.

Fratley smiled, and found himself blushing too. "Your hair looks good tied up," he admitted. Freya giggled.

"I used to have it up all the time I was a Novice," she explained. "I only kept it down when I was travelling, and thought there was no point in having it up if…you weren't there to take pleasure in it…" She immediately regretted what she said, and felt wicked when she saw the solemn expression in his face.

"I-I'm sorry," Freya apologised quickly, only to be returned by a swift shrug. She stared at him for a few seconds, as he was looking at the floor like a child who'd been caught eat sweets before bedtime.

"But…it really is beautiful. Thank you," she smiled, and reached out for his hand. He looked at their entwined hands for a few seconds, and then looked up at Freya, who was smiling sweetly. Fratley watched the sunlight dance in her eyes and hair once more before he found himself edging towards her. Freya blushed even more as she felt him come closer until their noses were nearly touching. When he spoke his breath caressed her fur and hair,

"It suits you because you're very beautiful, too."

Freya's heart thudded as he lifted a hand to brush away a lock of hair. It had always been a dream of hers that Fratley would speak to her like this…

But that was the old Fratley she would dream about…

And yet here she was staring into his eyes, noticing how a more intense blue they seemed…

"F…Fratley?" she whispered huskily. His hand had started travelling down to her neck, massaging the tense areas. She found herself sighing at the feel of it, closing her eyes.

Her sigh shot through him like a thousand volts, and he couldn't take it any longer. Holding onto the back of her head and neck, he descended and captured her mouth in his in a tender kiss. Freya's eyes flew open in surprise, but after a few seconds she closed them willingly, and ran her fingers through his hair.

The air in the room was suddenly so stuffy and heated up, and their kisses became more urgent as he wrapped his arms around her, and she had pulled him down until they were lying down. Freya didn't care what happened next, all she wanted was to be with this man for now…

A knock on the door halted their passionate embrace, and they lay staring at each other, trying to catch their breath. Fratley realised that his hands were hovering in front of her torso, as if about to undo her waistcoat buttons. He cringed and pulled back swiftly, ashamed about what he was about to do.

"C-come in," Freya called out breathlessly, sitting up as well, trying to comb her hair back into its almost-tidy state.

The High Priest entered and gave a small bow. "Lady Freya, the King wishes an audience with you…are you unwell?" he asked. Freya was puzzled.

"No, no, why would I be?" she replied.

"It's just that your face is bright red."

No wonder, Freya thought. I never knew he could kiss like that. Thinking about it, that was my second real kiss with him…

Fratley suddenly stood up and turned to her. "Then I will leave you to pack," he said, nodding. Before Freya could answer a protest, he had gone out of the door.

And yet as he walked down the corridor, he had a huge grin on his face. Because even if their future looked vague, he was happy to have had at least that precious kiss.


Figgy:...Kinky...
Mel: (whacks Figgy with saucepan)
Figgy: Sorry (cringe) but yes, very sweet as well :3
Mel: Should I do a scene before or after the game next?
Figgy: Why don't we ask the readers?
Mel: Okays! Please R&R and the first person who answers gets...A COOKIE!!!
Figgy: ZOMG! WOW!