It's raining... I always get anxious when using a computer while the rain pours... Okay, here's Chapter 3... Edited on a whim. Please forgive me.
To The Crossroads Of Fate: Chapter 3
Kalm
Lucrecia sat quietly while the doctor checked on Tifa's unconscious body.
"I think we might need to do an X-ray on her." He frowned. "She is already in a state of coma, I'm thinking her physical condition isn't quite well."
Lucrecia nodded, her brows wrinkled. "Okay, could you do it now?"
"Yes, of course. Please wait outside with your number and I will notify you when it's done."
Lucrecia stepped out with heavy footsteps as the doctor and a nurse placed Tifa in a wheelchair.
"I hope everything goes well… she's still so young…"
xXx
Yuffie stood by the dining table and ordered the maid below her to set out the cutlery and change the flowers. As Lady Tifa Lockheart's most trusted maid, she has the obligation to shine the entire manor in Lady Lockheart's liking.
"…on't you think Lady Lockheart is a little strange?" one of the maids whispered to the other.
"Yeah… If it was her usual self, we would all be in the East Wing attic!"
"Oh, that damned attic!"
"She even said 'thank you'!"
"Dear lord, could this be the silence before a storm?"
"I dearly hope not!"
Yuffie shushed them, but she too was pondering. Lady Tifa Lockheart is known for her sadism in this mansion. Though she maintains a dignified act to the public, the servants know her better. She undeniably acted differently this morning.
But Yuffie knew better than to hold her hopes up, the Lady's kindness has never been longer than the life of a flame on a candle.
xXx
"Tu-tu-doo-doo, tu-tu-doo-doo… Even the best falls down sometime, Even the stars refuse to shine. Out of the back you fall in time, I somehow find… You and I… Collide…" This is a nice song by Howie Day. On Zack's horse; I sat in his arms with my legs dangling on one side. The horse gallops and since I was bored, I leaned towards the horse and occasionally stroke its fur, it was well tamed enough to not fidget. I tugged at the coat he wrapped around me and continued humming the tune.
His chest was touching my shoulder, and his breathing was quick. Occasionally, he would give commands to the horse by making some weird sounds. I sat quietly, looking at the scenery before us while humming a song from my era.
Although I'm completely lost in this world, strangely it stopped bothering me. It's almost as though I've broken away from the chains that bind me in my other life. No monsters hating me, no Cloud screaming in my face, and no friends gossiping behind my back. F-R-E-E-D-O-M!
We've travelled over the forest, and onto low land.
"Wow… this place is beautiful!" I sighed, taking in the breeze; the long grass swayed in the wind and shimmered under the sun. The heat was scorching, I guess it's noon now.
"I'm glad My Lady enjoy this countryside." He smiled.
"Tifa will do." I replied, casually. All this 'lady' is getting on my nerves.
The horse suddenly galloped off direction and I let off a small shriek. Zack promptly apologized. I turned to look at him and his face was completely red.
"Are you feeling okay? Is it the heat?" I asked, concerned.
"I-It's nothing, My Lady. It would be perfectly inappropriate if I were to address Lady Lockheart by your first name!"
"Oh? But I already called you Zack?"
His face flushed further.
"My deepest apology…"
xXx
The horse stopped directly in front of a wooden hedge that surrounded the village with houses made of the poorly mixed buttress and stilted rooftops. Some of the houses with better condition have small stables to keep their horses.
With a single graceful sweep, Zack got off the horse. Thinking it was a cue for me, I tried to follow.
"No, please, Lady Tifa Lockheart, please do stay on the horse, My Lady is in no condition to walk." I nodded and stayed on.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure." He leads the horse while I grasp tightly onto the reins. "This is the village of Kalm. We're just outside of Midgar."
"Do you live in Midgar?" I found myself asking, curious why he was near the lake.
He looked at me with a strange expression. "Yes…"
We stopped talking and he led me to a merchant shop. It looks slightly better than the rest, and had a small sign that read: "Kalm Provisions."
Zack tied the horse to a wooden pole beside the store and helped me down. I shrugged off the coat and tried to return it to him, but he stopped me and wrapped it around me again. I stepped into the store as he opened the door for me.
The store owner hurried as we walked in, and with peculiar fervour, started recommending us various items. Zack cleaned a stool with his sleeves and helped me to it.
"Get a dress for this lady." Zack commanded his tone strong and confident, different from the way he had been talking to me. I guess he is some noble after all.
"My deepest apologies! But, dear sir, we do not sell clo-"
"Get her a dress! I'll pay you more gil that you could ever earn here if you do! Otherwise…" Zack pulled his sword and sat it on the counter, making the owner scamper across the shop and out, shouting for his wife.
I couldn't help but chuckle at his sudden manliness. "You scare them too much."
"I'm sorry My Lady had to see that."
"It's ok." I staggered to get up, holding onto Zack's hands as he offered. The cut had stopped bleeding, but it felt like I broke a bone. I winked at the sharp pain.
That was when Zack swept me off and carried me into his arms. "I offer my apologies, but perhaps you could choose better this way." He led me across the store and I browse through their inventory.
"Sir, I have prepared the most beautiful dress we could find in our modest home." The breathless owner came back into the store with a woman around his age, now that Tifa look closely, they were in their fifties, and were shaking in Zack's presence.
Zack nodded dismissively, I guess people of this age treat lower classes quite harshly. Looking at them, I smiled and said "Thank You." on Zack's behalf.
"Show The Lady to a safe room to change into these clothes. He eyed the dress in the woman's arms and frowned. "My Lady, is this dress fine with you?"
I nodded and blushed at Zack's words. How could he be so blunt in front of those who offered these clothings? We ought to thank them!
"Thank you so much, store owners, for meticulously choosing these clothes for me. They are beautiful, please do not worry. Zacky here has a thorny attitude." I winked at them and looked at Zack, who stood with eyes wide enough for his eyeballs to fall. Ooopsie. I could care less about whether I disgraced Zack. He was sooo stuck up!
He carried me to a room led by the woman, and sat me on the bed. "I will return after you have changed, My Lady." He took my hand and kissed my knuckles, I couldn't help but blush. Images from the historical drama series flashed in my head. The rumoured 'prince charming' act!
xXx
I waited in the room with the woman, who stood in the corner with her head lowered. The dress was not as elaborate as the one I wore previously, and I had fought to not wear that damned corset and crinoline, so it looked like a normal dress with long frilly sleeves, and a high neckline. The reddish-brown material suits the colour of my eyes, and the white lining is strangely compatible with my youth. They must have gotten it from a young girl.
Bored, I began untying the braids those girls in the house made, and fingered my hand through my hair. The woman walked towards me and handed me a comb.
"Why don't you sit with me?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle and welcoming. She shook her head nervously and remained silent.
"How may I address you?"
She stumbled and murmured a series of convoluted words. Forget it; they're never going to talk to me after how Zack scared them.
"Aunt Elmyra, Aunt Elmyra!" A high-pitched voice called. "Are you here, Aunt Elmyra?"
The door opened and a girl in a pink dress walked in. She tied her hair in a simple pony tail and it spiraled downwards, held on by a pink ribbon. Strangely, she didn't have to wear the bonnet, or exaggerated frills. Similar to the dress I was wearing, it had huge blooms around our shoulders, high neckline and buttons on our chests. This dress must be hers.
"A-Aerith! Please, let's talk outside."
"Oh… Aunt Elmyra, who is this beautiful lady?" She smiled at me affectionately. "Hello, I am Aerith Gainsborough." She looked at my dress and had a curious look.
"I'm sorry, I borrowed your dress." I replied, answering her thought. "Mine was torn when I fell off a horse. My name is Tifa Lockheart, nice to meet you, Aerith."
Aerith's face instantly turned paper white, and her lips parted slightly. "Are you perhaps…"
"My Lady, I have brought the physician." Zack's voice echoed behind Elmyra and the door opened. "You, take a look at her wound."
An old man walked to me, his body trembling and perspiration spread across his forehead. "My Lady, may I please take a look at your leg…"
I pulled up the dress as he examined my leg, he pressed a finger against the bump and frowned. "I believe there is a crack in the bone, sir."
"Then cure it!" Zack howled. Aerith turned towards him and her face flushed.
The doctor placed a thin yet hard wooden plank by my leg and bandaged it after applying some weird brown paste. "It would take a few months to heal, sir."
He attended to my other wounds, scratches and stuck a soft cloth to them, tying them tight to my skin. The revolting texture of different pastes made my stomach stir.
I thanked the physician and tried moving my leg, the restriction was tight but at least it didn't hurt that much anymore.
"Oh, Aunt Elmyra, I was about to inform you that I was going to the SOLDIER base! Uncle Cid just finished improving on Cloud's sword! Please pass me my pouch!".
Elmyra and Aerith left the room scurrily.
I froze. Did she just mention 'Cloud'? Is it that 'Cloud'?
It must be! There is no way a strange name like that could be coined to more than a soul.
The agitation within my heart grew as I stood up, trying to run after Aerith but stumbled over. My chest tightened and my head screamed. I FOUND CLOUD! Dragging my leg, I tried to move towards the door.
"My Lady!" Zack stumbled, and helped me up. I struggled and pushed him aside. Damn, I didn't know he was so much stronger than me. "Lady Tifa! Calm down!"
That was when I realize tears were running down my cheeks. I found him! I found him! I need to see him. I didn't tell anyone but I missed him. I loved him so deeply, his eyes, his voice, his face… I miss everything about him.
"Zack! Where is this SOLDIER base thing? Take me there!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, the physician slowly recoiled to the door and we were alone in the room.
"What on earth are you saying, Lady Tifa!" Zack's brows furrowed and he hissed between his teeth. I couldn't stop my sobbing as I struggled. "SOLDIER is a place that no Lady should go to!" He eyed me strangely.
"What do you mean? Why couldn't I go? I am going there!" I screamed in return. "I have someone I absolutely have to meet!"
"SOLDIER is the training ground for the Shinra army! Only males are allowed in!"
I stood with my eyes blank, tears continued to roll.
Is there no way I can get in?
xXx
I sat on the bed thinking about what Aerith said. Cloud is in the SOLDIER base, where only males are allowed to join. I turned around on my bed, trying to find a comfortable spot. It was way too soft and fluffy for me, who lived a tough life in the other lifetime. There are so many questions in my mind, and no one to answer them.
The door creaked open and I sat up on my bed. A beautiful lady with a heart shaped face and chestnut brown hair and eyes walked in.
"Darling, are you feeling better?" She smiled and walked towards me. She has yet to change out of the weighty dress. "I heard from the servants that you fell off a horse at the lake. Prince Rufus sent his henchmen to inform me at the palace."
I smiled at her and nodded. This lady should be my mother?
"You need to rest, my dear daughter. You look horrible… I hope these wounds don't leave scars. You will be wed to Prince Rufus when you turn sixteen, that's not a date too far now. Please take care of your body."
So I'm fifteen here? That's two years younger than my age in the other life…
"I will…"
"You need to capture Prince Rufus with this beauty…" she held my chin and kissed my forehead. "Please don't do anything to ruin it." She tightened her grip and I winced as her nails dug into my neck. Isn't she the one hurting me…?
"Yes, mother."
She smiled, "Good… I believe you won't be having dinner tonight? It would only mean extra weight…"
The look in her eyes demanded only one response from me. I nodded, and she smiled.
"I will set another date for you and the prince. Please, rest well and do not leave the manor, or someone might see you in this… state." She smiled.
"Zack saw it though."
Her eyes closed. "Yes… I'm glad Lord Zack doesn't pose a threat to us. He's from my line, they'll silence this incident."
Oh… so Zack's family…
"I see…"
She kissed me on the forehead again and tucked me into my bed. "Good night."
"Good night…" I replied, thinking that it was only about 6pm. "Mother, could you please call for Yuffie?"
She eyed me for a moment before flashing her million-gil smile again. "Sure, darling."
My 'mother' scares me… All I felt from her was intimidation… She sounded like I am a product to be sold in a deal called marriage. I can't stay here any longer… My only aim is to look for Cloud anyways.
After a few minutes, I heard a soft knock on the door, and Yuffie stepped in.
"Lady Tifa, you called for me?" She lowered her head and bowed.
"Yes… Please, take a seat."
From her lowered posture, she looked up with widened eyes.
"U-um… My Lady…"
"Just take a seat, please. Here." I moved and emptied a space beside me on the bed. "Come and sit with me."
She obliged with much hesitation.
"Yuffie, can I confide in you?" I said, my voice trembling.
Yuffie gave me a bizarre look, but her eyes slowly soften. "Of course, My Lady."
"I…" I thought of an explanation for my state. "I've lost my memories… I don't know who I am, where I am, but strangely, I know you."
She gasped. "M-My Lady!"
"Please… Would you answer the questions in my head?"
She nodded furiously. "Of course! My lady, you're suffering… I will do everything to help!"
I smiled bitterly. "Who am I? Who are my parents? I know they are duke and duchess… but tell me more, about myself, about my past…"
Yuffie thought for a moment. "Do you wish to hear the truth?"
"Yes." I replied without hesitation.
"You, My Lady, is Lady Tifa Adella Lockheart. In Midgar, you are known as the most gorgeous lady. Many men had tried to ask for your hand, but Duchess had betrothed you to royalty, Prince Rufus Ralph Shinra. He is the heir to the throne, currently held by King Shinra the second." She stopped. "The situation of the kingdom at present is that, Wutai, our foe, has been showing signs of aggression and war is probable in the near future. In such turbulent times, your father, Duke Zangan Reuben Lockheart is expected to be present in the palace often. Your mother, Duchess Lorraine Julia Fair-Lockheart is also expected as Prinzessin Scarlet Juliet Fair-Shinra's blood sister-"
"Wait, so I'm royalty?"
"I'm afraid not, My Lady. The Duchess may be related to the royals, but nevertheless the Duke is not of royal birth. In his younger days, Duke Zangan was the head of SOLDIER, and he earned so much respect from the public that he eventually became Duke, despite his parents of the Earl class. It was unconventional, but nevertheless, Duke Zangan was well-respected amongst the aristocrats until today. However, much of his success was from the help of the Duchess as well, since she is family to the Prinzessin. Therefore, the Duke holds dear concern to her words, and your marriage was decided so."
I nodded. So my 'mother' is the real head of the house. "Yuffie, tell me about SOLDIER."
She blinked in curiosity before answering, "SOLDIER, its base located in the secluded area of Junon, is King Shinra's elite army, and commands the other sectors of the Shinra army. It is said that their archery skills are good enough to sink Wutai with their bow and arrow."
"Yuffie…" I choked. I've got to tell her. "I've decided to leave home."
"W-What! Lady Tifa, you can't!"
"Yuffie, listen. My mother scares me. To her, I'm just a tool to obtain greater power, to cling to the royals. I do not love the prince, not one bit! I rode the horse on purpose today! I wanted to leave for good!"
She sat silent, with her eyes wide. "B-but…"
"Yuffie, by telling you, I'm leaving you with two choices." I heaved a deep breath. Sorry I have to do this to you… "Help me leave the house, and leave with me so that you will not have to face my mother's wrath, or…" I whispered, "not help me and watch me take my life. If that is so, then it means that you might as well have killed me yourself." I held her wrist and placed it on my neck tightly, and watched as she whimpered and cried. I'm sorry…
Technically, I left her with no choice.
xXx
A/N: Recently I've been reading a lot of fics. I realise that I always skip the long description of the surroundings or objects... Maybe that's why I have difficulty writing them. I like to get to the point, write about the characters, not their surroundings... I'll try to change, but I'm sure I wont write too much of it. I'll get bored.
