A/N: For those of you who reviewed I thank you honestly, it means a lot to me, it really does I'll address those now. It's only fair to show you guys I value your words of encouragement and opinions. Just, bare through this chapter and the next one…will do everything justice.

Nenu145: Sorry this isn't So/kai I intend to have a bit of that later but as you've noticed…well you'll have to see, and I realized he basically does and I figured it's better than him being a pervert(He's too innocent to be one anyway) trying to take advantage of his situation (Not that Tifa would ever let him be one) and yes I enjoy the action also I've got a lot of that planned in a few chapters it'll be (I know I'm dating myself here but) EPIIIIIC

Shade the Hero Project-X: I'm glad you enjoy my story and find that scene funny I tried adding a bit of humor if it's too serious it feels stuffy for me I'm glad you took time to read this even if it is AU. It means a lot.

Lead his whole body felt like it, he knew he couldn't move and he knew his eyes wouldn't open as much as he willed them to. For Sora it was akin to being strapped to a bed while someone put rocks on his whole body – eyes included, he'd only slept about twenty minutes at least…he thought he did could've been more could've been less. He just didn't realize how screwed he'd be – if he did he would've forced himself back to sleep. See it wasn't the resting part he hated, that was fine; it was that he couldn't move and was forced to listen in on the girls' conversation he laid in that spot unable to move – unable to sleep it was probably a akin to hell for anyone else.

"So…are you sure you really…wanna marry Sora?" Yuffie asked for like the thirtieth time

"Geez, Yuffie, what's wrong with me marrying him, its part of our tradition" Garnet defended

"Yeah…but you could easily lie about it I mean no one – no woman from your kingdom saw so you could totally lie about it" Rikku countered

"I couldn't lie about it even if I wanted to, my pendant – once I've met eyes with my future husband it'll match that man's eye color…I don't think you know anyone with glowing eyes…do you? Both girls looked to each other

"Only elite people have those glowing eyes...so that wouldn't work but I mean – you could ditch it and marry someone else you may actually come to love, Sora's an idiot" Yuna dead panned at Yuffie's honest answer

"I don't know…his eyes were so pure, so radiant…beautiful, and he can't be that well as crude as you put it idiotic" Yuffie scoffed a bit

"Then you go and ask him what's in a girls pants and you see what his answer is, and you'll see what I mean, not only that, he's about as sexually active as a dead mongoose, he wouldn't catch on to anything you tried doing, you'd have to lead the way on everything" Rikku sighed dramatically seconds after as if to emphasize the extent of her words

"But, he is a good guy, maybe a bit slow in that regard but if she wants to try then who are we to stop her?" Yuna fiddled with her shit a bit out of nervousness

"Yeah okay miss conflicted – when you can decide who you want in that skirt of yours come back to me" Rikku retaliated to which Yuna blushed

"I-I know who…I like…" She stuttered out shutting her eyes

"Yeah and about three hours that'll change" Yuffie crossed her arms with a sadistic grin plastered on her face

"I mean, let's face it, those two have basic differences, hair color eye color and one happens to be a pervert and the others too clueless to figure out what one of those is" She continued

"T-Tidus is…not a pervert!" Yuna defended

"Oh, really?" Yuffie challenged

Yuna paused

"Yo, Tidus you wanna catch a glimpse of Yuna topless?!" Yuffie shouted within seconds he was trying to get inside the carriage Terra shouting at the blonde to keep his pants on and to get back into formation and Gippal laughing his ass off the girl in question 'eeped'

"…Yeah told ya'" Yuffie giggled

"He's…he's a healthy teenager any guy would do that!" Yuna defended

"Then care to explain what Sora is?" Rikku added in

"He's…he's different I'd say he's an ideal guy for girls who aren't a fan of perverted people" Yuna looked away

"So, then who would you say is more of your type because you're either one of two, a perverted or a closet pervert" Rikku said evenly Garnet looked back and forth between the girls

"I- I'm not a pervert!" Yuna defended

"Well, I mean when you think about it, your choices have narrowed either way unless Garnet here's willing to share" Rikku smirked both girls pouted

"You should be glad, it protects me from getting kidnapped like that perverted ninja tried to do!" Garnet protested

Silence

"Not…really…they could still capture you and just say you're married and or kill you and do the same although…" Rikku looked a bit sad at this "Sora, would die before letting you get taken away," Garnet gasped

"He…tried saving me before, and almost lost his life, he lost the ability to walk but…somehow regained it before we left, I never did ask him how he did either…" Yuna looked crestfallen

"Awwh Yunie cares about Sora~" Yuffie giggled a bit and Yuna looked away from the group

"But, don't all of you care about him?" Garnet asked softly

"Of course we do, we just love teasing Yunie about it" Rikku smiled

"Anyway," Yuffie cut in "Don't you want to try…and find your own happiness instead of that stupid rule? Sora would say the exact same thing"

"I…believe I can find it, with him, I won't give up that easily, at least…let me try, okay?" She had a fierce look in her eyes that shot down any argument – valid or not down

"Sora, you able to move yet?" It was Terra the brunette in question sat up slowly with a yawn

"Will be making it into the royal city in a few minutes, you'll be able to get a good rest before tonight, will have to watch her during the festivities"

"And that we means you and Tidus" Gippal added in laughing a bit

Sora sat up groaning a bit before hopping off the carriage and shakily resumed walking

"Still worse mission ever" Sora added in

"This is technically our first mission" Yuffie said from the carriage

"Well – if you want to get technical our first mission Sora got impaled, this mission he got engaged, if he gets a double penetration I'd totally chalk this up as the worst and that people just love stabbing you" Tidus shot in much to Sora's displeasure

"If that does happen you know I'm hurting you, right?" Sora glared a bit

"You already said I'd get stabbed can't get any worse than that" Tidus retorted with a smirk

"And you're really making it hard on me not be the one to do it" Sora sighed

As Terra said it didn't take them much longer to get to town and it was…much bigger and livelier than any of them expected. Ballons floated into the sky, chocobo chicks flying around, kids laughing and playing people just generally happy. Before Terra could so much as protest Garnet shot out of the carriage smiling like gleefully and grabbing Sora by the arm dragging him into the town below without her veil.

"Weee…. Should stop them, shouldn't we?" Gippal asked rhetorically

"Should, but this is a whole lot more fun" Tidus added in sarcastically

"It's a wonder how that kid hasn't beaten you yet" Terra sighed rubbing his temples

The rest of the girls shot out of the carriage and made way towards the two fleeting teenagers, unfortunately when they got into town and actually found her she was standing on a platform with a podium in the middle, the girls cringed instantly.

"Excuse me everyone!"

"Oh, god no!" Yuna and Rikku both said aloud running up to the podium

"I'd like for all of you to meet my fiancé! His name is Sora, Sora-"She paused

"Strife!" Tidus shouted

"Tidus! What are you doing!?" Yuna pouted

"Strife, he's to be my betrothed, we locked gazes as he saved me from the tri-factor ninja, please wish us the best!" Garnet smiled as the women cheered and the men either looked angry or surprised

"That can't be, that can't be the kid of legend!" A man shouted

"I attest this; I say he proves himself here and now!" Sora shakily stood from his dazed position with a weak glare

"You…doubt my lineage?" Sora's hair created a mask around his eyes and for a split second he didn't even look like himself he jumped over the crowd spinning himself into an assault of twin blades slamming into a blade.

"My name is Sora, and my father is Cloud strife, I will show you what I can do" She shot himself back rushing the man again literally vanishing when he got close enough a cut appeared on the man's shoulder then his thigh soon all the man could feel – cuts all over and he fell to the ground. In time for Gippal to come onto the scene

"Yeah, kid" Gippal started kneeling down in front of the guy

"That…was Seifer, suffice it to say, you…you've attacked the one guy in the whole town you don't want to att- you aren't listening to me, are you?" Gippal finally asked the teenager in question had a hallow look about him his glow dimmed before he finally collapsed.

"…"

"Just so were clear this is not my fault, you guys take him to an inn already, alright" Gippal picked up Seifer

"I'm covering for you this time, and only this time, damn it" He walked off after pointing in the general area of the inn.

"So, this is the boy" A voice rang out of the boys subconscious he wearily looked up, as much as he could which was hard to do for about three reasons; The room was dark, he was still completely out of it due to his form transformations – which in turn made him tired…didn't help that he was shirtless…and bleeding.

"Where…am I?" he asked wearily

"Free….me…" He felt his vision distort and his body felt as though it was getting impaled all over by something so cool it made his body crumple in on itself.

"Don't think I'm done kid" It was a man…well he couldn't place the name he had a weapon similar – he guessed – to Squall's and he finally noticed the woman next to him

"What…What's this all about?!" Sora mustered up his voice though the pain wasn't all caused by this man he gathered some of it was internal and it wasn't dispersing, he just…couldn't tell what

"You ready?" The man asked his female counterpart she sighed and nodded

Sora felt….even cooler as if he was even more exposed than normal, he felt something enter him – his chest he looked down not quite registering it, it took him a few seconds before his eyes grew bigger and bigger and before he could so much as scream the man ripped his hand out of his chest, a yellow orb along with it without even looking at it, he crushed it.

Sora felt blood leaving his mouth and chest at a slow but alarming rate he felt himself floating in and out of consciousness.

"Did you…have to do this…if that is….son…you've…us all" Some of the words just came out as blank speech he couldn't hear, his vision left him completely.

"Sora…Sora…Sora!" A voice…his body was moving obviously not of his own volition he slowly opened his eyes to meet two sets of eyes both full of concern

"Yuffie…Rikku…what…happened?" He was still dazed

"Oh you know, we brought you here after you blacked out, leave to get dressed and we find a freaking whole in your chest the size of materia and you bleeding, the fact your even alive right now, miracle total fu-" Rikku shoved her sister lightly

"We patched you up, and Garnet wanted you to come down to the festival and have some fun but we didn't…think you'd be up to it, you've been out for about five hours" Yuffie growled out the other girls name. Sora shakily stood up

"Your kimono's right over there, if you wanna-" Sora was in such a daze he started getting undressed without telling them to leave Yuffie whistled a bit and soon regretted the action when he turned around his eyes seemed…deadly focused, serious, something he never normally had…kind of un-nerving when he wasn't wearing pants.

"Can…you….put that on now, I'm not comfortable seeing that for an extended period of time" Rikku looked away blushing

"Wouldn't say that after seeing what Squall has" Yuffie added in off-handedly

"I can't tell if that was a compliment to Sora or a blow to his self-esteem" Rikku cocked an eyebrow

"More so a blow to Squall than anything, but as much as I love a peep show…you wanna…put the kimono on or…" Yuffie had a slight pout in her cheeks and a rosy blush on her face, she looked up to the seriousness in his eyes as if asking them to leave but they stayed rooted, he sighed through his nose and decided to put on the kimono on finally.

The main color was black with red and white embroidery going down to his ankles and he wore simple sandals, his ethereal eyes made him look more serious than he should've especially since he had said nothing nor made even a slight expression.

"Where is everyone" Sora asked softly, whatever expression he should've had – he was void of

"Are…you okay there Sora?" Rikku cocked her head with worry

"I…" He paused his eyes had that normal cheerful – nonchalant glint he always had "…Uhm?" He looked…confused "What…happened?"

"You don't remember anything, do you?" Rikku looked bewildered

"I remember…getting kidnapped….some guy ripping something out of my chest and that's it…" Sora had a pained look about him and felt around his torso to see if anything from his previous encounter remained.

"We forced Yuna to heal you before she went out with Tidus and Garnet, we stayed here to make sure you woke up and everything…but are you sure you're okay?" Yuffie added in referring to his serious spark moments ago

"I'm fine…I felt a little weird as though, something was trying to seek me out…control me for a minute there, but I'm fine now, let's go!" He smiled whole-heartedly and the girls blushed a bit before standing up and leading the way out of the room.

"Mission accomplished, I still don't know why you needed us to rip that out of him, but it's done" Seifer said over his cellphone

"I've told you, I'll explain it one more time, that core, was a limiter he's had it since birth, with that gone, that energy flow that he was introduced before will-" The voice cut off for a moment then began to laugh

"You just follow them later on, you'll see for yourself." All that was heard was a dial tone afterwards

"Man that guy's a dick!" Seifer shouted throwing his phone into his pocket

"And you aren't?" The woman Paine commented

"Nothing like that guy I'm not" He defended

"You ripped a hole in a kid's chest – true he beat you up earlier, but that's still no excuse…" She loved adding salt to the wound

"Not to mention, if lady Garnet finds out you did that-"She locked gazes with the man

"I know, I know, but…I'm not going to deny that I didn't enjoy doing it, seeing the look on his fa-"Paine stood up

"You're sick; you know that, "She stalked off

"Oh just stop being a prude, Paine!" He made way after her.

"He'll only get into more destruction now that, that limiters gone, only time will tell how much destruction will be caused"

Nightfall was beautiful, more son than a lot of things Sora had ever seen, the stars looked radiant, and the sparklers – fireworks illuminated the numerous games, food vending shops and pathways.

"Sora, finally you woke up!" It was none other than Tidus as soon as his name left the blondes mouth Garnet was already in motion colliding with the brunette and hugging him so hard they spun for a moment and she smiled warmly a bit of a blush on her pale cheeks.

"I'm so glad you woke up in time, I was going to wait in the room with you, but Rikku insisted I enjoy my time…that and she thought I'd take advantage of you" She looked away with an innocent blush adorned on her cheeks.

Sora gave them a quizzical look

"Well, it's not like she wouldn't, anyone would, you are the son of a legend... even if you do lack in the brain department" Yuffie huffed and let a pout adorn her features which caused Sora to laugh a bit

"I wouldn't, I just recently met him, but…he is my fiancé so would it really be uncommon for us to do something like that?" Her gaze traveled to the brunette in front of her

"G-Garnet moving so fast…" Yuna let her hands travel to the front of her kimono and her eyes travel to her blonde counterpart

"Awkward…" Tidus said aloud and all Sora could do was look at him

"Don't be an idiot, Tidus" Sora walked passed him and Tidus felt…something – an air about his brunette friend, his voice didn't sound like it was even his and the happy-go lucky attitude he had was vanished by a cold demeanor that…they all felt.

"What's eating him?" Tidus asked a bit taken aback at his sudden coldness

"If we knew this wouldn't be a problem, Tidus, let's go have some fun, if this continues, will handle it, alright?" Yuffie had a concerned look on her face – one that couldn't be deciphered by any of the teammates but they continued on.

After ten minutes Sora returned to his normal self and the fun commenced, playing games left and right doing the best they could to get good prizes of course all pressure accumulated to Sora and Tidus to win prizes for the girls, each girl walked away with at least two prizes and two tired teenagers.

Garnet adorned the little white orb she received as a prize from Sora on her violet chocker blushing wildly with a smile on her face

"My first gift, I'm so happy!" The group looked confused she ran ahead a bit and turned around smiling radiantly

"This is the first gift, I've gotten from the man…I intend to marry, I'm…so happy" A single tear rolled down her face and Sora was honestly beside himself

"Wellp, you're screwed dude" Tidus nudged his keyblade wielding friend in the ribs that

He felt his heart skip a beat…

That smile…why…why did it feel so sad, why did it feel…so heart wrenching Is, this an omen of things to come or…

"So, you intend to tell him, or should I?" Yuna had a conviction in her voice she didn't normally use, they were alone, the others went to get food and fireworks and they decided to wait at a bench for the group to return

"What do you-"Yuna glared slightly "Don't play dumb, if it was so easy for you to get married there would be no reason for us to go all the way to another castle the truth is, you're already engaged and you think having Sora there to contest or possibly do battle for you is your way out…your wrong" Garnet looked ahead as she spoke she felt herself shake.

"don't scrutinize me or my actions – yes, I may already be betrothed, but I don't love the man, I wanted to fall in love…on my own terms and in a way I have, I'll tell him, but, not yet we depart tomorrow and if you all back out the money owed to you and your school will not be received" Garnet looked toward the sky her eyes glazing over with some unreadable emotion.

"I really…do want to love him, and I hope, he would be willing to also, I didn't intend to do this intentionally it's just"

"You fell for him, as soon as you looked into his eyes didn't you…and you felt that everything you've been forced to do wasn't worth – if you could stay by his side…that would be enough" Yuna's expression Garnet caught onto almost instantly

"You do like him" She stated simply

"I care for him, more than I should probably moreover…I won't let you hurt him," Garnet smirked slightly

"I have nothing to fear, from someone who isn't even honest with herself" Garnet got up and made way towards the castle

I…am honest with myself…aren't I?

The next morning…an announcement was made. One Garnet was dreading – one she wanted to wait to reveal, one that was blasted throughout the whole town.

"Lady Garnet will be going on an act of peace to marry lord Ienzo, they will be leaving noon – today please feel free to see them off as Lady Garnet bravely sets out to strengthen our bonds with our neighboring country!"

"Well, he definitely knows now," Yuna sighed sitting up

"Today's going to be a long one…"

Inside the castle an older woman was sipping tea a small smile on her face

"Remember, leave the day after, if that is seen you know what to do, and remember to bring that army with you, don't leave them behind"

"Of course, M'lady" Seifer bowed

A/N: next chapters going to be a long one, a VERY long one, and it's going to be full of fighting and some more development for our favorite brunette and I'll explain some gaps that I didn't explain this chapter…would've done them this chapter, but it'll be explained why.