A/N: Some of the dialogue in this chapter has been taken out because it didn't fit in with the story. Can anyone figure out which games are mention in this chapter?
Disclaimer: Antoinette and Norven belong to me.
Chapter 25: Royal Discussion
The next day, we were once again sitting around doing nothing. I would cast a glance at Zell and he would turn his head the other way if he noticed me looking at him. Zell wasn't as energetic as he usually was today, he almost always was shadow boxing off to the side of camp.
"...should be heading back to your homeland," Xavkul was telling Malachi and Brett.
"What's the difference to you?" Malachi asked cautiously.
"I would like to see where my sons have been living these past fourteen years," came Xavkul's reply.
"But we were sent here to take pictures of the Prism Dragon," Brett said. "The Headmaster wanted proof that the dragon exists."
"Would he not like seeing the real thing up close for himself? T'would seem that is a better option than looking at photographs," Xavkul pointed out.
"You know something that we don't," Malachi accused.
"Of course, but let's save that little tale for later, yes? You will not find the dragon on this island or any other island for that matter. You are simply wasting your time here, which can be spent doing something more productive," Xavkul told them.
"We would be disobeying orders if we left now without any pictures of the Prism Dragon," Brett pressed on.
"You will not be disobeying orders," Xavkul started. "And if you were, your Headmaster will be pleased that you did disobey him." The others stared at Xavkul waiting for more information, however the only response they got was, "trust me."
Malachi pulled Brett out of earshot and the two of them began talking. I felt Seifer's arms wrap themselves around my waist and I noticed Xavkul giving us a look of approval.
A few minutes later, Malachi and Brett made their way back to Xavkul. "Alright," Brett began, "we will leave the island today. We are going to trust you on this one."
"You will not be disappointed," was Xavkul's reply.
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A couple of hours later, we were all on the ship, heading toward Balamb Island. Seifer and I walked into Zell's cabin where Xavkul would be staying for the duration of the trip home. We saw that Zell was not in the room, but somebody was taking a shower in the bathroom. We heard the water stop and waited a few minutes to see who would emerge.
The bathroom door opened and a naked Xavkul walked into the cabin. My eyes immediately went to his crotch, which was the normal reaction in this kind of situation. "Do you like what you see?" Xavkul asked.
I was totally speechless as I scanned Xavkul's body. I could clearly see the colorful dragon tattoos on each of Xavkul's breast. He was fit for his age and I noticed his pubic hair was also blue, well dark blue, which his hair was a medium shade of blue.
"Dad, you're...naked," Seifer stated the obvious.
"This is the way we were born into this world, so why not enjoy it every moment that you can?" Xavkul asked.
"You're an exhibitionist?" Seifer asked in shock.
"I guess you could say that, but remember, I have been on that island alone for many years with nobody around to see me. I see your girlfriend cannot stop staring at my naked body," Xavkul said with the Seifer smirk. I guess that smirk should be called the Almasy smirk or something, since it doesn't seem to be reserved only for Seifer.
Xavkul took a pair of boxer briefs that were laying out on the bed and put them on. He then sat on the bed with one of his legs hanging off the bed while the other was bent at the knee which showed off his bulge. I looked up at Seifer and saw him quickly lick his lips.
Xavkul smiled mischievously and asked, "Did you come in here for a particular reason, or to just stare at my delicious crotch?"
"I-I'm sorry," Seifer coughed nervously a few times and continued, "it's just...that is really...um...distracting."
Xavkul pointed to a chair near Seifer and said, "Hand me those pants."
Seifer took the pair of black pants off the chair and started toward the bed. He handed them to Xavkul, then Xavkul stood and put them on. "I just wanted to talk to you about...family stuff, you know. I've gone so long without one and all."
Xavkul nodded his understanding. "Ask me anything."
Seifer sat on the bed and Xavkul sat down beside him. I opted for the chair that Xavkul's pants were on. Zell walked in at that moment and seen the three of us sitting down. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interupt anything."
Zell was about to leave the room when Xavkul ordered, "Stay Zell." Zell looked at Xavkul uncertainly and came all the way back into the room.
"Maybe I should..." I stood and gestured toward the door.
"No, no," Xavkul smiled. "Your family is involved with any questions that Seifer and Zell ask."
"But you said that you may have known my parents," I reminded him.
"Yes, however I have no doubt in my mind that you are the daughter of Antoinette. You look just like her...here," he stood once again and walked over to one of the bags he brought with him. He bent down, unzipped it and took out a book of some sort. He flipped through the pages and stopped at one of them. Xavkul walked over to me and lowered the book so that I could see it. It turned out to be a photo album full of people I didn't recognize, naturally.
Xavkul pointed to a picture and said, "See? You look just like her." I looked at the picture he pointed at and sure enough, it was of a teenage girl that looked alot like me. She had the same black hair with white bangs, same sea blue eyes, even the same facial structure as me.
"This is Antoinette?" I asked.
Xavkul nodded, "Yes, so you see, I know for a fact that you are her daughter. Compare yourself in the mirror with this photo of Antoinette and you can clearly see that you are related."
I was excited that I was able to see my birth mother for the first time ever in my life, however I was also sad that it had to be in a photograph. "This young man beside her," Xavkul pointed to a blonde-haired man standing beside Antoinette, "is her future husband...well, he was her future husband at the time. HIs name is Norven Deling."
"Deling, as in the city of Deling?" Seifer asked.
"Yes Seifer, their family has ruled that city for many hundreds of years," Xavkul answered. "Norven was living in Mysidia at that time with his mother, while his father was ruling in Deling."
"What was he in Mysidia for?" I asked curiously as I turned my gaze up to Xavkul.
"His mother was a Blue Mage, able to use the magical abilities of monsters," Xavkul started. "Norven didn't have any magical abilities, however he was sent there to learn about his family's heritage regardless of what he could and could not do."
"It is hard to believe that after all these years, I am looking at my parents..." I said more to myself than to anyone else.
"If you still have doubts, you can always speak to Ariana...there are also DNA tests that can be performed for actual proof," Xavkul smiled down at me. "We shall speak more about them after you know for sure," I nodded and smiled back.
"What about our family?" Zell asked.
Xavkul turned to Zell and replied, "Our family has been through many struggles throughout history. We are descendants of King Edgar Roni Figaro, who ruled over the Kingdom of Figaro. Incidently, the castle he and his twin brother Sabin grew up in was called Figaro Castle."
"I never heard of the kingdom of Figaro before," Seifer replied.
"Because the name has been changed many, many years ago. Figaro Castle is now Esthar," Xavkul explained.
"Esthar sounds familiar," Seifer told him.
"Nobody knows where it is now, that is, nobody who live normal lives. Esthar is hidden from the outside world by the very technology used in Figaro Castle all those years ago. The construction of the city began in the early 1980s when it was called Midgar. The castle is in the middle of this city. The only difference throughout the years has been the name changes and advancement in the technology," Xavkul told us.
"If our ancestors are royalty," Zell started, "Wouldn't that mean that we our royalty too?"
"What do you think smartass?" Seifer replied.
"Screw you!" Zell yelled.
"Please, boys," Xavkul said in a stern tone. "As for your answer Zell, yes, we are indeed royalty."
"Why don't we rule Esthar then?" Zell pressed.
"The people of this kingdom revolted against the ruler and overthrew him," Xavkul told Zell. "Not much is known about what happened afterwards. If there are any records of what happened, they are in Esthar somewhere."
I yawned all of a sudden and Seifer noticed. "Maybe you should go take a nap Eternity? You look really beat."
"I don't know, what if I wouldn't be able to fall asleep later?" I asked.
"At least go lay down for a while. I'll stay in here and talk to my dad some more," he told me. I nodded, stood and went out of the room.