Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Squaresoft
Save the Queen
Have a belief in yourself that is stronger than anyone's
disbelief.
Both of them tried to digest the new information. But it was impossible. A village in the middle of the forest with the name Lenacourt. Kay had said it was the village of the lost tribe. Lost was right. Lost and very behind times. For one, the structure of the houses and shops. Shops were just pieces of wood piled together with a piece of cloth as its shade, while the houses were made of strong wood and a hole somewhere in the building was their window.
And another thing was the people's clothes. Men wore soft breeches with patches, thin torn shirts and straw hats. On the other hand, women wore long dresses with tight bodices and lacey hats while younger girls wore pretty little frocks.
Then there were the people themselves. They all seemed to be cheerful, men and women alike, without a care in the world or what really was outside the tall wooden fence blocking them from the forest.
A group of musicians were playing a happy song with their flutes and singing loudly, while those who felt like dancing did just that in the middle of the town square, where a fountain was sprouting clean blue water, just as lively as the people themselves.
Boys laughed and chased each other around as girls giggled to themselves and whispered together.
The town was a mixture of happiness, laughter and contentment which was music to Quistis' and Seifer's ears.
After staring at the sight in front of them for three full minutes in silence, Quistis was the first to recover. " What a…Cheerful town."
Kay nodded vigorously. " And we're having a festival tonight!"
Seifer was still gaping. " Yeah sure. You have any idea where the boar and I could stay?"
Quistis sensibly ignored the young man beside her. " Where do you live, Kay?"
" Oh, just somewhere there." Kay pointed to one of the tall wooden houses. " I share with a few people."
" Oh."
" Great."
" Listen," Kay said. " Why don't you explore for a while? This village has a really juicy history I'm sure you'd love to hear and the people are friendly. I just have something to do. Catch ya later!"
She bounded off towards her home before Quistis could protest.
Seifer turned to his instructor with a familiar glint in his eyes. " Shall we?" He held out his arm for her to link her into, but she just rolled her eyes and began to walk forward. " Geez, wait for me, Instructor!"
This is such a wonderful town, Quistis thought. They had just entered what seemed like a marketplace filled with people shouting their throats off announcing their goods' prices.
But how did they all get here? And why doesn't anyone in Garden know about this place?
Ever since they entered the village, no one seemed to mind them at all, even though they greatly contrasted in the atmosphere. Everywhere they went they were greeted with a smile or a wave, which made them relax and feel welcome. It was strange, having used to dim Deling or the small Balamb. Lenacourt was huge.
Seeing Seifer walk to another part of the market, Quistis decided to get used to the busy air and look around to see if there was anything to buy. She headed towards a small shop where an old woman was selling things that were 'Rare and Exquisite' or so the sign said.
The young blonde approached the woman and her items. Her blue eyes brightened with the sight of a beautiful music box, a gold heart-shaped locket, a glove with a picture of a map of Lenacourt, two silver chains, one with a red cross charm on it, the other just plain, a figure of a face of a lion in silver, and a beautiful blue orb, just the size of her palm, with a glowing object inside.
Hopefully, they use gil.
" Yes?" asked the old woman in a high pitched voice. She was rubbing a cup with a dusty rag, with her head down.
" I'd like to buy some of your things. How much are those?" Quistis asked in a cool, strong voice, one Selphie always giggled about. She had said just the last week, " Oh Quisty, you sound like a thirty-year-old woman bargaining for business!"
Maybe she did sound just like that.
" Dear, all of these in total are two thousand gil. Are you sure you have enough money?" The storekeeper said, not looking up from her work in cleaning a small teacup.
Despite her cool exterior, Quistis wanted to jump up and down, but held herself together. It was so perfect! Perfect gifts for Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, Zell, Selphie, even Seifer, and herself.
And money was no problem at all. Ever since she was given back her instructor license again, she even wondered once were to put all the gil she didn't need.
Digging into her pocket, she froze, praying that all the money didn't wash away in the ocean. Quistis shoved her hand deeper into her pocket and nearly wept for joy when she felt all the coins there. She took them out, counted two thousand gil and paid for her items.
" Thank you very much." The woman looked up to smile at her.
Quistis smiled back, sharing the town's good mood.
Then in the middle of her smile, the old woman froze. Her grey eyes were suddenly as round as saucers as they took in the beautiful figure in front of her.
Quistis raised a regal eyebrow. " Excuse me? Is there a problem?"
The old woman didn't respond. She just dropped the teacup she was holding. It crashed to the floor with a smash, the pieces flying everywhere.
" Um, I have to leave now, goodbye," Quistis turned to walk around, but a cold hand on her slim wrist prevented her from doing so. She looked at the old woman, who was still staring at her with round eyes.
" It's you," She whispered. " You've come back."
Quistis was certain that a thousand question marks were popping up all over her head. What was this woman saying? Came back? She just got here!
She was about to interrupt the woman when, to her surprise, she kneeled in front of her.
" Everyone, rejoice! The queen has returned!"
Seifer peered into one of the food stores and studied the pot of boiling green soup, arguing over himself whether it was edible or not.
He sighed, raking a hand across his sandy blond hair. He was starving since he didn't eat breakfast when they were in Garden, due to the dream that has been bothering since he and Quistis got the mission.
Garden. It was hard to believe that they were safely inside the confines of Balamb Garden just this morning. And the dream. The horrible nightmare where he was in Galbadia Garden, slaughtering all the innocent people there. The girl protecting the little boy. And he just killed them mercilessly. Frowning, he took a seat on a wooden stool.
" May I help you, sir?" A man in blue trousers asked him.
" What? Oh. What kind of soup if that?" Seifer stole another glance at the green liquid.
What I would give to go back to Garden and eat all the hotdogs. Chicken Wuss would probably get mad at me.
He snickered. Since he went back to Garden, no one really changed. Puberty boy was still quiet and professional, though he smiled more. Rinoa was still childish and bubbly. The messenger girl Selphie, as cheerful as always. The cowboy…Still into ladies and guns. Chicken Wuss, his only love being hotdogs, but at least there was Serena, Pig-tailed girl, as he called her. Then Instructor Trepe. Hah. Quistis was still the same. There were three things to describe her. One being hot. Two, hot. Three, serious, serious, serious. Really, she needed a break. Sure, she was beautiful. Hyne, beyond beautiful. With her gold hair which looked like spun silk, her ice blue eyes and full red lips. And who could forget her figure? She was really—Wait.
Did I just think all that? Forget it. I have better things to worry about that sexy instructors or—God, stop it!
" Sir? Are you buying a bowl?" The young man was asking.
Seifer looked at him, as if forgetting he was there and just waved a hand and nodded.
Suddenly, a shout was heard.
Seifer turned around and saw that there was a commotion somewhere in the place where he left Quistis. Uh oh.
He jumped off his stool and raced through the crowds which had formed. The music stopped and he could catch words like 'queen' and 'return' being shouted by people who weren't frozen with shock.
Seifer pushed back people impatiently, a strange feeling in his gut forming. He reached the front of the crowd just in time to see a very confused Quistis being carried off by a bunch of screaming people.
His mind raced and he almost went after them when he realized that people around him were whispering. Whispering and shouting joyously. Happily. Everyone was cheering, as if Lenacourt wasn't already cheerful.
In confusion, he spotted Kay with the same look on everyone else's faces.
What was going on?
He made his way where the brunette with violet eyes was standing.
" Kay! What the hell is goin' on?" He asked, green eyes following Quistis' figure carried to the opposite direction.
Kay put her hands on her slim waist. " Why didn't you tell me?"
" Tell you what?!" Seifer asked, confused.
The music played again and everyone danced now, all apparently happy.
" Why didn't you tell me that your friend was the long lost queen of Lenacourt? She was gone for almost about nineteen, twenty years and—"
Seifer wasn't listening.
Quistis, queen? Here they go again.