Chapter 24: Evil's Afoot! (what a weird word o.O)
The castle clock struck seven o'clock. Regent Cid and Hilda were greeting all the guests at the front door.
"Dear…where did you run off to earlier today?" Hilda asked him while shaking a guests hand.
"Oh, just being a kid again," he replied smiling to another.
"You weren't spying on them now were you?!" Hilda said straightening.
"It wasn't just me! It was Zidane's idea!"
"Oh sure, blame the innocent!" a voice said from down the hall.
They looked around and saw Zidane walking with Garnet arm in arm down toward them. "Feh…always the one to be blamed!" he said mock sobbing.
Garnet punched him in the arm. "Admit it, it was your idea.
Zidane gave her a half grin. "Alright, alright!"
"You two look absolutely splendid!" Hilda commented.
"Wait until you see another pair," Zidane said grinning. "They might outdo us!"
"Come on Miranda!" Eiko said pulling her toward the door. "Chris is waiting for you outside!"
"Hold it!" Ruby called to them. "We're missing something…"
Everyone inspected Miranda up and down.
"Oh please…" Miranda sighed. She was in a light, strapless light blue dress that cut a little below the knee and had a transparent layer going down a little farther. "I feel a bit uncomfortable actually…"
"You're just not used to it," Kristin said. "At least now you won't look like Garnet. You look like the old Miranda I used to know…er…only with longer hair and in a dress, hehe…"
"Should she have her hair up or just free like the way it is?" Mikoto asked.
"I think she looks fine with her hair free like that," Freya said. "It just wouldn't look like herself if we confined it."
"What is taking them so long?" Chris said, getting a bit nervous.
"Doing as girls do best…holding their escort up getting ready," Blank said leaning against a wall. "Chris…I have to admit…you look like a stud!"
"I'm wearing what all the other guys are wearing!! How could I look different!??!"
"It just looks so good on you," Blank answered.
Oh please… "Well, she usually doesn't hold up anyone."
"I bet it's Kristin's doing," Kuja said sighing.
"I nearly died out laughing when Baku slipped that dress on you, Kuja!!" Fratley said clutching his sides laughing. "You really looked like you could pass off as a girl!!!"
Kuja twitched and shot a bolt of lightning, narrowly missing him. "I am NOT a girl!!! I can't help it if I look beautiful…"
Everyone fell over laughing. "HE ADMITS IT!!!" Blank laughed.
Kuja twitched again. If only I had my full powers…grrrrr…
Eiko popped her head through the door. "Are you guys done partying yet?"
"Are you sure this looks ok?" Miranda's voice said from inside.
"Oh now she's concerned on how she looks," Mikoto's voice said.
"Now go on, honey!" Ruby said as she shooed Miranda out the door.
Miranda stopped in front of the door and turned around. "You don't have to push me out the door you know!!!" she yelled. She blinked realizing where she was and slowly turned around to face the others and smiled hesitantly. "Eh…hi…"
Blank gave a low whistle, which resulted in Ruby shooting out of the door and whacking him on the head. "Ow!! I'm sorry!! It's a reflex!!!"
"Doesn't she look nice, Kuja?" Kristin said.
He blinked. "I have to say I never thought she could like…uh…that."
"Oh I knew you'd like it!!" Kristin said hugging his arm.
Miranda just stood there embarrassed. "I-it's not that great…"
Fratley poked Chris with the end of his spear. "Are you going to say something or just stand there like a statue?"
Chris jumped. "Do you carry that thing with you wherever you go??"
He shrugged. "Can never be too careful." He extended his arm to Freya. "Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be going ahead."
"We'll be going ahead, too," Kristin said nudging Kuja in the ribs.
"Ow! Uh, I mean, yea! Come on Mikoto," he said as he grabbed her tail.
"OW!! LET GO OF MY TAIL!!" she yelled as she yanked on his.
"YOWCH!!"
"QUIT IT YOU TWO!!!" Kristin yelled.
They immediately turned quiet, recalling very vividly on what happened in Burmecia.
Kristin blinked and smiled. "Heh, just have to say it right…"
"Come on Blank, honey, lets go!" Ruby said, dragging Blank down the hall after the others.
Eiko looked around. "Hey…where's Vivi?"
"Probably stuffing his face with strawberries," Miranda said laughing.
"Ok, well I'm going on then! Don't take too long!" Eiko scampered off down the hall.
Chris suddenly realized they were alone. He cleared his throat. "You look nice…"
Miranda looked at him. "Honest?"
He smiled and extended his arm. "Would I ever lie?"
She linked her arm through his and bumped him. "You never know…"
"Heh."
"So what was that commotion outside?"
"Hah! Just something about Kuja," he laughed. He glanced down at her. "I see you're stilling wearing the necklace I gave you."
She smiled blushing a little. "They wanted me to take it off…but I didn't want to…I don't think I'll ever take it off."
"Heh, I still have mine on, too," he said taking it out from under his shirt then placed back under again. "Doesn't look as nice outside, hehe."
Miranda hugged his arm. "Doesn't matter…you'll always look great to me whatever you have on."
"Same here."
She smiled at him. "That's what I wanted to hear…"
"Well, they finally arrived," Zidane said grinning as he greeted them at the door. He stared at Miranda for a moment then blinked. "Whoa…I thought I saw Garnet for a minute there…"
"Do I really resemble her that much?" Miranda asked.
"Eh…yea." He grinned. "But I can always tell my Garnet apart, hehe."
"I should hope so," Garnet said next to him. "But I really am quite amazed that we look alike, Miranda."
"No kidding! I wouldn't be surprised if people start talking to you thinking you're Garnet, hehe," Chris said.
"Maybe I should wear a sign that says, 'MIRANDA, NOT GARNET!'" Miranda laughed. I haven't seen Tristan all day…I'm kinda worried about that…
The music started playing and people were gathering onto the dance floor. Zidane bowed to Garnet. "Madam may I have this dance?" he asked as he held out his hand.
Garnet laughed. "Why, certainly," she said as she accepted it and they walked out onto the dance floor.
"Uh…do you know how to waltz?" Chris asked her.
"Dad made me take ballroom dancing lessons," Miranda sighed. "Can't believe they would actually come in handy."
Chris grinned. "Lets cut the rug then!"
At around nine, things started to wind down a bit and the guests started talking among themselves. Chris and Miranda went out to the balcony.
"Aah…a nice starlit night," Miranda said softly. "They just cover the sky…I've never imagined so many stars could fill up the sky like that…"
"Yeah…don't see as many back home, huh?" Chris said standing next to her.
"Home…I miss it a lot now…" I wonder what mom and dad are doing… wonder how much time has passed over there…
Chris looked at her. "Homesick?"
"Yeah…kinda…" She walked around to the other end and looked up. "I wonder…I wonder if it was supposed to happen this way…"
He walked behind her and placed his arms around her, resting his head on top of hers. "What was supposed to happen?"
She glanced at him. "I mean…think about it…it was us three, and not any others…what if you guys weren't there? I could have tested that disc out later that first night…Boy I don't know where I would be right now."
Chris tensed a little. "Yea…especially all these situations you seem to attract…"
Miranda didn't respond, knowing what he meant. "…I'm glad you came…"
He slowly turned her around and gave her a long, gentle kiss.
"Boy they just go at it, don't they?" Zidane said propping his elbow up against the wall resting his head on it.
"Zidane!!" Garnet punched him. "Would you please stop spying on them? It's so rude!"
"Well this is better then this boring ball over here," he said. "Besides I'm not the only one." He pulled apart a curtain to reveal the rest of the gang.
Garnet sighed. "Oh you guys…"
Miranda and Chris looked at the group's direction.
"They just love doing that don't they?" Chris said in disbelief.
"They'd be more successful if they didn't make all that racket," Miranda said.
"Really! No privacy for anyone these days," he grumbled. "Anyway…you thirsty?"
"Yea I could go for a drink," she smiled.
"I kinda like it out here better…wait here while I get you something! I'm also going to give those guys a talking to," he grumbled as he walked toward the door.
Miranda smiled at his retreating back. "Don't take too long!"
He turned and smiled disappearing back into the main ballroom.
"Ok, don't mention anything," Zidane said in a low voice to the others.
"Don't mention what?" Chris said behind Zidane, making him jump.
"Ah, hahahaha! Nothing nothing!" he said laughing nervously.
"Cut the innocent act, we know you guys were spying on us…AGAIN."
"It was her idea this time!" Zidane said as he pointed to Eiko.
"What?! Me?!"
"I was just standing here when I just happen to see you guys out there," Zidane said.
Chris rolled his eyes. "Puh-lease! Anyway, I'm getting something to drink." He looked around. "Uh…which is the punch table?"
"Follow us," Kristin said as she motioned him to follow them. The group dispersed back to where they were.
Miranda walked around the balcony, hearing the slight din of the party. Where is he…probably got mobbed by the gang, heh.
"Now isn't that rude of him to keep a nice looking lady like you waiting?"
Miranda jumped and turned around to see Tristan standing on the ledge of the balcony. "Tristan! Uh…where have you been?" she asked trying to hide her nervousness, recalling back at the woods.
"Been here and there." He jumped down and walked toward her. "Hey…I wanted to apologize on what I did back at the forest…I kinda was out of my head back there."
Miranda smiled. "Yeah you were, hehe," she laughed a tad nervously. Are you sincerely sorry?"
"Yeah…man I just feel so bad about that…I'm glad you and Chris are getting along," he said half grinning.
"Um…thanks…" she said blushing. She turned around and crossed her arms on the ledge. "It really is a nice night out he—" She froze when she felt Tristan's arms around her waist.
"You know you look very lovely tonight," he said in a soft voice in her ear. "I think you deserve more than what you have now. Why don't you come back home with me? You wouldn't have to worry about anything else anymore, because where I live, everything you ever wanted is granted. And I'm sure you would be happier with me…"
"Um…Tristan…that's a nice offer and all but I'm fine the way I am now…I'm sorry but I love Chris…and nothing could replace him. So uh, if you'll just let me—" He had turned her around and was staring deeply into her eyes. She felt his lips touch hers as he gave her a long a deep kiss. I feel…myself…weakening…
Zidane looked at Chris. "You look troubled…what's wrong?"
"I don't know…something just doesn't feel right…" He noticed the crystal glowing from under his shirt and took it out. "What the…"
Zidane blinked. "It's glowing…well more like flashing…"
"Miranda…" Chris looked up. "She's in trouble!" He ran to the balcony, Zidane and the others right on his heels. He stopped at the door, making everyone crash into Zidane.
Tristan was standing on the ledge, Miranda unconscious in his arms. "Well, well, hello there Chris."
"Tristan…what is it that you want?!" Chris yelled taking a step forward.
"Oh I got what I want…and she's right here," he said, giving him a smile that sent shivers up his spine.
"So your this Tristan person," Zidane said coming out. "Well, this is an interesting way to meet."
"And you're the infamous Zidane. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I was just on my way out."
"Like hell your leaving! I am not letting take Miranda away that easy," Chris yelled.
Tristan raised an eyebrow. "You want to fight with me?"
Chris unsheathed his sword. "Yeah, I do. Unless your too chicken to."
"Hey, hey, cool it Chris," Zidane said quietly. "Don't say anything you might regret. He has Miranda, keep that in mind."
"…"
Tristan smirked. "Well, I'll be waiting down at the gardens." With that he vanished.
"Uh oh…we have a teleporter on our hands," Kuja said. "This may be more than you can handle, kid."
"It doesn't matter if he could ride a cow over to the moon and back," he said angrily as he turned and headed to his room. "I'm getting Miranda back! But first I have to get out of these clothes."
"Talks sense he does," Blank said.
He reappeared a few moments later and ran to the garden entrance. Everyone followed, their weapons drawn. They found Tristan waiting by an apple tree, throwing his sword into the air and catching it. He turned when he heard them coming. Apparently he had changed as well.
"Where's Miranda?" Chris demanded.
"Relax…she's in a safe place," Tristan answered calmly. "She's resting. She's had a long day." He waved his hand and a floating bubble appeared from behind the tree. Inside it, Miranda lay unconscious.
"Miranda!!" Kristin yelled. She moved forward but Kuja restrained her.
"Don't do anything, yet," he said in her ear. "We don't know what he can do. I know he seemed trusting when we first saw him, but we don't know the truth about him anymore."
Kristin nodded shakily. Oh Miranda…She turned to Chris. "You better win!"
Chris grinned. "I don't plan to lose at any rate." He drew his sword and walked toward Tristan. He stopped five feet away and pointed the tip at him. "You're going to regret what you did."
Tristan smirked. "Regret? Oh it won't be me who'll regret. It will be you."
Author's Note: GOMEN NE!!!! I've had chapters 24-30 on my comp but I never uploaded them cuz I didn't think they were good enough @_@ well I guess I'll stick 'em up anyway…I think this story is breaking apart and I haven't really been that committed to it, eh-heh…we'll see. Well on to Chapter 25!