Chapter 8 Deploys
Rinoa frowned as she lay in bed, staring at the lavishly decorated ceiling. Tomorrow. she'll be able to find out what's happening. Whether her father was truly behind these attacks, and why. Or maybe it's HER.
A soft knock on the door startled her and she climbed out of bed. Her instincts told her it was still a far cry from dawn -
"Prince Almasy?"
Seifer blinked as Rinoa frowned at him. 'I.uh... Squall told me to get you. He's gone with the others first - "
"What?! They've left?!"
Seifer was taken aback by her hiss. She was livid. "Well then, I'd better catch up." She slammed the door in his face and reappeared later, fully dressed in her 'commoner' clothes. In her hand she carried a strange projectile weapon. "I should stop relying on Quistis," She explained when she saw Seifer eyeing the weapon. He shrugged. The faster they leave the better chances of arriving in Trabia, getting Ellone and back without Squall knowing he's been there.
If only things were that simple.
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Crown Princess Ellone paced the length of her room, not caring whether her pacing would caouse a rip in her skirts. She was too busy thinking to notice her mother the Queen Edea stare apprehensively. 'Darling, please stop your pacing. It's not proper."
"Forget propriety." She threw her hands up in the air. "Where's Father?"
"He's gone to meet our spies from Shumi Village. Since Galbadia occupied that settlement he's been busy keeping an eye on the soldiers, dear."
"He should,' Ellone muttered darkly. "Emperor Caraway's being too aggressive lately. I'm afraid for the safety of Trabia, Mother."
"He won't dare attack us - not when Esthar is so close and help is just a few hours away."
Ellone knew she meant the Balamb Regiment, but she didn't like to mention it. Balamb has been under Esthar's protection since the bloody battle on its shores fifteen years ago, but it had taken them a long time to recover from the battle. A lot of lives has been lost, and the central village has been totally annihilated. "Is that why you're sending me there?"
"You're safer in Esthar." Edea said gently. "We don't know what Caraway is after, but we don't want to risk it. Since you're the likely target, we need to put you in the best care."
"SeeD Knights." She muttered darkly. "Being protected like a helpless woman. How am I supposed to protect the country if I'm far away?"
"You're the Crown Princess," Edea got up and smoothed her skirts. "It's your responsibility to make the best decisions for the sake of Trabia. Now tell me; would you rather see the country face danger and be there to help rebuild it, or die and leave it in chaos?"
Ellone sighed. "You always make it so plainly, Mother. I wish you could talk to the Emperor and make him see sense."
Edea preferred not to answer. She knew deep inside that Emperor Caraway was not doing this intentionally - ever since the Balamb Battle, he had been perfectly agreeable - until he took a new wife. The Empress, Ultimecia. Since then she had received news that Timber has been attacked. But since Timber was on the Galbadian Continent and therefore not of their concern, they had made no move. She had also heard that her niece, the Princess Rinoa had escaped to Esthar following the attack on Timber. It was a strange event, and it prompted her to send a messenger to Esthar to request protection for her daughter. After all, if Rinoa seek refuge in the land of the enemy of Galbadia, there must be something going on.
Ellone stared out of the window. She wondered if her decision of sending Selphie to Esthar was a good one, since Selphie was. temperamental. King Loire might not have taken her presence too well.
"I wish you'd stop calling me Messenger Girl! I'm Selphie, Selphie!" Selphie hollered at Irvine, who was grinning as the two of them waited at the Royal Stables. So far there was no sign of Squall, Rinoa and Quistis. And the first fingers of dawn were creeping across the sky already. If they intend on making a quick getaway, they're running out of time.
Footsteps and Quistis came up, looking worried. "Have you seen the princess?"
"She should be still sleeping," Selphie offered helpfully. "Ellone's never up at this time - "
"You'd receive a whipping if she hears you talk like that," Irvine cocked his hat. He was dressed in his long coat and boots, looking like a common man. Selphie had changed from her Trabian gear into simple pageboy clothes. A nunchaku was strapped to her back, their trident ends gleaming dangerously.
Qusitis shook her head. She had a bad feeling. she came to Rinoa's room and found it untouched - she seems to have gone for a while. She suspected something and when Squall said he didn't see her either, she became suspicious.
"Two chocobos are missing from the stables," Squall scowled as he came out of the stables. "Seifer's chocobo and another one." He turned to Irvine, who looked at Selphie, who looked at Quistis, who frowned heavily. "Has she gone with the Prince?"
"How did he find out?" Squall demanded. Irvine shrugged. "Look here, prince, we don't know - "
"She's gone with the Prince," Quistis confirmed as she came out of the stables. "I'm sure."
"Then we'd better get going. Hyne knows how much time they have ahead of us," Irvine decided. "With any luck we'll catch up with them along the way."
But luck was certainly not on them. Seifer and Rinoa was already nearing the Trabian Canyon when the duo heard a roar and a huge Ruby Dragon come into sight. "Oh no." Rinoa breathed, but Seifer had dismounted and taken out Hyperion. "Race through the Canyon and wait for me," He instructed. "I'll distract him." Rinoa nodded and sprinted into the Canyon.
Seifer grit his teeth. What talk. who ever fought a Ruby Dragon while tending a massive hangover?
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Empress Ultimecia stepped out of the Ragnarok, her own battleship. The Trabian air bit at her skin, making her flesh crawl. But there are more important things to mind than bitter winds.
"Platoons are in position and ready to attack, my lady," A soldier saluted her. She nodded. "Begin attacking at sundown. Make sure you kill enough people to attract the Regiment from Balamb, do you understand?"
"Yes, Empress."
"Oh, and find that errant child of mine. How unbecoming of a princess to run to Esthar like that," She cackled in delight. Dear Rinoa, did you think you can run from me? I'll have those Guardians even if it means destroying the world. right now the Guardian that matters in the one that has been sleeping in Balamb for centuries - if only Caraway had captured Balamb fifteen years ago, she wouldn't have to go through all the trouble for it.
Author's note: I feel Writer's Block coming. juggling three fics at one time can make a mind muddled... reviews please! Maybe I can overcome the block. Believe me, I want to continue all my fics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rinoa frowned as she lay in bed, staring at the lavishly decorated ceiling. Tomorrow. she'll be able to find out what's happening. Whether her father was truly behind these attacks, and why. Or maybe it's HER.
A soft knock on the door startled her and she climbed out of bed. Her instincts told her it was still a far cry from dawn -
"Prince Almasy?"
Seifer blinked as Rinoa frowned at him. 'I.uh... Squall told me to get you. He's gone with the others first - "
"What?! They've left?!"
Seifer was taken aback by her hiss. She was livid. "Well then, I'd better catch up." She slammed the door in his face and reappeared later, fully dressed in her 'commoner' clothes. In her hand she carried a strange projectile weapon. "I should stop relying on Quistis," She explained when she saw Seifer eyeing the weapon. He shrugged. The faster they leave the better chances of arriving in Trabia, getting Ellone and back without Squall knowing he's been there.
If only things were that simple.
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Crown Princess Ellone paced the length of her room, not caring whether her pacing would caouse a rip in her skirts. She was too busy thinking to notice her mother the Queen Edea stare apprehensively. 'Darling, please stop your pacing. It's not proper."
"Forget propriety." She threw her hands up in the air. "Where's Father?"
"He's gone to meet our spies from Shumi Village. Since Galbadia occupied that settlement he's been busy keeping an eye on the soldiers, dear."
"He should,' Ellone muttered darkly. "Emperor Caraway's being too aggressive lately. I'm afraid for the safety of Trabia, Mother."
"He won't dare attack us - not when Esthar is so close and help is just a few hours away."
Ellone knew she meant the Balamb Regiment, but she didn't like to mention it. Balamb has been under Esthar's protection since the bloody battle on its shores fifteen years ago, but it had taken them a long time to recover from the battle. A lot of lives has been lost, and the central village has been totally annihilated. "Is that why you're sending me there?"
"You're safer in Esthar." Edea said gently. "We don't know what Caraway is after, but we don't want to risk it. Since you're the likely target, we need to put you in the best care."
"SeeD Knights." She muttered darkly. "Being protected like a helpless woman. How am I supposed to protect the country if I'm far away?"
"You're the Crown Princess," Edea got up and smoothed her skirts. "It's your responsibility to make the best decisions for the sake of Trabia. Now tell me; would you rather see the country face danger and be there to help rebuild it, or die and leave it in chaos?"
Ellone sighed. "You always make it so plainly, Mother. I wish you could talk to the Emperor and make him see sense."
Edea preferred not to answer. She knew deep inside that Emperor Caraway was not doing this intentionally - ever since the Balamb Battle, he had been perfectly agreeable - until he took a new wife. The Empress, Ultimecia. Since then she had received news that Timber has been attacked. But since Timber was on the Galbadian Continent and therefore not of their concern, they had made no move. She had also heard that her niece, the Princess Rinoa had escaped to Esthar following the attack on Timber. It was a strange event, and it prompted her to send a messenger to Esthar to request protection for her daughter. After all, if Rinoa seek refuge in the land of the enemy of Galbadia, there must be something going on.
Ellone stared out of the window. She wondered if her decision of sending Selphie to Esthar was a good one, since Selphie was. temperamental. King Loire might not have taken her presence too well.
"I wish you'd stop calling me Messenger Girl! I'm Selphie, Selphie!" Selphie hollered at Irvine, who was grinning as the two of them waited at the Royal Stables. So far there was no sign of Squall, Rinoa and Quistis. And the first fingers of dawn were creeping across the sky already. If they intend on making a quick getaway, they're running out of time.
Footsteps and Quistis came up, looking worried. "Have you seen the princess?"
"She should be still sleeping," Selphie offered helpfully. "Ellone's never up at this time - "
"You'd receive a whipping if she hears you talk like that," Irvine cocked his hat. He was dressed in his long coat and boots, looking like a common man. Selphie had changed from her Trabian gear into simple pageboy clothes. A nunchaku was strapped to her back, their trident ends gleaming dangerously.
Qusitis shook her head. She had a bad feeling. she came to Rinoa's room and found it untouched - she seems to have gone for a while. She suspected something and when Squall said he didn't see her either, she became suspicious.
"Two chocobos are missing from the stables," Squall scowled as he came out of the stables. "Seifer's chocobo and another one." He turned to Irvine, who looked at Selphie, who looked at Quistis, who frowned heavily. "Has she gone with the Prince?"
"How did he find out?" Squall demanded. Irvine shrugged. "Look here, prince, we don't know - "
"She's gone with the Prince," Quistis confirmed as she came out of the stables. "I'm sure."
"Then we'd better get going. Hyne knows how much time they have ahead of us," Irvine decided. "With any luck we'll catch up with them along the way."
But luck was certainly not on them. Seifer and Rinoa was already nearing the Trabian Canyon when the duo heard a roar and a huge Ruby Dragon come into sight. "Oh no." Rinoa breathed, but Seifer had dismounted and taken out Hyperion. "Race through the Canyon and wait for me," He instructed. "I'll distract him." Rinoa nodded and sprinted into the Canyon.
Seifer grit his teeth. What talk. who ever fought a Ruby Dragon while tending a massive hangover?
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Empress Ultimecia stepped out of the Ragnarok, her own battleship. The Trabian air bit at her skin, making her flesh crawl. But there are more important things to mind than bitter winds.
"Platoons are in position and ready to attack, my lady," A soldier saluted her. She nodded. "Begin attacking at sundown. Make sure you kill enough people to attract the Regiment from Balamb, do you understand?"
"Yes, Empress."
"Oh, and find that errant child of mine. How unbecoming of a princess to run to Esthar like that," She cackled in delight. Dear Rinoa, did you think you can run from me? I'll have those Guardians even if it means destroying the world. right now the Guardian that matters in the one that has been sleeping in Balamb for centuries - if only Caraway had captured Balamb fifteen years ago, she wouldn't have to go through all the trouble for it.
Author's note: I feel Writer's Block coming. juggling three fics at one time can make a mind muddled... reviews please! Maybe I can overcome the block. Believe me, I want to continue all my fics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
