I don't own Final Fa -- WAITAMINUTE! Just read the first chapters first, k? You'll KNOW then that I don't own it, and that Sqauresoft does! Lol! ^____^

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"Matters Of Sorts"

By: Gee, let me think....Laura M. Ulian?

Dedicated to: To ALL of my readers! Hehe! Which of course includes Merciful Rose and Dragon Knight Freya, and Darknes and Losergrl-Hoppus, AND the Sly Eagle and Orner-Chan....kinda wierd. I got 7 reviews, but 5 readers....lol. Anyway, this fic is dedicated to them who read it! My new policy! Lol....


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"Watch it!" Grabs' voice reached the princes ears, as he slowly, inch by inch, slid down the trunk of the old oak tree. Despite the fact he cut, bumped, and bruised himself in several areas, Rey felt a thrill of adventure by just doing it. He lifted his head to watch, as both thieves climbed down the structure's branches. They couldn't help but show off, and Rey, without knowing it, envied them. Finally, when all three had their feet planted firmly on the ground, the prince truned to Grabs. To his surprise, the young theif was already walking away.

"Hey!" Rey called after him, running to catch up. "I still have not asked you....Why does Blank wish me to....get out?"

Grabs turned around, flashing a sarcastic smile, "Understanding, Rey-man. Understanding. That's what he told me, anyway."

Rey wrinkled his nose briefly, "Rey-man?"

"Hey bro," said Rascha, as he moved up behind them. "How we gonna get across the lake this time?"

Grabs rolled his eyes, and ran his fingers through his hair, "Same way we did to get here, bro. Swim."

"What??!!" cried both Rey and Rascha at the same time.

The thief just shook his head, grinning like a madman. Leaving the two standing in utter stupor, he moved forward to the very brink of the cobblestone. The water below gently lapped at the stones underfoot, reflecting the night's eerie moonlight. Grabs slowly knelt down and stuck a finger into it's cool surface. Eyes widening in mock surprise, he yanked it out and shook his hand distastfully, "Geez....kinda cold."

"But bro, we dinna-" Rashca began, once again scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh, would you look at that," Grabs intervened, standing up to point. "And with out luck, too! Who would've thought there'd be a BOAT right where we left it, Rascha?"

Sheepishly, the giant grinned and slunk back a few steps, "Aye...yeah, I forgot, Grabs. Man, you had me fer a minute 'er two, I thought-"

"Get in," Grabs growled, gesturing to the prince. "My good hospitality just fled with whatever nerves I had left tonight..."

Rey sneered -- something he found himself doing all too often lately. But he silently obeyed. As he stepped from the rocks, onto the wooden bottom of the small boat, he began to think negatively. Two strangers just abdcuted him from his room, claiming to be related to friends of his father. And he'd agreed? For all he knew, the both of them could be kidnapping him -- a grown man -- to hold him for ransom. The prince felt his mind double over with the realization. Just as Grabs took a seat in the bow, Rey's senses snapped, and he seized the young man by the collar. Grabs yelped in surprise as he fell backwards, and found himself staring up into Rey's face, twisted in uncertain fury.

"I'm not stupid," the prince snapped, glaring wrathfully down at his captive. "If this is some sort of plot, or scheme to rob my parents, so help you-"

"Hey, hey!" Grabs protested, flailing his arms. Above them, Rashca observed with a puzzled expression. "If we wanted any money, pal, we woulda just gone and done it ourselves!" the young theif pulled himself out of the princes grasp, and sat himself back up, gritting his teeth. "Geez, if not a prince, man, you'd have made a great addition for Tantalus, I'll give ya that."

"My abilty to attack a scoundrel from behind, makes me no less of a prince," hissed Rey.

"Scoundrel?" Rascha suddenly put one, heavy foot into the boat, causing it to sink halfway into the water. The giant didn't appear to notice, "Man, Rey, that 'urts, y'know. You've been hangin' around that Steiner bloke a' all?"

"Whoa, Rashca!" Grabs shoved his partner from behind. The boat rocked threateningly. "You're gonna sink this half of boat, bro!"

Carelessly, Rascha swung his other foot into the boat. It creaked helplessly, and sunk several inches more. Surprisingly enough, the boat did not submerge, but stayed well above the water's surface. Rascha seized the two oars in his great hands and used one, massive foot to push the boat form shore. Again, it shook, and nearly capsized, but before Rey even knew it, they'd shot a straight seven yards from the cobblestone's edge. Rascha hummed as he rowed.

"Ugh..." Rey groaned, as he felt his stomach do a flop. He dropped his head.

"Oh, splendid," said Grabs, crossing his arms. They both sat at the front now, where the prince had smartly fled when Rascha almost sat on him. The thief sighed, "A fine time to find out yer prone to seasickness."

"I'll be fine..." said Rey, as he clutched his stomach. "Haven't been on a boat in seven years, though."

Grabs' eyes broadened, "Yer serious? They really do keep you cooped up in there," he said, matter-of-factly.

"Don't remind me."

"Anyways," said Grabs, channging the subject. "You've got a whole city-full of people out there, Rey. Not to mention ol' Baky-man, and Slick. Jus' wait until ye meet Marcus's girl. You'll flip. And then there's those four five critters, y'know, the little black mage's kids? And Red's-"

"I don't care..." sighed the prince. "Just take me to Blank. I shouldn't even be here, I have a great many of things to do tomorrow. Six girls, Grabs. I have to escort six girls, and attend....oh, I can't even remember how many....When will this boat ride end?"

Grabs ignored him, and glared out over the water, "Baby," he muttered under his breath.

The ride did end, finally. However, even as they neared the opposite shore, at the end of an alley southeast of the castle, a loud voice rang out over the water. A slender figure stood on a vacant-looking dock. Her voice was impatient, and her antics rather jumpy, and insistant. Grabs made a rude noise of disapproval, and he stood up. Rey seized the sides of the boat, as it rocked back and forth.

"Emmy, get back to the hideout, woman!" Grabs shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. "I'll tell Dad!!"

"Is 'e with y'all?" Emmy yelled back, picking up her skirts as she ran to the end of the dock. "Is the crown prince really 'ere? I wanna see 'im, Jeremy! I wanna meet 'im!"

Rey looked up with a note of humour in his eyes. He stiffled a laugh, "J-Jeremy?"

"Shut yer hole," snapped 'Jeremy', sitting roughly into his seat, as the boat drew closer, and closer to the dockside. "So I have a given name. Doesn't mean anything. I'm Grabs, ye got it?"

"Yeh, Jeremy, whatever ya say," said Rascha, and barked a single 'ha'.

It was Grabs' turn that night to sneer, "Just because she won't call me Grabs...." he muttered, half to himself.

Softly, the boat touched down on the dock. Before it had even stopped moving, Grabs had leapt from his spot, and was already confronting the girl named 'Emmy', before Rey even though of getting out. Rascha helped him climb onto the dock, while Emmy and Grabs argued behind them. Rascha seemed to ignore them, whether he was deaf, of prone to listening to them. Rey rolled his eyes, and found a comfortable moment to intervene their conversation.

"Your sister?" he asked plaintivly, raising a brow.

"Unortunately, yes," said Emmy, before Grabs could reply. "'is YOUNGER sister!"

"That's supposed to make you my babysitee?" growled the young thief. "Her real name is Emerald, and she's nineteen years old. Doesn't look it, but sadly, she is."

Rey veiled his surprised. Grabs was right. 'Emerald' had light blue hair, that flowed across her shoulders. Her face was small, and petite, and her skin rather pale. But she looked no younger than six-teen at the most. Emmy crossed her arms, and smirked mischievously, "Jus' cause I got a husban' and he aint married, 'es a sourpuss."

Something about her accent struck a note of familiarity in the prince's mind, but he shook it off, "Pleasure to meet you," he said, trying his best to remain composed. Another girl. Another blasted girl. He'd been hoping his formal days were over....for a while, at least.

Grabs sighed again, "She's a memeber of Tantalus. The only thing that keeps her there is the fact that she's a high-ranking member's daughter. Otherwise, Baky-man'd kicked her out a long time ago."

"Oooh!" Emmy cried impatiently. "Oh, I don't even wanna meet 'im anymore!" she added, and spun on her heel. Rey watched with a stroke of fascination as she stormed back down the dock. He looked at Grabs, and Grabs shrugged, "Should we get going?"

"I'm 'ungry," grumbled Rascha. He absently tied a rough knot in the boat's rope, to keep it in place. "Ruby'd better have somethin' cooked up or 'all kick straight, feet flyin' up everywhere, fall te the floor..."

Grabs smirked, and whispered into the princes ear, "Rascha's the only man alive that enjoys my mom's food."

Rey shrugged, and whispered back, "He has his opinion."

"Not a very good one," said Grabs. He snorted.

"Oi, yer both in big trouble, Grabs!"

Startled, all three men whirled around. From the end of the dock, came not one, but two figures moving through the darkness. Rey looked accusingly at Grabs, but Grabs only huffed and folded his arms in an irritated manner, "Oh, man...Here we go."

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(No long footer. About a day or so ago, I realized how pointless they are. LALALALALA.....no one reads 'em, right? Anyway....sorry 'bout the delay. You'll have to find out who's after these guys now. Two strangers...who could they be? Well, until next time peeps....ciao!)