Okay yes I know, I am a lazy @$$, I know that already. I don't need reminders. I'm not sure yet but I think that this is going to be chapter two of defying fate. Sorry for not updating sooner if there is actually anyone who reads this.

Okay, cuz I am so lazy and a slow typer I put this story on fast forward. Last chapter was how they met Flare, and what happened to her friends. This is in Alexandria, when the game begins I do hope that you enjoy, if you don't please tell me why in your review.

Chapter Two Birthday Bash

Flashbacks flooded her mind as she whipped tears from her eyes. She knew that this was no day to be upset. Who wanted to spend their sixteenth birthday cooped up in a castle? Not her any ways, she wanted out. She wanted to be free, like the birds that graced her with their presence on her windowsill. This was why she admired them, if they didn't want to be some where they didn't hesitate to leave. She wished to be like them, to spread her wings and fly. Wings in her eyes were made of love, and she had yet to find someone, she had no wings.

"Your highness?" Beatrix's voice reminded Garnet of where she sat, and who she was.

"Yes?" Garnet's sweet voice replied.

"Are you ready for the play?"

"Yes." Garnet replied as she rose gracefully from her chair by the window. "Beatrix what is the term that they use in town for a party?"

"I believe it is a 'bash' your highness." Beatrix said with a smile. She examined the girl who was becoming a beautiful young woman. She carefully placed a glittering Tiara on her head and stepped back to admire her. "Simply beautiful." She said in a half whisper.

Garnet glanced quickly into the mirror; feeling pleased that in her mind's eye she didn't look half bad, but she let a few strands of hair fall free of the Tiara's hold. "Sometimes," She started in no more than a whisper. "I wish that I could escape this fancy prison and have a 'bash'." She cast a worried glance at Beatrix hoping that the loyal general had not heard her. Such a remark was considered treasonous, and now days she didn't know how her mother would react to such a snide remark.

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"Flare?" Zidane asked as he and Blank walked towards her.

Flare hadn't heard his calling; she was trapped reliving a memory from her childhood. Her silver horn gleamed in the moonlight. Her brown hair fell neatly to her waist; red streaks were barley visible in the dim light.

"The play starts soon," Blank started quietly. He noticed that her sapphire eyes that were starring off into nowhere were glazed over with tears. "Baku bought a ticket for you. Best seat in the house, if your exclude the royalty."

Continuing to fight the tears that threatened to flow free, Flare watched her memories that flooded her mind. Leaning against the outer do of the Prima Vista the memory as well as being a reminder of who she really was, also played the role equivalent of a terrible night mere.

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Wearing a white summer dress that ended just above her knees, she felt the warm breeze play with her hair. The sun's rays making her highlights stronger, more vibrant, just how her father liked them. She turned to face him, standing tall he waved the boat off as he turned back to her. Blue eyes glittering like jewels, red hair messy and out of place.

"They'll be back around three Flare, don't worry." He said looking down at her.

"I hope so." She said as she hastily wiping the tears away from her eyes.

"Let's go for a walk." He said taking her hand in his the two started to walk down the beach. Flare giggled as the sand sunk through her toes, tickling her bare feet.

"Can we go to the temple?" Flare asked looking up to face him.

"I suppose so." He said as they turned and started the short walk to the eidolon wall.

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"Flare!" Blank said swooping down and shaking her shoulders.

"What?" Flare said in a mildly surprised tone.

"You looked like you were dead, except that you were crying." Zidane said giving her a hand up.

"Oh sorry. I was just thinking." Flare said as she stood up and walked over the railing.

"The play starts soon, Boss sent us to asked us to tell you that if your leaving, now's the time." Blank said quietly.

"Thanks bro." Flare said as she punched a fist into the air and called for the King of dragons.

"Be careful," Blank said as he stepped back to allow Bahumat space to land. "Are you sure he's safe?"

"Yeah, he's fine. Just a little disappointed, he was hoping for a fight." Flare said as she climbed awkwardly onto the powerful dragon's back.

"One day you're going to have to tell me how all of this summoning stuff works." Zidane said as he tossed Flare's bag up to her.

"It'll be hard, but I'll try." Flare said as she smiled down at them.

Bahumat's wings rose suddenly into the air. The air shattered as her brought them down again, they lifted off the deck and shot through the air like a cannon. In under a minute there was nothing but a dot of them left in the sky.

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"What's that?" A noble in the audience asked as a faint trail glittering dust from Bahumat's wings lingered in the sky.

Leaning forward slightly them man behind her answered. "Most likely it is the signal for the commencement of the fireworks." He said choosing his words wisely and adding a light accent from Dali. His thoughts, however, were much different from his vocalized opinion. 'Another summoner. It wasn't in the plan, but hopefully I can work this to my greater advantage.'

"You're right Sir!" The young woman exclaimed in a gleeful tone as she pointed towards the side stage where the musicians started a lively tune and a few men scrambled about trying to organize the fireworks. "Look's like they aren't quite ready yet!"

'Of course they aren't, and why should they be. That was not a signal for them but a signal of my success that shall begin tomorrow. Does the queen really understand the power the princess possesses?' He thought to himself.

The play began earlier than planned thanks to the accidental signal. Somehow the play began smoothly.

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"Have I met you before?" Zidane asked as he ducked to attempt getting a look at the girl's face, the girl that he knew was Princess Garnet.

"No I don't believe so." She said as she fiddled with the sleeves in a nervous fashion.

"Are you sure?" Zidane asked taking a step closer.

"I--- I have to go now!" She said as she ran past him onto the spiral staircase, knocking down Blank and continued at her fast pace.

"Who was that?" Blank asked as he stood up slowly.

"Blank you idiot! That was Princess Garnet!" Zidane shouted loudly.

"I'm no idiot you shit face!" Blank retorted.

"You're calling me drunk?" Zidane asked raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"Yeah I guess so." Blank said shrugging, so the two brothers turned and jogged down the hall in search of Princess Garnet. Their previous argument was all but forgotten.

"You do know you're a lot nicer when Flare's here." Blank told him in a humorous tone.

"That's 'cause I'm trying to win her over." Zidane said with a shrug.

"Win her over from what?" Blank asked as a knight in rusty armor approached them.

"From you."

"I'm not the one in love with her." Blank said quietly.

"Why not?" Zidane asked in an annoying tone.

"I'm just not, and even if I was there's nothing I can do." Blank said with a shrug.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, she's not ready to be loved by you Zidane."

"Why not?" He shot back.

"Can't you see it?" Blank asked him and Zidane shrugged in turn. "She's clinging onto a memory that she doesn't want to forget, and it hurts her to hold it so close. But, for her to love someone, she'd have to forget it, and she won't allow it."

"She's just like a sister to you, isn't she?" Zidane asked.

"You've got it."

"YOU TWO!" The knight shouted at them. "FIND THE PRINCESS NOW!"

"Yes sir!" Zidane replied as the two turned around and ran down the hallway.

"Zidane I'm going to follow him, make sure he doesn't get into your way!" Blank said as he turned around.

"Thanks Bro!"

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(Half an hour later and onstage with the Princess)

"Forgive me Marcus! For I still love my father." Garnet said as she clutched her stomach and fell to the floor.

"Cornelia!" Both Baku and Marcus shouted.

"Am I cursed? Never to feel her soft touch again, never to hear her sweet voice!?" Marcus said before turning his blade on himself, and falling to the floor.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" A little boy in a blue coat and a tall hat shouted as a guard chased him onto the stage.

"Get back here you runt!" The guard shouted.

"I warned you!" The boy shouted as he conjured up a fire spell that caught the hood of Garnet's cloak on fire.

"Hot! Hot!" Garnet screamed as she threw off her cloak, exposing her face to the crowd. "Oops!"

"Come on!" Zidane said grabbing her arm. "Let's get out of here!"

"Move out!" Baku ordered, and not a soul dared to disobey. The theater group rushed aboard the ship followed by Garnet and Steiner.

"OH GAWD!" Someone in the crowd shouted as he turned and ran the queen launched a chain onto the back of the Prima Vista. Wood and other materials were hurled through the air. Parts of the airship were pulled off as the chain met its full length, then finally fell, taking the back railing and a chunk of the floor with it.

The Prima Vista's speed slowed as the engines failed; as if clutching to the mist it managed to stay airborne until they had passed Alexandria's borders. Then hurled towards Gaia like a rock, landing in the Forbidden Forest.

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"GREAT!" Cinna shouted. "First we kidnap her! Then we go and kill her!" He shouted in a panicked and stressed voice. "We'll hang for sure!"

"Don't talk like that!" Blank said shaking his shoulders, "I told you, Zidane the Knight and that Vivi kid are going to bring her back, I've got to get this to him." Blank said as he raised a scroll to prove his point.

"So all I have to do is cover for you until you get back?"

"Yeah, that's all." Blank said with a shrug, "No big deal."

"Be careful."

"Oh Cinna come on you worry wart!" Blank said started to walk off. "It's not like I'm going to turn to stone!"

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"Man am I ever glad to see you!" Zidane said as Blank took the last shot at the monster holding Garnet captive, causing it to wither in agony and fall to the ground.

"Help me!" Garnet shouted, and it wasn't long before she was helped down and they began to run.

"ZIDANE!!"

Zidane turned on his heel to see where the call had come from and was mortified to she one of the creatures grasping onto Blank as the wave of cold surged forth. With one last effort Blank threw the contents of his hand to Zidane who made a flimsy catch nodded and began running once more.

"Not like I'm going to turn to stone . . ." Blank muttered to himself as he felt his whole body go numb and seize up, the side effects of pertrificaton.

As Zidane summer-saluted the last few feet out of the forest the vines wrapped themselves around the trees on the outside before turning to stone, creating an impassible wall.

There's chapter two I know it's shorter but I did warn you that it would be, hope you enjoyed it!