Chapter 5: The Past
"Maria, there you are! I thought you had gotten lost because you've been out there so long." Raushanna exclaimed as Maria entered the tent.
"Where are Mr. Piscura and Tidus?" Maria asked.
"Oh, they're out back getting changed into their pajamas! How adorable!" Raushanna chuckled.
"Really? Hey, I'm going to be out there a little longer, so don't worry about me." Maria said as she went through her traveling bag, and dug out here green pajama pants and matching tank top.
"What in the world do you think you're doing? It's getting really dark, and there could be wild beasts prowling around!" Raushanna warned.
"Oh don't worry, Magus will protect me." Maria stated as she walked out of the tent, leaving Raushanna dumfounded.
"Wait! You still have to tell me about that thing you said you had to tell me! Ugh.oh gee, never mind.I'll get it out of you later.you lovebird!" Raushanna yelled out. 'I sense there's going to be some major conflicts once we arrive at Zanarkand.'
Back outside, Maria walked hastily towards the spot where Magus awaited, leaning against the tree. "Hey Magus, I'm back!" Maria called out, now dressed in her pajama attire.
"Hey, are you sure you don't want to get the rest of the group out here, or go in the tent for me to tell the story? They might want to hear it too." Magus suggested.
"No, I'm sure. I'm a big girl now! Don't treat me like a little kid!" she announced, hiding the fact that she really wanted to be alone with him.
"I'm not treating you like a little kid, you young and naïve princess."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Heh, nothing, forget I said that." Magus said, smiling to himself.
"Um.not to be rude or anything, but can you please start the story now? I'm so eager to hear it!" She pleaded the mage. Magus nodded. First he checked his hanging clothes to see if they were dry. Deciding that they weren't, he and Maria went to sit down under the tree.
"Okay, here it goes," he took a deep sigh, "three years ago, I was one of the Kings, your fathers, loyal and most trusted friend. Which was through my father, because he was one of Bevelle's most powerful knights. When Princess Maria had turned fifteen, which made her, by law, to be wedded before her sixteenth birthday. A few weeks later, a request from Zanarkand came in from King Christopher, saying that his son asks Maria's hand in marriage. Now, King Louis and King Christopher were childhood friends, and great allies. Immediately King Louis summoned me asking for me to escort the young princess to the castle in Zanarkand. Yet, he refused to tell me why."
"Question!" Maria interrupted. "Um, I hope you don't mind me asking, but, what did this princess look like?"
"Well, actually," Magus started, "she looked kind of like you.except that she had longer hair than you." He said as he reached over to run his fingers through Maria's shoulder length hair, which was still a little damp. A small chill ran through Maria's spine from Magus' touch.
"How long was her hair?" she asked.
"Mid-back."
"Oh, so about your hair length then." Maria joked.
"Heh. True." Magus smiled.
"Um, Magus?"
"Yes?"
"Did you think that.Princess Maria.was pretty?" Maria asked, quite shyly. Magus shifted around on the ground uneasily.
"Well.actually.I.think that's none of your business right now, frankly." He stated, with his eyes focused on a dandelion on the ground. Maria sighed.
"Okay.well, let's continue with the story!" she suggested.
"Alright, where did I leave off? Oh yeah, once I had things all set for the journey, the princess and I departed. Oh, and if you haven't figured out yet, what I meant by 'higher class' back at the cabin was royalty. I didn't want to scare you or anything at my cabin.
"Humph! I don't get scared easily.only at the cabin when you screamed at me.and attacked me.and threatened to kill me." Maria said sadly.
"I'm sorry about that.I wasn't in really a great of a mood, and at first I thought you were pilfering some of my stuff."
"Hmm.then I guess I also owe you an apology?"
"It's quite alright now, I guess." Magus said to the princess. "Here, let me continue my story. It may answer some more questions that I think you're not telling me." He grinned. Maria grinned back and leaned on Magus' bare shoulder. Magus felt a little uneasy, but soon relaxed, and continued his story. "While we were traveling, I learned more about her. She told me many things, about the castle, her life, her schooling. She also told me why she was going to Zanarkand. The more I listened to her, the more I became interested in her.loved her. The more I told her about myself, and also because I protected Maria from any harm, I kind of felt that.she cared about me. I never got to know if she really loved me or not, but I'll explain why later." Magus paused.
"Wow, that is amazing!" she commented. "So, you never really 'went out' with her, huh?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then why did you tell me that you went out with her?"
"I.don't know. It just came out, I guess." He pushed some of his hair behind his ears and glanced at Maria.
"So.did anything happen between you and her?" she questioned.
".No.when we finally got to Zanarkand, I immediately escorted her to the castle. For some reason, they didn't let me in. I felt a great pain in my heart, realizing that that was the last time I would ever see her. I decided I would stick around Zanarkand a little longer, and chose to go to the wedding. The wedding never occurred." Magus explained.
"What happened?" Maria asked, totally absorbed in the story.
"Princess Maria.was murdered.the night before the wedding date." He said in a saddened tone. "I will get revenge for that! After investigating, I found out who the murderer was. Now, hoping that history won't repeat itself, this is another reason why I came with you and your group to Zanarkand, mainly to protect you from being killed."
"Who was the murderer?"
"It was a self-absorbed pompous freak named-"
"Hey you two! Get your butts in here! It's getting late!" Cid called out, interrupting Magus' sentence. Maria was startled by Cids' voice.
"Alright we're coming!" Maria responded. She then grabbed Magus' hand and led the way towards the tent.
"Hey, wait. What about my clothes?" Magus said as he pulled Maria to a halt.
"Ugh.just collect them and bring them in front of the tent. I'm sure Tidus or Cid will lend you some clothes, okay?" Maria said, smiling. "Hmm.your hair is still a little wet.but that's okay." She said as she felt Magus' soft blue hair. "Finish telling me the story later.promise?"
"I promise." Magus chuckled as he headed towards the tree to retrieve his hanging clothes.
Maria jolted into the tent, wrenched Raushanna from her sleeping bag, and rushed back out behind the tent. "Maria! What's wrong with you?" Raushanna exclaimed in surprise.
"I can't hold this in much longer! I have to tell you!" Maria said hastily.
"What is it?" Raushanna said anxiously.
"I.love.Magus.He's so kind, though mysterious at first.in such a seducing way.and he's so hot! He's so muscular! Ooh!" Maria confessed.
"Maria, Maria, Maria," Raushanna started, shaking her head, "you've only known him for a day!"
"Yeah I know, but there's something about him.something that.attracts me to him." 'Is it his personality? His touch? Um.it's got to be something! But why don't I know what it is?'
"What were you two talking about out here anyway?" Raushanna asked.
"Oh, he was just telling me THE MOST interesting story about his past!"
"Hmm.why don't you tell him about yours?"
".I think I will." Maria said, nodding in agreement. "Ooh and his voice.its so."
"What? What is it?" Raushanna pleaded.
"So.attractive!" Maria said, now blushing.
"Attractive? Maria!" Raushanna said, chuckling. "Maria, you're so-"
"Ooh and his voice.it's so.attractive!" Spoke a familiar voice coming from behind the girls. They spun around simultaneously.
"Tidus!" They both screamed in total shock.
"And he's so hot! He's so muscular! Ooh!" Tidus exaggerated in a mocking voice.
"Tidus please don't tell anyone, especially Magus!" Maria begged in a shaky, uneasy tone. She was shaking of pure nervousness.
"Hey! How much of this did you hear?" Raushanna asked, while at the same time trying to calm down her rattling friend.
"All of it!" Tidus said, with a triumphant smile. "Oh and Maria, you can trust me, I won't tell him." Tidus then placed his hand on his forehead. "He's so hot!" he said, once again mocking.
"Tidus stop it! Raushanna said, digging her nails in his arm.
"Ouch! Okay I'm stopping! Damn, Raushanna, that hurts!" Tidus replied. "Now lets get back to the tent before Mr. P yells at us!" The girls nodded in went ahead of Tidus. He stayed behind and grabbed Raushanna's arm, pulling her back behind the tent.
"Ugh! What do you want Tidus?" Raushanna said in slight annoyance.
"There's something I've been wanting to tell you." He announced, speaking in barely above a whisper. "You have to promise me you won't tell Maria, or anyone okay?"
"Why? What is it?"
"Well, I." Tidus started.
"Tidus we don't have all night." Raushanna stated bluntly.
"Okay.well.what I've been wanting to tell you is.I like you."
"You.what?"
"I like you." Tidus said, blushing.
"Tidus I.like you too."Raushanna let out, blushing as well. They both smiled at each other.
"Please don't hurt me when I do this." he said.
"Tidus, what are you-" Tidus had kissed her. "Tidus." she whispered, "Why don't you want me to tell Maria?"
"Because.I don't want her to feel left out of anything...and plus all that she's going through right now."
"But she's got Magus."
"No she doesn't, not officially. You and I both know that."
"And we both know that she's crazy about him." She reminded him.
"Raushanna-"
"Tidus, I'm really sorry, but I'm tired, and I have to get some sleep."
"Okay, I understand." He said as they both headed inside the tent. Cid, Magus, and Maria were already laying down in their sleeping bags. The two teens tiptoed into the tent and went to sleep.
"Maria, there you are! I thought you had gotten lost because you've been out there so long." Raushanna exclaimed as Maria entered the tent.
"Where are Mr. Piscura and Tidus?" Maria asked.
"Oh, they're out back getting changed into their pajamas! How adorable!" Raushanna chuckled.
"Really? Hey, I'm going to be out there a little longer, so don't worry about me." Maria said as she went through her traveling bag, and dug out here green pajama pants and matching tank top.
"What in the world do you think you're doing? It's getting really dark, and there could be wild beasts prowling around!" Raushanna warned.
"Oh don't worry, Magus will protect me." Maria stated as she walked out of the tent, leaving Raushanna dumfounded.
"Wait! You still have to tell me about that thing you said you had to tell me! Ugh.oh gee, never mind.I'll get it out of you later.you lovebird!" Raushanna yelled out. 'I sense there's going to be some major conflicts once we arrive at Zanarkand.'
Back outside, Maria walked hastily towards the spot where Magus awaited, leaning against the tree. "Hey Magus, I'm back!" Maria called out, now dressed in her pajama attire.
"Hey, are you sure you don't want to get the rest of the group out here, or go in the tent for me to tell the story? They might want to hear it too." Magus suggested.
"No, I'm sure. I'm a big girl now! Don't treat me like a little kid!" she announced, hiding the fact that she really wanted to be alone with him.
"I'm not treating you like a little kid, you young and naïve princess."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Heh, nothing, forget I said that." Magus said, smiling to himself.
"Um.not to be rude or anything, but can you please start the story now? I'm so eager to hear it!" She pleaded the mage. Magus nodded. First he checked his hanging clothes to see if they were dry. Deciding that they weren't, he and Maria went to sit down under the tree.
"Okay, here it goes," he took a deep sigh, "three years ago, I was one of the Kings, your fathers, loyal and most trusted friend. Which was through my father, because he was one of Bevelle's most powerful knights. When Princess Maria had turned fifteen, which made her, by law, to be wedded before her sixteenth birthday. A few weeks later, a request from Zanarkand came in from King Christopher, saying that his son asks Maria's hand in marriage. Now, King Louis and King Christopher were childhood friends, and great allies. Immediately King Louis summoned me asking for me to escort the young princess to the castle in Zanarkand. Yet, he refused to tell me why."
"Question!" Maria interrupted. "Um, I hope you don't mind me asking, but, what did this princess look like?"
"Well, actually," Magus started, "she looked kind of like you.except that she had longer hair than you." He said as he reached over to run his fingers through Maria's shoulder length hair, which was still a little damp. A small chill ran through Maria's spine from Magus' touch.
"How long was her hair?" she asked.
"Mid-back."
"Oh, so about your hair length then." Maria joked.
"Heh. True." Magus smiled.
"Um, Magus?"
"Yes?"
"Did you think that.Princess Maria.was pretty?" Maria asked, quite shyly. Magus shifted around on the ground uneasily.
"Well.actually.I.think that's none of your business right now, frankly." He stated, with his eyes focused on a dandelion on the ground. Maria sighed.
"Okay.well, let's continue with the story!" she suggested.
"Alright, where did I leave off? Oh yeah, once I had things all set for the journey, the princess and I departed. Oh, and if you haven't figured out yet, what I meant by 'higher class' back at the cabin was royalty. I didn't want to scare you or anything at my cabin.
"Humph! I don't get scared easily.only at the cabin when you screamed at me.and attacked me.and threatened to kill me." Maria said sadly.
"I'm sorry about that.I wasn't in really a great of a mood, and at first I thought you were pilfering some of my stuff."
"Hmm.then I guess I also owe you an apology?"
"It's quite alright now, I guess." Magus said to the princess. "Here, let me continue my story. It may answer some more questions that I think you're not telling me." He grinned. Maria grinned back and leaned on Magus' bare shoulder. Magus felt a little uneasy, but soon relaxed, and continued his story. "While we were traveling, I learned more about her. She told me many things, about the castle, her life, her schooling. She also told me why she was going to Zanarkand. The more I listened to her, the more I became interested in her.loved her. The more I told her about myself, and also because I protected Maria from any harm, I kind of felt that.she cared about me. I never got to know if she really loved me or not, but I'll explain why later." Magus paused.
"Wow, that is amazing!" she commented. "So, you never really 'went out' with her, huh?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then why did you tell me that you went out with her?"
"I.don't know. It just came out, I guess." He pushed some of his hair behind his ears and glanced at Maria.
"So.did anything happen between you and her?" she questioned.
".No.when we finally got to Zanarkand, I immediately escorted her to the castle. For some reason, they didn't let me in. I felt a great pain in my heart, realizing that that was the last time I would ever see her. I decided I would stick around Zanarkand a little longer, and chose to go to the wedding. The wedding never occurred." Magus explained.
"What happened?" Maria asked, totally absorbed in the story.
"Princess Maria.was murdered.the night before the wedding date." He said in a saddened tone. "I will get revenge for that! After investigating, I found out who the murderer was. Now, hoping that history won't repeat itself, this is another reason why I came with you and your group to Zanarkand, mainly to protect you from being killed."
"Who was the murderer?"
"It was a self-absorbed pompous freak named-"
"Hey you two! Get your butts in here! It's getting late!" Cid called out, interrupting Magus' sentence. Maria was startled by Cids' voice.
"Alright we're coming!" Maria responded. She then grabbed Magus' hand and led the way towards the tent.
"Hey, wait. What about my clothes?" Magus said as he pulled Maria to a halt.
"Ugh.just collect them and bring them in front of the tent. I'm sure Tidus or Cid will lend you some clothes, okay?" Maria said, smiling. "Hmm.your hair is still a little wet.but that's okay." She said as she felt Magus' soft blue hair. "Finish telling me the story later.promise?"
"I promise." Magus chuckled as he headed towards the tree to retrieve his hanging clothes.
Maria jolted into the tent, wrenched Raushanna from her sleeping bag, and rushed back out behind the tent. "Maria! What's wrong with you?" Raushanna exclaimed in surprise.
"I can't hold this in much longer! I have to tell you!" Maria said hastily.
"What is it?" Raushanna said anxiously.
"I.love.Magus.He's so kind, though mysterious at first.in such a seducing way.and he's so hot! He's so muscular! Ooh!" Maria confessed.
"Maria, Maria, Maria," Raushanna started, shaking her head, "you've only known him for a day!"
"Yeah I know, but there's something about him.something that.attracts me to him." 'Is it his personality? His touch? Um.it's got to be something! But why don't I know what it is?'
"What were you two talking about out here anyway?" Raushanna asked.
"Oh, he was just telling me THE MOST interesting story about his past!"
"Hmm.why don't you tell him about yours?"
".I think I will." Maria said, nodding in agreement. "Ooh and his voice.its so."
"What? What is it?" Raushanna pleaded.
"So.attractive!" Maria said, now blushing.
"Attractive? Maria!" Raushanna said, chuckling. "Maria, you're so-"
"Ooh and his voice.it's so.attractive!" Spoke a familiar voice coming from behind the girls. They spun around simultaneously.
"Tidus!" They both screamed in total shock.
"And he's so hot! He's so muscular! Ooh!" Tidus exaggerated in a mocking voice.
"Tidus please don't tell anyone, especially Magus!" Maria begged in a shaky, uneasy tone. She was shaking of pure nervousness.
"Hey! How much of this did you hear?" Raushanna asked, while at the same time trying to calm down her rattling friend.
"All of it!" Tidus said, with a triumphant smile. "Oh and Maria, you can trust me, I won't tell him." Tidus then placed his hand on his forehead. "He's so hot!" he said, once again mocking.
"Tidus stop it! Raushanna said, digging her nails in his arm.
"Ouch! Okay I'm stopping! Damn, Raushanna, that hurts!" Tidus replied. "Now lets get back to the tent before Mr. P yells at us!" The girls nodded in went ahead of Tidus. He stayed behind and grabbed Raushanna's arm, pulling her back behind the tent.
"Ugh! What do you want Tidus?" Raushanna said in slight annoyance.
"There's something I've been wanting to tell you." He announced, speaking in barely above a whisper. "You have to promise me you won't tell Maria, or anyone okay?"
"Why? What is it?"
"Well, I." Tidus started.
"Tidus we don't have all night." Raushanna stated bluntly.
"Okay.well.what I've been wanting to tell you is.I like you."
"You.what?"
"I like you." Tidus said, blushing.
"Tidus I.like you too."Raushanna let out, blushing as well. They both smiled at each other.
"Please don't hurt me when I do this." he said.
"Tidus, what are you-" Tidus had kissed her. "Tidus." she whispered, "Why don't you want me to tell Maria?"
"Because.I don't want her to feel left out of anything...and plus all that she's going through right now."
"But she's got Magus."
"No she doesn't, not officially. You and I both know that."
"And we both know that she's crazy about him." She reminded him.
"Raushanna-"
"Tidus, I'm really sorry, but I'm tired, and I have to get some sleep."
"Okay, I understand." He said as they both headed inside the tent. Cid, Magus, and Maria were already laying down in their sleeping bags. The two teens tiptoed into the tent and went to sleep.