Note: Ok guys this is a QuistisxOC fic. I hope you enjoy. R/R!
As the golden sun rose slowly over the ocean side city of Balamb, its inhabitants woke to the soothing lullaby of ocean waves. In the Garden of Balamb, the SeeDs woke up earnestly, having been well nourished by the strong sunlight, luscious green meadows, and salty-sweet oceans. Students sprang up out of their beds, jammed their bodies into clothes, and all went off into their respective groups. Some formed herds of competitive barbarians, fighting to catch the attention of a girl. Others dashed to the cafeteria to shove in some toast and cram for that dreaded monster weakness exam. Headmaster Cid put on his everyday attire: a plain-white collared shirt and the hand-knit, red-wool vest his wife, Edea, gave him. Commander Leonhart slowly unfurled himself from the clingy arms of Rinoa Heartil—excuse me, Rinoa Leonhart. He kissed her on the forehead and donned his trademark leather jacket.
The instructors (unrecognized heroes who dealt with the Garden's most deadly enemies: students) had to rely on alarm clocks because they often stayed up late giving extra help or grading tests. One instructor stood out: Quistis Trepe. Her room did not have the instructor's traditional mess, instead her room was as neat and orderly as her beautifully blond hair. Her succulently pale skin, untouched by men, luminously glowed in the fresh sunlight. She looked around her room with her blue eyes and sighed; blue the most paradoxical color, emitting both boundless bliss and soul-slashing sadness. Right now they were sorrowful.
I'm so lonely, she thought.
Because you're ugly, her pessimistic side replied.
I am not!
You are too. I mean, you're nineteen, and you've never been laid. Hell, you've never even had ANY form of romantic relationship with ANY man.
You're mean. Go away, she whimpered weakly.
Look at everyone else; Rinoa has Squall, Selphie has Irvine, Xu has Nida, even Zell has that library girl. Face it: YOU ARE UGLY. Do the rest of the world and favor and just die. Depressed, Quistis cried to herself, trying to make it as quiet as possible. Soon she heard someone pounding on her door.
"Quistis, wake up!" the person said. Quistis choked down her sobs. She walked to the door and opened it.
"Hey, Xu," she mumbled to her best friend.
"Good morning, Quistis." Xu squinted her eyes and leveled them with Quistis'. Xu and Quistis had similar body measurements, but Xu noticed that Quistis was losing a lot of weight lately. She resembled some of those anorexic women. Then Xu noticed those all-too-red eyes. "Quistis, have you been crying again?"
"W-what? Me, cry? N-no. . ." was the reply. Quistis had to avert her eyes away from Xu's I'm-your-best-friend-and-I-know-you-better-than-anyone gaze. Xu just sighed and said, "Quistis, just hurry up and put something on. It's Thursday, remember?
"And? It's only six thirty-one."
"Thursday means Instructor meetings before classes, right?" Quistis let out a small cry. How could she forget? Quistis ran back in and threw on her regular Instructor's dress. She ran back out and locked the door. Only then did she notice that she had no shoes or stockings and that her keycard was still inside her room. She let out a wail of anguish. Today is NOT my day. Xu sighed and opened the door with a swipe of her keycard.
"Since when could you open my door?" Quistis asked her friend.
"Since Rinoa convinced Squall to give me a copy of his all-access card. Don't tell anyone. And hurry up, were six minutes late and we haven't even eaten breakfast." Quistis ran back in and put on everything she needed.
"Sorry, Xu," Quistis apologized, as they walked to the Cafeteria for a quick meal.
"It's fine. But I think you should have a check-up or something, because you're really not yourself lately."
"What are you talking about? I'm fine."
"Ah-ha! Denial, the first signs of a personal crisis. Normally, you're always so tidy and organized to the point that it's disgusting, but lately, you're the exact opposite. You zone out when people are talking to you, and you're always forgetting things. And you're not eating properly.
"Yes I am!" Quistis denied. "Why, yesterday I ate so much that I . . ." She mumbled off under her friend's whittling stare.
"Quistis, you're my friend. I'm really concerned about you," Xu paused as she scanned the long lines. With a decisive step, she cut the whole line and paid for two bagels. "Whatever's wrong, you should tell me about it. I can, I want to help you, but I can't if you don't talk to me."
"I'm fine really. No, really, I'm ok. I'm just under a little stress." Is it really that obvious? she thought as she bit into her bagel.
"It's because of him isn't it?"
"Him? Who?"
"Seifer," Xu spat out bitterly. After the Ultimecia incident, Seifer had been found to have acted under sorcerous influence, and therefore, innocent of all charges. He had been re-admitted into the Garden, and as fate would have it, he was in Quistis's homeroom. "He's harassing you, isn't he? That cocky bastard, I knew it was a bad idea letting him come back. If he so much as touches you, I'll make sure I stir up so much trouble –"
"No! It's not him. It has nothing to do to with him."
"Then what is it?"
Then and there, Quistis almost spilled out her deepest fears and feelings. It took her visible effort to calm herself down. "I-I'll tell you later. Lets just hurry up to the meeting." They went to the meeting room, mumbling apologies to the other instructors. The current topic was about the upcoming SeeD exam. Amid the slightly boring conversation, Quistis let her thoughts drift. Maybe I should talk to someone. Maybe they can help me.
Yeah, and maybe they can give you free plastic surgery.
Go away. You're so mean.
I'm being honest.
Then why do I have a fan club?
Ugly as you are, you're the youngest and therefore most easily seduced.
What are you talking about? The world doesn't revolve around sex and good looks, you know.
That's how all the ugly people think.
Why are you so mean?
Because—her thoughts were cut off when Xu jabbed her in the side. Quistis looked up and saw all the other instructors staring at her. Her face reddened as she realized that she had zoned out again.
"We were wondering if you had any suggestions to prepare our students for the upcoming SeeD exam," said Instructor Airon.
"Oh . . . uhhmm . . . well . . . I-I . . . uh . . ." Quistis stammered.
"Well," Instructor Ferra criticized condescendingly, "it seems that our recently reinstated instructor still doesn't have the necessary skills to be successful."
Xu stood up to defend her friend. Instructor Jenny Ferra was known to envy Quistis. "If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't be at peace right now."
"Oh . . . yes . . . how could we EVER forget such an imperative deed from our dear Instructor. Forgive me, I almost forgot about it," she countered sarcastically.
"Watch yourself, Jenna, lest you forget my rank."
"And if I don't . . .? Will you have to give Headmaster Cid sexual favors?"
Like a flash of lightning, Xu's double machetes materialized. In retaliation Jenny kicked aside her chair readied her Rising Sun. An electrified silence hung in the air. Both combatants seemed unwilling to back down.
"Apologize Jenny," Xu hissed.
"I refuse to apologize to that bitch!" Jenny shouted. With a thrusting motion of her left arm, the Rising Sun flared out. Its red saw-blade edges spinning faster than the eye can follow, the Rising Sun sliced through the air at Xu. Xu threw her body sideways in an attempt to dodge. She was twirled around as the Rising Sun lacerated through the fabric and skin of her arm, leaving semi-deep gash. Without wasting the momentum of her body, she dashed toward Jenny. She stabbed with her left machete, which embedded itself in the wall behind where Jenny used to stand. With her right machete, Xu slashed downward to where Jenny was ducking. There was a high-pitched clang as her silver blade clashed with the edges of Jenny's Rising Sun. Quistis began to cry and pleaded, "P-please stop . . . Xu." Xu ignored her and lashed out with her right leg, connecting with Jenny's knee. During Jenny's brief moment of weakness, Xu slashed with both machetes. Instructor Johnson, who was known to have eloped with Jenny, dashed in and blocked the attack with his Staff, which threw Xu off balance. Instructor Merry unsheathed Masamune, her katana, and took a swipe at Instructor Johnson. And so all the instructors who harbored their petty jealousies joined the melee; some fighting because this instructor got a raise for nothing or that instructor being biased, other instructors fought because of their loyalty to Xu or Jenny, and the remaining instructors fought to reduce stress or for no reason at all. Instructor Trepe just stood to the side and sobbed.
-o-
Outside, the students were drawn by all the shouts and clang of weapons. After Instructor Derrick blasted Instructor Verga through the door with his Fira spell, all the students were able to see the violent struggle between their instructors. One student stood out; one that had shiny blond hair and wore a cocky smile. He smacked one of the underclassmen on the back of the head and said, "Hey, go get the Headmaster and tell them our instructors are havin' one helluva party." As the boy dashed off to the Headmaster's office, all the students thought the same thing. This was going to be one LONG week.
-o-
"I still think you should visit all the upper classes and tell them about SeeD," stated Headmaster Cid.
"Headmaster, there really is no point in me going," claimed Squall, "Besides, I'm sure all the upperclassmen have SeeD friends who will teach them the ropes."
"But, Squall, I really think –"
"Headmaster! Commander!" Bradley paused for breath, "You have to . . . huff . . . come right away!"
"Now what's all this commotion!" complained Cid, "Who let you in here?"
"All the Instructors . . . They-they've gone crazy and they're all fighting each other!"
"WHAT!" shouted Squall and Cid.
-o-
Amid the shouting and spell-casting, Instructor Ferra cleared her thoughts. Looking around to see that everyone was occupied, she stealthily moved her way toward the disregarded crying Instructor Trepe. She steadied her Rising Sun with her now-bloody right hand. DAMN THAT BITCH! she thought After her, It's gonna be Xu. She fixed the weeping instructor in her sight. Ten feet away, Xu searched with blazing eyes for her original prey. She found Jenny aiming, but not at her. Xu followed the angle of the Rising Sun and realized she was aiming for Quistis. HYNE, she's too far away! Xu tried to position herself to shield Quistis or to cut off Jenny's arm, but Instructor Zackery and Hiaram were blocking her path, flailing at each other with swords and nun chucks. Xu felt her heart sink, as the realization struck deeper than any weapon. "Quistis! MOVE!"
Quistis didn't hear her over the din. With a sinister smile, Jenny pressed the trigger. The Rising Sun left its dock, and spun its way toward Quistis. The blood-red discus was on its path to cover itself in real blood. Its many saw-bladed edges gleamed eagerly for the blood of its master's enemy. Xu stood still as timed slowed down. She was unable to help her best friend, whom she swore to protect like the little sister she never had. A cry collected in her lungs and clawed its way out through her throat.
-o-
Outside, the soon-to-be SeeDs stood shocked, unable to decide what to do. If they helped, they would only be adding to the bloodshed, and besides, these were Garden Instructors who were way about their level. But with a cocky smile, Seifer took out his Hyperion. With a stride that gave off waves of over-confidence with every swish of his gray trench coat, he casually walked toward the fierce struggle. "Ass-kickin' time," he stated to no one in particular.
-o-
Spinning, spinning, twirling with deadly glee, eager with deathly intent. Bloody circle, bloody shine, and bloody teeth, all ready to savor delicious flesh and feast on bloody nectar. Rising Sun bringing a bloody sunrise to the innocent maiden. Then a spark of blue thunder, a blizzard of frozen adamantine. Quenching blood thirst and breaking bloody steel. The Lion striking down the Rising Sun with its valiant roar and violent claw. A fear-induced stillness choked down the fight. "Commander Leonhart," the silence whispered, "Squall, the wielder of Lionheart." Possessor of fighting skills unmatched, and magic potential of a novice Sorceress. The sublime rose of the Garden, the pride of Balamb. Immediately, all the instructors relinquished their weapons.
"Explain," he stated flatly.
All the instructors began stammering at once, trying to avoid the Lion's wrath. Xu nimbly stepped through the instructors to Quistis' side. "Are you ok?" she asked.
"I-I'm sorry . . . so sorry . . ." Quistis choked out. Upon noticing the tearful woman he thought of as a sister, Squall's icy exterior melted. He inquired with sincere sympathy, "Quistis are you hurt?"
"N-no."
"Xu, take her to the Infirmary." Xu picked up her friend (leaning a little on her for support) and took her to the Infirmary. "And as for the rest of you –"
"Come and get some, you geeky nerds!" challenged Seifer as he charged in as if the very hounds of hell were at his heels. He began to attack random people, not even caring if they weren't armed.
"SEIFER! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" screamed Squall. Seifer promptly stopped, and just realized the fighting stopped.
"Uh . . . enforcing the . . . uh . . . core values of . . . um . . . yeah . . . the . . . uh . . . SeeD . . . thing . . ." Ignoring the stammering Seifer, Squall addressed, "All classes are canceled today due to –" He was cut off by the collectivized shouts and cheers of the students. A group of upperclassmen girls took off the tops of their uniforms and chorused, "We love Squall, we love Squall!" Squall just slapped himself on the forehead.
"All of you get out of here, classes resume as normal tomorrow. Seifer go to your dorm for now; I'll deal with you later. And all the instructors involved in the conflict go wait in Headmaster Cid's office."
-o-
And so the story begins. A story of love between the depressed maiden and her not-so-perfect knight. A tale about two people who sacrifice all to overcome all. A tale of passionate romance, of mind-burning suspense, of bitter hatred, of untold secrets, and of the role of two people in mankind's never-ending struggle against the oppressive Sorceresses.
This is Final Fantasy.
So how is it so far? This is just a prologue, and it basically lays out the format of the story. Is it fresh and witty or boringly bland? Are there enough descriptions or are you lost? If you wish to answer or have comments review please!
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