AN: Ok plot mine! Nothing else. Ooooook. I soo had the story in my head from start to end but I lost it. So I have to think more.
Caylee: I know what story you are thinking of and I understand. I read that one about six months or so ago. Genjy0-Sanz0 is a master mind.. ..(sigh).. But see I see where I made mistakes.. And thank you. I will try to look out for those. Ty!
Lady Deathstryke: I know I'm a true qualler but that will change two of my other stories are not. ,.,(dies a bit inside).. But this one will be. Ty for the sugg
Matron Raenee: I'll keep this story going, thanks for the review!
Diddly Day: Go Moulin Rouge! ..(dances).. I'm working as fast as I can. I have more time now do to the fact that I'm not taking summer classes. ..(pouts). But that leaves more time to write between jobs. Anyways ty soooooo much for the review! I love your ff8 story! I can't wait for more ..(bows a million times).. Ty ty ty!
MafGoldenHeart: I'm working on getting it up. Please keep reviewing!
Two
Quistis woke up earlier than she had hoped to. The castle was still cold and dark. The sun nor the birds were up yet, leaving Quistis more than enough time to go out and train. Dressing in a pair of pants, peasant blouse, leather gloves, a leather corset and tall boots, she left her room for the kitchen. Normally no one would ask or look at her any different, but she was not at home, and the few that were up were eyeing her oddly.
After stealing an apple, bread, orange, and a jug of water she headed out to the stables. There she took out her horse and headed past the city. After a while a she found a forest that hid a lake in the middle. Tying her horse to a branch she stretched out and began to peal her orange. Quietly she watched the sun rise and reflect off the lake.
After finishing her orange and bread she grabbed her whip and began to dance, letting it strike out at branches around her. Every step she made, fallowed her last, and never once did she strike herself. Then just as quickly as the whip snapped at the lake, she stopped. Turning round a bit, she stood with her back to the woods. Then with one lethal movement she lashed out and struck a bush. "I know you're there. Come out or next time I will make my mark." Slowly she watched as Prince Leonhart came out of the shrubbery.
"I was told at you always hit your mark. Was that a lie?" Squall watched as her lips smoothly curved into a smile. " Who said I missed?" Quirking an eyebrow Squall watched her as she picked up the apple. Throwing it into the air she snapped her wrist, sending the end of her whip at the apple. After a second or two she caught it in her hand and showed it to Squall.
Wide eyed, Squall stuck this finger through the center. She had sent the sharp end of her whip through the center, and pulled the core out. "You're pretty good." Smirking, Quistis took the apple from his hand and gave it to her horse. "You any good with that clunky thing?"
Squall's eyes traveled down to his gunblade. "You think you can take me on?" Placing on a smirk Squall steadied himself into his battle stance. Nodding politely Quistis did the same. Both healed the same smirk, ready for one another.
Squall charged first, underestimating the quickness that was held within Quistis. At the last second she stepped to the side and cracked her whip at his back, busting a hole in his leather pants. Squall spun around quickly, glaring at her. Running fully at her Squall ducked a crack form her whip, then dragged his gunblade up across the ground.
Quickly Quistis snapped her whip around the blade. Grabbing the other end she gave it a jerk and turned his blade so they were both facing a broad side. There they stood in a face off for several minutes. Both glaring their hardest, and neither willing to give in to the other. Slowly Quistis' lips curved into a smirk. Pushing her hands back she forced his gunblade back, striking him in the face. Stumbling back, Squall felt her whip wrap around his leg, and then the hard ground against his back. A sharp pain running through his hand told him that she had knocked his gunblade out of reach.
Looking up he watched her pick his gunblade up. "Is the royal Prince finished?" Sitting up he watched her swing the blade around. She looked just as graceful as ever with the large sword. Reaching up Squall touched his lips. It pained him. Pulling his fingers away he saw that there was blood on it. Great. He has busted his lip.
Looking back that the female knight he shook his head. Never had anyone other than himself touched his blade. He watched as she swung it around her, making near perfect arches. After swinging it to her left she stopped letting the blade fall a bit. "You're bleeding Prince. We should get back." Squall wrenched at how cold her voice was. It was the first time he had ever known anyone to be that cold and distant. He watched as she rode off. After a minute or two he grabbed his gunblade out of the earth. Just as he was about to put it onto his belt he noticed that the dirt was clinging onto it oddly. Looking closer at what was on it. Jumped on his horse and raced after her.
Once the stables were in view her saw that she was standing there with Prince Zell next to her. Zell was waving his hands around angrily. Quistis merely rolled her eyes. Placing her hand over her left arm, Squall could see that a light blue light started to glow. Zell again threw his hands up and started to yell. Edging closer Squall listened in. "You know you can't do that! Only royalty can use magic like that! Damnit what were you doing anyways? Here let me!" Quistis moved quickly. "Don't. I'm fine." pushing past him she stormed off into the castle.
Quistis stormed off to her room. She cursed her own stupidity. Throwing herself onto her bed she sighed. The pain in her arm had lessened. Closing her eyes she muttered a few words and let the blue light take over. A warm tingly sensation over came her. After a second or two the pain lessened even more. Looking down she saw that it had indeed stopped bleeding, though the cut still looked angry. Closing her eyes she rested for a bit, soon slipping into a light sleep.
A knock at the door wok her. Standing there was her father. "Quistis dear, can I talk to you?" Sitting at the edge of her bed she nodded. Kiros placed himself down next to her gently. "Look, I talked to Zell. He said you came back hurt this morning. Are you ok?" Quistis nodded keeping her left side hidden from him. "Good. I also saw Prince Leonhart. He too was hurt. Were you two fighting?" Quistis looked down and sighed. "Do you even know what you were doing? That could have started a war. I don't know what I would have done had anything happened to you. Prince Leonhart is the best gunblader in the world. He could have killed you."
Quistis looked up at him in sock. "The best? Are you sure of that? I took him down pretty quickly." Kiros looked at her oddly. "You took him down?" Quistis nodded. "Well I have to talk to Lagu…. King Laguna and see what we should do about this. I'll be back in a while. Please wait for me to come back." Quistis nodded and watched him walk out of the room. Sighing for the millionth time she flattened herself on the bed. Closing her eyes she concentrated on her cut. It was beginning to sting again.
"Quisty?" A muted knock let her know it was Zell. "Come in." Opening her eyes she watched him as he walked over to the bed. "You need that fixed. Let me heal you.." Quistis quickly dashed to the other side of the bed. "I don't trust you with that and you know it. Remember last time?" Zell screwed his face up as he tried to remember. "O yeah! It was when I cut you with my gloves. I think I…"
"You set a bush on fire! You missed my leg, thank Hyne and set a bush on fire! See why I don't trust you?" Zell looked aside bashfully. "I've gotten better." Zell kicked at the ground. "Quistis?" both looked up to see Kiros at the door. "Sorry Prince but I need to talk to my daughter." Zell nodded and exited the room.
"As punishment for fighting with the prince you must go to the dance with and dance with ever male suitor there. Clear?" Quistis nodded her head. It really was not a fare punishment. Well not fare to the guys she would have to encounter. "Quistis dear, you know I'm only looking out for you. I just want you to be happy and find a husband. Ok?" Again she nodded. "See you at the ball sweet pea." Feeling a little bad about making her father worry she gave him a hug. "Thank you father." Only when his arm brushed her's did she wrench. "Now get ready sweetie." After she was sure he was gone, she looked down at her cut and cursed. Trying once more to heal it, she let the blue light take over, but this time it only made the pain worse. Sighing she rolled her eyes as the maids entered the room.
"Where is she?" Zell paced the floor outside of the ball room. "She'll be here." Kiros rested a hand on his shoulder to claim him down. "Are you ok Prince Zell?" His bright blue eyes traveled to the Princess Ellone. She was wearing a cream off the shoulders gown. Smiling brightly he nodded. "Good." Nodding she turned to her brother. "Are you well Squall?"
Squall himself was looking rather unhappy as always in his navy suit. Every male attending this ball was dressed in similar suits on the royalty side anyways. Their knights in a lighter blue. "Prince Leonhart!" A young brunette girl dressed in yellow came bounding up to him. She only stopped maybe two inches from his face. "Thank you so much for letting me and Sr. Almasy stay with you." Squall nodded. "Well, well. You must me the prince Leonhart Rinoa was squawking about." Everyone looked up to see a raven haired girl smacking a long hair knight with a hat. "Can it Irvine."
The well dressed princes turned to the others, a interesting shade of red. "Hello prince Squall." She curtsied. "Is was nice of your father to invite us to your home." Squall nodded. When he straightened up, she grabbed onto his arm. "My father will be very pleased if you were to attend the ball with me." Squall opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Kiros.
Looking at the head of the stairs he found Quistis dressed in a silky light pink off the shoulder gown. Gently she lowered her head to the others. "Wonderful. You look amazing sweet pea." Kiros walked over to her and placed a kiss on her head. "Wow Quisty you clean up well." Quistis only rolled her eyes at his statement. "As do you." Smirking she walked down to Squall. Giving her a small bow, he expended his arm. The feast went off well. Quistis sat quietly at Squall's side, wishing to high hell she was elsewhere.
After the feast was over Squall took her out into the dance floor for the opening dance. Both started dancing perfectly in step as the music started. Once it faded out Squall let go and stalked off to the depths of the shadows. "Quisty! May I?" Zell was standing before her with his arm out. Nodding she stepped closer to him. "That dance was wonderful. Are you having fun?" Quistis skipped a step to avoid what would have been a rather painful foot incident. "Zell.. I'm dancing.. And my feet hurt. But thank you all the same. Sorry we had to brake our habit." Zell had his trademark grin plastered across his face. "It's ok. I think it would make my parents happy to know I did not go to a ball with you for once. Kill the rumors that we are to marry." Smiling brightly Quistis nodded, only to be bumped by a tall auburn haired man.
"May I cut in?" Zell looked at Quistis who in turn took a step back. "Thank ya, your princeliness." Zell grumbled and took off into the shadows. "Now then are you apart of the ladies court in Esthar?" Holding down a blush, Quistis shook her head no. "Well then where are you from?" Stepping out she let the taller man turn her and pull her back in. He was a much better dancer than Zell. "I'm from Balamb." Smiling the man dipped her back. "That's interesting. I didn't think ladies of the court were permitted to come."
"I am not a lady of the court. Good sir who may I ask are you?" Fumbling with his steps the man bumped into a tall blond. "Watch it Irvine." The two glared at each other for a moment. "Forgive me lady. I am Sr. Kinneas. I'm Princess Rinoa's knight." The blond behind him scoffed. "Now cow boy may I cut in. I think the young lady is growing tired with you talk."
Quistis watched as the tall blond pushed Sr. Kinneas aside. "I am Sr. Almasy, but you can call me Seifer. You are?" Quistis raised an eyebrow at the man. "Trepe." Kinneas went wide eyed behind the blond known as Seifer. "You're the Trepe's kid? Sr. Lady Trepe?" Nodding Seifer took her in his arms and whisked her away. "Well Trepe. I can see that you are watching over the prince well. He's not dead yet." Taking a bad step she tripped the blond. "Sorry, but was that a threat?" Seifer placed on a smirk as he spun her. "Why no. I was just complementing your job." Eyeing him oddly Quistis pulled away. She had danced with all the young men and there was no time limit set. "Good night sr." Bowing she stalked off to the balcony.
Resting her elbows on the railing she let out a long sigh. The sky was filled with stars and the music was fainter out in the chilled night air. "Are you ok Quisty?" Looking towards the entrance she spotted Zell. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired." Zell walked closer to her and rested a hand on her shoulder. "I just want to make sure." Gently he placed his head on her shoulder. "Maybe you should turn in." nodding she pulled away from Zell. "Yes you are right. Please let my father know. Night Zell."
After a good hot soak and a fresh change of cloths, Quistis found herself in a large chair reading. The book that was held in her hands was nothing she had not read before. It was Chaucer. Half way through the book, she could feel her eyes begin to droop. Thinking it would be best to make it back to her room, she closed the book and set off across the hall.
Quistis only took a few steps before something hard bumped into her. Falling backwards she blackout. Flashes speed past her minds eye. There was a fire. A woman clinging to three year old version of her. Quistis knew the woman was badly hurt. The house burned with much force behind them. "Be a good girl for mommy. Be strong." Then there was a whirl wind, and she was in front of a stone house. A few children were there. A taller brunette girl with a younger boy clinging to her, and a blond boy. Then a few flashes and she was outside on a beach. It was dark and she was crying holding her knees. The little brunette boy hugging her. Another whirl wind and she was running after a horse. The small brunette boy was being taken away. Sliding in the mud, Quistis fell face first.
Groaning Quistis slowly became aware of where she was. Her body ached, and there was cold stone under her legs, but her upper body was sitting on something warm. Slowly she opened her eyes. There she spotted a dark tunic. Letting her eyes roam up she found herself in the arms of prince Leonhart. Both were on the floor against the wall. The fire had gone out, letting her know they had been out for a while.
The prince groaned. Looking down she saw that she was not only in his lap, but he was holding onto her. Forcing down a blush, she tried to move. Pain shot through her body, forcing her to stay down. Clamping her eyes close, Quistis forced herself to think of other things. Slowly the pain lessened. "You should stay still." Opening her eyes she found Squall looking down at her. Gently she raised her hand to his lower lip. It had a small trickle of blood running down it. Carefully she rubbed it off of him. "You're bleeding prince." She felt him move his hand over her left arm. A warm feeling came over her, and the pain was completely gone. "You were too." She flinched at the tone of his voice.
Quistis closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest. She was very tired, and lacked the energy to move now. She could feel him move under her. Next thing she knew he was carrying her into her room. Dazed she watched him leave, and gently close the door behind him. Slowly her world started to fade and just as sleep was taking hold of her she managed to give a whisper. "What just happened?"
AN: I'm soo sorry it took soo long to get this up! I hope you liked this chapter!
Zoe
