Vow of Amber

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters. I don't even own some of them because other people have a tendency to help me out quite a bit. Go figure.

A/N: Wow…it's been awhile…I'm really sorry. I guess with everything going on, I've been a little busy. Before you ask, this is called side chapter because what I wrote is as a sort of spin-off of my actual story. I want you all to know that this won't be the last time I will write something, but it might be another long while until I get around to it. I wrote this chapter with all of my heart and to the best of my ability; my aim was actually to make fun of Mary Sue's, but it didn't really come out that way. Right now it's eleven and I need to get to bed. I would love it if you all would tell me what you think of this chapter.

Side Chapter #1: Blitzoff!

"Everybody's waiting for a day in the sun.
Everybody's working hard to have some fun.
First you want a million then a million and one.
Everybody's waiting for a day in the sun.

Everybody's doing everything they can.
Some will count on luck, and some will make a plan.
If you want to get it, got to get it done.
Everybody's waiting for a day in the sun.

Mama said listen to me,
I can't tell you what your life's gonna be.
Every day there's something new, it's true.
A light could shine on you.

But they try and they try,
Waiting for the clouds to disappear from the sky."

- Hilary Duff, "A Day in the Sun"

Here I was again, bored as usual. I found myself stuck sitting on the wooden dock while the early morning sun shown down. As for the events of yesterday, I had still not managed to see what was going on with Sora and Kairi. Something told me, however, that it wasn't my problem nor was I going to get involved. In fact, I'm pretty sure it wasn't a problem in the first place. It would appear that they had eventually made up, like always. I can't say I'm surprised in the least. I began to move my dangling, bare feet in the water as warm wind blew through my hair.

"It's a nice day…," I mumbled to the air as I waited for someone, or something, to agree with me for no particular reason, "just like every single day here. It's so boring!"

I looked up to the sky for the first time that day and noticed a rather large cloud formation making its way to the island. I turned my head to the side and furrowed my brows in thought. It seemed a bit odd. How often did rainy weather even happen at Destiny Islands? It was almost always sunny and rarely rainy at all; which caused me to wonder why dull gray and black storm clouds were only a few hours away from the island paradise. I thought for a moment on this, and decided that the island needed a good rain for once. After all, it hadn't rained since about six months ago.

I turned my attention away from the sky; it's best to keep your head out of the clouds. Everyone had eventually appeared back upon the island. Sixteen year-olds Wakka and Tidus, both wearing their normal bright colored attire, were playing their monotonous game of blitzball. Sora and Riku, also wearing their normal attire, were taking part as well. They often did. I looked over to the papou tree to see Kairi and Selphie sitting there, just talking to one another. Nothing seemed to be out of place. I guessed nobody was paying attention to the weather, let alone the upcoming storm clouds in the sky. It was all so normal, tedious even.

As I found myself watching the game of blitzball play out in the clear blue water, I saw the blue and white striped ball knock Sora in the head. It was highly amusing, but I hid my emotions because I was secretly rooting for his team. What can I say? I had a tendency to root for the underdog. I smiled, laughing a tad, as Sora picked himself up and gave a reassuring smile to Riku, who was further out in the water. Wakka was obviously coming up with a plan of his own, for he was smiling in that way that you couldn't mistake for anything else. At that moment, Tidus had the ball. Everyone knew that he was the undisputable champion in blitzball on the island.

Don't ask me why I was watching that individual game so closely. I suppose that it was the only thing that even vaguely entertained me at the moment. However, I am surely grateful that I was a spectator during that game. I would have never guessed what happened the very next moment as I stared on at the players, whom I thought were too busy to notice me.

With little to no effort, Tidus threw the ball Wakka's way, but Riku managed to intercept it. As the 18 year old caught the ball he smirked; the same old half smile was almost always on his face. What surprised me is what he did with the sphere. His turquoise eyes' glare switched from Sora, who was waiting for his friend to throw him the ball, to me. His gaze wasn't cold, as it normally would be, but it held mischief. I could tell that he was up to something.

Before I could even register his actions, the ball came my way. I unfolded my arms from their previous position and caught the blue and white sphere as best I could. Blinking, I looked down at the ball in right hand, then back at the players. Riku was still smirking and everyone else, except Sora who was laughing, was just looking at the silver-haired boy as if he was insane. I began to wonder if it was an inside joke or whatnot, but it would appear that Sora would be the only one that understood it if such were the case.

"Well, are you going to join the game or not?" Riku said while having a smug expression. All the while, Sora finally stopped laughing at me. "You were watching close enough, you know."

Yes, I was a little angry at his arrogance. Who wouldn't be? I kept staring down at the blue and white ball that was still wet from the other players use, tying to think of something to do or say. He had been stupid enough to ask me if I wanted to play, so why not meet the challenge. I pretty much grasped the rules that consisted in the games, plus I knew some of the best moves to play. I looked up at the ball and gazed at Riku, who was still waiting for a response.

"Sure," I paused from my angry reply for a moment and realized that Tidus and his friend Wakka were now waiting for me to finish, "but I'm not going to go easy on you or your friends."

It was right then - sitting there on the dock waiting for Riku's remark – in which I realized that I fit, somehow, into this place. All these thoughts of my being an outcast were without a doubt untrue, as I see now.

As the others, floating in the water, waiting along for me, I threw the ball back to the person that had thrown it at me. I should've been a little bit harsher on Riku and given it to the members of the other team, but I find that I'm not half as mean as I make myself out to be. There are, however, some times that I believe that I should be assertive. Now was definitely not one of those times.

"Well, what are you waiting for, Lei?" He taunted. Lei? Heh, looks like I've gone and gotten myself a nickname.

Riku caught the ball that was supposed to be aimed at his head, and spoke up again, "Are you going to jump in the water or not?"

I wanted to shake my head no, but my stubborn side forbade me of that. I was going to have to do this, now that everyone expected me to do so. Plus, I wanted payback for the missing my curfew the night before. Kairi's mother was quite mad. I was planning to be on Tidus and Wakka's team so I could do as much, but before I could get in the water I heard Wakka speak up against it.

"She can be on your team, ya'?" He spoke while pointing to me, but looking at Riku. For a moment I sent him an angry glare, but Tidus nudged his friend and made him correct his statement.

"On second thought, why not ours?" Tidus spoke up. Sora simply shrugged his shoulders at this while Riku looked like he was holding back a laugh.

I stood up, watching the scene play out. After it was over, I took my dive into the water. It was colder than my feet had told me previously, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I did, however, notice the need for a swimming suit. I guess it really didn't matter, because I was going to make this game short and sweet. I doggie paddled over a few feet to where the game was being held. Sora and Riku were off talking strategy as I made my way to Wakka and Tidus. Wakka didn't look to happy to see me, but Tidus seemed a little bit kinder about the whole ordeal.

Wakka spoke up grumpily with his rough voice, looking and jerking his thumb at me as if I had done something wrong. "Why did you want her on our team, Tidus?"

As if answering his question, Tidus looked at me with his eyes that were the same color as the water. I really did wonder why he didn't toss me to the other team, but I was hoping it was because he had noticed the gap between Riku and me. I looked back at Tidus with a bit of a questioning stare, but only an unreadable smile returned it. I blinked, as if asking what he was planning to do. He said zilch. It must be well thought out, because surly he would have told me by now if he needed my help.

"What's going on?" I looked over at Tidus, who still said nothing. I'm almost positive that Wakka was as much in the dark as to what they were doing as I was. So, I spoke up again. "Someone tell me what you've got planned!"

Despite his attempt at keeping quiet, I suspected the only move that made him better then the rest of us at the game. It was a complicated maneuver that required you to be able to jump roughly six feet out of the water. I hadn't quite gotten it down yet. I have almost gotten it, however, once before - not that it matters right now. Tidus's expression changed. Finally all the days on this island were paying off; that was a game signal we made up a few weeks ago. I nodded, knowing that Sora and Riku wouldn't nearly expect what was coming.

Sora and Riku finally got out of their semi-huddle, as if on cue. I smiled as I realized that they truly had no idea about the moves that was about to play out. It was a good game plan that Tidus had come up with all that time ago, but it would take everything I had. I was going to have to keep up with Riku and make the illusion that I've got the ball long enough to make sure that Tidus can make that winning goal.

"So, who's calling the blitzoff?" Riku spoke up, sounding off in his normal arrogant tone.

"You're turn." Tidus spoke up, knowing that is just what he needed. He looked at me one last time, as if to make sure I was ready. I nodded, and the ball was thrown in the air.