Chapter 7: Happy Birthday, Fran!

Fran innocently strolled along the long avenue between the front gates and the front doors, all the while searching for any sign of human activity. Or viera activity. Or bangaa activity. Or moogle activity. Or activity from one of those races. The others had left her, and that did not make her happy.

Was it her fault if they were stupid?

Shortly, she began daydreaming…

Fran was nearly upon the gates when she stumbled over something. She leaned down to pick it up. It appeared to be a trampled, dirty party blower. Thinking that the servants needed to do a better job of cleaning up, she left it there and pushed into the castle. As soon as she walked in she was greeted by none other than…

Nothingness. This was starting to creep her out. There wasn't a trace of anybody anywhere in the castle. She dismissed it, thinking they were all at some pre-coronation soirée that she neglected to get herself invited to.

She searched a few more minor rooms, before approaching the doors to the great hall. They were closed. Strange. They were never closed. This did not bode well. She pushed the doors open a crack, and not a sliver of light escaped. She opened them the whole way, and her mouth dropped open (along with going deaf).

Fran was greeted by the loudest, largest group of people she had ever seen. They were all yelling "Surprise" in unison. She glanced at a large banner hung above the tables that read 'Happy Birthday, Fran!'

Smiling to herself, she walked over to Balthier, who was nearest her. After putting her arm around his shoulders, she slammed him to the ground and put her foot on top of him. It was the happiest moment that Fran had experienced in about a month. She couldn't help but wonder, though…

Had they put her through that arduous journey just for their own sick amusement? Thinking this, she dug her heel into Balthier's back, ignoring the grunts of pain coming from below. She grabbed Vaan by the strap-shirt thingy and pulled him over to her.

"What is the meaning of this?" she hissed at him.

"Well, Fran, we just thought that you would like a surprise birthday party, since you would have said no to one if we asked you, and you claimed everybody forgot your birthday, and—"

"I'm talking about how I got here. Did you send me on this long journey just so that you could surprise me with a birthday party?"

Vaan glanced over at Penelo, who looked away immediately. The room had gone silent. He looked into her eyes.

"Well, yeah."

Fran thrust Vaan aside, kicked Balthier for good measure, broke Penelo's neck, swiped the future queen's legs out from under her, slammed Basch in the face with her heel, breaking his nose, and ran smack into the front door of the castle, leaving her disoriented for a second.

Fran stood up. She was standing outside the castle, with Vaan, Penelo, and Balthier all staring at her like she was crazy. Their accusing stares might be well founded…she had after all just run into a wall.

"Fran, are you all right?" Balthier put on a concerned look.

Fran slowly turned to meet their eyes, each in turn. "YOU COULD'VE STOPPED ME! NOW MY FACE HURTS!" She erupted on them, thrusting Vaan into the wall, kicking Balthier for good measure, and breaking Penelo's neck (except not really because then she would die).

After her outburst, Fran opened the front door to the castle. She turned to the three immobilized victims of Fran's new bad temper. "Aren't you coming? We didn't come all this way to sit outside the gates and moan…" Fran strolled casually into the castle, leaving them behind.

Penelo rubbed her neck. "She really has gotten a bad temper lately…I wonder why…"

Vaan regained his bearings and helped Balthier up. "We'd better hurry before she comes back and beats the crap out of us again."

Vaan and Penelo ran inside, leaving Balthier standing there, trying to feel better. A thought occurred to him. Maybe he knew why Fran was having mood swings so much lately. "I wonder…"

…………………………………………………………………….

So what do you think it is thats making Fran so moody? Huh? Huh? Well, keep hypothesizing, because you're wrong.

By the way, you won't find out for say….2 or 3 chapters…so don't expect the answer soon!