The majority of these scene is made up, only a few sequences are actually from the movie.

I don't own FF8 or LadyHawke. *cries*

Royal Turmoil

The sound of horses hooves echoed in the castle walls as the rider mounted off his steed and proceeded into the castle gardens. He looked over at the far corner and found the person he needed to speak to the most. The Duke was talking to the king and the general of the royal guard, Fury Caraway. They were in deep conversation and laughed every now and then. Biggs then realized that he wouldn't speak to the young Duke anytime soon.

"Biggs, you look like a peasant trying to pass off as soldier." Said a cool, casual voice. Biggs turned to face the young and handsome captain of the guard. He was tall with chiseled features, wavy auburn-brown hair that was tied back in a long ponytail. His steel blue eyes had mischief written all over as his boyish grin crept up. Biggs didn't like Irvine Kinneas too much. As the new captain of the guard was quite a hit with the ladies.

"I must speak with the Duke." Biggs said.

"Looks like you're out of luck." Irvine told him seriously while glancing over at Seifer. "The Duke has been speaking with the King and the General for quite some time now."

"It's a matter of utter importance!" Biggs insisted.

"What is?" Irvine asked curiously.

"It's none of your business!" Biggs snapped.

"Hey, watch that tone." Irvine said casually. "I am your captain, you know."

"My apologies, sir." Biggs seemed to suppress something else. "It's a delicate matter between myself and the Duke."

"Alrighty then." And with that, Irvine walked off. As he passed by some chamber maids, he bowed his head, they giggled and waved at him flirtatiously. Biggs seethed in jealousy as heavy footsteps reached his ears.

"Biggs, what are you doing here?" Seifer hissed. "Did you find Dincht?"

Biggs gulped. "He is not in my custody at this time..."

Seifer glared murderously at him. "Then why do you invade these gardens? Unwashed and unshaved, do you think to find him here?"

"Forgive me, sir..." He cleared his throat. "But the Prince Squall has returned."

Seifer's eyes widened. He then turned to face the wall. "Walk with me." His voice had an ominous tone. As Biggs followed Seifer he began to suspect that the Duke was not pleased by the news. Maybe he should have told the king? But then he'd have to explain why he was chasing after the eastern Duke in the first place.

"How can you be sure it was him?" Seifer asked. "You were appointed knight after his disappearance."

"Francesco recognized him." Biggs told him. Seifer's face darkened. "But I tripped and made Francesco land on the Prince's sword. Francesco died."

Seifer said nothing, so Biggs continued. "Dincht travels with him. I sent some men to cover the woods."

"And the hawk?"

Biggs frowned. "Sir?"

"There must be a hawk, a spirited hawk." Seifer spoke as in he were in a trance, but snapped quickly. "This hawk is not to be harmed, is that understood? You see, the day that she dies, the new captain of the guard will oversee your execution." He spoke very fast.

Biggs gulped and nodded. "Yes, sir."

"We live in difficult times. With no heir to the throne present, Hyne knows what will happen to this kingdom." Seifer muttered.

"But the Prince can easily take his place-"

"The Prince is not fit to be king!" Seifer spat furiously. "This kingdom needs someone who is diligent, respected and never questioned."

"What about Princess Ellone?" Biggs frowned.

Seifer scoffed. "Princess Ellone will need a husband. Who is she going to marry? The are no kingdoms left."

"Then you're next in line, sir." Biggs said.

"Precisely." Seifer's emerald orbs held a dangerously glow to them. "Do you think I'd make a good king?"

"You'd be a g-great king!" Biggs lied. Lucky for him, Seifer didn't notice. "If you'll excuse me, sir. I must go wash off."

Biggs saluted him as he ran off before Seifer could say anything else. Seifer looked at his retreating back and smirked.

All I need to do is get rid of the royal family, and I'll be king!

"Seifer!"

The young Duke turned to his left as the stern, deep voice of the General approached. He wasn't too tall, but his steady dark eyes meant business. His hair was combed back and his sides were completely grey.

"General." Seifer nodded as the older man saluted him.

"May I speak to you privately?" He said in a quiet tone. Seifer nodded. "Have you any news of my daughter?"

Seifer's eyes darkened. "No, sir, I have not."

Caraway sighed. "Where is she? My only child has been missing for two years!"

"I know how you feel, General..."

The two men turned as King Laguna walked towards them with a forlorn expression. "My son is gone, too."

"I don't understand why Rinoa left..." Caraway scratched his chin. "She was fond of you Duke, so I arranged her marriage to you."

Seifer said nothing, but balled his fists.

"I heard she disappeared the night after my son left." Laguna murmured. "I know that she and Squall were close...but I never realised that she was THAT attached to him."

"I was surprised, too. But then again, they grew up together..." Caraway looked at the King as he nodded.

"If you'll excuse me." Seifer bowed his head at the King. "Your Majesty, General."

The two fathers watched Seifer walk away looking disgruntled, his long grey cloak rising with the wind as he went.

"He's upset." The King stated. "It's to be expected, of course."

"Rinoa is his fiancee, after all." Caraway said quietly. "Although she wasn't too enthusiastic when I told her."

"Yeah, Squall wasn't thrilled about his engagement to Princess Quistis..." Laguna mumbled. "I wonder why..."

"HYNE DAMMIT!!!"

Seifer threw a cabinet across the room before he picked a wooden chair and chucked it across the room, breaking it in to pieces as it hit the wall. He panted heavily as he looked around at his room for more useless furniture to destroy. He found a small dresser and held his palms out in front of him, directly in front of the dresser.

"Without cause nor reason, I demand that you vanish from my vision!" He bellowed. The dresser then exploded to millions of pieces and he smirked devilishly.

"Seifer James Almasy!" Called a voice from the room entry.

Seifer turned to find a woman with long waist-length silky raven hair, wearing a long dark dress and a scowl on her face. "I didn't teach you magic so that you could be careless about it!" She walked over to the wreckage. "What was once undone I demand that you become!"

Immeadiately the small dresser rematerialized as if nothing happened. She turned to the cabinet and chair and frowned at him. "Tell me you actually destroyed those without magic."

"Guilty as charged." He grinned. The woman however, raised her eyeborws at him and sighed.

"You're not a child anymore, Seifer." She said sternly.

"I know that, Matron." He said as he sat against a lavish and cushioned chair.

"So, why do I have to keep reminding you of that?" She said as she picked up some of his pants that were spread on the floor.

"'Cause you love like a son." He smirked.

"That as it may be, you ARE a twenty-four year old man." She told him as she placed her hands on her hips. "You need to act your age and no more childish antics."

"What childish antic?" He said lazily.

Matron raised her eyebrow at him. "Blowing things up, it was cute when you were six." She shook her head. "If only Cid were here."

Seifer scoffed. "Yeah right, that dump of a man couldn't even hold his job. You're better off without him."

Matron said nothing, but looked at him suspiciously. She finished picking up after his clothes when she walked to him.

"Swear to me that you had nothing to do with Cid's job." She hissed. The warmth in her dark eyes was gone.

"Or what...?" Seifer challenged as he stood up. He towered over the woman as he glared at her. "I don't think it'd be a wise idea that you threatned me, Edea."

"Seifer..." She whispered trying to contain her anger.

"You might have raised me after my mother died, but that doesn't mean that I won't kill you if I have to." He hissed dangerously. "The idiot of your husband got in my way, and look where that got him..."

Edea looked away so that he wouldn't see her eyes sparkle in tears. "You're being ungrateful, Seifer."

"Bite me." He said simply. "I know you won't tell anyone about my magic..."

She turned to face him. "And how can you be so sure of that?"

"One: Magic is forbidden. Two: If I go, you go with me, sorceress...." The last word was whispered low in her ear. "So you see, MATRON, you'd lose this case. And besides..." He flopped down on the chair again. "I'm of royal blood, you're just a woman."

Edea's jaw trembled. "I don't know you anymore..." She sighed. "You used to only use magic to charm the General's daughter, and now-"

Seifer rose from his chair with such anger that he slapped her. "SHUT UP!" He roared. He hit her again and this time she fell to the cold marble floor. "DON'T YOU MENTION HER AGAIN!"

"You're resentful..." She whispered as she wiped blood off her lips. "Because she chose Prince Squall over you."

Seifer pointed his index finger at her threateningly. "Shut. The. Fuck. Up." He snarled. "One more word, Edea...and I'll have you executed before dawn."

Edea got up of the floor and dusted herself off. She walked away from the man she raised and loved as if her were hers, but he wasn't that young man that she loved anymore...He was a demon now. And it was her fault for giving him the weapon of magic.

"Princess Quistis!" Ellone said happily as the blonde princess entered the main hall. Ellone walked over to her and gave her a tight hug. "How was the trip?"

"It was nice, Princess Ellone." Quistis smiled. "It was like a spring to a never ending winter."

"Oh that's right, it always snows in the Aucalad Mountains." Ellone said. "Well, you'll only see snow in the winter here!"

"Heeeey!"

The two turned to see Selphie walking in as she was brought in by Irvine. "I'll see you around then?" He winked flirtatiously.

"Yuppers!" Selphie beamed. "Bye Irvy!"

"Bye, Sefie!" He looked over at the other two young women and bowed. "And a good day to you, Miladies."

Ellone giggled. "Bye Irvine!"

The new captain of the guard left the room and Quistis looked over at Selphie with a sly look. "You sure make friends fast."

Selphie blushed. "Hee...I've known him since we were little. When we both lived in Potos Village."

"And you never told me about him?" Quistis frowned. "Thanks, Selph. I tell you all MY secrets, yet you keep yours?"

"Well you never asked me if I was interested in someone outside of Zell!" Selphie pouted. "And no, I'm not interested in your cousin, so don't ask again!"

"By the way, how is he?" Ellone interjected.

Quistis looked crestfallen. "I...don't know."

Ellone blinked confusedly. "What do you mean?"

"Zell went missing two years ago." Selphie told her.

"The same as Squall?" Ellone looked at Quistis who nodded. "Why?"

"Hyne knows..." Quistis whispered.

"Quistis!" Called a soft voice.

Queen Raine walked in with another woman behind her, who had shoulder length dark brown hair, hazel eyes, carmine red lips, and she wore a scarlett dress that came to her shoulders.

Quistis bowed at the Queen. "Your Highness, it's a pleasure to see you again."

"No need to be so formal." Raine smiled as she hugged Quistis. "You're family, one way or another."

"Thank you." Quistis smiled as she looked at the Queen's friend who bowed.

"Oh, this is my most trusted friend, Julia Caraway." Raine said.

"A pleasure, Your Majesty." Julia had a sweet and delicate voice.

"Shall we go to the Banquet Room?" Raine smiled as Ellone led them to another small room with white brass chairs with intricate designs and a glass table. Each lady took her seat as Raine asked a maid to bring them all a cup of tea, when Selphie asked if she could have hot cocoa instead. This elicited small laughs as the tiny confidant preferred simple and homey things.

"I'm just not used to all the fancy things that royalty has." Selphie said matter-of-factly. "I like cozy, inexpensive things."

"You grew up in a cabin, right?" Julia smiled as Selphie nodded happily. "I did, too. In the Forest of Narshe."

"Really?" Selphie squeaked. "That's not far from Potos!"

"What region is Potos and Narshe in?" Ellone asked as she took a sip of her tea.

"It's in the Karisto Kingdom, in the North." Selphie said before taking a large gulp of cocoa.

"I still can't believe that Zell has gone missing." Ellone muttered.

Raine looked at her daughter with a confused look. "What's that?"

"Oh, my cousin Zell disappeared two years ago." Quistis said. "No one has since him since then."

"Same as Squall." Raine whispered.

"And Rinoa..." Julia said as her eyes swam with tears. "I'm sorry." She said as she wiped her tears away.

"Don't be Julia." Raine said gently. "I know how you feel."

"I just wish I knew why this happened." Quistis mused.

He had placed to large logs on the sides as he placed another one right in the middle. Zell scratched his head as he took Squall's sword from the rock it was leaning on. Squall's hawk was still eating it's squirrel with zest. Griever the horse was munching on some fresh grass and fallen leaves.

He swung it down and the log snapped in half. Zell smirked as he removed the two newly chopped pieces out of the way and into a stack nearby. He then took another log and readied himself for another one. He raised the sword high into the air and when he swung it down, someone held the blade.

"What the?" Zell turned to find a very irritated looking Squall. He had a freshly killed deer in his other hand and his crossbow on the forest ground. "Hey man..."

"This sword has been in my family for many generations." He said quietly as Zell let go of the thick blade. "It has never known defeat...until now."

Squall held out the blade so that the lion encrusted on the hilt was seen, and three small jewels glistened in the sunlight. "This jewel represents my family name." He pointed at the tear shaped sapphire.

"The Leonharts?" Zell raised an eyebrow. Squall ignored him.

"This one is with our alliance with the four Kingdoms of Centra." He pointed at the round ruby. "This one...was my father's, from the Sorceress Crusades." He pointed at a square shaped emerald.

"Your father faught in the Crusades?" Zell asked with wide eyes. "Not many men lived that! Did your father lived?"

"Yes, he's still alive and kicking." Squall chuckled slightly. He then looked at a hollow space right on the lion's chest. "And this one..."

"Whoa man, I didn't take it!" Zell spat before anything else. "I'm no thief y'know! Well there was that one time, but other than that-!"

"This is mine to fill." Squall hissed. Zell grinned sheepishly. Squall walked over to the rock and sat down as his hawk chirped in acknowledgement. "Each generation is called upon to fill his own quest."

Zell tilted his head to the side. "And what's your quest?"

"I must kill a man..." Squall hissed ominously.

Zell smiled with curiosity. "Tell me..does this walking corpse have a name? Or are you just pulling my chain?"

"Duke Seifer Almasy of the Western Kingdom."

Zell's face paled. "T-the Duke? I see..."

He looked at Squall who looked emotionless as he sat next to his hawk as she ate the squirrel's stomach.

"Well since you have a lot to do, and I don't wanna be an even bigger pain in the ass, I'll leave you." Zell muttered. "I hope that we'll see each other again someday." He began to walk away when he heard the hawk chirp irritably.

"I need you to guide me to the city." Squall said.

"Not for the life of my mother." Zell hissed. "I'm not going back to that place! I'm the fricking duke of the Eastern Kingdom! I'm not gonna get my hands dirty over that asswhole!"

"You're the only one who has escaped from there." Squall said as his hawk perched herself on his shoulder.

"It was chance!" Zell slapped his arms on his side. "Pure chance! I got lucky, it was a once in a life-time moment!"

Squall sighed. "I have waited two years for a sign from Hyne...So when I heard the bells of Aquila, I knew my moment of destiny had come." He looked pointedly at Zell. "You'll be like a guiding angel."

"Puh-lease! Blow it out your rear man!" Zell retorted. "Look, there's something wrong about you, like as if there was magic around you! And I don't want any part of this shit!"

Zell stomped off when Squall threw his sword like if it were a javelin and it landed right in the center of the tree next to Zell, barely cutting off a few of his hairs. Zell looked over at Squall who had a deadly glare and a heavy frown.

Zell gulped. "I'll go start a fire."

As the full moon set in the center of the night sky, a small brown rabbit ran around as his predator neared him. He small rabbit hid in a small bush as the delicate hands of a woman tried to reach him.

"Gotcha!" She smiled triumphantly as she held on to the fluffy tail and dragged her meal out of the bush.

"Miss?" Called a jovial voice. "Milady?"

The young raven haired beauty gasped and she involuntarily released her catch from her hands. "Wha...? Oh damn!" She looked over at the small hill infront of her and found the blonde guy from the other night. He was tied to a tree.

"Remember me?" Zell grinned.

"What are you doing up there?" She smiled as she stood up dusting herself off. She wore an loose white shirt and a pair of black tight pants.

"What am I doing? Good question." He smirked.

"Duke Almasy's guards, a shit load of them, came outta nowhere!" He muttered fast, trying to sound convincing.

"Why didn't they kill you?" The girl smiled playfully. She knew he was lying, but she went along with the game.

"When I asked them that, they said that they'd rather leave that honor to the duke." Zell said in a serious tone.

"Ohh..." The girl grinned rolling up her sleeves.

"They'll be back y'know." He told her while shaking his bundled fists. "Please, Milady? A giant owl gas checking me about a minute ago! Pleeeeease?"

The young woman chuckled as she walked over to Griever and pulled a small dagger from the saddle bag. She walked over to Zell and cut off the ropes.

"You're very kind." Zell smiled at her as he moved his wrists freely. From the distance they heard the howling of a wolf. The girl turned to the direction of the sound.

"Listen...do you hear that?" She turned back to face Zell, but to her surprise, he had already dashed off.

"Thanks very much!" Zell's voice echoed in the forest as she searched for him. "Tell Squall he ties one hell of a knot!"

The young woman leaned against the tree and scratched her head as the wolf continued to howl. "Squall's gonna kill me..."

I put in a few references from three amazing games in there! Anyone catch them? XD

Anyways, sorry for the wait, a new chappie should be ready by Friday! Also expect one for WoT!

Read and review please!