Thanks for waiting! Hope you guys like!
I don't own FF8 or LadyHawke. Do you have to rub it in?
Real Fairytales
The sun rose over the high mountains as the call of a brown feathered hawk echoed in the skies. The bird descended from the heavens to a man mounting a dark horse and perched herself on his forearm.
"Good morning." Said the rider. "Let's go find Zell."
He rode out to a steep moutain path with a fierce determination to find the escapee.
Zell looked over a small mountain that looked down into a plateau, there was smoke coming from there. He crawled on the ground as low as he could and saw a tent with the Royal crest of the Western Kingdom. He moved back slightly when he felt a pair of sturdy legs behind him. He grabbed on to the leg and when he looked up, he saw a soldier with a heavy frown. The soldier took Zell by the crook of his neck, pinching him as they walked sown the mountain slope and to the campsite.
"Well, well...you're far from the sewers, little mouse." Said Wedge as he came out of the tent. He immidiately took Zell by the front if his shirt. "Where is the Prince?"
Zell blinked. "Prince? What prince?"
"Don't play dumb with me, now." Wedge chuckled. "Your partner in crime."
"Squall?" Zell scoffed. "I don't know what you're on, Squall isn't a prince!"
"Riiiiiight." Wdege hissed. "Where is he?"
"....He was going south to Aquila." Zell muttered.
"We should ride north, then." Said a nearby soldier.
"Y'know, it's kinda messed up to assume that someone is a liar, when you just them." Zell told them.
"Yet, you knew we would." Wedge smiled. "We'll ride back to Aquila."
"Wait a sec! I'm telling you the truth!" Zell protested as the soldier holding him tied Zell's hands behind his back and gagged him as well. The soldier forced to get up on a horse as he mounted the same one himself. Zell rolled his eyes trying to wiggle his hands free when he heard the calling of a hawk above them. Zell looked up and recognized the bird instantly; it was Squall's bird.
He noticed that some of the guards looked at each other and nodded. Some began to move to different areas; they were planning a surprise attack for the unsuspected rider. Zell had to do something, he needed to let Squall know.
As Squall drew nearer to their location, one soldier drew out his sword, two others pulled out their crossbows. Zell managed to bring his amrs to the front to try to remove the cloth in his mouth, but the soldier in front of him tried to stop him. The two men struggled enough to make noise as Squall began to look around, knowing he wasn't alone on the road.
Finally the soldier tossed Zell off his horse, as two of the soldiers with their crossbows rode out to shoot Squall. One missed and hit his saddle bag instead, the other missed by a mile to the left. Squall pulled out his loaded crossbow and shot at one of the soldiers, he aimed right at the heart. The other fumbled to reload his crossbow, but by the time he was ready, Squall had shot him.
Another rider wielding a sword came galloping towards Squall. He swung his sword down barely missing Squall by a few hairs, but Squall used his crossbow to shatter the man's face. Squall pulled on Griever's reins as he directed the horse to another two guards. One had his crossbow ready, but Zell picked up a rock and hit the guard's head with it. "BOOYA!!"
At the impact, the guard fired his arrow, but the arrow shot upwards, to the sky as Squall's hawk flew right past by...
Squall looked up at the heavens to see his hawk squawking in pain with an arrow in her chest, slowly descending to the gorund. At that moment, the other soldier fired at him and struck Squall's shoulder. But Squall didn't care for his wound, he looked over to find that his hawk laying on the ground, dead or alive he didn't know. "Please don't be..." He quietly prayed.
Zell ran towards the wounded bird throwing the ropes of his wrists. Squall glared murderously at the soldier in front of him as the man foolishly charged at the incognito Prince. Squall pulled the arrow out of his shoulder and as the man neared, Squall drove the arrow right into the man's chest. Squall looked over to find Zell being chased by a riding swordsman. Griever galloped right over to Zell's location as Squall drew out his Lionheart sword from the side. The other rider panicked at the sight of Squall as his own horse knocked him off and ran away. Zell cracked his knuckles as the man struggled to get up, when Zell kicked him in the face and then punched him so hard, the soldier passed out. Wedge noticed that Squall was glaring right at him and pulled on his horse's reins and galloped away.
Squall then rode out to find his hawk, Zell running right behind him. Squall mounted of his horse and struck his sword on the ground. He found his beloved bird chirping at the sight of him. "Easy..." He whispered as neared the bird. He saw that the arrow had penetrated deeper into the animal's chest. "Oh no."
He turned around to find Zell right by Griever. "Get me peace of cloth from my saddle bag!" Squall yelled.
When Zell returned with blue rag, Squall carefully picked up the hawk of the ground. Each movement ha made the hawk chirped louder and more aggressively. Squall turned to face Zell.
"Take her, go and find help." He said in a low voice.
"M-me!?" Zell looked incredulously at Squall.
"You're the only I can count on." Squall told him.
"Dude, that bird is done for!" Squall took Zell by the hem of his shirt.
"Don't you ever say that again!" Squall spat furiously. Squall pushed Zell against Griever and looked at his right side. He knew where they were, and help wasn't too far. "Take her, follow that until you find a ruined castle. There's an old priest there named Cid Kramer."
"I don't think you're getting the point, I'm not-!"
"Get on my horse." Squall said in a authoritative voice.
"What!? You're the only one he likes!" Zell protested lamely.
"Get on my horse, NOW!!"
Zell obliged nervously, the man was truly scary if pissed. When Zell mounted the large animal, Squall handed him the wounded bird. "Know this: If you fail, I will follow you 'til the end of my day. And I will kill you."
Zell gulped and nodded.
"GO!" Squall motioned his horse onward as Zell rode off with the chirping hawk in his arms. Squall stood there praying to the heavens above, hoping for a miracle.
Zell rode on for coutless hours, following the path that Squall had told him. He rode over hills and a small forest, until at last he came to a small ruined castle sitting on top of a moutain. He looked over at the horizon and realized that it was almost sunset. He moved involuntarily as the hawk chirped angrily in his arms.
"Look, it's right over there!" Zell hissed at the bird. He tried petting the animal but the bird bit him. "Well, screw you! I hope this Cid guy plucks your feathers out and eats you! Ungrateful bird!"
He rode closer to the castle, to the wooden doors. "Hey!! HEY!!! FOR HYNE'S SAKE OPEN UP!!!!"
"Hello to you, too!" Called a deep voice from the over look. Cid Kramer was a short, slightly overweight man in his early fifties, with brown, slightly graying hair, grey eyes, and large glasses. He wore an old monk's robes that Zell could tell had once been a red color; now it was faded almost white. "What do want!?"
"I was told to bring you this bird!" Zell pointed at the hawk. "It's been wounded!"
"Oh good shot!" Cid eyes livened as he motioned Zell forward. "Bring it in! We'll dine together!"
"We can't eat this bird!" Zell frowned.
"Then why did you- Oh Hyne, is it Lent again already?" Cid shook his head irritably.
Are you fucking kidding me? This guy's a priest?
"This ain't any ordinary bird, man!" Zell yelled. "This hawk belongs to a man named Squall Leonhart!"
Cid's expression changed immediately. "Holy Father Hyne...!" He whispered as he turned on a wooden wheel to release the doors. "Bring it in, quickly! Bring it in!"
Zell mounted of the horse. "Stay, Griever...I'll be back." The horse snorted in agreement.
Zell ran up a flight of stone steps until he came across a wide open court yard. He spotted Cid near the the castle entry. "Up here, boy!" The old man called.
When the young man stood in front of him, he saw the gravity of the situation. "Oh Hyne...Follow me, boy." Cid walked up few more steps and they came across a shaky wooden bridge. "Careful, now. Walk on the left side only."
Zell raised an eyebrow at the man, but did as he was told anyway. He followed the older man into a small but cozy room where several candles were merrily lit, a wooden table with a bowl, a bottle of wine, some bread and a few utensils laid around. In the far end of the room were several fluffy blankets stacked amongst each other giving the appearance of a mattress.
"There." Cid pointed to the 'mattress'. "Set her there gently." Zell placed the bird down as gently as he could, and then looked at Cid. "Now, leave."
"Can I help?" Zell looked at the hawk feeling guilt, it was his fault that the bird was shot after all.
"Sorry m'boy, there is nothing you can do." Cid smiled apologetically. "Please wait outside."
"Okay..." Zell ran out of the room, leaving Cid to tend the wounded bird.
Cid looked down at the chirping animal and then at a nearby window with moth-eaten drapes. "We must wait a bit, dear." He smiled at the bird. "The Prince was right; I know what to do." He walked towards the door, but not before picking up a big, rusty lock and locked the door on the outside. Making sure he took the key with him, Cid walked away muttering incoherently about some herbs, as the moon began to shine over the mountains. From the distance the loud howls of a wolf could be heard echoing eerily in the dark heavens.
Zell grinned as he climbed down a ladder that lead to the smallest tower. He looked at the lock which was incredibly old, enough that his fists could easily shatter it; and so he did. Highly pleased with himself, the seventeen year old entered the room, determined to help out the hawk. He walked over to the farthest end of the room and his eyes widened. The bird was gone; instead the beautiful raven-haired woman lay in the place of the bird. She had a blanket over her slender body, but Zell could still tell that she wore nothing underneath. In her left breast was the arrow that the hawk had been impaled with earlier.
The young woman realized that she wasn't alone in the room and raised her head. She found Zell staring in awe at her, but didn't care. He realized himself, that he was supposed to be an gentleman, and staring at a nearly naked woman wasn't anything gentleman-like. He began to walk away when he heard her stir.
"Squall, is he...?" Her voice was soft, clear, like the voice of an angel. Zell froze in his place as his hands had barely reached the door, but his eyes looked directly at her.
"He's fine." Zell heard the woman sigh in relief. "He's fine, Milady. There was a terrible battle, Squall fought like a lion."
He dared himself to face her, slowly inching towards her. "The hawk..." He said slowly. "The hawk was struck. You know that, don't you?"
The young lady touched the arrow in her chest. "Yes, I know." She whispered.
Zell took a few more steps closer ot her. "Are you real? Or are you a spirit?" He knew he probably sounded incredibly stupid, but his mind wasn't functioning at it's best right now.
"I am sorrow..." She said softly. Zell began to walk back to the door backwards, when Cid entered the room, the shattered lock in his hand.
"How did you-?" Cid noticed the baffled look on the blonde's face and he turned around. He saw that the hawk was gone; a raven haired beauty was in it's place instead. Cid walked forward and smiled fondly at the yound woman. He heard Zell shuffling behind him and turned to face the young man. "Get out." Cid ordered, ushering him out of the room. "This time, stay out." Cid slammed the door shut behind him as Zell let out a heavy sigh.
As the minutes crept on by, Zell sat against the outside wall of the room that Cid and the lady were in. He heard the howls of a wolf a little bit nearer than a few hours ago.
It's him...I just know that it's Squall. He's crying for her. What did I get myself into? That girl...who is she? Why is she with Squall in the first place? He got up and dusted his rear off. As he looked at the door, Zell heard the young woman scream loudly, as the wolf howled the loudest of the night. He figured that Cid had removed the arrow as he heard the old priest mutter something about her being okay...
Moments later Cid walked out and told him not to bother the sleeping beauty, and told Zell to follow him. They walked into a larger room of the ruined castle, this one had a large pit where Cid began a fire as Zell helped himself to some food. When he was filling up two cups with wine, Zell turned and sat down next to Cid, handing the old man a cup. Zell took a slight sip as the wolf howled again.
"It's him, isn't?" Zell looked at Cid. "Some how, the wolf is him."
"Drink and forget." Cid told him, taking a large gulp of wine. "I drink and I forget."
Zell frowned. "A few hours ago, you remebered and you were drunk off your ass."
"What's your name, m'boy?" Cid asked innocently.
"....Zell Dincht."
"Dincht? As in Duke Dincht of the Drake Kingdom of the East?" Cid's eyebrows rose to his hairline.
Zell nodded. "Yup, that'll be me."
"What are you doing so far away from home?" Cid asked as he took another gulp of wine.
"Tell me what's going on and I'll fill you in on my life." Zell grinned. He had Cid cornered, and Cid knew it.
"Her name is Rinoa Mirielle Caraway Heartilly." Cid said wistfully. "Her father is the General of the Royal Guard of the Western Kingdom, or the Pandora Kingdom. An imtemperate fellow, that man was. He fought bravely in the Sorceress Crusades alongside King Laguna Loire. She was born in Pandora and raised there until she was ten, her mother had taken her to visit her maternal grandparents in the Village of Narshe."
He took another gulp before continuing. "I shall never forget the first time I saw her when she and her mother returned after the Crusades. She wasn't a child any more, she was a woman of tewnty years. Looking at Rinoa was like looking at-"
"The face of love..." Zell finished for him.
"Ahh, you too?" Cid chuckled. "Well, I suppose we all loved her in different ways, I saw her as the daughter I could never have..." His face darkened slightly. "Even his Highness, Duke Almasy could do nothing but think of her."
"Wait...Seifer loved her?" Zell found it hard to believe that that asswhole could love anyone but himself.
"As near as that evil man could come to it." Cid tossed a small log into the diminishing fire. "His passion was a sort of madness, he was a man possessed! Although they had grown up together, Rinoa could sense that he was not the same Seifer she knew from her childhood, so she slowly distanced herself from him. She never read any of his love letters, never read any of his poems...Her heart was already lost, you see. To the heir of the Royal throne."
He took another gulp. Zell remembered something that Wedge had said earlier. "Squall is the Prince...His real name is Squall Loire." He mumbled loud enough for Cid to hear.
"The Duke knew nothing of their love." Cid continued. "Squall was engaged to your cousin, Princess Quistis. Rinoa's father arranged a marriage between her and Almasy. But every day that passed, Squall and Rinoa's love grew deeper, stronger and richer. They had planned to leave it all behind, they would start a new life together, until..." Cid looked down at his cup and found it empty. Zell dashed off for the bottle of wine and refilled Cid's cup.
"Until...?" Zell asked him, leaving the wine nearby.
"...They were betrayed. They shared the same confessor, a weak and foolish priest. One day in a drunken confession to the Bishop Odine, the young Duke over heard the lover's secret vows. The old fool hadn't realized what he'd done at first, or the terrible revenge that the Duke would take. His Highness seemed to go mad, he lost both sanity and his reason. He swore that if he could not have her, no man would!"
Cid took another gulp. "So the night that King Laguna and Queen Raine held a banquet in honor of the Prince's 21st birthday, he and Rinoa fled from Aquila. But the Duke followed them...no more than an hour behind and more persistent than a hound!" Cid threw another log into the fire. "He was now a truly evil man. The two people who had raised him since his parent's death, they were so ashamed! Especially the woman...she, was a sorceress and she had taught him magic when he was a boy. He used it only to amuse Rinoa, but this time..."
Zell's eyes darkened slightly as Cid cleared his throat before continuing. "He called upon the powers of Darkness, for the means to damn the lovers. In his fury and frustration, he struck a dreadful bargain...with the evil one." At that moment, the sound of a howling wolf wasn't too far from their location. "The dark powers of Hell spat up a terrible curse, and you've seen it working. By day, Rinoa is the beautiful bird you brought to me. And by night, as you have already guessed, the voice of the wolf that we hear is the cry of the Prince..."
He took another gulp. "Poor dumb creatures with no memory of their half-life as humans. Never touching in the flesh, only the angiush and pain of every sunset and sunrise; where they can almost touch...but never can." Cid looked down at the gound.
"Always together, eternally apart..." Zell said quietly.
"As long as the sun sets and rises, as long as there is day and night, for as long as they both shall live...You have stumbled onto a tragic story, Zell. And now whether you like it or not, you are lost in it with the rest of us."
Cid got up and tossed another log into the fire. Zell stared at his cup which was only half empty. "Sounds like a fairytale..."
Cid chuckled. "Well, unlike the other fairytales, this one is quite real." The wolf continued to howl outside. "So, now tell me...why are you here, your Majesty?"
"Because I saw it." Zell whispered.
"Say what, m'boy?" Cid put his cup away and corked the bottle of wine.
"I saw when Seifer used magic." Zell said louder. "I was sent by Quisty to deliver a message to the Loire family and that's when I saw it. He used it on some woman that accidentally spilled a bucket of water on him. He turned her into a mouse, and then he stepped on her. He caught me looking and sentenced me to lifetime in jail without a proper trial. He just locked me up."
Cid said nothing as he looked away to the nearest window. Zell looked at him and realized something. "You...raised him, didn't you? You and Mrs. Kramer, or Matron as she likes to be called."
"I...Edea and I brought up Seifer and loved him like the son we could never have." Cid's voice quivered. "Let's rest for tonight...it's been a long day."
If you've actually seen LadyHawke, then you should know what role Cid has. ;D
Anyways, leave me a review and see ya next update!