Title: Meant to Be; Part 4 of 7

Author: Risa

Pairing: Prince/Lyon

Rating: T

Disclaimer: If this franchise were mine we'd be WAAAAAY past Suikoden VI, lovies. With badassery from Kanakan, such as Belcoot being a hot and amazing lightweight once more, and the return of Yuber and Pesmerga, and Lazlo En Kuldes's five children, who have all inherited the awful way that he runs just for chuckles. There would also be a sequel to Suikoden Tierkreis, because I like Suikoden Tierkreis, so there. :P

Part 4: Resemblance

Ferid was the first and only person Freyjador had ever confided in regarding his feelings toward Lyon, and what he hoped was a carefully held secret had died with a wonderful man. He had occasionally thought of confiding in Georg, because that's who his father would turn to in times of need. After all, it was good to speak of things, any things, that were not related to the war from time to time. Unfortunately he didn't get to see much of Georg. The rumor that he had assassinated the Queen and Ferid still ran rampant.

He didn't dare discuss this with Kyle. He had faith that his good friend wouldn't rat him out in blatant words, but that was the least of Freyjador's fears. The Prince didn't know what would be more horrifying, Kyle trying to set him up with Lyon, or Kyle trying to weasel her dress size out of him in every minute detail. Freyjador didn't have many close friends in this world, especially not now, so he thought it best not to wind up hating one of them.

It was incredible just how quickly his heart had come to throb for her once more. One would think that he was far too distracted for love, and for the most part he was. He had fled his home to Rainwall, broke into Agate Prison to recruit the tactician Lucretia Merces, discovered where the Dawn Rune had wound up during his stay at Rainwall and left at once, arranged for Hatred Fortress to be destroyed so that Lordlake may once again have water, and in the midst of it all discovered what would become the Royal Falenan Army's new headquarters beneath Ceras Lake.

One night when twilight nestled beneath the horizon and the gold started to fade from Ceras Lake, Freyjador chanced upon Lyon seated upon the outside ledge of the castle's third floor. When she turned and smiled at him it was like she filled him with every ounce of heat he had lost through his every ordeal. Why, to him she had warmth and beauty that would make The Sun blush, but he just couldn't tell her. He felt he had to tell someone, though. Someone trustworthy as his father, but with different words to offer. Words that would tell him he was a fool and should banish the thought, and perhaps how to banish the thought. After all, a prince did not simply gallivant with his own bodyguard.

"It's all right, you know. It's all right to feel the way that you do."

But then again, he held anything his father had to say in high regard. Maybe it would have been all right if all were well. If Godwin had been revealed for the rat that he was, Gizel's engagement to Lym were called off, and those crooks were exiled, or thrown into the Feitas. Then at least the Prince would have his palace and his family, and they would have the upper hand against the greedy nobles. Such a life was but a fantasy now, and it did him no good to dwell on what if.

He couldn't help but notice one thing, though. Lyon was popular around the castle among the men, and that also stirred feelings in him. Sick ones. If he hadn't desperately needed allies he might have been more tempted to clobber Wilhelm for talking to Lyon so disrespectfully. His eyes examined her body like a slab of meat, and this was not uncommon. The Prince himself was used to scrutiny of all kinds. Any royal who stepped into the outside would be, as well as their company. There were plenty of men who preferred to check out the Prince's body guard, though. She was very vocal and shot every advance made toward her down, but surely not every man would be blatant, or filthy about it. Those would be the bigger threats, because Lyon might actually give them the time of day if she met the right one. He wouldn't tell her no, of course, but in his heart he would.

Ranro Mountain was a nightmare of dust and dry air rivaled only by Lordlake before she was given back her water, and everyone was in a bad mood when they had to climb it. Sialeeds was the only one in a good mood on the way back down. The ones called Faylon and Faylen took the lead with Dinn and shielded their leader Roy from oncoming monsters, and they were rampant. Freyjador would be blind by the time he reached the bottom, and he cursed himself over and over again for forgetting to purchase an Escape Scroll in Sable. He remembered eye drops, though. Plenty of eye drops to go around, and creeper beads. Why the hell did he have so many creeper beads?

Much to his amazement, Roy insisted that he could fight just fine, despite being thoroughly thrashed by the Prince earlier. Roy was listing further and further back from his companions, and would turn toward Lyon every so often just to tell her things such as "Relax, sweet heart. Let me handle the big baddies." She rightfully told him that he was talking nonsense, and should be the one to relax considering how battered he was. Freyjador still swelled with pride when he thought of Lyon telling Dinn that he would be fine in his fight, because she acknowledged his strength. She even took pride in it. Perhaps he could have gone easier on the guy, but Roy just pushed and pushed and would not relent.

Freyjador's mood hadn't been sour on the way down, but for the fact that these horrid mountains were infested with grotesque creatures that flapped debris into his eyes. He would never neglect to purchase an Escape Scroll or twenty again. He was thirsty, tired, had gritty sand between his toes, but all things considered, he was fine, and he would not complain.

That, however, would not last.

"Roy, look out!" Lyon belted all of a sudden, sprinting from the Prince's side at once. Faylon and Faylen had just enough time to turn around before their faces and Dinn's disappeared behind a landslide. Rockadillo, pesky vermin they were, had jabbed a crack in the mountain causing many rocks and boulders to crumble upon their path. Roy was right in the path of those rocks, and would have been crushed had Lyon not pulled him away at the last minute. The move was so swift, but clumsy, and she lost her footing and dragged Roy down with her. He laid on top of her before the mess that now divided their party. Sialeeds, who took up the rear with the Prince and them, decided to examine the landslide and the well-being of the others while the Prince ran up to Roy and Lyon.

"Are you two all right?" said the Prince, catching up to them. Roy pushed himself up, one hand on either side of Lyon's shoulders, and he was staring down into her eyes with a look of pure wonder. Despite the clouds of dust the pink in his cheeks didn't escape Freyjador for a moment, though that should have been the least of his worries, so that split second of weariness passed. Freyjador shook his head and knelt down beside Lyon carefully. "You're not injured, are you? Did you hit your head?"

"I'm all right, Prince. Just a bit... winded." She appeared to be looking toward Roy, who hadn't moved an inch. Freyjador's insides knotted once more. Their new little bandit friend had begun to try his patience again, and hers, it would seem. "Do you mind, Roy?"

"Umm. Thanks for saving me, sweetie. You're pretty... hard core."

"You're welcome, but please. You're... "

"Let me help you, Roy," said Freyjador with haste, standing and extending his hand toward the bandit. What he really wanted to do was yank the boy off of her, but he had an image to uphold, and it really wasn't in him to be hostile when the situation didn't call for it. And it wouldn't call for it unless Roy refused to get up, of course.

Roy was no fool. He accepted the Prince's hand with a few grumbles and that was the end of that. It was bizarre. Roy saw the Prince as something of a rival, that much was for certain. And they had more than just a face in common, it would seem. Their hearts throbbed in unison to a certain Queen's Knight apprentice. It would be something else entirely to compete with a boy whose job was to emulate him, although it technically wasn't a competition. In times like these the Prince really had to let these feelings go, because they would do him no good.

Loathe as he was to admit it, Roy didn't hate living at the Prince's castle so much. He was given a nice room to share with Faylon and Faylen, and they were beside themselves with joy over it. It was better than the room they shared at that Roolball, or whatever his name was, guy's house. And nothing beat free food, he had to admit. As far as digs go, he could do a whole lot worse.

What he hated was all the time he spent in the castle on standby, while the Prince and Lyon were off on missions, and errands, and stuff. She was out of the castle a whole lot, that Lyon. Roy couldn't really put his thumb on it, but he really, really wanted her to be his girl. She sure had this... thing about the Prince, and Roy was intrigued by the prospect of stealing her attention from him. That wasn't all, though. He could tell that she wasn't quite like the others. There was some rough, rough patches in her life. Perhaps she understood him a little better than he would ever admit, and it kind of made him feel like he had an instant connection with her. He wanted to unravel her story, and unravel her from the Prince while he was at it.

But he sure as heck wasn't gonna do it if she was never in the castle. Heck, even when she was in the castle she followed him around like a lost puppy. Were royal body guards really supposed to be that persistent? It seemed weird, because with a dynamic like that, how did either of them get any privacy? Exactly what was going on between them? The deeper it ran, the funnier it would be to break. Funnier than when he spit in the Prince's eye during their duel. He might have lost, but he got his point across if nothing else. Roy didn't like the Prince.

But he did like Lyon, so he would have to tolerate the Prince to get to her. Darn.

He knew that if he waited on the first floor where all the shops were that the Prince would turn up eventually. What he didn't expect was to walk by a mirror and have three bodies pop in right in front of him out of nowhere. Roy jumped backward and readied his weapon at once, until he realized who the people were. Well speak of the devil...

"Thank you for all of your hard work today, Viki. Your service is invaluable to us," said the Prince, bowing his head toward that 'Viki' lady.

"Oh, you don't have to thank me at all! I hardly did anything. I'm just glad we're all in one piece."

"Thanks to you the Prince was able to make a quick fortune in the Haud Village. I wonder why they pay so much for gold and wine," said Lyon, and she pulled out her sword and examined it. "It'll help our cause greatly, that's for sure. I don't know about you, Prince, but I'm long due for an upgrade."

"That certainly won't be a problem. With this much potch I reckon I can afford an upgrade for just about everybody in the castle."

"Hey yo, mirror lady," said Roy, drawing the conversation to a complete halt. The Prince and Lyon snapped their heads toward the bandit, but Viki flinched and took a step backward. "What the hell? How come you can make this guy appear out of nowhere?"

"Roy, don't speak to Viki with such disrespect," said Lyon, stepping out in front of the trio. She was so quick to jump down his throat, and Roy was already sick of it.

"Fine. Please, O'Master Viki, I beg of you to impart your boundless wisdom on the subject of teleporting and such. There, happy?"

Lyon did something no one had ever seen her do, not even the Prince himself. She pursed her lips and smacked her forehead. It was so bizarre to see someone known for her patience and compassion to express blatant exasperation, and though he should have supported her the Prince placed his hand over his mouth, squeezed his eyes shut, and did a poor job of repressing the urge to chuckle.

"Don't laugh, Prince," Lyon uttered, and that just made him laugh a little more, and the more his mirth grew the more frustrated Roy had become.

"Umm, yes... well," said Viki, and Roy spared her a glance for just a moment. Her face was like a tomato, and she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe properly. What was the matter with these stupid people? All he did was ask a question.

"OK, forget it. Let me cut to the chase. Prince, I'm bored and sick of being on standby. Isn't it about time you called upon a real warrior, big shot?" said Roy, sizing up the regal reign of terror that would undoubtedly make his life miserable for years and months to come. The Prince was no longer laughing. He was rather stunned to silence like Viki was, only rather than forgetting how to breathe he scratched the back of his head and turned away for a moment.

"The Prince will call upon you when he needs you," said Lyon, a tone so curt it left little room for argument. This time Roy wouldn't just trod off in a huff, though. He may have hated to be around this lousy excuse of a prince, but he wasn't going to get close to Lyon otherwise, so he had to deal with it.

"Now Lyon, there's no need to be short."

"But Prince-"

"Besides, I think I know the perfect errand we can run with Roy. Hehe... hehehe."

"Really?" said Roy, though the Prince looked far too amused for Roy's liking.

"I'd like to head for the outskirts of Doraat today, Viki. Are you up to it?"

"Yes!" Her stomach growled as soon as she said that, and for the second time the Prince had a chuckle. "Err, umm, first... i-if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I... "

"Please, have a bite to eat, and take your time. Have a nap if you'd like. It'll take a couple of hours to prepare."

"Thank you. I really have ta-a... "

"Oh no... " said Lyon.

"Run!" said the Prince, and he and Lyon grabbed each of Roy's wrists and despite the bandit's struggles and protests they ran off before Viki could sneeze an entire open sack of wheat flour onto their heads.

And that wasn't even the worst of it. Roy would learn the hard way just what errands with the Prince of Falena might entail.

"Cursed mediocrities! Commonalties! Clodpates! If not for you uncultured dimwits I would have all of my DoReMi elves at my disposal, and I wouldn't HAVE to traverse these wretched fields of ghastly creatures... "

"Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah," Kyle uttered to himself, tapping his fingers to his thumb up and down to simulate the endless string of words. Roy snorted. For a friend of the Prince, Roy could honestly say that he kind of, sort of didn't quite dislike Kyle, at least not at the moment. They were a party of six: Prince, Lyon, Kyle, Roy, that Viki, and single-handedly the most horribly annoying person Roy thought he would ever meet, a stuck up, portly oaf named Cornelio. Now, Cornelio was in a whole other realm of awful if he could openly mock the Prince and Roy only found himself bored of it in under two minutes. The sound of that man's voice was so grating! Roy was half tempted to dress up like the Prince one of these days and challenge all of his current DoReMi elves to a fight at some point just to get back at both of them, but then he would probably be dragged along to do this again, and it just wasn't worth it.

"Where were YOU, mediocrity, when that ducking fowl from earlier scuffed my shoe? Do you think a DoReMi elf with any sense would bring itself before I of scuffed footwear? Of course not! You haven't even the class or sense of a furball!"

"Yo," Roy whispered to Kyle. "Why isn't sweetie over there tearing that bozo up for talking down to his royal highness and all?"

"You really think a guy like that would listen?" Kyle sighed and shook his head. "There are some people in this world you just don't want to encourage. The Prince has a knack for attracting... eccentric people. Not that I'm complaining, because a lot of them are ladies, and fine-looking ones at that."

"No kidding," Roy grumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Forget it!"

"All right, then."

Roy thought he might go about sulking some more, but the string of grating words came to a sudden halt and was replaced by a yelp. When Roy looked up he saw Cornelio's fat bottom hanging out of the mouth of a Giant Creeper that thrashed him about. He heard the man still shouting from within that bulbous orifice, and if Roy had it his way he would turn tail and go home. He could talk the damn thing to death and then live in fields of stupid DoReMi elves for all anyone cared.

Of course, the one person on this Earth who could possibly care called upon the power of his Rage Rune, and a wall of fire shot across the base of the creature. Damn Prince and his damn goodie-two shoes ways. Fortunately for Cornelio, and not necessarily for anyone else, creepers did not have teeth, or else he would have been bitten in two. Instead the nasty thing spat the man back out, and he skid along the ground collecting dirt and grass which stuck to his creeper slime, and Roy let out a chuckle.

"You think this is funny, mediocrity?!" Cornelio bellowed while flailing his limbs all over.

"Umm, guys, we've kinda got a problem on our hands," said Kyle, sword at ready as the beast before them hissed with rage. It smelled of swamp and dead leaves, and at once Roy brought out his own weapon and assumed his stance. It bent its awful head down toward the Prince, whose incantation of another fire spell was going just too slowly. He hadn't time enough to break his concentration and move, so Lyon stepped in front of him and was sucked up instead.

"Oh, hell no!" said Roy, twirling about the tip of his newly enhanced Dawn Numbchaku as he made a dash toward the beast. He beat at that stupid thing like a mad man, demanding it release Lyon at once. Beside him the Prince would partake in a mirror image of the beating that he dealt, and it was eerie how in sync their movements were. All anyone else could do was stand there and watch until the two of them hopped back. The blasted thing would be hurting quite a bit from it. Once it spit Lyon out Roy would run with everything he had and be the first to catch her. It would be perfect.

Or it would have been, had a certain sneeze from a certain Viki not winked him off the ground in an instant and popped him fifteen feet above the creeper. Falling on top of it was the crushing blow that would knock it out, and Lyon shot out of its body like a cannon ball. Though his fall was broken by this horrible mutant plant from hell, every bit of Roy's body ached, and he could see stars and hear whistles. Maybe he was bleeding. Who cares?

"Are you all right, Prince?"

Painful though it was, Roy jerked out of the pathetic heap he was in, and glared out from behind the fallen creeper. Though his vision was a swirling mess, and his stomach was doing much the same, he could make out two figures that distinctly resembled Lyon's and the Prince's, pressed together in an almost happily fallen heap. So he had the same plan as Roy, did he? Why that stupid-

"Ahhh, my spell went all wrong. I'm so sorry," said Viki, who approached Roy on tow with Kyle.

"Geez, I'm surprised you can move," said Kyle, and his hand glowed blue. The water in the air collected around Roy's battered body and eased pain's foul grip on it, at least enough for his vision to stop wobbling and his stomach to stop whining. He was fairly certain that he hadn't broken anything, but he would certainly have to see a doctor later about a possible concussion.

"Shaddap," said Roy. He tried standing too soon, but his knees buckled under him.

"Roy, just give me a minute and hold still. You're all beaten up."

"Oh Roy!" said the sweetest voice in all of Falena. Finally. She might have been covered in disgusting creeper slime, but that didn't matter a damn bit. He supposed if he couldn't claim the part of the hero at this given moment thanks to a certain, stupid prince, he could always play the part of the battered victim. "Are you OK? What happened?"

"Ugh, ehy swee-ugh!" Roy hoisted himself up once more, in less pain than he was the first time, but his face fell onto Lyon's shoulder anyway. He bet she would have smelled really good before the creeper got to her, but that was OK.

"Really Roy?" said Kyle in a flat tone, who knew damn well what he was doing and the extent of Roy's wounds, which weren't actually that great despite the possible concussion. Still, the guy didn't have to just up and blow his cover like that. Never mind not hating him, then. Roy very much hated them all with every fiber of his being, except Lyon obviously.

"Roy." He could feel her wonderful, if slimy, body tense beneath his cheek, and knew that she was either about to get furious, or the Prince was going to step in where he wasn't wanted. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

"Hmm. Roy's injuries seem quite severe. Someone had better carry him back to the castle then, right, Kyle?" said the Prince, and Roy could only imagine the look on his face, because his cover would be more obviously blown if he had moved.

"Ahhhh. You may have a point there, Prince. But I'm not really into carrying guys around myself, though."

"No matter, for I intended to do it myself anyway," said the Prince, and before his fingers could come anywhere near Roy he sprang to his feet.

"Yo, don't even think about it, guy," said Roy, and he cursed as his knees began to shake.

"Are you sure?" said the Prince, and it was hard to tell if he was being sincere, or a condescending brat. After all, when it came to Lyon he did make a point to get in the way, that damn prince. That stupid, damn prince. Lyon sputtered a bit, caught between confusion, concern, and probably even anger, though whatever she had to say was cut off by a boisterous cough from their left.

"AHEM! I would like to announce that while you bumbling mediocrities flocked about this dreck I went about procuring a most vital member of our entourage. You can thank me later, not that uncultured mediocrities such as yourselves grasp the importance of this situation."

It was indeed as he said. On his heels a new DoReMi elf brought up the rear, and Roy had never been more grateful of something in all of his life.

"Great! Let's leave," he said, and his knees chose that moment to give way once more. Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn.

"Good idea," said the Prince, and rather than offer a hand to help Roy to his feet he scooped the bandit into his arms like a baby, figuring it'd be the easiest way to carry him. Or humiliate him. Same difference.

"Hey, come on. No way! Put me down, man. Don't do this in front of-"

"Man, oh man," said Kyle, shaking his head. "I don't know about you, Lyon, but I've had enough of this sausage fest."

"I couldn't agree more, Kyle. Err, the Prince excluded, of course."

Right. The Prince, even though he was the one making the scene. Oh well. Roy was too tired to care. The damage was done. The sooner they got home, the sooner this was over. This was the last time he would ever volunteer to go on errands for the Prince again.

"Is everyone ready?" said Viki, and with that they were all back at the castle safe and sound, though little did Roy know that this would be the last time he could accompany Lyon on errands with the Prince. Had he known he may not have stayed holed up in his room on days where no major battles took place. One thing was for sure. He was seriously gonna clobber that stupid prince if it was the last thing he ever did.

TBC

A/N: Teehee, finally the Roy chapter. I love him more every time I play the game. Sorry if I've skipped anything you might have wanted me to include, but I'm really just trying to focus on vital turning points and obstacles this pairing faces throughout the game. I tried to do a bit with Luserina for some of you, but it was just too out of place within the context for me, so I'll be taking what I wrote of that and putting it into a separate fanfic. However, I've always planned on having a Roy chapter. I don't think it turned out to be anything I might have imagined five years ago, but I guess it's all right. Maybe I pick on him too much, but I do it out of love. He's just such a fun character, and he brings a very... unique dimension to Prince/Lyon. There will be more of him.