Hi there amigos! Prepare for a long author's note. Grab some popcorn or something.

Firstly, shock and horror, I updated! Secondly, add to the shock and horror, it's a double update! You can thank Dawn . Fire . Angel for that. Did you know it was possible to scream at people over MSN? Well, it is. And she does it spectacuarly well. Kidding, I love ya really Dawn!

Thirdly, one of the reasons that this is a double update is because my GCSE exams start in... 15 days. My birthday is also in fifteen days, -.-

But that's besides the point. The point is, sadly, no more time for fanfiction, so I thought I'd give you guys a lovely big update to chew on while I was away.

Also, forgive me for any typos, it is eight minutes past one in the morning, and I am fucking shattered.

Oh yeah! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE REVIEWS! Seriously, when I first saw that, I started screaming with joy. Then my mum told me to shut up because she was on the phone. -.-

Nevertheless, THANK YOU!! *Gives all reviews cyber-cookies*

Oh God, so tired. Oh yeah, last chapter I said that Noctis had to go to a meeting. Screw that, it's a conference thing... fuck, I dunno what it is. My brain isn't functioning properly.

And Stella makes her grand appearence! *Mauled* Ow. And hey, read before you judge me!

Disclaimer: I own a copy of Final Fantasy XIII. And screw the reviewers and flamers and haters, I bloody love it! No such luck with Versus XIII though, XD

"Shouldn't we be running?" Vanille was utterly restless, pacing back and forwards in front of Lightning. "I mean, if she catches up with us-"

"I told you, she's not after us." She rubbed her forehead. "We don't need to hurry, we're not her main targets-"

"But we're still targets." The pigtailed girl flapped her arms in the air with frustration. "You say it yourself, a target's a target."

"If Fang is a decent assassin, she'll have learnt to prioritize." Lightning shrugged, crossing her arms. "If not, then Phoenix would have gotten rid of her long ago."

"But-"

"Vanille, stay calm." She commanded, giving the younger woman a mild girl. She fell silent, but continued to pace. "We've just got to think about what to do."

Vanille blinked. "I thought we were going to go to Astrum!" The girl stopped. "You mean... we're going to stay?"

The assassin looked calm on the surface, hiding the wrestling match in her brain. Her priority was Vanille, and getting out of here safely. Surely Noctis would be fine... he was too stubborn to die. Far too stubborn, her lips quirked slightly. However hard she tried to compress it though, that voice still nagged at the back of her skull.

"Of course we're going to Astrum." Lightning eventually said, the quirk of her lips turning into a smirk. "He can look after himself."

"What?" Vanille turned and stared at her friend. The assassin shook her head and walked away, with the young girl chasing to catch up with her.

Knock knock.

Two quiet noises made the Prince of Tenebrea lift his head wearily from where he'd been resting it on the cool desk.

"What?" He grumbled, bringing up a hand to rest his head on. The door opened and a somewhat shy maid shuffled in.

"Begging your pardon, your highness," She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry for intruding, but it's the King, you see. He wants to speak to you. Um, privately, in his study."

"I see..." Noctis sighed and stood up stiffly, stretching as he did so. A quick glance at the clock startled him – Had he really been in here for over six hours? How had he not noticed? He shook his head and headed out of the door, informing the maid rather curtly that he knew where his uncle's private rooms were, and that there was no need for her to accompany him there.

Walking through the corridors, his thoughts refused to stay on one subject. They flittered and fluttered back and forth. His kingdom to his friends, his friends to his family, his family to the crystal, the crystal to Etro, from Etro to a certain assassin.

Lightning. The woman who was twisting his life around rapidly. The woman who he...

Noctis shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts. He only wanted to help her; surely he didn't feel anything more towards her than friendship. Yet, when he paused and thought about her, his thoughts eventually led back to their stolen kisses. Her lips, not soft but not uncomfortable when pressed against his own. Quite the opposite in fact.

No, no, no. The Prince dug his nails into his palm. Think of something else. Think of anything else. Think of this meeting tonight. What are you going to say? ... Oh Etro, what am I going to say? Bugger. 'Hello, I am against the war in Pulse as I've been sheltering the assassin who started it all'? That would certainly be an attention-grabbing opening line, but I don't think it would go down particularly well.

Noctis was so engrossed in his thoughts, he barely realised he had reached his uncle's chambers. The young prince coughed and ran a hand through his hair, hoping it was staying somewhat flat. His uncle despised messy hair, saying it was a sign of impatience and lack of care for one's personal features. He also disapproved of Noctis' more casual clothes, saying that he had to present an image to the media. And t-shirts with skulls and crossbones were not a good image to be presenting.

Into the circles of hell...

He warily knocked on the door and waited for reply. He could hear papers shuffling, pens scratching, and a heavy sigh.

"Enter."

Noctis opened the door and stepped into the King's study, which was not dissimilar to his own. Dark, smelling heavily of paper; so full of dust you could see it levitating in the air, and it made Noctis question yet again what the cleaners in the palace actually did. Apart from make up a lot of untrue gossip.

"Ah. Noctis." The King clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them, observing Noctis from head to toe. "I need to talk to you."

"I guessed that." The comment earned a glare from Timeaus.

"This isn't a laughing matter."

"And that wasn't a joke." The Prince shot back, crossing his arms defensively. There was an awkward pause between the two men. Noctis often wondered how his uncle and his mother had managed to get along. His mother was impulsive and would run headlong into danger if she wanted to, his uncle thought every action through, weighing out each action's consequence.

"A guard sent me a report last night..." His uncle trailed off as he located a certain document. "Ah, yes. Apparently, you were smuggling an unknown woman into the palace." A slight pause as Timeaus lifted his head to meet his nephew's gaze.

... Shit...

"Care to explain?" He inquired, waving the report in the air slightly. Noctis blanched.

"Not really." He shoved his hands into his pockets and felt a few hairs pop out of place. Perfect.

"Noctis Lucis Caelum." The King leant forwards on his desk, slamming the offending papers onto the desk. "Explain this, now."

"It's not any of your business." The Prince muttered, feeling a large confrontation brewing. "She didn't cause any problems."

"Noctis, in case you have forgotten while you were gallivanting around with those lunatics you call friends," The older man stood up, clearly agitated. "We are in the middle of a war. Not that long ago, one of our councillors was shot dead, and his assassin is still on the run. So I do feel that inviting a strange girl into the palace is 'my business'."

The Prince flinched, a dam of guilt exploding in his gut. Councillor Vere. The man who had been killed by Lightning, who he had completely forgotten about.

"I was just..." He trailed off. "Trying to help her."

"I understand that." His Uncle sat back down, a sense of restrained calm entering the atmosphere. "But now is not the time to be reaching out to strangers. Besides, what would the media think if they got wind of this?"

"I don't particularly care, to be honest."

Timeaus sighed and rubbed his temples. "Well, unfortunately, an awful lot of people who aren't you; they do care." He leant back slightly in his chair. "For example, the

Fleuret family-"

"I'm not marrying her!" Noctis instantly protested. "Stella is a perfectly nice person, but I do not want to marry her. Not now, not in two years, not in ten years, not in twenty years, not ever."

The King sighed, his expression verging between exasperation and irritation. "You need to marry someone."

"Why should I? You never did!"

"Noctis." Timeaus glanced at his nephew wearily. "We have had this discussion many times. The line of rulers that has kept this country stable ends with you. It is one of your duties to continue it. And continue it you must."

"So there's a big meeting tonight, with lots of dignitaries?"

"Um, yeah."

"Oh, perfect."

Oerba Yun Fang smirked and licked her lips in anticipation. There was nothing she enjoyed more than pissing off as many high up people as she could. If anyone got in her way tonight, she'd rip them apart.

The young informant looked a little worried. Some orphan, stupid name like 'dream' or 'wish' or 'hope'. Something like that, not that it particularly worried her. Phoenix had planted him in the palace as a trainee mechanic. Bit of a wimp in Fang's opinion, but that was played to his advantage – A coward like him would never be suspected of being a spy.

"Why is it perfect?" He asked, a small frown on his face. "More important people means more security, which means more work for you."

"More security means more fights." Fang grinned. "Which means more fun for me."

"Oh." The boy blinked. "If you say so."

"Of course I say so." She eyed the boy up and down. "You worked the streets lately?"

"Urm..." He fiddled with his scarf. "Not really."

"I'm looking for a woman with ginger hair, pigtails, and a load of beads. You hear of anyone like that, phone me and give me the details. Clear?"

"Sure." He blinked. "But why do you-"

"Strictly need to know. Keep an eye out for that Lightning bitch too." The assassin walked away. "See ya mate."

Mate? Hope pondered. Did that mean Fang was his... friend? Ally? Comrade? Which exactly? Shaking his head in confusion, the silver haired teen vanished into the city's crowds, beginning his hunt.

It was raining, heavily. The wind was racing through the streets, and Vanille was hiding in the bus shelter, her face buried into her hands.

Lightning on the other hand, was standing out in the rain, reading the timetable. "Vanille, I'm telling you, we'll have to walk."

"We've got gil." She protested, wincing as another explosion of thunder rattled through the city. "I hate thunderstorms."

"It's nothing to be scared of." The soldier frowned and ran a finger down the timetable, using the dim street lights and explosions of her namesake to read it.

"That's alright for you to say. You're named after them!"

"Hmph." The assassin paused, re-reading the timetable before cursing. "The next bus doesn't leave for another four days!" In frustration, she kicked the pole. "Stupid bloody country!" She ran her fingers through her wringing wet hair. "We've got to walk."

"But the thunder..." Vanille began, pausing as the sky seemed to crackle once again. "Ooooh!"

"It's only electricity."

"You can die from electricity!" The tribeswoman protested. "Can't we at least wait until the storm passes?"

Lightning growled. "Fine. Damn your astraphobia."

Unknown to either of them, a certain silver haired boy was watching them from within the safety of an alley. With fingers trembling from the icy wind, he picked up the phone and dialled.

"Fang? I've found them."

Stella Nox Fleuret ran a hand through her hand, ripping apart any knots she found. She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth in thought.

She was meant to mourn Councillor Vere while sniffing out for information on his assassin. Oh yes. Her parents didn't trust the Caelum family one bit. They were of the belief that they were covering things up. Especially Prince Noctis, the 'little upstart' who they were desperate for her to marry.

Sometimes, her parents just didn't make any sense.

"Lady Fleuret," Her driver suddenly piped up from the front. "We're here. Do you want me to escort you in?"

"I have an umbrella." Stella smiled as she opened the front door, simultaneously sticking the umbrella out and opening it. With a tiny wave, she stepped out into the storm and slammed the door shut behind her.

It was time to get to work.

"I know it's Lightning." He said into the phone. "And the girls got pigtails and ginger hair like you said Fang. They said they're staying here for a while, so if you want to do something, hurry up."

"I'd love to mate. Really I would, but this doo-ally is kicking off. I'll be there after I've knocked off his highness, keep an eye on them for me, 'kay?"

"But Fang-" His protest was cut off as a hand grabbed his, wrestled the phone out of his grasp and threw it to the floor. "What the f-" Before Hope could finish he had been whisked off his feet, his back slamming into the wall.

And he came face to face with Lightning Farron. And boy, did she look pissed.

"You little brat." She hissed, tightening her grip on his arms. Hope could feel the bruises start to form under her fingers. "I swear to God, I'll kill you right now."

"I... I..." Hope gulped and squirmed under the woman's excruciatingly painfull grip. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the other woman arrive, pigtails bobbing in time with her running.

"Lightning!" The pigtailed girl arrived next to them. "Leave him alo-"

"He's working with Fang Vanille." Although she was talking to the other woman – Vanille – The assassin's eyes never left Hope's face. "You really want to just let him walk away?"

"But... he's just a kid!"

"So?" She tightened her grip on his shoulders. "He's going to get us killed." The boy shuddered in a mixture of fear, pain and bitter cold.

"He's a kid." Vanille protested yet again. "Maybe... he could help us." Hope waited for the other's response, feeling her nails dig in harder. After a moment or so, her grip loosened, still strong but not as painful.

"Tell me everything about Fangs' plans."

"Go left!"

"No, right!"

"Left!"

"Right!"

"I said left first!"

"When you said it doesn't matter. It's whether it's right or not that matters, and right is the right way!"

"Exactly, and the right way is the wrong way, so we should go left!"

"Felix, that made no sense at all."

"It's your fault for giving me the opening."

"Will you two," Placido asked, gritting his teeth together tightly. "Both, kindly, shut the hell up before I shove this steering wheel somewhere unholy?"

"Sorry." Felix grinned like a cat who had got the cream, drank it and was very pleased with himself; and sprawled across the front seat. "But left is right."

"No it's not, left is left, and that's wrong."

"No, it's right."

"Wrong!"

"Right!"

"That's just what I said, right!"

"No, left is right!"

"For Etro's sake!" The driver gripped the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles nearly popped out of his fists. "You two are going to have me driving around in circles!"

"We aren't that far from a roundabout actually." Lexus pointed out, earning a reflected pointed glare courtesy of Placido and the rear-view mirrors. "Just sayin'."

"Hey, Lightning's mugging a kid!" Felix suddenly announced, before winding down the car window and sticking his head out. "Pfft! Damn rain. OI LIGHTNING, ARE YOU THAT DESPERATE FOR SOME SWEETIES?!"

"For the love of...!" Leaning forwards, Lexus managed to grab the scruff of Felix's jacket and tug him backwards as Placido pulled up. "Genius mate, really. Piss off a woman who's already shot you!"

"Exactly. The laws of averages say that she won't shoot me again."

"The laws of averages don't say anything like that!" Lexus glanced outside the vehicle and raised an eyebrow. "More importantly, the look on her face doesn't say anything like that."

"Great job Felix." Placido sighed. Keeping a calm air around himself like a cloak, he pulled off his glasses, wiped the steam off the inside, and replaced them, pushing them slightly further up his nose to make sure they'd stay in place. "Let's keep a certain degree of self respect people-"

"HEY VANILLE!!" The blonde had already run out of the car and was heading towards the pigtailed girl. The two older men exchanged glances with each other before Lexus spoke.

"... Felix and self respect don't really go in the same sentence." He shrugged and exited the car to see Lightning both yelling at Felix while keeping a tight grip on the silver haired teen's collar.

"You nearly made me lose him you imbecile!" She screeched. "Give me one damn good reason why I shouldn't drop kick your ass into the sun!"

"Um... You shouldn't mug little kids?" Felix stuttered. A very dangerous look came into Lightning's eyes. "Never mind, carry on with your illegal activities."

"Can't you let me go now?" The teen piped up. "I've told you everything I know!"

"Everything he knows about what?" Lexus asked, switching his glances between Lightning and Hope.

"Well-"

"No, Vanille." The soldier shoved the teen towards her. "Keep an eye on the kid-"

"My name is Hope." He interrupted. Lightning shot him a glare before continuing.

"-The kid, I'll be back in a bit."

"You're not-" Vanille's attempt at a question was cut short by Lightning pinching her arm, hard. "Ow! That hurt!"

"We're meant to be getting you to Astrum." Placido pointed out, getting the uneasy feeling that this conversation was not going to end well.

"Fine. I will go with you to Astrum, once I have finished up some other things here."

"But you – OW! Lightning, stop pinching my arm!" The pigtailed girl protested yet again, rubbing her arm.

"I will be back. In a little while."

"Noct said to get you to Astrum ASAP." Lexus narrowed his eyes slightly as he spoke. The assassin was already starting to walk away.

"I don't give a damn what he said. I'll be back in a while." And before anyone else could protest, Lightning's walk had turned into a sprint and she had seemingly vanished.

Hope was the one who broke the pregnant pause. "She's going after Fang, isn't she?"

"I guess so." Vanille bit her fingernails and growled slightly. "Oooooh...!"

"Who's Fang?"

"She's the person who's going to try and kill your Prince." The silver haired teen couldn't help but derive a tiny bit of amusement out of the faces of the shocked men. Sometimes, it was worth being able to keep huge secrets for the little moments like this.

Damn it, if one more person asks me about my opinions on the war, I'm going to hit something. Probably them.

So tempting. Got to get out of this place... no fire escapes here though. That room looks quite. Anything to get me away from here.

Why am I doing this again? It's ridiculous. Noctis is not a baby. He is a grown man, and he is perfectly capable of looking after himself.

Yeah, but he's not expecting an attack. He thinks he's just got to go to this stupid thing, and say a few things. What if she gets one over on him? You would have known all along, and it would have been one more life on your hands.

One more life added to the numerous others already there? So what? He's gonna die eventually, get over it.

But I don't want him to die. I really don't... Wait, no. That's stupid. I'm not... I mean, it isn't... I just care about him. He's been good to me and Vanille, that's all. Whatever it is, I am most definitely not... that.

And now is not the time to think about it. Now is the time to act.

Long author's note next chapter! I know you guys can't wait, XD