A/N: My gawd, what happened to all the awesome reviewers I had? Where the heck are you guys? No one has even bothered to review the last chapter, and I'm beginning to doubt myself, something that you should all be worried about! Anyhoo, there aren't any spoilers in this chapter that I know of, seeing as I am writing this authors note before the chapter. Well, hopefully I will see some reviews, because if I don't, I wont feel motivated to do anything.

"GRANDPA! GRANDPA!" I yelled as I ran around the castle, looking and looking for said person so I could tell him what had happened.

"Hope, what's the matter?" He walked out of the library, and I stopped running, standing right in front of him, panting heavily as I caught my breath.

"Watch this!" I put my hand out in front of me and the rapier appeared in my hands. I looked back at grandpa, and his eyes were a bit wide with shock, before it settled into a smile.

"Ah, so this is what you wanted to show me?"

I nodded my head. "Yes! But how come I have it?"

"My dear, this sword belonged to your father." My dad? "When the user of this sword dies, it goes along too, and remains dormant until someone of the next generation becomes old enough to use it. It picks that person by judging if they have a pure heart. That is why you have it. Because your heart is pure."

I looked at the sword and smiled. "Does it have a name?"

"It's called Hopes Sky. Your father named it after you and his favorite thing to look up at: The sky."

"Hopes Sky…." I repeated, smiling at the sword.

"Now, you're going to need training on using that sword right."

I looked up at him, objection on face. "But grandpa, I know how to use a sword! I don't-"

"Hope, you don't know how important it is you learn how to use it correctly. There's only one other person that knows how that sword works, because he knew your father." He explained.

"Who?"

"Me." I practically jumped ten feet into the air at cool and lax voice entered the hallway. Slowly, I turned around to see Sephiroth staring down at me and at the sword in my hand.

"S-Sephiroth?" I turned back to my grandpa with a dejected look on my face. "You mean that I have to be trained by the general?"

He smiled at me. "Yes, and I assure you that you will be pleased that you did!"

"We'll begin right now if it's possible." Sephiroth said. I looked up and nodded. "Very well. Follow me to the training grounds." Quietly but glumly, I followed the silver haired general.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Dear Diary,

I have an awesome sword that belonged to my dad now! It's called Hopes Sky. Sadly, because of what grandpa and the general say, I apparently lack the 'experience' to use it effectively, which is why I have to now be a pupil under Sephiroth almost everyday now. In all honesty, I'd rather die! Sephiroth is actually not as bad as I had thought, but still…I cant help but have this bad feeling rise up when I am around him. It's a cold and…dark feeling. And it kinda scares me.

Ok, so seeing as I am now a 'pupil' under the general, I have to practice with him for almost all day long everyday now until I am able to grasp how to use my rapier. Now, how is this bad you ask? It means that I wont see Lea and Isa that much anymore. Tomorrow, we were supposed to meet up at the park, but seeing as I cannot go now, I have asked one of the servants to deliver a note to Lea, explaining everything to him.

Hopefully, he'll understand and wont try something reckless.

Lea stared at the paper, reading it over and over.

Lea, if you are reading this, then let Isa read it too. If you got this then this explains why I'm late meeting you two for ice-cream. I have a sword, and I have to learn how to use it properly, and perfectly. I am now a pupil of Sephiroth's, and I now have to spend almost everyday, all day, practicing. I am not sure when I will see you and Isa again, but I will send you two notes frequently. As much as I don't want too, I have to learn.

Please don't be mad at me or anyone else. I'll see you and Isa when I can.

Love, Hope

P.S.- Lea, don't do anything reckless while I'm gone!

Angry and sadly, he handed the note over for Isa to read, and he too soon felt the same.

"They cant just pen her up inside there!" Lea shouted kicking a rock into the wall.

"Like she said, it's no ones fault. She obviously chose this herself." Isa said, trying to calm down the red-head.

"If it was her choice, she should've been able to choose whether she could come and see us!" Lea argued back, his anger clear in his eyes.

"…" Isa remained quiet as Lea let off his steam.

"I don't care if it's against the law or not, but we're breaking in and kidnapping her." Lea planned.

"Didn't she say not to do anything reckless while she was gone?" Isa inquired, re-reading the note to check.

"Reckless or not, I'm not gonna listen to her this time. She's our friend and if we wanna see her we should be able to!"

"Don't you think breaking and entering, along with kidnapping are a little too drastic?"

Lea smirked at his friend. "Don't worry…I already have another plan in mind."

0o0o0o0o0o00oo0oo0o0o0o

"Ow!" For the 20th time, I fell onto my butt painfully.

"Stop whining and be strong." Sephiroth ordered me harshly, helping me stand up.

I glared at him. "Fine, I will!" I exclaimed jumping up into the air, and flipping a few times before landing behind him and kicking him in the back. I didn't know my own strength because when I did kick off of him, he turned around and I kicked off his chest, flying into a nearby wall. "Well, that didn't go too well."

"You've proven that you're fighting combat skills are excellent. Now, let's work on using your sword." Sephiroth unsheathed Masamune, and pointed it at me as he got into a battle stance. "Come at me with all your strength."

I smirked at him. "Whatever you say." I ran at him and our swords clashed together, creating sparks.

"Hmph. Impressive. But can you manage to keep up?" I was about to ask what that meant, but he disappeared.

"Wha-!"

"Never turn your back on the enemy." I whipped around and blocked him with my sword, pushing him back a few feet. I smirked at him.

"You were saying?"

"Hmm…perhaps I doubted your skills. You've actually proven to be quite skillful in battle combat. Maybe you wont need months of training like I thought."

I mentally squealed. The sooner I got out, the better! I was fixing to reply, when I a small and quiet voice rang out.

"Hope?" The general and I turned our attention to the door, where Ienzo, in all his cuteness was standing. He had tears in his eyes, and I re-summoned my sword and ran over to him.

"Ienzo? What's the matter? What happened?" I asked worriedly, kneeling down and pulling him to me.

"Even yelled at me…" He buried his face into my shoulder as he sobbed. Even's yelling had most likely scared him.

"Whatever did he do that for?" I asked as I gently held him to me, rocking us both back and forth.

"I went out of the castle without permission." Oh.

I pulled him back to look at me. "You went out without permission? You disobeyed Even?" He nodded his head as more tears began to fall. "Ienzo, I'm not going to yell at you or get mad, but I am going to lecture you. You shouldn't have disobeyed Even. It's been very dangerous lately due to those monsters popping up, and you could've been hurt." The thought of that happening brought tears to my eyes.

"Hope, why are you crying?" Ienzo asked, and I smiled at him.

"Because, I love you and I would hate it if something bad ever happened to you!" I hugged him to me again and held him there for awhile, until someone cleared their throat.

"I think that's enough for one day. We'll practice tomorrow, 9 a.m. sharp." With that said, he left.

I stared at the door before looking back at Ienzo. "Now then, you promise that you wont disobey again?"

"I promise."

"Good! Tell me how all the other apprentices are. I hardly see them at all." I took his hand in mine as we walked down the halls together

Apparently, Braig had become severely injured somehow, and was no longer able to use his left eye, and he had a very nasty scar on his right cheek. He was going to be bandaged up for some time apparently.

"Hope?"

"Yes, Ienzo?"

"Do you miss your mother?"

I stopped us both. It had been so long since anyone had mentioned my mother to me. People had stopped asking right after she died, in fear of causing me pain and sadness. Only, not asking brought the sadness. I loved talking about my mother. It's what helps keep her memory alive.

"Yes…I miss her very much. Why do you ask?"

"Because…I don't remember my mother, so I don't know how to miss her." It was sad….the thought of not being able to know how to miss a loved one. Especially for a child. Everyone should be able to remember loved ones. It's how it keeps your heart strong. "What was yours like?"

I smiled, picking him up and placing him on top of my shoulders. "Well, she was a lot like me, and she looked like me too, except for the eyes. Hers were blue. She was kind and considerate."

"Did she tell good stories like you do?" Ienzo asked, laying his head on top of mine.

I laughed. "Actually, half of those stories I tell you are ones that she would tell me when I was little."

"Oh… And the lullabies you sing to me…did she sing those to you?"

"Yep!"

He kept his head laid on top of mine. "I wish I could remember….Sometimes, I forget that I even had a family."

"You do have a family, Ienzo. It's with us."

"Can I call you mom?"

I giggled. "Sure…you can call me mom if you want."

And for the first time ever, I think Ienzo didn't feel alone anymore.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Later that night-

I was sitting in bed, reading a book. I was the only person left in the castle that was awake, with the exception of the guards. It was quiet for a long time, until-

Tap, tap, tap.

I looked up from my book and looked around my room, my gaze going towards the door. Setting down my book, I got up from my bed and walked over to y door and opened it a bit, thinking that someone had been knocking on it. There wasn't anyone there. I closed it and looked around again.

Tap, tap, tap.

Starting to get annoyed by the sound, I surveyed my entire room. I checked under my bed, my closet, my bathroom, and even my dresser, and finally moved over to my desk, finding nothing at all. I sat down in my chair, groaning in annoyance, hoping that the noise would just stop. I looked out my window and nearly screamed in surprise when I saw that Lea was outside and throwing pebbles at the window! And I had told him not to do anything stupid….

"Lea!" I exclaimed after opening the window. "What are you doing? It's the middle of the night! I thought I told you not to do anything reckless!"

"Visiting you!" He said, a smirk on his face. "No way am I gonna let the general keep you here everyday to practice using a sword."

I sighed, shaking my head slightly. "Look, go to the garden. I'll come down and meet you!"

He nodded and dashed off to said place. I slipped my shoes on and opened my door, peeking around each direction before slipping out and quietly closing it behind me. I tiptoed quietly through the dark halls as I headed towards the door that led to the garden. Luckily, no one was around that I knew of, so sneaking around was easy. I reached the door, and right before I could turn the handle…

"Young Mistress Hope?" I gulped loudly, turning around slowly to find Aeleus staring at me in concern and confusion.

"Hello, Aeleus." I greeted, smiling nervously.

"May I ask why you are going outside in the middle of the night?"

I thought up a quick and easy excuse. "I cant sleep, so I figured that maybe some fresh air would help me, so I was planning to go walk around in the garden for awhile."

"Would you like for someone to accompany you?"

"No!" He looked at me suspiciously. "I mean, no thank you. I'd rather go alone."

He nodded. "Well, just don't fall asleep out there." With that said, he walked off and once he walked around the corner, I let out a sigh of relief, pushing the door open, and running out.

Hope walked in and saw both Lea and Isa sitting against a tree. She frowned at both of them as she walked over and stood in front of them.

"What were you two thinking? If you'd been caught sneaking around like this in the middle of the night, the guards would have your heads!"

"Hey, I tried to convince him it was a bad idea, but as usual, he didn't listen." Isa defended, pointing over at the mastermind of this plan.

I glared at Lea. "I thought I told you not to do anything reckless!" I sat down next to him and punched him the arm.

"Ow! You don't have to hit me!" He rubbed his arm where I had hit him. "We only wanted to see you."

I groaned. "Couldn't it of waited until the sun was actually up?" I leant my head back against the tree, holding my arm against my head.

"No, because you'd be to busy training. What's this about a sword you have now?"

I summoned Hope's Sky and explained everything that had happened with them. They seemed relieved when they found out that I would probably have a few weeks of training left, and I was too. Eventually, Isa got tired and went home, leaving me and Lea behind, sitting under the tree. He told me about how his day was and what he and Isa did without me, which was basically plan how to visit me.

"Do you think I'm a hassle?"

I looked over at him, confusion entering through my mind. "A hassle?" he nodded his head. "Why do you ask?"

"Isa said I was yesterday after we left."

I frowned. Lately, I noticed that Isa had been becoming more and more cold towards us. I had no clue as to why, but his cold behavior was being directed at Lea most of the time. It was sad at times because some of the things he would say would hurt Lea's feelings a bit. "No, I don't think you're a hassle. Because, the things you do and the way you act is you being you. And I couldn't ask you to stop doing those things, because then you wouldn't really be Lea."

"I guess you're right…"

I yawned, my eyes feeling droopy. "Lea?" I mumbled, letting my head fall onto his shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"Don't ever change…."

0o00o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The next morning, when Ansem the Wise went out for a morning walk in the garden, his attention was caught by two colors by the oak tree. Quietly he walked over to investigate, only to stop a few feet away and smile at what he saw. He chuckled quietly before going into one of the sheds and brining out a small blanket to drape over both teens who had fallen asleep.

He quietly placed it over the two, and smiled at them as they slept, before walking away to leave them to rest a bit longer.

A/N: Ok, so how was it? I need opinions people, so review! Pretty please?