First Steps

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy

Five years later, A energetic child ran down the grand halls of his home, From his room where he was supposed to stay, The large ivory robes he wore flowing behind him as he ran, Along with his shoulder length blonde hair with the purple tips on his bangs. His heels clicked off the marble floors and the expensive jewels he was decorated with jangled as he moved, Quickly finding a way out of the castle past the guards to the town outside.

Once on the city streets, He slowed his pace, Sneaking around like a thief in the shadows, In any body were to spot him, It would be all over and he'd be returned home and scolded, No, He wasn't going to get caught. Not this time. He crept behind some large boxes next the city gate, Peeking out at the two guards standing in front of it, A diversion was in order, To lure them away long enough for him to slip through unnoticed.

He looked around the area, Spotting a horde of barrels over next to the guards and grinned, Focusing and one barrel moved, Rolling over to the guards, Drawing their attention. Before it stopped and suddenly stood up. The guards walked over to the barrel cautiously, Caught off guard when the other barrels fell on top of them. Knocking them out cold.

The boy smiled and quickly ran past the gate to the open world outside.

"Tasmine! Tasmine!" He called out, Jogging slightly through the grassland a short distance from the capital city, His light purple eyes scanning around in the tall grass and around the trees for any sign of the friend he was expecting to meet out here."

The wind was blowing heavily, Strong enough to almost knock the 5 year old off his feet, But instead of falling backwards, He tumbled forward when something hit his back and held on, Both rolling to the ground, The feminine giggled that followed brought a smile to his face. "I got you again Mateus!" The girl chirped proudly.

Mateus rolled over, Smirking as he pinned the slightly older girl down under him and chuckled. "Who got who know Tasmine?" He said, Looking at the blonde haired blue eyed girl beneath him. Before they both burst out laughing and moved to sit beside eachother in the long grass.

"Hey hey! Check out what I can do!" Mateus spoke up suddenly, Drawing Tasmine's attention towards him with a curious glance. He smiled when she looked at him and raised his palm up, Getting a look of concentration on his youthful face as a few dark purple electric sparks appeared just above his hand, Forming into the shape of a magic ball.

The 8 year old girl brushed a strand of her blonde locks behind her ear as she eyed the ball of magic hovering above her friends hand with a smile. "Oh nice... I'm impressed, You're getting better Mateus." She said, Congratulating him on the improvement of his magic practice.

He smiled back, Proud. "Yeah! Mommy has taught me a lot! And I've been practicing myself! I'm gonna be the finest Mage in Palamecia!" He exclaimed in joy, Positive of his achievements. Tasmine nodded in agreement.

They decided to play, Getting up from the ground and running off further away from the city without thinking about it. Both laughing happily as they played simple little games. Losing track of time and all else going on around them.

"You're so short Mateus!" Tasmine laughed, Catching up to him and tackling him as they wrestled around on the ground, Stopping when the ground shook, Far to heavy for either of them to cause the effect. Both the children looked up, The fun was instantly washed away by the sight before them.

Only a few feet away, Emerging from a dark cave side they hadn't even noticed. The behemoth's massive feet shook the ground, Picking up on the scent of prey nearby and roared, Lowering it's head as it's eyes locked onto the pair of kids.

They both stood as fast as they could managed, Turning to run, As far as they could, Hearing and feeling the monster giving chase.

They had no idea where they were running to, Only just now realising that they had gotten lost during their game. Mateus short legs got caught over a rock, Causing him to trip, He rolled over, Staring in horror at the monster drawing near.

Tasmine looked back in shock. "Mateus!" She called, About to run back to his side when a hand grabbed her shoulder, Pulling her side, She looked up for a moment into the tense eyes of her father before looking back over at her friend. "Mateus!" She called again.

The young prince raised hims arms out in front of him, Closing his eyes to avoid seeing the massive jaw descending on him that could easily snap him in half without effort. But instead of a swift death, He heard the beast roar, Almost sounding in pain and opened his eyes, Looking as the creature stepped back, Blood dripping down it's face from where one eye had been removed.

"Run! Now!" Maximus yelled, Drawing his sword as he charged the Behemoth with some other Knights. Tasmine ran to Mateus's side as he stumbled to his feet, Grabbing his hand in hers and ran in the direction her father and the Knights had come from. The two were picked up halfway, By more patrolling knights and taken back to the castle.

The current Emperor Osvaldo paced back and forth before his throne, A look of rage on his face. Airu placed a hand on his shoulder to try to relax her husband as he glared over at the children standing before him looking at the ground ashamed. "What were you thinking Mateus! You almost got yourself killed!" The man screamed at his young son.

Mateus kicked his foot back and forth. Staring down at the ground. "I'm sorry papa... We were only playing..." He said, Refusing to look up at his father.

"Playing!? Playing by disobeying orders! Leaving the castle! And the city without any guards or permission! That behaviour is not acceptable! You need to be smarter! Much smarter then that! We lost Maximus and a horde of other Knights to the Behemoth because of your foolishness!"

"Don't blame him! It was my idea!" Tasmine yelled in tears at the thought of being responsible for the events leading up to her own father's death. "I wanted to go out there and I convinced Mateus to come with me!"

Osvaldo turned his glare onto the girl. "How dare you! How dare you come in here and raise your voice at me after nearly getting my son killed! Get out of my sight! Now!" He ordered, Taking a step forward and watching the little girl run out of the throne room out of sight.

"I'm sorry papa!" Mateus repeated, Letting out a Yelp as the man smacked him across the face to the ground. Holding the side of his face as he started sobbing and wiped his eyes.

Airu gasped and grabbed her husbands hand. "What are you doing!? He's a child! Children make mistakes!" She screamed at her enraged spouse, Her eyes widening as he turned and backhanded her. "Don't tell me how to discipline my child Airu! One way or another I will teach him to be a good ruler!"

Airu held her face before walking over to her son and picked him up into his arms. "Discipline should be given when it's required! And raising your hand to a child for being a child is not justified!" She yelled, Carrying her son out of the room.

A few weeks past, The people gathering around to mourn the passing of several on Knights to the monster, The tension having calmed slightly. Mateus held his mother's hand as they watched the memorial, Gazing over at Tasmine who was crying openingly along with her mother Katsina who attempted to comfort her distraught daughter.

He wanted to go over to her, To say something, Anything, But his mother held him close, Not allowing him to stray from her side. She glanced at him when she felt him try to pull away. Following his gaze. "Mateus..." She said quietly, The girl must be feeling awful, It made her heart ache. "You can see her later sweetheart.. I promise.." She said, Attempting to ease his growing tension.

Later in the evening, The three sat alone to dine together, Though Mateus just stared at his plate idly, With in time, Leading his father to speak up. "Why are you not eating Mateus, Are you not feeling well?"

He looked up at the man, As he was learning to when addressed. "I am concerned about Tasmine... She was so sad..." He replied almost as a whisper.

"Tasmine... Max's daughter... Well.. She is responsible for her own misery. A result of her stupidity... But if she's anything like her father. She'll be fine.." The Emperor snorted. Continuing his meal.

Mateus didn't reply, Clenching his fists unseen under the table and kept quiet.

"Oh... Speaking of which... I have something to take your mind off that girl..." Osvaldo spoke again, Drawing both pairs of eyes towards him now. "A gift... That arrived here earlier.."

"What is it dear?" Airu asked, Only receiving a smile in response as the man called in a guard, Giving a order the others were unable to hear and watched the soldier head off to complete the task he was given.

The prince looked to his mother for answers about this gift? But only found confusion in her eyes. Confusion that turned to relative shock when the doors reopened a few moments later and a girl around the age of her own with middle length pale blue hair and silver eyes dressed royally walked in, Her hands resting at her waist as she stepped nervously towards them.

"Ah, Here she is, Come, Take a seat with us." The ruler said with a smile, As the girl obeyed, Growing even more tense from having all eyes on her as she climbed into a chair, Keeping herself from glancing around. "The Princess of Kas'ion... From today... She's a princess of Palamecia... You'll know her as Celilia... Your betrothed, Mateus.."

The boy stared at her in silence, Not sure what to make of her. Why would the Princess of another land be here? He had no idea what a betrothed was, But assumed it a term for a new friend and managed a smile. "Hello Celilia, Nice to meet you.." He said politely.

She turned her head towards him, Being fully aware of why she was sent there, Though he didn't seem to yet have the same understanding. She merely smiled back. "Thank you, Your highness..." She responded meekly.