I have no idea what this is. Don't even know if it's any good but the idea has been in my head for awhile so here goes nothing.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and never have.

Tycoon Madness

It was finally over. Exdeath, that great scourge of not one but two worlds was now dead and with his death the two worlds had become one, the elements were coming back into their own. The wind had resumed, the water looked brighter than ever, fires burned brightly and the earth was as solid and rich as could be. It was now time to celebrate and what better than for Tycoon to lead the way with its own celebration for the return of the kingdoms beloved heirs?

In fact, Tycoon was in a frenzy of excitement when it was announced to the waiting populace that not only would princess Lenna be returning safe and sound from her travels but that the long missing princess Sarisa would be returning as well. Though the loss of King Alexander Highwind Tycoon cast a slight gloom over the upcoming festivities Lenna was so universally beloved for her kindness and generosity that many looked forward to her return with great eagerness.

For days there was nothing but the hustle and bustle of people preparing everything for the celebratory return. The castle was cleaned until the rooms were sparkling, the royal banners hung high. A feast was prepared for the celebratory dinner and beautiful dresses and jewels procured for the princesses. Lenna saw the chancellor in a state of high excitement rushing around all over the castle, ordering servants here and there, making corrections over and over. When the old man actually got up on a chair to try and fix the drapery in the throne room she finally intervened before he hurt himself.

In spite of all of this Lenna was not as happy as her subjects. Her father's death was still a source of pain for her and the only person she felt she could talk to about it was not in the best of sprits herself.

In fact, Faris was not coping well at all. She liked a shipshape ship with her pirates and Slydra, the breeze as her ship went along, watching the bow glide gracefully through the waters as she told her crew the new destination. Her ship had gone down to the ship graveyard, Slydra had sacrificed herself for Faris, her men back at the hideout to guard the treasure. What she wouldn't give for a treasure hunt right then.

Instead, she was brought into a castle she had not set foot in since she was five and decked out in the fanciest clothes she had ever seen. Her trench coat and boots discarded for long dresses, satin slippers and fine jewelry. She had ladies' maids fussing and fretting over her as they pinned up her hair.

Even worse was that neither she nor Lenna were even allowed to see Bartz or Krile. Though both had been comfortably settled in rooms, the sisters were too closely guarded until the celebration to be allowed to mingle with their subjects. Even though Bartz and Krile were the closest people on Earth to them besides each other.

"This is mad," she muttered to herself as she looked at herself in a gilded mirror in her bed chamber. Her hair was partly pinned up with jewels, her dress a deep yellow-gold that hung off her shoulders and dipped in the front, showing her neck and bosom. "If my crew saw me, I'd be a right laughing stock." As it was, she had worked hard to build a respected name amongst pirates. There was no need for her to lose it for a silly celebration that she didn't even want to attend. As she glared at herself in the mirror she came to a decision. After the celebration was over, she was leaving. If she had to sneak out, then so be it.

0

Bartz Klauser was bored. He was used to wandering with his trusty chocobo Boko, going anywhere the mood took them and leaving the rest to fate. Now he was stuck waiting in Tycoon with Krile, unable to see Lenna or Faris and unsure where to go or what to do next. Bartz was not used to fancy meals and had gotten used to sleeping wherever and wearing clothes because they were practical, rather than expensive. A little longer of this and he would go stir-crazy. How did royals handle the confinement?

It was in this state that he was relieved that finally he and Krile were able to see Lenna and Faris right before the festivities started. He still felt slightly out of sorts in the fancy clothes given him. He had planned on asking what Lenna and Faris planned on doing next when he caught sight of Faris and the words died in his throat.

"F…." and that was it, he couldn't even stammer out another word.

"Well speak up then," Faris demanded. "I know I look a fool; you might as well say so."

"Faris, you look beautiful," Krile said. She nudged Bartz slightly with her shoe. "Bartz, do you agree?"

Come on Bartz, say something. He thought nervously.

"Bartz?"

'You just gotta play it cool. Come on, you know Faris. It's still Faris, only she looks really gorgeous with her hair like that.'

"Well," Faris said angrily. "If you don't like it then speak up.

'Play it cool. Say something nice. Were her breasts always that big?'

Bartz cracked. Unable to get a word out, he started to laugh in front of the appalled Krile and angry Faris. Lenna came out in her finery to find a very angry Faris flouncing away and Bartz nursing a black eye.

"Bartz, what happened?" she exclaimed. "Did Faris do that?"

Bartz just laughed harder. Lenna headed off to find her sister in a state of confusion.

"Smooth," Krile muttered to Bartz.

He shook his head. "I got this," he told her.

Krile raised an eyebrow at him. "How?"

"You will see." Bartz, you see, had a plan. It involved doing one of his least favorite things, going into libraries, a task he found daunting even before he discovered some books could come to life. Tycoon had a very nice library with ancient looking scholars to help him out. He had a very specific goal in mind.

9

Faris wasted no time after the festivities were over getting her jewels off. She sat in her crumpled yellow-gold dress, feeling angry at the world that would laugh at HER, one of the worlds greatest pirates. As though she had nothing better to do than be some wishy-washy princess. The chancellor was going to get a piece of her mind making her parade around dressed like this and that Bartz would get worse than a black eye when she saw him next. It was as she sat there fuming that she heard a voice call from out in the night, their familiar tone coming clear as a bell through her open window.

Your love is the wind in my sails, propelling me towards new horizons."

She blinked. Then getting to her feet she started towards her window. He couldn't be…even Bartz wouldn't be stupid enough to take a joke this far.

"I would brave any storm, just to be by your side, my sailor love."

Faris stared down at him in shock. There he was, still in the fancy dress the chancellor had made him wear, reciting ship poetry to her.

"You are the ocean, and I am just a humble vessel floating on your love."

"You're barmy!" she yelled down at him. "Completely barmy! Now quit it or you will get another black eye to match the first."

"Our love is like the ocean, vast and uncontrollable, yet filled with wonder and beauty." He paused then scratched his head. "Damnit, I forgot the rest of it."

At that Faris laughed. All the anger she had felt that night, the frustration at playing princess evaporated as she let out peels of laughter. To Bartz standing below, it was a glorious sight.

"So, I'm forgiven then."

"Only if you never laugh at me again."

"Of course, my sailor love."

Another laugh, then a delicate little slipper appeared out of the window, nearly hitting him. Bartz just grinned. 'Boko,' he thought to himself, 'I still got it with the ladies.'