Fairy tales always did start with a “once upon a time…”

Why was it that they always started sadly and ended happily? In what ugly yet beautiful world were these fairy tales set on? How did a lowly woman ever manage to become a princess by simply falling in love with a prince?

Simply put fairy tales never made sense.

And I suppose this was a bit more different or…not.

“Once upon a time there lived a princess who lived in a far away castle. She was never noticed since she had older sisters that were more beautiful than her. No one even noticed that she even was a princess. Until one day a powerful King from another country had a son who longed for a princess.

“All the princess of other countries started to dress up for arranged interviews. But when the young princess’s father forgot to arrange an interview with the prince she walked in the streets. He too walked in the streets since he was too disappointed in all the women he had interviewed.” Gentle by the voice, the woman kissed his five year old daughter on the forehead as she smiled.

“Did he was a special wife?” The young girl asked. At age five the girl had been stricken with a douse of fairy tales and couldn’t get fantasies off her head. No one was to blame her either for she was after all, only five.

“Yes, he did.” Her mother replied quickly. “Now on with the story, they both bumped into each other. She was unaware that he was the prince but it didn’t matter to her since they both fell in love. It was-”

“Love at first sight!” She cut in. Her mother nodded as she kissed her dear child’s forehead. Yuna was her name. “Yes that's right honey, Anyways they both fell in love. And they soon got married, and you know what? Now that he was married to her more and more people pleaded for her attention. Even her father.”

“Did she and the prince live happily ever after?” Yuna asked, knowing the end of the story oh so well. Her mother nodded. “Of course. Now its time for bed young lady! Good night little one.”

“G’night ma.” Yuna sighed, disappointed at having to sleep so early. “Remember that I’ll always love you.” She left her room as she waved good bye to her daughter. Yuna looked at her mother one last time as she walked out the door, her hand reaching out to the woman as she shut the door one last time.

Eleven Years Later

And like many fairy tales, this one started out sad.

The night of a car crash would be one Yuna could never forget for her mother and father had died. Sadly, solitude and mental torture from others was something she felt was mutual. Not only was she tormented, her deceased mother and father were made fun of too. It was like a reminder to Yuna that no matter who she ever married, her child’s misery would be her fault. It ran through her blood and genes, because Yuna was half Al Bhed and half Bevellien.

The Al Bhed didn’t believe in the Holy Yevon, and was seen as nothing more as heathens. People from Bevelle were seen as the most religious of the entire country known as Spira. And so one could only imagine the total uproar caused by two individuals when they married and produced the girl named Yuna.

It sounded like a beautiful tragedy for the couple but it turned out that it was only tragedy for Yuna. She was regarded as nothing but a wrench among her high school peers. This fairy tale was different as others you see, for no princess had to go through high school.

Pushed, a cheerleader sent a glare at Yuna. The brunette stared softly at her. “I a-am s-sorry.” The cheerleader didn’t seem to accept her apology as she just made her way to Yuna, pushing her onto the floor. “T-Then n-next t-time watch where you’re walking, you stuttering dope.” Everyone that passed by only laughed. Yuna quickly stood and walked past the crowd.

“Yo Yuna!” From behind came a yell so loud to cause attention from the halls. Yuna sat by herself, embarrassed further by having her name called out. “Hey Sora.” She said. The boy grinned as he sat next to her.

“Why the hell didn’t you defend yourself against that dumb cheerleader?” Sora questioned. It wasn’t like Yuna to ever talk back. She was a shy girl, always putting herself in pathetic situations. It was always sad how she was treated. Sora knew how weak she always felt after being put down, after all he was just like her.

“I-I couldn’t.” Yuna replied quickly, almost whispering. Sora rolled his eyes. “Shit, you can’t let people boss you around just cause we’re a couple of bastards.” Yuna pulled his ear at his choice of words, causing the boy to jump in pain.

“The correct term is orphan. We’re a couple of orphans.” She corrected. Sora managed to get free from her hard grasp, swearing under his breath. “Parents don’t do any good anyway. Let’s just hurry to English class because you know…Kairi will kick my ass.” Sora suggested.

Yuna couldn’t help sigh. The same old Sora since the day he arrived at the orphanage. Swearing and still acting tough but still he managed to befriend all the kids there. For years Yuna has unsuccessfully been trying to get the foul mouthed boy to stop the swearing.

“You go on ahead, I wouldn’t want Kairi to get mad.” She smiled. Everyone in the school perhaps knew Kairi, the little snobby red-head known for her oh-so romantic relationship with Sora. Like Yuna, she too was an orphan and perhaps the only one proud of it.

Yuna stepped into the empty girl’s bathroom and washed her face thoroughly. Sighing, she let her held back tears flow. Though eleven years had past since her parent’s death she couldn’t help but think of them only. No one even bothered to hear her out or pity her.

Life wasn’t fair.

Even the police who had brought her the news of her parent’s death wasn’t nice. Like everyone in Spira, he hated Al Bheds. He’d stomped his way to Yuna’s home where her babysitter had been caring for her.

Meaning every word, the officer had described the gruesome story of how the car had impaled her parents from their tiny little van. Blood spew everywhere and seemed to burn the floor due to her mother’s ghastly alien blood.

Angered by the officer’s joke story, the babysitter kicked him out of the house. Only the babysitter was there to hold Yuna as she cried and believed the story. As an Al Bhed, the babysitter saw Yuna as the girl who would one day make the world once again love the Al Bhed.

But the babysitter had been killed by the same officer. Beaten to death.

Yuna wiped the memories from her mind as she realized her eyes weren’t red from crying any longer. What made her different from the other Al Bheds and Bevellien was that her right eye was blue and the left was green.

Beautiful some would imagine it but ugly to everyone who saw it. The green was seen as the color of the disgusting Al Bheds since all of them were blonde with green eyes, and the blue had come from her father.

The late bell had rung, and quickly Yuna rushed to her next room only to bump into someone. Her books collapsed on the floor. She sent herself rushing to grab them before the young man had the chance to make fun of her. “Whoa! Slow down there!” He laughed.

Maybe he hadn’t noticed that Yuna was the half Al Bhed?

“I-I’m sorry...” She said. Slowly she began to walk past him. “W-Wait!” He ran as he yelled to her. “I-I’m still new here and I really don’t know where all my classes are. Can you show me where the heck room 424 is?”

Yuna nodded, still placing her eyes away from the man. “T-That’s…where I was going anyway.” She revealed. The young man seemed happy at that and then he carefully examined her. Only a fool who wasn’t from Spira didn’t know who she was.

“Really? Cool! Hey, can I asked you something?” He wondered. Yuna nodded. “S-Sure”

“Well uh…there’s no sun in here…and I don’t think you’re blind so…can you open you’re eyes?” She faced him and opened both eyes to him. He started at her green and blue eyes. He had never seen such a beautiful thing in his life before. She looked at his blue crystal eyes and smiled at his calm reaction.

“Wow...” He said. She looked down but he gently pulled her chin up to him. “You’re eyes...” He said. She mumbled an apology, feeling dumb for thinking he was amazed.

“No! I’m not freaked out at all...I’m...mesmerized by them.” He confessed. Yuna looked away, looking for any signs of pranks being pulled on her. No idiot said things like that, guys were nice to freaks in fairy tales.

“Anyway, I’m Tidus! Nice to meet you…uh…”

“Oh. I’m Yuna.” She said quickly. “Uh…we’re late for class, though the teacher might get at me only.” Tidus chuckled nervously, apologizing. Smiling, Yuna led him the way to the class. Preparing herself for some scolding Yuna opened the door.

Everyone who was talking stopped to look up. Sora and Kairi looked up at Yuna and waved. The teacher noticed the sudden silence and looked at Yuna. “You’re late again.” She pointed.

“Sorry.” She said as she took her seat. She sat next to Sora and looked down as she embarrassed. The teacher looked at Tidus and smiled. “I-Its my fault that I made her late.” He explained.

“It’s okay, it’s your first day…Tidus right? Take a seat next to Dona.” She said. ‘Sorry Yuna.’ He thought as he looked at her. She didn’t even look back at him. She just stared at her fingers.

“Hey Tuna-fish, you okay?” Kairi asked softly. Yuna smiled at her nickname. “Yeah. I’m feeling much better now.” She said.

“Okay, so today I will be pairing you off in partners. I want you all to do any topic that you’ve learned in this class. Since Tidus is still new here I’ll pair you off with someone who knows about the topics.” All the girls sighed at him dreamily.

‘Creepy...yet it feels like I’m home again..’ Tidus thought. Yuna looked at the back off his head and sighed, there was no chance that he would even look back at her. Great, her first friend and he was probably already making other ones. He probably already knew that she was the school’s rebel.

“So Tidus, where are you from?” Dona asked. “Um...from Gaia but born in Zanarkand” He responded quickly.

“Cool...So what do you think about our school?” Leblanc asked. Yuna buried her head on her desk, great not the two loud mouth girls were at it. Always informing the new kids to stay away from Yuna. “O-Okay.” He said. They all sighed at his as Yuna rolled her eyes in disgust.

“Great, just what the doctor ordered, another blond in this school.” Paine growled. She was Orphan number three out of the five. First Paine had arrived followed by Yuna, Kairi, a girl named Aeris, and then the youngest and only boy…Sora. Other than the young kids in the orphanage, the five where the only ones going to the same school. And hated.

“Okay, usual partners…Sora and Kairi. Aeris and Cloud-” Moans of disappointed were heard as they realized their head football player was being taken. ‘Great. I have to work with a loser.’ He thought.

“Dona and...”

‘Please don’t let it be me.’ Tidus thought.

“And Bartello.” He sighed in relief. Dona growled, having been paired with Bartello the total moron who was in love with Dona. “Next is Shelinda with Cid. Paine with...Baralai.”

‘Great!’ Both Paine and Baralai sarcastically thought. “And finally Yuna with Tidus.” All the girls growled at Yuna, but she paid no attention to them.

“Man am I glad to be your partner!” He cheered. “So...what topic do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.” She harshly said. Tidus looked at her with a hurt expression. What was up with her anyway? “You could pick.” She turned her back on him and mentally kicked herself for talking to him so harshly.

“Um...I’m new remember?” Tidus said. There she was, avoiding his gaze again. “Okay, let’s do a report on the legend of Summoners by Yunalesca Zaon.”

Tidus smiled. “Really? You guys actually learned about that? My dad never let me read that stuff cause he thought they were fairy tales.” He confessed. Oh how he wished he could read about the myths about Summoners. They were usually old geezers who summoned mythical creatures to train and defeat a world problem called Sin. Oh how Tidus wished that stuff was real.

“Cool! So I guess we’ll do a report on it then. So can you come over my house?” He asked. All of a sudden she got nervous. No guys has ever invited them over their house. “No.” She responded. “I-I can’t.” Yevon, for all she knew he could have been a rapist from his old school.

Tidus didn’t seem surprised, after all Yuna seemed like a shy girl anyway. “Oh okay. I’ll come over yours then?” Yuna agreed.

Lunch

“So Yuna…how’s it like to work with a total hottie?” Kairi whispered. Yuna couldn’t help smile at her. Only the first day and Tidus was a total hottie? Well anything is possible in high school. Kairi was the same age as Sora.

“Hey cherry-head, you’re working with a total hottie.” Sora scolded. Kairi smiled. “Yuna, can you believe her? Freaking unbelievable!” Sora exclaimed. “Oh, I still love you Sora!” She hastily said.
Sora remained unconvinced. “Yeah...sure, by the way your pants are on fire.” He said. Kairi looked down and realized she was wearing a skirt. Angered, she threw a banana at him but he quickly dodged. “Missed!”

“Will you two stop?” Paine asked.

“Sorry...” they both chanted.

“Cheer up Paine!” Aeris said. Paine never listened to Aeris anyway, somehow Aeris always managed to keep a happy face. Shoot, Paine could imagine Aeris dying with a smile. ”You’re not the one paired up with minister’s boy.”

“No but I am paired off with that Cloud jerk.” Aeris countered. All five of them sighed in unison.

School was over and another day had finished.

“Thank god school is over! I can’t stand Cloud!” Aeris exclaimed. “All he ever does is try to copy every word of my answer sheets and pull dumb pranks on me.”

Paine nodded. “I know what you mean, I try to copy from Baralai and he acts like he’ll go to hell for it.” She sighed. Everyone laughed, knowing very well Baralai was a priest’s handsome son.

“I have the best partner ever!” Sora exclaimed. Kairi grinned despite their fight earlier.

“Hey Yuna!” Yuna stopped in her tracks as Tidus came running from behind.

“Tidus?” She asked.

“Hey, I thought I’d follow you home since blitzball try-outs got cancelled.” He said. Seriously though, Yuna had been hopping that the orphanage’s caretaker Auron be the one to take all the orphans to the park or some trip. Great not Tidus was going to notice that Yuna was parentless.

“So Tidus, are you any good at blitz?” Kairi asked.

“I’m great! My old man taught me. Since then I’ve always practiced hard.” He responded.

“So do you like Koda High?” Paine asked.

“Of course not! Girls there are kinda flirty. But thank Yevon not all girls.” He said. They all laughed. Yuna sent her fellow siblings a thankful stare, if it had only been Tidus and herself it might have been an awkward day.

“Uh…ok, we’re here.” Yuna said. They reached a building that was surrounded by flowers, courtesy of Aeris who was known for her excellent flowering skills. Kids played around the ini fountain that was held for the birds that usually took baths there. They all stopped and saw that the five had come home.

“Wow...it’s beautiful.” He said.

“Yeah, thanks to Aeris. She just loves flowers.” Sora said. Aeris shined at his compliment.

“Wait, you all live here?” Tidus asked. They all nodded. For a moment Tidus seemed confused, maybe Yuna lived in those boarding houses? Tidus noticed something. “Hey Yuna? Are you’re parents gonna mind?”

Everyone went silent. “You didn’t tell him?” Paine asked.

“No.” Yuna responded. No surprise, Tidus felt lost. “Tell me what?” Tidus asked. It wasn’t everyday that you tell someone you’re…well parentless. “You didn’t notice? A bunch of kids living in one building?” Yuna asked.

“Oh...Man I feel dumb.” He said as he scratched his head in embarrassment. “You’re mom must have been tired after giving birth-”

“Like a blond, moron we’re orphans.” Paine snorted. Tidus looked at them all and nodded, understanding.

“What? You mean you’re not going to laugh at us?” Kairi asked.

“No way, why would I?” Tidus asked.

“In case you haven’t noticed. A lot of people hate us just cause of we have no parents. Odd, no?” Sora asked..

“I’m not like anybody.” He said. “Plus, I don’t get why. I mean, so what? That doesn’t make you aliens or something.”

“I wish someone would tell Dona.” Yuna said.

“Yeah, what’s up with her?” Tidus asked. “She’s so...creepy.” They all laughed at his comment. It’s been years since they’ve talked with other people besides other orphans, maybe school wouldn’t be so bad after all.