A/N: Yes, now DNW, too, has stepped into the world of sorceresses and knights :) I got an inspiration for this from a pic on dA, and then the idea snowballed into a multi-chaptered fic. Personally, I kinda like this one... But I really should stop starting new fics when I’ve got others to finish, but I couldn’t help it. Feedback much appreciated! I'd like to know if this is worth continuing.

This fic is Alternate Reality, shounen ai/yaoi, pairing Seifer/Zell and a bit of Irvine/Squall in the sidelines. We’ll have... some violence and bad language among other things to warn about, but I’m not directly killing any major characters here. Probably. We also have some major OOC-ness here... especially on Zell’s part. And um, if guys in dresses offend you, I don’t recommend this fic :D

Square owns Final Fantasy VIII etc etc.

1: Schemes

“Young Sorceress, this is an honour!”

“Oh, Milady! Have you come to spend the New Year in Deling City?”

“My Lady, I wish—”

“Zell!”

The young sorceress turned to look over his shoulder, smiling to his best friend who was bouncing towards him, as energetic as always. “Selphie, thank Hyne you’re here!” he said in relief as Selphie approached and hugged him. He lowered his voice so that only Selphie could hear him and said, “These people are driving me nuts!”

Selphie giggled, leading her friend away from the crowd. “Oh come on, Zell! They’re your loyal admirers!”

“Loyal admirers my ass,” Zell grumbled. “They won’t stop calling me ‘lady’ even if I threaten to make them suffer in the most brutal way known.”

“Well, I guess that’s the downside about being the first male sorceress,” Selphie pointed out. “And you are wearing a dress. Is that new, by the way?” she asked, touching the red fabric.

“Yes,” Zell sighed. “Mother said it was a gift from an admirer, which probably means a bald, middle-aged man who also is a pedophile and gets off on seeing guys in dresses.”

Selphie wrinkled her nose at the thought. “Eww. So, did anything interesting happen while I was away? Did you get to see the city already?”

“Define interesting. And no, I didn’t get to see the city, other than coming to get you now. Mother wouldn’t let me.”

“Well, then... did you find a—?”

“No, Selphie, I didn’t find a knight, and if I ever do, you’ll be the first person to know it.”

Selphie sighed in disappointment. She had been sure Zell would have found a knight by now... He was too picky, if he didn’t choose soon, he’d be without a knight for the rest of his life! ‘It’s got to be someone special’, he always said. She just hoped he’d find that special someone soon, people were starting to talk... “Well, we can always look for a potential knight candidate from the festival, right?”

Zell shrugged, fiddling with a pendant around his neck, a gift from some politician whose name he didn’t even remember. “I guess... I just... You know, I’d like to have a knight who cares for me, I don’t want someone who only wants to get in the news, I mean, knighthood isn’t like a one-night stand.”

Selphie nodded in understanding. A sorceress would be bonded with her – or his, in Zell’s case – knight for the rest of her life, so it was important that they got along better than well. The bond between a sorceress and her knight was considered the same as marriage, but with a few exceptions: if either the sorceress or knight died, the other wouldn’t be allowed to bond another time. You were your sorceress’s knight or your knight’s sorceress for the rest of your life, and longer. Nothing would be allowed to break the bond... not even death. A person who bonded a second time, as well as a sorceress who didn’t have a knight, was considered a criminal.

They were getting closer to the manor, where they would join Zell’s parents and then go to the festival that was held to celebrate the beginning of a new year. And Zell’s parents weren’t just any normal people: his father was Cid Kramer, a respected scholar and the headmaster of Deling City University, originally from the Island of Balamb, and his mother was none other than Edea Kramer, the legendary sorceress and the present ruler of Galbadia. Those were quite the names to live up to...

“Young Lady, Sorceress Edea is waiting for you,” said a guard as they reached the manor, and Selphie could see Zell seething from the corner of her eye.

The young sorceress walked past the guard silently, his friend right behind him. “My Lady this, My Lady that,” Zell mumbled, walking upstairs to his room. It already felt bad enough that his parents had wanted him to be a girl; people constantly calling him ‘lady’ didn’t help. “Mother, we’re here.”

Edea smiled the best she could, waiting for the servant to finish her make-up. Once it was done, she stood up to greet her son and his servant. “Sit down, dear,” she said, and the servants immediately started making the young sorceress presentable for the festival. “Selphie, how wonderful to see you again. How was your trip to Trabia?”

“It was great!” Selphie smiled, starting to braid a longish strand of Zell’s hair. Zell’s hair, among other things, had been a subject of an argument more than once; Zell had wanted to keep his hair short, but Lady Edea had insisted he let it grow. Zell didn’t have much to say on the matter, as Lady Edea’s words were final. “It was wonderful to see my family again. And oh! Zell, I brought something for you!”

Edea watched curiously Selphie searching for something in her pocket. Once the item was found, Selphie held it for Zell to see. It seemed it was dark blue lipstick. From the disgusted expression on her son’s face, Edea presumed it was some kind of inside joke between him and Selphie. “It’s lovely,” she commented. “I think you should wear that tonight. It matches your dress, the shade is perfect.”

“Mother!” Zell exclaimed, but Selphie was already applying the lipstick.

“Hold still!” the girl commanded. “It’ll get smeared, and you don’t want to show up in the festival with smeared lipstick!”

Zell rolled his eyes as Selphie wiped the lipstick off his cheek. He’d so let Selphie have it... once he’d be allowed to move and Lady Edea would be in another room.

“There!” Selphie said, pulling the lipstick away from Zell’s now painted lips. “All ready and pretty!”

“Now, let’s change your dress,” Edea said and clapped her hands, and a dress was brought into the room.

It was blue, a few shades lighter than the lipstick Zell was wearing, and he was happy it actually had some kind of sleeves, even though they were short – it seemed he was going to wear a pair of long gloves with that dress – for he hated the ones that were held together with only a few strings, it made him feel too... exposed. “No,” Zell breathed out as the next piece of clothing was brought in. He’d never hate anything more than corsets.

Selphie smiled sympathetically, holding the dress in her arms. “Let’s get you dressed, then.”

“Come downstairs when you’re ready,” Edea said and left the room.

Selphie started helping Zell’s dress off, ignoring the sorceress’s hiss, “Blue lipstick, Selphie?” She gave the dress to the other servant who put it on a hanger and took it away, and then helped the new dress on. “And then, we have your favorite piece of clothing!” Selphie said cheerfully. “Arms up!”

“I don’t understand why I have to wear a corset, I can’t breathe in it!” Zell complained. Well, at least he could be happy that he had someone to complain to; the other servants would tell him he shouldn’t talk that way, or simply ignore him. Selphie was also the only person who could get away with sarcastic comments; she was his best friend, after all.

“Because not wearing a corset shows people how fat you really are,” Selphie explained, tightening the black silk ribbon holding the corset together. “They’d die of a shock.”

“Ahh, not so tight!”

“It’s supposed to be tight, Zelly. Can you breathe?”

Zell scoffed. “No.”

“Well, at least you don’t have breasts!” Selphie pointed out happily and took a step backwards. “Now... we could still do something to your make-up...”

“No thanks,” Zell mumbled, looking at himself in the full body mirror. “I look exactly like the pretty little doll I’m supposed to look like... except that my ass looks huge.”

Selphie hid a snort of amusement behind her hand as the other servant gasped, chastising the young sorceress for using such language. “Ok, we can go now!” Selphie then chirped. She went to fetch a pair of gloves from a drawer and handed them to Zell. “This’ll be fun! Even though there is no snow this year, I’m sure we’ll have a great time!”

“Fun?” Zell asked dryly. He had always wondered how Selphie could think that sitting in a chair in the hot sunlight – which wouldn’t be a problem at this time of the year, thankfully – for hours was fun, but well, if she liked it, fine by him. They walked down the stairs, Zell holding a hand to his stomach, cursing the very existence of corsets. He was sure he would faint at some point...

“Dear, you look beautiful,” Edea said as they entered the hall.

“You too, Mother.”

Edea frowned slightly. “You don’t sound very enthusiastic...”

“I’m sorry Mother, I’m just a little tired,” Zell explained and followed after Lady Edea, her personal servant and two guards. He turned to look over his shoulder to check that Selphie was still with them, by Hyne, he couldn’t make it without her, smiling slightly when the girl beamed at him.

“I’m sure you’ll feel better once you’ll get some fresh air.”

Zell merely nodded as a response, even though Lady Edea couldn’t see it. They got into the car, drove to pick Cid up from a meeting and then parked the car near the festival area. The streets were crowded with people, so it was no use taking the car into all the fuss. Zell looked around and then turned to Lady Edea. “Mother, we’re going to wander for a bit,” he said, meaning Selphie and himself.

“Take the other guard with you,” Cid told them, smiling at the disappointed looks he received. “We don’t want you to get kidnapped, now do we?”

“Fine, fine,” Zell mumbled and turned to Selphie. “Let’s go,” he said, expecting the guard to follow them without asking. He wouldn’t mind if he didn’t, though...

“So... where are we going?” asked Selphie when they had walked a little farther, winking to him.

Zell winked back and then shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know... maybe... here!” he said, took Selphie’s hand and led her to a completely random direction. After a while of walking and taking spontaneous turns, they stopped to look behind them, noticing that they had managed to lose the guard. Selphie offered him a high five, and they started exploring the festival area by themselves.

“Do you have any money with you?” Selphie asked, eyeing the candy floss stall across the street. “If you have, you can take the price from my pay,” she said, pulling her best friend towards the stall.

“Selphie, I thought my wallet was given to you because I don’t have pockets in my dress...”

Selphie stopped walking, reaching to the pocket she had sewn to her dress. “Oh! You’re right!” she smile widely and skipped to the stall to buy candy floss for herself... and maybe Zell, too, it was his money after all. “Hi!” she greeted the girl behind the counter. “Two, please.”

“Selphie, I didn’t say I wanted one.”

“Hey, the thing I said about you being fat was just a joke,” Selphie told him with a smile and took the sticks from the girl. “Thanks. Besides, you need something sweet every once in a while!”

“You’re wel—” the girl began but then stammered out, “Y-Young Lady...”

Zell smiled and took his other glove off so that he wouldn’t get the silk sticky of sugar and said, “A sorceress needs the daily dose of sugar, too.”

“Yeah, especially because you’re not even allowed to eat sweets,” Selphie teased, “or you’ll get even fatter!”

“Speak for yourself!” Zell laughed, eating some of the sweet treat. He waved to the girl in the stall with his gloveless hand, turning to continue walking towards the central. “Thank you, and Happy New Year!”

“Well look at who’s in a cheerful mood,” Selphie wondered aloud, ignoring people who recognized Zell, just like Zell himself. “But I think I understand, I’d be relieved to get out for a change, too, if I was locked up in the manor like you are.”

“I’m not locked up,” Zell argued, even though he knew that it was the truth. He tore another slice from the candy floss and ate it. “Anyway, shouldn’t you be... I dunno, checking out guys or something?”

“Shouldn’t you?” countered Selphie.

Zell made a face. “Touché...” he mumbled. His 18th birthday was in three months, but he still didn’t have a knight... Lady Edea would be so ashamed...

“Hey, cheer up!” Selphie smiled and patted Zell’s shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll find Mr. Right Knight, someday!”

Someday... He really hoped that day would be soon. “You make it sound like I was getting married or something.”

“Well, in a way, you are! I mean, the knight you choose will stay by your side for the rest of your life... it’s kinda permanent.”

“Gee, thanks for reminding me.”

“You’re welcome!”

Zell rolled his eyes, looking around for something – anything! – interesting. He wished he was younger by a year or two so that he’d have more time to look for a knight... But because he wasn’t, his mother and even the servants, which was a little too much if someone asked him, were constantly reminding him of his 18th birthday, which was when he should have a knight, like every sorceress before him. Well, almost, he knew of one sorceress who hadn’t had a knight at all, and this mentioned sorceress was what Lady Edea told him not to become. Hence, he should have a knight, the sooner the better. He sighed. If only it was as easy as it sounded...

“Uh-oh... I think we’re in trouble,” Selphie whispered to him, tugging him towards the crowd. The bodyguard they had thought they had lost was looking for them, and not too far away! “Let’s go before he sees us!”

Zell nodded and followed Selphie deeper into the mass of people, glad that people were so concentrated on the hustle and bustle going on that they didn’t pay much attention to them. And those who did were too astonished to say anything, gaping and wondering if it really was Lady Zell that was walking among them like a common citizen.

“Ahh... I think he saw us.”

“What?”

“Young Sorceress, I wish you stopped doing that,” the guard sighed as he approached the sorceress and his servant, offering his arm to the young sorceress who took it, albeit somewhat reluctantly. “Let us not keep Lady Edea waiting.”

“Right, right...” Zell mumbled, smiling and waving to people who called greetings to him over all the noise. He stopped in front of an elderly woman who began to talk to him, holding the guard’s arm tightly as he seemed to try and pull the sorceress away from the crowd. He’d do anything so that he wouldn’t have to go back yet...

Unknown to them, two pairs of eyes were watching them from afar...

“He stopped?” asked one of the observers.

“Yeah, talkin’ to some people,” answered the other, giving the binoculars to his friend. “So... whaddaya think?”

“Hm. We’ll continue as was planned.”

A sigh. “...Which means I’ll go into hiding and pretend I know nothin’ ‘bout nothin’...”

“Damn right. Let’s make Stormy proud, eh?”

The other chuckled, a sad smile on his lips as he, too, turned to watch the young sorceress. “Yeah... Let’s...”

“Mother, could I...”

“No darling, not now.”

Zell wrinkled his nose, huffing loudly to express his displeasure on the current situation. He had been trying to get Lady Edea let him and Selphie explore the city more, but no, she only said that he’d try to lose the guard again and get into trouble. Tch, as if he even could get into trouble, being a sorceress and all... “This is so boring,” he mumbled, earning a light slap on the arm.

“Quiet, you’re not supposed to speak like that,” Lady Edea told him strictly. They were sorceresses, they were expected not to express their discomfort aloud. “Maybe later, when the crowd has cleared and the guard will be able to look after you.” Zell sighed, leaning his chin on his palm, but his mother again slapped his hand away. “Sit properly.” Zell pursed his lips, choosing not to respond but do what he was told.

“Hey, cheer up,” whispered Selphie who was standing next to him “This way, we can look for possible knight candidates without anyone noticing!”

“Trust you to be the optimistic one...” Zell mumbled sulkily.

“Oh shut up, you’re the one who’s sitting here! I have to stand! Stand!”

“Children,” came the warning voice of Edea and they fell silent.

Stupid festivals, thought Zell, resisting the urge to sigh loudly and leave, even against Lady Edea’s will. He wished he could take a short walk around the city, he had been sitting for hours already... Occasionally, a few people approached them for a chat, but they never paid any attention to him, if greeting him by merely saying ‘Young Lady’ or ‘Young Sorceress’ didn’t count.

“Oh, Zell, look!” Selphie whispered to him, pointing towards an auburn-haired man standing near the gates, further away from the crowd which made him easily visible. “He’s so handsome, isn’t he!?”

Zell turned to look at the man Selphie was talking about, mumbling, “We’re too damn far to see anything...”

“I wonder what he does to his hair, look how silky it looks!”

“Yeah... I suppose...” Zell answered a little absent-mindedly, blinking as his eyes met the man’s who, after realizing that they were looking at each other, winked and tipped his hat as a greeting. Zell smiled slightly in return and then turned back to Selphie as he felt her hit his arm.

“I’m not sure if I want to be your friend anymore!” she said. “All the men are always looking at you! Why can’t anyone pay attention to the poor servant girl, who in reality is the long-lost princess of a faraway country, longing to find the prince that would free her from the evil sorceress’s evil claws...!”

“Shut up,” Zell laughed, “I’m not that evil. Besides, there are men who are looking at the poor servant girl, the poor servant girl just is too busy fantasizing to notice them!”

Selphie rolled her eyes, waving the comment away. She looked towards the gates where the handsome man had been standing, only to find that he was no longer there. She sighed, trying to find another man to stare at, and then her eyes fell on a tall, blonde man who was, described with one word, gorgeous. After she realized that the man was actually approaching them, she shook Zell’s shoulder rather violently. “Look! Oh Hyne he’s coming here!” she said in a hushed tone, noticing that Zell, too, was watching this man curiously.

The man came into a halt in front of them, smiling in greeting. “Lady Edea, Sir Cid. Long time no see.”

“Oh, if it isn’t Seifer!” Cid exclaimed, a huge smile on his lips.

“I am glad to see you are well, dear,” Edea said in return.

The man then bowed and turned to Zell. “Young Lady,” he said, kissing the back of his hand. “It is an honour.”

Zell found himself merely smiling; his voice had somehow betrayed him. This man was beyond handsome... Why did he seem so familiar?

“Zell, do you remember Seifer Almasy?” Lady Edea asked, and that was when he remembered.

“Oh! Yes, I do,” Zell smiled. This was the Seifer he had known in his childhood!? “I barely recognized you, Sir Seifer. It has been a long time.”

“Eleven years, if I remember correctly,” Seifer replied with a small smile. “Of course I have seen the Young Lady in newspapers and such along these years... I see time has only made you even more beautiful, Milady.”

A warm flush spread onto Zell’s cheeks and he looked down to his hands that were lying in his lap, muttering something as a response. Sir Seifer started a conversation with his parents, and Zell could do nothing but wonder how he hadn’t recognized the man immediately. Sure, he had seen him in newspapers as well, but even then he hadn’t been able to connect this Seifer to the one he used to know as a small child.

“He sure is handsome,” Selphie whispered to him.

“Yeah, sure,” Zell mumbled, even though it was a little awkward to think about the Seifer from eleven years ago like that. “He used to do nothing but bully me...” It was true, as far as he remembered, Seifer was always bullying him for whatever reason, and then he’d shout back all the obscenities his six-year-old mind knew, which wasn’t much, and then he’d start crying. “I used to cry a lot...”

“Zell...” Selphie cooed, lowering her voice so that only Zell could hear her. “You do realize that you’re blushing...”

“Shut up.”

“Young Lady.” Zell turned to look at the man who was addressing him, a little too quickly for his own liking. “I heard this is your first time in the city, Milady,” Seifer said, smiling slightly. “I would be more than glad to show the city to you... if the Lady wants to, of course.”

For a moment, Zell was too astonished to answer. He blinked, realizing that his parents were looking at him expectantly. “I, uh...” He cleared his throat and then looked up, smiling. “I would love to.” Seifer offered his hand to help the young sorceress up, and smiled as the sorceress looped his arm through his. Zell lifted his eyebrow at his parents’ silent smiles. “What, not forcing a guard with us?” he asked dryly.

Cid laughed, shaking his head. “No, we believe you will be more than safe with Sir Seifer.”

“Have fun, darling.”

Zell rolled his eyes, making a brief eye contact with Selphie, who winked to him, smiling mischievously. Yeah right, he wanted to say, for he knew what she was thinking about. He let Seifer lead him away from his parents, looking around in the city. He was so glad he could take a walk, his whole body had started going numb...

“A penny for your thoughts, Milady.”

Zell looked up to find Seifer smiling to him gently and he answered with a smile of his own. “Nothing of importance. I was only thinking about how wonderful it is to actually walk after all that sitting.”

Seifer nodded. “I understand. Milady, it’s nearly midnight, would you mind coming to watch the fireworks with me?”

“It would be great,” Zell answered, watching some children play on the nearby lawn. He wondered why they were allowed to be out so late, but since it was the New Year’s Eve... It made him wonder what it would have been like, had he been allowed to live an ordinary child’s life... Not one of a sorceress apprentice.

The children stopped playing as their ball bounced away from them and turned to look at where it had gone to. They bowed slightly as they noticed the sorceress and his companion and Zell bent to pick up the ball. He kneeled down and handed it to a little boy. “Thank you, Young Lady,” the boy said politely, averting his eyes for they weren’t supposed to look at their superiors in the eyes.

“It’s alright,” Zell answered with a smile. “Be careful while playing so near to the road, alright?”

“Yes, Young Lady,” the children answered in unison, bowed again and then went to continue playing.

Seifer noticed a sad smile on the young sorceress’s lips and he frowned. “My Lady?” he asked. “Shall we?”

Zell nodded and stood up. “Ah, yes... Please forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Seifer told him with a confused frown. He again offered his arm to the sorceress and continued to lead him to the nearby park. The walk was silent; Seifer had a feeling that the young sorceress had many things in his mind, he didn’t want to pry. After a short moment, he began, “Zell... uh, if I may speak to you this informally...” he questioned, receiving a slightly confused nod as an answer. “It’s a little funny, you know... I never thought we’d someday be talking like this, like...”

“A knight to a sorceress?” Zell asked. He had to admit that he was surprised, too, to find out that Sir Seifer Almasy – Her Knight – was the one and the same from his childhood. He remembered Seifer constantly telling them, at his parents’ orphanage, that he was going to become a sorceress’s knight to fulfil his dream. He had watched every single movie centered on sorceresses and their knights, as well as read every book even though his small child’s mind didn’t really understand all the fancy words there. Zell also remembered that Seifer had adored the movie star Laguna Loire... who had miraculously become the president of Esthar at some point... Zell knew him personally, too, and he thought that Laguna was a really nice man, but not really one to be a politician. “Hm... I do think it is somewhat funny,” he admitted, and then added, “You did get to fulfil your dream, though...”

Seifer snorted. “Become the sorceress’s knight?” Hmph. He had been a stupid child... He smiled and turned to the young sorceress. “I’m surprised you still remember.”

Zell smiled a little shyly and nodded. “Well, I, um only recently was able to connect Sir Seifer with the same Seifer I knew as a child,” he explained. “But now that I realize this... I started remembering many things I thought I had already forgotten.”

“I... see...” Seifer cleared his throat. “I’m... Well, I guess I’m sorry for being like I was back then. Especially towards you.”

“It’s been eleven years!” Zell exclaimed with a laugh. “Surely you don’t still think about such things?”

“Not much, but there are times when I find myself stopping... to think about...”

“The past?” Zell suggested.

“Yeah...” Seifer mumbled. “The past...”

Zell nodded slightly in understanding; he sometimes did that himself, thought a lot about ‘what if’s. But it was pointless, what’s happened has happened, right? “Do you... think about Her often?” he asked quietly.

“Do you mean ‘do I miss her’?” Seifer asked, turning his head a little to be able to look at the young sorceress. He shrugged. “Hm. I guess I miss what She used to be... before...”

“I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked,” Zell quickly apologized. He should have known better than bring Her up while talking with Seifer, he had no idea what came over him... Zell raised his eyes from the ground as he heard voices, noticing that they had walked to a clearing-like park. There were a handful of people scattered about, mostly teenagers, sitting on either benches or the lawn, which looked exactly like it did during summer even though it was supposed to be winter. It was a pity they hadn’t gotten any snow this year; it was Zell’s first time spending the so-called-winter in Deling City, and the one time he was there, there wasn’t snow. He usually was in Balamb, and it never snowed there... “Sir Seifer...” he started, but was promptly interrupted.

“My Lady, please, let’s not go back to formalities. Less uncomfortable that way, don’t you agree?”

“You’re right,” Zell agreed, smiling in slight embarrassment. “But then I must ask you not to call me lady either. So, um, as I was saying—”

“Hey there, M’lady,” said someone from behind them and they turned to look at the speaker, a drunken boy, barely old enough to be drinking yet. “Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year to you, too,” Zell replied with a kind smile.

“Had the Lady come to see the fireworks, too?”

Zell frowned slightly, he had thought the fireworks were in the central... “Um... Actually... yes...?” he said, turning to look at Seifer for a confirmation for the fact.

“A wise choice, M’lady. A better view from here. Pretty damn bright they are, and noisy too if y’know what I mean...” the boy put his hand onto Zell’s shoulder, only to get it shoved off by Seifer.

“Keep your hands to yourself.”

“Gee alright, alright... Some people can be so fucking rude...” he mumbled and then turned to the sorceress. “Oh, sorry, shouldn’t swear in the company if ladies. And hey, Mr. Big Guy,” he said to Seifer. “You can keep this lady all to yourself, I’ve got mine right here...” He turned to look over his shoulder, and then turned fully around after seeing only air behind him. “Well shit... she was there just a sec ago, I swear...”

“If she’s in the same condition as you are, I’d get worried,” Seifer mumbled so that only Zell could hear.

“Come on, he doesn’t mean anything bad,” Zell said with an amused smile, watching the boy trying to find the missing girl of his.

“Oh well, she wasn’t that hot anyway...” The boy shrugged and then sat down onto the lawn, next to the Lady and Mr. Big Guy. “Got no one to kiss now, though...” He turned to look at the sorceress again. “Could I kiss the Lady instead?”

“Hey,” Seifer snapped. “Show some respect towards him, punk.”

“Seifer...” Zell tried, but Seifer interrupted him.

“No, you don’t have to listen to something like this.”

“Oh Hyne, Nick?!” someone shouted, and soon they saw a girl, about the age of the boy in their company approaching them. “Y-Young Lady?” she asked, all color leaving her face. “I, I’m so sorry, My Lady, I swear he means no harm... He’s just... had too much to drink, I’m so sorry about this...”

“You should take him somewhere else,” Seifer said coldly, glaring at the boy sitting on the grass.

“Seifer, don’t,” Zell mumbled to him and then turned to the girl. “It’s alright, I understand he doesn’t mean ill by it. Besides, he was even being remotely polite, no harm done.”

“Oh, I’m so embarrassed...” the girl sighed, pulling her friend up. “You’re so drunk...”

“’m not drunk!” the boy protested. “Really, right, M’lady?”

“Um, sure...”

“Yeah, heard that? ‘Cause if you disagree with the sorceress, you’ll be fucking executed!”

“Miss, if you would,” Seifer said to the girl, now completely frustrated with their unwanted companions.

“O-Oh, of course... Nick, come on.”

“Gee, ok... Bye then, Lady, and Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year,” Zell said back, and once the two were out of earshot he turned to Seifer. “Well... There are... many kinds of people in the world...”

“He was plain rude. I’m sorry I brought you here.”

“No, don’t be sorry. I’m so glad that I could get out for a while...” Zell said a little sadly. “Selphie’s right... She’s always saying that I’m locked up...” he sighed. “It’s not every day I get out...”

“Well, a sorceress can’t wander around by himself, now can he?”

“Probably not,” Zell chuckled.

“Okay, it’s less than a minute to the midnight!” shouted someone from the middle of the park. It turned out to be the same boy who had been with them a short while ago. Zell looked at the huge clock that was visible even to the park. Time had really flown... “Everybody count with me! You too, M’lady!”

Zell laughed and nodded. It really was refreshing to be outside, have some contact with people other than guards and servants... Actually he had a feeling that Selphie and Seifer aside, this boy was the only one who hadn’t much cared about the fact that he was a sorceress.

“Alright then! Ten, nine, eight...!”

“Come on, Seifer!” Zell slapped the knight’s arm. “Count!” Seifer rolled his eyes. “Five, four, three, two...” Zell’s eyes widened slightly as he felt the soft caress of lips against his temple. “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!” everyone yelled, and the fireworks started. Zell watched them in fascination, the colours that exploded in the sky like blooming flowers. “Wow,” he whispered, leaning backwards against Seifer’s chest. Seifer raised his eyebrows but didn’t complain. “It’s so beautiful...”

“Not nearly as beautiful as the Young Lady, though...” Seifer mumbled, but Zell heard him anyway.

“Okay, what’s this about?” Zell asked and turned to look at Seifer, resting his cheek on the knight’s shoulder. “And, what was that kiss for?”

“What kiss?” Seifer asked innocently. After receiving a look from the sorceress, he shrugged. “I thought the Young Sorceress shouldn’t have to be without a kiss, what with it being the New Year and all.”

Zell laughed and turned back to watch the fireworks. “That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard,” he said, “But thank you... Sir Seifer.”

About fifteen minutes later, they decided it was better that Seifer took Zell back to his parents before they would flip out, thinking something had happened to him. They had just left the park when enthusiastic shouting caught both of their attentions. Seifer looked up as the servant he had earlier seen with the young sorceress approached them, waving her arms up and down to catch their attention. It was pointless, really, seeing how every person on the street was looking at her.

“Zell, hi!” the girl greeted and then slapped a hand over her mouth, mumbling through it, “I mean, My Lady...”

Zell rolled his eyes as Seifer chuckled at the servant’s behaviour. “It’s okay, Selphie,” he answered. “Are Mother and Father jumping on the walls already?”

Selphie shrugged, smiling briefly to Sir Seifer before talking to Zell again. “They want you back, Sir Laguna and Lady Ellone are here! And oh, that’s why there’s a bodyguard running after me, he’s going to escort you to the manor.”

Seifer and Zell both turned to look at a guard who was approaching them, panting. “M...My Lady...” he breathed out. “Sir Laguna and... Lady Ellone...”

“Ah, I see. I’m afraid I must go...” Zell turned to smile to Seifer. “Thank you, Sir Seifer. I haven’t had this good time in ages.”

“My pleasure, Young Lady,” Seifer replied and kissed the back of the sorceress’s hand as a goodbye. “I hope we’ll meet again soon.”

“As do I,” Zell said and then walked to the guard who began to lead him back to the manor.

Seifer watched them go with a smile on his lips. He glanced to the servant who hadn’t left yet, but was looking at him boldly in the eyes. He tilted his head, looking at the girl with mild curiosity. “Does the miss not know that servants aren’t supposed to—”

“Shut up,” the girl snapped, which made Seifer close his mouth in surprise. She took a few steps towards him, glaring up at him sharply. “I know you’re planning something, Sir Knight!” she spat, pointing her index finger at him. “And I swear I’ll personally rip your balls off if you as much as look at him the wrong way!”

Seifer laughed, genuinely smiling to the girl. “Selphie, right? I like you,” he told her. “The Lady Zell is lucky to have such a trusty servant. I’m sure he would be pleased if he heard your threats, but I assure you that my intentions are completely friendly.”

Selphie looked down, a slight blush on her cheeks. “I’m sorry, but you can never know what people are planning... And I’m his only friend, he doesn’t really have anyone else to look after him, if you know what I mean...”

“Yes, I have heard that the Lady hasn’t had luck in finding appropriate knight candidates.”

Selphie sighed deeply. “The Lady... has some, uh, standards...”

“'It has to be someone special',” Seifer quoted, turning to look at the servant again. “Right?”

“Right,” Selphie confirmed. “Um, Sir Seifer, if you don’t mind, I’d like to tell you a story.”

Seifer frowned slightly, but couldn’t help his curiosity. “By all means...”

Selphie smiled and began, “I’m not sure if you have heard, but Lady Zell was expected to be a girl. When the baby was born, it was a real disappointment for Lady Edea and Sir Cid to find out that it was a boy, I mean, the baby girl was going to become the successor of Lady Edea and rule Galbadia after her. A boy couldn’t be a sorceress, and after realizing that she couldn’t bear any more children, Lady Edea was depressed for a long time.”

Seifer listened to this with a deep frown. This wasn’t something he had heard before... Of course, there had been trouble when Lady Edea announced that her successor was going to be male, but after some time people realized that gender didn’t necessarily have anything to do with the power of sorcery... The male sorceress would just have to prove himself.

“So... What do you think Lady Zell did when he, at a very young age, realized that people were expecting so much of him?” Selphie asked, but didn’t wait for an answer. “He swore to prove that men could be as good sorceresses and women, and it made – still makes – him very stressed. He wants so much to prove that he’ll be a good sorceress... But...” she kept a short pause before continuing, “People respect him, really, but they still don’t think a male sorceress is able to rule the country.”

“Yeah, it’s a disgrace already that the sorceress is a man, but he doesn’t even have a knight to boot,” Seifer continued.

Selphie nodded sadly. “Zell, he... He really wants to be a good ruler for the country, even though he’s a little scared. He trains to control his powers, actually, I think he trains too much...” Selphie mumbled and then said more loudly, “It’s not fair, he just wants to be a good sorceress because he’s expected to! He’s so depressed because he thinks he’ll never be able to be what’s expected of him... And like you said, he doesn’t even have a knight to support him, I...” she sighed. “I think that’s what pains him the most...”

“Adel...” Seifer mumbled. “He doesn’t want to become like her.”

Selphie confirmed that with a nod. “That’s why he wants a knight who cares for him and wants to protect him of his own will, not because he’s expected to.”

That sure was a lot of new information for Seifer. It could prove to be rather useful in the future, even though he wasn’t sure why she had told him all this...

“Ah, forgive me, Sir Seifer, for taking so much of your time...” Selphie bowed slightly. “I must follow the Lady now... please excuse me...”

“It’s not safe for a pretty girl such as yourself to be walking alone this late,” Seifer pointed out, smiling charmingly and offered his arm to the servant. “I shall escort you back to the manor.”

Selphie smiled, pleasantly surprised, and took Seifer’s arm. “Thank you!”

“It is my duty as a gentleman,” Seifer told her. “Shall we go, then?”

“Sure!” Selphie exclaimed. They walked for a while in silence, until Selphie said, “You know... it’s a pity you’re a knight already.” Seifer looked at her in slight confusion. “I think you would be just the perfect knight for Zell!” she said happily and continued to tell Seifer why she thought like that, not noticing the slight smile on the knight’s lips, or the fact that he wasn’t really listening to her.

tbc...