In Neibelheim, there was a girl. It wasn't the apple of everyone's eye, Tifa Lockheart, but a different girl altogether. This one had long hair like Tifa, but it was wavy like the ocean and light as the stars in the sky. The girl's skin was like a fresh blanket of snow under the sun; pearly like pure ivory and flecked with silvery gold glitter. Though her eyes were perhaps her most defining feature, frosted blue like a wintry lake, but they shone like sad diamonds. No one knew why she was so sad, and no one ever tried to find out. She was kept locked away for the first several years of her life by an overprotective single father, sheltered from the world's harsh realities. But he suddenly died mysteriously, and as the sole occupant of the house, she had been blamed for his death. She drifted around the village for a time, but she had been spurned by the entirety of the town, so she left one day to seek her destiny elsewhere.

That was ten years ago. Now the girl was roughly sixteen and a member of the group known as SOLDIER. She was only Second Class, but as one of the only female members in SOLDIER, she was more or less acknowledged as an equal of a First Class official by those not in SOLDIER themselves. It was a hard journey for the girl, even though she had the support of someone very influential at the Shin-Ra Electric Power Company, but because of the same kind soul that had practically raised the girl since finding her, she had made a mark in the world. But the mysterious murder of her father still plagues the girl deeply...

One day, as a member of Second Class, she had been selected by a First Class SOLDIER to be an apprentice of sorts. As the pinnacle of the group, there are only few who actually make it to First Class, and as such there are even fewer selected to be taught by those that do. But she had been chosen, regardless of her shady past. What was even more extraordinary was the SOLDIER who had requested her; The world-renowned war hero Sephiroth. Sephiroth was famous and known by all, so for him to select someone to mentor meant that that person had to be something special. But the girl didn't think that she was that outstanding: She was still in denial over becoming a Second Class. She found it so suspicious in fact, she had the hunch that she had been chosen merely to be monitored by the bigwigs at Shin-Ra. Not that she'd ever voice her accusations, least of all to Sephiroth.

Waiting to be formally introduced to Sephiroth inside the training area, the girl was anxiously pacing back and forth. The training field was one of the best ways to asses her strengths and weaknesses, and she was sure of her abilities, but the girl was worried of making an ass out of herself in front of Sephiroth. Not only was he an outstanding warrior, but he was really good looking. She knew that it very unprofessional to think that, but her eyes could not help but get starry when she saw him.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting," He appeared behind her as if he were her own shadow, the unconscious mannerism of a true SOLDIER First Class..

She would have jumped out of her skin if she wasn't trained to expect the unexpected, "Sephiroth! Sir!"

He chuckled softly at her formality, "Just my name will do."

She nodded, looking at him, the stars in her eyes brighter than ever before at seeing him so close, "I understand."

He smiled kindly at her, "Nervous?"

She nodded meekly, unable to speak. She could talk if she had to, but the butterflies were making her think that if she spoke anymore than she had to, she would wind up saying something stupid. Meanwhile, he was observing her under the minutest of microscopes to see if she really was worth his time. He had selected a certain few before the girl, but not a single one of them had appeased his standards. He didn't think that they were too weak, because it was not strength that was the legendary man's goal. Sephiroth desired an intellectual more than a fighter, but the brain wasn't exactly the end-all answer he was wishing for either. No, his purpose was so much more than that. It was something that he had kept vague, as he wasn't exactly sure what it was that he was looking for himself, but he knew that when he finally found it, everything would make sense.

The human made of snow and water gazed over her shoulder at the training room, "How do you want me?"

He was impressed that she had anticipated his intentions, but waited for his word before acting. Even though it should have been obvious what he wanted, none of the others had figured it out, and if they had, they went ahead of his orders and had started without him giving them any orders. This girl was either full of self doubt or else she knew and respected her limits. If he had to say which he thought it was, he would say the second option, if only for her formalities when they first met. He was expecting good things from this girl.

"We will not be using the training room today," He turned around and headed for the exit, "Instead, I want to test your awareness."

She nodded, her face blanching, "Yes, Si...Sephiroth."

She had caught herself, that was a good thing. It showed that she had sharp mental reflexes as well, which sadly, not everyone in SOLDIER had. If she kept impressing him, she would easily become his firt ever student. That was impressive and looked good for the company, which was one thing he made sure to do. Shin-Ra made the world go round and round, well, the industrial world, which was more than enough. If the girl kept things up, she could very well help ensure a bright future. At least, that was the plan...

"What was your name again?" He asked as they walked down the corridor, several people wondering why there was a girl following Sephiroth.

The girl had had many names in her life, but she wore the name her caregiver had given her with pride, "Ilena Tuesti."

So this was the girl Reeve Tuesti had adopted. Of the select who had heard of his daughter, no one actually knew what she looked like or what she did that kept her so busy all the time. The secrecy of her identity was not because Reeve was displeased with his daughter, far from it, they both just wanted her to go far on her own and have to work for what she earned in life. It made her a stronger, better human being in the long run, and even now. Without knowing it Ilena had just earned herself a mentor. Sephiroth foresaw that there would be work to do with her, but he was satisfied with not only her mind was sharp, but that she had class from being the daughter of an official.

"Ilena, I want to see you in my room," He stopped walking, almost causing her to bump into him, and saw the questioning look in her face, "We have much to discuss."

Sephiroth...Sephiroth wanted to see her in his room? Alone? Sephiroth's room? She had to process that about twenty times before she understood. She was about to say something about that, but he had already started walking away again. Ilena was overwhelmed by the words themselves, not their meaning. But that was to be expected from a teenage girl in a position like Ilena. Not only did she have a hard time socializing because of her childhood, but she was also inexperienced in several ways due to her life in Neibelheim. Being a girl with raging teen hormones amongst nothing but a sea of demi-gods wasn't all that helpful either.

"Er, when?" Ilena called out to Sephiroth, not wanting to disturb his hectic schedule.

He didn't pause or look back, "Before the sun sets."

Sunset, right. That gave Ilena time to prepare her herself so she wouldn't make a fool of herself. She wanted to make a good impression, because her entire future could be riding on that meeting. So she returned to her room to change so she could meet with her father. It wasn't an order per say, but Ilena knew that her father had an aversion to seeing her in her SOLIDER uniform, so she would change before she went to visit him. This time, she was in a sapphire-colored sundress with a black ribbon that hung down her back and a pair of black flats.

Ilena arrived at Reeve's office just in time for lunch. She was glad, because she was especially famished as she had been too nervous that morning to eat an adequate breakfast. Reeve, as usual when he was swamped, was eating his lunch in his office. He glanced up by chance to see his daughter standing in the doorway, eyeing his food. That was one thing that had never changed about Ilena; she always could eat enough to feed an army when she was hungry. He grinned, even as she stole his food, remembering how he had found her in the first place...

Clank! The hefty metallic lids of two trash bins crashed down outside the window. Reeve Tuesti, in the middle of reviewing the contracts for the new city library, jerked his head up in panic. Hearing continued clanking and rummaging, he decided to go check it out. A girl, at least he thought the urchin poking around for food was a girl, was completely covered in dried mud, as if she had been sleeping in a mud pit for a month, and she was very emaciated, her body falling in on itself under the ragged pink dress she was wearing. She looked at him with dead eyes, black bags making her like much older than what she undoubtedly was.

"Come in," Reeve knew the state of the world just as well as most, and he knew that she was most likely a starving orphan. "I won't hurt you."

She eyed him distrustfully for a moment, her stomach growling to tell her to feed it, no matter what the ramifications. He saw and patiently waited with the door open behind him. It wasn't a common thing for him, but there was something about the child that made him take pity on her and want to help, if only for the moment. The child eventually lumbered inside, her sunken eyes darting around to scope out her surroundings. Reeve noticed the girl's cautious behavior, but didn't comment as he led her to the dinning room table.

"Wait here," He pulled out one of the sterling silver seats for her, "I'll be back with something for you to eat."

She sat down apprehensively as she were frightened that the chair would eat her as soon as she touched it, making no response to her gracious host. Her head hung low on a droopy neck, her feet the main thing she saw as she waited for the kind man to come back. He came back a few minutes later, a platter of meats, vegetables, and other assorted goods on plates for her choosing. She hungrily grabbed at a corncob, her shaking fingers wrapping around it before she could even register what she had grabbed. Reeve sat across from her, watching as some life returned to the girl.

During the third course, he attempted to strike up a conversation with the girl, "Where are you from?"

The girl set down the chicken leg before taking a single bite, "I can't go back."

"What's your name?" He tried again.

She shook her head so fast, he was slightly shocked to see it stay connected to her head, "I...I don't...like it."

"Then what should I call you?" Even as he asked her, he had made up his mind to watch after the girl until he could find a suitable place for her.

"Why would you want my name?" Reeve could tell that she had a inferiority complex at such a young age.

He wondered what his mother would say if she could see him now, "Because I was wondering if you would like to stay here until I can find a more permanent arrangement for you?"

The girl had been treated so kindly after her father had died, so she nodded, "Alrighty."

Ok, this isn't completely a rewrite of "Queen of Mine", but it isn't a new story either. So for those of you who might have read it, it has the same basic relationships, but don't expect anything else to be the same. But for new readers, don't sweat it, because it is different and unconnected. And I'm not sure if its a mystery, but since she is trying to figure out who killed her father, I think that counts. I dunno, mysterious isn't my usual cup of tea, though I do love a good mystery!

Disclaimer:

I don't own the rights to FFvii. Having said that, I own Crisis Core (though I'm rusty because I haven't played it in so long), FFvii (I'm replaying that right now, but I'm not being as thorough as I should be), Advent Children, and Advent Children: Complete. I owned Dirge of Cerberus, but I stupidly got rid of it, so I really don't remember it. Thank God for wiki/the Internet! And finally, I'm not sure how closely this ties in to the actual story. I want it to fit, but I don't think it will. And finally, just so you know, this is not yoai.