I think I must have fallen asleep in that quiet corner. Suddenly I heard banging on the door, and rolled my eyes. “Your majesty!” cried a commanding voice. “Your majesty, you know I do not wish to intrude, but it’s King Riku!” That sentence sent a chill through me. I sprinted over to the door and wrenched it open as he continued. “He’s been injured, severely, and they say you are the only one who can help him! He’s over by the elevator!” I charged past him in the direction of the lift, before the guard could say a word about the state of my bedroom or my surely pink eyes.
As the elevator slid into view, I saw a cluster of people grouped around a huddle on the ground that I knew was Riku. I skidded to a stop next to him, and dropped to my knees. “What’s wrong with him?” I called anxiously, squeezing his hand tightly. It was Quistis who answered, in her calm, cool voice. “He’s been punched, very hard. He’s suffering from internal bruising and possibly internal bleeding.” I stared up at her. “So what can I do? I’m not a white mage?!” I cried desperately. Vivi coughed delicately.
“Excuse me, but that’s what we were saying earlier. You’re a Red Mage; you can use black and white magic. You have to use Cure on him, Haru.” I gaped slightly. Riku was the only one who knew my magic was failing me at the moment, but I had to try. Looking down at Riku, I nodded, breathing deeply, and shoved my hair away. “Cure,” I urged, laying my hands gently on his chest. “Cure, Cure, Cure!” I shouted, imagining pushing the magic out through my fingers. I chased the warm feeling through my body and into Riku’s. My hands were shaking with the effort.
Eventually, Riku groaned, and smiled up at me radiantly. “I’m okay,” he whispered. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Thank you, Haru.” Hearing this, I felt so relieved, and I collapsed onto him, completely devoid of energy but pleased that he was alright. He laughed gently, and gave me a one-armed squeeze.
I laughed slightly. Riku was okay, and Haru was finally sure of herself. I thought her magic was failing, that’s why she looked odd when Quistis mentioned it, and the several Cures proved it. She’d be better soon. Haru still looked a little sad. “Zexion told me… that all it took was for him to whisper a spell for it to be at full strength…” I shook my head. “Zexion is a special case. There’s magic in him that’s pure as water, it runs through his veins like blood. Red Mages haven’t got the natural strength for both magicks, but they can do what normal people cannot. You unlocked the fourth-tier spells, yes?” Haru nodded. “Then this proves it. Though your fourth-tier elemental spells are immensely powerful, they are only as powerful as a Black Mage’s third-tier spells. It’s just that only Red Mages can unlock them. It’s… a power stopper. For safety.”
Haru looked a little less confused. Riku stood up, shakily. “Haru, your powers are back now.” Riku looked confused; it was me who said that. “Yeah, I know. I’ve got great empathy skills, and I know what people are thinking most of the time. It’s a skill I got from an old Sage I once knew.” Haru looked back at Riku and Freya stepped forwards. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d find enough answers to please me, but something is still missing… I’ll see you later, Vivi. I need to do some finding of my own.” Before I could stop her, she leapt out the open window and disappeared into the night. Maybe she, too, was worried about my mind-reading abilities.
After a night’s rest at the castle, Queen Haru asked us to have an audience with her and the King. We accepted of course, to deny would be cruel. Haru and Riku sat upon their thrones, a cool Silvery shine reflecting from the metal. “We need to find out who hit my husband.” Haru began imperiously, “And we need to find out why. Vivi, Quistis, and Squall, we need your assistance in this matter.” Quistis looked guiltily at the wall to her left. “I know who it was, and Vivi will be able to tell you why once we find him.” Haru shot a quizzical look at her. “He’s a student at Balamb Garden. His name’s…Zell.”
I heard the name, and nodded. “So where do you think we shall find this ‘Zell’?” I asked. Quistis fell into thoughtful silence, and finally Squall spoke. It was the first time I had heard his voice since meeting him in Balamb Town, and now it was high pitched and shrill. “I think we should check the Garden,” he trilled. “As students, we were always told to return to the Garden in times of need. And even though he didn’t like the Disciplinary Committee, I know that Zell thought of the Garden as a second home. We all thought of it as home, actually…” Quistis nodded, adjusting her ponytail with painstaking perfection. “That is true. Good thinking Squall!” She spoke as though praising a dog that had followed a command, and patted him on the back.
I rose slowly, and beside me, Riku did the same. As I stepped forward, I lifted the hem of my robe, careful not to trip on it. “I would suggest, then, that we separate for a while to gather our supplies. Here, take this money from the royal treasury, and go into town. I would say that two hours should suffice? And while you’re there, it may be an idea to search for Freya. Does that sound acceptable to you all?” There was a general murmur of consent around the room, and I nodded commandingly.
I lead Quistis and Squall from the throne room, it finally sinking in that I was in charge of them. They, and Freya, too, had been following me. I felt… privileged, strong – even happy. We headed out of the castle, taking the air-train to the Shopping District, and began our shopping. I decided that we should check out Alice’s Item shop first, she didn’t know about Zidane. We spent five minutes there consoling her, and left for the weapons shop, our money purse no lighter than it was before.
After checking the Weapons and Synthesis shops, and finding that our equipment was already up-to-date, we set out back for the castle. I didn’t feel comfortable spending Royal money, anyway. I did use the last coins from my own wallet to buy us another Tent just in case, but Haru wouldn’t have to know, would she? As we entered the castle, I saw a flash of red streak across a rooftop, but I knew that Freya wouldn’t want me to tell anyone, so I kept quiet.
I paced around the Throne Room agitatedly. I didn’t like waiting, and hated not being able to do anything. Two guards knocked on the door imperiously, and Riku bade they come in. They were carrying all of our equipment, and Riku and I quickly donned all of our old accessories and wielded our favourite weapons. My rod was just as light as I remembered, and seemed to hum with pleasure at being reunited with my hand. Riku sliced his sword through the air, welcoming back the gentle swishing noise.
It had been half an hour since the others had left and I was practically bouncing off the walls. Riku’s face was empty, though, and I asked him what he was thinking about. “Huh?” He seemed shocked, and shook his head as though coming out of a daydream. “Nothing, really. Have you warned Artania that we’ll be leaving for a while?” he asked. I exclaimed, and called a guard in to go and send a message to the minister. Gildas had trusted him before, and I was certain he would do a good job of looking after the kingdom this time, too.
Once the guard had left, Riku took my hand and played with my fingers. “What’s the matter?” I asked softly. I hadn’t been satisfied with his answer earlier, and he scanned my face before giving in. “I was just thinking that…Well, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” I cupped his face in my hands gently, and waited for him to continue. “I just-”
The door opened again, making Riku stop talking at once. He pushed my hands away, and stood straight. Vivi and the others walked in slowly and I rolled my eyes. “All ready to go?” I asked, fighting to keep the contempt for their timing out of my voice.
I nodded as Haru inquired as to our readiness. I shuffled slightly on the spot; we seemed to have interrupted something. Nevertheless, Haru and Riku walked forward and took the lead, together, which was much better than seeing just Riku lead; guys have too much leadership about them. We followed them out into the bright sunlight, and Squall shielded his eyes. We walked forward through Lindblum, the public parting as Haru and Riku walked ahead. I found it strange how a punch could start all this, but then, Riku was King now.
We left Lindblum through the Serpent’s Gate. I felt things were going to get... awkward… from now on.
