Rebels with a cause.

It felt like I'm floating in a pit of darkness, even thought my eyes are wide open.

"And so it begins." A voice floated around me. It sounded like a woman's voice, soft and caring. I whirled around expecting a person to stand behind me, but there was no one.

"Who are you?" I hope my voice sounds firm and doesn't reveal that I'm actually shaking.

"In due time, you will know who we are, but not yet. You have much to learn and little time." The voice replied.

"We? What are you talking about?" I struggled to keep my voice steady. I took in even breathes. Calm down, to panic helps nobody I repeated in my head.

"We have been watching over you for a very long time, Snow. You will need to prepare yourself for what's coming. Master all your abilities. You are not who everyone thinks you to be. You are special. You are stronger than you think."

I was dumbstruck, " How do you know my name and I don't know what you're talking about. You must have the wrong girl."

The woman laughed, ''No, Snow. You are the right girl. And now that your abilities have awakened, you will find out soon enough what you are destined for, but remember, trust your instincts. Nothing is as it seems."

I clenched my teeth, "I told you. You have the wrong girl."

"Goodbye, Snow. We will meet again soon."

"Hey! Wait!" My eyes widened when a blinding light engulfed me. I felt sudden pain through out my whole body and when I blinked, I was on the pavement back at the castle. My whole body was sore, my ears were ringing and my head was pounding. When I tried getting up on my knees, I felt hands on my elbow, helping me up. Only then did I realise somebody was kneeling next to me, calling my name.

I tried to stand up straight, but the moment I did, I began to sway, and the pavement suddenly began to move closer to my face. A strong pair of arms caught me and I lifted my head to see my saviour, only to look in very familier dark eyes. The prince. I groaned inwardly. If I didn't feel so disoriented, I might have glared at him and shoved him away.

"Are you alright?" I heard him ask. My hearing was slowly returning. I only nodded. I couldn't find the strength to speak right now. I felt so tired. I wish I could just close my eyes and forget this ever happened. Wait...

"What did happen?" I croaked, voicing my thought loudly. I cleared my throat to get my voice working normally again.

The prince, looked at me, quiet for a moment before answering, "You knocked the rebels of their feet and threw yourself against the wall."

I looked at him strangely, "Threw myself against the wall? Why would I do that? Only an idiot with a death wish would do that." I tried to pry myself from his arms. Keyword try and glanced back at the wall.

"What the hell?" I said loudly. The wall was cracked, like, indeed a body was thrown against it, "That's not possible. Do you see that," I pointed my finger at the wall, "The wall is cracked. If I did indeed smack into the wall, I shouldn't be able to stand after that blow. I'm supposed to have fractured ribs, maybe a cracked skull." I glared at him. This guy must be messing with me.

He shook his head with an amuse smile on his lips. Bastard.

"No, I promise. Everybody saw you being thrown into the wall. You can ask anybody if you like and if it makes you feel any better," he said with a dry tone, "your head is bleeding." I threw him a death glare and touched my forehead. Sure enough my fingers came away bloody, but luckily for him, before I could tell him off somebody yelled my name. I looked in the direction it came from and saw my best friend running toward me. Panic clear on her face.

"Snow, are you alright?" Yuna asked me, "Thank you, your highness, for taking care of her." She bowed before taking me from the prince's arm. I rolled my eyes at her perfect manners. Always being respectful toward a snobby prince. She threw one arm around my waist to hold me upright.

"Thank you. If I had to stay one second longer in his arms, I would have punched him in the face." I sighed.

Yuna smirked, "Yeah, I could see that. You looked ready to murder him" as we walked, I noticed Yuna was shaking.

"Yuna, what's wrong? Are you alright?" I looked her over, trying to see if she had sustained any injuries, but there was nothing thing that I could see. That's when I realised that she was shaking from laughter.

"What in the seven hells are you laughing at, Yuna?" I asked appalled. Have my best friend actually gone crazy?

"Only you..." she breathed, "would dare punch a prince's in the face." I stared at her for a minute longer before beginning to laugh myself.

"Yeah well, he would have had it coming. You should have seen the way he flirted with me earlier. Does he have no shame?" Yuna burst out laughing again. We had to stop for a minute to catch our breaths. By that time I could stand on my own. Yuna's demenor suddenly changed, "Did he tell you what happened?" She asked softly.

"If by telling me that I not only threw the rebels off the roof, but flung myself across the court and into the wall cracking it, then yes, he did tell me what happened." I winced when a pain shot through my head, my body may feel better, but my head obviously had other plans.

Yuna looked concerned, for what specifically, I don't know. Maybe it's because she sees me in pain, or maybe because something is happening to me that no one can explain. Or maybe it's both.

"Come on, let's get you to a medic." We still walked slowly even though I didn't need to lean on Yuna for help. My body still ached with every step I took and it felt like I was going to collapse from exhaustion at any moment. When we passed people, I could catch a few sentences of what they were whispering to each other.

"... wonder what the king will do with her."

"... thought she could hide her abilities."

"... have you seen her eyes? More proof she's a witch."

I cringed at the last comment, dropping me head and keeping my eyes on the ground. I really didn't want this. I didn't want to draw more attention to myself. I was happy living my life in the shadows.

"Don't listen to them. They are scared of things they don't understand." Yuna's voice was soft but firm. I tried to give her a smile, but I think it came out more as a grimace. We found a medic that can look at my wounds, and she told me it is nothing serious. There is a slight bump on my head, a cut on my forehead and a few bruises on my body. She gave me a few things to treat everything.

Yuna and I sat on a blanket in silence. Cid then came into view, she was walking toward me, showing as much concern as she can for one of her soldiers. Although I am more than just a soldier to her. She very much helped raise me. She was very close with my mother, since my mother was her mentor. She told me when I was little, that my mother saw potential in her and helped her become one of the best Guardians, after my mother, since my mother was the best guardian of her generation. At least that's one of the things they told me. So to maintain equality, she treats me like she would treat all her soldiers.

"Hello Yuna, can I talk to Snow for a second." Yuna stood up giving a quick nod of her head. She glanced at me, a small smile on her lips, before walking away.

"By the angel, are you alright, Snow?" Cid kneeled next to me, concern written all over her face. She took one of my hands in hers, but when she realised what she was doing, she quickly let go.

"A few bumps and bruises, but I'll live." I answered, smiling. Cid nodded. She looked uncomfortable, but now was as great as any time to ask.

"Cid, did you know this could happen?" When she didn't answer, I looked up and her eyes was enough of an answer. It was full of pity and regret. It wasn't a soldier speaking to her captain, it was a 16 year old girl speaking to her childhood friend.

"How?" I breathed. I'm scared of the answer, but I have to know what is going on. I laced my fingers together to stop them from shaking.

Cid sighed, before standing, ''It is not my place to tell you." She started to walk away, but I grabbed her wrists. She looked down then back to me. I know this is improper, but I didn't care.

"Like hell it is. If you know something, don't you think I have the right to know, too?" I glared at her, not willing to break eye contact. She sighed before sitting down next to me.

"You are so stubborn, do you know that?" Cid asked, she didn't look me in the eye as she said it. Instead she stared hard at the ground.

"What did I do?" I asked straight away, not bothering to wait for her, "I'm not a royal, so it can't be powers, so what was that?" I pointed toward the wall with that huge crack.

"I honestly don't know." Cid finally looked at me, ''But your grandmother might."

I furrowed my brows, "My grandmother? What does she have to do with anything?"

"Yes, she always talked about how special you were and that one day you are going to do many great things."

I scoffed, "Yeah, she said that to me to, but I always thought it's the ol' grandmother-brag-with-her-granddaughter thing. I never thought she meant this," I spread my arms out, "but if there is something wrong with me, she'll know how to fix it, right?" Cid look shocked.

"There is nothing wrong with you and there is nothing to fix. You are not broken." Cid stared intently at me.

"Is there anything else I should know?" I brought my knees to my chest, resting my head on my arms. I'm not feeling so good, I though. My headach was lighter, but it was still a constant reminder and I started to feel nauseated and dizzy. When Cid didn't say anything, I sighed before turning my head to look at her. This day just keeps getting better and better.

"There is much you don't know." She said.

"Then. Tell. Me." I got out through gritted teeth. I was really starting to get irritated with all these secrets and talking in riddles stuff.

"Your father wasn't a soldier who died in the war and your mother didn't die in this city." My head snapped up, but I immediately grimaced. My headache just became worse for a second. Cid rushed through the words. Like now that she begun she can't stop. When the headache subsided, I looked at her intently.

"What do you mean?" I demanded, "Then how else did they die?" Did they even die? I felt a pang in my heart. No. I won't hope. They died. I know they did. I tried to hold back tears, blinking a few times.

Cid sighed, "Your father was a very powerful man. He was a feared man across the nations for what he could do. Some say he fought like the devil himself, others thought he was a demi-god. His sword techniques was legendary. He was even a better warrior than your own mother. But he had one enemy, a powerfull enough enemy to kill your father..." Cid paused and glanced at me, "And your mother." I sat there, numb. My parents, killed, murdered. But, no. That can't be. Somebody would've told me. My grandmother wouldn't have lied about that. Would she? It doesn't make sense. If my parents were so powerful, who could have killed them?

"Who?" I asked quietly.

"What?" She look at me strangely. Looks like whatever she expected, it wasn't this.

"Who killed them?" My voice broke, but I kept going. I need to know who dare took them away from me. Who dare robbed me of my childhood.

"I- The demon master," She rush out. I simply stare at her.

"The demon master is nothing more than a legend," I tell her calmly. We've all heard about the tale and myths of him. The supposed leader of the demons, the one who creates and controls them, but they're demons. They can't be controlled. They are uncontrollable. Wrecks havoc wherever they go and destroys everything they come across. The only reason they haven't yet entered the Crown City, is because of the barrier around it and the wall surrounding our city. No demon has ever made it past our wall either. Thank goodness for that. I haven't yet seen a demon myself, except in textbooks, but I've heard they are quite nasty creatures. The wall hasn't ever been breached by anything. Nothing has destroyed it, and nothing ever will. Nobody has ever seen the demon master, just heard about him. Besides this legend has been passed down from generation to generation. It is a story from the beginning of time who knows how many tails have been added, and each story talks about a young man and no one can live that long. Its just impossible.

"Its not just a story. He is real, Snow. Trust me. He killed your parents because of the threat they presented and then tried to kill you," She tells me earnestly. I laugh and shake my head. I wonder who is the one who is the one who hit their head, because she seems a little out of it. I stand up, and almost trip over myself. I seem a little out of it. The world is spinning a bit much to be normal.

"Snow? Are you okay?" Cid stood up and tried to reach out to me.

I wave her off, but before I can open my mouth to ask her something, the cement floor looks suddenly closer than before. I heard Cid yell my name, but before I hit the ground, I was thrown into pitch blackness and this time no mysterious voice came to wake me up.

***

Noctis:

The prince turned and walked away to his father after, what looks like her friend, took care of her, he couldn't believe his eyes when she landed in front of him and he saw the green in her eyes, it was unusual but it was also the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. Everything is always so dull. Nothing interesting happens in this city. We are supposed to be the Crown city of the Nation of Jewels, but sometimes I think we are the Nation of Boringson. And then people judge me for trying to lighten things up, for trying to have some fun in this city. The prince sighed. Then he heard his favourite sound. He turned around and looked at a couple of the Guardian Core troops. They were simply spectacular. Of course he knew how to fight himself, but there is nothing as awesome as a girl who can defend herself. He always believed the rule that says women belongs in the kitchen is messed up. The prince winked and walked away from the girls, hearing their laughter chase after him. He sighed again, stopped and looked up at the sky. Even that is on its way to become boring. All the girls are the same. Except one, a voice said in the back of his head. That girl. He has never seen her before, and he would've known if he did. She ignores him like a pest itself. It's like she knows which buttons to push, or rather, which not to push. He laughed softly. She is going to be a challenge, and he never says no to one. It's just, she seems so different from the rest. Well, then again, what she did back there was impressive and for someone without royal blood in their veins, it's extraordinary. Almost like the legendary Arthur Kingston. A jolt went through him, when he again thought of the moment she passed him, her eyes, mother above. They seemed almost to be glowing, but that can't be right. Must've been a trick of the light or he must be going insane, he thought because there is no such thing as glowing eyes. Things are not that strange. Then afterwards when she was knocked against that wall, he tried to help her, which he almost never do. She looked as surprised as he felt. Though when she got over it, she couldn't get away from him fast enough. That intrigued him even more, he can't say he ever had that reaction before, and he had many.

"Son, I hope you aren't smiling about what happened here today. I know you have the tendency to make a joke out of a serious situation."

His head snapped back down when he heard a very familiar voice. His father. The king.

"No father, I..." He shifted on his feet, suddenly nervous. His father lifted his brow when he saw how uncomfortable he was.

This is not like him, what is this? He cleared his throat trying to gain back some honour.

"It's nothing, Father. Just thinking." His father looked at him strangely, like he wants to smile, or laugh, but is holding himself back. For some reason it felt like his face was on fire.

"I see." His father turned away, but he could swear his father was smiling. The prince narrowed his eyes and fell into step beside the king, but all signs of a smile was wiped from his face.

He looked back and saw the girl talking to the leader of the Guardian Core. It looked intense. The girl is looking pale and not well at all. He took a step forward, not sure what he was going to do anyway, when he felt a hand tug on my upper arm. It was his father, he looked at his son sharply.

"Don't. I am proud for what you did for her today, son, but let Cid handle the rest."

"But Father, she does not look good."

His father gave a small smile, "She'll be alright, it's how its supposed to be." He gave his father a quizzical look. What in the seven hells is he talking about?

"She won't be in trouble, will she?" He asked, looking back at her. She looked even worse.

"No, of course not. She is special, punishing her would go against the very promise I made to a good friend of mine, that passed away a long time ago." His father took on a softer voice that he haven't heard in a long time. Then his father looked suddenly alarmed. I spun around and saw that the girl had collapsed, and that Cid was holding her in her arms, calling for a medic. A group of girls were standing around her looking worried.

His attention were diverted when he heard a voice yelling behind him. He and his father looked toward the comotion as one of the guys was being dragged away.

"Let go of me!" The guy was struggling against the bonds that tied his writs together, "I didn't do anything wrong, I was just trying to protect the kingdom since nobody else wants to do it. You can't arrest me! Surely you must know the king is a fool if he thinks he can have peace with the Empire Nation." The rebel, who looked like the leader that spoke earlier was dragged away by one of the Garduan Core troops.

"I should have known those people would show up today." His father told him, "Luckily we have the Guardian Core troops on our side. They dealt with them quickly and efficiently." With that, people swarmed my father, advisors, the press and a few Guardians on Cid's order.

When the prince turned around, he caught a glimpse of a auburn haired man standing at the edge of a hundred trees that stands between the cliff and the castle. He looked about mid-thirties with broad shoulders and a masculine body. His arms was crossed over his chest and he shook his head scowling at the man being led away. Then a light haired man appeared behind him, with equal amounts of muscle. He couldn't be much older than me. Perhaps three or four years older than me. He then layed a hand on the other guy's shoulder, looking equally dismayed and it became clear to me that these people must be working together and that the auburn haired guy the leader is and that the guy they have arrested was just a pawn in this rebel leader's game. Smart not to come out himself and risk getting arrested too. As if sensing his stare, the second guy looked right at him, and started talking to the other guy, then they both looked his way. The auburn haired guy glared at him with open dislike and uncrossed his arms. Almost knowing what he was going to do, the light haired man grabbed his arm, and talked to him more. He saw the leader's hands clenching and relaxing before spinning on his heal and walking away, but not before he caught the message in his eyes. It was a promise, and he could only imagine what the promise was. The blond haired guy didn't show any emotion, only stuffed his hands in his pockets and sauntered off to whatever hole he crawled out of. The prince wondered if he knows that he could call the guards on him at any moment. Though he guesses that he'll let them go for a while, didn't want to ruin the fun so early in the game. Things only just got a little more interesting in this city. He laced his hands above his head and walked to the palace. In a few months he can go on his roadtrip, traveling the whole Jewel Nation with the boys as his bodyguards. He can't wait, because then he can finally go on an adventure and things can get interesting.

His mind wandered to that girl again and then to what his father said. He wondered what he meant by 'a special person, a promise to an old friend.' Then again, half the time he didn't know what he is talking about, but how does his father know her and her parents? Why didn't he ever mention her before. He didn't understand and most important of all, who is she?