4] Royal issues

(King Guardia XXXIII POV, Guardia Castle)

After my wife's death, I've tried my best to be a better king. Nadia just doesn't see what I'm doing. I found out that she's been sneaking off somewhere every week, so I sent a guard to follow her. 

Apparently, she's been seeing some commoner boy. It's unbecoming of a princess to such a thing, so I confronted her about it...

Nadia- "Why father? I finally got a friend, why can't I see him!"

King- "He is a commoner, you are a princess. I should be scolding you for your... excursions, but I don't. I forbid you from seeing that boy." I can almost see the annoyance on her face, it pains me to do this to her...

I turn around and start to leave her room 'I can't stand to see her like this.' When I exit the room I tell a nearby guard to not let her leave the room.

"When she asks for food tell her maid to get some from the chef." The guard replies.

Guard- "Yes sir!" I return to the throne room, and it seems my turmoil can be seen on my face.

Chancellor- "My king, you are doing the right thing. Fraternizing with peasants is something that no royal should do. She will understand when she grows up."

King- "I truly hope so, but I fear that she may start hating me before then." I sigh.

Chancellor- "Your fears are unfounded, she will understand soon enough."

***

(Marle POV, Marle's room)

Marle- 'Father just doesn't understand, I am being suffocated...' I clench my fist, thinking about my "royal duties." 'I need to tell Zero about what's going on... I hope he doesn't hate me for this...' 

Getting out a piece of paper, I write down what I want to tell him.

-----

I'm sorry, but I won't be able to meet with you any more. Please don't hate me for this, it's something I have no control over. It is probably for the best to think that we can never see each other again.

-----

'It's short but to the point... Good thing the maid is on my side, I don't want my goodbye letter to look bad.' I flash the maid a thumbs up, and she smiles and reciprocates the action.

*** 

(Zero POV, Zero's house)

*Ashew!* Wiping my nose I shake my head.

Zero- "Is someone talking about me?" I immediately get smacked on the top of my head by Crono with his sword, to which he immediately apologizes.

"You're fine, I wasn't paying attention. That was a good example of what happens when you lose focus in a battle, try your best not to do that in a life or death situation." Crono just nods.

I raise my swords once more, beckoning Crono to continue fighting. We go back and forth for another hour or so, causing us to get a bit tired.

I somehow end up getting Lucca to start making a robot to help me with hand-to-hand combat, which is pretty lucky for me. Crono doesn't get why I would do something like that, but I told him that it would probably help me in the future.

He also doesn't get why I started to throw small rocks at things, but I just say that it's target practice. Because it is. I'm trying to increase my accuracy, and there's no other way right now.

Within another couple of days, I end up stealing a few smaller knives. Using them as throwing knives is easier than I thought it would be.

After I get enough practice on stationary objects, I go to the monsters in Guardia Forest.

I don't stop practicing until all I get are headshots, or it's getting dark.

I must have been too into what I was doing because I don't notice a couple of guards walking my way. They notice me just as I stab my bigger knife into the skull of a Green Imp, and then proceed to throw it into the head of another one ten feet away.

Guard 1- "Whoa, those are some skills you have there kid." I flinch as I register their voices.

Guard 2- "How old are you? Ten?" My mind begins racing frantically, trying to come up with a way out of this situation.

Zero- "No, I'm seven." The plan has been formulated, time to act on it.

Guard 1- "How did you learn how to do all of that stuff."

Zero- "I have been training to join the castle guard, see, my dad is a guard. I've always wanted to be like my dad, so I sneak out here to fight monsters."

Come on, believe it. I'm freaking adorable, you can't resist my charms!

Guard 2- "Wow, you're really that interested in being a guard?" I nod my head vigorously.

"Well, maybe we can help you start training for real. You can probably join as an actual guard by 15." 

Wait really?

Zero- "Really?"

Guard 1- "Depending on how well you do, yeah."

Holy crap, can I "Saga of Tanya the Evil" this? I immediately start childishly begging to join, but am smiling wickedly on the inside.

Thus starts the Guardia infiltration plan. If I get high enough ranked, I can probably meet up with Marle. And when they jailbreak, I can join them secretly.

Maybe I can get a big fat reward when I kill Yakra's descendant.

And when Crono becomes king, I get an easy life... Until Porre... But I'll help with that too, and I won't let Guardia lose.

Without thinking, I go and pluck my knife out of the skull of the Green Imp.

Zero- "When can I start?" I say with a hint of craze filled intellect.

***

I end up getting invited to show the commander what I can do, so I gladly accept. When I show up, I am given wooden variations of the weapons that I ask for.

I got two wooden katanas, two wooden daggers, and five wooden throwing knives. I see the guard that I can assume is gauging my abilities, and he has a wooden broadsword.

I am given standard combat armor in my size, so I immediately put it on.

Tester- "Are you ready to begin?" I nod, readying my dual katanas. The tester takes a note of my stance.

"You will pass if you are able to strike a "killing blow" on me, or make me move from this spot. I will not be on the offensive, and will only focus on defense." 

Zero- "Actually, you can attack me. I want this to be a real fight, so make it so I lose if you hit me with a "killing blow."" I swear I see a smirk on that guy's face, I'd be annoyed if I wasn't doing the exact same thing.

Commander- "Begin!"

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Name: Zero

HP: 300/300

MP: 8/8

PWR: 42

SPD: 40 (+5)

MAG: 7

END: 30 (+5)

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Skills: [Limit Break] [Focus Point]

Proficiencies: [Dual Wield, A 32%] [Swords, B 12%] [Daggers, A 3%] [Throwing, B 32%]

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Equipment: [Seraph's Song] [Headband] [Wooden Sword x2] [Wooden Daggers x2] [Wooden Throwing Knives x5] [Combat Clothes]

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