Memory of Fanelia
(The ramble mansion is buzzing with activity. Crystal's upstairs getting dressed, Irvine, Reno, and Kou are watching tv with beers in hand, Seph's building a puzzle with Fawkes eating the pieces, Sion and Seifer are talking by the cd player, Raven's flopped in a chair, reading, near Seifer and Sion, and Dauragon's on the phone)
Dauragon: *on the phone* I don't care what they said. I will own his company
whether he sells it or not... That's right. Tell him to prepare for a hostile ta- *he stops talking when he sees Sion and a half sober Kou looking at him
suspiciously* Uhh... right. Anyway, you pass on my message of well-wishing to that pleasant tycoon. *Sion and Kou look away and Dauragon starts to whisper* No, I haven't lost my mind, I'm just under keen
surveillance. I'll be in touch.
Sion: *watching Dauragon* I can't believe he's still-
Seifer: Uhh... Sion, can we focus here?
Sion: *looks at Seifer* One sec. I know she's important, but Crystal's not everything. *looks back to Dauragon, who hangs up his phone* Ok. Where were we?
Seifer: We were discussing how we would help each other win Crystal.
Sion: Tell me again why we should help each other?
Seifer: Easy. If you get her, I can easily woo her away from you. You are, after all, only a bouncer.
Sion: Your point? You're a sorry excuse of an ex-sorceress' knight.
Seifer: Hey! I killed the great Odin!
Sion: Wasn't that her fave GF?
Seifer: Nope. I asked around. It was actually Carbuncle.
Sion: Whatever... Where is Crystal anyway?
Seifer: Upstairs getting ready for her flute lessons with HIM.
Sion: She's seeing Amiboshi again?!
Seifer: You know, they see each other for like four hours a day, almost everyday and she hasn't really improved any.
Sion: *eyes widen* You don't mean...?
Raven: *sitting in her chair, eavesdropping* Ew! You guys! I just got mental images!
Sion: You shouldn't have been eavesdropping!
Crystal: *standing in the doorway* Mental images of what? Eavesdropping on what?
Sion/Seifer/Raven: Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.
Crystal: O...k...
Sion: You look lovely today, Crystal. *smile smile*
Crystal: Thanks! Amiboshi picked this shirt out for me. He said it brings out my eyes. ^_^
Seifer: *mumbling* First flute lessons, now he's buying her things...
Seph: *grabbing a puzzle piece from Fawkes' mouth* Speaking of the fruit...
Crystal: He's not a fruit. And he has a name.
Seph: Yeah, whatever. For all the lessons you've had, I don't think you've improved any.
Crystal: o_o! That's horrible! Insulting Amiboshi's skills like that. It's not like we practice the entire time we're together.
Seifer: *goes pale* I think I'm going to faint...
Sion: *also paling* Our suspicions were true...
Crystal: *looks at them oddly* Weirdos. I'm off. See ya later!
(Crystal goes bouncing off as Zell comes in carrying something)
Zell: Mail call! Mail call!
Kou: We heard you the first time, man.
Zell: Raven, there's a couple magazines for you and a letter...
Raven: oh! Lemme see! *grabs the letter and rips it open* EE! it's my confirmation to the seminar!
Dauragon: *looks at her suspiciously* Confirmation to what seminar?
Raven: Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.
Seph: Probably a seminar on how to increase your shopping time...
Zell: *going through the pile of mail* There's Squall's Weapon's Monthly... and also for Squall, Pets'R'Us.
Raven: Someone may want to cancel that subscription before Squall realizes he's still paying for and being sent Annoyia's things.
Zell: *handing a magazine to Kou and drops a letter to the floor* Here you go.
Kou: Dude! It came! We got our Bartending magazine. We can create new drinks now! *he triple fives Reno and Irvine*
Irvine: Nothing could make this day better.
Zell: Irvine, your Girl Next Door came in today.
Irvine: *pushing Kou and Reno over* Out of my way! *grabs the zine and hugs it to his chest* Nothing could make this day better.
Seph: Right... Give it five minutes and Beer TV will be on. Bet his day can't get any better after that...
Fawkes: *laughs*
Zell: Rufus, you got some mail too. *hands it over*
Rufus: Of course I did. I have millions of admiring fans who all want to wish me well and- *goes pale* Crap... I forgot today is bill day...
Dauragon: Oh god... already?
(Dauragon and Rufus divvy up the bills so Rufus has hydro and phone and Dauragon has
mortgage, and his credit card bills that Raven has racked up... again...)
Rufus: *looking over the phone bill* Finland?! Who the hell is calling Finland for six hours?!
(Sephiroth and Fawkes lightly snicker and Rufus glares at them)
Rufus: That's a lot of money you know!
Zell: Hey! I got a letter too! High five! *looks around* Anyone?
Kou: Not a chance.
Seifer: Chicken-wuss.
Zell: *hangs his head* Oh.
Raven: *feeling somewhat sorry for the guy* Aww... what did you get, Zell?
Dauragon: You're feeling pity and concern for Zell? Are you
feeling alright?
Zell: I got a letter from the Library girl with pigtail. I have an overdue book. That sucks... Hey! I didn't take any books out lately.
Seph: She wants you to go see her you moron.
Zell: Why would she want to?
Irvine: So gay.
Raven: It's still all just a cover-up.
Sion: Zell, what's that letter by your foot?
Zell: Huh? *picks it up and reads who it's addressed to* It's to Crystal.
Seifer: What?! Who's it from?! What do they want?!
Zell: I dunno. It's not my letter.
Raven: *grabs the letter from Zell and looks at it* It has the royal seal of Fanelia on it.
Sion: Oh, no...
Seifer: He can't come back! The ex is not allowed to come back! It'll ruin everything. Raven! Don't let him come back.
Raven: Chill, Seifer. Geesh. Do you want a restraining order against you or something? Chill man.
Sion: *muttering* I can't believe that no good wannabe king is trying to move back in on Crystal. He had his chance and blew it. Can't he see that she's moved on...
Seph: Yeah... to Amiboshi.
Sion: They're just friends!
Fawkes: *laughs*
Reno: Why do you care if they're just friends or not? You'd think you were obsessed with her like Seifer is or something.
Sion: *nervous laughter* That's... just ridiculous... eheheheh... RUN!
(Sion grabs his mail and books it out of the room. Everyone just stares at the empty doorway and blinks*
Rufus: Strange guy.
Raven: I've been saying that for months now.
Irvine: What do you think Van has to tell Crystal?
(As if on cue, Crystal comes back in the room. Everyone looks at her oddly)
Reno: Did you plan that or something?
Crystal: What?
Raven: You got mail!
Crystal: Yay! Who's it from!? A friend? A fan? *eyes narrow* Cannaught harassing me again with their stupid army magazines?
Raven: Uhh... no. it's from Van!
Crystal: *squeals* Lemme see! *she tears it open and reads the letter* Aww... Van won his war! And to celebrate he's invited me and anyone else who wants to come, to come to Fanelia for a victory ball.
Raven: That's so exciting! I get to dress up again! Dauragon...
Dauragon: You don't need any new outfits, shoes, lingerie, or anything to celebrate this.
Raven: *sticks out her lower lip* But Daurie...
Dauragon: *sighs* Alright. But no going overboard this time.
Crystal: *tosses the letter at Raven* Here. RSVP for me and whoever else is going. I have to get back to Amiboshi and the lessons. I only came back because I forgot the cookies I baked him. Oh! I'll ask Amiboshi if he wants to come too! Bye!
(Crystal leaves as Seifer glares and curses Amiboshi under his breath. Raven starts to make a list of everyone who wants to go. A few mins later she reads the list thus far)
Raven: Ok. So far, it's Crystal, me, Dauragon, Rufus, Irvine, Reno, and Kou. Like that's a no brainer. Any excuse to party, eh guys? Umm... Seph and
Fawkes because I can't leave them home alone, and I'll call some of the others to let them know.
(A half hour later, Raven has added Kuja, Selphie, and Yuffie to the list. She's just about to call Quistis and Squall when Squall walks in the room)
Rufus: This is getting to predictably annoying.
Squall: What?
Rufus: Nothing.
Squall: Whatever.
Raven: Yeah. Anyway. Squall, Van won his war and he's having a victory ball tomorrow and you and Quistis are invited. Would you like to attend?
Squall: *stands by the door, no emotion showing on his face. he starts to think in his head* I can't leave the Garden, they need me to lead and guide them. But they do have Quistis there. She'll get them through any problems they have. I can trust her. It has been a while since I've done anything fun... people are always telling me to get out more and socialize and even smile... maybe I should go. Maybe I should stay behind and let Quistis go. She works so hard. No. I better go and keep an eye on Irvine, he is a SeeD
after all and representing all of Garden.
Raven: Well, Squall? You coming?
Squall: *shrugs* Whatever.
Raven: I'll put you down as a yes.
(A couple hours later, Rave, Seph, Dauragon, Reno, Irvine, and Rufus are all chilling in the ramble room still, when Crystal comes running back in, again)
Crystal: Raven! Look what Amiboshi gave me for Van's ball.
(Crystal hands Raven a couple pieces of paper. Raven looks at them curiously)
Raven: Crystal... what is this?
Crystal: It's sheet music! Amiboshi said he would write out a copy of a song that he was sure would knock em dead at the ball-
Raven: I bet it will... The song Amiboshi gave you is called 'Soul Splitter'
Crystal: My pure and adorable Amiboshi would never have a song like that.
Raven: *doing her best crazed Amiboshi impression* This song will split apart your soul. Does that ring a bell?
Crystal: Oh. Right. But why would he do that?
Seph: Need we remind you of his psychotic twin?
Reno: Yeah. You don't think that all the evilness went to just one twin, do you?
Irvine: Maybe it wasn't actually Amiboshi. Maybe it was Suboshi pretending to be Amiboshi! *smiles proudly at his theory*
Rufus: Yeah... drink another beer there, Irvine...
Irvine: *shrugs* If you insist.
(The next day, Raven, Dauragon, Crystal, Rufus, Reno, Irvine, Kou, Squall, Seph, Fawkes, Kuja, Selphie, and Yuffie are all waiting around the ramble room)
Seph: What's the hold up, woman?
Raven: I wanted to make sure everyone was here before the rules were told.
Irvine: Uhh... rules?
Crystal: You didn't think I would let you all go to Van's beautiful castle without laying down the rules did you?
Raven: Right. First, there will be no killing of my sister's ex-boyfriend. Second, we will not be banned! *louder* I repeat, we will not be banned! What did I just say, Sephiroth?
Fawkes: *laughs*
Seph: Hey! I only got us banned from the Edmonton Mall. The local drunks are usually the ones to get us banned.
Crystal: He has a point.
Raven: Damnit. I hate it when he's right. Fine. The rules apply to everyone. Happy, Sephiroth?
Seph: For now.
Rufus: *looking around* Where's Sion and Seifer?
Reno: Yeah. You'd think they would want to keep an eye on Crystal around Van.
Crystal: Why would they want to do that?
Reno: No reason...
Crystal: *shrugs* Whatever.
Squall: ..... my line.....
Raven: It's probably for the best anyway. Seifer is a bit... well, he's Seifer. And Sion would probably get roped into working as the castle bouncer.
Dauragon: What has come over you lately? First you feel sorry for Zell, now Sion?
Raven: *shrugs*
(Down the hall and around the corner, Sion and Seifer are in a huddle)
Sion: So what's our game plan when we get there?
Seifer: To keep Van away from Crystal as much as possible. I heard this place is very romantic, therefore it's the best place to woo her.
Sion: I wish you would stop saying the word 'woo'
Seifer: *glares* Let's go, before they hop in the portal and leave us behind.
Sion: uhh... did we even RSVP? I don't think they're going to wait for us.
Seifer: Crap. I knew I forgot something.
Sion: You idiot! Let's hurry and jump the portal before it does close.
(Sion and Seifer take off around the corner and down the hall to the ramble room, which is empty. In the centre of the room is a glowing hole which shows a picture of a beautiful city and castle. It's slowly shrinking as it closes)
Sion: Told you.
Seifer: Don't just stand there, jump through it! Let's go!
(And so, being Seifer and Sion, they jump through the portal, not even thinking about where they might land or how to find their way to the castle... After jumping through, they land right outside the gate of the castle)
Seifer: That was sweet!
Sion: *sitting on the ground, rubbing his butt* Yeah, for you, maybe.
Seifer: Wimp. Ok. Let's get going.
(They walk up to the gate, blocked by some mean looking guards)
Sion: Hi. We'd like to go inside for Van's little party thingy.
Guard 1: What are your names?
Sion: Sion and Seifer... I don't think we're on the list... someone didn't RSVP... *glares at Seifer*
Guard 2: I'm sorry. If you're not on the list, you're not allowed admittance to King Van's victory ball.
(A few minutes later, after begging and crying to the guards, Seifer gives up on the front gate and he and Sion walk away and around the corner, where they find a sewer entrance)
Seifer: This is perfect! We can crawl through here, sneak into the castle, throw on some disguises, and ba-da-bing we're in.
Sion: *stares blankly at Seifer* You've truly lost it...
Seifer: Love makes you do crazy things. Come on.
(They jump down the sewer entrance and begin their walk to the castle. As Sion and Seifer are wandering around sewers, Raven, Crystal and all the others are standing in the front hall of the castle waiting for Van to greet them)
Seph: I can't believe the wannabe king is keeping the Planet waiting. How rude.
Reno: He's making us wait five minutes, unlike you, who wasted hours of our lives on a pointless wild goose chase around the world so we could see Cloud break down. *mockingly* 'What's my number?'
Crystal: Would you two shut up? You're going to ruin Van's special day.
Irvine: We wouldn't want that, now would we... *rolls his eyes*
Crystal: No, we would not.
(Everyone's still waiting in the front hall, fiddling with things or annoying each other when Van walks into the hall. He spots Crystal, standing next to Rufus, and smiles)
Van: I'm so glad you could make it. *walks over to Crystal and kisses her hand*
Rufus: *not paying attention* I had to squeeze you into my tight schedule, but I figured it was the least I could do, considering you, too, are a ruler of one sort or another. Besides I feel we could both benefit from- *finally notices Van kissing Crystal's hand* You meant Crystal. Riiiight.
Everyone: -_-;;
Van: Ok. Moving along... I welcome you all to Fanelia. I, along with my people, are deeply moved that you came. We will be dining in the Great Hall where we will also be having a dance and mingle type of thing. Please feel free to look around the castle, and try not to break anything. I've seen you all in action.
Raven: See. I'm not the only one who sees y'all as clumsy, destined-to-be-banned-from-everything, walking
disasters.
Everyone: *looks at Raven oddly*
Dauragon: *sighs*
Raven: What?
Dauragon: Nothing. Not a thing. Let's go sit down.
(Everyone slowly disperses from the Front Hall and either go to sit down in the Great Hall, or go exploring. Meanwhile... Sion and Seifer are in the sewers. Sion's trudging through the water with Seifer behind him. They've almost found their way in)
Seifer: Dude, did you know that alligators live in sewers and could attack us at any moment.
Sion: Good thing I'm in front. Alligators attack from behind.
(Seifer jumps and turns around quickly to see if anything's behind him. Sion smirks to himself. He stops walking abruptly in front of an iron ladder, which causes Seifer to bang into Sion, knocking them both into the water)
Sion: *getting up and rinsing water out of his hair* You are hopeless, you know that?
Seifer: Hopelessly in love with Crystal. I know.
Sion: Oh good god.
Seifer: Shut up, man. You're just as bad as me.
Sion: Yeah yeah. Anyway, here's an entrance. Let's go.
(They climb up the ladder and emerge in a kitchen bustling with action. As they're standing looking around in awe a chef comes up to them)
Chef: Where have you two been? You're late. And what is with those ridiculous outfits? Go put your uniforms on and get a move on. King Van will not be pleased if his meal to impress his lady friend is late and or a
disaster. *scurries off*
Seifer: Perfect. We can hide out as chefs.
Sion: I thought the whole point of this was to sneak in and join the rest of out friends and enjoy a nice night of dinner and dancing and keeping Crystal and Van apart.
Seifer: Were you even listening? He said the dinner couldn't be destroyed because Van wants to impress a chick, being Crystal.
Sion: *light bulb* That's brilliant! And Raven can't blame us because she thinks we're back at the mansion still!
(Somewhere in the castle Yuffie's roaming the halls and wandering in and out of various rooms)
Yuffie: *looking at a music box* This might be worth something back in Wutai. *pockets it and moves on to another room*
(In another part of the castle, Seph and Fawkes are nosing through things)
Seph: This place blows goats.
Fawkes: *agreeingly laughs*
Seph: There has to be something we can do... or some sort of trouble we can cause...
(In some room, somewhere, Selphie has found a bunch of the soldiers unwinding still from their war)
Selphie: Oh! Military men! *bounces into the room and sits down at the table with the guys* You gotta tell me all about the war! Was there a lot of explosions and blood and blowing things to smithereens?!!?
Soldier dudes: *blink blink*
(Back in the kitchen, Sion and Seifer have found some chef uniforms and are admiring themselves in them when another chef comes up to them)
Chef: What are you doing? I need you to make some pastries. Let's go.
Seifer: I think he was talking to me.
Sion: Look at your apron. There's blood on it. Do you think that came from a cookie?
Seifer: Oh. Right.
(Irvine, Reno, Kou and some random people are sitting around the banquet table)
Irvine: *sniffing a glass of wine* It smells like booze.
Reno: *staring into the glass* Looks like it too.
Kou: *smacks forehead* It's wine, you idiots. You know, booze the rich and snobby drink. You get one hell of a buzz and often a nasty hang over with wine.
Irvine/Reno: Cool!
Van: *sitting near by and overhearing* Fanelia's wine is much stronger than almost everything back in your realm. I'd
recommend you drink very little of that stuff and slowly at that.
Irvine/Reno/Kou: Alright! *triple five and start drinking*
Crystal: *sitting with Van* I think that warning just fell on deaf ears.
(On the other end of the table {It's a huge table} Squall's sitting alone. When Princess Eries walks up to him)
Eries: May I join you?
Squall: *shrugs and points to the seat beside him*
Eries: My name is Princess Eries of Astoria.
Squall: Squall Leonheart, of Balamb Garden.
Eries: Balamb Garden? Sounds beautiful. Could you tell me about it?
(Crystal and Van are still chatting it up, catching up and all that, when Raven and Dauragon come over)
Van: Raven. Dauragon. Thank you for coming.
Raven: Yeah yeah, sure. *looking around* So, Van, where's your cute older brother?
Vane: Sadly, he's not here.
Raven: *still looking around* Where'd he go?
Van: *looking down some* He's no longer with us.
Raven: So you've told me. Where did he go?
Van: He's in the garden out back.
Raven: Oh. Maybe I'll go say hi.
Van: He's been reunited with his loved ones.
Raven: What?! He has a wife and kids now or something? Why didn't anyone tell me?
Crystal/Dauragon: *hand to forehead*
Crystal: He's dead, Raven! Van's trying to tell you Folken has died!
Raven: So? Sephiroth, Kuja, and Rufus all died. I'm sure even Dauragon died. I wouldn't know since I've never played the game ^_^;
Crystal: Umm... I can't really explain it... but for some reason, since we're in his realm/anime/world/whatever you want to call it, I guess people stay dead.
Raven: *blank stare* But Rufy and them are still alive when we go to their worlds...
Crystal: I told you I can't explain it.
Raven: I still think Folken must be alive.
Dauragon: *lightly pulling Raven away from Van and Crystal* I think maybe we should leave them now. Van looks a bit upset. And I need to have a word with you about this Folken guy.
(Back in the kitchen, Sion is pounding the hell out of some cookie dough when a chef walks by)
Chef: What are you doing? You make cookies like a butcher. *walks away*
Sion: *mumbling under his breath* I wanted to be the butcher...
(Yuffie's in another room now, rummaging through things when she pulls something out)
Yuffie: Oooh. Shiny. *pockets it*
(Seph and Fawkes are still wandering around the castle. Up on one of the many upper floors)
Seph: Nothing. Absolutely nothing to do here. I may be forced to go and socali- Why, hello, hello.
(Seph and Fawkes walk up to a spiraling downward staircase and stare down it)