//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Palace of White Stone // Story: Final Fantasy: Zack's second chance // by Freelancer //------------------------------// Prior Note: this chapter is faster paced then previous ones, simply because I didn’t want to drag out a series of unexciting building events Chapter 4: Palace of White Stone Just outside the glass, the rolling green plains of Equestria rolled by under Zack’s gaze, his sharp blue eyes catching every grey rock, every patch of flowers, and every twisting tree as he stared out the carriage window. In truth, however, only his eyes saw them, as his mind was a million miles away and stuck in a particularly strange thought, that being his relationship with the golden mare who had brought him into this strange world. A week and a half had passed since Spitfire had summoned him into her world known as Equestria, and every day since then their bond had grown stronger and stronger, even to the point of him doing things he would normally never do. One such example was going out into pony society with her, but without his Buster Sword across his back... although despite her constant invitations he had refused to share her bed in Cloudsdale, on the grounds of his honour, and had still opted for sleeping on the floor, much to Spitfire’s apparent annoyance of how hung up he was about it. Plus she kept going on and on about him acting like a 'pet'. Hence as he sat out the train ride to Canterlot, with nothing to do other than listen to the Wonderbolt's routine plan, he pondered, trying to figure out why exactly he had, without initially realizing it, allowed himself to lower his guard like he had for her. What he was discovering however was a little confronting to say the least. It took a while to come to a final conclusion, almost three hours of mental debate, emotional analysing, and the looking back at the last week before he finally realized the truth. “You see her how you did Aerith, don’t you?” his mind mused almost mockingly, like it was trying to twist the ugly dagger of truth even deeper into his side. There it was, whether he liked it or not, and no matter how he tried he couldn’t deny it either; he had some level of feelings for the golden mare. With every day spent closely together they had grown from a fickle friendship, to an emotional bond as strong as the finest steel, and now it seemed that bond had changed the way he saw her in certain ways, whether he liked it or not. It was still fickle, barely anything as of yet, but it was still there. The situation was almost ironic really. Aerith had been there for him when no else had been, and that was how their relationship had really started; Genesis had been falling further and further into madness and hatred, Angeal was being overwhelmed by the nature of what he was, and he hadn't even met Cloud at that point... but she'd been there for him. Now Spitfire, years later, was doing virtually the same thing, protecting him, guiding him, and being an ever-present friend as he adapted to his new life in a country that was very, very different from Shinra. And now he was stuck as it were, and faced with two choices; the first being to simply admire her, and stay as her close friend and protector. The second was to perhaps, given the apparent acceptance of cross-race partnerships in Equestria, pursue her as a ‘marefriend’ as the ponies said. That brought up the issues of risking the relationship he already had with her, and tearing open the raw wounds the loss of Aerith had left him with. No matter which path he took, the outcome seemed daunting. “Just when I thought things couldn't get any more weird,” he sighed to himself as he touched the cold glass with his fingers. The world outside continuing to hurtle by as he lazily watched it, and began thinking of the Gala that he would be attending the coming night. He first heard the voices stop, then felt something brush his opposite hand, and finally a sudden shift of weight on his grey mattress. He didn’t need to turn to know what had happened, or who it was who had just invaded his pony-sized bed. “You seem... awfully quiet today Zack… something wrong?” Spitfire smirked casually, causing a small grin to momentarily cross his face although he didn’t return her gaze. “I'm… thinking,” he replied dryly as he began tapping the glass, trying to mentally shut out all prior ponderings. “I’m confused is all Spitfire, nothing exactly major, but it's something that I've allowed to get to me.” “Do you want to talk about?” “No.” His reply made her frown both inside and out; to her he seemed so distant and clamed up for some reason, he had been since they had left Cloudsdale, and was even worse when they gotten on the train in Trottingham; it had started off with him seeming a little edgy when she asked him to rub her neck earlier in the day, and now it had gotten to the point of him being almost freighted to touch her. She could understand why his honour made him uneasy at the idea of sharing her bed, even if it was a harmless proposition so he wouldn't have to sleep on the floor, but at the present moment it was like he didn’t want anything to do with her for some reason. “Zack,” she sighed at last as she looked down at her hooves. “I didn’t do anything to make you angry, did I? When I offered to let you share my bed... I only meant it because I thought it’d be comfier then the floor.” The SOLDIER sighed, and at last returned his eyes from the window to her, an unlikeable feeling of guilt seeping into the pit of his stomach as he saw just how sad she looked. “It’s not you Spits, or anything you’ve said… it’s just that I’m stuck, and I don’t know which way to go right now, and it’s just I can’t think straight when I’m… distracted.” Nervousness and lots of it, she guessed. She knew the feeling all too well from prior experience, but of what for him she didn’t know. “Maybe… just forget about it for a while, Zack,” the mare smiled in reply to his words, her mood perking up again while her eyes warmly met his shimmering blue ones. “Just relax and try to be happy. When I started performing, I used to clam up and think of everything that could happen or go wrong for hours before the show, and it only made me stress out even more.” He gave her a slight snort in reply and rubbed his temples in reply, and with a sly grin from Spitfire that suddenly ended up being his undoing. Before he could protest, or do anything to stop her, the golden mare jumped forward, and heavily landed on him like hurled sack of wheat, his head falling back slightly against the wooden bed frame with an audible whack. She pinned a shoulder with each hoof, with Zack's normal composure going out the window when he realized what had just happened. “Would you mind getting off of me?” He asked bluntly, looking down to see her perched on his chest and grinning like a fox, tail flicking to show she was amused at him. She just smirked and lightly nuzzled his cheek, causing him to fluster and feel even more awkward then he already was under the eyes of her watching teammates. “Not unless you lighten up a bit. We’ll be in Canterlot soon, and I don’t want you to be acting like somepony’s pulling your tail the entire time.” He thought over all obvious options he had, of which there were exactly two; the first being to dishonourably and forcefully throw her off his chest, and most likely end the friendship they had there and then, and the other was to go with her request. He gave a final growl of annoyance at his defeat before slumping further into his bed, the feeling of his Buster Sword digging into his back now getting to point of being plain painful. “Fine.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… “Well… welcome to Canterlot Zack,” Spitfire grinned as they disembarked the train with the other Wonderbolts, as well as a herd of other ponies. Her amused grin only widening when she saw the look on his face. Zack had seen his fair share of vibrant cities in his time, but Canterlot was unlike anything he had yet come across in either his old world, or this new one. Literally everything was spotless white from the buildings to the road, and everypony he laid eyes on seemed to pride themselves on formal appearance and neatness. Everywhere he looked the city beamed with life and luxury that he was sure cost a fortune... although personally Zack wasn’t sure if he felt impressed or slightly out of place. What he noticed next, and most above all else, was the royal palace. It was a majestic structure that conquered the skyline, no matter, as he had been told, the time of day or what angle it was observed from, like it literally touched the roof of the world somehow. Spitfire had told him of the ‘awesomeness’ of the royal palace of Celestia and Luna, but to see it there before his eyes made all his earlier mental versions of it seem dull. And then there was also the fact that he would be sleeping there. The final thing he took note of as they began walking together, was the vast number of glaring eyes that were fixed on them all as they passed by, or more to the point on him and his rather large Buster Sword. What was strange, however, was that the passing ponies here weren’t only apparently judging him, but by the looks of things judging everything from his warrior-like appearance, to the volume of his boots on the pavement. Sure, he admitted that he stood out among a group of blue uniformed pegasi, but it didn’t mean everypony had to gawk at him like he was some Wutai barbarian. “Do they have something against what I’m wearing?” Zack asked coldly as he snapped at last, glaring angrily and cracking his knuckles at a passing maroon stallion wearing a suit, who hurriedly bolted from view as fast as possible. “Allow me to correct Spitfire’s earlier statement… welcome to the USUAL Canterlot, Zack,” was the unusually humoured reply from Soarin of all ponies, the stallion, for once, actually sounding like he agreed with the SOLDIER as he trotted up beside him. “Because these ponies live beside the princesses, they kind of see themselves as the pinnacle of Equestrian society… ugh, I’ve always hated it here, everypony you meet or talk too... they act like they’ve got a lump of gold and a big bag of bits shoved halfway up their plots.” “Soarin!” Spitfire scolded before he could finish, the stallion growling to himself but otherwise falling silent, although Zack still found himself grinning none the less. It was a curious thing, Zack’s view on the blue stallion nowadays, one which even he wasn’t sure of anymore; it was undeniable they were of totally different minds, manners, and morals, and yet the days of watching, conversing, and living with the somewhat arrogant pegasus had brought a small amount of understanding between them. Zack wasn’t sure he actually liked Soarin, especially after he had learned of his past with the mare who was currently the occupation of his rational thought, although he no longer felt the urge to cut him in half at the first chance or reason that arose. “But of course, he still knows better than to annoy me,” Zack smirked as he walked, pulling a stray lock of black hair from his face. As they emerged from the main body of Canterlot, Zack saw the main gates of the palace were truly monolithic by any opinion. The guard towers on either side alone looked as tall as some of the hotels in Cloudsdale. The mighty walls which formed the castles perimeter were of similar make, huge white stone blocks that were draped with the coloured flags and banners of the land's two female rulers. “Seems they take security seriously,” Zack muttered aloud, looking either way down the great wall as the headed through the towering main gates. “Canterlot was attacked by changelings last year,” Soarin grimaced, looking by Zack’s account almost like he was shuddering. “And ever since security has been a much higher concern. For your information, those things are downright evil; they feed off love like giant parasites… creep me the buck out just thinking about them.” At the words, Zack noted the rather large volume of spear wielding pony guards about the place, all of whom shot him looks when he passed through the gates and into the royal grounds, thankfully with the rather casual and calm Wonderbolts at his side. Like those he had seen in Cloudsdale, these guards wore shining golden armor and helms, although in comparison they looked stronger, better equipped, and much more open battle suited in general. “Now, if there’s ever been a time you don’t want to destroy anything, Zack, it should be now,” Stormwing chuckled from the front of the small group, the old stallion casting a grin over his shoulder at Zack as he caught his wandering attention. “Yes sir!” Zack replied with a smile and a standard salute, Stormwing and the Wonderbolts all chuckling, while the nearby guards snorted in apparent disgust at their mockery. Abruptly, Spitfire gently bumped his leg with her flank, and looking down Zack saw her grinning up at him... just like Angeal had after he had returned after his first mission. “See… not so hard to relax now and then is it?” It took him a moment to answer, not because he was stuck for words for once, but because his eyes were stuck on her; every time in the last few hours Zack had tried to push his thoughts of the mare from his mind, or if he couldn’t he tried to avoid her all together. Now though he couldn’t escape, his eyes were wandering over her smiling face, through her fiery mane, across her golden wings and down her gently curving back to her rounded hips and flaming tail. “It’s either not so hard…” he replied, folding his arms and happily shaking his black locks. “…or it’s just that maybe I’m not so confused anymore.” She eyed him curiously but said nothing in response, deciding it better that if he wanted to keep his thoughts private, it should stay that way. Before long the small group found themselves out of the royal grounds, and at the foot of the palace’s majestic main doors, each painted deep red in colour and flanked by two deep grey unicorn guards, with a heavily armored white unicorn standing in between them, a few other guards watching on from various positions around the place, all wielding golden spears. The guards themselves Zack didn’t mind, but as he stood in the shadow of mighty white stone archway he felt a tad uneasy, and hence instinctively reached for the security of his Buster Sword... like he was wandering into the house of a supreme magical deity he did not trust in the slightest. He slightly regretted the fact Spitfire had told him the story of Nightmare Moon. “Zack…” a shallow voice hissed, causing him to momentarily look down, and see Fleetfoot standing directly behind him with her head dipped. “I strongly suggest you take your hand off that sword of yours, like, right now.” Zack quickly did as he was told, and not a moment too soon either. The white unicorn was now approaching them all with the other guards, and last thing he wanted to do was make a bad impression, especially at the palace of all places. “Well, well,” the white unicorn guard started, descending the white stairs briskly with the other two guards at his side. “It seems the main attraction just arrived a little early then? So Stormwing, your team ready to give the crowd a show tomorrow night, or are you here now because you needed a last minute training session?” “Cut me a break, Captain, we’re ready as always,” the aged stallion replied with a slight chuckle, his eyes joining the white guards own in admiring the blue uniformed team behind him. “Looking sha - woah!” And as Zack half expected, the stallion stopped talking when their eyes met, or more to the point the stallion at last realized there was a towering, sword-wielding, non-pony creature standing in front of him... that had apparently been there the entire time. For a moment the two of them traded just odd looks, Zack standing perfectly still with his arms folded while he stared off with the heavily armored unicorn, the other two guards watching and standing ready in case they were needed. “Stormwing… I hope you’re aware that one of your team members... isn’t a pony?” Shining Armor asked bluntly, returning his gaze to the now actually grinning grey stallion “Funny that. Captain Shining Armour, this is SOLDIER Zack Fair, whatever the hay that title stands for. Him and his big sword are kind of like the team body guards nowadays, thanks to Spitfire... and I’d highly advise you now to try not to piss him off, I’ve seen what he can do and he’s more than qualified... kinda scary actually.” Shining Armor simply nodded and further inspected Zack, while Spitfire played nervously with her hooves. The SOLDIER doing the same in return to the unicorn, and giving him a similar blank, but judging look; the heavy yet decorative style of his armor and helmet identified him as one of high rank, and hence probably somepony who shared a direct line with princesses. In other words, not somepony to go starting a fight with. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain,” Zack started, allowing the edge of smile to spread across his face, but kept his arms folded. "Like Stormwing said, name's Zack Fair, SOLDIER first class." “Likewise,” was the cautious reply, the royal guard captain running his eyes over Zack like he was sizing him up for a fight. “Look, no offense to either you, or Stormwing, but I can’t just let you into the palace…” “I can tell you now, on my honour, that I won't bring harm to anypony here. My only concern, like your own with the princesses, is the wellbeing of Spitfire and her team.” Shining Armor nodded although his look of concern didn’t fade, it was crystal clear he didn’t exactly approve of Zack being there, which was in a way understandable. “And you swear while you’re here you won’t cause any trouble?” “On my honour.” The captain of the royal guard looked at his hooves for a moment like he was thinking, all other eyes, including the SOLDIER’s, on him while he tapped rapidly at the pavement, like a gambler thinking through the risks. Eventually he shook his head and let out a loud snort through clenched teeth, but it seemed by his facial expression that he had been won over. “I’ll take your word for it… just be aware I’m only allowing you in because your with these guys... and Stormwing trusts you… this is technically a royal invite only event,” the unicorn stallion said bluntly, tapping a hoof on the stone as he eyed Zack. “But I’m going to ask that you give up that sword; only members of the royal guard and night guard are allowed to be armed within the palace.” Zack tensed up, but tried to make it and his growing annoyance as unobvious as possible; he would leave his Buster Sword somewhere safe for Spitfire, and only Spitfire alone, if this royal guard wanted it surrendered then he’d have to take it by force first. “Can't do that captain. This sword is was given to me by my late mentor and friend Angeal in his last moments of life, I can't simply surrender it.” “I respect that, but I'm afraid then that I can’t let you enter the palace,” was the dry reply, Shining armour taking a step back so he and the other two guards formed a barrier between the Zack, the Wonderbolts and the grand doors. “laws are laws, and this one has been set down by the Princess Celestia herself.” For a single second Zack balled his fists and, was actually tempted to reach for the blade and show the watching guards just what he could do. It wouldn’t be pretty, but a few meteors would at least put them and Shining Armor back in their places. “Don’t ruin this,” a quiet voice snapped inside his head just as his hands readied to go for it. “For once in your life Zack put your honour aside, you’ll make a complete embarrassment of yourself, Spitfire, and her team.” The SOLDIER had never listened to voices in his head, and oddly enough usually found himself in trouble for it, but this time it was different and he knew it even if he didn’t like it; personally, he didn’t care if he made an embarrassment of himself, if it meant teaching somepony some proper manners and putting their ego back in check... but the image of Spitfire’s face covered in shame that filled his head tore at him and his conscience. He could never bring himself to hurt her and her reputation like that. With a slow grudging motion, he raised his hand and removed the blade, Spitfire gaping and everypony else watching warily as he gave a gentle sigh, and offered the grip with an outstretched hand to Shining Armour. “Have it then.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… “Why the buck did you do that?” Spitfire snapped abruptly as their escort guard departed, and Zack closed the luxury chamber door behind him, turning to find the mare hovering in front of his face, and looking like she was about to kick his head in. “You just… let him have it?” “Well what the hell was I supposed to do?” Zack groaned in return, throwing his arms in the air to show how confused he was at her sudden mood swing. “Either I handed it over and we sorted things out, or I protested and made a scene in front of your coach and captain of the royal guard! Which would you prefer?” “I would prefer for you to have shown some balls back there and stood up to that prick.” Zack literally froze in shock as she glared at him, if there was one thing he never expected to hear from Spitfire’s mouth, it was something like that directed at him. Before the argument could get any more heated, or Zack retaliate, the pegasus muttered something under her breath and stormed out off, heading through a nearby doorway which Zack guessed led to the bedroom and bathroom, and leaving him standing there and scratching his head, still not entirely sure about what had just happened. Actually... very not sure at what had just happened. Luckily, he didn’t have to wonder for long. A few seconds later she silently trotted back into the room, looking somewhat composed and calm again, but also a little disappointed. “I’m… sorry Zack,” She sighed gently, sitting back on her hinds on the red carpet in front of him, her wings drooped to show she was sorry. “I really shouldn’t be angry at you… but I just know that Angeal’s sword meant a lot to you, and I didn’t expect you to give it up so easily for no reason.” For a moment the SOLDIER just stood there, running his fingers through his black locks as he watches the guilty looking pegasus. He had told her about how Angeal’s sword was important to him, but he never thought she really cared, and now for her to be acting in such a way about it was completely out of character. Above all else though he hated the sight of her being sad. It wasn’t her fault that the palace had strict laws regarding weapons, and it really wasn’t her fault he’d given it up; that had been of his own free will. “Do you want to know the truth?” he asked almost without thinking, meeting her shimmering golden eyes with his own blue ones as he knelt down. “I actually thought about teaching him a lesson then and there, but in honesty Spitfire... I’d rather give up my sword for a few days then tarnish your reputation and make you look bad like that. After all, Stormwing basically dropped you in it, I mean... he did say you were the main reason I was with your team in the first place.” He swore her eyes open to the size of dinner plates at the words. “You… you did it for me? You gave up your sword for me and my reputation?” “And so your team could get into the palace of course,” He shrugged mildly, watching as Spitfire returned to her hooves. “…But yeah, I could never bring myself to embars-HU!” For a moment he just knelt there in utter and total shock, realizing that halfway through his admittance she had jumped forward, and with her uncanny speed, caught him unawares, and had wrapped her soft hooves around his neck in an affectionate embrace. It was only a momentary joining before she broke off, but it was enough to turn both their cheeks crimson. It might've only been a gesture of friendship, but it still felt embarrassing. “I… um… uh,” she stuttered as she stepped back and lowered her wings, her golden cheeks going even brighter red under her uniform. “I’m sorry, Zack… but thanks for doing what you did back there, I mean it.” The SOLDIER just smirked and rolled his eyes. “Don't mention it. Heh, besides, I shouldn't really need it while we're here,” he chuckled with a shake of his head as he stood up again, tussling the mane that stuck out atop her blue uniform as he walked past her, and then headed off to explore the rest of the room. “And by the way, I’m still not sharing your bed.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Notes: Zack and Soarin getting along…what is this sorcery? Anyway this is where the main body of the storyline (other than the romance aspects) starts from. Next chapter I’ll be introducing the main six and antagonists (other than Sephiroth at this stage).