Original version: March 14th, 2010
Re-edited version published: October 16th, 2011
Extended version published: October 16th, 2011
Summary
Life is from birth to death. Living is what each of us makes of the time in between.
Disclaimer
Final Fantasy IX (and all related content) belongs to Square Soft/Square Enix.
(Honestly? If I owned that company there would be a superb FFIX remake!)
Prologue
"There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go."
Author Unknown
"I failed to protect you once, I won't leave your side this time!"
"Blank..." the blond watched him with a stern expression that softened slowly. Years of battle and guild had covered his warm and adventurous spirit with a hard shell of emptiness and responsibility.
"I agree," Zidane looked troubled," but I don't see an alternative. On the long run, Gaia will be destroyed, unless we persuade them to abandon Terra!"
"Why would they even listen to you two? That's suicide!"
"They wont!" a quiet voice put in and all heads turned to young man.
"But they will listen to us! We are outside the hierarchy, they'll have to."
"Jonah, Robin, no! There is no way –" Zidane roared, mimicking his bro's glare. This was their battle, not their children's.
Many years earlier.
It was very late at night in Alexandria and the streets were left empty after another busy day and its citizens still had a couple of peaceful hours until the sunlight would wash the darkness away and present them with a new day full of surprises.
Everyone dreamed away or so one would think; General Beatrix knew better. As the proud warrior walked through the abandoned corridors of the castle, her candle being the only light source at sight, she already knew what she would find once she reached the small chamber at the end of the stone hallway. After being permitted inside the royal study, her eyes focused on a slender girl who seemed more than a little lost on the big, heavily ornamented chair in front of a neatly kept desk.
"Your Highness," the woman said in an even tone, "midnight has passed. Maybe you should rest yourself, tomorrow's agenda will be very demanding."
"Thank you, Beatrix." said the young queen with a tired smile, which only darkened the rings underneath her eyes. "I will retire to my bed chamber as early as this matter is dealt with. You may leave and get some rest yourself."
"As you wish. Good night." The General bowed and left the room, knowing she would return in an hour or two to carry the young monarch into the royal bed chamber herself.
The brunette regent rubbed her eyes, stifled a yawn and forced her tired mind to focus on the matters at hand. She hated to cause the people around her to worry. However she knew she could not help it this time, for she needed to keep herself occupied. Any lack of occupation would leave her mind time to wander. And she knew from experiences it would drift to thoughts of him...
"Focus!" she chided herself and continued working for another chime before her consciousness was finally claimed by a dreamless slumber.
Half a moon later, a very pale Garnet Till Alexandros closed her chamber doors in a rush, turned the key and starred at the worn, fawn colored envelope in her hands.
"Queen regent Garnet Till Alexandros XVII, Southern continent, Alexandria."
The formal addressee was nothing out of the ordinary for she received several letters in this fashion every day. But those aristocrats sent their message boys to deliver them. This one however had been given to her by a very tired looking Moogle who, although he could hardly stand, had insisted loudly on handing the document to "No one but tha' Queen herself, kupo!".
At first she had expected another one of Vivi's monthly reports about the Blackmages' progress, but dropped that thought as soon as she noticed the unfamiliar, almost too perfect handwriting on the front.
The endless possibilities of the parchment's contend filled her with dread and overwhelming fear. She was unaware of the alarmed glances she had received from her guards and hardly remembered her (in retrospective very rude) cancellation of all the day's meetings.
Shaking hands opened the undecorated seal.
Author's Note
This is the re-published version of the prologue. What did I change? Mainly false spelling and grammar. I also added a small scene and smoothed out weird sounding sentences.
