Note: All characters, places, ect belong to Square Enix, not me.

Every Good Summoner

By Zero9grl

Chapter 1: Sleeping Beauty

I looked across the room. Garnet was still there, that look of pain still etched on her face. There were very few times she wasn't by his side, silently willing him to go on living. Always her hand clasped his, her knuckles white, as if he might disappear if she let go.

The ornate mahogany door to the room opened and an Alexandrian soldier stuck her head in, an apologetic look on her face. "Your Highness, I'm very sorry to bother you, but the Bulmecian delegates are here and awaiting your presence in the throne room," she said. Garnet nodded, slowly relinquishing his hand and even slower to stand. She gave me a reassuring smile, now that she'd remembered I was there, and followed the soldier out, the door softly closing behind them. That smile had been full of worry and sorrow.

Rising, I made my way over to the bed, tucking a strand of purple hair behind an ear. My gaze fell upon his calm face. Even so close to death his expression held confidence. "Zidane, you of all people should know to never make a lady worry," I softly chided. Zidane didn't stir, but continued to breath in shallow gasps, his chest rising and falling slowly as he struggled for each breath. Sadly I brushed sweat drenched locks out of his eyes. His skin was so pale and clammy; all due to the fever that refused to stop plaguing him. A sigh escaped my lips. Things had been hard before, but this was the first time I hadn't had Zidane there to help me through the pain ever since that day he came to Madain Sari.

It's been ten years since the day we defeated Kuja. A year afterwards, Zidane came back to us. We were all so happy. Ever since, no matter what happened, there has always been a light on the horizon; there has always been hope.

Vivi went back to Black Mage Village where he lives with the other black mages. Mikoto and the genomes also reside there. Amarant went off on his own to who knows where, though I have seen him once or twice with that bounty huntress, Lani, in Madain Sari. Quina stayed on at Alexandria Castle as Head Chef. Steiner and Beatrix married and still run their respective guard groups along with being Garnet's generals. Freya returned to Bulmecia with Sir Frately and has since traveled to many places in his company. Puck still goes wherever he pleases, more often than not playing the part of a brat, though lately he's had to help out more and more at Bulmecia. Marcus, Bakku, Blank and the rest of Tantalus regrouped in Lindbulm and sometimes come to Alexandria to perform plays and tease their former member.

As for Garnet and Zidane, Garnet rules Alexandria as queen. Zidane helps, though often times he works as a 'delegate' and goes off to visit everyone when he's not being her 'personal body guard'. They never did officially marry. Not because they don't want to, just due to all the trouble that would cause with Zidane becoming a royal consort. I think they might have held a secret wedding of their own though, if those rings they wear all the time mean anything; of course they're such ordinary rings that who knows, maybe I'm imagining things.

Me, I was adopted by Cid and Hilda and have become something of a lady I guess. I do still visit the moogles at Madain Sari of course, though. Madain Sari will always hold a special place in my heart.

Things have changed so much, yet in some ways they're exactly the same as they were ten years ago. Steiner's armor still clanks, Garnet still gets mad at Zidane about past acquaintances, Vivi and I are still the 'kids' of our group. Actually, I think that last one is what upsets me the most. To Zidane I'm still the six-year-old girl who plays with moogles. He doesn't see that I'm now sixteen-years-old and practically a lady. I know I said long ago that I was giving up on him, but the truth is I gave up on ever being the one for him. I never stopped loving him with all my heart, which is why it's so painful to see him and Garnet together. I know they're meant for each other, but I can't help the way I feel. Zidane, you're my only one, did you ever know that?

"Lady Eiko." I looked up. "A guest arrived for you. I showed them to your room," an Alexandrian soldier said. One was always outside the door, just in case a ninja or something decided to have a try at finishing Zidane and any of his visitors off. I nodded and quickly took my hand off Zidane's brow. "Th-thanks," I stuttered, blushing profusely and trying to hide it. After all this time I guess I'm still something of a country bumpkin. Quickly walking past the soldier who gave me a warm, reassuring smile -she must have thought I was embarrassed that she had seen me showing so much worry- I tucked my hair behind my ears; a habit I picked up when I began to grow it long and happen to do when I'm nervous or embarrassed.

Upon entering the guest room I had been given at Alexandria Castle –or my Alexandrian Room as my father, Cid, and I like to call it seeing as I visit so often- a loud 'kupo!' filled the room and a furry bulk hit me about the knees. Looking down I gasped at the familiar pink body. "Morrison!" I shouted, kneeling down to embrace one of the moogles who had looked after me when I had lived in Madain Sari. "What are you doing here?" I asked once we had calmed down and were sitting, belatedly wondering if something had happened to the moogles at Madain Sari.

"I just came to visit. Stiltzkin came through recently and told us what was going on. We knew you'd be sad. Everyone wanted to come, but it's nut season. They all say they hope Zidane gets well soon," she explained, sipping from a cup of tea. I had to smile: I could just picture the zeal of the moogles back at Madain Sari over the idea of coming to cheer me up. "Thanks Morrison," I said. "You're all so nice to think of me like this."

"Kupo! Of course we think of you! We're family!" Morrison exclaimed, flapping her wings in the passion of her statement. It took a few more sips of tea for her to settle back down. "Tell me though, kuppo. How is Zidane? Stilzkin only knew that he's sick and that Queen Garnet has been very sad of late."

I looked at the table for a moment, fighting back tears as I remembered Zidane's pale skin and shallow breaths. Finally I said, "He's…not well…" Morrison patted my hand comfortingly. "Tell me," she said and I nodded, swallowing the misery in my throat.

"It was two weeks ago; he was going to join a delegation to Lindbulm. Often when he goes, he'll go off on his own and rejoin the delegation at their destination. I was really happy that he was coming to see me and Father and Mother," I began and Morrison nodded –she knew about my adoptive parents, the regents of Lindbulm.

Continuing, I said, "Three days after they left Alexandria, the delegation arrived, only, Zidane wasn't with them. Sometimes he arrives a day late, so no one was really worried, though I was disappointed he hadn't arrived that day. We waited all throughout the week, but he didn't show up. Father was getting worried and was thinking about sending a letter to Garnet, asking if Zidane had changed his mind about coming or something. I was worried too, but I thought maybe he had gone off with Tantalus, only, when I asked Marcus if he'd seen Zidane, he said none of them had…

"Then, the beginning of this week, North Gate sent a message saying Zidane had appeared. Normally they wouldn't have said anything, but something had happened to him. They didn't know what, but he had staggered in, half-delusional, believing he was talking to Garnet. They recognized him immediately. Upon entering he collapsed. He's been unconscious ever since. He was taken back to Alexandria right away and I came here to see how he was doing…"

Here I stopped, failure writing itself across my mind. Morrison patted my hand sympathetically. After awhile I took a stuttering breath and continued on. "He has a high fever. He's always sweating and his skin is pale and clammy. His breathing is shallow and at night he acquires a rasp…We've tried all sorts of cures…Antidotes, Remedies, Curaga, Esuna…Oh Morrison, I don't know what to do! He's dying and nothing we do seems to help! I won't let him go without a fight, b-but I have nothing left to fight with!" I wailed, lowering myself into Morrison's outstretched arms just as I'd done only once before: the day my grandpa died.

Morrison crooned softly and stroked my hair just as she had then: though I had to shift my weight after her first few choked gasps for air. We sat like that for quite a while as I calmed down. I had started to fall into a pleasurable stupor when Morrison exclaimed, "Kupopo!" I made a questioning noise and looked at her.

"I forgot," she said, rustling through her traveling bag. Pulling out an old book, she handed it to me saying, "I found this book while cleaning a bit ago. It was hidden behind a mountain of other books. I thought you might like to see it."

Opening the well-worn volume, I immediately recognized my grandpa's handwriting.

Determination is something every good summoner should have. Without determination there is no hope and without hope nothing may be accomplished.

I turned the page, surprised.

Every good summoner should never give up. As long as one believes, they can accomplish anything.

Again I turned the page, amazed. It was almost as if the book knew all my doubts and knew exactly how to dispel them too.

The most important thing every good summoner should remember is that you are never alone. Your eidolons are always there inside of you, willing to help you through life, just as a summoner is always there for their eidolons.

I smiled. A summoner is never alone…

"Well, anything good?" Morrison prompted. I nodded, wiping my wet face on my sleeve. "Thanks Morrison. This helps a lot. Really."