Walk Within the Souls
A Final Fantasy Fanfic by Chris Henry
-----------------------------------------Introduction-----------------------------------------
This Final Fantasy fanfiction is based around the events after Final Fantasy IX. The characters in the game have all now gone their different ways, and have new lives that they are leading. Zidane is King of Alexandria, alongside Queen Garnet. Vivi is working as a blacksmith, using his powerful magic in his job. Freya Crescent is now in the process of trying to rebuild Burcemia, alongside Sir Fratley and others from all over the world who were sent to help in the rebuilding process. Steiner and Beatrix are now engaged to be married, and still watch over the Queen in Alexandria. Aramant travels the world still, looking for a reason to live, and Eiko is now living in Lindblum with Regent Cid and Hilda. Quina works in the kitchens of Alexandria Castle, making food for everyone in the castle as the Head Chef. Tantalus have stopped thieving, and have become the private guard of Zidane and Garnet. Baku is the leader, and the band of thieves have been renamed The Calcutta Knights. The story starts in Lindblum, just before the Festival of the Hunt begins. It is two years after the end of Final Fantasy IX.
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Chapter One - Living For The Hunt
"Look at it... doesn't Lindblum look fantastic from the air?"
Zidane looked around and smiled at his Queen. It was now two years since they had all come out alive against Kuja and Necron, but the memories of these events had long since passed them all by. Life was slowly returning to normal in the world of Gaia. Dagger turned around and sighed as her hair bristled in the wind that was circulating around the Hilda Garde 4.
"Hey Dagger, what's up? I thought you were excited at the prospect of getting away."
She placed her hands upon the edge of the ship and looked out over the huge city that stood right in front of them.
"Yeah, I am... I don't know, I'm just tired I guess. It's been a long trip."
"Don't worry too much, you should go get some rest. You can sleep in the castle when we make it to Lindblum."
Zidane yawned and grinned at her.
"Of course... I'm feeling sort of sleepy myself..."
Garnet laughed and kicked him in the leg. Zidane cried out and fell to the floor in apparent agony.
"I'm sorry Zidane! I didn't mean..." she said as she kneeled down beside him. Suddenly Zidane laughed and grabbed her, holding her tight around her waist. The two rolled about the deck, and from Steiner's viewpoint at the top of the ship it looked like insanity had gripped the two.
"What the...? What is her majesty doing?!" he said as he went to move out the door and down to the deck.
"Hey Adelbert, leave them be... can't you see they want their private time?"
The voice behind him was that of Beatrix, Steiner's bride to be. She moved over to him and held him back.
"Beatrix! The Queen shouldn't act in such a way! And the King also..."
"Come on, loosen up. This is the first private time those two have had in a month. Let them enjoy it. And anyway, we're all alone up here, aren't we...?"
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The ship moved it's way into Lindblum airport, and the party aboard the ship got ready to disembark. Waiting for them all was Regent Cid, Hilda and Eiko. Once Dagger and Zidane made it off the ship the excited young girl ran straight for them both.
"HEY! What's up!" she shouted.
Zidane laughed. It had been over a year since he had seen anyone that had fought with him against Kuja.
"I'm great Eiko! How about you?"
"Fine! What bout you Dagger?"
"Great... exhausted but fine... Uncle Cid, is there anywhere that I could get some rest? I'm awfully tired..."
Regent Cid signalled to one of his men.
"Troa, take Queen Garnet to her quarters."
Troa nodded and asked the Queen to walk behind him. Zidane walked up to Regent Cid and shook his hand.
"Hmm... so I see you have some manners this time Zidane."
Zidane half-laughed and half-growled. Regent Cid didn't know which one to acknowledge so he played it safe.
"Well, it's good to see you, it's been a long time."
"Yeah, two years... but I'm looking forward to the festival, I can't wait."
Regent Cid nodded, and Hilda stood forward.
"Some of your friends arrived a little while ago... Vivi and Freya are in the guest room."
Zidane's face lit up with excitement.
"They are?! Wow! That's fantastic... I haven't seen them in ages!"
Suddenly Baku walked off the Hilda Garde 4, accompanied by The Calcutta Knights. Cinna and Blank walked over to Zidane and brought out their swords.
"H...Hey! What's this guys?!"
"We thought you might want a little practise later on, for the festival and all." replied Blank.
"Yeah, my hammer is dying to get back into action again!" said Cinna as he shimmied from side to side.
"I'd like that but not now guys... Vivi and Freya are waiting for me. Do you want to come see them?"
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"So what have you been up to Freya?" Zidane said as he sat opposite his two friends. Freya looked different to two years ago, her hair had grown longer and she no longer wore her red cloak. She now wore a cloak which was emblazened with the colours of the crest of Burcemia, a royal blue and red along the bottom. Vivi looked a lot bigger than he had before, but apart from that nothing much had changed about him.
"Trying to rebuild Burcemia... it's a heavy job but we're getting there. Sir Fratley is a miracle worker, he really knows what he's doing."
Zidane smiled. He knew how much she cared for that man.
"How about you Vivi? What have you been doing with yourself?"
"Well I... sort of have a wife now..."
"WHAT!? But... but...! You're married!?" Zidane screamed.
There were gasps all around the room.
"Master Vivi! Congratulations!" Steiner shouted to him. Zidane looked up and then back at his friend.
"Yeah...! Well done... but you're only 11! You're married!?"
"Yeah... and I have... kids too..."
Zidane nearly balked completely at this revelation, as did the entire room.
"KIDS?! HOW COULD YOU HAVE KIDS?! NO WAY!" he screeched.
"Sorry...!" replied Vivi.
"No don't be! It's cool... just a shock!" said Zidane as he looked at his little friend. He had sure missed a lot.
"Are you participating in the Festival then Zidane?" asked Freya.
"Yup, wouldn't miss it. You guys?"
Vivi and Freya nodded, and Zidane looked around the room.
"Everyone here is gonna be fighting... it should be a lot of fun. Even Dagger's going to have a go this time."
Steiner ran up to the front.
"No! I absolutely forbid it! The Queen can't fight in such a place! She could get hurt!"
"Steiner!!! Who's the King here!? Dagger will do what she wants!"
Steiner got ready to reply, but Zidane's look drove him off, and besides it wasn't his place to annoy the monarch. Suddenly Regent Cid walked into the room.
"Well, it could get interesting. There are so many entrants for the Festival this year we're going to have to have a qualifing round."
Blank turned around and looked at Regent Cid.
"What do you mean by that Sir?"
"We will have to put the entrants against each other to get the 16 fighters for the event. That's the only way we can do it. We have 66 entrants now, so there will be four drawn at random to fight in two separate battles. One on one. Then the winners will go into a draw of 64, which will go down to 32, and then 16. The last 16 will qualify for the Festival of the Hunt."
"So who will be fighting first?" asked Eiko.
"All of you come to the reception room, and I will make the draw."
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A Final Fantasy Fanfic by Chris Henry
-----------------------------------------Introduction-----------------------------------------
This Final Fantasy fanfiction is based around the events after Final Fantasy IX. The characters in the game have all now gone their different ways, and have new lives that they are leading. Zidane is King of Alexandria, alongside Queen Garnet. Vivi is working as a blacksmith, using his powerful magic in his job. Freya Crescent is now in the process of trying to rebuild Burcemia, alongside Sir Fratley and others from all over the world who were sent to help in the rebuilding process. Steiner and Beatrix are now engaged to be married, and still watch over the Queen in Alexandria. Aramant travels the world still, looking for a reason to live, and Eiko is now living in Lindblum with Regent Cid and Hilda. Quina works in the kitchens of Alexandria Castle, making food for everyone in the castle as the Head Chef. Tantalus have stopped thieving, and have become the private guard of Zidane and Garnet. Baku is the leader, and the band of thieves have been renamed The Calcutta Knights. The story starts in Lindblum, just before the Festival of the Hunt begins. It is two years after the end of Final Fantasy IX.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter One - Living For The Hunt
"Look at it... doesn't Lindblum look fantastic from the air?"
Zidane looked around and smiled at his Queen. It was now two years since they had all come out alive against Kuja and Necron, but the memories of these events had long since passed them all by. Life was slowly returning to normal in the world of Gaia. Dagger turned around and sighed as her hair bristled in the wind that was circulating around the Hilda Garde 4.
"Hey Dagger, what's up? I thought you were excited at the prospect of getting away."
She placed her hands upon the edge of the ship and looked out over the huge city that stood right in front of them.
"Yeah, I am... I don't know, I'm just tired I guess. It's been a long trip."
"Don't worry too much, you should go get some rest. You can sleep in the castle when we make it to Lindblum."
Zidane yawned and grinned at her.
"Of course... I'm feeling sort of sleepy myself..."
Garnet laughed and kicked him in the leg. Zidane cried out and fell to the floor in apparent agony.
"I'm sorry Zidane! I didn't mean..." she said as she kneeled down beside him. Suddenly Zidane laughed and grabbed her, holding her tight around her waist. The two rolled about the deck, and from Steiner's viewpoint at the top of the ship it looked like insanity had gripped the two.
"What the...? What is her majesty doing?!" he said as he went to move out the door and down to the deck.
"Hey Adelbert, leave them be... can't you see they want their private time?"
The voice behind him was that of Beatrix, Steiner's bride to be. She moved over to him and held him back.
"Beatrix! The Queen shouldn't act in such a way! And the King also..."
"Come on, loosen up. This is the first private time those two have had in a month. Let them enjoy it. And anyway, we're all alone up here, aren't we...?"
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The ship moved it's way into Lindblum airport, and the party aboard the ship got ready to disembark. Waiting for them all was Regent Cid, Hilda and Eiko. Once Dagger and Zidane made it off the ship the excited young girl ran straight for them both.
"HEY! What's up!" she shouted.
Zidane laughed. It had been over a year since he had seen anyone that had fought with him against Kuja.
"I'm great Eiko! How about you?"
"Fine! What bout you Dagger?"
"Great... exhausted but fine... Uncle Cid, is there anywhere that I could get some rest? I'm awfully tired..."
Regent Cid signalled to one of his men.
"Troa, take Queen Garnet to her quarters."
Troa nodded and asked the Queen to walk behind him. Zidane walked up to Regent Cid and shook his hand.
"Hmm... so I see you have some manners this time Zidane."
Zidane half-laughed and half-growled. Regent Cid didn't know which one to acknowledge so he played it safe.
"Well, it's good to see you, it's been a long time."
"Yeah, two years... but I'm looking forward to the festival, I can't wait."
Regent Cid nodded, and Hilda stood forward.
"Some of your friends arrived a little while ago... Vivi and Freya are in the guest room."
Zidane's face lit up with excitement.
"They are?! Wow! That's fantastic... I haven't seen them in ages!"
Suddenly Baku walked off the Hilda Garde 4, accompanied by The Calcutta Knights. Cinna and Blank walked over to Zidane and brought out their swords.
"H...Hey! What's this guys?!"
"We thought you might want a little practise later on, for the festival and all." replied Blank.
"Yeah, my hammer is dying to get back into action again!" said Cinna as he shimmied from side to side.
"I'd like that but not now guys... Vivi and Freya are waiting for me. Do you want to come see them?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So what have you been up to Freya?" Zidane said as he sat opposite his two friends. Freya looked different to two years ago, her hair had grown longer and she no longer wore her red cloak. She now wore a cloak which was emblazened with the colours of the crest of Burcemia, a royal blue and red along the bottom. Vivi looked a lot bigger than he had before, but apart from that nothing much had changed about him.
"Trying to rebuild Burcemia... it's a heavy job but we're getting there. Sir Fratley is a miracle worker, he really knows what he's doing."
Zidane smiled. He knew how much she cared for that man.
"How about you Vivi? What have you been doing with yourself?"
"Well I... sort of have a wife now..."
"WHAT!? But... but...! You're married!?" Zidane screamed.
There were gasps all around the room.
"Master Vivi! Congratulations!" Steiner shouted to him. Zidane looked up and then back at his friend.
"Yeah...! Well done... but you're only 11! You're married!?"
"Yeah... and I have... kids too..."
Zidane nearly balked completely at this revelation, as did the entire room.
"KIDS?! HOW COULD YOU HAVE KIDS?! NO WAY!" he screeched.
"Sorry...!" replied Vivi.
"No don't be! It's cool... just a shock!" said Zidane as he looked at his little friend. He had sure missed a lot.
"Are you participating in the Festival then Zidane?" asked Freya.
"Yup, wouldn't miss it. You guys?"
Vivi and Freya nodded, and Zidane looked around the room.
"Everyone here is gonna be fighting... it should be a lot of fun. Even Dagger's going to have a go this time."
Steiner ran up to the front.
"No! I absolutely forbid it! The Queen can't fight in such a place! She could get hurt!"
"Steiner!!! Who's the King here!? Dagger will do what she wants!"
Steiner got ready to reply, but Zidane's look drove him off, and besides it wasn't his place to annoy the monarch. Suddenly Regent Cid walked into the room.
"Well, it could get interesting. There are so many entrants for the Festival this year we're going to have to have a qualifing round."
Blank turned around and looked at Regent Cid.
"What do you mean by that Sir?"
"We will have to put the entrants against each other to get the 16 fighters for the event. That's the only way we can do it. We have 66 entrants now, so there will be four drawn at random to fight in two separate battles. One on one. Then the winners will go into a draw of 64, which will go down to 32, and then 16. The last 16 will qualify for the Festival of the Hunt."
"So who will be fighting first?" asked Eiko.
"All of you come to the reception room, and I will make the draw."
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