SF4E: "Hullo my readers! 'Tis I, Syrus Fanatic 4-Ever, with another wonderful idea!"
DC: "And I'm just here to be a good Anesan and beta."
SF4E: "This is my first attempt at a Final Fantasy IX fanfic, so basically… I'm a noob. So please do not flame me!"
DC: sets up anti-flame charm "There we go."
SF4E: Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX, even though I adore the game. Characters may be OOC at times. Please R&R but do not flame me… ONTO MAJOR ADOLESCENT GAMER INSANITY!
Chapter I
Unhallowed
Have you ever grown up in a world where everything concerning you is a lie? Have you ever wondered what things would have been like if you weren't born into the royal family of Alexandria? This is what she has wondered her entire life. Did she ask for this? No. Did she ask to be the only child of a former member of Tantalus and the Princess of Alexandria? No. But that's who she is… at least until now.
"The castle isn't safe!" Blank cried, throwing his arms out.
"She's my daughter, Blank; I can't let her leave here! This is the only place of protection she has!" Zidane argued, his blonde tail standing on its end.
Garnet touched his arm, "Zidane, please. Let's at least listen to him."
Blank stomped his foot, "Baku was right about you, Zidane! You never listen to anyone! Especially when it concerns the safety of others! You're hardheaded!"
Zidane's sapphire eyes filled with rage as he said, "You know what, Blank?! I think you're lying!!"
"Zidane, please!" Garnet pleaded fiercely, her chocolate brown orbs staring at him.
"Dagger…" Zidane whispered, calling her by his petname.
Cinna and Marcus both pulled Blank back and waited for Zidane to calm down somewhat before continuing.
"We don't want to see her hurt." Marcus said sincerely. "We care about her. She's your daughter."
Zidane sighed and replied, "When are they planning on taking her?"
Cinna spoke up, "Her sixteenth birthday."
"What do we tell her?" Garnet asked quietly. "And where will she go?"
"Tell her she's gotta leave for a little bit." Blank replied. "And we'll take her to Lindblum. Hide her in the hideout until we can make sure she's safe."
"I should be the one to tell her." Zidane declared.
Garnet nodded. Zidane did have a closer relationship with their child. With a swish of his tail, the Genome then headed out of the hall and towards his daughter's chambers.
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"Hi, Daddy!" She squealed as soon as he was in the room.
"Hey, Alicia." Zidane wrapped his arms around his fifteen year old daughter and smiled at her.
Alicia sat down on the edge of her bed, "What is it, Dad? You look troubled."
Zidane watched Alicia closely. Her eyes were a unique shade of green and sparkled in the moonlight, almost like ice. He could see the rim of sapphire blue around her pupils and the rim of chocolate brown around the edge. Her hair fell to her waist in loose waves, was pulled into a low ponytail, and her parted bangs framed her face like his. The color itself was a rich black with natural strands of blonde through out it. Alicia's face was mirror image of Garnet's except she had Zidane's charming smile. Her black Genome tail curled behind her on the silk sheets.
"Honey, I'm not sure how you're gonna like this but…" the blonde took a deep breath before saying, "You're going with your Uncles Blank, Cinna, and Marcus back to Lindblum for a little while, okay?"
Alicia gave her father a puzzled look, "Am I going to see Uncle Cid?"
Zidane shook his head, "No. I didn't want to tell you this but… bad people are trying to hurt you. We're going to protect you by hiding you in Lindblum. Do you understand?" He said.
"Yes." Alicia's eyes narrowed suddenly. "And I'm not going."
"Alicia, you have to. It's for your own goo-"
"No it is not for my own good and you know it!" Alicia snapped. "You could fight at my age and so could Mom! How come I can't defend myself and stay here? I'm the Princess of Alexandria, Dad; I have duties here in the kingdom!"
Zidane sighed, his hand reaching out, and stroking her face gently.
"I know that, Alicia. But you're still going. And that's final." Zidane said firmly.
"But, Dad-" Alicia began.
"Alicia Dagger Tribal, not once in your life have I been hard on you, don't make me start now!" Zidane's sapphire eyes met her icy green ones. "You're leaving the night of your sixteenth birthday, during the play. Blank is going to smuggle you out on the airship. You will go willingly." Without another word of protest, Alicia watched as Zidane headed for the doors. He paused at them, his gloved hand resting on the frame as he looked over his shoulder, "I'm doing this because I love you, Alicia. It's for your own safety. I don't want to see you hurt."
"Okay, Daddy." Alicia whispered. "I love you."
Zidane gave her a small smile and whispered back, "I love you too."
&&&
"May we present, "I Want to Be Your Canary"!" Baku cried, bowing, before the show began.
"Stupid, no good, cursed, dress…" muttered Alicia, fidgeting in her chair.
Her peach gown was irritating for her tail and was driving her slowly insane.
Steiner gave her a stern look, "Lady Alicia, I beg of thee, please stop complaining and watch the show."
Beatrix gave her a reassuring smile as Zidane chuckled and Garnet giggled. Alicia gave her parents a look of pure agony.
"Now." Zidane said out of the corner of his mouth.
Alicia stood up, requested to be excused, and rushed out of balcony and towards her chambers. She jumped slightly when a Burmecian Dragon Knight appeared from the shadows. She wore a set of magenta armor and helm, carrying a spear.
"Freya!" Alicia gasped in surprise.
Blank appeared wearing a Knights of Pluto uniform, "Don't worry, Princess. Freya here is gonna make sure you get on the ship. Now go and change unless you wanna wear that horrid thing." Alicia laughed at Blank's understanding of her hatred of the gown she wore. "Go."
Freya followed Alicia into the chambers. She quickly stepped behind the changing curtain and opened her wardrobe. Happily, she discarded her long peach gown and pulled off the tiara. She then donned a pair of black traveling boots, dark green pants, a silver sleeveless tunic that fell to her knees with slits up the thighs over a longsleeved white baggy sleeved silk shirt, a black leather belt that hung over one hip, and a pair of fingerless dark green gloves. She removed the pendent from around her neck and slipped it into her traveling bag, sheathed her two daggers, and tied a black ribbon around her neck. She then hastily pulled her long locks into its low ponytail. Hoisting her bag over her shoulder, she then rushed out of her chambers to find Freya and Blank waiting.
"Took ya long enough." Blank teased and patted her on the head. "Let's go, Princess."
Alicia nodded slightly as Freya put a cloak around her shoulders and pulled the hood up to hide her face.
&&&
Garnet squeezed Zidane's hand when Cinna gave them the signal that Alicia was onboard safely. She was about to give a sigh of relief when screams echoed from the crowd. A giant fireball blasted overhead, Zidane and Garnet diving onto the floor to safety, and the fireball struck the stage of the airship.
"The enemy!" Beatrix cried, before she hastily began giving orders to the Alexandrian Knights under her command. "Hurry! Take your positions!"
"DADDY!" Zidane leapt to his feet at the sound of his daughter's scream.
"ALICIA!" He shouted with Garnet as Steiner and Beatrix cried, "PRINCESS!"
Alicia was on the stage, the hood of her silver traveling cloak had fallen off, and a strange creature was holding her own dagger to her throat. She looked absolutely terrified. The creature had shoulder-blade length shaggy violet hair, black fur covering its entire body, and large pointed ears. Gold slitted eyes darted around, silver fangs gleaming in the light. The creature wore strange violet clothing that consisted off a longsleeved turtleneck tunic, traveling pants, and combat boots. Strange symbols were down the front of his torso and down his sleeves.
"DADDY!" Alicia screamed again. "DADDY, HELP ME!"
Garnet grabbed his arm, "Zidane, hurry!" She cried hysterically.
Zidane's eyes darted towards the rope above him. Jumping, he grabbed it, and began to slide down towards the airship.
"Release my daughter!" Zidane cried, unsheathing his own daggers.
Blank had his broad sword drawn, Freya her spear, Marcus his sword, and Cinna his hammer.
"Be careful! That Dévor looks nasty!" Marcus cried in Zidane.
"Is that the tribe that's been tryin' to take Alicia?" Cinna asked.
"They're creatures that escaped from Terra! I think they've been hunting Summoners!" Zidane cried back. "They attacked Eiko a few months ago! She's been in recovery ever since! If not for Vivi, then she'd be a goner!"
The Dévor took a clawed finger and ran it down Alicia's cheek bone, slicing it open, and then licked the blood off her face. She trembled violently in his arms. Zidane's eyes widened in rage and he began to glow an array of colors.
"He's goin' into a trance!" Blank cried.
The Dévor removed the dagger from Alicia's throat, sheathed it, and pushed her to the side. A cage of violet energy surrounded her as she landed on the stage. Gasping in fear, the adolescent pressed her fingertips to her cheek, her eyes watching her father.
"Dad!" She cried but her cry was muffled.
Zidane attacked the Dévor as soon as Alicia was in safety's arms. Attack after attack until his trance was no more. Blank, Cinna, and Marcus got in a few blows too. Giving out a roar of pain, the Dévor then disappeared in a violet hole he created. The cage faded away and Alicia was scooped into Zidane's arms, him stroking her locks, and coaxing her.
"I-I was so s-scared, Daddy!" sobbed Alicia. "He just came out of no where!"
Baku came stumbling out, "We gotta get movin', Zidane! Is she okay?"
Zidane nodded and looked at his Tantalus brothers, "You take care of her or else." He said, before he picked Alicia up like she weighed nothing, and handed her to Blank. "If anything happens to her, I will kill you. You are responsible for Alicia, Blank. I'm trusting you with the one thing that matters to me most next to Garnet."
"You can count on me, Zidane." Blank whispered.
"Dad…" Alicia held her hand out to him.
Zidane took it and kissed it softly, "I'll see you soon, Alicia. Promise." Breaking into a run, Zidane then took a leap off the airship, landing gracefully on a lower balcony.
"Dad!? No!! Don't leave me!! Daddy!!" Alicia tried squirming out of Blank's arms, but he was too strong. "DADDY!!"
Baku tore his eyes away from the painful sight, "Get her inside, dammit!" He ordered.
She kicked, she screamed, she tried biting, anything to get her back to her parents' arms. But no matter what she tried, Alicia was taken inside the airship, and brought to a room that had a couple of bunk beds and regular ones.
"Blank, geroff me, dammit! Blank!" Alicia shouted, as Blank forced her back onto the bed. "Now!! I want my parents!! I don't want to go!! Get off!!"
After she socked him in the mouth, Blank rubbed his jaw for a second, giving Alicia the chance to take off towards the door. Blank was faster and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back, and sitting on the bed, her in his lap. Blank wrapped his arms around her, pinning hers to her sides. Alicia started saying a series of curses under her breath, squirming to get out of Blank's grasp.
"I betcha I know who taught you those." Blank smirked, listening to her curses. "Zidane sure does have a mouth on him when he gets ticked." Alicia's struggling lessened. "C'mon, Ali, knock it off. We're already over the Evil Forest by now. There's no way you can get back to Alexandria without hijacking the airship. And frankly, you're not in the condition to take down Marcus and Cinna."
Despite the fact he was twice her age, Blank was more like an older brother to her than an uncle. His words had a strange calming effect on Alicia. Her eyes closed and she went limp in his arms. Blank then gently laid her on the bed and brushed her hair out of her face.
"I'm sorry, Ali." Blank whispered in Alicia's ear before placing a chaste kiss on her cheek. "But this is for your own good."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" She murmured.
"'Cause it's the truth." He replied, "Get some sleep."
The redhead went to leave but Alicia grabbed his arm and said, "Blank?"
He turned to her, "Yeah?"
"Why do the Dévor want to kidnap me?" Alicia dared to ask.
"You have the power they need. That's all I know." Blank replied.
"Promise me we'll find out why…"
"I promise, Ali."
&&&
The Dévor stumbled out of the transport hole and landed weakly at two other's feet. One was a female, the other another male. The female's shaggy blue locks fell to her waist and her own gold eyes widened as she knelt next to her fallen companion. The other male had shaggy green hair that stopped at the nape of his neck. Both wore strange clothing like his that matched their hair color.
"Esperetta…" the violet haired one gasped.
"Hush now, Linden." Esperetta replied, "We'll get you to the healer. Help me, Zealyn." The green haired male nodded before helping her pull him to his unsteady feet. "What happened?"
Linden gasped in pain, "The Genome… he stopped me from taking her…"
Esperetta held him close, "It'll be alright."
Zealyn headed for a black haired guard and said, "I'm going to report the failure. Do not worry, you will not be punished, Linden. You will be rewarded for your attempt." The Dévor only prayed that reports on the rogue Dévor being captured would be awaiting him.
&&&
DC: "End of chapter!"
SF4E: "I was working really hard on this. Especially when it came to creating a new race and threat to Gaia."
DC: "Please do not flame, but please review!"
SF4E: "Ciao!"