Angel of Death
By Tera
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Chapter One- Better Dreams
As he stumbled weakly across the stone chamber away from the two children, Zidane Tribal was without a comforting thought. And despite shunning the two brats they continued to follow him, running after their beloved shadow. The twits still expected him to smile and comfort them like the old Zidane would do, but how could he? How could he lift his cheeks up after what the graying wizard had told him? That he was created to kill the ones he loved, all the people he had protected and watched over… To help and to care-- that was his nature. He was no killer; in fact as he thought about it more he wanted to spread life, not destroy it with a master scheme. But, the wizard was right, that was his purpose and he would be no more of a burden to these people that he was meant to kill.
Zidane held his dagger in hand and proceeded to limp away from the terrible truth, locking out the ignorant children that ran to catch up. He didn't know what to do. The Angel of Death could not be Garland's slave for Terra or the protector of his friends. He wouldn't be able to see the Princess' brown eyes light up or put his arms around her when she cried. No more of the little black mage he had grown so fond of, his long lost friend, a stupid knight or the lonely child. But, they wouldn't be replaced with Garland or his silver haired brother, Kuja.
He saw some more of his friends ahead, the stupid knight couldn't handle a simple battle though neither could Freya, the dragon knight. Steiner quickly took a strike at the mass of tentacles and flesh, his rusty armor clanked like usual and Zidane sighed. It all became slower though. The pace, his heart beat and vision duller. He lost more feeling in his extremities, perhaps his tail fell limp and his hands became weighed down by the weapon.
"What's happening to me…?" Zidane muttered as he became further hunched over. His breaths we're becoming weaker and shorter, but maybe it was better this way. Then he wouldn't have to leave anyone, it would all just go black…
I won't leave you behind Zidane… my Angel of Death.
* * *
Garnet heard a terrible noise when she awoke. It was a scream of some sort, a high-pitched screech that reminder her of an animal or something similar and made her frown with concern. She wiped her hair from her face and some sweat, wishing that it was short again as she did occasionally. But, she was a Queen. Her attire must be formal and her hair had to look the part along with it. Things were not the same by any means though she did like taking a break from it all and converse like she was the simple country girl Zidane could love. Or perhaps he loved her the fact she had been a Princess, her innocence, how naïve she was to everything and her appearance. So he could take complete care of the lovely canary. Is that what he thought of her?
She couldn't think any longer as a head rested on her bedding of the canopy bed. It was blonde, tan and terrified beyond belief. Her Zidane. The Princess had made him sleep on the floor after he had been back for only a week. She wanted to know him better and she felt the many years they had been apart needed an explanation.
"I had to come home to you."
She still didn't know what he had meant. Home to her? Wouldn't that mean years ago? What had taken so long, what had he gone through? Had he thought of her every night, making his way to his Dagger, longing for her as she had him? As the Queen thought of this she helped the tired man up onto her bed and the soft feather down slumped down with the added weight where she propped him against her left side.
"I do believe this is the closest we've ever been…" The scared boy said. She sighed at this and noticed his damp forehead, which she wiped clean with some of the bedding.
"All you think of is girls," Garnet said shaking her head.
"No, all I think of is… you." He looked up, his body shaking, but he still managed to crack a reassuring smile for her. "You know this bed is awful comfy, I wish I could sleep in it…"
"Why Zidane, are you trying to seduce the Queen of Alexandria? Shame on you!" The girl laughed in spite of herself. She knew something was still wrong with him, but he had this way of worrying about others before himself. Even now she knew if he told her what had happened he would see her concern and she knew he wouldn't want to do that at all costs.
"Zidane, just tell me what's wrong...please." Her eyes grew more serious with her tone and his eyes closed for a few seconds. Why did he have to worry her? He had had them before, it was just Garland and that moment had changed him in away. He had lost his hope that he clung to so dearly, but it had been restored, had it not? So everything should be fine? The dream was nothing…
"I keep on having this dream, more like a nightmare--"
"Why didn't you tell me any of this?" She asked wondering what else he had hid from her.
"It's nothing, Dagger. I don't want to worry you; you already have so much to do for Alexandria I didn't want you to have to worry about me. I'll tell you and you'll see that it means nothing. I'm just in Terra and it's after Garland told me who I really was and suddenly everything starts fading away before you guys were able to help me. And this voice speaks to me in my head…." But, he trailed off when he heard the voice.
I'm waiting for you Zidane,
It's only a matter of time before you're mine…
He embraced the Queen suddenly, holding her close.
To be continued…
Author's Note: This is my first Final Fantasy IX Fanfic! Hope ya like it!