Author's note - This is my first try at any writing for FF – so I hope you like it! (And if you don't that's not my problem, now is it?) R&R! Like I said, e-mail me about anything that is inconsistent with the series. Sounds strange, but I've never actually PLAYED the game…O.o
Yeah…it's best just…not to ask…
Act 1: Return
Garnet Til Alexandros the 17th sat absently brushing her long, jet-black hair. It was late afternoon, and her eyes moved to her necklace when a ray of sunlight caught the corner of the pendant, making it sparkle and shortly command her attention.
Something was going to happen…soon.
"Dagger?"
The queen whirled around abruptly, breathing a sigh of relief at Zidane's familiar mop of dirty blonde hair before returning her gaze to her vanity.
He came to stand behind her, arms folded behind his head and a distant grin on his face, "You know…you really don't need to brush your hair…you'd look amazing no matter what you did with it."
Garnet felt a smile tug at her lips and a blush tint her cheeks as she turned to face him, expression angelic and innocent as she batted her eyes like a little girl, the whole picture too sweet to be anything but a tease, "Yes of course, but you WOULD think that."
"Speaking of which…what were you thinking about?"
"Hmm?"
"Before…what were you thinking about? I was watching for about a minute."
A slight smile as she balanced her head on her hand, making the diamond on her finger sparkle, "Why not? I was thinking about Atomos, if you want to know the truth."
"Eh…?" the fact that she had Zidane's interest was obvious.
"I was wondering…" Garnet mused, putting her brush down and turning fully to face him, "Do people really die…or do they just go to another dimension? And if so…could Atomos reach that dimension?"
Zidane blinked, "Geez…you REALLY think about the most random things sometimes, Dagger…"
She mock-pouted, "Oh…shut up! You were the one who asked, weren't you?"
"You saying I brought it on myself?"
"Naturally," she winked.
Zidane shook his head, chuckling, and rose, ruffling her hair affectionately and grinning at her before disappearing onto the balcony.
Garnet smiled after him, then returned to her hair. The thought was still turning over in her mind as she watched her reflection. She did not quite understand why it was bothering her so much. Her dark, amber eyes wandered to the crystal hanging from her neck once more as it glinted, reflecting the waning sun. So much had changed over the past two years since that day when she had met Zidane…she flicked a lock of hair over her shoulder and examined it. It was now worn down, without the tie at the bottom, mainly because Zidane liked it better this way and it wasn't often she let him get what he wanted as far as her appearance was concerned. Over the past two years, she herself had not changed much physically except for the fact that the years had taken some of the girlish roundness out of her face. Of course, the responsibilities of being queen had also taken their toll on her maturity and therefore her appearance. Her eyes had lost their childish glint, which a kinder, wiser gaze replaced. Her poise had improved, and now more than ever, she walked erect, with her shoulders thrust back.
She wasn't the only one who had changed, either; Zidane's speech, at least in public, had improved, as had his physique and dress code. Although he now lived in the palace, he continued to wander and show up at strange times. She smiled at the ring on her finger – the ultimate display that he had lost interest in all other women besides her. Eiko had taken her rightful place as princess of Lindblum and Garnet's official cousin. Freya had wandered off on her own accord and would pop up now and then; as would Lani, although the bounty hunters visits were, not surprisingly, more frequent since Amarent had taken to wandering around Alexandria. Beatrix and Steiner had, of course, stayed and continued their work in the Alexandrian army, which now had a new commander in chief. She was a young noblewoman of about twenty-four by the name of Lady Seraphim Valkairy, a known warrior and a talented falconer, but distrusted because of her strange resemblance to Kuja – short-cropped, feathery, silver hair, blue-violet eyes, tall, with a pale complexion and a slight, beautiful figure that masked her formidable strength. Both of Seraphim's parents were dead, her father at a happy old age and her mother when Seraphim was young of causes the commander refused to discuss with the queen. Garnet was aware of what had happened, but only through Beatrix.
The queen gave her head a shake, attempting to clear her mind as she rose in one fluid motion and checked her appearance a final time before turning to stride out of the room.
***
She had to know.
She had to know.
Her pale silver dress gave off a hiss as she strode purposefully down the hall.
She was going to a place she hated.
She was going the palace library.
If she could find it anywhere, Garnet was sure she would find it there. Flinging the huge double doors back, the queen glanced around at the tall shelves of books that filled the room's two floors. The library was enormous, standing about 60 feet high with its two floors filled to the brim with books on every subject you could possibly imagine. She lifted herself onto the "E" shelf's rolling ladder, sitting down on the rung next to the section providing material on Eidolons. She promptly selected the largest book of the bunch, chewing lightly on her forefinger as she thumbed through it. It didn't take long for her to find a detailed enough profile on Atomos.
Atomos AmethystNot usually selected for combat, this Eidolon has the unique ability to transport its summoner or its summoner's attacker through dimensions. No plane is unreachable to this beast – it can transport anything to anywhere in the cosmos. Standing approximately 55 feet tall, Atomos is an impressive sight to see, and its power derives from the wind.
Garnet stared at the page.
No plane is unreachable to this beast.
She wondered if the person who wrote the book had any idea of the question in her mind. She returned the book to its place and hopped from the ladder. She had to talk to Zidane about this…
***
"Wait wait wait…" Zidane held his hands up, his expression incredulous, "I don't think I understand…you were reading a book and now you think that Atomos can somehow transport us to wherever dead people go – that right?"
"Exactly!"
Zidane raised an eyebrow, "…And you want to test this out…?"
"Yes!"
"And you don't think there's the slightest bit of danger involved in doing this…?"
"Right!"
Zidane sat down, his face plainly illustrating disbelief, "Dagger…I think you've gone insane…we're talking about…" he sighed, trailing off and shaking his head, "Is being queen getting to you or something? This is the craziest damn thing I've ever heard!" he paused, considering that statement for a moment, "…From you, that is…"
Garnet smirked, "I don't know…you seemed pretty surprised when I came with you willingly in the beginning of our adventure…"
"I guess…" Zidane's gaze locked with hers, "But you could get hurt!"
The brunette folded her arms, "I could have gotten hurt before. Listen, I don't know what will happen if I do this…but I just have to know if it works and what the result is if it does. The curiosity is killing me."
A sigh, "Dagger…"
"Zidane…"
He was defeated. "Fine…but if you do this, you HAVE to let me help you. Understand?"
Garnet threw her arms around him, causing the blonde to flush, "Of course!" she smiled, moving to sit beside him and take one of his hands and planting a kiss on his cheek, "I'd love to have you help me."
Her companion scratched the back of his head, seeming unsure of how to respond, "Thanks…" he said finally.
She flashed Zidane another smile and rose, "Then its settled! If I summon Atomos and don't intend it for combat, it shouldn't start sucking in everything around it…but just to make sure, I'm going to have the bookshelves boarded up, so why don't you meet me in the library at noon tomorrow? Nobody ever goes into it and its built in a circle formation, so there's a huge empty space in the center."
"Sounds like a plan…god, its weird to think of you in a library…"
"Oh, shut up!" a grin.
***
Zidane paced the library, trying to convince himself that this was crazy.
It wasn't working.
Somehow…despite the horrible outcomes the little experiment might have, he was just as curious as Garnet seemed to be.
"Zidane!"
He turned to see the brunette girl striding briskly towards him, waving a piece of amethyst and carrying her staff, "I got it! Are you ready to see if this will work?"
Zidane grinned, "Ready as I'm gonna get, your majesty."
Garnet shot him a cheeky look as she came to a stop, then nodded, raising her staff as she began the summons. In a vibrant flash of light, Atomos loomed over them - calm, cold eyes scanning its surroundings. Finally, its gaze rested on Garnet and the beast watched her, patiently awaiting instruction.
"Atomos," Garnet stepped forward confidently, "I want you to tell me if you can transport me to the dimension where the souls of those who die here are transported to."
The Eidolon regarded her for a moment; then nodded slowly.
The queen's aura of total calm didn't fade for a moment, "Please…open the porthole to that dimension for me."
With another nod, Atomos' doorway began to glow and splinter with electricity. The colors danced – from red to pink, from pink to violet, and from violet to blue. Finally, a dark shape began to form in the center of the doorway.
Zidane came to stand closer to Garnet, "What the hell…? Is that…supposed to happen…?"
She shook her head slowly, "I have no idea, Zidane…"
The blonde's tail swished in obvious agitation and he gently placed his hands on her shoulders, "Dammit - then I'm not taking any chances," he drew the Ultima Weapon as he stalked forward, "Run if and when I tell you to – got that?"
She nodded, seeming transfixed by the figure forming in the doorway.
"DAGGER!"
Zaidane's yell seemed to come too late as Garnet felt her body come into forceful contact with a significantly larger, more muscular form. Zidane's lightning fast move toward the wall to catch her in the crook of his left arm was the only thing that saved her neck from being broken.
"Are you okay?" the concern in Zidane's voice was obvious.
Garnet nodded, catching her wind again, "I'm…fine…don't worry," she smiled weakly up at him, "Thanks, Zidane…"
The smile he gave her in return was stronger, "Don't mention it…" his eyes narrowed as his attention turned to the silver-haired figure that was sprawled on the floor, groaning slightly. Zidane put her down and flung the black cloak she handed him over it as he slowly moved towards the figure, only to be startled when it rolled over and its glowing, green-blue pupils contracted in initial shock as all of its attention went to the Ultima Weapon in Zidane's hands.
"Cloud?!"
Zidane blinked in confusion, looked down at his sword, and blinked again. He looked up, finding the top of the library set with a huge skylight. He pointed to one of the white formations floating up above, "Yeah yeah…cloud!"
"But you have his…" the man trailed off, giving his head a shake and frowning, "Never mind." He finished arranging the dark robe so that it hung about him decently, "Where am I?" he had begun, it appeared, to take in his surroundings, but still seemed transfixed by the blade Zidane held. His long, silver hair splayed over the floor. His eyes were trillium shaped, and his complexion was light. Although he seemed naturally slight, what must have been warrior training had given him muscular, but lean, build.
Zidane gently put down the Ultima Weapon and crouched so that his blue eyes were level with the stranger's green ones. He cocked his head to one side, his curiosity whetted, "Welcome to the planet Gaia. Guess you didn't live around here…who are you?"
He ran a hand through his strangely colored hair as he continued to look about, "My name…is…"
"Yeah…?"
"Sephiroth…"