Notes: Garnet, Zidane, Alexandria, and all other characters and locations originally mentioned
in Final Fantasy IX belong to Squaresoft. All other characters and locations belong to myself.
Questions, comments, and constructive critisicm are more than welcome.
A Fine Mess - Chapter 1
by Makou
Today was Queen Garnet's and King Zidane's fiftieth wedding anniversary and the whole of
Alexandria was celebrating. The inns were booked solid, the streets were packed, and commerative
plates dedicated to the momentous event were all sold out.
To top it all of, the famous Tantalus group of Lindblum had arrived via airship to perform
the Queen's favourite play, 'I Want to be Your Canary'. Needless to say, the tickets had sold as
well as the plates and the rooftops were already crowded with those who weren't lucky enough to
get a hold of a ticket.
The 49 year old son of the Queen, Prince Zircon, wasn't to eager to celebrate. The
festivities had meant that security had become exceptionally difficult; who knew what could
happen if just one person decided to do something dangerous? And thus he was pushing his Pluto
Knights to the limit, making more than a few of his knights threaten resignation.
*That Siria is being far too complacent,* thought Zircon bitterly after barking orders to
a couple of straggling knights. *Her soldiers have been doing next to nothing! Why, anyone could
waltz right into the throne room and put a knife to my mother's throat!*
Zircon was a rather imposing presence. A clear foot taller than his father and muscle to
spare, he walked around as if he owned the place, even if he didn't. His blonde hair and beard
were heavily flecked with grey and his brown eyes were always narrowed as if he was wondering
what incredibly horrible event was going to transpire next. Naturally, at the moment he was
wearing his entire suit of steel armor and in deference to the occasion, a scarlet cape. Plus,
if one looked closely enough, they could just see the furry brown tail hiding behind the armor.
"Captain, there's been a disturbance in Alexandria Square." reported a knight Zircon
recognized as Mikhail. "When I left, Thimis and Loren are working to rectify the situation."
"Exactly what has happened?" Zircon quickly asked.
"A male Red Mage has been randomly setting of fire spells for an unknown reason. Two
commoners were injured."
Zircon swore under his breath before running towards the square, Mikhail following close
behind. In normal circumstances, he would simply let those under his command deal with such a
problem, but in such a highly charged atmosphere, it could quickly get out of control.
His arrival at his destination was slightly delayed by an overworked boat rower, but when
he finally did arrive, he found Thimis and Loren trying their best to wrestle the miscreant to
the ground. A crowd of onlookers stood by, many of whom were cheering the soldiers on. A few, he
noticed, were actually cheering on the Red Mage. Thankfully, a couple of passing White Mages had
decided to tend to the injured.
He came to a halt in front of the Red Mage, who hesitated for a moment before the knights
finally got him under control.
"Take him to the dungeon. I wish to question him," said Zircon to Thimis and Loren. They
did as told after taking a moment to handcuff their prisoner. The crowd parted out of their way,
although they didn't bother to be silent.
Zircon turned to Mikhail. "Return to the castle and if anyone else should report anything,
inform me immediately, understand?" Mikhail nodded mutely and he hurried out of square.
The dungeon was not Zircon's favourite place. It was dark, it was dank, in fact it was
every dungeon cliche you could think of. And there was Zircon's ever so slight claustrophobia
problem...
"Let's make this quick," began Zircon to the Red Mage, who was now safely behind bars.
"Who are you and why did you decide to go and set fire to people?"
The mage was silent.
"Speak, will you? The longer you rufuse to speak, the angrier I will get, and the worse it
will become for you, understand?"
The mage was still silent. Zircon was unimpressed to notice a clever smirk on the mage's
face. He hated it when criminals thought they were being clever.
"Captain, I took his wallet out when we subdued him and I've taken a look at his ID cards.
His name's Nickel Gerard," said Loren.
Zircon frowned ever so slightly, but continued. "Well, Nickel. That answers my first
question; could you be so kind as to answer my second?"
"No way!" said Nickel, that stupid smirk still smeared across his face.
"Thimis, Loren, I don't have time to deal with this. Make his life miserable for me while
I deal with important matters."
"Yes, sir!" said Thimis and Loren, each ripping off impressive salutes. With one final
glare, Zircon left the dank, dark dungeon.
After which he breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was certainly getting easier being in
that accursed place for more than a few seconds, but it still wreaked havoc on his nerves. At
least the crowd in the square parted for him.
That accursed miscreant! How dare he act smart with him? Hopefully, Thimis and Loren would
be able to break him. There was only so many times a soul could stand their rendition of a two
man 'I Want to be Your Canary' complete with chipmunk voices.
*What I wouldn't give for this entire affair to be over with so I could take ten minutes
of rest!* he thought forlornly as he walked back to the castle. And then something ran into him.
"Mikhail! What is the meaning of this!?" yelled Zircon as the hapless knight stumbled
backwards. "Answer me!"
"C-captain!" stuttered Mikhail, struggling to regain his composure. "It's the Queen! The
Queen's..." But Zircon had already left.
in Final Fantasy IX belong to Squaresoft. All other characters and locations belong to myself.
Questions, comments, and constructive critisicm are more than welcome.
A Fine Mess - Chapter 1
by Makou
Today was Queen Garnet's and King Zidane's fiftieth wedding anniversary and the whole of
Alexandria was celebrating. The inns were booked solid, the streets were packed, and commerative
plates dedicated to the momentous event were all sold out.
To top it all of, the famous Tantalus group of Lindblum had arrived via airship to perform
the Queen's favourite play, 'I Want to be Your Canary'. Needless to say, the tickets had sold as
well as the plates and the rooftops were already crowded with those who weren't lucky enough to
get a hold of a ticket.
The 49 year old son of the Queen, Prince Zircon, wasn't to eager to celebrate. The
festivities had meant that security had become exceptionally difficult; who knew what could
happen if just one person decided to do something dangerous? And thus he was pushing his Pluto
Knights to the limit, making more than a few of his knights threaten resignation.
*That Siria is being far too complacent,* thought Zircon bitterly after barking orders to
a couple of straggling knights. *Her soldiers have been doing next to nothing! Why, anyone could
waltz right into the throne room and put a knife to my mother's throat!*
Zircon was a rather imposing presence. A clear foot taller than his father and muscle to
spare, he walked around as if he owned the place, even if he didn't. His blonde hair and beard
were heavily flecked with grey and his brown eyes were always narrowed as if he was wondering
what incredibly horrible event was going to transpire next. Naturally, at the moment he was
wearing his entire suit of steel armor and in deference to the occasion, a scarlet cape. Plus,
if one looked closely enough, they could just see the furry brown tail hiding behind the armor.
"Captain, there's been a disturbance in Alexandria Square." reported a knight Zircon
recognized as Mikhail. "When I left, Thimis and Loren are working to rectify the situation."
"Exactly what has happened?" Zircon quickly asked.
"A male Red Mage has been randomly setting of fire spells for an unknown reason. Two
commoners were injured."
Zircon swore under his breath before running towards the square, Mikhail following close
behind. In normal circumstances, he would simply let those under his command deal with such a
problem, but in such a highly charged atmosphere, it could quickly get out of control.
His arrival at his destination was slightly delayed by an overworked boat rower, but when
he finally did arrive, he found Thimis and Loren trying their best to wrestle the miscreant to
the ground. A crowd of onlookers stood by, many of whom were cheering the soldiers on. A few, he
noticed, were actually cheering on the Red Mage. Thankfully, a couple of passing White Mages had
decided to tend to the injured.
He came to a halt in front of the Red Mage, who hesitated for a moment before the knights
finally got him under control.
"Take him to the dungeon. I wish to question him," said Zircon to Thimis and Loren. They
did as told after taking a moment to handcuff their prisoner. The crowd parted out of their way,
although they didn't bother to be silent.
Zircon turned to Mikhail. "Return to the castle and if anyone else should report anything,
inform me immediately, understand?" Mikhail nodded mutely and he hurried out of square.
The dungeon was not Zircon's favourite place. It was dark, it was dank, in fact it was
every dungeon cliche you could think of. And there was Zircon's ever so slight claustrophobia
problem...
"Let's make this quick," began Zircon to the Red Mage, who was now safely behind bars.
"Who are you and why did you decide to go and set fire to people?"
The mage was silent.
"Speak, will you? The longer you rufuse to speak, the angrier I will get, and the worse it
will become for you, understand?"
The mage was still silent. Zircon was unimpressed to notice a clever smirk on the mage's
face. He hated it when criminals thought they were being clever.
"Captain, I took his wallet out when we subdued him and I've taken a look at his ID cards.
His name's Nickel Gerard," said Loren.
Zircon frowned ever so slightly, but continued. "Well, Nickel. That answers my first
question; could you be so kind as to answer my second?"
"No way!" said Nickel, that stupid smirk still smeared across his face.
"Thimis, Loren, I don't have time to deal with this. Make his life miserable for me while
I deal with important matters."
"Yes, sir!" said Thimis and Loren, each ripping off impressive salutes. With one final
glare, Zircon left the dank, dark dungeon.
After which he breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was certainly getting easier being in
that accursed place for more than a few seconds, but it still wreaked havoc on his nerves. At
least the crowd in the square parted for him.
That accursed miscreant! How dare he act smart with him? Hopefully, Thimis and Loren would
be able to break him. There was only so many times a soul could stand their rendition of a two
man 'I Want to be Your Canary' complete with chipmunk voices.
*What I wouldn't give for this entire affair to be over with so I could take ten minutes
of rest!* he thought forlornly as he walked back to the castle. And then something ran into him.
"Mikhail! What is the meaning of this!?" yelled Zircon as the hapless knight stumbled
backwards. "Answer me!"
"C-captain!" stuttered Mikhail, struggling to regain his composure. "It's the Queen! The
Queen's..." But Zircon had already left.