Hello everybody! Here's a new story for this site. I've noticed that I never really created a lot of new stories this year, although I have been updating a lot of old and unfortunately neglected ones. I decided it was time to change that and post what would most likely be the last new story for the year. However, I suggest that you read this particular author's note just so I can clear up a couple of key things.

To be perfectly honest with you all, this story is nothing more than a recreation of one that has since been deleted from this wonderful site. I've spent the past few days looking through all the stories published under solely the Final Fantasy IX category but never found it. All I found were old stories that I liked all those years ago and immediately put them under my favorites. As such, I've brought it upon myself to revive that now lost story and put it back on here.

Despite having read it over seven years ago, I still remember all the details as if they were yesterday. Yes, the story was that good where it actually held a special spot in my heart. That's why I feel it right to do it justice and recreate it. Most details from the original will be the same, although they will be changed somewhat to fit both my style and the situation I've created.

I suppose then you could say I'm doing a half-recreation, half-parody of the story. And since it's no longer on here, it can't really be considered as the taboo act of copying anymore. I only wish I remembered who the author of the original was so I could credit him, or her, or it. But since they've most likely already moved on from this site after having been on for so long, I'll probably never have the official chance. Oh well, not much I can do about that. So if there are any of you who remembered reading a story very similar to this, you now know the reason why.

But yeah, I felt it important to mention all that since this really isn't originally an original story of mine. At the same time, I'm not pirating this story as being solely mine as the original has been removed for whatever reason. All I'm doing is paying homage to the original and recreating it while putting my own flair to it. I hope you all can understand that and appreciate my efforts of bringing back what I felt was a great story.

Now we have all that out of the way, I'll go ahead and leave you all alone so you can read this "new" story. Please don't forget to leave a review when you're done reading. It really helps to motivate me and see how you as a reader are enjoying my new story. Until the next update to this or any of my other stories on this site everybody!

Prologue

"You'll be the bane of my life so long as you stay on Terra," a man growled as he set a small bag down on the dew-covered grass. Some had started to turn into frost due to the chilly bite that hung in the air. "Scratch that; you already serve me enough trouble by merely existing in this life. To think that someone like you would actually grow into the one who holds in his hands that capability of ruining my plans. I'll do whatever is needed of me to erase any threats to my future endeavors."

It was currently nighttime; the brisk evening wind had rustled a few loose leaves from a nearby oak tree and allowed them to flutter helplessly to the ground. Their wonderfully bright colors were indicative of the autumn season that still dominated the land. The cold bite in the wind along with dark clouds that obscured the stars above was further indication that winter was following close behind.

"Don't get me wrong; I know you never asked to be brought into this life," the man said as he looked up at the nearly leafless tree, his long silvery hair being tousled around by the breeze. "Were circumstances different, I probably would've considered letting you play a role in my carefully crafted play. Unfortunately, the only way you can play out your intended role is through the whims of a power-hungry man who's afraid of anything that threatens to overthrow his strength. In the end, I suppose you could say I'm granting you mercy from being forced to trade a life of freedom to become nothing more than a mere tool. Even the most abhorrent of criminals would scoff at the thought of being controlled."

Almost as if in response, the bag suddenly started to move around a bit. Were it not for the knot tied on the opening, whatever was inside probably would have become exposed to the chilly night air.

"I know you can understand everything I'm saying. You could probably even repeat it all without any trouble. Still, you're too young to really understand the meaning behind most of my words. I'm willing to bet you don't even know why I'm doing all this in the first place. It's not like it matters since your mind is still at the point where memories have yet to root themselves into your head. By the time that happens, you'll most likely be in front of death's door asking to for shelter from the unrelenting winds and snow. You'd probably be happy that you have no precious memories tying you to life since passed.

"But don't think of it as me simply leaving you out here alone to die," the man murmured as he knelt down next to the bag and began to untie the knot. "I'll admit that's what I'm doing, but me killing you with my own hands would leave a bad taste in my mouth. That and I don't believe in killing someone who has yet to do wrong by me. I suppose then you could consider my act of abandonment as my second form of mercy unto you."

With the knot undone, he allowed the bag to fall away and reveal a rather young child with short but wild blond hair. He was garbed in a simple shirt and pants and a rather thin brown cloak that seemed more like something one would wear in a summer evening. From behind the cloak peered a small blond tail that swished around in annoyance at what was happening. He whined a bit in protest as he felt the wind hit his body, but it was quickly muted when the man picked him up into his warm arms.

"You don't need to fuss over the feel of the winter breeze," he soothed with a wry smile approaching his lips as he slowly made his way towards the tree. "After all, it's going to be your only companion as you struggle to survive on your own. Oh, I should also probably mention all the monsters that you might cross paths with, but I doubt any of them would be desperate enough to consider making your small form into a meal. I suppose that's life's way of showing mercy during your unfortunately short life.

"Now allow yourself to be shrouded in sleep," he said in a poetic fashion while slowly waving his free hand over the little boy's face. As he did this, wisps of colorful smoke appeared and began enveloping the child's face. "Depart unto the land of dreams where you'll find solace in your wildest of imaginations. You shall only awake when your mind is ready to understand what memories are and can create its own. Be blessed with protection against all that can bring harm upon you as you sleep, from the elements to monsters and hunger to sickness. It's only when you awaken that you shall know true suffering and soon succumb to the bliss that is known as eternal slumber."

No sooner after he finished his poetic speech did the boy fall into a deep sleep. His breaths were now even, his body no longer seeming to mind the biting wind that continued to blow its relentless chilly force. His tail hung limply in the air as if it were merely a toy that was held tightly in his tiny little hands, moving only when the wind struck it just right. He did not even stir when he was softly placed against the trunk of the tree and away from the only source of warmth for miles around.

"The time has come for us to say farewell," the man whispered if only to fit his persona in with the current situation. "The little prince must sleep so that he may awake refreshed and ready to try and defy what fate already has in store for him. I only hope that it will be kind enough to impart to you a swift and painless death when the time comes. But before I go, allow me to grant you the privilege of having an identity."

With an effortless wave of his hand, more colorful wisps of smoke began making its way to the sleeping child. It actually hung in the air for a moment and spelled out the word "Zidane" before enveloping the boy's face and disappearing.

"It's the name you were to be bequeathed before I stole you away. I feel it only right to allow you knowledge of what was meant to be yours from the beginning. Remember it well for it shall be the only thing you'll own apart from the clothes on your back."

Without saying another word, a flash of blue light suddenly appeared behind the man. With one last wry smile, he took a step back into the blinding light and allowed himself to be engulfed by it. When it finally dissipated, the man had completely disappeared. The only thing left in that dew-covered clearing was the tree fluttering its remaining leaves against the wind and a little boy who slept soundly under its bare branches.

I hope you all liked the start to this new story. As it's just a prologue, I don't see any reason for it to be any longer than it was. So sorry to all of you who like long chapters or are used to me producing long yet well written chapters. I promise you all, though, that the next chapters will be longer than this.

And for those of you wondering, the man I was describing was Kuja. I just felt it was appropriate to not directly mention him by name as he doesn't play much of a physical role after this point. Because of that, I figured I would try to give him a rather theatrical persona as that's how he tends to act in the game itself. Even in this story, he's still trying to make himself sound like the center of attention. That and you guys as readers wouldn't normally know who the person was were you not familiar with what the world of Final Fantasy IX is. And if you really weren't familiar with the world until reading this, now you know who the person is.

And just as a little side note, the original story never had a prologue chapter. I just felt like putting it in so that it could serve as a foundation of how the beginning portions of the story will play out.

Until the next update to this or any of my other stories already on this site everybody!