Disclaimer: I, as most often do, only wish I owned a part of Final Fantasy IX and/or any of its characters. However, I do not. Nevertheless, the following story is my own creation, moreover, my very first creation.
Note: This fanfiction story is an account of the characters of Final Fantasy IX and the days they lived prior to the events of FFIX. That is where the fiction comes in to play. I hope you agree with my portrayal of the characters, as I am not trying to do FFIX any injustice.
On with the story!
Section 1: The Thieves of Tantalus
Chapter 1: Cinna the Happy Bandit
A gentle hum of nature is the only sound heard during the stage of unstable dreams. As the dreams fade, Cinna slightly opens his eyes to the world. The blurred, but familiar, vision of the ceiling comes into view. The morning sun was still rising and painting the room interesting shades of red. Cinna blinked his eyes a few times to focus in on the sight.
Cinna sat up and glanced about the room, still groggy from his rest. Marcus was the only one still in the rundown studio of which the bandits called home. Cinna smiled at the view of Marcus face down on his pillow with one arm hanging off the bed. Cinna scratched his scruffy beard and stood up from his floor mattress. The weary man yawned and stretched finishing with a few smacks.
"I sure could use some coffee...," the happy bandit stated to himself. Thus, he walked over to the window where his coffee brewing supplies were stored. The wooden floor creaked and cracked as he made the small journey across the studio. The studio was old and abandoned. That's why the band of thieves, known as the Tantalus group, found it perfect for a hideout. But, the view was exquisite.
Cinna looked out the window and saw a group of actors preparing at a local theatre one platform below the studio. They were in a circle, reciting their lines. Cinna's eyes then moved up to see outside of the theatre district. There were many closely built houses with connecting roofs and narrow alleyways. At the edge of the residential section was a wall in which only an airship could pass via the main gate. This was Cinna's hometown, Lindblum, an advanced city of merchants traveling by airship. The studio was high enough for Cinna to peak above the wall and see out across the plains towards Pinnacle Rock. A few doves flew in a strange formation just above the beautiful location and they gleamed in the reflected light of the sunrise off the sparse clouds.
"Good morning to you too, world." Cinna replied to the view he saw outside of the dusty window. Marcus stirred in the bed. Cinna glanced at his friend who obviously went back into deep sleep. Cinna started his brew of coffee.
After an hour of fine brewing, Cinna leaned over to parallel his eyes with the surface of the smoldering coffee and gave it a sharp glance. "Are you ready?" He spoke to it in a joking manner. He then looked up and sipped the coffee. "Ah, you are."
"Cinna, what are you doing?" The companion arose.
"This coffee is quite delicious... Want some?" Cinna replied.
"You and your coffee." Marcus said wiping his crusty eyes.
Cinna turned to the cohort and restated his question "Want some?"
Marcus stalled with a quick huff and then answered "Yeah, sure."
Cinna poured an extra cup for his friend and hurriedly made his way to him. Marcus drank the coffee and smacked his lips. It was a wonder the thief didn't burn his lips.
"You missed a good sunrise." Cinna announced.
"Where's Blank and Zidane?" Marcus said, ignoring Cinna's remark.
"Oh, well, they were gone before I got up." Cinna answered.
"I see." Marcus got up and finished his cup of coffee while Cinna watched him drink it. Marcus then headed for the exit.
"Where you going?" Cinna interrupted Marcus' action.
Marcus turned around, half-smiled while shrugging his shoulders, and then left. Cinna peered down at his coffee and shrugged his shoulders and attempted to drink the coffee, however the temperature burned his lips, tongue and mouth. This made him drop his coffee all over the wooden floor. Cinna scrunched his face in confusement and poured himself another cup of coffee.
After twiddling his fingers at the studio, Cinna exited the studio at noon. Lindblum was quite awake at this point. People were everywhere and nature could no longer be heard over the random mingling of Lindblum's varying species. Cinna went to the cab station to make way towards the business district.
Cinna always kept his pack of Tetra cards close, in case a match was to arise. Waiting at the cab station usually held the most players of the game. He found an old woman sitting on a bench at the cab station. He went to her and asked if she wanted to play a game. She agreed.
Cinna's card set involved two goblins, five flans, three skeletons, four zombies, four bombs and his trump card, an iron duke. Nineteen cards in total. Not an amazing set, but a good starter set.
The game quickly advanced, starting with the old woman's turn. Cinna immediately overturned her card. But, she pulled a combo out to turn over both Cinna's card and her recently lost card. Cinna quickly attacked the new card and won both it and the other two cards back. The old woman placed a card in the distance away from the battle. Cinna returned the favor by placing a card next to it, but not attacking it. The score was one to four, Cinna's lead. The woman then placed a valuable card in the midst of the battle to where it was attacking no other card, but was safe from any other card from obtaining this mysterious card as well. Cinna sighed, as he knew he could not obtain the rare card. He then fought the card that was originally placed in the distance, winning it to himself. The old woman placed her last card in another corner of which Cinna took over with his last card. Final score, one to nine, Cinna wins. Cinna took a goblin from her deck as his winnings. The cab then pulled up to the station and Cinna left the old woman to head towards the business district.
Once in the business district, Cinna picked up some pickles for lunch and walked around the bustling area. Cinna was not the most attractive man in Lindblum; in fact, he was close to the other side of the spectrum. But, he was quite satisfied with his looks. He often walked around the city with clothes that barely covered his bulging belly. He wore a tooth-necklace around his neck.
As he was walking, he ran into a lady dressed in red, formally known as a red mage.
"Ew." She retorted glancing at the ugly man. Cinna merely smiled at the woman.
"Excuse you." She said.
"Excuse you for being too pretty not to run into." The bandit replied continuing the smile. She leaned her head back, raised an eyebrow, and then continued on her way. Cinna rolled his eyes, laughed at the familiar site, and continued on his way, along with an extra unnoticeable five gil he snatched from the woman...
The bandits of Tantalus were noble figures in consideration of their classification. They would never steal from the poor and it would only be an unnoticeable amount from the wealthy. They'd do heists in good will as long as it felt as if it were justifiable. They'd do random community service for free to shine their reputations. They were also actors. They could all deliver a line and play a lengthy part. Therefore, they'd often perform shows in the theatre district. They even had their own airship in which they'd perform shows to other towns outside of Lindblum on.
Cinna continued to walk around the business district freely. He had no plans and no objectives. No goals either. Cinna was just a happy guy with little on his mind. The little that was on his mind was always food...
"Ah, I could eat a Bundt Cake about now..." He mumbled to himself. "South Gate Bundt Cake. Mmmmm..."
When Cinna got back to the hideout, the rest of the gang minus the "Boss" were there. "What's for suppa, Cinna?" Zidane proclaimed as Cinna entered.
"I was thinking Bundt Cake." Cinna answered in his on wonderment.
"Ahh, man. Not again." Complained Blank. Marcus just shook his head.
"What?" Cinna retorted.
"Cinny, no offense, well, maybe a little, but you just don't make 'em right." Zidane said.
"Well," Cinna scratched his beard, "perhaps this time I'll get it."
They all shook their heads knowing they could not convince the cook otherwise. Thus, they went back to what they were doing. Marcus was in the corner reading something while Zidane and Blank were playing a card game of Tetra at the table. Cinna went to his station by the window.
"Where's the 'Boss?'" Cinna asked.
"Don't know, haven't seen him today." Blank answered.
"He was gone before we woke up." Zidane added.
Cinna nodded his head and continued on his merry way. A couple of kids were playing in the street. Cinna watched them from his window. They were playing some game they made up with a rubber ball. A quiet kid was collecting mini figures off to the side. A fatter kid was eating some kind of snack. Then, a rather feminine man came around the corner and passed through the kids. He had long white hair. However, his femininity did not make the man appear gay, but rather mysterious. The man stopped in his tracks and slowly turned his head towards where Cinna was viewing the man. Cinna continued to stare.
The dark figure glared into Cinna's eyes as if he were looking for something. Or someone. The man squinted his eyes and tilted his head back to brush the hair out of his eyes. The man then chuckled, placed a hand over his stomach, and shook his head. He then turned around and walked away continuing to chuckle. Cinna was oddly horrified. He did not know why the stranger had frightened him so. Cinna thought hard on it. Then Zidane hit the table he was sitting at with his hand. Cinna turned quickly to see why. Blank laughed a gambler's laugh as he took a card from Zidane.
"That leaves me with five, you bastard." Zidane announced.
"So, that'd make the next game the last, huh." Blank sarcastically replied.
"Ha, ha. Very funny. I'm winning the next one." Zidane proclaimed.
Cinna breathed out deeply and smiled. What was he so afraid of anyway? Thus, he went back to preparing the meal. A few minutes later, a rather large man with red facial hair busted in.
"'Boss!'" Everyone said in unison.
But, the man they called 'Boss' continued without replying. This was very unusual. 'Boss' always had something to say. He was their leader after all. In fact, he would usually enter with his sword drawn and test the band of bandits immediately. He always had a lesson. But, not this time. No, this time he just slumped over to a corner and sat down and glared outside. The gang immediately picked up on the 'Boss's unexpected mood, but Zidane was the first to jump on it.
"Woe is me! Baku is weak! What shall happen to Tantalus? Are we doomed?" Zidane cried annoyingly.
Blank picked up on Zidane's sarcasm and joined in. "He is weak, but we are strong! We must band together and overthrow him before he regains his senses!"
"Then I, Zidane, shall be leader of Tantalus!"
"You? No, only I can lead us to victory!"
"The lead shall go to that who defeats the ancient Baku!"
Both Blank and Zidane turned with their arms around each other's shoulders and looked for acceptance by Baku. Cinna was laughing hysterically. Marcus chuckled while folding his arms in the corner. Baku, however, continued to stare.
After a moment of awkwardness, Blank and Zidane turned to each other and gave up on the conquest. Cinna slowed his laughing to a gentle halt. Marcus stared at Baku. Blank and Zidane sat back down and searched through their cards to figure out which one they were going to play with. Of course, Zidane had no choice but to use his remaining five.
Cinna went back to fixing dinner. 'What was eating Baku?' He wondered. Did something really bad happen? Suddenly, the dark figure came back into thought. Cinna shook his head and continued with the meal. It was coming out nicely and smelt delicious.
Behind Cinna, Baku shook his head.
"Dammit Cinna, Bundt Cake again?" Baku grumbled.
"Uhh..." Cinna tried to think of a response.
Baku stood up and turned around.
"Forget it. Boys, I'm just going to say it." Baku announced. "We got a show to perform in Alexandria. We're going to kidnap the princess."
"Were going to do what?" Cinna exclaimed.
"You heard me!" Baku shouted. "We're going to kidnap the princess and that's that!"
"That's what's got you so worried?" Blank questioned while still staring at his card selection.
"Why I ought to teach you some manners, 'Bro.,'" Baku warned. "There's more to it than that. I have a bad feeling about this heist."
"What would that be?" Marcus asked.
"What'd ya say?" Baku questioned back loudly.
"I said, 'What would that be?'" Marcus re-asked.
Baku squinted. "Things are changing whether you want them to or not. We'll be public enemy number one to Alexandria when this is over."
Zidane and Blank started their next game. "Not if they don't know we did it." Zidane said calmly.
"I got a plan, but nothing pulls her out with out are names written on it." Baku said, a little more quietly. "But, I don't care about that. I feel like this little job is going to change Tantalus."
"Ah, Baku, you're over thinking." Blank said as he placed a card down that made Zidane cringe. "A job's a job. Nothing to it. Tantalus won't change for anything."
"Yeah." Cinna joined in while stirring something.
Baku shook his head. He then looked up at Zidane. Cinna noticed that Baku stared at him for moment and then the large man pounded the ground. The look Baku gave was very sad. Cinna was now more confused than ever. Baku from that point was himself. Barking orders and just being loud. Marcus continued being quiet and Cinna just took everything lightly, as he always did.
"Perfect game." Blank giggled.
"Damn!" Zidane shot up from his chair and continued his foul language. Blank took all remaining five cards that once belonged to Zidane. Cinna joined in laughing along with Marcus, Blank and even Baku who gave Zidane a quick jab to the stomach for being such a loser.
"Dinner's ready!" Cinna announced.
Crickets sang as the last few merchants gabbed about pointless things during that evening. Cinna lay his head down on his old mattress. He enjoyed the bed regardless of the fact that it was placed on the floor. He didn't use blankets either. Nope, he preferred to lay sprawled out across the floor mattress for everyone to see. Cinna smiled at the comfort he found from his own bed. Looking up at the ceiling, he thought about his day. It was an eventful day, although most of it was the same thing that he usually repeated. But, Cinna thought it was eventful. The pretty lady, the dark stranger, and the new job. The new job was on his mind the most. Baku had later mentioned that Tantalus was performing 'I want to be your Canary.' This was supposedly the princess' favorite play. Cinna knew the play well. He was glad to be able to perform the play again. Of course, Cinna is glad most of the time.
The rest of the gang was already snoring, except for Zidane whom sat upright. Cinna soon drifted off into sleep himself. He dreamt a pleasant dream of a woman dressed in red nibbling on a South Gate Bundt Cake. T'was the day of Cinna, the happy bandit.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, "Marcus, the Quiet Bandit." Please tell me what you think of this story, I haven't written a fictional story since 10th grade (about 6 years ago).