Mel: Greetings, my fair friends!
Figgy: #Guess who's back, back again, Figgy's back, tell a friend, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back# (gets hit by Mel's Hammer)
Mel: No Eminem songs, please. gets slapped by Eminem I'm telling my mummy on yoooou!
Figgy: (sweatdrop)
Mel: Anyways, I have a treat for you!
Figgy: Candy?
Mel: Er...no.
Figgy: Aw. T-T
Mel: I've been making up a fan-sequal to FFIX!
Figgy: yay.
Mel: There are a few bits that are sort of adapted from fanfics and bits of fanart that I feel are very special to me sniff But I'm not stealing them, I will give credit to people.
Figgy: But then again, you're not writing up all of it, are you?
Mel: No, I'm not, because I can't really be bothered LOL
Figgy: ow
Mel: So, I'm giving little previews, and I might write up a chunk of story, who knows?

Figgy: Our first preview is also an early birthday present to Mel's boyfriend!
Mel: Yeah, thanks Figgy, why don't you tell the whole world about it?
Figgy: I did.
Mel: oh. Anyway, it's a scene in the story after the game ends, between Freya and Amarant.
Figgy: It's slightly Fremerant, but unfortunately for Fremerant fans the whole story is Ferya/Fratley.
Fremerant fan: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Mel: Hey, the world needs more Fratley!!!!! Less depressing ones!!! Stop making Freya depressed! Stooopid Square, it's all their fault for making Freya's whole story depressing! (runs off crying)
Figgy: Erm...ahem. Without further ado, on with the fic!

Final Fantasy IX-2 Destiny Calls

Previews

Preview 1

Freya and Amarant

The light was shining on the many crystal chandeliers that hung from the silver ceiling of the ballroom. All the audience were there, as well as many guests who had come from different continents to see the play.

Everyone, of course, was in a light mood, and the champagne and wine that was served helped to induce this feeling. However, there were many aspects of this evening that needed no drink to enhance it.

Queen Garnet stood in the middle of the room, talking and laughing with other royalties, such as Regent Cid and Lady Hilda, the rulers of Lindblum. She had a huge smile on her face, and her face was still red from her joyful tears, as next to her stood her true love, Zidane, who has been missing since the end of the Great Eidolon War. Eiko stood proudly next to Cid and Hilda, showing off the fact that she was now adopted and would rule a powerful nation when she was older.

Aldebert Steiner, who was now Sir Steiner, stood nearby, talking with some Lindblum military officers. Next to him stood Lady Beatrix, who had also been knighted by the queen. The couple were a great military pair, always looking out for each other.

And, of course, by the food table, giving commands to the many small chefs was Quina, who had been given the honour of returning to the castle as the Alexandrian head chef.

Freya looked around the room as she sat at a table to the side of the room. There was a red candle in the middle of it, and the flame illuminated the book that she was trying to read. Whether it had any significance to do with the Fire Shrine gem, she didn't know. She was too busy thinking about other things as she scanned the crowd for answers to her questions.

"You look like you're on a different planet altogether." A gruff voice emerged from the gentle hum of society. Freya jumped slightly, caught unaware, and looked sharply up to find Amarant standing next to her table.

"Who knows, maybe I am?" she replied, smiling. Amarant nodded towards the spare chair. "Can I sit?" he asked. Freya gave a small shrug, but nodded afterwards.

"So, that Zidane's alive after all." Amarant murmured, staring at the Genome with his arm around Garnet.

"Didn't you know?" Freya chuckled.

"No, no one told me."

"Ah, well, he's been here for a long time. Just wanted to wait for the right moment to reveal himself to everyone."

Amarant sniffed. "That sounds like him alright." There was a small silence as Freya looked down at the page she had been on for half an hour. She decided now wasn't the time to get involved in magical matters, and closed the old volume, before putting it back in her travelling sack.

"Reading up on new romance novels, eh?" Amarant joked as he noticed the book.

"Eh? Oh, no, no," Freya shook her head, laughing. "It's just something to do with magical stones and stuff."

"Can I see?" he asked. Freya got the book out again and handed it to him. "I found it in Daguerreo; it was quite interesting when I first read it. You can borrow it if you want; I was just trying to figure out something."

Amarant scanned through the pages and found a picture of the Crystal. "Hey, remember the time we were trying to protect this thing?" he held it up for her to see. Freya smiled.

"Yeah," she said, "good times. I don't think Kuja survived as well as Zidane though."

He nodded in agreement, and then went back to scanning the pages. Freya looked around the room again.

"Where's Vivi?" Amarant suddenly asked. Freya jumped again. "Sorry," he added sheepishly.

"It's okay. Vivi's over there, you just can't see him behind all the taller people." Freya said, with a chuckle, and she pointed towards the buffet table where Vivi was standing, his yellow eyes blinking.

"Well I'll be. I thought the little guy would have stopped by now." Amarant smiled faintly.

"True, but I'm glad he's not going to for a long while. Apparently they found something than can prolong their lives to that of a normal person." Freya replied.

"Geez, I didn't know…guess that's what happens when you go out of town for a few months." Amarant sighed. Freya chuckled. "Beating up more 'bad guys' were you?" she smirked.

Amarant frowned, but had a smile on his face. "Maybe I should clean my act up," he said thoughtfully. There was another short pause.

"How about you?" he asked, looking back at her. "I heard you restored Burmecia and Cleyra at the same time, with that – erm, what's-his-face, Flatsel…"

"Fratley," Freya corrected him.

"That's it. Is he here?"

"No," Freya shook her head, "the King wanted him to help him with something. But he told me to say hi to everyone."

Amarant shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "How do you feel about him?"

Freya's eyes widened a bit and her breath caught in her throat. She tried to think of a truthful answer to give, but no words formed in her mind, only memories. If it weren't for him, she would have been dead…

"He's alright." She stammered. "Look, I really have to go." She got up, swinging the bag over her shoulder. "Keep the book if you want, I can always find another copy."

"Freya."

"See you later, Amarant."

She started to walk through the crowd towards the entrance, knowing how rude she was being, just walking out. But she didn't really want to face it. She didn't want to face the truth.

Outside, the wind was cool on her face as she started to walk towards the boat that would take her to the city square. She was about to step on the currently unoccupied boat when a large hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Freya, tell me."

Freya squeezed her eyes shut in frustration, then slowly turned round to face him, always looking at the ground.

"Is it that bad?" he said, a small laugh in his voice.

Freya took a deep breath. "He said he loved me."

Amarant blinked. "Shouldn't you be happy about that?"

She frowned. "I don't know, I mean, I guess I should."

"But why aren't you?"

She looked up at him. "I don't know."

"Did he get his memories back?"

"No…" Freya looked down again.

Amarant leant on a nearby pillar. "Let me guess," he said, looking at the sky. "You don't see him as the Fratley you remember, so he's a stranger to you."

"Well, sort of, I mean he acts the same way…"

"So what's the problem?" he challenged her. Freya paused for a while, and then gave up. "I don't know."

There was an awkward silence between them, looking at opposite directions; Amarant towards the stars, and Freya at the ground.

Amarant was the first to break the silence, and he folded his arms as he looked at her.

"See, everyone has times when they're confused about their feelings, Freya. Even me." He said wistfully. Freya laughed.

"You, having romantic problems? That's just – so out of character!" she giggled. "Is it about Lani?"

Amarant shook his head, always staring at her. "Lani's an annoying brat, but it ain't about her."

Freya looked puzzled, but a deep blush came over her face when she realised just why he was looking at her that way.

"Ah…" she tried to speak, but all she could do was point at herself in an unspoken question.

"Mm-hmm." Amarant nodded solemnly.

Freya's eyes widened as she blushed even more. She would never have believed that Amarant had feelings for her.

"W-why?" she stuttered.

Amarant looked at the stars again. "I dunno. You were always there, I suppose. I always admired your strength, especially after we first met – and nearly fought. I had this feeling afterwards that you were different from all those chicks I'm used to. It was only after that battle in the Fire Shrine when I realised I was starting to…like you a lot." He looked back down at her. "I guess I never really wanted to tell you, because I thought it wouldn't be fair on you, not while Fratley was still on your mind."

Freya held her breath. "Amarant, I – I don't know what to say…"

He unfolded his arms and came towards her. "You don't have to say anything," he said, running a finger down her cheek.

"Er…I…" Freya gulped.

She took a step back and looked at the floor again. "Amarant, I'm sorry, but I don't really know what's going on in my heart at the moment." She felt guilty as she said this, not wanting to hurt him. She looked up again and saw he was smiling.

"It's okay, I understand." Amarant said. "You're having a rough time at the moment. I'm sorry, I only added to the burdens you're carrying."

Freya breathed out, relieved he wasn't upset. "Once I've sorted out a few things, I can have a long think about what my heart really wants." She promised.

Amarant nodded. "C'mon, I think the others will be wondering where we are."

Freya gave a deep sigh. "You're right. Let's go." She smiled at him. Amarant gave a small frown, but not so much for her to notice as she turned to go back inside the castle.

How can she smile like that? He thought. After everything that has happened in her life, after so much pain, she can still smile strongly as if nothing had happened.

And that moment, as he watched her walk back into the castle as if she had only gone out for a breath of fresh air, his admiration grew as he worked out that Freya really was stronger inside than she let on.

Figgy: TA-DAH!
Mel: I am back. And I feel fine.
Figgy: Good because you missed the story.
Mel: I-what? Damn.
Figgy: (sweatdrop)
Mel: Oh well, the next preview will be a FreyaxFratley scene YAY
Figgy: sigh...please R&R, dear readers!