True Love's Song
(Part 1- At First Sight)
By Alria
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the FF9 characters or settings.
A/N: As I looked through the FF9 fics, I didn't see many fics about Madain Sari before the Invincible destroyed it. And, you might say that the muse fairy flew down from the sky and bopped him on the head with her magic fairy wand. So, I decided to write a story about Jane, Devin (you'll find out about him soon enough), and their lives in that city. I altered a few things from the gamebut nothing too drastic. A definite romance story (what else did you expect from me?) along with my version of what happened in the summoner's village on that cold, stormy night.
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At the thought of her parents, Jane began tugging at her hair more furiously. Her father was the Head Mari, the most powerful summoner in the whole city. He was the leader of Madain Sari. Jane sighed. Sure, ever since she was a kid people had been telling her how lucky she was to have someone like that for a dadbut they didn't really understand. He was always busy, forever at some "government banquet" or something of the sort. He was a business man to the core. And Mother! Had there ever been such a superficial woman in the history of Madain Sari? She used her prized eidolon, Carbuncle, to wash her hair! It was disgraceful to the poor thingbut she was its master, and the small rabbit-like creature couldn't do a thing about it. Eidolons weren't meant to be treated in that way, but Jane was the younger, and she could say a thing. Such was the life of a nobleman's daughter, everyone pretended to love and respect you, but no one really cared what she thought or how she felt.
"Jane? Jane! Let me in!" came a familiar voice from outside her window. She grinned, her chestnut eyes sparkling with delight. There, hovering on small crimson wings, was her eidolon, Bahamet. Oh course that was his official name, but Jane hardly ever called him that. To her, he was simply rascal, or something of the sort. He was just a baby dragon nowno longer then her arm. He was such a sweet little thingand even though he wasn't the powerful yet, he was by far her favorite. Jane grinned and placed her wooden brush on the table as she stood up. She hurried over to the window, her silken dress billowing out behind her, and threw them open. The little dragon growled with pleasure as he flew into her open arms, knocking her back a few steps. Jane laughed as she cuddled the little body to her chest and gently scratched his nose.
"And what are you doing here, you little rascal?" she cooed as he looked up at her with his blue eyes.
"You said you'd come outside and play with me earlier. I didn't know where you were," he said. Jane's happiness began to dwindle.
"Oh, I completely forgot! Believe me, I'd love to go and play with you, but Mother has some dinner party planned that I have to go to. I'm so sorrybut we'll play tomorrow, I promise," she said. Bahamet looked up at her with big puppy-dog eyes.
"You never have any time nowadaysyou used to be able to play all the time. What happened?" he asked sadly. Jane lips melted into a whisp of a smile. It was the one answer that she hated to think about. It was the one thing that all young women had to deal with, especially noble ones. There was no other reason her mother was taking her to the banquet; that woman hated to have her around. It was an awful ting to do to someone, in Jane's opinion, but she did understand the importance of it.
"Little Rascal, you must understand that I am from a noble line of summoners. Not by my choice, of course, but I am just the same. Now, in order for me to carry on that line, I must marry," she said softly. The little dragon scowled.
"All those men are stuffy. They never want to play with me, and they're so clean it's unnatural," he said bluntly. Jane grinned sadly and hugged the creature closer to her.
"I'm glad someone sees what I do. I wish there were others in this town like youothers who understood," with one final squeeze Jane let the dragon go.
"Well, its almost time for the party, and I need to get dressed. I promise we'll play tomorrow," she said reassuringly. The eidolon gave her one final quick glance, and then flew out of the window and into the starry evening sky. Jane sighed as she watched the dragon disappear into the night. Young eidolons had such unconditional loveso pure and true. Would she ever find love like that? Jane bowed her head. Of course not. She would be married off to some rich pompous noble like a delicate vase at auction. Overwhelmed with grief, Jane slumped down into her whicker chair. A small tear drop caught the moon's rays, making it sparkle like a diamond before it rolled down her cheek and dripped silently onto a manila piece of paper. For a few seconds Jane stared at the piece of paper, and then she gently picked it up with shaking hands. As she read the words scribbled on it, a tiny smile formed on her lips. It was her songthe song she had been working so hard on. Of course it wasn't finished yetbut what she had wasn't too shabby. It was comforting to see something good she had accomplished. The tiny black notes and loopy writing of the lyrics brought back fond memories of the days she had spent composing it. And so, wiping the tears from her eyes, she opened her mouth to sing.
"Alone for awhile, I've been searching through the dark.
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.
To weep, while picking out the pieces that remain
Melodies of life, love's lost reframe.
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said good-bye
But who'll hear the echoes of stories, never told
Let them ring, out loud, til' they unfold
In my dearest memories
Do you remember, loving me
They are gone
I still believe that you can call, out my name
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine
Adding up the layers, of harmony
And so it goes on and on
Melodies of life, into the skies beyond the, shining sea
Forever and beyond."
Jane sighed. It was a song about the love she would never find, the love she yearned for everyday. She glanced up at the title. Dreamer's Song. Jane felt her eyes water with tears once more. It certainly was, for who was a bigger dreamer then she, the one who dreamed of true love? It wasn't fair! Why should she be doomed to lead the commonly traveled path of her ancestors? She didn't want that! She wanted love, not money or power. But she, of all people, should know better. True love was for the luckynot for a noblewoman. And so, glistening tears of sorrow streaming down her pale face, Jane began to pull a long blue dinner gown on over her head.
~
"Thank you, Vincent. The banquet will be over at abouttenish. I expect you to be here on time, or you'll find yourself without a job. Goodnight." Vincent the coachman, his face almost as pale as his ashen horn, nodded as Jane's mother closed the carriage door. The small Carbuncle was perched like an ornament on the woman's shoulder, and it looked absolutely miserable. Jane wanted so badly to cuddle the poor, humiliated creature in her arms, but that was out of the question. You simply DID NOT touch someone else's eidolon. And so, feeling discouraged and incredibly ridiculous in her frilly ballroom dress, Jane followed her mother and father into the large banquet hall.
Inside, much to Jane's displeasure, sat almost every stuffy, pompous, and arrogant noble she knew. They all chattered about mind-numbing topics such as the weather or politics. Jane kept her eyes down so as not to draw any unwanted attention from the masses as she quickly took her seat next to her mother. As she sat in the polished chair, Jane noticed something odd. Almost every pair of eyes was fixed on her. That was strange, the nobles usually liked to pretend she wasn't even there. Unless, of course, someone in the family wanted a promotion, for who better to butter up than the daughter of the head summoner? Jane scowled inwardly at the thought. How she hated such deceitful people.
But the looks and sly smiles of these nobles were a bit intimidating. Why would everyone be so interested in her? It didn't make sensethey had never shown such curiosity before. Jane looked over at her mother. She would probably know what was going onshe was the main source of gossip in the town, anyway. Jane leaned over so that her mouth was right next to her mother's ear.
"Motherwhy is everyone staring at me?" she asked nervously. Her mother turned to her with a wide grin.
"Why, they're happy for you, dear," she said in her sing-song I'm not really listening voice. Jane stared at her mother, dumbfounded.
"What do you mean?" she asked nervously. At this remark, her mother looked a but perplexed herself.
"Sweetiesurely I told you?" she said. Jane shook her head.
"Told me what?" she asked nervously. Her mother smiled and patted Jane on the back.
"Well, I know how hard it is for you to pick a husband, so your father and I had a little chat with one of your guy friends," she said. Jane felt the color drain from her face. She didn't have any guy friends, she hated all the young men her age. And by the way this conversation was going, the ending wasn't going to be pretty.
"Mother?" she asked shakily. Her mother completely ignored her.
"We had a chat with that young manoh, I think his name was Harold. You remember him, don't you sweetie? Anyway, he apparently has taken a liking to you, and you're to be married!" she cried happily.
Jane felt as if her whole world was crashing down around her. Harold!? He was the most stuck up and arrogant of the lot! The only reason he might "take a liking to her" was because of her father's money! She couldn't marry him! She hated him! As Jane looked around the crowded room, everyone seemed to be laughing at her, mocking her. As she tried to surpress a scream of embarrassment and shame, Jane quickly stood up. Tears streaming down her face, she used the last of her pride to rush towards the glass doors at the exit. She threw them open with a burst of power, and ran out into the cool, starry night.
Jane, tears falling like tiny diamonds down her soft cheeks, wrapped her arms around a thin tree for the minimal comfort it provided. Why was this happening? All she had ever wanted was to find lovebut was even that simple wish going to be denied her? Her mind slowly drifted to the title of her precious song. Dreamerthat was certainly what she was. A hopeless and pathetic dreamer.
"Pme." Jane froze in shock, her face suddenly ashen. It couldn't behad she just heard a plea for help? Jane pushed herself away from the tree and began looking around, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Hello? Is someone there?" she asked shakily.
"Help." This time the voice was quieter, little more than a whisper. Jane's eyes widened. Someone needed her!
"Okayjust, stay where you are. I'll find you," she said reassuringly. Her eyes as keen as a hawk's, Jane searched among the dark trees. Where was this stranger? Doing the best she could to follow the sound of the voice, Jane burrowed into the trees. Where was he!? What if he was dying, or already dead!? What if- Jane's foot suddenly rammed into something hard. With a startled cry was fell forward and landed on something warm. The thing groaned as she landed on top of it, and she quickly leapt to her feet. Jane let out a quick gasp as she studied the figure lying at her feet. It was a young man, about her age, with thick ebony hair. He was wearing the most peculiar clothes, a long purple robe with puffy stripped pants. A wooden staff and a tall pointed hat lay off to the side. But the thing that startled her the most was the large bleeding wound that seemed to be on his chest. Jane knelt down beside the young man.
"It's okay. I'm here, you're alright. I'll help you, don't worry," she said softly. The young man seemed to relax at her soothing words, and his lips curled into a meek smile. Despite herself, Jane felt her face melt into a grin, too. He was certainly a handsome manand there was an innocence about him that was unique. Jane lowered her head down until her mouth was just about his ear.
"You'll be alright. I promise."
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Did you like it? And I'll bet you're wondering why this black mage looks like a human. Well, you'll find out in the next part, so don't worry! I hope you enjoyed my little story, and please review!!!