Final Fantasy IX: The Rose of May

Act I Scene I: The Wilted Rose in the Winter of Despair

[???]: … singing

war leaves its trail
in moonlight so pale
its shadows they flow
in rivers, in rivers
so put on my mask
I'll go where they ask
so I might once again see the
Roses of May

[Zidane]: Whoa…

[???]: Who's there!?

[Narrator]: Shocked that he was heard, Zidane turned to flee but slipped on some garments that had been meticulously placed on the rocks beside him. Falling onto his hind side, the clothes flew up into the air, and a pair of lacy lingerie fell onto his face. Turning to back, with bra and panties in hand, Zidane felt a deathly chill as he faced the woman he had been watching.

[Zidane]: nervously laughing Uh, hi?

[???]: blinding white energy encircles the mystery woman's arm Bright light, shine down on bloody impurity! Holy!

[Zidane]: What the...?

[Narrator]: The white energy shoots from the fingertips of the mysterious woman and shred everything within the path of the blast. Zidane can barely register what is happening and it is only by his years of near death experiences and natural instincts that allow him to dodge the attack. Smoke and dust rise from the very ground that was struck from the attack. And as the dust dissipates, all that remains is a pile of destroyed rubble and the woman's belongings.

[???]: Filthy letches, that's all you men are. How dare you sneak upon a general as she bathes.

[Narrator]: Unbeknown by the general, Zidane hangs from the branch of a tree by his tail as he holds onto his treasure. He muffles his exhausted pants with his free hand. It is misfortune that strikes as the tree he had hurried to climb up was also struck when the blinding attack was aimed towards him. The trunk of the tree sways slightly and the branch that Zidane hangs from leans forward toward the floor.

[Zidane]: hearing the creaking of the not so sturdy branch Oh, fuck me! said through a muffled hand

[Narrator]: The branch eventually gives way and snaps. Zidane plummets into the hot spring, near the bathing general.

[General]: Still alive! tightens the towel around her petite body

[Zidane]: Let me explain! brushing aside his wet bangs

[General]: wading through the water towards Zidane Explain? You can explain yourself to Odin himself when he carries away your lifeless carcass.

[Zidane]: crawling backwards I'd rather not, how about some jewels? Maybe a sword perhaps? Anything, just don't kill me!

[General]: still walking forward menacingly You dare mock me? I have slain lesser a man and even they did not beg for their life like you. Pathetic!

[Zidane]: crawls backwards until his back touches the damaged trunk of a large tree Pathetic? Lady, you just blew up a tree! And your unarmed!

[General]: Unarmed? You think I became a general because I am foolish enough to go anywhere unarmed? I am always armed unsheathing a sword placed near her clothing.

[Zidane]: Holy fuck! Your really gonna kill me just for sneaking a peek at your goods?

[General]: infuriated Stand up! It is unsightly for a man to be killed while on his back.

[Zidane]: shaking his head I don't think it matters at this point. I'm gonna end up on my back once you try to kill me.

[General]: raising her blade above her head Suit yourself. You can tell Hades that General Beatrix's blade is what erased your pitiful existence.

[Narrator]: Beatrix's blade swung down towards Zidane's head. By reflex, Zidane's tail grabbed his bag of stolen goods and placed it in his hands. He held the top and bottom of the sack and held it above his head to block the blade. A loud clang resonated as Beatrix's blade cut open the bag.

[Zidane]: grins The gods must be smiling at me. I almost forgot that I had that in there.

[Narrator]: Various pieces of gil and jewels scattered on the ground as Zidane tore the rest of the bag away to reveal a sheathed sword. The scabbard of the sword looked fairly impressive on its own. It was made of a sleek maroon metal and the chape was made of gold. The grip of the sword was a ruby red and the cross guard looked like a pair of golden wings protecting a silver heart.

As Zidane unsheathed it, the sword seemed to cling to the scabbard a sign that the sword was not put into regular use. It was a beautiful sword, made for one of great importance like that of a noble. The blade itself displayed a largely ornate appearance. A blood red gem was encrusted onto the fuller of the blade and various markings were engraved around the gem. It was a mostly straight blade that had one sharp undulation in the center that gave the blade a more elegant appearance.

[Zidane]: This is a sweet blade.

[Beatrix]: red with anger You... you thief! Give that back!

[Zidane]: No way! I give you this and then I have nothing to defend myself with.

[Beatrix]: Then I'll take it back myself.

[Narrator]: Beatrix swung her blade, aiming to decapitate the thief. Zidane barely blocked the strike, not used to wielding a sword. Standing up, Zidane backed into the forest as he was forced on the defensive by Beatrix.

[Beatrix]: I could easily take you out, now that you are within arms reach, but you made this personal by stealing my blade. I will cut your head off! swinging her sword upwards towards Zidane

[Zidane]: blocks the powerful blow My god lady, it's just a sword. It's not something to kill someone over.

[Beatrix]: Many have killed for that blade. That sword you hold in your hand is the sign of the most powerful swordswoman in Alexandria. The general of the Alexandrian army! another swing of her sword.

[Zidane]: backs further into forest as he dodges another strike If I give you the sword, will you let me go?

[Beatrix]: Yes.... After I gouge your eyes out for seeing me without dress. violently thrusts her sword towards Zidane

[Zidane]: weakly raises the sword to parry Beatrix's thrust Man, how do you people use these things? They're super heavy.

[Narrator]: They continued to fight each other. Zidane could barely keep up with the general. He could do nothing but block and parry her attacks and even then he could barely do that. He was forced to resort to using the forested area to his advantage. Everytime the general swung her blade, he made sure that a tree was there to slow her down. Each time that happened, Zidane would flee and try to create some distance between him and the general.

[Zidane]: panting I have to hand it to you, for a mostly naked woman with no shoes, your pretty fast. I mean, I'm naturally fast and usually no one can catch up to me, but you're doing it in a forest with no clothes.

[Beatrix]: swinging once more Shut up and die already!

[Zidane]: Sorry lady, but I'm kind of fond of living.

[Narrator]: They were no longer in the forest. The blue moon was now over them and the cover of trees no longer hid its radiant glow. The powder white snow had turned into frosty ice and the once calm winter wind had transformed into a fierce blistering gale. It had been a good twenty or so minutes since the little fight had began and the powerful general did not look willing to yield. Her breathing had become more shallow and her attacks had slowed significantly.

[Beatrix]: panting Get back here you bastard!

[Zidane]: finally taking an opportunity to run away from the fatigued general Such naughty language from a proper lady such as yourself.

[Narrator]: The Alexandrian fell to her knees. Her eyes slowly closed as she succumbed to unconsciousness. Finding himself a considerable distance away, Zidane looked back to see if the general had chased him still. His eyes widened to find the general faced down in the snow. Zidane stood still, obviously conflicted with leaving the weakened general there and saving his hide or rescuing the girl.

[Zidane]: running back Shit! I may not like you lady, but I can't leave a beautiful woman out to die. I especially can't leave a naked woman out to die.

[Narrator]: He kneeled next to the general and picked her up onto his shoulder. Zidane considered leaving the sword in the snow so that he could have a better grip on her, but thought otherwise as he remembered the fuss Beatrix had made over the sword.

[Zidane]: You owe me one lady.

[Narrator]: Realizing that the woman had no clothes to cover her and that she was still fairly wet, Zidane decided to do the only thing he could do. He carefully took off the towel and laid it in the snow for Beatrix to lay on. He then removed his slightly damp clothing, leaving him in only an undershirt and his long handles. He took out a folded piece of paper in the back of his pants before he dressed the general.

[Zidane]: Oh, god it's cold. I am so glad that Blank gave me his map. looking at the map Let's see, the fastest way to Treno is... through the Icicle Cavern. Don't worry, once I get us to Treno, I'll get Dr. Tot to help you out.


Ms. Sweet T: Yay! I got the first scene done :). So I don't really know much about swords or terminology but my sweet little partner does.

Capt. Acid Trip: I am not little!

Ms. Sweet T: Shut up! It's my story, so if your little then your little.

Capt. Acid Trip: (grumbles)

Ms. Sweet T: Just explain what the sword stuff is already.

Capt. Acid Trip: Fine... The scabbard is the thing that covers the sword. A chape is the metal tip on the scabbard. Obviously the grip is where you hold the sword, the pommel is the end part of the hilt, the cross guard separates the users hands from blade and prevents the blade from cutting the users hand if it were to slip down. A fuller is not seen on all blades (neither is the pommel or a cross guard) is a groove on the flat side of the blade and...

Ms. Sweet T: Thanks, but we don't need to know that much about swords.

Capt. Acid Trip: One last thing, I really don't know how to classify Beatrix's sword. I would classify it as a great sword due to it's length and...

Ms. Sweet T: No one cares about stuff like that. All they came here to read is all the romancy stuff that I'm going to put in.

Capt. Acid Trip: Romancy?

Ms. Sweet T: Yes, romancy! :) Oh, as for the next scene, I'm going to omit the travel to Treno but I will mention parts of it throughout the first act.