Later, alone in Garnet's room, she and Zidane were sat on her bed, talking softly.
They talked about how long it had been, how nice it was to meet everyone again, but Garnet kept one thing quiet. Suddenly, she couldn't stand it no more.
"Zidane, have I changed?" she blurted out suddenly, interrupting him. Zidane was taken aback.
".................I'm gonna be honest with you. Sort of" he replied hesitantly.
Garnet threw herself back on the bed.
"It's useless!" she cried, beating her fists on the bed." It's not fair!!! "
"Whats not?"
"I'm pregnant and I don't know how! Or who!"
Zidane turned red.
"Er.......................Dagger. Remember that night, when you comforted me, on the Invincible."
Garnet nodded slowly.
"Yeah, why?" (I remember that. You were crying, about being created)
"Well, we um.....kinda?"
".....................OH MY!!!!!!!!! You don't think...."
"Yeah" he finished, "I think that it's mine"
"Zidane.......but we're not married. I'm a ..........whore"
Zidane looked at her in shock.
"Don't call yourself that!" he cried. Garnet looked at him in shock. Zidane blushed as he smiled weakly at her.
"I've met a lot of........whores in my life, and your not one of them! Never! Hell no!!"
Garnet looked up at him.
"But, this child will be born out of wedlock" she murmured. Zidane smiled.
"Oh no they won't" he said, producing a ring.
"Will you marry me Dagger?"
Garnet looked into Zidane's earnest face, looking gently at her.
"Yes Zidane! I will" she laughed, flinging her arms around his neck. Zidane held her tighter, feeling her warm body against his.
"This is the happiest moment of my life" Garnet murmured. Zidane nodded.
"Mine too"
Many weeks passed and the whole of Alexandria were preparing for the royal wedding. At last, the big day came, and Garnet found herself being groomed by Beatrix.
"Your majesty.........you look so.......beautiful" exclaimed Beatrix as Garnet stepped out from her bathroom, wearing a magnificent sleeveless white dress, accompanied by her special silver tiara. A thin white veil hung over the back if her long dark hair, ready to be flipped over her face.
"You look like an angel, your majesty"
Garnet smiled at this compliment. She had often had warm comments about her beauty, but never as anything as extravagant as an angel.
"Thank you Beatrix. Hadn't you better go and get changed? Find Eiko too please?"
Beatrix nodded at Garnet, and left the room.
Smiling, Garnet began to brush her long dark hair.
Meanwhile, Zidane was being `smartened up' by Steiner. Zidane was squirming as Steiner tied up his bow tie, and straightened the jacket of his tuxedo.
"Rusty! It's fine!"
Steiner frowned.
"But, it is a royal wedding! You must look your best!". Zidane laughed.
"I know Rusty, I'm the groom ya know"
Steiner sighed.
"I need to go speak with Beatrix. Please wait here, I shall return"
"Make sure you only speak to Beatrix ,Steiner!" exclaimed Zidane, winking slyly. Steiner found himself smiling back at the Genome as he left the room.
Zidane grinned to himself and began preening himself in the mirror. Out the corner of his eye, he could see a shadow by the door. He span round quickly and caught an of-guard Mikoto who stared at him.
" Morning Mikoto!" he called, smiling at his little sister.
Mikoto eyed him suspiciously.
"Good morning to you too. Are you, getting married today?"
"Yeah. like I explained Mik, me and Dagger are getting married. We devote our lives together and become husband and wife"
"And you will be King"
Zidane paled, and sank on the chair nearby.
"I never thought of it as that! Damm, I'm not `King' material!"
Mikoto cocked her head slightly.
"You seem scared by my comment"
Zidane smiled weakly, and shook his head.
"No, we just see marriage in different lights"
Mikoto moved over to her brother, and hugged him quickly.
"Good luck" she said with a hint of emotion in her voice. As she left the room, Zidane stared after her.
"There's a chance for her yet" he muttered to himself.
The courtyard was draped in white streamers, and beautiful white roses twisted daintily around the willow arch which the couple would pass under. Stood nervously at the alter, was Zidane, his tail twitching nervously behind him. At once, Freya struck up the wedding march on the beautiful oak piano as Garnet glided down the aisle, arm in arm with Steiner, as Beatrix and Eiko trailed behind her.
Finally, Garnet reached her husband to be and smiled shyly at him. Zidane grinned back, entranced by her.
She had that special glow around her, as most pregnant women do, and she seemed so young and fresh.
Zidane barely heard the minister droning on, until he addressed him.
"Do you, Zidane Tribal, take this women to be your lawful wedded wife, in sickness and in health, and to love and cherish her as long as you both may live?"
"I-I do"
"Do you, Garnet Til Alexandros, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, in sickness and in health, and to love and cherish him as long as you both may live?"
"I do"
"You may kiss the bride"
As Zidane carefully lifted Garnet's veil, he stared deep into her velvety brown eyes. As he lent forward to kiss her, suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his head.
Swaying, Zidane saw the panic on Garnets face as he wavered and fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Zidane?"
"Dagger?!"
"Zidane" repeated the voice, not as sweet as his beloved Dagger's but strangely familiar.
Zidane felt nothing, he saw red swirls surround him, engulfing him.
A shadowy figure approached him, gesturing all of the time. As he grew closer, Zidane opened his mouth in shock. Kuja....
"Kuja?!" he whispered, trying to stand. Kuja came and knelt down next to him, supporting him.
"Zidane........my little brother. What are you doing here?"
Zidane frowned.
"I don't know. Where am I?"
" In the depths of my chaotic mind, my dreams, my memories, my thoughts"
Zidane looked nervously around the space, seeing many stomach churning images that littered his mind.
"You're insane Kuja......but, why am I seeing you? Are you a ghost?"
"For one to be a ghost, one must be dead"
Zidane staggered backwards.
"Y-you're alive?!!!?!?"
Kuja nodded, his white hair flying.
"Yes" he said simply.
Zidane could hear himself fainting again, he felt himself flying ,flying away.......
"Zidane?!"
"............Kuja........."
"Zidane!? Are you ok?"
"..........yeah"
"Wake up!"
His head feeling heavy, Zidane forced himself to sit up. Bleary eyed, he squinted up at Garnet, trying to focus his eyes. After blinking several times, the sight didn't return. Garnet looked at him worriedly.
"Zidane? Whats wrong?"
"...........I can't see you. I can't see anything"
Garnet scanned the crowds.
"Where's Dr Tot?" she cried. The crowd parted, revealing the out of breath Doctor.
"Whats wrong Queen Garnet?"
"Zidane can't see"
Tot knelt down and shone a small light in his forest green eyes. Zidane didn't blink or even react to the light. The doctor clapped a hand gently on Zidane's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Zidane, but you're blind. If its permanent or temporary, I can't tell. Only time can tell that"
Garnet's eyes filled with tears as she gazed at her husband. He was looking off into the distance.
"Zidane" she whispered, giving him her hand. He took it and held it tight, the only link to Garnet.
"Don't worry Dagger, I'll be fine" he consoled her, feeling a lump in his throat.
"(What happened? Did Kuja do this? What is the deal with Kuja anyway? Will......will I ever see my child? Or Dagger's beautiful face smiling at me?)"
Zidane bowed his head. Garnet looked at him.
"Zidane?....don't be sad. C'mon, lets go"
The young genome allowed himself to be led into the castle, feeling Garnets hands guide him. She looked into his eyes, they looked so confused, so distant. So afraid.
Zidane's fear was so strong, that Garnet could feel it herself. As she drew him into a close hug, she could feel him shaking beneath her arms.
"Don't worry Zidane" she whispered softly.
They talked about how long it had been, how nice it was to meet everyone again, but Garnet kept one thing quiet. Suddenly, she couldn't stand it no more.
"Zidane, have I changed?" she blurted out suddenly, interrupting him. Zidane was taken aback.
".................I'm gonna be honest with you. Sort of" he replied hesitantly.
Garnet threw herself back on the bed.
"It's useless!" she cried, beating her fists on the bed." It's not fair!!! "
"Whats not?"
"I'm pregnant and I don't know how! Or who!"
Zidane turned red.
"Er.......................Dagger. Remember that night, when you comforted me, on the Invincible."
Garnet nodded slowly.
"Yeah, why?" (I remember that. You were crying, about being created)
"Well, we um.....kinda?"
".....................OH MY!!!!!!!!! You don't think...."
"Yeah" he finished, "I think that it's mine"
"Zidane.......but we're not married. I'm a ..........whore"
Zidane looked at her in shock.
"Don't call yourself that!" he cried. Garnet looked at him in shock. Zidane blushed as he smiled weakly at her.
"I've met a lot of........whores in my life, and your not one of them! Never! Hell no!!"
Garnet looked up at him.
"But, this child will be born out of wedlock" she murmured. Zidane smiled.
"Oh no they won't" he said, producing a ring.
"Will you marry me Dagger?"
Garnet looked into Zidane's earnest face, looking gently at her.
"Yes Zidane! I will" she laughed, flinging her arms around his neck. Zidane held her tighter, feeling her warm body against his.
"This is the happiest moment of my life" Garnet murmured. Zidane nodded.
"Mine too"
Many weeks passed and the whole of Alexandria were preparing for the royal wedding. At last, the big day came, and Garnet found herself being groomed by Beatrix.
"Your majesty.........you look so.......beautiful" exclaimed Beatrix as Garnet stepped out from her bathroom, wearing a magnificent sleeveless white dress, accompanied by her special silver tiara. A thin white veil hung over the back if her long dark hair, ready to be flipped over her face.
"You look like an angel, your majesty"
Garnet smiled at this compliment. She had often had warm comments about her beauty, but never as anything as extravagant as an angel.
"Thank you Beatrix. Hadn't you better go and get changed? Find Eiko too please?"
Beatrix nodded at Garnet, and left the room.
Smiling, Garnet began to brush her long dark hair.
Meanwhile, Zidane was being `smartened up' by Steiner. Zidane was squirming as Steiner tied up his bow tie, and straightened the jacket of his tuxedo.
"Rusty! It's fine!"
Steiner frowned.
"But, it is a royal wedding! You must look your best!". Zidane laughed.
"I know Rusty, I'm the groom ya know"
Steiner sighed.
"I need to go speak with Beatrix. Please wait here, I shall return"
"Make sure you only speak to Beatrix ,Steiner!" exclaimed Zidane, winking slyly. Steiner found himself smiling back at the Genome as he left the room.
Zidane grinned to himself and began preening himself in the mirror. Out the corner of his eye, he could see a shadow by the door. He span round quickly and caught an of-guard Mikoto who stared at him.
" Morning Mikoto!" he called, smiling at his little sister.
Mikoto eyed him suspiciously.
"Good morning to you too. Are you, getting married today?"
"Yeah. like I explained Mik, me and Dagger are getting married. We devote our lives together and become husband and wife"
"And you will be King"
Zidane paled, and sank on the chair nearby.
"I never thought of it as that! Damm, I'm not `King' material!"
Mikoto cocked her head slightly.
"You seem scared by my comment"
Zidane smiled weakly, and shook his head.
"No, we just see marriage in different lights"
Mikoto moved over to her brother, and hugged him quickly.
"Good luck" she said with a hint of emotion in her voice. As she left the room, Zidane stared after her.
"There's a chance for her yet" he muttered to himself.
The courtyard was draped in white streamers, and beautiful white roses twisted daintily around the willow arch which the couple would pass under. Stood nervously at the alter, was Zidane, his tail twitching nervously behind him. At once, Freya struck up the wedding march on the beautiful oak piano as Garnet glided down the aisle, arm in arm with Steiner, as Beatrix and Eiko trailed behind her.
Finally, Garnet reached her husband to be and smiled shyly at him. Zidane grinned back, entranced by her.
She had that special glow around her, as most pregnant women do, and she seemed so young and fresh.
Zidane barely heard the minister droning on, until he addressed him.
"Do you, Zidane Tribal, take this women to be your lawful wedded wife, in sickness and in health, and to love and cherish her as long as you both may live?"
"I-I do"
"Do you, Garnet Til Alexandros, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, in sickness and in health, and to love and cherish him as long as you both may live?"
"I do"
"You may kiss the bride"
As Zidane carefully lifted Garnet's veil, he stared deep into her velvety brown eyes. As he lent forward to kiss her, suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his head.
Swaying, Zidane saw the panic on Garnets face as he wavered and fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Zidane?"
"Dagger?!"
"Zidane" repeated the voice, not as sweet as his beloved Dagger's but strangely familiar.
Zidane felt nothing, he saw red swirls surround him, engulfing him.
A shadowy figure approached him, gesturing all of the time. As he grew closer, Zidane opened his mouth in shock. Kuja....
"Kuja?!" he whispered, trying to stand. Kuja came and knelt down next to him, supporting him.
"Zidane........my little brother. What are you doing here?"
Zidane frowned.
"I don't know. Where am I?"
" In the depths of my chaotic mind, my dreams, my memories, my thoughts"
Zidane looked nervously around the space, seeing many stomach churning images that littered his mind.
"You're insane Kuja......but, why am I seeing you? Are you a ghost?"
"For one to be a ghost, one must be dead"
Zidane staggered backwards.
"Y-you're alive?!!!?!?"
Kuja nodded, his white hair flying.
"Yes" he said simply.
Zidane could hear himself fainting again, he felt himself flying ,flying away.......
"Zidane?!"
"............Kuja........."
"Zidane!? Are you ok?"
"..........yeah"
"Wake up!"
His head feeling heavy, Zidane forced himself to sit up. Bleary eyed, he squinted up at Garnet, trying to focus his eyes. After blinking several times, the sight didn't return. Garnet looked at him worriedly.
"Zidane? Whats wrong?"
"...........I can't see you. I can't see anything"
Garnet scanned the crowds.
"Where's Dr Tot?" she cried. The crowd parted, revealing the out of breath Doctor.
"Whats wrong Queen Garnet?"
"Zidane can't see"
Tot knelt down and shone a small light in his forest green eyes. Zidane didn't blink or even react to the light. The doctor clapped a hand gently on Zidane's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Zidane, but you're blind. If its permanent or temporary, I can't tell. Only time can tell that"
Garnet's eyes filled with tears as she gazed at her husband. He was looking off into the distance.
"Zidane" she whispered, giving him her hand. He took it and held it tight, the only link to Garnet.
"Don't worry Dagger, I'll be fine" he consoled her, feeling a lump in his throat.
"(What happened? Did Kuja do this? What is the deal with Kuja anyway? Will......will I ever see my child? Or Dagger's beautiful face smiling at me?)"
Zidane bowed his head. Garnet looked at him.
"Zidane?....don't be sad. C'mon, lets go"
The young genome allowed himself to be led into the castle, feeling Garnets hands guide him. She looked into his eyes, they looked so confused, so distant. So afraid.
Zidane's fear was so strong, that Garnet could feel it herself. As she drew him into a close hug, she could feel him shaking beneath her arms.
"Don't worry Zidane" she whispered softly.
