....And when the forest became pertirfied, keeping Blank with it, they all lamented, and the silence around in the night wept for the brave, Blank.
Ashen and split.
Must to rust, and such to dust.
Thus we say, fate rhymes,
And we put ryhme with time.
Time to crime,
and what's left to my mind
is mime.
Ashen and split?
Think of a cut lip.
Must to rust, and such to dust.
-a broken promise; a shattered trust.
.......... ... .
Zidane lay on his bed in the Dali inn, with his eyes closed but his mind refusing to cease. His body ached with fatigue but his mind was going a mile a minute. Who'd have thought he'd be here under such circumstances? True, his life had never been normal, but this was starting to get serious. He was on a real adventure. One that was so romantic in thought: Involving princesses, knights, mages, a secret mission and a mere thief as the dutiful servant helping them all. A mere thief? No, he was no mere thief - anyone could tell you that. He had a tail for one thing, and if you looked a bit more closely at him..you learned he wasn't monkey like at all. He was very cat-like. But aside from his appearance, if you cared to wonder about his past, you learned how little there was to say, unlike with most people. Who was he besides just "Zidane Tribal"? Who were his parents? Where'd he come from? If you ever cared to ask, he'd have to tell you he didn't know. All he remembered was a blue light. Yes, all his memories past his life in Tantalus was swaddled in a blue light. He could only guess what that blue light meant. An ocean? The sky? A flash of magic? That he was willinging to believe. After what happened in Evil Forest when he went into what Rusty called "Trance" and performed what he once read was "Dyne"...maybe he was a unique sort of mage? No, he couldn't be. He only went into trance, and the others managed to do so, occassionally, when they then had to fight off beasts in the Ice Cavern.
He then wondered about the Black Waltz he saw. Why was Alexandria taking such drastic means to retrive the princess? Why was she even running away? What was going on? He wished he knew. He turned on his side, letting his mind settle with a hope: maybe it'll all be resolved tomorrow....
On the other side of the room was an equally restless one. Dagger, as she now decided to call herself, couldn't help thinking about the night she escaped Alexandria. Her mother shot spears at the Prima Vista, the ship that belonged to Tantalus. She had found out that those two men, chasing her, worked on the Theater Ship and they agreed to kidnap her and take her to Lindblum, but disaster followed and her mother tried to get her back ("rescue" her). Her final blow was a flame-composed beast that the mage they met said was a bomb. Indeed it was a bomb, but the Prima Vista managed to survive, somewhat, and float away from Alexandria. There was some damage done to Alexandria because of the explosion though, noted Dagger. The Prima Vista was still worse off. They eventually crashed in the worse area possible, Evil Forest, where she got captured by a plant cage and held prisioner by some large, flowering beast. That's the extent of her memory, she remembered fainting too. She was rescued by Steiner, Zidane and Vivi...and that other Tantalus person. The forest petrified, however, and that Tantalus man--Blank--was petrified within it. She cursed herself inwardly. Everything was her fault, wasn't it? She can't do anything right anymore, can she? I'm glad I'm not that dull-witted Garnet, but Dagger!, thought Dagger to herself. Yet, did it really cheer her up? Only her name changed, so far. She sighed and turned in her bed, she listened to her surroundings: Steiner snoring, Vivi lightly snoring, and Zidane made no noise whatsoever. Everyone was fast asleep, so she thought. "A voice from the past, joining yours and mine," she sang softly to herself. No one was awake, who would hear? She needed to feel better and this mysterious song...somehow soothed her and made her a bit more hopeful. It had meaning, somehow, though she hadn't a clear picture what she wanted answered that this song fulfilled. "Adding up the layers of harmony. And so it goes on and on..melodies of life, to the sky beyond the flying birds.."
.......... .. .
Vivi remained silent, like they told him to be. What was going on? He felt like crying, but he was too stubborn for that. Maybe he was shy, but he wasn't gonna be weak! At least, maybe, emotionally? What was going on, though? He was just admiring the windmill, wondering what a chocobo was, glad for a distraction for he had felt heart-broken that all the kids in this village were avoiding him. He was starting to miss Puck, that rat-kid that helped him see the play. Of course, he did abandon him, of course he made him a slave..it all lead to him stuck in this adventure..but..Puck didn't point out how different he was, he didn't avoid him. He also helped him with his fear of heights, sorta. He was the only person in the world (besides his companions now) that came close to a friend. He was the first. Plus, Zidane was always busy chasing after Dagger and Steiner was busy doing..well, either yelling at Zidane or 'protecting' Dagger. Vivi was by himself. As he was now. He trembled remebering how someone had just suddenly come up from behind him and grabbed him, and now here he was..in a box. It was like a coffin! He was terrified. Were they going to bury him? Were they going to kill him?
They kept talking to him (well, rhetorically) like he'd always been here in Dali's underground place, in a box. They were talking about how the airship hadn't arrived and what he was doing out there in the open. They were very mean in their tones, and Vivi really, really didn't like it. Sooner or later, he couldn't help it. He started to sniffle. Would anyone save him? Probably not. Zidane and Dagger didn't care, probably. Sniffle.
"..Vivi?"
That voice sounded so familiar. Zidane? Dagger?
.......... .. .
Well, Vivi had been rescued, but as he climbed up the ladder of the cargo ship, they were getting on, he just couldn't understand what he learned as to why he was captured in the first place. Several black mages, he saw, all being made by a mist-machine? He didn't understand. How? Why? Then he had to think: what about me? So much brought his mind to a blank. Was he made? Where did he come from? Why was he made? Who made him? Then he thought about the Black Waltz they fought and how Zidane said that he fought one while they all fell asleep in the Ice Cavern. What was Queen Brahne up to? Dagger mentioned that she recognized some of the symbols on some of the barrels in that awful place where Vivi saw the mage-dolls. That Black Waltz was a mage, too. He came from Alexandria and was here trying to, forcefully, take Dagger back. What does this all mean? Who made me? What's my purpose? What's happening? Or, more importantly, what will happen?
Vivi tore away from his thoughts to look at Dagger faced away from Zidane, Zidane saying something like "I didn't do it on purpose" and Dagger telling him to stop. Vivi was oblivious, so he went back to thinking to himself, which was brief, for Zidane asked if he was all right. Vivi looked to the blonde and then sky-wards. "It feels like I'm about to be sucked into the sky." Dagger told him to go inside. She opened the door and motioned for him to go in first. Vivi did just that.
Inside, the ship was run by black mages! Vivi coldn't believe it! They were moving around and everything! Could they talk? Vivi later had his hopes drop with dissapointment. He tried saying 'hello' at least, but they didn't so much as pause in acknowledgement of the noise. They didn't look at him, they didn't speak back or anything! It was like...they were avoiding him too.
He went and related his feelings to Dagger and Zidane, who had been calling to him. He would have gone to them, but he had to keep trying with these mages. Eventually, he couldn't take the dissapointment anymore. He shook his head and hung it as he reported. "No...it's like..they don't even..see me at all. I tried...again and again...but.." He sniffled, held back a sob, gulped and continued. "They won't even turn around." Then Zidane went to go turn the ship around. It was heading for Alexandria, he knew. "Vivi, I need to upstairs for a little bit. I gotta turn this ship around before it reaches the castle." Dagger was silent. "Keep an eye on Vivi, okay?" Dagger nodded. Vivi felt a tad special, he was cared for now. He finally had attention. However...the pain of an unkonwn past haunting didn't allow him to enjoy in the fact that he wasn't just an extra person on the team.
While Zidane went to do what he said he was going to do, Vivi tried again to talk to the mages. He walked over to one the mages and tried to converse, though he came off even shyer than before, rather unsure as to what to say to someone he knew would still ignore him. "H-hey, how..how're you? It-it's a beautiful day for flying, isn't...it?" The mage walked off before Vivi could say the final 'it' in his sentence. Vivi sighed and sadly drooped his posture. He looked over his shoulder at Dagger, and she smiled and nodded an encouragement. Vivi picked himself up. She had faith. Why not him? Try again, he convinced himself. He talked to a different mage, "You like flying? I - I don't like it all too much..I-" He walked off, too. If Vivi had lips, or if you could see Vivi's lips, they would be pursed in frustration right about now. He huffed, and tried again. He followed the mage, being a lot less shy and a bit more aggressive. "I don't like flying, but windmills, they're--!"
"Vivi?"
Vivi turned to look at Dagger, confusion filling him. Why'd she stop him?
"Let's go check on Zidane." She had an odd look on her face, almost like she could sense something. Vivi nodded and went with her to the bridge of the cargo ship.
........ .. .
Vivi remembered the second Waltz, but that event was too random for him to dwell on for long. He was still concerned with the fact that there were others like him...this final Black Waltz that appeared just now, left a scar in muse, however. Vivi was going to protect Dagger from this Waltz that tried to take her. The Waltz let his eyes laugh at the sight of the small mage. Vivi puffed out his chest though, he wasn't...uh...scared..nuh-uh! He goes to Dagger's aid, exclaiming "Nooo!" but he is struck down with a bolt. Dagger runs to his side, concerned and asking if he is ok. The Black Waltz laughs again. "So, No.2 was defeated by a small child? You are no match against my power! Kwahahaha! Princess, stay there while I eliminate this child."
......... .. .
The mages below sensed the disturbance above on the ship, and they could feel the screaming fear of a child of their kind. One of the mages below, at the first feel of the sensation, remembered the timid voice trying to converse. He remembered catching a glimpse of the small child-mage. For some odd reason, he felt like he had just woken up. But he was as a newborn and knew not how to talk or anything. He knew just as the other mages on board this cargo ship knew: how to send vibes. He looked to the others around him that have been the younger mage's target for conversation. He paused in his work and looked to his fellow mages and sent out an odd vibe that called for assistance. Others who had been talked to by the mage were starting to become aware like the first, as well, they didn't need to be told twice. They were starting to no longer become a puppet but started to develope a sense of what feels right. They felt the disturbance on the deck. A group of suddenly-aware mages started up, other mages that were unaware just followed along, suddenly becoming aware because of the shifting atmosphere. That little mage had sent off a trigger in his attempts, and he displayed an example..the whole situation on board the cargo shipped changed, thus. And with a change of situation comes a change of heart that seemed contagious to these different 'advanced' type mages. Or perhaps there really was more to Vivi than meets the eye?
They all started up to the deck, and the ones in the bridge, went straight in front of the princess and Vivi. They formed a shield to protect what they were barely grasping was a 'friend'. Vivi and the princess stood amazed, and the Waltz grew frustrated. Then, after a moment of reliefe from Vivi and princess and stregth and understanding now starting to fill the newly-aware mages of the cargo ship, the anger and the cruelty boiled over in the Black Waltz. At last he released a powerful gust of lightning bolts from his body's magical existance. It caught the mages in their life force and they became either limp, or thrust off the ship where their impact would surely kill them. Barrels that contained black mages tummbled off the ship where they exploded in mid-air, also.
Vivi stared wide-eyed, him and the princess had run to where Zidane and Steiner were a while ago, he watched the murder go on and the fear and the anger meshed together. Slowly, it seemed, the mages fell, without much emotion in their eyes for they weren't sure what was happeneing...or they were already dead. Vivi had only seen death once-no, he'd only seen someone who was dead. Grandpa Quan. It was so much different to watch someone die. It was a nightmare that screamed. It sent a shiver throughout him and a silent explosion from within. He went blank with shock and he tried so hard to keep from screaming, and he was too blown away too cry. Nothing settled in, just the fact that it was happeneing. It was sick...
When it was all over and the Waltz laughed, Vivi went screaming onto the deck to fight the monster, he was joined by Zidane and Steiner. He didn't understand why or how such an act could be performed - Vivi did realize that those mages did notice him, they did listen...they did see him, they did! They were probably begining to understand that he was lively and they could be like that as well--and he killed them!! It blew Vivi's mind out of sense and reason. He didn't understand. He felt the desire to hurt this Black Waltz badly. For his fellow mages. They didn't deserve to die.
Just then, Vivi felt strong and very invincible, he glowed..he was in trance! He blinked and looked at himself, as Zidane and Steiner started attacking the Waltz with their weapons. He could hear thundara spells releasing and hitting the two men. Vivi narrowed his eyes and focused his energy into his staff, ready to cast two consecutive spells. Steiner held up his sword after getting up, Vivi caught the signal and also managed to channel a thunder spell over to the sword. Steiner charged as Zidane tried to distract the Waltz. Steiner managed to get a successful slash and shock the Waltz on his arm. The Waltz was stunned, and Zidane took advantage of that and slung his blade at the creature, however, that wasn't as successful. It got his hand, but it's not like it chopped it off. The Waltz howled in pain and hovered in the air. Vivi finished focusing his magic and fired a thuder spell and a fire spell. Again, he let his pain be known and attacked Vivi with a thundara spell. Vivi got pushed from the impact. The Black Waltz lowered back down, feeling a little weak. Steiner clentched his jaw and tried again to run the Waltz through with is sword, but the Waltz dodged right...towards Zidane, unbeknowest. Zidane slashed at the Waltz's back, Vivi got up and casted one last thunder spell and tranced out. The Waltz couldn't take the pain....and at last the battle ended. But that wasn't it.
When the broken monster flew off it was too get in his own airship and he only had one fragment of his programming remaining: I exist only to kill. He went after the cargo ship, trying to attack it with his thunder spells.
When the battle had ended, Vivi's attention was caught by a somber straw-hat that was worn by one of the mages. His mood was brought from angered to sorrowful again. Why them? Why?? He took a step towards it and held out his large, gloved hand, as it to and take it from it's perch, but he left it where it was...and just stared. They became aware..at the moment they began to live, they were murdered. It wasn't suppose to be this way!! Vivi continued to stare at the hat. The disturbance around him did not pull him from his somber thoughts on life and death, that is, until he saw the broken Waltz and then his thought was distrubed and he was fueled to fight again. He noted that the Waltz was firing up a thunder spell, Vivi blocked with a amazingly strong fire spell. It took a lot out of him. He collapsed.
Zidane saw and he went to go help Vivi, his mind going awhirl with fear and concern as Vivi's weakened body started to get pushed to the egde of the ship and prepare to get thrown overboard. Dagger gasped, and Steiner did as well. Zidane felt a protectiveness come over him and inspiration push him away from the saftey he was in and go out to help Vivi. He got to the little mage just time and managed to pull him in, and Dagger got the ship past South Gate..the Waltz wasn't so fortunate.
......... .. .
When they arrived at the docking port, and they were greeted by the usual welcoming comittee and then met Minister Artania. Zidane was amazed at how casual Dagger made the situation seem. Then again, she was a princess, she needn't feel so humble before Minister Artainia. Plus, she called him 'uncle' that made it even more of an casual event, but, perhaps a special one. She probably hadn't been to Lindblum in a while. From what he gathered on his travels with the princess, she didn't get out much, and so, thus, she was as curious and excited as a little kid. Here it was the opposite, she treated everything as it were casual to just walk inside a royal house and nobility and leaders of kingdoms. She grew up surrounded by glitter and all that shone too radiantly to be for real. Zidane was amazed, despite how greatly he kept it all in. He looked to Vivi and saw how amazed the young mage was, too. Steiner looked stiff as usual, there was no point in feeling any similarity with him.
But after a while, the new sense of importance and special-feeling wore off and he begun questioning about what the Regent was like just for Dagger's sake. Or..maybe for his. After this they'd be going their separate ways, maybe? Deffinately so, Zidane knew. As the rode up in the lift he couldn't help but feel the pain of parting. He felt such an attachment to the princess. There was something about her besides her flawless looks and talents. There was something so vivid about her that it attracted him so strongly that the reason whirled before him only to be caught in his mind's eye's blind spot. Everything was a quick whirl..it was as if love had no real reason. It just was. But love? Him? He was thief; she was royalty. Yet still, he hardly cared about that. Things were just so crazy. His attraction to Dagger got him this far, yet..no, it was the mission. Things were so crazy, how could love blossom betwixt such happenings as the ones that occurred? It was nonsense. Or was it? Despite it being his mission, his strong, deep attraction to Dagger had driven him this far and kept him and her alive. Hadn't he already established this in Evil Forest when he was deciding to leave Tantalus to save her? He remembered that time when they first arrived in Dali: "I'll protect Dagger with my life!"
.......... .. .
...so they went their separate ways. He had found his way to the bar, intriuged by the new special "Soup du Silence" (sorta). He called to Bobo, the owner, relishing in the familiar feeling of his home and it's olde pub. "Yo, pops, I'll have the stupid special!" At first, the barkeep was insulted, but he saw who it was and there was a short reunion, "So, how've you been?" asked Zidane. "Alright, I guess." Said Bobo. "Have a seat. Your soup will be ready in a minute." Before Zidane had a chance to a voice of a woman stopped him. "Do you mind? You're standing in everyone's way." She was one g o r g e o u s waitress, bare tan shoulders that often got covered by her satin, brown hair. Her eyes were kept always seductively staring, even in casual, no-occassion, no-reason moments. She was typical waitress, and every typical waitress, dear reader, is a Cinderella-wannabe. "Wow.." Was all Zidane said and then he moved out of her way, rubbed the back of his neck then went to approach the lovely Lilian the waitress. "Hey."
"Yeah? Do ya wanna drink?" She turned around and faced him, deciding not to turn on her sweet-maiden mode and blow him off with an all-business tone, tinged with cold. Zidane ignored the signs, "How about you and me go on a cruise on an airship?" It would take his mind off of Dagger, he hoped. The angel that was ascending away from his lowly self. His heart ached.
"Really!? An airship!?"
He raised a brow, but gave an amused smile. "Sounds to me like you've never been on one. You know, Lindblum is quite a sight from above."
"Hey, monkey-tail, you're disturbing the other customers." Called a familiar, feminine voice. Zidane was, at first, insulted, but he smiled to himself. He knew who that was. However, he went along with the usual act they put on, forgetting about Lilian. He turned around, "What the- you've got a tail too, rat-face!"
"Rat face...after I finish my drink, I'm gonna kick your butt!"
Bobo caught the threat and intervened slightly, "Hey, Zidane, take it outside."
The rat-woman stood up from her seat and faced Zidane, smiling. "Long time, Zidane."
Zidane smirked. "Hey! What's up!? Wait a minute.." He put a hand to his chin as if considering her name.
"You forgot my name?" Said the rat-woman, showing some signs of slight anger. Zidane waves a hand, his face still telling of consideration, laughing inside at how she always fell for this one, "No, I remember. Helga, right?"
"Wrong."
"..Christine?"
"No!"
"..Oh yeah! You used to live next door to me. How's it going Ratchel? My you've gotten...big."
"You nasty little -"
"Come on. I'm just kiddin'. You know I never forget a pretty girls name. So, how's it going Freya?"
Satisfied with this game's little end, she smiles. "Same old, Zidane." Zidane walks up to the counter, his soup now ready. He takes a seat next to Freya Crescent, his old friend. He met her on his very first time in Lindblum. That was a different story, completely, though. All the basics are, however, is: They have a little 'passing of the baton' thing that always happens between them. Zidane will do something for Freya, and Freya will owe him, and then Freya saves Zidane's butt and Zidane owes her. Zidane owed her now. Funny though, he'd been thinking about how long it's been since he met Freya before he walked into this pub, along with how rich the palace food is. It was nice seeing a familiar face that could relate to the hardship of loss and burden. Freya, he knew for sure, was the only one he could relate to now. It was great seeing her again. "How long has it been?"
"About three years."
"Hey, did you ever find out anything about your boyfrined?"
"No..."
"So...what brings you here to Lindblum?"
"The Festival of the Hunt. What else? It's a good way to test out my skills."
"Oh...well, I'm sure you'll find him someday." Zidane sipped at his meal, finding it made his stomach turn a bit. He let it sit and eventually Bobo picked it up, getting the hint. Freya finally spoke up again, changing the subject back the Festival. "Aren't you participating?" Zidane considered for a moment, it was tempting but, "..Nah, I think I'll pass."
"Lazy bum."
Zidane lightly chuckled, then trailed off in a sigh. "Are ya ever gonna go back?"
"I have no reason to return to Burmecia. There's nothing there for me anymore."
Zidane still owed Freya from the last time. He would find himself entering the Festival of the Hunt, winning it and a date with Dagger (when he gathers the nerve to return to the castle to see her, he makes the bet of course), but before the date can ever be mentioned, a dire event will occur forcing Zidane to place that on hold. Burmecia will be threatened and he will join Freya in returning to the rainy realm to help protect it, along with Vivi. It is a war..and as wars usually do, it separates, specifically himself from Dagger. He fears for her. The idea of beautiful, innocent Dagger and war utterly terrifies him. He will firmly tell her to stay...but we all know Dagger. But how well? When she poisions the group that decides to set out to Burmecia, with sleeping weed, and sets off with Steiner (the only one she didn't poision) and she will surprising not head towards the war zone, but back to....Alexandria. The run-ins with Black Waltzes and hearing that the war on Burmecia is brought on by Queen Brahne, her mother, makes her decide to set off to stop the war by going to the source.
(End of Disk One's Novelization)
.......... .. .
A/N: Whew, it's purty long for a lot of skipping around, huh? Well, I wasn't gonna write it all out, so I did 'brief' explainations. Sorry, my inspiration was running dry and if you could tell. Disk2 coming up soon!
Ashen and split.
Must to rust, and such to dust.
Thus we say, fate rhymes,
And we put ryhme with time.
Time to crime,
and what's left to my mind
is mime.
Ashen and split?
Think of a cut lip.
Must to rust, and such to dust.
-a broken promise; a shattered trust.
.......... ... .
Zidane lay on his bed in the Dali inn, with his eyes closed but his mind refusing to cease. His body ached with fatigue but his mind was going a mile a minute. Who'd have thought he'd be here under such circumstances? True, his life had never been normal, but this was starting to get serious. He was on a real adventure. One that was so romantic in thought: Involving princesses, knights, mages, a secret mission and a mere thief as the dutiful servant helping them all. A mere thief? No, he was no mere thief - anyone could tell you that. He had a tail for one thing, and if you looked a bit more closely at him..you learned he wasn't monkey like at all. He was very cat-like. But aside from his appearance, if you cared to wonder about his past, you learned how little there was to say, unlike with most people. Who was he besides just "Zidane Tribal"? Who were his parents? Where'd he come from? If you ever cared to ask, he'd have to tell you he didn't know. All he remembered was a blue light. Yes, all his memories past his life in Tantalus was swaddled in a blue light. He could only guess what that blue light meant. An ocean? The sky? A flash of magic? That he was willinging to believe. After what happened in Evil Forest when he went into what Rusty called "Trance" and performed what he once read was "Dyne"...maybe he was a unique sort of mage? No, he couldn't be. He only went into trance, and the others managed to do so, occassionally, when they then had to fight off beasts in the Ice Cavern.
He then wondered about the Black Waltz he saw. Why was Alexandria taking such drastic means to retrive the princess? Why was she even running away? What was going on? He wished he knew. He turned on his side, letting his mind settle with a hope: maybe it'll all be resolved tomorrow....
On the other side of the room was an equally restless one. Dagger, as she now decided to call herself, couldn't help thinking about the night she escaped Alexandria. Her mother shot spears at the Prima Vista, the ship that belonged to Tantalus. She had found out that those two men, chasing her, worked on the Theater Ship and they agreed to kidnap her and take her to Lindblum, but disaster followed and her mother tried to get her back ("rescue" her). Her final blow was a flame-composed beast that the mage they met said was a bomb. Indeed it was a bomb, but the Prima Vista managed to survive, somewhat, and float away from Alexandria. There was some damage done to Alexandria because of the explosion though, noted Dagger. The Prima Vista was still worse off. They eventually crashed in the worse area possible, Evil Forest, where she got captured by a plant cage and held prisioner by some large, flowering beast. That's the extent of her memory, she remembered fainting too. She was rescued by Steiner, Zidane and Vivi...and that other Tantalus person. The forest petrified, however, and that Tantalus man--Blank--was petrified within it. She cursed herself inwardly. Everything was her fault, wasn't it? She can't do anything right anymore, can she? I'm glad I'm not that dull-witted Garnet, but Dagger!, thought Dagger to herself. Yet, did it really cheer her up? Only her name changed, so far. She sighed and turned in her bed, she listened to her surroundings: Steiner snoring, Vivi lightly snoring, and Zidane made no noise whatsoever. Everyone was fast asleep, so she thought. "A voice from the past, joining yours and mine," she sang softly to herself. No one was awake, who would hear? She needed to feel better and this mysterious song...somehow soothed her and made her a bit more hopeful. It had meaning, somehow, though she hadn't a clear picture what she wanted answered that this song fulfilled. "Adding up the layers of harmony. And so it goes on and on..melodies of life, to the sky beyond the flying birds.."
.......... .. .
Vivi remained silent, like they told him to be. What was going on? He felt like crying, but he was too stubborn for that. Maybe he was shy, but he wasn't gonna be weak! At least, maybe, emotionally? What was going on, though? He was just admiring the windmill, wondering what a chocobo was, glad for a distraction for he had felt heart-broken that all the kids in this village were avoiding him. He was starting to miss Puck, that rat-kid that helped him see the play. Of course, he did abandon him, of course he made him a slave..it all lead to him stuck in this adventure..but..Puck didn't point out how different he was, he didn't avoid him. He also helped him with his fear of heights, sorta. He was the only person in the world (besides his companions now) that came close to a friend. He was the first. Plus, Zidane was always busy chasing after Dagger and Steiner was busy doing..well, either yelling at Zidane or 'protecting' Dagger. Vivi was by himself. As he was now. He trembled remebering how someone had just suddenly come up from behind him and grabbed him, and now here he was..in a box. It was like a coffin! He was terrified. Were they going to bury him? Were they going to kill him?
They kept talking to him (well, rhetorically) like he'd always been here in Dali's underground place, in a box. They were talking about how the airship hadn't arrived and what he was doing out there in the open. They were very mean in their tones, and Vivi really, really didn't like it. Sooner or later, he couldn't help it. He started to sniffle. Would anyone save him? Probably not. Zidane and Dagger didn't care, probably. Sniffle.
"..Vivi?"
That voice sounded so familiar. Zidane? Dagger?
.......... .. .
Well, Vivi had been rescued, but as he climbed up the ladder of the cargo ship, they were getting on, he just couldn't understand what he learned as to why he was captured in the first place. Several black mages, he saw, all being made by a mist-machine? He didn't understand. How? Why? Then he had to think: what about me? So much brought his mind to a blank. Was he made? Where did he come from? Why was he made? Who made him? Then he thought about the Black Waltz they fought and how Zidane said that he fought one while they all fell asleep in the Ice Cavern. What was Queen Brahne up to? Dagger mentioned that she recognized some of the symbols on some of the barrels in that awful place where Vivi saw the mage-dolls. That Black Waltz was a mage, too. He came from Alexandria and was here trying to, forcefully, take Dagger back. What does this all mean? Who made me? What's my purpose? What's happening? Or, more importantly, what will happen?
Vivi tore away from his thoughts to look at Dagger faced away from Zidane, Zidane saying something like "I didn't do it on purpose" and Dagger telling him to stop. Vivi was oblivious, so he went back to thinking to himself, which was brief, for Zidane asked if he was all right. Vivi looked to the blonde and then sky-wards. "It feels like I'm about to be sucked into the sky." Dagger told him to go inside. She opened the door and motioned for him to go in first. Vivi did just that.
Inside, the ship was run by black mages! Vivi coldn't believe it! They were moving around and everything! Could they talk? Vivi later had his hopes drop with dissapointment. He tried saying 'hello' at least, but they didn't so much as pause in acknowledgement of the noise. They didn't look at him, they didn't speak back or anything! It was like...they were avoiding him too.
He went and related his feelings to Dagger and Zidane, who had been calling to him. He would have gone to them, but he had to keep trying with these mages. Eventually, he couldn't take the dissapointment anymore. He shook his head and hung it as he reported. "No...it's like..they don't even..see me at all. I tried...again and again...but.." He sniffled, held back a sob, gulped and continued. "They won't even turn around." Then Zidane went to go turn the ship around. It was heading for Alexandria, he knew. "Vivi, I need to upstairs for a little bit. I gotta turn this ship around before it reaches the castle." Dagger was silent. "Keep an eye on Vivi, okay?" Dagger nodded. Vivi felt a tad special, he was cared for now. He finally had attention. However...the pain of an unkonwn past haunting didn't allow him to enjoy in the fact that he wasn't just an extra person on the team.
While Zidane went to do what he said he was going to do, Vivi tried again to talk to the mages. He walked over to one the mages and tried to converse, though he came off even shyer than before, rather unsure as to what to say to someone he knew would still ignore him. "H-hey, how..how're you? It-it's a beautiful day for flying, isn't...it?" The mage walked off before Vivi could say the final 'it' in his sentence. Vivi sighed and sadly drooped his posture. He looked over his shoulder at Dagger, and she smiled and nodded an encouragement. Vivi picked himself up. She had faith. Why not him? Try again, he convinced himself. He talked to a different mage, "You like flying? I - I don't like it all too much..I-" He walked off, too. If Vivi had lips, or if you could see Vivi's lips, they would be pursed in frustration right about now. He huffed, and tried again. He followed the mage, being a lot less shy and a bit more aggressive. "I don't like flying, but windmills, they're--!"
"Vivi?"
Vivi turned to look at Dagger, confusion filling him. Why'd she stop him?
"Let's go check on Zidane." She had an odd look on her face, almost like she could sense something. Vivi nodded and went with her to the bridge of the cargo ship.
........ .. .
Vivi remembered the second Waltz, but that event was too random for him to dwell on for long. He was still concerned with the fact that there were others like him...this final Black Waltz that appeared just now, left a scar in muse, however. Vivi was going to protect Dagger from this Waltz that tried to take her. The Waltz let his eyes laugh at the sight of the small mage. Vivi puffed out his chest though, he wasn't...uh...scared..nuh-uh! He goes to Dagger's aid, exclaiming "Nooo!" but he is struck down with a bolt. Dagger runs to his side, concerned and asking if he is ok. The Black Waltz laughs again. "So, No.2 was defeated by a small child? You are no match against my power! Kwahahaha! Princess, stay there while I eliminate this child."
......... .. .
The mages below sensed the disturbance above on the ship, and they could feel the screaming fear of a child of their kind. One of the mages below, at the first feel of the sensation, remembered the timid voice trying to converse. He remembered catching a glimpse of the small child-mage. For some odd reason, he felt like he had just woken up. But he was as a newborn and knew not how to talk or anything. He knew just as the other mages on board this cargo ship knew: how to send vibes. He looked to the others around him that have been the younger mage's target for conversation. He paused in his work and looked to his fellow mages and sent out an odd vibe that called for assistance. Others who had been talked to by the mage were starting to become aware like the first, as well, they didn't need to be told twice. They were starting to no longer become a puppet but started to develope a sense of what feels right. They felt the disturbance on the deck. A group of suddenly-aware mages started up, other mages that were unaware just followed along, suddenly becoming aware because of the shifting atmosphere. That little mage had sent off a trigger in his attempts, and he displayed an example..the whole situation on board the cargo shipped changed, thus. And with a change of situation comes a change of heart that seemed contagious to these different 'advanced' type mages. Or perhaps there really was more to Vivi than meets the eye?
They all started up to the deck, and the ones in the bridge, went straight in front of the princess and Vivi. They formed a shield to protect what they were barely grasping was a 'friend'. Vivi and the princess stood amazed, and the Waltz grew frustrated. Then, after a moment of reliefe from Vivi and princess and stregth and understanding now starting to fill the newly-aware mages of the cargo ship, the anger and the cruelty boiled over in the Black Waltz. At last he released a powerful gust of lightning bolts from his body's magical existance. It caught the mages in their life force and they became either limp, or thrust off the ship where their impact would surely kill them. Barrels that contained black mages tummbled off the ship where they exploded in mid-air, also.
Vivi stared wide-eyed, him and the princess had run to where Zidane and Steiner were a while ago, he watched the murder go on and the fear and the anger meshed together. Slowly, it seemed, the mages fell, without much emotion in their eyes for they weren't sure what was happeneing...or they were already dead. Vivi had only seen death once-no, he'd only seen someone who was dead. Grandpa Quan. It was so much different to watch someone die. It was a nightmare that screamed. It sent a shiver throughout him and a silent explosion from within. He went blank with shock and he tried so hard to keep from screaming, and he was too blown away too cry. Nothing settled in, just the fact that it was happeneing. It was sick...
When it was all over and the Waltz laughed, Vivi went screaming onto the deck to fight the monster, he was joined by Zidane and Steiner. He didn't understand why or how such an act could be performed - Vivi did realize that those mages did notice him, they did listen...they did see him, they did! They were probably begining to understand that he was lively and they could be like that as well--and he killed them!! It blew Vivi's mind out of sense and reason. He didn't understand. He felt the desire to hurt this Black Waltz badly. For his fellow mages. They didn't deserve to die.
Just then, Vivi felt strong and very invincible, he glowed..he was in trance! He blinked and looked at himself, as Zidane and Steiner started attacking the Waltz with their weapons. He could hear thundara spells releasing and hitting the two men. Vivi narrowed his eyes and focused his energy into his staff, ready to cast two consecutive spells. Steiner held up his sword after getting up, Vivi caught the signal and also managed to channel a thunder spell over to the sword. Steiner charged as Zidane tried to distract the Waltz. Steiner managed to get a successful slash and shock the Waltz on his arm. The Waltz was stunned, and Zidane took advantage of that and slung his blade at the creature, however, that wasn't as successful. It got his hand, but it's not like it chopped it off. The Waltz howled in pain and hovered in the air. Vivi finished focusing his magic and fired a thuder spell and a fire spell. Again, he let his pain be known and attacked Vivi with a thundara spell. Vivi got pushed from the impact. The Black Waltz lowered back down, feeling a little weak. Steiner clentched his jaw and tried again to run the Waltz through with is sword, but the Waltz dodged right...towards Zidane, unbeknowest. Zidane slashed at the Waltz's back, Vivi got up and casted one last thunder spell and tranced out. The Waltz couldn't take the pain....and at last the battle ended. But that wasn't it.
When the broken monster flew off it was too get in his own airship and he only had one fragment of his programming remaining: I exist only to kill. He went after the cargo ship, trying to attack it with his thunder spells.
When the battle had ended, Vivi's attention was caught by a somber straw-hat that was worn by one of the mages. His mood was brought from angered to sorrowful again. Why them? Why?? He took a step towards it and held out his large, gloved hand, as it to and take it from it's perch, but he left it where it was...and just stared. They became aware..at the moment they began to live, they were murdered. It wasn't suppose to be this way!! Vivi continued to stare at the hat. The disturbance around him did not pull him from his somber thoughts on life and death, that is, until he saw the broken Waltz and then his thought was distrubed and he was fueled to fight again. He noted that the Waltz was firing up a thunder spell, Vivi blocked with a amazingly strong fire spell. It took a lot out of him. He collapsed.
Zidane saw and he went to go help Vivi, his mind going awhirl with fear and concern as Vivi's weakened body started to get pushed to the egde of the ship and prepare to get thrown overboard. Dagger gasped, and Steiner did as well. Zidane felt a protectiveness come over him and inspiration push him away from the saftey he was in and go out to help Vivi. He got to the little mage just time and managed to pull him in, and Dagger got the ship past South Gate..the Waltz wasn't so fortunate.
......... .. .
When they arrived at the docking port, and they were greeted by the usual welcoming comittee and then met Minister Artania. Zidane was amazed at how casual Dagger made the situation seem. Then again, she was a princess, she needn't feel so humble before Minister Artainia. Plus, she called him 'uncle' that made it even more of an casual event, but, perhaps a special one. She probably hadn't been to Lindblum in a while. From what he gathered on his travels with the princess, she didn't get out much, and so, thus, she was as curious and excited as a little kid. Here it was the opposite, she treated everything as it were casual to just walk inside a royal house and nobility and leaders of kingdoms. She grew up surrounded by glitter and all that shone too radiantly to be for real. Zidane was amazed, despite how greatly he kept it all in. He looked to Vivi and saw how amazed the young mage was, too. Steiner looked stiff as usual, there was no point in feeling any similarity with him.
But after a while, the new sense of importance and special-feeling wore off and he begun questioning about what the Regent was like just for Dagger's sake. Or..maybe for his. After this they'd be going their separate ways, maybe? Deffinately so, Zidane knew. As the rode up in the lift he couldn't help but feel the pain of parting. He felt such an attachment to the princess. There was something about her besides her flawless looks and talents. There was something so vivid about her that it attracted him so strongly that the reason whirled before him only to be caught in his mind's eye's blind spot. Everything was a quick whirl..it was as if love had no real reason. It just was. But love? Him? He was thief; she was royalty. Yet still, he hardly cared about that. Things were just so crazy. His attraction to Dagger got him this far, yet..no, it was the mission. Things were so crazy, how could love blossom betwixt such happenings as the ones that occurred? It was nonsense. Or was it? Despite it being his mission, his strong, deep attraction to Dagger had driven him this far and kept him and her alive. Hadn't he already established this in Evil Forest when he was deciding to leave Tantalus to save her? He remembered that time when they first arrived in Dali: "I'll protect Dagger with my life!"
.......... .. .
...so they went their separate ways. He had found his way to the bar, intriuged by the new special "Soup du Silence" (sorta). He called to Bobo, the owner, relishing in the familiar feeling of his home and it's olde pub. "Yo, pops, I'll have the stupid special!" At first, the barkeep was insulted, but he saw who it was and there was a short reunion, "So, how've you been?" asked Zidane. "Alright, I guess." Said Bobo. "Have a seat. Your soup will be ready in a minute." Before Zidane had a chance to a voice of a woman stopped him. "Do you mind? You're standing in everyone's way." She was one g o r g e o u s waitress, bare tan shoulders that often got covered by her satin, brown hair. Her eyes were kept always seductively staring, even in casual, no-occassion, no-reason moments. She was typical waitress, and every typical waitress, dear reader, is a Cinderella-wannabe. "Wow.." Was all Zidane said and then he moved out of her way, rubbed the back of his neck then went to approach the lovely Lilian the waitress. "Hey."
"Yeah? Do ya wanna drink?" She turned around and faced him, deciding not to turn on her sweet-maiden mode and blow him off with an all-business tone, tinged with cold. Zidane ignored the signs, "How about you and me go on a cruise on an airship?" It would take his mind off of Dagger, he hoped. The angel that was ascending away from his lowly self. His heart ached.
"Really!? An airship!?"
He raised a brow, but gave an amused smile. "Sounds to me like you've never been on one. You know, Lindblum is quite a sight from above."
"Hey, monkey-tail, you're disturbing the other customers." Called a familiar, feminine voice. Zidane was, at first, insulted, but he smiled to himself. He knew who that was. However, he went along with the usual act they put on, forgetting about Lilian. He turned around, "What the- you've got a tail too, rat-face!"
"Rat face...after I finish my drink, I'm gonna kick your butt!"
Bobo caught the threat and intervened slightly, "Hey, Zidane, take it outside."
The rat-woman stood up from her seat and faced Zidane, smiling. "Long time, Zidane."
Zidane smirked. "Hey! What's up!? Wait a minute.." He put a hand to his chin as if considering her name.
"You forgot my name?" Said the rat-woman, showing some signs of slight anger. Zidane waves a hand, his face still telling of consideration, laughing inside at how she always fell for this one, "No, I remember. Helga, right?"
"Wrong."
"..Christine?"
"No!"
"..Oh yeah! You used to live next door to me. How's it going Ratchel? My you've gotten...big."
"You nasty little -"
"Come on. I'm just kiddin'. You know I never forget a pretty girls name. So, how's it going Freya?"
Satisfied with this game's little end, she smiles. "Same old, Zidane." Zidane walks up to the counter, his soup now ready. He takes a seat next to Freya Crescent, his old friend. He met her on his very first time in Lindblum. That was a different story, completely, though. All the basics are, however, is: They have a little 'passing of the baton' thing that always happens between them. Zidane will do something for Freya, and Freya will owe him, and then Freya saves Zidane's butt and Zidane owes her. Zidane owed her now. Funny though, he'd been thinking about how long it's been since he met Freya before he walked into this pub, along with how rich the palace food is. It was nice seeing a familiar face that could relate to the hardship of loss and burden. Freya, he knew for sure, was the only one he could relate to now. It was great seeing her again. "How long has it been?"
"About three years."
"Hey, did you ever find out anything about your boyfrined?"
"No..."
"So...what brings you here to Lindblum?"
"The Festival of the Hunt. What else? It's a good way to test out my skills."
"Oh...well, I'm sure you'll find him someday." Zidane sipped at his meal, finding it made his stomach turn a bit. He let it sit and eventually Bobo picked it up, getting the hint. Freya finally spoke up again, changing the subject back the Festival. "Aren't you participating?" Zidane considered for a moment, it was tempting but, "..Nah, I think I'll pass."
"Lazy bum."
Zidane lightly chuckled, then trailed off in a sigh. "Are ya ever gonna go back?"
"I have no reason to return to Burmecia. There's nothing there for me anymore."
Zidane still owed Freya from the last time. He would find himself entering the Festival of the Hunt, winning it and a date with Dagger (when he gathers the nerve to return to the castle to see her, he makes the bet of course), but before the date can ever be mentioned, a dire event will occur forcing Zidane to place that on hold. Burmecia will be threatened and he will join Freya in returning to the rainy realm to help protect it, along with Vivi. It is a war..and as wars usually do, it separates, specifically himself from Dagger. He fears for her. The idea of beautiful, innocent Dagger and war utterly terrifies him. He will firmly tell her to stay...but we all know Dagger. But how well? When she poisions the group that decides to set out to Burmecia, with sleeping weed, and sets off with Steiner (the only one she didn't poision) and she will surprising not head towards the war zone, but back to....Alexandria. The run-ins with Black Waltzes and hearing that the war on Burmecia is brought on by Queen Brahne, her mother, makes her decide to set off to stop the war by going to the source.
(End of Disk One's Novelization)
.......... .. .
A/N: Whew, it's purty long for a lot of skipping around, huh? Well, I wasn't gonna write it all out, so I did 'brief' explainations. Sorry, my inspiration was running dry and if you could tell. Disk2 coming up soon!
