Omg, can i just say, that I've spent the last few days drooling over Zidane's Dissidia design. OMG HE LOOKS AMAZING!! So much better than he did in FF9. Tbh, I imagine him looking more like this (chiselled and devious) than the way he does in FF9. If you havent seen it yet (it's amazing!) then go here (you have to add the usual http thing infront of this for it to work):

images./finalfantasy/images/a/a4/DissidiaZidane.JPG

Or just type 'zidane dissidia' into google images. SO COOL!!

Ahem. Secondly, thanks you to everyone who reviewed. Glad people are still readin' this fic :grin: I've practically finished writing it now! And, oh my goodness Xanthera, that's sooo embarassing lol!! I sat there for ages giggling nervously after reading your review lol! I'm very flattered though hehe. I posted this chap early for you! Have fun at camp ;)

Anyway, enjoy everyone!

...

Chapter Seven
S i l e n c e

The silence was the worst part. It wasn't an awkward silence. No, not that kind of silence (though Zidane fervently wished it was), this silence was a heavy, excruciating thing weighing upon their shoulders like iron armour, moments crawling by at a sluggish rate, where things should have been said but were not. Where there should have been conversation bridging the gulf of that dreadful silence; Zidane should have been justifying and Steiner should have been reprimanding.

But there was nothing to say.

Why?

Because Zidane knew he was in deep shit. He knew the situation wasn't unsolvable (Murmur could make a mistake and reveal her true identity, for instance) but right now the situation looked grim. Zidane chose not to speak because he knew that Steiner wouldn't believe him. Steiner: dutiful and stubborn, believing what his eyes told him, like any true soldier. At that moment Zidane had no doubt that Steiner would only believe what he'd seen, not some watery fairytale-esque story that an ex-thief/actor would spout.

And why wasn't Steiner talking? Zidane didn't really have to guess. He knew. Steiner was mad. Seriously, furiously, undeniably mad. He was shaking. Not just trembling, but shaking. Shaking in a way that someone would shake after standing naked in the Ice Cavern for fifteen minutes. But unfortunately for Zidane, he wasn't shaking from exposure to extreme temperature.

Zidane could feel the anger, the disappointment, the shock radiating from Steiner as clear as day. He might as well have been wearing a sign saying: 'I am angry, disappointed and shocked,' it ws so blatant.

In other words, for the first time since Zidane could remember, Steiner had been left speechless.

And that's why the silence was awful. The entire trek from Garnet's chamber to the West Tower and down the treacherous flight of stairs to the dungeon, where the walls were streaked with grime, mould and damp, was completed in utter, terrible silence.

When they reached the chamber - a filthy, dank hole where shuffling could be heard but not seen - Zidane turned to Steiner and gave him a long, pleading look. He couldn't find the words, not yet, but he hoped his expression would tell of his innocence.

But Steiner just returned his plea with a stare that could knock a Grand Dragon off its feet. It was a stare that spoke a thousand words, and not just anger and betrayal, but something twice as awful. There was profound hurt within those depths that frightened Zidane more than any other revealed sentiment. Because the hurt meant Steiner really believed that Zidane had intentionally tried to murder Garnet. He had already decided Zidane was guilty.

Now, chained to a wall with his hands manacled above his head and his feet to the floor (top quality shackles, he perceived with his thief's eye) he pondered upon this. Of course, he didn't blame Beatrix or Steiner. They were doing their job and he knew they'd defend Garnet against anyone, and he respected that. Hell, they even defended her against their queen, Garnet's mother! And what they saw when they entered that room wasn't Garnet possessed by a mad Terran spirit, but a man strangling their beloved queen. Gods, if it had been the other way round Zidane would've killed them both, not imprisoned them!

In that respect, he thought himself lucky.

But what fate awaited him?

Zidane tried to shuffle into a more comfortable position but failed miserably. The ceiling leaked stinking water and the ground was uneven and relentlessly hard. The manacles bit into his flesh. In front of him was a heavy metal door with a tiny, square window in it, which, in turn, let in a tiny square of light, barely enough to asses the rest of his cell.

Steiner had definitely taken him to the worst dungeon chamber in Alexandria.

Zidane tried to think very hard, which was a very difficult thing to do, because now the cold had set in and he was wearing nothing but a pair of breeches. Now he really was shaking from extreme temperature.

He began to list his allies.

Blank would stick up for him! Of course, the whole of Tantalus would. Hell, they'd bust him out of here in a second… if they could…

And Mikoto! Mikoto would explain everything about the Terran souls. She'd figure out that Garnet was being possessed by Murmur! She was a clever kid, for sure.

Zidane sighed. If Vivi were here he'd stick up for him too…

Vivi.

Zidane's heart ached. Gods, how he wished Vivi was here. Vivi always knew what to do. He was ten times braver and more thoughtful than Zidane ever would be.

The ex-thief stared up at the leaking ceiling and was rewarded with a fat drop of green water splatting against his cheek. He groaned and instinctively tried to wipe it away but the shackles wouldn't allow.

He looked up at them. Even though they were top quality if he'd had some of his thieving gear, picking the lock would only take an hour or so…

But thoughts like that were futile. He was imprisoned here until someone released him or busted him out. Now he had to play the waiting game. A game he wasn't particularly good at.

Zidane's head drooped and the drop of water coursed down his cheek like a tear.

0000

The news spread quickly, like water rippling away from the centre of a disturbance. It spread round the castle first, reaching the ears of Eiko, and then round Alexandria, finding its way to Ruby. Ruby told practically everyone within a thirty mile radius before sending an urgent message via mognet to Lindblum, where Tanatalus found out. It circled Lindblum, moved on to Burmecia, where Freya received the news, and somewhere along the way a traveller passed the news onto Amarant, too. By then the gossip had been twisted into a more sinister parody of its former self, but either way the gist remained and it shocked Zidane's companions to the core. They immediately left for Alexandria.

The group were resembled outside the castle three days later, coming in dribs and drabs. Even Baku, who usually left information-gathering to his underdogs, was there, thick arms crossed over barrel chest, face a mask of fury.

Steiner came out to greet them, expression grim. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, as if expecting trouble. He eyed Baku with especial caution.

"So, what happened?" Freya asked first. "We've all heard the news, exaggerated and manipulated interpretations, I'm sure, but news that travels that fast can't be entirely fictional."

Steiner kept his distance from the waiting crowd. "I'm afraid what you've heard is probably more or less accurate than I'd like to confess. Beatrix and I… Beatrix and I caught the rapscallion defiling and strangling the Queen in her own chamber."

If that moment were a scene acted in a play, now would be the time for ridiculously amplified gasps of disbelief. But this was no play, and thus, only a dreadful silence stretched out before them.

"Y-you're sure?" Freya said.

Steiner nodded. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it myself. A rogue and dishonourable thief he may be, but a murderer? I cannot comprehend such a thing. But the bruising on Her Majesty's face… and the shock she suffers as result of the brutal attack…" He shook his head. "Appalling."

"GWAHAHAHA!"

The gang jumped at Baku's unexpected burst of raucous laughter. He slapped his belly and shook his head.

"If ya believe fer one second that Zidane actually tried to kill his own love, then yer all fools. Every single one of ya. I know that boy better than any of ya, and that rusty hump of metal over there is right about only one thing: Zidane is an idiot. But listen up. He aint no murderer. I aint sayin' he didn't do nothin', either, but he's got his reasons, an' I aint gonna stand around listenin' to a bunch o' fools squawking and doubtin' the guy that saved the goddamn planet, ya hear?"

"Right on!" Eiko shrieked. "I never doubted him for a second! Zidane's a good person! All this Terra stuff… something's wrong with Garnet, for sure!"

"How dare you question Her Majesty's innocence!" Steiner yelled, going red in the face. "I saw him strangling her with my own eyes!"

"That may be so," said Freya, pensively, "but something must have happened. Something more than a domestic argument, I mean. The Zidane we know would never hurt Dagger."

"Everyone has their dark side," Amarant chuckled. "Even monkey-boy."

"You be quiet!" Eiko shrieked. "It's not his fault! It's those Terran souls!"

The group turned and looked at her. She quickly explained about the Terran souls invading Zidane's head and coaxing him into being Garland's Angel of Death. Then she confessed about her and Garnet's secret summoning rendezvous, and how they successfully called Murmur's soul into the realm.

"So it's possible that something's happened to Dagger," she concluded, "and Zidane's somehow been tricked into murdering her."

"Nonsense!" Steiner bellowed. "Beatrix and I have been with the queen day and night and she's perfectly sane! Completely herself! What you suggest is ludicrous at best!"

"No, Steiner, listen!" Freya intervened. "Eiko's theory may be right! Please, let us talk to Zidane. Let's see what he has to say about the whole ordeal."

Steiner shook his head, sadly this time. "I'm afraid I can't allow that. Her Highness has ordered that no one may see him except the servant that brings him food. I'm following strict orders. He's under surveillance until his sentence has been decided."

Again, that awful, heavy silence.

"S-sentence?" Eiko stammered. "What do you mean?"

But Steiner didn't reply. He turned his armoured back and returned to the bowels of the Castle, wordlessly beckoning them to follow.

0000

Witnessing the injuries Garnet had sustained first hand, it was easy to think Zidane guilty. Her lower jaw and left eye were red and swollen like giant bee-stings, colours ranging from mustard yellow to angry purple. Her inflamed lid almost obscured her eye, and the string of blue and red bruises rimmed her neck like a grotesque necklace.

"Dear Eidolons," Eiko breathed. "I knew that… I'd heard… but I… I didn't… I couldn't…"

"Think he actually had?" Garnet smiled wanly. "The evidence is all here." And gently touched her inflamed neck.

She was seated on the edge of her bed wrapped in an unflattering cotton slip. Her hair was bedraggled and the circles beneath her eyes were so dark they could have been mistaken for bruising, too.

She'd welcomed them enthusiastically enough, eyes watering and bottom lip trembling. She'd embraced Eiko affectionately then stared around at her other companions with evident sorrow.

"I have no idea what happened," she said. "He was fine one minute and then… he started clutching his head. I asked him if he was okay and he suddenly attacked me, punching me so hard I fell off the bed. Before I could gather my senses he lifted me off the ground by my throat and starting screaming 'I'll kill you, I'll kill you!'"

"That's how we found them," Steiner confirmed. "It's as she says."

Freya turned to the Captain. "But you… didn't hear anything before that? Heard nothing of what she claims commenced before you entered the room?"

Steiner blinked. "Well… no but -"

"What are you saying, Freya?" Garnet whined. "Don't you believe me?" Eyes watering again. "After everything we've been through?"

Freya cast Garnet a long, steady stare. The queen was essentially asking her to chose between her and Zidane. Something wasn't right, she could sense it. If there was a Terran soul inhabiting her then it was impersonating Garnet's personality almost flawlessly. Freya certainly found herself torn between who to believe.

"I'd feel better after hearing Zidane's side of the story," she decided coldly.

Garnet blinked and for a second - but only a second - Freya thought she saw the mask slip, thought she witnessing a savage, un-Garnet-like hatred and vehemence beneath that scared, vulnerable expression, but then it returned to its previous state so quickly Freya became lost in a tangle of confusion.

"I'm sorry, everyone, but he's just too dangerous to talk to. He became destructive after Steiner locked him up, and you know how unearthly his strength is; he's had to be restrained for his own safety as much as ours. Not only that, but he's so deranged he can barely string a sentence together. So, even if I did let you see him, any attempt to extract decent conversation from him would be futile."

"How convenient," Amarant snorted.

Garnet rounded on him, mask slipping and returning in a heartbeat. Her eyes watered. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I just don't know what to do! I can't bear to see him like this. I just got him back and this happens and… and…" Tears spilled down her bruised cheeks.

Freya sighed and put an arm around her, her doubt fleeing toward Zidane once again. She was positive he hadn't attacked Garnet out of spite. Maybe he truly had lost his mind. Maybe the Terran souls had won their battle in that respect.

"Don't worry, Dagger!" Eiko boomed. "I'm sure Zidane will return to normal in no time! I'm sure everything was just a big, fat, stupid accident! Until then, I'm gonna stay here and keep you company until you get better!"

Garnet smiled warmly. "Thank you, Eiko."

"I'll linger, too, if that's okay," Freya said. "And Amarant."

"What? So you're makin' my decisions for me, now, rat-face?" the red head grunted, uncrossing his arms.

"You'll stay," she countered lightly, though her expression suggested any opposition would be met with nothing short of violence.

Amarant snorted.

"I'm so glad you're all here," Garnet said, but added a little too fiercely: "But really, the dungeons are strictly off limit. It's probably best he doesn't see anyone until I'm sure he's better."

"That's fine," Freya replied sweetly. "I don't need to keep an eye on him." Because I'm going to keep an eye on you instead.

"Hey!" Eiko exclaimed suddenly. "Where's Baku gone?"

0000

Gratuitously, Ruby's Mini Theatre was deserted. This meant the little troupe of thieves disguised as actors could openly discuss the troubling news relayed to them by their boss.

"I can't believe this is happening," Blank said. "I just can't believe it."

Baku drank deeply from his flagon and signalled to Ruby to fill up another. "Aint the end of the world yet, kiddo. 'Sides, yer really think Zidane actually tried to murder her?"

Blank spluttered on his beer and slammed it back on the counter so hard the contents slopped over the side. "No! Gods no! Zidane's a lot of things but he aint a murderer!"

"Do ya think he's lost his marbles, then?"

Blank rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. "It's possible, I suppose. I really can't imagine it, but then who knows what having voices in your head is like? But it was Garnet who said he was too insane to talk to, right?"

"Yup."

"It all sounds a bit fishy to me," Cinna concurred. "Lettin' people just look at him wouldn't hurt, right? Sounds like she's got somethin' to hide."

"I'll second that," Blank agreed sullenly.

Baku was nodding very slowly, head bobbing up and down as if he was falling asleep.

"What do you think happened, boss?" Marcus asked, noting his boisterous boss' muted attitude.

Baku scratched his beard. "Lemme… lemme think. Err… what was all that stuff 'bout Lerran souls?"

"Terran souls," Marcus corrected.

"Yeah, yeah. Terran souls. He was hearin' 'em in his head, right? Like scilophrenia."

"Schizophrenia," Marcus corrected.

"That's the one. So I'm thinking… what if one them souls somehow got into Garnet's body when she was doin' that summoning thing and tricked Zidane?"

"Tricked him how?" Cinna asked, warming to this theory.

"I dunno. But maybe he found out that the soul was in Garnet's body -"

"- and got all messed in the head and tried to kill her?" Blank finished. "And in his mind he was killin' the Terran soul, but to anyone else it looked like…"

Silence.

"He's been set up," Baku stated. "Big time."

"And y'all know the sentence for attempted assassination of royalty…" Cinna drawled ominously.

"Death."

"Wait a minute," Blank intervened. "From what I've gathered so far, the Terran souls need Zidane. Without him they can't get their… um… vessels, or whatever. So what would Murmur get out of executing him?"

They sat in silence for a moment, contemplating the idea, but failing to conjure a solution.

"Anyway," Baku sighed, with an air of finality, "none of that shit matters."

"Why's that?"

"'Cause guilty or not, he's a Tantalus boy, right? And what do Tantalus members do?"

"Look out for each other," the gang chorused.

"Right. So what are we gonna do?"

"Have a good ol' bustin' out of jail session," Blank exclaimed, cracking his knuckles and letting the grin spread across his face like ink on wet paper. "But the guards Garnet's got set up around him are top notch, right? It's gonna be hard."

"Not if we've got inside information," Cinna said.

"How're we gonna get that?"

"Through me," a voice said from behind them.

The group turned as one and found themselves face to face with a blonde girl, no more than fifteen years old, sporting intelligent, deadpan eyes and a vacant expression. A tail swung lifelessly behind her back.

"Hey, it's you!" Blank cried. "Emotionless-chick!"

She sent him a withering glare. "Mikoto."

Baku bellowed his thundering laugh and slapped his thigh. "Well I'll be damned. If it aint Zidane's little sister!"

"I am not!" she snapped back petulantly. "I'm -"

"Wow, she sure is a cutie," Cinna commented, rounding on her. "Hey guys, do you think Zid would mind if I took his sister out on a date?"

Mikoto edged away. "Wh-what?"

"Just one!" Cinna pouted. "And it wouldn't be anything bad. Just -"

"Shut up, pig-head!" Blank yelled and bopped him on the head. He turned back to Mikoto and offered his most dazzling smile. "Don't pay any attention to those barbarians, Mikoto."

The Genome blinked up at him with her large, cerulean eyes, unwittingly revealing her true innocence when it came to the nature of Gaians and day-to-day encounters of the ordinary sort. Her isolation on Terra had left her unable to understand domestic interactions with other vivacious life forms, especially life forms as raucous as Tantalus. "Enough!" she barked. "There is no time for banter of a frivolous nature; there are more pressing matters to attend."

Baku guffawed loudly. "Well they sure do look alike but they aint from the same neck of the woods, that's fer sure!"

"Listen," Mikoto said, lips pressed into a thin white line that could be rendered as an expression of anxiety, "what has been suggested about Zidane being tricked is probably true. The soul he deals with, Murmur, was a leading scientist in the Genome Project, therefore her intellect is beyond measure, especially by Gaian standard."

"Hey, are you callin' us thick?" Cinna whined.

Blank slapped him again.

"What I'm saying is, she's no fool. She's managed to put Zidane into a position he is unable to escape from."

"So she's black mailing him?" Marcus pressed.

Mikoto shrugged. "It's likely. But in truth, I am clueless. However, I don't trust Garnet, and Murmur is devious and manipulative enough to lull your companions into a state of false security. If she has her way, they might even begin to believe that Zidane is insane and guilty. In other words, Murmur will have all the time in the world to get Zidane to succumb to her will."

"So, what do you suggest?" Baku asked, leaning back on his bar stool.

She smiled; a slight, cold smile, thin as spider thread. "What you did, of course. Rescue him from prison and hear his side of the story. If Murmur has possessed Garnet then it means the situation's about to get worse before it gets better, so before I fled the castle I managed to infiltrate their security protocols and collect the information needed to liberate Zidane from his cell."

"Wow. You could be a thief!" Blank exclaimed, then added sombrely: " But what if he has gone, y'know, cuckoo?"

Mikoto shrugged. "Then Murmur will never get her way so none of this will matter. If Zidane can't think clearly I doubt he'd be able to successfully gather vessels for them. Besides," she tapped her temple, "I can still hear him thinking, sometimes. Murmur's trying her best to block me but the occasional snippet gets out and he seems fine so far."

Tantalus stared at her.

"Weird," Blank said, "but reassuring."

They all turned to Baku who downed the rest of his drink. "Alright then boys! And er… lady. Let's start scheming!"

Please leave an iddy-biddy review just to keep me happy!