Chapter 8: From Death to Life



A breeze swept through the tree flowing across everyone's bodies. Zidane had taken a seat amongst the rest of the resistance, scanning across each one of them. Most looked like commoners from Alexandria, but some stuck out as if they were nobles.

"King Zidane, it is an honor to finally meet you!" A man came up to him, quite a heavy build, and knelt on the ground.

"Is that you Steiner?!" Zidane asked, scratching his head through his tangled hair.

"I'm the son of Adelbert Steiner, captain of the Knights of Pluto. But, my father had passed away a couple years ago… he talked about you and the queen so much." He stood up, and removed his helmet. He was young, but he looked like Steiner.

"He… died?" Zidane looked confused. This world he was in must be more than just a test - it seemed as if it was it was telling him about some kind of alternate future also.

"Yes… but I don't like to talk about it. Everyone told me he was a great man, the best knight in all the land. I have a lot to live up to." He noticed that Zidane was still confused about something by the statement on his face.

"…She's still alive." He looked over his shoulder, as Beatrix walked up to the both of them.

"Zidane!" She ran over to him and hugged him. "I can't believe it… your back!"

Zidane hugged her back. He finally had found someone familiar, a close friend that he knew in this world.

She looked at him with a bit of surprise on her face. "You haven't aged at all. And look at me, thirty-seven!"

She had taken some age, but seemed to be her usual self. "You still look like the same Beatrix I knew. I'm glad I was fortunate to see you again!" Zidane said.

She looked to her side and put an arm around her son. "So you met my son. Spitting image of him, isn't he?"

Zidane smiled to her in agreement.

"But you know now… he passed away 6 years ago. I was with him, he was only 42 years old… We had been married and had our only son, Jacob Aldebert Steiner." A small tear flowed from her eye as she said that, but she whipped it away quickly.

Zidane gave them both a hug, "I'm sorry Beatrix… he was one of my best friends." So this must be nine years in the future. Zidane thought to himself.

She pulled away from him and looked at the other people nearby watching them. "But now down to the real reason you came here. We have to save Garnet, right?"

Zidane let his mind focus back on Garnet. "Yes!" He paused for a moment then continued, "And I can feel her heart – she's close. I think she's in the castle."

"Then it is time Zidane, for you and the queen to be reunited, and defeat the new queen and Frayel. Return Alexandria to the rightful rulers!" She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "Take my sword, as I see you have not been equipped. I have a backup sword, Ragnarok, The one he had used. Jacob and I will assist you all the way." She unsheathed 'Save the Queen', and held the sword out to Zidane.

He stood up and grabbed the handle, feeling the power from the sword flow into him. " "'Save the Queen' - the name says it all. It's different from my daggers or my dual-bladed polearms, but this is an honor. Zidane held it high in the air. All the others in the room were watching. "Time to bring my beloved Queen back!"

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"What are you doing to me?!?!" Garnet cried out at Frayel who was dragging her along the dungeon floor.

"He's coming. I sense it." He waved his hand knocking the door straight in front of them out of the way into the side wall.

"I know! He's going to save me and kill you, you bastard!" Her head slammed on the ground as he let go of her.

"Hahahahah! You are truly a fool, Garnet. Zidane is no match for me - I proved to both of you long ago. The resistance might bring a little more of a fight along with him – but… hahaha!"

Garnet rose to her feet on the ground and started to run back to the entrance of the dungeon. "Zidane!" She held out her hand and leapt forward to the doorway as she started flowing backwards through the air.

"Maybe I should make this a little more interesting…" Frayel said as he grasped Garnet back into his hands and pulled her down the hallway.

A black door opened to his right, opening to a large room. She couldn't see all the way in, but could feel a supreme heat perspiring from it. He continued to drag her into the room, revealing where the heat was coming from - a pit of lava below. She gasped as she saw the molten rock swirl and explode in short gasps below her. The glow of it reflected from her fearful eyes.

Frayel smiled in her fear. "You remember the extinct volcano from your journeys a long time ago, don't you?" He kneeled down so he was face to face with her.

"M-Mount Gulug?" She hesitated as she started picking up what he was saying.



"Haha, yes. Well I decided it needed a little more volcanic life. My magic shifted the earth so the mountain was directly above a hot spot. And guess what? I had a tunnel built all the way back to the castle for this very room. I had a feeling that one day you would return, as well as Zidane. This is how you will both die." He stood up again and smiled. "Of course, I'll give him a fair chance to save you. Haha, but the time is ticking. When the sun is set and the moons eclipse tonight, you shall be melting to death. That is, if he can't find a way to save you." He put the hood of his cloak back up, hiding his face. "Farewell Princess. I enjoyed my time with you." He motioned his hand from her body to the chain wailing from the ceiling above them. She was lifted off her feet and swung up to the chain, where it wrapped around her body.

She dangled from the ceiling yelling in fright. "No! Zidane! Please - help me!"

Frayel gave a dark laugh then turned from her and exited through the black door. It closed behind him, also closing out anyone else that should come to save her…



*************

The bold shining sun was receding, giving into the grasp of night. Zidane sat on the first caravan out of the other five heading to the city. The plan was in motion - he was going to get Garnet. The rattling wheels below him relaxed his tense body. He didn't know what to expect when he reached the castle. All he knew was that he was going to get her back.

The gates of Alexandria appeared before him. The caravan abruptly stopped, and a demon with a sword came out from the guard post. "Humans aren't allowed after the first tower unless for reasons of trading! Is that what you're here for?!" He held his sword up to Zidane's throat. Zidane smiled down at the demon as it looked into his eyes. The monster stepped back in fear as Zidane stepped down from the caravan. "The human k-king?!" He ran towards Zidane with the sword strung high at him.

Zidane dodged the sword gracefully, then grabbed it from the demons hands and shoved it right back into the tarnished flesh of its body. "I'm getting her back." Zidane said with seriousness. The demon gave a cold stare as it fell to its death on the ground.

The caravans of the resistance unloaded the men, each with armor and swords. Beatrix and Jacob, followed by Reese, walked up to Zidane. "Us three will assist you in the fight inside the castle. The rest of the resistance will take on the monsters guarding the city. Let's go!"

Zidane nodded his head. The gates to city were pulled aside, revealing a large group of monsters dispatched to find out what the problem was outside.

"Here we go! Charge!! Jacob yelled as the four were followed by the rest of the resistance, and swung into battle.

The demons dropped by twos as the resistance swept through them towards the castle. There was shouting and sounds of swords slicing armor and flesh. Zidane was piercing the demons, untouched with 'Save the Queen', nothing was prevailing to even knick him. Jacob was just as good a fighter as Steiner was. His skills matched that of his father. He was very skilled for a thirteen year-old. Beatrix was moving alongside Zidane, destroying monsters crazily as Zidane was.

The castle rose before them as they approached, the four towers reaching into the sky. The crystal that was once magnificent in its holy glow, was stained with blood and showed how the city had fallen to such evil.

"Zidane… we need to be careful!" Beatrix shouted, trying to overcome all the other war cries, as she walked up to his side.

"I'm going to get her back!" His tail flicked from side to side. The large castle door opened to him, revealing a man in a hooded cloak.

"King of country, savior of Alexandria, husband of the Queen. Hmmm… so it really is you." The man spoke as he walked towards the two of them. Jacob and Reese joined them as the man neared Zidane. The man unveiled his face as he took the hood off. "Beatrix, you're still alive? Haha. Nice to meet you once again." He gave a dark smile at her, and looked across to the others. "Could that be Steiner?"

"No, Frayel! I am his son, and I shall vanquish you… you dirty bastard!" He pulled his sword from his sheath.

"Oh I see." Frayel waved his hand, knocking the sword from Jacob's hand.

Jacob ran back to where it laid and picked it up.

"Why don't you all just go back to your little hideout? You have no chance against me." Frayel said with such confidence.

Zidane stepped forward. "Step aside, I'm getting Garnet."

"Do you not remember me? Frayel? The man who sent you to the depths of hell in this world? Haha, same as the queen I see." Frayel pulled a dark blue sword from his back where it was latched on. "What about a duel?" Frayel smiled as he saw the moons in the sky nearing each other.

"Then that's what we will do." Zidane looked at the others and motion for them to get back. "I can do this. Don't interfere." They all nodded and then stepped back. Zidane swung the legendary sword from its socket.

"'Save the Queen'? Haven't seen that girl in awhile. No matter. You shall perish this time for good! " Frayel smiled as he looked at Beatrix.

"No more talk." Zidane jumped into the air, swinging his sword in the downwards position. Frayel leapt aside just as quickly, evading the attack. He swung his sword at the recovering Zidane, slicing his shoulder. Blood edged its way from the wound down his arm. Zidane brought his sword back and rushed at Frayel again. This time he was more successful, puncturing Frayel's right arm.

"Haha, good show!" Frayel laughed. "But no more play." The blue sword started to shine an eerie glow as he pointed it at Zidane.

Frayel struck at Zidane, but Zidane retaliated with 'Save the Queen'. The force of the two swords clashing sent Zidane flying straight back into a building, crashing through boards in the process.

"No!" All of them let out a cry as they saw this.

"Looks like I win… again." Frayel said as he sheathed his sword. "Haha, what a fool." He started to walk back into the castle as monsters flowed out and completely surround Beatrix, Jacob, and Reese.

"What are we gonna do, mom?" Jacob said, glancing around himself.

"Fight for your life!" Beatrix yelled.

They let out a battle cry, but everyone stopped stunned. The house where Zidane was thrown into suddenly exploded in a bright light. A Grand Lethal swept across the monsters surrounding the three of them.

"Z-Zidane!" Reese pointed out as the form of his body showed throughout the dirt and mist that was thrown into the air. Zidane's clothes were all torn and dirt covered. He had several cuts on him, dripping blood. He was in Trance!

"Frayel!" The voice in the shroud ringed into his ears.

"Wha-?" Frayel turned around stunned. As he looked into Zidane's eyes, he knew he was dead already. 'Save the Queen' had entered his heart, releasing his soul to death. "I can't believe it - y-you got me." Frayel fell to his knees. Zidane pulled the sword from him, blood dripping from the legendary blade.

"Why…? I… should have just killed you before. But… no matter. There's not much time. Ha... ha, s-she's in the dungeon… the moons are almost together! You… won't make it. You can't… save her… you're… too late! HAHAHAHA!!" At that, Frayel collapsed and died.

"I am going to get her back. Nothing can stop my feelings for her," Zidane said looking down at him, still in Trance. "Take care you three. This is probably goodbye for now. I am actually not from this world, but another that is nine years in the past. I somehow came here by some kind of a test, and I am looking to get Garnet back. She was sent here too, and we were split up. I'm sorry. I must go now. Good luck my friends…" Zidane said to Beatrix, Jacob, and Reese, turned away. Zidane did not want to see them cry.

"Zidane…" Beatrix shed a tear. "Take care, and find your Garnet. We will win this battle. I promise we'll get the kingdom back and find the other Garnet, and you. It was great to see you again. Thanks for everything. Goodbye… Zidane." Beatrix said and then ran off to fight more demons.

"It was nice to meet you, King Zidane. I shall fight with the spirit of my father within me. Good luck!" Jacob said and ran off, following Beatrix.

"Good luck, my friend. King of Alexandria." Reese said to Zidane and followed after Jacob and Beatrix.

At that, Zidane flew down the hallway as fast as he could, opening to the dungeon. He ran down the stairway, searching for where she could be. He called out to her, "Garnet?! Garnet?!" There was no answer but he kept running. He was especially fast because he was in Trance. The walls whizzed past him as he searched desperately from side to side. Zidane knew he did not have much time, but he was not about to give up.

Finally, the black door confronted him as he ran up to him. He heard her voice - she was screaming.

"Garnet! I'm coming!" With a flash of his new sword, the door split into two revealing the room. Garnet yelled in terror as her body was nearing the lava.

"Hold on, Garnet!!" Zidane looked all around him for something to use. A rope that was also connected to the ceiling near Garnet's flowed down near him. He grabbed it, and tied it to himself.

"Zidane!" She screamed.

He looked into her eyes - then jumped. Time went into slow motion as he flew across the lava. His eyes never left hers, as he swung up to her, grasping her into his arms. Everything went to white.