A Different Ending
Disclaimer: I don't own FF9 or the song 'Melodies of Life' because Nobuo Uematsu composed it, while Emiko Shiratori sang it!
Chapter 14. A familiar tune
Maybe…I was wrong….
She did want to tell me something…
Maybe I should have been gentler…
But, she should have told me…that she's the queen…
I can't forgive her completely, but the truth is……..
I still love her…
And…
I need see her…
Brand rushed out of the building and raced towards the castle gates with incredible speed and willpower. New energy was flooding through him as if the thought of Dagger gave him strength. Then he stopped suddenly, remembering that guards would be all around the castle, guarding it. She would probably be too sad to talk to him. He sighed; angry once again, the new energy draining from his body as quickly as it came.
He walked around town, not knowing where to go. Walking down an old alleyway he spotted something leaning against the wall. A ladder. How strange. But then he saw it. The ladder led him up onto the roof where, when he stood on his tipi-toes he could see a trail of long wooden boards crossing between the houses and leading him to….the castle!
Immediately, he climbed up the ladder with speed once again and ran across the path of wooden boards without thinking twice of the dangers. At last it led him to the last wooden board leading to the edge of the castle wall hidden behind hundreds of town houses. Without difficulty he walked over the board and climbed over the wall, landing gently onto the smooth grey courtyard stones of the castle. Only after did he question to himself, I wonder why these boards and ladders are here. Has someone tried to get into the castle like this before?
He looked around, what part of the castle was he in? He was in one of the castle's many beautiful courtyards of fine green sculptures and blossoming flower beds. Then he saw a door at the end leading into the castle. He ran to it entering the castle finally, to find himself in a lavishly decorated sitting room complete with comfy sofas and armchairs carved beautifully with curling designs and the beautiful sunlight pouring into the quiet room. To the right was an open doorway leading to the white marble staircase.
It was quiet, too quiet. But then, suddenly he heard something….
Something…beautiful and sweet sung by a beautiful singer…
Something…………..familiar…..
Alone for a while,
I've been searching through the dark
For traces of the love you left,
Inside my lonely heart
What is that song? Where is it coming from? Its so beautiful, and I feel I've heard it before, but I haven't….
Brand stood, puzzled. Who was singing such a beautiful song? Then, suddenly a familiar and yet unfamiliar memory came to him…
Flashback
Brand, dressed in some grimy armor was running up the marble stairs of the castle. It was night outside, but inside the room was lit with sparkling white light. The walls were creamy white and the marble shined and shimmered. As he reached the top of the stairs, a girl dressed in a light white coat lined with red silk came running out of the grand doors on the side of the tower and he thought he would crash into her so he stopped suddenly, making him wobble until he finally got back his balance. The girl stood in front of him, puzzled at his stop. He looked up, and saw, that she was the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen. With pale fair skin that was soft, dreamy, glowing brown eyes and soft scarlet red lips she looked, like angel. She looked at him more curiously.
"Um…Can you let me through?" She asked, her sweet melodic voice echoing in his ears continuously.
End of Flashback
To weave, by picking up
The pieces that remain
Melodies of Life,
Love's lost refrain
What was that? Why, that girl looks like just like Dagger! He looked around, still the lovely voice kept on singing as he racked his brain for answers.
Dagger? What does this mean? Why am I seeing this? It seems familiar! I don't know how! That's Dagger? But that can't be! Dagger, well the queen is here! I've never met Dagger like that before! But yet, it's so familiar…
Our paths, they did cross
Though I cannot say just why
We met, we laughed, we held on fast
And then we said goodbye
And who'll hear the echo
Of stories never told?
Let them ring out, till they unfold
Wait a minute, this song…now I'm starting to remember…Someone was singing it, a long time ago…….
She…sang it like this…with sadness and sorrow…loneliness………
In my dearest memories,
I see you reaching out to me
Though you're gone, I still believe
You can call out my name
Things…are starting to make sense……Dagger was there……Steiner…Freya….a-and…Vivi? I…remember……Us…and Eiko……Quina……and………Amarant?
"Amarant?" He suddenly exclaimed out loud, surprised, shocked and confused.
Amarant? Amarant, as in who Dagger talked about? He's, he's………I…remember! He's the man with red hair and a bad attitude! Him! Him? She…choose him?
A voice from the past,
Joining yours and mine
Adding up the layers of harmony
And so it goes, on and on
Melodies of Life,
To the sky behind
The flying birds,
Forever and beyond
But before he figured that out, another flashback came to him as fast as the previous one.
Flashback
Brand, the girl and the two other people were standing on the outside of a cave in the daylight. One was a tall man, who was a knight, dressed in some rusty looking armor that clanked, holding a long broadsword. The other though, was as tall as a boy but wore a big, pointy yellow sun hat covering all of his hair. He was wearing a small blue coat and green baggy pants. In his hand was a strange stick with strange patterns and designs carved into it. Under his hat, you could see glowing yellow eyes. The girl was wearing a loose white shirt and orange overalls with rough orangey-brown boots, her hair lightly clipped together by a green clip at the end. Around her neck was a necklace with a big see-through crystal as big as her palm dangling from it, in her hand a small shining blue scepter covered with designs and marks of pictures. Brand, however was wearing a blue vest and blue baggy pants with it. His hair was blonde but the most important was that, he had a tail! They stood in the open on a large rock path leading downwards, in the distance a small village thriving with people.
"Zidane….." The girl said softly, she was looking at him.
"What's this called?" She held up a small, shining sword in her other hand.
"That's a dagger. All knifes of that length are called daggers." He answered her, proud that he knew.
"So this is a 'dagger'…" She walked a few steps forward, studying the dagger carefully and trying to consider something.
"I've decided! From now on my name is…Dagger." She suddenly exclaimed turning around, a smile on her face.
"I'll be called Dagger from now on. What do you think Zidane?"
End of Flashback
This is so strange! I…I feel I know these events… And…I know…all those…people…Like Dagger…but why did she call me 'Zidane' even at that time if this is all real?
Funny…I feel like I know these people……like…that knight in rusty armor…he's Steiner…even though I've never seen him before! A-And like that black mage…he's Vivi!
And…Freya, the last Dragoon of Bermecia…Amarant the annoying outsider… (smirks) Eiko…the young summoner…from Madain Sari…Quina…the crazy frog eater… (smirks again) and…Dagger…I mean Garnet…Alexandros the 17th…summoner of Madain Sari…and daughter of Brahnne Alexandros……
So far and away,
See the bird as it flies by,
Gliding through the shadows
Of the clouds up in the sky
I've laid my memories
And dreams upon those wings
Leave them now,
And see what tomorrow brings
Hey, where is this song coming from?
Brand looked up at the marble staircase, finally realizing where it came from. He walked towards it, and started up the stairs, listening quietly as the song continued.
In your dearest memories,
Do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us
Close then leaves me behind?
It was coming closer as Brand kept walking up the winding stairs.
How would I know those people? If I've never heard of them…except of Dagger and Amarant so how is it possible? But…yet…Dagger thought I was Zidane at the start…What if I really……………
Flashback
Images sped through his mind, slowing in enough time for him to understand them. First was of the first meeting of Brand and Dagger, in his hotel room. Then, right after was the first meeting of Zidane and Garnet, in the castle. The second image was of the first kiss of Brand and Dagger in the park. But there was only one of that one, since Zidane and Garnet never kissed….
End of Flashback
Immediately Brand felt as if something was missing. And now he knew. At that moment his unknown past was getting filled. The old images of their adventures filled his mind in flashbacks. He felt…different. Because, he was Zidane. Zidane Tribal, actor of Tantalus, and thief.
A voice from the past,
Joining yours and mine
Adding up the layers of harmony
And so it goes on and on,
Melodies of Life,
To the sky beyond
The flying birds
Forever and beyond
He ran up the stairs, feeling different. So much was happening he thought he would faint. Finally he got to the top, and ran to the doors, the music growing louder.
If I should leave
This lonely world behind
Your voice will still remember
Our melody--
Zidane flung the doors open forcefully, willpower shining in his eyes. Dagger, who sat on a chair next to the open window singing beautifully stopped on 'melody'. She gasped, embarrassed.
"Oh, I'm sorry Brand. You should hate me. You don't have to forgive me…" She muttered sadly, frowning and lowering her head in shame. To Zidane being called Brand suddenly felt so distant.
But on Zidane's face there was a cheeky smile. She looked up and got a surprise.
"What's wrong?" Dagger asked utterly confused at his smile.
"What song is that you were singing?" Zidane asked, hiding back his excitement with a straight face.
"Oh, it's the song Melodies of Life. My mother taught it to me. You wouldn't know it though." She replied, sighing softly to herself. She readied herself to be shouted at. But, it never came. Instead, she heard her song.
Now I know we'll carry on,
Melodies of Life,
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember
Zidane opened his eyes again, to see, Dagger's eyes staring at him speechlessly and her mouth opening and closing continuously.
"Dagger, I remember now. When I came to the castle I heard your song, and, it all came back to me! I will always remember your melody." He explained but he didn't have time to say any more. Dagger was pressed against him, hugging him lovingly. He smiled softly.
"I knew it! I knew it was you! When I first saw you I knew! Zidane! You're finally back!" Dagger exclaimed ecstatically, but didn't have time to say anything else either. Their lips met finally, and finally Zidane and Garnet had their first proper kiss.
When they broke off their kiss they sat down together, holding hands.
"But, how? You've been gone ten years! What happened?" Dagger asked, confused still. They stared at each other caringly.
"I remember, I went down to save Kuja and a large green shoot came shooting after me and I got caught. I found that Kuja was dead already. I tried to save him, but he was gone. It took me a long time to cut through all the roots and branches. But there was a main root which was holding my tail. I couldn't break it or cut it, so in the end I had to cut off my own tail, and believe me, that was painful. I got out, only to faint on the ground. Then, some travelers found me and helped me to Lindbulm where I found myself. Then I came to Alexandria with my friends to hopefully find work. I have black hair because I died it." When Zidane had finished explaining they were hugging warmly again.
"I don't care if you have a different name, or if you have black hair and a cut off tail," Dagger said softly, embracing and taking in his feel once more.
"As long as you are my true Zidane." She looked up at him as the cuddled.
"And, as long as you promise never to leave me ever again." She smiled up at him as they shared; a special understanding.
Oh my god! Did I just finish another story! –-SHOCK—Oh wait a minute, I still gotta write the sequel, but I'll join it with this one! So ReAd AnD ReViEw!