Chapter 34: May You Live in Interesting Times
Brahne watched… her daughter may have overlooked the 'friendship' between Zidane and the female knight, but Brahne hadn't.
The Queen clung to this new idea. She couldn't control Zidane, but she could control those around him… if this female knight had any feelings for Zidane, it wouldn't be hard to get her to act on them.
Yes… Brahne could see her scheme playing out in her head.
She'd get the knight to lose control of her feelings— small at first, hardly noticeable… the girl would find herself thinking about him more often, notice herself moving closer to him, the level of physical contact would grow. She'd want more, always want to be closer than she could be.
Instincts would push the plan forward. The girl would do things, foolish or not, to get the closeness she so desired.
A fake slip where he would have to catch her, a false trip where she would fall into his arms… little things.
She'd never know she was being controlled.
Then, once the tension was high enough, the girl's little flirting would jump ahead to a whole new level. Which she would do in front of Garnet, Brahne would be sure of that, though the knights wouldn't know they had an audience.
It could end a few ways…
Zidane could catch on too quickly; though he hadn't seemed to notice any of her hints yet.
The girl might mess up and give away the plan. Garnet might be too ignorant or too busy.
When the time came, Zidane might openly reject Lana with Garnet watching, which wouldn't do any good for the Queen…
The advances might be slow enough; the Terran might be stupid enough; that when the time came… he wouldn't even notice how bad it would look to someone watching.
A kiss would do it.
Yes… a kiss…
They would get friendly enough not to notice how bad it looked to other people. Then Brahne would take a walk with Garnet.
She'd use her red pearl to convince the female knight to get Zidane somewhere… the couch below the balcony in the library would be perfect…
She would lead Garnet to the balcony, quietly… Oh look, there is Zidane with another woman. Garnet might not understand, poor dear, but then Brahne would use her red pearl… and a kiss would destroy them.
Brahne would take her daughter away, quickly, to 'protect' her. Yes, before Zidane could pull back, before he could ruin anything.
It could fail. It most likely would, but Brahne couldn't see a negative failure. Any way it turned out, the female knight would be removed, losing Zidane an ally.
It was worth trying. Nearly anything was worth trying, at this point.
Brahne was desperate. Drake's threats were serious, the Dark Prince was known for getting what he wanted, and he was a Fire Element... That scared Brahne. If you had something that struck his interest, then you best be prepared to lose it, she imagined. Look at how his parents treated him; they were afraid. There had to be a reason for that. His guards were afraid of him! He was a hunter, always on the prowl.
He was interested in Garnet.
When Brahne noticed that, she knew she either could use it to help her plan, or try to push his interest elsewhere and she had used it to help her plans… She had to! Garnet could be happy with Drake. They were a perfect match, and the logical choice! Their kids would be beautiful, perfect in every way. Ideal toward the popular opinion of beauty; dark hair, light skin, smaller, but expressive eyes… as long as the eyes didn't end up being red.
Yet, Garnet had chosen Zidane, who might not even be able to have children! If he could, what would the mongrels look like? Would they have tails like him? Would each child end up with a horn, as Garnet was born with? Would they have tails and horns? A completely new species? What would their lives be like? Would they be accepted? Would the genetics skip a generation, and while Zidane and Garnet's children turned out fine, but their children's children would look like freaks? It was all completely unknown! The new regal marking would be tails and horns? NO! Brahne could never accept that. If the children had horns… that was fine, Eiko would create that anyway, but a new generation of Genomes? NO! No… that was out of the question.
Brahne knew one thing… she would rather give up The Secrets of Terra than let Zidane become a father.
She would rather see him dead and lose the hidden power than let him spawn a child!
She couldn't tell this to Drake— could she? What… might he do? He would act quickly; he wasn't into planning for long, it seemed… nothing was clear about him. Such a mystery… his parents had told her he used to be very kind hearted and he stilled showed it at times. When he got mad, though… he changed.
What could make a person change so much when they were still so young? How could a kind child with so much potential for good things turn into such a demon?
His parents… spoke in hushed voices, very briefly, on that topic… they blamed Eclipse, his Adviser.
It was none of Brahne's concern. She just needed to focus on how to get what she wanted without Drake destroying it all. Once the doors were open, she didn't care if Zidane died. She hoped he would. Brahne wanted Drake to kill him— just not yet…
She wanted Garnet… she wanted her daughter to be happy. Just… not with Zidane.
It would be so much easier if she liked Drake…
Brahne examined her red pearl some more.
… If Zidane were gone… Garnet might love Drake. Garnet had confessed her interest toward him after she'd first met him. He still had potential to be a good man… he wouldn't hurt Garnet if she stopped rejecting him.
It was evident Drake really did love her... It was probably the only reason he was behaving himself as well as he had been, but something needed to be done to get rid of the relationship between Garnet and Zidane.
Brahne looked down at the female knight standing closest to Zidane. The other knights filed out and the girl and Zidane were all that remained besides Steiner and Beatrix.
You have potential, too. Potential to destroy an engagement.
Would Zidane's false love for another woman be enough of a push for Garnet? Would it cause her to drop her guards enough for Brahne to influence her mind?
It was worth a shot…
When did things get so complicated? One day, I was on top of the world, could start a war, rule the whole world, anything I wanted… now I have to tiptoe around people as if they were glass.
"Furthermore, you cannot trance and blast Jordan with Grand Lethal for no reason!... OUR ideas of a good reason!" Steiner lectured.
Beatrix nodded. "You-,"
"WHAT'S THAT?" Zidane suddenly shouted, pointing behind Steiner and Beatrix.
They immediately turned to look. Zidane and Lana took off running.
Steiner turned back first and hopped up and down, steaming mad.
"Why are his attacks the most annoying?" He roared.
"ANNOY!" Zidane shouted the attack.
"Wooow, that one works well!" Lana commented.
Zidane laughed and nodded. "Funny how it worked before I even learned the attack…"
"Yeeaaah, how odd!" Lana snickered.
The two walked outside. They were not set to patrol the same area, but they did anyway.
Lana looked at Zidane and felt warmth on her cheek. She was blushing from some thought.
Oh…my… She smiled slightly.
Zidane looked at her. "What?"
Lana was startled out of her daydream. "Hm?"
"What's so funny?" Zidane asked, "You're all red."
"Oh, I... um… Nothin-,"
"ZIDANE!" Steiner yelled.
Zidane sighed, turning back toward the castle entrance. "I'm awake and on patrol! What more do you want!" He called back.
"ZIDANE! COME HERE!"
"WHY?"
"Zidane! There has been an attack on the Black Mage Village!"
Zidane froze. Lana watched it. It was like, he couldn't figure out the words in that sentence. It only lasted a second, the next instant he was running over to Steiner. "What happened?" He asked.
Lana hesitated, nearly running after him.
Always running away… at least it's not a bad view. She mused, watching him and smiling a bit.
"I am not sure, yet. Master Vivi was not able to contact us; one of the airships nearby radioed it in!" Steiner explained urgently.
Steiner started running as fast as he could in his clunky armor, knowing that Zidane wouldn't wait.
He was right, Zidane didn't stop to chat, he was headed straight for his jet.
"When?" He asked.
"We just received word." Steiner stated, still rushing.
Zidane sped up, easily keeping up with Steiner and beginning to get ahead.
"Who attacked them?"
"We don't know," it sounded like an apology.
Zidane launched into a dead sprint the second he saw the doors leading to the dock. His armor was lighter, his legs toned and more familiar with sprinting. Steiner had little chance at keeping up.
Zidane ran through the doors to where his jet waited, next to the sleeping Invincible.
"What's going on?" Brahne called, walking down from the balcony.
"There's been an attack," Beatrix explained.
"Where?"
"The Black Mage Village," Beatrix answered.
"… What?" Brahne gasped.
"Do you want anyone to accompany you?" Steiner panted, stopping by The Chariot.
Zidane already had it started and ready by the time Steiner got there.
"I… I don't know. I have to land the jet outside the village, I'm just-,"
"Faster." Steiner finished for him, "I agree. Now go, go and help Master Vivi, I'll try to get some airships and meet you." Steiner took a step back, clearing the way, but then stepped forward again as Zidane tried to fly out, "Zidane."
"What?"
"If it's still dangerous there, you get your tail back here and get help before you do anything foolish, understand?"
"…" Zidane almost smiled. It may have sounded like an insult, but he knew better. Steiner was worried about him. "I promise!"
"You better keep this promise."
"I keep them all," he nodded.
Steiner moved back and Zidane took off.
"FOR ONCE, I GIVE YOU PERMISSION! MAKE THAT BLASTED THING MOVE!"
Zidane shifted the controls and the jet doubled its speed in nearly an instant.
Everything was so bright.
"FIRAGRA!" Vivi called.
The fire spell erupted from in front of his hands and blasted the energy bolts surrounding the village.
This was hard! He couldn't see a target to attack; just magic, everywhere!
"BLIZZAGA!" He changed tactics.
He couldn't KO an invisible opponent, but he could put out the fires the attack caused.
"Anyone who knows protect spells, use them!" Vivi ordered.
Black Mages knew Black Magic… mostly. Luckily, some of them had learned barrier spells like Shell.
"CHARGE!" He ordered.
The mages around him charged the barrier spell.
This was too much, too much! He didn't know what to do, and he had so many people he needed to protect…
"Zidane… where are you?" He whispered to himself.
The genomes were a problem. He couldn't get them to do anything, they just stood there looking confused.
What was worse… is after the first wave of attack hit he had lost sight of Mikoto and hadn't seen her since.
"CAST!" He ordered.
Shell was cast around the village.
The light died down… he could finally see his surroundings. When he looked up, he could see the electrical storm pounding against the barrier.
"Try to get the fires out! We have to h-hurry!"
Everything had been chaos… he hadn't seen a ship, none of the scouts had seen anything like they had when the mist had come…
They were just going about their day, like always, and suddenly… light.
Bright, blinding light everywhere. EVERYWHERE! He looked down where his hat should have cause shadows and saw only gold light.
Things got quiet and then… really loud cracking sounds, like the sky was being torn apart!
Things caught on fire and he didn't know why or how! All he could see was the light.
It had taken a while for him to realize they were being attacked.
But why who?
Vivi's mind worked over-time.
Impossible answers.
What if it was Necron? He said it wasn't over…
What if it was Garland? Zidane had said he'd spoken to him in Memoria.
What if… could it be Kuja? Kuja… was dead, though.
Zidane had said so…
Zidane wouldn't lie… right?
Zidane seemed very personal about his 'family'. He wanted to handle everything himself… would he lie to them? Lie to them so he could handle things his way? No… well… he might. He'd never put other people's lives in danger. Zidane would rather have himself harmed than his friends hurt.
But would he lie about Kuja's death?
He'd never put us in danger... Vivi kept reminding himself.
Suddenly, the lightning disappeared.
The Shell barrier broke, but no attack followed.
"What's going on?" Vivi asked, looking around.
"It stopped…" a mage answered.
It seemed like everything was over.
"… Any sign of… anyone?" Vivi asked. "Like… any ship?"
"Nothing."
"Okay…" Vivi whimpered, looking around.
Ten minutes passed with no attacks…
"Okay… take the barriers down, keep your energy saved!" Vivi told them.
The remaining barriers were taken down, and there were still no attacks.
Three more minutes of peace.
Vivi looked around and noticed the other mages doing the same. Everyone looking for an enemy they couldn't see.
The wind even seemed to stop, as if it were trying to be quiet.
Then Vivi heard rustling.
Leaves being crunched
Footsteps approaching.
The silence grew around the noise. Nothing else made a sound, everything focused on the new noise.
Was it an enemy?
Was it the attacker?
Should they charge another Shell?
Should they prepare to fight back?
What would they do?
What COULD they do?
They were on their own… against an invisible opponent, but the attacks had stopped, right?
"Who attacked?" Zidane shouted through the village, his loud voice almost preceding his appearance out of the thick, green wall of undergrowth. Some mages even flinched.
Vivi gave a sigh of relief. "We don't know!"
"Anyone know what happened?" Zidane asked as he headed through the village.
"No… I don't see anything. Who attacked us?" A mage wondered.
"I don't know… be cautious, they could still be around!" Zidane advised
He skidded to a stop by Vivi. "What happened?"
"There was nothing, then… a gold light, everywhere. Bright yellow and blue bolts… it was like lightening. Everything it touched erupted into fire! We couldn't see anyth-," Vivi stopped mid-sentence.
"… What?" Zidane asked.
Vivi stared behind him, eyes wide.
The next moment, everything was gold.
"Princess!"
Garnet turned when she heard the voice.
"Princess Garnet."
"Oh..."
Drake walked closer, "You're fast."
"Is there something you need, Drake?" Garnet couldn't help but feel some anger toward the boy... but she didn't know why. He'd been perfectly kind to her, but she worried his advances were more hopeful than he let on... And she worried what their friendship would become now hat he knew he couldn't have her.
Drake held up a box. It was about ten inches wide and an inch tall; dark velvet tied with a black satin ribbon, "I got you a gift."
Garnet looked at the box, but made no effort to take it. "... Is this really appropriate?"
Drake gave a sympathetic smile and bowed his head slightly, "It isn't that type of gift. This is a congratulatory gift."
"For what?"
Drake looked confused for a second, then slightly concerned. "Your… your engagement," he reminded her gently.
"Oh."
"The wedding is set, right? No problems?" Drake asked.
"No, everything is fine, I just didn't think you would congratulate me for that," Garnet insisted and took the box of chocolates as if finalizing her statement.
"To be honest… I wasn't going to. However, I realized my actions so far have been... unsophisticated. I put you in a hard, rushed position, and I never should have even considered anything between us when I knew how you cared for Zidane."
Garnet smiled, slightly. "Well, one could argue your actions were very sophisticated. It seems the better off you are, the worse you'll behave toward one another."
"A valid point, Princess, and I thank you for it. Still, there is no excuse for my actions. Therefore, I toss my pride aside and wish to do whatever I need to for you to have peace."
"What do you mean?" Garnet wondered.
"I mean, I have caused you problems. I want to make sure they do not happen again, I want to make up for my behavior. People act insane when they're—…" he smiled slightly, "Never mind."
"When they're what?" Garnet questioned.
"That is of no importance anymore," Drake reasoned.
Garnet sighed, giving up. "Anything else?"
"No, Princess. Fare thee well," Drake bowed and walked away.
"You came all the way to Alexandria for this?" Garnet called.
Drake stopped and turned back, "I felt it was important. I didn't want to cause you any pain... I'm not in the way, am I? I wouldn't want that."
"… Why now?"
The Dark Prince was at a loss of words, at this. He'd been warned against giving her a gift... he himself didn't really understand the action, it went against everything he had ever known. Yet he just couldn't let it go. "Because... I want you to be happy."
"PRINCESS!" Steiner hollered.
"What is it, Steiner?"
Steiner ran over, panting. "There's been an attack! The Black Mage Village has been attacked!"
"WHAT?" Garnet and Drake gasped at the same time.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, an airship nearby saw the attack and informed us, Zidane left a while ago in The Chariot!"
Steiner… had the same problem with Garnet as he did with Zidane. She seemed to inherit his bad habits. The moment she believed she'd heard enough, she took off with Drake running beside her. Steiner had to run to keep up with them.
"We must go help him!"Garnet insisted.
"We do not have any airships, Princess!" Steiner informed.
"Take mine; you need it more than I do!" Drake said.
"What?"
"Princess… you do not have to trust me, you can be suspicious of me if that's what I deserve, but that village is in trouble! For the sake of people's lives, accept my offer! I do not have the ability or the soldiers to fight and defend that village that could rival you World Heroes, so it is in my best desires for you to just take the ship. Do not worry about damaging it; it is now yours to destroy. I can wait here and call for someone to come get me later. Right now… right now I fear for the village. So please, Princess. Show some mercy; take the Veşnic Viaţă."
The Veşnic Viaţă, Drake's Airship, was fast… Garnet noted to herself. It was fast and reliable, and the only airship around.
"My pilots are on board already, they will take you, now hurry!" Drake ushered.
Garnet gave a slight nod and ran faster, to the ship.
"Beatrix! We must go!" She called.
Drake stayed behind.
"You're really not coming?" Garnet questioned as Steiner climbed on board and the engines stared.
"No, Princess… I already told you…" Drake gave a nervous smile, "I do not wish to be in your way."
The airship rose off the ground and headed for the village.
Garnet watched Drake for a moment. He stood there, watching. Garnet remembered leaving Zidane much the same way, but Zidane had smiled at her, looking assured, reassuring her, almost happy. He always tried to pretend to be happy… Drake looked sad. They really were opposites…
Garnet turned away and headed to the bridge. "Send a message to Zidane's Chariot, tell him we're coming."
Hey guys!
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