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This chapter of what a lot of you have asked for.
Except the one reviewer who wanted ZidaGar… is that some sort of town in Africa? (yes, I'm sarcastic...)
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Chapter 43: It Matters Not if You Win or Lose. It Only Matters That I Win.
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Zidane got back and was informed Drake had only left a few days ago… spent the entire time with Garnet.
And she was going to the world meeting. He couldn't handle that. Seeing that… it was too much.
"I can't do this,"
"Lay there and do nothing? You're doing a good job so far." Lana stated, sitting down next to him.
"I can't sit here doing nothing while everyone turns against me." Zidane explained, letting her stay by him for the first time in a while
"Everyone's against you?" Lana asked.
"Getting there…"
"That sucks…" Lana granted.
Zidane gave a nod and then got up. He looked around and then headed for his room. Tomorrow he was supposed to join Brahne and Garnet on their trip to Daguerreo and he had a feeling he'd need all the energy he could muster up.
He was the last one on the airship the next morning. Steiner wasn't coming, Beatrix wasn't coming, and he was surprised to hear… Garnet wasn't coming.
He'd been looking for her on the ship, after it had taken off, but she was nowhere in sight.
It wasn't until they landed that he learned why.
All the world leaders were not there. Regent Cid, Vivi, and Sir Fratley were missing. Leaving only the people who followed Brahne's rants…
"Great, a set up." He groaned, not wanting to deal with this.
Brahne grinned as she walked over to him. "Ready to give up, yet?"
"Not in your life," Zidane growled.
"We'll see about that." Brahne smirked, walking ahead.
She saw the looks the other leaders gave Zidane. Nervous stares, vicious snarls, glares… it was so perfect.
This palace belonged to Drake and Eclipse. Chaucer and Marina had claim to it, but from what Brahne saw, their rule was by title only. Eclipse would not let any errors happen, and Drake was very useful in getting the other leaders to obey whatever he said. They seemed to have the same primal fear she held for him. He could look perfectly harmless, fairly normal, but he had this stare that made your heart freeze in terror.
Very useful when it wasn't used against her, Brahne decided.
Empress Pricilla hated Zidane from the beginning—he looked too much like a monster for her taste. Shivel was full of humans and mages, hardly any animal people, like the Bermecians or any diverse species found so commonly in Lindblum and Alexandria. Zidane was unusual, he looked half like a beast. Pricilla needed no help.
The others had been harder, even Brahne had trouble, but she heard from a few of them that Eclipse had spoken with them, and that seemed to enhance the power of her red pearl.
Anyone she couldn't persuade wasn't there. They would be no threat, even if things went bad. They would be outnumbered after today.
This would be it, what could ruin it? Nothing that she could think of.
Zidane stormed into the palace, hating the entire event. Garnet wasn't there… so he was somewhat happy about that, but the rest of this meeting was torture. All the World Leaders did was demand he open the doors, and the longer he stayed in one place, the louder the complaints grew.
Pricilla was a constant aggravation. She was only a few years older than him, but she was extremely bold and had no problem pointing out any flaws she found in him.
The other leaders didn't seem to see how evil she clearly was, they babied her like she was a child. And… she was, but they all seemed to adore her, despite her wicked tongue.
She had to be the biggest suck-up he had ever seen. More so than Jordan, even!
She glared death at him, but smiled like an angel at everyone else.
Chaucer and his wife Marina, the king and queen of Daguerreo, stayed quiet on the subject. They didn't seem to be against Zidane, but any word they said to try and calm the tempers of the other rulers was ignored.
Zidane began to wonder why they even bothered attending these meetings, usually they didn't even bother coming, but he supposed they had to this time. Their palace, and all.
The world leaders were driving him insane. This was a trap, had to be. They were everywhere, the palace was full of people… it was like a convention, he hoped it wasn't always like this. That would be so annoying.
He had to get away… He saw a door and ran to it.
Zidane stomped into a new room and saw the one person who had the power to make his entire life an even worse mess.
Drake was upstairs reading some book. Of course Zidane would run into Drake, this was his palace, but it infuriated Zidane to see him there—like he had some right to attend this meeting even when Garnet hadn't been allowed… in his palace... Zidane growled as he heard Brahne walk in, following him.
"You shouldn't wander off here… we're guests." She lectured, looking around as if she were worried.
Drake looked up, hearing her voice. It didn't take him long to glance down and spot them below. Drake tensed up a bit, as if he were going to get up, but then thought better of it and relaxed again, but kept his eyes on the two below.
Brahne's voice stammered. "We should go back with the rest of the group, that's the proper thing to do."
Zidane shot her a glare then looked at Drake.
Drake looked bored, as if he couldn't care less, but the moment Brahne looked away he gave a vicious smirk.
Zidane snarled in response, but they both looked in other directions when Brahne cast her gaze at either one of them.
The Queen was very nervous indeed.
When Brahne looked away the silent threats started up again.
Zidane motioned for Drake to come over.
Drake shook his head and motioned to the queen who kept muttering, "Shouldn't cause a scene…" Then he looked back at Zidane and pointed to himself. 'In my palace.' He mouthed, mockingly.
Zidane stomped the wet ground, pointing down, but that caught the queen's attention and she hissed at him.
"Zidane! We are guests."
"Are you really a 'guest' when you don't want to be there?" Zidane grumbled.
Brahne gasped and stammered and then physically shoved Zidane out of the room. Drake smiled and waved as they left and Zidane replied with an inappropriate gesture. Drake laughed, silently, and went back to reading his book.
Brahne gave a sigh of relief. That hadn't been as bad as she feared, no one had died… After Drake's last visit, the tension between him and Zidane seemed to have reached the limit, she wasn't sure how long it could be before one of them snapped their control and attacked. She thought it best not to test it.
For about fifteen minutes, Zidane was partially relieved to be away from Drake. He'd have killed Drake if left alone with him, Zidane was fairly sure.
All his problems revolved around Drake! He was the reason Garnet was so distant, why no one trusted Zidane, why he had to worry about if Garnet would get tired of him, worry about being alone, worry about the territories he was supposed to control and what Drake might do to them if he got angered enough!
Zidane was fairly sure that somehow, someway, that time when he was seven and lost his toy boat in the ocean was somehow Drake's fault… he wasn't sure how... but all these thoughts went through his head, especially when he saw Drake walk into the new area they were in.
Zidane glared, Drake seemed somewhat surprised to see him there, then not at all happy, and he slowly stepped down the stairs toward him, glaring death at Zidane who glared it back ten times stronger.
Brahne was between them and kept looking back and forth wondering if this would be alright, but more likely who would attack first, if she should move, and how badly this would destroy her plans for opening the Secrets of Terra if the last remaining Terran Angel who could open it had been destroyed, or start a war between Alexandria and Daguerreo because the heir to Daguerreo's throne had been murdered.
"Uh, where is Marina?" She managed to ask, looking at Prince Drake and hoping he'd know where his mother was.
Only then did Drake look at her. He considered her question for a while, then gave the honest answer of, "I don't know."
"Well, can't you get her?" Brahne questioned.
"No. I do not know where she is and I do not care to go looking. You may, if you wish." Drake offered, motioning toward a door.
Brahne hesitated some more… if she left, they might kill each other… which might solve all her problems, but wouldn't get the door open.
And Eclipse wouldn't be happy.
With a sigh and a nervous, but warning glance at both boys, Queen Brahne walked out the door in search of Marina... surely the she would be able to distract her son, or, favorably, order him back to his room.
Brahne was nervous as she hurried through the palace, her mind caught on one thing and she tripped in her steps.
She'd left Drake and Zidane in a room.
Alone.
With weapons.
Deadly weapons.
"This won't end well, it won't, it won't!" She uttered worriedly.
"What won't end well?" Eclipse asked, suddenly appearing behind her.
Brahne caught her scream in her throat as she turned, reluctantly to face him. "Ah… Master Eclipse. I'm looking for Queen Marina, have you seen her?"
"Why would you be looking for her? You don't want her around for this part of the plan, she'll get in the way. All she ever does is get in the way." Despite his wicked words, Eclipse's voice held no emotion, his face betrayed nothing.
"Ah, yes, well… It is still customary to have the ruler of a palace attend their own meeting." Brahne reminded, but regretted saying it.
Eclipse's eyes grew even colder than usual. It was the only sign he felt anything at all, but that anything was anger. "What won't end well?" He repeated.
Brahne couldn't decide if she should tell Eclipse or not… he claimed to be able to control Drake, but would he be angered at her for leaving he situation? "Zidane and Drake are in the same room."
Unknown to Brahne, that was no longer true. It had been for a while, and they had spoken, but no one had been able to hear what was said in the low growls they exchanged.
Drake had been called away for an urgent matter that required his attention and revolved around the poll used to make the lift work for the weapon shopkeeper...
Zidane had left to try and avoid the hassle that appeared whenever Empress Pricilla entered a room that Drake was in.
That had stopped any immediate problems, but eventually the two were forced into the same territory again.
Brahne hadn't been able to find Marina, but had managed to escape Eclipse. Luckily, he didn't seem too bothered about Drake and Zidane being in the same room. It made Brahne wonder if he was oblivious to the growing hatred shared between the two boys, or if he was that sure of his control over Prince Drake.
Brahne found Zidane and Drake quickly, they were in the main foyer with everyone else. Drake was upstairs looking bored yet angry at the same time while Empress Pricilla spoke to him about something and Zidane seemed to be trying to eat at least one of everything on the buffet table while ignoring King Talud and Queen Talula who didn't seem very angered about his complete lack of attention.
That was fine… Brahne didn't need a fight now— that would break up the whole meeting. She had work to do and instantly got on it. Using her red pearl and persuasive speaking, she was getting everyone to agree that Zidane was a danger they shouldn't permit.
Most of the world leaders were extremely easy to convince, many she had already worked much of her magic on, others had doubts on their own. She had set up this meeting to exclude Regent Cid and Fratley… she'd followed all the planning to the letter. It would be perfect, she just needed to start chatter going, get people to voice their problems loudly.
Pricilla was hard to speak with only because she didn't seem to like letting Drake out of her sight… ironically, the moment she did no one could find him again… for quite some time.
Brahne didn't worry all too much until she lost sight of Zidane as well. That wretched mongrel! She hated the idea that she had to protect him, but she still had to have that door open! Eclipse said he could keep Drake under control, and thus far it seemed true... but she worried. Drake was a firecracker and Zidane was a spark, putting them together would only lead to the death of one or both of them.
Brahne kept working though. The sooner she convinced everyone and made sure of their feelings, the sooner this would be over and she'd get The Secrets of Terra! Then Drake could kill Zidane in whatever way he wished, but not now.
So what followed scared her greatly.
Zidane walked to the center of the palace—the entryway where everyone and their cousins seemed to be. Drake was speaking with a group of people there and Zidane hissed a sigh. He turned and noticed Brahne speaking with one of the World Leaders, and pointing at him…
"Always grabbing attention, hm?" Drake smirked, walking past Zidane.
Zidane grabbed his arm, "I've had about all I can take of you."
"Then I suggest you deal with it or get out of my palace." Drake growled, not seeming to like having his arm caught.
Zidane grit his teeth, "It's your parent's palace—."
"Something you'd know nothing about." Drake interrupted, pulling his arm away.
The two backed a few steps away from each other, instinctively. "About being a spoiled little brat? No, I don't. And I'm glad."
"From what I hear, all you are is a lab rat." Drake yawned, taking a step to the left.
Zidane took a step to the right and growled. "People can't help what they are, just how they act—."
"I couldn't agree more. You cannot help that you are a poor, pathetic, little thief not fit to be a stable boy let alone a knight, just as I cannot help that I am royalty of noble worth capable of marrying Princess Garnet." Drake kept moving to the left, curving to the side.
Zidane did the same, but on the right. "You stay away from Garnet, or I'll—!"
"Ignore her some more so she comes crying to me? Please do." Drake replied, grinning wide.
Zidane's eyes grew dark, he grit his teeth to keep from screaming. The two continued to circle each other, their eyes locked in threatening stares, just waiting for a moment when the other would show a weakness.
Zidane was angered at how amused Drake looked. Like he was mostly bored, but just interested enough to keep watching, yet somehow, at the same time, he looked dangerous. Zidane wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about Drake that just set of warning signals, something in the back of his head whispering 'that creature is deadly, stay away'
It was like being watched by a Torama. They stare at you like they're unimpressed, but you know they just want the opportunity to strike out and take you down.
Drake saw the anger filling Zidane's eyes and he almost laughed. How much would it take… how much would it take to push the Terran over the edge? The slow circling alone was ticking him off, a typical predatory response… but this was risky. He'd been told, ordered, and threatened not to cause trouble with Zidane— they still needed him to open the door. Drake knew keeping this up would just get them both in trouble.
… But he couldn't help himself. Staring Zidane down would take a while, but to back down? That's what he should do… but it wasn't what he was going to do.
Drake turned his back on Zidane, crossing his arms; saying Zidane was no threat, and he didn't care if he couldn't see him. It was a dare. I have my back to you, because I am not afraid, I don't think you'll attack. It was also an insult.
Zidane snarled, "Don't turn your back on me!"
"You bore me. I'm leaving," Drake announced.
Zidane stalked after Drake as he started to leave, getting in front of him, right in his face. "Don't walk away from me!"
"Get out of my face, lab rat!" Drake ordered.
"This isn't over," Zidane hissed.
"What? You still want to talk about Princess Garnet?" Drake asked.
The crowd had mostly lost interest once Drake had started to walk away. The tension was dying down and people just wanted to get back to their books.
Zidane gave a sharp nod, unnerved by Drake's lax attitude at this topic.
The Prince gave a sympathetic smile, as if Zidane were making a big deal out of nothing. Drake leaned forward a bit. "Don't worry; I'm sure she'll invite you to the wedding." He gave a sly smile and turned, walking away.
Zidane lost it. "You son of a…!" He swung out a punch, but somehow Drake glanced back, saw it coming and ducked down just in time.
Zidane ended up hitting the face of a wealthy noble man who shrieked in alarm.
Drake stood back up, looked at the man and then back at Zidane. "Why you worthless thief!" Drake snarled. "I should drown you like the stray you are!"
"Bring it on, you sadistic maniac!" Zidane welcomed, holding his arms out to the side.
Drake pounced and knocked Zidane to the floor, but Zidane grabbed Drake's shoulders and pulled him down, too, then kicked up causing Drake to flip over and accidentally kick someone before landing on his back.
The man he'd kicked spun around, trying to see who had dared hit him and saw someone laughing at him, so he decked that guy. That guy stumbled back into a group of people, knocking them into the reflection pond.
Drake and Zidane got back up. Drake turned toward the now angry crowed, trying to figure out a way to stop the fights. Zidane elbowed him in the center of his back.
"OW!" Drake howled and spun around.
His eyes turned a brighter red and as he snarled, Zidane was almost sure he saw fangs.
Drake thrashed out at Zidane, landing what looked like a hard blow to the side of his face and causing Zidane to stumble a step. He'd been surprised at how hard that hit was, especially from someone Drake's size. He was about the same as Zidane, but his hit was definitely stronger.
Zidane retaliated with a stiff kick to Drake's chest, causing the prince to fall back a few feet, into the crowd. A battle erupted, well, everywhere. People were brawling, screaming, fighting, scratching, biting… it was vicious!
Drake erupted from the crowd as if he had wings giving him lift, he landed by plowing straight into Zidane, causing them both to roll into the crowd and out of view.
Brahne rushed over to the ledge on the second floor and looked down. She couldn't even see Drake or Zidane. She almost thought they'd both drowned till she heard a wildcat shriek… followed by something that sounded like a primal roar that seemed to come from the same area, but it was hard to tell where that was!
"What is going on?!?" Pricilla shouted, trying to get to the safety of a higher floor.
Brahne almost screamed. This would ruin everything! Everything!
"Stop it! Stop fighting at once!!" Brahne screamed.
She was completely ignored. The brawl continued, perhaps even growing stronger.
The World Leaders got caught in it! Shoving, punching, threatening… it was all going wrong! And the guards just stood there, confused! Useless!
This wasn't supposed to happen, no! No! It couldn't happen! Brahne and Eclipse had figured it all out! She would bring Zidane, the other world leaders would confront him, he would refuse to open the door, they would surround him, build in force, all of which had happened! But then they were supposed to capture the Terran! There would be enough of a resistance to justify imprisoning the Genome! Force him to open the door through whatever means necessary!
Brahne saw Pricilla running up the stairs and grabbed her arm. "Where are you going!?"
"I'm leaving!!" Pricilla snarled. "I'm not going to stay around such a fight!!"
"But, no! You must stay, you must!" Brahne begged.
"Queen Apalia and King Yin and myself have already agreed on it, we're getting out of here!"
Brahne panicked. Leaving? No! If they left, Zidane would be able to get away!
"Empress Pricilla, please!" Brahne shouted. "You must stay! Don't you see how it will look if you go?"
"Much like I don't want anything to do with this mess! And I don't!" Pricilla pulled her arm away and ran.
Brahne saw King Yin pulling his wife to the door, following Pricilla.
King Talud and Queen Talula were still there, but they didn't look happy at all. Brahne's gaze slithered through the crowd below. She had to find Zidane… get him away from that battle and cornered somewhere.
Someone knocked over a table and she spotted Drake leap up onto a railing. Zidane jumped on at the other end of the same rail and—and someone gave them swords!
"NO!" Brahne screamed, her voice lost in the mass battle below.
She only had one hope, one desperate hope that Drake somehow had figured this all out. That he had decided her plan wasn't going to work, but that he was going to get Zidane trapped on his own.
They crept toward each other on the railing and Brahne was unnerved at the balance they both maintained. Zidane slashed his sword out first, but Drake caught the blade with his own and pushed the attack away. His own thrust was more precise, more practiced, and had Zidane not had on his armor the Terran would have been in dyer straights after that blow.
They were talking… but Brahne couldn't hear the words. She watched their sword fight in horror— there were too many close calls! If Zidane didn't have that armor he'd be long past dead by now. The only upside to this insanity was it seemed to prove Drake had some advantage over Zidane when it came to true life or death battle. Though, she also knew how fast Zidane adapted to things… one of them would die, she was sure of it!
Zidane slashed again and Drake did at the same time, catching Zidane's blade. The blades were locked for a few brief moments before Drake forced his up and Zidane lost grip of his.
The sword spun in the air before Drake caught it. Zidane looked more disappointed than scared. Drake looked amused and confused at the same time for a moment, then grinned at Zidane who now had no weapon while Drake had two.
"That's hardly fair," Zidane stated.
Drake gave a slight, sideways nod, "As is life."
"Why not fight fair?" Zidane growled.
"I did, you lost." Drake advanced forward, spinning one of the blades.
Zidane backed up, searching for a weapon, he found a knife on a nearby table and snatched it up. "You give up now, I'll let you go!"
Drake raised an eyebrow, "You must be joking."
"Fine then. Say goodbye—!"
"To your vows, life, loves, choices, and dreams!" Drake interrupted.
Zidane growled. "Till the end!"
"The end may be sooner than you like."
"What is it with you freak?" Zidane snarled. "Why are you out to kill me?"
"Oh, it's not just me. You've doomed yourself as well as a man who drinks a flask of cyanide." Drake stated, slinking forward. "Trapped yourself in a tomb full of people who hate you… smart choice."
Zidane seemed to catch that in his mind as recognition of that fact enveloped his thoughts.
"… This is a trap."
Brahne did scream the moment she heard that. He figured it out—Drake had practically told him! She tried to run over, but the crowd swelled up and she lost sight of them once more.
Drake had two swords…that was a chance, but they were right by the door! It was the worst possible place to be, but no one had stopped them! No one wanted to get in the middle of a sword fight. The two boys had been far from any of the royal leaders last time she saw them. It was all going to be washed away, her brilliant plan was going to be destroyed!
She heard the door open… and close…
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