Chapter Thirty
The sound of a butter knife grinding over the rigid surface of toast was the only thing to be heard in the bedroom chambers that morning. Alex sat at the small table, not at all surprised that breakfast was brought to her. Arowyn was busy preparing the breakfast. She was quiet and ever so graceful as the marmalade spread across the triangular toast points. She then worked on sprinkling sugar in a bowl of raspberries and blueberries, using her slender fingers to mix the berries together. The sugar gleamed over the surface of the fruit. Arowyn glanced to Alex as she reached for the fresh apricot jam, giving it a stir before gingerly smearing it on the smothered butter toast. Alex was silent, pressing her back into the chair, watching as the woman dutifully prepared the breakfast. Alex held her tongue, knowing it wouldn't be wise to object to having her breakfast assembled for her. The chamber door opened and soundlessly a maid brought a tray to Arowyn, passing a bowl and small ramekins along to the ever dutiful head maid. The third person left just as quickly and Alex longingly watched as the door swung shut. Finally, Arowyn finished arranging the meticulously prepared breakfast and pushed it across the table towards the young princess. Alex was still, her dark eyes only looking over the ramekins of carved butters to resemble lily's of the valley and the neatly stacked pile of black pudding. She glanced only fleetingly at the grilled tomatoes and poached eggs. She instead reached for the honey tea that sat in the far corner of the silver tray. Nervously, Alex threw a look towards Arowyn who was also very still and quiet. Her eyes had been trained out the window, but upon feeling Alex's gaze, she tore her eyes away from the familiar scene of rain gliding down glass panes.
Arowyn sighed, lowering her hands into the lap of her silky white dress. Her thin tail was straight behind her and her dark eyes fell on Alex who did her best not to squirm; or contort her face when the sweetness of the honey hit her full force from the tea cup. "You caused quite a stir in the kingdom yesterday, Princess Alexandra..." Arowyn said with her airy was amazed she didn't come off as angrier. She was certain that Steiner would have blown a gasket at the idea of a princess making a "daring" escape. "If I didn't know better..." Arowyn shook her head. "We were moments away from a national emergency, Your Highness." Arowyn stood and folded her hands behind her back, going towards the window. The garden below now had many more soldiers occupying it. There would be no gaps in their patrol now. Arowyn sighed. "I don't place these rules upon you to bore you, Your Highness. I am not trying to make this kingdom seem dreadful. There are simply a strict set of precautions we must take, Princess Alexandra." Arowyn turned back to look at the young girl who still made no move for her breakfast. "Do you ever stop and think about how important you are?"
Alex set her tea cup down, trying to push away with the irritated feeling rising within her. "I don't want to be this important!" She told Arowyn. "All I wanted to do was see some kids my age and play some games. They didn't even know who I was, it wasn't a big deal." Alex crossed her arms over her chest. "My entire family has gone missing! Do you really believe I just want to stay cooped up between the same four walls and think about it?"
Arowyn gracefully came towards Alex, placing a somewhat maternal hand to her shoulder. "Princess Alexandra, please, I'm not trying to upset you. I know these matters are unsettling but it is my job to keep you safe. And I shall try in the future to perhaps make it more fun for you. Imagine if your father had returned yesterday and we didn't know where you were. It would have been a nightmare."
"But he didn't," Alex stood up now, putting enough space between them so Arowyn couldn't touch her. "And what happens if he never comes back? What if I never see him or my sister's ever again!? Will this be my life forever?"
"There is no need to discuss such plans," Arowyn told her.
"But there are plans," Alex furrowed her brow. It was quiet in the chamber for a few moments. The young girl was so wound up, her shoulders nearly deflated. She looked to Arowyn with a pinched look. The maid was hurt to see her so upset. Arowyn had promised her father she would be kept happy and comfortable. Of all the royal and noble children to come under her care, Princess Alexandra Alexandros-Tribal was the toughest case. Arowyn had met her match. Never had an heir such as herself made a blithering bolt for the door like a frightened cat. Never had the children been so resistant to sit-down meals of luxurious status. And never had they been so attached to a deck of cards. She was the oddest princess Arowyn had ever met. "What happens if they don't come back, Arowyn? What becomes of me!?"
"Well," Arowyn folded her hands together, draped beneath her large bell sleeves. She walked back to the window. "You would become the new Queen of Alexandria."
"I'm not even ten years old!" Alex shook her head furiously, her curly blond hair beating against the frame of her face. "I can't be a queen!"
"There would be people to help you ascend," Arowyn looked over her shoulder soundlessly. "That would be the natural order, Your Highness."
"No!" Alex was yelling now, hot tears stinging her eyes. "I don't want to be the queen! There hasn't been a queen since my mother. The only rightful person for that seat is Sarah! I don't want the throne. I refuse!"
"Princess Alexandra..." Again Arowyn came towards the girl whose tears now streaked her rosy cheeks. "Trust me, child, when I tell you there is no need to discuss such things. I don't wish to upset you anymore. These are things we don't have to worry about right now. I do believe your father and sister's will return, Your Highness. It's only been eight days. These things take time."
"And how many days have to pass before you all decide to crown me?" Alex's voice faltered.
"Let us eat breakfast before it grows too cold," Arowyn pressed a hand to her shoulder blade. Alex ground her teeth together.
"I'm not hungry."
"Please, Princess Alexandra..."
"How. Many. Days?" Alex's sadness had hardened into anger now.
Arowyn sighed, looking over the large collection of untouched dishes, ramekins, and silver utensils on the table. "By the order of the Alexandrian throne, a monarch can only be absent with no contact for twenty-two days before the throne is ascended by the next in line."
Alex felt cold at the idea. "So... my father only has fourteen days left before I become crowned...?" A low rumble of thunder rang out. Alex nearly shook in her flats. She crossed to her nightstand, grabbing the leather pouch of cards. "I just want to be alone. May I please go to the library?" After a moment, Arowyn nodded. The young girl was quick to dart across the room, but she paused fleetingly at the door, looking back to the maid. "Thank you for being honest... and actually, can I have one of those poached eggs to take with me?"
Arowyn smiled sweetly, grabbing the ramekin and presenting it out to the princess. She really had met her match.
...
When the pink rays of daybreak fell across Zidane's face, he became horribly aware of how much pain he was in. Sleeping on hard grounds, fainting, hitting his head over and over... he felt as sore and miserable as he had in his youth. Now his neck had a crick in it for falling asleep next to a rock. It didn't make for the best pillow. Achingly, he propped himself up on his elbow, blinking rapidly as he looked at the early morning light come through the dewy fog. All around him with the jagged rocks and twisted vines, it all looked so familiar. But at the same time, he felt as if he didn't recognize a thing. It was so quiet. It was so unlike the world he had become accustomed to for the past fifteen years. How had he done it all those years ago? How had he managed to be fearless and brave? Who even was he now? Zidane had never considered himself a king and yet he couldn't help but feel he was reacting to the situation like an aloof royal who had never had to do his own dirty work. When he turned his head to look at the Iifa Tree, he noticed for the first time that someone else was awake. Sarah sat at the opening of the narrow walk path, just on the other side of what the seal had protected. Her sword sat across her lap and mindlessly she picked at the encrusted garnets beneath his fingers. In that moment, Zidane could almost see Dagger. Even with her back to him, she reflected so much of her mother's mannerisms. She was almost staring at her down destiny, as Dagger had years before. Quietly, Zidane went to her, sinking down to sit beside her.
Sarah didn't even glance to him. She kept her blue eyes trained forward, her hand continually gliding up and down the smooth steel Dante had presented to her. A lock of her blond hair fell against her bloody cheek. "It's amazing something like this can even exist. It's beautiful." Nervously, Sarah reached for the Raven Claw pendant that dangled from her neck. "Daddy... We really made it... I didn't think we ever would."
"I know..." Zidane was quiet as he wrapped his arms around his knees. With the pink rays of the morning light falling over Sarah, she had almost an innocent presence about her in that moment. Zidane was kicking himself on the inside that he had allowed himself to let things get this out of control. All of his daughter's had been affected by this. It made his stomach constrict in knots at even the slightest thought of Alex. The last look he had received from her, with her wet eyes and outstretched arms haunted him. He had betrayed himself, his family, his kingdom; and worst of all... Dagger. What would she say if she were here? Surely, she'd be calling him a blithering fool, unfit to have three daughters. And he couldn't help but think she would be right. Things had gone horribly off the tracks. He wanted a different world for his daughter's and all he had presented to them was misery, destruction, and chaos. "Sarah, I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Sarah shook her head. "In a way, I wanted this to happen, Daddy."
"What do you mean?" Zidane furrowed his brow.
Sarah sighed, hunching her shoulders for a moment. "I don't know the full story of what happened all those years ago. I've been tutored on the wars, the sieges, the destruction of the four nations. But I'll never truly understand how you and Mother came into the picture together at exactly the same time. I'll never see the whole sequence of how the Eight Heroes were formed and martyred. But what I do understand from the stories is that Mother was scared... she was terrified of the unknown; of what could happen. But she was bold enough to do something about it. I think I wanted that for myself, too. You and Mother are heroes, Daddy. Everyone in that kingdom cherishes you, waits patiently after you... I was scared that if I took the throne without something like this happening that the people of Alexandria wouldn't take me seriously. I wanted to learn the sword, I wanted to leave the castle... but I didn't want this pain and suffering to happen. But they go hand in hand, don't they?"
Zidane's eyes searched the horizon, watching the early morning fog swirl at the sprawling base of the Iifa Tree. "I guess it's just family tradition, huh? We all want to have our adventures. But... the people of Alexandria would have accepted you either way, Sarah. You are your mother's daughter."
"Maybe I was wrong at the time when I was pushing you to make this happen," Sarah looked to her father with her exhausted glassy eyes. "I don't regret anything, though, Daddy. I wanted to come. I needed to. For Bella. And I needed to come for you. And I promise I'll make Alex understand all of this one day, when she's older."
Again, the thought of his youngest bubbly child made him feel awful. "I hope she's okay."
"I'm sure she is. After all, she is most like you," Sarah told him. They were quiet for a few beats before Sarah brought her sword up. It glinted in the early morning light. Zidane found himself looking at the facets of the garnets. "We can't delay anymore, Daddy. I don't know what awaits us in there or what kind of tricks Kuja has up his gaudy sleeves, but it's time."
Zidane nodded. "Long Live the Queen."
...
The footpath was narrow and rigid. Bella did her best not to cast her eyes off the edge down towards the dizzying array of tangled angry vines. In front of her, she reached for Steiner's hand and he gave it a comforting squeeze. Behind her, Beatrix kept close, placing a hand to the shoulder of the middle child. Zidane lead with Sarah and Dante edging along beside him. Eiko was right on Dante's heels and at the end were Fauna and Freya. As they came closer, the tree towered further and further over them. Sarah cocked her head back, hearing the leaves coming together. Distantly, birds chirped. It seemed so peaceful, it was hard to believe this was an infamous location in Gaian history. Zidane half-expected Amarant to come leaping from the vines. As he looked along the maze-like entanglements of walk paths leading all around the base of the tree, he believed fleetingly that he saw Dagger darting down them in a frenzy. And not far behind, he could see himself tripping to catch up with her. He wondered if the Mistodon's lurked in the shadows, eagerly awaiting their prey at command. The chaos of memories swirled past him as he saw Eiko leap branch to branch with her small legs. Vivi windmilling his arms to stay upright. It was all there, following him, replaying for him as if there had been a day that passed where he hadn't thought of it. But there hadn't.
Finally, the path widened as the group approached a large knot in the tree, designed to be a concealed entrance. The same one they had used so long ago. Zidane glanced around. Beatrix looked over the edge and wandered towards the way in, touching the tree almost hesitantly. She looked back towards Zidane. "No one's guarding the door. No one's patrolling the outside. It's somewhat discomforting how quiet it is. Surely Kuja knows we are here."
"He does," Fauna said, tearing her eyes away from the luscious leaves growing overhead. "There was no need to patrol when the seal was activated."
"But we broke the seal," Bella turned to Fauna. "Wouldn't that make him think he needs to become defensive?"
"Unless..." Zidane's eyes followed the ivy leaves growing up the massive trunk. "He wants us to come inside. He wants us in his space. So then we will have to play his rules."
"Then let's drive him out," Sarah looked to Beatrix. "Make him fight on our terms."
"The only question is... where is he?" Steiner shook his head.
Zidane cringed in the next moment, touching his head and tilting it down. Immediately, Sarah reached for him to steady him. A harpist such as myself plays by no rules other than the one's of the strings... Zidane lifted his head, blinking rapidly, as the rush of blood receded from his temples. "He's at the center. At the harp," He looked to Eiko, whose eyes lit up in recognition.
"The harp?" Beatrix echoed, rather incredulously. "Zidane, this is a tree."
"Trust me," Zidane told her. "I've seen it with my own eyes. Kuja is down there, Beatrix."
Zidane pressed forward and the party wasted no time following after him. Some of the taller men, like Dante and Steiner, had to tilt their heads as they headed through the entrance of the trunk. What confronted the group was even more staggering in appearance than the tree itself. Zidane and Eiko were more startled by the idea of returning. But the rest of the group was in awe as they looked at the tree, not quite believing what they were seeing. The tree seemed so modern, as dark and well-conformed as a castle. Green lights resounded from the rigid, hollowed out space of the walls, invisible and to the naked eye. The paths were smooth with triangular symbols leading towards a large stone platform. Sarah's mouth was agape as she walked forward.
"Who built such a thing?" Steiner wondered aloud as they group came to surround the circular stone platform.
"Madain Sari is the pulse of the planet," Eiko's voice was quiet, as if she was scared to disturb something. "This is the heart in which the pulse resounds from."
"How do we go down?" Beatrix asked, turning in a circle. "There are no stairs."
"We use this platform," Zidane said, gesturing in front of his scuffed boots. "It will take us down."
"Wait," Freya came forward, dropping her bag from her shoulder. "I've read many ancient texts about the Iifa Tree. Everyone needs to eat some of this paste I made in Madain Sari." She lifted a stone bowl wrapped in linen from her bag. She presented a small silver teaspoon, as well. "The creatures that lurk here can inflict a deadly zombification disease on you. Eat this paste if you value your mind and skin." Freya went first, showing everyone it didn't take much. Bella scrunched her nose up. It tasted so putrid. In that moment, she would have gladly eaten Quina's blood pudding instead. Everyone had a similar reaction and Steiner even gagged before he was able to force it down his throat.
"Okay..." Zidane let out a sigh, drooping his shoulders for a moment. "This is it. Once we go down, there's no turning back until we've finished what we came here for."
"I can't wait to drive my sword right through his throat," Sarah muttered. Zidane glanced to her fleetingly.
"Let's go. Everyone step on the platform. It'll be a tight fit, but we'll manage." Together, everyone squeezed on. Zidane wrapped his arms around Bella, who was standing in front of him. There was only a moments delay before the platform lit up and slowly began to lower them. Beatrix looked to Steiner and then cocked her head up, watching as they descended further and further below. Bella gripped her father's hands, her heart hammering in her chest. It grew dark in the narrow passageway. There was only the light of the platform below them. Sarah pressed herself to Dante, also feeling a wave of fright come over her. She didn't know what to expect below. As she looked to the dimly lit faces of their party, Sarah began to wonder if everyone was going to return as one to Alexandria. She felt a pressure growing in her temples, but she ignored it, almost desperately.
Finally, they emerged from the narrow tube and the platform settled in at the top of a spiraling walk path that following the curve of the tree. Zidane pursed his lips, seeing a memory of him, Vivi, Dagger, and Eiko pressed to the wall, carefully maneuvering themselves down towards their own unknown. The green lights pulsated against the walls again and all was silent. Dante stepped off the platform, his boots crunching against the brittle footpath. He scuffed his feet back and forth.
"It feels damp..." He turned to the party. "There may be soft spots in the path. Be careful."
"I'll lead," Zidane brushed past everyone, holding Bella's hand tightly. "Stick close to the walls. The structure will be strongest there."
Together, the party lined up with their shoulder blades touching the rigid interior of the trunk and carefully, they inched closer and closer to their destiny.
...
The spiraling leaf of the Iifa Tree had not changed. When it first took off, Eiko and Zidane braced themselves, but ended up falling over trying to catch both Sarah and Bella who were launched off their feet. All apart of Kuja's quirky humor, Zidane could only think. The Iifa Tree had died like so many other things nearly twenty years ago, but Kuja chose not to change a thing as he raised it back to its original stature. It turned sharply down the long jagged stem of the Iifa's core. Freya stood steady, holding onto her hat and watching the rapidly approaching bottom. The walls were no longer dark, but alive in a swirling green pattern. Zidane helped Sarah and Bella back to their feet.
"Oh, this is making me woozy..." Bella shook her head.
"Stand in the center," Zidane said, directing her by guiding her hand.
"The walls... they're alive!" Freya exclaimed, shaking her head. "What is this?"
"It's the soul of the tree," Fauna was still, unaffected by the sharp spirals."It's alive, just as the organs in your body are."
"Watch out!" Dante called, immediately ducking and rolling. A man skidded onto the leaf from above, coming just beside Bella. He was wearing the same uniform as Fauna. Zidane immediately grabbed Bella, picking her up and back pedaling, as Beatrix, Steiner, and Sarah drew their swords. The man swung his arms around, his hands alight with a purple flame. "Looks like Kuja knows we're close." Dante said, also brandishing his sword. Hurriedly, Zidane pushed Bella behind him, drawing his daggers from his belt.
"Fauna, can't you do something?!" Zidane called, watching as the man looked around aggressive, sizing up those who surrounded him. "How can we make him deviate?! What's the trick?!"
"I don't know," Fauna shook her head, standing away from the man. "I don't even know what happened to me."
"Who cares," Sarah tightened her grip on her sword. "We have to stop him before-"
The man swung and the purple light engulfing his hand took the form of a hammer. Sarah dove out of the way as it met the leaf, causing a great unbalance. Bella windmilled her arms, nearly going over, but Zidane grabbed her by the coat, pulling her away from the edge. Dante swung from behind, catching the man in his calf. He let out a yell and turned, uppercutting Dante, who went backwards. Sarah came up quickly from where she was knelt down, but the servant was lightning fast, catching her arm. He landed a series of punches against her ribcage. Zidane charged forward, using his shoulder to ram the man down. Sarah staggered backwards, holding her sword up. Quickly, she rounded to stand in front of Bella, who remained knelt on the ground, watching in great astonishment.
"You fiend!" Steiner brought his sword down but the man swung his legs, disarming Steiner and nailing Zidane directly in the chest. The king rolled across the leaf, nearly sent off the edge, but he managed to stop his sliding, holding his daggers tightly. He ground his teeth together as he regained his breath and lifted his head. Freya leapt into the air and Beatrix covered for Steiner as he retrieved his sword. The man rolled back to his feet, brandishing a silver sword now, which he swung widely. Beatrix's steel met his and she pushed against him before darting right and cutting him along the shoulder. From above, Freya's lancer came down, grazing the man at his spine. He let out an angry shout, again swinging his sword. Beatrix met him once more, but this time, he stepped forward immediately, causing her to second guess her footing and back pedal. He brought his sword up, but Steiner's came from the side, piercing the man straight through his ribcage. Stunned, the man dropped his sword and it clattered to the earthy platform beneath them.
His hands erupted into purple flames again and he blasted it towards Steiner. A jolt of electricity ricocheted through the captain and blindly, he withdrew his sword and staggered away. Blood now spurted from his wound and the man collapsed to a knee, holding his midriff tightly. Zidane came forward, drawing his dagger outward. The cool steel met his chin and Zidane forced him to look up. The man's face had paled but still in his weakened state, his eyes were cold and hard. He almost seemed somewhat... amused? "Where is Kuja?" Zidane demanded as the platform continued to surge forward. "It's over. Now is the time to abandon ship while you can, if you value your life."
"Long live Terra," The man sputtered.
"You fool!" Steiner bellowed from where he recovered from the shocks. Beatrix knelt beside him, helping prop him up. "You worship false idols."
"Kuja doesn't care if you live or die," Zidane said, not even flinching. "Is that the kind of person you want to follow?"
"The planet will be whole again," The man continued.
"Last chance," Zidane warned, his face becoming stony. "Garland failed, Kuja has failed once before... what makes you think this time is any different?"
The man lowered his head for a moment, gazing past Zidane. Zidane looked over his shoulder, spying Bella sitting on the ground in her dark and faded travel clothes. Bella's dark eyes were wide as she looked towards the severely bleeding man. "Princess Arabella..." The man wheezed. "The Goddess... of Mass Destruction... What an honor to lay eyes on you..."
"Shut up!" Sarah raised her voice and her sword. Her eyes were hot with anger. "She is not your Goddess of Mass Destruction!"
"Arabella alone is what makes things different..."
Sarah came forward and everyone around her reacted in a shocked silence as she knelt, grabbing the man by his chin and directing his slowly fading eyes towards her. Zidane lowered his dagger, watching his daughter intently. "You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Tell us where Kuja is. Let's be done with this."
The man inspected Sarah's face before he grinned, bearing teeth that had been stained red. Blood dribbled from his cracked lips but Sarah didn't even flinch. "Oh, and the heir. How polite of you to come and aid Kuja's cause." In the next beat, Sarah dipped her head, her face contorting in pain. She shook herself away from him, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly. She stared ahead at the path of the swirling leaf, wishing it would stop. Sarah looked to Beatrix. Despite their momentum, everything around them was still.
"Finish him," Sarah said with no rhythm to her voice.
"Sarah!" Zidane turned to her with eyes as wide as saucers.
"I said finish him!" Sarah's movement was rigid and her teeth were clenched. A sweat was breaking across her brow and her eyes looked wet.
Zidane didn't have time to react as the leaf lurched to a stop at the base. Around them, the Iifa Tree glowed in neon greens and swirled almost menacingly. It was enough to make one's head throb. The entire party staggered, some falling to their knees. Bella spilled off the edge, sprawling across the rigid and earthy feeling of the platform just beyond their mode of transportation. Bella's breathing had shallowed, a fear overtaking her. When she lifted her head, she noticed the goonish man was gone. As if he had vanished into thin air. Sarah pressed a hand to her temple, doing her best to remain cool. A frightful headache was overcoming her. It nearly made her see double.
Cautiously, Zidane stepped off the leaf and reached for Bella, helping her up. "Are you alright?" He asked. She nodded, but her dark eyes were distracted by what they now saw. It seemed so quiet in the vast space, but a deep humming could almost be heard. The only words to describe it were that something seemed to be alive. There was but a lone staircase, leading down to an even wider and longer platform with the same dark, twisted, and crumbling tree vines. And beyond that, a bright green light emanated. Cautiously, the group descended the stairs, turning in circles and investigating their new surroundings. Eiko and Zidane were quiet, sticking close to each other.
"There's no where further to go," Beatrix said, coming to the edge. She gazed down, her eyes somewhat bewildered. Freya came to stand beside her.
"Is this the tree's core?" Freya asked, kneeling to gawk even further. "It looks like... a harp... just like you were saying, Zidane."
"It's beautiful," Steiner's eyes were wide.
"I've never gone any deeper than this," Zidane shook his head, following closely on the heels of Bella who was drawing near to a moving wall. The young girl was quite mesmerized. It felt almost like something or someone was... whispering at her? She felt as if in that moment, she was understanding the tree and its history. Fleeting visions of the past flowed through her. Flashes of orange, shaking, screaming voices that she couldn't quite decipher. What had happened here? What was it about the core of the tree that brought out an anxious feeling from her? An energy was flowing into her, calling towards her, but she didn't understand what it meant. What was it trying to make her notice?
"Then we're at a dead end...?" Dante cocked his head back, looking towards the long and spiraling way they had come from.
"It can't be," Sarah kept her sword at her side, her boots crunching against the dried platform. "There were no other ways to go."
"We must have missed something," Steiner tore his eyes away from the spectacle below them. "There must be another way."
"Sarah's right," Eiko shook her head. "This is the only way. No one has ever been beyond this point. Not even the Summoner tribe."
"Dammit," Sarah hissed, coming towards the edge to gaze down into the blinding green lights. "This must be a trick. Don't tell me we wasted all day, worked up all this courage, just to get lead to a dead end?" Bella pursed her lips. As she looked over her sister, she again felt the energetic whispers coming towards her. Something about her sister was suddenly so different in that moment. Bella tore away from her mother and crossed to her older sister, grabbing her hand. A terrible feeling was unfurling in the pit of her stomach. She hated all of this.
"Get away from the edge!" Bella said, yanking her arm.
"Bella!?" Sarah glared at her now. "What are you do-"
A terrible shake overcame the platform and Zidane felt his wildest fears coming forth again, ripping through the fiber of his being. Even Eiko's eyes lit up with a terrible anxiety. As everybody staggered about, Zidane noticed Fauna had not descended from the platform above. She stared with an empty look, as if she was confronting everything she wished to so dearly avoid. A green flash overcame the room. Bella and Sarah were sent backwards off their feet as something darted straight past them. Bella could feel her brain riveting against her skull, over and over, and she clung to her sister whose teeth were ground together. When all the shuddering subsided, several of the party members had to steady themselves. Other's lifted their heads from where they had fallen. Zidane was crouched to the ground only feet away from his daughter's. But he was absolutely numb.
Floating above them, with the spectacle of glowing, breathing green as a background, was Kuja. After so many months of teasing, of utter mental anguish, he had appeared before them all in the flesh; the living embodiment of the fear that tormented them. His hair was still long and ashen white, falling around his thin neck and broad shoulders. He wore his familiar purple cloak everyone had come to known him in, with its high collar and gold embroideries following the hems. It covered his entire body, swallowing up and hiding what he was ashamed of; his immortal being. But he smiled, even with his dark swollen purple eyes. Zidane's hands gripped the dry platform beneath him. He was beginning to shake in his entire body.
"Brother..." Kuja's airy velvety voice echoed through the core of the tree, resounding into the darkest parts of Zidane. "We finally meet again. It's been far too long." Coolly, he turned his eyes on the princess, who still laid on the floor, their legs entangled, their eyes wide with an unknown fear. "It's a family reunion. How desperately I've been waiting for this exact moment. Look at you two... frightened little does... you look just like your own parents when they were your age."
"Shut up!" Zidane stood, swinging his arms out at his side. "We aren't here to bullshit, Kuja. You know why we're actually here."
"Oh, yes," Kuja crossed his arms over his chest, rather bored. "You always were the serious brother."
"Stop calling me that," Zidane sneered. "We aren't brothers."
"Your genetic make-up would beg to differ," Kuja smiled. "No mind. I didn't wait all this time just to have an argument with you. Yes, I know why you're all here. You don't like what I've been doing. But to that, dear little brother, I can only say... too bad. I know what you think of me. I know what you've said of me. You think I'm only a failure, chasing in the footsteps of an entire lineage of failure. The same could be said of you." Kuja brought himself slightly lower, looking over the party members who were now bracing themselves, mentally and physically, for the worst. "But there are many things I have learned," Kuja laughed, his shoulders bobbing up and down. "If only I knew then what I know now. Garland could only dream to accomplish and discover the things I know now." Kuja brought his arms out and the bell sleeves of his cloak rumpled back, revealing arms full of scars and burns, wrinkled skin that betrayed the rather immaculate look of his face. "Garland was much too premature. He should have been thanking me for what I did; casting you down to this forsaken planet. If he had been patient, hadn't pushed my buttons, hadn't lead me into a frenzy, he could have had the ultimate weapon he desired." Kuja turned his head coyly. "Princess Arabella Alexandros-Tribal. The most perfect genetic make-up. The last of the Summoners, an Angel of Death in and of herself. Yes, Arabella, you are the perfect storm of two people come together."
Zidane unsheathed his daggers now. "We don't have the time or the patience to listen to your little plan, Kuja. That's why Hilda stayed home."
Kuja only smiled. "You haven't changed, Zidane. Still just a brute who has no desire to learn or understand."
Zidane bit down on his lip so hard, he tasted copper. "I think I'll sleep better not knowing what you think of my daughter's."
"I think your daughter's are wonderful," Kuja told him. "My sweet little angels of misery..."
"Enough!" Zidane roared. "Let's get this over with. Come down and face it, Kuja. You might know my weak spots, but I know yours, too." Zidane came forward, grabbing both Bella and Sarah and pulling them back behind him. Together, Freya, Beatrix, Steiner, and Dante came shoulder to shoulder, their faces stone hard despite the rapid beatings of their hearts. Kuja couldn't help but laugh. Behind the rag-tag team, Bella and Sarah stood beside each other. Bella was absolutely petrified with fear, but in that moment, the whispers returned. Her dark eyes darted about before finally they came to rest on the large pendant dangling from Sarah's neck. It was... talking to her?
"Let me show you the miraculous things I have discovered," Kuja grinned. "Allow me to show you what I am actually capable of!" Kuja lifted his hand. For a moment, it was silent. Zidane looked to Beatrix, then Dante, who all waited anxiously, expectantly, for something to happen. Was he only psyching them out? One more wishful trick to bring all their guards down? But suddenly, from behind, Sarah let out a cry and she staggered back, bringing a hand to her head. A horrible throbbing came over her. She was certain the burning sensation behind her eyes was going to knock her out. Her hand loosened around the hilt of her sword as the blood pulsated through her body, rushing up her spine and through her cheeks. And in the next moment, her hands tightened around her sword, her eyes glowing with a hot anger. The party stared at her, unsure of what they were watching. Sarah brought her sword up in front of her, glaring to each familiar face. "You see, Zidane, your little chip was just an experiment. I wanted to see through your eyes... see what I could do. But Sarah... well, she has the most perfected chip of them all. Even better than the one's I put in my goons, that I now see are defective." He glared towards Fauna, who still only stood in an aloof manner above. "Arabella may be strong in means the world cannot see but Sarah is the strongest of all you in pure force. This chip was originally meant for her dear little sister. But I thought it would make better use in Sarah's neck. Sarah, be a good girl and do what you're supposed to."
Only a beat passed before Sarah swung for Zidane. The king gasped sharply, bringing his dagger up to meet her steel. She pushed forcefully against him, her face contorted in anger and pain. Her skin was grimy and flushed. She was strong and Zidane could hear their steel grinding against each other. He ducked and rolled. Sarah staggered and let out another cry before swinging her sword. She caught Dante in the arm and his blood splattered across her neck and dirty tunic. She wasted no time bringing her sword up again. Dante back pedaled, leaning out of each of her forceful swings. "Sarah!" He yelled, ducking as she swung again. "Sarah, stop! It's me, Dante!" Her face didn't even twitch. She reared her elbow back and brought her sword forward. Dante met her this time, sparks spreading between them. "Sarah, please!"
"You bastard!" Zidane turned to Kuja. "Get down here and do your own dirty laundry!"
"You may know my weak spots, but I know your ultimate ones," Kuja grinned, still hovering in his blissful state. "What will you do, Zidane? Will you hurt, perhaps even kill, your little girl to stop me?"
Beatrix watched in horror as Dante and Sarah danced about them, swinging their swords and deftly weaving their feet between each other. Sarah was quite gifted with her sword, a terrible realization in the moment. Again, Sarah slashed Dante across the wrist and he let out an agonizing yelp. But still, he only continued to dodge and deflect the princess who stopped at nothing, her eyes flaring with a desire to drive the sword straight through his chest. "Zidane, we have to restrain her," Beatrix grabbed his arm. "Steiner, Freya, keep your eyes on Kuja. Come on, we have to get in there."
"Daddy!" Bella was breathless as she sprung forward, grabbing hold of his belt. Her inky locks stuck to her sweaty face. "We have to get the pendant from Sarah's neck!"
"We can't worry about what happens to it right now," Zidane shook his head, ready to spring into action. "I know it's invaluable to our family but there are bigger things, Bella. Just stand back!"
"No!" Bella cried. "It's talking to me, Daddy! I... I think it wants me to use it!"
"But..." Zidane looked to Eiko, who was floored by what was unraveling around her. "The pendant itself isn't a summon... right, Eiko?"
Dante was trembling in pain as he pushed against Sarah, not wanting to hurt her. Crimson blood dripped from his arms and he reared his shoulder into her, staggering her for a moment. Gracefully, however, she pivoted and swung for him again. Dante tripped falling backwards, his sword skidding just from his grasp. With wide dark eyes, he looked at the angry princess, who was practically frothing at the mouth with a blood lust.
"No time to ask questions!" Beatrix shoved through, grabbing one of Sarah's arms from behind. The princess let out a yell. Zidane didn't even have time to think as he lunged forward, grabbing and bending her other arm backwards. Her sword swung dangerously close to his thighs as they attempted to contain the writhing princess, who screamed in sharp angry notes.
Bella watched her sister in true horror, but again, her eyes fell to the Raven Claw pendant beating against her blood splattered chest. "Eiko, it's really talking to me. Some thing's in there!"
Bella bounded forward as Eiko called after her in a rasp. She reached forward to grab the pendant in hopes of breaking the chain from around Sarah's neck. But in the next moment, Sarah managed to elbow Zidane and Beatrix sharply in the ribcage. The king and general doubled over and staggered back. It was all slow motion for Bella as she withdrew her hand, watching with eyes the size of saucers. Sarah didn't hesitate as again she reared her sword back, driving it straight through Bella's right shoulder. The younger princess gasped sharply as she felt the cool steel break through the other side of her shoulder. Sarah breathed heavily, twisting the sword into her little sister's chest, blood oozing through the fabric and dribbling into a pool all over her boots. Bella had paled, staring directly into Sarah's eyes and seeing absolutely nothing left of her.
"BELLA!" Zidane's scream echoed through the entirety of the Iifa Tree.