Chapter 4: A Precious Life Worth Living?
by: Vivi's Girl
After the horrible scene of Kuja taking the life of the innocent black mage, who should not have died at all, Zidane, Freya, Amarant, and Eiko had nothing else to do except head back to Treno. Zidane and Freya started to carry Vivi's lifeless, bruised, and bleeding body back to Dr. Tot's house when they turned to say something to the shattered Black Waltz, but she was gone. All was left, was her torn off wings and few blue beautiful feathers blowing in the wind or floating in the shimmering ocean as the sun setted over the calm blanket of water...
~ * ~
A few days have passed and the attack on Alexandria was over. Alexandria was in ruins and the people of the kingdom were devestated. Dagger had agreed to join Zidane again, as with Steiner too. They were now aboard the Blue Narciss and heading for the Black Mage Village when Dagger started to look around as if searching for something. Steiner had noticed this and become concerned.
"Princess," Steiner started, "what is the matter?"
Dagger looked at Steiner. "Steiner, I just noticed something."
"Yes, Princess?"
"Where is Vivi?"
Everyone looked up from what they were doing except for Quina who was busy complaining how s/he was starving for food. Dagger seemed confused.
"What? Why is everyone acting all differently now when I mentioned Vivi's name? Oh my gosh, did something happen to him?! Is he hurt?"
Zidane walked up to the confused soon-to-be queen.
Steiner spoke up, "Zidane, where is Master Vivi?"
Zidane had a solemn expression on his face.
"Dagger, I think we should talk..."
~ ~ ~
Zidane had told Dagger, Steiner, and Quina everything that had happened. It was hard for him and he sometimes had to stop talking for a few moments because of the lumps he got in his throat from time to time. He told them how they went to Treno, how they had found another Black Waltz, and how Kuja had maliciously murdered Vivi. Steiner couldn't believe it and was now weeping over a lost friend. Dagger had tears streaming down her face but she seemed extremely interested in Black Waltz No. 4.
About an hour later, the Blue Narciss landed on the Outer Continent and Zidane, Dagger, Steiner, and Quina decided to go to the small village while Freya, Amarant, and Eiko stayed in the Blue Narciss. Steiner carried Vivi for a while ago, they decided to ask the black mages if they could bury their deceased friend in the cemetary.
When the four people walked into the Black Mage Village once again, they all noticed something was different.
"Where is everybody?" Dagger asked even though she knew no one would know. Quina took a few steps forward. "Maybe all go get food? Bad food here. Maybe go get good food?"
They all stared at Quina but said nothing in silence. Steiner shook his head in disgust at the Qu.
Zidane broke the silence, "There has to be someone here. Why would all the Black Mages just leave?"
Again, silence. Zidane just looked at them for a second and then wondered off, heading for the village's cemetary. Both Dagger and Steiner followed, but Quina went his separate way determined to find good food to eat.
Zidane walked slowly into the graveyard with Dagger and Steiner closely behind. They all stopped and gasped when they saw that Mr. 288 was still there, standing in front of a grave. Mr. 288 had heard their footsteps and so he turned around to see who was standing behind him.
"Zidane? What are you doing here?"
"Well, first of all, we wanted to ask you something..."
Mr. 288 seemed curious. "Okay..."
Steiner walked up to Mr. 288 and layed Vivi by his feet. "...We wanted to know, if you would be so kind and let us bury Master Vivi here."
Mr. 288 looked down at Vivi in shock but he had a blank expression. "Of course..." Mr. 288 didn't dare ask what had happened, but he already had a pretty good idea because of the gash in Vivi's head, and with the dried up blood on his steepled hat that had probably seeped through earlier.
"Thank you" Dagger had replied to the Black Mage standing before her.
Zidane spoke again, "Mr. 288...where is everybody? Are you the only one here?"
Mr. 288 placed his gaze on Zidane. "A little earlier," he started "Kuja came to this village and told everyone that if they went with him he could expand their lives. Everyone was so afraid of...stopping...they went with him...but there are three more other than me still here who did not go with Kuja. If you would like to talk with them, look over at the Chocobo shack. I will stay here and bury Vivi for you if you wish."
They all nodded. Zidane wanted to know more about Kuja, but decided to ask later. "We'll see you around..." Zidane said before he turned and walked away. Dagger and Steiner took one more look at Vivi, then also turned and walked out of the place for the dead.
Mr. 288 did as he said he would. He buried Vivi and made a small tombstone for him.
Mr. 288 looked down at Vivi's fresh grave and shook his head. "It wasn't your time..."
~
Zidane stopped right in front of the shut door of the chocobo shack.
"Zidane...? What's the matter?" Dagger questioned.
"It's the door, it's locked." Zidane started to check around the tiny shack. "Hey look! There's a small hole here. We can look inside!"
Zidane, Dagger, and Steiner knelt down by the hole and peaked inside. Steiner spoke up, "I recognize those two Black Mages as Mr. 33 and Mr. 111, am I right? But who...is that?" Steiner pointed at the strange Black Mage sitting on the floor by Mr. 111. Zidane gasped.
"Th-That's Black Waltz No. 4! What is she doing here?!"
Dagger gazed at the female mage sitting on the floor. "So that's Number 4..."
"Shhh..." Steiner told them. "Let's listen..." The three stopped talking and listened to the mages' conversation.
Mr. 33 looked over from the unhatched chocobo egg over to Black Waltz No. 4.
"Miss 4..." Mr. 33 started, "...why didn't you go with Kuja?"
"I should probably ask you the same thing...but...I have my reasons."
Mr. 111 looked down at her. "Reasons? Like what?"
Black Waltz No. 4 was getting annoyed by their questions. She's been asked these same questions before, she just hasn't actually gave them answers yet.
"I don't trust him. He can't be trusted..." she whispered.
Mr. 33 and Mr. 111 looked at each other, then back at Black Waltz No. 4.
She sighed and stood up. "I know what you're thinking...but it can't be helped, Kuja is nothing but a liar! Kuja is not telling the truth about being able to make us live longer. He just wants to use us! To use us for his...his war."
Mr. 33 walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Miss 4..."
She pushed him aside. "No! I won't just stand here while innocent people get killed!"
She ran passed the two mages and out of the shack. She didn't even notice the three eavesdroppers on the side of the shack.
"Well, she seems upset." Zidane said matter-of-factly.
A few seconds later, Mr. 33 and Mr. 111 ran out of the shack after Black Waltz No. 4. Once out of sight, Zidane, Dagger, and Steiner, quietly as possible, followed the Black Mages to hear more.
Black Waltz No. 4 was now sitting on the steps of No. 163's Medicine Shop. She sat there with her head resting on her knees. Mr. 111 sat next to her while Mr. 33 just stood. Zidane, Dagger, and Steiner hid behind the shop.
Mr. 111 looked at the depressed girl sitting next to him. "Miss 4...please tell me, tell me the real reason why you didn't go with Kuja."
Black Waltz No. 4 lifted up her head. She was temped to take her staff and beat him with it. "Doesn't anybody listen to me? I just don't trust him."
"Listen to me, Miss 4, there's nothing you can do now. Everyone left on their own will. They didn't have to go."
She shook her head. "They were convinced that he was telling the truth. Of course they left. But Kuja is not going to find a way to make their lives longer. He's just going to make them fight in his war. They...They could get killed. They're going to die sooner than they're supposed to. Not longer..."
The other two Black Mages were silent. The Black Waltz looked at both of them, with tears that now streaked her jet black face. "I wish...I wish my time would come..."
"What?!"
"Ever since I came here a few days ago, I've been thinking. I wish that I would just...'stop'...and get my life over with."
"Miss 4! You can't mean that?!"
Number 4 stood up. "But I do! You have no idea how I feel. No one understands."
Mr. 111 stood up also. "That is not true."
She glared at Mr. 111. "Yes it is. You don't know what it's like to have nothing and wake up every morning asking the same question over and over."
Mr. 33 became amused. "What's the question?"
Number 4 took a deep breath. "I ask myself 'Why am I here? What is my point of existance?' But...I never get an answer."
Both of the Black Mages became concerned for her now. "You have a lot to live for, Miss 4! Why do you say these awful things?!"
"Because it's true! My whole life is nothing but questions! What kind of life is that? I ask and ask...but I...my questions never have answers." She looked down at the ground. Not really wanting to talk anymore, she took a sudden interest in a rock on the ground.
"But all questions have to have answers" Mr. 33 replied.
She looked up at Mr. 33 and Mr. 111.
"If that's true, then answer this:
Why live if life has no meaning?"
Mr. 33 and Mr. 111 stared at her but said nothing. A few moments later, Black Waltz No. 4 broke the silence by saying, "You can't answer can you?"
"....."
"That's what I thought..." She turned and ran towards the cemetary.
"There's obviously nothing we can do, Mr. 33"
"You're right." He shook his head disapointedly. " Let's head back to the shack, our chocobo egg could hatch any time now!"
Mr. 111 nodded and followed Mr. 33 back to the shack.
Zidane, Dagger, and Steiner came out of hiding. "Well, that was interesting." Zidane said.
"Yes, it was." Dagger replied.
Suddenly, Mr. 288 walked up to the party. "Um...It's getting late, the sun has gone down already. If you would like to stay here over night, you can sleep in the inn. No charge. I already told your friend, Quina, and s/he already headed for the inn."
"Thank you, Mr. 288." Dagger said politly before heading for the inn.
"P-Princess! Wait!" Steiner ran after Dagger.
Mr. 288 looked at Zidane. "Are you going with them? You really should get some rest."
Zidane nodded and headed for the inn also.
~ ~ ~
Black Waltz No. 4 fell next to Vivi's grave. "My God..." She buried her face in her hands, but quickly looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Mr. 288..."
"Miss 4...are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine..." She looked back to the graves.
Mr. 288 gave a little chuckle. "Somehow, I don't believe you."
"I-I don't....uh...why...Why did I have to be a Black Waltz?"
"Well, Miss 4...I believe people are, what they are, for a reason..."
"Well I hate it...I don't want to be a Black Waltz...I'd rather just be a regular Black Mage...I feel so confused...so lonely and unlovable, so worthless and lost." She took her gaze over to a small patch of beautiful purpleish-blue and yellow flowers with slightly ruffled petals with sword shaped leaves.
Mr. 288 noticed her looking at them and smiled. "Do you like them?"
"They're pretty..."
"Yes they are...like you..."
Number 4 looked up at Mr. 288 with a confused expression. "W-What are they called?"
"They're called Ayame's. Also known as Fleur-de-lis or Iris's."
She looked at the velveted flowers again and picked one. "They're pretty...Ayame, huh?"
Mr. 288 nodded. "If you're looking for a new idenity...then why not pick a new name?"
"Y-You mean, 'Ayame'?"
Mr. 288 nodded again.
Number 4 looked at the flower once again in her hand. "Alright...Ayame it is!" She stood up proudly. "Black Waltz No. 4 is no more! I'm going to forget my past and think of the future!"
"Now that's something I'd like to hear...Ayame."
The girl turned and looked at Mr. 288. "Thank you...so much."
Mr. 288 looked up to the sky. "Ayame...The stars are shining for you tonight."
She took her gaze up to the sky at the small twinkling lights.
Ayame turned to Vivi's grave and bent next to it. "I'm so sorry Vivi...you never deserved that..." With one last tear that night, she placed the Iris on top of Vivi's grave and read the words on the tombstone outloud:
~ * ~
Well there it is...Chapter 4! It's not as dark and stuff as the other chapter but I thought it was sweet. ^.^ Hey, a story has to have some sweetness in it right? Right?! Anyways, as you know now, Black Waltz No. 4 now goes by the name Ayame. Ayame is the Japanese name for the flower Iris. I was looking through a flower book at school and I landed on the Iris's picture and I thought it was pretty, which gave me the idea for her name. So then, I looked in my Japanese dictionary and Iris in Japanese is Ayame, so I'm like "Hey! That sounds pretty good!" But anywayz, I'll have Chapter 5 up sometime whenever, and I'll stop bothering you right now with my little end-of-chapter author's note! Buh-Bye! ^.~ Now, be a responsible reader and review! ^.^