Forever Means Always
(Part 11- Forever Means Always)
By Alria
Disclaimer: You know the gig ^.~
Author's Note: Umhi! I'm back (ducks as pounds of rotten vegetables are hurled at me) Yeesh, I know I left it at a bad spot, but that's no reason to pelt me with stinky produce. I mean come on, some of you peeps were getting hostile! Just trust me, I'm not an evil person, and I luv Zidane and Dagger as much as the next person. So don't worry ^.~ Well, I won't leave you in suspense any longer. Have fun! J
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Karten kneeled in front of the gasping Zidane, sneering wickedly. The wound in his chest was completely healed, the only thing implying there ever WAS a cut was the dried blood on his shirt. Karten slowly leaned over until his mouth was right above Zidane's ear.
"You see this gash in my shirt? It's where you cut me. It's completely healed nowwe immortals heal quickly. Yeah, that's right. All that talk about the 'mortality potion' was made up. It's too bad you're so stupidI know you don't know me that well, but surely even your feeble mind knew I would never take the chance at letting you kill me. Why did you fight me in the first place?" he asked. Zidane, blood smeared across his strong face, used what little strength he had to look Karten in the eye. He wanted what he was about to say to stay with Karten forever, and haunt him for the rest of his immortal life.
"Because I love her more than life itself. I would give anything to see her smile again. But shenever will againbecause of you. No matterhow hard you tryyou'll never experiencetrue love. And even though youthink you're so muchbetter then your sorkin puppetsin reality they're strongerbecause even for a little whilethey were able tolove," Zidane closed his sky blue eyes for what looked to be the last time. But instead of a cold frown on his face, Zidane's pale lips curled into a warm smile.
"I'll carryyour smilein my heart for all time. Forevermy love. Smile forme. . ." Zidane's head rolled to one side and his body went strangely limp. Yet the warm smile was still frozen on his lips
Deep within her, a small spark exploded as Dagger watched the dying man. Forever means alwaysforever means alwayswhy was this so familiar? Did she know this man? Dagger closed her eyes, trying to think. Everything was so vagueso distantgod, she couldn't remember anything! And yetforever means alwayssomething about this simple phrase comforted her. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but it was definitely something important. Forever means alwaysforever means alwaysDagger played the words over and over in her mind as if it were the melody of a song. Why was it so special? She still didn't know, but it was so calmingso comfortingit had to be something good. Dagger sighed as she played and replayed the three words through her mind. Forever means always
Suddenly, Dagger's eyes flew open as she remembered something else. She saw young manthe young man now lying on the groundstanding in front of her. He gently placed his strong fingers under her chin and lifted her head to look at him. Her eyes met his, and as she searched through the deep, blue crevasses Dagger saw only love. And then he spoke.
"Dagger, I love you. I swear that I will love you forever. And forever means always."
Dagger let out a quick scream as memories suddenly came rushing back to her in a great flood. She saw the young man leaving on a ferryhearing news of his deaththe window of the castle shattering and the black winged monster bursting inand through all these memories, her mind was screaming only one name
Zidane.
Dagger looked upon the horrific scene with new eyes. She saw Zidaneher precious, loving Zidanelying limp on the cold ground, dried blood crusted across his face. As her gaze rose, she saw a tall man with black wingsKarten, her mind told herstanding over him, wiping a bloody dagger on the grass. Dagger's eyes narrowed. Because of that immortal bastard Zidane now lay bleeding on the grass. He had to payand she was the on who was going to do it.
"I see his pathetic little speech was enough to break the spell I put on your soul. Interesting" Karten mused. Dagger's fist clenched as tears rolled uncontrollably down her pale cheek.
"You killed Zidane! You took away our love! You're not capable emotionyou're just a puppet!" she cried, voice quivering with emotion. Karten smiled wickedly at Dagger.
"Oh, no, my dear. He's not dead; not quite. Just unconscious from lack of blood. See his chest moving? He's still breathingbarely. Who knows? He might even recover if he gets the proper treatment," he muttered. Dagger's eyes widened. He wasalive? Dagger whipped her head around to look at Zidane, and sure enough, his chest moving ever so slightly. Dagger felt her heart soar. Finally, they could be together again. She could do healing spells good enough to fix him, she knew it! With renewed hope Dagger knelt down beside Zidane, a meek smile on her ruby lips. Ever so gently, she reached down and brushed a strand of blood-crusted blond hair out of his face. Dagger sighed. Even with all the blood and gore, he was still remarkably handsome. But now wasn't the time to think about thatshe had to heal him before he lost any more blood. She was just about to place her hands on his chest when she felt the tip of a knife against her throat.
"If you so much as THINK about healing him, I'll kill you in an instant," growled Karten. Dagger looked up at him with wide, horrified eyes. If she healed Zidane, she would die. But he had nearly died himself to save hercould she really call herself his lover if she wasn't willing to do the same? And so, with a defiant glare, Dagger forced her familiar white magic through her hands and into Zidane's limp body. Karten snarled and threw down the knife.
"Fool! You mortals are all the same! Well, since you mean so much to each other, I'll give you the honor of dying together!" he growled, and began to form a large ball of energy. After only a few seconds, Karten raised the black magic above his head. Dagger squeezed her eyes shut. Better to die here as Zidane's fiancée then to live forever as a sorkin.
"Karten, STOP!" came a sweet but firm voice. Dagger slowly opened her eyes. Who this unknown savior?
Karten was so surprised that he dropped the black magic and turned around to see the speaker. And there, to everyone's amazement, stood Liana. Only instead of the pale, red-eyed sorkin they were used to seeing, Liana was a short blond girl. Karten scowled at her.
"What are you doing, Liana? Do you dare interrupt me?" he growled. Liana stood firm, glaring at Karten. And then something happened that no one expected. A single, lonely tear rolled down Liana's pale cheek.
"This is how I looked before you kidnapped me and turned me into a soulless puppet. For nearly three hundred years, I thought my soul was completely gone, that I could never love again. I killed so many innocent people because I envied them for their ability to love. I was sure that world was lost to me," a second tears fell like a glistening down from her eye. "But I was wrong. From the moment I first met Zidane, all he spoke of was getting home to Dagger. He went to the underworld for herand now he lies there, bleeding his life's blood for her. He taught me that even I, a cold-blooded monster, was capable of love. I can never repay him for that. And yet you, Karten, mean to destroy their love. I've killed a lot of peoplebut your death will be the only one that actually helped anyone," she cried through her tears. Karten looked at her skeptically.
"You're going to kill me? You do realize that in order to do that, you'll have to use ALL of the power I gave youand since you have no soul, you will die as well," he explained. Liana shook her head.
"I know I'll die. But that is a small price to pay," she growled. Karten's eyes widened.
"You wouldn't."
"I would."
Dagger watched Liana was teary eyes. She was going to give her life so they could live. It didn't seem rightnot after all the pain she had causedbut it was truly happening. Liana was their savior.
"LianaI don't know what to sayhow can I repay you?" Dagger asked as she looked up at the blue-eyed maiden. Liana looked down at Dagger, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Love him forever, and never let that love fade. Zidane deserves someone as wonderful as you. I want him to always be happyand to be with the one he loves. I'll be watching over him from heaven," Liana reached her hand behind her head and pulled out the blue ribbon that held her braid together. Her long, blond hair blew out in the wind, and she held out the ribbon to Dagger.
"Will you give this to him when he wakes up? I want him to remember me as I look nownot a sorkin," she asked. Dagger nodded, tears flowing down her cheek.
"I promise it will be done," she murmured. Liana smiled.
"Thank you so much. And now I must go." Liana slowly lifted her arms and shut her eyes. Her entire body began to glow a bright red, and Dagger noticed that Karten was glowing the same color. Karten shouted and screamed as the red glow grew and grew until it was almost blinding. Then, there was a loud bang like the clap of thunder and a brilliant flash of light. Dagger shielded her eyes, and when she opened them, Liana and Karten were gone
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Wellthat's really the end of the action in the story. The only part left is the reunion with Dagger and Zidane, and you can bet it'll be mushy! ^.~ Keep a look at for the last chapter, for it'll be up really soon, considering I'm having spring break!!! T.T.F.N.!!!!