Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX©.... Squaresoft does...

Dedication: To the two most wonderful men in the entire world... Zidane and Tidus... hee hee

Special Author's Note: To all flamers right here and now; if you've come to read, go right ahead. If you've come to read and then flame me, turn back now... I already ended up biatching at someone who flamed me for this one story, so I'm just warning you. But then... they did say it was quite good even though my style of writing is rigid, stuffy and not fun to read.

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~Blind Promises~

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~Prologue~

~Fireworks of Sorrow~

" We've just gotten married and now we must depart. Can you believe such things? " Garent Til Alexandros the 17th Tribal whispered softly into the toned chest of her beautifully handsome husband Zidane, the king of all Alexandria.

Zidane Tribal smiled sadly into her dark flowing hair and chuckled deep within his throat, sending warm shivers down her spine, quietly rubbing her back as he held her close.

" I know... but this time, it won't be my fault, Dagger... "

Garnet couldn't help herself. She giggled and pulled away from him, holding herself- at an arm's length.

" It isn't my fault as well, Zidane! Don't be blaming me. Blame uncle Cid... "

Zidane frowned lightly and then lifted a hand to gently trace her cheekbone, smiling now, " I understand, Dagger... I wasn't exactly blaming you, I was joking.... "

Garnet giggled and then gently ran her hand over his chest, staring at it, her gaze unwavering until Zidane lifted her chin upwards with two fingers.

" Dagger, my love... is something bothering you? "

Garnet blinked back tears that had brimmed her dark soft chocolate brown eyes as she slowly nodded, " Y-yes... " she whispered, her voice broke instantly.

Zidane felt his heart ache with great pain, causing him to swallow and cup her chin now, " What is it then, Dagger... please, don't keep things from me... " he pleaded.

Garnet reached up with her hands, lifting them from his chest as she covered his hands with hers, her chin dimpling in and out as she fought to not sob her heart out to him at that moment.

" I... I don't want to go, Zidane. I don't want to go see uncle Cid, something's going to happen... I can feel it. " she whispered, her voice hoarse as the sparkling tears slid down her cheeks quickly, her eyes searching his.

Zidane groaned lightly and then drew her into his arms, holding her close as he rocked her back and forth slowly, gently, " It's alright, Dagger... hush... don't cry. You don't have to go, no one's forcing you to go... "

Garnet sniffled lightly and closed her eyes, " Yes.. but uncle Cid is expecting me and I have to be there for him in his time of despair... "

" T-then you must do what you feel is the right thing to do, Dagger.... " little Vivi Ornitier murmured from the side where everyone stood to bid their friend, their queen, their savior goodbye.

Garnet lifted her head from Zidane's chest and gazed at the little black mage with shimmering eyes, " Oh Vivi... thank you for your encouragement... " she whispered, flashing him a reassuring smile.

Vivi smiled lightly in return, " Anytime, Dagger.... have fun! "

Garnet nodded, " I will... "

Zidane chuckled and then brushed aside some hair from her eyes, her cheeks, her forehead before bending over to softly press his lips to her smooth forehead, holding them there for a few minutes. Garnet closed her eyes, loving the feeling of his soft lips lingering on her skin. It made her feel loved... wanted with the one simple gesture of affection.

" Zidane... " she whispered softly.

" Mm? "

" I'll come back... I'm only going to go away for a week. You won't miss me much, right...? "

" I thought you didn't want to go, Dagger? " Zidane asked, pulling his lips from her forehead.

Garnet bit her lower lip and then shrugged uncomfortably, " I don't want to, but I have to Zidane... I'm sorry. "

Zidane shook his head, " It's completely alright, my lovely... I understand. Do tell Cid that I give him my deepest regards... "

Garnet nodded and smiled at him a smile that made his knees go weak, made his heart melt with love for the beautiful woman in front of him, in his arms.

" I will, Zidane... don't I always? " she said with a small smile.

" Well... this time... you know why I'm asking you to do this... "

Garnet lowered her head and nodded, " Yes... I do... he's on his deathbed... "

Zidane bit his lip and then reached down once more to lift her chin with two fingers, his deep forest green eyes staring into her chocolate brown ones lovingly as he grazed his thumb along her full lower lip.

" I'm not going to stop thinking of you, Dagger... "

" Nor I you... I will return though, I promise... "

Zidane smiled impishly and then brought her close to his body, pressing the length of her curves and swells to his own hard angles and taunt muscles. He ran the tops of his fingers along her cheek before lowering his face to hers to capture her soft lips with his trembling ones to share a passionate, deep kiss that lasted longer then a few minutes.

Everyone around them, Freya, Eiko, Amarant, Vivi, Quina, Steiner and even Beatrix hollered and cheered loudly for them, probably more louder then they had at the wedding when Zidane and Garnet tied their vows to each other. Garnet pulled away slowly, breathless, a light pink flush decorating her cheeks as she giggled and looked down at Zidane's chest.

Zidane couldn't help but shoot them a knowing look before grinning broadly from ear to ear, " Now, now you guys... "

Garnet sighed heavily and then slowly pulled away from Zidane, " I might as well go now... "

Zidane brought his gaze from his friends to look into his lovers eyes, " I understand... " he murmured softly. " Be careful, alright, Dagger? "

Garnet smiled lightly at him and nodded as she turned to gather her skirts in hand and then begin her way across the long dock towards the extravagent airship called The Black Rose.

Zidane bit his lip and felt something inside tear at him as he watched her go, watched her step out of his life for a week. A week! He shook his head and then glanced back at his friends before running after her, his arm extended towards her.

" Dagger! Wait... " he called, watching her as she whirled around to see him run up to her.

Garnet knitted her brows together and reached out to entwin her fingers through his, " What? What's the matter, Zidane? " she asked lightly, her eyes searching his face, his eyes.

" I have one... thing to say... " Zidane said slightly breathless.

" What? Do hurry... " Garnet begged as she heard one of the crew members shout out to her to hurry up.

Zidane smiled lightly and then snaked an arm around her small waist, drawing her close to his body. His hand left her hand to trail along her jawline and then tangle itself in her hair that made his skin tingle when it skimmed over it. Garnet blinked and then her lower lip trembled as she lifted her arms, throwing them around his neck, staring deep into his eyes before having her small heart shaped mouth crushed with his lips in passion, longing, sorrow.

' He doesn't want me to leave... I don't want to leave him, but uncle Cid's calling to me. I have to go.... I'm so sorry, Zidane, my love... ' she thought as she closed her eyes, small tears silently trailing down her cheeks.

Zidane pulled away first, resting his forehead to hers, their noses touching, their warm breath meeting each other and mingling. He slowly opened his eyes and noticed the small streaks of tears. Garnet opened her eyes and then bit her lip as she ran her tongue over her lower lip, still tasting him on her.

" I'm so sorry, Zidane, my love... promise me now and here that you won't go away on me, that you won't find another woman... " she whispered to him, her eyes searching his face.

Zidane stared at her incrediously, " D-dagger.. " he began. " You're the only woman for me, I'd never find anyone else that could be as great as you. Dagger... I love you with my life, I love you more then the air I'm breathing at the moment. If anything were to happen to you on this trip to Lindblum, I'd totally blame myself and only myself. It would be my fault for letting you go, letting you slip past me... "

Garnet was sobbing now, sobbing her heart out into his green vest, her hands tugging at his white ruffled collar under his chin, " G-goodbye, Zidane... don't forget my promise, I will return... in a week... " she whispered hoarsely as she slowly, regretfully pulled away from him, from the comfort of his strong arms to turn her back to him and make her way up the rest of the dock to disappear into the large airship.

To Zidane, this felt like he was losing her all over again... but why? Zidane shook his head and felt his lower lip tremble as he saw her small and beautifully shaped figure appear and lift an arm, waving to them. He lifted his arm slowly and waved his hand to her, a faint sad smile touching his perfect lips as the airship undocked and lifted into the air, quickly flying towards the other side of the river.

" Till you return, my Dagger... " he whispered, slowly lowering his hand as he crossed his arms over his chest.

All around his friends crowded beside him to wave goodbye to Garnet, some shouting encouragements and others just saying goodbye. For some reason, they seemed to be saying goodbye to her like it was the last time they were going to see her. Zidane shook his head against the cold thought, trying to calm his churning stomach that tossed wildly after the simple thought.

The airship was at the other side of the river just as everyone but Zidane began to make their way back to the castle. Zidane tilted his head to the side, beginning to think of what he was going to do now that Garnet had left him by hisself for an entire week. He was just about to turn around and make his own way back to the castle when a loud crackle through the air followed by a defeaning snap, then boom rang through the air, the smell of acrid smoke flowing quickly, entering his nostrils.

Zidane blinked, his deepest fear, the thought that had haunted his mind coming true, actually happening, becoming reality as he watched, helpless from where he stood as The Black Rose flew downwards towards the ground swiftly. Instead of only hitting the ground as intended, the airship exploded into pieces, the aftershock shaking the ground and making the air shift.

Zidane felt his heart stop, his mind ceased to work properly as he slowly fell to the ground on his knees after they buckled beneath him. He braced himself with his hands flat on the ground, watching as the pieces of The Black Rose flew to the ground, landing in the river, landing on the ground on the other side of the river and some pieces even landing right beside him.

' No!!! '

" No!! " Zidane voiced his thought, screaming out. " Not my D-dagger... no... it isn't possible... "

He couldn't see anyone. He didn't see anyone being thrown from the ship. Did that mean that she was... no! She was still alive, she wasn't dead, she hasn't left him, not the day after they tied their vows, proclaimed their love for each other. Zidane's eyes filled with tears as he slammed a fist into the dock, leaving a large hole as he pulled his fist away and then jumped up from the dock to to run the long length of it, throwing his arms above his head, his hands, fingers pointed as he pushed off the end, diving into the cold murky waters.

He couldn't hear the shouts and cries for him to come back. His friends all rushed to the edge of the dock, their hands cupped over their mouths as they screamed at him to come back and wait. Zidane's head surfaced and he forced his muscles to push back the creeping coldness that was beginning to take over his limbs as he began to stroke furiously towards the wreckage, towards his Dagger just that be lost forever to him...

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Author's Note: Well... I guess you'll just have to wait to see if she made it. I hope she did... I really do... ^.~!! *giggles* Am I mean or what? I don't think I am.. *chuckles and winks again as she dodges rotten vegetables that are thrown her way* Now, now, now people... calm down, you'll all know soon enough if she made it or not... hee hee... I'll just let you sit in suspense for awhile... *waves* Matte ne.... hee hee...