Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of FFIX but all the peeps who aren't familiar to you are mine. If I see the names I use in anything they will not find your body….I promise….j/k that's just if the character acts the same. But if you ask my permission to put my character in it might be okay.. But ask first!!!

_________________________________DEDICATION________________________________________

I have decided to make my first dedication I dedicate this story to my pal Emkay from WA thanks for always being there for me and being a faithful reader to LBtC. I love ya man!!

---------------------Chapter VII: Prelude to Terror---------------------

Garnet sat with her back against Zidane's chest as they watched the sun set over the fair city of Alexandria. Garnet sighed dreamily and squeezed Zidane's hand. Perfect, she thought. Simply perfect.

"Zidane," she said, looking down at Zidane's hand tracing her fingers along his.

"Yeah?" Zidane said, leaning his head on her shoulder. Garnet smiled and put her hand on the side of his face hugging him best she could.

"I don't know, I just wanted to hear your voice," Garnet said turning her head and gently kissing Zidane's cheek. He smiled and pulled his arms over her shoulders. He gently pulled her closer to him as he leaned back against the tower wall.

"Why?" he asked, leaning his head against hers. Garnet smiled and turned in his arms coming face to face with him she looked into his eyes and gently stroked his cheek.

"Because I love you, that's why," she whispered, gently kissing his lips. She ran her hand from his cheek down his neck and rested it on his shoulder. She broke away from his lips and looked up at him her dark eyes searching his face for any kind of reluctance of the promise of marriage he had made earlier that day. Garnet could find no uncertainness in his face as her looked at her and smiled the crimson sun reflecting in his crystal blue eyes.

"What is it?" Zidane said softly as he ran his hand over her back. Garnet smiled and rested her head against his chest.

"Nothing," she whispered, as he cradled her gently in his arms. She drew her eyes closed and allowed Zidane to hold her in such an intimate way. She remembered the events of earlier the monster that had once been a pleasant stable-hand metamorphed into a horrible being that had only been taken down after Zidane had tranced his rage of seeing her about to be eaten and then the abrupt proposal. Not that she was complaining but just a few days before when she had addressed the subject he had quickly directed her away from the prospect. Perhaps Baku? She had pondered the thought of the theater leader being the reason of Zidane's change of heart but she wasn't positive, Freya was suspect as well. The Knight's unexpected visit was not to be overruled. Garnet opened her eyes to ask Zidane directly when she noticed him fooling with the bandage wrapped around his head, wincing in pain. She abruptly sat up and grabbed his hands.

"Zidane don't fool with that you don't want the bleeding to start again," the royal queen said, touching the face of her beloved gently.

"Hey if I came back from the dead once I can do it again, I'm invincible!" Zidane joked, moving his arms around Garnet's slender form.

"Zidane that's not funny! You could have died from that impact lucky you woke up before you did," she huffed, placing her palms against Zidane's chest. He suddenly dropped the humor from his voice and looked incredibly solemn.

"I would've if it hadn't been for Vivi," He said. Garnet's eyes grew wide at what the genome said.

"What?!" she exclaimed looking into her love's eyes.

"You heard me, Vivi saved my life," he said.

"Tell me," she whispered.

"Well when I hit the wall I hit bad and I didn't have protective armor like the others right?" he began.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with Vivi?" Garnet asked.

"I'm not finished yet, Anyway I guess I passed out and would've died but Vivi contacted me, woke me up, and stayed with me until I killed Sebastian," Zidane said gently, rubbing his thumb across Garnet's cheek.

"Oh Vivi…he contacted you?" she whispered, leaning against Zidane's chest. She could feel tears begin to well in her eyes.

"Yeah, but he sounded happy, I mean he told me to propose right then," he casually replied. Garnet looked up at her love in surprise.

"He did? You aren't pulling my leg are you?" she asked. Zidane smiled and shook his head.

"Course not, when have I ever lied to you?" he grinned. Garnet sat up in his arms and looked at him.

"There was the time two days ago when you said you were distracted by how much you missed me, I knew that was a lie, one doesn't act like that if he's thinking about missing someone who he is holding in his arms," She huffed. She knew she had him there. Zidane smiled again.

"Aww, ya caught me Dagger, I wasn't thinking about how much I missed you I was thinking about how much I loved you," he said pulling Garnet close. She invited the embrace knowing that he sweet love wouldn't lie about something like that.

"Why didn't you just tell me that in the first place instead of lying?" she asked. She felt Zidane tense at her question.

"Well… I guess I was waiting for the right time," he admitted. She smiled and nestled closer to him.

"It's alright, you don't need to be ashamed timing is everything I suppose," she said.

" He really did call me though Dagger," Zidane said, his warm breath blowing across Garnet's neck sending shivers down her spine.

"I believe you Zidane, I know you wouldn't lie to me about something of that nature," she whispered falling blissfully aware how comfortable she was in his arms. She could feel the warmth radiating off his body and she could feel his heart beating gently in his chest. Created he may be but he is human and I love him no matter what he is, she thought her eyes dropping closed. At one point we were all created so how different are we really?

"Dagger," Zidane whispered so softly Garnet almost didn't hear him. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Yes?" she whispered.

"Do you think we should go back down? I mean you have to get up early tomorrow don't you?" Garnet suddenly remembered what Zidane was talking about.

"Ugh, your right the king from Ipsen's Domain is coming to court me tomorrow," Garnet said with a sour face.

"Gotta get up early to turn him away," she frowned standing from her comfortable position. Zidane stood right after her and took her hands.

"What are ya gonna say to him? Get out! I already have a boyfriend! And throw rotten things at him till he leaves?" Zidane laughed.

"Nooo, I can't do that royal protocol demands that I keep him in the palace for an afternoon at least and then I can turn him away if I so desire," Garnet said, squeezing Zidane's hands.

"Oh so even if you already have decided on who your gonna marry you still have to put up with these dweebs?" Zidane said, pulling Garnet close.

"Unfortunately, yes until I am officially married I'm still up for grabs so to speak," Garnet said looking into Zidane's crystal eyes.

"Yeah well tell em' if they want my girl they have to deal with me," Zidane said, Garnet couldn't reply as Zidane leaned his head and locked his lips into hers. Her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into the deep kiss given by her beloved. Would he really-? Garnet abruptly pulled away from Zidane.

"You won't beat this guy up will you? because if-" she couldn't talk as Zidane pressed his lips against hers again. I guess that's a no? Garnet thought allowing the kiss to prolong.

***************************

Garnet awoke to an odd noise outside her window. She sat up in her bed and looked around the dimly lit chambers. She couldn't see much but there was nothing there. Feeling an eerie sense of fear she slid from between the silk sheets of her bed and touched her bare feet to the marble floor. The cool stone of the floor sent chills up her spine making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. I'm gonna go see Zidane, she thought crossing the floor to her wardrobe. She pulled out her silk robe and pulled it over her light rose nightgown. could have been my imagination but safest to check, she thought swinging open the doors of her chamber. As she walked down the hall she felt more afraid than she had ever been in all her years she lived in the palace. She quickened her stride and was at Zidane's door in a matter of moments. She gently tapped on the door but didn't hear Zidane's usual grunt of awakening. Worried Garnet pushed open the door.

"Zidane?" she whispered her voice seeming meek and afraid. She looked into the room but couldn't see him.

"Zidane?" she said again stepping into the room. She suddenly heard a cough coming from the other side of the door her blind spot. She hurried around the door and Zidane was sitting half propped against the wall a long trail of blood above his head leading down to him. Garnet looked at him her eyes wide.

"Zidane! Oh my God what happened?!" she said running to his side. She gently pulled his hand away from his chest to reveal a gaping hole, ragged and dripping with blood.

"Dagger…get away…" he whispered, blood running from his mouth. Garnet looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"No I can't leave you your hurt," she said pressing the hem of her robe against the wound.

"It's too late…" Zidane said.

"No, it's not too late, I can heal you jut hang on while I get my-" as Garnet turned she came face to face with a large monster, worse than Sebastian but she couldn't see it, all she could do was scream as it pushed one hooked claw through her chest…

Garnet awoke screaming, she sat straight up in her bed, a cold sweat streaked across her face. She looked around the room, it's the same! she jumped from her bed and ran from her room down the hall to Zidane. Zidane was in the hall, he met her halfway down. She threw her arms around him and sank to the floor. He was right with her.

"Dagger what's wrong?" he asked. All Garnet could do was cry, she held him tightly not wanting to let go. too real, too real, she thought, hearing the footsteps of the guards that guarded the rooms at night.

"Your Majesty what is the matter?" one of them asked.

"It's okay I think she just had a bad dream," Zidane said, dismissing the guards. He kept holding her rocking her gently as she cried whispering words of comfort. After what seemed like forever Garnet looked at Zidane feeling able to speak.

"It's more than just a dream Zidane, stay with me tonight," she whispered.

"Why? I thought men weren't allowed in the queen's chambers," Zidane whispered back.

"I don't care, I'd rather break some silly rule than lose you," she said hugging him close.

"Lose me? Dagger what are you talking about?" Zidane asked. Wouldn't have been able to get in through my room the windows are dead bolted, but Zidane's aren't, Garnet thought. that's it! If he stays with me that creature won't catch us off guard.

"Zidane, there is something out there it's after us, I'm not sure why but it can't get you as long as your with me," Garnet said looking at Zidane.

"Dagger it was just a dream, nothing to be scared of," Zidane said. Garnet shook her head.

"No it's more than a dream, it was too real Zidane I could actually feel the pain of that creature's claw ripping through my chest," She pleaded with him.

"Alright if it'll make you feel better I'll stay with you," Zidane said.

"Thank you," Garnet said standing from the floor holding onto Zidane's hands.

"I don't see why-" Zidane began he was cut off by a large crash coming from his room. Garnet's face paled as she realized what it was, it's him, she thought frantically.

"What the hell was that?!" Zidane yelled as Garnet pulled him to his feet turning to run.

"It's the monster from my dream!" she screamed as she ran down the hall gripping Zidane's hand tightly as he ran beside her…

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Author's note: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm evil ain't I? Hehe well I do have the next chap done but I'm not gonna post it today because I feel like being a satinus bitch hey if the peeps at WA had to suffer you do too! But I won't make you wait as long as they had to. So until then please R&R!!!!! *bats large blue-green eyes at readers* (he look for that in a story I'll be posting soon I won't tell you the full name of it but initials are SaT) well Kudos all who wrote earlier!!!