{ Melodies of Life }
Zidane closed his eyes. It hurt. Everywhere. He found it remotely amusing that so long ago, he'd helped to destroy the Iifa Tree's spirit, and now the Tree was destroying him. He chuckled, but with little humor.
"What the hell are you laughing about?" a familiar voice said.
"Well, well, Kuja," Zidane replied weakly, "what the hell are you doing alive? Are you made of titanium alloy or something?"
"Titanium alloy couldn't live through an attack by the Iifa Tree."
"We did."
"The question is, my sweet lovable moron, for how long?"
"Optimistic, aren't you?" Zidane said dryly.
"Really. Here we are, lying half dead because of the stupid Iifa Tree, and all you can think about is how I happen to take a realistic view on life. Or, in this case, death."
"Yeah. Annoying, ain't it?" Zidane replied cheekily.
"Any regrets?"
"About what?" Zidane asked, his grin replaced by a serious expression.
"Life in general, stupid."
"Yeah - I never told Dagger how much I love her. And I never really got to insult you thoroughly. Much less get to know you. Mikoto, either."
"So your regrets are unexpressed love, lack of insulting your handsome brother, and the fact that you barely know your cute siblings."
"Basically. You?"
"None."
"Somehow, I find that hard to believe."
"Well, Zidane, you know me too well. See, one of your regrets is already void. Mine are that I was such an idiot to the people of Gaia."
"Kuja, you weren't an idiot - you were a downright bastard."
"Gee, thanks." he paused for a moment, then continued. "I'm gonna die now. Promise me that all you regrets will be void - live to be close to Mikoto, tell Dagger you love her."
"You missed two," Zidane said quietly.
"Shut the hell up and agree."
"All right."
"And Zidane? You truly are a marvelous Genome, worthy of all my love. All the universe's love."
And so Kuja, one of the greatest Genomes ever created, died. Zidane took careful stock of his items. One slightly crushed Gysahl Green, two smashed daggers, and...the words he'd written to that song Dagger always sang. He stopped. He'd never really been great at singing, but now seemed and appropriate time. He slowly cleared his throat, then began to sing:
Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark,
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain. Melodies of Life-love's lost refrain.
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why,
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said good-bye,
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold.
In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
So far and away, see the bird as it flies,
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky,
I've laid my memories, do you remember loving me?
Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings.
In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
If should I leave this lonely world behind.
Your voice will still remember our melody.
Now I know we'll carry on.
Melodies of Life.
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, Zidane told himself. Battle plan. Madin Sari wasn't that far away, and the Moogles would help heal him-if he was lucky. So, the plan was to heal for a while, head to Madin Sari, then go from there to the Mist Continent, and finally to Alexandria. He figured it would take, without medicinal items, three to four years. He snorted. And he'd thought he was resourceful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now to business. First order was to have a 'funeral' for his deceased brother. Zidane grimaced as he began to dig the hole. He heard a soft clink, the sound of metal rustling together. On closer inspection, he noticed that it was a circular silver pendant - and it had hinges on the side. Slowly, he opened it, mildly afraid of what he'd find. Inside was, on the left, picture of a toddler Zidane, trapped inside of a bubble, peacefully coasting through space. On the right, there was a picture of a teenaged Kuja, looking down at baby Zidane. Teardrops fell on the dirty ground. Zidane clutched the pendant, and slowly brought it over his neck. He then saw a small box clutched tightly in his brother's hand. Zidane uncurled Kuja's fingers, and hands shaking, opened the box to see a perfect ring, with a garnet shaped like a rose, diamonds circling it. Written in curling, flowing script was
'For your wedding, my favorite moron
-Kuja'
"Onichan..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three years later:
Zidane smiled at Choco. He had finally reached Alexandria. One year to heal. One to get to the Mist Continent. And one to get a job, earn enough money to get himself to Alexandria, and to plan this. He and his friends, minus Dagger, had a special surprise planned during Tantalus' annual performance of 'I Want to be Your Canary'. He still wasn't quite at %100 health, but he was close enough. Choco let out a soft 'kweh', and Zidane dismounted, allowing his old friend to fly off to the Forest near Lindblum. That night, dressed as Marcus in a black hooded cloak, he began his final lines,
"And as the sun lends me no ear, I instead turn to the twin moons. I beseech you, moonlight - grant my only wish-"
Zidane hunched expertly, preparing to fling the cloak away - he turned, facing the audience -
"Bring my beloved Dagger to me!!!!" he cried out, tossing his cloak aside. He waited until Dagger was out of sight, then moved to the castle exit.
He saw her, screaming, crying, and throwing her crown aside. As she jumped, he caught her, swinging her around. When her feet touched the ground, she gave him a questioning look. Zidane shrugged, and winced as she started punching him. She'd definitely stayed fit. As her tears slowed her assault on his chest, he pushed her head onto his shoulder, and began stroking her hair. All around them, the people celebrated.
"Aishiteru, Dagger," he said, and paused a moment to touch the silver circle that hung from his neck.
"Aishiteru, Zidane," replied the soft, loving voice. Quietly, he began to sing. Dagger joined him with the appropriate words, though how she knew them was a mystery. Zidane held her close, and in the corner of his eye, he saw Steiner and Beatrix lift the great sword of Alexandria, Save the Queen, to the sky.
Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark,
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain. Melodies of Life-love's lost refrain.
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why,
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said good-bye,
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold.
In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
So far and away, see the bird as it flies,
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky,
I've laid my memories, do you remember loving me?
Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings.
In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
If should I leave this lonely world behind.
Your voice will still remember our melody.
Now I know we'll carry on.
Melodies of Life.
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember.
And the world rejoiced, as the two greatest creatures of both Terra and Gaia were reunited.
---- e n d -----
Love, God Bless, & tell me watcha thought!!! By the way, I'm planning on adding separate stories as a series, cuz if it was a chapter fic I'd never finish it - don't ask me why, I just wouldn't. ^.~
Zidane closed his eyes. It hurt. Everywhere. He found it remotely amusing that so long ago, he'd helped to destroy the Iifa Tree's spirit, and now the Tree was destroying him. He chuckled, but with little humor.
"What the hell are you laughing about?" a familiar voice said.
"Well, well, Kuja," Zidane replied weakly, "what the hell are you doing alive? Are you made of titanium alloy or something?"
"Titanium alloy couldn't live through an attack by the Iifa Tree."
"We did."
"The question is, my sweet lovable moron, for how long?"
"Optimistic, aren't you?" Zidane said dryly.
"Really. Here we are, lying half dead because of the stupid Iifa Tree, and all you can think about is how I happen to take a realistic view on life. Or, in this case, death."
"Yeah. Annoying, ain't it?" Zidane replied cheekily.
"Any regrets?"
"About what?" Zidane asked, his grin replaced by a serious expression.
"Life in general, stupid."
"Yeah - I never told Dagger how much I love her. And I never really got to insult you thoroughly. Much less get to know you. Mikoto, either."
"So your regrets are unexpressed love, lack of insulting your handsome brother, and the fact that you barely know your cute siblings."
"Basically. You?"
"None."
"Somehow, I find that hard to believe."
"Well, Zidane, you know me too well. See, one of your regrets is already void. Mine are that I was such an idiot to the people of Gaia."
"Kuja, you weren't an idiot - you were a downright bastard."
"Gee, thanks." he paused for a moment, then continued. "I'm gonna die now. Promise me that all you regrets will be void - live to be close to Mikoto, tell Dagger you love her."
"You missed two," Zidane said quietly.
"Shut the hell up and agree."
"All right."
"And Zidane? You truly are a marvelous Genome, worthy of all my love. All the universe's love."
And so Kuja, one of the greatest Genomes ever created, died. Zidane took careful stock of his items. One slightly crushed Gysahl Green, two smashed daggers, and...the words he'd written to that song Dagger always sang. He stopped. He'd never really been great at singing, but now seemed and appropriate time. He slowly cleared his throat, then began to sing:
Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark,
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain. Melodies of Life-love's lost refrain.
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why,
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said good-bye,
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold.
In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
So far and away, see the bird as it flies,
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky,
I've laid my memories, do you remember loving me?
Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings.
In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
If should I leave this lonely world behind.
Your voice will still remember our melody.
Now I know we'll carry on.
Melodies of Life.
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, Zidane told himself. Battle plan. Madin Sari wasn't that far away, and the Moogles would help heal him-if he was lucky. So, the plan was to heal for a while, head to Madin Sari, then go from there to the Mist Continent, and finally to Alexandria. He figured it would take, without medicinal items, three to four years. He snorted. And he'd thought he was resourceful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now to business. First order was to have a 'funeral' for his deceased brother. Zidane grimaced as he began to dig the hole. He heard a soft clink, the sound of metal rustling together. On closer inspection, he noticed that it was a circular silver pendant - and it had hinges on the side. Slowly, he opened it, mildly afraid of what he'd find. Inside was, on the left, picture of a toddler Zidane, trapped inside of a bubble, peacefully coasting through space. On the right, there was a picture of a teenaged Kuja, looking down at baby Zidane. Teardrops fell on the dirty ground. Zidane clutched the pendant, and slowly brought it over his neck. He then saw a small box clutched tightly in his brother's hand. Zidane uncurled Kuja's fingers, and hands shaking, opened the box to see a perfect ring, with a garnet shaped like a rose, diamonds circling it. Written in curling, flowing script was
'For your wedding, my favorite moron
-Kuja'
"Onichan..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three years later:
Zidane smiled at Choco. He had finally reached Alexandria. One year to heal. One to get to the Mist Continent. And one to get a job, earn enough money to get himself to Alexandria, and to plan this. He and his friends, minus Dagger, had a special surprise planned during Tantalus' annual performance of 'I Want to be Your Canary'. He still wasn't quite at %100 health, but he was close enough. Choco let out a soft 'kweh', and Zidane dismounted, allowing his old friend to fly off to the Forest near Lindblum. That night, dressed as Marcus in a black hooded cloak, he began his final lines,
"And as the sun lends me no ear, I instead turn to the twin moons. I beseech you, moonlight - grant my only wish-"
Zidane hunched expertly, preparing to fling the cloak away - he turned, facing the audience -
"Bring my beloved Dagger to me!!!!" he cried out, tossing his cloak aside. He waited until Dagger was out of sight, then moved to the castle exit.
He saw her, screaming, crying, and throwing her crown aside. As she jumped, he caught her, swinging her around. When her feet touched the ground, she gave him a questioning look. Zidane shrugged, and winced as she started punching him. She'd definitely stayed fit. As her tears slowed her assault on his chest, he pushed her head onto his shoulder, and began stroking her hair. All around them, the people celebrated.
"Aishiteru, Dagger," he said, and paused a moment to touch the silver circle that hung from his neck.
"Aishiteru, Zidane," replied the soft, loving voice. Quietly, he began to sing. Dagger joined him with the appropriate words, though how she knew them was a mystery. Zidane held her close, and in the corner of his eye, he saw Steiner and Beatrix lift the great sword of Alexandria, Save the Queen, to the sky.
Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark,
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain. Melodies of Life-love's lost refrain.
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why,
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said good-bye,
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold.
In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
So far and away, see the bird as it flies,
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky,
I've laid my memories, do you remember loving me?
Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings.
In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life-
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.
If should I leave this lonely world behind.
Your voice will still remember our melody.
Now I know we'll carry on.
Melodies of Life.
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember.
And the world rejoiced, as the two greatest creatures of both Terra and Gaia were reunited.
---- e n d -----
Love, God Bless, & tell me watcha thought!!! By the way, I'm planning on adding separate stories as a series, cuz if it was a chapter fic I'd never finish it - don't ask me why, I just wouldn't. ^.~