Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX©.... SquareSoft© does...
Dedication: To all who love my work...
WARNING: Do not read if you haven't read Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever.... If you haven't read it, then get your behind back out there and look for it... then after you're done reading ALL 13 chapters, come back and read the continuation of the adventures our heroes have to accomplish....
Small Summary: New adventures await our heroes, new villians come along for them to play with... how will it all turn out? Who's going to survive this time and end up dead like the last two villians; impaled, gutted, decapitated? The only way to find out... is to keep reading past the little(big?? Oo;) lines....
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A Hero's Stand
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~~Chapter 1~~
The Bad Man...
" Esmeralda! Please... " Garnet Til Alexandros the 17th Tribal - or in a more simpler form, Garnet Alexandros Tribal - cried as she watched the little three year old run across the courtyard with great effort, her little beige tail sticking out and twitching from side to side from underneath her dress.
Garnet groaned and then went to go run after her daughter, but a pair of strong arms encircled her waist from behind, splaying their long fingers over her stomach that was bulging again. Warm, soft lips pressed tender kisses to the back of her neck, making their way to her cheek, pressing kisses along her jaw as they went.
" Could you try not to scare me to death, Zidane? " Garnet murmured as she leaned her head back against his shoulder, placing her hands over his that rested on her stomach.
Zidane Tribal - proud father of one... er, two in another two cycles, husband to a beautiful woman and King of Alexandria - chuckled low and deep in his throat and turned Garnet around to face him. Over the past years, Garnet still remained beautiful, considering her smooth skin was just a little sunburnt. " Did I scare you? Geez.. sorry... " he murmured in return as he bent down to steal a kiss.
" Mmm... Esmeralda's runs off... again... " Garnet mumbled against his lips.
" Mmm-hmm... seems to be like her mother more and more each day. Always wanting to be... mmm... free... " he replied against her neck before pulling away to brush past her and chase after Esmeralda Til Alexandros the 18th.
" Gueeeeess who's commmmmmmming... " Zidane whispered low, letting a playful growl slip past his lips as he extended his arms, and slowed his gait to match his daughter's slow, small, still unsure steps.
Garnet placed a hand over her mouth and stiffled a giggle as she watched Esmeralda glance over her shoulder and then squeal as she spotted her father advancing slowly.
" Esmeralda... babe... where do you think you're going? " Zidane whispered, letting another playful growl escape his lips.
Esmeralda giggled and then was suddenly pitched forward as her small foot got caught in an upturned tree root. Zidane immediately lunged for her and managed to encircle an arm around her small waist, lifting her off the ground and into his strong arms.
Esmeralda looked up at her father with big deep green forest green eyes, her long dark hair - like her mothers - fell into her heart-shaped face, falling from their pins at the top of her head. " Daddy! " she cried out in happiness.
Zidane blew lightly on her face and grinned. " Yes, babe.... did you run away from mommy again? "
Garnet walked up behind them and looked down at her daughter over Zidane's broad wide shoulder. Esmeralda shook her head slowly, looking at her mother. " N-no.. "
Zidane quirked an eyebrow. " Are you lying to us? "
Esmeralda shook her head again. " No daddy, no! " she cried as she reached out to trace some pictures with her fingertip on his chest.
" Who were you running from, then? " Garnet spoke up, beating Zidane to the question.
" The bad man... " her daughter whispered in a low voice, curling up into a small ball in Zidane's arm, almost as if it would protect her from the bad man.
Garnet and Zidane both exchanged glances of confusion with each other. Garnet brushed aside some of her dark bangs from her eyes. " Honey... there's no bad man... no bad man can get into the castle.. " she assured her daughter gently.
Zidane nodded and reached over to wipe a smudge of dark crimson from her flushed cheek. " Your mother's right. Did you hurt yourself before you ran out into the courtyard? "
Garnet's eyes and head flew into his direction. " What?! What do you mean? " she demanded, her face full of concern.
Zidane lifted his finger to her face and she grabbed his wrist to look at the blood. " It was on her cheek... I don't see any signs of wounds though... "
Esmeralda looked up at her mother and then to her father. " Why? "
Zidane looked back down at his daughter. " Nevermind, sweetie... don't worry yourself about it. "
" Zidane... where could it have come from? "
Zidane shrugged and scratched his jaw. " Perhaps Rusty... or Beatrix... I don't know. Maybe she was in the training room with them and they accidentally cut one another and ended up getting blood on her by accident... I don't know.. "
Almost as if on cue, Adelbert Steiner walked over to them. He bowed deeply to Garnet and Zidane, and flashed a smile to Esmeralda who giggled at him. " Majesty? Is something the matter? " he asked, his light brown eyes searching her troubled face.
Garnet looked at him and smiled. She had been deeply saddened when Steiner had died, but when he walked into the room where she was weeping over Zidane's death, she had been somewhat comforted and happy that he was back, alive at the moment ro protect her family.
Eiko Carol had stopped her in the hallway a few months after the fight with Zidane older brother; Anomen and his sidekick; Garret, and explained to her how she had done it and when. She had brought him back to life, soul and all. It was all there. Steiner was back.
" Steiner.... no... were you with Esmeralda just now? " she asked.
Steiner pursed his lips and crinkled his brow as he thought about it." No, your Majesty. I was with my wife. Why? Is something the matter? "
Zidane lifted his hand and showed Steiner the now dry blood stain on his fingertip. " That's why, Rusty. It was on Esmeralda's cheek and we thought that she had gotten it from you or Beatrix... since she's always with either you two in the training room or else she's with Naria in the nursery... "
Steiner blinked. " What?! Sire... you know that we cherish your daughter as if she were our very own. We would never, ever harm her or attempt to... "
Garnet placed a gentle and reassuring hand on his forearm. " We know, Steiner... and for that, we are gratefully thankful. We're just worried because she ran from the weapon's room and out into the courtyard. She said she was running from ' the bad man '... "
Steiner quirked a dark brow and slammed the side of his fist against his chest. " Majesty! We'll be making sure from now on that there is no bad man lurking around the castle.. "
Zidane turned around and faced him. " I hope that there isn't going to be another Anomen.. "
" Or Garret... " Garnet mumbled, shuddering at the thought and memory of the man who looked like Zidane touching her.
Zidane glanced at her. " He's dead, Dagger... I killed him, remember? "
Garnet nodded. " Thank you... "
Esmeralda looked up at her father. " Down, Daddy.. "
Zidane looked down at her and gently lowered her to the groundv " There you go.. "
" Thank you.... " Esmeralda replied, curtsying before she walked over to her mother and wrapped her small arms around one of Garnet's long legs.
Garnet looked down quickly and then looked at Zidane. " What are we going to do, Zidane? "
Steiner blinked and then frowned. " Is it alright if I go check on Beatrix? She hasn't come out of our room at all today... says she's experiencing terrible stomach pains.. " he announced.
Garnet's brows knitted together." Is she? She never told me about them. When did they start? "
" Last night... "
" How far along is she? " Zidane suddenly spoke up.
Steiner turned his head to look at him. " About five cycles... "
Garnet looked at Zidane. " She's probably going through what I went through two cycles ago... "
Steiner nodded. " I hope you're right, Majesty.... I hope you're right. "
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" Come child.. come closer. I'll not hurt you... " the man who looked to be in his late twenties called out gently to the young woman who stayed hidden in the shadows, cringing visibly at his choice of reassuring words.
" Why? You'll only use me again... and again... " she replied closing her eyes against the past memories and pain.
The man shook his head, his deep auburn long hair swaying back and forth in it's ponytail at the back of his head. He looked at her with light violet eyes and managed to flash her a smile. " I promise I won't hurt you. Drakan.... tell her. Tell her that I won't hurt her... " he said over his shoulder to the Black Mage and Black Waltz #4 known as Drakan Ornituna.
Drakan blinked his blue glowing eyes at The Wise Man and then nodded. " As you wish, my Lord... " he replied as he bowed and then walked over to Naria Akamai, who stood pressed up against the wall, trying to shrink away from the Black Mage.
" No! Drakan.. stay away... we can't let him control you like this! Think about your family... your b-brother!! " Naria shrieked as Drakan reached out into the shadows and pulled the girl into the open, revealing her to The Wise Man.
" Excellent, Drakan... ignore her pleas... she only means to hurt you. "
Drakan nodded. " As you wish, my Lord... " he replied again, his usual soft tone now a holding a hard monotone to it.
Naria lashed out regrettfully at Drakan, kicking him, pounding on his back as he lifted her over his shoulder and carried her across the room to dump her uncerimoniously on the ground in front of The Wise Man. Naria's head shot up and she looked at him, swallowing thickly as she began to back away.
Khalid Lanteire shot his foot out from beneath his black and silver robes to stomp it down upon Naria's pale blue skirt. His lip curled back in a snarl as he bent down and placed his face a few inches from hers. " Do you want to live? "
Naria swallowed and nodded. " Y-yes... "
" Good... because, I don't feel like killing you. I'm going to make you something more... "
" W-what are you trying to say, Khalid? "
Khalid crouched down now and ran a hand over her face, his fingertips gently sliding over her eyelids, her cheeks, travelling down her throat to rest on top of her breasts that fell up and down quickly as she tried to steady her breathing to a calmer pace. " What I'm saying is... that you are not going to have another chance to see that small royal child that you so much cherish dearly anymore.... "
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" Oh! Don't do that... it's bad enough that it already hurts as it is... " Beatrix cried out as Zidane pressed a hand to her slightly bulging stomach, touching the very tender side on the left.
Zidane frowned and then shook his head. " I'm sorry, Beatrix... I'm just trying to figure out what's wrong with you, that's all... " he murmured as he moved his hand from her stomach to scratch his jaw.
" Did you figure out what's wrong with her stomach? " Garnet asked as she walked into the room, sitting down in the chair beside the bed, and reached out to grasp Beatrix's clammy hand in her own.
Zidane looked at her and slowly shook his head. " No... I'm not really sure what's wrong with her. I mean... we witnessed you going through this exact thing two cycles ago. Perhaps it's just a woman thing when they're expecting... "
Steiner looked at Zidane and then at Beatrix. " Maybe you're right, Sire... "
Zidane glanced over at Steiner. " What has she been eating? "
" What we normally eat... "
Garnet tilted her head to the side and studied Zidane's expression of confusion as he tried to think of what to do to help out his friend. " Zidane... how about you let her rest for now. She looks awfully pale... ", She murmured to him as she squeezed Beatrix's hand tightly.
Zidane now scratched his head. " I suppose you're right, Dagger.... Rusty... make sure she doesn't get out of this bed. Only to go to the bathroom... is that clear? "
Steiner nodded. " Sire! "
Beatrix grimaced and then frowned. " But, Sire! You can't keep me confined to a bed... I need to continue training... "
Zidane shook his head. " No, Beatrix... I don't think you should just yet. Wait till two cycles are over and then you can start your training. Alright? "
Beatrix frowned but then gave in. " As you wish, Sire.... "
Zidane nodded. " Good... I'll have Dr.Tot in here to look at you and confirm for himself that's what you're going through is normal... and to be the exact as Dagger's when she had gone through it.. "
" Sire.... " Beatrix replied as she sighed heavily, leaned her head back against the pillows and closed her eyes.
Zidane reached over and gave stomach a gentle pat. " Please, Beatrix... just rest... " he said as he crossed the room to stop in front of the door and glance over his shoulder at Garnet.
" What? " Garnet asked as she felt his eyes on her. " Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face? "
Zidane smiled impishly and shook his head. He outstretched his hand to her. " Will you join me? For a short walk before retiring? "
Garnet nodded. She turned around and looked down at Beatrix as she brought her hand to her mouth and placed a friendly kiss to it. " Get well, Beatrix... please... " she whispered before standing up and making her way over to join Zidane....
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" I can't believe you did what you did, Eiko... " Vivi Ornitier mumbled as he trudged down a path with Eiko Carol by his side, humming a soft tune to herself, completely ignoring him.
" Did you even hear a word I said? " he asked as he stopped to look at her.
Eiko blinked and looked at him. " Huh? Oh... I don't think so... sorry! "
Vivi rolled his eyes and couldn't help but smile within the shadows of his hat. " Oh, Eiko... such the comedian! "
Eiko grinned and placed her hands on her hips. " What? What's so funny, Viv? "
Vivi chuckled and shook his head. " I was trying to talk to you and you completely ignored me! But... what I was trying
to say was, I can't believe you did what you did... "
Eiko quirked an eyebrow. " What'd I do now? "
" You brought the dead back, Eiko.... remember? Steiner... "
" Oh! I... yeah... " was all she said as she looked down at the ground and began to walk away from him, a sudden cloud of discomfort following her the entire way.
Vivi blinked and then frowned as he watched her. " Hey! Where do you think you're going? You still haven't told me how and when you did it!! " he shouted after her.
Eiko closed her eyes against the tears that quickly burned her eyes as she clenched her hands into tight fists and then whirled around to face him, the tears now spilling down her cheeks. " Vivi! Just leave it alone... I-I don't want to go back to that night, that... d-day! Please... " she nearly shouted at him, unable to control the tremor running through her body as she began to tremble.
Vivi blinked hard and began to make his way to her. " Hey... I didn't mean to say anything wrong, Ko. I just was... curious on how you did it, managed to bring him back.. " he assured her as he placed an arm around her shoulders and held her close.
Eiko buried her face into his chest, rubbing all her tears into his Mage robe " Oh, Vivi! It was t-terrible... " she whispered.
Vivi gently stroked her shoulder length blue hair. " What was? "
" Bringing him back... "
" What happened? Did you get hurt? "
Eiko shook her head. " N-no... "
" Then what happened? "
" I had to give up something... "
Vivi pulled her away and held her at an arm's length. He searched her face. " What? "
" I had to give up part of myself in order for him to come back... "
" P-part of yourself? What? "
" Half my soul.. " Eiko whispered as she closed her eyes against the burning sensation again...
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" Is she ready? " Khalid demanded as he tapped his foot impatiently on the ground, arms crossed over his chest as he kept eyeing the closed door.
Drakan frowned and shrugged lightly. " I don't know, my Lord. Perhaps she's still changing... "
Khalid shook his head. " I highly doubt that! She's been in there for the past hour or so. It doesn't take an hour for a woman to get changed... more like three minutes! "
Drakan ran a finger along his brow and then stepped towards the closed door. " I'll go get her for you, my Lord... "
Khalid raised a hand and Drakan immediately backed away from the door, crossing his arms over his head, as if expecting the Wise Man to strike out at him. " No... I'll go in there myself... " he replied as he dropped his hand to his side and walked over to the door, to only open it quickly and disappear into the room after he closed it...
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" But... I don't want to go to bed yet! Daddy.... " Esmeralda whined as she tried to tug at the nightgown her mother was trying to get onto her small body.
Garnet frowned and gave one final tug after gently slapping Esmeralda's hands away for a brief second. " Honey... please! You have to go to bed. Zidane.... a little help? " she shot over her shoulder at Zidane who stood in front of the window, arms crossed over his toned chest, eyes transfixed on something outside.
" Zidane? Hello... Gaia to Zidane Tribal... King of all Alexandria! " Garnet cried out to him.
Zidane blinked and then turned around to face her. " Huh? Oh... I'm sorry, Dagger. I was too b- I thought I saw something outside.... "
" More like someone... " Garnet muttered under her breath as she scoop Esmeralda into her arms and carried her into the nursery.
" Hey! Come on, now, Dagger... I would never dream of thinking of anyone other then you. I made that promise to you before and I plan on keeping it. " Zidane shouted after her as he followed her into the nursery.
Garnet laid Esmeralda down into the bed and kissed her forehead lightly before sitting down on the edge and watching her watch her. She smiled at her daughter and reached out to gently trace her cheekbone. " You're going to be a good girl for Naria tomorrow? "
Esmeralda grinned and nodded " Of course! Why? "
" Well... you're always running off on her. So.. I want you to promise me now that you're going to stay here where she can see you and hear you. Understand? "
" Yes, mommy... "
" Okay, sweetie.. " Garnet whispered as she bent down and kissed her daughter's nose softly.
" Is daddy going to give me a kissie too? "
Garnet chuckled lightly and moved over so Zidane could sit behind her and bend over to gaze into his daughter's eyes and then plant a kiss over top the one Garnet gave on the nose.
" I'm always here for you. Alright? ", Zidane whispered to her.
Esmeralda nodded and wrapped both her arms around Zidane's neck, hugging him hard, as if it were going to be the last time she ever saw him again. " I know, daddy.. I know. So is mommy, right? "
Garnet smiled and nodded. " Absolutely, babe! Absolutely... "
" Good... "
Zidane slowly and gently unlinked his daughter's arms from his neck and placed them on her stomach. He stood up from the bed and then walked over to the window again to see if the thing he had spotted before was still there. It was.
A pair of light glowing blue eyes stared up at him, blinking every now and then. He frowned lightly and then looked over his shoulder to find Garnet gone from the room and Esmeralda fast asleep. Zidane blinked hard and then a few times as he quietly slipped from the room to cross the hall to where their bedroom was.
Zidane walked into the room, closed the door behind him and crossed the room to side down on the edge of the bed. Garnet was already laying in the King-sized bed, wrist resting on her forehead, the other on her stomach, her lips slightly parted, her eyes closed, her faced tilted to the side slightly. " Geez... you're not going to tell me that you're tired already, are you? " he asked as he quickly slipped his feet from his boots and then stood up to rid himself of the blue jean-like pants.
Garnet opened an eye and looked at him, watching him as he stripped himself of his pants and threw them into the closet. He turned around and faced her in only a black pair of boxers and his white muscle shirt. " What if I am? Is it a crime? "
Zidane chuckled and then shrugged as he lifted the shirt over his head and threw it into the closet to join the pants before he climbed into the bed beside Garnet." Well.. not really... "
Garnet smiled lightly and closed her eye. She grimaced lightly and then began to rub the left side of her stomach. Zidane knitted his brows together and reached out to place his hand over hers, allowing her to guide him through the rubbing as he entwined his fingers with hers." Are you alright? " he suddenly asked, his eyes trained on her face that was set in a mask of pain.
Garnet slowly nodded her head. " Y-yeah... it's just kicking a little too hard. That's all... don't worry about me, Zidane... I can take care of myself... "
Zidane laid back against the pillows and rested his head against her shoulder. " You know I'm going to worry about you, Dagger. After what we had gone through? I think I'm never ever going to leave your side again... I mean... look at where it got you last time! With you advisor... and then some imposter... "
Garnet flipped onto her side, putting her back to him, but still kept his hand on her stomach, his arm over her waist. Zidane slipped an arm under her neck and brought it around so he could wrap it around her front, his hand resting on her shoulder as he kept his other hand rubbing her stomach gently.
Zidane tenderly kissed her bare shoulder and then brought her back against his body so that he could rest his chin on her shoulder, his head by her head.
" I'm sorry... " Garnet lightly murmured.
" For what? " Zidane asked as he closed his eyes.
" For thinking that Garret was you... for saying that I hated you on the rooftop that night... for everything... "
" What do you mean by everything? "
Garnet suddenly sniffled and Zidane's eyes flew open. " What's wrong? Are you crying, Dagger? "
Garnet quickly and quietly flipped over onto her other side so that she was facing him, his bare chest that she now pressed her palms flat against, her long fingers splayed out nicely. She felt his arms tighten around her and it only made her cry harder.
" D-dagger? Why are you crying... please! Tell me... you're going to make me cry if you don't tell me. You have me thinking that I did something... uh oh... what did I do now? " Zidane asked and begged as he pressed his lips to her forehead and rubbed her back.
Garnet just sniffled again and shook her head. " Z-zidane... just hold me. Hold me hard and never let me go... "
To Be Continued...
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