A Hero's Stand Chapter 4: True Love's True Betrayal, a final fantasy ix fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX©.... Oo;

Dedication: To *Sagittarius Girl* for helping me through my major issue the other week and to Taemyr... I wouldn't be alive this day if it weren't for you two! *^-^*

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A Hero's Stand

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~~Chapter 4~~

~True Love's True Betrayal~

// A few weeks later...\\

" Are you sure you're feeling alright? " Zidane asked in a concerned voice, his deep forest green eyes searching out the dark, exotic chocolate ones of his wife who was slowly recovering from what had happened two weeks ago. " You look as if you should lay down... "

Garnet shook her head furiously and furrowed her brow in anger as she balled her hands into tight fists. " I can't sleep, Zidane, " she declared. " My baby is missing! How can you just go on like Esmerald doesn't matter? " she asked in a desperate and angry voice as her eyes furiously sought his and held them.

Zidane ran a hand over his face and then reached out to grip her shoulders gently in his hands. " Dagger, " he said firmly, tenderly. " Essie's my baby too, she's a part of me as we all are apart of each other. We are a family and we will stay as a family. Do you understand what I am saying to you? Do you, Dagger? " he asked, giving her shoulders a small shake.

Garnet swallowed and then nodded her head once. " I understand, Zidane, it's just... " she paused and turned her head to the side so she could look at the ground, a look of doubt clouding her eyes.

Zidane searched the side of her face, his lips slightly parted, his brow furrowed in confusion, the thick strands of dark honey brushing up against his cheekbones in the breeze as they stood out on the balcony. " It's just what, Dagger? What is it that's bothering you? " he asked as he took a hand from her shoulder to softly press the front of his fingers to her cheek and push her head around so that she was staring at him.

Garnet shook her head and stepped away from him entirely. " I... I have to go tend to something, Zidane, " she whispered as she turned and left him to stare after her on the balcony. " I'm sorry... "

Zidane sighed heavily in frustration and then turned to walk over to the railing with tightly balled fists. As he reached the railing, he let out a low growl and then slammed his fists down onto the stone railing as he bowed his head, his eyes closed tightly against the sting of tears. 'What am I going to do? I can't give Dagger up to that slim, but... ' he stopped and felt his heart ache at the loss of his little baby girl. ' I can't let Essie down... '

" There's really nothing you can do now.. " a soft voice said from the doorway behind him, startling him greatly. " Sire... " they added.

Zidane spun around and found himself staring at a young woman his age, her own forest green eyes as deep and dark as his own stared back at him in curiousity and relief for some reason, her small, heart-shaped lips that were full, were parted slightly and painted with a soft rose that shimmered in the morning sun. Her hair was the same dark honey, had the same thickness as it sat at the back of her head, just at the nape of her long slender neck, tendrils, soft and whispery brushed against her soft pale skin that looked smooth and exotic from where he stood.

It made him want to walk over to her and...

Zidane shook his head hard against the thoughts and brought his eyes back to her face. His eyes went over her body quickly and then back up her face that was a little flushed. He bowed his head slightly. " Good morning, m'lady, " he greeted her in a firm, gentle voice. " what brings you to my chambers at this time of the morning? "

The woman curtsied deeply and then straightened up as she glanced over at the railing before bringing her eyes back around to meet his that were staring at her with a hidden interest. ' Good... that's it.. ' she thought as she flashed him a soft smile. " Do you mind? " she asked.

Zidane blinked and then shook his head. " N-no! Not at all... come, join me... " he answered in a voice where he couldn't hide the tremble. " I'm sorry about that, my family and I are having some hard times... forgive me... " he said as she walked up to the railing and leaned on it to gaze out at the light pink coloured sky that was turning into the usual baby blue.

She looked at him and smiled softly as she nodded in understanding. " No need to apologize, Sire... that's why I'm here... " she informed him as she turned her face back out to look at the sun, feeling his confused eyes and perplexed expression on her.

" H... how can you know about that? " Zidane asked, the tremble still in his voice. " No one but everyone within the castle knows about that... "

The woman fully turned to look at him. She had to lift her head a little bit for he was taller then her by a couple of inches. She searched his face and gave him a smile that seemed to make his mind turn into a puddle with confusion. " I know many things, Sire... I know where your daughter might be, I might even know who has her captive... but, I'm not really here to discuss that. I've come here on other business... "

Zidane furrowed his brow. " You know where my daughter is? " he asked. The woman nodded. " Where is she then? Tell me... please, I must know... "

The woman lowered her eyes to the ground. " Well... first off, don't you think we should introduce ourselves, Zidane Tribal? " she asked as she lifted her head to look up at him.

Zidane blinked and took a step away from her. " H-how do you know so much about me? Who are you? "

The woman took a step towards him, a calm look dawned her soft features. " I know much about you... everyone does if there were in Tantalus back in the old days... "

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Khalid silently exited the room with a small bundle in his muscular arms, the dark hair falling over the arm that held the head gently. The small legs dangled off his other arm as the face pressed forward, trying to bury their face into his toned chest. Drakan was nowhere to be found within the underground castle and this puzzled him greatly for Drakan was usually following him around.

" I should've just never made that damned idiot in the first place, the same goes for the little one, his brother. They're both going to be trouble for me in the future and I should be wary of it, but for some odd reason I'm not... " he let out a bitter chuckle and turned the corner. " why should I be wary of it? Drakan knows that I'm stronger then he, but... put them both together and... who knows what'll happen... "

" D.. daddy... " the small girl murmured sleepily in a soft voice as she cuddled closer to Khalid's chest for warmth.

" In a moment, my small girl, in a moment... " Khalid whispered softly to her. ' You're very important to me, my dear and you don't even know it, neither do you parents... it's you, small Esmeralda that will be able to decide your parents futures... you alone. You're the key to this world and also the key to why I'm here now... as well as your parents...'

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Garnet was in the front hall, just staring out the open windows into the gardens across from her when she felt a large, gentle hand grip her shoulder from behind, making her jump and cry out in surprise. She whirled around immediately and then let out a long breath of relief as she saw Steiner standing there, arm froze in mid-air as he went to take it back, his eyes wide in surprise.

" Majesty? Are you alright? "

Garnet nodded and swallowed thickly as she ran a hand through her long dark hair and pushed it back from her face. " Yes, Steiner. I'm fine- you startled me, that's all... " she replied quietly.

Steiner nodded and bowed forward slightly. " Forgive me, Majesty, I didn't know you were deep in thought... " he apologized softly.

Garnet nodded and managed to flash him a smile. " It's alright, Steiner... you never knew, not your fault. What brings you here? Shouldn't you be with Beatrix? "

Steiner shrugged his shoulders and sighed. " I should, Majesty, but the princess is missing. I have come to you to report that we haven't found her anywhere. The knights are out searching the streets and some are informing Regent Cid of Lindblum, the king of Treno, king of Burmecia, all of them... they have a right to know and perhaps, who knows, the little princess could be in one of those cities by now... "

Garnet nodded and then walked over to the chair in the corner of the hall. " Thank you, Steiner for being so helpful and understanding with a situation such as this. I... I just don't know what to do. I... I've never been put in such a situation and it frightens me, and not only because my little girl is missing, but because... Zidane... he seems a little distraught about it all... " she said softly as she leaned over, putting her head in her hands that trembled.

Steiner watched her in silence, wishing that he could take away her pain, her fears and most of all her heartache that seemed to be eating away at her without her even knowing about it. He ran his tongue over his lips and then sighed again. " Majesty, we're trying our best to find her, we really are, but you should rest or do something else but worry. With you worrying so much, you're aren't going to look so- "

" Do you think I honestly care about how I look, Steiner? " Garnet asked as she lifted her head from her hands to look at the sincere expression of her most loyal knight and protector.

" I... well, Zidane would probably care, " he replied. " I'm only saying this because, we're looking into the situation very well, not letting anything leave our sights. We are going to find her, Majesty, it's just going to take some time, it's not like these cases are solved quickly like that, " he snapped his fingers, the sound loud and sharp. " it's not like we're going to find Esmeralda tomorrow, it's not like she's going to be home in time for dinner, Majesty. You have to think about these things... a missing person who was abducted from their home is highly unlikely to be returned within the forenight... "

Garnet nodded her head absently and stared at him, her eye lids slowly drooping everynow and then. " I understand, Steiner... " she murmured in a drowsy voice. Steiner frowned at her.

" Are you alright, Majesty? "

Garnet pressed a hand to her stomach, the little life within kicking at her hand viciously. She nodded again, this time her eyes closing completely before she fall forward towards the floor. " Thomas... " the soft name leaving her lips as she landed safely in Steiner's arms...

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Zidane glanced over at the birds that flew past the open window as he and the woman passed by on their way to the gardens. " So... " he began as he spread his hands out at his sides after taking them out from behind his back. " what you're trying to say is that you've known ever since I joined Tantalus? But... how could that be possible when I never saw you there? And besides... how can you be from the royal family of Treno and have been in Tantalus at the same time? "

Salita Yae looked calm and very collected, as if she were expecting such a reaction. " Well, Baku was kind enough to take me in when I bumped into him while running away from the guards that chased me from the castle, demanding that I return before something terrible happen to me. But... " she paused and shook her head. " nothing bad ever did happen to me, it was good for me until I decided to drop in on my family a few months ago... "

Zidane stared down at the ground as they continued to walk, walking past the two female guards standing at their posts by the front main doors of the large and beautiful castle. " So... what exactly happened between you and your family when you suddenly dropped in on them? " he asked as he nodded to the two guards who slammed the sides of their fists to their chests.

Salita smirked behind some hair that fell from the back of her neck. " Well... father wasn't too happy of course, but mother on the other hand had passed away a few days after my disappearance, so it was a total shock to me... I didn't know, Baku had kept it from me... as did the rest of you... "

Zidane furrowed his brow and reached out to open and hold the door for her as she glided past him gracefully, carrying the scent of roses with her. " I'm sorry to hear about that... " he murmured softly to her as she passed him. " But... I don't believe I ever remember seeing you when I was with Tantalus... "

' He sure is stubborn.. why can't he just believe me? Kuja had told me that he was gullible at times and that it was a good thing to lie to him in order to get your way around him... so why isn't he giving in as he was suppose to? ' she thought in annoyance, but plastered a soft, beautiful smile to her face as she sat down on the soft grass, spreading her large skirts about her and around her.

" Well... I remember seeing you. I remember going to your room before you were going to go with Baku and the rest of the gang to kidnap that princess. I remember that and I'm sure you do too... "

Zidane plopped down onto the ground beside her, not too close beside her, but close enough for her to smell his fear, uncertainty and worry. " Well, of course I remember that time well, it was the time that I met Dagger and fell in love with her, " he assured her. " but, where were you afterwards? Like when the battle with Kuja was... finished? "

Salita licked her full, perfect lips, never once smudging the shimmering gloss. " I was still around afterwards. Afterwards was the time when I had decided to go back to my family to become the person I was sought out to be, the person I was born to be... a princess and now... the Queen of Treno... "

Zidane frowned lightly, but not enough for her to notice. " Now you're the Queen of Treno? Hmm... " he paused to glance down at a small ladybug that was crawling up his left leg towards the Ultima Weapon that hung nicely at his side. " it's all rather odd, for you to have shown up like this when my daughter was taken away from us so abruptly... "

Salita bit her lower lip and watched him with compassionate eyes. " I'm sorry about that, Zidane, I really am. I figure Esmeralda to be a pretty little girl like her mother was when she was that age... energetic... lovely in so many ways and just adorable... " she murmured softly as she reached out to gentle touch his forearm, giving it a soft squeeze.

Zidane turned his head to the side and closed his eyes, unable to hide the tremor that ran through his voice and the tremor that ran through his body from her simple touch that was meant for comfort and guidance. " It's alright, you're not at fault, Salita.. not at all. It's all my fault, it was I who was suppose to take care of her, watch out for her when times were rough. But... I suppose I wasn't there in time to protect her... to keep her away from all the bumps and scraps during life. I'm a pathetic father... I don't even know how I'll turn out for my other child... lousy perhaps... " he grumbled in disgust at himself now.

Salita shook her head hard and stared at the side of his face as she began to absently stroke his tanned, soft skin. " It wasn't your fault, Zidane. Not yours at all. It was the man who had taken your baby... not yours or Garnets. You didn't know about what was going to happen and who it was going to involve... for all you know it could've been someone who you didn't even know who could've been taken away from Alexandria... and from you. Don't go blaming yourself for something that you didn't start, do or end... "

Zidane exhaled deeply and then ran his tongue over his lips that were extremely dry as he turned his head around so that he was looking into her eyes that seemed to once again bore into his soul, bring out the fear within him, the deepest fears of his life. " I... I'm sorry, " he stammered uncontrolably. " I have-- "

" Sire! "

Zidane's head flew into the direction of the side door to the castle and he saw Steiner running towards him at full speed, the armor that had been renewed, cleaned and oiled still squeaking and protesting as it bumped up against each other. Salita's head flew in his direction and she groaned inwardly, running a hand through the thick strands of hair that had fallen from their pins at the back of her head, dragging it to rest just on her chest that rose and fell slowly, calmly.

Zidane flew to his feet, his eyes wide in confusion and worry as he ran forward to meet Steiner halfway. " What is it? Have you found her? Have you found Esmeralda?! " he demanded as he searched Steiner's sweat damp face.

Steiner swallowed, trying to gain his voice back and inhale some of the air around him as he shook his head slowly and then furiously. " No, no, no! " he shouted. " It's her Majesty! She's fainted... had some sort of accident, Sire... "

Zidane's heart stopped dead in his chest and he paled as he pushed away Steiner's hands that seemed to steady him. He stumbled while he ran towards the castle. Once inside after throwing open the door hard, the top hinges flying off, he ran through the hallway and made his way towards the winding staircase that would lead him to his and Dagger's bedroom. Maid and servants all jumped to the side to avoid being pushed to the ground or shoved roughly into the brick walls of the castle. Salita's and Steiners cries for him to slow down never reached his ears fully for his thoughts were on his Dagger and his child, the one that was unborn and in terrible risk if any harm had come to the fragile woman carrying it within her...

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Salita sighed heavily and then rose slowly from the ground to watch as Steiner walked towards the castle at a slow pace, his steps lagging, his breathing slightly labored as he reached the door and then disappeared into the castle. She furrowed her brow and then brushed off strands of grass that were stuck within the mesh fabric of her skirts. ' This isn't going as well as we had hoped, you know that, right? ' she asked silently.

' I don't care what I had hoped, just as long as we can get it all right and down before the Bearer returns in full form... ' the deep voice answered.

" Whatever... " Salita muttered outloud and within her head as she closed her eyes and then suddenly disappeared to reappear sitting in a comfortable chair that was a deep navy blue and in the corner of a large room. She blinked and then looked around the room to find that the door to the room was wide open with a body standing in the doorway, the lips parted in a wide cry of surprise, the eyes wide as they stared at the woman on the bed.

" She must be Zidane's Dagger, the one he was talking about... " Salita murmured to herself as she frowned at the situation around her and then realized that she had stopped time for a few moments. She chuckled quietly to herself for being so forgetful and stupid at times as she stood from the chair and walked over to the bed to gaze down at the pale heart-shaped that was turned to the side, her side.

Salita bent down slowly, her eyes roaming over the pale complexion before darting over to the bulge that was lightly covered with a thin blanket. She reached out, smoothing away the dark strands of hair that rested on the woman's cheek to push them away with the backs of her fingers as she lowered her lips to the woman's forehead and pressed a feather kiss that was firm to the damp skin before pulling away to then put her lips to the delicate ear that was visible.

" Kasuta no Yueta... Kasuta no Yueta... " she whispered firmly, fiercly into the ear, repeating it over and over until the calm face screwed up into a frown and then into a look of relief and yet pain at the same time.

Salita then snapped her fingers as she stood up straight and then disappeared from the room to reappear within her own room that Zidane had showed to her before they had taken their walk around the castle. She then snapped her fingers again and life within and outside of the castle continued on as if nothing had happened, as if her visit to the one named 'Dagger' actually took place. She had to smirk softly to herself as she walked over to the bed and then fell back onto it....

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Zidane flew into the room, unfazed by anything that had just happened. He rushed over to Garnet's bedside and felt relief rush through his body for the fact that she wasn't dead or hurt as he had thought, but carried a look of calm and peace on her beautiful face.

' Dagger... '

She was quiet, just laying there, completely still. He absently stroked her pale cheek before reaching down to her stomach to gently grasp her hand and then bring it up to his lips. Zidane flipped her hand around and then kissed her palm softly, tenderly before entwining his fingers with hers while watching her lay there in silence, the only sounds entering the room were those of the birds outside in the courtyard and the crickets that were just beginning to come out.

He sat there on the bedside beside Garnet, watching her while she slept, watching her stomach and the little life within, watching as parts of the blanket would usually jump quickly from the small child kicking inside the womb, bringing a small smile to his lips. The time went by so fast as he stayed by her side the entire afternoon and evening, that he didn't realize that it was time to go to bed now since he was extremely tired.

Zidane sighed heavily as he stood from the bed to walk over to the closet while stripping himself of his white muscle shirt and then black pants. He frowned lightly as he turned around slowly away from the closet to scan the room for anything or something out of place before walking over to the bed to crawl under the covers in only a pair of boxers. Once under the warmth of the cotton and silk blankets, Zidane turned over and draped an arm over Garnet's waist, his fingers stroking the bulge silently as he buried his face into the back of Garnet's neck, inhaling the scent that she always wore as he began to slowly fall asleep, Esmeralda, the only thing on his mind at the time...

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It was just a few hours later that Zidane's brow furrowed deeply as he felt something soft trace along his chest followed by something sharp that was pressed down to his bare flesh but not hard. He smacked his lips and then went to flip onto his side, but something pushed him down into the mattress, preventing him from turning over. This made him frown and then slowly, lazily open his left eye to find someone standing beside his side of the bed, their eyes glazed over in the moonlight that shone through the balcony doors, the silk, transparent curtains flapping wildly against the wall in the wind.

Dark strands of hair was what he could see so far, besides for the eyes which were dark as well. Zidane opened his other eye and then blinked hard, forcing the sleep to leave his eyes as he gave his head a shake and then glanced over at where Garnet was suppose to be. He found no one in her spot, just an empty spot with the covers pushed back. He blinked again thinking that he was still half asleep and just needed some more time to be awaken properly, but when he slapped his cheek a few times and then looked over at Garnet's side of the bed, he realized that he was wrong, Garnet was missing! But... where could she have gone and who the hell was the person standing my his bedside with a glazed look.

" Kasuta no Yueta.... Kasuta no Yueta, " the person hissed loudly as they pressed their hand down harder on Zidane's chest.

" Hey! Back off. Who are you and what are you doing in my home? Where's my wife? " Zidane demanded as he squinted his eyes to try and see the face more better, but instead caught the gleam of silver in the moonlight.

" Kasuta no Yueta! " the person hissed louder and deeper as they stepped a little bit closer to the bed until they were almost leaning over him. It was then that Zidane figured out who it was standing by his bedside with their hand pressed to his chest, the dull, fazed, not so down to Gaia look in their eyes. It was making sense now... the dark strands of hair... the voice... everything.

" D-dagger?! " Zidane choked out as he stared at his wife who carried a crazy not so herself look in her eyes. " What are you doing? What's wrong? " he asked as he eyed her arm that was raised above her head.

" Kasuta no Yueta!! " Garnet screamed as she brought his Ultima Weapon in for closer inspection and then let it fly downwards at incredible speed towards Zidane's chest where her hand was pressed over the scar of the axe piercing his skin not so long ago....

To Be Continued...

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| w-i-s-d-o-m |::| c-o-u-r-a-g-e |::| c.o.u.r.a.g.e. |::| -=The Final Fantasy=- |