A/N: This is long, so watch out. It is necessary to read
this, though. Or at least a bit of it. If you want to skip my random ranting,
scroll until you find some big, red text. After that is some key plot setting,
and lead in. Even tough this will all be explained in the fic, it is clearer
here. So you anti-ranters, start scrolling now! Noticed I've used a different
font in the heading? Maybe not, if something screwed up. But if you do, this
means that this will be a special fic. Or at least, by my standards.
Like I said in my other recent fic (appreciation), I was experimenting with a
few alternative relationships. Well, I spent nearly an hour pacing, and tossing
up the pros and cons. And storyline wise, I couldn't fit it in. And being an
'epic' fic, I need all the characters alive (so I can't kill Dagger), and I
need them happy enough with each other to work together (so I can't break them
up). So, lucky for all you pro-Dagger people out there, I'm keeping them
together. It's a first! You may, after reading this, find it a little
influenced by David Eddings' books. This is because I like his concept of a
prophecy, and following it, and as the title hints, this plot is based fairly
heavily on prophecy. And even though my aforementioned other recent fic (which
was Zidane/Mikoto, a first, I think) didn't influence the relationship side of
the story, it did set in my mind having Mikoto as a proper character, so…Any
Mikoto fans out there will not be disappointed. If there are any… Wow, even by
my standards, this looks to be a fairly epic authors note, too. It might even
have to take up a chapter to itself. Oh well, it's been done before. So now
that my A/N is getting its own chapter, I can run free!!! Muahahahahaha! Ahem.
Where was I? Oh, yeah. I've been finding it really hard to match up characters
for this fic (I've been mentally preparing a lot), because not many people
really match up. I'm also annoyed there are no suitable male characters for
Mikoto :P
The theory goes, basically, that since all the canon characters (canon: original official storyline) have been balanced by professional scriptwriters, and gameplay experts, everything works out. The game would suck, for example, if a character on your side happened to be the son of a god, a god, a demigod, almost godly, etc… And that's only battle-wise. Battle-wise, this is fairly obvious. Granted, there are some conditions where super-powerful character in a battle is acceptable (saving the characters, divine intervention, battle not important anyway, character has a legitimate reason). An example is in FF7, where Cloud and Sephiroth are fighting together. Sephy one-shots the green dragons, without breaking a sweat. And you go 'wow, this is one guy you don't wanna mess with. But these battles are not really important, and they are there to show Seph's power. Now, storyline balancing. In any story, there needs to really be balance. It is not an easily definable thing, but you may recognise it from experience. Have you ever read a fic where an original character appears, then turns out to be the brother/sister of a canon character, have some undocumented/ancient/impossible power, be amazingly good looking, have no personality faults, is liked by all the other characters, and has the most desirable canon character hopelessly in love with them? I have, in the animorphs section. I read it so long ago, I doubt it is still there, and I have forgotten the name. But it had ever characteristic mentioned above. And these fics annoy you, don't they? But, there is a fine line.
Family to a canon character may be a trigger to flashbacks about a mutual childhood, or something. An undocumented/ancient/impossible power can add interest to the story, if used in moderation. Amazingly good looking is ok, if that's your preference. Movie good guys are rarely ugly, are they? Likeability is ok; if character conflict is not something you like to write. And if the romance is written properly and with verisimilitude, even the final one can be acceptable. All of the criteria hinge on preference, setting and writing ability. And judgement. A lot of judgement. So anybody, anybody out there who has ever thought about this, and really took interest and identified with the above rant/theory, I thank you. I wrote this, because I felt like writing it. But if I have helped anyone out there, then I have done something, shared something. Anybody who actually cared enough to read that, and either disagreed or agreed, and who feels like corresponding can mail me. But I think I'm safe from mountains of fan mail :) My address is at the bottom of this chapter.
I'm also interested to know if there are many/any
Zidane/Mikoto fans out there. Or even any Mikoto fans at all? I've had a bit of
feedback from people about Eiko/Zidane, and seen a few fics out there. Bring on
the alternative relationships!!!
Anyone who has been skipping my random rants, stop scrolling now…
Now, a bit about the actual fic to come! I'm placing the majority of the action eight years after the game's end. This places Eiko at 13, and therefore Zidane is 23; Dagger is 23; Vivi is 15; Quina doesn't matter and Freya and Amarant are just some random adult age. Their age doesn't really matter, suffice the say that it is perfectly legal for them to drink, smoke and…ahem, let's keep at least the A/N clean, shall we. But legality of various things normally doesn't worry me, except maybe in an Eiko/Zidane… This age thing may seem a little trivial, but it's the kind of thing you may like to know, when considering emotional reactions, appearance, attitude, etc.
Now, location…Zidane is tentatively living in Alexandria castle with Dagger. Not to say there is anything wrong with the relationship, but they're not married, and are a little unsure of what is going on. Eiko is with Hilda and Cid, and is a relatively normal teenager. Loud, and unruly. Vivi, for the sake of not further complicating the plot, has also moved in with Cid and Hilda. He is a little quiet to be a normal teenager, but this obviously does not worry his adoptive parents. Amarant is doing random jobs in Treno, and Freya is rebuilding Burmecia. Quina is travelling the world, looking for food (obviously). Steiner is in the service of Dagger, doing his job. This also applies to Beatrix. Mikoto (If you've skipped the rest, the fic may surprise you a little) is living in a small house in Alexandria, and has embraced the culture and lifestyle of Gaia (like Zidane, but he didn't really have a choice). Tantalus are in their fixed up theatre, in Lindblum. Anyone I forgot, or who are not really important enough.
My email is Zidane_San@hotmail.com