Yei... I didn't die this week. n_n I'll bet y'all are happy about that,
ne? Anyway, a few outside references, so dude, I don't own any European Mythology
of any sort, nor would it matter if I did because I am making no money offa
this. Not that that was neccesary. Also, plenty of Japanese, and Latin made
to sound like Japanese, and even Gaelic made to sound like Japanese. But I'm
not saying a word. Anyhow, 'tis late and I can barely type at this point,
so booya.
~Enjoy!
Isn't it wonderful?
Two people walking the streets,
Hand in hand.
Oh, I want to go
To your town…
To your house…
Into your arms…
To that chest
I entrust my body.
This evening eludes
The dream I see.
(from "Suteki Da Ne" by Nobuo Uematsu, performed by Rikki, translated by…me!)
Garnet stayed close to Zidane as they disembarked. Several vehicles arrived to meet the ambassadors. They were somewhat similar to the air cabs of Lindblum, but they hovered over the ground at a nearly constant point and were open at the top.
"Our apologies for making you dock out here," Mikoto announced, "but we have no facilities for your ship, and do not expect to have any for months yet to come. But do not fear, Regent, your ship should be quite safe here."
"I do not doubt it, your Ladyship," Cid smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, Regent," Mikoto remembered to smile back. "I do hope you enjoy riding in our hoberas. They are ecologically safe and rather comfortable." The Gaians began to whisper amongst themselves. Zidane hid his smile behind his hand, knowing that the nobles would neither know no care what it meant to be 'ecologically safe.' After momentary consideration, he spoke up.
"By 'ecologically safe'," he explained, "she means that we have taken care to see that they will not do the planet any harm." A lame point, yes, he thought, but a point none-the-less. He quickly took the opportunity to help Garnet into the hover car, taking her to the seat where he knew she'd get the best view. There was something in particular he wanted her to see. Once loaded, the three hoberas picked up speed towards the city, sailing over the plains without ever touching a single blade of emerald green grass. Zidane, however, leaned well over the side to snatch one.
"Rumina," he said, handing it to Garnet, who made a questioning sound. "We have but two varieties at this time," he shrugged. "Buroia and rumina. This is the latter." Garnet smiled, turning the leaflet over in her hand. It was a deep green, and nearly transparent, almost like living glass. Garnet recalled the luminous planet that she had gone to so long ago. It had been dead then… but some of it lived here.
"It almost glows," she alleged.
"It does," Zidane smiled. "All Terran foliage does. Our planet was further from the sun than Gaia. Your plants support you by blocking out the strong light. Ours… made more to add to the weaker sunlight."
"Then why do you need such plants here?" Peter interrupted, with more than a hint of haughtiness in his voice. Garnet cringed at his voice, for she realized then how closely people were watching her actions with the thief genome. Zidane, however, coolly turned up his eyes toward the son of the Count and replied:
"We are of the opinion that a forest should not be a dark and dreary place that spawns foul things." With this, he swept his arm towards a grove of trees that they were approaching. The leaves of the various perennials were mostly shades of green, although many were brilliant yellow and a few were dark red. All the trunks were a shade between white and silver, with the odd red leaved ones bearing a beige hue. The air beneath the canopy bore patches of pale violet mist—stray fog, rather than the evil kind. The forest floor was littered with small ferns, each of which gave off gentle blue and purple light. Between these ferns, the ground was lit as if by stained glass, mostly green. Several large white creatures stood together before the trees, flicking short tails and large ears. As the company approached, they lifted their graceful necks and fled into the trees, seeming to glide as their slender legs only pretended to touch the ground. They disappeared amongst the trees like phantoms as the hoberas passed by.
"Zidane…" Garnet finally caught her breath. "Zidane, what were those?"
"Shika," Zidane answered. "White deer. All of our forest creatures are white, for the same reason yours are dark colors."
"To blend with the light?" Peter rejoined the conversation.
"Exactly," Zidane nodded, feeling a little more lenient towards the man who was steadily losing out. "Although, I do know that we have one black deer. Those are very rare, as you might imagine. He's really gorgeous."
"I thought you Terrans did not like dark things," Peter's sneer was small, but it was there.
"I think that black is the most beautiful of all," Zidane answered, turning his gaze upon Garnet, whose cheeks flushed at such a bold compliment. Peter's eyes also fell upon Garnet's dark hair.
"As do I…" he added, although it was obvious that he felt quite outdone. He cast Garnet a poor attempt at a longing look before returning to his seat.
"Kawaisou na baka," Zidane muttered behind a smile before turning back to look at the rapidly approaching city. Garnet sighed and looked forward again. I never realized how hard it is to get a moment to myself until now… she reminisced. She gasped as she looked upon the city of New Bran Bal. It was mostly white; the streets were a glossy white, the structures the color of champaign and cream, and the trimmings of the houses were either strong warms or faded cools. Here and there were plants not unlike the lustrous flora outside.
"It's so…clean," she told Zidane in awe, but then felt stupid for doing so. But it was true. Even the sites full of construction were incredibly free of blemish.
"Maybe compared to Alexandria," he nodded, "but that will soon change." Garnet had no time to argue with him, for they came upon the capitol, the only building completely finished. It was pure marble, but had all manners of sculpture carved into it. Garnet could think of nothing to say as she looked upon the beautiful craftsmanship. She nearly lost her footing as she left the transport for looking up rather than where she was going. Zidane chuckled as he helped her remain balanced.
"The twelve gods and the nine goddesses of the Roma-Franc," Zidane explained motioning to the twenty-one figures that were carved into the arc of the capital, and, motioning to the figures that lined the stairs, "and the Danan… deities of the Highlander Tribes. One from each tribe."
"Oh," Garnet nodded absently, for now she was looking upon the first step leading to the capitol. She could not read the language written upon it. "Zidane? What does it say?" Zidane looked silently down at the stair for several minutes, then softly:
"The first step to our return… placed in memory of Kuja, who taught us that our fate is ours and ours alone to determine. Forever we will remember your struggles, silver crusader." The pair stood silent for a moment.
"Why…?" Garnet looked at him in confusion.
Zidane sighed, "Remember when I said that I might've done the same thing, had I been in his shoes? That's why. We always remember people from the point of being in their shoes."
"I suppose," Garnet admitted, looking angrily upon the marble stair.
"How do you remember Brahne?" he cut in. Garnet's shoulders fell, but then she looked up at Zidane with a smile:
"I think I understand." The two were interrupted by Mikoto, who raised her voice to announce:
"After you are shown to your rooms, we will arrange a tour, after which dinner will be served. Negotiations resume tomorrow." Zidane silently followed Garnet, the Terran guide, and the servant who bore the queen's luggage into the hotel. Once the Terran smiled and left, and the servant began unpacking, Zidane tapped Garnet's shoulder.
"Hmm?" she turned to face him.
"Excuse me, your highness," his eyes bore that strange light again, "but I think you owe me a date." Garnet laughed as she remembered the silly bet from long ago.
"You certainly aren't one to forgive your debtors, are you?"
"I could get off of your case if we go tonight."
"What about the tour?" Garnet asked, knowing she'd most certainly be missed.
"What?" Zidane put on a hurt expression. "I'm not a good tour guide?"
"I'm sure you're a fine tour guide, you insufferable creature," Garnet teased. "What should I wear?" Zidane's eyes lit up.
"That orange jumpsuit!" he suggested.
"If I have it," she said, hiding a smile. Behind her, the servant cleared her throat. Garnet turned around to have the white blouse and orange suit thrust into her arms, and the servant took off down the hall. "Um, I guess I'll go change…"
"So where to first?"
"The stables," Zidane answered. "I don't fancy doing the whole town on foot."
"Chocobo stables?"
"Oh no…" he shook his head with a smile. "Uma. "
"What's that?" Garnet asked, but Zidane only smiled. "Fine, fine. Keep your secrets." However, Garnet enjoyed savoring the suspense. Nothing was fun all at once. They reached the edge of the city surprisingly soon. The first thing Garnet noticed was the smell, which was unlike anything she'd ever smelled before.
"Howari?" Zidane called.
"Yes?" a Terran male called back, and walked out of the barn carrying…a rake-shaped object.
"I need to borrow two of your babies."
"Right," the Terran snorted, "and I need you to forget it."
"Come on, Howari!" Zidane pleaded. "It's me! And yours are the only ones anywhere!"
"Hmph," he responded, "has she ever even seen one?" Garnet realized he was talking about her.
"Of course not," Zidane continued. "And she really needs to, you know?" The opposing Terran seemed to soften a bit. "And besides, I won't be around much after this."
"You won't bother me after this?" Howari looked suddenly hopeful.
"Exactly!" Zidane nodded. Howari considered for a moment before nodding himself.
"Fine, I'll get Eva out. And I'll suppose you'd like to ride Séth?"
"Sure," Zidane nodded again before motioning Garnet to follow him. "Horses," he explicated once they got inside. Garnet simply stared at the huge creatures—gorgeous, sleek furred animals that stood on four powerful legs.
"Like Odin's mount," Garnet observed. "Only on four legs… and beautiful instead of terrifying."
"Oh, they can be quite terrifying, my dear," Howari assured her, as he haltered a huge black animal.
"Not compared to Sleipnir, they can't," Zidane shook his head. "You really shouldn't argue against things you don't understand, mister disagreeable."
"Whatever," the horse-keeper shrugged. "You can saddle Séth up yourself, right?"
"Sure," Zidane answered, taking the huge, black horse by contraption around its face. The magnificent animal strode meekly behind Garnet's beloved and allowed itself to be tied by him. She watched Zidane place a light contraption on its back, and another one on its face, all the while speaking to it in the Terran language.
"Milady," Howari called from behind her. She turned to be face to face by a white horse with deep blue eyes. "This is Eva, the sweetest thing you'll ever come across. She won't hurt you. Do you need a leg up?"
"A what?" Garnet asked.
"Help getting on," Zidane translated as he mounted the giant, black thing.
"Oh," Garnet said. "Yes, thank you." Howari then demonstrated the "leg up" for her: using his hands as a step more or less rather that having her mount using the stirrup. Garnet had just settled into the saddle when Eva began to move, following Zidane's horse out the door.
"Be quick getting them back, you hear!" Howari called one last time after them. After a lot of explanation and encouragement from Zidane, Garnet quickly got the hang of riding, for Eva was content to trot beside Séth wherever he went. It was quite pleasant, she found, to ride down the streets of this white city upon the back of a white mare. Zidane was having a hard time being a tour guide, for every time he looked back, he saw his Dagger, sitting lightly in the saddle of a mount of pure white, looking every inch the goddess she was. And her unladylike curiosity amused him as much as ever. At one point, they overtook the original touring party. Zidane ignored the nobles completely as he briefly told Garnet about the Research Facility in front of them. Garnet was having a hard time concentrating on what he said, for she kept stealing glances at the other group. She smiled when she noted that the other tour guide was tactfully ignoring them. Once they'd moved on, their horses' footfalls making a delightful sound against the smooth road, Garnet could not resist teasing him some.
"Looks like you've got the entire Terran nation backing your campaign," she giggled.
"More than you know," he confirmed, mysteriously. Garnet said nothing, knowing she'd find out soon enough. And soon, they had covered the whole city.
"Well, it's a bit yet till sunset," Zidane turned back in his seat to look at her, sitting like some sort of fairy on a horse from the Otherworld. It took him a second to regain his train of thought. "Anywhere else?"
"Can we…" she asked softly, "Can we see that forest again?"
"If you're not afraid to ride fast," he answered with a smile. An angel upon a phantom horse in a luminous forest… How often does one see that?
"I am not afraid," Garnet smiled. She was, however, slightly afraid of falling off as the horses gathered speed across the open plain, but after a few minutes of Zidane's constant prompting for her to relax, she found she enjoyed it. How long has it been since I did something new for the fun of it? she wondered, realizing she was yet to find out how much she had truly missed Zidane. They slowed to a walk as they came upon the trees, and after lingering a moment, they entered the glowing realm. The sun was setting, so the light continued to change as they rode leisurely through the wood.
"You wanna dismount?" he asked, momentarily breaking the stillness of the place.
"What about the horses?" she allowed herself the momentary distraction.
"They won't wander far," he answered, dropping to the ground and coming over to help her. "Besides, they'll come when I call them." Once Garnet made it down, the two of them wandered through the enchantment. The warm light from above was steadily being overridden with the cool lights from below. And as the stars came out, their light was magnified in the leaves above, until it seemed the canopy shone with silver. When she stepped upon the ferns, they shed puffs of light.
"Like little pixies," Garnet noted, delighted. Zidane smiled at her enchantment, but the beauty of the forest was lost to him. All he could see was Dagger, the Queen of Alexandria, her dark chocolate eyes full of floria light, her creamy skin picking up the softest of the stars, her black hair dancing in the balmy breezes that wafted through the trees. It was as if she was one with the glory of the place, but at the same time, she was the most glorious piece of it.
"Terra must have been beautiful," she said softly. Her voice merely added to the dreamlike quality of the moment.
"It was…" he confirmed, stepping ever so closer to her. "We'd like to restore Terra's beauty, and return someday. But… in the meantime, we must stay here. We want to establish peace with the Gaians. In Terran tradition, nations would exchange prestigious men and women of their tribes as hostages, to ensure peace. Much like Gaian tradition, as a king would give his daughter to another king's son…" Zidane trailed off trying to organize his thoughts.
"The Terran people would do this for peace?" she asked, catching on.
"Yes, so that we might live without trouble… so that we can restore our planet, our home. That is all they want, and me too… but…" Zidane was trembling.
"But?" she asked after a moment.
"What I really want," he took a deep breath. "Is to be with you. To never worry where you are, because you'd be beside me. To never fear for your safety, for I'd always be protecting you. To never again have to escape to dreams that I might see your hair, your eyes, your body…because, because you'd be sleeping beside me. To never wonder if you'll ever smile again, because I'd be there to make you laugh, Dagger. Or Garnet…or even Sarah… Because Queen of Alexandria, lost summoner, or anything else you might be or ever become, I want to be the only one to share with you… what it means to live." Dagger stood enchanted in the gentle glowing of the forest, watching every bit of him: the youthful face that hid his true maturity, the untamed hair that lifted from his head to play with the zephyrs, even that tail of his that she had always found fascinating. She understood his sentiments, for they were her own. "That's why, Dagger. That's why I'm asking you to marry me."
Even though by this point she was half expecting it, Garnet was completely amazed that he had asked. Absently she wondered if he had really meant to ask just yet, but couldn't hold back. But everything boiled down to her deepest feelings. And, listening to his hard breathing, she stared for an eternity into his eyes. Those cat-like eyes, of the truest cerulean, tonight they seemed to shed a light of their own, much like the foliage around them. After a moment, she realized that she was not even questioning her own answer, but merely recovering her voice.
"Zidane," she smiled, "of course I will."
Rehearsal starts tomorrow. Fanfics do not happen during plays. But I think about one more chapter for this puppy, and I'll try to get it to you soon.
~Enjoy!
Isn't it wonderful?
Two people walking the streets,
Hand in hand.
Oh, I want to go
To your town…
To your house…
Into your arms…
To that chest
I entrust my body.
This evening eludes
The dream I see.
(from "Suteki Da Ne" by Nobuo Uematsu, performed by Rikki, translated by…me!)
Garnet stayed close to Zidane as they disembarked. Several vehicles arrived to meet the ambassadors. They were somewhat similar to the air cabs of Lindblum, but they hovered over the ground at a nearly constant point and were open at the top.
"Our apologies for making you dock out here," Mikoto announced, "but we have no facilities for your ship, and do not expect to have any for months yet to come. But do not fear, Regent, your ship should be quite safe here."
"I do not doubt it, your Ladyship," Cid smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, Regent," Mikoto remembered to smile back. "I do hope you enjoy riding in our hoberas. They are ecologically safe and rather comfortable." The Gaians began to whisper amongst themselves. Zidane hid his smile behind his hand, knowing that the nobles would neither know no care what it meant to be 'ecologically safe.' After momentary consideration, he spoke up.
"By 'ecologically safe'," he explained, "she means that we have taken care to see that they will not do the planet any harm." A lame point, yes, he thought, but a point none-the-less. He quickly took the opportunity to help Garnet into the hover car, taking her to the seat where he knew she'd get the best view. There was something in particular he wanted her to see. Once loaded, the three hoberas picked up speed towards the city, sailing over the plains without ever touching a single blade of emerald green grass. Zidane, however, leaned well over the side to snatch one.
"Rumina," he said, handing it to Garnet, who made a questioning sound. "We have but two varieties at this time," he shrugged. "Buroia and rumina. This is the latter." Garnet smiled, turning the leaflet over in her hand. It was a deep green, and nearly transparent, almost like living glass. Garnet recalled the luminous planet that she had gone to so long ago. It had been dead then… but some of it lived here.
"It almost glows," she alleged.
"It does," Zidane smiled. "All Terran foliage does. Our planet was further from the sun than Gaia. Your plants support you by blocking out the strong light. Ours… made more to add to the weaker sunlight."
"Then why do you need such plants here?" Peter interrupted, with more than a hint of haughtiness in his voice. Garnet cringed at his voice, for she realized then how closely people were watching her actions with the thief genome. Zidane, however, coolly turned up his eyes toward the son of the Count and replied:
"We are of the opinion that a forest should not be a dark and dreary place that spawns foul things." With this, he swept his arm towards a grove of trees that they were approaching. The leaves of the various perennials were mostly shades of green, although many were brilliant yellow and a few were dark red. All the trunks were a shade between white and silver, with the odd red leaved ones bearing a beige hue. The air beneath the canopy bore patches of pale violet mist—stray fog, rather than the evil kind. The forest floor was littered with small ferns, each of which gave off gentle blue and purple light. Between these ferns, the ground was lit as if by stained glass, mostly green. Several large white creatures stood together before the trees, flicking short tails and large ears. As the company approached, they lifted their graceful necks and fled into the trees, seeming to glide as their slender legs only pretended to touch the ground. They disappeared amongst the trees like phantoms as the hoberas passed by.
"Zidane…" Garnet finally caught her breath. "Zidane, what were those?"
"Shika," Zidane answered. "White deer. All of our forest creatures are white, for the same reason yours are dark colors."
"To blend with the light?" Peter rejoined the conversation.
"Exactly," Zidane nodded, feeling a little more lenient towards the man who was steadily losing out. "Although, I do know that we have one black deer. Those are very rare, as you might imagine. He's really gorgeous."
"I thought you Terrans did not like dark things," Peter's sneer was small, but it was there.
"I think that black is the most beautiful of all," Zidane answered, turning his gaze upon Garnet, whose cheeks flushed at such a bold compliment. Peter's eyes also fell upon Garnet's dark hair.
"As do I…" he added, although it was obvious that he felt quite outdone. He cast Garnet a poor attempt at a longing look before returning to his seat.
"Kawaisou na baka," Zidane muttered behind a smile before turning back to look at the rapidly approaching city. Garnet sighed and looked forward again. I never realized how hard it is to get a moment to myself until now… she reminisced. She gasped as she looked upon the city of New Bran Bal. It was mostly white; the streets were a glossy white, the structures the color of champaign and cream, and the trimmings of the houses were either strong warms or faded cools. Here and there were plants not unlike the lustrous flora outside.
"It's so…clean," she told Zidane in awe, but then felt stupid for doing so. But it was true. Even the sites full of construction were incredibly free of blemish.
"Maybe compared to Alexandria," he nodded, "but that will soon change." Garnet had no time to argue with him, for they came upon the capitol, the only building completely finished. It was pure marble, but had all manners of sculpture carved into it. Garnet could think of nothing to say as she looked upon the beautiful craftsmanship. She nearly lost her footing as she left the transport for looking up rather than where she was going. Zidane chuckled as he helped her remain balanced.
"The twelve gods and the nine goddesses of the Roma-Franc," Zidane explained motioning to the twenty-one figures that were carved into the arc of the capital, and, motioning to the figures that lined the stairs, "and the Danan… deities of the Highlander Tribes. One from each tribe."
"Oh," Garnet nodded absently, for now she was looking upon the first step leading to the capitol. She could not read the language written upon it. "Zidane? What does it say?" Zidane looked silently down at the stair for several minutes, then softly:
"The first step to our return… placed in memory of Kuja, who taught us that our fate is ours and ours alone to determine. Forever we will remember your struggles, silver crusader." The pair stood silent for a moment.
"Why…?" Garnet looked at him in confusion.
Zidane sighed, "Remember when I said that I might've done the same thing, had I been in his shoes? That's why. We always remember people from the point of being in their shoes."
"I suppose," Garnet admitted, looking angrily upon the marble stair.
"How do you remember Brahne?" he cut in. Garnet's shoulders fell, but then she looked up at Zidane with a smile:
"I think I understand." The two were interrupted by Mikoto, who raised her voice to announce:
"After you are shown to your rooms, we will arrange a tour, after which dinner will be served. Negotiations resume tomorrow." Zidane silently followed Garnet, the Terran guide, and the servant who bore the queen's luggage into the hotel. Once the Terran smiled and left, and the servant began unpacking, Zidane tapped Garnet's shoulder.
"Hmm?" she turned to face him.
"Excuse me, your highness," his eyes bore that strange light again, "but I think you owe me a date." Garnet laughed as she remembered the silly bet from long ago.
"You certainly aren't one to forgive your debtors, are you?"
"I could get off of your case if we go tonight."
"What about the tour?" Garnet asked, knowing she'd most certainly be missed.
"What?" Zidane put on a hurt expression. "I'm not a good tour guide?"
"I'm sure you're a fine tour guide, you insufferable creature," Garnet teased. "What should I wear?" Zidane's eyes lit up.
"That orange jumpsuit!" he suggested.
"If I have it," she said, hiding a smile. Behind her, the servant cleared her throat. Garnet turned around to have the white blouse and orange suit thrust into her arms, and the servant took off down the hall. "Um, I guess I'll go change…"
"So where to first?"
"The stables," Zidane answered. "I don't fancy doing the whole town on foot."
"Chocobo stables?"
"Oh no…" he shook his head with a smile. "Uma. "
"What's that?" Garnet asked, but Zidane only smiled. "Fine, fine. Keep your secrets." However, Garnet enjoyed savoring the suspense. Nothing was fun all at once. They reached the edge of the city surprisingly soon. The first thing Garnet noticed was the smell, which was unlike anything she'd ever smelled before.
"Howari?" Zidane called.
"Yes?" a Terran male called back, and walked out of the barn carrying…a rake-shaped object.
"I need to borrow two of your babies."
"Right," the Terran snorted, "and I need you to forget it."
"Come on, Howari!" Zidane pleaded. "It's me! And yours are the only ones anywhere!"
"Hmph," he responded, "has she ever even seen one?" Garnet realized he was talking about her.
"Of course not," Zidane continued. "And she really needs to, you know?" The opposing Terran seemed to soften a bit. "And besides, I won't be around much after this."
"You won't bother me after this?" Howari looked suddenly hopeful.
"Exactly!" Zidane nodded. Howari considered for a moment before nodding himself.
"Fine, I'll get Eva out. And I'll suppose you'd like to ride Séth?"
"Sure," Zidane nodded again before motioning Garnet to follow him. "Horses," he explicated once they got inside. Garnet simply stared at the huge creatures—gorgeous, sleek furred animals that stood on four powerful legs.
"Like Odin's mount," Garnet observed. "Only on four legs… and beautiful instead of terrifying."
"Oh, they can be quite terrifying, my dear," Howari assured her, as he haltered a huge black animal.
"Not compared to Sleipnir, they can't," Zidane shook his head. "You really shouldn't argue against things you don't understand, mister disagreeable."
"Whatever," the horse-keeper shrugged. "You can saddle Séth up yourself, right?"
"Sure," Zidane answered, taking the huge, black horse by contraption around its face. The magnificent animal strode meekly behind Garnet's beloved and allowed itself to be tied by him. She watched Zidane place a light contraption on its back, and another one on its face, all the while speaking to it in the Terran language.
"Milady," Howari called from behind her. She turned to be face to face by a white horse with deep blue eyes. "This is Eva, the sweetest thing you'll ever come across. She won't hurt you. Do you need a leg up?"
"A what?" Garnet asked.
"Help getting on," Zidane translated as he mounted the giant, black thing.
"Oh," Garnet said. "Yes, thank you." Howari then demonstrated the "leg up" for her: using his hands as a step more or less rather that having her mount using the stirrup. Garnet had just settled into the saddle when Eva began to move, following Zidane's horse out the door.
"Be quick getting them back, you hear!" Howari called one last time after them. After a lot of explanation and encouragement from Zidane, Garnet quickly got the hang of riding, for Eva was content to trot beside Séth wherever he went. It was quite pleasant, she found, to ride down the streets of this white city upon the back of a white mare. Zidane was having a hard time being a tour guide, for every time he looked back, he saw his Dagger, sitting lightly in the saddle of a mount of pure white, looking every inch the goddess she was. And her unladylike curiosity amused him as much as ever. At one point, they overtook the original touring party. Zidane ignored the nobles completely as he briefly told Garnet about the Research Facility in front of them. Garnet was having a hard time concentrating on what he said, for she kept stealing glances at the other group. She smiled when she noted that the other tour guide was tactfully ignoring them. Once they'd moved on, their horses' footfalls making a delightful sound against the smooth road, Garnet could not resist teasing him some.
"Looks like you've got the entire Terran nation backing your campaign," she giggled.
"More than you know," he confirmed, mysteriously. Garnet said nothing, knowing she'd find out soon enough. And soon, they had covered the whole city.
"Well, it's a bit yet till sunset," Zidane turned back in his seat to look at her, sitting like some sort of fairy on a horse from the Otherworld. It took him a second to regain his train of thought. "Anywhere else?"
"Can we…" she asked softly, "Can we see that forest again?"
"If you're not afraid to ride fast," he answered with a smile. An angel upon a phantom horse in a luminous forest… How often does one see that?
"I am not afraid," Garnet smiled. She was, however, slightly afraid of falling off as the horses gathered speed across the open plain, but after a few minutes of Zidane's constant prompting for her to relax, she found she enjoyed it. How long has it been since I did something new for the fun of it? she wondered, realizing she was yet to find out how much she had truly missed Zidane. They slowed to a walk as they came upon the trees, and after lingering a moment, they entered the glowing realm. The sun was setting, so the light continued to change as they rode leisurely through the wood.
"You wanna dismount?" he asked, momentarily breaking the stillness of the place.
"What about the horses?" she allowed herself the momentary distraction.
"They won't wander far," he answered, dropping to the ground and coming over to help her. "Besides, they'll come when I call them." Once Garnet made it down, the two of them wandered through the enchantment. The warm light from above was steadily being overridden with the cool lights from below. And as the stars came out, their light was magnified in the leaves above, until it seemed the canopy shone with silver. When she stepped upon the ferns, they shed puffs of light.
"Like little pixies," Garnet noted, delighted. Zidane smiled at her enchantment, but the beauty of the forest was lost to him. All he could see was Dagger, the Queen of Alexandria, her dark chocolate eyes full of floria light, her creamy skin picking up the softest of the stars, her black hair dancing in the balmy breezes that wafted through the trees. It was as if she was one with the glory of the place, but at the same time, she was the most glorious piece of it.
"Terra must have been beautiful," she said softly. Her voice merely added to the dreamlike quality of the moment.
"It was…" he confirmed, stepping ever so closer to her. "We'd like to restore Terra's beauty, and return someday. But… in the meantime, we must stay here. We want to establish peace with the Gaians. In Terran tradition, nations would exchange prestigious men and women of their tribes as hostages, to ensure peace. Much like Gaian tradition, as a king would give his daughter to another king's son…" Zidane trailed off trying to organize his thoughts.
"The Terran people would do this for peace?" she asked, catching on.
"Yes, so that we might live without trouble… so that we can restore our planet, our home. That is all they want, and me too… but…" Zidane was trembling.
"But?" she asked after a moment.
"What I really want," he took a deep breath. "Is to be with you. To never worry where you are, because you'd be beside me. To never fear for your safety, for I'd always be protecting you. To never again have to escape to dreams that I might see your hair, your eyes, your body…because, because you'd be sleeping beside me. To never wonder if you'll ever smile again, because I'd be there to make you laugh, Dagger. Or Garnet…or even Sarah… Because Queen of Alexandria, lost summoner, or anything else you might be or ever become, I want to be the only one to share with you… what it means to live." Dagger stood enchanted in the gentle glowing of the forest, watching every bit of him: the youthful face that hid his true maturity, the untamed hair that lifted from his head to play with the zephyrs, even that tail of his that she had always found fascinating. She understood his sentiments, for they were her own. "That's why, Dagger. That's why I'm asking you to marry me."
Even though by this point she was half expecting it, Garnet was completely amazed that he had asked. Absently she wondered if he had really meant to ask just yet, but couldn't hold back. But everything boiled down to her deepest feelings. And, listening to his hard breathing, she stared for an eternity into his eyes. Those cat-like eyes, of the truest cerulean, tonight they seemed to shed a light of their own, much like the foliage around them. After a moment, she realized that she was not even questioning her own answer, but merely recovering her voice.
"Zidane," she smiled, "of course I will."
Rehearsal starts tomorrow. Fanfics do not happen during plays. But I think about one more chapter for this puppy, and I'll try to get it to you soon.