WThe Dragon ChildX
[pic] zidane sits at the bar drinking
his "fire bird cola ". tifa walks in, and sits next
to him.
tifa: did you read the news today?(he shakes
his head. )
zidane: what is it?
tifa: some people are looking for a woman, some
kind of dragon princess.
zidane: sounds boring.
tifa: yeah, i guess you're right... but there
could be some treasure involved.
zidane: (he lifts his head. )huh? does she have
a name?
tifa: tara.(he gasps. )
zidane: hmm.(a girl runs in, and sits next
to them. )who-
phoebe: hi! i'm phoebe. who are you?
zidane: .....
tifa: i'm tifa, and this is zidane.
phoebe: are either of you interested in saving
someone very important to me?
zidane: how? we don't even know you.
tifa: zidane! sure, who is it?
phoebe: her name is tara, she's my friend.
if you do, i'll be very grateful.
tifa: okay.(he ponders. )
zidane: how do we know this isn't
some trick, put up by someone we don't
know!?
phoebe: because it's not, okay!? sheez...
what d' I have t'a do to convince people I'm
not a crook, these days?(both tifa and zidane look
at her with puzzled expressions. )um... well, ya
see, i've been asking everyone today, and they've
all thought i'm evil, so far. so you guys are my
last resort!
tifa: i see that that's a very good point,
zidane.
phoebe: let me show you something. will you
come with me?
zidane: where are you taking us?
phoebe: cloud and squall are at a cave north
of here. i want to show you something there.
the others are there too.
zidane: the others?
phoebe: rinoa, selphie, tifa, aeris, cloud,
blank, eiko, vincent, squall, and yuffie.
zidane: how do you know them?
phoebe: uh.. i've grown up with some of
them.
tifa: come on, zidane!(she gets him in the
position to leave. )
zidane: fine.(they walk out the door. he scoffs.
they arrive at a dertial cave. )tara...
tifa: its okay.(she sees selphie run into
the cave. )
phoebe: let's go.
tifa: is tara in there?
phoebe: no. but you'll see something that you
might be interested in.(they walk in. everyone
waits outside. )
zidane: so what are-
phoebe: shh.
tifa: what is that stone?(she points to a symbolized
stone altar. )
phoebe: its an altar for prayers to
the dragon princess.
zidane:(thinks )oh, i get it. TARA is the
dragon princess.
phoebe:(she raises her arms up. )oh wind
of waters, flame of hell, frozen earth, calm all,
that will recover the souls of beginning lives.
(a holographic image of a woman appears. she has
floor- length dark brown hair, although no floor is
shown, and demon red eyes. her hair is in two long
braids, behind her. tara. )
tara:(holographic image )you can trust phoebe,
zidane. she is very important to me.(a necklace with a
symbolized pendant on it floats out of phoebe's shirt,
and into her right hand. )
phoebe: ah.
tara: please, she is a very valuable friend
to have.(they both nod. )
zidane:(whispers to tifa )vital. what does
she mean by valuable?
tifa:(whispers )don't know.
tara: you must first go confront joel, my tutor and
mentor. he needs it, right now... i must go now. i'm
losing connection.
phoebe: wait! i still need you! i don't know what exactly
to do!(tara disappears. she falls to her knees. )no... (the necklace
floats back under her shirt. )
tifa:(she kneels down next to her. )phoebe, tara said
to confront joel. that's what you've got to
do. confront him.
phoebe: why?
zidane: mm, hmm. we're not sure either, but give
it a try.
phoebe:(nods. )mm, hmm.
tifa: and we'll be there to help you. so, why
worry?
phoebe: tara is only safe, if, i'm safe,
telepathically.
zidane: then, we'll just have to protect you, specially.
phoebe: mm, hmm, okay!
tifa: we should go now. where does joel live,
near here?
phoebe: i think he lives at cerberus lake. he lives
with his brother, tai.
zidane: how would we get there?
phoebe: i think eiko has an airship we could
borrow, at least for a little while.
zidane:(thinks )eiko... and... garnet...!!
tifa: zidane, what's wrong?
zidane: ...huh? n- nothing. i was just thinking.
tifa: well, let's go ask her then. who does she
run it with again?
phoebe: aeris and blank. they volunteered for
work. its aeris' ship, but it used to be blank's.
garnet's there too. but she just wanted to live there.
zidane: aeris volunteered for assisting. blank
drives, and maintains the controls(control room ).
phoebe: eiko should still have stuff for me
to look at, and do.
tifa: like, what?
phoebe: i've always wanted to see what royalty
has. garnet's in particular, namely.
zidane:(thinks )whatever... (talks )let's go.(they
walk out of the cave. )
phoebe: seal the symbol.(the symbol disappears. she walks out
to the others. )
cloud: did tara say anything i should know?
tifa: no. but she did say to visit joel, her mentor. and
confront him.
squall: why? he should be able to confront
himself!
phoebe: i guess he can't stand to know the
truth, so someone else has to tell him.
squall: still......
vincent: the first time, yuffie saw him, she
freaked out... ... heh, heh.
selphie: let's go ask if we can borrow blank's
airship(now ).
zidane: that's what we were doing
here.
phoebe: yeah.
selphie: WE were gonna ask her if we could
go see him, or whatever, anyway.
tifa: you mean you KNEW he has to be confronted!!?
selphie:(smiling animelike )yep!!
zidane: grrr......
rinoa: let's go.(they walk down to the industrial
district, by the docks. phoebe walks down
by the ship. )
phoebe:(nervously )eiko! aeris!? is anybody
there?(blank walks by the edge, rubbing his eyes
sleepily. )
blank: eiko and aeris are out shopping. i
was sleeping!!
phoebe: you're ALways sleeping!!... we were
wondering if we could borrow the airship,
or go with you somewhere(! )?
blank:(he looks off in the near distance, at the
others standing, waiting. )sure! not until they get back
though, okay...?
tifa:(slightly yelling to him )fine.
blank: tifa! how's it goin'? how is mandarin
doin'?
tifa:(she runs over, next to phoebe, facing blank. )
he's okay. how are you, blank?
squall:(he walks over to them. )you make me sick. next
time, you guys wanna play romance, don't bother calling
me, or just to make me sick, if ya want... ...
yuffie: squall!
cloud: do you guys live here? i mean, you
said you were sleeping.
blank: ... two things.. one: people, i think, can
sleep anywhere they want. and second: yeah, this
airship is big enough for us to live in. for the time being.
cloud: oh...
zidane: yo, blank!(he runs over. )how's it goin'?
blank: okay, i guess... i've been living here, ever
since our old man left.
zidane: what ever happened to marcus, or
cinna? four years... right?
blank: cinna opened a coffee shop in cleyra.
marcus is a mechanic in midgar.
zidane: here! the boss gave me this to hand to
you, before he left.(he tosses a key, from around his
neck, to him. he catches it thankfully, still not knowing
what it is. )
blank: what is this?
its a key to the boss' private
stash.
blank: ..... cool... ... why me?(he shrugs. )
phoebe: i wonder what's keeping them, eiko and
aeris, i mean?(a bright light from the cave shines. )huh?
vincent: what's wrong?
tifa: her name is phoebe...
phoebe: you guys stay here.(they all
nod. )i'll be right back.(she walks into
the cave. she looks around. the pendant floats
out of her shirt, and shines. she gasps. )wha? (she
raises her arms up. )... ... calm the wind.
the water... fire... wind, and lightning should
be silenced. fire's flame still burning...(the
holographic image of tara appears. )
tara:(holographic image )you mustn't go with
them. you will be in danger.(she gasps, then scoffs. )
phoebe: (sarcastically )wow, you're so more
helpful when you're a holographic image... so,
what am i supposed to do, while they're gone?
tara: you can stay at relm's house, with me. i've
already talked to her about it.
phoebe: that doesn't answer my question...(she crosses
her arms under her small breasts. )... huh.
tara: i'll be there later, don't worry. there are a lot of
things you can do at relm's house, don't give me that!!!
we'll be waiting for you!!(she disappears. )
phoebe: uh... huh. well, i better might as well tell
everyone.(she walks out of the cave, by them. )
tifa: phoebe, what's wrong? is it tara? did
something happen!?
phoebe:(she shakes her head slowly, slightly sad. )
no... tara said i shouldn't come with you, or i'll be in
danger. that's all...!!
cloud: that's all!? i don't think there's any difference
the two facts that, if you were to come with us, you'd
be in danger, and if you weren't, and be in danger!! besides,
if you came with us, you'd have us to protect you
through it all.
phoebe: yeah, but, uh- if i stayed, i'd have tara
to protect me, gundam's child.
selphie: that's a lot of protection......
cloud: good point.....
zidane: well, what do YOU want to do,
phoebe...?
phoebe: i wanna go with, but i have to obey
tara's orders. especially since she told me to stay
with her and relm, in particular.
yuffie: um... ya can't go against that, i
guess... heh, heh. where are you staying?
phoebe: they're both waiting for me at relm's
home...
squall:(thinks )then i wish i were staying... just
to hear her voice...(eiko runs onto the ship, panicked
and out of breath. she turns to everyone, now standing
at the base of the ship. )
eiko: blank!! its aeris! sh- she's- i think she's
lost her voice!(everyone gasps. tears start to
form in cloud's eyes. )
blank: where is she!!?
eiko: follow me!(they run to a barren field, where
aeris is sitting on her knees, crying. )
cloud: aeris!!!
aeris: ........(she grabs cloud's ankles, hesitates, then
lets go. he kneels down next to her. )
cloud: don't worry. you'll get your voice back. its too
beautiful to stay gone forever. i love you.(she smiles. )
rinoa yuffie:(slightly swaying )awww.....
phoebe: i'll take her to relm's home, with me. tara can make
herbs for her there, to help give her voice back to her.(cloud
stands up. he helps aeris up, by taking her hand in his, keeping
it there for a moment. )
blank: let's get back to the ship. let's go.
you, phoebe, should go too.
phoebe:(seeing aeris' hand in cloud's )o- okay...(she
takes aeris' hand in hers, and walks away, aeris smiling
back at cloud, with tears in her eyes, and down her face. )
selphie:(they arrive back onto the (air )ship. )irvine
was supposed to come with us.
rinoa: so was zell...
blank: well, that's less to carry. we can't
have too many people, or the ship might get too
heavy to operate.
selphie: you're right.
vincent: squall, what's wrong, you've been dazed
out for awhile...?
squall: oh, its n- nothing.(squall and cloud
look at each other. )
zidane: i remembering when garnet lost her voice,
but it turned out, she was... faking it.(she scoffs,
and crosses her arms over her breasts. )
cloud: just what are you accusing her of?
zidane: ... nothing... just... nothing.
cloud: hmm.
blank: well, shall we be off?(he starts
off the airship. cloud and squall stand on
the deck, talking. everyone else, but blank, driving,
is inside, supposedly in their rooms. )
squall: cloud, i have a question...
cloud: what is it?
squall: uh... when you and tara were on that
journey, was she... pregnant?
cloud:(he shrugs his shoulders. )i don't think
so... are you saying you think i made tara pregnant, and
phoebe is tara's and my daughter!?
squall: just the second part, about phoebe
being tara's daughter, but not yours. why? don't
you?
cloud: well... maybe. she sure is mysterious,
though. but i still doubt it.
squall: what is being mysterious have to do with
tara!?
cloud: tara has a lot of secrets, and both you, and i,
know it.
squall: ......
cloud: why don't we just get some sleep?
squall: fine, with me.
[pic] the next morning, they arrive
at cerberus hills. meanwhile, at relm's
house.....
tara: phoebe, i feel great exasperation, and
sorrow for aeris' loss.
phoebe: i don't think she wants your sorrow, tara.
good thing she's sleeping... cloud and her love each
other too much, for aeris to hear this conversation we're
having.
relm: i can imagine how he must feel
right now. aeris too.
phoebe: i can feel inside that she'll get it back soon,
for sure!
tara: of course you can, relm!! you spy on people all
the time, what, with that telepathy of yours!!! that makes
me very upset...!!!
relm: what!!? this time, i'm doing it because i love
aeris!! i swear! i really want to know how she feels...!!
(she has a sensitive, serious, determined face, looking
into tara's eyes. tara has the same look, except without
the determination. )i don't think she's faking it, like
garnet did, when she lost her voice. (the look on tara's
face disappears. )
tara: relm!!! you were never told that, from
anyone! ...?
relm: exactly!
phoebe: and zidane never told that to
you, actually alot of people, for that matter!
tara: you were spying on zidane, weren't you!!?
relm: it's nice passtime, actually. besides,
it beats teasing guys.
tara: i don't care if all you do your whole life is
tease guys, you are never ever again spying on
anyone!! is that clear!?
relm: yes.
tara: spying is very wrong, prying into
other people's personal lives is very wrong.
besides, one day you might interfere in something
that can wind you up, dead.
phoebe: yes, mum.
relm: mum!!!?
tara: just a name, because i act as though
i am her mother.
relm: oh, alright! ... you wanna know what squall
is doing, right now?
tara: well, okay... ... but i'm not spying!
relm:(whispering to herself )sure ya aren't...
tara: WHAT- was that!!?
relm: nothing! he's thinking-
tara: you read his thoughts, too? how dare you....
relm: well, i had to see if he was thinking
about you... ...he is.(tara's expression slightly
lightens. )he wishes to stay so he can hear your voice
over and over again.
phoebe: how sweet.
tara: squall...(aeris walks downstairs, rubbing
her forehead, sleepily. ) hello aeris. nice to see you up
and feeling better, right?(she nods in response. )
phoebe: i'm gonna go for a walk.(tara nods in response
as a 'yes '. )see you both, later, bye aeris!(aeris waves, as if
to dismiss her. she waves back, and leaves out the door. )
aeris: ........
[pic] meanwhile, the airship settles
at cerberus hills. everyone walks off.
selphie: that was one helluva trip...(she
falls to her knees, exasperated. )
rinoa: i'll say.(she falls on (top of )selphie. )
selphie: owww, ah, geroff, geroff, geroff!!!(rinoa
rolls over, off of selphie, panting, laying on her
back. they both lean on their hands, with their arms
behind them. )
eiko: come on, you guys! get up!
selphie: easy for you to say! life was so
much easier when i was seventeen. ...actually... no,
it wasn't. heh..
rinoa: yeah, hold on eiko!!(they both stand
up. )
blank: you guys have fun, and say hi to tai
for me!
tifa: you mean- you're not coming with
us?(he shakes his head. )
vincent: well... peace.(he walks away, towards
a wooden house; joel's. yuffie runs after him. )
zidane: see ya when i see ya!(he walks
to where vincent and yuffie are walking, with
tifa. )
blank: how 'bout never?
squall: bye.(cloud, him, and garnet walk to the house,
with rinoa. )
[pic] oops, sorry for the inconvenience. i accidentally
skipped a page. heh, heh. _/ ^o_o^ \_
eiko: buh- bye!
selphie: bye! see you later, blank! nice meeting
you!(they run off together, following the others. )
blank: hey, its not like this is the last time we're
gonna see each other, guys! heh, heh. bye!... ...you too!
(whispers )... selphie.
vincent: so where does this guy live, anyway?
did she tell you?
tifa: we know... she told us earlier. phoebe.
eiko: its not that far from here.
selphie: why couldn't we just fly there, on
the ship?
yuffie: yeah, why did we land so far away
from cerberus lake, where he actually lives!?
instead of tire ourselves out a lot... ...?
eiko: the airship can't make it over the CERberus hills,
ya know. its cerberus hills!! besides, blank's tired..!
rinoa: huh...(she sighs heavilly. )
[pic] meanwhile, phoebe walks down a street,
thinking to herself, as usual.
phoebe:(thinks )maybe aeris is faking it. i don't
know... she could. but that's not like her, at all. i
still can't make any reason why tara didn't want me
to come with them. i'm strong, just like anybody
else... ...i can fight danger...
[pic] a black limousine, with two men
dressed in black, one in the back, and
the other driving, drives up. the man in
the back grabs her, and pulls her in the car.
phoebe:(she tries to scream, but the man
covers her mouth, with his hand. she bites him. )
man #2: you little bitch!(she crosses her
arms under her small breasts, and scoffs, then
then snickers. )what's your name?
phoebe: none of your damn business! you let me
go!!
man #1: you can be very valuable to
us.(she continues to scoff. )
man #2: she already is.
phoebe:(thinks )yeah, right...(they drive
away. )(talking )whatever...
[pic] meanwhile, tara, relm, and aeris
sit in relm's livingroom talking.
relm: i'm worried about phoebe. she's late for
her curfew. i don't like this.
tara: aeris is worried too. right, aeris?
(she nods. )
relm: i know.
aeris: .......
[pic] meanwhile, they arrive at
cerberus lake, finally. eiko knocks on the door.
eiko: hello!? anyone home!?(a man opens the
door. he has long white hair in a braid, at the moment.
he leans against the doorway. )
man: yeah?
vincent: are you, tai?
almasy: tai's not here. if you're looking
for joel, he went out. i'm almasy, anyway.
rinoa: where is joel anyway, almasy?
almasy: he went to look for haley, but i
don't think haley is down the hill. wasting time,
as usual..
eiko: you know him, rino!!?(she nods solemnly. )
rinoa: so he's down by the lake, huh? well,
thanks, almasy.
almasy: no problem rin...(they walk down the
hill. he closes the door behind them, as he walks back
in the house... ...joel is sitting by the water, next
to the lake. )
joel:(facing the lake )yes? here to confront
me? the dragon princess sent you, didn't she?
tifa: yes, she did, and we ARE here to confront
you, but- how did you know?
joel: she told me.
yuffie: when?
joel: we have a telekinetic link to each
other. why do you ask?
yuffie: no reason, just th- we haven't seen
her since she sent us, that's all, ah, heh, heh...
joel: ...!?
vincent: are we wasting time, or do you
really need confrontation?
joel: of course you're wasting your time. phoebe
is in trouble, right now, and out of tara's grasp. she
doesn't know..
tifa: then why don't you tell her in your
minds!? you said you had telekinetic links!!
joel: yes! don't you think i would!? but i don't want
to contact tara until i know phoebe's exact location!!!
tifa: oh, i'm- sorry.....
joel: 's okay. you should go try to find her, i'm
fine. oh, and- if you ever see haley soon, please
tell her to stop leaving me those awful notes!!
garnet: huh!?(everyone, but joel, have enigmatic looks
on their faces. )
joel: i'll explain it to you all, when you come
back. i want you to, alright?(they all nod. ) all
of you are welcome here anytime, and friends
of yours are as well, as ours..!!
garnet: thank you very much. we appreciate this
all.(they all, except joel and selphie, run back to the
airship, and walk on. )
selphie: thanks, joel...!!!(she runs after the others, and
arrives onto the deck. )
blank: what happened?
cloud: phoebe is in that danger, we were
talkin' about earlier!
blank: i guess the only thing we can do, is- do
you know where she is!?
zidane: that's the other, of two, problem. no, we don't.
eiko: then let's go to tara's house, and inform them. if
joel isn't gonna do it, then i will!!
blank: fine, let's go.(thinks )its like i'm a puppet
o' somethin'! man...!! they're tellin' me what t'a d'
here.(he starts the ship up, and heads toward siren
creek. )(thinks )phoebe...
selphie: this is getting too fast for me. i'm
staying when you guys go in. i'll rest for now!
(she walks downstairs into her bedroom on the ship.
(everyone has their own room on the ship, even if
they don't work there, or live there, neither. ))
rinoa: i'm staying with her. who else?
vincent: i'm staying.
zidane: me too.
tifa: zidane, aren't you coming?
zidane: i better stay, and help vincent protect
the girls.
tifa: whatever.
vincent: i have two things to say to
that. number one: i don't need any help, and
two: i don't even think the girls need much protection,
i mean, they can protect themselves, you know.
zidane: yah, make me look like the bad guy here...! grrr.
[pic] they arrive at relm's home, in siren creek. the
air is rarely ever fresh anywhere else. garnet knocks
on the door.
cloud: please, answer!
squall: answer, dammit!
garnet: squall!(aeris opens the door, and
stand in the doorway. she spots cloud suddenly
looking sad for her. )
aeris: hi! cloud!!(she eagerly hug him, tight. he
gasps lightly, and slightly backs away. )
cloud: aeris! you have your voice
back!(she nods happily. they walk in, and
sit down on the couches and chairs, in the
livingroom. tara and relm are sitting on a
couch in the corner. )
tara: what are you-
tifa: phoebe's missing. joel told us!
tara: i was afraid this would happen, and-(slightly crying )
that's why i didn't want her coming with you, although now
i see she should've... i suppose i received the
wrong message from the heavens.
relm: what's wrong? she told us she was
going for a walk, and you let her.
tara:(still slightly crying )its all my fault. i let
her go...(squall walks over by her. )
squall:(he puts his left arm around her shoulders,
and slightly her neck. )no, its not your fault...
(whispers to her )um, by the way, could you join
me and cloud in the kitchen?
tara:(whispers to him )uh... sure.(cloud overhears on
purpose, and joins them in the kitchen. )what is it?
cloud: um... is phoebe your child?(she puts
her hand over mouth, and laughs. )
tara: hah, hah, hah! you thought i- hah, hah. that
is ridiculous. she's just my very important friend.
cloud:(to squall )see, i told you...!
squall: heh..
tara: you mean, squall, you thought phoebe was
my daughter!?
squall: a little.
tara: well, i assure you, that i am not.(they walk back
in the livingroom. )
relm: tifa told us what went on, and we're going
with them. besides, i'll be able to check back up on things
here, occassionally.
aeris: yeah, and you're not stopping
us, tara. please.
squall: fine, we don't mind.
cloud: i'm glad you're coming, aeris.
aeris: me too, of course. oh, and cloud? when you told me,
i couldn't answer back.
cloud: i know... ...you love me too.
squall: huh...(aeris giggles. )
relm: wait! tara! you should stay here. you
need to be protected too, but more, and the aura
around your home is your most powerufl means
of it!
tara: you're very right... ... phoebe's already gone because
of me...
relm: that's not what i meant!! stop blaming yourself!!
tara: i'll try to send joel to stay with
me. thank you, relm.
relm: no prob' for my big sis'!(everyone looks at her
in confusement. )she acts as though she's my big
sister, what!?(everyone nods, and drops the expressions. )
more protection tara, if you have joel! bye!(tara walks over
to squall. )
tara:(whispers in his ear )i'm not pregnant, now,
but you'll know, when i am.(she kisses him on the
cheek, brushing his lips.(they all leave, except
for tara, and board the airship. blank lifts off. )
selphie:(now standing on the deck, with everyone
else who stayed )uh....(she runs to the edge of the
ship, and leans her elbows on the railing in front of her.
she throws up. )
relm: what's with her?
vincent: she doesn't feel well. she is air- and sea,
sick.
rinoa: heh, heh.(yuffie runs five feet away from selphie,
leans on the railing, and throws up, as well. )
zidane: she's hopeless...
cloud: let's go.
eiko: i thought tara was gonna come
with...?
cloud squall: ......
relm: i was being protective, for her
sake.
rinoa: you told her to stay?(she nods solemnly.
selphie walks back over to them. )
selphie:(illsounding )smart... we need her!(she lays on
vincent's bare chest.(he is wearing dark purple leather
pants. ))
vincent:(he smiles. )heh, heh, heh.
squall: poor selphie...(aeris leans
down next to her, and strokes her hair. )
vincent: yuffie, aren't you air sick too?
yuffie:(half puking )uh huh...
vincent: hee hee.(he smirks. )
[pic] later that night, inside the ship, squall and cloud
talk, in cloud's room.
squall: today was a long day!... ...
cloud: uh huh...(he slightly sighs heavilly. )
squall: i have something to tell you,
cloud...(he lifts his head. )
cloud: what is it?
squall: don't tell anyone, alright?(he slightly nods
solemnly. )i had a really disturbing dream... rather
nightmare, last night...
cloud: what was it about?
squall: tara and i were standing in a dark
room. she kissed my lips, then smiled. but
then, she stabbed me in the gut, with my gunblade.
she was drinking the blood that poured out of
my mouth. i woke up, after that.
cloud: disturbing... ...uh... well let's just get to sleep.(he
pats him on the back. )its okay... it was just
a dream anyway.(he shuts off the light in the room, and
lays down in his bed. squall lays in his, and
they both fall fast asleep. )
[pic] in the middle of the night, squall
wakes up screaming, and in a cold sweat... ...
[pic]the end...
end: chapter 1- prayer of the dragon
princess;
beginning: chapter 2- prayer of the
dragon princess;
[pic] zidane sits at the bar drinking
his "fire bird cola ". tifa walks in, and sits next
to him.
tifa: did you read the news today?(he shakes
his head. )
zidane: what is it?
tifa: some people are looking for a woman, some
kind of dragon princess.
zidane: sounds boring.
tifa: yeah, i guess you're right... but there
could be some treasure involved.
zidane: (he lifts his head. )huh? does she have
a name?
tifa: tara.(he gasps. )
zidane: hmm.(a girl runs in, and sits next
to them. )who-
phoebe: hi! i'm phoebe. who are you?
zidane: .....
tifa: i'm tifa, and this is zidane.
phoebe: are either of you interested in saving
someone very important to me?
zidane: how? we don't even know you.
tifa: zidane! sure, who is it?
phoebe: her name is tara, she's my friend.
if you do, i'll be very grateful.
tifa: okay.(he ponders. )
zidane: how do we know this isn't
some trick, put up by someone we don't
know!?
phoebe: because it's not, okay!? sheez...
what d' I have t'a do to convince people I'm
not a crook, these days?(both tifa and zidane look
at her with puzzled expressions. )um... well, ya
see, i've been asking everyone today, and they've
all thought i'm evil, so far. so you guys are my
last resort!
tifa: i see that that's a very good point,
zidane.
phoebe: let me show you something. will you
come with me?
zidane: where are you taking us?
phoebe: cloud and squall are at a cave north
of here. i want to show you something there.
the others are there too.
zidane: the others?
phoebe: rinoa, selphie, tifa, aeris, cloud,
blank, eiko, vincent, squall, and yuffie.
zidane: how do you know them?
phoebe: uh.. i've grown up with some of
them.
tifa: come on, zidane!(she gets him in the
position to leave. )
zidane: fine.(they walk out the door. he scoffs.
they arrive at a dertial cave. )tara...
tifa: its okay.(she sees selphie run into
the cave. )
phoebe: let's go.
tifa: is tara in there?
phoebe: no. but you'll see something that you
might be interested in.(they walk in. everyone
waits outside. )
zidane: so what are-
phoebe: shh.
tifa: what is that stone?(she points to a symbolized
stone altar. )
phoebe: its an altar for prayers to
the dragon princess.
zidane:(thinks )oh, i get it. TARA is the
dragon princess.
phoebe:(she raises her arms up. )oh wind
of waters, flame of hell, frozen earth, calm all,
that will recover the souls of beginning lives.
(a holographic image of a woman appears. she has
floor- length dark brown hair, although no floor is
shown, and demon red eyes. her hair is in two long
braids, behind her. tara. )
tara:(holographic image )you can trust phoebe,
zidane. she is very important to me.(a necklace with a
symbolized pendant on it floats out of phoebe's shirt,
and into her right hand. )
phoebe: ah.
tara: please, she is a very valuable friend
to have.(they both nod. )
zidane:(whispers to tifa )vital. what does
she mean by valuable?
tifa:(whispers )don't know.
tara: you must first go confront joel, my tutor and
mentor. he needs it, right now... i must go now. i'm
losing connection.
phoebe: wait! i still need you! i don't know what exactly
to do!(tara disappears. she falls to her knees. )no... (the necklace
floats back under her shirt. )
tifa:(she kneels down next to her. )phoebe, tara said
to confront joel. that's what you've got to
do. confront him.
phoebe: why?
zidane: mm, hmm. we're not sure either, but give
it a try.
phoebe:(nods. )mm, hmm.
tifa: and we'll be there to help you. so, why
worry?
phoebe: tara is only safe, if, i'm safe,
telepathically.
zidane: then, we'll just have to protect you, specially.
phoebe: mm, hmm, okay!
tifa: we should go now. where does joel live,
near here?
phoebe: i think he lives at cerberus lake. he lives
with his brother, tai.
zidane: how would we get there?
phoebe: i think eiko has an airship we could
borrow, at least for a little while.
zidane:(thinks )eiko... and... garnet...!!
tifa: zidane, what's wrong?
zidane: ...huh? n- nothing. i was just thinking.
tifa: well, let's go ask her then. who does she
run it with again?
phoebe: aeris and blank. they volunteered for
work. its aeris' ship, but it used to be blank's.
garnet's there too. but she just wanted to live there.
zidane: aeris volunteered for assisting. blank
drives, and maintains the controls(control room ).
phoebe: eiko should still have stuff for me
to look at, and do.
tifa: like, what?
phoebe: i've always wanted to see what royalty
has. garnet's in particular, namely.
zidane:(thinks )whatever... (talks )let's go.(they
walk out of the cave. )
phoebe: seal the symbol.(the symbol disappears. she walks out
to the others. )
cloud: did tara say anything i should know?
tifa: no. but she did say to visit joel, her mentor. and
confront him.
squall: why? he should be able to confront
himself!
phoebe: i guess he can't stand to know the
truth, so someone else has to tell him.
squall: still......
vincent: the first time, yuffie saw him, she
freaked out... ... heh, heh.
selphie: let's go ask if we can borrow blank's
airship(now ).
zidane: that's what we were doing
here.
phoebe: yeah.
selphie: WE were gonna ask her if we could
go see him, or whatever, anyway.
tifa: you mean you KNEW he has to be confronted!!?
selphie:(smiling animelike )yep!!
zidane: grrr......
rinoa: let's go.(they walk down to the industrial
district, by the docks. phoebe walks down
by the ship. )
phoebe:(nervously )eiko! aeris!? is anybody
there?(blank walks by the edge, rubbing his eyes
sleepily. )
blank: eiko and aeris are out shopping. i
was sleeping!!
phoebe: you're ALways sleeping!!... we were
wondering if we could borrow the airship,
or go with you somewhere(! )?
blank:(he looks off in the near distance, at the
others standing, waiting. )sure! not until they get back
though, okay...?
tifa:(slightly yelling to him )fine.
blank: tifa! how's it goin'? how is mandarin
doin'?
tifa:(she runs over, next to phoebe, facing blank. )
he's okay. how are you, blank?
squall:(he walks over to them. )you make me sick. next
time, you guys wanna play romance, don't bother calling
me, or just to make me sick, if ya want... ...
yuffie: squall!
cloud: do you guys live here? i mean, you
said you were sleeping.
blank: ... two things.. one: people, i think, can
sleep anywhere they want. and second: yeah, this
airship is big enough for us to live in. for the time being.
cloud: oh...
zidane: yo, blank!(he runs over. )how's it goin'?
blank: okay, i guess... i've been living here, ever
since our old man left.
zidane: what ever happened to marcus, or
cinna? four years... right?
blank: cinna opened a coffee shop in cleyra.
marcus is a mechanic in midgar.
zidane: here! the boss gave me this to hand to
you, before he left.(he tosses a key, from around his
neck, to him. he catches it thankfully, still not knowing
what it is. )
blank: what is this?
its a key to the boss' private
stash.
blank: ..... cool... ... why me?(he shrugs. )
phoebe: i wonder what's keeping them, eiko and
aeris, i mean?(a bright light from the cave shines. )huh?
vincent: what's wrong?
tifa: her name is phoebe...
phoebe: you guys stay here.(they all
nod. )i'll be right back.(she walks into
the cave. she looks around. the pendant floats
out of her shirt, and shines. she gasps. )wha? (she
raises her arms up. )... ... calm the wind.
the water... fire... wind, and lightning should
be silenced. fire's flame still burning...(the
holographic image of tara appears. )
tara:(holographic image )you mustn't go with
them. you will be in danger.(she gasps, then scoffs. )
phoebe: (sarcastically )wow, you're so more
helpful when you're a holographic image... so,
what am i supposed to do, while they're gone?
tara: you can stay at relm's house, with me. i've
already talked to her about it.
phoebe: that doesn't answer my question...(she crosses
her arms under her small breasts. )... huh.
tara: i'll be there later, don't worry. there are a lot of
things you can do at relm's house, don't give me that!!!
we'll be waiting for you!!(she disappears. )
phoebe: uh... huh. well, i better might as well tell
everyone.(she walks out of the cave, by them. )
tifa: phoebe, what's wrong? is it tara? did
something happen!?
phoebe:(she shakes her head slowly, slightly sad. )
no... tara said i shouldn't come with you, or i'll be in
danger. that's all...!!
cloud: that's all!? i don't think there's any difference
the two facts that, if you were to come with us, you'd
be in danger, and if you weren't, and be in danger!! besides,
if you came with us, you'd have us to protect you
through it all.
phoebe: yeah, but, uh- if i stayed, i'd have tara
to protect me, gundam's child.
selphie: that's a lot of protection......
cloud: good point.....
zidane: well, what do YOU want to do,
phoebe...?
phoebe: i wanna go with, but i have to obey
tara's orders. especially since she told me to stay
with her and relm, in particular.
yuffie: um... ya can't go against that, i
guess... heh, heh. where are you staying?
phoebe: they're both waiting for me at relm's
home...
squall:(thinks )then i wish i were staying... just
to hear her voice...(eiko runs onto the ship, panicked
and out of breath. she turns to everyone, now standing
at the base of the ship. )
eiko: blank!! its aeris! sh- she's- i think she's
lost her voice!(everyone gasps. tears start to
form in cloud's eyes. )
blank: where is she!!?
eiko: follow me!(they run to a barren field, where
aeris is sitting on her knees, crying. )
cloud: aeris!!!
aeris: ........(she grabs cloud's ankles, hesitates, then
lets go. he kneels down next to her. )
cloud: don't worry. you'll get your voice back. its too
beautiful to stay gone forever. i love you.(she smiles. )
rinoa yuffie:(slightly swaying )awww.....
phoebe: i'll take her to relm's home, with me. tara can make
herbs for her there, to help give her voice back to her.(cloud
stands up. he helps aeris up, by taking her hand in his, keeping
it there for a moment. )
blank: let's get back to the ship. let's go.
you, phoebe, should go too.
phoebe:(seeing aeris' hand in cloud's )o- okay...(she
takes aeris' hand in hers, and walks away, aeris smiling
back at cloud, with tears in her eyes, and down her face. )
selphie:(they arrive back onto the (air )ship. )irvine
was supposed to come with us.
rinoa: so was zell...
blank: well, that's less to carry. we can't
have too many people, or the ship might get too
heavy to operate.
selphie: you're right.
vincent: squall, what's wrong, you've been dazed
out for awhile...?
squall: oh, its n- nothing.(squall and cloud
look at each other. )
zidane: i remembering when garnet lost her voice,
but it turned out, she was... faking it.(she scoffs,
and crosses her arms over her breasts. )
cloud: just what are you accusing her of?
zidane: ... nothing... just... nothing.
cloud: hmm.
blank: well, shall we be off?(he starts
off the airship. cloud and squall stand on
the deck, talking. everyone else, but blank, driving,
is inside, supposedly in their rooms. )
squall: cloud, i have a question...
cloud: what is it?
squall: uh... when you and tara were on that
journey, was she... pregnant?
cloud:(he shrugs his shoulders. )i don't think
so... are you saying you think i made tara pregnant, and
phoebe is tara's and my daughter!?
squall: just the second part, about phoebe
being tara's daughter, but not yours. why? don't
you?
cloud: well... maybe. she sure is mysterious,
though. but i still doubt it.
squall: what is being mysterious have to do with
tara!?
cloud: tara has a lot of secrets, and both you, and i,
know it.
squall: ......
cloud: why don't we just get some sleep?
squall: fine, with me.
[pic] the next morning, they arrive
at cerberus hills. meanwhile, at relm's
house.....
tara: phoebe, i feel great exasperation, and
sorrow for aeris' loss.
phoebe: i don't think she wants your sorrow, tara.
good thing she's sleeping... cloud and her love each
other too much, for aeris to hear this conversation we're
having.
relm: i can imagine how he must feel
right now. aeris too.
phoebe: i can feel inside that she'll get it back soon,
for sure!
tara: of course you can, relm!! you spy on people all
the time, what, with that telepathy of yours!!! that makes
me very upset...!!!
relm: what!!? this time, i'm doing it because i love
aeris!! i swear! i really want to know how she feels...!!
(she has a sensitive, serious, determined face, looking
into tara's eyes. tara has the same look, except without
the determination. )i don't think she's faking it, like
garnet did, when she lost her voice. (the look on tara's
face disappears. )
tara: relm!!! you were never told that, from
anyone! ...?
relm: exactly!
phoebe: and zidane never told that to
you, actually alot of people, for that matter!
tara: you were spying on zidane, weren't you!!?
relm: it's nice passtime, actually. besides,
it beats teasing guys.
tara: i don't care if all you do your whole life is
tease guys, you are never ever again spying on
anyone!! is that clear!?
relm: yes.
tara: spying is very wrong, prying into
other people's personal lives is very wrong.
besides, one day you might interfere in something
that can wind you up, dead.
phoebe: yes, mum.
relm: mum!!!?
tara: just a name, because i act as though
i am her mother.
relm: oh, alright! ... you wanna know what squall
is doing, right now?
tara: well, okay... ... but i'm not spying!
relm:(whispering to herself )sure ya aren't...
tara: WHAT- was that!!?
relm: nothing! he's thinking-
tara: you read his thoughts, too? how dare you....
relm: well, i had to see if he was thinking
about you... ...he is.(tara's expression slightly
lightens. )he wishes to stay so he can hear your voice
over and over again.
phoebe: how sweet.
tara: squall...(aeris walks downstairs, rubbing
her forehead, sleepily. ) hello aeris. nice to see you up
and feeling better, right?(she nods in response. )
phoebe: i'm gonna go for a walk.(tara nods in response
as a 'yes '. )see you both, later, bye aeris!(aeris waves, as if
to dismiss her. she waves back, and leaves out the door. )
aeris: ........
[pic] meanwhile, the airship settles
at cerberus hills. everyone walks off.
selphie: that was one helluva trip...(she
falls to her knees, exasperated. )
rinoa: i'll say.(she falls on (top of )selphie. )
selphie: owww, ah, geroff, geroff, geroff!!!(rinoa
rolls over, off of selphie, panting, laying on her
back. they both lean on their hands, with their arms
behind them. )
eiko: come on, you guys! get up!
selphie: easy for you to say! life was so
much easier when i was seventeen. ...actually... no,
it wasn't. heh..
rinoa: yeah, hold on eiko!!(they both stand
up. )
blank: you guys have fun, and say hi to tai
for me!
tifa: you mean- you're not coming with
us?(he shakes his head. )
vincent: well... peace.(he walks away, towards
a wooden house; joel's. yuffie runs after him. )
zidane: see ya when i see ya!(he walks
to where vincent and yuffie are walking, with
tifa. )
blank: how 'bout never?
squall: bye.(cloud, him, and garnet walk to the house,
with rinoa. )
[pic] oops, sorry for the inconvenience. i accidentally
skipped a page. heh, heh. _/ ^o_o^ \_
eiko: buh- bye!
selphie: bye! see you later, blank! nice meeting
you!(they run off together, following the others. )
blank: hey, its not like this is the last time we're
gonna see each other, guys! heh, heh. bye!... ...you too!
(whispers )... selphie.
vincent: so where does this guy live, anyway?
did she tell you?
tifa: we know... she told us earlier. phoebe.
eiko: its not that far from here.
selphie: why couldn't we just fly there, on
the ship?
yuffie: yeah, why did we land so far away
from cerberus lake, where he actually lives!?
instead of tire ourselves out a lot... ...?
eiko: the airship can't make it over the CERberus hills,
ya know. its cerberus hills!! besides, blank's tired..!
rinoa: huh...(she sighs heavilly. )
[pic] meanwhile, phoebe walks down a street,
thinking to herself, as usual.
phoebe:(thinks )maybe aeris is faking it. i don't
know... she could. but that's not like her, at all. i
still can't make any reason why tara didn't want me
to come with them. i'm strong, just like anybody
else... ...i can fight danger...
[pic] a black limousine, with two men
dressed in black, one in the back, and
the other driving, drives up. the man in
the back grabs her, and pulls her in the car.
phoebe:(she tries to scream, but the man
covers her mouth, with his hand. she bites him. )
man #2: you little bitch!(she crosses her
arms under her small breasts, and scoffs, then
then snickers. )what's your name?
phoebe: none of your damn business! you let me
go!!
man #1: you can be very valuable to
us.(she continues to scoff. )
man #2: she already is.
phoebe:(thinks )yeah, right...(they drive
away. )(talking )whatever...
[pic] meanwhile, tara, relm, and aeris
sit in relm's livingroom talking.
relm: i'm worried about phoebe. she's late for
her curfew. i don't like this.
tara: aeris is worried too. right, aeris?
(she nods. )
relm: i know.
aeris: .......
[pic] meanwhile, they arrive at
cerberus lake, finally. eiko knocks on the door.
eiko: hello!? anyone home!?(a man opens the
door. he has long white hair in a braid, at the moment.
he leans against the doorway. )
man: yeah?
vincent: are you, tai?
almasy: tai's not here. if you're looking
for joel, he went out. i'm almasy, anyway.
rinoa: where is joel anyway, almasy?
almasy: he went to look for haley, but i
don't think haley is down the hill. wasting time,
as usual..
eiko: you know him, rino!!?(she nods solemnly. )
rinoa: so he's down by the lake, huh? well,
thanks, almasy.
almasy: no problem rin...(they walk down the
hill. he closes the door behind them, as he walks back
in the house... ...joel is sitting by the water, next
to the lake. )
joel:(facing the lake )yes? here to confront
me? the dragon princess sent you, didn't she?
tifa: yes, she did, and we ARE here to confront
you, but- how did you know?
joel: she told me.
yuffie: when?
joel: we have a telekinetic link to each
other. why do you ask?
yuffie: no reason, just th- we haven't seen
her since she sent us, that's all, ah, heh, heh...
joel: ...!?
vincent: are we wasting time, or do you
really need confrontation?
joel: of course you're wasting your time. phoebe
is in trouble, right now, and out of tara's grasp. she
doesn't know..
tifa: then why don't you tell her in your
minds!? you said you had telekinetic links!!
joel: yes! don't you think i would!? but i don't want
to contact tara until i know phoebe's exact location!!!
tifa: oh, i'm- sorry.....
joel: 's okay. you should go try to find her, i'm
fine. oh, and- if you ever see haley soon, please
tell her to stop leaving me those awful notes!!
garnet: huh!?(everyone, but joel, have enigmatic looks
on their faces. )
joel: i'll explain it to you all, when you come
back. i want you to, alright?(they all nod. ) all
of you are welcome here anytime, and friends
of yours are as well, as ours..!!
garnet: thank you very much. we appreciate this
all.(they all, except joel and selphie, run back to the
airship, and walk on. )
selphie: thanks, joel...!!!(she runs after the others, and
arrives onto the deck. )
blank: what happened?
cloud: phoebe is in that danger, we were
talkin' about earlier!
blank: i guess the only thing we can do, is- do
you know where she is!?
zidane: that's the other, of two, problem. no, we don't.
eiko: then let's go to tara's house, and inform them. if
joel isn't gonna do it, then i will!!
blank: fine, let's go.(thinks )its like i'm a puppet
o' somethin'! man...!! they're tellin' me what t'a d'
here.(he starts the ship up, and heads toward siren
creek. )(thinks )phoebe...
selphie: this is getting too fast for me. i'm
staying when you guys go in. i'll rest for now!
(she walks downstairs into her bedroom on the ship.
(everyone has their own room on the ship, even if
they don't work there, or live there, neither. ))
rinoa: i'm staying with her. who else?
vincent: i'm staying.
zidane: me too.
tifa: zidane, aren't you coming?
zidane: i better stay, and help vincent protect
the girls.
tifa: whatever.
vincent: i have two things to say to
that. number one: i don't need any help, and
two: i don't even think the girls need much protection,
i mean, they can protect themselves, you know.
zidane: yah, make me look like the bad guy here...! grrr.
[pic] they arrive at relm's home, in siren creek. the
air is rarely ever fresh anywhere else. garnet knocks
on the door.
cloud: please, answer!
squall: answer, dammit!
garnet: squall!(aeris opens the door, and
stand in the doorway. she spots cloud suddenly
looking sad for her. )
aeris: hi! cloud!!(she eagerly hug him, tight. he
gasps lightly, and slightly backs away. )
cloud: aeris! you have your voice
back!(she nods happily. they walk in, and
sit down on the couches and chairs, in the
livingroom. tara and relm are sitting on a
couch in the corner. )
tara: what are you-
tifa: phoebe's missing. joel told us!
tara: i was afraid this would happen, and-(slightly crying )
that's why i didn't want her coming with you, although now
i see she should've... i suppose i received the
wrong message from the heavens.
relm: what's wrong? she told us she was
going for a walk, and you let her.
tara:(still slightly crying )its all my fault. i let
her go...(squall walks over by her. )
squall:(he puts his left arm around her shoulders,
and slightly her neck. )no, its not your fault...
(whispers to her )um, by the way, could you join
me and cloud in the kitchen?
tara:(whispers to him )uh... sure.(cloud overhears on
purpose, and joins them in the kitchen. )what is it?
cloud: um... is phoebe your child?(she puts
her hand over mouth, and laughs. )
tara: hah, hah, hah! you thought i- hah, hah. that
is ridiculous. she's just my very important friend.
cloud:(to squall )see, i told you...!
squall: heh..
tara: you mean, squall, you thought phoebe was
my daughter!?
squall: a little.
tara: well, i assure you, that i am not.(they walk back
in the livingroom. )
relm: tifa told us what went on, and we're going
with them. besides, i'll be able to check back up on things
here, occassionally.
aeris: yeah, and you're not stopping
us, tara. please.
squall: fine, we don't mind.
cloud: i'm glad you're coming, aeris.
aeris: me too, of course. oh, and cloud? when you told me,
i couldn't answer back.
cloud: i know... ...you love me too.
squall: huh...(aeris giggles. )
relm: wait! tara! you should stay here. you
need to be protected too, but more, and the aura
around your home is your most powerufl means
of it!
tara: you're very right... ... phoebe's already gone because
of me...
relm: that's not what i meant!! stop blaming yourself!!
tara: i'll try to send joel to stay with
me. thank you, relm.
relm: no prob' for my big sis'!(everyone looks at her
in confusement. )she acts as though she's my big
sister, what!?(everyone nods, and drops the expressions. )
more protection tara, if you have joel! bye!(tara walks over
to squall. )
tara:(whispers in his ear )i'm not pregnant, now,
but you'll know, when i am.(she kisses him on the
cheek, brushing his lips.(they all leave, except
for tara, and board the airship. blank lifts off. )
selphie:(now standing on the deck, with everyone
else who stayed )uh....(she runs to the edge of the
ship, and leans her elbows on the railing in front of her.
she throws up. )
relm: what's with her?
vincent: she doesn't feel well. she is air- and sea,
sick.
rinoa: heh, heh.(yuffie runs five feet away from selphie,
leans on the railing, and throws up, as well. )
zidane: she's hopeless...
cloud: let's go.
eiko: i thought tara was gonna come
with...?
cloud squall: ......
relm: i was being protective, for her
sake.
rinoa: you told her to stay?(she nods solemnly.
selphie walks back over to them. )
selphie:(illsounding )smart... we need her!(she lays on
vincent's bare chest.(he is wearing dark purple leather
pants. ))
vincent:(he smiles. )heh, heh, heh.
squall: poor selphie...(aeris leans
down next to her, and strokes her hair. )
vincent: yuffie, aren't you air sick too?
yuffie:(half puking )uh huh...
vincent: hee hee.(he smirks. )
[pic] later that night, inside the ship, squall and cloud
talk, in cloud's room.
squall: today was a long day!... ...
cloud: uh huh...(he slightly sighs heavilly. )
squall: i have something to tell you,
cloud...(he lifts his head. )
cloud: what is it?
squall: don't tell anyone, alright?(he slightly nods
solemnly. )i had a really disturbing dream... rather
nightmare, last night...
cloud: what was it about?
squall: tara and i were standing in a dark
room. she kissed my lips, then smiled. but
then, she stabbed me in the gut, with my gunblade.
she was drinking the blood that poured out of
my mouth. i woke up, after that.
cloud: disturbing... ...uh... well let's just get to sleep.(he
pats him on the back. )its okay... it was just
a dream anyway.(he shuts off the light in the room, and
lays down in his bed. squall lays in his, and
they both fall fast asleep. )
[pic] in the middle of the night, squall
wakes up screaming, and in a cold sweat... ...
[pic]the end...
end: chapter 1- prayer of the dragon
princess;
beginning: chapter 2- prayer of the
dragon princess;