Authors Note: This fic has been thought out by me for a very long time. I did not know whether or not I would write it, but alas, here I am. I figured it would be a good idea to do so, seeing as how I deleted my other ffix fic. The way it was written was short--choppy--and not very kacey-like. Therefore, I am presenting you with a long FFIX drama, solely based on love. I hope you enjoy it, please R&R! [and if you like ffx, you might wanna go check out my drama for that game--serenity uprising. ;)]


Through the hour glass: chapter 1: away from it all



 guilt; pain; regret; The emotions ran through Zidane's head as he looked into the sky. The night was quite pretty, there were no clouds above him. The stars twinkled in the light of the full moon. The air was heavy; but he suspected this was because he was making it so. All hope, love, and happiness vanished from him 12 years ago--when he made the biggest mistake of his life.


He had left Garnet.



It was idiotic, really, what he had done. What person in their right mind would run into a murderous tree to save the brother who had tried to kill them? It was insane--no--it was brave. That was one thing he could grant himself; he had been very brave. However, his valor could not help him now--for she was not by his side. He needed to get home, back to alexandria. He needed to get off this god-forth saken continent.


It was then that he stood. He wondered to himself, what kept me here all this time? I have a queen awaiting me, back in the most beautiful town in the world--why am I here?'


Perhaps it was the fear. Day after day, month after month, year after year--he procrastinated. It was not that he did not want to return, for he did, it was simply that he was worried as to what might greet him. Every day was a wide open door for change to come. Not for him, but for her. What if he was not wanted back in Alexandria? What if Garnet had found a husband? There were plenty of what-if's, but Zidane placed them in the back of his head for the time being.



He dragged himself on. He would not stop until his shoes stepped on the gravel walkway of Alexandria castle. Only then would he be at rest; only then would his soul be peaceful. It would be a long, difficult journey--but he was willing to endure it. The pain and suffering along the way would be a punishment for leaving her--that way, when he got there, he would be pure; he would feel no guilt in his heart. He only hoped she had the same outlook...


* * *


Queen garnet tribal. It was the name she had taken after his death; it was her way of keeping him with her; it was her way of remembering him, and honoring him. It was also her way of keeping the pesky suitors from strutting on into Alexandria and proposing right on the spot. She laughed out loud at the comments zidane would have made about them--


Would...have made.


 He was the past, this was the present. It had been 12 years since his disappearance, but it only felt like yesterday. Her heart still ached for him, yet time had healed her wounds. She no longer cried herself to sleep at night; she no longer prayed for him to return. It was pointless to do so, it would only cause her more pain. He was gone; that was the bottom line.


Despite the fact he was gone, leaving her alone, she felt no bitterness towards him. After all, he did what he had to do. She knew he would have never lived with himself if he had not gone after Kuja--but atleast he would have lived. To live in pain or to die in bravery? Which was the worser fate? For him, it was most likely to live. But for her, as well as the rest of his friends, it was to die.


Never again would she wake up to see him peering at her, never again would she feel his soft touch. It seemed so long ago--but his memory was vivid. It would never leave her, needless to say, for she had been in love. Hell, she still was in love. That most definitely was not going to change. Nobody could ever take his place--atleast not in her heart. He was an individual, she had never met anyone else like him. Many tried to be Zidane, but they inevitably failed.


Garnet withdrew her thoughts of Zidane, and thought it best to focus on what was up coming. The harvest ball was soon approaching, and there was much to be done in preparation. Between sending invitations, making arrangements for food, and deciding what to do with Skyler--


Skyler.


He had been garnet's life for quite some time now, that child. He reminded her so much of Zidane, it sometimes scared her. Skyler looked more and more like his father every day now--with a few exceptions. He had all the features of zidane, but the color of his hair was a dark black--and the color of his eyes were brown. With this combination, Dagger knew she had to lock him up to keep him away from the town girls.


It didn't help seeing as how Skyler was quite the ladies man. Even at such a young age, he possessed the charm of his father. Another trait they shared. The older girls were also quite taken with him, the eldest being aila, who was turning on fourteen. Aila was a wonderful girl, of course, but the age difference bothered Garnet--atleast for the time being. Once Skyler was older, it would not be a problem...but for now, he would be turning but a mere thirteen years of age next week. It did seem to be quite a problem.

* * *



Skyler let out a strong cry as he slashed down upon the wooden dummy with his thieves sword.


Excellent! You are improving by the day, my boy! If you keep it up, you may become as great a warrior as your father was. Steiner grinned with pride at the boy in front of him. Skyler was proving himself to be quite the warrior.


Skyler smirked. As great? Try greater. The boy had a deep voice for his age, and it was filled with pride.


The boy lashed out again, this time decapitating the wooden figure before him.


Steiner let out a warm chuckle. That'll be all for today, it is time for you to head on over to Lady Beatrix for magic lessons.


Skyler tossed his sword into the air, caught it by the handle, and tucked it into his sheath all in a rather quick period of time.


Be proud of who you are, young one, but do no flaunt it Steiner warned, pointing an index finger straight up in the air.


Skyler, acknowledging Steiner's comment, turned and jogged at a quick pace to the castle barn.


He loved this time of day. It was early in the morning, around 5:45 AM, and there wasn't the slightest bit of commotion. The town began to light up, each house one by one, as the sun rose on the horizon. Birds chirped over heard, singing a sweet song of leisure. The morning dew soaked through Skyler's boots, making his somewhat large feet completely drenched.


He thought about Steiners comment, regarding his father. Skyler wanted more than anything to aspire to what his father was, the greatest warrior alive. He admired his father; despite what the townspeople said about him. The boy found himself constantly arguing with people about him, defending him.


Your father is better off dead. He was a scoundrel! A thief! He was out for your mothers money. He recalled a boy at the market place stating this to him, and about 4.5 seconds later, the boy had no front teeth. Of course, Skyler was punished for it, but he got a real satisfaction out of teaching the kid a lesson.



At this point, he really could not care less what people said about Zidane. He had heard so many valiant stories from his mother, from Steiner, and from Beatrix, that the sole image of his father brought a great joy and honor to his heart. He wished more than anything he had had a chance to meet him--but his father died...6 months before he was born.


There was nothing he could do to change it.



Authors Note: Sorry this chapter is so short, my beginnings usually are. However, I hope you enjoyed it, please R & R! The next chapter should be up soon, as soon as I reach about--10 reviews. Yes, that should be sufficient.