Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX. Squaresoft does. If I did own it,
I would be filthy rich and wouldn't need to be writing these stories....
He held the little boy's life in his hands now. Kuja brought his hand, charged with Holy, back farther as he proclaimed his revenge. The light reflected off the child's tears, his parents and friends screaming for his safety. The fist plunged......
'Kuja, don't! Please, Kuja, stop!'
And stopped.
"Lila?" Kuja shuddered, and looked down into the honey eyes of the small prince. He was her age...... She would never want him to do this, not even in her name. Part of him, the old Kuja, shouted his defiance, but he let loose the spell, and it reverted back into his energy. Covering his shocked and hurt face with a mask of disinterest, he dropped the child unceremoniously on the ground. He nodded, once, to the boy, and he scampered to his father's safer hold.
"He'll be a strong young man one day......... brother." As he stood, Radali flapped down to make the escape. Kuja ran his fingers through his long silver hair with an air of authority. Everything was still silent. The pale Genome mounted his silver dragon, and fled.
"Dad?" Koh's voice was just a hum in Zidane's ear. Right now his mind was cluttered with rage, battle-lust, and a strange brotherly love. His son had to repeat himself a few more times before he finally heard him. "Dad!"
"Yes?"
"It was something really weird, you know...... When Uncle Kuja had me."
Zidane shuddered, "What is it?"
"Well, just before.... the spell.....there was this girl, standing right behind him, didn't you see her?"
"Koh, there was no one-"
"But there was! I think she might have been his friend, because she told him.... not to hurt me..."
"Koh, there couldn't have been-"
"She looked weird. Like, I could see through her or something..... Maybe I should tell Mom? Dad? Dad?!"
"Yes, go tell your mother....."
"Dad? What's wrong?"
"Go! Go to your mother, Koh!"
The Prince of Alexandria hesitated, and upon seeing his father's face, decided to leave him be. Zidane walked into a dark alley with an empty look in his eyes. Hidden deep in the shdows, away from prying eyes and ears, Zidane was released from the holding spell. He sucked in a quick breath and leaned heavily against the stone wall.
"Who are you?"
'The little girl. You really should listen to your son.'
"What do you want with me?"
'Your eyes... they remind me of his. He didn't used to be like that, you know. It was just a little while, but......' The young girl's hand absentmindedly played with the phoenix pinion braided into her hair. She bit her lip to keep from crying, and continued, 'Can you ever change him back to the way he was?'
Zidane swallowed. "You know I'll try."
Kuja dropped to his knees, an arm draped over the metal railing at the top Terra's ruin. The pain. The pain painted everything crimson. Every time she touched his mind; it was like someone was ripping apart his skull. His heart lay in fifteen pieces in his chest. He couldn't stand it, yet he craved it. Anything to hear her laughter again. He knew she didn't do it on purpose. She never would've spoken to him at all if he hadn't begged it.
"Lila? Lila, please don't leave yet!"
It had been longer than she ever dared maintain contact with him. Thus, all the hurting that inflammed his entire body. She was telling him it would be all right, that she'd come home soon. Oh Alexander, how Kuja wanted to believe her! But he was not naive. He knew of death, feared it, embraced it.
If only there was a way. If only he could see her smiling face one more time......
Kuja slept deeply that night, forcing himself into the dreamless state with heavy drugs. He didn't want to wake up for quite some time. He was cursed and blessed with the sight of Lila, asking for stories, catching fireflies..... When would it end? His revenge. She didn't want him to avenge her death? But why? It was the only thing he knew. What was worth living without her now? Even Grammy hadn't seen him the way her bright emerald eyes did.
"I..... don't understand what you're saying."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. It was I who woke Kuja's sleeping mind. I thought all would be well, he didn't seem to remember but......he wanted adventure. It seems to me he got it."
Dagger stared at Shiva with a gaping mouth. She had never thought.... Why?! Why would she do such a thing? The ice queen's shoulders rose and fell gracefully, reading her summoner's mind.
"I don't know. It just felt right."
"Felt right? FELT RIGHT!? You brought to life the most dangerous.... Demon! that ever walked Gaia and-"
"He's no demon!" Shiva's eyes flashed dangerously, and Dagger took her seat wisely. "Queen. Your husband..... went after his brother. You knew that. Kuja was changed when he knew what life and death meant. But I didn't foresee that he would...... revert..... the way he did. I ask for your forgiveness, not," She said eyeing Dagger carefully, "to receive judgement."
"I see. Shiva. You have wise words. We'll do what we can."
Lila floated through Terra's lifestream. It was kind of weird, she was the only soul from Gaia here. But she didn't care much, she could reach Kuja better from here. If Zidane kept to his word, which she was sure he would, then everyone would be happy, and there wouldn't be anymore hurt people. Her child's mind couldn't fully grasp the idea of death. When someone left, they had to come back eventually. That was just how it had to go.
It wasn't fair otherwise.
Another thing she couldn't understand was how Kuja became so........ angry. What did he have to get mad over? So many things kept her busy here. She never worried, except when Kuja got hurt talking to her. That she felt sad about. But some of the things the people here said had her wondering.... Who were they before they got stuck here?
It was his moment. Time for him to shine. Terra and Gaia should have become one, long ago. Instead, the character traits of the humans sculpted them as was their will. Zidane found love and comfort while Kuja was wrapped in hate and fear. Both had so very different lives, and so changed their outcome. Kuja's eyes fluttered open. It had been a lovely little dream. He had hoped he wouldn't be dreaming, but it soothed him.
What he had wanted, all his life, was a purpose for his life. He had a purpose. To join Terra and Gaia into one. To rule them all with painful love. He saw it, his future. Garland, damn him but he had dared, had told him. Lila's soul still remained intact. It was with Terra's flow of life now, wandering until Kuja could set it free. Imagine, he thought, lifting his arms in praise to the sun, she could have an eternal life.... with me, with Grammy, she could meet Radali....
But forgive me, little princess. I'll have to cause just a few more nightmares.
Kuja's body glowed with a deep ruby aura. He focused before him and ten creatures began to take form of the shadows. Details came into their faces and clothing, the darkness formed black wings that hid their bodies from view. When finished, the Fiends stretched their wings a little, and got into a battle stance.
"Go. Waste no more of your time here!"
They each gave a curt nod and flew away, back to Gaia. Kuja had sent them each to the ten cities that posed the largest threat: Alexandria, Treno, Lindblum, Madain Sari, Burmecia, Cleyra, Oeilvert, Black Mage Village, Iifa City (a common city for the new Genomes), and Ipsen Castle (a flourishing place built on tourism).
"Act Two begins."
Author's Note: I'm starting to confuse myself with my own plot line! Anyways, I'm juggling at home stuff, otherwise, I'd have this out to you sooner. Ironic that it was right on the edge of a cliffhanger...... Gah! I have so many endings planned out and I need to choose which one so I can lead my plotline there! That may take another day or so.... Sorry! I feel so bad! This chapter was so short! Oh yeah, one more thing.... my fiends? Think Vincent's Chaos as a baseline; otherwise, let your imagination run wild! See you in Chapter 7!
He held the little boy's life in his hands now. Kuja brought his hand, charged with Holy, back farther as he proclaimed his revenge. The light reflected off the child's tears, his parents and friends screaming for his safety. The fist plunged......
'Kuja, don't! Please, Kuja, stop!'
And stopped.
"Lila?" Kuja shuddered, and looked down into the honey eyes of the small prince. He was her age...... She would never want him to do this, not even in her name. Part of him, the old Kuja, shouted his defiance, but he let loose the spell, and it reverted back into his energy. Covering his shocked and hurt face with a mask of disinterest, he dropped the child unceremoniously on the ground. He nodded, once, to the boy, and he scampered to his father's safer hold.
"He'll be a strong young man one day......... brother." As he stood, Radali flapped down to make the escape. Kuja ran his fingers through his long silver hair with an air of authority. Everything was still silent. The pale Genome mounted his silver dragon, and fled.
"Dad?" Koh's voice was just a hum in Zidane's ear. Right now his mind was cluttered with rage, battle-lust, and a strange brotherly love. His son had to repeat himself a few more times before he finally heard him. "Dad!"
"Yes?"
"It was something really weird, you know...... When Uncle Kuja had me."
Zidane shuddered, "What is it?"
"Well, just before.... the spell.....there was this girl, standing right behind him, didn't you see her?"
"Koh, there was no one-"
"But there was! I think she might have been his friend, because she told him.... not to hurt me..."
"Koh, there couldn't have been-"
"She looked weird. Like, I could see through her or something..... Maybe I should tell Mom? Dad? Dad?!"
"Yes, go tell your mother....."
"Dad? What's wrong?"
"Go! Go to your mother, Koh!"
The Prince of Alexandria hesitated, and upon seeing his father's face, decided to leave him be. Zidane walked into a dark alley with an empty look in his eyes. Hidden deep in the shdows, away from prying eyes and ears, Zidane was released from the holding spell. He sucked in a quick breath and leaned heavily against the stone wall.
"Who are you?"
'The little girl. You really should listen to your son.'
"What do you want with me?"
'Your eyes... they remind me of his. He didn't used to be like that, you know. It was just a little while, but......' The young girl's hand absentmindedly played with the phoenix pinion braided into her hair. She bit her lip to keep from crying, and continued, 'Can you ever change him back to the way he was?'
Zidane swallowed. "You know I'll try."
Kuja dropped to his knees, an arm draped over the metal railing at the top Terra's ruin. The pain. The pain painted everything crimson. Every time she touched his mind; it was like someone was ripping apart his skull. His heart lay in fifteen pieces in his chest. He couldn't stand it, yet he craved it. Anything to hear her laughter again. He knew she didn't do it on purpose. She never would've spoken to him at all if he hadn't begged it.
"Lila? Lila, please don't leave yet!"
It had been longer than she ever dared maintain contact with him. Thus, all the hurting that inflammed his entire body. She was telling him it would be all right, that she'd come home soon. Oh Alexander, how Kuja wanted to believe her! But he was not naive. He knew of death, feared it, embraced it.
If only there was a way. If only he could see her smiling face one more time......
Kuja slept deeply that night, forcing himself into the dreamless state with heavy drugs. He didn't want to wake up for quite some time. He was cursed and blessed with the sight of Lila, asking for stories, catching fireflies..... When would it end? His revenge. She didn't want him to avenge her death? But why? It was the only thing he knew. What was worth living without her now? Even Grammy hadn't seen him the way her bright emerald eyes did.
"I..... don't understand what you're saying."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. It was I who woke Kuja's sleeping mind. I thought all would be well, he didn't seem to remember but......he wanted adventure. It seems to me he got it."
Dagger stared at Shiva with a gaping mouth. She had never thought.... Why?! Why would she do such a thing? The ice queen's shoulders rose and fell gracefully, reading her summoner's mind.
"I don't know. It just felt right."
"Felt right? FELT RIGHT!? You brought to life the most dangerous.... Demon! that ever walked Gaia and-"
"He's no demon!" Shiva's eyes flashed dangerously, and Dagger took her seat wisely. "Queen. Your husband..... went after his brother. You knew that. Kuja was changed when he knew what life and death meant. But I didn't foresee that he would...... revert..... the way he did. I ask for your forgiveness, not," She said eyeing Dagger carefully, "to receive judgement."
"I see. Shiva. You have wise words. We'll do what we can."
Lila floated through Terra's lifestream. It was kind of weird, she was the only soul from Gaia here. But she didn't care much, she could reach Kuja better from here. If Zidane kept to his word, which she was sure he would, then everyone would be happy, and there wouldn't be anymore hurt people. Her child's mind couldn't fully grasp the idea of death. When someone left, they had to come back eventually. That was just how it had to go.
It wasn't fair otherwise.
Another thing she couldn't understand was how Kuja became so........ angry. What did he have to get mad over? So many things kept her busy here. She never worried, except when Kuja got hurt talking to her. That she felt sad about. But some of the things the people here said had her wondering.... Who were they before they got stuck here?
It was his moment. Time for him to shine. Terra and Gaia should have become one, long ago. Instead, the character traits of the humans sculpted them as was their will. Zidane found love and comfort while Kuja was wrapped in hate and fear. Both had so very different lives, and so changed their outcome. Kuja's eyes fluttered open. It had been a lovely little dream. He had hoped he wouldn't be dreaming, but it soothed him.
What he had wanted, all his life, was a purpose for his life. He had a purpose. To join Terra and Gaia into one. To rule them all with painful love. He saw it, his future. Garland, damn him but he had dared, had told him. Lila's soul still remained intact. It was with Terra's flow of life now, wandering until Kuja could set it free. Imagine, he thought, lifting his arms in praise to the sun, she could have an eternal life.... with me, with Grammy, she could meet Radali....
But forgive me, little princess. I'll have to cause just a few more nightmares.
Kuja's body glowed with a deep ruby aura. He focused before him and ten creatures began to take form of the shadows. Details came into their faces and clothing, the darkness formed black wings that hid their bodies from view. When finished, the Fiends stretched their wings a little, and got into a battle stance.
"Go. Waste no more of your time here!"
They each gave a curt nod and flew away, back to Gaia. Kuja had sent them each to the ten cities that posed the largest threat: Alexandria, Treno, Lindblum, Madain Sari, Burmecia, Cleyra, Oeilvert, Black Mage Village, Iifa City (a common city for the new Genomes), and Ipsen Castle (a flourishing place built on tourism).
"Act Two begins."
Author's Note: I'm starting to confuse myself with my own plot line! Anyways, I'm juggling at home stuff, otherwise, I'd have this out to you sooner. Ironic that it was right on the edge of a cliffhanger...... Gah! I have so many endings planned out and I need to choose which one so I can lead my plotline there! That may take another day or so.... Sorry! I feel so bad! This chapter was so short! Oh yeah, one more thing.... my fiends? Think Vincent's Chaos as a baseline; otherwise, let your imagination run wild! See you in Chapter 7!