A.N. This fourth chapter may be the last for a while. I am leaving home for a brief respite on Tuesday the 30th and do not return until August the 9th. I may be able to write a fifth chapter before I must leave however there are many preparations to be made and I may not be able to return to post another chapter before I leave. However be assured that another chapter will be posted as soon as possible upon my return. Until then, please enjoy this fourth chapter in this saga. I hope that it will again meet with such approval as greeted the first three and would appreciate it if reviews were posted by those who read. After all, you have no excuse not to.

Goodbye and good fortune

Fallen Saga Creator

Royalty

Dagger stared at Zidane, searching for some trace of a clue as to what he meant. 'How could those gems save Gaia? Just what power do they hold?'

Zidane's voice took on the quality of someone reciting a tale that had been told many times, 'Long ago, almost five thousand years ago there was a terrible battle. On one side was Kuja the great destroyer and on the other was the Summoner. Kuja had held the entire world in the grip of his dark magic for centuries, his demonic powers making him invincible. The strongest champions of good fell like wheat before the thresher in the face of his terrible power. We, the genomes, were his army, he had brought us here from his own evil place and we fought for him for he had control of our minds.

'Then one day stepped forth the summoner. She was a woman who had pleaded with the Good Spirits on behalf of the human race. They would not normally give such aid to mortals but because Kuja was of the Darkness they gave to her ten of their number to aid her in her battle. Using the power of the Good Spirits she defeated Kuja, banishing him into the darkness beyond. With his banishment his hold over the genomes was broken and we became free to do as we wished. What we wished was redemption for the terrible crimes that we had committed under Kuja's power.

'As penance we were to guard the stones here, in this stronghold. To protect them to the last man against those who would use them for evil. But she said that our burden would last five thousand years, after that one would come who would bear the mark of the summoner, to lead us through a new hardship.'

'Why don't you just tell everyone about it, then no-one would dare to try and steal them.'

Zidane shook his head, 'It was tried once, just after the summoner passed away. We put the word out about her prophecy and told everyone that we would be guarding the stones here. It took only a year for the first army to arrive in the forest and try to claim the stones and only five for the first false summoner to appear. We can't afford for greedy people to know what lies here.'

'Then what will happen to me?'

Zidane shrugged, 'I dunno, that's up to the queen. She probably won't order anything nasty seeing as how you ain't much of a threat. But I doubt she'll let you leave the forest.' He watched her carefully and saw her blanch as he said it. 'I'm sorry but it's the law, there's only a few people we trust enough to let them leave the forest once they've seen us. What do you have out there anyway?'

Dagger wondered if she should possibly tell him. But eventually she decided against it, she would wait until she met the Queen before she revealed something like that. 'I… a mother… and friends.'

Zidane nodded, 'I'm sorry but there is little chance that you will ever see them again.' He shrugged helplessly, somehow making the gesture seem consoling. 'Still, it's not all bad. The Queen will most likely give you freedom within Terra.'

'What if I tried to make a run for it?'

Zidane shook his head, 'Don't, I'd hate to see you die cause of something so futile. The last prisoner that tried it made it almost to the edge of the forest before we caught him. And he was an expert, an assassin sent in to retrieve the gems. We captured him but he managed to escape and made a run for it back to Freid. No one's ever escaped from Terra and we have to make sure it stays that way. If people really knew what was here then their greed would allow Kuja to take them over and guide them to do his bidding.'

Dagger nodded again, 'When will I get to see the Queen?'

'As soon as a messenger shows up I'm supposed to take you straight to her. She's been waiting for you to wake up.'

Dagger looked up in surprise, 'How long have I been unconscious?'

Zidane rubbed the back of his head and grinned apologetically, 'Er, I think I hit you a bit too hard out there in the jungle. You've been out for almost two days.' Dagger could not help but smile again at his manner.

'Zidane. I…' she hesitated, 'Can I ask you a question.'

He shrugged, 'Shoot.'

'How long has the penance lasted?'

Zidane smiled, 'Five thousand years.'

'That means…'

He grinned 'Yup, that means that the summoner is gonna show up any day now.' His grin widened, 'You're not her by any chance are you?'

Dagger's mind raced to the scar on her forehead and what she had been told of it. Again she decided against telling Zidane. Although it was getting harder and harder to keep things from him, his natural friendly disposition somehow made him seem a close friend instead of a captor and somehow keeping secrets from him seemed almost to be taking advantage of his good nature. She forced a smile, 'Not that I know of.' At least she did not have to lie to him about that.

He showed his pointed teeth in another flashing grin, 'Just checking. I wouldn't want to be the one that thought the summoner was a Freidian spy.'

Dagger was taken aback for a moment, 'That's what you think I am?'

He held up his hands defensively at her astonished tone, 'Hey, easy, easy. That's what I thought when I first saw you. Not anymore though.' He grinned innocently.

Dagger smiled and drew the game out, 'How can you be so sure that I'm not just a very good actor?'

Zidane grinned and tapped the side of his nose, 'Cause you smell Alexandrian. The plants and animals that you've lived with all your life, even the earth leaves a scent. Any genome can smell all of that on you. Our noses are good at picking stuff like that up.' He sniffed again and moved a bit closer, 'Although, you know there is something a bit odd about you.' His nose twitched again before he shrugged, 'Ah, it's probably nothing, I caught a cold a while back so it's probably just me.'

'You caught a cold in this heat?'

He winked at her, 'Yeah, you'd be surprised how cold water gets when it's falling in a solid wall from the sky? Tropical storms,' He took a deep breath, ', gotta love em.' He noticed something on the floor and squatted next to it, 'You gonna finish this?'

Dagger looked down at the half-finished fruit bowl, and could not help but chuckle at his hopeful expression, 'No, go ahead.'

He dug in with a will, inhaling the fruit as he spoke, 'Thanks, gmff, I missed, mffm, breakfast. Mmm, When I heard that, slurp, Marcus was coming, CRUNCH, *ow, pip*, I came straight, ghmm, here cause I knew, mffh, what was gonna happen.' He finished speaking and finished off the last three fruits in a mouthful, his cheeks bulging as he chewed in an effort to swallow.

A knock sounded and he forced an unhealthy amount of fruit down in one go, *Who's that?*

A head poked through, another genome grinning at Zidane, *Hey, no hanky panky with the prisoners.*

Zidane grinned back, *Shut up Michael. We was just chatting. The queen want to see her now?*

*Yup, her majesty has finished putting on her face and is ready to receive guests.*

Zidane grinned, *You better hope she don't hear what you're saying about her. She's got a nasty backhand. I should know, I got on the wrong side of her when I brought down the fifth bridge.*

Martin chuckled, *That was you? Man, how did you manage that anyway? It's a damn big bridge.*

Zidane scratched the back of his neck, *Yeah well it was a damn big rotten branch.*

Martin covered his mouth to stop his laughter, *Man you're such a dunce. Come on, bring your new girlfriend and let's go see the queen.*

Zidane spared him a glare before turning to Dagger, 'Come on, time to go see the queen.' Dagger followed eagerly as the two led the way out of the hut, still arguing in genome. She listened with only half an ear, her eyes wide as she took in the genome kingdom with awe.

Bramble was built entirely in the trees, the huge trunks of the terran oaks. However it was no tree-house town. The structures that balanced among the branches were of all sizes. Some obviously houses, others displayed wares and were obviously shops. The city for it could not be described as a mere town stretched off as far as the eye could see in every direction, small walkways linking every tree as every so often a large solid bridge joined two of the bigger trees.

And everywhere the genomes moved through their kingdom like monkeys. The walkways seemed to be a mere formality as young children playing tag leapt fifteen-foot gaps as Alexandrian children jumped a puddle in the street. Those close by stopped their activities some hanging from a mere finger hooked onto a branch or random rope as they watched the two genomes escort her as they argued with one another. And although Dagger could not understand their language she suspected what they argued about as some of the onlookers began joining the other's side, their gestures making Dagger pray that she was not blushing.

She looked up ahead as they stepped onto one of the large walkways, the remarks changing tone as several workmen looked up from their work as they added the finishing touches to a newly repaired section of the bridge. They were walking towards the largest tree in the entire grove. It was easily the tallest and it looked at least sixty meters around, the huge branches spreading out beneath a structure that was the largest and most lavish of any. The huge hall was easily four stories tall, the entrance a high arch painted a variety of brilliant jungle colours, vibrant reds and deep blues giving the entire building a royal feel. Either side of the arch two banners fluttered in the wind, the symbol a short dagger like Zidane's crossing over a clear gem.

Zidane turned to her, 'That's the royal palace.' His tone became playfully smug. 'Impressive ain't it.' Dagger could only nod, the best Alexandrian architect would spend years simply trying to figure out how to build such a huge structure out of only wood, let alone building balanced upon the branches of an ancient tree. She felt his hand on her shoulder, gently urging her forward, 'Don't worry, the Queen's nice once you get to know her.' His companion snorted as he tried to suppress a sudden burst of laughter, and suddenly she felt only a little nervous at what she would have to tell this mysterious genome Queen.

A.N. The longest chapter to date I believe. In the future I will endeavour to make the chapters longer so that you need not be satisfied with mere morsels of plot. Until the next chapter I hope that this one has met with your approval. If it is so then please would you review below and tell me what you think. As always, constructive criticisms are welcome in review or e-mail therefore please feel free to inform me of any suggestions that you may have. Until then,

Goodbye and good fortune

Fallen Saga Creator