A.N. Sorry this chapter took so long people but lately college has been an absolute nightmare and sleep deprivation has begun to set in. Nevertheless I have as promised introduced most of the old cast in this chapter including the much sought after Vivi. Again I ask your forgiveness for the length of time this update took and ask that you be patient until matters beyond my control no longer take me away from my writing. Until next time, enjoy this chapter and tell me what you thought of it.

Goodbye and Good Fortune

Fallen Saga Creator

New Faces

Cid stared goggle eyed at the procession that stood before him, a young girl with purple hair and a small horn in the centre of her forehead standing side-by-side with two dozen mages. Each stood before him with skin black as night and a pair of glowing eyes, each precisely like his neighbour except for the small one that tottered hurriedly into place beside the young girl, his skin as black and his eyes as oddly golden as any of the others. One, the leader of the group though god alone knew what marked him as such stepped forward and coughed nervously behind his hand.

'Um… my Lord Ruler of Lindblum I, Vovo, leader of the Black Mages have come before you to present the gift of our aid in this time of great strife and hardship for your kingdom. We present to you the second one to be born with the mark of the summoner and have brought her to this sacred city so that she may aid the summoner herself with her knowledge and company.'

Cid raised an eyebrow, 'I appreciate your offer of help but no hardship threatens my kingdom. And of this woman the summoner I know nothing. If you wish to find a kingdom in hardship then you should look to Alexandria, I have been unable to ascertain what has happened there but the last three diplomats that have entered from Lindblum have been killed. The spies that have managed to infiltrate the troubled land have told me this morning by carrier pigeon that a great evil had taken hold of the place. They also tell that last night a creature with the wings of an angel and the armour of a knight turned night to day above the capital. I would look there for a troubled kingdom if you wish to aid someone, I myself have begun to gather an army to go there and find out by force if necessary what happened.'

The black mages seemed taken aback, the leader scurrying forward, 'No, no, no, you mustn't. If you go there then you and your army will surely die for the evil is a thing born of the darkness itself.'

The young girl scowled up at Vovo. 'If you have the wrong city how can you be sure that we should even have let ourselves known yet. Honestly, I don't know why I even bother with you.' She paused and cupped her chin reflectively. 'Although the creature sounds like Alexander, you probably had the map upside-down the whole time or something.'

The mage seemed startled and dug into his pouch, riffling through what sounded like papers before pulling forth an aged parchment. He unrolled it and stared at it pensively for a moment before turning it over and blinking slowly. 'Er, Eiko.' He began hesitantly.

Her tone was low and dangerous, 'Yes Vovo?'

'I had the map upside-down Eiko.' The young girl slapped her forehead before launching into a verbal barrage that would have done Hilde more than proud. Cid watched with a bemused smile as she rounded on the other mages and with a roar that seemed altogether too big for her size sent them scurrying back the way they had came. Outside the guards watched with wide eyes as they stumbled out of the throne-room followed closely by the angry words of their young charge. She panted as the last of them disappeared from the throne-room before turning to Cid and bowing graciously. The only occupant not staring at her with a mixture of fear and amazement the smaller black mage beside her who was evidently used to the sharper side of her tongue and had only winced when she had sent the rest running.

'Please forgive the intrusion you highness. I'm afraid Vovo never was one for common sense.'

Cid smiled, the girl was so much like Hilde that they could have been mother and daughter. 'It is quiet alright my Lady Eiko. If you are now to turn to Alexandria then please allow me to escort you, it will be a long trip and as you know, I was planning on making it myself.'

The young girl smiled prettily, 'Why of course your highness. I would love the company.'

~

Dagger woke bathed in warmth as she turned to the genome sleeping beside her, they had slept in each other's arms last night. She could remember his kisses, light and feather-soft upon her face as they lay, not consummating their love yet but simply content to lay beside each other, his strong arms surrounding her, their muscles hard yet soft, like a pillow of steel. One arm still cradled her head, the other curled under his chin in a way that brought a smile to her lips. He looked so innocent as he slept, almost like a child.

She reached out a hand and brushed a stray strand of his hair away as it fell across his face, a soft snore greeting her as his mouth opened slightly. She cupped his cheek. He had been prepared to give everything for her, for her, not the summoner or the princess. That was one of the reasons that she had fallen so deeply in love with him. Everyone that she had ever met had treated her as a title, even her friends in Alexandria had always spoken to her as "Princess".

She could remember that moment the night before with crystal clarity, the moment when his eyes had caught hers so utterly and she had known his words and his thoughts before he spoke them. He was the one who had awoken the summoning from within her. She could not have bared to loose him, not after that moment, never. That raw need had called Alexander from the spire, her emotion blasting aside the barriers that stood between her and the great powers of the summons.

She sat up slowly, the movement waking him despite all her care. His nose twitched slightly as his mouth opened in a yawn, his large eyes creaking open to rove around the room for a moment before meeting her gaze. He grinned and rose beside her, his tail snaking around her slim waist as his arm rested across her shoulders. He met her eyes and his grin faded to a small smile.

'I… I'm not sure exactly what I should say right now. But… well… I guess I said everything last night. 'I… I knew as soon as I saw you that there was something special about you. I guess… I guess…' he paused as though trying to find the right word his gaze dropped for a moment before rising again, the genome tongue sounding in her ears like some sort of musical chant. He spoke only a few words but his eyes shone with sincerity as he spoke, as though trying to communicate to her through his gaze what he had not the knowledge to do with words. *Fahgeleyah, motun crayia simahfayeal.* He cupped her cheek with one oversized hand, the rough pad of his thumb stroking along her cheek as he leaned across to capture her lips with a soft kiss, the blanket falling from her hands as she lay them flat against the hard muscle of his narrow chest, feeling his heart beating beneath her palm.

The door chose that moment to open and admit Beatrix, the woman stopping dead as her one eye widened at the sight that greeted her. Zidane gave an embarrassed grin as Dagger squeaked and pulled the blanket over her bare chest, staring at the stunned general as colour rose in her cheeks. Beatrix allowed a small smile to curve her lips as she took in Zidane's odd appearance.

'You must be the genome that I have heard so much about from Baku and Amarant. Zidane, isn't it, I must commend you on your actions, from what I have heard they have been nothing short of heroic.'

Zidane's grin widened nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck, 'Uh yeah, thanks. Er… you must be Beatrix, you're not gonna try and kill me are ya?'

Beatrix smiled and shook her head, her smile becoming amused, 'No, but my husband Steiner may well if he finds out that you have spent the night in her Majesty's bed chambers. Even if he sees as I have that you have simply enjoyed an embrace.'

Dagger had recovered from the shock and spoke now, her voice calm and authoritative. It surprised Zidane but at the same time made him smile, she truly was the summoner. 'He will do nothing, from now on Zidane will be staying at my side at all times. He is my bodyguard and will be allowed anywhere I go.' Zidane shrugged as she spoke, grinning in his uniquely inane manner as Beatrix raised her eyebrow at him in question. Without warning Beatrix leapt forward, the same movement that carried her through the air baring her sword and sending it flashing in a magnificent arc straight for Dagger's head.

She was met in mid-air by the genome, his body cannoning into her as a fist smashed the air from her lungs as an inhumanly strong hand twisted her wrist and forced the sword from her grasp. He landed on top of her with a blade hovering an inch from her eyeball, Dagger bathed in the glow of her power as she stared at the general.

'Beatrix, what are you doing?' She demanded as she rose with the blanket held around her. The general smiled at the genome atop her and tapped her own dagger against his belly, to show that though he could have claimed her life she would have had his in trade.

'My apologies your majesty but I simply wished to test Zidane. I would not like to think that you were being guarded by someone incapable.'

When Dagger spoke again Zidane recognised the tone of command in it, she had grown from the woman he had knocked from her horse in the jungle. Even though it had only been a matter of weeks she was more than she had been, stronger inside, more determined. 'I assure you that Zidane is fully capable of guarding me, and besides, do not pretend that you do not know that he is more to me than simply a protector.'

Beatrix stood as serene as though nothing had happened as Zidane hopped off her. 'I will assure Steiner that everything is well. When he heard that you were in the company of a genome it took a time to calm him.' She turned to Zidane. 'I know you will not but know that if Steiner thinks that you have in any way taken advantage of her Majesty he will do his utmost to tear you limb from limb. I think even you would have trouble against his wrath. Step carefully.' Zidane grinned and pulled his trousers on over his boxers, last night's violence washed from them.

Dagger smiled fondly at the thought of her over-protective general and moved behind a screen to change, her mind skipping over what she had to do. Her time alone with Zidane was when she could afford to be simply Dagger, now she was the Summoner and had a responsibility to not just Alexandria, but the world. She called to Beatrix as she laced up a gown, the flowing white silks a far cry from the travelling clothes she had grown used to.

'Beatrix, I assume you have been told of Kuja's true nature, but you most likely are not aware of the history that he has upon Gaia. He has ruled here in the past, three thousand years ago according to the genome history books. He was defeated and cast from this plane by the summoner of old, a woman who was granted the aid of the good spirits against Kuja for he was of the darkness. The genome's then were his soldiers and fought against the armies that sought to kill his body while his spirit fought the Summoner of old. Once he was destroyed his control of the genomes was broken and they have for the past three years been waiting for me.'

As she spoke she appeared from behind the screen and Zidane's breath caught in his throat, she was a Queen. More than a queen, she was the summoner. A tiara of diamonds swirling in floral patterns among her sea of raven-black hair, the shimmering locks framing a face both serene and regal, her beautiful eyes sweeping over him as though bestowing a blessing. The white silk clung to her figure, her soft, feminine curves enhanced past perfection by the beaded bodice. The wide skirts swished gracefully with each of her movements, the light playing with the shadows until she seemed to glide across the floor to stand beside Zidane, his mouth open as he stared at her with awe and devotion upon his features.

She touched his cheek with a small smile and he covered her hand with one of his own over-large mitts, his lips forming silent words as he tried to decide which of his emotions to express first. She turned back to Beatrix,

'Kuja has appeared once more upon Gaia and just as it took the strength of all races combined to throw him and his army back three thousand years ago so it will do so now. Send messages to Burmecia and Lindblum and tell them of the evil that has arisen here. Gather them to Alexandria for it is here, under Alexander's wings that we will form the an alliance capable of throwing back Kuja's evil.' She turned back to Zidane, her voice and eyes softening as he stood before her, bare-chested and roguish but as ready to serve and protect her as her general.

'The genomes have paid their penance Zidane, your race has remained faithful and repaid for its crimes a hundred times over. Standing firm even when those it sought to protect turned against it. But Kuja knows now that I may face him and he will stop at nothing to prevent me from gaining the power to destroy him once and for all. I beg your aid my love in defeating him and ask that you will call the genomes here also, that you contact your queen and tell her what has transpired here. The summoning stones must leave Terra for the first time in three thousand years and be brought here so that I may summon the good spirits to battle Kuja's evil.'

Zidane knelt before her, bowing his head as his fist struck his heart, the words of genome that he had spoken before now summoned once more, *Motun crayia simahfayeal, sorcoros myanifal.* He rose slowly and met her eyes, she was impossibly beautiful, the oath he had spoken that morning was the most sacred a genome could make. As he stared at her he knew that never would he have cause to regret making it.

Beatrix smiled and slipped silently out of the room as the young couple joined hands, their heads tilting so that their foreheads touched as they stared into each other's eyes. A ruler and leader Garnet may be, but she was also a woman in love and at that moment, she wanted to be simply that, Beatrix would not begrudge her.

Dagger spoke softly as their foreheads touched, feeling his warrior's hands enclosing her own. 'Those words, you spoke something like them before, when you were trying to tell me something. What do they mean?'

Zidane stared back at her, letting himself drown in the depths of her eyes as he struggled to find the words to tell her. Finally he began, speaking slowly as he let his emotions lead his words. 'What I said before was an oath, an ancient oath that can never be broken, the words themselves a spell that binds the speaker to the oath as though it was woven into his bones. The words give my heart to you, give my body, my mind and my soul into your care. I place myself completely in your hands and pledge to love you and serve you and protect you with every part of myself. Once a genome has spoken these words to his lover he may never take them back, he trusts her so greatly that he knows she will never abuse the love he has given her and knows that forever he will love her in return and that forever his greatest joy in life will be her. I spoke the pledge because it was the only thing I could think of, the only way I knew to show you the love that I bear for you. I am sorry if the gift is too sudden but I could not bear to feel that I have not shown you how precious you have become to me in the short time that I have known you. You are my joy, you are my thoughts, you are my life, you are my love and forever will it be so.'

Dagger stared at him with tears rolling from her eyes, her heart swelling with each word until she thought it would burst. His words bore such sincerity, such utter truth that each had filled her with joy unparalleled, the shear enormity of his trust making her wish with all her heart that their was some way, some equivalent that she could give him to show him her own feelings. She settled for throwing her arms around him and crushing her body to his, burying her face in his neck as tears streamed from her eyes as she trembled with emotion.

She stayed that way for a long time, her arms wrapped around his neck as he embraced her in return, his own tears rolling from his eyes as he pressed kisses against her neck and temple, breathing in the scent of her hair. She sniffed back her tears as she felt his warm, protective arms around her and rubbed her cheek against his, feeling the soft stubble that had formed on his chin as she pressed a small kiss to his ear and whispered into it, the only words she could find,

'I love you.' Somehow they were enough, those three simple words never meant more than at that moment when the Summoner spoke them into the ear of her lover. Together they collapsed into one of the plush chairs in the room and sat there, her on his lap as they stared at each other, her silken gown a contrast to the hard muscle that surrounded her. Gently he cupped her face, the pad of his thumb gently wiping the tears from her eyes as he smiled. It was not the grin he always wore, but a special smile, a smile he would only ever show to the person he had given his heart to, a smile he would only ever show Dagger. She returned it and leaned down slowly, her eyes shutting as his hand guided her lips to his, a spark of magic flowing from the kiss and fluttering through their bodies, the spell of the pledge strengthening as they bathed in the mere presence of their beloved.

A.N. I believe at least one of you asked for more Z+D moments. I say to you, voila. The true extent of the changes that these two have had forced upon them has come to the surface. Zidane is suddenly a stranger in a strange land, every eye that does not know him suspicious of his role as he fights the shadow that he has dreaded his entire life. Dagger, once just a girl now forced into womanhood with a burden heavier than a kingdom thrust suddenly upon her shoulders. Both bear their loads in their own way but both find solace in each other's arms, the true comfort of love providing a sanctuary that no evil will ever penetrate. I thank you for reading my fic and beg your indulgence in reviewing this chapter to tell me what you thought of the writing and the developments that are taking place.

Goodbye and Good Fortune

Fallen Saga Creator