Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy IX characters but my
characters are my own creations and I do own the rights to them.
Chapter Two: Roof Top Battle
Eighteen-year-old Zidane Tribal sat at his desk in the study at the palace. His shaggy blond hair fell into his blue eyes as he skimmed the document he was reading. His mouth was a small frown. He wore the clothes of someone concerned with comfort rather than up-keeping appearances. His hand was cramped from all the reports he had had to write. After his last adventure had ended, Garnet had promoted him to her personal bodyguard. Steiner had been livid at first but had soon come to realize (with Beatrix's help) that Zidane was the best person for the queen. To the rest of the world Garnet and Zidane's relationship had gone no further than friendship. They acted like the best of friends outside the city walls but everyone in the palace knew their relationship was far closer than what they portrayed.
Right now Zidane's golden monkey tail lashed from side to side behind him. He was extremely bored. Zidane was forced to sign several documents after Alexandria had been destroyed, and the paper work was still mounting up. As the queen's bodyguard he had to make reports and notes on the damages to Alexandria when he and Garnet went to survey the city. He would admit he lived a very comfy life but his inner thief told him that it was too soft. The only thing that kept him here was Garnet. But even that was starting to lose its appeal. He liked her and all but after the final battle she had lost her adventurous spark that kept him trailing her like a faithful puppy. These days she was all business and she wouldn't even let him call her Dagger anymore. He wished he could have his old Dagger back. An adventure would make things more interesting but he wasn't even sure if Garnet would help or go along. She had changed so much after her adoptive mother, Queen Brahne, died.
"That's it!" he yelled to no one in particular, shoving himself from his desk. He'd been working hard lately and he deserved a day off. He was going to take a walk. Maybe it would get his mind off the glum thoughts he kept having.
He snuck down the stairs, even though he knew he didn't have to. He felt like his old self again, for once and wanted to keep it that way. Making sure no one saw him he crept out of the palace and headed for the docks. Jumping into one of the boats he told the rower to take him to town. On arriving at the market place he decided to shop around to see if he could possibly find a gift for Garnet. She seemed to be avoiding him these days and he felt that he might have done something wrong. He wanted to make up for it though he wasn't even sure what he had done.
The bright colors of the market place dazzled him as he wandered aimlessly around. Venders shouted out about the goods they were selling, and some even stuck them under people's noses as they walked by trying to get them to buy from them. The streets were packed with shoppers of every sort. The noise was loud and the smells were good. Zidane could already feel his spirits lifting.
Suddenly, a whirlwind of a woman came by. Her long red hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and her emerald eyes sparkled with mischievousness. Her tight blue overalls and puffy white shirt were streaked with dirt, as was her beautiful face. Through the dirt and grime he could make out a small nose, full mouth and stubborn chin. She reminded him of someone but he couldn't quite place her. She came racing down the street knocking people over and seemed to be in a big hurry. She looked behind her and ran smack into Zidane. They were both knocked over by the momentum of her running. She hurriedly scrambled off of him and mumbled her apologies.
Zidane picked himself up and brushed himself off. She turned around and started to head away. That's what tipped him off. She wasn't running anymore and was going in a completely different direction. He quickly patted himself down and found that his moneybag was missing.
"Hey you!" he yelled after the girl. She turned around to look at him, surprise clearly written all over her face. She took off again with Zidane on her heels. She bolted through the crowded streets trying to lose the young man behind her. Unfortunately for her, Zidane was an ex-thief and knew all the tricks of the trade. He stayed close behind her until she turned a corner.
He lost track of her for a moment but caught sight of her running down an alley. Again he followed her. The alley soon came to a dead end with only a few barrels and some trash for effective cover. The woman looked behind her but saw that she had no time to hide. He was already there.
"Alright, now give me back my money and I won't hurt you," Zidane told her putting out his hand. "You can't escape. I've got you trapped."
A smirk played over the woman's lips as she said, "Is that so?" With that she jumped onto the nearest barrel and jumped again to land on the roof.
"Well, now I've got your money and it's too far of a jump, for some one as inexperienced as you, to make," her light alto voice mocked him. She held up his bag and with a jingle, shook it, mocking him as her voice had. "If you want it, come get it."
"Fine," came the reply. Zidane made one giant leap and landed next to the mysterious woman on the roof. Pulling out his trusty dagger he glared at her. "I warned you before. Now give me back my money."
The woman stared for a moment before regaining her grip on reality. Who wouldn't be surprised to see someone jump ten feet in the air? She pulled out her own weapon. It was a long, glittering sword. Unlike the swords that Steiner and Beatrix used hers was thin and very light weight. She shoved the bag back into her pocket and took up a fighting stance. Zidane moved into his own stance waiting for an attack.
It came in a sudden blur of movement. The only thing that saved him was his instinct. The woman attacked with the force of a hurricane. Her movements were quick but powerful. It took all of Zidane's strength and speed to keep him from being killed. After a few thrusts he finally became used to her speed and tried to get a good look at her fighting technique. He waited for an opening, a mistake or some body part left unguarded. He dodged, ducked and blocked the blows raining down on him until he saw it. Dropping down to one hand he swiftly shot out his foot and kicked her leg sending her tumbling off the roof.
Zidane let out a short gasp. He hadn't meant to kill her, though no one could blame him for doing it. She had been trying to kill him after all and he was only using self-defense. Quickly he jumped off the roof to reclaim his money and collect the body so that it could be buried. As he was reaching into her pocket he felt a movement next to his elbow.
~She's alive!?~ The woman's chest was slowly rising and falling and her breathing seemed fine. Shaking his head in disbelief he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder heading back to the palace. His day of shopping had been ruined but he couldn't deny the fact that he felt a lot better. The woman had given him a good work out and he had felt almost like he did before he had become the queen's bodyguard.
~Maybe she'd like to stay at the palace? She would be a good challenge and it would keep her off the streets.~
Zidane kept walking making sure his bundle wouldn't wake up as the sun slowly set. Soon he reached the castle and deposited the young woman in one of the spare rooms. Slipping quietly out, he returned to the study and started his work again.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Well? Is it good or is it good? Anyways if I have thoroughly confused you I'm sorry but hopefully things will be cleared up next chapter.
Chapter Two: Roof Top Battle
Eighteen-year-old Zidane Tribal sat at his desk in the study at the palace. His shaggy blond hair fell into his blue eyes as he skimmed the document he was reading. His mouth was a small frown. He wore the clothes of someone concerned with comfort rather than up-keeping appearances. His hand was cramped from all the reports he had had to write. After his last adventure had ended, Garnet had promoted him to her personal bodyguard. Steiner had been livid at first but had soon come to realize (with Beatrix's help) that Zidane was the best person for the queen. To the rest of the world Garnet and Zidane's relationship had gone no further than friendship. They acted like the best of friends outside the city walls but everyone in the palace knew their relationship was far closer than what they portrayed.
Right now Zidane's golden monkey tail lashed from side to side behind him. He was extremely bored. Zidane was forced to sign several documents after Alexandria had been destroyed, and the paper work was still mounting up. As the queen's bodyguard he had to make reports and notes on the damages to Alexandria when he and Garnet went to survey the city. He would admit he lived a very comfy life but his inner thief told him that it was too soft. The only thing that kept him here was Garnet. But even that was starting to lose its appeal. He liked her and all but after the final battle she had lost her adventurous spark that kept him trailing her like a faithful puppy. These days she was all business and she wouldn't even let him call her Dagger anymore. He wished he could have his old Dagger back. An adventure would make things more interesting but he wasn't even sure if Garnet would help or go along. She had changed so much after her adoptive mother, Queen Brahne, died.
"That's it!" he yelled to no one in particular, shoving himself from his desk. He'd been working hard lately and he deserved a day off. He was going to take a walk. Maybe it would get his mind off the glum thoughts he kept having.
He snuck down the stairs, even though he knew he didn't have to. He felt like his old self again, for once and wanted to keep it that way. Making sure no one saw him he crept out of the palace and headed for the docks. Jumping into one of the boats he told the rower to take him to town. On arriving at the market place he decided to shop around to see if he could possibly find a gift for Garnet. She seemed to be avoiding him these days and he felt that he might have done something wrong. He wanted to make up for it though he wasn't even sure what he had done.
The bright colors of the market place dazzled him as he wandered aimlessly around. Venders shouted out about the goods they were selling, and some even stuck them under people's noses as they walked by trying to get them to buy from them. The streets were packed with shoppers of every sort. The noise was loud and the smells were good. Zidane could already feel his spirits lifting.
Suddenly, a whirlwind of a woman came by. Her long red hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and her emerald eyes sparkled with mischievousness. Her tight blue overalls and puffy white shirt were streaked with dirt, as was her beautiful face. Through the dirt and grime he could make out a small nose, full mouth and stubborn chin. She reminded him of someone but he couldn't quite place her. She came racing down the street knocking people over and seemed to be in a big hurry. She looked behind her and ran smack into Zidane. They were both knocked over by the momentum of her running. She hurriedly scrambled off of him and mumbled her apologies.
Zidane picked himself up and brushed himself off. She turned around and started to head away. That's what tipped him off. She wasn't running anymore and was going in a completely different direction. He quickly patted himself down and found that his moneybag was missing.
"Hey you!" he yelled after the girl. She turned around to look at him, surprise clearly written all over her face. She took off again with Zidane on her heels. She bolted through the crowded streets trying to lose the young man behind her. Unfortunately for her, Zidane was an ex-thief and knew all the tricks of the trade. He stayed close behind her until she turned a corner.
He lost track of her for a moment but caught sight of her running down an alley. Again he followed her. The alley soon came to a dead end with only a few barrels and some trash for effective cover. The woman looked behind her but saw that she had no time to hide. He was already there.
"Alright, now give me back my money and I won't hurt you," Zidane told her putting out his hand. "You can't escape. I've got you trapped."
A smirk played over the woman's lips as she said, "Is that so?" With that she jumped onto the nearest barrel and jumped again to land on the roof.
"Well, now I've got your money and it's too far of a jump, for some one as inexperienced as you, to make," her light alto voice mocked him. She held up his bag and with a jingle, shook it, mocking him as her voice had. "If you want it, come get it."
"Fine," came the reply. Zidane made one giant leap and landed next to the mysterious woman on the roof. Pulling out his trusty dagger he glared at her. "I warned you before. Now give me back my money."
The woman stared for a moment before regaining her grip on reality. Who wouldn't be surprised to see someone jump ten feet in the air? She pulled out her own weapon. It was a long, glittering sword. Unlike the swords that Steiner and Beatrix used hers was thin and very light weight. She shoved the bag back into her pocket and took up a fighting stance. Zidane moved into his own stance waiting for an attack.
It came in a sudden blur of movement. The only thing that saved him was his instinct. The woman attacked with the force of a hurricane. Her movements were quick but powerful. It took all of Zidane's strength and speed to keep him from being killed. After a few thrusts he finally became used to her speed and tried to get a good look at her fighting technique. He waited for an opening, a mistake or some body part left unguarded. He dodged, ducked and blocked the blows raining down on him until he saw it. Dropping down to one hand he swiftly shot out his foot and kicked her leg sending her tumbling off the roof.
Zidane let out a short gasp. He hadn't meant to kill her, though no one could blame him for doing it. She had been trying to kill him after all and he was only using self-defense. Quickly he jumped off the roof to reclaim his money and collect the body so that it could be buried. As he was reaching into her pocket he felt a movement next to his elbow.
~She's alive!?~ The woman's chest was slowly rising and falling and her breathing seemed fine. Shaking his head in disbelief he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder heading back to the palace. His day of shopping had been ruined but he couldn't deny the fact that he felt a lot better. The woman had given him a good work out and he had felt almost like he did before he had become the queen's bodyguard.
~Maybe she'd like to stay at the palace? She would be a good challenge and it would keep her off the streets.~
Zidane kept walking making sure his bundle wouldn't wake up as the sun slowly set. Soon he reached the castle and deposited the young woman in one of the spare rooms. Slipping quietly out, he returned to the study and started his work again.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Well? Is it good or is it good? Anyways if I have thoroughly confused you I'm sorry but hopefully things will be cleared up next chapter.
