Inheritance

Took a while I know. But considering how long Linkage has gone without an update, this is pretty quick.

PS: Kuja's eyes are blue right? I can't quite see in the pictures.

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"I'm worried about Zidane . . . "

It had been two weeks since they had flown to Black Mage Village, but since then, the Queen had noticed a definite change in her love's attitude. He'd started avoiding everyone, and snapping at the smallest thing, then apologising before running off. Those at the Inn had mentioned he was also waking up at night, screaming. He'd returned to Lindblum a few days ago without explaining why. Dagger had been unsure what to do about it, but when Cid had invited Garnet, Steiner and Beatrix to Lindblum, the three had accepted, and Dagger had every intention of asking the thief what was going on."

"I don't know him very well, but I admit, his recent attitude seems unlike him" Beatrix said.

"Perhaps he has reverted to thinking we will not accept him because of what he is, the idiot" Steiner muttered.

Dagger shook her head. "No. I don't think its that. Zidane's not one to second-guess those around him. But I'm going to find out . . . "

* * *

Zidane sat cross-legged on his bed, staring at the cloth in front of him. On the piece of white fabric was a large pile of silver strands and feathers he'd pulled out since he returned to Lindblum. There was no doubt about it; he was getting more each day. And he hadn't had a yellow feather in days. They were all white, and incredibly hard to get out. He'd had to use a potion to stop the bleeding; it was like having Freya's spear rammed into his head. But if he kept getting more, he'd have to start dyeing his hair, or he'd go bald. On the bright side, that seemed to be the only thing that was physically changing. He could only thank the Gods that Kuja had blue eyes. Trying to cover THAT up would have been a challenge.

Sighing, he picked up the cloth, bundled it into a ball and threw it in the bin. There was no point in worrying about it now. Dagger was coming to stay for a few days, and would undoubtedly be worried about the way he'd been acting. He wondered who'd been more surprised when he had returned to Lindblum so early, him, her or his Tantalus brothers.

So worried about what he was going to say to the Queen and the others that he forgot to pick up Orihalcon's sheath.

* * *

"DAGGER!" Eiko squealed, running up and hugging the older Summoner.

"Eiko!" Garnet replied. "It wasn't that long since you left Alexandria."

"And that means I can't miss you?" Eiko asked. "Hi Beatrix, Hi Rusty!"

"ARRRGGHHH! It's Steiner. Steiner or Adelbert. I. AM. NOT. RUSTY!!!"

Eiko giggled. "Zidane was right, that is fun."

"Speaking of Zidane . . . " Dagger started. "Is he . . . "

" . . . Still snapping at you for the smallest comments?" Eiko finished. "Oh yeah. He's been getting up on the wrong side of the bed ever since he talked to Mikoto. Father says he's driving Baku and the others round the bend, but they don't know what's wrong. He's been real secretive lately."

"Very odd behaviour" Steiner commented. "The monkey is usually so open."

"Monkey? Would you all be talking about me?"

At the sound of the voice, everyone turned to see a familiar tailed thief walking towards them.

"Zidane!" Dagger shouted, imitating Eiko and running into his arms.

Zidane smiled. "Good to see you Dagger. Sorry I left so quickly. It wasn't my smartest move."

Dagger left the embrace to stare at Zidane. "Why did you leave?"

Sensing a private moment, Beatrix reacted. "Steiner, why don't we go talk to the Regent whilst these two talk. Won't you come too Lady Eiko?"

"Uh, yeah sure!" Eiko answered, making a mental note to double back and watch.

* * *

As the room cleared, even those working in the airship bay made themselves scarce leaving the Queen and the thief alone.

"So . . . " Dagger started. "Why did you?"

Zidane suddenly found the floor fascinating, and scuffed it with a boot. "I, uh, well . . . I just had to."

But Dagger wasn't letting him get away that easy. "That's not an answer."

"Well it's the closest thing you're getting to one!"

Dagger flinched in shock from the outburst. The anger disappeared from Zidane's face as he realised what he'd said.

"Sorry, you didn't deserve that" Zidane apologised. But, damn this was hard! Half of him wanted to break down and tell her everything, but the other half wanted to push her far away. If he did gain some of Kuja's more negative traits, he wanted his friends to be ready to kill him. Great idea, if Zidane hadn't loved Dagger and his friends more than anything else on Gaia.

Just then, he felt two hands on his arm, and snapped back to reality to see Dagger staring at him sadly.

"Zidane, please" she begged. "I know something's wrong. Just tell me what it is."

"Dagger . . . " Zidane started, then roughly yanked his arm out of her hold and bolted for the stairs to the aircab station. From her hiding place on the stairs, Eiko leapt and ran after the figure, the same as Dagger.

"Zidane!"

"Just leave me alone!"

As the boy disappeared through the door, the two Summoners stopped, standing in silence.

"So much for just asking him" Eiko muttered. "Looks like we'll have to do this the Tantalus way."

Dagger looked down at the girl. "The Tantalus way?"

Eiko nodded. "We break into Zidane's room at the Tantalus hideout and see what we can find!"

"Eiko!" Dagger scolded. "We can't sneak into a thieves hideout. Least of all Zidane's room. It's an invasion of privacy."

"Do you want to know what's wrong with Zidane or not?"

"Well, yes but . . . "

"Then but nothing! Let's go!"

* * *

"What a rip off. I should sue that pickle cart!"

Blank rolled his eyes. "Yes, I can see it now. Law abiding shopkeeper versus Cinna, member of the most notorious team of bandits on Gaia. I'm so sure you'd win."

"If it's such a rip off, why do you still buy them?" Marcus asked, as the three walked up the steps of the aircab station in the business district.

Cinna shrugged. "Because I love pickles, and she's the only one who sells them."

Just as the three walked into the station, an air cab was just arriving. As the doors opened, a blonde figure pushed his way out, and ran towards the exit.

"Zidane? What are you . . . hey!" Marcus shouted, when the boy merely brushed past him and into the street. When his friends looked out the door of the station, they spotted his tail darting towards the exit of the city.

"Wonder what happened" Blank mused.

"With the way he's been acting the past few days? Who knows."

* * *

Once he was out of the city, Zidane marched on, stopping not that far from Pinnacle Rocks. He sat on a nearby rock and tried to clear his head. He'd definitely over-reacted to Dagger's obvious concern, but in the long run, it was probably best. That was how it felt in his head anyway.

Slowly, he lifted his head to the sky. He had no idea what he was going to do. From what Mikoto had said, there was no way to stop 'merging' with what was left of Kuja's soul. He could tell it was already beginning. The nightmares were the most obvious clue, getting memories from Kuja's past, to Kuja's last thoughts. It was like having a split personality. His own disgust and horror at the memories that were now half his, and Kuja's glee and delight at the destruction. It was sometimes hard to tell which was stronger.

A strangely familiar roar brought him out of his thoughts, and his eyes widened in disbelief at the monster storming towards him.

"A Mistodon!" he shouted. "But there's no mist left!"

'Some must have been hiding out in the plains when the mist cleared up' Zidane said to himself.

"Well, it shouldn't be too hard to get rid of" he decided, reaching for Orihalcon. His fingers closed on air. Slowly, he stared at his belt, remembering leaving the sheath on a table . . .

He turned to stare at the creature in front of him, ready for battle.

"Okay, now I'm in trouble."

* * *

"This is so wrong!" Dagger hissed, climbing through the window.

Eiko rolled her eyes. "Oh come on!" she insisted. "Like Zidane hasn't sneaked into your room before. And if he hasn't then I'm willing to bet he's thought about it."

"That's true but . . . "

"Well we're in now, so lets look around." Giving in, Dagger opened a chest on the ground, noticing Zidane's Orihalcon on the table, away from the display of his other thief swords on one wall. Although he had stronger swords like Ultima Weapon, Zidane had a strange fondness for the Orihalcon. "He must have forgotten about taking it," Dagger said to herself. "He must have been nervous to have forgotten something that important. I hope he doesn't go outside the city."

* * *

Zidane winced as he hit the ground from the last attack. Without a Dagger, he'd had to resort to his fists and his skills. Great plan, except it wasn't working. Zidane had long since given up trying to flee, and the Mistodon wasn't showing signs of stopping. It was only thanks to auto- potion that he was even still alive, and he hadn't had many of them to begin with. The last one had been used after the last attack.

Somehow, he dragged himself into a standing position. He probably only had one more chance to attack before Slugzilla finished him off.

'Someone, anyone' Zidane mentally pleaded. 'I need help!'

The next few seconds were almost a blur to the Genome. He vaguely remembered bringing his hands above his body, and focusing his energy into something alien to him. He only snapped back into control as the Holy attack was released, surrounding the Mistodon, and brutally attacking it. Zidane blinked twice, and stared at his hands.

'Kuja . . . knew that attack . . . "

"AARRRHH"

Zidane's head snapped back up, to see the spell evaporate, and to show the Mistodon slumped near the ground, yet still moving slightly.

"HOW MUCH HP DO YOU HAVE!" Zidane shrieked, as the creature struggled up and began charging towards him. Preparing for the worst, Zidane shielded his face with an arm.

The attack never hit, and another roar joined the Mistodon's. Seconds later, the Mistodon shrieked, and Zidane heard the unmistakable sound of a creature fading from existence. Slowly, he removed the hand, and wished he hadn't.

There was a Silver Dragon in front of him.

* * *

"Nothing!" Eiko shouted, staring around the room. "How is that possible?"

"Well, he IS a thief, Dagger consoled. "So he's naturally skilled at covering his tracks." Eiko wrinkled her nose in disgust. "A girl could never live in a room like this" she muttered, changing the subject. "It looks like an Ultima went off in here."

"Well Zidane never struck me as a neat freak" Dagger laughed.

Eiko frowned. "I feel like we're missing something. We've overlooked something so obvious it's ridiculous."

Just then, her face lit up. "Of course!"

The girl bolted to the corner of the room, and overtipped a bucket, covering her nose.

"Ugh. I didn't look in this earlier cause it smells worse than those pickles in the business district."

"No wonder" Dagger added, pointing to the rubbish now on the floor. "There was a couple in there."

"Well anyway, he might be throwing out something that he needs rid of."

Dagger frowned, and sat on the bed. "You're on your own this time Eiko. I'm not touching that thing with a ten foot pole."

Eiko walked over to the wall and grabbed a dagger. "Neither am I" she replied, and started moving it around. It didn't take her long to discover the cloth.

"Hey, look at this!"

Dagger looked at what Eiko had lifted. A piece of cloth, filled with silver strands of hair. A single feather fluttered out.

"What the . . . "

"My thoughts exactly" Eiko said. "Silver hair and feathers? That remind you of someone?"

"Kuja" Dagger replied instantly. "But why would Zidane have that?"

"Maybe Tantalus is planning to do a reconstruction of the fight against Kuja" Eiko offered. "And they needed to make a wig."

"Then why did he throw it out?"

"They decided against it?"

Dagger frowned. "I don't know what it means, but lets put this back before anyone comes back."

Eiko crossed her arms in annoyance. "All that and we still don't know what's going on."

"We'll just have to trust that Zidane will tell us eventually . . . "

* * *

It was official. This was the worst day of Zidane's life. It had surpassed the day trip to Terra, the first time he was in jail, and the time Baku had made him act as Princess Cornelia when Ruby was sick.

"What is this?" Zidane demanded. "Did I trespass on a super powerful beast convention or something?"

But the Dragon didn't seem interested in fighting the boy. Instead, it cocked its head and stared at him. Hesitantly, it took one step towards him, sniffing the air. Surprised by the creature's actions, Zidane stood still.

As it walked closer, Zidane decided running might be a good idea. But when he tried to turn tail and run, he found himself frozen to the spot! If the Silver Dragon decided to have a mid morning snack, he was in deep water.

The Dragon stood in front of him, and lowered its head, sniffing Zidane. After a few snorts, it rubbed its head against his chest, making a sound almost like a purr. Almost in shock, Zidane shakily put a hand out, and stroked the Dragons head the exact way he somehow knew they liked to be stroked.

The Dragon moved its head as it was stroked, eyes closed. Finally, it began to dawn on Zidane what on Gaia was happening, and he stopped stroking the creature's head, making it stare at him.

"I called for help, mentally, and you came, didn't you?" he asked the creature, not sure if he should expect an answer. He was rewarded with an almost unnoticeable nod from the Dragon.

"I guess that makes sense" Zidane muttered. "Kuja always rode a Silver Dragon, and there were thousands at the Iifa Tree. You all obeyed him."

Again a nod, and Zidane felt a buzzing at the back of his mind. A shred of knowledge from the memories he'd already gained from Kuja.

"You're . . . Silgis, aren't you? You were in Burmecia, and at the Iifa Tree. You're Kuja's favourite."

The Dragon answered by rubbing against his chest again. Zidane smiled, and went to stroke the creature's head again, when he realised what he was doing.

'Are you nuts!" the voice in his head shrieked. 'I thought you didn't want this merge to happen, and here you are making friends with Kuja's slaves! The only reason it's so friendly is because it thinks you're Kuja!'

Zidane jolted away from the creature, making it cock its head again, and move towards him.

"NO!" he shouted, throwing a hand towards the sky. "Go away, do . . . whatever it is you Silver Dragons do!"

Silgis was confused by his master's immediate change in attitude, but Kuja had always been temperamental. He flapped his wings, and flew back into the sky.

Zidane made sure the creature was out of sight before sprinting back to Lindblum. Magic and Silver Dragons. What was next?

* * *

He would reach Lindblum before noticing his tail had unconsciously curled up tight near his waist, almost out of sight . . .

To be continued . . .

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Phew, enough happened in that one at least. And a few notes . . .

The super powerful Mistodon? It was stronger than most, but Zidane didn't inflict that much damage on it before the Holy, and considering it was the first time he'd ever used magic, it probably wouldn't have been very strong.

As for only having Orihalcon? I needed something that would attach to his belt, and I don't know what the Ultima Weapon is like, and the Tower wouldn't fit.

Why I called the Dragon Silgis? I do not know. I just threw out a bunch of names and that's the one that stuck (thought about calling it Titan, but that's Ravyn Crescents^_^)

R&R!