Inheritance

WOW. I've never gotten this many reviews for a fanfiction. It's not even my favourite one. I guess angst is a real popular genre. I know it's my favourite genre.

By the way, I'm just going to go by the usual roleplay belief that woman always have White Magic, and say that Mikoto can use it, okay?

R&R!

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Mikoto was back at the cemetery. This time though, she was staring at the sky. She sighed as she spotted yet another Silver Dragon fly overhead, in the same direction the other ones she'd seen had.

"This is not good," she said to herself. Just then, she heard the whirring of an engine, and turned her head. It sounded like an airship.

As she walked to the entrance of Black Mage Village, Varon walked towards her.

"I saw an airship land on the edge of the forest. It looked like the Red Rose."

Mikoto nodded. "I thought as much. Did you see the Silver Dragons?"

Varon nodded. "Do you think the merge is complete?"

"It's very likely. And I suspect Zidane's friends are coming for some answers. He did ask me to stay quiet, but I fear I won't be able to. They need to know."

"That's very thoughtful," Varon added.

"I believe those young Mages are rubbing off on me."

* * *

Garnet didn't like Mikoto. It wasn't something she could really explain. Yes, the only female 'Angel of Death' had been the one to originally plant the seeds of doubt in Zidane's mind when they were in Bran Bal, but she had only been doing what she was told.

However, the Genome had this uncanny ability of knowing things before they happened that just made the young Queen distrust her. So it didn't surprise Garnet to find Mikoto waiting for them at the entrance.

* * *

"I thought you'd come" Mikoto said to the group facing her, as Varon walked away. From the group that had met at the hideout, only Baku and every non- Tantalus member had flown.

"You bet we did" Eiko huffed, hands on hips. "You know something about Zidane so spill!"

Mikoto stayed calm, and almost emotionless.

"Yes, I do know what is happening. However Zidane did ask me to keep it a secret."

Baku shook his head. "Relax, we know about that merge thing. We just need to know where the punk went."

Mikoto had not been expecting that, and stumbled, shock clearly evident on her usually expressionless face. She quickly recovered.

"May I ask how? Zidane seemed quite adamant about keeping it from you."

Armarant grunted from the back. "I overheard him talking to a bartender about it. The monkey can't hold his alcohol and his tongue at the same time."

Mikoto nodded in understanding. "So what is it you need to know from me?"

Garnet stepped forward. "He's disappeared. We don't know where he went."

"We thought that you might have known" Freya added.

Mikoto nodded again, and looked up at the sky, apparently listening for something. After a few minutes, her ears pricked up.

"Look."

The group looked at each other, then stared up at the sky. It wasn't long before a large white creature blocked out the sky, and flew over the village.

Beatrix gasped, mainly in surprise. "That was a Silver Dragon!" she claimed.

Mikoto turned to face them again. "Yes. One of the 'Ultimate Angel's' special traits, is the ability to summon Silver Dragon's. At the moment, Zidane is calling them from all over Gaia. I have been seeing them all morning. From the direction they are flying in, I believe they are heading . . . "

"The Iifa Tree!" Eiko claimed.

"Not again" Steiner moaned. "Didn't we have to go through an army of Silver Dragons at the Iifa Tree with Kuja as well?"

"Not up to the challenge Rusty?" Baku mocked.

"Of course I am!" Steiner exclaimed.

"It can't be that bad" Garnet mused. "Zidane wouldn't set an army of Dragons on us."

"You forget one thing Queen Alexandros."

Garnet turned back to Mikoto.

"Zidane may not be Zidane any more. "To complete the merge, a battle between the minds must ensue. If Kuja won, it would be his mind in power, with some of Zidane's stronger traits replacing his own, like his sense of humour. But Kuja may have no problem with 'setting an army of Dragons' on you."

"Wonderful!" Baku moaned.

Garnet frowned. "We'll just have to risk it. I'm not going to leave Zidane, no matter what's happened to him."

"Yes, we are his friends. We will stand by him," Freya added.

"Are you sure?" Mikoto asked. At their nods, she gave a brief smile.

"Then I will accompany you."

* * *

The pilot gulped as a Silver Dragon flew past, overtaking the Red Rose, just a little too close for comfort. In the distance, the Iifa Tree was coming into view.

"W-we'll reach the Iifa Tree in a few minutes Captain" he stuttered.

"Good" Steiner stated. "Beatrix and I will inform the others."

The Pilot saluted as the two walked out.

* * *

Freya walked out on deck, and instantly spotted her target. Armarant was leaning over a railing, staring at the Iifa Tree that was getting ever closer.

"What do you want" Armarant muttered, as Freya joined him. "I've been meaning to ask you" she answered. "Why did you come to us. Why did you tell everyone about the merge? You usually try to avoid all of us."

Armarant snorted. "No reason. I was planning on blackmailing the monkey, but he disappeared before I could do anything."

Freya shook her head. "I don't believe that. Try again."

"Excuse me?"

"If that was true, you wouldn't have invited me to come to the Hideout to explain."

Armarant growled. "Fine, I told Lani, and she guilted me into it. Happy?"

"Just one more question" Freya said. "If it was just a favour for Lani, why are you here right now? Perhaps you actually consider Zidane a friend?"

Armarant turned to the Burmecian, eyebrows raised beneath his hair. "Friend? Hah! I just want to see how much stronger he really is now."

"Whatever you say" Freya finished, smiling, as Beatrix ran up to them.

"Lady Freya, Armarant, the Red Rose is about to land. Please be ready."

With that, the three ran to the control room.

* * *

"Oh boy . . . " Eiko gulped.

Beatrix nodded in agreement. "That's a lot of Dragons."

"You can say that again" Baku muttered.

Everyone nodded in agreement. In front of them was the dormant Iifa Tree, although it wasn't very dormant now. Every branch was laden with Silver Dragons of all ages. The vines that spread out were filled with Silver Dragons prowling along the makeshift paths, and two were merely sitting a few metres in front of the group, blocking the vine they had planned to use to get in.

"I don't think they're going to let us in without a fight" Freya decided, watching the thousands of eyes watch them carefully.

Mikoto walked a little ways ahead, standing straight in front of the Silver Dragons. The two tensed, but didn't attack. When she tried to walk to the vine, one snorted, and moved to attack. The Genome quickly stepped back, and the Dragon sat down again.

"Zidane must be down where Soul Cage used to reside" she stated. "From the way the Silver Dragons acted, I believe Zidane must be in control"

"How can you be sure?" Eiko asked.

"They only attack when you approach the tree, rather than attack us even as we retreat. It's as if they don't want to cause too much harm to us. However, like Freya said, they still will not let us in without a fight."

"So what's the plan?" Armarant asked.

Mikoto stared at the Tree. "We all run for it. Two stay back here to keep these two from attacking the rest, and the others keep running. If others try to stop us, someone will keep them distracted. Once someone has reached inside, everyone retreats to the edge. They shouldn't stop us if we try to leave. Then we can try again, and again, until enough of us are inside."

"That's one half baked plan" Baku commented. "But hey, let's do it!"

* * *

Beatrix unsheathed her sword. "I'll take on these two my Queen. You all must get to Sir Zidane's aid."

"Thank you Beatrix" Garnet replied, as the woman raced towards the two Dragons. As the beasts reared up, the group dashed along the vines, ignoring the cries coming from the high branches.

* * *

The group had barely reached the first turn in the vine when another Silver Dragon jumped up from underneath the vines. Not even thinking, Freya took her spear, and jumped into the air, ready to strike.

"Keep going!" she ordered, aiming at the Dragon as the group kept running.

Realising that speed was the key, both Eiko and Garnet immediately cast Haste on the group as quickly as possible. Mikoto caught on, and cast Haste herself. The added speed appeared to help, as they reached halfway to the entrance before two more flew in their way.

"My turn" Armarant growled, claws up.

"Not alone!" Eiko shouted, as the rest of them stared at the unlikely duo.

"I don't need a child's help," Armarant snapped.

"Well you're getting it" Eiko snapped back, then shouted at the group. "Hey, pick up the pace!"

That snapped everyone back into reality, and raced off, not looking back.

* * *

"We're almost there!" Garnet shouted. Thirty seconds more and . . .

Suddenly, a Silver Dragon jumped from a nearby vine, and another flew down.

"Note to self, never say that again" Garnet muttered.

Baku turned to Steiner. "Hey, you ready to take these two on Rusty?"

"Hah! Certainly, if you think that pathetic excuse for a sword can handle it. My Queen, Miss Mikoto, we will distract these beasts."

"Come!" Mikoto shouted, grabbing Garnet's arm.

* * *

As they neared the entrance, both eyes widened. A strange door was slowly descending on the gap.

"How?" Mikoto asked as they ran. "The Iifa Tree has no power left."

Just then, yet another Silver Dragon flew down, blocking their way. Garnet glanced a look at the door only a few metres away. It was almost closed.

"Keep going!" Mikoto hissed. "If no one else, you must get to him."

Understanding, Garnet bolted as Mikoto prepared to cast Holy. She fell to the ground, and rolled into the small gap left, as the door thudded shut. When the door was obviously shut, Mikoto turned tail, and ran down the vines. She had been right; the Dragons didn't stop her.

* * *

She reached the group, and quickly helped Eiko with Curaga's. Distracting the creatures had not been easy for those who had stopped early in the run.

"Shall we try that again?" Freya asked. "It seemed to work."

Mikoto shook her head. "I think it worked too well. I don't know how, but Zidane must have realised we would reach the entrance, and it's been blocked. We can't get in, and Garnet can't get out. At least not without Zidane removing the block.

"So it's all up to Dagger huh?" Baku asked.

Mikoto merely nodded.

* * *

Garnet dusted herself down, and looked around. The Iifa Tree hadn't changed that much, but something was different. It seemed less . . . alive, than before. Not that that was a bad thing considering what the Iifa Tree's purpose was. But it did make her wonder how the door had closed.

"I'll worry about it later" she whispered, and walked down the winding path. "I'm coming Zidane . . . "

.

To be continued . . .

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Hah! Planned to use today to re-edit Guardian, and what do I do? I write this (not that any of you will be complaining). If my plan is right, there are only two more chapters to go. Hopefully they'll be up soon!

R&R!