Inheritance

Well Eika, I honestly didn't put too much thought into it. But I think Mikoto would stay female no matter who was in control. However, I think she'd stay in control because I can't see Zidane fighting her.

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Whether it was thanks to the lack of mist, or unseen help by Zidane, Garnet encountered no monsters on her walk into the Iifa Tree. Something she was very grateful about, she didn't really want to take on some on the creatures that used to encounter the tree on her own.

* * *

The lift they had used to go down into the tree so long ago was gone, and the hole merely fell into darkness. Remembering the ride had not seemed too long the last time; she took a deep breath, and jumped right in.

* * *

The Queen winced as she hit the ground, quickly casting Curaga as she stood up.

"I really hope I don't have to go back up that way" she muttered, staring up at the gloomy circle in the roof. "I don't think Float would go high enough."

Brushing off her worries, she looked all around her. Fortunately, the flowers blooming inside the Iifa Tree were still glowing, the twisting road was still clear enough to be seen. From beneath, she thought she heard a dull roar.

"I coming Zidane. Whether you like it or not" she shouted, and started running.

* * *

"We can't just stand here!" Steiner shouted. "We have to go help her Highness!" Mikoto shook her head. "That is not possible. The Dragon's will not even let us near it. Look, they keep flying down."

Sure enough, every minute or so, two more Dragons would fly from the branches and land on the vines. The roots were a swarming pile of Dragons.

"They're pretty damn insistent about keeping us out" Baku commented. "I hate to say this but I think Dagger's on her own."

The rest could only nod as more Dragons flew down, eyeing them with distrust.

* * *

" . . . I don't think I thought this part through . . . " Garnet trailed off as she stared down into the deepest part of the tree. The room was less green than the last time she'd been there, but the huge trunk with the leaf lift were still there. The only problem was, that without power to the tree, the lift wasn't working . . .

She walked away from the edge, her head down in thought.

"Come on Garnet, you can do this. How can you get down there without breaking your neck? Float? No, even Float has its limits."

Just then, an idea brushed against the back of her mind. She grabbed it, and immediately started searching for a specific jewel.

'I've never summoned outside a battle before' she thought to herself, pulling a Peridot from her Inventory. 'But maybe one of them can get me down there. Ark would be best, but it's too big. Besides, Ramuh's the only one who's ever spoken to me before. I just hope this works.'

She clutched the jewel to her chest and concentrated, rather than on the summoning, on Ramuh's spirit. When she opened her eyes, she nearly shouted in joy at the hazy image before her.

Ramuh didn't seem nearly as happy.

"Why have you summoned me?" he asked. "Where is my foe?"

That calmed Garnet down, and she immediately launched into her plea.

"Please, I didn't know who else to ask" she started. "I have to get to the bottom of this tree. I have to reach Zidane, but there's no power for the lift."

"So you want me to carry you down?" The Eidolon seemed slightly amused at that.

Garnet forced herself to look more submissive. "Please. I need to help him. I'll never ask for something like this again."

The Eidolon didn't answer at first, and Garnet was certain he would deny her unusual request. But luck was on her side, as his voice finally answered.

"The Genome is strong, and smarter than most give him credit for" he stated. "But I sense there is much turmoil in his heart. Take my hand."

Garnet smiled, and reached out for the outstretched hand. Seconds later, the Eidolon was carrying his mistress down into the bowels of the Iifa Tree.

* * *

Ramuh disappeared the second Garnet's feet touched the ground. Even so, she whispered a silent thank you to the Eidolon.

The harp no longer glittered, and the room was duller than the last time she'd set foot here. But yet, some of the substance mist was made from still lay on the ground, looking eerily beautiful. However, there was no sign of Zidane.

She walked down the steps, and moved closer to the area they had fought Soul Cage.

"Zidane!" she shouted, and was rewarded with a reaction. Not one she had been after however.

"Grahh!" echoed through the chamber, as a Silver Dragon flew up from the bottom of the harp, and landed on the same floor as Garnet. Instinctively, she walked backwards, but tripped on the uneven ground, letting her staff fall from her hands as the creature pulled in for the attack. Almost defenceless, Garnet could only put her hands in front as a shield as the Dragon neared her.

"Silgis!" a voice shouted down, full of anger, although Garnet was sure she could sense some fear in the outburst."

Whoever it was, the voice had an immediate response on the Dragon. It quickly reared back, and sat on the edge of the ledge submissively. Garnet looked around, searching for the location of the voice. Finally, she looked up; to see a figure crouched on the strange spiral the leaf used to go down. How she had missed him when travelling down surpassed her.

Realising the Queen was staring at him, the figure visibly sighed, and jumped from his post, falling and landing from a height Garnet was sure could have killed lesser men. But as he left his crouch, he kept his back to her.

"Zidane . . .?" Garnet whispered.

The figure's hands clenched into fists, and taking a deep breath, he turned round. Garnet had to blink twice to make sure the figure in front of her was real.

His body was mainly shrouded in a blue jacket, but it was his face that caught her eye. His blonde hair was now a mess of feathery, silver locks, his eyes, normally twinkling at the smallest thing, were darker, filled fear and hatred at himself. His face hadn't changed, but as Garnet looked at him, she could truly see the brother's resemblance; they had the same face.

"How did you know I was here?"

That snapped Garnet from her trance. "We went to Mikoto. She said she'd spotted the Silver Dragons coming this way."

"So she told you. I should have known she wouldn't keep it to herself."

Garnet tried to take a step forward, but stopped when Zidane stepped back, and Silgis stood up. Zidane turned his back to her, and walked closer to the Dragon.

"Actually, Mikoto didn't tell us. Armarant did."

Zidane turned his head, his face filled with confusion.

"Armarant?"

Garnet smiled sadly. "He overheard you talking to the barman in Lindblum."

Zidane cursed himself. He'd been an idiot to pour his problems onto Bobo. Who'd have guessed Armarant would have been there? Let alone that he'd gone and told the others.

Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and heard Silgis growl softly. He turned round slightly to see Garnet had taken advantage of his thinking and walked up to him.

"Zidane, please. We just want to help" she urged. "Stop thinking you have to suffer alone."

Zidane's hands clenched again, and he jerked away from Garnet's hand.

"Zidane . . . "

"I'm not Zidane!" he interrupted, shouting and shaking his head. "Zidane's gone. I'm just a mix of emotions taken from two manufactured life forms that's been thrown together. He's just as dead as Kuja is!"

"I don't believe that!" Garnet shouted back. "Maybe things are slightly different now, but you're still Zidane. Nothing can change that. The only one who can't see that is you!"

Angrily, Zidane gestured to Silgis. "Can Zidane summon Dragons?" he asked. "Can Zidane use Holy? Oh and can, no wait, would Zidane willingly use mist?"

"What?"

Zidane looked away. "I had to use Mist to close that stupid door. And I'll have to use it again to let you out. I know Mist is souls, but I don't care. Tell me, does that sound like Zidane? Does it!"

Garnet stayed silent.

Zidane walked to the edge, and looked down at the harp. "I'll have Silgis fly you back up. The door will be open when you get there."

Garnet walked up to him. "One more thing . . . "

Zidane turned to face Dagger. "Wha-"

*FWAP*

Zidane blinked in shock, a hand going to his red cheek whilst Silgis roared in outrage. Dagger had slapped him. Dagger had actually slapped him.

Garnet's eyes were holding back tears.

"Zidane" she started. "I came to find and help the man I fell in love with all that time ago. And it hurts me to say this, but you're not him. Not because you used mist, but because you're giving in. You said yourself that you and Kuja were a lot alike, that you might have done the same in his shoes. But when it became more obvious, you run and hide.

"Dagger I . . . "

"Zidane, you're giving him another chance at life. Giving him the chance to undo what he did. Don't you think Kuja would want that?"

"But . . . "

"I'm not finished. You say you aren't Zidane any more, so why outside, did you just send the Dragons to defend, not attack. I would have thought anyone trying to keep people away would have just attacked. You didn't attack us, because you didn't want to hurt us. Am I wrong?"

" . . . No."

Garnet smiled, and took his hands like she had on the Theatre Ship when they had both introduced themselves. "And what about me? And the others? Those memories aren't yours. Just because you have the knife that killed a hundred men, doesn't mean you killed them. A memory can't hurt you, no matter how hard they are to watch or feel."

"But it's not just the memories! The feelings, the clashes between the two of us. I'm not even too sure of my own emotions just now."

It was then Garnet knew exactly what she had to do. She stepped closer to Zidane, put her arms around her neck, and kissed him deeply. Shocked at first, Zidane stumbled slightly, before putting his own hands on her shoulders and returning the kiss.

When they broke away, Garnet opened her eyes and smiled. "Tell me, did that feel right?"

Zidane sighed, looking away.

"I've been a right idiot, haven't I?"

Garnet laughed softly. "Not an idiot, just confused and afraid."

"I guess Cinna wins the betting pool."

"Sorry?"

"He was the only one who bet you'd kiss me first."

Garnet shook her head. "You're back all right. Just, promise me one thing."

"What?"

"That you won't keep closing up when something happens to you. Everyone always wants to help, just like you're always willing to help us."

Zidane smiled. "Only if you promise me something."

"?"

"If I ever start wearing make up, you will kill me."

Garnet shook her head and held his arm, her head resting slightly on his shoulder.

"Deal."

* * *

"Hey! They're going away!"

At Eiko's exclamation, every pair of eyes locked on the Iifa Tree. Sure enough, one by one, the Silver Dragons were flying into the distance, as if knowing they weren't needed any more.

Mikoto gave another rare smile. "I knew you could do it Garnet" she whispered, as she spotted the door crashing down to reveal a Silver Dragon, that immediately flew up into the sky, two small colourful figures on its back.

* * *

Everyone took a step back as the Dragon landed. But relaxed as Garnet and Zidane both descended on a claw. After that, silence fell on the group, as they stared at the new 'Zidane'. Zidane merely kept his eyes to the ground.

Surprisingly, it was Baku who made the first sound.

"GWAH HAH HAH!"

Zidane's eye's snapped up. "What's so funny Boss?"

"Just realising that we don't need to replace Ruby anymore" he snorted. "With those locks you look more female than she does!"

"You take that back!" Zidane threatened, but with a grin on his face.

With the tension broken, everyone relaxed. Mikoto ignored her brother at first, and walked up to Garnet.

"I knew you could do it" she complimented.

Garnet smiled. "Thank you. It wasn't easy."

"How did you convince him?" Freya asked.

Zidane smiled slightly. "Let's just say my friend Cinna is a good 2,000 gil richer.

* * *

Only Garnet and Zidane knew why that comment sent Baku chortling to the ground.

.

Epilogue to follow . . .

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Just the epilogue and then Inheritance has finally ended. Whether or not this chapter was worth the wait I do not know. I pretty much let it go with the flow. I hope you could believe what was happening. Epilogue should be up tomorrow . . .

R&R!