Title:  An Angel's Gem

Chapter Title:  The  Return To Alexandria

Disclaimer:  I Do Not Own Any Of The Final Fantasy 9 Characters! Or Any Final Fantasy Characters...Or Anything...Squaresoft Does! ^. ^ Great Job, Squaresoft!

 Author's Note: Yep, Yep! Here is the 2nd chapter of An Angel's Gem.  Well, maybe the 1st since the last was a Prologue...oh well. Oh, This takes place 2 years after the end of the game. I hope you like this chappie as well as the last! Please Review! Thanks to all who reviewed already! It means a lot! Thank you!

--K.G.(KujasGarnet)—

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"Zidane, oh, Zidane! I can't believe it!! You're back!!" Eiko yelled as she threw her arms around Zidane's neck. Zidane laughed as he hugged the little girl back. Garnet had invited him and all their friends into the castle after the play was over. Dagger felt like a piece of her heart was fitted back into place. Though, somehow, she felt like it wasn't the last piece.

"Okay, okay, Eiko. Let Zidane breathe…" Freya was laughing as she tapped Eiko on the shoulder. Eiko finally let go, but she kept beaming up at Zidane.

"So, Freya, you miss me?" Zidane smiled as he rubbed his neck. Freya just rolled her eyes.

"No, Zidane. I almost cried of disappointment when I finally saw you after 2 whole years. Of course I missed you!" Freya said as she hugged Zidane. Zidane looked slightly surprised at this, but hugged her back nevertheless. Steiner was the next that walked up, a smile abroad his face.

"It's very nice to see you again, Zidane." He said as he held out his hand. Zidane shook it, though shaking his head too.

"Dang, Steiner! Why don't you be all emotional and hug me too?" Zidane smirked as everyone laughed. Steiner even laughed.

"I very happy to see you again, Zidane! I work here now! Many different foods I taste on our journey, but I still wanted to try something new, so I made new dish! It called Tribal Treat! You must taste!" Quina said happily.

Zidane looked a little bemused but a smile was still placed on his face, "Wow…I've never had food named after me…but since it does have my name in it, I've gotta try it!"

Amarant was leaning against the wall, looking at the happy reunion. When Zidane looked at him, he held his thumb up and said "Welcome back,". Beatrix was the next who welcomed Zidane back. 

"Yes, I was wondering when you'd be back." She said, holding out her hand. Zidane gladly shook it, but then noticed Vivi wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Hey…Where's Vivi?" He asked, his smile fading. Everyone glanced at one another, sad looks on their faces. Garnet was the one who spoke.

"Well…I was worried about him too, so I wanted to go see him. It was quite hard," she glanced at Steiner, who was looking at the ground," but I finally got to go see him. He…isn't well. He's still…but, something is definitely wrong. I've asked Mikoto if she knows anything, and she said she thinks it is Vivi's time to stop. But…she also said that he seems to be fighting it. She said something about him is…special. Mikoto promised to look after him, but I think I should contact Doctor Tot to see if he knows anything." Dagger said quietly. A silence followed her tale and Eiko was the one who spoke up.

"I think Vivi's going to be all right. I'm sure of it. He is special, that's for sure. Your Highness, do Vivi's children know?" She asked, tilting her head. Zidane's eyes widened.

"Vivi's children? Oh geez...so those were all the Vivi's in the crowd?" He asked, scratching the back of his head.

Garnet laughed, shaking her head, "Oh, Princess Eiko….you do not have to call me "Your Highness." And yes, Zidane, those were Vivi's children." Zidane jumped at this.

"What? Princess Eiko?!" He asked, staring at Eiko, who was giggling.

"Yep, Regent Cid and Lady Hilda adopted me! Well…they're Mother and Father to me now. Oh, and Garnet! You can just call me Eiko!" Everyone laughed at this, but Zidane had just one more question to ask.

"So, how's everyone at the Black Mage Village doing?" He asked, turning to Garnet.

"Oh, it's going great. Everyone is so nice; I loved when I last visited." Garnet smiled and was just about to add something when Freya spoke up.

"Well Zidane…You know most of what's been going on here, but I would like to know how you escaped." She said quietly, while everyone nodded in agreement. Zidane scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Well…fine, I'll yell you", He said, taking a deep breath. "Well, I found Kuja. He was really weak; things weren't looking too good. Well, we talked, and that's when the real trouble began. Kuja…he stopped talking…moving….breathing. That's when a giant root came hurdling toward us. I tried to protect Kuja, and the next thing I knew, everything went black. I don't how long it was before I woke up again. I could barely open my eyes. Yeah…this is when I saw something. I opened my right eye just a little, only to see someone flying away…on a Silver Dragon."

Everyone gasped at this, Zidane motioned them that he wasn't done.

"Yeah, I was shocked too. But I could barely move. I used most of my strength to try to get up, but failed and I blacked out again. Next thing I knew I was in Conde Petie; they were nursing me back to health. It worked, but it took 4 months until I was healed, and a 3 more months to regain my strength. But, I felt I wasn't ready to go home all alone yet so I stayed a few more months of training. Finally, I was ready to go back. So, I left. It took me around weeks to get there, but I finally go to Lindblum. There, I went to the Tantalus hideout and we planned my dramatic entrance." Zidane finished, smiling slightly. Everyone was looking at him in awe.

Questions came flying towards Zidane after his story, as well as compliments. Zidane tried to answer all the questions, while trying to say "thank you", "it was no big deal" and other stuff like that to answer all the compliments.

Apart from all that, a stranger made his way towards the Gate of Alexandria to enter the city. The stranger was wearing a long coat, which cover his whole body and face. He was smiling, as he looked up at Alexandria Castle.

"Ah…I finally get to see you again, my canary…"

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Author's Note: Sorry, I think that was another cliffhanger…But I'll start writing the next Chapter ASAP, and it should be up either today or tomorrow! I Hope You Liked This Chappie! Please Review! Thank You!

--K.G.(KujasGarnet)—