Disclaimer: We still do not own Final Fantasy IX, nothing has changed since the first two chapters…
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! We feel all warm and fuzzy inside now!
Starling94: You scared us! You reviewed like minutes after we posted! We were like, 'Wow! We didn't know it was posted yet!'
Tobu Ishi: Thanks so much for the praise! And I'm glad that you think it's the 'coolest'! About your question about the arm thing, or any injuries for that matter, we would tell you, but it might spoil what's coming up. But thanks for the review and we hope you enjoy it!
Aya-yahiko: We are Lord of the Rings fans too! Hehehe! (Legolas is a hottie! And Pippin is soooo cute ^_^)
Fujin Kazano: Yes, thinking about Final Fantasy all the time can get you into awkward situations. Trust us! We do it all the time, but that's why we hang out all the time! We know what we're talking about when you randomly say "I wish I were a summoner" and "If I could be a genome, I would want a lemur tail!"
A Joyful Reunion
Zidane looked around the Prima Vista nervously. He still had no idea how long he had been gone and in truth he didn't really want to know. Tiredly, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes; he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Until midnight, he had laid awake in bed thinking about seeing Dagger again.
His eyes wandered back down to his script. Marcus had run lines with him several times, but Zidane still wasn't satisfied. Leaning against the wall, he began to read over them again.
Baku noticed this and exclaimed, "Damn boy, you can recite it in yer sleep!" the sudden yell in the once silent room startled Zidane and made him hit his head on the wall.
"God Boss! Ya don't have to scare the shit outta me!" he said rubbing his sore head.
Baku chuckled, "Watch yer mouth." He winked, "Go see Ruby, she'll fix ya up with yer costume." Still grimacing slightly, Zidane walked down the stairs. He already knew his way perfectly around the theater ship, so he was there in no time.
"Here ya go hun." Ruby said shoving a cloak into his hands. After examining it for a few seconds he handed it back to her.
"Sorry Ruby, I want her to actually see me."
"Golly! We can't have her runnin' onstage in the middle of the first scene!" she explained throwing it back to him. "You can pull it off at the end." He sighed and allowed her to put it on him. "I won't button the last two buttons, so you can pull it off easier." She said, as she patted him on the back.
Once the cloak was on him, Zidane turned so that he could look at the full body mirror. "Well? Whaddaya think?" The black cloak covered everything; he couldn't even see his own face. Well, if that's the way it has to be…
Solemnly, Zidane headed for the door, but before he left Ruby drew him into a tight embrace. "I hope you catch your canary." She whispered into his ear.
"Thanks Ruby, I hope I do too." He smiled at her and started to walk back down the hall.
"We're landin'!" came Blank's voice. "Grab onto something!" Already? All morning Zidane had been fighting off how nervous he really was. It was never like this before, normally performing (no matter who the audience was) didn't bother him. This time was different, he hadn't seen Dagger in months. What will she think?
Dagger sat in her bedroom next to her window, just like last time when Tantalus had come to Alexandria. The whole town had been in an uproar, just like it was today. The only difference was that, this time, Zidane wouldn't be here. She watched as the Prima Vista soared into the town square and started to lower itself.
It had been almost seven months since she last saw him. He looked so valiant and brave, so sure of himself as he walked off into the sunset to save his archenemy, but also brother. Seven months, and he hadn't returned, and no word came from him. All she knew was what she was told by Beatrix. The Iifa Tree had collapsed on him. What a horrible way to end.
A week after the news arrived, she had attended the funeral service. If you could call it a funeral. There was no body, no visitation. Simply people talking about him in past tense.
"You're Highness?" Steiner's voice interrupted her thoughts. Gingerly, she turned her head to face him, "Tantalus has arrived, and the play will be starting soon. Shall I escort you to your seat?" he asked.
"Thank you Steiner." She said softly. Wearily, she stood up from her seat and took his arm.
"Aren't you excited?" he asked upon noticing her grim face. All she could manage was a weak smile. "It's your favorite play by Lord Avon. I'm sure you'll enjoy it more than you think." He smiled reassuringly.
Despite Steiner's previous behavior toward Zidane, she could tell he missed him as well. Everyone would miss the energetic blonde boy, but not as much as her.
They stepped out onto the platform where a nice chair was placed facing the stage. The play still hadn't started; in fact it would be awhile before it actually did start. Nonetheless, the nobles and peasants alike were all sitting down getting ready to enjoy the show. Dagger merely sat and watched as some familiar faces set up the stage below. She noticed Marcus instantly, he was talking and laughing with the band. Zero, Benero and Cinna were all gathered working and making sure that the stage doors worked. Last but not least, she noticed Blank, he was standing next to a cloaked man, both were working on setting up the backdrop.
Several minutes passed, then the actors went backstage and music started to play. Baku walked onstage to give his introduction speech. "Tonight's performance is of a story that takes place long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia is torn from her lover, Marcus and attempts to flee the castle only to be caught by her father King Leo. And now noble Queen Garnet, Lord Steiner, Lady Beatrix, honorable nobles and the rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents 'I Want to Be Your Canary'." The square erupted with applause as Baku bowed and walked offstage.
Dagger tried with all her might to pay attention to the play, but her mind kept on slipping. This was the exact same way she had met Zidane only a year or so earlier. She had tried running away from home, and Zidane had been sent by Cid to kidnap her and bring her to safety. She shook these thoughts from her head and started to concentrate on the play.
Ruby was playing Cornelia again, but she couldn't figure out who was playing Marcus. She had seen Marcus earlier, and this wasn't him. Whoever it was, was doing an excellent job.
"Since the sun lends me no ear, I pray instead to the twin moons!" the man yelled dramatically as he threw his hands into the air, "I beseech thee wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish!" he grabbed the hem of his cloak, "Bring my beloved Dagger to me!" he yelled as he threw the cloak off.
Standing there in the middle of the stage, was none other than Zidane! Dagger wasn't sure what to think, is it really him? She didn't really care; she pulled herself out of her seat and ran to the door. Steiner and Beatrix stood at the doorway, blocking her progress, but to her amazement, instead of forbidding her to go any further, they opened the doors for her.
She ran down the staircase, passing many appalled looking Alexandrian soldiers, then burst out the castle doors. Zidane smiled seeing her run to him and walked to the edge of the stage to meet her. In her desperate attempt to make it to him, her pendant fell off, however she didn't turn for more than a second. He was much more important to her, and to prove this, she tore her tiara off as well. She ran into his outstretched arms and cried into his shoulder.
"Shhhh…" he comforted her as he ran his fingers through her long brown hair. It had grown so much longer since he had last seen her! As if seeing he was really alive, really there, Dagger started to pound lightly on his chest as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You're back!" she mumbled into his chest.
"Yes, and I'm never leaving you again." He said as he continued to stroke her head. She held onto him even tighter, afraid that if she ever let go she would lose him again, only this time forever. The crowd roared with applause as the two lovers continued to hold onto each other, they seemed oblivious to everything around them, except each other.
After the long embrace, Dagger pulled away just enough to look into his eyes. "How did you survive?" Her face was tearstained, but there was unmistakably a smile.
"I had to, I didn't have a choice. I wanted to come home to you." He explained wiping away her tears. "So, I sang your song."
"Our song." She said simply and held his hand against her cheek. Zidane smiled and nodded, and pulled her back into him.
~ ~
How was that? :::yawn:::: you people should be so happy that I love you because it is now :::looks at clock::: eleven o'clock and I still haven't finished my science essay (due tomorrow) oh well. Anyway! Now that the ending is established, it's time to move on! Just to let you know, in our book, the wedding at Conde Petie was the real deal. So, they are already married. The next chapter takes place six years after all this…
