Disclaimer: Look back…
A/N: This is about ::counts on fingers:: thirteen years into the future! Amy is now sixteen…and so on. I wish she could stay young longer, but alas I must get this story going!
Aya-yahiko: The whole dream sequence was 'symbolic'. Don't worry, it will all come together in the end, but you can rest assured that Garland does not take Amethyst away. But, everything in there does mean something. I will touch base with that here in a…few…hundred…chapters. (Sarcasm, I already have the first eighteen chapters written) ^_^
Ginger Ninja: Thanks for reading my story! I hope you enjoy it as much as you already have been! (Thanks for the compliment on Amy…I'm glad so many people like her!)
Guardian Angel
"Hey Amy! Be sure to pack some of those Ethers I bought you the other day!" Zidane called from the hallway.
Amy laughed to herself. She was so excited! Ever since before she could remember, Blank, Marcus, Cinna and Baku had all promised her they would take her on an adventure someday. So, for her sixteenth birthday, they were going to take her to help solve a recent problem.
After many years of paranoia, it finally had happened. Monsters penetrated through the Iifa Tree's roots and were swarming all over the Outer Continent.
Ever since Amethyst was old enough to understand, Dagger and Eiko tutored her in summoning and in the use of White Magic. So, when the mission came up, Zidane thought she was ready. However, it took a long time to convince Dagger.
"This is a very dangerous situation," she would argue, "I don't want either of you to get involved!"
"Dagger, they need my help. Besides, Amy has had over ten years of experience!"
"But not with mist monsters! Zidane, please! I'm sure everyone can manage without you for once!"
Not sure of how to explain his reasoning to her, he just looked into her eyes. She had recently celebrated her thirty-eighth birthday. No matter how much older than him she looked, she was still the same woman he fell in love with, and he would stay with her forever. And as much as he hated to admit it, he knew that nothing on this mission could do so much as give him a bruise.
"Look hun," he sighed, "nothing can happen to me. I can shield Amy if worse comes to worse. But I really do think she's ready. You were sixteen when you came with me weren't you?"
Dagger sighed; he had a point. And she knew that no matter what she said, she couldn't change his mind. Finally, she murmured, "You shouldn't say things like that…"
"Like what?"
"Nothing can happen to you. You don't know that for sure!"
Zidane shook his head. He had been through too much, and he knew for a fact that there was something wrong with him. However, at this time it was the last thing on his mind. He would try to figure it all out later. Right now, his one and only focus was to help the civilizations on the Outer Continent.
"Why don't you come along? It would be like a vacation!" he said, desperate to change the subject.
"I can't, someone has to watch over Alexandria!" she laughed.
Shrugging, Zidane smiled deviously, "Maybe we could get Cid to baby-sit Alexandria for us." He winked. Dagger had laughed and shoved his shoulder playfully.
"Alright, you can take her." She eventually agreed.
As soon as he got the okay, he contacted Tantalus and immediately started preparing Amy for the few days ahead.
Now, it was finally the day they were leaving. Amy sat in a chair in the Great Hall. Several suitcases sat at her feet as she anticipated the arrival of the Prima Vista.
Zidane talked with Dagger in the doorway. Amy couldn't tell exactly what they were saying, but her mother looked somewhat upset. Probably nervous. This is my first time off of the Mist Continent without her.
Normally, by this time Amy would have said something to her father telepathically about the long wait, but she had a feeling that she shouldn't interrupt. So, instead she eagerly looked out the window.
A while later, Dagger had gone back to the throne room and Zidane came over to stand next to her. It felt extremely awkward to them both, being that Amy looked almost his same age.
"Ya excited, sport?" he asked, breaking the silence.
She nodded enthusiastically, "So, who all is coming that I know?"
Zidane thought before answering. "Well, let's see. Blank, Cinna, Marcus, and Baku will all be there. Then," he starting listing and counting off on his fingers, "Amarant, Beatrix, Zak. Then Eiko might be there."
Amy smiled from ear to ear, but tried to maintain a proper composure.
Noticing her bags, Zidane laughed. "Didn't pack your whole room did you?"
Her entire face turned red. "Well, you never know what might happen." She simply stated making Zidane laugh again.
While the father and daughter were joking around, Blank poked his head through the door. "C'mon guys! We're ready to take off!"
Zidane nodded and adjusted the strap on his knapsack so that it rested higher on his shoulder. Then he helped Amy carry her luggage into the airship.
After leaving their luggage in the cargo room, Amy and Zidane roamed the Theatre Ship.
Baku was now fifty-seven, and it seemed whenever Amethyst was within earshot, he would ramble on about 'when he was her age'. Being polite, Amy would listen for long periods of time.
Zidane however, talked to his 'bros' most of the time, about the good ol' days when they would steal treasure from the nobles in Treno. Or when they would pickpocket people on the streets in Lindblum. Always joking and laughing.
The ride there didn't seem to take long. About five minutes before they landed, Zidane closed his eyes and sent Amy a message. Don't forget to equip yourself and set abilities! He reminded.
Finally, the airship touched the ground near Fossil Roo. Zidane stepped off and looked at his surroundings.
Tents were pitched and people were already patrolling the camp to make sure no monsters attacked. Already, a section of the parched ground was tinted red with the blood of fiends.
"Amarant!" Zidane exclaimed noticing the monk. The man turned around, his red dreadlocks covered his face. Even though Amarant was about the same age as Baku, he continued with his work. And none of his abilities ever seemed to diminish the slightest. It was the same story for Beatrix, no matter how she aged, she seemed to get stronger.
Instead of answering, Amarant waved over his shoulder and continued to patrol. Same old Amarant.
Chuckling lightly to himself, Zidane looked back to the airship to wait for Amy. It wasn't long before she came down. She had changed from her dress into some more comfortable clothes. She wore a pair of jeans with a hole in the back for her tail (like Zidane) and a black shirt.
Dad, can you give me a hand? Laughing, Zidane helped her carry her bags down.
"How can you pack so light?" she asked eyeing his knapsack.
"Well, I brought only the bare essentials. Looks to me like you've packed your whole wardrobe!"
"Well, at least I packed extra clothes!" she retorted sticking out her tongue.
"So did I! Just not that much!"
Amy rolled her eyes, "Well, I'm gonna go look around."
"Oh no you don't! Before you go anywhere you need to get a party together. I don't want you to be wandering off alone!"
"Dad, I'm sixteen, I'll be fine."
"You have no idea what you're up against!"
"Alright, I was gonna go look for Eiko anyway. I'll be back later." She grabbed her rod and left.
As she looked for Eiko, she ran into Amarant. "Oh, hey! How are you?" she asked him. He looked down at her.
"I've been fine. Where are you going?" he asked eyeing her suspiciously.
"Looking for Eiko. Have you seen her?" Amarant shook his head.
"No, not yet."
"Hmmm," she thought for a moment, "Well, if you see her, tell her I'm looking for her, k?" Amarant nodded and they separated.
I wonder where she could be? I'm supposed to share a tent with her, she thought as she wandered around.
Without realizing it, she wandered out of camp. Unfortunately, when she did realize it, the day was ending and the sun was almost completely set.
Hurriedly, Amy backtracked, hoping she would make it back to camp before her dad noticed she was gone.
With her rod in hand, she ran until she saw the grouping of tents again.
She wasn't very far from the camp when she heard a rustle behind her.
"Protect!" she whispered under her breath.
Immediately her body glowed of yellow, and she settled down. However, she wasn't calm long. Seconds after the spell escaped her lips; a gigantic beast pounced on her.
The first thing that came to her mind was Dad! I must contact him! But the monster required too much of her attention. She couldn't concentrate enough to connect with him.
The beast was on top of her, snarling down and baring its teeth. I'm gonna die! Was the only though that went through her head.
Just as she thought this, she felt a surge of energy rush through her veins. A stronger voice in the back of her mind said reassuringly, "You are fine."
Her eyes that were closed tight opened as a new glow surrounded her, this one pink. Then, as if she had done this all before, she yelled, "Guardian Angel!"
Back at the camp, Zidane concentrated on lighting a fire. Truth was he had been working on the darn thing for twenty minutes and it still refused to start.
"Uh, Zidane?" he looked up to see Eiko. "Where's Amy?"
"I thought she was with you!" he exclaimed. Worriedly, she shook her head.
"I got here late. And I've looked for her ever since I arrived. I looked all over camp, she's not here!"
"Are you talking about Amethyst?" Amarant asked. His shift was over and he was headed back to his tent. "She was looking for Eiko when I saw her." He motioned to Eiko with his head.
"How long ago was that?" Zidane asked.
"About and hour."
"Damn!" Zidane swore. Throwing down the sticks he was working with, Zidane grabbed his knapsack. "Well? What are ya waitin' for? Let's go look for her!"
Eiko nodded and clutched her flute to her chest as Amarant strapped brass knuckles back around his wrist.
I hope she's alright, Zidane thought as he strapped his belt on his waist. "Alright, let's get outta here!" his two friends nodded in unison and followed him out of camp.
Amy! Amy where are you? No response. Amy! Answer me! Still no answer.
Zidane's concentration was broken when he heard Eiko scream.
When he opened his eyes, he almost did the same. Amy lay on the ground at his feet. Her clothes were ripped up and she had miscellaneous injuries everywhere. Close by laid the carcass of a Mistodon.
"Amy! Amy wake up!" Zidane pleaded. He checked her vital signs, afraid of what he might find. Luckily, she was still alive, and her pulse was very fast. Desperately, he turned to Eiko.
Eiko knew what he wanted. "Cura!" she said then blew into her flute. Almost immediately, Amy's eyes opened and slowly they focused.
"Daddy?" she asked deliriously.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Holding a hand to her head, she nodded. "I didn't mean to wander off! I-I wasn't paying attention!"
"Amy! You must pay attention! It's very dangerous here!" he scolded her.
Ashamed, she looked at her feet. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Everyone's attention shifted to the dead monster. Amarant shot Amy a questioning look.
"I don't know what happened," she started, "this energy I never knew I had went through me. This light surrounded me, and I just knew what to do!"
"You went into Trance," Zidane explained, "It happens when you feel a surge of emotion. What did you do?"
"I yelled 'Guardian Angel' and this man appeared out of nowhere. He was…he looked transparent, almost as if he were a ghost."
"What did he look like?" Zidane asked, sounding a little interested and slightly afraid.
"He had long silver hair, and he wore funny clothes."
Kuja is her Guardian Angel? Wow… "And, he saved you from the monster?" Amy nodded.
"Uh…" Amarant piped in, "Can we go back to camp now?"
Zidane nodded, Can you walk? He asked his daughter.
Yeah, I'll be fine, she insisted standing up. The poor girl was still shaking from fear. Eiko noticed this and hugged her.
"You'll be alright." She reassured. "Next time, don't wander off on your own!"
Amy felt so embarrassed. She was here to prove herself, and in her first battle she needed to be saved.
The group of four made it back to camp and then went their separate ways. Zidane was sharing a tent with the boys from Tantalus, Amy and Eiko were sharing and Amarant remained the lone wolf.
"Eiko?" Amy asked, breaking the long silence in the small tent. No one had talked the whole way back, and now the girls' tent was silent all except for the sound of crickets.
"Hm?" the pile of blankets answered sleepily.
"Don't you ever get scared in battle?"
This question surprised Eiko and she sat up in bed. After thinking for a while, she answered, "Yes. You have to be crazy if you aren't."
Amy smiled,
"So I'm not the only one?"
"You're problem is that you're so nervous. If you calm down you wont be so scared." Eiko advised.
"Hm." Amy put her hands under her head and stared at the ceiling of the tent. I won't be so nervous after a little more experience, she told herself optimistically. Finally, sleep was starting to get the best of her. "Goodnight." She yawned shifting her weight.
"G'night." Eiko mumbled into her pillow.
~ ~
Hehehehehe! That one is done! Tehehe! These are going to be the lighthearted chapters, hope you don't mind. We want some happy moments before it gets really depressing. ^_^ We aren't depressing people! Please review, our goal is still 80. And we know that more people are out there ::pokes audience:: we just want you to review us and tell us what you think!
