Disclaimer: We don't own Final Fantasy IX, or the related character or places…
Dragon Knight Fratly: ::holds hands up in protest:: Well, because I'm being threatened to be thrown into a bottomless pit…here's your chapter ^_^
Aya Yahiko: I don't know if you got my email or not…so I have to tell you. You did not offend me in any way. ^_^ So don't worry about it.
FF9 Zidane: That's a good idea! I drew one but it wont upload onto my homepage. So if anyone wants to see my drawing of Zak and Amy, just review me your email address and I can email it to you!
Chapter 13: A Night on the Town
Finally after a few more days of fighting and nights of continuous nightmares, it was time to go home. It had taken more time than anyone had estimated at first to clear the Outer Continent of monsters, but finally the party's goal had been achieved. It was time for everyone to head home.
As usual, Zidane rode with the boys on the Prima Vista. Beatrix and Zak made their way back on the Red Rose, and Eiko went to Lindblum on the Hilda Garde.
For the most part, the trip back was quiet. It seemed that almost everyone was getting caught up on lost sleep. The only ones who were awake were Cinna (because he was piloting the ship), Zidane and Amy. Neither of which had slept much over the last few days
"I'm sure we have some sleeping weed at home. It guarantees dreamless sleep." Zidane said as he tried to stifle a yawn. Amy just nodded and continued her struggle to stay awake.
Not much later, the theatre ship dropped the two off near the castle. Dagger stood on the front steps waiting for them.
"I've missed you two!" her eyes shone as she spoke.
"I need to talk to you, alone." Zidane whispered in her ear. Hearing the seriousness in his voice she nodded.
"You two look terrible, did you get any sleep at all?" the two shook their heads.
"Barely," Amy mumbled.
"Well, why don't you take a nap? I'll be here when you wake up," she looked at Zidane and he nodded back in agreement.
"C'mon, I'll get some of that sleeping weed." Zidane nodded his head in the direction of the kitchen and Amy followed him.
~ ~
The sound of the door creaking open woke Zidane up. He lazily shifted under the covers and opened his eyes to see Dagger.
"Sorry sweetie, I didn't mean to wake you," she whispered. Zidane squinted his eyes has he tried to adapt to the sudden light.
"What time is it?" the muttered into his pillow.
"You slept all day. It's almost nine."
"At night?"
"Huh-uh," she smiled.
"Wow, that stuff really works."
Dagger nodded, "So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?"
"Oh yeah," he sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. "I never told you because I was afraid you wouldn't believe me." Her eyes softened and she sat next to him on the bed.
"Do you remember," he hesitated, "Vivi's funeral about fourteen years ago?" she nodded, "And do you remember going to the hideout afterwards?" she nodded again.
"Well, err, you see. That night Amy had a dream."
"Yes, I remember this."
"But I never told you the whole story," he began to explain to her in detail Amy's dream. "But you see, the older she gets, the more detailed and frequent it becomes. I was thinking maybe there is a deeper meaning."
"What do you mean 'more detailed'?" she asked.
Should I tell her what I really saw? "Uh, there are names on the graves."
"Whose names?"
"I, err, I can't remember," he lied.
Before answering, Dagger thought for a moment. Finally she said, "I don't know honey. It's probably nothing."
"Oh, okay." Zidane said looking at the floor. He just couldn't shake the feeling that the dream meant something.
"Try to get some more sleep," she said getting up, "I'm really sorry I wasn't any help."
"You were," he said as he lay back down. Dagger smiled and put her hand on his forehead, then she left the room.
"I'll have Quina bring you up some lunch," she said as she shut the door.
~ ~
"You no sleep Zidane," Quina said as s/he bustled into the room, carrying a tray of food. "Eat food, is special recipe."
Yawning, Zidane sat up in bed as Quina laid the tray in his lap, "It looks good Quina, what is it?" he asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
The Qu turned to face him, the poor creature was getting old, older than most Qus got. It's skin was getting even paler, almost transparent it seemed, also s/he was steadily losing weight. Its long tongue was starting to look shriveled.
"Conde Petie special, roasted owl," s/he answered, "And South Gate Bundt Cake."
"Sounds great," he said taking a bite, even though he wasn't very hungry. Quina smiled in satisfaction and waddled out of the door.
After Zidane was sure that the Qu was gone, he lifted the hardly touched tray off hi lap and set it down on the bedside table. He threw the blankets off and hurried to his closet,
While he slept, the sleeping weed wore off, causing him to have that same dream. I know it means something, he thought as he slipped on a jacket, Carpe diem! Seize the day! I'm taking Dagger out!
Hurriedly, he ran a comb through his bed tangled hair and looked in the mirror. Black slacks, white shirt, black tie, it didn't look like him at all. He stuck his tongue out at the reflection, causing himself to laugh.
When he was certain he didn't need anything else, he ran out of the room and down the stairs, taking them three at a time. Dagger, who was passing through the Great Hall, jumped at his sudden entrance.
"What's with the suit?" she giggled.
"Get ready," he winked, "you and me are going on a date."
Dagger smiled from ear to ear, "Okay, I-I'll be right back." He lifted her skirt so she could walk up the stairs.
Zidane waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs for her to return. Several minutes later, a door creaked from upstairs, but instead of Dagger it was Amethyst.
Obviously the teenager had just woken up by the looks of her eyes. However, she was already dressed in an elegant gown. As she came down the stairs she was mumbling something about going to the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" she asked noticing her dad.
"You're mom and I are going somewhere," he simply stated.
Still looking a bit confused, Amy nodded. Besides, she had some plans of her own with Zak later than day. "Alright, have fun."
Amy walked off, leaving Zidane to wait by himself, but it wasn't much longer until Dagger came down the stairs. She wore a long elegant dress that was light blue, and her dark hair was nicely done in a silver hair ornament. Seeing the look of awe on Zidane's face she giggled again.
"So where are we going?" she asked, taking he arm he was offering her.
"Well, I'm not quite sure yet. Whattaya say we go to that café in Treno? Walk around, and examine the architecture?" he winked.
"You know, that sounds great."
So, they went to Treno using the Red Rose. Excited and a little nervous, Zidane sat with Dagger while they waited for the ship to land. Not nervous because of the date, nervous because going out in public meant everyone would know. They would know he hasn't aged, they might try something, just like before.
Dagger leaned over and grasped his hand, "Don't look that way!" she pleaded, "Let's just go have a good time, k?"
"Oh, it isn't that, it's just…" he stopped, not sure of how to finish.
"What?"
"Your Highnesses, we are preparing to land outside the gates of Treno," the pilot reported as he stood in salute.
Thankful for the sudden change of subjects, Zidane stood up and stretched his arms. Dagger however still wanted to know what was on his mind, still, she didn't push him to tell her.
Gracefully, she stood up as well and held tightly onto Zidane who was holding onto a pole. Not much longer, the whole ship shook, then they felt it touch the ground.
"When would you like us to pick you back up Your Majesties?" the pilots asked, saluting them again.
The two looked at each other, smiling. Finally, Zidane looked at the pilot. "Ten is good." Dagger nodded in agreement and then they stepped off of the ship.
The town's gates swung open, automatically exposing the beautifully lit streets and buildings. Treno, the city that is always dark, yet never sleeps. And that was the truth, it was only four and already it looked as if it were midnight.
"Where to first?" Zidane asked as he wrapped his arm around Dagger's waist.
Wide-eyed and mouth agape, she looked around the town. It's been so long! It's changed to much! Seeing her smile, Zidane grinned as well. Even though she had been to Treno before, she wasn't there to enjoy it. She was there to steal the Supersoft to save Blank.
She didn't remember much from that experience, except that she was mugged. But, with Zidane here she didn't have to worry about that sort of thing.
"How about we go to the café first?" he offered, breaking the silence.
Her eyes darted back to him, "Alrighty," she grinned, and Zidane laughed.
"Okay! The café it is then!"
Still firmly locked in Zidane's arms, Dagger walked down the familiar streets. People standing around took to whispering and pointing at them. Zidane ignored them all and continued to walk.
Not much longer, they reached the small café. Several nobles were sitting around chatting and laughing over their coffee.
Remembering his etiquette, Zidane pulled Dagger's chair out of her and motioned for her to take a seat. She sat and Zidane pushed it in, then sat in the chair across from her.
Picking up the menu, Zidane asked, "What do you want to eat?"
Dagger's eyes skimmed over the list of food, "I'm not sure…" she said slowly, "But their desserts sound really good."
"Well, break all the rules! Go ahead and order one, I was thinking about getting the cheesecake anyway." Zidane laughed.
"What can I get for you?" their waitress asked, pulling out a pad of paper and a pen.
Zidane motioned with his head for Dagger to go first. "Un, I'll have a coffee and a cinnamon roll." She said. While writing, the waitress nodded, then she looked at Zidane.
"Cheesecake for me."
"Anything to drink?" she asked without looking up from her writing.
"Nope."
The woman ripped the paper from her notepad and walked off. As they waited, there was silence. Finally, Dagger spoke up.
"Do you remember," her eyes looked misty as she reminisced, "the Festival of the Hunt?"
Smiling, Zidane nodded. "And that date you promised me?" This comment made Dagger laugh.
"Well, we were together for how long after that? But that doesn't count does it?"
"Nope."
"Here's your order," the waitress interrupted, placing their food in front of them. "Is there anything else I can get you?" they shook their heads in unison, then continued the conversation.
"How about the time when we met Eiko?"
"We had just gotten out of that dwarfish ceremony!" Dagger giggled, "She was caught stealing food from the village, and she was hanging from that branch."
"Yeah, and Quina wanted to Mog!" Zidane laughed as he shoveled some cheesecake into his mouth.
"Eiko, she was quite taken with you."
"Can you blame her?"
Laughing, Dagger threw her napkin at him. He ducked just in time for it to sail over his head.
"Well, can you?" he asked.
"No, I guess not."
Smiling widely, he nodded. Dagger blew over her coffee to cool it off, Zidane however attempted to continue the conversation.
"Do you remember Dali?"
"Ugh! When you touched my butt on the airship?" she asked a bit too loud. Several nobles were looking even more strangely at them.
Decided it was best to change the subject, Dagger took a sip of her coffee, "You know what I really remember?" Zidane finished the last of his cheesecake, and then looked up at her, "When you rescued me in Alexandria, when Bahamut went rampant." This statement made him blush a little, then he shrugged.
"I heard you were in trouble, I came running. It's as simple as that."
Reaching across the table, she held onto his hand. "Thanks," she smiled, "That was very heroic.
"When I woke up we were in Lindblum, and I heard you were injured because you had risked almost everything to save me. I wasn't able to say it at the time, but, thanks." She repeated.
"Stop it! You're making me blush!" Zidane laughed again. Dagger took a last bit from her cinnamon roll and straightened up.
"Ready to go?" he asked her, noticing her sudden movement. She nodded and stood up.
After placing a few gil on the table, he took her by the hand and led her out.
Together, they walked the streets of Treno, still ignoring everyone else. Hardly talking, but enjoying themselves nonetheless, the couple passed in front of the Card Stadium. That, to them, was the prettiest part of the whole city.
As they stood there, and looked into the water, a voice came from behind, "Your Highness? Queen Garnet?" Breaking apart from Zidane's grasp, Dagger spun around to see who it was that was calling her.
"Margaret! Is that you?" she exclaimed embracing the woman. "It's been so long!" The woman smiled and nodded.
"Things have been going great!" When she caught sight of Zidane, she gasped, "Is this your son? He looks just like his father!" Zidane hung his head and didn't say anything.
"Um, Margaret," Dagger started, noticing her husband's frown, "maybe we should get together another time."
Although she was confused about Dagger's sudden change of tone, Margaret nodded in understanding.
We will enjoy tonight! He thought to himself, No one can spoil it for us. Even thought Margaret's comment did upset him, he wouldn't let it show. It was nearing nine, they didn't have much time left. Soon, they would be back in Alexandria, back to reality.
~ ~
Finally! It's over! Do you people know how long it took me to write this chapter? Unlucky number 13 was doing its worst on me, I swear! This one took me at least three weeks, so you better like it! ^_^ Please review us! Thanks!
