Disclaimer: Hey yo. Lol. Okay, just like always, I don't own FF9. But what if I did own FF9? Or any of the other Final Fantasies for that matter? Hmmm…:::ponders::: Oh well. I still don't.
Frodos girl: Haha. You read 'One Little Monkey…'? That was our first fic! Ahh…those were the days. I think that one was thought up while we were in dance class (not listening, just discussing fanfics.) Lol.
Shoutan Ketsurui: Sorry I haven't emailed you the picture. But if you really want to see it (because it takes forever for my oh-so-slow computer send it) you can look at it on our website. The link is on our profile and the picture is on the 'Cute Creations' page. (It's the only picture that we were able to successfully upload!!)
Kingpin: Yay! You're back! Thought you dropped off of the face of the Earth or something!
A/N: I'm so glad that I have everyone's attention now! Everyone wants to know what's going on, but no one knows… 'cept me. ::Dodges fruit, vegetables and other random objects being thrown at her:: ^_^ Sorry everyone. Here's another Kuja chapter! Enjoy!
A Voice From the Past Part V
Finally, it was just a few months before Princess Garnet's sixteenth birthday. Kuja stood in front of a full body, mirror examining his self. Today he would introduce himself before the royal family, and he had the perfect plan.
Garland had left his notes on how to make Genomes in the book that Kuja had brought all the way from Terra. With this new knowledge of how to create a being, Kuja was sure his plan would work. Although Gaia didn't have all the right ingredients that the recipe called for, it did have replacements.
Kuja himself was surprised to see what he got from it. Whatever it was, it didn't look like a Genome at all. It was short and stout. Its face seemed matter-less, like a floating black orb. The mindless puppet would do anything it was asked. Surely this would bring in some good money!
Knowing that he couldn't rely on Kirai for transportation in or near big cities, he stole an airship from the Regent of Lindblum. The Hilda Garde was supposedly the best ship ever built.
However, it was as he was leaving Lindblum with the stolen ship that he realized he wasn't alone. A middle-aged woman had snuck onto the airship as well. It was apparent from the way she was dressed that she was wealthy and of high rank.
Seeing her, the Genome panicked. He couldn't just go back and say, "Whoops, sorry about that. Here's your ship and this woman back…" Needless to say, he was very relieved when she told him she had no intention of going back to Lindblum.
"I…just wanted to get away for awhile," she explained. Whoever the woman was, she could talk his ear off. Politely, Kuja listened as she ranted on about her husband, Cid Fabool, had cheated on her with 'some floozy at the bar'.
Because Kuja was not going to waltz right over to Lindblum, he decided to play along with it. This way at least he had a ship and some company other than Kirai.
Most of the time she remained in the mansion in Treno.
As Kuja traveled the world he found a small and poor town called Dali. Almost everyone worked on a small garden in the back of the town. He realized that those people would do anything for some money.
The silver-haired Genome went straight to the town's Mayor. Just as he thought, it didn't take much persuasion to get him to agree. He now had his own factory of 'Black Workers'-the name given to the beings Kuja had created. Even though he paid the employees' salaries out of his own pocket, he was still bringing in money from the Auction House, so it was nothing he couldn't handle.
Taking a last glance at his reflection, Kuja left his room. "Prepare the ship," he ordered a Black Worker that stood near. Without question, the creature did as it was told.
The flight to Alexandria Castle was long and boring. For most of the trip he read up more on the Extraction Spell. It wouldn't do him any good if he got the Summoner and couldn't extract the Eidolons from her.
Several times he read over the page before throwing the book down in frustration. Some of the busy Black Workers glanced at him, but when their eyes met their masters', they quickly looked away. Kuja formed his fist into a ball and bit his lower lip to keep himself from swearing. Lately, it had been difficult controlling his anger.
The young man took a breath then looked back at the book. It lay open on the floor. He bent down to pick it up when he noticed something he hadn't before.
"Gah!" he yelled in irritation. "I don't know why I didn't see it before!" "The Extraction Spell must be performed by two persons with the same degree of magic." He blew air out through his mouth. Where would he find someone with his degree of magic?
Shaking his head, he walked to the cockpit. They were coming up on Alexandria Castle fast. Soon, he could be putting his plan into action. Just the thought of his soon-to-be triumph over Garland made him smile.
Finally, the Hilda Garde touched down and Kuja exited it.
"Stay here until I get back," he ordered a Black Worker. It hardly made any response, but Kuja knew it had heard him.
As the man walked through the streets, many people stared. He didn't care however; so far everything was going his way.
Before long he stood in front of the castle's giant wood doors. A female soldier stood guard. "Halt!" she ordered, "Where do you think you're going?"
"I have an appointment with your Queen…Brahne," he replied smoothly.
"Her Majesty has summoned you then?" He nodded. Still looking at him suspiciously, she stepped aside to let him enter. Another soldier escorted him to the throne room.
On the dais sat the most horrific woman he had ever seen. Her skin was a sickening green and she was the size of a small elephant. However, Kuja knew better than to ruin his one chance.
"Good evening Your Majesty," he said, bowing deeply. The Queen did not look amused, but she continued to stare at him.
"I was told…you are a merchant of some sort?"
"One can say that I suppose," he pondered.
"So, what is it you want?"
This woman is rude and ugly. Forcing a smile, Kuja began, "I am more of an…inventor you could say. I have built a factory that produces mindless beings. They will do whatever you want them to." He watched as her stoic expression changed to one of interest. "If you want, I can start supplying you with them."
"And? Can they be programmed?"
Glad that everything was going his way at the moment, he nodded. "What do you want them to do, Your Majesty?"
"To fight. Preferably to kill," she said with a truly evil grin creeping over her hideous face.
"A-Are you sure, Your Majesty?" War will disrupt the cycle of souls…that means…Garland would get his way.
"Yes. How much will this cost me?"
Nervously, Kuja began chewing on his lip. "How about…50,000 gil per soldier?"
Brahne pretended to think for awhile. "Alright Mr.…uh?"
"Tribal. But just call me Kuja."
"Alright…Kuja. I will pay you for this army of…what did you call them?"
"Black Workers."
"So, can they use magic?"
"To a small degree…"
"I'll pay you to make their magic more powerful." So, basically they aren't workers anymore. They're mages. Hmm…Black Mages.
I'm going to regret doing this…Taking another bow, he said, "I will have to bump the price up to 65,000 gil for each."
"Alright, fine!" it sounded as if Brahne was getting impatient.
"How many should I make then?"
"Just keep sending them. I'll give you weekly payments."
"You have my gratitude," Kuja said as he took a final bow.
Perfect. He smirked. Now he would be visiting the castle weekly to pick up his pay.
"You may leave," she gestured an enormous arm toward the door. "Zorn and Thorn shall escort you."
Two identical faces peeked out from behind the door. Both were dressed in jesters' clothes.
"Yes Your Majesty?" they asked in unison. They didn't seem too fond of her.
"Give Kuja a tour of the castle. He'll be visiting quite a bit."
Free roam. He thought triumphantly. This was getting better and better!
The two jesters bowed then led him out of the throne room. Kuja followed, watching the comical pair with interest. Finally curiosity got the better of him and he had to ask them the question that had been so heavily weighing on his mind.
As Zorn and Thorn led Kuja around the main bathroom, he interrupted their speech about the state-of-the-art water system.
"Can you both use magic?" he blurted out. The two looked at him with confused expressions. Simultaneously, they looked back at Kuja and nodded.
"Would you be interested in learning a new spell?"
"What kind of spell?"
"A spell of what kind?"
"It's called an Extraction Spell. It enables you to draw Eidolons from a Summoner."
"Dead the Summoners have been," the jester dressed in red offered.
"That's not entirely true…"Kuja smiled at their faces. "The Princess Garnet is a Summoner herself."
"She doesn't even have a horn!" the blue jester protested.
"Brahne had it removed. If you look, she might even have a scar."
Again, Zorn and Thorn looked between Kuja and each other.
"Alright, learn it we shall."
"Not today, but I'll teach it to you sometime soon," he laughed at their anxiety. "Show me around the rest of the castle. It's so big! I wouldn't want to get lost!"
They nodded and continued the tour. As the three rounded a corner, Kuja ran directly into someone.
"I-I'm sorry," came a startled female voice.
"No, it was my fault. I should've been looking ahead," Kuja said, looking down on the shorter girl.
"I…don't believe we've met," the girl said, staring at him suspiciously.
"My name is Kuja," he picked up her hand in a gentlemanlike gesture he'd seen nobles do in Treno. "I'm a merchant."
"Oh? And what do you sell?"
"Weapons," Well, they are now at least.
The girl continued to give him an odd look, "I'm Garnet."
"Princess Garnet?" he asked. Slowly, she nodded. Wow, she's gorgeous. He didn't expect her to be quite so attractive. Though, he wasn't sure how he pictured her in the first place.
Garnet began fidgeting under the stranger's piercing blue-eyed gaze. Breaking the awkward situation, a soldier dressed in rusty armor came down the hall.
"Your Highness, the Queen has summoned you," he announced.
"Alright," the Princess answered. She turned and followed him, grateful to get away from the strange man.
When she disappeared from view, Kuja turned to his companions. "Don't let Brahne overhear you. I don't want to think about what she would do with the Eidolons." I won't allow them to perform the spell until I'm sure they've mastered it. I can't put her life in danger.
This Queen of theirs, she is filled with greed. I can feel it, if I'm not careful, bad things could happen.
~ ~
And I'm tired, to the point where I'm ready to fall asleep in front of the computer. School's out! School's out! Yay! You know what that means, dontcha? More time to write!! Haha! I don't have to write any more during Spanish! (I get in so much trouble for not paying attention…) Lo siento Señora Lynn! If I'm not writing, I'm drawing or reading manga. What can I say? I'm a rebel.
