Note: I don't own FF9, blah blah blah, no flames please, you get the point :P


Chp 1: A tale continues


Intro:

Garnet burst through the crowd leaving the falcon claw pendant behind. Tears streamed down her face like raindrops on the window glass. She jumped over the gap between the castle and the theatre ship and landed gently in the arms of Zidane. He spun her around playfully, put her down and held her close. She pounded on his chest whispering the words "Why did you have to leave? Why were you dead for so long and decide to be reborn now?" as she wept. The crowd around them, consisting of nobles, Vivi and his mage friends, young summoner Eiko with her adoptive parents, Regent Cid and Lady Hilda; dragoon knight Freya Crescent, Amarant Coral, and Quina the Qu, started to clap with acceptance and pride. Even the old rust bucket, Captain Steiner, and his new beloved girlfriend, General Beatrix, beamed with joy raising the mighty Excalibur in the air. "I love you" Zidane whispered into the young queen's ear. "Everything will be ok…"


6 months later…


Six months later, many things had changed. Zidane planned to stay by the Princess's side forever, and Steiner was planning the same for Beatrix. But… Although everyone was overjoyed of Zidane's return, things still turned for the worst for some of them. Eiko was still morning over how Zidane loves Garnet instead of her, Vivi has trying to find a love of his own, Freya started to miss Fratley more than ever, Quina left Alexandria to go off on her/his own to learn more recipes. Plus, there is some that Zidane is hiding! Lately he has been disappearing in the middle of the night to Treno for some reason…


Bride of the Dark Messenger…
(The Tale of Alexander's Knights)


Zidane walked through the streets of Treno, as nobles and drunks passed him by. He watched his back carefully hoping no one was following him. He quickly darted into a small Synthesis Shop and opened the door slowly still looking behind him. What was he hiding? Why a small Synthesis Shop? Does this happy-go-lucky genome have a secret he regrets? He entered the small, dark shop, closing the door behind him quietly. He walked past the shop and started to climb the creaking stairs that led to the top floor where there was a living quarters, ignoring the rest of the shop. He came to a door and knocked 3 times and spoke:

"Are you awake? Are you there? Is it okay to come in?" he asked who ever was inside the room.
"Yes… come in…" a sly voice of a man said behind the door.

Zidane swallowed hard and opened the door. Zidane blushed immensely with a sickened expression on his face. Inside the room was a silver-haired man with a sitting at a table… butt naked. It was Kuja, his enemy that was believed to be dead… but alive and well. Zidane found him unconscious outside of Lindbulm's Dragon's Gate 6 months ago. He had changed a lot as well. Kuja had become more muscular and lost a bit of his girlish figure and was growing abs! Abs! He didn't look 21 anymore… he looked… way older?!

"Darn it, Kuja! Do you have to sit around like that! God! Put this on!" Shouted Zidane tossing the silver-haired man a bag while shielding his eyes.
"Fine, but I'm still a bit weak…" Kuja smiled weakly as he caught the bag.
"I'm not surprised. You were in a coma for a month and then have been trying to do some good by running this shop ever since you woke up! You best be glad I found you lying in front of the Dragon's Gate before Cid's troops did, 6 months ago. They would have killed you on the spot! Not that you would've dying anyway without medical help just laying out there! Not to mention me finding this shop for you!" Zidane laughed.
"Why did you decide to help me, anyway? Not just in the Lifa tree, but when you found me out there… and got me this shop… why? After all I've done to you and your friends…" Kuja asked looking through the bag.
"Hey, for the a thousandth time, I said it before and I'll say it again, you don't need a reason to help people. And besides, what kind of brother would I be just leaving you there to die and with out a job?"
"You should have let me die… I can not be forgiven for the sins I've made."
"Not true! I believe you were only doing what you thought was right. It's not your fault that you chose the wrong thing to believe. I think you still have some good in you. We just need to tap into it! Everyone deserves a second chance! Besides, you haven't killed anyone yet and you're doing a great job with this shop!"
"…Thank you… ??? What the heck are these?!" Kuja said looking into the bag.
"They're REAL guys clothes. Ya know, Shirt, Pants, Boxers… If you keep wearing those stupid clothes people who come to your shop will eventually find out it's you!" replied eyes still covered.
"Shhh…er…ta? Pa…ants? Box…zers?!" Kuja sounded like he had never heard of them.
"Just put them on!" said Zidane loudly.
"So what is for dinner?" Kuja asked while slipping into the white muscle shirt that he pulled out of the bag.
"I'm not giving you anything till you tell me why you were lying outside of Dragon's Gate! I know I asked you this every time I come by, but you haven't told me anything, so spill! Plus, what has happened to you all this time before I found you? You looks so different!" Said Zidane.
"If I must." Kuja sighed. "Before I plummeted to my bloody death in the Lifa tree, I was taken away by a beam of light. It was from Garland who was alsosurprisingly alive. He informed me that they took over a different planet with advanced technology and wanted me to help him test them out. But what I didn't know, was he was just going to use me as a lab rat. For one year and three months we test weapons, airships, laser cannons and other technology. Until one day, Garland stumbled upon a time chamber…"
"What's a time chamber?!" asked Zidane.
"It's a place where, once inside, time goes faster and your body ages with it."
"How fast does the time go?"
"Well, to explain it so even your small mind can understand…" Kuja mocked, "Let's say you stay in there for a year. Once you got out you ask some one what the date is… they'd say it has only been one month that has past while you were in the chamber."
"Wow! That's fast! So you stayed in there how long?" Zidane asked.
"…He locked me in there for nine 'time chamber' years…" replied Kuja.
"NINE YEARS!? WHAT THE F***!?" Zidane shouted in horror, "That means your like… 21… plus 9… plus 2 years since I saw you…"

Zidane paused and started counted with his fingers

"32 you imbecile!!! How hard is it to add three numbers!?" Shouted Kuja who was trying to figure out how to put on the boxers.
"Shut up and pay attention to what you're doing! HEY!! They're upside down!!! Turn those right side up!" Shouted Zidane.
"If you don't keep it down we'll be discovered." Kuja hissed.
"No, you'll be discovered! And so what? You'd be the one who gets killed not me." Zidane snapped.
"You'd be arrested though for harboring me here for so long in secret!" Kuja snapped back.
" Whatever! Continue with your story…"
"Fine. Once I got out of the time chamber, Garland commanded that I attack Gaia with my new strength. But I refused to do anything he said after what he made me do before and for locking me in chamber for so long. Against my will, he beat me to pulp and transported me here as weak as a newborn kitten. Then I blacked out and woke up to your goddamn face! You happy now?" Kuja snapped.
"Yup." Replied Zidane with a smile.
"Then go get dinner started! I'm starving!" ordered Kuja.

Zidane's faced turned red from anger. He did not enjoy being ordered aroundespecially when Kuja was using HIS lingo. And, especially from him after saving is life and buying this shop for him!

"The deliver moogle with my groceries should be here in a matter of minutes!" Zidane said through his clenched teeth.
"Well, I can't possibly wait that long! Go out and find that moogle!" Kuja shouted.
"Fine! You try and figure out how to put those pants on while I get the food." Zidane shouted slamming the door behind him.
Kuja glared after him, "Insolent boob!" He muttered.

Later, Kuja finally figured out the pants when suddenly he heard a knock on the door down stairs. 'Finally' he thought as he headed toward the stairs. 'I hope that moogle didn't drop the groceries on the way here again. I hate it when he does that and escapes with his tip! And Zidane is so slow as well!' Kuja thought to himself. He opened the door to find something he didn't expect. A woman with a finely shaped body in a hood and tattered, brown cloak stood at the door. Her large chest almost seemed as if it was about to fall out of her shirt, and her tight red pants seemed very… well… Tight! Kuja stared at her beauty, although he could not see her face, for it was consumed in darkness from her hood.

"May I help you?" Kuja smiled, leaning against the doorframe, try to act cool.
"I'm here to synthesize some weapons." She said coldly with a husky voice.
"Well, we are closed… but I guess I could squeeze you in, m'lady." He bowed and kissed her hand.

The woman quickly pulled her hand away and entered the shop. Kuja switched on the light revealing a small room with a counter, a cash register and the walls were lined with synthesized weapons. Kuja stood behind the counter and leaned on it with his elbows with his head in hands staring at her. He was acting just like his flirty brother.

"Could you show me what you got?" She asked with a lusty tone of voice.
"What?!" Kuja stood up straight and brightened up hoping what heard was true.
"I asked you if you'd show me your inventory." She said.
"Oh…" Kuja said with a pout.

He walked over toward a wall and started to point out some of his best work. While he did this, the woman slowly pulled out a dagger from under her cloak. She held it high above his head. Suddenly he turned around and she quickly hides the dagger.

"What do you think of this one? It's a fine painted rod made of mythril." He said beaming.
"Oh! It's... nice! But… I'm more interested in swords, you see." She said.
"Ok! I have a perfect one for you! I has beautiful red roses painted on the blade!"
"Fits me to a T." she replied, "I love roses."

Kuja turned to the wall once more and once again, the woman pulled out the dagger.

"So you like roses eh? You remind me of a woman I used to be in love with…"
"You don't know how right you are…" she whispered.

Kuja heard this and quickly turned around to see the dagger. She drove it down at him, but he grabbed her wrist just in the nick of time. They struggled until the came to the ground. She was kneeling over him trying to stab him in the chest, but he resisted her wrist from coming any closer to his body. Kuja acted quickly, he finally got the dagger out of her hand and kicked her off of him.She hit the wall with a loud CRASH! Her hood fell off her head and behind her shoulders, revealing her true identity! …General Beatrix!

"Beatrix!" Kuja gasped.
Suddenly Zidane entered the shop carrying a bag of groceries, "Hi ya, Kuja! I'm back! I hope your in a better mood because if you aren't I'm not making my famous Soup du Silenc-… WHA?!" Zidane stopped and his eyes grew wide in astonishment.

He stared at the woman on the floor against the wall with long brown hair that was curled at the bottom.

She had armored boots on her feet, tight red stockings, a long white vest that went down to her ankles, armor on her delicate hands and up her right arm and a silver metal eye patch over her right eye with her long hair curled at the bottom, dangled over her face.

"B-B-B-B-B-B-Bea… Beatrix! What a pleasant surprise… Heh…What's up?" asked Zidane timidly hoping she didn't know about Kuja yet.
"Traitor!" she shouted. "How dare you harbor a hellish demon in this house in secret from the royal crown!!!"
"What demon?" Zidane lied.
"Oh quit it you idiot! She knows already!" Kuja shouted.
"Zidane! What are you doing here?!" Beatrix asked as she stood up, brushing herself off.
"I was about to ask you the same question." Zidane replied.
"I've been sent by Queen Garnet to check on what you've been up to. You seem to be disappearing here a lot in the past 6 months, have you not?"
"Yeah, sure. It's my business not yours!"
Beatrix raised an eyebrow as her blue eye flash in suspicion, "Is that so?"
"I don't know what HE'S doing here if that's what you're thinking." Zidane lied.
She brushed her curls out of her face, "Then what's with the 'Hi ya, Kuja'?"
"Well… I… uh…You have no right to be here!" Zidane blurted out.
"The more reason I should be here!" She replied.
"Zidane, shut up! I'll ask the questions!" Kuja shouted.
"I'll be the judge of that!" Beatrix shouted, pulled out her Save the Queen.
"Beatrix! I can explain!!!" Zidane shouted.
"Zidane, I can take care of myself! Attack me at will, Lady Rose." Smirked Kuja bringing himself to a fighting stance.
"Grr…" Beatrix growled as she ran at him with her blade.

Beatrix hit him with everything she had, but nothing broke his skin. He shed no blood, no skin, not even cried out nor showed any pain! The scary thing was, he blocked every shot with his index and middle finger! She gave another mighty swing at his head.

Kuja quickly jumped out of the way, "Ooo! You're as fiesty as ever, Lady Rose!" He smirked.
"Silence! You'll come with me into custody at once!" Beatrix shouted.
"Ooo! I've always loved a game of cops and robbers." Kuja smiled, coming up behind her and patted her ass.

She let out a squeal.

"That's it!!" She began to focus on her blade.
"Wow! She's just full of energy!" Kuja laughed while Zidane was rubbing his neck.
"Kuja… I don't think she's going to go easy on you…" sighed Zidane.
"That's what I'm hoping." Kuja smiled.
"Grr! That's it!!! CLIMHAZZARD!!!" Shouted Beatrix as a flash of energy shot from her blade.
Humbly, Kuja took a step to the side and the shot missed. She repeated the attack with several 'Shock' and 'Shock Break' attacks as well. This went on for 15 minutes and each time Beatrix became more furious.
"HOLD STILL DAMN IT!!!!!!!" she shouted.
"But that will take all the fun out of it." Kuja smiled.
"Guys! Stop it! You're wrecking the shop!!!" cried Zidane watching the fight, wishing for a bag of popcorn to appear from who knows where.
"Fine." Sighed Kuja. "It's my turn."

He smiled evilly as he, quickly ran behind her snaking his arms through hers and used her as a shield as he ran into the wall. She let out a shout of pain as the collided with the wall. He swiftly pinned Beatrix against it. He placed his face in her hair. He smelled her perfume and sighed in pleasure.

"Sigh… It's been so long since my nose has smelt something so sweet." Kuja smiled.
"Argh! Enough!" Beatrix elbowed him in the gut, causing him to step backwards.

She turned around to face them both, glaring hard.

"That tears it!" She said handing him the Save the Queen, "Kill yourself while you have the chance!"
Zidane stood there wide eyed, "WHAT!?"
"Why should I? And why would I?" Kuja asked eyeing her.
"Think about it. You'll never stand a chance in court once people find out you are alive. People won't likely forgive and forget what YOU have done." She told him.
"Beatrix, you don't want me to do this…" Kuja said.
"You'd be surprised of what I want." She said dryly.
"I know you don't want to do this, after all we went through together…" Kuja said.
"Together?!" Zidane asked.
"Yes, together." Kuja told his brother, "You see, Zidane, while you and the princess started your little 'journey', back in Alexandria, while I was there, I fell in love with this General… General Beatrix."
"Lies!" Beatrix stepped back.
"Oh it's true! And you know it!" Kuja told her, then turned back to Zidane, "We dated, kissed, we were a beautiful couple! …It was like a dream to me… But all dreams have to end… After you and the Princess left for the outer continent, Beatrix and the two other knights headed for Treno. When I found her, she told me she found feelings for another and was quite angered by me helping in the harm to the Princess… and didn't want to see me anymore. It was a nightmare. But I promised not to reveal her location, it wasn't in my plan anyway."
"Beatrix is this true!?" Zidane asked.
"…Well… I… err… Yes…" Beatrix sighed.
"But now you have come back to me, my Rose of May." Kuja gilded towards her.
Beatrix pulled out her dagger as a warning to back off, "I have not come back to you. I'm happy with what I have."
"My gawd! Steiner's going to freak when he hears this!" Zidane squealed with glee.
"Steiner!?" Kuja cried.
"No! He mustn't! And he won't after you slid that dagger across your neck, Kuja!" Beatrix shouted.
"You left me, for THAT ZOMBIE?!"
"He's not a zombie! He happens to be the most caring and loving man I ever met!" Beatrix shouted in anger.
"So this is what this is about… you don't want Steiner finding out about our little romance, so you're asking me to kill myself, am I right? I find that to be a every selfish request, General." Kuja said, handing her the Save the Queen.
"No! That's not what I'm asking at all!" Beatrix shouted, "I'm asking you to do this for the good of Gaia! If you were manipulated by Garland, he can easily do it again!"
"She's got a point there… If I don't do this, I could cause harm to this beautiful planet again…" Kuja sighed.
"NO! Beatrix! You need to understand! Kuja's a changed man! Look how he's managed this store for about 6 months and hasn't harmed a soul! Please, give him another chance! Don't pressure him into making that decision!" Zidane cried, "He's the only family I have. In blood that is…"
"Zidane…" Beatrix sighed.


Zidane and Kuja filled Beatrix in on Kuja's story. Beatrix listened to every word very carefully. Once they finished, Beatrix turned her back on them.

"Nine years…" She paused, "Come! We can make it to the Alexandria by dawn." Beatrix said.
"Alexandria?! But they'll kill him!" Zidane shouted.
"Only on my or the Queen's command!" Beatrix told him, "And you should be thankful I got to you first!"




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