DISCLAIMER---
Blah blah. I don't own the characters or any Final Fantasy concepts.
Squaresoft owns my soul. The end---
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Cheers and smiles fell upon them as they held eachother on the stage, he leaned down and they shared their first kiss... He had waited for that moment since the day he met her, and he never knew that it would have felt so wonderful...but it was not physical at all. That was what made her special, he knew she was beautiful but it just did not matter. They shared that moment, and everyone around them melted...they felt only eachother, and as they pulled back and the world appeared again...they knew they were in love.
The townspeople loved him, he was just like them..therefore they did not mind him being King...but deep down she knew that he could not handle it as well as someone such as herself could. She stalled...finding little excuses to hold off a wedding, until she could think of something new. Only she could not bear to hurt him by telling him the dim truth that he could not handle such a task. He walked each morning along the moat of Alexandria castle, balancing on the rail... and one morning was greeted by a familiar voice..
"Youre never gonna change are ya?" the voice said in a bright cheery, yet nagging tone. Zidane almost fell off the rail, knowing exactly who the voice belonged to. "Eiko! Hey" He jumped down, hugging her tightly...it had been months since he had last seen the little girl. "How come you never visit!?" She asked, both hands on her hips. Zidane scratched the back of his head...he had meant to visit but he had been so busy with everything else. He laughed a little as a smile spread across his face. "Come on Eiko. You know I'd rather have the little cuties come to me" He said, jumping back onto the rail. This caused Eiko to giggle and blush, nervously fidgiting her feet. Zidane suddenly came to a stop, looking down at her again. "Aren't you supposed to be in Lindblum...where is the Regent and Lady Hilda?" Eiko continued to shuffle her feet..
"Er...they uh...let me come visit you" She said quietly, looking down at her little foot as it moved across the stone. "Oh..well.." Zidane began, then stopped as he remembered how overprotective the Regent had been of his new daughter. He wouldn't even let her go into town to buy Kupo Nuts for the moogles that the convinced the Regent to allow stay in the palace with her. He jumped down onto the ground in front of her. "Eiko...Regent Cid would never let you come here alone. He's way too attached to you. ....Now tell me...how in the heck did you get here?" Eiko looked up at him, stuttering... "I...uh..well...kinda...snuck on a...cargo ship...carrying gysha pickles..." She said nervously, twiddling her fingers together, a little afraid. Zidane looked at her sternly, then instantly laughed. "I'm glad that smell was the pickles and not you" He said, as he continued to laugh. Eiko put her hands on her hips. "How can you laugh at that! You jerk! I went through all of this to come see you and you laugh!" "Come on Eiko..I'm just playing with you" He said, getting on his knees to look her eye to eye. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "But you really did put yourself in a lot of danger. Lady Hilda and Regent Cid are probably lookin' all over the place for you...and what about the moogles?" Eiko frowned and kicked up a few loose rocks from the stones beneath them. She stayed silent then finally huffed. "Fine...I'll go back. But you gotta promise to visit me more!" Zidane laughed softly and stood up. "Sorry about that...Ive been kinda busy..." Eiko cut him off before he could finish. "...Walking on rails?" "No! Ive been..helping Dagger make desicions for Alexandria, and doing odd tasks shes given me" "She has you in your place. I'm so proud of that lucky girl" Eiko said, looking up at him. Zidane rubbed his neck a little...he hadn't felt like Dagger thought she was lucky recently. "Well come on...We should go tell Dagger that youre here. And...have you eaten?" He asked as he walked with her from the moat and up the stone path. "I'm really hungry but I don't want the crummy food from Alexandria. Remember how mean the cook was to me last time?" She said, recalling the time that the cooks asked her if she was hungry, then told her it was 'too bad' and refused to cook for the dingy little girl. "Nah, Quina is our head cook now. I thought you knew that" He suddenly stopped as an Alexandria female soilder stopped them at the door. "Who's this?" She asked in a rather harsh tone, looking to Eiko. "Calm yourself cupcake, it's just a friend of mine" Zidane said, patting Eiko on the head, to which she responded with a glare. The Alexandrian soulder looked at Eiko and then back at Zidane. She hated that it was alright with the queen that this man bring his lower class friends into the palace...what if one was to steal something? But she had to let him pass. She moved aside and allowed Zidane to walk through. Eiko ran through behind him, sticking her tongue out at the guard on her way there. "Gee...She sure was rude. Maybe you should fire her! You can do that right!? Fire people?" Eiko said, her tiny voice echoing through the large hallway. Zidane looked down at her as they walked to the kitchen. "Uh yeah I could...but she's just doing her job I guess."
The two of them came into the kitchen and the familiar scent of yan filled Zidanes nose. Yan was a rare delicacy that only Quina knew how to prepare. It was very difficult to even find someone who could capture a Yan. "You need love yan before can cook yan" Quina said to the cooks "Yes master Quina" They all said, stirring the pots diligantly. Quina looked over and saw Eiko and Zidane in the doorway. "Oh! Eiko! Me miss so much!" Quina ran to Eiko, picking her up and spinning her around into a giant hug, to which Eiko responded with fake laughter. She hadn't really missed Quina that much, except it's cooking...but she was willing to pretend to spare Quinas feelings. Quina set the tiny girl down and looked to Zidane then back to Eiko. "I so happy! Why you here?! You come to eat? I fix many things!" "Woah Quina, settle down" Zidane said, noticing it get a little too excited. "But I so happy. We like family again almost" Quina said, jumping up and down. Zidane sighed. "Eikos had a long trip and is pretty hungry. Think you can whip her up something real quick?" He said as Eiko began to look around. She peeked over a cooks shoulder, looking into the boiling pot. "Ew!!" She screamed, causing the cook to turn around quickly and knock her over. Quina and Zidane ran over to her in middle of conversation. "What happen!?" Quina asked as Zidane picked Eiko up. She brushed herself off and glared at the cook who was pretending like nothing happened. "This jerk knocked me over!" She said, pointing her finger at the cook. Quina frowned. "Much work need be done in kitchen. Two more people too many people" Quina pushed Eiko and Zidane out of the kitchen. "Dinner soon. Snack spoil perfect meal!" Eiko huffed with her hands on her hips and Zidane pulled her gently towards the staircase. "It's alright. You can eat soon...for now maybe we should go tell Dagger that youre here" "Alreeady?!" Eiko whined. She knew that if she saw Dagger she would have to go home. "Come on...she needs to know" Zidane said to her as they walked up the staircase. They walked through the castle, Zidane wasn't sure where Dagger was but he thought perhaps he could find her in her room. A few guards looked at them as they passed through the hallways. None of them really trusted Zidane very much only because of his past, but a select few saw him for who he really was. They came to the young queens bedroom, the door was shut and Zidane knew she was inside. "Wait here Eiko. I'll be back in a sec okay?" He said to her as he picked her up and set her down on a bench neaby. Eiko frowned and picked up a book from the bench, reading the title aloud... "I want to be your Canary. How boring!" She began to read the book, sitting on the bench with her feet dangling high above the ground. Zidane nodded to her and knocked on Garnets door before he helped himself to walk inside.
A warm feeling filled him as he saw her long black hair blowing in the wind, her standing by the window. Her long white dress almost blended into her pale skin, and he remembered the confrence with the Burmecian King earlier that morning...but was unsure why she was still wearing the dress. He shut the door behind him and walked up slowly behind her..she was so beautiful just standing there. He almost didn't want to break such a perfect moment. He stood directly behind her, and finally spoke. "Dagger...?" Her hair touched his face as she turned around quickly to respond to him. "Zidane... I wasn't aware that you came in.." Her voice was soft and beautiful, as it always was..and he enjoyed to hear it, no matter what she was saying. "Yeah, I even knocked. Were you thinking about something? You only look out that window to remember.." She looked at him for a moment, she always fell deep into the pools of blue she found in his eyes. And no matter what mood she was in, he could make her happy. But she forced herself to look to the ground. "Sometimes to forget.." He looked at her, afraid and confused..then gently brought her face up to look at him by touching placing his fingers beneath her chin. "What would you want to forget?" He asked her, his tone of voice much more serious then it had been all day. "I...Zidane..." She paused. She wanted to tell him how she felt, how much she loved him...and how she was afraid of what the marriage would do to the city...but she couldn't bear to bring such a burden to this wonderful mans heart. "It is nothing. I only wished to be alone..." Zidane stepped back a little, not wanting to invade her in any way.. "If that's what you want.." Garnet quickly grabbed his shoulder to make him stay. "Not you. I never mind having you around, it is only that I could not find you to speak with.." "I was at the moat, where I am every morning...you know that Dagger. Come on, tell me what's going on." He asked, worried. He noticed she had been a bit more distant with him lately but had hoped it was only her in one of her famous 'moods'. "I have been thinking about our love. And I-" She began, but was cut off by a loud scream from outside the room. She looked at the door worridly. "That...that sounds like.." Zidane rushed to the door. "Eiko!"
The two ran out into the empty hallway to find Eiko yelling a moogle. "Mog! I told you not to surprise me like that! Now make yourself small and get back in..." Zidane looked at the tiny moogle, then back at Eiko. "Eiko...Mog? Didn't Mog turn into an Edilon?" Eiko turned around to face him as the moogle jumped inside of Eikos coat. "Yeah but this is a baby moogle I found, I named her after Mog because Mog always took care of me" Eiko suddenly realized that Garnet was in presence and jumped up to give her a hug. "Dagger!" Garnet was still in shock from seeing the little girl but she hugged her back. "Eiko what are you doing in Alexandria?" Garnet asked her, setting her down onto the ground. Eiko huffed and pushed a purple lock of hair from her face, to behind her ear. "Is it really THAT big if a deal? Jeeze." She hopped back up onto the bench, causing a few things to fall. "She snuck on a cargo ship so she could see me" Zidane scratched the top of his head. "Kinda funny eh?" Eiko jumped down. "Don't flatter yourself! I came to see Dagger too! Girl talk ya know?" Garnet sighed a little. "I wish that you would have got permission from my Uncle before you took the liberty to come on your own Eiko. But now that you are here...what is it that you need to speak to me for?" "Well.." Eiko began, then glared up at Zidane with her purple eyes. "Ahem!" Zidane looked at the two blankly, not taking the hint. Garnet giggled a little and kissed Zidanes cheek. "That means she wishes to speak to me alone" She pushed him gently away, and Zidane shook his head as he walked down the steps. "Damn women..."
Eiko had not lied to Garnet, she really did need to speak with her. The two reunited friends walked back inside of Garnets room. Her room was highly decorated but Eiko could tell that Garnet didn't care about that kind of stuff. Garnet looked troubled, as she used to. She figured that now Garnet would have nothing to worry about...but that wasn't why she was here. Eiko hopped up onto the table, sitting in front of Garnet who was sitting in a chair. "Okay. Well about a week ago, Doc Tot was giving me my lessons.."
Little light could be seen from the top of Lindblum castle, a familiar area to Garnet herself for everytime she needed to think she would go there. A small purple head peered over the edge, obviously not afraid of the heights. "Ooh! Theyre so pretty!" She giggled. Doc Tot was still preparing the telescope. "Yes, they are aren't they?" He said, as Eiko grabbed the telescope. "Is it ready yet!?" She asked, very excited. This was something much more fun then her usual book reading and lessons...she was going to look out into the sky and Tot was going to tell her what everything was! Eiko peered into the telescope, pushing some buttons on the machiene next to it. She looked down to the village of Dali and the machine spoke. -The village of Dali. A farming village that raises chocobos for sale and trade.-. Eiko giggled. "Neat!" Eiko continued to look out. Doc Tot began to explain something to her, but stopped, realizing he had forgotten his notebook. "Wait here Eiko. I forgot my book. I'll be back" his short legs ran him down the steps and back into the castle. Eiko shrugged and moved the telescope up, looking at the sky. The whole sky was dark except for tiny diamonds shining in the sky. She moved left a little and there it was... A large cluster of tiny diamonds all sparkling...it looked almost as if Shiva herself had dumped the most beautiful ice shards onto the sky and left them there. The machine spoke, -Shimmering Islands. An archepilago which was once paired with many shining stars. Since the seal to Terra has been closed, the stars no longer shimmer-. Eiko gasped, taking another look at the beautiful diamonds in the sky. "Oh my god...Terra... " Eiko whispered to herself, pulling back as she saw Doc Tot return. She couldn't let him find out...only Zidane and Garnet would understand..they were the only other ones who had been there. Eiko stepped down, her tiny foot crushing the machine. "Oopsies!" Eiko proclaimed, hopping down. "Too bad, looks like you gotta fix it now" She skipped back inside the castle to leave an awfuly confused Doc Tot to fiddle with his precious machine.
Garnet blinked, her mouth partly open from the shock. "Eiko...are you telling me that the seal..." Eiko nodded furiously "Is open!" "But why did you only tell me, and not Zidane?" Garnet stood up, turning to look out the window into the now midday sky. "Well that's not the only thing. Ya see, ever since I noticed that...my edilons won't work!" Garnet turned around quickly to face her. "What do you mean?" "Exactly what I said!" Eiko jumped down from the table and spun around playfully. "I tried to summon Phoenix to set fire to this thing that tried to attack the cargo ship. And nothing happened!" Eiko stomped, angry just thinking about it. Garnet shook her head, she could not believe that the Edilons would not work. "Perhaps...You played the song on your flute wrong" She was trying to stay calm, and not show how worried she was. "I never play the songs wrong! Plus...I tried lots..and then tried to summon more. Go ahead Dagger! Try to summon something!" Garnet shook her head instantly. "Not here. If it works then the whole city will be attacked. It would be wrong of me to try here. I will just take your word for it. Let's explain this to Zidane, then try to figure out what it means." Garnet said, turning and walking out the door...the long white dress trailing behind her. "Hey wait!" Eiko ran after her out the door.
Zidane was playing a card came with a Knight of Pluto. "Damn women, always ganging up on me.." He mumbled, setting down a card. The Pluto Knight looked up at him curiously. It seemed that the Pluto Knights were the only ones in the castle that actually liked Zidane, it was probably only because Steiner had sternly told them that Zidane was a very important guest and Beatrix herself had said the same thing. In fact, now that Zidane thought of it...he hadn't seen either of the two all day. Oh well, they were probably patrolling the city. Zidane suddenly fell forward, pounced on by something small. "ZIDANE!" Eiko squealed in delight as she jumped on him. "AH!, He cried out, then turned around and put her back onto the gound. Garnet ran up behind Eiko, holding the front of her dress. "Zidane I fear Eiko came with disturbing news" Garnet took his hands and pulled gently, which caused him a small smile. "What is it?" He asked as he allowed her to pull him. "Eiko wait here" Garnet ordered, not wanting the small girl to hear what she thought was happening. Eiko huffed and plopped down into the chair, smiling at the knight. "Can I play?" She asked, helping herself to deal down a card. The knight sighed and shook his head...babysitting duty.
Garnet and Zidane walked silently outside of the castle, and began the long walk up the spiral stairs. Zidane watched her walk ahead of him, remembering when he first saw her...he remembered what sick thoughts he had of her. And thinking back on them now, he could never think anything of Dagger like that. She was too perfect too.. "Zidane.." Garnet said, cutting off his memories as they reached the tower, looking over the city. Zidane smiled, looking down. "Remember when I saw you jump from here Dagger? And.." His voice trailed off as he brushed her cheek gently with his finger... "Remember?" Garnet brought her hand up to touch his hand gently.. "Yes...I could never forget. " She loved how he could always say the right thing at the right time...but not now..now wasn't the time. "Zidane...this is important." Zidane brought his hand down and stared into her eyes. "So what is it?" Garnet looked down, trying to think of how to say it...then decided that being blunt about it was the only way. "Eiko saw it with her own two eyes.. The shimmering islands have begun to shimmer again.." She paused, looking up at Zidane whos eyes were already wide. "But that means.." He began. Garnet nodded, looking out into the sky. He stood next to her, leaning over the balcony slightly, and curving his head to look at her. "It means that someone has broken the seal to Terra. But Eiko did not realize, that the mirrors have been broken. The only one who could open a seal to Terra...would be a direct decendant from Terra itself..." She looked back to him. Her eyes showing how afraid she truely was. "There are only two decendants of Terra who know exactly how everything there works...You are one of them.." "Mikoto..." Zidanes voice was as afraid as Garnets eyes were. He shook his head quickly "Mikoto wouldn't open the seal without telling me first. She's my little sis, I mean...she wouldn't..." Zidane was denying everything he could...he couldn't imagine his sister doing something like that... "And even if she did...I'm sure she had good reason.I mean she wouldn't do it for no reason!" He backed away from Garnet. "Zidane. Kuja thought himself that he had good reason when he destroyed Terra and almost Gaia. I am not saying that Mikoto is turning into Kuja but...it is not doubt that it is she who opened the seal. There is no other person on Gaia who could have done it." She knew Zidane loved Mikoto deeply as a sister, and didn't want to sound as if she was accusing her of anything. She liked Mikoto very much herself, and even joined Zidane in begging her to stay in the castle with them. But Mikoto insisted on staying in the black mage village. Zidane remained silent, he could not allow himself to believe that his little sister would do something like that. What if it was all starting over again? What if he would watch someone he was so close to, kill so many...then when she deserved a chance to live again...she would die...no...he wouldn't let that happen. "Mikoto is stronger then Kuja was...mentally.." Zidane thought to himself. The two shared a silence, each one unsure what to say to the other...until finally Zidane broke.. "Dagger. I gotta go talk to Mikoto. I have to see what's up..." He stepped forward and held her gently.. "I shall go with you, like I always do Zidane.." "No.." He stepped back, and Garnet put both hands on her hips. "This is not going to be like the incident back at the Iifa tree. It could be dangerous and you need me." Zidane rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Come on, don't get mad. I'm not even gonna take Eiko. It could be too dangerous" He said, stepping forward to her again. "Dagger please...understand. This is family business." He wiped a single tear from her cheek. "I would not be able to protect you anyways.. Edilons are not working...Eiko said..." She began, but soon found herself in tears. "Just come back..." Zidane moved to kiss her but she pulled back in that instant... He sighed and stepped back, to walk down into the castle. He turned for a moment, to look at her once more...that girl he loved so much. "Hey, take care of Eiko okay? Maybe you should ask Cid if it's okay if she stays.." Garnet nodded. "Very well.." This caused Zidane to give her a half smile. A tiny laugh escaped his lips. "Always so serious.." Garnet looked up at him and returned the laugh. "Alrighty" She said, before turning to look down to her city. Zidane took a last look at her and turned back into the castle, to prepare for his trip.
Cheers and smiles fell upon them as they held eachother on the stage, he leaned down and they shared their first kiss... He had waited for that moment since the day he met her, and he never knew that it would have felt so wonderful...but it was not physical at all. That was what made her special, he knew she was beautiful but it just did not matter. They shared that moment, and everyone around them melted...they felt only eachother, and as they pulled back and the world appeared again...they knew they were in love.
The townspeople loved him, he was just like them..therefore they did not mind him being King...but deep down she knew that he could not handle it as well as someone such as herself could. She stalled...finding little excuses to hold off a wedding, until she could think of something new. Only she could not bear to hurt him by telling him the dim truth that he could not handle such a task. He walked each morning along the moat of Alexandria castle, balancing on the rail... and one morning was greeted by a familiar voice..
"Youre never gonna change are ya?" the voice said in a bright cheery, yet nagging tone. Zidane almost fell off the rail, knowing exactly who the voice belonged to. "Eiko! Hey" He jumped down, hugging her tightly...it had been months since he had last seen the little girl. "How come you never visit!?" She asked, both hands on her hips. Zidane scratched the back of his head...he had meant to visit but he had been so busy with everything else. He laughed a little as a smile spread across his face. "Come on Eiko. You know I'd rather have the little cuties come to me" He said, jumping back onto the rail. This caused Eiko to giggle and blush, nervously fidgiting her feet. Zidane suddenly came to a stop, looking down at her again. "Aren't you supposed to be in Lindblum...where is the Regent and Lady Hilda?" Eiko continued to shuffle her feet..
"Er...they uh...let me come visit you" She said quietly, looking down at her little foot as it moved across the stone. "Oh..well.." Zidane began, then stopped as he remembered how overprotective the Regent had been of his new daughter. He wouldn't even let her go into town to buy Kupo Nuts for the moogles that the convinced the Regent to allow stay in the palace with her. He jumped down onto the ground in front of her. "Eiko...Regent Cid would never let you come here alone. He's way too attached to you. ....Now tell me...how in the heck did you get here?" Eiko looked up at him, stuttering... "I...uh..well...kinda...snuck on a...cargo ship...carrying gysha pickles..." She said nervously, twiddling her fingers together, a little afraid. Zidane looked at her sternly, then instantly laughed. "I'm glad that smell was the pickles and not you" He said, as he continued to laugh. Eiko put her hands on her hips. "How can you laugh at that! You jerk! I went through all of this to come see you and you laugh!" "Come on Eiko..I'm just playing with you" He said, getting on his knees to look her eye to eye. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "But you really did put yourself in a lot of danger. Lady Hilda and Regent Cid are probably lookin' all over the place for you...and what about the moogles?" Eiko frowned and kicked up a few loose rocks from the stones beneath them. She stayed silent then finally huffed. "Fine...I'll go back. But you gotta promise to visit me more!" Zidane laughed softly and stood up. "Sorry about that...Ive been kinda busy..." Eiko cut him off before he could finish. "...Walking on rails?" "No! Ive been..helping Dagger make desicions for Alexandria, and doing odd tasks shes given me" "She has you in your place. I'm so proud of that lucky girl" Eiko said, looking up at him. Zidane rubbed his neck a little...he hadn't felt like Dagger thought she was lucky recently. "Well come on...We should go tell Dagger that youre here. And...have you eaten?" He asked as he walked with her from the moat and up the stone path. "I'm really hungry but I don't want the crummy food from Alexandria. Remember how mean the cook was to me last time?" She said, recalling the time that the cooks asked her if she was hungry, then told her it was 'too bad' and refused to cook for the dingy little girl. "Nah, Quina is our head cook now. I thought you knew that" He suddenly stopped as an Alexandria female soilder stopped them at the door. "Who's this?" She asked in a rather harsh tone, looking to Eiko. "Calm yourself cupcake, it's just a friend of mine" Zidane said, patting Eiko on the head, to which she responded with a glare. The Alexandrian soulder looked at Eiko and then back at Zidane. She hated that it was alright with the queen that this man bring his lower class friends into the palace...what if one was to steal something? But she had to let him pass. She moved aside and allowed Zidane to walk through. Eiko ran through behind him, sticking her tongue out at the guard on her way there. "Gee...She sure was rude. Maybe you should fire her! You can do that right!? Fire people?" Eiko said, her tiny voice echoing through the large hallway. Zidane looked down at her as they walked to the kitchen. "Uh yeah I could...but she's just doing her job I guess."
The two of them came into the kitchen and the familiar scent of yan filled Zidanes nose. Yan was a rare delicacy that only Quina knew how to prepare. It was very difficult to even find someone who could capture a Yan. "You need love yan before can cook yan" Quina said to the cooks "Yes master Quina" They all said, stirring the pots diligantly. Quina looked over and saw Eiko and Zidane in the doorway. "Oh! Eiko! Me miss so much!" Quina ran to Eiko, picking her up and spinning her around into a giant hug, to which Eiko responded with fake laughter. She hadn't really missed Quina that much, except it's cooking...but she was willing to pretend to spare Quinas feelings. Quina set the tiny girl down and looked to Zidane then back to Eiko. "I so happy! Why you here?! You come to eat? I fix many things!" "Woah Quina, settle down" Zidane said, noticing it get a little too excited. "But I so happy. We like family again almost" Quina said, jumping up and down. Zidane sighed. "Eikos had a long trip and is pretty hungry. Think you can whip her up something real quick?" He said as Eiko began to look around. She peeked over a cooks shoulder, looking into the boiling pot. "Ew!!" She screamed, causing the cook to turn around quickly and knock her over. Quina and Zidane ran over to her in middle of conversation. "What happen!?" Quina asked as Zidane picked Eiko up. She brushed herself off and glared at the cook who was pretending like nothing happened. "This jerk knocked me over!" She said, pointing her finger at the cook. Quina frowned. "Much work need be done in kitchen. Two more people too many people" Quina pushed Eiko and Zidane out of the kitchen. "Dinner soon. Snack spoil perfect meal!" Eiko huffed with her hands on her hips and Zidane pulled her gently towards the staircase. "It's alright. You can eat soon...for now maybe we should go tell Dagger that youre here" "Alreeady?!" Eiko whined. She knew that if she saw Dagger she would have to go home. "Come on...she needs to know" Zidane said to her as they walked up the staircase. They walked through the castle, Zidane wasn't sure where Dagger was but he thought perhaps he could find her in her room. A few guards looked at them as they passed through the hallways. None of them really trusted Zidane very much only because of his past, but a select few saw him for who he really was. They came to the young queens bedroom, the door was shut and Zidane knew she was inside. "Wait here Eiko. I'll be back in a sec okay?" He said to her as he picked her up and set her down on a bench neaby. Eiko frowned and picked up a book from the bench, reading the title aloud... "I want to be your Canary. How boring!" She began to read the book, sitting on the bench with her feet dangling high above the ground. Zidane nodded to her and knocked on Garnets door before he helped himself to walk inside.
A warm feeling filled him as he saw her long black hair blowing in the wind, her standing by the window. Her long white dress almost blended into her pale skin, and he remembered the confrence with the Burmecian King earlier that morning...but was unsure why she was still wearing the dress. He shut the door behind him and walked up slowly behind her..she was so beautiful just standing there. He almost didn't want to break such a perfect moment. He stood directly behind her, and finally spoke. "Dagger...?" Her hair touched his face as she turned around quickly to respond to him. "Zidane... I wasn't aware that you came in.." Her voice was soft and beautiful, as it always was..and he enjoyed to hear it, no matter what she was saying. "Yeah, I even knocked. Were you thinking about something? You only look out that window to remember.." She looked at him for a moment, she always fell deep into the pools of blue she found in his eyes. And no matter what mood she was in, he could make her happy. But she forced herself to look to the ground. "Sometimes to forget.." He looked at her, afraid and confused..then gently brought her face up to look at him by touching placing his fingers beneath her chin. "What would you want to forget?" He asked her, his tone of voice much more serious then it had been all day. "I...Zidane..." She paused. She wanted to tell him how she felt, how much she loved him...and how she was afraid of what the marriage would do to the city...but she couldn't bear to bring such a burden to this wonderful mans heart. "It is nothing. I only wished to be alone..." Zidane stepped back a little, not wanting to invade her in any way.. "If that's what you want.." Garnet quickly grabbed his shoulder to make him stay. "Not you. I never mind having you around, it is only that I could not find you to speak with.." "I was at the moat, where I am every morning...you know that Dagger. Come on, tell me what's going on." He asked, worried. He noticed she had been a bit more distant with him lately but had hoped it was only her in one of her famous 'moods'. "I have been thinking about our love. And I-" She began, but was cut off by a loud scream from outside the room. She looked at the door worridly. "That...that sounds like.." Zidane rushed to the door. "Eiko!"
The two ran out into the empty hallway to find Eiko yelling a moogle. "Mog! I told you not to surprise me like that! Now make yourself small and get back in..." Zidane looked at the tiny moogle, then back at Eiko. "Eiko...Mog? Didn't Mog turn into an Edilon?" Eiko turned around to face him as the moogle jumped inside of Eikos coat. "Yeah but this is a baby moogle I found, I named her after Mog because Mog always took care of me" Eiko suddenly realized that Garnet was in presence and jumped up to give her a hug. "Dagger!" Garnet was still in shock from seeing the little girl but she hugged her back. "Eiko what are you doing in Alexandria?" Garnet asked her, setting her down onto the ground. Eiko huffed and pushed a purple lock of hair from her face, to behind her ear. "Is it really THAT big if a deal? Jeeze." She hopped back up onto the bench, causing a few things to fall. "She snuck on a cargo ship so she could see me" Zidane scratched the top of his head. "Kinda funny eh?" Eiko jumped down. "Don't flatter yourself! I came to see Dagger too! Girl talk ya know?" Garnet sighed a little. "I wish that you would have got permission from my Uncle before you took the liberty to come on your own Eiko. But now that you are here...what is it that you need to speak to me for?" "Well.." Eiko began, then glared up at Zidane with her purple eyes. "Ahem!" Zidane looked at the two blankly, not taking the hint. Garnet giggled a little and kissed Zidanes cheek. "That means she wishes to speak to me alone" She pushed him gently away, and Zidane shook his head as he walked down the steps. "Damn women..."
Eiko had not lied to Garnet, she really did need to speak with her. The two reunited friends walked back inside of Garnets room. Her room was highly decorated but Eiko could tell that Garnet didn't care about that kind of stuff. Garnet looked troubled, as she used to. She figured that now Garnet would have nothing to worry about...but that wasn't why she was here. Eiko hopped up onto the table, sitting in front of Garnet who was sitting in a chair. "Okay. Well about a week ago, Doc Tot was giving me my lessons.."
Little light could be seen from the top of Lindblum castle, a familiar area to Garnet herself for everytime she needed to think she would go there. A small purple head peered over the edge, obviously not afraid of the heights. "Ooh! Theyre so pretty!" She giggled. Doc Tot was still preparing the telescope. "Yes, they are aren't they?" He said, as Eiko grabbed the telescope. "Is it ready yet!?" She asked, very excited. This was something much more fun then her usual book reading and lessons...she was going to look out into the sky and Tot was going to tell her what everything was! Eiko peered into the telescope, pushing some buttons on the machiene next to it. She looked down to the village of Dali and the machine spoke. -The village of Dali. A farming village that raises chocobos for sale and trade.-. Eiko giggled. "Neat!" Eiko continued to look out. Doc Tot began to explain something to her, but stopped, realizing he had forgotten his notebook. "Wait here Eiko. I forgot my book. I'll be back" his short legs ran him down the steps and back into the castle. Eiko shrugged and moved the telescope up, looking at the sky. The whole sky was dark except for tiny diamonds shining in the sky. She moved left a little and there it was... A large cluster of tiny diamonds all sparkling...it looked almost as if Shiva herself had dumped the most beautiful ice shards onto the sky and left them there. The machine spoke, -Shimmering Islands. An archepilago which was once paired with many shining stars. Since the seal to Terra has been closed, the stars no longer shimmer-. Eiko gasped, taking another look at the beautiful diamonds in the sky. "Oh my god...Terra... " Eiko whispered to herself, pulling back as she saw Doc Tot return. She couldn't let him find out...only Zidane and Garnet would understand..they were the only other ones who had been there. Eiko stepped down, her tiny foot crushing the machine. "Oopsies!" Eiko proclaimed, hopping down. "Too bad, looks like you gotta fix it now" She skipped back inside the castle to leave an awfuly confused Doc Tot to fiddle with his precious machine.
Garnet blinked, her mouth partly open from the shock. "Eiko...are you telling me that the seal..." Eiko nodded furiously "Is open!" "But why did you only tell me, and not Zidane?" Garnet stood up, turning to look out the window into the now midday sky. "Well that's not the only thing. Ya see, ever since I noticed that...my edilons won't work!" Garnet turned around quickly to face her. "What do you mean?" "Exactly what I said!" Eiko jumped down from the table and spun around playfully. "I tried to summon Phoenix to set fire to this thing that tried to attack the cargo ship. And nothing happened!" Eiko stomped, angry just thinking about it. Garnet shook her head, she could not believe that the Edilons would not work. "Perhaps...You played the song on your flute wrong" She was trying to stay calm, and not show how worried she was. "I never play the songs wrong! Plus...I tried lots..and then tried to summon more. Go ahead Dagger! Try to summon something!" Garnet shook her head instantly. "Not here. If it works then the whole city will be attacked. It would be wrong of me to try here. I will just take your word for it. Let's explain this to Zidane, then try to figure out what it means." Garnet said, turning and walking out the door...the long white dress trailing behind her. "Hey wait!" Eiko ran after her out the door.
Zidane was playing a card came with a Knight of Pluto. "Damn women, always ganging up on me.." He mumbled, setting down a card. The Pluto Knight looked up at him curiously. It seemed that the Pluto Knights were the only ones in the castle that actually liked Zidane, it was probably only because Steiner had sternly told them that Zidane was a very important guest and Beatrix herself had said the same thing. In fact, now that Zidane thought of it...he hadn't seen either of the two all day. Oh well, they were probably patrolling the city. Zidane suddenly fell forward, pounced on by something small. "ZIDANE!" Eiko squealed in delight as she jumped on him. "AH!, He cried out, then turned around and put her back onto the gound. Garnet ran up behind Eiko, holding the front of her dress. "Zidane I fear Eiko came with disturbing news" Garnet took his hands and pulled gently, which caused him a small smile. "What is it?" He asked as he allowed her to pull him. "Eiko wait here" Garnet ordered, not wanting the small girl to hear what she thought was happening. Eiko huffed and plopped down into the chair, smiling at the knight. "Can I play?" She asked, helping herself to deal down a card. The knight sighed and shook his head...babysitting duty.
Garnet and Zidane walked silently outside of the castle, and began the long walk up the spiral stairs. Zidane watched her walk ahead of him, remembering when he first saw her...he remembered what sick thoughts he had of her. And thinking back on them now, he could never think anything of Dagger like that. She was too perfect too.. "Zidane.." Garnet said, cutting off his memories as they reached the tower, looking over the city. Zidane smiled, looking down. "Remember when I saw you jump from here Dagger? And.." His voice trailed off as he brushed her cheek gently with his finger... "Remember?" Garnet brought her hand up to touch his hand gently.. "Yes...I could never forget. " She loved how he could always say the right thing at the right time...but not now..now wasn't the time. "Zidane...this is important." Zidane brought his hand down and stared into her eyes. "So what is it?" Garnet looked down, trying to think of how to say it...then decided that being blunt about it was the only way. "Eiko saw it with her own two eyes.. The shimmering islands have begun to shimmer again.." She paused, looking up at Zidane whos eyes were already wide. "But that means.." He began. Garnet nodded, looking out into the sky. He stood next to her, leaning over the balcony slightly, and curving his head to look at her. "It means that someone has broken the seal to Terra. But Eiko did not realize, that the mirrors have been broken. The only one who could open a seal to Terra...would be a direct decendant from Terra itself..." She looked back to him. Her eyes showing how afraid she truely was. "There are only two decendants of Terra who know exactly how everything there works...You are one of them.." "Mikoto..." Zidanes voice was as afraid as Garnets eyes were. He shook his head quickly "Mikoto wouldn't open the seal without telling me first. She's my little sis, I mean...she wouldn't..." Zidane was denying everything he could...he couldn't imagine his sister doing something like that... "And even if she did...I'm sure she had good reason.I mean she wouldn't do it for no reason!" He backed away from Garnet. "Zidane. Kuja thought himself that he had good reason when he destroyed Terra and almost Gaia. I am not saying that Mikoto is turning into Kuja but...it is not doubt that it is she who opened the seal. There is no other person on Gaia who could have done it." She knew Zidane loved Mikoto deeply as a sister, and didn't want to sound as if she was accusing her of anything. She liked Mikoto very much herself, and even joined Zidane in begging her to stay in the castle with them. But Mikoto insisted on staying in the black mage village. Zidane remained silent, he could not allow himself to believe that his little sister would do something like that. What if it was all starting over again? What if he would watch someone he was so close to, kill so many...then when she deserved a chance to live again...she would die...no...he wouldn't let that happen. "Mikoto is stronger then Kuja was...mentally.." Zidane thought to himself. The two shared a silence, each one unsure what to say to the other...until finally Zidane broke.. "Dagger. I gotta go talk to Mikoto. I have to see what's up..." He stepped forward and held her gently.. "I shall go with you, like I always do Zidane.." "No.." He stepped back, and Garnet put both hands on her hips. "This is not going to be like the incident back at the Iifa tree. It could be dangerous and you need me." Zidane rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Come on, don't get mad. I'm not even gonna take Eiko. It could be too dangerous" He said, stepping forward to her again. "Dagger please...understand. This is family business." He wiped a single tear from her cheek. "I would not be able to protect you anyways.. Edilons are not working...Eiko said..." She began, but soon found herself in tears. "Just come back..." Zidane moved to kiss her but she pulled back in that instant... He sighed and stepped back, to walk down into the castle. He turned for a moment, to look at her once more...that girl he loved so much. "Hey, take care of Eiko okay? Maybe you should ask Cid if it's okay if she stays.." Garnet nodded. "Very well.." This caused Zidane to give her a half smile. A tiny laugh escaped his lips. "Always so serious.." Garnet looked up at him and returned the laugh. "Alrighty" She said, before turning to look down to her city. Zidane took a last look at her and turned back into the castle, to prepare for his trip.
