Sweet Visions of Dreams
By: Sweet Ruby
AN: Well....here ya'll go! Sorry for the wait. I've just been SO busy!!! ARG! lol! Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Your Majesties!!!!! Welcome....to Burmecia!" the guide said dramatically.
"Oh yuck!" Nayeli whinned as she peeked her head out of the Airship's door. "It's raining..do you actually expect me to come out of the airship? I could get wet! And get sick!!"
Many of the Burmecian's who had gathered to see the royal family of Alexandria, faught back the urge to roll thier eyes at the Princess. Garnet smiled a bit. "Now now Nayeli, it won't hurt you. It's not raining too much. Come now, hurry up. We don't want to keep the King waiting.
The Princess made a disgusted face at the rain and mud. Reluctantly, she stepped out of the airship, and onto the boarding/unboarding ramp. Instantly, she felt the cold, wet, rain start to trikle it's tiny droplets of water, down her back and all over her face. Her tail took shelter underneith her skirts, as she placed her hand above her head to keep the rain away....or at least try too. Instantly, a member of the airship's crew rushed up to her, and held a small umbrella over her head. She placed ehr hand back at her side, but not before she flipped a locke of silvery hair over her shoulder. Slowly, she made her way to the solid earth and stood near her parents. Her feet already were wet, along with the bottom of her skirts. Even her shoulders and hair were wet, since the man hadn't hurried to put the umbrella over her head fast enough. She would deal with him later......and she'd also make sure he'd get serious punishment for letting her get wet. "Mother, " she sighed haughtily. "Where's father?"
"He went on ahead." she replied.
"What for?" she asked, folding her arms acrossed her chest and looking around at the rats and their homes.
"To let the King know we're here, of course."
"Humph..he should have sent a servent or something."
Garnet couldn't help but frown at her daughter. She already had plans to speak with her husband about Yael, and now, she'd speak to him about thier spoiled daughter as well.
Merry laughter sounded, as Zidane, the King of Burmecia, and the female dragon knight, which Nayeli had seen at the castle many times before, came strolling around the corner, as if they hadn't anycare that it was raining. "Yeah, those were some great times, Freya." Zidane said, through his laughter.
The knight only nodded, as they approached Garnet, and her very, not so happy looking daughter. "Highness," Freya gave a slight bow. "'Tis good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too Freya." Garnet smiled.
The King laughed. "Queen Garnet, as I have been telling your gleeful husband, it's about time you come and visit Burmecia! How long has it been since you lst set foot here?"
Garnet gave a small laugh, "Too long, I suppose! We haven't been here since before Nayeli was born!"
The adults laughed. Nayeli just stoof there, her face set in stone. "Aw, your highness! Princess Nayeli, you've grown!" chuckled the King of the Realm of Eternal Rain. "I take it, from the look on your face, you don't enjoy our year round rain!"
"Of course not, I find it very........upsetting." she chose her words carefully.....carefully to her anyway.
The king frowned. "To you my dear, it may be a curse, but to us Burmecians, it's a blessing!"
Nayeli just looked away. Zidane sighed a bit, then laughed. His honey colored lockes of hair were soaking wet, along with his clothes. Rain dropplets trickled doen his face, arms, and tail. "Aw...Neyali! Why don't you come out from underneith that umbrella, and walk around in the rain for a bit, hm? HAHA! The warm rain feels great, especailly at this time of the year!"
"......I think I'll pass....." she said lazily.
He just sighed and shook his head, then turned to his wife. "What about you, my beautiful, shooting star? The most gorgous beauty of all Gaia? Won't you join me in the rain?"
Garnet hid a slight blush. "No thank you, dear. I enjoy staying dry." she replied, trying to hid the amusment in her voice.
Zidane smirked evilly, as he grabebd hold of the Queen's wrist and pulled her out from underneith the umbrella which had been keeping her dry. She gave a small shriek as the cold rain hit her. In a mere second, though, the rain turned warm...almost perfect temperature. Zidane laughed as Garnet wacked him on the arm, before she too, began laughing. "Ah....a wet angel...hm..I wonder what I could do with her...."
Garnet's face blushed scarlet. "Zidane Tribal!!!!! You drop that thought right now!!!"
"Uh.........no!" he laughed.
"Oh! Zidane!" She went to grab onto his arm, but he stepped out of her reach.
He laughed even more and quickly snatched her outstretched hand and spun her around. "What's so evil about this?"
She laughed, "Nothing at all! Except we're the King and Queen of Alexandria, and we're making fools of ourselves in front of all Burmecia!"
"See? Nothing to owrry about!" He then began leading her into a three step waltz, which only made her laugh even more. Though, she kept up perfectly.
Nayeli rolled her eyes. "Really....you're making fools of yourselves, Mother, Father..."
"Hey, you should try it sometime, sweetie, it feels great!" Zidane replied, spinning her mother around again, then getting right back into step.
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Yael sighed as he sat down on the small bed. The same bed he had slept on when he was only 4 years old. Back then, he was being taught how to become the future Queen's Protector. Maybe a General one day..even just becoming the Captain of the Knights of Pluto would have been good enough. But no.....he had to ruin it...he ruined everything.....just by saying those two little words to the Princess. He'd never become anything more than a Castle Gaurd.....maybe a Knight of Pluto if he was lucky. He flopped down, so he layed on the bed and faced the stone ceiling of the barraks. The recruits would be talking about him. Everyone would. Word traveled fast in Alexandria. Hundreds of men would become recruits.......and hundreds of recruits would try their hardest to get choosen to be the Princess' Protector. A drop of water hit him in the face. "Oh no.." he mumbled as he grabbed his pillow and plopped it over his face. How could his day be any worse? First he was slapped, then fired, laughed at, kicked out of the castle, and stuck in a single man room, in which six men, including himself, were crammed into, and it had a leaky roof....right above his head too. "What a glourious day......" he said sarcastically. Nope....couldn't get any worse. At least Boaz, Tacit, and Ahanu, weren't there to bug him. At least he hoped not....
"HEY YAEL!!!!!!!!!!" A loud voice boomed.
Yael didn't even have time to jump in suprise, before three sets of hands grabbed his body and lifted him up. The pillow droped to the floor, and the people holding him up, made him follow the pillow. He landed on the floor with a grunt and stared up at the three faces. His day had just gotten worse....
The three men laughed. "Hey there ol buddy ol pal! Long time no see! Return from the castle so soon?!" the young looking man, with brown hair, and matching eyes asked with a laugh.
Yael gave a slight, un amused laugh, "I guess you could say that.."
"Aw c'mon Yael!!! We're just trying to cheer ya up!!!!!!!!!" the blonde said. It was Ahanu. His blonde hair, bright, vivid blue eyes, and dark, ten skin mad him the primary target for the ladies.
"It's not like none of us know what happened or nothin'!!!!!!!" the third stated, a bit hseepishly. He was a big man, with short, curly black hair, and grey eyes. Boaz was one of the biggest, not to mention, strongest, recruit ever recorded at the Alexandrian barracks.
Tacit, the first man, laughed even more. "Gods Yael! Must have really hurt when the King fired you like that!!!!!!" Tacit was young, of course, he was pretty new at the Barracks...well...new about 6 years ago...he was very skilled at sneaking around...Yael wouldn't even be the least bit suprised if he was slinking around the shadows when the King had 'layed him off'. He had been a noble before he joined to become part of the Knights of Pluto.
"Ha ha..." Yael said, unhappily as he stood up.
"Yael, it can't be THAT bad, now could it?" Tacit asked, trying to sound innocent.
"Let's see...I was slapped by the Princess, embarrassed in front of hundreds of people, and fired, all in a span of ten minutes. You tell me if you could be THAT bad."
The three looked at each other before howling out in laughter. Yael just rolled his eyes as he picked up his pillow. "Hey, com'on Yael! We were just kiddn'" Boaz said, as he stopped laughing.
"Heh....whatever.." he mumbled as he sat donw on the edge of his bed, and rubbed his face with his hands.
"Hey, I know what'll cheer ya up!" Tacit said as he pulled out a deck of old and very well used cards. "We can drown your sorrows in a nice, fair and simple game of Cards! OF course there WILL be some Gil involved..."
"Oh Gods..." Yael said as he let himself fall backwards so he was laying on his bed again.
Boaz and Ahanu just gave their noble friend a look that said, 'oh please'. "What'd I do?" Tacit asked.
**************^*****************
"....Zidane...?" Garnet whispered to her husband, who lay beside her. "Are you awake?"
He mumbled something and put his face into his pillow.
Garnet made a face and poked him. "Zidane?"
Once again, he mumbled something, but this time he pulled the covers up around his head.
She huffed. "Zidane Tribal! Are you awake or not?"
"......I wasn't until you started talking to me."
She shook her head and sat up. "Zidane, I'd like to talk to you about Yael....and Nayeli."
The King of Alexandria groaned as he rolled over. "Not now Garnet...I'm tired..."
She frowned. "Zidane, I order you to talk to me!"
"Haha..." he mumbled into his pillow. "very funny Dagger....you can't order around your husbaannhmh..." he trailed off.
"Zidane!" she folded her arms across her chest, and glared at his form.
The only reply she got...were a bunch of fake snores.
Suddenly, her angry expression, turned into one of pure evil. Quickly, she hid her devilish grin, and leaned over her husband and whispered into his ear, "Mmmmm...you know...we haven't had any fun lately..." she said in a suductive tone.
"Eh...?" his eyes opened and he turned his head so he could see her better. "Say that again?"
"You heard me...." she smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek and began to rub his arm.
Zidane had a wierd look on his face, and was getting a little creeped out. "Uh..u.h.h..u.h.....D..a...d.a..da....Dagger...?" he squeaked.
"Shh, hush Zidane, or you'll ruin everything..." she reached under the covers and gently pet his tail.
Zidane grinned. Finally, she was coming to him, not the other way around. Suddenly, she grabbed hold of his tail and pulled. "AH! Damm---"
She quickly covered his mouth. "Zidane, NOW will you talk to me?"
He nodded slowly.
"Good." She let his tail go, and uncovered his mouth. "Now...tell me...why'd you do that to Yael? It was Nayeli who was in the wrong...you should have scolded her..."
He sighed as he sat up. "Garnet...I know that...it's just that....well..."
"'Well' what?"
He shook his head. "I'm just getting them ready...that's all."
".......Zidane..please no.."
"Hey, it's going to happen either way."
"No it won't!" she snapped at him.
"Garnet...I can already feel it. Nothing can change what's going to happen."
She looked at him with cold, hard, eyes. "Yes! I will change it! I won't allow my daughter to--"
Zidane silenced her lips by pressing a finger up against them, then spoke softly, "She's my daughter too..I don't like the idea any more than you do...but we can't change anything that's about to happen..."
Tears welled up in her chocolate eyes. "But...but..."
"Shh..." He gently stroaked her hair as he leaned in and kissed her soft lips. "Don't worry Dagger..." he whispered. "Everything will work out..."
Sniffling...she hugged him, and cried into his shoulder.
**************v**************
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Yael growled a bit as he rolled over, hugging the pillow over his head. Would the dripping ever stop?!
Drip Drip.
"Grr..."
Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.
"ENOUGH!" he shouted, throwing the pillow at the ceiling. His room mates all woke up and looked at him. He just sighed and rolled over as his pillow came back down, landing on his head. He couldn't sleep....the dripping kept him awake. Or...was it that wierd feeling in the pit of his stomach? Either way...he couldn't sleep...and it was almost morning. What was that feeling anyway? Was something going to happen to Nayeli? Heh, if anything happened to her, he wouldn't really mind...
*******************
Tacit's sword flew out of his hands and landed a few yards away. He turned to make a mad dash for it, but the sharp edge of Yael's blade at his neck, stopped him in his tracks. He laughed a bit. "Whoa, you've gotten better Yael!"
Yael said nothing, and just took his sword away from Tacit's neck.
"Yep, definatly better!" Ahanu said. "It took him like what......two seconds to win?"
"I guess so..." Tacit replied, as he picked up his sword.
"Hey boys!!!!!!" a chiper voice called from across the front lawn of the barracks.
The three turned to cafe a young girl, about as old as Nayeli, with brown hair. She ducked under and went around a few people as they trained, on her way over to them. "Sierra!" Tacit and Ahanu greeted as they both gave a broad smile.
She laughed. "Hi guys!" She looked at Yael and eyed him as she smiled, her grey eyes dancing. "Hiya Yael! I haven't seen you for a long time!"
"Yeah..." he replied. "It's been a while."
She nodded then frowned. "I heard about what happened...I'm really sorry..."
"It's not your fault....there wasn't anything anyone could do."
Nodding again, her face lit up. "I have an idea!" she exclaimed, grabbing hold of his arm. "Let's go into the City!!!! We'll go see a play!"
Ahanu frowned at that. "I don't think we can..we have to ask permission first..."
"Hey!" Tacit interrupted. "We have YAEL with us, the SON OF the GENERAL of Alexandria as our friend! We can go anywhere!"
"Exactly!" Sierra said as she looked at Yael. "So..........let's go!!!!!!" She began dragging him by his arm towards the boat that would bring them across the moat.
"Uh...I.......Uh...." he stuttered.
"Oh come on! It'll be fun!!!!!!!" Tacit said, slapping his friend on the back.
"It'll do you some good!" the peppy girl stated.
"Yeah! We'll have a day on the town! Find you a girl Yael! It'll make you feel a LOT better!"
"I don't think he needs a girl Tacit...." Ahanu pointed out. "Sierra probably won't let anyone near him!"
"Good point!!!"
*********************
Nayeli Yawned. To her, there was no point in this trip. She had expected Burmecia to be a grand place, but all it really was, was a rat infested, river. It was stuffy too.... Slowly, she sat down in the chair stationed in front of one of the windows, and gently fanned herself with the elgent fan she held in her right hand. Suddenly, a hand cupped over her mouth, while an arm wrapped around her upper abdomin. She dropped her fan, letting it fall to the floor, while she reached up and frantically tried to rip the hands away from her mouth. A husky, female voice whispered in her ear, "Miss Nayeli...it seems as though I've caught you in my trap...."
"Mph?!" was all she could force out.
The voice chuckled. "Now now my dear.........just relax..."
"MM!" Now...what was it that Yael did to that boy that was teasing her when she was a child? Oh Yes! Quickly, She reached around the chair's back and elbowed the person in the side. They let her go out of shock. She then jumped out of her chair, turning around and facing the woman with Black hair and eyes.
The woman coughed and smirked. "Well.......seems as though you're going to be harder than I thought, to catch......." The woman grabbed the chair, and tossed it aside, walking towards Naylei, ever so slowly.
Nayeli backed up into the glass window. Her mind was racing. Should she scream? No..if she did....the person might hurt her....but if she didn't....she still might get hurt...Oh! With all this water...why wasn't there anyway to some how......drown this fiend? Wait. She was a summoner.....was she not?
Nayeli had spent several summers with Lady Eiko of Lindblum, learning about her heritage, and all sorts of Eidolins. She had learned which worked best against which elements, which to use when...and that she was born with Eidolins inside her.
The woman was closer now.....she could just reach out and grab the poor Princess.
Her mind still raced. What to do....what to do? WHICH eidolins did she have? How could she summon them? She had to buy herself some time to think. Quickly, she dashed to the left, and raced over to the double doors of her room and frantically tried to open them. "Locked!!" she exclaimed as she pulled and pushed on them, to no avail.
The woman laughed as she turned around, watching the girl. "As you can see....there's no escape. Now.." she started walking towards her again. "Surrender yourself...or I may have to hurt you."
Nayeli spun around to face her. "NO!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, hoping someone would hear.
"Such a pity..." she mocked.
Nayeli stepped back. Just great. Trapped like a rat...
The woman chuckled, before she stopped advancing towards her. "Dear Princess..." she smirked. "I'm getting impatiant..." She raised her hand to her hair, and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, then, in her hands, appeared a sort of sword, made from thousands of crystal shards. Slowly, she glanced sideways at the heir to the throne of Alexandria, and suddenly, dashed towards her.
Nayeli gasped as she jumped to the side, tripping over her skirts, and falling down onto her side. The woman smashed the weapon into the door, and pulled it out in one swift stroak. The door now had a hole through it. And to think, that could have been Nayeli!!! Quickly, Nayeli stood up, still facing the intrudor.
Growling, the woman prepared to attack again, when a shout sounded, "Tsunami!!!!!!" A great wave of water, smashed through the doors, into the woman, who screamed as the rushing water blasted her out of the window.
Nayeli just stood there in awe, looking at the shattered windows, and crumbling wall.
Garnet came rushing into the room, her feet splashing through the small, cold puddles of water left from the attack. "Nayeli!" She cried, embracing her daughter.
"Mother.." Nayeli sighed, hugging her.
A few gaurds came rushing into the room, following a worried looking Zidane. "What happened?" he asked, seeming to be a bit out of breath. No doubt about it, he was getting a bit old.
Garnet turned her head, giving him a look that said, 'you, me, tonight, talk.'
Nayeli ignored her father, and buried her face in her mother's shoulder. She was scared...why did that woman want to hurt her?
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Zidane rubbed the back of his head as he stood in front of the doors to the room he and Garnet shared. "Do I even dare to go in there?" he asked the gaurd.
"If you don't, I think she'll get even more mad, Sir." the gaurd replied.
"Ee...you're right..." he sighed, and slowly opened the door, and walked in. There stood Garnet, at the window, staring at the city below. He shut the door behind him, then made his way towards her.
"Stop right where you are, Zidane Tribal." she said coldly.
He did as told. She sounded mad......no....correction.....VERY mad....extremly mad. He was in for it...
She turned around and faced him. "Zidane. You know what happend today?! our daughter was attacked by some........idiot, and no one was there to save her!!!"
He just nodded.
"The woman could have killed our only child! And you know who's fault it is?"
"The gaurds?"
She huffed as she placed her hands on her hips. "No. Yours."
"What?! Why is it my fault? The gaurds should have been there to protect her!"
"No, Zidane. Yael should have been there, but you told him off, and banned him from protecting her! We're lucky I heard all the racket and got there in time!"
He looked at the ground. She was right, it was all his fault...He should have never lost his temper towards Yael.
"Zidane.......please.................allow Yael to protect Nayeli again...." he eyes brimmed with tears, pleading for him to change his mind and let the General's son protect her daughter.
Zidane sighed, tiredly. "Garnet..."
Her heart nearly stopped. He had only called her that, in that tone.......when he was upset at her, or when he was serious. He looked at her, his face covered with the mask of a serious King. The childish, happy Zidane was hidden, from his wife's saddened eyes.
"Garnet, listen, I can't. No matter how much you beg me to...it's already started. You know it too........"
She looked at him angrilly, and started to shake her head, backing away.
"Garnet, if we allow Yael to protect her, she'll never learn in time..."
"No. Zidane no! You can't do this to her! She's our daughter! She'll be killed! She knows nothing of how to protect herself!!!"
"Only because you didn't teach her how to summon!"
"Don't blame things on me, Zidane Tribal!"
"I'm not blamming you Garnet!"
She slowly sat down on the soft, velvet sheets of the bed, looking down, at her feet. The tears that lined her eyes threatend to spill at any moment.
Zidane sighed as he walked over to her, and gently sat down beside her, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Dagger..." he whispered. "don't be like this..." he nuzzled her cheek with his nose. "I hate to see you upset...."
Garnet sniffled, and blinked back the tears. She opened her mouth to speak, but the sound of her voice, seemed to be killed by the one that spoke the words that she wished to say. "Zidane...I..I just...I just don't want to lose her like we did Tana...."
He sighed deeply at that name. The name of their first daughter, who had died at such a young age...only 3.... "Dagger...I promise that she won't leave us like that..."
She looked up at him, her water-filled brown eyes pierced the depths of his mind. And to him, she spoke almost coldly, in a voice that still, was not her own. The voice was lined with fear and anger. It's venom corrupted her, and made her shiver inside. "Zidane, how can you promise something that is beyond your control?"
"He shook his head, his mouth hanging open. All he was able to get out, wasn't even close to enough to calm his troubled wife. "I...I....."
"Exactly..." she stated in a near whisper. She whiped his hand away, and stood, walking to the window, looking down into the city.
"Dagger..."
"No more, Zidane. I have heard enough for one night."
He stood, and sighed. Knowing that it was best to leave things the way they were. And, he knew, it wouldn't be a very good idea to sleep in the same room with her tonight....
*************************
Yeal yawned, as he leand back onto the cot, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. It was a pretty long day. He actually had some fun. Though Tacit got them kicked out of a bar. It wasn't all that bad. Sierra was being pretty nice. She even glomped the guys when they began to talk about 'the incident'. She was a pretty nice girl. Cute too. She had a nice sweet smile....dancing grey eyes...soft, flowing, silk-like brown hair. She wasn't too tall, though she wasn't too short. Perfect hieght. Even her weight was right on the gil. Her fighting skills were great too. She could give him quite the work out. He wouldn't be suprised if she became his mother's personal student, and the future general.
He gave a yawn, and stretched out on the small fixture he was to sleep on. He didn't know Sierra too well, but he knew her enough to tell that she liked him. Maybe he should get to know her better? Yeah..he'd do that.
There were so many thing, now that he thought of it, that he had missed out on because of his duties. He never even got to enjoy a real life.... Well, he'd have one now. Who knew that being kicked out of his position could be so....great?
By: Sweet Ruby
AN: Well....here ya'll go! Sorry for the wait. I've just been SO busy!!! ARG! lol! Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Your Majesties!!!!! Welcome....to Burmecia!" the guide said dramatically.
"Oh yuck!" Nayeli whinned as she peeked her head out of the Airship's door. "It's raining..do you actually expect me to come out of the airship? I could get wet! And get sick!!"
Many of the Burmecian's who had gathered to see the royal family of Alexandria, faught back the urge to roll thier eyes at the Princess. Garnet smiled a bit. "Now now Nayeli, it won't hurt you. It's not raining too much. Come now, hurry up. We don't want to keep the King waiting.
The Princess made a disgusted face at the rain and mud. Reluctantly, she stepped out of the airship, and onto the boarding/unboarding ramp. Instantly, she felt the cold, wet, rain start to trikle it's tiny droplets of water, down her back and all over her face. Her tail took shelter underneith her skirts, as she placed her hand above her head to keep the rain away....or at least try too. Instantly, a member of the airship's crew rushed up to her, and held a small umbrella over her head. She placed ehr hand back at her side, but not before she flipped a locke of silvery hair over her shoulder. Slowly, she made her way to the solid earth and stood near her parents. Her feet already were wet, along with the bottom of her skirts. Even her shoulders and hair were wet, since the man hadn't hurried to put the umbrella over her head fast enough. She would deal with him later......and she'd also make sure he'd get serious punishment for letting her get wet. "Mother, " she sighed haughtily. "Where's father?"
"He went on ahead." she replied.
"What for?" she asked, folding her arms acrossed her chest and looking around at the rats and their homes.
"To let the King know we're here, of course."
"Humph..he should have sent a servent or something."
Garnet couldn't help but frown at her daughter. She already had plans to speak with her husband about Yael, and now, she'd speak to him about thier spoiled daughter as well.
Merry laughter sounded, as Zidane, the King of Burmecia, and the female dragon knight, which Nayeli had seen at the castle many times before, came strolling around the corner, as if they hadn't anycare that it was raining. "Yeah, those were some great times, Freya." Zidane said, through his laughter.
The knight only nodded, as they approached Garnet, and her very, not so happy looking daughter. "Highness," Freya gave a slight bow. "'Tis good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too Freya." Garnet smiled.
The King laughed. "Queen Garnet, as I have been telling your gleeful husband, it's about time you come and visit Burmecia! How long has it been since you lst set foot here?"
Garnet gave a small laugh, "Too long, I suppose! We haven't been here since before Nayeli was born!"
The adults laughed. Nayeli just stoof there, her face set in stone. "Aw, your highness! Princess Nayeli, you've grown!" chuckled the King of the Realm of Eternal Rain. "I take it, from the look on your face, you don't enjoy our year round rain!"
"Of course not, I find it very........upsetting." she chose her words carefully.....carefully to her anyway.
The king frowned. "To you my dear, it may be a curse, but to us Burmecians, it's a blessing!"
Nayeli just looked away. Zidane sighed a bit, then laughed. His honey colored lockes of hair were soaking wet, along with his clothes. Rain dropplets trickled doen his face, arms, and tail. "Aw...Neyali! Why don't you come out from underneith that umbrella, and walk around in the rain for a bit, hm? HAHA! The warm rain feels great, especailly at this time of the year!"
"......I think I'll pass....." she said lazily.
He just sighed and shook his head, then turned to his wife. "What about you, my beautiful, shooting star? The most gorgous beauty of all Gaia? Won't you join me in the rain?"
Garnet hid a slight blush. "No thank you, dear. I enjoy staying dry." she replied, trying to hid the amusment in her voice.
Zidane smirked evilly, as he grabebd hold of the Queen's wrist and pulled her out from underneith the umbrella which had been keeping her dry. She gave a small shriek as the cold rain hit her. In a mere second, though, the rain turned warm...almost perfect temperature. Zidane laughed as Garnet wacked him on the arm, before she too, began laughing. "Ah....a wet angel...hm..I wonder what I could do with her...."
Garnet's face blushed scarlet. "Zidane Tribal!!!!! You drop that thought right now!!!"
"Uh.........no!" he laughed.
"Oh! Zidane!" She went to grab onto his arm, but he stepped out of her reach.
He laughed even more and quickly snatched her outstretched hand and spun her around. "What's so evil about this?"
She laughed, "Nothing at all! Except we're the King and Queen of Alexandria, and we're making fools of ourselves in front of all Burmecia!"
"See? Nothing to owrry about!" He then began leading her into a three step waltz, which only made her laugh even more. Though, she kept up perfectly.
Nayeli rolled her eyes. "Really....you're making fools of yourselves, Mother, Father..."
"Hey, you should try it sometime, sweetie, it feels great!" Zidane replied, spinning her mother around again, then getting right back into step.
**********************^******************
Yael sighed as he sat down on the small bed. The same bed he had slept on when he was only 4 years old. Back then, he was being taught how to become the future Queen's Protector. Maybe a General one day..even just becoming the Captain of the Knights of Pluto would have been good enough. But no.....he had to ruin it...he ruined everything.....just by saying those two little words to the Princess. He'd never become anything more than a Castle Gaurd.....maybe a Knight of Pluto if he was lucky. He flopped down, so he layed on the bed and faced the stone ceiling of the barraks. The recruits would be talking about him. Everyone would. Word traveled fast in Alexandria. Hundreds of men would become recruits.......and hundreds of recruits would try their hardest to get choosen to be the Princess' Protector. A drop of water hit him in the face. "Oh no.." he mumbled as he grabbed his pillow and plopped it over his face. How could his day be any worse? First he was slapped, then fired, laughed at, kicked out of the castle, and stuck in a single man room, in which six men, including himself, were crammed into, and it had a leaky roof....right above his head too. "What a glourious day......" he said sarcastically. Nope....couldn't get any worse. At least Boaz, Tacit, and Ahanu, weren't there to bug him. At least he hoped not....
"HEY YAEL!!!!!!!!!!" A loud voice boomed.
Yael didn't even have time to jump in suprise, before three sets of hands grabbed his body and lifted him up. The pillow droped to the floor, and the people holding him up, made him follow the pillow. He landed on the floor with a grunt and stared up at the three faces. His day had just gotten worse....
The three men laughed. "Hey there ol buddy ol pal! Long time no see! Return from the castle so soon?!" the young looking man, with brown hair, and matching eyes asked with a laugh.
Yael gave a slight, un amused laugh, "I guess you could say that.."
"Aw c'mon Yael!!! We're just trying to cheer ya up!!!!!!!!!" the blonde said. It was Ahanu. His blonde hair, bright, vivid blue eyes, and dark, ten skin mad him the primary target for the ladies.
"It's not like none of us know what happened or nothin'!!!!!!!" the third stated, a bit hseepishly. He was a big man, with short, curly black hair, and grey eyes. Boaz was one of the biggest, not to mention, strongest, recruit ever recorded at the Alexandrian barracks.
Tacit, the first man, laughed even more. "Gods Yael! Must have really hurt when the King fired you like that!!!!!!" Tacit was young, of course, he was pretty new at the Barracks...well...new about 6 years ago...he was very skilled at sneaking around...Yael wouldn't even be the least bit suprised if he was slinking around the shadows when the King had 'layed him off'. He had been a noble before he joined to become part of the Knights of Pluto.
"Ha ha..." Yael said, unhappily as he stood up.
"Yael, it can't be THAT bad, now could it?" Tacit asked, trying to sound innocent.
"Let's see...I was slapped by the Princess, embarrassed in front of hundreds of people, and fired, all in a span of ten minutes. You tell me if you could be THAT bad."
The three looked at each other before howling out in laughter. Yael just rolled his eyes as he picked up his pillow. "Hey, com'on Yael! We were just kiddn'" Boaz said, as he stopped laughing.
"Heh....whatever.." he mumbled as he sat donw on the edge of his bed, and rubbed his face with his hands.
"Hey, I know what'll cheer ya up!" Tacit said as he pulled out a deck of old and very well used cards. "We can drown your sorrows in a nice, fair and simple game of Cards! OF course there WILL be some Gil involved..."
"Oh Gods..." Yael said as he let himself fall backwards so he was laying on his bed again.
Boaz and Ahanu just gave their noble friend a look that said, 'oh please'. "What'd I do?" Tacit asked.
**************^*****************
"....Zidane...?" Garnet whispered to her husband, who lay beside her. "Are you awake?"
He mumbled something and put his face into his pillow.
Garnet made a face and poked him. "Zidane?"
Once again, he mumbled something, but this time he pulled the covers up around his head.
She huffed. "Zidane Tribal! Are you awake or not?"
"......I wasn't until you started talking to me."
She shook her head and sat up. "Zidane, I'd like to talk to you about Yael....and Nayeli."
The King of Alexandria groaned as he rolled over. "Not now Garnet...I'm tired..."
She frowned. "Zidane, I order you to talk to me!"
"Haha..." he mumbled into his pillow. "very funny Dagger....you can't order around your husbaannhmh..." he trailed off.
"Zidane!" she folded her arms across her chest, and glared at his form.
The only reply she got...were a bunch of fake snores.
Suddenly, her angry expression, turned into one of pure evil. Quickly, she hid her devilish grin, and leaned over her husband and whispered into his ear, "Mmmmm...you know...we haven't had any fun lately..." she said in a suductive tone.
"Eh...?" his eyes opened and he turned his head so he could see her better. "Say that again?"
"You heard me...." she smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek and began to rub his arm.
Zidane had a wierd look on his face, and was getting a little creeped out. "Uh..u.h.h..u.h.....D..a...d.a..da....Dagger...?" he squeaked.
"Shh, hush Zidane, or you'll ruin everything..." she reached under the covers and gently pet his tail.
Zidane grinned. Finally, she was coming to him, not the other way around. Suddenly, she grabbed hold of his tail and pulled. "AH! Damm---"
She quickly covered his mouth. "Zidane, NOW will you talk to me?"
He nodded slowly.
"Good." She let his tail go, and uncovered his mouth. "Now...tell me...why'd you do that to Yael? It was Nayeli who was in the wrong...you should have scolded her..."
He sighed as he sat up. "Garnet...I know that...it's just that....well..."
"'Well' what?"
He shook his head. "I'm just getting them ready...that's all."
".......Zidane..please no.."
"Hey, it's going to happen either way."
"No it won't!" she snapped at him.
"Garnet...I can already feel it. Nothing can change what's going to happen."
She looked at him with cold, hard, eyes. "Yes! I will change it! I won't allow my daughter to--"
Zidane silenced her lips by pressing a finger up against them, then spoke softly, "She's my daughter too..I don't like the idea any more than you do...but we can't change anything that's about to happen..."
Tears welled up in her chocolate eyes. "But...but..."
"Shh..." He gently stroaked her hair as he leaned in and kissed her soft lips. "Don't worry Dagger..." he whispered. "Everything will work out..."
Sniffling...she hugged him, and cried into his shoulder.
**************v**************
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Yael growled a bit as he rolled over, hugging the pillow over his head. Would the dripping ever stop?!
Drip Drip.
"Grr..."
Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.
"ENOUGH!" he shouted, throwing the pillow at the ceiling. His room mates all woke up and looked at him. He just sighed and rolled over as his pillow came back down, landing on his head. He couldn't sleep....the dripping kept him awake. Or...was it that wierd feeling in the pit of his stomach? Either way...he couldn't sleep...and it was almost morning. What was that feeling anyway? Was something going to happen to Nayeli? Heh, if anything happened to her, he wouldn't really mind...
*******************
Tacit's sword flew out of his hands and landed a few yards away. He turned to make a mad dash for it, but the sharp edge of Yael's blade at his neck, stopped him in his tracks. He laughed a bit. "Whoa, you've gotten better Yael!"
Yael said nothing, and just took his sword away from Tacit's neck.
"Yep, definatly better!" Ahanu said. "It took him like what......two seconds to win?"
"I guess so..." Tacit replied, as he picked up his sword.
"Hey boys!!!!!!" a chiper voice called from across the front lawn of the barracks.
The three turned to cafe a young girl, about as old as Nayeli, with brown hair. She ducked under and went around a few people as they trained, on her way over to them. "Sierra!" Tacit and Ahanu greeted as they both gave a broad smile.
She laughed. "Hi guys!" She looked at Yael and eyed him as she smiled, her grey eyes dancing. "Hiya Yael! I haven't seen you for a long time!"
"Yeah..." he replied. "It's been a while."
She nodded then frowned. "I heard about what happened...I'm really sorry..."
"It's not your fault....there wasn't anything anyone could do."
Nodding again, her face lit up. "I have an idea!" she exclaimed, grabbing hold of his arm. "Let's go into the City!!!! We'll go see a play!"
Ahanu frowned at that. "I don't think we can..we have to ask permission first..."
"Hey!" Tacit interrupted. "We have YAEL with us, the SON OF the GENERAL of Alexandria as our friend! We can go anywhere!"
"Exactly!" Sierra said as she looked at Yael. "So..........let's go!!!!!!" She began dragging him by his arm towards the boat that would bring them across the moat.
"Uh...I.......Uh...." he stuttered.
"Oh come on! It'll be fun!!!!!!!" Tacit said, slapping his friend on the back.
"It'll do you some good!" the peppy girl stated.
"Yeah! We'll have a day on the town! Find you a girl Yael! It'll make you feel a LOT better!"
"I don't think he needs a girl Tacit...." Ahanu pointed out. "Sierra probably won't let anyone near him!"
"Good point!!!"
*********************
Nayeli Yawned. To her, there was no point in this trip. She had expected Burmecia to be a grand place, but all it really was, was a rat infested, river. It was stuffy too.... Slowly, she sat down in the chair stationed in front of one of the windows, and gently fanned herself with the elgent fan she held in her right hand. Suddenly, a hand cupped over her mouth, while an arm wrapped around her upper abdomin. She dropped her fan, letting it fall to the floor, while she reached up and frantically tried to rip the hands away from her mouth. A husky, female voice whispered in her ear, "Miss Nayeli...it seems as though I've caught you in my trap...."
"Mph?!" was all she could force out.
The voice chuckled. "Now now my dear.........just relax..."
"MM!" Now...what was it that Yael did to that boy that was teasing her when she was a child? Oh Yes! Quickly, She reached around the chair's back and elbowed the person in the side. They let her go out of shock. She then jumped out of her chair, turning around and facing the woman with Black hair and eyes.
The woman coughed and smirked. "Well.......seems as though you're going to be harder than I thought, to catch......." The woman grabbed the chair, and tossed it aside, walking towards Naylei, ever so slowly.
Nayeli backed up into the glass window. Her mind was racing. Should she scream? No..if she did....the person might hurt her....but if she didn't....she still might get hurt...Oh! With all this water...why wasn't there anyway to some how......drown this fiend? Wait. She was a summoner.....was she not?
Nayeli had spent several summers with Lady Eiko of Lindblum, learning about her heritage, and all sorts of Eidolins. She had learned which worked best against which elements, which to use when...and that she was born with Eidolins inside her.
The woman was closer now.....she could just reach out and grab the poor Princess.
Her mind still raced. What to do....what to do? WHICH eidolins did she have? How could she summon them? She had to buy herself some time to think. Quickly, she dashed to the left, and raced over to the double doors of her room and frantically tried to open them. "Locked!!" she exclaimed as she pulled and pushed on them, to no avail.
The woman laughed as she turned around, watching the girl. "As you can see....there's no escape. Now.." she started walking towards her again. "Surrender yourself...or I may have to hurt you."
Nayeli spun around to face her. "NO!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, hoping someone would hear.
"Such a pity..." she mocked.
Nayeli stepped back. Just great. Trapped like a rat...
The woman chuckled, before she stopped advancing towards her. "Dear Princess..." she smirked. "I'm getting impatiant..." She raised her hand to her hair, and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, then, in her hands, appeared a sort of sword, made from thousands of crystal shards. Slowly, she glanced sideways at the heir to the throne of Alexandria, and suddenly, dashed towards her.
Nayeli gasped as she jumped to the side, tripping over her skirts, and falling down onto her side. The woman smashed the weapon into the door, and pulled it out in one swift stroak. The door now had a hole through it. And to think, that could have been Nayeli!!! Quickly, Nayeli stood up, still facing the intrudor.
Growling, the woman prepared to attack again, when a shout sounded, "Tsunami!!!!!!" A great wave of water, smashed through the doors, into the woman, who screamed as the rushing water blasted her out of the window.
Nayeli just stood there in awe, looking at the shattered windows, and crumbling wall.
Garnet came rushing into the room, her feet splashing through the small, cold puddles of water left from the attack. "Nayeli!" She cried, embracing her daughter.
"Mother.." Nayeli sighed, hugging her.
A few gaurds came rushing into the room, following a worried looking Zidane. "What happened?" he asked, seeming to be a bit out of breath. No doubt about it, he was getting a bit old.
Garnet turned her head, giving him a look that said, 'you, me, tonight, talk.'
Nayeli ignored her father, and buried her face in her mother's shoulder. She was scared...why did that woman want to hurt her?
*************************
Zidane rubbed the back of his head as he stood in front of the doors to the room he and Garnet shared. "Do I even dare to go in there?" he asked the gaurd.
"If you don't, I think she'll get even more mad, Sir." the gaurd replied.
"Ee...you're right..." he sighed, and slowly opened the door, and walked in. There stood Garnet, at the window, staring at the city below. He shut the door behind him, then made his way towards her.
"Stop right where you are, Zidane Tribal." she said coldly.
He did as told. She sounded mad......no....correction.....VERY mad....extremly mad. He was in for it...
She turned around and faced him. "Zidane. You know what happend today?! our daughter was attacked by some........idiot, and no one was there to save her!!!"
He just nodded.
"The woman could have killed our only child! And you know who's fault it is?"
"The gaurds?"
She huffed as she placed her hands on her hips. "No. Yours."
"What?! Why is it my fault? The gaurds should have been there to protect her!"
"No, Zidane. Yael should have been there, but you told him off, and banned him from protecting her! We're lucky I heard all the racket and got there in time!"
He looked at the ground. She was right, it was all his fault...He should have never lost his temper towards Yael.
"Zidane.......please.................allow Yael to protect Nayeli again...." he eyes brimmed with tears, pleading for him to change his mind and let the General's son protect her daughter.
Zidane sighed, tiredly. "Garnet..."
Her heart nearly stopped. He had only called her that, in that tone.......when he was upset at her, or when he was serious. He looked at her, his face covered with the mask of a serious King. The childish, happy Zidane was hidden, from his wife's saddened eyes.
"Garnet, listen, I can't. No matter how much you beg me to...it's already started. You know it too........"
She looked at him angrilly, and started to shake her head, backing away.
"Garnet, if we allow Yael to protect her, she'll never learn in time..."
"No. Zidane no! You can't do this to her! She's our daughter! She'll be killed! She knows nothing of how to protect herself!!!"
"Only because you didn't teach her how to summon!"
"Don't blame things on me, Zidane Tribal!"
"I'm not blamming you Garnet!"
She slowly sat down on the soft, velvet sheets of the bed, looking down, at her feet. The tears that lined her eyes threatend to spill at any moment.
Zidane sighed as he walked over to her, and gently sat down beside her, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Dagger..." he whispered. "don't be like this..." he nuzzled her cheek with his nose. "I hate to see you upset...."
Garnet sniffled, and blinked back the tears. She opened her mouth to speak, but the sound of her voice, seemed to be killed by the one that spoke the words that she wished to say. "Zidane...I..I just...I just don't want to lose her like we did Tana...."
He sighed deeply at that name. The name of their first daughter, who had died at such a young age...only 3.... "Dagger...I promise that she won't leave us like that..."
She looked up at him, her water-filled brown eyes pierced the depths of his mind. And to him, she spoke almost coldly, in a voice that still, was not her own. The voice was lined with fear and anger. It's venom corrupted her, and made her shiver inside. "Zidane, how can you promise something that is beyond your control?"
"He shook his head, his mouth hanging open. All he was able to get out, wasn't even close to enough to calm his troubled wife. "I...I....."
"Exactly..." she stated in a near whisper. She whiped his hand away, and stood, walking to the window, looking down into the city.
"Dagger..."
"No more, Zidane. I have heard enough for one night."
He stood, and sighed. Knowing that it was best to leave things the way they were. And, he knew, it wouldn't be a very good idea to sleep in the same room with her tonight....
*************************
Yeal yawned, as he leand back onto the cot, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. It was a pretty long day. He actually had some fun. Though Tacit got them kicked out of a bar. It wasn't all that bad. Sierra was being pretty nice. She even glomped the guys when they began to talk about 'the incident'. She was a pretty nice girl. Cute too. She had a nice sweet smile....dancing grey eyes...soft, flowing, silk-like brown hair. She wasn't too tall, though she wasn't too short. Perfect hieght. Even her weight was right on the gil. Her fighting skills were great too. She could give him quite the work out. He wouldn't be suprised if she became his mother's personal student, and the future general.
He gave a yawn, and stretched out on the small fixture he was to sleep on. He didn't know Sierra too well, but he knew her enough to tell that she liked him. Maybe he should get to know her better? Yeah..he'd do that.
There were so many thing, now that he thought of it, that he had missed out on because of his duties. He never even got to enjoy a real life.... Well, he'd have one now. Who knew that being kicked out of his position could be so....great?