Chapter ?
------------------------
Bermecia was in a panic.
Zidane paced the room, booted feet scuffing the hard stone with each step. "Are you sure that no one entered the palace last night? No one?"
The rat-faced guard nodded intently. "Yes, Sir. No one entered, but that person that left was sure in a hurry..."
He let out a frustraited sigh, running his calloused hands through his shortened hair. "This is not happening. This is NOT happening..." his feet stopped their movements as her whiped his face with both hands. "Alexander! Steiner, tell me this isn't happening!"
"Highness, I'm sorry, but it is..." Steiner fidgited. He had never seen the king so upset since the first heir, Tana had been--
"Alright..Once again, let me get things straight." Azure eyes looked intently upon the Bermecian Captain. "Was there anyone guarding my daughter's door?"
"No, Sir." the bermecian said. Fear was slowly creeping into his voice.
"Was there anyone guarding her windows? Balcony?"
"No, Sir."
"The halls?"
"No, Sir."
"The front doors?"
"No, Sir."
"May I ask why?"
"I didn't think they were neccissary."
"Then, WHY may I ask, are you the Captain of the Guard?!?" his voice boomed, echoing off the shimmering walls. "It is YOUR ignorence that has caused all this!" His hands flew forward, grabbing the front of the rat's tunic, lifting him roughly off the ground. The captain shreiked, and struggled, kicking his feet, and flailing his arms.
"Zidane! Please, calm yourself, or I shall have you removed from this room and confined in the dungeon if I must! Now let the man be!" the Bermecian King had had enough.
Zidane growled, his tail's tip twitching angrily. Letting the man go, he turned on his heel and walked to the far wall, resting his head against it.
"Zidane, I know it's hard.." Beatrix's soft-voice reached his ears from the doorway. "But you need to keep your temper in check. The Queen can not coupe with this situation, so it's up to you. Her highness is all right. Nayeli is strong, if anything, she's probably giving the kid-knapper a run for his gil."
His honey hair shifted as he turned around, leaning his back where his head had been. His eyes were glued to the floor, ears soaking up everything the General was saying.
"Majesty, your daughter may be the furthest thing from a warrior, but I'm sure that in a bind, she will come through to protect herself. She is very strong willed."
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"AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" The shrill scream bounced off the cavern walls.
"Child, do hear me! Please calm yourself..."
"No no! You.....You nasty looking thing! You stay...right where you are!"
"Dear me! Child, if you would calm yourself I could explain----"
"No! Do not even talk to me! Ew, keep your nasty, icky mouth shut you foul beast! Come any closer and I'll...I'll summon something!"
Gizamaluke gave a mental sigh and sank down into the water, leaving only his head visable. This strange girl had wandered into his Grotto, and when he had risin to see whom had called, he was rewarded with nothing but an ending tirade of shrill screams. He was getting nowhere with her, and even his patience was wearing thin. "Look, little one-----"
"I said don't talk to me!!!" she shreiked, standing close to the edge of the rock-made platform.
Gizamaluke let out a growl as he raised out of the water, and speared his head down to tower before the girl, wgho's eyes opened wide. "Look, little monkey-tail, this is MY home. MY sanctuary. Who even gave you permission to enter here? I could squish you like a little bug, if I so wished! Now if you don't stop your yelling, whining, and screaming, then perhaps I'll do just that!" He slowly backed off, his lower half sinking back into the water.
The girl fell to her knee, eyes as wide as saucers, mouth agape.
"Child, I didn't mean to frieghten you, but I had no choice. You were giving this old serpant a headache. Pull yourself together and tell me who you are."
Nayeli gilped, and linked a few times. "Nay...nay...Nayeli..." her voice seemed so tiny.
"Ah, Nayeli. I am Gizamaluke. Though I hope you already knew that. This IS my Grotto after all. Now tell me, why is it that you are here?"
"I..I ran away..." Her fear had taken away her sharp-tongue and her ability to keep secrets.
"Ah, I see. I see."
A few moments passed in silence, before Nayeli had enough sense to break it. "You're not going to ask me why?"
"Child, we all have our reasons. Personal ones. I have no reason to stick my snout into your business."
"..."
"Cheer-up. I know some fabulous jokes if you would like to hear them. Let me think..." He slithered up onto the platform, and coiled himself up, a bit away from Nayeli as to keep her from going berserk again. "Ah, I have the perfect one. What if a fish called when it's out of season?"
Nayeli just glared at the snake-like thing and scooted further away, her back pressing into the door.
The serpent just ignored her gesture. "Why, it's called a carp!" He laughed at his own, corny joke. Short hisses sounded merrily, as if it were the greatest thing ever told.
"I thought I should be afraid of you, but now I'm just afraid FOR you."
He stopped his hissing and looked down at her. "I beg your pardon?"
She sighed. "Never mind..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Yael blew his hair out of his face. He hadn't been out in the rain, but he had been sitting within the airship for more than an hour.
The air was hot and sticky, heat from all the soldiers, and lack of room from their own bodies and their equipment. They were in that hot- sticky ship because of him.
He had opened his mouth to Nayeli, and she overracted as always. She was probably all right, after all, who could stand HER? "Annoying brat.." he hissed under his breath.
"What was that?" Seirra asked, looking over at him.
"Huh?" His dark eyes blinked, looking over at her. He had forgotten that she was in his platoon, and sitting across from her. "Nothing."
"Thinking about the brat?"
He gave a small smile. "Yeah."
"Come on Yael! It's not your fault! Hell, it's about time SOMEONE told her off! So, just let it go, 'kay?" She gave him a reassuring smile.
He nodded a bit. "You're right."
"I always am! Now, when we get back to Alexandria, to get your mind off of thing, you can take me to 'Ruby's Theater'!"
He blinked, cheeks turning slightly red.
"Yael, you've been couped up in teh Castle for too long! Learn to live again! It won't hurt, not one bit."
He smiled, fully this time. "All right, Seirra. I'll take you there when we get back."
Her face beamed. "Roger that!"
His thoughts turned cheery from that moment on. Nayeli was missing, but it wasn't his fault. He had somehow gotten to used to taking care of her, hand and foot, that it was only second nature to him to think that everything that happened to her was his fault. He had to let such a concept go. He was just a regular soldier now, no worries or cares in the world. Not ones that were too great anyway. 'From now on, I'll just enjoy myself' his thoughts centered around that phrase for the rest of the trip...
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Garnet's eyes fluttered open. "Hm? Where...? Nayeli...!" Her eyes went wide. "Where is she..?!"
Beatrix laid a cool hand upon her Queen's forehead, mumbling incoharent words. Soon, the dark-haired woman fell back upon her pillow, sound asleep.
The healer's magic power had long ago depleated, leaving Beatrix in charge of keeping Garnet asleep until her power recharged. Garnet had been so torn-up by Nayeli's dissapearence, that she had immediatly begun to have nervous fits. The only way to calm her, was to keep her asleep, until they found Nayeli, as cruel as it was.
"Find her soon, Zidane, Steiner.." she muttered, looking out the window as the large bermecian gates opened wide, allowing two speeding chocobos to race out into the rain.
--------------------------------------VVV------------------------------
A/N: Yes, I know, it's been over a year, and I haven't touched this fan fiction. I am updating it once again, thanks to a very nice, and dedicated (I hope!) Eika! Thanks a bunch Eika, and to those who read this, thank you as well. Thank her too :P If it weren't for ehr, this fic would still be rotting!
Ah, yes yes...I will try my hardest to update this story at least once every other week. Just rememebr, I have school and clubs and the like going on, just like most of the other writters on this site and fictionpress.com. If this this isn't updated for a month, feel free to e-mail me, and nag me to pieces. Thank you!
~Azusa (Sorri)
------------------------
Bermecia was in a panic.
Zidane paced the room, booted feet scuffing the hard stone with each step. "Are you sure that no one entered the palace last night? No one?"
The rat-faced guard nodded intently. "Yes, Sir. No one entered, but that person that left was sure in a hurry..."
He let out a frustraited sigh, running his calloused hands through his shortened hair. "This is not happening. This is NOT happening..." his feet stopped their movements as her whiped his face with both hands. "Alexander! Steiner, tell me this isn't happening!"
"Highness, I'm sorry, but it is..." Steiner fidgited. He had never seen the king so upset since the first heir, Tana had been--
"Alright..Once again, let me get things straight." Azure eyes looked intently upon the Bermecian Captain. "Was there anyone guarding my daughter's door?"
"No, Sir." the bermecian said. Fear was slowly creeping into his voice.
"Was there anyone guarding her windows? Balcony?"
"No, Sir."
"The halls?"
"No, Sir."
"The front doors?"
"No, Sir."
"May I ask why?"
"I didn't think they were neccissary."
"Then, WHY may I ask, are you the Captain of the Guard?!?" his voice boomed, echoing off the shimmering walls. "It is YOUR ignorence that has caused all this!" His hands flew forward, grabbing the front of the rat's tunic, lifting him roughly off the ground. The captain shreiked, and struggled, kicking his feet, and flailing his arms.
"Zidane! Please, calm yourself, or I shall have you removed from this room and confined in the dungeon if I must! Now let the man be!" the Bermecian King had had enough.
Zidane growled, his tail's tip twitching angrily. Letting the man go, he turned on his heel and walked to the far wall, resting his head against it.
"Zidane, I know it's hard.." Beatrix's soft-voice reached his ears from the doorway. "But you need to keep your temper in check. The Queen can not coupe with this situation, so it's up to you. Her highness is all right. Nayeli is strong, if anything, she's probably giving the kid-knapper a run for his gil."
His honey hair shifted as he turned around, leaning his back where his head had been. His eyes were glued to the floor, ears soaking up everything the General was saying.
"Majesty, your daughter may be the furthest thing from a warrior, but I'm sure that in a bind, she will come through to protect herself. She is very strong willed."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" The shrill scream bounced off the cavern walls.
"Child, do hear me! Please calm yourself..."
"No no! You.....You nasty looking thing! You stay...right where you are!"
"Dear me! Child, if you would calm yourself I could explain----"
"No! Do not even talk to me! Ew, keep your nasty, icky mouth shut you foul beast! Come any closer and I'll...I'll summon something!"
Gizamaluke gave a mental sigh and sank down into the water, leaving only his head visable. This strange girl had wandered into his Grotto, and when he had risin to see whom had called, he was rewarded with nothing but an ending tirade of shrill screams. He was getting nowhere with her, and even his patience was wearing thin. "Look, little one-----"
"I said don't talk to me!!!" she shreiked, standing close to the edge of the rock-made platform.
Gizamaluke let out a growl as he raised out of the water, and speared his head down to tower before the girl, wgho's eyes opened wide. "Look, little monkey-tail, this is MY home. MY sanctuary. Who even gave you permission to enter here? I could squish you like a little bug, if I so wished! Now if you don't stop your yelling, whining, and screaming, then perhaps I'll do just that!" He slowly backed off, his lower half sinking back into the water.
The girl fell to her knee, eyes as wide as saucers, mouth agape.
"Child, I didn't mean to frieghten you, but I had no choice. You were giving this old serpant a headache. Pull yourself together and tell me who you are."
Nayeli gilped, and linked a few times. "Nay...nay...Nayeli..." her voice seemed so tiny.
"Ah, Nayeli. I am Gizamaluke. Though I hope you already knew that. This IS my Grotto after all. Now tell me, why is it that you are here?"
"I..I ran away..." Her fear had taken away her sharp-tongue and her ability to keep secrets.
"Ah, I see. I see."
A few moments passed in silence, before Nayeli had enough sense to break it. "You're not going to ask me why?"
"Child, we all have our reasons. Personal ones. I have no reason to stick my snout into your business."
"..."
"Cheer-up. I know some fabulous jokes if you would like to hear them. Let me think..." He slithered up onto the platform, and coiled himself up, a bit away from Nayeli as to keep her from going berserk again. "Ah, I have the perfect one. What if a fish called when it's out of season?"
Nayeli just glared at the snake-like thing and scooted further away, her back pressing into the door.
The serpent just ignored her gesture. "Why, it's called a carp!" He laughed at his own, corny joke. Short hisses sounded merrily, as if it were the greatest thing ever told.
"I thought I should be afraid of you, but now I'm just afraid FOR you."
He stopped his hissing and looked down at her. "I beg your pardon?"
She sighed. "Never mind..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Yael blew his hair out of his face. He hadn't been out in the rain, but he had been sitting within the airship for more than an hour.
The air was hot and sticky, heat from all the soldiers, and lack of room from their own bodies and their equipment. They were in that hot- sticky ship because of him.
He had opened his mouth to Nayeli, and she overracted as always. She was probably all right, after all, who could stand HER? "Annoying brat.." he hissed under his breath.
"What was that?" Seirra asked, looking over at him.
"Huh?" His dark eyes blinked, looking over at her. He had forgotten that she was in his platoon, and sitting across from her. "Nothing."
"Thinking about the brat?"
He gave a small smile. "Yeah."
"Come on Yael! It's not your fault! Hell, it's about time SOMEONE told her off! So, just let it go, 'kay?" She gave him a reassuring smile.
He nodded a bit. "You're right."
"I always am! Now, when we get back to Alexandria, to get your mind off of thing, you can take me to 'Ruby's Theater'!"
He blinked, cheeks turning slightly red.
"Yael, you've been couped up in teh Castle for too long! Learn to live again! It won't hurt, not one bit."
He smiled, fully this time. "All right, Seirra. I'll take you there when we get back."
Her face beamed. "Roger that!"
His thoughts turned cheery from that moment on. Nayeli was missing, but it wasn't his fault. He had somehow gotten to used to taking care of her, hand and foot, that it was only second nature to him to think that everything that happened to her was his fault. He had to let such a concept go. He was just a regular soldier now, no worries or cares in the world. Not ones that were too great anyway. 'From now on, I'll just enjoy myself' his thoughts centered around that phrase for the rest of the trip...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
Garnet's eyes fluttered open. "Hm? Where...? Nayeli...!" Her eyes went wide. "Where is she..?!"
Beatrix laid a cool hand upon her Queen's forehead, mumbling incoharent words. Soon, the dark-haired woman fell back upon her pillow, sound asleep.
The healer's magic power had long ago depleated, leaving Beatrix in charge of keeping Garnet asleep until her power recharged. Garnet had been so torn-up by Nayeli's dissapearence, that she had immediatly begun to have nervous fits. The only way to calm her, was to keep her asleep, until they found Nayeli, as cruel as it was.
"Find her soon, Zidane, Steiner.." she muttered, looking out the window as the large bermecian gates opened wide, allowing two speeding chocobos to race out into the rain.
--------------------------------------VVV------------------------------
A/N: Yes, I know, it's been over a year, and I haven't touched this fan fiction. I am updating it once again, thanks to a very nice, and dedicated (I hope!) Eika! Thanks a bunch Eika, and to those who read this, thank you as well. Thank her too :P If it weren't for ehr, this fic would still be rotting!
Ah, yes yes...I will try my hardest to update this story at least once every other week. Just rememebr, I have school and clubs and the like going on, just like most of the other writters on this site and fictionpress.com. If this this isn't updated for a month, feel free to e-mail me, and nag me to pieces. Thank you!
~Azusa (Sorri)