Right, let's give chapter 4 a whirl. Someone called 'Doom' commanded I write another chapter. Oh well, better obey. Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed my fic. (...and to Kawaii Mimi-Chan, you kinda shocked me when you reviewed my fic three times in two days! I'm kinda proud of that! :) ) I'm now determined to continue until I drop. In this chapter, if you see someone talk with a "~blah-blah~" like that, (those little marks! '~') then it means that the speaker is speaking fluent Terran to someone else who can speak in Terran, or, a Terran like Zidane is thinking to himself. (Most people think in their native languages. I think..) Groovy huh? Here goes nothing!
Chpt 4 : Zidane Vs Darson.
-- A Week Later --
"Does he drink tea?" Jane whispered to Sarah.
"How should I know? I'm not his mother!" Sarah rolled her eyes. It had been a complicated time since Zidane had come to Mandain Sari, and she was trying her best to improvise.
"Hey Zidane!" Sarah called into the lounge. "Do you like tea?"
"What's tea?" Zidane came into the kitchen.
"Oh, hell. I'll make you some anyway, go back into the lounge." Sarah spun him around and pushed him back through the door.
"Mmm, he's a handsome one, Sarah. One of the best you've brought home." Her mother craned her neck, watching him go out. "I like his tail.."
"Mom! All you seem to think about these days is whose the next boy I'm bringing home!..and don't be so picky. Stick with dad." Sarah shook her head.
"Hmph...Well, YOU shouldn't even be bringing boys home! Because your marrying someone next week! You keep yourself in reserve."
"Yeah, but at least I'm not already married..." Sarah grumbled.
"Your in no position to comment, no why don't you go and talk to him. This may be the last chance you get before you marry Darson. He's an awfully stubborn about those type of things." Jane pushed her out of the kitchen and closed the lounge door behind her.
"Uh... Sorry about that.." Sarah faced Zidane in the lounge.
"It's okay."
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"So.." Sarah and Zidane both spoke in unison. They laughed.
"You first." Zidane offered.
"Well, okay..What are your plans for the future?" Sarah took a seat.
"I plan to find Mariah."
"Then what?"
"... I don't know. But whatever it is... It's coming very soon."
"Hey, you have a knack for telling spooky prophecies."
"Maybe.. What about you?"
Sarah paused for a moment. This was probably the first time she'd been asked this question, and her answer wasn't the most rivetting either.
"I... I have to get married to that idiot that you maimed back in the Iifa tree."
"Why? I didn't think Gaia was into arranged marriages.. Not at least if your royalty anyway." Zidane sat back with a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
"That's the problem! All the rest of Mandain Sari has normal marriages...and I'm only 16!"
"Does this guy like you?"
"Yes. Too much."
"That's a shame. You could have persuaded him not to marry you for money. But I guess your parents are making you do this.."
"Yeah, but it's not for my benefit. They think I should be controlled and more lady-like, and another reason why is because mine and Darson's families are the richest in Mandain Sari, and they think that by us getting married, the wealth will stay in the same blood, or family line if you will."
"That's unfair... Well, I shouldn't really talk like that, cause' where I was created, If you wanted a woman, you just took her. But that didn't really come top on my priority list. Since I was a tree.."
"Hah! So there is a sense of humour behind that Terran 'shell' of yours!" A smile broke out on Sarah's face.
"You could say that.. I like to keep my sense of humour down for effect."
"Ohh, stop wise-cracking!" Sarah playfully hit him on the arm. Just at that moment Jane came in with the tea.
"It's nice to see your getting on so well!" Jane put the tea on the table, then turned to Sarah "But remember, don't get too friendly..." Jane spoke in a harsh whisper that only Sarah could hear.
"Enjoy." Jane walked out with a smile on her face.
"If I had precognition, I'd say that she's scheming something." Zidane gave a dark look to the door Jane had walked out of.
"Zidane..." He felt a hand on his arm.
"Hm?" Zidane turned to see her face riddled with worry.
"I..I don't want to get married... I want to go on adventures.. Like Ipsen!" Sarah could feel saltwater in her eyes. Here she was, talking to someone she had only met a week ago. He was one of the most handsome teenagers she had seen, and he was being so friendly to her. It was weird. Talking to a boy that broke her 'fiancee's' arm in a matter of moments, and looked like some kind of demon because of his savagery. But here he was, sitting next to her, and she found she felt like she had known him since childhood.
"Sarah? What's the matter?" Sarah smiled at him before returning to her thoughts. In exactly a week she would become a wife, no.. a slave to the person she loathed over all others. Darson. The boy who had pulled her hair and set alight to her rod when she was younger. She hated every ounce of his existence. Even the thought of having his children made her sick in the deepest part of her stomach. She was going to be stuck in this damn village for the rest of her life.
"You really are hating every moment of having to think about it, aren't you?" Zidane placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you psychic or something?" Sarah gave him a smirk.
"Man, if I was.. I'd tell you that you might want to do a runner and head on outta here." Zidane raised his eyebrows.
"Why?"
"Cause your getting married to a jerk?"
"Zidane!!" Sarah hit him again playfully before pausing. "Your right.. Your absolutely right.." It hit her like a slap around the face. That was it! Run! That would mean getting out of Mandain Sari, getting away from Darson AND going on an adventure to find her fortune!
"YOU-ARE-A-GENIUS!!!" Sarah hugged Zidane hard before rushing out of the lounge. Zidane blinked a few times in surprise.
"Was it something I said?"
***************************
Sarah walked down the street to the fountain in the centre of Mandain Sari. This was it! Her- or Zidane's greatest idea yet! Sarah hummed to herself as she looked through the stalls in the market-place. She had to plan this out. There was no such thing as just waltzing out of town without anyone noticing. They had guards everywhere, for monsters, and for runaway summoners. She guessed that no-one wanted to let the outside world know about the summoners.
("I wonder how Mariah made it out?") Sarah picked up a little swiss knife and flicked it open. ("I guess the security wasn't so tight back then... I wonder what Zidane thinks? Maybe I could go with him to find Mariah...") She looked around at the bustling town. Market day was always busy.
"Hey Sarah!" She spun around to see Zidane walking towards her. It was the first time that she had genuinely been happy to see a male her own age approach her.
"Hi Zidane. So, what did you get with the money I gave you?" An hour earlier she had given Zidane 3000gil and told him to go and spoil himself in the market.
"Well, I got myself this twin-bladed sword.. He unsheathed a thief sword that she recognised as the Exploda. One of her towns special productions.
"...and I got you a new rod." He gave her a beautifully decorated rod, it had the name carved at the base. 'Healing Rod of Mages'.
"Zidane..thankyou.. I mean...san-kato, Zidane." Sarah said without flaw.
"Very good!" Zidane complimented.
"See? I am learning!" Sarah proudly said. "I think I know quite a bit of Terran, for only knowing the language for a week."
"Your a natural. I'm impressed." Zidane gave her strange smile before turning to the stall. She felt herself blushing. That smile had a hidden meaning. He just looked at her like a boyfriend would his girlfriend. That affectionate, soft smile. But she could tell it was a expression only Zidane would do. It had a dark and mysterious side to it as well. She never thought a smile could mean so much. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone calling her. Him.
"Sarah!" She breathed in deeply.
("Grin and bear it, Sarah. I will not make a scene of myself!") She thought. ("I'll be gone in two days.. Don't even bother making a fuss..")
"Good-Morning, sweety." Darson oozed over her. She could almost feel her insides wanting to throw up out of her mouth.
"Hello Darson." She slid out of his reaching grasp.
"Only 7 days now!" He smiled to himself.
"Yeah.. wonderful. So... How's your arm?" She mentioned this with relish. Anything Darson hated more was evidence of any defeat he had suffered. Apparently this affected his ego.
"Fine. The healers did a good job on this baby!" He flexed his arm and showed off his muscles infront of her.
("Man..This guy is so vain..") Sarah rolled her eyes.
"What the hell is HE doing here!?" Darson spotted Zidane.
"He's allowed to walk around Mandain Sari too, y'know." She put her hand on her hips.
"NOT when I'm around." Darson frowned hard. Zidane, who had heard Darson approach, smirked at him and coolly approached Sarah.
"I heard it's been given a name and a home here.. How sad.." Darson gave him a horrible look. "So, now that everyone knows you can speak Gaian, why don't you tell me your new name?"
"......"
"Well? ..Wait, lemme guess.... your shy? Awww, isn't that a shame..."
"No, but it's a shame that you didn't choke on your mother's umbilical cord before you were born..." Zidane gave him a cold look that could have frozen fire.
"Okay then." Darson took up on the challenge. "Which bone do you want me to break first?" He cracked his knuckles.
"Take any. I ain't picky." Zidane said slyly, his tail puffing out.
"Oh for goodness sake, you two! Knock it off!" Sarah stepped forwards between them.
"Stay back Sarah, leave em' be. This isn't going to be pretty." The white mage lady from the Iifa tree expedition appeared and pulled Sarah back. "Men need to sort out there own troubles."
A crowd had quickly circled them, all of them waiting intently to see who would make the first move. Darson raised his fists infront of him, ready to attack or defend.
"We have to do something!" Sarah tried to get forwards, only to be pulled back again.
"Leave them! This will teach them a lesson!" The white mage lady said harshly. While Darson was hopping on his toes ready for action, Zidane stood calmly waiting for Darson to make the first move. It was obvious who was the more confident.
Darson threw the first punch, but Zidane dodged it with minuscule effort.
"Think your funny, don't you!" Darson launched another punch, only to have Zidane catch his fist and over flip him, still holding his arm.
"Wouldn't want me to break that arm again, Darson..." Zidane looked like the demon again. His eyes became thinned and an evil smile was on his face, his tail flicked with anger.
"Darson's gonna get the crap beaten out of him!" The white mage lady shook her head.
"Shame, really." Sarah smiled.
Darson quickly rose to his feet and charged towards Zidane, who caught him by the arm and held him in a vice like grip. "I intend to end this fight.." Were the last words Darson heard come out of the Terran's mouth before Zidane twisted around and in one swift movement, broke Darson's wrist, arm, shoulder and five of his ribs. Darson fell to the floor and screamed in agony. Zidane simply stood back and admired his handiwork.
"What on Gaia is going on here?" The mayor pushed his way through to see Darson on the floor (again) and Zidane standing with a certain lack for authority, his tail still flicking.
"G-Get some white mages!" The mayor ordered before turning to Sarah. "Did you summon him on Darson!?"
"What?!" Sarah stepped back from her accuser. "Of course I didn't!"
"Why would an eidolon act on it's own in this violent manner, then?!"
"Maybe because he isn't an eidolon!" Sarah let loose before realising her fault. "Oops..."
"He isn't an eidolon!? Then what on Gaia is he!?" The mayor threw his arms about in confusion.
"Uh... I.." Sarah faltered.
"WHAT-IS-HE?!" The mayor exploded.
"NO-ONE shouts at her like that!!!" Zidane yelled, louder than the mayors current tantrum. He strode over to where the two were and grabbed the mayors shirt, lifting the man off the floor.
"If you got a problem, why don't you ask me?" Zidane showed no sign of strength loss as he continued to hold the rather overweight mayor above his head level in interrogation.
"Let..go..of me!" The mayor struggled in his grasp, but Zidane did falter.
"I'm sick of you, and your stupid town! I'm sick of having to watch you all squabble and fight amongst yourselves!" He dropped the mayor hard before turning to Darson, who looked at him now in fear.
"You..." Zidane hissed "You are the most pathetic excuse for a life form that I have ever seen!" The crowd moved back wherever he turned, and Zidane was working himself up into a frenzy.
"Zidane!" Sarah ran up to him. "Please calm down! Your winding yourself up!" She spoke quietly, holding on to his arm.
"I have to tell them something.." Zidane held her shoulders. "Go home, I don't want you involved in this."
"..Zidane! I.." Sarah tried to speak but was silenced when Zidane shook his head.
"Stay if you must..." He let go of her and turned to the crowd. "Listen, summoners!" Sarah stood back from him and looked on, as the rest of the crowd did.
"You may have thought I am an eidolon! But I am no such thing! Eight years ago I was sealed away, to stop you all being massacred!" The crowd gasped and stood back. "I was created solely to be the destructor of your precious world! But my own brother took me from my master and sealed me inside your eidolon treasury, the Iifa Tree! He sealed me to saved you all - because of one person!" He looked around the crowd, who were staring at him with aghast faces. "That one person was Mariah Sewell! She loved my brother, and my brother loved her! She defied your rules of exploration, and now, I am told, is an outcast! Is this how you treat your own people!? If I had known better I would have wiped you all off the face of this planet when I got here! But I did not, because of her!" He pointed at Sarah, whose face went red as everyone stared at her. "She had the hospitality and the decency to make me consider myself wrong! She is the only person who should be even breathing in this DAMN TOWN!!!" His tail thrashed wildly about as he finished shouting at the crowds, who stood frozen.
"When my master returns, you will all be DEAD!!!" Zidane ran into the crowd, who hastily made a path for him.
"Zidane?!" Sarah quickly followed in pursuit.
**********************
Night had fallen, and Zidane watched the starlight from the top of the eidolon wall. The blond hair which was too short to tie up fell loosely over his face. His tail brushed slowly over the crumbling brick wall.
("~I can't believe I'm stuck here.. I should be by my master's side..On Terra..~") Zidane watched as the small blue star he knew as home flickered in the velvet sky.
("~But I guess I have one reason to stay...~") He looked down at Sarah who was sleeping with her head on his lap. He stroked her soft black hair.
("~You truly are a marvellous creature, Sarah.. I wonder if things had turned in my master's favour.. would you be dead?~") For the first time Zidane felt a gratefulness that fate had turned out this way.
("~She knows who I am, and what I would have done. But...what I want to know is..~") He watched her slow breathing and smiled to himself. ("~...Why did you still accept me, Sarah? Why did you follow me this afternoon as I ran out of the crowd? Why did you then corner me..and tell me that you still wanted to travel with me to find Mariah? Do you hate your people that much?~") Zidane ran these matters through his head as Sarah slept on.
("~...I admit that I hate Gaia.. Having to watch over it for 10,000 years was no easy task. Having to divide the souls of your people for my master's benefit... But, I was rewarded for my service.. I was given a soul. So that I would be able to serve by his side in Terran form, as well as being the Iifa tree. It was the highest honour... because the threat I held to my brother lead me to you, Sarah.. and I have never felt this way before...I..I haven't felt the need to protect or look over someone before.. like I do to you..~") Zidane looked to the east, where the Iifa tree could be seen in the moon-light.
("~...We still share everything, don't we?~") Zidane smiled at his other body, which in return whipped its vines in the air as the two connected with the same mind. ("~But I will return.. I promise..~") The Iifa tree's vines settled down, and the night became silent again.
"Zidane?" A sleepy voice caught his attention. "You seem worried.." Sarah sat up and brushed her hair behind her ears.
"It's nothing, Sarah.. I just wanted to think for a while, that's all." Zidane looked at Terra again.
"You'll get home one day, Zidane... Even if have to help you get there.." She smiled and lay her head on his lap again, looking straight up at him.
"Thanks, Sarah. For releasing me.." Zidane looked down into her chocolate brown eyes.
"You already said that.. but I'll still take it on-board."
"...."
"Zidane?"
"Yeah?"
"Can we leave tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"You look tired.."
"I feel it.."
"Go to sleep. I want to do some thinking too." Sarah got off Zidane's lap and allowed Zidane to rest his head on hers. Sarah looked at Terra as Zidane drifted off into a slumber.
("Mariah? I know you're a part of this, somehow.. You're still my childhood friend... even though you were much older than me.. You're still my friend... and I will find you..") Terra flickered more than ever.
**************************
After returning Sarah's house in the morning, Sarah decided that before she left the next night, she would learn Terran. Her equipment for her escape was scattered all over her room, soon to be packed.
"Okay, use the back of your throat.. yeah, that's good." Zidane pointed to his own throat as Sarah tried to pronounce some of the Terran words.
"So.. repeat after me.." Zidane instructed. "Metha su tio badha"
"Metha su tio badha..." Sarah struggled.
"Great! Your getting the hang of it now!" Zidane nodded his head.
"What did that mean?" Sarah enquired.
"It means 'Take me to my friends'."
"Brilliant. Anything else?" Sarah rubbed her hands together.
"What?! You've managed to squeeze every Terran word out of me!"
"Alright.. so, try me.."
"Fine... Desfu 16, castande? (You are 16, correct?)"
"Ai, ashi tu 16. Nelate cin? (Yes, I am 16. How about you?)"
"Consona a, ashi tu 17 fe a kneveta. (Actually, I am 17 in a week.)"
"Really? Uh..I meant...Kana?"
"Ai, kana.. (Yes, really.)"
"Asden hasa mehl trevasto Terran vah? (Can we stop speaking Terran now?)"
"Ai."
"Phew... That was hard.." Sarah wiped her forehead.
"You were very good in my opinion, for a beginner. But you need to be more...fluent." Zidane waved his hand to express himself.
"Okay..try me..again.." Sarah sat up straight.
"Round two.. ~Tell me your name.~"
"~My name is Sarah, what's yours?~"
"~My name is Zidane, but I used to be called Iifa. Your people named me.~"
"~They did? How sweet of them.~"
"~You bet, I was damn well impressed your council could come up with something so complex. But I like your name, what does it mean?~"
"~It means princess, how about you?~"
"~Mine means mysterious, Zidane that is.~"
"~What does Iifa mean then?~"
"~It means 'death' in Terran.~"
"~Really? I thought it sounded like life. Why did your master name you that?~"
"~Because that's my purpose. To bring death.~"
"~Zidane, stop it.. your freaking me out..~"
"~Why?~"
"~...Because I feel uncomfortable the way you said that.~"
"~Sorry.~" Zidane smiled in apology.
"~Am I doing good?~"
"~Very well. Do you realise that your speaking Terran without thinking the words?~"
"~Cool! Does this mean I can speak Terran?!~"
"~Sarah, your speaking it now...~"
"Wow... I can speak Terran!" Sarah spoke back in Gaian, clasping her hands together as if in prayer.
"Yep. Your the first person, after Mariah, to speak fluent Terran within a week.. I bet there's some kind of connection in this.." Zidane pondered aloud. "I wouldn't be surprised if..ahh!" Zidane suddenly clutched his head in pain.
"Zidane?! Are you okay?! Zidane!!!" Sarah knelt over him as her fought the pain on the floor. Finally the pain ebbed away, and Zidane sat up breathing hard.
"What on Gaia just happened!?" Sarah enquired, her hand on his back.
"I.. I saw.. Mariah.. in a vision..She and.. and.." Zidane struggled with his words.
"Zidane? Who was she with?"
"...Kuja...He's back..."
Well? I hope you enjoyed that. Please review if you can. I happen to like making characters have a dark side. It's just my nature. However, if you think Zidane needs to be an ally or enemy to Kuja, then please say so! My fic is crafted by what people who review it say! (I wasn't too sure on that particular plot point, and this chapter was kind of sketchy.) I hope you all caught on the Terran "~see the dashes?~" bit. I actually got a little confused myself! Maybe cause I'm slow in the evenings.. oh who cares.
See you in a week!
Chpt 4 : Zidane Vs Darson.
-- A Week Later --
"Does he drink tea?" Jane whispered to Sarah.
"How should I know? I'm not his mother!" Sarah rolled her eyes. It had been a complicated time since Zidane had come to Mandain Sari, and she was trying her best to improvise.
"Hey Zidane!" Sarah called into the lounge. "Do you like tea?"
"What's tea?" Zidane came into the kitchen.
"Oh, hell. I'll make you some anyway, go back into the lounge." Sarah spun him around and pushed him back through the door.
"Mmm, he's a handsome one, Sarah. One of the best you've brought home." Her mother craned her neck, watching him go out. "I like his tail.."
"Mom! All you seem to think about these days is whose the next boy I'm bringing home!..and don't be so picky. Stick with dad." Sarah shook her head.
"Hmph...Well, YOU shouldn't even be bringing boys home! Because your marrying someone next week! You keep yourself in reserve."
"Yeah, but at least I'm not already married..." Sarah grumbled.
"Your in no position to comment, no why don't you go and talk to him. This may be the last chance you get before you marry Darson. He's an awfully stubborn about those type of things." Jane pushed her out of the kitchen and closed the lounge door behind her.
"Uh... Sorry about that.." Sarah faced Zidane in the lounge.
"It's okay."
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"So.." Sarah and Zidane both spoke in unison. They laughed.
"You first." Zidane offered.
"Well, okay..What are your plans for the future?" Sarah took a seat.
"I plan to find Mariah."
"Then what?"
"... I don't know. But whatever it is... It's coming very soon."
"Hey, you have a knack for telling spooky prophecies."
"Maybe.. What about you?"
Sarah paused for a moment. This was probably the first time she'd been asked this question, and her answer wasn't the most rivetting either.
"I... I have to get married to that idiot that you maimed back in the Iifa tree."
"Why? I didn't think Gaia was into arranged marriages.. Not at least if your royalty anyway." Zidane sat back with a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
"That's the problem! All the rest of Mandain Sari has normal marriages...and I'm only 16!"
"Does this guy like you?"
"Yes. Too much."
"That's a shame. You could have persuaded him not to marry you for money. But I guess your parents are making you do this.."
"Yeah, but it's not for my benefit. They think I should be controlled and more lady-like, and another reason why is because mine and Darson's families are the richest in Mandain Sari, and they think that by us getting married, the wealth will stay in the same blood, or family line if you will."
"That's unfair... Well, I shouldn't really talk like that, cause' where I was created, If you wanted a woman, you just took her. But that didn't really come top on my priority list. Since I was a tree.."
"Hah! So there is a sense of humour behind that Terran 'shell' of yours!" A smile broke out on Sarah's face.
"You could say that.. I like to keep my sense of humour down for effect."
"Ohh, stop wise-cracking!" Sarah playfully hit him on the arm. Just at that moment Jane came in with the tea.
"It's nice to see your getting on so well!" Jane put the tea on the table, then turned to Sarah "But remember, don't get too friendly..." Jane spoke in a harsh whisper that only Sarah could hear.
"Enjoy." Jane walked out with a smile on her face.
"If I had precognition, I'd say that she's scheming something." Zidane gave a dark look to the door Jane had walked out of.
"Zidane..." He felt a hand on his arm.
"Hm?" Zidane turned to see her face riddled with worry.
"I..I don't want to get married... I want to go on adventures.. Like Ipsen!" Sarah could feel saltwater in her eyes. Here she was, talking to someone she had only met a week ago. He was one of the most handsome teenagers she had seen, and he was being so friendly to her. It was weird. Talking to a boy that broke her 'fiancee's' arm in a matter of moments, and looked like some kind of demon because of his savagery. But here he was, sitting next to her, and she found she felt like she had known him since childhood.
"Sarah? What's the matter?" Sarah smiled at him before returning to her thoughts. In exactly a week she would become a wife, no.. a slave to the person she loathed over all others. Darson. The boy who had pulled her hair and set alight to her rod when she was younger. She hated every ounce of his existence. Even the thought of having his children made her sick in the deepest part of her stomach. She was going to be stuck in this damn village for the rest of her life.
"You really are hating every moment of having to think about it, aren't you?" Zidane placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you psychic or something?" Sarah gave him a smirk.
"Man, if I was.. I'd tell you that you might want to do a runner and head on outta here." Zidane raised his eyebrows.
"Why?"
"Cause your getting married to a jerk?"
"Zidane!!" Sarah hit him again playfully before pausing. "Your right.. Your absolutely right.." It hit her like a slap around the face. That was it! Run! That would mean getting out of Mandain Sari, getting away from Darson AND going on an adventure to find her fortune!
"YOU-ARE-A-GENIUS!!!" Sarah hugged Zidane hard before rushing out of the lounge. Zidane blinked a few times in surprise.
"Was it something I said?"
***************************
Sarah walked down the street to the fountain in the centre of Mandain Sari. This was it! Her- or Zidane's greatest idea yet! Sarah hummed to herself as she looked through the stalls in the market-place. She had to plan this out. There was no such thing as just waltzing out of town without anyone noticing. They had guards everywhere, for monsters, and for runaway summoners. She guessed that no-one wanted to let the outside world know about the summoners.
("I wonder how Mariah made it out?") Sarah picked up a little swiss knife and flicked it open. ("I guess the security wasn't so tight back then... I wonder what Zidane thinks? Maybe I could go with him to find Mariah...") She looked around at the bustling town. Market day was always busy.
"Hey Sarah!" She spun around to see Zidane walking towards her. It was the first time that she had genuinely been happy to see a male her own age approach her.
"Hi Zidane. So, what did you get with the money I gave you?" An hour earlier she had given Zidane 3000gil and told him to go and spoil himself in the market.
"Well, I got myself this twin-bladed sword.. He unsheathed a thief sword that she recognised as the Exploda. One of her towns special productions.
"...and I got you a new rod." He gave her a beautifully decorated rod, it had the name carved at the base. 'Healing Rod of Mages'.
"Zidane..thankyou.. I mean...san-kato, Zidane." Sarah said without flaw.
"Very good!" Zidane complimented.
"See? I am learning!" Sarah proudly said. "I think I know quite a bit of Terran, for only knowing the language for a week."
"Your a natural. I'm impressed." Zidane gave her strange smile before turning to the stall. She felt herself blushing. That smile had a hidden meaning. He just looked at her like a boyfriend would his girlfriend. That affectionate, soft smile. But she could tell it was a expression only Zidane would do. It had a dark and mysterious side to it as well. She never thought a smile could mean so much. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone calling her. Him.
"Sarah!" She breathed in deeply.
("Grin and bear it, Sarah. I will not make a scene of myself!") She thought. ("I'll be gone in two days.. Don't even bother making a fuss..")
"Good-Morning, sweety." Darson oozed over her. She could almost feel her insides wanting to throw up out of her mouth.
"Hello Darson." She slid out of his reaching grasp.
"Only 7 days now!" He smiled to himself.
"Yeah.. wonderful. So... How's your arm?" She mentioned this with relish. Anything Darson hated more was evidence of any defeat he had suffered. Apparently this affected his ego.
"Fine. The healers did a good job on this baby!" He flexed his arm and showed off his muscles infront of her.
("Man..This guy is so vain..") Sarah rolled her eyes.
"What the hell is HE doing here!?" Darson spotted Zidane.
"He's allowed to walk around Mandain Sari too, y'know." She put her hand on her hips.
"NOT when I'm around." Darson frowned hard. Zidane, who had heard Darson approach, smirked at him and coolly approached Sarah.
"I heard it's been given a name and a home here.. How sad.." Darson gave him a horrible look. "So, now that everyone knows you can speak Gaian, why don't you tell me your new name?"
"......"
"Well? ..Wait, lemme guess.... your shy? Awww, isn't that a shame..."
"No, but it's a shame that you didn't choke on your mother's umbilical cord before you were born..." Zidane gave him a cold look that could have frozen fire.
"Okay then." Darson took up on the challenge. "Which bone do you want me to break first?" He cracked his knuckles.
"Take any. I ain't picky." Zidane said slyly, his tail puffing out.
"Oh for goodness sake, you two! Knock it off!" Sarah stepped forwards between them.
"Stay back Sarah, leave em' be. This isn't going to be pretty." The white mage lady from the Iifa tree expedition appeared and pulled Sarah back. "Men need to sort out there own troubles."
A crowd had quickly circled them, all of them waiting intently to see who would make the first move. Darson raised his fists infront of him, ready to attack or defend.
"We have to do something!" Sarah tried to get forwards, only to be pulled back again.
"Leave them! This will teach them a lesson!" The white mage lady said harshly. While Darson was hopping on his toes ready for action, Zidane stood calmly waiting for Darson to make the first move. It was obvious who was the more confident.
Darson threw the first punch, but Zidane dodged it with minuscule effort.
"Think your funny, don't you!" Darson launched another punch, only to have Zidane catch his fist and over flip him, still holding his arm.
"Wouldn't want me to break that arm again, Darson..." Zidane looked like the demon again. His eyes became thinned and an evil smile was on his face, his tail flicked with anger.
"Darson's gonna get the crap beaten out of him!" The white mage lady shook her head.
"Shame, really." Sarah smiled.
Darson quickly rose to his feet and charged towards Zidane, who caught him by the arm and held him in a vice like grip. "I intend to end this fight.." Were the last words Darson heard come out of the Terran's mouth before Zidane twisted around and in one swift movement, broke Darson's wrist, arm, shoulder and five of his ribs. Darson fell to the floor and screamed in agony. Zidane simply stood back and admired his handiwork.
"What on Gaia is going on here?" The mayor pushed his way through to see Darson on the floor (again) and Zidane standing with a certain lack for authority, his tail still flicking.
"G-Get some white mages!" The mayor ordered before turning to Sarah. "Did you summon him on Darson!?"
"What?!" Sarah stepped back from her accuser. "Of course I didn't!"
"Why would an eidolon act on it's own in this violent manner, then?!"
"Maybe because he isn't an eidolon!" Sarah let loose before realising her fault. "Oops..."
"He isn't an eidolon!? Then what on Gaia is he!?" The mayor threw his arms about in confusion.
"Uh... I.." Sarah faltered.
"WHAT-IS-HE?!" The mayor exploded.
"NO-ONE shouts at her like that!!!" Zidane yelled, louder than the mayors current tantrum. He strode over to where the two were and grabbed the mayors shirt, lifting the man off the floor.
"If you got a problem, why don't you ask me?" Zidane showed no sign of strength loss as he continued to hold the rather overweight mayor above his head level in interrogation.
"Let..go..of me!" The mayor struggled in his grasp, but Zidane did falter.
"I'm sick of you, and your stupid town! I'm sick of having to watch you all squabble and fight amongst yourselves!" He dropped the mayor hard before turning to Darson, who looked at him now in fear.
"You..." Zidane hissed "You are the most pathetic excuse for a life form that I have ever seen!" The crowd moved back wherever he turned, and Zidane was working himself up into a frenzy.
"Zidane!" Sarah ran up to him. "Please calm down! Your winding yourself up!" She spoke quietly, holding on to his arm.
"I have to tell them something.." Zidane held her shoulders. "Go home, I don't want you involved in this."
"..Zidane! I.." Sarah tried to speak but was silenced when Zidane shook his head.
"Stay if you must..." He let go of her and turned to the crowd. "Listen, summoners!" Sarah stood back from him and looked on, as the rest of the crowd did.
"You may have thought I am an eidolon! But I am no such thing! Eight years ago I was sealed away, to stop you all being massacred!" The crowd gasped and stood back. "I was created solely to be the destructor of your precious world! But my own brother took me from my master and sealed me inside your eidolon treasury, the Iifa Tree! He sealed me to saved you all - because of one person!" He looked around the crowd, who were staring at him with aghast faces. "That one person was Mariah Sewell! She loved my brother, and my brother loved her! She defied your rules of exploration, and now, I am told, is an outcast! Is this how you treat your own people!? If I had known better I would have wiped you all off the face of this planet when I got here! But I did not, because of her!" He pointed at Sarah, whose face went red as everyone stared at her. "She had the hospitality and the decency to make me consider myself wrong! She is the only person who should be even breathing in this DAMN TOWN!!!" His tail thrashed wildly about as he finished shouting at the crowds, who stood frozen.
"When my master returns, you will all be DEAD!!!" Zidane ran into the crowd, who hastily made a path for him.
"Zidane?!" Sarah quickly followed in pursuit.
**********************
Night had fallen, and Zidane watched the starlight from the top of the eidolon wall. The blond hair which was too short to tie up fell loosely over his face. His tail brushed slowly over the crumbling brick wall.
("~I can't believe I'm stuck here.. I should be by my master's side..On Terra..~") Zidane watched as the small blue star he knew as home flickered in the velvet sky.
("~But I guess I have one reason to stay...~") He looked down at Sarah who was sleeping with her head on his lap. He stroked her soft black hair.
("~You truly are a marvellous creature, Sarah.. I wonder if things had turned in my master's favour.. would you be dead?~") For the first time Zidane felt a gratefulness that fate had turned out this way.
("~She knows who I am, and what I would have done. But...what I want to know is..~") He watched her slow breathing and smiled to himself. ("~...Why did you still accept me, Sarah? Why did you follow me this afternoon as I ran out of the crowd? Why did you then corner me..and tell me that you still wanted to travel with me to find Mariah? Do you hate your people that much?~") Zidane ran these matters through his head as Sarah slept on.
("~...I admit that I hate Gaia.. Having to watch over it for 10,000 years was no easy task. Having to divide the souls of your people for my master's benefit... But, I was rewarded for my service.. I was given a soul. So that I would be able to serve by his side in Terran form, as well as being the Iifa tree. It was the highest honour... because the threat I held to my brother lead me to you, Sarah.. and I have never felt this way before...I..I haven't felt the need to protect or look over someone before.. like I do to you..~") Zidane looked to the east, where the Iifa tree could be seen in the moon-light.
("~...We still share everything, don't we?~") Zidane smiled at his other body, which in return whipped its vines in the air as the two connected with the same mind. ("~But I will return.. I promise..~") The Iifa tree's vines settled down, and the night became silent again.
"Zidane?" A sleepy voice caught his attention. "You seem worried.." Sarah sat up and brushed her hair behind her ears.
"It's nothing, Sarah.. I just wanted to think for a while, that's all." Zidane looked at Terra again.
"You'll get home one day, Zidane... Even if have to help you get there.." She smiled and lay her head on his lap again, looking straight up at him.
"Thanks, Sarah. For releasing me.." Zidane looked down into her chocolate brown eyes.
"You already said that.. but I'll still take it on-board."
"...."
"Zidane?"
"Yeah?"
"Can we leave tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"You look tired.."
"I feel it.."
"Go to sleep. I want to do some thinking too." Sarah got off Zidane's lap and allowed Zidane to rest his head on hers. Sarah looked at Terra as Zidane drifted off into a slumber.
("Mariah? I know you're a part of this, somehow.. You're still my childhood friend... even though you were much older than me.. You're still my friend... and I will find you..") Terra flickered more than ever.
**************************
After returning Sarah's house in the morning, Sarah decided that before she left the next night, she would learn Terran. Her equipment for her escape was scattered all over her room, soon to be packed.
"Okay, use the back of your throat.. yeah, that's good." Zidane pointed to his own throat as Sarah tried to pronounce some of the Terran words.
"So.. repeat after me.." Zidane instructed. "Metha su tio badha"
"Metha su tio badha..." Sarah struggled.
"Great! Your getting the hang of it now!" Zidane nodded his head.
"What did that mean?" Sarah enquired.
"It means 'Take me to my friends'."
"Brilliant. Anything else?" Sarah rubbed her hands together.
"What?! You've managed to squeeze every Terran word out of me!"
"Alright.. so, try me.."
"Fine... Desfu 16, castande? (You are 16, correct?)"
"Ai, ashi tu 16. Nelate cin? (Yes, I am 16. How about you?)"
"Consona a, ashi tu 17 fe a kneveta. (Actually, I am 17 in a week.)"
"Really? Uh..I meant...Kana?"
"Ai, kana.. (Yes, really.)"
"Asden hasa mehl trevasto Terran vah? (Can we stop speaking Terran now?)"
"Ai."
"Phew... That was hard.." Sarah wiped her forehead.
"You were very good in my opinion, for a beginner. But you need to be more...fluent." Zidane waved his hand to express himself.
"Okay..try me..again.." Sarah sat up straight.
"Round two.. ~Tell me your name.~"
"~My name is Sarah, what's yours?~"
"~My name is Zidane, but I used to be called Iifa. Your people named me.~"
"~They did? How sweet of them.~"
"~You bet, I was damn well impressed your council could come up with something so complex. But I like your name, what does it mean?~"
"~It means princess, how about you?~"
"~Mine means mysterious, Zidane that is.~"
"~What does Iifa mean then?~"
"~It means 'death' in Terran.~"
"~Really? I thought it sounded like life. Why did your master name you that?~"
"~Because that's my purpose. To bring death.~"
"~Zidane, stop it.. your freaking me out..~"
"~Why?~"
"~...Because I feel uncomfortable the way you said that.~"
"~Sorry.~" Zidane smiled in apology.
"~Am I doing good?~"
"~Very well. Do you realise that your speaking Terran without thinking the words?~"
"~Cool! Does this mean I can speak Terran?!~"
"~Sarah, your speaking it now...~"
"Wow... I can speak Terran!" Sarah spoke back in Gaian, clasping her hands together as if in prayer.
"Yep. Your the first person, after Mariah, to speak fluent Terran within a week.. I bet there's some kind of connection in this.." Zidane pondered aloud. "I wouldn't be surprised if..ahh!" Zidane suddenly clutched his head in pain.
"Zidane?! Are you okay?! Zidane!!!" Sarah knelt over him as her fought the pain on the floor. Finally the pain ebbed away, and Zidane sat up breathing hard.
"What on Gaia just happened!?" Sarah enquired, her hand on his back.
"I.. I saw.. Mariah.. in a vision..She and.. and.." Zidane struggled with his words.
"Zidane? Who was she with?"
"...Kuja...He's back..."
Well? I hope you enjoyed that. Please review if you can. I happen to like making characters have a dark side. It's just my nature. However, if you think Zidane needs to be an ally or enemy to Kuja, then please say so! My fic is crafted by what people who review it say! (I wasn't too sure on that particular plot point, and this chapter was kind of sketchy.) I hope you all caught on the Terran "~see the dashes?~" bit. I actually got a little confused myself! Maybe cause I'm slow in the evenings.. oh who cares.
See you in a week!