(Re-hacking/re-writing of this chapter, hope it's a lot better and smoother than before…)
Chapter Two: Who are you?
In the city of Treno it was easy to see that things had quieted down immensely. With the threat of war no longer upon the people they had returned to their old lives. The main threats in the city of Treno now were thieves and con artists. And still, high above them all was the Tower. In this tower, was the aging scholar Dr. Tot. While he didn't enjoy showing it, it was hard to deny that Dr. Tot was beginning to age, with his graying red hair. In the eight years after the battle with Kuja he had officially resigned from his position at the castle in Alexandria, and gone back to a peaceful life living in Treno. Tot now spent most of his days reading and theorizing, that was, until yesterday morning.
Now, Tot had a reason to hurry as he ran about his tower picking up clothes and putting them into a suitcase.
"That should be all of it" He said as he picked it up and moved it next to the hole leading to Gargan Roo. A sudden sound pulled him from his thoughts as he turned towards a large open window to his right. Below that window was the only door that leads to the tower…and said door had just been knocked on. Dr. Tot, with a slight stumble, made his way to the open window and yelled down to the figure: "Who is it?!"
"It's me Dr. Tot! Vivi!" Vivi shouted up.
"Oh, my boy come up, come up!" Dr. Tot shouted in a happier tone. He pulled a leaver to his right, which unlocked the door.
Vivi, seeing the door was now open, pushed on it and began the trek up the stairs. It was amazing, no mater how he looked at it Vivi always found himself winded when moving up the long and spiraling staircase. With a heavy sigh Vivi finally made it to the top, bending over slightly as he caught his breath. Once situated, Vivi straightened and smiled at Dr. Tot, who walked over to him and pulled the young man into a hug.
"Vivi my boy, you haven't come to see me in almost a month…been busy have we?" Tot smiled in a fatherly manner as Vivi smirked sadly.
"Ah…forgive me sir; I was traveling around before I returned just yesterday to a letter of importance." Vivi had left his home for a couple weeks to check up on the Black Mages in Black Mage Village, and found there numbers dwindling faster that he truly expected. Vivi was afraid that there wouldn't be much time left for them…Shaking the thought from his mind Vivi put on a smile and looked down at Dr. Tot. Dr. Tot nodded and put a hand to his chin in thought.
"I see; becoming like our friend Zidane are we? Leaving without as much as a word…how inconsiderate." He chided with a laugh. Vivi sighed and chuckled to himself.
"I honestly don't think I could have chosen a better time to come back, though" He said as he removed Eiko's letter from his pocket, showing it to Dr. Tot. Dr. Tot took the letter and scanned it over quickly before laughing to himself.
"I see, I see, so you want to begin your trek to Lindblum via Alexandria, am I correct?" At Vivi's nod Dr. Tot smiled
"Young son your love shall bloom, but only if you do not cut the budding love before it's prime." Vivi blushed and took a step back, shaking his head at the professor before him.
"Wha-What's that supposed to mean sir? I-I'm only going to my friend's birthday!" At this Dr. Tot let out a hearty laugh and patted the young Mage's arm.
"As Zidane would say, you need to lighten up" He laughed again as he walked towards the ladder and climbed it, standing at the top next to the hatch leading to Gargan Roo, he turned to stare at Vivi with a twinkle in his eyes that Vivi knew too well.
"Well then Vivi, if we're going to make it before Garnet and Zidane leave we should be going now, am I right?" Vivi finally regained his composure and walked towards the ladder, his face still pink.
"You shouldn't quote plays like that Doctor, especially when it holds no real meaning to what was being said." Dr. Tot shook his head softly as Vivi stood on the platform next to him and opened the hatch for the two of them.
"Perhaps I should have said "Look into thyself young son, or thy love that thy seeks may be lost before the morning comes." Vivi sighed and began down the ladder to Gargan Roo…it would be a long ride to Alexandria.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
To say Lindblum castle hadn't changed would be a bold faced lie. While the outer structure seemed to remain exactly the same, a few more towers seemed to rise from the main structure, housing Regent Cid's new toys and also more rooms added to the palace. The steam engine airship had "taken off" without a hitch, as Cid so often enjoyed putting it, much to the distaste of his wife Hilda and adoptive Daughter Eiko. Cid had also created many other interesting inventions, including but not limited to, moving images, and weaponry.
Today, however, Cid had absolutely no power…
"No! That's doesn't go there! If you put the banner there then you will be covering the family portrait!" A very angry Lady Hilda yelled as Blank and Cinna began to hang a banner that read 'Happy Birthday Eiko!' above Regent Cid's throne. Inside the large ballroom (added to Hilda's request) were many large pillars, decorated in cold lining as the silver, mirror like floor shone from below, giving off a wavering reflection on all who walked over or above it. A disgruntled Cinna removed the pot from his head and scratched the back of his head, looking down at the Regent's wife from the twin ladders he and Black were situated on. Blank growled and pushed the eye guard he wore around his head up to show his deep red eyes.
"You told us to hang it here a few minutes ago!" Blank yelled, his voice showing annoyance, as if this hadn't been the first time they were yelled at about this. Hilda just shrugged and gave a well thought out (in her opinion) response.
"I simply decided that it wouldn't look right covering out first portrait together" Hilda, "Put it above the table, on the right side of the room".
"But then it will cover the window" Cinna said in exasperation, adding in his mind as an afterthought "And we just had it there a half an hour ago"
"There's too much sunlight coming in from the large window anyway." Hilda said simply as she walked from the room to speak with her husband. Cinna put the pot back on his head and looked to his partner. There were bags under both of their eyes and Blank put the guard around his eyes again.
"I sometime wonder if she's going crazy and taking us along for the ride…"
"Don't start, let's just do what she wants so she can change it later" Blank said as he began taking the banner down.
Off in the another large room, once used as a guest room, a young woman sat on a crimson chair in front of a mirror as she brushed her long light purple hair, being careful of the horn in the middle of her forehead. Humming the soft, familiar tune of the summoners she sent soft, long strokes through her hair before she put the wooden brush next to a beautiful, hand-crafted flute. As clothing the young woman wore a well made, if not simple blue blouse and a red skirt that held designs of Moogles and Chocobos. She ran her hands down the skirt in order to red it of any wrinkles, becoming slightly distracted by the bracelet on her right arm. She smiled as she remembered a pair of glowing golden eyes as gloved hands handed her the pink band, a charm in the shape of Madeen dangling from it. Eiko sighed as she closed her blue eyes, a knock on the door bringing her from her thoughts.
"Who is it?" she called, her voice attempting to sound regal, never knowing who would be at the door.
"Kupo! Mognet from Quan's Dwelling!" A small voice announced as Eiko suddenly sprung from her spot, all thoughts of regality pushed from her mind as she opened the door, quickly ushering the Moogle in.
"Oh, oh come in…Please let it be an actual reply this time…" The last letter she had received from Vivi was filled with stranger lettering, as if someone else had written it for him, or he was in a hurry. She was able to make out what it said "traveling, wish I could visit and chat, but I'll get back to you soon". This letter though, was different. Vivi must have actually sat down and written it, she assumed. After she finished the letter she let out a squeal, causing the shocked Moogle to fall backwards.
"He's coming! Oh thank you Grandpa he's coming!" She shouted as she began to jump around the room scaring the Moogle to fly right out of the room. Not before, however, the small creature knocked into Eiko causing the young woman to fall to the ground in an un-ceremonial heap on the ground. A passing guard looked into the room and saw the princess sprawled on the ground. Letting out a small cough Eiko looked up and quickly stood, smiling sweetly as if nothing had happened.
"Yes?" she asked. The soldier sighed and smirked as he shook his head.
"Your father and mother request your presence in the throne room, would you like me to accompany you?" Eiko sighed and smiled.
"Thanks, and no, I'll be fine on my own." She said as she passed the guard, making her way towards the elevator that would take her to her father's throne room. Her only thought as she walked aboard the elevator was "What could mom and dad want now?"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"You're certain that you let Zidane and Dagger know about us showing up beforehand, right?" Vivi asked as he and Dr. Tot ascended the stairs that would lead them to the King and Queen's bedchamber. Dr. Tot looked up at Vivi and nodded, smiling. At least…He was pretty sure he did…
"Zidane, stop it" Garnet spoke softly as Zidane left a few small kisses on her neck, moving up towards her face.
"But Dagger" he spoke in a raspy voice, sending a shiver up Garnet's spine…that was until a sudden crash of the fireplace opening up stopped all movement in the room. Vivi and Dr. Tot walked though only slightly to see the position Zidane and Garnet were in. Vivi blinked once, then twice at the scene in front of him. Garnet lay on the bed, her hair loose behind her (as if was back to its original length) and Zidane atop her, his eyes looking at if he were a goblin caught in a search light. Dr. Tot cleared his throat lightly as all four stared at each other, none of them knowing what to do.
"Um…Well…" Zidane began softly before he stopped, not trusting himself to say something.
"Are we…interrupting?" Dr. Tot asked as he cocked his head to the side. Zidane, as if realizing what exactly he was doing jumped from the bed (and Garnet) and stood in the middle of the room, his face as red as a tomato.
"Well it's um…Nice to see you two…so soon…" He looked to Garnet for help but then looked down at the floor.
"You…did know we were coming, right?" Vivi asked. Zidane looked at him and grinned, nodding.
"Yeah, yeah we did…" he mumbled to himself afterward, "thought we had another hour though…" this caused Vivi to laugh, breaking most of the tension that had filled the room. Garnet sighed and Zidane seemed to visibly relax. Dr. Tot put his suitcase down and clapped his hands together.
"Well…when do we leave?" Zidane smiled and chuckled.
"Soon, once Rusty says Hilda Garde III's ready to go." Vivi nodded before the door opened as a flash of silver caught his eyes.
"Brother, we're ready to go" a smooth, familiar voice spoke as everyone turned. Vivi was in slight shock, as was Dr. Tot, at who they saw in the doorway. Vivi stuttered once before he took a step back, gripping the wall behind him.
"Ku…Kuja?" He asked softly. Kuja, the silver haired man nodded slowly as he touched his face as if thinking.
"Yes…but…who are you?"
(Right…on to the next one…)
