A/N: Well, this is a sort of filler. 'So early on?' I hear you cry. Well,
this does reveal some important parts (although they don't seem important
right now) and make some things clear. Also, at the end of this, we will
have seen somewhere other than the Black Mage Village! You'll find out
where... once you've finished reading this chapter!
***
"Whoa! Can you stand?" Zidane said and went to support Kuja. "I think you might need some help with your wounds. Then we can talk... " Zidane gripped Kuja's arm and started walking to a house. Inside Kuja laid down and Zidane started to talk. "I think you are hiding something from me, and I don't know your intentions. Yet it's not in my nature to leave a relative in times of need. Why are you here? You could have gone to any place you desired, yet you chose the Black Mage Village, when I was here? A coincidence or is this well planned?"
Mikoto has followed Zidane and Kuja to the house, and was now watching the two former archenemies. Kuja was looking extremely ill, and Zidane was very worried, even though Kuja was not exactly his best friend. "Can I get you two something?" She asked and wanted to get out of the way, so the two of them could talk.
Kuja closed his eyes. "I knew you'd be here... or at least, my black mages would... I just... needed to find someone..."
"They are not 'your' Black Mages. They are independent individuals. God, didn't I kick your butt hard enough the last round?" Zidane laughed, but then turned serious again. "Mr. 209 said you were looking for the Angel Of Death, and that's me. Why?"
Kuja's blue eyes became round and sad. "I thought... I was just looking for solace... and perhaps a little forgiveness..."
"I'm sorry." Zidane said. "I shouldn't have been aggressive with you. To forgive it's not up to me, but to the people you hurt. Mikoto and I are willing to forgive, as long as you are willing to do something for us in return. Nothing in particular, but we would do the same for you. How about coming to Alexandria with me when you have recovered?" Zidane asked. Then he called. "Mikoto! Get in here!"
Mikoto went inside and waited for Zidane to say something.
"Mikoto? Would you travel with me to Alexandria? Maybe Kuja is coming too." Zidane said.
"Very... very well." Kuja said, brushing back his silver hair from his face. He stood up, a little shakily. "When do we leave?"
"Whoa!" Zidane said and pushed Kuja back down. "We're going nowhere until you recovered. But we'll leave as soon as you are recovered."
Mikoto scratched her arm. "I want to come, Zidane. I want to see where you live."
Kuja closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
Vivi adjusted his hat. "Um... Zidane?" he asked timidly. "Could I bring the kids? They'd like to see Alexandria."
"Yeah, the more the merrier, or whatever they say. Of course they can come. I mean, the castle is big enough for all of us." Zidane said and went to Mikoto. "Do you think that you will be able to handle this?"
Mikoto looked at Zidane, a bit angry. "How old do you think I am? Four? Of course I can handle this."
Zidane waved his arms in defensively and said. "Sorry, I'm just concerned for my little sister."
"I'll be fine, you'll see." Mikoto turned to Kuja. "All we have to do now is to wait for you to recover."
Vivi walked towards the door. "Um... I'll go to see what medicines we have..."
"Good, now that's settled, then I'll take a closer look around the village. Mikoto, will you look after him for awhile?" Zidane pointed at Kuja. Then he went after Vivi.
Mikoto kicked the ground. "There he goes again, he is so bossy." She was a bit angry. "Why doesn't he do it himself? Not that I don't want to watch you." she added and looked at Kuja, "But he is so annoying when he does that. He keeps treating me like a child."
"I'm relieved." Kuja admitted. "I glad... I made it here... if our positions had been reversed... I might not have dome the same..."
Mikoto looked at Kuja. "Well, you know Zidane. He has this enormous energy and sympathy for everyone. Even you, who tried to kill him several times. I don't know how he can manage it. If that were me, I don't think I would be able to do the same. I don't blame you Kuja, really. I haven't been through the same as Zidane has." Mikoto walked over to the door. "Now, you just have to relax, and if you need anything, then call." she said and walked out the door.
***
Zidane caught up with Vivi in the medicine shop. He was looking at various Potions.
"Zidane?" he asked. "Do you think... what about... Kuja? Isn't he..."
Zidane shook his head. "I don't know. I want to believe he changed. I want him to get the chance to show me, to show us all. He is like a part of me."
Vivi nods, clutching a motley bundle of bottles of various shapes, sizes and colours. He returns to the hut with Kuja. "Um... are you okay?"
Kuja looked up into Vivi's eyes. "Fine." he mutters.
Vivi dumped the bottles on the bed. "You'll need to take some of these." he said. "This one once, this one five times today, this one three times tomorrow..."
Kuja waved Vivi's endless explanations aside. "I know what to do." Vivi gets up and watches Kuja as he sorts through the potions. He drinks a few in one go, screwing up his face in disgust. "Not exactly the sweetest mixtures in Gaia, are they?" he asked.
***
Zidane were standing in the cemetery. Mikoto came to him. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"I don't know." he answered. "It's like a dream."
"What is?" Mikoto asked.
"My life." He responded and sighed. "I keep trying to settle down but I can't. I'm travelling from place to place, yet I know my heart is with Dagger in Alexandria. I can't seem to find any peace. I think that's why I am taking Kuja back with me, to see if that's what I need to get peace in my heart."
***
Kuja breathed deeply. "Thank you, mage."
"My name is Vivi." Vivi replied.
"...Vivi? Don't the rest have numbers?"
"...Well, yes. But my grandpa called me Vivi."
"But..."
"Not my real grandpa." Vivi added hurriedly. "He adopted me... when I fell out of the Invincible."
"I am sorry." Kuja replied.
***
At the Inn, Zidane was lying in bed. Many thoughts ran through his head. he yawned, stretched and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm insane." he said to himself, and shortly after, he fell asleep.
"Zidane?" Mikoto asked. When she saw that he was asleep, she turned around. She started to walk out, but stopped as she reached the door. "Goodnight." she said and went outside.
***
"Freya!" Fratley woke with a start. He looked around the bedroom to find no sign of his
love.
"Freya?"
Lifting his blade from it's resting place on the wall, the dragon knight crept through a high arch doorway. His senses became keener, and as he crested the threshold, something strange happened.
Suddenly, inside his mind Fratley saw things, smelt and heard things. He did not know what they were, but he knew there was a threat, and burning into his rising subconscious was the image of a man in a white cloak.
In a furious whirl he began attacking everything in sight, leaving nothing standing, except half a table.
"Fratley!" Was it in his mind or the real world?
"Fratley! Stop!"
As immediately as he had slipped into his dream- world, Fratley snapped back out. He surveyed the room around him. Everything was totally devastated, ravaged from ceiling to floor. Freya stood in front of him, shocked. He dropped to his knees, silent. Tears fell to the floor like the rains outside, making a pool, reflecting Fratley's own guilty face.
"I'm sick, Freya. It's not safe. Not for you or for me, but more importantly, it's not fair. Here - take this away from me." He offered up his spear. "All it does anymore is torment us both."
He rose to his feet and walked to the door.
"Where are you going, my love?"
"Fratley Crescent is a broken man, Freya. I must rebuild him."
"Not another quest. How close did we come to losing each other before?"
"No more quests. I'm going to do something that has been waiting for a long time. I love you, Freya Crescent. Never forget that."
***
A/N: Well, hope you enjoyed this. In the next chapter, we're finally going to get moving (off to Alexandria!) Also, soon, the whole gang will get together. Well... almost everyone... R and R people! (That's Read and Review for those of you not in the internet writing circles)
Credit has to go to Rikke (Zidane and Mikoto) and Prophetic Minion (Freya and Fratley) for their help in writing some parts.
***
"Whoa! Can you stand?" Zidane said and went to support Kuja. "I think you might need some help with your wounds. Then we can talk... " Zidane gripped Kuja's arm and started walking to a house. Inside Kuja laid down and Zidane started to talk. "I think you are hiding something from me, and I don't know your intentions. Yet it's not in my nature to leave a relative in times of need. Why are you here? You could have gone to any place you desired, yet you chose the Black Mage Village, when I was here? A coincidence or is this well planned?"
Mikoto has followed Zidane and Kuja to the house, and was now watching the two former archenemies. Kuja was looking extremely ill, and Zidane was very worried, even though Kuja was not exactly his best friend. "Can I get you two something?" She asked and wanted to get out of the way, so the two of them could talk.
Kuja closed his eyes. "I knew you'd be here... or at least, my black mages would... I just... needed to find someone..."
"They are not 'your' Black Mages. They are independent individuals. God, didn't I kick your butt hard enough the last round?" Zidane laughed, but then turned serious again. "Mr. 209 said you were looking for the Angel Of Death, and that's me. Why?"
Kuja's blue eyes became round and sad. "I thought... I was just looking for solace... and perhaps a little forgiveness..."
"I'm sorry." Zidane said. "I shouldn't have been aggressive with you. To forgive it's not up to me, but to the people you hurt. Mikoto and I are willing to forgive, as long as you are willing to do something for us in return. Nothing in particular, but we would do the same for you. How about coming to Alexandria with me when you have recovered?" Zidane asked. Then he called. "Mikoto! Get in here!"
Mikoto went inside and waited for Zidane to say something.
"Mikoto? Would you travel with me to Alexandria? Maybe Kuja is coming too." Zidane said.
"Very... very well." Kuja said, brushing back his silver hair from his face. He stood up, a little shakily. "When do we leave?"
"Whoa!" Zidane said and pushed Kuja back down. "We're going nowhere until you recovered. But we'll leave as soon as you are recovered."
Mikoto scratched her arm. "I want to come, Zidane. I want to see where you live."
Kuja closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
Vivi adjusted his hat. "Um... Zidane?" he asked timidly. "Could I bring the kids? They'd like to see Alexandria."
"Yeah, the more the merrier, or whatever they say. Of course they can come. I mean, the castle is big enough for all of us." Zidane said and went to Mikoto. "Do you think that you will be able to handle this?"
Mikoto looked at Zidane, a bit angry. "How old do you think I am? Four? Of course I can handle this."
Zidane waved his arms in defensively and said. "Sorry, I'm just concerned for my little sister."
"I'll be fine, you'll see." Mikoto turned to Kuja. "All we have to do now is to wait for you to recover."
Vivi walked towards the door. "Um... I'll go to see what medicines we have..."
"Good, now that's settled, then I'll take a closer look around the village. Mikoto, will you look after him for awhile?" Zidane pointed at Kuja. Then he went after Vivi.
Mikoto kicked the ground. "There he goes again, he is so bossy." She was a bit angry. "Why doesn't he do it himself? Not that I don't want to watch you." she added and looked at Kuja, "But he is so annoying when he does that. He keeps treating me like a child."
"I'm relieved." Kuja admitted. "I glad... I made it here... if our positions had been reversed... I might not have dome the same..."
Mikoto looked at Kuja. "Well, you know Zidane. He has this enormous energy and sympathy for everyone. Even you, who tried to kill him several times. I don't know how he can manage it. If that were me, I don't think I would be able to do the same. I don't blame you Kuja, really. I haven't been through the same as Zidane has." Mikoto walked over to the door. "Now, you just have to relax, and if you need anything, then call." she said and walked out the door.
***
Zidane caught up with Vivi in the medicine shop. He was looking at various Potions.
"Zidane?" he asked. "Do you think... what about... Kuja? Isn't he..."
Zidane shook his head. "I don't know. I want to believe he changed. I want him to get the chance to show me, to show us all. He is like a part of me."
Vivi nods, clutching a motley bundle of bottles of various shapes, sizes and colours. He returns to the hut with Kuja. "Um... are you okay?"
Kuja looked up into Vivi's eyes. "Fine." he mutters.
Vivi dumped the bottles on the bed. "You'll need to take some of these." he said. "This one once, this one five times today, this one three times tomorrow..."
Kuja waved Vivi's endless explanations aside. "I know what to do." Vivi gets up and watches Kuja as he sorts through the potions. He drinks a few in one go, screwing up his face in disgust. "Not exactly the sweetest mixtures in Gaia, are they?" he asked.
***
Zidane were standing in the cemetery. Mikoto came to him. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"I don't know." he answered. "It's like a dream."
"What is?" Mikoto asked.
"My life." He responded and sighed. "I keep trying to settle down but I can't. I'm travelling from place to place, yet I know my heart is with Dagger in Alexandria. I can't seem to find any peace. I think that's why I am taking Kuja back with me, to see if that's what I need to get peace in my heart."
***
Kuja breathed deeply. "Thank you, mage."
"My name is Vivi." Vivi replied.
"...Vivi? Don't the rest have numbers?"
"...Well, yes. But my grandpa called me Vivi."
"But..."
"Not my real grandpa." Vivi added hurriedly. "He adopted me... when I fell out of the Invincible."
"I am sorry." Kuja replied.
***
At the Inn, Zidane was lying in bed. Many thoughts ran through his head. he yawned, stretched and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm insane." he said to himself, and shortly after, he fell asleep.
"Zidane?" Mikoto asked. When she saw that he was asleep, she turned around. She started to walk out, but stopped as she reached the door. "Goodnight." she said and went outside.
***
"Freya!" Fratley woke with a start. He looked around the bedroom to find no sign of his
love.
"Freya?"
Lifting his blade from it's resting place on the wall, the dragon knight crept through a high arch doorway. His senses became keener, and as he crested the threshold, something strange happened.
Suddenly, inside his mind Fratley saw things, smelt and heard things. He did not know what they were, but he knew there was a threat, and burning into his rising subconscious was the image of a man in a white cloak.
In a furious whirl he began attacking everything in sight, leaving nothing standing, except half a table.
"Fratley!" Was it in his mind or the real world?
"Fratley! Stop!"
As immediately as he had slipped into his dream- world, Fratley snapped back out. He surveyed the room around him. Everything was totally devastated, ravaged from ceiling to floor. Freya stood in front of him, shocked. He dropped to his knees, silent. Tears fell to the floor like the rains outside, making a pool, reflecting Fratley's own guilty face.
"I'm sick, Freya. It's not safe. Not for you or for me, but more importantly, it's not fair. Here - take this away from me." He offered up his spear. "All it does anymore is torment us both."
He rose to his feet and walked to the door.
"Where are you going, my love?"
"Fratley Crescent is a broken man, Freya. I must rebuild him."
"Not another quest. How close did we come to losing each other before?"
"No more quests. I'm going to do something that has been waiting for a long time. I love you, Freya Crescent. Never forget that."
***
A/N: Well, hope you enjoyed this. In the next chapter, we're finally going to get moving (off to Alexandria!) Also, soon, the whole gang will get together. Well... almost everyone... R and R people! (That's Read and Review for those of you not in the internet writing circles)
Credit has to go to Rikke (Zidane and Mikoto) and Prophetic Minion (Freya and Fratley) for their help in writing some parts.