Chapter 5 - Reunited
Disclaimer: I don't own FFIX and all it's related places, people etc, I wish I did. I won't be making any profit from this work, again, I wish I did, I need the cash.
Note: Two make up for two short chapters, you can now have this very long one instead. Thank you to my reviewers again, I very much doubt I'd keep going were you not reviewing this. I promise something better will happen, and it's going to start in this chapter.
DDD
Beatrix stood by the door, watching as the Queen, Zidane and the six mages ate; as much as Garnet had tried, none of the boys had her impeccable table manners yet. Sola stood, dropping his knife and fork onto his plate. "Sola, sit down." Garnet instructed, thinking that the other boys had dared him to do this. She did not know the boys by sight, they were too alike for her to even try, but each wore a coloured armband to show who was who.
"He's here,"
The little mage ran to the big double doors, which opened just as he got there. Freya entered, a man with dark hair and a teenaged boy followed her; the boy wore a bandage around his eyes, besides this, he was uninjured. Yellow eyes began to water as Sola backed away; Vivi was not there, he had been wrong. "Sola?" The teenager asked him, moving towards the boy. "Don't cry Sola," He tugged at the bandage over his eyes before folding the mage in a big hug.
"Dad?"
The feel of magic coming from the newcomer, along with his eyes and voice, convinced the most magically powerful of the boys as he hugged Vivi back, crying tears of joy. The other boys ran up to join them, each desperate to hug Vivi. "One at a time please," Vivi's voice cracked with tears as he let Sola go. Zidane looked questioningly to Freya, she just shrugged slightly and jerked her head in Vivi's direction; Zidane nodded grudgingly, realising that Vivi needed to be with the boys first. "Ollan, my little music maker, how are doing with your music now?"
"Music sings to my soul, I love it more then magic."
The other five laughed slightly, they knew Ollan was lying about that. Vivi laughed too, hugging his musical son, "You're a very bad liar Ollan, but I wouldn't have you any other way." He let Ollan go, turning to Calan. He worked through each in turn quickly. "Hello Valian," He said when he came to the youngest one; Valian gave him a big hug, burying his small head in Vivi's shoulder. "Oh my sons, I'm so glad to come back to you."
Finally, he looked to Garnet and Zidane, bowing to the Queen. "Your Majesty," He smiled widely. "It's very good to see you again, you too Zidane."
"Same back at you Vivi, a little shocked if you must know, I thought you'd stopped."
"I - I never said that. I'm here because something bad has happened, Kuja's back."
This shocking statement had an interesting affect on those who were listening; Zidane shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, of course he is, I went back for him." Garnet did not look at all shocked, as if she had known this all along. "We helped each other out of the Iifa tree; he lives and works here in the castle." Vivi eyes widened in surprise at this, he shook his head in disbelief.
"Zidane, he tried to kill me! He killed the congregation at Esto Gaza."
The Genome shook his head, "Vivi, Kuja's been here since I have, I've seen and spoken to him every day. He isn't the same any more." He tried to explain to the frustrated mage. "He's a broken man; he can't even cast magic any more."
"He killed Daihan's sister, and he nearly killed Daihan too."
One of the doors into the dinning room opened and a modestly dressed Kuja entered; a limp was clear as he walked, his tail was free of his trousers and his long white hair was tied neatly in place. Vivi's eyes flashed white in colour as a spell entered his mind, words slipping from his mind to his lips. "Vivi, don't," Zidane commanded simply when he saw what his friend was doing. "Was this the man who did all those things in Esto Gaza?"
"Vivi? Why is it that this name sounds familiar to me?"
A piece of potato hit the white haired Genome, "Turo!" Zidane snapped, Kuja merely smiled slightly, as if he were used to such things and the little mages broke into helpless laughter, except Valian, who wholeheartedly believed his father. "You know the name very well, the boys wouldn't let you forget it and you should remember the person too."
A faint look of recognition entered Kuja's blue eyes as if he now knew who Vivi was; he bowed his head to the teenager. "In the past, I committed many sins against you; your forgiveness shouldn't be sought." Vivi's eyes narrowed, he found all of this very suspicious.
Kuja slipped into a seat besides Zidane and wiped the potato from his jacket with a napkin delicately. The Human Black Mage sat next to Turo and Valian; he was very deeply shocked by this new mellow Kuja. "I can't explain it, but everything changed after the Iifa tree." Zidane explained before ducking his head, he had never told the full story before. "After you all left, I made my way down to Kuja. The tree rebelled against us and loads of vines rushed towards us but it never hit, we were surrounded by this really bright light and then we were out." Everyone was listening intently; even Garnet had never heard this part of the tale before, Zidane offered a grin. "We're not sure how we got out; it's been driving Kuja mad since we got back."
Valian lent into his father, resting his head on Vivi's arm. "Papa, you've got to promise not to go away again." He whispered, drawing Vivi eyes to his own; the strangest thing was that Vivi could not remember why he had gone away in the first place.
"What about you Vivi? You look pretty different too, what happened?"
Vivi looked to Zidane before he looked at his children in turn; he sighed. "T - This is what I really am." He offered, "I - I guess I should start from what I remember." He told them all about waking up in Esto Gaza, missing out anything that would give the boys nightmares. "I remember leaving the Black mage village three years ago but … not what's happened until I got to Esto Gaza. I've tried to remember but I can't."
"That's for emotional reasons,"
Vivi's eyes snapped up to Kuja, who smiled a very small smile in return. "I cannot remember anything about the life I led before we escaped from the Iifa tree; sometimes I have dreams and nightmares but no real memories." The Genome who had previously been the Angel of Death explained. "I know I did wrong, but only things other have told me can tell me what."
"I - I don't think I did anything wrong,"
Nicara sat with his hands in his lap, "Amnesia perhaps," the intellectual mage suggested. He spent a great deal of time in the palace library and Dr. Tot valued him as an assistant. "But I've never heard of something so localised, yet, there is prior evidence of amnesia in the subject." A lump of potato hit him in the face.
"Turo!"
"Sola!"
Garnet and Zidane yelled at the same time, looking to each other. "It wasn't me," Both mages replied in unison, thought both would have proudly claimed the excellent shot. Vivi eyes drifted to Valian and he chuckled slightly, it had been the youngest mage who had thrown the potato.
"W - Why are we talking about this now?" The littlest mage questioned, "I just wanna be with dad, I don't need reasons." He hopped from his seat, running out of the room. The other boys made no excuses for themselves as they followed Valian.
"E - Excuse me your highnesses."
Vivi bowed his head to both Garnet and Zidane as he left; he could sense the deep emotional scar that his leaving the boys had created as if it were his own pain. "Valian," He attempted at length. "Apologise to your brother." All the boys turned to face him, each clamouring for another hug that he quickly gave; they were all scared that he was going to go away again.
"Sorry Nic,"
"It's okay Val; I know you didn't mean it,"
Vivi smiled slightly, he was very glad that they all still listened to and cared for him. "I'm sorry I sent all of you to Alexandria alone, I meant to follow you here but …" He trailed off, looking into each pair of yellow eyes in turn. "I missed you all so much,"
They all made signs that showed him they felt the same. "I want you all to be very cautious, the man who destroyed Esto Gaza is really powerful and you're all in danger if he's after me." Vivi told them all honestly, "Whenever you can, I want you to be around another person."
"O - Okay,"
Hearing the chorus of affirmatives, one that he had used so many times himself, Vivi nodded slightly. "Preferably someone older, someone who can defend themselves," Calan looked him in the eyes, a challenge to his manner; Vivi rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're all very strong, and that your magic is equal to if not better then mine was when I first met Zidane but Kuja, or whoever this is, is a lot stronger. I believe in you all and I know you're all going to do as I say." He looked to Sola and Turo, "Aren't you?" They nodded, Vivi had told them many stories about Kuja from the past and knew to respect anyone utilising that degree of power. They nodded, setting their 'father's' mind at rest ever so slightly.
DDD
Disclaimer: I don't own FFIX and all it's related places, people etc, I wish I did. I won't be making any profit from this work, again, I wish I did, I need the cash.
Note: Two make up for two short chapters, you can now have this very long one instead. Thank you to my reviewers again, I very much doubt I'd keep going were you not reviewing this. I promise something better will happen, and it's going to start in this chapter.
DDD
Beatrix stood by the door, watching as the Queen, Zidane and the six mages ate; as much as Garnet had tried, none of the boys had her impeccable table manners yet. Sola stood, dropping his knife and fork onto his plate. "Sola, sit down." Garnet instructed, thinking that the other boys had dared him to do this. She did not know the boys by sight, they were too alike for her to even try, but each wore a coloured armband to show who was who.
"He's here,"
The little mage ran to the big double doors, which opened just as he got there. Freya entered, a man with dark hair and a teenaged boy followed her; the boy wore a bandage around his eyes, besides this, he was uninjured. Yellow eyes began to water as Sola backed away; Vivi was not there, he had been wrong. "Sola?" The teenager asked him, moving towards the boy. "Don't cry Sola," He tugged at the bandage over his eyes before folding the mage in a big hug.
"Dad?"
The feel of magic coming from the newcomer, along with his eyes and voice, convinced the most magically powerful of the boys as he hugged Vivi back, crying tears of joy. The other boys ran up to join them, each desperate to hug Vivi. "One at a time please," Vivi's voice cracked with tears as he let Sola go. Zidane looked questioningly to Freya, she just shrugged slightly and jerked her head in Vivi's direction; Zidane nodded grudgingly, realising that Vivi needed to be with the boys first. "Ollan, my little music maker, how are doing with your music now?"
"Music sings to my soul, I love it more then magic."
The other five laughed slightly, they knew Ollan was lying about that. Vivi laughed too, hugging his musical son, "You're a very bad liar Ollan, but I wouldn't have you any other way." He let Ollan go, turning to Calan. He worked through each in turn quickly. "Hello Valian," He said when he came to the youngest one; Valian gave him a big hug, burying his small head in Vivi's shoulder. "Oh my sons, I'm so glad to come back to you."
Finally, he looked to Garnet and Zidane, bowing to the Queen. "Your Majesty," He smiled widely. "It's very good to see you again, you too Zidane."
"Same back at you Vivi, a little shocked if you must know, I thought you'd stopped."
"I - I never said that. I'm here because something bad has happened, Kuja's back."
This shocking statement had an interesting affect on those who were listening; Zidane shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, of course he is, I went back for him." Garnet did not look at all shocked, as if she had known this all along. "We helped each other out of the Iifa tree; he lives and works here in the castle." Vivi eyes widened in surprise at this, he shook his head in disbelief.
"Zidane, he tried to kill me! He killed the congregation at Esto Gaza."
The Genome shook his head, "Vivi, Kuja's been here since I have, I've seen and spoken to him every day. He isn't the same any more." He tried to explain to the frustrated mage. "He's a broken man; he can't even cast magic any more."
"He killed Daihan's sister, and he nearly killed Daihan too."
One of the doors into the dinning room opened and a modestly dressed Kuja entered; a limp was clear as he walked, his tail was free of his trousers and his long white hair was tied neatly in place. Vivi's eyes flashed white in colour as a spell entered his mind, words slipping from his mind to his lips. "Vivi, don't," Zidane commanded simply when he saw what his friend was doing. "Was this the man who did all those things in Esto Gaza?"
"Vivi? Why is it that this name sounds familiar to me?"
A piece of potato hit the white haired Genome, "Turo!" Zidane snapped, Kuja merely smiled slightly, as if he were used to such things and the little mages broke into helpless laughter, except Valian, who wholeheartedly believed his father. "You know the name very well, the boys wouldn't let you forget it and you should remember the person too."
A faint look of recognition entered Kuja's blue eyes as if he now knew who Vivi was; he bowed his head to the teenager. "In the past, I committed many sins against you; your forgiveness shouldn't be sought." Vivi's eyes narrowed, he found all of this very suspicious.
Kuja slipped into a seat besides Zidane and wiped the potato from his jacket with a napkin delicately. The Human Black Mage sat next to Turo and Valian; he was very deeply shocked by this new mellow Kuja. "I can't explain it, but everything changed after the Iifa tree." Zidane explained before ducking his head, he had never told the full story before. "After you all left, I made my way down to Kuja. The tree rebelled against us and loads of vines rushed towards us but it never hit, we were surrounded by this really bright light and then we were out." Everyone was listening intently; even Garnet had never heard this part of the tale before, Zidane offered a grin. "We're not sure how we got out; it's been driving Kuja mad since we got back."
Valian lent into his father, resting his head on Vivi's arm. "Papa, you've got to promise not to go away again." He whispered, drawing Vivi eyes to his own; the strangest thing was that Vivi could not remember why he had gone away in the first place.
"What about you Vivi? You look pretty different too, what happened?"
Vivi looked to Zidane before he looked at his children in turn; he sighed. "T - This is what I really am." He offered, "I - I guess I should start from what I remember." He told them all about waking up in Esto Gaza, missing out anything that would give the boys nightmares. "I remember leaving the Black mage village three years ago but … not what's happened until I got to Esto Gaza. I've tried to remember but I can't."
"That's for emotional reasons,"
Vivi's eyes snapped up to Kuja, who smiled a very small smile in return. "I cannot remember anything about the life I led before we escaped from the Iifa tree; sometimes I have dreams and nightmares but no real memories." The Genome who had previously been the Angel of Death explained. "I know I did wrong, but only things other have told me can tell me what."
"I - I don't think I did anything wrong,"
Nicara sat with his hands in his lap, "Amnesia perhaps," the intellectual mage suggested. He spent a great deal of time in the palace library and Dr. Tot valued him as an assistant. "But I've never heard of something so localised, yet, there is prior evidence of amnesia in the subject." A lump of potato hit him in the face.
"Turo!"
"Sola!"
Garnet and Zidane yelled at the same time, looking to each other. "It wasn't me," Both mages replied in unison, thought both would have proudly claimed the excellent shot. Vivi eyes drifted to Valian and he chuckled slightly, it had been the youngest mage who had thrown the potato.
"W - Why are we talking about this now?" The littlest mage questioned, "I just wanna be with dad, I don't need reasons." He hopped from his seat, running out of the room. The other boys made no excuses for themselves as they followed Valian.
"E - Excuse me your highnesses."
Vivi bowed his head to both Garnet and Zidane as he left; he could sense the deep emotional scar that his leaving the boys had created as if it were his own pain. "Valian," He attempted at length. "Apologise to your brother." All the boys turned to face him, each clamouring for another hug that he quickly gave; they were all scared that he was going to go away again.
"Sorry Nic,"
"It's okay Val; I know you didn't mean it,"
Vivi smiled slightly, he was very glad that they all still listened to and cared for him. "I'm sorry I sent all of you to Alexandria alone, I meant to follow you here but …" He trailed off, looking into each pair of yellow eyes in turn. "I missed you all so much,"
They all made signs that showed him they felt the same. "I want you all to be very cautious, the man who destroyed Esto Gaza is really powerful and you're all in danger if he's after me." Vivi told them all honestly, "Whenever you can, I want you to be around another person."
"O - Okay,"
Hearing the chorus of affirmatives, one that he had used so many times himself, Vivi nodded slightly. "Preferably someone older, someone who can defend themselves," Calan looked him in the eyes, a challenge to his manner; Vivi rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're all very strong, and that your magic is equal to if not better then mine was when I first met Zidane but Kuja, or whoever this is, is a lot stronger. I believe in you all and I know you're all going to do as I say." He looked to Sola and Turo, "Aren't you?" They nodded, Vivi had told them many stories about Kuja from the past and knew to respect anyone utilising that degree of power. They nodded, setting their 'father's' mind at rest ever so slightly.
DDD