What's wrong with cliffhangers; ) lol!Just wanna say thanks to Emzie and Mog for their reviews! At least I know there's someone worth posting chapters for! There's no Mikoto in this chapter…but more killing and a taster of Ziddy's power. Oh and don't forget lots of conflicting emotions…oh how I love to make them suffer! Mwhahaha! Ahem… R&R!

Chapter 4

'Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harms we do, we do to ourselves.'
Mitch Alborn

He was truly the last person she expected to see and in her haze of death she thought it to be an apparition that her mind had created to try and peel her away from insanity. Freya just sat numbly on the floor and it took so much of energy just to notice that the impact of Steiner's sword had never come. She blinked and willed herself to look up one more time, to make sure that she definitely hadn't been hallucinating.

A man stood in front of her, blocking Steiner from sight. He wore a pair of torn black trousers and a filthy stained white shirt. His shoulder-length dirty, blonde hair was tied back loosely with a black band. In her disorientated state Freya probably wouldn't of recognized him if it hadn't of been for the sandy colored tail thrashing back and forth inches from where she sat.

'Zidane.'

Her eyes swelled with tears and the battle that raged like a storm around her blurred. He had returned! She had not seen him for years! The defeated Dragon Knight couldn't of been more grateful if the gods themselves had drifted from the heavens and aided them in battle. She couldn't begin to phantom why he would be in Burmercia, and at this time! Surely not to aid her tiny kingdom? He was Garnet's husband after all, why would he be fighting to protect the Dragon Knights? Freya was trembling slightly and on the brink of laughter that shook the tears from her eyes. She called to him in a tone inappropriate for the moment.

'Just in time as usual, eh monkey?'

She heard the strain in Zidane's voice when he replied: 'I wouldn't have it any other way.'

Steiner leapt away from the Genome with his mouth gaping open. Zidane stood protectively over Freya with a look that could move mountains. Steiner saw a mixture of anger, betrayal and sorrow swimming beneath the surface of his blue eyes that were furrowed by a deep frown. But there was something different about him; something about the way he stood, the way he held his two daggers and the way he stared at the Captain that informed him that Zidane was no longer the Genome he once fought alongside. He had changed in the past few weeks almost beyond recognition.

'Zidane…wh-what are you doing here?' the captain stuttered finally.

Zidane did not move from where he stood and seemed quite oblivious to the battle around him. The Dragon Knight's were becoming fewer in their numbers and the opposing army had advanced toward the castle again. In an attempt to slip past the archers they had brought out their own and were shooting arrows up to the castle wall trying to take them out. No one seemed to pay much attention to the reunited trio; the Alexandrian's being aware that Steiner would take care of them. If they had stopped to study the moment and seen the famous warrior Zidane, many would have undoubtedly fled the battle there and then.

'I thought it would be obvious why I'm here,' Zidane retorted, his eyes never leaving Steiners. 'I'm here to defend Burmecia.'

'B-but… surely you…I did not…'

'Why are you here, Steiner?'

'I am here because the Queen ordered me to… gain control of Burmecia.'

'Why?'

There was a short pause. 'Zidane, I don't know,' he answered simply.

'Do even realize what you're doing?' the Genome shouted furiously, pointing an accusing finger at the captain. 'You were actually going to kill Freya! Have you forgotten that she fought beside us in the battle for Gaia? Have you?'

'No, of course not, it pained me to do such a thing but…I cannot go against Her Majesty's wishes. Burmecia must be claimed under Alexandrian rule and Freya must be destroyed. Only I am strong enough to this. The Queen knew that…'

Zidane saw the glimmer of sorrow in his eyes and knew then that he had opposed Garnet's decision, that was probably the reason why she had sent him personally to deal with the matter. She knew it would be a personal blow to take out one of his closest friend's kingdom. He was only human after all.

'Stop this Steiner,' Zidane growled; he took up his attacking stance. 'Stop this or I will.'

Freya couldn't believe what she was hearing. Zidane was actually opposing his wife to defend herself and Burmecia? Had he risked their relationship to save them? Now she thought about it, it wouldn't have surprised her is he had. Zidane had a heart of gold and never faltered when finding the right direction to take, even it meant a personal sacrifice to get there. Freya couldn't see what Burmecia had done to provoke such a devastating assault from Alexandria but she was sure, just as much as Zidane was, that Garnet was the root of the deaths. Perhaps the queen had gone insane after all.

Steiner's rough voice snapped her from her thoughts.

'Zidane, I do not wish to fight you. In fact, I do not wish to fight at all, but if this is what the Queen wants then I have no choice but to follow her commands.' He was glowering menacingly at the Genome.

The thief seemed unaffected. 'I'm warning you; this is your last chance. Leave Burmecia now. Go back to your queen and say you have lost. I ask no more from you. Once I start fighting there will be few left to tell the tale.' He sighed then. 'You will be the last person I fight. I want you to see your troops massacred like Freya did hers.'

This surprised Freya. That certainly wasn't something Zidane would usually say. But she was grateful for the help, even though she doubted that Zidane could fall an entire army and then face Steiner after. She voiced her thoughts but Zidane stared ahead unperturbed. Was she underestimating him? Zidane did boast a fair amount of confidence in battle but this seemed absurd to her.

Steiner looked surprised at the Genome's words also, but took up his sword anyway and faced him in confidence. 'I cannot go against my duty to the queen. I shall never surrender!'

Zidane didn't bat an eyelid but raised an arm straight into the air. Suddenly, to there left, a mass of flames engulfed a portion of the Alexandrian troops. Freya and Steiner turned their heads toward the mass of screams and saw Vivi hovering above the crowds, his arms outstretched and his gloved hands smoking from his Firaga spell.

Vivi had developed his magic to such a high power level that he could achieve things that Zidane only dreamed of doing. Zidane found that he had a great affection for the black mage and his simple ways and sometimes found himself longing for the life that Vivi lead, living amongst his brothers and sisters. The Genome wondered if he could handle the sort of power Vivi yielded, for Vivi used it sparsely, normally accompanied with a light halfhearted look that just beamed modesty. Although, this time, as Vivi floated in mid air with a deadly aura of magic crackling and snapping around him, that look had diminished and was replaced with one of complete seriousness and concentration.

If it weren't for him Freya would probably be dead. They had arrived so quickly because of Vivi's ability to open up portals and transport them to anywhere in Gaia from where they stood. His modesty in his powers astonished Zidane. When, stepping out the portal and into the rain of Burmecia, Zidane had commented lightly: 'That's a pretty neat trick.' Vivi had merely shrugged and replied: 'It gets me from A to B.'

Now he held a much more frightening demeanor that sent waves of Alexandrians fleeing in all directions for their lives; desperate not to be caught in one the infamous black mage spells, especially if it was the world famous Vivi casting it.

Steiner had been so enwrapped with the sudden explosions of magic that he didn't notice Zidane leap away into the crowds. It caught him off guard to turn back and see the face of Freya staring at him from the ground. He turned to his right and what he saw paralyzed him.

At first he couldn't quite understand what had happened. It looked as if some sort of hurricane had passed through Burmecia and for an odd second he actually thought it had. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Freya stand by his side and stare disbelievingly with him. The battlefield had suddenly fallen quite silent, all that could be heard were the moans of the wounded, the hiss of the rain and the metallic drumming it made on their armor. Behind him, he could hear the screams of his men as Vivi wiped out large portions of his army with a spell here and there. Before him, all he could see was destruction.

Zidane stood amongst the bodies. He was picking off the survivors that ran from him like a mouse from a cat in a casual manner. He leapt through the air and pounced on one of them, broke the Alexandrian's arm as he tried to defend himself, then with a sickening crack he broke his neck and in a flash had leapt to another. She held up her shield when she saw him approach but Zidane tore through it with a thrust from his dagger and penetrated her skin beneath. Blood spurted up into his face and oozed down his chin but he didn't bother to wipe it. He left the soldier to die slowly and ran faster than Steiner thought possible to his next victim who stood quivering amidst his comrades in fear. Steiner didn't even see the dagger fly through the air, and he didn't think his soldier did either because he just stood their dumbly staring at nothing with a small knife protruding from his forehead. Zidane didn't do so much as glance at him before he was onto the others, slashing and slicing away limbs, cracking and splintering bones, dancing from one to another through fountains of blood that sprayed into the air like the rain.

Freya found a bubble of fear rise to the surface of her conscious and linger there as she watched him. He had the strength, speed and agility of god. It seemed inconceivable to her that anyone could grow that powerful, but there he was raking his way through Alexandria's toughest warriors as if they were no more than low-level Mu. He flicked them all aside as they were no more than irritable bugs and showed no emotion while doing so. It chilled her even more when she realized that he hadn't even reached Trance – he wasn't even at his full potential then!

The noise behind them died down and she realized suddenly that the little black mage stood beside her. He looked quite tired, he had nearly exhausted his magic power destroying half the Alexandrian army but at that point she didn't think that it was his fatigue that was bothering him. He was staring with his glowing amber eyes at the Genome who was continuing to slay all those that lived, except the Dragon Knights. The survivors looked lonely and lost, they were solitary statues in a garden of death. Freya felt relief flood her when she spotted Frately, looking as perplexed as anyone staring with a mixture of confused gratefulness and fear at Zidane.

'Be careful.'

Freya startled. Both her and Steiner looked down at the mage who was staring at the bloodied ground.

'Be careful,' he repeated, 'Zidane… he… I don't think he can control himself.'

'He does seem tireless,' Steiner muttered, practically to himself. 'I never imagined such power.'

Vivi sniffed. 'No. That's not it. He can control his power, I don't even think he even realizes he possess it.'

Freya, who could not take her eyes off the former thief, asked: 'What do you mean then?'

'He can't control his emotions.' Then he whispered, 'He tried to kill me.'

'What?' Steiner shouted in his bellowing voice. Vivi jumped and gave him a look.

'I…well… I think it was because of Dagg – Garnet. He leapt on me when I told him about Alexandria attacking Burmecia. He kept asking me if Garnet was here.' Then he added a little hesitantly: 'Is she?'

Steiner shook his head. 'No. Of course not.'

'Good. I don't think it would be safe for her to confront Zidane right now. He's unstable. Even Mikoto has difficulty soothing his temper.'

The news that even his beloved sister could not comfort him unsettled Steiner and Freya greatly. They knew how strong their relationship was. If she could not get through to him, who could?

Freya bounded away suddenly over to the remaining Dragon Knights who were congregating outside the castle walls in a dazed state that bordered on shock. She greeted Frately with an embrace and he sent her a questioning look. 'Who is he?' he asked. The remaining warriors crowded round and she thought even the archers leaned over the high castle wall to listen.

She looked over at Zidane who now sat atop a pile of dead bodies with his head hanging as if in prayer. He gripped his daggers so tightly she could see blood trickling from between his fingers. He was trembling slightly too, and she could tell he wasn't even tired. Vivi's right; he is unstable.

'That is Zidane,' she replied finally.

A gasp passed through the tiny crowd and they gave the Genome quick glances, both full of fear and respect.

'The Zidane?' Frately squeaked, clearly astounded.

Freya nodded in reply but thought: Though clearly not the Zidane I once knew.

She wondered then whether Zidane would kill Steiner. A part of her wanted to kill him herself, for he too had bought her close to death's embrace; surely he deserved the same treatment? But that part of he was small. She was too compassionate and forgiving and besides, she understood now that he had wanted nothing to do with this war. It was all Garnet's fault. Perhaps that was why Zidane had decided not to kill Steiner. Or maybe it was because he was too soft at heart to kill such an old friend as he. Either way, she was grateful.

'We should thank him,' one warrior said but looked expectantly at Freya.

The survivors of Burmecia – Citizens as well as warriors – had begun to trickle out into the streets. Many climbed out of hidden trap doors, while others simply emerged from their homes or from the sanctuary of the castle. The rain had begun to wash the blood away but the air still stank of death and flesh. A chorus of wailing and sobbing filled the air, heavier and more obtrusive than the dark clouds that hung above them. Medics ran to the wounded and carried them away, a lover or relative clinging to them and crying loudly. Houses had been ransacked, windows were smashed and the doors knocked off their hinges. Carts were overturned and the fruits squashed as easily as her people on the cobbled roads. Arrows and swords protruded from walls like pointing fingers and the ground squelched sickeningly beneath their feet.

Steiner had expected a massacre but he did not expect it to be a massacre of his own people. He mourned for them, as he knew that the Burmecian's would mourn for their lost ones. He felt sorrow for the killings because he did not know the reason behind them. He could not explain or justify himself. The whole time he had clung desperately to the thought I am performing my duty for the queen as desperately as a shipwrecked sailor clings to a piece of driftwood in a raging sea. But now it seemed meaningless. He felt his honor slip away from his grasp and he fell to his knees.

'Look what has happened. Look what I have done. All these killings…and for what purpose? I am no better than Kuja!'

He felt a hand touch his shoulder gently and he looked up into the oval eyes of the little mage. 'It was not your fault. You were only doing your duty, as you always have done. I respect your loyalty and I'm sure Garnet will when she returns to her normal frame of mind. Don't feel bad.'

'Normal frame of mind…' Steiner repeated the words with care, looking like he was tasting a new and exotic food. He sighed miserably. 'Ah me! Now what? Go back and receive more absurd orders from Her Majesty? I do not think I could stomach it.'

'No, no,' Freya said, coming up behind them both. 'Look at your troops. You have none. She would not attack until she has recovered them, and now she knows that Zidane, Vivi and myself fight against her, I'm sure think twice before she does anything rash.'

'I hope so,' Steiner muttered, and then looked up into the Dragon Knight's eyes. He got down on one knee and bowed deeply. 'Freya…forgive me.'

She dismissed it with a wave of your hand. 'If I were in your position I might well have done the same thing, old friend; it is the past now. Let us give thanks that we are alive and think only of the future, which I believe will be ominous.'

'I care not what you say; I am forever in your debt Freya. I have committed such a heinous wrong against you that I feel I cannot repay with just an apology.'

'You were only serving the queen,' she said a little reproachfully. 'Forget it.'

'Never!'

'She should be the one here apologizing to my kingdom and I, not you, Steiner.'

This silenced him. He looked around at the scene encircling him and wished he could stay and help, though he was not sure it would be accepted. It was best to return home.

'Where will you go?' Vivi asked, as if reading his thoughts.

'Alexandria. I must try and find the root of the queen's maddened state. Besides, I couldn't leave Beatrix alone to carry out her insane orders.' He smiled down at the mage. 'You have grown strong Master Vivi.' Vivi said nothing but stared at his shoes. If he could of blushed Steiner was sure he would have.

He gave one more glance at the Genome, then another apologetic bow to Freya, then trotted briskly from sight. He scanned the premises but Zidane had left no survivors save him.

When Steiner was out of sight Freya bounded over the corpses toward the Genome while Vivi lingered and received thanks from the townspeople. They offered him gifts of gold and an endless flow of money. The black smiths came out and weapons and armor were poured upon him. The little mage accepted their thanks but politely declined the gifts, saying he didn't need the material wealth and he was content with the life he lead. The citizens were astounded but did nothing except bow in thanks and dismiss themselves. A few lingered near Zidane, doubtful whether to approach him. They were equally afraid and appreciative of him and no one found the courage to go near. They left that job to Freya.

He had been sitting in the same position for quite some time, breathing very slowly. His head was bowed so low that his chin was resting on his chest and it reminded Freya of the time, all those years ago, when Beatrix had defeated them in Burmecia Castle. The air around him seemed to be electric and Freya felt the energy he conveyed pulse around her body. It was neither a pleasant or painful feeling so she adjusted her body to get used to it. Zidane did not look up as the Dragon Knight approached but she was sure he knew she was there.

'Zidane.' Pause. He didn't respond so she continued. 'On behalf of all of Burmecia, I'd like to thank you.' She got down on her knees and bowed low to the ground. Raising her head slightly, she continued, 'your strength has improved greatly. Vivi, Steiner and I were surprised. If I may ask, how did you acquire such power?'

When he didn't reply Freya looked up into his face, which she could see clearly now she was low to the floor. Age had been kind to him for he had certainly grown up to be handsome. His child-like roundness had dissipated; his facial bone structure was more prominent, giving a hard edge to his features. His electric blue eyes were slightly narrower than they used to be, making him look more intelligent and cunning. Because his body shape had thickened with muscle, he no longer possessed his teenage scrawniness, and he was much taller than she remembered, making him look more elegant than the roughly kept thief he used to be. This made her wonder just how much his personality had changed.

She was about to press him further when he blinked and looked up. 'Did I really do all this?'

Freya wasn't sure if he was addressing her or himself but she answered anyway. 'Yes, Zidane, you did. Is it so surprising to you?'

He looked at her and she saw the fire behind his eyes, the passion that had kept him fighting. She was positive then, looking at the seemingly indestructible warrior above her, that he had only one motive that kept him killing: Garnet.

'I suppose it shouldn't surprise me really,' he replied slowly, studying his surroundings. 'Did Steiner go back to Alexandria?'

Freya nodded.

'Shall I help clear up?'

'No, no! Burmecia is forever in your debt, Zidane. We cannot ask more of you!'

'You're not asking more of me. Anyway, it was my decision to help you, I wasn't going to sit back knowing that you could be dead. Burmecia owes me nothing.'

'Burmecia owes you everything! If it wasn't for you we-'

'Where's Vivi?' he interrupted.

'I'm here!' a voice squeaked.

Zidane and Freya turned and saw the little mage being fussed over by a number of people. He desperately fought through the crowd that bowed to him incessantly and sung him praises.

The crowd fell into a hush and toppled over like dominos into deep bows as Zidane strolled over to them; viewing him as their savior once again. The Genome only glanced at them indifferently then offered Vivi an all-consuming, Zidane-style grin.

'Shall we go, or do you want to stay longer?' he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

'Oh…um… I'd like to stay and help out a little longer, if that's okay…'

'Course it is! Do you mind dropping me off back to the Mage Village first? I'm starving.' The grin widened and Freya felt strangely heartened.

'S-sure.'

Zidane turned to Freya. 'I'm glad I could help. If they attack again don't hesitate to contact me, okay?' Then as an after thought, 'and send my regards to Sir Frately! See you later.'

He had disappeared through a portal a few seconds later and as it vanished with a crackle all Freya could say was, 'Take care of yourself Zidane.'

Next chapter a surprise character is added in an unusual form and the severity of Garnet's condition is explained….I'll update soon!