A/N:

From: Jenki Emeralds:

"The story was sad really sad but I was wondering if everyone was in the story how come Vivi isn't even mentioned?"

Well Jenki, this story takes place a few years after the ending of FFIX… Do you understand it now? I don't want to spoil anyone by saying it out loud… but… Vivi can no longer be here.

Thank you all for joining me in this story! I hoped you liked it. All stories must end andthis story ends here. Please review and let me know what you thought about it, if you liked it or not and if you'd like to see more Final Fantasy IX fanfiction from me in the future. I'd like to say that I'm Dutch and no one has beta-read this chapter, therefore it might contain some spelling errors. For instance I'm not sure if the marriage ceremony is correct this way. But find out yourself and please don't mind any errors in this. I tried to get it right. This was my first ever Final Fantasy IX fic. I'm kind of satisfied with the way it turned out. It still needs some revising and it will all come in time I know, so look forward to that. Thank you.

Chapter four – The angel in white

And it would be so.

Regent Cid had come to the conclusion that there was no other way. Garnet would not live much longer and a suitable candidate had not showed up in time. Zidane had proven himself worthy and above all, he loved Garnet with every fibre of his body, and she returned this love. It was more than Cid himself could ever have hoped for, and he realised this. The wedding was planned within a week.

Zidane and Garnet spent their time wisely during the week. Zidane tried to be at her side as much as he could and that filled her with joy. She seemed to brighten up a little. She even seemed to feel better up until one day before the wedding day.

That morning, Beatrix repeatedly knocked on Zidane's door. When he answered her urgent call, she told him that Garnet had collapsed and that she was now in a very bad and serious state. Zidane had rushed past Beatrix and he had run as fast as his feet could allow him. Since then he had been sitting on the side of her bed.

He stroked her hair. The glance that normally shone on it had disappeared, but Zidane tried to ignore it. She had barely been conscious and now she was fast asleep. He monitored her breathing closely.

"She'll be alright… Right?"

Eiko placed her hands in her hips. The little girl had been lodging in Alexandria castle for the past week. She would be a bridesmaid. Zidane shrugged. He didn't dare think about what could happen.

"She'll be alright for tomorrow. She has to be." Eiko continued.

Zidane bit his lip. Nothing was certain. Everyone realised that Garnet was dangerously ill. Perhaps the wedding couldn't proceed. What would they do then? No. No, he shouldn't think like that. She would be fine. She would be there at his side and they would confirm their undying… Their eternal love.

A quick knock on the door disturbed Zidane's thoughts. Doctor Tot walked in. The man would normally smile, but now his face showed signs of age and exhaustion. His face was grimaced. He walked over to his former pupil, towards the young woman who was so near her death. He nodded at Zidane and sat down next to her. He felt her pulse and forehead, then checked his watch. He mumbled something and went on with his examination. Beatrix and Steiner had come in with him, a thousand worries written on their faces. After a long silence filled with tension, Tot scratched his throat.

"She is very ill." He looked directly at Zidane. "I am not sure if she will make it through the night…"

It was as if a stick of ice pierced through Zidane's heart. Everything in him turned cold. His motions had been blocked. His system shut down. In the distance he could hear a sob coming from Beatrix. Somewhere he could distinguish Eiko's voice. Everything around him turned pitch black. Just shades and darkness. He could only see Garnet in her white robe, lying on what was to become her deathbed. This beautiful angel… The angel in white. The sense of Tot's hand touching his shoulder awoke him.

"Now… She'll have to rest."

His voice did not sound like his own.

"And so do you." Tot sighed.

"Rest and pray."

Zidane thought he looked horrible the next day. His face was pale, his eyes were swollen and he overall seemed very tired. He had been awake all night, anxious for news on Garnet. Thankfully she had made it through. Her strong will had once again proven itself. The wedding was going on as planned. Both Zidane and Garnet were being dressed now. Steiner was by Zidane's side to give him supporting comments and to make sure that his fine suit would remain that way. On the other side of the castle, Beatrix was doing the same for Garnet. Both were very nervous. Beatrix had to hold the weakened Garnet to keep her from falling, much to Garnet's chagrin.

"I hope you don't hold my hand walking down the isle," she joked.

Beatrix didn't really answer. This made Garnet turn around.

"Beatrix, really… I can manage."

Beatrix' lips trembled. Suddenly Garnet felt tears burning in her eyes and she hugged the best friend she ever had.

Zidane took a deep breath as he stepped into the sun. As soon as he did, people starting cheering like mad. He grinned and waved at the crowds, then started walking towards the priest. He looked up at the sun. It sure was a beautiful day… Overshadowed by pain. He greeted Steiner and took his position. He felt nerves crawling down in his tummy.

It seemed like hours before the music started to play. Everyone seemed relieved. Loud cheers were heard as Queen Garnet walked down the isle. The white gown made her look angelic. She barely seemed to have trouble walking, which was unbelievable. She had been near death just hours before. Now she was smiling. Zidane stepped up next to her and they walked the last couple of metres together.

"You look beautiful," Zidane whispered. Garnet looked at him with intense pleasure.

"So do you."

He held her tight, afraid she would fall. Still somehow she managed it all the way. She seemed healthy again. Suddenly Zidane felt an immense sadness, but Garnet's soul-saving smile made him happy again. She clearly felt grateful being able to walk in the sun again. Feeling the wind brush past her cheeks, gently lifting her long hair, wavy.

Finally they reached the priest. They both kneeled before him. After the priest gave a short speech, the moment was there. He looked at Zidane.

"Please repeat after me."

He scratched his throat.

"Do you, Zidane Tribal, take Garnet Till Alexandros the 17th to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death thou do part?"

Zidane looked at Garnet, she smiled at him.

"I do."

Some cries of joy were heard among the crowds. Zidane grinned, then looked at Garnet again, who smiled at him lovingly.

"And do you, Garnet Till Alexandros the 17th, take Zidane Tribal to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death thou do part?"

Garnet took a deep breath and allowed her eyes to swift to the priest.

"I do."

Loud cheering was heard and Zidane and Garnet shyly laughed at each other. Even the priest shared a smile.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Zidane kissed her tenderly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with all her love. Their love felt stronger than ever before. The people cheered. Regent Cid and Hilda clapped their hands. Beatrix embraced her husband and wiped a tear, Eiko cheered like mad, Amarant couldn't hide his big smile, Freya and Fratley exchanged a loving smile, Quina bounced up and down and all the Vivis formed a little wave. There was sheer joy everywhere. Joy that would not last long. As the newlyweds cheerfully walked down the path to greet their people, little demons grew inside Garnet's body, waiting to torture her. The white angel was safe for now, she was strong. But on the inside, she was burning. Falling from her cloud, falling to her death, without anyone noticing. Not even Garnet herself.

The Gods would only let her have two days. Two days in which she could be happy. Two days to spend nearly carefree. Two days to cherish the moments. Two days to love her husband, two days to love Zidane. On the third day, everything went wrong. She wasn't able to get up anymore. Breathing was painful, so it automatically slowed down to the limit her body needed. Suddenly their fairytale was all over. Garnet was dying.

Garnet's eyes had been dull the whole time Zidane had been sitting next to her deathbed. He held her slender hand, pressing his lips upon it every once in a while, whilst never losing sight of her. Now finally all the people who Garnet loved were near. Even though her face was very shrunken and pale and her hair, which was the same it had always been, had lost its glance, she was clearly relieved. She still managed to send warmth to everyone involved. Somewhere in the background, soft music played a melody he had heard before. He tried to remember, but it had slipped his mind. He looked down, trying to prevent his tears from pushing past his eyelashes. Eiko was crying freely. She shook her head.

"Don't go…"

She sobbed.

"Please don't go!"

She ran forward and hid her face in the sheets. Garnet weakly placed her hand on the girl's purple hair and smiled.

Steiner tried to keep his emotions under control, which resolved in trembling lips. Freya was crying silently, Beatrix seemed helpless. Even the ever so silent rock Amarant tried not to look at anyone, afraid of showing his emotions.

Zidane listened to her breathing. Every time it became a little calmer, he felt uneasy and focused entirely on her breathing. It was only when she started breathing normally would he himself breathe again. Her breathing had become more intense now, her lungs tired from all the days of her illness. A small dark spot appeared on his white blouse, growing bigger immediately after hitting. Garnet noticed this too.

"Don't be sad." Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Eiko stepped away from the bed slowly, seeking comfort with Freya.

Zidane shook his head, unable to take it all.

She reached out to him and lifted his chin to make him look in her eyes. "Promise me you won't be sad…" She brushed his tears away gently.

"I…"

He just couldn't get the words past his lips. She caressed his cheek. She took a deep breathe.

"Promise me," she gasped, a painful grimace on her face. Zidane observed her worriedly. Garnet quickly forced a smile on her face. She gathered her strength once more.

"Please…"

It was no more than a sigh. Wiping a tear from his eye, Zidane nodded.

"I promise."

Garnet smiled and nodded shyly.

"Just remember," she whispered and suddenly touched Zidane's dagger which was always in his belt. "I will always be with you. I will always be your Dagger." Tears filled his eyes once more and this time he didn't bother to brush them away.

Garnet smiled as she sank back in her pillow, her body fully relaxing. Suddenly her ears caught the sound coming from another room. She looked at Zidane.

"Do you remember our song?"

Ashamed he slowly shook his head. It was suddenly as if Garnet's eyes had regained some of their natural brightness. She closed her eyes as she took her final breathe of air. She stared in his eyes. His beautiful, beautiful eyes. She would never forget those eyes. Slowly she whispered the lyrics to their most beloved song.

"If I should leave this lonely world behind

Your voice will still remember our melody

Now I know we'll carry on… Melodies of life…"

Suddenly she let out a small gasp and closed her eyes in pain. She opened them and looked at Zidane with a look of sorrow and fear. A tear formed in the corner of her eye. Suddenly it was over. Life had left this young and innocent creature, leaving all behind. As tears streamed down his cheeks, Zidane bent towards her and kissed her lips one last time. He slowly reached back up and closed her eyes. Then he started whispering. He remembered.

"Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts

As long as we remember..."

THE END