Here's chapter two :) As usual, I own no part of Final Fantasy IX, it all
belongs to Squaresoft (rather, SquareEnix). Well enjoy, and don't forget to
leave me reviews. They help me improve :)
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The night was restless for Garnet, and she couldn't help wondering. Would tomorrow come and go without her knowing what happened to him? Only another week and he would be legally considered dead. He would receive a formal service and an empty grave in his memory. Garnet couldn't bear the though of giving up hope, or having to say goodbye. forever. No matter how little hope there was, she had always had a little voice inside her mind, telling her that it wasn't over, that he was on his way home.
The morning felt like it took forever to come, and then finally a loud knock sounded on the oak door of Garnet's chamber. "It's time your majesty! Do you need assistance in packing your things?" Beatrix's clear voice echoed in the hall outside her chamber.
"No, I can pack on my own. Thanks you very much for the offer; I believe I can manage," replied Garnet as she grabbed her brush from her bedside and ran it through her now shoulder-length hair. The day she cut it seemed so long ago. He was there, nodding approvingly at her. He believed in her. She carefully pulled her orange outfit on and packed some materials in her small duffle bag. After a few minutes of washing up, she grabbed the bag and strode out into the hallway, where Beatrix was waiting patiently.
"Shall we?" Beatrix asked respectfully.
"I think so," replied Garnet as she smiled.
Downstairs, Vivi, Steiner, Eiko, Freya, Quina and even Amarant had begun loading the ship with all the things they would need on their journey. Garnet could hear them chatting quietly, but still she could sense that the entire group was dreading what they may or may not find on their trip to the Iifa Tree. The first time they had gone the tree was still very active and tried to attack them at every chance it got. Of course this made exploration impossible. Now there were reports that the tree had fallen inactive, and just suddenly stopped moving. It sounded suspicious to Garnet, but if they even had a chance of finding Zidane, she would take it.
"Hey Garnet!" Vivi ran over to Garnet, smiling broadly. She waved in reply as Steiner marched over towards her, removing the duffle bag from her grasp, carrying it back to the ship.
"I think I can manage, Steiner! But I thank you for the offer." Garnet reached in the direction of the duffle bag, but Steiner pulled the bag from her reach.
"I insist your highness." Steiner continued towards the ship as Garnet sighed. He still treats me like a child, she thought. She decided to let him carry it, since she didn't feel like getting into an argument this early in the morning. Instead she headed on board the ship, and chose a spot to sit for the journey. It was a pleasant little spot near the stern where she could see over the rail and below the ship. It was sheltered from the wind, so it would be an ideal place to wait out the trip. It would take 2 days to reach the Iifa Tree, and it wouldn't be a happy trip. Everyone had fake smiles spread across their faces, but Garnet knew they were upset by the cheerless look in each set of eyes.
Once the ship had left the ground, Vivi attempted to start conversation as a way to heighten morale, but the conversation broke off into uncomfortable silences in a short time. Everyone had far too much to think about.
"So. What do you guys think we'll find?" Vivi broke the silence with one of the many questions that had frightening answers. The group all stared at the wooden planks beneath them, not really wanting to make eye contact.
"I know what were hoping to find. Does that count?" Eiko was the first to answer. Garnet respected her optimistic outlook on things, it was nice to see someone else was hopeful.
"I don't think we'll find anything, and if we do it'll be bad. No new is good news. I don't want him to be dead or anything, but just don't get your hopes up. He went into a literal hell and has been gone a year. Don't you think he would've made it home if he had survived? That tree was out to get him and Kuja too. I don't think either of them made it, as sad as that is, it's the truth. Don't be naïve and think 'Everything'll be fine because we have hope.' Hope doesn't kill people, but hope doesn't save 'em either." Amarant put the situation bluntly, as usual, angering the group a great deal. Particularly Eiko.
"What do you know!? We'll find him! You'll see." Eiko was sniffing as she yelled. Eiko soon after broke down into sobs; obviously overwhelmed. Garnet ran up beside her to comfort the small girl.
"Whatever. Face the facts people. You can't expect fairy tale endings." Amarant turned to walk away as he was speaking, but not before Garnet made her voice heard.
"Why do you have to be so cruel!? Do you even have a heart? This is extremely hard for all of us, can't you see that!? Just because you don't care about him, doesn't mean you have to upset everyone else with pessimistic attitude! Think about others for a change!"
"Looks like the princess has a thing for the thief. He's gone Dagger! Gone!" Dagger. It had been a while since anyone had called her that. Zidane was the last person to call her that when they were inside the Iifa Tree. It can't be true! Her thoughts turned from anger to sadness, as she was unsure of what to say.
"We all care about him, Amarant. Don't single Dagger out! I think you couldn't be more wrong about what's going to happen. B-but you have your own opinion and I have mine. Say what you want to say, but don't take away our hope. It's keeping us going!"
"Vivi." Tears formed in Garnet's eyes as she listened to Vivi's words. He had grown up so much since they had first met.
"Sure kid. Whatever you say." With this Amarant left; heading towards the airship cabins.
"Amarant just stubborn. He like Zidane, just upset." Quina decided it high time to that s/he put in his/her two cents.
"Quina's right. He didn't mean anything by it. He does care, but you know him. He has trouble with these types of things; he's far to stoic," Beatrix tried to justify Amarant's words.
What if he was right? What if Zidane were 'gone' and she never saw him again? Could he be.? No. He's alive, and we'll find him. He's coming home with us, and he'll never be pronounced dead. He just can't be gone, he just can't be! Garnet was troubled by these thoughts for the entire trip. Her mind was cleared only when the top of the Iifa tree could be seen over the rail of the ship. At least it was still there.
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*tear* So sad, yes? It's a little cheesy, but I really enjoyed reading it. The more reviews I receive, the quicker I get off my duff and update. Thanks for reading :)
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The night was restless for Garnet, and she couldn't help wondering. Would tomorrow come and go without her knowing what happened to him? Only another week and he would be legally considered dead. He would receive a formal service and an empty grave in his memory. Garnet couldn't bear the though of giving up hope, or having to say goodbye. forever. No matter how little hope there was, she had always had a little voice inside her mind, telling her that it wasn't over, that he was on his way home.
The morning felt like it took forever to come, and then finally a loud knock sounded on the oak door of Garnet's chamber. "It's time your majesty! Do you need assistance in packing your things?" Beatrix's clear voice echoed in the hall outside her chamber.
"No, I can pack on my own. Thanks you very much for the offer; I believe I can manage," replied Garnet as she grabbed her brush from her bedside and ran it through her now shoulder-length hair. The day she cut it seemed so long ago. He was there, nodding approvingly at her. He believed in her. She carefully pulled her orange outfit on and packed some materials in her small duffle bag. After a few minutes of washing up, she grabbed the bag and strode out into the hallway, where Beatrix was waiting patiently.
"Shall we?" Beatrix asked respectfully.
"I think so," replied Garnet as she smiled.
Downstairs, Vivi, Steiner, Eiko, Freya, Quina and even Amarant had begun loading the ship with all the things they would need on their journey. Garnet could hear them chatting quietly, but still she could sense that the entire group was dreading what they may or may not find on their trip to the Iifa Tree. The first time they had gone the tree was still very active and tried to attack them at every chance it got. Of course this made exploration impossible. Now there were reports that the tree had fallen inactive, and just suddenly stopped moving. It sounded suspicious to Garnet, but if they even had a chance of finding Zidane, she would take it.
"Hey Garnet!" Vivi ran over to Garnet, smiling broadly. She waved in reply as Steiner marched over towards her, removing the duffle bag from her grasp, carrying it back to the ship.
"I think I can manage, Steiner! But I thank you for the offer." Garnet reached in the direction of the duffle bag, but Steiner pulled the bag from her reach.
"I insist your highness." Steiner continued towards the ship as Garnet sighed. He still treats me like a child, she thought. She decided to let him carry it, since she didn't feel like getting into an argument this early in the morning. Instead she headed on board the ship, and chose a spot to sit for the journey. It was a pleasant little spot near the stern where she could see over the rail and below the ship. It was sheltered from the wind, so it would be an ideal place to wait out the trip. It would take 2 days to reach the Iifa Tree, and it wouldn't be a happy trip. Everyone had fake smiles spread across their faces, but Garnet knew they were upset by the cheerless look in each set of eyes.
Once the ship had left the ground, Vivi attempted to start conversation as a way to heighten morale, but the conversation broke off into uncomfortable silences in a short time. Everyone had far too much to think about.
"So. What do you guys think we'll find?" Vivi broke the silence with one of the many questions that had frightening answers. The group all stared at the wooden planks beneath them, not really wanting to make eye contact.
"I know what were hoping to find. Does that count?" Eiko was the first to answer. Garnet respected her optimistic outlook on things, it was nice to see someone else was hopeful.
"I don't think we'll find anything, and if we do it'll be bad. No new is good news. I don't want him to be dead or anything, but just don't get your hopes up. He went into a literal hell and has been gone a year. Don't you think he would've made it home if he had survived? That tree was out to get him and Kuja too. I don't think either of them made it, as sad as that is, it's the truth. Don't be naïve and think 'Everything'll be fine because we have hope.' Hope doesn't kill people, but hope doesn't save 'em either." Amarant put the situation bluntly, as usual, angering the group a great deal. Particularly Eiko.
"What do you know!? We'll find him! You'll see." Eiko was sniffing as she yelled. Eiko soon after broke down into sobs; obviously overwhelmed. Garnet ran up beside her to comfort the small girl.
"Whatever. Face the facts people. You can't expect fairy tale endings." Amarant turned to walk away as he was speaking, but not before Garnet made her voice heard.
"Why do you have to be so cruel!? Do you even have a heart? This is extremely hard for all of us, can't you see that!? Just because you don't care about him, doesn't mean you have to upset everyone else with pessimistic attitude! Think about others for a change!"
"Looks like the princess has a thing for the thief. He's gone Dagger! Gone!" Dagger. It had been a while since anyone had called her that. Zidane was the last person to call her that when they were inside the Iifa Tree. It can't be true! Her thoughts turned from anger to sadness, as she was unsure of what to say.
"We all care about him, Amarant. Don't single Dagger out! I think you couldn't be more wrong about what's going to happen. B-but you have your own opinion and I have mine. Say what you want to say, but don't take away our hope. It's keeping us going!"
"Vivi." Tears formed in Garnet's eyes as she listened to Vivi's words. He had grown up so much since they had first met.
"Sure kid. Whatever you say." With this Amarant left; heading towards the airship cabins.
"Amarant just stubborn. He like Zidane, just upset." Quina decided it high time to that s/he put in his/her two cents.
"Quina's right. He didn't mean anything by it. He does care, but you know him. He has trouble with these types of things; he's far to stoic," Beatrix tried to justify Amarant's words.
What if he was right? What if Zidane were 'gone' and she never saw him again? Could he be.? No. He's alive, and we'll find him. He's coming home with us, and he'll never be pronounced dead. He just can't be gone, he just can't be! Garnet was troubled by these thoughts for the entire trip. Her mind was cleared only when the top of the Iifa tree could be seen over the rail of the ship. At least it was still there.
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*tear* So sad, yes? It's a little cheesy, but I really enjoyed reading it. The more reviews I receive, the quicker I get off my duff and update. Thanks for reading :)