Something to See
SakuraRibbons: Yeah! I have ten chapters up now!
Vivi: Ummm…that's great?
Eiko: Wait. Vivi, aren't you dead! (Gasps and shudders)
SakuraRibbons: I can't really explain…can I?
Zidane: Just read chapter ten.
Eiko: B-but Zidane is dead too… (Runs away confused)
SakuraRibbons: Haha Eiko! They're holograms of Zidane and Vivi!
Eiko: What's a hologram?
SakuraRibbons: Never mind. Please enjoy chapter ten!
Note: Italics are thoughts. Bold italics are mini-flashbacks. I replayed Disk Two and found out that the Burmecian soldier Dan had died. Just pretend he didn't.
Chapter Ten
Dagger's POV
Huh? This is so strange! How can I read this language? I clear my throat and start to read. "This says, 'I have found a new way to rebuild Terra. If I can find one piece of Terra, all I need to do is to drain power from the three Angels of Death and kill one human being.'"
"Of course," Steiner says. "Princess…the stone you brought back from Terra must be 'the piece' that Garland is looking for!"
I nod and look at everyone carefully. "I have only one question before you all go. How was I able to read the language? I am not from Terra so…" I trail off gazing at the ground.
"Dagger. Remember when we were in Memoria?" Freya asks. I nod. "Garland had said that all life can be traced back to a single source. Maybe the distant memory of Terra triggered a part of your brain, letting you read the language."
Amarant heads to the door. "I'm gonna leave. Later," he says walking out. One by one, the others leave too.
"Dagger? Do you think that I can stay here?" Eiko asks yawning a bit.
I smile at her. "Of course. Feel free to come and go as you please." Eiko thanks me and leaves too. Oh my god! I forgot to get Kuja and Mikoto! I search the entire castle but can't find them. Finally, I go to the only place left. The room that had the stone from Bran Bal.
"Mikoto? Kuja?" I call out. "Are you guys in here?" I see two huddled figures in a corner. "Mikoto, Kuja…is it you guys?" I ask peering at the two. Oh. My. God. Kuja and Mikoto are right here…but they look so…empty. I mean…their eyes are completely empty of anything.
I literally run out of the room, terrified. Calm down Dagger! Just get some help…
Suddenly, I see Beatrix walk by. "Beatrix!" I say relived.
The general salutes me. "Yes, Your Highness?" Beatrix asks.
"Beatrix! It's Kuja and Mikoto! They're…they're…" I can't bring myself to say it. I know that they're not dead…but…I don't think they have any souls left. Garland…you heartless monster! Why would you do this to them! Why did you…take out their souls?
Beatrix gives me a concerned look.
"Your Highness…is there something wrong?" she asks. I nod and point to the room silently. Beatrix goes in and I hear a gasp. She returns and shakes her head. "We have to keep you protected well. We don't want anything to happen to you, Your Highness."
"Beatrix…thank you for everything…" I say quietly. "What do we do now? We cannot leave the two genomes behind. And…now we know that Garland is even more powerful than before."
The general thinks for a moment. "Do not worry Your Highness, I will get some help for these two immediately." I nod and leave, absorbed in thought.
Of course. Garland needs the power from the three genomes. Kuja and Mikoto have…lost their souls…and Garland probably needs the power from the souls. But, why does he want me? Why…?
I keep walking, unaware of anything surrounding me. Walking out of the castle, another thought makes me realize something. Mikoto, Kuja, and Zidane are all genomes. Garland wants to rebuild Terra, so, he will need something to inhabit it. Oh! He could recreate the genomes with the souls of the Angels of Death!
"But why does he want me?" I ask to myself sitting by the water. "This doesn't make any sense! Zidane…why did you leave me here? All…alone…"
I've tried not to think too much about him. But…every morning…I keep thinking that I'll hear his voice. Zidane's.
"Dagger? Are you alright?" Eiko comes up and sits down next to me.
I turn to her. "No. Did you see Beatrix by any chance?" I ask.
Eiko looks at the sparkling water. "Yeah…but…how did it happen? I mean…we all know Kuja has some really powerful magic. Couldn't he have done something?" she asks pushing her hair back.
"I don't know," I say simply. "Eiko, I've thought about some things. I think that Garland is gonna use souls from the Angels of Death to make new Genomes. The only thing I don't know…is why he wants me."
The girl gasps. "I know where we can get some answers!"
"Where?"
"Oeilvert! When we got stuck in the Desert Palace, Kuja wanted Zidane to get a stone. I got to tag along and we went to this place called Oeilvert! And, there was stuff in Terran! I'm sure if we go there, we could get some more info!" The young girl takes a few breaths and smiles.
"Hmmm. Oeilvert huh? Alright, let's go there tomorrow. It'll take too long to get there today." I say. Right now, it's midday. And…I want to do something.
Eiko and I go back to the castle and I go tell Steiner something.
"Steiner…I have a favor to ask of you," I say bowing my head.
"Yes Your Highness. What would you like me to do?" the captain says saluting me.
"Ummm…I would like to go somewhere with Eiko today. I don't want to go into detail but…"
Steiner thinks for a moment. "I am concerned for your safety. After all that's happened, with the new attack on Kuja and Mikoto, Garland could strike at any minute again." I try to plead but Steiner just continues.
"However, you are very adapt at White Magic so…alright," he finishes. I bow to him once more and get Eiko.
"Eiko, would you like to go to Maiden Sari?" I ask, praying she'll say yes.
The girl puts her hands on her hips. "Heck yes! It's been forever since I've been there!"
I smile. "Let's hurry up then. I don't want anyone else coming along." Eiko nods and sighs.
"It would be a lot better if Mog was still here. She would've loved seeing the other moogles…" Eiko says sadly.
"Don't worry Eiko. You and Mog will always be together," I say carefully. She nods and we leave the castle once again.
Later
Eiko and I have just reached Madain Sari. The trip was quite dull, mostly because neither one of us spoke. "I'm BAAACK!" Eiko says cheerfully looking around for her moogles.
"Kupo! Lady Eiko is back!"
One of Eiko's moogles, Chimomo I think, comes up to both of us. "Where are all the other moogles?" I ask.
"At Mognet Central kupo! Slitzkin asked them to lend a hand, kupo! They told me if Eiko came back that I'd be waiting here," the moogle says. Chimomo does a backflip. "Why are you two here kupo?"
"We wanted to pray at the Eidolon Wall!" Eiko says. "Can we go there?"
"Of course! Go right ahead kupo!" Chimomo exclaims. Eiko and I walk to the entrance.
The young girl turns to me. "It's been over a year since I left Madain Sari. Dagger, do you think my ancestors will be mad?"
I kneel down next to the girl. "Eiko. Listen to me. I think they would be proud because of all the things you've done. Don't let yourself down, okay?" She nods and we enter.
"This place hasn't changed…" I say looking at the pictures of the Eidolons. Shiva, Ifrit, Ramuh…all of my Eidolons. Eiko and I kneel down and pray in our hearts.
'My ancestors…please…take care of all of us. And…Zidane…please be alright wherever you are.' I can feel my eyes burning and I let my tears fall. That's right Dagger…just cry for a change…
If you want, you can cry too Dagger. My shoulder is always available.
Oh yes. I remember Zidane telling me that when we first visited Madain Sari.
Dagger, I just wanted to tell you…no matter what happens, I'll always be at your side.
Zidane…you're not at my side now. Why?
Thanks Dagger…
What did I do? What should I do? Zidane…
"Dagger? Are you alright? You've been staring into space for a while," Eiko says suddenly. I rub my head.
"Ummm…I'm okay. Maybe we should leave…"
Eiko gives me a concerned look but doesn't question me. We say goodbye to Chimomo and board the airship.
I put it on auto pilot and go out to the deck. "Dagger. I know you miss him…so do I. I also miss Vivi a lot. But, we have to move on," Eiko says coming up to me.
"Eiko…I'm sorry about everything…" I say looking at the mountains that we're passing.
"What are you apologizing for? You didn't do anything wrong."
"I don't know what to do anymore. I know he's not coming back…but…I wish I had something to remember him by," I say sounding really pathetic.
The summoner thinks for a minute. Then she jumps up in surprise. "Of course! Dagger, Freya said that you knew how to read Terran because of that memory mumbo jumbo. But…what if Zidane gave you the power to read it. After all…he knows Terran," Eiko says.
I think about it and smile. "Thank you Eiko…"
And…thank you Zidane…
TBC
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Author's Note
Okay…this was a slightly lengthy chapter! I may not update this for a while because I'm working on a different fic. Anyway, comments, criticism, flames, and whatnot can be sent my way by pushing the little purple button!