Angel Blacklight here… wow it has been a while. Switching computers took a while to get all my data on. Well, I'm actually doing this chapter for one of my BEST friends; Emzies. This one goes out to YOU!

Ever After

Chapter 4

"If all were so easy, why, none would suffer in this world!" – Zidane Tribal.

Suddenly the floor caved in, sending Zidane falling into the hideout, with an uber big whole in the roof. "AHHHHHHHHH- oof!" Zidane had hit the floor… hard.

Six people came running inside the room, in shock. And one came in, laughing. That of course, would be the boss. "Gwahahahaha! Looks like you'll be fixin' our roof kid." Baku said, and walked out.

"Z-Zidane? Are you… okay?" Sydney asked upon seeing the look on Zidane's face.

"I'm fine…" If Zidane had said, 'my butt hurts' it would have been an understatement. He was in PAIN!

"Well… if you're sure your okay then…" Cinna never finished his sentence, just walked out of the room, leaving Blank, Ruby, Sydney, Josh, and Marcus standing there, and Zidane wincing in pain. "I think I broke my tail bone…" Zidane squeaked.

That's when Joshua took his leave. He knew what was coming. "I broke my tail bone once! I fell on a tree." Sydney said cheerfully.

"No… I meant my TAILbone. I think I broke my TAIL!" Zidane said as he stood up slowly.

Ruby sighed, "I think ya are jus' over reactin'. Ya 'ave gotten a far worse beatin' than dat n lived." She said as she shook her head, causing her wavy blue-green hair to sway. Blank just nodded and looked at the clock. "Hey Zane? I know you have to leave soon, but you think I could talk to you a minute, alone?"

Zidane shook off his momentary pain, "Sure." Ruby took the hint, smiled and left the two best friends standing there. She went off to talk to Sydney. "What's goin down?" Zidane asked with curiosity as he tilted his head slightly.

"I think I'm gonna do it soon; after Tyler gets here. And speaking of Tyler, do you think that you could help out tomorrow?" Blank didn't waste any time getting out what he needed.

"Sure. It'd be no prob. I can't wait to meet him." Zidane smirked evilly and tilted his head downwards to cast his eyes in the shadows.

"Don't you DARE scar him yet. He's still a kid ya know. Besides, he aint used to guys like us… give him a while." Blank warned.

"No fair, but fine." Zidane said. He glanced at the clock. Ten minutes till he was SUPPOSED to be at the castle, and it took seven to get from the Hideout to the Air cab station and another five minutes to get to the castle. He was in T-R-O-U-B-L-E. "Blank, I gotta head out. I'm gonna be late. Tell everyone bye for me, I'll be back tomorrow though, what time should I be here."

"Just whenever you feel like comin'. Take it easy, Zane." Blank smiled and walked out of the room, leaving Zidane to jump out the window and run at a break-neck speed to the station and make it to the castle in time.

"I still don't see why I have to do this…" Ginny complained quietly as she looked down at the dress she was wearing. It was white and set at a strange style. Nevertheless, she liked it, even though it was a dress; something she hated. The front of the dress was short, coming up 9 ½ inches about her knees, a little more than enough to hide her ahem private places. Yet the back, flowed down to the ground, dragging it even. It was a very unusual style. (Like Chi's dress from Chobits)

"Because, Sweetie, because of who you are." Georgie said as she ran a brush through Ginny's long, silky, brown hair. "Now hold still." She continued to brush Ginny's hair until it looked perfect. Straight down her back, and her long bangs framed her face. That was only a minor difference between her and Garnet, of course, only someone with OCD would notice.

"Where's Mat and Emzies?" Ginny asked as she stood up and put on a sliver-chained necklace with a jeweled pendant attached to it. It looked a lot like the one Garnet wore, but it was different, slightly.

"Oh… they said something about going to find someone… but nothing else about it, well… nothing I can tell you. I promised. Sorry. But they told me to tell you, that if this works and he actually falls for it, to tell him; its far time he knew. Answer his questions, but don't tell him everything; got it?" Georgie asked as she ran her fingers through her own hair.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got it, but how will I know what to answer and what NOT to answer?" Ginny asked as she stared at herself in the mirror and grabbed her black cloak.

"You're not stupid… now go. Hurry, the party is about to begin and you wouldn't want to be late now would you?" Georgie smirked. This was fun. She shooed Ginny out of the three bedroom hut and threw her a small package. "a little gift from Emz." She said, and walked back into the house.

Ginny nodded and put her cloak on, and the little brown package in her cloak pocket. 'Tonight is going to be so much fun, and at the same time horrible…' she thought as she put her hand over her pendant and closed her beautiful blue eyes slowly.

Zidane was running as fast as he could to his room, he HAD to get ready. It was time for the party to start already and he was still in his 'peasant' clothes. He ran to his room and got ready as fast as he could; showering, dressing, and fixing his long shaggy hair.

Garnet was completely ready. She knew everyone else was downstairs waiting on her, but she had to make the final touches to herself. She smiled into the mirror and then sprayed a dab of perfume on herself. She arose to make her way down, but the window burst open. A figure, a rather small looking figure, wearing a black hooded cloak jumped inside. She could see the person's mouth, but only that. And the mouth was smiling, no, smirking.

Garnet stifled a scream and stood tall. "Who are you and what do you want?" She asked bravely.

"Not much." A voice replied. A girl's voice! The girl pulled out the root of a plant. Sleeping weed! She pushed Garnet to the ground and put the weed under her nose, but in the action her hood fell off. Garnet gasped, she looked up at the girl, then went unconscious.

Zidane quickly walked down the steps and into the ball room. He was greeted by the guards at the door, and walked inside. Looking around, he saw Eiko and Vivi dancing and he smiled. He then saw Freya and Frately together and his smile widened. But he smiled the biggest when he saw Steiner and Beatrix dancing, a light blush tinting both their cheeks a rosy pink. He saw Amarant with his eyes on Eiko, making sure she didn't get into any trouble. That was 5 of the World Heroes. He made the sixth, but where was the seventh? Where was Garnet?

It was then that Zidane noticed there were a LOT more people than what were supposed to be. So much for a "small get together". He sighed and decided to go and look for Garnet without even asking anyone if they knew where she was. But he had a really good guess,

He walked up the spiral stairs that led to the telescope. He heard a sweet voice, and knew he had found Garnet. But… this wasn't their song. This wasn't the song he was used to… it was…

Different.

He walked up to the telescope and that's when he saw her; leaning against the railing, her long dress flowing behind her, her pretty brown hair straight and tame flowing down to the small of her waist.

Wait…

had her hair really grown THAT long since he came back?

And she seemed shorter, and smaller built. What was going on? "Garnet?" he asked softly, but loud enough for her to hear. She turned around revealing the front of her dress, which was the first thing Zidane noticed.

He walked over to her slowly, analyzing every detail of her. He was stunned. He had never seen her look so beautiful in his life. He put his hands on her arms and pulled her close to him.

She jumped backwards, onto the railing of the balcony, which cause Zidane's eyes to widen. She felt it. It was defiantly time. She smirked, just like Garnet did the night she and Zidane met, and fell backwards off the stone wall, that served as railing.

Zidane freaked out. How long of a drop was that anyways? He had no clue. He panicked. "GARNET!" He yelled as he leaned over the wall. But he jumped back in shock, and surprise as the strange scene unfolded before his cerulean eyes: There she was, Garnet, on the back of a Giant White Dragon. It was the most frightening, yet beautiful creature he had ever seen. Its eyes were sea-green and its markings were extravagant. And there stood Garnet, standing tall and fierce-looking, there was something in her eyes… something… different. There was a hand on her shoulder, and the owner of that hand was that of the Blue-Cloaked woman, Emzies.

"Let Garnet go!" Zidane yelled to Emzies. Emzies raised an eyebrow and looked at Garnet, who looked up at Emzies and smiled. Emzies bent over, and whispered something in Garnet's ear, which caused her to laugh and nod.

"I don't HAVE Garnet…" Emzies said in a cool, laid back voice. Her golden eyes were glowing mischievously, and the wind tossed her brown highlighted hair.

Zidane was NOT amused. He growled slightly and his tail swished back and forth threateningly. Garnet smiled, "Hey Zidane… are you REALLY that blind? Hm?" She asked with a sweet voice, her tone was higher than Garnet's. She sounded so much younger. Zidane blinked, "What?"

"Go ahead." Emzies said to Garnet.

"Are you sure that it is time?" Garnet replied.

Zidane was confused. "What. Is. Going. ON?" He shouted which only made Emzies smile and Garnet nod. Garnet leaped off the dragon, which growled in response to her sudden action. Garnet turned and faced the dragon. "Kamikaze, chill out. I aint goin' no where so calm down!" She told the dragon who… nodded.

Strange.

"Wait! Get back on. Something is about to happen and I don't wanna wait around for it." Emzies suddenly barked at Garnet, who snapped around and jumped onto the dragon, apparently named Kamikaze. "Go Kamikaze!" Garnet ordered and the dragon took off, leaving Zidane wide eyed and shocked.

Angel: Well… I know it was TOTALLY short, but don't worry, I'll make the next one longer. I just gotta post something before people think I died. :p

Mica: cough TYLER cough