We sailed across the air before
we learned to fly.
We thought that it could never end.
We'd
glide above the ground before we learned to run. Run!
Now it
seems our world has come undone.
Oh, they say that it's
over.
And it just had to be.
Oh, they that it's over.
We're
lost children of the sea—
"Children of the Sea"—Black Sabbath
Mother Terra
Chapter II
When Garnet returned from her stroll with Hunter, Zidane was waiting for them.
"Did you finish whatever you had to discuss with Mikoto?"
"Yeah, and I need to talk to you about that."
"Oh?" Garnet began, while she placed Hunter in his nursery. "What do you need to tell me?"
Zidane motioned her into the master bedroom. "Tomorrow I'm going with Mikoto to the Black Mage Village."
"What for?"
"She had some interesting visitors."
"Visitors?"
"From Terra."
"What!"
Zidane smiled. "That's exactly how I reacted."
Garnet paced. "It's not possible!"
Zidane smirked. "I said the same thing, but it may actually be true."
"…Explain?"
"Well, none of us actually saw Terra destroyed. We boarded the Invincible and left the scene before the destruction happened…Basically, according to these genomes, Kuja didn't destroy all of Terra."
"What genomes're these?"
"The ones that came from Terra."
"I always thought all of them were from Bran Bal."
"So did I, but I guess you learn something new everyday."
"I wonder why Mikoto didn't want to say this in front of me? Even though she told me that I'd hear about it from you eventually."
"I don't know. I guess that's just how she is."
"What else did she tell you?"
"That all these genomes have souls."
"So in some ways they're like you, Kuja, and Mikoto?"
"In some ways, yes."
"What're they here for; or maybe the better question is, how did they get here?"
"Mikoto told me it was through the fabric that connects the two planets together—that's how they got here. As for why they're here, Mikoto told me that they want to complete what Garland started."
"What!"
"Yeah, I felt the same way, and they want me to help them on top of it."
"They'll never get it!"
Zidane nodded. "Damn straight they'll never get it! That's what they're going to find out tomorrow."
During their trip to the Black Mage Village, Zidane and Mikoto stayed inside a cabin. The air was cool, and snow loomed on the horizon.
"Did it ever snow on Terra?"
"No, Terra was a unique place. Everything was different there compared to Gaia. There was always light on Terra—never darkness. Water never flowed—it always stayed still…That's why when we first came to Gaia it was a culture shock."
"I wonder if it's changed since Kuja nearly destroyed it?"
"Maybe we should go and see?"
"Go if you wish, but Gaia's my home."
Mikoto paused before she finally nodded. "Yes, it's my home now too."
When Zidane and Mikoto entered the village, they were greeted by its residents. The most prominent for Zidane was Vivi.
"Hey, Vivi!"
"Zidane, you came!" Vivi—now a teenager—fiddled with his hands. "Somehow I knew that you would."
Zidane laughed. "What's this, Vivi? Are you expressing doubts?"
"No! No! It's just…well…I didn't know if you would with Dagger, and the baby, and all that."
Zidane chuckled, and wrapped an arm around the black mage's shoulders. "In a situation like this, you should've known that I'd be here." And then Zidane turned serious. "Have any of them bothered you?"
"No, they've been really friendly. I talked with their spokesman, Nuri."
"About what?"
"He asked me about our battle with Kuja, and he asked me about you."
"About me?" Zidane replied, while his voice rose a little.
"Y-yeah."
"What did he want to know about me?"
"About what you're doing now."
"And what did you tell him?"
"That you married Dagger, and you have a son named, Hunter."
Zidane lowered his head. "Part of me wishes that Vivi wouldn't have said anything. But, it's not his fault."
"Did I say something wrong, Zidane?"
Zidane smiled. "Oh, no, Vivi—you didn't do anything wrong."
Vivi was relieved. "Thank you."
"Where's this Nuri…? I'd like to see him."
"I can take you to him."
Again Zidane smiled. "Thanks, Vivi."
Vivi directed Zidane to an area of the village that was near the forest. A dozen genomes—men and women—leaned against the trees, but one with blonde hair, green eyes, and a little shorter than Zidane, sat on a bench. Beside him sat a black mage.
When the genome noticed Zidane, he rose from his bench. "Ah, the Angel of Death!"
Zidane squinted his eyes. "My name's Zidane."
"Yes, but Garland also called you the Angel of Death."
"Garland's also dead!"
The genome grinned.
"What's with that stupid grin?"
"Sorry, I'm being rude…"
"Damn straight you are!"
"I just think it's ironic to meet you."
Zidane relaxed. "Well, there's nothing special about me. I'm a person just like you."
"Garland had big plans for you."
"Well, I had other plans."
The genome smiled.
"I take it you're the leader, Nuri?"
"I am, Nuri, but I'm not the leader. We have no leader. We're all one! I'm simply the spokesman, because I'm the best communicator."
"Well, I consider those who speak for a group to be their leader."
Nuri smiled. "Very well then, I can be considered 'the leader' if that makes you happy."
Zidane returned the smile. "Thank you. Now, I understand that you're from Terra. Is this true?"
Nuri nodded. "It is."
"So Kuja didn't destroy all of Terra?"
Nuri shook his head. "No, not quite…Kuja was powerful, yes, but he couldn't destroy all of Terra."
"So what's left then?"
"A small island—the rest of Terra's covered by water."
"So the planet's dead?"
"For the most part, yes."
"And you want to restore a dead planet?"
Again Nuri nodded. "Yes."
"Why?"
"It's the master's will."
"The master's will? You mean Garland, don't you?"
For the third time, Nuri nodded. "Yes."
"But Garland's dead; why don't you just let his plan die with him?"
"How can you say that! How can you deny the land of your birth!"
"Because my home isn't Terra. My home isn't Bran Bal. My home's Gaia, Lindblum, and Alexandria."
"So then, you deny the land of your birth!"
Zidane turned to his side, and then turned back to Nuri with his hands in the air. "Yes, fine! I deny the land of my birth!"
"How could you!"
"It's simple. I have a wife, a son, my Tantalus brothers, and all my friends on Gaia."
"Hmph!" responded Nuri, while he pointed to the village. "Look there."
Zidane turned. He noticed the genomes that were from Bran Bal. "What about them?"
"Look at them. They're soulless. Unlike you, me, Mikoto, your infant son, and the rest of us," he added, while pointing to his crew, "they're without a soul. Is that right?"
"I don't know. Maybe you should've bitched to your dead master about it."
"Our dead master intended to give them a soul…But you put a stop to that…! You and Kuja that is."
"Again, I'm from Gaia, not Terra. Like I said earlier, I've denied the land of my birth."
Nuri nodded, turned to his side, and began to pace. "So you've said…But…don't you believe that those people deserve a soul?"
Zidane pondered the question. "What difference does a soul really make?"
"Simple, it makes you feel more alive."
"They seem alive to me. When I was recovering in this village over three years ago, I saw the happiness in their eyes. They learned what we on Gaia call 'love.'"
Nuri laughed. "Love? What a stupid word!"
"That's because you have no idea what love is!" Zidane sighed. "Look…here's what I think you guys should do. You should settle here in Gaia, find a good job, marry, and have kids. I know that some of the genomes from Bran Bal're doing it, and you can too."
Nuri smirked. "Here's a better idea, how about we restore Terra?"
Zidane scoffed. "Fine, do whatever you want! But I won't help you."
Nuri glared. "You may regret those words!"
And Zidane returned the glare. "Are you threatening me?"
"Take that however you want!"
Zidane stepped forward, and cocked his fists.
"Stop!" Nuri gestured. "I've no desire to fight you. Our conversation has ended."
Zidane did not stop glaring. "Damn straight it has!" And he turned to walk away.
But while he did so, he sensed a ball of heat. Although he did not see it, it felt like a black mage's fireball.
Zidane turned. A tree was on fire, and the black mage who sat beside Nuri was desperately trying to put it out.
Nuri's hand emitted a red glow that smelled like sulfur. And he watched as the black mage attempted to put out the fire. "I'm sorry about that. It won't happen again."
"Holy shit!" Zidane said, as he returned to the village square to find Mikoto and Vivi.
"What! He threw a fire ball just like a black mage!" shouted Vivi, while he, Zidane, and Mikoto shared a drink in the Ornitier home.
Zidane nodded. "I didn't actually see it, but I did see a red glow in his hand; and I smelled sulfur."
Mikoto sipped her wine. "It looks like Garland gave these genomes the power to use fire."
"Or the power to use magic period," replied Zidane. "And that worries me."
"Why?"
"Well, not me personally—I'm worried about you two."
"Us?" responded Vivi. "Why?"
"Obviously these genomes know the history between you and me. And while I could tell that they wouldn't harm anyone in this village—plus they're too many black mages that could over take them—I'm worried that they'd hurt you in a sneak attack."
"What makes you think that?" asked Mikoto.
"As a way to get even with me…I pissed them off today."
"I can take care of myself, Zidane," said Vivi. "Just like you taught me."
Zidane smiled. "I know you can, Vivi, but you're going to be seriously outnumbered…Plus you have a family."
"Me and Mikoto can get the villagers to help us."
Zidane nodded. "True…but I don't think you should do that."
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Mikoto.
"That you come to the Castle with me. All of you'll be safer there."
