Authors note: Here is, the final chapter. I thank those that have reviewed like X-Loner-X-Starlight-X, your reviews are appreciated. Anyone else who has reviewed has my thanks as well. I've had this story for quite some time, the first time it was submitted, I know your tired of hearing it, was single spaced. It only got one review, and that was to say to think about double spacing. The story is now double spaced, and I've hoped you enjoyed it. So, here's to the final chapter.
CH.3: Trance on fire
Business was lousy, as usual, and Ruby found herself bored out of her mind as she stood on stage with no audience. It was practically pointless day after day, but she did it because it took her away from the thieving ways of Baku and his smelly crew. Some nights she was lucky and got 2 customers to see her act, now again it was zip. She was a doll; a real beauty with a fake southern accent that she carried from the stage, and in her time with Tantalus only one guy took an interest in her…and that was Blank. Blank was the younger brother of Marcus, and had gotten petrified by giving his life for Zidane; at times she found herself daydreaming of him saving her. The sound of flies always ended her fantasy and she found herself again awake and bored. She flicked a stand of hair from her eyes and brushed some lint off her dirty dress and let out a helpless sigh. Though she was bored; and completely out of her mind, the one thing that never left her sanity was the engine of the Prima Vista. "Is that me or is that the Prima Vista approaching?"
"Ruby…you are not crazy. For it appears to me that the ship you so vividly describe is heading over Lindblum and into the field over." Ruby rushed up the stairs and followed everyone's gaze as the performing ship left a trail of smoke over the now repaired city and into the field with a loud clank. Heeding no warning from her fellow performers she rushed through the streets and made her way past a distracted guard and out the gate. The Prima Vista lay in a smoking pile of rubble and took most of the ground with it. Tears welled up in her eyes and with her arms about she ran to the ship immediately.
"Guys are you alright?" By now Cid was out there along with Queen Garnet and Steiner. They looked over the heap of metal and machinery and uttered words that related to the concern of the people inside and the safety of the people incase the ship blew up in flames. Inside the ship the rush to survival was a messed one in fact.
"Boss can we leave the Qu here?" Marcus stood by the unconscious Qu and kicked it with his foot to make sure it was motionless. Baku gave it some consideration but shook his head knowing the responsibilities they still had. Blank had a fire extinguisher and was furtively trying to put out the growing flames, Cinna was pounding on broken machinery, and Zidane made no move from his last position. The fires were swelling to intense and dominating shapes and the ladders began to become intensely hot that the exit itself became an impossibility. "Cinna stop pounding it won't make a difference," he pointed out.
"Cool it Marcus, don't you realize that the pounding keeps him calm? Look, I know this situation is getting hot, but we must not loose our cool over it ok? Now let's think calmly about our current situation, is there anyway out besides the ladder?" The negative reply was enough of an answer for Baku because then he too went berserk. He chanced an attempt to climb the ladder; only to be burnt in the process. Eiko, who had now fully recovered from the crash, walked into the next room and found the Nero brothers sitting together huddled in a state of confusion. Their looks of impending doom were clearly evident in their big round eyes, and she too felt the end drawing close.
"The Prima Vista is on fire!" Amarant was kneeling on a hill and beside him were the sons of Vivi. They held their hats in fear and Amarant didn't blame them, the sight of a huge ball of flame would scare any 3 or 4 year old. Sir Fratley and Freya were behind them whispering and laughing at old stories. The flames were huge now and Amarant noticed the black mages were fidgeting nervously. "Hey, you guys can use water right?"
"Yeah…but we only put out our own fires, not big ones like that," the eldest son said. "Water is a powerful spell, to be cast by 4 young black mages…that is just impossible." His brothers behind him gave him the same worried look and the eldest son thought about the other possibilities. The sound of tearing metal could be heard across the field and the eldest son had to make a decision that would put his brother's lives at risk. Grabbing his hat one more time he raced across the field with his brothers' right on his tail and together they concentrated their magic on the flames. The flames fought back and grabbed hold of one of the brother's coats. The youngest put the fire out then they concentrated one full blast on the hatch above and put it out leaving a steam trail.
"Alright time for me to save those thieves," Amarant said boldly. So he took a deep breath and with a head start ran up the ramp and down into the hatch before the black mages knew it. Consoles were blacked out and the smell of burnt circuts entered his nostrils as he ducked inside. The first person he saw was Cinna, the mechanic was holding onto one of the burnt out consoles and he quickly carried him out and placed him on the grass. Then he leaped back inside and carried out Marcus who had a bad head wound. Blank was near Baku and as he picked both of them up he saw the burnt form of Zidane lying on the ground. He fought the coming tears and dragged Baku and Blank out before going in to save the rest. "Zidane, you saved me on countless occasions, and though you lost me my reputation as an honest security guard, I'm still not leaving without you. Is anyone else in here?" He put Zidane onto his shoulder and pushed some loose pipes aside before walking into what had been a spare room. The Nero brothers groaned under the weight of a few wooden boards and Amarant pushed them aside.
"Amarant…where is Quina?" Eiko was resting against the wall and her head had a nasty cut across it. Amarant didn't answer; instead he checked the darkest corners looking for any other survivors. What he found was the unconscious Qu who moments before the crash was knocked out by the Tantalus brothers and dragged into the bunk room. The load would be heavy, but his duty to understand Zidane was still strong.
"Everyone…hold on tight!" So without another word he put everyone on his shoulder and made his way up the rickety stairs leading to the remains of the main body of the ship. After 2 minutes of throwing everyone out the top hatch he himself leaped out just as the stalling main core hit overload. Amarant lay on the ground for a few seconds collecting his breath before checking on his burnt friends. Ruby was the first to reach them and she hugged her friends, even though in their burnt forms protested.
"Eiko are you alright?" Cid Fabool scooped her up into his arms and relaxed as she hugged him back. His wife Hilda stood beside him and was nearly in tears when she saw Eiko's burnt form. "Let's limit those visits to Madain Sari, ok Eiko? Just until you've gotten use to my Lindblum guards protecting you," he added with a smile.
"Zidane can you hear me?" Queen Garnet kneeled beside the wounded Zidane and had her hand on his heart. Her dress was muddy from the recent explosion, but her main concern was for her hero. She had sent a note to him via hologram, but something she was about to say got caught in her throat. Inside she felt the beginning of the trance, but she fought to keep it in…until things went back to normal. But now it was starting again and she had no choice but to give in. "Zidane, please if it comes to it…kill me."
"Garnet…what did-?" Zidane regained consciousness just as he saw her tearful face and as he reached for her face she fled. All around him was excitement and reunions but the one love in his life had retreated to the city. So he got up and sat there for a few seconds trying to get in focus what had recently occurred. Quina had thrown me over the rail and I lost consciousness. Then I wake here and see Garnet crying and telling me to kill her, what's with that? Something tells me Amarant saved me, but then again my head is heavy and vision is still blurred. Getting up he decided to follow Garnet and along the way he bumped into Steiner who was talking to Beatrix. "Hey Rusty…sorry to run-."
"Still inconsiderate and rude, Beatrix shall I put him in the jail?" The woman who stood near him gave him a stare and he shook his head. "Very well, you may go after the Queen if you wish, but do remember I have eyes all over the castle." Zidane ran up to Lindblum castle and stared around looking for Garnet, he saw her climbing the stairs into the castle. As he was about to follow he felt the ground tremble and as he looked to the sky he saw Bahamut and the sight was not reassuring. Could Garnet be in trance?
"Garnet hold on I'll be right there!" Zidane sprinted through the crowd and stopped in his tracks as he came upon Shiva. The ice Eidolon was a sight in blue and her hair was cold as her features. Zidane dodged the icy blast and slipped along until Odin rode in wielding his lance. The thief jumped over the death stick and with a breath of relief he made it to the steps. She really is in need of a good kiss, he thought holding his side. I'll make her snap out of this trance with the best kiss ever, and then maybe she'll change her opinion on me. "Hey Garnet open the gate and open your heart to me now!"
"Zidane I…just can't allow you to harm yourself for my safety, please leave before I do something I'm liable to regret." He had risked himself many times before, including the time at Alexandria, but this trance may only worsen things. Garnet opened the door to the balcony and ran there until she collapsed to her knees.
"Garnet if you won't open the gate I'll climb up the old fashioned way," Zidane called up. Grabbing hold of the stone he climbed up and up until he was standing face to face with a tranced white summoner. Her brown long hair was blonde and her yellow jumpsuit and white blouse became a one piece white piece. Zidane walked up to her and could see her body shift to a more guarded position. Then when his hand was close enough he grabbed her waist pulling their bodies together and with his other hand steered her mouth to his and kissed. At first he could feel her give in by the way she relaxed, but then she stiffened and jabbed him in the stomach with her racket. Garnet then used her magical abilities and brought forth the fiery Eidolon Ifrit. "Garnet…control yourself-."
"Zidane that kiss was uncalled for and will cost you your life!" Ifrit created a wall of flame and sent it at Zidane who leaped over the balcony stone just before it reached him. The flames increased in volume and made their way back to Garnet who tried her best to ward them off, but only to be sent down. As she recovered the trance that had seized her unwillingly before was now dieing down. She got up and slapped her head as she realized what she had done to Zidane. "Zidane, oh please be ok."
"Hey Queen I'm glad the fire did your senses ok, but if you don't mind I'd like to be high and dry right about now," he said. As Garnet looked over the ledge she saw Zidane was barely holding on by one hand and below him was a long drop. He accepted her hand and was pulled up much to his relief. Well, I should be gratified you saved my life, Zidane thought, but you also were the one that caused me to fall. Garnet…why did you pull me up? Even though you were in trance and all you still had a part of you that was real. "Okay Garnet…I'm sorry I kissed you without your permission but if you-."
"Zidane be quiet and let me apologize. Look I know I've been a little hesitant about our relationship since the beginning, and with your flirtatious past who wouldn't worry. But now my perspective has changed so hold still." Garnet walked up to Zidane and smiled as he started to back away. His back to the stone he grinned and then he felt his heart beat rapidly. Garnet put her hand on his shoulder and then kissed him softly and felt his arms around her. Then she parted blushing, "Zidane want to be my boyfriend?"
"Garnet…that means I can't see other girls," Zidane slipped from her and stared up at the sky. His life was perfect with her, and now he had to lose a part of him that had won many ladies' hearts in the past. Garnet made him whole and at times she made him want to smile; though impossible as it was. His tail twitched in idle confusion and as he closed his eyes he realized his soul mate was the only person he wanted close to him. "But a girlfriend may keep me in these walls for good…ok I accept…Queen Garnet."
"Well Zidane Tribal…I believe this might be the start of a relationship even Steiner will be surprised over." Zidane smirked at that and pulled her to him and kissed her passionately enjoying her body against his. Down below everyone clapped and a huge ceremony commenced afterwards. Zidane and Garnet were seated at the royal table with Steiner and Beatrix and at the other table were Vivi's sons, Freya and Sir Fratley, Amarant, and Cid Fabool and family. "Greetings to everyone who has chosen to attend our festival today. The trance epidemic has swept over Gaia due to a recent imbalance in the atmosphere. Zidane Tribal, former thief of Tantalus, found the cure for this very disaster in the flames of Gaia. He has saved us, so let us raise our glasses in his honor." Zidane raised his glass in unison with the other guests and sipped the beverage enjoying the warm taste it had in his throat. "So Uncle Cid, how go the repairs on the Prima Vista?" Zidane put his hand in Garnet's hand and they squeezed secretly under the table.
"The repairs will be done before the end of the month Queen, and I'd like to add that my daughter has decided to permanently settle on staying in the castle." Eiko, who sat beside the Regent, gave him a smile. The night's festive activities didn't stop until midnight and by then Zidane and Garnet were bushed. In the master bed room they sat on the couch where they held each other. Zidane pushed her hair out of her eyes and kissed her forehead and she played with his dirty hair. His other hand trailed down to her hips and in his mind he enjoyed the soft tissue. The lights were out over the whole castle except theirs and by then they never reached the lights. Zidane was on top of Garnet kissing her neck while she lay there enjoying his touch. But when he came to her strap she slapped him playfully and kissed him roughly on the lips.
"Hey you can't blame me for trying right?" Zidane sat up and let her stay in his lap as he relaxed from hours of kissing and rolling. "Vivi's sons are going to help rebuild Burmecia along with Freya and Sir Fratley, and Amarant is surprisingly enough settling in somewhere close. Eiko is going to be living here with the Regent, and I…guess its back to the couch with me." Garnet stared at him and gave him a dirty smile.
"The couch will always be available to you Zidane…but perhaps it's time you find a more comfortable sleeping mattress." She led him by the hand into her room and touched the sofa closest to the door. Zidane gave her a sweet kiss and jumped onto the bed enjoying the softest bedspread he had ever lain on before. "No…not there Zidane, over there." Zidane followed her finger and found another room connected to it. "This is where I let my friends stay…but I'll make an excuse for you…in case Steiner comes by. You'll be in a bed…and who knows…if we want to talk or kiss…at least we'll only be a room away." Garnet kissed him goodnight and closed the door leaving Zidane alone.
"Well I guess I'm changed for the better now," he said with his hands in the air. Jumping on the bed he sank his face into the pillow and felt the first real rest come to him in a long time. Gaia was free of trouble for now, and the future for him seemed a lot brighter then the blue of Terra.
The End
Completed May 29, 2006
Based on the Square Enix game Final Fantasy IX 2000
Characters: Zidane, Garnet, Steiner, Quina, Eiko, Amarant, Freya, Vivi's sons, Cid Fabool, Hilda, Sir Fratley, Blank, Cinna, Nero brothers, Marcus, Baku, Chocobos, Beatrix
Author's Note: In my time of playing video games I have only beaten 4 Final Fantasy games. Those games were: Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, and now Final Fantasy IX. The series has great graphics and the characters will forever be in my mind as I write fan fiction. Thank you for reading.