Disclaimer- I don't own any of the characters in this story. They belong to Square-Enix.
Krimson- Alright! It's the last chapter!
Rashnefein- I only got to beta two chapters?
Damien- Sucks for you.
Rashnefein- Watch it or I'll spell check your name wrong.
Krimson- Those two fight like you wouldn't believe.
Bob- What the hell? It says my name is Bob!
Rashnefein- Spell checkin' bitch!
Krimson- This is Chapter 12: Confessions.
Sally- Why do you people keep torturing me???
Rashnefein- HAHAHAHA!!!
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"Your highness." Steiner said. "The theatre ship will be here in an hour."
He still wore the same rusted armor. The shine was long gone and was replaced with a dull gray. The armor ground together when he walked, making an obnoxious squeak that could be heard throughout the room. Queen Garnet didn't mind it though. It was just how Steiner was.
"Your highness?"
Garnet turned away from the window in her room. She would often get lost in the shades of blue in the skyline. It would remind her of Zidane's eyes. In fact, it was surprising how everything seemed to remind her of Zidane. From the daggers in the weapon shops in town to the mere mention of words like 'thief' or 'actor'. She missed him terribly. Every morning she woke up wondering where he was and every night she went to sleep wondering when he would return.
She wore her flowing white gown. It dragged behind her as she walked. It was very expensive and it practically glowed from its beauty.
Garnet hated it.
She hated it, but she wore it. It was her duty as the queen of Alexandria. She represented the people of Alexandria and as such, had to look her best. But she preferred the orange jumpsuit from her adventures with everyone. Over time, it just became more comfortable. She was just so much happier with her jumpsuit because he was always around.
As she approached Steiner, she kept her gaze to the ground. "Make sure the seats are all prepared for our guests when they enter."
Steiner noticed the sad, quiet tone in her voice. "Is everything all right your highness?"
Garnet raised her head and Steiner was surprised to see her smiling brightly. "Of course Steiner. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Well…you were looking out the window again."
Garnet let out a small giggle. "Steiner, you worry about me too much."
"It is my job your highness."
"Of course." Garnet pulled back a strand of hair that fell in front of her face. "Now if you will excuse me, I must check on the catering."
Steiner stood up straight and saluted. "Yes ma'am!"
Garnet smiled and turned to the door. As she opened it she saw the calm visage of General Beatrix. "Oh! Excuse me Beatrix."
"Excuse me your highness." Beatrix started. She moved out of Garnet's way from the doorway. "I came to report that the catering is ready."
"Very good." Garnet said. "I have to go and make sure everything is satisfactory. You know how some of the nobles from Treno can be."
"Yes your highness."
Garnet continued down the hallway and exited the corridor. Beatrix watched with concerned eyes as Steiner took her hand with his own. Beatrix turned her attention to Steiner and smiled at him. Steiner smiled back.
"Is she alright?" Beatrix asked.
Steiner shook his head. "She was staring out her window again."
Beatrix gave a low sigh. Garnet was getting more depressed as time went on. The longer she was separated from Zidane, the more likely his death seemed. Freya had talked to Garnet about how she never gave up hope when she thought Fratley was dead. Garnet would simply remind her that Fratley never jumped into a gigantic, rampaging tree.
"It's amazing that she can run the country like this." Steiner said.
"She knows how to put on a strong face." Beatrix explained.
"Hmm." Steiner remembered when Garnet had traveled to Lindblum after Alexandria had been destroyed. She looked so frail and delicate that if someone were to touch her she would shatter. Now, she looked much stronger and she put on a brave face, but those close to her could tell that she was just as fragile.
As Garnet descended the first flight of stairs she wiped a tear from her eye.
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An hour later, the theatre ship landed in the pool of water out in the center courtyard. It settled into the water calmly and the fans keeping it in the air slowly died down. A set of stairways came from the ship's stage to the ground. Baku came out from the ship and descended the stairs and approached Beatrix, who was charged with making sure everything was in order.
"How's it goin'?" Baku asked informally.
"Very well thank you." Beatrix told him. "Is everything ready on your end?"
"Just give my boys a few minutes."
Beatrix glanced to the theatre ship and then to the entrance gate. "We're going to let the audience in now, so you have half an hour. Will that be enough?"
"GWAHAHA!" Baku laughed while smacking his round stomach. "More than enough."
"Very good." Beatrix smiled. She turned to walk back to the queen's side.
"Hold on a second."
Beatrix turned back to face Baku once again. "How's the queen been?" he asked as informally as ever.
Beatrix stood confused for a moment before responding. "She has been well."
Baku chuckled to himself quietly. "Good." He turned back to the theatre ship so he could get into costume. As he walked behind the front curtain he was quickly knocked to the ground.
"Well? How is she?" asked the assailant.
"She's doin' fine Zidane." Baku said. "Now get off." With one quick motion, Baku smacked Zidane away and sent him rolling into a bookshelf. He picked himself up and dusted himself off. Fortunately, none of the books fell on him.
"Alright! Listen up!" Baku yelled. The members of Tantalus all gathered around.
"We're going on in a half an hour. Is everything ready?" Everyone just nodded or said 'yes'. "How about that sound system?"
"The sound system is working fine." Kuja walked out from the shadows and joined the rest of the group. "As long as…what was it again? Mark?"
"Marcus." came the response from the bandana-wearing thief.
"Right, right. As long as Marcus speaks clearly into the microphone, his voice will be projected on stage."
"Are you sure this will work Kuja?" Zidane asked.
"It will work just fine Zidane. I had the same thing set up in the Hilda Garde. Relax."
"Right." Zidane said more to himself. He tapped his fingers in his crossed hands nervously. He had performed in plenty of plays, and the thought of using a sound system instead of his own voice didn't phase him much. It was the thought that his plan might go wrong that terrified him. That Dagger might have moved on or that she would be angry at him for taking so long to return.
Zidane started humming to himself. Kuja recognized the song. It was the same one he sang while they were sailing to Lindblum, and while they traveled to the Desert Palace, and he almost never stopped singing it while they were in the Iifa Tree. The song came from the Village of the Summoners. It was the same one that Garnet sang.
"Alright boys!" Baku said. He earned an angry cough from Ruby. "…and Ruby. We're goin' on soon. Make sure everything works right. I'll kick everyone's asses if something messes up on stage!"
"Right boss!" came the response from everyone but Kuja. Everyone gave the Tantalus salute and walked off to get ready for the show. Kuja walked to the curtain and lifted the flap to the side. After watching the people slowly fill the seats in front of the ship. After a minute he found what he had hoped to see and grinned. Zidane saw him smile and called to him while putting on his costume.
"Is it her?" he asked.
"Yes." Kuja said. "And it seems like the red-heads are having a good time."
Zidane smiled in a way to match Kuja's.
About a month earlier, Lani had gotten insistent and told Zidane to worry about getting Garnet back on his own. She would work on hooking up with Amarant on her own too, claiming that getting her back to the Mist Continent was payment enough for saving his life. She left Lindblum to go search for him. Apparently she had found him. Zidane carefully looked out from the curtain and saw the two red-heads sitting next to each other, albeit uncomfortably. Lani had her hands on her knees and Amarant was leaning forward, resting his chin on his enormous fists. They must have just found each other. They'll make a great couple. Zidane thought. He made sure to keep the images of mindless violence they could cause out of his head.
Zidane stole a quick glance to the throne, hoping to see Garnet for a least a fleeting moment, but she hadn't arrived yet. Disappointed, Zidane shut the curtain.
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The Queen of Alexandria walked out to her throne set up on the balcony overlooking the theatre ship. The nobles and other guests had started to sit down and were now a noisy rabble of theatre-goers. Garnet looked throughout the crowd and one-by-one had found all of her old friends, most notably the several Vivi's. Garnet made a mental note to ask him about how he did that…after she found out which one was the real one.
She sat in her throne and looked out to the stage. The play was supposed to start any minute now. She thought back to when her adventure started with the others. This time was almost like that time in every way. Garnet snapped herself awake. She had to stop thinking about the past. It'll never be the same, she thought to herself. I have to let go of the past…I have to move on, just like he taught me.
Garnet's attention turned to the stage as everyone in the audience started clapping all at once. Baku walked out on stage, dressed in his royal robes for his role as King Leo. He raised his hands to the audience asking for silence.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Baku said. "Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia, is torn from her lover, Marcus. She attempts to flee the castle, only to be captured by her father, King Leo. Tonight's story begins when Marcus and Cornelia decide to run away together. And now, Your Royal Majesty, Queen Garnet, Lord Steiner, Lady Beatrix, noble ladies and lords, and our rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents 'I Want to Be Your Canary'!"
Baku turned around and walked backstage. Ruby and Zidane, covered by his brown cloak, walked on stage and took their places. Zidane hid at the bottom of the stairway on the stage. Ruby ran to him from the other side of the stage.
"Marcus?" Ruby asked as Cornelia. "Sweet Marcus, I fear I love thee more than I should!"
"Princess..." Marcus' voice said. "Wilt thou be happy, married to a lowly peasant such as I?" Zidane took Ruby in his arms. He was amazed at how well Kuja's sound system worked. It sounded like Marcus was right in front of him.
"Prithee, call me 'princess' no more! Marcus, wilt thou truly cherish me, the king's only daughter? Or is such a desire too dear to wish for!? After our nuptials, shall I become no more than a puppet? A mindless puppet, never to laugh, never to cry? I wish to live my life under the sky. At times I shall laugh, at other times cry. For no life is more insincere than that lived as a masquerade."
"So much consideration thou hast given it! But worry not! Cast away thy trappings of royalty, and I shall swaddle thee in a gown of pure love! Never again will I pare from thee! Pray, my love, make me thy canary to keep forever in the cage of thy bosom! Let us embark on the first ship tomorrow, before dawn can tell of our elopement!"
Garnet watched the whole play in silence. The play continued, showing that the love between a princess and a peasant was possible. Eventually, Cornelia was kidnapped and returned to her father. Cinna and "Marcus" waited for Cornelia by the docks. Garnet looked on jealously as she saw Cornelia's lover wait patiently for her. She clenched her fists and ground her teeth to fight back the tears, wishing that she had someone to wait for her. She turned her attention once again to the play. She didn't want to miss Marcus' final monologue.
"So, the sun is our enemy, too." came Marcus' voice. The sound system was still working just fine. "The eastern sky grows bright. Will we not spread our wings, as yonder birds in joyous flight?"
Cinna walked up to Zidane, still in his costume, and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hark, Marcus! They cannot wait any longer! The ship departs!" Cinna ran back to catch the ship before it left, leaving Zidane alone on stage. He turned to face the two moons painted on the scenery's background.
"Could she have betrayed me?" came Marcus' concerned voice. "Nay, ne'er would my love speak false. I must have faith! She shall appear if I only believe! As the sun lends me no ear, I pray instead to the twin moons! I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish!" He grabbed a corner of his cloak and pulled it off.
"Bring my beloved Dagger to me!" Zidane said.
Garnet looked on in disbelief. She ran to the edge off the balcony and stared intently at Zidane, to make sure it was really him. He turned and ran to the doorway, but Steiner and Beatrix blocked her path.
"What are you doing?" Garnet asked, almost in tears.
"If you run down the stairs like that you might trip." Steiner said. Then he and Beatrix opened the double door.
"Go get him." Beatrix encouraged her.
Garnet smiled gratefully at them and proceeded to run down the stairway carefully. She ran out of the castle, and into the courtyard. There was an huge mob of people in her way. She pried herself between audience members and pushed others out of her way as she strained to reach the stage. However, her necklace, with the royal Alexandrian Jewel hanging on it, was ripped off of her neck in her struggle. She stopped as se watched it fall. She stood, conflicted as to what to run to. After a short moment, she turned around and continued running to the stage.
People started getting out of her way as she neared the stage. At the last steps, she leapt into the air and landed in Zidane's arms. He spun her as he caught her, then he pulled her close as she cried in joy. She punched his chest for making her wait for so long, then gave in and allowed him to pull her into a passionate embrace. The members of Tantalus, all their friends from their adventure almost a year ago, and everyone in the audience applauded loudly as the couple held each other on stage.
Their worlds melted together. They had each other and they would never be apart again.
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Hours later, the audience from the play had all left. Vivi, Eiko, Freya, and all the others were invited to a celebration. Zidane and Garnet, or Dagger as she preferred to be called, stood on the balcony. Kuja told Zidane to wait on it alone with Garnet at ten o'clock, though for what Zidane didn't know. He and Garnet waited in each others arms.
"How did you survive...?" Garnet asked, breaking the silence.
Zidane turned to her with his trademark smile. "I didn't have a choice." he said. "I had to live. I wanted to come home to you. So... I sang your song. Our song."
"Zidane…" she trailed off. He looked at her deeper than he ever had before. His face edged closer to hers. Garnet turned away, a small blush forming on her cheeks. Zidane took his hand and brushed her cheek. She rested her head in his soft grip and gazed into his eyes. Zidane's hand crept behind her head and cupped it. He pulled her head towards his. Their lips brushed against each other softly. They hesitated for the slightest moment, then took each other in a deep, passionate kiss. They stood like that for a long while.
They only broke it apart when they heard the explosion in the distance.
Garnet tensed up in Zidane's arms as what sounded like shattering glass bounced off the castle walls. They looked high in the sky and saw a blue cloud form. A white chain of light sprouted from it and traveled in and out of the cloud, ending in a sound, like glasses being smashed together.
"What is that?" Garnet asked, afraid of another attack on Alexandria.
Zidane looked at it and smiled. "Don't worry. It's just a holy spell. Kuja must have cast it."
"Kuja's alive?" Garnet asked. A wave of panic flowing through her voice.
"Don't worry, he won't hurt anyone. He saved the Black Mages. He's good now."
"Really?" Garnet asked hopefully.
"Really." Zidane reassured her.
A Flare spell was launched in the distance and it exploded high in the sky. Garnet relaxed a little and gazed up at it. Even though these spells were deadly in combat, they looked just like fireworks from a distance. Kuja must have realized that at some point.
Zidane pulled her to the throne. It was big enough for the two of them to sit next to each other. As they sat, Zidane brought his arm around Garnet's waist and pulled her closer. Garnet grabbed onto Zidane neck and hugged him close. They watched as a Flare Star spell erupted in the night sky. It was a romantic setting, with the two of them alone and the beautiful magic being cast in the sky.
"Dagger." Zidane started. Garnet looked at him and saw that he was blushing a deep red. He looked deep into her eyes. "I love you."
Garnet's eyes widened as she heard him say it. She started to blush as well as she said, "I love you too."
They slowly took each other in another passionate kiss. They held each other as the fireworks continued in the distance.
Zidane finally broke the kiss a minute later and pulled Garnet into a hug. "By the way," he said. "There's something at Madain Sari that you should see."
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Krimson- Well, that was really fun to write.
Mr. McSandwich- Stop doing this to me.
Rashnefein- Alright, alright.
Krimson- I want to thank everyone who reviewed my story. You are all extremely awesome.
Rashnefein- Here here!
Damien- I got my name back!
Krimson- I think I learned a lot about writing during this whole experience. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
Rashnefein- Five bucks to anyone who understands the Madain Sari reference at the end there.
Krimson- Right, well, the story is done. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Damien- Wait, if the story is done, then why isn't it listed as complete?
Krimson- …
Rashnefein- …
Krimson- I'mnotplanninganything.