With Zidane gone for the night, Garnet found herself sitting in the castle's library reading a book called Four Valiant Hearts she had found laying on the table by itself not picked up by the castle librarian. It appeared to have been left mid way; she flipped to the very first page of the novel.
Long ago in the world of Ivalice, war savaged between the kingdoms of Figaro & Archades. The once peaceful kingdom of Figaro had hoped it would never have to foresee war after her kingdom had befallen by the "Black Plague" haunting the parents of the younglings that had met Hades. Archades had begun to seek out glory for her ruthless King Wiegraf Folles. One brave soldier from Figaro whom set out on a scouting mission knowing the full deadly brute force Archadies' brings upon any scouts that trespasses on her army's camping grounds when set out for an invasion. Cyan Beoulve felt he was Figaro's only hope for survival while his wife bed ridden from the remnants of the "Black Plague." He vowed to return to her once the army of Archadies has been defeated; leaving his heart in dismay as he grew troubled after leaving her side.
The church bells heard in the distance striking ten, Beatrix while on patrol was found near the docks of the Red Rose gazing upon the starlit skies. "Her Majesty must be worried some about him." She thought as she began walking towards the main entrance of the castle. Beatrix had wondered why Zidane would always leave by night fall; she felt Zidane shouldn't need to be worried by the nobles of Alexandria and her court.
She began her final inspections throughout the exterior of the castle as the castle workers had begun leaving their posts and onto the ferry leaving back to the City of Alexandria. "All personnel have departed castle grounds General." Saluted the guard standing by the ferry terminal. "Excellent, you may begin your rounds for the night." Replied Beatrix as she saluted back.
"Yes ma'am"
The soldier about faced and walked off towards the eastern tower. Beatrix took a brief glance at the departed ferry as it made its way towards the city. She began walking towards the inside of the castle beginning her inspections for anyone left behind who had missed the last ferry.
"I can't understand why it's come down to this, I must protest the destruction of the crystals!" shouted Cyan as he gripped the Earth crystal in his hands.
"Your Majesty?"
"Enough already Cyan! Need I remind you that your wife is ill and that we must destroy the crystals in order to prevent Archades' advances? There is no time!" the king barked as he stared at the four warriors. "There is no other way?" Ramza spoke with a distraught tone after the fate of his village was slaughtered by the army of Archades for refusing to allow her soldiers to take rest on its march to Figaro. "I do believe Lenna has already informed you that these four crystals hold the key to ridding the plague that has ridden our fair kingdom…"
"Your Majesty?"
Garnet snapped out of her train of though as she looked around seeing Beatrix standing right beside her. "Oh, Beatrix…I, I didn't know you were there." She said rubbing the back of her head a bit dazed. Beatrix hid a smile and noted the book the queen was reading.
"Isn't that Lord Edgar Gesthal's Four Valiant Hearts?"
"Why yes it is, I couldn't bring myself to stop reading it after reading the first five chapters. I just reached the part where they have brought forth the four crystals of Ivalice."
"Ah, this was actually my first book I read when I was younger. A fine novel I must say, certainly Lord Edgar's finest might I add. It's not easy finding great novels these days since most of the children don't find these to be quite their taste."
Garnet stared at the book once again. She remembered the first time she read her first novel when she was young, a novel that later became her favorite play, but not only her favorite play, a moment that forever changed her life twice. "I Want To Be Your Canary." She cocked her head towards Beatrix. "Is it late already?"
"Yes my Queen, I do believe it is time for bed."
"Right…"
Garnet rose from the chair, grabbing the book as well. "I hope the librarian won't mind me taking this novel out without her here, I can't seem to keep myself away from it." Beatrix smiled at her, patting her shoulders. "I wouldn't think much on it, she's known you since you were born. I'm sure Lady Olivia wouldn't mind at all." Garnet nodded.
"Do you wish me to escort you back to your chamber?"
"No, that will be quite alright, besides I'm sure Steiner would be a bit jealous if he saw you escorting me. You know how he gets when it's you and me together. Hehe."
"Oh I know how that man is; he's always been escorting you since you were young until you finally began escorting yourself."
"Well that was only because mother couldn't escort me since she was always busy, especially when I had nightmares when I was younger. He'd always burst in my door as soon as I let out the first cry, sword drawn, hollering so loud even the city could hear his cries."
Beatrix chuckled, shaking her head and laid a hand on the handle of her sword seethed away on her hip. "I do remember one time I had to drag him out of your chamber because he wouldn't leave you alone after you had one bad dream when you were only ten."
"Hehe, I guess now he's to busy patrolling the premises now with his Pluto Knights."
"He's always had a good heart when it came to protecting you."
Garnet nodded.
"Well I must be off then, thank you Beatrix; I might've ended up sleeping in the library again like last time."
"Not at all Your Majesty, do have pleasant night." She saluted.
Garnet walked out of the library making her way to her bed chamber. The echoes of her feet walking up the stairs were heard throughout the castle. She felt alone while she made her way, she wondered where Zidane had run off to. "Zidane…" Her last night together with him was back at Black Mage Village where they had nearly escaped from Terra when Kuja destroyed the entire planet. She had hoped one day she could have him back in the same room together.
She had arrived at her bed chamber, placing the book on her night stand beside her bed while making her way towards the bathing room. She untied the back of her hair letting it fall further near her waistline. She grabbed her hair brush and began slowly stroking out the loose strands from a hard day's work. Gazing towards the mirror, she felt let down Zidane never gave her a clear answer. Garnet still wondered if the castle life was what drawn him away from staying with her over night, despite the many attempts he has broken into the castle over the past week. Finishing brushing her hair, placing down the brush, she walked out of the bathing room making her way to her dresser beside her bed. She opened the double door dresser revealing her many outfits fit for a queen. Hidden away behind them hung her orange jumpsuit, brown gloves, red boots, & her faithful Tiger Racket.
She unhooked her night gown, taking note of her jumpsuit pausing for a brief moment gazing on the history she has had with it. From the moment she escaped the castle on the Prima Vista, the farm lands of Dali learning to speak like a commoner, her daring escape through South Gate from Black Waltz 3 with Zidane, Steiner, & Vivi, & even the time when she wedded Zidane at Condie Petie just for the sake of passing through the village to reach the Iifa Tree in search of Kuja. She closed the dresser and began undressing herself out of her dress, not needing the help of her maids who've always helped her dress and undress herself everyday. She put on her night gown and threw her dress on the side not a care in the world about it.
Garnet rested herself in bed sitting up keeping one candle light by her night stand lit up. She picked up Four Valiant Hearts and resumed reading where she had left off.
"…Your Majesty, however I will admit the power of these four crystals can be proven helpful to overturn Archades!" Ramza continued clutching the fire crystal in his hand as he stared faithfully at King. The four warriors kneeled towards the King as he stood up from his throne, turn his back on them looking out of his window overseeing his falling kingdom. "Archades will fight for these crystals…" he thought.
THUD!
Garnet was spooked from the loud noise that interrupted her reading, looking around her room wondering where the sound had come from. "Who's there!?" she barked with no response given. Sigh. She resumed her reading.
The dying kingdom has made the King question his fate, whether or not to witness the slaughter of his citizens as by the arms of Archades once using the crystals to save the ill whom are suffering in the kingdom…
The twelfth bell had struck the church in Alexandria, clanking louder and louder each strike. Garnet had fell asleep with her book left on her lap, candle light still lit up the room beside her. The rapping on the window across the room sent a small whistle in the room blowing out the candle, leaving the room in dreary darkness.
The windows slowly opened themselves as a dark shadow figure sneaked its way into the room, carefully landing inside without a moment to waste. The figure walked towards the sleeping Queen, in a deep sleep enough to not hear the presence that is in her room. The book that lay open on her lap was closed and put aside on the night stand, the intruder carefully slid Garnet deeper into the covers, adjusting the sheets to cover her whole body. The Queen winced after the sheets was pulled up on her, leaving her more comfort as she brought her hands underneath her chin yawning deeply. The intruder smiled, as it began kicking off the boots, vest, shirt, and gloves it wore, laying down behind the Queen as it wrapped its arms around her waist and resting its head on her shoulder.
"Good-night my love…" it whispered softly in her ears.
A/N: Well like said, I will admit my writing isn't all fantastic but I am trying thought ^^;;; So I hope you enjoyed this chapter, especially the way it ended, took me some time to figure out how to word it correctly and such. XD
Anyways I was inspired by using names from past FF games which in case you didn't know, in the FFIX game, they made references to all the games ever made in FF prior to X. Here are the references used in this chapter if you're curious.
Archades: XII (The antagonist nation you have to fight in the game)
Ivalice: Tactics and XII (The world used in the games.)
Four Valiant Hearts: V's World Map Theme
Figaro: VI (Edgar and Sabin's castle)
Wiegraf Folles: Tactics (One of the enemies in the game)
Cyan Beoulve: VI & Tactics (A combo of Cyan's name from VI and Ramza's last name from Tactics)
Ramza: Tactics (The main character you control in the game)
Lenna: V (One of the main characters from V)
Lord Edgar Gesthal: VI (A combo first name of Edgar, one of the main heroes, and last name Gesthal is Emperor Gasthal whom was the villain of the game.)
Inspirational Songs
Final Fantasy V – Lenna's Theme & Four Valiant Hearts
Final Fantasy VI – Edgar and Sabin