As the sun began its decent into the horizon past Alexandria's city limits, Zidane and Garnet sat together on the throne embraced with one another. Without a doubt Garnet knew the time again had come, her love was bound to leave her again for the night. "I wonder if I should ask him about earlier today…" she wondered gazed upon the sunset. "Hey Dagger?" Zidane asked as he got up from the seat. "What is it Zidane?" she replied as she stood up.
"You see, I need to ask you, for a favor…if you don't mind."
"A favor? What kind of favor?"
"I want you to keep tomorrow free for me. See I can't tell you what it is but I just want you to be free tomorrow."
"Oh…well I don't really have anything in particular that I must do tomorrow but I'm sure I can keep it open unless something comes up." "Maybe I should ask him now?"
"Great! Then I guess I'll see ya tomorrow then!" Garnet quickly grabbed Zidane's hands before he made his attempt to jump on the guardrail. "Zidane wait…" Zidane stumbled a bit but regained his balance; he turned towards her looking with a smile. "What's up?"
"Zidane…what did Baku mean by keeping yer something? I heard him say that earlier today…so I want to know what he meant by that?" she asked with a concern tone. He scratched the back of his head following by a pat on her shoulder. "You'll see, it won't be long." He replied giving a brief smirk.
"Zidane please…what's going on? I've noticed that you don't stay here until night falls and you've always been leaving me here alone at night for the past week. I really want to know, what have you been doing."
"Hehe, like I said before love, it won't be to long now." He left one last peck on her lips and dashed off the balcony, before Garnet could even attempt to hold him down, she rushed over to the balcony and gazed down seeing him once again flying through the bannered rope heading towards Alexandria. "Zidane…." She wondered if he was hiding something from her, she felt disappointed with herself knowing she didn't get the answer she had hopped for.
Later that night, Beatrix and Garnet were sitting together in the dinning room finishing up their dinner mingling about. "Although he can be quite a handful sometimes, but I will admit he's pretty admirable at times." Beatrix spoke while taking a sip of her tea. "So Steiner does have a heart after all." Garnet teased.
"Of course he does, if anything I'm surprised he managed to dig one up. Hehe."
"If anything he should really take up writing instead of being a knight if you know what I mean."
"Oh stop that! He still thinks I was the one who wrote that letter even though I never did."
"But?"
"What! Tis true! I never wrote such thing!"
"If that's what you think…"
The ladies giggled away at each other while continuing their conversation, although in the back of Garnet's mind, she felt maybe Beatrix would know something about Zidane's late night leaves. "Beatrix…do you know why Zidane has been leaving the castle at night? Ever since his return?" she asked. Beatrix glanced at the Queen noticing her hopeful eyes hoping for the right answer. Beatrix herself had no clue on why the genome left every night, but if Queen was looking for a proper answer, it was mostly reassurance that would ease her rather than give false hopes. "I'm sure he has his reasons, I wouldn't really over think it Your Majesty. You know him better than I do, when it comes to his actions." she replied while patting Garnet on the shoulder.
"It's just…I get lonely without him around, he knows that he can freely come in as he pleases. As long as he doesn't well…you remember what happened last time?"
"Oh I must certainly do, those two guards were even lucky it was low tide that night. I'm reconsidering reorganizing the night guards again just so that they are aware he is free to enter and exit as he pleases. I think he gets a thrill out of sneaking around though."
"But I've told him countless times he's welcome anytime he feels. Its just, earlier today Baku mentioned something about Keepin yer something but Zidane hushed him."
"Oh?"
"Yes, I asked Zidane later on but all he said was you'll see, it won't be long. I can't really stop thinking about this."
"Ah ha, so is that what the big fuss is about?"
Garnet paused and stared at Beatrix as she stood up from her seat stretching her arms.
"What do you mean?"
"Seems like your just being a little paranoid, come now you've nothing to worry. As I said before, you know his actions better than I do; you shouldn't always be so negative on little things like this. Certainly knowing what you two have gone through."
The words eased the worried Queen; she looked into her cup of tea staring at her reflection within. "Am I really worried over nothing?" she thought. It was one thing to be without him for two whole years, but it was another to be left alone each night knowing he was alive all and well. However Beatrix's words were true, only Garnet knows his actions better, so what could Zidane possibly be up to?
"It's getting rather late; I should get some rest for the night." Garnet said as she took one last sip of her tea. "Well then, do take care of yourself, remember, don't be so negative on yourself." Beatrix replied. They both stood up from their seats beginning to make their way to the grand hallway. "Well I must be off for my rounds, have a pleasant night Your Majesty." Beatrix saluted.
"Thank you, do take care of yourself as well Beatrix." Garnet watched as Beatrix walked out of the castle making her way towards the ferry terminal. She started making her way back to her bed chamber.
"GABRANTH! PLEASE DON'T YOU DARE FALL BEFORE ME!" Cyan cried out holding his brother in his arms. "I'm…sorry…my…brother…I…have…failed…you…" Gabranth's voice stricken with grief and despair made him weak in the horror he has caused over a dying nation. Dropping the four crystals beneath them, Gabranth stared into his brother's heart stricken aqua eyes tears falling beneath his cheeks. "Tell Rosa…I am sorry…for everything…and Archades…is…is…no…longer…bounded down by my greed…forever…they will live…better…without me…good bye…my brother…"
"No…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Cyan's cry was heard in the distance as Lenna, Luneth, & Ramza overheard the cry of their comrade at the castle gates. "It is over…" Luneth spoke. "The war is over…"
Time passed since the deaths of King Wiegraf & High Judge Gabranth, many people believed the greed stricken between the two was the true cause of the war between the nations. Very little new the truth of Gabranth's spell casted upon the king, allowing his pawn to move freely as desired to conquer each nation with full force. The four warriors came home to Figaro, crystals in hand, began assisting the royal magicians to rid of the stricken plague that had cursed their nation.
Knock Knock Knock
Garnet was startled by the sound of the knocking of her door, she quickly brushed her hair with her hands trying to make herself presentable. "Enter." She spoke.
The door opened as one of the maids came walking in. "I'm terribly sorry to disturb you at this hour Your Majesty but this was given to me that is addressed to you." The maid said as she bowed her head presenting Garnet an envelope. "A letter? At this hour?" Garnet took the letter studying it carefully. "I wonder who it's from?"
"Well, thank you Nadia, you are dismissed."
"Thank you Your Majesty, do have a pleasant night." The maid took a quick bow and exited the chamber. Garnet opened the envelope wondering who it could have sent a letter at this late hour, given the fact the curriers don't delivery mail late at night.
"When the bell strikes nine, I shall await you by the docks awaiting to take you to your answer. Soon you will see everything you've wanted to know."
"Zidane…" she breathed, she knew right off the top of her head who wrote this letter. It was only a matter of time before she would see the answer she's been seeking.
A/N: Wow, I didn't expect this to come at me so fast LOL especially seeing how I just did this at work…of all places, but then again the inspirational song I was listening to actually got me thinking too. I hate to say this but the next chapter is the last chapter! I hope this short story was good for everybody, like said my writing isn't all that good ahaha. Anyways I hope to get the next chapter up and running within the next few weeks. So keep an eye out!
Inspirational Song
Final Fantasy V – The Day Will Come