CHAPTER 7:
THE QUEEN IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
Suddenly, the crump! of cannon fire reached their ears. The ships were firing on them with cannons. They didn't quite have the range to reach this part of the Iifa Tree, but that may not have been the point. "No…Mother!" Garnet cried out.
"I said her greed was as great as her girth," Kuja laughed. "She's laying down suppressive fire, to make sure I can't get anywhere near her before the summoning is complete. Of course, I don't have to. In any case, do you see, Princess? One continent is not enough. Nay, the world is not enough for someone of her appetite! Everything is going according to my design."
"Your design? You planned this!" Zidane snarled. "You monster!"
"If I am a monster, then that makes you one too, brother," Kuja said lightly. "I'd ask you to join me, but I know what your answer will be, given your loyalty to these insects. In any case, you were but the opening act, the…"
"Ahem," coughed Lani. "Can you quit it with the theatrics, nancy-boy? My axe thirsts for your blood. I mean, you can bleed, can't you?"
"Not for the likes of you," Kuja chortled. "Anyway, you forget. The Iifa Tree may have stopped producing Mist, but there's still mephitic clouds in forests and caves. And around here. I can summon forth the dark spawn of the Mist even now. ARISE, MISTODONS!"
Bizarre, massive insectoid creatures formed from the air itself, and as Kuja flew off, Zidane, Harry, and the others were forced to battle them, their blows punctuating Kuja's lilting laughter.
Kuja frowned as he stood on top of his dragon, watching Zidane and his comrades fight, with an army of similarly-spawned monsters flying at Brahne's fleet. He hadn't calculated on those summoners surviving Madain Sari's destruction. The girl, and the boy. Both young, but the boy at least was powerful enough to summon an Eidolon who could fly up to where he was, and bear a number of his comrades.
It was Zidane's words that disturbed him most, though. The one called Harry had come from another world as well, but not Terra. True, Terra had tried to absorb other worlds on occasion, but to learn that Gaia was linked to at least one other one was disturbing.
Still, it was no matter. It was possible that both children could be back-up plans should the Eidolons he planned to obtain were no use against Garland. He intended to take control of Bahamut using the Invincible, and then use Bahamut to devastate Alexandria, and see if the rumours about an Eidolon guarding the city was true. It was the reason why he had Brahne take those jewels of the other cities.
Looking over at the fleet, even as Brahne fired at his Silver Dragon, Kuja thought, You fool, Brahne. Those cannons are useless against my monsters. Then again, you're playing for time, aren't you? Surely you can hurry up and summon Bahamut already? Fine then. I'll give you a target that's standing still. You want me to be wiped out by Bahamut, it's only fair that I give you the chance. Out loud, he ordered his Silver Dragon to descend. This ought to be amusing.
After they finished with the Mistodons, Amarant watched the battle between Brahne's navy, and the Mist creatures Kuja had summoned. "You've got two foes slugging it out. I say let it play itself out until there's a winner. I'd put money on Kuja."
"I hate to say it," Zidane said, "but Amarant has a point. We'd better vamoose before we get caught in the crossfire."
"No, I can't," Garnet said, shaking her head. "I know what she has done. But…I can't let Kuja murder her!"
"Dagger, she tried to have you executed after she extracted your Eidolons!" Zidane protested. "She started a war, ordered the deaths of so many people! Can you call someone like that a mother anymore?"
"At least I can call someone a mother," she said, glaring at Zidane, who winced. Garnet then turned to Eiko and Harry. "The sealed Eidolon, where is it?"
Eiko pointed. "Over there, surrounded by those roots."
Garnet nodded, and then looked at Harry. "Harry, I must ask you to call on Valefor's help again. Please, time is of the essence!"
"O-okay," Harry stammered, before summoning Valefor. Instantly, Garnet clambered on, with Harry, Vivi, and Eiko joining her in short order.
Garnet said, "Meet us there forthwith! Or would you rather your brother won?" The last was asked archly, before Valefor flew off.
"Ouch," Zidane said with a wince.
"One thing Kuja got right, this is a good show. Got quite a bit of melodrama there," Amarant snorted.
"You, shut up," Zidane said, pointing a finger at the larger man, before he dashed down the roots, leaping between them.
"Well, I have to give that damned Eidolon one thing. This is certainly a more entertaining job than I usually have," Lani smirked. "Come on. We'd better follow Mr Chivalrous Idiot…"
Harry looked at Garnet as they flew down. "He was only trying to help you, you know," he said as they flew down.
Garnet nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know. And I was perhaps too harsh with my words to Zidane. But my mother was a good person, once. I believe she can be again, if only I can stop Kuja. And I am not going to stand idle and let them fight at the potential cost of her life. I'll halt his monsters, and then find a way to get Mother alone. Without guards. Without a navy. Maybe then she may listen to reason. But Ramuh is not enough. Indeed, on the ocean, he may cause more harm than good."
"We could use one of our summons, Garnet," Eiko said. "Phoenix, perhaps, can fly out. And what about Valefor, Harry? Or the Magus Sisters?"
"That is not a good idea," Valefor said to them. "We'll be shot down by Brahne's navy. Anyway, we are here, and…oh no."
As they landed, Garnet rushed to the statue, and began praying. Wings of brilliant light blue light appeared, and Garnet suddenly caught a gem. An Aquamarine. Valefor, who had changed back to human form, looked at the statue. "So Leviathan was the Eidolon you sealed," she said to Eiko.
"And he's useless in this situation," Garnet despaired. "He uses a massive wave to attack, and I'd only end up killing Mother!" She clutched her head in despair. "Damnation, she's still in danger! Unless she can summon Bahamut…"
"Garnet…" Harry said, as Valefor disappeared. A nasty thought had occurred to him. "Kuja seemed to be expecting that. He didn't seem concerned at all. And he was cursing having to destroy Madain Sari, according to the Black Mages. So what if…?"
Garnet's eyes widened as she realised where Harry was going. "What if he wants Bahamut's power for his own? He must have left the jewels with Mother to lull her into a false sense of security, but he always intended to take that power back!"
"But how can he take control of an Eidolon?" Vivi asked.
"I don't know, but if Harry is right, there must be a way!" Garnet yelled.
"What's the problem?" Zidane demanded. He'd made good time leaping down the Iifa Tree.
"Kuja may be plotting to take control of Bahamut!" Garnet yelled. "We need to stop him!"
"With what? The Eidolon?" Zidane demanded. Seeing the looks on their faces, he said, "Well, what a waste of time."
"We can't just sit here and do nothing," Harry said.
"And go into the middle of a warzone?" Zidane pointed out. "Explosions everywhere, along with monsters? The moment they realise we're there, they're either going to kill us, or capture us. Especially once they realise there are two summoners here besides Dagger."
Amarant, who was coming up, looked into the sky, and said, "It's a moot point anyway. Look."
The heavens opened, and a massive, magnificent dragon dropped out of them. The legends didn't do the massive Dragon King justice. Almost instantly, it let loose with a Mega Flare, a massive stream of energy at Kuja, who barely managed to escape on his own dragon in time.
Amarant whistled. "I've heard the stories, but I didn't think Eidolons were that powerful."
Garnet sagged to her knees. "No…Mother…" Then, something occurred to her. "Eiko! Harry! Can other summoners override the control of another one?"
"Maybe but…" Dark clouds began to gather above them, and an eldritch red glow appeared within. "I don't think we'll get a chance…" Eiko finished lamely.
"Oh no…" Garnet murmured, looking to the sky. "It's like my nightmare again…that monster is coming."
Harry watched as a sleek shape descended out of the clouds. While it was still partially hidden, he could actually make out a shape that was no monster. "That's not a monster," he breathed. "That's an airship!"
Garnet blinked, and realised that Harry was telling the truth. The vast, red eldritch eye was some sort of glowing portal. And now, she peered at its massive outline, mostly hidden by the clouds. "You're right…it's a vast airship. But what can it…?"
Her question was cut off when waves of energy descended from the 'eye', blanketing much of the area. Everyone felt like they were going to be sick, the energy waves tugging at their minds. But as they recovered, they soon realised that Garnet's nightmares were coming true. Bahamut turned from Kuja…and turned on the naval fleet. The ships were consumed by Mega Flares, before the gigantic dragon vanished in a flare of light. Kuja, his Silver Dragon, and the massive airship all left shortly thereafter.
Garnet was inconsolable for a long time. Eventually, she embraced Zidane, and didn't let go, sobbing into his shirt. Zidane himself looked both distraught for Garnet's sake, and angered at Kuja.
"I'm sorry for what I said," she said quietly.
"That's okay," Zidane said gently. "We'll find that sick bastard and make him pay. But first, we'll need to get you back home."
As it turned out, it was simple. In the dusk light, they saw a ship drifting to shore. Garnet recognised it as the Blue Narcissus, the Queen's emergency yacht. They wondered whether they needed to prepare for a fight as they approached.
It went aground, and a gangway plank extended itself to the ground. Then, staggering from it, came the corpulent frame of Queen Brahne. A pair of Alexandrian soldiers made to help her, but she pushed them away. "Repair it…and get it ready to go back to Alexandria. With your new queen," she said, her voice rasping with pain.
Harry looked at Zidane, who seemed shocked. The obese woman staggered down the plank, only to fall to the sandy shore with a ragged cry of pain. Garnet ran over, and the others followed.
Harry could tell that Brahne was dying, what with all those wounds. But as Garnet gathered magic, about to heal her, Brahne snapped, "Stop!"
"Mother, I'm trying to heal you!" Garnet yelled.
"I know, daughter…" Brahne closed her eyes, tears running from them. "But this…this is better. Better for you…better for Alexandria…"
"I don't understand," Garnet said. "Are you…back to normal?"
"Child…it's only the pain of my coming fate that is keeping my mind clear. I am empty now…empty of that terrible greed…"
"Kuja did that to you, Mother!"
"Kuja was but the spark, Daughter…but I fanned the blaze. I haven't felt truly happy since…that play I watched with you, and your father a year ago…"
"Mother…I know I wasn't your child by blood…that I came from these parts. Do you still want me to be your heir?"
Brahne nodded. "The people of Alexandria…they will be happier with you on the throne…and with my death…some of the dishonour staining our city…it can be expunged…Where I led Alexandria down…the road to ruin…you will lead it…to the dawn of rebirth. If you have…questions…ask Dr Tot. He knows…about you. And he…accepted you…just as we did."
"What about Beatrix? Steiner? Freya?" Zidane asked.
"As far as I know…they are still alive…your band of thieves…helped them," Brahne admitted. "Daughter…you have loyal compatriots. Keep them close…even if official duties…must lead to the appearance of distance. I have faith in you…Queen Garnet til Alexandros XVII…" Then, with a great terminal rattle of breath, the life left the body of Queen Brahne of Alexandria.
For a moment, Garnet was quiet. Tears flowed slowly from her eyes. Then, she stood, and grasped at her mother's arms. "Help me," she said, quietly.
Without questioning her, they did, though Harry, Vivi, and Eiko couldn't help much.
The Alexandrian soldiers didn't attack when they got on board. There were only a few. Instead, they saluted Garnet. "What are your orders, Your Highness?" one of them asked.
Garnet looked at Harry and Eiko, before she said to the soldiers, "We will be making a brief stop at Madain Sari. Then, we will be heading back to Alexandria. Please, take my mother, and keep her safe and dignified."
Garnet didn't want Harry and Eiko to leave. Rather, they stopped at Madain Sari in order so that the Moogles would know where the two summoners were, as well as to fetch Quina, who seemed happy to head back to Alexandria. Then, after packing their bags, they set sail for Alexandria.
Save for Vivi, Amarant, and Lani, who had opted to retire to the cabins early, they were all looking up at the clear night skies. Garnet shook her head. "Zidane…if Kuja is your brother, what does that make you?"
Zidane scowled. "A fratricide in the making. I don't know what his game is, and I don't care. He hurt you, Dagger. He made your mother into a monster. He turned your own Eidolons against other people. He incited a war for his own purposes, and he loved every moment of it. I know what it's like to have a family, even if it's just Tantalus. And I know what it's like having it torn away. Tantalus has lost members before. And it hurts. Regardless of whether they are blood family or not."
"We will consider what to do with Kuja once we are back." Garnet looked at the night sky as they sailed. "I am Queen of Alexandria now," she murmured.
"You'll always be Dagger to me," Zidane chuckled, ruefully.
"Careful, Zidane," Harry said with a smirk. "She might call for your head."
Zidane's eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh no! I can't live without it!"
Garnet laughed, despite herself. "Just prostrate yourself, and beg for mercy." She laughed, as did Eiko and Harry, as Zidane promptly did so.
It was probably the last moment of levity they had, before they reached Alexandria…
Once back at Alexandria, Garnet wasted little time in taking control. Harry and Eiko soon met Captain Adelbert Steiner, and General Beatrix. The former was a stocky, hardy man dressed in noisy armour, while the latter was a coldly beautiful woman with beautiful brown hair. The two knights' relief at seeing their princess alive was palpable, though when they saw the body of Brahne, kept in stasis thanks to one of the Alexandrian soldiers having some magic skill, they became solemn.
Steiner bowed to Harry and Eiko after Garnet explained everything. "Thank you, Master Harry and Mistress Eiko. You have my sincerest gratitude for keeping Her Majesty safe."
"You're welcome!" Eiko chirped cheerfully.
"Steiner…Beatrix…these people, as well as Freya Crescent and Baku of Tantalus, are to be allowed to stay in guest quarters in the castle." Garnet's eyes flickered over to Zidane, Lani, and Amarant. "Provided they can restrain their less salubrious tendencies."
"Very well, Princess," Steiner said reluctantly. "May I ask why?"
"Besides as reward for doing a service to our city?" Garnet asked. "There is a more serious matter afoot."
"In what way, Princess?" Beatrix asked.
"Alexandria has much reparation to make to the other nations for her aggression. Cleyra is but dust, Burmecia ruined, and Lindblum damaged. My mother died in order to expurgate some of that dishonour, but I have made my decision. While we rebuild relations with Burmecia and Lindblum, we will also be working with them to stop the one who ignited the fires of greed in my mother."
"Kuja," Beatrix hissed. "I thought he had the ear of your mother too much, but I stilled my tongue. To my perpetual shame."
"It is to all our shames that we did not act sooner," Garnet said. "Even my own. But that will change now. I will have to shoulder the burden of ruling Alexandria alone. But I refuse to allow Kuja to be a danger to this world."
"This world?" Steiner asked.
"We have learned much of who he really is," Garnet said. "We will discuss that later. We have…my mother's funeral to arrange…"
A couple of days later, Garnet laid down the wreath of roses at her mother's tomb, a wreath donated by the people of Alexandria, who loved her mother, even after what happened. She thought about what she must do.
As Queen, she had to shoulder the burden of rule alone. She had advisors and guards and soldiers, true, but it was her decision to make now, what would benefit Alexandria.
As Steiner, Beatrix, and Dr Tot watched on, along with Zidane, Eiko, Vivi, Harry, and Freya, she made her resolution.
Mother, she vowed. I shall become a great Queen.
CHAPTER 7 ANNOTATIONS:
You'll notice that things have changed from canon. This is partly because Garnet and company reached Brahne sooner (and thus Brahne had more to say before dying), as well as the revelations about Zidane. Garnet has made more of a resolution to deal with Kuja. She won't be heading out to fight him, but unlike the game, where she distances herself from Zidane as her coronation approaches, here, she intends to have Zidane and the others fighting on her behalf. It's also partly because of what Yojimbo told her. So while she's aware that she has the final say as Queen of Alexandria, she's also begun to wake up a little to the more pragmatic parts of being a queen…
Review-answering time! UnknownUnseenUnheard: Jenova became (gradually) aligned with the good guys due to the circumstances in Harry Potter and the Cetra Heritage. If you do read it, I hope you enjoy it.
Zane Tribal Tyne Alexandros: I think, when you analyse it, that he is perhaps the most tragic, along with Ultimecia (there are implications that she may have been driven to evil by the persecution of Sorceresses in the future), and Golbez (who has been brainwashed by Zemus).
No numbered annotations this time.