-Chapter 7-
Working Together
"The summers season has arrived on the Mist Continent, the warm clear skies are bringing many people out on holiday travels and flourishing all neighboring villages and kingdoms. Many families I see roaming the streets of Alexandria are excited to walk among the bustling avenues with stores selling abundance of souvenirs, clothing, furniture, and flowers. The smell of fresh made dinning cuisines from the restaurants setting up tables, canopies, and umbrellas offering outdoor dining for those wishing to enjoy the warm weather. I love seeing how lively Alexandria becomes during this time of year, meeting many people during my ventures into the city, taking the time to enjoy a wonderful brunch near Ticket Square, to seeing the beautiful row homes near the chapels by Auntie Ruby's theatre. Taking in these moments; one possibility made me wonder about myself…
Could all of this have ended by my own two hands?
Many people I interact with either are well aware of my abilities and are pretending to enjoy my presence or perhaps they are not surprised with sharing my mother's abilities. Yet I wonder if they are possibly afraid of me?
With every greeting I encounter, I can't seem to tell if the person before me is truly being honest with me. I can understand that someone as young as me could be unhinged should something happen were I could cause harm to those around me. Such powers should not be harnessed by anyone in my opinion, yet this is the unfortunate reality. I shouldn't assume that everyone is only being nice because they fear my potential powers…but the thoughts linger in my mind.
I've studied more about summoning and trance, asking mother and papa more about their abilities that I share from them. They have been forth coming with me yet I feel as if there is more that I don't know about. I had wondered if I should reach out more to someone I know who share some of these similar powers. Someone…who could give an outsider's insight of what I am capable of?'
"But y'know if it's worth mentioning, there was this one time where he freaked out the first time he had to change your bloomers when you soiled yourself. He literally begged poor Allison to help out all because he told your mom he got it."
"Goodness papa couldn't change me?"
"NOPE! Because your mom was busy tending to her usual meet up with her advisors and Zidane said he'd look after ya but the moment you soiled yourself, all bets were off!"
Sarah laughed.
"Somehow I'm not surprised; papa seems to always find himself in a sticky situation."
Eiko grinned.
"Oh I have many stories to tell ya cuz!"
Sarah and Eiko were looking over the ledge in the observation garden on top of Lindblum castle The two were gazing at the green colored mountains and forests basking in the warm summers sun. The two continued their chatter about the memories Sarah's childhood as they laughed at Zidane's embarrassing moments during the princess' childhood. The two looked out towards one of the small patch of forest near the basin beneath the castle grounds.
"Cousin Eiko, did you ever sometimes asked your grandfather about your summoning powers?" Sarah looked towards Eiko.
"Well, kind of… since grandpa passed away when I was young. I mostly had to pick it up on my own, what I did learn from him was being able to be in tune with the eidolons since it does require much concentration in order to summon any of the eidolons." Eiko said as she bounced between the ball of her heel and tip of her toes while keeping her attention outward towards the scenery before them.
"I see…was it…hard?"
Eiko planted her feet on the ground, the echo of her two tone boots sounded off against the cobblestone. Sarah watched her cousins placed her hands behind her back and slowly swung them side to side as her head tilted sideways.
"It was at first but…the truth is since…I was alone, it kind of made it easier for me to be in tune with the spiritual energy that eidolons bond through." She said as she looked towards Sarah with her green eyes.
Sarah felt her eyes feeling half open by her cousin's response. Eiko to her was the closest distant relative who would helm the most resources about her summoning abilities. Given Eiko's knowledge first hand with living in Madain Sari for the short amount of time she had, it made sense to Sarah that she should seek out her most curious of questions about what she herself is capable of.
"Hmm…I'm guessing…mother told you about…my questions to her…didn't she?"
Eiko lowered her head while still swinging her arms behind her back. Finding themselves brushing up against her yellow passed knee length skirt.
"She did…"
Sarah closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them looking out towards the mountain range in the distance.
"I'm…guessing she said to not…speak a word about the history of our people…didn't she?" Sarah sighed.
"Actually…" Eiko look to Sarah. "Quite the opposite."
Sarah looked at Eiko who was smiling back at her.
"She said she was open to the idea of me giving my perspective on what you went through on your birthday and any possible questions you might have about summoning."
"You mean mother is…?"
Eiko nodded her head.
"Yup! Believe it or not we talked about it a long time ago before your sixteenth that should the day come where you may learn about your abilities that it was alright for me to offer some insight about it as well."
Sarah felt speechless; her right hand began holding the silver pendant hanging on her against her tunic. Her eyes looked below to her heirloom. The Princess was not surprised by her cousin's response from her mother's openness to have others help answer her curiosity about her ability to summon. She never once doubted her parent's preparedness for the day that she would discover her true powers.
"I understand that it might be scary to think that you possess the ability to summon great powerful deities at your disposal someday. It's why your parents did ask me to lend a helping hand as well. After all I would be in the same shoes as you if I learned about all of this too."
Sarah looked up towards Eiko who was the same height as her. Eiko understood what Sarah has been feeling since her birthday incident. At first she didn't think about asking Eiko about what happened to her during her birthday in fear of displeasing her parents without their consent.
"Cousin…I didn't think either of my parents would've been pleased if I had asked you after my birthday about what happened and…what I am capable of." Sarah lowered her hand to her side. Eiko shook her head.
"They understand that you must've had a lot of questions to ask since then. Honestly speaking, this was talked about awhile back. We didn't want you to think you couldn't go to anyone without any disregard for hurting any of our feelings. We want you to always know that we are looking after you as well."
"Hmm…it must've been quite the conversation about me…wasn't it?"
"Nahh! We just talked about how we can make you feel assured. That's all. In fact your mom was the one who actually asked about it first since I have much more knowledge about it than she does. If anything she gave you only a tidbit of what she knows from all her reading. For me I have more of the hands on knowledge, so if that is a benefit to you, I have no issues answering any questions you may have."
Sarah smiled and looked out towards the mountains.
"It's hard to believe that…ever since my birthday…I'm still being supported despite the harm I caused…at times I've wondered if people were afraid of me…mostly when I walked among Alexandrians…I sort of wondered if people would pretend to be nice to me in hopes of…not being harmed by my potential uncontrollable abilities."
"Noooo! Everyone who lives in Alexandria still support you…hells not gonna lie that night when you blinded that bastard he got what he deserved. Most people I chat with who come around here keep saying how upset he is about it and how nobody is siding with him after the way he snapped at you."
Sarah shook her head in disbelief and looked over to Eiko with her eyes.
"Re…really? People are…siding with me?" The perplexed Princess asked arching her eyebrows.
"Yup! Besides some of the other girls from Treno say he's a total fraud and pretentious loser! He got what he deserved! Hells I woulda kicked his stupid ass back to kingdom come!"
"Eiko! Language!"
Eiko grinned.
"I call it like I see it cuz! Besides, back to the topic at hand, look, summoning without a doubt requires much responsibility to helm. Even your mom at one point had her own sacred duty as a summoner that she needed to do as well when she and I were called upon it."
Sarah look down to her pendant.
"You mean…the night you and mother summoned…Alexander?"
Eiko nodded her head.
"Exactly, if you do decide to seek this path, know that as a summoner we are called for a higher calling when an eidolon asks us bring forth their powers for the protection of those who pray forth for. I don't mean to kind of lay all out right off the bat but it's part of the knowledge I can give to you that you have to know. In my honest opinion being able to control your emotions is part of the learning experience as well because if we let our emotions run a bit wild…we could potentially summon involuntary that could harm others."
Sarah closed her eyes and grabbed her pendant with both hands. Feeling its glass surface on her fingertips, the power of the pendant in her hands was one of many beacons to the spiritual energy that allows her to summon. She opened her eyes and looked at Eiko.
"Cousin…I know what I hold in my hands is without a doubt Alexander and I know mother and you were called by him…to protect Alexandria the night Bahamut ravaged the kingdom."
Eiko nodded her head.
"You're correct about that; however that is only part of Alexander."
"Hmm? Only part?"
"Correct, there are a total of four jewels that harness the power of Alexander, they were originally split between the four nations here on the mist continent for better protection of the planet. Each one does have the ability to summon an Eidolon as well but these particular four have the power to summon forth Alexander when the Light of Destiny summons those who hold these jewels."
"Oh…I see…I'm slowly understand what mother meant by her story when you and her…fulfilled your destiny as summoners?"
Eiko nodded.
"You catch on pretty fast; no doubt you have your mom's smarts."
Sarah let out a gently chuckle.
"Eiko I'm being a bit serious here."
"Just being honest, any who, as I was saying, the four jewels contain a hidden power that light up when we must fulfil our call as summoners. If we don't then the unthinkable happens."
"And that would be?"
"Well…if me and your mom didn't do our part…we wouldn't be standing here…"
Sarah looked to her pendant. "Hmm…I understand…" She looked back at Eiko. "So…if the four jewels are together during a time of great crisis, then Alexander would appear?"
Eiko crossed her arms and looked passed Sarah.
"In a sense yes, Alexander has been known to be the holy guardian of Gaia. My guess is the only reason why Madain Sari was not able to be saved was because Kuja unleashed his attack head on where as to what happened in Alexandria, he gave too much time to the point where Alexander was able to sense the great danger that your home was going through during that time. Though in the past Alexander has always been able to sense grave danger at hand, which has been a bit of a mystery to me since then because I can't quite figure it out myself."
Eiko looked back towards Sarah.
"But…in any case, the four jewels are currently being protected carefully right now. I have one of the four myself which I wear." Eiko pointed to her earrings showing as the small jewels reflected the sunlight. Sarah was in awe by their beauty and smiled.
"They look beautiful on you, and I'm assuming my pendant is the other?"
Eiko nodded.
"That's correct and the falcon claw we have here in Lindblum and the desert star is with the people of Cleyra. After the Alexandria incident, if there was any sort of danger that is to occur anywhere on Gaia, myself and your mom would request the jewels to be presented to us so we may embark to fulfil our call to any place in harm's way."
"Hmm…that is a great deal of responsibility…I imagine it must be so hard on you and mother."
Eiko shook her head.
"We both promised each other after we came back from the Iifa Tree that we will helm the responsibility together. Your mom understood her role and gracefully accepted it. She took it as an opportunity to pay her respects to her homeland since she never recalled her early childhood. Not only that but it was also your father who helped your mother accept who she was as a person, even with Alexandria not being her real home she accepted it as her home now but won't forget where she came from."
"Hmm…would that mean I could…potentially be called upon as well?"
Eiko placed a hand against her chin and gave thought of the idea.
"Well…if you truly have inherited your mother's genes…I don't see why not. Even though you don't have a horn like I do, your mom was still able to communicate with the spiritual energy to summon, not as strong as myself but it was enough to have the communication."
"I see…" Sarah looked out towards the mountains.
"Sarah…now I am intrigued to ask." Eiko lowered her hands. "Have you been hearing any voices lately?"
Sarah closed her eyes for a moment, the voice from her dreams who sung a mysterious song to her, whom she met on the night of her birthday was the only one she heard. Was it an eidolon who was calling to her? If so whom was it? No eidolon she read about ever mentioned of one to sing to their summoner. Would Eiko be able to answer the call of the mysterious voice to her? Was there a connection between the song and the eidolons?
"Uhm…I'm not sure to be honest…" Sarah said gingerly. "I…I think I have been."
Eiko arched her eyebrows and leaned against the ledge while keeping her eyes on Sarah.
"What has the voice been saying to you?"
Sarah slowly opened her eyes she spotted a flock of birds flying across the mountains in perfect v formation. She continued watching them fly across as her eyes caught her cousin's horn slowly lowering her eyes to meet with Eiko's.
"It…it sings to me…"
"Sings to you? What is it singing?"
Sarah shook her head.
"A song I've…heard when I was very young...I never really told anyone about because I always thought it was just a dream. I thought it was mother's voice singing but…as I grew older, I learned that it wasn't mother's voice."
Eiko's eyes slightly widened with much more interest.
"Really? What does it sound like?"
Sarah slowly turned her head outward towards mountains in the distance, she let in a deep breath and exhaled slowly feeling the inside of her body feeling relaxed. She closed her and laid her hands on the ledge.
"Kirameku sanrei waki-dasu tsumetai mizu wa"
Eiko laid her right elbow on top of the ledge beside them and placed a hand under her chin while listening.
"Shiratsu matotta kiyorana mori ni shimi-iru
Kidaki sugatade sakihokoru sono hana no"
Eiko closed her eyes letting Sarah's melodious voice flow through her ears. The feeling of her cousin's voice felt like a calm stream flowing through Madain Sari.
"Yose-au hana-bira usumurasaki ni kagayakite
Fukisusabu kaze ni sae mukuno hitomi wa kesenai
Hikari ga atsumaru yasashi kozue no moto de
Osanai kokoro ni fushigina chikara yadorite"
Eiko let in a deep breath and exhaled, her body felt light and relaxed. She found her head slowly nodding side to side slowly to the rhythm of Sarah's voice.
"Yutaka ni sosoida hotaru no kawa no nagare ni
Dakarete nemureba harukana omokage izuko."
Sarah slowly opened her eyes, as she saw Eiko with a sincere smile feeling at peace. The summoner slowly opened her eyes looking back towards Sarah. The princess felt her instinct to look over her shoulder with Eiko looking along; spotting Garnet with a gentle smile on her face with several doves as if on cue flew past her. A gentle breeze flew across the Queen, her ivory dress and short brown hair following the wind flow, Sarah felt as if her mother was a deity appearing before her.
"So…it was you I heard singing while I was reading in the guest room." Garnet smiled.
Sarah let out a small gasp and covered her mouth. Eiko couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
"A mother's intuition never fails huh?" Eiko teased. Garnet nodded and approached the two ladies.
"It certainly doesn't hehe. You're not embarrassed are you Sarah?" Garnet stopped before her daughter and friend. Sarah shook her head and lowered her hands.
"I'm sorry for disrupting your reading mother; I thought…it was just Eiko and I who heard what I sung."
Garnet shook her head.
"It's alright sweetie, it was very peaceful, where did you hear it from?"
"Uhm..." Sarah looked at Eiko who looked back at her. She couldn't figure out whether to tell her mother or not about the mysterious song she sung that she always heard in her dreams. For as long as she could recall, it wasn't until she was ten years old that she was able to understand the words of the song. As much as Sarah knew, there was no origin of the song; it came one day in her dreams during her early age after hearing her parent's song sung to her. Sarah tenderly looked towards her mother.
"I'm…not entirely sure to be honest mother…" The princess responded.
Garnet laid a hand under her chin while her other held her elbow. She glanced around her surrounding, spotting the telescope nearby, the fresh small patches of lowers planted along the edges, the moment felt all too familiar to her. She let out a smile and gazed towards her daughter.
"Now where have I heard that before?" Garnet teased as Sarah felt confused. "You don't remember?"
"Uhm…oh! When papa snuck up here to find you." Sarah realized as she looked around the garden. Eiko looked at Garnet.
"Zidane snuck up here to see you? Why am I not surprised." Eiko shook her head. Garnet let out a soft laugh.
"Where you two stood, that was where I was when he found me…I too was singing as well, he apparently heard me and like he always does, found his way to be with me."
"That's our Zidane." Eiko teased as Sarah looked over to the telescope.
"And that's when you and papa looked through the telescope and he promised to take you out on a date after the Festival of the Hunt."
Garnet smiled.
"You remember well Sarah, do you also remember when he had his mishap?" Garnet winked.
"Hehe of course! He offered to take you on an airship after you were already on one after escaping from Black Waltz through South Gate because he mistaken you for another woman." Sarah chuckled.
"YUP! That's Zidane alright! Typical of him to mix up all the girls…especially after he had your eyes on you Dagger!" Eiko placed her hands on her hips with a pouty look.
The women laughed altogether.
"Oh he always has his moments yet if it wasn't for him…I wouldn't be where I am today thanks to him." Garnet smiled.
"Papa did so much for you and Eiko." Sarah smiled.
"Yup! Good ol Zidane may be a goof but he's our goof!" Eiko grinned as Sarah tried hard not to let out a laugh.
"Eiko! That's my papa!" Sarah said as she couldn't hold her laugh anymore.
"What can I say? Am I wrong Dagger?" The summoner winked at Garnet as she let out a relieving sigh and smiled.
"You're not quite wrong Eiko, though being back out here again…I remember when I finally told him about our song." Garnet looked up towards the telescope. "It's hard to believe it was so long ago when I first opened up to him personally…I don't recall what came over me but…when he asked…I felt comfortable telling him about it. It was as if…I was beginning to…in some sense…trust him more after our escape from Alexandria." The Queen returned her attention to the two girls.
"Sarah…if I may return to the subject before we were distracted, when do you recall hearing the song if you don't mind me asking?"
"Uhm…" Sarah looked at Eiko for a moment then back towards her mother. "I think…maybe when I was ten years old? I mostly heard it in my dreams…" Sarah said as she held her hands together.
"Hmm…does it seem to sound familiar to you in any form and way?"
"Uhm…I'm not sure to be honest…"
"By any chance is it the woman whom song our song to you when you were younger?"
"A woman's voice?" Eiko's arched her eyebrows and looked towards Sarah.
"Oh…" Sarah looked towards Eiko. "I was going to mentioned that…the one singing the song…she also sung my parent's song as well…it was a similar voice as well."
Eiko crossed her arms.
"A woman's voice…what's the best way you can describe her voice?"
"Well…she sounded…very…harmonious, gentle, and…sincere. Yet…I've never seen her…not even faint figure or silhouette of any kind."
"Hmmm…that's really interesting…because…most eidolons I know…don't match that kind of voice description. Dagger, do you recall any one of them having that kind of voice?" Eiko looked towards the Queen.
"Hmm…not in my deepest memories…not even from the small recollects of Madain Sari as well…or even my own mother's voice…" Garnet said.
"Do you…both think it…could be…something else?" Sarah asked as Garnet and Eiko looked at the princess.
Garnet and Eiko looked to one another. To possibility of an unknown being haunting Sarah suddenly became a thought. Is there a possibility some unknown force is sending a malice premonition to Sarah? Garnet at times did wonder if her daughter would potentially be able to form some sense of communication to the spiritual energies surrounding the eidolons. Eiko looked towards Sarah who looked back to her.
"I mean…you wouldn't be wrong…though it's a bit early to tell, in some senses just like your mother when she was your age, you'll probably wanna go through some formal lessons to get an understanding of what it means to be a summoner."
Sarah seemed intrigued by the idea of learning the ways of the summoner.
"Lessons? To…become a summoner?" she said as she looked at her mother.
"Hmm that would be quite the idea. Eiko, would you be willing to perform such task?" Garnet asked. Eiko nodded and smiled.
"Of course! I'd would be more than be happy to teach Sarah…that is of course…if she wants to?"
"But mother…I…I've much lessons back home…I wouldn't want to steer away from them knowing…that much is being asked of me." Sarah said as let out a disappointing sigh. Garnet placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder as she looked up to her mother's brown eyes.
"But you also have one important duty back home Sarah…do you know what that is?"
Sarah shook her head, her mother smiled.
"Being yourself."
Sarah let out a small gasp, her admiration to her mother with how strong she was throughout her years, even during her suffering of her post trauma of her past tainting her during her early childhood. She knew her mother always told her to always be true and honest with herself growing up. Sarah tried her best to keep her parents pleased with the many eyes watching her as she holds her title as the Princess of Alexandria.
"I…" she paused and looked at Eiko giving her an approving smile.
"Cuz there's no shame in wanting to learn more about yourself and your heritage." Eiko assured.
"And I welcome the idea of having Eiko offer lessons for you. I know you must grow tired of me saying this but you'll always have my full support in your crucial life decisions that will help you understand who you are Sarah." Garnet smiled.
It was at this moment Sarah felt this was the decision were her life was about to change. After learning more about her summoning powers and the possibility of inheriting trance she seemed more intrigued about what it means to be a summoner. Is it possible to even use these powers to help protect her kingdom? Or would people see her as a threat more than ever? Sarah looked to her mother giving her an approving smile, she didn't want to let her mother down, she wants to do what's right for her family and herself. She took a moment to give thought, what could she learn more about the eidolons? This could be her only chance to find out. Sarah looked towards her mother.
"Mother…with…your permission, I wish to learn the ways of the summoner…because…if this is a part of us then I must understand who our people were. In light of that…I…wish to learn more about papa's people as well since…I'm still very lackluster with the knowledge of papa and auntie Mikoto's people."
Garnet smiled happily and extended her arms. Sarah walked to her mother for a warm embrace.
"I expected no less from you sweetie." Garnet said.
"I won't let you down mother; I hope that I can maintain much discipline with these newfound powers." Sarah said as she pulled her head back looking to her mother.
"You've a strong heart Sarah, it will always be the light that keeps you strong and true to whom you are."
Eiko walked beside the mother and daughter.
"And I'll do my best to be the best teacher you'll ever have!" Eiko grinned as Sarah and Garnet looked at Eiko as they pulled apart.
"Cousin…will it be challenging to learn the ways?" Sarah asked curiously.
Eiko laughed.
"Never! If anything it'll give me a chance to actually get the hells away from here…as much as I love being with Mother and Father here…sometimes hearing him blab about airships just gives me a huge headache that none of my books keep me entertained anymore. Hells not even playing my own flute can drown out steam powered engines help throttle the thrusters and…OH GREAT NOW I'M SOUND ING LIKE FATHER!" Eiko shook her head vigorously as Sarah and Garnet chuckled.
"Oh cousin you should come visit more often if you grow bored of here." Sarah winked.
"Well now you've given me an excuse now." Eiko grinned.
…
"Still can't stand the food at the palace huh?"
"You expect any less from me? Jeez I get enough it back home you expect me to put up with it here when the boring stuff is much better?"
"Come on man you LIVE at the friggin palace for gods sake!"
"I didn't say I have to like the food there…ya it's something Dagger and Sarah are use to but I still can't wrap my tongue around the meals. Like I get it Quina is an amazing chef and all but…sometimes s/he has to sneak me some of the boring stuff just to entertain me."
Blank raised his shoulders as he leaned against the giant iron gear of the Tantalus hideout while Zidane sat at the table in the middle of the entire hideout. Zidane grabbed a large glass filled with whisky and took a quick sip of it. Blank gently brushed his red hair back as he watched Zidane.
"So you ditchin you family just to spend time with us? Some husband you are." Blank snickered.
"Least I ain't you playing hookay away from Ruby's theatre by pretending to be sick when you're not." Zidane raised an eyebrow as Blank shuttered.
"I swear to gods if you tell Ruby I'm here imma kick your stupid ass back up to Regent Cid's room faster than a chocobo on a red pepper." Blank snapped as Zidane grinned.
"You ain't got the balls to do it! Besides she's gonna find out on her own, that girl can smell ya lying to her from all the way across the continent. You really think she's gonna let you off the hook?"
"Ugh…she's just been a pain in the ass lately; she's already upset I didn't clean up the backstage area after last week's show…cause I was too busy TRYING to friggin get Celes' dress patched up. Y'know she's not exactly a great boss to work with…"
Zidane raised his shoulders.
"She never gave me any problems."
"That's cause she ain't got the hots for ya that's why."
Zidane took another sip of his whiskey.
"Hey you were the one who fell head over heels for her cause she has huge knockers. Ain't my fault you're into that kind stuff." Zidane grinned as Blank started walking towards Zidane and slammed a fist on the table.
"CAUSE YOU FRIGGIN WOULDN'T STOP STARING AT THEM! I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE SHE DIDN'T MURDER ALL OF US!"
Zidane laughed.
"Hey but it worked out in the end didn't it? You got the girl!" Zidane kept on laughing as Blank growled in disgust.
"Even you being fuckin married hasn't changed ya…I would think you'd be a better role model for my niece of all people." Blank rolled his eyes.
"Heeyy Dagger still loves me the way I am…so I had to change a little just to fit in the palace but I haven't lost my charm with her. Plus my daughter loves me and that's what matters most, I'm gonna protect her til the friggin oglobs come home." Zidane took another sip of whiskey.
"If the boss heard all this he'd throw another punch at you."
Zidane raised his shoulders.
"As you can see he ain't here. So ain't gonna happened."
Blank shook his head, he pulled up a chair beside him and took a seat as his watched Zidane take a big chug from his glass.
"So how long you gonna be in town for?"
"Just for the next few days, I figure I take the time to go visit some folks I've not seen in awhile; not surprised you're here of course." Zidane snickered as Blank shook his head.
"And the rest of the fam? What bout the maids?"
"Sarah and Dagger are at the palace, mostly catching up with Eiko, Cid, and Hilda. The maids we told em to take the rest of the day off and mingle about."
"For someone whose being friggin pampered I find it interesting you of all people aren't taking full advantage of the services you're getting."
Zidane shook his head.
"It's not my style…besides if anything when it comes to Allison…she kinda showed me the ropes when I came back. She kinda got me well versed about the dos and don'ts of the palace."
Blank arched an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Let me get this straight…you come back, move into the palace, get full pampering services, eat like a king, have a child but STILL haven't changed your personality and acting like the same ol Zidane? Man I would've thought the palace life would change ya after all these years but damn."
"Why so surprised?
"Just in disbelief that's all."
Zidane raised his shoulders and took another sip.
"So tell me…you still thinkin about what happened at your kid's birthday?" Blank crossed his arms as Zidane kept his eyes on his friend.
"Yeah…it's still fresh in my mind…" Zidane said as he pulled the glass closer to him and look at his reflection from the whiskey.
"You worried that your kid might end up like her Dagger? Or Eiko?"
"You ain't scared are ya?"
Zidane continued looking into his glass, seeing the ripples cause by the small gentle movement of his hand holding the glass. Since the incident he mostly did his best to keep Sarah in a better state of mind. Despite her questions about learning more about her potential abilities that she may potentially possess, at times Zidane wondered if he should let Sarah learn the ways of being a summoner while at the same time her curiosity about trance made him seem uneasy about the idea. He knew his daughter was very smart about wanting to learn more about the world around her, even learning about who she was as a person. He couldn't fathom the idea of stopping his own daughter about learning about who she was, even preaching himself of being one to be true to who you are as person; he wouldn't live with himself if he hindered his daughter from learning about herself.
"It's not that I'm scared…" Zidane looked up towards Blank. "It's just…Sarah's growing up so fast I just…can't believe she's not the little girl who ran around the palace full of energy and bubbly about life anymore. She's been asking a lot of questions about trance and summoning…"
"And you think you're probably gonna screw it up?" Blank rested his arms on the table. Zidane looked over toward the bell nearby seeing its golden finish; it reminded him of the many times he hated its ringing when he was asleep in the morning and was forced to wake up to it. In partial it reminded him of the times he was awaken to Garnet's flashback mornings when Sarah was growing up.
"Somewhat…" he said quietly.
"Some?" Blank leaned in.
"Somewhat…" Zidane spoke up.
"What makes you say that?"
"It's just…she's been asking a lot about trance…I told her everything I know about it. Apart of me hopes she…"
"Doesn't end up like him?"
Zidane slowly looked back towards Blank.
"Yeah…like him…"
Blank leaned back on his chair while letting out a sigh.
"Look man…I may not have a kid and all but…eventually she's gonna ask about him sooner or later."
"I getcha…a part of me feels like I shouldn't tell her but…lying to her would just…make me feel awful."
Blank raised his shoulders.
"Did not think I was ever gonna hear those words come out of your mouth, especially after just now."
Zidane shuttered.
"I may not have changed a whole lot but…I'm more adapted to my environment versus changing who I am per say."
"I guess?" Blank raised his shoulders.
"Look man…like I said…I'm a bit torn seeing Sarah wanting to learn more about who she really is. I get that I shouldn't be holding her back but…I'm kinda starting to feel like what Dagger went through when our daughter was growing up…a small sense of fear just lingering about her true potential…"
"Heh."
Zidane arched an eyebrow.
"That's all you gotta say?'
"The way I look at it…she ain't a little kid anymore…so…why not start treating like an adult instead?"
Zidane let out a small scuffs while letting out a smile.
"That's probably the smartest thing you ever said all day today." Zidane smirked.
"Well la hee freakin da man! We're getting somewhere now."
"Smart ass!"
"Look in all seriousness, I think Sarah just wants to be taken seriously, I get you still want her to be that little girl but she's growing up. She wants to know where her place is in life and you of all people shouldn't be holding her back…least I hope you're not."
Zidane leaned back on his chair and slowly looked as his half filled glass.
"I don't think I am…I'm answering everything she's asked from me so far…"
"But?"
"Maybe I'm not…giving her enough…"
"Well lemme ask you this…what if she straight up asked tell me about Kuja? What you gonna tell her?"
Zidane closed his eyes, it was one question he worried he would be asked about from his own daughter. What kind of answer would he give his daughter exactly?
"I'm not sure to be honest…"
Blank stood up from his seat and walked around the table and stood before Zidane as he looked up to him.
"Gotta think of something cause you know she's gonna ask about him soon." Blank nudged Zidane's shoulder as he walked towards the belt rack beneath the raised bed platform. Zidane looked over his shoulder as he watched Blank take a belt off the rack and wrapped it around his waist.
"Not gonna lie, your daughter without a doubt takes much after her mother. Her curiosity will certainly make her start asking more questions about her life. After all the shit you two went through, I don't think Sarah will be satisfied unless she gets a full understanding of the world around her and inside of her." Blank finished buckling his belt as she walked towards the door leaving the hideout while keeping his attention on Zidane.
"We only get one life Zidane and she's expecting you to give her all the information she needs to live it rather than survive it." Blank waved his hand in the air and took his leave as Zidane watched.
Zidane felt somewhat confused by his friend's words, he looked down at his glass the gears in the room starting moving. The large creaking sound tainted his painful memories through his ears as the bell began clanking loudly. He looked up towards the bell, hearing each ring as it sounded off louder and louder.
"Friggin hells…he's not wrong…she is growing up…" he said to himself. "Maybe I should stop beating the bush and actually tell her about him before she asks…"
"We're not perfect, but we have friends who help us. That is reason enough for us to live!
We live to protect the ones we love.
I exist to eat, but also exist to live.
Blind pursuit of power is a meaningless vice.
It took us a long time, but we've all found our way.
We live not to forget our past, but to learn from it.
I may not know who I really am, but that is my question alone to answer.
We may be weak, but that's what makes us work together and help one another.
Words spoken by my parents and their friends; the words they spoke when their faced their fate against my papa, uncle, and auntie's creator. Before they all bravely fought against him in an attempt to help save the home we live in. No one on this planet is perfect, we all have reasons to live, reasons to understand ourselves, reasons to answer life's mysterious questions that myself and others have asked.
Mother and papa have done so much for me so far and I've much more to learn, I believe asking for more help from some of their friends may help me understand who I am and where my place is. Working with the people whom I trust is key to understanding who I am in this world. I wonder if that is why the mysterious woman appeared before me, is she the key to my existence here? Would anyone be able to help me find her?
Perhaps my journey to find out is about to begin soon and I need the right people by my side. I know I can depend on cousin Eiko to partake on this quest…but whom else may I ask to follow me on this journey.
I want to understand who I am, I want to understand my powers as a summoner and my powers a genome. I want to understand this mysterious white light that's stalking my dreams. And most of all I want to know who this woman is that keeps calling me in my dreams with her song.
I musn't wait any longer for the answers to be given to me…I must seek the truth myself."