Final Fantasy 9 - Love will Grow [Part II]

[Leia Avenrose]

Disclaimer: I don?t own Final Fantasy IX?
Dedication: To everyone.


Love Will Grow
By: Lynzi Knight
Rating: R
Part II: Clipped Wings





?You?re not poor anymore, Zidane,? she whispered against his lips.

?I?m not after you for your money, Dagger. I?m after you for your love.? He was serious. His eyes sparkled with emotions she never knew.

?And that?s exactly what you?re going to get.?

Zidane blinked at her words and then smiled softly. He ran a hand through her hair, letting it trail down her bare arm. He caressed her gently. ?As long as you love me, I?m going to die a happy man.? His eyes never left hers.

Garnet giggled and gently slapped his shoulder. ?You say such sweet things. I like it. Why do you do it anyways??

?I do it because I mean it. I say such things because I mean it too.? He shrugged and continued to stroke her arm. He received another slap on the shoulder.

Garnet sighed in pleasure. She felt his arms tighten and Zidane pulled her close. Her head came to rest on his wide chest. The steady, sure strong beats of his heart thumped away in her ear and she closed her eyes listening to the soft rhythm. ?Zidane??

?Hmm?? Zidane closed his eyes and rested his chin on top of her head. He felt her relax in his arms as he rubbed her back.

?Why didn?t you ever say anything before??

?I couldn?t get the courage. I was scared of being?rejected,? he murmured into her hair. It smelt of vanilla and lavender.

?You had no need to be frightened of my rejecting you. I would?ve welcomed you with open arms and lots of kisses.? She smiled and twirled a strand of dark honey gold hair around her finger.

?I know that now.? Zidane chuckled.

?Yeah,? she whispered. ?I?ve missed you so much, Zidane. When you left me, left me to think you were dead, I never came out of my room for months. I never came out until?no?? She didn?t have the chance to finish. Zidane cut in.

?I figured it out when I spotted you running towards the railing, Dagger. You can?t believe how worried you had me when I first came up here to only watch, as you were about to throw your life away. Promise you?ll never do it again??

?Do what??

?I?m serious, Dagger!?

Garnet flinched and bit her lip hard. She then kissed his wet chest gently and brought her eyes up to look at him. ?Of course I promise. As long as you promise not to leave me ever again.?

Zidane nodded. He searched her face as he watched the tears brim her beautiful eyes. He reached up and captured one crystal droplet on the pad of his thumb as it slid down her cheek. Garnet closed her eyes, trying not to the pain fall out into the open again. Zidane brought his other hand up and he traced her right cheekbone delicately. Bringing his fingers down to graze over her slightly parted lips, and then back up against to tenderly pass over her closed lids, he felt his heart flutter in his chest. They felt so smooth beneath his tender touch. Garnet couldn?t help but let out a small, choked sob of happiness and yet pain. Zidane?s fingers found their way to her chin and he tilted it up. His eyes sought out hers and he captured her trembling lips in his as he held her close to him. He loved every minute her body was pressed to his.

Garnet slid her arms around his neck and linked them together as she pulled him down more. She pressed her mouth into his harder. Her frail, slender body pressed up against his as his arms tightened around her waist. She returned his kiss with much pent-up passion and pain. He growled low in his throat and suddenly wanted more then just kisses. The door behind them swung open suddenly. A loud gasp hit their ears followed by a mumbled apology. Garnet instantly pulled away and watched as the general Beatrix of Alexandria bowed and remained bowed. Zidane chuckled lightly and shook his head as he watched her.

?It?s all right, Beatrix,? he said as she lifted her head to peek at them and straightened fully.

?I didn?t know anyone was up here,? replied Beatrix as she rested her hand on the handle of her great sword.

?It?s only me and him.? Garnet smiled gently.

?Yes. Where have you been, Majesty? Steiner had every knight, every guard, every servant and ever wash boy searching high and low for you.?

?Rusty?s been worried lately, huh?? Zidane commented under his breath.

Garnet?s lips went into a straight, impatient line. ?Yes, a little too worried if you ask me,? she muttered in return.

?Majesty, he had every right to be worried.? Beatrix chuckled.

Garnet finally smiled and nodded. ?Perhaps you?re right, Beatrix. You can go and tell him that you?ve found me.? She grinned now and swept out an arm at her side. The other arm was wrapped around Zidane?s waist.

Beatrix grinned at her queen. ?Yes, I might as well do that.? She eyed Zidane. ?Where have you been? We should have you locked up to a room for leaving in such a time of peril!?

Zidane smiled. ?I was?away,? he replied tentatively.

Beatrix frowned and didn?t say anything else, as she shrugged and then turned. She went the way she came?through the door behind her. Garnet turned her full attention to Zidane and stared at him. He watched the door in silence. What was wrong with him? Why was he so quiet all of a sudden?

?What do you mean by you were away??

?I?m sorry.? Zidane turned his attention on her and stared at her. The impish smile was wiped off his face. ?I wasn?t away, Dagger, I was healing.?

?Healing?? she echoed. Her left eyebrow rose in question.

Zidane nodded. ?Yes. After Kuja and I fought, I was badly injured. Some people from the closet village of Dahlia found me floating in a little creek. They pulled me out.?

?How badly hurt were you??

?I wasn?t that hurt to not come back.? Zidane gently stroked her bottom lip.

Garnet shook her head. ?No, no, no. Do you have any wounds that are still healing?? She ran her dainty hands over his broad, well-developed chest.

Zidane swallowed loudly. He grimaced as her hands softly roamed over his chest, just above his heart. ?There,? he managed to ground out through tightly clenched teeth. He felt the pain sear his head as it always did?

Her hands left his chest immediately as if burned. She lifted her hands to see them and stifled a gasp. Crimson stained her fingers and trickled down her palms. She blinked rapidly. Shaking her head, she tore her gaze from her hands to the deep crimson that stained the front of his vest and white muscle shirt. Zidane felt the floor beneath his feet rock from side to side slowly. It felt as if he were out on a dock out on the water. It would silently rock over the gentle waves that the sharp breeze had created. He heard had Garnet stifled her gasp and tried to focus his vision on her. He immediately noticed the blood on her fingers as he glanced at them. Garnet ignored the stains of crimson and reached out to undo Zidane?s vest. She ripped it down his arms as she tried to get it off. She needed to see his wound and how extensive it went.

As soon as she ripped the vest from his body, she stared at the blood soaked muscle shirt. The vest slipped from her fingers as they trembled.

?Dagger, just get if off?quick!? Zidane hissed sharply. He sucked in a quick breath of pain as the bolts of searing sting shot through his body from his chest.

Garnet nimbly nodded. She reached down to grasp the end of the shirt and then tugged it up gently. She was careful not to hurt him anymore as she peeled the rest of it off his toned chest. She peeled it off the wound, as it lay visible against the once stark white bandages. They were a dark, dangerous crimson now. Blood trickled down the front of his body and down his legs. She dropped the article of clothing quickly and reached out. She gingerly touched the bandage. Blood seeped out quickly from her one simple touch. Zidane groaned and began to sway on his feet from side to side. Garnet placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to steady him.

?Zidane, lay down,? she whispered hastily, as she helped him to the ground.

Zidane felt his eyes close as he lay down on the pavement. Garnet carefully and quickly peeled away the bandages. To her dismay, what was revealed to her was a large wound in the middle of his chest. It went diagonally over his heart. It was a heart that was so full of love and passion for her. She began to tremble as she reached down to finger the edges of the open wound.

?Zidane, how?d you get this? How?d you manage to survive?? She watched the blood pool out on the pavement from underneath him.

Zidane chuckled bitterly. He grimaced and blood poured out from the corner of his mouth. ?I?m dying again, Dagger. I really am dying,? he murmured softly to her. He opened his eyes and looked into her beautiful tear streaked face.

Again?

?Again? What do you mean, Zidane? How?d you get this??

Zidane winced and groaned loudly, painfully. ?After I had defeated Kuja, I was thrown from the Iifa Tree. I landed in the forest, somewhere, I don?t know. I guess I landed on a tree branch or something. It had entered me from behind. My weight was too much for the branch and it snapped. I fell down into the creek below the tree. I think that?s when I had?died??he stopped as he began to cough loudly??and then the villagers had found me. They brought me back, saying that it wasn?t even my time. I had someone waiting,? his voice trailed off into a whisper. His eyes drooped slowly.

Garnet?s eyes went over his ashen face frantically. She shook her head and began to slap his cheek. ?No, no, no! Zidane, don?t you die on me!? She cupped his face hard and shook it a few times.

Zidane?s eyes flew open. He blinked before his vision focused on Garnet?s face. ?What?? His voice began to carry a watery sound as his lungs began to fill with his own blood.

Garnet shook her head again. She looked him in the eye. ?Don?t die on me, Zidane! I need you. I want you. I love you!? she whispered fiercely. Her voice broke and she gave his head a few more shakes as his eyes closed.

A small smile slid onto Zidane?s lips. He nodded his head. ?I?I love you too, sweet Dagger,? he whispered back. He lifted a hand with immense difficulty and grasped one of her hands tightly.

Garnet held onto his hand. She brought his head into her lap and bent over. She pressed her lips to his softly. She didn?t care about the blood that got onto her lips. It was his blood. If only she were able to do something, but what? Garnet felt him suddenly go limp in her arms. Her name drifted off his lips, as they remained touched to hers. She pulled away and stared down at his face. His face carried a more peaceful look to it. She shook her head and sniffled. She wouldn?t believe this! This was not happening now! She shook his head hard and hoped that he?d awaken from his eternal slumber.

Zidane didn?t awaken.

Zidane was dead.

Garnet felt her throat close up on her. She couldn?t breathe. Everything around her was spinning. It all went out of control as tears blinded her. She shook her head and swallowed, swallowed the lump that had welled up in her throat. It only came back up as she threw her head back and screamed. She brought his body up onto her lap and held him closer. She sobbed his name over and over, burying her face into his neck. He had died the first time trying to protect her. He was dead now after he had proclaimed his love for her, asked for her hand in marriage, asked for her to be with him forever as long as they both shall live. Garnet shook her head and held him even closer. She raised an arm up into the air and spread her fingers as she stretched them as far as they would go.

?White magic, Full Life!? she shouted as her hand fell onto his chest. She dug her fingers into his broken flesh and watched through a vision of blurriness as small white-blue bolts of electricity flowed from her fingers and disappeared into the deep core of his body.

Garnet felt his body jerk beneath her as she tried to revive his heart. She tried to bring him back to her. She couldn?t. She watched as the little bolts disappeared completely. She felt completely drained now. All her efforts had gone in vain. She shook her head once again and then felt big droplets of rain pour down onto the two of them. She began to sob again, murmuring his name as she smoothed his thick strands of dark honey from his face. He would never feel the warmth of the sun. He would never feel the breeze of a light night?s wind. He would never feel her lips on his smooth skin. Never ever again.

?Oh, Zidane. Why?d you come back if you were going to leave me again? Why? I don?t understand you at times! I never did. Please, you have to come back to me. Don?t leave me. At leas?at least wait for me,? she murmured softly into his ear. She hugged him hard and then laid him on the ground as she stood up and then turned to face the balcony. ?I?m going to finish what I had set out to do.?

Garnet began to run again for the second time towards the balcony.

?NO!? a voice shouted out loud and inside of Garnet?s mind.

Garnet stopped abruptly as she came to the railing. She almost toppled over the stone, as her stomach hit it. She grasped the sandstone railing tightly and never let it go as she stepped away. She tried to catch her breath and looked around. She saw no one. Blinking, she lifted her gaze and stared upwards.

?Who?s there??

?Don?t you do it, Sarah, don?t throw your life away.?

?Who are you? How do you know my name?? Garnet hugged her arms to her chest.

?Look at me, Sarah,? the soft voice whispered to her. A large circle of blue light suddenly appeared in front of her. It was on the other side of the balcony.

Garnet knitted her brows together. She watched as a slim figure slowly appeared out of nowhere. She blinked and then rubbed her eyes. She squinted them against the light and tried to figure out who it was. The figure appeared slowly, starting from the small black boots, to the baby blue overalls that hugged her figure nicely, right to the same dark feathered hair that she had.

?Sarah, listen to me. I feel the love you have for this man. I?m happy that you have come to love someone as him. His love for you goes deep. It probably goes as deep as life itself. But, Sarah, honey, listen to me well. I hear you pray to me at night. I haven?t answered your prayers for I knew a time such as this would arrive. I had prayed that it would never arrived frankly,? the woman spoke softly. She outstretched a hand towards Garnet.

?Mother? Is that?really you??

?Yes, Sarah, Now I?m only here to answer this one prayer. The reason is because I?m allowed to do so. It?s only a one-time thing though. Whatever you have that you were praying for, please?ask me, Sarah. I don?t want you to join me just yet. Your time here on Gaea as queen of this beautiful country isn?t to go to waste just yet. Whatever you have to ask of me?ask, but I am warning you now: Whatever you wish for will not always turn out as you had asked for.?

Garnet swallowed. She shot a glance over her shoulder at Zidane?s body. Bringing her glossy eyes back to her mother, she nodded slowly. ?I know what I want. It wasn?t his time either and neither is it mine.?

?That is true, my darling. You want him to come back, don?t you?? Her dark eyes were soft and compassionate.

Garnet nodded and began to cry softly. ?Yes! I want him back. I want to marry him. I want to have a family. I want to grow old. I want to?die with him by my bedside.?

Her mother nodded. ?I understand, Sarah, but always remember one thing when I answer your one prayer: There?s no turning back. There?s no looking back on this sad, dreadful day that will forever change his and your life.?

Garnet outstretched a hand to her mother. ?I understand. Just please??

Her mother slowly floated towards her. Her own hand was outstretched towards her daughters?. She looked into Garnet?s heart-shaped face and smiled tenderly. ?Such love for him you have, as did I with you father. Sarah, this will hurt lots and if I?m not careful, it might just kill you. In simpler words, dear, I?ll bring him back and end up taking your life in return. Are you sure you want to go along with this??

I love him. I love him with all my heart. I don?t want to let him go. Please come back to me, Zidane. Come back to me.

Before Garnet had the chance to reply, her mother?s hand enclosed over her own hand. Her entire body was engulfed in a bright light. Pain flare to life in her body. A loud, shrill scream tore past her lips to echo throughout the skies. The most pain that killed her, nearly tore her in half was the pain in her heart.

*

?He is dead, my Lord,? a servant mumbled. She bowed deeply before the man perched on his throne.

The man sneered, but his expression was cloaked by the shadows around the large room. His piercing blood red eyes silently judged the servant as she straightened and walked away from the room. Her hands were held behind her back as a gesture of deliverance. His pale, long blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He suddenly jumped up from the throne and walked down the small flight of stairs at the end of the seat.

?If he is dead, then why do I feel as if he?s still alive? It?s like he has been undelivered. Why is it that I can feel another presence within me now? Someone with a kind heart. Their love?it goes deeper now that he?s been undelivered?? His deep voice rang off the stone walls that were draped over with colorful transparent silk.

One of the guards standing at the door, Mythril spear in hand, shrugged lightly. He watched his master slowly as he made his way towards him. ?I wouldn?t know the answer to your questions, my Lord,? he replied humbly.

?Hmm.? The master stroked the small black goatee adorning his chin. ?I wouldn?t know either. That is why I?m asking you!?

The guard bowed deeply in apology. He silently slipped from the room. The man known as Slim Masteras frowned deeply. He walked back to his throne and sat down. He closed his eyes and went into a deep meditation. He tried to stretch his senses so he could figure out who was with him.

Slim found no one.

Just air.

Air.

Air.

And static.

Slim let out an unexpected cry of frustration. He clutched the arms of his throne tightly until they snapped off in his hands. He threw them to the ground and let out another cry of frustration as he continued to attempt his thoughts on which else he was sensing.

?I swear it as of this day! I will get my hands on whomever it is that is doing this to me,? he grounded out as he clenched his teeth together. He sat there glaring at the wall across the room from him. The door opened with a soft creak that disturbed the molecules in the air.

?My Lord, wouldn?t it be best to just wait to see if you could perhaps lead them to you somehow? I?m sure that if you call out to them that they?ll grow curious in time and end up standing on the front step of the castle, knocking on the door,? a soft voice called out from the door. Someone tall and beautifully built stepped into the room.

Slim looked up at whom it was. He noticed the evil gleam in the emerald green eyes. They stepped up to the throne and bowed deeply. ?Emily, what brings you here??

Emily shook her head, her waist length dark sapphire blue hair swaying with the motion. ?I?m only here for you have asked for me, as did they,? she added softly.

?How do you know such things??

?I use to know them. I use to go on adventures with them as well. Do not worry, my Lord, they cannot hurt you, I wouldn?t let them,? Emily whispered respectfully. She flashed him a gentle smile. The small horn protruding from the confines of her blue bangs gleamed lightly in the light from the windows all around the room. Her white wings that looked more like angel wings, all long, fluffy and soft, twitched once before relaxing.

To Be Continued?