Fan Fiction Final Fantasy IX: Sentinels of Halcyon

[Diana]

[Story] Final Fantasy IX: Sentinels of Halcyon

CHAPTER ONE: Zidane

“Excuse me, Kupo?”
“...hey, excuse me.”
“...will you wake up!?”

Zidane's aphotic charteuese eyes gradually fluttered open,
exactly above him, he saw a rather incensed Moogle. Zidane
jumped to his feet in an instant and brushed himself clean of
dust, the Moogle didn't look too interested in Zidane, it just
wondered why he was lying on the floor, and why he was sleeping.

“I can only apologise,” Zidane reported, saluting.
“...you're a Genome aren't you, Kupo?”
“I am...” Zidane replied.

The Moogle flew steadily around the room, its gaze
constantly locked onto Zidane, it flew closer to
Zidane and looked as if it had many questions to ask.

“Why are you...here, Kupo?”
“I...I, I don't know.” Zidane answered scratching his neck.
“So, what is your name?”
“Zidane Tribal.” He said, standing proud.

The Moogle made some thinking noises before flying off
into the back of the room where it opened a rather dusty
and old looking large book. The Moogle looked around
the room before collecting an ink pot and chocobo feather.
It returned to the book and scribbled some words down. It
occasionally looked at Zidane, as if it were logging details
about him. It wasn't long before the Moogle shut the book
and charged at Zidane.

“Who do you work for, Kupo!?”
“...I, uh, nobody!” Zidane responded sharply.
“Don't lie to me...”
“I promise you, I'm not working for anybody.” Zidane
said, trying to reassure the worried Moogle.

The Moogle wandered around the room again, it was
thinking, did it want to ask more questions? Zidane felt
trapped in the room, he scanned the room and under-
neath a small wooden round table was a trap door. He
slowly crept over to it, before the Moogle turned around.

“Are you a...theif by any chance, Kupo?”
“I...I, well...” Zidane hesitated.
“Oh, so you’re a thief.”
“I didn’t intend to steal anything.” Zidane replied.

The Moogle crossed its arms and edged away from
Zidane it returned to its large book and had the
chocobo feather in hand. Zidane pushed closer to the
wooden table, and slowly moved it out of the way. He
knelt down and opened the trap door. As he was climbing
inside, the Moogle turned around to face him.

“Hey, Kupo!”
“Sorry!” Zidane shouted slamming the door.

Zidane sprinted down the long corridor, the under
ground was dark, damp and stank of vermin. He leapt
from side to side as he entered the sewers. He ran
through the passages until he reached the top of some
stairs, he pushed a cover up from above and light came
through onto his face, he pushed harder and was able
to climb up. When he reached the top, he was in the
busy streets of Alexandria, a few people watched and
traded whispers as Zidane came out, but he was gone in
seconds and disappeared through an alleyway.

Zidane stopped outside the Alexandria Theatre and
before entering, he looked both ways and pushed through
the door. As he entered, his team members of Tantalus
turned to face him.

“Zi!” Cinna shouted, waving him over.
“How’d the mission go?” Marcus asked.
“Did you get it?” Blank asked.
“I got it.” Zidane replied, pulling out a bag of Gil.

The team cheered for Zidane and walked him over to
the small bar, where theatre girl Ruby was, she smiled
at Zidane as he sat down. Cinna and Marcus ordered
some alcoholic beverages for the team, whilst Blank stood
beside them. Zidane looked at him, he was wondering why
Blank was so miserable.

“Here you are, Zidane, well done.” Ruby congratulated.
“Uh, thanks...” Zidane said drinking his beverage.
“You know what this means, Zi?” Cinna asked.
“...no, what?” Zidane replied.
“You’re headed straight for promotion!”

Zidane cheered with the other members whilst Blank and
Ruby were talking at the end of the bar, the whole team
knew that Blank had been seeing Ruby and taking her on
‘special’ dates around Alexandria, Cinna thought he was
going soft and losing his reputation whilst his best friend
Marcus thought different. Zidane and the others had soon
drank almost ten times their body weight and were stumbling
around. Zidane was laid down on the theatre stage, thinking
whilst Cinna and Marcus played pool. Ruby and Blank were
sat chatting. Zidane lay on the stage with the bag of Gil in
hand, he’d realised what had done to the poor Moogle. The
bag of Gil was heavy, which meant there was a lot of the
Moogle’s money in it and it was probably all its savings. Zidane
closed his eyes...and felt the sword spinning as he lay resting.
But it was not long before there was a knock at the door.

Discussion thread is here.

 

[Diana]

CHAPTER TWO: Garnet

The castle was looking as clean as Garnet had ever seen it
before, the servants were working harder than ever, and
Garnet had no idea why they were in a rush to tidy the place
up. She walked down the long corridor towards her mothers
quarters and before entering she knocked on the large door.
Garnet waited for a few seconds before mother called her in.

"...enter."
"Mother, what is going on?" Garnet asked.
"Nothing my pretty, nothing to worry about..."
"Mother...I know that something is going on." Garnet said.

Queen Brahne turned to her daughter, the two looked
nothing a like. Garnet was a beauty and Brahne was a
beast, the two traded glares before Brahne looked away.
She was laid on her over the top king size bed being
served grapes by two jesters.

"Mother, can I speak with you in private?" Garnet asked.
"Zorn and Thorn won't say anything, spit it out." Brahne ordered.
"It's a private matter, Mother." Garnet replied.
"Spit it out!" Brahne snapped.

Garnet put her hand to her chest before eding towards her
mother, the two jesters watched her as she stepped slowly
towards the bed. Brahne looked disgustingly at her daughter
and as Garnet stood at the bottom of her bed, she noticed
that Garnet wanting to speak in complete privacy.

"Zorn. Thorn. You are dismissed." Brahne said.
"Yes, ma'am." The two replied before exiting like ghouls.
"...well, what is it?" Brahne asked.
"I wish to leave." Garnet announced.
"Leave. Leave? Leave!?" Brahne shouted.

Brahne spat at Garnet, as it hit Garnet, she shut her eyes.
Her mother laughed demonically and Garnet took a deep
breath in before releasing her anger. Her mother started to
choke before laughing again. Garnet wiped her face of her
mothers spit before walking to her be side.

"Mother...I demand you let me leave." Garnet ordered.
"Demand, you demand?" Brahne laughed.
"I do, let me leave." Garnet replied.
"How about I give you a lifetime in the kitchens!?" Brahne said.
"If you don't let me leave, I'll go myself." Garnet answered.

Brahne glared at Garnet, the two weren't friends. Brahne
detested her daughter and everything about her, but to
keep up appearances, she kept her in her castle. Garnet
wasn't allowed out of the premises and especially not out
of the grounds.

"You are a disappointment..." Brahne sighed.
"Mother, I wish to leave." Garnet repeated.
"Why would I let you leave, when I can have you killed?"
"Mother!?" Garnet gasped, her voice was astonished.
"It's all the more simpler, and I like to control the guillotine..."

Garnet glared at her mother, who sneered back. Garnet left
the bed side and walked out the door. Brahne was laughing
back in the room and as Garnet ran down the hall, tears flooded
down her face. Brahne's laughter echoed the halls as if it was
chasing Garnet.

"Zorn. Thorn..." Brahne called out.
"Yes, ma'am?" The jesters answered creeping into the room.
"Do you fancy a little...job?" Brahne asked.
"Yes, ma'am." The jesters replied.
"Kill her..." Brahne said, laughing and spitting out grapes.

Discussion thread is here.

 

[Diana]

CHAPTER THREE: Steiner

“You just life it up, and... swing.” Beatrix said, showing Steiner.
“But, you make it look so simple...” Steiner replied,
“Lift it up, and...swing.” Beatrix repeated.
“I’m supposed to know this, I am a royal guard...” Steiner said.
“Steiner, you’re just not determined.” Beatrix sighed.

Steiner and Beatrix stood in the Alexandria Castle grounds, Steiner
had always been a soldier for Alexandria, but he had never understood
how to fight. He was there to look threatening and to put a fear on the
enemy, not actually fight. Beatrix was getting frustrated with the fact
that he couldn’t do a simple routine hit. Steiner watched Beatrix and
she rehearsed the steps over and over.

“Lift it up, and...swing.” She repeated again.
“I know how to do it...” Steiner groaned.
“Well, if you know it...show me.” Beatrix ordered, crossing her arms.”

Steiner raised his large, and heavy sword into the air and swung it
side to side acting out a fight. Beatrix was hardly surprised, she
expected him to pick it up at sometime. She gave him an applause.
The two could suddenly hear footprints, almost as if someone was
running. They turned their attention to the castle and could see a
figure dressed in a white robe running down the hall. They looked
at each other.

“Intruder...?” Steiner asked.
“We should check it out.” Beatrix replied, running up the stairs.
“W-wait for me!?” Steiner shouted following her.

The two ran down the same hall as the robed person, they followed
them all the way through the castle and to the top of the castle,
where they exited to the upper balconies. Beatrix stopped against a
wall just before the balcony doors and Steiner eventually caught up
and joined her. Beatrix peeked around the corner and saw the person
on the edge.

“Oh my...are they going to jump?” Steiner asked.
“I’m not sure.” Beatrix replied.

The person was soon greeted by a massive airship, it was large and
almost looked wooden. The patterns on it were white, red and blue
and it read: “Prima Vista”, the robed person edged backwards
as the airship came towards the balconies.

“Who is that...?” Beatrix asked as the wind began to pick up.
“It’s definitely a woman.” Steiner replied as the wind speed ahead.
“Why are they--” Beatrix began as the wind blew off the hood.
“Princess!” Steiner yelled, Garnet turned around dressed in a robe.

Beatrix and Steiner ran after Garnet as she edged towards the end
of the balcony, the airship created an opening for Garnet to enter
and out came Zidane, he reached out his hand and grabbed Garnet.
Steiner and Beatrix came to a sudden halt as Garnet waved at them.

“Princess!” Beatrix shouted, but the sound of the airship
taking off blanked her voice. Garnet and Zidane disappeared as the
doors shut and the “Prima Vista” jetted off. Beatrix turned to
Steiner and knocked his helmet. He stumbled backwards.

 

[Diana]

CHAPTER FOUR: Zidane

"Thank you..." Garnet said, out of breath.
"It's what we do." Zidane replied.
"You saved me, just in time." Garnet said.
"Don't sweat it, it's part of the job." Zidane smiled.

Garnet walked over to the seats situated inside of the Prima Vista,
she sat down and tried to regain her breath. Zidane joined her on the
seats whilst she caught her breath, he decided to ask her a rather
important question, that was extremely important.

"If they find out I took you, they will kill me." Zidane said.
"I know, but they won't." Garnet replied, reassuring Zidane.
"But the two guards saw us, they're bound to inform the Queen."
"Mother couldn't care less..." Garnet sighed.

Zidane looked at a sad Garnet, she loathed her mother so much, yet
she wanted her to like her and get along fine with her. Garnet looked
up at Zidane, her face had never looked so miserable and depressed.
She took off the white robe and revealed her clothes, Zidane was
shocked to see her undress in front of him, and looked away.

"There is nothing to worry about...?" Garnet said, wanting to know him.
"Zidane." He replied.
"There is nothing to worry about Zidane." Garnet answered.
"Why did you want to leave, you've got it all?" Zidane asked.
"I'd had enough of my Mother, she's been acting up lately and I know she's plotting and scheming something, I can just tell."

Zidane came to his feet, followed by a shy Garnet, she kept showing
small smiles to hide her pain, but Zidane knew she wanted to go back
and he knew she would regret leaving. Zidane walked to the other end
of the Prima Vista, they were both knocked off their feet as the Prima
Vista was struck by something in the air.

"Code Red! We're under attack!" Marcus shouted.
"Code Red! I repeat Code Red!" Cinna repeated.
"Zidane, what's going on?" Garnet asked.
"We're being attacked, they knew we've got you." Zidane replied.

Zidane ran to one port hole window of the Prima Vista and looked
out, he could see a fleet of Alexandria airships coming their way. Two of
them released fire upon the airship. Zidane rushed into the control room
followed by a frightening Garnet. She gripped onto her precious diamond
necklace tightly.

 

[Diana]

CHAPTER FIVE: Garnet

"They're gaining on us, Zidane!?" Cinna shouted.
"Fire!" Marcus flared.

A missle from the Prima Vista shot down to one of the Alexandrian
Airships and it was immediately destroyed, Garnet watched in horror
as the airship fell towards the Alexandrian streets, she know it would
cause destruction.

"You're gonna kill hundreds of people!" Garnet roared.
"It's them or us, you choose Princess.” Blank replied.
“That’s not fair...” Garnet said.
“Aim...fire!” Marcus repeated.

The second missile was despatched from the Prima Vista and this
one was aimed straight for another Alexandria Airship, the airship
dodged luckily out of the way and the missile crashed into the
crooked steeple of a church, an explosion was set off and the
steeple collapsed. Alexandria was in horror.

“You’re killing them!” Garnet screamed.
“Garnet, do you wanna die too?” Marcus asked.
“No!” Garnet replied.
“Then shut up and sit down.” Blank snapped.
“There’s one coming at us, no wait -- two! Three missiles headed for us!” Zidane shouted.

Garnet looked at the unworried Blank who glared back, she ran into
the control room to see Zidane, Marcus and Cinna working hard to
steer the Prima Vista. Garnet watched in terror as on the Navigation
map, three missile symbols were headed towards them.

“We’re gonna die!” Garnet shouted.
“No, no we’re not!” Zidane answered.
“The missiles are closing in, Zi!” Cinna replied.
“The only way we can escape, it’s to make a crash landing!” Zidane suggested.
“Crash landing!?” Garnet asked.

The Prima Vista was close to the destruction of the three missiles,
Zidane and the team decided on a majority vote that they would
freely crash the airship. Garnet was uncertain and decided to flee
to the back of the Prima Vista. Blank came to his feet and entered
the control room.

“Princess, come here!” Zidane shouted, and Garnet came running.
“What?” Garnet asked.
“Hold on.” Zidane replied.

Garnet nodded. Zidane nodded to Cinna who also did the same.
Blank shrugged his shoulders and Marcus crossed his fingers. Zidane
got hold of the auto pilot system and directed it to head straight
down. Garnet held onto Zidane as the Prima Vista altered in position,
the speed of the Prima Vista shot up as it roared towards the ground.
A missile hit the side, pushing them over into the forest, where they
hadn’t planned to go, Garnet screamed as the airship was nearing land.

Another missile collided with the Prima Vista, sending the team
against the right wall, the third missile missed, yet exploded causing
a push into the left direction. The Prima Vista began to malfunction.
Garnet held onto her necklace and closed her eyes. The Prima Vista
crashed into the ground.

 

[Diana]

CHAPTER FIVE: Steiner

"...they got away!?" Queen Brahne shouted.
"Yes, ma'am." Zorn replied.
"Are they dead!?" Queen Brahne asked.
"They crashed, ma'am." Thorn replied.
"...well, that's as good as dead." She replied.

Steiner and Beatrix approached the Throne room, where
they could hear Queen Brahne and her jesters speaking, they
hid beside a wall and listening closely, it sounded as if the
Queen wanted Garnet dead.

"If they crashed, her weak bones would crumble." Brahne said, laughing.
"...what?" Beatrix whispered.
"Zorn. Thorn. Go to the crash site, check they're dead..."
"Yes, ma'am." They replied.
"Quick!" Beatrix whispered.

Beatrix and Steiner entered the room passing the jesters as
they ghoulishly walked by, they made way for the throne and
stood before Queen Brahne and her usual bag of grapes. She
looked at the two and laughed.

"...your majesty, Garnet has been kidnapped." Steiner said, proudly.
"And?" Queen Brahne asked.
"We think...we know, Tantalus was behind it." Steiner answered.
"An airship named Prima Vista took her." Beatrix enforced.
"And what is wrong with that, she told me she wanted to go." Brahne said.

Steiner and Beatrix looked at each other, before long Beatrix
stepped closer the throne and the Queen. She knelt on one knee
and glared at Steiner to do the same, he followed and knelt on
one knee.

"Your majesty, your daughter, the Princess of Alexandria has been kidnapped."
"I know, and I'm happy." She replied.
"What!?" Steiner asked.
"Leave it, Steiner..."
"Well 'm leaving too, I quit. Beatrix, come on." Steiner demanded.
"Oh but, Beatrix, I have something to tell you."
"I'll catch up with you." Beatrix said.

Steiner left the throne room and Beatrix returned to the Queen.
The Queen welcomed Beatrix back and raised her hand, Beatrix
looked up at the jewel in her hand. She waved it around and
Beatrix was hungry for it's riches.

"Kill Steiner...kill Garnet, kill all her friends, and this...is, yours." She said.
"Yes, ma'am." Beatrix replied, as if she was under a spell.
"Kill Steiner first." She said.
"Yes, ma'am." Beatrix repeated, her eyes turning into deep black.
"Now, go, catch up with him!" Brahne laughed devilishly.

Beatrix ran out the throne room, her eyes turned to deep space
black, she caught up with Steiner and the two walked down the
hall. Steiner knew nothing of Beatrix's spell. The two left the Palace
and headed out for the ruins, before Zorn and Thorn got there.