| The end is never really the end. It is only the beginning of a fresh chapter in our lives. -On a tapestry in Swiftwing Citadel Part 70 � I invited Tantalus to perform �I Want to be Your Canary�,� Garnet informed me conversationally as she brushed her hair. It had since grown out, due to Steiner�s request that she let it be as it was before the entire pitfall had started; that event which seemed to have happened so long ago. � You enjoy hurting yourself with memories, don�t you?� She paused. � . . . I suppose I do. Of course, it wouldn�t help to avoid those memories either.� � Agreed.� I sat up and stared out to the balcony. A breeze came in through the open doors, ruffling my wing membrane and crest, which rose in challenge. A form landed on the balcony, its back to us. � May I turn around?� Tiovex asked quietly. � Yes,� Garnet answered. � You may come in, Tiovex.� He entered quietly, laying in front of the doors and out of the way where he could still hear and see everything. � They have arrived and are preparing for the show.� � Thank you.� � I am not going.� Garnet sighed. � I didn�t think you�d want to. Tiovex?� The emperor got up and grabbed me behind my horns, leading me to the overlook. He all but dropped me at the wall and then sat by my head, eagerly looking over the crowd below. � Just a few moments and it will begin!� I ignored the play for the most part. Whoever played Marcus had a rather familiar voice, though it was different enough that I couldn�t quite place it. Shrugging it off as my imagination, I was taken by surprise when Garnet lunged from her chair and leaned against the balcony, shrouding me in the folds of the dress that both of us found beautiful, but rather annoyingly flashy. Then she turned and ran off. Vanel shrieked and dove off the balcony�s edge. Tiovex prepared to do the same thing, but paused and turned back to me. [What are you doing?] [Dying.] He rolled his eyes and smacked me with a wing. [Get up and look, stupid fool!] I did as he said, freezing as my heart seemed to stop working. This was all my imagination. All my imagination . . . [What are you waiting for?!] Tiovex all but screeched, shoving me over the balcony�s rail. [Get down there!] I spread my wings and glided down to the stage. Vanel was already there, her hands on his chest for balance (she had hit a growth spurt and was waist-high to him; probably wouldn�t get too much bigger) smothering him with hugs and kisses. Landing nearby, I watched as Garnet raced through the crowd. The first thing I noticed was that her pendant was missing. It had obviously come off somehow. She had risked losing the family treasure for Zidane? . . . I now know what she has prioritized in her life. And I cannot say I am disappointed. Zidane caught her and spun around once. He let her go a bit and smiled a greeting, sensing that words were not needed. Garnet began to cry and leaned against him, pounding on his chest a few times. He winced; grimacing at the force behind the strikes. � You bastard,� I heard her whisper into his shoulder. � Never do that to me again.� He wrapped his wings around her, stroking her hair soothingly. � I�m sorry.� I watched without envy, content to see everyone else happy. Don�t get me wrong, I was ecstatic myself, but I just didn�t like big displays as everyone else seemed to. Glancing up, I noticed Tiovex glaring at me. He nodded at Zidane, but I only shook my head. I was not important. I wouldn�t ruin Zidane�s happy moment by insisting that I get my �welcome-home� in. Turning, I went through the castle to the garden. The one Garnet had had built as a mimic of Swiftwing�s. The castle architects in Swiftwing had been all too happy to dig up the plans for it and begin working on it. I was completely alone for fifteen minutes. � . . . Mother?� I looked up. [Hm?] He fell to his knees and hugged me so tightly I feared I would pop. � I�m so glad you�re okay. The Tree was blocking everything and I was afraid . . .� I put my wings around him, since my arms were pinned down. [I will never leave you, Ziaden.] He stayed with his face hidden against my neck for a long while, eyes closed. � . . . Oh yeah. That reminds me. I brought someone to see you. We�ll have to go to them, though, since I told them to stay in their room. Of course, they�re probably wandering around as dragons tend to do, so I don�t know why I even bothered to waste my breath.� I followed him to one of the many guest rooms and stepped inside, balking in surprise. I had been expecting a dragon, not . . . He knelt and hugged me briefly, not giving me enough time to return the gesture. � Hello, Empress.� Zidane humphed. � You actually listened to me for once. The world must be coming to an end.� � I decided it would be best that I stay here. Not everyone forgives as easily as you do. The look on Garnet�s face when you let me in the castle was positively frightful.� He sighed. � I guess I can�t blame her. I destroyed both her homes, killed both sets of parents and, in general, just made her life a living hell.� � Stop beating yourself up, Kuja. You were just doing it because Garland forced you to.� � I suppose you�re right.� He paused thoughtfully. � Zidane, you explained the purpose of a mother and father to me.� � Yeah . . .� � I�ve been thinking about this for a long time. If Garland created us, would he not be our father?� Zidane made a face. � Technically, yes. But I have both my parents.� � You do? When did this happen? You never told me!� � Well, it never occured to me that you would think it was that important.� � So?� <--Part 69 Part 71--> |