A Turn in the Path
part I
Hero’s aren’t meant to die.
The two moons hung silently in the night sky. The clouds were still and the ocean calm. Zidane’s tail shivered as the chilly breeze of the night ran across his face. On his shoulder he carried the weight of the battered Kuja.
"Hang in there Kuja."
Zidane whispered as he slowly walked across the Lucid Plains.
"W-why?"
Kuja asked managing to lift his he.
"Relax, we're almost there..bro."
Zidane smiled as he adjusted Kuja on his back. Kuja looked into Zidane's determined face. Realizing Zidane wasn't going tell him again he gave in to his exhaustion and closed his eyes. As Zidane slowly walked he sang a song to himself:
Ate mo naku samayotte ita
Tegakari mo naku sagashitsuzuketa
Anata ga kureta omoide o
Kokoro o iyasu uta ni shite
Yakusoku mo suru koto mo naku
Kawasu kotoba mo kimetari mo sezu
Dakishime--soshite tashikameta
Hibi wa nido to kaeranu
Kioku no naka no te o furu anata wa
Watashi no na o yobu koto ga dekiru no?
Afureru sono namida o
Kagayaku yuuki ni kaete
Inochi wa tsuzuku
Yoru o koe
Utagau koto no nai ashita e to tsuzuku
Tobu tori no mukou no sora e
Ikutsu no kioku azuketa darou
Hakanai kibou mo yume mo
Todokanu basho ni wasurete
Meguriau no wa guuzen to ieru no?
Wakareru toki ga kanarazu kuru no ni
Kieyuku unmei de mo
Kimi ga ikite iru kagiri
Inochi wa tsuzuku
Eien ni
Sono chikara no kagiri ni doko made mo
Watashi ga shinou to mo
Kimi ga ikite iru kagiri
Inochi wa tsuzuku
Eien ni
Sono chikara no kagiri ni doko made mo tsuzuku
“What a beautiful song.â€
Kuja whispered in Zidane’s ear.
“Where is that from?â€
He asked taking a deep breath. Zidane frowns.
“Someone I knew sang that song…â€
He answered as Kuja faded into sleep.
"Come on where are you?"
Zidane thought looking around. He stopped in front of some Chocobo tracks, and gently set Kuja down. From his satchel he pulled out some fresh Gashyl greens. He carefully looked around. Out reaching his arm in the air he waved the greens, and started to 'kweh', mimicking the sound of a Chocobo. As soon as he did so he could see Choco running toward him. Choco ran up to him, and after munching down the greens he greeted Zidane by rubbing his beak in his face.
"Alright, alright."
He said with a laugh pushing at Choco's beak.
"Can I get a ride?"
Choco showed his agreement by readying to be mounted. Zidane carefully lifted Kuja onto Choco. Zidane looked Choco in the eye.
"Careful now, he's injured."
Zidane mounted the Chocobo and tightly held on to Kuja to make sure he wouldn't fall.
"Okay, come on! We're taking him to the Black Mage Village."
"Wait! "
A soft voice called out to Zidane from the horizon.
"Mikoto..."
He whispered turning Choco around and trotting toward her.
"How did you get here?"
He asked helping her onto Choco.
"I was on the Red Rose. I went to the Iifa Tree."
"Are you okay? You weren't supposed to go near that place. What if you've gotten hurt?"
Zidane scolded as Choco set of.
"I am fine."
She looked at Kuja and noticed his injuries.
"Is he...."
"Naw, he's fine. Just a little banged up though. Wait, how did you get all this way by yourself? Monsters are everywhere! "
"Actually, I was hardly ever caught. If I was I just ran."
"Well, you should have stayed with Beatrix, where it was safe."
Zidane scolded as Choco turned a corner.
"I couldn’t I...I was worried."
She said wrapping her arms around her brother's torso. Zidane fall silent and a look of guilt ran across his face. He looked ahead at his path.
"I' m sorry I made you worry."
He said tightening his grip on the reigns. From than on the group silently rode through the Forgotten Continent.
"Why couldn't we take the Invisible?"
Mikoto finally asked after a long time.
"When I went back to get it, the Iifa Tree roots had swallowed up the ship. There was no way to get in or get it out. And with Kuja injured like this I couldn't just stop and look for a way to get it out."
Choco ran across the rough terrain of the Forgotten continent with great ease. From high mountains to deep vales, Choco managed to keep a steady speed. With the sun rising in the horizon the Dark Continent grew with light. Streams of red, orange, and yellow ran across the sky. A Zuu flew above head. The early lights of dawn made Zuu's wings glisten. The beauties of the desert plateau made Zidane think of Dagger. It reminded him how her face would light up when they would fly over the continents. Her smile would spread across her face. Relief could be seen in her cheeks, and happiness could be seen in her eyes.
"I'll come home to you Dagger...I promise."
He sighed as he thought to himself.
<p>"I am the beautiful warrior goddess, look at me the wrong way, and I just might miss my target..."
-Freya Vanir
</p>