Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Inevitability ❯ Easier To Run ( Chapter 3 )

Song: Easier To Run - Linkin Park

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"So, you used this entrance to come here?" Zidane asked, watching as Mikoto pressed the button and the hidden door opened. She did not reply, and when the two genomes had walked through the exit and the door had shut behind them, Mikoto sat on the soft grass. Only a few hours had passed since Zidane went to collect Vivi and Mikoto from Black Mage Village, and a lot had happened. Almost too much for Zidane's liking. Taking note that it wouldn't be long until the sun began to set, and looking at the grand airship not too far from them, he sat down beside his sister and sighed. "What is it then?" The other genome was silent for a few seconds, then spoke.

"Kuja was not meant to last forever. He was only temporary, and you were to take his place." she began.

"I already know that!" Zidane interrupted. Mikoto glared at her brother, then continued.

"When you were created, you were intended to inherit Kuja's powers upon his death. And you did."

"What?! I never got any of his powers!" Zidane exclaimed angrily, standing up. Mikoto sighed.

"Do not deny the truth Zidane. I know you felt a surge of energy on the ship, and it is happening too quickly."

"What is?" he asked, sitting down again.

"I will explain." she replied grimly. "Garland knew that you would inherit Kuja's magical strength, but he was worried; he was afraid that if you grew too powerful during the process of merging Gaia and Terra, you may have destroyed Gaia and any hope of restoring Terra to its former glory.

"He decided that if such a time would come, and it undoubtedly will, he would have to dispose of you before you became too much of a liability to his plans."

"What do you mean?" Zidane asked fearfully. "Dispose of me?" Mikoto held her head in her hands as Zidane stood up and began to back off.

"I'm sorry, Zidane. But you had to know the truth." she said, also standing up and looking into his terrified eyes.

"What? That I'm gonna die?" his voice was now shaking. "There's no way you're telling the truth!"

"I would not lie." Mikoto replied sincerely. "I would never wish you to go through so much pain without knowing what was causing it." She looked towards the ground. "It appears that it has already begun. Energy is building up within you second by second and there is no easy way to let of the excess power. Soon it will either kill you where you stand or kill those around you. I was the third special genome created to watch over the new planet, and Garland knew my powers, even if I inherited them from both you and Kuja after the two of you had died, would never cause a threat." Zidane ran towards the door to the village and opened it. "Where are you going?"

"Away from you!" he cried.

"Zidane, wait! You have to listen to me!"

"IF YOU THINK I'M GONNA LISTEN TO YOUR GOD-DAMNED FAERY-STORIES, THEN YOU'RE VERY MUCH MISTAKEN!!" He ran off as fast as he could and towards June's home. Opening the door, he grabbed his Ultima Weapon and left again before anyone could realise he was there. `Please...no one find me....' he thought, trying to hold back tears while running. Reaching the opposite end of the village, he ran through the winding tunnel of the exit, and towards Gizamaluke's Grotto. `Nearly at the forest...' he thought, relieved that he was going to make it soon. He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a deep growl. Looking around the area, he readied his Ultima Weapon and continued moving towards the forest. Hearing the growl become a roar, he spun around just in time to see the grand dragon of which he had fought earlier fly towards him at a tremendous speed.

Mikoto walked back into the village and started making her way to June's house. When she found that Garnet and the others where not there, she began searching the village for them. She sighed mentally. `I should not be the one to tell them what is in store for Zidane. It is his choice alone whether they know or not.' she thought as she made her way through the village.

Zidane cried in pain as the dragon slammed him against one of the trees at the edge of the forest. Landing to the ground, he stood up and balanced himself. Leaping forward for a counter attack, dragon grunted and flew out of the way. "You really hate me, don't you?" he asked the beast sarcastically as he dodged a flying attack. "I don't have time for this!" he cried angrily as he went in for another attack, only leading to him being hit in the side with one of the dragons claws. Looking up after being flung to the ground gain, his side bleeding, he saw drops of green liquid drip from the blood-covered claw. `Damnit, it used poison!' he thought, cursing to himself, Holding his side, he attempted to get away, but barely got the chance as the dragon forced his large paw into him and pinned him to the ground, attempting to crush him. The Ultima Weapon flew out of his grip, with no way getting it unless he was released, which seemed highly unlikely. Gasping for breath and getting weaker from the poison, he struggled to get away as everything around him began to spin uncontrollably. `If I'm gonna die anyway...I guess this won't matter...' he thought, ready to give up. Closing his eyes, just wanting to rest, he felt the same power surge as he had before, followed by the same pain. Crying out, a black shockwave erupted from him, and the dragon collapsed to the ground, dead. Opening his eyes weakly for what he felt would be the last time, he saw he dragon decompose at an unbelievable rate, and after a matter of seconds, only the bones remained. `I did...that...?' he thought, before losing consciousness.

"Garnet, thank goodness I have found you!" Mikoto cried, running up to her. The Queen and Eiko had found Vivi and Steiner, and they were currently exploring the village.

"What's wrong? Where's Zidane gone now?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice again.

"He ran off, I'm not sure where to." Mikoto replied quickly. "It may have been the second exit on the other side of the village, though. I shall lead the way"

"Come on! We must find him!" The five of them ran off towards the direction Zidane had left in.

"This tunnel's really long." Eiko noted, stating the obvious. "How much further?"

"We're almost there!" Garnet called back to her as she saw light from the sun shining a little way into the tunnel. "ZIDANE!!" she screamed a she saw him lying unconscious with a fair amount of blood on him and on the ground near him. Running up to him, she knelt down and immediately began using curaga on him. Eiko ran up to her seconds later and the two summoners used their powerful healing spells on him, with the others gathering around them. Vivi looked at the bones of the grand dragon and became worried.

"Steiner..." he began. Steiner looked at the mage.

"What is wrong, Master Vivi?" he enquired. "Zidane shall be fine if that is what you are worried about." Vivi shook his head.

"Looks at these bones. They look like a grand dragons." he explained. Steiner studied them.

"Yes, that is true. This dragon looks like it has been decomposing for years! How could this have happened?" he wondered, continuing to study it.

"Steiner!" Garnet called over to the knight, and he ran over. "We've had to remove poison and done all we can for him for now, but he needs to get to a doctor. Can you carry him to the village?"

"Of course, Your Majesty." Steiner agreed. Picking up Zidane and noting that the wound on his side wasn't fully healed yet. Mikoto stayed quiet throughout the entire time. `It will be worse next time.' she thought worriedly, turning and walking away with the others.

In the village, Vivi ran ahead and asked around for the location of the doctor. After finding it, he informed the others.

"You did a good job healing him." the doctor said, after hearing of the injuries he had suffered. "He appears to have a couple of cracked ribs and he may have concussion, so if you were to heal him any more, a couple of days rest should be enough." Garnet thanked him and began to use curaga on Zidane again. Not long after, he was fully healed.

"Now all he has to do is rest." she sighed, sitting on a nearby chair. Seconds later, she looked at Mikoto. "Why did he run off, anyway?" she asked suspiciously.

"I am not sure." she replied simply. "I saw him re-enter the village and he ran past me. I came to find you as soon as I could."

"Are you sure you're telling the truth?" Eiko inquired, just as suspicious as Garnet.

"What would I gain from lying to you?" she asked them sincerely.

"Whatever you say..." Eiko sighed, then looked at Zidane. "I hope he's gonna be okay."