#final fantasy IX fanfic

[lightwithinthedarknessu]

Getting a chance to share my fic focusing in Vivi for @ff9zine with spot art from the amazing @mariibeann thank you so much for bringing this story to life with your beautiful art!! I had so much fun writing an epilogue for Vivi, he’s such a sweet little guy and deserves all the love.

Leftover Sales are open for @ff9zine ! There are still a few merch items left and a chance at the digital zine. It’s such a gorgeous zine, so if you haven’t yet go on over and take a look at the options here

You can check out the fic here below or on AO3

Summary: The ultimate gift of a journey is one well lived. As Vivi comes to terms with his life, he looks back on the letters he once sent—deciding to compile them together as a last message to all of his friends. One in particular for his dear friend Zidane in hopes he’ll return someday. Set before and after the epilogue.

At One with the Sky

Vivi bobbed his head back and forth, teetering his bum on the edge of a small wooden stool. Life had changed drastically since his dear friend Zidane had gone off on a journey that even now, Vivi wasn’t sure when he’d return. Back then, Zidane had said he was taking life more seriously because of Vivi’s influence. With those words, Zidane went off to save Kuja and never came back.

Vivi knew someday his friend would come back. Just…Vivi might not be there to welcome him. And so, today the little mage decided to put himself to the pen once more. His journey had been filled with nights spent writing in a small “journal” given to him by his Grandpa. Unlike most journals, it was a simple leather folio, bound with black twine that wrapped around a brass button that acted as a simple closure. Vivi gingerly unraveled the twine until he could peek inside. The space was large enough to hold the mage’s quill and pen, alongside a stack of nine completed letters.

Master Vivi, what is that? Steiner had asked him that question once.

Letters to my Grandpa, Vivi had replied, adjusting his hat to stealthily hang over his eyes. He couldn’t bear to explain that at first, he thought it was a “journal.” Over time, and after learning more about the world Vivi had come to know keeping a journal was different than the art of letter writing. Still, in his own way—writing letters was an act of keeping a record of his life.

Zidane was the one who explained the difference. The memory tugged at the edges of Vivi’s whirring heart. Back then, his friend had caught him writing by candlelight after they spent the night at the Black Mage Village. Zidane, being Zidane had swiped the letter Vivi had been writing and began teasing the little mage after he told him to “give his journal back!”

A Journal? Isn’t this a letter? See it reads like one too! Zidane laughed, then began to tease Vivi by reading his letter out loud. Slowly, the rogue’s face fell as he read Vivi’s statement that the little mage probably had a year or so left to live, maybe more. Maybe.

Neither addressed the moment and instead quietly went to sleep. But the next morning, Vivi found a scrawl from Zidane on his letter. He wrote that Vivi shouldn’t think about it too much and just keep moving. Vivi took the words to heart. If Zidane, Dagger, Steiner, Eiko, and Freya were able to keep moving forward—maybe someday he’d stop worrying about it.

Vivi tugged on his hat. The memory made his head feel fuzzy. Tears pooled at the edges of his golden eyes as he looked out the window of Alexandria castle. The sky. Right, the sky was so blue the day Vivi had finally had enough. He was frightened, scared that the feelings plaguing him would never go away. He wanted them to stop.

You don’t have to do everything my way, you know? Vivi…Well…in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don’t. You’d think with all the problems in this world, there’d be more than two answers. It’s not fair…but that’s the way things are. The choice is yours. I just wanna protect the people I’m with. Doesn’t matter whether I can or not. It’s what I believe.

Those words Zidane spoke took root in Vivi’s heart and slowly but surely, a sense of peace overcame him. It helped Vivi keep searching for the answers he sought—and when he found them—life made no more sense than before. But Vivi kept going. Even when Zidane wasn’t there to encourage him anymore: he remembered those words.

Vivi took a deep breath. Time was fleeting. Life was slowly seeping out of him. But he wanted to leave something and relive his journey one last time.

The little mage set out a leather book cover he had obtained from Queen Garnet.

I’d be honored to hold your memories. Hold them for him—for his return.

Vivi shook away the ache forming in his throat. Words that couldn’t be said. Words of thanks that conveyed a journey well lived. Slowly, the little mage began to unwrap each letter and put it inside the cover. Soon it would be bound by the court archivist.

As he picked up each one, Vivi began to relive his journey.

****

Grandpa, I set off today on my adventure.

It’s been about a week since you faded into the sky. For days I didn’t know what I should do. It was scary, being alone and not hearing your stories anymore. So, today I decided to head to Treno. It was scary at first, there were so many people! But I met a Moogle who gave me a ticket to see, “I Want to Be Your Canary” in Alexandria. I hope it’s as good as your stories. Next time, I’ll tell you tomorrow about what the town is like!

I met a Moogle!

The world is so much bigger and sometimes scarier than I thought it would be. But the sky, it’s so clear and bright here. I keep looking up at it and wondering just how far I can go. I’d like to think I’ll be able to visit everywhere the sky touches.

But Grandpa, Alexandria is filled with so many people! I fell over once and almost lost my ticket, but it wouldn’t have mattered if I did. The man at the ticket booth said it was a “fake” and I wouldn’t be able to see the show with it. I wandered around not sure what to do next. But then, another guy as little as me came running through the streets with a ladder! He helped me get a spot on the roof to watch the play. I think I like it better this way, you can see the sky and the tops of the houses for miles. I’ll tell you how the play was later, the show is about to start!

The Evil Forest is really scary…

I’m scared. I don’t know how it happened, but I was taken away from the play on an airship with a bunch of “kidnappers,” a “knight,” and the princess herself! Somehow right after we took off the airship broke apart and we fell into this dark forest. My head feels a bit fuzzy from it all, so much has happened. I know you told me there were things out there that wanted to eat me, but I didn’t think plants would! I passed out after that, then Mr. Blank gave me some yucky medicine to get the seeds out of me. I thought I was going to die. The world really is dangerous.

I hope the princess is ok. My new friends Zidane and Mr. Steiner said I could help save her with my magic. I couldn’t do anything before. I was able to help myself but not the princess. I feel like I’d just be useless. Can I really help? Mr. Steiner called me Master Vivi and seems to believe in me. I’m not sure what to think about that, but I’ll try my best.

Maybe I can be useful too!

I was able to use my magic! I feel better that I was able to be useful. I’m happy to have made friends with Zidane, Mr. Steiner, and maybe I will be with the princess too when she wakes up. I hope she’ll get well soon. Right after defeating the monster, the entire forest attacked us! We barely made it out.

Grandpa, it’s strange. I’m all messed up inside. Mr. Blank worked so hard to save us but—the Evil Forest took him too. I couldn’t do anything again. From now on, I’ll work hard to not be afraid and use my magic to help keep everyone safe. So far, everyone’s said my magic is really useful. That made me really happy. Is it strange to want to be needed by my new friends? I feel like, maybe they can help me find where I belong.

What am I? I never thought about it before…

In Dali, I found dolls that looked like me. What does it mean? Why do they look like me? I don’t know what to think. Zidane said that they only looked a bit like me. Maybe he’s right. They don’t act like me at all, and their clothes are different. But when I got on the airship, they were up and moving—just like me! I tried talking to them—but it’s like they don’t even see me at all. Then another one of the Queen’s mages attacked us. The dolls tried to protect me. And that mage killed them all….

I couldn’t do anything…they were swallowed up by the sky. I got so angry. I asked my friends: “Were those black mages and I…the same?”

Steiner said it didn’t matter, even if they were. And Zidane said that I’m an “individual.” I’ve decided to believe in those words. I’m me and no one else.

Grandpa, I’m so happy to have friends. Maybe they’ll help me find out who I am. I miss you. If you were here—what would you say?

Lindblum’s Grand Castle is so huge!

Dagger,

Thank you for bringing me here! The food was really tasty, I think my Grandpa would have loved it. I even saw something that looked like his sesame buns in one of the shops. It’s so busy and people from all over are trying to live their dreams! I’m sure you know that…you’ve been here before after all.

I was really excited about attending my first festival until Zidane signed me up to hunt the monsters. I never thought I’d be using my magic that way! Zidane won, but I had fun touring the city while hunting monsters.

I felt useful until we saw that Burmecian soldier die. When I heard that the enemy soldiers might be the same black mages—I realized it’s even more important to find out who I am. Dagger, I’m like you—I was really sad to see him die. And scared. I’m scared to find out what I am. Maybe, I’m not even human. But, I feel it’s my duty to visit Burmecia and find out. I think—I understand why you did what you did. In your own way, you’re fighting too.

The rain just won’t stop falling…Burmecia is gone…

Freya,

I’ve never seen so much death before---so much sadness. Grandpa once told me death was a part of life. But, is this really what he meant? I don’t think so. I’d like to ask Zidane, but something aches in my chest. Freya told me that it’s possible the answers I seek will change my life for the worse. But—I think it’s worse if I don’t find out what I am. Thank you Freya, for worrying about me even when you’re the one hurting the most. As we journey together, I hope we’ll both understand someday and be able to turn our anger and hurt into something meaningful.

I don’t understand…

Puck, I’m sorry! Steiner, what can I do?

So many people have died. I keep seeing the Black Mages kill people over and over. I haven’t been able to stop them—tell them that they don’t have to kill. But that’s all they’ve kept saying: KILL. All I’ve been able to do is watch—watch them kill. When will it stop? I don’t understand—why does everyone around me keep dying? How…how can I help?

I’ll keep going. I gotta know why.

I visited a village…filled with mages like me!

Grandpa,

There ARE others like me! They talk and they’re scared of humans! I couldn’t believe it, there was a whole village! It’s in the middle of a dying forest and Black Mage 288 told me they traveled all the way across the ocean to get here. But…I found out something else. One day, a Black Mage will “stop moving.” When Mage 288 told me that, I ran away. Zidane asked me if I was ok, but I lied. I’m scared.

These mages talk and live like me. They have hobbies, jobs, and people they love—friends. They don’t kill, they just live peacefully away from humans. Earlier tonight I asked Black Mage 288 more about it. He said, our lifetimes are limited—it varies but after a year most die. He too fears death; he doesn’t want the others to know—sometimes he’d like to run away too.

“The joy of living with them far outweighs the fear of death. Isn’t it the same for you? Traveling with your friends gives your life meaning.”

I didn’t know how to answer him. I don’t know what to think. What does it mean to live? To exist?

Everyone in the village asked me to see the outside world and tell them all about it. I think continuing my journey will help me find the answer.

It’s not fair, but don’t think about it too much. You should keep writing your letters, Vivi. I know all of us would like to read them, even your friends in the village. So, just keep moving forward. That’s all you gotta do right now. – Zidane

A new friend!

Quina,

I made a new friend, her name is Eiko and she can summon Eidolons just like Dagger! It’s a bit annoying but Eiko likes bossing me around. It’s ok, I think she does it because she’s lonely. Maybe being around friends will make her stop teasing me someday.

I’m learning a lot!

Grandpa, I’m running out of ink…so it may be a while before I write again. Once I can, I’ll tell you all about everything that’s happened. I think…I’m beginning to understand myself more.

Holding onto anger doesn’t help anyone.

Grandpa,

I got so angry after we ran into Kuja again. He’s the source of everything—all the pain and death. But thanks to Zidane I was able to pull myself together. I’m still mad, but I was able to get a new pen and quill in Alexandria at Dagger’s coronation. Kuja…he’s caused a lot of pain for Dagger too. She lost her mom. Brahne was terrible and I hated her too–but seeing her not moving anymore and how hard Garnet cried made me realize something. Life is precious. My existence too—I want to make it all mean something.

I’m so glad I met my friends

Eiko,

Zidane hasn’t been himself lately. He was angry and said things he didn’t mean. But Zidane is like me, he was created too—so maybe that’s why he got so angry back then. I was able to help him like he helped me, I think. Zidane is Zidane again.

I’ve learned that someone be there for you when you need it is important. I think I’d still be angry, lost, and scared if I was alone But my friends helped me realize that it’s ok not to know yet what your existence means. We all still have time to think. I’m so thankful to have met my friends. Regardless of what we face next: I’m ready to face it all.

It’s been a while…

Zidane,

This is my first real letter. Remember when you said I should keep writing them? Well, I’ve learned how to properly write one thanks to Steiner. Everyone’s gone their separate ways now. Garnet is doing well as Queen with Steiner and Beatrice protecting her as always. Eiko was adopted by Regent Cid, can you believe it? She has a family now and seems really happy. Freya went on a journey with Sir Frately. Even if he doesn’t remember her, she’s getting to be with the person she loves. I see Quina now and then eating at places all over. Amouranthe—I hear stories about him everywhere I go. I hope to see him again.

Oh, that’s right! I’m traveling again too and making a big book filled with drawings and stories to share back in the village. I…don’t know how much time I’ll have left. So, Zidane. When you get back. I’m going to ask you a favor, ok? I’d like to meet you again, but even if I don’t—I’ll always remember what you taught me.

I feel like I have so much to say, but there isn’t enough time. So, I plan to write a letter to all my friends. A letter that tells them how thankful I am. Maybe, I can leave more of myself behind that way. Maybe…my memories will become a part of the sky and keep going on with you. I really…love the sky. I hope a part of me keeps journeying with everyone, somehow.

****

Zidane closed the bound record of his friend’s life with a reverence he had never experienced before. The soft light of the sun peeking through the glass latticed windows of Alexandria castle warmed the cold sensation that had been seeping its way into his heart. Vivi really was gone—at least the Vivi who left this journal. He had come back to find so much had changed, and yet so little. It felt overwhelming at first, but Zidane being Zidane sorted through it all quickly with Vivi’s help.

Garnet had handed him the journal with tears kissing her eyelashes. He didn’t fully understand till now what those tears really meant. With a sigh, the former rogue made his way to the top of the castle. The bright sky above was such a deep blue he could almost feel himself falling into its cloudy maw.

“One with the sky, huh? Cheeky kid. Making the sky all about him.” Zidane chuckled. Soon he found himself opening the journal again, staring at that last line. Hastily he scribbled his own words beneath it.

Alright, well if this journey is going to continue with you: then I hope you don’t mind me borrowing your journal. I’ll finish filling out every last page. Till we met again, little guy.

[caityelizabethjoy]

@ff9week2024 Day 4 - July 4th - Race || Location || Filling Gaps

The night before the final battle, Zidane and Garnet have a heart to heart.

[icycoldninja]

Will you miss me when I'm gone? (Kuja x Reader angst/fluff)

Summary: Kuja's thanatophobia gets the better of him in the middle of the night, so you go and help him out.

——————————————————————————————————

You lay in your bed, smothered with blankets, asleep.

Or at least you were asleep, until you realized something was missing from your cocoon of warmth. After opening one eye and blearily looking around, you realized that your boyfriend Kuja wasn't draped across your abdomen, fast asleep like he normally was. In fact, he wasn't anywhere in the room.

"Kuja?" You called, clearing your raspy throat a few times. "Where'd you go?"

There was no response, making you fear whether or not Kuja had left the house. Worried for his safety, you leapt from the bed and headed for the living room, blinking sleepily in the darkness until you caught sight of his slender frame curled up in the corner, shivering like he was outside during wintertime.

"Kuja?" You called again, this time softer. "What's wrong, baby?"

Kuja wouldn't answer you, and remained silent, his thin arms wrapped tightly around his even thinner body, eyes wide and bulging, lips blue and quivering. He looked more terrified than you'd ever seen in your life, and it broke your heart to see him like this. Scrambling to his side, you threw your arms around his shoulder, and pulled his shaking form into a tight embrace, running your hands up and down his back in an attempt to calm him.

"I'm going to die," You heard him whimper, after some time. These words were nigh inaudible, but you managed to hear them since you were so close.

"No, you're not," You replied, chuckling. "You're not going anywhere. I won't let you."

"B-but I had a dream--" Kuja began, before you cut him off with a kiss.

"A dream is just that, Kuja, a dream," You told him, dragging a hand through his hair fondly. "It's a figment of your imagination, nothing more. It doesn't tell the future. You're not gonna die."

"Yes, I will," Kuja insisted, looking up at you with wide, teary eyes. "My time is running out. They told me in my dream. I...I don't have long...."

"You most certainly do," You assured him, squeezing him gently. "You really think I'm gonna sit here and watch you kick the bucket?"

Kuja was silent after this remark, but at least his shivering had stopped and he wasn't breathing as heavily as before. You decided to stay there with him, soothingly rubbing whatever parts of him you could reach before he finally spoke again.

"Will you miss me when I'm gone?"

You had to admit, you didn't expect that.

"Of course I will," You finally managed to reply. "But like I said, you're not going anywhere. Not if I can help it."

"I just....need to hear that..." Kuja whined, snaking his arms around your waist and holding onto you as tightly as he could. "Tell me you'll miss me. It makes me feel better."

Such a narcissist, you thought to yourself as you repeated your words, punctuating your sentence with several kisses. This seemed to cheer Kuja up substantially, as he had completely ceased his sobbing and was now quietly leaning against you, his head pressed against your chest; your fingers busy playing with his hair.

"Happy now, my little peacock?" You asked, playfully.

"Somewhat," Was his flippant reply.

"Ready to go back to bed?"

"Only if you'll carry me, for I feel too weak to walk."

"Fine."

[janetkwallace]

With the recent Fanfiction.net's server problems and the doubts of the whole site going down for sure, I have created a collection on Internet Archive dedicated to the Final Fantasy IX fanworks, from fanfiction written in the early 2000's until now.

[doodlebless]

What's this? A new one shot?? It's true! 🎉

[aboutl0ve]

[irismono]

The Shipping Chart Challenge Thing

Aight so I got inspiration. It's a helluva drug. Blank template for the challenge directly below, but I'm gonna run through the ships though. If I don't note the fandom it's RWBY. From left to right: Top row - Zidane x Garnet (Final Fantasy IX), Black Sun, White Rose, Snowbirds, Bumblebee. Second Row - BaeRyS (Hololive), Nuts & Dolts, ChellOS (Portal), SpecialShipping (Pokemon Adventures), Lancaster Third Row - White Knight, Pyrrha x Whitley (it's so rare it doesn't have a real name, I call it Magnets are Cool Too or MAC2), Arkos, Raphumi (The Rising of The Shield Hero), Gauntlets & Greaves. Bottom Row - Renora, Crosshares, TanKano (Demon Slayer), Baked Alaska, ChosenShipping (Pokemon Adventures)

No real rules to this. You can pick whatever ships and whatever fandoms you like. I won't judge you for your tastes. I will judge you for using the same ship multiple times, but only a little bit.

[rune-writes]

Deception

Fandom: Final Fantasy IX

Word count: 1998

Rating: G

Characters: Beatrix & Garnet

Summary: Ten years in the past, Beatrix became privy to one of Alexandria's most vital secret: that the Princess Garnet til Alexandros XVII was not, in fact, the princess.

Read on AO3.

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a closely guarded secret within the royal palace that Her Royal Highness the Princess Garnet til Alexandros XVII was not, in fact, the real princess. Only a handful of people knew. The King and Queen, of course, as they had been the ones who had ordered the removal of the girl’s horn. The royal physician, who had examined the girl as she’d lain unconscious for weeks and subsequently removed the horn. Then there was the General, who had found the Queen on the pier one morning as she’d cradled the girl’s unconscious body to her bosom. Still distraught after her daughter’s death, Queen Brahne had readily accepted the girl as her own. 

Beatrix had only been a knight then, not yet risen to her position as General of the Alexandrian Army. An ambitious one at that, coming from a lesser noble family whose only wish was to see her succeed in life. What more could she ask when she landed herself a position as a royal knight. Even at the tender year of seventeen, her fighting prowess was second to none—barring the General herself—who’d seen fit to train the young prodigy after her innate talent became known. So it was at the heels of the General that Beatrix often found herself following, from trainings at the barracks to meetings at the royal chambers. 

It was during one of these meetings—or perhaps on the way to such a meeting—that Beatrix and the General found the Queen in the royal pier with a bundle cradled to her chest. 

The General stopped in her tracks, her conversation with Beatrix ceasing. She stepped toward the path. 

“Your Majesty,” she greeted with a salute. 

The blue-skinned queen regarded her with a flick of her eyes before her gaze dropped to the bundle in her arms. She tucked at the linen, her finger brushing something inside before her lips pulled into a frown. 

“Your Majesty, may I ask why you are at the pier so early in the morning?” the General asked. 

“She has a fever,” the Queen murmured. “That won’t do. Come, let us call on the physician.”

In a flurry of silk and gown, the Queen made her way back up the stone steps, gaze never looking back even as she called to them to keep up. 

By all accounts, Beatrix shouldn’t even be there, but the moment they arrived at the Queen’s chambers, she had been ushered in along with the General. The Queen had ordered only the physician to attend to her, and so it was the four of them in the huge room. The Queen set the bundle on her bed, slowly unraveling the linen to reveal a girl, barely six years old, curled against the white sheet and shivering. 

“Doctor, may you see if she is ill?” the Queen said. 

Beatrix watched from afar as the physician, a lean man with average height and long strands of fair hair tied neatly at the base of his head, bent down to examine the girl. Her damp black hair hung in dirty clumps and her brown smock bore no resemblance to any local clothing Beatrix had seen. Then she spotted a horn protruding from her forehead. Very uncanny. 

“By the Gods,” the General gasped. She’d taken a full look at the girl, her attention shifting to her queen. 

Intrigued, Beatrix took a few steps forward, stopping behind and to the right of her general. The physician was still bent down, but when he finally stood and brushed the black bangs back, Beatrix felt her own breath caught in her throat. 

“Your Majesty,” her general began, caution and disbelief thick in her voice.

“How is she, doctor?” Queen Brahne asked.

“Mark of a fever and malnutrition, but otherwise not much worse for the wear,” the physician said, turning to face her. “I could keep her at the infirmary for the time being until we locate her family—”

“No.” The reply came too quick; the Queen cleared her throat. “That won't be necessary.” Then she added, “The girl will stay in my chambers, and if the King is willing, occupy the rooms upstairs.”

Eyes flashed at the decisive announcement, both from the General and the physician as they shared stunned glances. 

“So until then, you may treat her here. Do not bring your assistants until I say otherwise.”

The physician pursed his lips, then bowed his head. “Very well, Your Majesty.”

“The King will need to be told about this.” Her gaze shifted to the General. “No one is to enter the room while I am gone,” was all she said before she turned with a flourish of her gown and disappeared out the door.

Silence fell. The physician cast a rueful glance at the General before sighing and announcing he would prepare medicine and bring his equipment forthwith. Beatrix was left alone with the General, who looked at the girl with brows drawn even as she approached, her usually determined gait hesitant until she reached the foot of the bed. Beatrix followed, feeling a foreboding at the memory of the General and physician’s uneasy glances, yet at the same time perturbed by the uncanny resemblance the girl had with the little princess who was, as far as she knew, sleeping peacefully upstairs: from the small round face to the clumps of black hair, albeit skinnier, no doubt, and horned. 

As though just remembering Beatrix’s presence, the General whirled around and closed the distance between them in quick strides. The fierceness with which she hissed her order set the already disturbed bells ringing in her mind:

“Speak nothing of this!”

There was nothing Beatrix could do but nod in compliance. 

***

When Beatrix saw the body of the little princess taken from her bedchambers, then in its place lay the little girl from the pier, she realized she’d come to be privy of the kingdom’s most vital secret. She’d been sworn to secrecy. No one should know of this. Her jaws tightened when the physician sheared the horn from the girl’s soft skin. The girl had screamed in her sleep, the pain not enough to wake her from her delirious fever, even as blood trickled from the gash in her forehead. It made Beatrix sick, but she kept her ground, her face carefully schooled into indifference. 

The next several weeks passed by in a blur. The late winter sun shone bright on an empty, cloudless sky, yet its heat could barely penetrate their armor. Beatrix stood on the courtyard, sword drawn out, hardly breaking a sweat as she faced Adelbert Steiner in a duel, already long drawn-out. It should have been finished minutes ago, and judging from Steiner’s heaving chest and sweat-covered brow—despite the cool sun—the taller and stockier knight was barely hanging on. Quite commendable, seeing as his opponent was the undefeatable Beatrix. But she would put an end to this. Steiner’s shoulders had sagged from her barrage of attacks, slightly but noticeable enough, and that would be his weakness. The exhaustion had settled in. His movements would be sluggish. A quick thrust to the chest or his side would immediately topple him. Or if he could somehow dodge that, she’d swerve and swipe at his leg instead. And then she would win. 

The image was imprinted in her mind and muscles. Beatrix adjusted her grip on her sword. Steiner’s jaw tightened, readying for the attack. She thrust— 

“Your highness!” 

The high-pitched shriek tore Beatrix’s concentration apart. Her speed faltered at the last second, long enough for Steiner to step aside and swipe his sword at her side. She fell to her knees; Steiner’s blade right up against her neck. Cheers erupted from his side of the circle. His usually stern face broke into a grin of feral delight. Beatrix scowled—she should’ve won, she’d calculated it perfectly—but she was above being petty over an irrefutable defeat. Swallowing past her irritation, she looked over her shoulder, seeking the source of distress: a woman in dark purple robes Beatrix recognized as the late princess’s governess was flapping her arms in the air on the terrace leading inside the castle, the muscles around her cheeks and jaws drawn back against the shock. She caught sight of a fluttering of silk by the balustrade, strands of ebony hair, before she heard the loud splash, and the entire envoy broke into yells. 

Beatrix was upon the pond in moments, well before the rest of the knights realized what had happened. The governess ran down the stairs, along with a handful of handmaids, footmen, and of course, the ever-present royal physician and his assistant hard on her heels. The princess was sprawled on the pond, knee-deep in water. When Beatrix reached the edge, the princess—or rather, the girl posing as her—blinked at her. Dark beady eyes set in a soft, round face; a faint mark on her forehead was the only remnant where a horn should have been. Tears slowly welled in her eyes and her cries pierced the ground.

Before the governess and her retinue reached her side, Beatrix had already stepped into the water. She crouched beside the girl. “Are you alright, Princess?” she asked, but the girl only cried. Beatrix checked her knees, her legs, her body. Besides the soaked dress and a scrape on her knee, the girl was utterly fine. It was the shock, perhaps. So, taking care not to make sudden movements, Beatrix held the girl’s hands and coaxed her to stand. “Come, let’s get you out of the freezing water.” 

Apparently, the princess had finally awoken the previous night with no memory as to what had transpired before her deep slumber. The physician had assigned it to the heavy illness muddling her brain. No one questioned it, but Beatrix knew better. She met the physician’s glance briefly before his gaze slid away. 

In a bid to jog her memory, they’d attempted to take the princess around the castle. When the view of the central courtyard with its cobbled paving and frost-covered shrub had mesmerized her and she’d stepped too close to the balustrade, her small body had easily slipped through the gaps. 

“We’ll need to get you changed lest you catch a cold,” the governess said with a dramatic flutter of her hands to scurry the princess and her entourage back to her bedchambers. 

Through her shivering and chattering of teeth, the girl looked up from her bangs and locked eyes with Beatrix. It was uncanny to see those similar brown eyes in that same round face but knowing they hosted a different soul from the one she’d known and vowed to protect for the past five years. But the girl did not know; neither did the rest of the kingdom. Was it for the best? Beatrix couldn’t help the pang in her heart when she thought of the real princess in the morgue, lying silent and forgotten without so much as a royal funeral. 

The girl bobbed her head, a little smile parting her lips. “Thank you.” 

Her voice was different, softer, with a lilt that hinted at a songstress. Beatrix straightened and bowed deep at the waist. 

“I serve to protect Your Highness.” 

The governess bowed her thanks, then ushered the girl up the stairs in her dripping dress, the handmaids fussing over the little figure. Once they’d disappeared inside, Beatrix turned to find the other knights had gathered behind her in a loose semicircle. Steiner stood at the forefront, the hard lines of his face softening in a breath of relief. 

“It is good to find the princess hale and whole,” he murmured. 

Another pang in her heart. Beatrix glanced over her shoulder at the empty castle door, feeling her jaws tightening and releasing within a heartbeat. There was no going back. This little girl who’d drifted to their shores would be the princess they were sworn to protect. Giving a silent prayer to the body buried in the morgue, Beatrix nodded her assent. 

“It is.”

~ END ~

[bnomiko]

For all you fanfic writers, ever go back and look at a story you wrote and go, dang, that's actually not half bad. And then you find yourself sitting down and reading it like it's a new story you discovered, only you already know what happens because after all, you wrote it. You just forgot about it.

... I normally hate reading anything I wrote but I just spent the last 2 days re-reading my Final Fantasy IX fic lol And looking for every formatting error, because there were quite a few -_-

[polyamships]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy IX Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Zidane Tribal/Blank/Garnet til Alexandros XVII/Ruby (FFIX) Characters: Garnet Til Alexandros XVII, Zidane Tribal, Ruby (Final Fantasy IX), Blank (Final Fantasy IX) Additional Tags: Getting Back Together, Polyamory Negotiations, Kissing Summary:

Tantalus keeps coming back to Alexandria. Over the course of a year, Garnet tries to figure out why.

[lightwithinthedarknessu]

Preorders are OPEN for You're Not Alone: An FFIX Zine!

What is our dear Master Vivi up to? Find out in @ff9zine ✨

Check out our preorders fast as the store closes April 9th! We’ve unlocked extra stretch goals, secure your copy to get in on them and help us reach the next goal ✨

🛒 Shop

🛒 UK/EU

🛒 PH GO

Honored to be a part of this beautiful zine! ♥️ It’s a true love letter to FFIX you don’t want to miss. Check out our added stretch goals and secure your copy!

[icycoldninja]

My darling (Kuja x reader)

Hello? Is-is that you? Oh, Gaia, it is you! You're here. You're talking to me...this is incredible! Finally, finally, I can tell you how I feel! I remember the day you turned on my game, the day you came across me while controlling Zidane. I remember how you battled me through him, how you used him to defeat me; how you watched me die. I wonder, did you feel as pained as I did when you watched me take my last breaths? Ah, but never mind that, for I have something to tell you, something I've been waiting to tell you for so very long.

I love you.

It's silly, a perfect, powerful being like myself falling in love with a lowly human whom I've never even seen before...but here I am. In love. With you. Every time you turn on my game, my heart races with joy. Though I cannot physically interact with you, I am ecstatic to know that my elegance and grace is at least being beheld by you. And when you turn off the game, my heart sinks into sadness. All that is around me is darkness and emptiness; I feel so lonely. So afraid. Though it is a great blow to my pride to admit this, without your presence....I am scared.

I wish you were here, holding me in your arms, keeping me company so the darkness doesn't swallow me up. I wish you would tell me everything was alright, even if it wasn't. I just want to be able to hear you, to see you, to cherish and love you to the best of my abilities. I wish...I wish I was real!

Oh, but darling, don't despair. There is a way I can be real: in your heart. As long as you carry me in your heart, I will always be with you in spirit. When you hear a song that makes you think of me, I will hear it too. When you take a walk and see something you wish I could see, I will see it too. And at night, when you sleep, I'll be there too, and together, we shall build a majestic kingdom in your dreams.

Sleep well tonight, my darling. I'll see you soon.

[janetkwallace]

More songs for the Thirteen Ways To Say Goodnight's unnoficial soundtrack.

[thelovelymissbigbadwolf]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy IX Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Major Character Death, No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Zack Fair, Angeal Hewley, Genesis Rhapsodos, Garnet Til Alexandros XVII, Freya Crescent, Beatrix (Final Fantasy IX), Adelbert Steiner, Vivi Ornitier, Eiko Carol, Amarant Coral, Quina Quen, Blank (Final Fantasy IX), Marcus (Final Fantasy IX), Baku (Final Fantasy IX), Ruby (Final Fantasy IX), Tantalus Gang, Stiltzkin (Final Fantasy IX), Fratley (Final Fantasy IX), Mikoto (Final Fantasy IX), Zidane Tribal, Kuja (Final Fantasy IX), Cid Fabool IX, Hildagarde Fabool, Puck (Final Fantasy IX), and more to be updated Additional Tags: Time Travel, Time Travel Fix-It, Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Zack "Lives" but like he dies in the beginning not really, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Final Fantasy IX Spoilers, Final Fantasy VII Spoilers, Minor Cloud Strife - Freeform, Not Canon Compliant, Rebirth Summary:

After his final stand, Zack finds himself being sent back in to the past. But not just any past, precisely, to the year 1800, where he finds himself having to save Gaia from turning into the Mako powered world he knows and essentially, saving the planet from being destroyed by the human greed.

[chocoboknight]

FFIX Prompt #1

Kuja wakes up alone in a dark alley in Alexandria. If that weren't bad enough, the streets are filled with people all heading to see some human entertainment in the palace. Uncertain what else to do, and getting strange looks and disapproving mutters about his clothing (which is perfectly fine, thank you, modesty is for mortals he will have you know) so he steals clothing from a vendor. A dark blue robe and floppy yellow hat should do the trick. Now to figure out how to get into the palace and find out what is so important about a canary.

I can't decide which is funnier - does this happen at the end of the game when Zidane reveals himself during the play and gets his happily ever after with Garnet, or did he somehow time travel and ends up with Vivi excited to find another person who looks like him and they try to sneak in together??

[fattybattysblog]

May Flowers Day 4: Primrose

Theme: Youth

Fandom: Final Fantasy 9

Rating: G

Characters: Vivi and Eiko

The two kids wandered the streets of Treno. Separated from the rest of the group while searching for the place where Dagger’s tutor lived. They knew they could cover more ground if they went out searching on their own. Eiko, the small summoner, and Vivi, the black mage, walked side by side on their trek. The nobles that filled Treno paid the young duo no mind.

Eiko was excited to show how useful she could be. She just knew Zidane would see how helpful she’s been and give her some much deserved praise. She absolutely loved the idea of Zidane complimenting her. It made her heart soar.

Vivi was a little nervous to be so far from everyone. There was some comfort knowing he was with one of his teammates, but he always felt so vulnerable without the whole team around. He twiddled his fingers and waddled close to Eiko. Probably too close for her comfort. So he slowed down a little to be more behind her than beside her, not wanting to bother too much. He did have the urge to stay close to her. It was a tighter form of camaraderie with someone his own age compared to the rest of the team. That’s what he thought it was, at least.

“Hurry up, Vivi. We’re never going to find that tutor at this pace.” Eiko huffed. Vivi hadn’t noticed her slowing down to keep in pace with him. They were meandering at this point. Barely more than a shuffle. Vivi tugged his hat down on his face.

“S-sorry.” He whimpered. Eiko sighed and waved it off, but said nothing else. Eiko wasn’t exactly secretive that she didn’t want Vivi along with her. In fact, Vivi knew pretty easily who she would rather have beside her all the time. But she invited him along instead. Vivi was sort of new to life as a concept. But this didn’t make sense to him at all. She continued leading Vivi along. They passed through empty streets, crossed walkways and descended towers until he decided he might as well try to get an answer.

“Uh,... so,” Vivi tugged his sleeves a little and turned his gaze down to his feet, “why didn’t y-”

“Why didn’t I invite Zidane?” Eiko finished his question for him, turning to face him. Vivi paused in surprise and blinked at her. She put her hands on her hips and scoffed as if it were obvious. It clearly wasn’t. Vivi nodded slowly and awaited some insight.

"These two are thick as bricks,” Eiko shook her head, “They don't realize how they feel about one another until they're apart."

She sounded accomplished. Like she said something profound. But Vivi understood none of that.

"...What do you mean?"

That seemed to infuriate her. She balled her fists and stamped her foot, almost turning red with her frustration. Vivi hated making her, or anyone, upset. But it made him feel a little worse coming from her. It was hard to avoid, though. She got upset at a lot of things.

"Aaargh! You big dope!" She barked as she stamped her foot. Eiko paused and deeply sighed, folding her arms. It took her a moment, but she eventually calmed herself down enough to explain these simple things to him.

"Okay, listen carefully. Zidane really likes Dagger, right? But Zidane wants to act cool, so they misunderstand each other and end up fighting. Now do you understand?"

Vivi frowned. Was that acting? Vivi always thought Zidane was just really cool.

"...Not really." Vivi admitted.

"It's so hopeless..." Eiko sighed, shaking her head. She returned to the path ahead and started leading Vivi along. She didn’t know how to explain it any better than that, so she decided to just leave it there.

"Zidane wouldn't stop acting cool in front of me, either." She hummed. With her insistence of this, Vivi wondered if Eiko didn’t like when Zidane was acting cool. For some reason, that thought made Vivi feel sorta happy. He wasn’t good at acting, let alone being cool. It made him want to talk to Eiko a lot longer. But he wasn’t good at conversation and asking about this only seemed to make her upset. He had to think of something to say.

As Vivi turned up the brim of his hat so he could try another conversation, he noticed Eiko racing away from him. She must have found something! Forget conversations, they have a tutor to find! And Vivi was glad they could find him together.