Final Fantasy IX Sequal, "Forever Fantasy"

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After washing up, everyone followed Queen Garnet down to the first floor dining hall. Quina Quen had, at one point, slipped away to the kitchens to help with the proceedings. Garnet seated herself at the head of the long, oaken table that ran down the centre of the room. If one were to gaze upwards at the ceilings, they would be greeted with a spectacular view of the Gaian night sky by window, dappled with a myriad of twinkling stars.

All fell silent as Queen Garnet rang a small, golden dinner bell. She smiled and said, “Thank you. I am honored that you are all here, that we are all here… together. Tonight, I want dinner to be extra special, for we all have our own reasons to celebrate,” at this she looked at Kuja, “and also, I am sure that the food prepared this evening will be especially radiant.” Garnet smiled at Quina and the assistant cooks who stood respectfully to one side. “I propose a toast,” she stood and raised her glass, which was full of sparkling wine,” To new beginnings!”

“Here, here!” everyone raised their glasses and then drank, in time honored fashion.

“Please begin!” Garnet sat down and the cooks began to serve the first course, a fennel and lettuce salad prepared with carrots, white radish slivers and nut-brown cheese. A soft vinaigrette was used as dressing with bread roles and one’s choice of ale, wine, or beer.

Zidane, who sat next to Garnet, who had Kuja seated on her other side in the guest’s chair, reached out and grabbed a tankard full of rich, dark ale. “Ahhh… this really hits the spot…” he said, pouring himself a beaker full.

“I do prefer the red wine, it goes well with the cheese…” Kuja sighed, sampling it. Garnet’s tinkling laughter, that always made Zidane stop whatever he was doing at the time and turn his full attention on her, rang out over the throng. She pointed down the table at Steiner and Vivi as they tried to keep Quina from demolishing the entire wedge of cheese that had been laid on the table to serve all of the guests.

“Where are your manners, you brute!?” Steiner yelled as Vivi tried to calm him down.

“But what is point if you no enjoy it?” Quina looked puzzled.

Amarant, who was sitting between Quina and Freya, slammed his fist on the table while in the other he held a fork-load full of salad. “Would you three just knock it off!? Some of us are trying to eat in peace!” he growled as he downed a beaker of dark bear in one swig.

“Oh, sorry…” Steiner, embarrassed, immediately sat down next to Beatrix, who was trying not to spray her wine across the table with laughter.

“Everyone is so happy…” Kuja gazed at each shining face and took in the sound of raucous chortling further down the table, “I’ve never heard or felt so much happiness before.”

“Oh, it gets much more pleasant from here,” Garnet said, taking a bite of salad, “entertainment should be in towards the end of the meal. Zidane?” Garnet turned to Zidane, who was trying to force a full sized role into his already overstuffed mouth. “Will you be part of the show tonight?”

“*Gulp*,” Zidane swallowed and then cleared his voice with a draught from his ale, “Nope! Not tonight, but tomorrow I plan to perform!”

“Wait, you perform?” Kuja asked, looking at him.

“Yep, with my group Tantalus. We constantly put on theatrical performances, sing, play instruments, you name it! We’re always ready to put on a show.” Zidane finished his salad and pushed back his plate.
“That was pretty good! When is the main course coming?” he asked.

“It should be any minute now…” Garnet said, taking the last, dainty bite from her dish.

“Hehheh… I wonder what it could be..?” Zidane rubbed his hands together in expectation, a wide grin plastered across his face.

Just then, Garnet rang her bell, “Everyone, if you could all turn your attention towards the double doors, you will see our main course!” Garnet smiled. Heads turned to behold a magnificent site.

On a trolley that had to be pushed by six cooks lay a 500lb. Zahgnol carcass, cooked to perfection and glazed, deliciously steamy. Wreaths of aromatic vapors drifted through the hall as gasps of awe went up from the assembly. “Utterly fantastic!” Queen Garnet said, while nodding to the cooks to serve the guests.

“It is a confectionery wonder!” Kuja peered quietly at the proceedings.

“Can’t wait to see how it tastes!” Zidane showed another huge, eager smile.

Kuja couldn’t help but laugh. Never in all his life had he imagined that a little thing such as dinner could be so enjoyable. So many happy faces but, to him, it wasn’t the same. As Kuja watched others eat, he felt that somehow, he really didn’t belong. ‘These people,’ he thought to himself, ‘they are all so carefree, and I, I have always lived as an outcast… How is it that they can possibly want to except me..?’ He barely tasted the delicious meat as depressing thoughts swam across his conscious.

As the evening progressed, there were very few casualties despite the fact that Zidane and Amarant got into a slight tussle after having a bit too much to drink. Even within all the delights of company, Kuja still could not quite have as good a time as he would have desired. But, nonetheless, he put on a brave face and made it through dinner.

“Thank you so much, Queen Garnet!” Freya stood and bowed, “I don’t think that I shall ever eat something as wonderful as produced in the Alexandrian castle kitchens.”

“You are welcome, Freya, and all others joining us tonight. It was a pleasure to have you all here,” Garnet smiled and nodded to those who passed by on their way to respected rooms. When everyone else had left, Kuja, Zidane and Garnet stayed behind.

“Dagger, I wanted to ask you,” Zidane began, “there wouldn’t happen to be any spare rooms left, would there? That Kuja and I could stay in, I mean. I would really prefer it if he didn’t stay alone for a while.” Zidane’s face said that it was loath to leave Garnet’s bed but…

“Hmm…” she thought, knowing that because of her birthday celebrations, rooms had been booked for months, “I’m really not sure…”

“Um, excuse me, but I couldn’t help overhear,” Steiner walked into the dining hall once again.

“Yes Steiner?” Garnet asked.

“I know of an empty room, but it only has one bed, I’m afraid,” Steiner said.

“Well, I am sure that we can make it work, I really do not want to cause any trouble for your highness,” Kuja bowed.

“Alright then,” she smiled, “as you wish.”

“Thanks Dagger!” Zidane leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She blushed and smiled again.

“I’ll be off then,” and with that, Queen Garnet turned and walked softly out the door.

“Come you two, I’ll show you where it is,” Steiner motioned for Zidane and Kuja to follow him.
They filed silently behind Steiner who led them down a few hallways and then finally stopped in front of a locked door at the end of a passage which he promptly unlocked, “here you are. I hope that the room is satisfactory,” he said.

“Hell yeah! This room is great!” Zidane walked inside and looked around. There were two enormous draped windows on the opposite wall that overlooked the deep, ancient mist valley full of trees. One large, canopy bed with velvet trimmings was placed close to one window, while a plush velvet sofa resided beneath the other. These pieces of furniture were joined by various nightstands and dressers, shining mirrors set in stands atop them. “Thanks a lot, Steiner.” Zidane said.

“Oh, before you leave, could you, if you please, take this and fill it with warm water?” Kuja picked up a ceramic pitcher with basin that stood on a nightstand and presented it to Steiner.

“Oh, of course,” Steiner nodded, “and for future reference, the washroom is down the hall and to your left.”

“Thank you,” Kuja smiled and Steiner took the pitcher to fill it.

“Great room, eh?” Zidane flopped down on the bed, the spread and sheets softer than silk.

“It is indeed,” Kuja strode to the window and looked out, the twin moons shone with their infinite, iridescent lavender glow. “I remember,” he began, “seeing the night like this many times, but… it seems different some how…” Kuja sighed, gazing skyward. Just then, there was a knock at the door and Steiner, bearing the pitcher full of steaming water, walked slowly inside, trying not to spill his liquid burden.

“Here you are, Kuja,” he said, setting the basin down on the nightstand.

“Thank you very much,” Kuja bowed slightly and smiled.

“Goodnight, you two, and see you in the morning. If you need anything else, I shall have a Pluto knight stationed at the end of this hall.” Steiner saluted and left the room, shutting the oaken door behind him.

“Alright, do you want to take the bed?” Zidane sat up.

“Oh, well… not unless you do,” Kuja said quietly.

“Really Kuja, take the bed. I’m more used to sleeping on couches anyway, and hey!” Zidane leapt off the bed and onto the sofa, “this thing is really comfortable!”

Kuja chuckled softly as he strode over to the canopy bed and sat down to remove his boots. Zidane followed suit.
“Would you like to bathe yourself first?” Kuja watched quietly as Zidane pulled off his cream-coloured, sleeveless shirt, revealing his well-toned, slightly darker chest beneath.

“Oh, I guess. If you don’t mind,” Zidane answered, discarding his shirt and vest on the couch. He walked over into a corner of the room and came back carrying a metal washtub. Kuja reached into his bag, finding two cloths for washing and then plunging them down into the hot water.

Zidane moved away from the bright light of the window and set the washtub down in front of the sofa. He then took the pitcher-full of water and poured some into the basin. “Ahh… this water temperature is perfect!” Zidane grinned as he took the basin and one of the washcloths back to the tub. He then removed the rest of his clothes and promptly began to cleanse himself all over.

Kuja, who still sat on the bed, silently watched Zidane as little clouds of steam rose from his damp form. Kuja couldn’t help but smile to himself as he thought, ‘Zidane may not know his potential, but he still has the humanly perfect, flawless body of a Genome…’

After a few minutes, Zidane finished and then plopped the washcloth back into the water. “Mmm! I feel like a million gil!” he said, stepping out of the tub and grabbing a towel to wrap around him, hanging precariously low on his slight hips. “Here, I’ll dump out this water before you use it,” Zidane picked up the tub and took it down the hall to dispose of it in the washroom. When he returned, Zidane received a site that he wouldn’t soon forget.

There, standing in a patch of moonlight stood Kuja, completely bare and carelessly aware of it. Zidane almost dropped the tub on the hardwood floor of the hallway. Kuja heard movement and upon turning around, saw Zidane standing just inside the doorway, wide eyed.

“Oh, Zidane! I didn’t here you come in,” Kuja said, walking towards him as if nothing else mattered.

“Uh… yeah, I brought back the uh… the tub,” Zidane quickly gave it to Kuja while trying to keep his eyes trained on the floor, bed, anything that wasn’t the silver-haired man.

“Thank you,” Kuja smiled at Zidane in such a way that made him readjust the towel that threatened to fall away from him. He strode back over to the bed and sat the tub down alongside.

“Wait…” Zidane began.

“Yes?” Kuja turned his upper body to look at him.

“You’re not gonna just… wash up… right there, are you?” he was shocked.

“Oh really, it is not like everyone in the world can see me, Zidane. We are on the third floor, you know. 'No big deal', right?” Kuja said, almost playfully.

“Oh, well… I suppose you’re right,” he shrugged, “never mind then…” Zidane walked over, discarded his towel on the floor and quickly grabbed a quilt off the end of the bed. He then flopped down onto the couch. The darkness inside him caused him to watch Kuja as he poured the remaining amounts of the hot water into the basin. Then, Kuja stepped almost daintily into the washtub and began to cleanse himself. His movements were fluid, like the water that he trickled over his body. Zidane began to notice a strange feeling creeping up his spine, something he hadn’t felt in a long time, actually. The feeling of wanting to be filled in a different sort of way than when eating a meal. He recalled faintly a time before knowing Garnet, when all that he had was Tantalus… and his best friend. Zidane finally had to look away, shifting his body on the couch, in fear that Kuja would catch him staring, and maybe a few other things…

When finished, Kuja rang out the two wash cloths and hung them over the side of the tub to dry. He then took up a towel and wrapped it, seemingly more loosely around his waist than Zidane had, and returned the washing materials to the room down the hall where he left them.

Minutes later he returned, letting the lose towel slip from his waist and fall to the floor before leaning down to grab it and fling it over a chair. At that exact moment, Kuja happened to look up and see Zidane staring directly at his naked form.

“Oh god! I… I’m sorry Kuja…” Zidane quickly looked away, an undeniable blush painting its way across his cheeks.

“What is it, Zidane? Sorry for what?” Kuja looked at him quizzically, feminine hips cocked playfully to the side.

“Uh… nothing…” Zidane shook his head, trying desperately to force old images from his mind.

“Oh come on… what?” Kuja asked again, walking forward.

“No really… its nothing!” Zidane blushed harder, finally unable to control his body’s reactions any longer. He was getting hard… dear god…

Kuja stopped at the bed and then a sly, dark smile slowly uncurled itself from his lips. He moved and began walking seductively towards Zidane, which he noticed immediately. Zidane’s eyes grew wide, completely out of his element. Part of him wanted to back up, get away, but there was obviously no where to go; Zidane was trapped, desire growing by the minute.
Kuja continued to glide forward until be came to a stop directly in front of the emotionally torn Zidane. “Oh… but Zidane…” he said softly, at that moment lightly spreading Zidane’s knees, kneeling between them, and running smooth hands along his quivering upper torso, “I want to know… just what it is that you want…”

Zidane’s lashes fluttered while his eyes rolled back in his head. His body screamed for what it hadn’t had in years, but his mind said otherwise… “Kuja… I can’t… I,” he stammered and then jumped up and gripped a ceiling beam with his tail, “I can’t!”

Kuja looked up from where he was currently kneeling and saw Zidane hanging unceremoniously out of his reach, his erection proud and angry for not having the attention that it craved. He smiled and said, “forgive me Zidane… I should have been more understanding. But… to know that I am not the only one who prefers men sometimes… causes me to feel closer to you, I suppose.”

At this, Zidane caught his breath. Kuja… felt like he did, too? Kuja laughed at the look on Zidane’s face and then strode over and got into bed. There was a silence followed by the sound of Kuja’s voice, “are you planning on hanging there all night?”

“NO!” Zidane jumped down hurriedly and leapt back to the couch, quickly wrapping the quilt back around him.

“Goodnight, Zidane,” Kuja called in a teasing tone.

“Goodnight yourself…” Zidane said huffily and rolled over, trying to will his arousal away by picturing Steiner naked and drop off to sleep. In moments, he was snoring.


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