Final Fantasy IX Sequal, "Forever Fantasy"

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Back on the ground, Blank was just announcing the next contestants for the Strength Division. “The rules are,” he called, “no player may use any magic or they shall face disqualification. Weapons may be used but, unlike the Weapons Division, we will be judging more on the contestant’s skill, strength, and agility. Now.. in the name of Queen Garnet, let the battles begin!” The crowd let out a resounding cheer as Blank left the stage and the first two fighters made their entrance.

“This is so exciting! Don’t you think so, Vivi?” Eiko found and unoccupied spot to watch the ring from.

“Yeah!” Vivi stood beside her, “I hope Zidane wins!”

“Vivi, what do you mean “HOPE”? Of course he’ll win!" Eiko was sure of that statement.

Across the plaza, Steiner and Beatrix stood behind Garnet’s chair. “Do you think Zidane will prove the victor?” Steiner asked as he clasped his hands over his sword hilt and leaned upon it slightly.

“Of course,” Beatrix replied, “I don’t think he would give up this opportunity to fully impress Queen Garnet.”

“You are right.” Steiner nodded, “what a disappointment if he should lose!”

“Kuja,” Garnet implored.

“Yes? What is it, my Queen?” he answered and turned his face to look at her.

“Have you seen Zidane yet..?” she asked.

“No I have not, but I have heard rumblings,” he said, turning back to the fight.

“Rumblings..?” Garnet shifted in her chair, “what do you mean?”

“Well, actually…” Kuja began and then halted, “I suppose it would be better to hear from the source.” At that time, Kuja quietly called Blank over to sit next to Garnet.

“What is it, Kuja?” Blank asked.

“If you would be so kind, Blank, please explain the battle system here to her Majesty.” Kuja implored of him.

“Oh, of course Queen Garnet. Well, you see… there are ten people competing here. It is an all out battle that is run by process of elimination. Each battles one another in tournament fashion so by the end, only two remain. The only thing different about this particular competition than the other two is that once a victor is chosen from the final two, that victor must face the decisive match. The person we chose for this decisive match is none other than our Zidane!” Blank smiled cheekily.

“Oh my! I cannot believe that Zidane would be so sure of himself!” Garnet said, almost surprisingly.

“Do not worry…” Kuja said quietly. Garnet and Blank both looked at him curiously. “Zidane will not lose. I am positive of this. He will not allow such a hampering on his pride…. His pride as the ultimate Genome.”

Blank was silent a moment before he rose, “You’re probably right. Well... if you’ll excuse me, Highness, Kuja… I must return to the floor.” Blank turned and walked to take his place before the stage, preparing to take down the winner’s name.

Finally, the big moment came. Everyone cheered for the victor, a mountain of a man named Zecharaia Martinooli. He was a well-built man about the age of thirty or so, and his massively muscled body put paid to the fact that he hadn’t missed a day of training since he was five.

“And now,” Blank began, “we will commence the final battle. It will be combat between our finalist, Zecharaia Martinooli, and an exclusively chosen challenger of high skills. Now, an Elixir will be given, because we want a full on battle to ensue.” Blank was silent as Zecharaia took the Elixir and stood with feet planted firmly upon the stage, seemingly ready for anything.

“Zecharaia, do you have any final words before this confrontation?” Blank asked.

Zecharaia swelled out his barrel chest and said, “I just hope your man can deal with my strength!” The man’s weapon of choice was a cruel looking Bolas with three spiked iron orbs on the ends of three metal chains. All were attached to a two-foot long, wooden staff. “Bring him on!” he roared.

In the audience, Kuja shook his head, “Poor fool… what a show of egotism! That is his weakness and will be his downfall.”
Just then, trumpets sounded and a procession was seen coming from the direction of the castle. At the head of the file strode Baku along with Marcus, Cinna, Benero, and Zenero. In between them all was a cloaked individual that no one but Garnet, Blank, and Kuja could identify. Zecharaia sneered as the group came forward.

“Honorable citizens!” Blank began, “We, the Tantalus Theatre Troupe, have rightfully chosen this man… and he is none other than…” at this Baku yanked the black shroud from the figure’s body to reveal, “Zidane Tribal! Loyal member of the Tantalus Troupe!” At this, the throng let up a mighty cheer for all knew Zidane quite well, by either acquaintance or reputation. Zidane smiled and waved to all, and upon catching sight of Garnet and Kuja, winked at the both of them.

“Yay!! Zidane!” Eiko yelled at the top of her lungs while she and Vivi jumped around wildly.

When the jollity had died down, Zidane turned to Cinna and nodded. Cinna spun about and took out Zidane’s weapon from the cart he had been pulling. Spectators within seeing distance gasped in awe at the beautiful, double bladed, sword-like spear. Its two crystal clear, blue blades caught the light in such a way that caused a myriad of sun-dapples to dance in front of the throng. Zidane took the weapon, which claimed the name Ultima, from Cinna’s hands and wielded it perfectly, as if the weapon was in a sense part of him. The length of Ultima, which was only slightly taller than Zidane, weighed approximately seventy five to eighty pounds all told, but the blonde haired Genome held it in one hand with ease.

Zidane saluted his troupe and said, “Alright! Let’s get this over with.” As he climbed the stairs to the arena, the cheering increased in pitch until it became a crescendo. As Kuja soaked up the atmosphere, he couldn’t help but feel the pride that
Zidane must sense within himself.

Zecharaia was taken aback by the audacity of this young man. He seemed to feel no fear. ‘I’ll give him somethin’ to be afraid of!’ he thought to himself as he took his stance.

“Alright then!” Blank yelled, “let the challenge commence!”

The moment the battle began, Zecharaia lunged as if to body slam Zidane out of the ring but instead, at the very last second, Zidane leapt into the air over Zecharaia’s head and swung down with the Ultima weapon, the sharp edge landing a hairsbreadth from the man’s foot.

The crowd gasped as Zidane used his weapon to catapult to the other side of the ring. Zecharaia roared and swung his Bolas, the spiked orbs clacked loudly as they wrapped themselves around the Ultima’s handle. Zidane tried to pull the Ultima from its trap, but to no avail; the handle was caught fast in the Bolas’s interlocking embrace.

“Hahaa!” Zecharaia laughed in triumph, “not so great are ya’ now, eh squirt?” he pulled back his arm, preparing to strike Zidane full in the face.

As if in slow motion, his fist flew towards Zidane. Garnet gasped and hid her face in her hands, fearing the worst. The only one who felt full confidence in him was Kuja. The silver-haired man kept his eyes locked on the fight, knowing that Zidane would some how prevail. And then, something incredible happened.

Zidane’s hand shot up and gripped Zecharaia’s fist. “What!?” the man yelled in surprise. No matter how hard he pushed, he could not budge Zidane’s barely shaking arm. Garnet looked up, her chocolate brown eyes wide. Kuja saw the look on Zidane’s face; pure determination. Kuja knew that look… It was the same as the one the day he fell to Zidane’s hand, just as this conceited man was about to.

Zecharaia glared down at Zidane. ‘How can he be so strong??’ he thought to himself, ‘I’m twice him!’

After a few moments of a complete standstill, Zidane finally ended it. “This is over!” he yelled, dropping his weapon and punching Zecharaia full force upwards in the stomach.

“Unngg!” Zecharaia grunted out as the wind was completely drove from him. “W… w... why... you!!” he gasped as he fell to his knees.

“Hah!” Zidane scoffed, “maybe next time you won’t be so damn arrogant.” And with that, Zidane pushed the defeated Zecharaia to his back with the bottom of his boot. He then proceeded to extricate the Ultima Weapon from the Bolas’s grasp.

Through the ordeal, the crowd had been completely silent. Zidane then stood up straight and lifted Ultima above his head, in time honored victory salute. This was the cue for everyone to cheer. Garnet and Kuja leapt to their feet and clapped, screaming along with the rest of them.

Blank quickly ascended the stairs and held up Zidane’s arm by the wrist, “The winner! Zidane Tribal!!”

The crowd’s voice escalated to a veritable cacophony of happy cries. After Zecharaia’s winded form had been removed from the stage, Queen Garnet hurried up the steps and leapt into Zidane’s arms, causing the crowd to yell even louder, if that were possible.

Kuja stepped back and stood gazing serenely at the pair atop the arena. “Ah Zidane… You prove your worth just by being yourself,” he said quietly, smiling in triumph he knew Zidane was feeling at that very moment.


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