Ever After, Part 10

Zidane's stomach protested loudly. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and with all the running, hiking, hunting, and fighting he was just about on the edge of exhaustion. "I don't suppose Morrison packed a Kupo Nut butter and jelly sandwich in this bag," he murmured to himself as he gave the bag a shake and then peered inside for the first time. The bag contained several small vials, an insta-tent, some tags, a few nut shells, and a couple of candy wrappers. Zidane sighed and let the bag flop against his hip. "Great. I'd give my tail for some of Quina's cooking right now. For that matter, I'd even settle for some of Cinna's cooking!"

A few large birds drifted overhead and then toward the mountains. Zidane watched them and thought back to the banquet after the festival of the hunt. He remembered the large game birds dressed with rich stuffing and a bright orange glaze. His mouth watered as he remember the succulent meat, fruits, and the fresh bread. All that seemed so far away now - - not only distance, but that whole world of memories. He felt like that was a lifetime ago. Loneliness reared its ugly head again and Zidane thought back to those old familiar faces. Dagger especially dominated his thoughts. He could remember everything about her - - her scent, touch, voice, smile. It didn't make his heart any less morose, but the thought of seeing her again overwhelmed his exhaustion. After a stretch, and with his hope rekindled, Zidane set out toward the Mountain Path. Certainly it wouldn't be the quickest path back to Alexandria and his friends, but he would see them soon. Right now, his other friends needed him and far be it from Zidane to let his friends down.

Zidane encountered a whole new problem when he finally reached the mountain path. The passage he and Kuja had taken after their short visit to Conde Petie had decayed for the most part - - those roots that were left, that is. Most of the roots had retracted in a series of small tremors. Zidane had a rough time finding an easy route in the darkness. He wondered if Lani had traveled the same way he had. The soil was too hard to find any tracks and in the dead of night, there was just no way of knowing.

All around him, Zidane heard strange sounds. He did his best to remain calm, but he caught himself starting at more than one pair of shining eyes in the night. "Easy, Zidane. You've been in stranger places than this," he encouraged himself. Still, he spotted something disconcerting on the ridge framing the deep gully he was walking through. It moved ponderously, whatever it was, and was easily as large as the mistadon Kuja and Lani had brought home several weeks ago.

Zidane eased one hand back to his weapon, but otherwise stood perfectly still. The creature raised its triangular head on a long, snakelike neck. A dragon! Zidane's tail twitched involuntarily. He had no way of discerning just what type of dragon it was. He could likely take it on, but he was tired, it was dark, and he still hadn't found Lani yet. Any misjudgement in his attack against the dragon could leave him wounded and he'd have to use one of the potions he intended to save for Lani. He just couldn't take the chance. So, he waited and watched.

With a gurgled roar, the thing continued its hunt. The bulk of the creature disappeared into the shadow, but Zidane could still hear the rasping of its claws on the stones above. He waited until those sounds faded well into the distance before he relaxed. His mind made up, Zidane reached into the bag and pulled out the tent. It was too dangerous to roam around the unfamiliar area at night and most creatures wouldn't disturb a tent. So, he'd get some sleep and continue his search in the morning. He just hoped Lani could hang on until then. There's no telling what hit her, but if it was a dragon, she was lucky to escape with her life.

Sleep came quickly. Many images, segments of dreams passed through his mind, but it seems even his brain was too exhausted to produce anything cohesive. He woke up sprawled on the floor of the tent. He thought at first that it was the squawking of some bird outside that woke him. After he sat up, Zidane felt the tremors that had jarred him into wakefulness. Was the Iifa tree stirring back to life? He climbed to his feet and reached for the flap of the tent, but another tremor caused him to grab the tent wall for support instead.

As quickly as he could, he scrambled out of the tent. These weren't normal tremors. He'd felt them once before, and if the ground shaking was from the same source, he was in for more than a handful of trouble. Trapped in the gully, Zidane really couldn't judge the lay of the land. A flock of birds took to the air frantically above him. That was all the information he needed. He followed the direction of the fleeing birds and trudged up a steep incline to get out of the gully. When he crested the hill, he turned and got a good look at the ground shaker. He and his friends had knocked the sense out of Hilgigars when they last encountered him. The slobbering giant didn't seem any worse for the experience, though.

The giant stopped and took a deep, snorting sniff. It was then Zidane realized he was upwind of the monsterous humanoid. Without a moment's hesitation, he put as much distance between him and Hilgigars as he could. Noticing the movement, the giant bellowed and gave chase. However, he misjudged the jump to cross the gully and slid down the slope. Zidane prudently kept running. Dragons and giants only made him more concerned for Lani's well-being. He just had to find her, but he hadn't the first idea where to look.

After he put, what he felt, was adequet distance between him and Hilgigars, Zidane considered the landscape with a thoughtful, "If I were a moogle, where would I live?" As he thought, he absently scratched his hip. Luck finally decided to give him a break. Several yards away, a moogle appeared from behind the remains of a dried and twisted little tree. Zidane ran after the moogle, taking some risky jumps for the most direct route. The moogle turned, looking a bit startled, but waited for the monkey-tailed human to close the distance.

With his hands on his knees, Zidane panted, "Mogako...Are you Mogako?"

The moogle nodded dumbly and then suddenly it dawned on her. "Kukopo! You're Zidane!"

Zidane made an effort to smile while catching his breath. The moogle danced in a circle and then threw herself onto Zidane in a hug. The thief gave the moogle an awkward squeeze and then lowered her back down to the ground. "Where's Lani?" he asked quickly.

"Down in the den. Kupo! Follow me. She needs company. She's in a bad mood."

As the moogle flitted down into the crevice, Zidane climbed down the roots of the tree. "Heh, if she's feeling well enough to complain..."

"Oh, kupo. No no. She is still very hurt. She's not complaining, kupo." The moogle opened a small door against the wall of the valley. "She says I should let her die."

With a strange, sinking sensation, Zidane gave the moogle a solemn nod and ducked down to follow her into her abode. Why did he feel he'd already been through this recently? The moogle led Zidane straight to Lani and then asked if he'd like some tea. The genome gladly accepted the offer and asked if he could have a bit of food as well. With a nod, the moogle zipped off.

Zidane seated himself next to the makeshift bed on which Lani rested. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't breathing as if she was sleeping, he noticed. After a long silence, she sighed and spoke in a weak voice, "If you're gonna gloat, get it over with and get outta here. I wanna get back to dying."

Closing his eyes, Zidane shook his head. He just didn't want to go through this again. Kuja was burden enough. He didn't need to nurse two people back from the mire of emotional misery. "Look, don't you think I have better things to do than come here all the way from Madain Sari just to kick you while you're down? You know I'm not like that, so let's skip the pity parade and get on with it."

Lani opened her eyes to peer down at him in shock. She said she wanted to die and she was getting treated like this?! Some people have no respect for other people's suicidal desires. Before she could think of some acidic reply, Zidane asked, "What attacked you, anyway? You're not easy to take down even when you're unarmed."

If she weren't in terrible pain, Lani might have smiled at that compliment. As it was, she felt ashamed of herself. She should've been quicker, she should've been more alert. Instead, she'd been tromping through the Moutain Path angry and complaining aloud. If Zidane would have laughed, that would've somehow brought a bit of masochistic satisfaction. He had a way of doing the exact opposite of what she expected from him, though. "It was enormous, whatever it was. I didn't get a clear look before it knocked me into the moogle's valley," she answered after a time.

Zidane nodded, his suspicions confirmed. "Probably the Hilgigars. I bet that's why he was out hunting in the area again. He wants the one that got away." Then he winced when he noticed the egg-sized lump just under Lani's hairline. "You got banged up pretty bad, huh? Is anything broken?"

Lani wheezed as she nodded. "Some ribs, my left leg and arm. The moogle had brought me back from near-death with a pheonix down, but she didn't have any other healing items. Wish I would've studied some of Red's techniques when I had the time." With a wince, Lani rolled onto her right side and looked Zidane in the eye. "He didn't think I had the discipline, though."

"Who? Amarant? You know, you two did make an odd couple." Zidane remarked while he dug through the item bag at his side.

"We didn't work together too often, you know. He watched after me like a little sister, though."

Zidane chuckled, "So you were screwing your big brother, huh? And you said we lived on an incest farm?"

Lani scowled. She wanted to raise her voice, but the effort would've hurt too much. "No. I lied. I never slept with him. Apparently, he didn't think I was worthy of that either."

Zidane blinked and looked up at Lani incredulously. "So I'm your first?"

With a soft snort, Lani said flatly, "Hardly. You have to make some sacrifices living in Treno."

Uncapping a vial, Zidane gave the contents a sniff. The sickly sweet scent told him it was indeed a healing potion. He handed it over to Lani. "So, you survive in Treno by being fast and loose, huh?" He smiled playfully at Lani's frown. "Hey, cheer up. It was a joke. Lindblum's back streets aren't much different, you know."

Lani quaffed the potion and gave a great sigh of relief as it worked its magic. Meanwhile, Zidane searched through the other vials to find another healing potion. "All the others are Antidotes and Softs. Do you think you'll be able to walk?"

Sitting up, Lani stretched some of the stiffness from her body. She'd been in the makeshift bed three days with greivous injuries and was glad to finally be able to move without stabbing pains. She placed her feet on the floor and steeled herself. If there was still pain or if one leg failed her, she'd have to catch herself quickly. She stood with most of her weight on her right leg. Carefully, she tried to step with the left, but her knee buckled under her. Zidane lept up from a sitting position and caught her before she pitched forward. "I'm guessing that's a no. We'll have to see what we can do about splinting that leg. I don't want to carry you all the way back to Madain Sari."

"Wait a minute," Lani protested as Zidane guided her back to the bed. "Who said I was going back there?"

"Well, I'm not going to drop you off with the dwarves and I'm certainly not carrying you all the way back to Treno. So you don't have many more options."

Lani couldn't seem to formulate a good argument, so she just grunted something foul in response. Zidane gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "It'll only be for a few months more and then we can travel back to Treno together, okay?"

In a sour tone, Lani remarked, "Yeah, and how long is that few months really gonna be, huh?" At Zidane's curious glance, she continued, "Two weeks ago you said you'd scout the way to Fossil Roo with me. I waited all week last week and you never even mentioned it. You were always too busy talking with Mikoto and Kuja."

Zidane clapped a hand to his forehead. He had made that promise and then totally forgotten about it. That wasn't like him at all. "Damn, I'm sorry, Lani. It slipped my mind. You could've mentioned it to me. Why didn't you say something?"

Lani's reply was interrupted by Mogako's return. The little moogle struggled with a silver tray laden with a tea set and a plate full of fresh cookies. Zidane crossed the room to help her. There was little conversation as everyone was served and only after a few cookies did Zidane speak. "Man, these are great. What are they?"

"Kupo nut cookies, of course." The moogle smiled into her tea.

After tea, Zidane and Mogako worked together to splint Lani's leg. She had resigned herself to following Zidane's plans. Despite her natural tendencies, she had to admit she needed help once in a while. Of course, she didn't mention this out loud. She just let Zidane play the hero. Afterall, it was his best role next to lover.

Lani tested the splint by putting some weight on the injured leg. It didn't buckle, but her toes went numb after a tinge of pain. It wouldn't be easy going, but at least she didn't have to crawl back. Zidane said his thanks and offered Mogako a handful of gil (it's not like he had any use for it at the moment). The moogle kindly declined the offer and sent them on their way with some cookies. When they reached the summit of the valley, she called out a warning, "Watch out for the Dracozombie, kupo! He has a mean temper!"

Fortunately, the two made it out of the Mountain Path with little incident. A few Gnoll bandits ambushed them just as they were about the leave the mountains. Zidane made quick work of them with Thievery. Once again, Lani realized how outclassed she was among the genomes. That thought still didn't sit well with her. When Queen Brahne had hired her and Amarant to hunt Princess Garnet, she had been an A-Rank bounty hunter. After living with the genomes, however, she felt no more powerful than a mosquito. She dreaded the prospect of living with Kuja, Mikoto, and Zidane for the next three months. How inadequet would she feel? Would they treat her like dirt? She knew she deserved it. Of course, she could always go back to her side of the ruins. The moogles were fair company, but she needed to be around humans - - or as close as she could get with the genomes.

"You've been quiet," Zidane remarked quietly. Lani had purposefully let her mind wander just to ignore the pain in her left leg.

"Just thinking," Lani mumbled as she limped beside Zidane.

"How's your leg holding out?"

Lani simply shrugged to the question and kept plodding along. Zidane watched her with concern. "I can carry you for a while." Again, the bounty hunter shrugged. Turning, Zidane stepped into her path and stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong? You haven't insulted me since we left Mogako's den. That's not like you."

Angry tears rimmed Lani's eyes. Zidane was now thoroughly confused but stayed silent. Her chin trembling, Lani finally emptied her soul. "When I was growing up in Treno, I was nothing more than a guttersnipe! I had no home, no family, and only a few scraps of clothing to keep me warm! No orphanage wanted me and when I begged people for food, they just walked by with their noses in the air. I may as well have been another rat in the sewer. I was nothing to anyone.

"But I grew. I grew up fast and determined! I stole what I needed to survive and I learned to fight. I made strong friends and we stuck together, helping each other out until we were strong enough to make it on our own! I met Red when I was fifteen. He took me under his wing and taught me a new way of fighting. He helped me find some respectable jobs as a bouncer or a guard. From there, I got into bounty hunting. With all I knew, I climbed to the top of the ranks quickly. I was an A-Rank Bounty Hunter, Zidane! I was on top of the world. I was hired by the queen of a powerful nation!! Then, I met you guys.

The first time you guys defeated me, I thought it was a fluke. The second time I fought you, I just had to win! When you kicked my ass, I was afraid. I knew that if I went back to the Queen empty-handed that she'd kill me. I should have died while I was on the top. " She broke down into incoherent simperings and leaned against Zidane.

The theif patted her back comfortingly. There was a twinge of guilt mixed in with his sympathy. He knew what it was like to be at the bottom of the social ladder. The climb out of the gutter wasn't easy. Lani hiccupped and mumbled into Zidane's collar, "I'm nothing again. Especially compared to you guys. I'm nothing."

So that's what this was all about. Giving her a quick squeeze, he held her at arm's length to look into her eyes. "Can I ask you a question? Did you like that gang you grew up with in Treno?"

Her swollen eyes showed her confusion. As she wiped away a tear, she shook her head. "I hated them. They were always teasing me and calling me names."

"But you didn't leave them," Zidane followed up quickly.

"No. That would've been stupid. A kid can't make it on the streets alone. I already tried."

A small smile touched Zidane's lips. Lani looked as if she was starting to catch on, but to help her along, Zidane affirmed, "Exactly. You may not always like the hand life deals you, but you still have to play your cards. If you fold, you lose."

Lani sniffed and glanced down with a grin. "Some of us don't have sleeves to hide our trumps in like you."

With a laugh, Zidane opened his arms wide. "No one said we couldn't learn a few tricks along the way. " Then, more earnestly he said, "But you know what I'm saying. We all have to help each other out while we're here. Just think of us as the big kids. It's our job to protect you, you know?"

"I don't want to be at the bottom again," Lani sighed. "Then again, it's better than starving to death."

"That's the spirit." Zidane grinned and turned around to continue on his way. He stopped and considered Lani over his shoulder. "I could teach you some tricks Tantalus taught me while I was growing up." Lani hobbled after Zidane with a genuine smile. She resolved to wait it out. Afterall, she'd been through this before. If another three months was what she needed to get back to the top of the hill, so be it. At least she had Zidane around to keep her company.

Author's Note: I've been getting alot of comments along the lines of "Lani and Zidane??!" If you're reading carefully, you'll notice that Zidane doesn't think of Lani as much of anything but a friend. Yes, you can have sex with someone without being in love with them. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it does happen. The main thing driving Zidane on is the hope that he'll be able to see Dagger again. So, all you Zidane/Dagger purists can stop getting so riled up. I also get some emails saying "Will Zidane and Kuja ever get back together?". That remains to be seen :) Stay tuned.