Despite that this is pre-game, there are major
Final Fantasy 9 spoilers here, so reader
be warned. ^-^ 

It's another one that I did a while ago, and cleaned
up recently.

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Title: The Storm
Game/Anime: Final Fantasy 9
Author: Denise Cameron aka Elena99
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"The Storm"

The young princess lay in her bed, covers tucked right up to her chin.
Her long, black hair, which made her face look even paler, was now
tied back behind her head, and woven into a single braid. In the crook
of one arm, she held on tightly to a doll, a white unicorn with black
hair and a soft, golden horn. With the other hand, she held onto the
covers as tightly as she could grip.

The covers were yellow, and quite pretty. She traced a pattern in
deeper yellow with her eyes, looking at the familiar circles, and
triangles, taking in the familiar. It seemed as though she had been
sleeping under this blanket forever, and knew it better then even it's
creator could. Circle, circle, straight line, triangle. Circle,
circle, straight line, triangle. It was an endless pattern, that
stopped only with the ending of the blanket. It was etched in her mind
so well, she could still see it with her eyes closed.

A knock at the door distracted her, and she slowly looked up at it
with tired eyes. Hoping it was her parents, she tried her best to
concentrate on not looking sick. Her father was best at hiding his
sadness, but she knew her mother might not even look at her if Garnet
looked too sick. Often she would come in, take one look at her, then
pull out a fan to hide her face. So she pinched her cheeks, wet her
lips, and did her best to hide her white, skinny hands.

"Garnet, my dear, is it alright if we come in?" called the deep, rich
voice of the king.

"Yes Daddy! Please come in...I'm lonely," she said, trying to keep her
voice high and sweet. Instead, it came out sort of scratchy, and she
mentally chastised herself for that. The door opened up, and in
stepped her tall, well built, regal looking father. The King of
Alexandria was in his late forties, with dark hair and beard, and
usually had a smile on his face. Now though, at the sight of his sick
daughter, he frowned and looked worried as he approached. Soon behind
him, almost as though she were trying to not be noticed, came Garnet's
mother. Queen Brahne peeked over her husband's shoulder slightly. Her
face was almost as pale as Garnets, and there was much sorrow in it.
She wasn't as good at hiding her emotions as was the King, and Garnet
tried to smile reassuringly at them both. It didn't work on either.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" asked her father. Garnet let one
small, white hand peek out of the blanket to touch her father's large,
tanned one. He held it tightly, and touched her forehead gently with
the other one. The young princess felt some comfort from her father's
touch, but still felt pain. The pain never went away.

"I'm feeling alright, Daddy," she lied, squeezing her father's hand,
"I'm just tired...why am I so tired?" her parents looked at each
other, and silently spoke many words with their eyes. They both then
turned back to Garnet.

"You just need rest, darling, do not worry about it," he said,
touching her cheek gently. It was colder then it should have been,
though still soft. Garnet sighed, and felt restless. She knew more
then what they thought she did; she knew she was sick. Sicker then she
should be.

"But Daddy...," she protested.

"Shh...get it out of your head. You need to be strong, and to be
strong, you have to rest," he kissed his daughter's forehead, then
stood slowly. Her mother approached as well, and kissed Garnet's head
gently.

"Good night, Daughter. Have pleasant dreams."

"Goodnight, Mommy," replied Garnet, then yawned. With one last, pained
look, Brahne nodded at her daughter uncertainly, then left the room.

"Goodnight, Garnet. We both love you very much; sleep well," he
squeezed her hand gently, then let go. Garnet didn't want him to let
go; she was starting to feel anxious now, and much more worried.
Something was wrong. She didn't want to sleep.

"Do I have to go to bed?" she asked quietly.

"I'm afraid so. Garnet, if you're going to get better, you need your
rest," he said.

"Oh...okay, Daddy."

"That's my princess. Sleep well," he said, then left as well.

Garnet turned over to her side, feeling pain shoot up her back.
Whimpering, she held her doll closer to her, and tried to keep from
closing her eyes. It had occurred to her, just then, that if she
closed her eyes...even for just a moment...would she be able to open
them again? She was so very tired, she didn't remember ever feeling
like this before. Tired, and cold, and...old.

Outside, the pouring rain was beginning to lighten, as the dark storm
clouds that had frightened her moved north. Not long after that,
Garnet Til Alexanderos XVIIth fell asleep for the last time.

***

"The song is gone," said a short, black haired girl in wonder. Her
brown eyes gazed up at the dark clouds above her, and she felt the
tingle of the rain, all the way from the tip of her golden horn.

"The song is gone!" she cried again, as though to verify it. Her
words, though spoken, didn't travel far. The swift wind carried them
away as fast as she said them, and she imagined that it was the wind
that had taken the song of Madain Sari away as well. All around her,
chaos ensued.

Sarah was standing near the harbour, surprisingly unattended for the
moment. All around her, buildings were falling, people were running,
screaming, chasing each other it seemed. There had been another
earthquake about five minutes ago that had brought down a building
near her; that was when she had been separated from her mother. Now
she stood still, and brave, hoping that one of her parents would see
her in their mad rush to get out of the way.

"Come back song! Come back! Mean wind, bring back my song!" she yelled
defiantly. No one payed her any attention, and suddenly she was picked
up from behind. Her body was slung over a strong shoulder like a rag
doll, and she held on as tightly as she could.

"Dad!" she exclaimed, when she realized who had picked her up.
"Where's Mom? I lost her, I didn't mean to, but the building fell
right in between us!" she cried. Her father, soaked to the bone, ran
swiftly towards the docks with his precious daughter now safe. A
lightning bolt cracked on the water, and Sarah looked at it in
amazement.

"She's in the boat; that's where I'm taking you now," he said. They
were now at the docks, and Sarah was satisfied with this for a moment,
before really thinking about it.

The young girl, in her soaking wet, tattered cloak, was then reunited
with her mother. The latter held onto Sarah tightly, and looked up
expectantly at her husband on the docks.

"Hurry up and get in Vincent!" she cried, as he untied the rope that
held the boat secure. He didn't meet her gaze.

"I'm not going, Jane. You and Sarah have to get out of here. I need to
stay here so that we can save as many lives as possible," he said,
firmly. His wife looked at him in shock.

"What? But we need you! What if you get hurt?"

"She's right Dad, don't stay here! You've just got to come with us!"
cried Sarah. Vincent held onto the rope that was attached to his wife
and daughter, now out of reach. The waves tugged at it firmly, wanting
to take them sooner then even he wanted to let them go.

"No. The more people in that boat, the more chance that neither of you
will make it. I...can't let either of you die. I'll find you, I
promise you Jane!" he said, and then the rope gave another tug. It
slipped from his hands swiftly, or did he let it slip?

"Daddy!"

"Vincent!"

"Jane! Sarah! Be safe, I'll come for you, I promise!" Then they could
see him no more, as the vicious storm waves took control of the boat.

***

'I'm floating...floating...I hope I land on my feet, that ground is
hard...', thought Garnet. She was outside now, outside of Alexandria
castle it seemed, by the water. It wasn't clear when she had started
floating, or why, but she put it out of her mind. Now she was standing
on the grey stone ground, at nighttime. There were many stars in the
sky, and a bright, full moon, offering plenty of light.

'I'd better get back inside, or Mommy and Daddy will be cross...', she
thought, walking forward. In her hand, she clutched her doll still, or
at least thought she did. When she went to look at it, it had
disappeared, and she became worried.

"Where did it go?" she asked, looking around. The world spun around
her for a moment, and she felt dizzy. Dizzy, and sick, though the
sickness had an odd feeling to it. The world stopped finally, and she
gazed forward.

She felt as though she were looking in a mirror now, though something
was wrong. A young girl that stood before her now had her eyes, her
hair, her face, her body, but it wasn't her. She wore an old, tattered
cloak, and there was something on her head...a horn?

"Who are you?" asked Garnet in surprise.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," replied her twin. They stared
at each other a moment longer, then each stepped closer.

"You're like me...but where's your horn? Did you lose it?" asked the
girl. Garnet was confused.

"I...never had a horn. I'm Princess Garnet Til Alexanderos XVIIth,"
replied Garnet. She reached out to touch the girl's horn, and quickly
took her hand away when she felt a spark of electricity.

"You have a really long name...I just go by Sarah," replied the girl.
The princess nodded, then sighed.

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked.

"I thought...for a moment...well, you do realize this is a dream,
right?" asked Garnet. This time Sarah wore a very confused look, and
looked down at herself.

"You know, you could be right...last thing I remember, I was at sea,
with my mother. Then I was here...where are we?"

"We're in Alexandria. This is my home," said Garnet, then sighed
again. "And I'm...dead."

"Huh? Don't be silly, you're not dead. You're standing right there!"
Sarah said. Yet before her eyes even, the young girl paled, and
thinned. The color in her lips drained, and she began to look old...so
old...

"Garnet?" Sarah asked, holding onto her new companion's arm.

"Sarah...I finally know...I think it's over now, I won't be tired
anymore..." breathed Garnet, a look of pain, yet relief, on her face.
Suddenly a grey hole opened beside them, and an angel appeared. She
had dark hair and pale skin, and wore a long, purple robe. On her back
were large, beautiful wings of feathers. As she appeared, Sarah stood
in shock, while Garnet seemed to rise out of her hands.

"Hey! Leave her alone!" protested Sarah.

"It's alright...I'm fine..." said Garnet hoarsely. She did not fight,
and the angel had ensured that Garnet went swiftly through the grey
hole.

"Wait! Bring her back! She's just a kid!" Sarah said, louder this
time. The angel turned to look at her, and Sarah felt as though her
very soul was being inspected by it's bright, blue eyes.

"It is her time," she said simply, her voice ringing like a symphony.

"Then let me go too!" cried Sarah, defiantly.

"No...there is much left for you to do here, Sarah. You still have a
purpose." The angel too went through the grey hole, and then Sarah was
alone. It began to rain again.

"Wait! Please, come back! I'm lonely...," said Sarah, staring at the
hole still. Then the world spun around her, and all went black.

***

It was night watch outside Alexandria castle, and there were three
knights out on duty at the moment. So far, it had been a rather quiet
night, though slightly windy. The head knight felt surprisingly cold,
despite his armor, and had a heavy heart. The Princess, who he had
pledged to protect, was dying, and he could do nothing about it.

A sound was heard in the distance, and it slowly became closer.
Closer, closer...he sent one of his men to the dock to inspect it with
a lantern.

"Hullo! Who goes there?" he yelled. No response. A boat floated
towards the shore, and his underling caught it swiftly.

"Is it empty? Hey, there's someone in here...Sir, you'd better come
quickly! It's the Princess!" At this, the head knight jumped up, and
ran to the boat, the other knight following soon behind him.

"What? That is ridiculous, do not even joke about-" he began. Then he
saw the girl in the boat.

"Oh my..." With his great arms, he picked up the small, shivering girl
that was in the boat, and held her closely to him. But it was quickly
apparent by the horn and clothing that this was not their princess.

"This is not Garnet," he said flatly, though still holding onto the
girl and starring at the horn in wonder. She stirred in his arms as
though his voice had roused her, and opened one large, brown eye.

"Where am I?" she asked. Her voice matched that of the young princess
exactly.

"In Alexandria, my lady." He replied formally.

"Where's that?" she asked. The knight sighed, and began carrying her
towards the door to the castle.

"It is closer to the southern end of the continent...are you alright?
You are so cold...," asked the knight.

"I'm fine...where's my mom?" she asked, suddenly remembering. The
knight looked to his companions.

"She was the only one nearby, sir."

"We will arrange a search for your mother. For now, I'd like you to
come with me, and rest. The King and Queen would surely allow it," he
said to her. She yawned sleepily, and curled up in a small ball. The
knight could already feel his heart give into the urge to protect this
girl, as though she herself were a re-creation of the princess. He
felt compelled to do something.

"My name is...Sarah...," she said quietly.

"I am pleased to meet you, Sarah. I am Adelbert Steiner. You are safe
now, try not to worry," he said. With that, Steiner took the young
girl into the castle, as the other two knights tied the boat to the
dock for inspection.

As they entered the castle, Sarah once more drifted into a swift, deep
sleep. Within it, among the darkness, she once more heard the song of
her homeland; Madain Sari.

--

Notes:
If you're confused about who Sarah, Jane and Vincent are, you actually
learn of them in a sidequest. Well, I made up the name Vincent,
but the events detailed above are more or less what happened, 
how the fake Garnet came to be Princess. The dream part is 
from my own mind, though.

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