Disclaimer: I own Skyvra and the plot, nothing else.

An: This is a repost and revision of Diamond Heart... I just didn’t like the way the story was shaping out and it was taking forever so I scrapped it and started over, I’m really prone to doing that.

Warnings: Shonen-ai, dark. Flame me and die.

Pairings: Zidane/Kuja.

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Queen Garnet looked down at the stage, a cold look on her face as she watched the players perform perhaps one of the saddest tales ever written. She tapped her fingers against the arm of her chair, glancing to the left where her cousin, the Prince of Lindblum, Zidane sat. The elegantly dressed male looked bored, his usually expressive face blank as he played with his white gloves.

She watched him fiddle with his clothes, occasionally glancing at the exit, cradling her chin in her hand as she leaned against the arm of her throne, a predatory smirk. He met her eyes and froze as a bird does when it meets the eyes of a snake, a shaky smile appearing on his face.

“Is something wrong cousin?” He asked nervously, tugging at his cravet. She tilted her head to the side, regarding him with cold dark eyes.

“You seem...restless cousin, are you feeling well?” She asked, not really caring for the answer only asking because it made him nervous. He smiled again, this one no more sincere than the last.

“I fear I might be coming down with something, I believe I shall retire before it gets worse.” He said, getting up from his seat and bowing. She watched him depart, snapping her fingers to summon the soldiers that stood on either side of the exit. He paused, eyeing them suspiciously as they passed.

“Captain Steiner, please make sure no misfortune befalls my cousin on the way to his rooms. I believe he has been distressed by my mother’s untimely demise and might do something stupid.” She said, coolly addressing the man clad in heavy armor. He nodded, moving away as swiftly as he could to follow the young prince, his armor clanking with every step.

“Do you want me to make sure he doesn’t mess up your majesty?” General Beatrix questioned, watching the knight leave, disdain clearly written on her face. Queen Garnet smiled, the action lighting up her pretty features, making her look like the pretty young maiden she was instead of the cold-hearted woman she had become.

“He may not be bright, but Captain Steiner would follow the boy to the ends of the earth just because I asked him to.” The queen said, dismissing the issue with a delicate wave of her hand, returning her attention to the play that once had her mother in tears.

----

“Poor Aunt Brahne.” Zidane muttered under his breath as he strode towards his rooms, his hands in his pockets. “Having that one for a daughter. Dad always told her she’d be the death of her. And she was, though not in the way he meant.”

He paused in the center of the hallway, loose blonde hair flowing over his shoulders as he turned his face upward. “It’s ironic really, I’m the one who’s adopted and she’s the one who kills her parents and for what? World domination?” He started to laugh hysterically, shoulders shaking as he slumped against the wall.

“And now she’s keeping me here, holding me hostage...” He laughed harder, tears running down his face. “Shiva protect me, for I fear I won’t live much longer.”

“Your highness!!” Zidane looked up, wiping away the tears and straightening his clothes, making himself presentable as the knight approached.

He smiled warmly. “Is there something the matter?” He asked, acting as if nothing was wrong with the world, as though his cousin was not completely insane and trying to take over the world. The knight, Steiner if he remembered correctly looked confused.

“Ahh, nothing, nothing. Her majesty just asked that I make sure nothing happens to you while you return to your rooms.” The captain said, saluting the Prince. Zidane raised an eyebrow.

“And if I didn’t return to my rooms?” He asked coolly. His cousin unnerved him, her insanity messing with his senses and making him weak. Away from her he could safely use his powers and escape.

Steiner smiled charmingly. “Well then I’d follow you because her majesty only said to make sure nothing unfortunate happened, she said nothing about making sure you go where you are supposed to. ” The prince chuckled.

“I believe I just might like you.” He confessed, making his way towards the stairs where two members of Tantalus waited. The knight followed, his steps echoing through the halls.

“Good evening gentlemen, I trust everything is in order.” The Prince greeted, bowing to the thieves. They were an odd pair, one tall and pale, clad in purple, his silver hair making him look unworldly while the other was short and redheaded, scars decorating every bit of visible skin.

“Of course your highness, this way.” The silver haired one said, flicking his hair back over his shoulder as he stalked off, not even sparing the knight a glance. The redheaded one shrugged and started out after his partner, the Prince and the Knight following.

----

“So here’s the plan.” Skyvra explained to her young charge as they stood in the shadows of the castle. He leaned forward, adjusting his gloves nervously. “We sneak in, steal Zidane before anyone notices and make our dashing escape into the theater-ship.”

“But what if someone else tries to steal the prince?” The young black mage, named Vivi by his grandfather, asked, staring up at his teacher with wide eyes. Skyvra snorted.

“Who else would want to steal him?” She demanded, raising a silvery-blue eyebrow at the child. Vivi shrugged and blinked as two of the theater troupe walked by followed by someone who closely resembled the Prince and a man clad in heavy, rusty-looking armor.

“Uhh, Teacher, isn’t that the Prince?” He asked, pointing at the elegantly dressed blonde who upon hearing his voice paused and looked at them, raising an eyebrow.

“Skyvra?” He asked, looking at the redmage who grinned wildly and bounced up to her fellow mage.

“The one and only... See Vivi what did I tell you, piece of cake.” She said, hugging Zidane who coughed and tried to politely shove her away. Vivi adjusted his hat.

“But we didn’t steal the prince, they did.” He said, pointing at the redhead and the purple-clad man. Skyvra shrugged, throwing an arm over Zidane’s shoulders.

“Details, shemtails. So where’re we going?” She asked, looking pointedly at the silver haired male. Zidane resisted the impulse to sigh in exasperation. It just seemed to get more and more convoluted by the minute.

TBC

Thanks to all who read the previous version.

BloodyChaos: “Writing this, no matter what form it’s in always gives me a headache.”
Zach: “Then stop writing it.”

BloodyChaos: “I like writing it. It’s just so complicated and I have to actually think that it gives me a headache... anyways kind readers please leave a review and tell me if you think this version is as good as or better than the last... and keep in mind I wrote this at 1 in the morning.”