One of the things I love most about Zidane and Dagger’s love story is how easily I can picture their relationship progression and how they live out their lives after the ending of the game.
Now hear me out, because I know that many fans think that Zidane wouldn’t cope with castle life and the rigidity of being a member of the royal family, and that’s a valid opinion to have, but here’s why I disagree.
Yes, Zidane was raised by a band of thieves, and yes, he’s very skilled at what he does. He’s become accustomed to travel, to rule-breaking, to being free - but this lifestyle was not the thing that made him happy or gave his life meaning.
When he was 13, he left his home, his adoptive father, and his brothers in Tantalus, whom he loves very much, because he knew something was missing. He yearned for his true home and family. When he didn’t find it, he fell back to his found family, because this was the place he called home. That’s all he ever really wanted - a home and a family. But he knew, as much as he belonged in Tantalus, this wasn’t his ‘forever’ home.
He’s a self-proclaimed skirt chaser, but I think his desire for closeness with women was another subconscious behaviour to help him find what he truly wanted - if he couldn’t find his family, he would create his own with someone he loved. And he unexpectedly found this with the future queen of Alexandria.
Now, I don’t believe that Zidane flirted with Princess Garnet because he saw a future with her - that would have been a wild pipe dream at the beginning of the game - and I don’t think he flirted with any girl with intentions to be with them forever (he’s only 16). Zidane doesn’t truly understand the desperate desire in his heart for a family, only that he wants closeness with women. But by the time Garnet is about to become Queen, Zidane is faced with a truth that had been building slowly since he met her - that he’d fallen in love. Hard.
Zidane is selfless and generous to a fault, and his motivations in the game mostly stem from these virtues, but there are moments where he only acts because of his love for Garnet and his desire to protect her (such as when he rescued her from her crumbling castle). There’s even a point in the game where you can choose why you believe Zidane acts the way he does (I do everything for Dagger / To find out what Kuja is after / I don’t know). And while I don’t think his love for Dagger is ultimately what motivates him to continue the game’s journey to the end, it’s certainly what’s motivating him to get to the other side of it.
Because when all is said and done, after he’s finished what he needed to do - all he wants to do is return home to her. And in true Zidane fashion, he hatches a plan to make it as theatrical and romantic as possible.
With their reunion, Zidane finally has what he desired all along - a family, and a place to call home.
My personal opinion behind Zidane’s lengthy absence is due to injury/illness (and of course rehearsals after he comes up with his plan), and in this time he would have had lots of space to think about what life would look like when he reunited with Garnet. But, also in true Zidane fashion, I don’t think he would have given it that much thought - he would just want to be with her, because he loves her and wants a future with her.
Now, we’ve established that Zidane’s lifelong desire is to have a home and a family, and he’s finally captured his canary - let’s get into the nitty gritty of what their life would actually look like. This is only my opinion, but I believe there would be plenty of things to keep Zidane busy and happy while also enjoying daily life with Dagger. Besides the fact that their first year together would probably be very busy (I imagine he’d propose pretty quickly), there would be lots of jobs that, as a prince consort or a king, Zidane could apply his skills to and enjoy - think helping to rebuild Burmecia, helping to train the Pluto Knights with Steiner (their pseudo father/son relationship gives me life), helping Ruby out at the mini theatre, helping Regent Cid with projects, leading community projects that would support the poorer population (something he has experience with and a cause close to his heart), helping with hands-on tasks with the townspeople (I think the Alexandrian population would adore him), visiting the Black Mage Village to see the Genomes and Vivi’s sons, checking in on Tantalus in Lindblum (and dragging Dagger into theatrical escapades), and countless more. I believe Zidane would bring balance as a leader of Alexandria, letting Queen Garnet take the reins for most things but bringing a perspective and knowledge that strengthens them as a team. They each bring different skills to the table and together they would be unstoppable.
At the same time, I believe there would be plenty of opportunity for the more quiet moments. Zidane would definitely sneak Dagger out of the castle for adventures, there would be spontaneous night trips and skipped meetings, and Dagger would also organise pockets of time for them to get away and visit their dear friends (we know the show can still run with Beatrix at the helm). Her kingdom means everything to her, but she would ensure her family and friends are prioritised as well.
And they wouldn’t get it perfect - there would be teething problems. There would be times and events where the kingdom comes first and their time together grinds to a halt. There would be stressful times where they both wouldn’t know what to do about a problem or disagree about how to handle a situation. But ultimately, they would get through it together and it would make them stronger.
I also believe, as someone who yearned for a family growing up, Zidane would want to have a large family (and as a Queen with a duty to produce heirs, and coming from a broken family herself, I’m sure Dagger would be on the same page with this). I think they’d have many children and raise them the way they would have wanted when they were children - and with this, Zidane’s deepest desire has come full circle, and he has the family he always wanted. (I know the topic of Zidane being fertile is also hotly debated, but that’s for another day).
This is simply my opinion, but even from a young age, I’ve been able to easily picture scenes and imaginings about Zidane and Dagger’s life after the game’s ending, and this is what makes them so special for me. From imagining cute dates while riding Choco at age 12, to dreaming up their midnight conversations and daily antics as an adult, they feel so very real. Their relationship progression during the game is natural, well-paced and believable, and this in turn leads to a realistic outlook on their future.
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