Doves

Don't own Final Fantasy IX, or any of the characters.

This has been sat in my documents for ages, so I thought I should post it. Dagger's thoughts just after they reach Lindblum.

Dagger sang as she watched the doves.

She'd made it! She was in Lindblum, and now she could ask Uncle Cid for help. Her joy faded as she remembered her mother's reaction to her runaway on the Prima Vista. Anger welled up inside her. How stupid could you get! Those harpoons and that Bomb could've killed all those people watching the show, not to mention Dagger herself! And now, the theatre ship was nothing more than a broken wreck, and one of the people on it – who had helped her escape- was petrified in the forbidden forest. All because one stupid princess wanted to get out of the castle. All because she had wanted to get out of the castle. No, because she had needed to leave, but that made no difference.

I wonder why they helped me?

Then when they went through that ice caves, even then none of them had blamed her for their predicament. They'd fought those horrible…Waltzes…sent to take her home. Poor Vivi'd seen the other Black Mages be destroyed…The Waltzes had destroyed them all just to take her back! Killed them and thrown them away like old rag dolls, as if they weren't important. And would've done the same to Steiner, Vivi and Zidane, who were only trying to help her, like she's asked.

They didn't need to. They could've left me. Should've, maybe. At least they'd all be alive, not like…Blank? Was that his name? He was petrified trying to save me, and I don't even know his name…

She didn't even want to think how horrible it must've been for Zidane to see his friend petrified, or to leave all his other friends for the sake of a princess who hadn't got anything right, only put other people in danger. He should probably hate her for that. He'd left everything he knew to help her. Dagger remembered the story he'd told her in Dali, about trying to find his home…this time his boss probably wouldn't let him rejoin the group. He must've known that when he left. But he still had.

Why? I can understand Steiner following me –he swore to- but Zidane, and Vivi, have no obligation to me. Zidane'd already kidnapped me, so he'd kept that promise.

How did he know what to do? Did he have to think about it, or did someone force him to help?

There were footsteps behind her. Dagger stopped singing, and turned as the doves started to fly away. How had Zidane got up here? This was a private area, no-one could get past the guards without permission from the royal family.

I wonder how his life is. It must've been fun, to be able to go anywhere with your friends, with no-one to stop you, or tell you its too dangerous.

I'd like to do that. Just…go. Not to tell anyone, not to plan, or wait for an escort, but just leave, and be myself. To be free.

He was smiling as he walked towards her, looking around at the view, happy and confident. She'd noticed that before. No matter what seemed to happen, he always acted confident, so sure of himself.

How does he know so well who he is? Did he learn it sometime, or does he just know?

Maybe being free has something to do with it. He must've been to loads of places, and had lots of time to figure out who he is…I wish I could go…go and find out who I am.

She straightened and turned to watch the last of the doves fly away.

Like Zidane. Or maybe like those doves. Just…fly away into the distance, and not let anyone stop you. Not have anything to hold you down.

But I can't. I have a duty to my people, and that must come first. That must always come first.

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