Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy IX or any of the characters

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy IX or any of the characters. All lines from the play "I Want to Be Your Canary" were taken directly from the ending of Final Fantasy IX.

Love's Lost Refrain

PART 1

A normal day in Alexandria had begun. From morning to night, men, women and children of all races gathered round, and participated in the daily festivities. It had been 2 years since Zidane's triumphant escape from the Iifa tree, and Garnet was now queen of Alexandria. Zidane and Garnet were very close friends, but she always wanted something... more, out of their relationship. She wanted something more permanent.

Garnet sat in her room, staring out her window, as she always did, and dreamt. She dreamt of what life would be like with a certain amount of freedom. She wanted the freedom she barely tasted during her journeys with Zidane. Once again, she wanted to rid the crown, and live a life of her own. But deep inside, she knew she could not. She could not betray her mother like that. Garnet's position was permanent, and there was little she could do about it.

Beatrix entered the room.

"Princess- I am so sorry... I mean, Queen Garnet. What do you wish to wear to the annual Tantalus performance tonight?"

"Oh Beatrix..." Garnet said with a hint of a smile on her face. She turned in her chair to face in the direction of her. "It's been two years since the death of my mother, and my becoming queen. The least you could do is remember my title!" She chuckled.

"I am terribly sorry," Beatrix responded, she too with a smile on her face. "So, what shall it be? The formal white gown?"

Garnet sat in silence. She was in deep thought. But she slowly answered.

"Will Zidane be there?"

"Well," Beatrix started, "I would imagine so, I mean, he is still a member of Tantalus, is he not?"

Garnet smiled. "Well, yes... I can't wait to see him again. It's been a rough couple of years. After he met up with Kuja, and the Iifa tree caved in, I did not know what to think." She looked at Beatrix. "I... I was scared. Really scared! But then, he came back. And I was so happy. But... but now, he is gone again. He's been gone for nearly a year now, Beatrix. I can't wait to see him again."

Beatrix did not know what to say. She looked around the room, then answered her. "You two are really good friends, Garnet. You will always be with each other."

These words troubled Garnet.

"Friends..."

Beatrix laid Garnet's gown on her bed.

"You may get dressed whenever you please. I'll be waiting outside."

Garnet was once again in deep thought. But as Beatrix placed her hand on the door handle, ready to leave her room, Garnet looked to her and said, "thank you, Beatrix."

Beatrix turned her head to Garnet, and nodded. She then left the room. Garnet turned back to the window and watched the doves fly by.

"Oh Zidane... not a day goes by without my thinking of you. Please return safely."

"You ready!?"

Zidane was rudely awakened by the sound of Baku's booming voice. He had fallen asleep on the table in the basement of the theater ship.

"Wha-? Is it show time already...?"

"You bet, now wake up! A good thief never closes his eyes for a second!"

Zidane slowly stood up and rubbed his eyes. Just then, Blank walked in the room.

"So," he began, "what's it this time, boss? Kidnapping the queen? Stealing their treasure?"

Baku and Zidane stared at Blank with wide open eyes in bewilderment.

"I'm just joking!" Blank said. "Hey- after all that Garnet has done for me, I wouldn't dream of laying a finger on her."

Ruby now entered the room. "Yea, Garnet's a good girl... but she doesn't have the charm that I do, right Blank?"

"Shut up, Ruby!" He knew she was joking. "Have some respect for the little lady."

"Hey," Ruby said, "Zidane? Remember that time, about two years ago? When we did that play for Garnet? Boy- she didn't see you coming."

Blank joined in on the conversation. "Yeah, she thought you were as good as dead!"

Zidane stared at the ground, motionless.

"Zidane," Ruby continued, "that was very sweet of you. I'm sure that you miss Garnet now more than ever... and I'm sure that she misses you just as much, if not, more."

Blank interrupted, "Yeah, unless she fell for that Vivi character..."

Baku roared with laughter. "Ha ha ha...! Ho ho ho... Now c'mon guys! Let's get the show on the road! The good folks of Alexandria are expecting a great show! We can't perform if you're sleeping! Ha ha ha!"

Baku, Ruby and Blank left the basement. Zidane stood in solitude.

"Garnet..." he thought to himself. "I can't wait to see you again."

As the people of Alexandria shopped for potions, weapons and other goods, once again, they watched in awe as the theater ship soared overhead, almost close enough to touch. Little kids and adults alike ran to the ticket booth to get into the crowd that would be watching the performance. Garnet watched from her balcony with extreme impatience, as she longed for the moment when she could see Zidane. Just seeing him would be enough for her.

The ship was stationed near the castle as many watched from below. As night turned to day, the crowd grew larger. Then, a single fire cracker exploded in the sky. The crowd cheered loudly, and threw their hands high in the air. Garnet still sat in silence, as Beatrix and Steiner watched from behind her. Soon enough the entire sky was lit with fireworks, and music played, a glorious fanfare. The lights and music died down, and Baku stepped onto the stage, and started his well-known introduction.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" he started. "Once again, tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia, is torn from her lover, Marcus. She attempts to flee the castle only to be captured by her father, King Leo. Tonight's story begins when Marcus and Cornelia decide to run away together. And now, Your Royal Majesty, Queen Garnet, Lord Steiner, Lady Beatrix, nobles and lords, and our rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents 'I Want to Be Your Canary!'"

Before he had a chance to finish, the crowd's cheers grew in decibels. Everyone was too excited to keep quiet, and for the first time during these performances, Garnet had a smile on her face. Beatrix, noticing this, started to smile too, as did Steiner. The cheers died down, and the play began.

Ruby ran onto the stage, as Cornelia.

"Marcus?" A cloaked man clambered onto the stage. Ruby looked at him and responded. "Sweet Marcus, I fear I love thee more than I should!"

"Princess..." Marcus responded, "Wilt thou be happy, married to a lowly peasant such as I?"

"Prithee, call me 'princess' no more! Marcus, wilt thou truly cherish me, the king's only daughter? Or is such a desire too dear to wish for!? After our nuptials, shall I become no more than a puppet? A mindless puppet, never to laugh, never to cry? I wish to live my life under the sky. At times, I shall laugh, at other times cry. For no life is more insincere than that lived as a masquerade."

Marcus said, "So much consideration thou hast given it! But worry not!" He approached Ruby, and they embraced. "Cast away thy trappings of royalty, and I shall swaddle thou in a gown of pure love! Never again will I part from thee! Pray, my love, make me thy canary to keep forever in the cage of thy bosom! Let us embark on the first ship tomorrow, before dawn can tell of our elopement!"

During the play, Garnet could hardly pay attention. She was thinking of past times, when her mother would sit next to her during these performances. She tried not to cry, but instead, watched closely to the stage for when Zidane would enter onstage. And when he finally did enter the stage, he immediately saw Queen Garnet in the corner of his eye, trying to avoid her. But he could not hold out, so he looked at her, only to realize that she was looking at him. He forgot his lines, but was caught in the beauty of her face.

"G-G...." He tried to whisper her name to himself as he saw the smile broaden on her face. Zidane noticed the complete silence over the audience, turned his head, and looked out. Everyone was staring at him. Being caught off guard, he shook his head, trying to clear it, and recited his lines.

"Fie!" he started. "It shall be war again unless this marriage is stopped! Ne'er will I let their plan come to fruitation!" He approached Ruby. "Good day to ye, Highness."

She responded, "Good day..."

"Wist thee of Marcus?"

"Marcus!?" she asked. "What news dost thou bring?"

"This!" replied Zidane as he punched her in the stomach. The crowed gasped. Cornelia grew limp as Garnet noticed a strange smile on his face as he looked at her. She tried to smile back, when the silent crowd heard Ruby, lying in Zidane's arms, speak silently.

"Z-Z.... Zidane..." she said. Baku was surprised, as her words were obviously not in the script. "Why... why did you hit me... so... hard...?"

Garnet took her eyes off Zidane and stared at Ruby in shock. Zidane quickly whipped his head around to look at Ruby, who was now coughing up blood.

"Wh-what?!" Zidane responded in surprise. "Oh my god! Ruby!?"

She continued to cough up blood as the Baku ran onto the stage. He was followed by Blank, Benero and Zenero.

"Zidane!?" Blank yelled. "What the hell did you do to her!?"

"I-I..." Zidane began.

"Help!" Baku yelled. "We need aid!"

"Hold in there, Ruby..." Blank said, trying to comfort her.

Zidane continued to try and talk. "I... I didn't mean to...?"

He looked back up at Garnet, who was standing on the edge of the balcony with her mouth wide open.

"Garnet...?" Zidane said, looking for some reassurance. But she ran through the doors of the castle. Zidane looked back at Ruby. Her head now lied in a pool of blood. The rest of the group surrounded her, trying to help Ruby.

Zidane was horrified.

"What have I done?"

To be continued...