A/N: RE-UPDATING! This is new people! Hi, I'm going to be re-doing some bits of this story, especially the next few chapters. You know, correcting grammar mistakes and the like. Even so, I think I'll do more elaboration and take a slower pace of things in certain bits, which I'll tell you to read again. Anyway, this is also to inspire me to write as I haven't done this for lord knows how long. So, here goes the first re-done chapter.

Updated: 10/2/05

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XI, but if only I did, think how much fun I would have! Playing around with the characters, making them obey my every command! (Laughs madly) Anyway, back to reality. This takes place before Zidane comes back, I mean, who knows what happened in that period of time?

On a quiet night, when all was peaceful and the gorgeous moons were full, a beautiful young lady sat by the docks. On that night, many in Alexandria were happy, but then again, many were not.

The moons' reflections in the clear water sparkled, seeming to make the lady's raven hair glow, of some strange light, and brown eyes glisten. But, that may have been caused by the tears that were slowly rolling down her cheeks.

Zidane, she thought, why did you leave me? I have nobody now... Freya has Fratley, Beatrix has Steiner, and even Eiko who is still a child has all the little Vivis'. I have nothing… What comfort and happiness that was left in my heart was stolen away when Vi…vi...stopped. He was my companion through all those times, and today, he left.

Her tears were flowing freely now as all her memories resurfaced.

The inquisitive look on his face as he saw her for the first time.

His saving her from her own mother.

His arms hugging her tightly as he swung both of them off the falling building when she summoned Alexander..

Her last glance of him when she was on the airship with Uncle Cid.

Why? She thought bitterly, hands clenching tightly, you had to go save Kuja didn't you? And nothing came of it.. NOTHING! Except your death and all this pain I've felt… ever since you left. Why do I even wait for you here? Why do I keep on hoping that somehow you'll just appear and...?

She couldn't complete the thought as a wave of nostalgia washed over her. A fragment of a memory, the song she had sung with Zidane watching, the feeling of peace that she had not felt for a year stole over her.

With misty eyes, she stared at the water, and she sang their song.

……

Excellent, an old man thought, watching through the eyes of a body that wasn't his, the queen of Alexandria rose slowly, her sweet and melodic voice ringing out. Her pain is too great; she be easy to bend to my will.

He made the cat he used leap, so that Queen Garnet wouldn't see him. A cat, he thought with a sigh, it isn't so bad. After all, cats cannot talk to humans, and a cat is always seen in Alexandria.

He was delighted that he had only had to wait for a month in his hiding place. Now, the opportunity had arisen. People could be sure that, he, Garland, master of ex-Terra, would make use of it to the fullest.

……

Garnet dragged herself out of bed slowly, putting on a black gown that left her shoulders bare. She brushed her elbow length black hair listlessly. Another friend gone, she thought wearily as she slipped on her elbow length gloves and black pearl tiara, another hole in my heart.

She walked down the hallway slowly, joining the few that were gathered around the coffin. Vivi's coffin, she thought with a lump in her throat, not that there's anything to put in except his hat.

Everyone looked tired, but none worse than the queen. Her black garments made her seem very small and pale, her large black eyes had lost their sparkle, and there were dark hollows under them.

People began to arrive. Many things were said, but she didn't pay much attention to any of it. Lastly, all of Vivi's friends began talking about him. Puck: his first friend. The airship pilot he knew. His six kids. What was left of the group.

She rose to the podium and stared at the many people there, deliberately avoiding his coffin. "Vivi... Vivi was a wonderful friend," she began hesitantly "He was a huge help to us for our fight to save Gaia. He was more than a help... he was special." She shook her head. "He was always unsure of himself, but in the end, he managed to overcome his fears and prove again and again that size doesn't matter."

She paused, looking around the room. Eiko, Freya, Beatrix, Steiner, all of them were crying, even Amarant looked so sad. Zidane, she thought angrily, you ought to be here!

"But," she continued, "it was never his black magic that was the most important part of him, it was always his heart. The way he would do his best to help people. The way he led the Black Mages and Genomes of Black Mage Village. The way he helped and comforted us through hard times no matter how scared he was. And most of all, he helped me, when I thought that there was no help to be found. He brought light to me when I saw only darkness. He… he showed me hope when I was mourning for... for Zi… Now he's g-gone..."

At this, Garnet couldn't stand it anymore. She fled from the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. She ran, as though she were trying to run away from all the pain and misery she had been feeling for the past year. She ran straight into an old, old man.