Ok, I've been planning this story in my head for about a month, and after the wonderful person that is Guardian1 gave me permission to use an idea of hers, decided to write this story. Enjoy, and reviews will be rewarded with virtual cookies and pies!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy IX, its characters, or anything that appeared in the game. I do own this story line, and some of the character descriptions. Descriptions borrowed will be done with permission, and credit will be give where credit is due.

Prologue

We expected you to come back. You should have. You needed to, look at what you left, look at what's waiting here for you. All of us are waiting for you. -Entry from Diary of Eiko Carol.

Her tutors thought it was important for her to keep a diary. She thought Garnet was right in hating writing. Until she realized that it was a perfect way for her to vent. They never read her entries, unless she gave them permission. They would simply scan the pages, making sure that she had entries at least once a week. She leaned back with a smile as she realized her good fortune. Though she had protested school at first, once Dagger, as she still sometimes called her, had pleaded with that look in her eyes, she hadn't had the heart to say no. It wasn't at all as bad as she had expected it to be, now that she thought back on it. Sure, it was a pain to spend her days inside the dusty library, which was where her tutors chose to have her lessons when on the way down from her room she could see out the window into the clear blue skies; when she could see the other children playing in the streets. But she couldn't help loving the stories now opened to her in the world created by books. She had also found that Vivi was right about math. Once you understood the concepts, it was fairly easy. Though she found reading and writing came easier to her, she didn't doubt that it was simply because numbers didn't open worlds of wonder and fantasy to her like the books in the library did. She wanted to visit Madain Sari soon, since her moogles must be missing her terribly by this time. Promising herself that she would go to visit them soon, Eiko Carol skipped happily downstairs with these thoughts in her head, as she headed to her afternoon lessons.

I want to go back before they're all gone. It wouldn't be fair of me to not keep my promise, besides, they are waiting for me. Just like we waited for him, though he never came. I don't want to disappoint them like that. It isn't fair. -Entry from journal of Vivi Ornitier.

Thankful as he was to no longer be constantly tripping and falling, he found himself missing the old days. The days when a blonde boy with a tail had led them all together, like a family. The day where he had met Puck, whom he later learned was the king of Burmecia. That was the same day he had met him, as well as the day the adventure had started for all of them. He sighed inwardly, looking up from the book he was supposed to be studying from to the clock in the library. Eiko was late again, but it hardly mattered that she was. They both spent long hours down here, studying outside of class, their tutors didn't doubt their devotedness to their lessons, and were willing to overlook tardiness, though they did try to promote punctuality by offering them small prizes when they were on time. Math had come easiest to him, literature to her. Whenever one of them had a problem, they tried to help the other. The kind old men, who had tutored Garnet when she was a child, smiled warmly whenever this happened, as they knew that one learned better when teaching. Though he was eight, and Eiko six, they had lessons together, as they shared the same amount of schooling- what their grandfathers had taught them. Smiling slightly to his book as he tried to memorize another mathematical formula, he couldn't help but allow his mind to wonder to old days, before he had known there were others like him, other black mages. Part of him still felt a twinge of slight guilt that he hadn't yet visited black mage village. He knew that the people of Alexandria would always look at him like that, but he couldn't blame them. That night had hit them heavily, but they still accepted him- even if they refused to believe that the others were good, as he was the only good one in their eyes. He had to go back soon, they were waiting for him. He set the book down and continued his lessons, wondering how his brothers and the gnomes were getting along.

I'm waiting for you. Why haven't you returned yet? As a queen, and as myself, I wait for you to return. How long will you keep me waiting, Zidane? Please come back, I need you… Alexandria needs you, for when you return, I will make you my king… Please Zidane, come back… come home. -Entry from Royal Diary of Queen Garnet Til Alexandros 17

She continued to gaze out her window, waiting for her maid to finish brushing her hair so she could rest. Another day had passed, and still no word of him. No sign of him. Nothing. Resisting the urge to bite her lip, she instead sighed. Waiting was never one of my strengths…Oh Zidane, will you not return to me tonight? Her maid watched her carefully, knowing well why her queen had such a look of sadness on her face, and also knowing words would do her no good. As she helped her queen into her nightclothes and exited quietly, she wondered how long it would be before they were all graced with the gentle smile of the young ruler of Alexandria. Garnet sighed softly into her pillow. Reconstructing and rebuilding the world broken by Kuja was a long task, and she was nearly overwhelmed just by rebuilding her kingdom and ruling it at the same time. Being queen was all she had expected, while at the same time somehow less and more. Closing her eyes slowly, she prayed silently that somehow Zidane could be alive. Garnet slept a deep sleep, neither dreaming nor waking once until dawn.

Bakes a cake for Guardian1 -Pies and cookies for all who review!

Update: 8/31/07- Thanks to Yuja (a.k.a. Chowder, a.k.a Catz) For editing my spelling errors, and for being my beta reader. (She also recieves cake)