I do not own any of these characters. This was produced by my imagination for non-profit purposes, based off of the characters of SquareEnix's Final Fantasy 9. I have no affiliations with Square Enix or any of its branches. All characters and settings are owned by SquareEnix. Now that is covered, and I can't get sued..

It was a quiet and peaceful day in Alexandria. The sun was shining, the birds were singing. The castle itself was just as quiet. Queen Garnet went on diplomatic visit to Treno accompanied by Captain Aldebert Steiner of the Pluto Knights. It was day four since their departure. Steiner was not the original candidate, but General Beatrix insisted that he go in her place. Although it was normally the job of the General to escort the Queen during diplomatic visits, the Queen agreed to the switch. Beatrix wished not to enter Treno. She hasn't since the Treno Revolution lead by the Vutuli family, in which Beatrix killed 100 of their men single handedly. This event thwarted the Revolution, reclaimed Queen Stella's Throne, and promoted Beatrix to General. But this was not the reason for her reluctance to enter the city again. She had other reason.

As an exchange to have Steiner in her place, Beatrix volunteered to be the stand in Captain until the two returned. Although these peaceful days put other people at ease, Beatrix herself was restless. When there were no drills, no need to go over strategic attack patterns, when Steiner wasn't around, she was left to her idle thoughts. She touched her eye patch remembering the day she got her injury; the day she first used a sword. It was also the first day she took a life. She shook her head trying to suppress those memories once again. She didn't like thinking of her past, so she never did. It was easy to turn her mind away from it during times of war, where the only thing on her mind was survival, commanding, and conquering. It became much simpler as well when she and Steiner became civil to each other. So civil that he wrote her a love letter asking to meet at the fountain the night after the Queen's crowning. (Of course it was actually Eiko's love letter to Zidane, but this fact was never corrected to either Beatrix or Steiner) She looked at herself in the pool under the fountain. Staring back at her is a woman that she hasn't seen in years. Although the woman had the same curls that rested on her muscular shoulders, the same outfit, and the same athletic figure as her, her eye was gentle when it is normally cold. She let out a small groan, "It seems lately, I have been quite emotionally dependent on him." She ran her fingers across the water's surface, watching her reflection ripple. That is a safe thought…I'll think about Steiner. She begins to reflect on their time together and how their relationship started to bud. But her thoughts missed their stop and she started thinking of how she came to Alexandria, her eye again the man she killed, and the man she killed for…

"I love you Bea—."

"No" she held her head and shook it. She then looked to the skies. "I hope they return soon. It is quite dull without them."

It had been dull. There was only so much a military can do during times of peace. There wasn't anyone important coming to town. The only active thing that was around was new recruits going through basic training. Counting their stalk of weapons, and developing better ones, just sit there, do paper-work, until they get the call that they are needed once again. The paladin sighed, as she continued to look in the pool below her. Finally her mind was empty and she could relax without a care for a few minutes.

Disturbing the peace of the castle in a fashion suitable for diplomats or royal entourages, the sounds of life echo through the halls as the delegation from Treno made it's way through the halls, many go on to their official capacities, breaking from the lines to return to offices or halls, one such, regaled in ceremonial plate mail broke off from the contingent and heads for the fountain gardens of the palace, his expression forced exuberance, without missing a beat he strode a few paces and stopped, listening as the contingent carries on. Exhaling his expression turned to that of exhaustion, looking up to the skies he grinned, thoughts apparent that it was good to be back home. The knight however, does not notice his counterpart by the fountain, as he is on an opposing side, he removes his plate helm, his expression as that of a weight being lifted, he pushes back his chain coif, his hair severely disheveled from serious helm hair, he strides to the fountain and stops, staring into the tranquil waters. Without much hesitation, he turns and seats himself on the edge of the fountain, making quite the noise from the impact of plated armor on marble surfacing, he groans as the noise seems to bring a further pounding in his head. He leans forward, seeming to take his feet into high regard, he sighs, truly exhausted, thinking to himself how much more difficult the battle of words are as opposed to the battle of steel.

Beatrix's trance like state gets disturbed by the sound of clanking armor, which meant two things to her, either one of the Knights were looking for her or Steiner was back. Upon hearing a loud clank of a heavier man sitting down, she assumed the later. The other Knights of Pluto, although build, did not experience as much as their leader to become that bulky. She closes her eyes, forcing her excitement back in order to keep a professional demeanor, just in-case she was mistaken, or someone was watching.

"So, you have returned."

A voice breaks the naval gazing of the knight, a million thoughts rush through his head after the moment of surprise at a voice in what was thought to be the empty garden, he attempts to give voice to his immediate thought, however, it comes out in a cough, surprise at his foolish response, the knight stands up quickly, turning to the fountain, he spots her just beyond first observed view. The knight, remembering himself to be out uniform to his own scrutiny, raises a mailed hand and attempts to smooth down his hair, one stroke upon his head makes him realize that he must look quite the proverbial jester, with his hair standing out at odd angles, he grins, giving up the battle with hair, "Indeed, it is good to see you, General, I apologize, I did not see you there."

She clears her throat, and salutes him, "During your absence, I did the training exercises you wanted me to do with the Pluto Knights. I took the liberty to do some of my own work. I am sure that it will make your men more effective. They did what they were told. No real huge disciplinary incidences. Weimer is on cleaning duty for the next few weeks though." She greeted him the same as she would do to a colleague. No reason to show emotions during business.

The knight smiles at her words, more so, at her voice, the official capacity in which it is delivered, "Is this so? Forgive me, General, it would seem that Weimer has been into his habitual antics again, it would seem." Giving to her a half bow of respect, he continues, "Your devotion to the code of morale has no double humbled the Knights, I am almost afraid to look in on them at the moment, exhausted to the last, I would imagine." Steiner gives her a smile that would be given to a fellow ranking officer. "I appreciate your taking the time to of done so." Staring at her, his mind starts to wander, thinking of how it is odd that his fatigue from before seems to of abated, as if his proximity to her has alleviated a further weight of stress.

She gives an agreeing nod at Steiner, "Welcome back to Alexandria Captain, I assume the Queen returned safely, and all is well." she continues the conversation, but is secretly looking around. A soldier walks by; she breaks away from her conversation with Steiner and looks at the direction of the women, "Cadet! We are speaking of classified information. Make sure no one disturbs us."
The soldier looks over at the General and enthusiastically replies, "Yes Ma'am!"
The woman runs away from the area and to a further location. Beatrix watches the woman walk off, waiting for her to be at a safe distance.
Suddenly Beatrix lips curled into a welcoming smile. She hastily walks toward Steiner throwing her arms around his thick neck for a brief second. "Welcome home Aldebert."
She kept it brief. Even though she knew no one was around, she did not need the soldiers learn of their superiors fraternizing with each other
Accepting Beatrix in his arms, her words continue to hold thrall to him, her manner turning from official to intimate so easily, Steiner gives to her a smile that seems to be a thanking for utter completion. "It's truly good to be home, Beatrix." embracing her tightly against him, allows his mind to be at rest for once, and thinking nothing save how good it feels to be in this moment of time. Releasing her from the embrace, he speaks quietly to her, "You've been well? You look radiant as the sun over the plains of Kynnerath, Beatrix."
As well she did not know how Steiner would react in this situation. Will he be nervous, or pull her in more?
Beatrix chuckled, "It's only because you are here. While you were gone, I focus mostly on work." she flips her thick hair, as she normally does, almost as if it was a nervous tick. "But...even though I am happy that we are in peaceful time, I dare to admit that for a soldier, it is quite dull and melancholic. As a Knight, there is always something for you to do. For me, as a Military head...I feel like I am put on the shelf to collect dust and think of the good old times of youth."

A surprised expression comes upon the knight's face, his eyebrows rise in an almost comical fashion, "Surely this is not the case, Beatrix, you are an invaluable wellspring of information and strategy, why, there is no other I can think of that has such a mind for tactics!" His expression returns to normalcy, "Indeed, we are at peace, however, the method of who we are has changed, 'tis not like the bygone days..." He lets out a long breath, "The wars are across tables now, and the blades are quills and parchment, what is it called for us when the battles are done, eh?" He tentatively places a hand on her shoulder, "Regardless, we all still serve our function, and I can think of no other who is more valuable here then you, Gen-Beatrix!" Steiner nods a few times in agreement with his own statement.

She just smiles at him, mostly as a mask. Her eyes spoke of her true feeling. She believed that he only spoke those words to comfort her. But she knows of the reality of what she is, and knew for a very long time, "Within a world of quills and parchment, where does a murderous monster like me fit?" She touches her damaged eye. The constant reminder of who she was, every time she looked in the mirror, every time she looks in pools of blood below her.

The knight inhales, an expression of world weariness settles over his face, "Beatrix, you are most certainly not a m-" The sound of footfalls echo quite loudly, a diplomat strides down the halls, not even taking notice of them, going about his business without giving anyone regard, however, the moment seems to have taken the air further out of the knight's sails, he looks upon her, and gives her a half-hearted smile, "It would seem that duty will not allow us more then a few moments of solitude before it comes to us, in one way or another.." He nods, taking her in as a fellow commanding officer, "I have to make report as to the goings on while I was away, it..." He looks around, "Will I see you again soon, Beatr... General?"

Beatrix sighs with relief, for now she can put the memories of her past that were slowly surfacing to rest for a moment, "My apologies Captain. I have kept your from work." She smiles at him in her professional mask. "Though I wish to talk in more detail in private," She walks past him in a normal speed. Before she passed him up she whispered, "Tonight...the usual tower."

Even after all the years that have gone by into history, and all that has happened in preface, a trait that is a mystery to the knight takes hold, as she whispers her parting words, his face turns scarlet, his eyes widen, his general expression turns to that of a youth caught in front of a charging destriers, this lasts for only a moment, then the usual stoic expression that he has worn so casually on his sleeve takes hold, he nods and says nothing, he walks straight ahead, knowing that the route he is on will take him longer to get to where it is that he is going, however, this is okay to the knight, to reflect on their fleeting time together is worth it to him, as he proceeds on, he is taken with a small smile, thinking how good it truly is to be back home.

This is a pilot of something my friend and I are co-opting together. He wishes not to be formally recognized, but I think it will be dishonest if I said I wrote it all. I write the parts of Beatrix and the settings, he writes the parts of Steiner. If there are enough people interested, I will post more. I would like any criticism. Good or bad. I do not care if you are flaming it, I just need opinions and ideas. Thank you and I hope you enjoy my first chapter