Author's note: This is a compilation between Ceara Ivory and myself. See my profile for summary. We do not own Final Fantasy IX!

Distant Memory

Prologue: Dawn Of A New Day

Part A:

Airlia frowned as she heard screaming from her tiny cell beneath a trade store. Screaming for her name. She dragged herself out of bed, still sore from the beating from the night before. It was nothing more than a distant dream that she was having. Dreams of when her life used to be perfect. She dressed in her servant's outfit, a grey tunic with a brown overdress that had thick straps on the shoulder. To finish off her outfit, she had grey tights and brown leather loafers that were loose at best, and shredded at worst.

She tied back her dark brown hair in a braid as she pushed the memories of her dreams off. There was no use in lingering over the dreams. of what had been but could never be again. She ran upstairs - even as her feet screamed at her abuse. Airlia had been an indentured servant whom was still paying off her parent's debt, five years after their untimely death. She went upstairs to find the raging man looking at a mess that the girl knew hadn't been there before! Closing her eyes to brace herself, she wasn't let down by his attack on her.

"You clumsy bitch! You dare leave the store like this?! What did you do… clean with a sword?" He screamed at her as he slapped her harshly, sending her sprawling.

She crashed into two crates, knocking them over as her hand went to her mouth, only to come away with blood. Airlia knew better than to say anything, because it would only result in further punishment. He tossed a few coins by her feet. "Go and get the usual. But hurry back so you can finish cleaning properly."

The brunette grabbed the coins and got to her feet before rushing out the door. Taking her time, she went to the shop as a gentle hand stopped her. "Miss? You okay?"

Airlia knew the voice belonged to Lady Beatrix - but the maid had to ignore it. Knowing if she spoke of anything, she would be immediately attacked for it upon returning back. Twisting out of her grip, the woman hurried forward to the fruit vendor. The man gave her a sympathetic nod, "If I knew that it wouldn't end up in your disfavor, I'd give you an extra few pieces of fruit. I've got the normal order set aside and got the others already that I see you go to every day. Just give me the normal amount you give everyone and you're square."

Airlia looked up sharply to see the vendor truly for the first time, raven black hair and emerald green eyes. She knew his name was Jonathan, but he had never really gone out of his way for her before. Giving him the coins, he smiled as he gave her a large bag. He frowned when he saw the darker bruise and cut on her lip. He only wish she would merely ask for help. He had twin daughters her age and didn't want to think what he would feel like if either of them were in her shoes.

"Thank you Jonathan. You saved me a lot of time. I gotta scamper though." She ran back only to be stopped by the gentle hands of the same Lady Beatrix who had tried to stop her before.

"Easy little one, I'm not going to harm you…" Beatrix said - her voice coming to a dead halt as she took in the bruise and cut. Her face darkened as a blue hand came to the other shoulder. "Who did this to you?"

Airlia remained silent as she tried to pull away only for the larger arm to come around her shoulders. Another emphatic voice could be heard. "Oh child, who hurt you like this? You can tell us. It's going to be okay, he or she can't hurt you anymore…"

Struggling, she remained silent. No matter what they did, it wouldn't - couldn't free her. She still owed from her father's debts. However, a voice called out - from the vendor earlier. "It's that shop owner that she works at. He's a nasty piece of work. I've heard him hollering at her at all hours whenever I have to walk by there. Then there's this… She wouldn't tell me how she got hurt but I suspect he beat her."

Airlia tried to plead him with clasped hands on not saying anything, but it pushed him into telling them the whole of what he knew. Beatrix's comforting face came close to her - inspecting the injuries as she frowned. "I'll get your injuries tended to after we deal with him. He needs to be held accountable for his deeds."

They walked back to the shop as the queen frowned. She never intentionally allowed this man to continue on, but she never had proof of what had happened in that shop until now. Throwing the door open, and her darkest glare, she kept the girl behind her - to keep her safe. Once the Queen and Beatrix were in the room, the door was shut while Jonathan kept her near so she could see it come to an end.

A few minutes later, the door opened as Beatrix dragged the man, wounded from punches as the queen put a gentle hand behind the girl's shoulders. "Come with me to the castle little one. Your servitude has come to an end - but I can't help but wonder if you'd like a different purpose in life."

"A different… purpose?" Airlia questioned, unsure of where the conversation was going.

The queen nodded, her hair bobbing with the movement. "Yes, my daughter is sad and could use a companion. I can't help but wonder if being with her wouldn't help you both. You wouldn't want for anything, as I do expect her to do a few things herself, but as her handmaiden and confidant you would live in the palace with us. What do you think?"

Airlia nodded, being a servant was the only thing she knew that she could do well. "Of course Queen Brahne. I would be honored to."