Gem: I refer to my mother as Mumma. And young children are amazingly perceptive with a lot of things. I own a broke blind and several packets of pretzels; doesn't sound like I could own FFIX.

Ruby smiled some as she moved about the kitchen of the hideout. Dancing to the music in her head, she missed Zidane and Blank standing in the doorway. Zidane was giving Blank a play-by-play of her dancing. As soon as she realized they were there, she threw the dishcloth at the two of them. They ducked and ran; Ruby chased them through the hideout with a few more washcloths in her hand. Both boys eventually ran out of the hideout with her still following.

"Come back here!" she yelled, startling several nobles and quite possibly a merchant's daughter. The merchant's daughter stared at all three before shaking her head and going on her way.

"That girl probably has done something similar."

With two well-placed washcloths, Ruby finally got Zidane and Blank to stop. She grabbed both of them and dragged them back to the hideout. The same merchant girl was laughing this time as Ruby dragged her brothers behind her.

"Good luck!" the girl called before heading on her way.

"Why is it I know the crazy people?"

After successfully getting the boys back to the hideout, Ruby finished her cleaning before sitting down and organizing the thoughts and memories in her head. Her brothers joined her at the now clean table and looked expectantly at her. Taking a deep breath, she began.

I knew from a very young age that I was lucky to have lots of money. Daddy had worked his way up from a factory worker to owning his own factory. He took care of his workers and they did extraordinary work in return. I never wanted to sit inside and study to be a young lady but my parents asked it of me.

"Ruby! Come back here!"

I ignored the yelling like most three year olds would and continued running towards a big mud puddle. I loved getting dirty just so I could take a long bath. It exasperated both my parents but what could they do? Daddy was working on getting better connections to nobles who really didn't want anything to do with the Arkwright family, and Mumma was helping him. They did make time for me unlike a lot of the other noble children's parents.

At the moment though, Ellie was in charge of me. She was one of Daddy's workers' children but not yet old enough to work in the factory. Ellie tried desperately to keep me out of mud puddles but a lot of the time was unable to. This time she grabbed me and swung me up onto her hip.

"Oh Ruby," she sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"

I giggled but enjoyed the fact that I was getting carried. Ellie carried me back to the house where a noble with a girl about my age perched on his hip was leaving. The other girl was making no attempts to get out of his grip like I normally would with Ellie. Ellie politely bowed her head to the man before carrying me into the house. She carried me upstairs and began to fill a tub with hot water. Ellie had managed to keep me from mud puddles for another day.

My mother knocked on the bathroom door before entering. Some days, when she could escape her duties, she would help bathe me. Her hair was a mix of sea-green and silver just like mine and flowed down past her waist. Mumma's eyes were a brilliant purple which caused me to crawl into her lap just to stare at them.

"Hi sweetie. You're not giving Ellie too much trouble are you?" she asked.

I shook my head and said "No Mumma!"

"Ruby likes mud puddles. I managed to keep her out of them today," Ellie said as she wet down my hair.

"I was like that," my mother admitted. "The girl in charge of me….what was her name again? Oh yes, Celeste. Celeste eventually began bribing me to stay out of mud puddles."

Ellie laughed. Even then I couldn't imagine my mother jumping in mud puddles; she was too composed for that. My bath was done and Mumma wrapped me in a big fluffy towel. I was yawning already.

"Naptime Ruby and don't try to get out of it. You're a growing girl and growing girls need naps." I knew better than to argue with that tone. Mumma always knew when I would try something. "Besides, we have an early birthday present for you. Take your nap now dear." She settled me down underneath the covers and tucked in a stuffed animal that resembled a Mu.

I hadn't realized that I'd gone to sleep when I felt someone gently shaking me. Ellie woke me up and began to wrap my hair in rags. She insisted that my hair had to be curly for the surprise that was happening later. Perching me on her hip again, Ellie opened the closet in my room searching for a dress. She pulled out a pretty blue one with a black sash and short sleeves.

"What do you think of this one Ruby?"

"I yike it."

Ellie set me down before carefully pulling the dress over my head and tying the sash. When she finally pulled the rags out of my hair, my waist length hair bounced to reach just below my shoulders.

"Now, don't get dirty," Ellie said.

"Why not?"

"Your present is very special and if you're dirty, you won't get it."

I must have pouted because Ellie laughed some as she carried me down to my parents. My father easily swung me up onto his shoulders. They hadn't told me yet where they were taking me but I loved any chance I had to be with them. After what seemed to be forever, Daddy started introducing me to other people. Some of them were kids about my age.

A brown haired blue eyed girl along with a blond haired blue eyed girl peeked out from behind the legs of an older gentleman. The girls were Elsie and Rosalind and the elder man, their grandfather, was Sergio. Apparently this man was also my grandfather, and the two girls were my cousins. They dragged me away to play for a bit.

"Don't get dirty!"

There were more children but none approached us. They just looked away distastefully. I was very confused by all of this but given that Elsie and Rosalind were ignoring the other children, I ignored them too. The door at the opposite end of the room opened and a man walked through.

"Where's the young lady?" he asked the room in general. His hair was a light blue and he had the same brilliant purple eyes my mother had. I had no idea that I had an uncle on my mother's side. Sergio had come over towards me and I allowed him to pick me up and introduce me to this man. This man, my uncle, was Amos. I doubted that I would remember the names I was learning.

"Wait….WHAT!?" interrupted the story. "Your uncle is the famous Amos!?" All four boys were staring at Ruby. Blank finally got enough of his wits about him to ask if she really was related to one of Lindblum's top chefs. His hair was no longer light blue but gray and he was old back when Ruby was little. By now, he probably was retired or close to it.

"Yes I am," said Ruby while laughing. She managed to compose herself some before continuing the story.

"And how's the young lady?" Uncle Amos asked.

"Fine," I replied shyly.

Turning from me, Uncle Amos addressed the room again. "Now that everyone's here, we can head out! Everyone grab a basket and we're ready to go!"

Elsie and Rosalind each grabbed a basket and Rosalind made sure that I had a little basket to carry too. I wasn't quite sure what we were doing with them. Uncle Amos came back towards the three of us and lifted me one handed. Elise and Rosalind clung next to him as we headed towards a beautiful grassy park that had been built in the city. Setting me down, Uncle Amos opened his basket and everyone followed suit. Out came blankets, food, and some toys. In addition, some strange cylindrical objects were produced out of several baskets.

Elise, Rosalind, and I raced over towards where several swings were tied.

"Don't get dirty!"

Diarmaid, another cousin this time on my father's side, sat himself down in a swing and picked me up. He got a firm grip on me before starting to swing. Meanwhile, right next to us Rosalind was pushing Elsie.

"So this young lady is the one Auntie Sina has been talking about."

I blushed as Diarmaid continued to swing us both. Sergio had been talking to everyone who was still busy setting out blankets and food. Eventually he made his way over to where the four of us were.

"So Diarmaid, how's your inn keeping business been?" Sergio asked.

Diamaid didn't even slow the pace of the swing before answering," Growing. Slowly, very slowly it's growing. Selma isn't sure if business will begin booming soon."

"It is the start of the theatrical season soon. Nobles will need a place to stay and what better place than your's?"

I was very confused by all this. I didn't realize until I was much older the strife between my mother's family was caused by my father's family's success. And it seemed to be aging Sergio faster than he wanted to be aged.

"It will be time to eat soon. I came over to make sure all four of you knew," said Sergio.

"Thank you Pappy," replied Diamaid as he slowed and eventually stopped our swing. Meanwhile, Rosalind was slowly stopping Elsie's swing.

Diamaid swung me onto his shoulders as the four of us headed towards where my parents had spread out a blanket.

"Early present Mumma?" I asked.

"This is not all of it sweetie," she replied as she piled my plate with all kinds of different food.

I cleaned off my plate as I had been taught before nearly everyone began hiking up a big hill. I had a place at the very front with my parents. It was dark and I was impatient.

"Mumma, where's the surprise?" I asked.

"Shh dear. Wait. It's coming."

Suddenly a loud boom sounded above us and a bright light was shown up in the sky. My eyes lit up and I squealed in happiness.

"This was your surprise sweetie."

As the fireworks wound down, I was beginning to nod off in my mother's lap. My father picked me up and we headed home. I vaguely realized that I was changed into my nightgown and tucked into bed. Days passed and I was introduced to a slew of nobles. Lord and Lady Nimbus and their children; Lord and Lady Andrew along with their children Lady Ai and her husband and Lord Asklepios and his wife; Lord and Lady Asif; and Lady Terra. Apparently this wasn't even all the people my parents associated with. Very few of the nobles had children my age so a lot of the time I was left with Ellie watching me.

"Oh dear," my mother said one day while reading the paper.

"What Mumma?"

"Ellie, would you please come in here?" my mother called ignoring my question for the moment.

"Yes ma'am?" Ellie replied as she appeared.

"Ellie, I want you to keep Ruby as close to the house as possible. It seems that a new group of thieves is making itself known. Most of the members are very young and it seems that their leader is an older man with donkey ears. There are reports of two young boys for sure, maybe three. The third may also be a girl. Please keep an eye out."

Well apparently I wasn't allowed to go jumping in mud puddles for a long while. At least until they caught this new group of thieves.

Days continued to pass in which I wasn't allowed out of sight of the house unless accompanied by one or both of my parents. Sergio brought Elsie and Rosalind over to play a few times. I wondered where their parents were. Sure I had had death explained to me a few times but I never expected my cousin's parents to die. Another girl about Ellie's age would also come over with Elsie and Rosalind. While Sergio talked to my parents, Ellie and Riko would watch Elsie, Rosalind, and me. It turned out that the backyard had excellent mud puddles.

One of the days, my parents and grandfather sat outside with us. They were discussing the fact that this new group of thieves just couldn't be caught. They had to have some high connection somewhere.

"So let's review the facts we know about them," Sergio said. "Two young boys for sure and one has a cat or monkey tail. Then there are two other children who could potentially work for them."

"Pappy, what's potentially mean?" asked Rosalind before I could.

"It means that those other children may be a part of their family but there's a chance they might be part of another family."

"Oh."

Continuing, Sergio added a few more known facts. "With the two unknown children, one is definitely a boy. The other looks like a girl but has been seen wearing boy's clothing. Their leader is a man with donkey ears and constantly wears a pilot's hat. Apparently this man is also connected to the very recently formed theater troupe."

I fought not to express my excitement. This beat jumping in mud puddles any day. I could sense my father also fighting not to say something. He obviously knew who all these people were and apparently wasn't able to tell anyone

Later that night as my father tucked me into bed, I asked him what he knew about this group of thieves.

"Shh, Ruby. Now's not the time. You'll learn more when you're older."

"But Daddy!"

"The thieves I know nothing about. The group of actors is called Tantalus and I offered to be their patron. Tantalus's leader accepted my offer and another noble's offer to be a patron."

"Daddy, what's a patron?"

"It means that I help them with all their plays."

"Oh."

"Now go to sleep Ruby. Tomorrow's a busy day."

I did as I was told but couldn't help wondering if Tantalus was more than a group of actors. I was shaken awake the next morning by Ellie who dressed me in a white blouse and blue skirt before tying my hair up in twin ribbons. We headed up to the Lindblum grand docks where we boarded an airship with a lot of different nobles. I watched a ship I had never seen before exit the docks ahead of the one I was on. The side read Prima Vista and at the helm were two children, a boy and possibly a girl. At any rate, both children were wearing boy's clothing. Behind them with his own hands on the wheel was a man whose features I couldn't make out.

Ellie came up behind me and scooped me into her arms. Balancing me on one hip, she placed the other hand on the rail.

"So that's Tantalus's ship. I knew they traveled but I didn't know if they had a ship," she said to herself.

Riko joined us at the rail with Elsie and Rosalind in tow. I didn't know they were coming. Other nobles' children joined us at the rail with their sitters or nannies. A few glanced our way but none approached. The Prima Vista turned gracefully and everyone standing at the rail stared in awe. The airship I was on, the Iole, followed suit. One little boy left his sitter to come approach the five of us.

"Hi. I'm Marius. May I please play with you?"

"Is it fine with your sitter?" Ellie asked kneeling down to his level but still keeping a grip on me.

"She sent me over to ask."

Ellie nodded her understanding before heading over to where Marius's sitter was standing.

"Good morning ma'am," Ellie began.

"I'm no ma'am. I suspect that I'm no older than you," said Marius's sitter. "Come. Let's find an area for these children to be themselves and for us to talk."

We headed towards an open area on the deck and Ellie, Riko, and Marius's sitter sat, watched us, and talked. We sat down and rolled a ball to each other since it seemed our sitters didn't want us running all over the ship. I was also paying attention to the conversation Ellie was having.

"I missed your name," Ellie said.

"It's Cecilia," Marius's sitter replied. "May I have your's?"

"I'm Ellie and this is my friend Riko."

"Oh. And how do you two know each other?"

"Elsie and Rosalind, my charges, are sisters and Ruby's cousins," answered Riko.

"I'm in charge of Ruby to keep both of us out of trouble. At least that's what my parents told me."

Cecilia and Riko laughed.

"You didn't tell me THAT!" exclaimed Riko.

"That's because I found out two nights ago. There's been no chance!"

"Oh. Look at the sun! It's time for Marius's nap. Some days it's just so hard to get him to sleep," sighed Cecilia.

"The girls probably could use their naps now too," added Riko.

I found myself scooped up again and saw that Elsie had been picked up too. I yawned and laid my head on Ellie's shoulder. I briefly thought about struggling to get out of her grip but that required more effort than I wanted to use.

I woke as the ship settled into the water in the harbor. Ellie was up and picked me up once more so I wouldn't get lost in the crowds. Riko, Elsie, Rosalind, Cecilia, and Marius made their way over and we headed through the crowds towards our respective families.

"Ellie, Riko this way!" my father called.

"Cecilia!" called Marius's father.

Both men and their wives along with Sergio were standing together as we made our way over through the huge crowd of people disembarking. Sergio swung Rosalind up into his arms and we headed towards an inn that catered towards nobles.

"Ruby, you remember meeting Lady Terra? This is her husband Lord Linas Jagoda and Marius is their son," said my mother.

"Nice to meet you," I said quietly.

"Anzori, you didn't tell me your daughter was shy. But her and little Marius would look so cute together," said Lady Terra.

"She's shy around strangers but she'll open up by tonight," my father replied. "And you know that I don't support arranged marriages like that. They rarely ever work."

"Fine but when they get older……."

"My dear Terra, please let the matter go," said Lord Linas.

By that point we had arrived at our inn, the Malinowski which I later found out meant "dweller by raspberries." After checking in with the innkeeper, we headed out again to find our seats. Ellie had put me down and had a firm grip on my hand. A harassed noble dashed past us chasing down two children; his wife followed close behind. At least I thought she was his wife. Meanwhile, my parents were trying not to laugh at the sight.

"That is why I want you to stay close Ruby," Ellie said.

"Okay."

I clung tightly to Ellie as we made our way towards the seats. Princess Garnet was celebrating her sixth birthday soon so Tantalus was there to perform for her. The huge airship had landed right in the moat and there was a stage built on the ship. The actors were putting the final touches on the set while half in costume. I noticed how young all of them were except for one person who I assumed was the troupe leader. The leader pointed off to one side of the stage and all the young actors ran off. The leader walked after them.

Music started up and the leader walked out to introduce the play. He bowed to the audience and then a deep bow to the royal box. After introducing the play, the other actors appeared. Three little boys took over the various roles except for the princess who was played by a young girl. My eyes went wide when I realized the one little boy had a tail. Daddy was supporting a group of thieves? Apparently Ellie had made the same connection because I heard "oh my God" though I don't think she realized I heard. For this being my first play ever, I loved it.

The play was over all too soon and we had to head home. I didn't think that I would be able to sleep at all that night. I wanted to be up on stage with those actors.

"Ruby, tomorrow we may be able to meet the other patron. He has a little girl your age if I'm not mistaken."

"Why wouldn't we meet him?" I asked yawning.

"Sometimes the royal family likes to meet the patrons before they can even introduce themselves to each other."

"Oh."

I yawned again and then curled up on my side and slept. I dreamed of flying and acting and maybe even meeting children besides Elsie, Rosalind, and Marius who didn't hate my father's rise to nobility.