Well, I updated the next day! How odd. I had it written, I just needed to go over it once more to edit it. Anyway, one of the things that I had a good time with on this chapter was incorporating elements of the original game into the story. This chapter was amazingly fun to write. I hope it's as fun for you to read!

Disclaimer: I don't own FF9. Period.

The moon danced on the surface of the lake, creating the illusion of jewels floating on water. A soft breeze blew through the open window of the tower, cooling the face of the young girl who watched with glazed eyes. Words couldn't describe how much she wanted to be out there.

Outside.

Garnet had never left the palace. Not once, for her entire sixteen years of life. Not even to walk amongst the people of Alexandria. How was she supposed to become queen if she didn't even know what her subjects were like? What they wanted and didn't want? What they believed in and what they scorned?

Of course, she had tried reasoning with her parents with this same logic before. Many times, in fact. But they always responded with something like, "A lady such as yourself is not fit to walk the dirty streets at such a tender age."

"If the streets are so dirty, why do you love them so much?" Garnet sighed, remembering the discussion that had taken place only a few hours before. Looking at the stone floor with distaste, she turned and walked out of her room. It hadn't even been a discussion. It was just another boring lecture.

"Princess, you should know by now that you aren't to leave the castle."

Garnet sighed in response to the gruff voice and clanking metal that was following her. "Captain Steiner, I'm just going to take a walk," she said, not looking up. "I have to stretch my legs. You needn't worry about my safety, I'm not even going to leave this floor."

The tall knight nodded. Armor creaking, he moved back to his post in front of the door to Garnet's bedroom. She was such a rebellious girl. Didn't she know that what her parents did was for her own good? Well, she would soon grow out of it. He smiled.

"Ah, youth," he sighed as he watched the princess walk off. "What I wouldn't give to be just a few years younger and to feel that rush once again."

He shook his head. Stay focused, he thought. You're on guard duty.

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Zidane grinned as he watched the princess walk past him, completely unaware of his presence. This would be easier than he thought. It looked like she wouldn't return to her room for a while, which would give him ample time to set up. As she rounded the corner and out of sight, he ran silently through the last hall toward her room, and peeked out from behind the wall. He grinned and melded back into the shadows as he pulled out his secret weapon; an oglop.

Without having to aim for more than a second, he threw the bug, and it hit it's target directly between the eyes. The knight yelped in surprise and fell to the floor, clawing at his face in an attempt to rid himself of the pest. It took all of Zidane's willpower not to laugh at the pathetic sight. By the time the knight had squashed his tiny assailant and brushed himself off, Zidane had already marched right past the oblivious guard and into Garnet's bedchamber.

He closed the door quietly behind him and walked to the bedside table, where the princess's evening tea was cooling in the breeze created by the open window. Smirking, he pulled out a small bottle, and poured the clear contents into the hot tea that sat in the center of the ornate metal tray. Then he walked nonchalantly into the wardrobe sitting against the far wall.

After a few minutes, Garnet returned, and sat on her bed. Breathing in the soft aromas that wafted under her nose, she daintily picked up her teacup and drank deeply.

"Hmm." Garnet smelled the tea again. Was this a new blend? It was more calming then usual. She was actually quite tired. Within seconds, she had fallen unconscious onto her pillow, in a state of sleep so sound that even a gong couldn't have awakened her.

Zidane laughed softly to himself and walked out of the wardrobe.

"Sleeping Weed," he smiled, looking down at his prize. "Gotta love it."

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"Well, Alexandria, it appears you have failed to stop me yet again."

Every person in the city looked up at the voice that had just echoed from the top of the church. There, standing on the tower, was the famous dark figure known as the Midnight Thief. A large sack was slung over his shoulder, obviously containing the spoils of his latest robbery.

"Though I must admit, I'm disappointed. I thought for sure that this, your most valuable treasure, would have been more carefully guarded than it was. It was hardly worth the effort I put into planning the heist. It took almost no work at all. But things will be different with this treasure. You may have the chance to get it back, provided you pay a small fee. You'll find the price tag tacked to the wardrobe of the Princess's room. Until next time, I bid you all farewell."

With that, the thief jumped down from the tall building into the alley next to it. In the few seconds it had taken for two Alexandrian soldiers to get there, the mysterious man had already disappeared into the night.

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Garnet's eyes fluttered open, but she closed them quickly as a bright light invaded her vision. After a while, she opened her eyes again and looked around.

This wasn't her room. It was some kind of… warehouse.

Was she still asleep? No, that couldn't be. Her head hurt to much for it to just be a dream.

She lifted her hands to soothe her throbbing headache… Or, at least, she tried to. She looked down, still in a daze after just waking up, and found that she was bound tightly to a chair.

"I see you're awake."

The princess looked up in surprise and stared at where the voice had come from. But there was nothing there except for a few boxes. Soon, however, she saw the source of the voice, and looked upon the face of her captor as he stepped out from behind the stack of crates. He was young, probably only a little older than she was. His blonde hair was tied back in a half ponytail, and his blue eyes gave off a playful gleam. A grin crossed his face, revealing two rows of perfect white teeth. And what captivated Garnet the most was the mysterious scar that crossed his left cheek, marring what would normally have been a flawless face.

He walked closer to her and bowed, mockingly. "Your Highness, I humbly welcome you to the home of the Midnight Thief."