Chapter IV

~ Blessed Sights ~

The view from the top of the chapel was inspiring. Eiko had heard the humorous tale from Vivi himself; how he was lead up here by Prince Puck of Cleyra the first time the mage had visited the city. Vivi had since cured is fear of heights, she had been told, yet somehow she never quite fully believed him.

Sitting peacefully by the top of the ladder that pressed itself up by the brass bell, all sorts of thoughts entered her mind. Notions of wonder, curiosity and future decisions. What was she to do now? Zidane and Dagger were off having the time of their lives, well, she thought. Her knowledge on loving relationships was not the best due to her age. Yet her life now had become ever so… boring, if she dared say it. The adventure was gone, the excitement had diminished, and the way she had been living before had passed her life without stopping.

She sometimes felt that it would just be easier to go back to Madain Sari and live her old life. It's true that, before she met up with Zidane and his companions her life, was very prosperous. Living amongst the red, sacred stones of her ancestors and cooking each day with the Moogles who raised her, Eiko had been very happy with how she lived. Sometimes she wondered what her life would have been like if she had never met the party. Would it have been… better?

She shook her head. Of course not! How could she think such a thing? She had saved the world. Saved millions. Saved her friends.

"You okay, Kupo?"

The chapel's regular Moogle had worked his way up beside her, his pom pom bouncing with the nod of his head. She glanced upwards, slightly surprised by the voice.

"Oh, hey-"

"You're friends are looking for you, kupo."

Eiko, slightly bewildered at the creature's remark, moved her eyes once again to the extravagant view. Who knew rooftops could be so beautiful?

"What do they want?"

"I dunno, kupo. But something exciting is brewin', kupo."

Eiko looked to the clouds. They drifted onwards as if life was no worry. What magical things.

"And were you given this by Mognet?"

"Nope," the pom pom swung with the shake of the furry head, "word of mouth, kupo. The Rat-Woman, kupo."

Freya…

"Oh," the moogle pointed at Eiko's shirt, being careful not to make a rude gesture, "clean up before you go, kupo."

She looked down once again. A smile emerged.

"Rice."

"Waiting for who?" Vivi asked, resting his well deserved hide down upon the step next to the great warrior.

"The others." Beatrix replied gently, her smile able to lift the spirits of those too sad with life to continue trudging through it. Vivi was intoxicated. She truly was a beautiful woman. The luscious, bouncy curls which made up her hair. The smooth, radiant skin which shone beauty. The figure of a great heroine. The makings of a perfect lady.

"The others?" Vivi questioned again, "Are they meeting for something?"

"We all are, Vivi." Beatrix, brushed some of that gorgeous hair behind her ear, lightly with her fingertips. "Freya was sent to find you."

"I guess I was too quick for her." Vivi smiled childishly and resting his hands in his lap. "When are the others arriving?"

"Any moment now, I'm hoping." Beatrix pulled up her soft sleeve and glanced at her silver watch. "They are late though."

"Heroes demand time." Vivi exclaimed, gazing about the extravagantly decorated walls of robes, pictures and candlesticks. The silver coatings matched Beatrix's watch, a small shard of information which Vivi took the liberty of noticing. Beatrix grinned.

"Then why are you early, young mage?"

"Why are you?"
Beatrix's grin exhaled a one-beat, breathless laugh. Vivi's intuitiveness had grown with him along with the years. He was not that small, naïve young boy who had fought her all those years ago. And even when beside her, his intelligence and confidence had further increased with his wit and charm. He was the one to have grown the most.

She leaned backwards slightly, moving to rest upon her hands behind her. She sighed, a peaceful sound of tranquillity. Yet, it was,

"Cold."

A quiet roar erupted, and caught her off guard for a moment, as the warm glow of flame pulsated from Vivi's palm, which faced up towards the ceiling. The flame was fiery crimson, yet it was neither cool not scolding, and Vivi's assistance, although not needed, was greatly appreciated. His reply was unrelated.

"Why though, Lady Beatrix, if both of us are indeed heroes, are we both sitting on the stairs?"

The warrior's answer made the flame recede in a puff of smoky astonishment.

"I forgot the room key."

Eiko sat restfully upon the soft covers of the grand bed, an item she had missed since her last touch of it the day before. She was still humoured from the fact that the room had been open since that time. Beatrix was going senile.

Everyone was there. Quina was flopped lifelessly upon the ottoman opposite. Adelbert, dressed in his white, breathing one-piece stood in the far corner, fiddling with his short, grey locks. Freya stood also, leaning against the night-stand, arms folded as usual. The Burmecian dragoon was forever moody. Eiko thought that, since the saving of the world ad being reunited with Fratley, she would have lightened up from her usual personality, yet the rat-woman forever stayed the way she did. And, after contemplating the idea, Eiko wouldn't have it any other way.

Beatrix sat, legs folded royally in the armchair beside the ottoman, with Vivi cross-legged at her side. Why was Vivi sitting there? Why not with Eiko? In fact, Vivi did not look at her. Once. At all, since entering the room he had not glanced in her direction. She demanded with her mind: why not? More importantly though, why was she even bothered?

"A new day dawns upon us." Beatrix remarked, "A brand new chapter within out fable will commence."

"Wouldn't Amarant benefit from this meeting?" interrupted Freya, her tail twitching, "He is, of course, one of us."

"Amarant went gallivanting off with that old bounty hunter of his." answered Steiner, a frown crossing his face.

"He'd better not cause my moogles at Madain any more trouble!" exclaimed Eiko. "If so my horn's gonna find its way up his ass!"

"Language like that no good for age." Said Quina, wagging it's gigantic tongue from side to side, small droplets of saliva falling upon the expensive rug underneath their feet. Fortunately no one had noticed.

"We are getting off the topic," continued Beatrix, whipping her hair behind her shoulder. "We have been called upon once more."

"By who?" Freya peered from under her low-lying headgear.

"Mischief is rising around Conde Petie. We've been asked to check it out."

"What are we, the local lookouts?" Steiner bellowed, crossing his arms to imitate Freya. "We are the saviours of all of Gaia itself and we're called upon to do petty demands?!"

"We are highly sought after." responded Beatrix. "And this is the first chance of travel we've had in months."

"That's true," agreed Vivi, who had been silent up until this point, adjusting his hat to speak, "We haven't left Alexandria since Regent Cid's last anniversary."

"Dad's party was ages ago!" confirmed Eiko, flopping backwards upon the most comfortable bed ever created. "I haven't seen him in ages. I think it's cool we're the 'go-to-guys' for small things. We'd be just like a local battle party."

"We won't get anything big anymore," entered Beatrix, gesturing with her hand, "we can make this task last for about a week. Travelling around could lead us to Linblum, Black Mage Village, and even letting Eiko visit her new home."

"I agree!" gurgled Quina, who was jumping up and down, flailing its arms.

Beatrix turned to Freya who, after glancing at the majority, sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"When do we set off?"

Beatrix smiled, as did the children. The lady-warrior's gaze turned to her ex-lover.

Adelbert Steiner was not happy with the idea of following small demands from people of no royalty. Ever since splitting up with Beatrix those months before, he had found himself losing out on votes he did not want to pass. However, the goods outweighed the odds in this chance, he just did not want to admit it. He let out a gruff sigh also, showing his acceptance of the mission. Beatrix smiled thankfully, yet the man did not notice.

"We take off in one hour beside the Soaring Rose. Take the docks early so not to miss the boats."

The party nodded. Reunited once again, as much as they would be, their lives were, once more, living themselves again.

A new chapter in their fable was indeed being created…

Author note: Adelbert Steiner's real appearance is one that is not official. It is my personal interpretation. Please don't kill me if you don't like it.