Author's note: This is a collaboration between Ceara Ivory and Asirainis. We do not own Final Fantasy IX. This is not a Disney Crossover!

Distant Memories

Disc 1 Part 5:

Lindblum Part 1

As the ship approached the gate, because they hadn't identified themselves, it started to close as Airlia gathered everyone near the forward bow in worry. However, before it could close, a flash of lightning struck near the gate, making people jump in fright as 1 flew by. 3 created a pole of ice to try and keep the gate open while the ship slowly went through. 2 created a flash of fire to further scatter people as the ship only just made it through, but not without smashing the tail end, sending the ship hurtling forward.

Airlia screamed as she pushed Garnet towards Steiner. "You're heavier with your weight Steiner. You need to be an anchor to keep Garnet from getting wrenched off the ship when it crashes!"

She then pushed Vivi to Zidane. "You're agile enough, keep Vivi safe Zidane!" Airlia looked at Alex whose eyes were filled with fright as they held hands and grabbed the rails.

Bracing themselves for the worst the group was surprised when the ship fell into a pile of something like snow. However, the force was enough to toss the pair of women over the rail as 2 caught Airlia and 3 caught Alex, bringing them to the ground a safe distance away while the ship stopped moving. Airlia smiled up at 2, "Thank you for saving my life… again."

He nodded, "There's a saying I heard before but it made no sense to me until now… Isn't that what friends are for?"

She nodded with a wide smile on her face. "Yes, that's what friends do to help each other. Thank you 2."

Alex took a deep breath. This was a great dream she was having. So much excitement. She'd known somehow that someone would catch her. You couldn't get seriously hurt in a dream, not deadly injured anyways. "Thank you...3. Later, we'll need to talk about a name for you and your brothers. You three deserve names, not mere titles."

3 watched the ship enter the airship dock. "Let's take them up, I'm sure that's where Regent Cid is." He picked up Alex and 2 picked up Airlia and the four flew up to the airship dock. "We can talk of names later."

When they regrouped, Airlia saw the city ahead. "We should hurry you guys. I don't want those guys coming after us. If we can avoid fighting right now, it's probably a good idea. Especially if they told the brothers that I kidnapped the princess." She put her head in her hands, "I need Cid to grant me shelter in Lindblum so that no one goes after me."

Alex agreed. "So, on the way…" She looked at the mages. "We really do need names for you three. Umm, 1, what is your specialty?"

"I use Thunder magic primarily," 1 replied. "Thunder is my specialty."

Alex considered it. "Where I come from, one of our legends is of a god of thunder named Raiden. Do you like that name?"

1, now Raiden, nodded. "Yes, I like that name a lot. Raiden. God of Thunder am I." He flexed his short arms.

Airlia turned to her friend, still holding her carefully in his arms. "What is your preferred element 2?"

He answered simply. "Fire is my preference."

She grinned. "Well I think the perfect name for you is Aden. It means fire."

"Aden." He tested on his tongue before nodding. "I like it. It's fitting."

Alex looked over 3. "And you use Ice." For a moment she looked very excited before her face fell. "Okay, that won't work."

"What won't work?" 3 asked.

"Well, I had a name pop up instantly, but it's a girl's name so it's definitely won't work, but...how about Olaf?" She asked.

"Olaf?" he asked. "Olaf?"

"It means "ancestor's descendent." I know it's nothing really to do with ice, seemingly, but if you knew the context, you'd understand a little better," she explained.

3 raised his hand to stop her rambling. "Olaf is fine. Come, the castle is close."

Airlia smiled as 2 finally set her down so they could all walk towards the base of the castle. The path was long and winding as it sloped upwards to eventually come to the main gateway to the town. The brunette drew her cloak tightly about her, to obscure her face. Her unease was rising as Aden whispered, "It'll be okay. Anyone tries to lay a hand on you has to answer to me."

She nodded, "I still feel uneasy until we see Regent Cid."

Raiden gathered close to the uneasy brunette while he assessed the situation. Still he said nothing as they went into the gate to the kingdom of Lindblum…


Elsewhere...

Garland frowned as he slammed a fist on the table near him. His plan, his perfect plan was being picked apart by a mere slip of a woman. A woman with black hair. Cursing, he screamed, "Kuja!"

The aforementioned man came forward. He gave a mocking bow. "Yes Garland?"

Garland frowned deeper. "You wondered why the girl needed to be destroyed? She turned three of your creations against us. It's only a matter of time before she destroys Terra."

Kuja rolled his eyes. "Aren't we exaggerating just a little Garland." He challenged the man.

Garland glared at the silver haired man. "Really? Am I? Then explain how she turned your creations sent to retrieve the princess and her handmaiden around to the point where the guards helped them. Where they even shielded the ship and caught the girl from falling."

Kuja thought about it. "She seems like a nice girl. I programmed them artificial intelligence. They must have been turned by personality." He remembered feeling compelled to help her when she was attacked by the Carve Spiders. "Who wouldn't want to help her…"

Garland shook his head. "This is exactly what will lead to the destruction of Terra! She will make us sway from our target and then Terra will die and our people with it! This is why she must be removed from the situation!"

Kuja considered. "She has done nothing wrong. She has likely not intentionally hurt our plans. It's not like it is with the Elephant Lady. I don't want to harm an innocent girl who has done nothing wrong except by being friendly."

Garland didn't like where this was going. He might have to prepare his second option much faster than he intended. "You're wrong there. If she sways us from doing anything to help Terra, that will lead to it's destruction. Because it will make us forget our world and our duty to them first. The moment you take your eyes off the end, that will be the end of Terra as we know it."

Kuja sighed. "What are your orders then? Be specific."

"I want her to be unable to interfere with our plans going forward. Do what you must, but she must not - and I repeat must not - stop us from our missions. Frighten her, make her realize this is very real. Not a game as most may perceive it as." He stated, clear as day.

Kuja bowed servilely. "If I must, it will be done." He left the ship. He didn't know why it bothered him.

Once Kuja left, Garland sighed heavily. He would have to prepare his backup plan starting now, while the other man is away. He snapped his fingers, bringing another form into the room, kept in the shade with shackles. A wave of his hand and the form began to groan softly. Garland snorted in distaste. "You piece of waste! You were never good enough to complete my mission and yet you're going to be needed soon. You will always be… second best and nothing more. That's why no one will ever love a piece of garbage like you…"


The group hurried onwards to the castle as Garnet smiled brightly. "I need to see Regent Cid immediately. It's imperative!"

The guard nodded and allowed them onto the lift, looking warily at the three taller mages. Garnet shook her head, "They're with us Fikret. I promise they're good. Aden, Raiden and Olaf wouldn't harm anything or anyone who does nothing wrong."

The man nodded, "Very well. I'm so glad the rumors of your kidnapping were greatly exaggerated."

Airlia had to hold back her urge to gulp in fear. If they knew she was with them, then they might not think the rumors were so far out of control. They arrived at the throne room in moments with help of the elevator. Once they were up there, Garnet frowned. She had expected to see her uncle, but yet he was nowhere to be found. "Oh Garnet, I hope you're safe…" A voice uttered from behind the chair.

Garnet frowned, "Uncle Cid? I'm here, but where are you?"

The chair turned around to reveal a small, orange bug with a distinguished moustache. "Garnet, thank heavens you're safe! I heard Airlia kidnapped you!"

The princess's expression didn't change. "She did not. She helped me to flee the castle when things started to go strange with mother."

Cid nodded, "Is Airlia among you then?"

Airlia stepped forward and threw her hood back. "Thank you Airlia for helping to get Garnet out. You see, I had sent Baku and the crew of the Tantalus to kidnap you and bring you here to safety. But she helped to do my work for me inadvertently. See I have been looking into matters since Alexandria cut off communications with us here in Lindblum. Of course you're given asylum for as long as you need since you didn't really kidnap the princess, though Brahne is making it interesting by spreading the rumor of it being true."

Alex looked around the throne room, her expression speaking of nothing less than wonder. She was actually getting the chance to see every little detail of the room. Not just pixels in a game nor the normally rushedness of her dreams. She realized this must be the effects of the coma she knew she must be in from the car crash, her dream was slowed down to real time.

Vivi looked at Alex. "Alex are you alright? You look funny."

Alex shook herself. "I'm alright Vivi. It's just so pretty in here."

Cid finally noticed the strange girl who was almost a mirror of his niece, standing with Baku's best thief and a little mage boy. "Oh my gods. Who are you? You look just like...how?"

Alex was sick of this question by now. "I really don't know. I assume it's just coincidence. My name is Alexandra Mitchell. Your niece and her friends saved my life when I was injured in the Evil Forest. They kindly allowed me to travel with them. I assume now that we're here that...I'll be on my own…" she trailed off. She didn't like that. She hoped her dream would go on as she always thought it would. She stammered. "And um, these three also helped your niece to cross. Aden, Raiden, and Olaf." She introduced the mages. "And Vivi and Zidane helped too. And Steiner of course. Though he didn't want to."

Cid looked at the three mages who bowed and then to Vivi and Zidane. "Thank you, all of you. I think this calls for a grand lunch." He called for his servants to cook up a big lunch for them to dine on.

The group watched as a wide arrangement of meats, fruits and vegetables were brought forth and laid out on the table. They then saw others bring in water and wine of various kinds and before they knew it, the banquet was set up right in the throne room. Garnet raised an eyebrow to Cid. "So Uncle Cid, after we eat, mind telling me about the reason you're an oglop?"


The strange foods that the royals ate sent both Alex and Zidane from the table. Alex, to be honest, felt strange eating there knowing that she didn't really belong there. This was meant to be a meeting between uncle and niece. Airlia frowned after pushing her food around her plate for a bit. It didn't feel right for her to eat so finely even though Cid had granted her amnesty. She pardoned herself to allow Garnet and her uncle talk in quiet. Going down, she went out into the town and stretched.

She looked around as she saw people preparing for something. She wandered to one vendor and listened. "This is my favorite time of year! It's always exciting when it's the Festival of the Hunt time! My sales go through the roof as people buy gear to protect themselves!"

Airlia tilted her head to the side. Festival of the Hunt? Protect themselves? This might be interesting.

She went inside the store and found the clerk busying himself with organizing his shop. "Excuse me sir… What is the Festival of the Hunt?"

He grinned jovially. "We have a festival every year where warriors from all over come to test their strength by battling monsters in our city. The winner will get one prize bestowed on him or her by our Regent Cid."

Airlia's eyes widened. "Wow, that would be awesome.I can't wait!"

She walked away as the man stared after her. "She wants to enter? Wow."

"You'll do great Airlia. What prize are you going to ask for?" Alex asked. She momentarily considered entering herself. But knew with her lack of skill in the area, she'd be a sitting duck.

Airlia considered it, "I'm honestly not sure. The only thing I really consider at this point is a new weapon perhaps as an upgrade of my own. Though I know you have an aversion to fighting, and it's understandable, I have to be prepared for anything that may come in the princess's path."

"Well to be honest," Alex leaned in conspiratorially. "Since I didn't know how to fight yet, still don't, avoiding any fighting if possible seemed like the smart idea at the time. I'd have no problem fighting if I had no choice but I certainly don't want to get sucked into a battle with absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Does that make sense?"

Airlia nodded, "It absolutely makes sense. I know you might be unfamiliar with my own past. I was an indentured servant who was rescued by the queen and Lady Beatrix. I was made a handmaiden of the princess and so Lady Beatrix taught me how to fight. Now I want to repay them by keeping the princess safe from harm. Though obviously," She whispered in a similar fashion as Alex had, "I'm not as hard headed as Rusty."

"Thank God for that," Alex laughed. "Um...Airlia...can I talk to you? In confidence?"

Airlia nodded, "Let's not do it here. Let's find a quiet area where we can talk freely. Too many passers by right now."

The two girls walked to the inn, neither of them aware of a pair of eyes watching their every movement. In a private room, Alex sat down. "I have to be honest with you. I'm not really a seer."

Airlia frowned, "What do you mean though? How is it possible when you saw things happening?"

"Let me start with how I got here. I come from a world that's a lot more scientifically and technologically advanced even than Lindblum. It was my birthday and my parents and I went out to eat. We got into a fight because they were more concerned with their gadgets and their jobs than actually spending time with their daughter. On the way home, it was storming and Dad lost control of the car. It crashed and I was knocked unconscious. Now I'm here." Alex explain in a ramble. "But see...I never really woke up. In my world, this place is part of a game, called a video game or computer game. I'm dreaming…"

Airlia shook her head. "I honestly don't think you're dreaming anymore Alex. I don't want to burst things for you, but… Perhaps something happened in that crash…" She didn't know how to approach this. The handmaiden sighed. "For now, perhaps it's best if this remains between us until we can discern if this is but a dream for you or truly the new reality. I remember my mother always telling me that in life there are millions of possibilities. Anything can happen if you merely think it's a possibility. Still, one thing I remember from her was that in a dream, you can't get hurt. Pinching is a good way to test it."

"As far as I know it's a dream because I've had it before, with degrees of variation but ultimately, that's how I know essentially what's going to happen," Alex said. "Seriously, ten gil says that after the Festival of the Hunt, while rewards are being given, a Burmecian soldier comes in. That's all I'm going to say for now. But yeah, keep this from the others. And in my world, they proved that yes, you can feel pain in a dream because you expect to feel the pain."

Airlia nodded, "For now I'll drop it. But as I said, there are millions of possibilities. Maybe you came through to our world to prevent a terrible tragedy." She thought about it after the words rushed out of her mouth. Yes, a terrible tragedy like those footprints we saw going to Burmecia…

"But then...no, that makes no sense...when I first got here, I felt like my skin was on fire but there was no fire around me. I felt like people were pulling on me, but no one was there. When I woke back up, I felt a jolt going across my chest like I'd been shocked," Alex reasoned. "Everything supports that this is a dream."

Airlia tried to reason, "But would you have expected those feelings? Like genuinely expect it. Try to remember that sometimes gifts are double edged and while it may seem like a fantasy, it could be an actual reality."

"I wouldn't have suspected those feelings no. But I've never been in a coma before either. Dreams could work differently," Alex reasoned. "I can't get my hopes up that this is all real. The moment I do…"

Airlia nodded understandingly. "Well it stays between us. And anytime you ever need to talk, I'm here. Now may I ask you something?"

Alex nodded. "Of course you may. What is it?"

Airlia frowned, "Am I right to suspect the Queen of ill intention with my princess?"

"Yes, very much right. Garnet has the gift of summoning. Within her sleeps creatures called Eidolons. Brahne wants them for herself. I can't tell you everything because somethings you have to learn for yourselves." Alex explained. "I may not really be a seer but I do know that rule."

Airlia nodded, "I just wanted to make sure my suspicions were correct is all. The change was too fast to be really sure. I don't need to know reasons itself, just if I was right or not. Makes my choices much more clear cut long term. Still, for now I think we should leave your details as being a seer."

"I agree, I just felt the need to tell someone and I don't like lying to you," Alex told her. "I'm sorry I did." She bowed her head in guilt.

Airlia put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. With as crazy as the story has been thus far, I

know Rusty wouldn't have believed you, and he would have probably called you a witch. Zidane I think you might be able to trust the truth with sometime. Garnet, I'm not sure where she would be honestly on it. Vivi might have some doubts, but not as many as Steiner. The Waltz brothers I think would eventually believe you. They are magic after all and have sentient feelings."

Alex took a deep breath, strangely feeling a lot better having shared the truth with someone. "Well...um...I think I want to go explore a little. Lindblum was always one of my favorite areas in the game." She grinned.

Airlia smiled as her friend sped off to explore while she returned to the castle. She found the oglop Regent Cid on the throne having finished his meal. "Regent Cid, I'd like to enter the Festival of the Hunt. It would be a great way for me to see where my abilities are at so far. I need to be on my toes to protect my princess after all. Those three mages that came with us, they were originally supposed to bring the princess back to the castle. I fear that won't be the last of Queen Brahne's attempts to bring Garnet back."

He nodded in agreement. "That is an excellent suggestion I accept and will arrange all of the matters myself. I'm glad you turned out to be such a stalwart friend for Garnet. I know things have been hard for her, and at least having you there lessened it some."


Alex wandered the city completely enthralled in what she saw. She went and visited the church and admired the artwork. She stopped at the Card Guru's house and got a lesson playing Tetra Master. He'd been so taken by her love of the game that he gave her a whole beginners' deck made from copies of cards he had.

At the grocer, she found a Kupo Nut and purchased it for the ten gil she had in her pocket. She decided to save it for the next time she ran into a moogle. She ran into Zidane while he was purchasing equipment for the Festival of the Hunt competition.

She was about to enter the Aircab Station when she heard a voice. "What a coincidence running into you again."

She stopped and turned to see Kuja standing in lounging position against the wall. "Oh, it's you again! Um...I got a weapon now." She held up her mage staff. "I don't know how to use it though."

Kuja chuckled and shook his head, rolling his eyes. Garland was afraid was this? "Here's a tip. Hit things in the head, hard. It'll be effective, I promise."

Alex laughed. "You know, I never got your name. I'm Alexandra...but my friends call me Alex."

Kuja considered the name, if she hadn't mentioned her full name he might have thought it odd. He supposed two syllables were easier than four. "I am Kuja."

She extended her hand. "Pleased to meet you." She held her hand there but he didn't take it. He just looked at it confused.

Kuja looked at the girl's eyes. Peering into her mind, he tried to find whatever it was Garland could possibly be afraid of. Sure she was nice. She was able to talk his servants into helping them. But how could she possibly know how important it was that his plans succeed? Garland wanted him to scare the girl into not interfering anymore but there was no guarantee that she'd interfere again at all.

After a few minutes of silence, Alex broke the ice. "Hey, I'm new to the town...would you like to explore with me?"

Kuja was surprised by her question. Normally, the man would ask the girl. But...he grinned lightly. "Yes. I would." Perhaps if he got to know her a little better, he might understand Garland's orders a little better. "Perhaps you would like to be my viewing partner for the Festival?"

"Yes, oh yes," Alex declared excitedly. Things were happening like she'd expected them to. Her dream theory had to be right.