Author's note: This is a collaboration between Ceara Ivory and Asirainis. We don't own Final Fantasy IX!

Distant Memories

Disc 1 Part 6:

Lindblum Part 2

The doors burst open to reveal a guard who was barely on the edge of consciousness. Airlia quickly ran to the man's side as did Freya. "Lady Freya… They came so fast… so hard… Burmecia has fallen…"

Airlia looked worriedly at Freya who frowned deeply. "Who attacked Burmecia?!"

The guard could barely see straight as the two helped him to a seat so that he might relax a little while Garnet tried to focus on her healing magic. "It was… it was… Alexandrian Soldiers."

Garnet cringed as she sent the wave of healing magic at the soldier. However Steiner frowned. "That's impossible! The queen would never do that!"

Airlia sent him a warning look. "Steiner, don't even try to antagonize the soldier." She looked at Alex… it was as she had said it would be. She had to wonder then… what did the Queen want with her princess?

Alex returned Airlia's gaze and nodded. "Steiner, it was the Queen. I know it was. Tell me, Soldier, was there an army of mages? Mages like my friend here?"

The Burmecian looked at Vivi. "Yes but they were much taller than your friend. And their magic was incredible, great. Terrible, but great."

"Then yes, Steiner, it was the Queen. Remember how the Queen was the one who sent Raiden, Aden, and Olaf after us?" Alex asked. She turned to Cid. "Someone will need to go help them. But you must not call back your eyes over Alexandria." She said this insistently. "Your army cannot combat them. You will need the help of one...who shares their abilities." She looked at Vivi.

Cid frowned with a knowing look. "Very well young seer. But I suggest that you split up and determine what is going on here. I know that Garnet must return to Alexandria, to show the queen for what she has become, still I insist Miss Alex return with you. I would prefer that the Princess remain here, but I know she cannot. Some things must transpire as they have been foreseen. Please continue to protect her Airlia, Steiner. And be wise about it." He turned to Zidane, "I must ask that you, Vivi and Freya go to Burmecia and investigate the situation there to see what is really going on. I sense someone behind the queen's actions."

Freya gripped her spear. "I cannot accept help. This is my business, not Zidane's."

"Hey!" Zidane chimed in. "I'm your friend aren't I? Of course it's my business. What do you say Vivi?"

Vivi thought about it and touched his hat. "I want to go. To find out about these mages that look like me. I want to know more."

Zidane grinned at his friend's new-found courage. "Okay. How do we get there?"

Cid looked over to Artania. "Have the Dragon's Gate opened. And Alex, before you go. I have a bostaff somewhere in the castle. You shouldn't be unarmed. I just can't remember where I put it."

Artania sighed at the regent. "I do sir. I will put it in the chest down by the gate. Remember to get it before you go. You'll also find a pass to get through South Gate."

Airlia nodded, "We will. I just hope that we're worrying for nothing and that it's a fake queen on the throne." It was easier to think of the queen as being fake than to think of it being the real queen willingly killing innocent lives.

Steiner, Alex, Garnet and Airlia left the throne room to head to the elevator going down. The ride was quiet, but tense as she stared out at the moving wall. As soon as she knew that Steiner was going to say something offensive, she shot him a warning look.

When they came out of the elevator, a guard indicated a door. "This leads to the Dragon's Gate. I was told that time is of the essence, so I figured I'd help you as far as beyond the gate."

Garnet nodded, "Correct. I need to find out what is behind my mother's strange behaviors."

Airlia put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Everything will come out right Garnet. We just need to keep our eyes ahead of us and put one foot in front of the other."

Airlia lost her self to her thoughts for a moment while they went down the footpath towards the gate. After a moment, she blinked as a particularly important thought came to mind. "Garnet, we need to plan out the matters before us. I still don't trust the queen. But I also want to see about finding a cure for Blank who is still petrified in the evil forest. Do you think your old Mentor is still in Treno?"

Garnet smiled as she thought about her old teacher. "Dr Tot! I'm sure he is! Oh can we stop in Treno and see him! Please!"

Alex giggled. "That sounds like a good idea. He might even know a way to get to Alexandria secretly."

Airlia nodded, "That's the other matter on my mind. Going to Alexandria leaves me feeling worried for you Garnet. I know that Steiner is adamant that the Queen isn't doing anything wrong, but my gut has never been wrong before. We will have to come up with some sort of idea about going there. For the event that I may be right."

Alex frowned. "Airlia is right. We need to come up with a plan. But...perhaps on the way. And Steiner, you're just going to have accept the hard truth. Whether you like it or not." She stopped at the chest she had been told about by Artania. Alex opened it to find a long bostaff that could be broken into three pieces, and yet reassembled for easy carrying. Putting it together, she smiled in excitement.

Airlia took the pass from the bottom of the chest and tucked it into her pocket.

Steiner stopped and stomped back to the girl. "Just because you say it doesn't make it truth, Seer. Though I'm starting to doubt how much of a seer you are!" He snapped.

Alex didn't back down despite him towering over her. "You can doubt me all you want, skeptic. I'm right and you know it. You need to grow up more than any of us!" She swung her bostaff around, playing with it to get used to the length and feel. The length of it struck Steiner in the gut. Thankfully she just hit metal mainly but he still grunted from the small pain he felt. "Oops, sorry."

Airlia frowned, "Okay kids, let's hurry so we can discuss the coming plans because much of it still doesn't feel right to me. I'd rather Garnet not be in any danger if at all possible. But we will also have to discuss crossing the gate. They're still looking for the two of us, and since Alex looks like the princess…"

Alex thought about the most immediate problem. She did look like the Princess and of course Garnet stuck out like a sore thumb. "I know! Airlia, Garnet, do what I do. I got us these Steepled hats at the Business District just in case." She quickly wrapped her hair into a tight bun and put the hat on. "And I got us these. For protection." She handed them both a pair of Cotton robes. "With these we'll just look like four guys coming to help with the gate."

Garnet and Airlia both twisted their hair into buns and put the hats on over to secure their hair. With the robes over their clothing, Garnet put her pendant under her shirt to keep it from moving or even falling out.

Steiner frowned. "Women should not dress as men...but I guess...I understand the necessity." Up ahead was the bottom of Bohden's Gate. It was time to go.

"Very good," Alex said. "We should have no problem getting through this way. Are we ready?"

Garnet nodded. "Yes, I'm ready. Are you Airlia?"

Airlia nodded, "I'm more than ready, but somehow I just want it over with. This whole matter frightens me."

Alex looked over at her. "Getting through the gate won't be hard. It's when we get to Alexandria Castle that the fun will begin. But until then, we're just three gals on a road trip together with our irritating babysitter." She jabbed a finger at Steiner. "Let's act like it."

Airlia shook her head, "We could say he is merely our hired protection to keep us safe from thieves and ruffians, could we not?"

Alex sighed. "Okay, he's our hired protection. Is that better Steiner?"

"Must you act like a child?" He asked rubbing his temples.

"Yes." Was the simple answer.

Garnet smiled widely, "Now we can have fun while our protector keeps us safe!" She merely wanted the bickering to stop and for hurt feelings to be shelved as the gates loomed ever closer.

"Airlia, do you still have the pass from Cid?" Alex asked. "We'll need to show that to get through?"

Airlia nodded as she tapped the pocket the pass was in. "Yes, it's right here. I'll pull it out once we're at the gate so that someone doesn't' try to steal it."

The four walked up to the gate. The guards blocked the path. "You can only pass through here if you have a gate pass."

Airlia smiled as she fished the pass out of her pocket. "Here you go gentlemen. Forgive the agitated nature of our guard. You see, we heard about the terrible business of late and figured it was smarter to hire a guard to come with us, lest we be subject to being attacked or worse while traveling."

Guard A, the taller guard, looked at the pass closely. "Good, good, that's all in order. Hiring a guard is always a good idea boys. Go on through. Go on spot." He opened the door and they unblocked the path for the group.

Alex smiled rather big. The disguises were working. "Let's go guys. Onward to the trolley!"


Garland cursed once more as he saw the group going through the South Gate. He knew he had one chance to deal with matters. He turned the orb to show him where the Queen was and smiled cruelly. Yes, this could work in his favor. "Kuja!"

Kuja groaned inwardly and teleported in. "What old man? Make it quick. The Queen requires my special skills."

"Yes, and you will use your special skills to decimate the Burmecian Soldiers. That will be part of your path to redemption after you failed to kill that woman!" Garland spat.

Kuja didn't react to the accusation of failure. "I attempted to scare her or kill her as you commanded. I didn't expect the beast to break her fall nor did I expect those combatants to get there as quickly as they did. If this didn't scare her into not interfering then...well, I'm not her. Am I?"

Garland growled. "I warned you, she would get stronger. She will be the destruction of Terra because her powers will keep growing. And I'm not talking about the false seer powers."

Kuja rolled his eyes. "She thinks this is all a dream Garland. She doesn't even know she is interfering. She's just having fun. So naive, she can hardly be that big of a concern."

Garland groaned. Kuja didn't even realize what was happening to him, but the older man knew. Still, he had his second plan that he could always use. "Very well Kuja, hurry about your plan, but make sure she knows that this is reality. Then you will see her powers for yourself. Never doubt me again boy!"

Kuja gave Garland a sly grin. "Garland, I simply think you're not thinking this through clearly enough. She thinks it's a dream...she looks just like the princess...believe me. We can work with this."


End Of Disc 1

Do You Wish to Save Your Data? Y/N

Insert Disc 2