The Rose Soldier
-Prelude-

"Mother?"

"Hmm? What is it Rose?"

"I missed you."

"I was only gone for a short time, goodness worrisome aren't we today?"

"It feels like forever when you leave for duty. I enjoy spending time with you and father when I'm not with Sarah."

"That's very kind of you to say, and how was your day today?"

"I had a wonderful time, Sarah and I were playing in the rose garden today, they were so beautiful and colorful. I love when they blossom at this time of season. The way they open and show off their petals. It is relaxing and breathtaking."

"They certainly are, did you have a chance to water any of them?"

"I did, some of them didn't blossom but I hope they will tomorrow."

"I see, well, how about this, lets you and I tomorrow go watch the rest of them blossom, how does that sound?"

"Oh, I'd love to mother, may we go early too?"

"Of course, we'll go after morning meal, will that be alright?"

"Yes mother, I'm looking forward to it."

"As am I, now do you have homework to finish?"

"I do, I wish to finish before supper time. I'll be in my room to finish them."

"Well met Rose, I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, mother, I'll be down for supper."

Rose embraced Beatrix as they sat together on a large red cushioned with a dark brown oak wood edged couch. The young brunette hair child pulled herself away as she slid off the couch and made her way upstairs to her room as her mother watched.

Beatrix turned her attention to the window across from where she sat in the living room of her private residence on the palace grounds. She spotted a small platoon of soldiers outside sparring with one another. The grunting sounds could be heard through the windows, to her ears it was music. She let out a small smile and closed her eyes.

"It's been so long…since I arrived here." Beatrix thought to herself.

"To think, since coming back to Alexandria, I never would have imagined my life would have brought me to this very moment. A mother of a daughter, a wife, a General, and most of all, a dear friend to the one I serve. To think all of this came together was not what I had asked for. It was a gift to me, a gift that I cherish dearly in my heart. My life hasn't always been like this. My parents died from a plague that haunted Alexandria for weeks. Many people died, while myself, spared. I was orphaned since then, I found myself living in Treno with my dear friend Celes and her family. Thanks to them, I was able live a reasonable life growing up however Treno was no city of nobles. It was a rough upbringing, at times I had to fend for myself, though sometimes when they got rough, Celes had to be at my side to fend away predatory criminals. At times I thought I would not have made it. I kept my head straight as best as I could, nevertheless, I survived living there.

The day came to be when my friend and I decided it was time for us to embark on our journey to Alexandria, what was once my promise to honor my family's name and live up to their expectations turned into more than what I had expected. I knew I had to seek the courage I needed to serve Alexandria. The years I spent in training at the palace were rough, long days, sleepless nights, pain, but after overcoming them all, led me to my future. It let me to this moment in my life. But I cannot forget the hardships that came with it, when I learned the grim truth of Alexandria's balance of power within its own military…"

"LAST CALL FOR ALEXANDRIA! STAGECOACH DEPARTING SHORTLY! LAST CALL FOR ALEXANDRIA!" A man called out. The large wooden red painted with gold trims stagecoach, with two chocobos in front waiting for the last few passengers to board enroute to Alexandria. Just feet away from the stagecoach a family of four bidding farewell to their daughters one standing with her straight brown hair wearing her one piece two tone light red and soft white long sleeve dress with small brown belt wrapped around the wait, and generous size collars. The other blonde long hair daughter wore a yellow vest, pants, and sleeves, with a dark violet undershirt with matching yellow belt and white boots.

"Please write to us when you arrive?" The mother spoke.

"We will mother, thank you for seeing us off, we'll miss you dearly." The blonde woman replied.

"Celes…Rosa…please take care of yourselves. We're very proud of you both for this decision. You will both serve Alexandria proud. We wish you all the best." The father spoke.

"Thank you, Father, we will serve Alexandria well." Celes smiled.

"I must also add that I am forever in your debts for raising me, I'm grateful that you promised my parents should anything have happen to them, that I would be under your care until I became of age to be able to join Alexandria's Army. I'm humbled and grateful for being able to have a roof over my head and be close to my friend." Rosa replied.

The parents smiled as they nodded.

"Rosa, you are always welcomed back here with us. You will always have a home no matter where you are on Gaia." The mother said.

"I hope we raised you as best as we could for you, I know it must be hard to know your parents are unable to witness this day, but I assure you, they are watching in the stars above and are proud of you." The father said. Rosa nodded.

"Thank you, both of you, I will never forget all that you've done for me." Rosa said as she gently bowed her head to the parents.

"Rosa, we should make haste for the stage coach before it sets off without us." Celes nudged.

"Right." Rosa looked to her friend then back to the parents. "We shall be off now, again thank you both for everything."

The mother and father smiled and walked to the two women embracing them all together. A warm feeling could be felt between everyone as the time drew near for departure. The group separated and the parents gave a gentle wave.

"Safe travels!" The mother spoke.

"Do your best and please write to us!" The father added.

"We shall!" Celes responded as she and Rosa waved back.

Rosa and Celes began making their way to the stage coach as the parents watched. The two were greeted by the coach handler as he gently bowed his head to the two and opened one of the doors to the coach. "Evenin m'ladies, right this way please, step lively now." He said as he waved his warm to the interior of the coach.

"Apologies for the space, if it's not to your likings."

Celes and Rosa shook their heads.

"As long as it gets us to Alexandria space is hardly the issue." Celes said as she brushed her hair to the side. The handler let out a laugh.

"Quite the charmer aren't we tonight?"

"Oh please, I'm more than just a charmer." Celes winked as she stepped on the step way leading in. Rosa shook her head in disapproval. "Must you always charm your way into trouble?" She nudged her friend. Celes laughed.

"Come on lighten up Rosa, it's gonna be a long journey." Celes took a seat near the window on the opposite end of the coach. Rosa sighed and stepped in and took her seat. The handler gently closed the door as the two friends sat on top of a bright red leather seat with a mint colored cushioned interior and ceiling. The two looked out the window were the parents watched them trying their hardest not to tear up in the moment.

"ALL ABOARD NOW!" The handler called out as the sound of cracking whips could be heard. The stage coach made a large creaking sound as it set forth in motion. The parents waved again as the girls waved back in response. The chocobos began to pick up the pace as the stage coach exited the gates of Treno and off into the world. Rosa and Beatrix scooted towards the center together of the seat, Rosa found herself staring out the window seeing the mist covered edge that densely covered the ground below.

"Seems like the mist has been getting worse each season." Celes noted. Rosa nodded.

"Wasn't it lighter several seasons ago?" Rosa cocked her head to her friend.

"I can't seem to remember to be honest, most of the times we don't even have to bare it unless it becomes so dense it enters Treno limits." Celes crossed her legs and leaned back in her seat.

"I guess." Rosa turned her attention back towards the window.

"It's been so many years since either of us set foot in Alexandria Rosa…can you honestly believe this is truly happening?"

Rosa ran her fingertips against the edges where the window and wooden frame, she let out a sigh and lowered her eyes focusing on the moving ground.

"It has been…" she gingerly replied.

"Still thinking about your parents?"

"I am to be quite honest…"

"I know that look all too well, I'm certain they would be proud of you if they were still here." Celes smiled as she placed her elbow on top of the wooden frame holding the window and slightly tilting her head leaning against her fisted hand.

"Rosa, you and I both know that, there will be much hardships when we arrive in Alexandria, I know for a fact that we have a lot to work for to make the rankings there."

Rosa sighed.

"I understand."

"I'm quite certain that much has changed since you left."

Rosa closed her eyes, she took several deep breathes feeling uneasy. She opened her eyes and looked to her friend still with a smile on her face.

"Rosa, don't be so harsh on yourself, you've done nothing wrong with the death of your parents. Gods the plague killed many people during that time. You've no reason to blame yourself for their deaths. It was just an unlucky fate that befell them."

"I understand…it's just…" Rosa looked back out towards the window. The rocking of the coach made her feel slightly tense of the subject at hand, yet she knew her friend was only worried about her emotional wellbeing.

"It's just…I felt I should've stayed to tend to them and the rest of the people we lived around…"

"Rosa, we promised to look out for you if anything happened to your parents, my mother was friends with yours for a very long time and she made us promised her to look out for you. They knew that their life's work was dangerous and they always did fear that there wouldn't be anyone to take care of you should gods forbids happen to them." Celes leaned closer to her friend as she rested her hands on her lap.

"You are not a coward nor were you ever one if that's what you're thinking."

Rosa looked towards her friend.

"Apart of me feels as if I am…"

"Being able to fend for yourself as a child is not an easy task; you're not General Madelene if that's what you're trying to be."

Rosa scoffed at her friend's remarks.

"Gods, I could never be like her, she certainly is a true warrior many aspire to be."

"And if you think trying to do that during the plague was your idea, you're out of your mind."

"You do realize she was only thirteen when she led only nine solders to victory during the Ninth Lindblum Wars?"

Celes let out a small grin.

"And we're sixteen so does that mean we're past our prime now?"

Rosa rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Look, in all seriousness Rosa there is no shame in starting now, there is no shame whatsoever. Just because you couldn't start when you were younger does not make you any less of a woman. My family did our best to take care of you during your hardships and we are proud of how we brought you here today."

Rosa slowly cocked her head towards the window, she could see part of her reflection in the window, seeing her two red rose like colored eyes and soft brown long hair flowing past her slender shoulders like a waterfall in an oasis. She slowly tilted her head left and right looking at her own reflection. She felt some sense of crushed pride in herself in light of missing her chance to start her training at an earlier age while under the guidance of her parents. That opportunity was taken away from her during the plague of Alexandria that nearly killed half of the entire nation's people; including her own parents. She couldn't fathom the idea of losing her parents as an early age, she had wanted to train with them, yet that time was for not. Her childhood after their passing was spent with her friend's family who cared for her and looked out for her during her life in Treno.

"I apologize…I must be a bit of a mess, maybe this is all coming together so much faster than I had anticipating." Rosa said trying to keep her calm demeanor.

"Rosa I can tell you're not all here right now." Celes said as she scooted a bit closer to her friend. Rosa looked towards her friend.

"Celes you need to stop reading those damn books about mind reading. I swear." Rosa scuffed flicking her hand in the air.

"Oh come now, I'm dead serious! Please don't try to hide your emotions, it's only going to make matters harder for you to come to terms with life when there comes a time were we must be able to accept the many truths that we'll all have to go through."

Rosa watched her friend leaned back against the seat while placing her hands behind her head.

"After all, it took you and I quite some time to make this decision to return to Alexandria."

"Hmm…"

Rosa looked back out the window to spot her reflection again.

"….Thank you Celes…for everything you and your family did for me."

Celes smiled.

"It was the least we could do for you and your parents Rosa."

Rosa smiled.

"I'm grateful that my mother found your family."

"As is mine, it's hard to imagine the two of them both lived next door for so long before my mother married and moved to Treno with father."

"It must've been quite the surprise; I always enjoyed hearing mother speak highly of many memories they've shared together."

"I agree as well, they certainly had wonderful stories to share all around."

"Perhaps we'll have our own little memories to share once we arrive in Alexandria."

Celes nodded.

"They won't know what's about to arrive, we're certainly going to send the men back to the barracks when we make a name for ourselves." Celes smirked.

"Gods, must you always show off?" Rosa shook her head.

"Of course! After all, many thieves in Treno wouldn't dare look me the wrong way whenever I walked the streets."

"Gods I swear if you have us thrown out, I won't forgive you."

Celes brushed her hair to the side.

"Hah! I laugh at danger! If anything between you and I, I certainly will do everything I can to get you up to speed with my swordsmanship. Once we get you there, we certainly will be a force to reckon with. Plus the Pluto Knights won't know what hit em, I've always heard rumors they try to sway their ways with all the new recruits. Perhaps we'll give them more than what they're bargaining for."

Rosa shook her head.

"Celes must you always break a man's heart?"

Celes winked at Rosa.

"If the right man for me exists out there, he'll have to do a lot to sway my hand."

"Oh gods." Rosa shook her head but smiled.

"How long before we reach Dali for the night?"

"Hmm, perhaps only a few hours, it shan't be that long, least we'll be able to rest for the night before the next leg of the journey to Alexandria tomorrow."

"I've never been to Dali before; I heard it's a large farming community."

Rosa nodded her head.

"It is, when I was very young, mother and father did take me there once, it was quite a sight to see, endless fields of crops and livestock that feed all the nations on the Mist Continent. I wonder if it's grown since my last visit."

Celes crossed her arms and leaned forward with much interest. "Do tell."

"Well…" Rosa her back against the cushion of her seat and looked up.

"There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that grow there, as said Dali has been the back bone of all nations when it comes to supplying provisions, especially to all the monarch families. If anything during our years growing up, we've more than likely have eaten from their farmlands. Though I've never had the chance to try their provisions fresh from the source, my parents always went for just a quick visit with the Royal family of Alexandria to discuss trade deals. I'm quite interested to try their fresh picks in the morning before we depart for Alexandria."

"You seem to know quite a lot about Dali Rosa." Celes uncrossed her arms laying them on her lap. "How do you know so much?"

Rosa flicked her hand in the air and shook her head.

"Think nothing of it, I just…paid close attention to all political matters that's all."

Celes laughed.

"Rosa Rosa Rosa, always sticking her nose in Royalty matters. Even when reading those gods awful tabloids."

Rose arched her eyebrows and let out a scuff.

"If our sworn duty is to uphold the monarchy, then one must always be prepared for the worst case scenario."

Celes raised her shoulders.

"I guess…but we're mostly going to be somewhat mindless grunts while the higher ranked members get to do all the planning and play the political playing field while we go off fighting their wars."

"Story of our lives now." Rosa shook her head. "But truth be told…it's the path I'm willing to take. After all, both my parents were up there as well. They didn't seem to play favors of the political aspect within their rankings."

"Hmm…they certainly were well respected; I do hope they don't try to assume you're trying to swoon your way up the rankings."

"Easier said than done Celes, I have more reasons to believe they will assume I will try to bypass all normal means of climbing the ranks. Yet I'm not much of a swordsman quite yet."

Celes nodded.

"Well, we've lot of work to do when we arrive."

Rosa looked out the windows as the she spotted the sun setting in the distance behind the mountain range in the near distance.

"This is only the beginning my friend…only the beginning."

"My name is Rosa Beatrix; I am the daughter of Captain Leo Nox Beatrix of the Pluto Knights and Commander Stella Scherwiz Beatrix of Squad Ruby Rose. It's been many years since the death of my parents; I've begun my journey back to Alexandria, to begin what I promised my parents long ago after their deaths. To continue our legacy and honor our name.

The path before me is a mystery now, where I go is unknown, however what I do know is my choices will help me return to my homeland, my place that I call my home. To follow the path my parents set forth, for this is my destiny. It's been many years since I left Alexandria and I am ready to return to her to serve like my parents before me.

For years I've waited for this journey to come, it is now time to set forth my ambitions to bring honor to my family name and become Alexandria's newest elite member of her army. I will not let my parents down, I will not let Alexandria down, and I won't let myself down.

I will not let anything stop me from accomplishing my goals when I return to Alexandria. I know with my friend Celes by my side. I know that I will succeed and I know that my family name will have meaning within Alexandria once again.

I ask that my future will be one that will be grant me the life that will bring me inner peace and a sense of purpose."