Disclaimer: I do not own the character Freya or Final Fantasy IX in any way or shape. Read this story if you will, or don't if you don't want to.

Written by Bahamut-dragon

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The Mind of a Dragon Knight

A year has passed since the events in Final Fantasy IX.

Freya Crescent lay alone in her home in Burmecia, alone except for the thoughts that plagued her mind. She stared at the ceiling of her room, her head ablaze with questions, memories and anything that felt like entering. Shaking her head she stood up and reached for the robe by her bed, wrapping it around her and tying it shut around her waist. She opened the window in her room and stood looking out, not minding if she got wet from her homelands eternal rain. Most of Burmecia had been re-built but it would never be what she remembered. The throne had been given to Prince Puck, although she could have been queen is she had so desired, but her calling as the city's protector, as a dragon knight, was too great. Her friends had helped with some of the re-building, but she had not seen them for almost three-quarters of a year now. Friends. That brought back memories, images, and she spoke out-loud to herself.

"Zidane," she began, "a thief, a friend. He remembered me when we met for the second time. He was there for all of us. I might have had feelings for him, but I'm not sure. He loved Garnet. Without him all would have failed."

"Garnet til Alexandros, Dagger, the princess," she continued. "She protected her city when the great dragon king came, something I could not do when the Black Mages came here. A figure of importance and respect to her people. A beauty in her own right. She loved Zidane back."

"Albert Steiner, a knight of honour like myself. A sceptic. He was brave and noble throughout our quest. He was meant to protect Princess Garnet, and he would have laid his life down for her."

"Vivi, a black mage," she said as a slight shiver went down her spine "Not bad like the others. His magic protected us on many occasions. He may have been small but his courage was bigger than even he thought."

"Beatrix, a guard. Honourable and righteous. Beautiful. She had feelings for Steiner, as he did for her, a good couple they would have made."

"Amourant. The Flaming Amourant. Silent and strong. I think he may have had feelings for me once, I doubt now."

"Quina Qui, the gourmet chef. A strange sight to behold. She, he , it may have been odd at times, but it remained with us throughout."

"Friends, all of them, but what about now, have they forgotten about me. After this time. They would all have other things on their minds." She looked down at the floor for a moment before looking up again.

"Fratley," she said almost as a whisper. "My once soul-mate. He left me one day to search the world. Left me. I did not hear from him for years, then one day I found him again. I can still not believe he had forgotten me. It broke my heart. Forgotten."

Tears flowed down her cheeks as she looked out into the rain. She had always said to be forgotten was worse than death. Now she truly knew.

This is my first Freya story and as such I would like people to bear that in mind as they read it. Any comments welcome, either e-mail me at bahamut_dragon_guardian@yahoo.co.uk, or leave a review. Thank you