Chapter 3:

Chapter 3: Hello Everyone!

            Miranda awoke to find that she had been sleeping on Chris's shoulder. She straightened up and stammered an apology. Chris smiled at her. "No problem."

            Miranda smiled and turned to Kristin, wondering what she was up to. She smiled at the sight she saw. Kristin was holding a sleeping Vivi, gazing fondly at the little mage. She turned to see Miranda and smiled. "Isn't he precious?"

            Miranda nodded. "How long has he been asleep?"

            "Not too long." Kristin grinned slyly at Miranda. "It looked like you were sleeping pretty peacefully on Chris's shoulder."

            "Oh quit," Miranda muttered. She quickly looked up when she heard armor clanking toward them. That could be only one person, she thought smiling.

            "Incomprehensible! I can't believe that thief is marrying Queen Garnet!" a loud voice boomed.

            "Now, now Steiner, Zidane has proven himself don't you think?" a female voice said trying to soothe the raging knight.

            "But, Beatrix! That, that, grrrr!"

            Miranda, Chris, Kristin, and Eiko were trying to stifle their laughter. Vivi was awaken by Steiner's loud voice. He rubbed his eyes and looked questioningly at Kristin. Kristin smiled at the little mage and started to shake with laughter. Vivi was quite puzzled by now and looked in the direction of Steiner's booming voice.

            "I tell you that thief will just disappear into the night leaving the castle with nothing!" Steiner was saying as he turned into the room where the little group was waiting trying to not to burst out laughing. Steiner looked at them, wondering why they were there. Beatrix came in a second later and smiled at the newcomers.

            "Why hello there," Beatrix said bowing. "You must the guests Kuja was telling us about." She nudged Steiner roughly.

            "Ow, um, I mean, welcome to Alexandria Castle!" he said hastily saluting them. "I am-"

            "Aldebert Steiner, Captain of the Knights of Pluto," Miranda said casually, cutting him off smiling, "and you are the famous General Beatrix," she continued smiling at the astonished Beatrix. "I'm Miranda, and this is Chris and Kristin," she said nodding to her friends. "I would hope you would know Vivi and Eiko."

            Beatrix smiled. "Of course. But how did you who we are?"

            Kristin gave her a mysterious smile. "We know a lot more than you think."

            Vivi nodded vigorously. "Yep they do! They know everything!"

            Steiner looked astounded. "But how?"

            Chris shrugged. "We've played the game."

            "Game?" Beatrix and Steiner said at the same time.

            "We'll tell you all in good time," Miranda said.

            They turned suddenly at the sound of approaching footsteps coming down the stairs in front of them. They weren't surprised to see Queen Garnet Til Alexandros the 17th came hurriedly down the stairs in her regular orange jumper. They were surprised to see Zidane come sliding down the banister and landed with a flip onto Steiner. Everyone tried to stifle their laughter. Zidane had closed Steiner's visor and turned his helmet so that Steiner couldn't see. Steiner was yelling at Zidane while walking with arms outstretched. The group couldn't hold it in any longer and they fell down laughing, tears trickling down their faces from laughing so hard. Zidane finally jumped down from Steiner and flipped the visor up, fixing the helmet. He grinned at the furious Steiner.

            "Aw, lighten up, Rusty," Zidane said grinning. "You don't know how to have fun."

            "You! You!!!" Steiner yelled shaking his fist, making his armor clank. This made everyone laugh harder.

            Miranda finally managed to sit back upright and stand. She helped everyone up, and introduced her friends. Garnet smiled and motioned with a wave of her hand to follow them upstairs. "I'm sure you are wanting to see the rest of the gang. They are waiting at the dining hall. A feast has been set up in your honor of arrival."

            Chris rubbed his hands together. "Great! I'm starving!"

            Miranda playfully punched him in the arm. "You're always hungry!"

            "So? I'm not as bad as Rusty over there," he said grinning.

            Zidane slung an arm around Chris's shoulder. "You and me are going to be great pals, Chris."

            Miranda had already bounded up the stairs after Eiko and called them from the railing. "Hurry up, Chris! This is way too cool!"

            Zidane grinned at Chris. "Seems like your girlfriend is pretty energetic."

            Chris looked at him startled. "My what?"

            "What?" Zidane looked at him with a look of disbelief on his face. "Aw, come on!"

            Chris looked away embarrassed. "We're just friends…" he mumbled.

            Kristin walked next to Chris grinning wickedly and nudging him. "We all know you like her, Chris," she said.

            Chris walked faster but acted coolly. "Now what gave you that idea?"

            Zidane shrugged. "Hm, maybe that you seem to be about to run into her and you looking pretty embarrassed."

Chris kept walking. "What? How can I bump into her if I'm-whoa!" Zidane had pushed him into Miranda who had her back to them waiting on top of stairs.

Miranda turned around startled. She saw Kristin and Zidane whistling innocently and looking away. She made a mental note to get them back somehow. She took Chris's hand and pulled him into the dining hall. "Come on! The whole gang is here!"

Chris was taken completely by surprise and stumbled after her. "Do you think you can go any faster??"

"Haha. Very funny," she said glancing back at him. She stopped to let him catch his breath. "Gee, I wouldn't think you would get tired so easily. You play soccer after all."

Chris looked at her and grinned mischievously at her. "Well, I'm not that tired. So…," he took of running. "Last one there's a rotten egg!" he cried behind him.

"Cheater!!" she yelled back and dashed after him.

They arrived at the entrance of the dining hall panting and leaning on the door way.

"You…cheated…," Miranda said catching her breath.

"All's…fair…," Chris replied panting.

They had caught their breath by the time the others had arrived and were arguing who had won. Kristin rolled her eyes and pushed them aside. "I'd say it was a tie. So you can a rematch another time alright?"

"I'll win the next time!" Miranda said confident.

"Yea right. By the time you get there I'll have had a sandwich," Chris said teasingly.

Miranda playfully punched him again. "You and your stomach."

As if on cue, a soft grumble was heard. Chris looked at them sheepishly. "Can't help it…I'm a growing boy!"

Zidane shook his smiling. Then he clapped his hands together and looked at them. "Well, are you guys ready to a feast?"

A resounding 'yes' answered him. He then pushed opened the double doors and the trio stared at what laid before them. There was a feast fit for a whole army laid out on the long banquet table and decorations covered the place. Vivi went to the far end and cast a spell. Fireworks lit up the whole room.

"I've been working on that one for a while now. Luckily you guys came and could test it!" Vivi said proudly.

Kristin gave him a big hug. "Oh you're so sweet!!"

Miranda, Chris, and Kristin introduced themselves to Freya, Sir Fratley, and Amarant. Kristin looked around. "Where's Quina?"

"It's in the kitchen cooking desert," Freya told her.

"We're also missing two Genomes here," Miranda added. "Where's Kuja and Mikoto, Zidane?"

He shrugged. "Probably on their way. Mikoto was off doing her own stuff. The last time I saw her was in the gardens."

"And Kuja??" Kristin butted in.

"Probably went hunting for her." Zidane looked at her slyly. "Why would you want to know, hmmm?"

Kristin turned away quickly. "Uh, just curious that's all."

Zidane nodded. "Ah."

"Hope they don't take too long," Chris said. "I'm getting hungry."

"Do you think of anything besides your stomach?" Miranda asked teasingly.

"Uh, well, uh," Chris stammered.

Miranda looked at him questioningly then turned when they heard the doors open. Mikoto and Kuja strolled in and greeted everyone.

"Sorry it took us so long," Mikoto apologized. "Kuja wanted to make a quick change and he took forever!"

"Did not!" Kuja retorted.

"Anything but what you had before is fine with us," Zidane muttered.

"Now that everyone is here, we can begin the feast," Garnet announced.

Everyone took a seat around the grand table. Miranda sat in between Kristin and Chris. Kuja had helped Kristin to her chair and sat next to her. Kristin kept staring at Kuja until Miranda kicked her under the table. Realizing what she had been doing, Kristin blushed and looked down. Garnet was the only one standing at the head of the table. She cleared her throat.

"I'm sure everyone is as glad as I am to have such visitors staying in Alexandria," she began. "After everyone has had their fill, our guests can tell us how they came about to arriving here on Gaia. I'm sure everyone will make them feel at home here and help them in anyway." She looked at Freya and the others. "You may stay as long as you like as well. Now that's that been said, lets eat!"

Chris filled his plate to the top and began eating with gusto. Miranda stared incredulously at him then shook her head as she filled her plate. He's worse than Quina, Miranda thought.

After awhile of hearty eating, everyone listened intently as the trio unfolded their tale. By the time they had finished, Quina had come and placed desert. It was a gigantic chocolate cake with white frosting. Miranda found herself staring at Chris again as he took a humongous slice of cake.

"How can you eat after the main course?" Miranda said in awe.

Chris shrugged. "Dunno. Must have really fast metabolism."

"I'll say. You don't even gain an ounce!"

Kristin and Kuja were getting along pretty well. Miranda couldn't help smile for her friend. Well, her wish has come true, she thought happily. And so has mine. I'm finally here in Alexandria Castle eating with all the Final Fantasy IX characters! Oh I hope I'm not dreaming!

Author's Note: Man, novel form is totally different from script form. I actually have to figure out paragraphs! Well, I hope this isn't getting boring. More excitement should come soon, hopefully. I get the tendency to keep going and going without getting anywhere. Well, see ya in Chapter 4! And keep reviewing!