Chapter 29: Problems

            The next morning, Miranda was awaken by the bright sunlight shining through the window. She looked around a minute before remember where she was. I'm at the palace…wonder if I have to meet with the king for breakfast…hm… She got up and found an elegant white gown laid out for her and groaned. "Right…royalty have to look nice…what did I do to deserve this?!"

            She stood in front of the mirror after getting dressed. The crystal sparkled in the sunlight and she placed her hand over it, feeling it's warmth radiate through her body. She placed the tiara on her head and took a deep breath. "Life at the castle: Day 1. Lets hope it's uneventful…"

            Miranda opened the door and looked out before exiting her room. She walked down the stairs and hurried past the guards, not wanting them to stare at her. She soon found the throne room and stopped at the door. She knocked. "Er…Your Majesty? Can I come in?"

            "Please, Arianna! You don't have to knock," she heard him answer.

            She opened the doors and bowed a little to the king. "Good morning."

            "Good morning, and what a morning it is!" he said as he hugged her. "You look absolutely lovely…"

            "Er…thanks…but I kinda prefer to shirts and jeans…"

            He raised his hands signaling for her to stop. "Say no more! I'll have the Royal Tailor work on that. But it might take some time, I'm afraid to say…they are busy making other dresses and suits for the party tomorrow. Do you plan to attend?"

            "Um…well, I don't think I'm ready to go out in public yet," she said smiling nervously.

            "Say no more, my dear. I understand completely. You can stay in your room, and if you feel like you want to join, just come in. Have you had breakfast?"

            "Actually not yet."

            "I'll send for some for you then," he said.

He clapped his hands and two stewards came in holding a table. They placed it in front of her as another steward came in and seated her in a chair and another seated the king in another chair across from her. A few minutes later, several stewards came in carrying plates. After they had been served, the stewards left to let them eat.

            "Well this meal certainly does looks like to be made fit for a king," Miranda said when she saw the food.

            "Hah, and this is just breakfast." He motioned her to eat. "Go ahead! It's absolutely splendid!" He took a big bite from his plate and gave her a thumbs up. (what kind of king is this dude? O.o)

            Miranda smiled and started eating. I might like this guy…least he isn't strict.

            "You know, I think I'll need to find a suitor for you soon."

            She choked and starting coughing. "A w-what?" she managed to say after she had swallowed some water.

            He blinked. "A suitor. You know a husband for you. You can't rule a kingdom on your own you know. You just came back after, what nearly sixteen years! Your birthday was June 19 if I remember correctly."

            She chocked and started coughing again. She swallowed another glass which was quickly refilled by a steward. She smiled nervously. "Eating too fast, eh-heh…"

            The king looked at her for a moment then shook his head laughing. "Happens to me all the time. So what kind of guy would you like, hmm?"

            "Ahem, actually Your Majesty—"

            "You can call me 'father' if you wish."

            "Oh…ok…actually, father, I already have someone…"

            His eyes widened. "Well, now who is it?"

            "Um…he's not…he's not here…" she said looking away.

            "Oh…back in your original world?" he said raising an eyebrow.

            "Yes…"

            "But Arianna, you need a prince, someone of royal blood!"

            "But father," Miranda protested, "I…I love him…and he loves me…no one, and I mean NO ONE can replace him!"

            "Arianna, you live in a different world, a different life. He probably has forgotten about you by now."

            "No! He wouldn't forget about me!" she shouted standing up.

            "Arianna, you are not supposed to raise your voice to me," he said standing up as well. "If he still loved you, then why are you still here? He would have saved you by now, surely!"

            "He's coming for me and I know it!" she yelled.

            "Well whether you like it or not, you will have to forget about this boy and satisfy yourself with whomever I think is right for you!" he said, his voice rising.

            "I'm NEVER forgetting about him!" she cried. "And I will never love anyone else! I am NOT accepting any other person!" She ran from the table, knocking over the chair sending it clattering it onto the floor.

            "Arianna wait!" he yelled as she slammed the door. He sighed and slumped back into his chair.

            "Your Highness…maybe saying that so suddenly wasn't such a good idea," a voice from the shadows said.

            "You're telling me," he sighed. "I didn't realize she already had someone."

            "She will soon realize that there is no hope for her to return home." A figure dressed in black stepped out. "Just stay patient. She will see the light."

            "Yes…that does sound a like a good idea…thank you Argonath."

            Argonath smiled behind his hood. "My pleasure, Your Highness."

            Miranda ran from the room, tears hindering her vision. How could he say that?! Just forget about Chris??

She nearly ran into Renee, who was walking in to visit her.

"Miranda?!" Renee called out but she didn't hear her. What happened… She ran  after her, juggling with all the stuff she had in her hands. Fifth room on the right on the second floor she kept repeating to herself.

She tripped and felt herself losing her balance. She braced herself for the impact but blinked when she realized she was still standing.

"You know…it's one thing to run around with a stick or scissors…it's another thing when you're running around with a big armload!"

Renee looked around the mound of stuff and saw Jason in front of her. "Well, if you'd like to help, then take this!" She handed him a big, rounded thing with a sheet over it.

He looked at it quizzically. "What the heck is this?"

"Later, I need to get to Miranda's room."

"Who?"

She whacked herself on the head. "Arianna. She seemed upset…"

"Oooh, ok. Follow me."

They climbed the stairs and Renee knocked on the door. "Miranda?" she said softly.

"Come in…"
            Renee and Jason exchanged glanced and entered. Miranda was lying on her bed, her face buried in the pillows.

Jason sat the big object down then made his way to the door. "I think I'll leave you two alone…hope you feel better Arianna or Miranda or whatever you call yourself. And nice bumping into you again, Renee!" He walked out.

Renee glared at the door. "Nice bumping into you…hmph…" She walked over to Miranda and placed a hand on her head. "Hey…what's wrong?"

"He wants to find a suitor for me," she answered, her voice muffled from the pillows.

"Well did you tell him you already have Chris?"

"He told me to forget about him!" she cried sitting up. "How can a person forget the one they loved?! I mean he lost his wife, he should know!"

"He really said that?" Renee said incredulously. "That's a shocker…I would have thought that maybe he would try to bring him here or something…"

"So did I…" She buried her face in her hands. "What am I going to do? Whether I like it or not, he's going to find someone! I just can't take it, Renee!!"

Renee held her while Miranda cried. Poor Miranda…she must really love Chris… "Hey…what if Chris comes before he finds a suitor for you? Then you'd be saved!"

"Oh Renee…it's hopeless…he's never going to find me…no matter how hard he tried, he'll never find me…"

Renee looked at Miranda hard. "Hey! Don't talk like that! I know that he'll come for you. I just KNOW it. And I'm always right when I know about something. You have to keep faith in him, Miranda…you told me that those crystals are like your hearts, they are connected. If you give up, he may give up, too…so you have to have faith in him."

Miranda sat there for a moment then blinked. "Is that…is that a bird singing that I'm hearing?"

Renee smiled. "Guess who wanted to come along?" She hopped off the bed and ran to the big object Jason had brought in. She pulled off the sheet, revealing Melody inside it. "Tada! She's here to stay!" She opened the door and Melody flew to Miranda, perching on her shoulder.

"Melody…" She gently took the bird off her shoulder and hugged her. "At least I'll have some company in this place…"

Melody chirped and rubbed her beak affectionately against Miranda's face.

Renee watched smiling. "So?"

Miranda smiled. "You're right, I'm not giving up faith in Chris. I was stupid to even think that. She held the crystal tightly. I'll be waiting for you Chris…please remember that I'll always love you…

Chris sat up in his bed. "Miranda?" He shook his head. But I thought I heard her voice… He looked out the window and saw the early rays of the sun touch the city of Lindblum. He got up and put on his shirt, getting ready for the day ahead. He let Vivi catch some more minutes of sleep and quietly went out of the door.

He went down to the stables and greeted Rocky, feeding him a gyshal green. "I know I'm not Miranda…but I still care about you."

"Kweh…" Rocky his hung his head and sighed.

Chris ruffled the feathers on top of his head. "Hey, don't look so blue. We'll find her, I promise you that. And you are coming along with us. I'll see to that."

"So, you're planning to take Rocky with you to the Iifa Tree?" the manager said as he placed feed on a nearby stall.

"If that's alright…"

The manager grinned. "It's A-OK with me. He needs to see the world…and I do miss seeing Ms. Miranda's face around here. And I know Rocky misses her, doncha boy?" he said as he patted Rocky's neck. "One major hint, he ain't biting me when I do that, haha."

Rocky just hung his head, kwehing sadly.

"I'm kind of worried about him…he's been off his feed. I'm afraid of him being so depressed that he'll stop eating."

Chris stroked his neck. "Poor guy…he's worse than me! Being outdone by a chocobo…bah!"

Rocky looked at him, and Chris thought if chocobos could laugh, he would be laughing right now.

"Well, I better be getting back before they think I've been kidnapped, too," he said as he gave Rocky one last gyshal green.

"I'll see you later this afternoon then," the manager said. "I'll have his stuff ready to load."

"Thanks a bunch!" He waved and hurried back to the castle.

"Morning," Zidane greeted him at the dining table.

Chris waved as he shoveled food into his mouth. He looked up when he noticed everyone staring at him. He swallowed. "What?"

"Well, at least his appetite's still there…" Kristin muttered.

"Hey, I'm eating for Rocky, too! The manager said he's been off his feed. I'm being outdone by a chocobo!"

Zidane fell over laughing. "Being outdone by a CHOCOBO?!?!?!? OH THAT'S A GOOD ONE!!!!"

Everyone stared at him, Mikoto and Kuja shaking their heads.

"I can't believe he is our brother," Mikoto muttered.

"I always wondered on Garland's choosing of personality," Kuja agreed.

After Zidane had calmed down, everyone began eating again.

"So, we're taking Rocky along?" Freya asked Chris.

"If that's alright…I mean he really looks like he's going down the black hole of depression," he said as he got himself is fifth serving.

How can he eat so much? Freya wondered. "Well I think maybe coming with us might help his mood.

"That's what I thought, too," he said as eh got himself his sixth serving.

"How the heck can you eat so fast and so much?!?!?" Eiko exclaimed.

Chris shrugged. "When I have a lot on my mind, I eat."

"Well…obviously you do have a lot on your mind," Fratley said.

"Hey…should I bring Miranda's sword?" Kristin asked. "It's still in the room…"

"Yeah…if we create the gateway and find her, she'll need it," Zidane said.

"Ok…I'll go and get it…" She walked out of the room slowly.

"Poor girl…" Kuja said softly. "This is really hitting her hard…she may look calm about it…but Miranda was like a sister to her…"

"Oh that makes me mad."

Everyone turned to Chris.

"Don't they realize how much they're hurting the people Miranda loves?!" Chris yelled slamming his fist on the table, making the dishes clatter. Vivi barely caught his glass. "When I get my hands on Tristan, he'll wish he had never, never crossed with me! I swear it!!" He stormed out of the room, everyone just staring at him.

"Well," Zidane coughed after a moment. "I think we know who to turn over to Chris when we see him."

Renee came to visit Miranda the day before the party. When she walked down the hallways, she was amazed at all the decorations that was hung along the walls.

She knocked on Miranda's door and poked her head in. "Hey!"

Miranda turned around from the window seat and smiled. "Hey."

"Still in a dress, huh? Gee, and can they think of another color other than white?"

Miranda sighed. "I don't know really. And unfortunately I still have to wear them…and the worse part is…I think I'm getting used to it!!"

Renee laughed. "That should be a good thing shouldn't it?" She caught the pillow Miranda threw at her then joined her at the window seat. "I always find you sitting here…is this your favorite place or something?"

"Yeah, I guess so…I like looking outside watching the people do their daily work. I keep the window open during the day so Melody can come in."

"You're going to stay here the whole time, tomorrow?"

"Yeah…I just can't go out yet…let alone to a party…"

Renee sat there a moment then looked out the window. "Someone asked me to go the dance thing with them."

Miranda blinked. "Who? Tell me!!"

Renee blushed. "Er…well uh…how should I start this…"

Miranda shook her. "Just tell me who!!!"

Renee looked around dizzily for a moment then shook her head to clear things up. "Ugh…ok…um…Jason…"  She looked away blushing.

"I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I kneeeeew it!" Miranda said. "Now, tell me!"

Renee blushed. "Er…well it was yesterday…I was on my way out looking around when I slammed right into him. Course I go yelling saying to watch where he was going," she laughed nervously. "I commented on the decorations they were starting to put up, then he asked if I was going and I said I wasn't really planning on it, then he asked if I  would go if someone asked me and I said it depended on who it was, then he asked if I would go if he asked me, and for some strange reason I said yes!" She took a deep breath. "And that's how I'm going to the dance."

Miranda gave her a sly smile. "For some reason you said yes…I think you like him."

"I do not!!"

"You were blushing."

"S-so???"

"You're getting nervous."

"Grrr…"

Miranda laughed. "Well congratulations. Least I know that I'll probably see you."

"Yeah! We'll stop by and say hi!"

"One thing…I thought he was a steward…I thought they weren't supposed to attend the party, except to serve the people."

"Well, he's not really a steward. Turns out he's actually one of the king's friend's sons and he just comes here to help out for job experience or something. That's why you don't see him serving food or cleaning up stuff."

"Aaah…I see…"

"So…talked with your father…?" Renee asked hesitantly.

"Actually, I've stayed in here the whole time. He's been kinda busy anyway…doing whatever royal people do. At least Tristan's not here to bother me!" Miranda sighed in relief. "That's the one of the only good things about this place."

"Have you explored it any?"

"Nah…there are guards everywhere, and I really feel uncomfortable around them."

Renee shuddered. "Ugh…"

They turned at a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Miranda called.

"It's me," she heard the king's voice answer.

"…Come in."

He poked his head through the door and saw Renee. "Oh, am I bothering you two?"

Miranda smiled. "No. We were just talking."

Renee looked back and forth between the two. "Do you need me to leave?"

King Alexander V smiled. "No, you can stay there. I'll speak to Arianna outside."

Probably about tomorrow… she thought as she got up and walked outside.

"I know you're going to hate this…but…the governors and other kings of the neighboring kingdoms have requested to at least see you at the party."

Miranda stared at him. "Requested?"

"Er…they don't seem to believe that you are truly Arianna, dear…they just think that I hired some girl to pose as her."

"Oh…in that case…I guess I could make a small appearance…"

He hugged her. "That's my girl," he said smiling. "After they see you, you can either stay or return back here. Whatever you wish."

"Er…I don't have a dress though…"

"No problem. I already have the tailor making one for you."

"Oh…er…and could you make sure I'm not bothered by anybody other than Renee and Jason after that?"

He smiled. "Of course."

She hugged him. "Thanks…father…"

The king placed his hand on her head then walked back downstairs. Miranda walked back in and sighed leaning against the door.

"What's up?" Renee asked, Melody perching on her finger. "She flew in a little after you left."

"I have to make an appearance at the party, tomorrow night…"

"Why?"

"His Majesty says that the other kings and governors don't believe him that I'm the real Arianna…heck I don't even know if I'm the real Arianna."

"Well you can fool anybody," Renee said, recalling the Queen's portrait. "I bet you'll look spectacular in the dress that you're supposed to wear."

"That's what I'm afraid of!" she groaned.

"Er…point…" Renee glanced out the window and saw Drake waiting outside. "Oh, I have to go now!" She hugged Miranda good-bye. "I'll see you tomorrow then!"

Miranda waved as she ran out the door. "See ya!"

She looked out the window and saw Renee appear from the palace gates. They mounted on their chocobos and she watched them walk out of the city gates. If only I could leave just like that…

Author's Note: o.O uh…just…uh…read? O_o I'm running out of ideas for these thingies x.x maybe I'll stop and pick them back up when I come up with something to say . Oh oh! I got it! How will the party go with Miranda? Will Chris and others create the gateway? Will Tristan live through this story? Who knows! Not unless you keep reading and reviewing! ~_^