Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy IX characters but my characters are my own creations and I do own the rights to them.

Chapter Six: Awaking to Dreams Come True

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Hide and seek was so much fun. She walked around looking for someone. She skipped over the harder places and went straight for the easy ones. Her sister was younger and didn't know the good places to hide yet. She found her hiding behind a bush in the grassy meadow they were playing in. She lay tucked in a little ball, her black hair spilling over her back.

She tapped her gently and yelled, "Found ya!" The black haired girl looked up with a happy smile on her face. She giggled and got up. Her startling blue eyes danced with laughter as she dusted herself off.

"I got you!" she laughed and pushed her. Hide and seek quickly turned into a game of tag. They laughed and ran around having a great time. That's when her sister fell as if in pain. The sky grew dark and the meadow disappeared. They were surrounded by an inky blackness that almost seemed to have a thickness. A red spot appeared behind her sister, who was still curled on the ground in pain. The red spot was an eye that flicked back and forth. It looked into her soul and burned her to the core. She wanted to scream but it wouldn't come out. Her sister was gone. She cried out to her but no answer came back. She was alone. Again. All alone.

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Phina gave out a groan and slowly opened her eyes. Staring back at her were two deep, blue orbs that looked familiar. Her gaze expanded to include two more blue orbs but they were lighter in color.

"Are you okay?" came the familiar voice of Zidane. Phina could only stare at him and blink like a thunderstruck deer. Zidane gave out a low whistle, waving a hand in front of her face. "I said, are you okay?"

Phina nodded before being helped up by Zidane and the woman next to him. She finally got a good look at the queen. Her eyes were the deep blue orbs she had seen when she awoke. Her mouth was full and her nose was small. She was thin and about the same size as Phina. The yellow dress that she had glimpsed earlier fit her perfectly. Her black hair was tied back in a low ponytail a few inches above her waist. Phina let out a gasp before quickly bowing to her. Half way down she thought maybe she should curtsey instead (she forgot she wasn't wearing a dress) and almost fell over when she attempted to do both.

Garnet looked at the woman and was reminded of herself. She quickly hid a smile behind her hand as she watched the woman almost fall over.

"I'm sorry, your highness, I'm not really sure what came over me," Phina finally managed to choke out.

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure it was nothing. And my friends call me Garnet,' she said sticking out her hand. Phina cautiously took it, an almost puzzled look on her face.

"Am I your friend your majesty?" Phina asked with a gulp.

"Well Zidane's taken quite a liking to you and I trust his judgment. I've known him for some time now and he always manages to find the best in people. So, yes, I do believe you're my friend," Garnet replied taking her hand from Phina's. An audible growling admitted from her stomach and she grinned sheepishly (Phina didn't know how she managed this). "Well I guess my stomach won't wait any longer for breakfast." She sat down next to Phina and grabbed a spoon, hungrily shoving food in her mouth. Phina gazed at her in shock for a moment before starting into her own bowl.

The oatmeal tasted great. It was thick and sweet with a hint of brown sugar and maple syrup. The best part of all was the fact that it was hot. She hadn't had a hot meal in a long time. It was so far back she couldn't even remember what she had had. Once she was finished, she drank the juice in one gulp. Slamming the cup on the table, she looked around for more food. She spotted some freshly baked rolls in front of her and grabbed them greedily. Soon the clatter of silverware against bowls died down as people finished their meals. Servants whisked away the plates under people's noses when they started to chat about the day's activities.

Phina ignored it for the most part. Politics didn't matter to her much. She was a simple woman with simple needs. She played with the necklace she wore instead of listening. The chain was made of small gold links with a charm hanging from the bottom. The charm was small and tear shaped with a golden feather of a phoenix tail in it. She wasn't sure why she had it. She just remembered it always being there. She found it funny that Zidane had asked her where her name came from. She had in fact made it up herself when she woke up in the streets of Alexandria twelve years ago with no name, no family, no home, and no memory. She had found the necklace around her neck and for some odd reason she knew it was a phoenix feather that the glass teardrop contained. She had named herself after the feather since it was the only form of identity she had. The name also sounded familiar but she wasn't sure where she had heard it before.

Sighing Phina tried to pull herself from her thoughts back to reality. The talk was still boring as all it contained was politics. She looked to her right to see Garnet almost falling asleep. She didn't know why but Garnet looked like that girl in her dreams. She supposed it was because she was lonely that she had created the girl in her dreams. She wished Garnet really were her sister. She acted so much different than how she thought a queen should act. She would be happy, though, with Garnet just being her friend. She needed one.

A heated discussion between a fat noble and a thin older woman with a pink hat and jacket finally ended. The woman's hat covered half her face though she was obviously Burmecian due to the pointy rat ears that stuck up from holes made in the hat. Zidane had interrupted and suggested an alternative that suited both parties' needs effectively. With that done everyone started to stand up and leave to go about their duties. Phina stood up with the queen and turned to her.

"Excuse me, your m-, I mean Garnet. What do I do now? I can leave if you'd like," Phina said quietly. She put her hands behind her back. Even though Garnet was obviously younger than her, she was still scared. This young woman held a lot of authority.

"Well, I think Zidane wanted to talk to you about something, but I can't say what it was," Garnet replied pushing her in the direction of Zidane. He looked up as the two women approached him. They looked so much alike that it was uncanny. They had different colored eyes and hair but the facial features held the same characteristics. He shook his head and drifted back from his thoughts.

"So, Phina if you don't have anything to do today, I'd like to show you around the castle." He bowed and held out a hand in mock gentlemanliness. Garnet playfully shoved her forward forcing her hand into his. Closing his fingers around hers, he tugged her out the door and into the hall to start the tour. They wandered around with Zidane talking and Phina listening. Zidane didn't know a lot of the history but she didn't mind. The last stop was the training room for the Knights of Pluto. Zidane stepped in and motioned for Phina to join him.

Inside the room several knights bustled around exercising and keeping in shape. Zidane pulled Phina to the back of the spacious room where training matches were held. Right now Steiner was training a newly appointed knight in the art of dodging. He yelled out commands while swinging his sword making the young man move. Steiner kept this up until the man finally collapsed on the floor exhausted.

"Good job soldier. Take a break. You've earned it," the knight said helping the man up. "Alright who's next!"

Zidane stood on tiptoe calling out, "She is!" He pointed down at her trying to get Steiner's attention. Phina turned to glare at him.

"I'm sorry. Female knights are to be trained with Beatrix," Steiner called back.

"Aww, come on rusty. Just give her a shot."

"Oh alright. If only to get you to shut up!" Zidane pushed Phina out from the crowd onto the mat.

"Show'em what ya got," he whispered to her before turning around to find a good place to watch. Phina watched him go in disbelief until she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to face a leering Steiner.

"Let's go already," he barked. Stepping back he drew his sword while Phina drew hers. They stared each other down before coming together with a clash. Steiner was surprised by the woman's speed and strength. Her sword flicked in and out of his vision like a fly. She thrusted, he parried. He chopped, she sidestepped. Phina swung her sword in a crescent moon shape at Steiner's left side. He blocked and she came around with the same attack on his right side. He blocked again, barely. Phina saw her chance and gave a tug and a twist with her sword. Steiner's sword popped out of his hands and landed a few feet away. He started to turn and go get it but the tip of Phina's sword was already threatening the bridge of his nose.

"You lose," she stated in an icy hiss. Steiner threw his hands up in surrender and she lowered her sword. He got a good look at her newly cleaned face and something in his mind snapped. She looked like someone, but whom? He gave up and patted her on the back.

"Well done miss, well done."

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I told you it'd pick up and I'm not even to the big problem yet!