Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 9 belongs to Squaresoft.
****
Past
****
"Your Highness! One of us must go with you! You can't go alone," said Beatrix.
"I'm not going by myself. Don't worry, Zidane's coming and so will the others," said Dagger reassuringly.
"But still-"
"It's final. The two of you will stay and protect Alexandria while we're gone. Uncle Cid and Doctor Tot will help you," said Dagger interrupting Steiner.
With that, she turned around and left. Steiner and Beatrix stared at her walking towards the airship that is preparing to leave.
"Steiner, you have to go," said Beatrix.
"But you heard what the queen said, she might punish us if she learns about it," said Steiner.
"Then we'll just have to take it, the queen's safety is very important," Beatrix replied.
"No! Remember what I promised you? I told you that I won't leave you," said Steiner.
Beatrix was silent for a moment.
"He still remembered it," Beatrix thought. She smiled, trying to hold back her tears.
"Forget about that! What if something bad happens to her? Who will rule this kingdom? No, we can't let anything happen to her. You have to go," said Beatrix.
Steiner looked at her then nodded.
"I promise, I'll come back. Then we'll be together again," said Steiner.
He ran towards the airship and made it. The airship is to leave in twenty minutes.
Steiner found an empty room inside the airship and entered it. He decided to hide there for a while.
**********************************************************************************
"I'm glad that you made it, Vivi," said Zidane grinning.
Vivi nodded.
"I'm going to join you. I can't bear to think Eiko's in trouble," said Vivi.
"Right, your room's over there. You'll find it since your name's written there," said Zidane.
"Thanks," said Vivi.
Vivi took along his things with him and headed for his room. He entered and left his bag near the bed and lied down.
**********************************************************************************
"I really should go back to her," said Steiner.
He had been debating with himself for sometime now. And finally, he decided to go back to Beatrix. He turned around and went out of the room. He saw Zidane talking to Freya and was walking towards his direction. He rushed to the stairs in his left and went down. He was back outside but he heard what Zidane and Freya was talking about.
**********************************************************************************
Dagger sat down and stared at the piece of jewel given to her. She remembered it clearly. It was the time when Zidane had not returned yet.
"Your highness, it's too dangerous to go outside alone!" the sailor shouted.
"I can take care of myself!" said Dagger running out of the Red Rose which had just landed.
She held her rod tightly.
"He's got to be here," she thought.
She continued running around trying to look for him. The man that everybody loved. The man who helped her become who she was now.
Back in the Red Rose…
"She what?" Steiner shouted.
"I tried to stop her but she was too fast. She ran out of the airship," said the sailor.
"We've got to look for her," said Beatrix.
Steiner nodded. They went out of the Red Rose together holding their weapons.
"Which way did she go?" Beatrix asked.
The sailor pointed towards the direction of the Iifa Tree. Steiner and Beatrix ran to the direction where the sailor was pointing.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dagger continued running around. She finally stopped when she saw something on the ground. She bent down to pick it up.
"It's Zidane's glove," she thought.
She held it tightly with tears coming out of her eyes. She stared at the tree that used to be so beautiful.
"Is he still inside?" she thought.
She took a few steps towards the tree. She looked up in the sky with one hand covering a part o her face. Tears were still coming out of her eyes. Then everything started to seem blurry and she fainted. She woke up finding herself in a room with white silky covers around the bed. She stood up and walked around the room.
"Where am I? This isn't my home! What happened?" she thought.
She saw a mirror beside her. She picked it up and saw her face. It was very pale and her hair was messy. She took the brush from the table that looks new and combed her hair. She couldn't find her ribbon so her hair wasn't tied like it usually was. After being satisfied by the way her hair looked, she left the brush and the mirror on the table and headed towards the door. As she was about to open it, the knob turned and a man with light blond hair entered the room followed by Steiner and Beatrix.
"Your Highness! Are you alright?" asked Beatrix.
Dagger nodded.
"Where am I? What happened?" she asked.
"Please allow me to explain," said the man.
"Who are you?" Dagger asked.
"I am Keith Montevarra II," said the man.
"The duke of Treno?" asked Dagger.
"His son," said the man. "Actually, I was travelling in my airship when I found you lying on the ground unconscious. Then I saw the two of them running towards you. I decided to bring you to my place since it's nearer. The doctor said that you're fine. You just needed some rest."
"Thank you," said Dagger.
"We'll leave the two of you alone for a while so that the two of you could get more acquainted," said Steiner as he and Beatrix went out.
Dagger looked at Keith for awhile. His hair made her remember Zidane.
"Who or what were you looking for? I mean, I'm not trying to bother you but maybe I could help you," said Keith trying to break the silence.
"Thank you, but I don't think you will be able to help me," said Dagger.
"Is it somebody who you love dearly?" he asked.
Dagger felt her heart beat faster. She couldn't reply.
"Just as I thought, I'm very sure he's either your boyfriend or husband," he said.
Dagger looked at him. Tears were about to drop as she tried to hold them back.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"No, it's alright," said Dagger.
"Anyway, I would want to know you more. Asides from being the Queen of Alexandria, tell me more about you," he said trying to change the subject.
"Well, I'm 17 and am a really big fan of Lord Avon's plays," she said.
"I'm 18, a year older than you but I don't really enjoy plays too much," he said.
"I am also looking for a man. He went away and promised to return and I've been waiting for him until now," said Dagger, hands shaking a little.
He held Dagger's hand and said, "Whatever's bothering you or hurting you, try to forget them. That man, he's not the one for you since he didn't return to you. You deserve better."
"I know you want me to feel better by saying this and I really appreciate it, but I really love him and I know that somehow, he will come back. Something in my heart says so," said Dagger.
"If that's how you feel, then I have no other choice. But feel free to come to me if you have any problems. By the way, your things are inside that drawer," he said.
"Thank you," said Dagger smiling.
Keith left and Dagger sat alone by herself. She looked at the peaceful view outside. The dark sky, bright stars and the beautiful twin moons. It was a perfect place for lovers.
"Where are you, Zidane? I miss you," she whispered.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"How's the queen doing?" asked a man standing near the fireplace.
"She's fine now," said Keith as he sat down on one of the chairs inside the room.
The man sat beside Keith and said," You've grown and have become a fine young man now. It's time for you to go and look for something that you feel is needed to make your life complete."
"What do you mean, father? I have enough here already. I have servants working for me. One snap and they're here ready to do my bidding. I have money, enough to buy a whole country. Are you telling me that these aren't enough?" asked Keith.
"You'll know what I mean soon enough my son," said the man as he went out of the room.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dagger sighed as she held Zidane's glove. She missed this. It made her feel that he was with her. A cool breeze entered the room and Dagger's hair moved with it, making her look more beautiful than usual. Suddenly, the door opened. Dagger stood up as the duke entered her room.
"Pardon me for entering without knocking, I thought you were asleep," said the duke.
"It's okay," said Dagger.
"I hope you're feeling better," said the duke.
"Yes, I do. Thank you for taking good care of me," said Dagger bowing.
"It's nothing. So, how long will you be staying?" asked the duke.
"Is my presence here bothering you? Please forgive me. I will leave tomorrow first thing in the morning," said Dagger.
"No, in fact, I was wondering if you would stay here. It can serve as your vacation too. Doctor Tot said that you needed rest. You were strained from too much work," he said.
"Doctor Tot said that? If that's what he said, then maybe I do need a vacation. I might've been too hard on myself lately," said Dagger.
"So you're staying?" asked the duke.
Dagger smiled and nodded. The duke also smiled and went out. Beatrix entered shortly after he left.
"Your Highness, how long are we going to stay here?" asked Beatrix.
"A week would be enough. I don't want anything bad to happen to Alexandria because I was away for too long," Dagger replied.
"We'll also be staying here with you and follow your orders," said Beatrix.
"You don't need to. Go rest and have a good time together with Steiner. You're working too hard," said Dagger.
"Your Highness,"
"Please leave me alone for now. I would like to have some peace and quiet," said Dagger.
"As you wish," said Beatrix.
She turned around and left the room.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"What did father meant anyway? What's missing in my life?" Keith asked himself.
He sighed and continued walking down the hallway. He paused after seeing a portrait of his parents. They looked so happy together.
"Was he saying that I need a wife?" he thought. "No, he must be joking. He knows that I don't like the women here in Treno. They're too classy. They don't know anything but to beautify themselves and waste their money all day."
He went to his room and locked himself up.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"I'm bored," Dagger thought. "I need to go out and take a walk."
She took her rod from the table and placed Zidane's glove in her pocket. She opened the door and went out. Walking quietly so that no one can hear her. She saw Beatrix and Steiner talking to the duke and crept quietly. She ran down the stairs afterwards and headed for the large door. She tried to open it again and again but to no avail.
"Who's there?" said a voice coming from the room inside.
"Oh no! I better leave before anyone catches me," she thought.
As she was about to leave, the door opened and Keith saw her.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I um- want to go out for a walk," said Dagger.
"And why are you holding that," he asked mentioning to the rod that Dagger was holding.
"This? Oh this, this is for self-protection," she said. "In case any thief tries to rob me."
"Thief," she thought. "Zidane might be that person."
"Wait here, I'm going with you," he said.
"What? I don't think it's necessary for you to come along with me. Really," said Dagger.
"Don't worry, I'm just bored here doing nothing," he said.
"Well, okay," said Dagger.
Keith went back to his room and put off the fire by the table. He took his sword and placed it near his pocket.
"Wow, so much for a queen," he thought. "This is the first time I've seen a rich lady wearing a commoner's clothes and acting normally."
He went out and followed her walking past shops and houses.
"You seem to know you way around here," he said.
"I've been here a couple of times. Now hurry before they learn that we're gone," said Dagger.
Author's Note: Thanks to those who reviewed. ^_^ Well, hoped you like this chapter since I've got a feeling that you might be bored reading this. I really have a bad writing skill don't I? Sorry! I'm just younger than most of you reviewers so please try to enjoy this.