Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX. This time, the story is told from Garnet's POV

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

I walked along in the darkness. Alone…without you…I looked around again. "Hello? Can anybody hear me?" I started to run. No…no! You were not going to leave me alone again.

"Dagger…" You appear in front of me…and then you turn and start to walk away…

"Zidane! Zidane wait!" I cried out to you but you don't stop. You keep walking and I keep running after you but I can't catch you. "Please…please wait…"

I fall to my knees.

I'm all alone…always alone…

I fall to the floor and I start crying your name over and over. But you can't hear me. You are gone…I will never see you again…

Zidane…

I woke up with a start. I feel liquid on my cheeks. I was…crying? I can't sleep. "Zidane?" I call out to the darkness. I looked around and realized that my fears have come true.

Zidane isn't here…

I'm all alone…

"Stop it!" I cry out to no one and shake my head.

No…you…you can't be. This wasn't a dream! Zidane…you came back to me…I know you did…

Getting out of bed I pull on a robe and open the door. He would not be in my current bedroom so he must be somewhere in the castle…I run down the stairs and through the double doors. Down the stairs and through the hallway…if Zidane is not here…I will…

I don't know what I will do.

I ran through the main entrance to the castle and to my relief, I found him staring at himself in the water where boats come to dock at.

"Zi…" I stop for I hear him talking to himself…I know I shouldn't listen…but I can't compel myself to stop.

"What Dagger said to me is true. You should go on living…no one's perfect…but…" He paused and looked at the sky. "I'm hopeless…"

I gave a small sigh and he looked at my direction and raised his eyebrows slightly. "Dagger?" he asked.

I froze and gave a slight cough. "I am sorry for intruding…you were not in bed and…"

He smirked slightly and patted for me to sit down next to him. "Sit down…" he said. I nodded and took up residence next to him.

"Zidane…" I began.

He looked at me. "Hm?"

"What are you doing out here so late at night?" I asked.

He gave me a lax expression. "Just thinking…"

I was intrigued…I know I shouldn't pry but…"About what?" I asked.

He looked down at the floor and then looked back at me. "Dagger…earlier today…you told me about what had happened to you when I was gone…and know…it's time that I told you."

I looked at his aquamarine crystals. They shined like two gems in the moonlight. "When…when Garland told me that I was his angel of death…I snapped."

I remember that like it was yesterday…

He continued. "I didn't want to burden you guys with me. I was now your enemy, and I thought…I thought that you wouldn't want to be friends anymore…"

I shook my head. "Never would I feel that way…"

He looked serious again. "Each of us has his or her own problems, Dagger. It's a way of life…but you know…but with friends, those problems become easier…and the weight of the world on your shoulders is lessened…" He slid a hand over his head. "What I'm trying to say is…thanks."

I blushed. "Thanks?" I asked.

He nodded. "Without you…I don't think I would've been able to make it back. You motivated me to come back Dagger, and for that, I thank you. Just to see your face again was more than enough to get me to high tail it back to Alexandria."

I shook my head. "I merely…" I trailed off. What did I merely do? I blame myself for everything that has happened…but in the end. It has turned out okay…

He stretched slightly. "So why don't we head in?" he asked.

I stood up and nodded. "Yes…"

Zidane smiled slightly and said. "But together this time…" And with that, he grabbed my hand and led me back into the castle.

The sun was high in the sky by time I awoke. I was about to sit up when I felt myself being pulled to someone. It was warm…I turned my head and saw a mass of blonde hair. Zidane…

Pulling myself from his grip, I sat up and gave a slight yawn. Zidane slept on the outside of the bed and he was currently facing me. I wonder when the last time he had slept in a bed? Surely not for awhile until he came back to me…

"Zidane…" I called to him.

He still slept.

"Zidane…" I called to him again.

He turned over and mumbled something. I gave a sigh and shook my head. This might be harder than I thought. I shook him once. He still didn't budge. I gave him a harder shake this time. He still slept. I pouted.

"Zidane Tribal! As Queen of Alexandria I command you to awake this instance!"

I watched Zidane open his eyes slowly and then look at me. He groaned slightly as he sat up the covers forming ripples around his waist. He shook his head, his tail curling out from behind him and stretched like he did.

I giggled. It was pretty cute.

"Dagger?" He asked me, his voice thick with sleepiness.

I leaned over and gave him a kiss. "Good morning, sleepy head."

He scratched his head and stifled a yawn and then collapsed on me into a bear hug. "How's my Queen doing this fine morning?"

I gave a slight blush and smiled slightly. "With my knight by me, I am always fine…"

Before we could continue any further acts, there was a knock on the door. Zidane gave a sigh and sat up. "Yesss?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

It was a just a regular guard. "Master Zidane, breakfast is ready, please come down when you are ready."

"Thanks…"

I heard the guard go away and then Zidane turned to face me. "Just how can you stand them?"

I gave him a small smile and just giggled. "They are not so bad. You just have to get used to them…"

He turned to me. "Do you really wanna go down to breakfast?"

I shook my head and lay my head down on his chest. "I'd rather stay with you for the day…"

He perked up. "I got an idea, how about me and you spend the day away from the castle? I'll take you anywhere you want…"

I sat up and smiled slightly. "Well…it would be nice to have a change of scenery for once…I mean, I have seen the world, but it has been quite a while since I was able to go outside the castle without a need to." I thought for a moment. "How about a walk in Alexandria?"

Zidane nodded and got out of bed and gave a stretch. He blinked. "So you wanna go now?"

I nodded. "Yes…if it's of no bother to you…"

He smirked. "Hey, where's the older Dagger I used to know?"

I gave a small smile and nodded. "I mean…yeah, that sounds good to me!"

He ruffled my hair. "Now that's better."

It's strange how someone can't recognize you just by the clothes that you are wearing. While I wore my old adventuring clothes from the days that I traveled with my friends, no one seemed to notice that their queen walked among them.

I held on to Zidane's hand the entire time that we walked. I was happy to be out here in the open. Free from the castle once again. It felt different, but it was so liberating…

Zidane and I walked to this small flower shop on the outskirts of town where he bought me a rose and we continued on throughout the day venturing through Alexandria. Just the two of us. I hope everyone at the castle does not worry to much. I mean…I am safe with Zidane.

We reminisced about old times and how much I had changed since I traveled and saw so much of the world…it was…nice…

As the sun was about to set, Zidane went away for a minute leaving me by myself for a little while. When he came back he motioned for me to follow him. I wonder what he had planned…he said I had to close my eyes and I would see something beautiful when I opened them again. He led me up numerous buildings and structures. When he stopped he paused and then said.

"Okay…open your eyes, Dagger."

When I did, I gasped. "Zidane…it's.."

He smiled slightly. "It's beautiful right?"

I nodded, tears coming to my eyes. "It is more than beautiful…words cannot describe it…"

Ahead of the both of us was the Alexandrian sunset. There were so many colors in the sky and it was so beautiful. "Oh Zidane…" I said.

He smiled slightly at me, giving me his famous grin. "I knew you would like it…call it a commoner's view of Alexandria…" He paused for a moment and then leaned in and kissed me on the lips again. The kiss was soft and tender, as if he were to pull away at any moment. He fell on his back and I fell right along with him and gave a small giggle.

My head fell onto his shoulder, still holding my rose and looked down at the floor. "Zidane…what if we never met? I wouldn't have ever known anything…I would still be in the castle…mother would still be Queen perhaps and…and I wouldn't be here. With you at this very moment. I guess people are right, there is a such thing as fate…"

He shook his head. "No Dagger…it wasn't fate. You made your own choices because you believed in yourself. That's why we met…that's why…that's why were here at this very moment. In this very point in time…"

I blushed slightly and leaned up to look at him. "…Zidane?"

He looked at me. "Hm?"

"I never told you this…but um…you kidnapped something more than me back then…"

He looked at me confused. "Um…I did?

I smiled slightly and then said. "You kidnapped my heart."

-Fin