i considered putting a delightful and witty disclaimer here, but then decided not to, since i've alread done that on the first chapter.
...so it wasn't that witty. nobody asked you.
...oh, and if you find any spelling/grammatical errors, please let me know, and i'll try to fix them. ja ne!
Chapter 2: A Battle of Wills
She hadn't wanted to be there. She hadn't wanted to go to Burmecia with the queen. She wanted to find Garnet, drag her home, talk some sense into her, and then escort her properly – with at least twenty guards – to Lindblum, personally. Logically, she knew that she would only need herself, and that the twenty others would only serve to cow the princess into not causing her any mischief, but still.
Garnet was being reckless, even if she was being useful.
Brahne was getting out of hand. Beatrix felt her loyalty being torn in two as every day passed, and every word that the queen spoke. She hadn't been the same since the king died, and it was taking its toll on Alexandria. Money that should have gone straight back into the economy was being wasted on performances, weapons, and alliances that led all parties in perpetual circles. She would have to make a choice, sometime soon: Whether she was loyal to the queen, or loyal to the country.
Until then, she would follow Brahne's orders, and hopefully gain enough information to decide what was best. Her company was loyal, but she would need to have strong convictions behind her actions.
That meant protecting the queen, the lazy majesty that was only concerned with tromping around, fanning herself, and gloating over the destruction of others. In other words, fighting all of the woman's battles for her.
The battles were meaningless. All of her opponents were no match for her, falling down with her weakest attacks. But they had the potential. The monkey boy… the one who had been with the theatre company that came to Alexandria… and the Burmecian Dragoon. Even the black mage had potential. Steiner, she knew, was an expert in his field, but until he mastered the combinations techniques with the black mage, he was still no contest. They needed more training if they ever wanted to be of any real use. Especially if they ever wanted to battle Kuja.
Quite frankly, the look in his eyes frightened her. There was an insanity, a bloodthirstiness that was dangerous to those even under his reign. And there was something even more dangerous when he eyed the Tantalus boy.
Before they left to Cleyra, Brahne had ordered Beatrix to return to Alexandria to fetch the Red Rose as well as all of her troops. Beatrix frowned, rifling through her desk to find the roster and pack-out lists. This is taking entirely too long. Why wasn't the queen planning for this in the first place? She should have just taken the Red Rose in the first place; it would have been faster than having to trek with her all across the land, following that man and his ridiculous dragon.
At last, she found the sheets of paper she was looking for and busied herself checking the lists to stop herself from thinking of him.
Kuja. The man Brahne had been associating with for the past six months, supplier of weapons, rare items, and black mages. With his outlandish costumes and flippant ways, he put Beatrix on her guard in a way she never thought possible. Raw power exuded from his form, so much that the queen began to lust after it. Greed had begun to fill the queen with a magnitude that surprised even her general, so much that even the princess began to suspect.
This is going nowhere fast.
With a determined glint in her eye, the Lady-General left her chambers to go talk to her troops. All were loyal to the queen. All were ready to die for her. While a scattered few realized what was going on, the rest remained in blissful ignorance as to the real dealings behind the queen and the absence of the princess.
The empty hallways echoed bitterly as Beatrix made her way to the barracks. Alexandria hasn't been the same since you left, Princess, she thought wistfully, passing the door to Garnet's chambers.
Her Highness. The real reason she hadn't left.
FLASHBACK
"General?"
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"We found this. It was addressed to you."
A small frown marred Beatrix's brow as she accepted the letter, marked with Her Highness' seal. "Thank you. That will be all, Lieutenant."
"Ma'am!" saluted the woman, before turning smartly and exiting the General's office.
Callused fingers gently traced the seal before breaking it open. With a small bit of apprehension, Beatrix read the contents inside.
Dear Beatrix,
I am sorry for any trouble that this may cause you. However, it has come to my attention through the observation of my Mother's actions that she is in great danger of causing herself harm. The alliances she has made with various persons in the castle are deadly and need to be handled carefully.
I have gone to Lindblum to seek the advice and enlist the aid of Uncle Cid.
Please forgive me, and look after Mother,
Princess Garnet
END FLASHBACK
"General?"
"Another note, Lieutenant?"
"Ma'am?"
"Never mind. What was it you wanted?"
"I do have a missive for you, General. How did you know?"
"Woman's intuition. Thank-you, Lieutenant. Dismissed."
Beatrix stared warily at the note, written in an unfamiliar hand. As curious as she was….
It'll have to wait, she thought, storing it in behind her breastplate. I have a mission to accomplish.
"How was Burmecia?" asked Hans, the auctioneer.
"Not bad…Better if I didn't have to see those vermin and the ugly elephant-lady. They offend my senses."
The auctioneer nodded sympathetically. "You must be tired."
Turning and walking up the aisle of the auction house, Kuja paid no attention to what Hans was saying. "It's not over yet. The rest of the vermin must be done away with." I have supplied enough weapons and power to the elephant-lady. But of course she'll want more. I believe that she'll be able to carry out whatever she wishes to do to that settlement of rats without much trouble. However, it might be fun to watch….
"Will you be heading to Cleyra, then?"
"Yes. I trust you will deliver them." The damn black mages had been rather uppity lately. Many of them were deserting, so he had to keep supplying new ones. Ahh, well. It ends up working to my advantage.
"Certainly. I will prepare, then…" Hans replied, turning to leave.
"By the way, did you see a pretty lady in the crowd today?"
"A pretty lady? Shall I arrange a meeting?"
"There's no need. The canary I've been after…. She flew into my cage of her own free will." Kuja ignored the auctioneer. The runaway princess, the canary that left the cage that was built for her. And the intriguing lady-general, who would protect her to her death… she would make a lovely addition, as well. "Never would I have imagined running into you in a place like this. It must be fate. But you cannot rest your wings yet…. Fly home to your mother, little canary." The queen wished her daughter home. If they took the Gargan Roo, they would be back in no time. Beatrix would be happy to see her, as well. "I, too, will welcome you home with open arms."
end chapter two
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