A/N: THIS IS NEW! UPDATED! Okay, as mentioned in the chapter before, I'm re-doing chapters, though I don't think there'll be that much difference made in this one.

Updated: 11/02/05

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XI isn't mine, but IT WILL BE ONE DAY! ONE DAY! (Evil cackling) (Meep) sorry, split personality broke through. Where was I? Oh, right, it ain't mine.

"I'm... I'm sorry," she said, but he didn't seem affected in the least by the impact when she slammed into him. She couldn't help thinking, there's something so familiar about him…

"Your Highness, the color suits you," he whispered. Suddenly, Garnet felt scared, she saw nothing of his face or body, except for his cold-blue eyes that pierced her from under his cloak. "It mirrors your soul."

"W-what?" she stuttered, backing away, wishing that she had her Whale Whisker. Who would have thought that she needed her weapon for a funeral?

"You needn't be afraid," he assured her, in such a tone that made her back away further. "Come now, don't you remember me?"

She stared at him, his voice was low and hoarse, making him sound... like... but that couldn't be… He pulled his tattered cloak off, revealing a craggy face, with snow white hair on a nearly bald head.

"Garland!" she shrieked.

"Ah, your memory doesn't fail you, Your Highness," he replied with a smile.

"What I remember is that you are dead!" she snapped, getting ready to summon something to blow him away. "And that you nearly killed us last time!"

He tsk, tsked her. "My dear … what was it they called you? Ah yes, Dagger." His eyes glinted dangerously. "I have turned over a new leaf. I have come to help you, for I know that you are suffering, from the loss of two of "us", as you called your companions."

"I would sooner believe Quina saying that s/he wouldn't eat for a month if I left him/her alone in the place larder," she growled angrily. "And I need no help from you, for I know that you have none to give."

"I could help you bring your friends back," he said quietly, tantalizingly just as she was about to leave. "I could teach you to bring back the dead."

Garnet stopped, feeling drawn by his words, but she eyed him suspiciously, "And how do I know that you are not lying?"

"Such mistrust," he sighed. "I want to help the people of Gaia, for I have wronged them. There is no gain for me, except for peace of heart and mind." He paused, watching her reaction. "I could train you. You have such potential, such power! You could bring back your friends and help Gaia."

"I am only skilled in White magic," she said sadly, seeming to give in.

"That is not so," he insisted. "Come with me! I will teach you a new way of life! I will show you what you can really do that not even Kuja or Brahne knew of or even guessed! I will show you the secrets of the universe."

"How did you survive?" she asked. "How did you find me?"

"I will show you… if you let me help you." came the reply. "You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Why not try it?"

Why not? wondered Garnet. I miss them so much... and I could help the world. Why not indeed? Because I am cautious, she countered, because he may have something up his sleeve… But the thought that she could see her friends again was over powering. I have to at least try, mustn't I? For their sake and mine. I could continue to be careful, making sure that he isn't up to something…

With that, she said the words that sealed her fate, half challenge, half agreement. "Show me."

……

"I will be on a trip for a while" said Garnet softly. "But I will come back in time for the play."

"My Queen... where are you going?" asked Beatrix anxiously. Other questions were voiced by Eiko and Steiner. The rest of the group had retired at the inn, (after much argument with the inn keeper who wanted to charge them 150 gil per night.) so they were the only ones still in the castle.

"Dag... I mean, Garnet," Eiko corrected herself. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing and everything, Eiko," she answered sadly. "I wish to find some peace and solitude. I cannot stand the death of one we treasured so much." At least she wasn't completely lying...

"B-but, what will we tell the nobles who come to visit you?" asked Steiner.

"Tell them what you will" said Garnet, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. "General Beatrix, you will rule here while I am gone. Captain Steiner, you will help her."

"B-... the nobles," began Steiner, but Beatrix placed a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Hush, Hun. The queen's probably better off without all those annoying well- wishers trying to get into her good books," she whispered.

Garnet pretended not to notice or hear the exchange between them. But, the truth was, seeing the comfortable way Beatrix placed her hand on Steiner, was so… painful. Just knowing, knowing that that could have been her and Zidane was almost unbearable.

Garnet kneeled down, her black dress rustled behind her. She took Eiko by the shoulders. "Eiko" she said quietly. "I'm doing this for my own good, for our own good. I'm going to try to make something out of myself, not that huge deadweight that I was at sixteen. In fact, I probably still am one."

"Dagger," sniffled Eiko. "You were never a deadweight. If so, I must've been one too." She started to cry. "You're like a sister to me, and we even competed for the same guy!"

Garnet almost smiled at her outburst, but the corners of her mouth were pulled down by her sadness. "I'll be leaving tonight," she said with a sigh. "Look after the little Vivis, they'll need some comfort. Make sure Quina doesn't eat all the food again." She let out a half-hearted laugh at the memory of that hilarious occasion.

"Tonight?" exclaimed Beatrix, Steiner, and Eiko at once.

"Dagger!" wailed Eiko. "Don't do anything dangerous!"

Garnet just shook her head, wishing that she could say that she wouldn't, but how could she when she didn't know herself?

……

That night, the twin moons' glorious lights were blocked by heavy clouds, turning everything various shades of grey and black. Including the silent shadow that slipped past buildings and structures in a wisp of black.

Garnet ran lightly towards the alley Garland had told her to go to. She blended in with the dark background perfectly, for, she had swapped her orange overalls for a dark jumpsuit. The only thing that she had that wasn't black was her small carry bag (packed in it were several personal items) and Whale Whisker, which glimmered faintly. She jumped at several loud noises, but took them as nothing more than ordinary happenings.

The moment she set foot in the narrow alley, she heard a hoarse voice that made her jump in surprise. Instinctively, she was in her fighting stance, but could see nothing besides a cat.

"Do not worry." the voice came from nowhere. "Just follow my directions. I will shield you from prying eyes."

Garnet just did whatever she was told, left, right, straight, slipping through narrow gaps that looked like they weren't there. She tried to keep track of where she was going, counting all the multiple twists and turns. This failed when she turned a corner, (that annoying cat still close at her feet.) everything was pitch black… she couldn't even see her own hand. She panicked, and tried to find her way back despite Garland's assurances that everything was all right.

After much bumping and slamming into objects and walls, she gave up and followed his instructions again. At one point, it seemed that the passage way was narrowing; she had to turn sideways, listening to the occasional, five steps to the left, two to the front etc. (was that blasted cat still following her?) Suddenly, it seemed as though she had fallen into the abyss, she fell steadily downwards with nothing to break her fall. Then, she was swallowed by a blinding white light.

……

Clank. Clank. Clank. Huff. Huff.

"Fatigue rears its ugly head," panted a middle-aged man in a rusty armor, leaning against a wall.

"Steiner… hurry up!" wailed a purple-haired girl of about seven. "She's getting away!"

Breathing even more heavily, Steiner huffed, running with the girl to follow the dark figure in front of them. Nothing gave them any hint of where their prey was except for the occasional glint of light from her weapon.

"Eiko! Slow down! (huff, huff)" clank, clank, clank. Taking two more steps, he collapsed on the floor with a boom.

"Stei-ner," whined Eiko, trying to lift him up. "You're making too much noise! She'll hear us!"

Steiner rose unsteadily to his feet, gasping.

And fell.

"You're slowing us down," pouted Eiko. "Why did you insist on coming with me? Geez! I bet that it's your rusty ol' armor that's the problem. It's heavy and it makes a heck lot of noise."

"Don't insult the armor," snapped Steiner, not moving.

"It's so icky as well," said Eiko, coming up with an idea. "How ya gonna marry Beatrix in it? Are you gonna wear a suit? Have you asked her yet? Have you-"

Infuriated, he rose to his feet with newfound strength and cut her off. "Stop asking questions, you little imp!"

Eiko stuck her tongue out and kicked his armor. She squealed as he began to chase her. At least he's moving, thought Eiko, Alright! We're catching up!

Dagger was only slightly ahead of them when she rounded a corner. Eiko sprinted ahead and saw... nothing?

"AARRGGGGGHHHHHHHH" yelled Steiner as he shot past Eiko after failing to stop in time.

Eiko ignored the huge crash caused by Steiner slamming into the wall.

There was nothing there but a stupid cat.