A/N: NEW! Ok, this'll be one of the chapters where I slow things down. I'm really disgusted at myself for taking things so fast.

Updated: 11/02/05

Disclaimer: Don't own any of them! None, nada, zilch, zero, the number that looks like an "o" is the amount of wants that I want of this game that has been bestowed upon me! Okay, so I'm a little touchy on the fact that I don't own any of it. Can you blame me?

P.S. I can't do fight scenes very well, but I try. I also don't want to describe scenes like that according to the game, you know can't move, everyone gets one turn.

Somehow, Garnet managed to land safely on her feet, her black boots scraping the cold, grey floor. She jumped slightly as that tabby cat, that annoying tabby cat landed behind her. She frowned at it, wondering whether Garland would like a feline prowling about his lair, but she did nothing as it began walking to the front. She realized that she couldn't see anything except for objects a few meters around her. As she took her first step hesitantly in the general direction of where the cat went, a hundred torches seemed to have blazed up at once.

She could see everything now, the... the hole that she fell through, it was about 20 feet in diameter, with a strange white substance covering it. The white light, she decided. To the middle of the room was Garland, with the tabby on his lap.

"Garland!" she called angrily. "Where am I?"

He didn't answer; his ice blue eyes just stared of into space, the feline stretched leisurely on his thighs.

She couldn't control the impatience and tension that was welling inside her. "Answer me you scumbag!" Using the fairly, shall we say colorful language that Zidane taught her long ago.

She gasped and backed away as a strange white light emitted off the cat's body. An eerie cyan glow from Garland's motionless body began to spread. Slowly, both lights gleamed, stretching across the expanse of the room. When they mixed and met, it was neither blue nor white, but a huge burst of gold.

Garnet felt herself thrown off her feet by the impact of the two lights reactions to one another. When she opened her eyes, dizzy from shock and pain, she saw the cat yowl and streak away. Looking up, she saw Garland looming over her.

"How... but... how?" she stuttered.

"Come, your highness, I'll show you to your room," said Garland, beckoning her with his finger. Garnet got up slowly and followed him through numerous hallways, all hewn from rough stone. After several twisting narrow turns, Garnet found her self in a fairly large room, done in black and white. It was nicely furnished, a large white closet at one end, a huge white bed with black covers in the middle, black marble flooring with tables and chairs of that sort arranged with the taste of a professional designer.

Garnet sat down on a white leather couch, Garland however, remained standing.

"Needless to say," began Garland the moment Garnet sat down. "You have many questions. I will start with your first. You are in my current home." he held up a hand as Garnet opened her mouth to speak. "Wait, let me explain everything. I arrived on Gaia about a month ago, making my home, (he paused, surveying the furniture and decorations with satisfaction) I settled down and waited for a chance to speak to you."

"That cat-" said Garnet.

"Yes, yes," sighed Garland. "The cat. I have found a way to take hold of simple sentient beings, control it, I mean. Provided that my body remains safe, I will be able to return and repeat the process if and when I wish it. It involves a complex changing of magic and the body's neutrons which happen to be constructed in such a manner that-" he stopped abruptly. "My mind wanders off the subject, I'm afraid. This does tend to happen when one ages."

"Garland," Garnet said sternly, "I don't give a damn for how old you get, don't change the subject. Why did you want to control that cat?"

"Such language," muttered Garland. "To watch you, of course. I needed to be able to speak to you without causing alarm. When your mage friend Stopped, a window of opportunity opened for me to help you."

"Why are you alive?" asked Garnet. "We thought you dead."

Garland looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure myself. All I remember was falling and being able to broadcast my thoughts once in a while. When I landed, quite painfully I might add, I was in a beautiful place where I spent my time rethinking my horrible doings. I realized that I was wrong to try to sacrifice one world for another."

"It's about time," Garnet muttered grouchily.

"Anyway," Garland went on, pretending that he hadn't heard her. "I managed to come back by opening a doorway. I believe that when I fell off that cliff, I fell through a portal and landed in that unknown world. So, I longed with all my heart and used whatever magic I had left to bring me here, to Gaia, to you." At this, he stared at her, his never faltering gaze piercing her.

"Why me?" she asked, shifting nervously under his stare. "Why not Mikoto? Or Eiko?"

"Like I said Your Majesty," he explained. "You have potential, great power. Mikoto can only do what Zidane did, destroy. Eiko... she is young, her power not as fully charged or potent as your own. They are not suitable for Gaia's needs."

Garnet said nothing, trying to absorb the information. "Y-you can teach me how to bring Vivi back? Bring Zi-Zidane back?" The tremble in her voice was the only hint that showed all the emotion she felt.

"Yes," he said, with a gentleness that reminded her of her father. "And maybe help Gaia, should it be consumed by darkness."

Garnet just nodded and stood up; Garland led her away, in more ways than one.

……

"From now on, I will call you Dagger," said Garland as they walked down one of the many hallways. "Here you are not a Queen, but my student."

Dagger just nodded, but stopped suddenly. "Wait, I left my Whale Whisker in my room."

"Do not worry," said Garland reassuringly. "I will give you a weapon worthy of you. We will begin by training your physical strength first, because I believe that seems like your weakest point. You rely rather heavily on magic, don't you?"

Dagger said nothing, she remembered the times when she had wondered why Eiko's attacks were more powerful than her own. She followed him to a musty looking door at the end of the hallway. With a wave of his hand, it flung open.

They entered a large circular room filled with every weapon imaginable. The Excalibur II, Ultima Weapon, Tiger Racket, Mace of Zues... In the very center was a rod that caught her eye; she walked towards it without thinking, drawn by its power.

She picked it up hesitantly. Immediately, it seemed to pulse and warm up, it felt so comfortable in her hand. It wasn't exquisite or anything, but it seemed so... special to her.

It was slightly longer than the normal length of a rod, and was a jet-black color that gleamed. At the top, was a strange looking sphere that glowed blue, the same blue as the light she saw in Branbal. At the other end was a sharp curving shape, like a scythe, it seemed almost as strong as Zidane's Ultima weapon. On its polished surface were the words carved in silver "For Death, There Will Be Life."

"Yes," said Garland approvingly. Dagger jumped, she had been so transfixed that she had forgotten that he was even there. "You picked it out right away. That, Dagger, is the Reaper's Rod. I made it myself, fashioned rather like a Grim Reaper's scythe isn't it? Made only for you."

"It- it's gorgeous," she breathed, taking it up and twirling it with ease.

"You handle it well," said Garland with a smile. "Now let's see how you use it. We shall proceed to the training ground that I set up."

……

For the next few weeks, Garland taught Dagger maneuvers with her new weapon. She learned to defend and attack against dummies and apparitions he set up, but never a real creature. She practiced moves that she'd always seen Beatrix use but was never able to do herself. Yet, her lithe body and quick mind enabled her to pick up quickly. Despite the new experience, she found herself getting bored. Learning was all very well and good, but it was never quite the same as doing things for real. Dagger was itching to put all her new knowledge to the test.

Then, fortunately or unfortunately, Garland sensed her impatience and declared her ready to fight.

As they walked, Dagger breathed in and out trying to curb the anticipation and excitement that welled up in her. Finally! She sighed inwardly. Finally she'd be able to fight for herself, to be the one in the offensive. Not holding the role of Healer that she was so often stuck with when she was traveling.

"We're here," Garland's dry voice jolted her back to the present.

In front of her was a huge door, made of the strongest materials possible, Garland was standing by an odd looking machine. In front of him was very strong glass that was almost unbreakable and enabled him to see what was going on behind the door. He pulled several levers and the door opened slowly.

"Go in, but do not use summoning magic! You haven't been taught yet," called Garland. "I will control the type of monsters being sent to you."

Dagger entered and gasped in surprise. She seemed to have walked into a huge field filled with bright sunshine, but when she looked up, she saw grey stone and soil, held up by a glass dome. She walked on slowly, Rod held in front of her guardedly.

"Get ready!" Garland yelled. For what? Dagger wondered, there was nothing there but... Three charging Zaghnol?

Her instincts took over and she turned to run, but something seemed to stop her. Instead of fleeing and screaming Zidane's name as she would have done a year ago, she stood her ground and smirked. She felt a feeling of confidence and invincibility steal over her. The Rod in her hands grew warm, almost seeming to hunger for the taste of blood. She slashed at the first beast viciously, and it collapsed to the ground, dying at once from her powerful blow.

She was astonished by the power of the Rod, but the situation did not allow her to dwell on it as she paid the price for her lack of concentration when one of the remaining Zaghnol rammed her. She flew back, the wind knocked out from her and her ribs severely bruised. It took her moments to regain her senses, not at all used to such physical abuse. She looked up only to be able to roll to the side, barely avoiding the beast's trampling hooves. With a heave of strength, she found her feet, desperately jumping from side to side.

Think, she urged herself desperately. She'd been taught to use her mind as well as her instincts in battle, but learning about it and talking about it was very different from actually doing it. Then, as she saw her attackers heading to her, she was struck by an idea. She began twirling her Rod, faster and faster until the scythe part of it turned it into a whirling circle of Death. With this held firmly above her, she dove nimbly between the two Zaghnol, giving them numerous cuts.

They bellowed in pain, before they too, fell. Dagger stood up, surveying the carnage. She felt an odd sense of accomplishment and joy at the sight of the creatures' mangled bodies. Oh Zidane, she thought giddily as she stared at the death she'd caused, if only you could see me now. Your hapless little Dagger actually defeating something without anyone's help!

Abruptly, she threw back her head and laughed. It was a laugh that rang through Garland's lair, and maybe to the pair of ears of one who was still wide awake at Alexandria from above. She couldn't help herself, there was just such a feeling of evil pleasure burning in her breast.

"Well done, my pupil!" yelled Garland, who was halfway across the field.

"Garland!" she shouted, caught up in the euphoria of her success and the heat of the battle. "That was too easy! Give me a real challenge!"

Garland suddenly materialized at her side. "I can't let you rely to heavily on weapons either," he whispered. He made several gestures with his arms before pointing at her.

Suddenly, she felt her knees buckle and her limbs felt heavy, as though someone had dunked her into a large pool of thick, thick liquid, making it tiring for her to move. She strained angrily, trying to move her feet, using all her might to run after Garland. Even so, her pace slow and her movements awkward, she felt fear grip her heart.

"What have you done to me?" she yelled, frustrated.

"I am keeping those on you to improve you body strength. When you are free of them, your movements will be quicker. Now, I'd advise you to stop yelling and prepare for the challenge you asked for."

He looked very smug as he strode back to the control panel. He hadn't meant to do it so soon, but she was a very fast learner, and was getting -how to put it- a little too confident.

Getting trampled ought to humble her a bit, he thought. Then again, maybe it is a little too harsh. He reconsidered as he saw her struggling to lift her Rod. She is only a beginner, and I only use this method for seasoned warriors.

But, it was too late. Two Grand Dragons had already been released and were charging towards the lone figure that faced them. Oh well, he reassured himself; her broken bones will mend in a few weeks.