Disclaimer: Disclaiming can be found on the first chapter.
Author's Notes: Check the bottom for Replies to Reviewers and Community Advertisement section.
Date Chapter Posted: 1/07/2004
Chapter 1
Home
"Good luck to you Freya, Dragon Knight of Burmecia," Regent Cid said, taking her hand firmly.
Freya stood straight and held the old man's hand tightly. "Thank you."
She was the first to return to her home. The kingdom of eternal rain was barren and ravaged, but it was her home nonetheless. The destruction tugged at her exhausted heart, but she would not allow it to show. She had wanted to rebuild it since she saw it that fateful day and now she could finally get started on it.
"Freya, Freya!" Eiko shouted as she ran to the Burmecian and jumped up into her arms.
"Oh Eiko, be strong." Freya comforted, enjoying the love she felt holding the child.
Eiko giggled. "Strong? Me? You're the one who needs to be strong!"
Freya smiled at the little girl and put her down so that she could return to the airship. Once the purple-haired child got inside, the ship's ground exit closed and the engines began pumping as the blades started to spin, muting the sound of falling rain. Freya stood on the ground holding her spear parallel with her body as she peered through the rain, watching the airship rise and turn towards North Gate. Freya let out a long sigh and turned towards the remains of her kingdom.
Her walk through the ruins was saddening and lonely. She walked aimlessly through the city, stepping between piles of rubble. A puddle of rain amassed on the brim of her hat and drops streamed down her long jacket. She made her way up to the castle, reflecting on memories passed long ago.
When she made her way through the various walls separating the city from the royal grounds, she found a male sitting at a circular fountain. The male held a spear at his side and stared at the ground. She walked slowly over to him, immediately recognizing him.
"Sir Fratley?"
The Burmecian turned his head up to see her and smiled warmly as the rain fell into his eyes.
"Freya, correct?"
Her hopes of their loving past were short-lived as she nodded, accepting Fratley's loss of memory.
"What brings you to Burmecia?" He questioned.
She sat next to him and looked away from his eyes, trying not to let her emotions overwhelm her. "It is my home."
An awkward silence ensued.
"Do you know…" Fratley started, breaking the silence. "Do you know what happened here?"
"War." She sighed. "A pointless war that took many souls."
"Beatrix?" Fratley wondered, a bit of anger in his tone.
"Beatrix?" Freya responded, wondering why he had said that.
"I'm sorry," Fratley said. "There are only a few things I can remember. When I ask myself who I am, I respond with 'Burmecia.' When I hear 'war', I connect it with Beatrix."
"Oh," Freya replied, trying to force the lump in her throat down. "You mustn't. She was following chaotic orders. She thought she was serving her country."
"I also connect 'Beatrix' and 'war' with hatred, Freya." Fratley continued.
Freya wiped a tear in her eyes.
"But…" Fratley thought after his last statement. "When I hear 'Freya', I think of the word 'love'…"
Hope had its way of going through the rain… and it had found Freya.
Steiner leapt off the ship just before it landed and he began kissing the ground. From her ship the Red Rose, Beatrix brushed her hair aside as she watched the man make a fool of himself. The ship landed beside the Regent's Hilde Garde. She watched as the rest of the crew came off the ship, happily motioning to each other and laughing at the knight.
"Home!" Steiner shouted as he spat the dirt off his lips. "We are finally here!"
Quina stepped out of the ship's shade and covered its eyes with a large spoon. "Yes, yes…castle look big."
"I-It feels like forever ago," Vivi added, walking up beside the ecstatic knight.
"It was forever ago!" Eiko spouted, slapping the renowned mage on the back.
"Queen Garnet, is it not marvelous?" Steiner questioned, turning towards the ship.
Garnet stood at the exit, looking sadly at the ground. She did not respond and Steiner's euphoria was brought to a halt. The Regent came up from behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, smiling solemnly.
"Come now, Garnet, you must take pride in your country," Cid comforted.
"I do, Uncle, I do," she replied, continuing to stare at the ground. "I just don't think I'm ready…to move on."
"A country is only as strong as its leader." Cid said, talking to her, but looking at the others. "This great nation needs you, that is your priority. As soon as I get any news from Mikoto, you will be immediately notified. Until then, we all have our duties."
"Yes. We do."
"Come, come," Steiner said, running frantically to her to get her out into the sunlight. "A saunter through the streets of your home, Alexandria, will cheer you up."
"Perhaps…"
"Come inside, Eiko. We must be leaving right away. Take good care of her, Steiner," Cid commanded, grabbing the exit doors' handles. "And yourself."
Steiner quickly bowed. "Yes, thank you, Regent Cid. Safe travels home."
Eiko hugged everybody once or twice and ran towards her new father to head back to Lindblum.
The Red Rose's propellers came to a stop as the Hilde Garde began to ascend. Beatrix, along with her knights and the Knights of Pluto, exited their ship and followed the team of heroes through the streets of Alexandria City. People everywhere gathered to see their queen walking amongst them and cheered for their success in saving the world. The festivities started all over again as people started dancing and praising the warriors and their safe return. The faint smile on Garnet's face enlivened Steiner.
Steiner finally had everything he wanted. He was back home. He walked beside Beatrix, her beauty completely astounding him. Everybody was cheering for him and his company. Yes, everything was finally right with the world and nothing could bring him down. He could finally relax…
It wasn't long before word got around that Burmecia was being rebuilt. Freya watched as more and more Burmecians came out from hiding to help her and Fratley. They spent weeks clearing the debris off the roads and salvaging what remained of the buildings. Although Fratley couldn't even remember what house he grew up in, the process was liberating for him and his spirit grew.
"…I'll be glad to make some memories here."
Freya was so pleased to see that he was enjoying himself and it lifted her spirits. She could only hope those new memories would have her in them and their love would blossom just the same. It was like…falling in love all over again.
One day, in the ever-present rain, a young Burmecian walked through the cleared streets, hands in his pockets as he watched a group of ten to fifteen other Burmecians rebuilding a wall. The team chanted, heaving and ho'ing to the orders of Freya who commanded them below.
"Is that how we did it before?" A quick voice came from behind Freya.
She turned around and nearly fell over at the sight of the red-furred Burmecian. "…Puck? Is that you? Puck!"
She fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around him and he jumped back, trying to push her off.
"Ick! Someone help! Freya's possessed!" He yelled, which got the attention of the workers. Immediately, everyone started saying his name and came down to see him. Freya let go of him and looked surprised at Puck's response.
"I'm just joking, Freya, jeez," Puck said quickly, patting her face. He then silenced the group and stepped up on a pedestal.
"It is said…" Puck started more seriously. "That long, long ago a prophecy was engraved in a dragon's stone that when its great nation was shrouded in darkness, its king would return to take the throne and remind the world that we are still alive!"
"Puck…?" Freya started.
"Shhhh! I'm on a role." Puck quickly hushed her. "And now, with its people returning one by one, the drops shining like never before, I shall step forth and lead this country forward like no previous king had ever dreamed!
"I've been all over the world and I've seen a great many things. I may be young, but I believe my father's absence and his blood in me states that I am your ruler!"
Everybody shouted the prince's name three times and then chatted with each other, excited about their prince's surprising arrival.
"Since when did you study Burmecian history, Puck?" Freya said, laughing under breath.
Puck put his shoulder on his hips and glared at the Dragon Knight. "Insolence! I rule all! I suggest you clean my stinky feet before I behead you!"
The prince stood straight, staring her in the eyes and after a moment, they broke into laughter. Then, the prince jumped into her arms and squeezed her tight, surprising her as she slowly started hugging back.
"I'm glad to see you again, Freya," Puck said quietly to where only she could hear.
It seemed like little ole Puck had finally grown up a little. Hopefully it would be enough for him to take full charge of the kingdom. Coincidently, it was not the only surprise visit the Burmecians had that day…
Fratley came hurriedly down the street towards them. "Freya, someone has come seeking for…Puck? Is that…your name?"
"Ah, Sir Fratley the forgetful." Puck claimed, pulling aside from Freya. "Well, on with it, who is here?"
"He says he knows your name Freya…and mine," Fratley continued slightly nervous as if he were afraid.
"Of course I know of you and your honorable name, Fratley," Steiner boasted as he swiftly made his way towards the group. "And Sir Puck is here too!"
Freya jumped up at the shining knight's presence, the rain pinging off his armor. "Steiner! What…what brings you here?"
"Our ties with your country are rotten at best." Steiner responded professionally. "The people have no idea what to think of about the Burmecians. I deemed it was time to restore Alexandria's relationship with Burmecia."
And the Knights of Pluto entered, marching single-file along with several female Alexandrian soldiers, each walking proudly.
"We've come to help!"
It was a most enjoyable day. Burmecia's restoration rate doubled with the help of the Alexandrians. At first, they all scowled at each other, but it wasn't long before the groups resolved their differences and a new relationship was indeed built between the two countries.
"So, where's Beatrix?" Freya asked after a few days of grueling work.
Steiner continued lifting large stones and managed to squeak out a response. "She hath stayed back to watch over the queen."
Freya nodded, knowing that Alexandria was much different now. But, so was Burmecia and everything else in the world. She had no idea how different Fratley was too, but he was helping Steiner lift the large stone and she could hear him murmur her name the moment it came out of her mouth, anger reemerging.
"Beatrix."
Replies to Reviewers:
To all: Thanks for reading this random little piece. I'm not spending much time editing it or checking for clarity as it is all just for fun. Hope you enjoy it.
Community Advertisement: I've started a community with filter requirements. Take a look at it and see if you can think of any good stories that you'd like to put on it. It is, after all, a fan-based community.
Red-eyed dragon gurl: Two months and this is all I come up with… Pretty sad huh? Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it and yeah, I just wanted to do something really different. I don't know if it will be believable, but I've got it planned out in my head.
Ashitaka666: Thanks as always for letting me know that you are reading my stuff. It's the only reward I get for writing it. :)