Vivi (reading my story): Hey Gem. You forgot a disclaimer.
Gem: Yes, I see that I did. I should put that in. Shouldn't I?
Vivi: Yes, you should.
Gem: Okay, then.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE FFIX CHARACTERS. HECK WITH IT. I DON'T EVEN OWN A PS2. I ONLY OWN HOPE.
Eiko: You forgot to mention that there are some spoilers in this chapter.
Gem: Yes, there is a sort of spoiler in this chapter. I never saw the ending scene but I know what happens so this is my take on the end.
Vivi: Okay, you've solved that problem. Now I think that you should continue with the story and maybe leave off in a better place.
Gem: I should and I'll try to.
"Don't Your Highness me or my daughter. It's Dagger. Easy and simple. I hate when people Your Highness me. Oh. This is Hope."
"I'm terribly sorry. I heard the news but haven't been able to come and pay my respects to the new princess. How long has it been since I left Alexandria?"
"Almost six years ago. I wasn't sure what happened when only Eiko returned."
"I remember that...."
Flashback in Steiner's eyes.
"Eiko, slow down. The Hilda Garde 3 won't leave without us."
"I'm too excited. I want to see my hometown and all of the moogles again. I haven't been there in forever."
The ship had crashed on the Outer Continent. Eiko made it to Madain Sari but I was badly hurt. I was in the Black Mage Village recovering and I told Eiko to return to Alexandria and that I would come as soon as I was able to. It took me several years to find an airship that was bound for the Mist Continent.
End of Flashback
"So I stayed her and waited. I wasn't sure if you would be coming back here anytime soon."
"So, we came back because I wanted Hope to see her heritage and to see if you were still alive."
"And to see if he was still alive?" asked Steiner distastefully.
"Yes. I still think that he will come back at some point. He promised to never leave me."
"Mother, who are you talking about?" asked Hope.
"Someone I traveled with a long time ago. He taught me a few things about the world."
"What's his name?"
"His name is Zidane."
"Why was he named that?"
"I don't know."
"Mother, I'm hearing the song that you sing to me."
"The song that I've sung to you over the years is the song of Madain Sari. Eiko also knows the song. Come. There is on other thing that I need to show you."
"Why?"
"I'll explain when we get there."
They headed for the Iifa tree but the way was blocked by the tree's roots.
"It probably got blocked after we defeated it," said Eiko in a dejected tone.
"We should return to Alexandria and see if there isn't a way for us to get around the blockage," Steiner said.
They then headed back to Condai Peit. The group was depressed but Hope was somewhat happy. She knew her heritage now and snuggled in on Eiko's back.
When she woke up, she realized that she was on an airship. Her mother was at the wheel, flying the ship towards Alexandria.
"Mother, why are you flying the ship?" asked Hope.
"I told the pilot that he needed some rest as some point and to go take a nap."
"Oh. Are we near Alexandria?"
"Yes. We will arrive in about an hour."
Two teenagers appeared from the lower decks. They were squinting against the brightness and yawning.
"Where ar-ar-are we?" asked Vivi in the middle of a huge yawn.
"We passed Lindblum an hour ago," Dagger told him.
"So we'll land soon?"
"Yes, and you'll be able to get off of the ship."
Vivi smiled at that. He still was afraid of heights and preferred to travel on foot or by chocobo.
Later that day
"Welcome home, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Doctor Tot. When did you arrive?"
"About ten minutes ago. I heard that you were almost here and wished to greet you."
"Thank you again. When will you start to teach Hope?"
"As soon as tomorrow if I may. Also, may I please see her?"
"Yes. Hope, please come here."
Hope had examined this man fully. He was short and wore glasses and a top hat. He seemed to be a fine person and must've loved to teach.
She came over at her mother's call. Doctor Tot picked her up to his level and studied her as she had studied him.
"Your mother was six when I started teaching her. It is fitting that you should start learning at the same age."
Hope giggled and then smiled at him. She realized that she was going to enjoy learning new things with him.
Hope wandered into her mother's room that night to see if Dagger could answer her new load of questions. Dagger was in the room brushing her long hair.
"Mother?"
"Yes, Hope? Let me guess. You have questions that you want answered?"
Hope nodded.
"Let's hear them."
"Who's my father? Why do I have a horn and a tail?"
"As far as I know right now, your father might be dead. I believe that he is still alive. We were talking about him earlier. He had a tail, which got passed onto you. I once had a horn before I came to Alexandria. That also got passed on."
"Mother, do you mean Zidane?"
"Yes, he had promised to protect me but he never came back. I still have hope that he will come back."
"Why have you traveled all over the world?"
"I'll tell you part of the story tonight. Now come. Into bed with you."
Hope squealed and ran out of the room towards her own. Dagger followed her at a slower pace.
"Seven years ago when I was sixteen, things, strange things, started to happen in Alexandria. I was scared. I considered running away to Lindblum for help. My way there was to sneak onto the Prima Vista. Little did I know that there was a plan to kidnap me set in place by Uncle Cid."
"Uncle Cid planned to kidnap you? Why?"
"He thought that I wouldn't come willingly. Uncle Cid is friends with the leader of the troupe of actors that came on my birthday."
"Dagger? Master Steiner wants to see you," said Vivi, poking his head into the room.
"All right, Vivi. Hope, I'll continue this tomorrow. Go to sleep now."
Eiko: Very nice. Please review.
