Edonil: Hi everybody! I was hoping more people would guess who the mysterious man is… I'm not going to tell you for a chapter or two, so please, continue to guess! Oh, and once again, I'm going to ask you if you'd like to read a story about Crims. It wouldn't be started until around Christmas break. I think it might be interesting… Please give me your opinions!

Disclaimer/Claimer:
Final Fantasy does not belong to me,
For it is a fanfic, you see.
But Crims, she is mine,
For she isn't in 9.
I, too, own Sarah, who's cute as can be.

Advertisement: There is a land that is far, far away, a land plagued by Daemons. The Fae, the civilians of the land, are worried. Only one group of heroes can save the Fae. To read this exciting tale, Seond, please go to my website (see my bio).

To Change

Chapter Nineteen

Zidane leafed through a pile of papers on his desk. Who knew being a ruler was so much work? Stupid paper… Couldn't Dagger look at this junk? She might actually care about taxes and numbers and stuff. Zidane, who had never paid a tax in his life, since he had stolen just about everything he'd ever owned, couldn't care less. Now the jumble of papers from the civilians, asking for stuff. Tax cuts, and more soldiers patrolling, and more money given to this and that. Stupid civilians. If they were so upset, why didn't they do something? Didn't they know by now that sending in a polite letter got them nowhere?

Hey, a letter from Kuja! Awesome! But Kuja never sent letters… Curious, Zidane opened it.

"My gosh," he whispered. "I thought… My gosh."

---

Dagger was sitting in the library, reading a book. Beatrix had taken custody of Sarah for the day. It was delightfully… quiet.

Then the quiet was broken by her husband.

"Zidane, do you have to be so lou- What is it?" Dagger asked, catching sight of his face.

"It's… Kuja. I… Read this." Dagger took the letter from Zidane's shaking hand.

"Hmm… What? Pregnant? But they aren't… How lovely! A daughter! And… Oh my! Oh dear! How awful! Poor Kuja. Poor Crims. This is horrible! WHAT?! How did he… Zidane, we have to do something! If he's…"

---

"You morons! This is why those soldiers keep beating us at everything!" Steiner yelled at his troops. "You fools! Now, Mullenkedheim, you start off the drill!"

"Yes, Sir!" Mullenkedheim promptly swung up his sword. The momentum caused him to fall over.

"You fool!" Steiner yelled. "What is wrong with you!"

"Uh… Captain?"

"Get up!"

"Captain, I can't. My armor is too heavy."

"Eidolons preserve me, why did I get stuck with you fools?"

"Hey, Rusty!" All the knights snickered as Zidane rushed into the room, Dagger in tow.

"RUSTY?! I am Captain-"

"Whatever. Look, we have an emergency. Will you come here for a moment. I'm sure these fools can manage on their own for a bit."

"Yes, Sir." How Steiner hated having to obey that thief! "Knights, practice the drill! I want to see it done properly when I get back."

"Yes, Sir!" the knights said, amid various clanking noises when they tried to salute and accidentally brained the knight next to them.

"What is it?" Steiner asked once the three had left the room.

"It's… Kuja. Read this." Zidane handed Steiner a letter. Steiner muttered slightly as he read it.

"What? He's not even married… That good-for-nothing… The both of them are… What's this? Oh! Oh dear! This is… What? Him? Here? Alive?" He turned to Zidane and Dagger. "We'll have to do something at once!"

"I know. Steiner can you make sure the castle is on full alert? If this is the same person who paid Crims to off me…" Zidane looked a little worried. "Somehow, I wouldn't be surprised." Dagger nodded.

"Of course! Right away!" Steiner hurried off, looking for Beatrix.

---

"Kuja! There's a letter for you! From Alexandria!"

"… Alright."

"Kuja, it wasn't your fault."

"But if it weren't for me…"

"Then our daughter would never have been born. Don't worry, Kuja."

"Crims, don't tell me not to worry! You've cried yourself to sleep ever since she was taken! You're just as worried as I am!"

"I know, but… Come read the letter."

Kuja walked over and picked up the letter. It didn't look like Zidane's handwriting…

Kuja,

We got your letter. How horrible! We'll do everything we can to help! We have the entire castle in full alert, just in case he comes back. If Crims is there, can you ask her if the kidnapper and the person who paid her to kill me are one and the same? If so, he might come back for me. Come to Alexandria. He's more likely to come here if we're both here. Please hurry. You could be in danger there!

Zidane and Dagger

Crims turned to Kuja. "You know, it completely slipped my mind, but it… It is the same man who hired me. Why… Is it because I didn't kill Zidane?"

"No, no," Kuja assured her. "Remember what I told you about my past? He's…"

Edonil: Keep guessing! Can anyone guess who it is? Maybe I won't tell you until I have, say... five guesses. I currently have one. Oh, and I'm at 11931 words. Go me! It's Nov. 28 today.