Edonil: Hi! 'Tis me! Yeah, I'm updating on Christmas Day… I have no life. None whatsoever. Anywho… Somebody asked me to explain the reason behind Steiner's prejudices. There are several reasons, the most prominent being I don't like Steiner. Other reasons include him being a prejudiced jerk during the game, and it being something to write.

Disclaimer/Claimer: FFIX isn't mine, Crims, Avylonn, Sarah, and Saniiro are.

Have a Very Merry Christmahanakwanza!

To Change

Chapter Thirty-Five

"Now, what exactly is the problem?"

Beatrix and Steiner were sitting in Beatrix's office. Beatrix did not look pleased. Steiner was trying his best not to wilt under her stare.

"Nothing."

"Hah! Now, what do you have against Saniiro?"

"He's just… He was too outspoken, and he didn't follow orders. He was not knight material."

"So? Couldn't you just dismiss him?"

"I did! But he continued to defy authorities."

"How so? I thought he just ran around saving people."

"Alexandria's people do not need saving!"

Beatrix appeared to think for a moment. Then suddenly, she laughed.

"I get it! You don't like being wrong, do you, Adelbert?"

"What do you mean?"

"Saniiro was telling you that the knights weren't doing a very good job. You fired him. Then he proved it!" Beatrix broke down in a gale of giggles.

---

This really was rather humorous. Steiner didn't look particularly happy, though. Beatrix loved him dearly, but the knight wasn't always the brightest fellow. Too bad.

"Beatrix… I wasn't wrong. I mean, there might be a few ruffians on the streets-"

"Actually, I hear there's a lot. Oh, I meant to ask you if you'd mind if I sent out more soldier patrols. Your knights need help."

"Beatrix, that's not true! I let you have a few soldiers out there, but… I really don't need help."

"Yes you do, Adelbert." The poor fool. He'd never admit he needed help. Especially since he'd be receiving help from Beatrix. The poor, fluff-brained fool.

---

Zidane looked at the paperwork in dismay. How could there be so much? Steiner went through all of it first, and made sure Zidane didn't get any trash! What was wrong with the rust-covered knight?

Hearing a sigh, Zidane looked over to see how Dagger was fairing. Little better than himself, by the looks of it. He could barely see her over the huge pile.

Life wasn't fair.

Zidane looked at the first letter. A cover letter, outlining what was in the colossal pile. It was signed by Weimer. That explained something; whenever Steiner got one of his knights to do his work for him, there was always more for Zidane to do.

The cover letter was brief. Some petitions from villagers, a couple complaints about this and that, several things to sign… Not really all that complicated. Good. Zidane didn't like complicated.

The first thing he looked at was a letter complaining about taxes. Since Alexandria's taxes were lower than the taxes of the surrounding cities, Zidane shoved it off to the side. Next was a petition to kick Kuja out. How did the townspeople know he was here? Oh well. Zidane didn't care. The petition went on top of the complaint. Then was some letter from some woman about something that confused Zidane. That letter went on the 'Junk Pile' as well. Then a letter from some ex-knight about the state of Alexandria's streets…

That letter was rather interesting. From the way it was written, Zidane got the impression the writer had sent several other, similar letters. Perhaps Zidane had never gotten them because Steiner was doing something about the problem. But the way it was written… Odd. Zidane carefully put it on the other side of his desk, in his 'Not-Junk Pile'.

---

Avylonn looked out the window. It was sunny. There were birds flying around and chirping insanely. People were milling about in the streets.

And she was stuck inside.

Her injuries were mild but many. A lightly sprained ankle was the worst. Other than that, she was covered in bruises, her other wrist had been twisted, and she had numerous scratches. She thought she was well enough to go to the city.

But her parents disagreed. Her mother said Avylonn ought to stay indoors for a day, to make sure they'd found all her injuries. Her father had muttered something about townspeople being a 'bad influence'. Clearly he had talked to Steiner.

Somebody knocked on her door. "Avylonn?" It was her father. Oh dear. Was he going to fuss again?

"Come in!"

Her father looked a little nervous. What was the matter with him? Was he ok?

"Avylonn, your mother and I have been talking, and we think that Alexandria is a rather dangerous place. Not a good place for you to explore. But we also think that you should make some friends, so we were thinking perhaps we could all go to Treno."

"Treno?"

"Yes. I have a mansion there. There are lots of people your own age. There's even a school you could attend."

"But… School? Father, I can already read, write, and do arithmetic. I know Gaia's history, and am well-versed in the sciences. I excel at magic. Why would I want to go to school?"

"I believe there's a private school for the 'intellectually gifted'. Perhaps you could meet people with similar interests."

"I guess…"

"Splendid! We don't want to move until you're fully recovered, of course, and I want to go ahead and make sure our mansion is liveable. We could go in… a month, perhaps."

"Sounds good…"

Moving. It figured. She'd finally met somebody her own age, and her parents didn't like him. So they were moving. So instead of being Kuja's daughter in a town Kuja had destroyed, she'd be Kuja's daughter in a town were Kuja was one of the elite upper class. She would be on of the elite upper class.

It wasn't fair.

Edonil: Me again! Well, what did you think? You like? I explained why Steiner doesn't like Saniiro! Please R&R, and have a great Christmahanakwanza!