Author's Note: Greetings everyone! Sorry that it's been a while again, but last week was a bitch. Nevertheless, I have another chapter up—and it looks to be the longest one that I have written in a while; so I hope that all of you will continue to read and review!

The old ones speak of winter.
The young ones praise the sun.
And time just slips away.
Running into nowhere,
turning like a wheel,
and a year becomes a day.
Whenever we dream,
that's where we fly.
So here is a dream,
for just you and I.
We'll find the sacred heart.
It's somewhere bleeding in the night.
Run for the light.
And find the sacred heart—

"Sacred Heart"—Ronnie James Dio

A Time of Peace. A Time of War

Chapter IX

Five months passed since the day Zidane received Haldan's letter, and during that time news was very quiet. Haldan's presence had not been felt among the Alexandrian citizens. And because Zidane and Garnet felt secure, they decided to visit Regent Cid.

"Dagger!" exclaimed Eiko, when Garnet and Zidane arrived. "Look at you!"

Garnet blushed, and rubbed her hand over her very pregnant belly. "What do you mean, Eiko?"

Eiko smiled. "You look so radiant!"

And she turned to Zidane. "Zidane, you'd better tell Dagger how radiant she is! …Because a pregnant woman has these days when she feels fat and ugly."

Garnet smiled, and turned to Zidane. "Eiko's certainly a smart girl for her age, isn't she, Zidane?"

Zidane returned the smile. "Of course she is! We've known that since we first met her!"

Zidane placed his arms around Garnet, and looked at Eiko. "And there isn't a day that has gone by where I haven't told Dagger how beautiful she is!"

Zidane kissed Garnet's temple.

But Eiko placed her hands on Garnet's belly.

"Eiko, what're you doing?" asked Garnet.

Eiko responded by placing an ear on the belly. "I'm trying to hear the baby…I think it's a boy."

Garnet chuckled. "It could be a girl."

"No, it's a boy…He kicked…I bet that makes Zidane all happy; knowing he's going to have a boy!"

Zidane chuckled. "Well, Eiko, we don't know what the baby's going to be…"

"But you want it to be a boy, don't you?" Eiko replied with a look.

Zidane continued to chuckle. "I just want it to be healthy, that's all…I don't care if it's a girl or a boy."

But Eiko kept her look.

"Well," continued Zidane, "it's going to be a while before dinner, so I thought I'd visit the Theater District, and hang out with the Tantalus boys for a while…Maybe I'll have something to eat at the pub I used to visit since I heard it's been rebuilt…I just hope some of the old patrons're there."

Cid nodded. "Of course! Enjoy yourself! This is your first time away in a while from your royal duties."

"Uncle Cid?"

"Yes, Garnet?"

"Would it be all right if the members of Tantalus joined us for dinner? …I haven't seen them in a while."

"Certainly! That can be arranged."

Zidane smiled. "Thank you, Regent Cid…Well, I'm off for a while. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

And Zidane gave a goodbye kiss to Garnet before he left the castle.

When Zidane entered his former home, his first response was, "Hey, everyone! I'm home!"

The members turned and gasped.

"Well, if prince charming himself hasn't come to visit us!" replied Baku, while he placed an arm around Zidane. "Welcome home, my boy!"

Zidane smiled. "Thanks, Boss…It's good to be home again."

Tantalus hugged their former member.

"So what're you doing in Lindblum?" asked Cinna.

"Dagger and I decided to visit Regent Cid. We haven't seen him in a while."

"The same goes for you too, Zidane," replied Blank with a smile. "Or perhaps I should call you, 'Mr. New Dad!'"

Zidane laughed. "Well, the baby won't be born for another two months."

"I can't see you changing your kid's diapers," responded Marcus.

"Eh, I don't think Zidane'll have to worry about that," said Baku. "I understand that royals hire nurses for their kids."

"We discussed that actually," replied Zidane; "and we decided that we didn't want to do that…If necessary we'll have a babysitter."

"So, Zidane," began Cinna, "you want it to be a boy, don't you?"

Blank laughed. "Yeah, it'll be a blonde haired boy with blue eyes and a tail that's going to be a better thief than his father."

Zidane smiled. "Well, he might have dark hair and eyes; and possibly he'll have a summoner horn too…That is, if it's a boy…Of course he or she may not've a tail either."

Marcus chuckled. "You don't have to say 'she' or 'girl,' Zidane. We know that you want it to be a boy."

Zidane kept his smile. "Hey, now, I never said that!"

But the Tantalus members shot Zidane a look that was similar to Eiko's.

"Anyway, I came by here because I wanted to ask you guys two questions. First, would you like to join us at the Regent's for dinner? Second, would you like to come with me for some lunch and a drink at the old pub we used to visit?"

"Yeah, I'm up for that!" said Blank.

"Same here!" replied Marcus.

"You can count me in!" added Cinna.

"Well, now," began Baku, "it wouldn't be like the old days if the boss didn't come along, so I'm coming too!"

While Zidane and Tantalus chatted through the streets of Lindblum, a moderately tall man—with dark hair and eyes—glared at Zidane as he walked past him. Zidane turned, but the man continued to walk by. Zidane did notice that the man was armed with a broad sword, and some light armor under his clothes.

"Is something wrong, Zidane?" asked Cinna.

"Yeah…that guy shot me a look as he walked by…I was hoping that he'd turn around, so I could confront him."

"I don't think I've ever see him before," replied Cinna.

"Neither have I," responded Blank.

"I have," added Marcus.

"Where at?" asked Baku.

"Yeah, where at?" glared Zidane.

"At the pub."

"The one we're going to?" continued Zidane.

"No, a different one."

"What's his name?"

"I don't know. He doesn't stay in the pub for very long."

Zidane said nothing.

"Well, I don't think we should worry about it," replied Blank. "Let's just head to the pub."

The rest of Tantalus nodded, and made their way to the Industrial District.

Although over two years had passed since Queen Brahne attacked Lindblum—and destroyed the Industrial District—the area had slowly rebuilt, but repairs were still being made. The bar that Zidane used to visit had been rebuilt, but some of the staff and patrons that Zidane had befriended lost their lives that day.

Zidane purchased drinks for himself, his brothers, and the bar owner—whom he was familiar with from his days as a citizen of Lindblum.

"So," began Cinna, while he took a large gulp of his beer, "what's the latest on Haldan?"

Zidane took a drink. "Not much, he's been silent for the last five months."

"Maybe he's faded away," replied Marcus.

"It's possible…But I really wonder."

"Why's that?" asked Blank.

"Because we haven't caught him. I'd feel much better if we captured him."

"Has he been recruiting more people?" asked Baku.

Zidane took another drink. "In Alexandria the answer's, no. Outside of Alexandria, I really don't know."

"You should've hired us," added Baku.

"We couldn't do that. We had to sell off Dagger's jewels—and some of our royal treasures—to pay off the reparations."

Baku nodded. "We're always willing to help you, Zidane…But even we need a little bit of money. We'd charge you a discount…But we'd still have to charge you."

Zidane returned the nod. "I understand that, Boss…Well, let's have a few more drinks and then go to the castle."

When Zidane returned with Tantalus to the castle, Garnet was quick to meet and greet everyone. However, the members gasped when they saw Garnet. Her belly was huge. And sometimes when the members talked to her, their eyes would turn to her belly. Garnet would smile and point to her face; to remind the members of what was and what was not her face. Despite her politeness, she secretly hated the stares. They made her feel fat.

Dinner was a hearty one—plenty of meats, vegetables, and drinks. After dinner Zidane, Garnet, Tantalus, Regent Cid, Hilda, Eiko, and Minister Artania relaxed in the castle's master room. Garnet reclined on Zidane's lap.

"Your Majesty!" a guard shouted, while he knocked on the door.

"Yes? What is it, Bryce?"

"I have an urgent message for Queen Garnet and Prince Zidane."

Garnet left Zidane's lap.

And Zidane left his chair as well. "Let the man enter."

Regent Cid nodded, and opened the door for the guard to enter.

The guard bowed to Regent Cid, Lady Hilda, Eiko, and Artania, before he turned to Garnet and Zidane.

"Yes?" began Garnet. "What's the message?"

"Alexandria's under attack!"

"What!" replied Zidane.