Author's Notes: Hey, everyone! I'm early with the updates today, and I wanted to add that I appreciate the feedback that I've received so far. I don't know if you guys received this email or not, but I received one about adding stories to a C2 section of Five Star Final Fantasy. I submitted what I had written so far, but it apparently wasn't good enough to make the cut. Not sure why, but it wasn't. So there! They have spoken! Nevertheless, please keep your feedback coming guys!

We'll know for the first time.
If we're evil or divine,
we're the last in line—

"The Last in Line"—Ronnie James Dio

A Time of Peace. A Time of War

Chapter X

At dawn two men—of nearly identical height—walked through the halls of Alexandria Castle. One of the men had dark hair and eyes, while the other had blonde hair and green eyes. Their swords and armor were stained with a combination of ash, dirt, and blood.

"You're truly amazing, Haldan," the blonde headed man said. "I can't believe we were able to take Alexandria so quickly and so successfully. You certainly knew when to strike."

"That's because life's a game of luck, Mortimer. It was by the power of luck that I happened to walk through Lindblum's Theater District and see the Prince Consort…I was certain that if he was away the queen'd either be with him or be caught off guard without his influence around…It just so happens that my first assumption was correct…Have you learning anything more about the whereabouts of Captain Steiner or General Beatrix?"

"No, I'm afraid not. We haven't found any sign of them yet—dead or alive."

Haldan nodded. "I really don't care if Beatrix's dead, but I wouldn't mind seeing Captain Steiner again."

Haldan stopped to grin. He pointed at the large portrait of Queen Brahne. "Look at this."

"Look at what?"

"This portrait of Queen Brahne, I swear that the queen must've put on a hundred pounds during my stay in the military…I remember that I used to tell some of the guys in the Knights of Pluto—when we were far enough away from Captain Steiner—that if Alexandria ever had an earthquake it probably originated from the Castle."

Mortimer chuckled. "It's hard to believe that someone as fat as Queen Brahne had such a beautiful daughter."

"That's simple; she didn't."

"…What! …What do you mean?"

Haldan smiled. "Simple, Queen Garnet isn't the daughter of Queen Brahne."

"What! How do you know that!"

Haldan chuckled. "I learned a lot of interesting things in the military. Things that I wasn't supposed to know…Things in fact that most of Alexandria doesn't even know."

"Then how do you know?"

"By being at the wrong place at the wrong time and not getting caught."

Mortimer chuckled. "Okay, tell me the story."

Haldan nodded. "Certainly…Twelve years ago the legitimate daughter of the king and queen, Princess Garnet, died from a tragic illness. The queen was overcome with grief over the loss of her daughter, but it just so happened that—at the same time—a boat washed to the shores of Alexandria. Inside the boat were a little girl and her mother. Her mother was dead, and the girl—with a face full of tears—was taken to the Castle. This young girl was the same age—and had a similar appearance—to the recently deceased Princess Garnet, with one exception."

"What's that?"

"The girl had a horn—similar to the one that the adopted daughter of Regent Cid and Lady Hilda, Eiko, has. The king ordered for the horn to be cut, and the girl became the adopted daughter of the king and queen, with only those in the royal inner circle knowing anything about it…The current Queen Garnet you see today is that girl that was washed to the shores of Alexandria twelve years ago."

Haldan paused when he reached the doors of the royal chamber. After he opened them, he stated, "I suppose we could say that the current queen's illegitimate."

Mortimer added to Haldan's point when he entered the newest room that had been added to the royal chamber—a nursery. "I suppose then that the same holds true for the queen and prince's expectant child?"

"…Sort of."

"Sort of! …What do you mean, 'sort of'?"

"Even if all of Alexandria knew the truth about Garnet's origins that doesn't mean it'd necessarily make a difference."

"…Explain?"

"It's not always who's right by bloodline. Sometimes it's who has the most powerful army in the end."

Mortimer chuckled. "Well, you've taken care of that."

"At least for now…I'm certain that the queen'll launch a counterattack…Chances are she'll receive aid from Regent Cid."

"So what do we do?"

"We guard the city. Then we win the support of the citizens. That way, if Garnet launches a counterattack, we'll have the support of the people."

"But how're we going to do that? Alexandria was actually able to pay off its debt without raising anymore taxes. We can't use that line of rhetoric anymore."

"Not necessarily, the people're probably still a little upset over the taxes during the time they were in effect. Plus, what if the truth about Garnet's legitimacy was made known to them?"

"…Do you think they'd care?"

"If they value the traditional bloodline then, yes."

Mortimer smirked. "But you're not part of the traditional bloodline, Haldan."

Haldan returned with a grin. "It doesn't matter…I have the standing army, remember?"