Author's Note: Hey everyone, I just wanted to thank everyone for all the reviews of last chapter. Please keep them coming! This chapter will be one of my longer ones, and will answer some of the questions about how Haldan was able to take Alexandria.

After the war, what does a soldier become?—

"The Aftermath"—Iron Maiden

A Time of Peace. A Time of War

Chapter XI

"What! How did this happen!" exclaimed Garnet.

"This isn't good," replied Zidane. "Dagger's in a very delicate position, and too much stress isn't good for the baby…Calm down, Dagger."

"But, Zidane, it's our kingdom!"

"I know what it is, but I also know that you're pregnant, and that's why I'm asking you to remain calm—for the baby's sake."

Garnet nodded and took a deep breath.

Zidane smiled. "Good."

Then Zidane turned the messenger. "What can you tell us, sir?"

"Not very much, I'm afraid. The message was transmitted to us from Weimar of the Knights of Pluto."

"What about Steiner and Beatrix?" asked Garnet.

"Weimar stated that they were fighting with everything they had to protect Alexandria, and that they asked you not to return to Alexandria until they sent word it was safe."

"That's not going to happen."

"To a point anyway," replied Zidane. "I'll return to Alexandria, but you remain here, Dagger."

"I don't think so! Those're my people! I have to be there!"

Zidane nodded. "I know, but you're seven months pregnant, and…"

"Damn it, Zidane, stop telling me that! I'm aware that I'm seven months pregnant! I'm not stupid. So will you please stop talking to me as though I were a child!"

"You're being reckless…"

"I'm being reckless? What about you? You've got a baby coming in two months, and yet you want to run off and play hero!"

"That's enough, both of you!" replied Cid. "The fact is, is that it'd be foolish to rush in too quickly. We don't know anything about what we're up against."

"Except that it's probably Haldan," said Zidane.

Cid nodded. "Most definitely, but how many people're in his army?"

Zidane crossed his arms, and lowered his eyes to the floor. "I don't know. We haven't heard anything from him in five months."

"Five months is long enough to build an army," replied Baku.

"Yes, but where did he get his men or women from?" asked Garnet. "His voice has been silent in Alexandria."

"That doesn't really matter, Dagger," said Eiko. "What matters is that Haldan's defeated."

Zidane nodded. "Agreed…but what I still can't figure out is…how was he able to take the city—let alone, the Castle?"

"Which is exactly why it'd be foolish to march into Alexandria without knowing our enemy," responded Cid. "Which is why we should wait for some word from either Captain Steiner or General Beatrix."

Zidane paused. "And what if we don't receive word from either of them?"

"Zidane!" exclaimed Garnet.

"Sorry, Dagger, but this is a war! …I don't like to think about it much either, but it can still happen."

Cid nodded. "If that happens then I'll send spies into Alexandria to gather information."

"Uncle Cid…you really don't have to do this."

Cid smiled. "Always considerate, aren't you, Garnet? But Lindblum and Alexandria're allies. Plus, I'm still your Uncle Cid, and that makes me want to help you."

Garnet returned the smile. "Thank you."

Cid turned to his guests. "I think it'd be best if we turned in for the night. We'll discuss our strategy in the morning…And I pray that we'll receive word from both Steiner and Beatrix."

In the early hours of the morning, Steiner and Beatrix—along with their soldiers—arrived in Lindblum through the underground gargant. Their swords and armor were mixed with a combination of blood, dirt, and ash. Plus, they had been wounded—Steiner in the shoulder, Beatrix on the arm. A question was proposed to them of waking up the queen and prince consort, but they refused. They stated that when the queen and prince consort woke up to tell them that they were safe, and that they would tell them everything they wanted to know.
Early that afternoon Zidane, Garnet, Cid, Hilda, and Eiko embraced Steiner and Beatrix in the conference room. Steiner and Beatrix had their wounds bandaged, and they were a rare sight for the members in the conference room—Steiner and Beatrix did not wear their armor.

"I just want to say, again, that I'm glad that the two of you—along with your soldiers—made it out safely," said Zidane. "Dagger and I intend to speak with the soldiers as soon as the meeting's over. But now I have to ask you, what happened?"

"It was my fault, Your Majesty," Steiner began, before Garnet gestured a hand.

"Stop blaming yourself! If anyone's at fault, it's me. I'm the commander of Alexandria's military forces."

"This is the strongest I've ever seen Dagger," replied Zidane. "But she can't place the entire burden on herself…I think some of the blame can fall on me as well."

"Zidane…"

"We let our guard down…all of us…We became too secure, and well…"

Cid nodded. "I'm sure it's safe to say there's plenty of blame to go around. But let's not worry about that right now. What we need to know is, how was Haldan able to take the city?"

"Let alone the Castle," added Zidane.

Beatrix sighed. "The city was taken be surprise."

"Even with all the troops?" replied Garnet.

Steiner nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty, even with all the troops…Haldan's a much better commander than I thought."

"So how was he able to break through?"

"Canon fire."

"Canon fire?" responded Zidane.

Beatrix nodded. "Yes, canon fire. Haldan had a pair of canons. I don't know where he got them, but he had them nevertheless. The first blast destroyed the wall by the gate, and caught the troops off guard. The second blast only added to the confusion."

"…Were many civilians hurt?" asked Garnet.

"We did our best to lead them to safety," replied Steiner. "But Alexandria's a large city, so…I don't know if we were able to rescue everybody."

Garnet nodded. "How many men did Haldan have?"

"We're not sure."

"Can you give us an estimate?" asked Zidane.

Steiner and Beatrix pondered on that question, before Steiner answered, "I'd say around maybe three hundred."

"Now wait a second, I could understand three hundred men and women taking over the city, but the city and the Castle…How were they able to get across the moat? There were archers on the Castle towers, were there not?"

"Yes."

"And they were wearing heavy armor, correct?"

"Yes."

"Which means they couldn't swim across?"

"Yes."

"Wait," interjected Garnet, "what about the Red Rose?"

"We were never able to use it, Your Majesty," replied Beatrix. "And currently it's in Haldan's possession."

"But regardless of which…how in the hell were they able to break through the Castle's defenses!"

Beatrix sighed. "Well, this is going to shock you…"

"It'd have to shock me!"

"They used an eidolon," responded Steiner.

"A what!" exclaimed Garnet and Eiko.

"Now wait a minute," began Zidane, "I thought that with the exception of Eiko, Dagger, and our future baby, there aren't anymore summoners…Isn't that right, Eiko?"

"Yes, as far as I know…But wait…I always thought that I was the last of my tribe, until I met Dagger a few years ago…So maybe there is somebody else."

"Well, if there is, then this person would've had a summoner horn…Did you see a summoner horn?"

"I didn't see anyone with a horn," replied Beatrix.

"Neither did I," added Steiner.

"Then is it possible to summon eidolons without a summoner's horn?"

"Zidane!" began Garnet. "Have you forgotten?"

"…Oh, that's right…I can't believe how stupid I am!"

"But wait!" added Cid. "Kuja summoned an eidolon to attack Alexandria, and he didn't extract eidolons like Brahne did."

"No, but he was from another planet," replied Zidane. "I suppose the question should be asked, is it possible for a person to summon eidolons from this planet, and not extract them from someone else?"

"…It is," replied Eiko.

"How so?"

"If someone possesses a jewel—similar to the ones me and Dagger have—and has learned the rites of summoning then, yes; it's very possible."

"Were there other summoner jewels in Madain Sari?" asked Garnet.

"I don't know, maybe."

"Then perhaps it'd be wise if we investigated Madain Sari," replied Cid.

After Regent Cid finished his statement, Bryce—the guard—knocked on the door. "Excuse me, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, what is it, Bryce?"

"Stiltzkin, the moogle, has brought a letter for Lady Eiko. He says that it's urgent."

"Urgent?" replied Eiko.

"Please bring the letter,"responded Cid.

Bryce brought Eiko the letter and left the conference room.

Eiko read the letter and gasped.

"What is it, Eiko?" began Garnet. "Is something wrong?"

"…This is terrible!"

"Why? What has happened?" asked Cid.

"Moco," Eiko said in a raspy voice

"Moco?" replied Garnet. "Isn't he the moogle that guarded the Eidolon Wall?"

Eiko began to cry. "Moco's dead!"

"What!" exclaimed Zidane and Garnet.

Eiko continued to cry, and she handed the letter to Zidane.

Eiko, I don't know how to put this to you—I really don't; and it's hard for all of us to accept too. But yesterday, Moco was killed by two men. One was a light haired man, and the other was a dark headed man. Moco was brave! He died fulfilling his duty—defending the Eidolon Wall. I don't know how busy you are in Lindblum, but we wish you would come home.

Please come home soon,

Morrison

"…This letter was written some time ago," added Zidane. "Who knows exactly how long? …What do you think?"

"I think I need to go home to Madain Sari!" replied Eiko. "I have too!"

Zidane nodded, and placed his hands on Eiko's shoulders. "And we'll come with you!"

Garnet also placed a hand on Eiko's shoulder. "Yes, we will!"