Have you ever felt,
the future is the past?
But you don't know how?
A reflected dream of a captured time.
Is it really now?
Is it really happening?
Don't know why I feel this way.
Have I dreamt this time, this place?
Something vivid comes again into my mind.
And I think I've seen your face.
Seen this room.
Been in this place.
All my hopes and expectations,
looking for an explanation.
Have I found my destination?
I just can't take no more.
The dream is true.
The dream is true.
The dream is true.
The dream is true—

"Dream of Mirrors"—Iron Maiden

A Time of Peace. A Time of War

Chapter XIV

At dusk the next day Zidane, Steiner, Beatrix, and Eiko returned with Vivi, Freya, Quina, and Amarant. When the four entered the conference room they gasped at Garnet's belly.

Garnet's reply was to smile, and rub her belly. "What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a pregnant woman before?"

"Yeah," began Vivi. "It's just weird because the last time I saw you, you weren't pregnant."

Garnet laughed. "Well, things change in a couple of months, Vivi."

Freya chuckled. "So it seems. From what I can tell, you and Zidane have been a little busy!"

"Hmph!" replied Amarant. "I just can't believe that a miniature version of Zidane's going to be wandering around the world!"

Zidane laughed. "Well, maybe you could get together with Lani, have a couple of kids, and then your kids could to battle with mine."

"Lani! The hell would I want with her!"

Zidane continued to laugh, and fell to his knees.

"Amarant," began Regent Cid, "do try to mind your manners. You're in a royal court."

Amarant nodded. "I know where I'm at, Regent Cid, but I also know that if someone asks me a question I give them an honest answer…Besides, I seriously doubt that Zidane asked me to come along here because he cared about my manners. I came along, because Zidane asked me to help…"

"Wait! You're coming along because Zidane asked you to help!" interjected Garnet.

"Yeah…it gets boring being a security guard sometimes."

Garnet chuckled. So did everyone else.

But Freya returned the party to a serious level. "Speaking of help, Zidane, why don't you tell us what our strategy is?"

Zidane nodded. "Before I explain my strategy, I have to ask Regent Cid a question."

"What's that, Zidane?"

"I have to ask you, how many troops can you give us? And how many airships can you give us?"

"You can have as many as you believe it'll be necessary to reclaim Alexandria."

Zidane smiled. "Thank you, Regent…Now then, since that's been said, here's how I see it. We're going to have to fight Haldan on two fronts—the city and the Castle. We'll create a diversion from the air that'll allow our troops—both Alexandrian and Lindblum—to enter the city. These troops'll reclaim the city for us, and'll also make sure that civilians stay out of harms way.

A second group'll be divided into two. One'll attack from the air—that'll eventually land inside the Castle's courtyard—while the other'll attack from Alexandria Harbor."

"Where does summoning Alexander come into play?" asked Eiko.

"Wait!" interjected Freya. "Before you answer that, Zidane, I have a question."

"What's that?"

"Don't you remember what happened the last time Alexander was summoned? Part of the tower fell apart, and you and Dagger were nearly killed!"

"Yeah, but Garland and Kuja were responsible for that."

Eiko nodded. "That's correct. An eidolon always responds to the calls of its master, unless some outside force is able to act against it. Technically, Alexander didn't hurt Alexandria that day; it was the actions of Garland that affected me and Dagger's pendants."

"When would be the appropriate time to summon Alexander?" asked Garnet.

"Whenever we see another eidolon summoned."

"Well," began Zidane, "I think that takes care of everything. Why don't we unwind for a bit? But remember, we begin the re-conquest of Alexandria before daybreak."

"Which means we're not finished," added Garnet.

"Huh?"

"You forgot to mention something crucial, Zidane."

"I did?"

"Yes, who's going to be fighting where tomorrow?"

Zidane gasped. "Wow! Dagger caught me on that one. She certainly HAS become a much stronger queen since I returned to Alexandria…Wow! How stupid of me to forget that one!"

"And he's our fearless leader for tomorrow," replied Amarant.

"Hey now! I led the strategy to defeat Kuja, didn't I?"

"Luck!"

Zidane chuckled. "You never change, do you, Amarant?"

The former bounty hunter smiled. "Only when I have to."

Zidane returned the smile. "Well then, I think that Steiner and Beatrix'll have to lead a group of soldiers. I think that Steiner should lead the group of soldiers into Alexandria, and that Vivi should accompany him."

"Okay," responded Vivi.

"And that Beatrix should lead the assault into Alexandria Harbor, and that Freya should accompany her."

Freya nodded. "I'll do my best to assist General Beatrix."

"Finally, I'll lead the attack from the air. And coming with me'll be Amarant, Quina, and Eiko."

"Oh, goodie! Will we get yummy-yummies inside the Castle?"

"I'll keep an eye on you for Dagger," said Eiko.

"Looks like it's two years ago all over again," replied Amarant.

Zidane smiled. "That is, of course, if Dagger approves of my strategy."

Garnet nodded. "You have my support, Prince Consort Zidane Tribal."

Zidane was stunned. "Dagger, you don't have to address me like that!"

But Garnet smiled.

Zidane and Garnet were in bed early that evening. But Zidane was restless. So was Garnet, but she had managed to fall asleep. For a while, Zidane sat upright in bed. Then finally, he left the covers to stare at the two moons. But his movements woke Garnet.

"What're you doing?" she asked.

Zidane jumped. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

Garnet giggled. "Caught you off guard again, didn't I?"

Zidane chuckled. "Well…maybe just a little."

Garnet smiled. "So, what're you doing?"

"I'm looking at the two moons."

"The two moons?"

"Yeah."

"What's so special about them?"

"Whenever, I'm restless—or have a lot on my mind—I often stare at them."

"…You're worried about tomorrow, aren't you?"

"Yeah…It's kind of the 'calm before the storm,' you know?"

"…I wish I could go with you."

"I know you do," Zidane added, while he re-entered the bed. "But you know that's impossible."

Zidane massaged his wife's belly, and kissed it.

Garnet ran her fingers through her husband's hair. "What do you think about when you stare at the moons?"

"All kinds of things. I've been doing it for a long time."

"How long?"

"…I really don't know…At least since I was a boy growing up in the Theater District."

"What did you think of then?"

"…I think I thought about the training Baku put me through, and all the boys too…And I thought some about my parents."

"Your parents?"

"Yeah, I wanted to find out who they were, what they were like, etc…"

Zidane lifted his head to Garnet. "Of course, I didn't know how shocked I'd be when I learned the truth."

"You were staring at the two moons the night you came back to Alexandria?"

"…Yeah, I was." And with a smile, he added, "That's why you caught me off guard."

Garnet giggled. "So, what were you thinking that day?"

"I was thinking about where home is for me. I obviously have a home in Lindblum, but on that night, I thought that home was now in Alexandria."

Garnet smiled, and kissed him. "So, what were you thinking about tonight?"

"The past."

"The past?"

"Yeah."

"The past in a good way, I hope?"

Zidane chuckled. "Always!"

"Like what?"

"Well…I thought a lot about growing up here in Lindblum. And hanging out with the Tantalus boys. I thought about the first time we met. I thought about our trip together—but not just us. I thought about Vivi, Steiner, Freya, Eiko, Amarant, Regent Cid, Hilda, and Beatrix. I thought about our wedding day. And I thought about the day that I learned I was going to be a father."

Garnet smiled. "I want all those good days to continue."

Zidane returned the smile. "They will."

Garnet nodded but turned away. "Yes, but…you're having to march off to war tomorrow."

"I don't have a choice."

"I know that, but…I wish I could go with you…to help protect you…Just like you helped protect me."

Zidane kissed her, and ran his fingers through her hair. "Our friends'll protect me, just as I'll protect them. But right now, Dagger, I need you to protect something more important than me."

"What's that?"

"The baby."