A/n: Ah, so I lied, all you AL Bhed's. Next Chappie. Misscalculation, on my part, sorries. Alright, so wendsday! Closer than thursdays, I suppose. Sorry I'm late all the time... Thank you- Beastiewolf(awesome Al bheding, and sorry about not including you in the shout out's last time...), Malevalla, Rose Mage, Pilotsolver, Lori, Neo Nao Neo, La Llama, andTook-Baggins! You're awesome...

Kay, I'm thinking the yaoi haters better cover thier eyes in the next chapter. >.>;;

Disclaimers: I don't own any Final Fantasy IX chara, nor do I own theHGttG refreances. Sorries fer dissipointing peoples.

Beautiful Equilibrium

The midnight air was tastefully stale as it hung about the trees, a dense mist settling itself comfortably on the ground across the mossy floor in the forest two miles from Lindblum. The twin moons hung their scarlet blue shine like a thin veil over Gaia's earth, wispy clouds moving before them only to cower away from their wrathful glow minutes later. Past the snickering stream, tall pines, ashy oaks and powerful birch stood the rubble of a once humbly beautiful little cave, now torn down by bickering, hate and fear.

Inside, the breathing of Black Waltz Three could be heard resonating across the jagged walls, the acoustics tweaked indefinitely by the blocked entrance. The winged figure sat with his knees to his chest in the corner, watching with no expression as the dimming firelight of their light source flickered, gasped for breath, then died... and for the first time in his life, Three felt truly alone.

Upon his awakening he had discovered his guilty conscious had left him, it's purpose thinking served. The waltz was now thoroughly aware of the source of his hate, convinced by his own emotion. It was true, he concluded, that he spat malice and drank loathing because of fear, and had also come to the stunning realization that this, in fact, was the reason why Kuja had been able to control him.

As it was with the Black Mages, Three had been "born" unaware. He felt nothing but what his master wanted him to feel, he knew nothing but what he was told, and did nothing but what he'd been bade. His whole life, his actions had been influenced by a single, omnipotent being who had played him like a strung up mannequin, for lack of a better simile. Naturally, after he had been cut off from this guided life, he struggled to continue the way he had once lived in content.

And naturally, he failed.

He didn't know why Kuja forced him to hate the ones he did, so he made an excuse for himself. If they're better than you, you hate them. He had mistaken the feeling of abhor for the emotion of fear.

So now he sat, floundering in his own helplessness, drowning in questions. The only answer he could come to was that he... he needed help.

His crimson eyes found his only companion in this cloud of confusion, past the dying embers of charcoal that was his only source of light. The unconscious, shivering form of Vivi Orunitia.

Before this had happened, he had done the best he could for him. The injuries Three had caused when repeatedly slamming the back of his head into various objects were worse than he thought, and had became the reason of the Mage's condition. Blood loss.

He had taken the tail coats of Vivi's jacket, ripping them to shreds to create a bandage around his forehead and covering the blood soaked tendrils of hair. In doing this, though, he had found something even more interesting. The tailcoats had already been ripped, and the same marital had been wrapped around Three's busted arm.

A twang of guilt flooded him as he thought back on that, shaking his head. There was really nothing he could do...

He blinked as he saw another cold spasm from Vivi. Maybe he could...

He stood shakily, slowly making his way over to the fire. He muttered a few incantations he had almost forgotten, his forte being thunder magic, and the fire sprang to life, the waltz throwing the rest of his salvaged firewood on the hungry flames. After making sure it was rising steadily, he wandered over to Vivi, biting his lip as he stood over him.

He remembered the argument with himself all too well, how the only chance he had of staying alive was to befriend the unconscious teenager. But, if he did (by some miracle) survive this, what would there be to live for?

...making them pay.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, a low growl coming to forth from his lungs. Again he felt the anger rising hate coming to his heart, but this time it wasn't placed on the precipice of fear. This time it was locked correctly, crosshairs slammed on Two and One. He would make them pay for abandoning him, and this was his reason for living.

...but wasn't that the mistake he made in the first place? Basing his life around hate, pushing his brothers away to the point where they would forsake him if they got a chance...?

He growled shaking his head. It didn't matter. Now he had his obligation, and his egotistical bubble had been popped. He would sink to this level.

Three grabbed the brim of his hat with one hand, the straps of his jacket with the other.

He would live through this.

†

Black Waltz Two was now silent, watching dismally as a dark cloud of sorrow grew over his head. It was true that he hadn't expected Garnet to jump up and rush out there, but it was also true that the longer they waited, the more chance there was that Three and Vivi were both dead. He shook his head, sighing and leaning against a pillar at the edge of Alexandria's harbor, crossing his arms protectively.

After presenting the case, he was told that he and One would have to wait in a guest room until tomorrow, when the would set off- tomorrow, though was too long of a time to spend in a closed room, guards outside and One annoying the hellish sanity out of him inside. He had snuck out only to find that there was really no where to go- the town he once knew had changed so much over the past years, and he knew if he took a step in one direction, he wouldn't be able to get back. So he stood and waited by the dock, bubbling fountian behind him, paved stones beneath, and worry eating away inside.

"Usually, when I tell someone to stay in their room, they do it."

He blinked, glancing behind him, blinking as a figure in a white robe made it's way up to him.

"But I would expect something like this from a Black Waltz." The cloaked form lifted it's head- revealing beautiful chocolate eyes, dark fudge hair and milk skin.

"Q-queen Garnet!" Two stuttered, instantly going into a respectful bow. "Uh, err, my apologies, I just... don't really do very well in small places..."

She raised a brow. "Is that so?" The raven haired beauty sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Relax, Black Waltz Two. I'm not going to report you or anything silly like that. Although I probably should, you being a famous murderer and all."

Two winced slightly as he stood straight. "Well, if I may, your majesty... I wouldn't hurt you."

This seemed to get her attention. She stopped, blinking at him. "Y-you wouldn't hurt me?"

He shook his head, but his gaze was well averted by this point. "I... I'm more of a pacifist, really. More so than my brothers, anyway. Violence... always left a sour taste in my mouth."

Garnet's expression softend a little, but she was still confused. Wasn't this the treacherous Waltz who had been sent to kidnap her in Dali? The mocking, self absorbed, egotistical, evil bastard who had challenged her friends in a duel to the death for her life? She remembered him as the very same, great blue and green wings with single smooth gold, crimson amber eyes...

...but if he was the same monster who had threatened lives... her life, her freinds lives... why did she feel... sorry for him?

She bit her lip softly, her voice barely heard by both over the noise of running water. "...I believe you."

Two blinked up at her, genuinely surprised. "You... you do?"

The Queen nodded softly, glancing downwards. "I... don't know why, Two, but you seem... different, from when I last... met you." She allowed herself a private smile. "Seeing as you were trying to kill me then."

"Not kill, capture." He corrected, although a grimace lingered in his eyes. "And It's not like I had much of a choice. What with the voice in the back of my head always telling me what my mission was, the same annoying murderous monotone, I could-" He stopped.

They stood in silence.

Garnet was staring at him wide eyed, Two looking as though he was rewinding his brain. Finally, after a long while of recollection, an intelligent noise was made.

"Ah..."

...well, not so intelligent.

"Are... you telling me that you were... Unaware? Like the Black Mages?" Garnet whispered, her bright eyes inquisitive.

"..." Two turned quickly, almost in mock imitation of his grumpier sibling. "...I... yes, your majesty. Much like... the Mages, we were also rendered unaware..." The woman almost saw a shiver run through him. "...but not."

"..but not?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "We weren't in control of our own actions, if that's what the definition of 'Unaware' is. Our minds though... our minds..." Quietly, he put a hand to his forehead. "Were captive... I myself was created wrongfully, a... reject, if you will. My personality, most unlike my brother's Hito and Mittsu, was the opposite of a perfect warrior, which is what the Black Waltz's were created to be. So I... watched... while Kuja ordered me about like some... doll, helpless as if pulled about by invisible mannequin strings, watching my own hands kill and pillage and murder..."

He suddenly clenched his hands, Garnet cringing as he yelled, a hateful, waltz-like voice replacing his usual innocent melody, "I hated it! Every moment of my life was a walking nightmare, everyday a terrible relevance of my awful existence, born to carry on this life I lead because of the simple fact of my sinful birth, my cries unheard because I had not spoke them, my reaching scorned because I had not made the move- I was terrified! And I-- I-..."

Fading breath left a cold chill lingering on the former Princess, but she was really unable to shiver. This whole time she had despised the Waltz's for what they had attempted seven years ago... but now... now... She quietly placed a sympathetic hand on the winged form's shoulder, Two glancing back gloomily.

"...I'm sorry, Two. For all the citizens of Alexandria, I apologize."

Unchanging eyes started expressionless at her, then finally looking away, but keeping his face a profile glance to her. "Keep it, Queen Garnet."

Her head almost jerked back in alarm. "What?"

"I do not need your sympathy." He muttered, almost seeming indifferent. "I Do not beg for your forgiveness. I can live with the hate your people, and all others, throw at me. I can take the death threats and ugly words, the accusations and blame. I tell you the truth of my existence not to stir pity for me in you, or anyone else, but for the simple fact that it is the truth. And everyone deserves to know the truth, I think." He glanced back at her, his polite, earnest smile faintly appearing in his eyes. "I can live with the hate, Miss Alexandros. But I can't think of living a life without my brothers."

She smiled softly, patting his shoulder. "I wouldn't want you to even imagine it, Black Waltz Two."

"Dyuetto." Two corrected, smiling a little.

Garnet nodded a bit. "Dyuetto."

They stood in silence, until the waltz stood straight, shaking himself as if clearing misery the way a fang shakes off water. "Well then. I suppose I should return to my quarters..." He turned, beginning to walk off, when he stopped. "Miss Alexandros, I would appreciate it if you would not tell your comrades about my little... confession... Hitotsu would be quite cross at me if he knew I had told you."

"Dagger."

He blinked. "Eh?"

She gave him a smile that suddenly reminded him of Zidane. "Please, Dyuetto, call me Dagger. Your secret is safe with me."

He smiled slightly, nodding and walking a ways... before stopping again. "Miss Al- ...Dagger? May I ask you... what were you doing out here?"

She smiled softly, lowering her head a little- to hide her slight blush. "I'm- I'm meeting someone."

Two raised a questioning brow, but it seemed to come to him. "Ah. Pleasant Evening... Dagger."

"You too, Dyuetto."

†