Chapter 1
-Rumors-
"Dali, a farming community on the plateau near South Gate border between Alexandria and Lindblum. It's considered a vital village among all the nations on the Mist Continent, providing vast amounts of provisions guaranteeing food in every home with no issue whatsoever. While growing up, my parents always paid visits to this village on behalf of the King of Alexandria at that time, to discuss trade deals and arrangements for every upcoming event that took place at the palace.
The times that I came along when I was a child, I always wondered what there was in Dali aside from meeting with the Mayor of the village, I never once had an opportunity to see the village in its entirety. I still remember all the children that ran around playing many games with one another. I never had that sort of childhood growing up, even with my own parents. The times I observed my parents on their duties, I would always snuck out of lessons just to be with them, almost to the point that they gave up punishing me for skipping classes and instead took me under their wings to follow their footsteps.
I can only imagine what I must've put them through when I was young."
"DALI! ARRIVING DALI!"
"Looks like we made it." Celes said as she looked out the window of the stage coach seeing an endless sight of assortment of rowed crops of many sizes, bushes of berries, corn fields, strawberry trees, apple trees, it dazzled the was a different sight she was accustomed to. Rosa looked over Celes' shoulder as she saw the sight. "Seems like not much has changed since I was last here." She said in awe by the sight.
The sight became blocked out by an adobe dome building one another after another until the stage coach came to complete stop. They heard the sounds of the handler climbing down from his seat, the door to their seating area opened up as they were greeted by the black and white two piece suit and small black bowler hat cladded man as he held the door open. "This way madams." He greeted them.
The two friends scooted themselves towards the door as they each stepped out, getting a breath of fresh clean air as they could feel a gentle breeze passing them, surrounded by many more adobe domes with several of them sporting windmills above. The two looked around their surroundings as they can hear the laughs of children nearby and seeing many people walking in every direction on the main road they were on.
"Right now, we'll be resting here for the night before we make way for Alexandria tomorrow." The handler said as she closed the door with Rosa and Celes turning towards the man.
"Where will we be staying?" Celes asked.
"There's an inn right near the entrance of the village we passed by. You're fare does cover a night's room, please make sure you present these vouchers to the check in desk." The man reached into his jacket pulling out to small parchment papers and held it towards Rosa and Celes.
"Thank you very much, much appreciated and may we collect our belongings in the meantime while we check in?" Rosa asked as she collected the vouchers.
"Certainly Ms?"
"Beatrix, Rosa Beatrix."
"Ah very well Ms. Beatrix and your name young lady?"
"Celes Chere." Celes responded as she brushed her hair to the side.
"Excellent Ms. Chere, I'll gladly bring your both of your belongings to your room once I finish offering the chocobos their meal and water break." The man smiled.
"That would be splendid and your name?" Celes extended her hand.
"Hawkings, Jim Hawkings." He replied gently shaking Celes' hand followed by shaking Rosa's as well.
"We hope you'll be well rested for the next leg of the journey Mr. Hawkings." Rosa smiled. Jim laughed.
"These roads are a part of my soul for as long as I've traversed, sleep is almost meaningless to me. I do say, enjoy the village while you're here. There's a bar just over there near the entry way to the farmlands." Jim pointed towards another domed building opposite of where a windmill building stood.
"Perhaps a drink sounds a bit nice." Celes said as she crossed her arms looking towards the direction Jim pointed.
"Celes! We're supposed to be sober before we arrive into Alexandria." Rosa slapped her friend's back as Celes laughed.
"Would you rather enjoy one last drink before we end up seeing a bunch of drunk Pluto Knights?" Celes arched an eyebrow while letting out a smirk.
"Pluto Knights? Are you two bout to join the Alexandrian Army?" Jim curiously asked.
The girls nodded.
"Indeed we are, it's the purpose of our journey to Alexandria." Rosa responded.
"Aye…well I hope it's to your owns likings." Jim shook his head.
"What do you mean?" Celes arched an eye brow.
"Lots have changed ever since the plague, rumor has it there's some new squad on the rise. Heard it's putting the Pluto Knights to shame from what I hear." Jim said as he took off his hat and dusted it off.
"You must be joking, the Pluto Knights have been an Alexandrian tradition since the foundation of the kingdom itself!" Rosa snapped seemingly unamused.
"I jus hear rumors that's all, I could honestly careless bout national issues at hand. I hear many things during my journeys across each nation from all passengers that hire me." Jim placed his hat back on and started making his way to the back of the stage coach while untangling some of the net holding luggage.
"No offense to the two of ya, but heed my advice, if you're thinking bout joinin Alexandria's Army, quit while you're ahead." He continued untangling while gently grabbing hold of a large red colored suitcase and setting it on the ground.
"While the advice is meaningful, we have our sets for our goals in the army." Celes uncrossed her arms and looked towards Rosa. "Quite honestly, we've much to accomplish while we're there."
Rosa looked to her friend and nodded.
"Suit yourselves; I'm nothing but a lowly ol stage coach handler." Jim laughed as he continued untangling more of the netting.
"Right…well…we shall check into our rooms now, thanks again." Rosa said trying to restrain herself from lashing out on the handler.
"And thank you for getting us here safely." Celes added.
"My pleasure." Jim paused and gently tipped his hat to the two friends.
Rosa and Celes turned towards the direction they came from, following the small main street to their destination.
"A new company in Alexandria?" Rosa looked to her friend. "Seems rather preposterous for that to ever happen in Alexandria. If memory serves me well, many soldiers who never pass the examinations for Ruby Rose or the Pluto Knights that tried forming their own squads prove worthless or unworthy of recognition by the Royal Family."
"And you know this because?"
"Because I've studied the history of Alexandria's military in full details."
"Gods, I knew you were quite the book person but all you ever seem to read are those military books." Celese raised her hands.
"I've been studying hard then and as I did when growing up with you that I can't help it. It's much fascinating to learn about the past and what I could potentially do for the future."
Celes looked towards Rosa.
"I understand…but why don't we save all of that for when we do arrive in Alexandria and then you can show off your knowledge of Alexandria's history when the time comes. Besides…I don't believe Jim was lying about what he said just now."
"What do you mean?"
Celes stopped as Rosa stopped a few paces in front turning towards Celes.
"To be quite honest, I've seen many men in my life time and if there's one thing I know, his eyes were very relaxed when he spoke of his warning.
Rosa tilted her head while arching an eyebrow.
"What exactly do you mean?" she asked.
"Well…given all the times I've had to save you against some of the more vile men who've harassed you, one common trait I noticed the moment I draw a knife on them is the fear or wits to try to overpower me. For times where I'm interrogating them or demand answers for those who try to steal for me, I can see from various gestures that they may be lying to me. A subtle hint but it's noticeable if you pay close attention."
"And you're able to pick that up from him?" Rosa pointed back to the stage coach a good distance from where they stood. Celes looked along and nodded.
"He was very relaxed, his body posture was consistent, tone of voice consistent, and no hidden gestures I could see. All signs to me points to him telling the truth."
"Are you not certain he's playing his tetra face? Just to throw us off? Or perhaps lead us to a potential trap?"
"I don't believe so; if anything he does speak the truth."
Rosa looked to her friend then back towards the stage coach. Her close friend had always saved her from many dangers during her life growing up in Treno under her friend's family home. Celes had no fear in defending her and herself during confrontations. Many people who heard of her name in Treno backed away not wishing to cross her path, the few who dared met certain severe bodily harm.
"To be honest, I'll believe it when I see it."
Celes shook her head.
"Oh Rosa, always the one to want to see things first before placing her opinions." Celes shrugged.
"As I said on our journey here, we must be willing to listen to all matters pertaining to the kingdom and the Royal Family once we make ranks." Rosa continued walking as Celes followed along.
"I suppose." Celes sighed.
"I believe this must be the inn here." Rosa spotted a large sized adobe dome building. She approached a wooden door, grabbing the handle and opening it.
"After you."
"Why thank you…private." Celes teased walking in first. Rosa shrugged and followed along as the two entered the lobby area, a small generous size area with a fire place, a small table with a few stumps surrounding it with cups and spout present, a medium size wooden desk with a quill and book on top, a small water fountain beside it and a bookcase behind the desk. Behind the desk sat a gentleman wearing a brown wool jacket with a small red scarf around his neck, mint green slacks and blue boulder hat who waved to the Rosa and Celes.
"Welcome to Dali, are you perchance with the Chocobo Stage Coach Company?" He man asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes we are, we'll be rooming for the night." Rosa responded as the two approached the desk.
"Wonderful, do you have the vouchers ready?"
The girls nodded as they presented their vouchers to the worker, he collected the vouchers and verified them for a moment. He placed the vouchers on his desk and grabbed a quill; he opened the booklet and started writing in it.
"Can I get your names please?"
"Celes Chere." Celes responded.
"Rosa…Beatrix." Rosa responded.
The man paused as he looked up towards the girls.
"Beatrix…as in…the Beatrix family of Alexandria Beatrix?"
Rosa and Celes looked at each for a brief moment and then back towards the worker.
"Uhm…perhaps?"
"You're not by any chance related to Commander Beatrix of Ruby Rose and Captain Beatrix of the Pluto Knights…are you?" The man straightened his posture in his seat.
"I…I am…they were my parents." Rosa replied gingerly.
The man nearly let his jaw drop but held back, he leaned back against his seat in amazement, leaving Rosa and Celes confused.
"I'll be damned! Then that means you're their daughter…by gods it's been so long!"
Rose felt confused even more.
"I'm sorry but have we met before?"
"You were very young Rosa, you may not remember me well but…I do remember your parents very well."
"Who are you then?"
"I use to be the Mayor of Dali."
Rosa let out a small gasp and it finally clicked in her mind.
"You mean…you're? Mayor Baleo?"
Baleo stood and smiled.
"It's been so long hasn't it; I wondered what had become of you after your parents passed. My dear child I do apologize for your loss." He took off his cap and placed it over his chest.
"It's quite alright, oh this is my friend, her family took me in after the plague took my parents."
Celes raised a v sign with her hands.
"Ten years of putting up with her antics and still standing." Celes teased as she was given a gentle slap by her friend. Baleo laughed.
"Full of spunk I see between the two of you, though Rosa you're a splitting image of your mother. Please let me serve you both some tea, please have a seat over here." Baleo placed his hat back on his head and extended an arm gesturing towards the table near the water fountain in the room.
"Oh that would be quite lovely, thank you for the generous offer." Rosa nodded.
"Do you by any chance have any lavender tea?" Celes asked.
"We have fresh leaves picked from the orchards today." Baleo nodded.
"Oh perfect! I'll take a cup of lavender." Celes walked towards the table as Rosa followed along. "As for myself do you have any green oolong tea?" Rosa asked as she took her seat at the table, with Celes sitting along.
"I certainly do, let me collect them for the both of you give me a moment."
Baleo gently bowed his head to the girls and headed towards the entrance of the inn leaving Rosa and Celes in the room. They studied the room together, admiring its simple design. Celes herself not too familiar with rural lifestyle found herself amazed at the difference between Treno and Dali.
"Are the memories coming back to you from your last venture here?" Celes asked as she cupped her right cheek with her hand.
Rosa nodded.
"It is little by little….Mayor Baleo always guided us around the village, I wasn't expecting to see him again…let alone being an inn keeper of all things…"
"How come?"
"Baleo ran this village very well…I'm quite surprised he's not mayor anymore…" Rosa looked over her shoulder looking around the room. "One simply does not step down from such a powerful position…"
"Perhaps maybe he grew tired? Politics isn't quite for everyone…even when you're born into it." Celes laid her hands on her lap. "I honestly don't know how in holy hells we'll be able to put up with it to be fairly honest."
Rosa looked towards Celes sitting across from her.
"We must remain alert at all times, because gods knows when we'll be called forth to perform our duties as soldiers."
Celes brushed her hair to the side.
"Long as I can enjoy putting people in their place, then I'm all for it." Celes snickered.
"Gods how the seven hells am I going to put up with you when we arrive?"
Celes grinned.
"You had ten years living with me to already know what I'm more than capable of dear friend."
Rosa rolled her eyes and shook her head disgusted, the entrance to the inn opened up as Baleo made his return with a serving tray with three cups and two spouts. He closed the door with his back and walked towards the table as Rosa and Celes watched.
"Here we are, fresh brewed for two." He smiled as he placed the cups on the table followed by the tray in the center. He picked up one spout and poured a fresh warm scented tea in Rosa's cup. He placed the spout down and picked up the other and poured its tea contents in Celes' then in a third cup as he sat down next to Rosa and placed the spout back on the tray.
"Thank you." Rosa said as she gently picked up her cup holding it midair.
"You're most welcome." Baleo responded.
"It smells wonderful; you don't keep any in the inn?" Celes asked as she picked up her cup. Baleo let out a chuckle.
"The charming ladies over across from here brew fine tea; they're willing to offer any for any guests that stay here. We mostly have dignitary guests whom stay here so most of the times they take pride in serving fresh brew of tea for them."
"Hmm…I believe I may recall my having tea when I was here with my parents." Rosa took a sip.
"Aye, you were very young at that time; you certainly were an attentive youngling no less. You always had your eyes glued to everything your parents did when they came through here, inspecting all the farmlands, meeting with the workers, speaking with myself, those were quite the times." Baleo took a sip of his tea.
Rosa nodded.
"It's hard to imagine it's been so long, has much changed since my last visit?"
"Aside from manning the inn? There has been some recently, primarily from Alexandria."
Celes arched an eyebrow.
"How so?" Celes asked as Baleo lowered his cup on to the table.
"From what I last heard from a recent letter I received from an old colleague of mine, it appears there's been some drastic changes within the walls of the palace. Mostly with the military."
"As in Alexandria's military?" Rosa lowered her cup and arched her eyebrows. Baleo nodded.
"Aye, it appears that the Pluto Knights may have a new rival whom are trying to upstage them."
Rosa let out a sigh.
"The stage handler mentioned this as well, don't tell me you're playing to the rumors. The Pluto Knights have been an Alexandrian tradition since the foundation of the kingdom." Rosa snapped.
"Rosa!" Celes said taken by surprise of Rosa's outburst.
"She's not wrong."
Celes looked towards Baleo.
"While the Pluto Knights certainly are a tradition to the men of Alexandria, the plague seemed to have caused much despair in the palace and low moral causing many soldiers to flee Alexandria. This in some part led to a new squad to take form."
Rosa shook her head.
"Many soldiers who couldn't make it to Ruby Rose or the Pluto Knights have tried forming their own squads but they never lasted long, what makes you think this new one is any different from the rest that failed?"
"Well, this one succeeded."
Rosa shook her head in disbelief.
"I highly doubt it, simple rumors that's all."
Baleo laughed.
"Ah that's the Beatrix spirit I know, your parents were no different than you. Full of spunk but always respectful."
"I mean what I say." Rosa stood up from her seat. "If this is some kind of ploy to stop us from returning to Alexandria, I'm not having any of it whatsoever."
"Rosa, relax, there's no need to get heated up in the moment." Celes pleaded trying to calm her friend.
"For as long as I've known her parents, I expected this."
Rosa cocked her head away from her friend and inn keeper.
"I've studied the history of Alexandria's military, it's nearly impossible to a new squad to hold their grounds at the palace. No other solider has managed to hold their grounds against the two squads."
"I understand it may be hard to accept the rumors but they're merely what I hear lately. I may not be mayor here anymore but my ears always hear many things across these lands. I'm not discrediting your beliefs. I'm merely just letting you what I hear."
Rosa looked towards Baleo.
"If this is your way of trying to steer us away, it's not working."
Baleo let out a smile.
"It's not my attempt young lady, if anything I expect no less from the daughter of Alexandria's most well-known soldiers to grace the modern kingdom. I can see it in your eyes you'll certainly flourish well."
"With all due respect, flattery will not sway me."
Baleo shook his head.
"Only a mere compliment, I only say this with great confidence that the both of you will certainly turn heads when you arrive. That I can assure you both."
Celes brushed her hair to the side.
"If I may ask, how long have you heard about these rumors."
Baleo tilted his head.
"For the past few years to be honest. As a matter a fact, Alexandria's ambassador paid a visit to our humble village recently and to my own surprise, they were not escorted by Ruby Rose."
Rosa took her seat while keeping her eyes on the inn keeper.
"What do you mean? They've always escorted all ambassadors and the Queen while the Pluto Knights escorted the King on their travels."
"As I said they were not escorted by Ruby Rose, their armor was certainly not of Pluto Knights or Ruby Rose, they were quite different, very large and extravagant like. It's hard to say who they were, they seemingly looked intimidating." Baleo curled his fingers on a hand and placed it under his chin.
"You saw them with your own eyes?" Celes tilted her head.
"To some extend yes and no, they didn't stay very long here though, I only saw them through the windows, while the neighbors spook much of their presence after they left back for Alexandria."
"Large extravagant armor is not Alexandria's forte; they do not allow mobility when on the fields." Rosa said as she picked up her cup and sipped her tea.
"Hmm, I did observe them through the window as they came by; they seemed very disciplined and well-focused on the task at hand."
"Hmm, do you think they may be the new squad?" Celes asked.
"Possibly, alas I only hear things ever since I stepped down as mayor. That was my only encounter with the mysterious soldiers." Baleo replied as he lowered his hand and picked up his cup. "As I said before, times have changed since the plague; perhaps maybe Alexandria has heeded the need for more squads to assist her own citizens."
"Ruby Rose are quite capable of helming that role, there certainly is no need for another." Rosa shook her head.
Baleo let out a soft chuckle. "I can see in your eyes you certainly are traditional as they come. Nothing less than expected from a Beatrix. You certainly have your parents' traits no doubt." Baleo stood up from his seat.
"None the less, I'm more than certain that you will rise the ranks when you arrive in Alexandria but I do ask that you heed the rumors, Alexandria hasn't been the same since the plague, I don't wish any harm come to the both of you when you arrive."
Rosa and Celes looked to one another then back at Baleo.
"We certainly shall…I do thank you for the warnings but I'm certain we'll both be capable of taking on what comes to us." Rosa said confidently.
"And we shall certainly make a name for ourselves when we do rise up to the challenge." Celes smiled.
"Aye, well before I forget, allow me to show you both to your room for the evening." Baleo walked around the two as Rosa and Celes rose from their seats and follow the keeper to the door opposite of where they stood. Baleo opened the large light brown wooden door into a generous size room filled with four beds, a small fountain against the wall, a small bookshelf, a small round fountain in the center of the room, and a vanity mirror. The three walked into the center of the room as Baleo turned to them.
"Here ya go, plenty of space for the both of ya, if your both interested, by the vanity mirror is a color fortune teller, only ten gil if you're interested in it. The previous inn keeper brought it in from Lindblum and at first when I took over I was going to remove but many guests love it very much that I've decided not to remove it from the room."
The two girls studied the room together.
"Very generous size, although we only need two beds realistically." Celes noted.
"I can only do so much, plus it's mostly a family shared room, we do have many families that come through these parts after all." Baleo responded.
"I'm certain this will do well, thank you for showing us to our room." Rosa said as she crossed her arms.
"Aye, well if you both need anything, don't be afraid to search for me." Baleo smiled. "Well I must take care of some business at hand and I shall bring your belongings once the stage coach handler arrives. Do enjoy your stay." Baleo smiled.
Celes brushed her hair to the side. "Thank you very much kind sir." She said. "And thank you for the tea." Rosa added in.
Baleo gently waved a hand in the air. "Tis my pleasure m'ladies. I shall leave ya be. Enjoy yourselves now." Baleo said as he made his exit from the room while Celes and Rosa watched.
"Well, least the beds look comfy." Celes noted as she stared at the heavily wool brown sheeted beds.
"At least we'll be able to rest up well for tomorrow. It certainly shall be a long day. Rosa replied as she walked towards one of the beds next to the vanity mirror.
"Do you still believe there is no other squad that's formed in Alexandria?" Celes asked as she watched Rosa take a seat on the corner bed.
"Apart of me wishes to think it's not true…yet…both the handler and Baleo said it…"
Celes walked towards Rosa and stood on the corner of her bed as her friend looked up towards her.
"Do you think maybe Alexandria has become unstable?" Celes asked.
Rosa shook her head.
"I don't want to think so…but why would you need a new squad? It just doesn't make any sense at all to me. None whatsoever."
"It has been many years since you came from Alexandria…the only reason why we didn't wish to take you there was because we didn't wish to instill any memory relapses of losing your parents." Celes lowered her head. "Mother and Father didn't wish to bring further burden on to you Rosa…we just wanted you to be well taken care of…"
Rosa averted her eyes away from her friend. She always wondered for the longest time while living with Celes' family why they never took her to Alexandria, even for just a visit. Did the parents know something was happening in Alexandria? Most times when Rosa asked to visit Alexandria was met with declines of excuses, such as bad timing, no time to venture, or there was no finance to venture forth. Rosa many years thought they were valid reasoning but the reality was preventing her own well-being to be burdened by the loss of her own parents.
"You…you all lied to me when I asked to visit Alexandria?" Rosa looked back up to her friend. Celes raised her eyes to see her friend's solemn eyes.
"We…we did…for your own benefit…" she replied gingerly.
Rosa closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She slowly opened her eyes.
"Celes...I…I…thank you…for doing all of that for me…"
Celes shook her head in disbelief.
"It all makes sense now…yet at the same time…I understand…perhaps back then was not a good time to venture back…maybe I would've lost myself if I had returned while the death of my parents was still fresh on my mind."
Celes smiled.
"I'm glad…I'm sorry that we lied to you."
Rosa shook her head.
"You did the right thing."
"We just wanted you to have a comfortable life while you were away…that was all we wanted for you."
"I certainly did…despite several mishaps we had to deal with together on the streets."
"Yeah…well…certainly you're more capable of holding your ground now, I believe once we start training, we'll certain grow much skills."
"Hmm."
Rosa looked around the room and took note of the vanity desk with the color fortune stand.
"Something catch your attention?" Celes asked.
"Hmm. This color fortune thing, have you ever heard of it?"
Celes looked at the mirror with a small cup of clean water beneath it.
"I've heard of this from around town, you drop ten gil in it and the water reacts to it, causing a small message to appear on the mirror, it's quite a gadget that's really popular in Lindblum." Celes walked to the desk taking a look at the color fortune stand. Rosa stood up from the bed and stood beside her friend.
"So..I drop in ten gil and…that's it?"
"Right, why are you curious?"
Rosa nodded her head.
"A bit…let me see…"
Rosa reached into behind her pulling out a small burlap bag that made jingling sounds. She untied the small rope that sealed the bag, pulling out a small golden coin.
"Just toss it in?" Rosa asked as she looked to her friend. Celes nodded.
"Just toss it right in." She responded.
"Like...this?" Rosa flung the coin into the bowl as it began to shimmer with the ripples of water floated to the ends of the bowl. The two looked up towards the mirror as it began to fade away their reflection as if it was steaming. Small words began appearing on the mirror, the two looked at the words with much interest.
"What you may seek, may reveal an unexpected adversary in your ventures. If glory is what you seek, then your heart may disappoint, if truth is what you seek, then your heart will be free. The venture before you may not be what you anticipate. Take a moment to brace yourself for the unknown future before you." Rosa spoke out loud.
Celes arched an eyebrow.
"Was this a bad omen? What kind of writing was that?" Celes tilted her head.
"Not quite sure to be honest…wait there's more."
The mirror faded the words and revealed another set of writing.
"Your lucky color for today is red." Rosa read.
"Uhm…that was an interesting follow up." Celes crossed her arms.
"I feel as if this thing is broken…maybe we're over thinking this."
"You're probably right; besides what would a toy have on us to foretell the future?" Celes turned away making her way towards the door of the room as Rosa watched.
"Where do you think you're going? We barely settled down!" Rosa snapped.
"I think I'm going to have a drink, I'm a bit famished to be honest." Celes said as she looked over her shoulders eyeballing Rosa.
"At this hour!? Come on now."
Celes raised her shoulders.
"Don't forget someone has to wait for our belongings to arrive here." Celes brushed her hair to the side as Rosa let out an unamusing sigh.
"Fine…just don't get to tipsy now." Rosa huffed as Celes winked. "Hey…it's me." Celes opened the door and left the room as Rosa shook her head.
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of." She said to herself. Rosa walked towards the window that was between two beds opposite of the doorway as she looked out into the town of Dali seeing the many residents walking across through the window. She saw the air becoming orange as the sun begun to set, with very little clouds floating above leaving a calming relief to her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Mother…father…I hope I'm doing the right thing for us." She thought to herself.