A.N.Hai Guys, Sorry I haven't been writing recently, but I just cant really find the inspiration to write, Luckily I wont ever give up a story unless there is literally no interest in it, and this is my most successful story to date, and I thank Shadow knight1121, *space* (Seriously his name was literally a space, no idea if it was intentional or what,), CursMark and Cherie R. Lynn for their reviews of the last chapter. Apart from the guy without a name, he reviewed chapter 4, but I still like his comment. Anyway, this chapter reveals some more information on exactly what happens when people go into the FFIX world, its...

Akio: NO SPOILERS!

Me: But...

Akio: NO!

Me: Aww...

Anyway, I own nothing except my own ideas inserted into the FFIX story, Enjoy the chapter...

Chapter 9

Flashback to last chapter's ending:

I just said one word,

"Dad..."

End flashback:

The silence after I said that word was so thick, you could see it. Everyone had dropped jaws except me and Dad, From Steiner and Zidane, the floor was even cracked from the force of it. Eventually I said, "As much as this awkward silence is funny, We have things to do, Mind if we move on?"

This shook everyone out of there stupor, as Cid continued, "Anyway, as I was saying before The other spirit in my body found his son, I am Cid Fabool, The other is Cid Matsuki, Don't ask me why the names are the same, Neither of us know, and I doubt it is the same for Akio there as I Recognise that body as the Alexandrian Dark Knight Cecil. However I also recognised you Garnet from the description of your gem, Extremely close to my Falcon's claw. And I am really delighted to see you Garnet, You have grown into a fine young lady, while I..."

The minister interrupted and said,

"Allow me to explain, About six months ago someone snuck into the castle and attacked the regent in his *ahem* sleep, Unfortunately we were too late, The regent became an Ogloop with another soul in his body, and his wife, the lady Hilda, became missing, presumed kidnapped,"

I then narrowed my eyes and lowered my eyes to the ground in a thoughtful position and muttered, "This makes no sense..."

Everyone looked at me and Cid asked, "What do you mean?"

I flicked my eyes to Cid and said, "My father died over 4 years before I did, Yet you say that he has only been in this realm as part of you for 6 months while I have been here for a week... It makes no sense... Unless the spacial displacement also effects the Temporal... Then it makes some modicum of sense but... That could mean the rest of my family and even the one who killed us all could be scattered across the time-line..."

Only Cid, Artiana, Garnet and surprisingly Vivi followed me on my rant, The others just got lost, as was evident on their faces.

At that point Cid said "While that is interesting and worrying, we do have things to attend to other than throwing theories around."

Dagger took over and said, "That's right, Uncle Cid I desperately need to speak to you about my Mother."

Cid nodded and said, "That's what I figured," as he hopped of the throne and walked down the steps to Dagger, "But I am sure that it can wait til the morn, why don't you all get some rest and make sure that you have your thoughts correctly in order before we speak important matters,"

Artiana then spoke up and said "Its time for lunch, would you all follow me please,"

At that point Zidane spoke up and said, "You mind if I head into town for my food, the food up here is too high class for my tastes, I prefer simpler food,"

Cid shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sure, why not,"

I then spoke up and asked, "You mind if I come with Zidane? I need to get some air anyway,"

Again a shrug and a sure from both Cid and Zidane, although Cid added, "Would you mind coming back before night Akio? You and the other me do need to catch up after all." I nodded and left with Zidane, Koro staying on my shoulder the whole time.

In front of a bar somewhere in Lindblum:

We stopped in front of a bar and looked over the menu, Zidane muttering about the quality of high class food Vs low class food. "So Today's special... Soup Du Silence, not bad,"

I said, "Don't really like the sound of that, What else is there?"

"Hmm... What about Zaghnol Stake?"

My eyes light up and I agreed as we went in.

It was a dark bar with a low ceiling and stone floor, with various working types sitting on various tables, none of which stood out. The only person who stood out was the Burmecian in a red coat with a spear on her back at the bar drinking. Zidane spoke up and said, "Yo Pops, One of your stupid specials and a Zaghnol steak for my friend here!"

The heavy set fellow behind the bar looked up as he said, "Who said that!" As he turned and saw me and Zidane he said, "Zidane, Figured it was you, Alright take a seat both of you, The food will be ready shortly,"

I took a seat next to the Red coated Burmecian as Zidane Started hitting on the Waitress. As soon as he started I sighed and muttered, "He's never gonna stop is he? Yo, You mind if I get a Beer with that steak and one now?"

The guy nodded and opened a beer and put it in front of me as the Burmecian said to me, "If you have held onto that hope til now, You obviously haven't known him long,"

I glanced over at the Bumecian, Y'know what, everyone here knows its Freya so imma jus gonna say her name from now,

Angela perked up and said, 'Did you just say Freya?'

I smile slightly and say to Freya "Only known him for about a week, and we only stayed two of those nights in a town." while inwardly saying to Angela 'Yeah, she's a major character of this, you know her?'

Freya smirked and said, "That explains it, Anyway, Names Freya, You?"

Angela said, 'Of course I bloody do, She was my best friend!'

I smile slightly and said "Akio,"

Of course Zidane was still flirting as the heavy set guy said, "Can either one of you get Zidane seated, His foods gonna be ready soon,"

Freya smirked and said, "Watch this," as she turned to the bar to hide her smirk as she said, "Hey Monkey-tail, Your disturbing the other customers."

Zidane then turned around furiously and said "What the- Hey you've got a tail too Rat-face!"

Freya scoffed and said, "Rat-face huh? After I finish my drink I'm gonna kick your ass,"

The heavy set guy then interrupted with the classic barman "Take it outside" comment as Freya stood,

Zidane was taken aback as Freya said "Long time, Zidane,"

Zidane smiled as he said, "Hey! What's up! Wait a moment..."

Freya raised an eyebrow and said "What you forget my name?"

Zidane shook his hands at her as he said, "No no I remember, Helga right?"

Freya's eyebrow raised more as she said "Nope,"

Zidane lowered his arms as he turned his head to the side with narrowed eyes as he took a shot in the dark with "... Christine?"

Freya narrowed her eyes as she stated, "No"

Zidane's eyes then widened with realisation as he smacked his fist into his palm and said, "Oh yeah, You used to live next door to me, Hows it going Ratchel? You've gotten... Big"

Freya then grabbed the spear on her back with one hand and said, "Gimme one good reason to gut you, Please."

Zidane then waved his hands in a placating manner as he said, "Come on. I'm just kiddin'. You know I never forget a pretty girl's name, So How've you been Freya?"

Freya smiled slightly as she moved her hand from her spear and said, "... Same old Zidane,"

They both came to the bar with Freya on my left side and Zidane on her left.

Zidane then finally remembered me and said, "Oh yeah, Freya this is my friend Akio, Akio this is Freya, a friend from way back."

Me and Freya looked at each other and said, "We know," In perfect Sync. As I elaborated with "We met when you were flirting."

Zidane nodded in understanding as his soup and my steak was placed in front of us. I ate while Zidane and Freya Caught up. Already knowing the Convo I tuned out til the Festival of the hunt got mentioned, More specifically to make sure I don't miss any possible comments or questions directed at me,

"Aren't you participating Zidane?" Freya asked,

"...Nah, Think Ill pass, Akio might want to though."

Freya said, "Lazy bum," Before looking over to me with a raised eyebrow and asking, "Well?"

I swallow the bite that was in my mouth and say, "I'm gonna need to look over the rules and see about the participation of pets and the use of items, but other than that, I aught to be good to go."

Freya looked up at Koro and said, "A Mu huh? They tend to be quick kills in the festival so I wouldn't recommend letting him stay with you but there are no specific rules against using pets, Items however are fair game."

I narrow my eyes in thought for a slight moment as I thought through my options. I then said, "Provided things go in my favour, I'll be participating."

Freya smirked and said, "Hope your good with that blade then."

Zidane then scoffed and muttered, "He's saved my life enough times,"

Freya raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do I want to know the Story?"

I then smirk and explain the adventure so far, Focusing on my trance kill of Black Waltz 2 and The Overcharged Darkness that 'killed' Black Waltz 3, with occasional exerpts added by Zidane.

At the end of the story, (With the tidbit's of me technically being the 'Regents' Son not included, along with the names of the other Dark Knight's 'inside' me) Freya Whistled and said, "Nice, But one thing has caught my attention,"

I turn back to my beer, the steak having been finished before now. "The name of the skills used?" Freya nods, "Lemme know what your thinking and I'll answer,"

Freya stops for a moment and thinks before stating in a quiet voice "I think that you are a Dark Knight,"

I smirk and nod, motioning her to continue,

She does, "However you also have some skills that belong to an old friend of mine,"

I nod again,

She then says, "So I guess my real question is how you know those skills,"

I look at my beer and think of the best way to tell her about Angela, before said spirit imposes herself into my thoughts.

'Hand her my Dagger, I will be able to talk to her directly, I'll break the news to her.'

Your sure?

'Yeah,'

Without removing my eyes from the beer I reach behind my back and drew out the dagger and look at it for a moment. I then flip it so I'm holding the blade and hand it to Freya Handle first.

She raises an eyebrow and I just say, "Take it, Your questions will be answered."

Freya and Zidane have sceptical faces as she takes it. Once its in her hand she starts to ask, "So what-" before she cut herself off and clutched her head and her face went through a number of emotions, Surprise, Shock, Elation, Doubt, Sadness, Soul Rending Sorrow before it finally settled on determination as she handed the dagger back to me.

I took it and all I heard from Angela was, 'I let her know everything I know from digging around in your head apart from your worlds link to this one' before she retreated into the corners of my consciousness to be alone.

Freya looked at me and asks, "Was that all true,"

"Not sure what she told you but from what I can tell, she would only tell you the truth or solid theories" I replied taking a swig of the beer.

Freya nodded and turned back to her drink as I looked outside at the sun.

It was fairly low on the horizon, meaning that we had been there for a few hours.

I turn back to Freya and ask, "When was the festival?"

She replied with, "Two days from now."

I nod and say, See you then, then, I gotta get going." as I got up and left the bar, heading back to the castle.

A short while later in Lindblum castle:

I went straight to the throne room and caught Dagger just leaving Cid. I ask, "I hope I'm not interrupting,"

Dagger shook her hands at me and said, "No, no, I was just leaving."

I nod to her as she left, leaving me and Cid alone in the room.

I hear Cid sigh as he said, "C'mon, This Conversation is likely to take a while so we might as well sit during it." I nod and we both go to the steps and sit down. Once seated Cid turned back to me and state, "I'm letting your Father in charge of my body for this conversation, but I will be listening."

I nod and say, "That's how it is with all Multi spirit bodies,"

Cid nods and closes his eyes for a brief moment. When they opened, they immediately took on a soft tone as My father looked at me in the first time since he died. "My Son. You have no idea how happy I am to see you. Yet how grief stricken that you are here in the first place."

I smile slightly and said, "Its ok dad, I lived a good life for the years you and mom were dead." At this a tear dropped from my right eye as I remembered my departed wife and child. "If you had lived you would have even been a grandparent." I started as I began to fill him in on the part of my life that he was unable to be there for by no fault of his own. His eyes filled with pride and happiness for me as I described my life.

Until the final days.

Until the return of the Bastard who ripped all of my family from my life and scattered them among this world and time-line like leaves in a breeze.

His eyes widened in horror at the description of what I had to go through when my wife and child died.

His eyes burned in righteous fury as I described the final fight of that life for myself.

And his eyes seemed to gain hope for both himself and me as I described my theory about what happened to the souls of my mother and my dearly beloved wife and child.

I finished my tale and let the information sink in while I waited for a response.

When he finally responded he said, "That's... a lot to take in but at the same time I know it is correct, as does the Cid of this realm."

I then smirk slightly as I said, "I have a small theory about where mom went though." His eyes instantly snapped to me with a begging deep in them. "I think that she is in Hilda. The wife of the Cid of this Realm."

He blinked and my father said, "That... That makes sense..."

I then got hit with melancholy as I then said, "But I have no clue where any others might be... Including my wife and child..."

Dad then jumped onto my unocupied shoulder and enveloped as much of me in a hug as he could. "As you said, If you follow the storyline then you will find them again, after all it lead you to me, so it should lead you to the rest." He then pulled back and said with a grin, "And make sure to find my Grandchild! I always wanted to be a grandfather!"

This got me out of my funk and got me chuckling. "Thanks Dad, I needed that."

But then he got serious as he jumped down from my shoulder and said, "There is a small snag that the Cid of this realm just brought up though." I raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to continue

"I want to treat you as a son in public again, But in order to do so This realms Cid needs to adopt you, but if that happens then you would have to either stay here or go everywhere with a contingent of guards."

I went into shock for a moment before I started to think the entire thing through.

What do you think guys?

It would be dangerous to accept at this moment. But otherwise it would be fine. I would recommend waiting until after this adventure was finished.

'I agree with Cecil there, It would be too dangerous to take a huge group of guards everywhere and staying behind is a big No No. So put a belay on that request.'

I mentally nod and say, "I would like to agree but neither of those options would be beneficial at this point in time. So its going to have to wait until after everything is done and dusted."

Dad nodded.

I then yawned.

Dad chuckled and said, "We have some guest rooms in the castle so why don't you go and get some sleep."

I nodded slowly, but I said, "I should tell you, I plan on participating in the festival of the hunt in two days."

Dad froze for a moment. But then he slowly nodded, "Go for it, Ill be rooting for you."

I smile and nod as I stood and headed for the guest rooms.

I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow with a smile on my face, knowing for certain that my family is in this world and I would see them again.

Just like I have dreamt every night since they died.

A.N. *Phew* I finally got that chapter done. I was planning on getting to the start of the Festival of the hunt but I want this chapter up to show that I am still writing,

speaking of which, I apologize for not getting something up before now, I have hit Major writers block, Mass effect 3, and college work. Again, props to my Beta absolutezero001 and any reviews, (Even just positive comments) Will be appreciated, Except for flames. THOU SHALT NOT FLAME! See you all next time!