Author's Notes: Hi again. I'm surprised that people have seemed to like the story so far! Now that we're really diverting from the original plotline, hopefully I can keep everyone's interest. Adding in history about the game that's never really addressed has been fun and I hope I'm not too far off in my representation. Well, last chapter saw us into the village of Dali, and Garnet a.k.a Dagger has now done something for herself. I like the idea of a growing, empowered Dagger instead of the weak, helpless girl she is for the first three discs. Don't plan on changing her too much, just enough. Hopefully, anyway. Please review if you like the story! Your comments and feedback will help make future chapters even better.

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy is not mine. Never will be. Wishful thinking…

The Promise

Chapter 4: Playing Incognito

"Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me where the next airship will be going?" Steiner asked, grinding his teeth together in frustration as the old man, Morris, ignored him. "It is a matter of great importance!"

"Who decides whether it's important or not? You?" Morris asked, finally turning around to study the Knight. He scoffed and started a slow limping descent down the stairs of the observatory.

Steiner's gauntleted hands balled into fists but he took a long breath and followed Morris. "Of course it is not up to me to decide what is important or not. There are many others more suited for that. My duty is to serve, and that is what I am doing. Tell me where the ship will be going."

Morris glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. "Can't even take responsibility for what you think is important. If you can't think it's important on your own, how are you supposed to defend that idea?"

"That is not the matter at hand!" Steiner growled, shaking a fist. "I demand you tell me where the airship will be going! Tell meeeeee."

"Heh. You're not good at this persuasion thing," Morris snorted but shrugged as he reached his doorstep. "All of the airships go to Alexandria. The next one should be arriving at sundown."

Steiner saluted and breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, good citizen. You shall be compensated one day for your help."

Morris just shrugged and snapped the door shut in Steiner's face.

At last. I can return the Princess to Alexandria. The Queen will surely be pleased by this turn of events. Steiner thought, nodding to himself. She will just as surely spare the lives of the thief and Master Vivi… they have been integral to the protection of the Princess.

Steiner shook his head and looked around the open land. "Do not concern yourself with that yet…" he muttered to himself. "Focus now on protecting the Princess. One thing at a time."

***

"Here, change into these," Blank said, crouching down next to Dagger and Vivi. As the least conspicuous member of their group, he had gone into the small village to purchase some clothing for the Princess to change in to, moving further into her disguise as a commoner instead of royalty.

"Thank you, Blank," Dagger breathed out, hesitantly accepting the clothing with a light brush of a finger against the fabric. "I think it will work wonderfully."

Blank gave Dagger a grin and gently nudged Vivi forward to both block the alley and give the Princess some privacy. The tall youth ran his fingers through the growing reddish brown hair and adjusted the leather band looped down over his forehead and one eye.

"Why do you wear that over your eye?" Vivi asked hesitantly.

Blank was silent for a moment, then rubbed his chin. "Because not all people can accept what they see, Vivi," he said slowly, consideringly.

Vivi nodded, "I know," he agreed. "But some people are better than you'd expect. You, Steiner and the Princess have always been nice to me even though I don't belong."

"You belong, Vivi," Blank replied. "That's the difference. You may be different but you definitely belong with us. Seems like it was more than a chance that brought all of us together."

Vivi just looked at Blank in a way that made the thief a bit uncomfortable. As if the black mage saw more than he was supposed to, or what he kept hidden underneath the band. It was something Blank should have recognized, after all. Like will recognize like. There were painful things in Vivi's past, just as there were pained things in Blank's.

"I can't show you now, Vivi," Blank finally said. "But when we get to Lindblum, I'll show you why I keep the band there and even tell you why. Promise."

Vivi nodded energetically, "Thanks, Blank. You can count on me to keep any secret that you may have."

"I know I can." Blank paused in thought. "But I want a promise from you in return." He waited until he had gotten the affirmative nod. "You'll tell me what's eating at you when you're ready. Doesn't necessarily have to be in Lindblum. Deal?" He stuck out a hand to shake.

Something closed up around Vivi but he nodded and reached on gloved hand out to shake Blank's. "Deal." It didn't even occur to him to lie and pretend as though there was nothing wrong.

"Okay you can turn around now," Dagger said softly, smoothing out her clothes. She wore a pair of soft blue leggings tucked into a pair of broken in brown leather boots. A long tunic of misty green covered her torso and ended at the middle of her thigh. The clothing was simple but perfect for travel.

"Perfect," Blank breathed out, studying Dagger closely. He eyed her long black hair with a mingling sense of regret. Like the rest of her previous outfit, it was too obvious as the Princess of Alexandria. She had tied it back in an intricate bun, layers wrapping around other layers. It was complex but impossible to tell just how long her hair was. In other words, perfect for the disguise.

"Wow, Dagger, you don't even look like a Princess anymore!" Vivi said enthusiastically. "Steiner's not going to recognize you."

Dagger blushed and just smoothed out her tunic anxiously. "Are you sure I look alright? I feel so strange."

"Nope, it's great, Dagger," Blank said firmly. "Now, I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

Dagger gave Blank an inquisitive look and nodded. "What could I do for you, Blank?"

"Give me a hair cut?" Blank asked impishly. "We can only do so much right now to disguise ourselves but a haircut could help. Crop it short." He extended his dagger towards the Princess, hilt forward.

"Oh… are you sure, Blank?" Dagger asked, grasping the weapon awkwardly. "I have never done anything like this before."

Blank just grinned. "I have faith in your abilities, Princess," he said lowly. "Pile all of the hair you cut on the stone. Vivi can burn it afterward."

Dagger took a deep breath and stepped in as Blank sank down to his knees. The Princess of Alexandria took a few moments to make a plan of action and then start slowly sawing the hair off with the dagger's sharp blade. Her slim white fingers acted as a comb smoothing the hair this way and that until she finally felt satisfied with the result.

The hair had been cropped short in the back and on the sides. To the front, however, Dagger had left it longer, letting it flop down in front of leather band and over the other eye. When she gently brushed a hand across the band, however, Blank jerked back automatically, lifting a hand up in a protective gesture.

"Sorry, Dagger," Blank said sheepishly, shaking his head. "But thanks for the haircut. It, well… it feels great. What do you think, Vivi?"

Vivi just stared at both of them with his big yellow eyes. "You and Dagger both look really different. No one will ever find us now!"

Blank chuckled, reaching out to take the dagger back and then gently grasp Dagger's wrist in his hand for a moment. "Thank you," he said quietly.

Dagger blushed and nodded, tugging the sleeves of her tunic down to cover any bare skin. "You are welcome, Blank. I should be thanking you for all of the help you have given me since we left Alexandria."

"Think we could get Rusty to have a makeover?" Blank asked jokingly, throwing Vivi a playful look.

The young mage just giggled, but shook his head. "I don't think Steiner would ever wear anything but his armor."

"Vivi is right," Dagger agreed. "He is very firm about always wearing his armor."

"Well, at least everyone can say I tried," Blank said, tossing up his hands in supplication to the sky. "How about we go get something to eat? We should see if we can move through this village without someone recognizing Dagger. Up for playing the peasant girl?" The last part was directed to the Princess.

"I thought we were supposed to stay hidden?" Dagger asked nervously. "I don't think it would be good to be wandering around, especially if Zorn or Thorn start looking. I honestly don't know how long the sleep spell will work on him. He's no mage, but he does have some magic at his disposal."

Blank frowned, raking his hand through the now shortened hair. "Well, damn… guess I get to take another trip to find food for all of us then. You two stay put and stay low."

***

This is most unfortunate, Steiner fumed to himself as he stayed out of sight. Even though he wanted to take the Princess back to the palace as swiftly as possible, he had no intention of handing his charge over to Zorn and Thorn. He had been furious when the Princess had told him of her rough treatment by the pair of jesters. He had never thought them fit to be in the presence of the royalty of Alexandria, and this only proved him correct.

"We will be taking command of this next cargo ship," Zorn said sternly.

"Command of the cargo ship we will take," Thorn added.

"It is a matter of great importance!" the jesters said in unison.

"Ship takes care of herself," Morris replied lazily, looking the clowns up and down through the crack of his door. "Don't know why everyone's so antsy about the beat up old girl anyway. Just makes the trek between here and Alexandria three times a week."

"You will obey our commands!" Zorn retorted furiously.

"We will make you regret it if you do not!" Thorn chimed in.

Morris had a twinkle in his eye. "And if you do me in, who'll take care of your ships and make sure the precious cargo gets where it needs to be?"

Cargo? Steiner wondered from his crouched position. What could the Queen possibly need from this small village?

"You have not seen the last of us!" Zorn growled.

"The last of us you have not seen!" Thorn agreed.

With a shaking of the first at the old man, the twins ran off in the direction of the Ice Cavern, heads ducked together to whisper possible plan B's.

"What are those two up to…?" Steiner muttered, heaving his bulk to his feet and started to follow them.

The Knight paused, hesitating as he looked back towards Dali. "The Princess needs my protection… no, Blank will protect her should something befall me. I must know what those two fools are plotting and what it has to do with the Princess."

***

"W-what exactly am I eating?" Dagger asked hesitantly, sniffing at the bowl of soup in front of her.

"Do you like it?" Blank replied with a frisky grin.

"Well yes, but I thought I saw an antennae floating in the broth," Dagger said, pointing her spoon towards the bowl.

"If you like it, you probably don't want to know," Blank explained innocently. "Trust me. It goes down easier that way."

The three had seated themselves near the small plot of farmland tended next to the village, allowing themselves to relax. Only one elderly woman was in sight, and she was so busy tending her plot of land that she paid no heed to the trio of strangers enjoying a late afternoon picnic.

"Oglops," Vivi mumbled to himself, taking another big mouthful.

"What did you say, Vivi?" Dagger asked, tilting her head to the side with an expression of curiosity.

Blank clapped a hand down on Vivi's shoulder with enough force to jar the young mage out of his reverie. "He said, wow that's hot. Didn't you, Viv?" he asked with a forced smile.

Vivi looked up at the other two, blinked his big yellow eyes and then nodded. "Oh, uh, yes. It's hot." He laughed nervously and buried his attention back in the soup.

Dagger slanted a dark look at both men, "Riiiight…" There was enough doubt in her voice to make Blank crack up laughing, echoed by Vivi.

"Just eat your soup, Dagger," Blank encouraged, wiping a tear from his eye. "Ignorance is bliss and all that."

Dagger started to reply, but was cut short as her mouth just dropped open in shock. Doors flipped themselves open from the ground and carts started to slowly rise from what seemed to be the grass.

"Get down!" Blank ordered, dropping down to his belly in the long grass. "Vivi. Dagger." He hissed out both names, half forcing the mage to take a mouthful of grass before the next cart arose.

"What's going on?" Vivi asked quietly, adjusting himself to see better. "Where are those carts coming from?"

Dagger gave a startled gasp before clamping a hand over her mouth. Her sharp gaze focused on the insignia of the barrel. "Blank…" she murmured.

Why doesn't this feel right? Dagger thought to herself, pressing her body tighter to the earth, ignoring the rock digging its way into her stomach. Why do I feel so uneasy about this place and those barrels?

Follow the path before you, the deep, thundering voice of Bahamut whispered to her before the presence winked out of her conscious mind.

"We must go back to the village," Dagger whispered. "Please."

"Vivi, think you could give them something to focus on for a few minutes?" Blank asked, glancing across to the mage.

Vivi nodded, lifting his hands in an awkward position, focusing on one of the barrels now just standing idly by.

A shout rose up from the group of young men as the barrel burst into flames. Everyone rushed about in a panic, trying to put out the fire and never noticed the trio of wanderers slipping back into the village.

***

"Come out you cowards!" Steiner shouted, feet braced and sword lifted in a defensive position. "I wish to speak with you."

Steiner had tracked the twins back to the Ice Cavern and into a remote corner of the large maze of twisting paths. There was no other way out that he could see and so now he would find the answers he was looking for. If the fools were brave enough to face the Captain of the Knights of Pluto.

"We are cowards?" one voice asked in a malevolent whisper.

"Cowards are we?" the other voice responded, danger lurking in each syllable of the words.

"I command you to reveal yourselves at once," Steiner growled. "Stand and fight if you dare."

"Oh, we dare. But we will not waste our time with you," Zorn said, coming into view.

"Enjoy our little pet project, if you dare," Thorn added, hands moving in a complex nature.

Steiner realized a moment to late that they were summoning something. He dove out of the way before a large spear of ice hit the wall behind where he had been standing. He rolled onto his side, forcing himself back onto his feet to see a large, dark winged creature with glowing red eyes descend upon him with a crackling swoop of magic and rage.

He knew that he was looking the mythical embodiment of evil and death in the face.

***

"Where are you taking us, Dagger?" Blank asked, trailing after the intent Princess, turning now and again to ensure that they weren't being followed and that Vivi was still shadowing his steps.

"Follow the path," Dagger muttered, shaking her head. "Follow the path…"

Vivi tapped Blank's back when they paused to let a group of children pass by. "Is Dagger okay?" he whispered.

Blank shook his head and raked his fingers through his short hair. "Hell if I know…"

Dagger led them on the chase through the small village, up alleys and down back streets before coming out onto the main boulevard just in front of the large windmill and connected building. "Here," she said clearly.

"Ooookay," Blank said, stepping closer to the Princess. "What is here?"

"Answers."