-I just realized I never put in a "The End", so I guess nobody knows if the story is done or not. Just for the hell of it, I decided to write another chapter because well, yeah, and...yeah...plus I've been getting into Vocaloid (VOCALOID! LOL) and I need my FFIX spirit back before I fill my sketch book with Hatsune Miku and-or Megurine Luka...or Len...or Rin...or Meiko...GAH!

A short chapter, since this is a bonus kind~

Disclaimer: I do not own FFIX! If I did, Luka would be in it...oh darn it.

All was well in Alexandria. It's been four, happy years with Garnet. We haven't had a child, but all is good anyway. Whenever Garnet is reminded of the fact we haven't had a child to take on the throne, she would just smile and say 'take it slow'. I agree with her. Taking things to fast is, well...yeah.

I just stared out the window. I never forgot Kuja. I never will. Sure, maybe once or twice, he'd slip out of my mind for a whole day or two, but I never will forget him. He's a big part of my life. He's important to me, but I can't get how his body wouldn't be there. For a while, I've been having this strange feeling that he's watching me, or at the very least, something is. It isn't freaking me out as much, it just soothes me. Like when I'm stressed, I just sit by the window and I feel a warm comforting draft that calms me.

I sat by the window again. It was early in the morning. So early, even Garnet hasn't gotten up. That, or she was just tired from the hectic day yesterday. I was wide awake, watching Alexandria awaken bit by bit. Each street started filling with people, little by little. I watched as the guards began making their rounds around the castle and through the streets. It was a new rule that guards would patrol around Alexandria. We had enough soldiers to spare for the task.

Little by little, my mind shifted to Alexandria; how to make it much like Lindblum, how to protect it better, how to enhance everything. I felt a frown creeping on my face as my thoughts brought up an idea, but dismissed it as useless, pointless, impossible. I kept staring at the Mist-less skies of above. Heaven wasn't there to comfort me anymore. I'm a king, a king who needs to be strong for his nation, just like the queen should be.

I rarely get visits from Tantalus now, since I'm busy everyday, every time, every hour. It was always hectic or relaxed, yet when I'm 'relaxed', I can't be disturbed. When Freya told me I didn't have to be king, I figured Garnet still needed me, so I became king for her. We were happy, but...I still miss my old life. I was...free. Alive.

Is that what you want...?

Yes...

I want to be free. I want to be a bird with no limits. I want to roam this planet and explore. Get dirty and messy. Get my hands on rare jewels across the sea with my chocobo. I want to bathe in fresh lake water only to get dirty again with the blood of monsters, the fur and dirt of animals I pet and raw soil all over my clothes...though, it isn't what I exactly want, but...you get me.

I don't care who the voice belonged to, but I pray that I can at least be like that. Just for one day.

"One day..." I mumbled softly.

"One day...?"

"Huh?" I turned around and saw Garnet behind me in her night gown. She still looked pretty no matter what. I just began to notice she was a little less...merciful. I mean, it kind of shows sometimes. When she's pissed off at a noble, she would have that really hard look on her face, her eyes going almost near emotionless. It freaked me.

"One day...then?"

"Oh...well, one day..." I trailed. I couldn't tell her I want to be free from duties and everything. I just made something up instead, yet, it was half true. "Alexandria would be just like Lindblum..." I grinned at her. "Maybe even more advanced, but who knows, yes?"

She smiled back. "Of course. Together, we'll make it happen, okay?"

"But...we'll need a successor for that, wouldn't we?" I faced the window again, the sky bright. She fell silent and hugged me from behind, tightly. "'Take it slow', I know, by the way. It's just...we don't have one. And it's been four years. Four..." I mumbled.

"I was afraid he was right..." She mumbled softly.

"What?"

"Ah..." She let go of me, making me turn to her. "I...when you were gone, someone's been taunting me for fun, much like Kuja to my mother. He taunted me of giving in to darkness so I can have the power to look for you and bring you back, may it be by force or not. That is all. Yet, he spoke of the truth to some extent. That is why a swirl of black smoke has been around in the castle before. It was him. He told me the last time that...we really need a successor, and at this rate, nothing will happen. Time flies by fast, and that's what I'm quite worried about." She looked down.

"Oh..." I pat her shoulder lightly. "No wonder you..." I shook my head and gave her a hug. "Don't worry, things will all be well. For today, we must only worry of the present, okay? It's what matters as of now." I gave an encouraging smile. She gave a sidewards one as a reply of appreciation.

"Of course."

I was by the window while Garnet was doing her own duties. Again, I was slacking off on my duties. The warm draft came by again, may it be coincidence or something else. I saw a small dove land by my elbow as it relaxed on the windowsill. Almost unconsciously, I put my pointer near it, thinking it would hop on, which it did. It was light and brave. It did not fly away as I brought it up to my face, its beady eyes staring back at me. I smiled softly as it tilted its head and flapped its wings. A free bird.

"You always have choices. As the problem becomes more complicated, the more you have. Even if you say you don't, you do. You just don't see it."

I have two choices—I set this bird free, or I trap in a cage. It stared at me just as I stared at it. A moment of almost absolute silence took over the room, the wind gently blowing against my face and the curtains. I could just trap the bird now and keep it in a cage, give it to Garnet as a lovely gift for just being nice and sweet or...

"Little birds shouldn't be trapped like me. Go now..." I said, slightly smiling sadly. It stayed still. "Come on, rise high. Just feel...alive." And I raised my arm as high as it could go, the bird flying just as my arm reached the peak. After that, the bird disappeared into the sky, somewhere I would want to be.

"Zidane?" Garnet called, opening the door as she did. "Zidane, the nobles want to see you. Five of them. You must hurry, please, they are getting quite impatient." She sighed heavily. She didn't like nobles as much as they love themselves. They're such airheads, they pissed me off every time. As a king, though, I have to bear with such things.

"Rise high...just feel alive. Okay, Zidane?"

I looked to the sky again from the window. Garnet seemed to have left while she distracted the nobles, so they wouldn't notice how long I took. I sighed sadly, the normal flock of doves flying by, as if mocking me that I had no freedom. I had freedom, but not the same as they do. It saddened me a little.

"Kuja...no matter how high I go...I'll always fall down because...I choose to be." I said softly.

And I never saw a dove pass by since then.

-The End-