Disclaimer: Final Fantasy IX © Square Enix.

Special thanks to Yvi-sama for suddenly hitting me with the "there are still so many questions!" stick. -nods-

Yes, if you're still subscribed, yes. Another chapter. It's another bonus for the sake of hearing Garnet's side. I don't really want to add onto this, nor would I want to edit it. It's fine the way it is, I hope?

I was just sitting on my chair by a fire, legs crossed as my sword lay on my lap, being cleaned.

Zidane doesn't know of this sword, and I'd want it to stay that way. I don't want him to question why I was cleaning it, but it's not like he's going to pop out of the blue. He ran away from me, leaving me with such questions I can't bear. The cloth was turning red—blood red. Using 'blood' to describe how red it was must be considered redundancy, since it was in fact blood that stained this sword. I didn't kill someone, I just hurt him badly. He deserved it. He really did.

I stared at the fire, smoking from its place. It had about one log left; just enough for me. I was going to stay here until late evening, drowning myself in thoughts. He was going to come back, and I don't want him to appear in my sleep. It's not that he tries to touch me in any way, it's just that I'd rather face the darkness awake. I'm not saying that darkness represents him, he is darkness. That's why I couldn't understand why he appeared to me, of all people. But maybe, it's better me than someone else.

There were two sides in me; one was saying I was free to sleep, the other screamed that I shouldn't, just to make sure. My 'good' side would counter 'just to make sure of what?' and my other side would just stay silent, still wanting to stay on this chair. Without a decision being made, I sit there, still blankly staring at the flames as it cackled softly just a bit far away from my feet. About a foot away.

I stared at my sword, its intricate designs of vines lining the middle while the steel shined faintly from the fire. The handle was dark blue, a red orb on top of the handle, just below the start of the blade. The orb had a wing in each side, both feathered ones. I never knew I would wield a sword one day, or just use for just one night, but here I am with one, holding it on my lap as I wiped the last smudge of blood off. I felt bad beyond all reason, even if he deserved it.

"I'll be better in the morning." I said quietly, setting the sword down. I felt a draft, just as I stood up from my chair. Strange, I don't remember opening my window. The cold, chilly air was comforting; it's what I've been getting anyway; cold comfort. This was normal for me. The fire went out just as his voice came:

"I see you're still up, Princess."

"I am not a princess. I am a Queen." I turned my head to him, sitting by my bed. "Learn to remember that." I said coldly, my eyes shooting daggers towards him. If I had Zidane's daggers, I probably would have flung them at him as well, just to let him know how much I loathe him. It was like he read my thoughts, since he just sneered in reply.

"I really rather not. I know too much to even bother with such useless titles." He gave a smirk. "I'd really like to see you force me to remember that. I doubt you'd win anyway." He stood up, trails of dark smoke followed behind him, slowly fading. "To be honest, I've never noticed how beautiful your room is, Princess. And by the way..." He showed me his arm. "that sword of yours did nothing to me. Don't get cocky. Princesses shouldn't be cocky."

"Queen." I corrected. "and I'm not cocky." I crossed my arms, looking slightly away, but I could still see his dark mass. I frowned just as he got on all fours, walking slowly towards me. His eyes glowed red; piercing red. His eyes contrasted from the whole room, given the room was only lit by moonlight.

"You really miss your hero, don't you, Princess? I bet he misses you, but then again, he ran away from you like you betrayed him. Maybe you did, maybe you didn't. It really is up to you, Princess. Did you betray him, or did you not?"

"What are you babbling about? Such nonsense! Of course I didn't betray him. I never will."

"Then why has he ran away? I'm sure you must have said something to make him run like that. Maybe it's your face? No, you're pretty like a flower. I just hope you won't be like the other flowers that get crushed." He chuckled darkly. "Maybe you were just a pawn to him? I find it likely. Who knows how many girls he's tricked into loving him. Oh, he is such the actor. He can act out of any situation. Maybe this is no exception, Princess. What do you feel, knowing that?"

"As long as it comes from you, nothing. I know they're all lies. You can't fool me." I retorted.

"Oh no, Princess. You know what I'm saying is true, if you don't want the word 'plausible'. You know that well. Don't even try to tell me otherwise. I know you better than you think, Princess." He stood up on his two legs, his wolf face closing in on mine. I could hear him growl softly under his voice as he flashed his crooked fangs. He was just a dark mass, so I smelled nothing. I grit my teeth, angered by his words. I hated him for all he was worth.

"I know they...they are plausible." I hugged myself, feeling I was the only one who understood me. It was the best comfort I've felt for a while—my own arms wrapped around me in insecurity and as an attempt to ease my emotional pain. "I just don't want to think about it." I admitted softly.

"You have to, Princess. You have to consider all the possibilities. There are so many, yet...it somehow boils down to two things, does it not? I don't see why it shouldn't, really. Life is about choices." He sneered again, showing of his menacing, crooked teeth that's bitten heaven knows what. And how many he's bitten. I shivered at the thought. Just as I dismissed the thought, he turned to look out the window in his wolf-like form. "I am one of those big choices. Will you choose the light or...the darkness? I am the shadows painted opposite of light. All light casts a shadow, poetically resembling each human heart. Each heart that is human-like. The heart...the soul...I wonder if there's a difference."

"Of course there's a difference. The heart is what you feel with, the soul..." I trailed, seeing how he was somewhat right. The soul...what was it? What made it so different from the heart? The heart...it's what we feel with. But genomes have hearts...why can't they feel? They don't have a soul, and that supposedly explains why they can't feel. If I had no heart, I wouldn't feel as well. But...

"Do you not see the difference? Hm...do you need an answer?" He continued staring out the window. "It's probably something that shall get you thinking beyond all reason, Princess. Or, do you prefer...Dagger?"

I balled my fists, once I let go of myself. "Do not call me by that name!"

"I did wonder why you always thought you had such power over me. I'm one of the gods, Princess. At least, as brief as I could call myself aside from my name, Darkness. When has a petty queen have control over a superior being, I wonder? I could always talk to Time and ask him. He's just not as entertaining as you. So feisty, so authoritative yet kind and considerate to her people. I don't need your kindness. I don't need anything from you, really. But being Darkness, I enjoy torment. You seem to be entertaining. More than the rest." He turned to me, eyes blood red, yet bright. "Your pain I enjoy quite deeply. The situation...such uncertainty. It makes it easier and less tiring for me to manipulate. But don't get me wrong, Princess. I only use the truths, or plausible things."

I fell silent, turning my back to him. "Then...what's the answer? About the heart and soul." I hugged myself again, unsure of how he was going to use the answer to give me one more thing to painfully think about. I had so much thoughts, so much possibilities that...it hurt to think. It hurt to feel.

"There really is not much of a difference. The soul, if missing, one cannot feel. The heart, if missing, one also cannot feel. The genomes, for example. They have a heart, but no soul. The heart can learn, the soul cannot, since souls are recycled. That's why memories are always connected, because of the soul alone. The heart...the heart is what makes things special. The heart is a representation of each individual that is and was. With each heart, each soul and each memory planted into one, you get the whole history of the world in a man. Assuming, he can remember all that was planted into his memory."

I stayed silent.

"The relation of this to Zidane, your love? Hah...hardly anything, really." He showed his teeth again, walking back to where he was at the start; beside my bed. He morphed to his human-like form just as he walked, not really making it noticeable since he was surrounded in his own swirls of dark smoke. "I don't know, but...have you ever considered something a bit more worse than misunderstanding? The soul moves on, the heart clings to the soul, the memories cling to the heart. They all go, but they will always be remembered, forming new memories. Are you ready to turn him to a memory, if ever? I hope so, Princess."

I cringed at the thought.

"Zidane is too strong, too stubborn to die!" I barked, not looking at him. "I don't mean an offense...but..." I grit my teeth, finding some respect for the guy. Forced respect. "Zidane is a strong man. He doesn't know how many times he's saved me. He can't die. He won't be a memory. Not now."

"Innocence. Naivety. Heh, consider it, Princess. Consider it."

"No! I will never"—but he was gone before I could finish. Just like that, he disappeared, leaving nothing in his place. It was good to not see any remainders of him, but that must mean he's not done with me. He never is. He'll come back tomorrow, won't he? Maybe not.

I walked to the window and stared to the sky, dark with diamonds decorating every inch. It gave me a bit hope, over all the pessimism suddenly forced upon me. I wrapped my arms around themselves, tightly gripping just above my elbows, feeling a stray tear fall, trailing from my cheek down to my chin. I would know better than to believe a lie, much less a whole speech without a single word of truth, considering my past experiences. But the thing about—dare I say it—Darkness, is that he doesn't manipulate with lies...he manipulates with possibilities. He's right. He uses my uncertainty as torment...and the only thing that can help me now is if Zidane comes back.

"Zidane...where are you?"

Then it hit me—if the people would forgive me for being slightly selfish, but...I need to get his attention with something big, if he's out there.

"'I will stop ruling Alexandria until my love returns'. That sounds like something that would get his attention, wouldn't it?" I mused to myself. Heavens, what am I doing? I'm lying, I'm deceiving. Like Darkness, yet...not like Darkness.

"All light casts a shadow, poetically resembling each human heart." He had just said.

Desperate, I planned to do so, settling in my bed, the feeling of the sheets making me feel at ease. If nothing happens then, that must mean something. I'll only know when tomorrow comes. Yet, as each day passes, I feel I don't want a tomorrow, if being selfish.

"I'll come back, I promise. Don't worry..."

Even I could have sensed that uncertainty. Yet, I hadn't stopped him. If I did, this all wouldn't have happened.