***Okay… I have had TWO of my readers inform me that this story is making them cry. While I'm flattered you were so moved, I do implore you not to take this fanfiction too seriously!***

All too soon, it was time to return to Alexandria. Zidane had insisted on coming along and, although I had my qualms about exposing his delicate psyche to a large city like Alexandria, I hadn't the heart to deny him this request. Beatrix awaited us on the Red Rose just beyond the forest and did not bat an eye as Zidane nodded meagerly to her.

"Master Zidane," she said politely. "It is good to see you. Please make yourself at home aboard the Red Rose."

"Thank you, Miss umm?"

"That's General Beatrix," I prompted quietly. "Remember I told you about her?"

"O-of course," Zidane said, bowing his head. "Thank you, General."

I ushered Zidane past Beatrix as Eiko trailed cheerfully behind us.

"Supper is waiting on the rear deck, Majesty," Beatrix called after us. I thanked her and lead Zidane and Eiko in that direction.

We ate in almost total silence. As we'd made our way through the forest to reach the ship, a plan had been formulating in my mind. Glancing at Zidane presently, seeing his sweetly innocent smile, I knew what had to be done. But even those brilliant aquamarine eyes couldn't settle the guilt that threatened to tear through my soul.

"This is great food," Zidane commented, dragging me from my thoughts. I nodded, then turned to Eiko.

"What do you think?"

She smiled and nodded. "It's alright. Not as good as my Rock-Fisted Potato Stew, though. Don't you agree, Zidane?" Then she recoiled in shame and uttered quietly, "sorry, never mind."

"That's okay, Eiko," Zidane murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. An uneasy silence followed.

I glanced between them slowly, then sighed. "Well, I'm full," I announced, immune to the awkwardness. Eiko looked at my plate and tilted her head slightly.

"You've hardly eaten anything," she observed.

I shrugged. "I guess I'm just not very hungry right now. I have a lot of my mind. Will you excuse me please?"

With that, I shoved back from the table and smiled at Zidane who looked almost hurt.

"That's alright," Eiko giggled. "Zidane and I have something we need to discuss in private."

I stopped and glanced back at Zidane who gave me a reassuring nod. "I won't be long," I promised, skirting away. I had to find Beatrix, share my thought with her. She would argue, I knew, but I had to tell someone. At least Beatrix was sworn to obey me; I knew I could trust her with what I was about to tell her. Somehow, that didn't settle my queasy stomach as I set out to find her.

She was standing at the bow of the ship, her auburn locks swaying gently in the wind. As she heard my approach, she turned and offered a gentle smile.

"I had hoped you would seek me out," she said. "What a surprise to see Zidane striding along beside you."

I nodded slowly. "He insisted on coming. I think he believes a familiar setting may entice his memories to return."

"I hope that is true. Now, what can I do for you?"

"Beatrix," I said, rubbing my hands together absently. "Will you promise not to despise me for what I'm about to tell you?"

Her singular eye widened with intrigue. "I am but sworn to serve you, my queen. Whatever your wish may be."

"That's just it," I stammered. "You won't be in my service much longer."

Her jaw nearly dropped, but she composed herself quickly. "What are you saying?"

"I've decided… to step down. If Siticus believes he is fit to rule, I will not stand in his way."

"Preposterous! That young upstart has no business on the throne!"

"I thought, perhaps, you and Steiner could help him get settled. He'll learn, in time. I honestly believe he has Alexandria's best interests in mind."

Shaking her head tiredly, Beatrix sighed. "I do not believe what I am hearing. After all that Regent Cid and Doctor Tot have done to keep you on the throne… Would you repay them by dishonoring their kindness?"

"Of course not!" I shouted defensively. "But I… Oh, Beatrix, it's not as simple as all that. You know I've been thinking about this for some time. This just isn't the life I want for myself."

"It is not a matter of 'wanting,' my queen. Alexandria will never accept Jerome Siticus as King."

I smirked. "The same was said of me when my mother passed."

Beatrix laughed quietly. "I'd forgotten. But, please, Garnet… Reconsider."

"I don't see another option," I said. "How can I care for Zidane and rule a kingdom? No. I simply can't do both, and Zidane is my highest priority now."

Beatrix made a hissing sound between her teeth.

"You do despise me, don't you?" I asked sheepishly.

"Despise? No. But I am… disappointed. Mainly because I never realized just how selfish you could be."

I felt my face grow red. Beatrix stared firmly at me while I seemed to shrink beneath her gaze.

"Oh, Beatrix," I whispered. "I don't know if I can do this anymore."

Her expression softened then and she held her arms open for me. I gladly fell into them. Nothing had quite replaced my mother's comforting embrace like Beatrix's cold chest plate. Somehow, it felt warm and safe, despite the armor.

"Steiner and I will be there for you," she said, stroking my hair back. "You have many friends, and they will never forsake you. I only hope you can find a way to be happy without shirking your responsibilities."

"Perhaps… Perhaps you're right." It was frustrating. This was no spur of the moment decision. I'd been debating this for a very long time and, even when I'd finally made up my mind, something had come along to dissuade me yet again. Perhaps this was meant to be. I tried to console myself with the idea of fate, of destiny… but it wasn't helping. Was I truly doomed to a life I would never have chosen for myself?

Immediately, I scolded myself – and not for the first time – for thinking like that. How many rulers throughout history had been born to servitude? How many had longed for common life, for freedom, and gone without? At least I'd had a taste; much more than most.

Beatrix released me then, scanning me with a concerned eye and furrowed brow. "I'll try, Beatrix. For you, I'll try."

Then the familiarity between us faded and Beatrix was once again my general and not my friend.

"I am pleased you have reconsidered, Highness. Is there anything further you require?"

"No, Beatrix. I'm sorry to have troubled you with this."

"Think nothing of it, my queen. Farewell. I will inform you when we reach Alexandria."

"Thank you. Good bye."

With that, I spun and headed back to where I'd left Zidane and Eiko. More time had gone by than I'd realized; the table had been cleared, and the chairs surrounding it were empty. Eiko's voice wafted up to me from somewhere below. I leaned over the raining and found her kneeling beside the moogle, Serino, chatting with the small pink creature. I smiled and left her to her visit, giving a brief thought to the moogles left behind in Madain Sari. I wondered how they were doing, if they'd managed to lure Lani out of her rough, cold shell.

A noise caught my attention, making me look up. Zidane stood at the edge of the rear deck, facing me with a concerned face. I walked up to him slowly, trying to conceal my distress. He wasn't fooled.

"What's the matter?" he asked. "Are you worried about going home?"

"I'm more worried I may never again leave home."

"What are you talking about?"

I shrugged. "Sorry. It's nothing. What did you and Eiko talk about?"

Zidane shot me a heartbreaking grin. "It's a secret."

"I see. Then I won't pry."

"Garnet?"

"Please. Dagger. That's what you always called me."

"Dagger… You're too pretty to be a Dagger. But, somehow, it suits you. I'm not sure why."

I smiled, remembering that fateful day when everything changed. I had been about to enter public under a new identity. The risk had been so high, and yet… and yet I had trusted Zidane, implicitly, even then.

"You wanted to ask me something?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'm a little nervous about showing up in Alexandria. I must know people there… What will I say to them?"

"You don't have to say anything," I told him. "If you'd prefer not to see anyone, you're welcome to stay at the castle."

"Are you sure that's alright?"

"Of course. You used to stay there a lot."

"With you?"

I blushed. "Well, yes."

He moved closer to me then, his eyes sparkling. I felt myself automatically falling into his arms without hesitation.

A loud screech of grinding metal, followed by a lurching of the ship, spoiled the moment. Dark smoke came at us from one of the forward turbines like a black serpent and we fell to the deck to avoid choking. Zidane's hand clamped down tightly on mine and I felt him leading me at a crawl away from the stream of smoke.

Many voices cried out around us and I quickly gathered that something had entered the turbine intake manifold and been lodged there, causing the motorized propeller to seize. The ship began to rock in a most unsettling way and, by the time we broke free of the smoky haze, it was clear we were losing altitude.

Beatrix appeared then, taking hold of my arm while Zidane held the other.

"What's happening?" I cried over the chaos.

"The ship's going down," Beatrix replied hastily. "We must dislodge the debris or we'll crash!"

Zidane and Beatrix rushed me toward the cabin where the three of us took hold of a bedpost – the bed itself having been mounted to the floor – and held ourselves upright while the ship lurched this way and that. Even inside, I could smell the smoke. I could see from Beatrix's face that we had a very small chance of survival. Turning, I found Zidane staring wide-eyed at me. Something was going on behind those incredible eyes.

Before I could blink, he planted a warm, wet kiss on my cheek and fled the room. I started after him, but Beatrix held fast to me. "It's too dangerous!" she shouted, dragging me back to safety.

"No!" I cried, reaching after Zidane as his form vanished into the bright sunlight. "Zidane, don't go!"

I struggled wildly against Beatrix's grip on me. I knew it was pointless to fight her, but I couldn't stand by helpless. As luck would have it, the ship took one particularly vicious dip and Beatrix's fingers fell away from my arm. I stumbled, falling to my knees, then immediately righted myself and fled through the still open door.

Zidane was, at first, nowhere to be seen – but a group of ship hands stood around the turbine, looking up at it while it smoked. "No," I uttered aloud, lunging forward. The black smoke was still pouring from the manifold.

Suddenly, Zidane's head popped up from within the thing. His face was pitch black, but his eyes sparkled with excitement as he coughed, climbing out of the manifold. In his hand was something black and white – a dead bird, I realized. He tossed the limp creature overboard and called out to the workers. "Start it back up, quick, before we crash!"

A couple ship hands ran off then and, a moment later, the propeller was whirling again. Unexpectedly, the ship jumped roughly as it tried to right itself. Then everything slowed. Zidane's eyes flew wide as one, then both, feet came off the narrow iron mounting. His arms flailed uselessly like featherless wings as he tipped backward off the side of the airship. I lunged forward, reaching the spot where he'd fallen just in time to see his figure shrink, then disappear, into the blue abyss of the sea below.