Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ JOURNEY ❯ Balance ( Chapter 8 )

Part Eight: Balance

It was a terrible funeral. There were dead people everywhere. Not even the priest knew just how many people had died in the massacre. The number of survivors was almost nonexistent: with the exception of those who had been away at the time, there was only a small handful of people who had lived through the terror, and most of these people had terrible injuries covering their bodies. Only two individuals had been completely spared the flames, and they were huddled together next to four of the caskets, comforting each other despite the pain. One was a human, and the other was a Burmecian.

The little mousy girl was one of the few Burmecians who were not native to the rainy city. She had been born in that very village, and grew up with a close cadre of friends--partially human, partially those that were her species. The children had been so small and innocent that they were unaware of any real differences with each other, except that the Burmecians looked different and had an accent.

They had been so small and innocent… so small, so young, so naïve… And now, their friends were dead, their ashes feeding the hungry earth. Their parents had been killed in the destruction as well--in fact, these two little children were really the only ones left of their former life. Their parents, their friends, their relatives… everyone they had ever known and loved was either burned to death, or else scorched beyond help. They were the only ones left--the only ones pure.

"I'm scahed, Beatwix," whimpered the Burmecian, her voice still not used to pronouncing the letter "R". Her friend, the human, hugged the younger child close in an effort to comfort her.

"I'm scared too, Freya. I'm very very scared." The Burmecian girl sniffled, the tears flowing freely from her emerald eyes.

"Is mama and papa comin' back?"

"I don't know," answered her human friend. "Maybe. Maybe."

"I hope so," pouted the Burmecian as she held her friend. "I miss them vewy much."

"I miss my mommy and daddy too," added the human. The two little girls continued to hold and comfort each other, their tears falling freely down their faces as they huddled beneath the caskets. The two on the left held the human's parents, and the two on the right were the Burmecian's, but there were so many other caskets there that it was difficult to tell who was who.

There were only a few mourners, and most of these people were survivors of the catastrophe. There were a small amount of others there, mostly friends of the dead or friends of survivors, but there was nobody there to comfort the two girls. These two, Beatrix and Freya, were there all alone, with only each other to ease their pain. It was a terrible and lonely time for them, and very scary and confusing.

A few minutes passed, and the mourners slowly left to go about their lives. Nobody came to get the two crying girls, though several people gave them forlorn glances as they passed. A few nice people asked them where their parents were, and got grievous replies as the girls pointed to the caskets. There was nobody there for them--they were orphans, the both of them, and the only thing they had left was each other.

But as fate would have it, two individuals had also attended that funeral. One of them was the brother of one of the dead Burmecians, a well-respected and skilled Dragoon named Fisher Crescent; the other was a charitable old man who held compassion for young people, especially if they were orphans. He was quite famous in those regions, and his name was Phineas Bailey Shekkel. Both men approached the girls at the same time, and knelt down to talk with them.

"Hey, pretty lady… Look up here, darlin'." The Burmecian looked up, sniffled, and almost forgot about her troubles as she recognized the face.

"Unka Fishy!" Fisher laughed out loud as he scooped Freya into his arms, and the girl kissed his fuzzy cheek until her tears were dried again.

"Howdy there, ma'am," he smiled, tipping his hat. Freya let out a giggle and rubbed her nose against his. Beatrix slowly stood up, and walked over to pull on the older man's knickers.

"Scuse' me, mister… Are you Freya's uncle?"

"I am, lil' lady," said Fisher, ruffling the girl's long brown hair. His smile grew serious after a second, and the mood of the funeral finally calmed him down. "Lissen, Freya, your ma 'n pa ain't comin' back no more, an' since your pa was my kin, ah guess that makes me yer legal guardian until yer old n'uff to go out'n live on yer own. Ya understand me?"

"Yes, Unka Fishy," said Freya. "You shue mama and papa not comin' back?"

"No dear, they're gone for good." Freya whimpered and slumped her shoulders in childish sadness. Tears began to flow out from her eyes again, but Fisher held her close until her eyes were dry again.

"It's okay, darlin'," he assured her. "It'll be okay. These things jus' happen. Death's as indiscriminate as the wind, baby cakes. It's all right to be sad, but'cha need to dry yer tears someday! Okay?" He chucked Freya's chin and smiled at the girl, and she sniffled and tried her best to smile. Fisher grinned as the little girl smiled, and hoisted her up on his shoulders.

"Phinny," he said, saluting to the older man, "you think you can handle that lil'n?"

"I'm sure I'll be able to take another one in," said the old man. He smiled and reached for Beatrix, who shied away from the older man. In a heart-wrenching scene, the little girl reached for Freya, whose own hand was grasping for Beatrix. Phineas and Fisher both sighed sadly, and let the girls embrace for one last time.

"Freya, honey, yer gonna have to say farewell to yer friend," said her uncle after awhile. "She ain't got no more family now, but at least you have me'n yer auntie. Honey, it's best that she go with Mr. Shekkel now. Ah can't take care'a her--shucks, ah'll be stretchin' the budget as it is with you now, and besides, she'll prob'ly be happier with other humans. Ah'm takin' you back to my city, where there ain't another human bein' fer miles around, an' ah know that the two'a you is close, but honey…"

"Don't wanna leave Beatwix," whimpered Freya, hugging her friend protectively. Fisher sighed, and knelt down to kiss his niece's shoulder.

"Honey, ah know you don't wanna leave her. Shoot, ah had to leave mah own brother so ah could live with yer auntie! Didja think ah wanted to do that?" A pause.

"No."

"But ah did anyway. An' it's not like ah never really saw him again--well, uh, you know…" Fisher sighed, shook his head, and gently pulled his sobbing niece away from Beatrix.

"It's for the best," assured the old man, holding Beatrix's shoulders gently. "I can give you a good life. I can't guarantee that you'll always be happy, but I will promise to love you as if you were my own. Okay?" Beatrix sniffled, and turned around to slowly nod her head. With a smile, Phineas hefted the little girl up on his shoulders, and Fisher lifted Freya up, and the two males nodded at each other before leaving. As they turned their backs to leave, both Beatrix and Freya waved goodbye to each other.

"Bye-bye, Beatwix," said Freya. "I wuv you!"

"Bye, Freya… I love you too…"

The two friends would not see each other for twenty-two years.

Every year, the Annual Burmecian Festival of the Sun would take place. It was the one day of the year when no rain fell upon the city, and every citizen was expected to attend with their finest celebratory outfits and the most lavish costumes. Everyone, regardless of age or occupation, was expected to participate in the Great Burmecian Dance, and decorations would be strewn around the city for all the world to see. Freya had been to eight of them already, and looked forward to the day like it was the most wonderful holiday in the world.

Her Uncle Fisher had always been her dancing partner when it came time for the festivities' acme, but now Freya was old enough to find a nice young man to be her partner. She had turned twelve some time ago, so it was that time in her life where her interest would be fixed on the opposite gender. Freya was usually shy around young boys, but during the Festival, it was perfectly okay for one to let loose and socialize with everyone within visual distance.

Along with the small assortment of lady-friends she had acquired since first arriving, Freya had worn the traditional Sandstorm Dancer costume, an ensemble that was a little similar to what the real Dancers used in Cleyra. She had been living in Burmecia now for about nine years, and slowly over that time, she had forgotten about her home, and about the man that had destroyed everything, and the brown-haired girl that was taken away from it all. The only memories she really had were just stories told to her by her uncle, and a few faint dreams. Perhaps it was for the best--that life had nothing for her except pain.

With her assortment of friends, Freya scurried off to the festival, placing all her chores and duties behind her. She was young, and it was a very special day, so of course she could leave her work behind. It was not every day that the rain in Burmecia cleared, so one had to get out and enjoy it!

They could already hear the lively music playing, and the ground shook just a bit from the stamping of feet and the clapping of hands. Freya's friends had already scouted out their dates by the time they got to the festival, and the girls split up to be with their individual "love". Freya was not one to be left behind, oh no, and ran just as quickly into the thick of the celebration to search for a dance partner. Her pursuits led her to a lonely-looking young man who was keeping watch over a concession stand, and though he looked bored stiff, Freya couldn't help but smile as she skipped up to him.

"Hullo," she addressed, giving him a polite curtsy. "Why aren't you dancing with everyone else?"

"I've got this booth to run!" he replied. "And besides, I don't have a date!"

"Well you can forget about this place!" exclaimed Freya, circling around until she was in the booth with the young man. "My uncle Fisher will be running things here. He says that it's not right for young people to go through a holiday without celebrating it, so what's say we go out and have some fun?!"

"You mean you'll be my date?" blurted the young man. Freya smiled and nodded her head.

"Of course! I can't let anyone be lonely like that! It's horrible! Oh, my name is Freya! I'm so sorry; I'm very bad at introductions!"

"It's all right," shrugged the young Burmecian, taking her outstretched elbow. They linked up, and began walking towards the fair like they had been together all of their lives. Freya smiled, and even though she had really just met this young man, she was liking him already.

"So what's your name?" she asked.

"Fratley," said the man. "Fratley Irontail." Freya smiled, and continued to lead the way until they had both arrived at the main Burmecian square. With the clouds parted temporarily, the entire city was aglow with sunlight, making the wonderful holiday seem even more festive. At least a dozen musicians were gathered around, playing music so lively and powerful that it would make even the laziest or moodiest of people stand up and dance. Fratley smiled as the music cued up--of course, he didn't need to ask if his date wanted to dance. Freya was more than willing to accept the invitation.

Sun Festivals came and went, and Freya and Fratley grew very close together. A spark had been lit on that day; the two began to date, first in groups and then by themselves. They grew quite close together, and though real dedication, trust, and love were some ways away, it was already the start of a wonderful relationship. Their dreams in life were very similar: Fratley wanted to become the best lancer in the world, and Freya wanted to become a mighty Dragoon, worthy of serving in the courts of the King himself.

Because their dreams were so alike, Fratley and Freya also bonded during their military training. They had both joined the ranks of Dragoon trainees when they turned eighteen years old, and already they showed the skills necessary to fulfill such dreams. Both Freya and Fratley quickly climbed up in rank, attaining levels higher and higher, until they were besting even their masters. It was obvious that the two had innate talents; perhaps those talents would one day help defend the country…?

When Freya and Fratley graduated from the Burmecian military, they had attained the ranks of Master Dragoons, which was actually a step up from the normal dragoons that served the city. They were both eligible to either continue their training until they became Generals, or else go into service for the royal court. Fratley had wanted to become a General, and this was but one issue where the two did not see eye-to-eye. Thankfully, Freya allowed Fratley his wish, and instead started to serve under the King. They were both twenty-two standard years old by this time.

Fratley and Freya became what might've been considered secret lovers. In the time that Freya spent serving the King, she was not allowed much time for outside pursuits, while Fratley's training kept him occupied as well. The two would sometimes sneak out at night and share quality time underneath the cloudy skies, almost as if they were teenagers again. This relationship continued for some time.

So in general, it was safe to say that Freya's life in Burmecia was a peaceful and wonderful one. The friends she had acquired there grew up, and some married and had families of their own. Her uncle, who had helped hone her fighting skills long before she entered the military, died peacefully one day, as did her aunt, and although these were hard times for Freya, she still had Fratley as a support.

"It was strange," Freya would think to herself sometimes. "In the beginning, I had my original parents and that little girl that uncle Fisher mentioned. They were the ones that held my hand when I was scared or alone. Then I lost them, but I gained uncle Fisher and aunt Chloe in return. And now, I've lost them too, but… Haha, now I have Fratley here. I would not like to think what would happen to me if I lost him, as well…"

But time passed, and the normally-idyllic life that Freya had been living grew sour. Times became bad, for one reason or another, and people began to leave the city to find their fortunes elsewhere. It was only the stubborn who clung to the rainy city; everyone else, Fratley included, left to pursue other ideals. Freya would have followed her love to the ends of the world, but it had been around this time when her family was closing in on Death's door, and she was not one to leave a dying family behind. So Freya stayed, and loved them until their last day, and never heard of Fratley again for almost five weeks.

It took a lot to finally get Freya to leave Burmecia--or maybe, it took nothing at all. The Dragoon had finally completed her terms of service to the King shortly after her family's death, and so asked the King for some vacation time to herself. One day, as she was relaxing in her home, news came of Sir Fratley's death, and the ghosts of rumors whispered that it had been a woman named Beatrix that slew him. Freya did not believe this, and left Burmecia on a quest to ascertain the truth. She would be gone from her home for five whole years, and when she came back………

When she came back, Freya would find her home in ruins, and she would find the friend she had lost so long ago. Neither woman recognized the other, although if one looked especially close, one could see a tear make its way down Beatrix's eye as she spotted the dragoon. It was almost as if…… almost… as if a memory had been invoked… But this memory didn't last long, and the two best friends, who had held each other and expressed their love, began to fight.

It was horrible, and in a way, it was so, so beautiful… So beautiful…

Ironically, when Freya met Fratley next, he did not remember who she was. "We spent our entire lives together!" Freya thought. She would have expressed these feelings, but…… "I love you! I still do! And… I don't care if you remember me or not!"

But she did, she did. Freya could not stop weeping every time Fratley looked at her, and although there was a definite sparkle of familiarity in his eyes from time to time, it faded before he could grasp onto it. "Master Dragoon? A dance? Freya Crescent? Burmecia? I…… don't know… I don't know what any of it is…"

"To be forgotten…… is worse than death…"

"To be forgotten is worse than death," said uncle Fisher once. "Don't you ever forget what happened to yer home, Freya. Many people died in that massacre, and yer one'uh the few people that survived. You were only a little'un round' that time, so ah guess you wouldn't really remember anyway. But darlin', don't you ever forget what happened, you understand? Cuz' if you forget… then who'll be left to remember all those people that died?"

"If you forget who I am, Sir Fratley, then who will remember how much you loved me?"

"If you forget who I am, Beatrix… then we may as well be enemies."

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But all of that was just a memory now. All those flames, all the screaming, all the painful separation… it was but a memory, long since distant, and soon to be gone completely. A past life, living in a small village? A childhood friend, missing from one's mind? Parents? It had all…… passed on. All of that was just a memory now, and the important thing was that Beatrix perform this stunt right, or else fail in front of thousands.

As if she would. She had practiced this trick multiple times, and could probably pull it off better than the person that taught it to her. The odds of her messing it up were unbelievably low, and even if she did slip, there was a safety net below. Beatrix was an expert of the tightrope, but in fact she was practically a jack--or jill--of all trades. She could do anything given to her, provided she had enough training. Beatrix had been a part of the P.S. Circus now for the better part of ten years, and in that long period of time, she had practically forgotten about her past life in D'negel.

Beatrix had sprouted from a little girl into a young lady. Because of her constant workout, she was very thin and limber, perfect for performing stunts that larger people had no hope of accomplishing. Her long, wooden-brown hair flowed past her shoulders an inch, and though parts of it got in her eye at times, she could either wipe it away or else use the other. She was also quite beautiful for one so young, but it was definite that although she had grown quite a bit in the past ten years, she still had time to grow even more.

Beatrix was but one of the many children that had been taken in by the kindly Phineas Shekkel. Almost every single one of them were orphans; very few people were there by choice, although it was a wonderful place to grow up, and there were always friends around. Like all the other children, Beatrix looked unto Phineas as a father figure, and unto his wife a mother, and unto her fellow performers, brothers and sisters.

Beatrix made no flaws in her performance, and the audience cheered her on until the next act was shown.

One day, Beatrix couldn't help but notice that some of the older members of the circus were no longer there. She spoke to her "father" about this, and in his sagely patriarchal wisdom, Phineas calmly explained that, when the time was right, most of his "children" usually went on to carve their own destiny in life. This would explain their absence, but Beatrix (in her naïve youth) couldn't understand why anybody would want to leave the circus. It was a literal paradise, and although the work was hard sometimes, it was worth it to see the audience cheer and smile.

One day, news spread across the world that the legendary warrior, the Great Atma, was making a pilgrimage to Alexandria Kingdom. His purpose was most likely to seek new students to pass his skills unto, or else to train his current pupils in a new environment. Even Beatrix had heard of the Great Atma--who hadn't?! The man was a living myth: though a little ancient of days, Atma was quite possibly the strongest human in the world, and probably the wisest and most skilled as well. His reputation preceded him, hence the reason why there was such an uproar all across Gaia.

Atma only took those students who he felt strong enough to endure his training, which meant that he would only work with the best. Sometimes, though, his reasoning would puzzle most other people, while other times his logic made no sense even to those who claimed to understand the meaning behind everything. But, he could afford to be a little unpredictable--after all, everybody in the world, even evil people, respected him.

The legendary warrior Atma was the epitome of discipline, focus, power, and skill. No warrior could ever match up to Atma's awesome abilities. Hailing from the far East, Atma was a reserved warrior-monk who spent his years meditating, studying, and enjoying his last few moments on Gaia. Earlier in his life, Atma had single-handedly freed three nations from three very large and very powerful empires. Atma was also famous for introducing new techniques to the blacksmiths (hence the Atma-brand weapons and armor, which are the acme of excellence). But perhaps Atma's greatest claim to fame was the fact that he was one of the very few people that had ever been canonized while still living.

So when the P.S. Circus was asked to do a performance in his honor, of course they accepted, and Beatrix would be heading to Alexandria for the first time.

The entire circus was quite large, with performers and animals and tents and everything else, so they had to camp outside the castle when they arrived. It was still a magnificent place to see, even from the outside, and the decorative sword shining in the skies brought a sense of pride to Beatrix's heart. Even during the night, the young performer could be seen staring at the sword, almost as if she were looking at her destiny…

Phineas, of course, could see her looking at the large ornament. He was perhaps the only person alive who understood Beatrix's lust for the mighty weapon. Though the memory had long been forgotten (except by him), Beatrix's parents had both been royal guards for Lindblum, but they retired and moved to D'negel when their daughter was born. The spirit of a warrior was in Beatrix's veins, even though she herself was unaware of this. Phineas merely let out a breath as he watched his "daughter", and prayed that their stay would be filled with smiles and revelry.

Dawn came early, and Beatrix greeted it along with her friends and family. The entire troupe was decked out in their most festive wear: some clowns, others jugglers and acrobats, others tamers, some daredevils, and the usual assortment of miscellaneous performers. Beatrix was in her usual exotic knife-throwing outfit: a short red skirt, a black tank top, and wristbands and other jewels strung across her body. From the look of things, this was going to be one of the biggest celebrations of them all.

As discreetly as they could, the circus began setting things up just outside the castle. The town was far too small to hold everything, and besides, it was such a nice day outside that it would be criminal to stay indoors! It took most of the morning for everyone to set things up, and they worked even during the early hours of the afternoon. Master Atma would show up at a time when nobody expected him, so things had to be ready. There were a few guards keeping watch from all sides, so the Alexandrians would have a little warning beforehand.

Suddenly, one of the guards sprinted past the circus, shouting out "He's here, he's here!!" Within moments, all of Alexandria was thrown into chaos, and a flood of people stormed out of the castle gates to see. The people from the circus tried to vie for viewing positions as well, and soon the entire area was thick with people. Beatrix was cramped in-between a large muscle-bound strongman and a fire-breather, and couldn't see a thing in front of her. However, the strongman was kind enough to let her sit on his shoulders, and several dwarves and midgets also took advantage of the taller ones' height.

Suddenly, a blanket of silence smothered the raucous din. Not even the birds sang, not even the dogs barked, not even the babies wailed. Quietly, silently, without a single sound, Atma walked into the town. Nobody followed him, nobody preceded him, he came alone. It was only a few minutes later when his students arrived, but by that time, they had been deemed invisible.

Atma was a tall man, taut and svelte, with a long black goatee that reached to his neck. His thin black mustache was well-braided, and it too hung down past his chin. His eyes were halfway open as he walked, his creamy-tanned skin burning with a warm glow. The nails on his index and pinky fingers were long and pointed, his hands clasped together in what looked like prayer. His head was completely bald, save for a single braid of very long hair that slithered down past his shoulders. He wore the simple robe of a monk from eastern shores: red, with a gold lining. Sandals covered his traveling feet.

In the silence of the day, Atma quietly stepped through the crowd, wordlessly parting the populous. Each and every warrior awaited to see if he would say or do anything, especially if he was looking for more students. After all, to learn under the world's greatest fighter was an honor beyond everything else. Silently, as he finally waded through the crowd, Atma bowed at the King and Queen, turned around, and placed his hands behind his back.

"It is good to be back here," he said in a calm and slightly scratchy voice. "I have been long absent from this place. Allow my students and myself to rest for a brief period, then I shall attend the festivities you have kindly organized for me." He smiled and bowed again, and a short trail of much younger people followed him--must've been his students.

There were only three people in the whole group: two males and a female. The girl was very tall and muscular, with a cold, piercing look to her face. She was scantily-dressed, like an Amazon, and was carrying a sword at her side. One of the men was a wide-eyed youth who appeared to have just recently joined Atma, and the other was a stoic man wearing a brownish-orange cloak. One of his eyes was a dull brown, and the other was covered up with a patch. Beatrix watched all four of them walk into the kingdom, but her eyes caught the sight of the man with a patch. He had only his left eye, but when he turned to gaze at her, a cold chill went up Beatrix's spine. The man looked in her direction for only a second, then passed on into the castle.

Slowly, the citizens of Alexandria filed back into their domain, leaving the performers to continue setting up. Beatrix was still a little shaken from the glare she had received, and tried her best to wave it away as she continued to help prepare things. If time allowed her, she would practice her knife-throwing skills, and perhaps they would even get a chance to see who Atma's new student would be!

The performance was one of utter magnificence. Everybody literally went all-out as they gave Alexandria their best show, and the King and Queen were in such a joyous uproar that they both nearly had heart attacks. The performance was declared Alexandria's single greatest event since the Wonderful Hunt of Dragons a few centuries back. Beatrix (and the others) even got to see Atma and his students perform a few stunts themselves, and though the Amazon and the young boy were impressive in their own right, it was the man with the eye patch that fascinated Beatrix the most.

To be sure, Atma himself was a sight to behold. His speed and technique were absolutely unequaled. But it was the one-eyed student who really impressed Beatrix. He couldn't have been too much older than herself, and though he looked like an ordinary man, he was in fact matching Atma's moves very precisely. The two had been sparring for the crowd's entertainment, and while everyone expected Atma to be stunning as usual, nobody had expected the one-eyed man to put on his own show.

"That's absolutely fascinating!" whispered Beatrix to herself as she watched. "Here we are, watching the greatest fighter in the world spar with what looks like a common woodsman, and yet he's matching the Master blow for blow. And he has only one eye! Ha… I wonder, how long did he have to train before he could fight like that?"

Although she didn't know it at the time, Beatrix wouldn't have to wait long to hear the answer.

The circus lasted well into the night, and by the time the performance was completely over, it was already dark outside. Most people had shuffled home sleepily, or else they simply snapped themselves awake until they could get back home. The performers would stay busy, however, as they had to take everything down once again. Beatrix, however, had earned some time off, and so with her knife-thrower outfit still on, she began to wander around in the cool summer night.

In the darkness, the crickets sang and the stars glowed merrily. The two moons of Gaia gazed down like the eyeballs of God, and the weather was so nice that Beatrix felt more comfortable than she had all day. It had been a very successful show that day, albeit a long one, but it had been worth it to welcome Atma into the kingdom.

As Beatrix walked around, she noticed a familiar-looking man sitting on a rock, staring into the sky. His arms were hidden inside his cloak, so the only part visible was his head. Beatrix recognized him as the man with the eye patch, and since she had been so impressed by his "performance" earlier that day, she decided to go up to him and strike a conversation.

"Leave," said the man before she could open her mouth. Beatrix drew back a little, her face twisted in confusion.

"Huh?"

"I want to be alone," said the man. His voice was very rough, but altogether emotionless and flat. Quietly, Beatrix ignored his orders and continued towards him.

"I saw you performing with Master Atma," she said. "I must say, that was the most incredible thing I've ever seen. How did you manage to do that?"

"I have been traveling with Master Atma for many years now," he answered flatly. A pause.

"Oh. Well, uh, what's your name?"

"Luke." Another pause.

"Oh, I see. Well, that's a nice name. I'm Beatrix." The one-eyed man silently turned towards the girl, a slight growl in his throat as he gazed at her. His face was as emotional as a rock--hard as one too--and his single dull-brown eye pierced Beatrix's. He had dusty brown hair, and wore a cloak not suited for the summer.

"I didn't ask for your name."

"Well, yeah, but I thought I'd introduce myself," she shrugged. He snorted, and continued to stare at the sky.

"By this time next month, Master Atma will have found a suitable student to teach. Out of the three he has already, I am the oldest, both in age and in the order he received them. I was able to fight him today because he has trained me well."

"You're certainly opening up to me well," noted Beatrix wryly. "What, have you fallen for the knife-girl or something?" Instead of answering her right away, Luke instead stood up, and raised his eye to the dark sky. He closed it, and breathed in the warm night air, and growled like a wolf.

"Master Atma knows who he will teach," he said suddenly. Before Beatrix could ask Luke what he meant, he answered her silent question and continued. "He has known for a very long time, now. This certain someone lives right here, in this kingdom, and he has asked myself and the others to look for them. That is why I am opening up to you." Beatrix, her face back to looking puzzled, shook her head and asked what he meant.

"Huh? You mean… no! You can't mean that I'm his--"

"I didn't say that," interrupted Luke. "I just meant that it could be anybody, even a simple knife-girl like you. He just told me to watch out, and the results will come to bear in the future. That is all." Luke then sat back down, turned his back on Beatrix, and stared into the distance. The orphaned circus girl paused and bit her lip anxiously. There was something… strange about this man… something she could not quite place.

Yes, he was one of Atma's current students, and he was indeed skilled. But there was something else there, lurking somewhere beneath the glassy eye, the patch protecting the other, and the impassive face--and Beatrix was going to find out what it was. People didn't act like that for no reason, so there had to be something that made him that way…

He must be very skilled if he can learn from Master Atma with only one eye, she thought to herself. Perhaps one day, I may be that skilled…

Beatrix was a light sleeper, so she woke up early in the morning before everyone else. The circus was leaving that evening, and so that day would be the last that she would spend in Alexandria--probably. However, even though it was early dawn, news still spread fast in the kingdom. Atma had apparently chosen his student already--which Beatrix already knew, sort of--and already, half of the people of the castle had gathered to hear his declaration. Beatrix was but one of them.

The whole town was thick with people, but Atma, his students, and the King and Queen had all been given a special spot on a platform just slightly higher up than the crowd. It was here where Atma would select his new student from the mix, and though it seemed a rather hasty decision, again--Master Atma's unpredictability was a freedom he seemed to exercise well. So, as spontaneous as it seemed, he was ready to announce who would next learn under him.

"Greetings, Alexandrians," he began, polite as always. "I know that this news is short in coming, but I have long known whom I was to pass my skills unto. This woman you see, Sara, was in my dreams long before I ever met her, and these two men, Luke and Matthew, were also long ago ordained to learn under me. This might perhaps explain the spontaneity of my choices, and it will now make clear my next choice. But first, let us have a little fun.

"Will all the men in the town sit down? Please, all the men sit down. The one I have dreamt about most recently was a woman, so please--all men, sit down." Slowly, one by one, all the males in Alexandria groaned and positioned themselves on the floor, leaving a large handful of women still standing. There was little surprise in Atma's decision so far--after all, Alexandria was practically ruled by women.

"Thank you," he said. "Now, I would like for all ladies over the age of thirty years to be seated. Again, all ladies over thirty years old, please sit." And so they did, leaving a smaller number standing. "Thank you. Now, all the women who did not have any brothers or sisters, remain standing."

Little by little, the number of candidates for Atma's regime decreased. More and more women were being seated, leaving fewer and fewer behind. Atma was well-known for having interpreting many other people's dreams, so if he had received a vision about his next student, this image was to be carried out in full. Next, all the women who were brunettes were asked to stand, then all those whose birthdays were in April. And, to her great shock, Beatrix realized that she had yet to sit down.

Next came women whose named did not begin with a vowel (Atma had strange ways, and few people could really claim to understand his reasons), and then women who were older than twenty sat down. If any girl was missing a body part, she was seated, or if she had an illness, she was seated as well. Soon, after about thirty minutes of this had passed, Beatrix found that, with the exception of one other woman, she was the only one standing. Several people laughed uncomfortably as they took a peek at the ladies, and neither one of them looked to be material for Atma's studentship.

"…And now," continued the Master, "since there is only two left standing, I will be very specific about my dream. The girl that came to my visions was born in a very small village, to two parents she did not know well. Her entire life was consumed by flames, but she was taken in by a wandering group of performers. Do either of you two girls match that description?"

Meekly, Beatrix raised her hand, and the other woman slowly sat down. Atma merely smiled, and welcomed the girl to the stage; Sara the Amazon was impassive, while Matthew seemed to smile, and Luke… well, Luke was just Luke.

"You must be joking!" blurted Queen Brahne. "Master Atma! Surely not this circus performer! Surely there must be some other fine warrior lying in this kingdom!"

"I apologize, but I have grown to rely on my dreams very much," said Atma coolly. He turned towards Beatrix, smiled, and would have spoken his congratulations if he hadn't been interrupted by the King.

"Now wait just a second!" he shouted. "Master Atma, though we trust your judgment, we are still skeptical about your decision! Permit us to bring forth our mightiest knight, in that we may see if the girl truly has any skills at all!"

"You may do as you wish," said Atma, "but my decision is final." He then turned back to Beatrix, and smiled as he spoke to her without interruption. "Remember, young one: what is on the outside is not always that which is on the inside. I do not even know your name, yet something tells me that you have the potential for greatness."

"Beatrix," smiled the girl, performing a small curtsy. "Just call me Beatrix."

"Beatrix it is," smiled Atma, and even though the King was still doubtful of the choice, Atma now had his newest and youngest student. Before any celebration could be called, however, the King shouted out to the squadron of soldiers standing at attention, and asked for the highest-ranking knight in the kingdom--or, at least, to Beatrix's mild annoyance, the highest-ranking male knight.

He was a somewhat large guy that would intimidate any of his female subordinates, and would perhaps even make a few superiors feel small. He wore shiny steel armor, and his smile was mostly pasted on, and the sword he had was larger than Beatrix's arm. His name was Lieutenant Adelbert Steiner, and he would be Beatrix's opponent.

"What? You, my opponent?" he scoffed. "Bah! She would not be a challenge!"

"I'm not a trained swordsman!" insisted Beatrix fearfully, gazing into Atma's face. The tall monk merely stared ahead, his arms folded before him.

"Have strength, child," he assured her. "If you cannot endure this test, then I have wasted my time. Please, show us how truly skilled you are. Surely you have learned things in the circus. Use those skills to survive." Beatrix sighed, took another deep breath, and braced herself. Always a man of good sport, Steiner loaned the girl a sword designed for women, as if the match couldn't get any more gender-biased than it already was.

The crowd became fiercely animated in a very short time as the future student and the skilled swordsman met in battle. Steiner had the edge in almost every single aspect except for agility, which Beatrix owned. She was shorter, thinner, and considerably more limber than the bulky Steiner, and kept the big guy on his toes throughout most of the match. She had never used swords before in her life, except during a performance, so she was obviously lacking. The match seemed one-sided, and had it not been for Beatrix's speed and tenacity, she would have lost long ago.

The battle drawled on longer than necessary, but the end result was that Steiner won. Beatrix had been defeated, but not very badly: her sword had been knocked away by Steiner's strength, leaving her weaponless in the fight. The older knight declared victory, but was still gracious enough to offer his assistance to Beatrix. She helped herself to her feet, and secretly swore that one day, she would have a rematch with that man……

But for the time being, Beatrix would learn under Master Atma. Along with his other three students, Beatrix became a temporary part of Alexandria: she trained around there, she commuted with the people there, and she even became something of an overnight celebrity. Of course, there was the matter of parting ways with the circus…

That time was the most difficult of Beatrix's life--after surviving the destruction of her hometown, of course. She and the family she had grown with spent many long hours embracing and saying final farewells, and her time spent parting with Phineas was the worst of them all, but the old man assured them all that "there comes a time when a child must leave the nest in which they have grown up in, and although it saddens me to see my adopted daughter leave, I can find no greater pride in her. And Beatrix, even if you had never been chosen, I would still love you as closely as I do even now".

And so, as midnight approached, Beatrix waved a sad farewell to the family she had grown up in. She could not wave farewell forever, so she eventually turned around and went back into the kingdom, where all the other students were sleeping--all, that is, except for Luke. He was sitting on the roof of the church, looking out at the landscape before him, emotionless and inactive as ever. Beatrix joined him.

"Hello, Luke," she greeted him. "Lovely night to look at stars."

"If you say so," he shrugged. Beatrix paused just long enough to scoot in closer.

"You knew it was me all along, didn't you?" He shrugged.

"Not even Master Atma knew for certain. He was just given that vague description. In fact, he claims that the narrowing process he used came to him in his dream as well, if you can believe it."

"Do you?" A long, long pause hung in the gentle night air, so long in fact that Beatrix began to wonder if he had even heard her. She almost repeated herself.

"There is nothing left in my life to believe in," he answered gruffly. "…Nothing even to live for, except hope that one day, I may do something that redeems my sins."

"Ohhhh…" Beatrix nodded her head, and slowly began to understand her fellow student. Apparently, he was distraught because of some past crime he had committed--but Beatrix couldn't believe that there actually existed a crime so evil that it would make a man dive into isolation like this.

"So what'd you do?" she asked. "Kill a priest?" A pause.

"Yes." Beatrix had asked that question as a dark joke, but she didn't expect that it would actually be his answer! She gasped in horror as he curtly answered her question, and even went as far as covering her own mouth. On Gaia, one of the worst crimes a person could ever commit would be to murder a man of faith. It was not quite as bad as assassinating a member of the monarchy, though not by much. Criminals guilty of such a sin were either sent into exile (as Luke had, Beatrix later learned), or they were sent to Evil Island where the dreaded Yan dwelled.

No wonder Luke was so distant. Why Master Atma had chosen him as a student was a mystery, but then again, the old monk himself was a mystery. Slowly, as Beatrix absorbed what Luke told her--all three letters of it--she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Luke snorted and stood to leave.

"Yeah? Well, so am I, Trixie. So am I."

Three years passed, and Beatrix turned from a thin fifteen year-old girl into a beautiful and powerful eighteen year-old woman. Her training with Atma was paying off in every way: she was quickly becoming strong, and very skilled, especially with the sword. After chancing upon a public training session, the King and Queen became impressed with Beatrix's growing skills--so much so that they enlisted her in the Alexandrian army.

Beatrix's rank grew almost as fast as her skills did. She would most definitely be bucking for Lieutenant by the end of that year, and if her training with Atma should ever be completed, she would probably end up as a General--exactly one rank ahead of her former adversary, Steiner, who had recently been promoted as Captain. Obviously, the steel warrior was a little upset at this, and dedicated his skills to outlasting and outwitting his most recent rival.

There was also a change in the royal lineup during this time. Princess Garnet, the young daughter of the Queen and King, was stricken with serious illness and died around her sixth year. Although this saddened the King and Queen greatly, a blessing from Heaven literally sailed their way in the form of a young girl who looked exactly like their deceased daughter--except she had a horn.

The horn was removed, and the little girl was secretly adopted as the daughter of the royal family. Only the King, Queen, and a few very close advisors knew about this arrangement, and Beatrix herself did not discover the change until later on. Until that time came, she would grow in skill… as well as grow close to Luke, who--ever since their first nightly meeting, had started to shed a little more of his dark and isolated ways. He and Beatrix were growing close at a slow rate, and probably would have become friends by the end of the month if something major didn't happen between them……

One day, after their training exercise, Luke and Beatrix shared some quiet time to themselves. They had both grown much in the years that had passed, although it was Beatrix who did the most growing. She was now as skilled and as strong as Steiner was, though the other knight would forever have an advantage of sheer brute strength (which wasn't a problem). However, not even she could've defeated Luke in combat, though she had tried on multiple occasions. Even with one eye, the impassive man was a tough challenge to overcome, and one of which Beatrix could not beat.

Even though she knew better, Beatrix could not help but be drawn to the older man. She felt attached to him in a way… She felt a kind of love towards him: she wanted to free him of the guilt and the anguish he was putting himself through, and instead wanted it replaced with all the good and kindness she knew was lurking within. Luke was not a bad person, in short: he just did bad things.

"Good evening, Luke," greeted Beatrix with a smile. Luke grumbled back at her.

"Yeah…"

"How are you faring this evening?"

"Suicidal as always," he grunted. Beatrix sighed and gave him a motherly glare.

"Luke… please… don't do this to yourself… Is your life so full of misery? Can you find no joy in things at all?"

"There is nothing for me here," he answered, gazing at her emptily. "…Nothing. The only thing I am good for now is fighting. I won't ever atone for my crimes, so it's best to hope for a brutal demise and end it all. I have nothing to live for anymore." Despite his ever-present dark mood, Beatrix couldn't help but look at him with sympathy… nor with love. She slowly walked up to him, took his rough hands into her own, and smiled warmly.

"You have me," she answered. Luke sighed, and for the first time Beatrix had known him, he almost looked like he had an emotion.

"Lady Beatrix…"

"I don't want to see you suffering all by yourself," said the younger woman gently. "I know you've done awful things in the past, but it's time to get over them. How old are you again? Twenty-three?"

"………Yes."

"You still have your whole life ahead of you!" she stated softly. "Luke, please… this life is already too painful and short as it is. Do you really want to continue suffering like this?" A pause. For the first time in years, Luke actually thought about something worthwhile, and considered what she said.

"……I…… I…… I… don't… know…" Beatrix gazed into his single brown eye, and placed two tender hands on his cheeks.

"Luke… we've known each other for three years, and… I don't like to see somebody I've known for that long in a bad mood. I hate to see you suffer, Luke, so please… let me be your reason for living…" Luke's eyes slowly widened in amazement, and his stoic face grew gentle, albeit a little surprised. He sighed, closed his eyes, shook his head, and succeeded in looking defeated.

"…Lady Beatrix…"

"Please…" she whispered. Luke's single eye gazed into hers, and she gave him a smile that she knew he needed. To her joy, he smiled back, and suddenly leaned forward to peck her cheek. He drew back for but a second, and placed another kiss directly onto her lips.

One more year passed.

Slowly, Luke recovered from his morose depression, and with the help of his new "reason for living", he gradually returned to the world of lights and happiness. He would still have trouble expressing emotions every once in awhile, but patient Beatrix helped him through it all. They were officially a couple by now, and although they had never expressed their love, a few "thank-yous" here and there from Luke was expression enough.

Yes, the two of them had drawn close over the months… so close that now they talked almost like two normal people.

"You are looking good," noted Luke, complimenting her on her new clothes. Beatrix smiled and thanked him. She had just been promoted to Captain, and was now on the same level as Steiner, who might've been stuck on that tier for years to come if Beatrix didn't "motivate" him properly. She was wearing the garb that Captains wore: white mantle, red breastplate with stockings and gauntlets, and the Queen's own personal rose insignia on the back.

The two idly chatted for a few seconds more, and their time spent together would've ended up being very idyllic if it hadn't been interrupted so soon. The two of them encountered a very large horde of very dangerous monsters, and although two students of Atma would normally not have a problem with such villains, they were both without weapons--even Luke, who had made carrying his sword around with him a habit, was defenseless.

"Beatrix! Stay close to me!" he shouted. "Protect my back and I'll protect yours!" She nodded an affirmative and stood at his back, watching the large army of enemies gather around them. There were far too many for them to fight barehanded, though Atma had taught them martial arts. When the enemies did close in and attack, Beatrix and Luke each let out a roar, and began pummeling everything in sight. Most of the creatures were nothing worse than imps or goblins, but there had been a dragon or two in the mix as well.

Even without weapons, Beatrix and Luke easily dispatched at least ¾ of the monsters there, leaving the rest to either run off or run forward. Those that did escape were left to fend for themselves; those that stayed would be executed quickly. But somehow, in the midst of the battle, the mightiest of all the dumb creatures stormed in for a vicious attack. It shredded with its claws, and would have ripped Beatrix apart if Luke hadn't stepped in at the very last second to shield her body.

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" was the only thing Beatrix could scream, as the man who had finally found some joy in life began to die right in front of her eyes. Enraged beyond measure, Beatrix stormed forth and summoned a secret technique taught to her by Atma: she used a little bit of her own life-force to increase her strength, and with the extra aura of power surging through her body, she snapped the dragon's head like it was made out of dry tree branches.

The dragon fell to the floor in a dead heap--but so did Luke, who was so bloodied up with scars that he was literally red all over. Beatrix's voice came out in a desperate, hoarse wail as she tried to save what little life there was left in the man. She knew a little white magic, and perhaps with the right incantation, she……

"Don't," grunted Luke, brushing her hands aside with his own. He coughed violently several times, and to her surprise, he smiled up at her and took her hands into his own. "…Lady Beatrix…… you were right… You were… my reason… for living… and for dying…"

"Luke, please…"

"No, it's my time," he whispered weakly. "I've… finally… atoned for my crimes, Beatrix… And now… I can… finally… rest…" His smile grew, and his shivering hand slowly rose to stroke her cheek. Beatrix wept bitterly, and held his cold hand with her own.

"Luke, please…"

"Thank you," he groaned, "for…… being my… reason… to live… lady… Beatrix…… It was wonderful… while… it lasted… thank you… thank you…" And with that, his smile grew even more, and he whispered his last, and then, Luke fell asleep.

"Luke! No! You won't die! Please, no! Luke, please get up! I won't allow you to die! Get up! Please!" But Luke did not get up--he stayed down, dead for good, motionless, and altogether gone from the world. Beatrix was so stricken from sadness that she didn't know whether to scream out in agony, or to weep over him bitterly. She instead chose to hug his unresponsive body close, and to mourn over him silently.

"Luke…… I can't believe you're……" She choked on her own words, hiccupped, and sniffled until her eyes were bleary and red. Just then, she noticed his eye patch: the same small piece of cloth that was covering his right eye. Luke had never told Beatrix why he lost the use of that eye, but she did know that he had been living without it for quite some time.

If a man like Luke could be so strong and skilled with the use of only one eye… then what example was there for Beatrix? Slowly, and still shedding a few tears, Beatrix gently removed the patch, and smiled slightly at the slashed socket. Luke had been a warrior even with a handicap, and ever since she first became Atma's student, Beatrix had envied his strength, and his skill, and wanted so desperately to be as good as he was…

And so, as the sun slowly began to rise, Beatrix dried her eyes and stood to greet the new day. She held her hair up just long enough to tie Luke's eye patch over her own face, and placed the cloth over her own right eye. It was a perfectly fine piece of bodily equipment, and no doubt there'd be some person who would inquire about it, but unless they were as close to Beatrix as Luke had been, she would never really tell them the significance of the patch.

If he can go through life with a handicap… she thought, and still emerge a great warrior… then I wonder what it could do to me… And so, with a sigh and a solemn smile, Beatrix greeted the new day with her new handicap. Though she had lost one so dear, her heart in fact never felt more light.

"For you, dear one," she said. "I shall wear this badge of honor for you."

The day finally came when Beatrix graduated from Atma's training. After Luke's death, the woman dedicated the rest of her time to training under the Master, and her efforts paid off around the time of her twenty-fifth birthday. She had spent the last ten years of her life studying the ways of Atma, and now could genuinely boast of being one of the greatest warriors in the world. She was already an Alexandrian General, and had even inherited Save the Queen as a token of her skills. She was Commander of all the knights and soldiers in Alexandria, and had the strength to back her rank up.

So when Beatrix graduated from Atma's classes, she and the ancient Master met for the last time.

"It has been a very fascinating road for you, has it not?"

"…More like 'exhausting', Master," sighed the new General. "I've experienced so much in my life that it's a wonder I'm still sane. But, I have my sword, and my liege, and I have your skills, and the compassion taught to me by my adoptive father… So really, Master Atma, there is little you need to teach me." The Great Atma smiled, and bowed deeply in respect, and of course Beatrix bowed back. Suddenly, the Master rushed forth with a blinding speed, and swept at Beatrix's legs, causing her to plummet to the ground. A light chuckle came from the Master as he helped her up.

"…Little, except, 'always keep your guard up'," he said with a smile. Beatrix matched his smile as well, and gave the old man a hug. They bade each other farewell, and Master Atma journeyed away to the East, where he would most likely retire. Beatrix took great honor in the fact that she had been his very last student, and later in life, she would have even more honor in knowing that she had been the very last person Atma saw before vanishing away.

After that day, he was never seen again.

--------------------

A single sigh escaped Beatrix's nostrils as she stirred and woke. The hour was so early that the sun was barely up, yet even though she felt tired enough to sleep forever, there was something stirring up inside her that just wouldn't let her rest. Slowly, with her nightgown still on, Beatrix shuffled towards her small private bathroom and lit a few candles. She took another deep breath and yawned twice before rubbing the sleep out of both of her eyes. Slowly, she tied her brunette hair back and gazed into her face.

Still as pretty as ever, she thought with a smile. With her hair in an unusual ponytail, Beatrix could see her entire face, plus both naked eyes. The patch was by her bedside, ready to conceal a mysterious secret, but for now it would lay still. Beatrix smiled and touched the mirror with one hand, while examining her face with the other. By all standards, she was still young and virile, and of course she was still strong enough to battle an ogre hand-to-hand. Her smile was still pretty, and a wrinkle or a gray hair was still several years into the future.

So why do I suddenly feel so old? she asked herself. Beatrix lost the smile and tried on her most depressing blank stare. She had a definite sense of darkness to her eyes, and her lips pouted out slightly in a cold snarl. She released her long hair and let it cover up all her face, then disrobed completely before stepping into the showers. The water was painfully delicious to the touch, but somehow, all joy had left Beatrix's body.

She should have been happier. It had only been about a week since the demise of Ignus. Sure, there was a lot of destruction and some deaths as well, but that had all been seven days ago. The kingdom was undergoing repairs, and things seemed to be brightening up. Beatrix's heart and soul had been cleansed and renewed, and she had found a wonderful friend in Freya--again. There was a beloved King on the throne with a wonderful Queen, and although the kingdom was on high alert thanks to the invasion, there was still an aura of peace around the kingdom.

Beatrix should have been on Cloud Nine considering what was going on--yes, she should have, but she wasn't. Whether she blamed it on her own paranoia, the fact that she couldn't handle changes well, her overprotective nature, or some other unknown emptiness, Beatrix had to admit that she just didn't feel right. Stepping out of the shower and drying her body and hair with towels, Beatrix gazed once again into the mirror and suddenly remembered the #1 reason why she was in such a rotten mood.

"Oh, right," she muttered to herself. "Happy Birthday, twenty-nine year old Trixie."

The time--a week after Kyahar Ignus' invasion ended

The place--Beatrix's private bathroom in Alexandria Castle

The players--General Beatrix Francine de Alexandria, who is "celebrating" her birthday

The status--Monotony

Beatrix decided to dress casually that day. After all, she had a right. Rejecting her usual costume for the moment, Beatrix instead decided to pick out one of her few dresses that she owned. These comfortable garments, while nowhere near as pretty or elaborate as the Queen's, were still very nice by any standards. Since Beatrix was prone to wearing her uniform, mostly because she was almost always on duty, she had had very little time for casual wear, and most of those suits were reserved for very special occasions.

After thinking about it, Beatrix rejected the dress idea and instead chose to go with something a little less fancy. No matter what happened that day, she was bound to encounter some kind of activity, so wearing a dress, even a plain one, would've been disastrous. The knight had to dig pretty deep into her undersized wardrobe to fish out what she had in mind, and when she brought it out to examine, she felt better already. It was a red kimono with a gold lining, similar to what her Master Atma had worn, but this formal dress had a few chains of lilies embroidered into the cloth, and the cloth was orange instead of gold.

Trying it on made Beatrix feel even better, as compared to her military uniform, this was like wearing a warm blanket on a cold day. The kimono left her wrists and ankles bare, while a sleek cut had been made on either side, thus exposing a whisper of her thigh. Her upper chest was also visible, but to a length so reasonable that not even Zidane would've been interested. Also, wearing her hair down in the suit didn't seem right, and since it was her birthday that day, Beatrix decided for a little change, and tied her light-brown locks into a ponytail. Of course, the patch was also applied, and for the final surprise, Save the Queen was nowhere in sight.

But even this new ensemble did little to lighten Beatrix's mood. She was nowhere near the age where it was okay to worry about growing old, nor was she even close to a mid-life crisis. At 29 years young, Beatrix was still a young woman, and since she worked in a place where physical prowess was the norm, her body would most likely continue to look good well into her sixties (she could scarcely imagine herself drawing the stares of younger men as she swirled her sword and whisked her gray hair out of her eyes). The knight had absolutely no excuse to be in such a negative mood, but it was her birthday, and the annual event allowed the participant to celebrate rights that they would otherwise never consider exercising.

Needless to say, even though she felt uneasy about some unknown thing, Beatrix managed to draw more than one stare from the knights in the castle. Most of the soldiers there didn't even recognize her, while some were dumbstruck with wonder. Nobody there had ever seen Beatrix wearing a ponytail, and only a few had ever seen her with anything other than her usual uniform (the wedding had been a rare exception). Nearly every single one of the men in the castle ogled her, some much more than others, and it seemed as if Beatrix was almost enjoying the attention.

Maybe I should do this more often, she thought with a smile. A pause. Nahh…

She continued to walk through the castle until she was at the main gate. The guards there nearly bowled over with surprise, but when they saw her eye patch, they slowly began to recognize her.

"General?" they said doubtfully. Beatrix nodded her head.

"Yes, it's me," she replied. They both stared at her as if they had never seen her before.

"…Wow!" they exclaimed. "…You look fantastic! Hey, did Captain Steiner ask you out on a date after all this time?"

"No," she replied coolly, "I just thought… you know… why not? I mean, even I need to loosen up and enjoy myself, right?"

"Y-yes! Of course! Well, uh… enjoy yourself, I guess!" The guards saluted her, and she returned the gesture before heading towards the moat. The ferrywoman there gave Beatrix a similar reaction, and the General couldn't help but groan as she suddenly realized that she would probably be hearing this sort of stuff all day. Of course, if she had left her patch back in her quarters, then she would've really been unrecognizable.

Alexandria Town usually didn't get people that were dressed so exotically, so of course most of the townsfolk stared. A few of the men whistled and tipped hats as Beatrix walked by, and some of the ladies gasped and instantly began whispering to their friends. Beatrix suddenly felt absolutely stupid--after all, it was not every day that the General was the center of attention. She meekly tried to hide herself, and managed to slip into a bar without drawing any more eyes.

Even the tender whistled at her, but considering the fact that Beatrix's sense of fashion was grossly limited, he had a reason to. She smiled amicably at him, and ordered the most powerful tea they had. The lovely young lady, whose mood had brightened despite her embarrassment, then sat down and drank her refreshment as questions once again flew through her mind.

So, today's my day off… she began. …Well, they say that there's no rest for the wicked, and I've been in this business so long that I can't doubt it. Even though we've been through several days of peace, I still can't shake the idea that something bad's about to happen. I… well, I guess I'm really in a good mood, because I have a lot to be thankful for. And darnit, I haven't lost my touch in terms of looks either! Humility be screwed; I'm still as beautiful as I was eight years ago! In fact, I do believe that I've gotten better with age!

…Huh! That's last night's liquor talking. I actually got drunk last night, but can anybody blame me? Today was a day I really wasn't looking forward to. …Gahh, I'm so pathetic! Worrying over the big Three-Oh! Ha!!! Ugh, if Freya found this out, I'd never hear the end of it…!

…Ah… I can't help but smile as I think about her. Wasn't it two years ago, around this time, that we were still pretty harsh enemies? …Seems that way. I… I really didn't detest her myself; I had nothing against her… But she, Oh did she hate me! But who could blame her? I pretty much helped massacre and destroy everyone and everything she ever loved! I was the reason that her love was lost! I caused her so much trouble and pain, and even now I don't think I've done enough to be her friend! I guess… that bond we had when we were kids was really powerful…

…A bond that brings two childhood friends together once again, even though they were once enemies… Sounds romantic, but I'm not really into that sort of thing. …Now what was I griping about before I started thinking of Freya? …You know, it's funny. I can't remember.

Oh yeah, that bad feeling I had! Yeah! (If her highness caught me talking like this, ooooh, I'd get it!! Haha… but it's my birthday today, so I have an excuse) Erm, anyway, I'm just so concerned about what's going to happen next. Their majesties made it clear that there very well may be another enemy out there, and for once, I hope they're wrong. I'm so worn out from fighting that I'm almost tempted to cry.

……Wow. This tea is really great!

As Beatrix's mind wandered from thought to thought, another dressed-down person walked into the bar. He, too, was unrecognizable without his uniform, and if he hadn't shouted something to the tender, Beatrix could've sworn that this was a newcomer to the kingdom. He was very well-built, with a small mop of very flat brown hair that looked to have been spiky in a previous life. He wore a large white shirt and bluish leggings, and his bare hands were holding some miscellaneous items.

"My good man! An ale to start me out today!" he shouted. When Beatrix turned around to see who had come in, she too did not recognize him. The voice was unmistakable, and so was the face. The man also noticed her, and also was unable to recall her at first. But, almost at the exact same time, a name came to the face and they called out to each other.

"…Beatrix?"

"…Steiner?"

"Is that you?!?!" Both knights gawked at each other for awhile, then actually complimented each other.

"…You… you look… uhh… very nice, Beatrix…" stuttered Steiner. She smiled at his attempt.

"Likewise. I've never seen you without your armor. You actually look very nice." His face reddened a bit, but luckily a cough saved him, and he grew a little more serious. Silently, he walked up to Beatrix and scratched his short hair.

"…Red seems to suit you very well," he mumbled. "And… and… well, uh, your hair, uh… ………It's, uh…… it's… uh, very nice." Beatrix smiled again, and even though she knew that this was a hard matter for Steiner, she appreciated his effort. Steiner was an excellent fighter, who could take down warriors, behemoths, monsters, and power-hungry insane maniacs, but when it came to matters of the heart, he was but a greenhorn.

Luckily, Beatrix also stunk in the romance department, which in fact made them almost right for each other. If fate had been any kinder to them, then they could've already started a wonderful yet slightly strange relationship, but circumstances prevented them from going anywhere. It would've been almost impossible for them to have anything together as long as they dedicated themselves to protecting the throne, and if they both retired from their position, then who would be left to guard the King and Queen?

Fate could be so cruel, though…

"…My apologies," muttered Steiner, fidgeting with his hands. "I… I am not too good at this…" Still fumbling a little, Steiner reached into a sack he had been carrying and pulled out a gift-wrapped box. At first, Beatrix didn't quite know what to make of it, but when Steiner said the next two words, Beatrix gasped with pleasant surprise.

"…Happy birthday!" With her eyes sparkling, Beatrix took the box into her hands and thanked Steiner for remembering that day. She carefully unwrapped the box, and breathlessly gazed at the gift he had gone through the trouble of giving. On the surface, it looked just like a Rose Brooch made out of rubies and emeralds, but when Beatrix gave it a closer look, a tear fell out of her eye. Her name was engraved on the stem of the brooch--along with two other names, those of the people who had given birth to her.

It was one of the few relics that had survived Ignus' attack.

"Adelbert… where did you find this?" whispered Beatrix. Steiner smiled, as that had been perhaps the first time she called him by his first name.

"Well… it's a rather long story," he coughed. "Let's just say that I found it while searching around that area. Do you recall the mission that Queen Brahne sent me on, concerning the rampant griffons? Well, we stumbled across the ruins of D'negel during that time, and I somehow found this locked up safe in a box, in near-perfect condition. I… erm…… was hoping to give it to you eventually, but with the war and the invasions… I… umm…" Beatrix smiled warmly, and even though it defied every belief, code, and rule that she followed, she stood up and gave the other knight a tender hug.

"Steiner…… you… ahh… have no idea… how much… this really means to me… Uh… thanks…" Her own face flushed slightly, Beatrix smiled at him again and pinned the family heirloom on her kimono. It matched her outfit perfectly, and would probably look just as good on her military uniform. Now she had three relics to remember those closest to her…

"…It, uh…… is a pleasure, Beatrix," saluted Steiner. He suddenly grew very serious and a little sad, and sighed wistfully. "It pains me to say it, but I am only vacationing a little. I should probably return to the castle and help their lieges prepare for any future invasions. It's a disappointment, but I suppose that's the price we pay to ensure safety to our loved ones." He paused, and managed another one of those awkward smiles of his. "……Erm…… I, I shall see you again!" He bowed his head twice, and trotted out of the bar.

"Steiner?" He turned around, and Beatrix gave him one last smile. "Thank you, Steiner--Adelbert. You…… you really do have no idea how much this really means to me, but perhaps one day, I'll let you know. Good day."

Little wonder that after that moment, Beatrix finally started to act the way she was supposed to.

--------------------

Beatrix's mood was already quite inflated thanks to the surprise from Steiner. Not only had the knight been one of the few people that actually remembered her birthday, but he had also given her such a heartwarming gift that it would've made a pair of passionate lovers jealous. The emerald-ruby Rose Brooch was gorgeous enough on its own, but the fact that it had once belonged to her parents made it priceless. Beatrix's heart felt lighter every time it leaped up against the item, and the smile she wore all day made even her fabulous costume seem pale.

Maybe, growing older wasn't so bad after all. And… maybe Beatrix needed to stop worrying so much. There was so much joy and happiness in the world that oftentimes, the knight could easily miss it all. Her duty and her past had deprived her from years of love and happiness, but now that things finally seemed to be calming down, albeit for the third or fourth time, she could really dedicate the rest of her life to absorbing everything life had to offer.

Of course, she still had her duties to perform, and although she was off work today, she would be expected to be in tip-top shape for the next day. Working for the monarchy of Alexandria was an altogether rewarding occupation, though even Beatrix would sometimes yearn for a life to live on her own terms. She both loved and hated her job, but of course she only expressed half of her thoughts out loud. Only a few very close friends truly knew her secrets--but nobody knew them all.

After deliberately parading through most of the town, Beatrix found herself walking towards Freya's small dominion. The house could manage to hold two people, but it was made for one, and since it had been originally built for a Burmecian anyway (some 224 years ago), it suited Freya well. Beatrix knew that her presence inside the house was as inevitable as the next heartbeat, and not just because she was now on very good terms with the dragoon. Freya would most likely not know of Beatrix's birthday, so the knight would have to let her friend know--for future reference, of course!

So, Beatrix strolled towards the small abode, and politely knocked on the door. It was answered a minute later by Freya, who was also wearing ordinary clothes (she had been wearing her dragoon's uniform less and less, claiming that there was "no need for it outside of decoration or battle"). At first the dragoon drew back in confusion, but after rubbing her furry chin in thought, a spark of recognition came to her lime eyes, and she grinned happily.

"…Beatrix?" she squealed. "That can't possibly be you!!" To prove it, the knight smiled haughtily and waved an invisible strand of hair out of her eyes. She then performed her traditional salute, and even stood in her most classical battle-stance. All three trademarks were like identification papers to the trained eye, and Freya laughed out loud as she hugged her friend.

"I can't believe it!!" she sang. "My stiff and formal friend here has actually tried to look normal! She failed miserably, of course…"

"Freya!!"

"…but she looks marvelous all the same!" grinned the other woman. Beatrix rolled her eyes and playfully shoved Freya into her house, making the passage now open for herself in the process. As Freya continued to laugh, Beatrix smiled back, and the two ladies looked at each other. Freya was wearing a beautiful blue poncho over a white undershirt, with some blue knickers over her legs. She succeeded in looking casual, whereas Beatrix had indeed failed, though it was obvious that the human ended up looking much prettier.

"Seriously," said Freya, "I rarely ever see you wear anything besides that uniform of yours, and I don't think I've ever seen you wear your hair in a tail. …You know, it actually makes you look a whole lot better. You should keep it like that!" Beatrix mutely shrugged and made herself at home. The two of them were still relatively new when it came to being friends, but they had bonded so much that they could perform such acts without having the other's permission. They were indeed true friends, and it was a shame that things didn't quite work out for them at first.

"…So what brings you to my humble abode?" asked the former Burmecian, pouring Beatrix some weak tea (not that the knight didn't have enough already, but Freya's teas were to die for). "Are you just here on a social call, or is it business?"

"Pleasure, my friend," answered the knight, thanking Freya for the tea. As always, it was delicious. "Mmm… Freya, seriously… you should give this recipe to Quina. You'd make a fortune off of it!"

"Meh," shrugged the dragoon. "Auntie told me to keep guard over it, but I think I'll give it to my little ones, if I have any. So, what's new?" Beatrix sighed, and grew saddened a little as her friend asked the painful question. Freya, I like you a lot, but I really wish you hadn't asked that, she mused. …I… uh, I don't want to talk about it… But her reluctance failed, and after only a brief period, Beatrix caved and spilled the beans.

"A lot, actually," she mumbled. Her eyes raised up to meet her friend's, and she moaned slightly. "Did you know that last night was the first time I ever got drunk? I passed out from too much alcohol, and woke up feeling like garbage."

"What happened?" whispered Freya, kneeling down so she could look her friend in the eye easier. "Beatrix, is something wrong?"

"No… not really," said the General with a sad chuckle. "I'm just a pathetic, weak little girl who worries too much."

"I already knew that," said Freya gently, placing her hand on Beatrix's cheek. There was no enmity or even humor in her words--just kindness and love. "Tell me, what's wrong? Really." Pausing, Beatrix sighed as her eyes bored into Freya's, and for no real particular reason, she suddenly threw off her patch.

"…I'm such a worthless fool…" she said with a smile.

"Again, it's public knowledge," whispered Freya kindly. "Now please, tell me what's wrong!"

"Nothing," sighed Beatrix, covering both naked eyes with her hand. "I… I've just been dreading this day. You know… it's my birthday today."

"Really?" smiled Freya. She grinned warmly, and patted her friend's cheek. "Beatrix… you never told me! Now I'm going to feel bad that I didn't get you anything, or that I didn't do anything with you!"

"The day's still young, but that's not necessary," muttered the knight. Freya smiled and let Beatrix win the little debate, and resumed her friendly interrogation.

"So is my friend worrying about getting older?"

"Sad to say, but I guess I was," groaned the knight. "I know, I know… I'm so pathetic. I mean, I'm only twenty-nine for heaven's sake!" Freya suddenly laughed out loud in a single, sharp guffaw, but her apology came too late.

"Is that all?!" she grinned. "Little Miss Beatrix is worried about turning thirty?!?! Beatrix, darling, that's nothing at all! You're still young! And from the looks of it, and please don't take this the wrong way, but you're also very attractive!"

"Thanks," mumbled Beatrix weakly. "For all your insults, Freya, you really are a true friend. How you ever put up with all these disgusting weaknesses of mine is beyond me." Freya, who at that moment was pouring over with love, grasped both of her friend's hands and gave as kind a smile as she knew how.

"Beatrix… I don't want to get the wrong message across, but I really do like you a lot. You're more than just a friend to me, and I treasure every moment I'm around you--even those times when we're off fighting for this country. I don't think of it as 'putting up with you', I think of it as 'being there for you when you need me'." Freya gave an uncharacteristic wink, which made Beatrix sigh in amazement.

"……You truly are something special, my friend," she admitted. "I only wish…… things had been different for us. We've already lost so much time… And, even though we're close now, I feel as if we still have a lot of catching-up to do."

"Well, we're both still young," said Freya with a smile. "At least I am. I'm not so sure about you."

"Hey!!!"

"Come on, grandmother!" snickered the dragoon. "Let's see you fight the mean old rat with your cane!"

"I am so going to beat you!!" snarled Beatrix playfully. She threw a fake punch, and the two slapped at each other for a little while before wearing themselves and their poor hands out. Smiles were conveyed, and Beatrix reached forward to give her closest friend in the world a much-needed hug.

"You're so good to me…"

"Only because you deserve it," replied Freya. Beatrix snorted and gave her tail a gentle tug. "Hey! Ouch! Beatrix! For somebody so old, you certainly do act immature!!"

"Hey, watch who you're calling 'old' now," pointed the human. "Master Atma told me to respect my elders, because I might one day be one of them. And no more snide comments, okay??" Sensing her friend's serious mood, Freya quietly nodded her head.

"Okay. I am sorry, Beatrix. I guess… well… I've never really had a friend quite like you. It's like I have an instant rapport with you. Of course you realize that I was just teasing."

"I couldn't tell," muttered the human, and she received a friendly slap for the comment. "Ow! Okay, I'm sorry too! Truce?"

"Of course," said Freya, and the ladies shook on it. Beatrix suddenly suppressed a yawn, which caused Freya to instinctively check her grandfather clock. "Oh my," she muttered. "It certainly got late very fast, eh?" Beatrix shrugged and tossed an invisible strand of hair out of her eyes.

"I guess I didn't notice the time. But you're right, it is late, and we really haven't done anything special today. I mean, it is my birthday."

"I think we did something special already," whispered Freya with her green eyes sparkling. Beatrix rolled her own eyes and muttered something about how corny that just sounded; Freya laughed out loud.

Upon opening the door, a clap of thunder shattered the skies, and a curtain of rain began dripping down towards the earth. It was so wet outside that even the stray frogs were seeking shelter, and every sane person was in the process of finding shelter. There was no possible way that Beatrix could go back to her quarters now--at least not with the clothes she had on now. Even her military uniform probably wouldn't survive such a downpour, so she had little choice but to close the door, turn around, and ask her friend for a favor.

"…Uh, Freya? If it's not too much trouble, do you think I could stay at your house for the night?"

"Of course!" replied the dragoon. "Mi casa es su casa! Make yourself comfortable! I'll just sleep on a cot I have stored away, so you can take my bed."

"You sure about that?" asked Beatrix. "I mean, it's probably going to be cold."

"Beatrix, you're forgetting that if I wanted to, I could sleep outdoors and not be affected at all," sighed the younger woman. "Remember, I used to live in a place that never stopped raining, except for once every year. A cot would be a luxury to me, and besides, I'd be a terrible host if I didn't allow my guest to have the finest room. It'll be all right." Beatrix paused just long enough to give her friend a sweet smile, and shook her head in amazement.

"…You're so sweet…"

"Spare me," groaned the dragoon with a mighty roll of her eyes. "Ugh, humans… Next thing you know, you'll be asking for a goodnight kiss." A dreadful pause caused Freya to freeze for awhile, and doubtful green eyes stared at Beatrix. "…You're not--"

"Good night, Freya," enunciated Beatrix in a slow, sweet, seething voice. The dragoon scoffed a little, saluted at her friend, and sauntered off to retrieve the cot she had hidden somewhere. Her sharp ears could pick up the faint rustling of Beatrix disrobing and letting her hair fall (Freya subtly noted that the eye patch was still on the floor), and soon, the squeak of a bed being laid in. Silence.

Sighing a little to herself, for the day had been long and hard, Freya disrobed a little and placed the cot in a comfortable spot. After whispering a prayer to her deity, she slipped into the makeshift bed and pulled the thin covers over her body. She took a deep breath, and prepared herself for a well-deserved rest. All the worries of the day would just have to wait for tomorrow.

"Freya?" came a voice suddenly. The mouse stirred and moaned.

"What?"

"…If I had really asked you to give me a kiss goodnight, what would you have done?" A pause.

"Probably punch you." Another pause. Beatrix chuckled.

"Right, right. I'm glad to know that. Good night, Freya."

"And you, Beatrix. And you."

--------------------

Both the light of dawn and the smell of cooking hit Beatrix at the same time, and with a flutter of her eyes, she woke up. Sitting on a chair next to her bedside was Freya, watching her like a furry guardian angel. Beatrix groaned and managed to smile at her friend.

"Morning," she moaned. Freya said the same thing.

"How did you sleep?"

"Terrible," moaned the knight. "I had a weird dream. It was about us."

"Oh?" Freya raised an inquiring eyebrow. "We didn't do anything weird, did we?"

"I… don't think so," replied the human as she groaned and stretched. "…I think we just talked."

"What about?"

"I can't remember. You know how some dreams vanish the minute you wake up? Mine was like that." Freya nodded her head thoughtfully and changed the subject as the smell of morning breakfast hit her nose as well.

"I made a few things for you," she said, pointing to her small kitchen. "You know I'm not a good cook, so bear with me." Beatrix smiled in thanks, and as Freya left her bedroom, she sat up and leaned over slightly so that her long hair was tickling her chest.

Whew…… what a night…

It was barely dawn, yet already the people of Alexandria could tell that it was going to be a lovely day. The sun was just now peeking over the cloudy horizon in all its fiery-orange glory, and what remained of the pre-dawn mist was quickly evaporating in the heat. Birds began twittering in the lush trees, and the chill of dawn gave way to the peaceful warmth of morning. Grass began waving in the breeze as droplets of dew trickled down to the thirsty earth, and all of nature took a yawn as it prepared for another peaceful day.

Inside Alexandria Town, a few early-morning risers were already milling around, most of them setting up shop. Sleepy merchants displayed their delicious wares for the lucky few who had managed to wake with the sun, and for those who would not stir to the morning light, there was plenty of delicious smells to wake up to. Rolls of a dozen different flavors and varieties sent their delicious smell into the air, along with sizzling pieces of ham, frying eggs, fresh fruit, chocolate, coffee beans, and cereals.

There were hardly any children running around town, and if there were any, they were still rubbing their eyes and yawning. It was generally a beautiful day in Alexandria (and every other part of the world), and as a casually-dressed Beatrix and Freya emerged from the house, they were greeted by a beautiful town and warmhearted people. They returned the greeting, and since Beatrix had declared Freya's breakfast "delicious, but unfulfilling", the two made their way to the nearest restaurant. Freya treated her friend to everything, since she had failed to do so the previous day, and declared that they would probably spend every other hour that day in revelry. After all, Beatrix had grown another year to her life, and as her closest and most-trusted friend, Freya wanted to show the overworked knight a good time.

Meanwhile, another couple was just waking up to the morning light. Zidane and Garnet, each cuddling up in the other's embrace, stirred and moaned happily as morning invaded their room, and the King woke up first. As his eyes opened, he smiled warmly at his beautiful jewel, and carefully ran the tips of his fingers through her long, dark hair. She was absolutely breathtaking, especially in the early hours of the morning when she still slept. She still had a scent of perfume on her, and a faint smile on her face, and Zidane was so reluctant to wake her that all he really wanted to do was stare at her forever.

Of course, Garnet did wake up, and the second she opened her eyes, her husband gave her a kiss. They both smiled as they greeted each other, and hands clasped as morning rolled on.

"Hey, sleeping beauty," he grinned. Garnet winked at him.

"Morning. Did you sleep well?"

"You know it," he told her in his usual slick manner. "I had a sweet dream about a beautiful angel, but it looks like my dream just became a reality."

"Stop it!" she sang, slapping his shoulders gently. "That has to be the corniest line…"

"Aw, you know you like it," he smiled. Garnet sighed and laid a dozen kisses on his mouth and face.

"……Of course," she sighed. "But (kiss) really, darling… (kiss) Must you (kiss) always (kiss) wake (kiss) me up (kiss) like that (kiss)?"

"Yeah……" Smiling lewdly, Zidane snuggled closer and whispered in her ear. "(So… are you up for a little early-morning lovemaking?)"

"Ugh, no," she groaned. "You wiped me out last night. I think the people in Esto Gaza could hear me screaming…" Zidane chuckled playfully and pressed his nose against the nose of his wife.

"Thank the Creator for soundproof walls, eh?" Garnet giggled and rubbed her nose against his, but grew a little serious a few seconds later.

"Darling, we don't have soundproof walls." A chilling pause.

"…We don't?"

"No." Another icy pause. Zidane's eyes darted around wildly, then locked onto his wife's again. He shrugged, and the two of them burst out in laughter. It would be their misfortune to finally have to get up out of bed, and to walk the halls of Alexandria Castle after what had transpired the previous night……… Well, the soldiers' faces were definitely redder than usual, but luckily, good old Steiner had slept through all the "noises".

Like the female knights before them, Zidane and Garnet woke up to a beautiful town and a beautiful morning. They were indeed facing red-faced guards as they left the royal bedroom, but it seemed as if Zidane's display of public affections saved them. The King openly expressed his feelings to his wife, and she was almost always bashful about it, but then again, they were still technically newlyweds, so all their actions could be excused. Besides, they had not been that "active" last night.

And for the record, they were enjoying a well-earned moment of privacy on the highest balcony of the castle. This was but one of two secret places that people could go when the pressures of the world had built up too much. All of Alexandria--in fact, all of the Mist Continent was displayed out before them, and even though the morning hour was no longer very early, there was still enough natural mist floating around to make the world seem beautiful and serene.

"Just like you!" grinned Zidane as Garnet complimented nature's glory. She grinned back and pushed him gently.

"Zidane, please!" she sang. The Genome laughed and grabbed her in a fierce but soft hold, and hoisted the squealing Queen right off the ground. Normally, if Garnet was shrieking like she was now, there'd be a dozen soldiers stationed around, but since they knew Zidane was with her, they just shrugged it off as youthful playfulness.

And so, the citizens of Alexandria woke up from their rest, and prepared to face a peaceful and seemingly-uneventful day……

However…

Two travelers came to Alexandria sometime before the morning was over, with a third close behind them. The first two had been to the famous town many times for many different occasions, but even now the guards were stubborn about letting them in. The tallest did indeed show his disgust, and once again gave the two soldiers an ultimatum. Once again, the guards quivered in their boots, and once again they refused the three travelers entry. Not even the eldest of the three could get them inside, and he had a talent for slipping into well-guarded places.

But it was the third traveler who was able to part the guards. Unlike her two "companions", this third person was not only shorter but also a completely different gender. She had a peaceful but haunting aura to her, with just a slight trace of foreboding and misery. The girl was very pretty but rarely smiled, and when she stepped towards the guards, she did not need to speak at all to get them to separate.

"Hey, what's going on?" grumbled the eldest in his thick accent. "These Alexandrian guards aren't the type who'll let just anybody pass." Quietly, the girl turned around to face the older one, but kept her silence as she stared at him. He finally let out a defeated sigh and shrugged.

"Whatever…" The girl nodded her head, and allowed the two others to lead the way inside. She could not go before them because she had been inflicted with blindness at birth. Dark glasses covered her dead eyes, and aside from the beautifully haunting feel that she carried, the girl was also wearing a long-sleeved snowy-white blouse, with a long rosy-red skirt over her legs and brownish dress shoes on her feet. Her hair was just long enough to reach her armpits, and it was such a gorgeous golden color that it might've been honey. In her hand was a walking stick, but she didn't use it since she was being led by her two companions.

As the three of them came into Alexandria town, the tallest one of the three turned to face the girl and growled.

"You'd better be right about this, that's all I can say." He got nothing in reply, so they just kept on walking into town until they caught the eyes of Beatrix and Freya. The two knights were sitting outside as they shared a breakfast roll, and were about midway into it when they noticed the trio of travelers.

"Odd," said Freya, breaking the silence between them. "I wonder what Amarant is doing here." Beatrix turned around to see, and sure enough, it was the wandering mercenary Amarant Coral, and he was traveling with his former mentor, the Hunter, as well.

"I haven't a clue," replied the knight as she twisted her body around to get a better look. "But if it's anything like the last few times, I'm sure that there's some trouble in the world." Freya hummed softly to herself.

"You may be right," she mumbled. "Come. We had better check this out." The two knights stood up out of their seat and gave the rest of their roll to some children before following the suspicious people. Amarant was becoming a rather common visitor to the kingdom, but as Beatrix said, every time he came, something bad was usually afoot. After the war with Kuja, he had first arrived to tell of the attack on Mognet Central, then apparently stuck around to fight off the Foe's attack. He slipped into obscurity after that, but came back just in time to warn the kingdom about Kyahar Ignus.

It then seemed logical for the ladies to be suspicious, for not only did Amarant' presence most likely portend to a new threat on the world, but every time he was in the area, the enemies grew worse and the battles became longer and harder. Something suspicious was indeed on the horizon, and the two knights intended to find out what exactly it was.

But…… who's that third person with them?

As Amarant, the Hunter, and the mysterious third person weaved their way through town, they did not stir up the usual commotion that always seemed to sprout up whenever they were in the area. True, it was still a reasonably early hour, but there would've been some kind of commotion by now. Freya didn't know whether the silence or Amarant was more suspicious, nor did she know why most of the guards parted as the three of them waded through town. Alexandrian guards were not perfect, but they were very efficient, and completely loyal to the throne. They wouldn't just let these three characters go without some investigation, but as it stood, they parted their swords without so much as a "Halt!".

"That's strange," noted Beatrix as she observed the goings-on. "I wonder why those guards are letting them pass." Freya nodded her head and rubbed her chin in thought.

"Curiouser and curiouser…" The two knights continued to follow Amarant's convoy as they made their way to the castle, where even the ferrywoman allowed them passage without hassle. Beatrix cursed mildly as the boat sailed away with the trio on board, but unless she wanted to swim the distance, she would have to wait for it to come all the way back to her side of the shore before she could board it.

Meanwhile, more strange things were going on as Amarant, the Hunter, and the girl came to the castle gates. The guards here were perhaps the best in the whole kingdom, and had explicit instructions to not allow anyone past unless they had business inside the castle. Amarant could make all the threats he wanted, the Hunter could coerce them as much as he liked, but there was little chance aside from using brute force for either of them to get inside.

Strangely enough, the golden-haired girl parted them with a mere wave of her hand. Even stranger was the fact that not only did the guards fail to recognize her, but she had never been in the kingdom before, and didn't know anybody there either. These guards had their orders from the King and Queen themselves, and yet here they were, lowering their weapons without even a conflict…

A similar spectacle awaited the trio every time they encountered a nosy guard. Sometimes, Amarant or the Hunter would be able to persuade them to leave, but most of the work was caused by the girl. She appeared to not have any magical abilities at all, yet with a simple wave of her hand, or perhaps a dead gaze from behind those dark glasses, and the guards carefully stepped aside and let them through. They continued on, further into the castle, until they were but a few steps away from where Zidane and Garnet were.

The monarchs were just now getting down to the business of tightening their defenses for any future invasions, when the door opened and the trio calmly walked inside. Immediately, Steiner leaped forward and grabbed the hilt of his sword, and demanded to know what the meaning of the intrusion was.

"Halt! How dare you come into their majesties' quarters without proper authority!" Amarant and the Hunter both growled and crossed their arms in an equally-surly manner, and left the tin woodsman to the girl. Before Steiner could unsheathe his sword, she quietly approached him and placed a gentle hand on his arm. The desire to bully the two men around suddenly left him, and Steiner's face became placid as the girl looked into his face. Quietly, the armored man sheathed his weapon, and stepped aside dumbly. It was almost as if he were in a trance, and didn't quite know what he was doing--but no harm came to him, as the three of them were there in the kingdom on a mission of peace--and impending doom.

"……Uh, hi," managed Zidane in his usual manner. "Uh, what brings you guys to Alexandria?"

"This girl here," pointed the Hunter, indicating the quiet blonde. Zidane smiled and waved at her.

"Oh, hey. I'm King Zidane T. Alexandros, and this is my wife, Queen Garnet. …Uh… well, uh, I guess…… Uhh, welcome to Alexandria." Amarant groaned in frustration as he shook his head, and the tall man nearly covered his face in shame before talking to his one-time ally.

"Ugh, idiot! Why do you always do that?"

"I guess it's just my nature," smiled the King. "So, milady, what can I do for you?"

"Yes, tell us all what this is about," insisted the Hunter. The girl quietly turned around to nod at the woodsman, but before she could speak (if she could speak), she was interrupted by the door bursting open again. Beatrix and Freya rushed inside, nearly bowling over the two men, and demanded to know what was going on.

"Highness!!"

"Stop right there!!"

"What is the meaning of this?!"

"Talk!!"

"Looks like this has become quite a gathering," muttered the Hunter wryly. He smiled unhappily and indicated that Steiner was now free to join everyone else, and the knight slowly joined his fellow warriors, a confused look on his face the whole time.

"Beatrix!" he hissed. "What in all the worlds is going on?!"

"I guess we'll find out," she replied. Soon, everyone's focus was turned towards Amarant and the Hunter, but they insisted innocence.

"No, not us," said the elder. "We haven't a clue as to what's going on either. We were just hunting down this girl here and she told us something about how Alexandria would be in danger."

"Hey, hold on a second!" exclaimed the King. "…First of all, are you saying that this was the girl that had the bounty on her head?"

"Yup." Zidane grinned joylessly and peered closer at the silent lady.

"…She doesn't look dangerous," he noted. The girl stiffly tilted her head to the side, but kept her silence. "Hey, sorry milady. I'm still not used to being King."

"Got that right…"

"Anyway!" shouted Freya, drawing everyone else's attention. After a pause, she nodded to the Hunter. "Explain yourself."

"Like I said, even I don't know that much," he replied. "We found the girl all right, but she told us that we didn't know what we were doing, or somethin'. She then told us that there was gonna be some evil power that would invade Alexandria, 'in the near future', or so she said. Anyway, we didn't believe her, but let's just say that she made us an offer that we really couldn't refuse." A pause.

"Huh?"

"She told us that she'd turn herself in if she couldn't find proof of an invasion," explained Amarant. "…And if she could, then we'd have to give our services to you, or some crap."

"Ohhhhh……" A wave of clarity soon took over everyone in the room as the situation became a little more understandable. Beatrix bitterly noted that her premonition had been correct, but kept all other personal thoughts to herself.

"So, Miss……… Ahh, what is your name?"

"She wouldn't tell us," sniffed Amarant. "We just called her whatever we wanted. You could do the same." Another pause.

"Very well. Miss, would you be so kind as to tell us what this matter is all about?" The blind girl quietly nodded her head, and approached the throne with her stick rapping up against the floor. She reached into her blouse pocket and pulled out a small sheet of paper, then gave it to Zidane and blindly walked back to where she had been. The King shrugged as he opened the letter, and read the only word that was written on it:

"'Iudicium'. Hey, I don't get it."

"Did you just say what I think you said?!?!?!" All eyes turned towards Amarant, but what they saw would fill anyone with shock. The normally-apathetic and stoic loner was now hunched over in sheer horror. His whole body quivered from some unknown fear, and his hidden eyes had bulged to the point of being visible once again. Perspiration drowned his face, and his mouth hung open in horrified amazement.

"Whoa, what's gotten into you?" whispered Zidane. "Amarant, I've never seen you look so……… scared!"

"Me neither, and I've known you for years!" grumbled the Hunter. "What's gotten into ya?" Amarant remained frozen as more and more people asked questions, but remained silent through most of their interrogation.

"…No," he moaned, holding his head with his large hands. "…No……… It… it just isn't possible…… Iudicium…"

"Who's that?" asked Beatrix. Amarant gave her one single piercing look before speaking.

"Trust me," he shivered, "it's best if you didn't know…"

All this time, the mysterious golden-haired girl remained as still and silent as ever…

To be continued…