Edonil: I'm back! Really, I am! Sorry for the two-month long wait. In July, I was trying to write 40,000 words (I wrote 40,117!), and for most of August, I've been away on vacation. Updates should be semi-regular, now, although I can't guarantee anything. I'm going into grade eleven, so homework may cut into my writing time. I shall try, though.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize from the game probably doesn't belong to me.

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Re-cap ('cause who remembers anything?): Zidane arrived, and showed Kuja to Dagger. Dagger, Zidane, Kuja, and Beatrix had dinner together, and Dagger decided Kuja was an ok guy. Kuja met up with Steiner, who threw a hissy-fit. Kuja and Blank spent some time in Alexandria City, and Blank tried to hook Kuja up with a girl. Zidane kissed Dagger, and Steiner threw another hissy-fit, and Steiner chased Zidane up a tree. Dagger and Beatrix rescued Zidane.

To Challenge Perfection

Chapter Seven: Thoughts

Steiner was at a loss for words. First, The Scoundrel had returned. Second, he had brought The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom. And now The Scoundrel had kissed The Queen. The World was standing on Its Head.

In theory, The Scoundrel should have stayed vanished, and The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom should have died. And The Queen should have been safe in her castle. The presence of The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom meant that The Queen was not safe, and as the Captain of the Knights of Pluto, Steiner had to protect her at all costs.

But how?

He could simply kill The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom, but since The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom was very disturbingly powerful, Steiner would have to stab him in the back, which was dishonourable. He could not send The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom away, because The Queen clearly wanted him to be present. The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom would have to be imprisoned, then, except that first Steiner had to figure out a reason. Killing Queen Brahne might not work; The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom might have been pardoned for all past crimes. And it would also be dishonourable to set him up. This was not good.

Perhaps Beatrix would know? The woman was intelligent; she should have plenty of ideas. But she seemed not to mind The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom's company. Perhaps if he could convince her that The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom was a danger to The Queen… But no, that would never work; Beatrix had to know something Steiner did not, because she would never allow herself to be fooled.

Clearly, the problem presented by The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom required more thought, and could not be corrected immediately.

Steiner turned his thoughts to The Scoundrel. When he had thought The Scoundrel was dead, he had mourned, of course, and had even been sorry to see The Scoundrel go. At the time, The Scoundrel had seemed honourable. But his current behaviour said that he had fooled Steiner. The Scoundrel was an actor, and apparently a very good one. That was all there was to it. Curse him! But what could Steiner do? The Queen had still been grieving The Scoundrel's 'death' moments before The Scoundrel appeared, and had seemed genuinely happy since his return. It would never do to get rid of The Scoundrel. No, he would have to be subtler with The Scoundrel. That was not good; Steiner was not at all subtle, and he knew it. Beatrix could be subtle. Maybe he should ask her? But no, she would probably say to let The Queen and The Scoundrel do as they wished.

Perhaps he could set some of his knights to watch The Scoundrel? If The Queen or The Scoundrel asked, he could say he was making sure that no harm came to The Scoundrel. The Queen would accept that. And hopefully, if The Queen accepted it, The Scoundrel would accept it. Yes, that would work. But which knights to set on The Scoundrel's tail? Blutzen and Kohel, maybe. They should be able to do the job and keep their mouths shut. That decided, Steiner started searching for the two knights.

Finding them was not easy. Why was it that his knights never stayed where he told them to? When Steiner finally found the two (sitting by the dock, laughing and drinking beer), he scolded them before giving them their assignment.

"Now, I want you two to begin following Zidane around. If anyone asks, you two are guarding him, keeping him safe."

"Then… What are we really doing, Captain?" Blutzen asked.

"You are going to be watching him, and protecting the Queen from him. Do you understand?" Blutzen and Kohel looked at each other for a moment.

"So… You're saying… You don't trust him near the Queen, and we're to keep them from getting cozy?" Kohel asked. Steiner glared.

"Yes! Now go!"

"But Captain, he'll be in bed now…"

"Fine! Stay here! But I expect to see you to trailing behind him tomorrow! And stop drinking; it is not proper for knights to drink!"

Fools. But they would do as he told them to, for the time being. Hopefully. If they remembered. Perhaps they would have hangovers in the morning; it would serve them right.

That done, Steiner went off in search of Beatrix. She might be able to help him with The Back-Stabbing Lord of Doom. Or at least explain his presence here.

Edonil: Another chapter done! If you haven't forgotten about me entirely and given up on this story due to lack of updates, please review!