Precious

Side Note - about the age thing, I always assumed that the ending FMV of FFIX took place two years after Zidane was left at the Iifa Tree, so that's why their ages are off. Just letting you know. And thank you for the reviews!

Chapter Two

Garnet moved into the library. She was dressed in her favorite white coronation gown, with her long hair pulled back into it's natural style. The servants in the castle had begun the final touch ups to the decorating and cleaning before the reunion, and the soldiers had bathed and cleaned their armors and weapons to stand guard. She knew the Tantalus boys were coming along as well for their performance, and she'd hate to wake up the next day and know that several artifacts had been stolen. She actually had to chuckle at the thought. They were from two seperate worlds: royalty and thievery, but she was always happy to be around them, and they seemed to accept her for who she was. Well... now they seemed to. True they were very distant in the past and their bond wasn't as strong as it was now, but it seemed that after Zidane was crowned King of Alexandria that the boys of Tantalus and Queen Garnet's relationship grew closer and stronger.

With the thought still in her mind, Garnet walked through the library and seated herself at one of the desks stacked up with books. Not many people sat at this desk... probably because they knew that she sat there so often, lost in her thoughts, reading through the words and gazing at the pictures of the worlds she had grown fond of as a growing woman. Opening her book, she ran her fingers over the picture of Treno, the city of eternal night. She smiled at the memories of her reuniting with Dr. Tot. Although his passing was at least five years ago, thoughts and memories of him had always come back to her. Sometimes she carried an inner debate with herself: to take the gargant to Treno for a stroll down memory lane, looking at the books and the globe of Gaia, and remember her time there with him. It was a thought and a longing she kept with herself for quite some time, but nonetheless, now was not the time to be thinking of her travels. She flipped a few pages and saw the South Gate trolleys and the Village of Dali.

I guess I do feel a little cooped up in this castle. It would be wonderful to roam freely once again in the Village of Dali... I know that Zidane...

She paused in the middle of her thoughts. What about Zidane? Sure he always carried a smile on his face but...did he enjoy royalty? Did he like ruling over this kingdom? She had to ponder that thought... did he ever want to return to Lindblum? Or rejoin with Tantalus and travel the world once again?

"My Queen..."

Garnet smiled, recognizing the voice, and looked up from her book. Captain Adelbert Steiner stood at the doorway, and beside him was his wife, General Beatrix, and their son, Lukas. It was amazing to see Steiner and his family. He and Beatrix had come quite a long way together. She couldn't believe the time Beatrix came up to her and told her she was pregnant with Lukas. They had both aged well over the ten years. Steiner grew a little chubbier yet still kept himself in shape. Facial hair had grown out from his chin and cheeks, but he seemed to smile a lot more then he had before. Beatrix's kept her grace and beauty, but her hair was tinted with a slightly grayish color. Her face aged a bit, but fairly, and (according to Steiner) her hands became much softer over the years, escpieally after giving birth to Lukas. Although her stomach grew a little flabbier, Beatrix was still in wonderful condition. Now at age ten, Lukas resembled both of his parents in very unique ways: at birth, he lost the ability to see through one of his eyes and was given an eyepatch like his mother's. His facial appearance resembled Steiner's: rounded chin and high cheek bones, yet was much softer then his father's. He had Beatrix's hair color that was long, slightly wavy, and tied back into bun on the back of his head. He wore a tunic in shades of gray and black with the crest of Alexandria showing on his chest, and a pair of sturdy shoes. They were quite a sight to see.. all of them.

"We're here to report that the guards are now positioned throughout the castle as you commanded." Steiner stated. Garnet smiled and rose from her seat.

"Thank you very much, both of you." she said as Steiner and Beatrix bowed, followed by a cute imitation from Lukas. Garnet smiled.

"Are you excited to see them again?" Beatrix asked, combing her fingers through Lukas' hair.

Garnet nodded slightly. "I am... hehe, I wonder how much they've changed since last year..."

"As long as the change is for the better, my Queen." Steiner announced. Before another word could be spoken, one of the Pluto knights came charging in, his face flushed and beaded with sweat from the sprint.

"Captain Sir!" he gasped, forcing himself to a complete stop. His outburst caused the Steiner family and the queen to jump in surprise.

"What is it? What happened?" Steiner cried out in a panic.

The soldier gasped for air, panting harder. "Sir... we have... a serious... problem!" he managed through his gasps. Steiner jumped in nervousness.

"What is it!" he cried again.

"We have... a serious... oglop problem... by the moat..." he gasped before collasping in exhaustion.

Steiner shuddered and shook his fists in annoyance. "Grr, curse those oglops! Of all times for them to come...! Right before the guests arrive!"

Beatrix placed a hand on his shaking shoulder, telling him through her touch to clam himself. She had that effect on him... and their son. Both the father and the son had major rage issues. She nodded at him, he gave a deep breath, turned, and apologized to the giggling queen.

"We'll handle this, your Majesty." Beatrix said as she and her family bowed before the queen, then stepped over the collapsed soldier to head for the moat.

Garnet smiled, watching as they scurried out of the library and out of the castle. That family… they were her shimmer of hope. They had changed so much, in appearance and age, but… they were still the same people she knew all her life. And if they were still those same people, then maybe Vivi and Freya and all the others would still be the same as well.

But still… she had to question herself as to why she was so worried and why she needed to be convinced that they would still stay the same.

Again, she shook her head. "I spend too much time in thought." She said to herself. "Maybe I should see how Quina's coming along in the kitchen… yes, that's a good idea…"

Things will be alright… I know they will be…