I haven't given up on this one! It's actually one of my favorites, but it's taken this weird turn that I have to plan for more...

(Disclaimer:) I do not own FF9.

Eri's thoughts were too preoccupied with her new wardrobe to notice that the food had arrived, and that the young lady immediately started eating as if she never tasted food before.

Who decided that this was her new taste in fashion, Eri wondered. She had grabbed the first thing that her hand came in contact with- a long, black dress that went to her ankles, and covered her shoulders and arms. Sitting next to her, it was the Canary who was now underdressed.

She looked over at the new bane of her existence and dropped her jaw. The near 4-course meal that they both received was practically gone, and Eri hadn't even begun eating her own. She started picking away at the roasted bird (not sure what type of bird,) but soon found out that she wasn't hungry after all. Instead, she watched the Canary finish her food and gulp down her wine.

Wine? She wasn't all too sure if the kid should've been drinking alcohol, but then again, why should Eri care? She wasn't too fond of the girl that Kuja set his sights after. In fact, she should take advantage of this situation.

"Here, Princess. Have as much as you'd like. You can have whatever you want now."

Including death…

Admarant almost regretted taking on this job. It felt like a waste of his skills; the girl was going to be killed in the end. So why not leave her where she was? She was probably safer there. He decided to take his time, even though it was a race. They probably didn't even know how to locate the girl.

X x X

Zidane found it kind of cringe-worthy how Steiner tried so hard to suck up to Beatrix. She knew where she was going, so they just followed her. Steiner and Beatrix were the only ones in the front, and with his loud, echoing voice, Zidane could basically hear the conversation. It was a bit embarrassing.

The plan was to start on foot, then acquire some sort of transportation, get some black mages to hold onto, then continue to the end of the continent, the only way that they could safely get to the Desert Palace. Kuja had set up boundaries long ago, just in case.

"Do you believe that we will make it in time?" Freya asked from beside him.

Zidane smiled and gave a thumbs up. "Of course. That bounty hunter is kind of slow from what I hear. That ugly lady should have just hired Lani instead. At least she's fast."

"I'm glad to hear that," Vivi joined in the conversation. "We'll get Dagger back for sure."

"She can eat yummy foods with me," Quina added.

"Yeah," Zidane said.

Drunk Canary was annoying, Eri realized as she tried to take her on a 'walk'. She'd start mumbling idiotic things, then start playing with the sand. Eri's new black dress now had traces of gold on it. Her hair as well. She was so tempted to ignite the girl then and there, but they were still too close to the palace.

"I'm hungry."

"Princess, you just ate. For 2, might I add."

"I want pie."

"Sure, sweety. We'll get pie. The market is a few miles away. Not too far."

"Carry me?"

"No."
"You aren't nice."

"I'm not meant to be. Get from off the sand and keep walking, little girl."

"I'm the Queen of this land."

"You're mistaken. Anyway, pie."

"Oh, pie! I want pie!"

It was pitch black by the time Eri felt like they were far enough. She had lit the way with a Fira spell in her hand, which Garnet reached for, and Eri happily obliged, letting the girl burn herself. She didn't reach for it again.

As she slowly took her sword from her back, she thought she saw a small fire in the distance quite like her own, but when she blinked it was gone. Suspicious, she dimmed her Fira to a small fire. When she looked up she realized that the Princess had kept going, and was in fact running.

"Get back here, little bird!" Eri shouted, sword still in hand.

She felt the air shift, and suddenly a sword was at her throat.

"It would behoove of you to keep quiet and come with us." She recognized the voice as the Queen's general.

The light that she saw before was ignited again. There, she saw the Princess clinging tightly to one of Zidane's team mates.

Zidane himself was slowly approaching her. She had to admit; somehow this monkey boy was kind of attractive.

"We're taking Dagger back, and we're keeping you hostage. The tables have turned huh, Lady?"

That was all she heard before she was knocked out from the back of her head.

Short as heck. I'm sorry. I had to have some sort of update, at least.