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    Alexandria


    As I stepped out of the portal, I fell slightly, and found myself submerged in water. I quickly swam to the surface, spit the water out of my mouth, and looked around to find out where I was this time. Ahead of me, there was the sun setting behind some odd looking buildings. So, I turned around to see if there was any land closer to me. I then found myself staring up at a huge, towering castle that looked to be from the medieval times. I swam to the stairs leading out of the water and continued to study the castle, trying to figure out where I was. Just then, I heard the clinking of heavy, rusty armor approaching, so I quickly hid behind the arch at the top of the stairs. I peered around the corner and saw… Steiner from Final Fantasy IX.
    “Who’s there?” Steiner demanded, “No one sees King Zidane and Queen Garnet without a royal invitation. You won’t get past me!”
    “King Zidane?” I asked stepping out of my hiding spot, “Zidane’s a king now? Wow! He sure has come a long way from being a common thief smile .”
    “Aha!” He exclaimed, “I knew someone was here! Pluto Knights! Assemble!”
    “Wait! What did I do wrong?” I asked.
    “You are trespassing on royal property!” Steiner exclaimed, jumping angrily.
    “I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean to. I was just washed ashore by the moat. I’m so sorry, I promise, I’ll take the next boat back into town.”
    “I don’t know if I should let you go, you might come back and try to sneak into the castle…”
    “Steiner? What’s with all of the noise?” said the voice of a strong-sounding woman, “Queen Garnet would like to know what is going on out here.” It was Beatrix, Garnet’s right hand.
    “I’m sorry Dear, it’s just this girl. I have reason to believe that she was trying to sneak into the castle.” said Steiner.
    “Beatrix! Please, you have to believe me. I wasn’t trying to sneak into the castle, I was just washed ashore, that’s all.” I pleaded.
    “How…how do you know that I am Beatrix? I don’t think that we have met before, and not many people know me by face. Who are you? Where did you come from?” Beatrix demanded as she pointed her sword at my face.
    Oh no! I did it again! I showed recognition to someone that I shouldn’t know! I’m in big trouble now :/. “I-I’m Keya Buraidu, and I’m just a simple peasant, I swear. I know you because I-I saw a picture of you in a Noble Newspaper that I found in the trash. Please don’t kill me!” I pleaded again.
    “Hmmm…” Beatrix thought, “(sigh) ok, I won’t kill you, but you’re coming with us for some questioning. Steiner?”
    “Yes ma’am?” Steiner replied, saluting.
    “Bring her to the dungeon and I’ll be there in a minute for questioning Love.”
    “Yes malady” he said as he leaned in to peck a kiss on her lips. And with that, Beatrix turned and walked into the castle and Steiner grabbed my arm and had one of his Pluto Knights, who finally showed up from his call, grab my other arm. They started to pull me roughly toward the entrance of the castle, their armor clinking loudly.
    “H-hey! Take it easy, I’ll come willingly” I surrendered.
    “No way missy, we are not taking any chances.” Steiner said aggressively with another tug on my arm. So I just went along with them submissively. Besides, I know that these are the good guys, they won’t hurt me; I’m innocent. And so, they threw me into the dark, brown-brick-walled dungeon. Well, at least it has some lighting from some torches, and isn’t damp. I figured that this would be a good time to finally get some rest, while I know that I can.

    * * *


    “Wake up Keya, it’s time for questioning.” Beatrix said to me as she entered the hallway of the dungeon along with Steiner and the Pluto Knights. I slowly stood up, and walked to the bars obediently. All of the guards lined the walls of the entrance leaving a path from the door, and they all saluted simultaneously. And there, coming through the doorway, was the young Queen Garnet Til Alexandros, looking as lovely as ever.
    “Keya Buraidu, I presume.” she said to me in a soft, sweet voice.
    “Your Majesty.” I replied curtsying courteously.
    “So, Keya, I hear that you claim that you were washed up onto the moat stairs. Is this correct?” She asked politely.
    “Yes your Highness, that is the truth.”
    “Well then, where did you come from? How did you end up in my moat?”
    Hmm…should I lie and tell her that I am from Alexandria and was pushed into the moat? Or would she believe me if I told her the truth? Well, she’s been through a lot, experienced a new world. I guess I’ll give it a shot. “Well, you might not believe me but I am from a world called Earth, which is disconnected from the rest of the worlds. I was kidnapped by an evil group of villains called Organization XIII, and I found that I was able to escape with the help of someone making portals. And it just so happens that the portal sent me right into your moat. You have to believe me!” Wow, that sounded very crazy :/. Too late to take it back now. All was silent as Queen Garnet thought through what I said.
    And then Beatrix turned to her and whispered, “Do you think that she’s telling the truth your Highness?”
    “Do you have any proof for me Keya?” Garnet asked me.
    “Yea: in my world, stories from different worlds are made into video games, a lot of which I have played. And because of that, I know that you once tried to escape the castle and called yourself Dagger and saved Gaia from destruction along with Zidane, Vivi, Steiner, Freya, Quina, Amarant, and Eiko and many others.” I answered quickly.
    Garnet walked up to the bars where I was and said, “I believe you, it sounds odd, but I really do believe you. If a world like Terra can exist along with Gaia, who is to say that there are not more worlds out there. Ok, well, until you find a way to get back home, you may stay in the guest room in my castle. Also, in about an hour, you are welcome to join me and my husband to dinner, once you get dressed into appropriate attire, which you will find in the guest closet. Beatrix? Please show Keya Buraidu to the guest room.”
    “Yes my Queen” Beatrix saluted. Garnet exited the hall, and I followed Beatrix through the large castle to the guest room. After Beatrix left the room, I folded up my battle clothes, and put on the lovely black gown that was provided for me. The top of the gown was tight and had strings on the back like a corset, and the skirt of it had five layers of netting over the slip, and each of the layers were longer than the one above it. It was beautiful. I then slipped on some black high-heel shoes, and proceeded down to the dining room. The dining room was gorgeous, grand gold and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling above the long, rectangular table made of oak. On the table was a white, silk table cloth, a bouquet of red roses in a vase in the center, and fine china set at each of three cushioned chairs. At the head of the table, there was a young man with long golden hair dressed in the finest pair of black slacks, white button-up shirt, and a navy blue vest. Upon his head, was a golden crown that fit his head perfectly. As I walked closer to my seat on his left, I recognized him as Zidane… King Zidane, and at his right, across from me, was Queen Garnet.
    “Hello Keya. How are ya?” King Zidane asked me.
    “I’m feeling pretty good, thank you. And thank you for letting me stay in your castle King Zidane, Queen Garnet.” I replied, nodding to both of them as I thanked them.
    “Haha, you don’t have to be so formal with us Keya,” Zidane chuckled, “You can just call me Zidane.”
    “And you may just call me Garnet smile ” Garnet added.
    “Ok, Zidane, Garnet. I really appreciate the fact that you believed my strange history. I’m so glad to be here, your castle is amazing ^,^.”
    “Ah, no problem smile . Sooo…I hear you know about our quest to save Gaia.” Zidane said as he leaned toward me, his elbow on the table just six inches from my silverware. “So I guess that makes me the main character in the story right? The hero XD.”
    “That’s right ^,^.” I replied, “You were very brave, all of you were.”
    “Hehe, so I must have plenty of fan-girls in your world right? Hehehehe.” Zidane asked as Garnet turned her eyes to glare at him for flirting with me and thinking of other girls.
    “Yea smile ” I answered, “…but you have yourself a lovely wife, who is much better than the fan-girls hehe.” I said, covering for his slip up.
    “Ah, yes, I really do. (smooch) She’s a real hottie, (smooch) If I do say so myself (smooch, smooch, smooch) hehehe.” He said, kissing her hand, cheek, and neck intermittently.
    “Zidane. Please control yourself in front of our guest.” Garnet scolded.
    “Haha, sorry Babe.” Suddenly, I missed Makoto.
    “Please excuse him” Garnet said to me, “he is still not quite used to acting like royalty” she chuckled. And that’s when the meal was served. There were all kinds of delicious foods, just like a buffet. So we all ate our fill, and bid each other goodnight. I then headed up to the guest room, changed into my white nightgown, which I had stored in my potion bag, and went to sleep.

    * * *


    I awoke ,suddenly, to a bright, white light. As my eyes adjusted, I realized that it was another portal of light. So I quickly got dressed into my battle outfit and wrote a note to Zidane and Garnet telling them that I had found a way out of their world, and set it on the pillow.
    But before I could enter the portal, I heard a distinctly feminine sounding man chuckling darkly, and I spun around, swiftly pulling out the sword that Cloud had given me. “Who’s there?” I demanded.
    “Hehehehehehehehee, why Keya, you don’t recognize me? I mean, you already know everyone else.” and with that, Kuja stepped out of the shadows to reveal himself to me.
    “Kuja. So I see that Organization XIII brought you back to life as well. Well, you’re not gonna get me!” I said, as I charged into the portal. I took a quick glance back to see a very confused and frustrated Kuja, stumbling towards the almost closed portal. And then the portal entrance gave way, and was sealed, leaving Kuja behind. Haha! I’m getting really good at dodging these Organization members. (sigh), but I know that one of these days I’m going to have to fight them…hopefully I’ll be a lot stronger by then.