Author's note: This is a compilation between Ceara Ivory and myself. We don't own Final Fantasy IX.

Distant Memories

Disc 4 Epilogue 4:

Forever Linked

The wedding had become a grand scale that Brahne had held Alexandra to observe how to plan a wedding for an attendance of over ten thousand people. They had to move the wedding out of Alexandria into the nearby countryside. The lake just outside the kingdom was going to be the backdrop as the guards began working diligently to make an open area for the wedding, followed by an enclosed area to house the food for all of the attending people.

They had picked out the priest already, one who was long since loyal to the royalty of Alexandria. Steiner had already agreed to escort the three ladies down the aisle. Beatrix was going to be the Matron of Honor since she was already married while Steiner was the Best Man to the three men. Eiko was the flower girl and Vivi, the ring bearer with a specially made satin pillow.

Alexandra smiled sheepishly at her mother. Thank you so much Mother. This was very important to me. I know a lot of times it just the nobility but don't the people deserve just as much to see as well? I just wanted to help with some of the problems both Airlia and I have had. And I thought it would be a start. Show them that we're on their side." She looked in the mirror at her growing belly. Her suspicions had been right on the money.

Brahne nodded, "I know it's important to try and make people accept you. But there will be those who never will. This is why you need to think about things carefully. I've already abolished indentured servants and we've opened the orphanage within the castle for those who can't go home. Those who are old enough to work are now finally earning a livable wage." She stretched lightly. "Now there is one matter of the utmost importance I must speak with you about."

Alexandra looked up at her mother. The seriousness in her countenance was worrying. "Mother, are you alright?" She hugged her mother gently.

Brahne nodded. "I am fine. But this is in regards to bearing children. Every woman in my line from as far back as the records go show they have a hard time carrying to full term. I fear for you especially because of how the poison ravaged your body. I know that Airlia reversed the damage, but the preexisting problems may still remain. You must be very careful with this child and yourself."

Alexandra nodded assuringly. "I will be, I promise. I know Kuja and I both want a lot of children but if it proves… dangerous… we might consider adopting some of the orphans that have begun populating the orphanage in Treno."

Airlia groaned as she was aided into her new wedding dress. The dress was made specifically for her to slip on over her head with a corset done in the fashion of something Alex had called a bra, where it supported and constrained only the breasts so that her larger belly wouldn't be compressed.

Alexandra needed Garnet's help to get into the ruffle champagne gown. It looked complicated, but she was sure that had she not been pregnant, it would have been easy to get into otherwise. "You look absolutely amazing Airlia." Alexandra told her as she worked to help her sister with the modern design.

The pregnant princess smoothed out her dress, looking at the quarter length a-line champagne colored dress as they set the white sash in place to go just under the breast, but around her belly going to the back to tie off. It had a v-neckline that was turned into a square neckline at her request with some additional lace because of her growing breasts. "You think so?" She asked inquisitively.

Garnet nodded as she marveled at the strange freedom of the knee-length dress with a gauzy material forming what Alex called a halter-top around her neck. "You do, you really do! The silhouette is just stunning, not to mention the color."

Airlia smiled as she decided to leave her hair down more for comfort than for any other reason. "My belly has been giving me the worst back aches, I'm going to give myself some comfort."

Alexandra looked over her sister's pregnant belly. "Won't be long now. Just a few more months at most! Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"

The woman grinned, "I don't mind either, and honestly I want more than just my one. I want to have as many as he wants. I have this motherly instinct saying it's a girl though."

Alexandra looked her over. "Well there's a bit of a saying in my old world. Bigger in the belly, it's a boy. Bigger in the tuchas, it's a girl. And I think we'll be having our babies together."

A knock came to the door, "It's Beatrix and Brahne princesses."

"Come in," Garnet called as she took to helping Alexandra with her hair, something they'd been having fun. "We still don't know what to do with Alex's hair. Maybe you have some ideas."

Beatrix came over, she was getting used to the princesses now taking a more active role in their own dressing and doing their own hair. "Perhaps a bun at the top of the head, with a few stray strands framing the face?"

Garnet smiled brightly, "I like that idea, how about you Alex? It is your hair after all?"

Alexandra looked in the mirror, imagining the style that Beatrix had mentioned. "Yes, I think it would be very lovely."

Garnet smiled as she deftly put the hair into the bun, taking two tendrils on either side to curl around her face. "There you go Alexandra." Her own hair had been pulled into a high ponytail with an intricate braid that was brought back up to the base of the ponytail where a hidden ribbon kept it in place.

Brahne approached her daughters, tears welling in her eyes. "All of my girls are grown up… Getting married and leaving the nest…"

Airlia nodded, "It's a sad thing, but it's something that always happens mother. Still, it's not like you're never going to see us. I know the doctor prefers that I remain in Alexandria for the remainder of my pregnancy. Not just for our sake, but because Garnet and Alexandra will be going through the same thing with his brothers. This way he learns what to expect so that he can be prepared for anything."

Alexandra nodded. "I know the doctor and mother will also want me close when I first get pregnant. The poison did a number on my body and mother says that our line has always had trouble."

Garnet nodded, "It's wise to keep it in mind. But for now, let's focus on our weddings. One step at a time, and most of all. Remember to breathe."

Ramsus looked in the full length mirror as he got back into a tuxedo, this time a white one with a champagne sash going from shoulder to waist diagonally. His brothers were dressed similarly but with minor differences. Zidane had a champagne handkerchief sticking up from the breast pocket and Kuja had champagne epaulets and a cummerbund.

"So brothers, are you ready for the traditional wedding?" He asked as he felt his hands burn with the need to ease his wife's aches.

Kuja laughed. "If I know my wife then I don't think this will be a traditional wedding by any means."

Ramsus shook his head, "I mean more traditional than in comparison to that of the Conde Petie wedding."

Kuja smiled a little. "I'm ready to show my wife how much she means to me before the entire kingdom. And I do mean the entire kingdom."

Zidane laughed, "No offense brother, but damn there are a ton of people who live in Alexandria."

Kuja chuckled. "Alexandra means well. She thought the people deserved to be a part of this as much as the nobility did, perhaps more since without the working class, you don't have a kingdom."

Ramsus laughed, "I know that's why Brahne wanted her to help plan the wedding. It's just… have you looked out there. I didn't think I'd ever see so many people there."

Kuja smiled, mirth in his eyes. "She's trying so hard. She had no problem helping to plan the wedding. According to her, in the other world, the bride always helps in the planning and in fact has a large role in it. I ask you not to go complaining about it to her, okay," He requested. "We're still working on her confidence with her family. Seriously, don't even comment… Please don't open that… can of worms…"

Both men held their hands up defensively as Ramsus shook his head. "We wouldn't complain about it. I just don't want her getting hurt by those arrogant pricks who think that she should be marrying a prince. Terra knows I go through that every day. Waiting for some idiot prince to try and sweet talk my princess out of my arms even though we're bondmates. Certain fears just don't go away."

Kuja nodded. "Yes. Alexandra and I are dealing with that too. I can only imagine the hell Garnet is going through." He shivered. "She is the heir...the man who marries her, Zidane, will be king when Her Majesty passes her crown to Garnet at the wedding party."

Zidane nodded as they heard the bells telling the grooms to get into place. "Let's go make our ladies the happiest women in the kingdom. I just hope no one decides to be dumb during the wedding. I know Airlia's hormones have been bouncing off the wall lately."

Kuja led the way out of the dressing room. He saw Vivi and Eiko waiting nervously in their formal garb. "Are you children ready?"

Vivi and Eiko both nodded as Vivi spoke. "We're so happy to be able to help with the wedding. We just want it to be perfect!"

Kuja patted the boy's head gently. "It will be, in fact it already is. My wife and I will finally show these people how much we adore each other."

"I'm happy Alex invited the real people," Eiko said. "The nobles don't like their kids playing with me because I'm different. But the other kids play with me. And Vivi too. We like to jump rope!"

Ramsus nodded, "That's excellent Eiko, now we have to get into place. It's against the rules to see the bride before the ceremony."

Eiko nodded. "Okay. We have to wait here for Alex, Airlia, and Momma-Garnet."

The men got into place before the guests finished filling in. Because Zidane was unmarried, he was closest to the priest while Ramsus was farthest from the priest because his wife was pregnant.

On the way to the pulpit where the Priest waited at the lake, on the way to where the brides would join the children before walking down the aisle, a man in a very elegant tuxedo that screamed nobility.

"Your Majesty," the Nobleman said. "Might I have a word with you before the ceremony?"

Brahne frowned. She knew this might happen. "Yes? Make it quick."

The Nobleman began simply. "Your Majesty, I know you were planning on passing your crown on relatively soon. I was just concerned that maybe you don't really want a thief to be the king of Alexandria…" He smiled wryly at Garnet.

Brahne shook her head. "I've already forgiven his crimes. He is a free man who protected my daughter. It is his right to court my daughter and to ask her to marry him. She chose to do so of her own volition. This is why I made him a noble in title here within the kingdom. So far as I'm concerned, he's no longer a thief. Anything else?"

"But surely… you want one of your daughters to marry the nobility rather than these foreigners pretending to be nobility," The Nobleman continued.

"Let me stop you before you go on," Alex snapped. "None of us will marry you. Even if you were the last man in existence. Good bye."

Airlia looked at the haughty man. "You couldn't hope to be anywhere near the caliber first and foremost of our loves. Secondly, you couldn't hope to handle me even if I was single." To make the point firm, she waved her hand in his direction as a small bit of the ground broke around him. "Now, while you're still in once piece, what do you have to say for yourself?"

The man turned sneering eyes at the woman and looked at their dresses. "I was simply hoping to protect the reputation of the royal family. After all, look at those dresses. Especially you Princess," He gestured at Garnet's short dress. "Not even in white! That tells us quite plainly that the royal family has a sex problem."

Garnet snickered. "Obviously you're the one with the … sex problem… Because where Alexandra was before this, champagne is the color of purity, of the highest caliber. White was considered… cold."

The Nobleman turned his focus to Airlia's bulging belly. "Really? That's not what the evidence is telling me." He then looked to Alexandra's own belly.

"What's this telling you?" Beatrix asked before punching the man in the stomach and moving onward.

Airlia spat at the man. "I'll have you know, I'm pregnant from my already husband. This is merely so the rest of the kingdom can see. So now, move along you prat."

Brahne sneered at the man before he could even hope to complain about her general's behavior. "The good general has my permission to defend my family's honor in any manner she feel fits the situation. Guards, please, escort this man to his home. That punch looked rather painful and he likely needs to rest."

Beatrix smiled as she heard the bells. "Ladies, it's time to take your positions. Airlia, then Alexandra, then Garnet."

Eiko led the way down the aisle, spreading the rose petals she was given. Vivi followed with the special pillow with all three wedding bands waiting on it.

Beatrix followed the children down, subtly glaring at any who might dare to wreck this day. The wind gently blew against her well-pinned up hair and the knee-length dress she'd chosen in support of Garnet's choice of wedding dress.

Airlia went down the aisle when Beatrix was about halfway down. Keeping in time and pace with the general, she had to remind herself to breathe when she saw her husband with his platinum blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, having grown it out when he found a fondness for her hands running through his hair.

When Airlia reached the halfway point of the very long aisle, accommodating each and every seat, Alex began her walk, bracing herself for the people's reaction to their dresses. She told herself she didn't care. The one person, no, the four people she cared about all approved of their dresses. That's all that mattered. Let the tongues wag, she didn't care anymore.

When Alex reached the halfway point, Garnet began her walk down the aisle on Steiner's arm dressed in a black suit with a champagne cummerbund. He glared subtly around as he looked for any signs of trouble for any of the princesses. All he had to do was make sure she got down the aisle to Zidane as Airlia finally reached her love's arms.

Alexandra was just reaching her beautiful king's arms when she heard the people stiffen. She knew they were seeing Garnet's dress. She clenched her fists in wait for the first complaint. He held her hands, desperate not to let her make trouble if trouble wasn't going to come.

Airlia kept a calm smile on, well aware of the brewing trouble behind her. "It will be alright Alex. You leave the trouble morons to me." She whispered and giggled.

Once Garnet reached the dais where the others were standing, one loud mouth opened to begin the torrent. "What the hell is this?! First you invite every commoner in town and now you dare to wear a color of impurity? Then there is the inappropriate nature of our beloved Princess Garnet's dress! I knew that slut who was made a princess... Both of them... would bring shame to your kingdom my Queen!"

Airlia turned, unwilling to let her sisters face off with him. "Awww should I be saying poor baby? Do you need a nap? I know children who have better manners and tongue than you!"

Brahne put a hand on Airlia's shoulder and spoke. "I did tell you that Alexandra is from a world with different customs. Among these is the hue of the wedding dress. Here, the traditional color of purity is white. But where she comes from, white is symbolic of death where as the color of champagne is symbolic of purity, like that of champagne made from the purest grapes available."

He looked about to open his mouth again when he caught the fiery glance from the former knight and deftly shut his mouth.

"And as for the length of my dress, and General Beatrix's dress, don't be so behind the times," Garnet said. "This is the style now. I'm not showing anything inappropriate, just my legs. My word, you'd think I'd come down in my underwear the way you're reacting."

Airlia finished, "It's perfectly logical to invite the whole kingdom for the triple wedding of the three princesses. We want everyone to know and see who is married to whom. So behave or leave. You have been warned."

"Not to mention," Brahne added. "This is not just a wedding ceremony but a coronation. After today, I will no longer be queen. So it makes sense that the people all bear witness to the coronation of Garnet and Zidane. After all, they will be under their care."

The man sat down shakily. He was not happy about it but he couldn't say anything of it. The six turned back to the priest to begin.

The Priest took a breath before speaking. "Marriage, marriage is what brings us together today." He sighed. "To all bear witness," he gestured to Garnet and Zidane. "and to celebrate the union of several souls today." He indicated Alex, Airlia, Ramsus and Kuja.

Airlia listened to the priest as he spoke the agreed vow for the women to speak to. "Do you Princess Garnet, Princess Alexandra and Princess Airlia take your chosen to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times for richer or for poorer until you depart for heaven?"

All three women spoke, "I do."

The priest turned to the three men, "Do you Zidane, Kuja and Ramsus take your chosen to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times for richer or for poorer until you depart for heaven?"

The men spoke in unison, "I do."

The priest smiled, "You may now exchange rings."

Vivi happily brought the satin pillow first to Alex and Kuja, then to Airlia and Ramsus, and finally to Garnet and Zidane. One by one each lover put their ring on the hand of their opposite.

The Priest nodded and said finally. "Princess Garnet and Zidane, I know pronounce you husband and wife. Princesses Airlia and Alexandra, Lords Ramsus and Kuja, I hereby extend my congratulations to the four of you. You may now kiss your bride, and you two may kiss your wives."

Alexandra didn't let Kuja kiss her. She didn't give him time before she kissed him much to the consternation of some of the other nobles. She had absolutely no problem showing a little extra affection in public either.

Ramsus smiled as he took his wife carefully in his arms and tilted her back a little to take some of the pressure off of her to kiss her lovingly. She responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Garnet grinned as Zidane took her in his arms, wrapped his tail about her and kissed her softly. Garnet smiled wider as she wrapped her arms around his neck first while he kissed her, then about his waist once the kiss was over.

Brahne smiled as she came over to the couple with a pair of circlets. "Normally there is a long and drawn out ceremony." She began, "But it's time for a change. I'm doing it without ceremony. I hereby crown Princess Garnet Queen of Alexandria. Lord Zidane is now King of Alexandria." She placed a slim circlet with a garnet stone emblazoned on it upon Garnet's brow. She pulled out a thicker circlet out and placed it upon Zidane's head. It had a garnet stone emblazoned on it with the crest of the kingdom surrounding it.

"Hold it right there!" A voice yelled from the back of the outdoor chapel. There stood the Guard who had insulted Airlia and poisoned Alexandra. With him was a small army.

Airlia raised an eyebrow. "And what the hell do you think you're doing here? Considering there's a couple of bounties on your head." She waved a hand to raise him about ten feet in the air on a very small platform. A second wave made the small army struggle to stand. "To those who follow you. He is the attempted murderer of Princess Alexandra, and he slandered the living daylights out of my reputation more than once. So you have one chance. Leave and disband and all will be forgiven to you individually. To this pompous ass, he doesn't have the same choices."

The Guard shouted from the pedestal she placed him on, "That Princess is a fake! There's no proof at all that she is Brahne's daughter and she slept with her lord before they were married! I will never see her as princess and I personally think that Brahne and her line have too long led this kingdom down the path of ruin! Instead, I and my beloved Elise will run this kingdom!"

Airlia grinned maliciously. "Really? Um… who are you trying to convince? Yourself or your um… army?" She gestured behind him to the people walking away.

Alexandra laughed with her. "You didn't pick a very convicted army my friend. You're lucky I don't hold grudges or I think my mother would be ordering you to be hanged right in front of this crowd."

The Guard growled and snapped at her. "I will not accept you as a princess and after the last year, Brahne does not deserve to be queen! And certainly this slut and her thief don't deserve to rule! It should go to the common people. We are the ones who know Alexandria best. My Elise and I will rule this kingdom!"

"We certainly will not and you will stop disparaging the royalty or even I can't stop them from killing you. I can tell Princess Airlia is fairly close to making you just drop." Elise's voice came through strong and true.

The Guard's eyes fell on his lover and their child in her arms. "Elise, you are betraying me? After everything I promised you!"

Elise frowned darkly, "You betrayed me. You abandoned me! You left me all alone when the rumors came to a head. You weren't there when a patron tried to rape me. The princess protected me. She even asked me to be her confidant."

"Elise, I couldn't take you with me," The Guard tried to explain. "You would have been in greater danger with me, you and our baby. I needed to know you were safe here. I needed to get our army so I could give you the life I promised. One where you didn't need to wait tables or...sleep with other men…"

"Shut up. You could have taken me away and hidden me somewhere. The fact you came here first instead of coming to me where I should have been. Interesting." Elise spat. She was done listening to his prattling on of fake promises.

Alexandra stepped forward and put a hand on Airlia's shoulder. "You tried to kill me! You threaten to take away my family's place. You leave a poor young woman to raise your child all alone without sending her so much as a gil! Well, I think you should have the same life she's been forced to live. A mere servant in the castle, paid only enough to help raise your child. What do you think Mother?"

Brahne grinned mercilessly. "Yes, a drudge in the castle. Under the watchful gaze of my loyal knights Steiner and Beatrix. They will watch your every move and god help you if you make a mistake."

The Guard growled as he was pulled down off the pedestal by several other guards and dragged off to the palace to be forced into his new position. "I will have revenge! I swear it!" He screamed as he was dragged away.

Airlia looked at Beatrix. "If he tries anything, you merely tell me and I will end this for good. I'm done giving him chances. Just done. It's probably my hormones talking, but he's done enough harm. And Elise, if we end up having to end his life, I promise that your baby will still want for nothing. Okay?"

Alexandra went to Elise and hugged her gently and stroked the sleeping child's head. "Thank you for being brave enough to stand up to him."

Elise shook her head. "I owed it to you to set things right. He is just someone who I fear will never learn."

Alexandra pulled away and looked at her husband. "Well, what are we all waiting for? I think we have a party waiting to be celebrated."