Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any of their characters.

Blanks Tasks & Tirades

The forest was quickly petrifying; Zidane was in the back, carrying the world map. The whole group, including the knight, the princess, the black mage, and Blank were running ahead of him. 'I might not make it.' Realized the blond haired boy, trying desperately to keep up. They were so close, Zidane looked behind him to see those bug like monsters heading in their direction, trying to survive like the rest of them. They were gaining on him too quickly, it was not too surprising one grasped him in his sharp pincher. 'It's up to you bro.' Zidane thought as he watched his friend, Blank turn to see his predicament. Zidane tossed the map to Blank, and then felt the petrification pull at his body. The last vision he sees is his companions running for their lives.

_O_O_

Blank sat along the fire pit, watching the flames flick in the night air. His friend was gone now; it was up to him to take the princess to safety in Lindbulm. He watched the Knight standing guard over the princess's tent. 'Like we're really going to rape her or something…' he thought to himself. The little black mage had fallen asleep next to him by the fire; he glanced over to make sure he was still asleep, then quietly got to his feet.

"What have you, ruffian?" The dumpy knight waved his broad sword at Blank.

"I was checking to see if the medicine was working on your princess."

"Ah yes, the princess still slumbers, we won't know till she awakens." The knight answered him, calming down a bit at the mention of Blanks handy dandy potion he'd given the beloved princess of Alexandria.

Blank nodded his head, then turned away to go have another look at the map by the firelight.

When morning came, the princess was awake, and asked about the boy who'd saved them. "Will he be alright?" She had asked.

"I don't know, but I'll be back for him as soon as I get you somewhere safe." Blank told her, glancing over to the forest again for the millionth time. 'Damn you Zidane…'

"Well, what are we waiting for? The princess must go home at once before the Queen goes mad from worry!" Wailed the annoying tones of Sir Rust-a-lot.

"The only way we can go is through this cavern, hope you're prepared for monsters, I'm sure there will be crap loads inside." He warned them as they began to walk over towards where it was located.

They entered the cavern, Blank immediately regretting his choice of garments. The coldness seemed able to sap life out of a person! He'd never felt this chilled before. They all continued on, with no major complaints other than the knight wanting to rush faster through the cavern. It seemed the deeper they got, the colder it became. It wasn't a surprise when poor Vivi fell over with exhaustion.

"Come on man, we can get through this." Blank tried to cheer the pointy hat on, and then heard the loud crash of Rusty falling over from over exposure to the cold.

"Listen, we'll die in here if we don't keep moving!" Blank yelled over the increasing wind. He turned to see Garnet lay down in the fetal position. "Damn it!" Blank roared as he too slipped into unconsciousness.

Bells. Blank awoke to the sound of bells. 'I must be going nuts…' he thought to himself as he slowly opened his eyes. The wind had settled down a bit, as he gingerly got up, shivering. He looked down at the still sleeping forms of his companions. The sound of a bell was heard again, it was coming from up ahead. He headed off to find out what it was, ending up at a waterfall and when he looked up, he could see light from the exit!

Suddenly, a pointy hatted thing with wigs came out of nowhere and rang this stupid little bell at him.

"Come to die have you?" The thing laughed at him.

"What are you?"

"I am Black Waltz one, and you are going to die!" With that he summoned a giant snake like monster from the depths of the pool next to the waterfall. Blank whipped out his sword and got into his fighting stance.

The monster slashed at him with unreal speed, taking Blank by surprise as he narrowly escaped the nasty fangs. The next time the thing attacked, Blank caught the top of the snakes mouth with his sword, putting himself right in the way of its ass like breath. "Use a mint you stinky bastard!" He yelled as he pulled back on his sword, slicing the roof of its mouth open. The creature let out a horrid scream as it thrashed about in the pool of water, blood dripping everywhere.

"You dare harm my Sealion!" Raged the angry mage as it came at Blank, hands directed at his throat. Blank ducked down and the winged thing slammed into an ice wall, body slowly sliding down the length of it till it hit the ground. Blank let out a laugh, "That's the best you've got?"

The waltz got up and turned to the man, eyes blazing crimson as it began its water spell, sending the magic Blanks way, soaking the scantily clad male. Curse words raged out of the red heads mouth as he rushed the waltz, swinging his sword at the monster and slicing a wing off. It screamed bloody murder at the loss of its appendage. Blank quickly did away with the other wing as well, watching as the thing slumped to the ground, blood seeping from him.

"Even if I fall, you won't have a chance against two and three…" It breathed its last, leaving Blank to wonder what ever did it mean by that?

After defeating the waltz, he headed back to the others, finding them awake and ready to get the hell out of here. He ushered them along the path, noticing their curious looks at the blood on the frozen ground. "Just some harmless monsters." He'd told them.

When they had finally gotten out of the cavern and into the sunlight, Blank never realized how much he'd taken for granted the warmth of it. 'Please don't let there ever be an ice age while I'm alive.' He prayed, remembering their close encounter in the death like coldness of the cavern.

"Hey, is that a village down there?" The princess asked him.

"Yeah, we've been there a few times I think. It's called Dali." Blank answered her.

"Princess! You can't mean to go in there, with commoners and such! We need to go home to Alexandria straight away!" Her knight in dull armor shouted.

"Steiner, enough!" Garnet silenced him.

"Blank, do you believe I should have a different name to go by? Shouting princess around might bring some funny looks."

"Ah, you've got a point. So what do you want to go by?" He asked her.

"What's that golden piece on your belt called?"

"A Buckle…"

"Then that is what I shall be called! Buckle!" The princess smiled at him, "What do you think?"

'What the hell kind of name is that?' He thought, "It's perfect" He told her, laughing mentally at the thought of calling her that silly name; not that Blank wasn't a different kind of name, but Buckle? Please!

"Steiner, you are not to call me princes anymore!" She ordered him.

"But princess!" He began, which Garnet countered with a death glare.

"I mean…Yes Buckle." He gave in, head bowed with eyes looking at the ground.