This is my first story, so don't be too harsh
Blank is the main character and, while escaping from evil forest, the beast that gets Blank gets Zidane instead.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX or any of it's characters.
Chapter 1: Evil Forest
They rushed through the forest and, as Zidane so perfectly put it, the forest did seem to be chasing them. Steiner, the captain of the Knights of Pluto, was in the lead only because everyone let him. Steiner seemed like a very tempered man to Blank, even though he knew close to nothing about him. Steiner would be nice to bring along on their journey, as he will definitely protect the princess, but Blank has a feeling that Steiner will be more trouble then help.
In Steiner's hands was the beautiful princess of Alexandria. Blank has a bad feeling about traveling with her. Since an early age, Blank has been in contact with nobles and rich people, often times he would steal from them, but they always seemed stuck up and acted better then everyone else, even though they weren't. However, he wouldn't be with Garnet for long as Tantalus's mission was to bring the princess to Lindblum, so Blank would have to make sure he and Zidane brought her there as soon as possible.
The next person who Blank let pass him was the little black mage, Vivi. Blank truly felt sorry for him, he was brought onto the theater ship entirely on accident, and now he's running for his life against some weird rose monsters. Blank wasn't too sure what he would do with Vivi, though he was thinking that he would bring Princess Garnet to Lindblum first, then ask Cid for an airship and drop Vivi off at wherever he lives. If, of course, everything goes according to plan, and Blank would try to make sure it would.
Then, Blank speed up, though made sure he would be able to protect Vivi by keeping him ahead, after making sure Zidane was right behind him. Blank wasn't about to give up his best friend to those damn monsters, but he didn't want to get caught either. Zidane was always a little strange to Blank, not only did he have a tail and, to Blank's knowledge noone else did, he was a lady's man. Blank always wondered if any women really fell for him, for a one night stand at least, because Blank would imagine that they would be turned off by Zidane's tail. But, once you get past the tail, he is really a nice and cool guy and it's no surprise that Zidane easily gets a lot of friends.
"AAAHHHHH!!!" someone screamed behind Blank. Immediately, Blank spun around and saw Zidane trapped in one of the rose looking monster's claws. Blank drew his sword and headed to Zidane, however several other rose monsters began to appear, and charged in front of Blank.
Using the swiftness he trained so hard to obtain, Blank slashed the monsters down before they were able to even touch him. Blank continued his slashing, when, suddenly, he saw several of the rose monsters began to stop moving. Blank looked to Zidane to see that he, too, has been transformed into a gray stone, a sight that made Blank freeze for a moment. "Zidane!" Blank shouted, almost afraid to move.
Blank then felt for his map, and then, knowing that his life depended on it, ran as fast as he could from the site, the petrification stopping the rose monsters behind him. He continued running as fast as he could think was physically possible, until many vines began to rush to him and hit him, and try to get a hold of him. Using his mighty sword, Blank was able to chop off the vines as well, then he saw that they were covering up his only exit. Blank tried running as a wall of vines were forming in front of him.
However, the wall became complete and the petrification was nearly up to Blank, then, out of what Blank thought was the impossible, a blast of fire hit the wall, and a huge whole was now created in front of him. What the hell? Blank thought, but then jumped through, only thinking of staying alive and unpetrified, unlike his good friend. Blank looked back to the forest, now free from his strangle hold, and saw the hole that was formed quickly close, by the vines, as if there was someone else within it's walls, and the wall became petrified.
"Zidane!" Blank shouted, not really expecting a response. "Zidane! Damn it!"
"Mr. Blank..." Vivi muttered, walking up to Blank.
Blank looked down at the ground, then furiously at the forest. That damned forest. Why did it petrify, Blank will never fully understand. Why did Zidane have to get captured, another thing Blank will never understand. He could only hope that one day he will be able to free Zidane, though he knew that time was not now.
I hope the boss and the rest of the guys got out... Blank thought. He knew that trying to help Zidane now would be a lost cause. He did have a soft, which would heal Zidane, but it would also heal the rest of the forest, and the rose monsters. Then, the rose monster that had Zidane would probably cut him in half.
"It's... just Blank..." Blank muttered to Vivi.
"I'm sorry about Zidane..." Vivi said, saying about the only thing he could think of. Vivi didn't really know Zidane, but he did seem plenty nice, or at least he was nice to Vivi.
"For a thief," Steiner added. "I suppose he wasn't that bad..."
"We should make a fire," Blank told them, trying to get off the subject of Zidane. "Once the princess recovers, we'll continue."
"What about... Zidane?" Vivi asked, knowing that Blank may never be able to return here again and free Zidane.
"We... can't do much now..." Blank answered. "Zidane was petrified in the claws of one of those rose monsters. If we use a soft, it would heal Zidane along with the rose monsters and the forest. The rose monster would probably cut Zidane in half then."
"I see..." Steiner muttered, setting the princess down. "Uhh..." Steiner then continued, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news... but it would seem Zidane held all of our supplies..."
Blank thought for a moment. Damn it, Blank thought. What should we do? I have a soft, and a couple potions, but that's about it...
"The south gate should be near here," Steiner proposed. "Perhaps we should go there, and perhaps purchase a tent."
"Too risky," Blank told the knight. "Monsters are roaming everywhere these days, I'll bet we'll be attacked by more then a few. I think we should stay near the forest. I once heard that many of the monsters here are afraid of the forest..."
"But... what shall we sleep in?" Steiner asked. "I have very little supplies, and I believe none of us have any food..."
Blank thought again, this situation was harder then he expected, but then an idea came into his head, "Vivi..."
"Yeah?" the little black mage asked, unsure of what Blank had in mind. Vivi trusted Blank, he seemed plenty nice and healed Vivi once, but still didn't really know Blank. Blank was very strange looking, he had stitches all across his body which connected with mismatched skin, and he had that belt thing across his eyes, making Vivi wonder how he could even see.
"Did you make that hole in the vine wall?" Blank asked, then decided to clarify his question. "Was it you who let me escape?"
"Y-yeah..." Vivi muttered. "Why?"
"Thanks..." Blank first said. "Help Steiner build the fire..."
"Where shall we get wood?" Steiner asked.
Again, a cross road...
"Perhaps Blank and I shall go collect the wood," Steiner proposed. "Master Vivi may protect the princess."
"Uhh..." Vivi muttered, clearly nervous.
"That ok with you, Vivi?" Blank asked, though he could tell the nervousness in the young black mage's voice. Blank knew that Vivi possessed awesome powers, he knew that from the battle against that strange plant monster that held Garnet. In fact, Blank wasn't too sure they would have been able to beat the beast without the help of the black mage.
"I-I suppose..." Vivi muttered.
"Thank you, Master Vivi," Steiner saluted.
"Uhh... o-ok..." Vivi muttered.
"Alright," Blank said. "Let's go, Steiner." So, he and Steiner left their little campsite, or campsite to be, and walked a little ways away before they saw a small batch of trees. On their journey, they saw a beast, a small purple rat looking thing, but it ran away from them for some reason. Probably because Blank and Steiner outnumbered him... or, perhaps, because he could sense the forest nearby... Blank will never really know.
The night air was beginning to show it's true form, as it slowly blew against Blank's and Steiner's neck. The two moons hung high in the sky, giving off it's blue and red glow on the plains that Blank and Steiner now stood on.
"Why do you call him, Master Vivi?" Blank asked, breaking the silence. He didn't want to have complete silence between them for much longer, he was manly thinking of Zidane and his tantalus brethren, and he didn't want to think about that much longer.
"He is a black mage and possess supreme magical powers," Steiner explained once more, a hint of annoyance was in his voice.
"I see..." Blank muttered. He could tell that Steiner wanted to talk to him about something else, but he couldn't tell what, but he suspected it had something to do with being a thief, so he decided to stay away from the subject as long as he could.
They were silent a minute, until Steiner chose to begin. "Why did you capture the princess?" the knight asked. "For ransom money?"
"No," Blank quickly and honestly responded, as he hacked his sword at a tree, Blank knew the blade would go dull, but it was his only option. Besides, he could sharpen it later. "We were hired to."
"By whom?" Steiner asked, surprisingly calm. "Terrorists?"
"No," Blank answered as he and Steiner started hacking at a tree. Eventually the tree fell, so Blank started cut it into smaller pieces.
"Then by whom?" Steiner asked, again calmly. It was very surprising to Blank how calm the knight was, at the castle and the theater ship, Steiner seemed like an unreasonable man. He seemed like he would only believe the words out of the princess, and not out of Tantalus, though, Blank supposed, he was Steiner's only source of information about the job.
"I..." Blank muttered, he couldn't tell Steiner, because he really didn't know. Very rarely does Baku tell his men anything about their employer, but Blank doubted it was anyone mean or evil, as he doubted Baku would be hired by someone like that. All Blank knew about the employer, was that he is from, or at least was in at the time, Lindblum and that they are very, very rich. However, Blank felt that he needed to make Steiner think he did know. "I can't tell you," Blank finished, not really lying. "Top secret, you know?"
"..." Steiner was silent for a minute and he looked very perturbed, and was clearly thinking deeply. "Very well... I suppose I need not know your employer... but... is he mean, or does he plan to cause any harm to the princess?"
"I doubt it," Blank answered, hoping he was telling the truth. He really hoped Tantalus wasn't going to be the reason for a war to break out.
"Very well..." Steiner muttered, knocking down another tree with his sword. "However, while the princess travels with us, I will keep a sharp eye on you. And, I expect to be with the princess for as long as it takes. And, I will not allow your employer touch the princess, understood?"
"..." Blank was silent a moment, realizing he had no idea what to do with the princess. Damn it, Blank cursed at himself for his lack of foresight. How am I supposed to know where to drop off the princess?! ... well... I guess I can just wait for Baku and the guys to come back... unless their petrified too... Damn it!
"Alright," Blank finally spoke. "I don't really care if you stay with the princess while we travel. It's up to you. But, I will bring the princess to... where she needs to be..."
"Very well," Steiner spoke after a minute of thinking. "I suppose we will have a temporary truce between each other. We shall both protect the princess, agreed?"
"Of course," Blank responded, in an obvious kind of way. "I don't want any harm to come to the princess either."
"Very well," Steiner said. "But, until we reach your destination, you will not touch the princess!"
"No problem," Blank responded. Blank, unlike Zidane, had no intention in touching the princess, I mean, if she let him he gladly would, but he won't flirt or act like Zidane would around the princess. Even though she is really beautiful.
The two continued chopping wood until Blank and Steiner agreed that they would have enough for the night. They had a little trouble carrying it all back, Blank got cuts all over his arm from the small twigs, and Steiner would have if he didn't have all that armor on. The walk back was fairly simple, until they encountered two of those purple rat things. They both had to drop the wood and fight the beasts. The battle was very simple, but then they had to pick up all the wood again and continue back to their campsite.
To both of their surprise, the princess was sitting up and talking to Vivi when the thief and the knight returned. "Princess!" Steiner exclaimed, putting the wood in a small area that was surrounded by rocks that Vivi seemed to have made.
"Steiner?" the gorgeous princess asked. "What are you doing here?"
"He helped us save you," Blank answered for the knight, who seemed to be very joyful about the princess's awakening. "I'm Blank."
"Nice to meet you," Garnet responded. "And you are..." the prince pointed to the little mage, "Vivi, right?"
"Yeah," Vivi slightly smiled, though you could barely see it under his hat. Blank then put down his wood next to the little fireplace, and motioned for Vivi to come over.
"Use your fire spell on it," Blank told the young mage. Immediately, Vivi raised his arms so the palm of his hands faced the wood. Vivi then closed his eyes, and a very small fireball formed in front of this palms, then it slowly grew to the size of a tennis ball. Vivi then opened his eyes and it almost looked like the threw the fireball on the wood, and instantly fire started.
"Excellent job, Master Vivi!" Steiner praised, though he seemed to be more obsessed over the princess's awakening.
"Nice," Blank slightly grinned, but Blank's mind was elsewhere. That damn forest, he thought. Blank then began to walk down to the vine wall that blocked him from the forest, and slammed on it with his fist. "Damn it, Zidane!" Blank harshly muttered. He didn't want to yell and worry the group, who didn't seem to notice he left, but he still cursed the forest.
"Vivi told me your friend Zidane was captured in the forest," a voice from behind Blank said. Blank didn't have to turn to see who it was.
"Yeah," Blank told the princess. "I don't know why he couldn't have just escaped. He could have easily outrun them..."
"I'm very sorry," the princess walked a little closer to Blank, which greatly surprised him. "I also heard that it was Zidane who originally left the group to save me, but then you came and saved him, is that right?"
"Yeah," Blank chuckled. "Crazy kid."
"Is there any way we could save him?" Garnet asked. Blank was surprised that she spoke with such concern. Blank imagined the princess to be stuck up, and act like she was better then everyone else, but instead she acted like an equal, though she wouldn't be treated like one.
"Not without unpetrifying the entire forest. Or, at least, not without unpetrifying the entire forest with the stuff we have."
"I hope we find a way to free him. But first, I thank you Blank," the princess said, softly grabbing his arm.
Blank turned and looked back at the princess. She was gorgeous and it almost looked like she was about to cry. "Why?" Blank asked, trying to act like he wasn't hypnotized by her beauty.
"If you had never come to our aid, Vivi, Steiner, Zidane, and myself all would have fallen to that plant monster."
"It's alright," Blank told her. "Besides, it was the boss who let me."
"Oh... well then I shall thank your boss when we find him."
"... We aren't going to find him," Blank told her.
"What?! Why?!"
"I have to do my mission, first."
"But, surely we can spend a little while looking for him..."
"Even if we looked, I bet we'd find that they were petrified, like Zidane. Baku was the one who said they shouldn't leave, so I don't know why he would change his mind..."
"Very well... I'm sor-" the princess began, but before she was interrupted.
"Princess!" Steiner called, running up to them. "What are you doing?!"
"I was simply thanking Blank for saving me," the princess answered, putting her hands on her waist.
"Very well..." Steiner mumbled. Blank could fell Steiner's eyes burning on his back, but Blank really didn't care.
"We should probably get back to camp," Blank said. "I'll bet Vivi's nervous about protecting it all by himself." So, Blank, Garnet, and Steiner made their way back to the nearby campsite, where Vivi was waiting.
"I'm tired," Vivi announced, as he stretched his arms out.
"Me too," Garnet yawned.
"I suppose we should get some rest before we head out," Blank agreed, then turned to Steiner. "Lets take shifts in guarding the camp."
"I shall not let the princess be protected by a thief!" Steiner exclaimed. "I shall guard the camp by myself!"
"Whatever..." Blank muttered and lied on the cold ground. It was very uncomfortable, even while using his hands as a pillow, but shortly after, he could hear Vivi's and Garnet's breath soften as they fell asleep.
Already I lost Steiner's trust, Blank thought, Well... I guess I never really had it in the beginning, but it would have been nice to have a little trust...
What do you think? Any good?
Please review!!! and remember that this is my first story!