Princess Of The Thieves
Chapter 1
Zidane held his daughter close to him as he crept through the shadows in the castle. It was near nightfall and the soldiers were switching for the graveyard shift. It was perfect for trying to sneak out of the castle. It also helped that Diane was fast asleep and would stay that way for several more hours. At five months old, she was very talkative and active. It would make sneaking past guards impossible since she was currently amused with her reflection and wanted nothing more than to grab onto their armor and gaze at herself.
Zidane finally approached the front gate, but noticed Steiner running towards him. He immediately back pedaled into a dark corner and watched as he clanked by in his over sized armor. Listening for it to tone down, he looked around at the castles windows to see if anyone was running around. He was scared that he would soon be noticed missing. He was guessing the woman who was watching Diane was still working on her knitting thinking that Zidane was playing with her in the opposite room where she sat. He had also drugged her tea, delaying her finding out that Zidane was behind this. Boy, would she be angry at him!
"Reminder: Pick up some more sleeping weed." Zidane whispered to his child while she slept. She made a little coo noise as an answer and snuggled into his shoulder. "Miss babysitter won't let me in there alone with you again when they realize I'm gone and so are you." He rubs his cheek against his daughter's shoulder.
Noticing no shadows among the windows and Steiner gone and out of ear shot, Zidane bolted for the gates. He quickly hid in the shadows there and looked around the gate. No one was there, but that wouldn't be for long, he could already hear the man that would be watching it coming out of the castle's barracks near the gate. Looking around once more, Zidane bolted and ran across the bridge to the shadow filled village at its end.
As the Guard took his post, he didn't even see Zidane's white shirt melt into the blackness. "Ahh an easy night tonight!" The guard sighed as he scanned the bridge.
Just a few minutes later, Zidane was in the theater part of town and walking among the people without any trouble. It also helped that he was wearing his old thief outfit, a worn white shirt with a blue jerkin and blue jeans with worn blue boots. It also included worn brown gloves. It looked to others like he was a simple street rat. He even dressed Diane in a simple baby dress that wasn't any cheaper then a piece of bread in the middle class part of town. He got a few compliments on his daughters apparent spoiling and his sacrifice to dress his daughter better then he. He chuckled when some went to talk to him and saw the sleeping baby, backing off immediately, most likely scared to wake her and cause her to cry.
"It is somewhere around here..." Zidane told his sleeping daughter as he looked for a theater that lead underground and was topped by a bar. He found it under a sign stating "Stolen Emerald Theater & Bar" and another sign on the stairs connected to a heavy chain claimed that a show was in progress and no one was allowed in until the next show. Zidane plucked at the sign blocking off the stairs deciding what he should do. He didn't know where he wanted to go. The bar or the theater?
He chose the theater and ducked under the chain, hearing some people gaff at him. He held tightly to Diane to keep her from shaking too much from the stairs. Half way down a sword suddenly blocks his path.
It was being held by a man dressed in a red leather jerkin and shorts. He wore a matching pair red boots with gloves trimmed in white rabbit fur. His hair was red and short, a large, wide belt keeping it out of his eyes and concealing them as well. The sword he held one handed was a thick western sword made for battle and actually needed two hands to wield. Considering it weighed a good sixty pounds, holding it with one hand was impressive to Zidane and he only knew of one man that could do it. And that man was Blank.
"Turn back." Blank commanded angrily, not paying attention who he was talking to, like he had just turned back a thousand people before Zidane, "The show has already started. You will need tickets for the next one. You can get them in the bar."
"I'm sorry I thought I still had special access!" Zidane guaffed playfully.
"Zidane?" Blank guessed hesitantly making Zidane laugh.
"Correct." Zidane answered. He readjusted little Diane, so he could grab his friends sword hand in a warm embrace.
The sword dropped noisily as Blank suddenly embraced his friend into a manly hug. They smacked each others backs warmly and then separated. Blank sounded relieved, "What are you doing out here? You're a king. You need to be doing king things!"
"I needed to get out of that stuffy place." Zidane admitted happily. "What have you been up to?"
"Protecting the theater and stealing some good stuff from the nobles that visit to see the beginning talent. We are looking for some better treasures, but that's only the Boss." Blank explained leaning down to look for his sword. He felt around for it and found it on a lower step from where he blocked Zidane. "Ruby and I have also been getting close."
"Close?" Zidane asked knowing what Blank was talking about. Blank and Ruby were very close already and everyone in the group had always wanted them together.
"Yeah. A very big accident finally brought us together." Blank seemed to blush, but his red dyed clothes kept his skin looking pale in contrast.
"Accident?" Zidane asked now confused.
Blank chuckled, "Yeah. I came home one day and... Hell come on and see. I can take you to a back room to see everyone."
"That would be awesome." Zidane admitted happily.
After being motioned to follow, Zidane is lead past the entrance to the theater and down deeper into the ground. At the end of the stairwell, sat a lone door, which Zidane thought could be a office. When Blank opened the door to a large room filled with chairs and a lone desk in a corner, Zidane thought it to be an office and staff room. The walls were lined in posters of various plays that they had hosted along with actors of the star leads. Zidane sat down on the largest chair and moved Diane so she was cradled in his lap. She stretched with the new position and made a slight noise. Zidane looked at Blank to see if he heard, but Blank had not made a inquiring look or frown in confusion.
"Wait here while I tell the others." Blank ordered as he walked back towards the door. He shut it as he walked out.
Diane's eyes fluttered open and she whimpered in fear. Zidane cooed to get her attention and assured her she was fine. Diane stared at him, not sure what to think, but then found a poster with a color that seemed to always get her attention. It was a picture of a man wearing a bright blue jacket. She stared at it for a while before looking at the rest of the room and talking.
This continued until the door opened and Blank came in. She watched him in amazement while not making a sound. Zidane got some amusement out of this himself. Usually when Diane saw someone she didn't know, she started to make all kinds of baby noises. Maybe it was because Blank mostly covered his eyes? She had never seen that before other than when playing peek-a-boo.
"They're going to finish the play and clean the place up before they get here." Blank says as he grabs a chair and sits across from Zidane. He seemed to be ignoring Diane, not even glancing at her. "How long has it been since we've seen each other? Nine months? Six?"
"I believe eleven months now." Zidane corrects him gladly though quickly noticing his friend was way off, "The last time we talked was at my wedding, but I was so busy then. Dagger kept me going with as many visitors as possible."
"For what reason?"
"To make social ties and getting to know the people I used to rob blindly." Zidane explains before smiling evilly, "And, by the way, I now know of a few manors that hold the greatest stuff the next time you hit "Richville."
Blank laughs briefly as he soaks in Zidane's message. He silences completely when Diane giggles. Zidane quickly looks down at his daughter, finding her arms outreached like she wanted to be held by Zidane's friend. "A child?! I though that was a doll!" Blank asks as he hops from his chair. Diane laughs at the action.
"You have a child?" Blank asks as he starts to think of the possibility. "No, its too early. Only been eleven months since you've been married. Are you watching another's child?"
"Hell no!" Zidane laughs, "And who said the Queen had to be a virgin to get married?"
Blank's cheeks turn red as he slowly gains the look of surprise, "You are sly to get her pregnant before the marriage. Since I didn't hear a thing before you came, you've kept him a secret?"
"You mean her?" Zidane hints as a correction. "She's wearing a dress. You can see that!"
"It's a girl?"
Zidane nods, "She's already a daddy's little girl."
"Then you're gonna like what I have to show you." Blank smiles, "It's gonna be interesting now."
"Let me guess," Zidane laughs, "Ruby and you had a baby boy?"
"What if I say yes?"
"Then I would ask you how old is he?"
"He is seven months." Blank answers walking behind the desk. He feels around with spread fingers as he looks for something on the desk. He knocks random papers away as he digs to the top of the desk. Zidane quickly sees a knot in the wood large enough to fit a finger in and watches as Blank sticks his index finger in and pulls up that part of the desk to show a hidden compartment. He reaches in and pulls out a large bottle of what looks like whiskey. He reaches back in and pulls out several shot glasses. "How old is your little girl?"
Zidane watches him put the board back, "She's now five months old as of today."
"Ohh, five months huh? She's crawling right? Mine decided he wanted to start crawling at five months." Blank drawled as he set up the glasses around the glass bottle of amber liquid.
"She's getting there. Her back legs are strong enough, but she can't hold up her front half for that long. It's funny to see her try though. When she falls, I keep smiling so she doesn't lose heart." Zidane brags as he turns his daughter towards him. He kisses her forehead proudly and coos at her. She laughs in response and grabs her fathers bangs.
"Only downfall of having long hair. Babies like to grab it." Zidane grunts in pain. Finally jerking his hair out of her hands, he turns back to Blank. "To change the subject. You haven't told me your sons name."
"Ruby named him Jupiter after a planet she read about." Red answers, "What's the princess's name?"
"Future crown princess Diane."
"That's cute. Sounds like you mixed both your names. Blonde hair and blue eyes... By golly she's taking after you!"
"She has her mothers cheeks."
"Really? Too much of you there to see it." Blank chuckles sitting back down. "You're not thinking of making her a thief?"
Zidane looks sideways, "Maybe?"
"You can't do that! You know that!" Blank immediately rejects, "It's too dangerous for a princess."
"I don't want her to be a snob! I want her to know the fight." Zidane argues. Due to his experience on the streets he knew what needed to be done to correct the problem. Dagger depended on his opinion on her plans when it included the welfare of the common folk. It would benefit Diane as well.
"The fight?" Blank asks confused at what Zidane was talking about. "You don't mean the fight for survival, do you?"
"Many people suffer on the streets. Allowing her to see and experience it will help her take care of her kingdom when she takes her mothers place." Zidane determinedly explains his thinking, "She needs to understand the outside world."
"It's still not safe." Blank argues gently back. "I'm sure Dagger agrees."
Zidane looks down in disappointment. He was hoping that his best friend would understand what he was trying to do. He was looking forward to training his little girl and even thieving beside her. Oh, how he wanted her to taste the life he lived. "I'm willing to be beside her the whole time."
Blank frowns, "You're risking your crown and reputation if you do this."
"I can't sip champagne and hear counselors drone on and on day after day like Dagger can. I need to run. I need to feel the air in my hair as we run from guard dogs and soldiers on rooftops. I miss those days." Zidane sighs as he remembers his past. He snaps back quickly, "Don't get me wrong. I don't loathe my new status, but it is not as adventurous as I want it to be."
"Wait 'til a war starts." Blank chuckles.
"Everyone is still healing from the last one. We are all cooperating nicely." Zidane answers with a slight smile. "Hell, I'm 19 and have a helluva life to live. Maybe I will see war again."
"Does Dagger know of this plan of yours?"
Zidane laughs nervously, "Yes, but she didn't like it."
"So why are you here?" Zidane's friend asks before getting a look of horror on his face as he realizes why Zidane didn't see them sooner. "You sneaked out?!"
Zidane looks sideways, "I can't get anything past you can I?"
"Zidane!" Blank barked furiously. Diane's eyes widened in surprise at the suddenness of it.
"Look! This is the only time I'm gonna be able to do this before she is three." Zidane snaps back. "Dagger will surely know what I've done when she finds the old maid down for the count."
Blank raised his eye brow. "Down for the count?"
"Just drugged." Zidane bragged happily.
Just then a knock was heard at the door, causing Diane to jump and turn her blond head towards the wooden entrance. Blank gets up without a word and opens the door to a woman with dark brown hair. She greets Blank warmly before walking into the room. She sees Zidane and screeches in glee.
"Oh my darling!" She exclaims opening her arms as she approached Zidane.
Zidane got up and shifted Diane to one arm and extended the other to claim the woman's hug. But before they could embrace, she spotted Diane and hesitated, making Zidane force her into his arm before she could say anything.
He let her go only after she returned the hug.
"Who is the child?" The woman asked as she took Diane from Zidane's arms.
Zidane smiled brightly, obviously glad he could brag to another person. "She's my daughter, Diane. She's five months old today."
"And she's on the run." Blank added with a smile, gaining a glare from Zidane.
The woman looked disapprovingly at Zidane. "Aw, don't start, Ruby. Blank has already scolded me."
"I was wondering why you were dressed in your old clothes." Ruby sighs tiredly. She coos at Diane and walks around the room with her. "You're the cutest little girl I have ever seen. My Jupiter should love you." Ruby tells Diane as she bounces the girl in her arms. Diane laughs happily and grabs at Rubys white dress with a pink floral design.
Zidane huffs, "He better not!"
Ruby laughs loudly, "Oh I forgot Daddies love to protect their girls from the eyes of men."
"Damn right." Zidane snapped.
Blank took his seat again across from Zidane's seat. "Where is Jupiter anyways? When I told you to meet me in the office you had him in your arms."
"Boss has him. He wanted to hold him for a while." Ruby responds walking over to stand beside Blank.
"The Boss is here?!" Zidane asks excitedly. "That's great! I can talk about my plans for Diane with him."
"Plans?" Ruby asks looking at Blank for a clue at what Zidane is talking about.
Blank seems to know she's looking at him since he opens his mouth a few seconds later, "He wants to rejoin the group along with his daughter. He wants her to know the fight."
"The fight?" She asked lost at the words being used.
"Don't ask, he said it." Blank answers once more. "It's probably new to him to."
"I want her to experience the life I did. I call it the fight." Zidane explains.
Ruby sighs and looks to Diane, "I think Daddy is not thinking this through. The life of a thief is dangerous for a little girl. I should know. I was one."
"And as I said before, it isn't a good idea when she is important to the kingdom." Blank adds.
"Come on guys." Zidane begs.
"But doll it is dangerous!" Ruby claims, "You are now a King. Dagger will kill us if anything happens to you. We don't want to think what will happen to us if anything happened to the crowned princess. We would be thrown out and our little theatre burned down for one."
"I can't let her grow up sitting on her ass. You remember what Dagger was like when we "kidnapped" her? She knew nothing of the outside world, just the fake ones in books and such. I don't want that to be my daughter." Zidane argues. "I'm forcing the idea on Dagger. She'll warm up to it as Diane grows. I know it."
"She's not going to send soldiers is she?" Blank asks suddenly nervous.
Zidane looks to the side in thought. "That I'm really not sure." He answers nervously himself, "We'll find out."
"I can't have soldiers bustin' my theatre." Ruby hisses, "Bad for business y'know."
"I'm sure." Zidane agrees with a weak smile.
They stay silent for several minutes except for the occasional mew from Diane as she played with Ruby's hair and dress. Zidane was irritated at his friends disapproval, but he did understand the risk. Diane would be more important to the kingdom since this monarchy was mostly ruled by the queens. Zidane was expendable in many eyes. His main job was to support the Queen and give the land its future leaders.
He felt trapped behind those cold stone walls and he had only been King for one whole year! He missed stretching his legs and running around the whole continent to stop the war with his friends. He had felt happy to be with his love, but her lifestyle was just too boring. He needed to run, he needed to thieve, and most of all he wanted to be out of that castle!
Dagger and Diane were the only reason why he was willing to stay in such a dull place.
"This little bugger is gonna be one of my greatest followers! I know it!" A man is heard boasting as he walked down the hall towards the door. A toddler is then heard laughing loudly. "Aren't you just a'wriggling."
"The boy has energy sir, that's for sure." Another man responds. "He's gonna be a runner, look at him kick!"
The first man suddenly omphs like he is kicked, "Strong to! He'll be a good jumper."
"I'll say he's a thief by blood for sure. Blank should be proud." A third man joins in happily.
"Speaking of proud, I heard Zidane was in and he had a surprise for us." The second man claims.
"That's where we are heading." The first man laughed. The mans foot falls became clearer as he approached the door. "Here take Jupiter for a second." The man grunted stopping at the door.
Ruby winked a brown eye at Zidane and turned her back on the door, hiding Diane from view. Blank laughed as he was kicked in the face by Diane as she wiggled in the new position. She made little noises in protest and angrily pulled on Rubys dress. Zidane studied Rubys position and nodded as he noticed what she was aiming at. She was truly saving the surprise for last. Diane obviously thought differently of the plan.
She silenced and froze when the door was suddenly kicked in and a large man came laughing in. The man was as tall and as wide as the door. He was tanned with a pinkish-purple beard and was dressed in green leather pants and a white shirt that just fit, a leather vest over that. He wore leather belts around his wrists, the end of his pant legs, and on the sleeves of his shirt along with the one on his waist with an attached bag for loot. He wore worn brown boots on his large feet. He wore a leather helmet along with goggles, his pig like ears sticking up from them. This wasn't a man you would want to challenge, everyone in the room knowing he held back often when training everyone.
The man's huge smile made him less dominant as he looked to Zidane, "By golly, long time no see stranger. How's life in that castle? Being surrounded by your old targets keeping you busy?"
Zidane smiles and bows his head to his old friend/group leader, "I bath in gold coins every night. And I get to sleep with a girl every night as well."
"Not the same one that you married to I hope." The man jokes back.
"Dagger would kill me!" Zidane scoffs with a laugh. "How are you doing Boss? I haven't heard of you in any reports lately." Zidane had loved reading about his friends exploits in reports of robberies in town and in other cities under his rule. It helped him keep track of what they are looking for and giving them discreet tips along the way.
Three months a go reports of them had suddenly stopped. Zidane quickly found out that the gang had returned to their base in his uncle-in-laws kingdom. He couldn't get a hold of them there and waited impatiently for another word. Yesterday, he had heard that they were visiting Ruby and arranged his schedule for them to meet.
"I got a really nasty bug while we robbed a town during the middle of the winter." Boss coughed loudly into his enclosed fist. "Still fighting it, but I'm able to move now. I couldn't breathe for the longest."
"Yeah, now that spring is breaking you should be good. That sickness has killed many this winter. I lost three guards this past week. They had been fighting it since the beginning of winter." Zidane tells the older man.
"That sucks. I'm sorry lad." Boss tells Zidane as he pats his shoulder. "I'm glad your fine. Dagger doesn't have you on a short leash?"
Zidane laughs, "No, she does. I sneaked out."
Boss laughs loudly, "That's why I'm not married lad!"
"Or have a kid." Blank adds with a sneer.
Boss stops laughing and turns to Blank, "That's right. Poor Blank let one night ruin his life."
"You were the one that was excited about this accident more than we were scared." Ruby snaps playing with Blanks hair with one hand.. "You're always bragging to the others about Jupiter."
"You might as well be his father." Blank chuckles. He was leaning into his lovers hand like a dog that barely got attention.
"It's gonna be fun raising him, I'm sure." Zidane snickers thinking of his daughter growing up with Jupiter.
"Why do you say that Zidane?" Baku questions looking at Zidane in confusion.
"Well that's my surprise. I'm gonna sneak out more than this. I wanna escape the dull life."
Boss let out a single laugh before pulling Zidane towards him, "Trouble in paradise?"
Zidane flips his ponytail onto his back. He only did that when he was being sly with his words. "It's just boring. I also need to see what's going on on the streets."
"Is that all you needed to tell us?" Boss questioned finally noticing that Ruby hadn't turned around to greet him. "Now that I think about it. You had a surprise for us."
Zidane shrugged and walked over to Ruby. "I do. But don't be too loud. She doesn't like being up right now."
"She?" Boss's eyes widen in surprise as he watches Zidane grab Diane out of Ruby's hands, "Dear god boy! You had a pup to?!"
