Ch.2: Gaia in need of a trance
Burmecia was once a booming place full of life and laughter, but then the rain came. The rain had never ceased and the Burmecians decided to move to Cleyra; that is up till its destruction by Kuja. The few that survived the black mage attack fled to different parts of Gaia; many included Lindblum or Treno. Sir Fratley was a Dragoon knight and had lost his memory during one of his trips. Prince Puck found him and tried to fill him in on the events that happened, but the memory loss was too severe and he forgot about his one true love, Freya. The rain was wet, at least the memory of that stayed with him. "So Prince Puck have you picked out any girl to be your girlfriend?"
"Ah, no actually I haven't. You see I've been busy traveling around and exploring Gaia, and…ah who am I kidding," he said slapping his knee. Sir Fratley looked at the young prince and could tell by the rain hitting his face that the young kid was distracted. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his love Freya, but she also seemed distracted as she avoided his eye. Prince Puck noticed her and went over to greet her, but when he saw the spear he quickly withdrew. Sir Fratley went to intercede with his own spear and couldn't believe in his wildest dreams he'd have to fight his love. "Hey Freya what gives!?"
"I can't control it…get out of my way." I woke up fine this morning, the rain was the same, not to mention Sir Fratley still had no clue what was in our past. Then I feel my emotions turn against me and the next moment I'm in trance. I must not harm Puck or my love…I must give them time to escape…before I destroy them. Freya jumped into the air and brought the tip of her spear down on the wet concrete and didn't bother looking up. Puck took the warning and darted for the nearest construction not bothering to look back until he was safe away. Sir Fratley stood his ground and inside she could feel that she had no choice now. Getting up she twirled her spear around and met her challenger's eyes.
"This isn't like you Freya…this isn't like you at all. The trance is too soon, please snap out of it." He raised his spear up and blocked the next blow and as she shifted her weight to her right he jumped into the air and behind her. She wasn't oblivious to his actions and with a back roll sent her spear tip home and into Sir Fratley's leg. He fought the pain and swung at her only slicing through her red jacket. Freya came out of her position and with her spear behind her back she jumped into the night sky and vanished. "I believe this will work Freya…and till my last breath I will find you."
Madain Sari was quiet and as Baku and Zidane entered found it quiet and nothing else. Zidane shielded his eyes from a light ahead and as the image became larger in the moon's light he realized it was Lani the former bounty hunter. The bruises on her body became evident to them when they saw her hunched form and when they tried to help she waved their pity aside. "So Zidane you finally decide to show up when danger shows-."
"Keep quiet Lani, at least while your still breathing. Look where is Eiko?" The sound of thunder was heard behind Lani and Baku shivered. Zidane went past Lani and Baku barely had time to pull him back before a rock fist popped out of the ground. The huge Eidolon belonged to Eiko and as Zidane got up weakly he saw the 6 year old somersault off and land a few feet in front of him. She was glowing brilliantly and her flute was in her clenched fist. "Eiko, your father is worried about you. Now come-."
"Zidane if you care about me you'll leave before things get really messy. And if it is not much trouble, tell my father I'm sorry." The next Eidolon she summoned was Carbuncle who could cast reflect without a second of hesitation. Zidane saw Lani glow and tried to stop her, but her determination overruled his worry and she cast firaga. The spell was bounced off Carbuncle and slammed against the three of them setting them on fire. Baku rolled wildly on the ground trying to rid his huge body of the biting flames and the other two were rid of them in a matter of seconds. Zidane gave Eiko a concerned look, but realized that the trance Eiko was in was too strong. With understanding in their eyes they set off in separate directions leaving Eiko to fight off the trance.
"This trance is odd, none like I've ever encountered," Zidane noted as they exited the village. He crossed his arms in contemplativeness and Lani was scratching at her burnt skin. The Kweh in the distance caused Zidane to look up and relief washed over his face as he saw his Tantalus brothers riding the faithful Chocobos and in a net was Quina. The Qu was still burning red from the trance, but seemed unconscious for the time being.
"Hey Zidane, is this a friend of yours?" Blank jumped off his Chocobo and met his friend with a pat on the back. Then without warning Quina snapped from the ropes that held it down then bounced up and ran at the unsuspecting Baku. Zidane and Blank didn't take notice until they noticed the two rolling on the ground throwing punches at each other. "Hey Zidane you get that thing and I'll get the boss." So the two got in back of the two combatants and with a silent count of 3 pulled the two back. Quina was mad.
"Zidane why not let me have one small snack? I travel with friends under hostile conditions, what one snack going to hurt?" Zidane didn't allow him another word and with much protest dragged the Qu into the awaiting Prima Vista. Punching in the three digit number he opened the cabin door that Steiner had once occupied when he was stricken ill in the Evil Forest. The Qu would be safe here until matters were solved. Leaning against the door in exhaustion he tried to control his erratic breathing and thought of his beloved Garnet.
"I just got to give her space," he thought aloud, "then maybe she'll see I'm ready for a big relationship…maybe," he sighed resignedly. The sound of the comm. Channel made him straighten up and the urgency made him dash from the door and to the cockpit. He stood there for a moment with his tail swishing on the deck, since when have we had a comm. Channel? A hologram appeared before the genome and on it was Queen Garnet herself. Her beauty melted his heart a huge distance away, but something seemed wrong-
"Zidane…if you are hearing this then that means Baku has finally installed a comm. Channel on the Prima Vista. I just want you to know everything is fine here and there's no need to-." The channel was cut off and Zidane pounded the board trying to get her image back, he needed her image to be back! Baku came in and sat in the chair nearby putting his head in his hands in defeat.
"Zidane, Quina was part of you original party to defeat Kuja right?" He took the silence as yes and continued, "and If my hypothesis is right…then whoever was in that party may be suffering the same fate." The hurried footsteps of Marcus, Cinna, and Blank made the two get up and when they saw what made them run; both hurried for the hatch. Outside was Eiko and she was riding the great Eidolon Madeen, formerly know as Mog who was her best pal Moogle. "Ok boys lets get the ramp up and leave before-."
"Zidane I told you to leave…now I have no choice but to eliminate you and your party for good!" Zidane knew too well what the Eidolon was capable of and went to the emergency switch and watched the ramp as it slowly climbed up. The Eidolon was growing larger and by the time the ramp was up and the engines were online it had already cast its attack. The ship was swept into space and was thrown against some meteorites until the comm. Link broke off. Baku fought the controls and managed to pull them aside before they were enveloped in the beam of light. "You were lucky, but not again, not again Zidane the thief!" Baku threw the reverse lever and made his way to Lindblum. Zidane looked out the window and watched in horror as the Madeen gave chase shooting out beams that should've struck them down, but Zidane knew somewhere inside that tranced body of hers was the little 6 year old who had a strong heart.
"Freya you need help," Sir Fratley said aloud, "I love you please come out," he said again. The rain was still beating down on his grey body and his hand never loosened on the handle of his spear for fear that she might strike him again. Prince Puck had run away during the last hour and now he was in the deserted streets of the place that had survived an attack from black mages and monsters alike. The sound of feet hitting the wet concrete made him turn around twirling the spear over his head, but the sound belonged to four little children wearing blue coats. They all wore the same similar hats and their eyes glowed holding much mystery to them. He was about to kill one of them when-."
"Ahhh…don't hurt us," he said raising his little arms up. Sir Fratley hesitated and gave them another good look. Now that he got a good look at them he realized they didn't resemble the black mages he saw during his journey. The voice that belonged to the one he would've killed had a child's voice and if he were one of the deadly black mages he would've shot before whimpering like this. "We're lost…can you help us mister?"
"Yeah it's scary here and this weird person keeps calling us Vivi. Do you by chance know him?" The young black mage pulled at its hat and looked up at the iron tail with much curiosity and fear in him. Sir Fratley at the moment was tongue tied.
"He was our father runt," one of the other ones said. This one sounded to be second oldest and its eyes held much distrust in them. The sound of a spear being sharpened brought Sir Fratley's senses up to high gear and just as the spear was whistling through the air he grabbed the four kids and brought them around the corner just before the spear it self came piercing the road. "Boy you sure move fast for one your size."
"He's one of those Burmecians…you know like the one our father talked about before he stopped," the youngest said. They all shook their heads and Sir Fratley was staring at the spear expecting Freya to retrieve it soon. He never felt the kick as Freya came down from the roof above or the crack of bone as he hit the wet concrete, but he did see the sky do some very interesting spins. The young black mages couldn't move.
"Sir Fratley, forgive me…I did try to stop…really, but the trance has taken over completely. I love you and try to remember me as I was not some challenge seeker, but a fun Burmecian who enjoyed life's little pleasures." Freya lifted her spear up for the kill, but received a swift right hook to the cheek and was sent rolling in the rain until she came to a stop near a tall building. As she rose to her feet weakly she saw the huge shadow of Amarant standing near her dropped spear. I'm losing the trance, bravo Amarant. But it's trying to cling onto me…I must keep my part of this stable until the end. Freya ran forward and leaped over Amarant's next punch and picked up her spear. The little black mages watched in horror and excitement that is until Amarant was stabbed and thrown over the building and into a barely stable building. "Now to the business at hand, so-."
"Step back you meany," the youngest black mage said boldly. His brothers followed him and together they surround the Burmecian with a little uncertainty. Freya took wild swings at them but they ducked away from the sharp edge. Then they raised their arms and with sudden and unexpected aim they cast fira on her causing her to squirm in pain. After their attack they lowered their arms and watched as she gave them defiant eyes before falling down unconscious. Sir Fratley rose into a kneeling position and gave the little black mages a silent thanks. Amarant came from the corner limping and he too gave the sons of Vivi a silent thanks. Freya's trance faded from her body and the party gave a loud sigh of relief before sitting down in the rain.
The Prima Vista dodged another blast as Madeen fired at them and the ship began to shake as another shot skimmed the wing's surface. Zidane was thrown to the deck as one of the next shots scored home and he scrambled to his feet in a stumble. Warning sirens rang through the performance ship and the Tantalus group was sent scrambling to any working system. Blank went to what would've been a weapon system, but realized with disappointment that was not there. Marcus went to the engines and with Cinna and gave Baku the extra boost he needed to escape the impending threat. Madeen was now flying alongside the Prima Vista and with her giant claws ripped into the side. "Zidane, try and calm that girl before we crash again. And hurry it up before I lose it."
"Hey boss have I ever let you down?" With a smirk on his face he opened the side door and looked through the clouds to see Eiko standing up on Madeen's back. Her trance seemed weaker to him, but her intent on smashing them to the ground still seemed pure. "Hey Eiko, it's me your favorite friend in the whole world of Gaia. Look I know we've had our differences, but what friend doesn't? Garnet wants you to spend more time at the castle, and the one who misses you the most is your adoptive parents Cid and Hilda. Now come inside before you catch a cold," he said offering her his hand. Eiko grinned at him and with her hand held back made Madeen snarl at him. Zidane shrugged his shoulders to his Tantalus brothers then an unexpected thing happened (for the people who didn't know him) and he jumped out of the door and spiraled to the ground. Madeen followed him and sent beams past him. Then in his final descent Madeen's claws grabbed hold of him and with a swoop rose into the air. "Eiko, you're fighting it after all!"
"Zidane…I need…help," she whimpered to him. This one call for help sent Madeen into her own spiral and as they neared the fire shrine the Eidolon made an emergency landing near the entrance. The flames roared around them and as Zidane got up he looked over at Eiko and saw her body begin to catch on fire. With little consideration on his safety he picked her up and rushed from the shrine until he made it a safe distance away from the shrine. Her body was burnt…and the trance that had driven her out of character had in fact died. "Zidane…I feel…hot," she said with a smile.
"Yeah Eiko…and just a little weak too," he said trying his best to laugh, but instead all he could manage was a grin. The Prima Vista arrived shortly after and thereafter they rushed to Lindblum. Their mission was a success and as they traveled in their fastest speed Zidane sat in the back and tapped his chin thoughtfully. The trance is brought on by an emotional moment, he thought, and both Eiko and Quina were brought to these early. Usually they occur right before or in the middle of battle, just like Kuja when he discovered the trance. Speaking of which Quina hasn't made a single peep-
"Quina is hungry for some food!" The Qu snapped the door out of its hinges and pointed its fork at them. Zidane pulled out his daggers and dueled with the Qu until the two of them were traveling up the spiral stairs. There they were deadlocked in deadly confrontation; none of which has ever happened with a Qu and a Genome. Zidane didn't want to hurt Quina, and it was due to this that the Qu got the edge to throw Zidane over the rail and to hit the deck. "If Quina not eat now, then all will suffer Quina's wrath!"
"Boss that Qu is a danger to our very survival, why on earth did we bother bringing h/she on board in the first place?" Marcus complained. Baku looked over his shoulder and saw Zidane's lifeless body and in his deepest thoughts he realized too late that Marcus was right. The Qu was now jumping about the ship tearing into the machinery looking around hungrily for munchies that (like all the previous times) weren't available. Baku fought for control but this time he feared fighting wasn't an option.
"Regent Cid Fabool ix do you copy?" The Prima Vista was now almost there and the smoke trail behind them was a long one. The controls were scorched and the comm. Channel short circuited a minute later causing the Tantalus group to begin to panic. Baku then left his seat and sat next to the motionless Zidane and laid a fatherly hand on his heart. Blank, Cinna, and Marcus cornered Quina and with team effort knocked out the Qu and then went over to the window to look at the approaching city. "I guess this is the finale boys. Well it was fun while it lasted, guess there is no point in me giving a-."
"Boss, your speeches may be dull, and I admit boring at times, but they do have one good point in mind. That one point is that family is there for you, and right now we are here together. Sure Ruby isn't here, but she chose not to be; and the Nero brothers as well, though in reality they are asleep oblivious to the pandemonium occurring. Let's hope this ride isn't the last," Blank said staring at the ceiling. The sirens were still ringing as the ship came upon Lindblum and as the wings broke off the family of thieves rested their hands on Zidane and looked up at the ceiling. On the ceiling was a picture (the only one ever taken with their descent suits on) and in they were proud and happy. Now as they faced certain doom that was what they wanted as their last moment.
Authors note: Wow what a way to end the chapter. Hope you enjoyed the second part, third chapter should be up soon. Enjoy rereading it or whatever, if you have a chane, review, it's the nice thing to do. See ya later.