CHAPTER 3:
GOLEM SOLDIERS
Princess Garnet wasn't sure what to make of Zidane. On the one hand, he was a royal bodyguard, and he seemed capable of talking to Steiner on a level the Captain of the Pluto Knights understood. Steiner still seemed reluctant to go to Lindblum, but Zidane's arguments were sound. On the other, he spoke rather casually, even crudely, at times, as did his charge, Prince Puck. He was rather like those people in Tantalus, and Zidane had cheerfully admitted he preferred their sort of company to some of the echelons of society he had to deal with. He spoke highly of the King of Burmecia and his (adoptive) parents, along with his sister, Lady Freya Crescent, and Sir 'Iron-Tail' Fratley.
She had to admit, though, his cheerful demeanour and sardonic attitude towards the nobility was refreshing. He intrigued her. As far as royal bodyguards were concerned, Steiner and Beatrix were both very old-fashioned, though Beatrix was at least easier to talk to. An irony, considering the reputation she had abroad of a cold, relentless warrior. Zidane, despite his reputation as a man who loved to humiliate his enemies (she had heard Steiner and Beatrix speak a little of him before), was surprisingly approachable.
That being said, it didn't stop his eyes from roving along her body appreciatively. Garnet had heard the hyperbole that she was the most beautiful princess in Alexandria's history. Zidane clearly agreed, given his demeanour, though he didn't do more than look. And smile. Then again, it could have been worse. And to be fair to him, he was probably the first boy her age that she had known for very long. Virtually all the nobles and dignitaries she had met properly were adults.
After exploring Dali (and learning not only a new way of speaking, something her elocution tutors would have an apoplectic fit if they knew, but also things like the fact that Oglops ate crop vegetables and were considered a pest…and hated by many), she had returned to the inn on Zidane's advice. Zidane returned not long afterwards, along with Puck, though Vivi and Steiner were yet to return.
Puck was rather crude and rude, and somewhat antisocial. As he sat on a bed, reading one of the few readable books in the inn's library (a complete works of Lord Avon, most of the other books being 'get rich quick' books), Zidane, on her request, began talking to her about his life.
"…and, well, if I ever saw my sister again," Zidane concluded, patting his waistcoat, "I've got to give her this letter. Even got a waterproof bag for it."
"A sad story," Garnet remarked sincerely. "But I must confess, I'm worried about Vivi. I know that Steiner can look after himself, but Vivi…I would have thought that he would return by now."
Zidane scratched his chin pensively. "You've got a point. You're right, Steiner can look after himself. But Vivi…well, he can handle himself in a fight pretty well, as can you, Sarah, but, well…" He shook his head. "Let's go have a look for him. He was standing by the windmill, last time I saw him."
Soon, she was standing with Zidane and Puck near the village windmill, but they heard, faintly, the sound of someone crying, along with the squawk of a Chocobo. Puck found the source, some sort of ventilation pipe. "Vivi?" Puck called into the pipe.
"…Puck? Is that you?"
"Yeah, Zidane and Sarah are here as well," Puck said.
Zidane knelt down next to the pipe. "Vivi, are you hurt? Can you move? Where are you?"
"Down beneath this village. They…told me to stay here. I'm not hurt or anything."
"Okay, we're going to find you," Zidane said. "Just hold on."
"It seemed like a quiet village," Garnet murmured.
Zidane nodded. "There'll be ways to get underground."
They soon found their way underground via a surprisingly conspicuous hatch in the windmill. Making their way through the underground passages, they found themselves near an enclosure with a Chocobo waddling around morosely. In a nearby hut, they could hear people talking. Garnet's attention, however, was on a large barrel with a very familiar insignia, an eight-pointed star on a green background.
"Why is this one moving? Looks kinda different from the others," someone said. "Is it true that the mayor's brother found it?"
"Hal the innkeeper? Yeah. He offered the info as an olive branch to his brother. I guess that means they've reconciled."
"He was on the old woman's side before about abandoning the farm, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, but they were blueing. We need more workers here anyway. We'd better put this one in one of the delivery crates, the guys at the castle can deal with it."
"Yeah, production's our problem, not when one of them get loose." A pair of men came out, escorting Vivi. But as Zidane tensed, about to leap out, Garnet put her hand over his mouth.
"Quiet, Zidane," Garnet hissed quietly. "I need to tell you something." Once Vivi and his escort moved away, she said quietly, "I have seen these barrels before at Alexandria Castle. This place, whatever it is, is supplying something to the castle. I need to know what that is first, so I believe we need to remain hidden. Please, avoid starting trouble."
Zidane scowled, but nodded. "Okay, but if I have an opportunity to help Vivi, I'm taking it, trouble or not."
"Sure," Garnet said.
They made their way further through the complex, and came across a room that seemed to have some massive machine processing Mist. Then, Garnet heard sobbing from a nearby crate. "Zidane, Puck! Help me!" she said.
As they opened it, Vivi looked at them. "Zidane! Sarah! Puck!"
"Hey, Vivi! Why the hell would they stuff you into a box?" Zidane asked as he fished the young Black Mage out of the crate.
"I…I don't know," Vivi admitted. "After you left me near the windmill, a bunch of guys kidnapped me. They told me to stay put, and I was so scared, I didn't know what to do but obey. They asked me things like 'Why were you outside?', and then said something about a cargo ship not being here yet. I didn't know what they were talking about, so I didn't say anything. Eventually, they decided to put me in with today's shipment, whatever that was."
"I'm glad you're safe, Vivi," Zidane said. "But next time, try and do something. Try screaming…I dunno, 'GET OFF ME, YOU SCUMBAG!', or 'CHILD MOLESTER!' You don't know how many times that one saved Puck. It'd surprise your attackers, give you a chance to run, or fight back if need be."
Garnet frowned. She was not wholly ignorant of the dangers and depravities of the world, so she understood what he meant. A bit of an unorthodox tactic, but possibly sound. Puck was chuckling at some memory or other.
"Now, Vivi, Sarah wants to check out what's ahead, and so do I. I know you may not want to go further, but…"
"It's okay. I want to know too," Vivi said.
Puck, who had wandered off, was peering at the device. "Zidane, ain't this a Mist Engine? Y'know, like in airships?"
Zidane shook his head. "It uses Mist, but it's no Mist Engine I've ever seen." He went over to a nearby door, where pipes from the machine Puck was looking at snaked through. Zidane opened the door and peeked through. "There's some sort of Mist extraction and concentration device in here, sucking it from an opening below the level of the Mist."
"Are these eggs emerging from this machine?" Garnet asked, watching as something round came out on some sort of conveyer belt.
Zidane came over, shutting the door. He peered at the device and its products. "I guess. The real question is, what the hell do they hatch into?"
They soon got their answer. A little further down, the quartet of intruders had found a horrifying secret. The eggs were hatched into…well, Black Mages, hoisted along a conveyor into a machine that boxed them. Like adult versions of Vivi.
While Vivi was horrified, Garnet was musing about why her mother would create this. Puck was just gaping. And Zidane?
He had been thinking.
Why would Alexandria Castle need these guys? It's a bit weird to manufacture mere dolls, which is what they look like. They must be able to become active, that's why the Dali villagers were confused about Vivi. They must be some sort of golem. And if they were, like Vivi, capable of Black Magic, I've got the feeling they're going to be used for more than just household servants. That Black Waltz thing was probably created here. I'd bet any money Brahne's making an army. Last time I spoke to the King, he was uneasy about missives he had received from Brahne, missives that seemed to have thinly-veiled threats, unreasonable trade requests…it's as if she wants to start a war…
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard someone approaching. He was forced to take Garnet, Vivi, and Puck, and dive into the heart of the boxing machine, only for them to soon get boxed up. The crates were put into a barrel, and as the barrel was prepared to be loaded into a cargo airship, Zidane overheard a couple of workers remarking that it was easier money than farming. He had seen the farm for Dali, and noted that it was much smaller than it should be. Then, he heard frightened yelps, and cries that a 'scary guy in armour' was approaching. They ran, and soon, the distinctive loud clanking of Steiner's armour approached. Zidane began squirming out of his crate, with difficulty, and as Steiner examined the barrel, Zidane managed to free himself, though not without causing the barrel to rock, to Steiner's astonishment.
"Steiner!" Zidane yelled, as he began punching at the lid of the barrel. He managed to open it, and poked his head out, looking at the astonished Pluto Knight.
"Zidane! Where are the others? Where is the Prin…Sarah?" Steiner asked.
"In here. Come on, help me," Zidane said, before he got out of the barrel, and, with Steiner's help, tipped it onto its side. They extracted the crates with Garnet, Vivi and Puck (Vivi and Puck sharing a crate), and once they were out, Zidane looked at Garnet and the others. "You guys okay?"
"Yeah," Vivi nodded, though his tone was rather morose.
"I am sorry, Vivi. I never knew anything of that kind of thing was happening at the castle," Garnet said.
"What do you mean?" Steiner demanded.
Zidane gestured him over, and opened one of the other crates. As Steiner gaped at the inert Black Mage within, Zidane said, "I think they're golems of some kind. And Sarah has seen this barrel's insignia at the castle."
Steiner looked up at the cargo ship nearby. "I have seen this cargo ship at the castle before, but…"
"Guys!" Puck yelped. "Something's coming this way!"
And so it was. Yet another Black Waltz, Zidane guessed. It had the wings and the sinister appearance. As it approached, it vanished and reappeared multiple times with an eerie noise. When it finally stopped its little vanishing trick, it said, in a rasping voice, "Princess…the Queen is awaiting your presence."
"So you were sent by Brahne," Zidane muttered.
"And you must be the one that killed Black Waltz Number 1," the Black Waltz said. "He was the weakest of us. My speed, strength, and magic power are far superior to that crookbacked piece of carrion! Princess, come!"
"I am not returning to the castle!" Garnet snapped.
"Willingly or not, you will come with me. Your companions are surplus to requirements!"
"I will escort her back to the castle!" Steiner snapped. "I am her bodyguard! And you have threatened the life of Prince Puck of Burmecia, an ally of Alexandria."
"Kee hee hee! I don't care. Those rats will soon be exterminated! What's one more to begin with?"
"You've just signed your death warrant," Zidane snarled. "Those who threaten my charge's life must die."
"By all means, try! I, Black Waltz Number 2, won't let you stand in the way of my mission!"
The battle had been long and arduous. Zidane had a hard time beating the first Black Waltz, but this second was on a whole new level, and it was just as well he had the others to help. Puck mixed up various concoctions to throw at the Black Waltz(1). Vivi tried using Black Magic at first, but the Black Waltz merely used higher-tier spells in retaliation, so Vivi stuck to helping Steiner enchant his sword with magic. Garnet healed them well, performing well under pressure. Steiner and Zidane, between the two of them, managed to fell the Black Waltz.
Garnet looked at the inert body of the Black Waltz, along with Steiner. "…Did my mother truly send this creature after us?"
"Misdirection, it must be!" Steiner snapped. "This abomination said that to mislead you! I am sure that Her Majesty would have faith in my abilities to keep you safe. And I am sure she would certainly not threaten the peace between Alexandria and Burmecia! Unless…she thought Zidane and Puck counted amongst your abductors."
"She'd better not," Zidane growled.
"In any case, I suspect that this Black Waltz is from some other party. Mayhap that Treno peacock, Kuja," Steiner said.
"Who's this Kuja guy, anyway?" Puck asked.
"A noble associated with the King family," Steiner said. "Of late, he seems to be ingratiating himself with Her Majesty. I have little to do with him, but something about his manner rubs me the wrong way. I have heard whispers that he is a supplier of materiel."
"Materiel?" Puck asked.
"That's materiel with an 'e', right?" Zidane asked. On Steiner's nod, he said, "Steiner means military supplies. Weapons, rations, armour, that sort of thing. But why would Kuja want Sarah?"
"To hold to ransom…or like you suggested, Zidane. He may want her Eidolons." Steiner shook his head. "Come, we have little time to waste. We can commandeer that cargo ship."
"To go to Lindblum?"
After a moment, Steiner nodded. "I'll go and speak to the pilot."
As Steiner strode off, Puck muttered, "Why have I got the feeling he's going to get it to go to Alexandria instead?"
"It's probably going there anyway," Zidane said. "We'll have to commandeer it if we're to get to Lindblum. We'll have to get on before long."
Garnet looked rather pensive, as did Vivi. The Black Mage spoke up. "…Zidane? Those dolls they were making…underground…did they look like me?"
"They resembled you, Vivi, but I think they were golems, not dolls. They wouldn't be alive in the way you are," Zidane said. "Don't worry about it." Suddenly, the propellers of the airship began spinning, and Zidane yelped, "Shit! It's moving! Steiner must be dealing with a clockwork pilot. Come on, get on board, go, go, go!"
Vivi and Puck needed little persuasion to scramble up the ladder at the rear of the ship. Garnet seemed a bit more reluctant. "Sarah, come on. Trust me, we'll head to Lindblum!"
As Garnet seemed to be torn, Zidane gently took her by the shoulders and escorted her to the ladder. Part of him was thinking, I'm touching her, I'm touching Princess Garnet til Alexandros XVII, and by the gods, she is hot! He tried to quiet that voice, but to little avail.
Garnet shook him away, before saying, "I can climb, you know."
Zidane, realising that the cargo ship was about to take off, began climbing up right after her, getting a rather good view of her derriere, clad in that rather tight orange coveralls of hers. He got more than a view when the cargo ship jolted, and her derriere met his face briefly.
With a startled shriek, she clambered up, while Zidane, his face as red as her own, clambered up after her, the cargo ship taking off as he did so. One thought went through his head as he did so. A thought that, if he spoke out loud, she would get even more angry and embarrassed.
Ooo, soft…
CHAPTER 3 ANNOTATIONS:
Okay, so I lied (or at least spoke too soon) when I said I would do a timeskip to the Dali factory stuff. I wanted to do some stuff from Garnet's point of view, as well as lay some groundwork for the Zidane/Garnet shipping. Also, I wanted to show that, while this Zidane's a bit more serious and a touch more respectful, he still has his lecherous tendencies. He's just better at hiding them.
You'll also note that Steiner is acting, if not intelligently, then less stupid than he is in the game. Steiner does show, at times, that he has some intelligence (when in Dali, he muses that pubs are prime sources of information). I think because Zidane's far less antagonistic towards him, and is closer to his station, Steiner accepts things a bit more. He's still unwilling to countenance Brahne doing anything wrong, but he's willing to accept that someone is willing to cause war between Burmecia and Alexandria, and using the queen's name to do so as misdirection. I had him put the blame on Kuja partly because we hear and see so little of him until the end of the first disc, beyond a brief mention from Garnet while talking to Cid. But I would like to believe that Steiner knew something of Kuja. So, in a way, Steiner is right, but for the wrong reasons.
Review-answering time! I'm astonished at how quickly I got them. Anyway, first, UnknownUnseenUnheard: Zidane's relationship with Steiner is one of, if not quite equals, then of the same station, being royal bodyguards. They respect each other's ability and loyalty to their charges, but not their attitudes. Steiner thinks Zidane too uncouth and casual, while Zidane considers Steiner too blinkered and anal retentive. Zidane keeps his trolling to the 'banter' level. As for Burmecia, well, they may not get taken by surprise, but it will still be a curbstomping. Finally, regarding Steiner's attitude to Blank's petrification, he considers Blank and Tantalus responsible for endangering his charge. Look at it from his point of view. It doesn't make what he feels right, but it explains it.
Reishin Amara: Yeah, no. Besides, Eiko actually stated that the survivors suffered afterwards, suggesting that the Invincible caused some sort of illness that killed them. Her parents and grandfather were away from the village at the time, if I recall correctly, and only arrived back some time afterwards, so your idea, intriguing though it is, probably wouldn't work.
jgkitarel: Thanks. I thought of that theory long before I came to write A Third Summoner, when I first espoused it. And you're probably right. I remember reading, for example, about scenes in Macbeth involving Hecate that were added by a later author, possibly Thomas Middleton.
1. I wondered whether Puck should participate in battle, so I decided that he was an Alchemist, a bit like Rikku's Overdrive in Final Fantasy X. He doesn't actually fight per se, just stands at the edge of battle and throws stuff.