Volume 1
Chapter 7
Escape From Alexandria
"Wow, what a show!" commented Puck. He and Vivi, having found themselves frequently obstructed in the back row, had made their way to the front of the stands on the platform the actors had used to stage their fight.
"Yeah," Vivi agreed, wiping his eyes. "So sad."
"I'm glad we climbed all the way over here. How 'bout you, huh?" The rat turned to Vivi, but his triumphant smile faded as his eyes became wide. "Uh-oh! Look out!"
Vivi spun and saw them, two guards hurrying towards them. The boy gasped and started to run behind Puck, down the platform towards the castle.
"Stop, you!" cried one of the guards. Their armoured shoes clanked heavily on the stone, so Vivi could both hear and feel them close behind him. "Come back, trespassers!"
There was nowhere to escape to at the other end of the stands, just a door which led into the castle, and Puck figured that wasn't a good idea even if it was left open. He led Vivi back around the guards, who fumbled to grab the pair as they passed, and back onto the audience. The wall was their best hope now. Vivi was keeping good pace with his friend, until a shifted podium separating the stands from the stage caught under his foot and sent him flying. He found himself a second later staring at the dizzying yellow of the courtyard paving; his knees throbbed with pain, and he was stunned, unable to focus or move. Annoyed, Puck came back to him, but when Vivi didn't stand and the guards were too close for comfort he huffed. "Fool! I'm outta here!" and Vivi heard the pitter-patter of Puck's nimble feet advancing without him.
As the shock ebbed away, Vivi managed to get back up. He hoped he could still follow his companion, but he could no longer see the rat, who had already fled. With the knights bellowing behind him, Vivi ran.
"Fury!"
"Come back here!"
(!)
"Forgive me!" moped King Leo. The man was still stationed on hands and knees leaning over the cooling body of his daughter. Behind them, Zidane knelt stoic beside Marcus's corpse. The audience were awash with sobs and whelps.
The knight's shock had transformed into dismay, and he was now overcome with a grief which rained down his face as tears. Unable to stare at her unmoving form any longer, he'd covered his face with his forearm, and his entire body shook. "Princess!" he wept, his voice croaking.
Zidane was the only one to see the boy running out from the darkened stands and into the glow of the stage-lights. At least, he assumed he was a kid; he looked about that height, but his face was concealed by the fringe of a hat. He crossed the bridge onto the air-ship, and turned back to face the crowd, pulling his hat straight with both hands.
"Leave me alone!" he shouted, but he sounded afraid, his voice unsteady, and when two knights appeared on the bridge behind him, he continued to run into the midst of the scene.
"Stop!" the guard called after him.
"Come back here!"
The trio of newcomers passed behind Zidane, where Marcus lay with one eye open, trying to see what was happening. The boy came round to the front of Baku, who was still feigning grief and jumped over the limp frame of the Princess. At that point he turned, his strange iridescent eyes suddenly glowing, and raised his hands out. The knights stopped abruptly at this action on the other side of Garnet, and sensing that the show was already officially ruined, Zidane stood. Motes of fiery sparks gathered around the boy's fingers, spreading to his palms where they settled a moment before growing into a ball. Without warning, three balls of flame shot out towards his aggressors. However, instead of reaching the men, the flames caught hold of Garnet's hood, smoking and spreading out quickly along the fabric. Steiner and Baku jumped back in horror, while the Princess, now ablaze, jumped to her feet, tearing the robe away from her body before she burned.
"Ow, that's hot!"
Thankfully, the hood came away easily, revealing the princess to her mother and to the audience, who gasped in recognition. While the robe fell harmlessly into the water, Garnet wiped away any embers which might have fallen on her clothes. Seeing her alive, standing before him in what appeared to be an orange jumpsuit, Steiner placed both hands on his helmet, and slowly shook his head in confusion.
"Zidane! It's time!" Baku called. He rushed away off-stage.
"Princess Garnet! Let's get out of here!" Zidane said to the girl, she gave him a slow nod.
"What…" Steiner began, but had to stop. Everything was buzzing about his head like flies around spoiled meat. "What is going on!"
Quickly, her long dark hair swaying with the movement, the princess turned to the man, and in a tone both polite but firm said "Steiner! Don't follow me anymore!"
"Captain, sir! We await your orders, sir!"
Haagan (number 8), and another of his men were nearby. Real knights this time. It would be easy now to apprehend the lowlifes and restore the Princess to her mother; however, the heir herself had just given him an order and disregarding it was not an option, in fact, it was neigh on treason. "Hmmm… Well… Umm… Errr…" he fumbled for a conclusion, but in the end, his duty was to ensure the best interests of the Princess even if she didn't yet realise herself what that was. She needed to be secure at the palace with her family, not in the company of dangerous criminals who obviously sought to use her for ungainly purposes after tricking the poor child in some way. Heathens!
"Princess! I'm afraid I cannot comply!"
"Stubborn as always aren't you?" she replied, her tone sharp.
"Come on, princess," the boy with the tail interrupted, before the knight could speak again. "Let's ditch Sir Rustalot and get outta here!"
"Princess, wait!"
The Princess nodded, and turned from her bodyguard to follow Zidane across the stage. He stopped however when he noticed the kid sprawled on the deck; the poor guy. Marcus was with them also, taking point behind his brother, as he knelt to inspect the kid. The knight, who could no more act than a dog could recite the history of Alexandrian lore, was watching them closely.
"Hey, kid…" Zidane asked the boy gently. "You okay!"
The boy scrambled to his feet, assuming he was about to be arrested for trespassing. When he stood however, he found himself looking into the face of one of the actors. Embarrassed, Vivi pulled his hat so it sat properly over his brow, and turned to face the teenager. Another grizzlier looking figure stood behind him, and the girl he'd accidentally almost flambéed was also nearby. She didn't look hurt.
"Y-yeah. I just tripped, that's all…" he said.
"Princess, I cannot allow you to go! Seize them at once!"
The thieves were already clutching at their weapons, taking stance before the knight was finished speaking. With two of his men behind him, Steiner felt considerably more able to fulfil his duty; no longer was he outnumbered. Garnet was the first to strike him with a staff she had been concealing … somewhere. The hit wasn't hard, he could barely feel it beneath his armour, but it spoke volumes about the girl's determination, and it came with an expression etched with warning. Hurt more on the inside than anything else, Steiner returned her gaze, and raised his sword.
Zidane was just able to dodge his slash, the speed of which took him by surprise. His brother came out from his side and countered, hitting the captain in the face with the butt of his hilt, causing him to stagger back behind his men. Both lower class knights were smaller, slimmer and less armoured than their captain. Evening the odds wouldn't be difficult. With a quick nod to Marcus, Zidane hurried forward and aimed his blades at the lackey to Steiner's right. He didn't touch flesh, only scathed a cut into the knight's shoulder, but his speed and precision were enough to unsteady his opponent.
"My fury ends here…" he whimpered, turning tale and fleeing offstage. Zidane laughed as he went, but was silenced when a sword formed a nick in his lower-leg; the other soldier had struck him.
Vivi blasted fire at the men. The cloud of warmth encircled their bodies, getting under their suits to their bare skin causing them to blister. The sensation was uncomfortable and short-lived, but it was enough to startle the second soldier, who promptly announced "I'm gonna be late for my date!" and skedaddled, much in the fashion of his counterpart. Leaving Steiner to stand alone, for himself and for the benefit of his ward. They were quickly upon him, the thieves and even the Princess, one by one bruising and cutting his body trying to deter him.
"Bah! Only a flesh wound!" he said; he tried to sound amused, but the resulting tone was unconvincing. He was hunched over, his sword hanging next to his knee, but he would not allow himself to even consider relent.
(!)
"Stabilisers configured!" Cinna assured his boss, after double-checking the gauge readings on the dashboard. Baku was stood behind the helm, every lever and button poised ready for take-off, behind him a small lantern illuminated a map which detailed their flight plan.
"Good!" he replied.
Blank hurried into the helm-room from the stairway. "Engine room is good to go!" he explained, excitedly.
"Alright!"
The three thieves signalled to one another, hands over hearts and legs to attention, to give a final assurance that everything was running smoothly. "We're movin' out!" proclaimed Baku.
The crew hurried back to their stations, Blank to the engine room, and Cinna to the dashboard next to his boss, and even the rhino twins appeared from the doorway rushing through to their allocated points.
"Rodger that!" laughed Blank in response. "It's about time!"
(!)
The propellers spun into motion, slowly as first, but then they burst to full power and became blurred circles of beige in the light surrounding the helm room. The ship rocked to life, lifting from the pond; the maiden at the masthead smiled to the astonished crowds as she rose upwards. Those sitting had stood, confused and frightened and baffled as the show's abrupt end transfigured into it's sudden and unscheduled departure. The ship continued upwards towards the dark sky, a glowing spectacle against the navy tower roves behind it. On her balcony, the Queen was frantic with anger, her face flushed beneath the layer of make-up as she yelled at the soldiers around her. The stage came up past where she was standing, arms flailing at a young woman, teeth bared and eyes like slits. Beams of lights underneath the stage blinded her to attention. She saw one of the actors, sniggering at her, spinning to reveal a tail which he proceeded to swing at her mockingly. Next to him was her daughter, sitting, trying to remain steady as the boat shook. Queen Brahne's hands drew up like talons to cover her face. What did the girl thing she was doing? Stupid child!
Clanking and the heavy clicks of moving metal joined the rattling of the vessel's engine and the screaming of the crowds below, as Beatrix's recruits hoisted the spear cannons into firing range. The barrels were following the moving ship as it continued to lift and start to withdraw from the courtyard, but the Queen was impatient and could not afford to let the fools escape her. She turned to the cannon station, thrusting her thick arm out towards the vessel and calling across to the gunwomen to fire, to catch the ship before it was too late. The markswoman, whose job it was to ensure the gun was correctly aimed, was startled by the Queen's instructions, and despite not having a clear line of sight waved a red flag to signal the command. One by one, four giant arrowheads launched out across the stands; they burst from their sockets, forming ruby clouds of exploded gunpowder. Attached to their ends, were long strands of chain, constructing a bracelet bridge from the towers, and out across the courtyard.
The first spear crashed through one of the propeller stands, sending a rain of splintered wood into the audience boxes. Another crushed the vacant orchestra box, snapping some of the oil light fixtures and causing small explosions. Debris was thrown out in a cloud of smoke down to the stage, and Zidane ran to avoid being hit, Steiner followed suit. The angle of the chains as they reached their limit, started to spin the airship off course. Forces changing as the ship struggled against the pull of the leaches, tilted the deck, and the metal lines ploughed through tower roves shattering shingle. Zidane gripped Garnet tightly round the shoulders as she fought to stay upright. The airship jolted and dropped into momentary freefall, still slanted, and those onstage were thrown backwards and forwards in the inertia; Vivi lost his footing and toppled onto his back.
A second set of spears was fired; Zidane could see them springing from the opposite turret like misguided fireworks. The Queen egged them onwards with sheer will, punching her arms, a maddened fan in need of their success. Three charged into the decks above, but one had a clear shot, and came hurtling directly at the stage where Zidane and the Princess sat; the thief grabbed Garnet and hurled her backwards as the lance thrust down before them. No longer able to hold out against the strain, the ship twisted round out of control, the bow forced towards the private boxes where groups of nobles stared out in horror. People hurried away indoors, attempting to flee deeper inside the castle, but the forepart collided with the building, tearing a hole into the castle and continuing to draw a line through it; those still fleeing through the stairwells ducked down as the bow moved over them in a fog of brick. Similarly, those watching from the rooftops just beyond the palace, screamed and fumbled back down over the dormers as smoke poured out around the ship's spires. Queen Brahne was livid that the airship was still moving, tugging against her chains like a wild beast reluctant to die.
Beside the spear on stage, Garnet lay breathless, and Zidane crawled over to her, tail erect, gently laying a worried hand on her shoulder. She didn't look hurt, but that weapon had cut pretty close. When Steiner saw him lay his hand on the Princess, he took action, staggering on hands and knees to yank the heathen away, but the angle of the ship changed again and Vivi, unable to stop himself, bowled into the knight and they snowballed together to the other end of the ship. Through the clouds of dust, Zidane could see the Queen motioning to the elaborate crest above the balcony. The winged crest split and drew away on either side to reveal the barrel of a larger cannon. Soldiers pushed it forward into place, and it stood there only a moment before they fired it, but this one contained no spear. A cannon-ball came through the plume of gas and out into the sky. Zidane braced himself for a blow which didn't happen. Instead, the ball shattered mid-air to reveal a gargantuan fireball rolling through the sky; it took form before Zidane's eyes, hands spreading out through the flames, and a dark orange mouth, complete with ignited teeth and hollow, jack-o-lantern eyes. A monster! And it came at them with eyes surging and smoking, the Queen's last ditch effort to prevent their escape.
Zidane, Vivi, Garnet, and Marcus all saw the creature soar down onto the stage, but Steiner mistook their seizing their weapons as an attack against him. He quickly shambled to his legs, and removed his sword, and ignored the sudden heat at his back causing trickles of sweat to run down his spine. Obviously, they were planning to toss him over-board as they made their getaway, but Steiner would allow none of it. Perhaps it was this rage that inspired his temperature to, quite literally, increase. A little hesitant, Steiner struck at the boy first, the little mage who was the most dangerous; a good tactic to take out his strongest opponent before he had a chance to use his magic. Zidane quickly came at him, attempting to defend the boy, angered by the man's stupidity. The monster lingered quietly behind the knight, smaller than it had seemed at first, but snarling like a crackling fire all the same. In an endeavour to subdue the man, Garnet clouted him with her rod, rattling his helmet like a bell. Suddenly, the beast grew, its embers sprawling outwards to extend the flames which constructed it's body.
"Hey, look behind you!" shouted Zidane; the man's ignorance astonished him to the point of humour.
"I'll not fall for such an old trick!" Steiner retorted, coming at Zidane and sending the blade towards his torso; the thief blocked with his daggers, narrowly avoiding a puncture wound, and sent the man reeling backwards. Marcus slashed at him, reopening the gash in his shoulder he'd made in their earlier fight.
"Please Steiner! Behind you!" pleaded Garnet.
"I'll not fall for such an old trick!" repeated the knight, and he was already aiming another blow at Marcus, scraping a trench into his arm as the thief turned to evade a direct hit to the chest. Garnet smacked Steiner again in her frustration. The beast grew again, so large now, that the knight stood as a shadow between it's eyes. Zidane attacked again; they were wasting their energies on this fool, they needed to get the monster before it became too big.
"Surrender at once!" Steiner shouted, as he countered, barging the thief with his body to unbalance him, and then drawing a sharp line across the side of his neck. Vivi swatted him away before he could finish the job, abstaining from his fire magic in the given situation.
"It's a bomb!" he told Zidane, remembering the creature from his Tetra Master deck.
"It's gonna blow!" added Marcus.
"I'll not fall for such an old trick!" and he lunged at Marcus for making him repeat himself a third time. What kind of an idiot did they take him for? He wasn't as easily manipulated as their pathetic kind. By the great grace of Lord Pluto, was it getting hot around here!
The bomb enlarged itself again, disappearing for minute into the fixings above the stage, and instantly cooling the area. As the wave of heat faded, Steiner became aware he was standing in a shadow steadily growing beneath his feet. When he stared up to see what cast it, thinking another thief was trying to take him by surprise, he finally saw it; a bomb, and now at full size, ready to detonate. He fell to the floor whimpering and panicked, staring up at its mass jaws quickly filling with smoke.
With a cackle, the bomb detonated itself.
The ship was consumed. The sound of the explosion ran through Alexandria, hitting those still on the streets with a shockwave, roaring and hot and deadly.
The queen squinted but smiled, as the glare of the blast reached her. Vermilion smoke formed a cloud around the ruined vessel, shining with a glow as brilliant as daylight, before fading to an ash grey. Victorious, the Queen jumped and cheered, staring out, waiting for the ship to come crashing down. The seconds passed, but still she was unable to see the airship falling in its disgrace, and she leaned closer over the balcony straining to see if she had missed something. The cloud dulled further and began to thin, and from the stratocumulus mass peeped the bow of the vessel. Scorched, her pale skin bruised with soot, and her wings snapped and shattered, the maiden emerged from the fog. To the Queen's dismay, the ship was still aloft. It was badly damaged, and flying at an angle, but it was hastening to the kingdom's border. Funnels of smoke from the ignited interior streamed through the sky, casting a trail as the vessel continued over the city. Another small explosion cast off one of the propeller towers which fell smouldering to the rooftops below, but still the airship didn't waver. Garnet clutched the spear buried in the stage, severed from its chain by the explosion.
Blood bubbled in Brahne's arteries. Her grip on the fan intensified, until her nails dug into the palm of her hands, and the wood creaked in defiance; it snapped in her grasp as she watched the theatre ship pass from view into the darkness beyond the city; panting, Queen Brahne's breath burned with the energy of her rage.
(!)
Baku managed to guide what remained of the airship to the cliffs outside Alexandria, but after that the systems failed one by one, and the Prima Vista began to descend. It missed the ragged edges of the precipice where the Alexandrian illumination disappeared, casting the crew into the full terror of the darkness as they glided down into the Mist. The deathly fog surrounded them like a poisonous embrace. The engines were overwhelmed by the power increase, and Baku lost control, the wheel no longer allowing him any influence over their landing. The gauges all but popped from their sockets as the gears ticked and hissed, trying to process the sudden income of fuel to no avail.
"We're gonna crash!" cried Cinna.
They tumbled through the sky barely able to stay upright, the engine roaring like thunder. The trees appeared underneath them suddenly as the Mist cloud thinned, allowing streams of moonlight to reach the forest. As the hull brazed the leaves, forming a trench in the treetops, the engine let out a ghastly wail, and finally overloaded. For miles around, the beasts and monsters of the forest saw the fire rise up between the ferns.
(!)
"Garnet," Queen Brahne whispered, angrily. She'd been alone on the balcony for so long, the lanterns had burned cold and died, but someone had replaced her broken fan, allowing her to waft the warmth of her face. "I never imagined you would do such a thing," she spoke to the aphotic horizon, still able to see an image of the girl drawing away from her mother's grasp. "Perhaps you're not such a helpless little girl anymore…"
Daughter or no, Princess or no, a traitor of Alexandria, was a traitor to Alexandria and needed to be dealt with accordingly. There was nothing to hold the Queen back now from doing what she needed to do.
"Zorn!" The blue jester stepped out from beyond the chair where he had been hiding, afraid of the Queen's uninhibited anger. Thankfully, her tone was lighter now, more determined than scolding.
"Thorn!" The other twin stepped out to receive instruction. The Queen did not look at them, barely even acknowledged their presence; her eyes didn't leave the spot she'd been staring at for at least an hour. "Is our little experiment ready?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It is combat-ready," Zorn assured her, jumping with anticipation. Would they at last get to use it?
His brother was over-zealous at the idea as well, and added "easily terminate Princess Garnet it can, Your Majesty."
"I need her alive!" she hissed back at them, swinging her hefty body around to glare at them. The jesters cowered away, covering their heads. "Bring her back at once!"
