-Highroad-

Swing one- dodged by a quick duck, Swing two- avoided only slightly thanks to quickened speed, and Swing three- missed by an unexpected leap.

Zidane jumped back idly spinning his daggers in his hands while scanning his enemy, Mi'ihen, the statue that had abruptly come to life thanks to the figure in the crimson robe. Mi'ihen wasn't like any of the golem monsters back at home.. When statues were cast to come to life with magic they were pretty easy to break, but not this one. Mi'ihen's statue was made out of something strong..something unbreakable but at the same time something fluid and light..because no matter how hard the monkey tried, each cut was deflected or cut off due to its speed.

A light breeze brushed past the chimp, making his bright fur quiver and tail to freeze- deep down, Zidane knew that even in his state of Trance this was going to be a tough fight especially all alone.

He grunted before racing over to Mi'ihen, holding his right dagger high. He jumped to him last minute hoping to land a strike but only frowned seeing the statue raise its large weapon in defence and push him back. With no effort the teen backflipped landing on his feet only to run back to the statue, striking the enemy's weapon with both of his knives. Each cut, strike and lunge was easily pushed back by the statues weapon, but that didn't stop the Genome from trying something new in order to put down his enemy. He charged once more wanting to disarm the golem then tear him apart, however his plans changed as soon as he saw Mi'ihen race toward him as well, his weapon ready to do the same. Zidane halted holding his daggers together like an 'X' as he felt Mi'ihen charge him with his weapon- blowing the monkey back. The Genome rolled back in the mud- hopping to his feet quickly only to leap at the character in stone. The same pattern of deflected strikes pressed on throughout the match irritating the monkey and forcing him to lose his cool.

"Quit your damn blocking and just let me cut you!"

He went for another strike leaving Mi'ihen to push him back with more force. Zidane leaped in the air watching the statue glance up with a solemn look. His knees bent slightly giving Zidane the idea that the statue was only seconds away from leaping after him. Not wanting that action to follow through, the monkey threw the dagger held in his left hand at the target only to watch it be deflected by the large knife his enemy held, and sent soaring into the dark sky. The monkey hissed landing on the ground shortly after, giving the statue a dirty look while waiting...and waiting...and waiting till his weapon finally landed in the damp ground in-between them. That was the only thing that triggered both warriors to charge at one another.

Zidanes dashed to the stone picking up his weapon in the process. His right hand tightened around his weapon as he leaped toward the statue trying to land a cut across its face, however Mi'ihen had different plans. He lunged his weapon toward the monkey hoping to land a deadly blow, but thanks to the kids current state this was quickly avoided.

Zidane smirked landing his hand on the flat of the blade, using it as a platform to leap over his foe and land right behind him. His right hand gripped the handle of his knife tightly as he readied to plunge the large blade of steel in the back of the stone- Without a seconds thought he went for the opening, grinning to himself knowing he was sure to win, however he widened his eyes as he watched the red markings on the stone character glow. The monkey was confused- he didn't know whether to continue with the strike or pull back and be wary of the ominous glow, either way he knew he only had a few seconds to choose.

"To hell with it.." he mumbled to himself as he went to for the strike. "Say goodnight.."

The markings on the statue flashed brightly, causing the monkey to squint and stop his attack- ultimately giving Mi'ihen the upperhand. The statue turned all the while striking Zidane across the left side of his body and sending the chimp to fly in the air. The character of stone leaped after him raising its weapon above its head only to land a heavy strike on the monkey and leave him to fall back down towards the land of Spira. The ground split, cracked and divided once Zidane crash landed on the ground- He groaned hurriedly rising to his feet looking for the enemy but for some odd reason he couldn't see the land of the Highroad anymore..just a vision of white. He squinted his eyes looking about neither feeling or sensing anything close, however with one breeze of wind the monkey was quick to gasp and turn to look over his shoulder. Again he saw nothing but the visions of white but what he did feel was another blow to his left side. Mi'ihen had struck the Genome once again, holding his weapon like a baseball bat and sending the child flying a few meters down the road.

Zidane let out a loud cough once he landed on the muddy ground, back first. He groaned to himself only having a few minutes to recap on what the hell just happened, leaving Mi'ihen to casually waltz over to the monkey ready to finish the job.

'C-Can...he blind people..' the monkey wondered seeing all white.

He panted at a slow and steady pace, realizing that if he breathed too hard or fast his ribcage would shock him with several volts of pain. He held his side wincing all the while staring at the sky and still only seeing that bright light that flashed a few minutes ago. He was blinded...

All he could hear was the rain that seemed to pour down harder and the gusts of wind that blew just as hard..and...footsteps..

Zidane panted a little harder knowing this was Mi'ihen..but what could he do? This statue had no feel to him..so he couldn't entirely sense him- not only that, the boy was tired and hurt..

'...Guess...I'm out of the game...' his mind processed.

Mi'ihen had taken a few more steps closer to the down and out Zidane. The aura of roseate was fading, the boys red eyes were slowly turning to their normal pale blue, and the fur was surely being replaced with the boys old clothes. Slowly..the child was flickering out of his Trance. If Mi'ihen could speak..the only thing he let out is 'pity'. He never expected the kid to last for nothing but a minute. Either way, the stone character gripped his weapon securely and slowly rose it- ready to put the boy out of his misery.

Lightning and thunder flashed and roared in the background, as if knowing the fate of this match..playing as Zidane's passing music. The blonde lied on the cold muddy land wishing to go back home... He wanted to go back to Alexandria..he wanted to hang out with his troupe again..he wanted to see.. Vivi again..maybe even Steiner..well maybe not him but definitely the girl he was always guarding.

"Garnet..." he uttered with a hoarse chuckle.

He brought his left hand close to his face, still seeing nothing but a bright white. His arm lifted reaching for something.. for..anything but in the end feeling nothing, this didn't do anything but leave the blonde to smile. "Garnet..I'm tired... I want to go home...! ! !"

Thunder boomed louder than ever and the lightning surrounding it, flashed even brighter. The monkey blinked once..then again...and just one more time beginning to see everything fade in before him. He saw his hand and he saw Mi'ihen!- Trying to finish him off?

The statue speared its weapon into the ground having mud and the solid rock below it lift from the planet. Finally the job was finished..but..it was an odd kill- He didn't feel a strike? The statue looked closely at the newly formed crater before his feet not seeing hide nor hair of a corpse-

"You lookin' for me?"

Slowly the enemy of stone glanced over its shoulder seeing Zidane. He was still holding his left side, indicating that he was damaged from that last strike, however he was grinning which was striking Mi'ihen as odd. Zidane shut his eyes for a split second, opening them only when he entered his state of Trance once more. It was only then the boy lifted his weapon to the foe readying his words. "...C'mon...I aint down and out just yet!"

Hesitation didn't process through the golem's state of mind as he hurriedly dashed to Zidane- raising his weapon to the boy and lunging his spear. The monkey laughed dodging all strikes leaping over the statue every now and again, not even bothering to attack. He knew that if he tried to attack the statue the markings on it would act defensively and try to blind the boy, but he was fine with that. After all, he knew that once Mi'ihen rose his weapon then it was time to dash to the left or right, when the weapon was angled flat then it was time to jump over the enemy and when the weapon was pointed at the monkey then it was time to duck. Zidane was learning this rock's repetitive attacks and this was working to his advantage, however he knew that just avoiding the thing wouldn't get him off the road or him any closer to his team..

'Speaking of them where are they?' the monkeys mind hissed. 'Did those bastards go on without me!..Those...Those ass-'

"Zidane!"

The blonde jerked leaping a good foot away from Mi'ihen only to glance over his shoulder and see Tidus. The older blonde withdrew his weapon that resembled the ocean then stopped beside the teen, buckling his knees and getting ready for whatever was to be thrown. He stared at the land that looked like it had been through hell and back then statue of Mi'ihen and finally glanced at Zidane who he assumed was in his 'Angel of Death' form he talked about so long ago. He also noticed the boy was holding his side but looking to be okay otherwise. He smirked then looked back to the moving statue.

"Glad to see you're okay- but...what the heck is going on here?"

Zidane stared, having no words to say, however a bouncy feeling in his gut was telling the boy to jump around with joy, but his mind was saying now wasn't the time. With that the boy smirked looking to the statue as well. "I saw the guy in the red robe, I tried to fight him..but as you can see I failed. Before the guy vanished..he used some sort of magic to make the statue of Mi'ihen come to life.. I've been having a bit of trouble ever since."

"Well I'm glad I got here quick enough. The others should be here shortly, but for now lets see if we can finish this without their help."

"Heh right." the monkey laughed.

Mi'ihen raised his weapon defensively, leaving Tidus to take one step then another and finally another before he began to somersault closer and closer to the foe till he leaped in the air flipping about as if defying gravity then crashing down on the enemy's weapon with his blade. Zidane saw a golden opening at that moment. He dashed to Mi'ihen successfully cutting the stone across the left side of his armor in the end leaving both blondes to leap back, Zidane behind the enemy and Tidus in front. It was obvious to both that the cut didn't do much damage but it didn't matter seeing as it wasn't the end yet...but boy did Tidus wish that Auron was here. His sword was built for cutting down statues opposite from his.

He shook his head getting the negative thoughts out of his mind, and in the end watching Zidane leap over to the statue. Mi'ihen turned to block allowing Tidus to bolt over and dash around and past the landmark- landing a successful strike each time. Taking hit after hit- the patterns on the stone began to glow, leaving Zidane to widen his eyes and look to Tidus. "Back away!"

Without another word uttered Tidus leaped a good distance away watching Zidane leap over the stone then run to his side. "..Those marks...they act defensively for that statue..they'll blind you if you get too close."

"Really, well that makes it more interesting." Tidus smirked.

"HEY!"

Both boys turned watching Irvine hurriedly run over with Squall a good distance behind. As soon as both boys made it over they stared at the ruined land and statue that was out of place since last time.

Irvine whistled. "Looks like the party started without us.."

"The crimson robed guy was here, and he made the statue of Mi'ihen come to life." Zidane explained.

"...Dude... Are you pink?"

The monkey jerked. "!- Does it even matter!"

Irvine did nothing but cover his mouth pompously and chuckle aggravating the Genome. Squall's left hand pinched the bridge of his nose while his right, which held his weapon, rested over his shoulder. Tidus could do nothing but rub the back of his head with a sort of embarrassed look on his mug.

"So.." Squall began. "The markings... Those were the crimson guys doing?"

"That what Zidane said. Seems he made Mi'ihen come to life before he vanished out of the kids sight." Tidus let out.

"I'M NOT A KID!" Zidane hissed.

"Well lets hurry and get this over with." Irvine let out looking to the men to his left. "My coat is getting soaked."

"Gimme a minute." Squall let out as he pointed his blade to the enemy.

The men nodded, Zidane being the only one to smirk. He held both his daggers wincing a bit at his still sore left side, but didn't let that smirk falter. "You only got a minute. So hurry." The monkey let out giving Squall a look.
Irvine chuckled to himself but let his happy looks subside as he got serious. He pointed his gun to Mi'ihen instantly firing his weapon to the statue giving Zidane the initiative to run.

The character in stone held his weapon up, feeling the bullets hit his lance then drop like flies before him, however, as he lowered his weapon and readied to counter- he stopped seeing Zidane only a few inches away from him. His right hand moved slightly to defend but just before the boy could strike he had dashed to the left and around. Mi'ihen tracked the child's movements, but jerked sensing something. He looked back in front of him seeing the brunette still standing with his sword extended and just beside him the gunman.. something was missing.

Before its artificial thoughts could process Tidus landed before him- crashing his sword down on the enemy no less. The blonde man stood slowly retracting his weapon away from the stone golem with a smirk on his face later watching Mi'ihen raise his spear and attempt to smite the man before him, however each time his arm would fall it would only be bounced back by bullets. Tidus leaped away allowing Mi'ihen to see the brunette way in back hold his sword off to the side as an impressive blue energy surrounded it.

Lightning danced in the skies now, causing a flickering pattern that would only blind for a second. Zidane watched as with each flash Squall became closer and closer to the target till finally a cut was taken...and it was over.

A red line was formed across the torso of the golem, the markings that covered the stone faded and finally the statue collapsed to the ground before Squall. The teen scoffed to himself before he held his gunblade to the left of him, banishing the aura around it, then resting the weapon over his shoulder. "It's over..."

Irvines weapon fell to his side as he let out a sigh of relief- then baring a smile, he waltzed over to Squall with Tidus. A further distance away, Zidane stood..just staring. It was hard to believe what just happened.. Squall finishing off an enemy that he couldn't even scratch within seconds. He was happy, but at the same time..jealous. The teen closed his eyes letting the aura of Trance quickly fade, then fell to his knees holding his left side. Tidus quickly ran over, helping the youngest teammate to his feet then walked over to Irvine and Squall giving them both an assuring nod that Zidane was alright. With that the team began to walk the northern path of the Highroad trying to make it back to Mushroom rock.

Unbeknownst to them, hiding behind an unharmed ruin just south of them, was the character in the red cloak. It shook its head disapprovingly at the sight of the broken statue, then limply flicked its right wrist. A dark circle of red surrounded the rubble while markings of a different pattern crawled all over- piecing the statue together ultimately allowing it to stand once again. The crimson character flicked its wrist in the group of heroes' general direction making the statue dart over with its weapon leading the way.

Zidane closed his eyes feeling absolutely exhausted however his skin chilled and his tail slightly jerked making the boy freeze and glance over his shoulder. His eyes widened with shock seeing the Mi'ihen statue once again- flying over to his troupe like a bullet. His right hand was quick to grab his daggers once more, but before he could proceed with any action- lightning flashed once again and Vincent just up and appeared. He raised his weapon shooting at the statue alarming the group of whom didn't notice its arrival to turn and glance. Squall was the first to frown- He thought he had finished off that possessed golem. Either way the group stared as Vincent continued to shoot, but it was obvious the bullets weren't doing anything to the statue, just ricocheting off of it and maybe slowing it down a bit- with this Tidus had to let Zidane go and try to prevent it from harming the others. As he dashed down the road and passed Vincent, he couldn't help but feel a gust of air pass him. Everything moved in slow motion as he glanced to his right and saw a yellow and black blur- once normal speed had returned the blur dashed passed Mi'ihen and stopped allowing Tidus to focus his vision and see Cloud. The blitz player blinked, ultimately confused, but called out to him. "Hey Cloud! You passed-"

Before Tidus could finish his sentence he noticed Cloud set his weapon over his shoulder and seconds after that..watch the statue of Mi'ihen fall apart into pieces of rubble as big as pebbles. The rocks fell before Vincent's feet, some rolling passed him and stopping only slightly before the others. Tidus stared blankly feeling like an idiot, while in back of him Irvine and Squall glared. 'What a show-off..'

The older blonde turned back around beginning to walk the path to the northern Highroad again- passing the group and stopping only a few steps ahead of everyone. With that he turned.

"Do yourselves a favor... Check if the enemy is dead, before you go walking off like you've won."

Tidus, Irvine, Zidane and Squall stared as he turned around once more and headed to Mushroom Rock. Vincent walked over to the group stopping only to glance at them..then follow Cloud leaving Irvine's blood to boil and Zidane to slightly glare.

"Rrgh..Those guys..they're really starting to piss me off!" the cowboy let out angrily fidgeting with his hat.

Squall closed his eyes agreeing with his friend before following after the two- Irvine let out a 'tch' before doing the same, and finally Tidus went back to help Zidane once more then follow as well. The monkey was still shooting daggers except this time they were aimed at the back of Clouds head but his look softened for a second.

"I just remembered.." he mumbled.

"Huh?" Tidus let out with a blink.

"Me and Cloud were arguing not too long ago..not to mention I was being a brat to you guys earlier...but he came back to help.. You all came back to help.."

"Well of course Zidane, We're in this travel together! We couldn't just leave you behind." Tidus laughed.

Zidane blinked for a second looking to the suddenly chipper Tidus then back to the ground.

Smiling a very small one, he kept those words in mind.

-? ? ?-

Tifa walked along the walls of the barrier she and a few others were placed within. She was looking for a weak point in the wall of magic so she could break it down and get the hell out... She was tired of seeing the same thing.. the same moon in the same window, the same darkness she was surrounded by and that same annoying blonde boy. She glared turning around immediately seeing Zell, sitting in the center of the circle jerking to her gaze.

Tifa squinted her eyes making the teen hold up his hands defensively, "Whoa whoa whats with the look!?" He asked, his voice breaking a little. "A-are you thinking of that Cloud guy again?"

"AS LONG AS I'M IN HERE IM GOING TO THINK OF HIM! ITS HIS FAULT IM IN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!" she shouted tightening her fists.

"O-ok!" Zell spoke up trembling to her words.

Just to the right of the boy Rinoa sat, playing with her fingers in her lap- to the left of her Garnet slept, and on the opposite side of them Yuna sat looking around the corridor of darkness. She was also looking for a weak point in the barrier or at least something else to look at. Just like Tifa, she was sick of looking at the same things everyday, but not only that she didn't like to be trapped..feeling weak. She knew Tidus was worried and probably so distraught that he didn't know where she was, and it hurt just to think that he was pained due to her being gone.

"Zidane!" Garnet gasped jumping off the cold marble floor.

The others jerked glancing at the young woman with questionable looks, leaving the girl to peer at the floor slightly embarrassed. Yuna cocked her head to the left before speaking up. "..Zidane?"

Garnet nodded a bit while rubbing her left eye. "Yes..."

"Who's Zidane?" Rinoa asked leaning closer to the girl.

"He's..he's someone special to me.." she let out a little embarrassed. "I... I had this dream..where he was talking to me... We sat.. in a room of white."

"Alright thats enough." Zell let out standing from the floor. "We all know where this dream is headed-"

Tifa scoffed stomping over to the boy, shoving him slightly. "Shut up and let the girl finish."

"You seriously want to hear that? She's in a room with him, and she wakes up screaming his name in ecstasy. You know what happened already!"

Garnet gasped leaving Rinoa to jerk then smack her forehead. "Zell you idiot.."

"Continue." Yuna spoke.

"Right.. Well I was telling him that I was in trouble..and he simply told me that, he knew.. but...he said... he was 'tired'.. Like he was already sick of searching."

"Wow..thats... horrible." Rinoa groaned.

Tifa glared at Zell who rubbed his head sheepishly in response. It was then the older woman looked down to the girl and began her sentence, "so you let him have it right?"

"What?"

"You slapped him upside his head and told him to save you right?" Tifa let out with a little laugh.

"Not exactly.. I.. I shouted at him." Garnet smiled. "then he got a little scared and left the room.."

"When exactly do you think we're going to get out of here?" Rinoa asked still playing with her fingers. "I mean.. our heroes...when are they going to come for us?"

"They're not." Tifa groaned walking back over to the lining of the barrier. "They dont' know where we are, and we don't exactly know where we are either. I'm not one to give up hope..but its felt like days since those robed characters left us in here..and all the while we haven't seen any of them. We're stuck.."

Rinoa held her knees close to her chest, while Garnet decided to look at the lining of the barrier closest to her, and Yuna..she wasn't looking too confident either. Zell looked at all the girls then turned to Tifa that instant. "Now hold on. I don't know how reliable your Cloud friend is, but my buddy Squall just wouldn't leave his girl in the hands of some strange robed guy! If anything..Squall will find a way to find Rinoa and all the while he save you guys too." he explained grinning as he finished. "But till he gets here..I'm going to be the one to protect you guys till he arrives."

Zell cracked his knuckles in seconds before jumping in place. The girls watched as the blonde began to punch the air shortly after, pumping himself up for anything that was coming. The girls smiled confident in the boy, while Tifa only stared, thinking his punches could be a little more firmer.

?|Dining Quarters|?

"Ridiculous..RIDICULOUS!" A man shouted slamming his hands on a rather large table.

Surrounded by said table were people of many kinds, one of said people was a young woman- dark, hair of red, and horns just atop her head. She looked to the rather portly man uncaringly before speaking. "And just what exactly is your problem?"

"Whats my problem! My problem is this Insinda, who does it thinks it is telling me what to do."

"I thought we've been over this.." A woman of blonde spoke just beside the man. "Insinda isn't our enemy..if anything..Insinda is here to help us gain what we so desire. Of course..Its making us work for it first." she finished with a smirk.

The group at the large table glanced at each other in the dark room only lit by moonlight, before finally looking to the doorway where a robed character stood guard. The portly man scowled before looking back to the table.

"If Insinda really wants to make us work for what we want..then why are we constantly being watched? Hell why are we constantly stuck in this dark room!"

"Insinda isn't sure to trust us or not.." An eerie older man spoke. "Kekeke..Insinda wants to keep us on a small leash.."

"Either way.." the demonic woman with red hair began. "What is it that we have to do to gain Insindas trust? I'm tired of sitting in here hearing the same people speak and the same people keep quiet." she finished glancing at a blue male to her left.

The man glanced right back at her then calmly closed his eyes.

She sighed. "Booring~.."

The robed character in the doorway rose its right palm. "Patience. Insinda is in need of your abilities..Insinda only needs your abilities when the time is right."

The group at the table glanced for a second before they looked back to each other. Something..wasn't right..