First update of 2008! Yay!
Sorry, I know this update took a long time, but hey, at least I got it up right? I hope you find that it was worth waiting this long for. Enjoy!
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InterludeShe thought they smelled bad enough from a distance.
But this was just ridiculous.
Dagger took advantage of every hint of oxygen she could maintain out of the small hole that provided her only source of air. Keeping silent was no easy task, what with the constant gasping from lack of proficient oxygen and the stench around her that could have passed for a nauseous gas. Even as she pressed her lips against it, the stench around her still felt equal to an air restrictor. But she tried to appreciate the presence of any fresh air at all, knowing there could just as well have been none. That is, if she had forgotten to put a hole in the bag after the 'brilliant' idea of smuggling herself through South Gate in a sack of Gysahl Pickles. It was the only thing she was able to come up with as she and Steiner tried to think of a way to sneak past the guards without a disturbance. Steiner could walk through unnoticed, but Dagger had to be concealed someway. Even though they were on their way back to the castle anyway, she didn't want to be found and brought back forcefully. But their resources were limited as they were forced to choose something from a nearby cart that held a worker's supplies. She didn't want to steal the items, so she managed to get Steiner to buy something from him. Unfortunately, the closest thing was a sack that contained the worst of the putrid items Dagger had ever smelled.
Yeah. Not her greatest idea.
She tried not to focus on all of her discomforts as Steiner conversed with the guards. She hoped he was sticking to his story. He was supposed to say that he was going to the gate summit to work.
"Sir, we have to check your bag."
Dagger's breath (or whatever she could call her current intake of air) caught in her chest. What was Steiner doing!? If the guards looked in the bag they'd get caught!
There was a pause, then she felt the bag move and settle on the ground. As her heart began to pound, the bag began to shuffle as one of the guards tried to undo the knot. What was she going to do?
"UUUGH!!"
…Maybe she was worrying for nothing.
"What are those… rotten things!?"
"They're not rotten!" she heard Steiner protest. "They're Gyshal pickles!" The guard started tying the bag. After calming down a bit, Dagger almost gagged as she remembered Steiner saying he actually liked those things. Hearing someone so disgusted by them probably offended him.
"Well… uh," the second guard said, "You can just go through."
Dagger sighed with great relief. "Thank you," Steiner said as he lifted the bag and hoisted it over his shoulder. One of the guards nodded while the other handed Steiner a piece of parchment. "Here's your gate pass. Use it to pass the Gate Summit after you ride the cable car." After he took the ticket the other guard opened the gate.
Steiner crept through the gate with a large smile. "You've done it Princess!" he whispered somewhat loudly. Dagger wanted to tell him to be quieter but decided against it as she heard people around them. A talking bag would draw attention. He walked for a while and the sounds began to quiet down. When they all but ceased, she felt the bag settle on the ground once again and the rustle of the top being undone.
As soon as the bag was open Dagger stood up, knocking the pickles out of the way as the whole bundle began to spill on the floor of the alleyway she found herself in. She took in a grateful breath of fresh air as she stepped out of the jumble. Steiner kept trying to take her by the arm to support her as if he thought she was deathly ill.
"Are you alright Princess!?" he asked, finally giving up on trying to support her as she shooed him away with a few small waves of her hand. "Perhaps it would have been better if we tried to leave the pickles behind, or maybe the hole wasn't big enough-"
"It's alright Steiner," she said, finally finding her breath. She paused long enough to inspect her clothes. They were still dry as the pickles weren't wet. They must have been packaged a bit differently. She sniffed her sleeve hesitantly. Luckily the odor was so minimal that she was sure a few minutes of fresh air would air them out. She brushed the sleeve a bit, then looked at Steiner. "And you can't call me Princess. We're trying to hide, remember?"
Steiner straightened up and said, "Yes, Pri- I mean, Miss Dagger."
Dagger simply nodded. He needed to work on that, although she didn't blame him for slipping up so often.
Exiting the alleyway the opposite way they came, the two headed for the cable car they knew awaited them (if they were on schedule that is). Although Dagger thought it might not be safe to show herself, the guards were really the ones she needed to hide from. Although they would soon be back in Alexandrian territory she doubted anyone would recognize her.
Luckily, they found the cable car up ahead and entered after showing the driver their ticket. After scanning the seats they chose a row on the right side. Dagger sat down, but Steiner (surprise, surprise) stood next to it and stood tall as if guarding. Dagger wanted to tell him to sit down; a soldier standing guard next to a young woman would definitely look suspicious when a princess was missing (and she wouldn't be surprised if people were looking for him too). But she let him do what he wanted. He already had a few rules to follow that he didn't approve of, and he had already gone through so much for her.
As the car began to jerk into motion and pull away from the station, Dagger started considering what she just thought. It reminded her that other people had gone through so much for her too. Her Uncle was probably worried sick about her; she just left without considering how her actions would make him feel. And even though Vivi went with them because he didn't know how to get anywhere by himself, he had gone through the dangers she caused, like the Black Waltzes.
And Zidane… She'd probably never see him again. But he helped her through more than she ever expected. Not just keeping her safe and guiding her on her journey to Lindblum. He was always there when she needed someone to talk to. He treated her like a person, not royalty. Sure, he was respectful of her royal heritage; but he didn't try to pamper her and do everything for her. He made her feel like she could take care of herself and like she had the right to make her own decisions. She couldn't remember anyone else treating her that way. Sure, her father treated her that way before he died, and her mother had before she changed. But they were her parents. Zidane treated her like a friend. It made her feel ashamed to realize what she did in return. But he was siding with the others about her safety. She had to. But there was a kind of connection in their friendship that wouldn't let her forget what he had done for her. And how would she ever get to apologize? She'd never see him again. She hated that she had left their friendship in such a seemingly ungrateful way. But hopefully he understood why she had done what she did. As long as he forgave her, she would be ok.
But she would miss having the first friend that treated her the way she wanted to be treated. Like a person. And made her feel the way she wanted to feel. Like she could make her own decisions.
Like she was free.
- - - - -
Even though I knew what awaited us in Burmecia, I at least hoped the weather would agree with us.
Of course, I forgot that Burmecia is the Realm of Eternal Rain.
There were a few ups and downs to what we found when we took our first steps into the city. The good things; no sign of Black Mages, and no sign of Dagger. Although I wasn't sure at first whether to classify that as a good or bad thing, I decided it was better that she wasn't here. The farther she stayed away from the war the better. The bad things; there were no signs of the residents, and I was already soaking wet. Ok, the latter probably sounded like I was complaining, but the rain was cold and the knowledge that I would stay wet until we left wasn't very comforting. Although it was technically called the realm of 'eternal' rain, it had a few seasons where it stopped. Most places have a rainy season, but Burmecia had a 'not rainy' season. As far as I knew, it wasn't very long. And it was apparent to anyone that it wasn't occurring now, either.
Freya didn't seem to notice that she was drenched too. I think it was a combination of being accustomed to it, what with growing up here, and the feelings toward seeing her home for the first time in years.
After a few moments of silence, other than the constant shower of rain pattering against the cobblestone path, Freya drew her weapon from her back clad sheathe. Using a hushed pitch, enough to hinder the hearing of any that may have been trying to listen, but enough for us to hear over the patter of rain, she said, "We need to search for any people that may have been left behind." Her tone was surprisingly collected. "If there were survivors, they've surely left by now, but some may have been left behind in a commotion. And the enemy may be nearby. Be on your guard."
Vivi and I both retrieved our own weapons and we all started forward. I knew whatever we would find here wouldn't be something any of us wanted to see. I took a readying breath, not able to picture what it would look like, but knowing it would be something I'd never seen before (and something I never wanted to see). But if we could make a difference, this trip would be worth it.
As we cleared the city's entrance, the evidence of battle was painfully obvious. Stone pillars that once stood tall adjacent to doors leading to various houses were shattered all over the ground. Some visible staircases had been completely destroyed, building tops had caved in, and worst of all, there were bodies scattered among the rubble. My chest clenched. It was the first time I had seen so much death. I glanced at the others. Vivi's eyes were wide but his pace was steady. Freya's face appeared impassive, but her eyes shone with pain and anger. I found it better to remain silent and do what we came here for.
We proceeded through the city, rain pounding down on our shivering bodies, walking cautiously around each corner and keeping our wits about us for any sign of an enemy. But so far we'd found nothing but more destruction. No one had said a word since we entered, as no one could find anything to say. And it was crucial to keep silent to keep our position unknown to any enemies that might have been awaiting us. Even in the silence, I had to admit that fear was beginning to come to me. I'd never been in any situation as dangerous as this, never knowing when something would be around the corner. And I'd never been anywhere near anything as serious as a war. It was a bit unnerving. But I somehow managed to keep it together. Perhaps because I had confidence in my own skills and knew that Vivi and Freya were just as prepared for battle as me.
Freya was in the lead, eyes expertly scanning each area and corner around us. She informed us a bit ago that we were heading for the king's chambers. So far we found no survivors, but Freya said that some must have escaped, as the body count was too short to be the entire city. But we had to make sure that the king escaped with anyone who managed to get away.
After traveling up two flights of long stairs, the palace came into view. Unfortunately, we found what we hoped we wouldn't. The large entrance doors were completely destroyed. All that remained were large chunks of stone, lying in a pile blocking the entrance. We all stood there, looking at the door's remains. It was clear evidence that the palace had been invaded. And that made the king's survival less likely. So maybe coming here was pointless. We didn't find any survivors and the enemy seemed long gone. But where did they go? And why did they attack Burmecia in the first place?
But for now, I didn't know what to say to Freya. I could tell by the strained look on her face that she doubted the king survived. But the question really was… what do we do now?
I opened my mouth to say something, but I was interrupted as Freya's strained complexion disappeared, and her eyes widened. Without saying anything, she took a great leap and landed on the balcony above the door. She turned to look at us and shouted down, "Get up here now! I hear something in the palace!" She almost sounded annoyed that we weren't up there already. Before I could say anything, she turned and bolted out of sight.
I blinked, then sighed. I didn't understand why she thought all people could jump that high. Or how she thought we would know she was gonna jump before she did. But that was Freya for you. Impatient when it was important and expecting you to keep up with her. On foot that was no problem, but in times like this it was crazy.
With a small shake of my head, I sheathed my daggers and walked over to a large statue next to the door. I eyed it up and down, checking for enough holds and crevices to be a good climbing spot. Other than the rain that left it slippery and dangerous, it didn't look that bad.
"Come on, Vivi," I said. He put his staff away and followed me as I began climbing the statue.
After about two close calls and one little leap after finding an area with no holds, I managed to make it up to the balcony. After a sigh of relief, I looked down to see how Vivi was doing. He was only about half way up.
"Vivi, can you make it?" I said over the rain. There was a pause, and he called, "Yeah, I think so."
I debated momentarily on my next move. I could wait for him, but whatever Freya heard might be trouble. I figured it was a better idea to go and back her up.
"If you're ok here, I'm gonna go ahead and meet Freya," I called down.
"Ok," he called back. I felt bad for leaving him, but I knew he could make it. I turned and walked down the corridor.
The path was dark, other than an occasional stream of moonlight peaking through the cracks in the walls. I found a flight of stairs and crept down them, seeing as they had to be the only way Freya could have gone. As I reached the bottom, an open area came into view. It appeared to be a large cobblestone courtyard.
But what caught my eye were the two people standing in the middle of it.
I ducked to the left and hid behind some statues. I peeked past one to see if they noticed me. They hadn't.
"Get over here."
I almost jumped as a hushed, yet sudden voice called to my left. I looked and saw Freya a few statues over. I blinked, then crept over to her and knelt down beside her.
"Where's Vivi?" she asked.
"He's on his way," I said. She brushed it off as an afterthought and looked at the people. I followed suit.
Now that I was closer, the two figures were easy to recognize. I was shocked to see that the first one was Queen Brahne. So she did come to Burmecia… And that just backed up Dagger's story that the Black Mage army was hers and she was the one who ordered the attack. And speaking of Dagger, she wasn't there, so that probably meant she thought the queen was in Alexandria. Then again, the queen would probably be back by the time Dagger got there. …But was that a good thing? I started wondering if she was ok. Would she make it to Alexandria? And would she even be safe if she did?
"I knew she was behind this."
I looked at Freya as she spoke. "So did I." It was obvious when we pieced together Dagger's stories and the things we found in Dali.
Freya shook her head. "No. I knew something was going on with the Queen before you told me of the princess's findings. Rumors said that she was looking to take over Burmecia. I thought they were nothing but talk." She shrugged. "Until you told me what the princess had found."
I frowned in thought. She never told me that she already suspected something going on. She must have realized that the rumors were true when I talked to her in the bar and made the decision to come here, based on the attack and what she already knew. But the question was still, why would Queen Brahne want to take over the country? Why did she need to rule it?
Thoughts still lingering, I turned my gaze to the queen. Now the figure next to her caught my eye. She was tall, clad with white armor and long, golden hair. Although I'd never seen her before, I knew who she was. When Tantalus went to kidnap Dagger we had to know who was guarding the palace. And there had been enough stories told about her anyway. Not good ones either.
"That's Beatrix," I said, motioning in her direction with a small tilt of my head. "She's Alexandria's top General. If she's here, they definitely have something big going on."
Freya turned her attention to Beatrix. "Really?" she said, more rhetorically than in curiosity. I nodded. As Freya remained silent, I hoped she wasn't thinking about attacking her for revenge or questions. She had to know how strong the General was. From what I'd heard, you were lucky to get out of a battle against her alive.
Through the rain, I heard the soft click of footsteps, making me turn my attention to the right. As I looked, I saw a man approach the queen. I didn't recognize him, so it made me wonder what he was doing there. He stood in front of the queen and examined the sky above him. I strained my ears to make out the conversation that had just started.
"The rain… it feels quite pleasant, doesn't it?" His tone held a strange kind of tranquil quality, yet there was drop of malice hidden behind the smooth way he used his words. Like a snake. It sent a small shiver down my spine. "It seems as though it is celebrating our victory."
Queen Brahne looked at the man, fan casually fanning her face (why did she need that here? It definitely wasn't hot. Must be for something proper). "Yes, this victory is wonderful. Kuja, your Black Mages made this pitiful town easy to defeat."
Wait… his Black Mages? So that was where she was getting them? My eyes widened as something made a connection. Dagger mentioned a strange man showing up at the castle. The Black Mages showed up not long after. Kuja was the mystery man. But why was he doing this? Where did he get the Black Mages?
"Now we must take care of the King and prevent these little rats from coming up against us ever again!" Brahne continued. I glanced at Freya. Her eyebrows were furrowed with growing fury. Although this let us know that the king was ok, the relief was fleeting when they said they wanted to get rid of him.
Kuja switched his gaze from the sky to the ground, folding his arms and shaking his head. "Don't waste your time looking here," he said smoothly.
"What?" Beatrix said, speaking for the first time since we got there.
Kuja tapped a foot against the cobblestones, then looked up. "When rats sense an earthquake, they seek shelter. He's surely fled to the sandy tree house by now."
"Cleyra?" Queen Brahne asked. She paused, her fan gradually moving slowly. "There must be some way to get past them," she said, her voice full of angered determination. "Kuja, there must be something you can do with your powers."
Kuja bent low in a bow, silver hair falling over his shoulder. "Why of course, your majesty." As he stood up, he said, "I know you will be pleased as I show you what I can do. But perhaps you should gather your own troops near Cleyra as well. It is the last safe haven for these rats, and they will undoubtedly attack full force."
"We can't let them get to Cleyra," Freya hissed. I agreed. It was enough that the Burmecians had to flee. If they were attacked when they thought they were safe… it just wasn't right.
"Where is Cleyra? And what do they mean sandy tree house?" I didn't mean to change the subject, but I'd never heard of it.
"It's a ways southwest from here," Freya answered, eyes still boring into the people ahead. "It's called the sandy tree house because it's a large tree protected by a sandstorm. The Cleyrans founded the place after some trivial conflicts between people in Burmecia. Some stayed here and some went to live there. Although they hadn't always gotten along, they're willing to help each other in circumstances such as these. That's why the Burmecians are seeking shelter there."
I paused, then nodded. It sounded pretty odd for a tree to be guarded by a sandstorm. It made me wonder how it was maintained and how they removed it when they needed to leave (or let the Burmecians in).
But I held my questions as I saw another figure coming from the right. It was a Burmecian, running straight for Beatrix, sword drawn and battle clad in armor. He came to a stop and held his battle stance as Beatrix reached for her sword.
"Burmecia will never fall! Prepare to pay for your actions!"
NOT good.
Freya jumped to her feet and ripped her weapon from her sheathe. I followed suit immediately after. Exchanging a quick nod of agreement, we both jumped from our hiding place and ran toward the upcoming battle.
"You dare to fight Beatrix of Alexandria?" Beatrix challenged. The Burmecian backed away, stuttering, "B-Beatrix?"
Freya and I arrived a second later, battle stances posed next to the Burmecian. Freya looked at him and said, "Get out of here!" He nodded once, then turned and ran.
Beatrix turned to us immediately, ripping her sword from her sheathe. She cast her gaze back and forth, a grin of anticipation on her lips. "You dare challenge me?" she questioned.
I remained silent. As much as I was glad that we saved the Burmecian, I doubted we would be able to fight her and get out alive, even with Freya's abilities and our combined skills. I glanced at the queen, who was backing away from us, a malicious smile evident across her face. She looked like she would enjoy whatever fate we endured.
Freya spun her Javelin and tucked the middle under her arm, planting her feet far apart and furrowing her eyebrows deeply in Beatrix's direction. "I will not let you hurt my people. I will stop you."
I braced myself, tightening my grip on my daggers, tail waving back and forth along with the fast pace of my mind. This fight would require and test all of my attention and abilities. I needed them all if I wanted to survive.
At Freya's words, Beatrix laughed. She shook her head, saying, "You are foolish! No one can defeat me! You have decided your own fate!"
She twisted her sword and made a move to stab Freya. But in the same moment, a flash of fire burst onto the blade, causing her to stumble backward.
Stealing one fast glance behind me, I caught sight of Vivi running for the battle, staff drawn and another fire spell forming on his hands. I whipped my head back, giving my full attention to the fight. Freya spun her javelin and blocked a harsh blow from Beatrix's sword. Beatrix shoved the weapon and owner backwards, then spun around in a full circle, bringing her a step backward and deflecting the next fire spell. Even in the rain, the fire flashed brightly. She looked at me and charged.
As she swung downward, I ducked to the left, feet sliding across the cobblestone and thrust my left dagger toward her side. With lightning reflexes, she freed one hand of her hilt and caught my wrist, twisting it sharply and ridding me of my weapon. As my eyes watered and my mind became momentarily blinded with pain, she released my hand and turned swiftly to make a two handed block from Freya's lance.
Taking the distraction as she fought with Freya and blocked Vivi's spell, I turned quickly, picked my fallen weapon from the ground and turned around. As I waited one second for a position to throw the weapon (noting that Freya was sprawled on the ground a little ways away, clutching her side) I whipped it at Beatrix's back. As if she sensed it, she turned and whacked it away with her sword. She gripped the hilt tightly and ran at me, swinging at my head. I ducked quickly and jumped backwards as she attempted another blow to my middle.
I ducked again as she swung, but was too late to realize that it was a trick. She took advantage of my open position and swung the back of her armored hand into my forehead. I was thrown backward, skidding on my side and became blind with pain and surprise.
Groaning slightly, I fought to keep my eyes open. I caught sight of Beatrix standing a ways away, sword held at one side, Freya lying on the ground behind her and Vivi unconscious a ways to her side. She leered down at me, face turned down in a frown of disappointment. "Pathetic," she sighed.
I made a move to lift my head, but decided against it right away as it swam with pain and threatened to claim my consciousness. I watched her as she turned around, warm blood trickling down my head along with the chilly rain. I strained my ears to hear the conversation over the rain that echoed in my ears as I knew I would soon pass out.
"They're not worth my energy," Beatrix said coldly, sheathing her sword. "Let them met their fate as they are."
Brahne brushed away the comment. "Come. We must prepare our attack on Cleyra." Beatrix nodded. "Yes, your Majesty."
As the two walked away, I cast my eyes toward Freya and Vivi. I wanted to get up and check on them. I had no idea how serious their injuries were. But I couldn't even move myself.
Just before I lost consciousness, the man called Kuja stepped into my view a little ways away. He folded his arms and stared down at me.
His mouth upturned into a malicious half grin. "Well, what do we have here… a stray."
Then it all went black.
- - - - -
Interlude
It wouldn't be much longer before she would have to face her reason for leaving. As the cable car came to a stop, she began to wonder if she had made the right decision. Would her mother listen to her? She never had before. What would make now any different? All she knew was that she had to at least try. There was nothing else she could do.
Dagger stepped out of the cable car, Steiner right on her heels. She walked down the cobblestone path, a brilliant horizon visible ahead. Their current location was the summit station, which resided on top of a mountain. Alexandria territory. Although they weren't back in the city itself, they had reached the country. But Dagger didn't feel relief from homesickness. The thought of what might await her in this home actually made her feel sick.
Upon entering a small waiting area, Dagger asked the cable car clerk when the car to Treno would be there. Once they reached that city, they would find another type of transportation to get to Alexandria. He said that it would be there shortly and they were welcome to rest until it got there. So, the two refreshed their supplies and sat down for a meal (which was paid for by some money that Dagger had brought with her from Alexandria and had no use for until now, combined with some that Steiner had with him) then sat at the table quietly as they waited.
In the silence, other than the soft conversation of the people that occupied the tables around them, Dagger began to wonder what would happen when she talked to her mother. What would the queen's reaction be? Would she be happy that her daughter returned home, or angry that she had run away in the first place? Then again, didn't she want her home if she had gone to the lengths of sending the Black Waltzes after her? But why use such a forceful and frightening method? Maybe the creatures could find her faster and get around quicker, but why use them to find her? Where did they even come from? Something just didn't seem right about it. But no matter what Dagger had seen, no matter how her mother changed, she knew she was still the same. Deep down, her sweet and caring mother was still there. She would come to her senses eventually, right?
Right?
"RIGHT!?"
Dagger jumped in her chair and spun her upper body around. Her eyes landed on an arch that led out of the resting area. She was pretty sure that the yell came from there. A few other people turned to look, then ignored it.
"Yeah… right."
"What do you mean, 'right'!?"
Dagger was slightly intrigued by the conversation. Partially because it was so sudden, and the pair of voices sounded a little… familiar.
"I mean it is your fault that you missed the car again."
"What!? How is it my fault?"
Just then, two people walked through the arch and into the area. Although she wasn't sure how, they looked very familiar.
The taller one, red ponytail hanging behind his back, lifted a hand for emphasis and said, "Every time the car came, I told you it was here, but you said, 'Yeah, yeah! Just let me finish my bundt cake first!' But by the time you were done it left." He lowered his hand. "Then you would get another one, and do it all over again."
The shorter one, plump, shirtless belly and strange complexion, was silent. He couldn't counter that.
As they neared, neither looking in her direction, Dagger's memory was jogged as she got a closer look at their faces. As she looked at the short one, she couldn't help but notice that he was a bit strange looking. 'Yeah, he is a bit scary looking isn't he?' Zidane's quote echoed in her head.
Tantalus. They were Zidane's friends. She met that one a little while after she met Zidane, and the other was the lead in the play. What were they doing here?
Dagger turned her head as she heard the sound of a chair being pushed back forcefully. Steiner had caught sight of the two as well, and he didn't look happy. He huffed, eyes glaring in their direction, then marched over to them. Dagger quickly got up to follow him.
Steiner lifted a finger and pointed in their direction. "You!" The two stopped and looked at him. They were a little startled to see some guy in armor address them and approach them with homicide on his face.
Just before he reached them, Dagger caught up to him and stopped him by stepping a little ways ahead and next to him. "Wait, Steiner."
"Princess?"
Dagger turned her head. The taller man was addressing her. She turned to face him, glancing at Steiner's livid face one more time to make sure he would stay put. "Yes." She paused. "You're… members of Tantalus?"
The two shared a glance, then the taller one said, "Yeah. You remember us huh?"
Dagger nodded. "Of course. Although I don't remember your names."
The red haired man poked a thumb to his chest and said, "I'm Marcus," he jerked his thumb in the shorter man's direction, "And this is Cinna."
"Their names do not matter!" Steiner interrupted. He raised a fist, shaking it while glaring deeply at the two. "They're nothing but thieves!"
Marcus and Cinna blinked once at the raged Steiner, shared a glance, then looked at Dagger as Marcus said, "Who's the big tin man?"
"How dare you! I will-"
"Steiner!"
Steiner quit his ranting and looked at Dagger. She didn't look very happy. "Will you please stay quiet? They haven't done anything wrong."
Steiner paused, glancing at the others, then looked back at Dagger, shame-faced, then lowered his head a bit, saying, "I'm sorry Pri- I mean, Miss Dagger."
Dagger felt a bit guilty, but she was tired of his mistrust, no matter how much she appreciated his willingness to protect her. It was the same thing that had happened with Zidane; Steiner always blew up at him even when he hadn't done anything wrong. She just wanted to be able to have a decent conversation with someone without Steiner exploding with anger just because he didn't trust them.
Just then, a bell began to ring through one of the archways. The clerk called ahead that the cable car to Treno had arrived.
To Dagger's slight surprise, Cinna turned to Marcus and said quickly, "Oh! There's your ride!"
"Yeah," Marcus said. He turned around, still looking at Cinna and said, "And I'm not gonna miss it." As he walked off, Cinna followed with a stiff, offended strut. "Yeah, yeah…"
Marcus is going to Treno too? Dagger thought. Before she could think anymore into it, she remembered that she and Steiner were supposed to be on the car, and she turned to Steiner and said, "Come on."
Lifting his head and straightening his complexion, he saluted her and said, "Yes, ma'am!"
Dagger almost said something, then decided against it. He seemed like he was finally going to heed her wish of being a little less angry toward the people around them. She turned and walked away, Steiner following.
After passing Cinna, the two entered the car. Other than themselves, there were only two other people aboard, one of them Marcus. He saw them enter and his brows furrowed in question.
Dagger walked down the short isle and met Marcus, who stood by a window. Steiner (surprisingly) stood in the middle of the isle and kept his mouth shut. Dagger was glad that she might be able to have a conversation with someone without being interrupted. Maybe catch up a bit. Come to think of it, she was really curious as to what they had done since she last saw them. And when she last saw them…
She was suddenly reminded of where she had last seen them. According to Zidane, he wasn't sure if any of them had gotten of Evil Forest after it got petrified. But were Cinna and Marcus the only ones that got out? What about Blank? Had he been cured?
"Marcus," she began. "What happened to all of you in Evil Forest?"
Marcus turned to face her. He still seemed a bit surprised that she had entered the same cable car and had the same destination as he did, but he decided to answer her. He paused, scratching the back of his head in thought, then said, "Um… we managed to get out just before it got petrified. Afterwards, we had no idea if you and Zidane and Blank got out. So we found a way to get back in and…" his face softened with slight grief. "We found Blank."
Dagger looked at the floor as a pang of guilt erupted. She still felt that the incident was her fault. Running away then being discovered in the middle of the play was the reason they were attacked, then the reason the ship crashed, then the reason she got lost and the forest was petrified after everyone saved her. And she caused them to lose one of their own. One of their family. Even though she wasn't fully conscious, she could still remember hearing Zidane's reaction after he realized what happened to Blank.
"What about the others?" Dagger asked, lifting her gaze. "Did just you and Cinna get out?"
Marcus shook his head. "No. We all managed to get out and find our way back to Lindblum." He paused as the cable car jerked to life and began to pull away from the station.
He folded his arms, getting comfortable for a long conversation. "While we were there, we gathered information about Blank's condition. We eventually found out about an item called 'Supersoft' that would cure him. Info told us the best place to look for it would be Treno."
Dagger felt a relief wash over her. Everyone had made it out. And if they cured Blank, no one died. Even though she put them in danger, she would have no more reason to feel guilty.
Marcus exhaled loudly with frustration, shaking his head slightly. "And Cinna was supposed to go back to Lindblum to tell everyone we found a cure, but he kept missing the car." Dagger smiled slightly.
Marcus unfolded his arms and got rid of his look of annoyance. "Now it's my turn for questions."
Dagger nodded. "Ok."
He paused, then said, "Well first, where's Zidane?"
Yet again, a bit of guilt found it's way to Dagger. Instead of voicing it right away, she paused, then said, "In Lindblum."
Marcus nodded knowingly. "So he got you there, huh?" He shook his head with a fond smile. "No surprise there."
Dagger was slightly confused. "Huh?"
Marcus smiled and said, "If there's anything I know about Zidane, it's that he always keeps his word." He put on a sarcastic form of annoyance. "And he has this annoying little habit of risking his neck for everybody." He lifted an eyebrow. "My guess would be that he promised you he would get you to Lindblum and you never got a scratch on you, right?"
Dagger blinked. "Well… he never actually promised me, but he did say he'd get me there. And no, I never got hurt."
Marcus folded his arms again. "Hm." He smiled sincerely this time. "That's typical of him."
Dagger couldn't help but smile a bit. Ever since she met Zidane she could tell that he was trustworthy. And he had been a good friend. Now hearing that he acted that way to everyone just proved that she was right to trust him. As much as it made her happy to have known him, it made her feel even worse for the way she repaid him.
Marcus's smile faded a bit, and he said, "Wait. You said he was in Lindblum?"
Dagger paused, then nodded. Marcus frowned.
"What?" Dagger asked.
"We got back to Lindblum the night after the Festival of the Hunt. We never saw him."
Dagger paused, a little confused. She thought about it, then remembered. "He probably went to Burmecia with an old friend named… Freya." She tried to hide any discomfort she felt in thinking about what her mother caused, then said, "There was a battle there and they went to help."
Marcus was silent at first, then his memory was jogged. "Oh yeah. I remember her." He shrugged a hand. "So he went to fight in some battle for a friend huh?" After Dagger nodded, he said, "Again, not surprised."
Dagger didn't comment. Now she just thought about what Zidane might have been doing. If he did go to Burmecia, was he ok?
"Well," Marcus said, bringing Dagger back to attention, "My next question is, what are you doing here?"
Dagger paused. She wasn't sure how to answer that. Partially because the answer might have taken a lot of explaining, and because she wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him.
Marcus seemed to get the hint as a silence followed. Instead of waiting for an answer, he said, "Well, if it's none of my business, don't bother telling me."
"Oh no, that's not it," Dagger said quickly, feeling she may have offended him. She looked at the floor. "I… just don't really want to talk about it." She looked back at him and said, "But I'm going to Treno so I can find a way to get back to Alexandria." She didn't mind telling him where she was going. She just didn't feel like telling him why. Marcus nodded, feeling that that was good enough for him.
Dagger glanced out the window, watching the landscape pull away as the car sped by. Now that she was reminded of where Zidane was, she remembered that he was heading for a battle. Probably a fight with Black Mages. Commanded by her mother. What if something happened to him? She wouldn't be able to stand the thought of him getting hurt because of a war her mother started. Especially not after the way she treated him before she left. She wished she could see him again and tell him that she was sorry. She wished she could think of something she could do for him to make up for what she did and repay him for what he had done for her.
Now that she thought about it, maybe there was something she could do.
"Marcus." As he looked at her, Dagger paused for a moment to think of what to say. It might distract her from her destination, but she wasn't really in that big of a hurry. And how long could it take? She owed something to Zidane. She owed it to Blank too.
"Is… is there anything I can do to help with Blank?" As Marcus frowned questioningly, she added, "I mean, I'm going to be in Treno too, and I'd like to help." Her face turned to a slightly saddened frown. "I was partly responsible for what happened to Blank, so… I'd like to help."
Marcus thought about it. After a minute, he smiled and nodded. "Sure. Finding the Supersoft will be easier with more people." Dagger smiled.
Marcus lifted a finger. "But, we might run into some trouble there. And we might have to do some fighting." He lowered his finger and looked at her seriously. "Can you handle that?"
Dagger nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I've fought in battles before and no one will recognize me."
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, I have no doubt about that." He paused and thought for a second before saying, "Didn't the tin man call you Miss Dagger?"
Dagger nodded, thinking nothing of the way he addressed Steiner. It wasn't intentionally rude. "Yes. That's my new name for cover up."
Marcus smiled. "Not bad. And you talk different too. Zidane taught you didn't he?"
Dagger paused, then shrugged. "Sort of. He suggested it, then I learned by watching some townsfolk have a conversation."
"Hm." Marcus looked past Dagger momentarily, then looked at her. "Um, if you come with me," Marcus said, lifting a finger and pointing past her, "Is he gonna be ok with that?"
Dagger glanced back to see Steiner, standing and watching them, although he kept to himself. She looked back at Marcus. "He might not be happy at first, but he'll come. He'll help too."
Marcus lowered his hand. "Ok. Just make sure you guys are ready."
Once the three made it to the car station, they walked to Treno. Luckily no monsters had bothered them. There wasn't much surprise there, as they were above the thickest mist. Dagger listened to Marcus's story on finding information on the Supersoft and some of Cinna's missed car trips. She told him some of the things that transpired during her trip to Lindblum because Marcus wanted to know what Zidane had been up to. She didn't tell him everything, like finding the Black Mages and the Black Waltzes, but she did mention some of the fun they had and how much she enjoyed Zidane's company. At least they both agreed that Zidane was a good friend and they both were glad to know him.
The trip to Treno took hours, and it was beginning to darken into night by the time they got there. Not counting the fact that Treno was the city of eternal night.
Upon walking into the city, Dagger was exhausted. It was late and she had been traveling all day. But she knew it was vital to find the Supersoft as quickly as possible. She didn't complain about how tired she was. She didn't even think about the fact that she had been interested in sightseeing Treno for years. She just wanted to focus on the matter at hand.
"Okay," Marcus said, leading the way through a door in the back of an Inn. "The Supersoft should be in a warehouse down here. The Boss is already waiting for us."
Dagger paused. "The Boss? Your Boss is here?"
"Uh… yeah," Marcus said. He chuckled slightly in embarrassment. "I guess I forgot to mention that."
"Wait just a moment," Steiner said. They all paused their walking and looked at him. Dagger sighed slightly through her fatigue. He had kept quiet and out of her business until now. She enjoyed it while it lasted.
He frowned, looking at Marcus and said, "If your Boss is here and we are going to a warehouse…" He paused again. As he pieced something together, his eyes widened and he looked at Marcus dangerously. "You're going to steal this thing, aren't you!?"
The realization woke Dagger a bit as her own eyes widened. Why hadn't she thought of that?
Marcus sighed. "Well, it's not like there's anything else we can do. It's the only way we can save Blank."
"Hmph! I will not let you commit a crime right before my very eyes!"
Dagger paused. One of the last things she wanted to do was steal. But if Marcus was right and it was the only way to save Blank… wasn't that more important?
"Well…" she started, making the others look at her. "Maybe we can buy it?"
Marcus paused. "I don't think we can. It's stored down here because it's a rare item that's not for sale. Plus I don't think anyone would like to see us waltz in there and ask if we can buy it."
Dagger paused again, starting to feel warm with the guilt of stealing something. But could she really turn back? She didn't have to be a part of this.
But she wanted to. She owed it to Blank. And to Zidane.
She hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Let's go."
After telling Steiner he could leave if he didn't want to be a part of it (which he refused to because it was 'his duty to watch her, especially around these thieves') they reached the bottom of the stair and met Baku, who stood by a boat.
Upon their arrival, Baku lifted a hand to wave and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped as he realized that Marcus wasn't alone. As the three stopped in front of him, Baku laughed heartily.
"Well, well!" he crowed, "If it ain't the Princess!" He looked at Steiner. "And the head of the Pluto knight fellas!" Steiner growled dangerously under his breath.
Dagger nodded politely. "Hello."
Baku laughed again, then turned to Marcus. "Where'd ya dig these guys up?"
Marcus shook his head. "Long story. Let's just go."
Baku grunted, then looked at Dagger. He frowned a bit, brushing his long mustache with two fingers. "Where's Zidane?"
When Dagger didn't answer, Marcus said, "He's fine. I'll tell you about it later."
Baku frowned a bit, then said, "Whatever. I'm sure the little creep can take care of himself."
Dagger felt resentment burn in her chest. How could he talk about Zidane like that? Although she thought maybe he was mad that Zidane left the band, she didn't find it a reason to talk about him so rudely. Now she knew Zidane was right. Baku wasn't exactly the nicest person.
Baku brushed off his comment, then looked at Dagger. "So, you're gonna let us steal this?"
Dagger pushed aside her anger towards his comments, then said, "I just want to help save Blank. And I'll make sure you don't steal anything else."
Baku chuckled. "Alrighty then, Princess!" He stepped onto the boat. "This way."
After a short ride down an underground waterway, the docked at the door to the storage area. Baku remained in the boat, ready to take off fast if they were caught, and the others went inside.
Closing the door quietly behind them, they were greeted by a large group of boxes, making the search for the Supersoft look like quite a task.
Marcus sighed quietly as he looked at the crates. "Ok, better start looking." He proceeded to a box and began to look through it. Dagger hesitated, then began to walk toward a crate.
Before she reached it, the soft click of an opening door echoed down a stairway to the right, making them all stop in their tracks. Dagger's first thought was to run. They couldn't get caught. But Marcus seemed to have a different idea. Dagger saw his hand edge toward his sword. She felt fear clench her gut. Any fatigue she may have felt disappeared as she thought of what might happen if they were caught. And if they were seen, how did she know Marcus wouldn't kill whoever found them?
"How did I run out of ink again?" a voice echoed down the stairway, followed by footsteps. After a few agonizing, heart rate increasing seconds, a short man appeared at the bottom of the stair. He didn't seem to notice the people in front of him, as he was walking with a hand on his head and his gaze on the floor, seemingly deep in thought.
As he paused at the bottom, Dagger's stomach did a small jump. She knew who this was. Glasses, long nose, wild red hair under a tipped hat…
She turned her head as she heard a sword slowly begin to clear a sheathe. As she saw Marcus drawing his sword, she shook her head and whispered, "No!" Marcus glanced at her, then put the weapon back.
Dagger looked back at the man. He had just lifted his head and was watching them. As they made eye contact she saw his widen as he looked at her.
Slowly, he took a step forward and blinked in disbelief. "P-Princess?"
Dagger was glad to see a friend in such an unexpected place. She took a step forward, smiling sincerely, and said, "Hello, Doctor Tot."
Tot's eyes lit up spectacularly, and he splayed his arms, saying, "Princess Garnet!"
"You know this guy?" Marcus asked.
Steiner answered for her, but as if he needed to educate such an unintelligent person. "He was once the Princess's tutor."
Tot glanced over at Steiner and smiled broadly. "And Master Steiner!" He looked back at Dagger, at first finding nothing to say, then managed, "What are you doing here?"
Dagger hesitated, her smile fading a bit. "Well… it's a long story, but we need something called Supersoft."
"W-We did not want to steal it!" Steiner stuttered. "We just-"
"What going on down there?"
Everyone almost flew out of their skin as another voice carried down the staircase. Tot glanced at the staircase, then looked at Dagger and said quickly and quietly, "I will bring you the Supersoft later. Go to the tower left of the Treno entrance. I will meet you there."
Dagger looked back at him seriously and nodded. "We'll see you later." With that, they all turned and left the room.
After getting back to the Inn, Baku began to recite what they told him. "So, this guy's gonna give us the Supersoft?"
Marcus nodded. "Yeah."
"Cause he knows the Princess?"
"Yeah."
"Hmph." Baku patted his belly and said, "Well, then you go with 'em and get it. He ain't gonna give it to ya unless the Princess is with ya."
Marcus turned to Dagger. "That ok with you?"
Dagger nodded. "Of course." She was still surprised to see Doctor Tot and excited to talk with him a little. And she was relieved that they wouldn't have to steal the Supersoft.
Baku stretched his arms. "Well, I'm sure he's gonna need a little time to prepare. Everybody rest up and you can go later." With that, he talked to the Innkeeper about a room.
"Princess, would you like to rest?" Steiner asked.
Although Dagger wanted to get going as soon as they could, she had to admit that she was exhausted. Even a little rest would be a nice thing to enjoy. She nodded.
About an hour later, Dagger got up, a bit reluctantly, and they all found their way to the tower. Dagger was able to fight off her fatigue as she remembered that she'd get to talk to Tot. She wondered how the others could still be so awake and alert. They must have been used to it.
After walking up the tower's stairs, they walked through the door and saw Tot standing there waiting. Upon their entrance, Doctor Tot's face lit up and he said, "Welcome Princess! Thank you for coming."
Dagger smiled sincerely, feeling as if she had met up with a long lost friend. "Hello, Doctor Tot."
He nodded, a large smile on his face and approached them. He looked at Dagger for a moment, eyes sparkling with happiness. He folded his hands in front of him and said, "It has been a long time."
Dagger nodded. "It has. I'm very glad to see you again."
Tot nodded. "Likewise." He looked over to Steiner and said, "Hello Master Steiner. Are you escorting the Princess?"
Steiner saluted quickly, looking as if he was on the spot. "Yes sir! I apologize for my earlier actions."
Tot shook his head. "It's quite alright. I won't ask you why you were there." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, yellow item. "Here is the Supersoft."
Dagger nodded to Marcus, who walked forward and accepted it. He held it tightly in his hand, beaming and said, "Thanks."
Tot nodded, then said, "Princess, could I speak to you?"
"Of course," Dagger said, and followed him as he walked to the other side of the room. They stood across each other, Dagger watching him and waiting for him to speak.
After tapping his head a few times in thought as he avoided eye contact (something that Dagger fondly remembered being his thoughtful habit), he looked up at her and smiled again. "You have grown into a fine young lady."
Dagger smiled. "Thank you. You look quite well," she said sincerely.
Tot nodded, then looked at the floor. Dagger watched him, a little nervous as to his actions. He clasped his hands behind his back and began to tap his foot thoughtfully. After a moment, he ceased the foot tapping and looked up at her. "I am very surprised to see you here, Princess." He splayed his hands in question, using his words not accusingly, but with concern and interest. "What has happened?"
Dagger stood silently for a moment, then sighed. Although she didn't want to think about what had happened, she knew that Doctor Tot might have been able to come up with a better solution than her. So, using as much detail as she could, but taking the smallest amount of time she could, she explained everything that she had seen at the castle, everything that happened after the man showed up, and everything that happened after she ran away. Once her story was finished, Doctor Tot was looking at the floor in thought. Dagger waited patiently, trying to shake off the feelings the story always gave her.
After a moment he looked up at her and said, "So, the Queen's force's have already become very powerful." He shook his head. "I knew that there were disturbances in Alexandria, but I never knew they were so out of hand." He looked at Dagger fondly and sincerely, saying, "There may be danger in your return, but I will see to it that you get to Alexandria. Perhaps you will be able to speak with your mother and stop this war."
Although Dagger was slightly disappointed that he was not able to think of a different approach, she was glad that a friend that she trusted backed her original plan. It appeared to be their only current option.
After a moment, Tot nodded, mostly to himself, then said, "Yes. I would wager that you are in a hurry, so I will no longer take your time." He turned to face a ladder on a wall next to him, saying, "This is the fastest and safest way to get to Alexandria." He looked at Dagger and smiled. "When you are ready, we will go."
Dagger smiled. "Thank you." He brushed the comment with a wave of his hand. "Not at all, Princess." Dagger turned to tell Steiner that they were leaving. As she approached him, she saw that he had been keeping his eyes on her while occasionally glaring at Marcus, who stood with his back to the knight, examining the Supersoft. Once she reached him, she said, "Steiner, Doctor Tot knows how we can get to Alexandria."
Steiner's face lit up a bit and he said, "Wonderful. Shall we leave now?"
"I'm going with you."
Steiner shot a glare at Marcus. Instead of letting Steiner start a rant, Dagger asked, "Why?"
"I can get to the forest a lot faster from Alexandria," he said, pocketing the Supersoft.
"I will not-"
"That will be fine," Dagger interrupted. She looked at Steiner to make sure he wasn't going to try to argue. She could tell by the look on his face that he wanted to, but he remained silent.
Dagger turned and approached Doctor Tot. "We're ready."
- - - - - -
Apparently, the ladder led to an underground transportation area. According to Tot, it was an old method of travel and wasn't popular after the invention of airships. But he managed to keep it up and running, feeling that something so useful would come in handy someday. Although the idea of riding a carriage carried by a Gargant was a bit strange, it would be the fastest and most efficient way to get to Alexandria without worry of being seen by anyone on the way. The large insect walked upside down along the ceiling of a long corridor, carrying a small carriage that hung from it's back, leaving the passengers upright a few feet above ground.
As they were carried down the corridor, Dagger couldn't decide if her nervousness or fatigue was getting the best of her. She was exhausted, yet felt wide awake with the thoughts of returning after running away. But maybe something had happened during that time. Maybe her mother changed. Maybe she would listen.
Upon reaching the end of the trail, they disembarked the Gargant carriage and entered a very large room. It looked old, moss dotting the walls and air very stale.
"Is this really Alexandria?" Marcus asked, walking a little ways behind Dagger.
"It has to be!" Steiner said, eyeing the walls as they walked up a short flight of stairs. "Doctor Tot would not steer us wrong!"
"Ok, ok, geez…" Marcus sighed.
Dagger paused at the top of the stair to wait for the others. She didn't understand how she was ahead of them when she was so tired. It must have been her adrenaline pumping, combined with the feel of the place they were in and the thoughts of what would happen when she met up with her mother. As they reached the top, Dagger watched one of the walls as a drop of water dripped to the floor, and said, "I think… Doctor Tot once mentioned an old dungeon in Alexandria Castle." She looked at them. "That must be where we are."
The two eyed the walls momentarily before looking back at her. "Then we better get out of here," Marcus said.
And, just like an obnoxious case of irony, they all jumped as a large, metal gate propelled out of the floor in front of them, blocking their way.
"What the-" Steiner began, but never finished as an identical wall appeared behind them. The three stared around themselves, pulses racing. Brick walls surrounded the gates.
They were trapped.
"What is going on!?" Steiner yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. He poked a finger hard to Marcus's chest and said, "You did this didn't you!?"
Marcus caught himself from stumbling backwards, massaging his chest with a hand. "I didn't do anything!" he spat angrily. "How the heck could I have done this!?"
Steiner paused his anger. "You didn't do this?"
"Ha ha! Do this, he did not!"
Everyone halted their conversation and looked to the top of the brick wall to their left. A painted face with a red and white hat looked down at them, smiling maliciously.
Thorn.
"We did this!" a voice chimed in to the right. As they looked they saw none other than Zorn. He watched them with a look similar to his companion's.
Dagger's stared at them in shock. What was going on? Why were they capturing them? Did her mother command them to do it? How did she know they were here? No mater, she knew she had to talk to her.
"Zorn, Thorn!" she shouted. "I've come back to speak to my mother!"
The two clowns laughed. "Yes, take you to the queen shall we!" Thorn cackled.
"Just as we were commanded," Zorn added.
Commanded… to capture me? Dagger thought. But… why capture? Wasn't her mother worried about her? Didn't she want to rescue her, not capture her?
Maybe this was worse than she thought.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well, I hope that satisfied everyone. There might seem to be more changes than everyone expected, but this isn't a novelization. There's still more originality to come. Thanks for reading, and please let me know how it was with a review!