Chapter Eleven: We're Back Again!

The airship arrived outside Alexandria, but Zidane wasn't welcomed like the last time. Although, he understood why. However, Doctor Tot welcomed all of them.

"Welcome back, everyone. I trust you found the mushroom?" He asked.

"Yeah, and it was no walk in the park either!" Eiko yelled. "Oh, how's Dagger going?"

"Not too well, I'm afraid…" Doctor Tot said sadly. "I'm afraid she's… she's…"

"She's what!?" Zidane asked frantically.

"…She's on stage 3…"

The group stood there shocked.

"But you said it wouldn't do this until the end of the week!!" Zidane yelled.

"I also afraid that the disease is spreading through her body much quicker than usual… she's finding it hard to talk and breathe now…"

The 9 stood there silent. They didn't know what to say or do.

"Dagger…" Zidane said, and he ran into the castle to go see her.

"Who has the mushroom?" Doctor Tot asked to break the silence.

"I do." Eiko said, handing the small mushroom to him. "Will it be enough?"

"More than enough, Eiko. We only need a small amount of mushroom."

"Good…"

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Zidane slowly opened the door to his bedroom and peeped inside. Dagger was lying in her bed. It looked like she was asleep.

He walked up beside her bed. "Oh, Dagger…"

Dagger must've only shut her eyes, because she immediately opened them up and struggled to say "Z-Zidane…?"

She sat up very slow, with the aid of Zidane holding her back up.

"Dagger… I'm sorry we didn't come sooner."

Dagger went to open her mouth when Zidane put a finger up her lips.

"Don't speak. You have enough trouble breathing, I've heard."

Dagger nodded slowly, and she extremely slowly reached her hands out for him. He gave her a tight hug.

"It's okay Dagger… we'll find the next one and you'll be okay… I won't let anything happen to you…"

Zidane could sense that she was starting to cry.

"Don't cry Dagger…" He said as he looked into her eyes and wiped her tears. "I'm here for you… right here…"

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"The last plant, I'm afraid you may not be able to get…" Doctor Tot explained.

"… So we did all this for nothing?" Amarant said.

"Why?" Eiko and Vivi asked at the same time.

"It is called the 'Phytaphillia shrub' and there's only one left in the world."

"Where do we find it?" Zidane asked walking back from the bedroom.

"It has already been taken. A noble in Treno wants to sell it. Look at this ad…"

Doctor Tot held up a sign.

For Sale:

A rare plant… the Phytaphillia shrub

Last one on all of Gaia!!

100,000,000,000,000 Gil

See Lord Fatrarda

"His name has fat in it!" Eiko giggled.

"!! 1 trillion Gil!?" Zidane said in astonishment. "He's never gonna sell that!"

"Apparently the richest Noble in Treno is actually planning on buying it…"

"How are we gonna get it?" Zidane asked.

"We only need one leaf off the shrub… but I doubt the Noble would let us have even one leaf without paying highly to him…"

"I have an idea… Guys, let's go to Madain Sari! Then we'll head to Treno!" Eiko said.

"What did you have in mind, Eiko?" Vivi asked.

"You'll see… Ehehehe…"

"We'll leave tomorrow morning, at the crack of dawn!" Steiner said.

Zidane went back to Dagger's room to see her. Dagger was still sitting up in her bed, awaiting his return. She smiled and began to raise her arms.

"Dagger… we're leaving again tomorrow…" Zidane said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"But don't worry… Eiko has an idea and I'll think we're gonna be back really soon… maybe even tomorrow night if we leave first thing tomorrow morning!"

Zidane could see Dagger's face light up immediately and the hope in her eyes.

"Zidane…" Dagger managed to say.

"You shouldn't speak, Dagger. Save it for when you're all better… I'll wanna hear our song!"

Dagger wanted to say something, but she just couldn't. And he could tell it was something important. But he didn't want to strain her voice.

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That night Zidane couldn't get to sleep. He just couldn't stand listening to Dagger's stressful breathing. It was so heavy and uneven, is made Zidane worry so much.

"Dagger? Are you okay?" He finally had to say. He just wanted to make sure if she was asleep or not.

Dagger didn't say anything. She continued her hard breathing. Zidane leant over her body so he could see her face.

"She's asleep…"

He moved the hair from her face and watched her for a while, thinking how unfair it was for Dagger to be cursed with this horrible fate. What did she ever do to deserve this?

Eventually, Zidane went to sleep, dreaming of happier times…

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From Atla to Mogryo

Queen Garnet is still sick, Kupo…

I wonder if she'll get better?

The rebuilding of Burmecia is going quite well.

All the Burmecians are working hard, and some Cleyrans are helping too.

Kupo, do you know what it's like to be in love…?