"...So princess, you've got to tell me please. Have you...been preparing to try and escape from the castle? all the stunts you've pulled up to now...surely there couldn't have been another reason." says Zidane, following Garnet through a tightknit space in order to reach the engine room up ahead. "What? you think I like putting myself in danger like that? most surely not!" says Garnet, unbelieving at Zidane's "gormlessness". "W-What!? what did I say!?" says Zidane, not understanding what he said to upset the princess. "...Sorry again, your highness. This guy...is just one of a kind in our merry band." says Cinna, following behind Zidane the same as he is already following behind Garnet.

"...Hmph, yes...I can quite clearly see that." says Garnet, having known Zidane for a short while now...to get a grasp of his personality, more or less. Still...she didn't think that it was ALL bad. A slight smile appears on her face, thinking about as such. Suddenly, she feels a slight bump on her head, without looking ahead, Garnet now realises that she, Zidane and Cinna had finally reached the end of their enclosed route. Knocking away the barrier chute in front, Garnet then leaps down, next is Zidane and lastly Cinna. "Phew! that was too packed for my liking. ! !? Oh no! my White Mage cloak...it's all covered in soot!" says Garnet, really liking her cloak, now seeing that it was all ruined. "Heh, that's travelling in a rat pack for ya." says Cinna, making an uncouth joke. Not at all amused...Garnet slowly but surely approaches Cinna...steals his hammer...and then in a comical manner, severely whacks him with it.

"Now then, shall we press on?" says Garnet, gently placing the hammer next to Cinna after finishing thwacking him. Zidane was comically horrified, thinking to himself "...A-And to think, I got off only lightly for earlier! imagine what would happen...if you REALLY annoyed her GULP!" Zidane now had to take notice for the future and NOT annoy Garnet in the same manner that Cinna just did. Deciding to wait until Cinna's injuries had healed, Zidane looks around for any treasure chests that he could find that would prove useful for later on. Only managing to find two, Zidane decides to keep hold of their inventory prizes nonetheless. Cinna, now fully "healed" says to Zidane the words "...Z-Zidane? you-you...keep an eye on the princess from now on. She's way too scary for my liking! yikes!" says Cinna, a trauma instilled in him from Garnet's wrath.

"Y-Yeah...I think that's for the best too." says Zidane, agreeing with Cinna. "Will you two hurry up!? there's no telling when and where Steiner might find us!" says Garnet, cautious of Steiner's abilities as a knight captain. "! ? What? you mean rust-bucket back there? he's got nothing on me! don't worry princess. When I make an oath, I gladly stick to it until the very end." says Zidane, as he pats his chest with a fist. "...Hmph. You forgot...to make the vow." says Garnet under her breath, causing Zidane curiosity. Nevertheless, the group of three proceed onwards towards the next room...only-

"...AT LAST!" swinging down a nearby pole is...Steiner himself! catching Zidane and the others greatly off-guard. "!? S-Steiner!?" says Garnet, not expecting Steiner in the slightest. "Indeed! tis I, milady Garnet. Please forgive me...but...seeing you now? … "sniffles"." Steiner starts to bawl his eyes out, realising that Garnet is indeed alive right in front of his eyes after the rope swinging prior. "Oh milady! you have NO IDEA how much I was worried! why, NO IDEA AT ALL! "sniffles". Now then, as such, I must ask that you please come with me back to the castle and your mother." says Steiner...quick to cry...and also quick to get over said crying. His ability to change moods...somewhat impresses Zidane. "W-Wow, this guy surely knows how to read one atmosphere..." says Zidane about Steiner.

"Still as unyielding as ever I see. Truly...the Knights of Pluto must be commended." says Garnet, recognising the truest valour of both Steiner and his knights. "!? P-Please princess, your words do us no justice. Why we-" before Steiner could finish however, Garnet interrupts him. "But I shall NOT be returning to the castle! not until...everything is right, once again." says Garnet, adamant to not return. So much so...that she starts shaking, quivering even. Zidane had recognised this...it would appear...that Garnet herself was questioning her resolve to leave Alexandria Castle. And yet still, to go through such efforts, especially considering the dangers of everything...Zidane then had decided. To speak up for Garnet, or rather...that he wanted to speak up for her.

"...Hmm! hey! Rusty!" says Zidane, drawing Steiner's attention to him, much to Garnet's shock. "!? R-R-R-RUSTY!? DID YOU JUST CALL ME R-R-R-R-" Steiner was still trying to process that insult of sorts. "Yeah I called you Rusty! so what!? the princess has already made her decision...so please. Kindly stay out of her way!" says Zidane, drawing his daggers against Steiner. Once more to Garnet's surprise...though on Steiner's side of the room. He regained his composure...and replied "...I see. YOU are the one that has filled the princess' mind with such rebellion! then...I will quell this rebellion...by beheading YOU!" says Steiner, drawing his sword with both hands. Cinna protects the shaking Garnet whilst Zidane engages Steiner in a one on one duel.

Battle 1 by Enrico Deiana-

"Bring it on, tinman!" says Zidane, beginning the duel. He starts the duel by trying to taunt Steiner. Unfortunately, he is immune to such tactics. "HA! you think that a knight of Alexandria would fall for such obvious ploys!? en garde! this isn't a performance for you lot anymore! this is...life and death!" says Steiner, trying to make Zidane realise the severity of this fight. "Yeah, I know. Doesn't mean you can't have a little fun now and then, right? heh." says Zidane, as he locks his daggers with Steiner's sword. "!? WHYYY YOUUU!" says Steiner, forcing Zidane back. "Hey Z! need help!?" says Cinna, wondering if he should join in the battle. "No thanks! you just protect the princess, Cinna!" says Zidane, trusting in his teammate to know what must be done first.

"Protect the princess!? are you lot mad!? YOU ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CAUSING HER SUCH DISHARMONY!" shouts Steiner, swinging his broadsword across the room everywhere. "No way! WE'RE the ones trying to help her! all you people do is keep her locked away inside a castle like a bird's cage!" says Zidane, having a difference of opinion to what Steiner thinks. Garnet overhears this remark, as Steiner replies in anger to Zidane "!? W-W-WHAT WAS THAT!?" shouts out Steiner. "The princess had made the choice to leave! even if we kidnapped her...she wouldn't want to be here unless she willed it! get what I mean, tinman!?" says Zidane, jumping across the room using his monkey like reflexes and trying to catch Steiner off-guard.

Steiner thinks to himself "H-He's too fast! this fool knows how to fight and use the surrounding to his advantage!" says Steiner, realising that Zidane has the territorial advantage, due to being familiar with the layout of the Prima Vista airship. "...If "Sara" didn't want to be here...then...I wouldn't force her otherwise! it's YOU LOT that keep her trapped! she'll never be free...she'll never be able to experience living...if all she does...IS LIVE IN A CASTLE LIKE A GOOD LITTLE PRINCESS IS TOLD TO BY HER MOTHER!" shouts out Zidane in fierce anger, striking at Steiner whom manages to block. Garnet hears Zidane's words...and...the genuine feelings that are expressing them. Or rather...the words that are expressing the genuine anger that Zidane feels both right here and right now in this very moment of time. Suddenly-

A purple hue appears within Zidane's eyes...and then? he transforms! the shockwave forces nearly everyone in the room upon their backsides. Steiner stands up...to see this whole transformation before him in opposition. Zidane...now resembled a "monkey man" more then ever. Gaining purple fur covering his entire body in place of his clothing...Garnet, to say the least was astonished by this new form. "!? … Z-Z...Zidane?" says Garnet, finally referring to Zidane by name. "No way...what IS this!? I've known Zidane for a long, LOOONG time...and he's never turned out like THIS before!" says Cinna, just blurting out what appeared to mind. Steiner however, appears to know just what kind of occurrence this is...

"...Trance! that is the only possible explanation. I didn't think it was real...but. Evidently…people in this world really can call forth it's sheer immense power. But...to answer the call of a monkey such as this heathen!? it cannot be possible!" says Steiner in denial about how Zidane himself is being enveloped in Trance. Though before anything else could happen, Trance suddenly deactivates! shocking everyone in the same manner to how it first appeared only seconds ago to when it now disappears, just like that. "...H-Heh, heh. Guess it's not possible...to harness that kind of power yet. Even so...I've got...to beat you! if the princess can go free...I'll GLADLY give my life!" says Zidane, stating his own resolve. "Z-Zidane!" says Garnet towards Zidane of whom turns around...and merely smiles. Trying to ensure Garnet...of his victory.

"...Hmph. You talk big...but allow me to make things righteously clear. You are NOT a hero to the princess! you are naught but a villain that is trying to influence her with corruption. I shall not stand for it! I shall not stand idly by and allow the princess to become corrupted by an evildoer such as you...as such. Prepare to feel...the full sting of my Minus Strike!" says Steiner, taking on a unique stance whilst lifting up his sword with the full brunt of both arms. "...!?" Zidane could sense that something was about to happen...and. Because Garnet is standing right behind him, he had to act fast! "O-Oh no! princess! Sara!" says Zidane, as he leaps into danger headfirst to protect Garnet. "MINUS...STRIKE!" shouts Steiner, swinging his broadsword with his full body weight right behind it. It appeared that both Zidane AND Garnet were going to be engulfed in the sword strike, as Cinna calls out to them "O-Oh no! princess! ZIDANE!" shouts Cinna in concern for his Tantalus brother.

…In truth, however. That scenario was a fake-out. Although things played out exactly as they should have done...one crucial change is added. Steiner's Minus Strike is blocked by Blank! still wearing his knight disguise. "!? Y-YOU!" shouts out Steiner, unbelieving that the knight from earlier had managed, even dared to block Steiner's attack to begin with. "Shame on you, a knight captain not using his eyes on ALL his surroundings? how shameful." says Blank, criticising Steiner that he could not realise that Garnet was standing right behind Zidane during Steiner's build-up sword swing. "!? P-P-PRINCESS!" shouts Steiner, realising his incorrect course of action. "Ugh! Sara...you...okay?" says Zidane with Garnet atop of him. "Y-Yes...I think so." says Garnet, reassuring Zidane that she was safe from that last attack.

"A knight such as yourself should always be aware of his surroundings. Not just...what he WANTS to see! heyah!" says Blank, as he pushes Steiner back with his own sword. Steiner, too proud to heed the words of "ruffians" resumes to fight them and accept whatever punishment is given to him by princess Garnet afterwards. "...GYAH! you FIENDS!" shouts Steiner one more time. As Zidane and Cinna both line-up on Blank's sides, smiling towards one another. They lastly state in unison to Steiner "You can just leave...the princess...to US!" shout out Zidane, Blank and Cinna. Refusing to allow Steiner to "escort" the princess back to Alexandria Castle and thus, a four-way fight ensues!

TO BE CONTINUED.