div align="left""Tch! damn you, you wannabe soldier! had I rescued the princess, I would have nominated you for a promotion of your efforts." says Steiner, keeping his guard up against Zidane, Blank and Cinna whilst throwing his words to the one of them whom pretended to be a Knight of Pluto. Namely Blank of whom says in reply "You can keep your promotion. Soldier life doesn't prefer me anyways...I'm much better and liking at being a thief." says Blank, content with the way of life that he currently has. "Heh! you said it Blank!" says Zidane before charging at Steiner, followed closely by Cinna. The two try to make a double attack against the knight captain but unfortunately, his senses are quick witted that he is easily able to repel the pair away from him.

"Gah, this knight is no joke. Despite having a rugged face, he's got his swordsmanship stances down. No wonder he's a captain!" says Blank, as he learns not to judge people by their outwards appearances. "Ha! you fools don't have a chance in heck against me! surrender now...and I might just let your beheading sentence go more swiftly. As "thanks" for looking after princess Garnet...hmm. NAY!" shouts Steiner, as he swings his broadsword with both arms against both Zidane's daggers and Cinna's hammer, forcing them to quickly block. Barely able to achieve said blocking, however. Zidane and Cinna could immediately tell of the immense power behind Steiner's sword swing, showing that he meant business when talking about beheading.

"Geez! just give it a rest about beheading already!" says Blank, trying to fend away Steiner and save his Tantalus comrades from being caught in a standstill of weapons. "...Phew! thanks Blank." says Zidane, he and Cinna regrouping with their rescuer. "Dang it all! how are we supposed to defeat a knight captain!? small fry would have been easier to handle but THIS guy? he's different." says Cinna, observing Steiner and seeing...that the latter has no openings to strike at. "That's the way it goes Cinna. In life, enemies get stronger with each hurdle one person must face. Baku made sure that we would learn that most valuable lesson, right? Zidane?" says Blank, wondering if Zidane already knows of the same lesson that Blank is speaking about.

Zidane replies "...Yeah...I know. Boss wouldn't shut up about it...but then. We took what we could from that lesson, all four of us. You guys and Marcus...we ain't no weaklings, that's for sure!" says Zidane, raising the spirits of his "brothers" up. Smiling, they agree with Zidane whilst Steiner overhears their words and makes his own reply on the subject. "Hmph! such misguided folly. Thieves cannot speak such noble and honourable sounding words when all they do is take and take some more. By my duty as a Knight of Pluto captain of the kingdom of Alexandria...I shall see to it. You shall ALL pay for your wickedness against MY country!" says Steiner, refusing to allow Tantalus to escape. Especially with Garnet in their "evil clutches"...

"...Hey Z, C. Fancy...doing THAT? it'll be an improvised version without Marcus...but, what the hey." says Blank, appearing to have some kind of plan in mind. "!? … Heh, sure. I'm up for it B. What about you?" says Cinna, agreeing with Blank's plan and wondering if Zidane shares the same like-mindedness? Zidane himself replies "Sure, I'm game. Let's do it!" says Zidane, answering Cinna's train of thought by replying. "What are you SCOUNDRELS up to!?" says Steiner, knowing that his opponents in battle were indeed plotting something. "Alright! here-we-GO!" Zidane makes another charge at Steiner. "! You fiends already tried that! ENOUGH already!" says Steiner, swinging down his sword like a hammer. Speaking of hammers though-"Made you look!" Cinna leaps upon Zidane's back and then jumps forwards right into Steiner!

Because Cinna is the shortest in height of himself, Zidane, Blank and Marcus. This made the manoeuvre easy for him to act out. Zidane would trick Steiner by making him keep eyes on the former's tail, afterwards...Cinna would jump on Zidane's back when lowered and right away. Using the monkey like youth's back as a spring...the man with the hammer would propel himself right into Steiner's torso! giving him one heck of a belly flop, as it were. Steiner could feel the full ache of the headbutt right in his stomach, nearly feeling like he was going to throw up yesterday's lunch. Consisting of Gysahl Greens amongst other key ingredients. "OOF!" Steiner was forced to let go of his broadsword after feeling the full effect of the headbutt, swaying his body out of balance.

"W-Why you..." Steiner's head was slightly dizzy but regained focus...when he saw a sword approach his face at close range! taking quick action. Steiner picked up the broadsword that he let go of and used it to block the sword swing, made by Blank with both hands. Steiner had only slightly let go of his sword from his grip but not entirely to fall out of his hand completely, making it easy to block the oncoming swing. Blank comments on Steiner's quick reprisal, saying "Tch! drat. Our team combination was a dud, the "BZC home-hitter"..." says Blank, giving the last attack a tacky sounding name whilst backing away from Steiner of whom pumps his chest back and forth, trying to breathe. "...Seriously Blank?" says Cinna, thinking about the team attack name.

"Forget the name! we've got more important things to focus on. This guy...ain't no knight captain for show. Anyone would be throwing up for weeks when feeling that attack hit them. And I'm not making an excuse on behalf of Marcus not being here...even if he was. Even if we used the complete "ZBMC finisher" on this guy...I don't think...it would work at all." says Zidane, sharing Blank's tacky naming sense. "Ugh, not you too Zidane." says Cinna. "Point being...we need to distract this guy. Defeating him now won't do us any good, I see that now. It bites...but...I want to help the princess above all else. There's got to be SOMETHING we can do to get passed this guy!" says Zidane, knowing what is more important at this most crucial timing.

"What's this? are you all bowing out already, criminals? HA! tis a lark. You won't...be getting by ME anytime soon!" says Steiner, knowing the objective of his three opponents. "Tch, dammit all!" says Zidane, starting to run on fumes. "...! Wait a sec! I got it! Blank! you still got...ya know, "it"?" says Cinna, having an idea in mind. Blank with absolute dread realises what Cinna is talking about. "!? No...you can't possibly-" without warning, Cinna comically jumps Blank and searches his armour for something. "C-Cinna! what are you-!?" Zidane then realises what Cinna was trying to find and is now carrying within his hand. "Hmm? what nonsense is this!? are you fighting or what!? you...you...you...!? O-O-O-O-O-O-O...you OGLOP!?" shouts out Steiner at the very top of his lungs, squealing in frenzied panic even.

Horror and paleness appeared across both Steiner and Blank's faces, as they saw Cinna holding...an Oglop. A nasty little bugger native to their world that drives almost everyone demented with fear. The key word being "almost", as Garnet looks at the Oglop and says the following "...Is-is that an Oglop? I've never seen one in person before. It...looks so cute." says Garnet, curiosity driving her to poke the Oglop's face repeatedly. "P-P-P-P-P-P-PRINCESS GARNET! PLEASE DO-DO-DO-DO-DO-DO-DO NOT TOUCH THE OGLOP! TIS-TIS-TIS-TIS-TIS-TIS-TIS DANGEROUS!" says Steiner, scared out of his mind's wits, trembling from head to toe or rather vice versa at the mere sight of seeing the "disgusting" Oglop.

Cinna, too, was fearful of the Oglop. But, believing the situation had no choice but to call for it...Cinna had "sacrificed" himself. To make courage by taking out the Oglop that Blank was carrying in order to use and scare princess Garnet into fainting with. Cinna had already fainted, just from feeling the squishiness of the Oglop in hand. Because of Garnet's constant poking at the insect like Oglop, it becomes mad...and then. Starts jumping around the whole room! much to both Steiner and Blank's dire dismay. "N-N-N-NOOO! I HATE, HATE, HAAATE OGLOPS!" shouts out Steiner, running madly across the room, trying to get away from the jumping Oglop. "For once, I AGREE! NOOO! BAD OGLOP! BAD!" shouts Blank, also running like a madman in fear of the insect.

Zidane and Garnet, the only ones not fazed by the "terror of an rampant Oglop" decide to use this chance and escape from Steiner. "Now Sara! this a way!" says Zidane, as he leads the way for Garnet. "R-Right!" says Garnet, nearly getting caught up in the "Oglop madness". The two head into the next room which Zidane believes is only storage...meaning in other-words, no way out! "!? N-No! this can't be it! this can't be the end of the line!" says Zidane, still desperately trying to cling onto hope by searching for a potential way out. Garnet also looks for a way out...and spots something! "Z-Zidane! over here! does this mean anything to you?" says Garnet, finding a lever of some kind. Zidane then remembers what this particular room is used for, asides storage.

"This...this is perfect! awesome princess! I could kiss you for this!" says Zidane, though meant in jest, Garnet takes his words far too seriously. "HOW-HOW...HOW DARE YOU!" Garnet slaps Zidane again, causing him to fall over the lever and onto a platform of some kind. Because she slapped him on instinct, she had only realised the mistake she made a minute later. "...! Oh no!" says Garnet, watching Zidane on the platform feeling the sting of yet another very painful slap. "Ouuu…OUCH! geez! you really don't know how to pull your punches-!? uh-oh!" suddenly, the platform that Zidane was upon started to become rickety...

"Princess! Sara! quick, take my hand!" says Zidane, still referring to Garnet by her made-up name of "Sara" at this point. "PRINNNCESSSS GARNET! WHERE ARE YOU!? PLEASE! ANSWER MEEE!" shouted out Steiner, soon enough to arrive at the room where both Zidane and Garnet are, once the knight captain has regained proper composure from the "Oglop incident" only a moment ago. Garnet was troubled on what to do next. "W-Where will this take us, Zidane!?" says Garnet, hesitating to take Zidane's hand. "To the sky! up...and above! beyond the heavens and even further then that! trust me...princess Garnet." says Zidane, referring to the princess by her real name for the very 1st time. Wanting to reassure her...that, no matter what. Zidane would be by Garnet's side throughout thick and thin, henceforth.

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Sensing the great amount of trust Zidane has in her...the princess wishes to honour that by returning the same amount of trust towards Zidane. Taking his hand the next moment without hesitation, Garnet jumps atop the same platform as Zidane. With his usual cheeky smile and holding the princess around his arm in a tight yet careful manner. Both Zidane and Garnet...head skywards! just as he said that they would. "Heh, heh! look out world, HERE-WE-COME!" shouts out Zidane, knowing exactly where the platform would lead and take them. Steiner then enters the room and quickly deduces what to do, seeing the pulled lever. He stands on another platform and pulls an opposite lever, mimicking Zidane and Garnet, the two of whom have already gone on ahead. What would happen next...would lead into the GRAND finale that Baku mentioned to the audience beforehand. And now, for better or for worse...the chaining of events to follow...could not be undone.

TO BE CONTINUED.