"The rain's starting to let up. My guess is that it hasn't even been that long since it started pouring down. In that case...once the rain completely stops, I should be able to find both princess Garnet and the Black Mage with more ease. Of course...just from knowing that alone...isn't enough to make me feel assured. I've got to find them and right away!" says Zidane at the lake from before, as he resumes moving on after assessing the status of the current situation. "Let's see...there's got to be some way I can navigate this forest. Isn't there like a treasure chest or something containing a map!? usually those gimmicks tend to follow Tantalus wherever we go. I know I can't pray on such a whim...but still..." says Zidane, having no luck trying to find his way around the treacherous pathways of the Evil Forest.
"KUPO! do I hear a wanderer in dire need of help!? KUPO!" suddenly, approaching Zidane...is Stiltzkin! the same Moogle that both Vivi and Puck met back at Alexandria castle town. "H-Huh!? a Moogle!? one that's dressed funny? what are you doing here little guy?" says Zidane, wondering if the Moogle-Stiltzkin whom called out to him was lost too. "How rude! KUPO! I am not some ordinary Moogle that you need worry about! I am the great traveller, Stiltzkin. KUPO! Just recently I started a new journey...and found my way here by accident. I was walking along the cliffsides of the kingdom of Alexandria...until I stumbled, quite literally. KUPO!" says Stiltzkin, explaining his own situation. "! Hmm...I see. Guess...you're in the very same boat, as us huh." says Zidane with crossed arms, waving one of them about, as he listened to Stiltzkin.
"Not necessarily. You should never judge a Moogle by it's pom-pom, KUPO! asides being a traveller...I'm also known to be an inventor. Behold! KUPO! this will become the trend in future days! I call it...the "Moogle-Camera"! or. Just "Mog-Cam" for short. With it, a person can see across locales...and see what others are up to. I know, I know. KUPO! it could be considered an invasion of privacy, so, I made sure that it works like this. KUPO! the Mog-Cam is fitted with special magic that can allow one to see others across a shared space or location. So long, as the person in question and the people they are viewing are connected in someway. KUPO! depending on how deep the connections, you can see how others are fairing across real-time. KUPO!" says Stiltzkin, offering to hand Zidane the former's Mog-Cam, free of charge.
"!? Real-time...! you mean like what's currently happening to them elsewhere!?" says Zidane, taking what he could from Stiltzkin's explanation. "Y-Yes, that's correct. KUPO! Again, it will only work if you have formed bonds of some kind. Friendship, Romance, Rivalry, you name it. KUPO! all of the connections that one person holds deepest towards their heart...the Mog-Cam will answer the prayers of said heart and allow the owners ease of mind to see what the people connections have been formed with are currently up to. KUPO!" says Stiltzkin, trying his best to explain in more concrete detail. "...So then. What you're saying is...as long, as their is a bond of some kind...this Moogle-Camera or whatever can show me the way towards the people I have formed connections with?" says Zidane, again trying to take what he could.
"To summarize, yes. KUPO! however! it is still in the planning and testing phases. I was hoping...that you could help try it out whilst it was still in Beta testing. Was this...a bad time to ask that favour?" says Stiltzkin, not wanting to upset Zidane, since he appeared by expression alone to be in turmoil of sorts. The reason Stiltzkin offered the Mog-Cam to begin with...was because he wanted to help Zidane and ease his conscience somehow. Zidane himself then replies "...Nuh-uh. Actually...this is just the thing I needed! the map...to find my friends! thanks Moogle. Though...that name of yours is a tongue twister. How about I just call you Mog instead?" says Zidane, thanking Stiltzkin for his help...whilst being blunt about his name. "Sigh...Kupo. Whatever works for ya. Just...make sure that you don't damaged that device, okay!? I spent painstakingly long hours trying to perfect it!" says Stiltzkin, giving his one and only term of agreement for officially passing on the Mog-Cam towards Zidane.
"Don't worry, I won't. They don't call me the "stealthy monkey" for nothing!" says Zidane, raising a fist upwards, signifying that Stiltzkin or now "Mog" could trust his words. "...More like "klutz monkey" from appearance Kupo." says Mog under his breath, causing Zidane to wonder what is the Moogle whispering to himself. "A-Anyways! go on! give it a try. KUPO!" says Mog, encouraging Zidane to test the Moogle-Camera. "Okay...how do I work it?" says Zidane. "Just close your eyes...and focus on the person that you want to find. If you believe that they can be found here, in the Evil Forest...it's worth a try. Otherwise, the magical radius of the Mog-Cam won't extend beyond...and, well..." says Mog, fearing what he would follow up-saying next. "Don't worry. I know...I just know...that I can find her here. Princess...Garnet. Where are you...please. Please be okay!" says Zidane, closing his eyes. He prays with all his both heart and soul whilst tightly clutching the Mog-Cam, hoping. That it will lead the way towards a reunion...between him and Garnet.
"...! !? I...I see her!" says Zidane in his mind, using the "mind's eye" to locate Garnet elsewhere across the Evil Forest, thankfully not too far away. Things are happening in real-time which means what Zidane is experiencing right now is what is currently happening to Garnet in the meantime. Garnet herself, alongside Vivi are shown with the former carrying an unconscious Marcus upon her back. She is struggling to carry such a heavy man, as Vivi then replies "H-Hey, Ms. Garnet? please let me help. I don't want to be the only one doing nothing..." says Vivi, wanting to help carry Marcus. However, Garnet politely refuses the offer. "...N-No Vivi. It's-It's okay, I will...manage. Please...do not think so little of me...that I cannot carry a sole person." says Garnet, wanting to take all burdens upon herself.
"!? I-I didn't mean it like that..." says Vivi, wondering if he has now said something wrong. Garnet slightly smiles and reassures Vivi by placing a hand on his head, saying the following words "I know Vivi. I know...but. I am...the adult here. Let me...take responsibility alone. I cannot bear...to see one so young...suffer on my account. This is...all of it...my mess. Messes of my own making...I must...make up for them. Each and...every single one. I won't...tolerate...another innocent soul...suffering...because of...my actions!" says Garnet, as she lifts up Marcus on her shoulders, moving slowly but surely bit by bit. "!? M-Ms. Garnet..." says Vivi, not knowing what to say towards Garnet, in order to ease her conscience.
The Mog-Cam connection ends at that point, having spent all it's energy. "!? P-Princess!" says Zidane, trying to reach out his hand...to no avail. "The Mog-Cam can only last depending on how strong the connections are that you have. That means...there's still more room for your bonds to grow." says Mog to Zidane about why the Mog-Cam has stopped working. "...Thanks, thanks for everything. I really mean it, you've...given me a chance...and. I WON'T fail them!" says Zidane in reply towards Mog, sincerely thanking him for his help in regards to the Moogle-Camera. "...Then get going already! your friends are in trouble, aren't they!? get a move on!" says Mog, wanting Zidane to not waste anymore time.
"!? Yeah...you're right! see you laters! I'll make sure to give you a Kupo Nut if I see any!" says Zidane, waving back whilst rushing on ahead. "...Oy vey, young love." says Mog, waving back, as he could just tell that the road ahead...was only going to get tougher for Zidane and his friends. Zidane next finds himself in another open area...only. He has a reunion...just not the one that he was asking for. "Geh! the Goblin from before! what. You gonna turn tail and run again? I make it a characteristic of mine not to chase down those that haven't got any will to fight. So get lost already, will ya!? I haven't got time for your false bravado!" says Zidane, drawing his Daggers in order to scare away the Goblin...although.
It sniggers to itself...before clicking it's fingers. A loud noise could be heard, shaking the ground. "W-Wha!?" says Zidane, nearly falling atop his feet. Appearing to the open area through a line of trees...is revealed to be a giant, sentient plant like monster! apparently. This is why the Goblin retreated earlier...to get "more helpful" backup. "U-Uh oh. This...doesn't look good." says Zidane, seeing the Goblin being lifted up by the plant monster's tentacle like appendage. With the Goblin at the controlling helm of this new foe...Zidane was now going to face a tougher struggle.
Battle 2 by Bob Thole-
"Out of the way! get lost already!" says Zidane, issuing a direct challenge at both the Goblin and the plant monster. Suddenly, the latter swings one of it's tentacle arms at Zidane! sending him back into a nearby giant rock. "ARGH!?" shouts Zidane in pain, dropping one of his Daggers onto the ground. "D-Damn it! act boastful with me huh!?" says Zidane, not amused by how the Goblin is pleased with itself, relying on the strength of a minion. "Okay...YOU asked for it!" says Zidane, intending to strike down the Goblin first. He uses the same manoeuvres and techniques that he did earlier to finish off the Wolf.
"Try this! X Daggers! ? !? o-oh no!" says Zidane, realising that he was only carrying one Dagger in hand, having dropped the other from when he was sent flying. It only grazes against the plant monster...allowing it to swing at him yet again. Zidane is sent further flying then previously, however. He uses his tail to latch onto a nearby tree within the open area, spinning around it like it was a tower-rail or akin and then making a safe landing. "Phew! that was close! cocky Gob! make a show out of me, will he!?" says Zidane, slight ego starting to affect his performance. He eyeballs his dropped Dagger, trying to pick it up without the plant monster catching on to his plan. Unfortunately, with the Goblin serving, as the monster's "brain", the controller has already caught on to what Zidane is plotting.
Speaking in Goblin speech, it orders the plant to strike with it's multiple tentacles at Zidane and refuse him to regain his Dagger. "!? Great, got to time this!" says Zidane, realising that the Goblin was not going to allow him to pick up his dropped Dagger. Zidane both nimbly and swiftly dodges the plant monster's four tentacles in timing with "reactions". Sliding, jumping. All sorts of manoeuvres that help him out of a tricky and somewhat claustrophobic situation. "Yikes! doesn't this thing let up!? ! ah-hah! I've got it back!" says Zidane, as he jumps over to his dropped Dagger and manages to pick it up with ease. He forms a pose with his two Daggers before maintaining focus against both the Goblin and the plant monster.
"Okay, now what?" since the latter was giving Zidane the most trouble, he had to find a way to deal with it first. "...! It might just work...might. Let's see...if I can fool that Goblin long enough that it won't notice!" says Zidane, deciding...to take the fight close range! "Hey! Gobby! you think you're tough, being second fiddle!? I know REAL fiends that don't take backseats to anyone and everyone! I mean. You're just giving them a very, VERY bad name!" says Zidane, hoping that the Goblin's pride would become infuriated by these comments...indeed, it was. The Goblin stamps it's foot into the plant monster, aggravating it and causing it to lose balance. "! Alright! now then...to follow up!" Zidane starts to circle around the plant monster floating above on the ground. Seeing the monkey like youth whilst the Goblin was distracted with anger, the plant tries to send all four of it's tentacles to smack at Zidane and finish him off.
However, Zidane was curiously moving about in the pattern of a Mobius Strip. Until finally...his plan worked! by keeping the Goblin boiled with anger and the monster unable to respond coherently to it's rider commands. All it did was try and send it's tentacles smacking about the open area...only. For all four of them...to become literally twisted in a knot! "Ha HA! that worked! looks like...you don't have anymore tricks, do you Gobby?" says Zidane, as he jumps up atop the plant monster, confronting the Goblin face to face. Once more tackled with fear, it tries to run away once more...however. It has already paid the ultimate price...it...has merged with the plant monster on a cellular level. Unable to move it's feet, already becoming roots on-top the plant monster...the Goblin's expression twisted with sheer panic.
"...Sorry. But...this is the end of the line for you!" Zidane didn't take another moment to reconsider sparing the Goblin, knowing that it would try to attack him in the future. More so concerned about reuniting with his friends and not letting any and all enemies bring harm to them...Zidane ultimately dispatches the Goblin. In turn, this destroys the plant monster too. Zidane jumps off the creature just in time before both it and the Goblin had turned into black coloured mist. The same, as how the Wolf from before did. Zidane sheathes his Daggers...but does not perform a Victory Dance. Lamenting how he won this battle in regards to the Goblin's fate, having fused with the plant monster. Though...whether or not Zidane realises it. He had freed the Goblin from a life in regretting it's choice to fuse, in the pursuit of achieving sole victory alone.
"...It's time to get going. Please! lead me the way...to my companions!" says Zidane, tightly clutching the Mog-Cam before moving on ahead. He looks at it, hoping...that it would serve, as the guide…towards the princess.
TO BE CONTINUED.
