"There was something strange about both the Goblin and that plant monster. It looked like...they fused. Like...that Goblin was now...the plant monster itself. Hmm...anyways, there's no point thinking about it now. I've got to move! this scenery...it looks just like what I saw in the vision of the Mog-Cam. I hope...I'm not too late!" says Zidane, continuing to rush. But before resuming his side of things...we go back in time to see another side, another story. Here...we see what has been transpiring on Garnet's end. She had awoken from the crash of the Prima Vista on a faraway point from the airship.
"O-Ow...my-my head. Ugh...! where...where am I!? ! Vivi! Vivi where are you!?" says Garnet, remembering the Black Mage that was by her side. Getting up from sitting down, Garnet proceeds to move forwards in search of Vivi. "Vivi! Vivi if you're there then call out to me!" says Garnet, wondering if Vivi could be found in this vicinity. "...H-HELP! HELP ME!" shouts out a familiar voice not too far away. "! That's Vivi's voice! hold on! I'm right here!" says Garnet, trying to reassure the young Black Mage whilst heading towards his current location. "HELP!" shouts Vivi once more. Just then, Garnet reaches an open area and finds Vivi here. Only...to also find that he is surrounded by giant Spiders!
"!? Vivi!" says Garnet, rushing to Vivi's aid. "!? N-Nice lady!" says Vivi, recognising Garnet. "Leave my friend alone!" says Garnet, trying to garner the Spiders' focus away from the Black Mage and towards herself instead. The Spiders made clicking noises and sounds, hearing Garnet nearby. They charge their target to her, just like the princess wanted. "Okay. I'm not much of a combatant...but! I WILL win this!" says Garnet, trying to copy Zidane, in terms of how he would confidently approach a fight and try to win. The Spiders had numbered two, causing Garnet to ponder how to tackle against them. "...I only know how to use White Magic. If I could use Black Mage like Vivi can...then, this wouldn't be more of a problem." says Garnet, stating her odds and how she will fair against the giant Spiders.
Nevertheless, displaying a certain amount of courage, does the princess confront her enemies. "...Do NOT underestimate me, just because I am a princess! I will show you...the depth of my resolve!" says Garnet, tightly clutching her rod. She uses it to bash against the eight legs of one Spider. Only for the other Spider to then knock her aside, quite easily. "!? N-Nice lady!" says Vivi in great fear for Garnet's sake. "O-Oh no...I can't, move. I can't...feel my legs! n-no! not...now!" Garnet's legs were trembling. She was starting to give into fear itself with the sights of the Spiders right above her head. "...I...cannot! I will NOT...yield!" says Garnet, although frightened beyond belief. She still wanted...to protect Vivi. At the very least, she was willing to give up her life...in exchange for allowing him to escape safely.
"...Leave her alone. Leave the nice lady...ALONE!" shouts out Vivi, casting another high level magic incantation of Fire. Using Fira, he manages to set Fire upon one of the Spiders, causing the both of them to flee away in absolute terror. The one with Fire trying everything it could to get rid of the burning. "T-There...you're...safe...n-nice lady." Vivi falls unconscious, becoming spent with using high level magic not once but twice in a short amount of time between intervals. "!? V-VIVI!" shouts Garnet, going to Vivi's side and casting White Magic on him in desperation. A few minutes pass with Garnet having done all what she could for the young Black Mage...until. "Coughs! coughs!" Vivi starts to breathe again and awaken.
"!? Vivi! are you okay!?" says Garnet, wanting to know if Vivi was alright. "! … Y-Yea. I'm okey-dokey, as grandpa used to say. Thank you nice lady, for helping me." says Vivi, grateful for Garnet having healed him. Much to his great shock though...she started to cry. Tightly clutching her hands upon her legs, she replies "...Please. Please forgive me...for having...gotten you involved...in such, SUCH...a dreadful...situation!" says Garnet, unable to face Vivi. "!? N-No! please nice lady! don't cry! I-I don't mind!" says Vivi, as he lies in order to ensure Garnet peace of mind...though she recognises this. "Please don't lie! it's my fault! everything...is ALL my fault!" says Garnet, unable to bear the heavy weight of trauma she feels that Vivi has suffered from. On account...of her actions solely...
"...This place...it's...it's quite scary. B-But! as long, as you're with me, nice lady. I think...I'll be able...to cope. W-With your White Magic and my Black Magic...w-we can surely get out of here. R-Right? …" says Vivi, in his unique own way...trying to encourage the princess. "!? … You...don't blame me?" says Garnet, wondering how Vivi could not hate her for everything. "...W-Why would I?" says Vivi simply. Much to Garnet's immense shock...Vivi...didn't even possess the capacity to express hatred. Whether this was because he was still a child and especially whether or not this was a good thing. For better or for worse...although Garnet still hated herself for "involving" Vivi in these cruel turns of events.
She had resolved to face the consequences later...wanting to take what she could for now and get by towards escaping the Evil Forest. "...N-Never-mind for now. Vivi...I promise. I promise you...we will get EVERYONE out of this forest, alive! I give you my word...my...my oath." says Garnet, in the exact same manner that Zidane had promised her does she promise Vivi. By making...an oath. Vivi sheepishly nods his head, agreeing with Garnet. The latter decides to get off the ground and look for a way out of the current locale, until suddenly...a noise starts to approach! groaning. "!? Vivi! stay behind me!" says Garnet, wanting to protect Vivi no matter what. The noise was getting louder and louder...until revealing itself...to be a heavily injured Marcus!
Both Garnet and Vivi were greatly shocked and surprised to see whom appeared before them. "...H-Hey, you two...you need...a...bodyguard? cause...I ain't...cheap." says Marcus with his broken sword hilt in hand before dropping it and falling towards the ground. He was completely taxed out, his energy spent from everything that has happened thus far. "!? Q-Quick Vivi! we've got to help him up!" says Garnet, heading over to Marcus, as Vivi replies "O-Okay!" says Vivi, agreeing. The flashback ends...bringing things full circle, as it were. Garnet was still carrying Marcus before Vivi says the following. "...Y-You sure it's okay to carry him all by yourself, M-Ms. Garnet?" says Vivi, now referring to Garnet by her name instead of nice lady. "It's-It's okay Vivi. I told you already...I am...the adult here. I have to...do this...by myself. As punishment...and...penance." says Garnet to Vivi whom does not understanding the meaning of the latter word.
"...? !? !? P-P-P...PRINNNCCCEEESSS!" a very loud and very familiar voice made itself known, approaching from the other side of the forest that both Garnet and Vivi were traversing. It was, none other, then Steiner. Still using his broadsword, as a clutch to carry himself with. "!? S-Steiner!" says Garnet upon reuniting with Steiner. Vivi suddenly stands in front of Garnet, determined to protect her whilst she carried Marcus. "! V-Vivi no!" says Garnet until Vivi says what is upon on his mind. "Please! I don't want...to do nothing! I want...to help you too!" says Vivi, wanting to express both kindness and helpfulness, the same, as the princess herself. "N-No Vivi..." says Garnet, not wanting Vivi to do anymore then he has done so far. "Y-You're after Ms. Garnet, a-a-aren't you!? l-leave her alone! she-she wants...t-to be free!" says Vivi, having actually overheard what Zidane was saying towards Steiner back at Alexandria.
"!? T-The young Black Mage!? I see. The princess has been keeping you safe...that is assuring. However! tis...tis my duty. To...escort you both back to the kingdom! please. Do not struggle! …" says Steiner, making a bluff. Still wounded from when the Fire Bomb had exploded point blank near him and Zidane. Garnet hesitates at first...before putting Marcus down at the side. She places a hand upon Vivi's shoulder and walks past him, next...confronting Steiner personally. "...Adelbert Steiner, captain of the Knights of Pluto. I do not...intend to return to Alexandria!" says Garnet, walking up to Steiner on the other side of the open area that everybody found themselves currently. "!? W-WHAAA!?" shouts out Steiner, unbelieving at Garnet's declaration.
"I have a duty that I must fulfil...and. I cannot let it be hampered by anyone from Alexandria! not even you. One of my mother's most trusted servants...please! try to understand!" says Garnet, trying to reason with the knight captain. "P-Princess...?" before Steiner could make a proper reply...ruffling from above could be heard. "H-Huh?" Garnet could hear it too...until. She looks up right above...and sees something falling down, directly towards her! "!? A-ACK!?" shouts Garnet. Not faraway now, closing in on the venue...was Zidane at last! hearing the princess' voice. "!? That voice! it's...most definitely her! princess! GARNET!" shouts Zidane, heading to the open area.
TO BE CONTINUED.
