Chapter 12 - Zidane's Truth
'Come on, let's GO!' screamed Zidane as he jumped off the side of the Hilda Garde 4 into a twenty foot freefall down to the south-west balcony of Alexandria Castle. Beatrix went to jump over the edge, but was grabbed by...
'Steiner...! Let me go!'
'Beatrix! You can't jump down there, who knows what could be...'
Beatrix threw her fist forward straight into her husband's chest, and he almost fell with the force of the blow, despite his heavy armour. He looked completely shocked as she put her foot over the edge and looked back at him.
'Steiner, go through the front way and make a distraction with Vivi! Zidane and I will try and see what's causing the problems!'
And with that she jumped straight off the edge of the ship. Steiner ran towards the edge and spotted her landing safely around twenty meters away from where Zidane was standing, looking over Alexandria. The tears hidden beneath the darkened pupils of the king's eyes wouldn't come out yet.
'Beatrix!' Zidane shouted as he sprinted over to where she was standing.
'Zidane, I told Steiner and Vivi to go in the front. They can lead the full on attack alongside the others. I was thinking we could team up and sneak in to the palace quietly?'
'Sounds like a plan! But we better hurry, Alexandria's looking rough as it is...'
The two paused and sighed for a second, but then regained their composure.
'Let's get going!'
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Steiner stood in front of his troops with Vivi standing by his side. The difference in stature between the two was pretty incredible.
'Now men,' Steiner bellowed 'We have quite a task in front of us. We have to liberate Alexandria! But our first port of call is the castle itself. If we can gain control of the castle then we can clear the streets up ourselves.'
At this, Vivi stood forward.
'I'm guessing that Troa has an army of around 1,300 men. They all have amazing magical skills, as you could see when Cinna was fighting Marcus. However, the skills depend on the spirit of the user. Cinna had a strong, rightous heart and that made his power go through the roof. Therefore everyone won't be quite as strong as Cinna was.'
Steiner looked at his little friend with pride. In this sort of situation he would have been crying his eyes out two years ago. Vivi had certainly grown up. Steiner looked at his men with pride and looked at the captain of the Hilda Garde 4, Erin.
'Open the doors my young lady, and let's free Alexandria!'
Steiner and Vivi lunged out, ready to fight, and were immediately confronted by their foes.
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Zidane and Beatrix ran through the corridors of Alexandria Castle, confused at the lack of soldiers inside. The place was completely empty, and although they could hear the sound of fighting far away, they were still not confronted after minutes of running.
'Dammit Beatrix, let's head to the throne room. I'm guessing what we're looking for might be cowering up there!'
They both ran up the stairs of the hallway that they were in and straight through the double doors that led to the throne room. The two burst into an empty chamber.
'...Great!' Zidane shouted 'What do we do now?!'
'Now?' a familar voice shouted behind them both as the doors shut firmly behind them both. Beatrix and Zidane turned quickly and balked in horror at who stood before them both.
'Now you die.'
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Kuja strolled around Conde Petit with a grimace upon his face. He HATED these dwarfs. Why couldn't they talk properly like normal, well-adjusted people? Having to say 'Tally-Ho!' at the entrance nearly destroyed his spirit for good. Suddenly he felt a little tap upon his shoulder.
'Hey sir! What are ye doin walkin around oor wee village? Ye here tae sample some of thon food we like sae much here?'
('Great...') Kuja muttered to himself and smiled at the dwarf who stood in front of him.
'Actually, I was looking for a way out of here, past Conde Petit, you know?'
'Agh! Ye cannae pass through Conde Petit withoot goin through the ceremony!'
Kuja didn't like the sound of that. Not one bit.
'...Ceremony...'
But before the dwarf could answer him, he heard the scream of little men from the room on the right. He ran through the door and was startled to see a familar figure...
'...It's you!...' Kuja gasped.
Quina stood eating his fill of the food that belonged to the residents of Conde Petit, with little dwarfs running into his bulk trying to knock him over, but to no avail. The behemoth figure of Quina just kept on eating and eating.
'Will ye get out o here ye big lug!'
'Wheesh! Away with ye!'
'Go on now, gone fae here ye'll be!'
The angry dwarfs screamed at the top of their voices, but Quina still wouldn't relent from his tireless eating. Suddenly Kuja had a great idea.
'Hey, you there!' he said, spotting someone who seemed to be the leader of these pests.
'Excuse me...' said Kuja.
'Aye laddie, I dinnae hae time for yer problems! We hae a crisis on oor hands here!'
'Yes, so I can see, but I think that I can take this creature away... on one condition...'
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Kuja smiled to himself. He was out of that god-awful village at last. Maybe he had switched sides, but it didn't mean he had to LIKE everything. Problem was, he'd picked up another problem...
'So you good now Mr.Kuja. What kind of food you like?'
Kuja sighed to himself. It was going to be a long trip...
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'Master Vivi! Don't let your guard down whatever you do!' shouted Steiner at the top of his lungs. Unfortunately for Steiner, Vivi and the army that followed them both, they didn't just have to deal with Troa's possessed army. He had decided to let the jungle flow freely through the entire palace, with the Calcutta Knights and Lindblum's troops bearly holding their own against the beasts. Suddenly Vivi was attacked from one side by a massive Behemoth, it's thick claws threatening to bury down into the mage's body. Steiner yelled and ran towards his friend, but was struck by the huge branch of an Ochu as it got in his way.
'Damn you!!!!!!' roared Steiner as he quickly buried his blade into the body of the Ochu, striking it down with one deadly move. As the monster slumped to the ground Steiner jumped over the body to see his young companion stuggling to hold off his foe. However, Vivi's power was nothing less than incredible. He had really come on over these past two years. The fact that he was able to hold off the Behemoth was pretty amazing in itself. Suddenly Steiner shook himself out of watching and yelled to Vivi.
'Master Vivi! Flare Sword now!'
Vivi blasted the creature out of his way with a quick blast of Firaga, and focused his energies onto Steiner's massive blade. Seconds later the monster was lying dead upon the ground, badly burned from the sheer impact of the blast.
'Alrighty!' cheered Vivi, 'Let's get moving!'
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'Troa!' Zidane and Beatrix yelled in unison.
'And you must be Zidane. How delightful that I can finally meet you in more personal circumstances. Our little night together in Lindblum was, how can I say it... crowded.'
Troa's voice was deadpan, mercilessly emotionless. It was more than Zidane could stand, and Beatrix held him back as he stuggled against her grip.
'Where the hell is Dagger! Tell me you rat bastard! Tell me!' he screamed at the top of his lungs, ready to strike out at his foe.
'Zidane, calm down!' shouted Beatrix. 'This isn't doing us any good!'
Zidane turned around to Beatrix, glaring and angry.
'Dammit Beatrix, let me go!'
'But Zid...'
'As King of Alexandria and your leader I order you to let go of me!!!' Zidane shouted. Beatrix looked almost shocked and let go of her King. He had never been known to pull rank on anyone. Zidane pulled out his daggers and turned to Beatrix.
'Look, I'm sorry Beatrix...'
She pulled Save the Queen out of her sheath and smiled with a spirit that could have warmed the heart of any man. Zidane nearly thought about hitting on her before realising he was married. 'Damned teenage hormones...' he quietly thought to himself. Suddenly Beatrix's voice pulled him out of his fantasy.
'Are you ready my King?'
'...Ready as I'll ever be! Let's take this retard down!'
'Come on, let's GO!' screamed Zidane as he jumped off the side of the Hilda Garde 4 into a twenty foot freefall down to the south-west balcony of Alexandria Castle. Beatrix went to jump over the edge, but was grabbed by...
'Steiner...! Let me go!'
'Beatrix! You can't jump down there, who knows what could be...'
Beatrix threw her fist forward straight into her husband's chest, and he almost fell with the force of the blow, despite his heavy armour. He looked completely shocked as she put her foot over the edge and looked back at him.
'Steiner, go through the front way and make a distraction with Vivi! Zidane and I will try and see what's causing the problems!'
And with that she jumped straight off the edge of the ship. Steiner ran towards the edge and spotted her landing safely around twenty meters away from where Zidane was standing, looking over Alexandria. The tears hidden beneath the darkened pupils of the king's eyes wouldn't come out yet.
'Beatrix!' Zidane shouted as he sprinted over to where she was standing.
'Zidane, I told Steiner and Vivi to go in the front. They can lead the full on attack alongside the others. I was thinking we could team up and sneak in to the palace quietly?'
'Sounds like a plan! But we better hurry, Alexandria's looking rough as it is...'
The two paused and sighed for a second, but then regained their composure.
'Let's get going!'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steiner stood in front of his troops with Vivi standing by his side. The difference in stature between the two was pretty incredible.
'Now men,' Steiner bellowed 'We have quite a task in front of us. We have to liberate Alexandria! But our first port of call is the castle itself. If we can gain control of the castle then we can clear the streets up ourselves.'
At this, Vivi stood forward.
'I'm guessing that Troa has an army of around 1,300 men. They all have amazing magical skills, as you could see when Cinna was fighting Marcus. However, the skills depend on the spirit of the user. Cinna had a strong, rightous heart and that made his power go through the roof. Therefore everyone won't be quite as strong as Cinna was.'
Steiner looked at his little friend with pride. In this sort of situation he would have been crying his eyes out two years ago. Vivi had certainly grown up. Steiner looked at his men with pride and looked at the captain of the Hilda Garde 4, Erin.
'Open the doors my young lady, and let's free Alexandria!'
Steiner and Vivi lunged out, ready to fight, and were immediately confronted by their foes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zidane and Beatrix ran through the corridors of Alexandria Castle, confused at the lack of soldiers inside. The place was completely empty, and although they could hear the sound of fighting far away, they were still not confronted after minutes of running.
'Dammit Beatrix, let's head to the throne room. I'm guessing what we're looking for might be cowering up there!'
They both ran up the stairs of the hallway that they were in and straight through the double doors that led to the throne room. The two burst into an empty chamber.
'...Great!' Zidane shouted 'What do we do now?!'
'Now?' a familar voice shouted behind them both as the doors shut firmly behind them both. Beatrix and Zidane turned quickly and balked in horror at who stood before them both.
'Now you die.'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kuja strolled around Conde Petit with a grimace upon his face. He HATED these dwarfs. Why couldn't they talk properly like normal, well-adjusted people? Having to say 'Tally-Ho!' at the entrance nearly destroyed his spirit for good. Suddenly he felt a little tap upon his shoulder.
'Hey sir! What are ye doin walkin around oor wee village? Ye here tae sample some of thon food we like sae much here?'
('Great...') Kuja muttered to himself and smiled at the dwarf who stood in front of him.
'Actually, I was looking for a way out of here, past Conde Petit, you know?'
'Agh! Ye cannae pass through Conde Petit withoot goin through the ceremony!'
Kuja didn't like the sound of that. Not one bit.
'...Ceremony...'
But before the dwarf could answer him, he heard the scream of little men from the room on the right. He ran through the door and was startled to see a familar figure...
'...It's you!...' Kuja gasped.
Quina stood eating his fill of the food that belonged to the residents of Conde Petit, with little dwarfs running into his bulk trying to knock him over, but to no avail. The behemoth figure of Quina just kept on eating and eating.
'Will ye get out o here ye big lug!'
'Wheesh! Away with ye!'
'Go on now, gone fae here ye'll be!'
The angry dwarfs screamed at the top of their voices, but Quina still wouldn't relent from his tireless eating. Suddenly Kuja had a great idea.
'Hey, you there!' he said, spotting someone who seemed to be the leader of these pests.
'Excuse me...' said Kuja.
'Aye laddie, I dinnae hae time for yer problems! We hae a crisis on oor hands here!'
'Yes, so I can see, but I think that I can take this creature away... on one condition...'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kuja smiled to himself. He was out of that god-awful village at last. Maybe he had switched sides, but it didn't mean he had to LIKE everything. Problem was, he'd picked up another problem...
'So you good now Mr.Kuja. What kind of food you like?'
Kuja sighed to himself. It was going to be a long trip...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Master Vivi! Don't let your guard down whatever you do!' shouted Steiner at the top of his lungs. Unfortunately for Steiner, Vivi and the army that followed them both, they didn't just have to deal with Troa's possessed army. He had decided to let the jungle flow freely through the entire palace, with the Calcutta Knights and Lindblum's troops bearly holding their own against the beasts. Suddenly Vivi was attacked from one side by a massive Behemoth, it's thick claws threatening to bury down into the mage's body. Steiner yelled and ran towards his friend, but was struck by the huge branch of an Ochu as it got in his way.
'Damn you!!!!!!' roared Steiner as he quickly buried his blade into the body of the Ochu, striking it down with one deadly move. As the monster slumped to the ground Steiner jumped over the body to see his young companion stuggling to hold off his foe. However, Vivi's power was nothing less than incredible. He had really come on over these past two years. The fact that he was able to hold off the Behemoth was pretty amazing in itself. Suddenly Steiner shook himself out of watching and yelled to Vivi.
'Master Vivi! Flare Sword now!'
Vivi blasted the creature out of his way with a quick blast of Firaga, and focused his energies onto Steiner's massive blade. Seconds later the monster was lying dead upon the ground, badly burned from the sheer impact of the blast.
'Alrighty!' cheered Vivi, 'Let's get moving!'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Troa!' Zidane and Beatrix yelled in unison.
'And you must be Zidane. How delightful that I can finally meet you in more personal circumstances. Our little night together in Lindblum was, how can I say it... crowded.'
Troa's voice was deadpan, mercilessly emotionless. It was more than Zidane could stand, and Beatrix held him back as he stuggled against her grip.
'Where the hell is Dagger! Tell me you rat bastard! Tell me!' he screamed at the top of his lungs, ready to strike out at his foe.
'Zidane, calm down!' shouted Beatrix. 'This isn't doing us any good!'
Zidane turned around to Beatrix, glaring and angry.
'Dammit Beatrix, let me go!'
'But Zid...'
'As King of Alexandria and your leader I order you to let go of me!!!' Zidane shouted. Beatrix looked almost shocked and let go of her King. He had never been known to pull rank on anyone. Zidane pulled out his daggers and turned to Beatrix.
'Look, I'm sorry Beatrix...'
She pulled Save the Queen out of her sheath and smiled with a spirit that could have warmed the heart of any man. Zidane nearly thought about hitting on her before realising he was married. 'Damned teenage hormones...' he quietly thought to himself. Suddenly Beatrix's voice pulled him out of his fantasy.
'Are you ready my King?'
'...Ready as I'll ever be! Let's take this retard down!'