Yona led the Blue Narciss across the ocean, flying just above and ahead of it.
"Are you sure we can trust her?" Steiner asked as he watched the dragon on the deck.
"I'm sure of it," Zidane replied, slightly annoyed. Everyone had been asking him that.
"Oh, Yona… I don't know what to do…" Mallory said to him softly.
~ Whatever it is, you seem to be doing it already. ~
" What will Kuja do when he finds out I betrayed him?"
~ Well…You could really act like a double agent, and tell Kuja you acted like you were on their side, then led them to him. ~
"How'd you get so smart for a dragon? That's a great idea! I'll have to tell them to play along and act like I double crossed them…"
Yona swooped down to the deck and landed softly. "You're supposed to be leading us!" Steiner scolded. "Wait a second, let me talk," Mallory said as she got off Yona's back. "Zidane, I have a plan."
"Do tell."
"So Kuja won't be angry at me but you still get to the palace, I'll tell him I was a double agent for you and told you I was on your side while I was actually leading you to him. He'll fall for it, I think."
"That's a great idea. Air tight."
"So, I need you guys to act like I betrayed you. You know, play along."
"Sounds good. I'll got tell the others." He and Steiner went into the ship to spread the news. Mallory got back and Yona and they lifted back up into the sky.
"That set things straight, I hope."
~ As do I. ~
"Look, there's the Kiera Desert…We're getting closer."
~ You seem nervous. ~
"…I am."
The Blue Narciss pulled onto the beach and Mallory watched the party get off as she hovered. Zidane waved at her and she continued to lead them, only a little slower so they could keep up. Right outside the quicksand pit they stopped. "Okay, I'll go in first. You guys wait a few minutes then bust in. And for gods sake be convincing."
"No need to worry," Zidane assured, "We're all good actors." Dagger nodded.
Mallory took a last look around and put one foot in the quicksand. "Good luck."
The cool breeze sensation welcomed her. She landed lightly in the same corridor from the first time. She heard a loud voice that came from everywhere and nowhere. "Ah, I'm glad you've arrived. Step on the teleporter, my little bird."
"Kuja?" No response. She stepped on the glowing panel and was taken directly to his room. He was sitting on his bed reading. He looked up at her and smiled. "Kuja," she nodded. "I tricked the party of morons. They followed me here, thinking I was on their side. Now, we can take care of them together." She smiled as evilly as she could.
"Perfect," Kuja said, elated. He slapped his book shut and set it on the night stand. "Let's go." He got up and ran to the door. Mallory followed him. "Now, which way are they coming in from?" he asked as he made his way down the hall in a fast stride. "The quicksand, of course," Mallory huffed.
"Good, let's wait for them in the corridor." They teleported to where Mallory had come in and waited.
Please be safe, Mallory prayed. I want this to end with no casualties.
After what seemed like forever, but was actually only two minutes, Zidane, Dagger, and Eiko appeared out of nowhere, followed by Freya, Steiner, Amarant, Quina, and Vivi. "Ah, welcome to my humble abode," Kuja said, arms outstretched. Mallory winked at Zidane over Kuja's shoulder. Zidane saw but didn't acknowledge. "You bitch! You tricked us!" he yelled at her very convincingly. Mallory laughed. "And you thought I'd actually abandoned Kuja and come to your side? You're stupider then you look!" Zidane growled and pulled out his dagger. Everyone else followed his example and drew their weapons. Mallory felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the insane glint in Kuja's eyes.
He's going to kill them all, she thought. What should I do?
She did the only thing she could think of. "Out of the way, Kuja! I'll handle them!" she pushed him lightly out of the way.
"Oh, okay then. Take care of them."
Mallory charged a spell in her hands. Dagger cast reflect on everyone. Mallory didn't aim at anything in particular, she jut let the spell go crashing around the room, then she fainted. She had used way too much energy. At this point Kuja captured the others and locked them up.
When Mallory woke she wandered about until she heard a voice. It was Kuja. He was babbling about how he was going to kill all of them unless Zidane did something for him. Mallory went closer to the noise to find herself outside their cells. Zidane's opened and he came out. He looked over any Mallory but didn't say anything. Kuja told him to walk to the middle of the room where the two black mages were. He went between them and was teleported away. Mallory went to wait for him at the airship dock.
She sneaked onto the Hildagarde when Zorn and Thorn weren't looking and hid herself in the storage. She could only imagine what Kuja would do to her if he found out she had left to help the enemy.
After being bored out of her skull for a half-hour, the ship lurched into the air, startling her. Zidane must be onboard now, she thought. She picked herself up from between the two boxes and slowly made her way towards the deck. She saw Zidane standing a few feet away from the hatch were she was peering out. Zorn and Thorn were no where to be seen. "Psst! Zidane!" she whispered. Zidane looked around confused, as if he wondered if he heard anything. Mallory cautiously reached her hand out and tapped his boot. He lay down on his stomach and looked into the darkness of the crack between the hatch and the deck. "Mallory?" he said after squinting for a few moments.
"Yes! Get down here before someone notices you sitting like that and talking!"
Zidane slid under the hatch and they locked it from their side. "What are you doing here?" Zidane whispered into the darkness.
"I'm here to help you." He looked puzzled. "Listen," she started. "Kuja has a trap for all of the friends you left behind. If you don't get back pretty darn fast they'll all fall to a fiery death! I'll help you fight and such so you can get out faster."
"Why didn't you stay there and stop him?"
"He was going to lock me in my room. I…read is journal. He keeps it by his bedside. It said something about him knowing I would go against him and that he would lock me in my room in case I go a 'surge of virtue'."
"When did you read it?"
"Oh, just before I got on the ship. The door was open when I passed so…"
"Good thinking. Well, I guess we'd better tell those black mages to hurry it up and get us there."
"Pray to the gods that he doesn't decide you've taken too long…"
Zidane looked back at her through the darkness. "I will. Believe me I will."
Author's note: Okay, okay, here's more ^^ I'm glad you people seem to like it. Well, if you have any suggestions (which I sorely need) or comments or anything e-mail me at Pretty_Selphie@hotmail.com. Thanks for your support (uh, I think)!