I am changing the angle of the next adventure up. Just find out at the end of the story. But now it is time to rescue the Princess. As for the Eostia series, I am aiming for liberation and a revolution. I also switched and revised some things around a bit.

(Chapter Three - The Evil Forest)

Laying in a puddle face first was Erik as he twitched and started to get it up. He could hear the sounds of the forest around him. The frogs or toads croaking, insects buzzing and the beast acting in the forest itself. Wincing he grumbled and said: "What the hell is it with me and goddamn burning airships.*

Walking over, well dragging himself as his right leg was dislocated and so was his right hand making anyone cringe. Slumping against it, he grabbed a stick and bit into it as he relocated his fingers and then his leg and cried out in pain. Sighing as he drank a potion, he knew tons of spells, but found no need to use them. He preferred to hide those till needed. Pushing himself up he adjusted his swords and walked through the trees and saw the burning Prima Vista and sighed. Cinna, who was outside after bringing someone out, breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Phew...I'm beat… Hurry up and put out the fire! I can't carry 'em all by myself!"

Zenero walks out of the ship and places a wounded person on the ground as one of the band members rushed over and started tending to them. Cinna looked around and said: "What the hell are they doin'!? The whole ship's gonna burn up!"

Zenero looked at him and said: "They're lookin' for Garnet... Can't find her anywhere. Maybe she fell off... Got squashed under the ship."

Cinna paled and shouted, throwing his arms up and said: "This is great. First we kidnap her, then we kill her. We'll hang for sure."

Erik watched Zidane rush out of some nearby trees and he decided to join him and both rushed up to Cinna as he said: " Zidane, Erik, I'm surprised you both made it! I can't believe you jumped off! You're both nuts, you two know that?"

Erik smacked upside the head and said: " We didn't jump dumbass, we've got thrown off. Had to relocate my hand and leg by the way."

Cinna then said while rubbing the back of his head: "Yeah. We've all got the devil's luck. But if we don't find Princess Garnet, we're all dead meat."

He then said: "I saw her get thrown off with the kid earlier. Both held onto one another, as for the knight I'm not sure."

Rushing off the duo went to go find them and by following a path they found Vivi backing away on the ground. Both rushed over and Zidane asked: "What is that thing!"

It was a bulb plant master with a vine-like cage on top of itself and two tentacle arms. Steiner aimed his sword at the beast and shouted as he arrived minutes before: "Release the princess at once!!!"

Zidane and Erik rushed up to him as the monkey boy said while drawing his blades: "Yeah, like it's gonna really listen to you. Come on!"

But then an aura radiated around Zidane and he gained a bright glow surprising everyone. As the glow ended it showed Zidane's body gained a massive change as he had a more muscular form with fur covering his upper torso and his legs completely as his hair seemed spikey. Steiner then said: "Is this, is this trance."

Zidane stomped the ground as five pillars of energy burst around the plant making it cry out. It flung its tentacle at Erik who deflected and rushed slashed ng off both tentacles and Steiner lunged and did Minus strike nailing the beast. The beast began to roll at them, but Erik performed his attack he used on Beatrix, Dragon Fang and knocked the plant cage back as Zidane and Steiner came down from above and destroyed it. Steiner laughed triumphantly and Zidane cheered, but Erik looked up and said: "Incoming!"

Another one came down and swiped her and used its tentacle to knock them all down. The second cage tentacles shot up and he shouted, extending his hand: "Princess? PRINCESS!!!"

Zidane then asked in shock: "What the heck? Where did they go?"

Vivi trembled and said: "She's gone… I was too scared to cast any spells... That monster's probably gonna eat her..."

Steiner clenched his fist and started banging them on the ground and said: "How could I let this happen!?"

Erik looked in the direction and said: "Don't worry. She's not dead yet. That monster was only a minion. He's probably gonna take her to his master."

Steiner looked up in hope and said: "That means the princess might still be - Come! We must go find her at once!"

But then the body of the monster let out some sort of green fog and Erik's eyes widened and he shouted: "Back up, it's the spores!"

But it was too lateVivi is knocked out, and Steiner proclaims "P-Prin-cess."

Zidane who evaded it in time sighed and both nodded their heads and grabbed them and took them back to the Prima Vista for rest. Back at the airship in one of the surviving rooms as Blank was attending to Steiner and Vivi helping them survive. Blank looks at them as he stares at Vivi: "You guys are lucky. If it weren't for Erik and Zidane, you'd both be dead. Some of the monsters in this forest reproduce by planting seeds in other animals. And when the seeds sprout, it's hasta la vista: you become beef jerky."

Vivi coughed and said: " A-Am I gonna die?"

Blank then said: "No. You're gonna be fine. Here, drink this. It'll remove all the seeds from your body."

Vivi dranked the vial and nearly puked at the taste as Steiner began to leave as the young mage said: "Ugh...yuck..." But Steiner could only say weakly: "Princess... I'm coming right now..." Erik walks in and stops him and says: "Easy man, you're in no shape to rescue anyone. Once you're in better shape will get her, but right now rest."

The man nodded, despite Erik's profession at the moment, the young man had saved his life and hobbled back to the bed and lied down. Looking at Blank he said: "I have news, me and Marcus finished the inventory check, we have enough supplies to make it back to Lindblum by rationing it, the bad thing is it will be a long tiring journey if we don't find a shortcut."

Taking the medicine, Steiner shrugged and enjoyed the taste of it. Erik walked to go meet Baku and Zidane, upon entry he heard: "Forget it. Monsters born out of the Mist are crawling everywhere."

Zidane then said: "So what? There's nothing out there we can't handle."

Baku grunted and said: ""Yeah, but what are we gonna do about the wounded?"

Zidane then said, trying to get the boss to budge: "We can take 'em with us."

Baku turned away from him and said: "How are we gonna carry all of them? Trust me. We go out now, and we'll all get wasted. My boys come before the princess, you know. It's too bad..." Erik coughed and said: " I might have a solution for a transportation of the wounded"

Baku then said: " Go on, let's hear it!"

Erik then said: " While the Prima is toasted, me, Cinna, Marcus and Blank noticed a good portion of the ship and material can still be used to make something. There is a river nearby that will take us right out of the forest. It starts as a stream before opening up. We can make a small wagon-like boat with a sail and steer it. We have enough material for three, enough for the wounded and supplies as well as to have a housing situation. Bene and Zene are already constructing them since the flames are out."

Baku laughed and said: "Nice job kid."

One que Bene came in and started cutting out some of the good wood in the wall and rushed out. Baku then said: "I better go check on the progress then."

As he leaves, Zidane clenched his fist and said: "I can't believe he is giving up on here, he hardly even asked about Ruby."

Sighing he said: "Hey, we'll get her even if we go rogue. But listen, we need a plan, father any spare items you can find and meet me by the opening."

Nodding he rushed off and Erik went back to the other room and saw Vivi and Steiner both sitting up. Vivi then said: "Oh… Mr. Erik, Th-Thank you for helping me."

Steiner nodded and said: " Yes, thank you good sir."

Erik nodded and said: "You're both welcomed…" looking at the kid he asked: "What's wrong…" he trembled and said: "I did nothing to help Miss Garnet, when we were in danger I froze and let her get taken. I just couldn't…" he felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up seeing a soft smile Erik as he said: " It's fine, we all are afraid at times. But how we approach our fears is what makes us strong. We'll get her back."

He nodded and said: " Thank you, Mr. Erik."

He chuckled and said: " Just call me Erik, I'm not that old."

Vivi nodded and said: "Okay… Erik."

Steiner looked at him with a prideful smile and he said: "I'll let you two get some rest. I'll come back within an hour with some grub and tell you our plan."

Leaving the room he sighed and began walking amongst the wreckage and saw Cinna cooking on a makeshift pit. Blank noticed him and said: "There you are. Cinna said food will be done within a half hour. So what are you doing, saw Zidane scavenging for anything that might have been trapped in some debris and pulled out a few things?"

Looking at him he said: "Me and Zidane are taking the mage and knight to go rescue her."

Blank and Cinna looked as if he was suicidal and Blank said: " You're fucking crazy! Man, you don't even know what's out there. Besides, there's no way the boss will allow that."

He smirked and said: " I know, I will not condemn someone if I can do something. Besides, I am seeing this job through to the end."

Walking away he saw Baku waddling as he was covered in some bruises and he said: " Go find your princess!"

He smacked him on his back and laughed. Within an hour Erik and Zidane reentered the room with two plates and handed them to the duo and he said: "We're going out to rescue the Princess, you in Rusty?"

Steiner looked offended and he said: " RR...RUSTY!!!? I am Adelbert Steiner, Captain of the Knights of Pluto, and I will never work with you conniving thieves!"

Erik bonked them both on the head and he said: " Shut it, both of you. The more we bicker, the more we will run out of time to find her. Listen Steiner, we both want to rescue Garnet. She acted like she wanted to leave the palace for her sack… before you say anything, have you noticed anything odd?"

The man froze mid chew, confirming he had and he asked: " But who hired you."

Erik said: " Her uncle, Cid did. He grew nervous around Brahne as the last time they spiked, he said she acted way more distant and power lustful and asked us to get Garnet at all cost."

Hearing this, the Captain then said: " You had better not be lying! Of noble blood or not. Because if you are, I won't hesitate to kill you!"

Erik nodded and Zidane looked confused by this and Vivi said: "Be careful, okay?"

Zidane then said: "Actually, we want you to come with us, too."

Vivi looked surprised and said;: "Huh!? B-But I can't do anything."

Erik shook his head and said: "Don't sell yourself short Vivi, I sense so much untapped potential and power from you."

Steiner then said and pointed at Zidane " Master Vivi. He is correct that your magic was highly effective against that monster. In all honesty, I hold your power in greater esteem than I do this scoundrel's."

Vivi looked afraid and said: "B-But...I'm scared. I couldn't even move last time."

Steiner kneeled before him and said: "Please, Master Vivi. For the sake of Princess Garnet, and all of Alexandria, I humbly request your assistance!"

Zidane smirked and said to him: "Come on! You're a black mage, for crying out loud! Show us what you've got! Alright, let's get going."

Vivi was sickened but nodded his head and said:"...Okay. I'll... try my best."

Steiner smiled and said: "Thank you, Master Vivi. Master Vivi… It's about your black magic. I wish to try an experiment…" he then whispered it to him and said: "

Making their way to the exit the group then saw Blank waiting for them and he said: " Sheez... you really dig her, huh?"

Shaking his head he said: "It's not like that. Besides…" the image of Kasia Pinder on the ground struggling to breathe as she cried out for someone to save him.

Clenching his fist he said: "I could never forgive myself for letting someone die on my watch."

Looking as Vivi handed the Moogle a letter as he was helping with the mail delivery service, he didn't mind. Even the troupe received letters late because of this very mess. They were close to the monster's base, holding a leather wristband that he swiped from the body along with a spare broadsword from the beast they had in Spain he sighed and knew this would be a journey. Steiner looked at Erik and he said: "You carry yourself like someone of noble birth. Yet you affiliate yourselves with mongrels, why?"

He sighed and looked at the small opening and said: "Because as long as I could remember… my family had wanted me dead. If it wasn't for an accident I wouldn't have lived for another day. I didn't even know the troupe for more than three years. I was raised by a distant relative and trained to protect myself and grow stronger. That's all I will say about it."

Climbing up a nearby tree he looked and saw a larger tree covered in vines and pulled out his telescope and noticed some of those cages coming and going from there. Climbing back down he said: " I saw where he took her, a gigantic tree nearby. It has those plant cages all over it. Seems like they are hunkering down though and merged with the tree itself."

Preparing for the next stretch, the group rushed off and headed toward the large tree and blasting their way through any foe that crossed them.

Back in Castle Gtomgard Fay was assisting the recovery of the hives and artifacts that may have survived. Her eyes widened as she, her husband and in law had felt the two hives. But it seems that Cryos not only wielded the staff of the second overlord, but also had the Shield spell in his grasp and both blue in and green hives. Seems Gnarl had been misinformed or lied to them, but the fourth roared and zeroed in on someone else, it was a dark skin man garbed in the elemental armor that had changed to resemble a paladin's armor. Back with the party, cutting down a few dendrobiums, dozens of goblins and packs of fangs they arrived just below the final stretch. Erik then said: "Tight formation, we've come this far and there is no going back now."

The trio nodded and they rushed, rushing into the main chamber the group saw a massive tree like flower that was moving and behind it, bound by vines was Garnet. Vivi cries out pointing at her: "There she is!"

Zidane looked upon the beast and said: "So, this is the master."

Steiner cried out: "Princess!!!"

Erik drew his blades and said: " Get ready, time to cook some veggies!"

Zidane then said: "Let's get it."

(Play Ff9 Boss theme)

The giant plant roared and hurled its tentacle at them. The part evaded as Zidane and Erik jumped as both Steiner and Vivi hit the deck. Steiner got up and slashed at the base of it. Zidane came down and stabbed it before grabbing something and jumped back. Flipping off he had grabbed a helmet and stuffed it in his enchanted pouch. Erik rushed and performed dragon fang getting a heavy hit in.

But he evaded a bolt of lightning from it, casting thunder. Soon the plant beast rained down the attack as everyone kept evading but Steiner and Vivi got struck making the stagger and getting hit by a tentacle. Vivi got up and coated Steiner sword with fire and the knight cut deep and burned the plant. Erik took a stance and performed a minus stroke dealing a heavy blow. But the beast knocked him back and grabbed him. Vivi reacted and set the tentacle a blaze. Freeing himself, Steiner rushed and performed his own before blocking a strike from the plant.

Zidane came rushing around and sliced off the tentacle making it roar and spewed some black spores at them, but they evaded and readied for more. But rushing up from behind them armed was Blank as he said: "Whew, I made it just in time. Now step aside. I'll take care of this."

Erik chuckled and spun his blades as Blank carved into it. Zidane followed and slashed near the flower, but then they had to avoid a barrage of thunderbolts, Erik rushed and double thrusted into the plant and flipped over Steiner as he came in with another fire sword. The beast screeched and spewed its black spores and Vivi cried out covering his eyes. Erik rushed over and applied some eye drops as Steiner shielded them as Blank and Zidane carved into it yet again. Once he could see Vivi, hurled a fireball at it making it cry out as the fire spread over it and it withered in pain before falling over and began wilting.

(Song End)

Zidane jumped up and cut the Princess as Erik caught her he kneeled on the ground and Steiner rushed to her aid with the veil. She began hacking up some blood and Steiner paled and uncorked it and said: "Princess, please try to drink all of it."

Vivi then asked in concern as she finished it: "Is she gonna be okay?"

Before anything else could be said, the body of the wilted burned flower crumbled and opened up as a hole. Then two small bugs with flowers on their back emerged. A third one entered from another opening and Erik handed Steiner, Garnet and shouted: "RUN!"

As they began running from the monsters, they got cut off a few times, but we're able to fend them off and snatched some items from them. As they continued running with more of those spiders behind them: Vivi up front, followed by Steiner Garnet, Blank, Erik and Zidane in the back. All of a sudden, Zidane stops running; so does Blank who then asks: "What are you doin'!?"

Zidane turns back and looks behind them and says: "Something's wrong..."

Blank then asked: "What?"

Erik who rushed back saw what Zidane was seeing and his eyes widened as the entire forest came alive and was after them.

Zidane then said, admitting: "The entire forest is coming after us. Blank... Take care of everyone."

Zidane and Erik begin running. As the five are running, and behind them, dozens upon dozens, possibly hundreds, of bug creatures. The entire forest is getting petrified, as well. Erik, at the back of the ground, is about to get caught in the grasp of a bug, but is pushed aside by Blank, who gets caught in the bug's grasp. As the wave of petrification reaches the bugs, making them immobile, Blank launches the map which Baku gave him to Erik who, still running, picks it up and makes the final sprint for the exit. A series of the forest vines attempt to stab, jab, and hit Zidane and Erik in any way possible, but he outmaneuvered them all, taking one final leap out of the forest.

Steiner, Erik, Vivi and Zidane look upon it as the entrance becomes completely petrified, and a final shot of inside the forest, with a petrified Blank, is shown to still be in a throwing motion. Zidane and Erik were banging on the stone vine wall trying to get back in. But nothing, no avail. Zidane stopped and clenched his fist before saying: "Dammit!!! That idiot! Blank..." Outside the forest a camp was being set up to rest for the remainder of the night as midnight passed and all were exhausted.

Steiner is watching over the sleeping Garnet, while Vivi is sitting in front of the fire and Zidane is working on the tent and Erik came back from collecting more firewood and started pulling out some premade rations for everyone.

Vivi looks at her sleeping form and says: "I hope she gets well soon..."

Steiner clenched his fist and Erik said; "We made it in time, ten more minutes without that potion… you get the idea."

Nodding their heads they started to hear groaning and looked as Garnet said: "...Oh..."

Steiner then said in surprise seeing her tired exhausted face had awakened: "P-Princess!!!"

Garnet then said: "...Steiner? ...How did I survive...? You brought me here?"

Steiner kneeled before her and said: "It is my sworn duty to protect you at any cost."

Zidane then said: "What are you talking about? It was Vivi's magic, Erik's blade and my dagger that got you out of there, Princess."

Garnet smiled weakly and said: "I thank you three."

Steiner then said: "That monkey deserves no praise! "None of this would've happened if you and your band hadn't abducted the princess! And how dare you claim that you have rescued her!?"

Garnet then said surprising everyone: *Steiner...I left the castle of my own will. If they hadn't come, I would have sucked out anyway."

Zidane laughed and said: " What a coincidence, eh? We went to snatch her, and she wanted to be snatched."

Steiner cried out not wanting to believe it: "Impossible!"

Garnet then said weakly: "It's true."

Zidane looked at the knight and extended his hand and said: "So what do you say, Rusty? Friends? Come on, let's just enjoy this camping trip while it lasts."

Steiner growled and said: "Camping - you imbecile! Surely even you must know something about the Mist. The vicious monsters it spawns! The abnormalities it stirs in the mind and body! Princess, we must leave this dangerous place at once."

Zidane looked at him and said: "You've gotta be kidding. She hasn't even fully recovered yet."

Steiner then shouted: "Silence! Who asked for your opinion!?"

Having enough Erik bonked them both on the head, shutting them both up and said: "Shut it, both of you! Right now none of us are going anywhere, we are too close to the Evil Forest as it seems like all monsters are staying away from this place. So for now we are safe. And where would you go Steiner, in the mist alone at knight is far worse than in the day, plus both north and south gate are closed off. The princess can barely move and needs her rest, according to the map Blank handed us, the only route we can take is up through the ice cavern, it comes south just ways away from Dali on Nolrich Heights. From there we can find a way to get to Lindblum."

Everyone remained silent and he then said: " Good, finish your meals and get some rest. Steiner will handle the first watch, then me and lastly Zidane, Vivi is too young to handle the strain.

Steiner nodded and sat on a tree stump. As everyone else entered the tent after eating, three hours later Erik yawned and pinched the bridge of nose and took his shift sending the knight into the tent and he took the spot and kept some of the fire a light. Seeing in two hours his time was up he went back inside and kicked Zidane and passed out sending him outside. Next day after Zidane chatted about Blank's fate and meeting anMoogle named Monty and Zidane remained he received a letter from Ruby and told them she had easily gotten work at the tavern and wished them all luck. Even had a photo for Zidane making Erik tease the guy. Along the way they faced goblins, My and large Pythons and obtained Potions, Orea, Ethers, Each Screens, an herb to heal temporarily muteness, Phoenix down to rejuvenate a completely knocked out person even found some more eye drops and potions for their wounds, but soon the Cavern was in sight.

I've decided to change it up. No more fable, but another killer game to add. Also Cryos being an elf would have a much better setting in Eostia. Anyway Endiness, can anyone guess that. But I will say it is a legend of dragons. Now then, how will the next world be, and yes it will be in its own book as well. Also he will use some of the Overlord spells as he won't need some of them.

Relics and Targets:

Frenzy, Domination, The Evil Eye, Brown Hive - location: Gaia, target: Hakon.

Lightning, Halo, Elemental Armor - location Terran, target: Sir Cedric

Shield, Staff of the Overlord, Blue and Green hive - location: New World, target: Cryos.

Slow, Azure Sword, Overlord Sarcophagus - location: Britannia, target: Lady Clarissa

Fire, Mace of the First Overlord, Infernal Armor, Helmet Red Hive - location: Endiness, target: Inferna

Power Drain, Petrify, Sword of Life-Steal, Location: Eostia, target: Malady and Sparkles

Overlord Wives/Mistresses

Garnet Til Alexandros/Sarah - Mistress

Overlord Concubines

Freya Crescent

Beatrix Steiner