A/N: Yes, I know, last chapter wasn't that great, but I kind
of meant things to be a little more serious in Evil Forest, don't worry,
Jade'll mess more stuff up in Ice Cavern (Oh, what plans I have *evil grin*)
This one's pretty similar to 10; in place of the humor, it has *gasps* plot
development. (There's a guy outside setting off fireworks in the middle of the
day -_-" It's very annoying.) Lol. Anyway, (the fireworks sound like nails on a
chalk board _) on with the chapter!
**** Jade's P.O.V ****
While I was passed out, I had the strangest dream… A man in a black cloak
followed me wherever I went saying things like "I have found you, I have finally
found you…" He had caught up with me, and was just about to take the hood off,
when I woke up.
"Gah! Leave me alone!!!" I shot up to a
sitting position breathing heavily. Blank was standing next to the bed staring
at me like I'd gone insane.
"I think that monster's seeds affected
your brain."
It took me a while to clam down, realizing I was on the Prima Vista and not
some creepy forest helped a lot.
"I… was just having a bad dream that's
all." I looked around the room, "What happened…? Where's Vivi!? Is everyone
ok!?"
"Calm down, everyone's fine, but you'd
all be dead if it weren't for Zidane. Now drink this," Blank handed me a bottle
of a purple goo medicine. "That monster planted seeds inside your body, this
stuff'll remove 'em."
I swallowed the stuff, which reminded me a lot of the Pepto-Bismol I used to
take at home. {Yes, the gross pink minty stuff. Bleh}
After I'd finished, I realized I was
missing my chance to quit Tantalus.
"Blank! I have to go!"
I tried to stand up only to be pushed back.
"You need to rest, you haven't fully
recovered yet."
(Wait,) I thought to myself, (I'll have
another chance…)
"Fine." I sat back down and decided to
wait.
After a while, Zidane and Vivi came in to see how I was doing.
"Hi guys." It was nice to know they
didn't forget about me.
"A-are you alright?" The little mage
walked up to me.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for helping me
back there. You've got some major power, y'know?"
"I don't know… It was Mr. Zidane that
saved you, and I couldn't even do anything when that monster caught the
Princess."
"Whoa, hold it." Zidane started,
"That's the first time anyone's called me 'Mr.' Just Zidane ok?"
Vivi nodded. "And besides, there's no way we could've gotten Jade outta there
without your black magic."
"And about the Princess," I couldn't
believe I was going to say this, mainly because I didn't want the
Princess back, "We'll get her back, piece of cake!"
"Vivi," Zidane started, "would you go
see where that knight is? I have a feeling we'll be leaving soon."
Vivi nodded and walked out. I realized that I hadn't even thanked Zidane for
saving me; I spent all that time talking to Vivi… After Vivi had left and
closed the door, I turned to Zidane. At first, I didn't really know what to
say; then I realized how stupid I was being…
"Thank you Zidane." It was as simple as
that.
He smiled, "What are partners for? Anyway, I think it was really brave of you
to get Vivi out of the way of that monster… But geez Jade! You could've been
killed! Don't pull a stunt like that again."
I couldn't believe he was lecturing me like that, was he really that worried
about me?
I smirked; my saying has always been, 'if you've got the cards in your hand,
play 'em.' "Ohh, I get it, you were worried about me, huh? C'mon, admit it."
"Well…Uhh…" He stared at the floor a
while, "Just don't do anything like that again ok?"
"I can't make any promises, but I'll
try."
Nothing more was said for a moment, I always hated the 'awkward silence' that
seemed to follow nearly every conversation I'd had in my life. Zidane sat
thinking to himself, and it was when I realized he was thinking about her
that I broke the silence.
"I'm going with you y'know." I stated
simply.
"Huh?"
I sighed, "I know you're leaving Tantalus to go look for her, and I'm
going with you."
I know Zidane gave me some sort of big argument on why I shouldn't go, but I'd
completely zoned him out, the only thing I could hear was 'blah blah blah,
BLAH! Blah blah! Blah...' Well, you get the picture… and after a while, I
couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Jade…? Jade!? Did you hear anything I
just said?"
"Not one bit," I smiled.
I'd never seen Zidane so serious before; I was staying weather I liked it or
not.
"Fine, I'll stay," I sighed before
quickly adding, "For now."
"Alright then… I
guess I'll see you later."
(Sooner than you think) I mused to myself.
I don't know how long I sat by myself; it would have helped if I'd had my watch
with me-
"Wait!" I thrust my hand into my pocket and grabbed my wallet. I'd
completely forgotten I'd been wearing the same pants I had on Earth this whole
time. I jumbled the various gum wrappers and pennies around trying to locate
the watch I'd gotten from my friend.
"There you are!" I
grabbed the tiny watch and held it up to my ear, hoping that after all that had
happened, it still worked, and it did.
Also one of my favorite necklaces fell out.
It was just something I'd made for an Anime Expo… it wasn't important… I shoved
it back in my pocket and continued searching through my wallet. I knew I had
some pictures… I un-zipped another part of it and there they were, one of me
with my friends, another with my kitties, and then, with my family… My eyes
started to tear up, when I heard a knock at the door. I quickly scrambled to
regain my composure and stuffed everything back in my pocket.
"Y-yes?"
"Are you coming or not?"
Blank opened the door and looked at me, "I heard you and Zidane talking, I
figured you'd wanna go with me when I take them this." He tossed me the map of
the Mist Continent.
"Of coarse I'm coming! Let's go!" I
jumped up enthusiastically and dashed out the door with Blank following behind
me.
"Wait!" He shouted, "Don't think you're
heading into a battle like that and expect to win."
Blank tossed me an arm guard and when I slowed down enough for him to catch up
to me, he gave me a new sword and a potion.
"And where am I supposed to put this?"
I held up the potion.
"You have pockets don't you? Put it in
there!"
"Uhh, I knew that!"
As we approached I saw the plant brain thing attacking Zidane.
"Alright you meany! Leave Zidane
alone!" I shouted making my entrance.
Zidane turned around, "Jade, what're
you-!?"
The plant hit Zidane again and sent him flying into the vine-covered wall.
"That's it!" I yelled charging the
plant, "You're dead meat- er… vegetable!"
It whipped one of its spiked vines at me leaving a gash on my forehead, and
keeping me back.
I reached up and felt blood flowing
down my face. My eyes started to water, I never could handle pain very well.
"T-that hurt you stupid bastard!"
Cursing at the monster was the only way I could keep myself from crying. I
grabbed the potion from my pocket, but put it back realizing I'd probably need
it more later.
With Vivi and Steiner using Fire/ Fire
Sword attacks, and Zidane, Blank and I attacking from all angles, the plant was
quickly defeated. {Wow, we beat up a plant! Is it just me, or does that
sound really sad?}
The ground started
to shake, and several plant/bugs surrounded us while Steiner was trying to get
the Princess to drink the gross medicine Blank had given him. We got out just
in time, and were shortly pursued by the entire forest.
Everything began to petrify behind us,
and vines leaped in our way trying to trap us within the stone prison. I
doubted I'd ever get used to this 'running for your life' thing, I'd failed PE
miserably, and now this? I tripped over one of the thrashing vines and skidded
along the forest floor, whacking my head on a rock.
"Why is everything in this world
trying to kill me!?!?"
Zidane turned back and grabbed my hand pulling me forward.
"We don't have time for this! C'mon!"
Zidane shouted, "Are you hurt?"
"Well, aside from the bleeding gash on
my forehead, and smashing into a rock, I'm fine."
I felt something right behind us, and
turned my head to see one of those plant/bugs about to grab me, when Blank
shoved us out of the way.
"Blank!"
He threw the map and Zidane started off running again, yanking me along also.
I could see the end of the forest; we were so close! I felt rock beneath me as
I ran and if Zidane hadn't pushed me out, I probably would've ended up like
Blank, but a vine hit him in the back of the head, knocking him out of the
forest, and out cold.
A/N: I'm so happy! Not only have I finished another chapter (thank you all for
waiting so patiently) but I also have 50 reviews!!! Thank you sooooo much! I'm
really glad everyone likes this! Well, it's 2 in the morning, so I'm goin' to
sleep. Bye!
