Have a nice Christmas? A thousand apologies I didn't update, I was on holiday and had no access to a computer ...and to Sparks, the one who said sorry was Sarah, cause she knew that getting close to Zidane was a bad idea. Anyway, here's chapter 6, *falls over in realising I got that far..gasp!* Enjoy this nice looooong chapter! (yeah, right.. this is a last minute job...)
Chpt 6 : The return of Mariah
Sarah struggled to clear her mind. Her and Zidane's little 'chat' had not done her any favours, maybe it was wise to avoid him for now ... now that she knew what he really was...
("Your such an idiot, Sarah.. messing around with his head like that, let alone messing around with your own..") She looked down at the water which made a huge white wake behind the Blue Narciss, slowly foaming out on the surface.
("Why? Why me?") Sarah brushed back her hair as she looked at the night sky. ("I should have never got involved in this! I should have listened to Eiko..") Sarah's wandering thoughts were abruptly cut short when a large shock from under the boat ran through the decks.
"What in the name of..?!" She pulled herself up (after falling over from the impact of the bump) and ran to the cabin.
"You felt it too?!" Tei was clutching the railings tightly. "What the hell was that?!"
"I don't know, but whatever it was, it was huge!" Sarah's eyes darted over the water's surface from the cabin. "Maybe it's a sea monst..!?" The large bump happened again, knocking all three companions to the floor.
"What do you think it is?!" Tei and Sarah balanced themselves.
"I'll tell you what it is! It's dead!" Zidane drew his weapon and ran from the cabin, disappearing from sight.
"He's mad!" The girls swiftly followed him to the starboard side, until their attacker met their gaze. It was a huge water serpent, the one that ate sailors and crushed ships in fairy tales, one that could easily squash the Blue Narciss to paste... it was Leviahthan.
"You're really pissing me off now!" Zidane seemed fearless in the face of his adversary, much to Sarah's awe and admiration. He held the Exploda at arms length, ready to swipe at the creature as it was leaning over the boat.
"WATCH FOR IT'S TAIL!!!" Sarah spotted the tail of the beast as it swished over Zidane's head, luckily he avoided the attack.
"It's gonna bump the boat again! Hold onto something!!!" Tei screamed as the bulk of the monster's scaly body squeezed against the boat, again knocking everyone to the floor.
Sarah felt herself slip to the side of the boat, and into the dark waters below her..
"ZIDANE!!! SARAH'S GOING OVER!!!" Tei caught his attention as they both saw Sarah scream as she fell into the waves.
"SARAH!!!" Zidane dropped his weapon and dived into the water after her...
**************************
"Darson?! Do you really think that was wise?!" One of his companions shook his arm in an attempt to bring him to his senses.
"Yes, I did! She's not a mere human, she would survive Leviahthan's power." Darson and his party stood on the Conde Piete cliff, watching the nightscape before them.
"Darson, you bastard! How could you do that to her?! I thought you lov.." Eiko shouted.
"Silence! Your simply here to track her down, not comment!" Darson yelled, making his companions flinch. "Once Leviahthan has destroyed their ship, the currents will take them to Alexandria bay. That is our destination.." Darson felt the winds turn east to Alexandria, and raised his hand for the company to follow him.
**************************
("I feel so... cold. Why is everything so dark? Zidane? Tei? Where am I?") Sarah's eyes slowly opened to a salty sting and transparent blue emptiness. Suddenly it struck her.
("I feel so light headed and.. I'm under water!?") Sarah breathed out violently only to find bubbles rushed from her mouth.
("I need air! But where's the surface?!") Sarah looked around to find everything was a deep blue, there was no wavy surface, and no light coming from above her.
("I'm.. gonna die..drown..") Sarah's mind flashed thousands of colours as her lungs strained and her head pounded with the lack of oxygen.
("..Zidane..I..I..need..you..") Sarah sensed her consciousness fading, but felt a pair of hands grab her clothes and pull her upwards, until she felt air on her face.. The cold sea air bit her wet form as the pair of arms supported her and held her head up.
("Zidane..?") Sarah turned her head to see the familiar cerulean eyes and the now wet, blonde hair. Her weariness finally took a hold as her eyes shut, and the sound of Zidane calling her name drowned out of her ears...
****************************
-- Two Days Later --
"So, Captain? Are they Eidolons?" General Beatrix, the most feared female warrior on the Mist continent stood in the dungeons of Alexandria prison, waiting for the captain's report.
"Yes, ma'am, one of them is an Eidolon, but one of them is a summoner aswell."
"Excellent. Are they ready to talk?" Beatrix tossed her brown hair over one shoulder.
"Yes ma'am, this way." The captain led her through a maze of cells before reaching three particularly dark cells in the very corner of the prison.
"We sent the wolf-girl here, just in case she knew anything. But the Eidolon is in that cell, and the Summoner in that one." The captain pointed to the three cells in order.
"Thankyou captain. You may go." Beatrix dismissed the soldier before approaching the guard outside the summoner's cell.
"What is her name?"
"It's Sarah, ma'am. She seems to be the silent type..." The guard explained.
"Where did you find them?"
"On Alexandria bay, ma'am. The currents must have taken them there, because all of them were unconscious apart from the eidolon. We found some ship wreck amongst them aswell."
"Keep going."
"Oh... err.. The Wolf-girl had shock for about one day, so we put her in here. But today two more bodies appeared. The girl had a horn protruding from her forehead, and her companion was an eidolon. It was just awakening when we came to investigate."
"Has Doctor Tot managed to decipher which eidolon it is yet?" Beatrix peered through the cell's bars to the dark haired summoner, sleeping on the stone floor.
"He said he couldn't tell which one it was, it looked like a cross between a man and some kind of dark angel. He said the tail also made it harder for him to identify it."
"Interesting. Why is it that when the Queen searches over the earth with almost no luck for any eidolons, and suddenly one appears on our very shores. Very interesting..." Beatrix itched her cheek with one finger. "Anyway, I'd like to take a look at them."
"Yes, ma'am." The guard opened the door to Sarah's cell, to which she sat up immediately to her new visitors.
"...Sarah, is it?" Beatrix walked up and down the cell, almost like she was at a criminal investigation scene.
"Yes."
"So, Sarah.. What brings you to Alexandria? Money? Or maybe to assasinate a royal member, perhaps?" Beatrix smirked.
"No! I was washed here by mistake! Our boat sunk!" Sarah stood up, her chains preventing her from getting too close to the general. Beatrix had a sly look on her face.
"Very well... and I suppose that is your eidolon in there?" She pointed to the cell to the left. Sarah's eyes spotted the shadowed figure of Zidane, looking straight back at her from the darkness.
"He's not an eidolon. He's just my friend, so was the girl that was travelling with us.." Sarah gazed at the floor.
"Do you want to know why I think your lying?" Beatrix stepped closer to Sarah, who withdrew from her menacing glare. "I think your lying because your 'friend' when we found him, was covered in black and silver feathers, with two great wings. Is that the 'friend' you remember? You must do, since he was shielding your body..." Beatrix had a satisfied look smothered all over her face, whereas Sarah was looking completely baffled.
"I'll give you a night to think over it, summoner.." Beatrix slammed the door to her cell as the guard locked it again, and the general and guard walked away, leaving silence and darkness surrounding her.
Sarah crawled to the left side of her cell so she was close to Zidane's.
"~Zidane? Can you hear me? Are you okay?~"
"~..Yes.~" Zidane replied flatly.
"~What's wrong?~"
"~Nothing..~"
"~Zidane, please talk to me! I know the situation couldn't get any worse, but please tell me what's wrong!~"
"~.........~"
"~Zidane?!~"
"~I don't feel like talking.~"
"~Why not?~"
"~I'm thinking, so go to sleep..~"
Sarah sighed impatiently before kicking the bars in her cell, and recoiling from the pain of doing so.
"~WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD?!!! FOR FRIGG'S SAKE!! CAN'T I EVEN GO SOMEWHERE WITHOUT BEING IMPRISONED?!!!~" Sarah punched the wall in rage before resting her head against the solid brick. She could feel hot, salty water building up in her eyes.
"~Why? Why me? I didn't even do anything wrong..~" Her grief was paused when the faint candle glow could be seen from down the hall.
"It's this cell here." A voice sounded. A key clicked the lock open to her cell and the door swung to, revealing a guard and a hooded lady; dressed in elegant robes.
"Call me when your finished ma'am." The guard closed the door behind the mysterious woman and her footsteps were heard leaving the hall. The woman turned to Sarah.
"I came down as soon as I heard you were here, Sarah."
"H-how do you know my name?" Sarah drew a breath in as she unmasked herself.
"Long time no see.." The woman smiled.
"Mariah?! How? Why? Who..?" Sarah stuttered.
"Calm down, Sarah!" Mariah laughed. "Come and give your best friend a hug!" Mariah and Sarah embraced, reviving the lost friendship that had been gone for years.
"You've grown so much! The last time I saw you, you were knee high!" Mariah grinned.
"You too. Your a woman now! How old? Twenty something?" Sarah pondered.
"Actually I'm 29, going on 30."
"Whoah.. I'm only 16! What an age gap.." Sarah wiped her forehead. "But.. Mariah. There's something I have to ask you. Actually three things.."
"Shoot."
"Well, number one, where's your horn?"
"My horn?" Mariah felt her head. " I had it removed."
"What?! Why?!"
"Because now I can be mistaken for human, not summoner. But of course I can still summon.. What next?"
"Okay.. Number two, What the hell are you doing here?"
"When I set sail for Alexandria I befriended the Princess. Actually I saved her life, but that doesn't matter for now. But I'm living here in the palace as a special guest to the queen. She has something planned for me, apparently."
"I'm gonna ask you about that again in a minute, but number three, what is your connection to the man named Kuja?" Sarah inquired. Mariah looked at her questioningly.
"How do you know that name?" She said in a low whisper.
"Contacts."
"Sarah! Be serious! What contacts?!"
"Oh, a little friend I like to call Iifa... Does that ring a bell as well?" Sarah raised her eyebrows as Mariah faltered her words.
"I.. er.."
"Come on, you can tell me. I know as much as you anyway.." Sarah tapped her thumb on her chest in a reassuring way.
"Fine... Wait a damn minute.. Did you just say Iifa?!"
"Yes, why?"
"Do you mean the tree or the.. oh nevermind." Mariah purposely left her sentence incomplete.
"The Terran, not the tree. Their both the same anyway." Sarah frowned.
"How do you know all this?! How do you know about Iifa and Kuja?!"
"I already told you. I talked to Iifa."
"Where is he now? You didn't release him, did you?"
"Yes I did release him, and he's sitting about ten feet away from you." Mariah froze and looked to Zidane's cell with shock and fear in her eyes.
"He's..here?" Mariah's voice trembled.
"Yes. Why are you all jittery all of a sudden?" Sarah waved a hand infront of her face.
"Because he's going to destroy this world, and this world will become his master's.." Mariah swallowed hard. The thought had never crossed her mind before. Hearing it from someone else's point of view made it sound completely different. Mariah made it sound like doomsday. Which it was, in a manner of speaking.
"Mariah, will you help me escape? Speaking of which, you have to leave Alexandria!" Sarah shook Mariah round the shoulders.
"Why?"
"Because Queen Brahne is going to extract your eidolons! She's going to kill you!"
"Where did you find out about this?!"
"From the soldiers on the Outer Continent! Me and Zidane overheard the whole thing!"
"Zidane? Who's that?"
"...It's the code name for Iifa. He's my travelling companion."
"This just gets better and better, doesn't it!" Mariah said sarcastically. "Fine. I'll get you out. Wait here a second." Mariah called for the guard who opened the door for her, but no sooner had she done so, Mariah delivered a quick blow to the stomach, knocking the guard out instantly.
"Okay! Follow me!" Mariah took the keys off the unconscious body and threw them to Sarah.
"Wait a minute, Mariah!" Sarah called for her friend to stop as she unlocked her chains and ran to Zidane's cell, opening the lock.
"Zidane! Come on! We're escaping!" The loosening of chains was heard as Zidane followed Sarah out of the cell.
"Surprise, surprise.. Look who I've found." Zidane smirked at Mariah who stepped behind Sarah in an act of self defence.
"Oh, knock it off you two! We have to get out of here!" Sarah pushed Mariah forwards so she could lead the way, while dragging Zidane behind her.
"Do you know where the 'wolf-girl' Tei is kept? Sarah whispered.
"Yeah, in that cell ahead!" Mariah pointed. Sarah followed her directions and unlocked the door.
"Hey? Tei! Are you in here?" Sarah peered into the darkness, the rattling of chains could be heard.
"Sarah! I'm right at the back!" Tei's distressed voice could be heard.
"I'm coming!" Sarah stumbled forwards until Tei's bound and chained form could be seen in the darkness. Sarah fumbled with the chain lock until Tei was released.
"Thankyou!" Tei hugged Sarah tightly.
"Okay, okay!" Sarah struggled out of her grip.
"Hey, do you need those?" Tei pointed to the keys.
"Not the way we're going." Mariah interjected from outside the cell, still trying to avoid Zidane's gaze.
"Here." Sarah handed her the keys. "What do you need them for?"
"This is where I leave you. But I'll join you again once I've freed my people from these walls." Tei smiled.
"I understand. It was nice meeting you, good luck!" Sarah shook her hand before Tei took off into the darkness, waving a hand goodbye.
"Good luck." Sarah repeated to herself quietly.
"We can get out this way, follow me!" Mariah broke the silence as the three ran forth through the prison.
***************************
"They were transported to Treno?!" Darson stamped his foot on the floor. The party of summoners, all wearing hoods to disguise their identities stood on the outskirts of Alexandria.
"You heard me right. I know what I see."
"You better hope you could see right through that mask of yours, old man.." Darson spat. Darson and his hunting party had arrived at Alexandria in the afternoon, and taken the advice of a masked man living on the outskirts. Apparently he had seen all prisoners, including the dark haired summoner, the wolf-girl and the tailed man being transported to Treno prison.
"Fine. Come on gang, we go to Treno!" Darson pointed in a southerly direction, to which his companions followed. After the rest of the summoners were out of earshot, Darson turned to the masked man.
"If you're not telling the truth, then you can expect a visit from me again. It won't be pleasant." Darson turned his back and followed his party, which soon disappeared down a sloping path leading to Treno. The masked man laughed to himself.
"Your wrong Darson... It'll be you with the nasty ending." He removed his mask and his heavy cloaks, revealing white robes and silvery white hair.
"Haha! A very nasty ending indeed! I hope you like your dead end trip, as they say, never trust a stranger.." With that, the Terran known as Kuja headed to Alexandria.
Again, a million apologies for being so late with this chapter. The next one WILL be long (ish.) I promise. Nothing more from Shadow here, so see you next week!
(A warning. The next chapter will involve Zidane/Iifa being really evil. So anyone who thinks Zidane should be all sweetness and light, think again. This is Zidane and Iifa - Remix! Oh come on people! He's the Angel of Death for goodness sake! He is NOT Mr Happy!... Why did I just type Mr Happy? ..Oh, forget it.)
Chpt 6 : The return of Mariah
Sarah struggled to clear her mind. Her and Zidane's little 'chat' had not done her any favours, maybe it was wise to avoid him for now ... now that she knew what he really was...
("Your such an idiot, Sarah.. messing around with his head like that, let alone messing around with your own..") She looked down at the water which made a huge white wake behind the Blue Narciss, slowly foaming out on the surface.
("Why? Why me?") Sarah brushed back her hair as she looked at the night sky. ("I should have never got involved in this! I should have listened to Eiko..") Sarah's wandering thoughts were abruptly cut short when a large shock from under the boat ran through the decks.
"What in the name of..?!" She pulled herself up (after falling over from the impact of the bump) and ran to the cabin.
"You felt it too?!" Tei was clutching the railings tightly. "What the hell was that?!"
"I don't know, but whatever it was, it was huge!" Sarah's eyes darted over the water's surface from the cabin. "Maybe it's a sea monst..!?" The large bump happened again, knocking all three companions to the floor.
"What do you think it is?!" Tei and Sarah balanced themselves.
"I'll tell you what it is! It's dead!" Zidane drew his weapon and ran from the cabin, disappearing from sight.
"He's mad!" The girls swiftly followed him to the starboard side, until their attacker met their gaze. It was a huge water serpent, the one that ate sailors and crushed ships in fairy tales, one that could easily squash the Blue Narciss to paste... it was Leviahthan.
"You're really pissing me off now!" Zidane seemed fearless in the face of his adversary, much to Sarah's awe and admiration. He held the Exploda at arms length, ready to swipe at the creature as it was leaning over the boat.
"WATCH FOR IT'S TAIL!!!" Sarah spotted the tail of the beast as it swished over Zidane's head, luckily he avoided the attack.
"It's gonna bump the boat again! Hold onto something!!!" Tei screamed as the bulk of the monster's scaly body squeezed against the boat, again knocking everyone to the floor.
Sarah felt herself slip to the side of the boat, and into the dark waters below her..
"ZIDANE!!! SARAH'S GOING OVER!!!" Tei caught his attention as they both saw Sarah scream as she fell into the waves.
"SARAH!!!" Zidane dropped his weapon and dived into the water after her...
**************************
"Darson?! Do you really think that was wise?!" One of his companions shook his arm in an attempt to bring him to his senses.
"Yes, I did! She's not a mere human, she would survive Leviahthan's power." Darson and his party stood on the Conde Piete cliff, watching the nightscape before them.
"Darson, you bastard! How could you do that to her?! I thought you lov.." Eiko shouted.
"Silence! Your simply here to track her down, not comment!" Darson yelled, making his companions flinch. "Once Leviahthan has destroyed their ship, the currents will take them to Alexandria bay. That is our destination.." Darson felt the winds turn east to Alexandria, and raised his hand for the company to follow him.
**************************
("I feel so... cold. Why is everything so dark? Zidane? Tei? Where am I?") Sarah's eyes slowly opened to a salty sting and transparent blue emptiness. Suddenly it struck her.
("I feel so light headed and.. I'm under water!?") Sarah breathed out violently only to find bubbles rushed from her mouth.
("I need air! But where's the surface?!") Sarah looked around to find everything was a deep blue, there was no wavy surface, and no light coming from above her.
("I'm.. gonna die..drown..") Sarah's mind flashed thousands of colours as her lungs strained and her head pounded with the lack of oxygen.
("..Zidane..I..I..need..you..") Sarah sensed her consciousness fading, but felt a pair of hands grab her clothes and pull her upwards, until she felt air on her face.. The cold sea air bit her wet form as the pair of arms supported her and held her head up.
("Zidane..?") Sarah turned her head to see the familiar cerulean eyes and the now wet, blonde hair. Her weariness finally took a hold as her eyes shut, and the sound of Zidane calling her name drowned out of her ears...
****************************
-- Two Days Later --
"So, Captain? Are they Eidolons?" General Beatrix, the most feared female warrior on the Mist continent stood in the dungeons of Alexandria prison, waiting for the captain's report.
"Yes, ma'am, one of them is an Eidolon, but one of them is a summoner aswell."
"Excellent. Are they ready to talk?" Beatrix tossed her brown hair over one shoulder.
"Yes ma'am, this way." The captain led her through a maze of cells before reaching three particularly dark cells in the very corner of the prison.
"We sent the wolf-girl here, just in case she knew anything. But the Eidolon is in that cell, and the Summoner in that one." The captain pointed to the three cells in order.
"Thankyou captain. You may go." Beatrix dismissed the soldier before approaching the guard outside the summoner's cell.
"What is her name?"
"It's Sarah, ma'am. She seems to be the silent type..." The guard explained.
"Where did you find them?"
"On Alexandria bay, ma'am. The currents must have taken them there, because all of them were unconscious apart from the eidolon. We found some ship wreck amongst them aswell."
"Keep going."
"Oh... err.. The Wolf-girl had shock for about one day, so we put her in here. But today two more bodies appeared. The girl had a horn protruding from her forehead, and her companion was an eidolon. It was just awakening when we came to investigate."
"Has Doctor Tot managed to decipher which eidolon it is yet?" Beatrix peered through the cell's bars to the dark haired summoner, sleeping on the stone floor.
"He said he couldn't tell which one it was, it looked like a cross between a man and some kind of dark angel. He said the tail also made it harder for him to identify it."
"Interesting. Why is it that when the Queen searches over the earth with almost no luck for any eidolons, and suddenly one appears on our very shores. Very interesting..." Beatrix itched her cheek with one finger. "Anyway, I'd like to take a look at them."
"Yes, ma'am." The guard opened the door to Sarah's cell, to which she sat up immediately to her new visitors.
"...Sarah, is it?" Beatrix walked up and down the cell, almost like she was at a criminal investigation scene.
"Yes."
"So, Sarah.. What brings you to Alexandria? Money? Or maybe to assasinate a royal member, perhaps?" Beatrix smirked.
"No! I was washed here by mistake! Our boat sunk!" Sarah stood up, her chains preventing her from getting too close to the general. Beatrix had a sly look on her face.
"Very well... and I suppose that is your eidolon in there?" She pointed to the cell to the left. Sarah's eyes spotted the shadowed figure of Zidane, looking straight back at her from the darkness.
"He's not an eidolon. He's just my friend, so was the girl that was travelling with us.." Sarah gazed at the floor.
"Do you want to know why I think your lying?" Beatrix stepped closer to Sarah, who withdrew from her menacing glare. "I think your lying because your 'friend' when we found him, was covered in black and silver feathers, with two great wings. Is that the 'friend' you remember? You must do, since he was shielding your body..." Beatrix had a satisfied look smothered all over her face, whereas Sarah was looking completely baffled.
"I'll give you a night to think over it, summoner.." Beatrix slammed the door to her cell as the guard locked it again, and the general and guard walked away, leaving silence and darkness surrounding her.
Sarah crawled to the left side of her cell so she was close to Zidane's.
"~Zidane? Can you hear me? Are you okay?~"
"~..Yes.~" Zidane replied flatly.
"~What's wrong?~"
"~Nothing..~"
"~Zidane, please talk to me! I know the situation couldn't get any worse, but please tell me what's wrong!~"
"~.........~"
"~Zidane?!~"
"~I don't feel like talking.~"
"~Why not?~"
"~I'm thinking, so go to sleep..~"
Sarah sighed impatiently before kicking the bars in her cell, and recoiling from the pain of doing so.
"~WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD?!!! FOR FRIGG'S SAKE!! CAN'T I EVEN GO SOMEWHERE WITHOUT BEING IMPRISONED?!!!~" Sarah punched the wall in rage before resting her head against the solid brick. She could feel hot, salty water building up in her eyes.
"~Why? Why me? I didn't even do anything wrong..~" Her grief was paused when the faint candle glow could be seen from down the hall.
"It's this cell here." A voice sounded. A key clicked the lock open to her cell and the door swung to, revealing a guard and a hooded lady; dressed in elegant robes.
"Call me when your finished ma'am." The guard closed the door behind the mysterious woman and her footsteps were heard leaving the hall. The woman turned to Sarah.
"I came down as soon as I heard you were here, Sarah."
"H-how do you know my name?" Sarah drew a breath in as she unmasked herself.
"Long time no see.." The woman smiled.
"Mariah?! How? Why? Who..?" Sarah stuttered.
"Calm down, Sarah!" Mariah laughed. "Come and give your best friend a hug!" Mariah and Sarah embraced, reviving the lost friendship that had been gone for years.
"You've grown so much! The last time I saw you, you were knee high!" Mariah grinned.
"You too. Your a woman now! How old? Twenty something?" Sarah pondered.
"Actually I'm 29, going on 30."
"Whoah.. I'm only 16! What an age gap.." Sarah wiped her forehead. "But.. Mariah. There's something I have to ask you. Actually three things.."
"Shoot."
"Well, number one, where's your horn?"
"My horn?" Mariah felt her head. " I had it removed."
"What?! Why?!"
"Because now I can be mistaken for human, not summoner. But of course I can still summon.. What next?"
"Okay.. Number two, What the hell are you doing here?"
"When I set sail for Alexandria I befriended the Princess. Actually I saved her life, but that doesn't matter for now. But I'm living here in the palace as a special guest to the queen. She has something planned for me, apparently."
"I'm gonna ask you about that again in a minute, but number three, what is your connection to the man named Kuja?" Sarah inquired. Mariah looked at her questioningly.
"How do you know that name?" She said in a low whisper.
"Contacts."
"Sarah! Be serious! What contacts?!"
"Oh, a little friend I like to call Iifa... Does that ring a bell as well?" Sarah raised her eyebrows as Mariah faltered her words.
"I.. er.."
"Come on, you can tell me. I know as much as you anyway.." Sarah tapped her thumb on her chest in a reassuring way.
"Fine... Wait a damn minute.. Did you just say Iifa?!"
"Yes, why?"
"Do you mean the tree or the.. oh nevermind." Mariah purposely left her sentence incomplete.
"The Terran, not the tree. Their both the same anyway." Sarah frowned.
"How do you know all this?! How do you know about Iifa and Kuja?!"
"I already told you. I talked to Iifa."
"Where is he now? You didn't release him, did you?"
"Yes I did release him, and he's sitting about ten feet away from you." Mariah froze and looked to Zidane's cell with shock and fear in her eyes.
"He's..here?" Mariah's voice trembled.
"Yes. Why are you all jittery all of a sudden?" Sarah waved a hand infront of her face.
"Because he's going to destroy this world, and this world will become his master's.." Mariah swallowed hard. The thought had never crossed her mind before. Hearing it from someone else's point of view made it sound completely different. Mariah made it sound like doomsday. Which it was, in a manner of speaking.
"Mariah, will you help me escape? Speaking of which, you have to leave Alexandria!" Sarah shook Mariah round the shoulders.
"Why?"
"Because Queen Brahne is going to extract your eidolons! She's going to kill you!"
"Where did you find out about this?!"
"From the soldiers on the Outer Continent! Me and Zidane overheard the whole thing!"
"Zidane? Who's that?"
"...It's the code name for Iifa. He's my travelling companion."
"This just gets better and better, doesn't it!" Mariah said sarcastically. "Fine. I'll get you out. Wait here a second." Mariah called for the guard who opened the door for her, but no sooner had she done so, Mariah delivered a quick blow to the stomach, knocking the guard out instantly.
"Okay! Follow me!" Mariah took the keys off the unconscious body and threw them to Sarah.
"Wait a minute, Mariah!" Sarah called for her friend to stop as she unlocked her chains and ran to Zidane's cell, opening the lock.
"Zidane! Come on! We're escaping!" The loosening of chains was heard as Zidane followed Sarah out of the cell.
"Surprise, surprise.. Look who I've found." Zidane smirked at Mariah who stepped behind Sarah in an act of self defence.
"Oh, knock it off you two! We have to get out of here!" Sarah pushed Mariah forwards so she could lead the way, while dragging Zidane behind her.
"Do you know where the 'wolf-girl' Tei is kept? Sarah whispered.
"Yeah, in that cell ahead!" Mariah pointed. Sarah followed her directions and unlocked the door.
"Hey? Tei! Are you in here?" Sarah peered into the darkness, the rattling of chains could be heard.
"Sarah! I'm right at the back!" Tei's distressed voice could be heard.
"I'm coming!" Sarah stumbled forwards until Tei's bound and chained form could be seen in the darkness. Sarah fumbled with the chain lock until Tei was released.
"Thankyou!" Tei hugged Sarah tightly.
"Okay, okay!" Sarah struggled out of her grip.
"Hey, do you need those?" Tei pointed to the keys.
"Not the way we're going." Mariah interjected from outside the cell, still trying to avoid Zidane's gaze.
"Here." Sarah handed her the keys. "What do you need them for?"
"This is where I leave you. But I'll join you again once I've freed my people from these walls." Tei smiled.
"I understand. It was nice meeting you, good luck!" Sarah shook her hand before Tei took off into the darkness, waving a hand goodbye.
"Good luck." Sarah repeated to herself quietly.
"We can get out this way, follow me!" Mariah broke the silence as the three ran forth through the prison.
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"They were transported to Treno?!" Darson stamped his foot on the floor. The party of summoners, all wearing hoods to disguise their identities stood on the outskirts of Alexandria.
"You heard me right. I know what I see."
"You better hope you could see right through that mask of yours, old man.." Darson spat. Darson and his hunting party had arrived at Alexandria in the afternoon, and taken the advice of a masked man living on the outskirts. Apparently he had seen all prisoners, including the dark haired summoner, the wolf-girl and the tailed man being transported to Treno prison.
"Fine. Come on gang, we go to Treno!" Darson pointed in a southerly direction, to which his companions followed. After the rest of the summoners were out of earshot, Darson turned to the masked man.
"If you're not telling the truth, then you can expect a visit from me again. It won't be pleasant." Darson turned his back and followed his party, which soon disappeared down a sloping path leading to Treno. The masked man laughed to himself.
"Your wrong Darson... It'll be you with the nasty ending." He removed his mask and his heavy cloaks, revealing white robes and silvery white hair.
"Haha! A very nasty ending indeed! I hope you like your dead end trip, as they say, never trust a stranger.." With that, the Terran known as Kuja headed to Alexandria.
Again, a million apologies for being so late with this chapter. The next one WILL be long (ish.) I promise. Nothing more from Shadow here, so see you next week!
(A warning. The next chapter will involve Zidane/Iifa being really evil. So anyone who thinks Zidane should be all sweetness and light, think again. This is Zidane and Iifa - Remix! Oh come on people! He's the Angel of Death for goodness sake! He is NOT Mr Happy!... Why did I just type Mr Happy? ..Oh, forget it.)