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Chapter Ten: Escape from AlexandriaWhen Blank opened his eyes, he realized that he was inside some sort of castle. When he looked around, he noticed that there was a spiral staircase around them leading to the floor below. Soon, Randall and Vivi reappeared as well, and he then noticed that he was standing on a four squares, each that had an Alexandrian symbol.
He then looked down at Claire to see if she was all right. He really wished that she was all right, unfortunately, the only sign of life in her was her heartbeat and her very soft breathing. His anger for the queen erupted, he couldn't believe that her own mother would try to assassinate her!
"Wh-where are we?" Vivi asked.
"I think we're in Alexandria castle," Blank answered.
"This is about the worst place we could have came back," Randall added. "We have to get out of here in a hurry!"
"Right," Blank nodded. "Any idea how long it will take for the Red Rose to come back?"
"I'd say we have about half an hour," Randall answered. "But we'll probably have to fight several soldiers, so we really need to hurry, and avoid as many of the soldiers as possible."
"All right," Blank confidently nodded. "We have to hurry. We have to find a place to rest Claire…"
"Yes of course…" Randall muttered. "Then we must especially hurry."
"Come on!" Blank said, running into the next room. Of course, he was running slower than usually because he was carrying the princess, which actually was pretty good for the situation, because now he was running about as fast as Randall and Vivi.
As they ran through the castle, Randall noticed that there weren't very many soldiers, though he wasn't the only who noticed, Vivi and Blank also noticed. However, Blank was too concerned about the princess to think about it and Vivi was too frightened to be bothered by it. They kept running like this, until they reached the courtyard, when they saw something terrible.
Bodies. Dead Alexandrian bodies were scattered all across the courtyard. The entire group instantly stopped their sprint to gaze upon this frightening scene. The stones were tainted crimson with the blood of the soldiers. This frightening scene made Vivi take a step back and cover his mouth, looking like he was about to throw up.
"Wh-who would do this…?" Vivi muttered.
"Someone… with amazing power…" Randall silently shuddered.
"… We have to keep moving," Blank told them. "Whoever did this obvious is an enemy of Alexandria, so they might be an ally of ours."
"Blank, if they see you with the princess…" Randall started.
"…" Blank looked down at the princess. "Damnit… you're right… I can't risk Claire…"
"So what are we going to do?" Vivi asked. "I don't want to be here any more…"
"I don't know…" Blank muttered.
Just then they heard something above them, and once they looked up, they saw the Red Rose.
"Oh no, we're too late!" Randall exclaimed. "If the queen catches us here…"
"Damnit… we need help!" Blank exclaimed.
"Blank?" asked a familiar voice.
"This is impossible!" Steiner shouted. He, Beatrix, and Freya had been fighting for about half an hour against waves of black mages. They were able to quickly destroy some of the black mages due to their weak physical defense, however when there were so many of them, they were able to cast spells on them.
They were getting very weak, Freya was nearly fainted, Beatrix, though still willing to fight, was beginning to slow down, and Steiner had taken too many hits to continue the fight. They had retreated from room to room in the airship, and now they were outside on the deck, and if any more packed into the deck they would probably fall off.
"Those barrels!" Freya exclaimed, pointing to the barrels that Blank, Vivi, and Randall jumped into earlier. "We can use those to teleport out of here!"
"The queen has probably turned those off!" Beatrix exclaimed. "The only option is to fight until we reach Alexandria!"
Freya pointed over the edge; "Looks like we only have to wait a little while longer! I see Alexandria castle all ready!"
"We'll live!" Steiner exclaimed.
"We have to keep fighting if we want that to happen!" Beatrix exclaimed, slashing her sword through a black mage who had gotten a little too close to them for comfort.
Steiner jammed the sharp edge of his sword into the ground and put all his weight into it. He was finished he knew it. If he were to keep on fighting, he would probably faint. He was so tired, he wanted to rest more than ever, but something felt so right about this, he felt like what he was doing was beyond right. This was because this was the first time he had ever actually fought for what he believed. No longer was he fighting for the queen, he was fighting for what he knew what was right, he was fighting for himself.
Steiner managed to stand once again, and slashed through another black mage, when the ones who were out of their reached seemed to begin casting a spell. "If that spell hits us… we're finished!" Freya panted. She, like Steiner, was finished, in fact, in her tiredness, her vision was becoming a little blurry. She was actually surprised that she hadn't fainted yet, though her mind knew that she would have to keep fighting, despite her body's protest.
Beatrix rose her blade and cried, "Climhazzard!" Lighting struck the mages who were trying to cast the spells, temporarily saving the three, however, Beatrix also fell to the ground.
"Beatrix!" Steiner exclaimed, crouching down next to her. He felt for her pulse, and was happy to feel it still beating. "She… passed out…"
"Steiner… I think we're finished…" Freya panted as the black mages came closer to them still.
"We were so close…" Steiner panted, looking down at Beatrix. "At least I shall die fighting for myself!" Steiner raised his blade high and exclaimed, "I refuse to stop! I will fight until my very death! Freya! We must continue our battle!"
Freya looked into her pockets for a potion, a useless search, as she knew that she used up the last of her potions a little while ago. In the state their were in, neither of them would live to see Alexandria, but if one of them had the strength to fight… "Steiner! I leave it all up to you!" Freya cried. "Reis' Wind!"
Steiner then felt himself becoming slowly rejuvenated, his wounds slowly became less of a screeching pain, and his muscles stopped the cry of agony. "Freya!" Steiner exclaimed in happiness, looking over to his comrade, but a look of sorrow covered his face, seeing that Freya, like Beatrix, had fallen unconscious. "Freya! No! I… must I stand alone against these foes!"
Steiner held his blade confidently to his side, glaring at his foes. Now he fought not only for himself, but also for his comrades who lied unconsciously beside him. They lost their will to battle to save him, to allow him to continue fighting. He had to protect them; they were so close to Alexandria that he couldn't stop now.
Steiner charged into the oncoming group of black mages and slashed away as many as he could, however, two of them managed to make a spell before he struck them down, and Steiner was hit with a barrage of fire attacks. However, the wounds that formed were also being healed by Freya's Reis' wind attack, but if they attacked him too fast…
Another group was approaching, however, this group seemed to all ready have a spell prepared, which they all cast on Steiner. This was a bombardment of lightning attacks, which sent Steiner back against the edge. The wounds were being healed by Freya's spell, but to become healed it would take time before he would be able to attack again, time he didn't have.
Steiner could hear the faint sound of another airship approaching, but that only worried him, since more than likely it was just more Alexandrian airships. However, instead he felt fully rejuvenated once more, and he saw that the group of black mages had been slain. He looked at the two who seemed to jump down from the airship; one was a little shorter than Steiner with a bandanna across his head and almost covering his eyes. He wore a blue shirt and held a blade similar to Steiner's in his hand.
The other was taller than Steiner with a face covered in a thick beard and ears poking out of his head. He wore ragged clothes, and held a humongous blade, a blade a pirate might wield. Steiner instantly recognized these two, and had never been happier to see them, actually it was the first time he was happy to see them at all.
"Tantalus!" Steiner exclaimed.
"Baku and Marcus at your service," Baku told him.
"Why did you help me!" Steiner asked. "How did you get here!"
"We showed up to help our boy Zidane," Baku answered. When we saw the Red Rose, we were gonna avoid it, but then saw you fightin' and decided to help ya."
"Th-thank you!" Steiner exclaimed.
"Save your thanks for later!" Marcus exclaimed. "Here comes more of 'em!"
The three quickly destroyed the group that showed up, even before they had a chance to cast a spell. Steiner was amazed by the skill that these bandits had, and decided that once they reached Alexandria, he would give them a cordial apology.
"What about your airship?" Steiner asked. "Who's flying that?"
"We got Cinna flyin' it," Baku answered. "Now where's Blank?"
"Blank escaped from the airship earlier!" Steiner exclaimed. "Beatrix, Freya, and myself stayed back so that he could."
"Ahh, I see now," Baku replied.
Just then, the door to the front of the ship opened, and the silver-haired man, who Steiner believed was named Kuja, stepped outside. "I see you have new comrades," Kuja tittered. "It's a pity they'll have to die as well."
"Jus' who are you?" Baku asked.
"Me?" Kuja asked. "Kuja. Not that it matters to you. Prepare to die!"
Kuja raised his arm and a huge ball of dark energy appeared in it. Steiner was paralyzed with fear, thinking all his fighting had been in vain, but Baku grabbed Beatrix and Freya, while Marcus grasped Steiner's shoulder. As Kuja threw the ball of energy at the group, Marcus threw Steiner off the airship, then Baku and him jumped off.
Steiner shouted as he fell, thinking that Marcus and Baku betrayed him. I never should have trusted those bandits! Steiner cursed in his mind. However, once he saw them jumping off as well, he felt a little more secure.
Then his back landed hard against the wooden dock of an airship, and shortly after he landed, Marcus and Baku landed next to him, with Freya and Beatrix. They quickly ran into the cockpit, Steiner following them, where Cinna was still flying the airship.
"Go faster!" Baku shouted.
"Why?" Steiner asked.
"Look behind you!" Baku replied. Steiner looked in horror when he saw that the large black ball of energy that Kuja had summoned was now following the ship.
The magic then hit the right engine of the airship, making it very unsteady, and everyone fell on their backs, including the pilot, Cinna. Baku quickly went to the controls and barely managed to dodge the castle, however they did crash into the mountain behind the castle.
"Felix!" Blank shouted once he saw the man across the courtyard.
"Yes?" Felix asked.
"What happened to you after we reached Burmecia!" Blank shouted. "You abandoned us!"
"I felt that I should fight Kuja alone," Felix answered nonchalantly. "If I were to ask you to help, it would only cause unnecessary casualties."
"I can't believe you!" Blank shouted at him. "You could have at least healed us!"
"I did," Felix answered. "However, I only healed you until I was certain that you would survive, then I left."
"Relax, Blank," Randall told him. "What is your past with Kuja?"
"…" Felix looked down at his boots, then back up at the team. "Now is not the time."
"You can heal people?" Vivi asked.
"Yes," Felix nodded. "I apologize for not using my full power when I traveled with you, but I felt that Kuja might find me if I did."
"Can you heal Claire?" Vivi asked.
"Hmm?" Felix asked, then noticing the princess in Blank's arms. "I hadn't noticed her before…" He then walked over to Blank and glanced over her. "I don't see any wounds. What happened to her?"
"They extracted her Eidolons," Randall added.
"So, is she just weak then?" Felix asked.
"I assume," Randall answered. "Things like this… hadn't happened in hundreds of years."
"I understand," Felix nodded. He put his right hand to his forehead and closed his eyes, and then a cure spell covered the princess. Felix checked her again, seeing that there was no change, and then he tried it again.
This time, there were results, she fluttered her eyes open and Blank exclaimed, "Claire! You're safe!"
"Blank?" she asked. "I… was so scared…"
"Don't worry," Blank reassured her. "I'm here… I'll protect you…"
"Blank… thank you…" Claire said. She then wrapped her arms around Blank's neck and closed her eyes. She had been so scared before, she never would have dreamed that her mother would do such terrible things to her. All she wanted now was to run away from her mother, and… be with Blank.
"You should thank Felix," Randall said as Blank put Claire down on the ground.
Claire turned to the man, and widely smiled, "Thank you… but how did you heal me?"
"Felix has tremendous powers, Claire," Blank told her. "He was holding back all that time."
"What?" Claire asked. "Why?"
"Maybe I'll tell you someday," Felix answered. "Right now, I believe we both have more important matters at hand."
"Oh my god!" Claire exclaimed once she saw her courtyard smeared in blood and dead bodies. "Who… who did this?"
"I did," Felix answered.
"How… how could you!" Claire shouted.
"They are enemies, princess," Felix answered. "This is a war, and unfortunately people die."
"You did… all this?" Claire asked, horrified and frightened by his skills. "You hid all this power away from us?"
"He is incredibly powerful, Claire," Blank told her. "He was able to defeat Beatrix with a single hit."
"A single hit…?" Claire asked, and then realized that they were still missing some comrades. "Where's Steiner! And Freya!"
"Beatrix is helping them fight the queen and Kuja," Blank answered, and then glared at Felix. "If someone had stayed with us, then maybe they wouldn't have had to be left behind."
"I apologize, Blank, but now I must go," Felix told him.
"Why?" Blank asked.
"Kuja is here, just as I had hoped," Felix answered. "Now I will avenge all my fallen friends…"
"Fallen friends?" Claire asked. "What are you talking about?"
"I'll tell you some other time."
"There won't be another time if you fight him!" Blank shouted at him. "He destroyed you last time! You didn't stand a chance! Why would you be able to fight him this time!"
"Yes, Felix, please come with us," Randall told him. "With our help, you may be able to defeat Kuja."
"…" Felix looked back at them. "Fine… I'll go with you, but now where are we going to go?"
"We have to get out of the castle!" Blank exclaimed.
"How?" Felix asked, pointing to where the ferry usually to people to and away from the castle. "The boat is not here and won't return for some time."
"Damn it…" Blank muttered.
"There's a secret exit underneath the castle!" Claire exclaimed. "It's Gargon Roo!"
"Gargon Roo?" Randall asked. "Excellent! At the end of the path should be Lindblum! We can go directly to Lindblum from here!"
"Good, let's go!" Claire exclaimed. "It's up by the royal chambers for an emergency exit! Let's hurry!"
Claire then led the group through the castle to the secret exit. Blank was overjoyed by the new events, Claire was all right and Felix was back. However, Felix was all ready beginning to anger him, the way he just left them behind to avenge his old friends. Also, it seemed Felix was more foolish than he let on, he was always telling Blank that he had to correct what he did, but now it was Blank who told Felix that if Felix fought Kuja again, he would die.
Of course Blank believed that. If Felix weren't able to defeat Kuja about a day ago, why would he be able to defeat him now? But what angered Blank the most about Felix was the way he withheld his power from the rest of the group. If he used his true strength, at Gizamaluke's grotto, Felix could have easily been able to destroy Gizamaluke. They wouldn't have had to loss so many people. But no, it all was because Felix wanted his revenge, people were dying and he could have done something to prevent it, but Felix was too selfish.
Once Claire and the group reached the secret chambers, any enemies they ran into fell to their knees and bowed once they saw Claire, and then returned to their posts. Claire rushed into her old room, which was very large. The room had a large bed next to a fireplace, which had an oddly purple colored candleholder, and there was even more room behind a red curtain, but right now Claire seemed focused and ran up to the candleholder. She pulled it down, which made the fireplace move back, revealing steps leading below the castle.
"Amazing…" Randall muttered. "Who would have imagined Alexandria held such an odd secret?"
"We must hurry," Felix told him as the group and then rushed down the steps. It turned out that it was an enormous spiral staircase that leads all the way down to a concrete bottom. The air in the new room was very stale; clearly it had not been used for several years.
Once they reached the bottom of the steps, Claire pointed to a new room that passed a thick walkway. "Right down there is Gargon Roo!"
"Its too late," Felix said, looking back at the staircase.
"What are you talking about?" Blank asked. "Come on, let's hurry!"
"Black mages…" Felix muttered. "There are hundreds of them, they're running down that staircase…"
"What!" Claire exclaimed.
"Oh no!" Vivi cried.
"How can you tell?" Blank asked.
"I can sense them…" Felix told them.
"By the time we get in the Gargon, they would probably be able to change course so that it came right back here…" Randall announced.
"I'll stay back and fight!" Felix exclaimed.
"No! You won't be able to do it!" Blank shouted.
"You have to escape!" Felix told him. "You won't be able to do it unless I stay back!"
"I'm staying too!" Randall shouted. "That raises the stakes a little."
"No!" Claire exclaimed. "Randall! Don't stay!"
"Do not stay, Randall!" Shouted someone from above them.
They all looked up and saw Steiner, Freya, Beatrix, Marcus, Baku, and Cinna jump down in front of them. "Guys!" Blank exclaimed.
"What this fella here said is true," Baku told Blank. "A whole bunch of mages are comin'."
"What are you guys doing here!" Blank exclaimed.
"They saved us," Steiner told him. "Now go, Blank! Protect the princess!"
"I won't leave you guys behind again!" Blank shouted.
"Now!" Felix bellowed. "Go, Blank! Protect Claire!"
Blank then reluctantly nodded, "Randall, you're coming too, right?"
"It doesn't look like they need my help here anymore," Randall answered.
"All right, let's go!" Blank shouted, and rushed into the Gargon Roo entrance.
Gargon Roo was a very damp place with air even more stale than in the previous room. There was a wide dusty balcony, and the rest was simply a large cave that seemed pretty straightforward.
"Here!" Randall shouted, pulling down a lever. Once he did that, a small crate of some sort of green vegetables lowered in front of them.
"What's that for?" Blank asked.
"The gargon will come for the food," Randall told him. "Then we jump on it's back and ride it to the end."
Sure enough, a gargon, a very large beast that looked somewhat like a spider. It stopped in front of the crate and began eating it, during this time, Randall hopped on, and waved for them to follow.
And they did, next Claire jumped, Vivi, and then Blank. The insect like creature then, once finished eating, rushed down the path. It wasn't very comfortable to sit in, it's thick hair though actually made it fairly easy to keep balance. Claire was looking down and clearly looked depressed, so Blank asked, "What's wrong, Claire?"
"They're all staying back for me…" Claire silently muttered. "They all might die, but they're staying back anyway…"
"They're not just staying back for you, Claire," Randall told her. "They are staying back because they believe they must. They all realize that what the queen is doing is wrong, and so they know that they have to fight against her forces."
"Yeah," Blank agreed. "They aren't simply fighting for you, but they are fighting for themselves and their beliefs as well."
"I… I think I understand…" Claire muttered.
"Now just relax," Randall told her. "Once we arrive at Lindblum, Regent Cid will be able to take care of everything. And I'm sure your importance in this war will be shown. With your help, I'm sure he'll be able to make your mother understand just what she is doing."
A small smile formed on her face, and hope slowly covered her face, "Thank you…"
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