Hi! Thanks to all the people that have reviewed! I think this is going to be the second last chapter (everybody: Yes! Finally the end of this boring torture!), but I'm not sure (everybody: Awww...Dammit!). Oh, yeah, and I'm giving the original story a little twist.

Normal POV

Marcus sighed impatiently as the train moved slowly across the monotonous landscape. (I can't remember the exact name of the vehicle they're driving in, so I'll just call it 'train'.) He'd already grown tired of staring out of the window and decided that watching Cinna sleep was much more interesting...Slimy though it be, since Cinna never seemed to "swallow" in his sleep. Marcus glared at him enviously and wished he could sleep as peacefully as Cinna, but right now, his nerves were killing him. Why did it seem like this train was moving like a handicapped snail? Cinna shifted in his sleep and mumbled something about his Garnet-doll. Marcus smirked and shook his head. At least he wasn't the only one who missed his 'rag doll'.

Finally, the train came to an end at the Summit Station. Marcus hopped out immediately and ran up the stairs to the little coffee shop, with Cinna jogging behind him.

'G'day, travelers!' The old shopkeeper greeted them with a wide smile, showing the few teeth he had left. 'Can I interest ye in some delicious Bundt Cake?' Cinna's eyes lit up by hearing the word 'cake', but Marcus quickly pushed him out of the way. 'No thanks, when's the next train to Treno?' He asked straight away. The old man gestured them to wait and examined the schedule. 'I'm sorry, lads.' He sighed as he looked up again. 'Ye'll

have to wait, the next train'll be here in at least two hours.' Marcus hung his head in disappointment. 'Damn...' He moaned, sauntering out of the coffee shop. Behind him, Cinna bought two pieces of Bundt Cake and ran after his friend, offering him the biggest one. Marcus chewed on it with a grateful smile. He wasn't really hungry, but he knew he was lucky to have such a patient friend as Cinna, so he pretended to be really happy with the cake (which wasn't so hard to do since the cake tasted damned good).

'Let's watch the scenery...' Cinna suggested after they both had finished their chunk. Marcus folded his arms and turned to the window. Phew, boring! He thought. Hey, maybe I can see evil forest from here! Let's see...Maybe it's that big grey...thingy over there. Hm, wait! Was that a red blur? Marcus shook his head violently and turned away from the glass. Everything made him think about Blank.

Two hours later...

'C'mon, Steiner!' Princess Garnet yelled to her guardian as she jumped out of the train excitedly. The middle aged knight in rusty armor soon followed her, puffing and sweating. 'P-Princess...We have...a-arrived.' He panted. Garnet turned around and widened her eyes. 'Steiner, how many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Dagger'!' She hissed, looking around nervously. Steiner bowed his head in shame. 'Forgive me, pri-Miss Dagger!' Dagger opened her mouth to point out to him not to be so formal, but she was interrupted by a sudden shout coming from the coffee shop.

'Oh, no! I missed my train!' A voice whined. Dagger turned around to see two familiar figures running down the stairs. 'Those are friends of Zidane!' She whispered to Steiner, smiling widely. 'Princess, you should not...' Steiner started, but Dagger was already on her way to the two men.

Cinna and Marcus were quite surprised to see the princess suddenly running up to them, and they looked at each other in confusion. 'Hello...' She greeted them, slowing her pace. 'H-Hi...' Cinna answered hesitantly. Marcus nodded and looked behind her to see if Zidane was there too. 'No, Zidane isn't with me...' Dagger said, looking away. 'Got rid of him as soon as ya could, huh?' Marcus smirked, his fangs sparkling in the setting sun. Dagger's dark brown eyes pierced his. 'He shouldn't have treated me like a child.' She replied fiercely. Marcus snickered. 'I know. That's Zidane for ya...'

The train to Treno ran slowly into the station. 'Where are you two going, by the way?' Marcus asked, ignoring Steiner's 'That is not the business of a lowlife thief like you!'-look. 'To Treno...What about you?'

'Well, Cinna's going back to Lindblum, and I'm going to Treno too, to geta Supersoft for my bro.'

'You mean...'

'There's only one man I call 'bro', and that's Blank.'

'I see...' Dagger nodded and looked down. 'I'm sorry, It's all my fault.' She apologized, shaking her head. Marcus just shrugged and said there was nothing she could do about it, even though he really felt like giving her all the blame. If he could shove it on someone else, he would have an excuse not to be mad at himself.

'Let's go together, then.' Dagger broke him out of his thoughts. 'I'll help you find the Supersoft, it's the least I can do to make it up to your friend.' Steiner's jaw dropped. 'Pri-Princess! I shant let you travel together with this...scoundrels!' Dagger eyed him angrily and grabbed Marcus's arm. 'Let's go!' She snapped, pulling the surprised thief with her. Steiner jumped into the air. 'Princess! Let go of her, you insolent cur!' Marcus turned around and made a helpless gesture. 'She's kidnapping me, ok?' Steiner moaned and ran after them.

TRENO

'Any idea where this Supersoft can be?' Dagger sighed tiredly after hours of searching without succes. 'Well...' Marcus took a worn piece of paper out of his pocket. 'Baku said some guy named... 'Too-tsie' has it.' Dagger suddenly stopped. 'You mean Tot?' She asked hopefully, leaning over to look at the paper. 'No, 'Tootsie'! See, that's what it says!' Marcus pointed at the crappy handwriting. 'Yes, I can see that, but couldn't it be that Baku made a mistake or something?' Dagger suggested excitedly. Marcus opened his mouth in indignation, ready to defend his boss, but then he thought it over for a while and agreed that is was indeed most likely that Baku had made a blunder.

With newly regained hope they set off to doctor Tot's house.

'Doctor Tot!' Dagger laughed happily as she recognized her old teacher. The old man looked up, a little confused, but then his lips (lips!) curled into a wide smile. 'Why, princess Garnet!' He exclaimed, walking over to her with his arms strechted out. He held her at arm's length. 'Look how you've grown!' Dagger chuckled and turned around. 'Doctor Tot, you remember Steiner, don't you?' She asked, pointing at the knight with her hand. 'Yes, of course I do!' Tot shuffled over to Steiner to shake his hand. Steiner, however, refused to do this and bowed deeply in front of the doctor. 'Such honor I am not worthy!' Steiner stated, bowing even deeper, causing his armor to creak even harder (if possible). Dagger let out a nervous sigh. 'Um...Yes, and this is Marcus!' She said quickly, turning Tot to the fanged thief. 'Nice to meet you.' Tot greeted him politely. Marcus nodded and looked at Dagger expectantly.

'Doctor Tot...' Dagger started, having recieved Marcus's hint. Tot looked up and smiled encouragingly.

'Yes, princess?'

'Um, do you have an item called 'Supersoft'? It's for a friend of ours...' Dagger asked, glancing at him pleadingly. Tot grimaced and scratched his beard. 'I'm not sure...' He mumbled under his breath, scanning the room. Marcus watched him anxiously, and much to his despair, Tot shook his head. 'I'm sorry...'

Marcus felt his last bit of courage slipping away. 'No...' He thought, anger and sadness rising within him. He would never get to see his bro again. Ever.

Dagger's voice didn't even got through to him. 'Marcus?' She asked, concerned. Marcus didn't hear her. He plopped down against the wall and buried his face in his arm, wishing he was dead. 'Marcus?' Dagger asked again, tapping his shoulder lightly. Marcus

threw his head back and cried out every curse he knew. Then he fell back against the wall, panting and sobbing (Ameki: He keeps on crying!). Dagger backed away a bit.

'Marcus, I know you've been under a lot of stress, but no need to yell, you know?' She said carefully, as if speaking to a child. Marcus gave a sarcastic laugh and turned his head away from her. Easy for you to say, bitch! You haven't just heard that the most important person in your life is DEAD! Dead...

Steiner drew his sword and placed it on the thief's throat. 'If you talk to the princess like that one more time, I WILL KILL YOU PERSONALLY!' He spat in Marcus's face.

'Then do so, I don't care...' Came the shaky answer.

'Steiner, this really isn't the moment!' Dagger shouted angrily, making a wide gesture with her arm, nearly knocking the little red bottle out of doctor Tot's hand. The old man had to make a few weird movements and bends, but eventually recovered his balance. 'I found it...' He grinned, handing the bottle to Dagger. She looked at it in surprise. 'But...Where...'

'In that box over there.'

Marcus wasn't really listening to their conversation, but the princess's cheerful laugh drew his attention. He looked up curiously and spotted the bottle with red liquid in Dagger's hands. 'I-Is that...' He stammered, causing everyone to turn around. Dagger nodded excitedly, smiling from ear to ear. Marcus rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes, sighing in relief.

ALEXANDRIA

'As the captain of the Pluto Knights, I demand you to release me IMMEDIATELY!' Steiner shouted for like, the hundreth time. One of the guards that was patrolling the building turned around and smirked daringly. 'And what if we don't?' She asked, cocking an eyebrow. Steiner jumped up and down in anger. 'Then I will inform the queen about your misbehaviour!' The guard laughed viciously. 'We were given orders from Her Majesty, and she wants you DEAD! You still think she will listen to you?' She sneered. Steiner hung his head and backed away from the bars of the giant birdcage they were trapped in. Marcus, who was sitting on the ground on the other side of the cage, shook his head and played with the bottle that hung around his neck as a pendant. How the hell am I ever gonna get out of here? He held the bottle up by the string and slowly rocked it backwards and forwards. Suddenly an idea popped to his mind. He crawled over to Steiner and pulled him down. 'Wha-' The knight squeeked in surprise. Marcus gestured him to be quiet. 'Just do as I do.' He whispered, glancing around nervously. 'I know a way to get out of here...' Steiner snorted in disdain. 'Why should I trust a mere bandit like you?' Marcus sighed and rolled his eyes, already used to being called loads of things like that (Ameki: which is completely undeserved, right, ladies?). 'Look, you wanna help the princess, don't you?' Steiner's head shot up. 'It is my honor and my duty...'

'Yes, yes, we know that!' Marcus interrupted him in irritation. 'So, if you really wanna help her, then you'll have to listen to me.' Steiner growled and looked away. Marcus folded his arms expectantly.

'Tell me your plan.' Steiner mumbled, causing Marcus to grin mischievously.

Weeeh, don't you just luuuuv Marcus? No? Ok, then he's aaall MINE! HAHA!

(I am not willing to share.)

Hohum, so I think that this was indeed the second last chapter. Fluff and a romantic reunion in the next one!