Chapter 2: Take Command!

Amarant nodded nonchalantly from his shadowy corner as I walked through the door. He never did get over his tough-guy-loner act. Freya also nodded. "Hello Eiko," she said, though I couldn't tell from her voice if she was glad to see me or not. "Pri- I mean Lady Eiko," Steiner greeted, always a stickler for titles. I'm really something like the Princess of Lindbulm I guess, but it had been bad enough before when the knight called me 'brat'. It'd taken a bit to get him to change the 'Princess' to 'Lady'. I'm working my way down the title ladder. Hopefully some day I can get back down to just plain Eiko; it sure would make me a lot more comfortable when talking to him.

"How rude! You come to visit and you don't even inform a lady of your presence!" I said tartly, still the girl who judged everyone's etiquette, if a bit wordier than before. Freya laughed and I even got a hint of a smile from Steiner, though he tried to hide it. "Still the brat, hunh. Didn't they teach you manners yet?" Amarant jabbed from his corner. I knew he didn't really mean it though, that's just how he is.

Sticking my out tongue at him I sat in the chair by the door I had inhabited earlier. It was almost like a reunion. Vivi would probably come tomorrow and then we'd all be back together again. Only this time the man we trusted to get us through any situation was the one we'd come to save instead of the other way around.

There was a knock and Vivi, Quina and Garnet entered. "Hi everyone," Vivi said, still a little shy after all this time. Before everyone could exchange greetings, Quina walked, or waddled I guess you could say, or at least that's what it's always seemed like to me, over to Zidane's bed. "He still no wake?" s/he asked, bring us all back to the matter at hand.

Garnet sighed. I could tell she wanted to cry. Over the years she'd gotten stronger though and could hold back the tears. "We've tried everything. Nothing we do seems to have any affect," she informed everyone. The atmosphere immediately became gloomy at these words. None of us could imagine life without Zidane. He was such an influence in our daily lives.

The gloom started to grate on me after a while. I'm afraid I never was one for depression. Those words Morrison gave me all those years ago, when I first left with Zidane, have influenced me greatly throughout my life. I took them to heart that day and I can still remember them exactly as she said them.

Lady Eiko! Now, don't forget you'll always have a home in Madain Sari. Don't let our memory become a burden. You must always be light-hearted and free. Thoughts of the Eidolon Wall will always lift your heart.

"How can you be so gloomy! We can't give up so easily! Zidane isn't going to die! We'll save him! No matter what! We're family!" I finally remonstrated them when the gloom became unbearable. Garnet smiled gratefully at me. "Lady Eiko's right! He may be a scoundrel, but that's no excuse to give up hope and let him die!" Steiner declared in his chivalrous way. I was happy for the support, though I didn't think Zidane would really like it that he was still considered a scoundrel. "Yes, just imagine what it would be like with Zidane haunting the castle. The entire population of Alexandria would have to move," Freya added. Everyone had to smile at that.

As soon as the idea of saving Zidane, somehow, by whatever means necessary, had set in, everyone surprisingly turned to look at me. I stared back, startled. "You know it's rude to stare at a lady!" I chided them finally.

"My apologies Lady Eiko. We were simply awaiting your instructions as to what should be done to save this here scoundrel," Steiner explained.

I widened my eyes in astonishment. I couldn't believe it. They were asking ME to tell THEM what to do? I quickly hid my dismay at this and stood. This was for Zidane, I kept telling myself. To save him it seemed I'd have to be the leader for that. Well…I was a grown-up; I could handle that.

Walking over to Zidane, I closed my eyes, remembering what the book Morrison had given me said.

The most important thing every good summoner should remember is that you are never alone. Your eidolons are always there inside of you, willing to help you through life, just as a summoner is always there for their eidolons.

Carbuncle, Fenrir, Madeen, Phoenix, I called and felt their presence immediately. Yes, Lady Eiko? They asked, wondering what need I could have of them, for I was in no apparent danger and they had learned over the week that I was in a foul mood. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the hopeful eyes of everyone in the room to the back of my mind and concentrated on Zidane.

Is there…anyway you can think of that might save him? I asked, showing them Zidane as I saw him through the special bond we shared as summoner and eidolons. For a moment they discussed among themselves and I feared they were going to say they had no idea how to save him. Finally Phoenix spoke up. There is a spell, of sorts. It would take all of us eidolons and you working together, but we would be able to cast it…

That's great! I exclaimed as Phoenix trailed off. Just tell me how to perform it! I'll do anything! Even if it includes making Zidane eat oglops, I said, knowing how much Zidane detested the idea of eating the creatures.

For a moment the eidolons were quite at my eagerness. There is…a problem… Casting this spell requires not only certain items that are located in dangerous regions, but a large amount of power. Most of the power must come from the summoner, which is the reason this spell was hardly ever performed among your ancestors… Fenrir said after a time.

I can handle any power that's needed! Don't you worry! Now what do I have to do? I replied, ignoring Fenrir's subtle warning. Again the eidolons were silent and I impatiently waited for them to tell me what the spell required. We didn't have the time for them to be mysterious! Zidane might die at any moment!

I was about to ask them what I had to do again when Madeen spoke up. Eiko! You don't have the power required for this spell! In trying to do it you may die or worse! We don't even know if you'll be able to control it enough to help Zidane, let alone protect yourself! Madeen wailed, fearing for my safety.

That comment certainly slice my enthusiasm in half, I must say. I could not only fail, but also end up not being there for Zidane till the end? The idea of this spell was certainly not sounding so great anymore. Nonetheless, I'd do anything to save Zidane.

That doesn't matter; just tell me what to do, I said after a pause. Madeen immediately started a protest, but I cut her off. No! I'm going through with this no matter what! You can either help me or impede me, but I WILL perform this spell. I love Zidane and I'm not letting him die! He's going to live, even if I have to drag his soul back to his body. Now tell me what I have to do.

There was another pause of silence. I was really starting to get annoyed about the silence that had to follow every statement.

The first thing you need to do is collect the necessary items Lady Eiko! Carbuncle piped up and I smiled. He was the one who always supported me the most. I could feel the glares the other eidolons were sending his way, but Carbuncle didn't seem to mind. Well she would have found the spell at Madain Sari anyways. I just thought I'd make things easier, the eidolon drawled to the others and turned back to me.

Ok Lady Eiko! What you need is a Blood Blossom, an Ice Heart and an Iifa Root! Carbuncle informed me. I was more than a little surprised to hear the items needed. They were all items from fairytales Grandpa had told me. So I guess those weren't just fairytales, hunh?

Yep! Do you remember where they're all located?

Yea! About the actual spell though…

Let's do this one step at a time, you just worry about getting those items for now, Fenrir interjected.

Thanks everyone! We'll save Zidane in no time, you'll see! And everyone will be ok too!

The four eidolons chuckled and resided. Turning around I faced everyone. "Alright! I know what to do! I'm going to cast an ancient summoner spell on Zidane! But to do this we need to get a few items first!" I declared and stopped. Who should I send to get what? I'd never done this before… How did Zidane do it?

"Just tell us where these items are and we'll get them," Vivi said, interrupting me. Again I hid my dismay at being the unofficial leader. This leader stuff was really hard!

"Ok! Vivi, Freya, Amarant, you go to Evil Forest and pick up a Blood Blossom! It's this small red blossom that grows in the heart of the forest. You'll be able to tell which one it is. It pulses and you can see the veins ruining through it carrying blood that goes to the rest of the forest. The forest was un-petrified when Marcus and Tantalus freed Blank, so no worries about that. Oh! Also, there are like a gazillion of these flowers there, so you won't kill the forest by taking one!" I said, babbling a little in my nervousness, though I don't think anyone noticed.

"O-ok!" Vivi replied, determinedly and Freya nodded that she understood. Amarant merely shrugged and said "I can't believe we're going through so much trouble for this guy. He owes us one when he gets better."

I left the planning about tackling Evil Forest to them and turned to Steiner and Quina. "Steiner, Quina, you go to Ice Cavern. If you look behind the frozen waterfall there, you'll find an Ice Heart, that's the thing that keeps the cavern so cold. Try to get it back here as soon as you can."

"It will be done as you say, Lady Eiko," Steiner said, saluting. "Much yummies there?" Quina wanted to know. I had to suppress my laughter at that.

"I'll go to the Iifa Tree and pick up an Iifa Root. Everyone, try to get the items as fast as possible. We'll have to return the Ice Heart to Ice Cavern as soon as we can or it won't stay frozen for long, not to mention I doubt Zidane's going to wait for us forever," I finished, a little nervous about being in command and trying to hide it.

"Um, Eiko? What about me? Where do I go?" Garnet said suddenly. We all turned to look at her. "Your Highness! You must stay here and rule Alexandria!" Steiner protested.

I immediately started to have misgivings when she proceeded to put on her determined face; it's something she's acquired from Zidane and once she puts on that face there's no talking her out of doing what she wants to do. The only you thing you could do is bind, gag and chain her, lock her up in a room and hope she doesn't find a way of escaping and that generally doesn't work too well either.

"Stay here? I have every right to help! Alexandria will be ok without me for a little while and Zidane's my-"

"You're right, you go with Steiner and Quina. It's not fair that you should have to stay here," I interjected before she could finish her sentence. I didn't want to hear the end of that sentence. Her what? Boyfriend? Husband? Lover? I really didn't want to hear the end of that sentence.

Steiner opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. "She'll be going with you to Ice Cavern of course so that she'll be well protected. After all, you've protected her for pretty much her whole life Steiner," I said hurriedly. He seemed to be allayed by what I said and spoke no further protest.

Looking around I saw the hope and confidence on everyone's face. I was a more than a little scared that I could cause such strong feelings when I didn't have them myself. I couldn't let that stop me though. "Everyone understands what they're doing?"

Everyone nodded.

"Ok, then let's go save Zidane!"