— WHAT!? – Blank, Marcus and Cinna gasped in symphony.
— Brahne is making her move to Lindblum – while Freya remained on her usual humble and friendly self.
— No way that freaking blue fat is gonna touch my kingdom! – Cinna picked up his hammer right away.
— Hell no! – Marcus wielded his sword.
— Guess we'll have to leave the beer for later, how great – Blank tightened his belts as he pulled his sword out the leather sheath – you'll join us, lady Freya, right?
— Fate has given me a chance to do what I should have done previously at Burmecia and Cleyra, so I won't miss it – the longing and burden for the lost loved ons had a weight on Freya's shoulders – now, how are we supposed to go from here to there in fast pace?
— Sorry, but I have no idea – Marcus prefered action over thinking.
— It's hard to come up with clear thoughts with all this pressure – Blank felt anxious, yet patience was required for him to have clear thoughts.
— Eugh, this place stinks! Can't we move on already? – Cinna could not bare the strong odor of the slaughtered Bandersnatchi bodies.
— We can't – Beatrix walked in, followed of Steiner – Alexandria is under martial law, all places are surrounded by guards. I won't fight against my own men and women.
— Neither I will. Look at this! – Steiner pointed out at the creature's remnants.
— Why are we here? It stinks! – Cinna complained once again.
— Guess we're used to this sort of nasty stuff – the burmecian knight felt pain by looking at a wall tainted in gooseberry red.
— I'm not! – Cinna isn't done with complaining – hey, why don't we move downstairs? Isn't there a Gargan tunnel down there that leads to Treno?
— Hmmm... We could go to Lindblum throught the same way Zidane and Garnet and Vivi left the castle – without hesitation, Freya walked down the spiral staircase – Treno isn't far from Lindblum, so... what are we waiting for? let's mosey!
— Follow the rat – Blank said, to which everyone went after the Dragoon Knight.
Freya mourns for the loss of so many lives. Beatrix and Steiner were loyal to Alexandria. Their bodies are injured, their minds swallowed by turmoil, yet they resist the pain, kill the dragon and move forward to glory. In their hands lies the fate of Lindblum, mankind, of humanity and Gaia itself. Failure is unthinkable, yet success may well be impossible-for they seek to change history.
— This is where Garnet's Eidolons got extracted by Zorn and Thorn – Beatrix said, as the party came across Alexandria's basement – those jesters... I always hated the way they spoke.
— The way they spoke, you always hated.
— No time for jokes, Crescent.
— I know. I find it annoying too – Freya's sense of humor varies with her mood. A star burning too hot, too fast – I saw those clowns at Gizamaluke's Grotto and Burmecia. If I see them ever again... I wonder where are them?
— Who knows? It's not an important issue.
— Not important? They harmed your Princess as much as the Queen! – as a knight, Freya is up to put her doubts aside and even join forces with the enemy. Nevertheless, she borrows of her own feelings and compassion to another – and those guys are still around, somewhere...
— We'll deal with Zorn and Thorn later – Beatrix was filled of rage, but she had control over it – I promise, they won't go unpunished.
— We knocked those Corn and Pop guys up – Marcus recalled the fight he had together of Blank a while ago – if they had the strenght to walk away, then they're not human.
— They are not human, for sure. After all they did to Burmecia and its people... – the Dragoon pondered to herself, almost going mad – so many issues to deal with, so many choices to pick...
— Freya, are you all right? – Blank noticed that his friend was not feeling so well.
— I am. Just a bit anxious. I failed twice...
— Don't you worry, Ratchel. We're here to watch your back.
— You are right, bro! – said Marcus, yielding of a comradeship spirit – a Tantalus is never left behind!
— Yeah! Except for Ruby... You guys remember Ruby, right? – Cinna asked, to which everyone stood quiet.
— ...did you said 'Ratchel'!? – this until Freya spoke – if we weren't running, I'd kick your butt.
— I heard Ruby made a career to herself here in Alexandria – followed of Cinna – she's working on a mini-theater, or something.
— Quit the side talk, and focuse on the main goal at once! – Beatrix said, with a strict and severe voice.
— You mean to reach Lindlum? Sure, why not? If we grew wings, at least – severity gone soon as Cinna pronounced himself. The party has reached the border of Gargan Roo, a set of underground galleries used for transportation in ancient times.
— What the fudge? – a large mole-cricket like creature crawled upside down the ceiling, holding on to a large root. Cinna was both amazed and scared – Whoa! Is that a G-G-Gargant!? My, it's SO HUGE!
— Why are you impressed? – Marcus, well... not quite so – we came all the way from Treno to here on that thing!
— Yeah, I know. But you can't deny it's still impresssive.
— So, that's a Gargant? – as Freya grew up, a few things in life left her speechless. She misses the kind of curiosity borrowed at childhood, where everything used to be new and fascinating and worthy to be paid attention – interesting...
— The Gargant came, but where's the carriage? – Blank looked at the giant insect, lacking a crucial detail – did it crashed?
— You know how these creatures are easily spooked by any monsters – Steiner explained – and Where there's Mist, there's a monster.
— Yeah, we fought that giant vermin thing on our way to Alexandria! – Marcus said, staring at the fog below while hearing roars from distance.
— Yes, we did. If the carriage crashed, then that means... Zidane and Garnet... – the former Knight of Pluto felt awful to himself.
— Don't forget Vivi! – said Cinna, still looking closely at the Gargant.
— Yeah, Master Vivi too – Steiner could hear the beasts cry within the Mist. Where these cries of help, together of satisfaction? To find a prey around these corners must be like a banquet – did they made it to Treno? I know the Princess can take care of herself, that's why I didn't stood on her way.
— They are fine, Steiner – said Beatrix, outspoken and with a warm heart – Zidane said he wouldn't fail with your request. I'm sure he won't.
— There's no way the six of us can hold on that thing – Freya didn't liked the idea of holding onto a cricket walking upside down.
— We can hold on one another – and neither she liked Blank's idea.
— I heard about the 'soft' incident out of Zidane, so let's not do it. You'll need both arms on battle – a quick smirk appeared on the burmecian's face.
— Zidane... I kinda miss him calling me Rusty, isn't that weird? – suddenly, Steiner felt a kind of nostalgia.
— We'll always be here for that... Rusty – and Cinna felt a need to say something.
— No, stop! – never that Steiner felt so embarassed – I was not being serious at all! I just said... what came out of my heart.
— Ooooh! – Cinna looked at the tall and stocky build knight – you might be a bad actor, but when it comes to open up and let your feelings out for honest, you are so-
— No, don't say that! I'm not cute!
— I wasn't going to say that. Now that you said it...
— Sigh... You guys are amazing – any opportunity Steiner had of staying as the stark and wintry figure he pretends to be was taken away by the speed of light – why must I be the target of numerous jokes? Where did my dignity and pride go?
— Make everybody happy – all of Tantalus said, turning their faces and smiles to Steiner.
— Zidane was truly raised by the likes of you – one Zidane was enough, now THREE of them? Steiner is grateful for being so patient and restrictive with himself.
— You should have saw baby Zidane's first steps – said Marcus...
— Or Zidane's first steal – ...followed of Cinna...
— Or that time Zidane hanged out with a rat – ...and ending with Blank.
— It was not me, for sure – I'll definitively kick his butt, thought Freya – well, have you had enough sharing past recordations? As much as I'd like to share my own, we don't have time for that.
— Lady Crescent is right – Beatrix didn't had much to add to the conversation, other than a – that's enough babbling. Leave it for later.
— I haven't forgotten the beer, Blank! – Cinna yelled to Blank, while tapping his massive belly.
— Thanks for reminding me, buddy – Blank scratched his head, feeling discomfort – I'm in pretty good shape, for someone who turned to stone.
— You sure do, bro! – Marcus said, relieved by knowing Blank is doing fine. The gargant crawled forward and made its way to Treno, and without a carriage, there's no way to ride it safely – well, there goes our way to pass sneak Alexandria's army.
— Any better ideas? – pain, regret, frustation and spite contaminated Freya. Yet, she could not just give herself up – our dear General doesn't want to injury her precious soldiers.
— There's no need for such needless violence – the dear General replied – we'd better keep our energy to the battles about to happen.
— This if we reach Lindblum in time – Blank said, as everyone went upstairs to come up with a new plan.
— And we will. But first, we need to go undetected – Beatrix had quite an experience when it came to planning. The benefities of being brought to a war room ever since little – I can't bribe every knight I find.
— With my money – Freya interrupted the conversation – not that I care... continue, please.
— Well, that would not be practical, and, as crazy as it might sounds for a few of us – that few being the only rodent miss in the room, to which Beatrix looked and instantly avoided staring at in fear – ...I still have a reputation to uphold. What we do need to know is that many of my men are against me, a few unsure, we can take advantage of such uncertainty.
— Are there any crates being sent to Lindblum? – Steiner asked, as the party stopped by the Eidolon extraction room.
— No. Alexandria has forbidden any kind of trade to neighbors. Meaning... the Queen is planning not only an invasion, but a siege. If there'll be survivors.
— A siege!? – Steiner is shocked by how far Brahne has reached.
— Isn't a genocide enough? – Freya believed that nothing else could shock her – and don't you dare say that Brahne used to be good. I won't believe you.
— She needs to be stopped at once – Beatrix feels upset, yet she remembers the good old times, when Brahne was a decent person, a love caring mother. Those days are gone – and to think the Queen could have used the Eidolons for good.
— It's never good when you use something as a weapon as a means to employ control – for Freya, the sympathetic Brahne days never happened, they're an illusion – so, what do we do?
— Other than covering our noses? – Cinna said, with a nasal voice. The stench of bandersnatchi lying around the staircase was so unberable the flies were already showing up – I feel poor for the lad who's gonna clean all this mess. Hey, why don't we take a bath?
— A bath? – for a moment, Freya gave herself in to daydreaming visions. I'll be happy to live just one normal life, out in the woods, bathing my body under a waterfall stream... – I'd like to, but we don't have time.
— There's no time for hygiene, lady – a single wash of hands, and Cinna would feel satisfied – do you know what 'organized crime' stands for?
— Sometimes, you just don't know how bad you feel until the feeling is gone – Beatrix thought about taking a bath as well, how good it is for one's health, but given the circumstances, every single thing outside duty seemed impossible to accomplish.
— Sniff, sniff! – Cinna smelled one of his armpits. He wanted to puke – I feel pretty bad!
— Here. Take this – Freya took a glass bottle out of her pocket and gave it to Cinna.
— What's this? Smells good.
— It's a perfume sold at a Cleyra store. Used to be sold – the crimson Dragoon has fond memories of Cleyra. A nice place to live, a paradise on Gaia... it had to be ruined by men's greed.
— A perfume? Thanks! – Cinna liked his gift – it smells really good!
— like a young maiden! – Marcus smelled his friend, emanating of a pine with lemon and milk scent alltogether
— I heard theater actors in the past used to be all males. The female characters were all played by men wearing dresses, can you believe it? – said Blank, after he felt Cinna's scent. It was quite unique. And then, all of sudden, an idea came to mind – h-hey guys, I had an idea! Let's disguise ourselves as women!
— WHAT!? – everyone's eyes widened to Blank.
— The heck you said? – Cinna could not blink with his yellow sunflower's eyes.
— Bro, you feeling right? – Marcus is worried.
— Excuse me, whaaaat? – Beatrix raised her eyebrow.
— That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard in my life – Steiner looked so serious and stiff.
— And you know what? I'm afraid it might work – Freya was not bothered at all, but she tried her best to keep the composture.
— Freya!? – Steiner couldn't believe what he heard.
— What do you suggest? That we, hunted criminals, show up at streets in bright noon?
— Why not disguise ourselves as Pluto Knights? That's what Zidane and you did during the Princess's birthday – Steiner said to Blank.
— Yeah, but you see... My helmet totally reeked, my armor was way too big, my back itched, the boots were wet and gloves all slimy, there were cookie crumbles in my pockets-
— Okay, okay! For crying out loud – Steiner knows how uncomfortable a knight's wear is, akin to Blank's thorough description – but it's a temporary disguise, understand?
— Sigh... I'm sorry, Steiner, but I'm already wearing an armor – said Freya, who has been wearing a lot of weight, physical and emotional – I can't wear an armor above another armor, even if it's temporary.
— Freya Crescent of Pluto Knights, huh? I'd like to see that – Blank has quite a fertile imagination.
— You won't – while Freya has a more realistic approach,
— Then, just wear a hood to cover your face – a bright idea came to Steiner's mind – guess everyone here should.
— Yeah, but won't that raise suspicion? – Blank was the one who came with the dress idea. He won't give up so easily.
— And a man dressed like a woman isn't suspicious enough!? – Steiner refuses to ever find himself inside of a dress. It's just so wrong.
— Nobody asks a woman if they're a man in disguise. It comes of as being disrespectful, don't you think? – Cinna said, as he laughed to himself.
— Like you have what's needed to fool someone! – Steiner can't picture Cinna with a dress. It's too much wrong.
— I do have the prettiest voice of all – Blank said, while doing a poor man's imitation of a woman's voice.
— Lord... That's the worst imitation of a lady's voice I ever heard – it's a thing Beatrix never expected to hear in life.
— Please don't do it again, it hurts – Freya cleaned her pointy ears after hearing such atrocity – just stay quiet, alright?
— I have forgotten to ask, but where will you find such dresses? – Steiner asked, with a jolly smile at face – ah ha! So your plan is flawed from since beginning!
— Time is passing, and Brahne is coming closer of Lindblum – Freya didn't cried in public on duty. A Dragoon never cries, but in a land without rain, there's no way to hide any tears – why don't you decide already? Many lives are at stake, we can't just let them cease to exist. Not again...
— I hate when a dove cries – said Marcus. He thought a strong warrior like Freya didn't had time, or reason to express her feelings.
— Me too – Blank put his mind to work. It was exhausting, but soon he came to a conclusion – hey, who said that we don't have enough dresses?
— What do you... no – Steiner knew the answer. Very well – no, no, NO! You won't lay your dirty hands on the Princess's dresses!
— Come on, Albert! Garnet has a million dresses she never wore in life, isn't that right? – Cinna is on Blank's side.
— It's Adelbert! And no, you won't do that! – utterly disrespectful, that's how Steiner saw it all. Gross, disgusting, nothing good could come out of it – there are lots of better options.
— Are there? – Blank and Cinna briefly looked at each other's eyes, before they ran away upstairs.
— Stop right there, criminal scum! – Steiner shouted, as he pursued the thieves on high speed, leaving Marcus, Freya and Beatrix behind – nobody breaks the law on my watch!
— I don't mind wearing a knight's armor – Marcus shruged. He began to slowly walk upstairs, very optimistic – we could knock them out, is that so hard!?
— Think I would fit in any of Dagger's costumes? – Freya asked to Beatrix, while taking the dust away from her iron shoulders.
— Dagger?
— That's how Zidane called the princess. You know, to not give anyone suspicion – he didn't fooled me at all, the Dragoon though, as she looked up and watched Steiner still on the run to catch up Blank and Cinna – the world is full of ignorants.
— No one is innocent – Beatrix's stark figure begins to crumble. The General once felt strong and confident of her actions, now all that remains is a fragile and vulnerable girl – I'm willing to seek forgiveness from your people, Crescent. What should I do?
— A lot. Not just say 'citizens of Burmecia, please forgive me'. No one's hearing, but yourself – Freya may sound harsh right now, but she knows that Beatrix is up to do the right thing – I know this is humiliating, but if that's what you're supposed to do, then do it. To begin wtih Lindblum. You'll help us, right?
— ...do they really want to wear the Princess's dresses as a sort of disguise? – Beatrix's answer was already clear enough to the burmecian's hearing.
— So do I.
— You too!? – Beatrix found it outrageous. Not as much as Steiner.
— Not only because we're in a hurry, but you see... Since I was a kid, I dreamed of being part of the royalty – whenever Freya revisits the past, she goes lucid. Her eyes blink like the ones belonging to a child laying upon a pillow of cotton clouds – that would be my change to fulfill a dream long forgotten.
— Weren't you part of the royalty at Burmecia?
— Yes, I was. For years, I have been the King's dog... – the burmecian's voice dyed with nostalgia and cynicism.
