Chapter four and introduction of the enemies to come. The Black Waltz have made their appearances and I wonder why there was no No. 4 though.
(Chapter Four - The Black Waltz)
Arriving outside the cavern the party looks up and down the cliff face. Inside was a completely frozen ice tunnel as the walls, floor and ceiling are covered in ice itself. But then a massive cold breeze mists exits the tunnel making everyone but Erik shiver at the touch. Erik scoffed and said: "You call this cold, been in much colder climates than that."
Zidane shivered and rubbed his arms together and said: "This must be the cavern..."
Vivi then stepped up to him and said: "U-Um..."
Zidane looked at him and asked: "What's up, Vivi?"
Vivi looking at the blonde thief asked him: "Have you ever heard of the Ice Cavern?"
Zidane looked sheepish and said unasuring: "Sure... Is this the place?"
Vivi sighed and said: "I think so... It's supposed to be near Evil Forest."
Garnet nodded and said: "...I've heard of it. It's supposed to be a beautiful place, covered in ice."
Vivi nodded and said: "My grandpa told me about this place. He said the cavern takes travelers to the top of the Mist."
Steiner then said with pride: "Bravo! Master Vivi's grandfather must be quite a scholar! We must thank him upon escaping the Mist!"
Vivi looked depressed and said: "My grandpa used to teach me lots of things, but he passed away..."
Steiner looked surprised but then bowed lightly and said: "Oh... Forgive my indiscretion."
Vivi shook at this and said: "Don't worry about it."
Zidane then said: "Well...why don't we go inside?"
Erik nodded and seeing everyone wearing gear suited them for now and he said: "Steiner you'll be in the back, Vivi and Garnet can take the middle and me and Zidane can take the front. The Cavern will most likely have monsters inside, so be ready."
Everyone nodded and they marched into the cavern. Entering a room completely covered in ice, Garnet was taken back by the beauty and said: "Oh...! What a beautiful place! Seeing the actual cavern is so much better than reading about it! Oh, how pretty... I wonder what kind of flower this is?"
She knelt down and examined the flower and Erik sat beside her and said: "An unusual daisy wow, these are very unusual… they have a frost-like appeal to them and yet they retain the most common appearance…" pulling out his guide of plant life he looked and said: " Huh, something undiscovered in this region, but I recommend gnizenit anywhere. It's called Mara's Daisy. I've seen them back in my home land, they are very uncommon… but they do have some symbolism."
Garnet looked at him and asked: "Really? What do they mean?"
Gently plucking the flower and putting it in his journal and pressing it he said: " Good fortune, eternal love, fertility, but it is said if a couple were two find it, they are blessed and they're love is true and eternal."
He froze and since he and Garnet found it, she blushed and he coughed into his hand. Steiner looked at them as the others were not paying attention and he said: " Princess! Please, don't touch anything!"
Zidane then said while rubbing his arms: "Can we get moving? I'm freezing here."
Venturing further and deeper into the cavern, blinding jets of windows forced them to shield themselves as monsters sprung at them. Cave Imps, giant desert monsters called Flans and Wyreds never even stood a chance. From the beast they dropped a few things as well as stole some of the items that were frozen to their bodies. Such as Ores, Phoenix Down, Potions, Ether, a clear liquid to restore some mana like a Magicka potion and even tents. But as he walked past a small path of ice leading to a wall, Zidane walked toward it and said: "Hmm? What's this? What a strange wall… there's gotta be something behind it. Hey, Vivi!"
Vivi looked at him and asked: " Y-Yes?"
Zidane pointed to the thin wall of ice and asked: "Can you break this wall down with your magic?"
Vivi then said with chattering teeth: "I...I'm coming."
Casting the fire spell, the wall melted away to reveal an old chest. Zidane smirked and said: "I knew it! See?" There might be other walls like this… I'm counting on you, Vivi!"
Vivi nodded nervously and said: "S-Sure!"
Pressing onward they continued through the frozen tunnels and came to an ice crystal room with a Moogle trapped inside and Erik said: "Hey Vivi, think you can thaw 'em out?"
He nodded and soon enough freed the Moogle who cried out saying: "Hot Hot Hot! You bastards!!! Oh, I can move again! Sorry about yelling at you, but thanks, Kupo!"
This was Moist the Moogle who handed Vivi a letter to Gumo. Exiting the room and traveling up into a long tunnel the party were shielding themselves as the wind grew intense. Ice and snow were quickly gathering around them. Zidane had little trouble with it, as Erik was perfectly fine, noticing the Princess was in a poor state he handed her his coat and she smiled weakly as they pressed onward. But the tunnel was extremely long and the wind was not letting up. Zidane called out: "Vivi, hurry up, or you'll be left behind!"
Vivi was staggering weakly and Erik saw this and then he realized something, the wind, the frost and ice, it was laced with magic and he the black mage said before nearly walking into a hole: "I...I'm coming."
Erik rushed and stopped him and he looked ahead and his ears picked up the sound of a bell jingling and he saw Steiner and Garnet were slowly going down. But soon Vivi collapses and Erik says: "Vivi!"
Steiner suddenly falls down too, landing beside Vivi as ice was encasing him slowly. Zidane then calls out to him:"Yo, Rusty! You're...not alright, are you? What happened to you guys?"
Zidane jumps down and kicks Steiner and he says: "Hey, Rusty! Move it or lose it! Get up!...it's no use..." Garnet began staggering and collapsed to her knees as she shivered. Erik rushed to a wall and started punching it, shattering the ice and heard a fourth sound and found a small opening out of the window as it would take hours for the wind to seal up his opening. Dragging everyone inside, he pulled out some light timber and some wood he brought from the forest and was glad he ran into the fabled ragtimer when he was gathering wood for such moments. Starting a small four to warm them up Erik heard the bell was louder and Zidane groaned and he said: "What's that sound...?"
Erik helped him up and said: "I don't know… but right now they are in no danger from hypothermia now. We need to find that bell, cause ever since this wind started I've been hearing it. Plus this is laced with magic."
The duo nodded and rushed back out and further in the tunnel till they made it to a large frozen pond with a waterfall that was frozen behind it. But a massive blizzard blinded them and a dark raspy voice said to them: "Why didn't you two fall asleep? You both should be dead by now..." Erik smirked and said: " High tolerance to the cold jackass, but you fucked up."
Zidane then shouted: " Are you the one causing this blizzard?"
The blizzard lessened and jumping down was someone who resembled Vivi. He wore a red robe with a pointy straw hat with pink glass ved hands and his pink pants had snowflakes on them as his eyes were angular and in his left hand was a bell. On his back were two dark blue wings and he jumped to glide down and landed before them. Drawing their weapons the duo stood ready. The black mage laughed and said: "That's right, now come my beast!"
Bursting from the frozen pond was a giant seal with the head of a lion and a body of a walrus that could eat them whole. Erik smirked and said: "Take out the mage, save the best for last!"
(Play Cold as Ice)
The lion roared and the duo stood ready. The giant beast rushed and swiped at them with its winged fin, but they both flipped back and rushed the mage. Who jumped into the air and hurled door size icicles at them that pierced the very ground. Erik, using them elevated himself and swung at him, but the Black Mage evaded, only for Zidane to come up and slashed it in the back. Landing Erik got knocked back by the beast's tail and rushed at it and avoided a smash from its tail and broke off from it, an icy blue steel dagger that had a survival knife look to it. It was a Mithril dagger, bouncing off the creature he spun and slashed the mage in the back as it tried to hurl another blizzard spell at Zidane.
Landing he skated across the ice and avoided the blizzard shots. Smirking, but the jewel on the Sea Lion was red and it smacked the ground causing a wave of water to gush out of the ice and went after them. Erik used the unrelenting force shout to burst through it as Zidane and the mage got hit. Erik spun and performed dragon fang nailing the mage as he was down. But it raised both hands and hurled a carriage size thing of razor sharp ice spear at him and he blocked himself but got thrown back. Snarling he roared and rushed at the guy and Zidane came out from behind and stabbed him in the back and Erik stabbed him in the heart.
The ice beast roared violently as the mage slumped and became most and only its clothes remained. The beast spun and knocked them back with its tail and both landed and slid back on the ice. Erik rushed skating across and performed a minus stroke on the beast as Zidane came up and x-slashed it. It swatted at them knocking Zidane back, but Erik shouted Yol to burn it, Zidane hit the ice but spun and used the momentum and lunged back at it corkscrewing and slashed the beast on its neck as Erik jumped high and preformed dragon fang on its head. Both landed in a posse and the beast fell over and the ice gave out under it making its body sino down below. Both smirked and saw most of the ice gave away and crumbled as a stream thawed out and showed it was flowing as well as the waterfall, but areas did remain frozen.
(Song End)
Erik sighed in relief and rolled his shoulders before sheathing his blades and said: "Welp, that was something else."
But then they heard a voice that sounded like two and to say that it sounded from ever was something: "You both have defeated No.1, but No.2 and No.3 will reclaim the princess!"
Erik looked around and slightly looked up and saw a blue and red jester above and acted like he didn't see them. Zidane then asked, looking around frantically: "W-Who's there? Oh, whatever… We've gotta go back and check on them!"
Erik nodded and they rushed back to the others. Zidane and Erik returned to them as the trio awakened from there slumber and Erik said joking: "Morning' sleeping beauties."
Garnet groaned and asked: "Erik? What happened?"
He replied lying smoothly: "Fought a boss monster that had hypnotic powers to those who succumbed to the cold. But we took care of it though."
The two thieves fist bumped and Zidane asked: " Is everyone okay?"
Steiner then said: " We are fine, and thank you… both of you for helping keep her safe."
Erik then said facing away from them and started snuffing out the flames and grabbed some of the burned wood and some charcoal from it to use later: "Come on, we are near the exit now."
Emerging from the icy cavern covered in frost and some snow. Vivi was shuddering and looked up at Erik and asked him: " H… h… how are you not cold?"
He smirked and said: "Born in the cold, I practically have a high tolerance for it. But I can see Dali from here."
Garnet looks at him and says: "It sounds like you've been everywhere, Erik. The only other worlds I've visited are in books. You may have been to that village. Let's go visit."
As she began walking down the stone pathway Zidane said: " Wait. Hold it. You're a princess! You can just go rushing in there. People are looking for you. You need a new identity."
Steiner shoved him that caused his normal regular dagger to fall out and he said: "Insolent fool! The princess need not sneak around! Besides, we're heading back to the castle. You leave her alone. And you will address her as 'Princess' from now on, you silly peasant."
Zidane growled out and said: "Dammit, Rusty! Why don't you just shut up? Who do you think you are? I don't take orders from a stuck-up jerk like you!"
Vivi then said, trying to calm them down: "You guys!"
Garnet then shouted: "Stop it, you two! ...Steiner, I do not intend to return to the castle. And I do see Zidane's point...I need a new name..." Garnet picks up and holds a dagger, looking and marveling as she asks: "Zidane... What is this called?"
Zidane then replied: "That? That's a dagger. All knives of that length are called daggers. Short swords are a bit longer. The big sword you hold with both hands is called a broadsword. And..." Nodding her head she said: " Oh, okay... I understand now. So this is called a 'dagger'..."
Steiner then said, worrying about her: "Princess! It's a weapon! Please be careful."
Garnet then handed it back and said: "I've decided! From now on, my name is..."
Erik then said: "Hold that though Princess Zidane is right Steiner, many people would want her to capture her. Nobles who have a sick obsession for her. Slavers, bandits and what not. If she does choose a name to go by while we are out in public, she needs a name that is unique yet common. Something she wants to be called."
She paused and thought this through pondering for a few more seconds she then said: " Sarah, my name is Sarah."
Steiner then said: "A fine name Princess."
Vivi then said: "It's a pretty name.*
Zidane smiled and Erik then said: "Also try to ease up on the prim and proper a bit, don't want anyone suspecting anything. Just be casual as if you would be talking to someone you can trust your secrets with."
She remembers a certain doctor from her childhood who was her tutor. Smiling and she said: "Okay, I hope I will do okay."
Zidane gave her a thumbs up and they continued on their way. By dusk they'd arrived at the small town of Dali, a small farming settlement. The houses were made of stone and hay roofs. A large windmill was seen as a pin was in the back by a farm where yellow chicken ostriches were, those were Chocobo. Looking excited to see the windmill Vivi said: "Gee whiz, a windmill!"
Zidane yawned and said: "Vivi, the inn is this way!"
Vivi acted childish and asked: "Aw, do we have to? ...But I wanna go see the windmill."
Zidane looks at him and replies: "I know. But let's get some rest first."
Erik turns to Sarah and he says: "We also need to decide what to do next. And restock on supplies and provisions. For now we rest, get ourselves situated and then move onward."
Steiner then said: " Lord Erik is correct Master Vivi, we all must rest for the evening so we can be ready for the next day."
Entering the Inn of the Village, Erik had caught on the glares and looked at Vivi, as if they knew what he was. Once inside the inn, Zidane walks up to the innkeeper, who's sleeping, head on his desk. Shaking his head, Zidane said: "Sleeping on the job?"
Raising their heads, the keeper said tiredly: "Oh, I'm sorr...y..."
Zidane turns around to look at Sarah, then goes back to looking and speaking to the innkeeper.
Zidane then said looking at them: "Hey, I know she's cute, but it's rude of you to stare."
Innkeeper Hal then said as the eyes were really on Vivi and said: "Oh, I-I wasn't looking at the young lady. I was just... The room is right over there. Make yourselves at home."
The group heads for the door to their room. But Sarah looked around and said: "Um...Zidane? Where will I be staying?"
Zidane looked at her and said: "In the same room. Where else?"
Sarah then said nervously: "But, I mustn't..."
Erik then said, placing a hand on her shoulder: "I understand how you feel, but these country inns don't have private rooms."
He walks to the door and opens it then says: "Get inside, everyone!"
Soon enough it wasn't long that everyone else fell asleep and Steiner slept between Erik and Zidane as Sarah had used the privacy screens to get herself some privacy. The party of five had passed out and snoozed profoundly as the entire day wore them out then ever. By the crack of dawn the next day everyone woke up and grunted feeling the stiffness and began adjusting their bodies for the day. Zidane then asked: "Hey Sarah, why did you want to leave the castle anyway."
Clenching her hands on her pants legs and saying: " There is a reason I must leave this kingdom. I cannot tell you why... But...please..." Erik had a suspension because of her power she has within her, looking at the others he then said: "Okay, I'll have the Inn bring you fresh water to clean yourselves up, while we can head out. We can get a bath later, for now we need to make sure there are no bandits or thugs here after her. Zidane, Vivi you guys check one half, me and Steiner will check the other half."
Everyone nodded and as he did, he sent someone to give her water to clean with and they headed out after dining on some food. Thirty minutes later Erik yawned and returned to the room and upon entering he saw Garnet sleeping with a towel loosely around her body, he froze and saw her clothes were cleaned by a spell and scattered on the bed. He froze and saw a white frilly corset and tang pantys on the bed, backing up he then saw despite being a princess, she never trimmed or started to shave down there. He left the room and pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed before saying: "What a morning."
Banging on the door which startled and made her jump in fright as she said: "Yes?"
Erik replied: "Garnet, it's me… you done yet?"
She looked down and froze seeing her state and said: "Give me a moment please."
Waiting by the door he heard it open slightly and saw a nervous Garnet as she said: "Can you help me tie something."
Sighing he nodded and entered and helped her tie the corset so it was snuggled and realized they were half-cups and it exposed her stomach with how short it was. Must be from that new underwear line he heard about for girls, since new male underwear came out. Once finished Sarah aka Garnet said: "Thank you…" nodding he said: "You're welcome."
Noticing new water had arrived some time ago she went on her way and he bathed and pulled out a spare version of his outfit and used the clean spell to clean it. Steiner was next and he took Erik's advice as to getting new armor and it still made clanking sound but not so much to be a nuisance. Next was Vivi and Zidane and the group decided to check around town. Checking the item shop he pondered and grabbed two bronze armor for himself since he could wear both light and heavy unlike most others who preferred one over the other. Sliding the bronze chest piece over his tunic and slide his coat on and was he cglad his coat was baggy around the torso and sleeves and bought two sets of bronze gloves, one thing he loved about this realm, some equipment had been mysteriously enchanted by the gods or whoever to gifts abilities or lesser powers to the bearers after a certain amount of time. He grabbed the Feather caps, which were white hats with small green feathers for Zidane, and Garnet, but would give Vivi his and wear the new bronze helm he bought.
But then he began hearing a beautiful voice singing and he stopped and asked: "What an amazing voice, but… who is singing it?"
The voice sang such a beautiful melody as it said: " I was wandering aimlessly
I kept searching without a clue
the memories you gave me
Make it a poem that heals the heart
without making any promises
Without even deciding the words to exchange
hugged and confirmed
the days never return
You who waved your hand in my memory
can you call my name
those overflowing tears
In exchange for shining courage
life goes on
beyond the night
Continue to tomorrow without doubt
To the sky beyond the flying birds
How many memories did you deposit?
Fleeting hopes and dreams
Lost in an unreachable place
You can say that it's a coincidence that we meet
Even though the time to part will surely come
Even if the fate of disappearing
as long as you live
life goes on
eternally
As far as the power can go
even if i die
as long as you live
life goes on
eternally
It will last as long as it can. "
Closing his eyes, he smiled. That tuned it felt peacefully and yet saddening. Sighing as he clenched his fist and said: "I wonder who did sing that? But I wonder were Sarah had ran off to and where did everyone else go?"
Finding Vivi and Zidane just outside the window he heard them having a conversation. Zidane looked around the area and noticed the chocobos were gone and asked: "So, what were you staring at?"
Vivi shaking his head and said: "Nothing. But I keep hearing a sound like 'kweh.'"
Zidane made an oh face and said: "That's the sound chocobos make..."
Vivi Zidane both remained silent listening for one but nothing.
Zidane then said: "I'll see you back at the inn!"
Erik nodded and he and Zidane walked off, not noticing, till Erik caught Vivi had vanished. Frowning as this place was extremely suspicious. Finding Garnet in one of the shops he said: "Yo Sarah."
She turned and blushed remembering earlier and says: "Uh, Erik…" looking at her he whispered seeing she looked nervous: "Relax princess, it's just us here and I haven't talked about the guys about earlier. Knowing Steiner he'd flip out."
She giggled and he said: " Nice to see you are adjusting, you're doing great."
She blushed and fidgeted and said: "Thank you. "I did fine in the play, didn't I?"
Chuckling he said: "You acted well, but it sounded a bit to fake."
Sarah snorted in anger and stomped her foot and said: ""Fake!? How insensitive! Ilove Lord Avon's plays. I've seen all of them. 'I Want to Be Your Canary' is one of my favourites. I even have all the lines memorized! I shall...I'll learn soon enough."
Patting her on the head he said: "Geez, you don't have to get mad. I'm sorry. We need to decide what to do from here. Will you go back to the inn?"
Sarah then asked: "What about you?"
Erik then said: "I'll head back soon."
Sarah smiled and said: "Alrighty. I'll catch you later."
She walked away and noticed Erik giving her a thumbs up and he soon enough walked out of the store. And headed around the village to find Zidane and saw him on the outskirts sitting on a post. He walked over and said: "Hey brother, you okay?"
He nodded and said: "Yeah, Blank… he is… " nodding his head understanding he said: "Yeah, just hope we can find something. Blank always was the guy to have everyone answer."
Both stared at the clouds and Zidane said: " I sent Ruby a letter after we got hers, glad she is safe and is working to own a small theater, guess she does want to go straight out of being thieves."
Chuckling he said: " Face Zid… we got out of that boat when we took this job. Besides once we get to Lindblum, I'll basically be looking into any item for petrification removal. I remember they're were a few methods, one was an advance white magic spell, and others were an item. I'll see you at the Inn man."
He nodded and Erik walked off and headed for the Inn then so did Zidane as he said: " Hope you guys are okay."
Gnarl watched this with a blank expression. This Overlord he was now surviving was nothing like his predecessors. But he had made several good points though. While the lands and people of they're home world were incredibly weak, the candidates had failed in slaying the Shining Justice and the entire world shattered, casting them all beyond space and time itself. The many worlds the hives and artifacts landed in housed enemies and foes that have potential and skill to beat the Overlord's themselves. With him alone now as Fay was having the side project of building a new Abyss Gate, unlike in the past this one would only allow the third to come through for a brief moment in time.
With the fourth being dead and becoming a Netherlord, an Overlord who became undead he was bound to the Abyss realm as well and upon defeat would return. Growling he walked away as in his eyes the emblem of the Shining Justice appeared and he poofed into pink smoke and vanished.
Yeah I am changing things up about the world and it is because I am uncertain about some things. And Vivi was the fourth Black Waltz that made sense as he was the fourth one to gain consciousness before the types did.
Relics and Targets:
Frenzy, Domination, The Evil Eye, Brown Hive - location: Gaia, target: Hakon.
Lightning, Halo, Elemental Armor - location Terran, target: Sir Cedric
Shield, Staff of the Overlord, Blue and Green hive - location: World of Light, target: Cryos.
Slow, Azure Sword, Overlord Sarcophagus - location: World of Light, target: Lady Clarissa
Fire, Mace of the First Overlord, Infernal Armor, Helmet Red Hive - location: Endiness, target: Inferna
Power drain, Salamander, Wolves, Spiders - location: Endiness, target Sparkles.
Power Drain, Petrify, Sword of Life-Steal, Location: New World, target: Malady
Overlord Wives/Mistresses
Garnet Til Alexandros/Sarah - Mistress
Overlord Concubines
Freya Crescent
Beatrix Steiner
