II
Yay, I have found a gently used copy of FF9 at a vintage videogame store…and it works... I am pleased. Now regarding Vivi's 'children', I'm not sure if they have any official names… So they get random ones as briefly as they appear.
Disclaimer: See chapter 1 for disclaimer from now on.
Fallen branches snapped unevenly, accompanied by the whisper of robes dragging along the wildly growing grass as a battered and worn figure staggered drunkenly along. Claws slammed into the bark of a tree trunk, sliding forward before digging in as the Black Waltz's form sagged. Sickness had quickly stolen over his body and the constant feeling of his stomach sitting at the base of his throat was unpleasant and unnerving. He had never experienced such a horrible… sensation as what he felt at the current moment. He shut his eyes, head bowing slightly as he took in a slow and deep breath, trying to force the feeling back. He felt drained of energy and his magic reserves felt nearly spent from the previous night's rampage.
He couldn't understand the sudden rush of power and anger that had swept through his body in mere moments, taking control of his actions and caused him to disregard his own wounds and weariness. As exhilarating was it was, it was also starting to become… slightly alarming.
Of course he had been nearly livid at being discarded into a dank and oil-reeking underground passage, left to rot until the end of time. He wanted to exact some sort of revenge for being treated that way but… he didn't know how. Was what he did too much?
Scowling a bit, the Black Waltz opened his glowing eyes and looked at the grass beneath him. He decided that what he did was a just repayment of the treatment he received and the fools deserved it. They had brought it upon themselves for meddling with a Black Waltz.
Satisfied with that conclusion, he straightened up and glanced around at the woods he was in just outside of the smoldering village. The constant noise of chirping birds annoyed him as he continued on his way, heading away from the village and going in a northeasterly direction. He personally had never travelled before but from the depths of his memory, through the smoke and haze of the chaos of the previous night, the vague flash of a map with circled locations came back to him. He was somewhere close to the castle that he was brought up in with his brothers and somewhere within it their master surely was waiting for them.
...Or was he? The Black Waltz grimaced slightly in thought and pain when the toe of his boot caught on a root, causing him to stumble and ignite more searing fire in his veins. Hissing a few short curses, he made sure to pay mind to his path and continued walking.
Their master had insisted that the three brothers would be released from the depths of the castle—Alexandria Castle, that's what it was—and they were to retrieve... someone. It was someone especially important they had to succeed in bringing back and with no harm coming to…her. The name of the girl—yes, he was sure it was a girl—eluded him but the Waltz ignored it for now. That girl was no doubt long gone by now and getting further away from the village was best for his current situation. As much as he would have liked to injure any petty fools that dared to give chase, he preferred to regain some of his strength.
Stepping clear of the fringe of the forest, the Black Waltz flinched back slightly from the sunlight. Scowling a bit, he glanced around, seeing a small mountain with another patch of forest beside it to its right, and the small strip of land on its left before it dropped off. Slightly curious, the Black Waltz started across towards the mountain, after taking a small glance behind a shoulder to verify that he was alone. His eyes kept trailing back to the edge of the cliff, expecting to see something but he couldn't place what was amiss.
The same feeling as when he first tried to gather his thoughts in the underground passage still lingered, something about the air. It seemed…fresher. Of course, being stuck underground could have given the impression that the air outside was unusual but he knew it wasn't his imagination. Still…
Finally reaching the face of the mountain, he paused briefly to look at the sloped path leading higher up the rock face, and then he walked over to the edge of the cliff carefully, looking down… and seeing more land below. Confusion flitted across his hidden features for a moment before he understood.
That awful thing the humans at the Castle kept complaining about… the Mist; it was gone. Not a trace of it remained and the land with forests and winding rivers lay below, unhindered by the murky essence.
The Black Waltz also noticed that the drop was rather… steep and he took a half step further away from the ledge, not wanting to slip and ignored the sickening feeling again. If he was able to fly with uninjured wings, even the depth of the basin seemed a little much for a first try.
…There was a safer way down for the cowardly and weak humans, he was sure of it. Of course, using that path himself wouldn't prove that a grand creature such as himself was weak… he was thinking smart. Unlike those cowardly humans, though he was slightly amused by the thought of humans attempting to climb down the face of the cliff and failing.
Making his way across the thin strip of land around the mountain, the Waltz rounded the bend and frowned to see that the path ended, showing the same steep drop as the other side. Opting to gingerly sit on the ground closer to the rock face, the Black Waltz looked around at the scenery before him.
Somehow all the lack of human activity made the land look so—
The Black Waltz bit out a curse as he sat somewhat straight, his wing having reminded him that leaning against the rock was a bad idea. Grumbling under his breath, he rubbed the side of his face slightly with a hand and looked across the expanse of the forests below. He really hoped he didn't have to walk all the way back to the castle through the trees and the brush and anything else that lived in the annoying forests. With flying out of the question, the journey back could take him days, weeks… and he didn't even know which direction to go in!
"This is ridiculous…" He muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "I am not lost."
"Mister Zidane! Mister Zidane!" Small gloved hands tugged on Zidane's arm.
"Hold on a sec—Garnet, doesn't that seem a little weird that the border village got nearly wiped out? I mean they were making the… well, you know, but they stopped all activity last I heard." Zidane felt his arm tugged again then swung idly at his side.
"Mister Zidane…!!" A short black mage pulled on his arm, leaning back with his small weight.
"Hey, watch it little guy! You might actually pull my arm off!" The blonde joked as he turned, giving Garnet a small grin before patting the black mage's hat. "Now what can I do for ya?"
"Uhm…uhm…" The black mage grabbed the rim of his hat with one hand, pulling at it slightly in a familiar manner but not letting go of the Genome's wrist with the other. "Uhmm… Guess what?"
Smiling a little more, Zidane shrugged. "What?"
"You… have to guess!"
"Hmm…" Zidane cupped his chin in thought, looking off slightly. "Is it…raining?"
"No!" The mage giggled.
"Right, it's sunny out… Is it… red?"
"Nooo!"
Shrugging, the Genome looked at the other. "Hmm… I don't know, you're just gonna have to tell me."
"Uhm, uhm… " The mage paused, gripping the edge of his hat with his other hand and looked around to see if anyone else was listening. "Finn saw Mister Rusty and Miss Bea out in the… in the gardeeen…and …and they were… talking. In secreeet!"
"Really?" Throwing Garnet a wink, Zidane put his hands on his hips and looked at the small mage with a serious expression. "They're keeping secrets, are they? Well then, you and your brothers have to keep an eye on them. It could be a matter of castle security! Can I count on you guys to keep me posted in case they decide to elope?"
"Zidane!" Garnet reprimanded but with little heat behind it.
"Yessir! …Uhm… what's elope mean?" The mage squeaked slightly when a hand attempted to ruffle his hat.
"Don't worry about it, I'll tell you later. You guys keep out of trouble, all right? Me and the Queen are having a grown-up conversation right now. If you guys are gonna wander off into town, make sure you tell Rusty. But don't go outside of Alexandria. Even if you find a way to sneak by the guards… don't do it. Promise?"
"Alrighty! Promise!"
Zidane watched as the black mage ran out to find his brothers and he looked back at Garnet. "Looks like they started to get names."
"Do you think they thought them up on their own?" Garnet asked, watching as the door was gently eased shut by one of the guards standing outside.
"Nah… I think that Puck kid was sick of calling them all Vivi Junior. They all seem to like hanging out with him so I wouldn't be surprised. Man, I miss that kid…" Zidane shoved his hands in his pockets. "Have you heard anything from him?"
Garnet shook her head slightly, returning her gaze to Zidane. "No, I haven't. I do hope he's doing all right…"
Looking up at the climb that awaited him, the second of three Black Waltzes scowled with growing apprehension. There seemed to be a path snaking up the mountain that was used for traveling but as he looked more carefully, there seemed to be a few ledges he had to climb up and a few of the rocks looked questionable. And the climb seemed a lot higher than he initially thought when he first glanced at the mountain path… a little steeper at some parts…
Straightening his back, ignoring a twinge of pain from his injured wings, Two strode forward and began his ascent up the path to the entrance of the Ice Cavern. As he made his way up, he cursed the fact that his wings wouldn't allow him to fly. He hadn't had the time to find anything to help them heal and they were becoming a burden, forcing him to walk, of all things.
After a few close-calls by loose rocks sliding under his boots, he managed to find the trouble-areas ahead of time and avoid any additional slip-ups.
"You must move faster!"
"Move faster, you must!"
The Black Waltz growled under his breath from the familiar echoes that surfaced.
"The Queen has been waiting!"
"Waiting, the Queen should not!"
He had trouble making a similar climb such as this before… And he had been forced to walk, not allowed to fly from within the depths of the castle… It seemed like such a short time ago…
"You are not mindless Black Mages!"
"A will of your own you have!"
"So walk quicker!"
"Walk faster!"
A collective growl issued from the trio of newly born Black Waltzes as they made their way up the stairs to the next walkway. A few Alexandrian guards followed in front and behind to keep the newest creations in line, only sparing them a brief glance when they would not cooperate. Ahead of them all were two court jesters, one clad in red and white, the other white and blue, gesturing impatiently for them to hurry from the next path.
"You are so slow! The Queen grows impatient—"
"If she grows any larger, I bet she'll burst." One muttered lowly, having seen their newest 'employer' before the awakening of his second and youngest brothers.
"Such insolence! No respect!" Zorn pointed at the first Black Waltz of three.
"Such slander! Your masters, are we!" Thorn pointed as well.
A guard squeaked and jerked back as midnight blue wings stretched out, nearly falling into her fellow comrade. The third of the Black Waltzes stopped and turned on the stairs, regarding the woman nonchalantly before pointing a clawed finger at her.
"If you value your body in one piece, you lowly soldier, do not walk so close to me!" The hand opened as clawed fingertips started to crackle with faint blue lightning.
"Enough!" Shouted the two jesters as they ran down a few steps.
The spell grew, lightning spitting out in larger arcs before the clawed land was closed in front of the guard's face, extinguishing the thunder spell.
Three learned down, his shadow falling over the guards in front of him, and sneered. "If I catch you follow too close again… I will have you seared from the inside-out!"
Two ignored another angry cry of the jesters as he stood on the stairs, looking up at the climb that still awaited them. He noted with some dismay that the stairs and walkways to where they were being lead continue for some time.
"Brothers," Three turned back to his kin. "Since these vermin are so slow... I think we should let them climb at their own pace."
Thorn stepped down another stair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What are you planning?"
"Easy for the two of you because you can fly." One growled, looking between his two brothers. "I was not given that privilege…"
"Enough of your whining, One!" Two reached out and grabbed the back of One's shirt, ignoring the undignified yelp as the other's feet left the ground. "You are beginning to sound like those disgusting, weak creatures!"
"Do not even try it!" Zorn waved his arms in frustration.
"Stop them!"
The two youngest of the Black Waltzes cackled as they leapt off of the stairs into the open air, expanding their wings as they eluded the grasps of their captors. They hovered in the center of the underground tower, laughing in glee at the aggravation shown by those still on the stairs.
"Do not treat us as lowly soldiers, you fool! We are Black Waltzes!" Two held up a fist, a feral smirk playing behind the gloom that obstructed his features.
"We are not your pets, we will do what we wish!" Three crossed his arms over his chest.
"I rather walk! Put me down!" One cried, flailing a bit, his wings flapping awkwardly.
"If he so insists, Two, drop him to the depths below and he can walk up from the bottom!" Three sneered, smirking at his oldest brother.
One snarled and reached out with clawed hands. "Wait until I get my hands around your neck, you disrespectful little—"
"The only 'little' around here, is you, dear brother!"Three laughed and flew further up.
"Three! I'll kill you!" One struggled more in vain as the youngest flew further out of his reach.
"You'll soon find the joy in flying , big brother. You'll learn soon enough!" Two lifted One until he had held him with both arms and soared up after the youngest of three.
Racing each other up past the torch-lit walls, Two and Three disregarded the shouts that echoed after them as One clung to the arms that held up from the potential drop that lengthened with each moment. He shut his eyes as Two decided to do a sharp spiral around an obstacle and cursed.
"I hate flying! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it--!!" One squawked awkwardly from the sudden stop of their ascent.
Cracking open an eye, he could see the back of Three hovering in mid-air, looking at something at the top landing. One opened his other eye and looked up, trying to see what the other was looking at and froze when he saw the silver-haired man looking down upon them in what seemed to be amusement.
"My, it looks like my newest creations have decided to fly the nest already."
Two's grip on the oldest Black Waltz tightened slightly from the seemingly unthreatening words, the three of them staying silent. They knew that those words were nothing less than hostile…
"I do hope you remember your manners for the Queen, as she is waiting for her most-prized weapons. Now if you are done your little game, make yourselves presentable and walk with me."
Two stood at the top of the mountain path, still remembering how that man's words cut with an icy threat behind it when he spoke to the three of them. He shook himself out of reminiscing, noticing that he had indeed made it to the entrance of a cave that… seemed familiar..
Two crossed his arms, thinking for a few moments as glowing eyes examined the entrance of the cave. He took a few steps closer before stopping, an icy gust of air rushing past him and rustling his feathers. His arms over his chest pressed tighter as the chilling air blew past as he resisted the urge to shiver.
He cursed. "There's ice in there…! There must be…! I despise the cold!"
He stalled a bit, glaring at the entrance to the cave then he saw a sign that was haphazardly hammered into a rough patch of soft earth:
Danger. Do not use Ice Cavern. Ice is collapsing.
He stared at it for a few moments prior to shifting his gaze back at the entrance of the cave. A growl built up from the depths of his chest and his form trembled in rage.
Snarling, Two stepped forward and held up a clawed first, his wings painfully straightening as hackles would on a beast. "Why must this cursed world torture me?!"