Chapter 8

Tantalus usually came out on top, but this job looked especially good. When Baku gave the signal, Zidane would ease on up, let Blank and Marcus over onto the main vessel, and they would begin hauling the gil over onto the escort. Cake.

"A bit like free money, huh?" Blank had said, munching noisily on an apple. "I figure we're just doin' the Robin Hood thing…"

"Yeah, we're robbing hoodlums alright," Marcus replied, smacking Blank on the back of the head. "Now finish that apple…the boss'll give us the signal soon."

Zidane grinned, still watching the rear of the main ship for any sign of the big guy. Finally, he came out, waving vigorously.

Zidane accelerated and lined up with the ship, allowing Blank and Marcus to (cautiously) jump over. Baku walked over to the edge of the ship to speak with Zidane. His stolen uniform was about six sizes too small.

"Alrigh', we'll start moving the gil over. Just keep 'er nice n' steady. We took care of everyone on board – Cinna's pilotin'."

Zidane saluted and Baku ran off. Not long afterwards, Marcus and Blank came with the first crate of cash.

"(Huff!) (Puff!) This thing's heavy…"

"Well whaddya expect, ya idiot? It's full of sweet, sweet legal tender!"

"Yeah, but I didn't…(Pant!)…expect it to be this heavy!"

The pair appeared at the door and pushed the crate in with all their might – there would be no easing it across between the ships.

The box made quite the noise when it hit the floor, but held. Blank, who looked completely out of breath, stumbled along behind Marcus for another crate.

"The sooner this is done, the better…," Zidane muttered, glancing at the sun. It was already pretty far west, and the light was changing.

Then there came a racket from the main ship – a crate busted open.

"Agh! You imbeciles! Clean it up! We can't be losin' profits!"

Zidane growled. This wasn't what he wanted.

He glanced down at the gauges and gulped. The engine was beginning to heat up at an alarming rate. "No, no, no!!!"

He opened an emergency venting valve, but the heat kept climbing. Presently, Blank and Marcus appeared at the entry with armfuls of gil. They dumped the silver coins onto the floor.

"Shit!" Zidane shouted, smacking random buttons. "This thing's overheating!"

"(Huff!) What's that, Zidane?" asked Blank.

The engine temperature gauge was flickering on the very right side, well beyond overheating. There was a boom, and several propellers died.

Zidane jumped up. Another boom, and the ship immediately started sinking. With a lunge, he grabbed Blank's arm and was pulled up while the escort craft plummeted.

Zidane watched in horror as their one getaway, not to mention their profits, literally went up in flames. It hit the ground with a boom and steam shot up like a geyser.

"Oh no…no no no, this is NOT good…"

Blank's face had lost all color and looked a bit like he had seen some unpleasant specter.

"Zidane, what're you doing on this ship? Who's flying the es…" Baku began, glancing to where the escort craft should have been. "…cort. What the hell happened, boy?!?"

"I dunno! It just started overheating, the propellers stopped, the engine started blowing, and I got the hell out."

Baku staggered backwards slightly. He collapsed to the ground slowly, as if breathless.

"Boss, we've got prob…" came Cinna's voice, as he came running out from the bridge. He lost his train of thought when he locked eyes on Zidane.

Suddenly, a Burmecian ran out from behind him, brandishing his lance madly.

"That would be one of the problems…" Cinna muttered. The soldier slashed at him, and the portly man dodged.

It was only now Zidane realized he was not wearing Marcus's black veil.

"You're…You're the king of Alexandria! You greedy bastard, you're here to steal back your money, aren't you? It's just like that dirty Tirkto said!"

Zidane remembered with horror the deal he and Garnet had maid with the stiff guy from Lindblum. "Oh no…why, God? Why me?"

The rat lunged at Zidane, but Marcus caught him off guard, knocking him out with the butt of his sword. The Burmecian soldier fell with a thud.

"What did he mean…your money, Zidane?" Baku asked, still sitting on the floor.

The genome moaned. "I'm so stupid! How could I forget?!? God, this is exactly the reason why I shouldn't be the king of a country!!!"

Baku stood up. "Out with it! What did he mean?!"

"Half of the money on this ship…was donated by Alexandria to aid in the restoration…and I completely forgot about that…did you hear what else he said? Said it was just like Tirkto told them," Zidane muttered, his fists shaking. "That rat set us up! Why?!"

Baku growled. "Little bastard pro'lly had it planned the whole time. Knew we wouldn't cut him in."

Cinna waved his arms wildly. "Hello?! I said 'problems'! The rat wasn't the only one!"

"Well what's the bloomin' other?!" hollered Baku.

"The ship is overheating! I can't get it to stop! We're gonna crash!" Cinna shouted. "I'm too young and beautiful to die!"

Zidane groaned. "This whole thing was a setup. Someone rigged the ships to malfunction. Somehow I doubt Tirkto worked alone…"

Sure enough, the big ship started dipping downward, slowly at first, and then quicker, as more and more propellers failed. The engine made several loud booms before finally completely shutting off. A valve on the side of the ship blew open and boiling water shot out, raining down on the Daines-Horse Basin below.

"What do we do? How do we get off of this ship?!" Blank asked, frantically flapping his arms like a bird.

"We don't get off of this ship…" Zidane muttered. He glanced at what they were heading for; of course, it was a sheer rock face. "But we can't just give up! Brace yourselves against something; we're about to impact!"

Zidane knelt down against the wall and the others did the same. The big ship creaked as it kept turning its nose downward. There was a sickeningly silent moment, and then, impact.

Zidane felt himself thrown hard against the wall. The front of the ship was crushed in like a soda can; he could hear the metal compressing. Several things exploded, but he knew not what. After the longest ten seconds of his life, all fell silent.

He glanced around at his comrades. They were all still in one piece, albeit shaken.

"You guys okay? Anything broken?" asked Zidane, cautiously standing up.

Everyone responded with "I'm alright" or "Nothin' broken". They all stood up carefully, thoroughly shaken.

It was raining now. It fell in misty sheets, veiling the darkening Daines-Horse.

Suddenly, the remaining rear of the ship collapsed, and they all fell onto their butts.

"Do you think anyone else made it…?" asked Zidane, standing up again.

"I doubt it…," Cinna replied. "Other than this fool, they were all up in the front parts of the ship. I bet they're all flat as patties."

Zidane cursed. "I should have just listened to Beatrix! Then I wouldn't be in this mess!"

Baku placed a big hand on Zidane's shoulder. "Hey…it's not your fault. Tirkto set us up, n'…"

"No! A king shouldn't do stupid shit like this! I can't be both, Baku! I can't be a king and a thief!"

Baku grinned. "Well you could always be the king of thieves…"

Zidane couldn't help smiling slightly. He quickly caught himself and returned to scowling.

Baku cleared his throat and then let out a big sneeze. He placed his hands on the railing slowly, as if to be gentle to the dead ship.

"You three…," he began, turning to the others, "go do a little recon. Get any supplies you can find. We have to get out of here soon."

The three silently saluted and ran off in different directions. Baku let out a long sigh and stared out into the intensifying rain.

At last, he spoke. "So what's it gonna be, kid?"

"Huh?" asked Zidane, lost in thought.

"I said what's it gonna be? King of thieves…? Or king of Alexandria?"

Zidane stared into Baku's friendly eyes, and then looked away. He gazed down at the ground below. "I…I am the king of Alexandria."

Baku smiled. "Funny how these little journeys of yours always turn out." He stretched and turned. "I'm going to go help those three numbskulls out. We'll meet back here in five."

Zidane nodded silently as Baku stomped on down towards the front of the ship.

"…I can't be both…So I'm going to be…the good one."

He turned and looked around, trying to get a feel for his surroundings. The ship was about sixty percent smashed into the rock face, which was easily seventy or eighty feet high. To the east, the plains were illuminated only by the moonlight. He could see fires in the distance. To the west, the Aerbs rose to the Alexandrian border.

"Where the hell will we go now…?"

Baku and the crew returned five minutes later, caring two tents, a bag full of food, and several blankets in another bag.

"Alright fellahs. As you know, Gizamaluke's Grotto is impenetrable nowadays. The rats have it guarded 24/7. So we're going to have to find another way back into Lindblum…" Baku stated.

"And you have just that way, right?" asked Blank.

The boss nodded, unfurling a cloth map from his back pocket. It detailed the entire Mist Continent.

"Here we are," he said, pointing to a spot in the eastern Daines-Horse Basin. "Here's Burmecia…and here's Gizamaluke's Grotto. We can't take the coast south; the Aerbs cut it off here, see? So we're gonna have to take another grotto south."

"And there are other grottos nearby, right?" Cinna asked.

"Right. This one here is always unguarded. You can't enter it in the winter – the snow always clogs it up. In the summer, it's wide open. A stream runs through it from this lake here…all the way under the Aerbs. The exit is in the middle of the Eunorus Plains…here. Home free. It's a documented escape route during wartime, so we know it's navigable. So get ready, boys. We're heading out! We'll get as far away from here as possible, make camp, and take the grotto in the morning."

As they left, Zidane could see lights in the distance, but they were moving towards the ship.

Garnet ascended the stairs in a huff, holding her dress up so not to trip over it. At the top, she stopped for a moment, wondering whether to turn in for the night or go out on the big balcony to think.

"I swear, when he gets back, I'm going to take my own vacation! That'll teach him! Yeah!" she proclaimed, throwing her arms out wide.

She glanced back at the double doors leading up to her room and shook her head, walking out onto the balcony where her mother had often sat. During performances, she always sat out on this balcony. They brought out a red velvet chair, and Beatrix and Steiner would always be right there.

Tonight it looked rather bare and black under the starlit sky. The twin moons hung beautifully low in the eastern sky, reflecting on the lake. But she wasn't alone. There, standing at the edge, leaning on the wall, was Mikoto.

"I…didn't know you were out here," Garnet said, approaching.

"I don't like this type of weapon," Mikoto replied. Garnet was confused, but then noticed a green dagger in the girl's hands; likely one of Zidane's. She was turning it over and over, scrutinizing it. Funny, this dagger suddenly made Garnet remember her old nickname, which she hadn't used for four years.

"And why is that?" asked Garnet, moving right next to Zidane's little sister.

Mikoto scowled slightly as she turned it over and over again. "It's too short. When one attacks, one must draw very close to one's foe. It leaves one vulnerable. I do not like being vulnerable to attack."

Garnet smiled. "Hey, I'll have you know that your brother saved the world with daggers."

Mikoto shrugged, setting the knife down on the balcony wall. "Not entirely. He is quite fond of those double-bladed pole-arms. Swallows, naginatas, whatever you want to call them. Those are decent weapons."

The queen took a seat on the balcony wall. "So, Miss Knowitall, what kind of weapon do you like?"

"Certainly not bows. Bows are for those who possess little courage."

Garnet could think of three or four very courageous archers, but didn't argue. "So…why all these thoughts on weapons?"

Mikoto stared up at the moons. "I don't know."

"Sure you do," Garnet replied.

Mikoto closed her eyes for a moment, and then faced Garnet. "I intend to master some type of weapon. But I do not know what to master."

"So…why do you want to master a weapon?" asked Garnet, running her hand absent-mindedly through her sleek dark hair.

"Because without mastering a weapon, I am useless."

"Not at all. Everyone has something they're good at. Something they do better than anyone else. You don't need to be a master swordsman or lancer or archer or anything to be useful."

Mikoto smiled slightly. "Perhaps. But I'd be useless to Zidane, wouldn't I?"

Garnet was suddenly unsure of how to reply. She started off saying "No, he's…he'd still value…", and then she was unsure again.

The queen simply turned and looked out to the falls. She always thought that she would rather enjoy riding over them, but she knew that truthfully, it would be suicide. Fantasies often were absurd, but that didn't mean that they were any less fantastic.

"So…why'd you leave the Black Mage Village?" Garnet asked.

Mikoto was staring over the Aerbs towards Burmecia. "Because I can."

"I see…you're going to go back, though, right?" asked Garnet, following her gaze.

"Why, because Zidane will tell me too?" Mikoto asked. "Or do you not want me to be here?"

"No, not at all! I like you. You're welcome here anytime!"

"I know. And you know. But does Zidane know?"

Once again, Garnet wasn't sure.

"Okay, so clearly, you don't like Zidane, do you?" Garnet pried, edging a little closer.

Mikoto turned to face her again, frowning a little. "I wouldn't say that exactly. I care for him. And I know he cares for me. But I think he thinks of me as a child, and nothing more."

Garnet nodded. She knew that Mikoto had it dead on. This girl was very astute.

"Let me ask you something. Do you love Zidane?" asked Garnet.

Now Mikoto was unsure how to answer. She rolled this question over in her head a few times. "I…I think I do. I don't know. I'm the only family he has."

"I know he loves you. He loves a lot of people in a lot of ways," Garnet replied, smiling.

Mikoto shrugged. "He is a good person. But he is conflicted."

Zidane suddenly felt that feeling – that certain feeling that he often felt nowadays. He was certain that Garnet and Mikoto were talking about him right now, and yet, that made no sense.

Mikoto was on the Outer Continent. Safe in the Black Mage Village. She couldn't possibly be talking to Garnet at this very moment.

At any rate, Tantalus had made it to the grotto that night. They had miraculously avoided detection and managed to cart off a little gil after all. Zidane hoped that he had avoided war. Now they were camped out in a little secluded grove nearby.

Zidane was leaning against a log now, staring up at the skies, thinking about his sister and his wife. He just knew that they were talking about him right now. He stared off towards the Aerbs mountains bordering Alexandria and felt an even stranger feeling – he felt like he and Mikoto were looking right into each other's eyes through the mountains.

"Is Mikoto…in Alexandria?" he asked suddenly, causing Cinna to stir beside him. Baku was snoring loudly from within a tent, and Marcus and Blank had passed out ten minutes ago.

He closed his eyes and tried to communicate with his sister. He didn't know if he could, but he was suddenly under the impression that he must try.

'Mikoto…,' he thought intensely. 'Can you hear me…?'

He waited for ten seconds. Nothing. Of course not. What a silly thought.

"It is totally irresponsible! Foolish! Shameful! Heaping all of the responsibility on the queen while his majesty goes and tears it up in Lindblum! I can hardly stand it," Steiner proclaimed.

Beatrix grinned, lounging on the couch in their quarters in the castle. She simply inspected her wedding ring, rubbing the big ruby in the center of the design with her index finger.

"Oh, hush. I told him to do it. And if it's any consolation, I have convinced her highness to take her own vacation when the king returns."

Steiner growled. "Be that as it may, this is unacceptable! I know I shouldn't speak this way about his majesty, but I cannot sit with my mouth shut!"

Beatrix sighed. "You don't give him enough credit, hon. You think he's just out partying? Hardly."

Steiner sat down in the armchair opposite the couch. "What do you mean?"

"He told me that there's a lot on his mind…he's not doing this for pure pleasure, although reminiscing for the old days with the troupe drove him to leave, sure. He told me that he's worried about what me might become."

"What…?"

"I don't know for sure, but I believe we must respect the king's wishes. And besides…he won't do anything too foolish, I'm sure," Beatrix said, standing up and yawning. "Now…I'm going to bed. Good night."

Steiner accepted a kiss on his cheek and smiled. "Love you."

"You too."

The door to the bedroom closed with that telltale click, and Steiner moved over to the couch. He now felt like he needed to think more before he judged Zidane's actions.

Morning came before long, and Zidane felt something prodding his side. He was comfortable, though – he didn't want to open his eyes.

"Zidane! Get up! We're headin' home!" Marcus said, nudging the blond gently in the side with his foot.

Zidane's eyes immediately opened. "Oh!" He leapt up and gathered up his stuff, holstering his daggers. "Yeah, let's get back to Lindblum!"

Baku and Cinna were standing at the entrance of the grotto, scrutinizing it silently. Blank was standing a few yards behind them, silently observing.

"What are they doing?" asked Zidane. Blank shrugged.

"Hmm, yes…this'll take us straight home…," Baku said, staring down into the tunnel.

"It's a river," Cinna replied.

"Yeah, it'll take us right under the Aerbs."

"We don' have a boat, boss."

"Oh right…maybe there's one in the lake that feeds the grotto."

"I looked. There isn't."

"We could just float on through."

"No we…y'know, I guess we could."

"Is this water cold, Cinna?"

"Naw, it's pretty warm."

"Okay, then we'll float on through."

"But what if they tunnel gets filled up near the middle or something?"

"Then we'd be… (ACHOOO!) …screwed."

"Well then we shouldn't float on through."

"We'll be screwed if we don't float on through."

"Guess you got a point, boss."

"Damn right I got a point."

Zidane finally interjected. "Geez, let's just go!"

Baku turned and nodded. "See, Cinna? Zidane agrees!" With that, he leapt right into the water. "C'mon, fellahs. Water's fine!"

Blank leapt in next, pushing past Zidane and Cinna. "Cannon BAAAAAAAWLLL!!!"

He made a splash titanic enough to soak Zidane through to the bone.

Marcus jumped in next. Zidane followed.

Cinna glanced around. "Oh…fine!" He jumped in without any further protest.

The tunnel was certainly dark. There were, however, skylights every once in a while, allowing enough light in to see with. Once they passed under the Aerbs, however, these openings no longer appeared, and the five were now left alone floating along in an underground river in complete blackness.

"BossIdon'tlikethis!!!" shouted Cinna, presumably clinging to Baku.

"Aw, quit yer bellyachin'. We'll be fine," Baku replied. "Just enjoy the ride."

Zidane grinned, but of course, no one could see. "Y'know, boss, this is like the stupidest thing we've ever done."

"Sure! But hey, if this grotto's meant for boats, which it is…we ain't got nothin' to worry about. Plenty o' headroom," Baku said, laughing. "Yup, plenty o' headroom." He reached a fist up and felt it contact stone. "…Yup."

"We've only got a foot of headroom, huh, boss?" Zidane asked.

"…Yup."

"Oh yeah, we'll be fine," Blank said from somewhere to Zidane's left. At least they were moving; he reached out and touched the wall and felt it speeding by.

After twenty or thirty minutes of floating in blackness, they finally came out of the cave. It had opened up after they started heading out of the mountains, but boats would definitely not be able to pass through.

The sun was a refreshing sight to Zidane as he and his crew bobbed along, floating down the river.

They were home free now.