Author's Notes: I'm really trying to actually stay updated on this. Work and classes just always suck the life out of you it seems. But we're back now for Chapter 3. My original plan had been to have all of the Ice Cavern fall into Chapter 2 but I got a bit wordy and figured I should just update with what I had. But now we shall conclude the adventure of the Ice Cavern! This, I think, is where it will really start to divert from the original storyline.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy. I just like playing with it in my free time.
The Promise
Chapter 3: An Icy Welcome
"What made this place?" Garnet asked as they moved through the rooms of the Cavern. Indeed, each section appeared to be more of a diamond dripped room of frozen beauty than a natural phenomenon. "It is almost like a palace. As grand and as beautiful as Alexandria or Lindblum…"
Blank twirled his dagger on the edge of his finger as they walked. "Legend says that the Ice Cavern was once home to the Eidolon, Shiva. She was said to have raised the entire Cavern as a symbol for her power… I've heard that most Eidolons had a home before being called to a summoner?" He looked towards Garnet for clarification.
"I never would have thought you would be such a scholar, Blank," Garnet replied with a smile. "It is true that scholars hypothesized that the Eidolons would take a place for themselves and create something to represent it as their own. It would stand to reason that Shiva's place of power could have been the Ice Cavern."
"Then we should tread carefully. Never know what an Eidolon might do to us for tramping on their property," Blank muttered, picking up the pace slightly.
Vivi listened; enraptured by the tales Garnet and Blank wove for each other, and hastened to keep up with them.
Steiner took up the rear, shivering each time his armor landed on a bare patch of skin. He was ill-equipped for such an environment and was suffering for it as a result. His attack time was slower and the Knight was beginning to feel guilty for having to rely on a thief and a child to help him in his duty of protecting the Princess. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed them until this entire fiasco was at an end.
"Huh…" Blank said, stopping the party. "This room is different than the others. It's more closed off and almost warm."
Garnet followed Blank closely, still rubbing her hands against her arms. "Warmer? Perhaps a little but…" She broke off, frowning.
"Princess?" Steiner asked patiently. "Do you feel something?"
"A magical presence. A… it is peculiar," Garnet finally replied. She left off in keeping herself warm in order to move slowly about the small room. At the center was a large block so thick it was almost impossible to see if there was something at the center. "Each time I think I feel something, it slips away. May I have a few moments to myself?"
"Princess…" Steiner repeated, shaking his head. "It is my duty to protect you."
"Come on, Steiner, we'll be right outside the door," Blank pointed out. "Nothing can get to her except through the doorway. We've got it covered." He slapped the Knight on the back companionably and led Vivi out, giving Steiner no option but to follow along grumpily.
"Shiva…" Garnet whispered to herself. Her hands folded together in front of her as she concentrated. "Shiva…"
"What is it, little one?" came the voice all at once feminine and masculine. It spoke of great age and wisdom, but also of one who knew the follies of youth and joy. It was beautiful and terrifying.
"What do I feel?" Garnet murmured. "Why do I feel this?"
"Feel what?" asked the disembodied voice.
"A presence. A malevolence. Darkness?" Garnet pressed her lips together in frustration. "I've never been able to feel anything like this before. Why now?"
"Because you are aided by my power in the very seat of my being," the voice replied. "Use it. Let it guide you as you see fit. My power will protect you, little one, until you are strong enough to protect yourself. Just trust in both you and me."
Garnet looked both annoyed and relieved as she moved through the doorway, nudging Blank gently on the side. "We should keep moving, though with caution. I feel a darker presence ahead of us that we should be wary of."
"Righto, Captain Garnet!" Blank said, snapping into a brisk salute. "If you feel anything, just let me know, okay? We'll do what we can to protect you from danger."
They continued onward until they found themselves pressed back by a raging snowstorm from where there seemed to be no beginning. Each member of the team struggled forward, fighting the unknown element as best they could.
Vivi was the first to succumb, teetering out of control and down into a small pit. Steiner, who moved over as quickly as he could totter, gave a ground-shaking tumble down next to the small mage and then was still.
"Oh no! What is happening?" Garnet asked breathlessly, pressing her hands as tightly as she could against her arms.
"Stay there, Garnet," Blank said gruffly as he jumped down to check the pulses of both Vivi and Steiner. "Man, they're out cold…" He shook his head and looked up. "Garnet? Oh man, not you too…"
The Princess has slumped down into the snow, now completely unmoving.
"Damnit… what's going on?" Blank muttered before a strange pressure in his head began to form until all he saw was blackness.
***
"You idiot," a voice said disapprovingly.
"I didn't do it," Blank responded, shaking his head. It felt stuffy, weighed down by pressure and regrets.
A figure emerged from darkness. Zidane. "I give you a chance with Garnet and you managed to screw up already."
"Give me?" Blank asked, lifting one brow skeptically. "I don't think you gave me anything, bub. Don't be jealous just because she likes me."
Zidane scoffed. "Like you or not, you failed her now."
"How so?"
"You let yourself be caught off guard and now look at it. She's gone and you're talking to a dead man."
"Gone?"
"Gone. Better wake up now and find her."
"Help her…" A voice whispered into Blank's ear.
"Damnit Zidane, go away…" Blank muttered, rolling over and faceplanting into a pile of snow.
"Help her… they have taken her." The voice began to grow fainter, as if the power was being stretched to its very limit.
"Garnet!" Blank suddenly exclaimed, the thought colliding into the side of his brain. He leapt to his feet, though lacked Zidane's natural graceful ability and tripped over himself and landed back in the snow. "Garnet? Garnet!"
Blank clambered back to his feet and looked about him anxiously. The dark-haired Princess had disappeared, though there were footprints leading further down the path. The storm had disappeared.
"Rusty, Vivi, let's get going!" Blank shouted, nudging both of them out of their stupor. "Garnet's gone."
"Gone?!" Steiner was on his feet immediately, shaking a finger in Blank's direction. "This is all of your fault, thief. We never should have entered this cavern."
"But we had to..." Vivi pointed out meekly. "Let's just go find her."
"Vivi's right. Stop yer whining and show me what you got," Blank said ferociously, scrambling over the edge he had jumped down earlier. "We need to find her before they have the chance to get away."
***
"Oh… where am I?" Garnet murmured, eyes fluttering opening.
"Princess has been caught," one voice giggled.
"Caught the Princess has been," the other replied.
"Zorn? Thorn?" Garnet tried to move but found her arms and legs bound. "What is happening here?" Her eyes tried to focus on her surroundings and she found herself in a quiet, pleasant room. A small fountain gurgled in the center.
"To the Queen you go now," Thorn said.
"You go now to the Queen," Zorn added.
"Whether you like it or not!" the twins said in unison.
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner," Garnet retorted, struggling against her bonds. "I am the Princess Garnet Til Alexandros. You shall untie me this instant allow me to go on my way."
"We have orders from the Queen."
"Orders from the Queen we have."
"We will take you back to the Queen!"
"Blank… where are you?" Garnet whispered to herself, rolling over onto her side.
***
"Sunlight!" Steiner panted, bending down to rest his gauntleted hands against his knees. "At last." He scanned the horizon, scowling darkly. "Which direction will they have taken the Princess?"
"That village…" Blank murmured, running his fingers through his hair. "Probably there. Airships are pretty loud and we would have heard one pass over heard, back towards Alexandria, if that were the case. Let's check there first, and then spread out our search. Besides, we're in desperate need of fresh supplies."
"Blank? Do you think we'll find the Princess?" Vivi asked quietly, tugging on Blank's shirt. "I'm scared."
Blank rested a light hand against Vivi's shoulder and smiled. "Don't you worry, Vivi. We'll find her. And then we'll beat up the guys who took her. That's a promise."
Steiner just gave a grunt and pushed himself upright again. "We should hurry. Any time we waste will make the trail for the Princes grow colder. Onward!"
"For once, Rusty, I'm in complete agreement with you," Blank said, squeezing Vivi's shoulder once more before starting down the path and towards the village.
***
"I demand that you release me at once," Garnet tried again. "And that food be brought to me."
"You do not give the demands here, Princess," Thorn said, shaking a finger at her. "We hold the power now. Silence!"
Garnet quietly fumed, clenching and unclenching her bound hands. Help me, she thought to herself. Someone. Anyone… Blank…
How can someone help you if you cannot help yourself? A deeper, darker voice whispered into her head. Power of the mind over physical prowess, little one. The voice spoke of age and strength. It sent chills through Garnet's body.
"Bahamut?" Garnet whispered breathlessly. Thorn looked up sharply but then returned to the paper he was fiddling with. In all of her years of carrying the Eidolons inside of her, only Shiva had shown an inclination to speak with her and that was only in the most recent years. The King of the Dragons had never even made so much as a flicker to show his presence.
The pieces are slowly falling into place, little one, Bahamut proclaimed, his power rumbling through her. It was too much for Garnet. She trembled.
Don't rely on others for the strength you have inside of you…
The voice and the presence disappeared, leaving Garnet to her own thoughts and mullings. She was the Princess of Alexandria, royal heir to the throne. She was a summoner and white mage. She squared her shoulders and lightly tested the bonds that held her.
Thorn only gave a half interested glance in her direction as she moved. His counterpart had not been seen for over an hour.
Garnet inhaled a deep breath before slowly relaxing her body. Sleep. She cast the spell, focusing entirely on Thorn as she did so. In her years of casting, the spell had never taken very effectively to the target, but the court jester slumped down against the small desk, head thumping against the wood.
Panic rose in Garnet for a brief moment before she realized the spell had actually worked and was holding steadily. She swung her legs over the bed and sat up, wincing from her muscles' protest. She looked around the room for anything to use to free herself. Lying near Thorn's twitching hand was a letter opener with an edge possibly just sharp enough to cut through her rope.
With a grunt, Garnet righted herself on her feet and started in the direction of the desk, holding her breath as she came closer.
***
"Seems like a nice enough place…" Blank said as they entered the small village. "But something doesn't feel right. Let's keep this trip short, okay? Just get in to find supplies and then we'll get out. Maybe go see what's over in that observatory."
"Blank, I'm sleepy…" Vivi said. "Do you think we can rest up in the inn a little before we go any further? Just a little bit."
"Master Vivi is correct," Steiner chimed in. "If we are not at our full strength then we will never retrieve the Princess."
Blank nodded. "Looks like I'm out numbered. Let's go see if we can get ourselves a room for the night."
The trio of men entered the small inn, much to the surprise and discomfort of the owner who openly stared at the motley crew. "I, er…" he stammered.
Blank looked to both Vivi and Steiner then frowned. "Hey, I know he looks weird in the armor, but it's rude to stare," he said gruffly. "We want a room for the night."
"We're full at the moment, I'm sorry, sir," the owner said anxiously, glancing towards the door that would lead to the rooms. "No vacancies at the moment!"
Blank, Steiner and Vivi all looked flabbergasted by the rude treatment and were slowly backing towards the exit when the room door swung open, revealing Garnet. She looked a bit disheveled but in good order, otherwise.
"Pri-" Steiner was cut off as Blank cast him a dirty look. "Ah… Miss. Are you alright?"
Blank rolled his eyes and sprang forward to take Garnet by the arm, staring intently into her eyes. Garnet was the first to look away, a slight blush rising on her cheeks. "I have a desire for a warm meal. Would you gentlemen perhaps guide me to the closest restaurant?" she asked politely.
With their lost princess found, the foursome exited the inn and hurried down the main street until they found an alley to duck into.
"Princess," Steiner said breathlessly. "Are you alright? We were certain that we had lost you for good."
"Yes, Steiner, I am alright," Garnet replied, studying her hands. "But we must be on our way as quickly as possible. It would be unsafe to remain in this village for the time being."
Blank stared hard at Garnet, but instead nodded, looking around the small group. "Garnet's right. We need to get out of here. I'd say the best bet is to get on that airship and go to wherever it's headed. We can regroup from there."
"I will see if we can procure a ride from the next incoming airship!" Steiner stated abruptly. "As much as I dislike saying it, Blank, you must protect the Princess in the mean time."
Vivi stood listening to the others, but his attention was more on watching the other children playing on the main street.
"Vivi," Blank said, snapping his fingers in the young boy's face. "You okay? Kinda zoned out on us for a minute…"
The black mage just nodded and adjusted his hat. "I'm okay, Blank. What were you saying?"
"We were saying that Steiner's going to go on ahead to the mountain to check on the next airship while we gather supplies and then lay low," Blank explained. "I was asking if you wanted to stay with us, or go with Steiner and watch his back."
Vivi shook his head. "I'll stay with you, Blank. I don't think these people like me very much…"
Blank patted Vivi's shoulder. "Just your imagination, kid. Don't worry. But now we have to worry about you, Garnet. It's dangerous for you to be going around like you are. Just look at the Ice Cavern. We almost lost you for good."
"I have been trying…" Garnet said, hanging her head. "It is hard, however."
"Your royal upbringing is not easily disguised, Princess," Steiner pointed out gently. "You cannot deny what you are."
"Might be easier if you had another identity. At least for the time being, though," Blank pointed out. "They're looking for the Princess of Alexandria, not a peasant girl traveling with a group of other people."
Garnet pondered this idea for several long moments, tapping at her chin. "You are correct, Blank. I do need a new name and identity. I don't want to just be a Princess. I want to be stronger, be able to protect and defend those I care for."
"Princess, it is not your duty to fight," Steiner pointed out gently. "I am here to defend you. You needn't worry over your own safety."
"No, Rusty, she's right," Blank pointed out. "She's gotta learn to defend herself, at least a little. We can't always be there to protect her. We can try, but look what happened already. She got kidnapped and there was nothing we could do to stop that. Probably nothing we could do to stop it again."
Garnet smiled at Blank and stepped in towards him, her gloved hand sliding down to his belt. Both of them tensed and froze for a moment, staring at each other, before Garnet withdrew the dagger from Blank's sheath.
"This is a dagger, is it not?" Garnet asked, studying the small blade.
"Princess, be careful. It's a sharp weapon," Steiner warned.
"Yep. That's a dagger," Blank agreed. "I keep it just in case an enemy gets too close for my sword to be of any use. Zidane specialized in fighting with daggers…"
There was a painful silence as Zidane was mentioned but as it passed, Garnet nodded. "I've decided. My new name shall be Dagger. It represents what I would like to become. A defense to be used when necessary, but still able to act first."
"Sounds great, Dagger," Blank said with a smile. "I think it suits you. Now we just need to work on your speech. It's too formal. Try to sound more casual, like me or Vivi."
"I shall try…" Dagger replied, pressing her lips together.
"No, no, no…" Blank paused, looking at Vivi. "Just say… 'Alrighty!'"
"A-alrighty…?" Daggered repeated, unsure of herself.
Blank grinned. "You'll get the hang of it eventually. Okay then. Steiner, we'll get some supplies then find a place to hole up until we hear an airship. Just make sure we can get on it and we'll be there when it lands. Got it?"
Steiner nodded, gritting his teeth that he was so easily following orders from a thief. "For the Princess," he said before trotting out of the alley.
Blank nodded after Steiner and smiled towards Dagger as she was hesitantly trying to engage in conversation with Vivi, using a more casual tone of speech. "Yes, Rusty… for the Princess. For Dagger."