The thief and his princess
Summary:
When Zidane, the youngest thief in the infamous Tantalus group, meets the mysterious Dagger on the Alexandrian streets, he thinks of her as nothing but one of his many flirts. But with time, he will realize that the girl does not only hold the power to bind his heart forever, but that she is an unwilling part of a conspiracy that can easily destroy the world. - A FFIX AU Fan Fic
Chapter twelve ~ The Curtain Rises
"That's... that's it?" Zidane couldn't help but sound disappointed. When Cid said he would prepare things for their journey, he'd expected an airship – or at least something similar to that. But Cid's understanding of help was nothing more than giving them an old, shabby map of the Outer Continent as well as a possible route to get there.
What did you expect?", the king asked while raising an eyebrow. "All our airships are dependent on mist – which, as far as our records go, doesn't exist on any other continent than the Mist Continent. And we are currently lacking captains who could bring you there with a ship – most of our forces are busy fighting of Beatrix' fleet attacking small villages on their search for Garnet."
Dagger hung her head down. "This is all my fault. If only I would have seen through Mother's actions earlier..."
Zidane pat her on the shoulder. "Don't ya worry 'bout it, Dag'! We'll come back in no time and kick this guy's butt!" He grinned, but his enthusiasm did not reach the princess – she simply nodded slightly, only to return to her worried thoughts.
"Still, old man", Zidane continued towards the king, "Is there nothing else you can give to us? The Outer Continent is a hell of a dangerous place! Why did your stupid researchers didn't make a copy of the words? Would've saved us the trouble of going there."
"Apparently, the words on the walls are changing slowly, but steadily", Freya answered in Cid's stead. The group had gathered at the Dragon's Gate underneath Lindblum – the shortest and yet most unknown way out to the plains. The noise of machines was overwhelming, but Cid had refused to give any further explanations or information before they reached said place.
"You are well informed about the expedition", Cid remarked towards the Dragon Hunter. "She is right. I am sorry that there is no more convenient way to reach the Outer Continent, but the Fossil Roo is well hidden in the Qu's Marsh. Since centuries, it had been free off men. Don't you think it is best if Kuja can not track you down?"
Zidane crossed his arms. "Argh, I suppose you're right, old man." His eyes ran over the group. Amarant and Freya looked extremely dangerous with the claws and spear – not to mention Amarant's cold attitude played its part as well – while Dagger looked innocently weak in her white and red overcoat. The climate at the Outer Continent was warm, but Zidane had figured that the Fossil Roo, being deep underneath the ground and leading through the entire sea, would be quite cold, thus he had insisted on her bringing her coat. He still felt reluctant to take Dagger with him on such a dangerous mission – but she was the only one possibly capable of reading the old language. Zidane tried to hold back his doubts; if his hunch was wrong and Dagger couldn't read the mystical stuff, he brought her to danger for nothing.
The thief shook his head. It's our only choice, after all. We have to defeat Kuja, before he changes his mind about not harming Dagger.
"Well then, we'd better take our leave", he simply stated and waved Cid goodbye.
Dagger bowed in front of her uncle before he hugged her tightly. "Promise me to be careful out there, Garnet!", he said with a sincere voice. "Ever since your father's death, I have been looking after you. I promised him to not let you come to harm."
Dagger nodded. "I promise, uncle Cid."
Without another look back, they left the city through a modest gate and were greeted by milky sunlight – this near to the ground, they could almost grasp the dense mist, blocking out any sunlight.
"Which way's the Fossil Roo?", Freya asked towards Zidane who studied the map.
The thief turned the piece of paper several times and frowned. "Err... I guess it's... that way?"
"Don't tell me you can't read a map", Amarant sighed.
"'Course I can! It's that way, I'm sure of it."
Amarant was about to say something, but Dagger jumped in and smiled: "If Zidane says he knows how to read a map, he does. Right, Zidane?"
The thief showed off his typical grin. "Naturally. Shall we?"
"We're lost." Freya tried to make it sound like a question, but even she couldn't keep up the facade.
"No!", Zidane snarled. "We're... close by, I guess."
"Didn't you say you once were in the Qu's Marsh?", Dagger tried asking shyly.
"Yeah, I was!" Maybe I shouldn't mention I was dragged there by Blank. The place was so smelly I tried to forget about it as quickly as possible.
"There." Amarant pointed towards some reeds which could hardly bee seen through the mist.
"I told ya I knew the way", Zidane exclaimed relieved.
"We were going in circles", Amarant said to himself, but Zidane ignored him. "Following the old man's advice, the entrance to the Fossil Roo is in the east to the house in the midst of the marsh."
"Is there something living inside?", Dagger asked surprised.
Zidane grinned. "Yeah. Some really weird guys. Or girls. I can't really tell what they are", he added as he slanted his head. "They have an accent almost unable to understand, but they're not aggressive."
"They're called 'Qu's'", Freya explained as they advanced through the reeds which were appearing much more frequently now. "Just like Zidane said, it is hard to tell which gender they have. They're gourmets – or at least trying to be. Usually, they're brought up in marshes like this, eating the frogs living here. Once a Qu has eaten a hundred frogs, he or she will be released from their master's care to explore the cuisine of other places."
Dagger's mouth was nothing more than a thin line as she puckered up in disgust.
"A hundred frogs, huh?", Zidane repeated. "Awful."
"Do you think we will encounter one?", the princess asked scared as she looked around, but no one could answer her question as they moved forward.
To both Zidane's and Dagger's delight, they passed the Qu's Marsh without meeting a single Qu. Instead, they had followed a frog to some old ruins in the midst of the reeds.
"Well, if that doesn't look like an entrance to the Fossil Roo", Zidane said satisfied. His sense of direction failed on vast landscapes, but inside caves or forests, it became excellent.
"It does look like it", Freya replied as she drew her spear in precaution.
The ruins the group were looking at seemed to be several hundreds of years old, just like Cid said. The gray stones were covered up with moss, dirt and weeds. Some of them have stayed vaguely in place, allowing to reconstruct the former look in one's head. The beginning was marked by a big bow and the former street lead to a small gate, which seemed to be hooded in darkness.
Zidane opened said gate with a lot of pressure and with a scary, long squeak,it swung open. Beyond it, the tunnel seemed to be endless.
"Well then, let's go!", Zidane tried to cheer the others up, but even Freya seemed disturbed. "And Cid was absolutely sure this is the way the researchers took?", she asked.
"Yup."
"And everyone made it back alive and safe?"
"Yup."
"Really?"
Zidane turned his head and grinned. "You're not telling me you're scared, are you, my dear?"
Freya lift herself up to her full height. "I am a dragon hunter. I fear nothing but a lack of dragons!" With these words, she entered the tunnel before anyone else. Zidane nodded towards Dagger and Amarant, then followed her.
The tunnel had the smell of rotten bodies and moisture. It was cold and somehow, a soft breeze was present at all times, though there were no windows or other doors except the one they entered through. In the distance, they could hear water dripping down and other sounds none of them dared to identify. If Zidane would have guessed, he would have thought of it as a giant beast crawling along the walls of the tunnel system – something that could not possibly be true.
For a long time, the group did nothing but following the tunnel. It made soft turns and curves, but it seemed to lead relatively straight.
"It's scary", Dagger mumbled after a long silence. Everyone turned to her, surprised by her being the first to say something. Zidane nodded. "Yeah. Not exactly the type of place I'd like to stay at."
But the princess shook her head. "That's not it! I mean, yes, it's an uncomfortable place but... Don't you find it unusual, this tunnel leading only forward? I would have expected some smaller chambers at the sides or anything of the sort."
"What're ya aiming for?", Zidane asked raising his eyebrows.
Very slowly, Dagger lifted her head. "It's like.. a place with no escape", she whispered.
Her words were followed by a creepy silence – the type of silence in which you wait for something terrible to happen, proving the words just said. But nothing happened. After a few seconds of waiting, Zidane and Freya sighed simultaneously, as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Then, Zidane pat the princess on her back.
"Are you afraid of narrow spaces, Dag'?", he asked while smiling reassuringly.
"M-maybe."
Zidane nodded, still trying to shake off the feeling of anxiety rolling down his spine.
"Don't worry 'bout it. I'm sure we're pretty safe in here – otherwise, Cid's team of researchers would've encountered difficulties as well, right?"
Dagger nodded and managed to smile. Freya, who had been stiff ever since Dagger spoke up, relaxed and turned to move on.
Then it happened. The tunnel started to shake like struck by an earthquake, crumbles fell down from the ceiling and missed the group only by inches. Dust, centuries old, swirled up and blinded them and the ground started to crack. And behind them, coming from their only exit, they could hear the sound of a machine slowly starting to move towards them.
For a moment, the four were frozen. Then, Zidane grabbed Dagger's wrist and turned. "Run!"
The ceiling was about to break right above them and stones blocked their path only seconds before they passed it. Zidane was running ahead with Dagger in his grip and he ran with all he got. Suddenly, Dagger stumbled across her own feet, but before she could hit the ground, Zidane pulled her up, forcing her to keep running. There was no time for words, commands or even shouts; their survival was dependent on their every step and on luck. More than once, stones fell down right before Zidane and shards flew through the air, scratching across his face, barely missing his eyes.
"Cover your eyes!", he screamed as he lift his arm to cover his face. He couldn't look back to see whether the others were listening to him. He pulled Dagger forward, moving on instinct. He heard Freya curse and even a grunt from Amarant, but to his relief, Dagger remained silent aside from her hectic breath. The noise from behind grew louder, Zidane could hear metal scratching along the earthy ground as the deadly machine pulled itself forward.
Not fast enough. We're not fast enough!, he thought panicking.
"It closes in on us", Amarant said, his voice nearly as calm as always; just his heavier breathing indicated his stress. Dagger gasped and stumbled over her feet once more.
Shut it, Amarant!
"Oh yeah?! And what am I supposed to do?!", Zidane shouted back, still running blindly.
"We could fight-"
"Oh, come on!", Zidane snapped. 'You can't be serious', he wanted to add but his lungs screamed for air.
He didn't need to look back to know what the redhead did. Amarant stopped mid-run and swirled around, facing whatever was coming their way. "Bring her to safety", the warrior said, barely loud enough to be heard among the noise of breaking stone.
"Amarant, no!" The princess screamed and fought against Zidane's grip, but the thief pulled her harder, clenching his teeth.
I'm sorry, Amarant.
They hadn't run much longer until they heard how the metallic sounds stopped. The walls were still shaking, but not as much as before. Whatever had been following them, it had just arrived at Amarant.
Zidane could no longer suppress the urge to open his eyes, so he lifted his eyelashes by the fraction of an inch, peering through them carefully. To his great delight, he could see how the tunnel made a sharp turn, which seemed to end in a small chamber.
"Hurry up, it's not far anymore", he said to Freya and Dagger before he started moving faster. It still took them several minutes to reach the end of the tunnel and jump into the chamber which was set a few feet higher than the tunnel. Unless that machine was able to climb, they would be safe for the time-being.
After a while of gasping and catching their breath, Freya was the first to speak. "Maybe we should head back to-", when Zidane's glare turned her silent. But Dagger had guessed Freya's intention and started to shake violently. "Not being back by now, means that he's-?" It was a matter of fact, but in her desperation, she made it sound like a question nonetheless.
"You know what Amarant is like. Nothing could possibly happen to him. He wouldn't get beaten up by such an unimportant thing", Zidane shook his head, but even to himself, the words sounded thick of lies.
Dagger laid her face in her hands and started to cry. "First Vivi, now Amarant", she gulped between the tears. "I don't want anyone to die for my sake any longer!"
"Well, if that's the case, why won't you come with me, my canary?"
The unfamiliar voice made Zidane and Freya jerk up instantly. As they turned, their eyes fell on a man beyond human. His skin was very pale, almost see through like crystallized water that dripped from a roof and his silver, long hair, sparkling as if wet intensified that impression even further. He had sharp, narrow eyes and thin lips of a deep pinkish tone. His white and silver attire seemed somewhat magical, fairy like, revealing more skin than it hid. He had one hand on his hips, while the other was playing with his own hair. As their eyes met, Zidane could feel a hatred he had never known before.
"Kuja", he spat and the man laughed. It was a high, melodic laugh, but insanity was seeping through it.
"So you have heard of me? Yes, I am Kuja; a sorcerer beyond comprehension, a soul bender, and the greatest actor on this poor stage called Gaia. At your service", he added with an elegant bow. "And who are you, small fly?"
Instead of answering, Zidane rolled his shoulders. "So you're really Kuja?", he hummed to himself. "I'd thought more of you, hearing all those stories. Can't believe we all got worked up for someone like you."
Kuja stared at Zidane, his eyes dangerously narrowing to slits. "It is no wonder to me an insect like you might not see my greatness; you must derive from an animal tribe, judging by your tail", he said with a significant look to Zidane's back. "I demanded who you were, but considering your foul talking, I shall say I know enough."
Zidane stiffed as he threw himself into a fighting position. "I'm the one to kick your butt for what you plan to do!"
For a moment, Kuja looked at the thief with a startled expression, then he started to laugh once again, throwing his hands up.
"Oh my, you foolish watcher of this enlightening play", he called out to no one. "I always thought to be part of an epos, but I can see now, it's a comedy! - So you know what I'm plotting?", he turned to Zidane with a suddenly grave voice. "Don't make me laugh. A mind as small as yours can't even begin to comprehend thoughts as great as mine." He threw back his hair, a small laugh escaping his opened lips. "You are nothing. Nothing but a waste of my precious time. So then, let us leave, my innocent canary", he added towards Dagger, who was sitting on the ground, her hands still partly covering her face.
"M-me?", the princess stuttered, instinctively leaning back.
"I have been waiting long enough for your return back home, haven't I? Think of your mother, canary", Kuja added with a voice sweet as sugar. "She's been worried sick because of you. Don't you think it is time for you to go back where you belong? Needless to say, I'm having reasons to wish you back as well."'
"The Crystal", Freya whispered as she drew her spear.
Kuja looked at her, his eyes shortly opening. "Ahhh, yes, the Crystal", he echoed as if just remembering it. Dagger clung to her necklace as Zidane stepped in front of her, throwing one arm back. "You won't have any of them; neither Dagger nor the necklace!"
For a moment, the time it takes for a heart to beat, Kuja frowned as if he was confused. Then, he threw back his head and laughed again, even louder and more enthusiastically than before. "Oh, I see!", he exclaimed, his eyes suddenly glowing. "So this is what you think to know of me? Well then, little flies", he called out and threw his left arm back, "we shall see!" He muttered something under his breath and suddenly, the ceiling and walls turned murky and dark. Against all logic, clouds built inside the small chamber and the sound of thunder filled the air.
The first explosive sound had just occurred when Freya stormed towards Kuja, her spear pointing at his heart. Swiftly, the sorcerer stepped aside and the Dragon Hunter missed him only by inches. "Don't just stand there!", she shouted towards Zidane who grabbed Rune Tooth and was already rushing forward. "No need to tell me that", he answered as he swung the sword but quicker than the eye could follow, Kuja jumped out of Zidane's reach. Freya tried to take advantage of Kuja's step, but he blocked her spear with a quick movement of his arm. Rune Tooth crashed in the wall directly behind the sorcerer, who smiled lightly as he was missed by a little. Freya jumped forward, swirling around her own axis but Kuja was already behind her, gave her a light push and she fell into Zidane, who could escape the deadly swing of the spear by falling flat on his stomach. Both got back to their feet swiftly and met Kuja's examining eyes.
"You played your part well – amusing for the common folk", he said with a tilted head as if thinking to himself. Then, he fully opened his eyes and a malicious grin spread across his face. "Now, I shall play my assigned role as well!" He reached with his hands to the clouds and called unfamiliar words in a deep voice so different from the sugary one before. Listening to his command, lightning struck the small chamber and Zidane had to run away quickly to escape it. Another lightning missed Freya only by a little before the next one fell down right in front of Zidane.
"Yes, dance!", the sorcerer madly laughed as he let the lightning fall. It was pure luck Freya and Zidane weren't caught as they jumped around like mad and if Zidane hadn't stumbled towards his friend, Freya would've been split in two.
We won't get anywhere like this, Zidane thought desperately as another lightning almost reached his tail. I have to reach that guy before Dagger gets hurt!
Kuja was still laughing madly but suddenly, his laugh stopped and his eyes opened wide. The lightnings ceased and Zidane could see how three long pieces of Mythril pierced Kuja's chest.
"You're laughing too much", Amarant coldly said as he pulled his claws out. Blood ran down Kuja's chest and the sorcerer stared at the wound, his eyes wide open.
For a moment, the relief in the air could almost be grasped. "Amarant", Dagger whispered near to silent and her lips formed a smile.
But then, Kuja laughed again. He stared at his chest and his laugh grew madder. He turned to Amarant and his eyes were almost filled with tears of laughter. "How interesting", the sorcerer said in between his laughs. "But not enough." While still laughing, he pointed towards Amarant's shoulder and the warrior was pierced by a block of ice. Freya reacted without hesitation, jumping towards the enemy to hinder him from future spells. Zidane swirled his sword so fast it looked like a dance and even Amarant, though severely wounded, swung his claws to slice Kuja up. But the sorcerer was too quick. He ducked before Freya's spear could hit him, danced out of Zidane's reach and moved around Amarant's claws.
Helplessly, Dagger watched her friends receiving one wound after the other while their enemy remained unharmed – unthinkable, considering the wound in his chest.
I... must do something, she desperately thought to herself as she got up and grabbed her racket. Her hands were shaking violently. There was no way she could rush into combat; the ball emitted by the rod might more likely hit her friends than the actual target. The rumors about Kuja being an immortal being proved to be more than just rumors. There was nothing equal to him than another immortal creature.
Dagger could feel Shiva's presence in her heart. The Ice Queen was always there, always watching but Dagger got used to her presence over the years. Sometimes, it felt as if Shiva was trying to talk to her, but it seemed Dagger was deaf for her words; she could only feel the Eidolon and its emotions. But now, there was no need for words. Shiva wanted to step out and teach the ignorant man a lesson.
But Dagger couldn't summon her. Fear she had never felt before overwhelmed her body, rendering her muscles useless. What if summoning wouldn't work? If Kuja proves to be invulnerable even in face of such a thing? What would be left for them to hope for?
It was Zidane's scream that pulled Dagger out of her despair. The thief was hit by an ice bolt in the knee and fell down. Freya tried to cover him but Kuja called the wind and she was pressed aside as if she weighed nothing. Amarant ran towards the sorcerer, but his wound made it hard for him to breath and he would never reach Kuja in time.
"SHIVA!", Dagger called out. She grasped the Eidolon's presence, filled it with magic and her concentration and forced the created sphere outside her body. Partly being connected to the Eidolon, her inside felt empty and it was as if she was standing in front of herself. The part inside the Eidolon knew no fear; only anger drove her actions.
Shiva manifested herself and blew a wind of ice towards Kuja. He was thrown back and stared at the Eidolon in disbelief as an ice bolt, more majestic than his own, flew towards him. The sorcerer thew up his arms and erected a barrier, shielding him. The ice bolt shattered at the translucent shield and for a moment, there was complete silence. Then, Shiva dashed forward and the fight between the two could barely be seen. They were entwined by the aura of their magic, ice, lighting and thunder struck each other. Then, suddenly the mist cleared and Shiva sat on her knees. The Queen of Ice had trouble with breathing as Kuja stood above her. He grabbed her neck and forced her to look at him. A smile spread on his face as he hardened his grip. With a terrifying sound, Shiva exploded into thousand pieces of ice and her presence faded, crawling back into Dagger's soul, unable to move any further.
Zidane cursed.
If Shiva can't even scratch him, we're... But then, his eyes opened wide. Kuja's posture was off. His stance wasn't as majestic and straight as it used to be. He slightly leaned to the side and forward. Blood was running down from several wounds along with a silver, thick liquid, and his breathing was off.
Kuja, however, was staring intensely at Dagger. His lips moved silently while his eyes were shaking. Then, as if remembering his posture, he straightened and laughed.
"Very well then, my little canary", he softly said towards the princess who was standing still in fear. "I will let you continue this foolish game a little longer. For the time being, I will tell your mother how ungrateful you are toward her display of love and care. Both your mother and I are very disappointed by your lack of responsibility", he added while shaking his head. Then, he lift up from the ground as the room grew dark. "But do not worry, my canary. The time for your return will come soon – and then, I will not allow you to follow a shallow dream anymore."
His voice faded and when the room went bright again, any trace of Kuja was gone.
The four stared at each other. Then, they fell; Zidane landed straight on his butt, Freya on her knee, Amarant slid down the wall and Dagger fell on to her hands.
"We... scared him off?", Freya asked confused as she was catching the breath she held in during the last moments.
Zidane nodded slowly, looking over to Dagger. "Yeah... Somehow." He crawled over to the princess and pat her back. "And he only left because you fought him", he told her with his great grin. "See? I told ya you could do it!"
While Dagger smiled lightly and started to talk to Zidane, both Freya and Amarant narrowed their eyes.
No, the redhead thought to himself. He was thrown back, but in the end, he defeated Shiva. He could have killed us all afterward with ease. No... There must be a reason why he left. He was here to get the Crystal, wasn't he? What made him change his mind?
But no matter how hard he thought of it, Amarant couldn't see why the sorcerer took his leave when he was just about to get what he had been coming for. But seeing Dagger's face slowly lighten up by Zidane's talk, the warrior did not dare to scare her by revealing his thoughts. He shot a glance to the Dragon Hunter; she too seemed to wonder about Kuja's intentions. As her eyes met his, Amarant slightly shook his head and Freya nodded. Their only chance was to gather more powerful Eidolons quickly. At least that had been shown: Kuja was susceptible to the Eidolon's power. After a sigh, Amarant turned to the thief and the princess and listened to their conversation, with his mind occasionally going off.
In the meantime, miles away, a giant silver dragon was flying through the air, headed towards the Alexandrian castle.
On top of the dragon, Kuja was playing with his hair. He flinched when the wounds struck by Shiva hurt, but his mind was bothered by something else. He evoked Dagger's face and posture in front of his mental eye.
"Not ready yet", he mumbled to himself as clouds were passing by.
Authors note
I did it! With all the Christmas preparations and work keeping me busy, I almost feared I wouldn't manage to finish this month's chapter! Phew. Luckily, I did.
Finally, we met Kuja. He is one of the coolest villains, isn't he? I hope I managed to display his attitude at least sort of correctly. Having played the game in German, I could only guess the way he would speak in the English Translation.
Now, our party will continue their way to the Outer Continent, hopefully finding more Eidolon's. But what did Kuja mean by mumbling "Not ready yet?" Keep reading the following chapters and you'll find out eventually.
Until next month! Take care
Ruska