Filling In The Blanks

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX or any of its characters.

Chapter 104: Incommensurable

"Hurry up, slowpoke!"

The voice echoed around him, and the bodiless tone was filled with laughter and wonder and happiness.

Fog filled the edges of his vision. Nothing was brought sharply into focus, and his mind stumbled over itself like a wave rolling into shore.

"You're going to miss it, Zidane!" the voice laughed at him, clearly delighted wherever its being was.

He recognized the voice. It was soprano, filled with fierceness and hope intertwined and tied with a bow – like a neat little package – something perfect that he had misplaced long ago.

"Miss what exactly!" he found himself suddenly demanding, his own voice light.

Things suddenly started to fill in his memory, like a crystal glass filling with cool water on a hot summer's day. The blur in his vision ebbed away and he found himself running – no, dancing – towards a shadow in the distance.

The sun didn't shine high in the sky, but the stars winked at him from above, playing mischievously with their brightness as they shined down upon the city. The alleyway was narrow, and the cobblestone was uprooted to the sides.

Where were they going?

"The music, silly!" she laughed.

"Oh! That music!" he found himself laughing too, and Zidane couldn't believe just how much of an entirely different physical person he was than the mind who raced after him. He sounded happy and the chiming voice was foreign, even to his own ears.

Notes suddenly filled the air, floating almost lazily on the wind, like there wasn't a care in the world – especially to do with who heard the symphony. Since when was the last time that happened?

And then in front of him, standing in the middle of a crowd of people, was a blonde woman as obvious to him as the luminous stars that shined above. "Elouise!"

Then her emerald eyes locked with his, and she beckoned him forward with a slight motion of her hands. Her skin was delicate and her clothing clung to her in preparation and heat; she flicked her waves from her eyes as she stared at him expectantly.

And before his body could answer for itself, he was running forward, his gloved hand curling into hers as she heaved him towards her and they fell into a light dancing position.

"Out in the moonlit daze of the night, we shall run away-"

He tensed, recognizing those words from something further than a song. The music rose and fell into something more rustic and relaxed – not for dancing at all, really. But Elouise continued to sway in her grace anyways.

"Run from all of the problems of your nation and your people and your family!"

His skin prickled as he looked around, his world spinning as the woman dragged him around in a circle. Somehow, his feet kept time with her, like his body was in the moment with her, and his mind was somewhere else completely.

The edges of his vision smudged again as his eyes flickered around the crowd. People suddenly started to stick out to him more. A brunette woman with a trailing sleeveless cloak, and a short, pudgy kid around his own age, rough leather armor slapped miscellaneously all over him.

"My dear sweet –"

Grass suddenly sprouted beneath them, though none of the figures surrounding them took notice. He felt like he had stopped spinning, but Elouise still moved in and out of his vision, oblivious – almost like she was sleeping.

He heard a giggle, and a vision flashed in his mind – a girl with long, raven hair, her maroon gloves covering her smiling mouth, eyelashes sweeping her flushed cheeks as she watched in awe for the first time. It was a first impression after all, he had to make it right.

"We could leave the troubles behind, and thou shall be free of kindling fire of hate and rage –"

The words still whispered like they were coming from the stage. But they no longer matched what the lyricist was saying, and these figures suddenly became recognizable. He saw Blank standing not too far off, his hands shoved into pockets as his hidden eyes stared off, like he was enjoying the show.

"Trust me Zidane, this is going to put you in an absolute greatness for acting! After you see this, it's going to be your absolute dream!"

The words left the redhead's mouth, like they had long ago before he could hardly remember. They had been sitting in Lindblum – he remembered seeing 'I Want to be Your Canary' for the first time. He remembered Blank convincing him to fall in love with acting.

And he suddenly remembered those lines in the song that no longer matched the rhythm around him.

"And thy shall protect you from all as you spread your wings and fly!"

"Dagger!" he yelled, tearing away from his hold on Elouise. She seemed nearly transparent now, her eyes less happy and frustration and loss written on her face. He remembered that face. He remembered the way she had looked at him when they stood in front of one another for the first time in two years in a crumbled Alexandria.

But then there Dagger was, in the crowd, her eyes shining at him, tears misting her vision.

"Please wake up soon…" her voice seemed to echo in his head without her moving her lips as she stared at him.

Those words. The sudden change of lyrics in the song – it was the first spout of lines he'd spewed to her that night on patrol – that night in Dali. The night that he swore he fell in love and never looked back. The night he was always so grateful he'd been placed on routine scouting – that the rest of the world had trusted her with him one time. Because that's all it took.

"We can't do this alone…"

He pushed through the crowd to reach her, and suddenly the whimsical scene of Alexandria left him, darkness and emptiness beginning to blot out somewhat-coherent thoughts.

"I can't do this alone…"

But then his heart tore as he glanced back. Elouise was fading, the same hard expression on her face when he wanted so desperately for her to understand all that had happened. His head whipped back to Dagger, who seemed broken and despairing in her own way because Zidane couldn't reach her.

He tried to, he did. But by the time he got close, the memories were suddenly sucked away, and he was left floating, unable to feel his own body, and unable to remember any of the thoughts and ideas that had just tangled themselves together.

What was real? What was in his mind? Was there even anything? He didn't know anymore…

All he could see was darkness, and memories speckled his vision like the flash of a camera – so quick and bright he couldn't seem to catch hold. He didn't recognize any of the faces he saw in these glimpses, nor could he remember any of the faces he'd just seen.

Who had been speaking to him?


Other mages worked to put out the fires, cheer erupting all around them. Bobby Corwen chirped and hopped around, growing every day Vivi laid eyes on him. Odin did a little jig, no doubt picked up from some of the children who had joined the resistance with family from Lindblum and insisted Quina and Odin try the dances out with them.

"Marvelous!" Kamen clapped, delight written all over his face even though no one could see it. "You've picked up on these new spells surprisingly well, Master Vivi!"

His eyes smiled for him as he gripped at the worn edges of his old hat. "R-really?"

Kamen nodded before flitting his arms in the air. "Try ice now! I want to see the comparison between the new firaga and blizzaga spells!

As the last of the fires spread from Vivi's last attack on a dummy in the village square were being quelled, he stood at position, trying to muster a completely different type of energy in and around him for the opposite element of an attack.

Kamen gripped his staff, tilting his hat back. The sun broke through the dull-gold canopy of trees, twitching with each shimmer of the leaves in the wind. The air was dryer today, but none of that deterred his consistent want to train the mage. From what Cid had told him of the return of the resistance members, he guessed he did not have long to help hone Vivi's skills. He had been told of the great feat Vivi had accomplished while fighting an ally in Dali – the legendary trance that they all agreed it could be. Many black mages held this ability (that was over half the reason Kuja tried recreating the race for his war) but to unlock it was a completely different quest altogether. Something must have happened to trigger this power in him, and he couldn't be prouder of his young apprentice.

Cid stood next to him, arms folded behind his back. The regent had wished to see Vivi's progress after five days of training. Nothing of significant change had happened with the resistance. While they were originally worried someone could have been tailing their suspiciously easy flee from Dali, there wasn't a sign at any of the double-scouted posts, or reports from extra-duty guards.

Lysandra and Steiner began putting together a battle plan, and he and the few clearly-nominated leaders had begun separating their now-large resistance into factions based on skill. A couple particularly quick at first-aid were assigned to each team, and in that team they were all trained to fight with each other. Each group had a few from the very original resistance, and at least one from the bests of Ipsen's Area. Each place new members had come from had a small difference in style, which, when honed together, would make a powerful strike.

Cid hadn't wanted to wait to start training troops and had tried to clear the basics away while his elites left on their spontaneous rescue mission to Alexandria. It seemed that while Beatrix was still gathering her strength, Lysandra and Steiner had the same idea. They trained most everyone in basic drills of team-combat, and sent all soldiers through a crash course with Amarant and Freya about aim and consistency.

The regent secretly wished, along with Steiner himself that Dagger would participate in these skill building exercises. She would make a great leader to motivate newer soldiers, and could teach these people a thing or two about patience and defending a comrade without endangering yourself. Unfortunately, she still wasn't too keen on speaking to anyone, though the older man found she was spending a lot of time with Ruby lately. Though, he really couldn't blame the two young girls – hope was often stripped away because of loved ones and their injuries, and if she could find comfort in someone rather than no one, he wouldn't complain too much.

Which brought him full circle in his thought process. This activity with Odin, Kamen, and the others of the black mage village had kept Vivi surprisingly busy. He had requested the mage tell the tale of stopping by his grandpa's dwelling, though he was assuming Vivi didn't give him all of the details. But by that one conversation, Cid could see the young dreamer slowly unraveling. He was shaken – how could the one person possibly more powerful than he, who had lead him and proctored him throughout their time in the resistance possibly be in a coma? How could the one he looked to for support be so battered he couldn't will himself out of the brokenness of his body and spirit?

Before he could dwell too far into the crisis concerning Zidane's physical healing, he turned to the mage leader next to him. "Thank you for this. It has served Vivi many purposes to be here."

"I think it healthy for both my people and Master Vivi to interact. Kuja has held reign for so long, and spread fear of black mages so vastly across the world, it has been quite some time since any of us came in contact with a mage in sync with the outside lands. But for Vivi to better understand his heritage is something that could not be ignored either. I am glad for both ideas."

Cid nodded, "Good… we are going to be needing any support we can get, and I am so grateful already for what you have done!"

"Still we wish to do more." Cid turned to him, startled at this new spark in Kamen's tone. "A group of black mages has volunteered to go with you, whatever your next move against Kuja may entail!"

"Oh heavens, no!" he shook his head fiercely as Vivi started his ice attack on the next training dummy. "We could not ask that of you!"

"They wished to go on their own accord. I would be amongst them had it been a unanimous decision."

"This means so much…" he mumbled.

Kamen simply smiled and placed a gentle hand on Cid's shoulder. "Let you recruit us as you did all over the world. We have been swayed by the simple kindness and sheer dedication you have displayed while staying on the outskirts of our world. I am proud to walk amongst such brave warriors."

"Your words are both calming and delightful," Cid admitted, running a hand along his silver beard. His long cape shuttered when he moved his shoulders underneath it.

"I am impressed by Vivi," he decided to say, changing the subject before Cid could refuse the offer again. He would send soldiers with the resistance whatever the man's reaction was, but it was nice to have the regent on his side. "It is hard to admit simply because it is both unbelievable and nearly unnerving, but Vivi has already surpassed the skill of any mage in this village."

Aghast, the man turned to the mage again. "What do you mean?"

"He's more powerful than anyone could have anticipated. The only reason I've kept him here for five days is because I hoped to help him unlocked magic that brings on this trance faster. If I am being completely honest, I hoped to see it happen while he was training here."

Cid let out a hearty laugh and spluttered. "I feel as though we all want to see it – but it will only be those few in Dali that night… at least for a while."

Kamen chuckled. "I do not doubt your theory." A cheer suddenly broke from his mouth when he watched the ice explode so fine, a light snow peppered the training grounds. "Truly astonishing," he mumbled as he stepped forward to speak to Vivi, trying to open up different and creative ways in his mind to use his power.

Realizing that his presence was no longer needed to assess if the mage had improved, Cid turned to take his leave. Vivi's power was there, that much was obvious – even Odin stood in shock, and he was still just as oblivious to the world as he was when he arrived in the third group through Fossil Roo. Kamen's best offer now was to teach the mage a little more creativity for even more powerful attacks.

For right now, he could be happy that those who needed a distraction from Zidane the most were taken care of, praying that something turned around in their favor soon. He couldn't take much more of an active role in ordering these people around – there were more people better suited for the job. He only wished they weren't so broken, so that they may do more with the group of rebels brought fourth.


Cinna sat, halfway delighted at the basket in front of him. The grin couldn't be swiped off of his face, but he wasn't sure if this was some sort of mockery, or if he'd done something wrong to receive such a thing. Now normally one would think it odd to be rewarded for being bad, but the way Cinna's life usually went, and how nearly nobody could take him seriously (and he, of course, would hardly want it any other way) he couldn't be too surprised.

The day was in full-swing, and everybody was out amongst the trees or in the small open field at the bottom of the hill training. He would be doing the same if he had a team to train with. Ruby had been disappearing a lot lately, but he didn't blame her. She was hurting – hell: everyone was hurting. But he thought Ruby had it the worst when he thought about it. She and Blank had grown so close, and they depended on each other more than either would admit, but ever since Terra – maybe even before that – each had been leaning on the other when conditions turned bleak.

He sighed heavily as he stared away from the gift in front of him. Cid promised him he wouldn't split Ruby and him up, but also told them he couldn't not assign them to another team. The thief wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but something in him broke when the regent had suggested that. A new team? He'd never not fought with Tantalus, alongside his brothers and best friends and family, and the most important battle of their entirety, he'd be with strangers because he was a longtime member, he would know what to do, and worst of all: there wasn't enough of Tantalus together anymore to call a team. Misery swung over his head, too close for his liking, so he pushed the thoughts away and focused again on the basket.

Inside were a few delicacies he could see without even touching a thing. There were small bits of salted pork wrapped to preserve them, and – did he dare? – chocolate stuffed amongst the dried food. His mouth watered before he could stop himself. All of his favorite foods were nestled into the hand-woven basket, and he got giddy the more he stared at all of the things. There were also an assortment of potions, remedies, antidotes and annoyntments clinking together whenever he shifted through the collection.

The one thing he could hardly get over though, was what had a small piece of ribbon around it. They could hardly be sparing materials as gift wrap, but he saw the effort and he accepted it graciously. It was what the ribbon was wrapped around that he could hardly breathe when he first saw.

His mace – the same weight with the same faded color and same chipped corner that came from hitting the jagged edge of a rock – was amongst the other small presents that were being given to him. The only thing that was different was the handle. And though that would normally bother the thief, this one was smooth – like the wood itself was melted and molded and kneaded over itself again and again just to get the bumps and air pockets totally out of it. He could feel the memorization of where his hands were supposed to lay, though the divets from long years of use were gone.

He shucked his new mace from Dali as soon as he saw the basket sitting on his bed enticingly.

After the initial shock of it all, he had wondered ferociously who had left him such a great reward, but after inspecting the mace, pulling it out of the woven container, and shuffling around all of the small goodies like a gift basket on Christmas, he found a small ruby at the bottom. It was finely cut – not like the ones they'd always picked up off of random mist creatures or soldiers they'd fought in all their years – this one was special. And he knew right away it was from Ruby.

Heart beaming, he tightened his grasp around the mace and made a promise to himself that he wouldn't complain once about being able to fight alongside the resistance he'd helped to build, even if it meant having to crane his neck and turn his head to catch the eyes of Ruby, some odd groups away. Would he prefer the ones he knew so well? Who wouldn't? But Ruby had noticed that he was hurting too, and if in such a time she could show him that not everyone had abandoned them, and that in the end, Zidane, Blank, Marcus and Baku might be okay, it didn't matter where he fought so long as he got to do it for the purpose of protecting his family.

A grin reached his face, crinkling his beard as he smirked. It was time to head back out to the training grounds and show everyone what he was made of. A battle cry almost ripped from his throat, but he contained it politely for those in the same room.


Five.

Five days.

She sat, feeling miserable.

Why wasn't he waking up? Why couldn't he realize that it was going to take longer to heal if he just wasted away in a coma?

Why couldn't she pull herself to do anything but feel sorry for all of the things that had happened? Why couldn't she prove she was a better leader than this?

Dagger felt a shiver go down her spine. Her eyes cast out over the training winding down below her as the day ducked behind the horizon of mountains. Her heart sank with the waning light.

These people – every single one – had rallied behind her to reclaim Alexandria and cast peace over Gaia once again. Kuja's rule had gone on far too long – fourteen years too long.

She squeezed her eyes shut and hit her back against the tree behind her hard. She could feel the bark snag her hair, but it hardly deterred her from her thoughts. She wanted so much to inspire and lead and show her gratitude to these people, training and sweating and hurting every day to pack a punch when it came down to the final fight against Kuja. But here she was, unsure and angry.

She recalled Blank's words to her when they waited restlessly to enter Ipsen's Castle – what seemed like eons ago.

"While I know Zidane's chances aren't very good and these might be the last days I get with him… It won't be here. His death will be much more dramatic…"

Well it certainly had been dramatic. Being dragged away unconscious by those dreamers, and holding on just by a stroke of luck for nearly two weeks while they tried to get him back was close enough to death. Dagger's heart clenched; who knew that Blank wouldn't make it back with them? To help coax his friend out of the trauma he had endured…

Dedicating a day and a half to restoring Cinna's mace had cleared her mind for a little while. Ruby and she had gone on an epic hunt for things that would cheer him up, and at the end of the day she had chalked it up to success. But now, sitting atop that hill and watching everyone wander aimlessly away like they were waiting for something more – for the Elites of the resistance to rise and rally them into a second wave of energy and exhilaration – she felt hopeless.

All of that work, and all of those teammates gone to get Zidane back, and now he wasn't going to wake up. Her head spun and she dropped it to her knees curled up against her chest.

"Mind if I take a seat?"

She nearly leapt higher than the tree grew when she heard his voice. Her eyes snapped up to the knight standing in front of her, sporting all of his armor besides his helmet.

"Steiner," she breathed as she nodded, "you nearly killed me."

"Let's not get to dramatics, Dagger," he let on a half-grin, trying to make her feel better as he shifted in the grass.

They were silent for a moment, both taking in the feeling of the cool wind on their skin and the grass beneath their bodies, still alive – still breathing.

"What am I going to do?" she all but groaned. Her eyes turned to the knight pleadingly, but he was focused on the children running to parents who were finally done with their training for the day.

Instead of answering, Steiner leaned back on his hands in an almost leisurely position, surprising Dagger even more.

"I remember a little girl long ago. The war was just beginning with Kuja, and news of his spreading power beyond Terra worried the kingdom of Alexandria. Queen Victoria had a permanent line of worry on her forehead. She had much experience running a kingdom, but her husband had dealt with all of the military command, and since his death, she hadn't had the need to make a fighting move. I stood with her and her most trusted knights, hardly experienced but rising into power because she saw potential in me, and she was desperate for as many confidents as she could get."

The raven stared at him in shock, her breath caught in her throat. A story about her mother? No, he never told her those…

"Over the course of the next two years his power began to grow. The elemental shrines fell, Terra had already fallen – soon any small country or village around Esto Gaza had failed as well. Those people were peacemakers, and couldn't stand much of a fight against Kuja's growing power. Things were silent for a long time, and that worried all of Gaia.

"Each day the Queen of Alexandria would worry, pacing back and forth and praying that Alexandria was not the next target after Kuja's lull in movements. She needed time to prepare – she needed a clue of what he was going to do. And every day, the knights worried for their kingdom and the people they had taken an oath to protect… But there was one day where tensions were excruciatingly thick because rumor of fleets on the ocean had reached us, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the time when it would be their last. The doors suddenly burst open, and everyone whipped around, afraid. They feared a messenger from Lindblum or Bermecia or anyone had come to tell them bad news – terrifying and life-altering news."

She had leaned forward in anticipation, all worries about people's expectations of her lost. Brown eyes stared with intensity at the knight, who still spoke in a lazy tone like the story didn't matter at all.

"But alas, it was a little girl. Her hair was swept up into two matching ponytails, and her eyes held a wonder no one even thought to look for in people anymore. Her hands were clasped in a circle in front of her, and she beamed when she saw the queen. 'I caught a butterfly' she had said in delight, while her nanny looked on apologetically behind her. 'Mommy, I want you to see it. Come Steiner, you see it too!' and just like that, every tension and every worry evaporated from the room. Every knight huddled together around the Queen and the Princess, their hearts filled with pride because this gentle soul would one day lead the kingdom – she held the greatness of both the King and Queen – father and mother. I told her 'your butterfly is beautiful, Garnet' and she stared up at me and asked 'Will you come catch them with me, Steiner?'"

"What did you say?" Dagger whispered, the faintest ring of a memory fluttering in her heart. She couldn't remember it, but the air of his story was so familiar. Faces were blurred and voices sounded meek, but she recalled the butterfly – blue and purple and calm in her hands.

"I did not even hesitate. I did not wait for the queen's command. I laughed and nodded at you and you pulled me away from the stresses of that meeting and nobody stopped me as I caught nearly a hundred butterflies with you that day! And I do not remember a time so well spent in all my life."

The last of the sun's rays had just extracted from the hill, leaving them in twilight. The wind was still as they stared at each other for a moment, both searching for some sort of recognition of the person they sought. Hardly anyone remained out in the open, but signs of life flickered on the edges of the forest if one knew what to look for.

"Alexandria's fall was one of the hardest memories of my life. Fleeing the castle still fills me with regret when I think what I could have done better, or that I should have never left the Queen. But one good thing did come of it. I got to watch the Princess grow, never losing her ability to find the best in people, and to trust and love and lead. Though Victoria was no longer there to raise her, she had blossomed into the young ruler both of her parents wished for her to be."

Tears were in Dagger's eyes when Steiner finally looked at her. Her lip quivered and for a moment, he saw that scared four-year-old girl again on the raft floating out of Alexandria. Before he could really think about it, he clasped her hand and didn't fail to notice when she squeezed his fingers too tightly in return.

"That young woman is still with us, I know. She just needs to be coaxed out a little bit from underneath the pain and doubt. Things will get better, Dagger, but you must also let them. Optimism has always been one of your strong suits."

She said nothing as tears finally slipped down her cheeks. Flinging herself at him, she clasped her hands around his neck tight as his strong arms wove protectively around her petite frame. "I will never lose sight of that person, Steiner, I promise, just for you."

And then his arms curled a little tighter around her back and he tucked a hand over her hair and patted it down as her shoulders shook, crying silent sobs into his neck where she nestled herself, never feeling so much like family to the knight in all of her life.

A long moment passed before they finally separated and the young girl settled back down in the grass. Silence fell comfortably around the two as Dagger's mind bogged down with the curiosity of her mother, especially after what her caretaker had just told her. And Steiner thought mercilessly of their predicament and how he prayed that he wasn't giving anyone a false sense of hope.

"How long do you think it will take to train all of these people?" she suddenly asked, wondering herself where the question had even come from.

He rose his shoulders and stretched his back, staring at her with dark grey eyes. "A few months at the very least. They are all very skilled, but we need unity to make a difference. We are not there – not by a long shot."

She sighed and slumped back against the tree. "Thank you for telling me that story."

"About your mother?"

She shook her head and a light smile graced her lips. Those dazzling brown eyes stared at him with father-figure affection as she spoke. "No."

"No?" she was always itching to hear of her parents – why now did she suddenly care for something more in the story. "About what then?"

"About catching butterflies with me."

He had never glowed so proudly in all his life.

"You have never disappointed me, Dagger, and I do believe you never will."

She breathed sharply through her nose as her fingers laced together around her tucked up legs. "You will never know how much that truly means to me, Steiner."

He smiled back at her respectfully, but in his mind – so much more than she would ever guess – he knew exactly the feeling she was feeling.

But before either could say anymore, a terrifying hush came over the opening, and the two on the hill were quick to spot it. In the distance, engines hummed loud enough to hear if you knew what to listen for, and propellers moved fast enough to slice down the very trees protecting them, and a ship – one of Cid's earlier models – came zooming towards them.

There was minimal noise down below. Those who were fighters or had encountered Kuja before knew to be quiet, and the others let out muffled cries before diving for cover.

"Into the tree, quickly!" Steiner insisted, hoisting the girl up before clamoring amongst the leaves as well.

The machine whirled above them, moving slowly like passengers were looking for something. The noise was deafening and it kicked up dry dirt and clouds of dust reigned over the splotchy grass just before the beginning of the tree line. The greenery was peppered with a dull brown color before the ship moved passed the mud-spitting range of their hideout.

Dagger's chest was heaving loudly. The air was too still after the ship had flown nearly out of earshot. No one dared to move or talk or even think. Who was that? And how did they know to look on the Outer Continent in the trees, lower to the ground than any airship should have been.

The two resistance members dropped from the tree when they knew it was safe and began rushing down the hill, hoping to tell someone. But everyone already seemed to know, and whispers rose into mutters and mutters into actual words. With actual words came shouts and protests and theories that nobody had the time to decipher.

Then like the flip of a switch, panic suddenly burst from the crowd that had gathered on the line of the trees.

"What are we going to do?!"

"Kuja has found us at last!"

"We're not ready!"

Screams of terror came from the women from Lindblum who hadn't any idea how to defend themselves, and fear welled up and exploded from children in the forms of tantrums and tears. Fighters barred their weapons, and cries of anger spouted from far too many.

"He will kill us all for retaliation!"

"I knew it wasn't a good idea to leave Lindblum!"

"We must fight honorably to the death!"

The warriors that fell back into the trees after training suddenly began pushing to the front, while everyone else cowered back in fear. People began ramming into each other, resistance members were stumbling, and a back-up of people suddenly studded the tree line.

"Enough!" Steiner yelled harshly, voice rising over every other single, mangled cry amongst the group. "Everyone slow down and stop!"

It took a moment, but people fell to his words quickly, knowing that if anyone was going to get them through this time, it was the Princess and her right-hand.

"Just because an airship swept the skies does not mean any enemy saw us! If we continue this uproar someone will get hurt, and with all of the noise, they will find us! Please! Everyone into the cover of the forest, now!"

Immediately, Ipsen's bristled fighters and Treno's angry tricksters ducked back under the thick canopy, and the people and children of Lindblum shuffled after them. Steiner pushed his way through the crowd, Dagger tagging closely behind him.

"Where is Cid?!" he demanded, and a murmur rose and fell in the crowd as everyone asked their neighbors.

It wasn't long after this whispering ruckus started that Beatrix ascended from the trees slowly, her back arched oddly to accommodate her stab wound while Cid walked purposefully next to her. Vivi and Eiko bounced after them with worried eyes.

"I have heard such news as an unidentified airship!" the regent yelled, hoping to falsify these rumors.

"That's right! Dagger and I saw it from the hill!"

They watched Beatrix's head lull to the side in exhaustion. Her eyes seemed to dull and she ran a hand over her face in stress. Cid's mustache crumpled as he crinkled his face. His eyes swept over the small group in front of him – not even half of their forces. He knew what he had to tell them, but he didn't want to do it.

"Could it be another group of resistance members? News does travel fast…"

"We took those who wanted to come with us from Oeilvert directly," someone called from the small crowd. Dagger stood on her tiptoes to see him – Rama, a bermecian who'd been with them for as long as she remembered, had lead a group to the Forgotten Continent sometime after they had left for their own mission. He'd covered the lands – slowly but surely – to the south of Ipsen's Area. "We never spoke of the place our resistance rested until we landed on the soil here."

Steiner cleared his throat to speak, knowing very well that his next words would spark a flame of panic once again. "We instructed new members only to Qu's Marsh of the Mist Continent…" he sucked in a slow breath. "They were lead here by members of Tantalus – they were not told in any way of the place we dwell."

"We have to go…" it started as a low hum, and suddenly burst like a sound barrier into the clearing, as they started to move again, trying quickly to get where they were going – to hide or to fight or anything in between.

"No, no!" Cid called, his voice chiming out above the roar that was beginning again. "Do not start panicking again!"

But this time, the noise didn't leave. While it started slow, fighters were now pushing passed the families, and Dagger watched as fighting and shoving began. Gentle souls of Lindblum and rebels hardened by war pushed at each other, elbowing and kicking as they went.

Dagger watched in horror as a little girl previously clinging to her mother's leg was separated from the woman and knocked backwards. She tripped over herself and landed in the dirt, shielding her face as people scuffled around her, until a boot was kicked back and she fell over into the sandy grass, holding her bleeding lip as a sob ripped from her throat.

"Stop!" she shrieked suddenly, feeling her throat raw. It was the loudest she'd been for a few weeks. Pushing forward, she shoved as hard as she could at people, screaming at them to stop until she could make it to the little girl who no one had noticed yet. "Just stop! Stop! You're going to hurt her more!"

Her statement startled if not stopped everyone in the group. A lull in the shouting revealed the high-pitched cries of the little girl still in the dirt. Her mother looked around frantically, finally realizing that her daughter no longer had hold of her leg in all of the uproar.

Dagger finally reached her and swept her off of the ground, turning her over to reveal a split lip. It wasn't a terrible wound, but the girl was small and already scared. "It'll be okay," the raven whispered, plopping her down in the grass and casting a light cure spell. Immediately, her lip stitched itself back together and the little girl ran her tongue over the healed hurt.

Immediately, she bounded back to her feet and raced to her mother since she had a clear path back to her leg.

Dagger turned around, "We may be afraid, but we cannot start turning on each other! Maybe that's all Kuja was hoping for sending a ship over the continent! Maybe it'll fly over every other part of Gaia, hoping to scare us wherever we are like he just did! For all that we know, he did not see a thing, and as of right now, we must move before he decides to come back! We must move while we have time!"

Cid breathed. There she was, finally back. He felt relieved he didn't have to tell these people they must flee their new home once more, but he did take the reins from Dagger to steer her in the right direction.

"She is right. We cannot stay here – no longer is the resistance safe where we sit!"

"Are you kidding?!" someone scoffed again, "Again!"

"Yes!" Beatrix hissed, straightening her posture. "Again! It is a gamble we take by living every single day! You should know after years and years as a rebel that the need to move is always there! Let us move quickly so that we can end this war swifter so we don't have to move from our homes again!" the whole, small speech seemed to tire her out as Cid put a hand on her shoulder.

"But where will we go then? That airship is out there, and the cliffs provide protection from the air only one direction! There is no other place to provide enough cover!"

The woman from Lindblum was absolutely right. While she wasn't arguing leaving, she wanted to know where they would go to feel secure enough to continue training.

"With a ship in the air we can't flee too far!"

"We have to stay in a place where we can march to Alexandria! We won't be able to make a last stand if we flee the continent!"

Cid bit his lip. All of these were good points. But as his dark eyes settled on all of their people, no matter where they originated, he knew they couldn't risk staying where they were.

"We could go to Madain Sari," Eiko said so softly that he had to strain his ears to hear her. Cid whirled around, Beatrix in tow, as they stared at the little girl. She was not shy by any means, but was hesitant to present an idea that would create more conflict. "It's a canyon on the river… more than enough food, and there are caves that could provide shelter – not to mention high walls for training… The moogles would help hide us too."

Eiko's heart ached. She wished that Cid would say yes. She missed her home – she missed Mog and the others and the familiarity that left the day she got captured after she'd had her new friends over for a dinner. Though she would never take back her choice to move with the resistance, Madain Sari held a special place in her heart that she couldn't forget.

"Moogles…" Cid mumbled, stroking his beard in thought. He turned to the girl and gave her a gentle smile, one of the few people who understood that she was still just a child. The seven-year-old peered up at him with fierce, curious eyes. "I think that's a good idea."

"R-really?" she stammered, her voice squeaky in delight.

She turned to Vivi, clutching his hands, eyes dazzling. "Vivi, we're going to Madain Sari! I'm going to show you everything!"

He blinked at her, clearly startled as Cid announced the decision to the rest of the clan. Dagger and Steiner backed it up immediately and soon, orders were given to spread the word and start packing, as it was going to be a long trek, and all to be done in the cover of one nightfall.

"Everything?" Vivi parroted, clearly intimidated.

She nodded once big and exasperatedly. "You're going to love it! I know you've been there once already, but you didn't get to see the river or the canyon or the magic walls!"

"Magic walls?"

"Not magic walls, but magic walls!" She squeezed his gloved hand in one of her own as her head tilted to the sky, growing ever darker as people rushed passed them. "They shine in the night sky and tell tales of the past through white and black magic. They tell my people's story, and share secrets learned on the wind."

"You sound scary, Eiko," he admitted, his grip on her hand increasing.

She smiled brightly at him, "You're going to love it when you understand!"

"I hope," he whispered fearfully. He didn't like the idea of moving out in the open again. He glanced back towards the forest – the memorized paths of worn down grass or brushed away leaves, not to mention which tree trunk lead underground or which helped you climb up into their fortress hidden amongst the leaves.

"Vivi! Eiko!" Dagger called, trying to sound encouraging but they knew she was just as nervous as them. "Pack your things! We want to leave immediately!"

"Right!" the indigo-haired girl bounced away, swinging her hands at her sides as though there wasn't a worry in the world. Vivi stumbled after her, always in awe of the way she could roll things off of her shoulder.


Luckily, no airships had been spotted on the long haul to Madain Sari. Kamen had come immediately to say goodbye to Vivi, ushering forward the mages who had volunteered to go along with the resistance. The little mage was honored to have such people wishing to fight beside him, but it also made him sad; some of them might never see their home again.

The women and children proved impressive to say the least. They were born to be a part of the resistance, ducking for cover, rolling into the bushes, and keeping low and quiet while they ran. Cid couldn't be more pleased, nearly at the front of the herd of rebels, by the willingness to flee. Everyone must have had the same deep-rooted anxiety about the airships as he did.

When the path wore away and they moved strictly on Eiko's directions, tensions became lighter and murmured conversations began taking place. Cinna loomed close to Ruby, his eye always on the girl; he felt somehow more protective of her than usual, even though he was fully aware that she could take care of herself. But he hung back, knowing she would probably need her space; not only that, but he was curious of the conversation that had sparked between her and Amarant. He bit his tongue so he could listen.

"Have ya been here before?"

He shook his head, "I can say honestly, Lani and the other superiors at the prison were never able to find Madain Sari. Kuja apparently didn't do a very good job explaining where it was, but since he'd wiped out most of the summoners, the prison crew didn't see why they should tell Kuja and piss him off."

Ruby nodded, "Thank goodness for that."

Amarant scoffed back at her in agreement, "I guess now it is."

"Do ya regret leavin'?"

The redhead turned to her, nearly startled. "What do you mean?" he half-demanded of her. "Are you saying I'm a traitor?"

She shook her head, staying calm. Cinna's eyebrows shot up in surprise – she usually lost her cool so quickly… or maybe that was just with her team. He nearly leaned forward with anticipation as he trotted along behind them.

"Not at all ya big dope," she started, flipping her hair from her face. She turned to him in slight exasperation. "I jus' mean there's been lotsa hurtin' for us…" her sentence trailed and she got quiet, ringing her lace-lined gloves together in front of her as her hazelnut eyes flitted from one place to another. "I jus' wonder if maybe ya'll wish ya was still on the easy side."

He puckered his lips, fully understanding what she meant. Being a guard for Kuja was mindless – anyone could do it. It explained in heavy reason why he'd walk down those cellar corridors, jingling those keys like he was trying to keep himself awake.

The resistance was a lot of work. It was doing a lot of things he didn't want to do, and sacrificing a lot of his recklessness to keep people safe – and that was a huge hassle, especially for him. He didn't know how Beatrix and Steiner could be nannies to a Princess for all eighteen years of the girl's life. It sounded exhausting.

But then he remembered Eiko, and the way she reminded him of the sister he was looking for, and how at first he was so bothered by the girl, but now he sort of missed having her constantly bugging him (because whenever she was around she was never not bugging him).

"It put me back on track for what I set out to do."

"Which was what exactly?" she asked, her accent thick.

It reminded her of the ladies he'd met in Treno his many times being there, before and during his time as a soldier for Kuja. Her anger flared like them, and her accent-slurred words charmed the same way. A flicker of a smile flashed on his face as he delved into thought. Wouldn't it have just been easy if he found his half-sister in Treno? The world wouldn't have seemed so dark if he would have succeeded in finding her when he was a broken child.

Maybe it was this bitter-nostalgia that had him admitting it to the blonde walking next to him. Her stride was tired, like she'd been through too much and seen too much and just wanted to rest without threat looming consistently around her, like a monster in the night that had her always checking over her shoulder. "I left to find my half-sister."

She let out a mini-gasp. "A half-sister?"

"Isn't that what I just said?"

"No need ta be rude! I was just makin' sure my story was straight!"

He nearly chuckled, "Sorry."

They were quiet for a moment as they heard Eiko in front of them, claiming that it was close. Their conversation was coming to a quick end.

"I got family out there somewhere too."

"Do you?"

"A mama in Treno, and a daddy and maybe a brother and who-knows-who-else out there somewhere!"

"Have you ever wanted to find them?" There weren't a lot of people he met anymore that still had family out there somewhere. The idea intrigued him, considering what he was looking for in the long scheme of things.

She shrugged, "I left my mama in Treno to find my daddy. She don't wanna tell nobody 'bout him, so I went on my own, the only clue that he'd gone to Lindblum. But then I met Tantalus, and it just seemed like a better deal."

He realized they were more similar than he'd originally thought. Who knew he'd have this strange connection with the thief-actress in Tantalus whose hair had been a funny color for most of the months he'd known her with an accent so thick that he hardly understood her when she was yelling at people.

"Treno must be the breeding grounds for broken families; that's where I was born too."

"Ya don't say!" she piped up, a little louder than she meant to. But her eyes, darkened by the shadowed surroundings, flickered with a happy connection. "Treno was fer dreams – love that only lasted a night and nothin' more."

"Isn't that the truth…" he mumbled, his thoughts moving from his family onto the long weeks he'd spent there for Kuja, Lani by his side. He closed his eyes, wondering how someone could change so quickly.

"Do ya think you'll find her?"

Amarant peeked down at her with one eye. She glanced up at him, significantly shorter, but still tall for a girl of twenty. "Let's just say… it's one of the few things I like to be optimistic about."

She closed her eyes and her smile seemed to settle on contentment. Her hands stopping wringing together so fiercely and she exhaled deeply. "I like that answer."

He gave a half-smile. Maybe if he got to know a little more about the people around him, they'd make all of this more worth it than just finding the identity of a long-lost sister. It happened with Eiko, and he suspected if he delved any deeper into Ruby's personality, it would happen with her too.

Amarant nearly groaned. He was going soft. Damn Beatrix for the day she convinced him to leave that prison and help them. But then again, maybe he shouldn't.

Cinna chuckled, wishing he knew something that could get him in on that conversation. He knew Blank had visited Ruby's mother during their stay in Treno, but his thoughts darkened when he realized there had been no time at all to ask Blank about what she'd said.

The sun was breaking the horizon when exhaustion finally took over. Cid knew that parents of children sleeping in their arms were tired, wanting nothing more than to sit, and that Beatrix's labored breaths told him more than her self-assuring words did. He understood that everyone was weary and tired and the spur of a moment move was not something they wanted to do for a second time.

Lysandra stood behind him, her shoulders drooped in exhaustion. Though it was cooler at night, not being in the dip by the forest was asking for heat – too much to move people of the hundreds.

He was just about to call it – they could take a short rest and make the rest of the trek in the day – he didn't think it would be that dangerous. But then Eiko tugged on his arm just as he opened his mouth.

Her grin was wide and her eyes shined with pride. She pointed in the direction they were already heading. "We're here!"

And as he stared in the distance, he saw a narrow path between fallen rocks – something he would have missed without the girl's direction. The regent nearly second guessed her, but when his eyes trained in on that nearly-invisible opening into the canyon known as Madain Sari, he saw the red poof of a moogle… and then two, and three and suddenly there were a dozen moogle poofs, nearly blazing red in the deluded light around them.

He let out an inspiring laugh. "There it is! We've made it at last! Come friends! Let us greet our hosts and rest in the safety of the canyon!"

This seemed to work better than expected, for people heaved the final hundred and a half yards in one exhaustedly excited stride.

When the first of the resistance finally met the jagged rock opening, a moogle appeared, eyes beady but kind, poof hanging in front of a small furry face.

Eiko's eyes lit up in recognition. "Mog!" she cried in distressed glee. She fell forward, scrambling to gather the little moogle in her arms. Cid had to smile; Eiko had yet to experience the kind of attachment to something like that in their adventures while witnessing all those older and wiser than her going through a similar experience.

"Welcome to Madain Sari, kupo!" the little moogle greeted over Eiko's shoulders, and they suddenly felt more alive and safe than they had in the long, delirious tread across the desert.

Uneventful maybe, but they wouldn't be sorry when Kamen sent warning word and a little luck a few days later: Kuja's men ransacked the forest, convinced they'd seen movement in the lone tree atop the hill as the airship flew over top. But the trail of the resistance had gone cold, at least for the time being, as its members finally rested in their third new home.


A/N: So… I don't know how I feel about that ending. I struggled. I'm wanting so much to move forward with the story without leaping anymore time. Clearly Kuja's people couldn't have spotted them on their way to Madain Sari, and I think everyone knew that, so that's why it had to be uneventful.

I suppose I could have wrote the speed a little quicker, but didn't that little conversation about siblings between Amarant and Ruby make the slower pace worth it?! :D Can't wait to start this leg of their journey!

I hope you enjoyed! I know things are still seeming pretty meek, but I have a feeling you guys are going to like the next few chapters, so bear with me!

Also! Oh my gosh! I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update! I have the next 8 or so chapters done (just proofreading before I post) so don't hesitate to remind me if I go so long without an update again! I love anyone still sticking with me! Love and cookies for you all!

-zesty-