Beyond The Great Unknown, a Big Mouth/Final Fantasy crossover

Earth, the morning after the observatory incident.....

It was the morning after the portal had appeared at the observatory, and practically every single news station in the country was buzzing with the news. Conspiracy theories abounded: Aliens. Satanists. Foreign military weapons. Rapture. A mass hoax. The observatory had been sealed off by order of the city, but rumors said that government agents had been seen poking around. Some said it was Men In Black, looking for proof of an alien abduction.

And of course, the new planet and its two moons were also generating a buzz. Already, NASA and every other major space exploration company in the world were talking about sending satellites and robots to explore them. Where did they come from? How did a large planet and two moons just "sneak up" on our solar system? Was there life on them? Was the planet habitable? 

Of course, most of the people in Bridgeton didn't care about any of that. They just wanted to know if the people who had been 'taken' were ok. Their children. Their friends. Most of the parents had barely slept last night, waiting by their phones, as if hoping somebody would find their missing teenagers on the street, or listening for a knock on the door, as if they would magically reappear on the front step. 

The friends of the missing hadn't slept much either. Ali. Gina. Caleb. Every time they closed their eyes they saw their schoolmates, their friends, being sucked away. If the room was too quiet they still heard their screams before they vanished into that eerie bright light. So tired were they in the morning, and still so scared and traumatized, that they were almost relieved when they discovered school had been officially cancelled that day. Out of respect for the missing, or fear for the safety of the other students, they weren't sure, but either way they were glad to have a day to come to terms with the strange, terrible events of last night. 

Gina realized she was right about school being cancelled when she woke up and saw her alarm. Since her parents hadn't woken her and it was now almost 10, she realized the school must have called her parents while she was asleep. Blinking away her tiredness, but glad for the few extra hours of sleep she picked up her phone and saw missed texts from her friends, including Ali. She wasn't ready to respond yet. Wasn't ready to talk to ANYONE, really. She hadn't fallen asleep until around 4 or 4:30. She had kept trying to fight away that horrifying image of her schoolmates being pulled into the light, tried to keep it from painting itself in the canvas of her closed eyes. But it was no use. Something like that isn't something you so soon unsee. She had kept hoping when she finally fell asleep and woke up that it'd have all been a dream, a terrible nightmare, and she would wake up and see them all at school. Jessi. Missy. Lola. Devin.

DEVIN. The thought of her name sent a chill down her back and a pang of guilt and remorse through her heart. She still remembered the terrified looks on the faces of Devin and her sister as she had tried to pull them back. Remembered Devin's last words to her. Heard their screams as they were drawn into the eerie void of blue-green light and were simply GONE. 

'And on the same day we finally became friends', Gina thought. She felt her sadness and guilt grow worse. 'If only I had gotten up there sooner, if only I hadn't come up there only when the screaming started....' 

She shook her head sadly. She knew blaming herself wouldn't help. Wouldn't bring them back. Besides, she was just an average height 15 year old girl. She might be sort of strong because she worked out occasionally and sometimes ran around the block, but she was sure she wasn't strong enough to hold on to two girls, one almost the same size as her, and keep them from getting pulled into something with probably the suction power of a tornado. 

Still, she couldn't fight this sadness. Gone. Almost her entire class from middle school, people she had known from practically first grade, gone in a single night. And there was no way of knowing if they were dead or alive. 

Bonnie, sitting up on the floor where she slept in a maroon sleeping bag that clashed magnificently with her red hair, rubbed her eyes and put her glasses on. She yawned and shook her head sadly. "Honey, can you please keep your thoughts quiet? All this sadness, stress and anxiety gonna upset my stomach before I even have my coffee!!"

Gina sighed. "Sorry, Bonnie. Didn't mean to wake you." Gina spoke as quietly as she could so she wouldn't wake her little sister Tanya, still asleep in the bed across the room. "I'm just so worried. So sad and scared about what might have happened to them. Can you......you STILL can't feel your sister in....... wherever they went?"

Bonnie shook her head again. "No hun, I can't. I even took a quick portal to the Monster World once you finally fell asleep, to see if I could get a stronger.....SIGNAL there, if you will, but still, NOTHING." She sighed, and Gina could tell she was struggling not to cry. "I told everybody else at Human Resources what happened, of course, in case they weren't aware, and they got word to the Council. All I know is they think that this new planet, and the light that showed up last night, is messing up things in the Monster World as much as it is HERE. Like all OUR satellites and probes been picking up weird things too, and been having lots of interference with radio waves, and apparently even our portal generators going a bit wonky. It's true, I had to wait almost two hours for another portal to bring me back here to your room."

Gina felt a small surge of hope. "But the Monster World is connected to many other worlds, right? Isn't it like at the center of the universe or something? Maybe somebody at NASA.......or whatever the Monster World version of it is, can send a ship or portal to that new planet, and see if that's where everybody went, and......."

Bonnie held up her hands. "Whoa whoa, Gina. Chill out. Look, yes, the Monster World IS at the center of the universe, but our OWN universe. Think of all worlds and galaxies and dimensions as a multiverse. They say dark matter holds galaxies together, right? Well, peel away the dark matter and you have tiny little pockets, kind of like manholes in the street, and through those manholes are entrances to other universes. Our universe has our own stars and planets and everything else yours has. And yes we DO have our own NASA, but we don't go to space as often as you humans. The space program is mainly run by Ambition Gremlins and Logic Rocks unfortunately, and they prefer to focus instead on defense instead of exploration, like building a planetary cannon to blast meteors and asteroids approaching the planet." She shook her head in disgust. "But look, the Monster Council will think of something."

Gina nodded but didn't reply, still lost in thought. These past years had been so troubling and confusing. Her family had always struggled to make ends meet. Luckily her dad was the main maintenance worker in their apartment, so they got the top room, the biggest, basically the penthouse, with easiest access to the rooftop pool. Her mother worked at Basket Roberts, the local ice cream shop, and Gina had helped out once or twice for more allowance, but hadn't worked there in over a year, so busy with school. Now her older brothers had jobs at the recycling center, and had been trying to get her to work with them. But the truth was Gina didn't exactly like the idea of work. For one she was 15, and still wanted to enjoy being a teenager. Second, she had already had to deal with people glancing at her body at SCHOOL. She sure as hell didn't want to have to deal with visual harassment at a workplace. And third, well, she wasn't sure WHAT she wanted to do. Yes, she had told Devin her dreams of being a wrestler, but come on, that was more like a hobby than a full-time job. 

She sighed. She was thinking of simply getting back under the covers and going back to bed when her door opened. Her mother poked her head in. 

"Hey Gina, I'm heading out. Your dad's at the warehouse getting the new washing machines for the laundry room and is going to install them later. Your brothers are at work. Will you and Tanya be ok for a few hours?" 

Gina nodded and her mother closed the door. She heard her open the door to their apartment and head out. Tanya moaned and turned over in bed. Her little sister was definitely a heavy sleeper. She could probably sleep through a hurricane. 

Gina got out of bed. She decided to take a quick shower and brush her teeth before she decided what to do for the day. 

After she finished showering and brushing her teeth, she walked into her room with the towel wrapped around her to pick her clothes for the day. She noticed Tanya's bed was empty, then saw the note on her bed. She picked it up and saw the note her sister had wrote: 

'Hey sis, gone to play with the kids downstairs. We'll stay in the building, so tell Mom not to worry. Love you, sis. See you later.'

Gina put down the note and pulled off the towel, putting on the clothes she had picked out. She knew Tanya liked to hang out with the kids of the other tenants, who were mostly the same age as her, some of them going to the same elementary school as her. They mostly played kid's games or rode their bikes around the block. She knew she would be fine. 

But what would SHE do all day then? First, she supposed, she should text Ali and the other girls back, let them know she was still here and hadn't been pulled to who-knows-where by another alien portal.  

So, sitting on her bed she quickly texted her friends back. Ali replied almost instantly, asking what she was going to do today. Gina was fixing to text back she'd probably just stay home when she heard a knock on the front door. She got up with a sigh and walked into the living room and opened the door. She was surprised to see Caleb standing in the doorway. 

"Hi Gina. I was wondering if I could get you to accompany me. I have to go to the mall. I've decided to start writing comics again, and I need some new materials. Unfortunately my mom is sick and doesn't feel like driving anywhere, but she doesn't like me going anywhere alone. Normally I'd ask Matthew, but of course he's......not here. I was thinking, since you live so close and our mom's are friends I'd ask you. Will you please come with me to the mall so I can get some writing materials?"

Gina was fixing to say she'd rather stay home, maybe even say SHE wasn't feeling well either, but then thought. Maybe she SHOULD get out of the house. If she stayed home, she'd be all alone with just the traumatic memories of last night. At least in a big place, with a bunch of people, and a bunch of stores to visit and things to see, she'd be able to focus on something besides her sadness and fear, and her inability to do anything. 

Finally she sighed. "Ok Caleb. I'll come with you. Let me just get my shoes and coat. Just wait here a minute."

She walked back into her room put on her shoes then grabbed her coat from the closet and pulled it on. She grabbed her phone off the bed and saw her half-written text to Ali. Quickly she erased the text and typed another, asking Ali if she wanted to meet her and Caleb at the mall. 

Bonnie appeared at her shoulder, holding a steaming mug of what Gina supposed was the coffee she mentioned. "Oh, going to the mall with friends, are we? Good way to distract yourself. Maybe we can sneak into the adult sections of some stores. Test a few whips, see if they got a sexy latex suit your size, and......"

Gina shook her head. "Bonnie, I'm just going with Caleb so he can buy some supplies for his comic books. I just asked Ali if she wants to come cause she's probably as miserable as I am. We just all need to get out for a bit." 

Gina stared at the phone, waiting for Ali's reply. Finally a reply from Ali popped up, saying she'd meet them there. Gina sighed with relief and put the phone in her pocket and walked back into the living room, finding Caleb still standing in the open doorway. 

She smiled as she joined him in the hall, closing the door behind her. "Sorry to keep you waiting. You ready? Ali's gonna meet us there."

So they headed through the hall and down the stairs until they reached the bottom room. Gina saw the door to the laundry room where her father would install the new washing machines later. Gina knew her sister was probably playing with her friends in the small rec room where tenants waited for their clothes to be done. She thought about going in to say hi, but thought better. Her sister's friends could be rowdier than her, and didn't need them embarrassing her in front of Caleb, especially as he still seemed to be in a bit of a fragile state from last night. She couldn't blame him. So they walked through the lobby and out into the street.

It was a sunny but cool and windy day, and clouds were blowing in, threatening rain in the coming days. Gina was glad she had put on her sweater.  

After about ten minutes they finally reached the mall. Gina wasn't surprised to see it wasn't as crowded as usual. There were only about twenty cars in the parking lot, probably more in the underground parking. Lots of people had probably decided to stay home. The news had even advised people to stay indoors until they knew the events of last night wouldn't happen again anywhere else, and she had heard the city was considering a curfew. She had to admit, she was actually a bit nervous as they walked into the store. She saw all the people walking in and out of the stores, carrying their purchases. They seemed to be in a hurry. Lots of them looked a bit anxious, some sad. She glanced up at the giant domed skylight in the center of the roof, as if expecting another giant portal of light to appear and whisk her and everyone away......

Caleb's voice broke into her troubled thoughts. "I'm going in there", he said, and Gina turned to see him pointing to a store across the main lobby. "I won't be too long, hopefully. You can look around and find Ali if you want. The manager knows me, so I'll be fine for a while. Just meet me back here in like an hour."

Gina nodded and he walked off. Gina finally tore her gaze away from the ceiling and decided to text her mother to let her know where she went in case she got back home before her. When she was done she went looking for Ali. It wasn't long before she found her in Veronica's Closet looking at shirts in the discount aisle. She smiled as Gina approached, but Gina could tell she was still as scared and sad as she was. 

"Hey, everything ok?", she asked as she pulled a shirt off the rack and held it up against her, trying to see if it would fit without having to go try it on in the fitting room. 

Gina nodded. "Yeah I'm fine. Caleb went to go buy his stuff. Said to meet him in an hour. I just didn't want to stay home by myself. I still can't believe.....I mean, what happened last night, it was just so...... CRAZY. I keep expecting to wake up and realize it was all a dream."

Ali nodded as she put the shirt back. "Me too. But since it's all over the news and every news site and radio station, I'm guessing it wasn't a dream. I actually had to argue with my dad for an hour before he let me go. He made me promise to call him every hour ON the hour. Actually him and lots of other adults didn't go to work today. I'm surprised your folks did."

Gina sighed. "Well, they're just too hardworking to take a day off. At least my dad technically works from home, helping take care of the apartment. I just wish....." She sighed again, and had to force her voice to not break as she continued. "I just wish there was some way to know where they all went. To just know that they're all ok. That they're still alive."

Ali nodded as she moved to another rack and started picking through more shirts. "Me too. But we can't dwell on it, Gina. I almost didn't sleep at all last night. I miss them, Gina. All of them. But if we keep fooling ourselves, tell ourselves we could have saved them, or bring them back, we'll just drive ourselves crazy. I already heard my dad drop in the word "therapy" when he and I were talking about it on the ride home last night. And not for HIM." She sighed and turned to Gina. She could see her eyes were wet behind her glasses. "I mean, I'd feel better if I knew too. Or if we had gotten..... taken WITH them, then we'd at least be where they are. I feel like Coach Steve, when he didn't understand what graduation was and I tried to explain. Like he felt like we were leaving him behind. Then HE left US. Now almost ALL of our friends are gone, and we might never......" She had to stop herself from finishing the sentence. Gina could have sworn she turned paler as she realized with horror what she was about to say. Ali hung her head as the tears rolled down her face. 

Gina walked over and hugged her friend. Ali hugged her back as she took several deep breaths. She wiped her face as they broke apart. " I just wish there WAS something we could do. Not just for them. For EVERYONE. I mean EVERYBODY is miserable. They're either at home moping or their parents wouldn't let them leave the house. You're the only who answered my text this morning. And my dad told me he was talking to the neighbors, and they say school might be out not just today but the rest of the week and beyond. Normally that'd be awesome, but now that's just....." Ali shook her head and sighed. 

Gina nodded. If the city lockdown actually DID happen, this would probably turn into another craze like the COVID pandemic. Everybody stuck at home unless they absolutely HAD to leave the house. Too scared to leave. Then she WOULD be stuck home all day, with just the memories of her lost friends, their faces in only pictures and nightmares. 

She thought about what Ali had said. Something they could do. Like what? Certainly not another daring, last-minute party like last week? No, a party would be in bad taste, even a memorial party, since they didn't-COULD'NT-know they were dead. Plus Bridgeton Middle was history now, just a pile of rubble. But surely, surely there must be some way of helping the friends, the families of all the missing teens.......

Ali spoke again, interrupting her thoughts. Gina noticed she had grabbed a couple shirts off the rack. "I'm going to go try these on. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Gina nodded as Ali walked off. Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out. Her mom had texted her back. 

'Ok. Please come back home right after. Me and your dad are going to the Macdell's after my shift. Kimberly invited us to dinner. I know they're worried about Matthew. We promised to help them however we can. Just stay home when you get back, your brothers will be home in a couple hours. Make sure Tanya stays inside the building too. See you tonight. Love you. '

Gina put the phone back in her pocket. She knew her parents were good friends with Matthew's parents, and went to church functions and other things together. Matthew's parents, being the good, Christian people they were, were always the type to help out a friend or neighbor going through a hard time. Knowing them, Kimberly had probably already baked half a dozen casseroles or pies and bought them to the worried, grieving families of her missing schoolmates. Now it was Gina's parents turn to try and comfort THEM. 

Gina thought. Maybe that's what SHE could do. Not bake, she could hardly toast bread without burning it. But she could also visit the families of her friends and offer to help them however she could. Even if all she could offer them were kind words and a shoulder to cry on, it was the thought and effort that counted. 

She turned and saw Bonnie looking at a small, skimpy black bra and matching panties, and quickly told her her plan. Her Monstress nodded as she put back the lingerie and sighed. 

"Yes that's a good idea. In fact my co-worker are probably going to have a service for our....... missing friends as well. Knowing them we'll probably have a wild party as well. It's a Monster World tradition. In fact I should probably go see what's going on. Maybe the Council will have thought of something to help by now. I'll see you later tonight. Your mom's right, just get home after you get done here."

Gina nodded as Bonnie vanished. Well, she finally had a plan to help. She had already helped Ali by talking to her here, and Caleb by accompanying him here. Who next? As she waited for Ali, she thought about all the many people who had lost someone they cared about last night. So many people. 

Gina thought, then decided to start with the families of those closest to her. Nick. Andrew. Jessi. Missy. Devin. In a way it made the most sense. Her life had taken quite a turn a couple years ago by first meeting Nick and his friends. For both better and worse. Even though she hadn't hung out with them much, and wouldn't have even thought of being friends with Devin until yesterday, they had all been a constant in her life. Seeing them every day. Hearing their voices. Today just felt.......strange. Surreal. But at the end of the day she was just their SCHOOLMATE. How must their families feel? Worried sick. Scared to death. Heartbroken. Hopeless. Helpless. 

Ali finally came out, putting the shirts back. Apparently none of them fit. Ali suggested trying another store. Gina simply followed her out, her mind still spinning with what exactly to say to the parents, brothers and sisters of the missing. Gina realized that, although she had (somewhat at least) overcome her insecurities about her body, she still hadn't completely overcome her nervousness of talking to people, especially ones she didn't know very well. Perhaps THAT was why she felt comfortable hanging out with Charles, creating the illusion of a couple. He didn't say much and she didn't have to pretend to listen. He just wanted the attention of his jock friends by having a cute girl at his side, and she just wanted guys to leave her alone. 

But now she was about to undertake a mission where talking was crucial, and what she said would matter more than any superficial 'relationship'. She suddenly felt as nervous as the day she had done her pre-game running exercise, with the boys staring at her from the sidelines. Now all eyes would be on her again. Not the eyes of a bunch of stupid, horny boys, but the eyes of worried families. To put it simply, she was more nervous than EVER......

Meanwhile, in another world, at a certain castle......

Zidane's POV

Zidane and Blank exited the guard's quarter's, searching the area carefully for any more guards. It was difficult walking in the noisy, heavy armor. If they were caught, it would be nearly impossible to run fast enough to get away. They hoped they could get this over as fast as possible so they could take off these loud, heavy, smelly suits. 

Blank pulled out the map of the castle they had stolen. He looked up at the staircase above them, and found the spot where they stood now on the map. "According to our recon, the royal seats should be right above these stairs."

Zidane nodded. "Got it!"

Suddenly, a rousing cheer from the audience in the theater echoed through the hall. Man, they were missing out!!

Blank stuffed the map back in his pocket. "Uh oh, the scene where Marcus sneaks into Cornelia's chamber is about to start!! Let's get this over with before the finale, ok?"

Zidane nodded and ran up the flight of stairs. He saw two doors on either side of the hall at the top. He remembered the royal seats were to the right. He was fixing to head towards the seats, which were luckily unguarded from this side, when the doors at the other end opened. A short figure in a white cloak, hood pulled over their face, ran out and almost collided with him. 

The hooded person backed up slightly. They seemed nervous, glancing around the stairway and the hall below. 

"Um, would you please let me pass?". Zidane realized with shock it was a girl. He leaned down slightly, trying to make out her face, but the girl hung her head, the hood obscuring her face even more. 

"Is there something on my face?", she asked. The hood muffled her voice slightly, but she sounded concerned, and also a bit impatient, as if he was holding her up. 

Zidane shook his head. "Oh no. It's just...... You see, I thought maybe you were the one I was waiting for all this time." 

She looked up slightly, and Zidane thought he caught a flash of her face. Could it be........

"Excuse me? You were waiting for ME?" 

Zidane nodded, pausing for a moment before replying. Where the hell was Blank? He should have been right behind him. "Yeah, I've dreamt of meeting you here since before I was born!!"

Perhaps it was his imagination, but he thought he heard her scoff. "Do you mock me?" Yes, there was DEFINITELY something about that tone. Confident. Superior. Almost......regal. 

Zidane took another second before replying again, stalling for time. 'DAMN IT, Blank, where the hell ARE you?!', he thought. "No, of course not, I......"

The hooded girl nodded. "Then I shall take my leave of you!!"

She tried to walk quickly past him, but Zidane stepped in her way. He leaned down again, trying to catch her face under the hood. He just HAD to be sure. He couldn't afford to be wrong. "Just a sec, haven't we met before?" He spoke louder, hoping to draw Blank up here. 

She shook her head, again glancing down, trying to avoid his scrutinizing gaze. "No, I do not know you....." She sounded a bit nervous now, he noticed. 

Zidane pretended to think. Finally he could hear another pair of armored feet heading up the stairs. Hopefully Blank and not another guard who had discovered his unconscious comrades. "Hmmmm, perhaps you're right. I'd never let someone as pretty as you get away. Say, you wouldn't......"

Finally Blank appeared halfway up, halfway down the staircase. "Hey, what's going on on here, Zidane?"

Zidane turned to reply, fixing to say his suspicions about this mysterious hooded girl, when he heard her from his side. "I......... I must go!!!"

Zidane turned, but caught only a flash of white as she dashed past. He turned to see her rush past Blank on the staircase, pushing past him as she ran quickly down the stairs. Like an expert. Like somebody who had walked these stairs all her life......

Zidane started rushing after her. Blank sat up, having fallen when the girl had pushed him out of the way. "Who the heck was THAT?", he asked, shaking his helmeted head, as if the fall on his armored ass had dazed him. 

Zidane ran past him, not even looking back as he shouted. "Get up, Blank!! That was Princess Garnet!!!" 

"Are you serious?!!", Blank shouted, running after him. 

Moments later, in the same hallway......

Two figures ran to meet each other from opposite sides of the hall. In this great castle of resplendent beauty and order, these two certainly seemed out of place. Everything from their appearance, voices, and very aura bristled with strangeness, chaos, and even a hint of menace. Their names were Zorn and Thorn. 

Both were very short, and dressed in wildly contrasting colors and makeup. Both wore long jackets that almost trailed the floor like capes, ending in collars around their skinny necks, and large crowned hats with bells that jangled as they ran. White makeup covered their entire faces, save for their pointed ears, hiding their age, (88 to be exact), but their makeup and clothing clashed wildly. Zorn's jacket and hat were blue, as was the makeup that ran from his eyes down to his lips, which were also blue, and in wavy lines over his eyebrows. Thorn, meanwhile, had a red jacket and hat, and had red makeup fanning from his eyes to his eyebrows, giving them the illusion of being on fire. Two red circles also dotted his head over each eye, and his lips were a darker red, matching his jacket and hat. 

The two rushed down the hall. They ran till they were in front of one another and jumped dramatically. 

"We are in trouble!!", cried Zorn. 

"Trouble are we in!!", echoed Thorn. 

Zorn nodded. "This is terrible!!"

Thorn nodded. "Our heads, Queen Brahne will have!!"

Both jumped again as they shouted in unison "we must hurry!!!"

They turned and ran up the stairs. As Thorn headed one way, Zorn headed another. Thorn turned and jumped as he cried "the right way, that is not!!"

Zorn turned and jumped as he replied. "I know it is not the right way!!"

Thorn jumped. "Really, do you?!"

Zorn jumped. "I really do!!"

Thorn shook his head. "Wonder, I sometimes do."

Zorn jumped. "Now is not the time to wonder!!"

Thorn nodded. "Hurry to Queen Brahne, must we!!"

Zorn nodded back. "We must hurry to Queen Brahne!!"

They resumed running, and soon reached the stairs the Princess herself had raced down moments earlier. As Zorn ran towards the royal seats, Thorn ran towards the room the disguised Princess had exited. Zorn turned and jumped as he cried "that is not the right way!!"

Thorn turned and jumped. "Not the right way, I know!!"

Zorn jumped. "Do you really?!"

Thorn jumped. "Know I really do!!"

Zorn shook his head. "I really wonder sometimes."

Thorn jumped as he cried. "The time to wonder, now is not!! Hurry to see her majesty, we must!!"

Zorn nodded. "We must hurry and tell her majesty!!!"

They quickly ran towards the royal seats, and saw Queen Brahne sitting on the throne, but as they ran towards her, a knight stepped in their way, gently but firmly holding up a hand to halt them. 

Thorn jumped in exasperation. "Stand aside!! See the Queen, we must!!!"

A man stepped forward. He appeared to be in his early thirties, and was tall and well-muscled. He had a large, strong chin, and his eyes were grey and cold as he fixed the jesters with a fierce gaze. He wore a full suit of armor, silver but rusting, and matching armored gloves and shoes, and a helmet without a visor, a white feather sticking out of one side. A large broadsword hung on his back, held by a leather strap that ran across his armored chest. 

"Her majesty is busy!! Come back later!" The man's tone was was curt and rough, but carried with it the air of one trying to sound more important than his actual station. 

Another figure stepped forward. A woman this time. She was tall and slender, with long brown hair. Her one eye was light blue, the other covered by a sliver bandana that obscured her forehead, wound around the back of her head and was covered by her voluminous hair, which she tossed back as she approached Zorn and Thorn. She wore an armored vest, the cleavage of her large breasts noticeably poking out on either side, red leggings held up by a belt that also held her sword to her back, and fingerless armored gloves. 

"Is it an emergency?", she asked, fixing the man with an icy glare. 

Thorn nodded. "An emergency, it is!!"

"A veritable emergency of terrible urgency!!!", Zorn chimed in. 

The woman nodded. "Very well. I'll see what I can do. "

Behind them, the large armored man groaned. "Curse that Beatrix!! Always trying to one-up me!!!", he muttered. 

Beatrix, seemingly hearing him, gave the man a brief smug smile, then turned back to Zorn and Thorn. " So what exactly is the problem?" 

Zorn nodded. "Her royal highness......"

"Princess Garnet......." Thorn continued. 

Together, the two jesters shouted in eerily perfect unison: "is in danger!!!!"

Beatrix nodded. "I see. Wait right here."

Beatrix walked over to the Queen, who sat watching the play, apparently not having heard of a word of the exchange between the jesters and her guards. Beatrix walked until she was at Brahne's side and cleared her throat to get her attention. 

Queen Brahne didn't even turn around as she snapped. "No interruptions!!! Can't you see I'm watching the play?!!"

If she was fazed by the Queen's hostility, Beatrix didn't show it as she spoke. "Your majesty, I'm afraid Princess Garnet has......"

Queen Brahne turned to the empty seat beside her. "Ah yes, she did leave her seat a while ago......"

Beatrix nodded. "Your majesty, it seems that Princess Garnet has run off with the Royal Pendant."

Queen Brahne gasped. She finally tore her eyes off the stage far below. Her blue, freckled face was filled with horror as she turned to face Beatrix. "Well, of all the.....What could she be thinking??!!! General Beatrix!!!" 

Beatrix nodded. If she was annoyed or confused by being addressed while standing directly in front of the Queen she didn't show it as she saluted and replied. "Your majesty!!!"

Queen Brahne turned to the man still silently sulking behind them. She beckoned him forward. "And Captain, uh......" She seemed a bit embarrassed as she tried to remember his name. 

The man nodded. "Steiner, your majesty."

Brahne nodded. "Captain Steiner. Go find Garnet!!!"

Steiner saluted. "Yes, my Queen!!!"

Beatrix bowed. "At once, your majesty!!"

As the pair walked off, followed by Zorn and Thorn, Queen Brahne turned back to the stage, her brief moment of fear and concern seemingly gone. 

Steiner's POV

Steiner walked out onto the staircase and turned to the door of the guard's quarters. He puffed his armored chest and saluted as he shouted at the top of his voice. "KNIGHTS OF PLUTO!!! ASSEMBLE!!!!!"

He stood for a moment, waiting for the men under his command to charge out of the room and stand in line, waiting for his orders. But almost a minute passed, and the door remained closed. He looked around the staircase and the hall below. Nobody there. Nobody coming. "Huh? Where is everybody?!"

Finally the door flew open, and two Knights finally emerged. Blutzen and Kohel. But they stood in nothing but their underwear, and walked into the hall slowly, groggily, as if they had just woken up from a long nap. 

Blutzen looked up and saluted weakly. "Captain, sir!!"

Kohel followed his partner's salute. "All present and accounted for, sir!!!"

Steiner growled and jumped angrily, his heavy, rusty armor clanking loudly. "What are you talking about?!! There's only two of you!!! Where are the other six??!!!"

Cursing under his breath, he charged down the stairs and stood in front of the two underdressed, half-asleep knights. He shook an armored fist at them. "Why you useless good-for-nothings!!!! I bring orders from the Queen: get dressed and go find Princess Garnet!!!!!!" 

Blutzen and Kohel turned and ran back into the room as Steiner stood, still searching the hall for any sign of his wayward knights. After like 7 or 8 minutes, the door not having opened and Blutzen and Kohel not come out, he walked in to find the idiots standing and having a chat like they were on a lunch break. Luckily they were fully dressed and armed now. After yet another reprimand and order, the two clods finally ran off in search of the Princess. 

Alas, it fell to Steiner himself to find the six remaining members. After some searching, he found Laudo in the library, browsing the books. Leaving the library, he (almost literally) ran into Dojebon, who sped off after receiving orders, almost knocking down a couple soldiers guarding the hall. Mullenkedheim he found in the kitchen, pilfering food from the banquet table. Leaving the castle and heading into the courtyard, he found Haagen sitting by the canal, and Weimer standing by the tower entrance flirting with a female soldier. After receiving orders, all of them immediately sped off. Now only one remained. Entering the tower and walking up the stairs, Steiner found Breireicht already halfway up, having apparently already heard the orders. He regrettably admitted that at his age it was hard to walk so far, but told Steiner he thought he had heard something at the top only moments before. 

Wasting no time, Steiner ran to the top. From here he could see everything: the theater ship, the audience, and the whole city beyond. He admired the view while he caught his breath. 

'Phew, fatigue rears its ugly head', he thought. He suddenly wished he'd brought a canteen of water with him. He stood up straight, pushing tiredness and thirst from his mind. 'No, I must persevere!!! The Princess must be found!!!!' 

No sooner had he thought that than he turned to see, on the opposite tower, something that made his blood run cold: a young blonde-haired man, surely a ruffian judging by his unkempt appearance, chasing a hooded figure in white. As the hooded figure ran around the tower, followed by this intruder, the moonlight briefly caught the face under the hood. Steiner gasped. 

'It's Princess Garnet!!! Being hounded by brigands!!! Fear not Princess, your knight is coming!!!!!' But the question was, how to get across before the bad guys caught her?

Multiple POVs

Zidane felt like he had been chasing the girl for hours, although it had probably only been minutes. Despite studying the castle map closely in the days before, commiting every hall, corridor and tower to memory, suddenly, in this critical moment, he had found himself in danger of getting lost and losing sight of his target. She knew the many twists and turns better. Zidane had chased her down one corridor, only to see her duck down another as he turned the corner. Blank must have fallen behind and gotten lost, because Zidane had turned around to find him no longer following, but Zidane had been too afraid to lose trail of the girl to go back and find him. If only he wasn't wearing this stupid armor he could run faster......

But now, finally, he had her. They had reached the top of this tower, and her only way out was back down the stairs, and she would have to go through him. As he approached, she stepped onto the ledge, backing up several paces. Zidane noticed with curiosity she had her hands behind her back, as if she was hiding something behind her.

What happened next was too quick for even a thief with his quick reflexes. As he took another step, she looked up and fully faced him for the first time. He saw her face beneath the hood. Saw her smile as she took one more step back......then fell back, straight off the tower, into thin air!!! 

Zidane gasped and rushed forward, heart pounding with fear, head spinning with confusion at this terrible turn of events, and looked down, and saw, to his amazement, the girl swinging through the air. He realized she was swinging on a banner of some kind, running from this tower to a sort of awning set up over the stage. They must have set it up for the play. He looked around, and saw another, identical banner just within reach. He looked back and saw the girl swinging down towards the stage, towards the awning, apparently unseen by the actors or audience. He heard her laugh of excitement. He smiled. Well, two could play that game.....

Steiner, meanwhile, could only watch helplessly as the Princess fell off the tower. He rushed forward and saw, to his horror, the Princess swinging through the air on the banner. She was obviously so terrified of this hoodlum she would rather risk her life trying to escape than be caught. He had to save her!! But how? Then he saw, to even greater horror, the intruder had also grabbed a banner and was swinging after her. As he watched, the Princess and the mysterious intruder swung over the stage, completely unnoticed by the actors on the stage, and, just before colliding with the theater ship, fell off the banners and landed together on the large awning. Steiner looked around and saw one last banner, just within reach. Without thinking, he grabbed it and quickly jumped off the tower. However, he unfortunately forgot to account for the weight of his armor, sword, and his own stocky build. Instead of sailing gracefully over the stage like the Princess and her pursuer, he flew off course and found himself heading straight for the ship. But he was too scared to let go, and crashed straight through a window. Luckily, his helmet absorbed most of the impact, but he was still dazed. As he crawled the rest of the way through the shattered window, trying to clear his aching head, one thought occurred to him: well, at least he was in. The Princess and the bad guy would surely head for this ship. This ship would be the safest place to hide if he was a frightened Princess, and if he was the bad guy, this would be just where to look. He HAD to find them......

Meanwhile, Zidane was crawling across the awning after the Princess, who had disappeared while Zidane had been distracted by the sight of the big man in rusty armor flying across the sky. He turned and saw she had disappeared. He noticed that the awning was level with a window leading into the Prima Vista's music room. Perhaps she had crawled through it? Zidane crawled until he reached the window, which was open. He could hear the band playing a catchy tune. He reached the window and dropped through, landing on the floor in front of the band. They were so busy playing, and the sounds of the music so loud, they didn't see or hear him drop down. He stood and looked around. Where was she? She MUST have come down here. There was no other place she could have gone without dropping down onto the stage and interrupting the play......

He heard a sound above him and looked up just in time to see a blur of white falling towards him. Before he could dodge she landed on top of him. He fell to the ground face first, knocking his head on the wooden floor. He heard her stand up, and as he sat up, blinking away the stars dancing around his dazed eyes, saw her run from one side of the room, and, seeing there was no door, run back towards him, past him, and out the only door, knocking down each and every member of the band on her way. But, amazingly, without complaining, in fact without even STOPPING their playing for even a second, the band members stood back up and resumed their song. Damn, these guys were the DEFINITION of dedicated!!! Zidane turned towards the door the hooded girl had headed through. He knew where that door lead, and knew the only exit. Surely he had her now. Right?

The girl, meanwhile, had run out of the small, noisy room and into another room. She saw the stairs leading down, and ran towards them so fast she didn't even notice the young woman until she collided with her. The girl managed to steady herself before she tumbled down the stairs she was running towards. The woman, meanwhile, wasn't so lucky, and fell to the ground. She stood up and glared at the girl as she dusted off her dress. 

"Whoa!! What in tarnation?! Hold your horses there!! What kinda cattle you chasin, darlin??! You should at least say you're sorry!!!" 

The girl took a step back, alarmed by the woman's outburst. "Please pardon me. I was in a hurry, you see....."

The woman stamped her foot angrily. "And here I am, fixin to get ready for my big entrance!!!" 

The door opened and the blonde man with a tail rushed into the room. The angry woman turned to face him, and the girl took that brief moment of distraction to rush down the stairs. 

Zidane saw her, and started after her, but Ruby stepped in front of him. "Hey Zidane!! Did you see the way she hit me?!! That cowgirl's wilder than a buckin bronco!!!"

Zidane groaned. He didn't have time for this. "Just let me through, Ruby. I gotta...."

Ruby shoved him playfully. "Come again, pardner?! Did you hear what I said?!!" 

Zidane sidestepped her and headed down the stairs as he yelled back. "Ruby!! We'll talk later!!" But he still heard Ruby rattling on. "You hafta see my rootin-tootin Princess Cornelia scene!! I rehearsed and rehearsed till the cows came home!!!"

As Zidane's footsteps faded down the stairs, Ruby sighed. Well, shucks. Just a moment ago she was rearing to go on stage for her big scene, but that rude girl had done a number on her nerves. Now she felt nervous, the way she had the very first time she'd gone on stage. That was like 10 years ago, around the time she had first met Baku and Tantalus in Lindblum. They were a fine crew, sure, but sometimes she felt like they just didn't appreciate her talents enough. 

She sighed again and looked at the clock in the corner. She still had a half hour before her scene. Perhaps she could sneak down to the pub and have a quick drink to steady her nerves. The owner, Ashley, was a good friend of hers. Maybe he'd lend an ear for her troubled thoughts. She just hoped she made it back in time for her big moment.....

Zidane reached the bottom of the stairs. Just as he thought, he had her trapped. The girl stood in the middle of the cargo room, outside the door of the very room where they had plotted her kidnapping that very morning. She turned to him as he approached. 

"Do you......do you work on this theater ship?" 

'Ah. She figured it out.' He nodded. 

She looked around the room nervously, as if checking to make sure they were alone. "As you have no doubt suspected, the truth is that I am actually....." She pulled back the hood, and shook loose her long black hair as she smiled. "Princess Garnet Til Alexandros, heir to the kingdom of Alexandria."

She stepped towards him. " I have a favor to ask. " She surprised him by grabbing his arms, staring into his eyes with her own. Such beautiful eyes. Such beautiful, SAD eyes. "I wish to be kidnapped. Right away!"

This night had certainly been full of surprises, but THIS was definitely the most surprising so far. "Huh? I don't......I mean......"

There was a knock on the door leading to the deck. Zidane turned as Garnet jumped, pulling her hood back up. She stepped behind him. "Please!! They've come for me!!!"

Zidane nodded. "Alright. Leave them to me!!"

Garnet nodded. "Thank you. You have my gratitude."

Zidane kneeled down in front of her. "Very well, you highness. I shall hereby do my very best to kidnap you!!"

She smiled. She looked as if she was about to reply, but just then the door to the meeting room opened. Garnet jumped behind Zidane again as he reached for his daggers, but he relaxed as he saw it was only Cinna. 

Cinna waved them forward. "What are you two doing?! Come on, this way!!"

Zidane nodded and turned to Garnet. "Don't worry, Princess. It's just my friend Cinna."

Garnet nodded to him. "Oh really? Sorry, you just startled me is all."

Zidane laughed. "Well with a face like his I'd be pretty shocked too!!"

Cinna shook his hammer at Zidane menacingly. "Hey shut up!!! For your information I wash every morning you know!!! I......"

There was another knock on the door, louder this time. A voice from behind the door echoed through the room. "Princess?? Princess!!!"

Cinna beckoned them again. "This way!!!"

Zidane nodded. He turned to Garnet. "Alright, after you." 

They ran into the meeting room and Cinna closed the door just as the other door was finally forced open. Steiner ran into the room. He looked around the empty room, calling for the Princess with every step. "Princess?! Princess!!! Princess??!!! PRINCESS!!!!!" He suddenly heard footsteps coming his way, and turned to the door he'd just entered through. "Princess.......?"

A knight ran into the room. One of his? He didn't recognize him, but perhaps he was a new recruit. The Knights Of Pluto got new members on occasion, usually farm boys or runaways from impoverished backwater towns looking for excitement, and even then they only usually joined the Knights if they didn't have the caliber for the royal Alexandrian army. Perhaps this fellow just wasn't good enough for Beatrix and her squad of hardasses. Well, the more the merrier, and at this moment, Steiner needed all the help he could get. 

"Where have you been?!!", Steiner snapped, despite his relief at seeing another loyal knight. 

The man saluted. There was something off about the salute, but Steiner was too preoccupied to give it much thought. "Sir!! I'm sorry sir!!!"

Steiner turned to see another door. He thought he had heard another door close as he came in. Hmmmmm.......

Meanwhile, in the meeting room, Zidane and Garnet stood nervously as they heard the angry knight calling for Garnet. Any second now they would be caught, and this room was too small to put up much of a fight, and they had nowhere left to run. 

Zidane turned to Cinna angrily. "Cinna, this is a dead end!!!"

To his confusion, Cinna turned to him and laughed. "I thought this might happen." Cinna turned and kicked the table. To their surprise, the table sprang up, and Zidane noticed it had actually been attached to hinges on the floor. As it sprung up, Zidane noticed a small trapdoor had been concealed by the table. Cinna also kicked the trapdoor, which opened to reveal a hole, just big enough for even Cinna's chubby body to slip through. He turned back to see their shocked expressions. "So I set up this escape hatch!!", he finished. 

There was a knock on the door behind them. The knight was just outside!! Cinna pointed at the hole. "C'mon, let's go!!!", he whispered. 

Cinna jumped down, followed by Garnet and Zidane. Only a second later Steiner entered the room, followed by the knight. They looked at the hole in the floor. 

"The Princess must have gone down there!!!", Steiner said. He stepped towards the hole, but the knight stepped in front of him. "It might be dangerous, sir!! Let me go first!!!" 

The knight jumped, but turned in midair and landed on his back. He struggled, flailing and kicking, and tried to push himself out, but shook his head. "Captain, Sir!! I'm stuck, sir!!!!"

Steiner growled and shook his fist angrily at the stupid knight. Unbelievable!! This was a disaster. If he didn't hurry, the Princess was sure to be kidnapped, maybe even hurt or killed. Or worse, Beatrix and her army might rescue her FIRST, and the Knights Of Pluto would be the laughingstock of Alexandria. He growled again. He would NOT fail. He would NOT lose to Beatrix!!! 

He turned and ran from the room. As soon as he left, the 'stuck' knight turned to where Steiner had been seconds before. He snickered. "Hahaha. He bought it!!!". This should buy Zidane enough time to stash the Princess somewhere and stay out of sight until the play was over. It should be almost done by now anyway. He just hoped he still got to play HIS big part. The oglops were probably getting restless in their sack. This pretend fall had probably rattled them even more. He couldn't wait to get rid of the disgusting things!! It would definitely be funny to see the Queen and her guards running around in a panic trying to squash the nasty, annoying bugs. He just hoped HE didn't end up squashed too, if the plan went any farther south......

End of chapter 10 

So, next chapter, chapter 11, is the last chapter I've written so far, I finished it yesterday, which was May 13, 2026. I will start on chapter 12 as soon as I finish posting chapter 11, which I'm doing immediately after I post this one. Hopefully it won't take long. 

Anyway hope y'all are enjoying it so far. It's so awesome to be writing a story crossing my two favorite things. If any of y'all like both Big Mouth and Final Fantasy IX, I hope you're enjoying reading it as much as I am writing it. 

As always, hit that like button and leave a review or at least a comment for your loyal writer!!!