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

Meanwhile, in the Monster World......

The offices of Human Resources was in utter chaos. Everywhere, creatures of all sorts rushed from one department to another. The situation on Earth had impacted HR as much as the human clients they worked with. As Logic Rocks thought of ways to keep both the human AND Monster worlds calm, Anxiety Mosquitoes rushed to add fuel to the fires of doomsday, alien abduction and government hoax theories, drawn to the paranoia like normal mosquitoes to blood. Some had even turned into full-blown Dread Blobs, laughing maniacally as they rushed to find a functioning portal. The Depression Kitties were also having a field day, purring sinisterly as they read through the names of those most affected by this tragedy and waited for a portal, eager to bask in the misery of the sad, scared, and confused denizens of Earth. 

Emmy sat at her desk, trying to drown out the noise as she looked through the lists of clients. Rochelle, Pete and Walter sat at their own desks, and she could hear Petra screaming somewhere. She sighed. She wished she could go somewhere quieter to read and think. The urge for a drink over the weekend had grown even more once she heard the news from Earth. Those kids. Those poor kids, and so many of her co-workers. Gone. Just gone in a flash. How was she supposed to spread love when so many people SHE loved were ripped away in just one night? Creatures she had worked with for longer than she could remember? Who brightened her day just by BEING there? Friends she had laughed, fought and partied with? 

But still, Emmy had refused to give in to her old temptations. Instead of looting Mona's house in search of alcohol, or going to the bar, Emmy had buried herself even deeper in her work, even turning down Rochelle's request to join her and the others at the Mistake Factory. Distracting herself with work felt like a better idea than drowning her sorrows in alcohol. In fact Emmy hadn't even entered Mona's house proper, and had stayed in the guest house where she had set up a secondary office. Which now, with the raccaous noise of her co-workers, she felt like retreating back to. 

"You know, logically, if there's no body, there's a 50/50 chance", said a voice. Emmy looked up from the file she was studying to see Pete staring at her, leaning on the partition between their offices. He gave her a gentle half-smile, as if he wasn't sure he believed his own words. "I mean, they could all still be alive. Schroedinger physics and all. Like unless we can see with our own eyes, they're technically neither dead or alive until we have conclusive proof. The kids too."

Emmy sighed. Pete was absolutely a Logic Rock's Logic Rock. She knew he was trying to cheer her up, but instead his words just made her sadder. The fact that she didn't know, COULDN'T know, whether her friends were dead or alive made her feel as helpless as the night she saw Dante murdered before her eyes while she was tied up, unable to help. 

But, not wanting to hurt his feelings, she smiled as she replied. "You're right, Pete. I guess all we can do is press on. It's what they'd want."

"Yes, exactly, we MUST persevere!!", Walter chimed in. He frowned. "But either way you slice it, tragedy blinds the suffering to the love around them. Sure, it grows back like a wilting rose after a drought, but the petals are more delicate and tender than ever, and it needs water more than ever. We will certainly have our work cut out for us if we're going to bring love and hope back to these poor people."

"Speaking of Hope, where is she?", asked Emmy. "The people of Earth need her now more than ever."

"She's out doing what she always does, flashing those big disco ball titties and breastfeeding people her wishy-washy, have-a-little-faith bullshit!!!", snapped Petra. "She was the first out the portal once she heard the news, as usual. How many times do I have to tell her, people don't need glowing boobs or some Disney song bullshit when the going gets tough, they need AMBITION!!! They need to work harder than ever if they want to fix things."

Rochelle frowned. "How can you say that, Petra? One of the kids who disappeared used to be a client of yours!! Actually, TWO of them. Andrew and Devin. And I sometimes worked with Missy. I really hope they're ok, and you should at least TRY and care a little."

Emmy felt a pang in her heart at Devin's name. If there was one person she worried about and cared for as much, or maybe even MORE, than her co-workers, it was Devin. She had thought about Devin every day over the weekend after that Friday night as she had brought her belongings to Mona's, as she had reviewed her workload, and even as she visited her new clients. She had been ecstatic when Mona had told her at lunch that Devin and Nick were back together for real, and had even hoped she'd have time to drop in on their date at the observatory, but after she had got done with her client that night and had finished logging her progress, she had found the portals were on the fritz. Of course at that time nobody had known why. When she had heard the news, she felt like her heart had been ripped from her chest, and all the love she carried, all the love she EXISTED for, had started pouring from the gaping hole, and filled up with sadness and dread. If only she hadn't been so busy, if only she had stayed with Devin just a bit longer, if only she had been there.....

Petra's angry retort broke her thoughts. "Oh go make a candy heart bracelet, Lovebug!! Andrew's a hopeless perv who can't keep his hand off his schlong, and Devin is...... Well, no, Devin is....... She was......" Emmy looked up to see Petra with a rare sad expression on her face. She sighed. "No, Devin was special. She was a good kid. Smart. Ambitious. Pragmatic. And maybe....... maybe I pushed her a little TOO hard. My family worked with generations of the LeSeven family for centuries. They had more ambition than all dictators in history rolled together. I truly thought I could mold Devin into something special. But maybe......" She frowned and shook her head. "Maybe she always WAS special. In her own way. Maybe I should have realized she was indeed different from the rest of her family. There were plenty of times she kept hinting she wanted different things than her parents, from what I MYSELF wanted for her. That night, I got so upset, I just......... I wish I could take it back. What I said."

Emmy was shocked. It was very rare for Petra to show a moment of true humanity. It was one thing for a Lovebug to get attached to clients, as even Walter had had a favorite client, an old woman with Alzheimer's named Yara, and would visit almost every day. Yara had unfortunately passed away a year or so ago. She remembered Walter trying not to cry as he had told everyone about her death. Emmy knew he occasionally still visited Yara's granddaughter Natalie, having bonded with her over Yara's death. Emmy knew attachments to past clients who had died was one of the reasons Van avoided getting too close to clients or fellow monsters. 

But Petra was right, Devin was special. And so were her co-workers. Emmy couldn't help getting attached. Love was ABOUT attachment, about knowing that you would do anything in the world for that person. If a Lovebug couldn't love their client, get THEM to show love in turn, how could their client ever be loved by another? And how could you love YOURSELF? For that reason, she reckoned that Lovebugs, Logic Rocks and Hormone Monsters weren't all that different. At the end of the day, their job simply came down to helping humans find their true selves, whether it be through reasoning, arousal or falling in love. 

As she thought this she saw Bonnie walk into the office. Emmy felt sad as she saw her expression. She could tell she was worried about her sister. She got up and approached Bonnie, smiling as much as she could. "Hey Bonnie. Sorry about all the noise. Crazy day today."

Bonnie nodded. "I just came to see if there's been any news, or if the Monster Council has found any way to help."

Emmy shook her head. "I haven't heard anything, sorry. Hopefully soon. I hope they're all ok. I know you and Connie are close. I don't have a sister, so I can't possibly imagine how you feel, but....."

Bonnie shook her head. Emmy could see her eyes were wet behind her glasses. "I just can't bear it. Connie and I have never been so....... apart before. Even when we were on opposite ends of the world, here or on Earth, we could always feel or even hear each other. Now it's like something's been severed, like that link is just GONE. First our mom died several years ago, now our dad is stuck in a retirement home and can't even remember our names half the time. And poor Gina is absolutely beside herself with grief and worry. I can only imagine how poor Montel feels."

"Did somebody say MONTEL?", said a voice from behind them. They turned to see Montel standing behind them with Lionel. Montel was wearing their usual Shame Wizard robe, and appeared to have grown a bit taller. They also appeared to have shaved, as their mustache was gone. Their red hair, the same color as Connie and Bonnie's, was also a bit longer, almost covering their ears. They smiled at Bonnie. "Hello Aunt B. How you doing?"

Bonnie mustered a smile. "Hey Montel. Doing ok. Still trying to find some way to help your parents, or at least find out where they are."

"Well I just hope they get back ok, shaming isn't as much fun without competing against them. They're definitely my most favorite adversaries", said Lionel, with what he seemed to think was a sympathetic expression but looked more like a sneer. 

"I just hope they get back in time to see my horn. Lionel here says that if I do good enough shaming, I might actually get my horn. Obviously since I don't work as a Monster, I can't get my horn by getting my clients to hook up, but I MIGHT be able to get it by shaming a really tough target."

Lionel laughed wickedly. "That's why we're on our way to try shaming the most SHAMELESS people around: the media. Reporters, journalists, streamers, YouTubers. Pretty much everybody who's having a field day with all this chaos on Earth. I'm sure we'll find a smorgasbord of shame. Young Montel will get their horn, and maybe I'll FINALLY make mother proud!!!" 

Emmy wasn't sure what to say, so she just shrugged. "Uh.......well, good luck with that!!!". She waved as they walked off, then turned back to see Bonnie with her face in her hands, her body shaking. Emmy realized she was crying. Emmy put her hand on her shoulder. "Bonnie, look, I promise you, somebody WILL find out SOMETHING. Look, Connie is tough, ok? Tougher than us both. I mean, she saved Maury from drowning during that storm, after almost getting struck by lightning getting the keys. If ANYBODY can survive getting pulled into some strange portal or whatever it was, I'm sure....."

Bonnie pulled her hands away and wiped her face. "No, it's not that. It's just what Lionel said, about making his mother proud. I mean, Connie is Montel's mother. I don't HAVE a kid. Well, not MY OWN, like a biological one. But, when I think about it, maybe our clients ARE our kids. Like maybe Gina is like my kid. And I'm actually PROUD to be like her second mom!!!" She wiped her eyes and smiled. 

Emmy gasped and told her she felt the same about Devin, and how Emmy could barely focus because of her worry for Devin and her friends. Bonnie nodded as she spoke. 

"Yes, exactly. And you know, just like my clients are like my own babies, maybe, if Connie's are hers, I'm like HER client's aunt in a way, just like I'm Montel's aunt." Bonnie smiled. "You know, I might not be able to help Connie at the moment, but I can damn well help Gina, and my other babies too, and I'm also going to check in on Connie's clients, kids and adults, and make sure they're ok, like a good aunt should." She smiled again, and seemed excited. "Thank you, Emmy. I gotta get back to Gina, see how she's holding up, then check in on my other babies later. I'll see you later."

Emmy waved as Bonnie walked off. She was glad to see her happier than when she walked in. She turned and was fixing to head back to her desk when she saw....... THOUGHT she saw...... It couldn't possibly be......... She stood on her toes, trying to see through the crowd of workers in the busy office. She looked. Yes, that HAD to be her. There was no mistaking: she was so tall she towered over most of the other creatures, the bright lights of the office illuminating her beautiful, smooth stone skin, her green eyes. Emmy felt both pain and excitement seize her heart as she started walking towards her. 

"Van!!! Hey Van!!!", she called out. Emmy gently pushed past some of the other workers, earning a few angry glares. But she was so focused on the beautiful Logic Rock who had haunted her thoughts for over a year she didn't even notice. "Van, wait up!!!!"

Emmy could have sworn that, just for a second, Van turned directly to her, and was sure she saw her briefly smile. But before Emmy could even decipher the enigmatic meaning of that smile, she turned and headed out the door. Emmy tried running after her, but felt her legs bump into something and fell to the floor. Luckily her skinny arms broke her fall. She sat up gingerly and turned to see a tiny Need Demon glaring at her. 

"S-SORRY", Emmy said, turning her face away in embarrassment. "I was distracted and.....I didn't mean to. I should have....."

The Need Demon frowned, its blobby body contorted in embarrassment and shame. "It's not fair!!! All the humans are too distracted by fear and misery. They aren't paying attention to wants and needs!!! When will they NEED or even WANT us again!! I NEED to be NEEDED!!!!"

Emmy nodded and stood up. "Yes. We ALL want to be needed." She looked out the door Van had disappeared through. She had probably already gotten in the elevator by now. The same elevator she had used the last time Emmy saw her, before she had walked out of her life, leaving a Logic Rock sized hole in her heart. She sighed and headed back to her desk. She didn't even notice Pete staring at her until he spoke. 

"You know, her coming back was a good sign. Even if it was just for a moment." Emmy looked up and saw him smiling that smile only Pete could smile. Sympathetic, teasing, reassuring and mocking, all at once. 

Maybe she was trying to deceive herself, or Pete, or perhaps both, but Emmy just shrugged. "Well, she can come and go as she wants. It's a free country." 

Pete nodded, still smiling. "And she'll always have you to welcome her back. Hopefully not always with the same routine. A Need Demon might not always be around." 

Emmy groaned. Sometimes Pete could just be so...... She shook her head. Might as well just vent. "I blew it Pete. I probably scared her, running after her like that. I almost blew it for her and Sarah. Just because I couldn't leave well enough alone. After all this time, I just couldn't help it, even though I should have known better. I just thought, maybe, that....... maybe we could have just started over. That maybe she......." Emmy sighed. She honestly didn't know WHAT she thought, or even how she felt right now. 

Pete was still smiling as he replied, but now in a more gentle way, perhaps sensing her feelings. "Like she said, she needed time. I think coming back here today, to the office, just for a minute, was a first step. Just because Logic Rocks are made of stone doesn't make us immune to nervousness or fear. Fear is a beast not so easily slain. It takes lots of patience and planning, and more than a few tries. She'll be back, Emmy. She just wasn't ready to face that beast, and I'm afraid you can't help. It's something she has to do alone. The question is, will YOU be ready when she does? Have YOU slain YOUR beast, Emmy?"

Emmy thought. Maybe Pete had a point. She had been so ready to run up to Van, to talk to her, to welcome her back, to hang out and just chat like they used to. Maybe even pick up what they-what she THOUGHT-they had. But Emmy realized now that was indeed nervous. Maybe even a bit afraid. That she'd say the wrong thing. That she'd rush back into it without knowing how Van felt. That maybe Van had grown even more cold and nihilistic and didn't even care about HER. So many things she hadn't even considered when she had tried approaching her. 

Emmy sighed and hung her head. With Devin missing, maybe dead, not to mention many of her fellow workers, and Van too nervous (in Pete's words anyway) to come to the office, Emmy herself was starting to feel lost. When she had decided to give up drinking, she thought she had finally started to figure herself out. But how could she figure out HERSELF when there was so much she didn't know? COULDN'T know? She looked sadly at the list of clients. So many people who needed love. But how could SHE spread love when she mostly felt sadness and confusion? How could she glow when her world kept getting dimmer by the day? 

Back at Alexandria Castle, in the Prima Vista......

Zidane's POV

The secret trapdoor under the table turned out to lead to the Prima Vista's engine room. Zidane, Garnet and Cinna landed next to the ship's giant engine, which was running loudly despite the ship being docked, churning out steam that made the room unbearably hot. Zidane took this moment to finally pull off the stolen armor, tossing it on the floor. It felt good to finally be back in just his regular clothes. He quickly made sure he still had his twin daggers before running up the stairs to meet Garnet and Cinna, who stood waiting for him. 

They looked around. The only place to go was the single door behind them, which Zidane knew lead to the lift room. Not much of a good hiding place, but better there than the loud, hot engine room. 

So, Zidane leading the way they ran into the room. They hadn't gone ten paces however when a figure slid down a pole connecting to the room above. It was the crazy knight, the one who had smashed into the ship!! He jumped off the pole and landed in front of them, blocking the way. 

He grinned triumphantly. "Princess, it's ok!! I, Steiner, have come to your rescue!!!"

They heard footsteps behind them and turned to see another knight run into the room. They were now blocked from both sides!!

The knight nodded to Garnet. "You needn't worry, Your Highness!!"

Steiner gave the knight a thumbs up. "Good work!! This will surely be remembered as the Pluto Knight's finest hour!!!"

The knight, however, ignored his captain and turned to Garnet again. "Hehehe!! Just relax, Princess. We'll get you outta here!!!"

Steiner stared at the knight, and gasped as the truth finally dawned on him. "WHAT??!!! You're not one of my Knights!!!!"

Zidane drew his daggers. "You can just....."

Cinna readied his hammer for battle. "Leave the Princess....."

The knight ran to stand beside them. "To US!!!!!", all three shouted simultaneously. 

Garnet, seeing a fight was about to take place, ran to the side and ducked behind some barrels just as Steiner charged forward. Cinna, despite being the smallest, was the first to rush to meet him. He swung his hammer at Steiner, but the large, burly knight blocked the blow with his sword. The impact of metal vs metal, however, was enough to rattle both. Cinna stumbled back slightly, dazed by the vibration, and Steiner stood in place as his armor shook and echoed. The distraction was enough for Zidane to rush forward, and, using the same tactic he had used on the disguised Baku that morning, slid on the floor, kicking out his feet and catching Steiner in the knees. Unfortunately, Steiner, probably in part due to his armor, was only knocked backward instead of down. Luckily, he stumbled backward into some chains hanging from the walls and ceiling, used to secure cargo. 

Seizing the opportunity, Zidane jumped up, followed by Cinna and the knight. As Cinna swung his hammer again, this time at Steiner's hand, knocking his sword out of his hand, Zidane and the knight grabbed the chains, and, ducking as Steiner swung with his armored fists, quickly wrapped the chains around him. They pulled the chains from opposite sides, running beside and around him, pulling them until his arms were pinned to his sides. 

Finally, Steiner was bound, cursing and struggling feebly. He struggled against the chains, pushing, pulling and trying to slip out. The knight picked up his fallen sword, examining it. "This is a nice sword. I wonder how sharp it is. " He walked towards the chained Steiner, waving it menacingly as he approached. 

Garnet ran out from behind the barrels. "No, please!! Don't hurt him!!!"

They turned to face her. Steiner did too, and, seeing the Princess, the young woman he was sworn to protect, gave him enough strength to resume his battle against the chains. Despite being strong, they were still old and rusty. With one final pull, one of them snapped, and he felt the remaining ones loosen. His captors heard the sound, and turned around just as he pulled one of his arms free. By the time they rushed back, he had pulled the remaining chains free from his body, freeing both hands and arms. Cinna rushed forward with his hammer again, but as he lunged, Steiner kicked out his armored foot. The kick hit the hammer with the force of a gunshot. Steiner winced in pain, and Cinna stumbled back and collapsed as his hammer flew across the room. 

Zidane and the knight charged together, but Steiner grabbed the chains that had bound him a second ago and swung them with all his might. Zidane cried out in pain as the chains hit his arms and hands. He dropped one dagger and the other was pulled out of his hand as the chains caught it, and, ducking to avoid another swing, he tripped over another discarded chain and fell to the floor as Steiner swung again. 

Whether intentional or not, or perhaps just pure luck, Steiner's next swing caught around his stolen sword. Zidane saw him grin as he pulled forward, pulling both his sword and the knight who had stolen it towards him. He thrust out an armored elbow, smashing it into the man's armored face. As the knight fell, dazed, Steiner grabbed his stolen sword back. 

Finally, all three men lay on the floor, catching their breath, trying to blink away their pain. Steiner stepped forward, his face a mask of anger and determination. He raised the sword. "I'll NEVER give up!!!", he shouted. The sword took on a blue glow, and he swung it down. Suddenly, a blue circle of light, matching the sword's glow, appeared under the knight. The light grew and swelled, and the knight was caught in an explosion of white and blue, which briefly blinded Zidane and Cinna. When the light vanished, the Knight's armor had blown off, revealing the man beneath, who, as you have probably guessed, was Blank.

Unfortunately, the blast had also blown open the bag of oglops. The fat yellow bugs bounced around the room, happy to finally be free of their small, cramped prison. Steiner stared, eyes wide, his mouth hanging open in disgust. "N-NO!!! I HATE OGLOPS!!!!!" His earlier bravery forgotten, Steiner started running around the room, dodging the oglops as they bounced around with wet, sickening sounds. Cinna and Blank ran too, the latter trying to dislodge one that had landed in his hair. 

Zidane, seeing the opportunity, quickly retrieved his daggers and turned to Garnet. "Now's our chance!!! Come on!!!"

They turned and ran from the room as the others ran around the room, their disgusted cries drowned out by the bouncing of the oglops.

Meanwhile, back on the deck of the ship......

The play was still going on, the actors and audience completely unaware of the chaos going on in the castle and bowels of the ship. 'King Leo' faced the audience as he spoke of his plans. 

"Tonight, I shall finally see my daughter Cornelia betrothed to Prince Schneider. And then both Schneider AND his kingdom will be MINE!!!"

Zenero and Benero, who were somehow 'revived' by 'King Leo' after the earlier fight, walked onto the stage, holding Marcus between them. 

"Your majesty, we caught an intruder!!!", they cried, increasing their hold on Marcus as he struggled. 

'King Leo' walked forward, leering at Marcus with fake sympathy. "Why my poor Marcus!!!". He turned his back to them and paced the stage. "Hark, lad. No matter how much thou dost treasure Cornelia, no matter how deeply she believes she might love thee, NEVER shall I see her marry a peasant such as thee!!!"

A bell rang in the background. 'King Leo' turned back to Marcus with a triumphant smile. "When yon bell strikes three, under the axe thou shall be!!!"

Back in the depths of the ship......

Zidane and Garnet had exited the now oglop-infested chamber only to realize they had nowhere left to run. This was the lift room, and the lifts led directly to the deck, AKA the stage. 

Garnet looked around the room. "What now?! We can't go any further!!" 

Zidane thought. The only two options were to take the lift up to the stage, or run back the way they had come, with dozens of oglops and one very pissed off Steiner. What to do, what to do......

Cinna ran into the room, breathing heavily. He pointed to one of the lifts. "Zidane, get on the second lift!!!"

Zidane turned back to the room they had just ran from. He could hear heavy footsteps approaching quickly. Steiner no doubt. He sighed. Looked like the choice had been made for them. 

He turned to Garnet. "Ok, Princess!! Get on!!!" He gestured to the second platform, and they stepped on it together. Instantly, the lift started to rise, and not a moment too soon. Steiner rushed into the room just in time to see the Princess and that despicable tailed rogue disappear as the lift rose. He ran to the adjacent platform, punching Cinna as he passed. Cinna spun on the spot, his hat falling off, then he toppled to the floor as Steiner stepped onto the lift. It started rising, but slowly, slower than the other. Steiner grit his teeth, willing it to go faster. The Princess needed him!!! Every second counted.......

Back on the stage, 'King Leo' paced the stage as the bell continued to toll. When it finally rang three, he turned to face his minions and the captured Marcus. "Furthermore.......", he started, but was interrupted as the trapdoors on the stage opened and the lifts popped up. Zidane appeared first, a hooded figure beside him. On the other side, a large man in armor appeared. The man looked around in confusion while 'King Leo' studied the hooded girl's face. He gasped.

"Is that........ Princess Garnet.........", Baku gasped, breaking character as he looked from her to the armored man. 

Zidane signaled for everybody to calm down. "Guys, just improvise!!"

Everybody nodded except Steiner, who was still looking from the people on the stage with him, to the people in the audience, to his Queen in the royal seats above. He looked tired, nervous and confused all at once, unsure of his next move. 

Luckily, everybody else knew theirs. Marcus, breaking free of Zenero and Benero, ran over to Garnet and embraced her. "Cornelia!", he cried, holding her tightly. 

If she was surprised at being pulled into the play she was supposed to be watching from the safety and comfort of the royal seats, Garnet didn't show it. She didn't even gasp as Marcus embraced her. Not missing a cue, she hugged this mysterious, muscular stranger back, adding, in the dreamy tone of a lovestruck heroine: "Oh, Marcus!!!".

Zidane nodded and smiled. "Wow, you're doing great!!", he whispered. 

Garnet smiled from under her white hood. "Duh!! I HAVE studied drama, you know."

Baku turned to them. "Ok guys, let's just keep going and wrap this up. Queen Brahne's still watching, after all!!"

Everybody except Steiner nodded. Garnet turned back to Marcus. "Oh Marcus!! I wish never to leave thy side!!! Prithee, lead me from this place!!!"

Zidane turned to Baku, who had immediately slipped back into his 'King Leo' role after admonishing the others. "See, King Leo? Thou shouldst give them thy blessing!!!" 

'King Leo' paced the stage, head hung in thought. Then he turned to them, eyes burning with fury. "NEVER!!!!", he spat. "Never leave his side, thou sayest?!! Foolish banter!! I'll not allow it!!!".

He walked over and placed a hand on the shoulder of Steiner, who still stood watching everything in confusion. "Cornelia shall marry none of than THIS man, Prince Schneider!!!" He smiled. "Is that not so, Prince Schneider?"

If Steiner had been confused and uncomfortable before, now he looked as if a bolt of lightning had struck him. He gasped so loudly and widely it was amazing his jaw didn't dislocate. "HUH......MARRY THE PRINCESS??!!! ME???!!!!!"

'King Leo' nodded. "Aye!! And this traitorous crew, I will put to death!!!" 

Zenero and Benero approached Zidane and Marcus, but were quickly disarmed. The tiny henchmen looked at each nervously. 

"Too many of them!!!", Benero cried, running one way. 

"Run away!!!", cried Zenero, dashing the other way. 

'King Leo' sighed in disgust, watching his pathetic excuses of minions run like the cowards they were. He turned to 'Cornelia', and walked towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder. 

"Pray, sweet daughter, come back to the castle with me!!" 

'Cornelia' shook her head. "Nay, father!! I shan't ever return!!!"

'King Leo' sighed. "Cornelia, trouble me no more. This wedding is for thine our welfare. Be mindful of that!!"

Marcus stepped forward, drawing his sword. "Not if I can help it!! Now is my moment of vengeance!! For my parents, and for my love Cornelia, I shall cut thee down!!!"

Marcus charged forward and thrust his sword at 'King Leo', but just before his blow struck the wicked king, 'Cornelia' stepped in the way. 'Cornelia' gasped as the sword struck, and her father gasped as he stepped back in horror, and Marcus gasped as he realized what he had done. 'Cornelia' fell to the floor, Marcus and her father kneeling down beside her. Steiner, meanwhile, broke down in total panic, trying to shove them out of the way as he knelt down beside her, not realizing that not only was the sword that had 'stabbed' her fake, but had actually totally missed, going under one of the arms of her robe, to give the illusion of an actual blow. 

"No.......Cornelia!!!", Marcus sobbed, trying to hold her up as she lay, clutching her 'wound.'

"Marcus, forgive me....... I still love my father.....", she gasped, speaking between gasps of (pretend) pain and (forced) sobs. 

"PRINCESS!!!!!", Steiner bawled, still not realizing that none of this was real. 

Ignoring her idiotic bodyguard, Garnet gasped out her final lines as 'Cornelia', with perfect timing and emotion. "Prithee, forgive my selfishness, father, and spare my sweet Marcus....."

With one final gasp, her body went limp and her eyes closed. Marcus gently laid her head back down and stood up, looking in despair at his lover, 'killed' by his own hand. "What have I done?! Am I never to hear her loving voice again??! Am I cursed never again to feel her soft touch?!!! O, cruel fate!! Thou hast robbed me of all I treasure!!!". He turned the sword on himself, stabbing the prop under his arm, and fell to the floor beside his 'dead' love. 

Backstage, the kids and Monsters had been watching the play, taking turns peeking through the curtain. Naturally, the boys had been most excited by the fighting and action scenes, while the girls had been most moved by the romance and tragedy. Missy stepped back from the curtain, trying not to cry at this last scene. 

"Oh my God, that was so sad!!! I wanted them to run away and be happy together forever, like Fatima and Gustavo. Well, maybe HAPPIER, since Marcus wasn't a horse, but still. It seems like theater always ends in tragedy. That's why I prefer books!!" 

"It WAS really heartbreaking and unexpected", Rachel agreed. "Like a lot of classic sci-fi shows and movies where one or both lovers die. Probably to up the suspense and drama, or just to surprise viewers. Like I said I don't really care for theater, but this was pretty cool."

"Oh please!!! They call THAT theater?!!", scoffed Matthew, apparently still butthurt about being denied a part in the play or the band. "Who the fuck wrote the dialogue for this play? It's so cheesy and verbose and...... and OLD!!! Seriously it sounds like something you'd hear from actors at a Renaissance fair!!!"

Missy pulled out the script for the play she was still reading. "Well actually, the writer of the play was called Lord Avon, and he wrote many other plays and books besides this. He lived a long time ago, according to his biography at the end of the script, so it's understandable the dialogue is a bit....... antiquated, even for a medieval world like this. I actually wouldn't mind reading some of his other works. I just wish this was a real play. In OUR world I mean."

Nate smiled. "Bet you're thinking I'd be the perfect Marcus, Missy? I mean I'd have to learn how to use swords. I've actually never held a real one before. I know that's strange, considering I've cosplayed before."

Camden smiled. "I could teach you, Nate. I used to take fencing classes when I was a kid, like through elementary school to like my last year of middle school, as like a recreational thing. The foster care system liked us little boys to have hobbies so we didn't turn to mischief, like shoplifting or vandalism. Some chose horse riding or gardening, I chose fencing cause I'd seen lots of movies with swords. My current foster parents eventually had to pull me out cause it got too expensive, but one of my old fencing partners has some REAL swords, and helped teach me some moves when I came over sometimes. I still remember lots of the basic stuff. Maybe it will come in handy if we DO come across any of those monsters they mentioned."

Jessi laughed. "Yeah right, and where would you guys get swords? I doubt Baku and his lot would give you any of their REAL weapons, and I bet none of the shops in this town we're headed to sell any CHEAP. We don't even know what they use for money in this world!!"

Nick and Devin, meanwhile, were sitting on a bench by the curtain. They had their arms around each other, and Devin had her head on Nick's arm. She looked so tired. Nick couldn't blame her: none of them had had a moment to rest since they got pulled into this strange world. He himself felt sleepy, but was trying to fight it. He had a feeling they would be in the air again soon. Surely the play was almost over. Tiffany, meanwhile, actually HAD managed to fall asleep, having made herself a makeshift bed from extra clothes she had looted from the storage room, mostly fur coats and a few fur capes, placing them on the floor in the corner and lying down. Devin had made sure nobody stepped on her or spoke too loudly. The poor thing needed sleep. Now Devin too felt herself being pulled under. She saw Mona still standing and talking with the other Monsters. None of them appeared at all tired. It must be nice, being an all-powerful being, not needing to sleep much. Devin wished she was back home in bed, her radio and lights on, drifting off on a soft pillow. But Nick's strong arms were pretty comfortable too, and she felt safe with him. Safe, and so tired........

Nick looked over his shoulder at Devin, her head on his arm, her eyes closed. He smiled. She was so beautiful. Perfect. He suddenly wished he was home in his own bed, with her beside him. Not doing anything else, if she wasn't ready. But just her lying there beside him, watching her beautiful face until his eyes closed, like they were starting to now. When would he be home, when would they all be home, where he and Devin could be together in their own familiar world, with their families......

Meanwhile, Queen Brahne was still sitting in her large chair in the royal box, weeping as she watched the 'deaths' of 'Cornelia' and Marcus. She wiped her face with a meaty hand, still clutching her fan with the other. " Oh my!! This year's show is SPLENDID!!! Why did she have to die??! WHY???!!" She turned to the empty seat beside her. (Now where could Garnet be?!), she thought, before she returned to weeping over the "splendid" climax. 

Meanwhile, Puck and Vivi, having found watching the show difficult at times in the top seats due to so many taller patrons often standing up and obstructing the view, had become brazen enough to make their way down to the very front, on the very spot where Zidane and Blank had had their epic sword battle. Luckily, because of their small stature, nobody had complained about THEM being in the way. 

Puck turned to Vivi, having to shout a bit over the cheering of the crowd. "Wow, what a show!!"

Vivi nodded. "Yeah, but so sad......"

Puck smiled. "I'm glad we climbed all the way up here. How bout you, huh?" Suddenly, he gasped and pointed at something to the side. "Uh oh!! Looks like trouble!!!" 

Vivi turned to see what had frightened him. There, charging towards them, were Haagen and Weimar. Somehow, during their fruitless search for the missing Princess, the nitwits had somehow got turned around and found themselves back in the theater. Seeing the two boys, with their disheveled appearance, standing out of bounds of the seats, their surmised (correctly) they had probably snuck in. Well, if they couldn't find the Princess, they might get a reward if they caught these two sneaky, no-ticket-having ne'er-do-wells and tossed them out on their ears. 

Seeing the knights running towards them, Puck and Vivi turned and ran the opposite way. 

"Stop, you two!!!", shouted Haagen. 

"Come back, trespassers!!!", yelled Weimar. 

But Puck and Vivi paid no heed, and kept running. But a moment later Vivi made the classic mistake of looking back, and ended up tripping over his own feet. He fell to the floor. As he struggled to stand up, dizzied by the fall, he looked up to see Puck look from him to the knights closing in behind. He shook his head. "Fool!! I'm outta here!!!". He turned and started running up the rows of seats they had come down, squeezing and pushing past confused patrons. Vivi stared for a moment, wounded by this betrayal of somebody he had thought a friend, then turned to see the angry knights practically within grabbing distance, and started running again. 

Meanwhile, back on the stage, Zidane, 'King Leo' and Steiner still sat by the 'lifeless' bodies of 'Cornelia' and Marcus. 

"Forgive me!!!", wept 'King Leo'.

"PRINCESS!!!!", bawled Steiner. For a guy who apparently still didn't realize he had been pulled into a play, he was unknowingly playing his 'part' well. 

They all looked up as they heard several footsteps approaching. Vivi ran on stage, still followed by Haagen and Weimar. Vivi jumped over the 'dead' Cornelia and turned to face his pursuers, who paused when they saw Steiner, as confused seeing him on the stage as he was seeing them chasing a child. 

"Don't come any closer!!!", yelled Vivi, sounding more afraid than angry. He raised his arms, and fire appeared between his gloved hands, growing and swelling. He threw his arms down and the fire launched from his hands towards Haagen and Weimar. Unfortunately his aim was slightly off, and the flames landed on the body of 'Cornelia', setting her white robe aflame.

Instantly, 'Cornelia' 'came back to life', screaming and jumping around, trying to douse the fire. Seeing that she couldn't put the flames out with her hands, she finally pulled off the cloak and tossed it aside. The theater was filled with the gasps of the audience as they realized that the ill-fated heroine Princess Cornelia had been none other than Princess Garnet all along. Queen Brahne jumped out of her chair, peering over the royal box, her mouth open in shock. 

Baku, realizing that their cover was blown, turned to Zidane. "Zidane!!! It's time!!!"

Zidane nodded. The boss was right. This show was over, literally and figuratively. He turned to Garnet. "Princess!! Let's get outta here!!!"

Steiner jumped in exasperation. "What.........WHAT IS GOING ON??!!!"

Garnet turned to Steiner, her face grim and determined. "Steiner!! Don't follow me anymore!!!"

Haagen and Weimar looked from the Princess to their captain, unsure of what to do. "Captain, sir!! We await your orders, sir!!", Haagen said. Garnet might be the Princess, but the Knights Of Pluto took orders only from their captain. 

Steiner looked from his knights back to Garnet, as if himself unsure. Then he looked up to the royal box, and saw Queen Brahne's figure staring down at them. He frowned. His reputation, his job, maybe his very LIFE, was hanging by a thread. 

He turned to Garnet and shook his head. "Princess, I'm afraid I cannot comply!!!!" 

Garnet shook her head in disgust. "Stubborn as always, aren't you?"

Zidane grabbed her arm. "Come on Princess!!! Let's ditch Sir Rustalot and get outta here!!!" 

They started running, but Zidane saw Vivi lying on the deck, having tried running off while everybody was distracted by the sight of Garnet in flames. Zidane walked over and shook him gently. " Hey kid! You alright?"

Vivi stood up slowly, adjusting his hat. He turned to Zidane and nodded. "Yeah.....I just tripped, that's all"

Steiner ran up to them, Haagen and Weimar at his side. "Princess, I cannot allow you to go!! Seize them at once!!!!"

As Steiner and the two knights approached, Zidane drew his daggers. Vivi reached into one of the pockets of his large coat and pulled out what looked like a large stick. But as he moved his gloved hand over it, the stick grew bigger and longer, the wood smoother and darker, covered here and there by symbols and words in an unknown language, the top curved and hooked like a candy cane. A magic staff. As they knights paused briefly, staring in shock, Marcus ran up to join the fight, but looked nervous, realizing he still held only his prop sword. 

Next second, Steiner and the knights charged forward. Steiner went straight for Zidane, perhaps still angry about the chains incident, as well as the "Sir Rustalot" comment. He swung his sword, but Zidane blocked the blow with his daggers, catching the sword with both, and jumped back grinning, twirling his daggers. Steiner growled in anger and charged forward again, swinging. But Zidane, being shorter and skinnier, and not weighed down by heavy armor, easily outmaneuvered him, dodging and ducking, and occasionally deflecting blows with his daggers. 

The audience watched the battle in awe. Some of them seemed to think this was still part of the show and not a real, life-or-death fight between the former actors and the castle guards. Queen Brahne watched too, her desperation and rage growing every second. She saw Garnet watching the battle in the corner by the castle set on the ship, retreating up the steps as the fight got closer. What was that foolish girl doing?.......

Garnet, having made it to the top of the fake castle, reached into her pocket and pulled out her own staff. More of a Rod, actually. This one was smaller than Vivi's staff, the wood a lighter color, carved with many notches, the handle smaller than the rest for easier handling, the top ending in a sort of dome. As she pulled it out it telescoped, growing to its full length like Vivi's staff. She readied it, watching the fight below, waiting for her chance to help. 

Finally it came. Haagen and Weimar approached her vantage point, lowering their swords slightly as they approached, but keeping them ready as they saw her staff. 

Haagen started up the steps. "Sorry Princess, but you gotta come with us. Captain's orders."

Weimar smiled as he followed him up. "Yeah, Captain's orders. Nothing personal, your highness."

Garnet shook her head, focusing on her staff. She knew she wasn't some brave heroine like the lovestruck young woman she had just played as for a few minutes, as fun as it was. In fact she had no actual combat training. Not with swords anyway. But she had studied the art of magic quite extensively. Some books she had been given by her personal tutor, Doctor Tot. Garnet had always been a curious young girl, and Tot couldn't help but indulge her, despite the Queen's strong opposition. She was particularly interested in White Magic, magic able to heal wounds, cure poison, create magic barriers and even reflect offensive magic. She had read every book Tot had given her, and had even ordered some tomes from other libraries in other places. She had always known, deep down, that she HAD powers, but she didn't know why, or even how to channel them. She had just always felt some sort of.....FORCE inside of her, and had occasionally practiced in her room. One day, she had been amazed when she had focused on a small cut on her leg she had received falling off one of the royal horses. She had willed it to heal, focusing only on the cut. As she had watched, amazed, the wound had slowly closed, getting smaller and smaller. Then it was gone completely, not even leaving a scar. 

She had been so amazed she had run to Tot immediately and told him. He hadn't seemed surprised, and told her he knew she had potential. She remembered him looking at her curiously though, as if trying to see something. As though he was looking THROUGH her in a way, perhaps trying to see the magic within her, seeing how strong it was. He appeared to have been considering something. She had asked him what was wrong, but he had merely shook his head and assured her it was nothing. Not long after, though, Doctor Tot had resigned and left the castle. Garnet hadn't understood why, and had been very sad to see him go. She had always suspected her mother had had something to do with it. He hadn't left without a parting gift though. She remembered a castle worker knocking on her door, and handing her something carefully wrapped, saying Doctor Tot had ordered this be given to her. She had opened the package to find this very staff. No note, just this staff. But she had known that, wherever he had gone, her tutor still believed in her. 

So she had kept practicing, always making sure to do it in secret, keeping her rod hidden in her room whenever she had left. She had managed a few more small spells here and there, but her curiosity had kept growing. Not just for magic, but something more. 

While researching magic with Doctor Tot, she had come across a book about the legendary Eidolons. Magical, god-like beings said to have protected the civilizations of the past. It was said that people of the past had been able to summon Eidolons in times of need. Commanding the powers of the elements, such as earth, water, fire, air, ice, and even lightning, these powerful beings had been called into battle, laying waste to the enemies of the people who summoned them. In this day and age, the Eidolons had all but faded into memory, but the book had said that a few very capable people were still able to summon them, and that those truly worthy could even HEAR them. Even though she had never told anyone, not even Doctor Tot, Garnet had always heard voices. Not exactly whispers, but more like thoughts not exactly her own. Like a secondary voice in her head, along with a feeling of raw, untapped power, a flow of pure energy that she felt was completely unrelated to the magic she had been studying and practicing in secret. She had secretly ordered some texts about Eidolons, putting the order in at the castle library, but they had never arrived. She wanted to know, HAD to know, how to communicate with these voices, these otherworldly, strange, somewhat frightening thoughts and whispers, which had grown stronger ever since she had read about the Eidolons, and when she practiced her magic. Somehow she was sure it was the Eidolons, trying to communicate with her, but right now the voices were too faint, like they were too far away. Or maybe she was. 

She shook her head again and focused as the knights approached. She had no time to focus on the voices now, to try and coax the Eidolons in her head to manifest, even if they COULD. She also didn't have time to try a super powerful spell. She thought. Maybe she COULD try one, a spell she had read about in one of the books Tot had given her. It was a more advanced spell, and sort of dangerous. But this was a dangerous time. A desperate moment. She wasn't sure she could pull it off, but she had to try. 

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to clear her head, drowning out the sound of the audience, the battle between Steiner and her would-be captors below, and the sound of Haagen and Weimar approaching. Slowly, as if she was falling asleep, the sounds became lower, more muted. She felt that familiar energy well up inside her, coursing through her veins. 

She opened her eyes and focused on her staff, willing that energy to power the staff, to amplify the power still welling up inside her, manifest itself in the form of the spell she was reciting from memory. 

Finally, just as they reached the top, Garnet turned and pointed her staff at Haagen. The staff glowed with a bluish-green light, and sent a blast of reddish light that hit Haagen in his armored chest. Haagen paused for a moment, staggering forward as his armored crackled with sparks. He sat in place for a moment, breathing heavily. 

Weimar walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey man, you ok? C'mon, let's get her, and take her back to Queen Br......"

Haagen threw Weimar's hand off him and stood up. Garnet saw the wild look in his eyes through the visor of his helmet. Angry. Savage. Primal. He turned to Weimar and swung his sword. Weimar, totally unprepared, barely had time to deflect the blow. He stepped back in shock. "Whoa, Haagen, what the hell??!!! What are you doing?!! No, don't....."

Haagen charged after him, swinging his sword madly, screaming like a drunken madman. Weimar backed up, not looking behind him, and fell down the stairs of the fake castle. His sword fell out of his hands, clattering down the steps beside him. Weimar fell until he reached the bottom, Haagen chasing after him. Weimar stood up slowly, gasping in fear as Haagen charged toward him. He backed up, eying his fallen sword, but was too afraid to try picking it up, not wanting to get too close to the bewitched Haagen. 

Weimar backed up again, holding up his hands. "Haagen, Haagen, stop!!!! Look, you've been Berserk'd!!! She used Berserk!!!!! It's just a simple kids spell, only low-level Mages and some monsters use it!! It'll wear off in a moment, and....." 

He was cut off as Haagen lunged forward again, and Weimar ducked in the nick of time. Luckily this swing unbalanced Haagen a bit, and Weimar seized the moment to headbutt him in the stomach. Haagen staggered back and fell, and Weimar took a moment to catch his breath. But Haagen was up in less than a minute, growling like a mad dog, sword ready to swing again. 

Weimar shook his head. "Screw this!! I'm gonna be late for my date!!!!". He turned and ran, jumping off the ship back into the safety of the castle. 

Haagen, still under the influence of Berserk, now set his sights on Marcus, who was doing his best to help Zidane, who was still locked in battle with Steiner. Marcus kept trying to distract Steiner long enough for Zidane to get away, but Steiner was focused mostly on the cocky, towheaded thief with a tail who had humiliated him in front of the Queen. 

Haagen charged, and Marcus, seeing him coming, backed up nervously, but there was nowhere to go. He managed to raise the prop sword just in time, blocking what would have surely been a lethal blow. Unfortunately, this was the breaking blow for this fake sword. The prop shattered, pieces flying in all directions, leaving Marcus holding only a bare hilt. Marcus took a step back, swallowing nervously as Haagen prepared to swing again. 

"Hey, leave him alone!!!!", cried a voice. Haagen turned to see Vivi pointing his staff at him. Vivi focused, and the wooden staff was engulfed in flame, swelling and twisting as the magic built. Finally, the flames launched from the staff. This time, Vivi was spot on. The flames hit their target: Haagen's sword. Haagen staggered from the impact as the flames engulfed his weapon as if it was made of paper. The metal twisted, bending and sagging as it melted in the intense heat. Just then, the Berserk finally wore off, and Haagen yelled in pain as he dropped the flaming sword, which fell to the floor, now nothing but a shapeless mass of white-hot metal. 

Haagen stared from his destroyed weapon to the little boy who had cast the fire that had melted it. As the last traces of Berserk wore off his senses came back. He shook his head. "My fury ends HERE!!!", he cried, and turned, jumping off the ship and running back to the safety of the castle, just like the comrade he had almost killed. 

Steiner, taking a moment to catch his breath, turned and saw Haagen run off. Cowards, both of them. Where the hell were the others??!!! When this was over, he was going to have to have a word with the Queen about the 'competence' of the men on his roster. 

As he straightened, preparing to resume the fight, he noticed his lower arm bleeding, in the unarmed space between his armored gloves and armored upper arms. He realized the blasted thief must have gotten a lucky blow after deflecting his sword at some point. He had been so caught up in the heat of combat he hadn't even felt it!! 

"Bah!! Only a flesh wound!!!", he muttered. 

Meanwhile, inside the ship, Baku stood at the bridge, ready for liftoff. He had already removed the King Leo costume and wig. His crew rushed throughout the room, checking and double-checking to make sure everything was in order for departure. 

Cinna ran in. "Stabilizers configured!!", he said, before dashing off to check something else. 

Blank rushed in a second later. "Engine is good to go!!"

Baku nodded. "Alright!! We're moving out!!!". He turned and grabbed the wheel. He hoped Zidane had everything covered up on deck.....

Steiner and Zidane were still locked in combat as the ship started to shudder and shake. Next second it started to rise. The audience gasped as they saw the ship start to take off with Princess Garnet on board, still hiding in the safety of the miniature castle set. Queen Brahne, noticing this, turned and started barking out orders to the soldiers behind her. Next second, soldiers in the nearby towers pulled forward several large cannons, which they fired off, launching harpoons that embedded themselves in the ship. The ship lurched violently as it fought against the pull of the harpoons. The struggle sent it flying off course, smashing into the rooftops of houses. The people who had climbed up on the rooftops to watch the play scrambled down quickly to avoid the ship. The streets were soon filled with the screaming of citizens, the firing of cannons, and the sounds of the ship colliding with houses and buildings. 

The curtain on the stage opened and the frightened teens ran out, followed by the Monsters. They looked around in confusion and fear. Devin pushed Tiffany behind her, urging her to run back to the stage room. The Monsters themselves looked confused and even a bit scared. The ship gave another great lurch, shuddering with the power of an earthquake, and the teens were knocked down, sliding across the floor as the ship tilted slightly. 

Luckily, that final lurch had pulled the Prima Vista free of the harpoons, and even pulled one harpoon cannon, and the soldier working it, off the tower. As the soldier fell screaming, Queen Brahne turned and gave another order, and next second the wall above her slid open, and another, larger cannon slid out. Queen Brahne pointed to the escaping ship and yelled for the cannon to fire. With a blast as loud as thunder the cannon fired, and out shot what looked at first like a regular cannonball which sped towards the Prima Vista, but just before striking, the ball burst open, and revealed what looked like a giant ball of fire, except it had two giant eyes and a large, wide mouth with jagged teeth, like a jack-o'-lantern, all of which were also made of flame. The fiery creature swooped towards the deck of the ship, which was in utter chaos. 

As the teens and monsters ran around the deck, some trying to hide in case they were shot at again, some peering over the sides, and some staring at the new approaching threat, Steiner approached Garnet, who was still sitting on the top of the small castle, frozen in fear from what had just happened. Her mother, her own mother had just shot at the ship, with her ON it.......

Steiner stopped at the foot of the castle, but didn't try walking up the steps. "Princess, please!!! Come down, and come with me!! If we show your mother you're ok, she will call off the attack!!! Please, Princess, I'm begging you......."

He was interrupted by the sounds of more screams behind him, and a loud roar. He turned, and staggered back as he saw the living fireball, which had quickly grown in size in just mere minutes. The thing grinned evily as it lowered itself even closer. The deck erupted with the sounds of screams and footsteps as people ran. The teens who he had never seen until now, those strange fur-covered, horned creatures, the little Mage boy. Even that cursed blonde-haired thief was running around in a panic. None of them knew what to do, where to go as they stared at the monstrous ball of fire. Above him, he saw the Princess staring in horror, her eyes wide, her face pale with fear. 

"A Bomb. A BOMB!!!!!", though Steiner, his mind whirring with panic. "But why something so drastic, so DANGEROUS?!!! Your majesty, why........"

When the Bomb exploded, the sound was louder than a dozen cannons, than the mightiest clap of thunder. Even the citizens who hadn't heard the earlier ruckus of the ship smashing into houses and buildings rushed out to see what had happened. As people gathered in the street they watched in horror as the Prima Vista emerged from the smoke, half of it on fire. The mermaid figurehead was battered and blackened by the blast. As they watched in horror, one of the propeller towers fell off, and fell burning onto the roof of a house. 

Ruby, who seconds before the explosion had realized she was super late for her part, had staggered out of the pub, realizing she might have had a little TOO MUCH to drink. She was just hoping that maybe they'd hold the play until she got there when she heard the explosion. She looked up in horror to see the Prima Vista engulfed. Her horror and shock mixed terribly with the alcohol, and she collapsed to the street, fighting the urge to retch. As she fought waves of nausea and horror, she saw the Prima Vista losing altitude as it headed towards the mountains. 

"What happened? OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED??!!! Zidane. Marcus. Cinna. BLANK. Oh God. I'm so sorry. Please. Please be ok. Please, don't be dead. Please, don't leave me all alone......."

By now, the Prima Vista was well out of range of Alexandria, but citizens with telescopes could still see the burning ship as it plunged towards the dark, overgrown forest and disappeared into the thick cluster of trees, and seconds later the giant explosion as it finally hit the ground. 

Queen Brahne's POV 

Queen Brahne sat on her throne, staring into space, her mind filled with troubling thoughts. 

'Garnet......I never imagined you would do such a thing. Perhaps you're NOT such a helpless little girl anymore." She sighed and called out. "Zorn!! Thorn!!" 

Almost at once the jesters appeared behind her. Without turning around she said: "Is our little......... experiment ready?"

Zorn nodded. "Yes, your majesty. It is combat-ready!!"

Thorn nodded. "Easily terminate Princess Garnet it can, your majesty!!"

Queen Brahne turned and scowled at them. "I need her ALIVE!!! Bring her back at once!!!!!"

Zorn and Thorn bowed and sped off. Queen Brahne sighed again and adjusted herself on her throne. This was definitely an..... unfortunate setback, to be sure. But soon, VERY soon, she would have everything her benefactor had promised her, and more, once she had Garnet back, and with her, the powers that lay dormant within her. She frowned. But with Garnet, she also needed the pendant back. But there were also several others like it. And soon they would all be hers. 

Queen Brahne laughed. Garnet. Such a silly, foolish girl. She had nearly ruined everything tonight. But once she had both her and the pendant back, she could put the final stages of her plan in motion. With Garnet's hidden powers, the pendants, her own personal army, and that of her benefactor being developed in a certain farming village not far from Alexandria at this very moment, nothing and nobody would stand in her way..

.......

End of chapter 11

So this is the last chapter I've completed so far. I'll be starting on chapter 12 as soon as I post this. Hopefully it won't take too long, and I will post as soon as I finish. For those who've played, y'all should know next chapter starts in Evil Forest, and should know what happens there.....

A few things: When I did Garnet's part during the battle, I decided to give her famous staff an origin story, since we never found out how she got it in the game, or even how she learned magic in the first place, but it's always been my headcanon that Doctor Tot taught her, and perhaps gave her the staff, so that's what I decided for the story. 

I also wanted to explain how Ruby got left behind, since in the game we run into her on the ship while chasing Garnet, and never learn how she got off the ship, so I decided to show how that came about, her getting abandoned. 

Anyway, as I said, I'll hopefully have next chapter done not too long from now. For now, I hope y'all enjoy the first 11 chapters, assuming you're reading them back-to-back.  If y'all have any thoughts, comments or criticisms, please don't hesitate. 

See y'all soon (I hope) in chapter 12. If you've played the game you should know it only gets better from here!!!