~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATE: Lion's Den
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wonder if mother will even listen to me, Dagger wondered as she sat in her bed room, looking out her window, taking in Alexandria. Why did she attack Burmecia? And why did she arrest us like this?
I must be sincere with her. She hasn't been herself lately, she adopted a ponderous look, actually, thinking on it, she's been acting strange since my birthday last year. The same day that white haired man visited us.
Maybe he had something to do with it. Back a Treno, that was him at the auction house, and the way I felt when he looked at me, the thought of it made her spine crawl again. Things began to change after he arrived in Alexandria. Dr. Tot left shortly afterwards, just what happened that day? The door opened, surprising the princess as Zorn and Thorn came rushing in.
“Queen Brahne summons you,” Zorn declared.
“Come with us,” Thorn added.
“What!? How dare you speak to me like that!” She had never liked the court jesters, but they had always treated her with some sense of respect, but not now.
“Quiet!” Zorn ordered.
“With us, you are coming, and that is that!” Thorn stated.
Dagger glared at them as she considered how to respond. What would Zidane say at a moment like this? Oh!
“Get away from me, you scumbags!” She shouted, realizing as she said it how awkward it sounded.
“What was that?” Zorn asked Thorn, “I do not understand.”
“Understand what she said, I do not, either,” Thorn admitted. They approached Dagger, and she took several steps back.
“Enough! Now come with us!” The pair said in unison. And they took Dagger to the queen. Taking her to Brahne's chambers, Dagger saw her mother sitting on the couch near the fireplace. Dagger separated herself from the jesters and approached her.
“Mother...” At the sound of Dagger's voice, the queen turned and gave her a loving smile.
“Darling, there you are. Where were you? I've been worried sick. Here, come closer.” Dagger hesitated, but came closer.
“Mother, there is something I need to ask you,” Dagger began, feeling as though she was walking on egg shells.
“What is it darling? I will tell you anything you wish to know,” Brahne assured.
“Did you- Is it true that you are responsible for the destruction of Burmecia?”
“Oh, well, no wonder you look so concerned,” the queen said in surprise. “That is far from the truth, Garnet. You see, those Burmecian rats have been plotting to destroy Alexandria for some time. I couldn't just wait for them to attack and destroy our precious kingdom. So I had no choice but to take the initiative.”
“Mother, is that really the truth?” Dagger asked skeptically.
“Of course, I would never lie to you.”
But you just did!
“I don't believe you!” She's caught her mother lying several times over the last few months, and she wasn't buying it now.
“Oh, darling, what's wrong? Why wouldn't you believe your mother?” As she asked that, the white haired man entered the room, having overheard the exchange, he addressed them.
“May I also play a part in this act?” He asked nonchalantly.
“Act?” Dagger asked in confusion as she gave him a cautious look.
“Yes, an act from a beautiful play. There is a knight on a white horse, and a beautiful princess. It is a tale of tragic love. Overcome by grief, the princess must sleep for a hundred years.” He explained as he approached the princess.
“You, you're the man from Treno.” And the man that's been making a mess of my kingdom, no doubt!
“It appears we were destined to meet again,” he said dramatically. “My sweet angel, come to me.” He approached Dagger, and she stepped back, but Kuja caught up to her, “I will take you to a world of dreams,” he said as he cast a spell on the princess.
“What.. are... you...” Dagger passed out as his magic washed over her, falling into a deep sleep.
He looked at her, sleeping in his arms. “She is beautiful, even in sleep.”
“Hmph. Impudent little girl,” the queen huffed out. “Zorn, Thorn! Prepare to extract the eidolons from Garnet!”
The queen and Kuja left the princess to the two jesters, and they took her to a separate room with a magical circle crested on the floor, laying her at its center.
“A belated happy birthday, Princess. Hee Hee,” Zorn laughed as the opportunity to please the queen had finally arrived.
“Sixteen years old, the princess has become. Draw the eidolons from her, finally, we can,” Thorn said. And they began to channel magic into the crest on the floor.
“Eidolons of eternal life,” Zorn chanted
“Eidolons of eternal struggle!” Thorn said in time with Zorn.
“Arise from the sixteen year sleep!”
“Depart after the sixteen year wait!”
They said as they continued to channeled magic into the circle. The sigils and lines in the circle started to shine, light illuminating the paths.
“Let there be light!” Zorn declared
“Let there be life!” Thorn proclaimed.
Their magic gathered and laced around Dagger, drawing forth the light from the circle, encasing her in radiance.
“The time has come!” Zorn assured.
“The time is now!” Thorn reinforced.
And the energy of the spell washed into Dagger, making her float into the air.
“Come forth!” Zorn ordered.
“Odin, warrior of the dark!” Thorn finished.
And the light of the spell burst out, and the eidolon sealed within the princess was freed, a gemstone forming above Dagger as Zorn and Thorn cackled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After having spent a number of hours evacuating, Freya couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
“I don't understand, we haven't seen any soldiers.” She stated, they had been helping with the evacuation, clearing out monsters from the trunk and protecting the Burmecians and Cleyrans. Freya was upset that they were abandoning the place she just swore she would protect, but Zidane persuaded her that it's not the place, but the people that's important. His words helped her, and she put everything into helping her people escape with their lives.
“Maybe they didn't expect for us to so readily abandon the tree,” the king suggested, “Had it not been the promise of Cid's aid, we would have stayed. We already lost one city and a great many lives, if we can spare another cities population, we can rebuild.” The only ones still remaining in the settlement at this point was the king, his personal guard, the high priest, a small contingency of soldiers, and Pinkie's group.
All of them minus the priest were outside the chapel as they conversed, and were surprised when a dragon knight landed in their mist.
The warrior wore tan and yellow padded armor and a wide hat that obscured his eyes. He seemed to be looking around for someone. His appearance shocked everyone, but a small number of them were shocked for reasons besides the fact of him landing in their midst.
“S-Sir Fratley!?” Freya asked, barely believing her eyes. “What? I- I've missed you so much!” She approached him, and everyone else moved to give her room.
She's smiling~! Pinkie thought as she witnessed the reunion.
“I began to search for you immediately after you left Burmecia. Where have you been all these years? To what corners of the world have you traveled? My dear Fratley, I climbed the highest mountains, only to hear rumors of your victories. I searched the deepest valleys, only to find your footsteps.” She turned her back to him, “But I never found you. And in the end, I heard something, something unbearable!” Sir Fratley appraised Freya before speaking up.
“I'm sorry," Fratley began, "but I believe this is the first time we have met." There was a terrible silence following his words, and Pinkie's blood ran cold as Freya turned back to him.
“What? What did you just say?” Freya asked in confusion.
“I'm sorry, but I cannot remember you for the life of me,” he said regretfully.
“You, you jest! You cannot have forgotten me! It's me, Freya! Freya of Burmecia!” He turned his back to her apologetically.
“I am sorry.”
“No, that can't be,” and she began to cry, making Pinkie's brow furrow.
No! This was her happiness! And she's crying. I'm not gonna let my friend cry!
“Now wait just a second here!” Pinkie ordered angrily. “Seriously? You don't remember your special somepony!? How could you forget!” He didn't reply, “Say something!”
“That's enough Pinkie,” Freya requested weakly.
“What?” Pinkie replied in confusion, turning to Freya. “But Freya~, you've been looking for him for a long time, right? Here he is!” The king of Burmecia approached Fratley and addressed him, trying to dispel the confusion in the air.
“Do you not remember me?” He asked of Fratley.
“I'm afraid not.”
“Then what brought you here, if you don't even remember your king?”
“I did!” Prince Puck declared, revealing himself from where he hid. “I ran into him during my travels, and you guessed it, he didn't know who I was either. Or even who he was. But when we heard that Burmecia was under attack, he felt the urge to return!” Fratley nodded at Puck's summation.
“Dragon knight.” Fratley said, “I was once called that. I wanted to protect Burmecia. I'm afraid all I remember of my former self was that I was a dragon knight.”
“Fratley...” Freya said painfully.
“I must go, there are refugees that need to be protected.” And he made to leave, but with a boom from the party cannon, a pink ball crashed into him, separating him from his spear as Pinkie tackled him hard.
“Oh no you don't! You're not leaving yet mister!” Pinkie held on tight as he tried to separate himself from her. He was strong, but Pinkie's determination was stronger. He's not leaving till I get a Pinkie promise out of him!
“Pinkie, stop!” Freya demanded. “It's okay, he can go.”
“NO HE CAN'T!” Pinkie shouted, making everyone freeze in surprise. Pinkie blinked in surprise as well, but didn't dwell on her actions. “Mr. Fratley, that knight in red over there, she's my super jumpy friend.” Pinkie said as she calmly looked into the powerful warriors eyes, he gave her his attention, feeling he was obligated to do that much.
“She's spent the last five years of her life looking for you, the most important person to her. And I'm sure, once upon a time, you cared for her greatly. You owe her, at the very least, a chance to be that person again. I'm not gonna let you make Freya-meya sad anymore. Even if you've forgotten everything, something may come back if you give her the chance. You will offer her that much, and I'll let go, if you Pinkie promise to give her that chance."
“Pinkie stop this, you can't-” Freya began, she was happy that he was alive, even though it hurt that he didn't remember her. She was interrupted by the hard look Pinkie gave her.
“Shut up Freya-meya. I'm the smile expert here, not you.” Pinkie said stalwartly, her aggressive side clearly shining through at this moment. “Pushing away what you want isn't going to make you happy. I'm giving you a chance to have that happiness again, don't you dare throw it away.” She said, her eyes locking with Freya's.
The dragon knight saw the fire burning in that stare, and balked at it. She knew her words wouldn't be able to put out that flame. Sir Fratley was silent during their talk, and when Pinkie looked back to him, he nodded, which almost made the mare cry out with joy. She let him go and told him to copy her, and the dragon knight did just that.
“Cross my heart and hope to... fly, stick a ...cupcake? In my eye,” he said, suddenly unsure what he was getting himself into with this pink mare. “I promise, to give Freya my attention. But that's all I promise.”
“I'm warning you, nopony breaks a Pinkie promise and gets away with it!” Pinkie claimed, giving him a hard look.
“I will keep my word,” he said, looking to Freya, “but right now there are Burmecians to protect, let's go Puck, we'll make sure the refugees make it to Lindblum safely, you all should leave as soon as you can,” he said, and prepared to leave, but moved to Freya and addressed her. “Freya, I'm sorry, I'll never be the person you once loved, but I'm willing to give you a chance, if you'll do the same.”
Freya looked at him in shock, unsure how to reply, Pinkie's words had clearly gotten across to the amnesia plagued warrior. Freya saw Pinkie standing behind Fratley, holding a big sign that said 'Do it~!'. So she nodded to Sir Fratley, and he nodded in turn. Picking up Puck, he, with a mighty leap, jumped over the edge of the foliage, and down to those who needed him below.
Pinkie hadn't been expecting it, and honestly had forgotten all about it when she attacked Sir Fratley, but now that it was there, it made her heart skip a beat. Freya was smiling at her, a genuine, honest, beautiful smile. And Pinkie returned it, and not just Pinkie, even Zidane, the King, and the other onlookers were smiling for her.
This. This is what I live for, do you see this, Discord?
“It really is touching, I think I might just cry! Shame I'm just a case of mist poisoning, maybe, so the real Discord won't enjoy this. Possibly,” he said with a smile of his own.
“What! How'd you get in here!”
Everyone's head turned to the source of the cry. It was the voice of the high priest, coming from the chapel. As they all moved to check it out, Pinkie noticed an airship coming out of the mist not far from the tree. Oh that's all kinds of bad news! Going inside, they found the priest on the floor in front of Beatrix, who was standing near the broken harp.
“Please, have mercy!” He begged of her.
Beatrix!? Very very bad news!
“Hmph, you pathetic rodents don't even understand the true power of this gem.” She swung her blade to the harp and severed the gem from it, catching it as it fell.
“Our magic stone!” The high priest cried out.
“Now that I have this jewel, I have no need of your city!” And she slipped past everyone, running outside.
“We'll get that back,” Zidane began, “We have a score to settle with her!” he claimed as he ran after her, Freya and Pinkie following behind. Heading outside, they caught up to the general. “Don't think you can get away!” Zidane shouted after her. She immediately stopped and turned around, giving them a cold look.
“Get away?” She laughed at the notion, “You're a bigger fool than I imagined, did you already forget what happened last time?” She eyed Pinkie, “Don't think you'll fare any better this time.” She said, looking at Freya and Zidane, which confused Pinkie.
Did she just exclude me from that? Two colorful orbs of red and blue whisped down into the area, when they touched the ground a Black Mage appeared at both spots. They stood and watched as Beatrix took up her stance.
“That magic, I think I felt something familiar from it,” Discord proclaimed.
Not now Discord, she's big bag news, and we're about to fight her again!
And then the big bad news attacked them. And to their credit, they fared better this time. Pinkie's potions were potent, and her new robe they found on their climb up allowed her to deftly use them on herself while attacked, keeping her from falling to Beatrix's blade. She spent more time supporting while Zidane and Freya fought Beatrix. It seemed to be an even match, well, considering it was three versus one, but then Beatrix got fed up with the stalemate.
“Enough of this.” She said as she brought her blade down, and a tempest of cuts and slices assaulted them, bring them to their knees. “Now, to rid myself of you and leave.”
Wait, if she could always do that, was she playing with us? That game wasn't fun at all! Pinkie weakly thought as the one of the Black Mages summoned another red and blue orb over its head. The mage jumped in and Beatrix did as well. The orb spiraled in the air for a moment before flying off towards the airship floating nearby, far above the tree. Pinkie quickly got the others on their knees, Freya's healing wind assisting as they saw the other mage summon the red and blue orb as well.
“Let's go after her!” Pinkie suggested, and Zidane and Freya agreed.
“If we can distract her again, I might be able to swipe the gem from her!” Zidane said, and they all quickly jumped into the red and blue orb before it whisped away. Flying through the air as a ball of magic, the three of them were able to see what was going on around them.
A large blue beam flew off from the nose of the airship, striking a point in the sky high above the tree, drawing their attention. From that point, the sky was washed in a black circle of magic, and from the center a large warrior riding a six legged horse appeared. He wielded a large spear, and as they galloped through the air, black lightning coursed through his weapon.
He hurled the spear down, into the tree. The spear cut through all in it's path, not being slowed in the least as the spear pierced all the way to the base. Shortly after the spear disappeared into the tree, a massive explosion erupted from the tree's center. All of Cleyra was wreathed in flames, and the settlement, and those still on it, were lost to the fire. The warrior rode off over the inferno, and disappeared in a flash of magic.
As the warrior disappeared, the three of them ended up in a magical urn resting on the airship. They all hopped out, and Freya knelt to the ground, shocked by what happened. Pinkie had no words to comfort her with, and neither did Zidane. So instead, she gave Freya a comforting hug.
We almost got toasted just now... Pinkie then glared, at no one in particular. Why did they do that!? How did they do that!? It was such a pretty place, and now Burmecia has no king. The pink mare thought sadly.
“Some people just want to see their enemies burn,” Discord answered, “I can't say I don't understand the sentiment. I guess somepony's gonna have to get together a motley crew of friends to take her down. Oh wait~” He said, and three large monochrome arrows pointed at Pinkie and her two friends. There was also three other arrows pointing at pictures of the princess, Spike and Applejack. Pinkie looked to her friends.
Okey dokey lokey, but one thing at a time, and she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Dammit!” Zidane kicked the side of the rail in anger. “Just what was that!?” Cleyra was gone, and so was the king, and possibly Puck and Fratley, but at least its people were safe. Zidane looked around, and noticed someone was coming. “Come on, we need to hide!” Pinkie and Zidane helped their friend up, but she shrugged them off.
“I'll be fine, we did the best we could, right?” She asked, her sorrow turned to anger as she followed them to a hiding spot.
“I'm sorry Freya,” Pinkie said, and Freya frowned at her.
“Don't apologize Pinkie. I'll be fine, I just need a moment,” she insisted. From their hiding spot, they saw Beatrix come out of a nearby room and was greeted by a soldier.
“Welcome back, General.” The female soldier said with a salute.
“How is her Majesty?” Beatrix asked informally.
“She has eagerly awaited your return. I am certain she will shower you with praise for our victory. Your supremacy is without question. Steiner and his knights-”
“That is enough!” Beatrix shouted, annoyed with the praise.
“Forgive me General,” the soldier said with a salute.
“Tell her Majesty that I will report to her shortly.” The soldier saluted again and left to carry the message, leaving Beatrix by herself. “That was ridiculous. My troops alone would've been more than enough to take Cleyra. Why does the queen insist on using Black Mages and eidolons? “
“Well well, looks like we have somepony who likes to think out loud,” Discord commented as Pinkie mentally shushed him.
“I didn't train all these years so I could take a backseat to anyone,” Beatrix said, and another soldier walked past the general with a group of Black Mages.
“You three,” the soldier stated to the mages, “get on the teleportation urns and go to Alexandria immediately.” Beatrix watched as the soldier and the mages proceeded down to the urns.
“There's no difference between them and me. We're all just blindly following orders. My heart and my will mean nothing.” She stared at the mages, and her face adopted something close to regret, “I envy Applejack, she has no duty, no obligations to tie her heart. She follows her heart.” And after considering a moment, added, “She was in Burmecia, to help her friends.” She finished with a sigh as she looked to the sky, envy written on her face. She then left to report to the queen.
“Did you hear that?” Zidane stated, “Brahne's on this ship! Let's scrounge around and see if we can learn anything,” he suggested, and Pinkie agreed. Freya chose to stay put and hide, wanting to be alone for a little bit. Pinkie gave her a quick hug and promised that everything would be fine.
They may be gone, but we saved so many, that's gotta count for something, right? She hoped Freya would see it the same way as she followed Zidane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATE: A Loyal Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The King is dead. Freya thought as her friends left her alone, she held no hopes that he survived that destruction. Burmecia lies in ruins. Cleyra is gone. She felt the urge to cry rising, but with great difficulty, she pushed the tears down. My vows. I've failed them! Every! Single! One!
'It's not the place that matters, it's the people.' Words Zidane told her earlier ran through her head, and she desperately latched onto them. The King may be dead, but all the refugees, they made it out in time! Freya briefly considered making a new vow to protect what remained of Burmecia, but instead hit the side of the wall she sat next to.
Why bother! I seemed to be curse to see my vows shatter before me! Fratley, my betrothed, doesn't remember me! I'm one of the last remaining dragon knights, and I've outlived my nation! She didn't fight the tears now, they came readily.
Just what am I suppose to do? She wondered for several moments as her eyes wandered over her surroundings, taking in the ship she was on. The ship that belong to the Queen of Alexandria. Freya slammed the wall again, her sorrow being replaced with anger.
That woman! What right does she have, to bring genocide to my people! A notion then crossed her mind that troubled her greatly. What greed is compelling her? Will she direct it too... Freya's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly imagined Queen Brahne bringing her armies, her Black Mages, to a sunny world that didn't know war.
A world called Equestria.
Princess Garnet. She's kind, if naive. She needs to take up the throne! The queen needs to fall! Seeing what needed to be done, she slowed down her breathing, and wiped away her tears. She hoped Puck and Fratley would be more than enough to look after the survivors as she continued forward, with her friends.
I may have failed my King, my nation. But they're still alive, even Applejack, I'm certain. She nodded to herself, a fire beating in her breast. She then closed her eyes, praying, to no one in particular.
Please, let me have this. Let me help them. Please... I don't want to lose anything else... Least of all, those that risked their necks for me, my friends.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sneaking through the ship, Pinkie and Zidane eventually reached an overlook above the platform the queen was looking from. They were close enough to overhear her talking with Beatrix, and they listened in, hoping to gleam something useful from the villains.
“Did you get the item!?” Brahne asked her general with impatience. Beatrix saluted the queen as she answered, presenting the gem she stole.
“Here you are, your Majesty.” There was no emotion in her voice, a mask to hide whatever her heart felt.
“Yes! This is perfect!” The queen let out a little laugh as she continued, “With this, I can finally- No, I need one more! I must get the last jewel!” Beatrix turned away from the queen in annoyance, dropping her mask as the queen wasn't even paying attention to her.
“Not even a word of gratitude,” the proud general muttered.
“Beatrix!" The queen ordered, "Go find the last jewel!” Beatrix turned around with a salute.
“Yes, your Majesty. By the way, how is the princess doing?” She asked with genuine curiosity.
“Garnet? We have drawn all the eidolons from her. She is no longer of any use to me.” The queen immediately claimed.
“What do you mean, your Majesty?” Beatrix asked with concern.
“Garnet has committed a crime. I shall have her executed for stealing the jewel.”
“What?” Beatrix asked, confused.
“Don't make me repeat myself! When we get back to Alexandria, I'll have Garnet beheaded! Now go! Find the last jewel,” the fat queen barked out.
“Your Majesty...” she replied, now unsure if her queen was in her right mind.
“She's going to kill Dagger!” Zidane proclaimed, alarmed and angry.
“We can't let that happen!” Pinkie said.
“Let's stop them-” Zidane said as he was about to leap at them. Pinkie grabbed him before he could make a move on the queen.
“Zidane, we'll lose if we fight her now. If they have her, fighting the queen won't fix that anyways.” She said, pointing out the big flaw in Zidane's intentions.
“So what, Pinkie, are you saying we should just stand here!?” Pinkie quickly shook her head as Zidane continued, “We need to get to Alexandria before the queen, it's the only way, we free her before the queen can execute her! But how?” He wondered.
“Why not use those urns the Black Mages used?" Pinkie asked, her spontaneously brilliant ideas being a boon to Zidane.
“Pinkie, you're a genius!”
“No I'm not, I'm a pony! Now let's go rescue a princess!” With that, they returned to Freya, and filled her in. To the mare's relief, she was indeed looking better.
“Well then,” Freya began, “if Pinkie's right, then we should move it. The queen will pay for what she's done, and Alexandria will need it's princess when Brahne pays that price!” With that affirmation, the three of them went to the teleportation urns, and Pinkie jumped in first.
“Yippeee~!” And she fell into a blue and red ball of magic and flew off to Alexandria. She had her friends to look after, and friends to save. If they had the princess in Alexandria as a prisoner, then Applejack is probably there too! She hoped as she was whisped away.
“Well, I guess here goes nothing, we're coming Dagger!” Zidane said as he followed suit, and Freya did as well. And the three of them flew off, with great speed, towards Alexandria.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Moogle Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~
'Howdy Equestrian, Mois the moogle here with more tid-bits about Gaia!'
'Eidolons are summoned entities of terrifying power. The one that destroyed Cleyra was called Odin, who can destroy most anything in a single strike. Kupo!'
~~~~~~~~
Pinkie Pie
~~~~~~~~
Items Equipped:
Mythril Fork Cannon: High Tide, Party Bomb
Magician Robe: Auto-Potion, MP+10%
Shard of Chaos: Pinkie Pie(mastered)
Lvl-16 HP 643/643 MP 12/82
AP 2/21
*Auto-Confuse (5) - Targets of your abilities and attacks have a chance to become confused.
High Tide (8) - Allows you to Trance faster.
*Pink Pie (6) - Party Pony! abilities cannot miss, and your beneficial abilities don't confuse your allies.
*Chemist (4) - Doubles the effect of Potion, Hi-Potion, and Ether.
*Auto-Potion (3) - Automatically uses Potion when damaged.
MP+10% (4) - Increases MP by 10%.
Abilities:
Blue Magic:
Aqua Cannon 14 MP: Deals Water damage to all foes.
Bass Cannon 14 MP: Deals Non-elemental damage to all foes, and a chance to Silence them.
Fire Cannon 14 MP: Deals Fire damage to all foes, low chance to cause Heat.
Sand Cannon 14 MP: Deals Earth damage to all foes, and a chance to Darkness.
Party Pony!:
Pony Cannon 0 MP: Deals damage to single foe, does some damage to user.
Party Bomb All MP: Deals damage to all foes. Deals more damage with higher MP.
Trance: Automatically casts Mighty Guard and Regen on the party. Blue Magic abilities become more potent.