//------------------------------// // 24. Fossil Roo // Story: The Ninth Fantasy - Gaia // by MrAlterad //------------------------------// With the coming of dawn, the Zidane and Dagger went to the castle to take the elevator to the Dragons gate, and Zidane took in the city as they did. Pinkie and Applejack were discussing something with one of the merchants and said they would catch up, so the two of them arrived at the castle without them. It infuriated Zidane, the way Brahne flaunted her power so callously. He was looking forward to taking down this Kuja, and the queen. He was tired of seeing all this destruction, and what it was doing to his friends. Looking around, he took note of something. There are less soldiers now than yesterday. He began wondering if Brahne's troops were about to leave for somewhere else. Getting through the castle uncontested by Alexandrian soldiers, a Lindblum guard informed them the regent was waiting for them down below. So the two of them got on the elevator, and it started to descend. Zidane voiced his thoughts to Dagger, he rarely had a chance to talk to her alone. “I wonder what Brahne intends to do next.” “Zidane,” Dagger replied hesitantly, “Do we really have to go to the Outer Continent?” Zidane was taken aback by the unexpected reply to his comment. “What's up Dagger?” He asked with concern, “You said you wanted to go and stop Kuja.” “Yes, but what if,” she hesitated before continuing, “What if something happens, to any of you? What if I end up on my own? I... I don't think I'll be okay on my own.” “You're worried about us?” He wasn't surprised, after what they had been through, “You're worried about me?” That was the notion that surprised him. “What?” She replied quickly, almost losing her composure, “Well, I mean, um.” She nodded to herself, finding a satisfying answer to his question. “A princess needs her elite guards, you know. I'd be stranded without you all.” Zidane smiled at her reply. “I think you just flattered me; elite guard, aye?” He teased, which made the princess appear indignant. “Sorry, I was only kidding.” He assured, not wanting to get on her bad side, “You'll be fine, you've got all of us.” Now it was his turn to be concerned, with her. “What about you, Dagger? We don't know anything about the Outer Continent, will you be okay coming with us?” If she's having second doubts now... “I've made up my mind.” Zidane smiled at her stalwartness. She would probably run off to the Outer Continent even if she didn't have us. “I don't want my mother to commit any more atrocities.” Dagger added, “So I'm going.” “Alright then,” Zidane said, doing what he does best, assuring his friends. “I'll protect you, and the others! Regardless of where we are on Gaia,” which got a smile from his companion. “Thank you, Zidane.” It was by this point that the elevator had reached the bottom, and they saw Cid standing there waiting for them. Getting off, they sent the elevator back up, no doubt it would reach the mid floor by the time their Equestrian companions needed it. “So,” Dagger began, “Uncle Cid, did you come to see us off?” “Indeed, and to give you this,” the large oglop moved to Zidane and handed him an old rag. Zidane appraised it, almost with disgust, wondering why the Regent of Lindblum would give him such a thing. “It's just a rag...?” “You big dope!” Cid chided, “It's not a rag! That is a national treasure of Lindblum! That is an ancient map of the entire world!” Wait, this thing? And sure enough, he opened it up and saw the mist continent, as well as three other continents along with a large number of islands imprinted on it. “Wow, thanks!” Zidane replied, almost apologetically, and Cid nodded in turn. He then turned to Dagger, and they both talked about what would happen after Brahne was removed from the throne to pass the time till Pinkie and Applejack arrived. Zidane appraised the map while they waited. I wasn't aware our world was so big! A few minutes later the elevator returned with his friends aboard, and with the party assembled, Cid addressed them. “Be safe, all of you. Zidane, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, please protect the princess. We'll be ready when you deliver the good news.” “Please take care of yourself, Uncle Cid.” “I'll be fine,” he assured, “now go, before one of those foolish soldiers realize that the two ponies wandering around our city are enemies of Alexandria.” They nodded and left, bidding Cid farewell and leaving Lindblum behind, crossing the fields within the mist. The few monsters they fought had no chance against them. All of them had resupplied and changed out their equipment, and they were much stronger than the last time they had gone through these lands. The new sword Applejack was wielding had caught Zidane's eye, she seemed to take extra care handling it, like it was something she was borrowing from another. They were all surprised when the blade froze a poor salamander, being shattered into mist shortly afterwards by Pinkie. Having been there before, Applejack and Pinkie lead them to the marsh, and after arriving Pinkie led the group around. After following her directions for a couple hours, they found themselves before the opening of an underground structure. “I told you it was right next to the purple frog~” She exclaimed, and there was indeed an amethyst colored frog sitting near the entrance. How does she do that? He shook his head as he appraised the decrepit entrance. The well worn words 'Fossil R-' were etched above the stone entrance, the second word unreadable besides the first letter. “So, this should lead to the Outer Continent,” Zidane affirmed with the others, hinting that once proceeding, returning would likely be cumbersome. “We're gonna be on our own from here on,” Applejack pointed out. “Welll~ No point turning around now!” Pinkie exclaimed, “Let's go explore the spooky caves that crosses beneath the ocean!” With that, they all went down into the old excavation sight. Walking down old stone stairs, the area was illuminated by magic candelabras that seemed to burn eternally. Going down, the passed an old gate that caught their eye. As they appraised the closed gate, it opened, and the way they had come became blocked off as something before them move to engage them. A large purple metal monster with a lance that moved on wheels charged at them. “What in the hay is that!?” Applejack cried out, as they all moved back in alarm. “Whatever it is, it looks silly~!” Pinkie laughed out, It had clawed hands as well as a shield, its body parts were not actually connected, as if it was suspended pieces of armor willed by an unseen wearer. Pinkie didn't hesitate, she turned her cannon on it and let out a stream of fire, and Applejack charged it, and as if the matter was settled, the monster immediately perished. “Well, that was a let down.” Zidane admitted, then noticed the monster wasn't turning into mist. The pile of metal twitched and got back up, preparing to attack them again. Zidane brought his doublesword down on it, making it fall still again. Everyone waited to see if it would get back up again, and it did. As it started to get back up, Applejack tried something different. Her sword glowed as she used a sword technique. Zidane knew she was capable of them, as she had informed him as such, but this was the first time he's seen her use one. A blue light wrapped around her sword as she charged the metal monster, and when she hit, the light cascaded into its armor, infusing the metal with fractures as her magic shattered its wheels, which dispersed into mist. “It worked!?” Applejack declared as the monster fell over, unable to pursue them. Was that Armor Break? Zidane wondered as Applejack smiled at the monster trying to drag its way towards them. She proceeded to break what remained of the strange monster, and after shattering the final piece, turned to the others with a grin. “I suppose I should try that more often.” “Make use of what you can, right?” Zidane asked, and she nodded in reply. “That was amazing Applejack!” Pinkie declared, “I didn't know you could do that~!” Then she gave her friend a sly grin, “I've got tricks you haven't seen too, 'ya know'?” “Was that here when you-” Dagger's question was interrupted by the sound of metal grinding on stone, and everyone turned towards its source. Is it another one of those monsters? “Jeeze, that was a waste of resources.” An unfamiliar voice chimed in. A short female with dark skin and a large axe rounded a corner, approaching them. The party eyed her warily. “I've been looking for you,” The attractive female warrior proclaimed, “Princess Garnet.” “H-Have we met before?” Zidane asked, She's a pretty one! “Quit trying to flirt with her!” Dagger whispered to him. Oh, right, possible enemy. “Right, sorry.” Zidane replied as he scratched the back of his head. “I'm Lani, and I don't know you.” She replied to Zidane, giving him a look that made him sag a little. Wow, fastest turn down ever. She then looked back to Dagger. “I'm under order by the queen to find you, princess.” No one was pleased by this news, and they didn't try to hide that fact. “My mother?” Dagger asked, confused. “What does my mother want with me?” Her voice took an authoritative tone, “I am not returning to Alexandria.” “Well, I have some bad news for you princess.” Lani said with a small smile, “It's not you I'm after.” “What do ya mean?” Applejack asked, which got a glare from the warrior. “The pendant, does that sound familiar?” Dagger reflexively grabbed the gem pendant around her neck. “Let's have it back. It belongs to Queen Brahne.” Dagger stepped back from Lani, shaking her head. “Listen carefully, princess.” Lani said as she slowly brought her axe forward. “You escaped unscathed from that monster, but you're not gonna be so lucky with me. Hand over the pendant, right this minute.” “Are ya the one that set that monster loose?” Applejack asked Lani, who gave her a sick grin, and nodded. “Afraid that retrieving the pendant far outweighs the safety of the princess,” she admitted. “And what do you mean by that?” Zidane asked dangerously. “I meant exactly what I said. My orders don't include Princess Garnet's safe return.” “What? My mother would never order that-” She was gut off by Lani slamming her axe into the ground, the blade easily slicing into the stone. “Enough! Give me the Pendant! You're trying my patience!” She proclaimed, making Zidane scoff. “And if we refuse?” “You stubborn fools! It's just a pendant! Fine, have it your way!” She lunged at them, letting off a powerful blast of cold on Dagger as she swung her axe at Zidane, only for Applejack to take the hit instead. “How 'bout ya worry over little ol' me instead of the princess!” Applejack declared as she throw a mug of frothy liquid at Lani, splashing her in the face with it. Lani's face turned red as she glared at the mare. “Fine, I was hired to kill you anyway!” Lani replied as Applejack was covered by Daggers magic. As Zidane swooped in to attack Lani, she cast a spell on Applejack, and was surprised when it bounced off of a magical barrier that protected the mare, sending the spell back on the caster. She was struck by her own lighting as Zidane's attack connected, causing her to strike the ground in anger. She swung at Applejack, ignoring Zidane, getting a solid hit on her. Applejack crashed into the side of the cavern wall in surprise, the wind being knocked out of her as Lani jumped after her. Zidane got in her way, getting hit in Applejack's stead, also being sent flying. She packs quite the punch! Zidane felt Dagger's healing spell wash over them, but then noticed both Dagger and Lani share a surprised look, as her healing had been deflected from the very magical barrier she had placed on Applejack. Applejack was still wounded, and Lani became the new target for Dagger's spell, being healed from the harm Zidane and her magic had just inflicted. She smiled as she attacked Applejack again, but with a bang, she was sent back as a pink ball of pain crashed into her. Lani grabbed Pinkie by her mane and slammed her into the wall, making the pony squeal in pain. Leaving Pinkie stuck in a Pinkie shaped hole in the wall, Lani lunged towards Applejack before Applejack could drink the potion she had gotten out. Lani swung high, and brought her axe down, to Zidane and Dagger's shock, squarely on Applejack's head. Applejack was crushed into the ground, and she lay still, unmoving. The magic that composed the frothy drink Applejack had splashed Lani with dissipated, and Lani turned to Dagger with a smile. Dagger glared at Lani as she prepared a spell. The aura off her magic was different from her normal magic, and Zidane realized what she was doing. Lani charged Dagger, but Zidane intercepted her, taking another hit, and being sent flying back. As he skidded into the ground, Lani summoned lightning to strike Dagger, but it didn't connect. Her lightning was pulled towards a figure above them, and their eyes were drawn to the sight of Ramuh, overlooking the cavern floor, the lightning Lani summoned being drawn to his staff. “What the hell is that!?” Lani asked as Ramuh threw his staff at her. She dodged it, and it landed into the ground behind her, standing upright. “Ha! You miss-” The staff pulsed with electricity, crackling into Lani, one pulse, two, three. Lani screamed in pain as a torrent of lightning assaulter her. Lightning struck her, and ground, the cavern walls, and the area was quickly obscured in a cloud of stone and dust. Then, in a blinding flash, the staff, and Ramuh, were gone. That was incredible! And terrifying! Zidane thought as silence fell upon the cavern. The battle over, he looked through the cloud to find Applejack. He found her where she fell, the ground around her head cracked from the blow. As Zidane kneeled next to her, fear started to poison his mind. He then noticed something that made his fear reel back. She was breathing. The blow to her head had made her smack into the ground, but the axe failed to cut through her hat. You lucky mare, I could kiss you! Letting out a sigh of relief, he drew out the phoenix down- Something crashed into him, knocking him away from Applejack before he could aid her. Quickly moving away from the form that plowed into him, he was shocked to see Dagger laying before him, unconscious. Acting on instinct, Zidane dodged to the left, avoiding a swing of Lani's axe. He had thought the battle over, but there she was, standing before him, partially obscured by the dust. He saw that she looked ragged, her armor was burned in places, and she herself sported a number of burns on her as well. She was far removed from happy. I don't think she's going to just settle for the necklace at this point! He thought as he moved away from her, drinking a potion as he did. And now it's just me! Not good! Not good! He jumped to the side, avoiding another swing, and seeing her second miss against him, changed tactics. She summoned a ball of fire and smashed Zidane with it, the blast knocked the dust away from the center of the cavern, and Zidane rolled to get the flames off as he tried to figure out what he should do. Get Dagger on her feet, or Applejack- Feeling a slight mental tug, he whipped around and caught a small plate with a piece of cake on it, and felt terribly compelled to eat it. It was gone in an instant, and he really wished he had time to savor it. Suffice to say, a cornucopia of chocolate and vanilla would never compare to the cake he just ate. Magic within the cake spread through him as he saw Pinkie Pie, standing next to her cannon, giving Zidane a scowling grin. Their eyes meeting, they nodded in unison, and worked against Lani, right as she let forth another ball of fire. The cake invigorated Zidane, making his woulds slowly close up, and increasing his speed. He was hit by the ball of fire, but shrugged it off, and in quick order was before Lani. The look of surprise on her face quickly turned to pain as he caught her with his double sword. Lani jumped back, looking to be almost finished, she quickly glanced to Applejack, still unmoving, then the princess, her eyes falling upon the necklace. Her moment devoted to spotting her objectives cost her dearly. A large round bomb with balloons and streamerspainted on it crashed into her, slamming her into the wall, and crushing her against it as it's fuse died down. Lani disappeared in an explosion of fireworks, confetti, and party noises. As the smoke and other assorted debris cleared away, Pinkie and Zidane saw that Lani wasn't there, and were on guard, then noticed her standing a little bit back from the way they came in. “Okay,” Lani got out, leaning on her axe. “You're pretty good. Tch, what a drag. I'll let you guys go for now!” She declared as she quickly lumbered off. Zidane would have pursued her, but he had more pressing concerns, and Pinkie shared his sentiments. “That was a lot closer than I'd prefer!” Pinkie declared angrily as she moved to Applejack, then a shocked expression showed on her face. Wait, is she blushing? “I mean, jeeze, and I thought Beatrix was scary~.” She said, regaining her bouncy optimism as she helped Applejack up with a red feather. Zidane did likewise with Dagger, and they all tended to their wounds. Applejack appraised her hat, then the Lani shaped hole in the wall. “Why do we have to keep runnin' into foes stronger than us?” She asked as they prepared to move again. “Well, we're heroes, right? So naturally, bad guys are drawn to us!” Pinkie reasoned out as they left the ruined segment of the cave they had battled in behind them. “I'd rather they didn't,” Zidane added as he sighed. “We're going to run into her again at some point.” He affirmed, and the others agreed with him as they moved deeper inside. They entered a large tunnel, there was a thick root following the tunnel across the ceiling. Looking around, this place felt similar to someplace Zidane had recently been to. “This kind of resembles Gargan Roo.” Dagger pointed out, just in time for a gargant to move down the root, ignoring them. “That didn't look tamed.” Zidane observed, “I wonder if we can ride it?” “It's worth a try~!” Pinkie shouted. They all moved up towards a raised platform, and waited for another gargant to cross their path... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ATE: Fell Behind ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “They're underground!?” Spike asked, shocked at the possibility. “How far!?” “To far to dig to, kupo.” Mois admitted, “They seem to be heading north, at a good pace.” Well great! How am I suppose to catch up to them if they're underground!? Spike was north of the marsh, trying to follow where is friends were, but he was now unable to do that. The mountain range barred his path, and neither he, nor Choco could scale it in a reasonable amount of time. “Maybe we should talk to Mr. Cid in Lindblum,” Spike suggested, “see if he knows where they're going.” “Kupo!” Mois shouted in alarm, clearly not liking that idea. She then composed herself, “Let me talk to Cid, you can get working on those chocographs while I'm at it.” “Mois,” Spike began, giving the moogle a funny look, then smiled, “That's a great idea!” Causing the moogle to let out a sigh of relief. “I promise I won't go underground until you return.” Spike assured, and the two smiled shared a smile, then Mois departed. “Sorry Choco, looks like it's going to be a while until you can meet my friends.” “Kweh~” Spike nodded in agreement. Soon enough, once I find out where they're going. Is it Burmecia? He thought as he looked up, peeking through the mist to determine the suns location. He figured he still had a couple hours till sunset. Man, It's been a whole week since we arrived in Gaia. He briefly reflected on that fact before the smell of hidden treasure drew his attention. “Guess we'll have to wait for Mois.” Then his grin grew wider, “In the meantime...” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Zidane stopped, almost in sync with the others. He felt something, a familiar sensation, it was emanating from somewhere nearby. They had been traveling through the cavern for two days now. It seemed the tunnel was constructed specifically for traveling between the two continents, as there was plenty of evidence to suggest it was hand made, still, it took time crossing through the ocean on foot, even if they were using gargants as shortcuts. “You all feel that?” Zidane asked, noticing the way the others were looking around. “Yea, I've felt this before, back at the healin' spring in the Evil Forest.” Applejack replied. So that's why it feels familiar. He had also felt this presence back at the forest. “I also feel it.” Dagger admitted, “It feels... serene.” “It feels like that moment in the party where everyone's tired, but noponies up for leaving just yet!” Pinkie then pointed to a small crack that had a faint amount of light shining through. “I think we can fit through that! I betcha that's where the feeling's coming from~.” It was a tight squeeze, especially for Applejack, who almost had to take her off to get through. On the other side of the crack was a fractured cavern that climbed up, revealing light at the top, sunlight. They slowly worked their way up, each helping each other through the steep climb, Applejack often acting as an anchor for the others. Zidane was the first to reach the top, ending up above ground, and squinting at the harsh sunlight after having been in the caverns for two whole days. Wow! There's no mist here! After helping the rest of them up, they got a look around. They were on a small raised island, it looked like a shrine of some sort. In the distance, possibly two miles away, to the north was a mass of land, the Outer Continent. Zidane's eyes were immediately drawn to a pillar with a round tablet in it. It wasn't so much the pillar that caught his eye, but the tablet. The pillar it was embedded in showed signs of age, cracks and foliage growing on it. The tablet looked like it had been made very recently. As Zidane moved closer to get a better look at it, he found he wasn't alone, as his companions were following suite. The round tablet had three weapons forming a thin triangle. The base of the triangle was a dagger, the left side was a doublesword, while the right side was a normal sword. In the center of the triangle was a round shield, a sun split into two different shades emblazoned on it. Zidane traced the dagger and doublesword with his hand, the stone was cold to the touch. “I've seen something like this before!” Pinkie declared, her mirthful attitude temporarily displaced by shock. “It was in Equestria, when Steiner touched something like this,” she explained as she poked the tablet, “It's shape changed, and it bore...” Pinkie looked even more shocked, then apologetic. “Ohh, this was important, why didn't I think to tell you sooner.” She said, staring at Applejack. “Tell me what? What is it Pinkie?” “Back home, we got rid of the mist in the Everfree before I ended up in this world. We did it by touching one of these,” She indicated the tablet, “and it made the mist disappear when a crystal changed color. The tablet changed as well. It was two swords forming an 'X', with an apple resting on them. Steiner uses a sword, and so do you AJ.” She then looked to Zidane. “Well,” Zidane began, indicating artifact, “this tablet has two weapons I use on it. So does that mean you know an Equestrian that uses a sword and shield?” Pinkie nodded in reply. “So what does it mean then?” “Twilight said that Applejack switched with Steiner because of their similarities. So maybe you share some similarities with Sunset Shimmer?” Pinkie looked to the side, seeing something the others couldn't, and she nodded. “Although I don't know what that would be.” Silence fell over them as they thought on this new information. “There must have been one of these in the Evil Forest,” Applejack pointed out. “If this is here, and they're also in Equestria, maybe we can get back with these somehow?” Applejack speculated. “Twilight said the way back to Equestria was on Gaia, this is the first clue I've seen of that.” “When we're not too busy saving the Mist continent,” Zidane suggested, “we should take at look back through the Evil Forest.” “It's so far away.” Dagger commented, looking south, seeing nothing but ocean. “When we beat up the meany Kuja,” Pinkie said enthusiastically, “we'll just go back through here!” “Well, let's not dally here,” Applejack insisted, “I recon there isn't much we can do about this tablet besides think about it, so lets get back down there and finish up. We're almost there.” Zidane looked at the tablet as the others returned to the cave. That tablet is giving off magic of some kind, we all can feel it. Zidane knew, sooner or later, he would be returning to this spot, but for what reasons he didn't know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ATE: Blue Feathers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spike's worry was changed to wonder as he appraised his chocobo friend. They had just opened another chest they found with a chocograph, only this one had some sort of sleeping spell in it. At least, that's what he assumed, as Choco passed out immediately after opening the empty chest. He watched as her feathers turned from yellow to light blue before his eyes. Just what's happening to her? This chest was on the coast past the ruins of Cleyra. Spike met the Burmecian refugees trying to get here, and boy, where they surprised to see a baby dragon riding a chocobo. He convinced them he was a friend by giving them a good sum of the healing items his treasure hunting has given him. He heard rumor of his friends exploits from them, and he kind of felt left out because of that. Spike had a picture of how it must have been in his head, Zidane and his friends valiantly staying behind to ensure the people of Burmecia and Cleyra got away. As he daydreamed next to his sleeping friend, he noticed a certain moogle fly up to them. “I... finally... caught... up!” Mois gasped out. Spike hasn't been staying in a single spot for very long over the last two days. He and Choco had been tirelessly working to dig up the chocographs on the Mist continent. There were several other graphs Spike had that suggested there were other continents, where the treasure was buried, but he didn't know how to get to them. Realizing that his actions led Mois running about after them, he gave her a small apology, which she accepted as she looked to the chocobo. “Kupo!? What's with Choco!” “I donno, but I think she's fine,” she looked happy in her sleep, and she needed the rest anyway. Spike let out a yawn as he addressed his moogle friend. “So what's the word? Where did our friend's go?” “Oh, right.” And Mois told him about the Outer Continent, why his friends were going there, and the underground passage. Well, how about that! Spike doubted there were any more chocographs in the Chocobo Forest, but Mene had told him there were other chocobo sanctuaries out in the world where he could find more. “Well then, after Choco wakes up, let's head after them, they got a head start on us, but we'll catch up!” He declared with a smile. Stopping some bad guy named Kuja huh? They did run off on an adventure! He's already found all the treasure the chocographs pointed to on this continent, even one near the Evil Forest, which he spent all of yesterday getting to. He had a respectable pile of goodies to share with the others. He still had two other graphs he was sure were on this continent, but they were around the small nearby islands, and Choco couldn't swim. Deciding they couldn't do much until Choco woke up, they set up camp and took a break. He eyed the ring the princess had left him. He had already mastered its power, as well as all the others from his equipment over the last two days, and it was nice to not have to worry about enemy magic because of it. He put the ring back into the bag of mementos he was gathering, the ring sharing it's company with three gemstones with the names of his friends on them. Sitting there with nothing to do but wait, it didn't take long for the tired dragon to fall sleep as well, cuddling up with Choco as Mois watched them sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Zidane and the others climbed out of the cavern, the Outer Continent side of the tunnel looked more natural than man made. They came out to a red rocky landscape, the air was dry and warm, and foliage was sparse. “Well, this certainly looks like an invitin' place.” Applejack declared, sifting through the dirt, “Doesn't rain much here, the soil's ripe with nutrients.” Zidane was a little surprised by that assessment. Right, I keep forgetting she was a farmer in Equestria. “Well, we're here now!” Pinkie declared with a grin. “We crossed the ocean~! Without a boat! That is sooo amazing~!” “But now that we're here, how do we find Kuja?” Dagger asked, looking to the others for guidance. “Well, the old fashion way I guess.” Zidane replied, “With our eyes. Let's keep moving, maybe we'll find a settlement or something.” Dagger and the others nodded, and with that, they all ventured out into an unfamiliar land. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Moogle Notes: ~~~~~~~~~~~ 'Howdy Equestrian, Mois the moogle here with more tid-bits about Gaia!' 'Crossing the ocean can be a harrowing trip for a moogle. We can fly over it, but that doesn't really help anyone we're traveling with. Mognet, where we process the mail we deliver, isn't on the Mist Continent.' 'Pinkie's cake gives Haste to her friends, it makes them move and attack faster, a strong advantage to have! Kupo!' 'Riding the garants was a real trick for the party, as the gargants run upside down on the roots the climb. Needless to say, getting the ponies to ride it involved ropes, tenacity, and a touch of crazy.' 'I really like Spike, but he has a tendency to forget things, like the fact that chocobos are much faster than moogles. Kupo.' 'You may be wondering what 'Trouble' is under Zidane's weapon. It's a rather nasty effect that's more debilitating against a large number of foes. Trouble magically wounds the target, linking their life force with their allies. If they're physically harmed, that pain will be shared with the others. Needless to say, it needs to be removed as soon as one can. An item called Annoyntment can cleanse the magic from its victim, and Applejack's 'Apple Toss' ability as well. Suffice to say, the party is in trouble if anyone is suffering from this curse.' ~~~~~~ Zidane ~~~~~~ Items Equipped: Expolda: Sacrifice, Lucky Seven Add ST: Trouble Bandana: Man Eater(mastered), Insomniac(mastered) Mythril Armlet: Bug Killer(mastered) Adaman Vest: Stone Killer(mastered), Bird Killer(mastered) Elem-Def: Fire damage reduced by 50% Power Belt: MP Attack(mastered), Counter, Fira Lvl up! Lvl-20 HP 969/1005 MP 0/85 AP 1/28 *MP Attack (5) - Uses own MP to raise Attack Pwr. Bird Killer (3) - Deals lethal damage to flying enemies. Bug Killer (2) - Deals lethal damage to insects. Stone Killer (4) - Deals lethal damage to stone enemies. Undead Killer (2) - Deals lethal damage to undead enemies. Devil Killer (2) - Deals lethal damage to demons. Beast Killer (4) - Deals lethal damage to beasts. Man Eater (2) - Deals lethal damage to humans. *Steal Gil (5) - Steal Gil along with items. Add Status (3) - Adds weapons status affect when you Attack. *Counter (8) - Counterattacks when physically attacked. *Protect Girls(4) - You take damage in place of a girl. Alert (4) - Prevents back attacks. Flee-Gil (3) - Receive Gil even when running from battle. Insomniac (5) - Prevents Sleep. Antibody (4) - Prevents Poison and Venom. Bright Eyes (4) - Prevents Darkness. Jelly (4) - Prevents Petrify and Gradual Petrify. Auto-Potion (3) - Automatically uses Potion when damaged. Clear Headed (5) - Prevents Confusion. *Bandit (5) - Raises success rate of Steal. Abilities: Steal: Action Command - Steal an item from the enemy. Skill: Flee 0 MP - Escape from battle with high probability. Detect 0 MP - See the enemy's items. What's That!? 2 MP - Allows back attack. Soul Blade 6 MP - Draws out the hidden power of thief swords. Sacrifice 32 MP - Sacrifice yourself to restore HP and MP to the other party members. Lucky Seven 6 MP - Deals physical damage by luck. Trance - Physical damage multiplied by 1.5, Gain access to the Dyne Skills