The blistering sun was high overhead as the group made their return to Conde Petie. Spike had held up the others, saying goodbye to the Black Mages took some time. Having spent so much time with Choco, his feet reminded him of the wonders of walking great distances, on rocky ground. The hot rocky ground.
“I think we should take a break at the town before movin' on.” Applejack suggested, glancing to Spike as she said so.
“No argument here!” Pinkie proclaimed as she rummaged through her possessions. “I need to get ready for the ceremony anyways~!” She pulled out the pair of disguise glasses and gave a small nod.
“What ceremony?” Spike asked, taking in the settlement built over the canyon as they got closer.
“Oh, you'll see soon enough~!” she giggled out. Her reply making the others share a concerned look. They reached the root bridge to the town, and began to cross as Dagger looked past the settlement.
“Last time we were here,” she began, “they weren't letting anyone pass to the other side.” Zidane nodded to her words before addressing the group.
“Well, I guess we'll see what that's about and try and work around it,” he affirmed as they finished crossing the root bridge. Walking into the shade of the structure, Spike let out a sigh, stopping a moment to take in a cool breeze.
“Rally-ho!” A small green man proclaimed to Spike, but not the others.
“Oh uh, Rally-ho to you too!” Spike quickly replied, enjoying the sound of the greeting. With that the strange dwarf let him pass. “Nice folks here.” Spike admitted to the others as they wandered through the settlement. Shortly after they entered, Pinkie ran off, giggling as she did so.
“Now where does she think she's goin'?” Applejack asked, taking a single step after her, before giving up on the notion. Her sentiment was shared with the others, as Pinkie ran off alone. Passing through Conde Petie, they talked to the twins at the other end of town, who were guarding the exit they sought to pass through. They were informed that in order to pass, they had to partake in a holy ceremony, and were instructed to talk to 'His Holiness'.
“Do you think that's what Pinkie meant, and that's why she ran off?” Spike asked as they moved to talk to 'His Holiness'. After looking for him for several minutes, they found someone matching his description leaving an area they had been blocked from for the last few minutes.
“Hey mister,” Zidane began, his voice lacking any note of respect. “Are you the holy guy?”
“Aye. Ah'm Father David,” replied the old dwarf with white hair and a very long beard. He wore old ceremonial garments and a square shaped hat that was much taller than it's width.
“We need to get past the village.” David's brow furrowed at Zidane's words.
“Hmph! Tradition states that only those who undergo the ceremony kin approach the Sanctuary.” Zidane contained a sigh as Spike wondered if it would be better to sneak past the guards.
“So, what's the ceremony then?” Zidane asked, humoring the dwarf.
“Well,” David began, scratching his beard as he appraised Zidane, “after a man an' a woman are blessed in holy union, they leave oan holy pilgrimage tae the Sanctuary.”
“Soo, it's basically a wedding and a honeymoon, right?”
Oh, a wedding! Spike thought as he nodded in understanding. Wait, a wedding!? He noticed his expression being mirrored by Applejack, but Zidane and Dagger didn't seem bothered by this information.
“Ah dinnae ken yir words, lad, but methinks ye understan'.” Dagger nodded and spoke up.
“So, we can go to the Sanctuary if we undergo the ceremony, right?”
“Looks like that's the deal,” Zidane affirmed, then adopted a sly grin, “What do you think? We can move forward, if we get hitched.” He said to Dagger, nodding enthusiastically, then abandoned his mischievous grin as he saw the look Applejack was giving him, “But there's no way-”
“Let's do it.” Dagger curtly proclaimed, no hint of sarcasm or humor in her voice or body language.
“What!?” All three of her companions replied in unison.
“Jinx~~!” They heard from a bubbly pink mare from somewhere within the settlement.
“Sae ye wantae be joined, eh? Aye ken doo anothe' ceremony er two. Mor', tae maerryeir.” He left to prepare, leaving them all looking at Dagger, eyes still wide open.
“Uhh, Dagger? What's going on?” Zidane stood there confused, but she provided no answer as she moved off after father David. He quickly followed after her as a troubling thought bubbled to the top of the young dragon's concerns.
“Wait, if those two are getting married to pass through...” Spike and Applejack looked to each other, and blushed in unison.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATE: Nuptial Joy
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Now, hold on a sec,” Zidane said, making the princess stop next to a ramp that lead to an arc where a couple stood to be wed. This arc was shaped as a small blue boat, decorated with pillows and flowers, built suspended over a long fall, not unlike the settlement itself. In front of the arc was a podium that Father David stood waiting at.
“Dagger! Don't you get it? This is a marriage, m-a-r-r-i-a-g-e!” She knows what this means, right?
“No kidding,” she replied, her sarcasm almost going over his head. “We have to do it to go on, right?”
“Yea, but- But that's not reason enough!”
“Oh come on,” and this time, her voice carried the implication that Zidane was being juvenile. They both got on the arc, and a light shined over them as Father David began the ceremony.
“Speerits o' the moontain.”
“Speerits o' the wood.”
Uh, just, how did I get into this? Zidane wondered as he looked to Dagger at his side, seeing her calm and composed didn't help ease his bafflement.
“Watch ower this man an' woman as they being their journey.”
We gotta do this ceremony to get past this village... and only a guy and girl can have the ceremony. He shook his head, certain that there was more to this then he could see. Just what is she thinking? She's suppose to get angry and say 'no way' when something like this happens!
“In sickness an' in health.”
Of course we're just trying to get past this village. He reasoned, nodding to himself, then his eyes widened as a possibility came to mind.
“Have the strength to cairry ye through the trials.”
Could it be that she likes me? The more he thought on it, the greater his smile became. He felt his face flush as his heart beat quickened, and he nodded with certainty.
“An' the wisdom tae follow the path.”
Gotta admit, I was pretty deep last night back in the Black Mage Village. Maybe that's when she fell for me? He almost couldn't stand still, the mood he was building himself on going straight to his head. I'm such a stud!
“May the blessin's o' heaven be upon this man an' woman!”
A light shined brightly from overhead as Father David's words came to an end. Zidane turned to Dagger, who looked to him, concern growing on her face as she appraised his.
"Dagger! Now we're man and wife!" Zidane suddenly said, his voice overflowing with excitement. Suddenly, and without warning, he leapt through the air, shouting "Time for the kiss!" Dagger was surprised, but not surprised enough to warrant inaction. She quickly sidestepped his kamikaze smooch, causing him to land where she was, and fall flat on his face. She turned and left him, hiding a small smile as she departed the room. Zidane got up, looked around, and said to nobody in particular, "Playing hard to get, eh?" Rubbing the back of his head, he too left the room, his ego bruised as the air in his head cooled down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ceremony over, Spike and Applejack were allowed into the room. Only family members were allowed to attend, to their disappointment, Spike had been looking forward to seeing the wedding. The thought of marrying one of his friends has been nagging at him since the possibility was mentioned. It ate at him, and he was considering a way out. Maybe they could marry each other! Then I could just teleport to the other side of the guards, right? He liked the idea, but he really doubted they'd go for that plan.
“Happy fit!” A guard announced to the newlyweds as Spike and Applejack reached them, “Now ye need annoonce yer joinin' tae the twins at the other gate!”
“What!?” Zidane exclaimed, “You mean there's more?” Spike noticed that Zidane's face look a little injured, and couldn't fathom how.
“We have tae follow tradition, lad!” The dwarf replied, prompting Zidane to sigh as he turned to Dagger.
“Ah, well, time for us newlyweds to make the rounds,” he motioned off to where the twin guards were, bowing respectfully to the princess, “Dagger.” He finished with a grin.
“Remember, we're only married while we're here,” she affirmed. And just like that, it looked like Zidane was splashed with cold water, as he let out another sigh. If his other friends didn't have a certain ceremony running through their heads faster than a chocobo, they would have found his distress amusing.
“Bliss is so fleeting,” he said as he looked towards the sky, as if expecting to find paradise within it.
“So, uh, where's Pinkie?” Spike asked as he and Applejack shared another awkward look.
“Over here~!” Looking to the source, all four of them couldn't help but let their mouths hang open at the sight before them. Pinkie was in a white wedding dress, a veil covering her face, and to her side, was a handsomely dressed figure, wearing a buttoned tux that fit it's form perfectly. There was no mistaking those bemusing spectacles, that large nose, the plastic mustache, the hollow end of a large barrel.
Pinkie married her party cannon. She had exchanged her eternal vows to partying. Spike wasn't sure what was more baffling. Where she got the dress, or the tux for that matter, or the fact that it had actually worked.
“Well?” She asked as she motioned to her cannon, “Don't you think my husband look's handsome~!”
“I think ya cheated.” Applejack accused, getting a reaction from Pinkie that made Spike feel bad for Applejack.
“But- But-” She stammered as she was about to break into tears.
“Come on everyone, let's go talk to the twin and see what this is about.” Dagger interjected, hiding a smile as she walked past Pinkie, who looked at her surprised.
“D-Dagger, wait for me!” Zidane said as he chased after her, and Pinkie followed suit, her husband seemingly moving on it's own after her, leaving Applejack and Spike alone, and baffled.
“Soo,” Spike began, kicking the dirt. “Are we-”
“L-Let's get this over with, and never speak of this again!” Applejack very quickly spit out, then pulled her hat down to cover her face when she saw the look Spike was giving her. Spike wasn't sure if he should feel hurt, or relieved.
They both looked to Father David, and sighed in unison. It didn't take long for the Father to set up the ceremony for them, and very shortly, the both of them stood together on the arc as the Father recited the wedding ceremony. Spike's heart was beating fast, his face flushed as he quickly glanced to Applejack, then quickly looked away, his face become a deeper hue.
How did this happen!?
“Speerits o' the moontain.”
“Speerits o' the wood.”
I didn't travel across the ocean to become married to Applejack!? He quickly glanced to her again, and saw that similar thoughts were racing between her eyes, and they looked away when those eyes met.
“Watch ower this man an' woman as they being their journey.”
Okay, calm down Spike, calm down. Twilight should be fine with this, right? They're good friends after all! His thoughts failed to calm his heart, his face was starting to feel hot, hotter than when they had marched under the scorching sun.
“In sickness an' in health.”
Wait, if I marry Applejack, wouldn't that mean I'd be Apple Bloom's brother? He considered that idea both amusing and annoying. Wait! Then that would mean that Big Macintosh...!
“Have the strength to cairry ye through the trials.”
Wait, isn't this against the rules or something? Aren't I too young to be married? Argh, and who would be taking care of my bachelors party!? Zidane? His embarrassment was dying down as his thoughts chased after a tangent. Looking to his side, he saw Applejack looking at him again, and the fire in her eyes rekindled his embarrassment. What's with that look she's giving me!?
“An' the wisdom tae follow the path.”
Wait, is she taking this seriously!? Spike took a step back under that look, which made Applejack blink before giving him a kind smile.
“May the blessin's o' heaven be upon this man an' woman!” A light shined brightly from overhead, drawing his attention to her shining mane. He shook his head as Applejack bowed towards him.
“Spike, this is my vow.”
She IS serious!
“I promise, as long as we're together, I will protect you.”
Wait, what? His heart beat started to slow as comprehension hit him like a bucket of cold water. He blinked a moment before gaining some composure to reply.
“Wow. Thank's Applejack.” Wait, she does that anyways! His brow furrowed, “I mean, it's what you do-”
“No, that's not it.” Shaking her head at him, her eyes giving him a sense that her vow went further than that, “Spike, if you have a problem, or feel the need to cry, please, come to me, count on me.”
Where is this coming fr- oh. His shoulders slumped as he looked to the ground.
“Pinkie told you.” He wasn't disappointed that she had told her, but he still didn't like it. Her eyes were hard as she answered.
“Yes,” then her eyes softened, “we all know how it feels, to see those kind of things. So please, when ya feel the need to cry, come to me.” He shook his head as he looked up to her.
“Silly Applejack, boy's don't cry!” He proclaimed with his chest forward, donning a false smile.
“But friends do,” She said as she patted him on the head, drawing him close. Her words made his heart ache.
Friends. Yes, I guess friends aren't afraid to cry around each other. He stood there a moment, enjoy her warmth before moving back, looking her in the eyes, a fire of his own beating in his chest.
“In that case, you gotta do the same. I vow to be there too, if you need to cry, don't hold it in. Alright?”
“A swordsmare doesn't-” Her words died on her lips as she realized what she was saying.
“But...” Spike said, starting to mirror her words as comprehension dawned on her face. She lightly bopped him on the head as she let out a happy sigh.
“Right. Thanks Spike, I appreciate it.” She replied, her words conveying trust that he would follow through, as he trusted her to do the same. They shared a moment looking over each other, in a new light, under the radiance still showering upon them. After the moment passed, they noticed that they had been left alone. Not wanting to linger any further on the wedding arc, Applejack spoke up. “Let's get down and outa here, before Pinkie finds and teases us.” Spike nodded, then adopted a mischievous grin.
“When she does, you can count on me! I'll protect you from that, too!”
“Well, ya better believe I'll do the same!”
“THIEF!!”
The sudden cry made the two friends turn in unison, it was in the direction their friends left from. Acting quickly, Applejack scooped up Spike, and they moved with such haste that they were almost flying, towards the commotion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATE: Generous Thief?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The twins moved away from their post after congratulating the pair of newlyweds. Pinkie's eyes followed them, eagerly awaiting to see a new couple heading their way. Ignoring Pinkie's troubling expression, Zidane turned to Dagger.
“Well, darling,” he respectfully said with a bow, a hint of hope riding his words, “Shall we?”
“THIEF!!”
The three of them, plus one well dressed cannon, turned in unison to the commotion. A small child with purple hair, a horn, a yellow bow, and a pink and blue shirt and yellow pants ran close to them before turning around. Dagger's eyes followed the child, a strange look of familiarity and confusion carried in those eyes.
“Mog, hurry!” The child demanded as she turned around and ran right past them. A moogle with a golden pon pon flew after her, being chased by the twin guards.
“Stop, thief!” The guards exclaimed as they ran past the party.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike and Applejack arrived to the shops near the edge of Conde Petie. Seeing the guards chase after a moogle, they shared a look, seeing the same memory play in their eyes. The sight before them reminded them of back when they reunited in Alexandria, chasing after a thief of their very own. They halted when they reached the others, and Spike hopped off his friend.
“Wh-What's going on?” Dagger asked, the composure she's carried since arriving briefly abandoned.
“I'm not sure,” Zidane admitted as he looked on with curiosity, “Let's take a look.” They didn't have to go far to reach the guards. They were at the other edge of town, the side they wanted to depart from. Just like the entrance they came in from, this side had a root bridge that anchored the settlement to the apposing cliff side.
“They got away...” one of the watchmen said with annoyance, and a hint of disappointment.
“Feuch!” His brother said as he kicked the dirt, “An' we cannae go any farther!” Spike looked between the two of them before looking towards the mountains beyond the cliff.
“Does anyone live out there?” The dragon asked.
“O' course no! It's forbidden!” The first guard replied.
“Och! Yon two thieves are always snitchin' food!” The other added.
“Ya don't say?” Applejack proclaimed, rubbing her chin as they looked to over the canyon.
“Ah'll catch 'em next time!” The first guard promised as they both returned to their posts. The distraction passed, Zidane turned around to greet his friends, then leaned towards them.
“So, did you two-” Zidane began, his grin radiating the promise of making sure he'd never let them live it down. He was however, interrupted by someone more capable of keeping to that.
“Spike and Applejack sitting in an apple tree~! K~I~S-” Pinkie began as she danced around the both of them, then froze in mid air. The silhouette of a clock appeared on her mid jump, and the clock froze, and so did she. She was stopped, by a certain dragon's magic. Spike walked up to her and tapped her with his staff, and Applejack gave the pink mare a grin of her own.
Bet she didn't see that coming! Spike thought as he grinned to his orange friend.
“Anyone else feel like suggestin' somethin' they shouldn't?” Applejack asked as she looked directly at Zidane. He was quick to shake his head.
“R-Right! Time to press on! Let's go show Kuja the old one two!” He 'bravely' proclaimed as he quickly moved down the root bridge towards their destination, leaving the rest of them behind. Spike, Dagger, and Applejack all shared a quick look. The big grin on Spike's face started making Applejack chuckle, which was then passed on to her friends, its infection proving unavoidable. And even though she was frozen in time, Pinkie was laughing too, with her pristine expression.
When the spell ended, Pinkie fell to the floor, chuckling. Applejack helped her on her hooves as Pinkie looked to Spike.
“That was a good one Spike! You sure got me~!” She moved forward, almost tripping over her mirth as she picked up a small, clear rope tied to her 'husband', and they all crossed the root bridge, towards their destination.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Moogle Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~
'I- I missed my chance!'
[The rest of the note's could not be finished on account of a crying moogle.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike the Dragon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Items Equipped:
Oak Staff: Stop(mastered), Bio(mastered), Drain(mastered)
Add ST: Slow.
Magus Hat: Slow(mastered)
Raises Ice Elem-Atk
Glass Armlet: Steal Gil, Antibody(mastered)
Elem-Def: Water damage reduced by 50%.
Magician Robe: Auto-Potion(mastered), MP+10%
Peridot: Ramuh, Thundara(mastered), Brotherly Shield(mastered)
Lvl Up! Lvl-23 HP 789/789 MP 116/116
AP 1/26
*Auto-Reflect(15) - Automatically casts Reflect in Battle.
Add Status(3) - Adds weapon's status effect when you attack.
Antibody (4) - Prevents Poison and Venom.
*Ability Up (7) - Doubles the amount of Ability Points earned from battles.
Generosity (6) - Lowers the price of items by a small amount.
*Auto-Potion (3) - Automatically uses Potion when damaged.
*Dragon Scales(0) - You take no fire damage.
Abilities:
Black Magic:
Fire 6 MP - Causes Fire damage to single/multiple targets.
Blizzard 6 MP - Causes Ice damage to single/multiple targets.
Slow 6 MP - Slows a single target.
Thunder 6 MP - Causes Thunder damage to single/multiple targets.
Thundara 12 MP - Causes moderate Thunder damage to single/multiple targets.
Stop 8 MP - Stops targets from taking any action.
Poison 8 MP - Inflicts Poison to single/multiple targets.
Bio 18 MP - Causes Non-elemental damage and Poison to single/multiple targets.
Drain 14 MP - Drains HP from the target and transfers it to the spell caster.
Friendship's Magic:
Spike's Flame 0 MP - Green and harmless warm fire. Perfect for lighting up any party.
Teleport 2 MP - Increase chance of physical attacks missing Spike for short duration.
Whining 4 MP - Causes enemies to flee. You get no rewards from fleeing enemies.
Flame Breath 8 MP - Causes Fire damage to a single target. Cannot be reflected.
Rainboom 14 MP - Causes Non-elemental damage to multiple targets, Slows and Confuses.
Brotherly Shield 20 MP - Generates a powerful shield on the party that blocks a single attack.
Trance - Can use Tetra-Breath, mixing three Black Magic spells into a breath attack. It cannot be reflected.