The commotion didn't go unnoticed, and after a few minutes, some lights blinked on lazily around the cage.

Elsewhere, a sleepy figure stumbled into a room, yawned and peered into the viewing scope of a piece of disused equipment, accidentally flipping a switch as he did so.

“Great, another desert hermit has fallen into one of the cages again...” Came a man's voice, which was distorted by the interference of the intercom.

 

“Who are you calling a hermit?” Drake snarled, looking around. “Let me out of here! Now! La dracu! Nu face doi bani!”

 

Kuja flicked off the switch and muttered a silent 'oops' to himself. He'd just have to work with it...

“If you're not a hermit, then who are you and why should I let you out?” Kuja asked over the intercom. He was pleased to find that the cages still offered almost the same level of satisfaction as when he had first used them on Zidane and his friends.
The control was reassuring, plus it was fun to be able to taunt the people inside with impunity.

Though since he no longer had the Black Mages to service the cages, he didn't dare see if the sliding floors still worked. Well actually, he did dare, but he thought it would be prudent to see if this was someone who would be missed, first.

Something he felt at the back of his mind nagged at him, too, but his mind was still too groggy to realize what it was.

 

Drake leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “I am Prince Dracula Vladimir Dragomir, and I’m here to inform you that Queen Brahne is going to attack the Black Mage Village and kill all the Genomes. Today.”

 

“Is that so...” Kuja replied thoughtfully, then let the intercom go silent for a long moment.

“Very well, I will be down there in a moment.” He added finally and got up, passing a teleporter pad and starting down some stairs. He'd tried the door release lever on the panel, but hadn't heard the door open over the intercom.

 

Drake wasn’t one to just wait in a cage if there was a chance of getting out, so he tried the door after having heard an odd sound.

It opened after a few hard shoves, and Drake slunk out. His eyes darted around the room before he turned and replaced the door to it’s locked position, and he slunk off to the left, down the stairs and toward the only door in the room that couldn’t be confused with the others.

The exit door.

That’s where he waited. Beside the exit door buried in shadows.

 

A few moments later, a rather tall man wearing a dressing gown and slippers came through the door, but then paused for a moment and looked up. It was as if he had sensed, or heard something in the distance all of a sudden, and was concentrating on it to see if he could work out what it was.

 

Drake took a moment to judge the threat level—which was hard to do when the possible threat was wearing… that. “Are you Kuja?”

 

If Kuja had been startled, he hid it well, though a slightly confused look did cross his face. It was as if he had realized something, but was having difficulty believing it. The look soon changed to one of slight amusement with a hint of excitement.

“That depends on who sent you.” Kuja replied, closing the door.

 

“Your brother.” Drake replied, stepping forward slightly.

He was ready for an attack, and expected one if the rumors were true… Drake had to hope Zidane would not have sent him here if there was going to be a major problem.

 

“Ah, then he must have told you the password.” Kuja answered, and crossed his arms expectantly.

 

Drake flicked his hands open at his side, and blue fire erupted from them and raced up his arm, halfway covering his vambraces. His eyes narrowed and glowed an even brighter shade of red.

 

Kuja bit the inside of his lip for a moment. “… that’s where I know you from…” he noted, to himself, as he felt the power flowing from the child in front of him.

 

That power he felt by the Black Mage Village that one time… that was from this… kid? The boy looked to be his brother’s age; couldn’t possibly be older. Yet the power range was impressive and surprising… “Though, you could have just admitted there wasn’t one. My brother is far too stupid to come up with a password.”

 

Had Drake not remembered he was here for a reason, every flammable object in the entire palace would have gone up in flames—as it was he couldn’t make the fire he’d already started go out. “I don’t have time for stupid games! Nor do you if you’re going to do anything about the attack.”

 

Kuja gave a sigh but didn't seem any less relaxed than he was a moment before. “Okay, when is the attack and how will they attack?” He asked as he opened another door and led the way out into a dusty but fancy-looking hallway.

 

Drake stiffened, but followed at a slower pace. He fought his better instincts and made the fire go out, noticing the steam rising off his vambraces and gloves.

“I don’t know when exactly. I know it will be today, I know Queen Brahne will not wait long when she gets a plot and assumes it will work.” Drake shook his head, hiding his glances around the hall. He didn’t want to be trapped in here without knowing where enemies might come from. “… Brahne has Princess Eiko and Princess Garnet tricked into following her every command, and her plan is to have the two summoners use their Eidolons to destroy the Genomes in the village.”

 

“Well, if I really must...” Kuja said with a bored sigh and opened another large door. This one led directly into a cave; even in the shadows, the heat from the desert was shocking after the cool luxury of the Palace.

 

Drake was relieved to feel the heat. It took away much of the unease he’d felt… but he was unnerved about the lax attitude.
He was beginning to think he should have risked going to the village himself, perhaps starting a few fires… make people run.
He chose to keep silent, for now.

 

“Zidane really sent you?” Kuja asked, glancing back.

 

“Yes.” Drake replied, giving a nod.

 

Kuja was a bit curious about that… but… Kuja believed the prince. It also seemed like an urgent matter, so his focus turned to action… still, just because he had decided to do something did not mean he had to let others know he had. “Okay, up those tall winding stairs next to the teleporter pad, is the exit.” Kuja said, breaking off from the earlier conversation. “Do try not to fall back in again, or I will have to charge you 100 gil for accommodation.” He added with a smirk.

 

“… Zidane has a lot of self restraint to have not killed you by now.” Drake stated, meaning it.

 

Kuja was about to retort, but Drake took off with amazing speed.

 

Drake jumped, grabbed the rail, and pulled himself up for the last few feet. Once he was out, he didn’t waste a lot of time looking around, he ran back toward where he’d left the airship.
Again, he chose his wings for much of the journey, but he stayed much lower to the ground. In the daylight, the chances of being seen were far greater; staying low was the only option.

 

Drake landed when the airship was in sight. He had to trust that his vision was better than the pilots— that he could see the airship without being seen himself, and ran the rest of the way… still, this side trip had taken a full day.

 

 

The whole way back, he watched the sky… and ducked down as they passed the Red Rose.

He got Vanda and managed to return back to his palace only a few hours later than he’d thought he would.

 

“Oh, you're back.” Eclipse observed when he spotted Drake in the hallway. He was a little disappointed that he hadn't taken Celestina with him on the hunting trip. It was a time where all the plans were coming together. What if something went wrong and he'd needed the boy?

 

Drake looked down at himself then back at Eclipse. “My word! You’re right!”

 

“You didn't want to witness the attack on the Genomes?” Eclipse asked, as he chose to ignore the more than blatant sarcasm.

 

“Not really… I thought me being there might cause a fight and I'd hate to have that happen…” Drake breezed.

 

Eclipse narrowed his eyes. “I'd have thought you would have loved that.” He countered, obviously regarding to see if the response really was because he had taken notice to the 'lesson' after the world meeting.

 

Drake shuddered involuntarily, despite his best efforts to stifle it—he just ended up getting stiff and his muscles got tight. He looked down at the floor and got very, very silent.

 

Eclipse smirked and just walked away, he had much more important things to do. Like get in contact with the Queen and see how the attack went. It wouldn't do to leave that monstrously stupid woman in control of such power for long. That is, if she had managed to pull it off at all.

 

Drake glared in the direction Eclipse had gone. He hated this. Hated truly being afraid of the smallest little things. When you got older, weren’t you supposed to become braver? It seemed he’d been bolder at a younger age… he hadn’t really feared disappearing for a bit.

With any luck, he knew the outcome of Eclipse’s conversation with Brahne… maybe Eclipse would demand they go to Alexandria… he’d get to see Garnet…

 

Eclipse did contact the queen, after trying for hours. Hours that he soon found, she had spent searching for Zidane.

After she had let him escape.

That's right, the queen who wouldn't be able to tie her own shoelaces, even if she could reach them, had let the Genome prince escape. How was it even possible for just one man to be able to escape an entire ship full of soldiers and two battle-experienced summoners? He would never know. Brahne's stupidity and incompetence was beyond comprehension.

Eclipse quickly went to find Drake in his room, knocking on the door loudly before just walking in.

 

Drake had been able to at least act surprised… “What do you mean she let Zidane escape?” It was all too easy; Eclipse was so busy being mad at Brahne he had no idea Drake was faking anything.

 

They went back to Alexandria. Drake was glad he would get to see Garnet… it was obvious the affects of the red pearl were taking toll on her… so Drake tested how strong the bind was.
It was strong, but of course it would have to be… He could feel the stress on Garnet’s mind, and he let it go on. He let her fret until he felt that bind snap. That’s when he started talking, getting her away from the ledge she’d been on. If he could keep her from showing the break, Brahne wouldn’t set up a new one…

 

“You’re upset,”

 

“It feels different than I thought it would…”

 

Drake gave a slight nod. “Thought it would be easier?”

 

Garnet sighed. “I guess… It feels like I’ve done the worst thing imaginable.”

 

Drake raised an eyebrow. “You said yourself, they’re not people. No souls, just empty vessels.”

 

“I know, but it just… it feel so awful. I… I can’t believe what I’ve done.” She bit her lip, nearly in tears.

 

Suddenly, all that held back emotion broke free and she really did find herself crying. There was a voice that had kept telling her how she felt, over and over, but she’d flooded it now, gotten past it, broke free, and she was crushed.

What had she done? What had she done!

It hurt so much. Everything was going so wrong, and it was her fault! Why had she done it?

Why had she let it get so bad?

She couldn’t believe it…

How could she live, knowing what she’d done?

He’s not going to forgive me. How could he forgive this? He loved me! What have I done? What am I going to do? I’ve completely betrayed him… I just can’t live, knowing what I’ve done…

 

“Princess Garnet.” Drake called for the third time, taking her hand to get her attention.

 

Garnet looked back at him through watery eyes.

 

“You have done nothing.”

 

“Yes I did, I—.”

 

“Nothing.” Drake repeated locking eyes with her and not letting her look away, “Nothing bad. You did as you were told, nothing more.”

 

Garnet looked at him, wanting to believe… she even stopped crying. Something… changed. The whispering she’d heard in her mind constantly before now stopped as she met his eyes.

 

“You have murdered no one, trust me. There is a saying; the only way to tell if something will come back is to first let it go. If Zidane returns for you, then you know… he will love you no matter what the odds. His next actions determine the way all this is going to go. He can come back for you…” Drake wiped the tears from under her eyes and she smiled, slightly, back at him. “It’s all going to be all right, Princess. I promise.”

 

 

He could smell Brahne above them, watching them, so he was careful about what he did and said. He saw Brahne look worried for just a second, but it went away…

 

 

If the bind were broken or not, Brahne was not sure. However, it did not seem to matter at the moment. Garnet and Drake were now talking about some rumor they’d heard… something about Empress Pricilla, Brahne didn’t care what about.

 

 

“So her husband isn’t dead, he’s buried in a hidden tomb under her room?” Garnet asked, amazed.

 

“Yes,” Drake nodded. “That’s what the rumor says and it must be true… I’ve heard a lot of bold people are giving her a hassle because they want to look and see if it is true.”

 

“Oh how awful for her… maybe it’ll throw her off her high horse long enough to realize she’s not queen of everything, though…” Garnet mused, hopeful. “Who started the rumor?”

 

“Me,” Drake grinned.

 

When he looked up, he saw Zidane.

 

“Hold here a moment, Princess… I’m going to go check something.” Drake excused himself, starting up the stairs.

“What are you doing?” He asked as he slunk into the room.

 

“I needed some of my stuff,” Zidane answered as if it should be obvious why he was in his room, packing things into a bag. He glanced behind Drake quickly, just to make sure that no one was with him, especially Garnet.

 

“And you thinking coming back here so soon was a wise idea?” Drake closed the door behind him. “Your brother is an arse, by the way.”

 

“I think it's a brilliant idea, there's no way they would be expecting it. Zidane argued. “And, yes. I know.” He added, gritting his teeth slightly and zipping up the bag harder than needed.

 

“Yeah, the heightened security is a grand example on how much they wouldn’t be expecting you…” Drake rolled his eyes halfway before looking back at Zidane. “… Someone’s in a bad mood.”

 

“Someone just watched his girlfriend summon a dragon on his family.” Zidane growled, glaring at his bag. “She doesn’t even seem to care!”

 

Drake watched Zidane for a moment, then narrowed his eyes, slightly. “You know she didn’t have a choice, Zidane.”

 

Zidane kicked a chair into the wall. “How can I believe that? She looked… her eyes… and then she called that dragon on my family. She destroys lives then comes back to her perfect palace to curl up with the likes of—…” Zidane stopped himself.

 

“… The likes of me?” Drake finished for him.

 

Zidane didn’t say anything as a reply.

 

“You looked at the wrong time. What? You wanted me to wait and let her suffer? I’m sorry, I would have but I didn’t know you were stopping by. She broke the bind on the pearl. By herself, mind you. Not an easy task. She… she truly loves you, Zidane.” Drake almost resented saying it; the thought that he could ignore his promise and just get what he wanted, how easy it would be, had crossed his mind countless times… “She’s just struggling to be able to show it again. The break is fresh, Queen Brahne will be able to reconnect it with ease if she finds out it’s gone. Explaining the whole situation to Princess Garnet now is also a bad idea.” Because she’s being nice to me and I’d like to live in the illusion for a little longer...

 

Zidane was silent for a while, he wanted to trust what Drake was saying, he really did. It sparked a little hope in him that things could still turn out alright. After everything, he found it hard to believe, but it did make him feel a little better and did make him think.

He was tempted to try and see her, he wanted to. But then again, part of him still didn’t want to and dreaded what might happen. Yet another part knew that it was a bad idea to try, it would probably make things worse.

He couldn’t afford to be caught again…

 

Drake let out his breath and shook his head. “She was under Brahne’s control, Zidane. You know that. That wasn’t Garnet up there; that was Brahne summoning that dragon. Your girl is suffocating inside her own body. You, above anyone else, should understand that feeling.”

 

Zidane looked over at Drake, but he didn’t have a reply.

 

“She saved your soul when you turned away from them. Return the favor.”

 

“… I miss her.”

 

“Oh, ew, if you get sappy on me I am going to push you out that window I swear it.” Drake gagged, sticking his tongue out.

 

Zidane rolled his eyes. “Alright then, new topic. We need to talk about this fight.”

 

“… What fight?”

 

“This has to come down to a fight.” Zidane pointed out, knowingly.

 

“… I thought we did that already?”

 

“Not a fight between you and me.” Zidane cleared up, tossing his bag out the window.

 

“… Alright, you’ve lost me. Either I missed something or you’ve gone insane.”

 

Zidane looked back at him. “Our war, remember? What you mentioned last time.”

 

“I didn’t mention a war last time— oh you really have lost your mind.”

 

“Probably. So, what is he?”

 

“Is who?” Drake pressed, getting irritated.

 

“Eclipse.”

 

Drake was surprised by that. He didn’t know what to say.

 

“If we’re going to kill him, I need to know why he’s a threat.” Zidane cleared up, smirking.

 

Drake blinked a few times. “No… my party. Who invited you?”

 

“You did!”

 

“I did no such th—,”

 

“Drake… some advice? Give up. You don’t have a chance at arguing with me on this.” Zidane advised, crossing his arms.

 

“… You’re offering your assistance before you even know what you’re up against?”

 

“Mm hm.” Zidane nodded, “I’m used to it! If there is an evil in this world, I’m going to help stop it. Plain and simple. You could argue for months and you won’t talk me out of this.”

 

It was evident that Drake was confused by this. Not very long ago they had been ready to tear each other’s throats out; now this Angel was demanding to help?

 

“We’re going to fight him, so we need to plan for it.” Zidane said, clearing up all doubt. He wasn’t trying to talk Drake into this, he was simply telling him what was going to happen.

 

“It’s… you don’t know what he is. He’s a monster, Zidane. He really is.” Drake said, looking a bit unnerved.

 

“He the one that ‘scratched’ you?”

 

Drake glared.

 

“Look, Drake. You need help, don’t you?”

 

“… … yes.”

 

Zidane nodded. “Everyone needs help every now and then… I mean, if I had gone after Necron by myself he would have wiped the floor with me.”

 

“Mh.”

 

“Why didn’t you ask anyone? You have those persuasion powers, right? You probably could have convinced all the other World Heroes to help—,”

 

“No I couldn’t have.” Drake interrupted, “I can’t alter people’s desires. If they hate me, they’ll hate me. If they like me, they like me; I can’t alter that. All I can do is make suggestions.”

 

“Well, if I go with you, can’t we go talk to them and solve this?” Zidane asked. He wanted his friends back.

 

Drake shook his head, “No. Breaking the control on Garnet was only possible because she had intense resistance going against it and that was one person.”

 

“But it would be possible?” Zidane pressed.

 

“… You don’t understand. The more people who attack Eclipse just means the more who can die. This isn’t a battle for HP where you gather up three of your friends and heal and revive as needed. Eclipse will tear their hearts out and then you’ve lost them forever.”

 

“… So this isn’t just a matter of you not having anyone to ask.” Zidane concluded, watching Drake. “Fine, then… whatever it takes, I’m there for it.”

 

“Why?”

 

“You don’t ne—.”

“Why?”

 

“Okay, how about this… I’ll help you, you help me.’

 

Drake tipped his head to the side. “I already am helping you…”

 

“Well, consider this to be payback. Also, I want my friends back. I’ll help you with your demons if you help me with mine.” Zidane gave a nod toward the hall, meaning Brahne.

 

“It’s suicide.”

 

“I guess I have more faith in myself than you do.” Zidane said, giving a shrug.

 

“… Aright. If you’re sure your strong enough.”

 

Zidane nodded. “Over all, we have the same goal, don’t we?”

 

“I guess…. Fine. You help me kill Eclipse and I’ll help get your friends free from Brahne’s red pearl.” Drake nodded, agreeing.

 

Zidane thought that over for a while, slightly concerned. How strong was Eclipse? Drake was… Drake was strong enough it often scared Zidane. What would be strong enough to cause Drake this much trouble.

 

For no apparent reason, Drake smashed the lamp next to him.

 

If for no other purpose, it did serve to snap Zidane out of his thoughts and he whipped his head around to see what was going on.

“...You're right, that lamp didn't suit the decor.” He admitted, being more concerned about the noise than the lamp, which he had no real attachment to anyway.

 

“I have decided standing here is too dull and depressing, so I’m tearing this room all to Hel.” Drake informed, kicking a table into little stakes. “It will terrify the wicked queen if she knows you’ve been here, but if she thinks I scared you off, she won’t lock the princess away where you’ll never find her. Besides… it’s fun!” Drake reasoned, setting the bed on fire.

 

Zidane stared for a few seconds, then he laughed. “Alright, then!”

 

He then picked up a chair and hefted it through the balcony window, causing almost seventy thousand gil worth of damage and a really impressive sound too.

 

There… really was no immediate good reason to tear up and destroy the room… except that it made them both feel much better to get to tear something that belonged to Brahne into pieces. The only bad part of this destruction was that it was loud and that alerted the guards and they had to quit before they could do too much damage.

 

Drake held his right arm out, hand up as if were ordering ‘stop’ and aimed at certain areas, blasting them with fire—making it look like there was a trail, leading from the door to the now broken balcony window. “Do you have your stuff?”

 

“What's left of it...” Zidane replied as he surveyed the devastation. He could hear distant shouts now, but that wasn't unexpected. He was actually surprised that they had got away with making so much noise for so long.

 

“Then you should leave.” Drake suggested, motioning toward the window.

 

“Yeah, it’s been too long. We’ll talk about this war later.”

 

“Go take care of things with the Genomes. I’ll handle things here and...” that was when Drake realized the big flaw in his plan.
… How was he supposed to contact Zidane? He did not really even know where Zidane was going. “Uh… by the way, where are you going to be?”

 

Zidane paused just outside the window, far enough in that he was sure no one outside would be able to see him yet.

“The one place they will be safe.” He said, then moved and peered over the railing to check if it was safe to climb down. After assessing that it was, he threw a leg over the rail.

“I’m going to Terra.” He added, before he disappeared from sight.

 

Drake ran after him, looking down off the balcony ledge. “Not really helpful!” He shouted after him.

 

“SHUT UP! I’LL CALL YOU!” Zidane shouted before he took off. He counted this as a victory… he knew he could get into Brahne’s castle… and he knew Drake not only needed, but he wanted the help.

 

It just wasn’t in Zidane to let it go without joining in. If this world needed him, he would fight for it. If existence was in jeopardy again, hey, why not? He was part of this world and it held everything he held dear. As soon as he could, he’d find a way to contact Drake and they’d make this work.

 

“Hm…” Drake turned and walked back inside, dragging his talons across the drapes as he went. That’s interesting… they can still get to Terra… Drake looked at the guards who ran in, looking shocked. “A bit late…” He informed them and walked out, giving the Queen a smirk as he passed her and returned to the Princess.