Miyuki: Schizo is very lazy and college just started for her. She would also like to apologize for the very long wait for this chapter. As such, she is hiding so those reviewers that might be mad can't hirt/kill her.

Disclaimer: 'I don't own FFIX or Miyuki.'

Miyuki: Well, of course she doesn't own me. I own me!

-a lawyer comes in and whispers something in her ear-

Miyuki: What do you mean I don't own me either? -lawyer says something else- Xenosaga and Namco? Oh, that's right... heh heh, guess I forgot.

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Chapter Five: Unusual Feeling

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Before long we run into more enemies, three Goblins and a Fang. "Ahh!" I cry. "Is there no end to the monsters!?"

Zidane dispatches two of the Goblins as the third slashes at him, but he dodges it. "Yeah, I know. It's getting annoying."

Vivi fries the Fang as Steiner takes down the last Goblin. "Umm... I hear running water," the mage says.

"It's most likely a waterfall," the knight says.

"And it's probably why this place is a swamp," Zidane complains. "I wonder where the river goes..."

"Less talky, more movey!" I yell, getting around behind him and pushing him forward.

"I'm moving, I'm moving!" We hardly move ten feet before a huge flower drops down on us, casting Wind on Zidane and me, knocking us to the ground and scratching us up pretty good. "Ow!"

"Fire!" Vivi yells, casting the spell on the plant and turning it to ash.

I stand and help Zidane to his feet. "Hey, there's a clearing up ahead," I say. "Let's stop there and catch our breath." The others nod and we enter it.

"Hmm... no sign of any monsters here," Zidane notes, looking around. "Oh, a spring." Thank you Captain Obvious. Something catches my eye as Zidane moves to look closer to the spring and I reach out to grab his arm. "Is something wrong?" he asks.

"Your arm..."

"Hmm?" He looks down at his arm, just above where I'm holding it. A fairly deep cut runs along it, bleeding quite a bit. "I didn't even notice I got it."

"It must have been when the plant attacked." I look at the cut more carefully. "I think it might take more than one Potion to cure this," I mutter, but before the words can fully leave my mouth I start to feel strange, as if in a trance.

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"Hey, Ayame!" I look up at my closest friend. His eye's swollen, and his lip is split, blood dribbling down his chin.

"Cain! What happened?" I ask. He just shakes his head.

"It's nothing."

"Nothing my ass," I growl, pointing at the couch. "Sit and I'll go get the first aid kit."

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"Hey, it feels great now!" I hear Zidane say, and it snaps me out of my dazed state. I bring my gaze back to his arm, and a chill runs through me as I see it's completely healed. "Thanks, Ayame."

"But I didn't..." I start to say, but I shake my head and smile, casting off the strange feeling. "Not a problem, Zidane."

Our break is just long enough to steady our breathing and get a few long drinks of water before we set off again, plunging deeper into the forest.

"Ayame," Vivi says, moving closer to me, "this place scares me."

"It'll be alright, Vi," I soothe, patting his shoulder.

"Yup, we're only going into the belly of the beast," Zidane exclaims light heartedly. Vivi shakes slightly, and I glare at Zidane.

"Zidane," I say, lowering my voice as I move closer so that only he can hear me. "Do not make me do something to you that involves the words cast and rate. So lay off the teasing."

"Huh?" Zidane asks, then he realizes what I said and jumps away from me. "You're the scary one!"

All the while Steiner's been tapping his foot impatiently. Mr. Clank-Clank has issues. At least he's not jumping like a moron. "Sorry!" I say sweetly, running up to him, Vivi and Zidane following behind, the latter making sure to stay well away from me.

We enter a large clearing. Vines completely cover the ground, and the trees tower overhead, making it seem more like a cavern then a clearing. And in the center is the master, Plant Brain. Tied to a thick vine wall directly opposite us is Garnet.

"There she is!" Vivi exclaims, pointing at the princess.

"So this is the master," Zidane notes, drawing his daggers.

"I don't like the look of this," I mutter to myself, readying an arrow.

"Princess!!!" Steiner shouts, alerting the monster. "You stay out of this!" he says to Zidane, and perhaps to me as well. "Alexandria would be disgraced if a mere bandit like you should rescue the princess."

Yep, Steiner's got issues.

"You think you can handle him on your own?" Zidane asks. The knight is silent. "Didn't think so." Monkey Boy looks at me and Vi. "Let's go, Vivi, Ayame!"

"You got it!" I say, releasing my arrow. It imbeds itself into the base of the master, causing it to let out a squeal and swipe at me with a tentacle, but it misses. Vivi cast Fire on Steiner's sword and he runs at it, leaving a long, dark gash.

Plant Brain retaliates with Thunder, casting it on all of us. And let me tell you, Thunder is NOT nice. Think static shock multiplied many, many times and then some. And if that's what Thunder is like, I don't even want to think of the higher level spells. I wonder if Steiner's armor conducts electricity...

Zidane gets hit by a tentacle and is knocked in to the ground as Blank shows up. "Looks like I made it in time," he notes. "Leave the rest to me."

"You and what army?" Zidane retaliates, but Blank just ignores him, running at Plant Brain. He's probably still sore about the whole 'because you love me thing.' Just thinking about it makes me break into giggles, and as if Plant Brain senses my distraction, it launches a Thunder spell solely at me.

I fall to my knees as the spell dances along me, frying me from the inside out. Even after the spell is done I can't move, can't see or hear anything. Then I feel something soft against my cheek and some of the pain ebbs away, allowing me to sit up.

As I do so I hear Vivi yell 'Fire' and a long screech as the monster dies. "Are you alright?" I hear someone ask, and look to see Blank kneeling next to me. "That spell hit you pretty hard."

"I feel like I just came out of a microwave," I mutter.

"A what?"

"Nevermind," I say quickly. Blank shrugs and hands me a vial.

"Drink that." I uncork it and down the contents in one gulp, feeling relief spread throughout my entire body. Thank god for potions.

"Much better," I sigh, standing up.

As I was getting healed, Steiner and Zidane were busy getting Garnet down. Blank and I hurry over as Steiner pleads with the unconscious princess, whose breathing is shallow and skin is ashen.

"Princess!!!" he implores, holding her. "Please get a hold of yourself!"

"Zidane, give her the stuff," Blank says. The thief nods and pulls the bottle from his pocket. Removing the stopper he slowly begins to pour it into Garnet's mouth. She coughs feebly, and some of it trickles from the corner of her mouth, but she still manages to swallow some of it.

"Princess, please try to drink all of it," Steiner begs. Almost as if she can hear him, she swallows the rest and color immediately returns to her cheeks as her breathing deepens. We all sigh in relief.

"Is she gonna be okay?" Vivi asks.

"Yeah, she'll be fine," I say softly. Just then the ground begins to shake and we fight to keep our balance.

"Oh, man! What now!?" Blank asks, slightly ticked off. Plant Brain's remains sink into the ground and Plant Spiders jump up from the hole as more appear from where we came from. "Sheez! We're gonna be surrounded!"

"Let's get out of here!" Zidane yells. We all nod and run for the only other way out. Steiner goes first with Garnet, but Zidane stops and looks back.

"What are you waitin' for!?" Blank asks. Vivi follows the knight and I follow him as Zidane urges Blank along.

We run along slightly down hill, jumping down a small cliff as the Plant Spiders slowly gain on us. Two drop down behind us, and one jumps in front, forcing us to fight.

"Dammit! Listen, when I say 'now' cover your eyes and run past the spider there!" Zidane orders, reaching into his pocket. We nod and he pulls his hand out, throwing whatever is in it on the ground as he yells, "Now!"

I cover my eyes as I hear an agitated screech and a loud crack, stumbling my way past the spider. As soon as I'm past I uncover my eyes so I can see not to trip over anything. Vivi is in front of me, and from the clanking I know Steiner and Garnet are right behind, which means Zidane and Blank are further back.

As bad as I feel about what's going to happen next, I'm more worried about myself as my side begins to hurt. Seeing light ahead I somehow quicken my pace and make it out into the sunlight with Vivi, Steiner and Garnet as I hear Zidane yell Blanks name. A few moments later Zidane jumps from the forest and falls to the ground in a roll before sitting up. We join him and watch as the vines wrap around the entrance, slowly petrifying and sealing it shut.

Steiner takes Garnet and goes to start a fire as Vivi and I stay with Zidane, who has stood up and is now pounding on the petrified vines. "Dammit!!! That idiot!" Vivi takes a step forward, but I place a hand on his shoulder and shake my head. He nods and goes to help Steiner as Zidane falls to his knees. "Blank..."

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Miyuki: Wow, that sounds really sad. Schizo left one other note. 'Please review!'