Dali Underground & Meeting a Chocobo

Alex is angry, angry with himself. He didn't think about the item slot limit and now has a serious problem he desperately needs to solve!

"Snap out of it, you need to focus on what's ahead of you. If you need space, throw away some gray food items. You may lose out on a few hundred FC, but who cares when your bags are filled with items valued at tens of thousands of FC!" Alex tells himself, trying to reign in his "perfectionist" character, fighting the urge to "Reload," a thought bordering on insanity.

As the group enters the Dali underground, they sneak along tight passages carved into the heavy rock. The stone down here reminds Alex of the cliffs he had visited earlier to "get rid of the problem he caused."

"Damn, this facility isn't just big, it's huge. Such a small village, but the underground is nearly as big as the village itself. Did they build the village over some sort of cavern? This would take ages to construct, at least part of it must be natural."

They spot a group of men standing near a small building next to a chocobo, apparently used to transport goods through the facility. The men discuss the Mayor, his brother, and mention Vivi who stands besides them looking scared. Zidane wants to rush in and rescue him immediately, but Garnet pulls him back, dragging both him and Alex along with her.

"Look at those giant barrels! Do you see the pattern on them?" Garnet points out. "I've seen that same pattern on barrels in the castle before. I need to figure out what's going on here. I want to save Vivi more than anything, but if we fight these people now, we might miss out on the truth. Let's wait a few more minutes before we chase them. They're close by, and we won't lose them."

"I don't agree with this," Alex mutters, his tone firm. His time with the group is coming to an end, and he can't help but reveal his true thoughts.

"You might be putting Vivi in danger. I know you want to investigate the connection between this place and the castle, but you could still do that after knocking out those kidnappers. Your need to avoid conflict is currently more important than saving Vivi. These people clearly aren't up to any good, and they don't look very strong…"

"I… No! Perhaps you're right. Let's save Vivi!" Garnet says, her voice hesitant but determined.

Alex nods, his voice softening. "For now, since we've committed to a stealthy approach, let's stick with that. But the next time we see him, we free him, no matter the consequences. Agreed?"

Garnet meets Alex's gaze earnestly. "Yes! Thank you."

"Let's go already," Zidane urges, clearly impatient.

They all move forward, deeper into the underground, preparing for what's next.

They search the small hut for clues but find nothing of note. Alex, however, uses the time to examine the chocobo nearby, even giving it a gentle pet. Despite the tense situation, Alex is amazed by the giant yellow bird-like creature. He hasn't seen a chocobo since arriving in Alexandria, and now, standing before one, he marvels at its majestic yet practical nature. Despite their remarkable appearance, chocobos are essentially used as substitutes for horses, donkeys, and even oxen depending on their owner's needs. This particular chocobo appears to be used for heavy labor, mainly the transportation of goods.

"What a waste," Alex thinks, admiring its strength. He has always wanted to ride a chocobo, knowing they are incredibly fast. He remembers the fun chocobo races from Final Fantasy VII. "Way cooler than those suicidal pod races," he muses with a grin.

"Alex, what's wrong? Never seen a chocobo before or what?" Zidane calls out, snapping Alex out of his thoughts.

"Honestly? No, I haven't," Alex admits with a sheepish smile, surprising Zidane.

"You soldiers in Alexandria really don't get around much, huh?" Zidane remarks, sounding puzzled.

"I'm pretty new there," Alex replies. "Before that, I lived in a small, peaceful village in a forest with my father. I didn't get out much. I've heard plenty of stories about chocobos, but they aren't really suited for living in the forest, so this is my first time seeing one up close." Alex blends truth with lies, not wanting to reveal anything about the Fantasy Realm.

Garnet looks at him, curious. "Why did you decide to join the Knights of Pluto, Alex? Their reputation isn't exactly... stellar."

Alex chuckles softly. "Well, Dagger, I was tired of being isolated and cut off from the world. I wanted to become a better fighter, and since I'm a citizen of Alexandria, joining the Knights seemed like a good step. I wasn't looking for a great reputation, just an interesting, honest and worthwhile job. Strangely enough, this adventure is exactly what I dreamed about as a kid. Although, I could definitely do without the constant life-threatening battles."

"I'm glad you're with us," Garnet says sincerely, looking at him with a soft, earnest expression. "You feel like the older brother I never had."

"This is worse than being friendzoned," Alex can't help but think with a mental sigh. But given Garnet's age and his recent luck with Jaine and Neira, he doesn't care much. He accepts the role willingly, grateful for the bond.

Zidane, grinning from ear to ear, chimes in, "Can I call you big bro too?"

Alex glares at Zidane playfully. "Sure, little brother, but only if I'm allowed to pull that tail of yours to make it more believable!" Alex teases, tugging at Zidane's tail lightly, making the thief nearly jump out of his skin.

"Stop it, you two!" Garnet scolds, though there's amusement in her voice.

They continue exploring the underground facility, spotting countless chests, crates, and heavy equipment scattered around. Alex can't help but wonder, "What is all this junk? How is any of this relevant for producing black mages? Is this old farm equipment... and are those rusty weapons? Looks like they dumped all their obsolete gear down here." Among the piles, Alex also notices some triangular-shaped crates, instantly recognizing what they are meant to contain.

After a brief walk, they hear strange sniffing noises. Curious, they retrace their steps, trying to pinpoint where the sound is coming from. Following the noise, they end up standing beside one of the special crates. A few moments later, they manage to free Vivi, who explains how he was kidnapped by some strange men. Apparently, they recognized him for reasons he couldn't quite understand, and out of fear, he just complied with their demands.

"They were talking about a strange shipment!" Vivi adds, his voice trembling slightly.

Zidane, ever the big brother figure, gives Vivi a quick lesson in standing up for himself. "Next time, you should say something like 'Get off me, you scumbag!'" he advises with a smirk. "Not only will it scare them, but it'll also make you feel stronger! Don't let people push you around, Vivi."

"Huh... I see," Vivi mutters quietly, still processing the advice.

With Vivi back, the group decides to push ahead, although Zidane is visibly worried about him. Vivi, however, is more determined than ever to learn the truth behind the odd situation they've stumbled into.

Eventually, they come across a massive machine that continually spits out giant, round, egg-like objects covered in mist onto a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is powered by a caged chocobo, forced to walk inside an oversized hamster wheel, a sight that reminds Alex of small pets running endlessly on their toys. However, this chocobo looks far from playful. It appears almost lifeless, with visible wounds across its body, clearly beaten into submission.

"Damn… I should've taken down those scumbags when I had the chance!" Alex thinks, an unexpected surge of anger rising within him. He suddenly feels the urge to shoot the next worker they encounter.

Zidane, oblivious to Alex's internal rage, spots a door. "What's beyond there?" he asks, noticing the thick mist seeping through the wooden cracks. "That same mist is coming out of the machine... looks like the door's tough to open."

Alex, sensing danger, interjects. "Maybe we shouldn't open that door. Mist usually means mon…"

But before he can finish, Zidane ignores his warning and pushes the door open.

Suddenly, chaos erupts as a loud screech pierces the air, Garnet unleashing a terrified scream as something emerges from the mist beyond the door.