The Return of Radio Zelda

(kronos_recker and taracobi)

NOTE: Before reading this, it is strongly recommended that you read both Dangerous Heights and VixeNation if you haven't already. This story will make much more sense after you've read those two stories.

A message posted November 6th, 2004, on the Video Game Giantess 2 Yahoo! Group:

“It’s me, guys, kronos_recker. I don’t have a lot of time to explain. I’m sorry I haven’t been around but I’ve been on the trail of something big; namely, one Dr. Marco Antonelli, AKA G-Man. If that term sounds familiar, he’s the Administrator of the Black Mesa facility from Half-Life. I wish I could be back with all of you, but this is too critical for me to not pay attention. I pulled all the strings I could to get as much information about G-Man as I could. As you are probably no doubt aware, the Black Mesa facility was the site where a group of scientists opened up a portal to another world. Does this sound familiar? No? Take a look at the date of this. That’s right… November 6th. Still not ringing any bells? Maybe this date will do it:

November 7th, 2000. Radio Zelda. The Philadelphia Experiment.

Starting to sound a bit more familiar now? That was the day of the Philadelphia Experiment, which was an attempt by the US Navy to create a ship that could not be detected – essentially cloak itself. What happened was that the ship they tested it on disappeared forever and was often speculated that the ship had been taken to another world. Enter Radio Zelda, who had gained high renown for discovering a world parallel to ours. That was the day that the US Army teamed up with Radio Zelda to transport video game characters to Earth. Radio Zelda brought in Kasumi, Ayane, Tina, Aeris, Tifa, and Yuffie from their respective games and into this world. However… they were GIGANTIC. The result was the catastrophic destruction of nearly every city in the northeastern United States and thousands of people dead, crushed to nothing beneath their feet. The Army blamed Radio Zelda for not testing their experiment properly, while Radio Zelda said the Army shouldn't have rushed the company into things.

What does this have to do with G-Man and why I’m writing? First, I looked into G-Man’s alias of Marco Antonelli. The name matches the head of the Radio Zelda organization. Under his name, there’s been a great deal of equipment and money moving between hands all over the world. He’s up to something big and, call me paranoid if you want, but it’s nearly four years to the day of the Radio Zelda disaster. I have a very, very bad feeling that he’s going to try again. With all the latest games that’re out, there are plenty of subjects… and he might go after the same ones again, too. Be careful, guys… this could get very bad very quickly.”

Ian sent the message and sighed softly, staring at the screen. All his life, he found the prospect of gigantic video game women to be quite a fascinating idea. It was some sort of fetish, but he didn’t much care. He knew this was a dangerous idea, but he had to try. He rubbed his face, sitting back against the huge brown boot. The flower girl who they belonged to, Aeris Gainsborough, looked down at her tiny companion… well… tiny compared to HER, “You’ve done all you can do to warn them.”

“I know.” Ian replied, looking up at her, “…I just still have some reservations about it.”

“You’re not exactly lying to them, you know…” a voice said from the dark. Ian glanced over as Dr. Antonelli, the G-Man stepped over to him.

“It’s bad enough.” Ian chuckled without humor, “I have no idea what exactly you plan to do.”

Antonelli smiled, “We have a much better contingency plan this time, Ian.”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Ian muttered, “Look, the only, the ONLY reason I went ahead with this is because I wanted to see Aeris again.”

“And that you have.” Antonelli nodded, smiling up at the giant flower girl.

“What ARE you planning?”

“The girls very BARELY avoided the nuclear attack on November 8, 2001.” The man in his dark blue administrative suit explained, “They fended off attacks by the others and managed to minimize human casualties. Finally, we were able to send them back.”

“What’s your point?” Ian asked, annoyed.

Antonelli got up and started walking about slowly, “When the original machine was triggered, something went wrong and turned the girls into giantesses. Not only that, it triggered some sort of aggressive tendency in their minds. On October 21st, Radio Zelda discovered the cause of the aggressiveness. However, due to post 9/11 policies, we were unable to test them. The impending nuclear disaster was just what we needed. Now, when the copy was activated on in November 2001, we intercepted the transmission and split it. One would proceed as normally, the other without the aggressiveness factor therein.”

Ian got up at that, facing the G-Man, “What the hell are you saying?? That November 8th was planned?!”

“Of course not, my boy.” Antonelli replied with a smile, “None of us could have expected the launch of that many nuclear carriers at once. But it was a perfect opportunity to test the new theory we had about the girls. And it was a success.”

“A success!” Ian grabbed him roughly, “It was a disaster!”

“186 people died in the battles, I know.” G-Man said, calmly, “It could have been a lot worse, had the nuclear weapons exploded. They did what they had to do.”

Ian didn’t let go, “You still haven’t explained your plan…”

“Oh, yes, that…” he nodded, “Well, quite frankly, we need one more experiment before we can open a portal, fully.”

“…what?”

Antonelli smiled now… an almost evil smirk, “We need for them to arrive without warning or notice. The November 8 incident only had a few causalities due to the evacuation of the various cities. Now that practically everything is rebuilt…”

Ian’s grip tightened, “And are you filtering out the aggressive tendencies?”

Antonelli’s smirk remained, “Now… what would be the point in that? It’s gotten to the point where I can very well control what they do.”

“Why!?” Ian demanded to him.

“The US government has been after me for both Radio Zelda and Black Mesa.” Antonelli explained, “It is QUITE tiring. So, I figure it would just be safer to… eliminate the government altogether and anyone who stands in my way.”

“You BASTARD!” Ian quickly reached for the G-Man’s pistol in his holster and aimed it at his eyeball, “I won’t let you!”

Surprisingly, Antonelli didn’t stop smiling. Instead, he just stared a hole right through Ian, “You should have dropped the gun, boy.” Suddenly, Ian found himself being picked up quickly by Aeris. He was so surprised, he dropped the pistol.

“What are you doing!?” Ian cried out, “Let me go, I need to kill him!!”

“Have you forgotten already?” Antonelli asked as he dusted himself off and straightened out his jacket, “They’re loyal to me…” Ian’s faced drained of color as he went on, “…and they still have those aggressive tendencies. Your dear Aeris included.”

Ian shivered as he felt Aeris grip him in her hand and utter, “You’ll be lining the bottom of my boot if you try that again, Ian.” From her tone, he knew she wasn’t kidding, either.

“Now, now, now, my dear.” Antonelli tsked, “You shouldn’t speak that way about your ward. You know that he cares a great deal for you. Besides… he’s the one that’s decided to help us in this. If you must, just stick him in your boot for now.”

As Aeris lowered down to do so, Antonelli smiled at Ian, “You’re helping the world live out their fantasies, my boy… or at least live out YOURS. Congratulations.”

The sickly feeling in Ian’s stomach returned, and not from the smell of the boot, either. He had a sinking feeling that he had just doomed the country and possibly the world to an impending doom. ‘What have I done…?’

11/7/04 - 8:13 AM EST

Four years ago on this day, the world was shocked into loud choruses of screaming and crying as six gigantic video game women entered into the world and nearly completely crushed the northeastern US underfoot. It was possibly one of the biggest disasters in the nation’s history. After that, the Army had several higher members of Radio Zelda arrested and incarcerated for the role they played in the disaster, conveniently leaving out the facts that they were the ones who instigated the entire debacle. It was mindless destruction, only due to the fact that the girls didn’t much care what happened. It was just a game to them. A game and a day of torture, pain, and anguish all in one.

And now… four years ago, it was about to be repeated.

Across the world, remembrance services were being held to honor those who died, nationally televised throughout the globe as the names of the dead were announced. Practically the entire world was glued to their television sets… which was exactly what Antonelli had planned. The Radio Zelda complex was a series of secret laboratories spread throughout the entire United States underground, all connected to a command complex beneath Washington DC. The government had hunted the G-Man, Dr. Marco Antonelli, for all these years, and here he was, right under their noses.

“Three minutes until showtime.” The baseball-capped director informed Antonelli as he entered into a makeshift television studio.

“Right.” The G-Man replied, “When I give the signal, hack into the news networks and I’ll present my warning.” For a moment, he thought briefly of his former ally, Ian Jenkins. By now, he figured, he would be smothered in the flower girl’s boot… at the very least crushed within it. Oh, well. He would no longer be a problem. And finally… revenge and respect; the respect he had earned from working on these projects.

“Two minutes.” The director announced.

As Antonelli stepped over before the cameras, he pulled out a two-way radio, “Prep room, is everything ready?”

“Yes, sir!” came the reply, “We are on schedule!”

“If any intruders show up, kill on sight.” He ordered, “I want NOTHING to come between us and our time.”

“Yes, sir!”

The director called over once more, “We’re on in thirty seconds!”

8:16 AM

“Citizens of the Earth, I thank you for your undivided attention.” G-Man smiled at the camera as his image was thrown onto practically every TV set in the world, “My name is Dr. Marco Antonelli and I can be either your doom or your savior.”

The general reaction around the world was pretty much the same: ‘What the hell are you talking about you creepy-looking lunatic?’

“My friends from the government know who I am all-too-well, I know.” He went on, “That is why I am before you this morning. As it is, on the anniversary of such tragic events, I am here to send a message to my dear friends in the government… you’re too late.” He smirked, “Prepare to feel the full force of your mistakes.” With that, the screens went into snowy transmission.

It had begun.

Pentagon Washington, DC 8:17 AM

“I don’t care HOW you have to do it, damnit!” General Jacob Walker screamed into his phone, “Trace that signal! I’m not losing him now!” He would not let him slip away again… not again. Walker had spent the last five years tracking the elusive Marco Antonelli. All his work, all his time… he would never let him go now.

Hudson, New York 8:19 AM

Ian's eyes shot open. He could see the light. Aeris really must have crushed him as she had threatened to do. ...no... wait... that was SUNlight. He was out! Free! He stood quickly to get a bearing of his surroundings. What lay about him was his hometown of Hudson... "Good God..." he breathed slowly. "Maybe... Maybe that WAS all a dream..."

The view seemed to confirm that. No giantess silhouettes shadowed the skies, no footsteps thundered the grassy earth beneath his feet. But still....so quiet....not even the typical harsh cries of seagulls disturbed it.

He looked about slowly. No one about... at the start of the work day... on a Monday, no less! This was usually lunch hour. Hardly anyone about on this busy intersection. '...well, it IS four years to the day...' he thought, 'Maybe they're all taking the day off.' With a slight shrug, he moved quickly across the street and into the local Cumberland Farms to grab a light breakfast and a newspaper. When he entered, all of the employees were practically glued to the small TV set on the counter.

"Uh, hey? I wanna pay for these." he motioned to the paper and coffee he had in his hand. But no one even acknowledged his presence. Ian quirked an eyebrow and leaned in to see what was going on.

On the TV screen, a frantic news reporter was yelling into his mic, "Absolute CHAOS here in Downtown Manhattan, Jim! The majority of people have begun fleeing the city, but there's no guarantee if any of us will escape!"

"Huh...?" Ian widened his eyes as the camera angle zoomed in on something huge. A gigantic woman. But not just any gigantic woman.

"Princess Daisy..." he uttered, stepping back and dashing out the door. Crap... this WASN'T a dream!

As he dashed out, the emergency sirens pierced the air with its thin wail....followed shortly by another sound that carried an even more desperate warning.

"Mmhhhrrr....Pops, zicd VEJA suna sehidac...!"

Ian winced at the exclamation. "DAMN, what was..." He stopped suddenly, and repeated the words, "zicd veja suna sehidac... that's Al Bhed...! ...that voice...!"

'No... no... no... no... no...' he thought vainly as he headed toward the direction of the sound.

Above the treeline toward the old park, Ian's fears were confirmed as a slender tanned figure sat up and stretched, rubbing at her swirled green eyes in annoyance. "Someone turn off the ALARM!"

His eyes widened. So much for a dream...

"RIKKU???" he called out. He had to make sure...

The girl didn't acknowledge his cry, if she even heard it. She struggled to her feet, twisting to look about. "Yunie? Paine? C'mon, if I gotta be up, so do you!"

"Nertz..." Ian frowned then went a bit pale. "Crap... that's my home development!" He broke into a run through his neighbor's yard, running as fast as he could for Arthur Avenue. "HOLD ON!!" He yelled at the giant Rikku, even if she didn't hear him, "Don't move!!"

The Al Bhed girl only nudged her leg forward, connecting with something soft, if the motion was any indication. "Time to rise and shine!"

A black-gloved hand clenched out at the tanned leg, and Rikku yelped, trying to hop away, rattling or breaking down the trees.

"Most people start the day with coffee, not hurt."

Another voice. Another girl. That sounded like Paine. Oh, God... this couldn't be happening. Finally, he broke through, running directly for the tanned legs, "WILL YOU LISTEN TO MEEEEEEE!!!!"

Rikku squirmed free at last, tumbling back as Yuna tried vainly to break her fall by some other means than her own body.

"Ow! I was just an innocent bystander, Paine!" the now-highest Summoner smiled crookedly, clutching at Rikku's shoulders.

Rikku jabbed a finger at the pale, black-clad girl. "This means WAR!"

God, they were loud. VERY loud. He kept around them, so as not to get in their way, but licked his lips. This was very bad... they were about to crush everything around them. Even himself. He had to stop it before it could start. He drew in a breath slowly, then suddenly:

"WILL YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!!!"

Rikku seized one ankle, and Yuna seized the other with an impish giggle. Paine raised an eyebrow, looking down at them dubiously. "You wouldn't dare."

"THEY'D BETTER NOT DARE!!!" Ian yelled out again, voice growing hoarse, "LADIES, PLEASE!!! HEY!!! LISTEN!!!"

'God, now I know how Navi feels.' he thought.

All three startled at once, eyes searching the ground for the tiny voice.

"There he is!" Rikku poked out with her free hand. "Another buggie!"

'Well, at least they heard me.' he thought as he regained his breath. Gah, that was not fun. "Buggie I'm not."

Paine smiled humorlessly. "Way down there, you are."

Ian looked up with a tired expression. He had to find out as much as he could, "Uh... I gotta ask, how DID you get here?"

"That's what we've been trying to find out." Yuna replied, leaning down to study Ian with her green and blue eyes.

"You MIGHT want to let go of my ankle, Yuna." Paine interrupted lowly.

Ian looked up. God, what a chance to meet these girls. But, still... big catastrophe happening. Priorities.

"I THINK I have an idea." he dug his shoe into the ground slightly, somewhat nervous.

Paine booted Rikku ungently, leaning down herself. "Really."

"Owie." the Al Bhed girl whined, but she too seemed more fixated on Ian than favoring her bruised arm.

He shifted slightly, "There's this guy... name's Marco Antonelli, he's a scientist. Or a con man or... whatever he is, he's a bastard." Ian explained, "He said he was going to try and open up a portal to bring others into this world. At... well... your size."

"Why would he do such a thing?" Yuna said softly, eyes widening in shock.

"I thought Brother and Shinra were just messing around with the teleportation spheres again." Rikku added.

"He's a hunted man in our country." he said, "He was responsible for another portal opening that nearly destroyed this world... he wanted to bring girls like you here so you could crush the government underfoot... and anyone who stood in your way.”

"Kinda hard to stand in our way." Paine's thin lips curled sardonically.

"I-I know." he replied, clearing his throat. Paine made him more nervous than the other two. She had to stop that... "Look... the guy's a nutso, I have to stop him."

Rikku tittered, sliding forward to brush a fingertip against Ian's tiny chest. "You'll have to get past us first."

Ian blinked. Wait, what? "You're... not gonna help me?"

Yuna rose, her normally placid, delicate face hardened with teasing malice. "You ARE just a little bug, like all the others."

Paine nodded, grinning fully now. "We can help ourselves."

Ian stepped back, emitting a cry of surprise and dismay, "L-Lady Yuna! You can't possibly be serious!"

The icy knot that had formed in his stomach quickly snapped. Frightened as he was, he resisted his body's attempt to make him lose whatever of the coffee he drank.

Rikku giggled again, fingertip following after Ian to press him down. "Why can't we?"

Ian gripped tightly to cling onto Rikku's finger, "How... How could you want this to happen??"

All of a sudden, something blocked out the sun and, just as quickly, left it. Ian turned his head toward the still-rising sun and blinked. What was that...?

Paine glanced as well. Nothing there. Just the sun. She stared in suspicion a moment longer, but then turned her attentions back to the insect wriggling beneath Rikku's finger. She licked her lips slightly. "So what do we do with him before we squash him?"

"And I get to squish this one!" Rikku interjected, tickling her finger into Ian.

Ian squirmed a bit harder, "Why won't you let me stop him?? He can't do this! Please, let me go!"

Yuna reached down, tugging on the cuff of her huge leather boot. "We should share."

"Damnit, let off!" he struggled even more.

Rikku only smiled brightly, curling her browned fingers about Ian's tiny body in an inexorable grip. "Yeah....fair's fair."

"Are you even listening to me??" Ian cried out, just slumping back in her grip.

"We're listening." Paine said dryly. "We just don't care."

Yuna slid her pale sole free of the boot at last, wincing slightly as she wriggled her slender toes. "Ooh....I've had those on way too long."

Yeah. Stomach had definitely snapped. He couldn't believe this was happening. "Why?? You know damn well we're not really insects!" He tried to ignore Yuna's feet as much as possible.

Yuna smirked slightly, turning her eyes from toes to wriggling tiny human. "You are to us."

Ian's breathing increased. He had to get out of here... as fast as he could. But first... to get Rikku off him, while he was still squirming in her hand.

Rikku wiggled in her own excitement. "Need a relaxing foot massage, Yunie...?"

Ian's color drained, struggling as hard as he could now. No way. NO WAY.

Yuna nodded, playfully reaching out her sole to her cousin. "Are you offering?"

'You've gotta be kidding me...' he thought. He only hoped that Yuna would smush her sole into Rikku's face. He seriously doubted that would happen, though...

Instead, Rikku smushed him against the summoner's sweaty, wrinkled soleflesh, smearing him about. "Not exactly." she answered.

Ian cried out as he was squashed up against Yuna's sole, squirming hard. This was not what he had in mind.

Yuna lowered her sole down, and Rikku slid her hand away as the footflesh pressed over Ian fully. "Mm....well, it's a start."

Ian squirmed hard, groaning under the weight of Yuna's foot.

The summoner rolled the sole lightly at his squirming. "You're going to have to do better than THAT."

"I don't WANT to do better!" he cried out, "Please, Lady Yuna, please, let me go!"

"Lick my foot, little insect." she commanded instead, grinding in insistently. "Lick it, or squish to paste beneath it."

Ian's eyes widened. She didn't just say what he thought she did...

"I don't feel you licking...." she said a moment after, the grinding becoming merciless.

Another cry, this time in pain. 'If I don't... at this rate, she'll...' He couldn't finish his thought, he just started licking at the Summoner's huge, smelly sole as hard as he could.

Even at such a tiny sensation, Yuna shivered, and the heavy, giantess sole relaxed slightly from Ian's helpless form. "There it is."

He had never licked this hard before, for anything. He never really thought he would have to lick for his LIFE before.

"Mm...keep that up, now." she chuckled, massaging the sole slowly in time with his tongue. The odor was overwhelming, weighted to the grass by the soft folds of footflesh.

He continued to lap hard at whatever passed his mouth. She was right.. she had worn those boots for a long time. Too long. 'Geh... why won't they help me?'

Yuna grinned up to her companions. "Anyone else need a foot massage? He's not bad."

"I can't stay!" he yelled, "I WON'T stay!!" He squirmed even harder under Yuna's foot.

Even muffled beneath the weight of soft pale footflesh, Yuna heard the tiny outburst. She chuckled softly. "So try to wriggle out."

Ian started jerking as hard as he could to get out. 'Come on.. work with me... work with me...!' He tensed himself hard and pushed hard, protrouding from beneath Yuna's toes.

The moist toeflesh seized about him, and the girl smiled down at him from between her giantess toes playfully. "No you don't."

He growled and quickly wrenched back. He wasn't playing nice anymore. "I told you... I won't stay here!" With that, he quickly turned tail and started running away from the three.

It was not one desperate heartbeat before Paine's black bootsole slammed to the ground just before him, in a spray of earth. "Not so fast."

Ian yelped, stepping back at that. Damnit... they were well-suited to stop him. But, he didn't let that hinder him. Quickly, he dashed around past her heel and continued running. 'Gotta get out of here...'

Rikku laughed coldly, spinning on that heel to stomp the other bootsole before him. "Nice try."

"Not!" Rikku chimed in, stepping over quickly.

Again, Ian fell back. He couldn't keep this up forever, damnit...

Rikku hopped back, wriggling from her own boot. "I'll show you how it's done, Yunie!"

He stood and leapt quickly past the feet as fast as he could. G-Man was on the move, there was no time for this. "I'm not a part of this!"

"Heehee....you're part of my toejam, buggie!" Rikku splayed her tanned toes out to Ian with all the speed of a thief.

He dove, though he knew he wouldn't be able to dodge this one.

The Al Bhed's toes tangled hard about him, and drove him sharply into the odorous flesh. "Gotcha!"

Ian crashed into the ground with a thud. She had him, wriggling little bug between her toes.

"Heh....so show us, oh merciless stomper of bugs." Paine said.

Rikku stuck out her tongue in a razz. "You're just mad because YOU didn't catch him."

Ian clutched the ground tightly, trying to pull himself out from underfoot.

Rikku giggled. "Kiss those toes goodbye, little BUG."

"Guh?" Ian shuddered at that. Not a good command.

She thrust lightly. "Kiss my feet."

Shaking hard, Ian moved his head over, pressing his lips against Rikku's toe.

Rikku shivered as her cousin had. "See?"

Paine said nothing, crimson eyes still watching Ian as he kissed desperately against the Al Bhed's toes.

Ian shivered again, feeling Paine's glaring eyes on him. God, she was a scary woman. He tried to ignore it as he continued to kiss Rikku's toes.

Rikku giggled, wriggling the toes over Ian's lips.

"Please... no more..." he begged, finally, amid the toeflesh. "I've gotta find Antonelli... before he can destroy us all... please, let me go...!"

Paine's menacing black bootsole crunched down slowly just before Rikku's toes. "The only way you're going is a stain under our feet."

"Please..." he pressed his hands against the ground, trying to push up, "You can't mean that... you three saved your world before. I'm trying to save mine. Please don't stop me...!"

Yuna sidled next to Paine, her bare feet blocking the terrifying boots. "There's not going to be anything left to save."

"But I have to try..." he uttered, face between Rikku's toes and Yuna's "...I can't just sit back and let this happen... it's true... that I can't do anything to stop you ladies from doing whatever you want... ...but I can try to stop HIM at least."

His eyes moved up to view hers, "...you, of all people, know that there is always hope. After… after everything you did… don’t tell me there’s no hope."

Yuna seemed to be hesitant. "It....wouldn't hurt to let just one go, would it?"

"You ARE such a doormat, Yuna. Shinra was right." Paine peered disapprovingly as Yuna's face softened to nearly what Ian had known.

"Ironic. I'm underfoot and SHE'S the doormat." Ian chuckled then looked to Paine, "...If you're upset that I didn't get to your feet, Paine, I'll owe you, okay?"

Paine's eyes blazed like the flame they resembled. "You say that like you aren't going to be smushed to pulp."

Ian gulped. She REALLY scared him.

Rikku knelt down to goggle at the tiny bug with emerald swirled eyes. "You really want to let him go?"

Ian slowly, unsteadily, picked himself up, only to topple back and fall on his rear.

Yuna fidgeted, feeling the heat once more from Paine's eyes. But she nodded, with a decided shake of her short hair. "Just one. We have all the others."

"...Thank you..." Ian bowed his head, exasperated. Now to formulate a plan... where to go from there? Upstate? No... there was something going on in the city. That would have to be his next stop...

Yuna peered down. "But just because we let you go it doesn't mean everyone else will."

"I know that..." he replied softly, getting up again, "...but that won't stop me..." he steadied himself then breathed in... then coughed as he remembered he was still surrounded by huge bare feet.

Paine turned impatiently, stepping over the ruined playground. "Then let's go."

He started off quickly, then stopped slightly and turned back toward them, "...um, hey... ...I really wouldn't have minded doing all that if you weren't wanting to kill me!"

Paine smirked slightly back, eyes easing. "If we see you again....you're gonna eat those words literally."

"I'll count on it..." he replied, then turned back and started off again, leaving the girls to do what they would. Even if he did manage to stop them... he could not possibly convince everyone...

Next stop… New York City.

New York City
10:35 AM

With the help of one last surviving train, Ian managed to reach New York City, long believed to be the hub of whatever it was that caused this thing. As he stepped off, he immediately noted that someone had already passed through here. There was considerable damage about. One other thing that bothered him... several times during the trip, something eclipsed the sun completely. And as soon as he turned to look... nothing.

Nothing remained save the damage, it seemed. Except perhaps a curious sight on a bench a short distance off.

"I found it! I get to read the funnies first!"

"Miss Tron said SHARE!"

"Not the comics!"

Ian blinked and looked ahead. ...were those... SERVBOTS? He walked up to them quickly. Tron... they must have meant Tron Bonne. So she was in town too... "Uh, excuse me."

"Eeeeeeeee!!!" The little robots toppled off the bench, wide eyes even wider still.

Ian winced, "Hey, sorry... um... hey, you mentioned Miss Tron. You're, uh, talking about Tron Bonne, right?"

They peeped suspiciously over the seat. "W-who wants to know?"

"Oh, just a random fan, that all." he grinned sheepishly.

The second one blinked, sinking slightly further behind the bench. "F-fan?"

"Fan. Admirer. Something like that."

The first one, seemingly bolder, hopped back into the seat. "Even if we did know Miss Tron was at the Empire State Building, we wouldn't tell YOU!"

"Hmm..." Ian rubbed his chin. This might not be too difficult. "Oh, I know you wouldn't. You're way too smart for that. I mean, I bet you wouldn't even tell me if you knew where the G-Man is, right?"

The second pounced, tumbling the first down to the sidewalk at Ian's feet. "Shut UP! You don't have the Brains to talk to ANYONE!"

Ian held back a snicker, watching.

The second glared up at Ian, an absurd expression on such a face. "We don't know anything YOU need to know!"

"Do you not know nothing?" he asked, purposely playing a double negative.

The diminuitive robot paused a moment, eyes clouding. "We do SO know!"

"Do you really?" Ian raised an eyebrow, "I can't be sure of that, can I?"

"You're calling ME a liar?"

"Of course not... I'm just saying I don't know if you really know because you know that I can't know.”

The little robot blinked, then blinked again. The sentence or the pummeling had already sent his companion into a catatonic stupor.

"So, if you know... let ME know so I know that you know."

"G-grrr....I know Miss Tron is at the Empire State Building, but you don't need to know that!"

"But I do." he corrected, "If I don't know that you know, then how can I ever know you REALLY know that Miss Tron is at the Empire State Building?"

"I can SHOW you, but I won't!" The little robot straightened, face screwed up in an adorable scowl.

"Then you should let me know what I want to know. Otherwise I might think you ARE just a liar." he folded his arms.

Hopping up and down, arms flailing in frustration, Ian wondered if the Servbot would achieve flight. "I am NOT a liar!"

"Then tell the truth." Ian said in a parent-like tone, "If you know where G-Man is, tell me!"

The little robot shook his head vehemently. "I'm NOT taking you all the way to Washington DC to prove I'm not a liar!"

"OH?" Ian grinned, "Shame..." Washington. Bingo.

Bending down to scoop up his confused companion, the Servbot nodded. "So THERE!"

Ian shook his head and snapped his fingers, "Darn... you're too smart for me, too."

"I'm gonna tell Miss Tron about you!"

"That's okay, I was on my way to see her anyway." he nodded, "No worries."

"H-huh?" the little robot paused, then his eyes flew open in horror. "I-I told you where she was!!!"

As he headed toward said building, "The only difference between me and her, kiddo, is that I'm not cruel. I won't tell her you told me."

The little robots lip trembled, and he scrubbed his eyes as he began to sob loudly. "Miss Tron! What have I done?"

Ian stopped with a grunt. Damnit... he didn't mean for that to happen. With a sigh, he moved back over and knelt down to the Servbot, "Hey..."

The pitiful yowls only grew louder. "I failed Miss Tron!"

You didn't fail her." he replied, "...besides... I know how Miss Tron yells at you poor guys so much. If you hadn't told me, I would have found her by her voice alone." He thought for a moment, "...hey, in a way... if I do turn out to be a troublemaker, she won't have any trouble taking care of me."

The Servbot finally looked up at last, snuffling miserably. "S-she won't, will she...."

He rubbed the Servbot's little top, "Nope... none at all..." He grinned, "So don't worry about it."

The little robot grinned at last again, and promptly seized Ian, hoisting him over his head. "I'll take you to her as my prisoner!"

Ian blinked. How the HELL were these guys that strong? He sighed. At least he'd meet Tron, finally.

As the Servbot toddled along, a booming shriek nearly knocked him to his feet. "M-Miss Tron?"

"GAH!" Ian exclaimed, holding his ears, "CHRIST, what was THAT?!"

The Servbot ran fast as his stubby legs could carry him, Ian bobbling above his head. "Miss Tron! I-I'll save you!"

"She sounded scared...!" Ian frowned, "What could terrify her at that size?"

"GET IT AWAY FROM MEEE!!!"

Tron Bonne, a full five hundred feet tall at least, clung to the Empire State Building as though it were a lamppost, cowering at the fearless, yapping Yorkshire Terrier that had challenged her toes.

Were this story an anime, Ian's jaw would have dropped to the ground. He could NOT believe it. He squirmed out of the Servbot's grasp and whistled to the dog, "HEY! C'MERE!"

That only seemed to drive the dog to further boldness, hopping up and down as he barked.

Ian blinked. Man... Tron was a mean-dog magnet. "Hey!" he called to it, whistling, "Pup! Leave the poor giant girl alone!"

The Yorkie finally cringed, skittering off across the street with a last defiant yip.

Ian sighed and stepped inside the building. After a few minutes, a ding at the top floor sounded and he stepped from the elevator. Leaning against the railing and looking down, he quipped to the female pirate, "You all right?"

Slowly, she slid back to the ground with a window-shattering thump, red-faced and annoyed. "I already WAS all right!"

The Servbot whimpered unheard beneath her heel, flattened.

Ian fell on his back, twitching. God, her VOICE.

"Who ARE you, anyway?"

"My name is Ian Jenkins." he replied, getting to his feet and rubbing his ears, "And despite the circumstances, 'tis a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bonne."

Tron grinned. "Really? No one else has thought getting squished under my boot was pleasure."

Ian sighed softly, "Come now... don't you have anything better to do than to squash an admirer?"

"Admirer...?" she stepped back at last, and the little Servbot popped back up with a yelp, scrambling for cover.

"Well, yes." he leaned on the railing, looking toward her, "I can't say I'm the most law-abiding citizen." Which wasn't exactly untrue. He had a bunch of illegal software on his computer, over $1,000 worth. "You've got great skills as a pirate, you're smarter than probably everyone in this country combined, plus you're cute. What isn't to admire?"

Tron's lip curled in a cynical grin. "I'm still gonna step on you, you know. Better me than Teisel, though."

"Actually, so far that I've seen..." he glanced around a bit, "It's, uh... only you girls. Oh! By the way, have you seen a princess-y type around here? Yellow dress, brown hair, pink crown, might have screamed, "HI I'M DAISY!!!" a lot?"

Tron peered at the tiny man as though he'd grown a second head. "If I had, I would've stepped on HER."

Ian checked his watch... about 10:37... "Damn." he muttered, "Would have been difficult. She was huge too. She was the one who apparently started this rampage."

Another eclipse of the sun. His eyes shot to it again. "...what the HELL? Whoever you are!" he called out, loudly, "Come out, NOW!"

Tron only shook her head. "Someone's already smushed your brains to paste, I think."

"Three sphere hunters tried to." he replied, then looked back to her, "Someone's been following me. Every so often, something huge comes back to eclipse out the sun. But when I look... nothing. You surely saw that it got real dark suddenly, right?"

Tron harrumphed. "Can't say I did, uless I was the one doing it."

Ian stared back toward the sun and shivered, "... I don't like being watched."

Tron sneered. "You won't have much worry in a while."

Tron, he knew, was more than capable of squashing a roach under her foot. Easy enough to do. "Why are you so intent on crushing me?" he asked, "Seriously... what threat do I pose to you?"

"Hmmmm....I don't know...because you're an insect?" she drawled teasingly.

"Not really..." he shrugged, going onto his knees and resting his chin on his arms, still watching her, "I mean... if I were trying to stop you from doing, uh... whatever it is you're doing, then it'd be worth it. But, I'm not. I'm more cheering you on than anything."

"CHEERING me?"

"Hey, I told you that I was an admirer of yours. Why wouldn't I be cheering?"

"Because I'm taking over this place, and I'll step on anyone to get it?"

Ian nodded, "I thought so... how long have you been at this?"

"Mm....not long. A Bonne doesn't need much time to take an opportunity."

She glanced down at the little Servbot. "23! What happened to 14?"

#23 winced. He had dropped #14 when he had started bawling and grabbed Mister Ian.

"The other little Servbot?" Ian inquired, "I think he was reading the comics..."

Tron shook her head, smiling slightly. "Figures."

"I-is it all right, Miss Tron?" #23 quavered uncertainly.

Ian shifted a bit. At least she wasn't screaming about it. Then she would have busted his eardrums early.

Instead, the giantess girl's voice was downright motherly. "Of course. Just get him back here, okay? You wouldn't want him to be a lazy Servbot, would you?"

Actually, #23 thought a few runs in the Torture Room would do #14 good. But he shook his head dutifully. "No, ma'am!"

He continued to watch between her and the Servbot. 'I really don't understand them too well...' he thought.

#23 toddled off, back toward the bench and his companion. Tron turned her bright green eyes back to Ian. "Now....back to business."

Ian wiped his hands on his trousers and returned to leaning on the railing, staring back at her huge eyes. "...quite..."

She smirked playfully. "Want to beg for mercy first?"

He sighed, shaking his head, "I don't really intend on dying yet... I still have a lot to do."

"Well, if I decide you have to worship me first, you sure do." she grinned.

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded. "You can try."

"You're a skilled pirate..." he said, "...so you are more than capable of gathering information quickly. No doubt you've done so already, even at this size. So..."

He licked his lips slowly, staring at her, "...how much do you know about Marco Antonelli?"

She frowned faintly. "I know he's got a big mouth for such a little twerp."

Ian raised an eyebrow, "You two have met?"

"Not until he brought me here." her eyes narrowed. "And started ordering me around like I was the Servbot."

"Whoa." he blinked, "Even I know that's a stupid thing to do. What did he try and get you to do?" he asked, standing again.

"Find some other guy. Like I run a charity or something!"

He ran a hand through his hair, "...some other guy... let me guess, some "young fellow who is quite troublesome"?"

She shrugged her massive shoulders. "Guy's name was Ian Jenkins. I don't care what he is, no one bosses around a Bonne!"

"Well, since I already introduced myself..." he replied, "I take it you're not thinking about bringing me in?"

She smiled faintly. "You're good, just like he said. I didn't scare you at all, did I?"

"Oh, you did." he replied, wiping his forehead slowly, with a tired smile, "This whole thing scares the hell out of me." His expression grew serious and shook his head, "But the dude is a lunatic. I have to stop him before the world is completely crushed."

She chuckled. "You can stop him, and it's STILL gonna be crushed. No Bonne's ever taken over the world before....until now!"

"I can't exactly do much to stop you in that sense..." he replied softly, "...But once I do stop him... you will all go back to your worlds, I wager. ...and everything you will do here will be for nothing."

"Nothing? We'll have a whole world for a secret hideaway!"

"But you won't be able to get back." he replied, "After I send you back, I'm destroying those machines."

"Hey! Not if I say no!" She ground both fists into her hips. It would be a cute pose indeed, had she not been so gigantic.

"And ARE you saying no?" he challenged.

"You betcha! A Bonne doesn't just QUIT!"

"And a good person can't let people die needlessly." he replied with a sigh, "I had hoped you'd be reasonable."

"You're just bugs at a Bonne foot. Best get used to it."

"Get used to it, huh...?"

She smiled sweetly. "Only thing you CAN do!"

"Heh... being an admirer..." he said softly, "...I suppose I should..."

"Heh....you aren't gonna admire me long, you just said that yourself." Tron relaxed her stance.

"Well... like I said... as an admirer, I should... ...but I'm a citizen of this country and this world." he said with a slight sigh, "...I consider it an honor to meet you... but I can't let you succeed. ...but, as it is... I can't stop YOU directly..."

She winked. "So how do you think you can stop me at all?"

"By stopping Antonelli." he replied, "...but even then... just because he's in Washington... I don't know where all of his machines could be..."

"Heh....I really should step on you, you know."

"Mmm... I know..." he whispered, going back onto his knees, "... ...if you want to succeed... ...you probably should... ...there's no real guarantee I'll succeed... but... ...there's no real guarantee that I won't..."

"I'll let you stop Antonelli first. Save me the trouble." she turned, taking a few steps toward the ruined path she made coming to this point.

The corner of Ian's mouth creased in a grin, "...heh... thanks..." He stood and headed for the elevator.

Soon enough, the ding sounded and Ian stepped out from the elevator and from the Empire State Building. That seemed easy enough. Tron wasn't going to stop him, at least.

The giantess pirate still stood outside, tapping the toe of her boot rapid enough to send the walls to shaking.

Ian stumbled slightly, but took off south. He had to get to Washington as fast as he could. "Thanks again!" he called back to her.

Tron shook her head. What could he hope to do? Antonelli had others to do the dirty work she wouldn't.

11:49 AM

About an hour later, Ian stopped again. "Damnit..." he muttered, "I've got to find a way to get to Washington that doesn't involve me WALKING the whole way there..."

That wasn't a problem for some. Ian was reminded forcibly as the pavement trembled with a familiar pattern.

He went along with the trembling to finally topple down against a tree in a small park, wiping his forehead, "...is another one around?"

A whole new, wholly temporary kingdom....one she could rule as she wished, with no recriminations. Zelda relished the thought yet again as she eagerly scanned the city at her feet.

Ian's breathing became a bit deeper as he pressed a hand against his chest, "...Agh... damn..." Suddenly, he stopped, seeing a pair of pinkish heeled shoes some ways away.

The tiny movement was exactly what the princess had hoped to see. Regal lips curling in a smile, she stepped toward Ian.

Ian saw the feet moving right toward him and just slumped back against the tree. It was the beginning of November... the leaves were already off. No hiding. Not like he could move much at the moment anyway.

"Are you trying to hide?" she said casually.

"No, your highness." he responded with a wheeze then inhaled sharply with a wince. Ow... something had hit... "I'm just not... feeling too well right now..."

"Oh...? How so?"

"It's... just a bit hard to breathe."

She chuckled. "So you were trying to escape."

Ian shook his head, "No..." he panted, pointing the direction he had come from, "I came from that way... trying to get to Washington.”

A delicate eyebrow raised. "Why are you going there...?"

"The man... that brought you all here is there..." he replied, "...He's planning something dreadful. I'm going to try and stop him."

The pink-slippered toes pattered thunderously on the ground. "What is it he's planning?"

"He wants to use you..." he gestured up to her, "...and all the other giants to completely destroy the country, and maybe even the world... completely crush it underfoot."

She chuckled. "How ironic."

"Ironic...?"

Her brilliant smile chilled him. "That was my plan, as well."

Ian breathed in and winced again. "Damnit..." he uttered, leaning back again, "...Not you too..."

"It's a wonder you've made it this far." she mused. "There are MANY others like me."

"...I know..." With enough strength, he got to his feet and stumbled out before her before losing it and plopping back down on the now-empty roads. He leaned back, putting his hands behind him and looked up at the gigantic princess. She was VERY beautiful... even moreso in person. "...I really wish I didn't have to meet all of you under these circumstances, you know." he sighed softly.

"Because I might step on you as the bug you are?"

"...More so because I wish none of you would even consider that." he replied, closing his eyes, shaking a bit. His voice cracked, "...I'm... heh... I'm not yet used to having my life threatened yet."

Her golden hair curtained the sun as she leaned down to him. "Should you have gone further....you would have, eventually."

"...I know..." He started giggling. Then he threw his head back, laughing, with tears streaming down his cheeks, "I get it!" he exclaimed, "I'm such an idiot, I don't know why I didn't think of it!" Scrubbing his eyes and chuckling almost madly, he spoke, "I... decided... all on my own... that I was going to be the one to stop him. Going on this crusade, and not letting any giant get in my way! And I finally realized... I... am... petrified. I am not up to this."

Her smooth, pale face was unreadable. "....then why do you continue...?"

"...because I have to..." he responded, sadly, "...I'm the only one out of all of us "bugs" as a lot of you call us, that know him... and know where he is. Besides, ...If I just sit back... and let the world go to hell... I'll be crushed along with it..." He breathed for a few more minutes, the pain practically gone, then sniffed, rubbing his eyes hard and looking up. "...I'm sorry..." he uttered, "...I didn't mean to do that..."

The fingertip that brushed against him was far gentler than Ian dared imagine.

He gasped slightly, and looked up slowly to her.

"What am I doing?" she asked, bewildered.

He blinked slightly, licking his lips, "I... ...I don't know, your highness..."

Zelda pressed her long fingers to her furrowed brow, eyes squeezing shut.

"Princess Zelda??" Ian shouted suddenly, concerned. What the heck was happening?

Zelda hesitated a moment more, then peered back down.

Ian stared up at her with worried eyes. "Are... you okay, Princess?"

"Perhaps you should leave, stranger." she said quietly.

"What...?" he stepped forward slightly.

"I....cannot explain. ....but you may be in danger, if you remain...."

Ian hesitated. Something was wrong. But, so far, it seemed to be in a good way. She could have stepped on him at any time... but didn't. "...if you're sure, your highness..."

"Please." she whispered, voice strained.

He bowed lowly, "Thank you." Immediately, Ian started off past her. Something weird had just happened. Why did she let him go? ...and couldn't he find some better transportation, damnit??

Ian didn't know where he was, or if that guy was planning on using the car he swiped. All he knew was that it was about noontime. Call him selfish if you want, all he could think about was getting himself to Washington DC. The car was in bad shape. Wrecked bumpers, one broken window, two flat tires. And the hood was smoking. Ssssss. "Spast..." he muttered as he finally stopped the car.

Even more unnerving was the fact that that eclipsing figure was still following him. Several more times. "Who is following me? And why haven't they shown up?" he asked himself as he stepped out of the car, looking around. Hm. Small city, but a city nonetheless. Actually POPULATED as people were scrambling around. Some getting into cars, others running, more just in one place, stone stiff.

The cause for their alarm tempted Ian to dive back into the old beater and race off fast as it would allow.

Beatrix sneered down on the fleeing insects, single chestnut eye burning as she lifted her massive boot.

Ian tensed, peering at the giant, rampaging woman. Long, brown hair, and a patch over one eye. "...General Beatrix, Final Fantasy 9. Damnit." he muttered under his breath. But she was in the way. He had to get past her. Glancing back to his car, and then back to Beatrix, he grumbled as he climbed in and started off back toward the city. "I've got to get past her!"

The little bugs, however, were fleeing, as fast as they could out from under the shadow of her bootsole and trying to escape the city.

They could not match ther giantess's pace. Beatrix pressed the bootsole down sharply, relishing the wet sound as the vermin were crushed to pulp beneath her foot.

Ian shuddered, hearing the sound of the giantess squashing the tiny humans easily underfoot. How cruel. But he stepped just as hard on the gas, zooming the car forward toward the giantess's huge, booted feet.

Beatrix chuckled as the miniscule vehicle hurtled toward her, and lifted her other foot.

Immediately, Ian hit the brakes. Nothing. He wasn't stopping. Wasn't slowing. It was then that the trunk opened and the hood suddenly caught fire. All his time playing Grand Theft Auto told him that there was only one thing he could do:

BAIL!!!

He opened the door and rolled out onto the street as the car careened onward.

The massive boot crunched down on the car, just short of his tiny body.

"Augh... holy crap..." he wheezed, "...that was not cool..."

Already, he was shadowed as Beatrix moved to step again, smiling maliciously down to him.

"Augh!" he cried out, "Even worse!" He quickly rolled out of the shadow and moved to his feet, stepping back.

Beatrix twisted about to see Ian's evasion, turning on one heel. "No escape, insect."

"General, I'd ask what the hell you think you're doing, but you're making it painfully obvious." Ian frowned.

She only laughed in reply.

"I'm not wasting my time with you." he quickly turned and started running. He knew she'd follow him, it would seem that was natural instinct for any of these ladies.

And follow she did, a massive stomp just shy of his back.

He stumbled, easily. Especially with that sort of force coming down. "Damnit!" he yelled. He had to lose her somehow. Luckily, this time, there were plenty of other little bugs running with him, some slower than others...

Beatrix turned her attentions to them, lifting her heel once more. "This will be you next, roach!"

Ian just kept running, not bothering to try and acknowledge her statement. He knew what was coming, and he'd be sure to hear it too, as much as he heard the little bugs begging beneath the shadow of her foot.

Beatrix ground her heel down mercilessly, replacing the muffled cries with squashing.

Ian shuddered as he turned the corner, knees trembling as he moved, ears ringing with that frightening mushing sound.

The building that had provided him the corner suddenly crunched in a cloud of dust beneath the general's massive bootsole.

"You gotta be kidding..." he muttered to himself as he drove himself forward, faster. "She isn't that tall... is she?" he glanced back.

Beatrix was tall enough, he realized as his stomach tried to lurch ahead of him.

He just turned back ahead, running with all of his might, past citizens of all kinds. There was nothing he could do to help them, even as a distraction. She was just too quick and would be able to catch up in no time.

She slowed, single eye searching the milling, terrified crowds. It seemed she must have lost him....

As the crowds surged along, he quickly ducked into a darkened alleyway. Good... nothing seemed to happen. She must have lost him. He breathed a soft sigh of relief and started to catch his breath.

"How... could any of these girls... be so... cruel...?" he asked himself.

A building across the street was reduced to ruins. Whatever drove her, Beatrix seemed to have forgotten this insect in particular.

"And I've completely lost my sense of direction." he muttered as he emerged on the other side, "Damn Beatrix... ...guess I'll head this way..." he stretched slowly and headed off as quick as he could, trying to stay out of Beatrix's sight.

Ruby didn't feel like smushing anyone beneath her slipper, except maybe the bastard that brought her here.

She scuffed her massive sole into the ground, imagining that one begging for mercy under its weight. But even that sense of satisfaction was short-lived. She sighed. She missed her lunks. She missed arguing with Baku. The fool wanted to switch parts with Blank, next play. The Mini Theater would be bust before she got back.

Mini Theater. She chuckled sadly. Damn near everything was mini to her now.

Ian stopped shortly. He hadn't even noticed the huge figure before him, as his eyes had been mainly on the ground in front. But now... the only direction he could look was up. Up... up... up...

"R...Ruby...!" he exclaimed, eyes wide. Ruby, member of Tantalus, Final Fantasy IX. What a coincidence.

Eyes closed, the giantess seemed to be too occupied to hear him.

He licked his lips slowly. Ruby was a good sort... last he knew, at least. Then again, so was YuRiPa... but he had to try...

He moved forward and raised his voice a bit more, "M-M-Miss Ruby!!"

She startled then, pale blue eyes quickly searching him out. "Whut...?"

He started, but stepped forward again, waving up, "D-Down here, miss!"

She leaned forward. "Ah kin see y'all, darlin'. Whut d'ya want?"

Well, it wasn't hostile, certainly. Maybe somewhat defensive or annoyed, but he could certainly try to soothe that. "I'm, um... sorry if I'm disturbing you..."

"Apology accepted, darlin'. ....but y'all still ain't said why ya done it."

Maybe more than a little annoyed. "I know it might sound strange but... ...you... don't want to step on me or anything, do you...?"

She chuckled softly, relaxing slightly. "I think thet's whut mah orders were, darlin'....but nah, y'all are snug as a bug."

Ian was visibly relieved, especially after dealing with Beatrix. "I'm... certainly... glad to hear that..."

"So why y'all riskin' mah terrible feet?" she smiled crookedly, resting her chin into her hand.

"I didn't have much choice..." he replied with a similar crooked grin, "Every other time I try to hide, I'm caught... I figured I'd try a different approach this time... Besides... they can't be that terrible."

"Betcha they kin if'n y'all are under 'em, darlin'." she winked.

"Heh... and I suppose I'd have to find out for myself?"

Ruby managed a more heartfelt giggle this time, and wriggled her toes within her slippers. Little man had a sense of humor. "Yeah, darlin'. Don't take mah word fer it."

He stepped forward slowly. "if you insist..."

Ruby squeaked in surprise, toes scooting back. "Y'all are serious?"

"Well, you're not intending on squashing me..." he shifted slightly.

She nodded. "Ah know....thought y'all would go scurryin' after thet."

"Well... if you had been like Beatrix... I would have been out like a light." he shifted.

"Gal likes th' work, huh?"

Ian shuddered hard. "Too much..."

The giantess rolled her eyes. "Been 'round Lord Steiner too long, ah think."

"...I never thought she'd be so..." he couldn't finish. He just shuddered again.

"Y'all jes' make sure ya point them tiny toes away from here."

"I plan to..." he replied, "I have to get to Washington... it's still a-ways south."

"On them tiny feet, darlin'...?" It was odd to see such compassion in a giantess's eyes, but a relief nonetheless.

"I don't really have a choice..." he replied, looking back toward where he had come from, "Beatrix crushed my ride like a tin can underfoot. Best I can do is hope that something in public transportation still works."

She chuckled, smoothing a hand along her slipper. "Don't think ennythin' in this world o' yers works now, darlin'."

He sighed, wiping his face, "Then I'll have to keep walking..."

"Whut? Y'all jes' make promises an' leave a lady like thet?"

"When I DO go." he added.

She giggled, giantess cheeks reddening slightly. "Y'all mean ya really ain't jokin'?"

"Well, my word is my word..." he said with a faint grin.

She eyed him with a lopsided, nervous smile and shifted, a shocking contrast to the differences in size. "But why would y'all do such a thing? 'cause ya cain't reach mah lips?"

"Well, yes, for one thing." he went a bit red on that.

"An' th' other? Y'all gonna grovel like ah wuz gonna squash ya, mah bug?"

"...If you'd like me to." he replied, "...I don't have a problem with doing this when I know you're not going to squash me, ma'am..."

She blinked, toes curling in at the thought. Men fell at her feet before, but not quite like this. Still....she drew herself up with a breath, and tried to look commanding beyond her staggering height. "Ah do. Y'all kin worship me like th' goddess ah obviously am."

Ian shifted a bit. Well, he was still glad to do it for her. At least she DIDN'T want to step on him (as far as he knew). Slowly, he lowered himself onto his stomach before her feet.

Ruby almost giggled, reaching down to tug the massive slipper away, revealing soft pale footflesh. "A true gentleman is whut y'are, darlin'."

He licked his lips slowly. Gentleman...? "Heh..." he blushed slightly, "...don't know about THAT..."

She winked. "So put yer mouth whar yer mouth is, darlin'. Gonna kiss mah goddess toes?"

He looked forward and moved slightly to bow his head at her huge toes, kissing alowly at them.

Ruby bit her lip, holding back a squeal of surprise. She wriggled the toes at the little man's lips. "Ah ain't seen to 'em since ah came here."

He moved down each toe, kissing each in turn. "How do you mean?" he asked.

She reddened again. "Ah ain't exactly a size t'fit in a bath, mah darlin'. Bet y'all kin smell it, too."

Ian reddened as well. He certainly could, indeed. Not as potent as YuRiPa's, but... potent enough. "Oh...?" he asked.

"Y'all ARE a gentleman." she grinned, pressing a slender toetip to his lips.

He gripped it as tightly as he could in his hands, starting to kiss even further along it, "Nah..."

She arched the toe back in his tiny embrace. "Mah darlin', mebbe not, if'n y'all kiss like thet with a regular gal."

"...Um..." he stopped at that, cheeks red, "...I wouldn't know about that."

She smirked. "Y'all tellin' yer Goddess fibs?"

He shook his head quickly, "No, ma'am."

"Aw, ain't it sweet!" She leaned forward, clasping her hands together in adoration.

Ian looked up, somewhat flabbergasted, "Wh-what?"

"Ah'm yer first kiss! Or mah feet are."

He licked his lips slowly. "That... you are..."

She chuckled, then pressed the toes slowly about him, hugging him to the moist flesh. "Ah oughta make it special."

Ian squirmed between the toes, looking up at her, "What... do you mean?"

Another saucy wink. "Ah'm not so sure, jes' yet. But y'all kin keep practicin' on mah Goddess toes."

He nodded slowly, continuing to kiss at the giant toes.

She pressed him down beneath the heavy, odorous folds, rubbing gently. "Ah could walk there for ya, darlin'...."

"Walk me there?" he asked, squirming against her toes. Yikes, they were heavy.

At that moment, another eclipse.

Ruby was far too engrossed in the little gentleman to notice the sun at her back. "Yeah! Y'all kin hitch a ride with me!"

"Are you sure?" he asked, concerned, "...what if the others find out?"

"Think they'd search mah foul slippers, darlin'?"

Ian raised an eyebrow, "... ...um, no probably not. Uh, what kind of ride did you have in mind?"

"Jes' thet. Hehe....y'all kin keep practicin', an' ah kin do th' walkin'."

Ian gulped. "...I... don't want to see you hurt from helping me..." he continued kissing between the toes.

"Hurt, darlin'...? Over a li'l bug like y'all?"

"Someone's following me, Ruby." he shivered hard between her toes, "...I always feel like someone else's eyes are watching every move I've made... whoever it is has probably already heard this conversation."

The giantess shifted, toes gripping him in as she searched around.

"...I don't want you to get hurt..."

"Mah darlin'...." her brow furrowed under her silvery hair.

"...I appreciate that you want to help me..." he said slowly, "...But you've been so nice to me... I never want to see anything bad happen to you."

"Whut will ya do if'n they ketch ya?"

"Heh, run." he replied with a faint grin, "All I can do..."

"Y'all couldn't outrun mah foot if ya tried."

"I've been lucky so far..."

She nodded slowly. "How many y'all outrun so far?"

He went through in his mind. "Ummm... about... seven."

She blinked. "Whut th' hells is thet li'l twerp up to?"

"He wants to crush the world." he replied with a slight sigh.

"Unner our feet." she said quietly.

"Yeah..."

"If'n y'all insist, mah darlin'....git. But if'n ah see 'em lookin' fer ya, ah'll stall 'em."

"Thanks, Ruby..." he kissed her toe again, "...I hope to see you again."

She stood slowly, feeling lonelier than ever....but it was somehow more tolerable, now that she had a part to play. "Ah hope so....afore ah go back home."

Ian licked his lips slowly, "...I wonder... ...if it's possible to go to your world, too."

She looked down thoughtfully. "Prolly, if'n ah came heah. Why, darlin'?"

"...I... I want to see it..."

She smiled wistfully. "Some of it, y'all kin do without."

"What do you mean?"

She chuckled. "Bigmouth lunks y'all think ya'd never miss....'til ya do."

"I'll send you back... so you can not miss them again." he grinned crookedly.

"Ah'll owe ya one, darlin'. Now....afore they find ya, git." she nudged a playful toe against him. "Ah'll give ya a real kiss then."

He bowed as he stepped back, "Yes, ma'am... ...goodbye." With that, he turned and started off again. He looked up at the afternoon sun. It WAS afternoon by that point... From that, he maintained the southern direction again and started that way once more. His heart tugged at him, sagging. He would get back to see her again.

"Count on it." he muttered as he started running.

Ruby watched him leave, rubbing at her arms. "Yer no gentleman if'n ya don't keep thet promise, darlin'."

"...I told you..." he replied, not turning around, "...My word is my word..." He squeezed his eyes shut. Damnit, he didn't want to go.

She smiled, waving at the little man's back. She'd already guessed that.

He clenched his fist, looking back up toward the blue sky, tinted by the yellow-orangeness of the afternoon sun. Would this be his last day? Could it be? If so... "R-Ruby..." he stammered slightly, gritting his teeth, "...if... I don't make it through... ...please... forgive me..."

"Y'all will, darlin'." she replied immediately. "Stop thet talk, unless y'all want me t'boot ya south."

"S-sorry." he quickly straightened and made a move southbound again. This put something of a lighter burden on his heart, as he realized he felt he gained a life-long friend… or more… in Ruby.

Washington, DC 2:13 PM

The attack on the world had been happening for nearly six hours, Ian realized as he stopped his car just inside the city limits of the District of Columbia. He had managed to swipe another one, easily, before he left the previous city. Still, it was but luck.

Immediately, he heard a familiar whistling in the wind and eyes immediately shot toward the sun.

This time, the phantom didn't fade before his eyes could catch up. She smiled instead, darkly as her wings shadowed the sky as she beat hurricane winds beneath them.

Ian blocked his eyes with his arms and took cover behind his car. Finally, the source of his paranoia was here. The spy had revealed herself!

Rouge's soft chuckle echoed like an earthquake as the giantess bat twisted down to land with a true quake, breaking windows in the buildings nearby and the car with terrible force. "Not so fast!" she smirked. "How will I ever keep up with you?"

That voice... Ian stood slowly from his hiding place, staring up at the giantess bat. "Rouge..." he muttered, "Have you been the one spying on me??"

"It IS my job." she smirked.

"Why??"

She took a step toward him and narrowed her smiling eyes. "Why don't you guess....and I'll tell you if you're right."

"...Antonelli?"

The giantess laughed, unfurling her wings to sweep Jenkins from his tiny, tiny feet with a single flap. No wonder they were so worried about this one. "I don't think you understand your position here, little man. I'm to silence you....for once and for all."

Ian ducked back behind the car until the gust of wind had passed. Standing, he looked straight at her eyes, "...Silence me, huh...? Then what was the point of spying on me?"

"To make sure you were alone." the simple statement chilled Ian like the blasted air from the giantess's wings.

Ian stood stiff at that. His legs, hidden by the hood of the car, however, were shaking as he put his hands on the hood to steady himself. "Alone, huh...?" he muttered.

She nodded slowly, smile widening. "And you are."

"...So I see..." he replied softly, fists clenching. Rouge was ruthless, this much he knew. He had a feeling she wouldn't hesitate to step on him like he was a roach. "...You're working for Antonelli?"

If she were a normal height, her smile would seem more seductive than terrifying. "See...? You guessed right."

"Mind if I ask WHY?"

She took another intimidating step forward. "Does that REALLY matter, now?"

Ian gripped tight to the hood as the giantess stepped forward, "It'll cure me of my curiosity

"It's my job to spy.....and you didn't really make it difficult, you know." She winked.

He shivered at her wink. "Glad to be so cooperative." he muttered.

"Not for long." she chuckled.

"So are you going to crush me on your own initiative or is that another order from the scumbag?"

"Business and pleasure really DO mix." the toes of her boot crunched just before the car and the tiny human.

Ian still didn't move from his spot, but instead pressed harder at the car. His mind flashed.

Scrubbing his eyes and chuckling almost madly, he spoke, "I... decided... all on my own... that I was going to be the one to stop him. Going on this crusade, and not letting any giant get in my way! And I finally realized... I... am... petrified. I am not up to this."

"...I... am not up to this..." he whispered.

"Too bad. I am."

His eyes half-closed, as if in a dream, or not fully awake. This wasn't happening, any of it. He was at home, asleep in bed.

"I wish..." he muttered, slowly moving around the front of the car and sitting on the hood, looking up at the giantess Rouge. God, she was huge, like the others. And the look she gave would probably seduce him more than terrify, were they the same height.

"...Heh... I wish I had enough money to pay you off." he commented, "I would imagine you cost quite a bit."

"You get what you pay for." she said smugly.

"How much? Just throw me a bone, here..."

"I'm worth my weight in jewels. My current weight." she snickered. This game was more amusing than making him beg beneath her bootsole....for now.

"Well, I consider it rude to ask a woman her weight..." Ian replied, "...so I'll let that one go for the moment. But, I am curious... how much would it cost for Antonelli's spy to loosen her lips?"

The smirk returned. "What good would it do you?"

"I'm trying to find where Antonelli's hiding in this city." he explained, "Nothing wrong with having a little knowledge, especially if you're so dedicated to stepping on me as he probably suggests."

"Mm....so you want to loosen my lips." her fingers curled thoughtfully beneath her chin.

"Yes, ma’am." he replied with a nod.

"So loosen yours." she grinned.

Ian raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

She prodded the immense bootsole out. "On my boots, insect."

The raised eyebrow stayed raised, "...Say what...?"

"Loosen your tongue on my foot....and I might loosen mine on Antonelli."

"Heh, might?"

"Depends on how well you loosen yours." she nudged the boot again.

Ian licked his lips slowly. Gack. Licking feet was one thing but... he never really WANTED to be someone's bootlicker. Still... if it could get him information on Antonelli... "Fine." he replied.

"Heh....either way....you'll still be paste across that sole when you're done."

He looked up at her, "And how much would it cost to keep THAT from happening?"

"No sale." she ground the toes in for emphasis.

"Why not?"

"Because I want to crush you like the bug you are."

Ian blinked. "Why? I'm sure we've never met before... what'd I do?"

Rouge lifted the bootsole up slightly. "You became a bug at the foot of a giantess, that's what."

He stumbled back quickly. That seemed to be all anyone needed for an excuse nowadays. The aggression factor certainly took a rise for them. "Point taken..." he said quickly.

"Still want the information?" she teased, sole aloft still.

"I might as well..." he replied.

"Mm. Then get loosening your tongue."

Any reply from Ian was cut short as she pressed the tip of her boot to his tiny lips.

"I-Mph." Was all he could get out. 'Great.' he thought as he started lapping the huge booted foot, 'I'm stuck licking Rouge's boot. It could be worse, I guess.' He thought briefly of all the other giantesses running amok in the world… and how many more would make him lick their feet. Odd that all of them seemed to have the same idea in mind.

Rouge leered down, pressing against the tiny tongue, wondering just how far he would go to "hire" her. "How's the taste?"

He stopped for a moment, thought, then looked up, "Leathery?"

"Glad you like it." she chuckled wickedly.

He shivered at her laugh, continuing to lick hard at the toe of the boot.

"Seems to be pretty loose....you must REALLY want to know what's going on." she remarked, eyes burning on him still.

"Well, he IS trying to use you girls to crush this world..." he shivered against her giant boot.

"Heh....keyword is trying, bugman."

"They're doing a good job..." he replied with a slight whimper.

"At crushing this place, oh yes. At being used.....all he can do is hope, can't he? He's just another bug like you."

"He's done this twice before." he replied, "You know where he is?"

"You haven't loosened your tongue enough for that." she smiled down past the gigantic bootsole.

"Well..." he climbed atop her boot, still licking, "Do you know where he is? I just want to know if you actually know."

"You haven't loosened your tongue enough for that." she repeated, sharp smile widening.

He looked up at her huge, smiling face, "...how loose does my tongue have to be?"

"I'll let you know when you get there."

He sighed and went back down, licking quickly at the huge boots.

Rouge shook the boot suddenly, sending Ian head over heels back to the ground.

"WARGH!!" He cried out, landing straight on his back between the two gigantic feet. Oh, this was going to suck SO BAD.

The sole was a terrifying shadow over him in that breath as the giantess bat continued to smile.

Ian cried out. She moved fast - way too fast. All he could do was force himself aside, straight against her other booted foot. There, he gripped at it quickly, tightly.

She chuckled, shifting the boot to the side with a slight shake.

This caused Ian to roll back to his original position, staring up in fear at Rouge's huge bootsole above him.

She pressed it lightly down. "You missed a spot."

The heart that pounded in his chest, like so many drums, started to subside and he started to lick hard at the sole of her boot, breathing hard.

Rouge balanced herself with her wingbeats, lazily sliding the massive bootsole over Ian to the heel.

The heel was a lot smaller than the rest of the boot at least... 'At this rate...' he thought, 'She could just crush my head.' But he went ahead and started licking Rouge's heel, too.

"You do know you're not going any further, don't you...?"

"...I'm dead...?"

Her eyes narrowed in cold amusement. "Or you'll wish you were."

Ian shivered at that, staring up at her, "...what... do you mean?"

The boot moved away mercifully, leaving Ian blinking against the light.

Ian winced, sitting up, rubbing his eyes. Casting a sideway glance to his car, he wondered if he would be able to get in and away fast enough before she could catch up. He seriously doubted it, however.

Rouge leaned down, reaching out massive gloved fingers. For a terrifying wild moment, Ian thought she was reaching for him....but her questing hand curled around her boot instead.

His stomach flip-flopped. He had a very bad feeling that he knew what was coming.

With a tug, his fears were confirmed. Rouge wriggled her giant furred toes slowly as she pulled her boot off and away.

Ian backed up slowly. "What...?"

She pressed them down slowly before him. "Looks like toes to me."

Ian gulped slowly, "I, uh... guess I missed a LOT of spots?"

"You might have time to cover them," she chuckled, "if I don't crush you now."

He slowly lowered down onto his knees before her, "C-crush me now??"

"I like to feel you insects smush between my toes." The largest toe lifted and thrust down again menacingly.

Ian moved forward towards them, almost entranced, yet he knew they were to be his doom. ‘What the hell are you doing!?’ his brain yelled at him, ‘Stop that!’

Rouge spread them before him, watching with a lick of her lips.

'Please, don't...' he silently plead with her as he knelt down before the giantess bat's toes.

The toes lifted again, then clenched over him suddenly, muffling his startled cry.

He squirmed quickly, trapped under Rouge's smelly, sweaty toes. A trap… why didn’t he see it sooner?!

"Helpless little insect, aren't you....?"

Ian thrashed against her toes, crying out affirmatively.

She rolled them over him slowly, relishing the reaction.

He found one toe among them and just gripped as tight as he could.

"I don't know whether it would piss Antonelli off or please him, to find I've tucked you in my boot instead."

He squirmed a bit harder at that, finally pushing up against the huge toes.

She stared down at him in amusement.

Ian shuddered hard between them, looking up slowly helplessly. He was a bug she’d caught between her toes and he finally realized it, maybe too late.

"Going somewhere?" she mocked softly.

"N-n-no, ma'am!" he replied quickly.

"Wrong. You're going wherever I decide you are."

"Oh. Fuckberries."

She lifted him up along with her white-furred paw, taking a step forward.

Once again, if this was an anime, a little chibi Ian would be flailing his arms about, yelling a whole bunch of things extremely quickly. Sadly, this isn't anime, but he was doing a damn good impression.

"Now just imagine being in my boot."

"I don't WANT TO!"

"Mm. You would rather be squashed, then?"

“Why, I imagine it would resemble Acapulco!” he changed his tune with a little ^_^ face for emphasis.

She giggled. "Good boy."

He shuddered. To think that this one giantess bat had such power over him. To think that somewhere inside, he didn’t really mind. ‘Damn you giantess fetish.’ His brain raged against him.

Rouge was already thinking about it quite a lot, it seemed. She ground her huge, soft toes against the pavement.

Ian cried out as she did so, squirming hard against the rough ground.

"I think I will keep you a while." she said at last.

"Keep... me?" he asked.

She grinned. "In my boot, just like I said."

He struggled a bit, but then, thinking that it was better (maybe) than being crushed beneath Rouge's foot, he hung limp.

She glanced around, imagining the look on Antonelli's face.

"For how long? I do still need to save the world." He said rather flatly.

"Until I smear you to a stain under my sole."

He clung tightly the to the toe.

She bent down again, curling her fingers about her discarded boot.

'Don't do this... don't do this... don't do this...' he kept repeating to himself over and over in his head.

Rouge lifted the boot, waving it teasingly.

Ian shivered as she did, making a minor struggle, but mind working furiously on how he was going to get out of this mess.

"Sure you wouldn't rather squish?"

"Yes!" he blurted out, "I'm sure!"

She flexed her massive pawfoot to wriggle the boot back on then, Ian tangled about her toes.

Ian could only hang on for dear life as he entered into the odorous boot along with Rouge's foot.

She slowly twisted her heel about for good measure, holding Ian tight in her toes.

'THINK, you lamebrain!' Ian thought, teeth clenched, squirming about the giantess bat's smelly, sweaty toes, 'How am I supposed to get out of here?'

She wasn't walking, at least. Ian felt the tension and release as the giantess took to the air again.

He gripped tightly to her toes at that, "What are you doing??" he cried out.

With her sensitive ears, she heard the tiny cry. But her only answer was a slight tightening of her toes.

He grunted as she did, face planted directly between two of them. Bile suddenly began to rise in his throat as he cried out once more, realizing that she was taking him even further from Washington than he wanted.

And he couldn't do a damn thing to stop her.

Time dragged, buried between the soft, sweaty toes. By the time he felt the pressure of her landing, it could have been an entire day.

Ian was out... completely. Fatigue combined with the heat and smell of Rouge's boot had put him out for most of the trip.

An unexpected rush of air and light awakened him fully. The bat was tugging her boot away again.

"Uh...?" he whimpered weakly. His eyes were so blurry, as they tried to focus. All he could tell was that he was still trapped between Rouge's toes.

Even more unexpected, he tumbled to soft grass as she spread them apart with a gentle shake.

He wholly accepted the grass. It felt like an eternity since last he felt the ground. But, curiously, his eyes went back to Rouge.

The bat's face clouded over....concern...? as she prodded him with a toetip. "Come on. It can't have been THAT bad."

As her toetip pressed gently against him, he leaned against it as his eyes focussed, "Where...?" he asked, "Where... are we...?"

She shrugged her massive shoulders. "I don't know. You tell me."

Something caught his ears and he crawled over weakly to what seemed to be a cliff edge. He widened his eyes. Below, he saw a string of rocky beaches that went out to... ...the ocean. Quickly, he turned back to Rouge, "Which... direction did you go in?"

"West." came the smiling reply.

The fatigue gave way to the rage within Ian's body as it came to a boil. He weakly got to his feet, "You brought me... all the way to the West Coast?!" Before he could take a step towards Rouge, he stumbled and fell onto his back, staring up at the sky. God... all the way to the other side of the country, from where he needed to be. "God... how can I make it now...?"

"Slightly easier than if I had stepped on you." the spy replied dryly.

"...why did you bring me out here?"

"Let's say your tongue loosened just enough."

Ian raised an eyebrow. Loosened enough? Was she going to cooperate? But, still, that didn't explain why they were there. "Oh...?" he asked.

"If I catch you again....I step on you with no deals." she answered softly. "Until then....raise as much trouble as you can."

He got up slowly, dusting himself off and facing up toward Rouge, "...I know it's bad luck to look a gift horse in the mouth, but... ...why?"

"I like a challenge." she smiled tightly. "Are you calling me a horse?"

"Okay, a gift bat in the sharp, shiny teeth."

Rouge chuckled, a bit less menacing. "That's more like it."

"A challenge, huh?" Ian stretched slowly, "...do you know how long its been?"

"How long...?"

"Wait, I got a watch..." he smacked his forehead and checked. 10:32 PM. Which meant that all the way over on the west coast, it was only 7:32. "...damnit..."

She started walking slowly away, the ground shaking as she did so.

'I could already be too late.' he thought. Glancing over at Rouge's retreating form, he said, "...I may regret this if you catch me again... ...but thanks..."

The bat smiled crookedly, spreading her wings to fly. "Try not to regret it. I'll be watching."

"I'll count on it." he waved after her.

With a surge she was airborne, coasting lazily eastward.

Ian stared after her and sighed, looking about. He knew he was on the west coast... but where? Gathering all the breath into his body, he thrust out his arms on either side and shouted to the heavens, "WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOOOOOOOOOW!!!!?"

Some time later…

He hadn't seen a lot of signs about... but he had been travelling for a good few hours, and the temperature was fairly mild. "Mid-California..." Ian reckoned to himself as he went onward. Either way... it was a hell of a long way away from Washington DC... and he knew he would have a lot of trouble getting back there from clear across the country.

As he clambered up another rolling hill he froze, goggling. In the town below there was a sign....trouble, on gigantic sandalled feet.

"OI!" Kidd roared in frustration, her sole stamping savagely down again and again on those unfortunate enough to flee before her feet. Like stomping grapes at the vineyards....

Ian made absolutely no move. Nothing more. He didn't have time to deal with her. Slowly, he settled down upon the hill, watching. Praying that she would move off.

"Kidd, Chrono Cross." he sighed softly to himself.

"Yer hear me, Lynx? Soon's I SQUASH every one of yer bleedin' insects, I'm steppin' on YER!"

"Lynx?" Ian blinked. Ah, right, Kidd's arch-enemy in Chrono Cross. But... wait a second, "She thinks this is a trap set up by LYNX? Wow, is she really that dense?"

Her foot was dense enough, it seemed, as it thrust down and flattened a house to fragments. She looked about, blue eyes flashing with fury.

Ian remained perfectly still, hardly even breathing. "If I don't move, she can't see me... if I don't move, she can't see me... if I don't move, she can't see me..." he muttered softly

Kidd turned and strode straight for the same hills, fuming. Lynx was a bigger nutter than she thought, with this trick. If she just crushed them all, it would break this spell....

He gripped the grass tightly, clenching his teeth. "She can't see me..."

But she did, delicate face twisting in a scowl.

Wincing, Ian looked up to see her angry blue eyes locked on him. Oh, this could not be good. He swallowed hard and gave a weak, "...Hiya..."

"Ain't there no END t'yer?" she fairly screamed in frustration.

He winced. Wow, she was louder than Tron, even! "Hey, Kidd, keep it down!" he exclaimed, "I heard you when you were down here... trust me, if this was a plot of Lynx, I would think he'd have a more creative way to deal with you!"

She glowered down. "I got a creative way of dealin' with yer!" she snapped.

He winced and stepped back. She was NOT in a good mood.

As usual.

"I-I can assure you, we are not what you think!"

"I ain't fallin' for no more tricks!" she roared, lifting her sandaled foot high above.

"CHRIST!!" He quickly rolled back as she did.

A silvery laugh floated on the wind. "And when vous trick yourself, z'en what?"

The terrifying giantess sole froze, then retreated as Kidd backpedalled. "Where are yer, yer painted whore??"

Ian shivered on the grassy knoll, looking about himself. "Great... two of them. Whyyyyyy?"

The delicate laugh was followed by its owner, who would be just as dainty were she not as massive a giantess as Kidd.

"AHCRAP!!!" he exclaimed, jumping forward a bit, surrounded on both sides. Giants in a sandbox. He looked up at the new giantess… Harle, also from Chrono Cross and Lynx’s right-hand, uh, harlequin.

"Yer can tell yer boss 'e ain't winnin' this....I'll kick yer back to 'im!"

"Non, non, mam'selle. Vous think, z'at if vous crush every last one of z'e pat'etic insects, z'e bad spell goes away, oui?"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Ian muttered softly, more to himself than anyone else.

"Yer KNOW it does! I'll kick both yer arses so 'ard, you'll kiss the moons!"

The painted girl chuckled again. "Z'is place 'as only z'e one moon. And vous....will be missing one bug."

Ian slowly folded his hands together and looked upward, watching the two continue to banter. 'I could be traveling right now...' he thought.

And he did, vanishing from beneath the giantess's foot. Kidd shrieked in outrage, but the mysterious jester had followed Ian to....where?

"Guh!?" Ian looked about suddenly, in a panic, "What the heck!?"

Beneath a satin-soft slipper, apparently. It pressed over him, muffling his cry of surprise and blocking his surroundings from view.

"Mm....moi saved vous from z'e fate worse z'an deat', mon petit bug."

He struggled briefly, slowly pushing himself to the toe section of the poofy slipper, looking up at his savior. "And I seriously thank you for that." he said, breathing in finally, "She's scary when she's angry."

The harlequin's full red lips curled to a smile. "I find eet mos' amusing....but z'en, eet ees vous at les pieds, not moi."

"I wasn't going to be for too much longer." he shuddered, hard.

"She sees le Yamaneko in every shadow. How delicious, z'at she torments 'erself better z'an 'e ever could." The slippered toes gripped in at him as she giggled.

He squirmed about the reflexively-gripping toes, slowly squirming out from under and before her.

She watched with red eyes far less molten than Paine's. "Vous are going somev'ere's, mon petit bug?"

"Well, hopefully, to save the world." he quipped, "...why?"

"Mm.....z'is vorld, eet ees doomed under z'e wild one's smelly feet."

"I'm trying to get across the country..." he pointed eastward, "...so I can find the machine that brought you lovelies here and send you back."

She blinked, startling straight. "Vous....know 'ow z'is t'ing happened?"

"Yeah." he frowned, "Jerk named Marco Antonelli... he brought you all here so you could crush the world underfoot."

She knelt down, eyes narrowing. "V'are ees d'is one, zen? Moi wishes words."

He blinked up at her. "He's... on the other side of the country, the last I knew... but he could be anywhere by now... if he hasn't gotten himself crushed yet, either."

Again, she chuckled softly. "Moi 'as followed z'e Kidd since sensing z'ere v'ere ot'ers brought to z'is place. Such t'ings, she 'as done for heem in z'e ignorance...."

"What..." he peered up at her, "...do you mean?"

"City after city...." the toes wriggled as she reminisced. "She stepped in and squashed z'em all...."

Ian sunk to his knees with a shudder. Damn that Rouge and her games... so many people...

The toes played softly over him. "Z'ere were times, she vould make z'em beg...."

He shuddered harder beneath her slipper, shaking his head furiously.

"Mmm....z'ey vould kiss 'er toes, rat'er z'en be crushed to paste beneat' z'em."

"God..." he uttered a small cry.

The silky toes ran over his tiny face. "Vould vous, mon petit bug...?"

"Would I what...?"

"Kiss z'e toes...?" The face that smiled down was mischievous if anything, he noted with relief.

"...I've certainly done it before..." he admitted.

The gaudy paint could not mask her surprise. "Oh...?"

"...She's not the only one who has used those tactics..."

"Vous encountered z'e ot'ers, z'en...."

"...They're destroying everything... And I'm the one that has to lick the sweat and dirt off their feet." He added on a sour note.

The toes retreated as she folded her legs over, looking thoughtfully down at the bug. "And vous t'ink z'e one responsible can be found?"

Ian leaned back, putting his hands on the ground behind him as he looked up at the giantess harlequin, "He has to be... he can't just simply disappear. I know he's back in Washington, DC...."

"If vous did not need to kiss z'e feet.....vous would show moi z'e way, non?"

"I would..." he said slowly, "...except I don't know how to get there from here. Hell, I don't even know where 'here' is!" he sighed.

She reached down slender fingertips. "Vous take z'e look, and see, oui?"

Ian slowly stepped onto her hand and steadied himself as he was lifted up.

Harle nodded. "Do vous recognize, mon petit bug...?"

He looked about. Nothing familiar. At all. A great deal of desert. With the sun having set, the temperature was certainly chilly. He sighed softly, "I recognize nothing..." he shook his head, "...but I can guess we're around Nevada or Arizona... both being way too far away from DC."

"Non, I shall take us z'ere! Nort', oui?"

"East." he replied.

The giantess fingers closed about him. "East eet ees, z'en!"

"You're sure about this?"

Ian felt an odd surge, a shifting that made him grip tight at her palm.

He looked up quickly at her, "What are you doing...??"

"Now!" She grinned, lifting him out. "Ees z'is z'e place, mon petit bug?"

Ian blinked, looking around and then down toward Harle's slippered feet. He saw a great amount of people fleeing away, as well as the sound of the crunching of people and metal from beneath. He recognized this place. "Well, uh, I've always wanted to see it happen, but... no, I can't say this is it." Harle was practically on top of the Cleveland, Ohio Greyhound station.

She stamped the massive foot in frustration. "Damn z'is strange place!"

He shivered in her grip, eyes wide.

She closed her eyes then with a sigh. "'ard to find z'e right place when moi does not know z'e place 'erself, non?"

"Indeed... maybe I should go on my own... you've certainly gotten me closer, and I certainly owe you for that." Ian said with a slight sigh himself.

"Vous will be safe?" she smiled mischievously, pressing her slippered sole down in another step, crunching a bus like a soda can beneath her foot. "So tiny and soft...."

"Nope." he replied with a wry grin, "I'm never going to be safe until I get this finished."

Harle nodded. "Mon petit bug.....make sure vous do, oui?"

"I'll do the best I can..." he replied softly.

"Vous are safe from z'e Kidd, at least." she laughed lightly. "Z'e Kidd only need worry about moi, now."

"What do you plan to do?"

She smiled enigmatically. "Per'aps vous will see....when vous come back."

Ian blinked slowly. He didn't understand, certainly, but he nodded, "If you say so, ma'am."

"Mm, oui! Dream of moi until z'en, mon petit bug!" She made a heartstopping leap into the air, then vanished once more, leaving Ian alone amid the wreckage of the bus station.

Ian looked around slowly. Everything was a terrible wreck. If anyone was around, he exclaimed to them, "I didn't do it!" and dashed off. He would certainly be thinking of the enigmatic Harle.

It was the early morning and the cold was setting in fast for Ian as he trudged along toward Washington D.C. The car he swiped from Ohio had finally run out of gas outside of somewhere that he thought was some small town in Pennsylvania, he didn’t know for sure. He didn’t much care; he knew that, eventually, it’d be crushed underfoot by the rampaging giantesses. He was tired. He needed a shower. He WANTED to go home but if YuRiPa had had their way, he knew that home was probably nothing than tons of rubble by now. The sudden thought ground him to a halt and he just dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground, shaking with a sob caught in his throat. It was about 3 in the morning. Nearly a day had passed since the giantess video game characters arrived on Earth.

‘How much is left…?’ he thought to himself, ‘What else is there to protect? How much more damage have the girls done…?’

There would be no way to repair so much damage after this. So much destruction, so many people dead… ‘It’s all my fault.’ He thought, eyes squeezed shut, ‘…If I hadn’t allowed Antonelli to access it… God forgive me…’

“The world is coming to an end! Our sins have been our undoing! Repent! REPENT!!” sidewalk prophets called out to anyone who would listen.

‘What do you think I’m doing…?’ Ian though, eyes opening up toward the clouded sky. As if on cue, little droplets started to rain down from above, soon turning into BIGGER droplets. Before too long it started to rain and the sound of the raindrops splashing against the grass and the sidewalk drowned out the sound of the prophets’ shouting, who were now scrambling to find cover. Ian, on the other hand, just lay in the grass, staring up sadly at the sky.

He wanted to stop. He wanted to stop going against these girls. It didn’t get him anywhere besides defeated, nearly squashed, and forced to worship their filthy feet. He was tired of it all. He just wanted it to end…

"No rest for the wicked" is surely what the prophets would claim as a sound not unlike thunder pushed heavily through the sky, and the ground rolled to match.

Princess Ruto of the Zora stalked on, liquid eyes fixed on the ridiculous toys scattered at her feet in annoyance. The Hylians wouldn't dare....this had to be the witchery of those bitch Gerudo. As soon as she figured out what this game was supposed to be, she would play it back, much to their regret.

If this game even had a point, she smirked. Those desert whores weren't known for their intelligence.

Ian didn't even bother looking. He already felt the rumbling beneath him. He knew someone (and someone huge) was coming. No rest for the wicked indeed. The deadly game of cat-and-mouse (or giantess-and-bug) would commence again, he knew. Breathing slowly and forcing himself up, he began to stretch. If it was coming, he wanted to be ready for it, no matter who it was.

Ruto paused, curling her finned fingers in to grind her fists against her hips as she surveyed the horizon again. Was this Hyrule Field? She saw it only once, very briefly. A sea of green.

But no sea, she corrected herself angrily, moving on. Until it set to give way to this soothing storm, the sun was scorching her back, unaccustomed as it was to anything but the cool mists of the Domain.

Perhaps that was their aim, then....to scald her slowly in the sun they shrivel beneath. But then, how to explain this jumble of tiny buildings at her feet? She stamped one of those feet down in frustration, trying to invent a new torture with fire for her tormentors.

Ian turned slowly to face two huge, pale blue finned feet, attached to legs of a similar color and tone, up, up, up to the giantess’s face. Princess Ruto. Oh, perfect. A rumble of thunder sounded as the rain increased, drenching his hair and clothes. He sneezed as he approached her slowly. Exposed to the elements for so long, it wouldn’t have surprised him if he caught a cold or worse.

Already, Ruto seemed to be in a bad mood, he observed. That was never a good thing. He had never really dealt with her much outside of Ocarina of Time. Her doppelganger Lulu in Majora’s Mask, he thought, was MUCH more personable. But still, beggars could not be choosers.

Ruto glanced down at the imprint her foot made in the rain-soaked soil. It felt good, to give physical force to the rage that seethed at a slow boil inside. She lifted her colossal foot to stomp it down again.

As quickly as Ian had come up, he jogged. Backwards. Away from the rising, and soon enough, stomping foot. He had a feeling that it definitely wasn’t going to be easy dealing with Princess Ruto. He just hoped she’d let him go unscathed.

Stop laughing.

There was no one left to laugh as she then aimed for the tiny dollhouses amid the green, imagining them to be the encampment of Nabooru and her herd of cows. The prophets had been right, after all....the end had been near. Theirs, crushed like ants beneath a giantess Zora's fishy-smelling foot.

"DAMN IT!" she bellowed.

Ian yelped, covering his ears at the sounds of the stomp and the bellow. Oh, this was definitely bad. He quickly slipped behind one of the various buildings, gripping it with fear as he watched the giantess Zora.

The princess was relentless as she continued to smash the buildings to dust. Yes, that DID feel better. If these stupid toys were part of the game, she didn't care. She was going to stomp them all flat.

Ian quickly moved away from the building, upon seeing the destruction she was raining upon this small town. He knew they weren’t expecting a giantess Zora at 3 in the morning. They wouldn’t have time to regret that, he figured as he ducked down as he ran, hoping to stay out Ruto’s sight.

So long as there was the slightest fragment of the shattered buildings standing, Ruto didn't notice as Ian hoped. But at that size, driven with such a temper, it wasn't long before her narrowed eyes caught the tiny movement trying to escape her clawed toes.

“FIRE!!!” came the sudden shout as explosions seemed to ring from nowhere. Just on the outskirts, Ian saw where it had come from. Several military convoys had taken position outside the city. As the sounds of gunfire and tank shells shot off, the young man dove for the ground, covering his head. ‘About TIME the military showed up!!’ he thought.

The Zora princess turned in surprise at the sound and the sudden prickling of her pale, scaled flesh. A thin smile curved her lips, and she started toward the convoys. "Is this a joke?"

“INCREASE FIRE!!!” came the shout from the sergeant as she approached. The amount of gunfire and tank fire increased as much as possible. Still, as many of you predicted, the effect on the giant Zora was very minimal.

“Sir, we’re just not doing enough damage!” came a loud reply from one of the gunners, “It’s just useless!”

“KEEP FIRING!” the sergeant bellowed, “WE HAVE TO BUY THE BOMBERS TIME!!”

Ruto chuckled, delicate fins at her ears fanning to catch the tiny shouts.

"Here's the punchline, insects."

In a swift motion, she lifted her massive sole high.

Several of the hummers were able to back away quickly, but most of the tanks were too slow and heavy to move.

And in the distance, two stealth bombers approached the scene of the attack. With orders to nuke the entire area.

Ruto laughed as she felt the tiny machines crunch like shells beneath her sole. "That WAS a good joke."

Ian shuddered, cowering under a bunch of leaves, but hearing the soft whine of a plane's engines. Bombers...? Here? Why?

"FULL RETREAT! ABANDON THE TANKS!!!" came the order as many of the military personnel started to flee their vehicles.

The Zora heard the whine too, and spun about, long fingers flailing the air. "Damn bugs!"

One of the bombers was hit and crash-landed into the city while the other flew on a direct course toward Ruto.

The princess swatted out again, massive soles stepping down on anything beneath them.

The pilots from the downed plane scrambled away as the massive Zora feet headed toward them. The other bomber continued to dodge the swatting hands, and readied to drop their payload of bombs.

Ruto snarled and lunged, trying to grasp this particularly annoying fly.

"I'll squash you like the others!"

The last bomber tried to dodge but ended up getting caught in Ruto’s fishy grip instead, dead stopped. One of the pilots from the crashed plane was unlucky enough to be squashed utterly beneath her foot when she lunged for the last plane, with the other one stopped in a state of shock.

The Zora peered between her fingers carefully, lest the pest try to fly away again. Her toes flexed, and she ground instinctively at the tiny wetness she felt beneath them. "Another of these machines....?"

The cockpit to the bomber opened and the two pilots crawled out cautiously. The rain was still pouring down, and most of it spilled between the spaces between her fingers as the two pilots stared up at her in awe and fear.

She grinned wickedly down at them between her fingers. "And another pair of those bugs."

The two pilots started to back up when they realized they were over 500 feet in the air and it would be a looooong way down. They stood, scared stupid, eyes locked on her.

The princess reached with her other fingertips to pluck the plane away, leaving the pilots alone in her palm.

Realizing that their only way out that DIDN’T promise death was gone, they began to panic. One began to plead with her to let them go, while the other was praying quietly.

She snickered, closing the gigantic fingers over them gently. "Talking insects...."

They weren't Gerudo, of course. Squinting, she could still barely make out any details of the miniscule creatures, but they seemed more Hylian than anything. Was it Zelda, then?

Ian, meanwhile, crept past the destroyed houses, hoping that the rain would shield him and that the two pilots would serve as enough distraction for Ruto. The military was pretty much gone by now, as the damage from her stomping the tanks like Matchbox cars were evident.

The pilots meanwhile continued as their world turned to darkness in her grip.

"Who ARE you?" she asked, frowning into her fist.

The one pilot who was praying stopped and stood, shakily, yelling up at her, “Lieutenant Jameson and Corporal Rogers, survivors from the United Nations’ Section 21 Task Force, m-ma’am!”

"United Nations...?" The frown became a scowl. What treachery were the other kingdoms planning? She growled, a low gurgle in her throat. "Was it Zelda? The Gerudo? Answer me!"

The pilots exchanged glances, then Jameson looked back up to her, “Z-Zelda? Gerudo…? I-I don’t think I unders-s-stand, ma’am…”

"Don't lie! You're Hylians, I can see that! What do you think you're playing at?" she resisted the urge to squelch them like jelly between her claws.

“We’re not Hylians!!!!” came a sudden shout from behind her, “This isn’t Hyrule or anywhere near Hyrule, Princess!!!”

Ruto startled at the tiny sound, turning to scan the ground far below. "Who...?"

Ian tried to catch his breath, leaning against one of the buildings that still stood, wheezing, “We’re… humans! This is… Earth! Not Hyrule! …I know… who brought you here…!! But it’s not… any of the Sages or the Gerudo or Zelda…!! I can assure you of that!”

The Zora leaned down, eyes narrowing as she finally saw the little creature. "Then who?"

Ian took a deep breath, then exhaled. Hopefully, this would save the pilots from their fate, “His name is Antonelli… Dr. Marco Antonelli. He’s an evil son of a bitch trying to use you girls to destroy the world by crushing it underfoot…”

"Not Hyrule, you said?"

“Y-yes, your highness.” Ian replied.

"Then how did you KNOW of Hyrule?" her tone was icy as her eyes.

Damnit. He KNEW she was going to ask that. So, he took a chance. “Because it's another world!” he exclaimed, “Hyrule is one of MANY of the ones we know about! Hyrule, Termina, Spira, Gaia… we know about all of them!”

She raised a brow in confusion. None but Hyrule and Termina were familiar.

"Then how is it I do not? Damn you, tell me the truth, or I will crush you all!"

“I am telling you the truth!” Ian exclaimed, exasperated, “We have the technology to know! Look at what you’ve seen thus far, in this stupid attack against you! We know how to find these places, we know they exist! Please, Princess, I am BEGGING you, please relent! The military was trying to stop you from crushing all of us but we’re not looking for trouble, I beseech you!”

Her dark eyes flashed. Every instinct screamed to punish these creatures, whatever the hells they were.

Ian gritted his teeth, tensing. Something was percolating in her mind, and he wasn’t sure if he liked it. She did seem vicious before… and he wasn’t sure if she was about to stop.

"Then you will show me to this person you mentioned." she hissed at last.

‘THANK YOU GOD!!!’ his mind screamed as he was visibly relieved, “…Okay… as far as I know, he’s in a city called Washington DC, just a ways southeast of here, but it’s a long way there.”

She still regarded the insect with suspicion, reaching her other hand down to him. "If you think to trick me...."

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He replied, climbing into her hand, “That would be an insult to you and suicide to me.”

She gripped the other hand in around the pilots. "Not just for you, either."

Ian bit his lip as the sudden yelps from the pilots were evident. The rain started pounding in harder, as he squirmed in her hand.

"Understood?" she said lowly, rain-slickened fingers pressing over him.

He shivered in her fingers, and nodded, “Y-yes, highness.”

She tossed the pilots to the ground, looming over them as she rose to full height once more. "See to it your friends do, as well."

The pilots backed up, terrified. Ian, from above, yelled down to them, “Listen to her!” he pleaded, “Tell them to call off the attacks!”

“W-W-We’ll try!” Lt. Jameson replied.

"Heh....if not...." She lifted one massive foot over them, holding it there a moment before slamming it down just before them.

The pilots dashed off at that with a yelp, heading back for the crashed plane, to see if they couldn’t fix it… somehow.

Ruto turned and headed in the direction the tiny creature indicated, gripping him in tighter.

Ian yelped as she did, clinging close to her fingers. Well, this would certainly be an interesting journey…

4:12 AM

Ruto remained silent as she walked on in the sheets of rain, plotting the fate awaiting this creature when his lies were shown for what they are. They couldn't be true...

Ian sat in her palm, shivering. The temperature plus the rain equaled freaking COLD. Mid-November. His stomach twisted in icy knots as they proceeded. There was something about Ruto that made him queasy. He had a sneaking suspicion that she really didn’t trust him.

Another gurgling growl, followed by a colorful Zoran curse. "How far, insect?"

“I don’t know.” He replied, “…We’re in a whole different state. It will take a while for us to get there, Highness.”

"For knowing so much about us, so strange we know nothing of you." she said tonelessly. "Even with my powers as a Sage."

"You don't?" Ian asked, bewildered.

The massive hand pressed in. "Don't play with me, roach. I wouldn't say it if I did."

“S-s-sorry!” Ian exclaimed, squirming, “I didn’t mean to offend!”

Ruto grinned, grinding the tiny bug against her palm. "But you did."

“I-I-I’m sorry…!” he yelped.

"You think any of your words mean anything to me?" Feeling the bug shiver in her palm was almost as soothing as stomping the little city under her feet. She squeezed in slightly tighter.

“I would… …sorry, never mind.” Ian sighed with another shiver in her grip. He was HOPING that she would be SOMEWHAT cooperative.

"Tell me more of this person you claim brought me here."

“He’s a terrorist lunatic.” Ian replied, “Antonelli has opened portals to other worlds before… this sort of thing happened YEARS ago…”

"....oh?"

“Yeah… the northeast part of the country was completely crushed underfoot.” He shivered.

"And how did you stop him then, that he lived to do this?" The hand relaxed slightly as she strained to hear the little voice.

“I couldn’t stop him.” Ian said, “…he did it from hiding, and only NOW has re-emerged. …The government’s been looking for him for years.”

"You...?" she raised the hand to her eyes, staring at him. "You're too tiny to be a hero."

“…I’m the only one doing anything.” He replied sadly, “…I didn’t WANT to… but… …I’m the only idiot that knows just WHERE he is…”

"How? What ties do you have to him?"

“I used technology to bring one of my paramours here…” he shifted a bit, “…he stole it… and used it to bring people like YOU here. I saw Princess Zelda earlier.”

"Zelda?" Her eyes widened. "Where?"

“…That was about a day ago.” Ian thought, “…she was… in New York City, northeast from here.”

She frowned. Zelda could remain here, for all she cared.

"Paramour, huh?" she thought suddenly of Link, and shook her head in fresh annoyance.

“…Aeris.” He replied quietly, “…a flower girl from a city called Midgar. …Antonelli turned her against me.”

She was silent a moment, her expression almost softening a fraction. "What happened?"

“…She threatened to crush me if I went after him.” Ian frowned, “…she put me in her boot.”

"You aren't in anyone's boot now, though."

"I woke up at home, in New York... I don't know how."

Silence again, as the giantess Zora tried hard to process what had to be elaborate lies. She continued on walking, paying little attention to where her footsteps fell.

Down below were plenty of people on the highway, beeping to get out of the way and ending up becoming crushed under huge Zora feet.

“I’ve been traveling since yesterday morning… by now… most everything HAS to be destroyed.”

Ruto crunched down on another vehicle as it raced away. "What does he want?"

“Antonelli? …he wants to get revenge on the United States for trying to stop his first incident, Black Mesa.”

"And leave nothing left?"

“Precisely.”

She shook her head. The Zora understood conquest, but that was madness.

“…He’s insane. And, yet, none of the girls outside of Rouge the Bat wants to stomp HIM.”

She didn't pay attention to the name. "I would."

“I’m glad to hear THAT…”

"Heh.....just as I'll squish YOU if you're lying."

“…I know…” he shivered, “...This is just one huge nightmare.”

"At least YOU'RE home." she replied flatly.

“What home…?” he sighed, looking about, “…my home’s flattened. … … …when I find out how to send you all back home… I’m gonna try and see if I can’t go somewhere else.”

"Not rebuild...?" The little creature mystified Ruto. She couldn't imagine living anywhere but the Domain by choice.

“…back then, Princess… only 5 giantesses came through. …this time… it was dozens.” He shuddered, “…I don’t think there’s anything left that can rebuild. I’ve got nothing… left.”

The Zora closed her hand over Ian, continuing on. "I won't let myself have nothing left. You shouldn't either."

Ian bit his lip, sitting back. “...I… suppose.”

"What about your paramour?"

"She's still here... but I'm going to be sending her back..."

"Could go with her." she ventured softly.

“…I might…”

"Hmf! If you LOVE her, you would!" the Zora bristled, recalling that infuriating boy, so spineless for a Hero Of Time.

“Once I defeat Antonelli, I will.” He replied, frowning. “…as long as she’s under his power, I’m sort of screwed in that department. … …” he sighed.

Ruto stopped without replying, pointing down. "Is this the place?"

Ian looked around, “…I’m… not sure… I don’t think so.”

The princess huffed, stamping a foot down. "Damn it!"

Ian flew forward from the impact, on his face. “…Oorf…” He picked himself up, “…then where is THIS?”

Ruto thrust her hand toward the ground. "You tell me!"

He looked about, catching a sign, “What the…?” He moved over, taking a look, “…seventy… miles… seventy more miles ‘til DC. Shouldn’t be much longer… unless we run into someone else.”

"Someone else?"

Ruto. It had to be that fish bitch. Nabooru sat some distance away, dark hands whitened from the grip on her scimitars. The Gerudo had traveled far in her years, and this was NOT Hyrule.

“Who knows what agendas the others have… Rouge seemed to have her own, but I wonder who else does.” He mused aloud.

"For staying here?" the Zora asked, puzzled.

“Some wanted to dominate, some wanted to crush EVERYTHING.” Ian explained, “…either way, the world is screwed if they succeed. Rouge, I’m not sure… she sounded like she just wanted to squash Antonelli.”

The Gerudo stiffened at the voice, flattening to the ground instantly. She was right. A snarl curled her full red lips. She'd gut the Zora for dinner.

“…But… …you just… want to get back to the Domain?” Ian asked.

"Of course! Why would I want to stay in this flat, dry, hot--"

"RUTO!"

Ian looked up at the loud voice, covering his ears with a wince, “…who the hell was that?”

"Nabooru!" Ruto cried out, gripping both fists in hard.

"Fancy meeting you here." the Gerudo's golden eyes smoldered, bored into the Zora's dark ones.

Ian looked in surprise at the Gerudo, “Nabooru…!?”

‘She’s hotter in person.’ Ian pondered, ‘Wonder if she knows Sanzhari.’

"Dallying with your undeserved powers again?"

Ruto stiffened. "You dare...?"

Ian had to step in, before he got stepped ON. “W-wait! Lady Nabooru, it’s not Ruto’s doing that you’re here!”

Nabooru was before Ruto in an instant. "See how much I will dare, bitch, if you do not send me back."

‘Oh, God, no…’ Ian gritted his teeth, then bellowed out, “NABOORU, PLEASE STOP!!!”

The Gerudo faltered, hearing the faint cry.

The tiny man stumbled a bit, having lost a lot of breath with that shout, he then yelled again, “Ruto did not bring you here, Lady Nabooru!! It’s not her fault!!”

Ruto took the moment's opening to send the Gerudo flailing back with a water spell. "Flea-bitten desert dog!"

“RUTO!!” Ian exclaimed, wide-eyed, “Stop! Stop, please!!!”

The Zora was beyond hearing or caring, backing a pace to begin another spell as Nabooru coiled to her feet and pounced.

“Nabooru! Ruto, please!!” Ian pleaded with them, but to no avail. The two of them battled bitterly. He almost wished Sanzhari WAS here to help.

"Shut up, insect!" Ruto snapped, half-tossing Ian to the ground as she bent low to avoid the sharp blades.

Ian plopped down to the ground between the two giantesses with a grunt. Damnit…! Not good! NOT GOOD!! He didn’t waste any more time, getting to his feet and taking off. FAST. The hell with them. They wanted to screw around with each other, fine. He had a job to do.

5:09 AM Remains of Washington, DC

“…by God…” Ian uttered quietly as he drove up to the outskirts of the city. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The city, in a matter of hours, was completely demolished. Trampled underfoot completely. But that wasn’t the bad part.

The bad part was that the tramplers were still in the city. ALL of them, it seemed. All of the ones he had met before, some he hadn’t. Near the back, he saw YuRiPa, having their fun with whatever remained of the city.

Ruby sighed, having plopped on the outskirts of the ruined city before it had been ruined. She had no idea what got into these gals, but they were the only ones her size.....and nearly the only ones left at all. She thought again of her little bug. If anything happened to him....

Gazing about the wrecked city, Ian’s heart sank. God, how vicious these girls truly were, that they knew damn well that the people living… that WERE living in the city weren’t bugs, just very tiny. And the city was almost pretty much completely destroyed. His tired eyes gazed over the landscape until they caught sight of someone he couldn’t WAIT to see again.

“RUBY!!!” he exclaimed.

She sunk her forehead to her knees with a shiver. If...? The way these gals were at it, there was really no doubt.

He abandoned his stolen car (how many cars has he stolen throughout this entire story? Have you been keeping track?) and ran toward the giantess, as fast as he could.

The others mercifully were too involved in their own conversations and destruction to notice.

Thankfully. Ian ran still, finally reaching the gigantic, slippered feet as he called out her name again, “RUBY!!!”

Ruby startled, looking instantly to the ground below. "Whut...?"

Ian leapt into the air, waving his arms, “Ruby, hi!!!”

"M-Mah darlin'?" Ruby whispered, glancing up as she quickly gathered Ian in her palm.

Ian quickly got onto her palm, easing into its warmth, “…heh… God, it’s great to see you again!”

"Gods, darlin'.....ah....ah wuz sure y'all got smushed." She lifted the hand to her eyes, blinking back tears. "Whar have ya been?"

Ian pressed to her cheek, “I’m sorry I’ve worried you like this… I’ve been all OVER the place… for too damn long. But I’m ending it here, Ruby… I’m sending you girls home, finally. All I have to do is get to Antonelli.”

"He's here?" the giantess nuzzled against the tiny one pressed against her softly.

“Last I knew.” He replied, pressing to her nuzzling warmly, “…I doubt he’d be able to go anywhere else. Everywhere else is… …” he shuddered.

"....smashed t'pieces." she finished with a shiver of her own. "Oh, you poor thing...."

“…If I don’t do something to Antonelli… Earth is doomed… just like this country… …I’ve got nothing left here…” he shook, holding back tears, “…It’s all been crushed underfoot.”

She pressed her lips to the tiny man as best she could. "Y'all got me, darlin'....w'll think o' somethin'...."

He returned the kiss, pressing into it, “I know, Ruby… God, I know… …It’s almost dawn. … I want to stay with you but… I have to go… I have to find him. Have you seen a bat flying around here?”

"Rouge." Ruby replied, sending new chills along Ian's spine. "Yeah, mah darlin', y'all cain't miss THET. She ain't talkin' t' no one, though. But....darlin', alone?"

“Yes…” he replied with an astute nod, “…she was the one who dragged me all the way to the West Coast and left me there… but she’s the only one who knows how I can find Antonelli. …and according to her, I loosened my tongue enough on her boots, so…”

"Y'all keep safe, darlin'.....promise me one more time."

“I promise, Ruby… I’ll be safe.”

“Heh....y'all will get mah slipper otherwise. ....whar will ah see ya again?”

“…I don’t know…” Ian sighed softly, kissing her cheek, “…but I guarantee you that it won’t be on the sole of someone’s foot.”

"Ah'll see ya before....before ah go back, right?"

Ian nodded, “I promise.”

Ruby gave him a last quick kiss before leaning down to return him to the ground. "If'n they see ya, ah'll run intereference, darlin'."

Ian returned to the hard ground, looking up at her, “Don’t worry about it… some of these girls, I’ve managed to reason with… let’s just hope only THEY are the ones that see me, if any, eh?”

"Heh....ah'll be waitin' here! Give thet lunk a whallop fer me!"

“I plan on it.” Ian grinned and headed off into the gaggle of girls.

Ruby gave a tiny wave, watching the other giantesses worriedly nonetheless.

As he entered the boundaries of the city, slowly, he looked about. There were so MANY of them… they must have come from everywhere else in the country… first ones first… he proceeded on through, unconcerned that any might see them. They were already engaged in their own stuff. What were the odds of one little bug being spotted in a sea of giantess beauties?

Very good, if one decided to sit down nearly on top of Ian. "Ugh."

“ACK!” came the reply of the tiny man, darting out from under.

Yuna leaned back, her hand narrowly missing Ian as well. The bat-winged one she was sure was some sort of monster instead insisted she could solve their problems, here in this city.

"Come on, old lady!" Rikku teased.

Ian grunted. YuRiPa again… well, as long as they didn’t put him underfoot. “As much of a lovely view your rear is, I really don’t want it to crush me, Lady Summoner.” He said with a wry expression.

Yuna's eyes widened at the tiny voice, and she twisted around. "You...!"

He sighed softly, cracking his neck, “Long time, no see.”

Rikku peered over her cousin's shoulder. "Hey, is that the one we almost squished?"

Ian rubbed his throat, remembering their encounter, “Yes. Hello. How have you been?”

"Hoping to go home." she said quietly.

“Why’s that?” he asked with a frown, “Got tired of squashing us all?”

Paine stepped over. "More like we ran out of bugs to squish."

Ian tensed, tone icy, “You completely crushed the development where we met? Squashed everyone there?”

Yuna shook her head, wincing. "We....didn't have to."

“After I left?” he replied, “Everything was still standing when I left.”

Rikku shook her light braids. "Yeah, and then this other girl came floating in."

“…what other girl?” he asked in a low tone. Yeah, which one?

"In a floofy pink dress and crown." Paine replied tonelessly. "Think we stayed to ask a name?"

“Wh… …what…?” Ian asked breathlessly, “…Blond hair, big eyes?”

Yuna nodded. "Yes. You saw her too?"

“...She's a princess." he choked, bitterly, "...Peach. ...Princess Peach... G-God... DAMNIT...!”

Rikku blinked. "What about her?"

“Nothing about HER.” He bit off the end of the word.

Yuna blinked also. "It....sounds like something." she ventured uncertainly.

“… …that development was my home.” He replied, shuddering with a glare at the ground, “…She killed my family.”

Yuna's lips parted in horror. "Oh...."

“… …” he shuddered with a soft sob, “…you have… no idea how glad I am… that you three didn’t do it.”

"I....I'm sorry...."

“So am I…” he replied, “…God, so am I… I’ve… I’ve always wanted… to meet all of these girls before… hell, even at the sizes you are, it would be great… …I never wanted to be terrified of any of you… or to fear for my life when I’m around you. Now look what my desires have gotten me…” he gestured about to the destroyed… everything.

Rikku shifted, then gently reached down to him.

Ian shivered a bit as he hand gripped around him, but didn’t try and resist. What could he do to resist anyway? Squirm? Yeah, like THAT had ever worked in the past.

"I....I'm sorry too, she said softly, simply brushing her browned fingers against him.

He just gripped one, shaking. Tears streamed down his face, but he couldn’t make a sound. There was nothing in his voice that was left for a sob. “…I know…” he managed to whisper.

The Al Bhed bit her lip, looking helplessly to Yuna.

"Can we.....do anything?"

“You can’t bring back the dead.” He replied, “…not when they’re just stains underfoot. …All that’s left for me to do is find Antonelli… and send you all back where you belong.”

Yuna was silent for a moment.

"Where is this Antonelli? Do you know?" Paine said unexpectedly.

“Specifically? No.” Ian replied, “…but he’s here in Washington. Last I heard. I’ve got to find Rouge. She’s the only one that knows for sure where he is.”

"The winged one? I haven't seen her for a while." the warrior giantess replied.

"Me either." Yuna agreed.

“Damn.” Ian muttered, “…I should find her, then.”

Rikku leaned in. "Sure that's a good idea? Won't she try to squash you?"

“She’s tried before.” He replied, “…but I loosened my tongue enough on her boots. I think she’ll tell me.”

Paine's dark brows raised. "Uh-huh."

“It’s my best shot.” He shrugged, “If she doesn’t, I’m squashed anyway.”

"So where will you look?"

“Everywhere I have to.” Ian sighed, glancing far below to the ground.

Yuna sighed softly. "Can we help...?"

“I appreciate it, but there’s not much you can do…” Ian shook his head, “…just… don’t squash anyone else, please?”

Yuna closed her eyes as she nodded. "Promise. I don't know about anyone else, though."

“…Thanks…” he replied, then looked up at Rikku’s big, swirly eyes, “…I think I have to go now, Ri.”

"Oh!" Face darkening slightly, the Al Bhed lowered Ian to the ruined sidewalk.

“Thanks…” he said softly as he stepped down onto the sidewalk, “…Hope to see you again before you go.” He said as he headed off.

Mint paced impatiently. Where was that bat-creature? She had a kingdom to reclaim, damn it!

She stamped her booted foot down again, though she had long flattened the buildings and occupants.

Ian stared, mouth hanging open, eyes half-lidded in a flat expression. Sweet merciful God, of all people that Antonelli had to bring in… it HAD to be Princess Mint from Threads of Fate.

“Angels and ministers of grace defend me…” he muttered as he tried to slink past her stamping feet.

Almost flattened all of them.....she caught the tiny movement, and whirled instantly Ian's way. "Well, well....what do we have here?"

“I SAID DEFEND ME!” he shouted to the heavens, “DEFEND ME!! THANKS A LOT FOR NOTHING!!!” he growled.

Mint jumped after him, boots smashing down just behind him. "Hey! I said hold still!"

Ian stopped, turning back slowly and looking up to Mint. "May I help you...?"

The giantess smirked, hands on her hips. "Not really. But you can SQUASH!"

Ian blinked with the flat expression still on his face, “…seriously, may I help you, Princess?”

Mint lifted her foot in reply. "I'll show you how, brat!"

He backed up immediately, “Hey, Princess, give me a break, please!”

"Hah! I'll give you a stomp!"

“Why!? What’d I do?? And everyone else’ll hear you if you keep this up!”

The girl chuckled. "Then I'll step on you nice and quietly so I hear the squish."

“Any reason in particular or are you bored?”

"Because you're a little insect. As all are insects before Princess Mint!" she declared haughtily.

“You step on your subjects, too?”

"If they deserve it. And YOU deserve it."

“Why?” Ian blinked, “All I did was walk by… did I forget to bow?”

She eyed him with an exasperated shake of her head. "You aren't showing proper fear and respect. I'll teach you how!"

Ian sighed softly. What a nightmare. “How might I properly serve you, then, my princess?”

"Hmf. You can squelch like a grape under my bootsole, bug!"

He smacked his forehead. God, what a pain in the ass. “I don’t have time for that.”

"You don't have time for anything unless I allow it." She leaned down, pouting at the tiny pest.

“Your highness…” Ian sighed, “I’m trying to find the jerk that brought you here. I know he’s in the city somewhere. I want to send you home, but I can’t do that if I’m squelched beneath your feet.”

"We're already working on that ourselves, thank you." she replied frostily. "You're too tiny to be any use."

“Yeah, you’re doing a great job with that.” He replied flatly, “Here’s the thing though… you don’t know where he is yet. I can find him easier, since I’m his size.”

"Or just skitter into hiding like the roach you are."

“If I was trying to hide, why would I come in the middle of the city where ALL of you lovelies are?”

"Hah! Probably thought you would see up our skirts!" she took a step back as she said that.

Ian blinked, "I... DO have a girlfriend, you know... that'd be cheating."

"Pfft! Like THAT'S ever stopped you men before!" her cheeks reddened. "Where IS she, then?"

“Her name’s Aeris Gainsborough.” Ian replied, “She’s actually somewhere around here.”

"Kinda late to look, isn't it?" Mint nodded to the wreckage that stretched far as Ian could see.

“She’s actually a giantess, too.”

"Hah! Then you'd see her here!"

“That’s why I’m looking.” He sighed, exasperated, “Do you know how MANY of you are here? It could take ‘til dawn to find her.”

“You won't make it." she said simply. "If I don't squish you, someone else will."

“Then I’ll just have to take that chance.”

Mint scowled, reddening deeper. "You forgot something."

“I always do.” Ian sighed, plunking down on his rear, looking up at her, “What did I forget?”

"To ask my permission." she growled.

“…I need to ask your permission?”

"I'm a princess. What are YOU?" she peered down, eyes baleful.

“Someone who isn’t one of your subjects.” Ian replied sharply with an annoyed look on his face.

"Someone very tiny, and very squishable, who isn't one of my subjects." she corrected sharper still.

Ian thought for a moment. “…you have a very sharp point.”

"About like the one on your head." she groused, pursing her lips.

He looked up. “…So, um… …well, then… …may I please go and find my girlfriend?”

"Gimme a good reason." she said, smiling unpleasantly.

“Because I actually said please?” Ian was hopeful.

"Hm. ....when you get caught, tell 'em Mint gets to step on you first!"

“I’ll… be sure to do that, Princess.” Ian nodded.

"Well?" she demanded. "What are you waiting for? Go!"

“R-R-Right! Thank you!” he quickly darted off. ‘Whew…’

Ian's relief didn't last even three steps, as a familiar and terrifying shadow blocked the sun. The giantesses became animated, and a few called out.

"Rouge!"

The young man’s eyes shot to the sky at the first sign on the eclipse. So… she came back after all. About goddamn time. He braced himself, wondering if she WOULD actually help him… or if she’d crush him like she said she would if she caught him again.

Rouge folded her wings and landed lightly as a giantess could among the others, smiling a razor smile.

"This is all of us. Now we just have to beat down the door back home."

Ian crept along, trying to stay low as he approached the collection of giantesses that was forming about the giantess bat.

"It's still a little small for us even if we do." Paine noted dryly.

‘No kidding…’ Ian thought, ‘They’re going to need someone at my size to g-… oh, they better not be nominating me.’

The bat smirked. "I know. But I think you already know the key to that, don't you?"

Ian blinked, ‘…she does…?’ he pondered.

Paine blinked too, but remained expressionless. "Come again?"

The smirk became a snicker. Rouge turned to the others. "Did any of you ladies step on one last little bug while I was away?"

Said little bug’s jaw dropped. “How… did…?”

One by one, the crowd glanced to one another. Most in bewilderment, like Ian, some with a trace of worry.

“…You gotta be kidding me…” Ian frowned, biting his lip.

"He made it here, didn't he?" her dark eyes swept the ground far below and the sea of feet.

“No I didn’t…!” came a faint voice.

"I just saw him!" Mint declared, searching the rubble as well. "He can't have gotten far on those tiny feet!"

Ian grunted and dashed away wildly. Oh, no way in hell was he being caught by Mint again.

Perhaps not by Mint, but in moments every giantess among the ruins was searching for tiny movement, sifting through the debris with massive fingers for hiding places.

‘Crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap’ kept running through Ian’s mind as he dodged giant fingers and the eyes of the giantesses.

"There!" A voice that somehow reminded Ian of Ruby's cried, followed by pale fingers grasping after him.

“AUGH!!!” Ian yelped, running away from them, arms in the air. Back to the anime running thing.

The fingers darted again, with a giggle. "He's quick enough!"

He dove for a roll to try and increase his speed. It seemed to work in Zelda enough, why not? Instead, he landed on his head and dropped flat onto his back.

"GOTCHA!" Malon seized him in an instant, pulling him to her eyes as she rose.

"Wait a minnit!" Ruby pushed through, glaring to Rouge. "Jes' whut ya mean t' do with him?"

“Let me go and I will luff you. <3 :D” he tried.

Rouge raised an eyebrow calmly to the giantess confronting her. "Nothing he wasn't about to do himself."

Ian squirmed about in Malon’s grip, ‘Why’d I have to meet them this way?’ “What are you talking about?” he asked aloud.

Rouge took him from Malon's hand, keeping an eye on Ruby. "You're after Antonelli, no? Or are you just here to see the sights?"

“Of course I’m here to get Antonelli.” He squirmed, “Why else would I have come this far?”

The bat chuckled. "Then you can get him for us. For me. And in exchange, you won't stain my bootsole. I’ll let you go."

“…Hm… a tempting offer.” Ian replied, “What assurances do I have of you fulfilling your end of the bargain?”

"You don't." she replied, bringing the tiny man close to her sly, sharp-toothed smile. "But if you refuse, you have assurances I will crush you right now."

“If I’m the only one who can get him for you, I don’t think you will.” He replied, frowning, but able to see his reflection in her sharp teeth, “…but considering that I want him stopped, I’ll work with you.”

"How generous of you." she chuckled. "You will bring him directly to me....alive, or the deal is off."

“Why do you need him alive?” he asked, “You’re just going to squash him anyway, I bet.”

"Do you accept the terms or squash?" came the tight reply.

He grunted. There wasn’t much else he could do. “I accept.”

Rouge nodded smugly. "All right, then. Where were you going to look?"

“I was going to look to you. You seemed to know where he was the last time I checked.” Ian replied.

She winked. "Still couldn't figure it out yourself? You disappoint me."

"I haven't exactly had TIME to." he replied sharply, "No thanks to your little trip to the West and everyone else's interference."

The fingers squeezed in suddenly.

Ian yelped but squirmed about with a growl, "Oh, knock it off, you know it's true!"

"Heh....the subway system. He doesn't have the opening to leave."

“THANK you.” He sighed, rubbing his sides, “Figures he went underground.”

"Mm. Rats usually do." she muttered. "Think you can handle it, little man?"

“Nope.” He replied, “…but, unfortunately, the National Guard is rather toasted so… I’m it.”

Rouge knelt slowly, depositing Ian back amid the ruins. "Make sure you handle it anyway. Or I'll be footing it."

“Right…” Ian replied, dropping back down to the ground, “…Give me half an hour. If I’m not back by then, I’m probably dead anyway… so just crush the whole damn subway system.”

"That was my next plan." she answered simply.

"Mah darlin', y'all make sure ya git back on time." Ruby called after.

“I’ll be back in two shakes of a bat’s foot.” He muttered as he headed into the streets, searching for the closest subway entrance.

The search hadn’t taken long. Without the subway running, it was just a simple matter of doors opening and closing… and luckily enough the right doors opened and closed for Ian. The security once guarded these corridors dutifully. With the coming of the giantesses into the city, Antonelli had long since sent them out to “handle” them. They hadn’t lasted long.

The first hints of lighting came from the room at the end of the corridor, where a large, electronic map of the United States, nearly completely red.

‘Did we all become Republicans in these past days?’ he thought. As the thought finished, he got more lights than he would have thought, as several shone right in front of the map, revealing a large desk… with Dr. Marco Antonelli seated behind it.

“Welcome.” The older man smiled at Ian, “It’s been quite a few days, Mr. Jenkins.”

“Antonelli…” Ian clenched his teeth, “I’ve come to bring you to the justice! It ends here!”

Antonelli kept his smile, gesturing to his right. Emerging from the shadows, Aeris stood beside the G-Man, staff gripped in her hands. “Ian…” she winced.

“Aeris!” Ian widened his eyes, then narrowed them at Antonelli, “What are you doing with her?”

The G-Man responded by standing and pulling out a strange-looking remote. “This.” He replied, hitting a button. Before Ian’s eyes, Aeris started growing immensely and stopped just short of hitting the ceiling with her head. Antonelli continued, “This is the device which allowed me to bring the girls here. All of the research, the machinery, the laboratories… they were all a diversion.”

“A… diversion?” Ian asked, frowning.

“Yes.” Antonelli nodded, “Precisely. While the government forces were all out trying to destroy the Radio Zelda laboratories, which they did of course, my lovely giantesses were all lying in wait, ready to crush them. The Army, the National Guard, Marines, Section 21… all reduced to nothing. THIS…” he brandished the control, “…was the REAL deal. This, my young friend, is what brought them here. No need to set it to any specific video game world, though it certainly can do that… I simply set it to random and pressed the button. This, Ian, can bring them here, send them home, grow anyone, shrink anyone… just as my good friend Jacob found out.”

“Jacob?”

”General Jacob Walker.” Antonelli replied, pressing another button to bring Aeris back down to regular size, “He had been hunting me for years since the Black Mesa incident. I lured him here with his squad through the television signal I sent. He came in full force to take me in… but he made the mistake of underestimating my methods, Ian. …with them at such a tiny size, your friend Aeris and my… personal spy Rouge made short work of them.”

Ian tensed, stepping toward the desk and stopping when Antonelli pointed the control at him.

“I would use it on you…” Antonelli went on, “…but you’d like that, I’m sure.” He smirked as he slid the control away, “But you HAVE been a pest. Easy enough to deal with, though.” With that, his other hand reached into his coat… where his shoulder holster was and drew his pistol, firing into Ian’s chest several times with loud bangs as Aeris cried out in horror.

Ian stumbled back, his eyes as wide as dinner plates, jaw dropped. Pain surged in his chest as he staggered. Eyes moving to Aeris, he mouthed her name before crumpling to the ground.

Antonelli gripped the pistol and smirked down at the young man, “So tragic that your life, like everyone else’s, had to end… and that it wasn’t even under your girlfriend’s foot. I’m sure that’s how you wanted to go.” He merely shrugged and aimed the pistol at Ian’s head before a loud CLANG was heard and Aeris’ staff connected with the back of HIS head. G-Man’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he dropped to his knees then back, unconscious.

Aeris meanwhile ran around the desk, crouching by Ian and checking his pulse. A faint heartbeat, but still a heartbeat. ‘He’s still alive…’ she thought, ‘Thank God…’ With that, she cast Cure on him. The spell tingled throughout Ian’s body and Aeris watched with great concern, then with great relief and happiness as the young man’s eyes fluttered open.

“U…Ugh…” he shivered as his eyes opened fully, looking up into Aeris’ tear-filled eyes. “A…Aeris?” She couldn’t even respond, throwing her arms around Ian and gripping him tightly, crying into his shoulder. He weakly grasped her arm, holding her close, “…Th-thank you… thank you… so much…”

Looking across the way at the unconscious form of Marco Antonelli on the ground, he frowned, “…we have to go… and bring him along.”

28 minutes. Nearly on the dot, too. 28 minutes after Ian had descended into the subway, the street suddenly cracked and split open as the giantess figure of Aeris rose to her regular giantess height. Lowering her hand down, Ian stepped off of it, gripping Marco Antonelli behind him.

Ruby was crouched there, pale eyes brightening with tears of relief. "Darlin', ya did it!"

“Barely…” Ian wheezed, tossing the unconscious man forward, before crouching down himself, “…Gave me a few good plugs in the chest. …Glad Aeris was able to use Cure Magic. …God, I’m tired…”

"Y'all are hurt, darlin'...."

Rouge scooped them both up, a sinister triumph in her eyes. "Good work."

“Thanks…” Ian muttered, grunting as he gripped his chest. While Aeris’ magic kept him from dying, those shots still hurt. He made sure to get a kick in while Antonelli was down, too.

Aeris reached her hand out. "Release Ian. You promised."

“You did.” Ian replied.

Rouge grinned at the taller giantess's frown. "Are you telling me what to do?"

“I’M telling you to live up to your end of the deal.” The tiny man growled, “You let me go!”

A gloved fingertip poked down playfully. "Make me?"

“I can if I need to.” He kicked Antonelli again.

The bat gripped Antonelli away in her other hand, squeezing her grip over Ian. "Oh?"

Ian grunted as she squeezed, “Y…ES…!”

"Prove it." The fingers clenched tighter.

"Ian!!!" Aeris cried out.

“You… ASKED FOR IT!!” Ian clenched the control in his pocket and pressed the first button he could find.

The giantess cried out, and diminished to normal size before the echoes died. She fell to the ground beneath those she'd held in her palm just seconds before.

All around the destroyed city, all of the former giantesses shrank back down to the size they were as they came upon the sight of Rouge lying beneath the unconscious Antonelli, and Ian Jenkins, who picked himself up and kicked Antonelli off of Rouge.

"H-how...?" she stammered.

“Antonelli’s device.” He replied, pulling it out. “Growing and shrinking with it is a snap.” To demonstrate, he pushed another button and the form of Antonelli shrank down even further.

Rouge looked down at this, the smile slowly replaced on her lips. "VERY nice."

He pointed it at her, “Now, give me a reason why I shouldn’t make you that size and swat you like a fly.”

"Perhaps because I kept my end of the bargain?"

“Only after I took away your size.”

"Heh....if I'd meant to crush you, I would have done it right away."

“Oh, PLEASE, you like to drag things out. I don’t think you HAVE a reason… but lucky for you…” he slipped the device away, “I’m not merciless.”

She harrumphed, bending to scoop the tiny Antonelli up.

Moving to climb up on a partially destroyed car, he spoke: “Okay, ladies, listen up! Welcome to the land down underfoot! That said, your welcome has been completely outstayed! You will be leaving shortly!”

Ruby walked behind him slowly. "Whut about y'all, darlin'....?"

“Well, I don’t know.” He replied, “…Nothing left he-OH FOR GOD’S SAKE, YOU TWO, KNOCK IT OFF!! Someone separate Ruto and Nabooru until they can act like grown adults!”

Beatrix and Yuffie moved to do as he said. Mint looked ready to join in.

“…Now… here’s the kicker.” Ian’s voice turned icy, “When you go back to whatever world you came from, you will remember absolutely NOTHING about what has happened here in the past few days. Wanna know why? Great! So would I! Ask THAT jackass!” he motioned to Antonelli, lying limp in Rouge’s grip, “Either way, ladies, whether you care or not, nearly the entire population of this country has been killed; crushed underfoot like bugs. By you. And I’m the only one who will remember that.”

Silence. They could not meet his eyes; at best, some nodded mutely.

"I will show them the way." Aeris offered quietly.

“There’s no need.” He replied, jumping down from the car, and passing through their midst to the wide open wasteland that was once the grounds of the White House.

Aeris fell silent then, too, gripping her staff as she watched Ian stalk away. She felt as though her heart shrank again, to nothing.

“…All of you… here, now.” He uttered quietly, “…this is large enough of a space.”

They trailed behind.

"Darlin'...?" Ruby ventured.

“It seems that Mr. Antonelli didn’t go world by world… he just pulled everyone in at once.” He spoke to the crowd, his back to them, before pulling out the device and pressing a third button. A great white flash appeared before becoming a great white orb hovering a few inches off the ground. Ian turned to face them, “…This will bring you back to wherever you came from. Unless there’s anything further you wish to do… leave.”

Ruby bit her lip, as the others around her walked to the glowing portal.

Ian watched, as the girls made their way into the portal, before turning from them, crouching down and lowering his head, shaking slightly.

"Mah darlin'...." Ruby gripped gently at his shoulders.

Instinctively, he gripped her hand, teeth clenched as he faced the ground. ‘…So many… who helped me… I should have… …thanked them better…’ “…Thank you, Ruby…” he uttered, “…for everything…” ‘…Harle… Zelda… YuRiPa… I’m sorry…’

"Darlin', it's all right, ah unnerstand." she soothed, rubbing gently at his shoulder. "Ah know they do, too....please believe thet."

“…They’re almost all gone…”

Not all, as the ones whose names he whispered approached hesitantly from behind.

"Mon petit....moi could not leave wit'out seeing vous again."

Ian raised his head slightly, hearing the voices from behind. “So… …glad to hear that…” he replied, slowly standing and turning to face them, wiping his eyes stubbornly.

Zelda stepped a pace nearer, reaching out. "What will you do now?"

“…I… don’t know.” He replied softly, stepping forward, “…this place is ruined… and I really don’t want to wait for the rest of the world to get here…” His tired, tear-filled eyes looked about slowly, before settling on the portal, “… …I guess… I’ll take my chances with that.”

"But....you said this takes us home immediately." Yuna said softly. "This IS your home."

“Then I’ll set to a random world and see what happens.” He replied, “…I’ve got no choice.”

"Darlin'.....ah cain't leave. Not like this...."

"Me either." Aeris added gently.

“You might as well.” He replied, “…hell, I’m leaving too…”

"....darlin'.....y'all promised, remember."

“Hm?” Ian glanced to her, then nodded, “…mm… I did, didn’t I? And I like to think I’m better at keeping promises than Rouge.”

"Heh....y'all know ya are, darlin'. ....ah jes' wish....ah could say ah'd see ya agin."

“…You might… who knows where the hell I’ll end up.” He shrugged, “…Chronopolis would suck.”

"Mm. Oui, mon petit....t'ough, vous would not be alone....."

“It would be bad enough.” Ian sighed, “No one’d know me.”

"Moi would come to know vous again, with certainty."

“So would everybody… …then again… it’s not like most of you really know me that well anyway… except for you, of course, Aeris. …Ah, well… I suppose we’ll have a better start this time.”

Aeris winced. "Can't I come with you....?"

“You’d still have no clue about any of this, Aeris.” Ian sighed, “And I really wouldn’t want to have to explain everything that’s happened.”

"....I...."

“It’s time to go, girls…” Ian said softly, “…There’s nothing else to do here.”

Aeris looked down, closing her eyes. "Somehow....I don't think I will forget you. Take care, Ian."

“…You too, Aeris…” he replied quietly, rubbing her arms gently.

She stepped swiftly away, not looking back. If she did, she knew she would never be able to leave.

Ian watched her go, lifting an arm in a silent goodbye.

Ruby lowered her head. "Guess ah'm next, huh darlin'?"

He turned to her slowly, “…if you want to be… still six people here…”

Yuna shook her head. "We can go first."

The not-so-tiny young man turned to them, then, "Very well... take care, you three..." he looked to Paine, "...and, uh... sorry that I still wasn't able to take care of your feet." he grinned sheepishly.

Paine smiled back faintly. "Better luck next time."

Yuna bowed deeply, followed by Rikku. "Thank you again.....for helping us."

“…I’m just sending you back home.” He replied, “Nothing to thank me for… just… take care, okay…?”

"You too!" Rikku grabbed his hands tight.

He squeezed her tanned hands gently, “I will… best I can.”

“Heh....well, that's pretty good!” She stepped back, joining the others near the portal. “Try to come visit!”

Ian blinked, then glanced at the remote, “…hm… if I can set this to a specific world… then I probably CAN…” he waved, “I will!”

She grinned back. "Make sure you do!"

The three of them then disappeared into the orb's glow.

He sighed softly, ‘Four down…’ he thought as he glanced to Zelda, Harle, and Ruby.

Harle kissed his cheek lightly, striding straight for the portal. "Z'ere will be ot'er times, mon petit! Please dream of moi until z'en!"

“Count… on it.” He nodded to her back.

"Tres bon!"

She hopped into the light with the same flourish.

Zelda stepped after. "I am glad....I could help you. Though I barely remember how, even now." she said with a faint frown.

“You let me go yesterday.” Ian replied, with a nod, “…Urged me to keep going.”

She nodded. "I am glad I was able to resist that foul magic somewhat. Good luck to you...."

“Thanks, same to you.” he replied with a nod.

The princess of Hyrule then turned to follow the others, to return to her kingdom.

Ruby scuffed a slippered foot in silence.

Ian turned to her slowly, biting his lip.

"....mah turn....?"

“I… suppose so.” He whispered, offering his hands, “…I… …so want to meet you again, Ruby…”

She gripped in hard. "Then....then why should ah leave at all....?"

He held her tightly, rubbing her back, “…I… just don’t know…”

"Don' make me leave, darlin'....ah might not see ya ag'in if ah do. There ain't much back home fer me....unless y'all wanna come with me....."

He looked at the portal, then back at Ruby, “… …I’ve taken plenty of gambits during this adventure…” he sighed softly, looking to her eyes, “…what’s one more?”

Ruby laughed, wiping at her eyes. "Thet's th' spirit! An' if'n ah fergit ya, darlin', y'all jes' whomp me on th' head!"

“I… don’t think I could do that…” he grinned weakly.

She chuckled, squeezing his hand tightly. "Well, jes' means ah'd whomp ya back. Let's git, then!"

Ian nodded and squeezed her hand, heading toward the portal.

"Heh....ah ain't gonna fergit, darlin'." she chuckled as she stepped in.

She was gone. Ian blew a slow sigh from his mouth as he winced. Another light was shining. Glancing behind him, he could see the sun just starting to peek over the horizon. “Dawn…” he observed softly. He quickly looked back at the portal. He didn’t want to see it. The damage caused by the girls. He didn’t want to see it in the new day’s light. Breathing slowly, he started into the endless white void before him before stepping toward it again.

“…Wherever I end up… I’m checking in the nearest inn. I need a shower and a nap.” He said to himself as he allowed the portal to embrace him fully. Moments later, the portal disappeared, leaving nothing but the wasteland behind.

‘That… little bastard…’ Marco Antonelli thought to himself as he struggled to pick himself up, ‘He’s ruined everything… well, ALMOST everything… …no matter… I’ll find him and feed him to that bloodsucking bat.’

Getting to his feet, Antonelli viewed his surroundings, and immediately knew SOMEthing was wrong here. The ground was a soft, carpet-like substance and the environment was… something out of a bedroom. A large, oak-framed bed, closet space, shelves. It was almost as if… “This… IS a bedroom!” he exclaimed, “A huge one!”

"What a quick mind." a husky feminine voice chuckled. "Best hope your feet are just as fast."

Antonelli turned in a rage, “What is THIS!? …oh…” he looked up.

Rouge smiled menacingly down at him, and swung slippered feet from the side of the bed. "Oh?"

“Rouge! What is the meaning of this??” he demanded, “Why am I here??”

"So much for the quick mind. Do you really need to ask?"

“Enough playing around, what is this about!?”

In response, one slippered sole slammed but an inch from his tiny form.

Antonelli tumbled back from the force of the shock of Rouge’s stomp. “W…WAIT a MINUTE!!” he exclaimed as he stood back up, “You… know who I am…!?”

"Of course I do." she laughed. "But do you want to refresh my memory?"

“How…!?” he clenched his fists, “How can you remember?? No one was supposed to remember ANYthing!”

She slid her foot from the slipper slowly. "Maybe because I had you with me. Who knows? Maybe I'll forget, after I deal with you."

“N-n-now wait a minute, Rouge!” he stepped back, “W-We can still work something out, can’t we??”

"Keep talking."

“Th-that boy! He has the device! If we can get it back from him, we can m-make him pay for ruining our plans! I-I-If he’s not in this world, we can find him! It doesn’t take long to open a portal.”

"Mm.....is that so...? Sounds like it's more for your benefit to me." the massive feet casually moved back and forth around him.

“It’ll benefit BOTH of us!” he exclaimed, “You’ll see! If I’m restored, I can pay you double – no, triple – of what I promised to pay you as my spy!”

"Really? You still owe me from the first time."

“I know! And I’ll make good on it! Just help me with this, and I’ll give you everything you’re due!”

The bat chuckled, lifting her bare toes over him. "And what about everything you're due....?"

He backed up, out from under Rouge’s toes, “W-What do you mean??”

The giantess toes snagged out sharply toward him, causing the administrator to yelp out. “What… are you doing…!?!” he exclaimed as he squirmed between her smelly toes.

"Hehe....collecting interest, old man." she said softly, burying him into the smelly folds between her massive toes.

He pressed up weakly against her toes, “What… do you mean!?!?”

"Mmm....so how's that foot smell?"

“Horrid!!”

She laughed again. "Good. They should, for a stinker like you."

“What are you getting at, Rouge!?” he demanded.

"Lick my toes, old man."

“Forget it!! I’m not your slave here!”

The toes lifted slightly. "No? Then you'll be a stain here."

“A stain…??”

"Under my toes when I step on you, Antonelli."

Antonelli squirmed out from between her toes, “Why would you want to do that?? I can still pay you, but I need to live to give you the money!! Why would you throw that away!?”

"Mm....I think this time, I should be the one in charge."

“What do you mean?”

"I mean, old man....it's time for you to step down...."

Antonelli stepped back, “R-Rouge, what are you…???”

The bat chuckled, smiling down at the tiny man between her toes. "And it's time for me to step down....on you."

“R-Rouge, wait, we can still make a deal!” Antonelli shook like a leaf, hands up above him, as if to ward the giantess away from him.

"Heh....only two sounds I want to hear from you, old man."

“W-What…!?”

"CRUNCH and SQUISH....as I stamp down and squash you."

With that, the bare foot thrust down hard and fast to the carpet. Antonelli wasn’t even able to get a scream out before Rouge’s foot was upon him, hard, with a sickening crunch.

The giantess ground her sole into the carpet with a satisfied smirk. "I remember you, too, Ian Jenkins. And I'll never forget."

On November 6th 2004, the population of the United States was approximately 295,681,848 people. The total number of survivors by the dawn of November 8th 2004 was 12,193. In nearly two days, 97% of the population of the United States was decimated under the feet of various giantesses, brought in by Dr. Marco Antonelli. As quickly as they had appeared, the giantesses had disappeared off the face of the planet. As a country and a nation, the United States of America was completely destroyed. Aid was sent and the remaining survivors were evacuated to various other facilities in the world.

Dr. Marco Victor Antonelli, the mastermind behind the deadly and elaborate scheme, was among the many missing and presumed to be dead. Radio Zelda, the organization responsible for the appearance of the giantesses, was assaulted by the various armed forces of the United States, especially the United Nations’ Section 21. Whatever prisoners they took were crushed out when the giantesses overtook them. From that day forth, Radio Zelda was no more.

Ian Jenkins was not seen or heard from ever again on the planet Earth. According to a lieutenant from Section 21, Rick Jameson, he was guiding some of the giantesses along, as if herding them to send them home. He went on to mention that he probably would have been killed if the young man hadn’t interfered. Many speculate that Ian was just another victim of the giantesses, that he had been crushed to death underfoot like so many others. Ian would not return to Earth again… but then again, why would he need to? He could go anywhere he wanted. Live out the games. But he knew from this incident that he would never wish to see a giantess rampage ever again. The cruelty he had seen, the cruelty he’d been dealt (though he still did enjoy the actual foot worshipping but still, shhh), he would never want to deal with again.

Unless he chose to.

And in her deluxe suite in her nightclub in Night Babylon, Rouge the Bat sat back on her bed, a sly smile still set upon her full lips, waiting and planning for the next time she would meet Ian Jenkins… and how he would join Marco Antonelli in staining her soles. There were plans to be made… oh, plans indeed.

END