Two accidental tiny statues sat in a room. Other statues, more deliberate but no less tiny, sat nearby.
One of them was recalling exactly how this mess had all came about.
'All because the last group searching here decided to split up... and then like idiots we did too...'
"They split up?" Mikoto sighed.
This large and sprawling mansion was the home of a powerful witch, who may have had leads on where the large group could go to track the two rouge Eidolons from Rydia's world.
Unfortunately, she was under the control of one of them, it seemed, for her mansion had converted into a huge maze of traps and twisted corridors. Currently, one group of six had gone missing inside. Another group of four had just arrived.
The missing group of Fran, Rinoa, Tifa, Cloud, Yuna, and Zell had also been accompanied by Relm and Gau, but it seemed the young artist was smarter than her peers. She and her friend had remained at the entrance hall, whilst the others had split into groups of one or two.
"Yeah. Gau had a bad feeling about it so we doubled back after the split. They said they'd be back an hour ago and not one of them showed up." Relm reported.
Zidane was currently indulging Gau's enjoyment of staring contests.
"Great... "
"Well, I guess we have to split up ourselves to find them! I'll go with Gau and Relm, and Mikoto goes with Zidane and Garnet..."
"Whoa wait, Eiko, are you nuts? You want to split up right after what Relm just said?" Mikoto protested.
"And besides, there are four doors. Two groups would be likely to miss finding them..." Garnet had said.
In the present of course she had cursed pointing that out since it had led to Zidane...
"Hey, four of us. We can go handle ourselves and be back here right away, and Eiko and her friends..."
"...Relm's the most mature one, call her the leader..." Mikoto cut in
"Hey!"
"Uwaaao!"
"...She has a point."
"...But why are you even thinking of splitting up, Zidane And alone?!"
The male Tribal sighed.
"...We need to find the others fast, so we just go for ten minutes alone, come straight back here..."
"What about leaving a guard?" Relm asked.
All eyes stared at Mikoto.
"...Fine, but I'm not coming with the other groups to rescue your dumb asses..."
After that, they had all got lost, it seemed.
Eiko had found a notebook describing the spells and enchantments placed on figurines, and judging by the pint-sized stone figure beside the notebook that looked oddly familiar, the figurines were not made of porcelain.
She had been fortunate to find Garnet, at first, and then had acted... foolishly.
Footsteps neared the door...
"...Gau! In here, there's... Wow, tiny statues... I guess this must be that mini thing they were talking about..."
'Relm! Thank goodness... Wait, you won't know about dispel!'
Upon entering, Relm inspected the petrified group.
"...Wait a minute, what got these guys? Gau, can you smell anything?"
'...Where is Gau?' Garnet wondered. She faced the door, but the wild boy had not shown...
"...Gau?"
...then another shape reached the door. Carrying a tiny stone Gau in her hands.
"Ah, more gnomes! And one little thief trying to steal them, eh? I'll just take care of you now..." The Witch said.
"Wait, I'm not a -"
Relm's protests were cut short. She too shrank and petrified.
"Let's see.. got those three boy gnomes out by the pond... You seven can go in the flowerbeds and in other spots..."
Garnet sighed in her head. That had been a day ago and it seemed gnome after gnome was being put in the garden by the mad witch, judging by frequent visits.
'Are we really all this stupid?'