Night and Day
Chapter 2
A day of work
Never before did a garage look so heavenly to the party.
Upon pushing the two cars into the drive, the pushing party all but collapsed upon completion, save for Gladio and Eques, both sweating and panting but standing. 'I think…I've lost more weight doing this… than any training the Crownsguard had put us through…', panted Prompto, almost laying entirely on the ground on his side.
Audax was tiredly laughing the whole time, back against the Regalia with Nigrum drinking a bottle of water beside him. Unius was flat out dead tired to the team, sleeping on Gladio's back. The big guy felt a little bit of sympathy for the younger lesser experienced member, and after seeing the abuse Sol gave her, he figured a bit of mercy was needed.
Before the rest of the team could collapse in exhaustion, they were visited by the mechanic. 'Hey there, y'all kept a girl waitin', she said with a thick southern accent. At the sight of the woman Prompto immediately scampered to his feet, eyes wide and mouth agape. She wore a bright yellow jacket that reveals her stomach and zipped down just below her breasts, a pair of goggles around her neck. A pair of blue jeans shorts with a brown belt hanging around her hips, thigh-high black stockings, white high boots on heels, and brown gloves.
She had curly blond hair with olive green eyes, a cap on her head. 'Now, which one's the prince?', she asked. Noctis raised his hand up, smiling casually at her. 'And the princess would be her right?', the mechanic asked, gesturing Sol. 'Good guess, the eyes I'm assuming?', she asked. 'Bingo', the replied, 'Congrats on your wedding your highness'. At this, Noctis sheepishly scratched his neck, looking away.
'Not hitched yet', he said. Sol gave him a smirk, knowing he was trying to not look at the mechanic's rather questionable clothing. She was above reminding him her eyes were slightly up higher. 'Lady Lunafreya's groom to be, here in Hammerhead', she went on, eyeing the Regalia. 'Apologies for taking so long', Ignis said. 'We were hoping to arrive earlier, but as you can based on the status of our friends, pushing two vehicles was much more challenging than we had anticipated', Eques spoke.
'You'd best save your apologises for Paw-Paw', she said, her eyes never leaving the Regalia. 'So that makes you…', Gladio started. 'Cindy- Cid's grease-monkey granddaughter', she introduced. Greased was right Sol mused, looking at all the grease on her arms and even her face. 'Roll her in while I'm still young!', spoke another accented folk, but much more older and DEFINITELY more cranky. An older man, no doubt Cindy's "Paw-Paw", was looking over the Regalia with keen eyes.
Wearing a jacket made from red leather, a blue shirt, black gloves, jeans, and a red baseball cap, old silver coloured hair with hazel coloured eyes. He gave everyone a hard glare. 'Didn't yer daddy tell ya? She's a custom classic, not some beat up ol' clunker', he said, looking over the Regalia. He then turned to Noctis and Sol. 'Prince Noctis, and Princess Sol', he said. 'That's us?', Noctis said, slow and confused. Cid then huffed. ' "Prince" and "Princess". Like they took your old man and kicked the dignity out of him', he said, walking along the side of the car. 'What?', Noctis barked.
'Excuse me?', Sol asked, offended. 'You two got a long way to go. And your slack jaw and softness ain't gonna get you anywhere fast', he said, uncaring to the jab at the pride. Noctis looked ready to say more but after a quick shake of the head from Ignis, the prince kept his tongue and pouted while Sol looked down. Cid surveyed the car a bit more before he let out a huff. 'Your transports are gonna take a while. Y'all get her in and run along', he said.
Without another word, the old man headed for the garage to prepare his tools leaving the royal group behind. 'Cranky old man huh?', Audax said to no one in particular. 'Must be the old age', Mederis suggested. Even Cindy seemed displeased by his tone, but then turned back into the upbeat lass they met and gestured the garage. 'Y'all heard him! Let's get movin!', she said.
Once the cars were in the garage, the ten members of the party stood out the garage. 'And now we play the waiting game', Ignis said. 'Great… never liked that game', Prompto said as he walked off. 'Never good at it either', Noct agreed.
Within no time everyone had went off on their own to try and kill the time. Sol spotted Audax with Eques by the weapon's van chatting one of the local hunters. The weapons themselves looked rather impressive and finely made but they pale in comparison to the Insomnia weapons. Near the caravan she spotted Unius hiding behind the shade with Gladio and Nigrum, chatting with the bigger man while the lone wolf was checking the map Cindy gave them.
'It would appear the currency outside the Crown is different', Mederis said, showing her the currency. 'Oh? Is this the fabled "gil" I've heard so much about?', Sol asked with a smirk. The doctor rolled her eyes. 'Yes, be amazed', she drawled. 'However our own pockets aren't deep enough for Cindy's expenses for our vehicles', she explained.
Noctis joined up with them along with Ignis. 'How much we talking?', he asked. Mederis gave him a grime look. 'Far above what your father pays Ignis', she stated. That bad it seems…
'So what's our plan?', Sol asked. 'Well if we're up for it, I've spoke about payment to Cindy', Ignis said. They turn to see him push up his glasses, preparing. 'She says there have been some beasts prowling the area, some getting a bit too close to the station and causing some trouble. She asks if we would deal with them, and in return that should cover our expenses', he explained. At this Noctis sighed.
'Better than nothing I guess'.
According to Cindy there have been a large pack of vicious beasts that were slowly growing in numbers, soon they'll overwhelm the station and ya know, wild animals don't do establishments any favours.
'Does this mean we gotta walk through the desert?', Unius asked, following behind Gladio. 'Most likely we'll be in the wasteland for a bit', Ignis said. Unius groaned in dismay, voicing everyone's thoughts. 'Suck it up, its either this or we'll take a new job as Cindy's grease-monkeys', Eques said with a huff.
'Imagine that? Under her command? Like a goddess~', Prompto sighed dreamily. 'Somebodies got a crush', Audax teased, shoving the younger man with a chuckle. 'Can you blame me? Did you see how bubbly and cheerful she is?', he asked. 'Something tells me it wasn't her personality that caught your eyes', teased Sol. 'I believe it was the twins below her neck?', Mederis suggested with a smirk. Prompto blushed, his silence answering them.
However suddenly Gladio stretched his hand out before Noct, stopping the walk. 'Hold it', he said. The group stood still in silence, tension grew as Gladio slowly raised his arm up to conjure up his weapon, unaware that up above them prowling upon the large boulder, was a sabretusk. It bore its teeth before it leapt off the rock, diving towards Sol.
'Move!', ordered Gladio, shoving Noctis aside as Audax pulled Sol back before the beast could pounce on her. It landed on its four feet but the moment it turned to face Sol, its skull was pierced by Nigrum's arrow. The bow was akin to a long bow, with steel bladed for close combat, silk string that was felixable and strong. A quiver materialized on his back, filled with arrows. The archer looked up to see more of its pack appearing and leaping down from above to ambush the group. 'Spread out! Don't let them box us in!', Ignis ordered, summoning his daggers as everyone else conjured their weapons.
Out in the open field left plenty of space for both sides of the fight, the pack was a much larger pack than the group had thought, the alpha was a much larger one with brighter stripes, and it was currently eyeing up Gladio. One sabretusk charged towards the big man from behind, but Unius was already on the ball. She slide and with her rollerbladed shoe, kicked the beast straight in the neck, killing it. 'One for me!', she said with a cheer, as she skated across the field.
Unlike the others, Unius used special roller blade like boots for combat, except instead of wheels for streets these were terrain compatible for any land, be it rocky wastelands, snowy mountains or deep rooted jungles. Her dancing capabilities also came into play when it came to moving her legs to fight or even evade, making the weapons perfect for her.
Another sabretusk charged at the prince while he was fending off his own while beside him Sol, wielding a spear, was keeping out of range of the beast, occasionally jabbing the spear at it in case it took a step close. Unaware of the one was quickly running towards her brother from behind, leaping upon the prince just as he turned around and was quickly pinned. His sword held up to keep the beast from tasting his flesh.
'NOCT!', cried Prompto, spotting his friend's peril. Seeing this Gladio grunted and glanced at Audax. The younger man nodded. 'Go, I got this!', he said. The warrior grabbed the sheath of his blade as the beast chased Gladio. 'Don't look away', he said with a smirk. With a flash, he drew the blade at blinding speed as he leapt towards the beast. He easily sliced the beast in two from the midsection of its body. The katana was long with a hilt in the form of a four pointed star, a single chain hung from the hilt in the shape of a roaring lion.
With a roar, Gladio brought his massive buster sword and cleaved the attacking beast into three pieces, throwing it off Noct just in time. 'You alright?', the brute asked, grabbing his arm and pulling back to his feet. 'Fine!', Noct said, turning around to see Sol being overwhelmed by the pack. He grunted and turned to Eques. 'Eques!', he shouted. The crimson heard dragoon spotted her charge in danger, her eyes narrowed. She crouched down and without another moment wasted, suddenly leapt into the sky, almost out of sight of the team.
Just before a sabretusk could attack the princess, Eques dropped down like a bolt of lightning and with her spear in hand, not only pierced the beast but almost crushed it entirely. The ground cracked beneath her with the spear piercing the earth beneath it. Yet she yanked it out quickly and with a yell ordering her charge to duck, she swung the bladed spear and slashed at least three of the beasts, forcing them to retreat back. 'Thank you', Sol said, panting. 'Keep this up, we're almost done', encouraged her shield.
Her spear was decorated in violet and black paint, marking her training from the dragoons, a single violet blade curved upwards with a black crystal imbedded within the blade.
Prompto rolled on his side and laying on his stomach, he took pot shots at the beasts that were circling around Gladio and Noct, picking off the more dangerous ones that grew too close to the prince or Gladio. Joining him was Mederis, rifle in her hands as she with keen precision picked off the bigger ones near the others. In her arms the rifle was Insomnia technology at its finest, several modifications to alter the function of the gun from sniping to full assault rifle, and with her own personal touch.
With its brethren dying out, the alpha turned to Gladio, just finishing off another pest. It snarled at him before it leapt at him. The shield turned in time to summon his large shield and block the ferocious claw attack, stepping back a bit from the attack itself. But it was all Prompto needed to put a single bullet in its monstrous skull, as a single shot rang out and then, the beast fell.
The shield gave the boy a nod of gratitude as he dismissed his weapons. 'Looks like the rest of them fled', Ignis spoke, pushing his glasses up. 'Think we should keep hunting them?', Unius asked, patting her legs. 'No, with the alpha dead along with several members of the pack, it'll take a long time before the make up the numbers to become a threat again'.
'So, this mean we're even with Cindy?', Audax asked hopefully. Just then before his question would be answered, Prompto's phone went off. 'Speaking of the Goddess of Gears', Prompto said with a grin. He placed his phone to his ear and cheerfully although shyly answered. He nodded and grinned. 'Sure, we'll handle it! No problem', he said. The conversation was a short one it would seem as he disappointedly looked at his phone and hung up.
'What's up?', Gladio asked. 'Among other things', teased the samurai of the group. One blush and stammer response later, Prompto stood up straight. 'She said there's a hunter named Dave that's, gone missing. Said he was meant to be back a while ago but no calls or anything', he explained. 'And she wants us to go find him?', Unius finished while putting both hands behind her head. 'Pretty much'. 'And you of course agreed', Noct said.
'I know you'll do it out of the kindness of your hearts', Prompto said with grin.
And thus the team was forever more under the service of Goddess of Gears, thanks to her most loyal follower…
'Around here right?', Unius asked, looking around the abandoned shack. 'According to Cindy's directions anyway', Prompto spoke. The warehouse based on the condition of the building looked to have been abandoned for more than a few years, rust had claimed it all over the structure. Several holes in the ceiling allowing rays of light to light up the room, multiple entrances hand made by punks or anyone for a quick escape, the whole thing looked ready to collapse.
'Did she say what he was doing here?', Eques asked. 'Hunting I'm guessing?', Prompto said. The team spread out to search the area with Sol entering the warehouse with Nigrum and Prompto. Only a handful of broken crates remained inside with the smells of damp on the floors. 'Not inside', Sol mused. 'Maybe we should-
'MOVE!', Nigrum shouted, quickly shoving her aside in time. A sabretusk appeared from the hole and leapt upon the archer. It pinned him to the ground and instantly pierced his left shoulder with its fangs. Nigrum yelled in agony, his voice bouncing off the walls of the warehouse. The beast wasn't able to tear off any flesh though thanks to Prompto shooting the beast in the body, the pain forced it to release its prey and leap back from them.
The gunshot and the yelling was more than enough to warrant the others to re-join the trio, now meeting up with more of the beasts in a smaller number than previous encounters admittedly but none the less dangerous. 'Prompto, get Nigrum back!', Ignis ordered as the team summoned their weapons. Nodding the blond grabbed the wounded and dragged him out of the shack, regardless of his insistence to fight back.
With the wounded out of danger, Ignis tossed a dagger with expert accuracy and stabbed one directly into its skull as Mederis fired a single shot at the floor before them to make them run. Her plan worked as they started to scatter and run across the floor of the shack, some escaped through the holes in the shack but one remained to fight back. It's chances of a fight were short lived the moment it saw Audax's blade severing its head from the torso.
Once Gladio gave them the all clear after a quick survey of the area, Mederis immediately tended to Nigrum. Propping him against a boulder to check his shoulder after removing his shirt, she cleaned up the wound and handed him a potion. 'Nothing this won't heal, though restrain from stressing the shoulder for awhile lest you want the aches to remain', she said, finishing up her work. He grunted in response and threw his clothes back on with a huff.
'Hey, whose out there?', a voice called out. Turning to their left they spotted a smaller shack, more like a shed really, door opening up revealing a man, limping. He glanced at the group of ten before Gladio spoke. 'The man of the hour, "Dave" right?. Been looking for you'. He sighed in relief, apparently they must have been the first people he's seen in a while. 'Didn't mean to cause y'all any trouble. Been stuck in here on account of my sprained ankle', he explained. 'Care to explain what happened to cause the sprain?', Ignis asked.
'Varmints. Gave them hell but couldn't finish the job, there's still one mean mutt around these parts', he explained. 'Sabretusks?', Sol asked. 'Nah, wish it was. It's a dualhorn, but not your everyday kind', Dave explained. 'D-Dualhorn?', gulped Prompto. 'Big, hungry and ferocious buggers, baby behemoths in comparison to the other beasts', Nigrum explained, buttoning up his shirt. 'What's so unusual about this?'.
'Well, starters it's a hell of a lot more aggressive than your average one, bigger too. And not gonna lie, it tore through its own kin like wet paper', Dave said. 'I was hired to try and put it down before it got a craving for humans'.
'Look, y'all don't look like hunters, but, what do ya say? Wanna put that puppy down for me?', he asked. All eyes turned to Noct and Sol, who gave each other a glance before nodding. 'Yeah, we'll go handle it'. Unaware, Ignis gave them both a proud smile along with approved nods from everyone else. 'Much obliged', Dave said.
'Show us where you last spotted it and leave the rest to us', Mederis said, handing him both the map and a potion. 'Use this for the ankle, the moment it's healed make for Hammerhead, we'll head there once we've dealt with the beast'. With a quick marking on the map and one last grateful farewell, the ten set off for the location of the beast.
Until Eques patted Sol's shoulder, earning her princess' attention. 'It's late', she spoke, gesturing the slowly descending orb in the sky as the world took a more twilight light. Nigrum hummed. 'It will be night soon, and then daemons will soon be upon us', he mused wisely. 'So unless we wanna try our hands at fighting the dualhorn AND daemons, might be a good time to say "let's call it a day", Audax offered.
The two royalties nodded in agreement and with that they sought a haven. Thanks to Eques the haven was actually close to the mark in only a five minute walking distance.
Upon reaching the campsite, the work began.
Ignis immediately set to cooking tonight's dinner at his own makeshift cooking station while Gladio and Audax started to set up the tents, two large for each gender. Nigrum was already making the camp fire with Eques placing the deck chairs in order for everyone. Unius, Noct and Prompto carrying the food and other necessities for tonight, the blond occasionally snapping photos of everyone or anything really.
Sol was with Mederis going over their restorative supplies, on her own chair sketching away. 'Anything interesting?', Mederis asked, writing down the items. 'I have this image of Noct and Gladio fighting the sabretusks, just need to finish off Gladio's sword', she explained, furiously shading in the drawing. Her favourite past time and hobby, Sol is actually an artist in the making from her sketches, mostly line work with the occasional full coloured or fully detailed imagery.
She's already filled out on sketch book prior to the journey and has made it her mission to fill out the next four or five sketch books in her inventory. 'Just wish… his sword was so…detailed', she muttered.
Around the camp fire under the stars, the atmosphere was a calming and relaxing one with banter going back and forth between them all, stew for tonight's dinner due to supplies being limited and one must adapt and use what one has. 'Noct', Sol said, giving him a playful glare as he was subtly planting his share of the vegetables in the unsuspecting Prompto. The prince unashamedly kept this up, not even looking at his sister as Prompto was too busy chatting with Unius to notice his dinner was growing.
'Hey Prompto, that's a lot of veg ya got', Gladio said, smugly grinning at the prince's glare. At this Prompto looked at the surprise amount of carrots and onion that were swimming in his stew. 'What the?', he said before he glared at the innocent Noct. 'Dude!'. 'You need more meat on your bones', he said casually not looking at the blond. 'And by supplying him vegetables is gonna make him more muscular? Where's the meat?', Audax asked, joining in the conversation.
The prince huffed as he placed his bowl down to look at the samurai. 'You're no better', he accused. 'You used to sneak broccoli into Unius' meals'. At this Nigrum smirked at his brother's glare. 'I'll never understand why you hate it so much', he said. 'No matter what people say, it will ALWAYS taste bad!', argued the samurai. 'Too his credit he got over his hate for it enough to eat it', Sol defended.
'You snuck broccoli into my dinner!?', Unius. 'That was years ago', Audax said sheepishly. 'So that's why you always had an abundance of broccoli in your dinners', Mederis said with a smile. 'I always thought you were a very healthy child'. Unius glared at the samurai before muttering. 'Its because Iggy makes it tasty'.
None missed the satisfied smirk on the advisor's lips.
'Well if we're all done admiring Ignis' cooking abilities, lets finish our meal and head to bed, we've much to do tomorrow and hopefully, Cindy will the Regalia ready for tomorrow', Eques spoke up, resuming her own meal. Noct grunted and picked up his own bowl. Absent minded he scooped up his food and placed it in his mouth. He froze as his tongue touched something…horrible.
Carrots.
He looked down in his bowl to see many more carrots and other vegetables in his bowl. He glared at his sister's cat like smirk as she as innocently as a child eat his bowl. 'Eat your veggies Noct~', she teased.
He didn't know what was worse that night, the laughter that filled the air around the camp fire at the expense of him, or the fact his mouth was holding a carrot inside.
A/N:
Fight scenes are hard to do!
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, stay awesome but most importantly stay awesome!