Ahh! Sorry for the lateness. Busy. But expect sorta faster updates, I'm dedicating the summer to finishing this fic. Thanks for the reviews and views so far. I honestly thought I was in over my head when I first started this.
Anywho it's a sorta long one so prepare to sit. Also pure fanservice isn't my specialty so forgive for any obvious corny parts.
Beach Outings and Giant Lobsters
It felt kind of odd to be riding back to Clad 6 without having to carry Nagisa sleeping self. But with how quiet she's been, it's hard to tell the difference. When we got back, Emilia was waiting for us. She could tell immediately that something was wrong.
"Nagisa, you look so down. And where's that pervert?"
"Wynarl is sleeping. If you don't object, I'd like to take my leave."
"Huh? Oh...sure. Can you meet me back when he's awake? There's a minor detail I wanted to ask him."
"Of course. If you'll excuse me..."
The two of us watched as Nagisa went to the cafe. It was then I told her what had happened on Moatoob. Emilia figured that it was a crushing blow to her self-confidence that made her like this now.
Somehow I don't think that's quite it.
Emilia told Yuto and I that she may be close to completing her theory. And if it was recognized, she would get her doctorate. I was happy for her. Ever since the Subspace incident, she had been working hard on it. I suppose I should be working on mines too.
But it's hard balancing school with Little Wing work.
So in celebration, she and Yuto went to go shopping. And eat pudding of course. I declined. Having more than enough sweets for right now and wanting to rest after that mission. I changed out of my clothes into something that was warmer. My current clothes still had that chill from the mountains in them. Again, I got caught up on all my messages and paperwork from my terminal. Significantly less than last time.
And now I was bored.
This is rare.
I had wanted to check on Nagisa, but I think she needed the space. Give her a bit of time to sort herself. If she isn't trying to find fragments, she's passed out from absorbing them and vice versa. A break of doing neither might help her.
Anyway, it was odd having nothing to do. Going on missions didn't appeal to me at that moment. Neither did contacting anyone. I hadn't realize how focused I was in my work until then. Having nothing to do at Clad 6, I took a shuttle to the G-Colony.
It's been a long while since I've been there. The last time was to confront Laia. But I wouldn't be visiting the headquarters. I would actually be taking a stroll in the residential section. The place I grew up. It changed quite a bit since I walked though the somewhat familiar paths. I guess you can say I had fond memories of my growing up. It wasn't bad. It just reminded me of the times I would spend with Mom.
I had an urge to see my old house. But I don't like to think that someone lived in it now.
"Ami? It's you isn't it?"
"Hilde?"
I couldn't help but smile when I saw Hildegarde, Hilde, again. I had heard that during my initial time in Little Wing, Hilde had also left the Guardians and was living in relative peace with her husband. In a way, Hilde was the kick start to who I am now.
"Ami! It truly has been a while. You look so grown up now."
"And you grew your hair."
"Heh, I don't live too far from here. Would you like to come for some lunch at least?"
"I can't decline from a friend."
Hilde's house was just a few minutes walk from where we met. It was a decent sized place. I felt a feeling of familiarity being in her home. I noticed that she had a lot of pictures of places she went to on the wall. I guess with her guardian status and her husband being in AMF, they were well traveled.
"So what brought you to the G-colony? I know you usually come when the Guardians ask for you."
"Yeah. But not today. I just needed something to do. I didn't realize until now that I've been doing just a lot of work. I don't have hobbies."
"What about that music?"
"Other than that. Besides I didn't have a keyboard installed in my quarters there."
"Ah...you're restless. I suppose at your age, you can't help it. But you should savor those moments."
"I know I know. But I can't help it."
"Heh, I know. You have shades of that girl I found in Parum so long ago."
I smiled a little.
Hilde always found some way to make me feel better.
Almost like Mom.
It was comforting to have that feeling again.
"Speaking of restless, you settled down yet?"
At that I sputtered my tea all over the table.
I could hear Hilde laughing as she started to wipe up the mess.
"Why would you ask that?"
"What Ami? It's a perfectly good question."
"Well yeah. But no. Busy, remember?"
"Ami, I rather not push you but at least consider it?"
"Yeah I know. But it's kinda hard."
Right at that moment, my communit rang. It was Emilia. She had wondered where I went since I don't usually leave Clad 6 unless it was a mission. Thankfully she didn't ask why I was at the G-Colony when I told her such. But she was waiting for me at the cafe. Apparently she was going to have a meeting.
"Duty never stops."
"I know Ami. That's very like you. At the very least take a vacation."
"I'll try Hilde. Thanks."
I got to the cafe. Apparently it wasn't a personal meeting. She had called Lumia and Shizuru over along with Yuto.
And Nagisa too.
"Why did you call all of us here? It better be important."
"Of course it is. I just got the results from the board. It's final. You can add 'Doctor' to my name now."
I was happy actually. I did witness her working on hard on getting her doctorate.
The others?
Not so much.
But that wasn't the main reason why she had called us. Because of that Ursula gave her passes to a high end resort. Whose main attraction was an artificial beach. I was surprised. I hadn't been to a beach in a very long time. There was Paracabana Coast. But that was before the Seed invaded. Since then I had mostly gone there as a Guardian was for mission related things. So I would be lying if I wasn't the least bit excited about going. Lumia looked a little flustered about going.
I admit I was a little nostalgic seeing her like when she was my pupil.
Everyone had walked off to get ready. Except for Emilia, Nagisa and myself. Emilia had started to tug Nagisa, getting her to come with her. I think she was confused that Emilia's invitation extended to her as well.
"Why?"
"Well I had heard you were feeling down. And it's times like that you need to go and have fun!"
I smiled at her reasoning.
"Oh Ami! I left something on your table in your room for you."
"I fear for what it is..."
At any rate I went back to my room. I did see the box, but for the moment I had went to my clothing storage. I had a one-piece swimsuit from my training days in the Guardians. It had still fit me so I kept it when I left. But I couldn't find it in there.
Then I glanced at the box again.
So help me Emilia.
Sure enough, when I opened the box, it was a black bikini. It would show quite a bit of skin. But nothing indecent. At least she didn't go crazy in the design. Though, I am a bit worried that the bottom is tied from the sides. But all and all something I would have picked if I was forced to get a new swimsuit. I put the clothing in my nanotranser and went on my way to the meeting place.
The resort is something to be seen. I could tell how much work went into making the beach as real as possible. Even the salty air smell was replicated into the beach. I went into the clothing station and changed into my swimsuit.
It did feel a little tight.
I don't really know how to take it.
I walked out toward the sands. It felt good under my feet. Emilia seemed to be waiting for me. She was wearing a red and white stripped two piece with a skirt on hers. It did fit her personality.
"Ami you made it!"
"Yeah of course. I don't want the trouble you and Ursula went through to get me a pass to go to waste."
"Good. I see you're wearing the gift I left you."
"Yeah. Thanks. Though, don't you think it's a little...tight?"
"It's supposed to be tight. You don't want it to float away in the water do you? Besides, I wasn't really expecting for you to fill it out like this."
I could feel Emilia sizing me up with her eyes.
"Cut that out! You look like a perv doing that."
"Ha ha ha. You look really good in it. You should show off more often."
"Ursula said the same thing."
"H-Hi guys..."
Lumia showed up not too long afterwards. She was wearing the exact one-piece I had been looking for. I'm not surprised since it's standard issue for the female trainees. Emilia directed her look to Lumia.
Mainly at the fact that Lumia was flat-chested.
Lets just clear it out right now.
It's a touchy subject for Lumia.
But I really don't see why.
If any guy called her flat, she would have beat them with an inch of their life.
And then I would finish the job.
Yuto and Shizuru showed up next. Yuto was so excited about going to the beach. Moatoob doesn't have beaches so I can see why. Shizuru was in the shadows, but Emilia pulled him out.
And it took all I had not to laugh at him.
He was wearing swim briefs. I don't see a lot of men pulling that off. But what made me try not to laugh at him was him being flustered at all of us wearing suits. It's ironic since in his normal clothes he's basically shirtless with a jacket over it. It was amusing to see someone who's usually calm act like that too.
"Hello, everyone."
And then Nagisa shows up.
I do mean appearing and showing up everyone.
Lumia and Emilia sobbed on each other of Nagisa's body. I was a little surprised myself that she had such a filling body type under her clothes too. I didn't realize that she was that pale either. If she wasn't Duman, I'd be more worried. But it seemed pretty run of the mill for Dumans to have unnaturally pale skin. She seemed confused about Emila's and Lumia's reaction so I pulled her aside and told her the true reasoning.
"But I don't understand why they would want a bigger size. It'll get in the way of fighting."
"That explains why your clothing is so deceptive actually."
"What?"
"No nothing."
"But with all these looks...I can see why it's so embarrassing."
And Wynarl made his reappearance then.
While Nagisa was thinking of ways of killing him, I went out into the water and swam. I wouldn't say I have an affinity to water, but I had always liked to swim. It cleared my head a little. I was just able to be myself. If that made any sense. I noticed Yuto swimming a little further than me while I was out there. With his background, I guess it's natural.
Everything was just so peaceful right now.
I wish it was like this everyday.
"Ami! Come join us for some ball!"
I swam back to shore and joined with Shizuru and Yuto for a game against Lumia, Emilia, and Nagisa. Emilia and Lumia showed Nagisa real quick how to play before we got started. And it was a pretty decent game going. I'm a little relieved that me being older didn't make me rusty. The last time I played was in high school during the gym classes. And then the ball went to Nagisa.
"Hiyaaah!"
She spiked the ball.
So much so, it broke the ball on ground impact.
I think if anyone had tried to intercept it, they would have a shattered wrist.
The rest of the time at the beach was relaxing. Something I think we all needed. I went on ahead and went to find Nagisa so we could leave together. I found overlooking the horizon of the beach from a cliff.
"Ah, Ami. You were looking for me?"
"Yeah, it's about time to go."
"I see. Can I just sit here for a little longer? I want to make sure to not forget this scene."
"Sure. You don't mind me sitting with you?"
As the two of us stared at the scene, Nagisa told me that this time was the best time she had in her life. From what she remembered anyway. To be so focused on fighting. She had forgotten moments like today.
We went back to Clad 6 with a fresh body and mind. I noticed that Nagisa was happier. I prefer to see her like this anyway. She shouldn't let the weight of her mission dictate her so much.
It was short lived however
An alarm sounded in the area.
"An alarm. That sounds like an inside emergency."
Kunoh came in afterwards. She's one of the members of Little Wing. She was here before I signed up. Mostly we just talked when we passed by each other. She too was a former Guardian.
Specifically she had watched over Emilia for a short time there.
It was good to have someone who was in a similar position as me in Little Wing. Anyway, she told us that mutated creatures had just appeared in the resort that we just came from. How dd they show up so quickly? And how did we not even notice them?
At any rate, Emilia went to find those answers. And to stop the creatures from spreading to more civilian areas. Lumia, Yuto, and Shizuru went to help with evacuations. Which left me and Kunoh to dispatch the creatures that had already gotten free.
"Wait, I want to go to?"
"And you are?"
"I won't be a hindrance, I'm confident in my skills."
"What do you say Ami?"
"Take her with us. She's as good as she says."
"As long as it's you giving your permission."
We made our way back to the beach. There we met Vasque. He's a Cast, part of Little Wing as well. Our paths rarely crossed in missions, but from the times we chatted he seemed really interested in information. Scholarly I suppose. After getting the introductions out of the way we got a call from Emilia. The resort area has some defensive protocols put up. But not as strong as it could be. Mostly because the beach resort is the absolute last place we would think would suspect to an attack. Regardless we'd need to activate the systems manually. We did find one not too far from our starting point.
But when we activated it however.
"What? A raid?"
"They are after the terminal!"
"Push them back! We can't let them destroy the terminal at all costs!"
Yeah, the creatures had figured out enough that destroying the terminal would bring down the barrier. So once we activated one, we had to be ready to defend it. It's a smart strategy.
But these were mutated creatures.
How could they have planned this?
I didn't have time to think of an answer. There were more attacks coming in from different terminals. The four of us quickly made our way through the beach and got rid of the creatures along the way. Nagisa looked more focused to get rid of these creatures.
I wonder if it's because the beach is special to her?
It took a while but all the creatures were taken care of. All that remained was the main creature responsible for it all. At Kunoh's suggestion we took a small break to gather ourselves for it. All my weapons seemed to be in order so I was ready to go. Though the earlier fact about the creatures still bothered me.
"Nagisa, did you know about the fragment?"
"Ah, no not really. I faintly sensed it but I can't rely one-hundred percent on it right?"
"Well it's only been wrong once. So it's not doubtful."
"Right. Ami, why do they believe me?"
"Kunoh and Vasque? Well probably the same reason everyone else do. They just do. We can see that despite your reasoning, you truly want peace for Gurhal. It's what we want too."
"I see. I'll try not to let you or the others down."
"Just do your best. That's all I can ask for you."
We went inside the teleporter to where the head of the mutated creature was housed.
'It's carrying a fragment.'
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, the mutation that occurs when one carries a fragment..."
"Ami, Nagisa! Look sharp! Here it comes!"
It's kinda hard to describe Giel Zorg. It's a giant lobster. Which shoot out poisonous puddles of something. It has a very hard shell. Something I don't think my daggers or sword can get through without sustaining some heavy damage to them. I change them for a pair of knuckles. Gudda Skela to be exact. Knuckle weapons puts more force in my attacks better than my bladed weapons could do. Plus with my hands covered in the metal and photons, I won't get any nasty aftershocks from hitting the shell. I punched at its shelled claw, putting everything I had into each blow. I heard a crack from the other claw.
I saw that Nagisa had already started to penetrate the shell on her side.
The enemy also had a weakness. At the top of its tail was an uncovered spot. Kunoh had used her bow to hit the area while Vasque backed her up. There were a few times it would suddenly move, shifting the pier we were fighting on in a new position.
Did I mention that the pier was not being held by anything?
Yeah, the pier floats.
Not something we wanted to happen with a huge creature moving about so often.
There were quite a few times I worried that someone would fall overboard. But I was amazed how we all kept our footing stable enough with that going on. With a well placed Infinity Blast by Nagisa, Giel went down.
"Everyone alright?"
"I think so, clothes are a bit soaked though."
"Looks like no serious injuries. But that stone."
Just as Giel disintegrated, the fragment was left in its place.
"I feel such an ominous presence from it."
"That's..."
"What you were looking for. Isn't it Nagisa?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize for anything. Just hurry and deal with it. You've made your mind so see it through to the end. Vasque and I will report back. You two did good out here."
After Kunoh handed me her partner card, which I really don't know why now I got it, Nagisa started to go towards the fragment.
Then she stopped.
Hesitation?
"Ami. If what I'm doing makes it seem like I'm going down an evil path what would you do?"
"Me? That's a tough question. But I do know I'll believe in you. I have a knack for this. I know you're a good person."
"That's very bold Ami. I wonder if you realize the severity of your words."
'Nagisa...'
"Don't say anything Wynarl. I'll collect this fragment and leave the rest to you Ami."
Something seemed odd.
It was a very quiet ride back to Clad 6. Wynarl usually would be present to keep me company while Nagisa's passed out from the fragments. But not this time. I let her rest in my bed again. Honestly I didn't mind it as much anymore. I went to type my report about the latest mission before Wynarl made an appearance again.
'Ami darling.'
"I keep telling you don't call me that."
'But why not?'
"It's...a very intimate addition."
'A ha! I figured as such! You really are such a shy girl under all that. So who is it?'
"None of your business."
'Uh huh. I think I know. Don't think I don't notice those side glances and the tone you talk about Mister President.'
"Sh-Shut up!"
'Ha ha ha. It's funny to see you blush like that.'
"Whatever."
'We didn't choose wrong in asking you to partner with us.'
Wynarl told me that Nagisa was rapidly losing her memories. Most likely a side-effect from absorbing fragments. But it was odd for him. How could she still remember her mission even with her memory decaying?
It was like it was carved into her brain.
Who could give such an order?
Why?
To make anyone subject themselves to such hardships.
Honestly, I would love to give this person a good punch in the face.
'Ami darling, can I use your terminal?'
"Uh that was out of nowhere. But okay, I gotta change out of these clothes anyway. And I'm locking my door."
I put back on my replica that Ursula gave me. It should have warmed up by now. I gave a quick comb through my hair. My brain was nagging at me that something since the Moatoob mission didn't feel right. I couldn't place why, just a slight uneasiness that wouldn't go away. When I came out, Nagisa was awake. Looking pretty good even. She looked like she had just finished talking to Wynarl.
"How you feeling Nagisa?"
"Pretty good. Thank you. I know I must be bothering you always using your room to rest."
"It's not a problem at all. I can't leave you exactly in the middle of anywhere when you're passed out."
"I see. Still thank you."
Then she left my room.
But I could have sworn I heard her say 'Goodbye'.
A few minutes later, Emilia showed up. It's rare for her to show up and actually talk. She wanted to talk about Nagisa and the fragments.
Those fragments are Dark Falz Fragments.
The Seed came from those fragments.
"Whoa what?"
That would explain why I always felt uneasy around them.
"Yeah, I know. Freaky huh?"
"Emilia! Have you told the Guardians about this?"
"Well not yet. Nagisa has them in her body and if wind got to them about it..."
"I understand. You care about Nagisa. Sorry, it's just that we thought we were thorough."
"Ami..."
"It's nothing, continue."
"Well notes show that when all the fragments come together they become Dark Falz. If Nagisa has all the fragments in her. What's going to happen to her?"
Oh no.
Oh no no no no no.
Not that.
I stood up from my chair quickly. Is this why Nagisa couldn't tell me anything about her end goal? Why she always looked so sad when people asked about what she's going to do afterwards? Why she kept asking was I sure about believing her?
I punched my table hard.
Goddammit.
Why in the hell didn't I see this before?
"Her goal isn't to revive Dark Falz. Is it?"
"For all of Gurhal's sake, I hope not."
Then the alarms sounded again.
It was coming from the Residential Area.
"What's happening now?"
"I dunno Emilia, but lets go."
I made sure I had all my weapons in my nanotranser before heading out. That uneasiness I was having was getting worse. Now with all this information about the fragments in my head, it only made the feeling stronger than ever. Emilia and I got to the lobby.
Who knew that three words would completely unnerve me.
"Ami...you're late."
And cliffhanger~!
It felt right to end it right there. I plan on including one side mission in this fanfic. It feels kinda eh to go through the entire story and not include at least one side chapter. But yeah, probably as you read this I'm working on the next chapter so don't bring the pitchforks out yet. Hopefully it won't stay as a cliffhanging update for too long.
Anywho, read and review~
