Chapter Fifty Two
It would take the group several days to reach Colony 8, fighting monsters and gathering items and the like along the way. And all the while trying to figure out a plan of how to gather information about the Telethia and the cloaked man who had Zanza's Monado, it still didn't make much sense to Meyna.
How could Zanza's Monado still be intact after all this time and not Meyneth's?
What's more, she now had a stronger grasp in controlling the white Ether that encased her blades, but as to why that was the case it was still a mystery all on its own.
Not to mention the cryptic words that Alvis had left with her. Or that he kept leaving her, he knew more then what he told. That much was clear, but what in the world was he? The book she had on the history of the Mechnois and Bionis wouldn't offer much anymore, since she had gone through it several times, looking at it again would do no help at all. And then there was that whole bit with Colony Zero and the Face Mechon, all of it was starting to feel like one big blur and though she knew that thinking too much of it would just make it worse she couldn't help but wonder if somehow it was all connected in some way.
But how and in what way, and why was it that it all felt familiar to her?
"You look to be deep in thought." Igholt said as he went to join her side.
"Something like that…" was all she said.
There was a moment of silence before Igholt spoke again, his voice turning to concern. "What's wrong Meyna? Ever since we left Colony 7 you've been… rather distant. Did something happen when you went to speak to that Machina woman?"
Meyna shook her head. "Nothing happened, if anything I was able to get some information, and even recalled something."
"But?" he said feeling as though there was something else.
She sighed. "But I feel like what I recalled wasn't really my memory, but someone else's. A while ago, when we were traveling to Colony 5, I had a strange dream."
"Strange in what way?" he asked as Meyna sat on the ground and he followed suite, sitting close beside her. "You can tell me about it if you want."
"Well, there were voices, a lot of them. But I couldn't understand what they were all saying, it was like they were coming all at once. And for a moment I saw something. I couldn't make out what it was but when the image cleared I realized it was snow and what I was seeing was myself but… I looked different. Like I was wearing black metal armor…"
Igholt frowned. Was she looking into a mirror? "Anything else?"
Meyna went to speak only to shake her head. "No, sorry." she couldn't bring herself to talk about seeing herself fighting what looked to be a giant, it was too far of a starch to even call that realistic since they were long gone now. Just talking about it would make thing too needlessly complicated.
She was getting her memories back, and that alone was good, though with the Bionite Order attacking people were of great cause for concern but then there was also the Ether that she could control and maintain. She knew of those who could do it, controlling elemental Ether to attack an enemy but not in the same way she seemed to use it. she looked at her blades, taking them apart from being one whole then put them back together again she consintrated to bring forth the white Ether from before, Igholt looked intrigued but Meyan soon stopped, the white Ether vanishing as she stabbed the blade into the ground and gasped for breath.
In a fight, she was more then able to maintain it for the duration of a battle but other then that she couldn't maintain it on her own while not in a fight.
"Meyna…" She looked to Igholt who still looked at her with surprise. "What was that?"
"Right," she straightened. "That's the first time you've seen it."
"You have the ability to manipulate Ether?" he asked. "Meyna… when have you been able to control it?"
"When we were attacked by those from the Bioniet Order, I remember that I had done it once before while on the way to Colony 4, but while I was fighting off those Homs, I was able to control it somehow. I think it might be connected to this," she said touching the back of her neck. "Though as to how I'm not entirely sure."
His eyes narrowed. "The Monado…" he murmured under his breath.
"Huh?"
Igholt shook his head. "No, it's nothing. But you're right, we won't be able to understand it until we reach Colony 9, once we get there I'm sure there will be more we find out." He said with a smile. "Though when we do get there we'll have to get you examined."
Her shoulders slumped as she gave a look of disbelief. "Really? Why? I haven't had a relapse or blacked out in a long while. Don't you think that because of me traveling with the others that it's done something to maybe subside it?"
He folded his arms across his chest. "No,"
"But…"
"No, Meyna." He chided. "I'm still your doctor and even though you don't like it. It's something that has to be done. We need to make sure that everything is alright."
She gave him a sulking look, but seeing how he had no intention of changing his stance she sighed. "Alright fine, I get it. I just hope I don't have to get that needle again."
He laughed slightly and ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, I don't think we'll go that far. Anyway, let's head back to the group. We'll be at Colony 8 soon enough."
With a nod Meyna headed back as Igholt watched her.
Could it be… he thought. Could it be that her Ether inside of her body can control and maintain a Monado, Rei mentioned it before after the attack on Colony 13 but I was inclined to ignore it. Since no one else seemed to talk about it. But if it's true, if she can control a Monado of her own then… he smiled slowly as he watched Meyna talking with her brother. Interesting…
They had reached Colony 8; the Colony itself wasn't that large. In fact, it almost looked to be around the same size as that of Colony 13, maybe a bit smaller. To Meyna it was interesting to see the similarity, but other then the size it had its own unique look.
Meyna's gaze looked up to the mountain, it was massive, larger then the one from Colony 4, she recalled that Colony 9 was at the top of this mountain, and what's more had a type of fast travel beam that could send them instantly to Colony 6 since these two Colonies had a strong connection to one another.
There was a faint amount of snow falling around, caused from the winds, making it look as if winter would soon set in. And most likely would since this was one of the few Colonies that could actually experience the change in season like that of Colony 4.
"Almost there," Grithiff said drawing Meyna's attention. "It's been a long time, since I've seen this side of the mountain."
"You mean during the SkyRay war?"
He shook his head. "When we were traveling with that Machina woman, she had taken you and myself almost across the whole land on foot. Going through many Colonies while keeping us safe before arriving in Colony 6, it's still strange how she rarely spoke and yet when she had it was words of encouragement to you and wishing for you to be alright. Though, it never surprised me since how close you were with the Machina."
"Do you think that was strange? Being close as I was with them?"
He gave a disapproving frown. "Now why would that be strange? The Machina cared for you greatly, as they did for many Homs, you shouldn't have to…" he stopped midsentence realizing why she would ask that question. Recalling how in Colony 4 so many of the Homs children would make fun of her for acting different. He placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. "It's not strange at all Meyna, it just shows that you care just as much as they care about you. And that's something you should never feel worried about."
She smiled at him as she rested a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you brother."
But when they were about to continue on Igholt grit his teeth and gripped his side and hissed as he stopped in his tracks.
"Igholt?" Linada looked to the High Entia doctor with concern as she went to his side. "What's wrong? Is it your injury?"
He gave a wary smile in response as if hiding his pain. "I'm fine, really. We just need to get to the transporter so we can reach Colony 9, things should go…" he grunted as he tried to stand fully only to find that he was unable to do so. "…smoothly, at least I hope."
"Stop," Linada commanded. "You know pushing yourself will only make it worse on you." she then looked to the others of the group. "Go and check on the transporters and see how long we'll have to wait. It's best if Igholt remains here until we are ready to leave."
Meyna looked to Igholt with a slight worried expression, as if sensing it he looked to her and gave an understanding smile to her. "It's okay Meyna. I'll be fine, go with the others. I'll wait here with Linada for you to return."
She merely nodded and turned to catch up with the others.
"He'll be alright Meyna," Rei said. "Linada is with him, so I don't think there's anything we need to worry about."
Meyna merely looked to Igholt and then followed the others to search for a transporter. But sadly, when they had reached the place where they believed that they no longer needed to go forever on foot the group had the misfortune to discover that the transporter was no longer functioning properly and was now currently in the process of being fixed.
"How did it become broken?" Grithiff asked one of the High Entia men who were overseeing the procedure of fixing the issue.
"From what I heard the damage had been done by several cloaked individuals claiming to be in a group called the Order, yet I had come to the understanding that the Order had long been liquidated after the events that had taken place during the second war."
"I see, well any idea when the transporter might be fixed?"
The High Entia shook his head. "I'm sorry, but with the damage that has been done it could take a while, days, maybe weeks. You'd have a better chance of going up the mountain. But it's something I wouldn't recommend, there have been sightings of many strong monsters and several Telethia as well. It'd be best to wait until the repairs are done."
With a word of thanks Grithiff and the others headed back to Igholt and Linada to tell them what they had heard.
"So, those claiming to be in the Order did this to hinder travel." Igholt said. "No surprise really, but still. This proves to be a bit of a problem for us in the long run. We can't stay here too long before people begin to notice…"
Everyone understood what Igholt meant as Meyna remained silent only to then be broken by Rei.
"So, in other words we're going to have to go up the mountain to reach Colony 9." Rei said with a disappointed breath. "Figures, technology always seems to fail when you really need it the most."
"Think of it this way Rei," Yuma spoke. "There's bound to be some monsters that people want taken care of, or new and interesting things we can discover along the way."
"That's true, and fighting those monsters does have its good points. Though I wish it wasn't so… cold, you know?"
"Ethon agree with Rei, no like cold." Ethon said, his body practically shivering at the thought of it. "Nopon never like cold, like warm sunny places with lots of yum-yum foods to eat."
"That just sounds like you being lazy." Rei told the Nopon with her hands on her hips.
Ethon huffed. "It's all nasty Hom-Homs and their mean groups fault! If they hadn't broken machine Ethon and friends wouldn't have to climb snowy rock!"
"It could be worse," Grithiff said. "But if we do this…"
"You'll have to leave me behind," Igholt cut in and then offered a modest smile. "Don't get me wrong, I enjoy accompanying you all in this, but right now I'm just dead weight. I'd be of little use to anyone in this current state." When no one said anything the High Entia added. "Don't worry, soon I'll be back to my old self and catch up to you all before you know it."
"Well with how persistent you were at coming from the start I can believe it." Rei said with a slight sarcastic tone but smiled. "So see'ya at the top then?"
"Iggy get better and better, strong Bird-man come back to Ethon and friends." Ethon said as he bounced around.
"I will be staying with him," Linada said. "So, there will be nothing to worry about in regards to him."
Yuma on the other hand merely remained quite as Igholt looked to Meyna and gave her a smile that seemed to hold the faintness of worry. "I want you to be safe, do what you have to out there but don't push yourself, I don't want you blacking out, or worse."
"I'll be careful, thank you Igholt."
Rei folded her arms behind her head. "Alright now that that's settled lets get moving up that mountain. But first, you think we could find some warmer clothes just in case?"
The Ethon chimed in as he pulled of a dramatic pose. "All friends of Ethon march! Head to Colony 9!"
