Okay! Here's the next chapter of A Tale of Hidden Powers! I hope you've enjoyed yourself so far and continue to do so! I'll also ask that you leave a review. You know, just one? People are more likely to try out a story if it has reviews on it, so if you like this story and think other people would like it too, leave a review saying so! It would also be very encouraging to me as I continue to write. So have I convinced you to leave reviews yet?
No?
Oh, well...
Oh, and as I should have said earlier, this is not FFXII, it is a recreation of it. So, as I'm sure you've figured out, things are not the same as in the video game. I'm just saying, don't expect them to be. Just enjoy this for what it is!
Anyways, here's the next chapter, please enjoy! And do you think I should release on Saturdays, too? I'm fairly certain I can keep up with schedule. Leave a review or PM me telling me what you'd prefer!

Chapter Four

Nabradia's capital, Nabudis
Year 704 of the Old Valendian Calendar

No one slept well that night, and they were all up by dawn. By that time, Dr. Cid had returned. He sat by the ashy remains of the fire, mumbling to himself, or perhaps to the stone he held in his hand. Yes, despite Ffamran's hopes, his father had found the nethicite and reclaimed it. No one bothered him much, seeing as he acted more insane than ever had before.
Ffamran had recovered enough to move freely. He still had an awful pain in the back of his head, but he didn't say anything. It wasn't unbearable, and if he just ignored it, perhaps it would dissipate over time. Besides, the last thing he needed was all the others worrying about him.
Once everyone was awake, Dr. Cid, finally acting sane again, declared he would work on salvaging the Formidable's radio to call for a transport.
And that was it. They all sat around the campsite, waiting as Cid worked, muttering under his breath all the while. Once they got the radio working, if they could, it would be a good three hours before the rescue team arrived. Then they could go home.
And Nabudis. Until yesterday, the city had been a bustling center of commerce full of life, men, women, and children. All those people were dead, and for what? So Archadia could plow through and get to Rozarria? Or was it just because they wanted to increase their territory? Ffamran shook his head; it all seemed senseless to him.
Ffamran got up, setting off to pacing. It felt good to stretch his stiff legs. He passed by Dr. Cid, who worked by the dead firepit, babbling on and on to no one.
"Yes, yes, I understand. We all want the same thing, don't we? I know, I can tell. It will be yours, fear not. Ah, yes, that could work."
Listening to his father act like a madman wasn't helping. Ffamran found a hunk of rubble and plopped down on it, watching the sun rise slow, the brilliant colors of the horizon dulled by clouds of ash and myst. He wondered if Reina was watching the same sunrise.

…

After an hour or so, it started to rain. Dr. Cid took the half-repaired radio and continued his under a large slab of hull. Ffamran thought it was ironic; there he was, finally outside of Archades. Wasn't this what he'd always wanted? Now, rather than exciting, it just seemed dreary. Ffamran wasn't sure he had it in him to be excited anymore, not after all the death and destruction he had witnessed. And what about that creature in the nethicite, the stone that was with them even now? It had wanted something with Ffamran, even though he couldn't tell what that was. The more Ffamran thought about what it had said, the more confused he got. It had called Ffamran its "prey," and yet it had also said something about "waiting for a thousand years." Ffamran certainly hadn't been around for a thousand years, so how could that creature wait for him that long? It just didn't make any sense…
"And how are you, Ffamran?" Zecht's voice broke Ffamran's cloud of confusion as the other Judge sat down next to him. "Serah says you weren't doing so well earlier."
Ffamran frowned. Of course she'd say that. "I'm fine," he replied curtly. "Who made her the authority on my wellbeing?"
"My apologies." Zecht fell silent, and the only sound was rain pattering over the ruins. Serah was pressed up against a piece of hull, mumbling complaints about the rain, and Dr. Cid was busily working on the radio, still chatting away. Cid's madness hadn't been this bad, not right until the destruction of Nabudis. So many things had changed irreversibly in that moment. It was like Ffamran's whole world had been wiped out along with Nabradia's capital. No, there was still Reina, waiting for him back in Archades. He could cling to that fact.
The wind picked up, shifting the rain so it blew at the weary travelers. Dr. Cid's voice drifted along the breeze.
"Indeed, indeed. Even if this fails, we'll find some other way, Venat. What? Oh, now, whyever would you think that?"
Ffamran suddenly felt tired. Too much had gone on in the past twenty-four hours. And his father's madness… Ffamran was certain now it was because of that nethicite. But really? Was all this really because Dr. Cid wanted its power? Ffamran had grown up a scientist, and he could understand the desire to understand, but to go this far? To sacrifice the lives of everyone in Nabudis? Could he really fall that low? Ffamran didn't want to think about that…
"Hang in there, lad," Zecht said. He was studying Ffamran's face, and apparently reading his thoughts. Ffamran bit back a sharp response, knowing that his bad temper wouldn't make things any better. He just wanted to rest, and somehow not think about his father, or the creature, or Nabudis, or that nethicite that seemed to be at the center of it all.

…

After about fifteen minutes, Dr. Cid declared that he had fixed the radio and had sent a call back to Archades for help. All that was left to do was wait.
That wait was a long one. There was little talking. No one really had it in them for idle conversation. Ffamran was glad his father seemed to be acting a little saner now. He almost seemed like his old self, the father Ffamran had known four years ago. Those moments were bittersweet.
"How much longer, you think?" Serah asked, her question breaking the webbing of silence that lay over the four.
"Who can say? Probably a few more hours," Zecht replied.
And then there was more silence. Just silence, silence, silence. Ffamran hated this silence. It was a dark, brooding thundercloud, full of all the horrible things the four of them had witnessed, all the death and destruction that weighed on their shoulders. In Ffamran's mind, the strange events in Nabudis replayed, again and again; he found the nethicite, the creature emerged, attacked him, and everything went black. Those horrible memories filled the all-too plentiful silence, threatening to swallow him up. Ffamran thought again and again that he should have done something different, and again and again he couldn't think of what. Could he have somehow convinced the pilot, who was now dead, to turn around? Could he have pleaded with his father not to go through with the assault? Another thing Ffamran was all-too keenly aware off was that his father, one of the only three people there with him, had orchestrated all that devastation, and he didn't even look guilty. No, he was the same as ever, the only person not scarred by the destruction of Nabudis.
Ffamran wanted to ask him so many things- where he'd found the nethicite, what he wanted to achieve with it, how on Ivalice he could wipe out an entire city and not even blink. But he… couldn't. Was he… scared? Ffamran had never thought of himself as a coward, and yet… now…
Ffamran shook his head, unable to sit still any longer. He stood up and walked away, headed behind a large piece of rubble where he could pace a bit and not worry about the others. His despair turned to anger, and he gave the nearest piece of debris a sharp kick. How could something like this happen? It just didn't seem real.

An hour or two later, a small Archadian airship arrived. The tiny group of survivors hurried on board, and they lifted at last out of the ruins of Nabudis. Ffamran hoped he would never have to see that place again.
Ffamran found a secluded corner and didn't bother reaching out to the airship. He wasn't really in the mood for talking.
"You okay?" Serah said, walking over.
"I'm just fine," Ffamran replied. He didn't meet her gaze. Whether Serah was worried or not, he didn't care. Not right now.
"Really?" Serah walked right up to him so he could get away. "You seemed pretty beat up yesterday."
"I'm not going to die, so don't worry about it," Ffamran said. He thought she was bad being antagonistic. Her fretting over him was even worse.
"What happened to you, anyway?" Serah's question caught Ffamran off guard. He didn't really have an answer. Was he going to say he was attacked by some weird myst-creature? He wasn't even certain that wasn't some kind of dream. That was the excuse he used, anyway, not to tell her the truth.
"It was just a knock on the head. Why don't you stop fussing and go back to being annoying?"
Serah let out a sigh. "Fine. Be that way." She turned around and walked away. Ffamran sighed; the sooner they were back safe in Archades, the better.

…

When they finally landed, the group of four hurried off the airship. The transport's pilot was there, too, but he wasn't very talkative. The first thing Ffamran noticed when he got out was that the aerodrome was full of transports, and they looked like military issue.
"I should be getting back to Draklor," Dr. Cid said.
"Wait a moment." Ffamran rounded on his father.
Dr. Cid shook his head. He locked eyes with Ffamran. "I'm afraid I haven't time to wait. There are many things that need my attention, you see."
Angry, painful feelings with no words to describe them welled up inside of Ffamran as he strove for some way to deny what he saw in his father's eyes. Nothing kind, nothing caring, something unfamiliarly cold and callous… Those eyes belong to a man Ffamran had never known. The Dr. Cid who was his father was somewhere far away, lost in that sea of cold darkness.
Then Dr. Cid strode off, nearly breaking into a run as he trotted through the aerodrome. Ffamran didn't wonder what he'd meant by "things that need my attention." He hardly cared. Whoever that man was, whatever he wanted, it was beyond Ffamran to do anything about it.
"Excuse me." It was the pilot, speaking for nearly the first time. He'd said a few words to Zecht and Dr. Cid during the ride, but that was it.
"What is it?" Zecht asked.
"You two are Judges, right?" the pilot said, almost looking nervous. He seemed to have forgotten Serah was there, too. "All the Judges are gathering at the meeting hall. You see, uh, well… You should probably just go."
Zecht nodded slowly. "Understood."
"I'll see if I can track down Reina," Serah said. "I'd bet my boots she's worried sick."
"Right." Ffamran nodded. "I guess we should be going. Right, Zecht?"
Zecht nodded, and the two of them headed off for the Judges meeting hall. Ffamran had been there many times before, but never was he so worried as that time.
…

The meeting was short, but very clear. Archadia was at war. Ffamran wasn't surprised, but to hear it said out loud…
The nation of Nabradia was a tiny one, and the loss of their largest city had decimated them. The Nabradian people feared whatever weapon had destroyed the capital and had surrendered almost instantly. Currently, Archadia's plans were to continue the conquest and advance on the kingdom of Dalmasca. After that, it would supposedly all be over. There would be no war with Rozarria, at least not at the moment.
In one swift, terrible moment, everything had changed. Ffamran would be leaving, along with all the Judges, to fight in the war. Leaving his home, and Reina. But she would still be waiting there. That was a comfort.
The Judges were to head straight to the aerodrome. Only about a dozen of them were in the Archades division, and Ffamran was sure someone would notice if he was missing. But there was no way he was leaving without seeing Reina once. If he was caught, he would likely be punished, but he didn't care. They rounded a corner, and Ffamran let himself fall to the back of the line. Finally. This was his opening. Ffamran slowed his gait, drifting farther behind the others. Just a moment…. No one noticed…
Not waiting any longer, Ffamran turned and made a dash for the nearest alleyway. He could hide there until the other Judges passed, then slip back. If he was quick, he could see Reina and still make it to the aerodrome. It wasn't that he was keen on fighting, quite the opposite, but Archadia delt out harsh punishment to deserters.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
Ffamran felt his blood freeze at those words, and he stopped short. It was another Judge, who'd noticed him lagging behind. Ffamran felt first fear at being caught, then a simmering anger, and finally dull disappointment. No visit to Reina.
"Nowhere," Ffamran called back to the other Judge, despair weighing down his words. "I was just… catching my breath."
With heavy feet, Ffamran rejoined the procession of Judges. There would be no goodbyes.

The Judges reached the aerodrome sometime in the afternoon. Ffamran wasn't really sure of the time. He didn't know how long he and the others had waited at Nabudis, or how long the meeting had taken. Quite frankly, the time didn't really matter to him. Everything was just… over. Ffamran was completely drained of hope barely able to put one foot in front of the other. As the other Judges climbed onto the transports that would bring them to join the mounting forces ready to attack Dalmasca, Ffamran watched. He'd follow them, but… not now.
"Time to go, Ffamran." It was Zecht's voice. Ffamran didn't even bother looking at him.
"What's the point?" he said drearily.
"Snap out of it, lad!" Zecht's sudden exclamation startle Ffamran. The older man set a hand on his shoulder. "You're not dead yet, are you?"
"I might as well be," Ffamran spat back. He clenched his fists as anger at the events of the past two days rushed through him. "Everything's gone wrong, and I couldn't do a thing to stop it! What am I supposed to do?!"
"Thousands died at Nabudis," Zecht said. "Thousands of people, who don't have a chance anymore. No chance to change, to make this world better. You're still alive, Ffamran. You still can. You and I, we have a duty, to the dead of Nabudis, to live and make this world better."
Ffamran let out a bitter chuckle. "How am I supposed to do that?"
"You'll find out in time." Zecht pulled his hand from Ffamran's shoulder and turned to walk away. "I know what I have to do."
Then he was gone. Ffamran sucked in a sharp breath. Zecht's words sounded right; he just wished he knew how to fulfil them.
You'll find out in time.
Ffamran hoped he was right.

…

Reina felt a dizzying wave of relief as the door to her home swung open and Serah stepped inside. She looked horrible, dirty and worn, hair a mess and a large bruise over the side of her face. Outside, the sun was starting to set, and it had been nearly two days since Serah and Ffamran had left and not come back. Reina had barely slept and never stopped worrying.
"Serah!" Reina called, rushing up and wrapping her arms around her big sister. "You're okay! What happened? Where's Ffamran?"
"Reina…" Serah sucked in a deep breath, resting one hand in Reina's hair. Reina felt a spark of new worry alight.
"What happened?" she asked again, stepping away.
"It's… Well, a lot happened," Serah replied. "Ffamran's fine, but…"
Reina sat in horror as Serah retold the events of Nabudis' destruction, the nethicite, and how the four survivors had got back.
"I tried to get here as fast as I could," Serah said, "but some press people pinned me down and started asking questions. I told them to beat it and go bug someone else, but they were persistent."
"What about Ffamran?" Reina asked. She knew Serah was safe and sound, but where was her fiancé?
"I told you, he's fine," Serah replied. "But… You see… Nabradia's surrendered, but now Archadia's declared war on Dalmasca. All the Judges have been called to the battlefield…"
Reina's eyes widened. "What? But… where is he now? I… I have to say goodbye!"
"They already left, Reina," Serah said.
Reina shook her head. "No… No, that can't be right! I… I didn't get to say goodbye…"
Serah said something else, but Reina didn't really hear it. She was staring out the window, watching the sun's last dying rays, trying to process what she'd been told. Ffamran was gone, off to war. There's be no wedding, not even a goodbye…

…

Dr. Cid walked through the hallways of Draklor Laboratories, the nethicite in hand. The stone let out a steady pulse of power like a heartbeat, and it felt cool to the touch. The stone held so much power, and inside it, another force lay…
The lights were all off, and the halls of Draklor were dark. It was night, and Dr. Cid was expecting a very important visitor. Yes, this meeting would be quite important.
Dr. Cid pushed open the door to his office, and sure enough, the light was on, and someone waited inside. It was a man with long black hair, dressed in a noble's outfit.
"Dr. Cid. All went well at Nabudis?" the man asked, his voice soft and suave as usual. "You know, it was most difficult convincing my father to go through with this."
"I fear our plans did not come together as I had hoped, Vayne," Cid said, picking his words carefully.
"Really?" Vayne said. "What went wrong?"
"The output of power did not free me from the stone." A new voice, strange and rattling, entered the conversation. Above the nethicite Dr. Cid held, a form materialized. It was the ghostly shape of a strange creature, pale grey skin and face swathed in shadows. Its eyes glowed with an eerie yellow light. Dr. Cid smiled at his appearance, for he knew this creature well.
"Ah, Venat. I apologize for that. My calculations were… flawed."
"Whatever the reason," Vayne said, "our plans cannot continue until Venat is free from the Midlight Shard." Vayne was not startled in the least by Venat's appearance, for he, too, knew him well.
"Yes," Venat said. "If only I had foreseen this when I hid in the stone millennia ago. After so long, I am unable to leave it. If output of power cannot shatter my bond with stone, then what else? Cid?"
"Yes, Dr. Cid?" Vayne turned to Cid also. "Have you any other way of freeing our ally?"
"Not at the moment," Cid replied. "We have tried nearly everything I can think of."
"Then what now?" Vayne asked.
"Though it pains me to say so," Cid said, "I am not the begin all and end all of scientific knowledge. My efforts can only bring us so far alone."
"You mean to say we ask for help?" Vayne said, as though the idea was unthinkable. "From whom?"
"I think it unwise to trust other humans," Venat said. "Any will simply play for their own power."
"That is true," Dr. Cid replied. "But as long as we keep up the illusion that there is something in it for them, I believe they will lend us aid."
"Then who?" Vayne asked. "Who is it you wish to ask for help?"
A sly smile crossed Dr. Cid's face. "Vayne, have you ever heard of the Red Fangs?"