Following the long and frustrating trail of bread crumbs, they traveled all over Gridania and Coerthas in search of the Enterprise. Most of the journey was dull and tedious. Farrah running wild, performing tasks for damn near every person in the frozen wasteland of Coerthas just to get scraps of information. However, after many days and nights, they were finally able to locate the ship inside of an old abandoned castle called the Stone Vigil. Delving into the dragon beast ridden halls, it was returned to their possession. It has been badly damaged but would be well enough to leave the cold and head for Gridania.
Once in Gridania, Alphinaud, Cid, and Farrah began discussing what the next stage in the plan is. Garlond's airship was in dire need of repairs as well as needing to find a way through the hurricane protecting the island of which Garuda claims. Upon further investigation, it is discovered that a chunk of corrupted crystal, containing the right element of Aetheric energy, would supply the ship with enough strength to push past Garuda's storms.
Again, having to run all around Eorzea in hunt for the correct elemental crystal, she finally got the right one. One that contained Ice-aspected Aether.
By the time Farrah returned with the crystal, Cid was fully finished with his repairs. Eager to slay the primal, they got aboard the Enterprise heading straight for The Howling Eye. This long journey has brought these three a friendship to be cherished.
While the ship flew towards their destination, Cid removed the goggles from his face, revealing the small crystal like dot on his forehead that belonged to the natives of Garlemald. Looking at them in thought, suddenly he shouted. "Damn it!"
Farrah, startled by his outburst, questioned "What's wrong, Cid?!"
"I... I once flew in this airship. And I was not alone. There were adventurers on board... adventurers like you."
He bent down in pain holding his forehead when he looked back up to Farrah, he had a Flashback of his life. A life where his father was an Inventor, and he too trained to be one of the greatest engineers. A life where his father died and was taken under the wing of an Imperial named Gaius who was obsessed with power. He left the Empire behind, coming to Eorzea and creating the Ironworks. In his vision of a younger self, piloting his ship, a bright light mirroring The brave adventurer's form appeard to him and handed him the goggles he has worn most of his life.
"I had forgotten how wonderful it was. The wind in your hair, the endless sky... That light -it was you, wasn't it? It's surprising how few people know this, but all pureblood Garleans have a third eye. Perhaps mine helped me recognize you -or perhaps it was just a lucky guess." He put his goggles back on and steered the ship. "The Enterprise was made for this! To carry Eorzea's protectors into battle! I am proud to be able to call her my own."
"Cid..." Alphinaud approached. "What exactly do you remember?"
"Alphinaud, my boy -sorry to have been such a burden... I remember everything... My name, my people, and my purpose. Everything. Come! It would be rude to keep Garuda waiting!" The ship took up greater speed and dove straight into the storm towards their intent.
Back on land, Farrah geared up for the fight. Cid had adorned her with extra armor on her chest to help protect her baby as best they could. He looked at his friend with sad eyes, wishing she didn't have to run into such a dangerous battle and risk hers and her unborn child's life. But it was all of Eorzea's only option.
Farrah, Cid and Alphinaud ran in to confront the beastly primal. Looking up they see a giant, winged, harpy like creature.
"Who dares intrude upon my sanctuary!?" She shouted to the trio. "Your insolence shall not go unpunished, landwalkers!"
The white haired boy exclaimed in shock, "Twelve preserve... She's... she's huge!"
Cid Garlond join in. "As I live and breathe..."
Many Ixal enemies appeared below Garuda so the band of Eorzea's protectors drew their weapons and began to fight.
They fought the primal as best the could while also hiding from her massive blows behind the large rock pillars and dodging her hurricanes. But after a while, Garuda began to shreik in defeat "No... Nooo! NO! NO!" She squirmed in agony and went still.
Thinking they had defeated her, She threw her wings back open and cackled with a twisted laughter.
"What!? How in the hells-!?" Cid yelled.
"HAHAHAHAHAAA! This... is... MY REALM! You have no hope here! None! NONNNE! Did you truly believe you could defy a god, landwalkers!?" A bright green light shone in her chest and began burning all around her. "My power is limitless! My children Legion! And they have rendered unto me a wealth of crystals. Their gifts sustain me, their faith empowers me! None save my children will escape the reckoning, mortals! And those who would use my crystals to waken the rest shall realize the folly of their faith! Then all shall worship none but me! The one true god!" She laughed.
"...Of course! worship! So long as the Ixal keep praying, she will never fall!" Alphinaud explained.
"Then let's stop them!"
Cid and Alphinaud ran to the remaining Ixal army but were blown back by the primal's heavy wind.
"This is only the beginning, landwalkers! All who oppose me shall suffer for their defiance!" Garuda looked at Farrah and spoke directly to her. "You, landwalker -you who dared to raise your hand against me- you shall be the first to pay for your sins! Not with your death -but with your LIFE! You will serve me, landwalker... to your last breath!"
A swirl of blue cloud formed around the adventurer protecting her from Garuda's influence.
The harpy beast stared, stunned. "No, NO! I claimed you! You should be MINE!"
A bright blue light shot from Farrah's body to Garuda who writhed at it's touch and fell, a green crystal rising from her chest and into Farrah's outstretched hands. She was now complete with six crystals, further strengthening her power through Hydaelyn.
"No mortal should possess such power! This... this is impossible" Garuda shouted in fear. "Why do you not tremble at my might? Why do you not beg for mercy!? Why do you not DIE!?"
"We've done it!" The youngest male Scion shouted.
A man in large, Black armor off in the distance raised his hand to the winged beast and said "O Lady of the Vortex! O mighty Garuda! Of all primals, the most terrible. I say again... IS-THAT-ALL!?
"Gaius!?" Cid Garlond said in shock at the sight of the man.
"Ah, Cid, my boy. You look well -for one who has forsaken kin and country. I wonder, what else you will forsake before the day is done."
"What!?"
"What exactly did you hope to accomplish here this day?"
"I..."
"Well, I shall accomplish far more!" Gaius raised his hand and shot down every Ixal, infuriating Garuda.
"Insolent Mortal! I shall make you suffer!"
The Ironworks master exclaimed in fear. "Seven hells, does she still mean to fight!?"
Garuda attacked the Amalj'aas and Kobolds who were kept tied up.
Alphinaud, making sense of this action, thought out loud. "What is she -Twelve preserve, she cannot mean to-"
suddenly Ilfrit and Titan decended upon them.
"No... No this is all wrong!"
"Stop gawping, boy! We must run!" Cid shouted, snapping Alphinaud out of his horrified state. The three of them ran as fast as they could back to the airship.
two Garlean ships flew in just above Gaius and the three primals. They were carrying a giant metal contraption.
"BEAR WITNESS TO THE GLORY OF THE EMPIRE!" Gaius raged. Then the metal beast fell to the earth and devoured Ifrit, then Titan. Each increasing it's untold power. "It is you who will suffer, Garuda. Ancient Allag had ways of dealing with your kind. Now look on their ultimate weapon, eikon, and despair!" The beast then grabbed hold of the winged god and killed her, harvesting her power.
"Such is the fate of all those who oppose the Empire. There will be no Warriors of Light to save you this time. If your leaders are as wise as they are reported, they will surrender." Gaius yelled up to the rising airship where Eorzea's protectors stood, watching from above. "Your strengths are impressive, but they will not be enough."
The giant black eikon eater flew up onto the sky on its new wings it got from Garuda's power and left.
"Twelve have mercy! What chance have we against such an ungodly creation!?" The white haired boy said, losing hope. "And who was that armored devil!?"
The pilot sighed and began to explain. "That was Gaius van Baelsar, legatus of the XIVth Imperial Legion, and Supreme commander of the Garlean invasion force in Eorzea."
"Of course, the Black Wolf -how could I not realize? Grandfather mentions him in his journal!"
"I was never so naive as to think the man would abandon his ambitions, but these developments are beyond my worst expectations... What have you been doing these past five years? How could something of this magnitude have escaped the Alliance's attention?" Cid questioned.
"We heard no whispers, saw no signs. In the wake of the Calamity, the Empire seized land and put up outposts, but that was the extent of their aggression." Alphinaud tried to elucidate.
"Damn it, Gaius, where in the seven hells did you find that thing?"
"It has been a day of unexpected developments, but the fact remains: Garuda is no longer a threat. While I take no comfort in the manner of her downfall, it does mean that we may safely put the matter of the primals to one side -for the time being, at least."
"Which just leaves the matter of Gaius's new toy."
"Indeed. That weapon poses the greatest threat to Eorzea. It must be destroyed. But first, we must needs find out all we can. Let us make for Vesper Bay. We shall rebuild the Scions. All is not yet lost, my friend -for we bear the light, and shall surely lead our people from the darkness."
The Enterprise makes haste for Thanalan, bring them all to safety. The entire flight, Farrah remained silent. She knew she should be terrified after today's events, but all she could think was "Thank the gods my baby is safe". She sat on the deck and just rubbed her small, rounding belly under her armor.