They just landed in Ul'dah. Everyone having used the flight for deep thought and concentration for what had just unfolded before them. Once Stepping off the ship and onto the landing deck, Alphinaud was the first to speak.
"Well, that was an experience I would rather not have again. Something has been troubling me, Farrah. Shortly before the Black Wolf took center stage, when Garuda attempted to claim you as her own, I could have sword I saw... Ah, but I'm sure I was mistaken. In times of great stress, the evidence of the eye is apt to be misread by even the most inquiring mind. Forget I mentioned it. Returning to the subject of our earlier discussion, we may consider the matter of the primals closed until further notice. No beast tribe will dare summon their god so long as that weapon exists. Truly, a more effective deterrent I could not imagine. It almost seems a shame to plot its destruction..."
He took a moment to think again. "It is past time that we return to the Waking Sands. To leave our headquarters in disrepair any longer would be to dishonor the memory of those who fell there. We have been brought to our knees, but we will rest, rebuild, and rise once more."
Farrah and the two men made their way back to the Waking Sands, utterly exhausted. Once at the entrance, everyone held their breath. Not just because of the smell of blood and death, but out of anticipation for what they would find Inside.
The Elezen man stepped up and opened the doors. It was surprisingly clean, and so empty. Looking around to make sure no one else was there, it was deemed clear so Farrah made to enter the Solar.
"Wait." Cid said beforehand. He smiled at his female companion and stepped forward to be the one to open the door. Just in case there was anyone in there with an evil intent.
The wooden door swung open and there was someone standing inside. This person quickly spun around at the "intruders" shouting, "Who goes there!?"
"Now, now Yda -is that any way to greet a friend?" Alphinaud asked sarcastically, happy to see his friend.
Yda gasped in delight and surprise. "Alphinaud! Farrah!.. Cid!? Wait, is this a dream?"
Cid chuckled lightly. "Not that I'm aware of! It's been a while, Yda."
The young, pugilist woman dropped to her knees. "I...I don't believe it... I was sure you'd been-"
Cid walked forward to his long lost friend, looking around the tattered room. "This place has seen better days."
Yda, looking down, began explaining. "Uh... you know, I wasn't actually here when... I-I was still in talks at the Adders' Nest... The first I knew about it was when I came back, and... and I saw..."
"Yda..." The youngest Scion said sympathetically.
She took a deep breath and continued. "The church had taken care of the bodies, but that still left... the stains... I-It was hard to know where to start... If Y'shtola hadn't here to help me-"
"Y'shtola is here too?" Alphinaud asked hopefully.
"Yes. But she's not here right now. She's gone to Ul'dah to meet a man who might know what happened to the others. Papalymo and Minfilia weren't among the dead, according to the church. Y'shtola thinks they were taken somewhere."
The young, white haired boy brought his fist to his chin in thought. "Upon the orders of the Black Wolf, no doubt."
"Why would he want them?" Cid queried.
"Because they possess something he desires: knowledge of another power that can be brought to bear against the primals -one that Gaius has yet to harness... The Echo." He looked to Farrah. "Gaius will be aware of its existence, as well as the immunity it grants the gifted to the primal's influence. Powerful though his Allagan weapon may be, he would doubtless desire such protection. He means to use Minfilia to gain an understanding of the Echo... None of which explains how the Empire came to know the location of the Waking Sands in the first place... No matter. The Empire has shown its hand, and now we must fight. It is up to us to rebuild the Scions and save Eorzea."
He looked to his friend. "Can I count on you, Yda?"
"What? Oh, yes- yes, of course! Whatever you need!"
"We can discuss our next move upon Y'shtola's return. For now, I say we rest."
Everyone found a spot either on the floor or one of the few benches that lines the walls to rest. Farrah yawned and laid down on the floor, getting ready to take a much needed nap. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
After what felt like a long time, Farrah was suddenly woken up by a voice reaching out to her.
"Hear... Feel... Think..."
In an instant, her consciousness was transported to a pitch black void. The darkness eventually illuminated by spears of fire falling from a single ball of light above her. The light spread over Farrah, consuming her in its comforting embrace.
"Bringer of Light..." The angelic voice called out again. "Brave gather of the Crystals... thy soul burneth bright!" The Giant Blue crystal she had seen before, had reappeared to her now. "I am Hydaelyn. All made one. Hearken unto me now, for the Darkness doth begin to spread. Ware thee the bearer of the Crimson Brand, for he is the Avatar of Shadow, whom death attendeth always. The Crystal's shall be thy salvation -thy blade and shield both. Steel thyself, for at the appointed hour... thou shalt stare into the Heart of Darkness. Go with caution, my child, but fear not -for I am ever with thee."
Farrah opened her eyes, still inside the Solar. Loud, quickly approaching footsteps came towards them and the door flew open. Everyone was startled awake but eased when they saw the familiar face of their Miqo'te Scion.
"Y'shtola!" Yda exclaimed.
"Farrah. I see you and Alphinaud are safe. And... and Cid." She grinned Thoughtfully. "That we five should meet each other thus defies simple explanation. It is as if the benevolent hand of Master Luisouix guides us still.. He would not see us undone so easily.. Not now, when the need is so great."
The white haired, cat woman stepped toward her friend's. "I know where Minfilia and the others are being held."
"Where?" Alphinaud asked.
"An imperial stronghold in the heart of Mor Dhona -Castrum Centri." Farrah's sister Scion came to her and spoke. "The rescue of our allies will be no small undertaking, Farrah. Even under normal circumstances, breaching the defenses of an Imperial castrum would be a highly dangerous proposition. But now that Castrum Centri houses prisoners whom the Garleans deem valuable, we may be confident that they have taken additional measures to ensure the strongholds security. If we are to free our friends, we will require an effective strategy. And if we are to formulate an effective strategy, we will require intelligence. I believe I know a man who may be able to assist us in this: Lord Lortelaine of House Durendaire. He is stationed at the observatorium in Coerthas. Let us go to him, and beseech his aid.
While everyone else was gathered in discussing their part of what is to come, Farrah confronted her two Sister Scions. "Yda, Y'shtola... can I please talk to you for a moment?"
"Of course, Farrah. Is everything okay?" The conjurer asked, concerned.
Farrah walked them out into the hall, away from everyone else's ear shot. "I-I don't know what to do." She began crying.
"What do you mean?" Yda pressed, worried.
"I-I'm... I'm... pregnant.
They gasped in utter shock. Yda gave Farrah a big hug, letting her cry on her shoulder while Y'shtola looked at her belly.
"But that's such great news! Why are you so upset, hun?" The pugilist asked.
"I know I have to do everything I can to save Eorzea... but what I have to do isn't always safe. I fear for my baby's life. And I feel so alone."
"Hey, hey... It's going to be okay. We're here now, We'll help you." She patted her sad friend's back.
"Where's the father? Is he able to help you too?" Y'shtola added kindly.
"I-I don't know where he is... I d-don't know if he's alive."
"Oh my goodness... Farrah... He was-is a Scion?"
She nodded against Yda's shoulder.
"Who is he?" She asked eager to know who Farrah's secret partner is.
"I'm sorry... I-I just don't think I want anyone to know that right now.
"Okay. Hey... no pressure. But one day you are going to have to tell me." Yda said with a smile.
The pregnant woman nodded and then jumped back in shocked, hands flying to her abdomen. "I just felt the baby move For the first time!"
The other two women eagerly stretched their hands out and rest them gently on their sister's belly, feeling the small movements within. Large smiles growing on their faces.
"How far along are you, Farrah" The healer urged.
"A little over 4 moons."
"Oh, Farrah... And you've been alone in this, this whole time?"
The beautiful adventurer looked down sadly. Immediately she was cheered up with a group hug and encouraging words.
Farrah and the others headed back to the gods forsaken winter wasteland. Her plan, to speak with the man Y'shtola suggested might be able to help aid in their cause.
She found Portelaine easily enough and much to her satisfaction, he was willing to help without giving her the run around. He continued to explain to the band of Scions that they had witness of four prisoners being led into the compound. A Hyuran woman, an Elezen man, and two Lalafells, a male and a female. They all knew immediately who was being held there by this description. Minfilia, Urianger, Papalymo, and Tataru. Portelaine then began to explain an incident that happened more recently.
He told them that an Imperial airship landed in Coerthas with two male prisoners who, by his description, they were able to determine was Wedge and Biggs. Also that they were seen fleeing in chance to escape. However Garlean soldiers followed in pursuit. So finding them was of utmost importance.
While some of her friends stayed with their winter ally to hatch a well thought out plan of rescue, Farrah ran off in search of the lost two Ironworks.
Grabbing every clue she could find, she was finally able to track down the Lalafell, Wedge. Who was hiding under a bridge, nearly freezing to death. Farrah rushed him to a nearby tower to keep warm. There he then had strength enough to explain that Biggs diverted the soldiers away from him so he could hide. And that his large Roegadyn friend is still out there. Mayhap even caught already.
Using Wedge's knowledge of where he last saw his friend, as well as from the civilians, she ran back out into the frigid temperate. After a while, the brave adventurer found the man cornered by the imperial enemy.
Yda and Y'shtola made it there right as Farrah did. Working together they were successful in taking them out and bringing Biggs back to the tower, where his colleague recuperated. Upon seeing his best friend returned safe and sound, the lalafell engineer began crying tears of joy. Then their long lost chief walked in from the cold.
"Biggs! Wedge! Gods, it's good to see the two of you again!" Cid Garlond greeted, so full of joy.
His two comrades ran to him in sheer shock and delight. After a few moments of catching up, Cid turned back to current events.
"When Alphinaud told me of the raid on the Waking Sands, I feared the worst. What happened?"
The two men explained how, while they were in the workshop, the enemy just stormed in with no warning. But since they heard no sign of airships or armies, they deduced the Imperials must have come from teleportation magics. Biggs and Wedge continued on their tale of how they were blind folded and bundled into the cargo bay of a Garlean ship, off to Castrum Centri. At one point they were separated from Minfilia and the rest and hadn't seen them since.
"Farrah..." The Ironworks master started. "...Thank you for returning my dear assistants to me. It would seem I owe you yet another debt of gratitude. There are still many questions in my mind, but answers can wait -Minfilia and the others still want for rescue."
Everyone was ready to save their family so they all made to head for Revenant's Toll in Mor Dhona. There they began by seeking out the local adventurers.
After another few very stressful and active days, they had made much progress. Between all of them, they had been able to procure several sets of Garlean armor in means to sneak in unnoticed. Even more impressively, they had successfully raided an Imperial shipment and stole a slightly damaged suit of Magitek armor.
Farrah traveled to Ul'dah to retrieve a part to fix the armor while Cid tapped into the Garlean communication frequencies by placing devices near the strongest sections of crystal. This would allow them to communicate within the walls of Castrum Centri and interfere with what information the enemy will receive.
Between Cid, Biggs, and Wedge the Magitek armor was fully restored. Only, due to the lack of Imperial technology at hand, they had to make due with a different kind of core for the weapon. In doing so, the core granted an artificial intelligence. after saving their armor from the garlean forces who desperately wanted it back, a bond was made between the sentient reaper and the resourceful Scions. Wedge took the liberty of painting a symbol on the armor to set it apart, and named it, Maggie.
Now, everything in place, all that was left was to sneak into the stronghold and rescue their friends.
Farrah, Biggs, and wedge geared up in the Garlean armor and, with Maggie, they walked right into the gates of Castrum Centri. While doing this, Cid and Alphinaud were creating a diversion on the far side of the compound. Inside Biggs went to work on the control panels to gain access to other parts of the stronghold. Farrah began questioning the other soldiers trying to figure out where exactly the prisoners were being kept. Wedge scoped out the area to find the best routes to get inside and to escape.
Once Biggs got through the control panel, the three made their way inside and opened one last door. There they found Minfilia, Urianger, Papalymo, and Tataru. All alive and seemingly unharmed. Deciding that saving their friends now (when they are all there) outweighed the risks of alerting the whole castrum of their presence and Farrah took out the guards.
"Farrah! I was so scared!" sweet little Tataru cried.
Minfilia looked to her friend sternly but with much love and gratitude. "It was foolish of you to come here. You might have been killed! But... thank you. I shudder to think what might have happened had you not arrived when you did."
"I say, did you not see Thancred anywhere? I'm beginning to fear for the fellow..." Papalymo said.
Farrah looked down and shook her head, saddened. She was afraid for him too. she had no idea where he was or if he was even alive. The last couple of months having been a nightmare for her. Subconsciously looking around every corner for him, never truly resting.
"To linger here shall yield us no answer. Let us away, ere the window to our liberty closes shut." Urianger said.
While the brave adventurer lead their rescued friends, Yda and Y'shtola targeted the Imperial woman clad in white armor. the same woman from Farrah's vision of the attack on the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. Unable to finish her off, they too made for escape and met up with the rest.
They were all cornered against the edge of a cliff and heavily outnumbered. Right as they were going to be attacked, Maggie opened fire on the soldiers buying them some time but at great cost to their reaper friend.
In that moment, they all received a call from Cid on the linkpearl.
"This is Cid, can you hear me? I need you to count to five, then jump! understand?"
They all looked at each other and Began to count.
"One" Y'shtola started.
"Two" Yda followed.
Papalymo counted "three."
Minfilia, "four."
Lastly, Farrah nodded the count of five.