Chapter 4
Vincent looks up to see The Shera coming into view. He can tell one of the pilot's Cid trained personalty is at the helm. Just seeing the fast airship is enough to make Merlin sweat. Vincent, " Not all the rooms have windows. " After the ship lands, Vincent shows Merlin how to get on board. " The Chief oversaw the construction of the Shera. "
Merlin is quite impressed by her, " He named the ship after his wife? Nice... "
Yuffie comes out, still looking a bit on the sick side. She greets Vincent and gives Merlin a look over, " Wow, you do look a bit like Cid but taller and cuter... Oh, we also grabbed Cloud on the way here. He insisted on helping us find Cid. I think Cloud's taking a small nap right now. "
Merlin, who has shaven when he heard Yuffie was coming to get them, " Hello, girl pretty.. I mean... Hello.. you can call me Merle. "
Yuffie starts to laugh, " Wow you are such a dork. Well, Merle, we have an old man to save! "
Merle sounds confused, " You call him an old man? "
Yuffie. "It's just a nickname. He sometimes acts like a grumpy old man. He calls me a brat. We all call Cloud 'Spikey'. Some of us call Vincent either ' Vince 'or ' vampire'. Cid calls him damn vampire if in the mood. "
Vincent decides not to comment, " I'll be on the bridge. " On the bridge, most of the standard crew is present. They must have hurried back from their break to help find Cid. Some of the crew give Vincent a quick salute before returning to their tasks.
Yuffie and Merlin hurry on the bridge, " Vin! I think I have an idea where to look! " The pilot even turns to hear this. " Remember the nuts Cloud was trying to find for his Chocobo breeding? We went to some islands looking for some. There were also dragons hanging around them.. Well, there is one where the dragons seem to really like going. I would bet that is where the temple is. Though its hard to land anything like The Shera on it. "
The pilot, " We can't fully land there, but we can you drop from the back and we'll just anchor nearby, ma'am. "
Vincent thinks that would be a good place to look. Then realizes they were looking toward him to decide, " … Make it so." Would rather they look towards Cloud or Cid for leadership. His inner demons though laugh mockingly at that.
As the ship starts to fly in their new direction, Yuffie staggers against the wall. Merlin though helps catch her, placing a hand to her head. Yuffie goes from looking nauseous to amazed. " You made my airsick vanish. "
Merlin shifts a bit embarrassed as he holds his staff tight, " I just eased it for now. " Then blushes even brighter when Yuffie hugs him. " You're welcome. Umm... can we leave the bridge now? "
Yuffie, " Oh, you're afraid of height? I know a place you'll like, Merle. " Takes Merlin by the hand and leads him off.
Vincent just leans against the wall and closes his eyes. He trusts the crew to help them find the Chief. To work on the Shera is a great honor, as Cid is very picky about this crew. Though he had no say about the Crew of the Highwind, even they were an honorable group of people who risked their lives to help them save the planet. But they wouldn't have had such a fine crew if Cid didn't convince them to join.
Cloud walks onto the bridge, with still some sleep in his eyes, and joins Vincent in his leaning. "It's weird not seeing Cid on the bridge. " True, as even when the Highwind was being piloted by someone else, Cid seemed to live on the bridge. Getting him to use a bunk was almost impossible. " You were the only one who could lure him away. "
Vincent, " Have they updated you? "
Cloud nods, " Yes. We'll be there soon? " Gets a nod, " Good. Will you be okay? "
A question Vincent is not sure how to answer. It would be easier to just fly ahead and kill all the people who have hurt Cid. His demons are chopping at the bits to do so. But they don't know what was done to Cid. " Yes. "
Cloud, " We'll make them pay for taking one of our own. " Cid helped them out several times and never asked for anything in return. The first mistake people make is thinking Cloud is a hero. Cloud doesn't see himself as a hero and doesn't try to be one. He does things for his own reasons that happen to benefit others. While he does cherish many things, he is not shy to exterminate the cockroaches that dare harm his family. " I think I'll go meet the new guy. " Vincent isn't sure how it exactly went, aside from Yuffie saying they bonded in their shared dorkdom.
They all stand and get their bearings. The ship was still anchored at a very old dock. There were signs they all marched further inland along a road that hasn't been used in years. The four carefully make their way along the same old path. The smaller group is able to travel much quicker to the old buildings. There are still signs that some kind of chaos happened here. Burn marks and broken crates. Vincent stops as he hears something around them. Way ahead is the sound of gunfire in the distance but then large monsters seem to just bust through some of the old buildings. While they can't ignore the attacking monsters, someone has to find out what was happening up ahead.
Vincent nods to Yuffie and Merlin, " We'll take care of these. "
Yuffie nods, " Got it. Come on, Merle! Let's find Cid! " Merlin following her lead, almost tripping on the way out.
Vincent decides to let Death Gigas out for this one. There was no chance of collateral damage, aside from the buildings. Cloud has his fusion sword in hand and already started his attack. Death Gigas took extra delight in being able to cut into these things. They are tougher than the normal creatures Vincent might face. Both fighters would have enjoyed this fight more, except they have to catch up with their allies. With the last one downed, the two friends can finally focus on catching up. Vincent changing back to his human form. Not hard to see where the trail picks up again and it's the same direction the gunfire came from.
Cloud, " We better catch up before the others try something."
Vincent smells Cid's scent in the air plus dragon. Then they hear a familiar voice ask, " Wanna lift? "
Yuffie and Merlin come across the large group, watching them making a bridge over a gap. Into the rocky part of the mountains. They try to see if they can spot Cid. With all the people moving around and the carts, it is hard to get a glimpse from a distance. They need to get in closer.
Yuffie, " Maybe we can get some of their uniforms first? Though anyway we can hide the staff? They might recognize it. "
Merlin shakes his head, " No go. I need this to help me control my magic. " They look and catch sight of some people heading away from the group. "Let's go make friends. " Yuffie giggles and follows Merlin's lead. They quietly take the two men down. If Yuffie had any problem with Merlin getting rid of the bodies, she doesn't voice it. Though there was one slight problem: with the stolen uniforms, as they don't quite fit them as they should. Yuffie's uniform is baggy and, Merlin is a little taller than the guy whose clothes he stole. They still slip back into the group. The bridge is still almost finished being made. Though they keep having to fire at the dragons who seem to dislike this bridge.
The two make their way through the group. Still no sign of Cid. So they decide to check out a tent that was set up. As they come to look inside, a man with a clipboard is kicked out. They move to the side, acting as if they were checking the ropes on one of the carts. They have to keep their backs to the man.
Yuffie, " Think he saw you? "
Merlin, " Naw... he doesn't tend to be that observant. "
The man notices Merlin's staff. " Intruders! " The people start jumping to attention. Some just confused but most of them coming towards the two.
Merlin, " Oh crap! " Tries to act more chill than he really feels, " Hey... Jonas. " Turns to see another man come out of the tent. " Hey...Myth.. You don't happen to have seen my brother? "
Myth, " If you both surrender, I'll reunite you with him. Not that you have many choices, being surrounded. "
Yuffie postures, " Not enough to stop the White Rose of Wutai! "
Merlin, " You know us Highwinds. We just don't do give up!. " Casting s a flare spell at Myth.
The two fight and dodge with Merlin throwing spells and Yuffie throwing her large shuriken. They are quickly backed up to the a ledge, Though they did take down some of the enemies.
Merlin, " Sorry about getting you in trouble."
Yuffie spots something, "It's not over yet. " And once again dragon fire comes down on Myth's group. They can see Cid is riding ontop of one of the dragons along with Vincent and Cloud on their own rides. " Jump! " She leaps into the gap and lets Vincent's dragon grab her in mid-air.
Merlin though hesitates as he really does hate heights. Then feels something shoot him in the shoulder. It's enough to make him drop his staff and tumble over the edge. His body grabbed by Cid's dragon and they fly away as the now smaller army fires at their retreat.
They are all brought to some caves on high cliffs over the island. The dragon is very careful when it lands making sure to put Merlin in one of the nests. Yuffie has also been carefully placed in a nest. Cloud and Vincent dismount easily. Cid though stays ontop of him, looking pale but rather pleased. There are also some scratches on his head and dried blood mixed in his hair.
Cid smirks, " Now that is how you save someone. Kinda sad I have to save you during my own rescue " Looks closer at the wounded man, " Merlin? Are you okay?
Merlin is getting his shoulder checked on by Yuffie and Cloud. " I think it's just winged. " Which the wound is not too serious but was going to make using that arm in battle harder, " I lost my staff though. " Cloud finishes cleaning the wound.
Cid though looks Vincent in the eye, " Tell me the truth. Is Shera still okay? "
Vincent shakes his head, " She has crossed over. " Cid sadly quietly nods. Trying to get off the dragon. He loses his grip and falls, only Vincent's speed helps keep Cid from hitting the hard cave ledge and catches him in a bridal style hold. " Chief! " The dragon nudging the pilot in a worrying way. Cloud hovers a bit to the side with his own concerned look.
Merlin, " Bring him over here. I can still do a simple scan spell. " He places a hand on his brother. A closer look, Cid's head seems slightly chewed on, too. Not that it was enough to warrant him passing out. So he scans the blond. " He has materia inside his body and it's making him sick. " Cloud recalls remnants doing that but he never tried that himself.
Cloud, " Can having materia inside you be lethal? "
Vincent let Chaos use his body to speak, " Most of the time no. But he has an unusual materia inside him. It connected to the summon materia and they have come in-tune to it and each other. "
Merlin, " The magic keeping them in tune is feeding off Cid. We need to remove them. I don't know-how. His body has been pushed to the point he could die. "
Vincent, " We may find the answer at the Bahamut's temple."
Cid mutters a cuss word, " Fucked if I do and fucked if I don't. " Pushing himself into a sitting up position. " Nice to see you, Chaos. You keeping Vincent out of trouble? Cool. Well, I'm not dying yet. I just need a rest and we can go temple hunting. " Looks at Merlin before bringing him into a hug, " I thought you were dead!"
Merlin returns the hug, " Well, I thought you were dead, too. " Vincent quietly steps away to give them some space. Merlin has to ask, " What happened to your head? "
Cid, " I had this weird circlet they called a slave crown on. The dragon was trying to get it off. Thank god it cracked the materia enough so I could pull it off myself. It meant well. "
~ To be continued
