Holy man, do you know the meaning of spoilers? Cause there is alot of em' in here.
Note: Thoughts will show up as italics.
Some names of locations, and aspects of characters will be changed to better reflect the original Japanese translation, or have certain liberties taken.
Drivers are ones who use Blades. Blades are living manifestations of a core crystal. (Kinda like stands from JoJo) They share a connection with their driver with which both of grow more powerful the stronger their connection is.
Updated 2/27/18
- Changed some of the more clunkier sentences to read better and fixed some typos.
A Home for Stray Cats: Chapter 3 Part 2
Nia felt as though she'd been socked her in the gut. She felt as if she were in a dream.
A very bad dream.
She asked herself if this was all really happening, but found that the longer she stared, the more apparent it became to her that this was all very real.
Rex had been killed. His lifeless body lay in a pool of his own blood.
She could see Jin hunched over the boy. By the way his lips moved, he looked to be saying something though she couldn't make out what. Jin got back to his feet and slowly walked back, passing both her and Malos, his expression hidden behind the mask he wore. A mixture of emotions and feelings welled up inside her. A voice within her wanted to scream at the both of them. Tell them that they'd just killed an innocent boy. Say that they were murderers, monsters, and that she'd never forgive them. In that moment, she saw only red.
"W-why did you kill him?!" She yelled, her voice echoing off the walls.
Jin turned to her, unblinking. "Why did you kill Rex?!" She continued, "What did he ever do to you, huh?! Jin!?" Her voice swelled with emotion.
He stared at her for a moment, seeming to study her before turning and walking away. "Jin, answer me!" She screamed, running after him. She quickly found herself blocked by Malos, who'd stepped in front of her.
She barely registered him and tried shoving past him. "Out of my way!" She hissed angrily, feeling Malos suddenly grab a hold of her arm.
"Wha- ah! Hey! Let me go!" She yelped, trying to free herself in vain. "Nia. Think carefully about what you're doing here." He calmly asked, in spite of her anger.
"What?!" She growled, finally wrenching herself from his grasp.
"You heard me." His tone turned dangerous.
Nia found herself in a standoff with Malos. She could feel him watching her, waiting to see what she would do next.
Dromarch appeared between the two of them. "My Lady, perhaps we should take his advice...".
"What?! No!" She spat, standing her ground.
The tiger's expression grew stoney. "My Lady… This isn't really the time." He pressured.
Malos crossed his arms impatiently. "Your cat here seems like he's the one who's got his head on straight. Why don't you listen to him?"
Nia grit her teeth, hesitant to back down. Deep down she knew Dromarch was right. It was just… Nia grit her teeth, and clenched her fists.
"I- I just can't…" She stubbornly muttered.
Malos sighed. "I don't care what you're reasoning is girl, I don't even really care about you too much either. But if you're really THAT broken up over it, you can leave after this job is done. No one would blame you."
When she didn't respond, Malos gave her a dismissive shrug. "Tch… Fine. I give up." He said, throwing his arms up in defeat. "Do whatever you damn well please. Meantime, why don't you make yourself useful and call the Monoceros so we can finish up here."
Nia watched as Malos walked passed her towards the Aegis' case, regarding Rex's corpse with cold eyes before shaking his head disappointedly and setting to work detaching the Aegis' glass casing from the pillar it stood upon.
The moment of tension passed and she took a deep breath, the red haze dissipated leaving behind an uncomfortable melancholy.
Pausing a moment, she hesitantly walked over to where Rex lay. Carefully, she turned his body over noting the pained look in his glazed eyes, and she gently nudged them shut. She hoped he would look somewhat calmer like this. With a sad smile, she ruffled his short brown hair. I'll find your 'Gramps' and tell him what happened. I won't leave him wondering what's happened to you.
Nia felt the tears begin to well up; a sharp quiver appeared in her throat. I'm sorry…
"Are you done?" Malos asked impatiently, hefting the glass case on his shoulder with ease. "We're leaving now. Have you called the Monoceros?"
She wiped the moisture away and gave him a sharp glare, grabbing a small hand held device she'd kept strapped to her hip. She clicked the talk button on the side with her thumb."This is Nia. We've secured the objective." There was a momentary pause.
"... Acknowledged, we are 25 peds from your position. Be topside in ten."
"...Roger."
The trio arrived back on the main deck, with a fair amount of time remaining before the Monoceros arrived.
A cool wet sensation hit the top of Nia's head, followed by another, and then another. She looked up, briefly noting how the sky looked having been swallowed in darkness by the storm clouds. It had begun to rain. Lightning exploded in the distance, sounding as if it were someone pounding a drum upon the land.
She pulled her hood over her head, and looked out over the deck spotting Jin waiting for them at the far end. They made a beeline for him. As they walked, she couldn't help but notice that the remaining salvagers who were still on deck eyed them warily.
"Nia. We have to get rid of them." Malos said in a low voice, continuing to walk.
Her legs nearly froze up. "Wh- Huh?"
He turned back to her, with a severe look. "The less people who know about us obtaining the Aegis, the better."
She looked at him wide-eyed, desperately stifling her voice. "N-no I can't! Not after-"
Malos turned on her. "I just don't get you, Nia. First, the kid, and now these nobodies. It's like you've forgotten why you even joined with us in the first place." He sounded genuinely angry now.
"Malos I-" She tried explaining, only to have him interrupt her again.
"Fine. I'll do it myself then." He scoffed, dropping the case with a heavy slam.
The instant the case touched the ground, it combusted into flames. Nia stumbled backwards and shielded herself from the intense heat with one of her arms.
The case imploded in on itself with a loud crunch, launching a singular flaming ball skyward into the helm of the Ark. In its wake stood the girl from the case: her red hair coupled with her green eyes and the glow of the flames exuded a presence like no other.
Malos looked on in awe, a crazed look in his eyes. "Incredible."
Meanwhile, a deep rumbling could be felt from within the Ark. Suddenly, a massive circle began to glow with an intense heat at Nia's feet and began to bend upwards.
"Huh?" Nia looked down in confusion.
"My Lady move!" Dromarch shouted, tackling her as the circle burst like a bubble sending metal and shrapnel everywhere. A massive pillar of flames shot upwards from the depths of the Ark out of the newly formed hole in the deck.
"What was that Dromarch?" Nia yelled, still seeing a few stars.
"My Lady look! Up in the air!"
Nia looked up in time to see a familiar looking boy launch out of the flaming pillar's peak as it dissipated.
Nia recognized him the moment he landed on the deck. "Rex?!"
"You! And that sword…" Malos shouted, surprised.
In Rex's hand was the ornate sword she'd thought had been destroyed. Now it glowed and writhed with a bright energy that extended from from the sword's hilt to its sharp point.
Nia watched Rex get to his feet and point the sword in Malos's direction. "It's low to stab someone in the back y'know." He remarked, signalling to the girl to cover him.
Jin moved to unsheathe his sword once again, stopped only by Malos. "Don't, Jin. I want to see what the kid's got. Let me handle this."
Jin hesitated, and then nodded.
Nia was dumbfounded. Rex was dead; she saw him die. Saw his body; closed his eyes. How is this possible?!
"Get ready!" Rex yelled charging forwards at Malos, holding the grip of his weapon with both hands, poised to bring it down on Malos' head. Malos readied himself, brandishing his own sword in a reverse grip, his Blade meanwhile materializing behind him, ready to intercept any who would interfere.
Nia's felt like she were stuck to ground. Rex, what are you doing you idiot?! You can't fight Malos! He's too strong for you!
The two connected with a loud clang, and rebounded off each other. Rex was forced back a fair distance. "Sorry kid, Just because you're the Aegis' driver now doesn't mean I'm gonna let that continue." Malos goaded Rex.
Rex is the Aegis' driver? Then that would make the girl his-
Rex and Malos exchanged more blows. Rex took the initiative and carried on with quick, but precise, heavy swings aimed to pound through the older man's defense. In between the explosive connections, a fist landed itself squarely in Rex's chest, nearly knocking the wind out of him. He fell backwards and managed to scramble out of the way of Malos's impending follow up, desperately trying to get to his feet while still gasping desperately for air.
Malos grinned widely, savagely swinging downward again and again, smashing deep divots into the deck, slowly backing Rex into a corner. When he was sure he'd cornered the kid, he readied another swing, confident that this would be the one to end the fight. To his surprise, the sword glanced sideways and flew out of his hand. His own Blade quickly appearing and recovering for him. He backed up and regained his stance. "Freaking Aegis… Always such a pain." He grumbled to himself.
"Keep on your feet and don't let up, Rex." The Aegis's voice was steady.
Rex got to his feet, feeling his lungs finally filling with air again. "Right, thanks."
The both Rex and the Aegis charged down Malos and retaliated with equal ferocity, Malos and his Blade answering in kind.
It was like nothing Nia had ever seen before. The way Rex and the Aegis moved, how in sync their actions were with each other. Where had the annoying and surprisingly modest boy she'd met gone to? And where did this kid come from?
Out of the corner of his eye, Malos noticed the remaining salvagers hurriedly boarding the Maelstrom, looking more than ready to escape. He leapt effortlessly out of Rex's range. "Keh. I don't think so." He held his sword at his middle and aimed a massive blast of arts directed toward Maelstrom's crew.
Rex instinctively held his sword back right and swung in long arc forwards, releasing a molten projectile, catching Malos off guard with a startlingly powerful explosion. Rex launched himself at Malos, knowing he'd created an opening in his defenses, the Aegis joining him at his side. The two of them glowed with a golden light as they rocketed forwards on a collision course with Malos, their sword held out like a spear.
Nia flinched against the force of the air pressure released by Rex and the Aegis' explosion as it covered the whole area with a billowy cloud of smoke.
It was incredible. Rex was actually doing it. He was keeping up with Malos.
Her hopes soared and she glanced to the remaining salvagers. Rex's assault had given them the time to disengage the Maelstrom from the Ark and quickly disappear into the distance, far away from Jin and Malos.
Nia let out a sigh of relief. Good job, kid.
"My Lady, I believe Rex is outmatched here." Dromarch turned to her worriedly.
"That's impossible." Narrowing her eyes. "Didn't you see what Rex and the Aegis just did!?" She asked in disbelief.
"I did. And Malos and his Blade blocked it."
"What!?" Her head snapped back to Rex.
Rex was chucked limply out of the smoky cloud, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. The sword fell from his grasp with a series of twangs and bounced a few times off the ground. Malos quickly emerged from the cloud, looking to finish Rex off.
She searched where the Aegis was in all of this, and spotted her dodging wild swings from Malos' Blade. "Rex!" She shouted fearfully. Nia bit her lip in frustration. Crap, she doesn't have time to get to him…
"What will you do, my Lady?" Dromarch looked at her expectantly.
"I- I don't…" She stuttered. If I help Rex, then Malos, Jin, and the rest of them will probably kill me. But if I don't…
Images of Rex's corpse flashed through her mind. Aw just screw it all.
In an instant she was on her feet, and leapt to Dromarch's back. "Let's go!" Nia shouted, the two of them bounding after Malos.
Quickly closing the distance between herself and Rex, they launched a barrage of arts in front of the oncoming Malos halting his advance. "Nia, what are you doing? Have you gone mad?!" He yelled, baring his teeth as they came skidding to a halt in front of him.
"Dammit, would you just shut up?! He's just a freaking kid!" She shouted back, her grip on Dromarch's fur tightening.
"I thought we'd already dealt with this issue, Nia. Don't you comprehend your situation?!"
"I do! And-" She shot back.
"You're really starting to piss me off!" Malos growled.
"And I have had it up to here all day- Dromarch!"
Tiger Fury
Dromarch unleashed a shockwave like no other. In fact, it should've blown Malos right off the ship had it not been for his Blade throwing up a barrier, stifling its effects. In the midst of this, the Aegis, freed of Malos Blade's attention, darted past and picked up Rex's sword, and rounded back with such speed that Nia wouldn't have noticed the Aegis if she'd not have jumped over her.
The Aegis brought the sword down with a gracefulness Nia hadn't seen before in her life. Despite this, Malos was able to block the blow with his sword, if not barely. She kicked herself off him and did a twist in the air, landing in time to block another swing from Malos.
The two of them would've looked like they were reenacting a dance of some sort if it weren't for the fact that they both swung deadly weapons at one another.
From behind, Nia could hear Rex groaning and coughing. Good. He's still with us.
"Good to see you're awake, kid." She turned and grinned at him. "Nia…" Rex had a equal amount of surprise and relief on his face.
By now, the Aegis and Malos had locked swords in a stalemate of who would give first. Sparks flew left and right as their weapons grinded against one another. It was obvious the two of them stood on nearly equal footing.
From behind her, a large black ship suddenly appeared, pulling up beside the Ark with frightening speed. Nia's heart sank. It's the Monoceros, times up. They're here.
An array of large cannons extended out of the top of the ship's bulkheads, pointing directly at the Aegis. "Look out!" Rex yelled, sprinting past Nia toward the Aegis.
"Rex wait!" Nia yelled, following close behind.
A splash of explosions rocked the deck of the Ark, knocking the Aegis backwards into the waiting arms of Rex, who'd just narrowly evaded the explosion himself. Malos meanwhile hadn't been so lucky, landing with a dull thud at the far end of the deck roughly near where Jin stood stoically with his still arms folded.
With Nia on his back, Dromarch came skidding to a halt in front of Rex and the Aegis. "You two ok?" Nia hurriedly asked. Both nodded, but just by the look of them she could tell they were at their limits.
A series of mechanical noises issued from Monoceros's deck and a row of secondary guns rose upward, positioning to fire on them again. Crap, this isn't good. In fact: NONE of this is good.
They were on an old decrepit ship in the middle of nowhere with a ship full of people who were likely more than happy to end their lives right next to them. Why did they care about killing Rex so much?! Even if he was the Aegis's driver. He was just a kid! A freaking kid!
I'm tired of it!
Making a split second decision she had Dromarch put the both of them in front of Rex and the Aegis. Rex gasped. "Nia what are you-" Nia helped Dromarch throw up a barrier in front of themselves. "Shut up and stay behind us!" She yelled, bracing herself for the imminent hail of bullets. This is gonna hurt. This is REALLY gonna hurt.
In that moment, a spray of gunfire doused their shields. Even from the outset she swore it felt like they were trying to hold back an entire firing line. Everything around her began to slow down as her strength waned and her thoughts grew fuzzy. "Dammit… just a little longer." She strained, trying to keep the barrier raised.
"Nia! On your left!" Rex yelled.
Nia's eyes swept over in time to notice a singular cannon with it's massive barrel pointed in her direction.
She grimaced, and inhaled sharply.
Nia found herself hurtling through the air in slow motion. That really hurt, I guess the shield backfired from the impact...
Her vision began to blur and tunnel in on itself. Seems like I'm blacking out as well. Good job me. Thanks for overdoing it.
Glancing downward, she could see clouds slowly coming up to meet her. Oh nice, I got launched over the side too…
Her best case scenario: she blacks out before she hit the clouds and simply drowns. Worst case scenario: she somehow survives and drowns later. Neither were that bad of ways to go, all considering.
She couldn't help but laugh a little. It was a bit silly of her to even think she could handle a barrage like that. Ah well… this is what I get for trying to protect others.
There was sudden jolt and she found herself suspended in the air, something had a death grip on her forearm.
With what strength she had left she weakly looked up. Much to her own surprise it was Rex, of all people, holding onto her forearm for dear life. He looked like he was in trouble, judging by how he kept yelling at her not to let go.
Nia's eyes rolled up in her head and darkness swallowed her.
Author's Note(s): Oh my GOSH its here! Only took what? Like a week and a half - two weeks?
So if you've never written before or are just beginning here's a hot tip: writing fight scenes is HARD. This one of the reasons I had a proofreader take a look over my work so far so that it hopefully didn't really drag too much.
So of for those who've stuck around: thanks alot!
I'd also like to thank the people who favorited,followed, or took the time to write a review. You're pretty cool people as well.
Feel free to leave a review and tell me how you think it came out. Feedback is almost always pretty good to get back
Special thanks to the beta reader(s) who helped: (Their name will be put here if they want to be credited)