The universe certainly was lovely above the clouds and in the wide open vastness that was space. And while Cid wasn't the type of man to go around calling things lovely, internally he couldn't help but agree that there was something infinitely beautiful about all that deep darkness decorated with stars. It had seemed unreachable for so long, and now, there it was, directly in front of him.
He couldn't help but wonder if that meant he was going to wake up from a dream sometime soon. Honestly, this all seemed too good to be true.
His eyes were wide, unable to unglue them from staring out the front window of the rocket as they soared through empty space. "I finally made it… outer space," he breathed, wondering if the clenching in his heart at something so profoundly beautiful would ever go away or if the memory would remain with him for the rest of his life.
The entire launch had taken less than five minutes. From the beginning and almost frightening seconds of lift-off, then there was the feeling like they were being flattened into their seats. That was followed by breaking free of Gaia's atmosphere and finding out how it really was beyond the clouds. They were the first humans in space, the first to ever step further than the limitations of beings born without wings. For a moment, he couldn't say anything else, too awed by the magnitude of what lay before him.
It was history in the making.
After a moment of admiration, a little thought had him returning his attention to the console in front of him. The one that nagged at the back of his mind, featuring the idea that they were probably all heading to a fiery death on the explosive end of contact with Meteor.
"Let's see… How's the course set?" he mused, mashing a few buttons to bring up several lines of data to the view screen. It did not look good. "Yup, it's headed for a collision with Meteor."
His announcement was not accepted well by the others.
"Is there nothing we can do?" Vincent asked quietly, his somber voice easily carrying. In some small way, it was a comfort to Cid to hear that his lover was indeed there with him, even if their relationship wasn't exactly defined.
The pilot snorted angrily, jabbing with little purpose at one of the unmoving switches on the control panel. "That damn pig Palmer went outta his way to lock the auto-pilot. We might not be able to change the course."
Mako blue eyes widened in shock and perhaps even a bit of fear. "This is the end?" Cloud questioned, swallowing thickly.
Would he never even get the chance to face Sephiroth one final time?
"Huh? What the hell're you sayin'? You're still young, and you give up that easily!" Cid barked, the words coming out more like a question. He chuckled loudly as he pulled himself out of the seat and stretched, bones popping in his back. "I'm not gonna crash into Meteor. Just watch. I keep an escape pod on the rocket for emergencies just like this. We can bail on outta here!" he announced, already reaching for the spear that had remarkably remained upright during their flight into space.
"What about the Huge Materia?" Vincent asked, reminding both of them of their original reason for coming to Rocket Town in the first place. He shifted in his position, standing between the two blonds as realization dawned in Cloud's eyes.
Cid shrugged noncommittally, idly running a hand through his short hair and by proxy off-setting the careful placement of his goggles. "If you want it, do whatever you want. The materia should be there after you climb the ladder." He gestured with one elbow towards a shadowy alcove, a ladder visible just beyond.
The ex-SOLDIER blinked, feeling a bit confused considering Cid's actions of earlier. Clearly, he was suffering from a case of mood swings.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
The pilot frowned, crossing his arms over his chest as he sighed. "I dunno…" He tilted his head, sky blue eyes focusing on the view from the window and the dream that he never expected to ever experience after the first failure. "I know what I said a minute ago. But maybe all that I really wanted was to go into outer space." A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he turned back to the others with a shrug. "So why don't you all do whatever you think is right."
Vincent shot Cloud a pointed look, which spoke volumes, before immediately moving towards the ladder without an audible word.
"Well, that settles it," Cloud sighed before following after the former Turk. He had one hand on the nearest rung before a thought occurred to him. "You're still a part of us, right?" he asked, tossing the words over his shoulder.
"Che," Cid grunted, boots clomping across the floor as he reached up and smacked the younger blond none-too-softly across the back of the head. "Don't say stupid things."
Cloud smirked and shook his head before climbing up the ladder, glad to hear the sounds of Cid following not too soon after. Within moments, the three were standing in the materia room, looking at a glowing tube that contained the Huge Materia. Really, for such a fuss, the materia itself was not much larger than a typical one, if not a little misshapen.
Cloud furrowed his brow in confusion, while Vincent remained silent, leaving it up to Cid to elaborate.
"It's structured so that the lock can be opened if we enter the passcode," the pilot explained, gesturing to a control panel at the base of the materia's prison. He idly scratched the back of his head in a habit they had all learned to recognize.
"Well, what's the code then?" Cloud asked.
The Captain and looked a bit sheepish as he folded his arms over his chest. "I don't remember."
Rolling his eyes, Vincent pushed past them. "Tch, let me try," he asserted as he looked down at the control panel. Crimson gaze eerily analyzed every button and switch, and after a moment, he reached down and pressed four buttons quickly, fingers flying over the panel like they had already known the code.
With a succession of beeps, which sounded strangely like the ShinRa military marching song, the electric system shut down. The lock clicked open. The Materia was theirs.
Cloud, meanwhile, was gaping. "Amazing!" he breathed as he turned towards the gunman in total and complete shock. "How in hell did you figure it out?"
"Ancient Wutaiian secret," the gunman muttered with a bored tone to his voice as he watched Cloud retrieve the materia. "Handed down in my family for generations."
Cid shot Vincent a really strange look before he suddenly burst out laughing. He was loud enough to startle the ex-SOLDIER into nearly dropping the Huge Materia.
"Oh, hell! Damn, Vince, you cracked a joke. That's enough FMA for you!"
Mako eyes watched this rather short exchange with an intensity that neither noticed. It was plainly obvious, even to Cloud, that there was something going on between the pair, and he couldn't help but wonder if they were actually attempting to be discreet or if they were just oblivious to their true feelings for one another. Then again, if he hadn't overheard their conversation that night in Icicle, he might not have been suspicious at all.
And when Vincent smiled, just barely, which was significantly more than Cloud had ever seen him do. He was certain of it.
Cid let loose a bark of laughter as he clapped Cloud on the back with enough force to send the younger blond stumbling forward. "Let's get the hell on outta here!" he announced, gesturing broadly to a door on the other side of the room. "The escape pod's through there. I ain't got plans to stay any longer on a ship destined to blow the fuck up."
He gave Cloud a none-too-gentle shove towards the door, urging the younger man forward. The ex-SOLDIER squawked in indignation before slipping the Huge Materia into the pack he had enough sense to bring and heading for the escape pod. Behind his back, Cid slid his gaze over to Vincent, only to find crimson eyes watching him quite intently.
"Glad to have ya back, chief," the dark-haired man murmured, keeping his tone low enough that Cloud ahead of them couldn't hear.
Cid grinned, the warm tone in Vincent's voice enough to make the whole expedition, stars included, worthwhile. Could the day get any better?
"Was never gone," he retorted gamely. "Jes took a break for a minute. After dealin' with everyone as leader, a mind's gotta break down sometime." His eyes slid to Cloud, gauging the other man's attentiveness before a slightly sly smile broke out on his face.
The gunman tilted his head in confusion as a strange look crossed Cid's expression. He opened his mouth to question his lover when a spear-calloused hand suddenly gripped the front of his cloak and jerked him forwards none-too-smoothly. Vincent stumbled, eyes widening in shock, only to feel lips fervently pressing against his own and the gentle scrape of stubble against his chin. He didn't fight the gesture. Regardless, he did briefly dart his gaze towards Cloud, who was disappearing through the door and into the short corridor, before succumbing to the surprising display of affection.
Their mouths moved together, Cid taking advantage of Vincent's faintly parted lips and sliding his tongue inside. He reveled in the unique flavor that was all Vincent. The gunman's tongue met his, dancing in a familiar path and entangling as Cid's fingers curled into the heavy fabric of Vincent's cloak. They couldn't afford to linger, but the pilot just wanted this one moment, even if he didn't wholly understand why.
This was the Cid that he knew and recognized, the spontaneous and laughing man as opposed to the furious and almost broken one that he had been before. Vincent was infinitely glad in that moment for two things: Cloud's return and this unplanned trip to the stars. Whatever he and Cid were to each other, he admitted that it was better for his conscience when Cid was happy.
The pilot ended the kiss with obvious reluctance, nibbling softly on a bottom lip before pulling away. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Slightly confused, Vincent stared quizzically. "What was that for?"
The blond chuckled as he turned away from the ex-Turk, propping his spear up on his shoulder and heading for the hallway. "Felt like it," he answered, tossing the words over his shoulder as if they explained everything.
Vincent furrowed his brow in mystification before following after Cid.
The three members of AVALANCHE found themselves in the storage room for the oxygen tanks. It was small and cramped, but they quickly pushed their way through it, nevertheless, eager to get off of the flying death trap. None of them looked forward to the inevitable explosion, especially if they remained aboard.
Yet, as they passed Oxygen Tank #8, it gave a great shudder, the lights flashing wildly. A strange clunking and humming emanated from the tank, and Cid was the first to notice, eyes widening in shock as they fell on Vincent. The gunman happened to be the closest to the strangely acting tank, and a sick feeling of apprehension settled in the pilot's gut.
Without thinking, he dove, his palms slamming into Vincent's back. The gunman stumbled forward, nearly crashing to the floor at the same moment that the tank suddenly exploded, the force of the blast shoving all three to opposite corners of the room.
The small cabin quickly filled with thick, grey smoke.
Cid grunted as he struck the floor, breath whooshing out of him as something hard and heavy landed on his abdomen. He dimly registered the dual muttered grunts of his friends as dark spots danced on the edge of his vision.
On the other side of the room, Vincent groaned as he struggled to his feet, noting Cloud sitting up to the other side of him and rubbing a palm over his head. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear away the bright sparks in front of his eyeballs as he thoroughly cursed Cid inwardly for being so careless. He swept his gaze over the room, his heart taking a sudden plunge into his chest, and his entire body stiffened when he caught sight of the pilot, trapped underneath a rather large and heavy-looking piece of debris.
That stupid, stupid man. Vincent's body could have easily handled such an explosion and would have healed rapidly, but Cid had to go and play the hero. Now, look at him.
The Captain gasped, hands working their way loose as he ineffectually shoved at the piece of metal and wriggled about beneath it. A look of pain crossed over his features.
"Grrgh! Damn! My leg's stuck," he cursed, pounding one fist against the sheet of steel.
"You stupid…" Vincent muttered, voice trailing off.
He hurried across the floor, barely registering the sound of Cloud following close behind him. He put his hands on the debris, refusing to look at Cid as he struggled to free him. Cloud took up the other side, and the three pushed together.
The metal screeched as it scraped across the floor but did not remove itself from atop Cid, only serving to crush the blond further. He exhaled sharply, face twisting up with pain despite his attempts to hide it.
"Damn!" Cloud cursed, muscles bulging in his arm as he panted slightly. "I can't lift it!"
Even with his mako-enhanced strength, he still couldn't lift the heavy metal. Hell, he doubted even Sephiroth would have been able to. At least, the Sephiroth Cloud knew before the man's little dip in the Lifestream.
Vincent shook his head, crimson eyes darkening. "It's too off center. We'd need a third hand to counterbalance the weight," he realized all too quickly.
The pilot frowned, waving hands of dismissal at them. "Don't worry about me. Just go!" he ordered. "If you don't hurry, the rocket's gonna crash into Meteor!"
"Don't go all self-sacrificing, idiot!" Vincent muttered, giving another unsuccessful tug on the rough metal. As before, it refused to move, glinting harshly in the fluorescent light, mocking him for his weakness.
Cloud shook his head, adding in his two Gil's worth. "I won't go without my friends. I won't leave someone behind again!" he argued, fingers tightening around the steel sheet. "We'll just have to try again and again until it works."
"You #$&!! No time to worry about other people!"
The gunman sighed, stubbornly shaking his head as he increased the grip of his metal claw on the debris. "We're going to get you out of this," Vincent asserted, grateful for his usual calm that kept the slight tremble out of his voice. He couldn't explain it or even understand it, but the thought of Cid dying here terrified him. It just… wasn't right.
The older blond clenched his teeth and went limp in resignation. "You're stupid. You're really fuckin' stupid," he muttered, his eyes falling over to the wall, where the remnants of the tank still managed to cling. "Tank number 8, huh?" he commented, a sardonic grin pulling at his lips. "Shera… She was right. Too bad I'll never get ta tell her."
An amused chuckle suddenly echoed through the room. "Don't say that, old man," a voice commented, sounding decidedly feminine. "You're too stubborn to die like this."
All three males turned in wonder, only to find Shera entering the compartment with a smirk on her face. It was almost as if she had appeared from thin air.
"Huh? Shera?" Cid gaped, thoroughly confused. Why was she still on the rocket?
He had the sudden urge to both pinch himself and rub his eyes. Surely, he was hallucinating.
She grinned again as she stepped up to his side, looking down at his trapped form. "I tagged along. I'm coming to help you."
"You stupid #&!" Cid started, cursing heavily, but he stopped suddenly, thinking about what he was saying. In a much softer voice, the blond added, "Sorry."
The brunette shook her head at him, clearly dismissing what was pretty much a habitual response. She took a place at one end of the metal sheet, laying her hands on the debris.
Cloud gave her a skeptical look, eyeing her rather diminutive form and figure. "Are you sure, Shera?" he asked, raising one brow.
Cid laughed hoarsely, though it was beginning to sound strained. "Looks can be deceiving, Cloud. That girl's strong as an ox."
Shera grinned, and for a moment, both Vincent and Cloud could see the strength in her eyes that enabled her to endure the Captain's rants and come out on top. It sent a minor shiver down their backs. Cloud was forced to shake his head violently to disperse the vaguely frightening thoughts as he exchanged brief glances with Vincent and Shera.
"Ready?" he asked.
As they nodded, he quickly began the count, recognizing that the rocket could explode at any moment. Cid hadn't been sure how long it would take before it reached Meteor.
"One… two… three!"
On the last count, they all gave a great heave. With a screech and groan, the metal slid off of the pilot and clattered to the ground. Cid sighed with relief, rising to a semi-sitting position as he rubbed at his injured leg. He winced when his fingers pressed too deeply into a rapidly forming bruise.
Mako eyes widened as Shera smirked with smug satisfaction. "How in the hell are you so strong?" Cloud demanded, raking a hand through his spikes. After all, he was jacked up on mako, and she looked like she hadn't touched a set of weights in her life.
The woman tapped her bicep with one finger before pushing her glasses up on her nose. "It's a secret," she replied primly, smiling as Cloud scowled. She had to fight the urge to laugh at his expression. After all, how was he supposed to know that she spent most days lugging around machinery.
Meanwhile, Vincent had moved to Cid's side, a Cure 2 already prepared. He cast the magic, watching it gently erase the pain with a sparkle of green mist. When Cid grinned up at him as he was pulled him to his feet, Vincent found himself momentarily caught by his bright blue gaze. He froze, not even realizing that he was still clinging to the blond's arm.
Shera's voice disturbed him from his thoughts, and he rapidly dropped his grip, hastily turning away from the pilot as a warm feeling washed through his body.
"Come on," the brunette urged, beckoning for them to follow as she padded across the floor and to another doorway. "I can take you to the escape pods."
As the others filed after her, Cid watched Vincent's slightly distracted step with a thoughtful expression on his face. Inwardly, he was grinning. Slowly but surely, it seemed he was wearing the man down.
The moment he touched ground, he planned to have a celebratory smoke.
He followed the others down the hallway to the escape pod. Shera ushered them inside as she pressed several buttons on a control panel, her fingers flying rapidly over the keys and emitting several loud beeps. Inside, Cloud and Cid were on opposite sides of the pod, and the gunman had his gun in his hand, reloading bullets into it with startling precision, as if he were trying to distract himself from the inevitable. For a moment, Cid hesitated before saying to fuck with it and plopping himself on the other side of Vincent, nearest to the view portal.
Crimson eyes regarded him thoughtfully for a moment before he returned to his weapon. But Cid did catch the small smile that graced his features. It made something inside of him warm.
There was a hiss, distracting him from thoughts of the gunman, and Cid turned to find Shera entering the escape pod, sealing the door shut behind her.
"Hey, Shera!" he called out. "Does this pod really fly?" It was probably something he should have considered earlier, but in the mad dash and commotion, there hadn't really been time for rational thought.
She nodded as she seated herself in the abandoned space next to Cloud. "It'll be okay," she assured him. "I've been checking it until now." As if hearing her words, the pod gave a sudden jerk and slowly began to move into position for ejection, rattling only slightly.
Cid tilted his head, relaxing comfortably against the metal behind him. "Then I'm relieved," he replied softly, shooting her a grateful smile.
Caramel eyes brightened as Shera preened with the praise, used to hearing nothing but expletives and degrading comments from her Captain. "Thanks."
Something inside Vincent stirred at this unusual display. He watched the exchange from the corner of his eyes, wondering why it bothered him so deeply. He didn't want to believe there was more to Shera and Cid than he was aware. But the little green monster was cackling on his shoulder, as if he had something to be truly jealous of. Vincent sighed behind his cloak, uncertain what to think of this new revelation, and his thoughts turned inwards.
The brash pilot was creeping his way into a more permanent place in the gunman's life, though pitiful it may be. There was something about being with Cid that made the gunman feel like he was truly alive and not floating endlessly on a sea of guilt and betrayal.
Cid didn't ask questions; he didn't constantly nag like the others. He trusted the ex-Turk without giving reason why and even stood up for him at times when Vincent just was too tired to do so himself. His unfailing need to reach his dreams was encouraging, and underneath all the cursing and rough exterior, the man really was a kind softy, evident by the fatherly way he treated Yuffie and the way he took over leadership of the group, despite the fact he didn't want it. And he never complained aloud, hiding his pain so that the others wouldn't worry.
Cid was a man to be loved, and yet, Vincent still hinged on his choice. The pilot wanted something more from him, more than this undefined relationship they shared. And Vincent, he wasn't sure what he was ready to accept just yet. Lucrecia still weighed heavily on his heart.
Suddenly, the escape pod gave a great shudder as it shot out of the rocket with very little warning, throwing all of its passengers around. They were forced to cling to whatever was available. Cid and Vincent immediately groped for handholds, and in a state of panic, Cloud grabbed onto Shera. Apparently, he wasn't too keen on space flight.
It was several minutes before their descent evened out, and they felt it was safe to release their death-like grips. Vincent disappeared back inside his mind, while Cid turned towards the window, completely enraptured by the view. Cloud apologized to Shera for unintentionally grabbing her in an unfortunate place. She only smiled and told him it was quite all right.
There was silence in the escape pod until Cid's voice broke through the quiet. He was talking to himself mostly, but the others couldn't help but listen. His blue eyes were shining as he stared out the viewing window, taking in the wide open space in front of him. It was like he had always dreamed.
"So this is outer space," he murmured, face practically plastered to the window. "Man… it's the real thing. I'm really here in outer space." His gaze shifted to the parting view of his rocket, and he sighed. "So long… ShinRa No. 26."
They watched as the rocket managed a slightly regal flight towards Meteor, only to crash into it with a blinding display of flame and explosions. They were forced to shield their eyes, lest they be blinded, but inwardly, their hearts hoped that it was truly the end, that ShinRa had for once had the right idea.
Perhaps Meteor was now destroyed. Maybe the rocket was enough to demolish the fiery ball of doom. No one would know until the glare faded, and they could look to see.
Outside the Highwind, the sun glared with an intensity that nearly blinded them. They blinked in the brightness, almost stumbling out onto the ground as they prepared to face their opponent. Reeve was the first to unshield his eyes, and he nearly gaped when he caught sight of their opponent.
"That's--" Yuffie exclaimed from beside him, her voice trembling with anger.
Nanaki nodded, his tone solemn. "The same creature we fought before."
It was the metal monster from the City of the Ancients; he recognized it well. They had been forced to run from that beast, and now, it had been modified with wings and even greater fire power.
They couldn't help but wonder if they would survive this battle.
The creature gave them no time to recover, shifting its attention from the Highwind to them. A series of missiles shrieked through the air, heading directly for them with little pause. They were forced to scatter, dodging in all directions, and Reeve made an executive decision. They had little other choice; he would have to lead.
"Nanaki! Status?" he demanded, dodging a flailing metal appendage as he mentally reviewed his inventory of materia. His feet scraped across the ground as he belatedly realized that he would forever have stains in his suit, which was such a shame as it was his favorite.
"Yuffie! Distraction technique!"
"Got it!" the ninja chimed cheerfully.
The crackle of electricity filled the air, striking with unerring accuracy across the metal surface of the metal beast. Mere seconds later, the Crystal Cross sparkled across the sky, barely managing a dent in the seemingly impenetrable skin.
A flash of magic permeated the air.
"Scorpios Level 8," Nanaki called on, his entire body taking on the familiar golden glow of a Sense casting. "ShinRa weapons department." He paused, considering the stats that were rapidly infiltrating his mind. "Susceptible to cold, I think."
He shook his head as the yellow radiance faded. The creature had a powerful materia barrier that was blocking most of his sensing abilities.
Reeve nodded, hoping that the other male's information was accurate. "Freeze!!"
Water splashed from seemingly nowhere, gathering around Scorpios in a wash of cool liquid. It quickly hardened, forming a blue encasing. Yet, it suddenly shattered in a million directions, throwing daggers of ice onto the creature's metal skin. With any luck, they would strike true.
But it seemed their luck was null.
Nanaki belatedly noticed the faint greenish-blue shimmer of a reflect shield. "Get down!!" he yelled at the top of his voice, already flattening his lupine form to the ground.
Reeve quickly obeyed, dropping to the earth as a flurry of ice daggers returned fire at him, one nicking through the sleeve of his arm and cutting through his suit.
Yuffie hastily cast Fire 3, having no time to duck due to catching the recoil of her Crystal Cross. Most of the ice shards melted before they reached her body, but a few managed to get through. She cried out in pain as one jabbed into her shoulder and another into her left leg. The pain was sharp and bitterly cold, but the ice was not enough to pierce her skin, only leaving angry, dark blue bruises behind.
Another ruthless barrage of missiles soared through the air, giving them no time to rest. Flailing sharp arms followed in the wake of the projectiles, and it was all they could do to dodge the attacks.
The battle was not going well for the home team.
With staggering motions, the three came back together, panting from exertion and not without injury. Yuffie favored her left leg, a sharp arm had grazed Reeve's cheek, and Nanaki had caught the edge of an exploding missile, singeing half of his bright fur with a dim coating of black ash.
And still, Scorpios was preparing his next move.
"How can we beat that thing?" Yuffie asked, her voice wispy from loss of breath. There was a brief flash of green, and the wounds in her leg and shoulder were sealed, though still slightly pink. "Thanks," she added, nodding her head to Nanaki.
Missiles screamed through the air as Scorpios unleashed another attack on them, determined to see the end of their lives.
Reeve acted quickly, calling up one of his three summons to protect them. "Carbuncle[1! Tri-Power Shield!" He pressed a finger to the bright crimson glowing ball of materia.
A brilliant red-pink ball of light suddenly sparkled in the sky, moving rapidly to place itself between the heroes and their attacker. A form materialized into that of something that crossed a rabbit and a cat. The summon, known as Carbuncle, keened musically as she cast both Wall and Regen on all three of the party members and at the same time blocking the attack of Scorpios. The missiles landed harmlessly against Carbuncle's natural shield and dissipated into puffs of ashy, grey smoke.
Whining musically once more, the strange summon turned around and licked Reeve on the cheek. His eyes widened as she purred before bounding away, disappearing in a bubbly explosion of cuteness. The ex-executive just shook his head and wiped off his cheek. For such a powerful summon, Carbuncle was awfully hyper and charming, especially with her favorites.
"Carbuncle's shields won't hold out forever. We need a plan," Reeve insisted, eyeing Yuffie and Nanaki.
Both looked at a loss for ideas.
"We spend so much time dodging the attacks that we barely have time to counter," the girl huffed, trying to catch her breath.
More missiles exploded on the shield around them. It shuddered, and a ripple spread across the surface before it flexed and rapidly repelled them. Still, it would not be sustained forever. They needed to brainstorm… and quickly.
Nanaki edged closer to the ninja, noting the weary look to her face. "What can possibly defeat that thing?" he asked, eyes flickering to the metal beast.
The ex-executive wracked his brain, trying to remember some of his old training and other bits and pieces of knowledge he had picked up from his lover. "We are going to have to try some sort of combined effort," Reeve mused thoughtfully. Then, it occurred to him, as if granted by some higher power, and he quickly turned to their lupine companion. "Nanaki, you still have Earth?"
"Yes, but--"
Reeve shifted his gaze to the ninja. "And Yuffie, you still have Destruct right?"
"Umm, yeah," she answered, even though she knew she wasn't supposed to have the materia.
Ehh, Barret wouldn't miss it.
Reeve nodded, mouth forming a line of thought. "Good. I have Contain and enough energy left for a few castings of Freeze," he mused aloud, a strange, almost excited gleam to his amber eyes.
Nanaki's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "I think I understand your plan. DeBarrier and then Leviathan back to back. I will hit him repeatedly with Quake 3 until he is mired and covered with soil. Then, you will strike with Freeze as many times as it takes to stop the metal creature."
Reeve grinned, only to be distracted when four heavy, metal claws came clashing down on the shield above them. Scorpios had given up on the missiles and had come in close for a personal assault, its huge body looming over their tiny frames. The barrier shuddered and cracked but did not fall. It was only a matter of time, however. They had to act fast.
"Got it," Yuffie said, eyeing the cracking shield above them with a bit of worry. "Split in three ways. Soon as I leave this shield, I am going to fire that deBarrier and call out Levy."
No one else had a chance to respond as the shield suddenly shattered with the force of one more blow. It dissipated, blue sparkles fading away into the light. The three dove in separate directions, avoiding the Scorpios' swinging appendages with varied degrees of grace and dignity.
Out of the corner of his eye, Nanaki watched as Yuffie threw out Destruct and immediately touched her armband, calling for the Sea God's aid.
The sound of a serpent's roar filled the air. The massive blue dragon of the ocean rushed at Scorpios, knocking the metal monster down as he covered it in a wall of water that always seemed to appear from nowhere. Its cerulean scales glowed with a fierce aura in the brightness of the sun before the summon disappeared with a twinkle and a flash.
It was now Nanaki's turn.
He pulled forth all of his magic reservoir and cast Quake 3 at the monster over and over again with no respite in between. Huge blocks of earth and stone fell over the monster, coating him in layers of fresh mud. Scorpios floundered, mired in the thick and clinging earth as it struggled to regain some form of its usually quick movement. Its wings creaked under the added weight of the soil.
"Freeze!!" Reeve cast the Contain spell and directed it at the monster.
All three held their breath as the spell pulled all of the moisture out of the air and froze it around Scorpios. The monster was encased in a solid sheet of blue ice before it suddenly exploded, sending shards directly inwards.
The air was filled with dust and flying ice chips. The friends ducked to avoid the projectiles and covered their eyes from the soaring debris as bits and pieces of mud were flung into the air as well. Too slow, Reeve caught a dripping glop of the earth on his leg but was otherwise uninjured.
When they could look again, they saw the figure of Scorpios, completely frozen inside a shell of dirt and ice. A triumphant trill ran through them. Slowly, the three crept up to the creature to be sure of its defeat.
Yuffie rapped on the hardened barrier, delighting in the almost hollow sound it made.
"Yay! We did it!" she hollered triumphantly, pumping her fist into the air.
Reeve and Nanaki smiled to themselves, though both were extremely tired from the battle. It seemed Yuffie was the only one who still had energy.
"There's nothing more to do here," Reeve commented, already turning on his heels for the Highwind. "Let's go."
Crack!
The sudden and abrupt sound made them turn around in surprise. A huge fracture ran through the shell. They gaped as unexpectedly, three clawed arms shot through the hardened barrier and reached blindly for them. Yuffie was grabbed as she was closest, and Reeve was shoved backwards, the sharp metal slicing through the front of his shirt and nicking the skin of his chest. Nanaki managed to nimbly dodge them, still aided by Haste.
Scorpios flexed, and the entire shell burst apart, shards of hardened soil flying through the air. A great explosion of missiles echoed through the air aiming for Nanaki and Reeve. The ex-executive did his best to avoid them but was unsuccessful. One of them caught him in the shoulder and pushed him into the ground, detonating in a great shower of dirt and grass. Nanaki leapt and twisted in the air, wishing that there was some way he could do something as he avoided the missiles and landed safely on his feet.
He cursed his lupine body as he stood by helplessly. Out of spirit reserves for use of his materia and with no items on hand, he felt useless. He simply wasn't strong enough as he was to fight Scorpios. He needed something more!
A piercing shriek echoed through the air. Yuffie was struggling to break free of the metal abomination's grasp, not having much luck. She had dropped her shuriken in surprise, leaving her completely defenseless, the razor-sharp metal digging into her flesh.
Reeve was still struggling to rise from where he had crumpled to the ground when one of Scorpios' missiles had reached their target. Blood dripped everywhere, but Nanaki couldn't even begin to fathom where exactly the ex-executive was hurt.
His claws and fangs weren't strong enough to help. The ninja's whimpers echoed on the edge of his unconscious, making him even more desperate for some reserve of power that he didn't have left. He grasped for something, anything, that would save them, save her.
He had to protect Yuffie.
With a furious growl, Nanaki darted at Scorpios, suddenly glowing in a mysterious blue-white light. If he had been glowing red, it would seem like he had finally struck his limit break. But no, this was something more, something even stronger. Sheer energy gathered around his body, crackling with power unlike anything he had ever felt.
The lion-wolf disappeared in a glowing sphere of magic, which seemed to emanate from the necklace he wore around his neck. His growls resounded clearly across the plains, and then, an explosion rocked the earth, covering everything in a blinding white light.
Reeve shielded his eyes from the light as he coughed and sputtered from his position on the ground, wincing when blood dripped from his lips. He felt warmth across his face and opened his eyes, only to gape in shock.
Scorpios was lying on the ground, two arms ripped from its body. A four-lined slash streaked across the armor of its chest, and the ex-ShinRa could see the inner workings of the beast behind the marks.
And yet, even more startling was what had happened to Yuffie. She was out cold and in the arms of a rather tall, bronze-skinned male, who Reeve had never seen before. This man stood on the battlefield glaring down at the twitching figure of Scorpios as it struggled to get back up.
He had long reddish-orange hair in a high ponytail and eyes of such a brilliant gold that Reeve could see them from across the plains. He held Yuffie in one of his strong arms, but on the hand of the other, there was an enormous metal claw. It looked dangerously sharp [2.
The man dropped to his knee and gently laid the little ninja out on the ground, checking her for wounds. The ex-executive wondered who this stranger was as he felt his vision become a little blurry. His own injuries had become too much for him to handle. As he slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing on his mind was that the color of the man's hair was almost the exact same as Nanaki's fur.
The ex-executive had been correct, though he didn't know it. The mysterious stranger had the same hair color as Nanaki because he was Nanaki. However, the former fire-wolf had no time to ponder on the sudden change in his form. Yuffie was unconscious, perhaps even dead, and Scorpios was beginning to stir.
The ground shook as the metal beast struggled to its feet, searching for the insolent creature that had caused it damage.
If only he had Phoenix!! Yet, Reeve had her, and he was all the way on the other side of the monster. Scorpios was ignoring the unconscious ex-executive, assuming him dead, and Nanaki had no chance to get over there.
Time was slipping by, and soon, he wouldn't be able to revive Yuffie at all!
"Dammit!" he cursed, punching the ground, still feeling as helpless as he did before.
The necklace around his neck sparkled.
"Suzaku, I need your help," he murmured, not even sure why that name came to him. The word seemed to pour from his lips of its own accord, rumbling deep in his chest and releasing a treble through his soul.
The ground trembled, and Nanaki rose to his feet, clenching his hands into fists. He would take down Scorpios, even if it was the last thing he did.
Scorpios launched a series of missiles at Nanaki at the same moment that every one of its arms centered down at the spot that the demi-human now guarded. However, the attacks never landed.
A brilliant orangish red and yellow light came bursting out of the sky, landing in front of Nanaki with a wave of heat. A keening birdlike cry, which still managed to sound regal, filled the air. The ball of fire, twisted and twirled, taking on the form of Phoenix. Somehow, Nanaki had summoned her without using the materia!!
The firebird spread her wings and absorbed the blast within her feathers, easily disintegrating them with her radiance. Scorpios roared, feeling no pain, and Phoenix took to the sky, flapping her magnificent wings as she flew in a wide arc around the area, small glowing orbs of greenish light falling to land on Reeve and Yuffie.
Nanaki watched in awe as Phoenix circled around for an opening. She turned her majestic head towards the recently transformed male, and a piercing green eye met nervous golden ones.
'Are you with me, Flame Child?' A lovely feminine voice resounded in a lilting tone inside Nanaki's head.
He knew without understanding why that Phoenix was speaking to him. Nanaki gulped, feeling instantly unworthy.
"Yes," he answered, his voice barely above a whisper.
She heard him, nonetheless.
Scorpios never even saw the attack coming it happened so fast. Phoenix rushed him, spitting gouts of flame at its already weakened metal body and superheating the metal to the point that it could shatter at the slightest touch. Just as she banked away, Nanaki provided the impetus. He came in seconds after the fire to slash down the entire monster's front, slicing it in two.
Scorpios gave a shudder and shattered into several pieces. Nanaki threw himself to the ground to avoid the flying debris, while the Phoenix flew to shield the others with her feathers. The smoking pieces of rubble fell to the ground, signifying the victory, while Nanaki could only blink and stare in unrestrained surprise.
He didn't even know if he could process all that had occurred in the last few minutes.
Suzaku's voice rose up in the sky, an almost musical melody of victory. 'Goodbye, Child of Fire. I am sure we will meet again,' she mentally called as she flew into the distance, vanishing before the demi-human could even respond.
Nanaki stared after her in astonishment until he heard the groans of his companions. Shaking off his shock, he rose to his feet and ran to check on Yuffie. She was stirring as he picked her up from the ground, carrying her over to where Reeve was groaning faintly.
"Who… Nanaki?" Yuffie asked, clearly confused as she looked up into golden eyes that were too human for her fuzzy mind to comprehend.
Nanaki opened his mouth to speak but was distracted when he caught an explosion out of the corner of his eye. Three pairs of eyes looked up towards the sky where Meteor appeared to have been engulfed in a blinding blaze.
[1 A summon from Final Fantasy VIII. In that game, it cast Reflect and Regen on all party members.
[2 Nanaki vaguely resembles Kouga from Inuyasha, and his weapon is similar to Amarant's from FF IX.