Author's Notes: Another long chapter to serve as a peace offering considering the fact that I shall soon be off in college and lacking a PC of my own, meaning that I shall be forced to use shared computers and thus not get as much time to write. I'll probably end up writing by hand when I have the time and then having to type which adds to the over all time it will take to do chapters and slow my output, how sad. I guess it doesn't help that I have a personal minimal page count requirement for this story, or that I lost my train of thought and couldn't figure out how to start this chapter for the longest time. Still not sure I picked the best manner, but damn, him waking up in bed was starting to get ANNOYING.
Forced to choose between relying upon the magic gifted to him by the woman Siren and that from the glowing crystals that Cloud had placed in both the Full Metal Staff, and a metal bangle now around Nida's wrist, the SeeD wasn't sure which he'd pick. Both had their upsides and downsides. Para-Magic, for example, could be unleashed at a moment's notice. Materia based magic took a bit longer but seemed, in the end, a more powerful magic. Still, such magic was far more physically and mentally draining than the magic Nida had always known, but as far as he knew there was no way to restock his spells, not that he'd attempted it yet. Then again his magic required he be subjected to the chattering of his Guardian Force; not that having a heavy bangle around his wrist was much more comfortable.
"Ya'r doing well with the materia, all things considered, kid."
"And what, pray tell, do you mean by that, Captain?" Nida grumbled as he followed the lead of Cloud and Nanaki through the mountain pass.
"Just that ya don't exactly seem the magic type. Not with all that fancy footwork and such when you fought with Choco-Lad yesterday."
"One is not limited to either the use of magic or the mastery of weapons," came the voice of Vincent in response to Cid's comment. Nida was more than grateful for the normally silent man cutting into the conversation. Since this morning things had been a little awkward between the SeeD and the pilot who had taken him in, and for obvious reasons. Well, obvious to them at least.
"SeeDs are trained to handle both magic and weapons, though each one has their own specialties, even non-combative ones. Everything from hacking to healing to demolitions... At least, that is what it used to be like."
"And now?"
Nida cast a glance over his shoulder at the trio following him as he followed the blond swordsman and the fire-tailed creature. He didn't miss how Cid looked away, not meeting his eyes, or how Vincent noticed the pilot's action and seemed to shrink even further into the cloak he wore. Of course these were things he had to ignore in order to address the question of the man named Reeve Tuesti. Despite the man's apparent continued dislike of him, Reeve did seem genuinely interested, and the look on his face was much like one Nida had seen on Laguna. This question he'd have to answer in some manner before the man would leave it be.
"It's hard to be a mercenary academy when you are heavily involved in politics, when your most powerful and versatile members have their faces plastered on the news when there is the slightest bit of gossip. As such, we've become more of a military academy than a mercenary one, as I implied yesterday, and we've been forced to find new means of funding. To do so, many courses of study have been added, dropped, and otherwise modified. Garden isn't the same place I grew up in any more. And the use of Guardians, and thus magic, has been limited because of the side effects."
"What is your roll in this 'Garden' now, if I might ask," Reeve prompted. While like Laguna at first glance, the man was obviously far sharper, and used to evasive responses.
"My official rank you already know, but I serve as a teacher, instructor specifically, though I believe a more appropriate term would be professor."
"And your course material?"
"Aviation. The history of flight, flight training, and more recently, of the history of the Estharian space program. While there is less and less of a need for mercenaries and even a military in our day and age, there will never be a lack of need for pilots, or those with even loftier ambitions. Of course, I still do some more risky business when it comes to Garden… which is what has apparently brought me here."
The man nodded in agreement, quieting down as he processed what had been said. Something told Nida that he might just have gained a bit of respect in the eyes of the man, and he only hoped it would not be lost any time soon. This small group of people that Cid had brought into his home were all that Nida felt he'd be able to trust with the truth of the matter at hand… or most of it at least.
"We're getting into dragon territory now. Be on your guard, it should be mating season."
"Why do we always have to go trekkin' through the mountains in mating season again?" Cid grumbled from his place in the back of the little group.
"We would like for our guest to observe the mako spring. There is a chance that it might mean more to him than to us, and we might come to know something more about his reason for being here or how to return him," Nanaki said, speaking for the first time since the hike had begun. Because of this the group seemed to take heed to the words he was now giving.
"You heard Nanaki, and no offense, Cid, but I doubt you could take on a full grown male dragon in mating season, even were Reeve or Vincent to help you."
"Damn kid."
While Cid mumbled to himself about 'spikey haired bastards' and 'lack of respect', Nida sped up enough to close the distance between himself and the leading pair. So far as he knew, there had never been a person capable of taking on a Ruby Dragon alone, Blue yes, but never Ruby. If these things were like Ruby Dragons he would really rather not get separated from the others. Never had he even seen Squall take on a Ruby alone, and that one had killed many a T-Rexaur alone.
"You ever seen a dragon before, Nomura?" Cloud asked, obviously ignoring the disgruntlement of Cid. "Do they have any back where you are from?"
"There are two species of lesser dragons, and two of grand dragons surviving where I am from. The Hexadragon are common enough, and we even have T-Rexaurs in the training grounds used by SeeDs. Blue and Ruby Dragons are only found in the wild though, on two protected islands. Not that they need them. Blue dragons can only be taken down by those with training, and so far as I know there is a very small group outside of SeeD itself that has ever taken down a Ruby. Until recent years there were small groups close to residential areas that had to be moved…"
"Sounds like fun." The tone wasn't quite mocking, but more like that of sympathy hidden behind amusement. True enough were the words, in a sense. Nida had a long scar down the inside of his right thigh from the horn of a Ruby Dragon. He'd attempted to avoid death by the claws, only to half bleed out in the time it took Squall and Irvine to finish the creature off.
"Tons."
"Well, let's see how our dragons stand against yours. We've four species of true dragons, three wyvern species, and that doesn't include pseudo-wyverns, giant lizards, and other things that could be called dragons. But more doesn't necessarily mean better."
"Maybe not, but just because no one back home can take on a Ruby alone doesn't mean you couldn't. I think that if you had the training I'd been given, you'd be by far the best swordsman, or warrior of any sort, that my planet had seen in eons."
"Maybe," Cloud agreed before growing quiet and continuing along the path.
Again Nida glanced back over his shoulder towards Cid, and again the pilot looked away. With a sigh Nida glared down at the path they were following instead. In all honesty, he couldn't understand just why Cid was working so hard to avoid his gaze, or why the man hadn't said more than two sentences to him yet that day. Okay, so maybe he could, but had the other man regretted the previous night that much? Cid had, after all, started it. There had been no liquor on his breath either. Or maybe that was why Cid was so uncomfortable, because he couldn't pass the buck so to speak. They were responsible for their actions the night before, and they hadn't known each other even a week.
What had he been thinking anyway? Had he been thinking at all? Could it have been a mistake? In truth, for all Nida knew, he was being led to his death by these people, though Cloud didn't seem the sort for that kind of lie. Who was to say they really believed his story and weren't just humoring him? What if all of this, all of yesterday, all of last night, were just lies being used against him? Sure, the stars looked wrong, the monsters were different, but couldn't this just be some enemy encampment, or some damn experiment by Odine? A little elaborate for getting information out of a SeeD, but there were some factions left that Nida would not put things like this past.
What if trusting these people, trusting Cid, was just one giant mistake?
Left!
"The left!" Nida echoed, calling out to the others before turning in that direction and jumping back a few steps. The reaction was just in time for him to avoid the massive claws that raked at where he had just been standing.
Behind you!
"Fuck," Nida swore before turning his back on the visible beast and launching one of his own blizzard spells into the rocks that the other creature would be hiding among.
"Vincent, Reeve, Cid, go low. Nanaki, Nida and I will go high," Cloud's voice was barely audible over the angered cries of the dragon that had just made its presence known from above them in the path.
Now, Nida knew, was no time to question orders, and without another world he started following Cloud and the red beast up into the rockier terrain to close the distance between them and the large creature. At last, as the group came closer to the large creature, Nida was able to understand the differences between these creatures and those he had known back home. One of the main things was the coloring. This creature was a dark, oily green that helped it blend well with the dark mountains it lived in, and the Ruby dragon was just that, a vivid and awe inspiring red that caught the eye from miles off. Another major difference was in size. While the general build of the creatures seemed comparable, four legs, horns, sharp teeth, wings, the Ruby was not only taller, but less bulky in the hind quarters. Then again, it seemed like the uneven distribution of weight might actually allow this dragon to rear up, allowing for far more force behind a blow with the claws. Yes, there were other differences, like the Ruby had larger horns, and the dragon before him had smaller wings, but it was all rather inconsequential at the moment.
"Duck."
Again Nida complied before thinking, not realizing until a moment later that this voice wasn't that of his Guardian, the one that had warned him of the ambush, but that of Cloud. The reason came a moment later when a stream of flames shot over Nida's head. Fire breath. Wonderful. Nida had never been fond of fire breath.
Do you desire my help?
Not yet Siren, I'd rather save you for a tough situation.
A tinkling laughter came in response as Nida managed to avoid another swipe of claws before cutting at the retreating paw, or whatever it was. He hadn't expected much damage would be done, given the thickness of Ruby Dragon scales from memory, but was shocked to be rewarded with a roar of pain. Somehow Nida had managed to over look the fact that the large creature seemed to lack scales, having instead what looked more like a leathery hide. Well, now that was going to be fun.
"Go for the chest and sides if you can," Nanaki said, calm as ever while avoiding a blow from the tail of the creature. Already Nida could see the plan, distract the creature while the large lion went for the throat. Not a mode of approach he was used to, but something he could easily deal with.
Unfortunately the bit of attention it took to understand the unspoken plan took Nida's attention off of the creature for a second too long. Wings flared as the green monstrosity reared with a roar. Shock caused Nida to stumble back a step, which in the rocky terrain was a foolish and novice mistake. In a moment he was flat on his back, a terrible pain in his left ankle from twisting in the fall. Oh, and on top of that there was large, angry, dragon quickly bearing down on him despite the efforts of Cloud and Nanaki.
Release me, young one. I beg of you.
The waters… you could hurt the others…
Worry not my eaglet, just let me free.
Nida took one last look at the scene before him, then closed his eyes and relented to the desires of the Guardian Force.
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Summoning had always been an awkward thing for Nida. While he could pull off a summoning of Siren faster than any other person he knew of, the whole thing always felt strange. Never could he understand the desire that Selphie had to summon as much as possible. The whole process always left him rather queasy. One second he would exist, fully aware of the rush of battle around him, and the next he was awakening in a whole different situation, on edge from those moments of near non-existence. No one knew where people went when a summon was called, and no one had ever asked the summons just how they manifested on a physical plane, and Nida always could guess why. That momentary nausea, the disorientation, the lapse of concentration that existed for just a few seconds long than one would like, it could put even the best trained SeeDs on edge.
There were always people who liked it though. Some who would say that summoning was the closest to divinity that a human could reach. People suggested that in the process of summoning the soul of the person, that which made them who they were, became for a brief moment a part of the realm from which the Guardians came from. And, with the absence of the human soul in its vessel, the spirit of the Guardian took over and the body was changed to that which the Guardian pictured. The only problem with such a theory was the fact that not only the summoner, but often times their companions, also disappeared into wherever it was that they disappeared to.
Of course there were theories for that sort of thing too. The summoned creature would take a moment before their manifest to weave protections over your companions. Another idea was that the summon needs more energy than just that of the one who calls upon them. Personally, Nida had always been of the belief that the summoning was much like the very symbiosis that allowed junctioning. While he never discussed it with others, he'd always thought that for the time of the summon, the person who called for the being existed as part of that creature's mind, occupying a portion of the summon's mind, maybe even the same portion that the summon occupied in the person. And, considering the fact that the summons never spoke of memories of anyone but their master, if they spoke at all, it wouldn't be surprising that, unlike humans, they did not actually have memories of a time before the person who was with them. If they did, who knew, maybe then the person using the summon would experience remnants of those memories during their time of non-existence. After all, Siren had always implied that she enjoyed living his memories of his childhood when there was no need for fighting.
But these were just the musings of one man who didn't even like summoning. As much as he cared for Siren, the whole process always made Nida's skin crawl, now no less as he groaned and opened his eyes. It didn't help that sometimes Siren would leave him in the worst states after a summoning. For example, he was actually lying out on his back probably five feet from the carcass of the dragon that had been attacking. And now that he was looking around, he was almost seven feet from the rocks he'd been lying among when he'd summoned her. What could he say, Siren was a very active summon at times.
"He's awake!" Cid shouted from far too close, causing Nida to wince and cover his ears. No sooner had the SeeD done this than he had the face of the pilot far too close for post-summon comfort.
"Do you mind?" Nida groaned again, pushing Cid away so he could sit up. That proved to be a foolish move though, as there was a new pain in Nida's arm.
"Damn woman doesn't know how to take things easy," he mumbled, rolling up a sleeve to see a long claw mark down his arm. The damage Siren had sustained was probably far worse than this if she had been forced to leave Nida in a worse state than she'd taken him over in.
In recent days, at the prompting of 'Commander Leonhart', new research was being done into the GFs and their affects upon people. Not only had the studies proven at last that the Guardians did damage the long term memory, but that those with a closer bond to the one they are junctioned too had odd affects on both parties. The GFs became able to remain physical for longer, manifest outside of battle as almost astral projections, and actually proved to be amazing fighters outside of their special abilities. One of the accidental discoveries that had come from testing the bond of Squall and Shiva had been that the more severe damages inflicted upon a GF with a close bond to their masters could, in certain cases, be passed to their summoner in smaller amounts if needed. This not only enabled the GF to last longer and do more work in a battle, but seemed to add merit to the ideas that the GF summons really were a transformation of the person summoning.
Then again, Squall had said it was probably no more than the summon occasionally reminding their bonded just what they put up with for their behalf.
"How did that happen?" Cid demanded, not backing off despite Nida's obvious foul mood.
"Siren," was the only answer the pilot got as Nida stood up quickly. Another bad move ultimately. He'd forgotten about twisting his ankle prior to the summon, and started to fall from the pain, only to wind up in the arms of the older man.
"That freaky lady from yesterday?" the pilot continued.
"Of course. She wanted to play too."
Leaning on the shorter man, Nida made his way over to where the other four were waiting, their expressions rather amusing in a way. People always got that sort of awed confusion when a GF was brought into battle. Of course, Nida had been told that they did have summons of their own, so surely Siren hadn't been that different from what they were used to, right?
"What happened?"
"You saw more than I did…" Nida said in response to Cloud as Cid helped him over the last rocks and back onto the path.
"You knew there were dragons about to come upon us. That isn't exactly an easy thing to do," Vincent pointed out.
"As I said yesterday, Siren enhances my hearing. She must have heard the things. She told me what to do, and I just did it."
"That… woman… was she Siren?"
Nida smirked at the wonder in Reeve's voice. A lot of men ended up like that after their first sight of the female summon.
"Beautiful woman, feather bikini? Golden wings spreading from the top of her head? Big green glass harp?"
Reeve nodded.
"Yeah, that was her…"
"Never seen a summon like that."
Cloud nodded in agreement to Cid's comment, but did nothing to push it. Instead he just gestured for them to continue. There were, after all, other things that needed to be done than prodding a man about a summoning. They were in the mountains for another reason, one that Nida still wasn't sure about.
"Are you okay?"
"So you're talking to me now?"
Were it not for the fact that Cid was holding Nida up the older man probably would have pulled away, but as it was, he was pretty much stuck and forced to face the question.
"About last night…"
"It was a mistake."
Cid really did himself a credit, Nida thought, by only stumbling the slightest bit and not bringing either of them down. In fact, except for that little falter it was almost as if Cid was completely unaffected by the words.
"Yeah…"
"I think that if I am to stay any longer, I should take the spare room, or maybe that inn that Shera mentioned."
"You don't have any money though."
"I'll find some way. Don't think I'm below menial tasks. Detentions at Garden usually meant cleaning or cooking or working for the staff in way or another to make up for being a burden upon them. Not that I was often in trouble."
To be in trouble one had to be noticed, and it wasn't until the Reclamation War that Nida was really noticed.
"There aren't often jobs for people in the town, but I'm sure I could find you something."
"I think I can handle myself, Captain Highwind. I've taken care of myself for a while without your help, you know."
"Says the guy I had to save from wolves."
With that Nida pushed Cid away and started to limp after Cloud and Nanaki on his own. Right now he really didn't feel like putting up with the smart remarks of the man. He could get by without Cid. Just because the guy had helped nurse him to health didn't mean Nida was dependant upon him. He'd survived a war, two wars, and the life of a mercenary. Taking care of himself was something he'd always done and no one was going to take that away from him. The only protection he needed was from Siren.
Ah, but today you didn't even want that much, did you?
Nida sighed to himself, set his legs on the right path, and turned his focus inwards to the woman who wasn't likely to leave him be just because he asked at this point.
I could have handled the thing.
And yet you were on your back, with a twisted ankle, and the thing was about to rip you to shreds. I think you needed my help little one.
Help? I ended up with a torn up arm. How is that help?
Better than being draco-chow. But I begin to believe that you would have preferred it that way.
The way it the words were hissed at him, all of the musical quality gone for a venomous retort worthy of DoomTrain, made Nida feel guilty. Siren had been trying to help him. It was quite likely she had saved his life, yet again. And for his arm to end up in such a state she must have been in a lot of pain on her own. Was it even right for him to take his anger out on her?
I'm…
I know, dove, I can feel your feelings, remember? I'm not just bound to one area, I have more freedom than you give me credit for. More than any of you humans give any of my kind credit for. Could we have survived so long if we were not powerful?
Maybe.
The woman laughed, and warmth spread through Nida at the sound. At least she was happier. For some reason his stomach was doing flip flops that he couldn't explain. He'd eaten, and he shouldn't feel sick this far after a summoning. Maybe it was just an effect of all of the injuries…
You feel bad. About how you treated him. Cutting him off like that, and without knowing what he wanted to say. For all you know the poor man was about to apologize because he thought he wasn't good enough for you. Or maybe he didn't know how to go about handling you today. Was it just a one time thing, was it a mistake, was it more?
Stay out of this Siren.
So you wish it.
With that, for the first time in a while, Nida was left with total silence. No matter how many times he called out to the GF there was no response, and despite his best efforts he couldn't even get the Guardian to allow him access to his own magic, not even enough to case a simple curative spell.
Apparently there was truth in the old saying.
Hell really did have no fury like a woman scorned.
Unless you wanted to count the fury of a Nida facing that scorn. And a Nida facing that scorn without any magic in a very dangerous area where battle was almost a guarantee. Really, sometimes he just needed to keep his mouth, or mind, or whatever, shut. What was he thinking, alienating the only thing he had left that was a reminder, a piece of home?
"You are aware that it would be but the work of a moment for me to tend to your leg."
Nida almost jumped, or would have at least had his leg not actually given out instead. The lion thing, Nanaki, had apparently dropped back beside him while Nida had been focused elsewhere. Gritting his teeth Nida slowly got back to his feet, despite the pain it caused him to put enough weight on his arm to haul himself up, and the renewed pain in the ankle.
"It's nothing. I'm okay. Don't worry about it."
"You have been steadily slowing your progress for the last four minutes, you are walking with a pronounced limp, and Cid has been following you looking concerned enough to earn teasing by both Vincent and Reeve, which I assure you is not a common thing. I would think that the healing of your leg would not only make our progress smoother, but calm the others."
"In SeeD we're trained not to use spells if they can be avoided. Natural healing should come first because all the spells and potions do is speed up the natural body's healing, and it drains your energy reserves."
"Yes, I can understand that point," the moomba-like creature admitted, his tail flicking back and forth, "but are you trained to take unneeded risks such as slowing a group down when you are in an area you are not only unfamiliar with, but has proven to be hostile?"
"Uh, well, not but…"
"Then the matter is settled," Nanaki said, and for a brief moment there was a glowing from a paw ring before the pain in Nida's leg and arm faded away.
"Uh… Thanks."
"My pleasure. Now, as Cloud said earlier, it should not be much further. Would you please join Cloud and myself? I'm sure the other three are tired enough of what we are going to see that they won't even want to join us."
Nida nodded and followed the creature, ignoring the feeling that eyes were following them. All Nanaki and Cloud were probably doing was giving him a way to avoid the tension that had appeared between himself and Cid, but he was more than thankful. There were things he needed to figure out before he actually dealt with Cid, including getting Siren to talk to him again.
It was going to be yet another long day…