AN: This took far longer than i expected, I had planned to post this on Monday but i got stuck helping my sister unpack all of the things i helped lug over to her new apartment. This chapter is different from past ones due to the fact it is mostly from Juokas's POV. I figured it was about time! As always Enjoy and read and review!
Contagious Nostalgia
[Juokas]
Cocoon's barrage of artillery rains down upon our sad souls durin' this last run to that cliff. That damnable cliff those vipas' are perched upon. Sneerin' down at us as their constant firin' mocks us. Our line is crumblin' we're afraid, we have the numbas' on our side why aren't we winnin'? Our dreadnaughts are pushin' back their lines, still progress is slow. A klaxon sounds of from deep within the Cocoon lines, the middle portion of their ground formation collapses, retreatin' within. The Pulse line surges forward, as remergin' courage courses through our veins. An unmistakable roar silences the field, haltin' the line in its tracks. All eyes take to the sky scannin' for this scourge from above. A large gunship descends from the cliff where Cocoon has their main camp and that damned artillery. Hoverin' slowly into place, its engines deafenin' those nearest to them.
The vipas' are motionless, we all pause expectin' explosions but none come. Several figures appear on the roof of the gunship, shrouded by the sun. As if on cue booms thunder off in the distance, the notorious whistle of approachin' artillery broke the Pulsian lines. Every Pulsian ran for their lives, anyone outside of the forest's protective foliage was mowed down by the continuous fire from the gunship. It's gettin' dark, from my hidden sanctuary in the tree tops I can see the Cocoon troops venture into the woods in groups. Probably searchin' for any survivors of their trap…far flung sound offs drift lazily to my ears, wind blowin' though the air gently. Crunchin' ground beneath me catches my attention. Glowin' orange stripes are like beacons tracing the path taken by the soldier wearing them. The soldier pauses beneath the tree, fiddling with some device before lettin' out an exasperated sigh. "Sound off." She demanded into her radio. "Alpha, all clear", "Beta, clear here", "Charlie, Clear"… After more replies of the same she sighed again.
I weighed my chances of gettin' the jump on this soldier. They're pretty good from the inattentive posture of this lurker beneath me. Switchin' into position to pounce on the foe below me one of the branches supportin' my weight snaps sendin' me sprawlin' face first on the ground. The soldier chuckles, "Here I was thinking you were some sort of exotic bird, high up in the branches. Pulse is just full of suprises." Lookin' up I see that she's leanin' against the tree as if she hadn't a care in the world. "Why aren't your weapons drawn?" She laughed this time, "Oh I don't know, just seeing you fall face first into the brush was reward enough on its own. I felt no need to be greedy by adding insult to injury." Standin' up quickly I began backin' away, "Op I wouldn't go that way if I were you." She glanced down monkeyin' with that device again, it was some sort of pad. "According to my tracker there are about three squads between you and your front. I suggest taking the route closet to the cliff, and don't dally or else they'll find you. Now make like a silly Pulsian and fly away back from whence you came." "Why are you helpin' me? Why should I trust you?" I felt at ease even as the words left my lips. "I don't expect you to trust me, but look at it this way I've had several opportunities to kill you already, why wait if that's what I wanted? Hum? Now quickly, the patrols will be returning soon."
Brushing herself off she stood, slowly pacing away from me. "Thank you for your help. I guess even a vipa' has a nice side." I couldn't see her face but I could hear the mirth in her voice, "Well not everyone can be hellions who try to fly now can we?" I scoffed loudly, "Pff, see you on the battlefield next time." "Pray that you don't, I'll have to kill you. I don't want your opportunity to live to be a waste." Her sad piece said she wondered off in the opposite direction. It took me until sunset the next day to make it back to the Pulsian frontlines. More than a few surprised faces greeted me as I crossed the bomb pocked dead man's land. "Juokas? Your alive, thank Etro, we thought you were a goner for sure after the first few hours."
A few days later we performed another push on the Cocoon lines, it was midway through the battle when a gun blade round tore through my leg. Despite my best efforts I didn't even manage to catch a glimpse of that soldier that shot me as they dragged me off towards a medic.
They stationed me at a refugee camp while I recuperated. Damn bullet went straight through my leg, tearin' a massive hole I could practically stick my thumb through. The people of this camp were mostly from Oerba and Paddra. Not very many though, a lot of those stubborn bastards decided to stay and try to rebuild while the wars on, fools the lot of them. Durin' the night the adamantoises were lumberin' about gurglin' out their low groans. Probably tellin' the others "hey I'm over here don't bump in ta' me." A horn sounded in the middle of camp, hobblin' out of my tent I see the warriors of the camp scrabblin' from their tents to report to the command tent. By the time I made it over the orders had already been given, I grabbed onto someone as they walked out, "Hey what's happenin' what was that about?" He glanced over shirkin' off my hand, "There is a fire out in the woods about a mile from camp, a scout said some sort of vehicle crashed." "Cocoon?" "Possibly, that's what we're going to find out. Now go rest, that's why you're here."
I scuffled back to my tent, layin' down in a huff. Sleep took hold of me, whiskin' me off to the realm of dreams soon after. I woke up at the cock's crow in the mornin', the sun barely visible on the horizon. I walked about the camp as the first rounds of the day were made. I noticed someone shackled to the stanchion near the middle of camp. Upon closer inspection I realized it was the soldier from the other night. Grabbin' a make shift stool I sat down near her. She turned her head, glancin' at the wound on my leg, "Well isn't this a pleasant surprise, did you get that while flying?" I scowled at her, "Ha oh don't make that face, I'm only poking fun alright I know a gun blade wound when I see one." Rollin' my eyes I ask, "Were you the one who shot me about a day or so ago?" She chuckled and smiled, "Oh no of course not, pfff if I shot you it'd be in the head not the leg, silly Pulsian."
"Why are you here?" Sighin' she shook her head, "Swerved to avoid the natural wild life last night and pow I wake up and I'm being manhandled by several ill-tempered Pulsians." "You were the reason most of them had to crawl out of bed last night." "Haha I know that feeling when duty calls. Drop whatever you're doing and move it." I poked her in the leg with my foot, "Why are you bein' so congenial? You Cocoon folk are supposed to be the purest personification of evil." She smirked, "oh that's odd." She patted her chin with a finger, "Well if that isn't a coincidence." My eyes narrowed, "What's a coincidence?" Smirk never waverin', "Oh just the fact I was told the exact same thing about the lot of you. Well we never called you all a bunch of soulless husks. Just barbarians who are backwards and you know all around barbarous." As her sentence finished a shadow loomed over the both of us, turnin' I saw the leader of the camp.
"Ah so the prisoner is finally awake." She was a frightful lookin' woman. She wore a black sari, with short red hair and dark eyes. Across her face there was a long jagged scar. With her she carried a large machete. "So it would seem, and you are?" "I'm the leader of this camp Paddra Urev Bow, state your name prisoner." "What no title? You just say you're the leader and you are? Wow I wish it was that easy where I was from" The soldier let out a low whistle. "I am the leader here because I am the most experienced warrior here." "Hum does that make me second in command? If it took five of your men to restrain me while I was unconscious, I can only wonder to their experience." Bow hissed, hands twitchin', "State your name before I cut out that petulant tongue, serpent!" The soldier seemed undaunted, "First Lieutenant Kelionė už Vandens." Bow seemed taken aback, "You are Vandens of the clan Už, from the village of Kelionė?"
The soldier sighed slumpin' back, her helmet knockin' against the stanchion. "No, that isn't correct." Bow pinched the bridge of her nose, "That is the name you just gave." "I just gave you my Cocoon name, how we format names on Cocoon. Here, I believe my name would be Bodhum Vandens Kelionė, not sure where my už would go but please just call me Blue. Everyone does." Bow glared down at her, "So you're really, Kelionė of the clan Vandens from the village of Bodhum?" She nodded, "Something like that but Bodhum was more of a town, not a village." Bow let out a loud irritated huff, her hands twitchin' feverously. "If you want to keep it simple just call me-." "Blue, I know I know, now shut it." Walkin' off in a huff Bow muttered, "What an annoyin' twit."
"Didja' really have ta' go and piss her off? She isn't the type to play around." I asked swivelin' on my seat. Blue smiled, "If she doesn't like to joke around, she shouldn't make it so easy to tease her. Bow is nowhere near serious enough to discourage me." Rollin' my eyes, "I got a question ta' ask you." "I'm all ears." "Why'd you help me?" "Well you see during my first fight on Pulse I managed to get away from a very imposing l'cie. I figured I'd return the favor." "Wait a second; you're that soldier that went barrelin' off that cliff!" She grinned, "The one and only, I was surprised when I recognized you, didn't expect to see you again after that."
[Juokas]
A slammin' door startled me awake, I realize I was sleepin' on Fang n' Lightnin's couch. I peeked over the arm of the couch seein' that it was Serah and Vanille. Lightnin' glided down the stairs, "Jeez Serah I thought I'd only have to tell Snow to be easy on that door." Vanille's face reddened slightly, "Oops sorry it was my fault Light." She shook her head, "Alright just be quiet, Juokas is sleeping on the couch." I stood up stretchin', "Not anymore I'm afraid. Hey Light where's Blue?" Light pointed towards the back door, "Outside messing with those nets with Fang." With a nod I turned walkin' outside barefoot towards the docks.
Several empty nets were already lying on the beach. Blue leaned back in the water floatin' lazily, "This is probably the worst catch of my fishing career, deepest apologies Fang." Fang laughed as she tugged another net out of the water, "Never been much of a fishin' expert so this is prolly my best catch in my fishin' career." I plopped down at the end of the docks, danglin' my feet into the water. A small cooler sat next to me, liftin' up the top I saw two fish inside. "Ha two fish isn't so bad Blue, it's somethin'." "To feed nine people it's atrocious, I was hoping to catch more so I could smoke them but we've only caught two." Fang waggled her finger like a teacher scorning a student, "Your far too hard on yourself, we'll get the wily buggers next time no worries. Well this is the last net, I'll set it out and take the fish inside." "Do you know how to scale and fillet a fish Fang?" Fang chuckled nonchalantly, pluckin' the cooler off the dock. "Of course I do, Blue what kinda huntress do you take me for." Blue turned her head narrowin' her eyes at Fang, "One who happens to be an inexperienced at fishing. The least I could do is help with dinner Fang. I know this may be to some a surprise but I am an excellent cook." Fang shook her head, wadin' through the water towards the house, "Nonsense you're my guest I'll have none of that."
Blue let out a disgruntled pout leanin' back enough to dunk her head underwater. She stayed like that floatin' aimlessly for a while before she drifted towards the dock. Her eyes popped open when she felt my foot obstruct her driftin'. "Blue this is probably the first time I've seen you pout, you look positively adorable." I mocked her pokin' her side gently with my foot causin' her to dip down in the water slightly. Blue rolled her eyes smilin' despite of herself, "ha you must know me far better than I think because it seems you always know what to say to make me smile. You know what that means don't you?" Blue questioned me, her eyes narrowed to slits. I smirked, "It must mean we're good friends." Blue's laugh was low, "oh ho ho so it would seem." She floated closer usin' the side of the dock as leverage. It wasn't long before she was right in front of me, "You know what I'm going to have to do right?"
"Throw a celebration for your beloved Pulsian who has found a way to charm you, a Cocoon vipa'?" Blue glanced up her face mirthful, "Would a hug do? I'm afraid it's all I can afford as of the moment I am dead broke." Unleashin' a mock scowl I pouted at her, "Alright I suppose that will have to do." "Alright then care to help me out?" She held out her hand, reachin' over I clasped onto it tightly when I felt my weight shiftin' towards the water. I let out a shocked yelp as I plunged face first into the water.
After a few moments of watery disorientation I felt arms wrap around me, pullin' me through the water. Within seconds I was at the surface coughin' up what felt like my lung. Blue pulled me closer, tryin' to get a look at my face from behind me, "You alright? Since you grew up in Sulyya you knew how to swim, I'm sorry." I coughed my voice hoarse, "You better be, and I can swim thank you…it just has been a while." Blue chuckled behind me, the laughter rumbling through her chest, "A while? That's what they always say. Juokas I think you're trying to hoodwink me." Scoffin' indignantly I pushed out of them embrace, goin' through the motions to show her what's what.
[Juokas]
Blue stood barefoot in the shallow river still shackled hacklin' me as I watched from the bank. "Are you telling me that the almighty Pulsian can't swim, I am just flabbergasted. How can that be! I'm sure even Pulsian barbarians are capable of swimming." Bow barged over, ground crunchin' angrily as she did so. "Bathe serpent." Blue shook her head, splashin' the water with her foot. "This is two shallow! I'm not a bird, I can't just cop a squat and splash a little to get clean." Bow picked up the chain that attached Blue to the stanchion. "You bathe where we tell you too, now get on with it or else we'll do this the hard way." Blue laughed before sayin' in a beguilin' tone, "Oh Bow you sound so excited for this hard way of yours I bet it involves doing more than just seeing me nak-." Bow yanked the chain hard sendin' Blue spawlin' face down into the water. Blue lay still in the water, makin' no movement aside from the slight drift from the river current. Bow trudged over pullin' her head out of the water by the scuff of her neck.
Bow let her go, "Bathe demon." Knealin' in the river Blue waited until Bow had reached the bank to mock, "But I'm all muddy right now Bow I pegged you for the sort that liked dirty girls." Bow roared lungin' at Blue, she grabbed her by the neck forcin' her backwards into the water. I called for help, gallopin' through the water, and tried to claw Blue free from Bow's ragin' hands. Two warriors on perimeter patrol ran up draggin' Bow away. I reached down, seizin' Blue around the waist, she was limp in my hands, I couldn't hear her breathin'. The warrior I spoke to the night before walked over pickin' up her legs. We carried her to the bank, layin' her down. He spoke, "What a waste Juokas, Bow cost us a barterin' chip. Coulda used that one to trade for one of our own."
Once her body was unshackled they carried it into a tent, while the camp elders debated on what to do with her body. It was nightfall when I worked up the courage to slip into that tent. It was dark, I could barely make out the body covered with a blanket. I never did get to see her face, who knows maybe she what we're told, an evil monsta' from Cocoon. Heart beats drowned out everythin' else as I reached for that blanket. I hissed angrily when I found that underneath it was nothin' but a pile of brush, sticks and rocks. The wind blew the back flap to the tent open, exposin' a trail that led off through the tall grasses. I ducked down, followin' the trail, it broke off into an open area once the grass ended. Underneath my feet was a pebbled shore and towards the center was a small pooling of water filled by a water fall. There she sat in the water, "You're alive? How is that possible I didn't feel you breathin'!" I said in a loud whisper quickly makin' my way over to her.
Blue didn't turn to face me, "I was correct in my assumption that you would be the only one to bother to check to see if I was actually alive or not." "But how? Bow drowned you in the river." "I have the nifty talent that lets me hold my breath for an extended period of time without suffocating." I stared at her back in disbelief. Blue picked up a small cup from the water pourin' it over her head, which was …covered in hair? "Where's your helmet?" Lookin' down I realized that the rest of her clothes were also missin', all she had on was her underwear. "I suspect it's with the rest of my clothes which I have conveniently hidden somewhere nearby. Blue began soapin' up her hair, I heard a snappin' branch and looked over to investigate. When I finally looked back Blue was gone, she resurfaced towards the middle of the small pool.
"Now this is a bath" She chuckled splashin' the water before she flopped back floatin' aimlessly. "Are you just going to stand there and watch me Juokas? I suggest you bathe, you're getting kinda ripe. The soap is in the cup." I slipped of my shoes gingerly dippin' my toe into the water, "PFFF it's cold!" Blue chortled sendin' gentle ripples across the pool, "Of course it is, it's a semi-deep pool and it's night time why wouldn't it be? Don't think about it, you'll get used to it." I huffed slippin' off the rest of my clothes leavin' nothin' but my underwear. I sat down in the water wincin' at first until I finally got used to it, "So tell me Blue how does a serpent survive in cold water, with them bein' cold blooded n' all." "When I find one, I'll make a point to ask it." Blue began swimmin' slowly facin' the sky, "Do you really not know how to swim Juokas?" Her voice was serious but calm and curious.
"No I don't, I almost drowned when I was younga'. That and Bismark discouraged me from ever tryin' ta' learn." "Bismark?" "He is the Pulse Fal'cie of Sulyya springs, he's the one that turned me into a L'cie." "Alright, but how does that stop you from learning how to swim Juokas." "I tried to teach myself, I was swimmin' in the springs, not sure what happened it was all peaceful then next thing I know I'm bein' dragged under water. Some of the villagers fished me out, I woke up with a brand on my back. Whoever I was before I was turned into a L'cie, died when Bismark branded me." I laughed ruefully, "That was my last attempt I ever made to learn how to swim." "How about I teach you then? Hum?" I shook my head, "My leg is injured I won't be walkin' let alone swimmin' for a while."
Blue swam over lazily, yawnin' in the process. "Allow me to take care of that." Confused I stuttered, "Take care of what?" "That injury for you of course." "And how do you plan to do that, work some Cocoon voodoo on it and hope it heals?" She shook her head, "Now now no need to be a negative Nancy about it, alright have some faith." Placin' her hands over my injury, she began to chant quietly. Suddenly she stopped and a light flashed brightly underwater. I soon began to feel a stingin' coolness throughout my wound. Blue squeezed slightly, "Hum, one more and I think you'll be good as new. But that should be enough for now." "What did you do?" "I healed your leg with a healing spell." She sat back lookin' at me before she rolled her eyes. "What is with the shocked face Juokas, you're a L'cie, don't you know any healing magic?" "No I only know a few offensive spells…how do you know healin' spells? How can you perform any magic at all?"
Blue gave my leg a slight shake before lettin' go, "Come on Juokas, you know the reason why I can perform magic… There is only one answer after all." "You're a Cocoon L'cie… that can't be your just a soldier." She laughed bitterly and splashed me, "My life would be so much simpler if I was just a soldier Juokas." "You're a Cocoon…L'cie." She nodded, "Yes I believe we covered that." "This doesn't make any sense!" "Keep your voice down. Look the fact that I'm a L'cie doesn't change anything, I won't hurt anyone in camp if that's what you're worried about. I have no interest in killing those innocent people." In spite of the confusion roughin' up the edges of my thoughts, I did feel a bolt of relief. "So do you want to learn how to swim or not?" "You better not drown me or I'll haunt you, you demon."
[Juokas]
My head was poundin', lungs burnin' I felt like someone had tied lead to my limbs. "Juokas?...Juokas open your eyes. Hey, it's time to wake up now you prideful Pulsian, wake up!" A sharp pinch, caused me to groan as I tried to roll away. "Juokas, open your eyes." The voice was stern, as I was pinched again on my opposin' side. I groaned again louder swattin' wildly, "OW Juokas OPEN YOUR EYES!" I was shaken slightly, I opened my eyes peerin' up at Blue. "What happened?" I asked my voice hoarse. She smiled ruefully, "Well, the thing is you tried to swim to spite me and almost drowned, but no worries I saved you. Gall you had me worried, crazy Pulsian you have a way of being so contrary and prideful." I glared up at her. "Now Juokas, if you keep making that face it'll freeze like that." "Which would be a cryin' shame." Fang chimed in from the back door.
Blue smiled and shook her head, "Thanks Fang." "No problem there Bluey, just came out to fetch you two, dinnas' ready." "Roger that Fang, we'll be in, in a sec but we got to change." "Figured, you two are soppin' wet." Fang laughed before retreating back into the house. Blue stood slowly carryin' me with her. As we walked inside I asked, "How did you know my name?" "Hum?" "After that little stunt in the river, when you 'Drowned', how did you know my name?" Blue thought for a few seconds, "I believe that warrior said it, after he heaped my legs onto the ground. I didn't learn your full name until later."
Newly clothed in dry linens we made our way to the table takin' out respective seats as assigned by Serah.
[Blue]
Lifting up the lid on the metal pan near me I found nine very thin fish fillets. They were practically slivers. I covered my face with my hand, as I shook it, laughing. "You makin' fun of my fish fillets Bluey?" "Not at all Fang, not at all." I looked up to find her grinning at me.
Snow's head popped up from his food, "OH! That sounds great, hey guys could you pass me a fillet o' fish?" Cocking an eyebrow, "You sure Snow? This might surprise you? Not sure you can handle this fillet o' fish." He thumped his chest, "I can handle anything! Bring on the food!" Upon receiving his plate I placed one of the tiny fish fillets on it. "Don't say I didn't warn you Snow, you're in for a mouthful." Fang bit her lip, amusement clearly written over her face as she waited for his reaction. Lightning looked over at him as well, with her typical expression she always wore when she dealt with Snow it screamed, 'god this guy is an idiot.'
Snow nodded his head at me in thanks, picking up his fork and knife excitedly, he stopped dead upon looking down. "What's this? Is this all?" Fang busted out laughing, nearly choking on her drink. Lightning smiled into her glass shaking her head at Snow. Juokas glanced over, "Wow that is a mouthful, are you going to be able to handle that Snow?" Snow looked completely devastated, like a kid who had their balloon popped by a mean stranger.