The Power of Bonds
Azem had a very special gift. Wherever she walked, trouble was sure to follow. But through that very trouble, she touched the lives of many people, making a multitude of acquaintances and allies; each of them heeding whenever she called.
As the inheritor of her crystal, you too possess that gift. Ever since you stepped onto Eorzean shores, you have lived through countless adventures, meeting equally countless people. And now it was their turn to help you.
Because where you walk...fate followed.
It was a few days later that found S'eni in the Medial Circuit, lying atop one of the many grassy hills while staring up at the artificial sun hovering in the 'skies' of Labyrinthos. A true product of Sharlayan ingenuity that used fire aether to replicate the properties of the real deal, making life in this subterranean habitat possible in the first place. Truly brilliant.
All the scarier that it might have nearly blown up on them due to a shift inside its core that went entirely unnoticed by anyone but a single boy. That certainly would have put a damper on their plans, to say the least. Luckily, they managed to fix the issue in time and all's well that ends well.
She sighed and closed her eyes. Gods, what an intense couple of days it had been. One errand after another, with no visible end in sight. If she wasn't carrying stuff, she was spending most of her time assisting the gleaners in their many, many tasks. How she even managed to have time to eat and sleep, she frankly hadn't the foggiest.
So when S'eni had the chance to get a moment to herself, she immediately seized it and now here she was, simply enjoying the quiet. The corners of her lips rising, she ran her hands through the pleasantly warm grass. Perhaps she could sneak in a few winks before someone came looking for her...
Yes, that sounded like a good... and she began to drift off...
...
...
...
Crack.
...And she was immediately awake again, her ears shifting to follow the footsteps coming over until they stopped right next to her. She didn't even need to open her eyes to know that it was Y'shtola, so she just stayed like she was. After a brief moment, the other Miqo'te spoke up.
"Are you intending to lounge around here all day?"
"If I get a chance to," she replied and raised her hand, index finger extended to point upward. "Come, join me. It's such a nice day, after all."
"Until the systems determine that the moisture levels need to be adjusted," was Y'shtola's dry response, yet she still sat down, releasing a long sigh. "My feet are killing me."
"We could go down to the stream. Give them a good soak, and afterwards I'll give you a foot massage."
"That would be lovely. But, I'm afraid it will have to wait until later."
"Tonight then. If we don't collapse from exhaustion."
Y'shtola giggled. "I shall hold you to that, then, my dear Warrior of Light."
The next few minutes passed in relative silence, the rustling of nearby trees in the artificial breeze filling the void their voices left. Eventually, though, Y'shtola made to rise. "I believe it's best if we—"
S'eni's hand shot up, taking hold of her lover's arm, and she finally opened her eyes to meet silvery-white ones looking at her in question. "Let's stay here. Just a little while longer."
The other woman looked at her for a few, long seconds, before releasing a huff, lips quirking upwards. "Honestly..." she muttered and lowered herself to lie down next to S'eni.
Slipping an arm around Y'shtola's shoulders, she pulled her in, smiling once again at the close contact and letting her eyes return to the artificial sky. She watched a projected cloud pass by, feeling a little amused that someone had deigned to include details such as this. But then again, the people and creatures living down here might otherwise go stir-crazy. And, once the day would come to an end, it would shift to a recreation of the night's sky, twinkling stars and all.
Stars... she thought, her mind going back to a conversation she had with G'raha days ago. Apparently, it had been Amon who was one of the most outspoken people when it came to the Allagan foray into the vastness of the universe. And since that was way before he ever joined the Ascians, he could not have acted on any potential memories he might have gotten from Fandaniel's crystal. To that, G'raha voiced a theory: that perhaps souls had a sort of personality, a disposition to which they were inclined.
"Like Hermes before him, Amon was appalled by how those around him lived, but could never bring himself to believe that those lives were devoid of meaning," he had said. "And both of them sought that meaning, that hope, in the distant stars."
Of course, there was no proof for that, but the similarities were definitely there. It made her wonder...
"What are you thinking about?" Y'shtola suddenly asked, pulling her out of her musings.
"Just something Raha told me the other day..." she said and regaled to her what they had talked about. When she was done, the other Miqo'te's eyebrows were drawn in thought.
"A fascinating theory...an inclination of the soul."
"Yeah. While I was in Elpis, Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus talked quite a bit about Azem, and what sort of person she was. And since I'm the inheritor of her crystal, I..."
"Wonder if that's why you are the way you are?"
She nodded.
"Perhaps. Like an inherent desire to see the unknown. But I wouldn't think too much about it," Y'shtola said, placing a hand on her cheek and turning her head to look into her eyes. "After all, it was you who experienced all these adventures. Not Azem, or anyone else. And it's also you who is lying here with me now."
They shared a warm smile, and Y'shtola leaned in for a brief kiss. After pulling back again, S'eni released a happy little hum and chuckled. "You know, does that mean your soul is inclined towards uncovering the truth...or just being godsdamned stubborn?"
"Hmpf, giving me cheek now aren't you?" her lover's smile took on that sweet, yet so very dangerous edge, and a nail gently traveled across her cheek. "Do you desire punishment that much?"
"Depends. Will it be like last time?" S'eni asked right back, slowly rolling them over so that Y'shtola was lying on her back. Lowering her head so that their noses brushed, she added with a whisper, "I really enjoyed that, you know."
"My my, just what am I to do with you?"
"There's a couple of things we both can think of, I'm sure," she said, giving Y'shtola's lips a little peck, then proceeded to trail butterfly kisses down her face and towards her neck, drawing out the most beautiful-sounding giggles. They were soon joined by delightful gasps, as S'eni's hands began to roam, and not long after, her own voice echoed through the vicinity as well when Y'shtola decided to return her affections in kind.
This continued for a little while, but came sadly to an end all too soon when Y'shtola pointed out that they could be found by one of the others or an unsuspecting member of the staff. And though the thought of being caught was amusing in its own right, S'eni agreed with the added assurance that they would be continuing this at a later point. After getting up, and patting any lingering grass off their clothes, the two of them made their way to the Archeion. Only to suddenly pause when they were greeted by quite a sizable crowd.
"What in the—" S'eni looked at Y'shtola, who returned it with the same confusion while picking a stray blade of grass out of her hair. Walking over, they approached one of the people gathered here, a man from Meryall Agronomics. "Excuse me? Can you tell us what's going on?"
"They say that ships arrived in port, airships too, each bringing cargo," he explained. "Apparently it's quite a commotion out there."
"Ships you say..." she turned back towards her lover. "Then that can only mean—"
"S'eni! Y'shtola!" Turning around, they saw Alphinaud and the others coming towards them with fast steps. A smile was on the young Elezen's face, further confirming her assumption. "We were already wondering if we needed to go looking for you two. Krile just contacted me, but it seems the news has already reached down here. So what do you say, shall we greet our friends?"
S'eni smirked and punched her palm. "You bet!"
And what a sight it had been!
Crates filled with the desired refined adamantite, sacred and ancient relics, all lining the pier, causing much distress to the Worldly Affairs official at its unannounced arrival. But really, how would one even go about announcing all this? All these people?
This was way beyond the scope of anything she or the others had imagined. Not just their friends from the Ilsabard contingent, but also members of the East Aldenard Trading Company, the Redbills from the Sea of Clouds, Cid and many of his talented engineers, Thavnairian alchemists led by Vrtra, as well as their Far Eastern allies and even the rest of their fellow Scions. All had come to lend their aid.
It was...unbelievable, really.
But, there was no time to be amazed!
"Careful...careful...alright, now let's put it down..." S'eni said and lowered the crate she and Hoary Boulder were carrying onto the boat that would carry it down to Labyrinthos. Wiping at her brow, she looked at the gleaners manning it and gave them a thumbs-up. She watched them travel down the channel, before turning towards her Roegadyn friend and bumping his much larger fist. "Good job. I see you haven't been slacking in your training one bit."
"Of course not." He chuckled. "After all, I intend to win the rematch you owe me."
"Hoo boy." But at least with Hoary, she could be sure it remained a friendly competition. After making their way up the stairs, she waved him goodbye as he went to help Coultenet and headed over to where Soroban was instructing a pair of Logistikon workers as they lifted up one of the two chests containing the Kojin's sacred relics.
"Be very careful," he said in that slow and meticulous way he and his brethren always spoke. "These treasures are of immense worth. Ah, S'eni."
"Soroban," she greeted as he sent the workers off and turned towards her. "Everything going alright here?"
"Yes. But since you are here…" He turned to the other chest and took the katana propped up against it, holding it out to her. "Would you please deliver Hoomaru to where it is needed?"
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"Seiryu and Suzaku would insist."
She looked at the sword in his hand, then, with an exhale through her nose, took it.
"Well, wouldn't want to cause a diplomatic incident with the two of them," she said lightly, but could immediately feel a weight upon her shoulders. If it only so much got a little chip in its blade, the two auspices would have her head.
"Thank you," Soroban said and bowed his head. Leaving him to his work, S'eni walked off, stopping for a brief moment to look at Hoomaru. To what an overeager spending spree on Alphinaud's part could lead to...
The corners of her lips curling upward, she raised her head and cast her gaze out until they found the young man in question together with his sister, standing with their parents and exchanging words she could not hear. But from the smiles on their faces, it was clear that they were talking about something nice. Her expression grew warm at the sight.
In the end, making peace had come all too easily, the strength of their conviction and the proof of all they had accomplished in front of his very eyes making Fourchenault finally pour out all he held within his heart. All he had done, even going so far as to alienate his own children, had been out of the desire to make sure they had a future, and if he had to force the two of them onto the ark himself at the end. Indeed, he was a stubborn old goat that loved his children tremendously.
Just as he did his father.
She was just about to head towards the stairs, when Alisaie, who must have felt her eyes on them, turned around and waved her over.
"Oh my, that is quite a curious airship," she heard Ameliance say as she approached the family, not even needing to look to know which one she meant.
"That's the Prima Vista," S'eni said. "She belongs to the Majestic Theater Company."
"Theater you say?" the woman's eyes lit up.
"And I just so happen to be well acquainted with them. So if you'd like I can introduce you to them."
Ameliance clapped her hands together in delight. "You would?"
"Careful there, you won't be able to wiggle out of this one if you promise her," Alisaie warned with a little grin.
"That's fine. I wanted to see how Alma and Ramza were doing anyway. But before that—" she held up Hoomaru. "—I need to see this delivered."
"Then you are making for Aporia?" Fourchenault suddenly asked and she nodded. "Allow me to accompany you. I need to venture to prepare everything for your talk with Hydaelyn."
But the look in his eyes made it clear that there was something else he wished to say. "Of course," she said.
Bidding the twins and their mother goodbye for now, they headed up the stairs towards the Rostra and from there to the entrance lift to Labyrinthos. Neither said a word on their journey there nor did she make a move to do so. Fourchenault would speak once he deemed it the right time. Which he finally did as they made their descent deep into the island.
"I...wish to apologize once more," he said, turning to face her. "For the words I have said in Gridania."
She regarded him for a brief moment, then offered him a small smile. "I think we both spoke quite out of turn that day. So how about we both apologize and forgive and forget?"
"That..." he mirrored her expression. "...sounds quite acceptable."
With the ice thus broken, they stepped out of the lift and began to make their way to the Archeion.
"You know, Master Matoya mentioned you to me once," she said.
"Yes, you did indicate as much back then. Knowing her, it cannot have been anything flattering."
"She pretty much said the twins inherited all of Louisoix's brains while skipping over you." She giggled at the expression on his face. "Still, it goes to show how highly she thinks of your children. Despite butting heads with him, I can tell she respected him a great deal."
"If only she had shown it in a...less biting way, shall we say. Many a student's ear at the time turned red from colorful insults being hurled down the hallways," he said, frowning in disapproval, but there was a small glint of nostalgia in his eyes as he clearly remembered the good old days when Louisoix was still alive. Then it gave way to something else and he fell silent for a few minutes, only speaking up once more when they arrived at the Medial Circuit. "You spoke of how my father saved your life. Would you tell me about it?"
"Like so many other adventurers, I joined the troops at Carteneau. Our goal was to stop Dalamud's descent by calling upon the Twelve. When it broke apart, and Bahamut was released, I was right in the middle of it all. Unable to do anything but pray," she told him, looking out into the distance. "And then, when everything seemed lost, Louisoix used the last of his power to send me and my fellows away. I tried to call out to him, but it was already too late. The last I saw of him was his smiling face."
Of course, that wouldn't prove to be the last time she saw him, as Bahamut had made sure, but the twins and she had sworn to not let that story get public, and she only ever had told Cid about it, knowing he would keep it secret. Best to have Louisoix's memory remain what it was. Even to his son.
"I still remember one of the last things he said to me, before making for Carteneau."
"What was it?" Fourchenault asked.
"Where men go as one, there is life. And where there is life, there is cause for hope."
"Yes, that...sounds just like him."
"It does." She smiled.
They continued on their way until they reached Aporia, and the Elezen turned to face her. "Thank you, for telling me this," he said earnestly. "And for having fought at my father's side."
"Perhaps one day I can tell you some more stories about what I've experienced together with him and the others."
"I would like that. But for now, I have preparations to make. I shall send for you when everything is ready."
"Very well. See you later," S'eni said. He inclined his head, before turning around and leaving. After delivering Hoomaru, she too took her leave and returned back to the surface, where work continued on. And still would for a while, from the looks of things.
Wandering around for a bit, she found herself pausing in her steps when she caught sight of a rather particular view. A tiny, almost plush-like in appearance, Chocobo dressed in an equally tiny uniform of the Garlond Ironworks. It was Alpha, who had helped them a great deal during the whole Omega fiasco and had become something of a mascot of the Ironworks. He, too, had come following their calling for aid, and while she couldn't think of any practical ways that he could really help, she was plenty sure his presence alone would do wonders for morale.
Just looking at him made her beam and want to hug him!
Next to him, a little Magitek toy version of Omega Weapon walked about, before taking notice of her and turning around. It looked at her, its 'head' turning from side to side. Almost as if…
"Kweh kweh!" Alpha called out, raising his tiny wing in a way to greet her.
"Hey there, little guy," she greeted him back. "Taking a break?"
He shook his feathers then tilted his head as if to tell her that he could hardly carry all this stuff.
"I suppose you're right."
"Wark." He then raised his head to look up to the sky, his large eyes searching.
"...You can sense her, don't you?" S'eni asked, following his gaze. "Meteion."
He nodded.
"She is out there. Somewhere." She briefly closed her eyes to see a flash of an innocent smile within her mind, only for it to be replaced by dark coldness. Her hands balled into tight fists as the Meteion's last plea for help, just before the shared consciousness had fully taken over, resurfaced in her thoughts. "...Please…protect them all…"
The feeling of something brushing against her leg drew her out of her reverie and she looked down to see Alpha now standing directly next to her, a silent offer within his cute eyes. With a smile, she knelt down and pulled him into her arms, burying her face into the softness of his feathers. "I know…we must stop her…but…it's not that simple."
"Kweh…"
"Yeah…" she pulled him closer. "It never truly is."
S'eni held onto him for a little bit longer until she felt sufficiently cheered up again. As she let go of Alpha, she presented him with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Alpha."
"Wark!" he puffed out his chest a little, seemingly quite proud of managing to comfort her.
"You know, this is usually Shtola or Zack's job. So let's keep this a little secret between you and me." She held a finger against her lips and playfully winked at it, followed by a giggle as he Kweh'd in agreement. "Good. Now, why don't we get both back to work? I'm sure Wedge can do with your supervision, otherwise, he might be too busy fawning over Tataru."
"Kweh Kweh!"
Rising back up, she watched the little guy and his companion toy rush off in search of the Lalafel engineer, then walked away as well in search of her next task. She eventually encountered Y'shtola. The other Miqo'te was leaning against one of the crates, reading a letter. Pale eyes looked up from it as she approached.
"Taking a break?" she asked with a grin.
"Something like that." Y'shtola held out a letter. "Lyse sent this alongside Gridania's contribution. Seems like she traveled there to aid in the adamantite recovery."
She took the letter and began to read it. A grin started to form on her lips, growing further and further as the recounting of the events that had transpired for Lyse became more and more unflattering. Not that she could blame her friend for that. Having survived many an Allagan deathtrap herself, very much sympathized.
"Sounds like they could've used a few goblin-made bombs as well," she said, handing the letter back to Y'shtola.
"As it stands, I doubt she will have any kind words for the Allagans any time soon."
"Speaking of time—" S'eni patted the crate Y'shtola was leaning against. "—we've got none to waste here!"
With a resigned sigh, Y'shtola put Lyse's letter away and moved to help her carry it.
The obligatory "side content reference"-chapter. Featuring, of course, best boi Alpha. As it should be.