Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Project: Dark Seed ❯ Modo´s POV ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Don't own anything besides my OCC (original created character)

Author's note: Ok. I now ask all readers. *Who is still interested in this story?* Because the prequel is only for readers, who actually appreciate my work. ^^ A big hooray for my fans here. (Ok maybe not fans, but I can't think of a word right now. =^_^=) Well then, here is the second secret. Modo is a big and strong guy but was he always stronger than his friends??? Find out, why Modo is the strong member of the group, physically and mentally. I also added the song *Defender* from my favorite group Manowar to the story. Enjoy. ^_^

Warning: Maybe a bit shonen ai in the last chapter.

FF-notes:

~song~

Modo's POV

~When you're old enough to read these words,

Their meaning will unfold~

Sometimes, I hate my name!

Mortimer Do' War.

I'd rather have my father's name. Really! Drake Do' War. He was my hero, even if he didn't fight in the Sorceress War. He was only the mechanic for the soldiers who fought against Adel. I was named after my uncle, the brother of my Dad. He was one of the first out of our family, who died in the war. And I, as the poor-victim-with-no-rights, had the honor to share his name. Well, .... I'll live.

My mother died in the sorceress war as well, shortly after my birth. And my Dad and I were left behind. He didn't have an easy life. Being a mechanic, looking after a new born child and hiding from Adel´s spys. It all ended when my Dad got sick. I was three years old when he died. It was the most painful time in my life. I lost the only person, who was left of my family. And now, I am the last member of the family Do' War. I remember the day when my father died.

He was in his bed. A neighbor and the priest where there, and I sat in the room, not knowing what´s going on. My father beckoned me to his side and I remember his words clearly, even when I was only three.

~These words are all that's left,

And though we've never met, my only son,

I hope you know~

He said: "My son, did you see the Katana in the living room, on the cupboard?"

I nodded, of course I noticed it. I admired it from the very first day, since I saw it. But I was never allowed to touch it, because I could've hurt myself. Then he told me why it was so important.

~That, I would have been there, to watch you grow~

"Your uncle owned it. He was my older brother and a very brave fighter. When I received it from his friends, I knew he would never come back home. ....I wanted you to learn how to use it, since it was too late for me to do so. I wanted to see, how you grow up and how you learn to handle it. But now, ....everything has changed. ...I won't be there for you anymore."

~But my call was heard and I did go~

I looked at him in confusion. I didn't understand what he meant. Later, ...much later, I did. And I realized he would leave me alone, like my uncle, my mother and like many other family members before him did.

Realization can be painful.

~Now your mission lies ahead of you

As it did mine, so long ago.~

"I want you to promise me something. ...I'm not as strong as your uncle was, but I helped the people in my own way. Promise me, that you try to learn, how to fight with the Katana. ....I know you would be a great mechanic. But you should also be able to defend yourself ....and others."

~To help the helpless ones, who all look up to you,

And to defend them to the end!~

I held his hand and nodded. I couldn't say no. I didn't understand why I should learn it, but it seemed very important for him. So I promised it to him. Then I noticed something. He never called me by my name! He always called me: His son, buddy, big man or big fella. I guess he knew, I didn't like my name so much. He released my hand and the priest sent me out of the room, but before I stood up, I heard how my Dad whispered:

"Be strong, my son! Fight for everyone, who needs you."

~Defender!

Ride like the wind!

Fight proud, my son!

You're the defender,

God has sent.~

I went to the living room and saw the Katana. I shoved the chair to the cupboard and climbed on it. It was still impressive. And there was a writing on the hilt. *Mortimer Do' War, The Pillar of Strength.* I knew it wasn't me it referred to. Though I felt like this sword was made for me. Since the former owner couldn't use it anymore I felt like I had to replace him, to be the new *Pillar of Strength*, and I'd keep my promise, come what may!

I wasn't at my Dad's funeral. Not that I didn't wanted to go, but the people, in the little village we lived, didn't let me. I guess, they thought I was too small and too young to be on a funeral. I packed a few things like my clothes, the Katana, a few books from my Dad and tools too, then left for an orphanage between Timber and Winhill. I stayed there 'til I was eight years old. Then I had to leave again, for a school called *Balamb Garden*. Strange enough that the headmaster wanted all orphans to stay in this school, but the strangest for me was that I could learn how to fight with *my* Katana there. In the orphanage they were complaining about me keeping it.

"That could have a bad influence on the other children."

Such Idiots! How could it possibly have a bad influence, when it stayed in a closed cupboard most of the time? Luckily I could keep it, because it was my Dad's last will.

Ok, I wasn't allowed to practice with it, but in this few years, I learned how to repair different things. I had the tools and I had the books from my father. Partly, I wanted to be like he had been, but also like my uncle, though I never met him.

~Father, Father

Father I look up to you

and heed thy call~

It wasn´t that hard to learn it. I was happy if there was something to fix in the orphanage and I was really excited, when an experiment succeeded. I admit, I am not flawless. There were times when I blew things up accidentally and got yelled for it. The best was, nobody hated or despised me for my intelligence or my curiosity.

However, everything changed in Balamb Garden. Only a few kids liked me. The rest despised me for being smart. (Sorry for actually having a brain.)

Hated me for my behavior and my sense of humor. They came to me saying things like: Hey Genius, go and bore someone else to death or Get lost and play with the other geeks.

Well... one said: *Envy isn't a nice character trait.*

I only had a few friends, but that was enough for me, because they were my friends no matter what I did. During two years, I had good grades (except in one subject, magic.) and trained as hard as I could to make one of my dreams come true. To become the new *Pillar of Strength* and making my father proud, wherever he was. Two years aren't long, I was happy anyway.

It didn't last though. ....Nothing lasts forever.

When I was ten years old I had to leave my friends behind, without saying goodbye, because ...some stranger called Captain Jack told us to do so. With us I mean two other guys. One called Richard Coerd and the other Zell Dincht. The Capt'n promised us, to get the chance for using our weapons when we went through the physical training. He'd said he would make us to *Dark Seeds*, something like the elite of Seed.

I always wondered what hell would be like.

Now I know!

He sent us through it in the first year. He build one obstacle course after another and the next was even weirder than the former one. He was always yelling at us. Or he called us names. The only positive thing in the first year was the change of my name. Mortimer Do' War became Modo. Yeah, I liked that. It was short and ....cool.

With Rico and Zell the training wasn't so bad, it was fun to train with them. But it wasn't always like this. At first we barely knew each other and we certainly didn't like the other. I, for my part, didn't like Zell. I don't remember why. It was just this feeling of dislike. When we were in our huge tent, we did nothing else but argue. Rico was more of the reasonable guy. He tried to settle things or to ignore it.

One day it escalated. We got into a real fight and Rico had a hard time to calm us down. He made clear to us that, if we want to survive this torture we had to work together and prove the Captain wrong. Showing him that we weren't some pathetic worms like he called us sometimes, or his sissy company.

Zell and I agreed to an armistice and to get to know each other better. With the time we went along and I saw, that I had unfounded prejudices against him. He became my best friend, next to Rico of course.

After two years we had to train with our magical skills. My weak subject in Garden, because I had only trained my strength and not my magic there.

I got an extra hard training. When Zell and Rico were finished for the day, then I had to practice a few hours more. I concentrated and casted spells until I had a pounding headache and collapsed on the ground. And this in a endless stream of days. I was almost happy when we started the physical training in the morning, at noon we were taught the magical training. I improved my magic within six months. Now, my magic was equal with my brothers. ....Yes, right!

For me, Rico and Zell were my brothers. And I treated them as my brothers. I helped whenever I could, comforted them when they needed it. And looked for them, so nothing could happen.

The next six months were lessons and practice with the GFs. Surprisingly we couldn't work with all GFs, because not every GF did like us. There was Quezacotl. He didn't like Rico or me, but he more or less loved Zell in an instant. Shiva liked me and Leviathan would have strangled me with love if he could. Rico was on good terms with Ifrit and Diablos, but couldn't handle Siren for dear life.

The captain explained it to us. GF's liked humans, who were connected with the same element. Every human was born with the talent, to handle an element. They just had to learn how to do this. So that meant if we trained hard enough, than we could handle one element. I guess mine is water, Rico's could be fire and Zell's element is thunder, for sure.

A few months later, it was time for our first real missions. The first mission was an easy task. We were just Bodyguards. No big deal. We had a little bit trouble, but nothing we couldn't handle. Not bad for teenagers. But the second mission changed our lifes.

After the explosion, I woke up in a hospital. All I could remember was the great pain in my back and that the captain dragged us out before we were burned alive. I lay in my bed and the worst thing was ...I couldn't move!

I could move my arms and my torso, but not my legs; and it disturbed me. I didn't know if it was luck, but a forgetful nurse left the medical report on the cupboard next to me. Yes, I can actually read a medical report. After I read it ....I wished I never did. The report said that my legs were literally crushed. They were broken on more than one or two places. And the chance for me, to walk ever again was minimal. My dreams for the future vanished slowly. I couldn´t fight with the Katana in a wheelchair!!! That was just ridiculous! Everything was in vain. My training and the lessons.

I could never be a Dark Seed.

A Dark Seed in a wheelchair, the elite of Seed ...man ...how impressive.

In that moment, I could've cried. But I didn't! My Dad taught me that even if the chance for success was very little, I shouldn't waste it. I should take the chance when I could. Ok, so what? In this case the chance was minimal, nonetheless it was there.

The captain chose this moment to walk in. He caught me reading the report and shook his head.

"So, you know now what's going on, right?"

I nodded only. Too sad to form a sentence.

"Don't worry Modo, you'll walk again and if I have to make you, than I will!"

That sounded more than determined, and ...did I hear a trace of worry? Or did I imagine it? If I wasn't shocked before, now I surely was. The heartless, merciless drill bitch Captain Jack Willis tried to comfort me??? That was too much for my mind to handle. I tried to change the subject quickly, because a comforting captain terrified me to no end.

"How are the others?"

"Rico is fine at the moment. I didn't look for Zell yet, but I'm sure he's better off than you are."

I let out a sigh of relief. Good to know they were alive.

"You know that you have to start again with the walking? We start the *physiotherapy* when your last operation is done."

The captain had made his point very clear, he then left me then to my thoughts. I was really touched. He didn't want to give up on me, did he? He was determined to make me walk again. Nobody ever done something like that for me, not even my brothers. Ok then I would try and make the best out of it.

One month went by and then I had my last operation out of five. The captain went away, I didn't know where or why, but I should start the therapy without him. The doctors gave me leg splints so I could stand on my own. I held myself on the parallel bars and started to walk. It was painful. My muscles hurt like hell, because I had not used them at all the last few weeks. After an half an hour, I got tired and had to rest; it frustrated me to no end. Compared to the condition I had before the accident, I was a total wreck. But I tried it again and again, I didn't give up. I wanted to walk, run, jump and fight again. So I practiced for two weeks more and I could stand and walk, but only with the leg splints. Well better than no progress at all. The captain came back and told me that Rico was in Galbadia Garden and that he was fine. Now it was my turn for an extra training. ...I didn't like the way he said it and I certainly didn't like the smirk on his face.

Hyne, and how right I was!

We stayed in the middle of nowhere. There was only a hut, the sea, and a few hills. I noticed the barren-ness of the landscape and assumed we were on the Centra Continent, but I could've been wrong. I also wondered what we were doing here, my last medical report said I could only walk with the leg splints and that was final. He made up a trainings program for me with several steps.

Step One: Light training for my ankles. With swimming. Did anybody ever realized, what the captain really meant when he said: light training??? Well, ok. At first it wasn't so bad, but it was difficult to swim with the leg splints. I could've taken them off, but nooooo. I should wear them, the captain insisted it. Of course they dragged me down and that was the whole point of the training. Luckily for me, they didn't rust.

When I got used to it, he raised the weight.

How?

That just crazy. He let me pull a boat! With the rope around my torso I swam against the waves of the sea. First it was only an empty boat and soon the captain thought it was funny to put stones inside, to make it heavier. That went on for one month. One must think, I would have been sick of the sea by now. That's not the case, to be honest, I'm drawn to water. It's really my element, guess I should work on controlling it then. Always, when I finished a day of training, my legs felt like jelly and I could've lay down in the sand and taken a nap, but the obstacle between me and a nice nap was the captain, though! After that month, he thought it was time for more drastic methods.

Step Two: Now that was a really mean prank. He bound my hands behind my back and then he had the craziest idea, I could think of. He tied a rope around my torso and the ends around a large rock. My task was to drag it up the hill with my hands behind my back. It was hard for me to keep my balance and to bring up the strength for that. Just one slip and the rock would pull me backwards. It hurt everywhere, especially the spots where the rope had rubbed against my skin.

When I had done this for two weeks then, the rock wasn't especially heavy for me anymore. My legs hurt after a day of taking-a-rock-for-a-walk torture. Could it get any worse??? .....Yes!

Step Three: Step three almost killed me. Hey... that was a nice rhyme, wasn't it??? I was going to learn a new technique. Do I look like a certain bouncy martial artist or what? I´m not Zell, damn it. But I knew better than to argue with captain Jack. He told me that I couldn't constantly count on my teammates, at least I should learned one technique. It was called the *Break technique*. The first thing I thought was that I already knew at least twenty ways of how to break the bones of my opponents. That was nothing new.

Then he explained me the particular purpose of it. Material like stone and wood has a so-called *Break-point*, if you hit a special point the material will break. I had heard of that, but never thought it could be possible. It was though, but it wasn't easy to learn it and I would soon find out why.

This time, my left hand was bound behind my back and my feet were tied together so I couldn't dodge or run away. I persistently stood on the same spot while a large, heavy log swung into my direction and I only had my right hand to defend myself. The first rule was to feel the weak point. To know out of instinct, were to hit the log, so it would break into pieces. Do I have to mention how many times I was hit by this stupid piece of wood? Because after 115 times I stopped counting. But I'm not stupid and I figured it out, I made one single mistake. I didn't concentrate on the weak point, I concentrated on the log and when it would hit me again. I started to forget about the logs weight, the moment of the impact and the pain afterwards. I concentrated on the log. I needed many attempts but I got better and soon I noticed it. I just felt it, it was there, the one point that could break it. I didn't reach back with my free arm. It shot out, just touching the point, where I felt the weakness and then the log broke. Through the whole thing I had my eyes closed and when I opened them I saw a dangling rope and many little pieces of wood, only useful as toothpicks.

I did it!

And the best thing was ...it didn't hurt.

The captain nodded satisfied and untied me, I could practice tomorrow and it was enough for the day. I was so proud of myself when I realized what I've been through.

At first I was desperate, no hope of ever walking again. Then I trained my legs, first only standing, then slowly walking. I went through torture and pain in three steps, physically and mentally.

There were points, in those three months, where I wanted to end it all. I thought things like: *Screw this, it's hopeless. You'll never be the same again!* Then I started thinking. Why would the captain train me, if it was really hopeless? So there was a purpose in the training and I was determined to find out what it was. Maybe I couldn't be a Dark Seed, but at least I could fight, with the leg splints and my Katana. Now that was picture...

We stayed a week more and I practiced with the technique very hard. Now I could do it, while I was asleep. The technique had only one catch.

Metal!

Metal didn't have a break point, only when its temperature is very low, practically frozen. So if I'm stuck in a metal cage I have to use an ice spell or Shiva's power to break out.

Our next destination was Galbadia Garden, where Rico was already waiting for us. I couldn't wait to show him what I learned, but I was also afraid to see him. What would he say when he saw the leg splints? Would he pity me? ...I didn't want pity from him or Zell. Yes, I was a disabled person but I didn't need any pity.

The captain waited by the car for me when I brought my bags out of the hut. What surprised me, was to see my Katana in his hands. I could've sworn that I had packed it into one bag. I approached the car and threw my luggage onto the backseat. When I turned around to ask him about my Katana, he unsheathed it and sliced with it the air, to close to me for my liking, and for a second I thought he had hurt me. There was something strange about it though. I heard how the Katana hit something but it sounded like metal, not like flesh and bones.

All of sudden, my leg splints broke apart, neatly cut by my own sword.

I was standing, still in shock, but standing.

Normally I should've hit the ground, because my legs shouldn't be able to support my weight.

I looked down on myself. I stood in place, not toppling and not even wavering. What was going on here? My mind couldn't grasp the fact that I could stand without those modified, metallic vices. I gaped at him for a few seconds, before I found my voice again.

"Capt'n Jack ...what... ?"

I couldn't say one sentence without to stutter. The captain gave me his typical: you-thought-you-knew-the-truth smirk.

"Well Modo ...you shouldn't believe everything you read."

For me, the captain spoke in riddles. I narrowed my eyes dangerously, but more in thinking than in anger. (I know I look mean when I do that, but I can't help it.) Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

He tricked me! The captain tricked me!!!

" ....The medical report?!" I whispered. He only nodded.

The damn Bastard!!!

He told the doctors to put a wrong medical report into my file. I believed the whole time, that I wouldn't be able to walk normal ever again. I was about to snap at him, for the torture I went through, when he hit me with his fist. I blinked a few times, then I noticed it.

It didn't hurt!

The captain may be a lilliput considering his height, but I know for sure that he is damn strong for his size. And I knew he didn't hold back when he hit me. Nonetheless it didn't hurt. I was surprised and stared at him with wide eyes.

"Modo. ...Do you know why you had to learn the *Break technique*?"

First I thought it was because I couldn't always count on my friends, exactly like he said. But then again ...he had lied about the report. I remembered the training with the log and how painful it was, when it hit me in the chest, my stomach or even my head. I had gotten many ugly bruises, but my body became more resistant at the same time.

That was it!!!

The whole training was to make my body stronger. When we started to train I may have had the strength to use my Katana, but I couldn't take a single blow. My Body itself was to weak and my muscles weren't hard enough. That was the whole point. It was so simple and yet I didn't see it.

I tried to walk a few steps without my splints. It was a totally new feeling, so light and free.

Suddenly the captain held my Katana at arms length in front of me, sheathed again, and I'll never forget what he said to me

"Now ...you really are *Mortimer Do' War ...The Pillar of Strength.*"

I remembered the words of my father and what I had promised him. Capt'n Jacks words meant very much to me. One of so many dreams came true. I became what I wanted to become and I kept my promise.

~This letter ends my search,

I'll live your dream, now passed on to me~

My eyes suddenly stung with tears, but I didn't let them drop. How would that look like? A Dark Seed crying out of happiness? I bet Zell would. Speaking of my team-mates, I still didn't know how they were. The captain had noticed my worried look.

" C'mon Modo. Let's visit Rico. He'll be glad to see you again. While you´re in Galbadia Garden, I'll visit Zell and look how he's doing."

"Is he ok?"

"I can't tell you the details. But I can tell you that he is alright ...physically."

That didn't sound so convincing to me. Something was up with Zell and I didn't know anything at all. I felt helpless. My bro' needed help and I couldn't do anything for him. The only thing I could do was to hope. Hope that captain Jack could help him like he helped me to walk again. My hatred for the captain had changed in those few months. I now respected him more than ever before and I was glad that he was our instructor.

The next day I stood in front of the gates to Galbadia Garden. I was going to learn new things, to train my new strength and to improve my knowledge about machines and technology. I wanted to be able to help people, not only with my fighting skills, also with my talents. Hey, I could still repair anything because I didn't forget it. That was another dream of me. To be a little bit like my father. And someday I will be like he was, I just know it.

~And I now wait to shake the hand of fate,

like the dusk awaiting dawn.~

I know what people are saying about me behind my back. They say I'm mean or evil, just because I look it. Or that I'm nothing more than a fighting giant with no brain. (Not my fault, being 6"3 feet in height. Everyone in my family was tall.) It doesn't matter to me anymore. I have two best friends and brothers who'll always stand up for me. I'm strong, skilled in fight and magic ...and my special secret, I learned how to control the element water. I'm sure the others learned how control their element too and how to junction it. I didn't ever see it though. But with all that, I am able to fight every kind of enemy. My strength, my Katana and my bro's, that's all I need in a fight.

~So wizards, cast your spell.

With no heart to do me well.

So it is written, it shall be!~

If I die in a fight, I can die without regretting anything. I did my best and that's all I can do. I guess it's the destiny of the three of us. To fight, to defend and to die for the ones we love and care about.

...Dark Seeds were born to die.

~Defender!

Ride like the wind!

Fight proud, my son!

You're the defender,

God has sent.~

~~~

Hope you enjoyed the song-fic. Try the songs of Manowar. ^^ They´re not bad, really.