Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice ❯ There's a First Time for Everything ( Chapter 20 )

~~~ means meanwhile

*** change in time

 

Chapter 20: There's a First Time for Everything

 

“I finally made it…” Cid breathed, staring with awe out the front window. “Outer space.” The entire launch had taken less than one minute. For a moment he didn't say anything else, just stared at the spectacle that was before his eyes. He had never thought his dreams would ever come true.

 

“Let's see… how's the course set…?” Cid looked down at the control panel, mashing a few buttons to bring up some data to the view screen. He sighed. “Yup, it's headed for a collision with Meteor.”

 

“Is there nothing we can do?” Vincent asked, speaking for perhaps the first time since the mission had begun.

 

The pilot snorted angrily. “That damn pig Palmer went outta his way to lock the Auto-Pilot device. We might not be able to change the course.”

 

“… this is the end?” Cloud questioned, gulping audibly.

 

“Huh?” the Captain asked, eyes widening in surprise. “What the hell're you sayin'? You're still young and you give up that easily!” He laughed aloud as he pulled himself out of the seat and stretched. “I'm not gonna crash into Meteor. Just watch. I keep an Escape Pod on the rocket for emergencies just like this. We can bail on outta here!”

”What about the Huge Materia?” the ex-Turk asked, reminding both of them of their original reason for coming to Rocket Town in the first place.

 

“…If you want it, do whatever you want. The Materia should be there after you climb the ladder.” Cid shrugged noncommittally.

 

“Are you sure?” Cloud questioned feeling a bit confused. Cid seemed to be having such a mood swing right now.

 

“I dunno…” The other blond sighed and looked up out at the window at the great expanse of stars and blackness that surrounded them. “I know what I said a minute ago. But maybe all that I really wanted was to go into outer space. So, why don't you all do whatever you think is right.” He turned to face the companions, showing the sincerity that was etched into his features.

 

The gunman gave Cloud a look as if to say `I told you so' as he moved towards the ladder. The spiky-headed blond sighed and followed after Vincent. This whole Rocket Town issue was more trouble than it was worth. He heard a clatter on the ladder beneath him and saw that Cid was coming as well. Finally, the man made a rational decision.

 

Within moments the three men were standing in the materia room, looking at a glowing tube that contained the Huge Materia.

 

“It's structured so that the lock can be opened if we enter the passcode,” the pilot explained, gesturing to a control panel at the base of the materia's prison.

 

“Well, what's the code then?” Cloud asked hurriedly.

 

Cid scratched his head and looked a bit sheepish. “I don't remember.”

 

“Tch, let me try,” Vincent commented, pushing past them. He looked down at the control panel as if analyzing everything about it. After a moment he reached down and pressed four buttons quickly, as if he had already known the combination.

 

The panel beeped and slid open. The Materia was theirs.

 

“Amazing!” the leader breathed. “How on hell did you figure it out?”

”Ancient Wutaian secret,” the gunman muttered as he watched Cloud retrieve the materia. “Handed down in my family for generations.” [1]

 

Cid gave Vincent a really strange look before busting out laughing. “Oh, hell! Damn, Vince, you cracked a joke. That's enough FMA for you!”

 

Cloud looked between the two of them as Vincent smiled oh-so slightly. Something was up… he was sure of it.

 

“Let's get the hell out of here! The escape pod's through there!” Cid exclaimed. gesturing to another door in the room.

 

The three men nodded as Cloud slipped the Huge Materia into his pack. They headed to the door and quickly passed through it, coming into a storage room for the oxygen tanks. They moved without hesitation eager to get off of the flying death trap.

 

Yet, as they passed, Oxygen Tank #8 gave a great shudder, the lights flashing wildly. The pilot noticed first, seeing that Vincent was the closest to the trouble waiting to happen. Without thinking, he dove and pushed the gunman out of the way just as the tank exploded, sending everyone to opposite corners of the room.

 

When the lights dancing in front of their eyeballs faded, Cloud and Vincent managed to pick themselves up off the floor with only a groan and minor bruising. Cid, however was not so lucky.

 

Debris from the explosion had fallen on his leg, pinning him to the ground.

 

“Grrgh! Damn! My leg's stuck…” the Captain cursed, struggling to move the heavy piece of machinery.

 

“Cid!!” Vincent exclaimed, horrified. It must have been the pilot who had gave him such a violent shove out of the way. Cid had saved him from that fate!

 

Cloud and the gunman quickly ran to their friend's side, hoping to move the heavy metal off of him.

 

“… damn!... can't lift it!” the leader cursed, straining with all his might.

 

“It's too off center. We need a third hand to counterbalance the weight!” the ex-Turk groaned. They didn't have a third hand.

 

“Don't worry about me. Hurry up and go! If you don't hurry, the rocket's gonna crash into Meteor!”

 

“Don't go all self-sacrificing, you idiot!” exclaimed Vincent, giving another tug on the rough metal. It didn't move.

 

“I won't go without my friends. I won't leave another behind!” argued Cloud, shaking his head fiercely.

 

Vincent nodded in agreement and as one, the two of them tried to lift the metal again. It didn't work.

 

“You %$$#@#!! No time to worry about other people!” the pilot cursed, still trying to encourage them to leave.

 

“I'm going to do whatever I can,” Cloud said stubbornly.

 

“We're going to get you out of this, Cid,” Vincent added in, stepping back to assess the situation once more.

 

“You're stupid. You're really fuckin' stupid.” Cid sighed in resignation. His eyes wandered over to the wall, where the remains of the tank still managed to cling to the metal. “Tank number 8, huh? Shera… she was right. But… this is the end for me.”

 

“Don't say that ya old man, you're too stubborn to die like this,” came Shera's voice suddenly from across the room.

 

All three males turned towards her in wonder, where the hell did she come from.

 

“Huh? Shera?” asked Cid, wanting to rub his eyes to be sure they weren't deceiving him.

 

“I tagged along. I'm coming to help you,” she said with a smile as she came further into the room and looked down at the trapped pilot.

 

“You stupid $#@%@!” Cid started, cursing heavily. However, he stopped suddenly, thinking about what he was saying. In a much softer voice, he added, “Sorry.”

 

Yet, Shera just smiled and took her place at one corner of the debris while Vincent and Cloud got in their previous places.

 

“Are you sure, Shera?” the leader questioned, eyeing her lithe figure.

 

Cid laughed hoarsely. “Looks can be deceiving, Cloud. That girl's strong as an ox.”

 

Shera smiled at him and nodded at the two men. “Ready? One… two… three!” On the last count they all gave a great heave and the piece of metal slid off of Cid. He was free.

 

Vincent cast a Cure2 on him to help the leg heal faster as Cloud helped the slightly woozy pilot to his feet.

 

“Come on,” Shera explained urging them to follow her. They wasted no time in obeying as she led them through another doorway and down a hallway to where the escape pod was kept. She ushered them inside as she pressed several buttons on a control panel.

 

Cloud helped Cid to a seat before taking one of his own on the opposite side. Vincent appeared to hesitate for a moment before sitting down next to the pilot, albeit not too closely.

 

“Hey, Shera! Does this Pod really fly?” Cid asked when the brunette mechanic entered the Pod and closed the door behind her.

 

“It'll be okay. I've been checking it till now,” she answered as the Escape Pod began to move in position. She took a seat in the abandoned space next to Cloud.

 

“…Then I'm relieved…” said the Captain softly. His eyes seemed to gleam at the brunette.

 

A big smile graced her face, lighting up her caramel eyes. “Thanks.”

 

Vincent watched the entire exchange with emotionless eyes, though inside he was a turmoil. Was there more to Shera and Cid than he was aware of? He sighed behind his cloak and disappeared inside his mind.

 

Somehow that brash pilot had started creeping his way into a more permanent place in the gunman's life, though pitiful it may be. There was something about being with the blue-eyed man that made the gunman feel like he was truly alive and not floating endlessly on a sea of guilt and betrayal.

 

Cid didn't ask questions; he didn't constantly nag like the others. He trusted the ex-Turk without giving reason why, and even stood up for him at times when Vincent just was too tired to do so himself. His unfailing need to reach his dreams was encouraging and underneath all the cursing and rough exterior; the man really was a kind softy, evident by the fatherly way he treated Yuffie, and the way he took over leadership of the group despite the fact he didn't want it. And he never complained aloud, hiding his pain so that the others wouldn't worry. Yes, Cid was a man someone could love… but was Vincent capable of such a thing?

 

The Escape Pod gave a great shudder and suddenly shot out of the rocket, throwing all of its passengers into their seats as they clung to whatever was available. Cid and Vincent grabbed handholds, Cloud and Shera grabbed each other.

 

Once their descent had evened out, the passengers were able to release their death like grips and actually enjoy the view. The younger blond had to apologize profusely to Shera for grabbing her in an uh… unfortunate place. She only smiled and told him it was quite all right, completely an accident.

 

Cid interrupted their little talk, but unintentionally. The pilot was merely talking to himself as he stared out the viewing window at the massive outstretched space that was before him, blue eyes shining.

 

“So this is outer space… man… it's the real thing. I'm really here in outer space,” he murmured to himself, hand on the window as if he were reaching for something. He sighed. “So long… ShinRa No. 26.”

 

The three friends watched as the rocket flew regally towards Meteor and crashed into it, erupting in a brilliant ball of flame and explosions. A bright light emanated from the crash and everyone was forced to shield their eyes. Perhaps that meant Meteor was destroyed? Perhaps the rocket was enough to destroy the fiery ball of doom? No one would know until the glare faded, and they could look to see.

 

~ ~ ~

 

The three friends shielded their eyes from the intrusion of the suddenly bright sun. They were momentarily blinded as their eyes had to adjust from the changing light intensities.

 

Once their vision had returned, they immediately recognized their attacker. It was the metal monster that they had fought before, and ran from. The one that attacked them in the City of the Ancients after Aeris' death… except now it had been modified with wings and greater fire power.

 

The metal enemy gave them no further opportunity to observe it, quickly attacking them and firing a series of missiles at the friends. They all dodged in different directions. Reeve made an executive decision; he would have to be the leader.

 

“Nanaki! Status?” he demanded, dodging a flailing metal appendage as he mentally reviewed his inventory of Materia. “Yuffie! Distraction technique!”

 

“Got it!” called the ninja cheerfully. The crackle of electricity filled the air as Yuffie cast Bolt3 on the metal abomination and followed it up with a toss of her Crystal Cross.

 

“Umm… Scorpios Level 8… ShinRa weapons department…” Nanaki called out as he was covered in a flash of yellow. He was sensing the creature trying to find a weakness. “Susceptible to cold…I think.” He shook his head as the yellow glow faded. Scorpios had a powerful materia barrier that was blocking most of his sensing abilities.

”Freeze!!” Reeve called out, using the green orb that had been attached to his knife case. He hoped that Nanaki's information had been accurate as water gathered around Scorpios only to harden and shatter casting its ice daggers at the metal creature.

 

It was then that the lion wolf noticed the faint greenish-blue shimmer of a reflect shield. “Get down!!” he yelled at the top of his voice. Reeve had noticed the barrier as well, cursing to himself he threw his body to the ground.

 

Yuffie didn't bother to give herself time to dodge as she hastily cast Fire3 at the many shards of ice that were heading her way, melting the most of them. One caught her in the shoulder and the other on her left leg.

 

Scorpios didn't give them any time to recover from their failed attack. It was ruthless as it fired off another barrage of missiles and following those projectiles with many of its waving sharp arms.

 

Nanaki and Yuffie nimbly avoided the missiles with their agility, Nanaki especially with the Time materia that he had junctioned with the added effect onto his armlet. Reeve however, was not so nimble and scrambled to avoid the arms as he deflected each missile with a carefully aimed dagger.

 

The battle was not going well for the home team.

 

With staggering motions, the three friends came back together, breathing heavily as they sized up their enemy, trying to come up with a strategy. Already Scorpios was preparing his next move.

 

“How can we beat that thing?” Yuffie asked her voice wispy from loss of breath. There was a brief flash of green and the wounds in her leg and shoulder were sealed, still slightly pink. “Thanks,” she added, nodding her head to Nanaki.

 

It was in that moment that Scorpios unleashed another attack upon them. However, Reeve had been prepared for this and called one of his now three summons.

 

“Carbuncle![1] Tri-Power Shield!” He called, pressing a finger to the red materia that glowed in his Ziedrich. [2]

 

A brilliant reddish-pink ball of light suddenly sparkled in the sky, moving rapidly to place itself between the heroes and their attacker. A form materialized into that of something that crossed a rabbit and a cat. The summon, known as Carbuncle, keened musically as she cast both Wall and Regen on all three of the party members and at the same time blocking the attack of Scorpios. The missiles landed harmlessly against Carbuncle's natural shield and dissipated.

 

Keening musically once more, the strange summon turned around, licked Reeve on the cheek, purred happily, and vanished as a ball of light. The ex-executive just shook his head and wiped off his cheek. To be such a powerful guardian, Carbuncle was awfully hyper and cutesy especially with her favorites.

 

“Carbuncle's shields won't hold out forever. We need a plan,” Reeve insisted, eyeing Yuffie and Nanaki.

 

Both of them looked at a loss for ideas.

 

“We spend so much time dodging the attacks, we barely have time to counter,” the ninja huffed, trying to catch her breath.

 

More missiles exploded on the shield around them and it shuddered, but repelled them. So far it was holding out.

 

“What can possibly defeat that thing?” Nanaki asked, unconsciously moving closer to Yuffie.

 

“We are going to have to try some sort of combined effort attack,” said Reeve thoughtfully. Then he got an idea. “Nanaki, you still have Earth?”

 

“Yes, but-“

 

“And Yuffie, you still have Destruct right?”

 

The ninja nodded.

 

“Good. I have Contain and enough left for a few castings of Freeze,” he added in, a strange gleam in his eyes.

 

Nanaki's eyes widened. “I think I understand your plan. Please, have Yuffie cast deBarrier and then Leviathan back to back. I will hit him repeatedly with Quake 3 until he is mired and covered with soil. Then you will strike with Freeze as many times as it takes to stop the metal creature.”

 

Reeve nodded his answer at the same moment that four heavy metal claws came clashing down on the shield above them. Scorpios had given up on the missiles and had come in for personal assault. The shield cracked but held, just barely.

 

“Got it,” Yuffie said, eyeing the cracking barrier above them. “Split in three ways. Soon as I leave this shield, I am going to fire that deBarrier and call out Levy.”

 

No one else had a chance to respond as the shield suddenly shattered and dissipated, blue sparkles fading away in the light. The three friends dove in separate directions, avoiding the swinging appendages of Scorpios.

 

Out of the corner of his eye, Nanaki watched as Yuffie threw out DeSpell and immediately touched her armband, calling for the Sea God's aid.

 

The sound of a serpent's roar filled the air and it was understood that her summons had been answered. The massive blue serpent of the ocean rushed at Scorpios, knocking the metal monster down as he covered it in a wall of water that it had magically called up. With a twinkle and flash, the summon disappeared, and Nanaki saw his chance.

 

He pulled forth all of his magic reservoir and cast Quake 3 at the monster over and over again, even as Scorpios was mired in mud. Huge blocks of Earth and stone fell over the monster, coating him in layers of fresh wet dirt.

 

“Freeze!!” Reeve cast the Contain spell and directed it at the monster. All three held their breath as the spell pulled all of the moisture out of the air and froze it around Scorpios, only to shatter and pierce him with many tiny ice daggers.

 

The air was filled with dust and flying ice chips. The friends ducked to avoid the projectiles and covered their eyes from the soaring debris.

 

When they could look again, they saw the figure of Scorpios, completely frozen inside a shell of dirt and ice. Slowly, the three crept up to the creature, to ensure of its defeat. Yuffie knocked once on the hardened shell, delighting in the almost hollow sound it made.

 

“Yay! We did it!” she screamed triumphantly, pumping her hand into the air. Reeve and Nanaki smiled to themselves though both were extremely tired from the battle. It seemed Yuffie was the only one who still had energy. They turned away from their victory and headed for the airship.

 

Crack! A sudden and abrupt sound made them turn around in surprise. There was a huge crack running through the shell of dirt and ice. Unexpectedly, three clawed arms shot through the hardened shell and reached blindly for the friends. Yuffie was grabbed and Reeve knocked backwards. Nanaki nimbly dodged them, still aided by Haste.

 

Scorpios rolled and the entire shell burst apart, shards of hardened soil flying through the air. A great explosion of missiles occurred aiming for Nanaki and Reeve. The ex-executive did his best to avoid them but was unsuccessful. One of them caught him in the shoulder and pushed him into the ground, detonating in a great shower of dirt and grass. Nanaki leapt and twisted in the air, wishing that there was some way he could so something as he avoided the missiles and landed safely on his feet.

 

Nanaki cursed his lupine body as he stood by helplessly. Out of spirit reserves for use of his materia and with no items on hand, he felt useless. He simply wasn't strong enough as he was to fight Scorpios. He needed something more!

 

A piercing shriek echoed through the air. Yuffie was struggling to break free of the metal abomination's grasp, not having much luck. Reeve was still struggling to rise from where he had crumpled to the ground when one of Scorpios' missiles had reached their target. Blood dripped everywhere, but Nanaki couldn't even begin to fathom exactly where the ex-executive was hurt.

 

His claws and fangs weren't strong enough to help. The ninja's whimpers cut through his musings, making him even desperate for some reserve of power that he had left.

 

He had to protect her!!

 

With a furious growl, Nanaki ran at the Scorpios, suddenly glowing in a mysterious blue-white light. If he had been glowing red, it would seem like he had finally struck his limit break. But no, this was something more. Sheer energy that gathered around his body, the outright power was amazing.

 

The lion-wolf disappeared in a glowing sphere of power that all seemed to emanate from the necklace, which he wore around his neck. And then… there seemed to be a limit explosion and the world went bright white.

 

Reeve shielded his eyes from the light as he coughed and sputtered from his position on the ground. He felt warmth across his face and suddenly opened his eyes only to be completely surprised by what he saw.

 

Scorpios was lying on the ground, two arms ripped completely off with a four lined slash across the armor of its chest. The ex-ShinRa could see the inner workings of the beast behind the slash marks.

 

But Yuffie! She was unconscious in the arms of a rather tall, dusky-skinned man who stood on the battle field glaring down at the twitching figure of Scorpios as it struggled to get back up. The man was what surprised Reeve the most. He had long reddish-orange hair that he wore in a high ponytail on his head and eyes of such a brilliant gold that Reeve could see them from across the plains. He held Yuffie in one of his strong arms, but on the hand of the other was strapped an enormous metal claw that looked dangerously sharp [4].

 

The man dropped to his knee and gently laid the unconscious ninja out on the ground, checking her for wounds. The ex-executive wondered who this stranger was as he felt his eyes getting a little blurry. Oh, God, his own wounds had become too much for him to handle. As he slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing on his mind was how the color of the man's hair was almost the exact same as Nanaki's fur… and where had the lion wolf disappeared to anyways?

 

The ex-executive had been correct, though he didn't know it. The mysterious stranger had the same color hair as Nanaki because he was Nanaki. However, the former fire wolf had no time to ponder on the sudden change in his form. Yuffie was unconscious, and Scorpios was beginning to stir.

 

The ground shook as the metal beast struggled to its feet, searching for the insolent creature that had caused it damage.

 

If only he had Phoenix!! Yet, Reeve had her, and he was all the way on the other side of the monster. Scorpios was ignoring the unconscious ex-executive figuring him for dead. Nanaki had no time to get over there, time was slipping by and soon he wouldn't be able to revive Yuffie at all!

 

“Dammit!” he cursed, punching the ground, still feeling as helpless as he did before. The necklace around his neck sparkled. “Suzaku…” he murmured, not even sure why that name came to him. “I need your help!” [3]

 

The ground trembled and Nanaki stood to his feet, facing the enemy forward, clenching his hands into fists. He would take down Scorpios… even if it was the last thing he did.

 

Scorpios launched a series of missiles at Nanaki at the same moment that every one of its arms centered down at the spot that the man now guarded. However, the attacks never landed.

 

A brilliant orange and yellow light came bursting of the sky, landing in front of Nanaki and bursting upon him a wave of heat. A keening birdlike cry that still managed to sound regal filled the air as the ball of fire, twirled and turned into Phoenix. Somehow, Nanaki had summoned her without using the materia!!

 

The fire bird spread her wings and absorbed the attack within her feathers, easily disintegrating them with her radiant flame. The metal creature roared with anger, feeling no pain. Phoenix took to the sky, flapping her magnificent wings as she flew in a wide arc around the battle area, small glowing orbs of greenish light falling to land on Reeve and Yuffie.

 

Nanaki watched in awe as the phoenix circled around for an attack on Scorpios to finish the summon. She turned her majestic head towards the once lion wolf and piercing green bird eye met nervous golden and slightly feral eyes.

 

“Are you with me, Flame Child?” came a lovely feminine voice in a lilting tone inside Nanaki's head. He knew without a doubt, that it was the Phoenix speaking to him.

 

He gulped and answered her, mentally and aloud. “Yes.”

 

Scorpios never even saw the attack coming it happened so fast. The Phoenix rushed him, spitting gouts of flame at its already weakened metal body and superheating the metal to the point that it could shatter at the slightest touch. Just as she banked away, Nanaki provided the impetus, coming in seconds after the fire to slash down the entire monster's front, slicing it in two.

 

Scorpios gave a shudder and shattered into several pieces. Nanaki threw himself to the ground to avoid the flying debris, while the Phoenix flew to shield the others with her feathers. The smoking pieces of rubble fell to the ground signifying the victory. Nanaki stared in utter surprise at everything that had just happened.

 

“Goodbye, Child of Fire. We will meet again; I am sure,” called out the Phoenix as she flew up into the sky, quickly vanishing before Nanaki could even respond.

 

Nanaki stared after her in astonishment before he heard the groans of his companions. He pulled himself away from the sky as he ran to check on Yuffie, picking her up to carry her to where Reeve was also just awakening. The Phoenix' magic had worked wonders.

 

“Who…Nanaki?” asked Yuffie confused, when she looked up into the golden eyes of her rescuer.

 

Nanaki opened his mouth to speak but was distracted when he caught an explosion out of the corner of his eye. Three pairs looked up towards the sky where Meteor appeared to have been blasted out of the sky.

 

* * *

 

[1] I'd really like to know if anyone got this reference. It's kind of like an inside joke between my beta and I, but anyone who loves FMA like us should get it!

 

[2] A summon from Final Fantasy 8. In that game it cast Reflect and Regen on all party members.

 

[3] It is an armor that you can steal from Rude when you fight him in Rocket Town

 

[4] For all you Inuyasha fans, think Kouga, and you got what I was going for exactly. For those of you who aren't, google-image it and see what you get. Also for his claw, think Amarant on FF9.

 

[5] Suzaku is the Japanese phoenix. I borrowed it from Yami no Matsuei.