icedark_elf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
icedark_elf) wrote2010-05-10 12:58 pm
icedark_elf) wrote2010-05-10 12:58 pm
Fic: Dain af Niohoggr 11/30
Title: Dain af Niohoggr
Author: GW Katrina
Beta: Skeren
Fandom: FFVII: Mercverse
Claim:![[insanejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/ij-community.gif)
mercverse for story_arc
Themeset/Prompt: Thirty Set 01: 30-Slot
Wordcount: 2,168
Ratings: PG-13
Link to Archive Post: Here
Dain af Niohoggr
“Cloud, you have a call.”
Still suffering from the headache caused by the shattering wards, Cloud lifted his head carefully. Damn thing had lingered for days. Not that Zack was much better off. As someone who was actually -able- to use most magic without blowing something up, he was the one who did most things with the wards. So between Cloud’s long time connection and Zack’s more interactive connection, neither of them had been too happy when they had woken up from the breaking.
Wards weren’t supposed to -do- that. The amount of power that it required to break wards, especially wards as old as some of those were, made Cloud wary.
“Who’s calling?” And why hadn’t they called on his cell? He had it for a reason, people. Mainly so he could answer the phone while still in bed and not have to get up. “And where’s the phone?”
Vincent made an amused sound. Damn half-demon. He didn’t have to deal with a ward headache. Cloud wondered if he could set Vincent on fire if he concentrated hard enough. Though the mere idea of doing so just made his head hurt more. “There isn’t a phone. It’s from -your- room.”
His room. Hells. That was the one room in the house that the others didn’t go into. It was connected to the room where the small plush figures of the people he had cared for in the past resided, but even they didn’t go into the room that Cloud had told everyone to stay out of. That room held some highly important papers, including several ancient treaties that he kept because he was the primary signer on them. He -had- to keep them.
Which meant that not all of this headache was just from the wards. And that it would go away if he got out of bed and went and answered the damn pull of the magic. Someone was trying to contact him through one of the treaties. Which meant it was being activated. Fuck.
The last time Cloud had been called to deal with a treaty was when the city-state of Banora had come under attack. That had been a few centuries ago, and he remembered how much he hated the magic ties that the treaties caused. He had kids, they ended up in the royal line. Why couldn’t -they- get these stupid calls? Being tugged on magically to the piece of enchanted paper that would allow the various heads of country to communicate when they were invoking parts of the treaty wasn’t fun at all. Just because Cloud was the only one of the original signers still alive didn’t mean he wanted to be stuck with them for eternity.
Pushing himself up, he moved to pull on clothing. The treaties did have a visual component, and he didn’t feel like flashing whoever he was talking to. “How did you know?” he asked Vincent absently, who was leaning on the frame of his door. The pose reminded him greatly of Chaos, and spoke of how tired Vincent was. None of them were getting rest. He might have to do the boss thing and insist that they all take a day off, threat of war or not. Being too stressed out would just make their reactions slow, and if something did happen, they couldn’t afford to have slow reactions.
“Goku told me. Seems they could hear it in the other room, and so he came to tell you. He ran into me first, and I move faster.”
He tossed the plush, who shrieked happily as he flew through the air, and was safely caught by Cloud. The blond glared at the other man, looking the doll over for any possible damage. “Careful.” Seeing that there was no damage, just a giggling plush of a demon, he rested Goku on his shoulder. The little figure grabbed onto a bit of Cloud’s hair, and Cloud smiled faintly. The one magic he could truly do. Which was just as well. He had his family, and the fact that the plushies lasted long after the people they were based on died gave Cloud some comfort. Plus they helped him keep track of things. Especially things he had forgotten that had happened during their originals lifetimes.
Another pet of the golden eyed demon, and he started for the room, Vincent behind him. When they got closer, Cloud was swarmed by the little figures, and he realized with a jolt of guilt he hadn’t come to visit for a bit, and they had clearly seen how busy he was and left him alone. He would have to rectify that once he dealt with whoever had called over the treaty this time.
Petting them all some, he did start shooing them off once he was at the door. “Off, off.” There were little cries of disappointment, but he was soon free of the soft little figures. Then he looked at Vincent, who held up his hands with a small smile. “I take it I’m not allowed to come look either, hmm?”
“They don’t work if there is anyone in the room who hadn’t signed them.” Or was in charge of the country that signed them. So complicated. Not that Cloud hadn’t explained them before. He watched as Vincent gave an amused smile, and went to go deal with the plushies, who had taken Cloud’s abandonment as a reason to swarm up Vincent. It would keep them all occupied for a bit.
Slipping into the room, Cloud sighed in relief as the headache began to diminish. Oh, thank gods. Much better.
Taking a moment, he glanced around, each of the treaties under their own secure glass case. It only took a moment to note which one was active. Cosmo Canyon. There was faint flicker, almost like fire, rippling over the case. Muttering to himself, he moved over, dragging a chair, and then rested his hand on the glass itself. Energy tingled through his hand, creeping up his arm. It kept going up, until his entire arm and shoulder had that distinctly pins and needles sensation. He still remembered the first time it had happened, and he thought it was an attack. Especially as the sensation spread to cover his chest.
Once it registered that, yes, he was alive, heartbeat and all, and that his magic was the right magic, the prickling vanished. Shaking his hand slightly, Cloud settled into the chair. Now, to wait for the original caller to return. It shouldn’t take long, but he wasn’t sure how long he had ignored the call in the first place. They might have had to leave.
Or maybe not. Almost instantly, the rippling light over the treaty strengthened, and an image appeared there. It was a red figure, much like a large cat, and Cloud scowled at it. “Hello, Nanaki.”
The scowl just seemed to make Nanaki smile. Seriously, what was it with people and being amused when he was frowning at them. Maybe it was time to go nuts again. Maybe after all of this was over. Didn’t have time to go bat shit currently, and he just looked at the other one expectantly.
“Hello, Cloud. I see you woke up in a fine mood this morning.”
“Don’t know why everyone seems to think that they have to talk to me about things. Couldn’t you have harassed the King?”
Nanaki chuckled, his good eye bright in the magical light. “Grandfather said to tell you hello before he left, and it is your own fault. You are the one who decided that living forever was a good thing, and that we all trust you. Besides, as humans measure things, you are prettier than your King.”
“How is your grandfather?”
“Busy.” Nanaki’s expression turned serious. “There is an army camping outside of our lands. He’s currently in the tower, manning the defenses.”
Given how much attention was required by the magical defenses of Cosmo Canyon, Cloud could believe the other when he said his grandfather was busy. “What is going on?” If there was an issue that bad, one that required the potential of ancient treaties being activated, Cloud had better find out details.
“It seemed to be made of demons and....” Nanaki paused, looking uncomfortable. “Grandfather thinks there are true demons in there as well.” Which was a bad thing. True demons, like the twins mother, were rare, and required a lot of power to keep on this plane. Part of the protections the Cetra had put into place in order to keep from another war like the one they had just finished. So much work, and all of it being shattered rapidly.
Rubbing a hand over his face, Cloud nodded. “Anything else that you want to share, since I seem to be the person everyone feels like they have to come talk to?”
Nanaki just made an amused noise. “Again, the danger of being old. I have a few, but I suppose I should ask if you have any details.”
“More than I sent out last time? Not really. Jenova is awake and active, that much I do know, but you should as well. Sephiroth had planted himself in the royal library. Zack is helping Yuffie with what the Families and Clans have collected. Which he bitched about. Chaos and Vincent have been talking to their father, and he’s been looking for information for them. No more details so far, but we’re hoping.” Cloud ran his fingers through his hair. “Problem is that there just -isn’t- many documents that old, and my memories are just too foggy to depend on for that time.”
He tried to remember if there was anything else that he hadn’t put into the information he had sent to the leaders of the various city-state and countries that he could access. Aside from the fact that Jenova had offered him a place at her side. They didn’t need to know that, and it would cause major issues if other people besides his pack realized that he was related to the woman. “I think that’s everything. Do you know who is leading them.?”
Nodding, Nanaki did something on his side of the magic, and an image appeared. Cloud looked at it, then stared. Hard. How....
Hearing the choking noise that Cloud made, Nanaki dropped that magic, and looked at him with concern. “Cloud?”
“That’s not possible,” managed the blond, eyes still huge and wide. It just wasn’t possible. That sort of magic was impossible. Humans had been trying for years.
Or perhaps that was the issue. Humans. And Jenova was anything but human. She was an ancient being, old before she had even started the original war. Who knew what sort of magics she had access to. Still, it was mind boggling to contemplate, and he sat there for a long moment, frozen.
Nanaki’s voice broke through his slightly distracted state, tone sharp. “Strife, what -is- it?”
“That’s Yazoo,” Cloud got out finally, voice sounding muffled. “The second child of Jenova.” He turned those wide eyes on Nanaki. “He died. Thousands of years ago. He was -dead-. I remember the celebrations.”
The other’s face took on a very still look. “Cloud, I’m requesting the ancient treaty to be honored. If Jenova is back and has resurrected her sons, we need more than just the magic that we can muster to keep back the tide.” A shift, because this was a major step. “I am going to activate the Bonding States.”
The ancient treaty between the lands that had almost been destroyed by Jenova. Something so massive and powerful that no other treaty had ever come close. Put together by the Cetra, sworn to by all the rulers at the time.
That one, Cloud hadn’t signed. But it was signed by the rulers of Midgar. The people who eventually became the Shinras.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. Cosmo Canyon set to the west of here, and was the last major settlement that one would hit before reaching the Deadlands. Cosmo Canyon on the east of said Deadlands, Nibelheim to the north. Ocean on the other two sides. Though that water was as dead as the land. But they were the first places any army would reach, and the first places that the old defenses would activate.
“I’ll tell Rufus. You had better start contacting the other leaders.”
If Jenova had brought her sons back from the dead, then she was preparing to march.
Nanaki nodded, and the light of the treaty went out. Cloud stood, thoughts preoccupied as he left the room, heading for his own. Needed better clothing than this. Vincent was there, and started at Cloud. “What’s wrong?”
Without pausing, Cloud sighed. “I have to go tell the King that war has come again.”
Cloud’s step hitched. He remembered the last war. He remembered the years it took for recovery.
“We’re going to have another Angels War. It’s already started.”
Perhaps he better remember how to pray.
Chapter eleven done. Almost to the halfway point posted.
Author: GW Katrina
Beta: Skeren
Fandom: FFVII: Mercverse
Claim:
mercverse for story_arcThemeset/Prompt: Thirty Set 01: 30-Slot
Wordcount: 2,168
Ratings: PG-13
Link to Archive Post: Here
“Cloud, you have a call.”
Still suffering from the headache caused by the shattering wards, Cloud lifted his head carefully. Damn thing had lingered for days. Not that Zack was much better off. As someone who was actually -able- to use most magic without blowing something up, he was the one who did most things with the wards. So between Cloud’s long time connection and Zack’s more interactive connection, neither of them had been too happy when they had woken up from the breaking.
Wards weren’t supposed to -do- that. The amount of power that it required to break wards, especially wards as old as some of those were, made Cloud wary.
“Who’s calling?” And why hadn’t they called on his cell? He had it for a reason, people. Mainly so he could answer the phone while still in bed and not have to get up. “And where’s the phone?”
Vincent made an amused sound. Damn half-demon. He didn’t have to deal with a ward headache. Cloud wondered if he could set Vincent on fire if he concentrated hard enough. Though the mere idea of doing so just made his head hurt more. “There isn’t a phone. It’s from -your- room.”
His room. Hells. That was the one room in the house that the others didn’t go into. It was connected to the room where the small plush figures of the people he had cared for in the past resided, but even they didn’t go into the room that Cloud had told everyone to stay out of. That room held some highly important papers, including several ancient treaties that he kept because he was the primary signer on them. He -had- to keep them.
Which meant that not all of this headache was just from the wards. And that it would go away if he got out of bed and went and answered the damn pull of the magic. Someone was trying to contact him through one of the treaties. Which meant it was being activated. Fuck.
The last time Cloud had been called to deal with a treaty was when the city-state of Banora had come under attack. That had been a few centuries ago, and he remembered how much he hated the magic ties that the treaties caused. He had kids, they ended up in the royal line. Why couldn’t -they- get these stupid calls? Being tugged on magically to the piece of enchanted paper that would allow the various heads of country to communicate when they were invoking parts of the treaty wasn’t fun at all. Just because Cloud was the only one of the original signers still alive didn’t mean he wanted to be stuck with them for eternity.
Pushing himself up, he moved to pull on clothing. The treaties did have a visual component, and he didn’t feel like flashing whoever he was talking to. “How did you know?” he asked Vincent absently, who was leaning on the frame of his door. The pose reminded him greatly of Chaos, and spoke of how tired Vincent was. None of them were getting rest. He might have to do the boss thing and insist that they all take a day off, threat of war or not. Being too stressed out would just make their reactions slow, and if something did happen, they couldn’t afford to have slow reactions.
“Goku told me. Seems they could hear it in the other room, and so he came to tell you. He ran into me first, and I move faster.”
He tossed the plush, who shrieked happily as he flew through the air, and was safely caught by Cloud. The blond glared at the other man, looking the doll over for any possible damage. “Careful.” Seeing that there was no damage, just a giggling plush of a demon, he rested Goku on his shoulder. The little figure grabbed onto a bit of Cloud’s hair, and Cloud smiled faintly. The one magic he could truly do. Which was just as well. He had his family, and the fact that the plushies lasted long after the people they were based on died gave Cloud some comfort. Plus they helped him keep track of things. Especially things he had forgotten that had happened during their originals lifetimes.
Another pet of the golden eyed demon, and he started for the room, Vincent behind him. When they got closer, Cloud was swarmed by the little figures, and he realized with a jolt of guilt he hadn’t come to visit for a bit, and they had clearly seen how busy he was and left him alone. He would have to rectify that once he dealt with whoever had called over the treaty this time.
Petting them all some, he did start shooing them off once he was at the door. “Off, off.” There were little cries of disappointment, but he was soon free of the soft little figures. Then he looked at Vincent, who held up his hands with a small smile. “I take it I’m not allowed to come look either, hmm?”
“They don’t work if there is anyone in the room who hadn’t signed them.” Or was in charge of the country that signed them. So complicated. Not that Cloud hadn’t explained them before. He watched as Vincent gave an amused smile, and went to go deal with the plushies, who had taken Cloud’s abandonment as a reason to swarm up Vincent. It would keep them all occupied for a bit.
Slipping into the room, Cloud sighed in relief as the headache began to diminish. Oh, thank gods. Much better.
Taking a moment, he glanced around, each of the treaties under their own secure glass case. It only took a moment to note which one was active. Cosmo Canyon. There was faint flicker, almost like fire, rippling over the case. Muttering to himself, he moved over, dragging a chair, and then rested his hand on the glass itself. Energy tingled through his hand, creeping up his arm. It kept going up, until his entire arm and shoulder had that distinctly pins and needles sensation. He still remembered the first time it had happened, and he thought it was an attack. Especially as the sensation spread to cover his chest.
Once it registered that, yes, he was alive, heartbeat and all, and that his magic was the right magic, the prickling vanished. Shaking his hand slightly, Cloud settled into the chair. Now, to wait for the original caller to return. It shouldn’t take long, but he wasn’t sure how long he had ignored the call in the first place. They might have had to leave.
Or maybe not. Almost instantly, the rippling light over the treaty strengthened, and an image appeared there. It was a red figure, much like a large cat, and Cloud scowled at it. “Hello, Nanaki.”
The scowl just seemed to make Nanaki smile. Seriously, what was it with people and being amused when he was frowning at them. Maybe it was time to go nuts again. Maybe after all of this was over. Didn’t have time to go bat shit currently, and he just looked at the other one expectantly.
“Hello, Cloud. I see you woke up in a fine mood this morning.”
“Don’t know why everyone seems to think that they have to talk to me about things. Couldn’t you have harassed the King?”
Nanaki chuckled, his good eye bright in the magical light. “Grandfather said to tell you hello before he left, and it is your own fault. You are the one who decided that living forever was a good thing, and that we all trust you. Besides, as humans measure things, you are prettier than your King.”
“How is your grandfather?”
“Busy.” Nanaki’s expression turned serious. “There is an army camping outside of our lands. He’s currently in the tower, manning the defenses.”
Given how much attention was required by the magical defenses of Cosmo Canyon, Cloud could believe the other when he said his grandfather was busy. “What is going on?” If there was an issue that bad, one that required the potential of ancient treaties being activated, Cloud had better find out details.
“It seemed to be made of demons and....” Nanaki paused, looking uncomfortable. “Grandfather thinks there are true demons in there as well.” Which was a bad thing. True demons, like the twins mother, were rare, and required a lot of power to keep on this plane. Part of the protections the Cetra had put into place in order to keep from another war like the one they had just finished. So much work, and all of it being shattered rapidly.
Rubbing a hand over his face, Cloud nodded. “Anything else that you want to share, since I seem to be the person everyone feels like they have to come talk to?”
Nanaki just made an amused noise. “Again, the danger of being old. I have a few, but I suppose I should ask if you have any details.”
“More than I sent out last time? Not really. Jenova is awake and active, that much I do know, but you should as well. Sephiroth had planted himself in the royal library. Zack is helping Yuffie with what the Families and Clans have collected. Which he bitched about. Chaos and Vincent have been talking to their father, and he’s been looking for information for them. No more details so far, but we’re hoping.” Cloud ran his fingers through his hair. “Problem is that there just -isn’t- many documents that old, and my memories are just too foggy to depend on for that time.”
He tried to remember if there was anything else that he hadn’t put into the information he had sent to the leaders of the various city-state and countries that he could access. Aside from the fact that Jenova had offered him a place at her side. They didn’t need to know that, and it would cause major issues if other people besides his pack realized that he was related to the woman. “I think that’s everything. Do you know who is leading them.?”
Nodding, Nanaki did something on his side of the magic, and an image appeared. Cloud looked at it, then stared. Hard. How....
Hearing the choking noise that Cloud made, Nanaki dropped that magic, and looked at him with concern. “Cloud?”
“That’s not possible,” managed the blond, eyes still huge and wide. It just wasn’t possible. That sort of magic was impossible. Humans had been trying for years.
Or perhaps that was the issue. Humans. And Jenova was anything but human. She was an ancient being, old before she had even started the original war. Who knew what sort of magics she had access to. Still, it was mind boggling to contemplate, and he sat there for a long moment, frozen.
Nanaki’s voice broke through his slightly distracted state, tone sharp. “Strife, what -is- it?”
“That’s Yazoo,” Cloud got out finally, voice sounding muffled. “The second child of Jenova.” He turned those wide eyes on Nanaki. “He died. Thousands of years ago. He was -dead-. I remember the celebrations.”
The other’s face took on a very still look. “Cloud, I’m requesting the ancient treaty to be honored. If Jenova is back and has resurrected her sons, we need more than just the magic that we can muster to keep back the tide.” A shift, because this was a major step. “I am going to activate the Bonding States.”
The ancient treaty between the lands that had almost been destroyed by Jenova. Something so massive and powerful that no other treaty had ever come close. Put together by the Cetra, sworn to by all the rulers at the time.
That one, Cloud hadn’t signed. But it was signed by the rulers of Midgar. The people who eventually became the Shinras.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. Cosmo Canyon set to the west of here, and was the last major settlement that one would hit before reaching the Deadlands. Cosmo Canyon on the east of said Deadlands, Nibelheim to the north. Ocean on the other two sides. Though that water was as dead as the land. But they were the first places any army would reach, and the first places that the old defenses would activate.
“I’ll tell Rufus. You had better start contacting the other leaders.”
If Jenova had brought her sons back from the dead, then she was preparing to march.
Nanaki nodded, and the light of the treaty went out. Cloud stood, thoughts preoccupied as he left the room, heading for his own. Needed better clothing than this. Vincent was there, and started at Cloud. “What’s wrong?”
Without pausing, Cloud sighed. “I have to go tell the King that war has come again.”
Cloud’s step hitched. He remembered the last war. He remembered the years it took for recovery.
“We’re going to have another Angels War. It’s already started.”
Perhaps he better remember how to pray.
Chapter eleven done. Almost to the halfway point posted.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2010-05-10 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
no subject
Loved every bit of it and <3! Nanaki!
Hopped onver here from LJ - I'm so glad to see Mercverse isn't dead! (...I've been withou internets for a LOOOOOONG time....).
This feels like s atupid question, but it is still okay for others to post here too, right? 'Cause there's this bunny.....
no subject
Nope, I'm still working on it, little by little. Feel free to play with the shinies. I like seeing other peoples stuff.
no subject