#nastu obinata

[yzeltia]

Closer to You

Chapter 18 Characters: Natsu Obinata, Fuyu'li cen Zwhan, @driftward 's Zoissette Vauban, Y'shtola Rhul, Y'hmitra Rhul, Asa Obinata, @erickgage 's Erick Gage and Ryssthota Sundstyrwyn, @niraff14 's Yesuntei Kagon, Clauiden, Y'zel Tia Rating: T for Teen Notes: Thank you @driftward for the mechanics pass

“Please, do keep your enlightenment to yourselves,” Y’shtola said, ears flattening with impatience.

“I…well…I’m not sure what I saw,” Natsu breathed out, leaning on Claudien for support.

“I do. He’s at the aetherial sea. My tracker for the auracite stopped working near Carteneau and the Hinterlands, it must have been a coincidence Y’zel was traveling the same way and branched off toward The Antitower,” Claudien answered, looking rather graven. “I think he intends to helm one of the vacant seats of Omphalos, or rather, it was implied that he could do so…the Echo was a bit fuzzy on the details on that front. Still, he could cause untold harm to our star, bringing the auracite down there.”

“A vacancy…what, does he fancy himself The Lover? Does he intend to play matchmaker across the star to ease everyone’s loneliness?” Y’shtola asked, seeming skeptical that her cousin could do much harm.

“That does, well, sound very in line with his romantic nature,” Zoissette said before standing. “Regardless, I shall assist in stopping him before he can cause a larger problem. If you will excuse me, I will see if I can rally others to the cause.”

Zoissette rose from the table then moved away to go contact others while Y’shtola rapped her fist against her cheek. “You’d think being involved with so many people who have ‘god-felling’ on their resumes would give him a bit of pause. Speaking of which, was Violet not with you?”

“She insisted on seeing Jannie back to Ishgard for the latter’s wedding,” Natsu explained before holding herself. “We won’t…we won’t have to kill him will we?”

“When I was possessed, I more or less was rendered unconscious, shelled by the manipulated aether around me,” Claudien answered, voice tinged with hope.

“Yet Y’zel, we assume, has not been possessed and is operating entirely of his own free will,” Y’shtola mused, “Or at least that is what I’ve taken from what you’ve said.”

“I have sent out a request for support. Everyone will meet in Idyllshire and take flight on the Lunar Whale to the Antitower to attempt to reign him in,” Zoissette announced, returning to the group. “Are we ready?”

🍎 

Natsu swallowed as she hurried down the upside down halls of the Antitower. She felt the aether within her being drawn downward, into the deepest parts of the castle. Claudien led the charge, almost making it difficult to keep up with him as he navigated the familiar halls of the abandoned research facility. 

“This is where you two met, is it not,” Natsu asked breathlessly.

Claudien shook his head, not looking back as he gave his answer. “No. It was the Gubal Library. This is where I worked with his late father, Y’lem Tia, before my family left in the exodus. Though I cannot say for sure his father didn’t take him here. It is probably why he chose this place. No one was left to see it safeguarded.”

“Aside from Master Matoya, though she'd readily write Y’zel off as a non-threat,” Y’shtola chimed in.

“Little surprised she did not clock the auracite,” mumbled Zoissette, looking the place over as they went.

“The crone lives!?” Claudien balked.

“I would be careful disparaging her. You don’t know what wards she has in place for ne'er do wells and sassy children,” Y’shtola warned.

Y’mhitra chuckled from behind. “You'd know the latter well.”

“Good point,” Ryssthota said, pulling a pomander from their satchel and tossing it ahead, illuminating potential traps and wards along the path and walls.

“I would like to point out that Gubal also has its interests here, and would have anyone alerted me on my nephew's sudden possession of a lethal artifact, or that I had a swiving niece running around with you, I might have been been able to mitigate some of this nonsense,” Asa growled as he struggled to keep up in his Forum robes.

Erick keeping pace with Claudien and Natsu looked between them. “I hope you know I’m billing Y’zel for use of company time for this. I have real problems to deal with,” he said, Yeusentei scribbling into a notebook as she shadowed him.

Claudien slowed a bit then rounded a corner before coming to a complete stop. Peeking around him, Natsu looked out into the distance, seeing Y’zel aloft in the aetherial sea, the Heart of Sabik floating just above his chest as aether swirled into it, making it glow. The stone was quick to pulse out a barrier, preventing them from getting too close.

“His aether isn't his own... It's enormous and familiar but I cannot place it,” Y'shtola said before pushing Claudien forward. “Go, Claudien. Talk to him. Reinforcements have yet to arrive, though I imagine if it comes to it we'll manage if we must stop him here.”

“Y’zel!” Claudien yelled out, advancing forward onto a narrow platform.

Y'zel's eyes flitted open as he lazily turned his head toward his friends and family. Yawning, he floated down onto a circular platform, hand out to catch the auracite as it fell slowly into his palm. “It’s too late,” he said dejectedly, avoiding eye contact with the others.

“It’s never too late! Give up the stone and forget this path,” Ryssthota called out. “Have you not learned from the others that handled auracite before you?”

“This must be done! The age of fate has come to an end and I must be the one to reweave it! Without Hydaelyn, without the Gods, there is no longer a direction for our star! Our loved ones are constantly being ripped from us. And what of those we meet anew? I do not desire a calamity…I did not desire godhood. This power was given to me and I shall use it to set both the waking world and our lifestream onto one track so that we might arrive at the destination of our fate together! A one, eternal Heaven, where none shall be torn apart again,” Y’zel said, closing his eyes.

Erick shook his head then stepped forward. “A lovely speech, and a ridiculous waste of time. Allow me to summarize for you. You're scared of a world where you have to make choices, and where you can make mistakes. Fate is a way to offload the responsibility for the choices we make. It is our choices that define us, and I won't let your pathetic inability to face your fears take that from everyone."

Zoissette’s eyes darted back and forth, taking in the scene. She murmured something, as though talking to someone on the side, then nodded. She began to pace around the barrier, holding a hand out to it. “You do not even know what fate is,” she said. “Fate is not a singular thread. It is a braid of many paths, and I would see this thread cut before allowing the will of the many to be suborned by the will of the one.”

“A braid frayed. How many have thrown themselves into the lifestream? For me alone: my mother, father, dad, sister, fiance, and now husband. I simply seek to reweave the lifestream and our Source together so that none shall be forced to be separated again,” he declared, a cold chill emanating from him as a platform of ice began to form below.

Natsu cried out as she felt aether being drawn to her. The sea around them began to groan as streaks of light twisted like silk being washed in a river, all reaching toward Y’zel and the auracite. “Brother! Stop this!”

“Brother? You don’t even know me,” Y’zel responded coldly.

Fuyu’li bared his fangs and put an arm around Natsu, “And yet she’s cared for you and worried for you all this time! You talk about reuniting people and connecting them and yet you just dismiss Natsu! Your aim isn’t unison then, or caring!  This isn’t about the star! You’re just a coward that’s closing off their heart and making sure you’re spared from feeling the pain of loss! You're just a selfish fool!”

Y’zel’s ears folded back, but he did not budge from channeling aether about him, the sea around him starting to freeze into solid crystal. “That is just it. I will spare everyone from feeling pain and loss by doing this. All of us here were bound by our connections to one another. I just seek to strengthen that bond into a singular fate. My will won't be denied!”

“Please stop this! I am sorry that I have dismissed your romantic notions of fate and soulmates. My intent was not to hurt you,” Claudien called out. “Do you not remember when we went apple picking? You fell from the ladder and I had caught you but in that millisecond before you strayed too far from my arms. I had an intrusive thought that day. That if I could not get you in time I’d just be set aflame in that moment so that I might be with you again. I beg of you, stop this madness before you cause untold damage to us and to our star!”

Y’zel opened his once aether-blue eyes now a bright crimson. He smiled, a tear rolling down his cheek before advancing forward toward them. 

“Do not worry, my love. You will never have to fear that loneliness again…” 

[yzeltia]

Closer to You

Chapter 4 Characters: Natsu Obinata, Violet Fisher, U'odh Nuhn, U'rahn Nuhn, L'lolamo Lolomori (Hydaelyn), U'rahn Tia, Jannie Eyradoux, Drake Clan Rating: T for Nuhn Notes: cw seeing someone choked, cw mammet abuse

Dinner was quiet, or rather, Natsu had been. While the whole of the Drake clan had been warm and inviting, there was a certain aura of melancholy any time someone glanced at a vacant seat. Everyone was missing U'rahn, but didn't seem to want to say it. What's more was that she felt unworthy of their hospitality, unable to provide an answer to get them closer to the truth.

She reflected on this as she leaned over the balcony of her and Violet's room, the latter opting to lounge in her bed and read one of the books from U'rahn's stack. Not bothering to look up, Violet sighed and called out to Natsu. “Nyx said rest. You're going to rub your hands raw if you keep fidgeting like that.”

The Au Ra looked down at her bare hands, having not noticed she'd been wringing them together. Returning to her bed, she flopped down then hugged onto a pillow before pulling her tomestone over to have something to play with.

“Expecting someone,” Violet asked, attention rising from the book.

“No, not really.”

The book was shut and the Hyur suddenly had a bemused look upon her face. “Who is he?”

“I'm sorry,” Natsu asked, head tilted.

“You're worse at girl talk than me. The only use that thing has is business and pleasure and I'm not thinking you get a lot of work calls,” Violet scoffed, gesturing to the tomestone.

Natsu flushed lightly. “No. It's nothing like that at all. Though, I haven't heard from my friend in some time. I'm worried about him. People are often unkind to him.”

“So it is a guy.”

“I'm not exactly his type,” Natsu laughed while shaking her head, “He um…prefers much taller partners…”

“Men?”

Natsu avoided the other's interested gaze as she gave a little nod, “Well, that too.”

“No need to be bashful about it. He's not getting shit because of that is he? I'll literally stuff someone in a cannon and fire them into the farthest depths of the Indigo Deep.”

“No. It's not like that. Fuyu'li is of Garlemald. He joined me on the ship when we stopped in Thavnair and we traveled Eorzea together while I was looking for my brother and he was looking for ways to help his master’s sister. Eorzea is a nice enough place and I understand people's caution…but some people could be so cruel.”

“I don't think you understand,” Violet responded sharply, “No offense but you're from Hingashi. Eorzeans lived in constant fear of occupation. An entire moon was dropped on us to that extent and while we've entered peace time, it does not undo the damage that has been done or bring back those we've lost. It is going to take time.”

Natsu lowered her head, “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-”

“I know. It's just a bit of a sore spot.”

Silence lingered between them for a moment. Violet eventually leaned back while Natsu shyly held herself, rubbing her arms.

“Did you…lose someone,” Natsu eventually asked.

“Many. Most importantly the one person in the world that was left who believed in me at the time…

“I'm sorry…Were they your…”

Violet stared at Natsu a moment before bursting out laughing, so much so that she fell back onto her bed. When she finally could catch her breath she waved her hand. “Far from it. He was an old man. No…I am… hard to love.”

Nastu frowned as Violet started to rake her hair through her fingers, looking elsewhere for a moment, seeming rather lost. Feeling that she should turn in, the Au Ra shifted to pull her covers around her, opting to let Violet take care of the lights when she was ready to turn in herself. As Natsu found herself in the throes of falling asleep, she felt Violet plop down behind her.

“You don’t have to play the lost, shy ing��nue y’know,” Violet said softly, ‘You are allowed to be angry.”

Natsu opened her eyes, shifting her head on her pillow so that her horn wouldn’t dig into the pillow case. “Angry…”

“You think we didn’t look into your background before letting you have the run of the Company? You grew up as a daughter of a noble family, whose mother was victim to scandalous rumors because she did not name a father. I know what it’s like growing up like that…either your mother becomes protective and shelters you like mine did or…,” Violet trailed, feeling Natsu tense up behind her, “Right. Well, the rest is obvious. Things got too much and you found out about your father and at some point Y’zel, traveled all the way here to find him missing and then your only friend runs off.

“You get to be angry. You’ve got every right to be. So don’t swallow it and make yourself out to be something you’re not. Okay?”

Natsu stared at the wall, feeling discomfort bubble up in her chest, a small burning. Violet was right, there was anger in her, a little at least. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said softly before letting herself pass out. 🍎

When morning came, Natsu found herself alone in bed. She readied herself for the day and helped herself to some fresh tea before making her way to check on U’rahn and L’lolamo. Inside the Nuhn’s house, she found U’odh snoring lightly in a chair by U’rahn and L’lolamo, arms crossed and ears folded while behind the partition for the washroom she heard Violet arguing quietly with someone. Curious, she approached, finding the Hyur with an Elezen woman that seemed to have on light makeup that was a bit ill-suited to her complexion.

“You could have left this to me! You should be picking out flower arrangements or something,” Violet hissed.

The Elezen crossed her arms, shaking her head, “Artoirel is more than capable of making wedding decisions without me. Rahn is just as much a little brother to me as you. You should have contacted me immediately. How could anyone even- Oh! Hello!”

“Good Morning,” Natsu said, giving a formal bow.

“Right, this is the girl that can pick up an Echo from touch,” Violet said in a huff, “Natsu, this is Jannie. The third of the Warriors of Light.”

“Thank you for helping us get insight into what is going on with Rahn,” Jannie added quickly before ushering them back into the main room, “Have you eaten?”

“I had some tea.” “Oh, that won’t do. I will see U’khuba about getting you some bacon,” the Elezen fretted before hurrying off out of the small home.

“I dont’t- Oh, well there she goes,” Natsu sighed.

“She doesn’t want to seem like she’s just an extra warm body in all this. She doesn’t even need to be here,” Violet huffed. “So much for taking a break.”

“Some bacon would be nice though,” U’odh yawned, startling the two, “Are you feeling better Natsu?”

“Yes sir,” Natsu answered with a little nod, carefully pulling off her glove, “Should we wait for Nyx?”

“If they felt they should be herrre, they would be,” U’odh said, scratching his beard, “I’d take that this will not be as harrowing of an experience for you. Still…I feel I should say you do not have to do this for us. We are strangers and this seems to take a toll on you.”

“She doesn’t have anything better to do other than wait around,” Violet said flippantly, shrugging as Natsu whipped her head back toward her, “What? I’m not wrong.”

Grimacing a little, the Au Ra returned her attention to L’loamo assuring U’odh with a, “I’m happy to help,” before taking a deep breath and placing her hand on the woman’s arm.

She felt scattered, as if her thoughts were malms away…or perhaps not thoughts but little pieces of her soul. The last thing she remembered was feeling so sorry for someone. Someone so lonely that she’d given the last bit of herself so that he might feel a drop of love. And now she was nowhere…and everywhere, but not like before. There was no certainty she’d see her son again, or her husband, or her parents, or anyone….

And there was a pulse…a spark of inspiration, and again the thunderous might to protect those she loved. She felt herself being drawn inward. Warm embers of passion reminded her of her charitable heart before erupting into the flame of mortality. She felt a sense of self, she felt life’s embrace, and then a sense of time and place came to her. She was warm, in the desert…U’odh was close…and so was her boy.

Her heart swelled with love and duty. She was with them again, she could fight with them. And she could love them and never let them go. Rahn had friends now didn’t he. He’d love them too. And maybe a wife?  He was a Nuhn now, he’d said. She’d love her too. She knew it…and other things too. How many malms it was from her childhood home to the ocean, and how to make that into films and ilms. Common things too, like not drinking salt water. And more complex things like how to navigate the seas at night using the stars. A sense of excitement came over her as life restored meant a new path, a winding river of fate being gifted to her as this strange aether poured into her. And then she felt the wind in her lungs and took a breath as she opened her eyes.

Natsu blinked. Despite feeling whole again she was tired and her body was sore. Her ears perked up, the sounds of struggling catching them. Weakly getting to her feet, she looked up to find her son dangling his legs and tail as a smirking twin of him held him in the air by the throat. Her hand stretched out as she tried to summon her blades to her, chakrams, anything…only to have a cast iron pan appear in her grasp. 

“Get…your hand…off…my baby,” she sounded out hoarsely, bringing the pan up and out in front of her threateningly.

The imposter immediately was taken aback, dropping a limp Rahn to the floor. The snide expression on his face was gone, replaced by shock and then tears. “I’m sorry. I needed him out of the way…”

With that the imposter fled leaving her to drop the pan. The little bit of strength in her let her pick up Rahn and his little broken toy and get into the bed where was able to give him a light kiss on the head before returning to her slumber.

Natsu pulled back as she came to her senses, looking up to the expectant faces of Jannie and U’odh. A bit of excitement came over her as looked between them. “I understand what's happening.  Where's Violet,” she asked.

“I’m not sure exactly. She was watching you and suddenly ran out the door,” U’odh answered.

Natsu hesitated to explain for a moment but soon stood, wanting to give U’odh an answer to what happened to his family. Touching her linkpearl, she connected to Silent Courel, “I know why no one can agree on what they’re seeing. You saw your sister and Leonnoux saw Y’zel. Here, U’rahn saw Nyx, and L’lolamo saw U’rahn. I think someone is able to take on the appearance of a person that’s important to them.”

“Understood. I will communicate this to the rest,” Coeurl’s voice came through. U’odh shook his head, “That answers little, but at the very least we can be prepared. I’ll have everyone pair off so that way we cannot be surprised.”

Natsu shook her head, “They seemed to be done here. At least with U’rahn…they seemed to worry about him being in the way.”

Jannie suddenly stiffened, then looked outside. “Besting a Warrior of Light is not an easy feat and if that was their intention then I doubt they were looking to stop at just one. I rather hate to say this but Violet was right, it might have been best if I stayed away until we had a means to take care of this threat. I fear Violet and I might be targeted next.”

“What a crrruel method of enrapturing one’s opponent,” U’odh said, brushing his hand over L’lolamo’s head, “I think it best you and Violet find yourselves in betterrr company until your friends can find out more.”

“Fury, you might be right…though drawing us here was a miscalculation on their part. Artoirel would look rather out of place here and well, Violet’s beau isn’t among us anymore and I am uncertain if she’s moved on to another. Regardless, if someone was to make an appearance for her she would probably catch them rather off guard.”

“You would be surrrprised how the sight of your dearest one can captivate you. Are you not to be wed, Jannie? Out of place or not I’m sure the sight of your husband to be might give you a brief pause. Though I might have grown old and sentimental given my circumstances,” U’odh said, eyes not leaving his wife’s face.

“You can never truly know what’s in someone’s heart,” Natsu echoed, touching her chest briefly, “Though I guess, I can be an exception. L’lolamo was so happy to be back with you and U’rahn.”

U'odh went to say something, but was soon interrupted as a loud explosion shook the room. The Nuhn was gone with Jannie out the door as the calls to battle rang through the Springs. Natsu quickly put back on her glove then gave chase to see what had happened. 

Mechanical whirring sounded through the village as the screams and yells of the huntresses sounded out around her. Sand seemed to permeate the air, dusted up by whatever caused the explosion. As she hurried into the fray she collided with someone who was quick to embrace her before she could fall. For a brief moment she tried to get her bearings but felt herself falter as she slipped into an Echo.

She was happy, and yet there was a lingering anxiety as she watched Garlean airships on the horizon. It was quelled though as the laughter of her boys sounded out, both running toward her with apples cradled in the bottom of their shirts.

“Mama! Mama! Look!”

“Easy there,” a woman's voice cooed, bringing the Au Ra out of the vision.

Natsu felt herself closing her eyes. The embrace was warm and the other's calmness soothed her in a familiar way that she couldn't quite place. Released, she took a step back to look up at Roegadayn woman looking down at her. “I'm sorry ma’am!” she breathed out, moving to attempt to get by.

The woman seemed shocked, as if not expecting to be addressed. Still, she stepped aside. “It's not safe that way. You should take cover,” she warned.

“I have to find my friend,” Natsu called back before returning to her sprint.

As she hurried through toward the west gate, the sounds of mechanical clanging grew louder as the rallied cries of the Drake clan and their resident Flame soldiers crescendoed with it. A huntress being flung back beside her, Natsu drew her rapier and focus then flourished the latter into the air as wind erupted from her, blowing dust and debris aside and clearing the area for everyone.

Just outside the gate a Garlean Sweeper clutched an unconscious Violet in its hand. Focusing on the pilot, Natsu’s eyes widened, the magitek having a dark-haired Miqo’te on top with fringed blue tips.

Seeing a huntress raise her bow toward him, she propelled herself forward and slides her bowstring, “You can't! That's Fuyu'li!”

U’odh whirled around, sword in hand, “Well your friend is getting away with your other friend!”

Confused and scared, Natsu teared up, holding her sword up, “Please don't hurt him! There must be a reason why!”

Before U’odh could object further, the sound of Violet's motorcycle roared closer before landing between her and U’odh. Atop it L’lolamo held out her hand to swipe her husband’s sword before drifting around to Natsu’s side. Looking over a pair of glasses she yelled, “Let's go!”

“L-Lola!?,” U’odh balked.

Taking the Miqo'te’s hand, Natsu hopped on the back of the bike and let the woman rev off after the Sweeper as it passed over a dune in the distance. Natsu panted, looking back to the shocked Nuhn and his huntresses. “We’ll be back with answers! I promise!”