The Gift of the Goddess Chapter 1: Prologue, a Final Fantasy VII + Devil May Cry Crossover fanfic

Sorry not a new chapter...

Key:

"Talking"

'Thinkning'

Spoken Prophecies

Written Prophecies (Loveless)

Lyrics/Writing

"Singing"

The constant sound of the pouring rain masked the sounds of life coming from within the cave system it was charged to conceal from impure eyes. The cave in on of itself was not awe-inspiring, it was that which was inside that was extraordinary.

First was the ring of six white stones. The first five, inscribed shadows carving into intricate words, were legible, but the six was too worn by time and the elements to read. The second was the tragic scene unfolding in the center of those stones. The last moments of a dying mother, singing¹ to her newborn child, while clutching her to her chest.

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance"

The mother sang, never noticing the soft footfalls, paws that carried its body towards the heartfelt melody.

"I hope you dance

I hope you dance"

Paws carried a golden wolf into visual range. Eyes full of a mother's love, she nudged a Nibel Wolf pup towards the humans.

"I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'

Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance"

Another wolf, with silver fur, appeared with eyes filled with ancient wisdom. Nodding to the other wolf, Lupa, she laid down, eyes closed, listening to the other two following her lead.

"I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)"

The silver wolf was looking at the child in her mother's arms. Flashes of chains, hunger, blood and pain assaulted her senses. '12 years of slavery, ending in death. Even I am not that cruel to leave an innocent child to such a fate.'

"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance"

The wolves glanced at each other, eyes conveying what the mouth cannot. 'Lupa says that she felt a connection between the pup and the human one. But it would not help her in this situation. But how... Eva! Of course!' The wolf tuned back to the scene in front of her.

"Dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)"

The woman hummed the last few cords before letting her tears finally fall in a silent sob. The she-wolves got up, making their way towards her. The woman, noticing movement in her peripherals, jerked her head around, waking her child.

Ruby eyes, flecked with gold, watched the approaching wolves, with a look that only war-hardened soldiers should have. The look of one who has seen too much in to short a time. The child smiled, making her mother relax.

The woman nodded her head with respect before speaking in a low tone. "How may this damned and dying woman help the Goddess Minerva and Goddess Lupa?" The wolves shimmered before their bodies contorted and shifted into humanoid shapes.

The Silver-furred, Minerva, became a tall, pale-skinned, dark-haired woman, silver eyes gleaming in the light of the moon. Her crimson cloak, drifting in a non-existent breeze, covered her ivory dress. Twin sword were sealed into their scabbards on her back, waiting to be unleashed.

The Golden-furred, Lupa, became a tanned petite woman with fair hair, her golden eyes mapping the exits and marking every movement. She wore a turquoise cloack to cover her ebony tunic. A full quiver of arrows were thrown over her shoulder. The bow, unstrung, was in her hands.

Minerva knelt to the ground, her searching eyes level with the dying woman's. A minute later and she found what she was looking for. She got up and glanced at her sister, who raised an eyebrow. Minerva sighed, before turning back to the dying mother and spoke. "Lucretia Cresent, adoptive daughter of Mark and Clair Cresent, wife of Cacus Hojo, mate of Vincent Valentine, and mother to his children Sephiroth and Saranyu .

"Your only 'damning', as you call it, quality was that you were naïve in the ways of the world. You trusted your 'husband', and I use that term loosely, with your children. Sephiroth thinks that his father is Hojo and his mother is the Calamity, 'Jenova'. Saranyu was to become a Super-SOLDIER Breeding Machine. However, you saved her from that fate at the cost of your own. Your sacrifice balanced what your trust in Hojo did to your scale."

Lupa placed a hand on Minerva's shoulder, interrupting her speech. "Let me speak Sister." Minerva took a step back, letting Lupa in to kneel in front of the sobbing woman. She lifted Lucretia's chin, forcing her to look at her. The Goddess smiled gently, "Do not worry Lucretia. Even though you may think that you have failed your family, you have not failed your daughter. While my sister was speaking, Theia sent me a prophecy concerning your child²:

Kin of Devils and Angels,

Kin of Gods and Goddesses

Daughter of Victory and Light

Life and Death shall follow in her footsteps

Life for the Innocent, Death for the Guilty

Goddesses of Light and Dark

Of their gifts, she will succeed

She will guide us to Eternal Balance

For many years to come

Lupa breathed out a sigh before asking for the now sleeping child. Lucretia nodded and Lupa stood up, Saranyu secure in her arms. "I, Lupa, Goddess of Light, Day and Nature, gift these unto Saranyu Morana. First, I give thee the sharpest of animalistic senses. Second, I give to thee the control of the five elements and everything that comes with it. Third, I give to thee teleportation and wings. Last, I give to thee the ability to shape-shift, from knowledge to instinct to form." Every gift received made the child glow. Lupa then handed the still glowing child over to her sister.

Minerva firmly held Morana and placed two fingers on her forehead before speaking. "I, Minerva, Goddess of Dark, Night and War, gift these unto Saranyu Morana. Firstly, I give unto thee an edietic memory. Secondly, I give unto thee the Gift of Tongues, be it man of beast. Thirdly, I give unto thee the best animalistic characteristics. Lastly, I give unto thee paranormal senses." Minerva handed the child back to her rapidly paling mother.

With her child safe in her embrace, Lucretia smiled softly. But she before she could speak, she coughed into her hand. Tasting something coppery, she looked down. 'Blood...' She whispered, staring at the liquid coating her hand. 'So I am truly dying...' She looked up at the sister goddesses. "Goddesses, I have a final request." She rasped. They nodded, and she continued, "Please, let Vincent and I see and teach her when she grows up. I beg of you!" She pleaded.

Minerva smiled sadly at the coming tragedy. "Yes, that is do-able, my child. Rest now, we will meet again when the time is right." She sent a mental command to Eva to awaken someone, at any means necessary, and watched Lucretia passed on with a smile on her face. Minerva watched as her body dissolved into mist, disappearing into the Lifestream. Her eyes widened partly as she noticed the color of the mist. Instead of green it was gold, the color of a demi-goddess. Minerva's hand flew to her mouth as she slid to the floor. "No, Brigid..." She muttered before bursting into tears.

Lupa gathered her sister in her arms, "Minerva, what is wrong?" She asked.

"Do you remember, 3 mortal decades ago, when I wanted to see how the mortal world worked through the eyes of one? And the came back crying after a year there?" Lupa nodded and clutched Minerva tighter.

"Yes, but you would not tell us what the matter was. You were never the same after that trip. Are you going to tell me now?"

Minerva nodded slightly, before a smile graced her face, a mother's smile. "I met a man, Judas, and we fell in love." Her eyes glossed over, reliving those happy days. "I told him who (and what) I was, but he didn't care. He loved me for me and two months later, I discovered that I was pregnant."

Lupa gasped, "You mean-?" Minerva nodded and gave her a sadly happy smile.

"Yes, I was pregnant with Lucretia, or Brigid. Judas was thrilled with the news and we got married. I gave birth to Brigid Strife on July 22, 1857." Her tears came harder and faster. "We were so happy. Brigid was the smartest child I have ever know. But it wasn't meant to last. ShinRa came. They killed Judas, left me fatally wounded and took my baby. When I passed, I returned to the immortal realm, and you know the rest." She wiped her eyes, trying to stop the tears. Lupa was also trying, but her tears went unheeded.

"Why did you not tell us? We could have help!" Minerva bit her lip and turned away.

"I was ashamed." She turned to look at her sister after a few minuets of internal battle. "I was ashamed that I had become complacent. Ashamed that I was scared. That I couldn't move."

Lupa stared at her with pity. "Why?" She asked.

With her sorrow spent, anger at her own uselessness boiled over. "Why?" She questioned quietly. "Because I was so damn shamed that I failed the only two people on Mother's Green Earth that ment the most to me. That is why Lupa." Her face fell onto trembling hands. She scoffed, "I couldn't tell you because I was so damn scared at losing the last of my family."

The two sat in silence before a noise alerted Lupa. She looked to the side and saw Saranyu playing with the wolf cub. Lupa smiled, "You did not fail, Minnie." She indicated to the laughing duo younglings. "Do not forget Saranyu and her father, Vincent. She placed a hand on the two children's heads. "I, as your Great Aunt, connect you two as partners, sharing each other's gifts with one another."

Catching on to what her sister was doing, Minerva smiled slightly and mimiced her movements. "I, as your Grandmother, gift to you the basic abilities of your parents." She stood up, gliding to the center of the six-stone circle and raised her hand. A glow settled over the stones, a bright flash light, then semi-darkness once more.

Where six white stones once stood, six jewels took their place. Ruby, Zircon, Topaz, Emerald, Sapphire, and Amethyst. The writing inlaid with the jewels opposite and could be clearly read even in the darkest cave. Minerva took a deep breath and walked to where her daughter died. She placed a hand on the spot of Brigid's blood and sang one last lullaby³ to her deceased child.

"Goodnight, my angel

Time to close your eyes

And save these questions for another day

I think I know what you've been asking me

I think you know what I've been trying to say

I promised I would never leave you

And you should always know

Wherever you may go

No matter where you are

I never will be far away"

A light began to shine from beneath Minerva's hand as she kept singing her sorrow away.

"Goodnight, my angel

Now it's time to sleep

And still so many things I want to say

Remember all the songs you sang for me

When we went sailing on an emerald bay

And like a boat out on the ocean

I'm rocking you to sleep

The water's dark

And deep inside this ancient heart

You'll always be a part of me"

The Brigid's blood began to bubble and hiss, but Minerva kept singing and the ground kept glowing.

"Goodnight, my angel

Now it's time to dream

And dream how wonderful your life will be

Someday your child may cry

And if you sing this lullaby

Then in your heart

There will always be a part of me"

Soon smoke and steam rose from the blood, clouding everyone's vision and the earth began to rumble and split open. Still, Minerva did not stop singing.

"Someday we'll all be gone

But lullabies go on and on...

They never die

That's how you

And I

Will be"

The smoke dispersed after Minerva sung the last lines. She disappeared with the others, leaving to meet up with her granddaughter's father. She glanced back and smiled sadly at what her sorrow had created. A piece of Onyx, larger than the rest, stood proudly as a memorial and monument to all mother's who have lost their children before their time. One side inscribed a poem⁴:

I often think of you

When you were very small.

You left your fingerprints

On almost every wall.

Back when you were growing up

They were such happy years.

How you would smile and make up games

I remember through my tears

Some day we will be together

In heaven up above.

But for now my little girl

I send you all my love.

The other side was a phophecy²:

Legend Has Foretold

Of the Goddess' Soldier

The Discord's Dawning Death

The Child Ages, Becoming

The Prisoner's Love

The Hero's Kin

The Wanderer's Salvation

The War Ends as She Takes to the Sky

The Greatest Sacrifice Everlasting

But the Prisoner Prays,

For He is Unable to Live Without Her,

His Gift From the Goddess