Arc One: Finding Home
Chapter One: Falling Stars
It was a perfect beach scene, bright sunshine, glassy waters, and glistening sand. There was a light breeze welcoming anyone to this tropical setting. However, no one was on the beach aside from a young man kicking around a white and blue ball. He stood with his back to the ocean focusing on the height of a cliff a few feet away. He kicked the ball high into the air and then leapt up after it and kicking it once more sending it smashing into the rocky surface of the cliff.
"Yea! That's the one, ya!" He cried landing on his feet, he tossed his bright, red haired head back placing his hands on his hips and giving a hearty laugh. The breeze shifted slightly sending a blast of wind inland. It took the man by surprise when he was nearly sent crashing into the cliff himself. Instead he landed face first in the sand, he quickly recovered turning around finding himself staring down a large black airship.
"Whaa..?" He muttered as a platform opened underneath the ship with two shadowed figures standing side by side. One held up an arm looking at something on it, it was a small, slim figure with a curve to it. The other was tall and seemed muscular. They stepped from the platform walking toward the man who had manage to free his ball and holding it under an arm using the other to shield his eyes from the sun. As they stepped into the sunlight, he found the smaller one was a girl who looked to be around sixteen or so and the other a man a few years older. The girl had short, dark crimson hair that was cut to where it was really short in the back getting longer as it came down to her chin. She had dark eyes with sand colored skin; she wore a dark green top and ruffled mini skirt. Her top was sleeveless and had slits on the sides around the bottom that had brown strings to make it look as though it tied. The top was outlined in brown and had a brown upside down triangle with a line that went across it just before the point. Brown boots that nearly reached her knees with smaller straps going up from the ankle to the top with silver buckles in the middle. She wore a sliver necklace with a crescent moon charm on it and bracelets; on her right wrist was also a black band that she kept looking at. The man had darker skin and light brown hair; he wore a black vest and pants with sandals on his feet. When they stood a few feet apart, the girl placed her left hand on her hip and with the other pointed at him with a cocky grin.
"You're Botta of the Besaid Aurochs! Where is Lady Yuna?"
"Terra, don't be so dramatic you're scaring him." The girl's arm dropped as she crossed her arms with a pout on her face. The man placed a hand on her shoulder looking at 'Botta' as though studying him.
"We're looking for Lady Yuna, and don't worry we're not going to harm her." He said in a cool manner, Botta shift the ball under his arm not sure if he should give the whereabouts of Besaid's former High Summoner. 'Terra' sighed looking at her wristband again.
"Look, we really don't have to ask Gabriel. I can see her dot on the screen." She said turning and heading off down a small path that lead from the beach. 'Gabriel' watched her for a moment before bowing his head to Botta then hurried off after her. He caught up with her as she was walking up a small rock formation ready to disappear around a bend.
"Terra, you really shouldn't be in such a hurry. Its rare we get to visit such a beautiful place, let's enjoy it huh?" Gabriel said with a gentler tone than he had used on the beach. They reach a bridge and Terra looked out over what she could see of the island. It was lush and green, with its waterfalls and view of the sea it was a lovely sight. However, something else caught her eye, shooting stars that seemed to be falling from the sky. Gabriel following her gaze putting an arm around her shoulder, something bad was about to happen and he could feel it.
"Gabriel?" She asked as he grabbed her hand running back toward the air-ship. One of the stars hit the water; Botta was running up from the beach yelling at them to head toward the village. They ran back to the platform and were pulled up into the ship.
"Hang on to your skirts ladies!" Someone called from over the intercom as the ship rose into the air and zoomed into the falling sky. Terra pulled away from Gabriel's grip and headed up toward the deck of the ship. As she reached and climbed up into the front of the ship, Gabriel joined her with a small white animal on his shoulder. It had large ears like a rabbit and a cat like face with the body of a lemur.
"We should go back inside Terra!" Gabriel yelled as the ship dodged one of the large falling objects.
"No! I want to see what is happening!" She said the animal jumped onto her shoulder as she climbed to the middle of the hull. Gabriel bit his lip following her.
"Hey what's that?" She pointed to a large dark hole that was forming in the sky. She turned to look at Gabriel and her eyes widened when she saw a large black creature coming up from the ship's hull behind him.
"Gabriel!" She reached an arm to him as another dark creature came up in front of her.
"GABRIEL!" Everything went black, Terra clutched onto the creature from her shoulder as she felt herself falling backwards into nothingness. She closed her eyes praying that when she opened them again it would be as though she awoke from a dream. Please, please Yevon let this be a bad dream.
It was two years ago, I had finally become a high summoner ready to go out on my pilgrimage to defeat Sin. I had trained for years at the Macalania Temple; Gabriel was my guardian and my friend. I remember emerging from the inner sanctum after connecting with the fayth. He was there waiting, well sleeping against the wall. I had fallen to my knees gasping for air; the connection had taken a lot out of me. He awoke with such a jolt I that the sudden movement knocked me over in the process. It was funny; we could not help but laugh. I knew then that whatever was to come at least my journey would be worth it to have him with me. I wonder how many other summoners felt that way.
When we left my mother gave me a cute little animal she called 'Iole', she had large ears, a cat's face, and small body like that of a small monkey, she was snow white. Iole and Gabriel, they were my luck and strength through my pilgrimage. We had just arrived at the Djose Temple when we heard the news of Lady Yuna's victory over Sin. It was strange; Sin was gone so then, what would be the purpose of the summoners? As we returned we went to Bevelle where our families lived, it was there we sat outside the city's walls staring at the Macalania woods discussing what was to happen next.
"The world is going to change a lot isn't? With Sin gone, summoners would no longer be needed. And the fayth have disappeared." I said pulling my knees to my chest looking up at the sky, Gabriel was tickling Iole's stomach and she was cooing with happiness playfully pawing at his hands.
"You should be glad Terra, this way you get a chance to live for yourself. Not for Spira or Yevon, you can do what you wish." I laid my head on my knees thinking about what he had said. A few months passed and the changes were more than I had expected. The belief in Yevon was declining and a new faction had formed to fill in the gaps of the Maesters, this faction was called New Yevon. Two other factions formed the Youth League and Machine Faction. People began to hunt for spheres that held information of Spira's past. I even heard that Lady Yuna had joined a group of sphere hunters known as the Gullwings. For Gabriel and me, we were learning to cope with the new Spira and find our place in it. It was then we were approached by a few high up members of New Yevon.
We were asked to become "sphere hunters," we were to look for spheres that contained some of Spira's past. It sounded like a fun way to spend the endless time we had. After our first couple of runs, we were sent to talk with one of the higher officials of New Yevon. He asked us to "remove" some of the Youth League who was causing a stir in Kilika. I was outraged, how could he ask that of anyone? We left Bevelle, spent time in Luca doing small odd jobs, and even worked along the Mi'ihen Highroad. It was fun, even if we were living on little to nothing. Then something changed, we were asked to come back to Bevelle to speak with Baralai, the Praetor. It was a great honor to be asked by the Praetor to come back, so we went. The Praetor asked us to talk with Lady Yuna, and ask her to join New Yevon. But those falling stars? Those creatures? What in the world is happening? I cannot see Gabriel, and I cannot hear him. What is happening here?
"Hey, wake up." Who is that? Gabriel? No, it does not sound like him.
"Is she dead?" Huh? Dead? Am I? Terra groaned as she slowly opened her eyes, she found herself looking up at a girl with auburn hair, whose gentle green eyes that seemed somewhat ethereal. The girl smiled turning her head to talk to the other person in the room, another girl with short black hair and dark eyes. She leaning against a wall with her arms crossed and leg propped up on the wall.
"She's not dead Yuffie." The brown-headed girl said, the black-haired girl sighed.
"I'm not blind Aeris." She muttered and 'Aeris' chuckled turning back to Terra who had manage to sit up on the bed she had been lying on. She looked around the room, which was very pink then back to her.
"Where am I?" She asked looking around again hoping to see someone she knew. Iole had been lying in Aeris' lap but hopped into Terra's when she realized that her owner was awake. Terra looked down patting the creature on her head as Iole nuzzled her head into Terra's stomach.
"Traverse Town. We found you and your little friend near the fountain passed out. She came around as soon as we picked her up, but you gave us a scare until we noticed that you were breathing. It was a good thing we got to you, the Heartless were starting to show up." Aeris replied, Terra cocked and eyebrow looking down at Iole.
"Heartless?" She asked looking up again, the girl named Yuffie pushed herself from the wall and walked to the bed placing her hands on her hips looking down at Terra.
"Yeah, that's why you're here isn't it? They destroyed your world didn't they?" She asked in a demanding tone.
"My world? It was destroyed?" She looked down at Iole who cooed at her trying to comfort her. Aeris and Yuffie exchanged looked for a moment.
"What was the last thing you remember?" Aeris asked.
"Hey hey! What about her name, huh? We still down know that!" Yuffie cried standing up right.
"My name is Terra and the last thing I remember seeing falling stars, a big black hole in the sky, and these black creatures coming up from the hull of my airship." Terra stated making her way off the bed looking for a way out.
"Where do you think your going? There are tons of Heartless out there and if you don't what they are how do you think you're going to make it?" Yuffie said following her placing a hand on the door to keep her from opening it. Terra looked at the girl for a moment before attempting to leave anyway.
"I've got to find Gabriel!" Terra replied giving up the hope that Yuffie would let her go. The girl shook her propping herself against the door incase she tried to leave it again, it was for her own good anyway. Aeris stood up walking toward a small window on the opposite side of the room motioning for Terra to follow. When she reached the window, what she saw outside was smaller versions of the creatures she had seen on the airship wandering around an empty street.
"Those are the Heartless. They are creatures born from the darkness within the heart. If you are not careful, they can take your heart and you too will become a Heartless. As for this Gabriel person, there was one else around when we found you. He may have disappeared along with your world. Terra, you are welcome to stay here and help us fight off the Heartless. But do not worry about your friend or your world. There is a boy named Sora who holds the power to restore it. Give him time and everything will be as it was." Aeris said watching Terra from the corner of her eye. The creature had crawled up to her shoulder as Terra placed a hand on the window and recoiling her hand into a fist.
"But why was my world destroyed?" She asked trying to digest the information she was being given.
"The Heartless are trying to consume everything! That's why we need to stop them!" Yuffie yelled from across the room. Terra lowered her head to her chest, Are you really gone Gabriel? I cannot believe that, you promised me…back then at the temple that you would never leave. So I know you are here somewhere. Beep, beep, she looked down at her wrist, the black band on her right arm had a small screen and a green dot was glowing on it. Her eyes widened for a moment as the dot changed to a blue color. She turned to Aeris with a grin holding up her arm for the other girl to see.
"Gabriel is close by; see the dot on the screen." She said happily heading for the door Yuffie grabbed her arm looking at the screen herself.
"What is this?" She asked letting go of the other girl's arm.
"It's a Sensor Bracelet. My father created it; it helps locate items as well as people. You see, Gabriel and I both have one so we show up blue on the other's bracelet. Items show up red and other people show up green. So will you let me out now, since my friend is out there?" She asked, Iole gave a loud 'yap' sound happy to hear her other owner was alive.
"We're going to go with you." Aeris said joining the other two, Yuffie grin she was more than ready to fight a few Heartless. Terra bowed her head as Yuffie threw open the door.
"Thank you." She said following Yuffie who was hurrying down a hallway. Gabriel, wait for me, ok?