A/N: This chapter has been revised taking in the constructive comments given to me in some of my review. Please enjoy the revision.
Disclaimer I do not own Vincent or any of the Final Fantasy Characters in this story. Valayris Valk is my own creation thought.
Valayris Valk walks into the old caverns underneath Shinra Mansion.
"Hello," Valayris calls out, her voice echoing off the cavern walls.
Receiving no answer she wanders deeper into the cave. The cave was a lonely, mournful place. Even color had abandoned it.
"Why would anyone be in this depressing place?" Valayris asks herself looking at her surroundings.
"Hello!" she calls again.
No response.
"I better get paid extra for having to be here," Valayris states.
Several minutes later the cavern tunnel opens into a large room. The room is cold giving Valayris an unaccommodating feeling. Nothing was soft and comfortable about this place. A crystal in the center was the room's only source of light. The light was soft solemn blue. Valayris's eyes adjust to the sudden blast of color. Marveling at the room's beauty a splotch of red catches her eye. It stands out vividly against the blue background. The splotch sits in front of the crystal. Stepping closer to it, the splotch begins to morph into a man. Valayris draws closer when all of a sudden the man draws his gun and clicks back the hammer.
"Who are you?" the man asks, his voice quivering with bass.
Valayris sucks in a little air. He's handsome and his piercing red eyes make her soul quiver.
"Wow," Valayris thinks to herself, "Is this where all the handsome single men hang out? If so I need to come here more often."
"Valayris," she tells the man.
"Ok...Valayris," the man says, "What brings you to this festering place?"
"Festering?" Valayris asks, "I find it quite enchanting."
The man's red eyes glare at her for a brief moment. The glare sends chills down Valayris's spine.
"Note to self do not anger man with large gun," Valayris says mentally.
"But I don't know the history of this place," Valayris says quickly in an apologetic tone.
The man ceases his glare as he stands up.
"Now please," the man says, "What do you want with me?"
"Cloud and Tifa sent me to deliver this message to a Vincent Valentine. A child in town told me I'd find him here. Are you Mr. Valentine?" Valayris asks turning the large envelope in her hands nervously. Valayris hopes he's the guy, she was really tired of traveling around looking for Cloud's estranged friend.
"Vincent, if you please," Vincent says extending his hand.
Valayris places the letter in his hand. Taking the letter Vincent opens it.
The crystal calls to Valayris drawing her closer. Placing her hand on the crystal a sharp pain travels throughout her body. Valayris yelps in pain. Hearing the yelp Vincent looks up from the letter.
"There is...great sorrow in this crystal," Valayris breathes.
Hurt fills Vincent's eyes as he turns away. Examining the crystal Valayris gasps.
"There is a woman in there!" Valayris cries, "A..a..a dead one."
Death and suffering, two of Valayris's least favorite things and now they seem to be everywhere. Recoiling from the crystal's invisible grip Valayris feels the crystal's sorrow creep over her. The sorrow tries to take over Valayris. Trying to force her to relive the sorrow the woman in the crystal had suffered.
"No, leave me alone. Please, I don't want to suffer the way you did," Valayris begs the crystal.
Looking up Vincent sees Valayris's face fill with fear. Hurrying over to her Vincent grabs her free hand pulling her into him wrapping his cape around her. Vincent walks Valayris away from the crystal and its sorrow. Reaching a safe distance Vincent unwraps his cape from around her. Valayris drops to her knees. Vincent can't help but wonder what that all about.
"Are you alright?" Vincent asks.
In response Valayris tilts her head forward while silver tears slide down her cheeks and splatter onto the cavern floor. The tears flow from her eyes, glowing brighter and brighter until the last tear falls and dims into nothingness.
"I have never felt anything with such...intensity before," Valayris quivers.
Vincent unsure of what to do turns back to his letter.
"Vincent,
I am sorry to lay this upon you my friend but Midgar is in need of your help. Midgar finds itself under siege of a frightening new disease and there is only one person who can cure it. That person is Valayris, the delivery girl. She is in need of your protection because the enemy behind this knows that she is Midgar's only chance of survival. It is very important that she does not fall into enemy hands for if she does they will kill her and Midgar will lose its only chance to be free from the disease's control. She cannot cleanse the city yet first we must stifle and destroy the enemy headquarters and labs. Tifa, Barret, Cid, Red XIII, Yuffie and I are going to take care of that. Please accept this duty and keep Midgar's beloved white mage, Valayris, safe. I will send a message requesting her to return when our mission is complete. You really need a cell phone Vincent. I hope you will help us.
-Cloud"
"Thanks Cloud," Vincent says looking at Valayris leaning over a puddle of her silver tears.
"I will help you my friend," Vincent says accepting the duty be for him.
"You're a white mage," Vincent states.
Standing up Valayris looks at him.
"How did you know?" she asks defensively.
"You cry silver tears to release intense emotions. You feel the emotions of my trapped, dead ex lover in her tomb..." Vincent explains, "And Cloud told me."
"Oh..." Valayris replies feeling a little silly.
"Then do you know why you're here?" Vincent asks waving the letter about.
"To deliver that message and wait for a response to take back to Cloud,"
"Read it," Vincent instructs tossing her the letter.
Valayris reads over the note. Anger flares up in her, how could Cloud do this to her? She couldn't stay here with Mr. Depressing. The group would need her help, she couldn't just stand on the sidelines and watch.
"He never said anything to me about this. I should be at Midgar with them, not being baby sat by you," Valayris states.
"Well you may not like it but we must respect Cloud's orders," Vincent says calmly.
Crossing her arms across her chest Valayris huffs. Valayris knew Vincent had a point but it still upset her to be left out of the action.
"Pouting does not suit a white mage such as yourself," Vincent says.
"What are we going to do?" Valayris asks, "Sit in this cave till Cloud and the others call for me?"
"No, because I have a strong feeling you've been followed." Vincent explains.
"Why would someone follow me here?" Valayris asks walking toward the entrance of the room. A man appears out of the darkness grabbing Valayris. He places a knife against her throat.
"If you'll excuse us Sir," the man says while Vincent calmly looks at them, "But the lady and I will be leaving now."
"I can't let you take her," Vincent says, "She's under my protection."
"Well her head's gonna fetch me a pretty gil with Deep Ground." The man explains.
Vincent smiles slightly, "I'm sorry you feel that way."
Raising his gun Vincent clicks back the hammer.
"You won't shoot me. You don't want to take the chance of shooting our lovely white mage here, now do ya?" the man asks shaking Valayris back and forth. Valayris groans with the jerky motion.
"You under estimate white mages," Vincent says.
Pulling back the trigger Valayris winces. The bullet flies by her face missing her ear by a centimeter and enters the man's skull. The knife falls to the cavern's rocky floor with a clang. Walking over to her Vincent places his gauntlet hand on her shoulder. In that moment a spark ignites a tiny flame within both of them.
"Are you alright?" Vincent asks.
"Yes, thanks to you," Valayris says placing her hand on top of his.
The action was so gentle Vincent could help but think of Lucrecia. The thought of Lucrecia sends painful emotions darting throughout Vincent's system. Valayris sensing the distress in Vincent quickly removes her hand.
"Apparently I'm more important then I thought," Valayris states looking at the man's corpse.
"Well of course you are. You are the lone person that can cure Midgar of a raging disease. They wouldn't put a bounty on your head if you weren't a huge threat," Vincent explains, "This just means it's going to be twice as hard to keep you safe."
"I'm really not all that po..."Valayris starts when she is over come with a sharp pain in her stomach. Dropping to her knees Valayris places a hand on her stomach.
"Vincent, what happened to her?" she asks pointing to the crystal tomb, "Her feelings haunt me."
"Her name is Lucrecia Crescent. I fell in love with her many years ago. I proposed to her and I was rejected," Vincent explains.
Valayris gasps as pain's intensity grows.
"She left me for Shinra's great scientist Hojo. Together they made a child. The child's name was Sephiroth."
"She's Sephiroth's mother!" Valayris whimpers.
Vincent nods turning to the crystal.
"She died on the inside when she found out about the madness her son possessed. Her flesh quickly reflected her internal suffering. I carry this guilt inside me because I wanted to protect her yet I could not...could not save her from her fate,"
The crystal releases its hold on Valayris. Sighing Valayris is able to return to her feet.
"It was her choice. You can't save someone who truly doesn't want to be saved," Valayris tells him.
"We must leave before more come," Vincent says trying to turn the discussion away from Lucrecia.
Valayris begins to breath raggedly.
"I feel...hatred," Valayris says wrapping her arms around herself trying to shield herself from the hurtful emotion, "Hatred of me."
"Come on," Vincent says, "We have to leave."
Valayris trembles uncontrollably now, "They're getting closer."
She falls to the floor doubling over.
"They're at the entrance," Valayris says her eyes rolling back in her head.
"Can you see them?" Vincent asks.
"Yes," Valayris says in a hypnotic state, "Deep Ground Soldiers."
"How many?"
"30 strong,"
"Damnit!" Vincent curses, "Can you walk?"
Struggling Valayris tries to get to her feet yet the trembling knocks her back down. She tries again but can't get up. Valayris couldn't believe this was happening to her at time like this.
"Why now," Valayris thinks to herself.
"I can't..." Valayris gasps.
Vincent's mind races, he needs a plan to get them out of this mess. Moment pass and Vincent comes up with a feasible plan.
"Well I'm not going to stay here and I am definitely not leaving you," Vincent tells her.
"But I can't..."
In one fell swoop he picks her up in his arms.
"Oh," Valayris sighs.
Valayris's mind flashes images of knights in shinning armor rescuing damsels in distress. The romantic images cause her heart to beat faster.
"He's like my Red Knight," Valayris sighs to herself.
"Grab on to my neck," Vincent says.
Wrapping shaky arms around his neck Valayris lays her head against his chest. A wave of protection lays a calming hand on Valayris's heart steadying her nerves. Valayris couldn't believe this was really happening. Stuff like this never happens to her in real life. Stuff like this only happens in her dreams. Leaping into the air Vincent heads for the back of the cave.
"Hold on tight," Vincent says.
Valayris's grip tightens. Drawing Cerberus with one hand Vincent wraps the other around Valayris's waist.
"They're here," Valayris says burying her face in Vincent's cape.
Valayris breathes in Vincent's sweet smell. The smell relaxes Valayris easing her trembling body.
"There she is," one of the soldiers cries as his voice echoes off the cavern walls.
Firing off a few rounds Vincent kills five or more Deep Ground soldiers. The soldiers fire back till a soldier's cry echoes above the gunfire.
"Stop! The boss wants her brought back alive," the soldier cries.
The gunfire ceases.
"Alive," Vincent thinks, "Cloud said they wanted her dead."
Vincent taking the opportunity darts down the tunnel. As if Valayris had read Vincent's mind she whispers "I thought Cloud said they wanted me dead."
"Apparently Cloud is not fully aware of the situation," Vincent replies.
The two hear the sound of heavy boots thudding down the tunnel behind them.
"They're following us," Valayris states snuggling closer to Vincent.
"There is a trick path up ahead with a place for you to sit and stay safe while I make a stand,"
"There are too many of them!" Valayris exclaims.
That was the last thing she needed today was to watch her Red Knight get pummeled by Deep Ground soldiers.
"We have more of a chance to make it out alive if I make a stand, but please feel free to lend me some of your white magic," Vincent tells her.
Valayris laughs and smiles, "I will definitely do that should you need it."
"Vincent has a sense of humor." Valayris thinks, "I never would have guessed."
The two come to a round cavern with a shelf two to three feet off the ground floor. Vincent sets Valayris there before loading Cerberus.
"Please Vincent," Valayris cries leaning over the edge of the ledge, "Be careful."
"I will protect you at all costs, but I will not die here," Vincent tells her.
Valayris smiles at him in return.
"How romantic," Valayris thinks to herself. Valayris turns her eyes away from her Red Knight to see a terrify sight. Snapping into a look of terror Valayris eyes widen
"Valayris?" Vincent asks noticing the look of fear spreading across her face.
Her body begins to tremble once more.
"Vincent! Behind you!" Valayris says pointing behind him.
Vincent spins around gun at the ready.
"You can't take all of us out. The white mage is as good as ours," The lead soldier states, "We're going to kill you but we will leave you alive enough to watch us take her away screaming your name."
"There is a flaw in your plan," Vincent says.
Feeling a wave of calm confidence wash over her Valayris looks down her hands slowly stop shaking. Sighing Valayris grows weary of the roller coaster of emotions today. Her day was suppose to go like this, delivery message, take response back to Cloud, have dinner with Cid and Barret at 7th Heaven and go for a walk with Red. Apparently none of those things were going to happen.
"Vincent," Valayris whispers looking at him.
"Where is our flaw?" the lead soldier asks.
"You think I'll die here," Vincent says.
Vincent opens fire on the crowd.
"VINCENT!" Valayris cries sending out a blast of white magic. The white magic forms a shield around Vincent. The enemy's return fire bounces off the shield. Vincent stops for a moment watching the bullets reflect off his translucent shield. Smirking briefly Vincent thinks to himself, "Thanks Valayris." Vincent begins to pick off half the soldiers with ease.
Frustrated with the amount of men they were losing, a soldier turns his gaze up to the ledge where Valayris was sitting.
"Tranq the white mage. She's controlling his shield," the soldier says pointing at her.
Loading a tranquilizer dart one of the soldiers takes fire. Focusing on Vincent Valayris could not hear anything going on in her surroundings. The dart pierces her shoulder breaking her concentration. Noticing his shield fading Vincent turns. Turning he sees Valayris with the dart protruding from her shoulder.
"Valayris!" Vincent yells.
Valayris collapses as the drugs kick in.
"Valayris!" Vincent calls again.
A bullet plows through Vincent's right shoulder. Roaring in pain Vincent grabs his shoulder. Turning he faces the gunmen.
"I'm your enemy remember," the gunman says.
Vincent's face transform into an angry expression while his body glows.
"What's going on?" the gunman asks.
Chaos leaks out of Vincent's body.
"Open fire!" the leader soldier orders.
Bullets bounce off Chaos's wings. Letting out an earth-shaking roar Vincent spreads his wings unleashing Chaos. In the blink of an eye Chaos rips, slashes, and decapitates all the remaining soldiers. Blood splatter paints the cave walls turning Chaos's rampage into a gruesome piece of art. Breathing heavily after finishing off the last soldier Vincent returns back to his normal form.
"Valayris," Vincent says rushing to her.
Examining her Vincent finds the dart lodged in her shoulder. Removing the dart he tells her, "We have to get you out of here."
Picking her up favoring his wounded shoulder he carries her out of the cave disappearing into the thick forest behind the cave.