FFX AU
Chapter One
3:00 a.m.
The clock's green face glared at the young woman, broadcasting the ungodly hour. Again, she found herself unable to sleep. This had been going on for years, ever since the blasted fiends had appeared. She buried her face in the pillow and screamed before gracefully rolling out of bed. Her lean body was clad in only boxers and a sports bra, and still covered in sweat, both from the hot night and her nightmares. Her auburn tresses dangled to her waist, tangled in knots in several places and curling in the rest. Dark green eyes flecked with gold blinked rapidly as her long, creamy fingers flicked the lights on. She surveyed her room, searching for her clothes. The only way she'd ever get back to sleep would be to wander the town for a while and calm her mind. She spotted her skirt, black, floor-length, and slit to her thigh on each side to allow her maximum movement, draped over the back of her vanity chair. She slipped out of the boxers and pulled it on, making sure it was buttoned tightly. She yanked a fresh black tank top out of her dresser and threw it on, slipping off her sports bra in the process. Sitting at her vanity, she dragged a brush through her hair painfully, quickly braiding it when she was done. She opened her closet to reveal a wide assortment of weapons. She slipped on her black boots and slid a dagger into the hidden sheath in each of them before grabbing two braces of throwing knives, one to strap on each thigh. She grabbed a wide belt and buckled it on, grabbing the two wakizashi that belonged to it.
She stood, examined herself in the mirror, and nodded in satisfaction. Opening her bedroom door, she strode silently through the hallways of her small house. Her only companion was the shaggy black dog that detached itself silently from its bed.
"Good boy, Fenrir. We're going out." She gently patted the massive creature's head and opened the front door. She locked it, and then Felicia Stardust blended in with the shadows of the night.
The two walked down the streets in total silence, listening for any signs that they were not alone. Fenrir's eyes darted about, searching the large expanses of shadows, pressing tightly to his mistress. She curled her fingers into the soft fur around his neck and closed her eyes, trusting him to guide her for a few moments while she calmed her mind. She reveled in the quiet stillness, a rare thing for her. She expanded her other senses, becoming one with the nature around her. The wind gently tousled the stray curls at the nape of her neck and dried the sweat on her brow. She felt the night's natural creatures go about their business, and felt them freeze in fear as they sensed the fiend wandering their way. She slipped her fingers out of Fenrir's fur, and drew her wakizashis as the mastiff slunk off into the shadows. It was their typical attack. She would charge in while Fenrir waited for his opening. It worked well for most ground fiends, with the exception of the Chimera Brains. Damn snakes. Always watching the thing's back… Felicia rounded the corner and stopped dead. The very snake eyes she had just been thinking about glared at her, hissing evilly. The Chimera Brain turned slowly, bull head roaring and charging as soon as she came into its sight. She quickly recovered from her shock and dove to the side, rolling. She wasn't quite swift enough, and the snake scored a hit on her shoulder. Almost immediately, she whipped one wakizashi up and nearly took the thing's head off before she even came out of the roll and into a defensive crouch. The creature roared in pain at the death of one of its heads, and quickly cast Meggido Flame at her. She dove to the side again as Fenrir threw himself at the Chimera Brain. With his furious assault, he tore the eagle's head to shreds before the creature pulled him off and threw him savagely, the brave mastiff flying thirty feet to hit a tree and fall, whimpering in pain. Felicia screamed in rage and launched her own attack, blades whirling so fast the Chimera had no chance of blocking all the hits. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of red and a massive masamune drop onto the bull's head just as she tore the lion's head to pieces. As the fiend dropped to the ground, writhing as death set in, she twisted around to face the newcomer, blades still held defensively before her. His red coat flapped in the slight breeze, revealing a black muscle tank and black pants. He wore sunglasses low on his face, despite the fact that there was no sun, and a scar trailed down the side of his face.
"Who are you? I know everyone in this town, and I've not seen you before." Her voice rose crystal clear into the night, despite the cry of anger she had loosed earlier. She watched him warily as he slid his massive sword onto his back and held his hands out in front of him in a gesture of peace.
"I am a traveler. I hunt fiends, and cut them down. My journey has led me here, to help. My name….is Auron." He bowed slightly, and she slipped her wakizashis back in their sheaths.
"My name is Felicia, Auron. I thank you greatly for your help." She returned the bow, and was almost immediately gone from his field of vision, darting over to her faithful mastiff. "Oh Fenrir…..my little love…Hush, I'm here. We'll get you fixed up." She ran her hands over his fur, using her healing senses to see what was needed. He had two broken legs, several broken ribs, and internal bleeding. She sighed as he tried to nuzzle her hand. She sensed Auron come up behind her, and heard his deep voice.
"Is there any way I can help?"
"I can fix up most of his injuries, but I'd rather he not walk home, and I will be much drained." She sensed his nod of agreement.
"I will carry him for you."
"Don't touch me until the light has faded." She warned him. She closed her eyes and set her hands gently on Fenrir. Almost instantly, a brilliant purple light encased the woman and dog. Auron stumbled back in amazement as amethyst wings unfurled themselves from her back and folded around the two of them. The scene before him froze for several moments, entrancing him as she began to sing a soft song in a language he had never before heard. Slowly, the light began to fade and the great wings folded themselves into her back once more, disappearing totally. She slumped over Fenrir, who began to wiggle impatiently, obviously nearly healed. Making certain the light was gone totally, he gently touched her shoulder. "I'm all right, Auron. Will you please carry him now?"
"Yes. What was that….?" He asked, watching her as she shakily stood. He pulled the mastiff onto his shoulders, barely noticing the weight.
"I'll tell you later. I'd rather get him home. Now." She began to walk off, and he followed.