Evolution
~A Vincent Valentine story~
I looked at the creature, and he returned the look. His gaze met my own. He looked like the old Nanaki, the one I used to know, only without the many scars and tattoos. Actually, this Kibo had a scar just above his brow.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Vincent." Kibo said politely.
"… Likewise." I answered.
"Kibo, inform the town there will be a feast tonight, in honor of our guest. Oh, and don't forget that tell them that he is harmless." Nanaki added with a small grin.
"Yes father." Kibo said as he walked slowly out of the room. I saw him give me a quick glance, and then he left swiftly.
"It's been a long time, Vincent…" Nanaki said, as he looked at my unchanged body. I could tell he had aged since the old days. His silver hair was a sign of his age, but he still had the same eyes of his old self. The young warrior, Red XIII.
"Yes… I see you found others of your kind. I thought they were extinct?" I asked. I was actually curious of what had happened in those years while I slept, but I knew now was not the time to tell me the tail.
"Ahh, that's a long story my friend. I'll tell you it in good time, but they were all but extinct." Nanaki said with a shrug. "Once people know who you are, you will get a different reaction from them." He added with a grin.
I arched an eyebrow. "Is that so?" I asked. I was very curious now. Had he told tails of the humans that lived long ago?
"It will all become more clear tonight, old friend. For now, you should rest. The feast will begin at sundown."
*~*~*~
I had spent the last few hours in the room Nanaki had made ready for me before a young… I didn't actually know the name of the species. I'd find out tonight. Whatever the case, the young lion had come to tell me that the feast was about to begin.
I walked out into the large opening of Cosmo Canyon and took in the sight around me. As I said before, Cosmo Canyon looked completely different from my lifetime. Torches lighted the entire place, and paintings were scattered all over the walls. I hadn't actually took the time to study the paintings, I'd get to that I thought.
"Vincent! Join us." Nanaki smiled at me, he sat the head of the table, if you could call it that, for we were sitting around a large piece of wood that lay on the ground. All sorts of food were scattered over the large piece of wood. Obviously the lion creatures had no need for human tables. They had completely changed Cosmo Canyon to suit their needs.
I took a seat next to Nanaki, crossed legged. On the other side of Nanaki was his son, Kibo. He really did look like a young Nanaki. Hundreds of other lion creatures surrounded the table, while others still roamed around, and the children were running around, pouncing each other and their laughter could be heard echoing through Cosmo Canyon.
Nanaki let out a howl, and all the other creatures were quiet. "Thank you… my friends, the creature you see before you is in fact a human…" Gasps and quiet talk started. "This is Vincent Valentine, one of the humans of legend."
The entire table erupted into disbelief.
"I thought humans were gone to the Promised Land?"
"What about the story you told us, Nanaki?"
"Does this mean they are all alive?"
Questions were thrown at Nanaki, who had become quiet, waiting for everyone to calm. "Everyone, listen to me and I will explain all. Vincent is human, yes, but no ordinary human. For Vincent is gifted with eternal life."
Or cursed…"The professor Hojo, from the legend, made him like this. That is another story, but Vincent, after hundreds of years of hibernation, has finally awoke and is now here with us."
The crowd of lions was still and silent. "Now everyone, enjoy the feast!" Nanaki said with a warm smile. After a moment of silence, the lions began eating.
"So Nanaki, you told them the story of out adventure?" I asked of him.
"Of course, it has gone down in history. No one should ever forget it. It is a lesson that we must all remember, for the good of the planet as well as honor of my old companions… I can still see them, Clouds marvelous blue eyes tinted with Mako, Tifas warm yet sad smile, Barrets face filled with joy and pride when he was with Marlene, Cids cigarette hanging out of his mouth while he was cussing a blue storm, Yuffies cheeky grin when she had mareria, that bizarre Moogle robot and cat, Cait Sith, and Aeriths beautiful eyes. I'll never forget those eyes as Sephiroth struck her down… "
I nodded slowly in remembrance. I remembered out entire journey, although I wasn't there from the start. I remember Cloud throwing the lid off my coffin and the surprised gasps from Tifa and Aerith.
"I told the entire story, from beginning to finish. The story will never be forgotten, as long as us lions live in these canyons." Nanaki looked around the canyon, and I noticed he was looking at the paintings on the walls. They were the story…
"Nanaki stood up, "follow me," he said as he walked to the walls of the canyon. He stopped in front of a painting of the planet, and the battle of Holy and Meteor was taking place. Next to it, there was a painting of the Lifestream covering the planet. It was the ending to out adventure. Aerith had tried to stop all this, even in death, but it wasn't enough. "Sad, isn't it? That even pure good was not enough to save humans from themselves. They were to far gone."
"But they are in the Promised Land now. They are happy, and together." I said softly, looking at the paintings. I followed Nanaki as we walked by; looking at the paintings, marveling at how accurate they were and how much detail there was in each one.
"You're quite the artist." I muttered to Nanaki, and he only grinned.
"Let me show you my favorite painting." Nanaki said, leading me to a rather large painting. It was a painting of all of us, Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Barret, Cid, Yuffie, Cait Sith, Nanaki and myself, all together, smiling. Cloud had his arms around both Aerith and Tifa. "I could never tell who would end up together out of those three." Nanaki smirked. Barret was behind everyone with a huge warm grin on his face, Yuffie has that always-present cheeky grin on her face, Cait Sith was still but somehow seemed happy, Cid was winking, biting down on his cigarette with a smile. Nanaki was beside Cait Sith with a smile, and I was on the far right of the painting with my arms crossed. But as I looked closer, I could see a smile hidden away. "I call it Final Fantasy." Nanaki said with a sigh.
"Why?" I asked, looking at him in confusion.
"Because, it is my last hope that some day we will all be together again in the Promised Land, all together and happy. You guys were my family, much before I found my new family…" Nanaki sadly put his paw in the painting and sighed. "I miss them all so much… even Cid." Nanaki half-grinned.
"I miss them too, Nanaki." I said. He nodded, and I followed him back to the feast.
"Tomorrow, I have much more to tell and show you. Get some good rest, Vincent.
I nodded and walked back to my room.
Notes: Sorry about the sudden ending to this chapter, but I just kind of ran out of ideas. I hope you enjoyed though. R&R please.