Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
A/N: We have a scene change here, and congratulations to all who wish for Angeal x Seph! ie Mom this means you. XD
Two hundred leagues away, two people stood hunched up in the voracious blizzard on the Northern Continent. The two figures descended down a narrow, icy path into a forest of ethereal, white trees. They both pulled back their hoods as they escaped the blizzard's chill. "We take it you felt it too?" The smaller of the two asked.
The taller nodded as he ripped off his soaked traveling cloak, "So when did you two sense it?"
"As soon as the call went out," the girl replied as she removed her own cloak. Together they wandered through the glowing forest. The wind from above drowned out the sound of the dead leaves crunched by their feet. Both of them followed a small path carved through the underbrush towards a large structure in the center of the forest by a pond. The structure in question seemed to be made of a giant, alabaster, conch shell. The pair stepped through the opening on one side of the hollowed out interior. They found a set of steps that led down towards an underground, utopian city. Both of them leaped from one stair to the next as the city emerged around them.
"This way," the older of the two declared as he headed towards a large castle at the center of the villa.
The younger nodded and jogged after him, her eyes drifted up to the sky, the ripple of water for a sky unsettled her stomach. She shook off the nausea then focused her attention to the hem of the red cloak ahead of her. The taller man led the way into the large castle erected as the centerpiece of the city. They passed through the entrance hall, a pair of doors swung forward to reveal a circular room with ten, high back, chairs around the table. Six of the ten seats at the table inside had occupants, all of whom turned to their newly arrived company. The purple haired youth near the largest unoccupied chair greeted them. "Welcome Ariella Hewley, and Vincent Valentine. Please be seated, now that you have arrived our meeting may proceed." Her red eyes darted towards the unoccupied chairs.
The new arrivals slid into their appointed seats. "It's good to see you again, Knight General of the Cosmos, Ultima." Ariella greeted while her head dipped in a bow. She'd decided it was best not to let the tension in the room build up too much.
"Too long little sister," the purple haired girl replied with a smile. She refocused her attention on the rest of the group, "now then, let the Council of the Nine Generals begin." Her fingers folded and she scanned the assembly of faces. "I assume you've noticed the recent change in weather patterns?" She glanced at the humans.
Vincent gave a stoic nod, while Ariella sighed, "it is most peculiar, we moved from the hunting grounds to the depths of the Gi caverns for shelter."
"I see," she paused and processed this information. "So then, Vermelho, would you kindly show us your data?" Ultima requested.
A young man with red hair and gold eyes nodded. He whipped out a small crystal and placed it on the middle of the table. A large map of the planet appeared, his pale fingers ran through his hair. "I won't waste time bothering with weather patterns. For anyone curious about it, have you tried looking outside for a change?" He laughed, and earned a hearty chortle from the rest of the group. "But the facts still stand, the Lifestream's currents have shifted dramatically. Here's where they were a few months ago." The map faded, but green lights flowed around, with coalescence points where the reactors of Shin-Ra drew their power. "And here's a flow map from just this morning," the flow of green strands on the map shifted. They drew away from their normal paths and moved to a pair of points on opposite sides of the world. "The Lifestream's flowing to the Northern Crater and Mideel." He pointed towards the former coalescence points, "these five points managed to create reservoirs of energy. The human settlements are in a serious threat of blackouts and quakes. Anyway, that's all I've got as far as my part."
Ultima nodded at him, "thank you Knight General of the Earth."
Vermelho nodded sitting down, "hey Vert, Biru, how have the oceans been?"
A pair of twins, a boy with messy green hair and yellow eyes, and a girl with deep blue hair and matching yellow eyes, stood up. "The oceanic currents have shifted, drastically." The twins explained pointing at the map Vermelho uploaded. The oceans became highlighted before a small series of arrows began to shift on the display. "These represent the ordinary flow of the ocean." They explained, then the arrows shifted, "this is the current flow of the ocean." The arrows seemed to be pulling away from Mideel and the Northern Crater, the exact opposite of the flow of the Lifestream just beneath the surface. "In another week there will be severe flooding throughout the lower continents, however if we may direct your attention to the odd currents here and at the Southern Archipelago." The twins pointed at the two areas of oceanic recession. The group watched as what seemed to be a land path opened up between the Eastern Continent, and the two points of interest. "While flooding occurs on the continents, these two places will have land bridges towards the Eastern Continent. If someone were to march an army through there, then the humans would be doomed. We suspect this to be the opening between Aeterna Nox and where we sealed the Tenth."
"Adarna and I both carried the task of monitoring the status of the Tenth until we could recover from battle." Vert continued quietly. "Adarna, would you mind telling the Council what would become of the areas along in here?" He pointed to a part of the map between Midgar and Junon.
Ariella winced as she nodded, "yes. There are massive concentrations of people in here and here." The girl pointed at the cities, "the clans here would be forced to evacuate. The damage would be catastrophic." She silently thanked Adarna for the new vocabulary.
Ultima closed her eyes for a moment, deep in thought about the situation. With the Goddess focused on other things, it left the Nine in the position of assessment for the situation. There was only one other option, and a risky one at that. "As you all know, Gyemante went missing six months ago during her assignment to protect the only remaining Cetra. Therefore, I have tasks for each of you. Vincent, Ariella, I need you to locate the last of the Cetra. Her last known location was in the city of Midgar. One Aerith Gainsborough."
Ariella jumped, "we know her!"
"Then that makes you perfect for this task," Ultima nodded. Her attention shifted, "Hikaru, Omega, head south, and scout out the situation. Vert, Biru, take Vermelho and set up a perimeter in the area around Aeterna Lux. The rest of you, recruit as many of those as are willing to fight."
"Yes ma'am," the murmur rose from the group while they stood up. Ultima rose and exited the room followed by the rest of the group.
"Vincent, Ariella, join me," Ultima ordered.
She led them over to a hidden room, completely circular and of equal size to the previous one. "Chaos and Adarna, they have been waiting two thousand years to see you." She pointed to a decrepit, rust hewed, bird and a broken red dragon that hung limply from its pedastal. "They have waited patiently, but since you have returned during the time of a crisis, we have precious little time. I would ask you to please save them. Near the Gi Caverns there resides a clan of smiths that have served the Goddess since the beginning. They are the only ones who can perform such a task."
"You got it," Ariella grinned. She reached under the pillar and removed a stone box, a tug on the chain that dangled from the side opened it. She gathered the broken phoenix up and placed it into the box. "You don't have to come if you don't want to Vincent. We can take it from here."
"No… it would be an error on my part to let a youth such as yourself undertake such a journey to this place. I will join you." He muttered, his hands placed the crushed dragon in its own box.
They put on the stone boxes, arms through the leather straps on the opposite side of the chain. Ariella immediately tipped back over onto the floor, "oww…"
Ultima giggled, "you'll need to use you're spirit energy to lighten the load." Ariella struggled back to her feet with Vincent's help, "now get some sleep you two, tomorrow you'll start on the journey south." She led the two humans up to the dormitories of the castle, she stopped off by a room with a dragon on the door. The picture had been so well crafted that Ariella could feel the eyes watching her. She felt her hackles go up, "this will be your room Vincent Valentine." Ultima explained. Vincent nodded and pushed the door open, it shut with a click of the lock. Ariella reached out to touch it and placed her hand on the wood, but she winced as a string of darkness repelled her. Ultima smiled and gave Ariella a nudge to a door across the hall. "Try this one."
This door had a phoenix while it hovered embedded in it. The gold and silver eyes stared at her, her fingers brushed the door and it swung open. "Um goodnight Knight General of the Cosmos."
"Goodnight, sister," she smiled as Ariella disappeared inside of the room.
That was nice… getting to meet your family and friends.
Yeah real nice, thanks for handling the talking. I don't know what woulda happened if I'd handled it directly.
True. But they might want to see you.
Feh… get some sleep, we've got a helluva journey ahead of us.
Alright… goodnight…