"It's still strange to see you like that."
"I know, it won't last for much longer though."
"Still…"
Zack was trying to stop himself from laughing.
"It's just so ridiculous and it doesn't suit you at all!"
Anne sighed as she lowered her spoon.
"This is the thirteenth and final day, aren't you done with your mocking?!"
Zack began howling with laughter as Aerith sauntered in and hesitated to take in the scene.
"Zack, haven't you gotten over it yet?" she asked with a disapproving frown.
"I'm sorry, Aerith but tell me this," Zack giggled behind his hand "how many people have you seen with purple skin and nails that practically glitter like stars!"
Anne huffed as she grabbed her bowl of porridge and stormed off. Yes, the potion that is supposed to help her body grow stronger to magic is working, however the side-effect was that her whole body turned purple! Anne settled on the steps on the courtyard and began eating her porridge, the warm bowl keeping her warm. She looked up at the bare trees of the winter, frowning when she tried to recall the date. Time always confused her here because there were gaps in her memory that were missing from being delirious. It must at least be January.
Anne's heart stopped as she stared ahead in disbelief. She was nineteen. Her birthday had passed. Lowering her spoon slowly, Anne took a moment to reflect on what happened during previous birthdays. She had spent more birthdays with her sister than with her parents, she had been a little girl when they passed away. Nothing much happened on that day anyway, Tifa may or may not bake a cake, it depended on money. Anne didn't treat her birthday much differently to other days and no one in the village really knew about it. Cloud had been around for one birthday and he gave her a little charm bracelet he made from little monster parts. The sentiment was appreciated at least.
"Miss Anne?"
Anne lifted her head and smiled down at Loz who was in his human form, looking up at her from the bottom of the steps.
"Loz, good morning," she said and Loz wagged his tail as he ran up the steps to sit next to her.
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
"Yes," Anne shrugged "Zack is still laughing at my current condition."
Loz snorted as he leaned his arms on his knees. He stared at the gates and sighed.
"Yaz and Daj have gone off playing, leaving me on guard duty again," he pouted.
"Oh, sorry to hear," Anne frowned and Loz shrugged, kicking some dirt off a step.
"It's nothing," he grumbled "They've gone off into the woods so they can't go into their human form."
"I find it strange," Anne confessed "How come you three are affected differently by the curse?"
Loz shrugged.
"You should ask someone who actually knows about magic," he said "I don't use magic, but maybe Yaz and Daj can explain."
Anne shrugged and ate some more porridge. Loz's stomach growled and she giggled.
"Want some?" she offered and Loz perked.
"I-I couldn't!"
"I made a bit much for myself," Anne insisted as she pushed the bowl into Loz's hands "Go on."
"Well, if you insist."
Loz began to eat eagerly and Anne smiled, tickling his ears. He really was like a little brother to her except he was older. Loz's tail wagged eagerly as Anne stared at the gates thoughtfully.
"Is something bothering you?"
Anne smirked as Loz looked up with porridge around his mouth and shook her head.
"I just want to explore out there for a short while," she murmured "I haven't really been out there properly."
Loz flattened his ears.
"I don't think His Highness will be pleased at that…"
Anne hummed thoughtfully before clicking her fingers.
"Get Poppy ready," she said as she got up and ran into the castle.
She headed straight to the West Wing where Sephiroth was still sleeping.
"Khohelm, aran!"
Anne took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she dove into Sephiroth's dream world. Opening her eyes blearily once it was over, she watched Sephiroth and Vincent talking rather civilly for once. Smiling brightly, she dashed over the small bridge that was over the koi pond and arrived before the men.
"Sephiroth!" she said happily and it jolted the two of them.
"Anne," Sephiroth smiled as he stood.
Anne stepped back a little and he hesitated before morphing into his cursed Shinto form. He nuzzled the side of her face and stared into her eyes.
"What can I do for you?" he asked and Anne tilted her head to the side.
She put on her most adorable face, one that only Vincent could resist, and batted her eyes sweetly.
"I would very much appreciate it," she purred softly "If I could explore the woods outside of the castle grounds."
Sephiroth hesitated and pulled away.
"Anne…"
"Loz will be with me, I won't be unprotected!" Anne pleaded "I'm just curious about the area, because you know I haven't once set foot out there for…"
Anne counted her fingers and stared ahead in surprise.
"Around three months…" she murmured and Vincent stiffened.
"Are you alright, Anne?" Sephiroth asked at Anne's fallen face.
"I'm fine…"
"Sephiroth, is this Loz reliable?"
Sephiroth turned to Vincent before looking away in thought.
"Out of the three that can leave here, he is the strongest," he murmured.
"Anne, is your potion still in effect?"
"Oh, yes," Anne murmured as she remembered her altered appearance was only on her physical form "It should wear off this afternoon."
"I don't see a problem with her exploring the woods for a short while then," Vincent nodded and Sephiroth spluttered "The potion will help her defence if attacked."
"Wait a moment!" Sephiroth snarled "I have a problem with this!"
He turned to Anne sharply.
"Rosso might be out there!"
"You said she had left the kingdom," Vincent frowned.
"For now."
"Sephiroth, I can take care of myself," Anne implored "And Loz will be helping me and Kadaj and Yazoo won't be too far away, I won't go too far from the castle and…"
"Alright!" Sephiroth snapped as he sighed "But the moment, the very second danger appears you will be back in the castle, is that understood?"
Anne's eyes lit up happily and she threw her arms around Sephiroth.
"Thank you!" she cried "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Sephiroth hugged her back briefly until she let go and ran out of his dream world. He turned to Vincent with narrowed eyes.
"Why…?" he began growling and Vincent held up his hand.
"We have work to do," he said with a calculating smile.
"Loz!" Anne called as she ran out into the courtyard after grabbing a cloak "Oh good, you got Poppy ready!"
"Well…yeah you told me to…" Loz murmured and hunched his shoulders whilst keeping Poppy steady "Is his Majesty alright with you exploring the woods?"
"Yes, of course," Anne grinned as she mounted Poppy "As long as you're with me anyway."
"Oh, OK!" Loz grinned as he morphed into his wolf form "Ready to run?"
Anne nodded as she dug her heel into Poppy who squawked and ran out through the gates. Loz followed after, running around the red Chocobo eagerly. Anne sighed as she felt the wind brush across her face. Her hood fell off as she navigated Poppy into the overgrown woods. She looked around curiously at the abandoned houses as Loz began leaping over massive roots and scaring away little creatures.
"What happened when the curse was cast?" she asked curiously and Loz paused to look up at her.
"Well…"
They all jumped when a roar echoed throughout the kingdom and Loz flattened his ears.
"His Majesty just asked Yaz and Daj to go back to the castle," he explained as Anne placed a hand over her heart whilst looking in the direction of the castle.
He cleared his throat as they began wandering through the woods slowly.
"Well…they left."
Anne tilted her head as Loz flattened his ears.
"The curse only affected the castle and the castle grounds," he explained "and everyone outside the castle were scared because well, His Majesty is very powerful."
They stopped and Loz sat in front of two rocks with his ears drooped.
"And anyone who didn't have magic blood and tried to get into the castle were killed."
He lay down and whined pathetically.
"At the night of the curse, we were sneaking into the castle to take a look at this woman who supposedly caught the king's heart," he murmured "We were in the courtyard when the curse was cast and…"
He looked to one of the rocks.
"…our sister hadn't snuck in yet and was killed once she set foot into the castle grounds."
Anne's face fell as she slipped off Poppy and crouched down to cuddle Loz.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as Loz whimpered.
"Mother died shortly after when she tried to get to us during the morning," he explained "And because all the villagers lacked the magic blood to enter the castle, they all left."
"And anyone who lacked the magic blood in the castle got caught up in the curse then?" Anne clarified as she ran her fingers through his fur.
"Yes," Loz nodded.
"Were there really only ten others…?"
"Rosso killed most of the servants after she cursed the castle and ran," Loz sighed "It was just us seventeen that were left here. I don't know what will happen if the curse isn't lifted in time."
"I'll try my best," Anne promised and Loz nuzzled her.
"You're very kind," he mumbled softly.
A growl interrupted the moment and Anne gripped Loz's fur as he raised his head to growl.
"Ssh, I'm going to see what it is…"
"But…!"
"Keep an eye on Poppy, I'll be right back."
Loz whined as Anne got up and began walking deeper into the woods. He got up, took Poppy's reins and began pulling her gently towards where Anne had gone to. Poppy suddenly squawked and began flapping about. Loz let go to turn and tensed as he saw Anne trying to approach a Coeurl.
"Miss Anne watch out!"
"Ssh!" Anne hissed as she held up a finger to Loz, her other hand busy trying to calm the creature down.
"It's a Coeurl!"
"I know, isn't she beautiful?" Anne smiled then slowly waved Loz away "I'll be fine, just keep a distance."
The Coeurl growled, its whiskers sparking with energy as Anne got to her hands and knees to start crawling carefully towards it. Loz felt agitated but he knew if he did something Anne would be in trouble. But if he didn't do something Anne would still be in trouble. He whined, what should he do? He watched resignedly as Anne got within touching distance and stroked the Coeurl's back. There was a very tense pause until the Coeurl purred and Loz's jaw dropped.
"Miss Anne?"
"Loz, come a little closer but make sure your head is lower than hers."
"Um…"
Loz flattened himself to the ground and began shuffling over bit by bit until he was beside Anne. The Coeurl lowered her head to sniff his scent before relaxing and nodding as if in approval.
"I've never been so close to a Coeurl before," Anne sighed as she continued stroking her "I've only seen them in books."
The Coeurl purred and licked Anne's face. Loz snuffled.
"Coeurls are dangerous, we shouldn't be here," he mumbled.
"They aren't aggressive," Anne frowned "They attack only when attacked. It's such a shame there are so few of them left because…"
She sighed.
"Well because most people want them for their fur," she said sadly "Loz, can we take her back to the castle?"
Loz straightened up.
"What?!" he exclaimed and the Coeurl growled.
"Head down!" Anne hissed and Loz lowered it quickly, flattening his ears and making himself look submissive "Loz, she's heavily pregnant and I think the gardens might be a better place for her to have her litter."
She then tickled the Coeurl under her chin.
"Plus I'm very good with helping creatures with their young," she said with a grin "I've handled baby Chocobos, baby Cactaurs, baby Tonberries…"
"Baby Tonberries?!"
"They're so adorable when they're trying out their training knives," Anne squealed and Loz just stared at her "Please, Loz? She'll just be staying in the gardens and she won't hurt a soul…"
A bolt of lightning struck a mouse nearby and the Coeurl snapped it up for a snack. Anne grinned innocently to Loz who looked exasperated.
"What will His Majesty think?" he asked.
"Well he should be alright with it as long as she doesn't go into the castle," Anne shrugged "Please, Loz, please?"
She pouted as she hugged the Coeurl and Loz sighed.
"Fine," he grumbled "But if she hurts you…"
"I have magic blood, I'm an equal in her eyes," Anne smiled "So long as I give her respect, which I do…"
The Coeurl purred and licked the top of her head affectionately.
"I'm going to call you Cinnamon," Anne declared with a bright smile as they got up.
Cinnamon purred as she followed Anne happily, growling at Loz warily as he followed them reluctantly.
Kadaj and Yazoo stared at them in disbelief when they arrived.
"Our job is to keep monsters out, you know," Kadaj pointed out as he eyed Cinnamon.
"Why didn't you keep the Behemoth out from a few weeks back then?" Anne asked and Kadaj scowled.
"Have you ever fought a Behemoth before?" Yazoo asked as he tossed his hair back.
"No, but Bain wasn't looking for a fight, we just played around for a bit," Anne placed her hands on her hips "Just keep an eye on Cinnamon whilst I go and talk to Sephiroth…"
"No!"
Loz and Anne raised their eyebrows as Yazoo and Kadaj hesitated on the spot before Yazoo cleared his throat.
"Uh, well, magical maintenance on the castle is being done and it's dangerous for people to go in at the moment…" Yazoo said slowly before turning to Kadaj "See if you can get anyone's attention."
"Uh…right!" Kadaj nodded before scurrying around the corner to find a window.
"I'll put Poppy away," Loz muttered as he took Poppy to the stables.
Anne actually didn't need to wait for long until Vincent phased through the doors and stormed up to her.
"A Coeurl?!" he exclaimed as he eyed Cinnamon "And a pregnant one at that?! Anne, what have we told you about bringing monsters back home?!"
"Oh come on," Anne pouted and Yazoo frowned in confusion "I thought you'd be sympathetic at least…"
"Valentines are known for dealing with plants, not creatures!" Vincent hissed and folded his arms "How did you even manage to approach it?!"
"Well I know Coeurls are approachable so long as you give them respect," Anne hummed.
"…"
Vincent sighed.
"Your studies, I know but still…" he muttered "Behemoths, Bandersnatches and now Coeurls, maybe there is some other blood within you that is helping you getting close to creatures."
"Ow!"
Yazoo stared at Anne after a cut appeared on her hand and Vincent stormed back into the castle with her blood on his gold gauntlet.
"What was that just now?" he asked and Anne shrugged, cradling her hand.
Aerith came out and stared at Cinnamon in disbelief.
"I was very much hoping that this was one of Kadaj's jokes," she sighed as she slowly approached her.
Cinnamon looked up at Aerith as Anne watched her come closer and smiled. Aerith knew how to handle creatures too.
"Her name is Cinnamon," she said brightly and Aerith sighed.
"At least it's a Coeurl and not a Malboro…" she murmured and Anne simply grinned "I know that grin, young lady, don't tell me there's a Malboro lurking nearby…"
"No, not nearby," Anne giggled as Aerith knelt beside Cinnamon and placed a hand on her side.
"…It'll probably be nice to have some young spirits around," Aerith smiled "Although His Majesty might not approve."
"He doesn't know yet?" Anne tilted her head.
"Kadaj only went and spoke with those in the kitchen," Aerith explained "That was just me, Cid and Angeal."
And Vincent by the sounds of it too… Aerith got up, dipping her head low and urged for Anne and Cinnamon to stand as well.
"I have the perfect place she could make into a nest," she said as she led them around the castle.
"What's this magical maintenance thing then?" Anne asked and Aerith paused for a minute then smiled.
"Well, it's to make sure that the castle is supported properly before His Majesty puts more magic in you," she said "You nearly set the castle up in flames last time."
"I did?!" Anne exclaimed and looked ahead "Wow…"
Aerith led them to a large bush at the back of the garden with a small entrance that Cinnamon could just about squeeze into.
"When I was a little girl, my mother was a lady-in-waiting so I grew up here," she said with a soft smile as Cinnamon began sniffing around it curiously "Zack was a serving boy and we used to play all the time around here."
"That's sweet…" Anne smiled but then her smile faltered "Um…"
"I know what you're thinking," Aerith sighed "My mother would be alive and mixed up in the curse hadn't…"
Aerith looked away with a distasteful look.
"You have noticed that out of all the servants it is only Genesis and I are the only ones with magical blood other than His Majesty and you?"
"Hm?" Anne frowned "What about Yuffie?"
"Yuffie uses the rune stones to help her use magic," Aerith explained "Over the time of the curse, she has perfected the art and there is a spark of magic in her blood, however it wasn't how she was born. She's just like the first magic users, the magic allowed her to become one of us."
"Luxiere and Kunsel, I've seen them use magic," Anne tilted her head "Yes, I remember on the first day, I swear…"
"You've seen their collars?"
Anne frowned thoughtfully, somewhat remembering the collars the soldiers had in their dog forms and nodded slowly.
"They don't really show them when they're in human form," she said.
"Those collars allow them some control over magic but only for communication purposes," Aerith explained.
"Huh…" Anne frowned "I thought Angeal had magical blood…"
"He's merely an alchemist, a natural alchemist as opposed to a magic one. Cid, Zack and the brothers don't have magic blood so that just leaves Genesis and I."
"Hm, you'd think for a family with magical blood that the monarchy would…"
"Anne, remember why Rosso placed the curse in the first place!" Aerith cried out and stepped away to cover her mouth, shaking softly.
Anne looked startled at the outburst before her jaw dropped.
"Their own servants?!"
Aerith let out a quiet sob.
"Genesis is the king's childhood friend, so he was spared," she whimpered "Zack managed to hide me away until he convinced them that I shouldn't be sacrificed but out of all who had magic blood, us two were the only survivors."
She sniffed as she wiped her tears away.
"Well, of course Vincent and Rosso got away too…"
Anne was covering her mouth in horror, watching as Aerith stood there, hugging herself.
"There were too many betrayals during the time of the sacrifices," she whispered softly as Cinnamon pawed at her dress with a soft mew "and for what?! For power! His Majesty deserves this curse!"
She sighed and clenched her fists.
"If only we didn't have to get caught up in all of this," she whimpered "Otherwise I would care less for His Majesty's fate."
Anne looked downcast as she shuffled awkwardly.
"Um, do you know how my ancestors came to be sacrificed?" she asked.
Aerith looked away momentarily before shrugging.
"I'm not sure, they were most likely tricked," she said "They were near the end of the sacrifices, Queen Lucrecia must have lured them here."
"Vincent tried to assassinate Sephiroth's father before the sacrifices even began, they must have known one another."
Aerith looked surprised as she cupped her chin in thought.
"Why don't you ask him?" she suggested "His spirit lingers, doesn't it?"
"He doesn't like looking back," Anne grimaced.
Aerith sighed.
"I don't really remember any assassination attempts on the late king," Aerith hummed "Valentine…I know that Lucrecia had a close friend called Grimoire…"
"Vincent's father," Anne nodded.
"She must have tricked the clan," Aerith shook her head "She was always very deceitful and cunning."
Anne sighed as Cinnamon began preparing the bush for her litter.
"It's cold, can we go inside?"
"Uh, well, how about the library?" Aerith suggested as she pulled Anne towards the library windows.
They settled by the sofas where they could keep an eye on Cinnamon and Anne blinked when she saw Vincent staring at a couple of books. Aerith saw them floating and gasped, bringing his attention towards them. Vincent strode over and Aerith shrieked even more, startling Anne.
"Aerith, it's OK…" she tried to calm her down.
"Your mother's name," Vincent said as he crouched down to Aerith who was trembling "…Ifalna was it?"
Aerith lowered her eyes and nodded.
"Yes…" she murmured and Vincent sighed.
"You bear a close resemblance indeed," he said as he placed the books down and sat by Anne's side "We were acquainted, our families were very close."
Anne assumed that Aerith could see Vincent too as she nodded and Vincent sighed, leaning back.
"This explains a lot," he said as he turned to Anne "The reason you do so well with creatures is because you and Aerith have a common ancestor."
"We do?!" both girls exclaimed.
"The Valentines and Heartillies were two branching forms of Wiccans," Vincent explained as he showed the girls a family tree "Aerith is descended from the Heartillies, though her Wiccan blood is very weak, dominated by the Gasts' natural healing abilities."
"What of my mother's magic? Her maiden name was Gainsborough…"
"No, it wasn't," Vincent grimaced "Your mother had to hide and change her identity."
"What, why?!" Aerith exclaimed and Vincent sighed.
"You and your mother are part of a different race, the rarest species of magic induced creatures," Vincent explained "In fact, I believe you may be the last one."
Aerith looked faint and Anne reached out to touch her shoulder.
"This is a lot to take in," she murmured and Vincent nodded.
"I understand," he said "Anyway, the Heartillies are efficient in communicating with creatures and taming them, the Valentines are efficient in growing and using plants and alchemy."
"Hang on, if you didn't know about the blood being within me…"
"That's where your father comes in," Vincent looked a little irritated "However weak it may have been, your father had minimal traces of Heartilly magic in his blood."
"My father had magic blood?!"
Anne looked beyond confused.
"No, he died because his blood didn't work while attempting to use a Wiccan ritual…"
"Exactly, it wasn't strong enough," Vincent explained "Frankly, it's a miracle that you managed to get some traces of Heartilly within you."
Anne placed her head in her hands as she processed this.
"It does explain how he managed to stop monsters from coming near us…" she murmured with a soft frown.
Vincent grimaced as he closed the book.
"It was nagging me," he said "How you managed to tame that Behemoth especially and without a taming pendant!"
"Wait, you tamed a Behemoth?" Aerith looked at Anne incredulously.
"Just a young one," Anne shrugged "If it had been older and capable of using magic I wouldn't have risked going near it without my taming pendant."
She sighed solemnly.
"I miss it," she pouted "I want to go out and find more creatures to meet…"
"This isn't a zoo, young lady!" Vincent said in a scolding tone and Anne pouted "I won't allow you to bring in anything from a dragon to a griffin or to a, Gaia forbid, a Tonberry!"
Anne raised her eyebrows and smirked.
"How about a Malboro?"
"You are definitely not going to go anywhere near Malboros!"
Anne cackled, apparently Vincent didn't know everything about her.
"I hear happy things in here!"
They all turned to see Zack prancing in with a goofy grin on his face. He then burst out into laughter and Anne pouted, folding her arms.
"It won't last very long still!" she reminded him as Aerith rolled her eyes.
"What brings you here, Zack?" Aerith asked and Zack grinned.
"Ballroom, now," he said and Aerith's eyes lit up.
"Coming!" she grinned and began dragging Anne along.
"Aerith?" she said and looked at Vincent who began following them, a smile on his face "I don't like that smile, it's out of character!"
Vincent laughed as they made their way to the ballroom. Aerith grinned as she urged Anne to open the doors. Anne looked suspicious but reached out to open the doors.
"Surprise!"
Anne shrieked as mini fireworks went off and the rest of the servants were in the ballroom with Angeal's cooking served on a couple of tables, decorations pinned up and the chandelier glistening beautifully.
"Ah, ah, what?!"
Sephiroth moved forward and nudged her forehead with his nose.
"It was your birthday a while ago, wasn't it?"
"But how did you know…?!"
Anne turned towards Vincent with narrowed eyes.
"I knew I smelt something suspicious when you let me leave the grounds," she grumbled and Vincent just smirked.
"Happy Birthday, Anne!"
Anne jumped as Yuffie levitated in between her and Sephiroth then handed her a small box.
"Open it, open it!" she cheered and Anne smiled, tugging the ribbon off and lifting it to examine it.
Aerith and Zack recognised the rune stone instantly.
"That rune?!"
"What, she seems to know how to use it," Yuffie shrugged as Sephiroth growled softly.
"Anne, darling," Genesis grinned as he dragged Anne over to the tables "Look what Angeal made!"
Anne covered her mouth in awe.
"That's a big cake," she murmured and Angeal chuckled.
"Cid and I worked hard on it," he said as Cid just grinned.
"Yeah, just hope it suits your taste!" he said with a thumbs up.
Anne closed her eyes and grinned.
"Thank you," she whispered as tears fell down her cheeks "I've never felt so happy before!"
"Hey!"
Anne opened her eyes and looked down to see that the potion had just worn off.
"Well, let's get this party started!" Zack cheered as he ran in "Cut the cake, cut the cake, the brothers are eager to try some too!"
"Patience Zack," Angeal chuckled as he gave Anne the knife.
The celebration went on for a while and for a moment, Anne felt no pressure on her anymore. She wouldn't admit it, but being the key to lifting the curse, it weighed on her shoulders and she didn't like it. But seeing all their smiles, Anne knew that no matter what she had to save them, liberate them. If only she knew what to do.
Sephiroth left the ballroom early and a few hours later, Vincent was supporting her tired body up the stairs, everyone else had either run off or were staying to clear the ballroom up.
"Thank you…" she murmured and Vincent smiled.
"Anything for my descendant."
Anne rolled her eyes.
"You do this for every descendant?"
"You're my first student, let's see how your own descendants turn out shall we?"
Anne laughed as they stopped outside her bedroom.
"Anne, West Wing."
Anne perked up and Vincent turned his head towards her.
"Anne?"
"Sephiroth wants me in the West Wing."
Vincent hesitated and growled softly.
"Indeed? Do you need my support or…?"
"I give you permission to possess me," Anne grinned and Vincent rolled his eyes.
As he disappeared Anne stumbled but Vincent took control quickly. It was very easy to tell it was him in charge by the way he stormed through the corridor and made his way to the West Wing. It certainly caught Sephiroth off guard as a grumpy looking Anne glared up at him after slamming the doors open. He growled softly.
"Really, Valentine?" he snarled and Vincent huffed, folding Anne's arms.
"She's exhausted, what do you need her for? She'll have the magic transfer tomorrow but only a little, I'm still worried about whether this potion will actually work."
"So hostile and this morning you were actually agreeable," the cursed king sneered.
"Now remember what we talked about," Vincent waved a finger at him "and considering the situation at hand, who do you think she favours more…?"
Sephiroth snarled and loomed over him.
"Get out, leave us in peace."
Vincent sighed as he closed his eyes and a sleepy Anne was looking up at him next.
"Seph…roth?" she slurred and Sephiroth carried her over to the pile of blankets and pillows.
One of his tails touched her on the forehead and she slumped against him. He closed his eyes to join her in his dream world.
Anne's jaw dropped at the sight in front of her. Sephiroth had altered the dream world to be night time with a full moon and the night sky was littered with stars. Candles floated around the lake and fireflies darted around them as Anne looked down to see a silver ballgown.
"My lady."
Anne turned to see Sephiroth in his human form, wearing a smart black suit. He offered his hand with a smile.
"May I have this dance?"
"I-I-I do n-not know how to d-d-d-"
"Then let me teach you."
Sephiroth took her hand and led her across the bridge to the grassy area on the other side.
"Don't be afraid," he cooed "you know I wouldn't hurt you. Oh, and Happy Birthday."
Anne eyed him warily before letting him place a hand on her hip and they began an awkward waltz amongst the tiny lights. Meanwhile Vincent observed them from leaves of the lone tree in the garden, his gauntlet flexing impatiently.