23
Cosmo Canyon: A Rising Red Sun
As I made my way up the slope towards Bugenhagen's place, Barret's argument got me thinking deeply. I pictured myself and the rest of the group falling into New York City suddenly, still unsure how that could occur.
Could it happen?
I wouldn't even know to begin if that were possible. I pictured myself in the middle of a street in the city, stuck with the feeling of baby-sitting seven curious souls over the tall skyscrapers and shops. Imagine the stares from pedestrians, like gawking over Cloud's giant sword, or Red's four legged anatomy while he spoke with a human voice. People would be stunned over Barret's gun arm.
I smiled at the imagery, and pushed it all aside, knowing too well it was all just playful thinking. When I reached for the door to Bugenhagen's home, I knocked.
When there was no answer, I ventured around the property, kicking over dry pebbles of dirt and rocks as I went.
"Hello?" I called, awaiting eagerly for someone to answer. The Observatory was a large facility attached to Bugenhagen's two story home, and then there were two other buildings made of stone across the large yard.
"Aqua?" I heard. My head turned, trying to pinpoint the voice, and found Bugenhagen floating down the steps of his tall home, his hands inside his sleeves across his lap. With no high rock to block the sun, he was completely submerged in sunlight, giving me a moment to notice every wrinkle on his hollow face. He appeared a hundred years older today than he did yesterday. Even his breathing appeared slightly audible, a bit coarse.
I blinked up at the old man and asked desperately, "Bugen, are you okay? You seem…" I paused, trying to find a gracious way of saying, unwell, but he finished for me.
"Hooo! A little less pleasant? Ah, I'm just tired today. I'm afraid I exerted myself a little too much last night at the party. Danced too much, drank too much. You know how it goes, hooo hooo! Don't fret my child, hooo!" He smiled, a very elder looking man with perfect teeth, but I didn't smile back. I combined my fingers together uneasily as I tried to take his word for it.
"Hooo ho! How can I help you?" he asked, sensing my distress.
"Is Aerith around?" I asked.
The Elder nodded, giving me a glimpse of his bald head reflecting the sunlight.
He lifted his head back and smiled at me, small eyes closed behind his glasses.
"She's in my small library," he chirped.
"Wha?!" I was dumbstruck, wondering why Bugenhagen didn't mention he had a library sooner.
"You have a library?!" I stammered.
"Ah, yes! It isn't much, but let me show you!" he offered, and hovered pass me towards one of the stone buildings to the other side of the property.
I followed, still astounded over the crystal ball that kept Bugenhagen afloat, taking him anywhere he needed without straining himself.
He let the ball fly him up a long hill of stone steps, and pushed opened a metal door with a frail hand.
He didn't go in.
"Just through here, under the radio room. I have some of my best works in many folders. There are books from my close friend, as well as from the other Elders who passed away. You're welcome to stay as long as you like," Bugenhagen forced, trying to maintain cheery as he let his hand stay to the door to keep it partially open. I walked pass him and stared carefully at his pained expression.
"You don't want to go in?" I asked.
Bugenhagen shook his head and tried to smile at me.
"I've spent enough time in there, trust me. It used to be where my friend and I would do our research, a long time ago…" he gazed off at nothing, his thoughts drifting towards old and pleasant memories, judging by the sad smile on his face.
"What happened to your friend?" I asked, possibly prying too far, but Bugenhagen didn't object, and replied quickly, "He moved to Icicle Inn to work on his own Cetra research, and died there." No other details, but I could tell there was more, I could see it in his eyes, but he refused to share. Too painful.
I aimed towards the doorway, and mentioned lightly, "I'm sorry I asked. Thank you, Bugen."
"Not a problem, my dear," he convinced, not at all fazed by the nickname I gave him, and closed the metal door behind me when I entered.
Immediately, I stepped into a basic room with control panels and radio boxes stacked onto each other. There was a desk with headphones, and some small antennas close to the open window. A large map laid across one side of the room, almost talking up the whole wall. I stepped across an old rug, and came closer to gaze at the geographic locations of this world, stunned at how small it seemed. So many scattered islands, the main four continents a bit tiny in comparison to what my world had. Such a smaller planet than my Earth.
Pins littered across the map, unsure of what they meant as my eye wandered across the desk and overlooking the tuning knobs. Static crept in through a large set of speakers weakly, like a slow beat of a distant voice, coming and going.
Living out in Cosmo Canyon probably made one easily feel isolated from the rest of the world. Perhaps Bugenhagen had a radio room to keep tabs on the rest of the world? There were articles pinned to the other walls, others stacked neatly onto a chair. A mug half filled with unfinished tea, a quarter bottle full of clear orange liquor, and a pipe with the tobacco leaves burnt recently. I could tell, Bugenhagen spent a lot of time in here.
I took a step back, and turned towards a small set of wooden stairs to take me down to the next level, a spiral staircase. Quietly, while taking a handover the smooth railing, I descended in tight circles, following the creaking steps into a small dark room. It was like a basement, with shelves carved into the stone walls crammed with books, folders, and sheets of paper. Gentle lanterns flickered warm glowing light into the room, leaking orange light over Persian rugs, two large desks, and soft armchairs.
I inhaled the damped air through my lips, tasting an earthy smell, and glazed over the room to finally find Aerith settled into a plush armchair. She had a book in her hand, but then she felt my presence, or heard it, and dropped it down across the lap of her pink dress.
Under a lamp, her face glowed in light orange, and she smiled tiredly up at me.
"Aqua, hi," she greeted. There were dark circles under her beautiful eyes.
"Aerith," I came closer, desperate to hug her as she rose from her chair, and gladly squeezed into my arms. I pressed my cheek over the shoulder of her small red denim coat, and inhaled her floral perfume.
"I didn't see you at the banquet," I began, and my thoughts instantly saw Aerith alone and depressed in her hotel room, sitting on her bed while lost in her thoughts.
"I was too tired," she replied lamely, and her hands squeezed tighter along the back of my stretchy dress. She sighed into my shoulder, her forehead against my neck before she added, "I'm sorry if you felt alone."
I squeezed her just a little more, flashbacks of my intimate time with Cloud flapping my heart into a wild rhythm. My cheeks burned, tingling as I gazed up over Aerith's head. A part of me wanted to spill it all out to her, and yet, another part, wanted to keep it inside, locked away to cherish for myself.
I did, however, share a tiny bit of detail, enough to have Aerith excited when I mentioned, "No, I wasn't alone. I had Cloud."
For the first time, Aerith didn't ask for the juicy details. She blinked rapidly, nodding against my neck and sniffed.
"I'm glad." It didn't sound like she was.
I rubbed my hands down her back, troubled.
"Aerith, what's wrong?"
There were a couple of theories that came to mind. One: She was upset that our closeness may be interrupted by Cloud's presence, maybe stuck on the idea that it was just going to be the two of us. Two: She too, had feelings for Cloud. Three: Her dispute with Cloud has lingered, leaving a heavy space in between them, which was something different and uncomfortable. Four: Her secret, the one she's been hiding, was eating at her, keeping herself in a dark place where she felt alone, while I was free to be closer to Cloud. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if I was being selfish. I thought the fourth option was the most probable.
"Aerith, please, tell me everything. I don't like it when you keep it all up inside, bearing the weight alone. I'm here," I reassured her, greatly waiting for her to finally open up. She sniffed again, and I felt her shake her head against me before pulling back, her eyes closed while I noticed her tiny sad smile just before she twirled away to hide it. Her braid flapped behind her, hands clasped behind her back.
"I can't tell you that yet. If I want my plan to work, then you have to stay out of it. I want this to come naturally, not forced," she hinted, and that was all I was going to get. I leaned my head around Aerith's arm, peaking at that same hidden smile she carried, like thinking of her private plan brought her true happiness. Would my knowing spoil her ideas? It was gnawing at my insides, not knowing what it was she was planning.
Aerith quickly changed subjects when she dropped her head to stare down at a book she placed in her chair.
"I've found a book that may be of use to us," she mentioned, and reached for the hard cover, her three metal bracelets jingling.
I watched her flip through its old pages, searching.
"This book was written by an Elder a few decades ago. Lucky for us, there's mention of the Keystone, the one to let us into the Temple of the Ancients, remember? Well, It's actually Materia. See?" She flipped the book over and showed me an ink sketch of what looked like a large round stone. It wasn't very descriptive on the fragile beige paper.
"Aerith, that could be any Materia," I fussed, not impressed by the sketch.
She pulled it back to her face and read a piece of text aloud under a lamp.
"It glistens like a cloudless sky, or a pearl from the sea. The stone itself is worthy as a prized possession. Unable to sacrifice one of their own to destroy it, the Ancients hid it away. I've never seen such an artifact, but there is a reason they don't want anyone to find it."
When Aerith was done, I blinked as I tried to remember every word.
"They knew it cost their lives to use Materia?" I asked.
Aerith shrugged.
"It sounds like it. I mean, why would they normally? They had their magic. There was no need to use Materia that came naturally at the time," she answered, though she didn't sound absolute.
My thoughts drifted to my coma after using both the Lightning and Cure Materia, thankful to have survived.
"You could've died using your old Materia," Aerith whispered, her thoughts, too, visiting that memory.
I stared down at an old Persian rug under us.
"Didn't you say your real mother gave you a Materia? It's useless?"
I looked back up to watch her solemn expression until a tiny sliver of a broken smile carved across her lips.
"It's useless because if I ever use it, I may die. It costs a tremendous amount of energy," she chirped, like it was nothing to consider.
My eyes grew, anxiety flaring through my chest.
"Then why do you have it? What is it?" I dug, trying to get more answers. But Aerith shrugged again, her eyes drifting to the shelves of forgotten texts and difficult works left for no one.
"It's special. Used for when absolutely necessary," and she beamed at me, the lamp lighting giving her an almost sunset glow atop of her head.
"Absolutely necessary?" I challenged, afraid.
She closed her eyes and shook her head, ready to drop it.
"Don't worry. I keep it as a souvenir, to remember my mother. By the way…" Aerith watched me closely as she dove deep into older thoughts.
"Do you have anything from your real mother? Or father?"
She turned the tables around, leaving me clammed up as I thought back to my earlier days.
"No, not that I'm aware of," I replied uneasily. When Aerith appeared disappointed, I added, "I was found as a baby. I don't think my real parents left me anything when they abandoned me."
Though I wasn't certain if I was abandoned or just sent purposely away from this world to the other. Using that word, "abandoned" felt wrong as soon as I said it.
Aerith's hands fiddled with her book, and opened it up again, ready to steer back into finding more discoveries, when she sank back into her chair.
I stared at the book in her hands, and my heart rhythm increased.
"Should we really go after this stone? Do we need to really go to that temple?" Something told me it was a terrible idea to go into this temple. Even the whispers warned me when I could make out what they were saying.
Don't go.
You will only bring death.
Sacrifice.
I swallowed hard, my eyes suddenly watering, and I blurted, "the voices are telling me not to go. Don't you hear the Planet's warnings!"
Aerith stared up at me calmly, knowing buried deep into her emerald eyes like she's been aware since the very beginning. Her expression made her look a lot older than I ever could be.
She pulled such a look towards the shelves of books, and replied solemnly, "I do hear their warnings. I know, but…" she paused, and I found her eyebrows lifted with worry.
"I want to know. I want to understand what we are capable of doing," she finished. Aerith's eyes bounced back onto mine, and a warning flashed across her face.
"Aqua, as soon as we head to the Temple of the Ancients, it's going to get rough. Please make sure, if there's anything we need to do before that, we need to do it now."
I took a step back, startled at her hunch, or possible premonition. Isaac's warning also came to mind, and I suddenly missed him. My chest ached, right in the middle, and I rubbed a set of knuckles across it to help me relax.
"I know," I whispered, dreading to go. That was another reason why I wasn't interested to visit the temple. The voices had been haunting me with their warnings ever since Bugenhagen mentioned it. My gut even told me, with discomfort, not to go. Everything pointed in the opposite direction.
I was deathly afraid.
"Cloud wants to visit Nibelheim. We should go there after this. Sepiroth visited me in a dream and told me he would wait there," I informed Aerith. She pressed her lips into a tight line, her eyes falling back to her book, but not scanning its words.
"If that's what he wants," she uttered, depressed.
I sighed, wishing those two would talk to each other. Cloud sounded absolute when he told me he wasn't going to apologize to Aerith.
We suddenly heard a door open from the floor above, both our heads craned up towards the stairs. Aerith and I looked at each other, wondering who was coming to visit. Aerith immediately hid her face into her book, possibly afraid it was Cloud, but to her relief, Red climbed down the tight winding steps and padded his paws across the rug quietly. He let this eyes wander around the dark and cozy research room, a warm smile across his furry face.
"It's been a long time since I've been down here," he chirped, his ears perking up while his tail relaxed.
I smiled at Red's soft presence, glad to see him relaxed easily in a place he cherished.
"Red, how are you? How was the visit with the mechanic?" Aerith popped her eyes away from her book, listening in when Red replied, "It seems to be going well. The front bumper won't be perfect, but he can make it work as long as we don't care about the cosmetic side of things. He estimated tomorrow morning."
One more night here in Cosmo Canyon. Which meant, one more day with Red? I tried not to let the feeling settle in so quickly, afraid to sink the mood, but Red was already there, and his shoulders slump some with a long sigh, his nose pointed down to his paws.
"I'm grateful to have one more day to spend with all of you," he preached, and lifted his sparkling yellow eyes to me and then to Aerith.
"You should give us a tour of this whole place, and then we should all have dinner together!" I cheered, trying to lighten the mood when I knew Aerith and Red needed a bit of uplifting for their own personal reasons. Red smiled up at me, liking the idea.
"Then you will enjoy Mama Graham's stuffed peppers! Oh, and Jim's Cosmo Canyon Candle cocktail!" He was already excited, his tail wagging like a happy puppy.
"I'll join," Aerith cheered, stretching her arms up while holding her book.
Red analyzed the room some more and let out a soft sigh when he perched his head over a dusty desk.
"I used to come down here a lot. Grandfather taught me to read here, and all the wonders of the world through his texts," he shared, eying sadly at the neglected piles of papers with dusty reading glasses sitting on top of them.
He sucked in a deep breath, and blew out air, pushing away all the dust and fluff away towards the books.
"He refuses to come down here now," Red finalized, and his ears sank.
I knelt beside him, running a soft hand down his neck to stroke his fur.
"Because this place reminds him of his dear scientist friend?" I guessed.
"They used to be so close. I really think Grandfather loved him, but he moved away, to carry on his own research on the Planet," Red explained, and then he turned his head to look at me. He added, "Did you know Grandfather used to be a Shinra scientist? That's how he and his partner met."
My eyes grew, silently surprised.
Red continued, eying back to the books.
"But then Grandfather came here, and fell in love with the place and learned a lot about the Planet. He was trained by the Elders to be one of them, while promoting his own research to the Planet instead of Mako and weapons. It was a spiritual change for him."
"You really look highly to your grandfather," I echoed, watching Red smile to himself, his eyes glowing.
"Of course! He took care of me ever since I was a pup! He's practically my father. Better than what I had."
I noticed Red's nails digging into the rug, and he barred his teeth slightly. The glow in his eyes vanished.
"I hate how my father just left like that during that Gi tribe invasion. My mother fought alone and died. I only survived because she stopped the tribe from reaching Cosmo Canyon. I'll never forgive my father for running away," he hissed, obviously still not over what had happened.
Aerith settled her book down and blinked across the room at Red, watching the raging energy melt off his shoulders.
"You really hate your father, don't you?" Bugenhagen's voice startled us all, almost jumping up as we turned to find him floating down to the last step of the stairs. I didn't remember hearing the door, though Red may have left it open.
Red lowered his head politely when his grandfather approached him steadily. Bugenhagen's small eyes drooped behind his glasses, and he closed them, bowing his head slightly, thinking.
When he sighed, he lifted his gaze to Red and began, "Come, Nanaki. There is something I wish to finally show you. I think it is time."
Red perked up, one of his ears lifted high like an eyebrow, while I froze in place, watching the old man float back to the stairs. He stopped before he were to ascend, and glanced at all of us from over his shoulder.
"You are all welcomed too, if you would like. I must advise, though, it is dangerous where we're going."
Aerith settled her hand over her heart and she and I shared a look. Should we go with them? Should we bring Cloud? I knew the thought flashed in Aerith's eyes, and she looked away, saddening like she knew she couldn't come if he was going to go.
"Uh, maybe Barret or Tifa or Yuffie?" I asked, knowing those options would be better for Aerith, but she shook her head.
"No, it's all right. I plan on staying here, reading more, anyway. You two go on without me," she forced, and smiled while sinking herself back to her book.
I fumed, puffing up my cheeks, and smacked the book out of Aerith's hands, startling her. Red and Bugenhagen jerked back.
"The hell you will! I want you to come with us," I scolded, wanting to stay near her. Aerith lifted her wide emerald eyes up at me, her mouth open with no words out, like she was still deciding whether to be upset or overjoyed. She quickly decided when her mouth closed into a real smile.
"Okay, Aqua. I'll come," she promised, and pushed herself away from the chair to give me a warm embrace.
I returned it, nesting into her and savoring the brief moment before Bugenhagen interrupted, "Follow me."
Behind Bugenhagen's observatory, sat a tall canyon wall, and a large metal door into it.
Aerith and I gaped up at it as we stood near what appeared to be a mouth of a sealed cave. There were boulders around it, as though another method to seal it was tried and failed.
Red scanned the dead end, wondering what laid behind such doors.
"I didn't know this was here," he wondered aloud.
Bugenhagen floated up to a small panel beside the double doors, and opened it up to fiddle with the controls.
"That's because I kept it from you," he confessed, and with the correct passcode, the doors cracked open. Slowly, they split apart, bleeding into the canyon walls, and revealed a dark entrance to a cave.
Red peered up at his Grandfather.
"Why?"
Bugenhagen sighed and floated to the cave entrance just before its shadows cast onto his folded legs.
"You will find out. Are we all ready?" the Elder asked all of us.
We all glanced at each other, awaiting one of us to hold back, but no one did.
We were ready.
Bugenhagen floated inside, guiding us into a brief world of darkness.
Sharp rocky walls greeted us when we entered, the air incredibly dry and thick with a moldy smell. There was another smell in the air, like old blood, death. Red sniffed as he trekked carefully next to me, avoiding the sharp spikes of rocks. The late afternoon sun barely penetrated the walls, even when the cave opened up with a crevice to its high ceiling. The air began to feel heavy, like hidden hands were sliding down my arms and legs, pulling me with them into the warm earth below. The world of Cosmo Canyon dramatically changed, the cave transporting us into a large open cavern with slits of sun spilling down like columns of heaven.
We all froze before the expansion, eyeballing what laid before us.
I drew my hands up to my throat as though I read ready to choke. Aerith too, put her hands over her mouth, and the whispers began.
Red's fur stood up straight, and his teeth showed when he dropped his jaw.
Across an expansive, rocky terrain, laid a fallen battlefield. Spears and arrows stood like little dead trees, some broken in places, and others standing tall, piecing in between the ribs of many skeletons.
Whispers of the battles drilled into my ears, the cries, the pain, the determination to win, all the voices of the fighters that fought and died through here.
"What…" Red couldn't even finish, taking a few steps forward to baffle over the cemetery of fallen warriors.
"What happened here," he trembled.
Bugenhagen dropped his head, and muttered, "This is behind Cosmo Canyon. The Gi Tribe found a way into our home and went in through here. As you can see, they were all annihilated before stepping foot outside. Their vengeful spirits couldn't return to the Planet, leaving them to wander here, still thinking they are in battle."
I neared Aerith and rested secure hands around her arms, distressed over her anxious eyes when they scanned across the field of the dead. It was a massive cemetery of a battle that felt to have happened decades ago, maybe even longer. The spirits were upset, never laid properly to rest, and electrified the air with their unstable presence.
Bugenhagen sighed to himself and progressed once more.
"This way."
We followed, slowly, and became watchful of the dark spirits and creatures that leaked in the massive cave. Tunnels saturated with webs, fallen spears and bones. There could've been thousands of warriors, cramming their way towards the tunnel into Cosmo Canyon like a herd of bulls.
Growls and hisses came from the shadows, behind peaked rocks, mounds of bones and from inside the fissures in the hard earth. I had to be careful not to fall into one of them as I passed one carefully, peering down below to find nothing but a dark abyss.
Aerith squeezed my arm, her breathing shallow as she trembled, "I don't like this place."
We passed fallen flags, broken arrows and neglected pieces of armor. The voices continued, all the fallen whispering to me and Aerith, tones drenched with hate and hunger. I snapped my eyes shut, wishing for them to go away.
"I wish they would stop," I begged out loud.
Aerith squeezed my hand.
"They are stuck here, haunting this place with their bitter feelings, lurking around like monsters," she squeaked.
A growl rattled through the air, with bones breaking as footsteps emerged over a pile. We all froze, and watched with fear as a creature, on all fours, prowled across the skeletons, its red eyes glowing while sharp teeth barred a warning. Half creature, half bone, with spikes bulging out of its high arched back, the monster hissed through its teeth.
Red flared, his fur stiffening with his shoulders hunched up, and the flame of his tail grew.
"I got this," he growled, stepping in front of me and Aerith. Bugenhagen stayed back even further, floating up a few feet.
The monster dove straight for Red with its sharp claws, its blue hair flailing back. Red leapt, towards the monster with a loud cry, barring his fangs. With one quick swipe, his claws dug across the monster from its bony cheek, all the way to its tail, tearing away at its leathery skin. The monster's cries echoed across the cavern, and then it slumped, fallen into something that should've been dead a long time ago.
We carried on, encountering more dangerous creatures. Skeletons moved, clanking together. Aerith and I wailed, holding on to each other when a skeleton of a warrior, rose from the earth, holding a poison pointed spear at us.
Red cast Fire2, and flames burned the skeleton to ash, leaving nothing behind but its spear when it clanked loudly on the ground.
More rose from their graves, our presence disturbing their endless slumber.
I closed my eyes, and concentrated on a fire spell. The brittle bracer heated from the intense magic, and I used it to channel flames at two walking skeletons. They turned into bone dust, dropping their flags and spears.
It took a long time to cross the large battlefield as we continued to fight our way through the dead. Aerith healed while I focused on channeling my magic. It was the longest duration of fighting I've ever done, and it was draining, leaving me breathless and feeling hot. I rubbed an arm across my sweaty face, fatigue hitting me after a tenth battle of casting magic. Red looked down to his claws, his nails becoming dull, and his snorted.
"My claw attacks are weakening," he grumbled, stepping over a pile of bones until they broke under his weight. Aerith handed me a small bottle of Ether when I doubled over, hands over my knees. I took the Ether drink without question, and gulped it down. My weakness slowly disappeared, and I was able to stand up without falling over.
"Thanks Aerith," I gasped, swiping more sweat away from my face. Aerith took one of my hands and squeezed.
"We got this," she encouraged, and we continued. Finally, we reached the end of the large cavern, only to find multiple tunnels. Bugenhagen floated up to one of them, hovering over more broken bones and skulls.
"A lonesome warrior guarded this cave, and with all of his might, fought his way through battle, and into these tunnels to stop the Gi Tribe. Come, we've still got a ways to go," he explained, and then floated up ahead. The tunnel was dark. Aerith and I clung on with unsteady breathing while Red went ahead. Spiders crawled around the walls and over our heads. I screamed, turning into a ball and wishing for Barret's large arm to squeeze mightily. My eyes slammed shut, turning away from the many skinny black spiders that hissed at us, tiny wires of legs tapping across the rocky walls. Aerith shivered, pressing her lips together while shrinking herself as much as possible against me. We were like two girlfriends walking through a horror house, awaiting the actors dressed as monsters to come out and scare us, while the haunted decor increased our anxieties. My breathing quickened until it wheezed, and I wished Cloud was with us, but didn't dare say it aloud.
"I'm sorry I made you come with us," I pleaded, my terrified eyes to Aerith. Her hold tightened around my arm while lips pressed together, hard.
"It's okay. You had no idea where we were going," she sniffled.
Weak afternoon sun barely poked through the tunnels, giving us fuzzy darkness to wander through until we entered another large area. Hints of salvation could only be noticed through the cracks in the ceiling. It seemed we were falling deeper and deeper in the earth, the sunlight growing weaker, while the rocky terrain under our feet grew with heat. Steam hissed through cracks, flaring up the edge of my dress. I slapped my dress down and gasped before stumbling into a fissure. Aerith took a hold of my arm to pull me back, and we both looked down to find red embers below.
Could it be Hell?
It sure seemed like it, a world of heat and lava below us through a thick crust of rock. Glowing red and orange sprouted from the fissures, giving faint light to the large cavern.
Bugenhagen continued to lead the way, floating up towards another tunnel, and waited for us.
"Through here, the brave solo warrior fought the Gi Tribe leader, Gi Nattak," the Elder narrated for us when we caught up to him.
"Grandfather, who is this warrior you speak of?" Red asked, his wondrous eyes exploring the glowing cave. But Bugenhagen ignored him when he turned away, and then he entered into a wide tunnel.
"We're almost there. This way," he encouraged. Aerith and I sighed, ready to be done with the hours of cave diving and ghost fighting. Red especially seemed irritated, his ears twerked back and tail flapping back and forth.
We all huddled together, walking over a rocky bridge with nothing but lava far below. Our feet stumbled over more rock, ready to enter a small entrance into another tunnel.
The whispers grew, until one, in particular, boomed in my ears.
You shall not pass through!
Aerith gasped along with me, hearing the booming monstrous voice as well. Red and Bugenhagen came to a halt, feeling a disturbing presence. A growl rumbled through the walls, pebbles of rock raining down on us, some plopping into the lava with a loud hiss.
The earth shook.
Bugenhagen waved his arms out, his long draped sleeves flapping.
"Hoo hooo! The spirit of the tribal leader is here! Gi Nattak! This is terrible!" the Elder cried, his face white.
Red, Aerith and I twirled around, searching around the trembling tavern. More rocks fell, some as large as boulders, crashing around to us. Aerith gasped, almost a target, when a boulder exploded next to her feet.
No one shall pass
A dark hazy cloud appeared, followed by floating flames. We all turned, watching the fog manifest into a floating figure. Broad bony shoulders appeared, followed by a long spine with large floating ribs. The bones of the upper extremities were next, phalanges curled into fists. From the ends of its spine all the way up to its skull, half a skeleton floated before us. At first, I thought it didn't appear so threatening, just half of human bones blocking us from progressing further.
But then the flames touched the bones, and they licked away, burning back mottling grey skin. Bulging arms appeared, thick and broad shoulders formed, and then a thick neck to hold up a mighty head, eyes closed, while a masculine face constructed. A skull of a bull laid over the mottling head like a mighty crown, with sharp horns pointing up to the ceiling. Golden armor sat atop of the leader's shoulders, dripping tribal ornaments across his chest, while a red fur cape decorated his arms. He held a mighty spear, decorated with jewels, in one hand, and a shield braced in his other arm.
We all shrunk away, the spirit of the Gi Tribe leader suddenly intimidating to say the least.
When he finally opened his eyes, we all gasped. No eyeballs, nothing but empty sockets behind his gray skin, but he turned his head, and frowned deeply, capable of seeing us.
Unexpectedly, Gi Nattak lifted a dead hand with his fingers flared out, and red sparkles shimmered around his floating body. Sudden hot flames broke through the rocky floor, spiraling up towards the ceiling. Aerith screamed as we both flew back, the heat of the fire licking at our dresses, while my eyes were blinding by its magnificent brightness. I could feel the flames inches from my cheek, stiffening near its presences as hot rock bursts, hitting at my arms and burning through my dress. With a gasp, I landed hard while specks of red burnt marks littered half my arm and poking hot holes into fabric. I winced from the quick pain, not fond of seeing what my legs looked like underneath.
I turned to Aerith, finding her slowly getting up while groaning. Half of her red coat curled into burnt fabric, and one of her arms was red with second degree burns.
Her eyes watered while she struggled to push herself up.
I turned sharply, hearing the bitter spirit charge towards her with his spear.
Red cast Fire2 to stop him, but the flames did nothing. The spirit plowed through the fire, and continued to plunge his spear straight for Aerith. Without thought, I dove forward, my bracer arm lifted in time.
And blocked the blade.
I was certain the blade of the spear would break through the armor, but it didn't. Miraculously, it bounced away, and mightily pushed me hard, flying over Aerith and log rolling over the hard earth until my back crashed against a large protruding rock.
"Aqua!" Aerith cried. She got to work, channeling her healing magic. With a flick of her rod, she sent the healing spell to me.
I whimpered from the heavy pain in my back, unable to move. But then my body glimmered, feeling Aerith's healing powers close up the burnt marks and internal bleeding. Quickly, I got up and thanked her, watching Red try a physical attack on the Gi Tribe leader. His claw swooped across the spirit's arm, but it did nothing.
I raised my bracer arm, and prayed for a bolt of lightning. In another second, a bolt came from the ceiling, and slammed electrifying energy into Nattak, putting him into quick spasms. But he only ended up shaking his head, like I've just given him a head-spinning experience. Our attacks were not going to work on a dead thing. How do we kill something that is already dead?
"Our attacks aren't working!" I screeched, and dodged a spear before it tore away at the hem of my dress. A large piece peeled off, sticking to the spear like a white flag. One of my legs became exposed, but I dismissed it, running back to Red and Aerith.
"It's already dead," Red muttered. "We can't end a life with something that doesn't have a life."
Bugenhagen calmly rested a hand over his beard, stroking at the white hairs.
"Hmmm, no, you can't take a life that doesn't have a life. So, why not heal it?" He suggested. We all turned to him, shocked at the idea. I've never heard of healing a monster before. All heads turned to Aerith, her hands tight around her silver staff.
She seemed determined to try it, her eyes glaring at the enemy.
"It's worth a shot!" she cheered.
Gi Nattak lifted his hand, and once more, another fire attack unleashed under our feet. I jumped away and rolled in time before being swallowed up by the column of fire, its flames taking bites out of my hair and dress. The rolling stopped as soon as I hit the edge of the rocky floor, a boot hanging over a ledge that dropped pebbles into lava. I pushed away, and laid on my knees, taking deep breaths to calm my heart after almost falling into my death.
I settled a hand to my chest, and lifted my eyes up to watch Aerith spin her rod, and unleash a healing spell of white wind towards Gi Nattak. The spirit of the tribal leader froze, his bones rattling at the spell. He groaned, putting a hand to his face.
Stop!
I stood, and tried another spell. I called out to use Ice2, and a massive boulder of ice crashed on top of a furious spirit. It made him drop his spear, and his skin peeled back, revealing shiny white bone. Cracks appeared across the back of his skull and some of his arms. He was missing a few more ribs.
He threw dark sockets for eyes in my direction, and growled, ice flaking off his white face.
Die
Both of his bony palms lifted, and suddenly the ground rumbled. Aerith and Red looked down to their feet, and the earth began to boil. My knees stung to it, and I shot up, fearful that the whole earth was going to crack.
"What do we do?!" Aerith cried. There was nowhere to go as the earth began to chip away under my boots. The rocky platform cracked loudly, ready to open up and swallow us into the depths of lava below. More cracks of golden light emitted from the broken ground.
Bugenhagen came forth.
Red grew startled that his Grandfather's presence, and shouted, "Grandfather, leave!"
But the Elder just pulled his sleeves back, revealing tribal tattoos on both of his skinny white arms.
"Nonsense, Nanaki," the Elder replied smoothly. He glanced over to me, or maybe to the bracelet he gave me. Before I could tell, he flickered his eyes back to the enemy, and closed them. Bugenhagen sucked in a slow and deep breath, his palms together like he was holding an imaginary ball.
"White Chi energy should do the job," Bugenhagen confirmed. The muscles in his arms suddenly grew. Veins popped out of his neck, and his shoulders broadened. We all rushed behind him, and watched Bugenhagen's tiny form take into the shape of a muscular body. He grew three times his size in muscle, the wrinkles of his face disappearing.
A white glow appeared behind his curled fingers, tossing his beard away from his face while flapping at his mustache with hyper speed. The light intensified, turning his old face white, his eyes closed behind his dark glasses.
The earth continuously quaked, the cracks increasing until bits of floor fell away. Red gasped, jumping in time before sinking into lava.
Bugenhagen laughed to himself, the white ball of light flashing so bright, I put a hand over my eyes.
"Hooo hooo! Try this on for size!" the old man cackled. He pushed his hands away from his body, and a thick beam of white light buzzed away from his palms. It traveled straight for Gi Nattak, and engulfed his whole form. The spirit cried, his arms lifted and breaking away. His bones cracked, smaller and smaller until they turned into little dust particles. The ornaments fizzled away, his skin disappearing, until all of his bones went with it.
Red fur off his cape flared into white flames. All that was left, was his floating skull. Its mouth stretched wide to let out an ear-shattering cry, white fire burning into its sockets, until it crumbled away into dust.
But even the pile of dust that was left of the leader, dispersed, a wind of unknown source brushing it all away until nothing was left.
The quake stopped.
Bugenhagen exhaled, his lips pursed and hard eyes falling to where he destroyed the enemy. The three of us, Aerith, Red and I, just stared at the old man.
Right before my eyes, Bugenhagen's body shrunk. His muscles drifted away, leaving behind a tiny old man in a baggy purple robe again. His wrinkles returned, some deepening even further than last time, and he sank his head down, lips deep over his small chest.
He then gasped, almost falling over. Red jumped in time, catching Bugenhagen's frail body with his furry back before he slid off his green crystal ball. Aerith and I came to help him, steadying his form until he sat with ease.
"Thank you, everyone," the old man croaked, his breathing unsteady as he tried to sit cross-legged. He was panting, face sweating.
"I guess that took more out of me than I thought it would," he joked, and chuckled at us, lifting his thin lips into a smile behind his mustache.
Red watched Bugenhagen closely, afraid that his only family left, would suddenly faint and die.
"Oh Red, I'm fine. Really. Please don't worry about me yet," the Elder reassured, seeing the painful look in Red's eyes.
The four legged creature whined behind his throat like a dog would, and he dropped his gaze.
"That was incredible, what you did," he commented.
"Yeah, I had no idea you could do that," I added, amazed. Don't judge strength by appearances.
Bugenhagen blushed, flapping a sleeve to fan his face.
"Stop! Hooo hooo!" and he laughed to himself. "I suppose I am pretty brilliant." And he laughed some more, his hands on his hips.
Aerith rolled her eyes while she smiled brightly at all of us.
"I'm glad that's over. Please tell me we are almost there!" she begged.
Bugenhagen halted his laughter and grew serious dramatically, a hand under his chin and eyebrows narrowed.
"Ah yes! Of course. This way up here!"
He floated away, towards the tunnel we tried to enter before fighting that Gi Tribe spirit. Before entering, Bugenhagen turned his head to peer down at Red.
"The mighty warrior, made it through here, fighting Gi Nattak," he explained. Red nervously walked pass his grandfather, and entered the tunnel. Aerith and I followed, wind howling around us as we inched our way through dim light. I could smell fresh air and smoke from distance cooking fires. The darkness of the tunnel faded, and we were welcomed by a late afternoon sun, its orb glowing bright red close to the edge of the earth.
Red walked before the tunnel ended, taking him outside, and then he froze.
"What?"
The fur on his back stiffened.
Aerith and I stopped behind him, and we both blinked up. Just a few yards beyond the dark shadow of canyon and rock before a cliff, stood a stone statue. It almost looked like Red, the four legs frozen with its head bowed slightly. Dozens of arrows stabbed into the statue's back and limbs. Aerith and I held each other, unsure what to make of the sculpture, watching Red very slowly, make his way up to it.
"Father?" he gasped.
I gasped, putting a hand over my mouth to stifle it.
Bugenhagen floated slowly, to catch up to Red, and with hands behind his back, the Elder lifted his gaze up to the magnificent statue.
"A warrior fought the Gi Tribe, stopping them from entering into Cosmo Canyon. Even when he was struck many times with their poisonous arrows, turning him to stone, he still fought through, defeating the tribe's leader. That warrior was Seto, your father, Nanaki," he trembled.
Red's jaw shook as he breathed fog up into his father's frozen face, his eyes steaming.
"I…" he sank his head, suddenly ashamed.
"I had no idea. I thought…"
"Hooo hooo, you thought your father ran away, like a coward, and left your mother to die. But no, he told her to stay behind, to protect you. But she must've loved him so much because she didn't want to leave his side. He fought through the whole tribe, not knowing she stayed behind to keep them away while he went after the leader. They both died protecting what they loved: You."
Aerith and I whimpered together in the background.
"That's so beautiful," she whispered, one of her hands to her mouth.
"I know," I cracked, dabbing at my eyes with the tattered skirt of my dress.
Red gazed up at his grandfather, and a tear streaked out of the corner of one of his eyes.
"Why did you lie to me?"
Bugenhagen pulled back his tiny spectacles from his face, and curled a wrinkled hand over his eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry. I only did it to protect you. As soon as I found out what happened, I sealed this cave, never to tell a soul. It wasn't something I'm proud of. I wanted to wait till you were older, and ready to hear the truth."
The lonesome Elder then sighed a shaky exhalation, and added in a cracked voice, "Can you ever forgive me?"
Aerith tugged on my arm. I turned away from the scene and found her giving me a pleading gaze.
"We should leave them alone," she whispered.
I agreed, nodding to her, and together, we left the two alone. As we walked slowly back through the tunnel, there was a long and painful howl echoing from behind us. It sounded like Red was crying.
Aerith and I walked slowly across Bugenhagen's property, quiet. The sun was already setting, the sky of dark blue with a haze of red and orange along the edges of the horizon of distant lands. I stepped over a cliff and stared out beyond Cosmo Canyon, taking pleasure of the cool wind hitting my face.
Aerith joined me, smiling softly at the scenery. Beyond the tall flat and red peaks, a dark forest, with pointed mountains and rivers, were waiting for us. Speckles of stars began to appear, poking their glimmering heads out to see what the vibrant world was all about.
"Do you think Red is going to stay here?" I asked Aerith, curious over what she thought. She shrugged, blinking her emerald eyes out to the sunset, her bangs tossed behind her face to reveal a smudge of dirt across her cheek.
"That's up to him," she replied in an upbeat voice. She smiled at me when she added, "Do you want him to come along?"
I collected my bundle of frazzled hair into my hands and flattened out its knots.
"I enjoy his quiet observations. We need someone like him to keep a close eye on us," I answered, and tossed all of my hair behind me.
Aerith sighed and rammed her hands over her hips.
"Well, so much for that tour and dinner," she grumbled loudly, only half jokingly fuming. I chuckled lightly.
"We can always have dinner," I shyly invited. Aerith closed her eyes and smiled to herself.
"I like that idea, but," she looked behind her shoulder, and quickly flipped her head back around. Her eyes sank.
"I think someone's looking for you," she hinted.
Before I could ask, I heard Cloud's voice.
"Aqua!"
I stiffened and twirled away from the cliff's edge, discovering Cloud walking across the large yard of Bugenhagen's place towards us. He tossed me upset eyes when he got a good look at our clothes. One of Aerith's sleeves to her denim coat had been eaten away by the fire, along with the hem of her dress charred black.
Half of my dress laid in shreds, exposing one of my legs up to my thigh. Burnt holes scattered across its torn skirt.
Cloud stopped, and crossed his arms, blinking bright Mako eyes down at me.
"What the hell happened?"
I was caught with a lump in my throat, unsure how to answer with such a complicated background story. I turned to Aerith for help, but she was already walking away, avoiding Cloud as discreetly as she could. This had to stop. My hand reached out for her, saying her name.
"Aer-!"
But I was interrupted, feeling Cloud's arms take hold of me tightly. I gasped, my arm frozen in midair while he wrapped his arms across my waist, his fists curled up my back.
"Don't scare me like that again," he begged, pushing me into him. Was he looking for me? I watched Aerith disappear down the slope, her form turning smaller and smaller, while I felt myself split into two.
Please, dear Gods, don't make me choose. I beg of you.
One side of me wanted to stay in Cloud's warm arms. The other wanted to push free, and run for Aerith.
What do I do? Please, dear Gods, what do I do?
I loved Aerith. I loved Cloud.
If I had to choose, who would I pick?
Cloud's sudden hold was startling. This wasn't like him, unless he was warming up to me even more. In that case, my hands couldn't decide where to go, my arm still hanging there, reaching for an invisible Aerith until I let it limp at my side.
I, then, wrapped my arms around Cloud for a moment, and closed my eyes while resting my cheek over his chest, saving this moment like all the others before this one. Aerith and I had to stay together. We were the only Cetra left. Bugenhagen encouraged us to stay together.
I opened my eyes, staring off into nothing, and bit my lower lip hard until I could taste blood. His heart pulsed wildly against my ear, telling me that he really was afraid, and that only made what come next, even more difficult.
"Cloud…"
I carefully pushed away from him, avoiding his gaze when I said, "I'm fine, but I'm sorry, I need to be with Aerith right now. Please understand?" Gods, it hurt to say it. I glanced up at him, his arms still clinging on. Cloud's eyes glowed greatly like two Mako lanterns. Maybe it was the coming night sky that only intensified the Mako glow, or maybe he was upset. He didn't mention any of it as his hands slid away. One lingered up my cheek when he replied in a steady voice, "Do what you want."
I forced a smile and silently nodded, like I was still deciding, taking his hand into mine while pressing my lips together.
"I don't want to choose," I blurted my thoughts, closing my eyes tight.
Cloud's eyebrows arched upward briefly, and then he shook his head at me.
"You don't have to do such thing. Just stay close by," he replied quietly, reminding me of our morning together.
"Okay," I struggled, trying not to crack. Just when I started to feel closer to him, I felt pressured to pull away. What would Aerith say?
Very slowly, I stepped back, pulling away from Cloud's hand, spun around, and ran down the hill. He stayed behind, to be left alone or to watch me go. I didn't look back to find out, too afraid to.
I caught up with Aerith, taking her arm into my hands, and she gasped.
"Aqua!" Her eyes grew when she stopped and turned her head to me. Her bewildered look put a real smile on my face.
"We were supposed to have dinner together," I chirped.
Aerith's cheeks flushed pink as she struggled to find the right set of words.
"Oh? Are you sure? W-What about Cloud?"
I looked away when I replied, "He'll be fine."
Just stay close to him. That's all he wants. My heart pumped heat into my cheeks, already reminiscing the butterfly feeling when he pulled me into him unexpectedly. Neck tingled when I remembered feeling his morning breath to it. Shoulders shook at the thought of his fingers when they played delicately across them.
I shook my head, tossing aside such thoughts, and held Aerith's hand into mine. We walked together under the looming stars, and began to chat about what to eat.
Aerith and I shared a bed, the both of us left to dream together without Sephiroth interrupting. A bright morning light came through the corner room's windows, when I thought I heard someone calling my name. I almost thought Cloud would be here when I stared at a similar long lounge chair against the wall, and my heart did a double flip. I hated this feeling, missing one when I was with the other. It was going to be a toss and catch game, me acting as the bridge between them until I become exhausted.
I yawned, my arms outstretched, when someone chimed from outside the drape.
"Aerith? Aqua?" It sounded like Red. He must've been the reason I woke up.
Thankfully, I finally bought silky long sleeve pajamas, and smiled as I stretched in them, while Aerith groaned from waking up from a deep sleep.
"Wha?"
"Hello? It's me, Red," we heard. Aerith rubbed at her eyes and yawned.
"Red? What are you doing outside our room?" she asked through another yawn.
He kept outside, his red paws still under the drapes.
"My apologies for intruding or waking you, but I come bearing some news about the Buggy," he began.
I fluffed my messy hair back and rubbed the sleep from my face.
"Red, you can come in," I chuckled, pleased at his manners. Red poked his head through the drape as he gasped, "Positive? I don't want it to be like last time."
"Last time?" Aerith dinged, and eyed me suspiciously.
I looked away, my face turning hot pink.
Red entered our room, and sat politely at the end of our bed.
"Ah, well, it's fixed. We can leave when we're all ready," he shared, smiling. I sighed, closed my eyes, and dropped my head back onto the fluffy pillow.
"Can I take this inn's pillow with me?" I groaned, while Aerith sat up and blinked at Red's words.
"Wait," Aerith chimed, stiff from the gears in her head working.
I popped my eyes open again, realizing what Red had just said.
I sat up, throwing him a surprised stare.
"We?" I challenged, just picking up the hinted word.
Red's smile widened.
"I'm coming with you," he confirmed.
Aerith and I jumped out of bed, cheering.
"Red, that's wonderful!" I cried, and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Group hug!" Aerith sang, her arms around us, and we laughed at the way Red licked our cheeks like a dog, his tail wagging.
"We're glad to keep you with us!" Aerith brightened, and rubbed Red's left over saliva from her cheek. Red continued to smile. I think he was truly happy to come along with us.
The eight of us stood just before leaving Cosmo Canyon. Red needed a minute, sitting there before his hometown, everything still covered in an early morning shadow.
Cait Sith sighed next to me, and said, "I liked it here. I hope we come back."
"Of course! I like it here, too! I didn't get to read all the books I wanted," Aerith beamed, and took a hold of my arm.
Tifa rubbed her temples, groaning from waking up too early to her liking.
"I think I've had enough of the Cosmo Canyon Candle cocktail to make me gag. Too much bitters for my taste. I can't wait to make my own version someday," she brought up.
Yuffie jumped up and down, clearly excited to leave. She hopped in her beige shorts and green sleeveless turtleneck.
"Finally! We're leaving! This place was booorrrriiinngg," she dragged, which really meant there wasn't any Materia worth stealing. We all groaned at her.
Aerith put her fingers to her lips and told Yuffie to shush. "Don't say that out loud in front of Red," she whispered.
Barret caught himself gazing up at Cosmo Canyon's high walls, smiling over the tall carved in works.
"I want to come back. And bring new Avalanche members here to show them how it all began," he declared.
Cloud watched intently at Red, and wondered aloud, "I thought he was going to stay. What made him change his mind?"
No one really knew, and Red kept it to himself. We all watched him, until he finally got up, and turned.
"Okay. I'm ready," he announced, and sucked in a deep breath.
We all left together as one large group, trekking down a large rocky red hill.
"Where are we going now?" Tifa asked, walking next to Cloud. He turned to her, quiet for a moment, as though the answer would displease her. He looked away as he replied, "Nibelheim."
Tifa paused, her hands to her gut.
"Wait, what?"
Cloud stopped, meeting her troubled gaze over his shoulder.
"I know," he mumbled, feeling just as upset as she was.
"Let's just see if it's there. Okay?" He asked, waiting for Tifa's confirmation. She blinked down at him, a bit surprised at how he handled their conversation. Usually, he would act a little more uncaring, unattached even, but recently, he was growing more human. Something inside of Cloud shifted into a direction we all weren't expecting to see.
"Okay," Tifa gasped, a bit spooked. Cloud turned away, and continued down the slope, just to walk next to me and set a gloved hand on my shoulder.
"Did you really need to steal that pillow?" he groaned, but smirked when our eyes locked. My cheeks flushed, making me look away quickly while Aerith squeezed my free arm. I pressed the soft and plump pillow into me a little too strongly, enjoying the feel of its feathers pressed into the chest of my leather corset.
"I really like this pillow," I justified weakly.
"Don't turn into Yuffie," Cloud warned.
"Hey!" Yuffie snapped.
We all laughed, even Aerith and Cloud, me walking in between them. I worried that they were going to continue stepping around each other. They both still cared about me, and by some unknown miracle, were able to stay by my side while avoiding each other's presence. It was an odd feeling being in the middle, forming a new ache in my chest. Is this what it was like as a child between two parents fighting?
I looked to Aerith, watching her smiling to herself, but there was a chill behind it, her eyes deliberately falling ahead without grazing over to possibly hit Cloud like she was pretending he wasn't there. Cloud's hand remained on my shoulder, even as I turned my head to him. His eyes met mine, a hidden sparkle behind them. I noticed how they shifted to Aerith for half a second, and the sparkle disappeared. He quickly looked away, frowning.
My heart crashed into my belly, coiling into knots in there.
They should know better. This was ridiculous. I could only hope it would get better. Eventually, one of them would have to apologize. Right?
Cait Sith made Mog bounce ahead, and used his large white hand to swat at Cloud's away from my shoulder. Cloud scoffed down at the cat and grumbled, "God damn it, Cait Sith! I can't even do that?!"
Cait Sith smirked, Mog ramming in between Cloud and I like a physical touch police guard.
"Nope!" The cat fussed, his chin lifted high into the morning sky. I rolled my eyes and yet, smiled to myself over Cloud's frustration, glad that he cared. They continued to bicker while Aerith giggled. It was all music to my ears.
56