"Terrraa…."
"Come to us…"
"Bring us the Angel…"
"Terraaaaa…"
"We waant theee Aangel!!!"
"Give us the Aaangeeeel!"
"Come to us Terrrraaaa…"
"Messssiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh…."
Terra awoke in the dead of the night gasping for air. Fear clouded her pure eyes and she held her hand over her chest in fright. Tears of sweat stuck to her skin and caused her clothes to cling to her body. Her eye darted around the room like a frightened caged animal. After a few seconds of gaping and occasional whimpering her twin sister Cathreine woke up.
"T-chan? You okay Immoto?"
Terra looked to her and shook her head violently before curling her knees up to her chest and beginning to rock. Cathreine stared at her in pity before walking over to her bed and climbing unto it. She sighed and shook her head before wrapping her arms around her sister letting her lean against her.
"Shhhh…you're ok Terra it was just a dream…"
Cathreine's calming whispers were not low enough however for the eldest of the three soon waked up as well. A little boy with brown hair and green eyes toddled up to Terra's bed sleepily and placed a hand on it. He quickly pulled his hand a way and made a face of disgust and looked up at his younger sisters.
"Eeeeewww! Her bed's wet! HA! Terra wet the bed!!! Terra wet the bed!!!"
Terra buried her face in his sister pajamas crying softly. Cathreine glared at the slightly older boy and stuck out her tongue, "She did not Tommy it's sweat she had a nightmare!!"
"No it isn't! She wet the bed!!!"
Terra continued to cry silently wishing her bother would just leave her alone. Cathreine growled at him angrily before swatting at him with a pillow making him fall on his backside. He made a face and stuck his tongue out at her before going back to bed. Cathreine nodded towards him in anger before turning back to her sister who was looking at her sweat soaked sheets, tears clinging to the edges of her eyes. Cathreine's angry face turned to one of pity and understanding. She stripped the bed and led Terra to her own bed.
"I know you didn't wet the bed Terra just ignore him all boy's are jerks."
"I heard that!"
"No one asked you Thomas Strife!"
Cathreine turn back to her sister and smiled at her warmly before handing her an extra pair of pajamas. She helped her dress and then helped Terra into her bed. She tucked her in and hugged her.
"Want me to get mamma and papa?"
Terra shook her head and snuggled into her sister's bed falling asleep.
*~*~o0o~*~*
"We want the Aaaangeeelll…"
"Terra!!"
Terra awoke again that night only a few hours later, the voices and sound haunting her dreams. She looked around the room being careful not to wake her sister a second time.
"Terra…"
Terra jumped slightly in surprise at the sound of the voice. She searched the room for the source but found none. Then…
"Terra! Over here the window!"
Terra got out of bed her nightgown brushing the floor as she walked to the window. She looked out but saw nothing. She shrugged slightly and was about to get back in bed when…
"Terra wait! Open the window!"
Terra looked back and hesitated. Fear began to build up in the back of her mind but she ignored it and then mustering up her courage she opened the window. She stuck her head outside expecting to see some type of monster or creature but nothing was there. She stuck her head back in and turned to the bed when the sound of fluttering wings filled the room and a shadow passed over head. She was about to let out a scream when the source of the shadow and voice landed on a chair in front of her.
A little brown hawk with golden tips at the end of its feathers sat there titling its head looking right into her eyes.
"Hi there! You must be Terra!"
Terra nodded and walked over to the chair. The little bird let out a quiet screech of happiness before it batted its wings.
"Great! I'm Tobiason! You can call me Tobias…or Toby which ever you please…"
Terra nodded but didn't speak. The bird cocked it head to one side and then he remembered.
"Oh yeah I forgot you don't like to talk….Don't worry you can talk to me I won't tell anyone!"
Terra shook her head violently and backed away. But then she remembered what her father had said earlier that night….the sorrow that had been in his eyes. She looked to the floor and sighed. The bird shook its head and ruffled its feathers.
"I see…well if your not gonna talk then I guess I better go."
The bird hoped off the chair and glided to the windowsill. He was about to take off when first time in years Terra spoke…
"Wait! Why are you here? Who are you?"
"What do you mean? Can't you hear them? They want the Angel!! They need the Angel! I have to take the Angel to them!"
"Who's the Angel?"
"You are…"
*~*~o0o~*~*
There was not a sound in the Son house except the sound of Goku snoring and the clock chiming 3 o' clock. In his room slept four year old Gohan. His wild black hair was tangled and his glasses hung off his nose for he'd fallen asleep reading a book that was now laid out across his chest. He mumbled in his sleep and turned over.
"Gohan!"
Gohan's sleep was broken by the sound of the almost dream like voice. He didn't recognize the voice but he some how knew it. He looked to the window to see his best friend standing on the windowsill. Her blond hair was tied up in a loose ponytail telling him that she'd pulled it up herself. Her blue eyes sparkled mischievously. Her voice was impish and playful…wait a second…
Her voice?
Gohan stood from his bed and ran to the window and opened it, "Terra? What are you doing here? Where's you mommy and daddy? How'd you get up on my windowsill? Since when can you talk!?"
"Ack! One question at a time! Yes it's me. I'm here cause Tobias thought you should come with me. My mommy and daddy are home. Tobias helped me up here somehow and I could always talk I just chose not to!"
Gohan looked at her in confusion, "Tobias?" Terra nodded and nearly dragged him onto the windowsill making him gasp in fright being as they were pretty far of the ground. He looked to his friend who was smiling innocently as if nothing was wrong with this situation. He shook his head and finally found his voice, "Where are you going? Who's Tobias!?"
"I'm Tobias!"
Gohan shrieked in fright and backed up as the hawk swooped passed his window. As he back up he hit the window latch causing the actual window to drop shut and smash. Terra looked back in panic knowing that they'd be discovered if the didn't hurry. She looked to Tobiason who landed on the branch of a tree and turned to her.
"Hurry! We must not be seen!!"
"What do I do!? How are we gonna get down?"
Tobiason shrieked and took to the air swooping over them his eyes glowing gold.
"Just step off the Window! Please! We have to go now! You must both trust me!!"
Terra nodded and closed her eyes. She held her breath and then step off the windowpane. Gohan shouted her name fearing she'd plummet to her death but she didn't. She floated there unhurt just staring out into the distance watching Tobias swoop over the trees. Then with animal like grace she took off after him flying through the air.
"Terra!!"
"We must go they need the Angel Gohan I must follow him!!"
Gohan looked back into his room and than out towards the horizon and just as he heard his Mother's voice calling to him he jumped off the windowsill and took off after his friend in the night.
*~*~o0o~*~*
"Gohan sweetie what broke?"
Chichi stepped in the room and looked about trying to find the source of the crash. She found the window shattered and frowned. Assuming it had been the wind she sighed and walked over to it and cleaning up the glass. Then she noticed something. A piece of fabric belonging to her son's pajama pants. And next to it was a blue bandana belonging to none other then Terra Strife. Chichi turned around to her son's bed to find the covers tossed off the bed and her son gone. Her eyes widened in panic and she ran to the phone. Then with shaking hands she managed to dial the Strifes' number in. She drummed her fingers nervously against the tabletop waiting for an answer.
"H-Hello?"
"Cloud!?"
"Chichi? What the hell…do you know what time it is?"
"Where's Terra!?"
"Terra? She's asleep…why do you ask?"
"Go check on her!?"
"Wha? But why Chich.."
"Cloud Please just check!!"
"Ok ok! Just hold on…"
Chichi waited in silence for a moment or two when she heard Cloud scream out some type of obscenity in another language before she could hear him rush back to the phone.
"She's gone!?"
"I know Gohan too! Wake Aeris. I'll get Goku. He'll be able to search out their ki."
*~*~o0o~*~*
"Terra wait up!!!"
Terra turned around and sighed in agitation, "What now!?" Gohan landed next to her and looked her in the eyes tears beginning to stream down his cheeks.
"It's light out Terra! The sun's almost coming up I wanna go home. We've been flying all night."
"You resting why!? Resting there is not. Go the Angel must!! Brought to them must be The Angel!! Wait much longer they won't! If he is tired then the Angel must leave him!! Come the Angel must!"
Gohan glared at the bird and batted at it with his hat, "Hush up already!!" Tobias took to the air and swooped low almost clawing Gohan's face making him squeal in fear. Terra swatted at the bird with her hand, "Stop that Tobiason! You'll hurt him." Tobias swooped down again and landed on her shoulder.
"Leave the boy behind The Angel must! Come the Angel must. Forward go the Angel must."
Tobias took off again not looking back. Terra ran after him her feet hitting the ground softly making no sound. Gohan watched her run he body moving like liquid. Her movements were so wolf like and graceful he could not help but stare. Then with a sigh he ran after her over many a hill and throughout many valleys until they came upon some sort of village.
A village of bones.
*~*~o0o~*~*
Aeris fidgeted nervously inside the airship. She watched Chichi and Cloud pace back and forth as they neared the place Goku was sure the children would be. Cid Highwind stood at the helm of the plane the butt of a cigarette clenched between his teeth smoking away. Aeris stood and walked towards the window and stared off into the distance seeing nothing but ocean before them. Aeris was about to speak when she saw the top of a mountain rise up before them on the horizon. Aeris gazed at the continent before them recognizing it instantly. A feeling of dread washed over her senses as she saw the very continent on which she'd died.
But how could have the kids gotten here?
*~*~o0o~*~*
Aeris and Cloud ran into the village surprised to find its inhabitants awake. Cloud eyes darted from side to side searching for any sight of his missing daughter. Then he heard a conversation taking place between an 2 of the towns people.
"What are we gonna do!?"
"Nuthin we can do…..those poor childen…"
"They were so young…..such a pretty little girl to…wonder where their parents are…"
"Yup….but there aint no way they're comin' outta those woods….nope….not without the Lunar Harp."
"Such a pretty little blond hair girl….such an adorable little black hair boy….such a loss…"
Cloud spun around and grabbed the elder of the two by the collar. Panic was written across his face, "Are you talking about these kids!?" He pulled out a small picture of his daughter and Gohan from his pocket and shoved it in the man's face pointing at the picture madly. The man studied and nodded his head, "That's them alright! They wandered right into the Sleeping Forest before anyone could grab them! You their father!? Why the hell were those kids out alone!?" Cloud stopped listening at ran toward the woods throwing the man to the ground. He called out to Cid and the others who ran to his side.
"Cloud what the &%&^% is up!? Did ya $%@% find them!?"
"Not now Cid! Do you still have the Lunar Harp!?"
Cid chewed on the end of his cigarette butt thinking before nodding and running back to the airship to return moments later with it in his hands. He handed it to Cloud who ran into the woods followed by his wife who carried their other two children in her arms. Clouds stopped and let the harp do its magic awakening to forest. When the green haze lifted he saw Gohan curled up on the ground his legs hugged to his chest crying. Chichi ran to him and scooped him up and held him close crying as well. Cloud's mako blue eyes scanned the area seeing no trace of his daughter. Then Gohan began to babble out something.
"T-T-T-Terra….r-r-ran off inta….the W-W-W-Woods….she left me *sob* and I c-c-couldn't follow her…."
Cloud ran forward out of the woods and continued on following a pair of tiny foot prints in the sand maybe about an hour old. Then they stopped as the sand led on to stone. He slowed his run allowing his spouse and friends to catch up. He stared in shock at the old abandoned city before him. And the he ran down the left of the 3 paths.
How did she make it all the way to the City of the Ancients?!
*~*~o0o~*~*
Terra stood there on the steps of the small gazebo staring at the crystal city around her in awe. She spun about and let out a shrill giggle that echoed throughout the hidden part of the city. She ran up the steps of the gazebo and stared down into the shimmering clear water. She smiled and reached down her fingers barely gracing its surface. She let out a content sigh not noticing her bird companion had disappeared. A man stood in the shadows of the gazebo watching her study the waters silently. He smirked and stepped out of the shadows and into the dim bright light of the room clearing his throat.
Terra turned about and looked at the older man with interest and no fear. She stood and dusted off her pants before approaching the man clad totally in black. He smiled down at her and kneeled before her so they were at eye level with one another.
….Sapphire met Emerald….
His eyes glowed in a friendly matter and he reached out to her. She smiled and took his hand and shook it smiling innocently.
"Hi ya! My name's Terra! What's yours?"
The man chuckled and stood running a hand through his long silver hair. Before staring down at her again locking eyes…
….Sapphire met Emerald….
"You may call me Sephiroth my little Angel….."
*~*~o0o~*~*
I stood there that day staring up at the man who would be my enemy. I was so young and innocent that I did not understand what it was to fear a person….I had always been afraid to speak but never another human. I stared up at him that day with all the trust in the world. A man that could have been my friend but would be my enemy….a man that would play so many roles in my future
My enemy...
My reason to hate…
My reason for vengance…
My savior…
My ally…
My lover….
I knew not of these things then. If I had I would not have taken his hand that day. If I hadn't I would not have learned to hate or become the monster that I have been during certain times in my life. I would've never learned my true gifts…I would be dead….but I would have been happy, I would have been innocent, I would not know fear.
I would have been normal….
But I am not all because of this day….all because I took his hand in mine and I accepted my fate by putting my trust in him for that single moment….
…..all because I let him hurt me…
...because I was the one who let….
….Sapphire meet Emerald….