Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy Seven or The Story "The Darksword
Trilogy" which I got the Darksword from.
Chapter 9: The Waiting Begins
Aeris groaned and put a hand to her head. The ride back threw the Lifestream was just as bad as before. She blinked her eyes and saw she was in a normal house. She saw her pack lying near the bed and her clothes were just lying near the bed. She was now dressed in a nightgown, and it felt no heavier than a feather. She chuckled when she remembered she had been wearing weighted clothes, and that the others must have had trouble taking them off. She grinned. The others! Red, Vincent, Yuffie, Reeve, Cid, Barret, Tifa and Cloud! She couldn't wait to see them. She jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. She then took her rod out of her pack and tested it. It extended easily. She grinned, and saw herself in a mirror. She looked buff, and her aura was gone. She bet they hardly recognized her. She put her dirty clothes in her pack and put it on the dresser. She quietly went downstairs, and heard them in the kitchen, talking. She made her way threw the and she stopped when she saw something. It was Cloud and Tifa standing together at an altar. She also saw another picture of everyone at a reception. She smiled when she realized Cloud and Tifa had gotten married. She stopped out side the kitchen door, and listened quietly from the hall before she entered.
"So where did she come from do you think?" Barret asked. There was a pause and then.
"Who knows. Is this some sort of @#$%ing plan of someone to catch us off guard or what?" Cid said.
"Did you see how strong she looks? She looks like Tifa now." Vincent replied.
"Not all of her looks like Tifa. Tifa is still bigger than her in one area." Yuffie replied.
"Why you little!" Tifa shouted. There were sounds of a struggle. A growl silenced them.
"Please calm yourselves. We must think about this rationally." Red ordered.
"I think the best we can do is ask her ourselves instead of speculate. What do you think Cloud?" Reeve asked. There was a long pause. Aeris's heart began to pound in fear, and she was about to walk in when he spoke.
"The best thing we can do is ask her ourselves. As soon as she gets up. She's been out ever since we brought her here to Corel." Cloud said. Aeris grinned when she heard she was in Corel. She pushed her way threw the door into the kitchen. Everyone looked at her immediately. She saw everyone had changed a bit. Barret's gun being replaced with an arm was the biggest change she could see. Everything else was suttle changes. They all seemed a bit older. They were gathered around a table with the exception of Cloud who was leaning on the wall, arms crossed.
"Hello." She said, timidly. Everyone stared for a minute, and then Cloud stepped forward. He hugged her and said, "Welcome back."
The other rushed forward and began saying things, hugging her, kisses on the cheek; even Vincent gave her a hug. Then Cid went outright and said what was on everyone's mind.
"How the @#$% did you get back?!" he said. Everyone laughed, but it seemed to be the general question.
"Well, I'm not allowed to talk about it." She said. Everyone stared at her.
"I'm sure that's fine and dandy, but look at you! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been preparing for coming home!" Barret snorted.
"Barret!" Tifa scolded. He just turned away.
"No it's alright, Tifa. I owe some explanation as to why I look like this. I met someone who trained me. In fact, they never expected me to go back so soon." Aeris said. She blushed when Yuffie raised her eyebrows at "met someone."
"Who are "they", Aeris?" Cloud prodded. Aeris hesitated before answering.
"The people in the Promised Land." She quietly said. Everyone stared at her.
"It really exists?" Reeve said in awe.
"Yes, and I can't say anymore. You'll know when you get there." Aeris said, and then clapped her hands to her mouth when she realized what she said.
"What?! You mean we all get to go?!" Red asked, excitedly. When Aeris nodded he exclaimed with joy, "I'll see Grandfather again!"
"No, Red, you won't." Aeris whispered. Everyone stared at her.
"What? Aeris enough with this cloak and dagger bullshit! Talk to us!" Cid exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Yuffie said. Aeris hesitated for a moment.
"Okay, but if you tell anyone else, even loved ones, it may cause certain things to happen. Bad things that will be my fault. So do you promise not to tell?" she asked. Everyone solemnly nodded, even Yuffie.
"Alright, let's start with the beginning.."
*****
While Aeris told her friends where she had been, a dark plot was taking shape. A deformed man wandered the streets of Midgar Ruins. No one was to have remained there, and the site was closed. Yet he still remained, savaging body parts and dragging them with deformed limbs to his home deep under the shatter Shinra building. Today, he dropped a perfect arm he had found in the storage tank and then turned to the head he had found while not deformed in the crater. It was a head that resembled a bear, but looked part human as well. The now deformed man ran a hand along the tank encasing the head in fluids.
"Soon, revenge will be mine. And you will pay for my son Strife. You will pay with your life!" he hissed and the light flashed in the man's glasses as he began to laugh.
*****
Aeris finished her story two hours later, carefully omitting parts about her relationship with Rueben. Everyone sat there for a moment and then they got up one by one to stretch.
"My this Rueben sounds..interesting." Red replied.
"Sounds like an asshole to me." Cid muttered. Barret silently agreed with Cid, but he wouldn't speak out loud against the man until he had met him. But he would definitely be the first to greet him when his damned house appeared in his city.
"He's not that bad." Aeris said, defensively. Tifa raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Red came closer to Aeris, and put his head on her lap for her to scratch. After she did, he said,
"Do you think these Trumlions still live on that island he spoke of?"
"I'm sure of it. When he gets here you can ask him. And if I'm right he'll appear in Cosmo Canyon." Aeris said, and sighed, getting a dreamy look on her face.
"Anyway I should get going. Shera is expecting any day now and I should get to her soon. Bye Aeris. I'll hope you come see this old wrinkled pilot when you can." Cid said. Before she could reply he was out the door. Barret shook his head as he watched Cid go.
"I offered him and Shera a place to live here but he refused. Wants to build another rocket and go into space. Red you better catch up to him if you want a lift home." Barret said.
"Oh yeah! I'll see you around Aeris." Red said and dashed out the door.
"I better go catch them both. I need to get to Junon tonight and talk with the mayor there about trade agreements. See you Aeris." Reeve said, and ran after them. Yuffie scratched her head and looked out the window.
"I better go to my apartment and change. Reno asked me on a date." She said, sullenly. Everyone gaped at her.
"What? Can't I have a life too?" she said, and with that she went out the door. Vincent shook his head.
"Does Reno know what he's getting himself into?" he questioned. Cloud chuckled.
"Evidently not. You staying in town for a bit?" he asked Vincent. Vincent thought about it for a bit and then shook his head.
"No. I believe she will be just fine, but call me on the PHS in you need me." He said, and walked over to Aeris. He shook her hand.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow, Vincent." She said.
"Come again?" he asked.
"Its Shakespeare. I read it while I was gone." Aeris said. Vincent smiled his sullen smile.
"It truly is, dear lady. Till we meet again." He said and left. Tifa scratched her head, and noticed Barret was a little jumpy.
"What's wrong?" Tifa asked. He looked at them and then to the window. He pointed, and Tifa saw Elmyra carrying Marlene to the house. They came in threw the kitchen door. When Elmyra saw Aeris she immediately burst into tears.
"Mom." Aeris whispered, and got up to hug her. After a while they let go and Elmyra dried her eyes.
"You look wonderful dear! I'm so glad to have you back!" Elmyra exclaimed. Aeris smiled and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you, and you look exhausted so sit down." Aeris said, an helped her too a chair. Marlene had gone to her father and her held her on his shoulder. They began talking and Aeris began telling her what she was allowed about the Promised Land. She had broken the rules with her friends already and she didn't feel like doing it again. When they finished talking it was well past midnight. Barret had already taken Marlene to the home they shared with Elmyra. Cloud had gone to bed leaving only Tifa, Elmyra, and Aeris talking. Elmyra yawned and glanced at her watch.
"Oh my goodness! We should go home, its well past midnight!" she exclaimed. Tifa nodded, but Aeris shrugged.
"I don't mind. I've stayed up later than this." She stated. What she didn't add was that she usually watched Rueben change into a werewolf, but they she hoped they would never know about that.
"Do you want to come home with me Aeris? We can set you up in a room." Elmyra said.
"Thankyou Mom, but I think I want to stay here. Tifa and Cloud had offered me a room here, but I promise to come see you everyday!" Aeris said. Elmyra smiled, and Aeris said goodnight and went to bed. Tifa and Elmyra watched her go. Tifa said to her hen she was sure Aeris was out of hearing range, "She's changed."
"Yes, and did you see her left hand?"
"No. What was wrong with it?"
"Nothing, just that she had a wedding ring on it!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"So THAT's what she hiding! Who do you think it is?"
"Probably one of those people who will be coming back. I better get home. I think Barret planned to ask me to marry him tomorrow!" Elmyra stated, and Tifa shook her head.
"First Shera, then me, then Aeris, and now you. Only Yuffie's next!" Tifa exclaimed and the both laughed.
*****
Aeris spent most of the next day shopping with gold Rueben had given her. She first had to change it into gil but that proved to be no problem. She felt giddy seeing the new, huge Corel. She even visited a mall, and got a make over. She then later relaxed in the park. These were the things she had missed so dearly, and sighed. She then set off to find a spot in the new woods outside of Corel. She eventually came to a spot where the woods ran up the side of the mountain. She smiled as she began her exercises. She would surprise Rueben by showing him how much she could improve in a short amount of time.
*****
Meanwhile, in the Promised Land, Rueben was having the same thoughts. He summoned an Odin and did battle with it to train. He knew Aeris would be impressed.
*****
And so the time passed. Aeris waited impatiently for the month to come, as did Rueben. She spent time with her friends, and helped Planet grow again. She trained during the day while the others were at work and they were none the wiser. Vincent had narrowly seen her twice when he came into town for a time. It was the day before Rueben was supposed to come back when it happened. People to this day do not know if was already there or was built in record time. The first person who saw it was Aeris, and only she and Rueben know the truth. The home Rueben lived in appeared in a lot on the opposite side of town. Aeris has heard about a great place to get some ice cream and Tifa and Yuffie tagged along. Cloud and Tifa had recently decided to try a baby, and Tifa heard that vanilla ice cream helped gets you pregnant.
"I'll try anything at this point!" she had exclaimed, and the others laughed. They were walking back, taking a scenic route when Aeris spotted the house. She shrieked, and ran up to the house, dropping her ice cream on the way. Tifa and Yuffie ran after her as she dashed inside. The deeds and permits were sitting on the end table next to Rueben's chair. She snatched them up and ran up stairs. Tifa and Yuffie barely managed to get inside when Aeris ran up stairs. They groaned, and headed up. Aeris ran into her room and locked the door. She then threw open the closet to see her wedding dress hanging there. She snatched it to check it for tares and other flaws. Then Tifa knocked (actually more like slammed) on the door.
"Hey, Aeris, what's the big idea?" she called out. Yuffie huffed, and puffed and caught up to her. Aeris tossed open the door, her face beaming. She showed them the dressed. They gaped at her.
"See?! Our house finally came! Oh I better get ready! This means he'll be coming back tomorrow!" she squealed, and ran down the stairs to tidy up a bit. Tifa and Yuffie and looked at each other.
"Did I miss something or did Aeris go nuts?" Yuffie asked. Tifa just scratched her head.
*****
The day Rueben was resurrected was hell for him. He had been dead for so long the Planet had to bring him back in his coffin, which was now fifty feet below the Cosmo Candle. He hacked and wheezed in the stale air. He slammed his fist threw the steel cover only to have dirt begin to pile in on him. He dug for what seemed like an eternity, and then he finally dug himself out in the middle of the Cosmo Candle. He screamed as he was burned and rolled out of the flames. Before he passed out he saw a Trumlion pad over to him.
"Trumlion. Good to be home again." He whispered and passed out.
The next day he awoke, fully healed and rested. The woman taking care of him screamed when he suddenly opened his eyes and sat straight up. She fled the room wailing about demons. He grinned and got out of bed. His back was sore and he touched it gingerly. He dressed in his clothes and stretched to get rid of the pain.
"Ah, you are awake as I heard." A cool voice replied. He turned to see a young Trumlion watching him.
"Hello! I was afraid you would die out but apparently not! Who might you be my boy?" he said. He felt happy, truly happy to see people without aura for a change.
"You must be Rueben. I am Nanaki also called Red by my friends." The young Trumlion replied coldly. Rueben's good humor faded. He snorted.
"I see. How did you now my name, boy." He drawled.
"A woman named Aeris talked about you. You trained her in the Promised Land?" Red inquired. Rueben grinned.
"Indeed I did. And if you have ever faced her you would know I am twice as powerful." Rueben warned. This Trumlion was rude. Where were the parents?
"Maybe. Now where is this island of Trumlions as we are called, so you say?" Red asked, and his tail twitched in annoyance. Rueben narrowed his eyes.
"You can't be no more than forty-eight. A mere boy in Trumlion years. Where are your parents?"
"Dead. As for everyone in Cosmo Canyon who was Trumlion."
"No it can't be!" Rueben cried and rushed out side. Red followed the man to see him staring over the Canyon with tears in his eyes.
"NO! AFTER ALL OUR EFFORTS IT STILL TURNED TO DUST! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rueben screamed with rage and fell to his knees. He then slammed both fist into the ground causing the very ground to shake. Red gazed at him in wonder. After a moment, Rueben spoke again.
"I am truly sorry for my arrogance. The island lies thirty miles south of the most southern continent southern tip. There they reside." He whispered. Red turned to leave immediately to leave but paused.
"Can we do anything for you Rueben?" he asked, and Rueben shook his head.
"No only tell me which way Corel lies please?" he asked.
"To the east over the mountains past Niblehiem ruins. Can't miss it." Nanaki said, and padded away. Rueben wiped away his tears, and stood up. He then gathered his things and left a place home to others, and a destroyed one to him.
Chapter 9: The Waiting Begins
Aeris groaned and put a hand to her head. The ride back threw the Lifestream was just as bad as before. She blinked her eyes and saw she was in a normal house. She saw her pack lying near the bed and her clothes were just lying near the bed. She was now dressed in a nightgown, and it felt no heavier than a feather. She chuckled when she remembered she had been wearing weighted clothes, and that the others must have had trouble taking them off. She grinned. The others! Red, Vincent, Yuffie, Reeve, Cid, Barret, Tifa and Cloud! She couldn't wait to see them. She jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. She then took her rod out of her pack and tested it. It extended easily. She grinned, and saw herself in a mirror. She looked buff, and her aura was gone. She bet they hardly recognized her. She put her dirty clothes in her pack and put it on the dresser. She quietly went downstairs, and heard them in the kitchen, talking. She made her way threw the and she stopped when she saw something. It was Cloud and Tifa standing together at an altar. She also saw another picture of everyone at a reception. She smiled when she realized Cloud and Tifa had gotten married. She stopped out side the kitchen door, and listened quietly from the hall before she entered.
"So where did she come from do you think?" Barret asked. There was a pause and then.
"Who knows. Is this some sort of @#$%ing plan of someone to catch us off guard or what?" Cid said.
"Did you see how strong she looks? She looks like Tifa now." Vincent replied.
"Not all of her looks like Tifa. Tifa is still bigger than her in one area." Yuffie replied.
"Why you little!" Tifa shouted. There were sounds of a struggle. A growl silenced them.
"Please calm yourselves. We must think about this rationally." Red ordered.
"I think the best we can do is ask her ourselves instead of speculate. What do you think Cloud?" Reeve asked. There was a long pause. Aeris's heart began to pound in fear, and she was about to walk in when he spoke.
"The best thing we can do is ask her ourselves. As soon as she gets up. She's been out ever since we brought her here to Corel." Cloud said. Aeris grinned when she heard she was in Corel. She pushed her way threw the door into the kitchen. Everyone looked at her immediately. She saw everyone had changed a bit. Barret's gun being replaced with an arm was the biggest change she could see. Everything else was suttle changes. They all seemed a bit older. They were gathered around a table with the exception of Cloud who was leaning on the wall, arms crossed.
"Hello." She said, timidly. Everyone stared for a minute, and then Cloud stepped forward. He hugged her and said, "Welcome back."
The other rushed forward and began saying things, hugging her, kisses on the cheek; even Vincent gave her a hug. Then Cid went outright and said what was on everyone's mind.
"How the @#$% did you get back?!" he said. Everyone laughed, but it seemed to be the general question.
"Well, I'm not allowed to talk about it." She said. Everyone stared at her.
"I'm sure that's fine and dandy, but look at you! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been preparing for coming home!" Barret snorted.
"Barret!" Tifa scolded. He just turned away.
"No it's alright, Tifa. I owe some explanation as to why I look like this. I met someone who trained me. In fact, they never expected me to go back so soon." Aeris said. She blushed when Yuffie raised her eyebrows at "met someone."
"Who are "they", Aeris?" Cloud prodded. Aeris hesitated before answering.
"The people in the Promised Land." She quietly said. Everyone stared at her.
"It really exists?" Reeve said in awe.
"Yes, and I can't say anymore. You'll know when you get there." Aeris said, and then clapped her hands to her mouth when she realized what she said.
"What?! You mean we all get to go?!" Red asked, excitedly. When Aeris nodded he exclaimed with joy, "I'll see Grandfather again!"
"No, Red, you won't." Aeris whispered. Everyone stared at her.
"What? Aeris enough with this cloak and dagger bullshit! Talk to us!" Cid exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Yuffie said. Aeris hesitated for a moment.
"Okay, but if you tell anyone else, even loved ones, it may cause certain things to happen. Bad things that will be my fault. So do you promise not to tell?" she asked. Everyone solemnly nodded, even Yuffie.
"Alright, let's start with the beginning.."
*****
While Aeris told her friends where she had been, a dark plot was taking shape. A deformed man wandered the streets of Midgar Ruins. No one was to have remained there, and the site was closed. Yet he still remained, savaging body parts and dragging them with deformed limbs to his home deep under the shatter Shinra building. Today, he dropped a perfect arm he had found in the storage tank and then turned to the head he had found while not deformed in the crater. It was a head that resembled a bear, but looked part human as well. The now deformed man ran a hand along the tank encasing the head in fluids.
"Soon, revenge will be mine. And you will pay for my son Strife. You will pay with your life!" he hissed and the light flashed in the man's glasses as he began to laugh.
*****
Aeris finished her story two hours later, carefully omitting parts about her relationship with Rueben. Everyone sat there for a moment and then they got up one by one to stretch.
"My this Rueben sounds..interesting." Red replied.
"Sounds like an asshole to me." Cid muttered. Barret silently agreed with Cid, but he wouldn't speak out loud against the man until he had met him. But he would definitely be the first to greet him when his damned house appeared in his city.
"He's not that bad." Aeris said, defensively. Tifa raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Red came closer to Aeris, and put his head on her lap for her to scratch. After she did, he said,
"Do you think these Trumlions still live on that island he spoke of?"
"I'm sure of it. When he gets here you can ask him. And if I'm right he'll appear in Cosmo Canyon." Aeris said, and sighed, getting a dreamy look on her face.
"Anyway I should get going. Shera is expecting any day now and I should get to her soon. Bye Aeris. I'll hope you come see this old wrinkled pilot when you can." Cid said. Before she could reply he was out the door. Barret shook his head as he watched Cid go.
"I offered him and Shera a place to live here but he refused. Wants to build another rocket and go into space. Red you better catch up to him if you want a lift home." Barret said.
"Oh yeah! I'll see you around Aeris." Red said and dashed out the door.
"I better go catch them both. I need to get to Junon tonight and talk with the mayor there about trade agreements. See you Aeris." Reeve said, and ran after them. Yuffie scratched her head and looked out the window.
"I better go to my apartment and change. Reno asked me on a date." She said, sullenly. Everyone gaped at her.
"What? Can't I have a life too?" she said, and with that she went out the door. Vincent shook his head.
"Does Reno know what he's getting himself into?" he questioned. Cloud chuckled.
"Evidently not. You staying in town for a bit?" he asked Vincent. Vincent thought about it for a bit and then shook his head.
"No. I believe she will be just fine, but call me on the PHS in you need me." He said, and walked over to Aeris. He shook her hand.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow, Vincent." She said.
"Come again?" he asked.
"Its Shakespeare. I read it while I was gone." Aeris said. Vincent smiled his sullen smile.
"It truly is, dear lady. Till we meet again." He said and left. Tifa scratched her head, and noticed Barret was a little jumpy.
"What's wrong?" Tifa asked. He looked at them and then to the window. He pointed, and Tifa saw Elmyra carrying Marlene to the house. They came in threw the kitchen door. When Elmyra saw Aeris she immediately burst into tears.
"Mom." Aeris whispered, and got up to hug her. After a while they let go and Elmyra dried her eyes.
"You look wonderful dear! I'm so glad to have you back!" Elmyra exclaimed. Aeris smiled and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you, and you look exhausted so sit down." Aeris said, an helped her too a chair. Marlene had gone to her father and her held her on his shoulder. They began talking and Aeris began telling her what she was allowed about the Promised Land. She had broken the rules with her friends already and she didn't feel like doing it again. When they finished talking it was well past midnight. Barret had already taken Marlene to the home they shared with Elmyra. Cloud had gone to bed leaving only Tifa, Elmyra, and Aeris talking. Elmyra yawned and glanced at her watch.
"Oh my goodness! We should go home, its well past midnight!" she exclaimed. Tifa nodded, but Aeris shrugged.
"I don't mind. I've stayed up later than this." She stated. What she didn't add was that she usually watched Rueben change into a werewolf, but they she hoped they would never know about that.
"Do you want to come home with me Aeris? We can set you up in a room." Elmyra said.
"Thankyou Mom, but I think I want to stay here. Tifa and Cloud had offered me a room here, but I promise to come see you everyday!" Aeris said. Elmyra smiled, and Aeris said goodnight and went to bed. Tifa and Elmyra watched her go. Tifa said to her hen she was sure Aeris was out of hearing range, "She's changed."
"Yes, and did you see her left hand?"
"No. What was wrong with it?"
"Nothing, just that she had a wedding ring on it!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"So THAT's what she hiding! Who do you think it is?"
"Probably one of those people who will be coming back. I better get home. I think Barret planned to ask me to marry him tomorrow!" Elmyra stated, and Tifa shook her head.
"First Shera, then me, then Aeris, and now you. Only Yuffie's next!" Tifa exclaimed and the both laughed.
*****
Aeris spent most of the next day shopping with gold Rueben had given her. She first had to change it into gil but that proved to be no problem. She felt giddy seeing the new, huge Corel. She even visited a mall, and got a make over. She then later relaxed in the park. These were the things she had missed so dearly, and sighed. She then set off to find a spot in the new woods outside of Corel. She eventually came to a spot where the woods ran up the side of the mountain. She smiled as she began her exercises. She would surprise Rueben by showing him how much she could improve in a short amount of time.
*****
Meanwhile, in the Promised Land, Rueben was having the same thoughts. He summoned an Odin and did battle with it to train. He knew Aeris would be impressed.
*****
And so the time passed. Aeris waited impatiently for the month to come, as did Rueben. She spent time with her friends, and helped Planet grow again. She trained during the day while the others were at work and they were none the wiser. Vincent had narrowly seen her twice when he came into town for a time. It was the day before Rueben was supposed to come back when it happened. People to this day do not know if was already there or was built in record time. The first person who saw it was Aeris, and only she and Rueben know the truth. The home Rueben lived in appeared in a lot on the opposite side of town. Aeris has heard about a great place to get some ice cream and Tifa and Yuffie tagged along. Cloud and Tifa had recently decided to try a baby, and Tifa heard that vanilla ice cream helped gets you pregnant.
"I'll try anything at this point!" she had exclaimed, and the others laughed. They were walking back, taking a scenic route when Aeris spotted the house. She shrieked, and ran up to the house, dropping her ice cream on the way. Tifa and Yuffie ran after her as she dashed inside. The deeds and permits were sitting on the end table next to Rueben's chair. She snatched them up and ran up stairs. Tifa and Yuffie barely managed to get inside when Aeris ran up stairs. They groaned, and headed up. Aeris ran into her room and locked the door. She then threw open the closet to see her wedding dress hanging there. She snatched it to check it for tares and other flaws. Then Tifa knocked (actually more like slammed) on the door.
"Hey, Aeris, what's the big idea?" she called out. Yuffie huffed, and puffed and caught up to her. Aeris tossed open the door, her face beaming. She showed them the dressed. They gaped at her.
"See?! Our house finally came! Oh I better get ready! This means he'll be coming back tomorrow!" she squealed, and ran down the stairs to tidy up a bit. Tifa and Yuffie and looked at each other.
"Did I miss something or did Aeris go nuts?" Yuffie asked. Tifa just scratched her head.
*****
The day Rueben was resurrected was hell for him. He had been dead for so long the Planet had to bring him back in his coffin, which was now fifty feet below the Cosmo Candle. He hacked and wheezed in the stale air. He slammed his fist threw the steel cover only to have dirt begin to pile in on him. He dug for what seemed like an eternity, and then he finally dug himself out in the middle of the Cosmo Candle. He screamed as he was burned and rolled out of the flames. Before he passed out he saw a Trumlion pad over to him.
"Trumlion. Good to be home again." He whispered and passed out.
The next day he awoke, fully healed and rested. The woman taking care of him screamed when he suddenly opened his eyes and sat straight up. She fled the room wailing about demons. He grinned and got out of bed. His back was sore and he touched it gingerly. He dressed in his clothes and stretched to get rid of the pain.
"Ah, you are awake as I heard." A cool voice replied. He turned to see a young Trumlion watching him.
"Hello! I was afraid you would die out but apparently not! Who might you be my boy?" he said. He felt happy, truly happy to see people without aura for a change.
"You must be Rueben. I am Nanaki also called Red by my friends." The young Trumlion replied coldly. Rueben's good humor faded. He snorted.
"I see. How did you now my name, boy." He drawled.
"A woman named Aeris talked about you. You trained her in the Promised Land?" Red inquired. Rueben grinned.
"Indeed I did. And if you have ever faced her you would know I am twice as powerful." Rueben warned. This Trumlion was rude. Where were the parents?
"Maybe. Now where is this island of Trumlions as we are called, so you say?" Red asked, and his tail twitched in annoyance. Rueben narrowed his eyes.
"You can't be no more than forty-eight. A mere boy in Trumlion years. Where are your parents?"
"Dead. As for everyone in Cosmo Canyon who was Trumlion."
"No it can't be!" Rueben cried and rushed out side. Red followed the man to see him staring over the Canyon with tears in his eyes.
"NO! AFTER ALL OUR EFFORTS IT STILL TURNED TO DUST! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rueben screamed with rage and fell to his knees. He then slammed both fist into the ground causing the very ground to shake. Red gazed at him in wonder. After a moment, Rueben spoke again.
"I am truly sorry for my arrogance. The island lies thirty miles south of the most southern continent southern tip. There they reside." He whispered. Red turned to leave immediately to leave but paused.
"Can we do anything for you Rueben?" he asked, and Rueben shook his head.
"No only tell me which way Corel lies please?" he asked.
"To the east over the mountains past Niblehiem ruins. Can't miss it." Nanaki said, and padded away. Rueben wiped away his tears, and stood up. He then gathered his things and left a place home to others, and a destroyed one to him.