Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy Seven or The Story "The Darksword
Trilogy" which I got the Darksword from.
Chapter 14: Just Like Old Times, Only Deadlier!
Rueben's stomach rumbled loudly, reminding him of the fact he still hadn't eaten. He made his way back to the Trumlion's home. He barely noticed the fact that it was dark, or that the Trumlions were dancing and laughing. He did notice that Red had joined the festivities, and was dancing with Mira. Rueben grinned when he saw the Trumlion equivalent of dancing was just running around in circles. He saw Cloud and Tifa sitting by the fire, holding each other. Rueben's smiles disappeared and he sighed. He had nearly forgotten about the fight he and Aeris had. Rueben slowly circled the guards, and then came in quietly. He saw Aeris sitting on top of the mountain, looking out over the forest. Rueben climbed up and came up behind her. She looked so beautiful sitting there with the almost full moonlight. He only wished he could see her in the full moon light. He came up and tapped her on the shoulder. She gave out a shriek, and would have fallen if Rueben hadn't caught her by the wrist.
"Sorry about that." Rueben said, and pulled her close. She felt so warm, and Rueben hoped she wasn't still mad about before.
"Hello." She whispered. She kept her head lowered, and facing away from him. Rueben raised her head to look at him.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I honestly didn't mean it." He said. He felt the wind blow and Aeris shivered.
"I know. It's my fault. I overreacted."
"I think we both were at fault. Do you forgive me for what I did?"
"Do you forgive me for the slap?"
"Of course."
"The I forgive you." She said, and ran her left hand along his cheek. He felt the ring there, took the hand, and kissed it. Aeris sighed and pressed herself against him. Rueben sighed, and then remembered about Jonathan. He cursed.
"What is it, Rueben?"
"I ran into the beast that Hojo created."
"Do you kill it?"
"No. Aeris, it's.complicated. Sit down and I'll tell you." He said. She sat down and Rueben sat next to her. He told her everything about Jonathan. How they were rivals, and then friends. How he had sent him on the mission that got him killed. What they had said during their conversation. When he finished, Aeris was holding onto Rueben as tightly as she dared.
"Can't you just refuse to fight him?" she asked.
"No, he's become unstable. No telling what he'll do if I refuse to fight him."
"Then what do we do?"
"Tell Elder. If I fail, everyone can strike. Jonathan will be at his weakest after our fight." Rueben said, and stood up. Aeris stood as well and saw that Rueben had for the first she had known, reluctant to fight. She hugged him, and they held each other like that till the sun came up.
*****
In the morning they climbed down to meet with Elder. After Rueben filled in everyone, some Trumlions suggested they flee. Others wanted to hunt it down now. Elder brought everyone together, making sure they understood that the fight tonight was the best chance they had of stopping it. They agreed, and set off to resting and preparing. Rueben and Aeris sparred all morning. Cloud was amazed to see them go. They were almost so fast that he could barely see their movements. Tifa took to training herself. At about noon, everyone was resting, and Aeris and Rueben were asleep having not had any last night. When the time came, Rueben was standing in the clearing, his Darksword drawn. Jonathan appeared from the woods opposite. He was grinning, and looking smug. Cloud drew his sword, but did not step forward.
"Jonathan," Rueben called, "please stop this insanity. I know we can help you!"
"Always looking out for others. You haven't changed that much. I am no longer Jonathan; I am now the Beast! Now, DIE!" the Beast screamed, and leaped at Rueben.
Rueben dodged nimbly out of the way. He slashed at the Beast's back, leaving a gaping wound. The Beast whirled around and grabbed Rueben with a claw. It flung him away and into a tree. Rueben felt some ribs break, and his vision blurred. He focused what strength he had and the Black Materia fed him power. The Beast grabbed him by his hair thinking he had won already. Rueben suddenly smashed his fist into the Beast's groin. It howled and tossed Rueben away, who landed in a crouch. Rueben leaped at the Beast, and swung at his head. The Beast dodged to the side, but the Darksword caught its right ear, taking it off. The Beast howled and smashed the handle of his sword into Rueben's head, sending him into another tree. Rueben grunted and tried to get up.
When Aeris saw Rueben stay down, she screamed and would have rushed to him if Cloud hadn't caught her by the arm, holding her back. He looked pale, but he knew that Rueben didn't want them to interfere until he stopped breathing. Red was growling low in his throat, signaling the other Trumlions to prepare to leap into the fray. The Beast lifted Rueben by his hair, and faced the Trumlions.
"SEE! I beat the strongest among you! No one can stop me! HA HA HA HA." The Beast laughed. He didn't stop laughing, and Aeris wanted to scream in rage and kill it herself. Rueben opened his eyes, and glare at it. With a sudden movement, he swung the Darksword around and sliced off the Beast's human arm. It shrieked, and dropped Rueben with its clawed arm. Rueben landed with a painful thud, and lay there wheezing. Night was falling, and he didn't have the strength to move. He stared at the Beast, and saw that it had not fallen. Instead, the wound was glowing and oozing a strange liquid. A knew limb shot out of the wound, giving the Beast a new limb that looked like one of Jenova's arms.
"No, it can't be." Rueben moaned, and tried to get up.
"Oh, but I can. Not only am I made of monsters, but I have Jenova cells as well." It hissed at him. The sun was now gone, and it was just a few minutes to moon rise. Rueben felt the change calling him. He smiled grimly and forced his battered body to stand. The Beast snorted at him.
"You've got guts. And soon I'll be wearing them around my neck!" it snarled.
"Aeris! Take everyone inside the caves, and block the entrances till dawn!" Rueben called out to her.
"What? But that wasn't part of the plan!" she cried.
"It almost moon rise!" Rueben retorted. Aeris gasped and began to scream at the Trumlions to hurry into the caves and bolt the doors to them. Most of them complied, but some stared at her like she was nuts. Then Tifa whispered something to Elder, and his eyes widened in shock. Elder began to scream at the others to get in. They all bolted for the caves, except Cloud. He snuck off and climbed to the top of the mountain. He wanted to see what was going on.
When Rueben was sure everyone was inside, he sheathed the Darksword, and concentrated. The Beast grinned, and wondered what Rueben was up to. Rueben gave a scream of rage and let his control go. His clothes tore, and fell from his body. His body contorted, and changed. The Beast stared in amazement. It had no idea that Rueben had complete control over when he changed. Rueben now stood before the Beast as his werewolf self. The only clothing left on his body, were his now torn jeans, and the sheath, which was strapped, to his back. The Darksword hummed, sensing the increase in power in its owner. Rueben drew the sword with a growl. He charged the Beast wanting to end this soon, before the full moon rose into the sky.
The Beast leaped aside as the sword was swung at him, narrowly missing his leg. Rueben attacked with such fury that all the Beast could do was block. Rueben began to howl everytime his sword was deflected aside. Rueben felt his rage begin to increase, and knew he didn't have much time till the werewolf mind took over. With a sudden leap, he swung the sword and cut of the Beast's head. Blood poured from the neck, and the body fell to the ground, the head at its feet. Rueben leapt into the air, and sheathed the sword. He pointed a finger at the corpse and screamed, "SUPER NOVA!" The blast incinerated the head and body.
Rueben landed on his feet. He promptly fell to hand and knees, exhausted. The change had healed his broken bones, but he was incredibly drained. He sheathed his sword, and was about to stand when he felt it happen. It was like another voice crept into the back of his mind and pushed his to sleep. Rueben screamed and clutched his head. He fought a losing battle, and soon his eyes turned red. The werewolf snarled and rose to its feet. It sniffed the air, and found scents of beasts long it though dead. It also smelled the Cetra woman and two humans. It grinned its werewolf grin, and raced towards the caves, hungry.
Chapter 14: Just Like Old Times, Only Deadlier!
Rueben's stomach rumbled loudly, reminding him of the fact he still hadn't eaten. He made his way back to the Trumlion's home. He barely noticed the fact that it was dark, or that the Trumlions were dancing and laughing. He did notice that Red had joined the festivities, and was dancing with Mira. Rueben grinned when he saw the Trumlion equivalent of dancing was just running around in circles. He saw Cloud and Tifa sitting by the fire, holding each other. Rueben's smiles disappeared and he sighed. He had nearly forgotten about the fight he and Aeris had. Rueben slowly circled the guards, and then came in quietly. He saw Aeris sitting on top of the mountain, looking out over the forest. Rueben climbed up and came up behind her. She looked so beautiful sitting there with the almost full moonlight. He only wished he could see her in the full moon light. He came up and tapped her on the shoulder. She gave out a shriek, and would have fallen if Rueben hadn't caught her by the wrist.
"Sorry about that." Rueben said, and pulled her close. She felt so warm, and Rueben hoped she wasn't still mad about before.
"Hello." She whispered. She kept her head lowered, and facing away from him. Rueben raised her head to look at him.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I honestly didn't mean it." He said. He felt the wind blow and Aeris shivered.
"I know. It's my fault. I overreacted."
"I think we both were at fault. Do you forgive me for what I did?"
"Do you forgive me for the slap?"
"Of course."
"The I forgive you." She said, and ran her left hand along his cheek. He felt the ring there, took the hand, and kissed it. Aeris sighed and pressed herself against him. Rueben sighed, and then remembered about Jonathan. He cursed.
"What is it, Rueben?"
"I ran into the beast that Hojo created."
"Do you kill it?"
"No. Aeris, it's.complicated. Sit down and I'll tell you." He said. She sat down and Rueben sat next to her. He told her everything about Jonathan. How they were rivals, and then friends. How he had sent him on the mission that got him killed. What they had said during their conversation. When he finished, Aeris was holding onto Rueben as tightly as she dared.
"Can't you just refuse to fight him?" she asked.
"No, he's become unstable. No telling what he'll do if I refuse to fight him."
"Then what do we do?"
"Tell Elder. If I fail, everyone can strike. Jonathan will be at his weakest after our fight." Rueben said, and stood up. Aeris stood as well and saw that Rueben had for the first she had known, reluctant to fight. She hugged him, and they held each other like that till the sun came up.
*****
In the morning they climbed down to meet with Elder. After Rueben filled in everyone, some Trumlions suggested they flee. Others wanted to hunt it down now. Elder brought everyone together, making sure they understood that the fight tonight was the best chance they had of stopping it. They agreed, and set off to resting and preparing. Rueben and Aeris sparred all morning. Cloud was amazed to see them go. They were almost so fast that he could barely see their movements. Tifa took to training herself. At about noon, everyone was resting, and Aeris and Rueben were asleep having not had any last night. When the time came, Rueben was standing in the clearing, his Darksword drawn. Jonathan appeared from the woods opposite. He was grinning, and looking smug. Cloud drew his sword, but did not step forward.
"Jonathan," Rueben called, "please stop this insanity. I know we can help you!"
"Always looking out for others. You haven't changed that much. I am no longer Jonathan; I am now the Beast! Now, DIE!" the Beast screamed, and leaped at Rueben.
Rueben dodged nimbly out of the way. He slashed at the Beast's back, leaving a gaping wound. The Beast whirled around and grabbed Rueben with a claw. It flung him away and into a tree. Rueben felt some ribs break, and his vision blurred. He focused what strength he had and the Black Materia fed him power. The Beast grabbed him by his hair thinking he had won already. Rueben suddenly smashed his fist into the Beast's groin. It howled and tossed Rueben away, who landed in a crouch. Rueben leaped at the Beast, and swung at his head. The Beast dodged to the side, but the Darksword caught its right ear, taking it off. The Beast howled and smashed the handle of his sword into Rueben's head, sending him into another tree. Rueben grunted and tried to get up.
When Aeris saw Rueben stay down, she screamed and would have rushed to him if Cloud hadn't caught her by the arm, holding her back. He looked pale, but he knew that Rueben didn't want them to interfere until he stopped breathing. Red was growling low in his throat, signaling the other Trumlions to prepare to leap into the fray. The Beast lifted Rueben by his hair, and faced the Trumlions.
"SEE! I beat the strongest among you! No one can stop me! HA HA HA HA." The Beast laughed. He didn't stop laughing, and Aeris wanted to scream in rage and kill it herself. Rueben opened his eyes, and glare at it. With a sudden movement, he swung the Darksword around and sliced off the Beast's human arm. It shrieked, and dropped Rueben with its clawed arm. Rueben landed with a painful thud, and lay there wheezing. Night was falling, and he didn't have the strength to move. He stared at the Beast, and saw that it had not fallen. Instead, the wound was glowing and oozing a strange liquid. A knew limb shot out of the wound, giving the Beast a new limb that looked like one of Jenova's arms.
"No, it can't be." Rueben moaned, and tried to get up.
"Oh, but I can. Not only am I made of monsters, but I have Jenova cells as well." It hissed at him. The sun was now gone, and it was just a few minutes to moon rise. Rueben felt the change calling him. He smiled grimly and forced his battered body to stand. The Beast snorted at him.
"You've got guts. And soon I'll be wearing them around my neck!" it snarled.
"Aeris! Take everyone inside the caves, and block the entrances till dawn!" Rueben called out to her.
"What? But that wasn't part of the plan!" she cried.
"It almost moon rise!" Rueben retorted. Aeris gasped and began to scream at the Trumlions to hurry into the caves and bolt the doors to them. Most of them complied, but some stared at her like she was nuts. Then Tifa whispered something to Elder, and his eyes widened in shock. Elder began to scream at the others to get in. They all bolted for the caves, except Cloud. He snuck off and climbed to the top of the mountain. He wanted to see what was going on.
When Rueben was sure everyone was inside, he sheathed the Darksword, and concentrated. The Beast grinned, and wondered what Rueben was up to. Rueben gave a scream of rage and let his control go. His clothes tore, and fell from his body. His body contorted, and changed. The Beast stared in amazement. It had no idea that Rueben had complete control over when he changed. Rueben now stood before the Beast as his werewolf self. The only clothing left on his body, were his now torn jeans, and the sheath, which was strapped, to his back. The Darksword hummed, sensing the increase in power in its owner. Rueben drew the sword with a growl. He charged the Beast wanting to end this soon, before the full moon rose into the sky.
The Beast leaped aside as the sword was swung at him, narrowly missing his leg. Rueben attacked with such fury that all the Beast could do was block. Rueben began to howl everytime his sword was deflected aside. Rueben felt his rage begin to increase, and knew he didn't have much time till the werewolf mind took over. With a sudden leap, he swung the sword and cut of the Beast's head. Blood poured from the neck, and the body fell to the ground, the head at its feet. Rueben leapt into the air, and sheathed the sword. He pointed a finger at the corpse and screamed, "SUPER NOVA!" The blast incinerated the head and body.
Rueben landed on his feet. He promptly fell to hand and knees, exhausted. The change had healed his broken bones, but he was incredibly drained. He sheathed his sword, and was about to stand when he felt it happen. It was like another voice crept into the back of his mind and pushed his to sleep. Rueben screamed and clutched his head. He fought a losing battle, and soon his eyes turned red. The werewolf snarled and rose to its feet. It sniffed the air, and found scents of beasts long it though dead. It also smelled the Cetra woman and two humans. It grinned its werewolf grin, and raced towards the caves, hungry.