Chapter 27: Vincents' Thoughts

"What are these dreams you talk about?" Steiner asked Zidane as the two walked down the main hallway of the Alexandrian castle. Cloud, Kuriko, and the others were nowhere to be found, because they were waiting outside. Barret had suggested that. (Because he didn't like Steiner) So Steiner escorted Zidane to see Queen Garnet till Alexandros the seventeenth, or her nickname Dagger.

                "Look, I'll explain everything when we talk to Dagger." Zidane shrugged. Steiner looked agitated.

                "Dreams are sometimes the work of misguided spirits! These aliens could be spirits that didn't travel to Terra!" Steiner suggested.

                "Nope. They be real people alright." Zidane said. "…So how are you and Beatrix doing?"

                "Trying to change the subject, master Zidane?" Steiner eyed him.

                "Look, I'm not going to blab until I'm with Dagger. So you might as well think of something else."

                Steiner grumbled. "…Well, to answer your question, we are doing better than ever. I plan on giving her an engagement ring this evening…but I am not sure how…"

                "Yea, I know the feeling." Zidane sighed. {Sir Rustalot is in the same boat. It seems everybody's getting hitched these days…} Zidane thought to himself.

                "Master Zidane. I have noticed over my time traveling with you on how you handle women. You seem very good at it. Do you…have any pointers at how I should ask my dear Beatrix to marry?" Steiner asked slowly and delicately.

                "You should try asking Vivi and Violet. I asked them the same question. Treat it as you would any other obstacle, overcome it."

                "Master Vivi and his lady Violet are in Alexandria? Why didn't you invite them to the castle?! I should fetch them immediately!" Steiner turned around to run out, but stopped. "…I couldn't help it but ponder you're last statement Zidane. Why did you ask them that question?"

                "I may be able to get women to date me, but even I need advice on marriage." Zidane smiled.

                Steiner smiled also. "You are the only one worthy of the Queens affection, Master Zidane. I wish you the best of luck."

 And with those words, Steiner ran outside to fetch Vivi, for this meeting seemed somewhat important.

** *

"Who are these PEOPLE?!" Yuffie asked the air. The members of AVALANCHE were sitting on a couple of benches in the castle courtyard, being guarded by the Pluto Knights finest.

                "I have no idea. I'm just as lost as you are." Vincent replied.

                "We could easily break through these guys. They're %^&* compared to us!" Cid said.

                "Mayhap its not wise to break free. It seems that they mean us no harm. After all, WE are the invaders." Red XIII commented.

                "Hey Spike, It seemed like dat foo wit the tail knew you." Barret told cloud. He nodded.

                "Anyone want to play cards?" Cait Sith asked.

                "So…Cloud. This place is beautiful isn't it?" Tifa asked Cloud.

                "Yea…" Cloud went into thought. This was the castle he saw in his dream many weeks ago. This was Alexandria. That guy with the tail was Zidane and that was about all he knew. But Zidane said he had dreams about Cloud. Things are certainly weird…

                "Has anyone noticed no one carries materia?" Cid asked.

                "Gawd yea. Everyone just has their wallets and these stellazio coins." Yuffie showed the group a couple of coins with zodiac signs on them.

                "Materia doesn't exist in this plane. Gaia isn't old enough to have condensed mako and without mako reactors artificial materia can't be produced." Red XIII explained.

                "Damn. You're too smart sometimes…" Barret pointed out.

                Vincent was thinking to himself. He was still puzzling over Memorias riddle. He leaned against a tree.

                {Can't you see Vincent? She's talking about Lucrecia!} A voice called out. Vincent was used to the voices. They tormented him ever since Hojo's experiment and up till he joined AVALANCHE, but after the defeat of Sephiroth, the voices slowly returned, to haunt him about his love. {Aeris' father was Professor Gast who knew Lucrecia all too well.}

                {Maybe that little girl has a connection to the dead. It wouldn't surprise you, after all you are dead.} A different voice said from a different direction.

                {Lucrecia is still talking about you, eh? Probably about how much you failed her.} The voice from before spat.

                {I have atoned for my sins. I defeated Sephiroth and saved the world, I have done what Lucrecia would have thought best.} Vincent called from within his mind.

                {Bah! You really think she has forgiven you?! She'll never forgive you, for letting her die like that.}

                {That wasn't really Lucrecia in that cave and you know it! That was her spirit, who couldn't return to the planet because of you!}

{No! She couldn't return because of Sephiroth! He was blocking the way! Not I!}

                {Pitiful. Trying to blame others for your own actions. She'll NEVER forgive you! NEVER!}

                {Why would she forgive a monster like you? You're not even a man, just a monster! You seem to become a monster a lot more often.}

                {You think it is because you control it? It simply wants to come out when you want it to.}

                {Of coarse, she doesn't see the monster within, she sees the actual monster…}

                {She was the only one to see that monster that is why your 'friends' haven't tried to kill you yet.}

                {HAHAHAHA! Friends? You could never have friends Vincent.}

                {…Lucrecia…} Vincent's mind sighed.

                {Ah the truth is coming isn't it. You don't give a damn about these people. You are only traveling with them to appease her.}

                {You think saving two worlds is going to satisfy her? Don't make me laugh!}

                {Nothing you do can satisfy her. Not even the destruction of EON.}

                {So why don't you give up old man! Take off that mask and go to sleep.}

                "Vincent." Red XIII voice echoed throughout Vincents mind.

                {You are wrong. I can atone for my sins.}

                "Hey Vinnie!" Yuffie's voice he heard.

                {Hello? Is there a soul in there?}

                {Hahahahahahahaha!}

                "Yo Vince!" Barret bellows rumbled on through.

                {JUST SHUT UP! BOTH OF YOU!}

                {Hmph. You will always be a monster…}

                {A monster you shall be…}

                "Vincent! Wake Up!" Tifa called from a distance.

                {…You let Lucrecia die you monster!}

                {Even before Hojo made you one, you were already a monster}

                "Vincent! Snap out of it!" Clouds voice.

                {The perfect killing machine…}

                {Even capable of killing his own love…}

                "Vince! Now is not the time for a coma!" Cait Siths purring voice.

                {And you wonder why she won't forgive you…}

                {She'll never forgive you…}

                "C'mon sleepy! Wake up! Don't do this to me!" Cid's voice.

                {…I am …a monster…} Vincents thoughts continued.

                {You finally accept it…}

                {Mwahahahahaha! You are no better than Sephiroth, if not worse!}

{I don't deserve Clouds attentions. I don't deserve Tifas, nor Barrets. Not Yuffies, or Reeves, or Cids! They don't understand! The only one that does is Red…}

{You think that the beast has a comprehension of your inner turmoil?}

{Nobody! Not even Aeris, truly understood you, except…}

Vincent's eyes opened. "Myself…"