FOUR: "The Circle Must Be Drawn"
The cold wind on the glacier was piercing and blew relentlessly. It was dark and it was silent except for the ever constant sweeping of the gale. That had seemingly always been the way of things for as long as anyone who existed in this world could remember, but in an instant the wind stopped. Nothing moved in the glacier at all. It was as if time itself had halted due to some effect of Time magic. However this was not the case; that instant the wind stopped a primeval force was awakened from a very long slumber.
From just underneath a blanket of freshly landed snow, a figure sat up with a start, as if waking from a terrifying nightmare and sat perfectly still for awhile, adjusting to the environment. When the time was deemed right, the figure got to it's feet and looked around, the horizon was sharp and vicious; looming on all sides with crags of sharp ice blades reaching up to the heavens.
"Cold desolation now..." Echoed the voice of a young woman. "... and yet I can still sense life here."
She began to make her way along the ground with a surprisingly quick and strong stride. As she moved a long dark coat flowed behind her and her hair was the same colour. Her skin was pale white, her eyes were red and looked like death, but they sparkled and seemed to radiate with a hidden power, even in the shadows. Upon her cheeks, she bore a blue marking like a diamond slash, and the same markings were present on various other places unseen. She looked human, but for all other purposes she was not.
The white woman had ventured very far across the glacier's tundra and showed no sign of weakness before she came to a ridge that overlooked Icicle Town.
"Here there is life. Something has transpired and the guardians have not been successful. This must be rectified before anything else can be done." She stood there and the wind blew again from behind. Her long hair and coat blew around her as she continued to observe that which was not supposed to be.
Some time passed and some children were playing outside on a sled in Icicle town.
"Let me have a turn!" demanded a little girl.
"No Way! You always hog the sled! I never get a turn!!" A boy said as he picked it up.
"I do not!! I'll tell mommy!" the girl screamed. "Now gimme the sled!!!"
"I told ya, NO WAY!!!"
It was rapidly getting darker as the children played. They knew that before long they would have to return inside for the night, so desperately the both wanted to use their sled. Eventually their mother came and broke them up and took them inside. Unknown to them however, this would be no typical night in Icicle; for at that moment unseen eyes were watching from nearby.
"These are peculiar beings. So small and so driven, only for an insignificant device. They are not worthy or capable of surviving the guardians." The lone woman came up over the ridge and made her way to where the children had been arguing. In their haste of being scolded, they had left behind the sled and now the woman in black loomed over it silently in thought. 'Turmoil amongst them. They fight with themselves over this. thing. Why? These creatures that exist in this world now only exist to possess these trinkets? Is that what matters here? Is this what drives them to exist?'
"Who's there?" came another voice from the doorway of a house. It was the innkeeper coming outside as he closed down the inn for night. The woman just stood there, looking down at the sled, as if the question had not been asked and no one else existed in the world except herself. The innkeeper bellowed to her again. "Who are you little missy? Hmm?" She did not reply. The old innkeeper became frazzled and stomped over to her side. "Hello? Are you deaf?? Are you paying attention??" He waved his hand in front of her eyes and she was surprised suddenly.
The woman stepped backward and fell down. She seemed to be in shock, however she responded. "Why do you do that?"
The innkeeper was surprised. "Why do I do... what?"
"Why do you do this?" The woman replied, and then she mimicked the hand gesture the innkeeper had done.
"Are you serious?" The innkeeper found that amusing. "Your asking me why I moved my hand?"
"You moved your hand." She looked at her own hands. "Hands. I have never heard that before, you name your parts. Are you not one?"
"What? Of course! Everything has a name! The innkeeper replied. "My name is Hank."
"Hank."
"Yes, That's right. What is your name?"
"Not hand. My name is not the grouping of many things to make one... it is only one."
"What? Your name is One?"
"I have had many names." The woman seemed to be adjusting to things quickly.
"So what IS your name?"
"I am named 'the Crisis from the Sky'."
Junon City was bustling with activity now as workers from Midgar ran this way and that. Everything was in an uproar, as word of the new discovery spread throughout. The idea that some hidden place loomed just over the horizon, seemed to fill everyone with curiosity, and some with a hint of fear. It had only been a day or so, but even on top of the regular Midgar workers, the population had seemed to double. Reeve stood by a large bay window that overlooked the entire city. He was in good spirits and had made special arrangements for Cloud, Tifa and Yuffie to stay in the Shinra suite rooms, usually reserved for members of the now extinct high council at Shinra.
"This is an exciting new time, isn't it friends?" he said as he turned away from the window to join Cloud and Tifa. Yuffie was out at the moment with Priscilla, teaching her the proper way to search for Materia, or so she said.
"It is." Cloud replied.
"I'm interested in seeing what is there for myself." Added Tifa.
"Yes, as am I. However that may not be possible for a while." Reeve came over and sat in a chair off to the side of where Cloud and Tifa sat upon a couch. They watched him as he talked. It was sort of uncomfortable talking with Reeve, although they had known him for a long time, it just seemed wrong not to see Cait Sith skulking around before them.
"That's true. When did Cid say he'd be arriving?" Tifa asked to Reeve.
"Tomorrow morning. He had some things to take care of in Rocket Town before he left."
"Woman problems again, no doubt." Cloud said as he looked at Tifa.
"Knowing Cid he's probably said something again and been kicked out of the house." Tifa smiled playfully. "I think he'll be glad to get away from Shera for awhile."
Reeve's phone rang just then. He went over to his desk and picked it up. "Hello?" He covered the receiver with his hand and turned to Cloud and Tifa. "This is an important call from Midgar; I've got to take it now, it may be a while so..."
"It's okay Reeve. We'll get out of your way for a bit." Cloud replied. He was about to get up, but before he moved he noticed something odd. His arm had been around Tifa's shoulders for some time now, but he had failed to notice. Tifa uncrossed her legs and stood up first.
"Well, I'm going back to the suite. Are you coming Cloud?" She said as she turned around. She was extra-excitable again, the state she was in after the last battle. It was odd to Cloud, because he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Cloud stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I've got nowhere else to be."
Tifa smiled and they left. Reeve watched them as they vanished around the corner. "Well, aren't they close today." He turned his attention back to the phone call. "What?.. no, I didn't mean you Reno.. of course not."
Meanwhile, in the town below, Yuffie and Priscilla were down by the beach. Much calmer than last time, Mr. Dolphin was swimming around in circles trying to get their attention, but to no avail. They were engrossed in other matters.
".. So THAT's when I found MIME! The only one EVER!!" Yuffie finished another one of her exciting adventure stories, which always involved her, but excluded any help. Priscilla knew she was exaggerating, but didn't really mind.
"That was exciting! Do you have anymore stories?"
"Well there was that time, I lent all of my Materia to Cloud and everyone, after they spent all of their time searching out my help! God they are so useless without me around, you know? I was their driving spirit!"
Priscilla Laughed. "Isn't that the time you stole all the gangs materia and hid yourself away in Wutai? But they found you out?"
"Heh.. heh.. heeeeh.. .. heard that one already, huh?" Yuffie admitted defeat.
"Yeah. I've heard a lot of stuff from everyone!"
"Right.. No more stories then.."
Mr. Dolphin was moving back and forth up on his tail calling out to the girls, but they were still talking amongst themselves. Something was definitely wrong and the animals could feel it, and they were right, however unseen it was.
"Something's definitely wrong here." Said a man holding a shovel.
"If it isn't Barret Wallace come on back to Corel." Another said, as he got to his feet.
It had been over a year since Barret had set foot inside Corel, but now he could be seen, making his way down the mountain path with a sling full of supplies. He walked slowly, as if he dreaded every step he took closer to the town. Sure, he had returned before, and even saved the tent town from being obliterated totally by a runaway train, but there was still an uneasy feeling about Corel.
If it wasn't enough that most people in town hated him for leaving in the first place, or the events in old Corel Prison where Dyne committed suicide; it was the death of his family. All these years had passed and he just could not let go of them.
Barret stepped into town again. The men who were standing there with shovels looked him up and down before one of them walked off into a tent close by.
"So.. Ya heard we were getting' ready to rebuild? And ya thought you'd come by and bring back more trouble did'ja?" The man cut him down.
Barret remained silent, but he dropped his sling from his shoulder to the ground. The other man continued. "So that IS it then. Iffen that's the case we don't need your help."
It was about then that an unexpected voice spoke up. "Leave him alone."
A bright fire twitched from around the corner of one of the nearby tents and Red XIII slowly came wondering around it. He had grown a little since Barret had last saw him, and now was about half of Barret's size.
"Izzat you, Red?" Barret pushed past the man with the shovel paying him no attention.
"Yes. Are you surprised to find me here?" Red countered Barret's question with another question.
"Yeah, a bit. I figured you'd be up at Cosmo Canyon doing this or that, you know?"
"I was just passing through, when I noticed you were arriving."
"Where were you off to?"
"Icicle Town, actually. I've been having disturbing dreams as of recently involving that place." Red looked a little distraught upon thinking about them. "You're here in Corel to help restore it?"
"That's the plan."
"A very honorable task; if not tarnished by the citizens here." Red looked over at the man with the shovel, who shrugged and took off.
"Wow, for just passing through, you seem to have the Corel folk under your thumb.. or paw. What's up?"
"I'm a strange animal that can talk.. wouldn't you be a little uncomfortable?"
"Hell no.."
"Maybe that was a bad example with you, Barret." Red looked towards the sky. "well, it was nice to see you again. Perhaps on my returning trip I will meet you here again."
"Maybe. I'll see you later Red."
"Yes. We shall meet again. Goodbye!"
Barret knew where Red had to go, and so he told him to drop by Cloud's Villa and see Cloud and Tifa, unless he met them coming this way as well, and Red agree happily. And with that Barret and Red XIII parted ways. Red continued up into the mountains heading off towards Costa De Sol, and Barret entered Corel, and took up residence in the inn.
The keys to the suite jingled madly as Cloud opened the lock on Tifa and his own room. He opened the door slowly, it slid gently without a sound, for it was well kept, and allowed Tifa to enter first.
"Ladies first, I believe." Cloud said to her as she walked past him.
Her eyes turned to meet his, as he entered and closed to door firmly behind him. "Why Cloud, your being quite the gentleman today, aren't you?" She said with a slight smile.
"That's right. I try, you know."
"I know, I've been keeping track of your progress."
Cloud was puzzled. "My progress?"
"Your progress. You know? Not being a total jerk?"
"Ohh.. yeah, that progress." Cloud sighed. "Was I really that much of a jerk?"
Tifa made her way to the large bay window that over looked the sea and seemingly gazed out, although she was only looking at Cloud's reflection as he made his way towards her from the doorway. "Sometimes you were, very much so; but not as much recently. I'm actually quite proud of you, if that means anything."
"It means a lot to me." He supported her statement. "Thanks Tifa. What I am today, is mostly because of you."
Tifa blushed a little, it wasn't everyday Cloud thanked her, let alone let her know what he really felt. She ran her hand across her cheek, hoping to hide her red cheeks from view. Cloud watched her and as she desperately attempted to hide her emotions from him, Cloud wanted to draw nearer, but he couldn't. Not with Tifa, not yet; but try as hard as he might to control himself, the feeling was there, just below the surface. waiting for her.
There was a strange glow in Icicle Town that night, as it sat in the hills of the arctic, burning to ashes. There was only one sign of life walking amidst the refuse; the mysterious 'Crisis From the Sky'. She came to a stop and took in the destruction from the big hill where once children played, but never again.
".. And so all is clear to me. Once again, the circle must be drawn." She announced, seemingly to the world; although it fell on deaf ears as her statement echoed into obscurity. From her perch she raised her arms, and as if altering gravity itself, her body rose from off the cold ground into the chilled night air and she took off into the twilight.
The cold wind on the glacier was piercing and blew relentlessly. It was dark and it was silent except for the ever constant sweeping of the gale. That had seemingly always been the way of things for as long as anyone who existed in this world could remember, but in an instant the wind stopped. Nothing moved in the glacier at all. It was as if time itself had halted due to some effect of Time magic. However this was not the case; that instant the wind stopped a primeval force was awakened from a very long slumber.
From just underneath a blanket of freshly landed snow, a figure sat up with a start, as if waking from a terrifying nightmare and sat perfectly still for awhile, adjusting to the environment. When the time was deemed right, the figure got to it's feet and looked around, the horizon was sharp and vicious; looming on all sides with crags of sharp ice blades reaching up to the heavens.
"Cold desolation now..." Echoed the voice of a young woman. "... and yet I can still sense life here."
She began to make her way along the ground with a surprisingly quick and strong stride. As she moved a long dark coat flowed behind her and her hair was the same colour. Her skin was pale white, her eyes were red and looked like death, but they sparkled and seemed to radiate with a hidden power, even in the shadows. Upon her cheeks, she bore a blue marking like a diamond slash, and the same markings were present on various other places unseen. She looked human, but for all other purposes she was not.
The white woman had ventured very far across the glacier's tundra and showed no sign of weakness before she came to a ridge that overlooked Icicle Town.
"Here there is life. Something has transpired and the guardians have not been successful. This must be rectified before anything else can be done." She stood there and the wind blew again from behind. Her long hair and coat blew around her as she continued to observe that which was not supposed to be.
Some time passed and some children were playing outside on a sled in Icicle town.
"Let me have a turn!" demanded a little girl.
"No Way! You always hog the sled! I never get a turn!!" A boy said as he picked it up.
"I do not!! I'll tell mommy!" the girl screamed. "Now gimme the sled!!!"
"I told ya, NO WAY!!!"
It was rapidly getting darker as the children played. They knew that before long they would have to return inside for the night, so desperately the both wanted to use their sled. Eventually their mother came and broke them up and took them inside. Unknown to them however, this would be no typical night in Icicle; for at that moment unseen eyes were watching from nearby.
"These are peculiar beings. So small and so driven, only for an insignificant device. They are not worthy or capable of surviving the guardians." The lone woman came up over the ridge and made her way to where the children had been arguing. In their haste of being scolded, they had left behind the sled and now the woman in black loomed over it silently in thought. 'Turmoil amongst them. They fight with themselves over this. thing. Why? These creatures that exist in this world now only exist to possess these trinkets? Is that what matters here? Is this what drives them to exist?'
"Who's there?" came another voice from the doorway of a house. It was the innkeeper coming outside as he closed down the inn for night. The woman just stood there, looking down at the sled, as if the question had not been asked and no one else existed in the world except herself. The innkeeper bellowed to her again. "Who are you little missy? Hmm?" She did not reply. The old innkeeper became frazzled and stomped over to her side. "Hello? Are you deaf?? Are you paying attention??" He waved his hand in front of her eyes and she was surprised suddenly.
The woman stepped backward and fell down. She seemed to be in shock, however she responded. "Why do you do that?"
The innkeeper was surprised. "Why do I do... what?"
"Why do you do this?" The woman replied, and then she mimicked the hand gesture the innkeeper had done.
"Are you serious?" The innkeeper found that amusing. "Your asking me why I moved my hand?"
"You moved your hand." She looked at her own hands. "Hands. I have never heard that before, you name your parts. Are you not one?"
"What? Of course! Everything has a name! The innkeeper replied. "My name is Hank."
"Hank."
"Yes, That's right. What is your name?"
"Not hand. My name is not the grouping of many things to make one... it is only one."
"What? Your name is One?"
"I have had many names." The woman seemed to be adjusting to things quickly.
"So what IS your name?"
"I am named 'the Crisis from the Sky'."
Junon City was bustling with activity now as workers from Midgar ran this way and that. Everything was in an uproar, as word of the new discovery spread throughout. The idea that some hidden place loomed just over the horizon, seemed to fill everyone with curiosity, and some with a hint of fear. It had only been a day or so, but even on top of the regular Midgar workers, the population had seemed to double. Reeve stood by a large bay window that overlooked the entire city. He was in good spirits and had made special arrangements for Cloud, Tifa and Yuffie to stay in the Shinra suite rooms, usually reserved for members of the now extinct high council at Shinra.
"This is an exciting new time, isn't it friends?" he said as he turned away from the window to join Cloud and Tifa. Yuffie was out at the moment with Priscilla, teaching her the proper way to search for Materia, or so she said.
"It is." Cloud replied.
"I'm interested in seeing what is there for myself." Added Tifa.
"Yes, as am I. However that may not be possible for a while." Reeve came over and sat in a chair off to the side of where Cloud and Tifa sat upon a couch. They watched him as he talked. It was sort of uncomfortable talking with Reeve, although they had known him for a long time, it just seemed wrong not to see Cait Sith skulking around before them.
"That's true. When did Cid say he'd be arriving?" Tifa asked to Reeve.
"Tomorrow morning. He had some things to take care of in Rocket Town before he left."
"Woman problems again, no doubt." Cloud said as he looked at Tifa.
"Knowing Cid he's probably said something again and been kicked out of the house." Tifa smiled playfully. "I think he'll be glad to get away from Shera for awhile."
Reeve's phone rang just then. He went over to his desk and picked it up. "Hello?" He covered the receiver with his hand and turned to Cloud and Tifa. "This is an important call from Midgar; I've got to take it now, it may be a while so..."
"It's okay Reeve. We'll get out of your way for a bit." Cloud replied. He was about to get up, but before he moved he noticed something odd. His arm had been around Tifa's shoulders for some time now, but he had failed to notice. Tifa uncrossed her legs and stood up first.
"Well, I'm going back to the suite. Are you coming Cloud?" She said as she turned around. She was extra-excitable again, the state she was in after the last battle. It was odd to Cloud, because he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Cloud stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I've got nowhere else to be."
Tifa smiled and they left. Reeve watched them as they vanished around the corner. "Well, aren't they close today." He turned his attention back to the phone call. "What?.. no, I didn't mean you Reno.. of course not."
Meanwhile, in the town below, Yuffie and Priscilla were down by the beach. Much calmer than last time, Mr. Dolphin was swimming around in circles trying to get their attention, but to no avail. They were engrossed in other matters.
".. So THAT's when I found MIME! The only one EVER!!" Yuffie finished another one of her exciting adventure stories, which always involved her, but excluded any help. Priscilla knew she was exaggerating, but didn't really mind.
"That was exciting! Do you have anymore stories?"
"Well there was that time, I lent all of my Materia to Cloud and everyone, after they spent all of their time searching out my help! God they are so useless without me around, you know? I was their driving spirit!"
Priscilla Laughed. "Isn't that the time you stole all the gangs materia and hid yourself away in Wutai? But they found you out?"
"Heh.. heh.. heeeeh.. .. heard that one already, huh?" Yuffie admitted defeat.
"Yeah. I've heard a lot of stuff from everyone!"
"Right.. No more stories then.."
Mr. Dolphin was moving back and forth up on his tail calling out to the girls, but they were still talking amongst themselves. Something was definitely wrong and the animals could feel it, and they were right, however unseen it was.
"Something's definitely wrong here." Said a man holding a shovel.
"If it isn't Barret Wallace come on back to Corel." Another said, as he got to his feet.
It had been over a year since Barret had set foot inside Corel, but now he could be seen, making his way down the mountain path with a sling full of supplies. He walked slowly, as if he dreaded every step he took closer to the town. Sure, he had returned before, and even saved the tent town from being obliterated totally by a runaway train, but there was still an uneasy feeling about Corel.
If it wasn't enough that most people in town hated him for leaving in the first place, or the events in old Corel Prison where Dyne committed suicide; it was the death of his family. All these years had passed and he just could not let go of them.
Barret stepped into town again. The men who were standing there with shovels looked him up and down before one of them walked off into a tent close by.
"So.. Ya heard we were getting' ready to rebuild? And ya thought you'd come by and bring back more trouble did'ja?" The man cut him down.
Barret remained silent, but he dropped his sling from his shoulder to the ground. The other man continued. "So that IS it then. Iffen that's the case we don't need your help."
It was about then that an unexpected voice spoke up. "Leave him alone."
A bright fire twitched from around the corner of one of the nearby tents and Red XIII slowly came wondering around it. He had grown a little since Barret had last saw him, and now was about half of Barret's size.
"Izzat you, Red?" Barret pushed past the man with the shovel paying him no attention.
"Yes. Are you surprised to find me here?" Red countered Barret's question with another question.
"Yeah, a bit. I figured you'd be up at Cosmo Canyon doing this or that, you know?"
"I was just passing through, when I noticed you were arriving."
"Where were you off to?"
"Icicle Town, actually. I've been having disturbing dreams as of recently involving that place." Red looked a little distraught upon thinking about them. "You're here in Corel to help restore it?"
"That's the plan."
"A very honorable task; if not tarnished by the citizens here." Red looked over at the man with the shovel, who shrugged and took off.
"Wow, for just passing through, you seem to have the Corel folk under your thumb.. or paw. What's up?"
"I'm a strange animal that can talk.. wouldn't you be a little uncomfortable?"
"Hell no.."
"Maybe that was a bad example with you, Barret." Red looked towards the sky. "well, it was nice to see you again. Perhaps on my returning trip I will meet you here again."
"Maybe. I'll see you later Red."
"Yes. We shall meet again. Goodbye!"
Barret knew where Red had to go, and so he told him to drop by Cloud's Villa and see Cloud and Tifa, unless he met them coming this way as well, and Red agree happily. And with that Barret and Red XIII parted ways. Red continued up into the mountains heading off towards Costa De Sol, and Barret entered Corel, and took up residence in the inn.
The keys to the suite jingled madly as Cloud opened the lock on Tifa and his own room. He opened the door slowly, it slid gently without a sound, for it was well kept, and allowed Tifa to enter first.
"Ladies first, I believe." Cloud said to her as she walked past him.
Her eyes turned to meet his, as he entered and closed to door firmly behind him. "Why Cloud, your being quite the gentleman today, aren't you?" She said with a slight smile.
"That's right. I try, you know."
"I know, I've been keeping track of your progress."
Cloud was puzzled. "My progress?"
"Your progress. You know? Not being a total jerk?"
"Ohh.. yeah, that progress." Cloud sighed. "Was I really that much of a jerk?"
Tifa made her way to the large bay window that over looked the sea and seemingly gazed out, although she was only looking at Cloud's reflection as he made his way towards her from the doorway. "Sometimes you were, very much so; but not as much recently. I'm actually quite proud of you, if that means anything."
"It means a lot to me." He supported her statement. "Thanks Tifa. What I am today, is mostly because of you."
Tifa blushed a little, it wasn't everyday Cloud thanked her, let alone let her know what he really felt. She ran her hand across her cheek, hoping to hide her red cheeks from view. Cloud watched her and as she desperately attempted to hide her emotions from him, Cloud wanted to draw nearer, but he couldn't. Not with Tifa, not yet; but try as hard as he might to control himself, the feeling was there, just below the surface. waiting for her.
There was a strange glow in Icicle Town that night, as it sat in the hills of the arctic, burning to ashes. There was only one sign of life walking amidst the refuse; the mysterious 'Crisis From the Sky'. She came to a stop and took in the destruction from the big hill where once children played, but never again.
".. And so all is clear to me. Once again, the circle must be drawn." She announced, seemingly to the world; although it fell on deaf ears as her statement echoed into obscurity. From her perch she raised her arms, and as if altering gravity itself, her body rose from off the cold ground into the chilled night air and she took off into the twilight.