Chapter 14

SHADOWS OF THE CETRA

"I never thought we left so many things after Sephiroth and Meteor thing", Cloud lets out a sigh from his mouth after Aeris explained to the others about current situation. He slumps himself onto a lazy couch in an inn. The others look at him, and he looks back at his comrades. At some seconds, only silence exists among them.

"Me too…", Red XIII is the first who breaks the silence. With slow motion, the intelligent beast takes a sit next to Aeris. Cid adds Red XIII's words, "Yeah, I never believed mythology or such things…but hell now I've got to used to it !". Slowly, he puffs his smoke. Realizing that his cigar is getting short, he throws it away and pulls a new one.

"Yo man...and what did ya say about dat old race ? Dark what.. ?", Barret's gruff voice joins in. "Dark Ancient…", Vic replies with cool tone. He leans on a corner of the room solemnly. "Yeah…Dark Ancient !", Barret snaps his finger as he finally catches the missing words, he then adds, "So we're not alone after all, huh ?". After his sentence, silence rings again, until Aeris makes a step forward and faces her friends.

"I'm sorry for troubling you all…", her face looks very sorry. Eventually she hangs her head down. "This should be my personal matter…", she whispers.  "Hey ! What are you talking about ? This is our matter !", Cait Sith protests her. The cat on the mog robot approaches Aeris and pats her shoulder. "We've been facing danger together…we can't let you face the danger alone….no, you just can't !", he shakes his head.

"Cait Sith is right, Aeris…you shouldn't be burdened by yourself", Tifa joins in the conversation, trying to relieve her friend. "Whenever you have problem, we'll always help you. Besides, this matter is too dangerous to face alone". Slowly, Aeris lifts her face and sees how others' eyes look at her with worried look. At one side, she does not feel lonely anymore since her friends really care about her, while at the other side, she will make them involved in this trouble deeper. "We all shared responsibility to save Planet, and if we left things behind, we'd come together to fix it up !', suddenly Cloud exclaims. Aeris turns her face to him and finds his visage tells her that he really meant his words.

"Enough talking. What will we do next ?", Vincent's cold voice distracts the others, directing their eyes to his figure, standing next to Vic. Yuffie is the first who replies with excited tone, "We'll fight this Dark Ancient and save the world again ! Dark Ancient…I'm curious about their Materia…Yay !!". Yuffie's eyes sparkle as she imagines new Materia would be in her pocket. Cid only snorts to see her 'drooling' about Materia thing. "Is that easy ?", he asks Yuffie with sharp, yet sarcastic tone. Realizing that the others only have hunch on her, Yuffie asks back angrily with her hands on her waist. "Hey, old pilot ! Watch your tongue ! Is there any better idea than mine ? We know there is new menace out there, threatens entire being, so we'd teach it a lesson or two and you just said it's not enough !?". She then makes an over-dramatic roll of her eyes.

Cid's eyes go wide, he is about to curse when suddenly Red cuts him off, "You're right, Yuffie. Basically that's what we're supposed to do". He glances at Cid, telling him to calm down with his beast eyes. "But our problem is…we don't have any knowledge about the current danger…", he continues. "We need another hand".

The Avalanche members look at each other again. They know Red is right. They can only make a progress if they find a reason for their action, and if they need to find a reason, they have to know what they face first.

"This is something that relates to Ancient…so we already know who the best source is", Cait Sith says his opinion. Cloud nods his head and turns his face to Aeris, requesting for her opinion. "Aeris ?", he finally asks her. Aeris shakes her head and replies, "I'm sorry…I don't know anything more than I explained…Actually, I often relied to Vic, he knows a lot of things about this matter. He was the one who warned me for such danger. If you ask my suggestion, then I suggest we ask Vic for further explanation".

"I'm sorry…I can't help you further", Vic suddenly responds as he has anticipated it. He fixes his sunglass position and then adds, "Maybe Aeris was right, I know more than she does about our race…but…I can't give you anymore words about Dark Ancient. I only knew it from…my mom…when I was kid. She…used to say that I should be careful with Dark Ancient, but she never told me why…and that's all I know..". Vic's voice trails off as he finishes his words. His face looks so regretful that he is unable to help.

"Perhaps your mom could help us now ?", Tifa asks him as an idea appears in her brain. Vic only smiles being questioned, but his smile seems to hide bitterness inside his heart. "I wish I could do that…but she…is not here…anymore…", he replies with low and sad voice. This makes Tifa realize that she crossed her way. "Well…um…I'm sorry then…for…reminding you about your mother…", Tifa says awkwardly, she feels guilty. Looking at Tifa through his sunglass, Vic responds, "No…it's okay…". He keeps on smiling.

"Don't you think we need to go to Cosmo Canyon and try to find more clue there ?", Red XIII lets out his thought. The others now look at the beast with surprised look. Cosmo Canyon ! How could they forget it ? There are plenty of books there, and where there is book, there is knowledge beneath it.

"That's a good idea !", Cloud agrees with Red's opinion. His face looks brighter now. "It might not be a guarantee to this matter, but it is worth a try, guys !", he adds. Aeris smiles at Red as she speaks up, "I'll surely need your help again to rearrange those books !". She recalls her last visit there, when they tried to find a clue how to face revived Sephiroth (Author : well…read Lasting For An Eternity for this one ^_^). The others agree with Red since they cannot find another way.

"So be it ! We'll depart next morning !", Cid exclaims as he concludes their next action. "All right then…", Cloud stands up from his couch. "I guess we better take a rest this night. We'll meet tomorrow !".

When Vic is about to leave his spot like the others, suddenly Vincent says to him with cold tone, "I don't know who you are, but although you're not a bad guy, I sense something very strange from you…". Vic only smiles to hear Vincent's comment, and then leaves him.

…………….

"Vic…"

Silence.

"Vic…are you okay ?".

Again, that soft voice calls him. Reluctantly, Vic opens his eyelids slowly. "Unhh….who's that ?". When he completely opens his eyes, suddenly he wakes up from his sleep with startled look at his surrounding. He is very sure that he is in Mideel's inn, but his eyes catch very different surrounding as well as its equipments. Vic's mouth is opened, his jaw is dropped. He cannot believe what he sees. He just cannot believe it. Rubbing his eyes carefully, he expects to find familiar surrounding again, but he fails. Everything is still different.

"I must be dreaming again…", he mumbles, patting his cheeks rather harshly. Nothing happened. Everything is still unfamiliar to him. Slowly, he jumps down from his bed and finds something unusual about his body. Looking carefully from his feet to his hands, he gasps, stunned. He finds his feet, his legs, his hands, his body, everything are smaller.

What !!?? I'm smaller….I'm getting back to my child body !!! Although he feels very dizzy, Vic tries to construct the conclusion.

I hope this is just a dream…he slaps his own cheeks to make sure he is dreaming, but everything he sees is not changed after all. Vic shakes his head, he cannot figure out what happened to him.

"Vic…I'm here….". A soft female voice comes into his ear again. Vic turns his face to the voice direction. There he sees an image of woman standing several feet away from him. He feels he knows who the person is but his heart is in doubt whether it is really her.

"M…Mom…??", Vic lets out his word carefully, yet hesitantly. Is that my real mother ? He thinks. Before he can react, the figure steps ahead, approaching him. Vic jumps a little on his spot, his heart stops for a moment when he recognizes the woman figure.

No…it can't be !

"MOM !!!", Vic shouts loudly. He gulps, then approaches the woman he called 'mom'. The woman kneels down, greets him with warm hug and broad smile on her beautiful face. Vic cannot believe what he saw at first, and now he cannot believe what he feels. The woman who hugs him lovingly is no other than his mother. He can feel her warm hug physically, feeling her warm breath on his cheek. Everything just seems so real, it cannot be fake or illusion. When he feels her mother's hug is tighter, he hugs her back, and suddenly he feels warmth is flooding his heart, feeling a joy.

It has been long time…..he thinks as he savors the moment, and finally lets himself in his mother's warm hug deeper.

"Vic…my son…I miss you…", she whispers on his ear. Slowly, she releases her hug and gazes to Vic's eyes lovingly. Vic stares back at her eyes. He loves to see a pair of his mother's eyes. They are very comforting, and he likes to feel softness of her long hair. Moreover, he loves to see how she cares for him very much. From other people, he was often told that his mother was well known because of her care toward others, and it did not change after she got married and gave him birth. She was still like when she was single.

"I'm glad you're fine, mom…", Vic opens conversation. His mother only nods her head. Vic does not think about this strange phenomenon anymore, yet he does not care. He only cares about his mother, and their reunion.

"Where's dad, mom ?", Vic asks her about his father. Sweeping her son's hair gently, his mother replies, "Your father is not here….not yet…..but we're still together…inside our heart…". Her tone sounds so sad. Vic raises his eyebrow to hear her answer, curiosity pops up in his heart. "Your hair…is just like your father's…". Vic's mother continues her words, now giggling a little as she keeps on sweeping her son's hair. "And people said my eyes are just like yours !", Vic adds cheerfully with childish grin on his face. They then laugh together, enjoying their little reunion.

"Vic…I have something to tell…", Vic's mother stands up and looks at little Vic. "Yes ? What's it ?", Vic asks her, he feels a bit worry to notice his mother's changed tone. Vic's mother looks into his eyes and says, "I must leave now…but I'm very happy to see you again…..". Her voice trails off at the end. Slowly, she steps back while keeps on looking at Vic. With her hand, she gives gesture to Vic not to follow her.

"Mom ?", Vic can only inquiry her action with puzzled look. Strangely enough, when his mother is farther from him, his little body grows gradually to adult size, until finally his body is back to old size again. Seeing this, his mother smiles at him. "You've grown up, girls will be attracted…be careful…take care yourself…and your father too…I love you all…". After she finished her words, strange green tendrils suddenly come, wrapping her body with fast motion. "Please take care of Ancient Forgotten Capital….and be wary of Dark Ancient…remember, be proud as Cetra…", she says her last words before she is completely wrapped by green tendrils. Vic wants to approach her, to hold her from leaving him again, but his body cannot move at all, he is frozen right at his spot, even his throat feels so rough that he cannot let out even a word. He just stares at his mother with sad look, until those green tendrils emit a bright green light and then disappear, leaving Vic alone.

Vic closes his eyes to hold his brimming tears. He knows this is just not a dream. This is real. He could feel his mother's warm touch and hug, and her voice was very soft, very tender to his ears. They all seemed so real, yet he hopes it is true. He recalls the moment when his mother passed away, leaving him and his father alone. He could not forget that moment, and he grew more anxious when he found weird things related to her mother's death. He thought his mother passed away because of her sickness, but he felt that was not it.

"Mom…that's why I'm here…I won't make you disappointed…I'd change the future, I promise….", he stutters to himself, his body eventually chokes, holding sudden outburst.

………………..

"Hi…thinking about Planet ?". A gentle pat on Vic's shoulder makes him turn his face. Aeris. Equipped with her Princess Guard. Vic smiles back and responds, "Kind of that…are you here for the same reason ?". Aeris nods her head as answer. They are standing on Lifestream lake edge. Although the night is dark, they can still see their surrounding because of shimmering green light emitted from the lake, creating a mysterious but exotic nuance.

"Planet contacted me again", Aeris explains, "it told me that the menace is still here so I decided to check out everything here. The menace…could it be Dark Ancient ?". Vic folds his arms and gazes to the lake, he remains silent for a moment. "What could be else ? Planet also contacted me, telling me that I should be careful around here", he says. Aeris follows him, staring at the lake center. Eventually a gust of night wind greets their face gently.

"If you don't mind, may I know about your mother ?", Aeris suddenly asks Vic with soft tone since she enters a sensitive area. Vic turns his face at her and asks her back, "Why do you want to know her ?". Aeris thinks for a moment before she gives answer. "We have similar fate…My mother died when I was young, and I grew up with my foster mother onward, so I know how to live the life without our real mother next to us…".

"I've just met her…", Vic cuts off Aeris' words. Abandoning her next reaction, Vic then continues, "I don't know whether it was just a dream…but it was so real…I could feel her warm touch, her soft skin….She…met me just to check if I'm fine". His tone goes softer when he talks about his reunion with his mother. "She seemed so happy to see me again, and I did too…but she couldn't stay longer…she must go back to her place….she didn't belong to this place…she deserved better…". Vic lifts up his head to see the night sky to hide his emerging outburst. Much to his dismay, this night, the stars are not decorating Mideel's night sky. "She told me to be careful about Dark Ancient…actually she said this once when she died…and she wanted me to take guard on Ancient Forgotten City…this one I don't understand…I can do that, but I need more reason…".

"You miss her, don't you ?", Aeris asks again, trying to show her empathy. Vic nods his head and looks at her with a look that Aeris cannot understand. His look is very deep, as he wants to tell something…something hidden inside his heart. "She…was…just like you….", he mutters in whisper, but Aeris can still hear it. Her emerald green eyes sparkle, she then giggles a little.

"Really ? How come ?", she asks in caring tone. "Well…", Vic replies, "she cared toward others, just like your way…and she was very beautiful…she's just…she's just really like you, Aeris !". Vic speaks with strange intonation as if there is something beyond his words.

Aeris giggles again, her cheeks grow into crimson red. "Hey, you make me flattered, Vic ! I'm just an ordinary girl..". Vic sighs, he stares into Aeris' green eyes once more, still with mysterious look. "You just don't understand it…", he mumbles. He looks he is going to tell her about something, yet he is still in doubt. Aeris feels Vic hides something from her and the others, and it must be something big. She notices his face shows doubt.

"Vic…maybe this is the time to tell me who really you are", Aeris asks Vic directly. "I believe you're Cetra, just like me…but you have something you tried very hard to cover. I just don't get it, if it even gives you burden, why don't you tell me ? Maybe I can help you". With caring look, she gazes to Vic's eyes. Vic keeps quiet for some seconds, considering her words. She is right, he cannot play hiding on the bush all the time. Sooner or later, everyone will surely find strange things about him, and if the time comes, he will have no option left but to tell the truth, even it will be a shock to them. However, it would be later, and it means not now, not at this time. Inside his heart, he wishes that time will not come quickly.

"I'm sorry Aeris…I can't tell you right now…but I promise I'll tell everyone when the right time comes", Vic finally decides his thought. Aeris sighs, she feels a bit disappointed, but she knows it is Vic's right to keep his own secret. "So be it. Just keep your promise until the time comes", she responds. "Thanks for your understanding", Vic shows his gratitude. "Now, are you relieved to see him again ?", he changes the subject, "you just left your friends because you didn't want to bother them, right ?". Aeris nods her head, rather hesitantly. Vic adds, "But I guess…it's more because you don't want to see….their wedding…". Vic lowers his voice at the end. He just wants to show his affection to Aeris, not to hurt her. He knows she needs someone, someplace to fix her broken heart.

"You're absolutely right", Aeris finally speaks up, her voice sounds so sad. "I let this Dark Ancient as a cover, but actually I was running away from them. I don't want to break their happiness, no…and I don't want being hurt anymore…He loves Tifa, that's why he proposed her. Me ? I'm just a trouble maker flower girl". The flower girl watches the lake solemnly. "But he followed you here…didn't it mean he still…cared about you ? Perhaps he still…loves you…", Vic gives his opinion carefully to cheer her up. Aeris shakes her head. "No…that's  impossible !", she protests him. "Why are you suspicious about me and him, Vic ? What's the matter ?", Aeris asks him back with smile. "Umm..no…I just…don't want to see you sad…", he stutters, scratching his head. Aeris' question makes him startled and grows nervous.

"Aeris ! You're here !!". Aeris and Vic turn their face together to the voice direction. They see a male figure is approaching them. From his unique hair, they can tell who he is.

"Cloud ! Why are you here ?", Aeris pops up question after Cloud reaches them. "Just to check everything out", he blurts out as reply. "So, you're here too, Vic ? Thanks for taking care of Aeris". Cloud turns his face to Vic and pats his shoulder. Vic only grins at Cloud.

"Hey ! I am not a ten years old kid ! I can take care myself !", Aeris protests for being a conversation subject, but actually she is making fun of it. Although she tries very hard to avoid Cloud, she cannot deny her heart that she is quite happy to see him again, now close to her.

Eventually Cloud looks at Vic again and studies his feature for a while as he finds something different on him. "Vic…what happened to you ? We seldom meet, but…aren't you getting pale ? You didn't seem like this last time we met". Now Aeris also realizes something different about Vic. "Cloud's right ! What really happened ?", she adds Cloud's previous question.

Vic shakes his head and replies, "I'm telling you the truth, I don't even know what happened to me and why !". He sounds so desperate. "I just feel healthy and I can still fight, that's all. More about this, I'll solve it on my own…after this Dark Ancient problem is settled !".

Before Aeris or Cloud response, suddenly something happens on the middle of the lake. Unlike its usual steady motion, the lake now is bubbling intensely. Quickly, Aeris, Cloud, and Vic are distracted from their current conversation to the strange thing happened on the lake.

"What's that ?", Cloud asks the others, his eyes stick to the bubbling Lifestream. Now, those bubbles appear and disappear within short interval. "I…I don't know…What's that Vic ?". Aeris cannot answer Cloud's question, so she passes it to Vic. Gradually, the lake is now forming a water whirl, it goes wider as seconds pass. "I got no idea", Vic finally replies with trembling voice.

Driven by their instincts, those three walk forward to the lake. The whirl is now getting faster, circling Lifestream with rapid motion. This happens for some moments, until finally Lifestream is splashed out from its pool, forming several high pillars of Lifestream in the air. Cloud, Aeris, and Vic cannot believe their eyes, they watch it with awe, also worried. Something is not right, they know it. Almost in unison, they step back. From splashing Lifestream, something appears, a large and long sized monster in form of dragon. Aeris gasps to recognize the creature. Vic clenches  his fist and shuts his teeth tightly, meanwhile Cloud is standing with his eyes widens.

"It's Dark Ancient monster !!!", Vic shouts to the others, warning them to prepare for the worst. Quickly he draws his Final Glitter, followed by Aeris preparing her Princess Guard. Without further notification, Cloud draws his Ultima Sword. He recalls word 'the monster' Aeris told in her story, but he can't believe it is right in front of his eyes now, and it looks nasty though.

"Fool Cetras !!", suddenly that monster lets out its words. Its voice is thundering, echoing at every corner. "What…are you ?", Aeris shouts at the monster. She cannot think clearly how this creature came from Lifestream.

"You don't recognize me ? Fool !!", the monster replies. "I'm Serras, the high priest of Dark Ancient ! I and spirits of the Dark Ancients gathered up and finally we united in this creature form, the mighty Dark High ! We're not supposed to leave The Barrier right now, but after your visit to us, I decided to make third sign of Incarnation Day shorter ! After all, we've gathered enough power to rise up…but there's one thing we need to do before we swipe the last Cetra ! Try us if you dare, but we will destroy Cetra's source on this surface first !".

"Wha…tt ???", Aeris cannot believe what she heard. Before she reacts, Dark High, the Dark Ancient's creature, already gathers energy on his mouth's tip, forming a large energy ball, ready to throw anytime.

"Everyone ! Spread out !", Cloud orders his friends as he senses a great danger towards them. At the same time, Dark High releases its energy ball to the three below. With agile motion, Aeris, Cloud, and Vic jumps to safe spot, avoiding the energy ball attack. When the ball hits the ground, a very loud bang comes, shaking the ground and its surrounding. Dust and ground shards then appear, creating a thick dust curtain in which Cloud and the others cannot see through it.

"Meet me there if you dare !!", Dark High voice is heard again, and it then flies to the air while roaring, leaving Lifestream lake, as well as Cloud and the others. After Cloud, Vic, and Aeris gather again, they look at the sky and spot Dark High flies toward a direction. They then look at each other as they know there is no time to catch it up, so practically there is nothing to do now.

"Cloud !! What happened !!??", Tifa quickly pops up from inn direction and runs toward them. "Tifa ?", Cloud calls her. Behind her, the rest are approaching them too. After they gather near the lake, Cloud explains what happened short time ago, supported by Aeris and Vic. His explanation makes the others except Vic and Aeris look at him with shocked look. Their enemy has made a move while they still have no clue. They must move quickly if they want to catch their enemy, there is no other choice.

"Guys, looks like we have to review our plan", Cloud finally concludes the last situation.

AUTHOR'S POST-CHAPTER NOTE :

So the enemy has appeared, and Vic's mystery is opened slowly. I gave more clue about Vic's mysterious background at this chapter, so…can you tell me who he is ? Just a slight hint : you may need to read again old chapters to find more about Vic. If someone knows who he is, let me know, and I want also to know the reason.

What about Vic, Cloud, and Aeris now ? When I mention 'love triangle', who are the persons involved in your mind ? Cloud – Tifa –Aeris ? Or Cloud – Aeris – Vic ? Or Tifa – Vic – Aeris ? Or Tifa – Vincent – Cloud ? Hey, I'm just asking, not answering ^_^ (at least at this time)

As usual, I'll be honored to let know your R&R…please…..?? ^_^