(Alright! 'Nother chap! And the choice between Ultimecia and Eve has been
made! So I hope you like this chapter, and also I hope you don't mind the
decision too much...)
...w i t h i n t h e s h a d o w e d h e a r t ...
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~Hunter's Duty~
Cloud sat motionlessly on the roof of Hollow Bastion, the wind ruffling his hair gently. It was a peaceful night, and the stars twinkled in the sky, making it seem as though everything in the world was perfect.
Hmph. Perfection was non-existant.
The Shadow Hunter scowled to himself, then continued to watch the sky. He felt alone, and found himself unsure of whether he wanted to be so or not. It did not help any that that particular night reminded him of his past, that of which he still found to be foggy. This merely caused his scowl to deepen. Too many memories were held in those stars, far too many. So he stood and leapt from the top of the building, then landed gracefully on his right foot. It was times like these that made him greatful for his demonic capabilities. Well, not his really, they were those of the being in his head.
He was still sometimes glad to have them, though.
*You think too much.* the Demon said.
'You talk too much.' was Cloud's retort.
The Demon's response was an annoyed growl, then It fell silent, most likely sulking. Cloud could not help but allow himself a small smirk. He returned to his indifferent expression less than a moment later, however.
He looked over the railing at the Rising Falls in the distance, letting his mind go blank, simply enjoying the peace the moment brought. But, like all other good things in his life, it was not to last. He heard the footsteps approaching him from his right, but ignored them until they stopped. Before the person who now stood beside him could speak, he did first.
"What is it you want?"
"Only to speak with you, Shadow Hunter."
The voice was female, and unfamiliar, so he glanced over at the intruder from the corner of his eye. The woman who was there had grey hair in a rather odd style, and black eyes that were slightly unnerving, making him suspicious. His frowning gaze did not recieve any response from the woman.
"I am the sorceress Ultimecia," she said, though he could have cared less.
"Oh really. Am I being constantly stalked by weird people?"
Ultimecia merely smiled. Not a pleasant smile, but again, Cloud could have cared less.
"Are you aware of your purpose in this world?" she asked, smile never wavering.
"I really wish people would stop asking me that," he muttered. "No. I'm not. So why don't you enlighten me, eh? No one else seems willing to do so."
The Demon reacted to her in a similar manner to It's reaction to Ansem, if not as strongly. It hissed loudly in his mind to the point that Cloud told it to shut up.
"So you haven't been told yet? Hmm... Well I certainly cannot tell you."
"Are you finished?"
She smirked.
"Not quite. It really is a shame you will never discover your purpose...however I simply cannot allow you Hunters to interfere with my plans."
Cloud's sword was in his hands in an instant, pointing it directly at the sorceress. She merely smiled her cruel smile and waved her hands, summoning two Heartless. They were certainly different than most of the kind he was used to, and by the looks of them, they were strong as well. The bandages that were wrapped about certain areas of their forms were odd certainly, but did not subtract from their menace. Ultimecia stepped back a few paces.
"Now then, Stone Guardians, kill him, if you would. He is inexperienced and should pose no threat to you." Then, to Cloud, "Enjoy your little game with the Guardians. Farewell, Shadow Hunter."
With that she vanished. The Guardians attacked, seeming too quick for their build. Cloud managed to deflect their attacks, but they did not leave him time to do much else. They attacked, he defended, they attacked, he defended, each waiting for the other to trip up.
Unfortunately it was Cloud who tripped.
He stumbled over a loose rock, giving the nearest Guardian enough time to slam him with it's shoulder, sending the Hunter flying into the wall beside the entrance door. He felt his ribs crack, but he, somehow managed to ignore it, rising to his feet once more. He spread his demonic wings, then shot towards them, sword swinging to slice one in half...
He did not expect his weapon to be repeled.
He was flung back in the air a few feet, trying to regain his composure quickly. He was not quick enough.
For he then felt the burning agony as he felt his left wing violently ripped from his shoulderblade...
(Ouch... Erm, I just felt I had to say this. Yanno that ugly Heartless that hovers behind Ansem the first and second time you fight him, and it blocks your attacks every time he says "Come Guardian!" ? Yeah, I used to think he was sayin' "Stone Guardian," hence the name I gave 'em. Yeah. Well, like I say every other chapter, please review!)
...w i t h i n t h e s h a d o w e d h e a r t ...
_______________________________________________________________________
~Hunter's Duty~
Cloud sat motionlessly on the roof of Hollow Bastion, the wind ruffling his hair gently. It was a peaceful night, and the stars twinkled in the sky, making it seem as though everything in the world was perfect.
Hmph. Perfection was non-existant.
The Shadow Hunter scowled to himself, then continued to watch the sky. He felt alone, and found himself unsure of whether he wanted to be so or not. It did not help any that that particular night reminded him of his past, that of which he still found to be foggy. This merely caused his scowl to deepen. Too many memories were held in those stars, far too many. So he stood and leapt from the top of the building, then landed gracefully on his right foot. It was times like these that made him greatful for his demonic capabilities. Well, not his really, they were those of the being in his head.
He was still sometimes glad to have them, though.
*You think too much.* the Demon said.
'You talk too much.' was Cloud's retort.
The Demon's response was an annoyed growl, then It fell silent, most likely sulking. Cloud could not help but allow himself a small smirk. He returned to his indifferent expression less than a moment later, however.
He looked over the railing at the Rising Falls in the distance, letting his mind go blank, simply enjoying the peace the moment brought. But, like all other good things in his life, it was not to last. He heard the footsteps approaching him from his right, but ignored them until they stopped. Before the person who now stood beside him could speak, he did first.
"What is it you want?"
"Only to speak with you, Shadow Hunter."
The voice was female, and unfamiliar, so he glanced over at the intruder from the corner of his eye. The woman who was there had grey hair in a rather odd style, and black eyes that were slightly unnerving, making him suspicious. His frowning gaze did not recieve any response from the woman.
"I am the sorceress Ultimecia," she said, though he could have cared less.
"Oh really. Am I being constantly stalked by weird people?"
Ultimecia merely smiled. Not a pleasant smile, but again, Cloud could have cared less.
"Are you aware of your purpose in this world?" she asked, smile never wavering.
"I really wish people would stop asking me that," he muttered. "No. I'm not. So why don't you enlighten me, eh? No one else seems willing to do so."
The Demon reacted to her in a similar manner to It's reaction to Ansem, if not as strongly. It hissed loudly in his mind to the point that Cloud told it to shut up.
"So you haven't been told yet? Hmm... Well I certainly cannot tell you."
"Are you finished?"
She smirked.
"Not quite. It really is a shame you will never discover your purpose...however I simply cannot allow you Hunters to interfere with my plans."
Cloud's sword was in his hands in an instant, pointing it directly at the sorceress. She merely smiled her cruel smile and waved her hands, summoning two Heartless. They were certainly different than most of the kind he was used to, and by the looks of them, they were strong as well. The bandages that were wrapped about certain areas of their forms were odd certainly, but did not subtract from their menace. Ultimecia stepped back a few paces.
"Now then, Stone Guardians, kill him, if you would. He is inexperienced and should pose no threat to you." Then, to Cloud, "Enjoy your little game with the Guardians. Farewell, Shadow Hunter."
With that she vanished. The Guardians attacked, seeming too quick for their build. Cloud managed to deflect their attacks, but they did not leave him time to do much else. They attacked, he defended, they attacked, he defended, each waiting for the other to trip up.
Unfortunately it was Cloud who tripped.
He stumbled over a loose rock, giving the nearest Guardian enough time to slam him with it's shoulder, sending the Hunter flying into the wall beside the entrance door. He felt his ribs crack, but he, somehow managed to ignore it, rising to his feet once more. He spread his demonic wings, then shot towards them, sword swinging to slice one in half...
He did not expect his weapon to be repeled.
He was flung back in the air a few feet, trying to regain his composure quickly. He was not quick enough.
For he then felt the burning agony as he felt his left wing violently ripped from his shoulderblade...
(Ouch... Erm, I just felt I had to say this. Yanno that ugly Heartless that hovers behind Ansem the first and second time you fight him, and it blocks your attacks every time he says "Come Guardian!" ? Yeah, I used to think he was sayin' "Stone Guardian," hence the name I gave 'em. Yeah. Well, like I say every other chapter, please review!)