Destroyed
~
~
Chapter 12: Re-Awakened
~
~
"Through the wind and the rain,
She stands hard as a stone,
In a world she can't rise above.
But her dreams give her wings,
And she flies to a place,
Where she's loved..."
~Concrete Angel, Martina McBride~
~
~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was on the eve of them arriving in Hollow Bastion after a tremendous two day journey past many dangers and now few repairs to their ship, that they docked and she first felt the strange stirrings of something she was helpless against within her. It was dark and curdling but she ignored it for the first night, drinking water and eating their simple meals together outside of the strange castle itself, all camped in tents.
She had lain awake that night, sleepless and fearing the dreams that would surely come to her.
They had gotten worse.
His eyes were always there and she always woke with a nosebleed that could not explain, except by fooling her friends and telling them that it was merely stress that was causing it.
She also didn't want to sleep here, so close to the Heartless and so, so close to the place where Cloud and Tifa had vanished, to where the Sorceress of an unknown world, Summoners and Espers had fought for the Worlds of Magic but all had inevitably been sucked away from the land of living and only a bare handful had survived.
Like her four friends.
She stayed awake, afraid that she would see his eyes watching her.
The next day, she had been hollow eyed with lack of sleep but ate enough to keep her friends' suspicions quiet for at least another day.
So it was that together, as four, they moved into the castle and bravely held their heads high and wished only for the hope that had once died within them to spring forth with all radiance and bring this hollow realm to life with more than empty fears and sickening grief.
The pain in her side had not gone away, only sharpened and constantly she found herself short of breath as they battled onwards and inwards, towards the castle, looking for a place of sanctuary.
The first place they found had been hemmed in by monstrously large Heartless, their faces reminiscent of dog's visages and their eyes all slit pupilled and watching them as they advanced, raising their shields which too had faces and fired off blasts of either fire or ice breath alternately.
She lifted the magic each time and it sprang much easier to her bidding to heal or protect, the winds and water coming easily to her siren call.
But each use of the magic also left her sicker with the passing moments. It was like a part of herself was rebelling against the darkness which festered outside and the light she was trying to call from inside her to counter it. She felt strange and weak, but eventually they managed to fight their way into the Grand entrance hall and camp that night there.
Yuffie cooked the sausages and Leon set up the tents with Cid, and wandering she made her way across to the fountain which was scarred and chipped, the water still flowing into it crystal clear and amazingly beautiful.
Wordlessly, she undid her hair and let the sugar brown radiance fall about her with the hidden highlights of red sparkling in the faint light given off by the magical lamps. Had she turned she would have seen an expression of absolute rapture on Leon's face and one of helpless pity on Yuffie's, both staring at her but never seeing the other.
Putting the ribbon down, she dipped her naked fingers into the water and felt the resonance of it.
Here a battle had been fought, many battles had.
"...Aeris..."
She felt her eyes being drawn downward to the water, and the world became black. The first thing she registered was a lack of noise, as if someone had slipped mufflers down over her ears and blocked the world out from her own hearing range.
Bemused she rippled the water, which slowly shone a deep white.
Looking up, it was as if she were seated on the edge of a waterfall and across the river before her which raged down the waterfalls slide to the foaming bottom, waded a figure in white silk, a flowing robe and a short smock underneath, the night black hair that revelled in the wind that did not touch Aeris, was tied up with silk bandages behind the straight back.
The eyes were those she had never forgotten.
~ Aeris.. ~
Wordlessly in this vision, the figure turned her eyes upwards.
~ Riku awaits, as does Ansem. ~
"Where? I should be ready..."
~No..~
Those ruby eyes came down and met hers.
~From within comes the sickness, re-awakened. Find a way, Aeris... hurry.~
"I am!"
"You're what?"
Aeris blinked and pulled her hand back from the normal water, in the normal and chipped fountain and stared at the face which hovered over her shoulder, the kind seamed face of Cid.
"I am... ready."
He said nothing, and conversation was sparse that night, for which she was grateful.
She felt worse, the sickness that had afflicted her since the strange beginnings of dreams after the magic returned to her, it was getting worse and she only picked at her food, hoping others mistook it for nervousness. The night wore on, cold and evil and she laid awake this night, her thoughts turned towards Tifa and the words.
How could she find a way if she didn't even know Tifa meant? She had studied books, she had read all kinds of documents and deep inside she was sure she held an answer but.. the answer wouldnt turn up with a snap of her fingers, would it? Bitter, she buried herself into her sleeping bag and laid waiting for dawn.
The next day, the took time to solve puzzles and climb the many levels of the tower upon which Hollow Bastion seemed built, the many contraptions and gadgets which delighted Cid and the puzzles which her mind easily latched onto, leaving Leon and Yuffie free for the majority of the fighting which suited her to a tee as far as she was concerned.
She was getting worse.
Just as they were entering the library, she found she could take it no more.
Her feet dragged and caught and with a soundless cry she pitched onto the floor. Hands felt her brow and voices whispered.. but she shook and arched in dreadful seizures.. even as her mind spiralled inwards.. and she lost herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Leon looked out tensely from the stained glass windows in the Library.
This had been where he had first met the gentle flower girl, her eyes raised tentatively to his over the shoulder of her hero, all emerald green and set in a pale vision of pink. Gentle and serene, she had captured him with only one smile and she had never known it.
Pressing two fingers to his forehead, he scowled and felt the scar wrinkle along with it.
How long since he had been here? Almost a year now, waiting and suffering.
The memories all crowded him.. but his thoughts rested wearily on Aeris, and the young Ninja who was sat watch over the still body of the Ancient as she slept and fought some sickness that had left her trembling and sweating, skin pale and her eyes yellowed in the whites.
He could fight anything, but sickness.
Irony and fate.. damn them both.
~ You have to learn to lighten up, stop frowning!~
A smile touched his lips...
~*~
"I'm not frowning.."
"Yes you are, look.. the scar's wrinkling!"
"Whatever.."
She smiled, nose wrinkling up, then looked out over the rolling scenery that spend under the mobile garden. Her shortish dark hair ruffled in the wind and the knee length blue dress and overjacket she wore set off the highlights in her hair easily. The smile was happy and carefree, and those dark eyes saw nothing but the beauty of the world before her.
He sometimes wondered why he could not be like her.. why life couldn't be as simple as simply looking out over the world and seeing a place where no ill ever happened and no wars were ever fought.
But in the porcelain of her cheeks, all flushed now with excitement, there hid a deep and dark secret.
Rinoa was a Sorceress.
She was able to control herself, true and there had been no more threats from the future luckily, but she held the strange and compelling power of those whom Hyne had passed her tremendous powers onto, and she had inherited not one sorceress' powers, but three.
Squall had seen it.
In the past Edea had taken Ultimecia's powers when the future sorceress had been dying.. and so controlled two sets of magic.. and then there was Adel.. Adel had reliquished her's upon her death to Rinoa in Esthar.
What did that make this small girl beside him?
Man's best hope? Man's worst nightmare? Some girl who wouldn't wait for chocolate when PMS came calling?
He hated to think about and scowling he too moved so he could see the world as it rolled past, the endless glades of the southern Galbadia continent, towards Winhill and a memory he would never quite supress as he spent time searching for a place he could call home. But he had it now, didn't he?
"Thinking...thinking, you think too much!"
He glanced down at her cautiously. "Maybe."
"Try and be more, spur of the moment! How else are you going to live if you don't, Squall..?"
"Squall!"
He turned and looked over his shoulder from the small sorceress, and to the group who came towards him waving. A whirl of golden hair.. cowboy boots.. gloves and bright green eyes.. and the memory faded...
~*~
.. This place was affecting him more than he would ever care to admit.. and sighing he looked down at Aeris from his vantage on the stairs.
What did this place hold for the flower girl?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~ I know you're coming for me Sora.
I heard your voice on a ship where I hung lifeless in my dreams.
I don't know who I am or what I am but all I know is, I'm scared and I need you here to help me think and give me some time to think all this through!
I've lost where I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing.
I've lost my heart.
I had lost my heart.
Everything is a blur..
Keep my secrets and I'll keep yours forever and maybe one day we'll share that Papou fruit together and never, ever be apart. I would really like that, wouldn't you Sora?
I dreamt of the castle.. I used to be at that place when I was young. Why was I sent away? Was it because of Ansem and the shadows.. Aeris told me.. Aeris is lost too.. Sora keep running, KEEP going!
If you don't hurry.. then the door will open without you.. and only you can save us...
I know you're coming for me, Sora. ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yuffie sighed.
"So much to do and so little time, Aeris. I.. I've wanted to say this for a long time and now is as good a time as any because well, you're out cold and can't tell me to shut up. I don't want you to die, I'd die first before that and you know I always keep my word no matter how tricksome I can be. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was that when we first met we got off on the wrong foot but after time together, I swear.. you understood me better than I ever understood myself and you won't ever know how you changed my life by just being in it. I could have grown up to be a compleye selfish brat but seeing you try and even seeing you lose your life it made me realise that, hey.. I don't have to be this way. You gave up everything you ever held precious to you in order to save what was precious, you gave up your future, your life and love and dreams and all you got in return was a watery grave. Once it had all ended I swore I would never let you die should you come back and behold, just when the world was dying and just when everything seemed it's darkest.. you came back to us."
She took and breath and looked down on the pallid face curled about with sweat soaked strands of hair.
"I don't know what's going on Aeris. I've never been this scared or alone. There is no home for us, there is no past because it got destroyed. I wish it hadn't, I wanted so badly to show you just how amazing Wutai is as the new capital of the known world for it's commerce and it's trading and new technology which Reeve pioneered. I wanted to take you to the Da Chao and show you the burial stone of my Mother, I wanted to give you my most inner feelings and memories.. and now you just lie there with death on your shoulder again."
A tear slid down her cheek.
"Don't let it beat you, fight Aeris! Find a way, and fight! Never give in, not so long as there is light.. I won't, Leon won't, Cid won't.. and you won't.." she nodded, "because.. because I know you."
But Aeris moved not.. consumed in her own dreams..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hello?"
She turned on the spot, and looked about her at the darkness and the dripping of the mako bubbles into the dreams.
She knew this was a dream, for the pain in her side was gone and remained only with a faint sensation of discomfort.
"Aeris.."
She turned, the pain sharper than ever and gasped in horror as from the shadows.. a pair of green eyes waited...
~
~
Chapter 12: Re-Awakened
~
~
"Through the wind and the rain,
She stands hard as a stone,
In a world she can't rise above.
But her dreams give her wings,
And she flies to a place,
Where she's loved..."
~Concrete Angel, Martina McBride~
~
~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was on the eve of them arriving in Hollow Bastion after a tremendous two day journey past many dangers and now few repairs to their ship, that they docked and she first felt the strange stirrings of something she was helpless against within her. It was dark and curdling but she ignored it for the first night, drinking water and eating their simple meals together outside of the strange castle itself, all camped in tents.
She had lain awake that night, sleepless and fearing the dreams that would surely come to her.
They had gotten worse.
His eyes were always there and she always woke with a nosebleed that could not explain, except by fooling her friends and telling them that it was merely stress that was causing it.
She also didn't want to sleep here, so close to the Heartless and so, so close to the place where Cloud and Tifa had vanished, to where the Sorceress of an unknown world, Summoners and Espers had fought for the Worlds of Magic but all had inevitably been sucked away from the land of living and only a bare handful had survived.
Like her four friends.
She stayed awake, afraid that she would see his eyes watching her.
The next day, she had been hollow eyed with lack of sleep but ate enough to keep her friends' suspicions quiet for at least another day.
So it was that together, as four, they moved into the castle and bravely held their heads high and wished only for the hope that had once died within them to spring forth with all radiance and bring this hollow realm to life with more than empty fears and sickening grief.
The pain in her side had not gone away, only sharpened and constantly she found herself short of breath as they battled onwards and inwards, towards the castle, looking for a place of sanctuary.
The first place they found had been hemmed in by monstrously large Heartless, their faces reminiscent of dog's visages and their eyes all slit pupilled and watching them as they advanced, raising their shields which too had faces and fired off blasts of either fire or ice breath alternately.
She lifted the magic each time and it sprang much easier to her bidding to heal or protect, the winds and water coming easily to her siren call.
But each use of the magic also left her sicker with the passing moments. It was like a part of herself was rebelling against the darkness which festered outside and the light she was trying to call from inside her to counter it. She felt strange and weak, but eventually they managed to fight their way into the Grand entrance hall and camp that night there.
Yuffie cooked the sausages and Leon set up the tents with Cid, and wandering she made her way across to the fountain which was scarred and chipped, the water still flowing into it crystal clear and amazingly beautiful.
Wordlessly, she undid her hair and let the sugar brown radiance fall about her with the hidden highlights of red sparkling in the faint light given off by the magical lamps. Had she turned she would have seen an expression of absolute rapture on Leon's face and one of helpless pity on Yuffie's, both staring at her but never seeing the other.
Putting the ribbon down, she dipped her naked fingers into the water and felt the resonance of it.
Here a battle had been fought, many battles had.
"...Aeris..."
She felt her eyes being drawn downward to the water, and the world became black. The first thing she registered was a lack of noise, as if someone had slipped mufflers down over her ears and blocked the world out from her own hearing range.
Bemused she rippled the water, which slowly shone a deep white.
Looking up, it was as if she were seated on the edge of a waterfall and across the river before her which raged down the waterfalls slide to the foaming bottom, waded a figure in white silk, a flowing robe and a short smock underneath, the night black hair that revelled in the wind that did not touch Aeris, was tied up with silk bandages behind the straight back.
The eyes were those she had never forgotten.
~ Aeris.. ~
Wordlessly in this vision, the figure turned her eyes upwards.
~ Riku awaits, as does Ansem. ~
"Where? I should be ready..."
~No..~
Those ruby eyes came down and met hers.
~From within comes the sickness, re-awakened. Find a way, Aeris... hurry.~
"I am!"
"You're what?"
Aeris blinked and pulled her hand back from the normal water, in the normal and chipped fountain and stared at the face which hovered over her shoulder, the kind seamed face of Cid.
"I am... ready."
He said nothing, and conversation was sparse that night, for which she was grateful.
She felt worse, the sickness that had afflicted her since the strange beginnings of dreams after the magic returned to her, it was getting worse and she only picked at her food, hoping others mistook it for nervousness. The night wore on, cold and evil and she laid awake this night, her thoughts turned towards Tifa and the words.
How could she find a way if she didn't even know Tifa meant? She had studied books, she had read all kinds of documents and deep inside she was sure she held an answer but.. the answer wouldnt turn up with a snap of her fingers, would it? Bitter, she buried herself into her sleeping bag and laid waiting for dawn.
The next day, the took time to solve puzzles and climb the many levels of the tower upon which Hollow Bastion seemed built, the many contraptions and gadgets which delighted Cid and the puzzles which her mind easily latched onto, leaving Leon and Yuffie free for the majority of the fighting which suited her to a tee as far as she was concerned.
She was getting worse.
Just as they were entering the library, she found she could take it no more.
Her feet dragged and caught and with a soundless cry she pitched onto the floor. Hands felt her brow and voices whispered.. but she shook and arched in dreadful seizures.. even as her mind spiralled inwards.. and she lost herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Leon looked out tensely from the stained glass windows in the Library.
This had been where he had first met the gentle flower girl, her eyes raised tentatively to his over the shoulder of her hero, all emerald green and set in a pale vision of pink. Gentle and serene, she had captured him with only one smile and she had never known it.
Pressing two fingers to his forehead, he scowled and felt the scar wrinkle along with it.
How long since he had been here? Almost a year now, waiting and suffering.
The memories all crowded him.. but his thoughts rested wearily on Aeris, and the young Ninja who was sat watch over the still body of the Ancient as she slept and fought some sickness that had left her trembling and sweating, skin pale and her eyes yellowed in the whites.
He could fight anything, but sickness.
Irony and fate.. damn them both.
~ You have to learn to lighten up, stop frowning!~
A smile touched his lips...
~*~
"I'm not frowning.."
"Yes you are, look.. the scar's wrinkling!"
"Whatever.."
She smiled, nose wrinkling up, then looked out over the rolling scenery that spend under the mobile garden. Her shortish dark hair ruffled in the wind and the knee length blue dress and overjacket she wore set off the highlights in her hair easily. The smile was happy and carefree, and those dark eyes saw nothing but the beauty of the world before her.
He sometimes wondered why he could not be like her.. why life couldn't be as simple as simply looking out over the world and seeing a place where no ill ever happened and no wars were ever fought.
But in the porcelain of her cheeks, all flushed now with excitement, there hid a deep and dark secret.
Rinoa was a Sorceress.
She was able to control herself, true and there had been no more threats from the future luckily, but she held the strange and compelling power of those whom Hyne had passed her tremendous powers onto, and she had inherited not one sorceress' powers, but three.
Squall had seen it.
In the past Edea had taken Ultimecia's powers when the future sorceress had been dying.. and so controlled two sets of magic.. and then there was Adel.. Adel had reliquished her's upon her death to Rinoa in Esthar.
What did that make this small girl beside him?
Man's best hope? Man's worst nightmare? Some girl who wouldn't wait for chocolate when PMS came calling?
He hated to think about and scowling he too moved so he could see the world as it rolled past, the endless glades of the southern Galbadia continent, towards Winhill and a memory he would never quite supress as he spent time searching for a place he could call home. But he had it now, didn't he?
"Thinking...thinking, you think too much!"
He glanced down at her cautiously. "Maybe."
"Try and be more, spur of the moment! How else are you going to live if you don't, Squall..?"
"Squall!"
He turned and looked over his shoulder from the small sorceress, and to the group who came towards him waving. A whirl of golden hair.. cowboy boots.. gloves and bright green eyes.. and the memory faded...
~*~
.. This place was affecting him more than he would ever care to admit.. and sighing he looked down at Aeris from his vantage on the stairs.
What did this place hold for the flower girl?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~ I know you're coming for me Sora.
I heard your voice on a ship where I hung lifeless in my dreams.
I don't know who I am or what I am but all I know is, I'm scared and I need you here to help me think and give me some time to think all this through!
I've lost where I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing.
I've lost my heart.
I had lost my heart.
Everything is a blur..
Keep my secrets and I'll keep yours forever and maybe one day we'll share that Papou fruit together and never, ever be apart. I would really like that, wouldn't you Sora?
I dreamt of the castle.. I used to be at that place when I was young. Why was I sent away? Was it because of Ansem and the shadows.. Aeris told me.. Aeris is lost too.. Sora keep running, KEEP going!
If you don't hurry.. then the door will open without you.. and only you can save us...
I know you're coming for me, Sora. ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yuffie sighed.
"So much to do and so little time, Aeris. I.. I've wanted to say this for a long time and now is as good a time as any because well, you're out cold and can't tell me to shut up. I don't want you to die, I'd die first before that and you know I always keep my word no matter how tricksome I can be. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was that when we first met we got off on the wrong foot but after time together, I swear.. you understood me better than I ever understood myself and you won't ever know how you changed my life by just being in it. I could have grown up to be a compleye selfish brat but seeing you try and even seeing you lose your life it made me realise that, hey.. I don't have to be this way. You gave up everything you ever held precious to you in order to save what was precious, you gave up your future, your life and love and dreams and all you got in return was a watery grave. Once it had all ended I swore I would never let you die should you come back and behold, just when the world was dying and just when everything seemed it's darkest.. you came back to us."
She took and breath and looked down on the pallid face curled about with sweat soaked strands of hair.
"I don't know what's going on Aeris. I've never been this scared or alone. There is no home for us, there is no past because it got destroyed. I wish it hadn't, I wanted so badly to show you just how amazing Wutai is as the new capital of the known world for it's commerce and it's trading and new technology which Reeve pioneered. I wanted to take you to the Da Chao and show you the burial stone of my Mother, I wanted to give you my most inner feelings and memories.. and now you just lie there with death on your shoulder again."
A tear slid down her cheek.
"Don't let it beat you, fight Aeris! Find a way, and fight! Never give in, not so long as there is light.. I won't, Leon won't, Cid won't.. and you won't.." she nodded, "because.. because I know you."
But Aeris moved not.. consumed in her own dreams..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hello?"
She turned on the spot, and looked about her at the darkness and the dripping of the mako bubbles into the dreams.
She knew this was a dream, for the pain in her side was gone and remained only with a faint sensation of discomfort.
"Aeris.."
She turned, the pain sharper than ever and gasped in horror as from the shadows.. a pair of green eyes waited...