All Heaven in the Midnight of the Sun

Chapter Seven

Kurin had only been speaking for a moment when Aeris screamed, a wail of agony and sadness that echoed across the clearing. She crumpled to her knees, her scream dissolving into sobs.

"I remember! Oh god, I remember!"

Kurin reached his hand down to pat her shoulder, but she did not see him, or respond to his touch. She was in her own world now, seeing the cold blade slide out of her stomach like liquid fire, seeing Midgar explode into green death, seeing what she was before, and what she now was once more. She crumpled forward into Kurin's arms. He held her for a moment, then looked up as a group of moogles ran into the clearing. He lay her sobbing form down gently. They ran up to him, spears brandished.

"We heard a scream. Is there another dead?"

"No, she's fine. But, what do you mean, another dead?"

"One of the moogle guards has been killed. We just discovered his body a couple of hours ago."

Kurin started in shock.

"What? What killed him?"

The guards looked away and did not speak. Kurin felt cold race up the base of his spine and clench around his heart.

"What killed him?! Tell me!"

"We…don't know… He was torn apart by some sort of animal. He was partially…eaten."

Kurin had no time to react as just then Garret ran up, his chest heaving. The guards grabbed for their weapons in shock, and it took Kurin a moment to convince them that Garret meant them no harm.

"What happened last night, Kurin? A bunch of your guards just kicked me out of bed and told me that I was a suspect in murder!"

Kurin talked quickly, and Garret's eyes widened at the explanation. Kurin turned to the moogle guards who stood watching Garret suspiciously.

"The girl is fine. We've got everything taken care of."

They nodded and ran from the clearing.

Garret looked at Kurin questioningly.

"What happened to the girl?"

"Her name is Aeris Gainsborough. I listened in to your conversation last night and afterwards, I checked the old histories for any mention of a girl fitting her description. Garret, Aeris Gainsborough lived over a thousand years ago."

"What?" Garret was so startled, he didn't even have time to get angry at Kurin for eavesdropping. "You must have gotten something mixed up."

Kurin shook his head. "No. I know it was her. She was involved in the battle against Sephiroth one thousand years ago. She was supposed to have died. Sephiroth killed her."

Kurin lifted Aeris, but his small body could not carry her weight. Garret stepped forward and lifted her over his shoulder. Together, they carried her back to her quarters, and put her in her bed.

Kurin spoke. "Garret, get all of your things together. We're going on a trip, as soon as she gathers her strength enough to go with us."

Garret stared at him. "Where are we going?"

Kurin smiled. "Later, my friend. We need to get moving. I believe whoever killed that guard was after Aeris. We must get out of the village before another is killed."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Images swam through the darkness; people she had loved, monsters she had fought, the hope she had felt as she had died, hope for the future, hope for the good her sacrifice had done. Aeris sobbed in her mind, knowing that that time was gone forever. Everyone she had known was dead, everything she had fought for dead as well. She felt like she was in hell.

The images became clearer, and she realized that she was conscious once more. She blinked as the bright sunlight from the open window fell into her eyes. Then she pulled her covers aside and stood up, only to tumble back into the bed.

"Don't try to move too quickly. You're too weak."

She raised her head and saw Kurin standing in the doorway.

"Everything's gone…" She spoke barely louder than a whisper, but Kurin could still hear the agony. She lay her head back.

"Nonsense. You sacrificed yourself so nothing would ever be gone."

She looked up at him again.

"That's not what I mean. Everyone I knew, my friends…everyone. They're all dead."

"They died as heroes. As did you. Children of every species grew up listening to tales of you and your comrades, and their heroism."

"Why are you here?"

He seemed unfazed by the sudden change of subject. "Garret and I are going somewhere, and we would like you to come along. It may shed some light on your…return."

"Where?"

He ignored the question. "Are you coming?"

"I…guess so. It's not like I have anywhere better to be." She laughed bitterly.

"Good. Everything is ready, so when you're prepared, come outside."

He left.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Aeris walked outside as the sun was setting on the horizon. Kurin and Garret were sitting just outside the doorway, backpacks beside them. Upon seeing her, they go to their feet and shouldered their packs. None of them said a word as they set off through the village. Aeris looked around, feeling some dim vestige of the curiosity that had once been so prevalent before she had died. The villagers moved rapidly around, readying for the end of the day. It was nothing at all like Midgar had been, everything was clean and neat and ordered. She smiled faintly.

As they walked up to the main gate, Garret spoke for the first time.

"Where are we going?"

Kurin looked at him and smiled.

"It's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises. Surprises kill people. Where are we going?"

Kurin sighed. "You my friend, are utterly devoid of humor. Since it is obvious you are not going to let this be until I tell you, then I shall. We are going to the area so charmingly called the Forest of Souls.

Garret stopped dead.

"That was one of those fatal surprises I was talking about. For a girl that just returned from the dead, you seem in an awful hurry to send her back."

Kurin sighed again. "We will be fine, my friend. The Forest of Souls is safe to those who know the way."

"And you do?"

Kurin smiled. "Only one way to find out."

Garret sighed, and the group began moving again. Aeris kept silent for a moment, then her curiosity was once more roused.

"What is the Forest of Souls?"

Kurin laughed.

"I was wondering when you would ask that. It seems I am unable to keep anyone in the dark here. The Forest of Souls is a large forest in the north of this country that is reputed to be haunted. Ghosts, monsters, you name it, they're there. Very few people have ever been in that forest and survived. Those who have are almost always completely insane."

They passed out of the moogle village, and Aeris could feel the change in the air. The forest was suddenly many times darker, more menacing.

"Why…do you think the place would have any significance to me?"

Kurin's smile faded. He stopped, and looked back one final time towards the dim lights of his home.

"It was the place in which you once lived, my dear. The Forest of Souls is the remains of ancient Midgar."