AUTHORS NOTE: Ready for more action? I thought so! Heehee ^.^ just don't give up on this story, ok? the long-awaited reunion is coming pretty soon!! *jumps around* ^.^ v and to Kitty Lurver - no, Aerith and Cloud will be meeting up LONG before the end.. (at the end of chapter 7 to be exact - seeing as i'v just finished chappy 6) the 'end' being around chapter 65-70 (no joke - this is a novel!!). Enjoy! (PLEASE R & R.. I'v only had 3 reviews!! *cries*)
Angel Reborn
************************
CHAPTER FOUR
AERITH
in
"Kwehhh!"
~Icicle Region - the snowfields~
•°•
Aerith watched the hideous fiend approach her as if in slow motion, great hairy arms outstretched and gleaming claws that seemed extra sharp from the young ladies vantage point. Oddly enough, she didn't feel scared at all by this event - as if she'd been bravely fighting off terrifying monsters all her life long.
Instinctively she gripped the staff she held a little tighter and spun it infront of her, brilliantly deflecting the fiends attack and hearing a howl of pain as two of it's claws were ripped free from it's giant paws. Bright red blood tainted the pure white snow on which the fiend had come to land and followed in a trail as the beast turned to face Aerith, rising back up onto it's muscular hind legs.
Roaring in anger, the monster ambled towards her - attempting afew strong side-swipes, to which Aerith easily dodged, but in the process was splattered by warm droplets of blood all over her face. In the time it took for the beast to spin back around for it's next attack, Aerith studied the orbs slotted into her weapon and set herself up for a retaliation. Choosing one of the green balls inscribed as 'Flood' and focusing her energy on it, Aerith easily managed to cast the magic - much to her disbelief and delight. A wedge of dry ground appeared beneath her feet and before it gave her a chance to realise what was happening and secure herself, shot up high into the sky. Aerith let out a small squeal of suprise as she overbalanced and landed on all fours, gripping tightly to the edge of the stone platform carrying her. 'Oh my!'
Far below her, still on the snow-covered ground, the monster stared up at her and mirrored the same look of suprise that Aerith carried. With a bellow of rage at the fact that his target couldn't be reached, the monster began to jump up and down, as if it were a small child throwing a tantrum when things didn't go their way - Aerith couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
Than suddenly - from out of nowhere - a mass of water gathered up and began to roll towards the unsuspecting fiend, who was still too busy being outraged to notice. At the very last moment before it struck the ugly monster turned and saw it, taking afew feeble steps forward to escape it, but to no avail. The wave of water crashed down apon the terrified fiend and washed over the snowfields, dissappearing as suddenly as it had come.
When Aerith finally spied the washed-out monster it was lying face down on the ground, sodden to it's leathery skin and seemingly having sustained some damage from the force of the assault. The rock platform on which she still clung to tighty slowly began to descend back down, vanishing the moment Aerith took a step off it.
Tentatively she walked towards the fallen beast, eyeing it's unmoving form with caution. For a moment her mind drifted to think about what had just happened, 'It's amazing! I can cast magic!' she thought with a grin, 'this'll take some getting used to!'
Promptly she was ripped from her daze by the searing pain of claws across her tender neck. Aerith cried out, her hands flying up to cover the injury and staggering backwards for afew steps before falling onto the snow. With a triumphant jump at the turn of events, the hideous fiend meandered over to her, intent on finishing it once and for all. For a moment the beasts tall frame towered over her own petite form, smirking at her as she lay with her eyes closed and lips parted, breathing shallowly. Lifting a paw above it's head and balling it into a tight fist, he swung it down towards Aeriths head, intent on crushing her skull into splinters and feasting on her remains.
At the very last second, Aerith drew her staff from it's place next to her and shot it up against the fiends hairy stomache, impaling the monster on her weapon and seeing the end shoot out of it's back with the force. The whole body of the giant went slack and came crashing down next to Aeriths slowly breathing form, it's arm whipping across her back and causing a pained groan to escape her lips.
So she lay there, slowly being covered by snow that was now falling heavily, the dead beast still impaled on her staff and laying beside her with it's weighty arm making any escape impossible.
The snow began to pile up around Aeriths lithe form, making her shiver violently and turning her lips blue-purple with the cold.the fresh layer of snow began to melt and seep into her mouth and nose, causing her to cough weakly when it began to fill her lungs. Aerith struggled to lift her face above the snow and gulp in some air, but it was no use - her vision began to swim and she lost consciousness.
Softness.
Warmth against her skin.
The aroma and sound of soup quietly bubbling on an open fire.
Aerith opened her sore eyes slowly, seeing a strange green blob infront of her as she tried to focus. A movement caught her eye in the corner of her vision, shifting slightly she stared at it as it travelled around near the crackling fire in the hearth without a sound. As Aerith tried to sit up to get a better look at where she was, a voice began speaking to her.
'Ah, you've finally awakened, dear girl! Good, good! Now just relax and I'll get you some nice warm broth.' Aerith listened to the words spoken and lay back down, turning her head and looking back at the green blob. Slowly it began to take shape into some sort of giant.. bird?
Sensing her eyes on it, the 'giant bird' - which was really a mountain chocobo - looked down at the girl and squawked loudly whilst ruffling it's green feathers, a most friendly guesture from an animal of it's breeding. 'Kwehhh!'
Aerith was so startled by the sudden loud noise that she almost tumbled off the bed she lay on.
'Hush Bluebell! I'm sure she'll have time to play games with you later!' The voice seemed to be coming from a strange purple creature with a small grey beard, green hat and long gnarled tail, who was floating by the fireplace.
'Bluebell? but it's feathers are gr--'
'Quite magnificent! I agree! Let me introduce myself. I am the famed.. err.. famed.. hmm, what was the name people called me again??.. Can't remember for the life of me..'
'What an odd fellow,' Aerith thought to herself with a grin.
'Here my dear, warm yourself with this delicious snow-rabbit stew!' A bowl of brown liquid was handed to her and she stared down at it, feeling her stomache turn after remembering her encounter with the snow-rabbit from earlier. Still, the food smelt delicious, and Aerith was very hungry.. so she took a sip carefully. It felt wonderful as the warmth trickled down her throat and she eagerly continued eating without complaint.
'My! You're half starved! But tell me child, what would a girl such as yourself be doing wondering about on the snowfields? Folks far and wide know that that place is only ventured by fools and humans with a death wish. You don't strike me as being either of those.'
'I got lost, I was travelling from the silent place.'
'Silent place..? The Forgotten Capital.. City of the Ancients??'
'I'm not sure of the name, I'm sorry.'
'Whatever were you doing there?'
'Not sure of that either.. I just.. woke up there a little while ago. There's alot of things I don't understand about myself.' Aerith shrugged uncertainly, wishing what she was saying didn't ring so true. She wanted to know who she was and what she was ment to do.. it was like she was being guided, but was not being told where to or why.
'May I ask your name?'
'Aerith.. Aerith Gainsborough.' At least she knew that much.
'Well than, pleased to meet you Miss Gainsborough. I am the renowned Chocobo Sage.. at your service!' He bowed his round little body exaggeratedly, making Aerith chuckle.
'How did you get that name?'
'Why, because I am famous for my techniques at breeding and training the finest.. err.. the finest..' The Sage trailed off with a puzzled look, scratching his head. 'Can't remember for the life of me..'
'Chocobos?' Aerith guessed with a smile.
'Yes! That's it! I breed and train chocobos, like Bluebell there! He's a mountain chocobo.' the large green bird hopped about at the mention of his name, delighted that he was being focused on.
'Kwehhhhhhh!'
Aerith got to her feet carefully, wandering over to the stable and petting the happy chocobo on the head. 'He's wonderful!' The Sage nodded in agreement, floating over to them and handing Aerith some Memitt greens to feed to Bluebell.
For the next few hours Aerith and the Sage chatted about all manner of things, enjoying each others company and laughing at the stabled chocobos antics. Than Aerith decided she'd best be on her way, thanking the Sage for rescuing her and for his hospitality.
'Thank Bluebell for saving you, he thought your hair was a bundle of Gysal greens and finally brought my attention to you as he was pulling and tugging at it.' Aerith rubbed her sore scalp with a grin, he sure did pull hard.
Hanging a warm velvety fur-lined red cloak around Aeriths sholders and handing her a roughly drawn map, he took her outside his small cosy cottage.
'Here you go my dear, your very own chocobo! This particular one can cross mountains, shallow waters and ocean -
with her you will be able to venture wherever you desire!' The petite chocobo that he presented her with ruffled it's golden plummage and rubbed it's feathered head against Aerith, nearly knocking her off her feet and causing her to laugh with joy.
'She likes you! It's a great sign!' The Sage smiled at the two and gave her afew quick riding tips, watching her practice for a while before giving her the go ahead. 'You learn fast! She'll take good care of you aswell - they're very loyal animals. Just be sure to drop back here every once in a while to visit Bluebell and myself! Oh but.. you must name your new chocobo before you go!' Nodding in agreement, Aerith looked at her brand new feathered friend and giggled.
'I'll call her 'Snow'.'
With that, Aerith bid the Sage farewell and promised to return sometime. Than with a flurry of snow, she rode off on her chocobo - into the wide unknown, and her destiny.
•°•
©Erica Runge - 27th of November, 2002. All main characters, etc ©Squaresoft and FFVII.
Angel Reborn
************************
CHAPTER FOUR
AERITH
in
"Kwehhh!"
~Icicle Region - the snowfields~
•°•
Aerith watched the hideous fiend approach her as if in slow motion, great hairy arms outstretched and gleaming claws that seemed extra sharp from the young ladies vantage point. Oddly enough, she didn't feel scared at all by this event - as if she'd been bravely fighting off terrifying monsters all her life long.
Instinctively she gripped the staff she held a little tighter and spun it infront of her, brilliantly deflecting the fiends attack and hearing a howl of pain as two of it's claws were ripped free from it's giant paws. Bright red blood tainted the pure white snow on which the fiend had come to land and followed in a trail as the beast turned to face Aerith, rising back up onto it's muscular hind legs.
Roaring in anger, the monster ambled towards her - attempting afew strong side-swipes, to which Aerith easily dodged, but in the process was splattered by warm droplets of blood all over her face. In the time it took for the beast to spin back around for it's next attack, Aerith studied the orbs slotted into her weapon and set herself up for a retaliation. Choosing one of the green balls inscribed as 'Flood' and focusing her energy on it, Aerith easily managed to cast the magic - much to her disbelief and delight. A wedge of dry ground appeared beneath her feet and before it gave her a chance to realise what was happening and secure herself, shot up high into the sky. Aerith let out a small squeal of suprise as she overbalanced and landed on all fours, gripping tightly to the edge of the stone platform carrying her. 'Oh my!'
Far below her, still on the snow-covered ground, the monster stared up at her and mirrored the same look of suprise that Aerith carried. With a bellow of rage at the fact that his target couldn't be reached, the monster began to jump up and down, as if it were a small child throwing a tantrum when things didn't go their way - Aerith couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
Than suddenly - from out of nowhere - a mass of water gathered up and began to roll towards the unsuspecting fiend, who was still too busy being outraged to notice. At the very last moment before it struck the ugly monster turned and saw it, taking afew feeble steps forward to escape it, but to no avail. The wave of water crashed down apon the terrified fiend and washed over the snowfields, dissappearing as suddenly as it had come.
When Aerith finally spied the washed-out monster it was lying face down on the ground, sodden to it's leathery skin and seemingly having sustained some damage from the force of the assault. The rock platform on which she still clung to tighty slowly began to descend back down, vanishing the moment Aerith took a step off it.
Tentatively she walked towards the fallen beast, eyeing it's unmoving form with caution. For a moment her mind drifted to think about what had just happened, 'It's amazing! I can cast magic!' she thought with a grin, 'this'll take some getting used to!'
Promptly she was ripped from her daze by the searing pain of claws across her tender neck. Aerith cried out, her hands flying up to cover the injury and staggering backwards for afew steps before falling onto the snow. With a triumphant jump at the turn of events, the hideous fiend meandered over to her, intent on finishing it once and for all. For a moment the beasts tall frame towered over her own petite form, smirking at her as she lay with her eyes closed and lips parted, breathing shallowly. Lifting a paw above it's head and balling it into a tight fist, he swung it down towards Aeriths head, intent on crushing her skull into splinters and feasting on her remains.
At the very last second, Aerith drew her staff from it's place next to her and shot it up against the fiends hairy stomache, impaling the monster on her weapon and seeing the end shoot out of it's back with the force. The whole body of the giant went slack and came crashing down next to Aeriths slowly breathing form, it's arm whipping across her back and causing a pained groan to escape her lips.
So she lay there, slowly being covered by snow that was now falling heavily, the dead beast still impaled on her staff and laying beside her with it's weighty arm making any escape impossible.
The snow began to pile up around Aeriths lithe form, making her shiver violently and turning her lips blue-purple with the cold.the fresh layer of snow began to melt and seep into her mouth and nose, causing her to cough weakly when it began to fill her lungs. Aerith struggled to lift her face above the snow and gulp in some air, but it was no use - her vision began to swim and she lost consciousness.
Softness.
Warmth against her skin.
The aroma and sound of soup quietly bubbling on an open fire.
Aerith opened her sore eyes slowly, seeing a strange green blob infront of her as she tried to focus. A movement caught her eye in the corner of her vision, shifting slightly she stared at it as it travelled around near the crackling fire in the hearth without a sound. As Aerith tried to sit up to get a better look at where she was, a voice began speaking to her.
'Ah, you've finally awakened, dear girl! Good, good! Now just relax and I'll get you some nice warm broth.' Aerith listened to the words spoken and lay back down, turning her head and looking back at the green blob. Slowly it began to take shape into some sort of giant.. bird?
Sensing her eyes on it, the 'giant bird' - which was really a mountain chocobo - looked down at the girl and squawked loudly whilst ruffling it's green feathers, a most friendly guesture from an animal of it's breeding. 'Kwehhh!'
Aerith was so startled by the sudden loud noise that she almost tumbled off the bed she lay on.
'Hush Bluebell! I'm sure she'll have time to play games with you later!' The voice seemed to be coming from a strange purple creature with a small grey beard, green hat and long gnarled tail, who was floating by the fireplace.
'Bluebell? but it's feathers are gr--'
'Quite magnificent! I agree! Let me introduce myself. I am the famed.. err.. famed.. hmm, what was the name people called me again??.. Can't remember for the life of me..'
'What an odd fellow,' Aerith thought to herself with a grin.
'Here my dear, warm yourself with this delicious snow-rabbit stew!' A bowl of brown liquid was handed to her and she stared down at it, feeling her stomache turn after remembering her encounter with the snow-rabbit from earlier. Still, the food smelt delicious, and Aerith was very hungry.. so she took a sip carefully. It felt wonderful as the warmth trickled down her throat and she eagerly continued eating without complaint.
'My! You're half starved! But tell me child, what would a girl such as yourself be doing wondering about on the snowfields? Folks far and wide know that that place is only ventured by fools and humans with a death wish. You don't strike me as being either of those.'
'I got lost, I was travelling from the silent place.'
'Silent place..? The Forgotten Capital.. City of the Ancients??'
'I'm not sure of the name, I'm sorry.'
'Whatever were you doing there?'
'Not sure of that either.. I just.. woke up there a little while ago. There's alot of things I don't understand about myself.' Aerith shrugged uncertainly, wishing what she was saying didn't ring so true. She wanted to know who she was and what she was ment to do.. it was like she was being guided, but was not being told where to or why.
'May I ask your name?'
'Aerith.. Aerith Gainsborough.' At least she knew that much.
'Well than, pleased to meet you Miss Gainsborough. I am the renowned Chocobo Sage.. at your service!' He bowed his round little body exaggeratedly, making Aerith chuckle.
'How did you get that name?'
'Why, because I am famous for my techniques at breeding and training the finest.. err.. the finest..' The Sage trailed off with a puzzled look, scratching his head. 'Can't remember for the life of me..'
'Chocobos?' Aerith guessed with a smile.
'Yes! That's it! I breed and train chocobos, like Bluebell there! He's a mountain chocobo.' the large green bird hopped about at the mention of his name, delighted that he was being focused on.
'Kwehhhhhhh!'
Aerith got to her feet carefully, wandering over to the stable and petting the happy chocobo on the head. 'He's wonderful!' The Sage nodded in agreement, floating over to them and handing Aerith some Memitt greens to feed to Bluebell.
For the next few hours Aerith and the Sage chatted about all manner of things, enjoying each others company and laughing at the stabled chocobos antics. Than Aerith decided she'd best be on her way, thanking the Sage for rescuing her and for his hospitality.
'Thank Bluebell for saving you, he thought your hair was a bundle of Gysal greens and finally brought my attention to you as he was pulling and tugging at it.' Aerith rubbed her sore scalp with a grin, he sure did pull hard.
Hanging a warm velvety fur-lined red cloak around Aeriths sholders and handing her a roughly drawn map, he took her outside his small cosy cottage.
'Here you go my dear, your very own chocobo! This particular one can cross mountains, shallow waters and ocean -
with her you will be able to venture wherever you desire!' The petite chocobo that he presented her with ruffled it's golden plummage and rubbed it's feathered head against Aerith, nearly knocking her off her feet and causing her to laugh with joy.
'She likes you! It's a great sign!' The Sage smiled at the two and gave her afew quick riding tips, watching her practice for a while before giving her the go ahead. 'You learn fast! She'll take good care of you aswell - they're very loyal animals. Just be sure to drop back here every once in a while to visit Bluebell and myself! Oh but.. you must name your new chocobo before you go!' Nodding in agreement, Aerith looked at her brand new feathered friend and giggled.
'I'll call her 'Snow'.'
With that, Aerith bid the Sage farewell and promised to return sometime. Than with a flurry of snow, she rode off on her chocobo - into the wide unknown, and her destiny.
•°•
©Erica Runge - 27th of November, 2002. All main characters, etc ©Squaresoft and FFVII.
