Okay, I'm in a better mood today, (No more mood swings, those were due to
pressure from the exams and school X_X) So I'm gonna thank the reviewers
(Although of late it seems they seem to be dieing out. Hmm...). First off
we have:
Molly-Chan: BRAVO! THAT'S THE WAY! LISTEN TO THE EVIL CONSCIENCE (BEHOLD, *MY* EVIL CONSCIENCE: *Pulls out a sleeping grass-snake* Asmodeus! Watch out, he bites! *Asmodeus yawns sleepily*)! IT WILL LEAD YOU TO VICTORY, GLORY AND LOTS OF OTHER STUFF! (not necessarily in that order) Harrumph, erm, *cough cough*. Ja. Now, sank yoa for reviewing. Much apprieciated. Hope ja continue ta like zis fic!
Natsumi: Oh, well, no matter. ^_^ Hope you get settled in soon. Moving sucks, in my opinion (This is coming from the man who actually got thrown out of a test, so my opinion doesn't count too much ~_~) But, you gotta do what ya gotta do, ne? hope you also enjoy how zis fic iz going!
Shadow Reaver: It doesn't give me homicidal intentions, either, but when you're on a sugar rush then some things are more influential then others. Music influences me the most. People who know me can tell what music I listened to when they read what I write. Oh well ^_^ ENJOY!
Charles Xavier: I know it is, bebe. That's what I'm goin' for (^.^( Dramatic inclinations rock.
Narukye: I agree! Praise me! For my art is superior to all others! Three cheers for me!
If I forgot you (Or if your simply missing in action ¬.¬) then tell me. I'll add you in de next chapter. I'm wrting this list from memory, and THAT'S gone straight ta hell (My memory, not the list^_^).
Today's chapter's name iz called 'No One Knows' and I regret to say that this song actually appeared on MTV (uk, atleast. And all they play is Euro trash.) by 'Queens Of The Stone Age'
And now, ON WITH THE FIC!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter XXI: No One Knows
Kahn remained up on the top of the Highwind, which was still travelling steadily towards the north. The wind blew coldly against his hide, but he tolerated it with stiff pride. He would not admit hat the elements could cause him annoyance. He watched the night horizon, the moon, and the stars. But mostly, he looked out for demons. At the merest sign of his brethren, he would flee once again. If he was caught, death would be a small thing compared to what the Shadowlord would do to him. Where was the blasted Prince Of Darkness anyway? He was supposed to arrive, and guide him to her. But he wasn't anywhere to be found!
The demon lord snarled angrily. Someone would pay for making him wait. Maybe that impudent little Half-Breed that appeared. Maybe Nox Seran? No. Nox Seran would kill him if Kahn vented his rage on him. No, definitely not Nox Seran.
Kahn stared up at the moon, which honoured him with its pale glow. The crescent moon looked like a scythe up in the sky. It brought back memories. Ancient memories.
~ Flashback
"Kahn? Are you up there?" The silvery voice said below the spiralling tower of Neorix, The Half Breed palace.
A younger, more foolish version of the present Kahn shifted eagerly, flapping his wings happily. On his arm he wore the platinum band that marked royalty. His claws were tipped with steel, the mark of a warrior.
"But of course. Who else would be here so late in the night?" He asked dubiously, climbing down from the coned-tower-top. The golden light below him seemed so welcoming, sailing out onto a long terrace. but if he was seen here, then all was forfeit. Instead, he climbed next to a window, popping his head inside the room to see the woman inside. "Who else indeed?"
The demon was not disappointed.
"Oh, how long will you show persistence? You know there can never be anything between us."
Kahn smiled. Of course he knew. But, it never hurt to do it anyway. What could THEY do? He was king. King of the Demons. All but the Shadowlord bowed before him.
"Until the very stars curse us, Pale One. And not a day before." He whispered back.
There came a sigh from inside the tower, where inside his Half-Breed counterpart resided. He heard a sound not unlike silk being puller across smooth marble, and was soon greeted by a frowning face. Kahn brightened up immediately.
This was the queen of Half-Breeds. If you had to describe her with one word, it would have to be 'white'. Her hair was a sort of glowing silvery color, and flowed down majestically. Her eyes were a sort of pale version of the sky, while her pupils were simply bottomless. Her skin was white, with a tinge of silver. She wore a thin dress, which seemed to cover her, but only halfway hid her. The demon could see through it with ease. She regarded him with one of her magnificent smiles.
"Your words are sweet, dark one, but your deeds are little like them. I know not to trust your kind." She spoke with such firm resolution that it very nearly scared Kahn away. She had such a commanding air to her that made anyone want to obey immediately. But Kahn nerved himself onwards, to try and show her what she was missing.
He planted a clawed hand firmly into the stone tower, to gain a better hold.
"Even my kind appreciates beauty when they see it, sweet. We are not blind, after all." Her frown lightened slightly at his words. Kahn smiled. "Will you not allow me the pleasure of staying?"
The woman smiled, and flicked a delicate hand. Immediately, a chair came into existence where it failed to do so a minute ago. She sat down.
"Talk, demon. You amuse me." She said haughtily.
Kahn placed a hand on the window sill, edging closer to the woman he had admired for years. For beings such as they, years were like days, merely of longer in time. They were immortal, and thus could they do anything they pleased. Of course, some things would embarrass oneself in front of others, which wouldn't be forgotten until death. And even then you could be revived, and would have to go through it again. But, Kahn preferred to live for the moment, and enjoy life as it came.
"And what shall I speak of, angel of the earth?"
"Anything."
"My mind thinks only of you at the moment. I would try only to bring your love to mine." He said.
Her smile widened.
"Then come closer, demon, and behold your prize." Kahn climbed through the window, coming in close to the queen.
She came in close the demon, and put a hand behind his head. Then, carefully, she placed a kiss on his lips. Kahn scratched the stone in surprise, creating a loud screeching sound. He hadn't expected her to melt that quickly! Maybe his feelings were mutual?
"My lady! Is everything alright?" A voice came from the other side of the door in her room.
She pushed him out of the window quickly, with a look of angry surprise. As he fell she poked her head out of the window
"Come back in two days time, and be more silent next time!" She hissed out, and went back into her residence.
Kahn spread his wings, using his already great speed to gain air. His rapid decline soon turned into a steady rise, as he made it back for the demon capitol, N'zac Zann. He flapped his wings as to hasten his arrival.
~End Of Flashback
Kahn looked away from the moon. He had enough.
"Kahn? Are you up there?" The familiar voice of that cursed Cetra said below him.
Kahn said nothing.
He was NOT making the same mistake twice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vincent slept beside Yuffie once again. His black, plumed wings warmed them both, while his cape served as a sort of cover for both of them. Vincent shifted a bit in his sleep, and tightened his grip around Yuffie. (With his human hand.)
Red XIII, or Nanaki, would have smiled if his form wouldn't make it look like something a wolf would do as it faced a fat, legless chocobo. Instead, he grinned internally.
So, even the most enigmatic and angsty amongst them had found love, and received it in return. That was a comforting thought, amidst all this confusion and sorrow.
The cockpit was silent, except for the a silent hum of the engines and the click of... whatever went click. Everyone slept. The LoS riders and the remaining Turks had claimed the conference room, and had very nearly barred it to prevent anybody getting in. Reeve joined them as the night loomed on, while the rest of AVALANCHE merely took all other places. Cloud and Tifa slept in the Chocobo stall, with Joan. Shera, Cid and Barret slept in the control room, and Vincent and Yuffie slept in the cargo area near some boxes.
Nanaki wasn't tired. This probably had to do with the fact that he was normally a nocturnal animal, like his wolf-life descendants, but it could also do with the fact that someone who had been dead for five years suddenly appeared with a demon and asked for help to be revived. And the demon in question refused adamantly to be of any help, at least not in their prescience.
The fiery red beast instead prowled around the Highwind, trying to force himself to sleep by exhausting himself. He wasn't having much luck.
Finally, he went up to the only OTHER person awake.
Aeris.
Red XIII padded up the stairs, and opened the door to the deck, and was met by the familiar sight of Aeris. He could see through her, which added a bit of eeriness to her, but she was all in all the same person he had once gone on adventures with. She was sitting next to the handrails, staring out into the night sky.
The dog walked up and laid his head in her lap.
"How?" He asked. "How are you still alive?"
Aeris looked down at the fiery dog.
"Very carefully." She said with a smile, but when she saw that this didn't satisfy Red, she went into greater detail. "I don't really know. I, I tried listening to the planet, but It said something about my soul no longer being compatible. Oh, that's not what I'd like to think, mid you."
She absent mindedly stroked Red XIII's head, who absent mindedly purred back.
"I like to think that so people remembered me, missed me, that I just couldn't meld back into the Lifestream. Well, after a while I realized that simply being a ghost didn't help me at all. So, I enlisted someone who could help."
"Kahn." Red murmured in understanding.
"Yes. I asked his help. I had hoped that since his species had eluded death so long, and that he was so OLD that maybe he knew something about it. I guess he doesn't. It looks like he's just following my lead."
"So what do you plan to do now?"
Aeris was silent.
"I see." The beast thought for a moment. "From what I've read of demons, then this Kahn was not on his throne for very long. He wasn't ALIVE for very long either, for that matter. There was some sort of scandal, and he died in something called 'the breaking of the trinity'. However, there is another demon I believe you could ask. He seems to know quite a lot, despite his appearance and behaviour."
Aeris laughed out loud.
"Nox Seran? His fleeting glimpses of sanity are of little use to anyone. His mind is shattered."
Red raised his head, and made towards the door.
"Do what you will, Aeris. But we are fighting for you now. The least you can do is try to figure out what we're going to fight for. Even the shattered has its uses."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elena woke up suddenly, for some unknown reason. Morning light was drifting in through the odd, tinted windows of the shell which they slept in. She sat up, looking around her. A silence greeted her, except for the rare twittering from birds outside. She peeked out the nearest window, to try and get some vague idea of what time it was. Outside the sun was barely above the horison, as if reluctant to rise this morning. As she looked, she lost interest and looked at the other beds.
Ghost still slept, snoring lightly. His hat was perched on one of the bedposts, and his cloak was tossed idly to the side. The thin warrior looked as if he slept where he had fallen. He was face down, both arms protruding out of the bed. Elena smiled wryly.
Jarred's bed, how ever, was empty. His cloak remained, but his weapons were gone. This was somewhat puzzling. Who brought their weapons but not their clothes?
She walked out of the shell, to look for some trace of where he had gone. But not before retrieving her pistol and Materia. She walked out onto those plated stone ways, looking for something out of the normal, which was just about every other step. In the City Of Ancients many things were strange, perfect for someone hide.
After an hour of walking around the city, looking in each of the houses, there remained only one place unsearched. The Ancient Capitol. But why would Jarred go there? Even HE had to know who had been killed there, who was resting there.
She ran back to the intersecting roads, and this time, ran towards the giant trees that marked where the capitol lay. As she arrived, she was met by the sound of splashing and laughing. The Turk listened with intent interest. The voice laughed again, and was soon followed by more splashing. Elena smiled. That voice was Jarreds.
Her run slowed down to a walk, and as she came into sight of the capital, she saw Jarred, standing chest-deep in the lake, swimming and splashing. She also noticed, with some shock, that the lake was steaming. And, in her experience, water didn't steam unless it was hot.
"HEY!" She shouted indignantly. "You're NOT the only one who likes a hot spring!"
Jarred lost his footing at her voice, and his head was lost from view as he came crashing down into the water, splashing water al the way to where Elena stood. He emerged shortly, his short, black hair plastered to his head.
"Well, it wasn't a hot spring until I used magic on it!" He returned. "And I WAS going to tell you about it, but I wanted to wash first!"
Elena seemed to remember at that moment that Jarred had left his clothes behind. The idea of the young warrior skinny-dipping made her blush.
"And you didn't bring your clothes? What kind of a WEIRDO are you?"
Jarred splashed water onto his limbs, and she watched as he peeled off a layer of blood and dirt from his skin. He winced slightly, and then discarded the piece of nastiness with disgust. Then he returned his attention to Elena.
"I prefer not to be hampered by clothes like Wraiths. Cloaks aren't my style." And with that he made towards shallower water. Elena didn't seems to notice until he was out in knee-deep water, then she seemed to notice that Jarred had not only failed to bring his cloak, but also his pants. And, very regretfully, any underwear. Instead of taking any head, she forcefully averted her gaze upwards, gazing fixedly at Jarred's face. "You wanna come in, the waters great. I'd hate to say it, but after yesterday you could use a wash yourself"
Elena, who had been hit on a few times in her time, was yet to be invited to swim in a hot-spring-lake by a naked nineteen-year old with the sexual mentality of a five-year old. It was a confusing prospect.
"Uhm, well..." Elena stopped suddenly. This was JARRED she was thinking about. What was the worst HE would do? Splash her? "Sure."
The Turk removed her jacker, shirt, and just about every other garment, except for her underwear*. Jarred may be as innocent (a homicidal, warlusting innocence, but hey, it was there!) as a lamb, but everyone had to draw the line somewhere. She joined the black skinned man in the water, still fighting avoid looking downwards.
Jarred smiled at her, and went back into deeper water .He dived forward suddenly, submerging himself completely. She thought she could see he dark figure moving through the crystal clear water, but then again, when you were awake to see the sun come up then you could safely say you woke up too early, and it was expected to see things that weren't there once in a while. But, when he emerged once again where she had thought he was, and did what any child would do. Splashed at her.
"Hey! That's not nice!" She exclaimed, splashing back.
And so it went on. Eventually Jarred submerged once more, and remerged behind Elena. He lifted her, and threw her into deeper water. With a yelp of surprise, she fell into the water. AS she emerged, she caught a smirking smile of someone standing on the shore. Someone that looked suspiciously like Ghost.
"I knew you liked him, human, but this is just plain ridiculous." Ghost said.
"Hey, I just wanted to get clean, and Jarred wouldn't do anything, would he?"
As if to prove her point, Jarred slipped once again and came down with a splash. He emerged again with a goofy smile on his lips.
"Wow, its slippery out here." He remarked airily.
Ghost stood there adamantly.
"Okay, granted that Jarred is pretty inconspicuous, I'm still pretty shocked you got undressed like that." He seemed to realize what he said, and stared fixedly at Elena. "Not that I'm complaining."
Jarred stretched, and made for shallower water. Ghost eyed him seriously.
"You want to swim?" Jarred asked, gesturing with a dripping hand.
The warrior looked a bit repulsed.
"Uhhm, no, I don't think so." He looked at the water with great distaste. "No, definitely not."
Apparantly, the idea seemed to repulse him enough to banish him from the area, shivering slightly.
Jarred turned toward Elena, winking slyly.
"Ghost has aquaphobia. Its mean to do, really, but if he ever bothers you, splash water on him. He'll shut up so fast that he'll bite his tongue." He explained. "Wraith is afraid of heights, and Spectre is claustrophobic."
Elena was impressed.
"How do you know that?"
Jarred shrugged, and walked out of the water completely. This time Elena didn't blush at all, now accustomed to the idea of Jarred in the nude. He didn't really know what was wrong about it, anyway.
"I have my ways." He answered simply, and picked up his weapons from the shore, where he had left them. "I'll be back at the shell. Come back you feel like it, and we'll head north again."
He turned around and left, fitting the claw on his hand, with the axe on his shoulder, using the axe blade to hold it up.
Elena looked at the retreating figure, for some reason longing for him to stay. His company wasn't exactly what she was used to, but it was a pleasant change to Reno's rampant desire to drink and Rude's sombre silence. He seemed to brighten her day up with that easy smile of his.
And he was really easy to look at.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The mountain range of the north sped by below the Shadowlord, as he sought out his quarry. He beat his black wings at a fast pace, seeking out his enemy with a grim determination. The crimson runes crawling across his skin burned with the magical power he was unleashing, to speed up his army's progress. Behind him, Chaos, Hate and Jazac Na kept up with him, bickering all the way. Apparently, Hate and Jazac Na were arguing about who was the stronger, and Chaos was naturally trying to silence them long enough to do some thinking. Humans had long believed that Chaos and his three companions had been the only demons alive, and now a small army of them marched towards someone who could pose more of a threat than all of them together, which they were.
In the distance, the green emerald that was the sleeping forest was beginning to show on the horizon. Below he could feel the tension building in his ranks, as his fellow demons began to recognize where they were headed. The Ancient Capitol, the place where Cetra magic was still present, still strong. Humans might not be able to sense it, but demons could. To them, the city was a continual blight in their mind, the memory still fresh of what took place there thousands of years before. Even the Shadowlord had to admit, the place sent shivers down his spine.
Watch your brethren slaughtered by the thousands, and then their very souls destroyed in the most terrible, but only way imaginable, and then you would know what hatred and fear the demons bore for that place.
But they continued on, if only out of loyalty to their one master. And the Shadowlord was capable of banishing fear to the recesses of his mind, and so continued on his hunt for the one person who could destroy all that he had built up for all these years.
The Prince Of Darkness, who's name bore nearly the same emotion as the City Of Ancients, except more so. The last Prince Of Darkness had been the indirect cause of their demise. The one before that had killed the first Shadowlord. The legends of Darkness, which spoke of the Prince, spoke that there would be many impersonators, but there would only be one. One who would surpass all the others in power, one who would bring down the very stars if it pleased him. Power that even the Shadowlord would stand in awe at. And that was all. The legends ended at that. Nobody knew what it meant, but there were no shortage of speculations from all races. Eventually, the legends became fact as the first Prince appeared, and freed the Half-Breeds from slavery for the demons.
And now the new one had appeared, born from unknown parents, in unknown circumstances, in an unknown place. A complete enigma.
"He must die." The Shadowlord muttered, and quickened his pace.
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*: I normally wouldn't go this into that, but a beta reader of mine said the original version o' this chapter sucked, and he received some support from the others. That's the first time they got democratic on me, the buggers. They're trying to take my power away from me, I swear. They'll put a chain on me, next ~_~
For anybody who likes Vincent, like I do, then I advise you to read 'Does Fate Allow a Second Chance?' by thelittetree. May not be Yuffie in his arms (WHY? WHY?), but it's a sweet fic. Worth the read, in my opinion. An' ya know what the best part of it is? ITS FINISHED! BWAHAHAHA.
^_^ Anyway, time for me to work on the NEXT chapter! BWEEE!!!!
Molly-Chan: BRAVO! THAT'S THE WAY! LISTEN TO THE EVIL CONSCIENCE (BEHOLD, *MY* EVIL CONSCIENCE: *Pulls out a sleeping grass-snake* Asmodeus! Watch out, he bites! *Asmodeus yawns sleepily*)! IT WILL LEAD YOU TO VICTORY, GLORY AND LOTS OF OTHER STUFF! (not necessarily in that order) Harrumph, erm, *cough cough*. Ja. Now, sank yoa for reviewing. Much apprieciated. Hope ja continue ta like zis fic!
Natsumi: Oh, well, no matter. ^_^ Hope you get settled in soon. Moving sucks, in my opinion (This is coming from the man who actually got thrown out of a test, so my opinion doesn't count too much ~_~) But, you gotta do what ya gotta do, ne? hope you also enjoy how zis fic iz going!
Shadow Reaver: It doesn't give me homicidal intentions, either, but when you're on a sugar rush then some things are more influential then others. Music influences me the most. People who know me can tell what music I listened to when they read what I write. Oh well ^_^ ENJOY!
Charles Xavier: I know it is, bebe. That's what I'm goin' for (^.^( Dramatic inclinations rock.
Narukye: I agree! Praise me! For my art is superior to all others! Three cheers for me!
If I forgot you (Or if your simply missing in action ¬.¬) then tell me. I'll add you in de next chapter. I'm wrting this list from memory, and THAT'S gone straight ta hell (My memory, not the list^_^).
Today's chapter's name iz called 'No One Knows' and I regret to say that this song actually appeared on MTV (uk, atleast. And all they play is Euro trash.) by 'Queens Of The Stone Age'
And now, ON WITH THE FIC!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter XXI: No One Knows
Kahn remained up on the top of the Highwind, which was still travelling steadily towards the north. The wind blew coldly against his hide, but he tolerated it with stiff pride. He would not admit hat the elements could cause him annoyance. He watched the night horizon, the moon, and the stars. But mostly, he looked out for demons. At the merest sign of his brethren, he would flee once again. If he was caught, death would be a small thing compared to what the Shadowlord would do to him. Where was the blasted Prince Of Darkness anyway? He was supposed to arrive, and guide him to her. But he wasn't anywhere to be found!
The demon lord snarled angrily. Someone would pay for making him wait. Maybe that impudent little Half-Breed that appeared. Maybe Nox Seran? No. Nox Seran would kill him if Kahn vented his rage on him. No, definitely not Nox Seran.
Kahn stared up at the moon, which honoured him with its pale glow. The crescent moon looked like a scythe up in the sky. It brought back memories. Ancient memories.
~ Flashback
"Kahn? Are you up there?" The silvery voice said below the spiralling tower of Neorix, The Half Breed palace.
A younger, more foolish version of the present Kahn shifted eagerly, flapping his wings happily. On his arm he wore the platinum band that marked royalty. His claws were tipped with steel, the mark of a warrior.
"But of course. Who else would be here so late in the night?" He asked dubiously, climbing down from the coned-tower-top. The golden light below him seemed so welcoming, sailing out onto a long terrace. but if he was seen here, then all was forfeit. Instead, he climbed next to a window, popping his head inside the room to see the woman inside. "Who else indeed?"
The demon was not disappointed.
"Oh, how long will you show persistence? You know there can never be anything between us."
Kahn smiled. Of course he knew. But, it never hurt to do it anyway. What could THEY do? He was king. King of the Demons. All but the Shadowlord bowed before him.
"Until the very stars curse us, Pale One. And not a day before." He whispered back.
There came a sigh from inside the tower, where inside his Half-Breed counterpart resided. He heard a sound not unlike silk being puller across smooth marble, and was soon greeted by a frowning face. Kahn brightened up immediately.
This was the queen of Half-Breeds. If you had to describe her with one word, it would have to be 'white'. Her hair was a sort of glowing silvery color, and flowed down majestically. Her eyes were a sort of pale version of the sky, while her pupils were simply bottomless. Her skin was white, with a tinge of silver. She wore a thin dress, which seemed to cover her, but only halfway hid her. The demon could see through it with ease. She regarded him with one of her magnificent smiles.
"Your words are sweet, dark one, but your deeds are little like them. I know not to trust your kind." She spoke with such firm resolution that it very nearly scared Kahn away. She had such a commanding air to her that made anyone want to obey immediately. But Kahn nerved himself onwards, to try and show her what she was missing.
He planted a clawed hand firmly into the stone tower, to gain a better hold.
"Even my kind appreciates beauty when they see it, sweet. We are not blind, after all." Her frown lightened slightly at his words. Kahn smiled. "Will you not allow me the pleasure of staying?"
The woman smiled, and flicked a delicate hand. Immediately, a chair came into existence where it failed to do so a minute ago. She sat down.
"Talk, demon. You amuse me." She said haughtily.
Kahn placed a hand on the window sill, edging closer to the woman he had admired for years. For beings such as they, years were like days, merely of longer in time. They were immortal, and thus could they do anything they pleased. Of course, some things would embarrass oneself in front of others, which wouldn't be forgotten until death. And even then you could be revived, and would have to go through it again. But, Kahn preferred to live for the moment, and enjoy life as it came.
"And what shall I speak of, angel of the earth?"
"Anything."
"My mind thinks only of you at the moment. I would try only to bring your love to mine." He said.
Her smile widened.
"Then come closer, demon, and behold your prize." Kahn climbed through the window, coming in close to the queen.
She came in close the demon, and put a hand behind his head. Then, carefully, she placed a kiss on his lips. Kahn scratched the stone in surprise, creating a loud screeching sound. He hadn't expected her to melt that quickly! Maybe his feelings were mutual?
"My lady! Is everything alright?" A voice came from the other side of the door in her room.
She pushed him out of the window quickly, with a look of angry surprise. As he fell she poked her head out of the window
"Come back in two days time, and be more silent next time!" She hissed out, and went back into her residence.
Kahn spread his wings, using his already great speed to gain air. His rapid decline soon turned into a steady rise, as he made it back for the demon capitol, N'zac Zann. He flapped his wings as to hasten his arrival.
~End Of Flashback
Kahn looked away from the moon. He had enough.
"Kahn? Are you up there?" The familiar voice of that cursed Cetra said below him.
Kahn said nothing.
He was NOT making the same mistake twice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vincent slept beside Yuffie once again. His black, plumed wings warmed them both, while his cape served as a sort of cover for both of them. Vincent shifted a bit in his sleep, and tightened his grip around Yuffie. (With his human hand.)
Red XIII, or Nanaki, would have smiled if his form wouldn't make it look like something a wolf would do as it faced a fat, legless chocobo. Instead, he grinned internally.
So, even the most enigmatic and angsty amongst them had found love, and received it in return. That was a comforting thought, amidst all this confusion and sorrow.
The cockpit was silent, except for the a silent hum of the engines and the click of... whatever went click. Everyone slept. The LoS riders and the remaining Turks had claimed the conference room, and had very nearly barred it to prevent anybody getting in. Reeve joined them as the night loomed on, while the rest of AVALANCHE merely took all other places. Cloud and Tifa slept in the Chocobo stall, with Joan. Shera, Cid and Barret slept in the control room, and Vincent and Yuffie slept in the cargo area near some boxes.
Nanaki wasn't tired. This probably had to do with the fact that he was normally a nocturnal animal, like his wolf-life descendants, but it could also do with the fact that someone who had been dead for five years suddenly appeared with a demon and asked for help to be revived. And the demon in question refused adamantly to be of any help, at least not in their prescience.
The fiery red beast instead prowled around the Highwind, trying to force himself to sleep by exhausting himself. He wasn't having much luck.
Finally, he went up to the only OTHER person awake.
Aeris.
Red XIII padded up the stairs, and opened the door to the deck, and was met by the familiar sight of Aeris. He could see through her, which added a bit of eeriness to her, but she was all in all the same person he had once gone on adventures with. She was sitting next to the handrails, staring out into the night sky.
The dog walked up and laid his head in her lap.
"How?" He asked. "How are you still alive?"
Aeris looked down at the fiery dog.
"Very carefully." She said with a smile, but when she saw that this didn't satisfy Red, she went into greater detail. "I don't really know. I, I tried listening to the planet, but It said something about my soul no longer being compatible. Oh, that's not what I'd like to think, mid you."
She absent mindedly stroked Red XIII's head, who absent mindedly purred back.
"I like to think that so people remembered me, missed me, that I just couldn't meld back into the Lifestream. Well, after a while I realized that simply being a ghost didn't help me at all. So, I enlisted someone who could help."
"Kahn." Red murmured in understanding.
"Yes. I asked his help. I had hoped that since his species had eluded death so long, and that he was so OLD that maybe he knew something about it. I guess he doesn't. It looks like he's just following my lead."
"So what do you plan to do now?"
Aeris was silent.
"I see." The beast thought for a moment. "From what I've read of demons, then this Kahn was not on his throne for very long. He wasn't ALIVE for very long either, for that matter. There was some sort of scandal, and he died in something called 'the breaking of the trinity'. However, there is another demon I believe you could ask. He seems to know quite a lot, despite his appearance and behaviour."
Aeris laughed out loud.
"Nox Seran? His fleeting glimpses of sanity are of little use to anyone. His mind is shattered."
Red raised his head, and made towards the door.
"Do what you will, Aeris. But we are fighting for you now. The least you can do is try to figure out what we're going to fight for. Even the shattered has its uses."
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Elena woke up suddenly, for some unknown reason. Morning light was drifting in through the odd, tinted windows of the shell which they slept in. She sat up, looking around her. A silence greeted her, except for the rare twittering from birds outside. She peeked out the nearest window, to try and get some vague idea of what time it was. Outside the sun was barely above the horison, as if reluctant to rise this morning. As she looked, she lost interest and looked at the other beds.
Ghost still slept, snoring lightly. His hat was perched on one of the bedposts, and his cloak was tossed idly to the side. The thin warrior looked as if he slept where he had fallen. He was face down, both arms protruding out of the bed. Elena smiled wryly.
Jarred's bed, how ever, was empty. His cloak remained, but his weapons were gone. This was somewhat puzzling. Who brought their weapons but not their clothes?
She walked out of the shell, to look for some trace of where he had gone. But not before retrieving her pistol and Materia. She walked out onto those plated stone ways, looking for something out of the normal, which was just about every other step. In the City Of Ancients many things were strange, perfect for someone hide.
After an hour of walking around the city, looking in each of the houses, there remained only one place unsearched. The Ancient Capitol. But why would Jarred go there? Even HE had to know who had been killed there, who was resting there.
She ran back to the intersecting roads, and this time, ran towards the giant trees that marked where the capitol lay. As she arrived, she was met by the sound of splashing and laughing. The Turk listened with intent interest. The voice laughed again, and was soon followed by more splashing. Elena smiled. That voice was Jarreds.
Her run slowed down to a walk, and as she came into sight of the capital, she saw Jarred, standing chest-deep in the lake, swimming and splashing. She also noticed, with some shock, that the lake was steaming. And, in her experience, water didn't steam unless it was hot.
"HEY!" She shouted indignantly. "You're NOT the only one who likes a hot spring!"
Jarred lost his footing at her voice, and his head was lost from view as he came crashing down into the water, splashing water al the way to where Elena stood. He emerged shortly, his short, black hair plastered to his head.
"Well, it wasn't a hot spring until I used magic on it!" He returned. "And I WAS going to tell you about it, but I wanted to wash first!"
Elena seemed to remember at that moment that Jarred had left his clothes behind. The idea of the young warrior skinny-dipping made her blush.
"And you didn't bring your clothes? What kind of a WEIRDO are you?"
Jarred splashed water onto his limbs, and she watched as he peeled off a layer of blood and dirt from his skin. He winced slightly, and then discarded the piece of nastiness with disgust. Then he returned his attention to Elena.
"I prefer not to be hampered by clothes like Wraiths. Cloaks aren't my style." And with that he made towards shallower water. Elena didn't seems to notice until he was out in knee-deep water, then she seemed to notice that Jarred had not only failed to bring his cloak, but also his pants. And, very regretfully, any underwear. Instead of taking any head, she forcefully averted her gaze upwards, gazing fixedly at Jarred's face. "You wanna come in, the waters great. I'd hate to say it, but after yesterday you could use a wash yourself"
Elena, who had been hit on a few times in her time, was yet to be invited to swim in a hot-spring-lake by a naked nineteen-year old with the sexual mentality of a five-year old. It was a confusing prospect.
"Uhm, well..." Elena stopped suddenly. This was JARRED she was thinking about. What was the worst HE would do? Splash her? "Sure."
The Turk removed her jacker, shirt, and just about every other garment, except for her underwear*. Jarred may be as innocent (a homicidal, warlusting innocence, but hey, it was there!) as a lamb, but everyone had to draw the line somewhere. She joined the black skinned man in the water, still fighting avoid looking downwards.
Jarred smiled at her, and went back into deeper water .He dived forward suddenly, submerging himself completely. She thought she could see he dark figure moving through the crystal clear water, but then again, when you were awake to see the sun come up then you could safely say you woke up too early, and it was expected to see things that weren't there once in a while. But, when he emerged once again where she had thought he was, and did what any child would do. Splashed at her.
"Hey! That's not nice!" She exclaimed, splashing back.
And so it went on. Eventually Jarred submerged once more, and remerged behind Elena. He lifted her, and threw her into deeper water. With a yelp of surprise, she fell into the water. AS she emerged, she caught a smirking smile of someone standing on the shore. Someone that looked suspiciously like Ghost.
"I knew you liked him, human, but this is just plain ridiculous." Ghost said.
"Hey, I just wanted to get clean, and Jarred wouldn't do anything, would he?"
As if to prove her point, Jarred slipped once again and came down with a splash. He emerged again with a goofy smile on his lips.
"Wow, its slippery out here." He remarked airily.
Ghost stood there adamantly.
"Okay, granted that Jarred is pretty inconspicuous, I'm still pretty shocked you got undressed like that." He seemed to realize what he said, and stared fixedly at Elena. "Not that I'm complaining."
Jarred stretched, and made for shallower water. Ghost eyed him seriously.
"You want to swim?" Jarred asked, gesturing with a dripping hand.
The warrior looked a bit repulsed.
"Uhhm, no, I don't think so." He looked at the water with great distaste. "No, definitely not."
Apparantly, the idea seemed to repulse him enough to banish him from the area, shivering slightly.
Jarred turned toward Elena, winking slyly.
"Ghost has aquaphobia. Its mean to do, really, but if he ever bothers you, splash water on him. He'll shut up so fast that he'll bite his tongue." He explained. "Wraith is afraid of heights, and Spectre is claustrophobic."
Elena was impressed.
"How do you know that?"
Jarred shrugged, and walked out of the water completely. This time Elena didn't blush at all, now accustomed to the idea of Jarred in the nude. He didn't really know what was wrong about it, anyway.
"I have my ways." He answered simply, and picked up his weapons from the shore, where he had left them. "I'll be back at the shell. Come back you feel like it, and we'll head north again."
He turned around and left, fitting the claw on his hand, with the axe on his shoulder, using the axe blade to hold it up.
Elena looked at the retreating figure, for some reason longing for him to stay. His company wasn't exactly what she was used to, but it was a pleasant change to Reno's rampant desire to drink and Rude's sombre silence. He seemed to brighten her day up with that easy smile of his.
And he was really easy to look at.
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The mountain range of the north sped by below the Shadowlord, as he sought out his quarry. He beat his black wings at a fast pace, seeking out his enemy with a grim determination. The crimson runes crawling across his skin burned with the magical power he was unleashing, to speed up his army's progress. Behind him, Chaos, Hate and Jazac Na kept up with him, bickering all the way. Apparently, Hate and Jazac Na were arguing about who was the stronger, and Chaos was naturally trying to silence them long enough to do some thinking. Humans had long believed that Chaos and his three companions had been the only demons alive, and now a small army of them marched towards someone who could pose more of a threat than all of them together, which they were.
In the distance, the green emerald that was the sleeping forest was beginning to show on the horizon. Below he could feel the tension building in his ranks, as his fellow demons began to recognize where they were headed. The Ancient Capitol, the place where Cetra magic was still present, still strong. Humans might not be able to sense it, but demons could. To them, the city was a continual blight in their mind, the memory still fresh of what took place there thousands of years before. Even the Shadowlord had to admit, the place sent shivers down his spine.
Watch your brethren slaughtered by the thousands, and then their very souls destroyed in the most terrible, but only way imaginable, and then you would know what hatred and fear the demons bore for that place.
But they continued on, if only out of loyalty to their one master. And the Shadowlord was capable of banishing fear to the recesses of his mind, and so continued on his hunt for the one person who could destroy all that he had built up for all these years.
The Prince Of Darkness, who's name bore nearly the same emotion as the City Of Ancients, except more so. The last Prince Of Darkness had been the indirect cause of their demise. The one before that had killed the first Shadowlord. The legends of Darkness, which spoke of the Prince, spoke that there would be many impersonators, but there would only be one. One who would surpass all the others in power, one who would bring down the very stars if it pleased him. Power that even the Shadowlord would stand in awe at. And that was all. The legends ended at that. Nobody knew what it meant, but there were no shortage of speculations from all races. Eventually, the legends became fact as the first Prince appeared, and freed the Half-Breeds from slavery for the demons.
And now the new one had appeared, born from unknown parents, in unknown circumstances, in an unknown place. A complete enigma.
"He must die." The Shadowlord muttered, and quickened his pace.
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*: I normally wouldn't go this into that, but a beta reader of mine said the original version o' this chapter sucked, and he received some support from the others. That's the first time they got democratic on me, the buggers. They're trying to take my power away from me, I swear. They'll put a chain on me, next ~_~
For anybody who likes Vincent, like I do, then I advise you to read 'Does Fate Allow a Second Chance?' by thelittetree. May not be Yuffie in his arms (WHY? WHY?), but it's a sweet fic. Worth the read, in my opinion. An' ya know what the best part of it is? ITS FINISHED! BWAHAHAHA.
^_^ Anyway, time for me to work on the NEXT chapter! BWEEE!!!!
