A/N: Well, here it is—'Of Ancient Blood' proper. Sorry to all of you who read my rant on the preview. I'll not do it again, promise. The next chapter should be up either Friday the 12th of March, or Monday the 15th, depending on my speed of writing…
Disclaimer: All characters, places, monsters and equipment are the property of Square-Enix; they wouldn't sell them to me. Just as well, really…
Of Ancient Blood.
It had all started very innocently, in Nanaki's eyes. But to see Vincent in such a state…
Three days earlier…"Huh? Hey, Vincent! I think there's another Cetra out there somewhere!"
Vincent looked up from the tome he was reading, and glanced across at the Cosmo. "Why is that?"
"Well," Nanaki said, perching precariously on a stool, staring intently into one of Cosmo Canyon's book of records "According to this, Ilfalna, you know, Aeris' mother? Apparently, she had a twin brother, but he disappeared shortly after birth…"
"Nanaki. I respect you, and am grateful for you letting me stay here, but… The child could be dead by now. And even if he isn't, that leaves us the whole Planet to search." Vincent shook his head. "I doubt that even Cloud would have the tenacity to attempt what you are suggesting."
"It's easier than that. In my grandfather's diary, it says about a Cetra child being taken to Nibelheim, due to some prophecy."
"Nibelheim? Why does everything lead back there?" Vincent sighed, "What prophecy?"
"Oh, you know the kind of thing. 'Catastrophe from the skies raises… Child born of Catastrophe… Child tries to destroy Planet… A child born of human and Cetra… Evil Child kills Good Child… Child of Evil Child cuts Evil Child down… Aided by one from Wutai, defender of Cosmo Canyon and an exiled Cetra…' Apocalyptic, but familiar…" Nanaki smiled meekly.
"Jenova, Sephiroth, Sephiroth summons Meteor, Aeris…" Vincent frowned, " 'Child of Evil Child'? Oh, wait. Cloud was a Sephiroth 'Clone'. A clone is pretty close to a child. 'Exiled Cetra'?" Nanaki smiled to himself. By reading the prophecy out loud he had gained Vincent's interest. "To get to the bottom of this we shall have to visit Nibelheim, Nanaki." Vincent announced.
"Uh-huh. Just let me get my stuff…" Nanaki slinked off, smirking to himself.
* * * * *
Vincent watched the Red Cosmo wander off to his abode in Cosmo Canyon, and shook his head. It had been clear to him that Nanaki had wanted to look for the child from the beginning. Normally he would have steered clear of it, but… Nibelheim. He did not believe in coincidences. Had no use for them. So…
He shook his head to clear it, and checked his Outsider and Mystile. Only the low level materia he'd been levelling up recently… He'd upgrade to his Mastered materia, and the Death Penalty. He had a feeling he would need all the help he could get. Glancing subconsciously at his Peace Ring, he moved towards the stairs up from the Canyon's library, and his own chambers.
* * * * *
"Well? Are you ready now?" Vincent queried the Red Cosmo, holding Nemesis' reins in his hands. The Black Chocobo seemed eager to be off.
"Yes, yes… Curative items, offensive materia, best weapon, good armour and accessory… We've got enough to last us several weeks." Nanaki mused.
"We'll reach Nibelheim tomorrow morning." Vincent stated. "Do you want to set up camp en route, or keep going through out the night?"
"We could stop for a while after we've crossed the ford." Nanaki suggested.
"Agreed." Vincent nodded. He leapt on to the back of his Chocobo in one fluid movement. "You coming?"
Nanaki sighed. "I just hope I don't slide off like last time…"
* * * * *
"We're there." Vincent stated, pulling the Chocobo to a halt. Nanaki peered over his shoulder. Sure enough, there was the ford, straight ahead.
"There's a hillock just across from here. Our campsite?" Nanaki asked.
"Yes. It'll do perfectly." Vincent said with a smile. "He-yah!" He cried, rushing Nemesis across the water. The Chocobo whistled shrilly as it raced across the small river. Vincent silently guided her to the place he and Nanaki had chosen for a camp. "Whoa." Vincent said quietly, pulling back gently on the reins. The Chocobo slowed to a trot, before coming to a stop.
"You really do have a way with her." Nanaki commented, hopping down to the ground.
"A gift…" Vincent started to say, when he paused.
"What is it?" Nanaki asked, already knowing the answer.
"We're being watched…" Vincent said, his voice barely more than a whisper. More loudly, he said. "It was nothing. Just my imagination. Let's set-up camp." Nanaki nodded. He recognised the tactic—let a stalker get over confident, until he is within striking distance, and then…
…No mercy.
* * * * *
The tent had been set-up without incident, as had the campfire been started. 'Perhaps,' Nanaki thought optimistically, 'whatever it was has decided not to tangle with us because it has seen us fighting before…' No sooner had he prepared to voice it to Vincent, there was a roar, accompanied by two howls.
"A Valron!" Nanaki shouted, recognising the roar from when his mother had taken him hunting one time.
"Don't forget the Nibel Wolves." Vincent warned. Although the Valron was the more dangerous of the enemies, you would pay if you just dismissed the others. "I'LL take the Valron." He said, vaulting over the hillock. Nanaki followed him, and saw the Valron winging it's way towards them, with a wolf at each wing. A pure, glowing white bullet shot from the Death Penalty. Nanaki remembered that Vincent had Mastered Alexander and Elemental materias co-joined within the shotgun. The bullet impacted with the Valron's cranium. With a scream of pain, it crashed into the floor, as it's life ebbed away. It distracted the wolves for only a couple seconds, but that was all Nanaki needed. Staring upwards, he mouthed the words of a spell, the magical energy building around him until he could stand it no longer.
"Comet 2!!!" he screamed, releasing the spell. Before the monsters hurtling towards them could even look up, they were bombarded with miniature asteroids, striking them without conscience. They howled in pain before falling silent amongst the barrage. Once it had stopped, there was a small crater were the wolves had been.
"Well…" said Vincent, "We should have no more disturbances for the night…"
AN: Thanks to Xeledra for giving me a much-deserved ticking off. The 'rant', as it is saved, was just me throwing a tantrum. _ Sorry, everyone!
Vincent saying he respects Nanaki and is grateful is just because Vincent's a mild mannered and polite chap… Unlike me, it would seem.
The Cloud remark? Would YOU search the whole world to try to find someone who might not be still alive? His opinion changes as soon as he knows where to start looking, as any normal person would. {Vincent: Me, normal? I do believe I resent what you are implying, Mantichorus…} Hardcore Vincent fans: That was a joke- not a good one, I'll admit…
What's more— Nibelheim. As Vincent said, everything leads back there. Some questions are not raised or answered in the game- who owned the mansion before the ShinRa? All I'll say is that it would be the place to start looking.
In the next chapters, expect a portly Tifa, a reference to two different Fanfics (including one not my own!), people with the same first names as Batman's parents, and the identity of the lost Cetra. Wait a minute… _ D'oh! Just gave away a clue, there…