Chapter IV: Seeds of Obsession
"The more things become different, the more things stay the same."
***~~~***
Dinner started out like it always did- the people were served the dinners they ordered that morning, and that night, it was served to them. Godo had ordered rice, Edea lobster, Ellone pasta, and so on.
The four sat together, as always, and they were talking about the day's events, among other things. But the next thing that happened would really give them something to talk about.
A creature, the size of a small box appeared in the Dining Hall. It looked much like the boy, Vivi Oruntina, but it floated, wore purple robes, purple pointed hat, and carried a small staff.
Reactions occurred everywhere. Anybody who had a weapon drew it and used it. Vincent Valentine and Laguna Loire both shot their pistols, Yuffie throwing one of her smaller shurikens, Edea and Lulu began preparing spells, but the first one to reach the creature was him.
Cloud Strife burst through the Dining Hall doors, sword pointed forward. He stopped for a second, and shot forward with breakneck speed. He impaled the creature, which dissipated into a cloud of black smoke, with a glowing heart rising from the smoke and vanished.
Lord Ansem rose from his meal, and jumped down from his table, set upon a dais, and ran to Cloud. The two spoke just below a whisper, nobody could hear them. Cloud was giving Lord Ansem an angry stare the whole conversation. After a few more minutes, the entire Dining Hall watching them, Ansem beckoned to Sephiroth.
Sephiroth pointed at his chest, and mouthed "Me?" and Ansem nodded. Then Ansem, Cloud and Sephiroth all walked out of the Dining Hall.
Then all began to clamor, and eat, some interested, some not, some kind of shaky, and some skeptic.
"Where did they take Seph?!" Yuffie asked, her voice thick with concern. "Who was that guy that killed that. . . thing?" Both good questions.
"That. . . was Cloud." Aerith replied. 'For a homicidal maniac, he is kind of-' Squall interrupted her thoughts.
"Cloud. The guy that tried to kill you today?" Aerith nodded tiredly.
"He should've stayed and eaten dinner with us!" Yuffie exclaimed, somewhat disappointed. Aerith shot her a nasty glare and Yuffie turned red. "Well, I didn't mean it if he was gonna try to kill you again. . . Then his invitation would've been rescinded immediately!"
"One should hope," Aerith replied dryly.
"I don't like this. . . There's something. . . unnerving about this Cloud. . ." Squall said slowly, carefully choosing his words.
"I agree wholeheartedly." Aerith agreed. "I don't like him."
"Um, guys? Shouldn't we follow them? I mean, if we don't trust that Cloud guy?" Yuffie asked, curious and concerned.
"You're right! Ugh, why didn't I think of this?!" At her words, Aerith stood, and ran out of the Dining Hall. Yuffie stood, and started to follow Aerith, but stopped and turned to face Squall.
"Aren't you coming?!" Squall shut his eyes in response.
"I think. . . I'll pass."
"C'mon Brood Master! We don't have time for this crap!" Yuffie ran back and grabbed Squall by the arm, and dragged him along. "Who knows what Cloud might be doing to Seph and the king!"
***~~~***
"Interesting. . . interesting indeed. So you've lived in the heart of this world your entire life. . . What was it like in there? Were you raised by the Heartless? And can you tell me anymore about them?!" Ansem was frantic- one might say obsessed- about his pursuit of knowledge.
"I learned one important thing- the silver-haired one shall bring chaos and ruin to this world. . . I believe you two are the only silver-haired ones in this castle?" Cloud looked from Ansem to Sephiroth, from Sephiroth to Ansem and back. Then Ansem and Sephiroth exchanged glances and looked back to Cloud.
"Did you learn anything else?" Sephiroth asked curiously.
"I also learned that. . . he and I are 'connected' somehow. . ."
"Connected?" Ansem and Sephiroth questioned simultaneously. "Yes. . . Many here are 'connected' somehow. I could feel them all while I was in the feeding area. . . So many people. . . Are there, perhaps, other worlds where we are all separated, but connected at the same time? Unaware of this life, dealing with other trials and tribulations of our own? And something strange, Ansem-"Sephiroth corrected him here, with a quiet 'King Ansem'- "you are not connected to anybody. . . Except for that child at your table. . ."
"Lady Kairi?" Sephiroth asked.
"Lady Kairi is my niece, Mister Cloud," Ansem confirmed. "She is the daughter of my deceased sister, Queen Sorceress Dalaar."
"Ah. . . Blood ties are some of the strongest. . . Most of the time. . . If one never- let's say- becomes too curious of the unknown. . ."
"Are you challenging me, Mister Cloud? I'm warning you, the consequences could become drastic for one side," Ansem warned. Cloud looked upward to the ceiling of Ansem's laboratory, as if thinking, then walked out of the room without a word.
"What do you make of it, sire?" Sephiroth asked.
"I do not know. But I do know one thing- this boy knows much. I need a favor of you Sephiroth." Ansem requested.
"Yes, m'liege?"
"Go to my library. Find any books on separate worlds, darkness, and/or the Heartless. We have work to do."
"What sort of work?"
"Well, if either of us is going to destroy this world, I want to know which one of us. In the meantime, speak nothing of this to anybody. I must even exclude it from my report, should it fall into the wrong hands," Ansem explained quietly. Sephiroth hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"All right, all right. I'll do it. Won't my friends and father get suspicious if I'm constantly in the library?"
"These are matters that could effect everyone in the Hollow Bastion, and you're worried about the trivial matters?!" For a moment Sephiroth thought Ansem's eyes changed color, from their deep blue, to sickly yellow orbs. . . just for a moment. . .
"Sorry, Your Majesty. You're right. I'll be in the library all night. If I find anything interesting, I'll report back."
"Excellent." Sephiroth bowed and headed for the door. "And, Sephiroth?"
"Yes, sire?"
"Tell your father I'm still up for that rematch at cards. . . if he's not afraid."
"Will do." As the door to Ansem's lab closed, Ansem's eyes did indeed change color. Slowly, but surely, he was going mad. . .
***~~~***
Sephiroth met up with Aerith, Yuffie, and Squall on his way to the library.
"Where have you been?!" Yuffie scolded.
"We've been worried something might've happened!" Aerith exclaimed, staring at Sephiroth somewhat angrily. Sephiroth looked from Yuffie to Aerith and repeated this several times, then looked to Squall.
"What about you, Squall?" Sephiroth asked.
". . . Whatever." Squall replied, cracking a half-smile.
***~~~***
Cid Highwind was tinkering with some gears used for the lifts, when Laguna entered his workshop. Cid looked up from his work, noticed it was Laguna, and put down his wrench.
"Well, if it ain't Laguna Loire! What brings you back up 'round my parts?"
"I need a favor, Cid."
"Ugh, of course you do. . . You know you still owe from when we borrowed Odine's experimental magic oven?"
"Borrowed! What?! We stole that- oh. Yes. . . borrowed. . ." Laguna scratched his head, and shifted his eyes side to side.
"What'd you ever do with that thing anyway?"
"HEY, what'cha workin' on over there?" Laguna asked. Cid raised an eyebrow and looked at the gears.
"That? Eh, nothin'. Though, I did do some modeling of. . ." Cid dug through various gizmos and gadgets until he found the one he was looking for. ". . . whatever the heck this is."
Laguna took the gadget from Cid, and examined it carefully.
"Wow! What is it?" Laguna asked, scratching his head again.
"See that's the thing- I dunno. I saw it in a dream. A dream where me, a whole bunch of people I've never seen before, and that new guy were all riding on this thing."
"Riding on it? How do you ride on a little thing like that?"
"It was a lot bigger in my dream, you blockhead! It probably would've taken up more space than the Entrance Hall, Library, and Castle Chapel combined. And watch this." Cid used a needle to fiddle around with a microscopic something near the front. He set it down, and a few seconds later, it lifted into the air on its own, and hovered shoulder-level from the workshops cluttered floor.
"Wow. . . What do you call it? Kids would get a big kick out of this toy."
"It's not a toy! And I think they all called it the 'Highwind'."
"The Highwind? Tch, the name sucks."
"Hey, shut up! Or else I won't help you with this 'favor'." Cid threatened.
"All right, all right. We're gonna sneak into ~'Ultimecia's castle, then that's when you have to defeat her. Time Compression-'~"
"Say wha-? What are you talking about?" Cid asked, bewildered.
"Mm? Oh, I meant we're gonna sneak into Ansem's lab, and see what he's been workin' on."
"Now wait, Laguna, don't you think we're pushing the limit here?"
"Nonsense! He's been so secretive lately, it's his fault!" Laguna replied indignantly.
"I see. . . Well, I'm always up for a good adventure. What the heck? Count me in."
"AAAAAALLLLLRRRRRIIIIIGGGGHHTTT!!!!!!!!!" Laguna yelled jumping into the air, shouting loud enough to wake every soul in the Bastion.
"Shut up!" Cid hissed. "You're going to wake the dead!" 'Cid, m'friend, that's exactly what I'm hoping for,' Laguna thought, his mind on Raine.
"The more things become different, the more things stay the same."
***~~~***
Dinner started out like it always did- the people were served the dinners they ordered that morning, and that night, it was served to them. Godo had ordered rice, Edea lobster, Ellone pasta, and so on.
The four sat together, as always, and they were talking about the day's events, among other things. But the next thing that happened would really give them something to talk about.
A creature, the size of a small box appeared in the Dining Hall. It looked much like the boy, Vivi Oruntina, but it floated, wore purple robes, purple pointed hat, and carried a small staff.
Reactions occurred everywhere. Anybody who had a weapon drew it and used it. Vincent Valentine and Laguna Loire both shot their pistols, Yuffie throwing one of her smaller shurikens, Edea and Lulu began preparing spells, but the first one to reach the creature was him.
Cloud Strife burst through the Dining Hall doors, sword pointed forward. He stopped for a second, and shot forward with breakneck speed. He impaled the creature, which dissipated into a cloud of black smoke, with a glowing heart rising from the smoke and vanished.
Lord Ansem rose from his meal, and jumped down from his table, set upon a dais, and ran to Cloud. The two spoke just below a whisper, nobody could hear them. Cloud was giving Lord Ansem an angry stare the whole conversation. After a few more minutes, the entire Dining Hall watching them, Ansem beckoned to Sephiroth.
Sephiroth pointed at his chest, and mouthed "Me?" and Ansem nodded. Then Ansem, Cloud and Sephiroth all walked out of the Dining Hall.
Then all began to clamor, and eat, some interested, some not, some kind of shaky, and some skeptic.
"Where did they take Seph?!" Yuffie asked, her voice thick with concern. "Who was that guy that killed that. . . thing?" Both good questions.
"That. . . was Cloud." Aerith replied. 'For a homicidal maniac, he is kind of-' Squall interrupted her thoughts.
"Cloud. The guy that tried to kill you today?" Aerith nodded tiredly.
"He should've stayed and eaten dinner with us!" Yuffie exclaimed, somewhat disappointed. Aerith shot her a nasty glare and Yuffie turned red. "Well, I didn't mean it if he was gonna try to kill you again. . . Then his invitation would've been rescinded immediately!"
"One should hope," Aerith replied dryly.
"I don't like this. . . There's something. . . unnerving about this Cloud. . ." Squall said slowly, carefully choosing his words.
"I agree wholeheartedly." Aerith agreed. "I don't like him."
"Um, guys? Shouldn't we follow them? I mean, if we don't trust that Cloud guy?" Yuffie asked, curious and concerned.
"You're right! Ugh, why didn't I think of this?!" At her words, Aerith stood, and ran out of the Dining Hall. Yuffie stood, and started to follow Aerith, but stopped and turned to face Squall.
"Aren't you coming?!" Squall shut his eyes in response.
"I think. . . I'll pass."
"C'mon Brood Master! We don't have time for this crap!" Yuffie ran back and grabbed Squall by the arm, and dragged him along. "Who knows what Cloud might be doing to Seph and the king!"
***~~~***
"Interesting. . . interesting indeed. So you've lived in the heart of this world your entire life. . . What was it like in there? Were you raised by the Heartless? And can you tell me anymore about them?!" Ansem was frantic- one might say obsessed- about his pursuit of knowledge.
"I learned one important thing- the silver-haired one shall bring chaos and ruin to this world. . . I believe you two are the only silver-haired ones in this castle?" Cloud looked from Ansem to Sephiroth, from Sephiroth to Ansem and back. Then Ansem and Sephiroth exchanged glances and looked back to Cloud.
"Did you learn anything else?" Sephiroth asked curiously.
"I also learned that. . . he and I are 'connected' somehow. . ."
"Connected?" Ansem and Sephiroth questioned simultaneously. "Yes. . . Many here are 'connected' somehow. I could feel them all while I was in the feeding area. . . So many people. . . Are there, perhaps, other worlds where we are all separated, but connected at the same time? Unaware of this life, dealing with other trials and tribulations of our own? And something strange, Ansem-"Sephiroth corrected him here, with a quiet 'King Ansem'- "you are not connected to anybody. . . Except for that child at your table. . ."
"Lady Kairi?" Sephiroth asked.
"Lady Kairi is my niece, Mister Cloud," Ansem confirmed. "She is the daughter of my deceased sister, Queen Sorceress Dalaar."
"Ah. . . Blood ties are some of the strongest. . . Most of the time. . . If one never- let's say- becomes too curious of the unknown. . ."
"Are you challenging me, Mister Cloud? I'm warning you, the consequences could become drastic for one side," Ansem warned. Cloud looked upward to the ceiling of Ansem's laboratory, as if thinking, then walked out of the room without a word.
"What do you make of it, sire?" Sephiroth asked.
"I do not know. But I do know one thing- this boy knows much. I need a favor of you Sephiroth." Ansem requested.
"Yes, m'liege?"
"Go to my library. Find any books on separate worlds, darkness, and/or the Heartless. We have work to do."
"What sort of work?"
"Well, if either of us is going to destroy this world, I want to know which one of us. In the meantime, speak nothing of this to anybody. I must even exclude it from my report, should it fall into the wrong hands," Ansem explained quietly. Sephiroth hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"All right, all right. I'll do it. Won't my friends and father get suspicious if I'm constantly in the library?"
"These are matters that could effect everyone in the Hollow Bastion, and you're worried about the trivial matters?!" For a moment Sephiroth thought Ansem's eyes changed color, from their deep blue, to sickly yellow orbs. . . just for a moment. . .
"Sorry, Your Majesty. You're right. I'll be in the library all night. If I find anything interesting, I'll report back."
"Excellent." Sephiroth bowed and headed for the door. "And, Sephiroth?"
"Yes, sire?"
"Tell your father I'm still up for that rematch at cards. . . if he's not afraid."
"Will do." As the door to Ansem's lab closed, Ansem's eyes did indeed change color. Slowly, but surely, he was going mad. . .
***~~~***
Sephiroth met up with Aerith, Yuffie, and Squall on his way to the library.
"Where have you been?!" Yuffie scolded.
"We've been worried something might've happened!" Aerith exclaimed, staring at Sephiroth somewhat angrily. Sephiroth looked from Yuffie to Aerith and repeated this several times, then looked to Squall.
"What about you, Squall?" Sephiroth asked.
". . . Whatever." Squall replied, cracking a half-smile.
***~~~***
Cid Highwind was tinkering with some gears used for the lifts, when Laguna entered his workshop. Cid looked up from his work, noticed it was Laguna, and put down his wrench.
"Well, if it ain't Laguna Loire! What brings you back up 'round my parts?"
"I need a favor, Cid."
"Ugh, of course you do. . . You know you still owe from when we borrowed Odine's experimental magic oven?"
"Borrowed! What?! We stole that- oh. Yes. . . borrowed. . ." Laguna scratched his head, and shifted his eyes side to side.
"What'd you ever do with that thing anyway?"
"HEY, what'cha workin' on over there?" Laguna asked. Cid raised an eyebrow and looked at the gears.
"That? Eh, nothin'. Though, I did do some modeling of. . ." Cid dug through various gizmos and gadgets until he found the one he was looking for. ". . . whatever the heck this is."
Laguna took the gadget from Cid, and examined it carefully.
"Wow! What is it?" Laguna asked, scratching his head again.
"See that's the thing- I dunno. I saw it in a dream. A dream where me, a whole bunch of people I've never seen before, and that new guy were all riding on this thing."
"Riding on it? How do you ride on a little thing like that?"
"It was a lot bigger in my dream, you blockhead! It probably would've taken up more space than the Entrance Hall, Library, and Castle Chapel combined. And watch this." Cid used a needle to fiddle around with a microscopic something near the front. He set it down, and a few seconds later, it lifted into the air on its own, and hovered shoulder-level from the workshops cluttered floor.
"Wow. . . What do you call it? Kids would get a big kick out of this toy."
"It's not a toy! And I think they all called it the 'Highwind'."
"The Highwind? Tch, the name sucks."
"Hey, shut up! Or else I won't help you with this 'favor'." Cid threatened.
"All right, all right. We're gonna sneak into ~'Ultimecia's castle, then that's when you have to defeat her. Time Compression-'~"
"Say wha-? What are you talking about?" Cid asked, bewildered.
"Mm? Oh, I meant we're gonna sneak into Ansem's lab, and see what he's been workin' on."
"Now wait, Laguna, don't you think we're pushing the limit here?"
"Nonsense! He's been so secretive lately, it's his fault!" Laguna replied indignantly.
"I see. . . Well, I'm always up for a good adventure. What the heck? Count me in."
"AAAAAALLLLLRRRRRIIIIIGGGGHHTTT!!!!!!!!!" Laguna yelled jumping into the air, shouting loud enough to wake every soul in the Bastion.
"Shut up!" Cid hissed. "You're going to wake the dead!" 'Cid, m'friend, that's exactly what I'm hoping for,' Laguna thought, his mind on Raine.