This entire thing with Chaos will be more narrative than flashback... Well most of the story is like that... My original idea for a fic was simply to make a story about Chaos. Go straight from this point to his incorporation into Vincent. (don't wanna give anythign away.) But it seemed kinda strange. I am a fan of yuffxvince fics, so i thought i'd add that in aswell to help explain whats happening... or something like that...
Chapter 10 Origins of Chaos (original fic. title.)
Yuffie gently yawned once and stretched her arms out. She batted her eyes and licked her lips and wondered where in the hell she was. Then it all returned to her. She was curled up in ball on a couch at the edge of the room. It was facing towards the giant desk and plush chair she had started this journey in. She was back in the Shinra office. It was hard to make out. Most of the lights were out. Looking around she identified the silohette of Vincent against the far window. From the little light present she could tell he was staring out into the starry night.
Slowly she rose, and slipped off her sneakers. She didn't want to make any noise while crossing the room. It wasn't that she was trying to sneak up on Vincent, more so that there was a peace in the room she did not want to disturb. As she approached the window she too became entranced in the stars. They were uncountable in number and seemed to rise and recede in brightness at will. It was one of the most amazing things she had ever seen. Vincent turned his head slightly and observed the young ninja as she walked up on his right from behind. She wrapped her left arm around his right near the elbow and took his right hand in her own right hand. They just stood there for a moment, Yuffie decided to start. "Why are we here?"
"I decided we should take a break. Chaos arranging his own memories for our viewing, after we see what he has to show, we will continue where we left off."
"You stopped because of me…"
"You've been through a lot, and you simply needed some time to rest. For now, the less you think about it the better."
Yuffie squeezed his hand slightly and looked upwards to his face. He betrayed no emotion as usual, but the hollow indifferent look he carried seemed to carry its own personality now. It was different, but it wasn't. She gave up. Turning back towards the window she leaned her head on his arm and stared out into the starry sky. "What are we looking at?" she asked.
"After an exceptionally successful mission in Wutai, I was brought back here to receive my next assignment from the President himself. The president was unable to come, he had some defense contracts to go through in Junon. But It was here I was first professionally introduced to Dr. John Edgar Gast and Dr. Lucrecia Mayer. She was representing the team in Nibelheim I was to protect as they researched further into the ancient stories of the life stream. Dr. Gast represented a private company that had made a most astounding discovery in the Northern Limits. It was what they believed to be the remains of an ancient life-form. They lacked adequate funding to research the life form. So they turned it and it's head researcher over to the Shinra. The energy signals given off by the life-form were near identical to those of Mako, so the two projects were clustered together. A formal dinner was held here to introduce the parties involved. My job was to protect the researchers. Gast came representing the party researching the life form and Lucrecia the progressing study into the origins of life stream. The three of us stood right here and watched the sun rise early the next morning, all three of us hit it off right away. I'm somewhat ashamed to admit it, but Lucrecia recognized me, before I her."
Yuffie didn't say anything, she just stood there, her arms linked around Vincent, and watched the horizon. He mentioned, "I don't know why this came to mind."
Soon the horizon began shifting colors and the sky too. "Good thing, don't' question it." Yuffie said plainly. "You had very good friends… You still do." she whispered as she gently squeezed his arm. The sky, began to change to light shades of blue, and the stars began disappearing from the sky. Then the sun broke. She watched it for a few seconds as it began to emerge before averting her eyes. 'I know this place isn't real, but just standing here, I can feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.' Her eyes gently closed, and she tightened her grip on Vincent's arm.
Suddenly from behind them, there was a ding and a small light lit up above one of the elevators on the opposite side of the room. Yuffie quickly spun around, the noise had surprised her. Vincent Continued to observe the rising sun, he already knew who it was. Chaos had a smirk on his face as he walked out of the elevator. He casually commented to the blushing ninja and indifferent Vincent, "I'm ready to show you the mechanism I spoke, and how I came to be apart of you, Vincent. If you'd be so kind as to step inside my office." With that Chaos stepped out to the side of the elevator doorway and with a decadent bow gestured for them to enter.
Yuffie dropped Vincent's arm and began walking towards the elevator. Halfway there she turned and stared back to Vincent, he hadn't budged from his spot. "Vincent" she softly called out.
Quickly turning around Vincent began walking towards the elevator behind Yuffie. After they entered Chaos stepped in and the elevator doors promptly closed. "Please keep your hands and feet within the present limitations of the elevator." Chaos commented as the elevator began to ascend. For about half a minute all they could hear was the hum of the elevator, Yuffie and Vincent waited patiently for what Chaos had to show them. The lights in the elevator began to dim, and soon the elevator went pitch black. "I suppose I should tell you… In order to explain this… all of this… I must first tell its story." A bright light flashed above them. Looking down Yuffie noticed that the smooth marble floors of the elevator had been replaced by a slab of rough stone, worn with age. Furthermore, the walls of the elevator seemed to be gone as well, instead they seemed to be moving up a shaft made up of a stone similar to that of the floor. The platform was still rising and looking up Yuffie noticed a square hole above them through which a bright light poured out. As they closed in on the hole, they could hear a sort of chatter, and a clatter of feet. Finally the platform stopped as it leveled off with the hole.
Yuffie gasped, Vincent shifted, and Chaos smirked. They were in a large heptagonal room. Ahead of them one side of the heptagon was gone and in its place was a staircase leading up. You could see the stairway lit up with natural light. The other four sides were also larger staircases leading downwards. On the walls and ceilings were large yellow materia orbs giving off a bright light. But that was not the shocking part. All around them were beasts and men walking side by side. Speaking to each other. Some of them were dressed in scholarly robes, others were not able to. But in small clumps about the room were cloaked men looking about them.
"Where are we?" Yuffie nervously asked.
"Below the temple of the Ancients." Chaos replied. "And here I come, from what will later be rightfully be called the bone village."
Just as he said that some of the people at the stairway leading to the surface began to scatter off to the sides. A large winged beast flew the stairway and landed in the middle of the room. As he did that three of the cloaked men walked up to meet him, the rest formed a circle around him.
One of the men stepped forward. "State you purpose here."
"I am a representative of one of the outer cities, and my purpose is my own."
The man took another step forward, as he did some of the men began reaching into their cloaks. "Please state your name and your purpose!"
From behind them there was a yell from the stairway leading to the surface. "Lord Chaos!"
Quickly Chaos twisted around and unfurled his wings, several of the cloaked men backed off. "Clear the way! We have wounded!" Shouted Chaos.
When he turned around again the man who had stopped him was kneeling before him. "My apologies Lord Chaos, but as security here it is our job to look into such matters."
"Security? Since when has security become an issue?" Chaos asked.
"Since such matters became of interest to the high council." The guardsman evaded.
"But why?" Chaos pursued.
"Lord chaos, Lord Chaos!" 11 people had followed him down, some were monsters some were men. Four of them were carrying on a stretcher a fifth man. Trailing closely behind them was a sobbing woman, obviously a loved one. Another four were carrying a beast. The beast's hands were tied behind his back, and his feet together. 2 were carrying him by his shoulders, while another two carried him by his feet.
Chaos stared at the guardsman for an answer. He slowly backed off with a bow and ended, "Of course, I would not be privy such knowledge."
Chaos then turned back to the group that followed him. "You four take the Marshall down to the Court Register. Do not allow sentence to be passed without my prescence. The rest of us will Jacks down to the Purification Chamber."
The first group began walking down on of the four stairways. One of the people holding Jacks's stretcher asked, "Shouldn't we take him to the infirmiry?"
"No," Chaos replied, "He is beyond what physical care we can offer him." At that comment, the woman trailing behind them began to sob louder. Chaos walked up to her and said, "But he can still be saved. In a week you'd never know he was in a comma." This seemed to quell her fear and she looked up at Chaos and nodded. The remaining seven of them began walking down another stairway. Yuffie, Vincent and their host Chaos followed behind them.
After five minutes of going down the stairs Yuffie complained, "How long till we get there?"
Chaos answered, "A few more minutes. The purification chamber is deep within to earth. It taps a small stable source of life-stream. We'll be there soon."
After about 1 more minute of walking they finally arrived at a doorway. In front of it were two more cloaked men. When they saw Chaos in the lead they quickly opened the passageway and stepped to the side. The group quickly stepped through. About them were 3 passageways, one directly ahead and 2 going off to the sides. From a birds eye view it looked like a circle surrounded by a ring. The passageway ahead of them lead to the circle within, and all along the ring were separate offices and labs. Chaos pushed open the double doors ahead of them and they proceeded in. Inside the room were Beasts and men walking to and fro conducting tests of sorts or discussing theory on the healing abilities of the circle of purification. In the centermost of the room was a shallow pool of life-stream about 4 yards in diameter. Inside that was a small platform about three yards in diameter, the surface of said platform was barely submerged under the life-stream. Around the pool were 5 dais. There was an old man comparing a sheet of notes to the dials and switches on one of them.
"Professor Remus!" Chaos called out.
The old man turned around, and after examining the Chaos beast and his procession replied with a scowl, "Well, if it is'nt the high lord Chaos, back from the outer territories with some more unfortunates for me to cure."
Chaos stepped forward towering over the old man. Looking straight down at him he replied, "Careful professor, I was present when you entered this world. And I would enjoy speeding you to your exit.
At that comment some of the other researches turned around and began to watch. The frown locked on the old man's face and the look of hate on Chaos's. After a few seconds the old man's cheeks began to twitch, and he broke out in a laugh. Chaos joined him. "What have you brought me today old friend?"
"A poor soul whose mind has been poisoned. In the territory we lacked the proper equiptment for poison extraction and purification, so the poison has already run its course. The circle of purification is the only chance this man has."
"Who did this to him?" queried the professor.
"My former marshall… The creature Kain."
The old man stared at the body in the stretcher for a moment making judgements in his head. "He in the comma stage right?"
"Yes."
"Good then, he is holding on. Please place him in the circle."
The four men crossed into the pool and placed the strecher down on the platform then they gently unloaded his body. Remus walked from Dais to dais adjusting the settings. Jacks's wife just stood off to the side and watched along side Chaos. After Remus had gotten to all the daises he asked all the others to get out of pool. Afterwards, he activated the circle of Purification. The pool began to give off a gentle glow, but still nothing happened.
"Professor," Chaos began. "When can we expect to see some results?"
The old man stood in front of Chaos. "Within half a day." Then he shuffled off to speak to Jacks's wife (Lidia). "I'm assuming you're his loved one come to see to his health?" Lidia nodded. "There is a waiting room I will take you to. The rest of you must leave for now. But not you Chaos. We still must speak."
The four other men began to head back to the surface. Remus led Lidia to one of the rooms connected to the ring surrounding the Purification chamber, then he and Chaos proceeded to another room that served as his office. Yuffie, Vincent and Chaos followed.
Remus sat down down at the desk in his office, Chaos continued to stand. From within his desk, Remus pulled out a bottle half filled with a brown transluscent liquid along with two smaller drinking glasses. After pouring each one half-way full he handed one glass back to Chaos. They raised their glasses to each other and began to drink.
Remus started, "I bought this bottle nearly 25 years ago. Its hard to imagine it lasted so long."
"The last time we drank, was near 15 years ago. Where has the time gone."
The old man cackled at this comment and replied, "This coming from you. You're near 500 years old, which would translate near 20 years to a human. I'm near 90, and… well… I'm dying Chaos."
It was Chaos's turn to laugh. "You're not dieing. You're old, but you still have time."
"Time yes. However, I won't live to see the next spring. I can feel it. Please don't question this, just listen." He sighed heavily. "This world is changing. I'm not sure how or why, but it is. Your marshall the beast Kain, did he lose all rational thought and randomly attack Jacks?"
"Yes, he did. But he is not the only one. In most cases the injuries were only slight. We think its our proximity to the promised land which is causing it."
"You're wrong. I'm not supposed to talk about this, but its been happening all across the planet. Random beasts going insane and running off into the wild. I'm not sure what the cause is, but I suspect that's why those cloaked men are now stationed at my door and around the temple."
"They said they are present at the command of the High Council."
"Then they know what is happening, or atleast they have noticed it. You must go speak with them. Find out what is happening." Remus sat down and poured himself another glass.
"And report my findings back to you?" Chaos held out his own glass for a refill.
"No, I'm too old to deal with this now. Besides just this morning the Demi God Shiva has asked all the department heads to create manuals and guides to each of the mechanisms in this temple."
"Whats the problem? You already have manuals, and records and explanations." Chaos pulled out a large volume from the book case and quickly flipped through it before replacing it.
"She wants something more permanent. I'm to inscribe the instructions onto the walls of all the chambers. It will take an eternity to finish. But enough of my complaining. Tell me how you've kept yourself busy the last 15 years."
Chaos chuckled for a moment. "The first 2 years were dedicated almost completely to building a town. Contrary to that the last 13 have primarily been works at exploring the area, expanding the town, and we've begun a temple projects around the city."
Yuffie and Vincent's host Chaos broke into the conversation. "You would recognize the town now as the City of the Ancients on the Northern continent. However it was our city first. The ancients would not come to live in that place until about 700 years later, after it had been abandoned, after there were too few people left to live there.
The Beast Chaos quickly finished off the liquids in his glass and put it down on Remus's desk. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but I must check in with the others. By now Kain's trial will have been arranged, and I would like to be present before it begins."
"By all means. But you must visit me before you leave again. Its been too long old friend."
"Indeed it has, and I will."
With that the two parted. Chaos made his way back up the stair ways to the heptagonal room they started in. Then he proceeded down the stairway the four men carrying Kain went down. Chaos was fairly sure they would have finished making preparations for Kain's trial, and he would be able to sit in on the entire event. If anything was mentioned pertaining to the cause of Kain's lunacy, Chaos wanted to hear it.
When he finally arrived at the entrance to the courts he was surprised to see his four men who had carried Kain there standing in a circle outside the entrance. When they saw him they rushed forward to explain what had happened.
"As soon as we told the receptionist what had happened she contacted on of the attendants." "Within five minutes there were eight of those cloaked men who stopped you in the main hall here, and they hauled Kain off." "They didn't say anything, they just told us to wait here for you." "No explanation no nothing." "What do you suppose has happened to him?"
"I don't know." He replied. Chaos walked up to the receptionists desk and before he could ask his question she said, "Lord Chaos, you may enter the court chambers, but your men must return to the surface." His men just stared at him for a moment then began filing back up towards the Main hall. Chaos pushed open the large double doors and entered into yet another giant hallway connecting and interconnecting a series of Judicial offices, hearing rooms, offices, court rooms, and other such chambers associated with the law, its interpretation and its creation. He was greeted upon entry by another member of the Temple's cloaked guardsmen. Chaos was quickly taken to Kain's courtroom deep within the earth. After a few minutes of walking he was surprised to find himself standing infront of the Grand Council's meeting chamber. The guardsman looked at him and indicated that this was their destination. A bit fearful now, Chaos pushed the doors open and walked inside.
The first thing he could see was Kain. Kain was standing on his knees before the council. His head was down. Then it hit Chaos, the scent of death. As Chaos walked forward towards the council he saw it. In the back of Kain's neck was the beginning of large long steak. It had been driven through the back of his neck down through his chest and pelvis down into the ground where it was holding him erect. Chaos was slightly shocked. They had not been at the temple for more than an hour but already his former advisor had been processed, tried and executed. And now Chaos was made to stand before the High Council, for what he had no idea.
Chaos was now kneeling before the council, like Kain once was. They had probably forced him down onto his knees, insanity had already taken a firm grip on him. Chaos looked to his left, blood was dripping out of his mouth.
The High council was separated into two groups on two tiers. On the lower tier were the High Lords, in another 100 years Chaos might have joined them. Starting from the left there was the High Lord Hades, cloaked as he always was, two red eyes staring out. To his right was Diablo, followed by Kjata, Alexander, Odin, the Levanthian representative and the representative for the Zero Bahamut. Of the mortal beings they were the wisest and strongest. On the tier above them were the five demi-gods. Starting on the left was Ifrit, Ramuh, Shiva, Titan, and Tupon. Of the demi gods Shiva was their leader. She was the oldest and most wise of them all.
Shiva stood up for a moment, "Please Rise Lord Chaos."
Yuffie, Vincent, and their host Chaos were standing off to the side. Yuffie commented, "They all look just like our summons."
Chaos replied, "They are. Summons are nothing more than the souls of great beings whose purposes were… cut off. Everyone here shares that. As you shall see before we leave." Chaos chuckled for a moment. "Sephiroth maybe… In a few thousand years he too may become a summon. Rufus and Tseng as well… perhaps…"
"Do you have any question for the council?" Shiva asked.
"Yes. What have you done to my advisor and why?" Chaos demanded.
"He attacked a fellow being, and nearly killed him. What did you think would happen to him?" she replied calmly.
"He was insane, and we don't know why. Was'nt that worth figuring out?" Chaos barked back.
"We know what happened to him." Shiva's pacifying eyes washed over him, and for a moment Chaos forgot his anger.
"His eyes narrowed and he asked, "What then?"
Shiva sighed once, the light shining on her silvery skin, then began, "The planet as a whole has made the decision to… decrease the knowledge base of some of the species." Shiva bit her lip. Granted she was the leader of the High Council, and wisest and fairest of all the demi gods, but she still hated breaking bad news to those who did'nt deserve it.
"What she means," a cold voice cut in. "Is that the planet has decided to turn the majority of the Beasts into raving mad animals." Chaos turned to the new voice. It was Hades, his face now un hooded, he was leaning forward staring at Chaos. Studying him. "Maybe it would be best to let him see the message himself."
Their host Chaos interrupted his flashback for a moment. "Regularly messages from the planet were delivered to the council. They all came in the form of materia orbs. When you concentrated on the orbs you were given a vision of what the Planet desired. Shiva interpreted the dreams and gave edicts out to the council. It was rare for the planet to choose a voice and speak for itself. But on the rare occasion it did, the message was shown to all those deemed worthy by the council. This was one of those rare occasions."
"Perhaps." Shiva concurred.
One of the side exits to the room opened and a servant to the council emerged carrying a box. He opened it and presented the message orb to Chaos.
Chaos took the cloudy white ball in one hand and concentrated for a moment. Then everything turned to black. There were no visions in this message, only a voice. 'To my High Council I convey this message: It is the will of this planet that the race of beasts should all degrade in mind capacity. However this degradation shall take place over time. Infact, the longevity of mind is dependent on many factors, including but not limited to: Intellect, Loyalty, Power of body and mind, Bravery, and Cunning. It is entirely possible for a race to remain as they have been for generations. It is the way they live that will determine if they do or do not." There was a pause. "However... In secret to all except the race of beasts… There is a way to escape this fate. Should the race of men become extinct, the planet's decision to degrade the mind capacity of the race of beats shall be reversed. This is meant primarily as a contingency should the race of men kill themselves off, but as also the final option for the race of Beasts. This is the will of planet and therefore law.'
The darkness in Chaos's mind receded. Yuffie and Vincent witnessed the entire event. And they heard the voice echoing in the darkness.
Now Chaos understood why there were soilders stationed here, incase any beast should fall victim to this edict. But what did the message mean by "In secret to all but the race of beasts"?' Chaos looked around the faces of the council once. The representative of Zero Bahamut coughed once when his gaze fell on him, Kujata rubbed his chin when their eyes met. Diablo cracked his neck when their gaze met. Finally Hades gave him a deep stare for a moment, then nodded his head, afterwards he pulled the hood back on hiding his face. Suddenly Chaos understood. None of the Demi-gods, or humans knew. They had a chance... but at what cost? Then Chaos realized he was still standing before the High council, and they were waiting for some response from him. "How did this come to pass?"
"We have no idea," replied Shiva. "But there has been speculation."
"We believe, it may have something to do with Shiva." Commented Kujata.
"Her preference of race if you will..." Hades said in an insulting tone.
Alexander was staring at the floor, and Odin was fuming. Shiva 45 years earlier had married the High Lord Alexander, and Odin was their first son. Odin was presently staring daggers at Hades. Alexander and Shiva had a second son, but no one knew very much about him. Yet. Odin was 42, and himself had 3 wives, twelve sons between them. Each great were warriors.
Even though Chaos was new to this group, he could sense the animosity.
"In any case." Shiva said, breaking the silence. "There was a second message delivered earlier." With a look of sadness she conveyed to the high Council. "We are to abandon this temple." There were murmurs and looks of surprise all around. "The Life-stream wants us to finish our activities here and leave for now. We are not to destroy the temple, simply to seal it up. The temple must remain sealed, until it is forgotten. No one from our generation is permitted to return here after it is sealed or even to mention it to the later generations. The life-stream says that in order to divert a future disaster, this place will be needed. Instructions for the mechanisms inside will be inscribed on the wall of each chamber."
"But why? If future generations need this technology why should we abandon this temple?" asked Odin.
"I don't know" Shiva answered, "But I think, the planet is worried this place will be destroyed, in a war of some sort."
"A war" Chaos said half laughing it out. Then he looked around for a moment the council was staring at him. "That would be horrible." he said in a stern voice.
Shiva just stared at him for a moment. "Indeed..." She sighed once more. "But... there is still more…" She took a deep breath and continued. "Slowy" she said with great emphasis casting a glance to Alexander, "The demi-gods are to withdraw from this world."
"Until the time…" She stopped again, and looked around the room. "Until a clear victor of some sort is established. I'm not clear on what that means."
Chaos knew. There would be a war soon, and only after one side eliminated the other would the demi-gods be allowed to return. The planet was evening the sides. The beasts were more powerful, but would soon begin to sharply decrease in number, and the humans were weak but could easily grow in power. One thing he had noticed in humans is that when faced with adversity, they rarely failed to meet the challenge.
NA: This is what I wanted to do. This was my original purpose, to write about the demon chaos, and how he came to be apart of Vincent. In every fanfic i've read Chaos has a voice... Chaos is little more than a voice, and I always wanted to add a character to the voice. While thinking about it I read over something, where they turned some people into a summon materia (think it was cloud and aeris). That got me thinkin, (a dangerous thing yes....) "hey... all these summons are based at-least partially on real world god-like figures. what if in the game they were real beings too but from the past?" How were summons formed? they had to come from somewhere. So I decided to incorporate the the summons into Chaos's origin. And how better to tie a series of superpowered beings together than through a war?
(Earlier that week) Well I'm screwed… I accidently deleted about 4/5 of this part of the story. It happened last night, I had some formatting issues with Word. So I copied the entire thing onto notepad to get rid of all the word formating and deleted the word document. When i was looking over the copy on notepad i noticed that I didn't copy the entire thing. So now… I have the ending to this chapter and nothing else. So i'm gonna break up the chapters a bit, buy me a couple days to rewrite the damn thing.
In a lame attempt to raise my review rate (I love hearing from you people. I'm gonna start adressing the reviewers from the chapter directly preceding this one.)
I'll do what i can for you hopeless romantics (Neko yuff) but i'm already up to chapter 13. I'll see if i can fit any appropriate scenes in the already finished chapters for ya.
Cattiebrie: I appreciate your enthusiasm, and thanks again for the review.
Ezri-Candy: One thing i always hated when i read fics and books and such were action sequences. Because its on paper It was really hard to imagine just how it was happening. I'm glad to hear you didn't have any problems imagineing this.
READ And REVIEW!!!!