The Empyrean Sphere
First Chapter
Disclaimer: I don't own them, except for my OC's. So leave me alone!
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Aerith's POV
". . . by a beer truck, walking home from Woody's Christmas Day, Grandma got a job out at the brewery, I never knew that she could drive that way! I never knew that she could drive that waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!" I rolled my eyes as Yuffie finished dramatically, and I slowly shook my head while laughing with Kari who's in hyseritics because she deemed the song, 'The best Christmas song there ever was.' I just passed the sign saying, 'Navigators- (A/N: That's supposed to be an arrow . . . oh well. shrugs) pointing down the long road.
"We're almost there." I announce, not even sure if the giggling monsters even heard me. Reaching the turn off from the main road, I quickly pressed down on the brake and turned, starting up the snowy embankment, road, I corrected in my mind, if there's even a difference right now. Another song starts, a very questionable "Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer" as we get closer. The castle is in such a spot that you can't see it until your standing right in front of it, or so I was told, I'm just following Zen's directions.
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After awhile the snow lessened its constant journey, and I could actually see the gate looming up ahead. The rusting black gates could hardly be seen; the thick white snow covering everything. I could hear Kari going into fits of laughter at Yuffie's high pitch screa- I mean singing. I spare a quick glance at the rear view mirror, to see her doubled over, and slapping her knees and the poor seat. The car hit a pothole, sending everyone into a jump, which doesn't stop either of them.
We reach the towering gates and I slow to a stop, the laughter dying in unison. I reached for the door handle, preparing to get out and attempt to open the gates, but I freeze. Silence took over the car as the gates begin opening slowly, a loud creaking following.
My wide eyes met with Yuffie's, before I slowly press down the gas pedal. Once we passed through, I could vaguely see a winding road leading through a small forest of scattered pine trees. Kari undid her seatbelt and scooted forward in between the front seats.
"Where is it?" Kari asked in a whisper.
"It must be up here." I respond, my voice quiet, as if speaking loud will shatter the beautiful peace surrounding us. We continued for what seemed like ages until we're riding over a small bridge, or what I think is a bridge; the snow is still too deep, but I cannot really tell. I keep my eyes glued to the road as I creep along.
"Do you hear that?" Kari asked in a small whisper. The silence was deafening all around us. Yuffie slowly turns her head toward me.
"Nothing . . . absolutely nothing." I tried to ignore the creepy vibe I was getting by how she said that. But to be perfectly honest, what is she listening for? It's December, the birds have moved on, too much snow for other animals this low in altitude, and no one lives around here for miles. All the staff who worked here with Zen's aunt, moved when she passed on. I turn and look out the window and what I see takes my breath away. At the car's sudden stop, the two girls slowly swivel in their seats to see why I stopped. Kari scooted over to the other seat, behind me, and Yuffie leaned over me.
If you even looked at it the wrong angle, you'd miss it. The four story (A/N: I'm guessing, I don't think it is, but bare with me okay?) castle standing out in the thicket of winter, the dark crimson color barely visible. The English Tudor Manor is the perfect place to spend a snowy day in the dead of winter. As we creep closer more details come to light, but not many, most are covered in snow.
I slow the car to a stop as we reached the front door. A Jeep Wrangler already sitting a few yards ahead of us. A couple of inches already present on the top and the hood. Silence issued after I cut the engine.
"Let's do it." Came Kari's excited voice. Sighing, I look over to Yuffie who's staring at the castle.
"Yeah, um, am I the only one slightly creeped out?" After her question, I lean over and looked up at it through the passenger window.
"I think so, what's so creepy anyways?" She didn't answer and pushed her door open, pulling her backpack with her. Kari and I follow suit. Soon we were staggering up the steps trying not to slip as the wind and snow hammered us relentlessly. Reaching the door first, I turn the door knob and attempt to pull it open. It's not working.
"Damnit." I mutter and pull harder. When suddenly the door swings open, I fall forward along with Yuffie who had leaned against me to dump snow out of her shoes. Two hands pull me up and I'm met with bright azure eyes and spikey blonde hair. Grinning from ear to ear, I wrap my arms around his neck.
Yuffie's POV
I grimace as Aerith and Cloud start trying to swap tongues. I'm about to ask Kari for help when she squeals and runs into Zenny's open arms.
"Thanks for the help." I murmur angrily, still trying to right myself on the snow covered steps. I'm soon abandoned, and am still lying on my stomach. Taking a deep breath; I shakily push myself up slowly. No sliding yet, okay. Now I gently slide my knees underneath me. I'm about to stand up when a deep voice startles me.
"Having problems?" Jerking, I slip and fall back down. Irate, I look up, about to tell Cloud off, when I realize . . .
"You have GOT to be kidding me!" Leon smiled and offered me his hand. Growling, I reach up and grab it, reluctantly. He jerks me up and I almost go flying.
"Thank you." I say sarcastically. Groaning, I tilt my head down to stare at my soaked clothes. Looking back up, I'm met with silence and I'm now by myself.
"Great." Turning around, I shove the heavy door shut and pick my backpack up and swing it over my shoulder.
"This is going to be on fun filled Christmas vacation."
snort
Oh shut up you.
-
I am currently giving Aerith and Kari the silent treatment. I'm so incredibly pissed because they failed to mention the guy I hated snort was accompanying us. Ugh. They're downstairs in the Great Hall, talking and drinking coca, while I've locked myself in my room. But, I've got to admit, this place is really beautiful. My room has a queen size bed/canopy; the curtains surrounding them are dark purple velvet with matching, in color, bed sheets and pillow cases and all other fabric in the room. The bed comforter is really pretty; it's the same shade of purple, only it has dark purple roses all over it. The same design is on the giant body pillow.
I had dumped my stuff by the tall dark oak dresser, I can tell its pretty modern looking. I turn around and stroll over to my window. It's almost bigger than me! It starts at about my thighs, and then it towers over me, but not quite reaching the ceiling. After about five minutes, I locate the latch, and swing it open, the nippy snow filled air hits my face and I sigh, closing my eyes in content.
Starting to shiver, I reopen my eyes and close the window a few minutes later. The temperature in the previously stuffy room much better. Deciding I can use a small self tour, I leave my room and softly close the door behind me. After making sure I can remember where my room is, I take off down the semi-narrow corridor.
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Kari's POV
The wind has picked up quite a lot in the last hour or so. In the Great Hall there are two long windows on the south wall; the top ends in a semi circle with three more semi circles. The lace curtains are open, displaying the blizzard outside. I turn my attention back to the giant, and I mean really really big fireplace, where we've been gathered for about an hour, except for Yuffie. I feel kinda bad now; the only reason we didn't tell her Squ- Leon was coming, is because we're setting them up, or at least trying to. They're so perfect for each other, I don't know why they can't see it, but I hope and pray they'll see it or I'll have to intervene.
Cuz, you know, they didn't actually meet under good circumstances. Us six were at a party, and I had just introduced Yuffie and Squall, (you could tell she liked him) when a drunk guy came up and started to, well, um "touch" Yuffie, for lack of more appropriate wording, and Squall didn't do anything. So Yuffie, being a 2nd degree black belt in martial arts, kicked his ass. But later on she found Squall and blew up at him for being so non-caring when she was being hit on by some drunk guy. His argument was that he knew she knew what she was doing, but she flipped him off after displaying a nice string of curse words and stormed away. This is the first time they have come face to face since that, it has been several months, and Aerith and I have been planning it since then. Of course with some additional help from Cloud, who I guess you could call Squall's best friend, and probably only friend, not counting our little group, and of course Yuffie.
Successfully hidden, my grin slowly fades as I lean back in my comfy chair. I had tuned out of the others conversation a while ago, so I covered up my laugh as I heard Aerith and Zenny arguing over which smells worst, burnt hair or Squalls baseball socks.
Sighing in exasperation, I stood up and swiftly walked out of the Great Hall, unaware of the eyes on my back. I'm still feeling guilty about the Yuffie thing. I want to go find her and apologize. I'm walking down the long corridor, the only way in or out of the big room, and I realize I have no clue where the hell I'm going. I stop as the long hallway ends and look left then right.
"Eny meny miny mo, catch a rabbit with a hoe, bake him good, bake him long, if he does not boil in two seconds, he is dead." I ended with left and start down the hall; cursing Zenny for teaching me that ridiculous and all around stupid rhyme, if that's what you want to call it. The silence seems so deafening that it feels like someone threw a blanket over my head and plugged my ears. And I suddenly got this wave of fear over me.
"Stop it Kari." I mutter to myself, there's nothing to be afraid of. There's nothing to be afraid of, there's no-BANG!
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Yuffie's POV
"Well, I have successfully got lost, and," she paused to look over her shoulder, "I am talking to myself."
No you're not
Ah, shut up, who asked you?
Yo mamma did!
Oh real mature! Just go away!
Fine, catch ya on the flip side
Sighing in exasperation, I continued walking down the hallway to the door I had walked through initially. As I reach the heavy thick door, I hear something on the other side. I freeze and straining my ears, I can tell it sounds like muffled footsteps. Hearing nothing, I sigh, lightly smacking myself for being such a coward. So I turn the door knob and I swing the door open. There was a BANG as I did it and a dark figure stood before me.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" My scream echoes loudly as I throw myself backwards. About a split second later I realized mine wasn't the only scream.
Kari's POV
I stumbled backward as the door opened and revealed a shadow. A Ghost? Zombie? It suddenly screamed and scared the shit out of me so I screamed and moved back. Now, laying where I fell and still shaking, I slowly sat up on the floor, at the same time it did. And then high pitched laughter only recognizable as Yuffie's filled the hallway. Even though I'm still pissed off at her, I begin laughing too. Loud, high pitched, squealing laughter.
He he he . . .
I froze. My laughter dying.
"What was that?" Still chuckling, Yuffie stood over me, offering me her hand.
"Hear what? Our girly ass screams?" Before she could start laughing, some one else did.
He he he . . .
And it wasn't me . . . .
(A/N: I hope that was better than the last chapter. Just so you know, Glen Eyrie is a real place in Colorado Springs, and the Navigators sign does exist. So I do not own the castle, um, most of the stuff I am making up, but how I described the Great Hall is true, that fireplace reached the ceiling! I've seen it up close! Thanks to Setsuntamew for the review! I really appreciate it! Please review!)